Poll: What are your views on make-up?

[Wutaiflea]

This has been grating on me for some time. I'd be very interested to know the views of Escapists.

I absolutely love make-up and I spend a fair amount of time on the internet looking at make-up tutorials and pictures for ideas.
When I was younger, I tended to wear a lot of black eyeshadow and eyeliner, but now I mostly wear lots of bright colours. I kind of see my eyelids as a blank canvas to be painted on, and like them to look bold and daring. I usually only wear light foundation with concealer for imperfections. I either tone my lipstick/gloss to my eyes or wear a nude gloss.
I don't feel that I wear too much make-up- my freckles can be seen through my foundation, so its not like I'm caking on layer after layer- I just use a lot of colour on my eyes. Today, I'm wearing black, teal, silver and white.

However, I've noticed a lot of people, particularly men, who post comments on make-up related articles and videos claiming that women are "trowelling on make up" and that "women shouldn't wear make up because men don't like it".
This frequently seems inaccurate to me- bright eyeshadows are mistaken for "layers of make up" and "au naturelle" looks are praised, even when the demonstrator clearly applies MORE make up. There seems to be a lot of ignorance as to what most products are and how they appear on the skin.

I also find it hard to believe that, in this day and age, some men believe that women wear make up solely to attract men. Whether a man will like my make up is pretty much the furthest thing from my mind when I put it on- its an expression of my personality, and something fun to do. I want it to look striking, not necessarily hot and sexy.

So, what are your views?

If you're a guy, how do you feel about women wearing make up? Do you like seeing bare faces or bright colours? Do you appreciate the artistry involved, or would rather ladies didn't bother?
If your partner started wearing vivid make up, what would be your comments to her?

For the ladies, do you find men say you're wearing a lot of make up when you're not? Would you change the way you apply your make up if your partner didn't like it? Why do you wear your make up the way you do?

Thanks x

Edit:

Just as a supplement to this, here is a tutorial by Michelle Phan (who is an extremely popular and well-known make up guru) using bright colours. I wear this look a lot myself. I wonder how many of you would consider this to be "too much make up"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eYqO2S03oE

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Make-up is best used to accentuate features that already exist. A women looks (at least to me) more attractive with just a small amount of make-up, just enough to make her best features stand out, whether that be her eyes, her cheek bones or her lips.

Those girls who walk around with orange faces, thirty layers of foundation and so much eyeliner they look like they've not slept in four days? They don't look very nice at all.

 

[Stasisesque]

I've never met a woman who doesn't wear any make up. I've never even passed a woman (woman, not little girl (i.e. 18+)) on the street completely make up less.

Some look best with minimal coverage, foundation maybe, just a little concealer if their skin is good and some light mascara - and some can totally pull off the thick eyeliner, ruby red lips and blusher look. It all depends on the woman and what she has to work with.

 

[Ouroboros0977]

This is speaking as a male who has tried make up (once pinned, another time more with a few female friends and curious of how they could make me look) and some girls do feel that make up is a real confidence boost as it allows them to look more how they want to, I usually care more about how it effects them emotionally than cosmetically. Although I do know that it counts slightly since there have been moments when I have had to comment on it when it has made the girl look especially beautiful and in those times it has been more with the more vivid eyeshadows. It should be done in a case by case thing as the eyeshadow should suit the iris of the girl although as with everything I have seen make up wise, there are exceptions. And now I need to watch this thread to count up the people calling me gay.

 

[Killertje]

You should understand that for most men, women are either hot or not, concerning their appearance. There is nothing else, just sex-appeal. With that said, there are a lot of different men out there, each with their own taste. Some men won't care about your make-up one way or another, they probably don't care what your face looks like (only interested in ass/boobs). Others do care what your face looks like when they evaluate if they want to "hit that". I know this sounds like I'm being an ass, but its a biological thing and I'm pretty sure women do the exact same thing when they look at guys.

If you enjoy painting your face you should keep doing it. If you care about what other people think about it, stop caring. You can't please everyone, and you don't HAVE to please most of them, so just please yourself and hope that at least a few others like it too.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Honestly? I don't care. Do what you want. Both looks have their appeal.

 

[Woodsey]

I prefer to see the minimum, and something that makes a girl look 'fresh' (that sounds a lot more pervy then its supposed to), as opposed to caked layers of the stuff. The whole idea behind it is that you make use of the features you have, not try to make new ones; all that face crap for example, its supposed to match your own skin tone, not give you a new one.

Doesn't seem to be a poll option along the lines of "less is more". I'm not saying women should all go without it, but there's no need to be excessive with it. I suppose the real issue is whether or not they're able to make it not look cheap.

 

[Extraintrovert]

I continually find it be hysterical not only that so many people spend so much time and effort to put paint on their faces, but also that so many people find painted faces to be attractive. All it does is demonstrate a person is more concerned with their superficial appearance than with whatever garbage they're putting on their skin, which to me is close to the antithesis of attractive. Furthermore, ultimately it is a disguise, an artificial illusion crafted specifically to hide and obfuscate the truth, and while it is definitely low on the scale of the lies humans perpetuate it is still on it.

I'm not about to tell people what they should do to themselves (partially because I like to laugh at other people, mostly because it would give others justification to tell me what to do in turn), however I find cosmetics to be, at best, a waste.

 

[spartan231490]

This has been grating on me for some time. I'd be very interested to know the views of Escapists.

