Would You Wear No Makeup?

posted by Cortege

Feb 28, 2008 11:11AM

Oh YES!
It comes and goes. What I consider 'no make-up' is usually some eight hour cream and the indispensable touche eclat.
But only sometimes, when I am in a rush, I refuse to be late simply because I am not wearing make up. I have stepped out in nothing but skin before. and I like it.
It's really not about arrogance... Or maybe it is. I think I look good both ways. If I don't have to wear make-up, I won't.
But I WILL be late if I'm not wearing the right clothes.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:12AM

honestly i wish i could, but i cant stand to be in public or even driving around running errands without mascara! the only time i go bare is when im really sick and heading over to my Dr's office...he's seen me at my worst.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:16AM

Last summer I stopped wearing makeup for the same reason: to let my skin clear up. It definately worked. Now I hardly ever wear makeup; NO MAKEUP AT ALL. It was wierd at first because I was used to wearing every product under the sun, but I feel so much cleaner now, and it's kind of liberating.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:16AM

I haven't been wearing as much make-up as I used to and today - I am wearing moisturizer and mascara (my two non-negotiables). My skin hasn't looked this good in years!

I used to wear concealer, foundation and powder to hide flaws but I think it was actually creating more flaws causing a horrible circle of angry skin/hidden skin.

Now, I have fewer blackheads and spend less time in the bathroom. It's pretty awesome.

posted by superflippy

Feb 28, 2008 11:20AM

I don't leave the house without my undereye concealer. Everything else is optional.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:25AM

it depends, if i'm camping, or skiing, swimming, anything where it's going to come off anyways, i normally don't bother. i normally only wear blush and a little concealer under my eyes anyways.

posted by monica

Feb 28, 2008 11:26AM

I've recently gone cold turkey too. I made my New Years resolution to do anything and everything to get my skin looking flawless again! This includes no makeup, no more picking at my face (a really bad habit of mine) and using Lush facial mask for deep pore cleansing every couple of days. The first week was horrible! I looked hideous without makeup...I had dark circles under my eyes and a lot of blemishes on my cheeks (probably from bronzer). But I roughed it out and went sans-makeup everywhere...to class, to work, shopping, for dinner, everywhere! Now my skin feels and looks great, but I think I'll stay fresh faced until the end of term...since going makeup-less has saved me LOTS of time in the mornings!

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:28AM

im not wearing makeup right now. la di da. its not a big deal to me. i dont have perfect skin but its a lot better when i dont wear a lot of makeup.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:32AM

i don't think it's the makeup. either you're choosing something that has comodogenic ingredients, you're not removing your makeup thoroughly at night, or bacteria (not washing brushes often, etc). then again, i don't wear foundation, just concealer where i need it, but i don't notice breakouts when i do use it.

posted by Chloe

Feb 28, 2008 11:34AM

During the day, a moisturizer with SPF is a must - from a health perspective. My other non-negotiables: blush and mascara (with lash curler). My skin tone is naturally tan, and when I'm wearing some pink blush people tell me I "glow"; without it I look dark and plain.

posted by syako

Feb 28, 2008 11:37AM

I agree with guest @ 11:25. I don't wear anything at all for any kind of physical activity or for like saturday's farmers market, etc. I usually wear a very very small amount for work but i never used to. I started doing it because I realized how much an even skin tone on the face could really instantly pick you up. It's fun though, because when I do really wear makeup and glam up I look totally different and hot and my husband loves it. It kind of makes it special, you know? :)

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:39AM

I wasn't ever really into heavy makeup, and don't feel odd stepping out without it (if going to the gym, etc), but if I'm shopping I usually like to put a little on. My makeup routine is fairly light anyway -- I use mineral makeup for foundation instead of liquid base, and then just mascara and some light eyeliner, and lip balm. I'll go a bit heavier for going out, though.

As a side note, I definitely had to go makeup-less for about a year, as I had a weird rash on my face -- it was pretty awful! But trying to cover with makeup would have looked terrible, so I went without for a loooong time.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:39AM

i think i ll also go for the make up diet but i'll wait until summer until my skins a little more tanned and no blemishes shine through. and about the mascara bit.. without it i looke like a freakin albino rabbit. i was thinking about coloring them black, professionally and curling them ..has anyone ever tried that?

posted by xxi

Feb 28, 2008 11:42AM

I leave my apt all the time with just SPF on my face and nothing else. Who cares, sometimes you just don't want to cause a fuss. I love when I do actually wear make-up that people can see everyone stops me is like "are you wearing make-up?!"

I guess it's good they can't tell in the first place when I do wear some.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:45AM

Try Bare Escentuals. It cleared up my skin, and I didn't have to give up makeup.

posted by piccolina42

Feb 28, 2008 11:45AM

I am the lowest of the low. My apartment building WAS on fire and the first thing I went for was concealer and a toque. (That's a Canadian word, I think you guys call it a beanie or something?) Anyway, horrible. I'm horrible. I had the flu of death a couple months ago and on my 30 second march to the grocery store to get more drugs and gingerale, I still wore makeup. You're not alone! I don't think it's vanity so much as a refusal to look like ass. I want to be one of those little old ladies who, at like 115, is in her hospital bed with red lips and hair totally done.

Even camping, man. I used to get caught as a kid -- while my family was "roughing it" and making breakfast over a fire, I had snuck into the car to put on makeup in the visor mirror. No one ever said camping had to equal ugly.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:45AM

I almost never wear makeup, and am I'm really happy with my looks anyway. And i don't have to worry about my mascara when it rains! Also i like it when i can just wash my face and freshen up and don't worry about the makeup.

posted by phobelynn

Feb 28, 2008 11:45AM

mascaras the only thing that really makes me look especially good...but even when im wearing waterproof, in a few hours theres black residue smudges all underneath my eyes! any tips so i dont look like i get black eyes on a regular basis?

