Sunday Musings | Why do YOU wear Make-up?

Sunday Musings | Why do YOU wear Make-up?
Sunday Musings | Why do YOU wear Make-up?

I often ask myself the question Why do YOU wear Make-up? I spend a good 30 minutes each day applying products to my face, and then every evening I will then wash it all off. I do wonder how many hours of my life I  have spent so far, applying make-up? What is it all for?
I have touched base with this before in previous posts such as Dare to Bare and Project Bare All. Discussing my personal reasons as to why I choose to wear make-up. However, what about those days where I don’t wish to wear any make-up at all? Recently, I  have picked up on remarks from friends and family that have been made when I have gone bare faced. 
“Put your face on, it will make you feel better.”
But doesn’t my naked face make me feel okay anyway? Why should I need an outer layer of beauty products to suddenly feel good about myself?
“You won’t want to go in there without your make-up on.”
My boyfriend came out with this one. Hi Scott. I was stood in the back kitchen of his mum’s restaurant and we were deciding whether to sit in the restaurant and eat. There were other people in the restaurant and so he came out with the above line. Now Scott did not mean to insult me at all, and he didn’t. It just made me realise that wearing make-up has become so expected of us, to feel comfortable in public places. No doubt, had I walked into a room full of people dining, they would have been instantly been put off their meals. I don’t think so. It is this fear we build within ourselves. Does anyone really care?
My mother does
“You look tired. You need to make more of an effort.” 
My mum, I love her to pieces, and happens to be one of the most glamorous and inspiring ladies I know. My mother is a lady that will not even go to the hospital without her best coat and a full face of make-up. My mum believes if you dress better and “make an effort” all round with our appearance, then we will automatically feel a little bit better. Sugar coating.
Me and my younger sister, Amy, laugh at this. Sometimes we don’t want to put our make-up on. Why is it such a big deal if we make the choice not to wear it? We are still the same people underneath.
Are we not attractive without it? Sorry, does my face repulse you? Do I not fit in? Am I not me? 
We are bombarded with images of beautiful people, with blemish free skin, sculpted cheek bones and brows that are on fleek. What even is that word? Selfie is another word I hear numerous times a day. I am guilty of taking a good 20 photographs of myself before uploading the one which I think is the best. I did it for this post. When did we all become so vain? Why did our appearance become so important? Working in the beauty industry I get so wrapped up in this way of thinking, of needing to look a certain way, it can sometimes be draining.  It has a real false feel to it you know? Hence these ramblings today. 
We all strive for that perfect, glowy radiant skin, whether this be with make-up and/or skincare. We constantly try to better ourselves. Have you ever stopped for a second and thought, you know what, I am happy with the way I am, and that is just fine. 
Whether you wear make-up as a uniform, to fit in, for social acceptance, to please your mother, brother, sister, boyfriend. Just remember it is absolutely more than fine, if you want to, to wear nothing at all.
Why do you guys wear make-up?

50 Comments

  • Anna Blush

    Really enjoyed reading this post, Zoe. Some great things to think about, it is sad how it is so expected of girls to wear makeup. I love to have makeup free days x

    http://www.annablush.com

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thanks Anna!! I love wearing no make-up, it allows my skin to breathe. I wrote this post because I was just a bit fed up of all the comments about not making an effort etc. x x x

  • Alana Says…

    I completely agree that there is an expectation for us to wear makeup. I love wearing makeup, I have so much fun playing around with it and putting it on. But I also like having makeup free days. It’s silly but I always get a surprise when nobody actually notices that I’m not wearing makeup xxx

    Alana Says…//www.alana-says.blogspot.co.uk//Fashion and lifestyle
    blog

    • Zoe Newlove

      I wouldn’t be a make-up artist if I didn’t love make-up! I just really appreciate the days where I don’t have to wear any 🙂 You are very lucky that no one notices, my mother goes nuts when I turn up without my brows on haha! x x x

  • Such a great post! Personally I love wearing make-up, but on my lazy days I don’t wear it, Even when I am going out for a meal. My boyfriends like me when my face is free of make-up but I just feel a lot more better when I have something on my brows and eyes. x

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thank you Angelica! I love wearing it, and I love working with it, it is my job after all, but I do really love those days when I don’t have to put any on. I used to be scared to go out without my brows on, but now I am so not bothered. x x x

  • I really enjoyed reading this be because I’ve started to think about this a lot more recently. Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of comments like yours! I don’t think people realize I’m not opposed to not wearing makeup at all, and that I wear makeup solely because I enjoy it. I’ve realized that my main purpose for wearing makeup is kind of an incentive to wake up early. I don’t think I’d actually wake up in the morning if I didn’t have to put makeup on!!

