Real reasons to wear makeup... or not

poor young Madonna was so lacking in self-confidence...

Look, it doesn't bother me that Guardian journalist Julie Bindel doesn't want to wear makeup- who would waste their time having an opinion about what some other person puts on their face anyway, except perhaps to admire their look or if offering helpful advice to a friend. But why does she have to dismiss most of the female sex for our choice, and with such facile and judgemental arguments? (my bold type):

There is nothing I like about myself in makeup; in fact, I realise how much of a mask it can be for women who lack confidence. Of course, I understand why some women want to wear it - we are so scrutinised by men, and often other women, that it has become unacceptable for us to display naked faces. Every single inch of us is supposed to be plucked, coloured and hidden beneath cosmetics, or we are accused of not having made an appropriate effort. I suppose a full face of makeup on a woman helps define the difference between the sexes, making it easier for men to assert their masculinity.

Honestly, if we all went about inventing negative explanations for other people's choices without asking them, the world would be even more full of bigotry and prejudice than it is already. 

There's nothing wrong with makeup-free. Here are some great reasons why I and others often go without makeup: to give the skin a break, laziness, having an informal day, working at home, because we're beautiful au naturel too, because partners love to see us naked. All over.

And here are some great reasons for wearing makeup Ms. Bindel somehow failed to imagine: because it's fun, because we enjoy being creative with our appearance (just like anyone who has a haircut, tattoo or body-piercing, or who likes their own clothes), because we enjoy the way it makes us look and have a right to look how we want, because we want to exploit the fact that it makes us look more serious at work .

This last point does relate to others' expectations. It demonstrates that you can opt out, or you can choose to play the game and win. Although I prefer makeup as a decorative art form rather than camouflage, the latter can just as easily be a strategic power-move as a place to hide. 

Do you consider it more confident to wear makeup/ go without/ neither? To me, lack of makeup seems more likely to imply low self-esteem (not making the most of oneself), but that could be from watching too much "What Not to Wear". Has anyone actually researched this?

Comments

[Jackie]

I skimmed Bindel's piece, knowing exactly what kind of a hatchet job it would be. She had the story written before she got the makeover (which, frankly, didn't look good on her - you'd think a seasoned journalist would know better than to base her conclusion on a sample experience of one).

Frankly, I wear makeup because I look tired and washed out if I don't. And then I get all the, "You seem really tired" and "Are you okay?" questions. Plus, I feel more confident when I know I look my best. Gosh, aren't I a traitor to the cause (which, as it happens, I never signed up for in the first place)?

My current look of choice is very minimal: Kiehl's tinted moisturizer, undereye concealer, blush, thin line of eyeliner, and mascara. A swipe of SPF lip balm, maybe a lip stain or lipstick if I'm going out in the evening. I'm too lazy to do much more in the mornings, and I like this look. Next week, I might get all experimental and bust out the MAC pigments or start playing with the interesting new Avon bronzer I just got.

Whatever. Julie Bindel has a huge chip on her shoulder and was hired to write a negative piece. More power to her, but I find it quite sad, and poor journalism.

(Re men, my shrink - who is actually quite old-fashioned about how men and women should interact - says that a good man won't care if a good woman is wearing makeup or not. He may prefer makeup on her, but he won't let it get in the way of pursuing a relationship if she's interesting, smart, and hot.)

[MLH]

Well, I am a feminist, I do wear make-up because I like it, although it's pretty minimal. That said, other than that, I don't like looking very girly or extremely feminine, I never wear dresses and my hair is sporting a buzz cut these days. I don't think that wearing make-up or not has anything to do with a woman's self-esteem; some women are into make-up, some aren't. I have observed, however, that since I have lifting weights and having my hair so much shorter, men don't look at me as much, and I am fine with that, so I think there is a bit of truth in what she says about the fact that very made-up faces and long hair/nails spotlight the differences between the sexes and men "assert" their masculinity. I don't think that women should wear make-up as a way to atract men, just to have fun, or be creative with their appearance. Whether men like or not, that should not be the issue. And I also agree with what she says, it's true that women are now almost required to buff, color, pluck every inch of their bodies while men do not, and I resent that.

[Jacq]

If I had perfect skin and wasn't as pale as a ghost, I would happily skip makeup far more often than I do - but I work in a formal environment, and having a pale, blotchy face doesn't really go with my work clothes! If I don't wear blusher people think I'm ill.

The thing that gets me about women like this is their failure to recognise the middle ground between 'no makeup' and 'a face full of slap like some chick at the Elizabeth Arden counter'. I wear makeup every weekday, but most people would struggle to see what I had on. It takes less than five minutes to apply it, and there isn't much of it - but it's enough to make me look a bit more groomed and polished.

And yep, Jackie, your shrink is dead right from what I've known of men! I've never had a boyfriend/husband who actually preferred makeup - in fact, Tristan insists that I look better without it and don't need it at all. Mind you, he's just got his first pair of glasses, so...

[Alice Bachini-Smith]

I think we can extend what Jackie's shrink said, to a good man won't care if a good woman is buffed, plucked or coloured either.

On the issue of whether we should try to impress everyone else these ways (and women are generally the worst tyrants on appearance, men being far more generally oblivious to makeup, bodyhair etc), well; it's a pragmatic call but sometimes a moral one too. Depends how you want to live your life.