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:45AM

I never have and never will wear make-up! Way too much of a hassle and I look better without make-up.

posted by mpw

Feb 28, 2008 11:49AM

I wonder if people's skin looks bad when they wear a lot of makeup because they don't clean their brushes enough. I know I'm really lazy about that...

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:51AM

23 years old. and never got into the habit of wearing make-up at all. it makes me wonder, will i be 43 wearing no make-up? but because of this my skin has stayed almost perfect... so i'm happy.

posted by houseofholland

Feb 28, 2008 11:51AM

I have never worn make-up in my entire 18 years of existence. I probably shouldn't brag about that, but I'm being honest.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:52AM

this comment of mine might be a bit overly philosphical, i know, but here goes...

i wear make-up as infrequently as possible. obviously i look better with a little color on my cheeks and lips and some definition around my eyes, and i do pretty up for parties, events, etc.

but the reality is that make-up--like push-up bras, men's shoes with lifts, etc--is yet another way for people to hide who they truly are from the world. it's just done in a superficial, surface way instead of a more personality-based way such as editing one's facebook profile to only include good qualities and exclude the bad bits.

over the years, i've certainly had my share of severe acne. and as an adult now i still do not have perfect skin by any means, but i don't particularly care. if i want to communicate who i am to the world thru physical appearance only, i'll do it with my choice of clothes--not my ability to expertly cover up blemishes.

"Do you, would you, leave the house without a single swipe of make-up?"
hell yes! what's to be afraid of?

and besides, natalie's right--make-up is just plain old not good for the skin.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:52AM

Unfortunately I'm one of the most self-conscious people alive, so my friends have rarely seen me without a full face of makeup. I would never even THINK of going to the drugstore or grocery store without at least foundation, concealer and mascara. How sad.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:53AM

I'll run errands or go shopping without any make up on but when I'm going to class or work I always at least wear some Bare Escentuals foundation and mineral veil. If I'm going out with friends for dinner or to a bar I'll wear a full face.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:54AM

I might be the only one, but the only time I've worn make up was during prom. Haha.

I think it has something to do with the fact that my mom hardly wears any, and growing up, it was against school rules to wear makeup during classes.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 11:55AM

I'm pretty sure the girls at burberry have makeup on - just subtle makeup

posted by A Girl

Feb 28, 2008 11:58AM

i rarely wear much makeup...i have such fair skin that i look like a ghost if i dont! i pretty much always add a stroke of pink to my checks, thus avoiding the "omg you look like your going to faint!" comment

posted by Natalie Hormilla

Feb 28, 2008 12:07PM

guest @ 11:52am,

your comment was way too thoughtful to not acknowledge, so here goes:

i can absolutely appreciate your comparison of makeup to push-up bras.

but there is another side to makeup, which i'm sure you've heard of before - makeup as a means of "readying."

i don't do this everyday anymore, (although I did up until a couple years ago,) but for me, putting on makeup is almost like a form of meditation (no giggles, please!) it's like i'm getting myself ready for whatever i have to deal with that day, thinking about it, picturing what i have to do, what might be a good/bad idea, while i very carefully apply liner, mascara, whatever else. and when i'm done, it's like all of the preparation shows through my face, and i swear i really do feel more prepared for the day once i've gone through this ritual.

but i think you are so definitely right about a certain "fakeness" it has. but i really don't see that for makeup so much as other, more permanent decisions.

my theory is, if you can't wash it off at the end of the day, you've gone too far.

posted by lentil

Feb 28, 2008 12:09PM

must have mascara... but other than that i could be close to face-paint-free (read: tinted moisturiser)

posted by hyst

Feb 28, 2008 12:13PM

I usually only wear mascara and a dab of creme blush - and even that is negligible.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 12:23PM

go without! your skin will be so happy for it. i gave it up 3 years ago and my skin is so happy. Of course, moisturize, etc. Every make-up person will tell you that you NEED make-up. it is a lie, the more you use it the more you need ti b/c you skin suffers. Trust. Your skin will eventually glow and look great PLUS you will have $$$ for other things.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 12:37PM

I have to use something under my eyes, otherwise I'll get stopped by people asking me if I got enough sleep or if I'm sick (even when I've just woken up from 10 hours of rest and have never felt better). I'm okay going without makeup, aside from that.

Usually I rock the Nars multiple on chees and lips and mascara.

Then again... I have no problem wearing blue eye liner or plum lipstick. Make up is a fun, impermanent way to play with fashion. A no makeup look might be fresh and easy, but some days call for liquid liner and a dash of shimmer.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 12:52PM

I think another view of makeup is that it's a form of self-expression. I don't wear much, and can go bare-faced and be okay, but I've actually shifted toward wearing *slightly* more just because, well, it's fun! Unlike a push-up bra, or shoe lifts, where the bra/lifts are simply a means to an end, I find that makeup is somewhat more... of an accessory, sort of -- just something fun to play with. Lately I've been using an eggplant-colored liquid eyeliner thinking it might help my eyes look greener, and I got a great red lip gloss just to be a little bolder... and it does -- as an above poster said -- sometimes affect my attitude. Not in a serious way, but just in an I-might-break-out-the-John-Travolta-strut way. (Kidding. Mostly :) But don't mistake that as me using makeup for self-esteem! As I said, I tend to go minimal with makeup, but view it as fun -- I think if you're a slave to it that's another story.