    http://lipsandtrips.blogspot.com

    • Zoe Newlove

      Actually, that is such a a good point, if I didn’t have to put make-up on, I would definitely be even more late to work than I already usually am. Thanks for your comment lovely x x x

  • Megan Lillie

    Oooh I just want to squeeze you – what a brilliant post & photographs!. I’ve became so much more comfortable without make-up these days, especially at University. It’s not because I don’t want to make an effort, it’s because some days I just don’t want to wear it – even though I feel sometimes that societies rules are that we must. I wear makeup because I enjoy the process of application, I love experimenting with new products and it makes me feel friggin badass sometimes!

    Megan xo
    Thumbelina Lillie | UK Beauty & Fashion Blog

    • Zoe Newlove

      SQUEEZE AWAY! Thanks so much Megan!! I love experimenting and trying out all the new make-up, but when I have to wear it for work, like a uniform, or to visit the mother, it becomes such an effort and I literally huff and puff whilst applying it. haha!! I am so lazy! x x x

  • Amazing post, I loved reading it! I go barefaced probably half of the week, as having a toddler means other priorities come first. It can be daunting at first getting used to going out without makeup but I guess you just get used to it. Now it doesn’t mean that I’m all confident with myself cuz when I do wear makeup I instantly feel confident & glamorous. So you’ve definitely hit the nail on the head there because the media & how beauty is portrayed definitely plays a big role in why most of us feel the need to wear makeup x

    Beauty with charm

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thanks Alina!! So glad you enjoyed reading it, I wasn’t sure how it would go down! I definitely feel more glam when i wear make-up, and I like the fact I look so different when I do wear it. My mum has an obsession with the Kardashian’s make-up – there is no way I could be made up to that extent, every single day. It is quite sad really, that they probably cannot go out without any make-up on without being shredded by the press x x

  • Kristina Matić

    This is probably my favourite post of all time. I have the same struggles with makeup-should I wear it or not. Amazing post!

    glamcouture-x.blogspot.com

    • Zoe Newlove

      Oh wow! That really means a lot, thank you so much!! x x

  • Gweni Rees-Evans

    Awww this is such a sweet post (well the ending is haha). I agree with you about us being so vain and every single time I speak to my parents on FaceTime without makeup on they tell me I look tired. Soooooo annoying. I did actually write a post similar to yours but more of a ‘why I wear makeup’ & feminism if you wanted to have a look! It might answer some of your questions in your post..? Hope to see more fab posts like this soon :)) xxxx

    http://gbeautyblog.blogspot.fr/2015/01/why-i-wear-makeup-feminism.html

    • Zoe Newlove

      The amount of times I get told I look tired, or ill, or have you lost weight? No mother. I will go check out your post 🙂 Thanks so much for commenting! x x x

  • Such a good post to read on a beauty blog, I tend to try not to wear make up at the weekend (unless we’re going out for dinner etc) just for a bit of a break, but I really like the act of putting it on and taking it off at the end of the day, there’s something quite therapeutic about it!

    Plus, everyone always asks if I’m ill if I don’t wear make up, especially my mum like yours!

    Tweet xx

    • Zoe Newlove

      I literally cannot wait to go home and take my make-up off! I really wish I didn’t have to wear it for work, of all things this is what I hate the most. Sat in a stuffy office, my skin feels awful with it on. x

  • emmalcm .

    I was quite spotty as a teen/ in my early twenties and became literally scared to leave the house without makeup on. I also used to think it was a massive deal being seen by a boyfriend without it for the first time, until my now husband kept telling me that he really didn’t care. He appreciates the effort I put it in and often comments on my makeup but is just as happy to go out without me wearing any, which took me a while to realise. I wear a full face for work and love a nice smokey eye for going out. It makes me feel more put together. However, I’m quite happy to go without if we’re just doing something casual like popping out for a walk etc at the weekend, Em x
    http://themusingsofem.blogspot.co.uk/

    • Zoe Newlove

      I do like wearing make-up when I am going somewhere special or when I want to “make an effort” for my boyfriend, so long as it is not expected of me 🙂 I am lucky my boyfriend doesn’t mind too. Thanks for your comment Em xx

  • Thanks for sharing your experience! I loved reading this post. Personally I don’t wear make up every day. At least not a full face make up. I’m letting my skin breathe a little so I usually use my concealer if I feel like I look weird.

