# What do you think of the "natural beauty/no makeup" movement? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199 "2015-07-15T01:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/1 "2015-07-15T01:31:53Z")
In recent years there seems to have been a bit of a backlash against the cosmetics industry and the heavy use of cosmetics in personal appearance. This has led to something of a “natural beauty” and/or “no makeup” movement - albeit a movement that has yet to gain much strength or widespread following. What do you think of it? Personally, I think it’s great and that a backlash against cosmetics and the use of cosmetics is long overdue, but that’s just my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/2 "2015-07-15T01:33:40Z")
agreed, however, it may favor women who are naturally more attractive… ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/3 "2015-07-15T01:47:03Z")
In favor of it. Very few women look better in makeup, and the process to culminate in “looking natural” whilst using it is not worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/4 "2015-07-15T02:25:42Z")
I’m for it. heavy makeup doesn’t make women attractive, it makes them look fake. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/5 "2015-07-15T04:37:27Z")
It’s an arms race which never ends, because there is no penalty for cheating. If it suddenly became a fad for most women to go without or very little makeup, then someone would start adding a bit of rouge, and another would use some bronzer, then another would see that and start going for the eyeliner…it fluctuates back and forth already. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/6 "2015-07-15T05:19:27Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > agreed, however, it may favor women who are naturally more attractive… > [@Una\_Persson](#): > > It’s an arms race which never ends, because there is no penalty for cheating. If it suddenly became a fad for most women to go without or very little makeup, then someone would start adding a bit of rouge, and another would use some bronzer, then another would see that and start going for the eyeliner…it fluctuates back and forth already. I’m not sure I’d call it an arms race, exactly, but it seems to be an unenforceable standard. If this does become the new ideal, there’s nothing stopping anyone from applying makeup to get that perfect no-makeup look. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/7 "2015-07-15T05:20:47Z")
I’m all for it. My wife uses very little, and looks just fine. As a bonus for me, I’m allergic to perfume, so she doesn’t use that either. I like it better, and I’ve saved whole bunches of money. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/8 "2015-07-15T05:26:48Z")
It’s a “movement?” I like anchovies on my pizza. Am I part of a “movement?” ---
**Author:** ![Hugosvoice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Hugosvoice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugosvoice)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/9 "2015-07-15T05:29:34Z")
> [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](#): > > Very few women look better in makeup Just curious as to what this statement is based on? I love makeup. I love wearing it at home even when I am not going anywhere. I love my pink shiny lip gloss and the long, full lashes mascara gives me. I love using 3 shades of eyeshadow and my perfect eyebrow pencil. I love my glittery bronzer which smells like coconut. It’s a lovely notion but I am not parting with my makeup for anything. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/10 "2015-07-15T05:44:22Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > It’s an arms race which never ends, because there is no penalty for cheating. If it suddenly became a fad for most women to go without or very little makeup, then someone would start adding a bit of rouge, and another would use some bronzer, then another would see that and start going for the eyeliner…it fluctuates back and forth already. Prisoner’s Dilemma, IOW; a classic source of market failure, as well. Game theory pops up in so many interesting places. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/11 "2015-07-15T06:05:52Z")
Didn’t we do this in the '70s? It’s a trend and they all come & go. I’m waiting for leisure suits to make a comeback. I have no opinion on people wearing makeup or not, but if women are using less makeup, it leaves more for the men. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/12 "2015-07-15T09:04:38Z")
I don’t wear make-up so I’ve been part of this movement since birth! I suppose those who feel the need to hide behind cosmetics will continue to do so, and those of us who don’t care one way or the other will continue to be our gorgeous natural selves. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/13 "2015-07-15T09:22:07Z")
As a man I am all for it - it gets rid of the ‘I’d love an after dinner stroll for digestion but no, I’d have to put my makeup on again’ argument. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/14 "2015-07-15T09:30:11Z")
There’s a reason women wear makeup: it works! All it takes is a brief stroll through those pictures of celebrities without makeup to see the huge difference it makes. If you don’t like it, don’t wear it, but the argument that women look BETTER without it is hard to sustain. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/15 "2015-07-15T09:39:08Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > It’s a “movement?” > > I like anchovies on my pizza. Am I part of a “movement?” if 50 people a day do it, they’ll think it’s a movement ---
**Author:** ![Hugosvoice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Hugosvoice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugosvoice)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/16 "2015-07-15T10:35:12Z")
> [@scareyfaerie](#): > > I suppose those who feel the need to hide behind cosmetics will continue to do so, and those of us who don’t care one way or the other will continue to be our gorgeous natural selves. Wow, nice shitty judgmental attitude there. Those who choose to wear makeup aren’t “hiding behind cosmetics”. Let me guess, you’re one of those women who think other women who dress scantily have “no self respect”, right? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/17 "2015-07-15T11:29:13Z")
Sorry, I must have fallen behind on my “women’s fashion trends.” I thought dyeing armpit hair in bright colors was the current fad. I remember seeing something like that on my Facebook feed. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/18 "2015-07-15T12:57:02Z")
I never learned to apply makeup and never really cared. I’ve played with it in the past, but for the most part, it’s not worth the bother to me. So I save money, save time, and life is good. Plus I can get up and out the door in under 15 minutes if I have to - under 5 if I showered the night before and someone else feeds the dog. Appearances aren’t all that important to me. I’m clean and I keep my clothing in good repair. Anyone who makes value judgements about me based on something as superficial as fashion or cosmetics is probably not someone I care to know anyway. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/19 "2015-07-15T13:00:11Z")
I think a lot of women could do with less makeup, however I am suspicious about some of the pictures shown in newsertainment who still look like they’ve got makeup on, just less than usual. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199/20 "2015-07-15T13:01:36Z")
> [@scareyfaerie](#): > > I don’t wear make-up so I’ve been part of this movement since birth! I suppose those who feel the need to hide behind cosmetics will continue to do so, and those of us who don’t care one way or the other will continue to be our gorgeous natural selves. Seriously, is this right at all? Do your sisters deserve this? Is this fair? I suppose I “hide” behind makeup. I like a little foundation, a little blush, and if I am in the mood, I’ll wear some eye makeup. There is no doubt in my mind it makes me look better at this level. Since it’s so little, it’s hard to tell, exactly, but it makes my eyes look even larger. It takes me less than five minutes to do my entire makeup routine. The scorn in this thread from women to other women is kind of baffling me. We should support each other, not knock each other down. Wear makeup, great! Don’t wear makeup, great! Trust me, when I need to go hiking I don’t wear my makeup. You want a woman that doesn’t spend a lot of time putting on her makeup, then find one who doesn’t. They are out there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-natural-beauty-no-makeup-movement/725199.md?page=2)