And man, do I need to clean my brushes... I'm terrible with that...

posted by piccolina42

Feb 28, 2008 1:04PM

Can I just say one more thing? It's slightly bitchy but I think it needs to be said... I know some girls who are adamant about hardly ever wearing makeup and proud of the fact. But their skin looks dreadful and they walk around looking tired and sallow with all kinds of pores and acne. A quick swipe of foundation and powder (I'm not advocating a full face with eyeliner and the works!) would do wonders. They'll drop a gazillion dollars on their bags and shoes and they let their face look... less than stellar.

Cue the retaliation.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 1:17PM

I hate foundation. Unless I'm going to be on camera, I hate that mask it creates. If you moisturize well and I'm in love with Laura Geller spackle so that the blush sticks all day, you can have a make up look without the pore clogging. YSL Touche Eclat takes care of any trouble. I love the way a few freckles across my nose and a nicely blushed cheek looks together.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 1:19PM

piccoline42- we are civilized (non?), no need to retaliate. This was your opinion and it is respected. You have a valid point. I have the good fortune of good skin- for others, it might not be so easy.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 1:21PM

Before I graduated from college I stopped wearing every day makeup and dying my hair--- cold turkey. My skin didn't look the greatest at first, and don't even get me started on my roots. But two years later... my hair is a healthiest it has even been. Now my skin.. I'll admit my skin is tired looking at times, but leaving the house without makeup no longer bothers me... and i think thats the greatest part of giving up my everyday makeup. I can be happy with my skin as is... and when I do go out and wear makeup I feel really pretty... my skin thanks me for saving it for outings instead of an everyday routine.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 1:23PM

i prefr the natural look but i jsut look so much healthier with a mini tint of makeup and mascara!! and my friends that dont wear make up argue that at work they have noone to make themselves pretty for. . but i want to be comfortable with myself. plus i used to have pimples/big pores a long time ago, then i did this (not too sure if this is the english word) fructose acid peeling (im guessing its not what you call it haha) and since then i ve never had any sever problems ever again. and my dermatologist said that a little bit of make up (by a good brand like la rochey posay or biotherm) will act as a barrier and is good for your skin.. just like SPF creme althoug i sort of disagree

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 1:23PM

My dermatologist gave me a few pointers: Change your birth control to a low dose (like Yasmin), ONLY use dove bar soap on your face & body, NEVER use body oil, baby lotion or body wash, don't use makeup with oil or any type of sponges for makeup (bacteria breeds there) and most importantly - don't pick! He seemed a bit odd at first but, presto! He was right.

We get so used to wearing makeup and wearing more makeup to mask any sort of skin blemishes. I use only a few things - Maybelline mouse foundation (a little goes a LONG way) a liquid foundation to mask any dots, Nars Multiple Blush & Mascara. I find that wearing less make up makes me feel less like a 14 year old trying to impress everyone.

Also - just some cheap tricks: Try Avon's Advanced All in One SPF lotion, and their Advanced Eye Perfector. I love what they have done for my skin!!

posted by fashionursta

Feb 28, 2008 1:46PM

I have one thing to say, and that is- did you ever notice how all the fashion editors at the shows do not weqr makeup?(maybe with the exception of Anna and Carine, although Carine has not been doing her eyes in black of late) I live in NYC and see many of them in person close up, and while they look great clotheswise, they don't do their faces or hair. I guess it looks like you are trying too hard if you do it all up. Myself, I am trying to come to terms with my aging eyes, which just look tired. I will not have anything done to them, and I am getting used to my eyes without makeup. When I was in my 20's, since I have deep set eyes, I looked like I had shadow on and never had to wear eye makeup. And as far as the skin goes, if you use really good products, you don't need foundation, just a little concealer. I personally swear by Dr Sebagh, from Barneys, and they also have an acne treatment line.

posted by KLW

Feb 28, 2008 2:14PM

I don't wear any makeup at all most days, and light makeup when I go out. I joke that it's all about managing expectations--if on a daily basis, I wear nothing, then all I need is some mascara, eyeliner, and lipgloss and EVERYONE notices. Coupled with that, though, is that all of my friends and every man I've ever dated has preferred the way I look without makeup. I think the poster who talked about makeup as having an element of fakeness was right, in the sense that your appearance is part of how people learn to relate to you, and if people only know you with makeup on, then they prefer you with makeup on. Whereas I know that the people in my life prefer me when I look just like me.

And to answer a later comment--when my skin and eyes looking tired, it's generally because I AM tired. It tells me that I have to take better care of myself, not that I have to start spending a fortune on makeup. Because in the long run, that will be what keeps you pretty anyway.

posted by AndreaDarling

Feb 28, 2008 2:30PM

ive always said i never want to become those ladies who dont wear any makeup

im not talking a mask of makeup but a little blush and mascara never hurt anybody.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 2:46PM

I don't count makeup as essential, but I do put it on before I go to work just to make me look better and more professional. I never ever used to wear makeup, but the first time I wore some eyeliner to work, my boss said, "You look so awake today!" I don't wear makeup to the gym (why do people wear makeup to the gym? I don't get it) or to class.

posted by anna_muffin

Feb 28, 2008 2:46PM

I don't wear makeup, I think I look better without it. Plus, I'm lazy and prefer sleep to putting some paint on my face (some girls really do look like they just paint a new face on their own every morning). I use moisturizer and transparent anti-acne cream to keep my skin healthy looking. When I want to feel pretty, I put on some mascara.

posted by arcane

Feb 28, 2008 3:35PM

i've only worn makeup to weddings. its lovely on other people, but it looks dreadful on me. as for my skin, its seems to have made all the difference. mostly, my skin is virtually flawless. i'm talking, maybe two pimples a year. now, i dunno if its genetics or lack of make-up or whatever, but hey...might be worth a try to see what happens?

