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God, Erik just globs on eye make-up like a poltroon.
Every time I read a post about people being “brave” by virtue of not wearing make-up, or not having their make-up perfectly done, or hear about a starlet who has “bravely” gone all natural, a little part of my soul goes and smears red lipstick all over itself until it feels okay again. Wear make-up. Don’t wear make-up. Either one is fine. But can we please stop saying that choosing not to wear make-up is necessarily brave?
Because more and more, we seem to equate the idea of people appearing without cosmetics with “bravery” – when it’s actually just making a slightly less socially advantageous choice than usual.
I always feel irked by these galleries, because, by tossing around the word “brave” they never seem to take into account that if we are living in a world where the act of going without make-up qualifies as bravery, we have left Earth and stumbled into Nightmareworld. To slap the label of bravery across ”not wearing make-up” seems like a disservice to, well, certainly to the men and women in the armed forces, certainly to anyone working to improve conditions in dangerous areas, certainly, in fact, to anyone who has ever risked their well being for the betterment of others. To say that a girl sacrificing her vanity for a day groups her into the same moral category as them, well that seems as irritating as a high school Freshman taking his first English comp class and claiming that he is now a poet “like Yeats”.
There are, of course different kinds of courage. Namely: physical courage is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death, or threat of death, while moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.
Which seem to differ somewhat from skipping the cosmetics for a day. Certainly, not wearing them won’t bring shame down on you – articles seem to indicate that many men don’t like it when women wear make-up. I’m not sure I quite believe that – I always have an inkling that those men mean very badly applied make-up, based on the fact that I wear enough make-up to shroud a gerbil, and men are surprised when I tell them I’m not all-natural - but unless you wear a ridiculous amount of cosmetics to begin with, it seems unlikely that anyone will notice. It seems still more unlikely that they’ll mention it. At worst, they’re going to say “you look tired” which is not quite on par with saying “you look tired, and, side note, we’re going to burn you at the stake for being unpretty now. So, rest up for that!”
Now, admittedly, skipping make-up may well entail the kind of bravery that requires facing down your own reaction to irrational anxieties, but if that’s the case, then we also have clasify everyone who stops biting their nails as “brave.” Goodness, what a world of heros we will live in.
Because there’s no substantial risk at work when people forsake make-up. Well, I suppose there is a risk, in that, for one day, people might find you slightly less attractive. There is that. Not substantially less, unless you’re really good at make-up (like, if you start out looking like Erik Destler and end up looking like Kate Moss, that would be a fine example of being really good at makeup). But otherwise, the only thing you’re risking is that maybe people will admire you slightly less. I don’t equate risking “being slightly less admired by all” with “an actual risk.”
Because, quite honestly, when a starlet or model or anyone makes a point of the fact that they are posing without make-up, they’re not doing it because they’re really overcoming their fears. They’re doing it because it will garner them praise of a different kind. Instead of being praised for being flawlessly beautiful, they’ll be praised for being “down to earth!” or “real!” (which is always a hard compliment for the replicants among us to hear). Or else, people will comment on how naturally beautiful they are. Which is all very dandy and well calculated, but it would be quite a different matter if the people in question just casually, without fanfare, decided to pose in an all-natural fashion. But, really, what would be the point in that?
Because whether or not anyone admits it, the point of these “no make-up” galleries is always, at least in part, because the people posing hope that they’ll be praised in a new and different way. Otherwise there would be no need to point to the fact that they are wearing no make-up now!!!! Now, that may be very good for the people posing’s levels of confidence – it is nice to know that we have worth in many ways - but it does not mean that wearing make-up/not wearing make-up is linked to a character trait traditionally associated with storming into burning buildings to rescue children trapped inside.
Look, personally, I’m all for make-up. If you have the tools to make your facial features appear slightly more symmetrical, it’s completely reasonable to choose to make use of them. I think doing so is sensible, because doing so will give you certain social advantages – like people finding you slightly more attractive. But that’s not an example of bravery. That’s an example of making choices that will benefit you, personally. It’s the equivalent of a man buying a fancy car because he thinks it will get him laid more easily. By all means, use every reasource at your disposal to get laid more easily. Just don’t for a second think that forsaking those things puts you in the same class as people facing down serious threats and taking real risks for the sake of others. It doesn’t.
There are a great many times in our lives when we are going to have to be brave. I don’t think anyone makes it out of this whole “living” shtick without facing down their share of wrongdoing. We may be called on to do things that are not in the interest of our well being for the greater good. There will certainly be times, for all of us, when we have our moral fiber tested. I hope that, when those times come, we will take a moment to reapply our lipstick, and, having done so, go forth and exhibit all that which is best in the human spirit. But in order to do so, maybe it would be helpful to keep a little perspective on what’s brave and what’s “being selfish in a different/slightly lesser way than I usually am.”
Bravery is a kind of personal thing. What is considered frightening for some is a walk in the park for others.
Bravery comes in many forms. Who are you to put a label on what true bravery is?
