Not in my makeup
There was an odd moment during my (already odd) cameo on Vernon Kay’s show last week. They went over to an entertainingly distracted, seemingly drunk George Lamb for an update on Big Brother. Throughout his bit, there was a girl with her back to the camera, wearing headphones, obviously part of the show, working. For a lark, Vernon got George Lamb to tap her on the shoulder and make her turn round. She turned round, slightly self-consciously, and waved. She had small sweat patches. Vernon said ‘she’s a bit sweaty!’ Brian Dowling, my co-guest, said spitefully: ‘She’s not wearing makeup!’ And that was that; she’d had her five minutes of fame. I felt really uncomfortable.
There are a lot of reasons to disapprove of the above events, not least the idea of taking the piss out of someone who is just doing their job and doesn’t expect to be judged on their appearance, when you yourself are no more than a professional chancer who could just as easily be on the crew (I’m talking about Dowling here, not Kay). But I think what troubles me is the notion that if someone’s a woman, it’s fine to expect them to be made up, and to bitch about them if they’re not.
Makeup has its uses all right, and it’s made people look stunning before now, but overall I would say it is one of the vilest things ever devised, and not just because I hate having it on my face on TV. The very fact that it exists means that some women feel they have to wear it every day. If all the women who spend half-an-hour ‘making up’ every morning did something else with that half-hour, the results would be startling. I’m not blaming the women themselves. I just think it’s a pity.
And it’s a pity too that if you’re a woman but choose not to pretty yourself up, you are categorised as a ‘quirky’ or ‘alternative’ woman, in the same way that a woman with big tits can’t just be beautiful, she has to be ‘the attractive larger woman’ in a feature in Heat magazine, who ‘love X’s new curvy look’ but two months later will be accusing X of being in ‘BINGE HELL’.
I realise this subject is rather more complicated than this, plenty of women find makeup and cosmetics generally empowering not constricting, and so on. But I still find it a pity that after everything that’s happened, women are still subject to the sort of easy instant judgement that the fashion world imposes, and some women even actively conspire in it. That’s all.
I think I’m a feminist.
Bye.
Posted by Martha on November 26, 2010
Just discovered your blog today. I guess it should have been obvious that you would have had an interesting blog existing in the world but things like this don’t often occur to me to go looking for so here I am accidentally thanks to a link a friend of a friend posted which made me click a link which made me click another link and ended me up here. And I’m so very glad I did because this post made me carry on reading, which then made me find “Just lurking” from October. So after initially shying away from leaving a comment you convinced me to leave this rather long rambling one to say I’m glad you wrote this post
Posted by Calum on August 8, 2010
Sorry ladies, I can honestly say I’ve never seen a female face that make-up improves.
Posted by That was me on July 20, 2010
Hi Mark. So that was actually me you’re talking about. Thanks for blogging and feeling uncomfortable for me.
I was definitely embarrassed when I first watched the show on 4OD. My reaction quickly went from “Ugh, I look a bit sweaty” to “Holy crap, did Vernon Kaye just POINT OUT that I’m sweaty?” and then back to “Ugggh”.
But aside from my initial embarrassment, I’ve basically laughed it off. Yeah, I get pretty sweaty when there’s no air conditioning. Oh well. I do wear makeup, just not in industrial-strength quantities, so I guess sometimes it comes off. Oops.
I do think it was a bit ridiculous and unfair, and I don’t really know why Vernon or Brian felt the need to mention it at all. But at the end of the day, it’s an unflattering 5 second cameo that nobody except me is going to remember. And to be honest, it’s an anecdote that’s going to get a LOT of millage, so I can hardly complain. None of my friends have been called sweaty by Vernon Kaye, so in a way I consider it a badge of honour. Thanks so much for blogging about it though, I do really appreciate it.
Posted by Val on July 19, 2010
My mother wore lipstick every day of her adult life (and probably as a teen too, though I can’t quite make it out in her photos) and continued to apply it til just about a week or two before she died. She didn’t feel right without it on.
Me, I’ve not worn make up for about… I dunno – 15 years? Maybe more, and y’know, I really don’t give a shit. I think I look okay without it. But I did enjoy wearing it when I wore it. Mostly these days I just can’t be bothered. And I now live in the country and I’ve not noticed any of the “easy instant judgement that the fashion world imposes” because out here the fashion is to be natural. That’s not to say that women don’t wear make up, just that it isn’t the be all and end all. I think it’s a predominantly urban thing – which I’m well away from now!
