You know, I often read posts like “10 minute makeup” or “How to do the no-makeup look” which, if you ask me is commendable. There is something to be said for wearing makeup, even if very minimal makeup. In many ways, just a touch of powder to reduce shine, or a touch of base to even out skintone, or just drawing in brows can make a subtle and flattering difference to how we look and how we face the world; and face it, how the world perceives us.
But I was wondering also if you put on your “face” every time you head out the door, even if just for a grocery run? Does it matter to you to have to have some makeup on when you leave the house, or do you just walk out the door au naturele? How often do you leave the house bare-faced?
Generally, if it’s a working day, I put on my war paint. Some days, I wear a little less. Other days, I wear a little more or I put on something a little more dramatic. But I always have the whole she-bang done – foundation, eye makeup, brows, cheeks, lips.
But come the weekend or a non-working day, I generally don’t wear makeup so I do leave the house bare-faced quite often. No, I don’t even bother to do my brows LOL! If you do happen to bump into me outside, the odds are that I’d not have any makeup on, unless I was out for something special.
Occasionally, I may wear some BB or CC Cream just to even out my skintone, if it is looking extra blotchy or if my dark circles are on view but I don’t really bother with concealer so blemishes are usually out on view. Sometimes, I wear a light blush and I may occasionally even do my brows *gasp* but I rarely will have eye makeup on because that for me is just too much like work 😛
In case you’re wondering, no, I do not have very good nor even perfect skin. But I do work hard at maintaining my skin and keeping it in as good a condition as it can be. For me that means keeping it well hydrated and well taken care off, because in my experience, well hydrated skin will take care of itself and reward me with less redness and blotchiness, breakouts and even my pigmentation doesn’t look as prominent (I don’t currently use whitening products).
So that’s me. Let’s hear from you.
How often do you leave the house bare-faced? Do you wear makeup every day?
I’m bare-faced most weekends so if you do see me and wonder “And she calls herself a beauty blogger?” Let’s just say that I’m not your regular beauty blogger LOL! I’m first and foremost, me 🙂
Paris B
Ah let’s see. I went on for two weeks without any make-up on once because let’s face it, all I do is go to class, see the same people then go back to the same old bed in the same old room so I thought ugh why bother. But then I started noticing how dull I look (I am my worst critic haha) so I started wearing it again. I have been changing up my make-up routine too so I’ve been loving just wearing it and just feeling confident with it on. Just some foundation, tight lining on my lash line, lip tint and when I’m feeling fancy, a cheek stain. Love how I look glowing and flushed heheh.
Also, I tried on some of the Marc Jacobs bronzer at Sephora the other day and I loooooveee how subtle it looks. Thinking of getting it, what do you think? 🙂
Actually, you made a good point Hani. I am a proponent of using a bit of makeup just to enhance features and help you look better especially when you have to face people. I think it gives a good first impression. But often also, it’s easy to slip into some sort of no-makeup rut because it’s just so easy right? 🙂 I don’t use bronzer so I can’t vouch for the MJ one, but it’s gigantic! And I know of people who rave about it, so I suppose if you would use a bronzer then it’s worth getting just because it’s HUGE and therefore not as pricey! 😀
I’m out at the moment and writing this comment without a lick of face paint on. I guess that answers your question. 😛
Okay seriously though, I’m the other way round. Since I work from home, weekends are the times I have makeup on. At home, it’s a bare face all the way!
If I worked at home, I would be bare faced all the time too! Actually I think I might be just working in PJs so it’s probably a good thing I don’t work at home LOL Hats off to everyone who does 😀
I’m the other way around. I dont bother wearing any to work unless I have to be out meeting clients. Even then, its very minimal makeup, eyeliner, a touch of blush, and nude/pink lipstick. Mostly because I’m always rushing to get to work and I couldn’t be bothered with an entire face of makeup. I guess I’m pretty lucky that my skin is in a good place to be able to pull bare face off.
