This is me. I am 50 years old. I am not wearing makeup and apparently by today’s beauty standards, I’m a bona fide revolutionary.
I recently read an essay by Alisha Keys on going make-up free on Lenny. Of course, I skimmed it at first, being teased with click-bait-y “See Alisha Keys WITHOUT makeup!” headline in my Facebook sidebar.
The fact that I should be more ashamed that I get my news from Facebook rather than how I look without make up on notwithstanding, I thought Alisha looked absolutely beautiful without a drop of foundation, or a set of false eyelashes, or a trace of Photoshop.
Absolutely beautiful.
I’ve seen the #nomakeup hashtag over the years and I would like to know why this has become important to call out? Why is this an applaud-worthy move by notable women? Or good old-fashioned regular, everyday women like me?
Most of the women I know don’t wear make up with any regularity and I don’t believe in doing so that they are making some noble sacrifice. They are not taking risks. They are not simply back-to-the-earth women who eschew all manner of feminine accoutrements.
Why have we been taught to feel that leaving the house without foundation, powder, mascara, or a hint of pink on the cheeks and lips makes us somehow less female? When did it become normal to not just look how we actually look?
I’m not just some hey kid, get the hell off my lawn make up hater. Make up is fun. God knows I’ve dropped literally hundreds (probably closer to thousands) over the years at Clinique, Chanel, Bobbi Brown, MAC—you name it—all with the hope of looking prettier.
Looking prettier has deep roots inside of our collective female self-esteem. If we look prettier, we feel better, right? If we look prettier, we have more value. We are taken more seriously.
What about being smart? And competent? And creative? And responsible? And warm? And giving? And curious? These are traits that I would much rather have ascribed to me than simply pretty or really knows how to apply liquid eyeliner.
When Dan leaves the house to face the world each day, he does so with nothing other than his wry sense of humor and possibly some Chanel for Men cologne. Oh, and clothes. He has clothes on when he leaves the house.
I have clothes on, too. And like him, most often I leave to face the world (apparently bravely so) sans makeup.
I remember when I was little, watching my mom “put her face on” in the bathroom. I remember wondering what was wrong with the one she had.
Wondering what your thoughts are on this topic. I’m sure there are much more intelligent blog posts on this subject than this one, but I really love the idea the more and more women don’t feel the need to wear makeup. It’s a trend I personally welcome and pretty much embrace most days of the week.
Sarah Jane says
Amen!
Mary says
In my opinion do what makes you feel good when you look in the mirror. I feel my best when I am awake with a quick swipe of foundation, blush and mascara. If I am going out, then eyeliner, shadow and lipgloss gets added into the quick routine. I do it because it makes me feel good. No pressure to impress other people. Makeup or no makeup….I don’t really care. I get tired of all these “pay attention to me causes” that are here for a short time. Wake up and face the world doing what makes you feel your best.
Kimberly O. says
I started working from home at the beginning of May and I love that I don’t have to do much to get ready. 🙂 Granted, even when I do wear makeup, it’s not “putting on a face” like the women at makeup counters. I like a more natural look (a little eyeliner on my top lids, a little mascara on the top too, powder foundation and I’m done). Heck, I even kind of accidentally got my hair cut too short about a month ago. Er, I still can’t dry it with my 3/4″ hot air styler. But it’s a cute style and it doesn’t need much done to it. Love me a good pixie! I still do wonder though, if anyone at the local grocery store even notices a difference. Ha! Those are the only people I’ve seen on a regular basis now. In a town of 2,000 people, who else WOULD you see? I think my purple glasses give me enough color on my face anyhow. I suppose I SHOULD take a shower today though… Woke up at 6 am, out the door by 6:07 with the dogs. Home by 6:45, we ate breakfast… now sitting on my bed with my laptop, ready to work!! (Er, and watch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” on Netflix.. Buffy was just resurrected by Willow after she saved the world (again). I swear this is my favorite show…well, and Gilmore Girls. I think they both used to be on TV on the same night. Seems to me my mom knew not to call me on Tuesday nights – or was it Thursdays?)
Stacy B. says
You are so beautifully right on, Cathy! Our society has a destructive obsession with beauty. Bring on the revolution.
