Why do you use makeup?

apresonly · 2024-01-26T16:29:36+00:00

i only wear makeup on special occasions like weddings or big work meetings with strangers because its expected of women and i dont want the focus to be on my looks, i want to blend in

but i dont wear it 99% of the time and i love my natural look. i am blessed to have great skin and i feel like my looks match my personality. i like seeing my real face.

SeveralSadEvenings · 2024-01-26T16:07:42+00:00

What is the reason behind it?

Because I look tired and stern if I don't wear it.

Isn't your natural beauty enough?

No apparently not, according to almost 40 years of living under western style capitalism.

Sharp_Engineering379 · 2024-01-26T16:27:10+00:00

For fun. I don't wear it to work, I rarely wear more than mascara and lip gloss when socializing. But when I'm going shopping or hanging out with girlfriends, it's full makeup, heels, dresses; the works.

It's play, just like male dominated hobbies.

ETA: Men ~~can tell~~ should be able to tell the difference between women who seek male approval and women who just enjoy blowing money at Sephora and playing dress up. Check out r/makeupaddiction, where 4 million put on full makeup to show off and ask for feedback from likeminded people. And many never leave their house.

Why do men play sports and work out? Gotta be for female attention, right? No possible way they enjoy their bodies and athletic ability, men can't possibly enjoy the camaraderie and skill. Gotta be pandering to that female gaze, right?

waffleznstuff30 · 2024-01-26T18:48:11+00:00

It's fun for me. I use it as a way to express myself. I do feel like to feel pretty and fixed up. Like I put effort into myself. Also being goth and alternative it's a great form of self expression.

-Shes-A-Carnival · 2024-01-26T17:20:46+00:00

Some women on this sub either say they're doing it because of the "patriarchy" and because society forces them to do so

link to a single woman on this sub saying this

women wear makeup primarily because it is a fun pleasing activity and a hobby/art and THEN because of the female social matrix pressure to do so and age. in the professional world you will look tired old, ugly and unprofessional if you dont wear makeup after a certain age. when you get to be my age you wear it so that you dont want to KYS when you leave the house or pass a mirror. it also helps that when youre older you can generally afford higher quality makeup which is pleasing to purchase and have in and of itself and you have really learned how to put it on and use it to your best advantage

ive noticed that men dont seem to understand how much women ENJOY makeup, hair and primping and grooming, and always have

MiddleZealousideal89 · 2024-01-26T17:25:08+00:00

Different reasons. Sometimes I like doing a bold makeup look because it looks cool and it's fun. Sometimes I wear it because I look tired and want to look a little bit fresher. Other times I just leave the house wearing nothing. I usually wore some makeup on dates to accentuate my natural features because who doesn't like to look their best?

snowyjenna · 2024-01-26T17:59:34+00:00

Why wouldn't I go from 5 to 7 if I can?

Prudent-Conflict-557 · 2024-01-26T18:59:32+00:00

When I wear make up.. I wear it to feel extra pretty

Safinated · 2024-01-26T16:08:08+00:00

Social acceptance/conformity

AngeCruelle · 2024-01-26T18:26:53+00:00

I wear it maybe five times a year. I have a weakness for buying very cute/aesthetically pleasing eyeshadow palettes or palettes made for special collaborations with movie franchises I like. I try to use them occasionally so they don't completely go to waste.

So honestly, I think an underrated aspect of why women use makeup is the packaging. If it came in boring tin cans you might have less women buying and therefore using it.

kalashhhhhhhh · 2024-01-26T18:42:42+00:00

Because I want to be the prettiest version of myself. Pretty privilege exists and I want to reap the benefits.

I consider makeup a basic part of grooming. I love doing my makeup.

Objective_Ad_6265 · 2024-01-26T19:22:30+00:00

I don't normally use makeup. But I feel that if there is a social event that you dress better than normal for, makeup is part of dresscode for women. Also in jobs that require more formal clothing I feel that it's part of dresscode. And makeup can be fun. It's not everyday thing for me. I use it when I want to feel better, I have some special social event... But I don't feel forced to it. I don't normally wear makeup to work but if we have teambuilding, I probably use makeup for that event. It's just something more special for a special occasion, similar to a nice dress.

thelajestic · 2024-01-26T22:59:57+00:00

I rarely wear make up. When I do it's because I want to accessorise for a particular occasion, much like wearing a particular bracelet or necklace etc.

Isn't your natural beauty enough?

Unfortunately I wasn't born with a glittery face or fun coloured lips, so sometimes depending on the look I want to achieve no, it's not enough.

SeveralAcorns · 2024-01-26T16:51:09+00:00

What is the reason behind it? Isn't your natural beauty enough?

