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Wearing or not wearing makeup

(138 Posts)
Lovetotravel Thu 24-Jul-25 09:41:34

Just wondering why some women (mainly) feel the need to wear makeup all the time? Some will say because it makes them feel better about themselves, but why? You can’t see it yourself unless you keep looking in the mirror and when you’re out and about shopping nobody really takes any notice of you. I get it if you’re eating out or at work but not everyday or when you’re at home alone.

Dottydots Thu 24-Jul-25 14:27:42

I make sure my hair looks neat and only wear a touch of lipstick and the minutest bit of eyeliner, as I don't want to frighten the horses!

Jimjam1 Thu 24-Jul-25 15:15:46

I don’t wear makeup when gardening or doing housework. I wear old joggers, old t shirt and hair in a scrunchie. However when I go out for meals or meet with friends I bathe, wash hair and put a full face of makeup on. It makes me feel confident and I think I look lovely. To me that’s all that matters. I couldn’t care less what others think.

M0nica Thu 24-Jul-25 15:27:30

Do I sense an air of superority in the OP? Despite responding the tone of the whole OP leaves me feeling uneasy.

Why should people who wear make-up all the time be asked to justify themselves to anyone? You might as well ask people why they feel a need to comb their hair every day, or cut their nails, if no one is going to see them?

For he record I have very dry totally colourless skin, and always have had. Each day I massage lots of moisteriser into my skin. I do not my skin gets dry and feels uncomfortabale and, from the day I t came on the market i have worn blusher.

Before blusher my colourless skin led to people, including doctors assume I was ill or anaemic when I was nothing of the sort. Enter blusher and no one has made that remark since. i wear when I am home alone because I do not wish to scare myself if I chance to see myself in the mirror and because, when I do look in the mirror my skin looks warm and healthy and that is good for my morale.

Casdon Thu 24-Jul-25 15:30:29

I want to feel my best, whatever I’m doing. If I’m at home it’s sunscreen, tinted moisturiser, mascara, tidy eyebrows and some perfume, it takes me less than two minutes a day to do it all, and it’s just part of my daily showering and getting up ritual, I don’t even think about it, I just do me.

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 24-Jul-25 15:31:42

I put on my makeup every morning. I don't think the cat would recognise me without it..

Yogaknit Thu 24-Jul-25 15:32:34

I don't wear makeup now because I'm too lazy. Perhaps lazy is the wrong word. It's more like I am distracted by more enjoyable things to do. Plus I'd worry about not blending it properly or having wonky eye liner or something.

crazyH Thu 24-Jul-25 15:34:42

I like a bit of lipstick 💄

Judy54 Thu 24-Jul-25 17:08:52

Lovetotravel

Just wondering why some women (mainly) feel the need to wear makeup all the time? Some will say because it makes them feel better about themselves, but why? You can’t see it yourself unless you keep looking in the mirror and when you’re out and about shopping nobody really takes any notice of you. I get it if you’re eating out or at work but not everyday or when you’re at home alone.

How you look both make up and clothes says a lot about you and how you feel about yourself. When I am out and about shopping I do take notice of people and how thy are dressed and often admire them for their choice of clothes. It is sad if we stop noticing people and keeps our heads down in the supermarket. Interacting with people even sometimes strangers is good for moral.

Witzend Thu 24-Jul-25 17:15:05

If I'm going out of the house I always wear a little - just to cover the permanent rings under my eyes, and just enough mascara and under-eye pencil to make sure my eyes don’t disappear, and a little lipstick.
Takes 2 minutes max. If that’s vain, so be it.

I’ve never worn foundation, though, I hate the feel of it.

GrannyIvy Thu 24-Jul-25 17:18:07

I don’t feel dressed without makeup always worn it but recently suffering with blepharitis so have stopped wearing eye shadow and mascara to help my eyes feel more comfortable. My dear mum always wore full make up and dressed beautifully she maintained you had to do this to keep your man😂

keepingquiet Thu 24-Jul-25 17:23:05

In conversation recently I told someone I was comfortable in my own skin. Other people have to look at my face more than I do!

My friend, who has always worn make-up (even if she does it very well!) said that she was also comfortable in her own skin.
I told her she couldn't be, otherwise she wouldn't have to cover it up!

Wear it by all means, but don't become a prisoner to it!

Allira Thu 24-Jul-25 17:28:39

Georgesgran

I’m a make up fan - every day. After almost 60 years, I’ve got it down to a fine art and it only takes a few minutes, in the time it takes to dry off after my shower. My good friend has never has bothered with make up, but has dreadful skin damage due to excessive sunbathing. Another has multiple allergies, she would love to add a bit of colour to her face, but can’t.

What about clothes Love? Some people wear nothing but designer labels, even at home - they too can’t see themselves, but they’re doing no harm?

I think everyone to their own. If it feels good - do it.

I agree.