Krista says
Well said! I also agree with Mary. You need to do what makes you feel good when you look in the mirror. I recently came to the opposite conclusion – that I need to start wearing more make-up! It’s not really about the make-up though as much as it is about taking care of my body. I work from home & wear workout gear more often than not and I can start to feel kind of dumpy. I don’t wear make-up every day (and most people wouldn’t think I was wearing any). But, when I start to feel down on my body, I find that it help to take a few minutes to apply foundation & eye liner. When I see my reflection, I feel fancier than usual and it’s a visual reminder to make choices that are good for my body.
Mary Jo says
Ironically my mom was the one who pushed makeup on me because I looked “washed out” without it. But she was in a field for awhile. nightclub waitress and dancer where heavy makeup wa the not. And no not exotic dancer :).
But makeup was important to her. Me not so much. But I am a very minimal make up girl. Usually a bit of not bright lip color or gloss, tiny blush and light mascara just for some color. Most days people comment about how I don’t wear make up.
But I love the days when I don’t wear any too. It’s very freeing and it’s so true. There are so many things men don’t stress over that women tend to.
I don’t emphasize make up with my 8 yr old, but I have a niece who loves makeup like I love scrapbook supplies and it’s her hobby. So it’s always fun when she wants to make me up for fun. 🙂
Rebecca says
Cathy, I have to say, this is probably one of your top 10 blog posts, at least is my eyes. I, too, usually don’t wear any makeup. I’ve been doing this for probably 6-7 years. (By the way, I’m 44 years old.) Ten years ago I got married and changed jobs all within a 3 month span. I went from being a bank teller, waiting on customers face-to-face on a daily basis, to sitting at a desk doing most of my customer service over a phone. I think with that job change as well as knowing that I won’t ever have to date again, made me change how I looked at myself. I felt that I didn’t have to “impress” anyone by covering my face with makeup. Like you, in my younger days, I spent a huge amount of money on makeup…makeup I still have, but don’t really use anymore. I feel there is a freedom in not wearing makeup, a self-confidence that says I don’t have to “look” good to feel good. Thank you for this post. I so enjoyed reading your take on the subject and I’m right there with you.
Cathy Zielske says
Wow, thanks, Rebecca. I mean, I too work from home and have for years. But I have felt that desire to clean up a bit for going out in public. At least I used to.
And I get the whole, “I feel better with makeup on” but what saddens me is that our culture has perpetuated this on us. We were born into it. My husband doesn’t have to “put a little make up on” to feel better about himself. 🙂
I had a much more scathing post written, full of swear words and grand statements. I toned it down because I’m not the voice of women. LOL. But still… I just want it to be okay to look how I look.
bdaiss says
I want that first post you wrote. 😉
Carlie says
Yeah, I’d like of like to read the scathing one, too.
Carlie says
I agree, fantastic post. Fantastic questions.
Carol Labuski says
My thoughts exactly, Cathy! When I walked away from my out-in-the-public-every-day retail job almost 7 years ago by choice, I stopped wearing black pants, white shirts, a watch (although since February I do wear a Fitbit, thanks to your FIT class!) and makeup. The pants & shirts were required for the job, the watch was needed for keeping track of break/lunch times, mine as well as fellow employees, and makeup was to keep from scaring customers away! I was never into heavy makeup to begin with – a light foundation and mascara was about it – but I totally gave it up except for occasionally when ‘going somewhere nice’. I’d read many times about how wrinkles become more pronounced when older women wear makeup, especially foundation, and that’s not something I want to announce to anyone! Always wear moisturizer but no makeup as we age and let your true beauty shine through!
Maureen says
The make-up or no make-up thing has never been an issue for me. I am allergic to make -up, even the kinds that you’re not supposed to be allergic to. So by choice, the only make-up I have ever applied to my face (after the allergy discovery) was “Clown White”. I am a retired professional white face clown (and was certified to run away with the circus at one point!). I was crazy allergic to that white make-up too but putting it on my face and wearing my color outfits while donning my grandfathers hand me down size 17 shoes to entertain children in hospitals and senior citizens in nursing homes made the breakouts I experienced well worth it. Since I retired from that profession, I have not put a drop of make-up on my face and I honestly don’t even know what I look like with a full made up face except for whiteface clown. And I am good with it. I like my face just how it is and don’t feel that make-up would make me like it anymore or less. And it’s just one more thing to do in the morning that I don’t want to make time for. I already have to be up way too early (5:20am) to go to work so the less things to do in the morning, the better.