But when its the weekend,or when there are special events, then comes the makeup arsenal out haha 🙂 The whole works, from primers to foundation to highlighters and countours. Mostly since I have more time to sit down and put them on.And
That probably explains why my colleagues think I look like an entirely different person on the weekends,lol!
LOL I know what you mean about rushing to work and hooray for having good enough skin to get away with minimal makeup! I make it a point to make a little more effort for work but not otherwise, so the irony is that I probably wear more makeup to work than I would to a social event instead of vice versa! 😀
Controversy: writing a comment on this particular topic with a thick slab of makeup on, phew.
Anyways, I’m weird. i usually don’t wear makeup at all when I meet someone or just some minor concealing. This is because from what I’ve noticed, people tend to judge your appearances if they have seen you in makeup at first impression or have already, multiple times. Whereas, if you go barefaced/minimal makeup most times and occasionally wear that heavy slab of thick concrete cement, people will be all ‘wow’ and stuff. (Cause #AintNobodyHaveTimeForThat)
Soo, to answer your question, I usually just wear tinted moisturisers and concealer or just foundation unless I have someone to impress or just simply one of ‘those’ days where you just feel sickly and annoyed at the world (yes, guys get those feelings too people, share the love).
LOL you contrary person Robert, you! 😀 But yes I know exactly what you mean about not wearing makeup on first impressions and then making an impression when you do. I sometimes think guys have it easy in this regard. Women on the other hand, do have more social pressure to look a certain way and while I won’t admit to bowing to that pressure, I have to admit that looking good in a situation where no one expects you to, makes me feel good 😉
There was a time I had a family emergency. I left home immediately for my hometown . When I left I took only my skin care essentials and NO makeup at all. The ordeal dragged on for almost 3 mths. I was barefaced throughout it. I didn’t care what people thought of me. But throughout my skin improved so much. Like it went on a 3 mth long detox break. Seriously ! But now I’m back at the big city, I try to wear less now . My husband is glad that I did that. Means less waiting time for me to get ready.
That’s a great revelation Syeang 😀 You know what I discovered when we had that horrible haze that blanketed the Klang Valley a year or two ago? I found that when I wore a base, be it BB Cream or Tinted Moisturiser or a Foundation, it seemed to “protect” my skin better and also because I was then more diligent in cleaning my skin, I didn’t suffer from the bad air quality. Not a scientific way to test it, but just a personal observation. But I do agree that letting our skin breathe now and again is a good thing. And I’ve also learned that less is more when it comes to makeup, which is great because as you have pointed out, it takes less time to get ready! 😉
heck, even at the gym after work, and washing my face clean of the day’s thick makeup, I would still draw my eyebrows and put on a light layer of lipstick. still bare-faced but at least not horrifying to the view. if you can’t stand looking at yourself, i don’t think you should let others see you either ;P
Haha you’re so hardworking Juan! Hats off to you! When I went to the gym I could never be bothered 😛 Which is kinda why I prefer to swim because when I swim, I can’t be swimming with a face of makeup on right? Oh wait, maybe I can LOL!
I can do both, going out with or sans makeup. no big deal. sometimes I’m just too lazy to bother. There are times when it’s scorching hot and I have to chase around my kid, I know makeup would just slid down my face so I wld just skip it. I’m blessed with generally good skin, just minor pigmentation here and there so I can pass on makeup most of the time.
Ah I envy anyone blessed with good skin because I worked so hard to get it to a level where I’m comfortable with it! But it’s great that you are comfortable either way. It means you can doll up when you feel like it or as you have said, when it doesn’t matter. Kids do take that energy out of you right? 😀
Makeup on work days to look more presentable and because somehow the lightning and full blast air-con suck out my natural fresh, glowly look so have to use makeup as a cover up, haha. So, during weekends and every night are times when I don’t use makeup. I don’t think sunblock is considered as makeup, right 😀
I wonder why some people use makeup during workouts – if you’re not in a photo shoot (i.e you just need to look pretty and no sweat) then say no to makeup when you’re exercising!