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 5:02PM

this is to piccolina42,

i know for a lot of people, (myself included) that when you someone covering up a blemish with concealer, it's way more physically unappealing than if they were to wear nothing over it at all. sure a bit of redness, or the ODD pimple might need a little cover up... but those with bad skin should seek a dermatologist and not a bottle of cover up/powder/bronzer etc...

i usually ALWAYS wear the mac stick under eye concealer. (i agree with you in that the sunken in eyes look is not cute) i also have been known to obsess over my benefit tint. it's sooo easy and adds some much needed colour.

at any rate, a ton of make up is really just gross. nice skin is an asset and a great accessory. that way you can throw on some blush, tint, and mascara and you look so clean and fresh.

save the caked on face and fake eyelashes for halloween ladies!

posted by Rose Tyler

Feb 28, 2008 5:21PM

Frankly I'm as pale as Tilda Swinton so I need a little tinted moisturizer. Just like with my clothes and shoes how much makeup I wear otherwise depends on my mood. Some days it's just mascara and others it's full tilt cat eye mascara. Though I never leave the house without mascara on. Ever.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 6:43PM

Considering that I'm a high school sophomore, and the majority of my grade goes tanning on a daily basis and cakes on pounds of foundation, coverup, eyeshadow, and eyeliner, I prefer to be bare. My daily beauty routine is some Aveeno facial moisturizer, Palmer's cocoa butter swivel stick chapstick, and (occasional) a quick squeeze of an eyelash curler. I'm rediculously pale and I've got bags under my eyes, but I'm comfortable in my own skin. Most of my friends wear mascara at most, and I like that it sets me (and us) apart from the rest of my grade.

posted by silhouette

Feb 28, 2008 7:24PM

i don't wear makeup everyday. if i'm super busy, i don't wear any at all. on a normal day, when i'm going to work or school, i'll just wear concealer under my eyes (wicked bad dark circles) and mascara. however, i know i don't look horrible without makeup, and i'm comfortable not wearing it. time is pretty much the only thing that determines if i put makeup on in the morning. i used to wear a lot more makeup, and when i stopped my skin really cleared up.. i wouldn't go back to that. covering it all up isn't worth zits and blackheads.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 7:25PM

I regularly never wear make up. I've gone through phases where I go months without make up or wear it every day for weeks, etc. I don't ever feel like I NEED make up every time I go out. I usually wear make up to work because it's socially conventional and you need to look "professional". Even then, it is very minimal (blush, and SOMETIMES neutral eye shadow, and maybe if I'm feeling a little saucy some eyeliner) On weekends, I hardly ever wear make up in public. Oh, and my skin is soft, and blemish free, btw. I hardly ever break out.

posted by chasing pavements

Feb 28, 2008 9:39PM

Makeup separates at-home me from out-in-the-world me. It might only be some nude eyeshadow, a swipe of mascara, and my go-to lipstick, but it makes me feel like I'm putting energy into looking good, and when I know I look good, not only do I feel good, but I don't worry about my appearance.

Moreover, I've long since learned that people will judge you on your appearance whether you take care of yourself or not, so best to put in a little effort. I know that sounds shallow, but appearances do matter, at least as first impressions are concerned.

That said, I'm currently in academia, and looking like a china doll is far worse, appearance-wise, than going without altogether. Sometimes I notice that paying attention to my clothes, makeup and hair attracts way more attention than it would in other workplaces - and even if I'm complimented on stuff, I feel like I'm also taken less seriously because I care about these "frivolous," "feminine" things.

But enough about my job.

posted by guest

Feb 28, 2008 9:54PM

I usually wear foundation and moisturizer just to even out my skin tone (I have dry skin to the extreme so this is a must), a little eyeliner and mascara, but I love to be able to just wear mascara; I have a mascara addiction. Obviously to go out I add eyeshadow etc.
I think if you can get away without wearing makeup go for it
p.s. can anyone recommend a product that moisturizes and evens out skin tone?

posted by erinclaire

Feb 28, 2008 9:56PM

I've been wearing make-up almost every day since I was 15 and started getting pimples.. this article reminded me of the couple of times I was in hospital (nothing too serious) when I couldn't wear make up.. and every time my skin cleared up completely.

I'm 21 now and I still have to wear make-up every time I leave the house, I'll even admit putting on a little concealer if I'm going to the gym and I've got some pimples or whatever. It's kind of like I can't be myself if I don't because I focus on the fact my skin looks terrible instead of just relaxing and enjoying the day.

I might try and go without again if I can bear it though!

posted by looking spiffy

Feb 28, 2008 11:36PM

I wore much more makeup when I was in highschool. Now that my skin has gotten to the point where I'm comfortable not wearing anything, I wear way less. I appreciate the less-is-more look, it's more sophisticated.

But, since I'm a product junkie to the max, I admit, mascara and blush is a must.

posted by dumbbrunette5

Feb 29, 2008 1:10AM

99% of the time i wear no makeup at all (aside from chapstick..which doesnt count). i have really sensitive skin that gets irritated easily with wearing makeup often. occasionally ill wear lipstick or eyeliner on the weekends or something but i usually leave my face bare unless its a special occasions because my skin fares better when there is nothing on it. and ive never worn mascara..i know most people love it but it irritates my eyelashes so i just cant do it.

posted by guest

Feb 29, 2008 1:11AM

I'm a guy and even I wear a dot of concealer at the inner corner of my eyes. I'm not trying to be pretty. I just don't want to look like Uncle Fester.