MaryJ says
I agree that everyone should do whatever makes them feel comfortable. I know many women who don’t wear any makeup and they look great. I don’t leave my house without at least a little bit on unless I’m having surgery. 😉 I am older now (54) and most of my beauty budget goes more to skin care than makeup. It’s kind of funny to me that back in the day when my skin looked great, I wore the most makeup. Piled it on to go out “clubbing” or even to work. These days it’s very minimal. Just light foundation, a little powder, blush and always mascara. Chemo left my eyelashes almost non-existent and I hate it, so I wear mascara daily. Spending a year bald changed a lot of things about the way I think and feel about my looks. It was freeing in some ways and horrifying in others. I doubt I will ever get to a point that I leave my house without any makeup on, but when I see other women who do I always think they look wonderful. It’s all good. 🙂
Jodi says
Love this. I too rarely wear makeup. I work from home so it’s just not a priority. A few times a month if we are going out I might put a little makeup on but usually just a little bit of foundation and some lip gloss. I also grew up with a mom who never wore makeup, or even owned any, so part of it is that I don’t feel real confident in how to use makeup since I wasn’t around it growing up.
April says
You look beautiful and natural! Here’s my dilemma. I am still a youngin at age 33 but ever since I was in high-school I have had acne. I tried every cream out there but I had the cystic kind of acne that would create large red cysts under the skin with no way to relieve the pressure. So makeup would sometimes only kind of mask what was going on. It was painful and it ended up taking some heavy-duty mediciation to clear it up. It’s still an ongoing struggle as I still get these cysts from time to time but not as bad as I used to. Also I am fair skinned but have a lot of redness or uneven color in my skin. So basically what I’m saying is that I applaud and am even jealous of women who can go without makeup and look like you or Alicia Keys. I accept that my skin is how it is and do the best I can with it but makeup just makes me feel better about myself. I think it accentuates the positive. 🙂
Kay says
Hi Cathy. I’m a nomakeup person and have been nearly all my adult life (which by now is long). Of course I started out in high school with it, but I hated taking all that time AND I did not like the way foundation felt. Once, a cousin & I had a make-up demo at a department store—holy crap! Couldn’t wait to get home and scrub my face! So I narrowed it down rather quickly to mascara, eyeliner, shadow occasionally, and blush. Then hit the contacts stage, where my eyes watered so much the make-up was always smudging. So, cut the eye make-up. Now we’re down to blush—and I admit to still wearing a bit of that. But not every day, all the time. Know what? I’ve saved a lot of money AND it gives me more freedom! It’s not been a statement about life; as you said, it’s just me. I think I’m the only female in my acquaintance who does not wear make-up, unlike your situation where you do see women without it, and occasionally I’ll have a little twinge of “maybe I should….” But that thought quickly passes through my brain.
KimD says
I’m 58 and of Italian ancestry. I have that “raccoon” look going with red-purple eyelids and undereye circles. I also have a xanthalasma (small fatty tumor) on my right eyelid that will be removed in a few months. It’s very white against my eyelid. And I usually have a red nose. Other than that, I have good skin. I never do the full face makeup thing. For me, a “made up” face is concealer on my nose, eyelids and undereyes, a light dusting of powder, blush and mascara. When I don’t want makeup but don’t want to scare people, I just dust my eyelids and nose with powder which doesn’t do a thing other than make me feel better. Bottom line is I rarely wear makeup of any type. My sensitive skin feels better without it, and it’s great to not have to wash off junk at night. Because I look in the mirror a lot less than I did when I was younger, I get the added benefit of not seeing what I look like, so I can live with my own image of my looks. Works for me, as your routine works for you.
Kay says
P.S. I think you look great without it. I also love the silver threads in your hair—so evenly spaced & just lovely.
Kelly says
At my current job, I basically see only my boss and our sales reps. I don’t see customers. I talk to them on the phone, but never face to face. After years of working in a school district and having to dress nice, its been a really nice transition back to wearing comfy clothes and yes….NO MAKE-UP. Whats the point? Why waste the time and the money when no one see’s me. I am not here to impress with my face. I am totally comfortable without make-up. I do like my lipstick and most days at least have that on. But thats it. And now when I do go out, I wear just a little bit of make-up. So I think women need to get back to the basics. Little is way better and natural is beautiful!
Cruella says
Cathy I agree completely! I’m thinking – why does it even have to be an issue? It’s sad that it is. If you want to wear it – please do and if you don’t – well just don’t. What ever floats your boat. It’s more sad that it actually HAS to be an issue if you do or don’t – why is it so important to ourselves what other do or think?
