Makeup

Post Reply New Topic

Does anyone know what the point of makeup is? I mean, aside from being annoying-feeling and smelling funny.

My friends are always saying "put on makeup" or, "if you wore a little makeup, you'd be stunning." My best friend makes me wear eyeliner sometimes, which is the only issue she pushes with me.

Other friends wear too much makeup and look at me strangely when I ask how it all goes on. I'm interested in the mechanics of makeup, not the wearing.

It just doesn't seem to me that makeup serves any purpose. It feels funny, makes me break out in zits and makes my skin turn red. It also smells bad. I don't want something that nasty near my face!

Why do people push this issue?

Women seem to put on makeup to attract men. It's really that simple.

I think we put on makeup so we can look better then we already do. I dunno. I only use lipgloss, myself. i have noticed that somegirls put on so much makeup that they look like monsters though. and clowns...

Personally (I am a female)... I cannot stand makeup! I agree with you, what is the point? If a guy really likes a woman why would he care what she looks like without it? I can say one thing right now: nobody will ever catch me wearing any form of makeup! Lol, and wouldn't it feel 'heavy', in a sense, on one's face?

I detest makeup too. I detest pandering to the human tendency to judge by appearances.

As much as I'd like to say "appearance doesn't matter", I can't lie, and across the popular spectrum of all the people in the world, I have to say YES IT DOES MATTER in a resounding but nevertheless firmly polite way.

Some women look wonderful "au naturel", there's no disputing that, but if you want to continue down this line of thought, ask yourself: why do people wear clothes? Yes, it is to serve some practical, rational purposes like keeping warm and protection of certain delicate bits... but then, the question extends, and you have to ask yourself: WHICH clothes? Why do some people dress the way they do, baring so much skin, as opposed to everyone wearing nun habits? (And the proper equivalents for the boys.)

I'll be blunt -- sometimes I really like the caked-on, smokey-eyed makeup like the kind Avril Lavigne wears. Not all the time. But it's part of presenting yourself to the world and expressing yourself in an artistic way (yes, makeup is an art, dating back thousands of years), and part of it goes with an image (for example, if you are punky, you will often adopt wild, daring tones on your visage). Obviously if you're a businesswoman, you likely will want to go light on the mascara.

In answer to your inquiry, Dizzy: if a guy really likes a woman, and I mean REALLY, of course he'll see beyond that, but ask yourself what gets a guy's attention first and foremost? The answer is fundamental, and I'm sure you know what it is. And it wasn't made up overnight, as it has roots in our human biology, as well as various cultural traditions and other reasons.

So, I leave it to personal preference. Do what works for you, as it's your face, your body, and celebrate your unique individuality . If you feel totally grossed out and uncomfortable by makeup -- and by the way, if it is causing skin problems, chances are what you are applying is *comedogenic* and unhealthy in the first place -- then do not wear it. But if you're ever curious, do consider trying a little experiment of your own, and dolling yourself up for a day or a few days, and see if you notice any reactions. There's a nice episode of Joan of Arcadia that deals with this very issue titled "Vanity, Thy Name Is Human". Watch it, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

As a man, I'm not privy to all the wonderful treasures of Estee Lauder, but I do know appearing bold and dapper in a way that is truely me has worked wonders compared to me not caring or bothering with aesthetics at all. And yes, I have been treated better based on my appearance

Makeup, makeup, makeup.... I've been struggling with the concept for years. Why is it that I can paint my face up as a baboon, a zebra, a tiger, or let my son go avante garde and dance about in public etc. no probs. Why can I not on the other hand bear makeup???? I've argued with so many people about this, but not been able to resolve it. In a way, I think that I feel like I'm pretending to be something I'm not with makeup. If I'm obviously not that thing (like a face painted as a ghoul) then no one will get confused, but maybe if I put the makeup on, I'll be mistaken for someone I'm not??? I know the theory about being treated with more respect, or being liked, but I kind of figured that the people that respond to external appearances and dress choice are not the kind of people I want to talk to. I've been told this is all wrong, and I need to look good to feel good, but everytime I do that, I just feel silly - like a fraud. If someone is nice to me, and people nudge me and say - see - it's the clothes, I lose the plot and walk off... My boyfriend has a dreadful time with me. Apparently today I went off to work looking like I'd been hauled from a bin today....was a very comfortable bin I thought!! ! I'm very fond of bins... Any way - I'm glad to know there are others out there that don't understand makeup!

Yes... there is that risk of attracting the wrong attention, for sure. But you know, as they say, there's a flipside to every coin. What I suggested is more than theory -- it has actually played itself out practically in the real world many times. But as I alluded to, it depends what you are going for. Short-term attraction depends on things like a hot appearance, while in the long-term, people get old and gray and the inner beauty radiates from within. Both are important, because you can't walk that great long journey without the first step.

Now, how does your boyfriend respond to you and your views on makeup?

we...ell. I don't think he'd even broach the subject! Clothing's been a big enough trauma! After throwing out the entire contents of my cupboard (all my favourite paint coated clothing), he has had to become my fashion fitter when important stuff comes up. Now he understands why I don't brush my hair (it goes wierd) and I generally shop in the mens section (unless he escorts me and advises me in the girly bit). He's managed to get me to wear perfume - something I detested until now... I think little steps are good.

