Feel naked without makeup? - YouLookFab Forum

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Feel naked without makeup?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Did anyone else read this blog post?

http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....-hole.html

This is something that bothers me about myself. I wear some makeup every day, but the amount varies. Some days I'll go heavier on the eye makeup, some days I leave the house without even mascara, but if I haven't smeared a little foundation around my nose and chin to even out the skin tone, I *do* feel naked. And I wish I didn't. My skin is not flawless, but it's not bad -- yet it does look nicer with a touch of foundation and blush in strategic areas, and since I've been applying them nearly every day for my whole adult life, I can't help but feel that my face is incomplete without them. And this seems wrong, wrong, wrong on so many levels.

I used to laugh at women who would scramble out of bed before their partner woke up in order to apply their eye makeup...but I almost never leave the house without at least my "under-nose" foundation. How is that any better??

End rant. Anyone else have similar issues? I guess I'm looking for company here.

General

34 replies

Latest reply was from Lori

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'm right there with Sal. Used makeup for fun in high school but then basically stopped until my early 30's (barring going out for the night type of thing). Didn't pluck my first eyebrow until 26. Now I do light foundation of some kind (either mineral lightly dusted or tinted moisturizer) and mascara. I like to have it on when out but don't always - swimming, rafting, skiing, and other activities I enjoy with my friends are definite no make up zones. And I'm okay with that! Yes, I have melasma brown patches I'd rather hide, but I won't cower from sight or decline a fun day out because of it!

Kim

Veteran

I use makeup like my clothes, I accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. No one around here would say a bad word about me wearing my best every day, why not with make up?

I've gone many years not wearing a stitch of make up, but in the last few years I've started again, and I'm very happy with the effect.

I personally think a day without make up is like going to the grocery store in sweats. LOL I can do it, but it bothers me...(I went without makeup to drop my daughter off at her job this morning, at 7:30 and then did the drive thru for coffee and didn't manage to scare the poor kid at the window...LOL) I did however come home to shower and put on make up before my hair appt. this morning, and then on with my day.

I only do it once, then I dont' bother with it for the rest of the day. I just like how it makes me feel "finished" and ready for whatever comes my way now. (Paparazzi?? LOL)

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I definitely use a bit of powder foundation even if I'm going out to the mail box. Never know who you can run into, right?

Diana

Veteran

I pretty much go out every day without makeup ... I don't have bad skin, although it's not perfect either. I like eye makeup but I am lazy so I don't usually bother except for special occasions. I am good at applying eye makeup though for some reason even though I rarely wear it. I can't stand the feel of foundation on my face so I never, ever wear it (for me, full makeup is like powder + eye makeup + lipstick). No blush ever either, because I think it always looks unnatural (it could totally be that I don't know how to use it though). I like lipstick although again don't usually wear it because I can't be bothered to reapply.

Mascara is the one thing that I know I look better when wearing (as opposed to just different, which is how I view lipstick, for example), so when I want to feel pretty I'll put some on. Otherwise, things like lipstick and eye color are just fun (like accessories) but I feel fine without.

I also wonder how this correlates with RATE vs. polished... I am definitely RATE and I think my attitude toward makeup reflects this.

Queen Mum

Veteran

It is a rare day that I don't do my make-up. My eyes are lost without eye-makeup. I don't happen to have any make-up on today,and if I needed to run to the store for a few quick things, I wouldn't put make-up on first, but on the majority of days I do my make-up in the morning right after I shower and dry my hair.

Di

(website)

Veteran

OK, so I'm probably going to sound like a crazy person here, but: I gave up makeup for Lent this year. (Easter has come and gone, so I'm back to it now, but that was a full 40 days of no makeup.)

I did it because my skin FREAKED OUT when I turned 30, and I'd gotten really critical of my face. I mean, I've always felt like my face was pretty plain/unimpressive to start with, but then once my skin got cranky, I just felt like my face was awful. (My best friend sometimes says that where other women have body issues, I have face issues.) So I made a discipline out of not wearing makeup for a while.

Now, most days I wear some, but not every day. Giving it up for a while helped my to start seeing my whole face, instead of just the things that are "wrong" with it.

April

Veteran

Elisabeth, I think you're being too hard on yourself. For one, most foundation nowadays has some level of SPF, which is hugely beneficial to your skin in the long run. Also, if there is a simple thing you can do that you feel improves your appearance, and that brings harm to no one, where is the virtue in not doing it?

