I (almost) never wear makeup to work. A whole lot of it is that I simply can’t be arsed, but it’s also a specifically political decision: men don’t have to, so why should I. I recognize that, as a knowledge worker who’s valued for my brainz, I’m honestly privileged not to have to focus on my looks, which even in 2015 is often an expectation for women in management, client-facing positions, and in the service industry. For many working women, presenting a “polished” appearance is a condition of employment, and just being clean and clean-shaven doesn’t cut it; you have to present with just the appropriate level of femininity, no more and no less, and among other things that means makeup. But not fun, self-expressive makeup. Makeup that pretends it’s not there, makeup that tries to naturalize your role as decorative object without calling attention to all the work you put into it – because working on looking good means you’re vain, right?
So much fucking bullshit.
So the other day a colleague commented on my lack of makeup. I told her I have a whole drawer of the stuff and know how to use it, but I don’t like to. She dared me to come to work all made up one day – and not goth. So I did, just to prove I could.
Here’s the total of my normal beauty face regimen (plus moisturizer and/or sunscreen if it seems warranted. Usually it doesn’t. )
My normal workday morning routine is pressing the snooze button until Arb threatens to physically throw me out of bed, then leisurely drinking coffee, checking social media, eating breakfast, and packing my lunch. Then I brush my hair and bun it, throw on some clothes, and rush out the door.
In order to make it look like I wasn’t wearing makeup, I had to skip several snoozes; there was no coffee drinking, social media checking, breakfast eating, or lunch packing; and I still barely made it to work on time.
Here’s what I had to use to make it look like I wasn’t wearing makeup:
And the only person who noticed, was that particular colleague, and I’m not sure she would have noticed if I hadn’t said something.
So much bullshit. Expensive, time-consuming bullshit.
21 comments
November 19, 2015 at 5:46 am
Miep
Reblogged this on Radfem Repost.
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November 19, 2015 at 5:46 am
Miep
Couldn’t agree more. Good work!
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November 19, 2015 at 6:48 am
Steve Ruis
We continue to say one thing and still do what we already have. The shocking thing is that women are the biggest critics of other women’s behavior. I don’t know whether that is “trained in” or from inertia or competition, but some solidarity would be nice.
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November 19, 2015 at 7:07 am
makagutu
That, to me, is a massive waste of time that could be used for something better.
I have seen some women all made up you think they had a head on collision with a truck transporting make up.
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November 19, 2015 at 7:23 am
Cindy
I can’t be arsed to wear makeup either.
I am super low maintenance, but when I want to brighten up a little I just put on a dab of clear mascara and moisturizer.
You should be able to get away with a tinted dewy moisturizer and mascara only. Will take less than two minutes and brighten you look.
I want to learn how to do the cat eye and fill in my brows but I’m just soooooo lazy about it. Oh, and the overdone look a LA Kim Kardashian is everywhere now, so I find that the little to no makeup natural beauty look actually stands out *more*
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November 19, 2015 at 9:02 am
The Intransigent One
@Cindy – the thing is, there shouldn’t be a “get away with”. Nobody expects a man to brighten his look. Or not have shadows under his eyes or pores or wrinkles. Or have thick eyelashes or big eyes or pouty pink lips. None of this affects my ability to code, so why should I even feel like I need to bother? The fact of the matter is, it’s more than just a personal choice for a woman; there are probably opportunity costs I don’t know I’ve paid, for failing to present as polished and feminine. Why should it be anybody’s business?
@Cindy and @makagutu – let’s not judge women who do wear a lot of makeup. They have their reasons, whether it’s self-expression or feeling like they’ll experience negative consequences if they don’t. We can live our lives as examples of not performing any more femininity than we want, and we can talk about why we do it and hope other women listen, but let’s not shit on our sisters.
@Steve Ruis – yeah, solidarity would be nice
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November 19, 2015 at 9:12 am
Cindy
You misunderstand.
I am not “shitting on our sisters”
I love the big hair look and cat eye of the 1960s. But, that look is so popular now that it is no longer unique. So, as I explained, not wearing much makeup is a way to stand out now. That isn’t “shitting” on anyone. Back in the 1990s, almost no one did the cat eye and 1960s Monroe type curls, and the look was very unique then. I used to curl my hair that way and it looked great but was very high maintenance.
I am speaking in favour of diversity, not “shitting” on anyone.