But one perfectly fine approach, my personal favourite, is to follow your own personal standards and ignore everyone else's. In other words, no!

[Crystal - Beauty or Bust]

I think that makeup is optional for all women. I personally grew up a tomboy, and discovered makeup in my late teens. I don't have particularly low self-esteem, but I find that it does help me put my best face forward. I feel more confident knowing my acne scars are covered, and people are seeing me (not them). I know plenty of women who don't wear makeup, and I would never suggest they start. Makeup should always be a fun experience. Either you like it or you don't!

[Denise]

I have always wanted to have clear, flawless skin-however, I was never blessed with this fantasy until my 30s. People made fun of my pimples and acne scars that were so prominent on my face. I used makeup to avoid these comments. Yes, it showed insecurity but it made me feel much better.

My skin is almost clear (I have a breakout or two around that time of the month), the acne scars have faded, and I get compliments on my skin. I still have a hard time accepting that my skin is actually nice because sine the age of 12, I had horrible skin.

I didn't like Bindel's article because it was judgmental and prejudiced. Not everyone is born with perfect skin and kids can be cruel. I don't wear makeup to get a man, I wear it because it makes me feel better. I am not a lesbian and have always attracted male eye, I'm not doing it for them; it is for myself.

Bindel is lucky to have been born with great skin. Just don't judge us who were not!

[Jami]

I'm definantly not a feminist and never will be. (Equality is fine in some aspects, but I LIKE it when a guy holds the door open for me or is brave enough to make the first move. I don't find it degrading at all. I find it flattering and respectful.) I am, however, the youngest of four and the only girl. So I don't really take much crap from men. I don't wear makeup for men, I wear makeup for ME. I like it. I like the way it looks. The way it feels. I like the fact it has sunscreen in it and I'm one of those people who doesn't tan - I BURN! - and skin cancer runs in the family.

I like doing lighter shades when I'm at work, darker shades for when I'm off work. I like experimenting with colors, brands, etc.

And if this so-called "journalist" doesn't like it, she can kiss my fat butt!

[britishbeautyblogger]

Lofty, patronisizing and ultimately her view says far more about herself than it does about us make up wearers! I'm sure if asked she would stand up for wimmin's rights.....and that's surely got to include a positive stance on self expression. Secretly I imagine her with armpit hair to her knees and a bit of a moustache.

[britishbeautyblogger]

Here's another gem as quoted on WGSN this time about beauty bloggers from a beauty journalist who writes for UK newspaper.
"As a trained
journalist, I present to consumers in a professional way. Those who set up blogs and say what they do
and don't like have no authority. I find that, in the main, the information they provide isn't helpful to the
consumer." She sees blogging as an excuse to set up a platform to talk about yourself.

[Leah]

Bindel's dismissal of women who wear makeup is just as misogynist as all those generations of people who thought women shouldn't vote because of their "delicate, feminine dispositions". Feminism should be (and mostly is, despite Bindel's voice) about women having the opportunity to do what they damn well please.

I feel sorry for men when it comes to personal expression through appearance. Women have so many more options and are allowed to have so much more fun.

I am a feminist. And I wear high heels. And I wear lipstick.

[Jackie]

Re this quote: "As a trained journalist, I present to consumers in a professional way. Those who set up blogs and say what they do and don't like have no authority."

Bullshit. The authority a blogger holds is granted to her by her readers and those who link to her. The professional journalist quoted obviously expects to get by on degrees, credentials, and a brand name backing her journalism.

[Jackie]

Also, regarding what is expected of men versus women when it comes to looks, and being resentful of it: What a waste of time and energy. Holding resentments, as I often hear, is like taking poison and waiting for the other guy to die.

Life is neither fair nor easy. Once one truly accepts both of these facts, one cares much less about the concept of fairness and fails to waste so much effort agitating against the fact that life is hard.

I mean, I guess I'm expected to wear nail polish, but guess what? I never do, because I'm always typing on a keyboard or a cell phone and I hate the look of chipped polish, which my hands sport roughly two minutes after the manicure is complete. And guess what else? No one has ever commented on my lack of nail polish, or asked why I don't wear it, or suggested that I should. (I do sometimes get a sport manicure, which involves no polish and a lot of filing and buffing my short nails, so I can use my BlackBerry Bold more efficiently. I do this purely for practical reasons.)

[Denise]

I just thought about something else: Madonna is not necessarily being young and insecure. Anyone who has ever been in show business should know that to be in front of all those lights washes out ones' features. Makeup artists pile on makeup so their female clients will be seen. All female artists who perform on stage have to do this, not just Madonna.

[Holly]

Often times, men actually prefer women with minimal makeup on, or so I've heard from many. So, doesn't that proves for the most part that we enjoy the creative process of experimenting with new products and colours, just because it's fun?

I think someone wholly avoiding makeup to take a stand against "men's expectations" is letting them influence her just as much as if she were to only wear it for their sake.

Shouldn't we all be able to wear/do/put on our face, whatever we please?

[hair tweezer]

To wear makeup or not to wear makeup that is the question!

I agree with what you say that who are we to comment on someone elses decision.

However, personally, i believe it to be much like what type of music we listen to at any given moment. Hopefully, the answer will vary from day to day and this of course will be linked to our mood on that day. Therefore, i think the choice of wearing makeup or not very much depends upon the type of mood we are in and the occassion.

Good post and to be honest i dont think the questions have a right or wrong answer, good post Alice