Why do women wear face paint?

[foxy lady]

On the rare occasion that I have gone out without makeup, people who know me ask me if Im ill . Always wear mascara at least but usually full face.

 

Do you think the avatar looks better with or without the lippy?.

[geocol]

Do you think the avatar looks better with or without the lippy?.

 

Better, but could be improved by using "polyfilla" , immediately above and below.

[Zebra]

Perhaps some women wear it based on the reaction they are looking for when out?

I know I receive a very different response from some people depending on if I have make up on or not.

Sometimes the difference appears to be whether I am regarded as a professional or if I am 'ready' for whatever is about to happen.

It would appear that people consider me more capable as a mother when I have make up on, an idea created only by having the time to apply it I think.

 

I generally prefer the perception people have of me with make up on and I enjoy make up.

[HarmOKnee]

What is the true purpose of makeup?

 

In the 17th century women painted their fingernails/toesnails red and wore red lipstick to ward away the devil. They (men too) also used to cover their faces in white powder to show that they were affluent and didn't need to work outside. It was also used to cover up any pock marks. If anybody had a "tanned" or ruddy complexion it was usually the peasants who worked outdoors.

 

Nowadays, a tanned look is more fashionable than a pale look. It also covers up any blemishes, and claims to make women look younger.

 

But I wear it as war paint!

[jeremyjh1]

How many men would say they prefer a woman without make up, honestly?

 

Or those that wear make up to hide scars or birth marks?

 

 

I'll add my two pence!!

 

When it is subtle and done to enhance, a woman wearing make up is a sight to behold. When it is plastered on with a palette knife it's - aaarrrggghhhh!!!!

 

I find the 'natural' look equally as attractive as a woman with subtle make up.

 

I must confess, though, I would rather see the natural look at some point in time, otherwise I may never know who I'm actually looking at!!

 

I have, too, known a couple of ladies who, when they put make up on actually looked worse than they did without.

[jeremyjh1]

In the 17th century women painted their fingernails/toesnails red and wore red lipstick to ward away the devil. They (men too) also used to cover their faces in white powder to show that they were affluent and didn't need to work outside. It was also used to cover up any pock marks. If anybody had a "tanned" or ruddy complexion it was usually the peasants who worked outdoors.

 

Nowadays, a tanned look is more fashionable than a pale look. It also covers up any blemishes, and claims to make women look younger.

 

But I wear it as war paint!

 

Unless you live in Asia, where the tanned look denotes a labourer or farm worker (lower class). There are even products sold to help whiten the skin.

 

How strange are our perceptions and assumptions.

[Lorri]

When it is subtle and done to enhance, a woman wearing make up is a sight to behold. When it is plastered on with a palette knife it's - aaarrrggghhhh!!!!

 

I find the 'natural' look equally as attractive as a woman with subtle make up.

 

I agree with that

[Berlin]

To cover or distort one's face is to be ashamed of what lies beneath. It is to condemn nature as intolerably ugly. This is not me merely expressing opinion, it is an objective observation of this activity. To make your face what it is not is to be ashamed of what it is.

 

I would take issue with the notion that to cover one's face is to be ashamed of it. Humans have decorated themselves from earliest times. How they do it is simply a matter of fashion.

[epiphany]

I would take issue with the notion that to cover one's face is to be ashamed of it. Humans have decorated themselves from earliest times. How they do it is simply a matter of fashion.

 

In the context of "not being able to leave the house without my face on" though...

 

Decorating yourself for some kind of celebration is one thing, but we're talking about a very specific psychological implication here, connected to the self - that your face IS your makeup, and no makeup = no face. Granted, not all women see it that way, thankfully, but many seem to.

[Berlin]

In the context of "not being able to leave the house without my face on" though...

 

Decorating yourself for some kind of celebration is one thing, but we're talking about a very specific psychological implication here, connected to the self - that your face IS your makeup, and no makeup = no face. Granted, not all women see it that way, thankfully, but many seem to.

 

I know, and there also is the obsession with appearing youger than one actually is. Why does this matter to so many people?