15 Real Women Sound Off on Why They Choose to Not Wear Makeup (2024)

We're definitely in the Golden Era of makeup—every day, it seems there's a new makeup line, a new eyeliner, or a highlighter everyone on Instagram is screaming about. And that's great and cool, but there's also the people for whom makeup isn't a priority. They appreciate what it does for others, but they've got other things going on. That's a great thing — what's good for one person might not be the best for another, and that's the best part of being in the beauty industry. There are skin benefits to not wearing makeup, but there are also makeup products that are good for your skin, too. Your relationship to makeup should benefit and boost your life, not harm it—so if it's not your thing, that's totally fine. It's all about what makes you feel most beautiful and the most comfortable. Ahead, check out the benefits of not wearing makeup and the reasons why real women say they opt to go bare-faced.

The Benefits of Not Wearing Makeup

Meet the Expert

Dr. Hadley King is a New York-based dermatologist.

Going without makeup can really have benefits to your skin, particularly if you were regularly wearing heavy, comedogenic makeup that was clogging your pores and causing acne—time away from that sort of regimen will be great for your skin.

"Unlike many skincare product ingredients, which penetrate into your skin, makeup sits on top of your skin," Dr. King explains. While super-heavy coverage foundation can look good, that level of coverage can also affect your skin's sebum production as well as its natural hydration, because skin behaves differently depending on external factors, like humidity."Taking a break allows your skin to recalibrate.Often a barrier of makeup increases oil production, so not wearing makeup can decrease oiliness, clogged pores and pimples."

Another benefit can be on skin ailments makeup can exacerbate, like rosacea —You'll definitely see an improvement if there were any ingredients in the makeup that were irritating the skin.

A tip to have handy whether you're cutting out makeup or not is the importance of developing a skincare routine featuring products that will keep skin clear so you feel confident. This includes a great toner like Pixi Glow Tonic, which features 5% Glycolic Acid, as well as nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, ginseng and botanical extracts to exfoliate and brighten skin.

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Dr. King recommends the H2O My God Water Moisturizer from GoodJanes, which has dimethicone, squalane, safflower seed oil, argan kernel oil and glycerin to hydrate and moisturize, as well as Licorice, daisy and rose extracts to provide additional skin-soothing properties. It also contains anti-aging peptides, vitamin C and plant stem cell extracts with potent antioxidant properties, and it's vegan and cruelty-free. Everybody wins!

While going barefaced has its perks, keeping your skin's health at the forefront is a must. All skin types should never skimp on the sunscreen when heading out. Apply an SPF formula of 15 or higher after your moisturizer and reapply throughout the day as necessary

Here's What Real Women Had To Say

"I enjoy the feeling of having the same look when I wash up at the end of the day as I did when I woke up that morning." — Enki, 22

"I've come to love my natural look instead of hiding behind makeup." — Caroline, 24

"I feel better not fussing over a makeup routine—I just try to cleanse my skin well, moisturize, and hope for the best." — Chelsea, 25

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"I've read that putting a lot [of makeup] on clogs your pores and causes pimples, and that's the last thing I need more of." — Morgan, 25

"When I take the time to apply makeup, I don't feel like it shows up enough to be worth wearing it. Maybe I'm not applying it correctly, but I'm fine being without it." — Elaine, 57

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"I wear less makeup because of my freckles. If I covered them up, I wouldn't be or feel the same." — Jane, 30

"I've personally always hated the feeling of makeup on my skin." — Katy, 31

"I want to give my skin a break and let it breathe." — Rian, 29

"I don't like to wear makeup because I actually really like the condition of my skin and the way it looks without using foundation." — Marcia, 56

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"I never got a good makeup lesson or had anyone recommend products to me. I'm a creature of habit, so I've just stuck to my ways." — Andrea, 28

"After my skin cleared up from terrible acne, I haven't really worn [makeup] in ages." — Colette, 27

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"I have super-sensitive skin, and lots of products irritate me." — Danielle, 32

"I just don't have time in the morning to apply a full face of makeup, but I'm confident without it, so it works." — Carrie, 62

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"I don't really know how to apply makeup other than eyeliner and mascara." — Claudia, 26

"Not wearing makeup every day makes wearing and experimenting with makeup on a night out way more fun!"Rebecca, 28

Opening Image: Imaxtree

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

15 Real Women Sound Off on Why They Choose to Not Wear Makeup (2024)

FAQs

Why women don t wear makeup? ›

Often a barrier of makeup increases oil production, so not wearing makeup can decrease oiliness, clogged pores and pimples." Another benefit can be on skin ailments makeup can exacerbate, like rosacea —You'll definitely see an improvement if there were any ingredients in the makeup that were irritating the skin.