I have women friends who are beautiful and have great skin, but they wear as much make-up as Marcel Marceau. I want to hose them down. They deliberately go from pretty to embalmed every morning.

posted by guest

Feb 29, 2008 2:43AM

ok...after reading this story, I have a major urge to go wash my face completely clean. i am really seriously considering that. i'm not a major makeup junkie, but i don't generally leave the house without a little mascara and blush. although i'm not afraid to go makeup-free, i think i really should do it more often.

posted by guest

Feb 29, 2008 12:09PM

My daytime makeup "uniform" is touche eclat and some guerlain terracotta. It makes a huge difference, virtually freshening me up. It doesn't transform my looks, just makes me look a bit better. Though I don't always do that...I'm prone to bouts of laziness and when that happens I happily leave the house make-up free, which never would have happened say, 5 years ago. One thing I save for special occasions is - shock, horror! - mascara, as it's so bothersome to remove (cue, laziness...) and I'm very strict about removing my make-up at night. But when I go out I do love to experiment with make-up. I see it as an extension of my outfit. It's fun and creative, and you can wash your face when you get home and get to be your fresh faced self again the next day.

posted by guest

Feb 29, 2008 1:07PM

When I was younger, I used to wear a lot of makeup daily. Every morning was primer, foundation, powder, concealer, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, and lipgloss. Now that I'm older, I've thankfully grown out of that stage. I won't say that I'm adverse to makeup; I certainly enjoy wearing it. However, the only makeup I wear now is a smudge of lipstick, if any. And my skin is terribly thankful.

When a big event calls, I do the whole mascara and red lipstick look. Classic and simple, but not overdone.

posted by guest

Feb 29, 2008 5:18PM

I do it all the time. I only really wear makeup to go out on the weekends.

posted by guest

Feb 29, 2008 5:20PM

Many young women start wearing make up in middle school,when hormones cause your skin to break out, in the mistaken belief that covering up blemishes is the only way to go and they usually go about it with a very heavy hand. As a result, their skin gets progressively worse. This habit follows them into adulthood. What many women don't realize is that make up is a toxic brew of chemicals. Just try to read the back of a bottle of foundation. Happily, there are a plethora of natural mineral-based alternatives now available. I bought my teenage daughters the mineral powder when they started pleading for some form of cover-up. I also aggressively treated their acne, natural solutions for one, and Pro-Active for the other when natural solutions failed to work. I can count on two hands the times I have worn more than just mascara, and now that I am 45, my skin is better for it. It is ok to look human, you don't have to buy into the whole make up myth. Eat right, get enough sleep, and if you can't pronounce it, don't put it on your face. Oh! And moisturize your neck & chest with the same stuff you use on your face....you'll reap in the benefits later.

posted by guest

Feb 29, 2008 8:09PM

I'm 15 and I almost never wear makeup - my skin is super-clear. The reason why I don't, though, is not to keep my skin clear but rather, i prefer having a few more minutes of sleep in the morning to looking made-up. (sometimes i wear eyeliner)

posted by guest

Mar 01, 2008 1:31AM

I rarely wear any make up, but I'm blessed with clear skin and dark eyebrows and lashes so I can get a way with it.

I find wearing makeup has become a chore for me, but it also allows me to look my age as I am very short and need attention drawn to my face and not my height.

I think it is a hard thing to give it up cold turkey for people who wear it the majority of the time. Yet, doing it every so often, be it for pleasure, skin health, or whatever, is greatly needed.

posted by guest

Mar 02, 2008 3:22PM

just as a note.. noticed that most of the "i've never and will never wear makeup!" people were 15-18 years old :P

i didn't wear any makeup either until i was 22 or so. i don't wear any foundation, etc., but i wouldn't rule it out as i age. trust me, your skin will not always be as fabulous as it is when you are in high school ;)

posted by guest

Mar 02, 2008 7:41PM

i'm nearly fifteen, and usually the only makeup i wear is some powder for my perpetually shiny nose and some brown eyeliner, and maybe some palmers cocoa butter lip balm (which in't reallly makeup)
and my skin is pretty clear - i wash it and moisturize every night.
i don't think, at least not until i need it, that i'm ever going to wear a full face of makeup. i got my makeup professionally done by my bro's wedding. it was beautiful, but it made me look like i was 30 and trying to hide wrinkles (which i don't have!)
so no makeup (really) for me

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2008 9:32PM

piccolina i think you have a point, so far as spending a million dollars on other things but not doing a thing for your face. sartorial and aesthetic perfection is all about equal amount of effort everywhere if you ask me. very few people can rock dirty gumboots with a designer cocktail dress, etc. women marching around with LV bags and chanel sunglasses in TNA sweats with shit written on the ass look ridiculously suburban if you ask me. just reminds me of katherine heigle or whatever that woman's name is.

i have a facial structure like elsa sylvan's and makeup looks REALLY over-the-top on all my angles, so i don't wear it unless i'm in costume.

witch hazel is my foundation- it closes up my big oily pores and cools off my pink cheeks. for moisturizer and exfoliant i use a little bit of olive oil and baking soda, about a teaspoon to a pinch. that evens out my skin tone more than makeup ever would.

posted by sam alex

Mar 10, 2008 3:34AM

I would love to leave the house without makeup, I envy all my friends who wake up beautiful, but honestly, I can't enjoy my day if I don't feel attractive and I don't feel attractive without a bit of makeup. Bad skin runs in both sides of my family, I even did the Accutane bit, and I'll never have that porcelain skin. Some powder and concealer makes me feel infinitely better and much more confident as I go about my day.