Posted by Sadie on July 17, 2010
I watched the show and I agree with Heather Jones’ post. I think the make up comment has been misinterpreted from what Brian Dowling actually intended.
Posted by Paul on July 15, 2010
My girlfriend hates make-up. I haven’t fully established the reason for this, other than that it might not agree with her skin. Or she doesn’t like the feel of it. Either way, there’s a photo of her as a bridesmaid (from before we got together) where she was requested to be ‘made-up’ for the occasion, and it’s about the most uncomfortable I’ve ever seen her.
That’s all I really feel qualified to say, having never worn any make-up myself and not having seen the TV show in question. In a spirit of light-heartedness, I will just add that I feel blessed she doesn’t like make-up, or I suspect she would be even later getting ready for things than is already the case!
Posted by tothesky on July 15, 2010
People just like to look nice. For me people, or women, wearing make up is the same as people combing their hair or having showers. Not in the sense that it’s just common/social decency, but it’ll make them feel better about themselves. And people should do whatever it takes to makes themselves feel good. Of course it’s sad that they work on the outside rather than the inside, and that if some women don’t wear it they’re seen as ‘eurgh.’
I think there’s such a difference between make applied for the sake of it and make up applied to enhance features or for necessity, being on tele’ for example. Most young girls don’t know how to wear it so have the dreaded oranage ‘you’ve just been tangoed!’ look. It’s these people that are most often ridiculed and I sometimes feel that they may be the most fragile of all.
I would love to be able to not have to wear make up, ever. It would save me a lot of money for one. But I don’t feel that I could. I can and do leave the house without make up, but if I’m going to work or ‘out out’ I will definetly wear it, no question. (Obviously work make up is a lot different to going out make up though.) I have really bad dark circles and I don’t like looking tired. At work I’m surrounded by people so want to look better. If I can put effort into brushing my hair, surely I can spend an extra 10 minutes putting on concealer and foundation, and maybe some mascara?
I’d also like to say that make up isn’t really a modern invention, so it’s a little unfair to blame the fashion industry, well sort of, even though they do reinforce it. I’d hate to think that I’m actually being judged for wearing any type of make up though.
Oh, if I didn’t have to spend an extra 15/30/x amount of minutes ‘making up’ I’d probably be spending that time in bed instead.
Posted by Madeleine on July 15, 2010
Half an hour every morning? Sadly, that’s a conservative estimate for some of the girls at my school, who not only arrive with 6 coats on but then spend most lunch breaks re-applying and touching it up.
Interestingly (and conversely from what others were saying), it’s these girls that attract the most snide comments, not the ones who wear little or none. Mutters of “God, that looks revolting” “yeah, cake some more on there, we can still see your face” or “get out of the fucking mirror you skank” can be charmingly overheard by the others trying fight for mirror space.
As someone who only wears eye makeup (foundation makes be break out horribly) I feel more sorry for these girls than angry.
Exspecially when they’re made by the teachers to wipe some off and then you see them looking at themselves in disgust and saying “I’m disgusting” “look at my pimples without concealer” “My face is gross”.
Yeah, it’s probably mens fault for deciding that this porceline skin thing was what they were going for, but other girls certainly don’t help.
Society! Never get’s anything right!
Posted by (Magnificent) Josh on July 14, 2010
I’d first like to talk about the other half of this story, the techy-abuse.
Tech-people are so vital to everything and this sort of behaviour really shows how little the “important types” think of them. Well I’m sure not all of them do, but you know…
I’m sure Mark is all up ins the techy-love.
Make-up, I don’t have a lot to say on, except that guys should wear it.
Posted by Rosanna on July 14, 2010
HEAR HEAR
longer comment on my views tomorrow – for now: bed!
Posted by LisaD on July 14, 2010
As someone who has worked a fair amount of techie jobs I find that behavior particularly vile. It’s tough enough being part of a field that is still mostly male without the “talent” deciding to snipe at her. I don’t know any backstage or off camera workers that would be all dolled up during production just in case some ass decided to point her out to the audience. Besides, if it was hot enough for her to be sweating through her shirt how much nastier would she have looked with makeup running down her face?
