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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Going 'no makeup'

330 replies

LadyBlaBlah · 21/03/2015 13:43

I know it's trivial and as feminists must think only of FGM however I'm getting fed up with the time, cost, effort and most of all the reasons why I wear make up.

I've been wearing it blindly since about aged 14 so it will weirdly be a big change, and my small act of rebellion against the p.

Anyone else a no makeup person?

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyBlaBlah · 21/03/2015 15:34

Loads of you do it then.

Someone asked why I wear it....and truthfully it's just 'because'.......I feel I have to be presentable? Be attractive? Be feminine? Don't really know.

And honestly the thought of wearing none is quite daunting. Which makes me rather cross I've fallen for it hook line and sinker

OP posts:
tribpot · 21/03/2015 16:05

Well, you don't have to go for it all at once. Maybe stop doing one thing at a time. I think you will be amazed (and poss rather annoyed) that no-one will either notice or care Grin

Nolim · 21/03/2015 16:14

I only wear make up for special ocasions.

EBearhug · 21/03/2015 16:20

I've never worn it. I suspect if I was used to wearing it and was considering going no-makeup, going totally cold-turkey might seem a bit of a major step - but maybe you could cut down, no eye makeup, just a bit of lipstick, or vice versa.

I think being clean with brushed hair and clean clothes counts as presentable.

I recently went to a women in IT event, and I was looking to see who was wearing makeup, partly because I'm not often in a women-only space, or even a women-in-the-majority space. Several weren't (as far as I could tell - I'm the only one I knew wasn't for definite), and most who were wearing it were wearing it in pretty understated ways, fairly neutral colours (no bright scarlet red lips, for example), and not too much of it. There were around 100 women there, and a handful were wearing quite a lot of makeup, in that they were wearing strong colours, and just looked "made-up", if you see what I mean. They looked nice, but they clearly were wearing make-up, and they stood out because of that.

I wondered if I were at an industry event which has a higher percentage of women, or is just a different field, maybe hospitality or retail or something, I assume I probably would see some more obvious make-up around, but I don't know, and it may just be saying something about my own prejudices. Quite often, I don't really notice at all, and one of the reasons I did at this event was partly because we were doing an exercise about how much you consciously see (to do with unconscious bias), e.g. if someone says, how many red things can you see? Then you will consciously notice a lot more red things, and that's partly why I started looking at who was wearing make-up.

bodingading · 21/03/2015 16:36

I don't wear makeup or have a hairstyle (just clip it off every few months) and it's fine. It's completely fine. Nothing happens, OP. I have a good job and a husband and lots of friends and so on. I probably do look less sexually desirable to men I do not know and that is ok by me. Pretty is not the rent I pay on my space in the world. You know, 20 years ago I modelled and I felt terrible about myself all the time and I came to the conclusion pretty sharpish that there was something pretty obscene about this whole sorry charade of Beauty. It's a trap. It's a game you can't win. It's like approaching the speed of light: the more you do the worse you feel.

Anyway so I wear clothes based on how nice the texture is and I don't even moisturise (good god burn her!!). And nothing bad happened. Nothing. The only time it even comes up is when other women say to me that they wish they could have such short hair/not diet/have a bare face. When I tell them they can they always say that it's okay for me to do that, but they can't. That I can, but they can't.

I don't know why they can't, except that I remember thinking I couldn't. That I just couldn't. But I can. And so can you. And nothing bad will happen. The whole thing is a con.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 21/03/2015 16:41

When I'm not at work I don't wear make up. I just can't be arsed with the hassle.

For work I wear that tinted bb cream stuff and mascara. No idea why I bother really, I work nights and it's all long gone by a couple of hours in to the shift. I do think it evens my skin tone and makes me look a bit more alive which is good for work I guess. Just wish it'd stay put.

I do wear more make up for nights out. Not that I go out much......

As I get older (40) I care much less what people think, so if people want to judge me for not wearing make up, they can go right ahead.

avocadotoast · 21/03/2015 16:41

Depending how much you normally wear, I'd scale it down gradually rather than just stopping completely. I do wear makeup most days, but I don't wear much (light foundation, concealer under eyes, eyebrows filled in, mascara, blusher, lip balm. Takes me maybe 10 mins on a morning). I used to wear more in the past (basically used to wear heavier foundation and eyeliner every day) and hated days when I didn't have any on at all.

These days I am more comfortable than I once would've been if I have a day without it, but I do like how my skin looks with it, so most days I wear it.

Jessica2point0 · 21/03/2015 16:51

I tend to wear it as a kind of 'mask' when I'm having a rough time, or sometimes for special occasions. I think I feel more pressure to conform if there's a reason - like wearing makeup and blow drying hair means I've made an effort, and not wearing it would feel like I wasn't that arsed about the event. Not sure where that feeling comes from tbh.

GibberingFlapdoodle · 21/03/2015 17:03

Never worn make-up, except once or twice on a stage! Never saw the point.

You are worth far more than your looks LadyBlaBlah, ditch it! I've never had any comments about it or my hair either.

PacificDogwood · 21/03/2015 17:10

I don't wear make-up day to day - mascara and eye liner with a bit of tinted moisturisers for a night out once or twice a year (yes, I know, riveting social life HmmGrin).