Plus, I get such a positive reaction when I put a bit of effort into my face, and who doesn't want that all the time? A lot of people have said how they like to keep it makeup-free during the week so people notice when they are dressed up. For some reason, I enjoy the opposite - I want to look consistently decent ever day. And I mean decent for me, not that you need makeup to need decent! I just feel like whenever I'm out and not made up it gets noticed, in a negative way.

posted by southweststyle

Mar 10, 2008 12:02PM

I agree - I have always had problem skin and have recently quit wearing foundation and it did help. I am down to full eyes, bronzer and blusher only, but I don't like going out without at least mascara and bronzer. Even if no one else can tell, I feel better about how I look with it on, and that makes all the difference.

posted by guest

Mar 10, 2008 12:11PM

It's true. Stop wearing make-up, bronzer and blush and watch how your skin glows. I have great skin and it began to get worse after I started wearing make-up. I now limit myself to mascara and lip-gloss (and the perfect hair cut of course)!

posted by socialista

Mar 10, 2008 2:39PM

Throughout high school/some college I had pretty bad skin with hyper-pigmentation so I felt that I could never leave the house without concealer, foundation, powder/bronzer.. but kept everything else pretty basic. However, my skin has improved dramatically over the past 8 months, and so I'm starting to try to let go of makeup, except mascara and lipgloss (unless i'm going out on the weekends-then a little powder is needed). It still feels weird to go bare, but I have definitely started to see improvements!

posted by guest

Mar 10, 2008 3:09PM

I used to wear heavy, heavy foundation because I had really bad acne and I would never leave the house without it--even to go to the pool! However, I started using a new face wash and my skin got so much better. I switched to a medium weight foundation because I still have scarring from the acne. However, for Christmas, my mom gave me Bare Minerals and I was totally skeptical, but seriously it is amazing. It's very light, but it still covers the scars I have (which is the only reason I do not go totally bare).

posted by guest

Mar 10, 2008 3:52PM

I started reading this last week on a morning when I was rushing to get out the door, and realized as I read that I had not yet put on my makeup. I only wear bare minerals, yet some days I really felt like even that was far too heavy. I've been going without for a week now. The first day or so was terribly hard, but my skin has looked increasingly better and felt markedly improved every day. I'm 24, with serious genetic undereye circles, but my boyfriend and several others have said they really can't tell the difference.

posted by guest

Mar 11, 2008 9:12AM

sam alex - i hear you! i'd be delighted not to wear makeup, but i'm just not going to walk around baring my spots and temperamental skin to people - i can't imagine anything worse for my self-esteem. i've never had any success with heavy liquid foundations, always used a light-as-possible combination of concealers & stick foundations [and now maybelline mousse] - the idea being, instead of plastering it on til it covers, use exact shades to fix exact problems. i dot & blend rather than cover my whole face, and wear as little as i can get away with, but that's still some - all of it maybelline or benefit. i'm super pale and happy with this, so i don't try to go darker - blush, not base = colour! - or wear bronzer or any of that nonsense.

i also have [hereditarily] non-existent brows, so i gotta darken those a little. basically, i'm used to approaching a certain standard before people see me - even skin, some eye definition & cheek colour [powder or benetint], and defined brows. if boyfriends see me makeup-less the morning after, so be it, but i'm not leaving the house like that. my skin's improved a bit since using johnsons baby wipes and a garnier pure-a moisturiser.

posted by guest

Mar 11, 2008 12:52PM

for me, make up is a tool for self-expression and creativity. there are many sides to me: sporty, urban, cosmopolitan, euro-inspired, global boho, sleek, tomboy, sexy, earthy, mysterious, minimalist, sweetness, cutie pie, fresh faced, femme fatale, punky, bookworm, au naturel - whatever influences turn me on and make me feel alive.

for the most part, i feel i look my best with some concealer dabbed around my nose, tinted moisturizer with spf applied to sallow spots, eye lashes curled, a berry gloss and perhaps a smudge of either pencil along my lower lash line or some shadow along my lid. i do go bare-faced but i prefer a lash curl and a swipe of sheer colored gloss or lip balm as my best minimal look. i don't have the best skin, which i lament; trust. so instead i focus on my bits that are positive. so much of being fabulous is being true to who you are and working it.

i confess that when i read many of the comments posted, they strike me as judgmental and absolute - like there are these rules and if one doesn't abide by them one is not fashionable. this makes me sad. it seems so uptight and such a buzzkill. i don't think fashion and creativity can truly be reduced to such a terse existence and to comply with such sterile and stringent dictates just seems so anti-style .

i think anything goes and if it makes you feel good and confident about yourself - yay!

posted by guest

Mar 11, 2008 3:04PM

I never wear make up during the day...just eye cream and sunscreen : )

posted by guest

Mar 12, 2008 9:22PM

I wish I didn't have to wear so much make-up.. especially cover up. My face is pretty much clear, I just feel better wearing a little something.. isn't it funny how we feel better about ourselves when we're hiding behind products..?

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 10:18AM

I am well into my 30s, and I wear makeup. Not tons, not the cakepan look, but the 'basics'. I still have horrible memories of years of bad skin - from my early teens to well into my 20s, and even sometimes now. It is really astounding how many people think that it is acceptable to say things such as "whats wrong with your face???" And its unsurprising how bad that makes you feel. Makeup always stopped those comments. So as much as, on one level, it would be nice to go barefaced, it wont always work. And be aware that skin problems are not always created or exasurbated the makeup, so stopping wont help. And let me tell you, your eyelids can get this funny red tinge when you get to be my age, and it aint pretty!

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 6:14PM

I'm 15...99% of the time I go out I put at least some concealer and eyeliner on, sometimes eyeshadow and blush. Makeup may be superficial and act as a mask, but it makes people feel better about themselves.
That being said, I am insanely jealous of those people who look absolutely stunning without any makeup on.

posted by pratishtha

Mar 15, 2008 9:12AM

Look what you've started! That many comments? What two penny bit can I possibly add? Oh yeah. Asian skin. Sallow and prone to break-outs, even at the ripe old age of THIRTY!