I wear makeup every day and I don't feel bad about it. It doesn't cause me to feel any more (fake, vain, shallow, choose your adjective) than does paying attention to what I'm wearing, or fixing up my house, or making a wonderful meal. I just feel the world is bleak enough without giving up the little graces.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Every day. My make-up routine does not change - ever.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I've been known to wear make-up hiking. Mind you most of my hikes are with a singles activities group so I have extra incentive to look half way decent. But I'm only doing tinted moisturizer, light blush and mascara. On some hikes only the mascara survives. I will confess to having a sparkly Chanel lipgloss for afterwards in my backpack.
When I was in Hawaii I only wore make-up one day.
Overall I wear less make-up now than I did in my twenties.

taylor

Veteran

Absolutely unrecognizable without make-up..wear it everyday...and as you age your features become less noticeable ...brows and eyelashes thin..skin pales etc..etc.

Skin tone plays 100 % as to weather one feels they need foundation...I am pale and sallow...foundation is a must for me...when I am tan I don't feel the need, but tanning the face is decades and decades in my past:(

Kappy

Veteran

I think there are about 10 women in the world that look better without make-up, and I'm not one of them!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Even if it's just tinted moisturizer and mascara, I wear makeup almost every day, and I do feel naked without it. I guess my hormones are starting to freak out in my 40s because I'm having trouble with breakouts like never before, so a little coverage is welcome.

I feel my best when I'm wearing a bit to emphasize my eyes, give a little color to my pale cheeks, and even out my skin tone. My routine hasn't changed in years, although the products have.

I also am vigilant about my eyebrows. They can get pretty wild if left ungroomed!

Eva

What a great post. Very interesting comments. I find that that as I have gotten older, I want to wear more makeup. I never use to use anything under my eyes, but now I brush on Bare Minerals as concealer almost every day. Most days I wear makeup, unless I know I'm not going anywhere. My minimum basics are eyeliner, under my eyes concealer, and lipstick. Like anagybe, I wear some makeup even when I hike. For work, I wear more, but I haven't gotten to the point of wearing foundation daily...yet.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I don't go out without clothes on my body, why would I go out without makeup on my face?

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Right or wrong i was raised by my mom that we should not leave the house unless you look nice and are wearing makeup. I have even been lectured as a teenager about wearing making to the pool. So yes, i don't like to go without, out. I'm on Team Polished after all!

Beth

Veteran

I wear a high SPF moisturizer every day without fail. I do like to make up my eyes, but have worn only a light dusting of powder foundation for the last 20 years.

I rarely wear makeup on the weekends unless I'm going out, and there are work days when I only wear the bare minimum (lightly defined eyebrows, dusting of powder, lipstick). I don't feel that a fully made-up face is highly related to being polished...just like accessories, more isn't always better. It's all in how you wear it;)

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I do feel naked without make up. I wish that I didn't, but the older I get the more I feel like I need it. I also seem to be wearing more eye make up lately. Maybe if I had night time occasions to wear it, I wouldn't feel the need to do it in the daytime. I am having a lot of fun with it, though.

Marley

Veteran

I wear makeup everyday, no exceptions - its just part of my daily routine - shower, blow dry hair, put on makeup, and get dressed. As I have gotten older I have found that my features have seemed to kind of "fade." My eyebrows are thinner and blonde, my eyelashes aren't as thick, etc. etc. - I would feel like I wasn't myself if I left the house without makeup. I even wear a touch of it when I exercise - I feel better about myself and I like the way I look with makeup - and its fun!

AJ

Veteran

Make-up was never a necessity...until last year when I turned 41. It seemed like overnight my natural lip color started to fade and my eyes just always looked tired. So now I can't leave the house without colored lip gloss, mascara and beige eyeliner for my lower lashes.

rute

Veteran

I don't use a lot but I feel naked with out under eye concealer, blush and mascara at weekends and to work I always use foundation!

As I get older the skin has more spots and under eye circles and a little make up goes a long way!

Louise

Veteran

I almost never wear make up. I really should get in the habit of wearing mascara though, I have long heavy eyelashes and mascara really helps to open my eyes. My skins not bad but not great either I keep meaning to track down a good mineral powder foundation as I can't be bothered with blending liquid foundation x

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I wear make-up for work days and for going out days. The rest is pretty hit and miss and I don't often wear make up on family holidays. I can easily leave the house having forgotten to put on make up. As I mentioned in a WIW post recently, I forgot to put on lipstick for a drinks do we had here. (my lipstick was downstairs and so I didn't put it on with the rest of my make up and then suddenly everyone was arriving and the dog was stealing the food and lipstick didn't seem such a high priority!)

I agree with the comparison to clothes, though. Everyone has their minimum standards of dress to go out and make-up too. I would like my minimum make up standard eventually to be a bit more consistent.