I spend a lot of time and energy concerned with others opinions and it frustrates me – and not just about appearance – but the total picture. Why does it matter so much?
Wear it if you want to for what ever reasons and if you don’t – cool –
Barbara says
My motto is “this is the way God made me”. I do put on mascara but lately have gone with no make-up weekends. I’m too old to fuss with it all anymore. If people don’t like it, they can look the other way! ha ha
Tammy B says
I’m 45 and I haven’t worn makeup in… I can’t even tell you when I stopped wearing it! Occasionally some blush if I’m going to a big event, like a wedding, some concealer to cover up little scars or the rude pimples that pop out, mascara makes me look like I have been crying for days and I don’t even own any lipstick! I would look scary with a ‘full face on’!! ?
You know what really bugs me though? There are adds all over the place for hair colour for women. “Cover up your gray. Have beautiful hair.” Men get products to gradually reduce their gray. Like women can’t be beautiful with some tinsel in their hair but men are sexier with some gray. I stopped colouring my hair and I’m okay with the highlights I now have. My hairdresser loves it! People pay big bucks to have hair like mine when all they have to do is wait for nature to do the work. It’s way cheaper!! ?
Jaime says
I agree. One of your best posts. I am about to turn 44 and I’ve been in the no make up revolution for a few years now. I work full time and still make sure I look my best. I just don’t believe in the pressure from society to wear cosmetics. Plus I am anti-anything that is tested on animals. The funny thing is every guy I ever dated including my husband prefers me without make up. I’m just your average woman that decided that my money shouldn’t be wasted on make up and my time shouldn’t be spent forever in the bathroom getting ready. For those of you that wear it and will continue to wear it, good for you. For those of us that don’t, hip hip hooray!!!
Laura says
48 y.o. here. I only take the time to put on makeup a handful times a year — Christmas, Easter, hot date with husband, etc. I wear glasses and like to highlight my eyes to be more noticeable on those occasions. I might wear it more often if I was single and looking to attract a mate. I might wear a bit more as I age . . . in hopes of distracting the eye from those frown lines between my eyebrows. *sigh* I’m glad I work in an environment where the norm is that most women wear a little or none.
Cheryl says
Retirement has me wearing less make-up; mostly just sun block these days. But I almost always wear liner because otherwise my eyes disappear. Then again, if I’m just heading out with the dogs and it’s sunny — dark sunglasses instead!
Tracy says
Through much of high school and college I was way more into makeup than when I got older. Frankly, it seems like it takes too much time, and I really don’t want it all over my clothes. I just went to the theater on Sunday; I threw on mascara at the very last minute as an afterthought, just in case I somehow ended up in a photo with my friends.
bdaiss says
Wow – I seem to be the opposite of most of your readers. I was allowed to wear a bit of makeup in high school, but very very limited. And I was so involved with sports by the time I hit the typical makeup obsessed age that I really never saw the point – it would just come off with all the sweat…
I’ve fought a mild case of psoriasis since I was a kid. The #1 treatment: uv light. (Yeah, skin cancer and all that. But nasty flaky itchy red welts up and down your limbs? People thinking you have lice/dandruff from all the flakes? Also no fun.) But in my mid-20’s I also developed a raging case of rosacea. Which is aggravated by uv. Fun! My rosacea displays in flaming red cheeks (painful at times as well). While I do my best to control it with diet and being very careful what I put on my skin, it has never gone away. I always look like I’ve spent too much time in the sun/wind…with sunglasses on. And you would not believe the number of people who comment on your face. So at about age 27 I started wearing at least some foundation/powder every day I work. And if I’m going to do that, it’s just another 30 seconds to swipe on some lipgloss and a bit of eyeshadow.
I think #nomakeup has become popular because more and more ladies are waking up to all the crap that is heaped upon our psyche about our looks. It’s one more harmless way to rebel against the woman tax. As far as my daughter (6) goes, she sees me with and without. We talk about makeup and why I wear it. We talk about how it’s fun and how it can change the way you look. We talk about what is appropriate for what event. She has a few “sparkles” in a stash of my own (some super glittery light pink eye shadow and a bright pink lipstick) and may wear them for special events.
Truthfully? I’m more encouraged as men wearing makeup becomes accepted. Why should we get to have all the fun?