I think I could have asked this question because I do not see the point of wearing make-up and I personally cannot stand the feel and smell of it. I am almost allergic to it, but it is not because of the composition of the product, but because of that.

Loy

There is a theory that stipulates the purpose of make-up is tied in with animal instinct. The male Babboon is aware when the female is in heat as her bottom swells up, big and red. Lipstick on the lips of human women is said to trigger a similar response in human men. Since human females have evolved past the point of "swollen bottoms" and "heat periods" [it was reasoned that the bottoms of our female ancestors would swell when in season also] - the illusion of engorged lips that wearing lipstick creates appeals to some contemporary men as a "throwback"!

Perhaps a biologist could clear that up a bit?

I personally don't like make-up myself. And I also don't like perfume since it smells bad. I want flowers to smell like flowers and humans to smell like clean showers. But here are some of the reasons women use it.

1. Role models - Women I know whose mothers do not wear makeup usually don't wear any themselves. A woman may wear makeup because she feels it is important to her self image, when her self image is really crafted from someone else's image, whom she admires.
2. Puffy lips - Women have more than one set of lips, but only one of them becomes red when aroused. Early use of red lip coloring was by prostitutes advertising they would perform oral sex by making their lips resemble labia.
3. Societal crush - Perfectly normal, reasonable people will out of the blue go and say, "Oh she should think of her family" or "Why doesn't she settle down and stop being such a rude girl" or "Studies show that women who have children in their 40s will doom their babies to retardation and birth defects so stop working like a man and have babies now, before it's too late! We're not trying to get you out of the work force, really." Though I don't agree with any of these messages, and recognize them for the drivel they are, many women do get hurt by them. And often a woman sees her only choice, since everyone seems to think she's only in school for personal enrichment, is to seduce a man into having a child with her. Society does not allow women to be anything but attractive things that exist only for being sexy. At least if we meekly go along with it.

For the last reason I encourage women not to wear makeup. It's a small act of defiance against our diseased, bible damaged society, but every little bit counts. It's not just about looking good: every time we see someone with makeup on, every woman cannot help but think, "People expect me to do that." And yeah don't wear perfume or hair spray either, 'cause it's stinky and hurts people's eyes.

I do agree with some of that "goth" style makeup, or other non mainstream styles, but traditional makeup is definitely a tool of oppression: turns women into clowns straight out.

I am not sure what exactly you mean by "Bible-damaged", because the Bible has some very strong things to say against "painted ladies".

I do think sensory overload in today's modern society of many kinds is extremely UNhealthy. Too many clashing smells will definitely screw with your head, and one thing I'm against is noise pollution -- but the thing is, each person tries to one-up another, until what you end up with is this totally unpleasant, amorphous mist of ruin to your sanity wherever you walk downtown.

Again, I leave this to personal choice. If a woman enjoys wearing "traditional makeup" (whatever that is, as fashion is so fickle and is quick to toss out traditions and then adopt them in some years later), then that's her personal choice. I don't want anyone feeling unreasonably pressured to conform, but in society, that's the way it is. The pressure will always be there, but so are those who are strong enough to make up their own minds and take active stance on a well-informed decision.

On a related note,

Do I think a lot of productivity time is wasted for both genders figuring out what to wear and all that before going to work on a daily basis? Yes.

I feel the same way, ilster. Having a boyfriend is not one of my top priorities (I've never been in a relationship, and if I get into one I doubt I'd know what to do). If someone is attracted to me, I want it to be because they know and understand me, not because I look good. Emotions confuse me, and I have a hard time even being able to tell if I like someone or not. Unless I am already good friends with someone, I doubt that any relationships will go very well for me.

Torley, you have good points, as well. I've been told before that makeup or just looking nice will help attract attention that I may not otherwise get, but, to be honest, I'm terrified of getting attention! I don't know how to respond, and too often conversation descends into awkward silences, until either I excuse myself or the other person goes away.

I have been working at remembering to dress nicely atleast some of the time, though. It does get a better response, as you have said. I am still too apprehensive to try wearing makeup. I suppose that I'm lucky at the moment, because I go to an art school where being different or non- "mainstream" is much more readily accepted. There are a lot of girls there who don't wear makeup. (There are others who don't shower, which is very gross, to me, because they smell. I don't care what others do for hygiene, but sometimes it comes to a point where I am physically bothered by the odor...)

I am more sensitive to smell than most people seem to be, so I don't wear perfume. Sometimes, I will wear a light body spray or scented hand lotion, but the smell of perfume bothers my nose quite a bit (as does collogne).

That was the other bit I was going to say - time spent productively that ends up being spent decision making about clothes, hair etc. is very frustrating!! !! I reckon your average NT-make-up-wearing-hair-spray-lovin woman must spend at least a couple of hours in the bathroom each morning....arrgghhh!! !

Despite my interest in behind-the-scenes stuff (yes, almost everybody on TV wears makeup), I have no use for makeup. I also think my mom wears too much makeup. Seriously, she does, but I don't! I don't care what I look like, but my mom does! (No offense, Mom, if you're reading this.) But sometimes, it helps! (Without it, Fester from the original Addams Family series would look just like the guy on the silver dollar!)

Mich