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November 19, 2015 at 9:22 am
Cindy
“”the thing is, there shouldn’t be a “get away with”. Nobody expects a man to brighten his look. Or not have shadows under his eyes or pores or wrinkles. Or have thick eyelashes or big eyes or pouty pink lips. None of this affects my ability to code, so why should I even feel like I need to bother? “””
And i agree with you. You shouldn’t have to change a thing.
I was simply *empathizing* with you, since your routine here sounds absolutely torturous, and explaining that if you feel that you *must* wear make up because people are awful, that my suggestions might make it a little easier.
You seem determined to find offense at every opportunity.
I am not playing that game.
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November 19, 2015 at 9:24 am
The Intransigent One
Sorry Cindy, I did misunderstand you.
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November 19, 2015 at 9:33 am
Cindy
TII, I apologize for not going into more detail initially.
I was typing on my phone, and I can’t be as verbose as I usually am:P
Also, don’t you find yourself peeved by all of the dress codes that are foisted on girls?
The Daily Show had a good episode on this last night. Apparently leggings, even if the butt is covered, are not professional, as girls must be ‘taught to dress for success’ but guys can go to school dressed in any old thing?
such a double standard!
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November 19, 2015 at 10:01 am
The Intransigent One
Hells yes, the double standards for dress for girls and boys, men and women, piss me off! The whole concept of “professional” is so fraught with race and class and gender and who knows what all other isms that it should probably be done away with… but I don’t want to see people coming to work in their pj’s either.
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November 19, 2015 at 10:40 am
stchauvinism
Reblogged this on Stop Trans Chauvinism.
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November 19, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Cindy
@tii
Modesty culture ends up sexualizing women *more* than just letting women be. It objectifies women by making their bodies forbidden fruit.
Oh, and what’s kind of funny is that, from what I understand, makeup in Victorian times, was considered un-ladylike. Apparently only “bad girls” wore makeup. Now, you are considered slovenly if you don’t! Ridiculous!
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November 19, 2015 at 10:18 pm
tnt666
to the last two posters… I don’t really give a shit WHAT the dress code is at school, as long as it is identical for the guys and the girls. There will be time for sexiness when they are both done with basic education.
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November 20, 2015 at 2:06 am
makagutu
The Intransigent One, I didn’t judge them. I made an observation. I wrote they look like they had an accident with a makeup truck. I don’t think this is a judgement one way or the other. But I agree they have their reasons otherwise they wouldn’t do it
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November 20, 2015 at 8:22 am
The Intransigent One
“a lot of makeup” is a neutral observation
“obvious makeup” is a neutral observation
“more makeup than I find attractive” is not quite neutral but it’s honest
“an accident with a makeup truck” is far from a neutral observation.
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November 20, 2015 at 8:34 am
makagutu
you are reading much more in my comment than I meant
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November 20, 2015 at 11:39 am
The Intransigent One
…so you weren’t being derogatory?
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November 20, 2015 at 1:04 pm
makagutu
I, unfortunately, can’t do anything about how you take those words I wrote
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November 21, 2015 at 10:14 am
roughseasinthemed
I loathe make-up. Can’t remember the last time I wore it, and I thought I looked worse. Awful. Truly painted and tainted. Read one of those style guides years ago that said some study showed women who wore make-up earned shed loads more than those who didn’t. Surprise huh?
I never wore much anyway, think mascara and eyeshadow, but still, why the hell should we? I did have a boyfriend who favoured it. A few zits and he was a Queen fan … He was in a minority.
Perhaps it’s a youthful phase we go through?
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November 22, 2015 at 10:22 am
Spinster Threat
I’ve been lazy about makeup for years, precisely for the reasons you describe. The most I can bring myself to do anymore, if I even bother, is eyeliner and mascara. I’m over 40 now so all that concealer and foundation tends to make me look even older, in spite of promises to the contrary.
And, if getting it on is hassle enough, there’s the whole process of taking it off. Washing your face three times and trying not to get it in your eyes.
When I go without makeup I don’t even need to wash my face with soap. Just splash water and massage, then dry with a towel. My skin seems to remain soft and clean from just this.
Makeup and beauty products are “such bullshit,” as you say. They do almost NOTHING to help your skin outside of looking slightly “brighter” for a few hours out in public, and probably just harm it in the long run.
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