Makeup in general is such a a bizarrely fraught topic among women. Start talking about how I almost never wear the stuff and someone women react as though I’m some sort of feminist terrorist who is going to break into their houses at night and set fire to their vanity chest. I think there is a slightly unwell quality to a lot of women when they’re made up. I mean who exactly was it who decided blue eyelids are pretty?
I like to look my best in any situation, but when I’m working backstage I consider looking my best to be: sweaty, with sawdust in my hair, tools clipped to my belt and wearing a t-shirt that shows off my muscles.
Posted by Heather on July 14, 2010
Fair comment. And you would make a pretty good feminist.
I think it depends, though. Some women feel that they HAVE to wear make up, and others wear it cos they want to. In my case, I wear make up in the same way that I choose my outfit every morning. As an expression of myself. But at the same time, I would quite happily go without, if I don’t have the time or inclination to put it on.
Also, as a side note, I very much have a preference for a more natural look that an Orangina look. I don’t know who told some women that the Oompa Loompas were style icons, but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the intention when styling them for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Posted by MusicalLottie on July 14, 2010
Seeing as you insist on blogging, despite being on holiday, I may as well comment …
I now wear the barest layer of mineral foundation, rarely some eyeshadow and possibly a little eyeliner. A few years ago I got into the habit of wearing eyeshadow to school but I gave up because I couldn’t be bothered any more!
I think I’ve been exposed to too many orange-faced schoolgirls to feel pressured into wearing make-up, though for interviews I like to wear a little, just to make the effort. Not that the interviewers know it’s anything special, but whatever. Likewise for special events, it’s just nice to make the effort – for myself if nothing else.
That said, I do feel that for office jobs, and especially as a woman makes it further up the corporate ladder, there is far more pressure to wear make-up. (I’m fortunate that working in an outdoor centre, make-up is of no importance, so there’s no pressure whatsoever. Today I got *thoroughly* drenched and would have felt a right wally had I been wearing mascara that had run, for instance!) Society in general though does place far too much emphasis on looks, unfortunately. In all honesty I think I’ve been incredibly fortunate to get through life unscathed so far!
Posted by Heather Jones on July 14, 2010
Err… I saw the bit you’re discussing, Mark, and I had a totally different interpretation of what Brian said.
What I thought I heard was as follows: the comment about her being a bit sweaty (bitchy by Kay? OR, perhaps, sympathetic – aw poor thing, working away in that hot hell-hole?) and then, when Brian said about her not having makeup on, I took it to mean – ‘give her a break, of course she looks sweaty, she wasn’t expecting to appear on telly, and so hasn’t had TV MAKEUP applied to her’!!!!! NOT that she wasn’t wearing normal ‘girlie’ cosmetics.
So, Mark, you were there and I wasn’t – I accept I may well be wrong, but the above is what I took from Brian’s intonation (and Irish accent, if that’s at all relevant to the interpretation of what he said?)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no big fan of Brian whatshisface, but that’s what I genuinely thought, and since this was a blog about judging people…….
On the question of women’s appearance being judged, I’m in my 40s and hardly ever wear make-up, except occasionally a little eye-liner and lippy to give me a ‘lift’ when going out or whatever (and to fool my mum if I’m feeling tired and don’t want her to worry about me). I don’t think I’ve ever felt judged for not wearing make-up. I do, however, remember horribly embarassing a male acquaintance (now a good friend) when I was at a party – he had only ever seen me during the daytime before. At the party, he complimented me on how incredibly well I was looking, and was finding it hard to put his finger on quite why/how I looked so different/ SO well – he went on a bit about it, to be honest. And in the end I just had to say ‘It’s because I’m wearing make-up, Paul!’ He shut up after that. Still amuses me.
Oh, and one last thing: Guyliner. I like the way Tim Minchin looks normally, but there’s definitely an extra something when he dons his stage persona and the guyliner. Very nice.
