because it makes it more apparent that I've got eyelashes, lol. I'm blonde and they are pretty light, so if I don't wear at least mascara I look like I've got no eyelashes, which looks pretty ridiculous! Personally I do wear make up, but I go for the natural look, with just some tinted moisturizer and mascara, sometimes some eye-shadow If i'm in the mood for it and almost always a little blush on the cheeks. but the funny thing is people doesn't seem to realize I do wear make up, because even one female collegue asked me (surprised when we were talking about it) "Do you wear make up?" so I guess I've succeeded in that natural look, lol. I use it to enhance, not so much to cover anymore as I did when I was younger. and now I feel I can't go out without at least that little amount that I wear. Ok, sometimes I do, It's not like I put make up on to go grocery-shopping, but I don't think I would ever go to work without. it makes me feel more confident and more feminine.
Never really use mascara, hate the way it feels. Lipgloss too. Both have sticky tendencies.. I've gone to work without make-up, on less tired days.
A couple of years ago, I would have said I wouldn't have dared to leave the house without at least foundation and mascara on - I would have felt far too ugly to do so. I don't know if that's because of wanting to be attracted to lads, or if it's more encouraged by other girls. Girls are quite often the one to judge other girls - infact, as school it was a common excuse to pick on someone if they didn't wear make-up. This last six months or so I have gotten a lot more confident in my own skin. No, I still don't feel particularly attractive without any make-up on, but there are times where I will leave the house without it on (just nipping to Tesco, for example). I had an eye infection a months ago and couldn't wear eye make-up, but still had to go to college, and I have never felt more self concious in my life. I didn't even want to look at people. But by the end of the week I seemed to have gotten over it, and I don't mind not wearing so much make-up anymore if I don't have the time to do it/can't be avoided. Strange how one thing can change your attitudes to things. Still, I do think women look more attractive with make-up on. Some are naturaly beautiful, and a little bit of gloss is all they need, some look better with a faceful on.
It's a shame that some girls put on loads of make up--but they don't get their eyebrows shaped properly, visit a decent hairdresser or look at themselves objectively from the neck down. I know professional help is expensive in the UK, for example, but so is buying products and using them in such quantities. Maybe if girls paid more attention to their whole look, they would realise they don't need so much slap. I think that a bit of make up gives confidence and enhances features, and some women certainly need a bit of enhancement, but on the other hand, girls shouldn't feel they have to hide behind a mask.
I agree with Madhoca actually - a nice haircut, or a flattering outfit, can make such a big difference. Like today, I put quite a nice outfit on and my hair's gone alright, so I didn't feel the need to put much make-up on. I've been going more natural looking recently anyway - just foundation and mascara. But then if I'm going down town on a night, a put a lot of eye make-up on. not drag-queen looking, but still a fair bit. I think it comes down to what people are comfortable with - if a girl feels more comfortable wearing a lot of make-up and with her extensions in, yes, I may think she looks a bit fake, but as long as she is happy that's all that matters. Same for the girls who don't feel the need to wear make-up.
i like this and agree im 20, female and dont wear makeup. i never really have except maybe about 6 or more times in my entire life, wearing a bit of mascara or foundation for some special occasions. personaly i dont like it, i dont have anything against it, if people want to wear it then great for them! though i really dont like over the top or just too much makeup wheres its like you could chisell the mask off lol i like just as others here have said - that it just enhances your own pretty features or just going for the natural looking makeup. but even so i dont think im attractive or good-looking at all, and well personally i dont think makeup is going to improve me in anyway either, unless maybe it was professionaly done and well i dont have the time or money for that maybe just when i get married hehe i also like the freedom of not wearing makeup its great! it doesnt hinder or trap me which for some women it can. i can go out when i like and if it raines i love that i can point my face to the sky and let it soke my skin and smile, without worrying wether my makeup is a mess i dont like the way i look but its not going to change so id rather move through life and grow in confidence looking the way i do now, and finding someone who will love me the way i look naturally, no hiding, nothing. its not my face that needs to change or the way i show it but how i see myself and others see me. were all beautiful just the way we are but if it makes you happy and you have fun wearing makeup then go for it!!