Kim Smith says
All of my adult life I have forgone wearing makeup to greet my public. Why? Because I’ve been allergic to all of it, even those created allergy free. The only time I’ve worn makeup over the past 30 years is when I have some sort of function to attend and I am dressed up. Which, for the past 15 years has been maybe twice yearly.
I have always hated what society and the media says about how women should look, think, act and have always rebelled against it. Mom taught me to look in the mirror and be happy with what I see and that makeup is not going to do anything but enhance the natural beauty, if you wear it. Mom was not a makeup fiend either, yet she had to have her lipstick on even if she was just going out to do her gardening, lol!
Great post, Cathy, but I’d love to see the post you trashed 😀
Beth says
One word. Acne. I’ve never worn foundation, or much makeup of any kind, but concealer has been a constant for me. Even well into my 40’s my skin continues to behave like I’m a teenager. 🙁
Jodi says
Unfortunately, we live in a society in which women have been told they need to wear makeup, especially when they get older. Men grow more distinguished, while women just look tired and older.
I do not agree with this. I think our skin would be healthier without makeup. We need to let our skin breathe!! I also think natural beauty (aka no makeup and clean skin) is a beautiful thing!
I’m a minimalist who prefers to keep my “beauty routine” easy. My working days I wear eye shadow, liner and mascara. When I’m home I have no makeup on. I’d prefer more no makeup days, but my boss commented how she thought I shouldn’t work without it. I did not appreciate the comment.
Kathryn says
I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup as a teenager (strict church upbringing). Now, at 56 I still have breakouts and dry spots but finally found a moisturizer that helps. I don’t wear makeup for others…I wear it because I feel better about myself with it. My beauty routine is a light foundation, quick brush of blush and powder, tiny bit of eyeshadow and mascara. From start to finish it takes me less than 2 minutes. Even on the days that I don’t wear makeup, I always wear lipstick. I love that pop of color and feel better about myself.
Kelly says
I’ve never been a confident make up wearer. My mum was a bit of foundation and lipstick so I never had a tutor. Plus being chronically shy, I used to sneakily look at the cool girls and by my mid 20s kind of worked out a few things with mascara eyeliner shadows and blush to pull together a natural look. Yep. Spending money to make it look like I wasn’t really wearing anything.
I had the same basic look right up until a couple of years ago. Some techniques had improved, colours changed, so you know, I wasn’t all late 80s!!
Then two years ago, I realised I couldn’t stand the panda eyes that always evolved. My make up always looked pretty decent in the first 10 minutes of leaving the house. After an hour, it began to slip. All fairly recent…. as in age related. Ugh!
So after trying like 40000 different eyeliners all promising not to smudge…. I didn’t have a non smudge one. So one morning, I decided to go to work without any makeup. Noone commented. The world kept turning. And oh my lord…. I get an extra 10 minutes in bed!! That’s a total score in my book!!
I like to wear makeup now and again… I like the way my skin looks a bit more even, and my eyes a little less tired. But now, I am lucky to wear it as much as 3 or 4 days in the while year.
And all that extra sleep…. Golden!
Chandra says
I think you look beautiful without makeup.
Personally, I didn’t wear it until I was about 28, and it was put on my performance review at work (ahem, right?). So, I started watching YouTube videos and started spending money at Sephora, and I found my “girlyness”, and I don’t regret it all. I went through a few years of not walking out of the door without daring to wear any, but the last few months I just don’t care anymore. At work, at home, whenever. And I have been accused at work of looking as if “I have given up”. But most women in my office don’t wear makeup, or a lot of it if they do. So, again, I just don’t care! I wear it when I want to and for myself. Not for anyone else.
Christine says
About 3 years into my 25 years and counting marriage, my husband asked me if I wore makeup for him or me. I thought really hard about it and decided it was for him. I kind of hated it for many reasons. He responded by saying he actually preferred me without makeup. Haven’t worn any sense. If it’s your jam, go for it. If you’re its slave, let it go.
Kimberly Lund says
I wear moisturizer with sunscreen everyday — because sunscreen is essential every day — and then I put a light coat of mineral foundation over that before I walk out the door and that’s mostly to even out my skin tone. I haven’t put on eye shadow, eye liner, mascara in years. YEARS. I feel pretty good about myself without it, so why mess with it?
Jenny says
I can only quote my most favorite Youtube make up artist, Wayne Goss, in terms of make up here:
Who cares? It’s just make up. It washes off!