Posted by hornseygirl on July 14, 2010
I last wore foundation on my wedding day in 2006 and I’ve realised I own only four items of make-up; needless to say I favour the ‘natural’ look, but each to their own. A previous boss of mine once suggested (in a performance review) that I should wear more make-up at work; I told him where to go…
Posted by Someone on July 14, 2010
Well, as a bit of an ugly girl, shall we say, I’d like to be able to wear just enough make-up to make me look normal (as opposed to sub-) which would then make me more confident and I think I’d get more done and be happier in myself. I don’t know how to though, and when I attempt it I’m pretty sure I end up looking worse (though I don’t really know because I’m a bit of a blur to me anyway, which is helpful, and partly explanatory). But I do attempt it if I think I’m going to have to be scrutinised by people and won’t be able to hide behind strategically placed pillars. Or… grazing sheep (which are doubly handy as they move WITH you, unlike pesky unruly pillars, damn them). So I have no point. I think it’s okay, but obviously shouldn’t be mandatory. Why don’t people just let people be. What is it with constantly judging people just on looks. Nobody’s perfect. Bastards. :]
Posted by Misha on July 14, 2010
Oh Feminism, that was my A2 lit coursework. And exam. I got very Germaine Greer-esque in the final essay, quite by accident I promise. You’d make a good feminist though.
It does seem a shame that if you don’t want to wear makeup you’re either considered to be a dyke or a weirdo. (or from those really creative kids I went through school with, both!) But then I suppose it’s just considered the societal norm. Having said that it comes from both sides, lots of women who think they aren’t attractive in the “conventional” way, perhaps because they’re curvier delight in calling themselves ‘big and beautiful’ or similar.
It’s just society. I’ll shut up now, before I land up recreating my essay on the handmaids tale. That ended up a good 1500 words long…
Posted by ChrisP on July 14, 2010
As a bloke, there isn’t really much I can say here, really. I can only admit that I do have a record of having a thing for girls that wear too much make up (in the Kesha kind of style, but not as OTT) and also moaning about how I think make-up is false and covering up imperfections on the outside is one step towards covering up imperfections on the inside/all girls look the same now, and all that jargon. This is just the kind of stupid thing that I say so really don’t take it too seriously- I know how badly I contradict myself, and all the implications of it.
Me and my friends also have a bit of an in-joke going on where if you see somebody with too much foundation on and they look stupid (yes, you know the kind of person I mean) you say “The futures bright… The futures orange!”. Again, me being childish and should act my age. But is there a point where it all gets a bit silly with make up in this way? Can I take girls who paint themselves orange seriously? Or should I respect their decision to use polly filler as make up.
BUT EVERYBODY HAS FORGOTTEN SOMETHING. Make-up is also targeted at men now. I know people who use it. Why is it is almost socially expected for women to be made up but is something that most men never do? I can only interpret this new marketing as trying to profit from male insecurities. I’d rather look a bit crappy every now and then (like today), but on the whole eating/drinking good does the complexion the world of good, but that’s not marketable.
I’m trying to think of a male equivalent in this context. feminist and whatever the opposite is attitudes could support either way in this debate, and I don’t really belong anywhere; I don’t wear make up, likewise society doesn’t demand that I do. Obviously as a largely female based situation I will never fully understand it all so can only write from effectively an outsiders perspective. I think I’ll just read what other people are saying instead.
Posted by Sarah on July 14, 2010
What a great post!! Regardless of whether women should or shouldn’t wear make up (i wear a tad, but it’s besides the point) it’s really nice of you to write about that, when most people wouldn’t have given it a second thought. Also, very insightful look at the wider phenomon of female face painting and cultural expectations
I’ve been lurking for ages, but this is actually the first post to make me creep out and say hi, *waves*, i don’t think i’ve commented before, anyway… i can’t actually remember
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on July 14, 2010
Personally, I like wearing make-up. I wear natural-ish make-up occasionally during the day if I happen to wake up a bit earlier, but I’d never deliberately set my alarm early to put it. I like putting it on, and I think it looks nice, but I wouldn’t hesitate to leave the house without it. As Anji said – ‘I’m not a model, people don’t have to look at me’.
If I’m going to an evening do, I’ll always try and wear make-up, partly to look nicer, and partly because having a few drinks with friends while getting ready is part of the fun of a night out. But again, if I’m in a hurry I wouldn’t hesitate about going out with little or no make-up on.