What is the quote for no makeup? ›

You don't need makeup to be stunning, your inner radiance is enough.” “Beauty is not in the brush strokes, but in the soul beneath.” “Love yourself enough to embrace your natural beauty.” “Don't be afraid to go makeup-free, your beauty is already magnificent.”

Are women attractive without makeup? ›

We found that, while makeup did make faces more attractive on average, it only accounted for around 2 percent of the entire variation in attractiveness judgments. In other words, when someone makes a judgement of your attractiveness, makeup will only contribute to around 2 percent of that judgement.

Why do women need to wear makeup? ›

Research shows there are two primary reasons why women wear makeup: Camouflage – Women who are anxious and insecure tend to use makeup to appear less noticeable. Seduction – Women who want to be noticeably more attractive tend to use makeup to be more confident, sociable, and assertive.

What happens when you don't wear makeup? ›

Your skin's surface will become balanced again.

“Additionally, without wearing makeup, the typical daily use of toner or over-washing the skin to remove the makeup, which can strip the skin of its natural oil balance, can be minimized further, allowing the skin to recalibrate.”

What percentage of women never wear makeup? ›

The number of women who say they never use makeup has risen since 2015 from 15% to 23%. There's not much of a shift in the other options, though, which tells us women are swapping some makeup for none. After Ulta reported major losses at its most recent earnings call, these results are not surprising.

Do we really need makeup? ›

Of course it's okay not to wear makeup. In fact, it might be a little bit better that you don't. It means you can be comfortable in your own skin, and thats truly amazing. You are beautiful, with and without makeup, so do whatever is good for you, and not others around you.

Why is no makeup good? ›

You're exposing your skin to less bacteria.

“By not wearing makeup, you are not unnecessarily exposing your delicate facial skin to bacteria which thrive in the application brushes and makeup palettes that you use day after day,” says Dr. Kihiczak.

What does a simple girl without makeup quote? ›

The real beauty of a girl lies in her simplicity, confidence, and authenticity.” “Makeup can be fun, but a simple girl knows that her true beauty comes from within.” “I don't need a face full of makeup to feel beautiful; my natural self is enough.” “Simplicity is elegance; I choose to embrace my natural beauty.”

Do men prefer no makeup on women? ›

While most men would prefer a woman's natural beauty to shine through, there is nothing wrong with putting a little extra effort into looking one's best. Makeup itself isn't the problem, so much as it is a woman's attitude towards using it. If makeup is a tool to enhance your natural beauty, it can be helpful and fun.

Do women feel insecure without makeup? ›

Many women do feel less confident when they don't wear makeup. Alexis Sclamberg (2012) reported on a survey conducted by the Renfrew Center, which found that 44 percent of women felt more unattractive and uncomfortable when they didn't wear makeup than when they did: 16 percent reported feeling unattractive; 14 percent ...

Is you look better without makeup a compliment? ›

Saying someone would look better without it is invasive, forward and even a bit of a backhanded compliment. If you've ever been on the receiving end of such a remark, it likely gave you pause. Perhaps you felt offended but didn't necessarily know what to say in response.

Does the Bible say anything about makeup? ›

But the Bible never says it is wrong or sinful to wear makeup or jewelry. While the wicked queen Jezebel wore jewelry, so did good women of faith such as Rebekah and Esther.

How does makeup affect women? ›

A recent experimental study compared women's self-perception without makeup and with professionally applied makeup and showed that made up women considered themselves more feminine, attractive, more satisfied with appearance, and as having higher self-esteem [24].

What makeup means to women? ›

For many women, makeup is a confidence booster. Many of you might not be used to leaving the house without putting on any makeup. In fact, there are many women who don't want anyone to even see them until they have put on some makeup.

Why do women wear makeup and men don t? ›

So, our brains subconsciously note that as a sign of femininity. The more color contrast between a woman's eyes and lips and her skin tone, the more feminine—and thus evolutionary attractive—she is seen to be. Lipstick and eye shadow are makeup staples because they enhance those features.

Why is makeup bad for self-esteem? ›

Many believe it can have negative impacts on our self-esteem to constantly wear makeup; it encourages the idea that being your natural self isn't good enough, furthermore making girls feel like they're ugly unless they wear it.

Does the average woman wear makeup? ›

According to a survey by CivicScience, in 2019, only 39% of women said they wear makeup daily, which is less than 52% from the same survey conducted in 2015. (Source) The percentage of people wearing makeup is trending downward. However, the beauty industry is booming.

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