I had my full 'face' done at a make-up counter a while ago and felt really strange all day long, did not recognise myself in the mirror. V disconcerting and I did not like that feeling. I did not look bad, just not 'me' IYKWIM.

Must be equally strange if you are used to a face made-up to then suddenly see yourself 'bare'. Maybe ditch one product/colour at a time?

I seriously could not be bothered every day.
And the money… ShockShock

LumpySpacedPrincess · 21/03/2015 17:17

I wear make up every day and I love it. I know it's part of my conditioning but it is also something I enjoy wearing.

Smile
Original poster
LadyBlaBlah · 21/03/2015 17:24

I know noone else really notices and that adds to the ludicrousness of it.

I'm doing lots of training at the moment so I'm in sports gear all some of the time. And I realise putting on mascara and blusher before a 15 mike run is actual insanity.

OP posts:
alexpolistigers · 21/03/2015 17:26

bodingading I have never bought mousturiser. Why do so many people use it?? Do they really have skin that is so dry?? Is it flaking or something? I don't get the need for it.

I live in a country with hot summers and I still get by without moisturiser.

My MIL uses olive oil as a beauty product, and a strange mix made of olive oil and beeswax that she rubs in, I think as a moisturiser. I have to admit I am curious about it!

Happypiglet · 21/03/2015 17:40

Never wear make up, ever. No one has ever said to me "do you know what you would look better with a bit of slap" ....
Just be aware of wearing an SPF moisturiser if you wear foundation now as you will need some sun protection to replace it.

Happypiglet · 21/03/2015 17:42

X post with Alex! I wear moisturiser to give me some sun protection

GibberingFlapdoodle · 21/03/2015 17:46

Moisturiser I do use. And yes it's for dry skin that does flake and crack if it goes far enough. Just since you asked! Smile

PacificDogwood · 21/03/2015 17:48

Oh, yes, I need moisturiser too - my limit is £5 a jar so I 'jump' from make to make depending on what's on offer.

I have never, ever 'cleansed' in my life. Or 'toned' - what on earth IS all that?! I wash from time to time though Grin

JeanneDeMontbaston · 21/03/2015 17:48

I think you tend to need more moisturiser if you use it, because your skin gets used to it. I certainly notice that if I've gone without it for a week or two, my skin goes very dry, then steadily less dry.

I like using it, though, so I carry on.

tribpot · 21/03/2015 17:48

Gosh, do you really put mascara on to go out running? That would be the thing to tackle first - seriously it must be lasting all of about 3 mins.

TheBlackRider · 21/03/2015 17:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alexpolistigers · 21/03/2015 17:49

That makes sense, Gibbering. But I do know people who have perfectly ordinary non flaky skin my sister is a prime example who moisturise it.

specialsubject · 21/03/2015 17:55

almost never do now, and never was a great fan of it. Have never worn lipstick because it looks ridiculous and feels horrible.

no-one has ever insulted my appearance, or not to my face, anyway. But then I like to think I don't have 'friends' like that.

lot of 19th century stuff on here 'I look like a corpse without makeup', 'I don't dare leave the house without it'. Quite worrying that females feel they don't have a choice about whether to slap up or not.

everyone looks better and younger without it, anyway.

Teeste · 21/03/2015 17:57

I don't wear make-up. Last time I can remember wearing any was my wedding 3 years ago. I'd stick some on if it was a very special occasion or I needed to look professional, though. I think there's a line for me with make-up - if you feel like you have to do it, there's something up with that. Ditto hair removal, heels etc.

Frankly, with my stupidly sensitive skin, make-up actually hurts after a while. It dries out my skin, stings, makes my eyelids heavy and then rubs, runs or falls off and I have to use yet more expensive chemicals to get it off completely. It takes money and effort and I simply can't be arsed with it. Like pp have said, nothing happens. The make-up police haven't come for me yet.

I do make my own skin scrubs and moisturisers though and they're a damn sight better than commercial ones, let me tell you! And yes, with dry, sensitive, eczema and psoriasis-prone skin, I do need moisturisers :)

Fleecyleesy · 21/03/2015 17:59

Op I think you are overthinking it. If you like makeup enough to spend the time, effort and money on it, then why not just wear it?

I personally hate make up and can't understand why anyone would spend time and money on it. But we are all different - why do you not allow yourself to be who you are? Do you think that the p (patriarchy?) has conditioned you? Some things are just who we are. My dd has seen me in sports kit and no makeup since she was born. She loves makeup, it's who she is so that's fine. I have spoken to her about just wearing it sometimes as it is a bind.

SolidGoldBrass · 21/03/2015 18:00

I use moisturizers (whatever they have in the pound shop) because I am a) 50 with dryer skin and b) spend a lot of my time outdoors. If I don't use any, my face feels a bit uncomfortable and chapped.
I do wear make up when I'm going out, but not otherwise. I like make up for 'dressing up' and used to go in for all sorts of lurid colours and drawing stars on my face. But then again, I spent a lot of my youth hanging out with musicians and goths and glam rockers, so men wearing make up was part of my cultural landscape (and I still have a tremendous weakness for a bit of slap on a man).