Louise - I use Jane Iredale (I tried No7's version first of all) pressed powder foundation. It just smooths out imperfections and you can go as light or heavy as you like. Pricey but I wouldn't go back to my liquid foundation (Clinique) now. It feels very natural.

rosee

Veteran

My entire make-up collection is pretty small to begin with -- all of it fits into a smaller approx. 6" x 4" embroidered zip bag. I have "a lot" of product right now: 2 lipsticks, 3 mascaras, mineral powder foundation, concealer stick and about 3 eyeshadow compacts (which I bought but rarely ever wear). I do have good travel-size brushes in there too and I really like those, but I hardly use them.
I wore much make-up in my earlier teens (heavy black eyeliner!) but then gave it up around age 17. I realized my skin looked better without a lot of stuff on it, less sensitive too. I did wear a little to work in previous years, but not so much on my days off -- my skin seemed to need a "break". Right now, doing child care and not working in my former industry, I don't wear make-up most days. I'll be happy if I remember to put sunscreen on, and I do wear clear lip balm. If nail polish counts, I usually have that on my toenails only.
I do look better with some make-up and like wearing at least concealer, mascara and lipstick when I need to go out into public. Still getting used to the mineral foundation (so far it's special occasion use). But I have noticed that while my skin color is better, it seems to highlight my pores a little. I've been told to use Primer, so that will be my next purchase, and it will likely be for special occasions use.
That all may change as I get older (I'm 41 now) but then again, the older women in my family tend to wear make-up only when going out into public -- at least a swipe of lipstick -- and I may follow suit with what they do.

EDIT: I dye my hair (to cover grays) so that's a cosmetic too. Right now I need to do my roots so I have Touchback marker (a roots coverage stick) when I go into public.

Also, there's nothing wrong with wearing make-up everyday, who says you have to go without? I do only b/c I'm too time-hurried in the morning or too lazy to put it on.

Irene

Veteran

Ok, so I'm 23 and don't wear make-up except for some nights out, and not even most of them. I don't even put on mascara, because I ruin it with my glasses and because I touch my eyes a lot, and most of the times I forget my lip-gloss -which I could so use, because my lips are far from in good condition. I have pretty sensitive skin, so I don't like playing with foundation very much, and I know there are some very expensive foundations for sensitive skin, but what's the point in buying them if I don't wear it more than five times a year?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

An observation from a daily makeup wearer:

Last year When I took a two-month solo road trip across the USA, I barely wore makeup. Since I was camping most of the time, tinted moisturizer and lip balm were it until I got to Portland, OR, where my husband was meeting me.

I was also spending every day in REI gear and hiking shoes, so it only made sense, and it was so fun to not give a thought to style for a while! But it was also nice to get back to my normal wardrobe and look nice again when I got home.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I wear makeup to work and it is pretty minimal - concealer under eyes and on my nose (it tends to get red from time to time), dark eyshadow for my brows and as eye liner, mascara and lipstick or lip gloss, sometimes blush.
On weekends I usually do not bother unless we go out. Of course I look better with makeup on (who does not?) but it feels liberating not to use it then.
I never wear makeup for physical activities like gym, hiking, camping, swimming, etc. - it just does not feel right then.
Anybody tried permanent makeup? I like the idea but it scares me a bit...

anne

Veteran

Just lipstick most days, and sometimes not that. That is since YLF. When I worked out of the home I wore makeup and I do wear it on Sundays (often just foundation, lippie and mascara). I have been getting into wearing blush in the last year, finds it makes a big difference, but haven't replaced the tube of it I misplaced.
I don't feel naked without makeup, to answer the original post (but maybe rather underdressed)

rae

(website)

Veteran

I got a late start w/ makeup (conservative parents, skin tone that doesn't like to match American makeup, sensitive skin, lots of physical training to get in the way). Now, I pretty much use BB cream, gloss, and blush. My eyes *hate* makeup - even Clinique, so it is a rare occasion that sees my eyes done up. But I do use the BB cream no matter where I'm going. Like Anna, I even wear it hiking. Its SPF 45 and pore-smoothing magic properties are worth it - and you never know when you'll find a pretty view and want to take a picture...

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thank you all for your interesting responses. It's not surprising that all of these stylish women also enjoy using makeup.

I should point out that I'm not AGAINST wearing makeup every day. I'm not arguing that we should not wear it at all. It's part of the style package. As Kappy says, most women look better with at least some makeup (I'd argue that most men would, too, but that's another whole issue...). It's the fact that I do actually feel kind of naked without at least the concealer that bothers me. I should be able to go to the corner store barefaced without feeling like I've forgotten to put on my pants!

MPJ, I don't quite get what you're saying. We wear clothes on our bodies because without them we are, in the literal sense of the word, naked. But men and children (and many teens) have never worn makeup in their lives and they don't feel naked.

Sveta, I'd stay away from permanent makeup! I know a woman who had her eyebrows tattooed on. HUGE mistake. She was a good sport about it, though.

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