Without makeup I look totally washed-out.
It takes me about 5 minutes to put on light makeup and look a lot rosier, brighter and healthier than I really am!

Each to their own.

AmberGran Thu 24-Jul-25 17:29:52

There's nothing commendable about not wearing makeup, or about wearing it. It's just a life choice. Like dusting or not dusting. Ironing or not ironing. Hair dye or no hair dye. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

I used to wear full face whenever I was out, but now settle for just mascara, brows and lippie most of the time. It makes me look a bit healthier as I am quite pale with permanent black circles under my eyes even when I am well. It stops all the comments about how peaky I look, when I am feeling perfectly well. All stopped with a tiny bit of corrector and concealer in about 2 minutes. Sometimes I make more effort. It takes a bit longer now I can't see as well, but only a few minutes.

If other people don't want to or feel the need to that's their choice. What I can't understand is the number of people who don't even seem to brush their hair any more - what's that all about??

Mt61 Thu 24-Jul-25 17:50:09

henetha

Thanks Mt61 for that. I'm always looking for new help to hide the redness from Rosacea. At present I'm using Cetaphil
tinted moisturiser which is quite good. I will definitely get some Dr.Jart. smile

Dr Jart much better. It is expensive but a little goes a long way, easily lasts 12mths.
You can purchase a 15ml trial jar, good if you travel Henetha.

merlotgran Thu 24-Jul-25 18:13:37

I use tinted moisturiser every day. It looks more natural if ‘watered down’ with a little Nivea moisturiser. A little gently smudged under eyeliner and I’m done in less than five minutes.

If going out I wear eye shadow in a colour as close to my skin tone as I can get, some barely there blusher and lipstick.

Is it worth the effort?
You Bet!!

ViceVersa Thu 24-Jul-25 18:27:24

I rarely if ever wear make-up and never really have done. When you're told that a pig in lipstick is still a pig...

AmberGran Thu 24-Jul-25 18:55:52

ViceVersa

I rarely if ever wear make-up and never really have done. When you're told that a pig in lipstick is still a pig...

If anyone said that to me I would probably think 'How very rude. Pig ignorant, in fact'.

My DF hated makeup and whenever I wore makeup as a teenager he would make comments like 'You look like you've got two black eyes. Wash your face.' My mother, who never ever wore makeup, used to snigger. I never did wash my face. I used to feel quite sorry for them really, so hidebound and stuck in their ways and disapproving of anything that was different to what they believed in.

ViceVersa Thu 24-Jul-25 18:57:25

AmberGran

ViceVersa

I rarely if ever wear make-up and never really have done. When you're told that a pig in lipstick is still a pig...

If anyone said that to me I would probably think 'How very rude. Pig ignorant, in fact'.

My DF hated makeup and whenever I wore makeup as a teenager he would make comments like 'You look like you've got two black eyes. Wash your face.' My mother, who never ever wore makeup, used to snigger. I never did wash my face. I used to feel quite sorry for them really, so hidebound and stuck in their ways and disapproving of anything that was different to what they believed in.

That was just one of many ways in which my mother loved to make me feel worthless.

Norah Thu 24-Jul-25 18:59:38

AmberGran There's nothing commendable about not wearing makeup, or about wearing it. It's just a life choice. Like dusting or not dusting. Ironing or not ironing. Hair dye or no hair dye. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

I'm very pale. Good tinted moisturiser, factor 50, dyed brows, lippy.

AmberGran Thu 24-Jul-25 19:00:15

ViceVersa So get yourself some lippy - because you're worth it smile

BlueBelle Thu 24-Jul-25 19:25:25

I put light make up on every day after my shower whether I m going anywhere or not and my earrings, don’t feel dressed without it

merlotgran Thu 24-Jul-25 19:32:46

I rarely if ever wear make-up and never really have done. When you're told that a pig in lipstick is still a pig.

If anyone said that to me they’d need a hefty coat of concealer for their black eye!

Liaise Thu 24-Jul-25 20:18:21

I use tinted moisturiser, blusher, eyeliner, concealer, sometimes foundation and lipstick. I also have my non existent eyebrows micro bladed occasionally. It makes my 82 year old face look years younger and has been approved by my grandaughters.

AmberGran Thu 24-Jul-25 20:26:20

merlotgran

^I rarely if ever wear make-up and never really have done. When you're told that a pig in lipstick is still a pig.^

If anyone said that to me they’d need a hefty coat of concealer for their black eye!

🤣🤣🤣

PernillaVanilla Thu 24-Jul-25 20:41:35

I use Jones Road Miracle Balm for a very natural healthy glow, mascara and lipstick, a very shiny one that matches my natural lip colour in the day and a bright red one for evenings or dressy occasions. I add eye liner if the occasions demands. It doesn't take long and it makes me look and feel so much better, the red lipstick in particular makes me feel more assertive.