By the way, just because people see you when you’re not wearing makeup, that doesn’t mean you’re not a beauty blogger. Makeup doesn’t make the full definition of beauty 😀
Ugh! Fluorescent lighting! Bane of our lives 😛 I don’t consider sunblock makeup – gosh anyone who does deserves a slap upside their head! But that’s where the problem is because I have noticed that when I wear makeup I’m more careful about removal and cleansing. When I don’t, I’m that bit more lazy so I may not double cleanse and we know that sunblock can really stick to the skin. So sometimes, I think my skin may not have been as good as it is, if not for me wearing makeup and therefore being forced to cleanse well! Haha… 😀 Oh but you know, there are all these “conventions” and “norms” when it comes to beauty bloggers that are really stifling. People do expect you to look and behave and dress a certain way and it kinda bugs me 😛
I almost never leave the house without at least foundation! And if I’m wearing foundation, I may as well slap on some mascara. And I have dry lips, so why not gloss instead of balm…
Haha good point Wendy! 🙂 I’m all for minimal makeup – often, that’s when you notice that makeup actually enhances rather than masks!
Lately, since I quit my job, all the time actually! I only take time to apply makeup on weekends or if we go out for dinner.
I guess if I were home most of the time, that would be me too! 😀 Can’t see much point wearing makeup at home anyway 😉
I don’t put on makeup these days, unless tinted sunscreen is considered as one.
lucas papaw is applied when my lips are extra dry, or when I feel like it i’ll put on some blush but that’s about it. i prefer to take good care of my skin so I don’t need to put so much of makeup on ahahaha.
Wah no more makeup! What about your lovely blush collection?! Haha 😀
Usually just sunscreen except if I’m meeting someone for lunch or dinner. Then I’ll probably apply either liquid or powder foundation just to even out my skintone. I don’t even bother with eye makeup or lipstick unless it’s an “occasion”.
LOL at “occasion” I know exactly what you mean! I do go the whole way for work though. I suppose I have to use my stuff else it doesn’t make sense owning them LOL But weekends and friends often get treated to an unmade up face. Oops! 😛
Bare face FTW! Doesn’t matter whether it’s weekdays or weekends, I don’t put on make up (re foundation etc). It’s the usual skincare products and tinted sunblock + some concealer where needed + brows + tinted lipbalm. The only difference is, I don’t do my brows on weekends. I just comb it so it looks neat and tidy. Low maintenance. Hehe.
Good on ya for being low maintenance Angelina 😀 I do enjoy putting on makeup so it isn’t a chore for me but I think it’s also good that you do use a little just to enhance your looks because there’s that delicate balance between makeup that enhances and makeup that masks right? And we all want more of the former not the latter! 😉
Couldn’t agree more, especially on the makeup that enhances our features. I’m not fond of mascara removal. Think fine lines around the eye area although I don’t tug it while removing it. I’m looking for a lipstick. Read your reviews about lipstick, and I want all. Lol.
Ugh! Yes, mascara removal and the attendant problems is what made me stop wearing mascara altogether. I don’t wear any now, and I don’t care what people say about it opening up the eyes etc. I’ll just live with it 😛 As for lipstick, do you know what you’d like in a lipstick? There are so many different textures out there 😀
As I grow older the less I care about putting on the warpaint on the weekends! For work and church, I absolutely must and love putting on my ‘face’ but on the weekends I give it a miss…..and probably look a mess for it! There was a time though when I could not leave the house without at least a little bit of lipstick on!