I think what most of these women who don’t wear make-up are getting at is that you don’t need make-up to be beautiful. Women have always been the fairer sex even in a time when make-up was only worn by performers and prostitutes. Maybe it’s the idea of redefining what we find beautiful, opposed to what we find brave.
UGLY PEOPLE NEED MAKE-UP! And lots of it.
Unless you’re a performer or entertainer I don’t see why you need to wear make-up everyday.
The one think nothing can disguise is an ugly mental state…
Okay, no offense but that is kind of dumb – any adjective can have different connotations, or different depths of application, depending on the context. Quite OBVIOUSLY when someone says that not wearing make-up is ‘brave’ their not equating it with the armed forces! There are many different levels of brave – ranging from slightly balls-y to true honor and perseverance (such as the armed forces).
But come on – if bravery is the perseverance in the face of fear (as so many cliche movie lines remind us) – then the term ‘Brave’ still applies no matter how “big” the fear is!
You have to consider the context of the word. Of course the armed forces are brave, that is true – but so is over-coming a personal-fear or a social-stigma – just not on the same level
But what a depressing use of a woman’s time and energy, if she’s doing this and thinking it’s proving something, feeling self-conscious and overcoming her personal feelings, and then checking to see if there are any differences in how people react, etc…
I see this as yet more propaganda to turn women into limited little people who obsess about themselves – just bung on some slap (if you like doing that) so you know you look as good as possible, then forget about the whole thing, and go do something USEFUL – instead of worrying about how brave you feel because you look a bit un-polished that day!
I love this so much! I recently started going without make-up except for special occasions, and while it was a tiny bit scary at first, it was nothing like the legitimately scary things I’ve done (like leaving an abusive relationship or telling my fam I was quitting our religion). A bit of perspective is in order with regards to this, and I appreciate that you are offering that here.
Apparently I’m an incredible hero because I’m nakedface 99.8% of the time. I might wear lipcolor a couple hours a day a few times a month for when I need to seem presentable-ish for work, but that’s generally as far as it goes. I think the last time I did an entire face of makeup [eyeliner/shadow, mascara, lipcolor, foundation, blush] was when my best friend got married. About a year and a half ago.
In actuality, I’m the kind of person who never eats breakfast because I’d rather sleep in the extra five minutes. I am also incredibly lazy and have not yet learned how to apply makeup properly enough to make it an easy process, and so I just do not put in the effort. Guys frequently confuse this for being low maintenance, and since this misconception works to my advantage I will take it.
I wonder if it’s even braver to go out with stained and chipped teeth because they’re the “real you” and not products of chemical or dental intervention?
I hardly ever wear make-up during my normal, daily life. Sometimes I dip into the mascara, but that’s pretty much it. It’s not brave, it’s not because men prefer me without make-up, it’s because I don’t like to wear it, so I’m not going to do it. Period.
On the other hand, I’m a performer, and when I’m on stage, I sure as hell wear make-up. I wish the guys I’m in the band with would, too, because here’s the thing: a natural face doesn’t look as good on stage, on film, what have you – something about the lights, the angles, I don’t know, but features get flattened and washed out. So there’s that.
What annoys me is the articles/whatever being all “OMG LOOK SHE HAS GONE ALL NATURAL!” or “HOW TO LOOK LIKE A NATURAL BEAUTY!”
Uh hello? You’re still wearing make-up!
Natural = NOTHING ON YOUR GODDAMN FACE
But, I sorta actually think it is brave when women today choose to go without make-up. I mean, think of society today and how women are expected to always look good and perfect. I have no problems with dropping my make-up, I actually prefer myself without. But I realize a lot of women are very unsure of their own looks and how their natural look will maybe get them strange stares or comments.
‘Bravery’ and ‘heroism’ get thrown around a little too lightly in general, I don’t think that has anything to do with makeup. It’s just one of the areas we overstate things.
That said, I have heard “wearing no makeup ISN’T BRAVE” thing before, always by someone who loves makeup and doesn’t want to be seen as taking the weaker/less badass choice.
Speak for yourself. I haven’t shaved my armpit hair in six months, and I am a big goddamn hero. I can almost braid it. (My legs earned me the Congressional Medal of Honor.)
Do shipwreck survivors climb to safety on it? I am in awe of how you suffer for the people.
Hey, what’s up with traci? Where was she during the Courtney phase? :) The hippie women I had relations with when I was younger wore no make-up at all, and yeah as they get older they use some. I guess I’m kinda programmed to that and have no problem with it. But I don’t think they think they’re brave. My girlfriend wears some, and she looks great – with it or without it.
A gentlemen in my life used to INSIST he preferred me not wearing makeup, even though I look like a boiled egg without it (no brows or eyelashes to speak of, huge expanse of forehead)… I eventually made sure every time we met I was wearing the barest minimum, yet nary a compliment was offered… one day I snapped, went back to my normal full-on eyeliner, eyeshadow, brow pencil, etc – and he spent the whole meal telling me how lovely, how vibrant and how healthy I looked!