To increase perceived attractiveness. This is beneficial in mate search, but also for how one is treated for being more attractive by society (halo effect) and for the intra-sexual hierarchy position. It makes me feel better about my competitive position with other women. I enjoy being more attractive than other women, just as men enjoy being at a higher hierarchy position than other men. It gets me more attention. I run on attention, so that is a positive. It lets me hold myself in higher regard when i look into the mirror, which is nice for mental health and confidence. Over-estimating your own attractiveness and desirability is good for men and women as it leads to behavior that is helpful in finding the best mate.

There is also pressure to belong to a certain sub-demographic, just like with clothes, apartment, furniture, decoration, sociolect, etc. Make-up makes me belong to my selected tribe.

Then there is a lot more reasons in the area of trying out new things and practicing. Just like men need to get good at what is relevant for mate search and courting.

Jesus dude, when other women say "i am doing it for me", they mean what i said, but they are not reflected enough to understand the mechanics and themselves, or they don't want to risk letting others view behind the curtain because they are insecure of their status.

MistyMaisel · 2024-01-26T17:45:39+00:00

Kinda depends on the circumstances.

I wear it at weddings and baby showers because it's fun to dress up, it's pretty much expected and I'd like to fit in, and the process of getting all gussied up is very relaxing, enjoyable, and now that I'm with a man, a nice romantic moment too.

If we're talking about work, I rarely wear it at work because it isn't a big part of my current job, but at past jobs, it was part of professionalism, fitting in, and being presentable. When you're in the business world, you want to look very put together and make-up is a big part of looking put together as a woman.

In the past, it was a lot of personal expression and a way of demonstrating involvement in certain sub cultures (punk, emo, etc).

In my own personal life currently, I would say I wear it maybe once or twice a week for fun and as a way of reminding myself that I care about myself and impressing my boyfriend.

You ask do I think my natural beauty isn't enough? Of course not. I've never thought that outside of maybe one or two existential crisis shower dread moments that could just as easily have been about why my belly looks like that today or if I should get bangs again.

Make up isn't about covering up your natural beauty or thinking you aren't beautiful. It's a way to enhance it or to see a new side of yourself or show a new side of yourself to others. It's a way to make that which is internal external at times. It's just good fun.

Most of us started playing with make-up when we were quite small (in my case around 5). And I'd play with it with my little girlfriends (also five). We'd hustle into a bathroom or find a mirror and just go ham. We didn't think we weren't beautiful naturally, we thought this is fun and putting glitter on me makes me even better because I like glitter.

I'm 30, I haven't died inside. I still enjoy sparkly things and pretty colors being on my face. I've just increased in my skill in applying those things in ways that are attractive and even more fun to do.

mrs_seng · 2024-01-26T18:17:31+00:00

I don't usually wear makeup.

But when i do, it's either a special event like a wedding, an interview, i am dressed up on a random day and i need a little bit of makeup to look put together or my spf is too shiny and i need a bit of powder to tone it down or my spf is mineral and i have a white face so i need to match my neck color.

fakingandnotmakingit · 2024-01-26T17:51:53+00:00

I'm an eyeshadow girl more than anything. Never did get into contour or whatever. I don't even wear foundation. Just tinted spf cream.

I like it. I don't do it all the time. But sometimes I wake up and just feel like it.

Most of my friends don't wear make up so I'm actually the odd one out.

Literal_Jesus_ · 2024-01-26T18:11:58+00:00

I use makeup because I work in entertainment and nightlife (I’m literally a drag artist). Because of this combined with a career in theatre for the better part of 5 years, putting on makeup feels like work.

I rarely wear it to my day job and in my day to day life. I found if you got in the habit of wearing it everyday the moment you skip some dude is gonna do the whole

“Are you feeling okay? You look a little tired”

I don’t mind how I look in or out of makeup. I’ve been hit on in both.

I just genuinely find with certain men you have to keep the version of yourself you present consistent bc for some reason they can’t help but comment on your appearance lmao

yamb97 · 2024-01-26T17:59:24+00:00

There’s only two situations in which I wear makeup. When I’m in a wedding party, so I can fit in and look the same in the photos or for a festival which is purely for fun.

complete_doodle · 2024-01-26T18:05:14+00:00

I used to wear it because I wanted people to think I was pretty. I was really concerned about how others perceived me, and insecure (just my experience), so I wore a full face of makeup every day. That was back when I was in high school/early college. Now I’m 2 years out of college, and a lot more confident in myself. The only makeup I wear on a day-to-day basis is my tinted moisturizer, tinted lip balm, and maybe clear eyebrow gel if I’m having a crazy eyebrow day :). Just enough to make me feel put together, but not covering up anything.

I still wear more makeup for date nights and special events - but I don’t feel that I “need” it anymore. Being married to an amazing man who prefers me with less makeup helps, too :).