    The reason why I wear make up is because I like it. I never thought of it as something to cover up my ‘flaws’ but rather something I could wear because I would look cooler or prettier in my own eyes. For example, I love how my eyes look with a cat eye. I feel beautiful both with make up and without make up but I like enhancing my features.

    Cristina | My Cup of Tea

    • Zoe Newlove

      So glad you enjoyed reading my post Cristina! I am sat writing this with just a little foundation on and my brows. Putting on mascara is the bane of my life. I am actually texting my friend who does HD Brows, so that she can tint my brows and lashes so I can go bare faced for a while. Make-up is awesome, and it is why I set up this blog in the first place, but sometimes, it is nice to be au natural, you know? x x

  • Vanessa James

    Such a lovely and insightful post. The photos as well <3

    I wear make up because I enjoy the routine of putting on, I enjoy the process. Also trying out new products or looks that have been put together by my fave beauty bloggers (you being one of them <3). There are times when I do dare to bare my naked face, depends on the location though! xx

    VanessaVonJames | Fashion Blog

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thanks Vanessa!! Oh gosh I am the opposite, I find the routine so tedious. It is strange for me, as I LOVE making up my clients and testing out new products, but when it comes to doing my own make-up, I find it such a chore x x x

  • Hannah Camsell-Parker

    I love this post! Some days I want to wear a full face of makeup and enjoy taking time and effort to dress up and look good, but some days I don’t want to go anywhere near makeup or hair straighteners and I’d happily go out bare faced because it just feels so nice to let my skin have a break and breathe or if I simply can’t be bothered haha! Doing both has really helped my confidence and I now like the way I look naturally, it’s odd how if you decide not to wear makeup people think you’re not ‘making an effort’ – makeup is a wonderful thing that I enjoy but people shouldn’t be expected to wear it xo

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thanks Hannah! Exactly, it is a wonderful thing, but when it gets to the point where people ask questions when all of a sudden you choose not to wear it – that isn’t right. Thanks for your lovely comment x x x

  • I wear makeup because I love it. That’s it, and the fact that I then got used to me wearing it isn’t important. I play with makeup if I want and put on some concealer and mascara only because I feel better without my dark circles when I don’t have time or just going to the supermarket or similar. Also, my skin doesn’t really like to be bare, so I prefer a thin layer of foundation or tinted moisturizer than red angry skin…
    Gyudy’s Notes Of Beauty

    • Zoe Newlove

      I love reading why people wear make-up, I do love it and love playing with it, but at the moment I much prefer going bare faced. Such as right now, I am wearing foundation and in a stuffy office, my skin just feels horrendous 🙁 x x x

  • WhatLydDid

    I wear makeup because it’s like a mask. If I have a bright lip I’m suddenly happy, if I have defined brows I’m suddenly strong. I get extremely anxious in public, partly due to my appearance, so a slick of lipstick is like stepping into character.

    • Zoe Newlove

      That is so interesting, I love reading why people choose to wear make-up. It is funny actually, because with me, I am so used to not wearing lipstick, I feel odd and quite anxious with it. It is the only part of my make-up routine I am not fully comfortable with – a bright lip that is. I rarely will go out in public with a bold lip, I feel “Safe” with nudes and browns. Thanks for your great comment 🙂 x x x

  • This post is just amazing….I am bookmarking it just so I can re-read it again v.soon. I’ve defiantly become way more comfortable with my non makeup face recently, and just think ‘meh’ to anyone who cares. If I don’t, why should they? I just still love wearing makeup as I enjoy it, and would think that is the best reason!

    Annabel ♥
    Mascara & Maltesers

    • Zoe Newlove

      Aww thank you so much Annabel, so glad you liked this post 🙂 I am going to get my brows and lashes regularly tinted, which I know is cheating, but then I won’t feel the need to wear make-up as often or at all. I love making up my clients and playing with make-up, but it is such a chore to put on myself. I am so lazy haha! x x x

  • Hmm.. Maybe a confidence thing but I don’t think so for me personally. As I’ve got older I don’t worry about that aspect so much and happy in my own skin but I wouldn’t feel “dressed” if I didn’t put make up on and I like to feel I’ve made an effort. I’m not one of those fortunate woman that can get away without as I’m very pale and have non existent blond eyelashes and brows. I’ve never worn very much in the way of foundation etc and believe Ive been blessed with good skin for my age but I do need the basics of liner, mascara, blush and lipstick. Having said that more recently on days Im not leaving the house I tend to make use of a make up free day and use a serum and eye cream.. I used to put the basics on anyway in case anyone knocked the door but I’ve even been known to visit Tesco early morning now totally bare !!