I always thought that guys wanted women to wear makeup but they didn't want to KNOW the women were wearing makeup--hence the "natural" style of wearing makeup. This is totally illogical to me. "Natural" style of makeup seems like an oxymoron. I'm not talking about makeup made from natural sources but makeup that is supposed to mimic natural hues so it doesn't look like makeup. That assumption above is just an assumption based on how I've seen men act. I'm not saying that I've done empirical studies. I do think that some women feel like they HAVE to wear makeup to hide their "flaws" and I think this sucks. I've gone back and forth about makeup for years--along with shaving my legs. I think it's much healthier to choose to wear makeup because you want to, not because you feel you are some hideous creature who shouldn't go out without makeup. While I might argue that makeup is oppressive to women, I could also suggest the opposite because there is a lot of medieval misogyny about women's "fanciful" tastes in makeup and fashion, and how this proves they are deceptive by nature. I've been in a controlling relationship with a man who did not want me to wear makeup because he thought I was "advertising" myself for other men. I think women should have the choice to wear makeup or no makeup...but that is should be a choice (not something she feels she HAS to do or can't do.)
Personally, I always love those opportunistic photos of glamorous female celebs who mistakenly decide to pop out quickly to the local shop without make-up. It's a shock to see these people stripped of all that enhancement. You tend to just assume that they are naturally gorgeous, and it's a real eye-opener to see how far from the truth this is in certain cases, and just how heavily they rely on make-up for their looks. I can barely think of anything less attractive than heavy, apparently indiscriminately applied make-up, but that is obviously very different from skilled application, which can certainly enhance facial appearance. Not everyone is blessed with natural beauty, attractive skin etc, and it's wrong to knock these people just because they choose to wear a little more make-up than you might personally approve of. Having said that. my own girlfriend seldom wears make-up, but in other ways takes real care of her appearance, and consequently I find her gorgeous. On the rare occasion when she does apply some, she does it sparingly and it does help to further highlight her assets, so she actually succeeds in looking even better. But, ultimately, we should never judge a woman (or a man for that matter) purely on looks. Physical beauty can mask a multitude of deeper evils, whilst, on the other hand, someone who does not command our immediate physical attraction may just turn out to be the nicest and most worthwhile person that we've ever met.
QUOTE: "But playing devil's advocate: why should women be under this pressure cooker to 'make themselves more attractive' or look 'perfect at all times' (debatable), when men aren't? " I think that is a pressure we put on ourselves and not one created by the men around us.
^ I think its a complicated mix of forces. Men and women were socialized to believe that women should be beautiful and men strong. But socialization is a two way thing, and we sort of participate in and transform the institutions that socialized us. I look back at Guenevere and Arthur and see that Guenevere was beautiful and Arthur and Lancelot were strong. I think this idea is still really strong, even if it is old (maybe because it is so old). That's why you don't have too many men dressing up in makeup, and you don't have too many women who are pumping iron and taking steroids to achieve bulging, giant necks. Men are still under similar social pressures though, that's why, IMO, they are more likely to die violently than women--because they are under pressure to be tough and strong. I think both men and women feed into these gender roles.
I read somewhere that the Egyptians rimmed their eyes in eyeliner as protection against eye infections and maybe the evil eye...I tried it once, but I couldn't tell if it worked or not. It's a good excuse for wearing makeup though. "I don't feel any pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty ideals...I was just warding off evil curses."
As a guy, I feel the opposite pressure. My SO really hates when I tone my hair. At the store, there's an entire wall of hair colouring, bleaching and toning products for women, all of them decorated with female faces. The few hair colouring products for men stand separately and are only for hiding grey hair, which is why I have to use the ones for women instead.
Thanks for your perspective. If a man wants to tone his hair, grow his hair, grow a beard... it's his choice. So products in the store should reflect that.