I think you’re absolutely right JackieA. With age comes wisdom and a confidence that we would not have had when we were a lot younger. For me, with age comes better skin (ironically) so it all comes together in the end and I’m sure you don’t look a mess! 😀
You look so cute with the turban! Haha I also like to bundle my hair like that after washing granted I don’t wrap as nicely as you do. Well, on weekends, I generally go “nude” – only with sunblock and tinted moisturizer or BB cream. That’s about it. I do feel self conscious without make up now that it’s part and parcel of my work days routine. But then again, if I look back, it was not until last 1-2 year(s) or so that I started proper skincare and make up. That sums up that almost all my living life till recently, I was running around scaring people with my au naturale look 😛
On weekends, I prefer to let my skin breath. Even those tinted moisturizer needs double cleansing and I am not so keen to do that on weekend – I feel that it reminded me of work days routine. I am with you – I would go the extra mile to take good care of my skin though its less than perfect. So yeah, that’s how we roll 🙂
LOL You know what the trick to a neat turban is? A big towel 😛 I know what you mean about feeling self-conscious. I used to as well, once I started putting on makeup regularly and suddenly, it felt weird not to have anything on and you think that everyone’s staring when no one probably notices or cares! HAHA
At work I always wear medium coverage foundation with dewy finish, mascara, blusher and lip balm/gloss. Very, very rarely put on eye shadow. But that’s my work “face”.
My most minimal makeup includes a CC cream, like you said, to even skin tone, and mascara. I’d reach out for only these too on days when I feel confident enough to go ‘barefaced” and I’d do it when going out shopping or to meed friends over coffee, etc.
But if I’m going to a shop in the neighbourhood I never even think of putting anything on my face.
It’s funny how we compartmentalize our lives and put on our war paint accordingly right? 🙂 I do think some makeup at work is a necessary evil. For the most part, it makes us look better and let’s face it, whether we admit it or not, how a person looks matters! I think having a BB/CC or tinted moisturiser is a great invention for lighter bases and just to boost our confidence that little bit more while keeping us looking “natural” 😉
Weekends usually but I try not to these days because for some reason I always bump into people (are they stalking me?!) To be quite honest, I wear very little even on a day-to-day basis, it’s almost negligible. A tiny bit of base, for work. I’ve gone without blush and lipstick for the past few weeks because I kept forgetting. So, going bare naked on weekend is not a big deal for me. But if I’m meeting up with friends, I’d try to remember a proper foundation, concealer, powder, blush and lipstick. Eye makeup? Meh.
At the rate you’re going, you’re not allowed to buy anymore eye shadow! But then I don’t think you have in a while 😉 I think having the confidence to go without makeup is a good thing to have. And then when you do make the effort, it makes a difference! 🙂
I wear makeup to work since my job require me to meet clients. When im out with friends then i wear more as i have more time to put on makeup then. But during weekends, if im just out shopping i just dont wear makeup. Now i do notice the salesgirl at beauty counters ignore me if i dont wear makeup so what i do is I go shopping for my beauty products after work when i have full makeup on 🙂
I’m the opposite Peggy, I wear less when meeting friends and more while at work! Because like you I never know when I may have to meet people and I think it matters to look polished 🙂 But you’re also right about beauty counter girls. I don’t mind being ignored but I often get unwanted comments so having concealer on solves that problem for me! HAHA
When I wasn’t working, I would make an effort to put on makeup everytime I go out. I didn’t want to look (or feel) like a frumpy housewife. Plus, I love makeup, and I enjoy the time spent playing with colours. I have been back in the workforce for over a year now, and in the beginning, I told myself that I MUST make a point to look presentable i.e with makeup on. And then slooowwwwwly, that kinda waned. I still have makeup on at work, but there have been days when I didn’t! Oh well!
I think for most of us, if we don’t regularly wear makeup, then it becomes almost an event when we do, and going out is always a good reason to put something on. But when we have to wear it regularly, it suddenly becomes a bit of a chore. But I have noticed that in the local workforce, there aren’t many people who actually take the trouble. The most they’d wear is lipstick or powder. Perhaps it’s religious or cultural, but it just amazes me how different we are from Thailand where almost everyone has some makeup on, even street vendors!
It’s usually just sunblock and tinted lip balm for class and running errands (although I do like to curl my lashes and apply a coat of clear mascara sometimes, just for that more wakened up face) However, if I have to work or hang out with friends, then it’s time for full face on! ????
Gosh you take so much effort to go to class! When I was younger, I only wore sunblock and even then, we only had the greasy stuff so I was always a hot mess LOL! Thinking back, I often wonder why I never bothered 😛