That’s the way I see it, too. Some woman look fantastic without any make upon and some love to play with it. Yeah I would love to be rather judged by my character, my intelligence or my wit. But let’s be honest, we all judge people by their appearances and beauty does play a heck of a part in it. (I say let’s blame it on evolution…) Personally I love me some make up (read: a lot) as I am super pale and have huuuge dark circles under my eyes but luckily I have grown confident enough over the years (I’m 29) to leave the house without any “paint” on my face.
oh and btw, I am glad Dan wears clothes when he goes to work 😉
Quinna says
I’m 67 and have never worn makeup! I wish I had been faithful with the sunscreen!
Annet M says
I am almost 40, and rarely wear makeup. I own a bit that a friend showed me how to use (my mom wears 0, never), but I just don’t really care, my husband said right from the beginning he likes me natural, so I don’t need to do it for him, and now when I do dress up and put on a bit of makeup I get lots of compliments and that feels great and special – as I think it should be. We have some students that wear FAR too much makeup and I can’t tell them but I wish I could. A coworker the same – couldn’t imagine going out of her house without her face on and spends a lot of money on clothing and I wear the same few outfits. It’s so freeing.
Shannan says
My skin tone is not the best so I like BB Cream and some concealer for the dark circles but that’s about it. I actually feel bad men don’t have this option as much.
Stacey says
I have read your blog for years, and have commented on only one other post (the one about sleeping in separate beds), but I feel compelled to respond to this. THANK YOU for speaking for all of us 50-somethings. THANK YOU for speaking truth. THANK YOU for sharing real life, real thoughts, real feelings. Know that there are people out here who hear your words and feel less alone. Rock on, Cathy.
Kimberly O. says
I love reading all of the comments!
Kim Jackson says
When I started childcare 20 years ago, I quit wearing make up daily, then I started putting on less & less when I would go out. now I am down to MAYBE eyeliner & mascara for an event where there may be photos taken. I wish I was better about the daily sunscreen though….
heidig says
I guess I’m in the minority. During the week, I wear makeup. I have to wear a suit (or work attire) every day. I just don’t feel right if I’m dressed up and not wearing makeup. I do it for me. On the weekends, sometimes I put a little makeup on, sometimes not. I like makeup. It’s fun and I do feel better about myself when I have my “face” on. It’s what I know. My mom never left the house without her “face on”, my sister wears makeup and so do I. With that being said, I don’t think any differently about those who wear it or those who don’t. To each his own.
Beth Hardage says
This thing about no makeup on celebrities has been around since long before hashtags existed. I remember that in the 80’s, Farrah Fawcett was lauded for going without makeup in the movie, “The Burning Bed.” Why does everyone make such a big deal of it when young beautiful women go without makeup? Alicia Keys is only 35! Of course, she looks great without makeup! The models in commercials and ads for wrinkle removing creams are in their 20’s, of course they don’t have wrinkles! It’s all PR and marketing folks!
I believe it was in the age of the flappers, the 1920’s, when “good” women began “painting their faces.” Until then, it was only the floozies who wore makeup. You COULD say that using makeup was an early part of the Women’s Movement!
All kidding aside, Cathy I think you look great! I believe that women should do what makes them feel best. No woman should be required to wear makeup or high heels if that doesn’t work for her.
Personally, my opinion on the subject has changed as I have aged. When I was younger, going without makeup was fine; my skin was still firm and my complexion was bright and my lips had some natural color. Now I am 63 years old and , as a fair-skinned person, I look really faded out without at least foundation, mascara, and lipstick. I dye my hair, because it is NOT turning an attractive shade of gray. (I do have friends who are gray and look fabulous!) This makes me feel better about myself when I am in public. And this, to me, is what it’s all about – each women feeling good about herself, makeup or no makeup!
Amyd says
Torn. That’s what I am. I love Sephora but on vacation I never pack makeup. I work outside the home in a male dominated workplace and usually put my makeup on in the (parked) car. I feel better at work with makeup on, but better away from work without it. I forgot my foundation one day to work and stopped at a grocery store to buy some. The checkout lady, who was probably 10-20 years my senior, said ‘you have beautiful skin, you don’t even need this.’ While that was affirming for an almost 45 yo to hear, I still bought the foundation, put it on and felt all the better for it. No judgment from me to anyone else and their choice one way or another!!!