    • Zoe Newlove

      That is exactly like my mum Lyn, she does not feel “dressed” without her make-up. To be honest, I look in the mirror and think, I am not quite “finished” but that is because I have been so used to wearing a full face of make-up daily, I have had to ween myself off it, simply because my skin much prefers to be bare. Are you enjoying your Pur Minerals make-up Lyn? x x x

      • Yes thank you Zoe, I’ve been making good use of it all. Particularly like the blusher and face powder.. It’s encouraged me to experiment more with light foundation products and it does make a difference.. this topic has made me smile because now I actually have to take make up off before I go to bed.. Never normally bothered as there was never much left by the end of the day but now I can still feel primer and powder on my face at that point

  • Brittany Seel

    Such an amazing post Zoe! I tend to wear make-up purely because it makes me feel more confident to face the day. There used to be times when my skin was particularly bad that I wouldn’t dare leave the house without make-up but nowadays if I’m having a good skin day, I don’t mind so much going a little lighter on the foundation and going a bit more natural. Baby steps 🙂

    Bea x

    As Seen By Bea

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thanks Brittany! That means a lot 🙂 When I used to work for M.A.C I had to wear a full face, like everythaaaang. It took me a while to ween myself off that!! x x x

  • Stephanie (Nerd About Town)

    To be honest, I only wear makeup if i’m going ‘out’ out, or to a blog event. Or if I’m seeing my boyfriend (the latter is becoming pretty few and far between, he’s just going to have to deal with it LOL). I don’t wear makeup to work or for every day runnings because a lot of the time I just cannot be arsed. I already have to wake up at 6am for work! Luckily, I do feel comfortable enough in my skin to go around bare-faced.

    • Zoe Newlove

      I have started wearing less and less for work. They even asked me if I felt okay, because when I first started I used to wear a full face, and now they are lucky if I wear foundation or mascara.!!! x x

  • Nicola Bhamra

    I suffer with hormonal acne and feel like make up is my saviour when my flare ups are bad. I do get sick of putting make up on everyday though and wish I had the confidence to go without. It probably helps that you look stunning with and without make up. If I had skin like yours I don’t think I would bother with the stuff.

    http://www.nicolabhamra.com

    • Zoe Newlove

      Oh bless you. My skin does flare up too, I get hormonal break outs along my jaw line and neck, which are SO painful, to the point where make-up doesn’t even cut it. It took me a long time to be confident without any make-up. I think living abroad where I had no choice to wear no make-up – it would just melt off – made the transition easier! x x x

  • Silke Laura

    Love this post, Zoe! I wear make up only for myself. I am not a very creative person, but sitting down at my dressing table deciding on which look or lipstick to go for? Well, that’s my bit of me-time for the day. If I would walk around bare faced which I do quite often, no one actually cares!

    Laura || Laura London

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thanks Laura!! I never really thought about it as “Me” time before, as I always see it as a chore. I only enjoy putting it on when I am testing out new products or going out somewhere special, if I am putting it on for work it becomes a real pain in the ass x x x

  • This post is great! I very rarely wear make up anymore (except for special occasions), my skin is so healthy and I honestly believe it has a lot to do with all the completely natural organic virgin skincare I use. I like to put make up on for special occasions only because then I feel even more ‘dressed up’ 🙂

    M x
    @ http://www.melamora.com

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thank you Mel! What skincare do you use? I am trying to use more green and organic products. My current skincare routine is all organic asides from my eye cream, and some days I will use an acid based toner. x x x

  • That New York Girl

    Ah, I love this post! More and more I’ve found myself either wearing no makeup, or makeup that looks very natural. It makes wearing a lot of makeup for special occasions seem even more exciting. <3

    http://www.thatnewyorkgirl.com

    • Zoe Newlove

      Thanks Lee!! I much prefer the natural make-up look. I do worry, with being a make-up artist, that people may look at me and think, well she doesn’t look like a make-up artist, but it just a personal preference – I like my skin to breathe x x x

  • Laura Louise

    My fav is where I haven’t got any or little makeup on and people ask if I am ok / hungover / tired ha ha ha ha. yeah thanks bitchessssss. xx

    http://www.lauralouisebeauty.co.uk

    • Zoe Newlove

      BITCHESSSSSS. I am so lazy when it comes to my own make-up. I love doing other people up, but when it comes to putting on mascara….. SNOOOOOZE. x x x

  • Beauty Bird

    Zoe your photographs are amazing!! I tend to wear makeup to feel more confident. Hopefully one day I will feel confident in my own barefaced skin – literally xx

    Ramblings of a Beauty Bird | Beauty Blog