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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

The feeling of makeup

110 replies

Erythronium · 05/06/2019 23:56

Sort of an addition to the other current makeup threads. I wonder if anybody else has experienced this.

When I wore makeup, I didn't like the feel of it. I had liquid eyeliner that stung my eyes, mascara whose fibres used to get in my eyes and make them water, lipstick which sometimes felt horrible on my lips and was unpleasantly perfumed. Foundation was weird when it dried on my skin and powder used to be cakey and not very pleasant either. I already said on one of the other threads that I didn't like the feeling of nail varnish on my nails which is why I never painted them, nothing to do with any feminist analysis at the time.

Andrea Dworkin said that beauty practices were pain but I'd also add that they are uncomfortable. Not bad enough to stop you doing it, but enough to always make you aware that you are wearing makeup and really, that it's not very nice.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 06/06/2019 00:01

Yes, indeed. It's one of the reasons I don't wear it. I don't like feeling uncomfortable. Fortunately I am very comfortable in my own, unadorned by makeup skin.

I dislike the feeling of nail varnish too, really can't bear it.

ALittleBitofVitriol · 06/06/2019 00:02

Yep, I hate the feel of make up, it makes me want to claw at my skin. All the pores clogged makes me feel like I'm suffocating.

I also hate how it makes me look, it doesn't look like me and my brain doesn't like it!

The most I can do is tinted moisturiser.

Original poster
Erythronium · 06/06/2019 00:02

I'll also add hairspray - that stuff was a cloud of chemicals but I still used it to make my hair bigger.

OP posts:
CautiouslyPessimistic · 06/06/2019 00:02

I'm exactly the same. I find the discomfort very distracting - it sort of interferes with my ability to lose myself in a task or a conversation.

LoafofSellotape · 06/06/2019 00:05

I don't feel any different if I wear make up or not,I can't feel it on my skin. I do have a friend who says she hates the feel of it.

LassOfFyvie · 06/06/2019 00:06

No. Nothing like that. I wear gas permeable contact lenses and don't have a problem wearing eyeshadow or mascara.

I don't wear lipstick every day but keep a lipstick in my bag which I use if my lips feel dry.

LassOfFyvie · 06/06/2019 00:09

I don't feel any different if I wear make up or not,I can't feel it on my skin

No, me neither.

DodoPatrol · 06/06/2019 00:16

Can’t you feel it? Really? That seems so odd to me.

I wonder if it’s yet another autism-related thing.

AngeloMysterioso · 06/06/2019 00:20

Sounds like you were using crap make up to be honest...

nocoolnamesleft · 06/06/2019 00:26

Really, there are people who can't feel makeup? I'd assumed everyone else got that horrible feeling, but endured it for the sake of fashion/beauty.

ByGrabtharsHammarWhatASaving · 06/06/2019 00:28

Mascara/ eyeliner definitely used to sting my eyes. And foundation made me feel... idk, sticky? Plus it always highlighted where my skin was dry. But the worst for me was constantly feeling anxious about whether it had sweated off my face or smudged everywhere. I feel much more confident now I don't wear it. It was definitely cheap makeup though.

LassOfFyvie · 06/06/2019 00:28

Really, there are people who can't feel makeup?

How odd- I was thinking really, there people who can feel make -up?

Time40 · 06/06/2019 00:30

I dislike the feeling of nail varnish too, really can't bear it

But ... but ... what is there to feel? I don't get that one, at all. How can it feel any different to not wearing nail varnish?

I know what people mean about feeling uncomfortable in facial make-up, though. I can't feel eye make-up or lipstick, but I know when I'm wearing foundation.

LassOfFyvie · 06/06/2019 00:31

I'd assumed everyone else got that horrible feeling, but endured it for the sake of fashion/beauty

Sorry, but I find that comment really weird. And a bit patronising. Do you really think women are such sheep?

OccasionalKite · 06/06/2019 00:31

I wear make-up some days, and enjoy it when I do.
Other days, I don't wear make-up, and I enjoy it when I don't.

