# Would most men look better with some makeup and eyeliner? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898 "2009-05-28T03:09:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/21 "2009-05-28T14:41:00Z")
I have my own concealer that I wear on occasion. It is very easy to put on and blend in. Nobody has ever noticed as far as I know. I am happy with the results and will keep doing it. I won’t wear any eye liner though. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/22 "2009-05-28T14:57:11Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > I think the incidence of men who would look better with makeup is about the same as women who would look better with it. Guys are just as prone to uneven skin tone, undereye circles, and blemishes as gals, fercrissake. I agree. I could go along with an eyeliner for men experiment too. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/23 "2009-05-28T17:04:30Z")
> [@torie](#): > > [Fox](http://blog.vh1.com/files/2009/03/fox.jpg), from Daisy Of Love (shut up :D) has been seen on the show applying makeup. He uses mascara on the facial hair and a little powder and eye enhancement. > > He’s not my type, but I can objectively see that he looks good. So I guess it can make men look better if it’s done skillfully. That guy looks like Skeet Ulrich + gallons of fake tanner + a toilet paper roll concealed under his hair. I might have considered eyeliner, but I just hate that douchey guy from Fallout Boy. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/24 "2009-05-28T17:49:08Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > [These](http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t14/rm113651/douchebags.jpg) are the kind of guys who wear makeup. Word. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/25 "2009-05-28T17:57:37Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > [These](http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t14/rm113651/douchebags.jpg) are the kind of guys who wear makeup. Yanno, they do look a lot like a guy at the gaming store I go to that always is talking about the “man code”, which supposedly lets him get manicures\*. I’d have to assume this supposed man code would also let him wear makeup. \*In one of the few instances where I actually supported the “macho” side of “guy code” talks, I disagreed and said “yeah, the man code lets you get manicures without turning in your man card, but not if you _tell anyone about it_.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/26 "2009-05-28T18:15:08Z")
I saw Adam Lambert on the Today show today, and he toned it down considerably, and I thought he looked more handsome. Less theatrical (which is what I thought the point was to begin with), but more attractive (to me). ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/27 "2009-05-28T19:19:16Z")
A bit of makeup may look good on men the way it does on women, but I kind of hope it doesn’t become popular. Then my mom really will never get off my back about it. “See, even guys wear makeup, why can’t you?” Most guys don’t seem to need mascara, though, if most of the men I know are representative. Either they’re all wearing it already or guys just have gorgeous eyelashes naturally. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/28 "2009-05-28T19:22:58Z")
I don’t know about most men, but some would. But the rule is, if other people can tell you have some on, you’re wearing too much. Sometimes I wear just a bit of eyeliner and mascara just to make my eyes stand out more, and I’m not a make-up type gal. ([not especially flattering picture as an example](http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/?action=view¤t=liner-mascara.jpg) - that’s with makeup, but under fluorescent lights as opposed to [with no makeup](http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/?action=view¤t=me2-6-12-08.jpg)) Why shouldn’t men be allowed to make themselves look better? ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/29 "2009-05-28T20:36:20Z")
Most people look better with properly applied makeup. That doesn’t mean I think they should wear it - I sure as hell don’t. But the fact is that well done (i.e., unnoticeable) makeup improves your appearance. I have worn makeup in the past, sometimes fairly regularly. I frequently received comments regarding my appearance and well-being that depended on my makeup status, even though the people commenting didn’t realize that was the difference, or even that I was wearing makeup. Theatrical makeup, obvious makeup, goth/punk/emo/rock/etc makeup - all falls outside of the bounds of “properly applied”. They’re going for an effect, not just wearing a little makeup. (I’m deliberately excluding the myriad individuals who simply do not know how to put on makeup properly. That’s a different thing entirely. I’ll leave it to personal opinion as to whether Adam Lambert falls into the former category or the latter. ;)) Not that I object to effects makeup - some people look damn hot that way. But it takes a certain _je ne sais quoi_ to carry it off and not everyone can manage it. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/30 "2009-05-28T20:40:29Z")