Not wearing make-up helps. Well, sort of. Though I dread to think of what it would be like if I wore make-up.

posted by supersiv

Mar 17, 2008 8:56AM

My skin has a couple of break-outs now and then, but usually looks fine. So yeah, I don't wear that much make up, mostly just mascara and eyeliner. But I've spent time on campus with no make up at all, and it makes me feel quite relaxed;)

posted by guest

Mar 17, 2008 12:29PM

i NEVER wear makeup simply becuz i dont know how to apply it...still though i think that i look beautiful without it. others seem to notice also when they meet me i always get the "your so pretty" comments or the "you look better in person" comments. make up looks nice and isnt for everyone but to each her own right??

posted by guest

Mar 17, 2008 10:51PM

Uh...yeah...all the time...and my head doesn't explode or anything. I probably wear make-up once a month, and that's overestimating.

posted by guest

Mar 18, 2008 2:15PM

i am very skin savvy, and have been for as long as my parents passed on their bad skin gene (thanks guys) and from a very early age, have developed a fervent skin regime. my skin has since calmed down now that i'm 25 but i still treat it like a slik scarf and not like some old gym sock...very little makeup if anything at all (a light dusting of bare escentuals mineral foundation which is good for your skin, and a bit of peachy blush and voila!), i don't smoke, i drink a lot of water, i DO NOT and HAVE NEVER tanned, i wear spf yea-round and i look younger and fresher than my younger sister who has engaged in all of the opposite things i listed...what can i say, clothes are a plenty, but you only get ONE skin. be gentle!

posted by Softel

Mar 18, 2008 8:44PM

I'm trying to cut down on what I use. For the past few weeks I've limited myself to tinted moisturizer n mascarra... Hopefully my skin will start behave so I can enjoy fresher lookin skin for spring/summer.

posted by guest

Mar 19, 2008 5:14PM

I feel ugly without any make up.
iv done it before and people are shocked. they ask me if i'm okay, if i'm ill.
and they stare and
im like
aww i look rough.
its not fun.
i feel like i can relax with foundation and concealer on. mascara and eyeliner and blusher.
and lip balm.
thats what i wear.
if im wearing that then i can get on with my day!

posted by karlakho

Mar 19, 2008 5:21PM

does anyone use bare minerals line of makeup? believe it or not, wearing that line of makeup helped my skin by clearing it up. and, since it feels so natural, it made me slightly less freaked out to leave the house without any makeup on.

posted by guest

Mar 20, 2008 11:29PM

This blog and the Burberry picture is my current desktop for ongoing inspiration. I read this blog almost every day! I'm not yet twenty or thirty or whatever, but I am definitely a make up junkie. Because of this blog, I'm giving it up! At least for a few weeks or maybe months? I definitely feel self-conscious, but it IS very convenient and somewhat liberating. If this blog were never written, my face would still be painted. PLUS my skin is getting better! (i think.) his really affects who I am, because now I'm exposing myself to the world who I really am, without make up. I don't need it, really! To be completely honest, I haven't seen friends except ONCE since I started my no-makeup-thing, but I don't plan on wearing make up again when school is back. (it's spring break.) let's hope i don't crack! thanks for posting, i loved--LOVE it.<33

posted by guest

Mar 21, 2008 2:12AM

i've always had problem skin, and on top of that i have blonde (invisible) eyebrows and eyelashes. so darkening the brows + mascara is a must. i've just gotten in the habit of wearing makeup (i use bare escentuals, and though it doesn't make me break out, i could probably go without.) on top of that i'm kind of a product junky, and i love eyeshadow and blush. they're just so pretty!

whenever i go on vacation i tend to go without makeup, because it's the only time i get a (minimal) tan which makes any redness go away. i probably should have made the connection between no makeup and clear skin, instead of sun and clear skin!

great discussion though... it's great to hear how people were able to give up makeup and improve their skin. i might just have to go bare-faced tomorrow :)

posted by guest

Mar 21, 2008 4:20PM

late to the party, 'tis true, but i have a recommendation for guest on feb. 28, 9:54 p.m.: neutrogena healthy skin enhancer SPF 20. it's a tinted all-in-one product--sun protection, retinol, antioxidants--and friendly on the wallet. as you can see, i'm a BIG fan.

posted by guest

Mar 21, 2008 4:22PM

late to the party, 'tis true, but i have a recommendation for guest on feb. 28, 9:54 p.m.: neutrogena healthy skin enhancer SPF 20. it's a tinted all-in-one product--sun protection, retinol, antioxidants--and friendly on the wallet. as you can see, i'm a BIG fan.

posted by guest

Mar 24, 2008 2:15AM

I don't mind going out without makeup. first I dont like the feel of makeup still and only wear bare minerals if i'm out partying or may run into an ex...yea i said it. otherwise i just dont to classes and in public. I figure who i am is enough..i know i know, but what is makeup going to do if i have a gross zit? it only makes it worse, and furthermore it looks ridiculous covering up a zit bc you can clearly tell. Also, I always think back to "who am I wearing this makeup for?" and really I figure its a waste because I dress for myself so i just dont fuss, i save my money and buy amazing outfits...:D

posted by guest

Mar 24, 2008 6:16PM

I read this article a few weeks ago, and I actually stopped wearing foundation and concealer.. and i went ligter on my eye makeup. Now my skin seriously glows- from only a few weeks, just think if i'd keep it up for a few more months...