To me, putting on make-up is the equivalent of spending an extra 15 minutes doing your hair in a different style. Nice, but not essential. I’ve never felt pressured to wear make-up, but I do agree its a shame if some women do feel that way.
Posted by A lot of Rach[a]els on July 14, 2010
I echo everyone else’s views on brian Dowling, pretty low hit.
I have mixed feelings about make-up, I would quite like to be able to wear it but don’t know the first thing about putting it on. I’ve tried to wear it once and came to the conclusion that I just looked like a drag queen. I have “manly” features anyway so make-up didn’t help it. I’ve gone 19 years wearing no make-up so I’m just not used to my face with a little bit on. I also have that issue with glasses, I’ve worn them since I was 10 and would love to go to contacts more than anything but man I look weird without them.
It’s a shame as I think a light bit of eyeliner can be attractive (not the OTT thick permanent marker look which some girls wear).
The most I put on is a light bit of foundation just to cover spots. But I think I may need to invest in some good concealer as I have the “panda” looks due to terrible bags under my eyes, but again, don’t know the first thing about make-up so tend to wander about Boots and look confused before walking out.
Posted by Marbles on July 14, 2010
That is really mean of them! Totally uncalled for and re-inforcing their status as “a bit of a dick”.
Personally I wear make-up most days out of habit I think, natural looking though rather than ommpa-loompah orange style. I like it as it makes me feel “dressed” (which again I suppose is through habit rather than anything else) but I don’t feel obliged to. Luckily I’m a student so can currently get away with rocking up to the lab looking like whatever I feel like, it’s fab
Posted by louisel on July 14, 2010
I wear makeup whenever I leave the house, even if it’s just to Tesco or something. I don’t wear loads and I keep it looking natural-ish, so it’s probably more of a ‘security blanket’ type thing. I like wearing makeup when I’m going somewhere nice, but it is tempting to stay in bed for an extra half an hour and go out without makeup.
At my school, despite what the teachers say, it’s kind of expected of girls to wear makeup. Girls who don’t wear it get really bitchy comments from other girls, and I think it’s a bit sad to see 11 year olds with half a bottle of bright orange gunk on their faces.
I might try going out without it on tomorrow, even though I haven’t done since I was about 14. Hmmm, I’d never really thought about makeup this much before, so sorry if this doesn’t make much sense
Posted by Anji on July 14, 2010
I started to read this and there was a flash of light and massive thunder clap and the heavens opened. I’m not sure the two are related but still!!
Today is a no make up day for me. Some days I do some days I don’t. Some days I do just because I can, some days I look at myself a think I should and it usually helps me feel a bit better. Some days I feel great with out it and some days I just can’t be arsed.
I don’t give a monkeys ( on the whole) what others think – I am not a model you don’t have to look at me! I’m also not a size zero, nor do I have a designer wardrobe.
The people who matter to me have seen me at my worst, and they still care about me, I doubt making sure a face full of slap was in place first would have made any difference.
It’s nice to know it isn’t the be all and end all for everyone. And yes well all like to feel nice and look good but that equates to far more than make up and your best bra ( or pants or socks for you non female people)!
Posted by Carl on July 14, 2010
I’m with you, Mark. Saddens me to hear my girlfriend say: “You’re the only one that finds me attractive with no make up, Carl. What will everyone else think?”
Who cares? I love her.
Pride myself on being a feminist too mate. Well, maybe the best term to use is (as coined by me), equalist.
Hope Portugal is going well.
Posted by Corey on July 14, 2010
I saw that incident. How Kay and Dowling think they can act like that is amazing. Kay ought be concentrating on being abit more original rather than relying on his hometown accent whilst also remembering NOT to send dubious texts to women that aren’t his wife. Whilst Dowling ought be remember that the height of a TV presenters career IS NOT presenting those ITV ‘through the night’ quiz shows.
SO WHAT if a woman in a hot studio doing her ‘non TV show appearing’ job is a bit sweaty?, and who the feck cares if a woman feels as though she doesn’t need makeup….she needs congratulating not ridiculing!
Must have been very awkward
Posted by Joanne on July 14, 2010
I’m speaking for myself here but I suspect I speak for a lot of women – I enjoy wearing makeup. It’s fun and expressive. I don’t wear it because I feel like I am obliged to. I wear it because I *want* to.