BroomstickOfLove · 06/06/2019 00:32

I can't feel it, and if I can, I use a different product. I have very dry skin, so even if I don't wear make-up, I have a reasonably heavy moisturiser and lip balm on my face, and the make-up I wear doesn't feel noticeably different from that. I basically remember a cakey sensation when I was a teenager, but none of the stuff I use nowadays feels like that.

64sNewName · 06/06/2019 00:34

I can’t feel it at all either.

It isn’t all the same, though. When I used to do stage stuff (decades ago at uni) I could really feel the specific stage makeup they used to make us wear. It was thicker and kind of claggy on the skin. To a lesser extent I imagine there are differences in how different types and formulas of “normal” makeup feel today.

Certainly it shouldn’t ever sting your eyes though, and I would hope nobody is putting up with that.

DramaAlpaca · 06/06/2019 00:37

Time40 nail varnish makes my fingers feel heavy or something, it's sort of like my nails can't breathe... it's difficult to describe, but it's a suffocating sort of feeling. I am aware of how mad that sounds, btw Grin It's a shame, because I like how they look with nail polish on, I just cannot bear how it feels.

ALittleBitofVitriol · 06/06/2019 00:42

Both cheap teen crap and professionally done with quality products. I end up subconsciously wiping it off within half an hour, because my skin feels weird, and my brain feels weird, so I keep accidentally touching/rubbing/wiping my face.

I do have sensitive skin generally, reacts to metals, can't wear jewellery without getting a rash (except my white gold wedding ring), though I'm not generally sensory sensitive.

BroomstickOfLove · 06/06/2019 00:43

My nails do feel unnaturally smooth when I wear mail polish, but it's quite a pleasant sensation so it doesn't bother me at all.

SpeckofStardust · 06/06/2019 00:52

Sounds like you were using crap make up to be honest...

You beat me to it.

And you don’t have to worry on my behalf, I don’t ‘endure’ anything for the sake of fashion/beauty either. I find it’s possible to both look groomed and be comfortable wearing the products I favour and so do most women I know.

hipposarerad · 06/06/2019 00:53

I can feel absolutely every bit of make up I wear, even BB cream feels weird. I can really relate to the pp who used the word distracting. I don't really wear it much these days.

I'm also surprised to learn that there are people who can't feel it at all.

Someone mentioned autism and that makes me wonder too. I have autistic children and given what I've learned about autism I'm certain my late father was autistic too. I have other sensory issues (sudden loud noises give me a creeping itch all over, plus certain types of lighting make me feel odd, other stuff too) and sometimes I do wonder about myself.

MountainDweller · 06/06/2019 01:08

I definitely feel makeup. I've given up on eye make up as I have ocular rosacea and all eye make up makes my eyes stream now. I do miss it and feel a bit incomplete without it. I do wear powder foundation, blusher and lip gloss as I think I look better with it. It's quite light so I'm aware of it but it doesn't feel heavy. I feel nail varnish but I don't mind how it feels. I wish it didn't chip so easily though. What I don't like is the feeling I get when I've taken it off - my nails hurt! I've seen other people say the same. Sudden rush of oxygen to the nails/skin?

I cannot imagine wearing 'modern' make up with everything airbrushed within an inch of its life and 26 different colours on my eyes.it looks so over the top for everyday. I'm always going for the me-but-better look.

Crushedvelvetcouch · 06/06/2019 01:22

Can't feel anything myself.

PlatypusPie · 06/06/2019 01:25

I don’t like the feeling of much mascara, mostly because I have very sensitive eyes and used to wear contact lenses and hated getting stray bits in, but I am not aware of other types of makeup once they are on. Lipstick is a nice feeling - smooth and hydrating.

Having said that, I hardly ever wear any now because I can’t be bothered and am genetically blessed with good skin ( mother and grandmother had lovely skin into their 80s ) When I did used to wear a full face of makeup in my corporate days, I quite liked the sense that it was providing a barrier between my skin and the polluted central London air.

I loathe the feeling of nail varnish though - makes my nails feel smothered so never use it. If that is the equivalent of how some PPs report feeling about facial make up, then sympathies and I don’t blame you for not liking it.