Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Maybe She's Born With It? Nah.

I am not a fan of makeup. I don't like the way it feels on my face. I don't really know how to put it on. I don't think I look better with it. Oh, and I am allergic to most of it.

I've tried to like makeup, or at least tolerate it. Every three years, like clockwork, I convince myself cosmetic technology has advanced enough that I can put together an easy makeup routine that won't cause my skin to bubble and peel, or turn into an oil slick. I talk Tara or one of my sisters into taking me out and we buy a full set of whatever the latest and greatest is to replace the previous latest and greatest that has congealed, dehydrated, and broken in my bathroom drawer. Then I take the new stuff home, wear it once, hate it, and put it in the drawer to congeal, dehydrate, and break.

I might be pulling it out again though. The New York Times says I should.

Yep, that's right, according to the Times I may not appear as "competent" as my peers because I do not paint my face.

And I thought my incompetence was what actually was doing it.

Kidding.

When I first read the article I was, understandably, a little ticked. I pulled out my Helen Reddy 8-track and railed against the unfairness of the world. I wanted to pledge not only not to wear makeup, but to stop waxing my upper lip, and wearing deodorant. I was thisclose to buying one of those "anti smell crystals" the hippies love when I had another thought.

I do other things to make me look competent at work, that have nothing to do with how I do my job.

I wear nice, stain free clothes.

I make sure my fingernails are clean, and my hair is brushed.

I keep my desk neat, and display pictures of an adorable child.

None of these things should influence if people view me as competent, but they do. They let them know I am a functioning adult who understands how to behave in society, and who wants to working.

So how would a little lip gloss be any different?

I'm giving it a week, just to see if I notice any changes.

Oh, and I am not wearing foundation. I don't care if it makes me look like the Mayor of competent town. There are some things I just won't do.

Wish me luck.

16 comments:

Vapid Vixen said...

Umm even though I'm a huge fan of makeup and wear it practically every day at work...I can attest it unfortunately doesn't make me any more competent. If ONLY that were the key.

Anonymous said...

I'm reminded of a guy I dated in the '80s. It took him forever to put on his eye makeup. So annoying. We were late to everything. Oh, and he wasn't very competent if you know what I'm saying.

Granny Annie said...

i just wanna say...DON'T DO IT!!!

Anonymous said...

I really only wear makeup when I go to work, and if we are going somewhere where I am trying to make an effort to look nice. The rest of the time, it's naked face all the way.

The days when I don't wear any to work, I forgot, I was running late, I was not feeling well, I had a stye in my eye, someone always manages to tell me that I look "tired" which you know is code for old. So the next day, or on my lunch I usually bring the paint back out.

Nicole said...

I'm not into makeup at all. I'll wear lipstick but that's it. I don't even own any other makeup. I figure this is the face I have; take it or leave it.

manders said...

i never wear make up. not due to incompetence or allergies or principals. mostly just laziness. and the last time i put on some subtle eye makeup, my boyfriend gave me a weird look and asked why i was all fancied up. nope, it just didn't feel natural!

C Lo said...

I don't agree that wearing foundation has to equal "wearing make up" and I think that's where lots of women get intimidated and let down........because covering all your skin DOES make it like an oil slick most of the time!

I only wear eye shadow, mascara, and lip gloss regularly. It takes 5 minutes, it doesn't sweat off, and lip gloss is easy to re apply. So yeah.

Ashley said...

I only wear makeup if I am going somewhere special (much to my mother's disproval). Making me look less competent seems like a bonus now, since I am lazy.
I would also like to add that you are one up on me with the whole hair brushing thing. I have a very nice hat collection that I use so frequently that when I don't wear one, people look at me like they don't know who I am.

Mandy_Fish said...

I cannot leave the house without makeup. My husband still doesn't understand this when he scoops up our baby daughter and trots out the door saying, "Let's go out to breakfast!"

I immediately start running for my makeup bag and he waits on the porch for 5-10 minutes.

I don't like foundation or coverup so much. But I must have some powder. A little blush. Mascara. Lip gloss. At a bare minimum.

For work I throw in some eyeshadow.

If I'm going out, I add eyeliner.

It's always amused me that I only use earth tones and do all of this to achieve a natural look. Ha. But I don't care. I feel naked without it!

The point of all my rambling is that you don't have to wear foundation if you don't like it!

Riot Kitty said...

Ugh, that sounds like a sexist article. I rarely wear makeup, and when I do, it's minimal and just to make it look like I'm more awake in pictures. I've never worn foundation. Yuck!

Jen said...

Hah! I take off the makeup as soon as I'm in the door. I do keep my nails clean and even trimmed up evenly most of the time. Unless I broke a nail mid-day. But, I'm too non-lady-like to have a nail file. Ever. Even though I buy them all the time. I think they are with the socks the dryer eats.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Lip gloss!
That's farther than I've gone - well, ever.
Good luck! Maybe your lip gloss experiment will rub off on me and I will maybe attempt to do my hair.
Maybe.

A said...

Gee, I feel a little weird saying this but my morning routine consists of two layers of French organic clay foundation, false 100% mink eyelashes and red dye #666 lipstick.

Also - my eyebrows have been tattooed on.

I think I look pretty kick ass when I hit the Vegas strip every night. To each his own...

IzzyMom said...

Thank you for reminding me of Helen Reddy! I fricken love "I Am Woman." No, I'm not joking. I haven't heard it in ages (until I watched that horrific Sex and the City 2 movie) but as a grown woman, I appreciate the lyrics about 1000 times more than I ever could of when the song was actually popular. As for makeup, screw the study! Do what you want. You are WOMAN!

Rassles said...

So I just read three different articles written about the same study, and none of them concerned the most interesting thing that the study suggests: as the lines between gender and race blur, beauty is becoming more important than ever.

Also, whoever wrote that family goes strong article obviously did not read the study at all.

Anonymous said...

I've given up on make up. I'm lazy, I don't know how to use it, and I think I look better without it. I honestly can't even comprehend needing to wear it any time you leave the house!