The feeling of makeup

[Erythronium]

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.

I still shave my legs whem they're on show. The last time I did it was last year. Does that make me stupid, brainwashed or unable to think for myself or do I just feel the social pressures and judgements that say a woman shouldn't be hairy? Sometimes these things are difficult to get over even if you know intellectually that they're wrong.

Fine. I think the post about women "enduring" make- up was deeply insulting to women.

I'm fascinated at the way all this feminist analysis you (general you) go in for still apparently leaves so many of you incapable of deciding off your own bat that make up isn't for you. I find a lot of what is said extremely infantilising.

If you keep repeating words like extremely infantalising and deeply insulting they might stick. I don't think they're true though.

Was there a lot of feminist analysis going on on this thread? I thought it was consciousness raising. I've never heard that other women have had the same experiences of makeup as I do. I find that very interesting. Also who knew that nails had to breathe? Fascinating stuff.

No, Lass, the post you've quoted wasn't patronising. It was factual: someone said they hated it and assumed others did too but forced themselves to like it. They didn't say that in a mean or judgmental way. People do do things for fashion and beauty, it's why fashion and makeup exist, they're not for health reasons.

Yet somehow you've taken that very personally and openly attacked every woman who has said she felt she had to wear make up when she didn't want to. Why?!

Fine. I think the post about women "enduring" make- up was deeply insulting to women.

I'm fascinated at the way all this feminist analysis you (general you) go in for still apparently leaves so many of you incapable of deciding off your own bat that make up isn't for you. I find a lot of what is said extremely infantilising.

It's partly because this kind of defensive attitude that means that people don't acknowledge the huge affect advertising and marketing has on us.

It's not infantilising women - or men either - to ask questions or comment on how we're influenced by societal pressure and by marketing and advertising. You can pretend it doesn't exist all you like. But I can tell you (as someone who's worked in marketing), it not only exists, how people act (in large numbers) is very often predictable.

Yes of course many people will wear make up, even though it feels uncomfortable, because of societal pressure. That's the way it works. If you think this kind of pressure doesn't affect you, in one way or another, you're deluded (as are many people, though, handily enough for the companies selling you products).

I don't wear make up FWIW. But I'm under no illusions - I know I'm affected by marketing and societal pressures, despite being perhaps more aware of it than many due to my job.

Oh for fuck's sake. Would people be happier if I'd made a longer post about assuming other women endured it "like I used to, until I finally woke up and smelled the internalised misogyny"? I kind of thought that bit went without saying, but never mind.

I've had the phrase "pain is beauty" repeated to me so many times by other women - about plucking eyelashes, waxing, wearing high heels, going out in clothes that are wrong for the weather etc. It's hardly new information that a lot of women "endure" beauty practices they find uncomfortable for the sake of fashion.

Another one who intensely dislikes the feeling of make up and nail polish. But I have 'sensory issues' so am not surprised if other people are less bothered by the feeling.

There are other directly painful beauty procedures I do endure for the sake of conforming to absurd but internalized beauty norms, like having my legs waxed. In fact I'm much less bothered by outright pain than some other sensations, which does me no good at all because tend to put up with problems instead of registering them properly.

I also felt the foetuses move quite early (from week 10) when I was pregnant. Couldn't understand how other people couldn't feel them. Not a strong sensation, but a tiny thing moving around in my womb with a feathery touch, that grew into kicking and pushing. Wondered then if I just have a strong sense of touch and that's why I'm often a fusspot about sensation (and especially was as a child), rather than it being a problem with how I deal with sensations.

It feels dirty and I’m aware of it. Only wear it rarely these days. When i had my first baby i just couldn’t imagine having foundation lipstick on etc and smearing it over a baby, babies touching your face etc. I also feel and act differently when I’m in make up, heels mode - like I’m suddenly aware I’m female, different - a lady

Did anyone watch the BBC program Glow Up presented by Stacey Dooley - sort of Bake Off for Makeup? Just interested as many of the challenges in that were creating incredible escapism makeup, not about "looking pretty" - obviously in daily life people don't make themselves up to look like a tree or a troll - but there is a valid point that makeup is often about creativity, colour, self expression, individuality - not just about beautifying 🤷🏽‍♀️