Posted by Lydia on July 14, 2010
I can’t believe that they did that. That woman must feel like shit now. I can’t stand people that think they can get away with that.
I have been trying for about five minutes to give my opinion on this, and so far can’t type anything that expresses what I actually mean.
There’s a comment about school further up, and I suppose that pretty much says anything I would have to say. I guess it’s probably the same everywhere to some extent, but at college if you go in looking like crap most people really let you know it.
I think how society views beauty won’t ever be right.
Posted by Aislinn on July 14, 2010
Because I cycle to work, I’ve stopped wearing make-up recently. I work at a primary school and, surprisingly, it’s the teachers rather than the boys that have a problem with it.
Some of the younger boys notice when I do wear it, and happily tell me they don’t like it, whereas the teachers, when I don’t wear make-up, will quite openly comment on how much younger/ more tired/more like a boy I look. Sometimes I even get told I look ill.
Although I wear it when going out, I continue to not wear make-up to work as it’s a hassle to put on and take off at the end of every day. It’d be nice if people could be a bit more consistent, though, and either stop with the whole ‘Oh, no, you do look nice without make-up though!’ or stop telling me I look so unwell when I don’t wear it.
Posted by amycool on July 14, 2010
I don’t really understand make-up, which I think stems from the fact that I don’t really understand attraction.
This is how it works in my head:
My boyfriend loves me and thinks I’m beautiful even when I’m ill
Therefore, I don’t need to wear make-up to be attractive to him
I don’t want to be attractive to anyone else
Therefore, there’s no need to wear make-up
TV tells me that I should want to look attractive “for myself” but I very rarely get that feeling. Maybe once or twice a year I’ll try some make-up or curl my hair to see what it looks like but the thought of doing that everyday isn’t a pleasant one. Make-up and fancy clothes don’t make me feel “empowered”, I just feel like people will look at me more, which I don’t enjoy.
Not that I have anything against other people wearing make-up, just as long as those people don’t look down on me for not.
And as for commenting on her sweat! Studios are boiling hot aren’t they? Some people are mean.
Posted by Beth on July 14, 2010
I feel the need to say that Brian Dowling is a twat. End of.
I’m one of the people that won’t go out of the house without wearing making (except for the odd morning run, which is always early in the morning so I know no one’s going to be around) wearing it makes me feel more confident I suppose. I’d love to be able to feel like I don’t need to wear it, but sadly, that is not the case.
My school recently tried to implement a ban on all make up for the students in years 7 to 11 as they were all wearing too much apparently. Obviously, the girls went mad and refused to stop. I can see their point, as they’ve grown accustomed to wearing it everyday to cover spots etc and obviously the boys in years 9/10/11 had a field day taking the piss out of the girls that do have spots or scars or whatever. This resulted in several girls refusing to come into school until the ban was lifted, which I thought was really sad and shows how much of a comfort it can be to be able to wear make up.
It is bad that it’s come to this, but that’s just how it has become.
Posted by Rachael on July 14, 2010
It made uncomfortable when they said that too, I was really shocked for some reason. I realise they probably do that all the time in private but I thought people were meant to be all fake nice so people like them when they’re on tv?
I wish everyone saw these things your way Mr Watson, I really do.
Posted by Steph on July 14, 2010
Can’t believe they did that. If Brian Dowling said “She’s not wearing makeup!” I’m sure he had enough on for the both of them.
I wear makeup for the special occasions but even then I don’t like to make it look as if I have it on. I despair at some of my peers for their technique. Which means I shall be looking forward to my prom at the end of August!
Posted by DeborahF on July 14, 2010
Ok now for a comment on the content of the blog. It’s interesting to here a male perspective on this subject. Personally I don’t mind wearing or not wearing make up – I decide on a whim depending on how late I am for work and how I feel in the morning. Also as an intelligent woman I can use the male reaction to both make up and my ample bosom to my advantage so I don’t feel oppressed by it, more empowered. I mean I don’t particularly wear low cut tops or anything but men’s eyes seem to be almost magnetised to that area – I find it amusing if a little sad
Posted by DeborahF on July 14, 2010
Wow an early blog this caught me by surprise was just catching up on the past two days posts (I’ve been at a work-related conference / piss up in Sheffield)