_Most_? Nah. But some; definitely. Well, eyeliner anyway. But more to enhance a certain type of look as opposed to neccessarily improving his looks, if that makes sense. I guess I’m thinking it would make guys who look a little less run of the mill even more so. Not emo or feminine,neccessarily, just a bit more eclectic. And certainly not caked on like Mr. Lambert has it. I’m thinking a thin line of eye pencil on the bottom lash line. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/31 "2009-05-28T20:57:26Z")
Eyeliner? No. Makeup? Probably. I’ve been known to cover up some teenage pimples with…whatever that stuff is called. I’ve never done my whole face though. Just a touch here and there so I could still go to the dance or on that first date. No one’s ever said anything or noticed. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/32 "2009-05-29T16:23:06Z")
It depends on the guy and the look he’s going for. If were talking about a jeans and T-shirt, going to the ballgame sort of look, then make up probably isn’t going to improve things, unless we’re just talking concealer. But for a more goth/emo/metrosexual sort of look? Absolutely. FWIW, better pics of Adam [here.](http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_8/adam_lambert/) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/33 "2009-05-29T18:24:46Z")
Two words: [Ewan](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/Guinastasia/Ewan2/009.jpg) [McGregor](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/Guinastasia/Ewan2/006.jpg). Yummy! (Note, there are two links there) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/34 "2009-05-29T18:38:50Z")
Is makeup part of the “EMO” look? I always see these young men in Bucktown/Wicker Park with their dark “goth” type shirts and wearing women’s jeans because they are skinny legged or whatever ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/35 "2009-05-29T18:46:04Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Is makeup part of the “EMO” look? I always see these young men in Bucktown/Wicker Park with their dark “goth” type shirts and wearing women’s jeans because they are skinny legged or whatever Yes, it often is, at least these days. Much to my delight. Anyway, I wear eye liner from time to time - I like the look, although in my case I am doing it largely for the effeminacy/androgyny aspect rather than just generally enhancing my looks. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/36 "2009-05-30T03:15:51Z")
Would most men? Eh, sure, concealer, whatever, probably. As noted by many posters, we are all prey to one skin issue or another. Eyeliner and the rest? Well, I love a guy in eyeliner… that really does it for me. But if you’re not rocking the kind of look that goes with it, then no. The polo-shirt and khakis guys at the office do not need to be glamming up the eye makeup. The hypothetical guy in skinny jeans and a t-shirt that is too cryptic for me to tell if it’s ironic or not, who’s pouring my vietnamese coffee at the only decent coffee shop in the neighbourhood? Yeah, absolutely. If he wanted to throw on one of the more fanciful Urban Decay eye shadows, that’d be fine with me too. I like the unnatural look on men and women alike. If you can’t tell you put make up on, where’s the fun in that? If the colour occurs in nature, I’m bored already. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/37 "2009-05-30T03:25:28Z")
[Maybe](http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Tokio-Hotel-m08.jpg) a little less eyeliner. ---
**Author:** ![Renz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Renz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renz)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/38 "2009-05-30T03:38:44Z")
Personally I believe a little eyeliner on a man goes further than on women. (A lot is overkill.) Unfortunately society isn’t fully respecting men to wear make-up yet. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/39 "2009-05-30T03:45:23Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > It depends on the guy and the look he’s going for. If were talking about a jeans and T-shirt, going to the ballgame sort of look, then make up probably isn’t going to improve things, unless we’re just talking concealer. But for a more goth/emo/metrosexual sort of look? Absolutely. > > FWIW, better pics of Adam [here.](http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_8/adam_lambert/) He still looks hideous, in my opinion. The fact that there’s not an ounce of originality in his getup is part of it, but I think the makeup makes his already-atrocious skin look worse, not better. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898/40 "2009-05-30T03:49:41Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > It depends on the guy and the look he’s going for. If were talking about a jeans and T-shirt, going to the ballgame sort of look, then make up probably isn’t going to improve things, unless we’re just talking concealer. But for a more goth/emo/metrosexual sort of look? Absolutely. > > FWIW, better pics of Adam [here.](http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_8/adam_lambert/) Still way too much makeup. I didn’t realize he was from American Idol. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-most-men-look-better-with-some-makeup-and-eyeliner/497898.md?page=3)