Never again will I listen to that line, and every female friend I’ve told this to has a similar experience, of the whine about men not liking makeup being followed up in some tangible way by clear evidence that they do.
The moral of my story? Men don’t know what they like, when it comes to makeup at least, so safely ignore them and do whatever the hell makes YOU comfortable, which is also more authentic on a personal level.
You needed that to happen to you before you knew enough to do things for yourself and not a man?
Please tell me you’re joking.
@NotThumper- I don’t think that was what she said or meant at all. It was just emphasizing the fact that her experience underlined the fact that men don’t really know what they want in the cosmetics area. That’s all.
As a man I can tell you, that the time and thought we usually invest in things like makeup, which many of us do not use on a daily basis, is rather limited. So, when we notice that someone is wearing makeup, it just means that it is getting obtrusive. If you are doing it right, however, the makeup vanishes, and pretty is what’s left. So I wouldn’t trust a man talking about makeup, like I wouldn’t trust a woman talking about prostate examination (from a passive point of view…)
By the way, the article is on point as always. Talking about not doing something is just like doing that something in a more verbose way. But I’m not going to scoff.
Spot on, LCT – also if I mentioned to a guy I really didn’t like something, and he kept right on doing it, THAT would surely ring alarm bells, so what’s the diff? The issue here is that I thought he knew what he was talking about and was prepared to be moderately respectful of that preference – until of course it became obvious to me that he hadn’t a clue.
If there’s a lesson to take from this, it’s that his passing comments very obviously had nothing to do with him judging my usual (quite heavy, smokey-eyes) makeup negatively, for all I know he was complimenting me by indicating he hates it when women wear too much makeup, therefore isn’t it great how little I wear… who knows?
Either way I agree with GentleMatt, it’s just not an area most men have the information to make informed judgements, so ignore them and just go on wearing (or not) whatever you would anyway.
Reply to Miss C.
Yup! Guys don’t like the “idea” of make-up but sure do like the results!
great timing–i was at whole foods the other day and the check-out guy said something along the lines of, “that’s so amazing–you’re not wearing any makeup! most women wouldn’t be caught dead walking around without makeup. that’s great you choose to be so natural.” i was like, wtf? i didn’t “choose” anything–i am usually too damn lazy to bother and since i’m always running late anyway, i just can’t get into making sure i have eyeliner/concealer/blush/whatever before i leave the house. i’m lucky if at some point during the day, i manage to get some clinique black honey one my lips. none of this, however, has prevented me from buying craploads of cosmetics. :-)
“most women wouldn’t be caught dead walking around without makeup”
holy shit do people actually think that?
i have been a long time reader of this site. as well as xojane. and i can honestly say this will be the LAST article i read on here. i get where you are coming from. i do. but so much is judged on how a female looks. and makeup enhances that. and it takes ALOT for a woman who isn’t comfortable in her own skin because of popular media to put it out there like that. it seems like 60% of your articles are in some shape, sort , or form downing xojane and jane pratt. and if that is what it takes to keep your traffic up then so be it. i just know that i WON’T be a part of it anymore.
If you think 60% of the articles on this site are about xoJane, it sounds like you don’t come here often…
XOJane is claiming they invented the concept of not wearing makeup now? Who knew.
You know, I expected this to be funny and as well written as anything else, as I do enjoy reading your articles. But actually I was impressed. It was funny, and well written. But it went much more into depth than I expected and I appreciated the thought and effort that went with an article that most certainly could have been all fluff. I would have liked it as fluff, but I loved the thought you put into it.
After reading a blog post this morning, in which the writer talks about how shes not going to shave, do her hair, or wear makeup for 60 days, this article makes me pump my fist and say, YAY!
Here’s the blog post: http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2012/01/the-naked-face-project.html They even name it “the Naked Face Project”
Agreed.
Also, I find these kinds of galleries/mag covers disingenuous and unhelpful, because I guaran-damn-tee you that Starlet X has PLENTY of makeup on; she’ll at least have light foundation, a little contouring bronzer, concealer, luminizer, and probably some eyeshadow/liner on. Not to mention the Photoshopped airbrushing that image goes through before printing.
It’s all nonsense.
I don’t know, I think that there are some people who truly rely on makeup and I think for some people, going in public without makeup is being brave, because it’s like confronting their fears that people won’t like them or think they’re pretty or whatever without makeup.
Having said that, I don’t feel brave when I don’t wear makeup, I feel less pretty, and I like to feel pretty, so I generally choose to wear makeup.
Jen, I think it was very brave of you to post this photograph of you without your makeup.
I tried to make my hair EXTRA pretty, to distract!
LOVE THIS ARTICLE! I completely agree with everything you just said. This “no-makeup bravery” gets on my nerves also because by saying that it’s brave to go au-naturelle implies that I’m being a coward when I choose to wear makeup. I wear makeup because I enjoy putting it on and its the way I express myself, I don’t wear it only because I’m scared to excuse my real face to the world. And like you said, half the time men don’t truly realize I’m wearing much of anything.