Embrace the Bare Face

[BoundlessLove]

When I complained about how hard it was to drop weight, my doctor scoffed and said, "Then just lose five pounds. NO excuses. ANYBODY can lose five pounds." I took the advice, and it was easier, both physically and psychologically, than I thought it would be - and it felt good to make even that small change.
For this year's New Years' Resolution, I decided to take it a step further. After I dropped that five pounds, I decided I'd do it again - no pressure, no time frame, just drop another five. "Just five pounds" is neither an overwhelming goal nor an overwhelming challenge. I'm down almost two sizes since Christmas!

Thank you! That would be much easier to look at it in five pound increments instead of all twenty.
That’s wonderful - two sizes!
How are you losing the weight?

 

[peachRN]

So I don't exactly have the story you're looking for, but I used to be a heavy, HEAVY makeup wearer ever since I was 13. I always had bad skin (even before wearing makeup) and it was embarrassing, and I'd pick at it for hours until I was raw and bleeding, so I'd cover it up with a ton of foundation and powder. Then I'd do heavy eye makeup to keep myself from looking washed out.

Now that I'm almost 30, a mom, and a wife, I've been able to cut back to just tinted BB cream, concealer on problem spots, a sheer setting powder, mascara, and blush. Sounds like a ton of makeup still, I know-- but it looks very natural and it's applied very lightly. I used to wear makeup to bed because I didn't want my husband to see my bare skin. I stopped doing that a few years ago.

I still like the look of makeup, so I don't think I'll ever stop completely, but I don't rely on it as heavily as I used to.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Worn it a handful of times when forced to
I say I don't 90% because of sensory issues. The whole idea and thought of putting ANYTHING on my face grosses me out.
So none of it really has to do with my face or how I feel about it, in fact I would have good reason to wear it because I badly skin pick.
I also don't see the point in putting time into something like make-up, I have a list of things I'd rather do

 

[MROO]

Thank you! That would be much easier to look at it in five pound increments instead of all twenty.
That’s wonderful - two sizes!
How are you losing the weight?

I'm not obsessing over not making the five pound goal the way I'd obsess over not losing a larger one. Not having a particular time limit helps, too. I've started looking at what I eat in terms of how much longer it would take to reach the goal instead of thinking, "I have to starve and deprive myself to make my goal." I don't know how long it will work, but for now, I'm content with the slow-but-steady loss. To be honest, I haven't been on a scale since Christmas, but my clothes are telling the story. Today I'm in jeans I couldn't button at Thanksgiving. I'll take it!

 

[Luv Ducks]

I get up at 4am and have wash and wear hair and no makeup other than lipstick so my lips don't get chaped. I quit wearing it years ago and my hubby likes it that way because he says you get what you see instead of being horrified when someone who wears heavy makeup does not have it on. That's just his opinion. I have to leave the house at 5 and making the ducks their daily salad is more important to what the kids on the bus think their bus driver should look like. lol

 

[Sally PB]

Worn it a handful of times when forced to

Same here. And 4 of those 5 times was when I was in a play in school.

Here's what I say when people (used to) ask me why I don't wear make up.

Ever been raking leaves on a warm, windy fall day? The leaves are dry and dusty, you're getting sweaty, the wind is blowing all that dust in your face, it's sticking to the sweat, and you can't wait to finish so you can get into the shower and wash all that crap off?

That's what wearing makeup feels like to me.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I've never used any makeup my whole life. I'll never. My body can't handle chemicals well. Last time I used some lotion that had different chemicals in it, I got a bad rash. Now, I just use Shea Butter or natural lotions made from bees wax etc.

Same. I never learned to use makeup or even braid my hair behind my head. I was too busy putting tiny dog harnesses on my chickens.
I can do my hair and put it up, but nothing really fancy. It’s very curly and used to be more-than-arm-length, which was a little much to manage when learning to braid. It’s a bit of a sore spot now I’m in college that I can’t do my hair like most people…

I’m glad I didn’t get into makeup when I was little; I don’t ever want to feel like my ‘real face’ has to be hidden and adjusted. I don’t always feel confident and good about how I look, but at least I know that I’m going about my life as I really am.

I was a tomboy growing up (and still am) and you couldn't pay me to give a hoot about makeup. As an adult, you couldn't pay me to care and I see no reason to waste 30 minutes of my time in the morning that I could spend sitting and drinking coffee at work (or doing literally anything else) on something that'll just get ruined on the bike ride in. Besides, I'd rather spend my money on other things like tea, video games, plants and animals

I'm in the never-worn-makeup-in-my-life camp too. I'd probably be considered a tomboy.

It's absurd, what a waste of time, energy and money. This is my face. If you don't like it, don't look at it! The whole cosmetics industry is designed around making women feel insecure about themselves.

This^^ is how I feel about it. It doesn't help. Period.

 

[CombNWattles]

When I was 12, a boyfriend said I’d look better in makeup. I wore full face makeup, religiously, for the next 10 years. Trashed my skin (I also have eczema, like you). The last day I wore anything was my wedding day.

I’m never going back! And I truly believe all women (and men) are beautiful as they are. Wear makeup if it’s something that excites you, not because you feel society will reject you without it.

Very well said!

 

[Evadig]

I've never worn makeup. I don't have the desire or the patience to use it.

 

[StinkyAcres]

When I first saw the title of this thread this is what I thought it was about.