I absolutely love make-up and I spend a fair amount of time on the internet looking at make-up tutorials and pictures for ideas.
When I was younger, I tended to wear a lot of black eyeshadow and eyeliner, but now I mostly wear lots of bright colours. I kind of see my eyelids as a blank canvas to be painted on, and like them to look bold and daring. I usually only wear light foundation with concealer for imperfections. I either tone my lipstick/gloss to my eyes or wear a nude gloss.
I don't feel that I wear too much make-up- my freckles can be seen through my foundation, so its not like I'm caking on layer after layer- I just use a lot of colour on my eyes. Today, I'm wearing black, teal, silver and white.

However, I've noticed a lot of people, particularly men, who post comments on make-up related articles and videos claiming that women are "trowelling on make up" and that "women shouldn't wear make up because men don't like it".
This frequently seems inaccurate to me- bright eyeshadows are mistaken for "layers of make up" and "au naturelle" looks are praised, even when the demonstrator clearly applies MORE make up. There seems to be a lot of ignorance as to what most products are and how they appear on the skin.

I also find it hard to believe that, in this day and age, some men believe that women wear make up solely to attract men. Whether a man will like my make up is pretty much the furthest thing from my mind when I put it on- its an expression of my personality, and something fun to do. I want it to look striking, not necessarily hot and sexy.

So, what are your views?

If you're a guy, how do you feel about women wearing make up? Do you like seeing bare faces or bright colours? Do you appreciate the artistry involved, or would rather ladies didn't bother?
If your partner started wearing vivid make up, what would be your comments to her?

For the ladies, do you find men say you're wearing a lot of make up when you're not? Would you change the way you apply your make up if your partner didn't like it? Why do you wear your make up the way you do?

Thanks x

I'm a guy so I don't really see that it's any of my business, but you asked so here goes.
I like seeing a person's face, not their make-up, but that's just me. So I generally dislike seeing a lot of make-up on a woman's face, but I don't mind bright eye-liner for the most part. Sometimes it's just ridiculous, no-one needs glowing emerald green eye-liner(I mean, literally glow in the dark bright. saw it once, and I still have nightmares). Generally, I find it distracting and disturbing if it's very bright colors that have been heavily applied. As a rule, I don't like to see a person's eye-liner when they're so far away I can't see their eyes.
Well, there's my opinion, make of it what you will.

 

[Jovlo]

I don't like make-up on a woman, but I'm often surprised that some of them wear it without me noticing.
As long as I don't notice it's make-up, I like it.

 

[Griffolion]

If women wish to wear make up then i will never object. I do get concerned when girls are wearing way too much make up and often wonder if there is any deeper issues that are causing this because it can often be detrimental to her looks if she wears too much. But some foundation with a bit of mascara or whatever will never go amiss as far as i'm concerned. I think that true beauty is on the inside, physical looks only plays a very initial role in my attraction to a girl, after that, if she has a wonderful personality, looks are a bonus.

 

[Sanglyon]

Make-up is good to hide small imperfections that can hinder confidence. It hilights features from passable to noticeable or stunning. It can also help affirm your style.

It's a tool and an ornament as much as jewelry or clothing, and should be used likewise.

Those girls who walk around with orange faces, thirty layers of foundation and so much eyeliner they look like they've not slept in four days? They don't look very nice at all.

I agree on the first part, but I like girls that look like panda.
Like this:

 

[Daystar Clarion]

snip

I'm not too fond of girls who look like crack addicts either.

 

[Sanglyon]

Do those who think that women should never wear make-up and stay "natural" also think they shouldn't shave their legs (and harmpits)?

Because, after all, you're not seeing their "real" legs, and it's only "superficial appearance", isn't it?

Double standards.

 

[Palademon]

I like it sometimes but I think some girls are too insecure without it.

 

[Sanglyon]

snip

I'm not too fond of girls who look like crack addicts either.

Come on, it's a punk rocker, she's supposed to look like that. But as I usually says, the less men sharing my tastes in women, the less competition for me.

(not that I'm that much of a womanizer )

 

[Fetzenfisch]

Make-up is good to hide small imperfections that can hinder confidence. It hilights features from passable to noticeable or stunning. It can also help affirm your style.

It's a tool and an ornament as much as jewelry or clothing, and should be used likewise.

Those girls who walk around with orange faces, thirty layers of foundation and so much eyeliner they look like they've not slept in four days? They don't look very nice at all.

I agree on the first part, but I like girls that look like panda.
Like this:

BRODY !!! *drool*
seconded
I loooooooove the fucked up look. And use it on parties too, either i screw around with the eyeliner or if i got the time use it 2 days in front ^^ thats why i love festivals, it gets better every day (can't wait for this years Wave Gotik Treffen).
For everyday situations a little make up on women isnt a bad thing. to hide little spots and imperfections. Or to prevend the skin from looking too red or glazed (or too tanned if you roll like us).
The eyeliner (like said before) definatly is one of the greatest inventions of mankind, increasing the intensity of the eyes look by far, even if used with caution.
And if you then got time and have fun to put accents on other facual features, why not? work out the contures of the lips a little bit, accentuate the cheekbone if its grown well. A lot can be done with only the slightest amounts of make up used.
A fact that a lot of teens still have to learn

I could talk on for a long time now, yes i know i'm a guy. But a gothpunk guy from germany that also has a lot of experience with theatre and zombiewalks, i know my makeups.

 

[Blackmagic1515]

I am a girl, and I have never in my life worn make-up (apart from a tiny bit of stage make-up to face my face look dirty but I don't think that counts). I just don't see the point. Ok yes some people use it to boost confidence and all and I respect that. I just can't see the point of everyday painting your face just to look presentable to the world. Plus, make-up is expensive. I have much better things to spend my money on. If other girls want to use it, that's none of my business, but to me it just seems like too much effort and a waste of time and money.