Why the everyday make-up?

Welshwoofs

Perhaps it's just me....but I just don't understand why makeup would cause such a stir.

Personally I don't wear it (I don't own any) and the reasons why are twofold:

a) I have a sneaking suspicion that it ages the skin.
and
b) I don't feel that it particularly 'adds' anything to my appearance so I can't see the point of me spending time and money doing it.

As a lifelong non-makeup wearer and also someone who doesn't have pierced ears and never wears jewelry (again I don't own any) I certainly have experienced some odd comments, always from other women. They range from assumptions that I'm on a 'dress down' day, to comments like 'oh you're lucky, we have to look professional at work' (as though not wearing make-up/jewelry is somehow lacking professionalism) and even as far as the backhanded compliment of 'it's a pity because you have a pretty face but you'd look great with makeup on'. I've dressed for weddings and then been asked when I was going to do my makeup, I've had queries why I've never had my ears pierced (as though poking a bit of steel through an appendage is the default option) and even been asked if I was a 'bit of a tomboy' as a child.

There does seem to me that there's a definite swell of opinion in society that things such as makeup, jewelry...even heels and handbags....are 'natural adornments' on women and the ones who never do these things are probably either a) sandal wearing hippies b) tom-boys or possibly butch lebians c) uncaring about personal appearance or d) irredeemably ugly so doing those things would be the equivalent of 'gilding a turd'

What I prefer to think is that the choice to adorn AND the choice not to should be viewed with equal merit and that phrases such as 'make an effort', 'well groomed' aren't helpful to that end.

For my part, the only time I'll negatively judge someone wearing makeup is when they're so orange they look like the men in the old Tango adverts....and I judge that as hilarious....because it is.

tea_lover

zaxdog wrote: »

Oh and I like to set up my OH's desk (he works from home) with a flask of coffee, bottle of ice water, fruit, supplements etc.

Wow! He's a very lucky man

zaxdog

tea_lover wrote: »

Wow! He's a very lucky man

I'm a lark so I do my bit in the morning but he does dinner most days and the rest of the chores :j

onlyroz

Welshwoofs wrote: »

There does seem to me that there's a definite swell of opinion in society that things such as makeup, jewelry...even heels and handbags....are 'natural adornments' on women and the ones who never do these things are probably either a) sandal wearing hippies b) tom-boys or possibly butch lebians c) uncaring about personal appearance or d) irredeemably ugly so doing those things would be the equivalent of 'gilding a turd'

I suppose this is where I have benefited from working in male-dominated environments and so I have never really encountered attitudes like this. I did once get into a bizarre discussion about eyebrow plucking with a male colleague - it's something I've never done, but he seemed to think that most women viewed it as a mandatory activity.

thehappybutterfly

When I was younger, I hated my looks so much I looked at the ground all the time so people couldn't see my face. In fact, when people asked me if I knew so-and-so, I had to know what type of shoes they wore as I'd never actually seen their face. No exaggeration. In year 8 or 9, a girl once said to me "you're pure ugly (insert name). You'll never get a boyfriend". All this did was confirm what I already knew. 30 years later, I'm still driven by this statement

Hence the daily make up.

dibuzz

That's one thing I find puzzling.
Why do some women pluck out all their eyebrows and then draw them on? Quite often they look like they've been drawn with a huge permanent marker pen.
I've never plucked mine, mainly because I don't see a need but also when I take my glasses off I can't see a thing.
I ahve noticed lately though that my eyebrow hairs have grown very long, more than an inch and wonder whether it is possible to have them trimmed or is that just silly?

Bogof_Babe

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

No, it is you that is missing the point.

Personally, I have reached a point in my life where I am comfortable with who I am, what I can achieve and what I want from life.

I'm sorry that you find it hard to grasp that I might want to wear makeup or choose to wear makeup but I do - my life, my choice.

And the fact that you want so deperately to believe that I wear makeup because I am weak and have been manipulated... well, again, that says more about you than it does about me.

Triple thanks :T.

delain wrote: »

I havent worn makeup in about 5 years :eek: I'm just too lazy. My opinion - if you don't like the way I look - don't look at me!

Which is fine until you want to apply to be an air hostess or a receptionist in a posh hotel!

Would be interesting for two identical twins to see how a day went for them if one wore make-up and the other didn't.

Anyone brave enough to post their own "with"/"without" photo?

Person_one

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

When I was younger, I hated my looks so much I looked at the ground all the time so people couldn't see my face. In fact, when people asked me if I knew so-and-so, I had to know what type of shoes they wore as I'd never actually seen their face. No exaggeration. In year 8 or 9, a girl once said to me "you're pure ugly (insert name). You'll never get a boyfriend". All this did was confirm what I already knew. 30 years later, I'm still driven by this statement

Hence the daily make up.

I cannot put into words how much I detest that our sexist, shallow society does this to people. I'm really sorry you feel that way butterfly.

lostinrates

dibuzz wrote: »

That's one thing I find puzzling.
Why do some women pluck out all their eyebrows and then draw them on? Quite often they look like they've been drawn with a huge permanent marker pen.
I've never plucked mine, mainly because I don't see a need but also when I take my glasses off I can't see a thing.
I ahve noticed lately though that my eyebrow hairs have grown very long, more than an inch and wonder whether it is possible to have them trimmed or is that just silly?

I don't have full eyebrows because i have a thyroid condition, a lot of women lose then with age too. But yes you can trim them. Those long ones (i call them grandaddy hairs) can be really aging, and often have a different texture. I don't get them (no eyebrows) but dh does and i pluck his out.:D

Person_one

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Triple thanks :T.



Which is fine until you want to apply to be an air hostess or a receptionist in a posh hotel!

Surely it would be better for the world to adjust and start to realise that you can be a very good flight attendant or receptionist whatever you look like?

If my plane goes down, I sure as hell won't care if the person telling me what to do has nicely made up eyes or not!