It's been so long since I've worn make up that the whole concept of wearing it has become strange and unusual to me, now that I've decided to buy into the 'beauty myth' and feed into the Madison Avenue Beauty Quotient by buying cosmetics, what should I do? Do women wear it for themselves or because they think men like it? Do men like it? What do you wear that you refuse to leave the house without unless you have it smeared, spackled, drawn, painted or otherwise applied to your face?

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

Answers

oh geeeeez. i'm a makeup whore. it just overtakes me and i can't get enough of it. i do not, will not, CAN not go out in public without something on my face, but if i had to wear only the bare minimums, it would be lipstick and mascara. then eyeliner. hop out of the shower and just walk out the door? NO. FREAKIN. WAY. but dahling? i love the lipstick on you. it's a tad bright (you seem like a more mocha kind of girl) but you look great with it on!

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2000

I tend to like it if a women either isn't wearing any makeup, or else looks like she is wearing little or none. Lots of makeup is a turn-off.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2000

I guess a little makeup doesn't hurt much, but it probably doesn't help much either. Too much makeup makes your face look like a toxic waste depository.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2000

Hi Sasha! I recommend going to the Body Shop for Color Proof Lipstick (I have it in Iced Mocha, yum). I haven't given it a blow job test yet, but it stays on for coffee, lunch, cigarettes and just about everything else I do. While you're there, the waterproof mascara in brown is really nice, too. I like it because I can just put on a little or I can put on a bunch and it doesn't get clumpy, and it stays on all day but I don't have any trouble getting it off with soap and water...

But really what I think is that makeup is stupid and I wish I could wean myself off of it.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2000

I used to think I could go without makeup, but I realized that I feel better when I have taken some time to primp myself. It adjusts my attitude completely when I have the feeling I look good. I know it may be silly to rely on makeup or the lack of, for my sense of self-worth, but who the hell cares. If I feel good wearing make-up, then I figure who gives a crap if someone else does not like it? Whooo, that was weird. Sorry Sasha, got lost on that soap box. BTW, I still love your journal. Oh, also, I have found recently that I do not know as much about make-up as I thought. He he, yep, I am a dork. Kidding.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2000

I never really wore a lot of makeup, and somewhere around the time we got married, Ron admitted he didn't like how makup looks on ANYbody. I really only wore it because *other people* thought it looked good. And yeah, I do look good in a pro makeup job, I just feel really weird.

Odder than that, I used to do the makeup for a smallish theater company and considered myself a makeup artist... who didn't wear makeup. I got really good at applying it to other people's faces, but having it look like crap on my own face. Other people who slap it all on don't bother me, though..

I digress, though. I do love your lips (becasue I have hardly any), and I thought you *were* wearing lipstick!

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2000

I like make up. Not a lot. I the natural look the best. But every now and then... a bit more colour to the lips is nice. Bring out the eyes a bit more, ya know? But I hardly ever get to wear...

What?

Ohhhh on women! Um...

I like the smell of it. If that makes any sense. But I like subtle or not at all. I think Saundra looks pretty with and with out makeup. Some people though... it doesn't matter how much makeup you put on them... *shudder* Those are the ones that normally put it on with a spatchula. Over all... None or very subtle and natural. That's my vote. As to why... If I kiss someone's cheek... I don't want powder in my mouth. Same for perfume. Until they make a perfume that tastes like nothing at all, or chocolate... Keep it off the lick & nibble zones.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2000

I used to go overboard with makeup in my early teens, when the pale look was really in - I had to use baby powder and the palest shade of foundation to achieve that look, too. I look back at pictures of myself and shudder. Where I have wiped my face, you can see red skin in those pictures - not that my skin is red, but it sure looked it compared to the pure whiteness of the makeup I was using.

Foundation is still my favourite thing - it evens out skin tones, mops up excess oil, and hides dark circles a little. Now I use one that exactly matches my skin tone.

Lipstick is my second favourite. It moisturizes dry lips (unless it is an extremely matte one).

My husband was attracted to me when he met me in the palest white - too much foundation stage - so I keep that in mind. He says he likes me without makeup, but one day when I was sick he told me to go put some makeup on! I don't listen to him anymore, and do what I want. Wear makeup whenever I feel like it (mainly when I go out, or to work.)

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2000

I like make-up but I don't like to wear alot of it. I'm not sure if its because I never took the time to learn how to wear it properly or because I get too hot when I have it on my face but I just don't wear alot of it. I wear some face makeup to cover the blemishes and then some eyeshadow and eyeliner and mascara. Very little lipstick and that's it. I'm pretty low maintenance. :o)

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

I think it's a service to humanity to wear makeup when you get older. I'm at that stage. I don't want to look at myself in the mirror, so I figger no one else does either...

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2000