Gransnet forums

Chat

Wearing Make Up. Age 63.

(57 Posts)
kassi Fri 16-Jan-15 15:04:06

I am 63. I have been wearing make up for nearly 50 years. Foundation, powder, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, and lipstick. Would never go downstairs, open the front door, or go out without it. Over the years it has been toned down though..... Not garish.

Just lately, maybe over the past 12 months, when I have been getting ready for bed, I've realised that I've 'forgotten' to use my make up.......

Nothing 'bad' happened when I didn't wear it..... Life carried on as usual! I'm now wondering if it's actually worth bothering with the daily ritual? When I have my make up on, I feel 'dressed' and ready to face the world. But life went on as normal when I didnt !

Teetime Fri 16-Jan-15 15:08:04

Mmm I see. I too usually only leave the house with make up on but like you wear what I hope is a more subtle maquillage than when I was younger. Eye liner has gone completely its very harsh and ageing. Luckily I have good skin, no spots or blemishes but feel ungroomed without my face. I do not wear much at all if any when at home just a bucket of moisturiser to give my skin a rest. I think I look rather pale and tired without it but actually no beggar notices me anyway really. smile

loopylou Fri 16-Jan-15 15:11:45

I'm absolutely the opposite! Rarely wear any makeup and probably should.
I tend to wear it only if going out and since being made redundant I haven't worn it more than a few times.
I did wear it when I worked but only foundation, eye shadow and lipstick- have got tons of unused makeup in drawer sad.
Really should make more effort.....

loopylou Fri 16-Jan-15 15:13:18

Just how I think and do Teetime, our posts crossed.

kassi Fri 16-Jan-15 15:23:08

Agree that ' no beggar notices me anyway really' . I have to go into hospital on a regular basis .... 3 - 4 times a year, and make up is forbidden when having a general anaesthetic...... I always take my 'kit' with me, so that when I come round, I can 'do my face'..... But now realising that no one apart from me gives a stuff! It just makes me feel better and more confident.

tanith Fri 16-Jan-15 15:26:29

I have never worn a lot of makeup, nowadays I do use an eyebrow pencil (my eyebrows are non-existent without) and a very light touch of eye pencil under the eye, that's it most days but if I go out then I add mascara and a little lipstick.. but as you say kassi the World didn't stop on days I just didn't bother..

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 16-Jan-15 15:28:32

I think you stop bothering with a lot of things as you get older. And it's not good. I think you should keep using your make-up, but perhaps not the full kit. (Foundation cream is protective)

loopylou Fri 16-Jan-15 15:29:45

I think if it makes you feel better and more confident then go for it! However, in hospital I suspect they like to be able to see 'you'.
I'm basically lazy I guess! hmm

anniezzz09 Fri 16-Jan-15 15:31:31

I agonise over this though I've never worn much make up and certainly never foundation, I can't bear the feeling of wearing a mask!

These days I use eyeliner and lipstick and blusher and sometimes eye shadow and I wear more make up than I used to because I think I am aware of ageing setting in and I can look incredibly pale and washed out a lot of the time, especially in the winter.

I never go out without putting in some earrings!

janerowena Fri 16-Jan-15 15:31:49

I need colour. Especially at this time of year. It's ok when I am at home, I wear none at all, but as soon as a nice light foundation hits my face it seems to come alive. I look like a zombie sometimes, in the early morning and late at night. And a very thin line of eyeliner on the upper lid works wonders and makes me look more awake, it opens up my eyes. Sometimes I forget mascara because the eyeliner has made such a difference. Lips also can look bleached out on people, I don't want to scare the postman! (Like I did the day I forgot I was wearing a pale green facemask!)

loopylou Fri 16-Jan-15 15:37:19

anniezzz, I have to put on perfume as well as earrings, hate it if forget perfume.
If I do make more effort DH asks if I'm going somewhere, so rarely do I wear makeup at home.

Anya Fri 16-Jan-15 15:37:20

Tinted moisturiser is all I use most of the tine. Save the eyeshadow etc for special occasions only.

Anya Fri 16-Jan-15 15:38:26

Your DH actually notices loopy ?

Lona Fri 16-Jan-15 15:38:31

I've always worn makeup since I started work at 16, and I still wear the full works.
I think it protects my skin(I was a redhead) from the weather,but mainly I wear it because without it I look like a walking corpse!

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 16-Jan-15 15:43:36

My son always tells me I look better without my makeup. Which is worrying, in a 'no hope' way.

loopylou Fri 16-Jan-15 15:46:11

Only thing he does notice Anya!
Clothes-wise I think I could wear a black bin bag and no comment!

Anya Fri 16-Jan-15 15:47:13

grin

kassi Fri 16-Jan-15 15:48:23

DH never notices. He wouldn't notice if I was wearing a bin bag!

kassi Fri 16-Jan-15 15:48:57

Sorry cross posts!

janerowena Fri 16-Jan-15 15:49:10

On the rare times when DBH gets back in daylight during the winter and I have a bare face, he peers at me in a concerned fashion and asks 'are you feeling ok?'.

Mishap Fri 16-Jan-15 15:52:01

I think I have some femininity gene missing - never wear make-up or perfume or skirts! - it never put the men off though!

Kassi - you should do whatever makes you happy - wear your war paint on the days you fancy doing it; but don't feel bad about the days you choose not to. Go with the flow.

rockgran Fri 16-Jan-15 15:53:01

I've never worn a lot of make up as I never wanted there to be an occasion when make up was not worn and odious comparisons would be made - e.g. in hospital or camping. However, I always moisturise and usually manage a slick of lipstick and mascara before appearing in public. I do like to use perfume and hate forgetting my earrings. If I forget makeup entirely I doubt anyone would notice. I aim to be "tidy" rather than glamourous.

Mishap Fri 16-Jan-15 15:54:04

Mind you, makeup can be overdone. A relative of my DD is about 30 and wears layers of foundation, plucks her eyebrows away then draws new ones on - every time I see her I want to get a flannel and scrub it off and say "Enjoy your lovely youthful skin while you have it!" She looks an absolute fright, and she is a pretty lass - such a waste.

GillT57 Fri 16-Jan-15 15:55:31

Light good quality foundation to act as sun screen and even out my skin tone, light blusher ( look awful without it), light eye liner, lashings of mascara and slick of lippy. Have a day off if not going anywhere on a Sunday but I am always shocked when I catch sight of myself in the mirror on a no make up day shock

ninathenana Fri 16-Jan-15 16:17:25

I don't leave the house without mascara and brow pencil. I only use more eye makeup and lippy if I'm going somewhere in particular. I've never worn foundation. Luckily my skin is good.
Indoors I don't wear any makeup.