Barbie says
I think makeup, or lack thereof, is personal preference. To each their own. I personally, love makeup. I wear it almost everyday. I readily admit, I am, in general “high maintenance”(although I have my routine down, I can be showered, hair and make up done…. in 30 minutes-ish. I am very happy and content, here in my crazy little world with my makeup bag, full of all my favorites! Best regards!
stacie says
Haven’t worn make up since middle school…and a handful of weddings. I just don’t want to spend the time and don’t like how it feels.
Like most things, make up is NOT the issue…it’s the messages and beliefs attached to it.
Candyce Warren says
This comment will not be popular but you asked for our thoughts and here are mine. I wear make-up almost everyday, (i’m 58) although out of laziness I do go minimal on occasion. I grew up with my mom stopping what she was doing to make sure her lipstick was fresh before my father got home from work. I saw that as a way that she showed her love for him and he always expressed how much he loved her. Mom used to tell me that once you are married you should not stop taking care of yourself the way you did when you “caught your man”. She said “everyday your dad goes to work with women that are dressed their best, smell good and never get mad at him for not taking out the trash. I want him to come home to the me he fell in love with, and I expect him to do the same.”
I know some will take this the wrong way and think that I am advocating external beauty over internal beauty. This is not true. Mom spent her life striving to be a Godly woman in every aspect of her life, and my parents love was anything but external. During the eight years that my mother suffered from Alzheimer’s she could not keep herself the way that she would have otherwise. Even when she no longer knew us, my Dad would take her in for a manicure every month and would dress her in matching outfits do her hair and put lipstick on her. She would smile and say “Ohhh!” We did these things for her, because she liked it, not for us!
Amyd says
Candyce – a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing… ?
Erin Kohlenberg says
I haven’t worn makeup/cosmetics for many years. It makes my skin itch, no matter what brand I use. I decided it wasn’t worth the effort if mascara made my eyelids red. You are as beautiful as I remember!
Laura says
I wear makeup every day…I think it’s fun and a way of being creative with my appearance. I don’t care if other people don’t, but I also don’t think people should automatically assume that women who wear makeup are shallow or caving to marketing ploys. Unfortunately, there’s also research that shows that women who spend more time on their appearance make more money than those who don’t. Sexist? Absolutely. Depressing, but true: http://fortune.com/2016/05/19/makeup-more-money/
shauna says
Great article!
Linda says
I’m 59 and have gone without all makeup, except powder, for the better part of 10 years. It all started because I kept getting styes from wearing makeup. But now, I don’t see the need. I am beautiful inside, and that’s all that matters.
Katie says
I am 40 and I am in a years-long mostly no-makeup phase, but am not settled on it. My face is just prone to smearing mascara, which I think looks terrible. I’m fair and I think I look much better with it on, but since I don’t usually wear it I feel like everyone notices when I do and am therefore self-conscious. Also, when I do wear it my kids ask me not to! A make-up counter worker once told me to think of it as a communication tool–as a tour operator things went much better for her when she wore make-up. Bottom line: I feel self-conscious with it on at home and without it on at work–so when I can find a lipstick at the bottom of my bag I’ll put it on in the car before going into work. And when we have company I do the same.
Caroline says
I wear a little bit of mascara and lipstick about once every three months and it’s normally on a night out. My mascara always goes off and gives me itchy eyes so I go for the cheapest and get about 2 wears out of a tube. I splashed out on a MAC lipstick and liner last year, and no doubt it will last well into my 70’s (I’m 40). I bought the whole hog (foundation, eye shadows, eye liners, blusher, primer and undercoat) before my wedding in 2007 and use it (everything is still full) for fancy dress parties that I attend about once every two years.
In truth I just don’t get it.
Jenny B. says
I remember watching an episode of Oprah years ago with my mom. I don’t have a clue what she was talking about that day, but I do remember that she went into the audience to talk to several different women. Some were young (early 20’s), some were middle-aged, and some were old (I’m guessing late 70’s+). I noticed, and commented to my mom, that the women wearing the most make-up were the middle-aged ones. The young women didn’t look to be wearing much, and neither did the older women. I wondered if maybe the middle-aged women were trying to fight aging, and whether they thought wearing all that make-up made them look younger. I also wondered if the older women had once done the same thing, and had finally grown comfortable with how they looked. I don’t know how all those women really felt about make-up, but I’ve thought about it several times over the years.