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 8:34PM

I have just discovered this article and its exactly wanted I needed to read !!!! I am currently walking around a 'Fashion' office with several big bandages on my face! Hmmmm ...... its not cool !!!! Two days ago I had a minor surgical procedure to eliminate my acne scarring! I have continuosly had bad skin since my teens and my 'dream' has always been to have perfect skin and WEAR NO MAKE UP!!! Now in my 30s I decided to go onto roacutain which has been my life saver ..... and now I have just started to cosmetically correct my skin .... I had 'punch elevations' done on my deep scars and a series of Fraxel Lasers are scheduled in over the next few months! I would never go any where without make up ... because I thought I looked ugly!!! I was ashameded to get up in the morning and walk around confidently infront of males .... My skin has really damaged my confidence It has now been three days that I haven't worn any make up, no mascara ... nothing ... not even moisturiser! I just cant believe how many people have commented on how great my skin looks (even though a quarter of it is bandaged) my biggest block has been removed as I believe that we are our own worst enemy!!!! After reading this article and every comment posted, I am going to continue to wear no make up and I know that my skin will soon become my best asset! I work with alot of amazing top models and guess what? ....... not one of them wears make up !!!!!! Go Burberry!!!!!

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 9:49PM

I glanced through the comments on this article and it has left me disappointed in the female population. I have never worn concealer or foundation and I have clear skin [surprise surprise]; why is mascara non-negotiable for so many of you? Are you all so self-conscious and condemning that you can't stand to ever go without it? Eyeliner or eyeshadow, I understand, and maybe mascara every now and then, but really, don't be so ridiculous. Why is it so difficult to go bare-faced? No, I am not a tomboy or a product of rural upbringing and I have passed through the damned age of acne, but I still never wore makeup. Stop being so superficial. It's making me sick.

posted by guest

Mar 30, 2008 10:18PM

a lot of you girls say you wear eyeliner without mascara...that look is just gross unless your asian( short eyelashes )...

posted by guest

Mar 30, 2008 11:03PM

What a wonderful thread! I am almost 50 and my beauty routine extends to the occasional kohl pencil around the eye and lipstick and if I remember Touche Eclat. I also wash my face morning and night with ordinary soap and water. My skin, so people tell me, is flawless and unlined. Not smoking, drinking or doing drugs has probably also helped. That and keeping out of the sun unless wearing sun block. I remember sharing a room at University with a girl who insisted on getting up early to put on a mask of make-up before breakfast, which she would then touch-up immediately after breakfast. Each night I saw her without makeup she looked so wan. I knew I did not want to go down that route. Ironically this was the late 1970s and as a pale blonde she used to smother her skin with baby oil and roast in the sunshine to get a deep tan. I imagine her skin is very leathery now. So it was heartening to read so many of you eschewing the siren lure of the cosmetic industry to plaster your face with make-up.

posted by guest

Mar 31, 2008 1:18AM

i totally so the same thing.

apply more mascara to make up for it haha

i say lay off the caked on foundation on a day to day basis

:)

leave it for special events hehe

posted by 808Kate

Mar 31, 2008 2:59AM

guest@ 12:52, march 11: right on.

me? I "go without" makeup for days, but all I really feel like I'm doing is saving myself the bother of wiping it off at the end of the day.

I consider makeup to be just another part of the outfit.

I don't see much difference in my skin after a week or whatever of letting my makeup bag gather dust, but I'm sure it might affect others differently.

To each her own, then.

posted by guest

Mar 31, 2008 9:17AM

I've never worn a real 'full face' since I'm ridiculously pale and nothing looks natural; I do wear make up during the week (ie to class, to lunch etc) but my focus is on bright eyes with liquid liner.
I don't wear make-up at the weekends unless I'm going out with friends to try and balance it out. It keeps my skin steadily clear, usually only breaking out due to stress or hormones.

posted by guest

Mar 31, 2008 2:38PM

I always wear make up, mostly out of shame of how my skin looks without it. Perhaps that is the cause of my skin not being flawless. My boyfriend loves it when I'm around the house makeupless however. Why is it that men seem to dislike all of the makeup we cake on our face?? I've definitely always wondered because in my eyes, I look better with it on.

posted by guest

Mar 31, 2008 3:09PM

I have yet to find a make-up that actually stays on. Eye pencil and mascara leave me looking like a panda however allegedly water proof the products are. I already have a natural red colour to my cheeks and going out into the winter chill or summer heat just emphasises it further. Lipstick does not last much beyond the first drink or meal. Above all I am a WYSIWYG kind of girl. I don’t want a beau to run screaming from the room the first time he sees without make-up because the difference is so marked. Paradoxically, I often find that it is on those days when I feel I ought not to be allowed out onto the street without a paper bag over my head that I find strangers are more likely to come on to me. Perhaps decisions about whether to wear make-up are influenced by our mothers. The woman who raised me did not own so much as a lipstick and regarded women who wore make-up as little better than brazen hussies. By contrast my mother, who I went to live with in my teens, believed in applying the full works, down to the old fashioned mascara you literally had to spit on before applying with a wand. One thing that struck me was the way Hollywood stars wanting to be taken seriously as an actress, often ditch the glamorous make-up for a role in the hope that their heroic self-sacrifice will result in critical acclaim: think Charlize Theron in Monster for example.

posted by guest

May 05, 2008 12:48PM

rip ompa lumpa's with white necks

posted by guest

Jul 02, 2008 1:22PM

I wear a heck of a lot of makeup. No foundation, no concealer, and no powder. But every single piece of color, I love it! I indulge! Why not? Its so much fun!
Eye makeup is my sin, i love the eyeshadow, the colored eyeliners, and the liquid cat-eyes! I love my eyes too, and if they are pretty to me, why not play them up? I despise mascara and go for the curl instead!
Since I'm a vegetarian I need that pink blush to glow and since I am adamant about spf, I need that bronzer!
Ilook like i wear makeup but i don't really care, I like those eyes big and bold, baby :)