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KikiYuyu · 2024-01-26T21:06:41+00:00

I personally hate wearing make up, but my best friend says she wears it most of the time because she feels like she has to. She enjoys it on special occasions, but day to day is an obligation feeling.

Purple-Poppins · 2024-01-26T21:18:49+00:00

I dont work a corporate job, so I only wear makeup when I want to, which is typically if I am speaking to an audience or going out for the evening. In both cases it helps complete the look.

sublimemongrel · 2024-01-26T22:02:47+00:00

I don’t on an every day basis but when I have to be more in public or presenting professionally or going out and networking and the like, I do. A) it’s expected B) it makes me feel like I look better and thus more confident. I don’t usually wear a lot of makeup when I do anyway and don’t really know how to use it very well so it’s never some drastic change.

Flightlessbirbz · 2024-01-26T22:04:14+00:00

Mainly because I’ll be treated better if I can get a bit closer to meeting the beauty standard. Do I always care enough to do it? No. But generally I don’t mind since it’s something I can do while listening to podcasts or audiobooks in the morning and getting my mind ready for the day. More creative makeup can also be fun.

No, patriarchy and society do not “force” me to wear makeup. I will not be arrested if I leave without it.lol But that doesn’t mean social expectation that women should always look pretty don’t play a role in our decisions to wear makeup or do anything else. As I said before, it’s about treatment. Every woman has to decide to what extent she’s willing to go to play the game.

gothiccbitch · 2024-01-26T23:05:52+00:00

i like an alternative fashion style. my BF calls one of my makeup looks my “fairy look” and another my “anime girl look” but he also compliments me when i’m natural. i just love the terms he comes up with when i wear makeup.

i have slight genetic under eye bags that i’m insecure about and until i have a good job that can pay for my consistent under eye filler, i’ll wear concealer. i like enhancing my natural beauty; i have naturally high cheekbones and long eyelashes and i like accentuating this. i have hyperpigmentation and i use foundation to cover up my dark spots while i await a dermatologist visit.

i can’t relate to the mistreatment some women experience when they don’t have on makeup because i get complemented by strangers with or without makeup, i just feel more confident with it.

badgersonice · 2024-01-26T23:24:39+00:00

Isn't your natural beauty enough? No? Not all of us are naturally beautiful 7+/10. Good grief, what a ridiculous question. I guarantee you don’t think every woman’s natural beauty is “enough”, lol.

Anyways, I haven’t been wearing makeup since Covid, but I used to everyday… I usually did it to fit in, because I had fairly bad acne and felt ugly, to try to look pretty and feel like I’m pretty even though I know I’m naturally very so-so, because people are nicer to me when I wear it, because it was fun to experiment with when I was younger, because it was expected, because my mom did (still does) and that’s what was normal to me.

Lysa_Bell · 2024-01-27T10:15:37+00:00

The same reason I dress nicely (and a bit over the top). Because I can. And I feel better about myself doing it. I get better treatment if I look put together. Nobody is telling me I look tired or something. If I fuck up at work I can at least keep up the outside façade that I'm not falling apart on the inside. I'm neurotic and neuro divers. So I use everything in my arsenal to appear more normal or even a bit better than normal. Gonna wear the mask like Armor. And then I come home, take off the make up, the pretty clothes, throw on some sweat pants and fall apart.

For me it's a way to separate different parts of my life and the different roles I'm playing. I feel more sexy when I wear lingerie and look hot and play the femme fatale to seduce my fiancé. I feel like a cute girl when I wear my sweatpants at home with a loose bun on my head, all cozied up, drinking tea and listening to chill music. I feel like a strong independent boss babe when I put on make up, wear the blazer with the black skirt and tell clients how I'm lifting up their business.

I really need the separation of different personalities to know when to stop and start certain routines and behaviours. And the more I can do to develop the difference aspects and separate them from each other the easier the switch between them is.

Getting home after work and taking off my make up is like a trigger that starts the "you can relax and leave the stress of work behind you now" routine.

Different people have different expectations of me. And I play my roles. Because that's how I get by in life.

lle-ell · 2024-01-27T12:46:07+00:00

Same reason that I brush my hair instead of shaving my head, same reason that I iron my clothes and polish my shoes. If you look put together people treat you better. It’s easier to look put together than to compensate for not looking put together.

relish5k · 2024-01-28T20:04:52+00:00

It makes me look more polished and feminine.

And I’m 36, so no, my natural beauty is (no longer) enough lol

Title	Why do you use makeup?
Author	-snickerss-
Upvotes	1
Comments	97
Date	January 26, 2024 10:26 AM UTC (2 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/1abfamx/why_do_you_use_makeup/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/why-do-you-use-makeup.1243845 https://theredarchive.com/post/1243845

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