Girls Share How Differently They’re Treated With And Without Makeup

"Honestly? Pretty much the same. I don’t wear makeup very often. As much as I love to do it, it is very time-consuming, and I usually appreciate getting every possible extra minute of sleep I can afford. Because of that, pretty much every person who has met me more than once knows what I look like with my face completely bare. At most, I will wear some lipstick, and if I’m really feeling like taking it up a notch, also some mascara and eyeliner, or some concealer.

There’s also the fact that, when I do wear makeup, I don’t go the natural route. I see makeup more as an artistic medium (and engaging in the pleasure of slathering things on my face, as odd as it may sound) than as a means towards being prettier, so while I do try to keep it flattering, I also make it so that it’s really obvious that I’m wearing a heavy hand of makeup since I enjoy playing with colors and lines. I also tend to only wear a full face when I’m going out at night, so that allows me to get a little bit more dramatic with the makeup."

"Two photos of me: one wearing makeup and with my hair done; the other, me eating gummy bears in bed, no makeup. I don’t really know how to do makeup. I own one liquid cover-up or possibly foundation, I actually do not know the difference, one lipstick, and one mascara. That being said, I love beauty products and I often treat myself to face masks, expensive eye creams, etc. I prefer to invest in healthy food and beauty products that protect and enhance my natural beauty rather than on makeup. I don’t really see much of a difference between when I wear makeup or don’t.

What makes more of a difference for me is whether I wear tight/revealing clothes or baggy, plain stuff. However, I have been sexually harassed when wearing casual clothes as well, so there isn’t that much of a difference in any case. Sexual harassment happens everywhere: in Canada, in the U.S., in Peru, in Japan, in Thailand, in Italy, in the U.K., etc.

One time in Montreal, I was walking in the daytime, wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes, no makeup. I was in a good mood, so I just happened to look up and make eye contact with a man walking past me as I smiled. Big mistake. The man then turned around and started following me. I crossed the street, he crossed the street. After about 5 blocks, I ducked into a depanneur to hide. I waited for about 3–4 minutes and then went out. In the stairwell outside the shop, I saw the man standing in a dark corner and as I quickly walked past him, he exposed himself to me. I was so afraid that I ran outside and tried to flag down a car. Luckily, someone was sitting in a parked car nearby and when I knocked on the window and explained the situation, he let me in and drove me down the street. This happened in my own country, without any makeup, wearing casual clothing. And that’s just one example, I could list dozens.

To be totally honest, it doesn’t matter what I wear or don’t wear in terms of makeup or clothing. I often get harassed, either way. People seem to think that when a woman goes out in public, it is every passerby’s right to judge her looks. You can’t win no matter what you do. Even women will bother me, tell me to cover up, ask for photos with me, give me dirty looks, mutter under their breath, etc.

Typically, the dirty looks and negative comments from women increase if I wear tight/revealing clothing, but don’t change in frequency depending on whether I wear makeup or not. Once in Lima, I was wearing a short dress and just lipstick for makeup, going out in the evening, walking to the bus stop in Magdalena del Mar, when an older woman looked me dead in the eyes, tsk-tsked under her breath and crossed herself. Yes, she looked me up and down and made the sign of the cross, touching her forehead, chest, and shoulders.

Here in KSA things are even more insane than usual. When I wear fitted clothing and makeup together, things get crazy. I get double the number of stares, catcalling, harassment, etc. Living in rural Saudi Arabia, people literally photograph and film me whenever I go out. Men, women, and children ask for selfies with me. I don’t wear a hijab, so that is the main reason. I am also one of a very small group of foreigners living here in town and the only one who consistently doesn’t wear a niqab, hijab or abaya. So, I am like the village freak! An oddity to be gasped and leered at!

Men and women tell me to cover my hair, but it is against my beliefs to do so. You could also say that there are some 'benefits' for wearing makeup and getting dressed up. People are friendlier and more willing to help me, especially men. It’s easier to get directions or to ask for assistance finding something / going somewhere. Store clerks are more helpful. Men hold doors open, step aside to let me pass, offer to help me carry things, etc.

However, a lot of these 'benefits' really aren’t worth the cost. I usually don’t wear makeup, but when I do, it’s not to get attention from strangers; that’s just an unfortunate by-product. I wear makeup because it’s kind of fun to put on when I’m bored (albeit I’m not very knowledgeable or good at it), it makes me feel good to look special sometimes, I wear it for myself, for my friends and for that special someone if I have a beau."

"I actually get more attention from men and women without makeup. I believe I do have some of the features that a lot of women try to replicate with makeup: Soft full pink lips, defined cheekbones, clear skin, small nose, caramel skin, small and delicate features. And it helps that I have a small diamond-shaped face so my cheekbones are more prominent and wider than my cheeks and forehead, giving me a sharp contoured look without the help of makeup and not making my face long/oblong.

Women frequently ask me if I’m wearing foundation and are genuinely flabbergasted when I tell them I’m wearing absolutely nothing on my skin. If I’m exposed to harsh sunlight, my cheeks naturally get rosy and give an illusion of blush. Guys are relieved that I actually look like this without makeup and try to flirt with me, but I already like someone else.

My current partner likes me with and without makeup: he likes me regardless. However, some days, I do feel invisible and not noticed: feeling average. But most days, I find people staring at me and I wonder why, or people ask me for skincare advice. No one approached me and if they did, it was because they would compliment my makeup skills. But aside from that, I became unapproachable as if I was out of people’s league or maybe my makeup was too bold? I only do eyeliner, brows, face, and lips for makeup: I avoid eye-shadow. I don’t think I look too different with makeup on. I only enhanced my eyes, brows, and lips while darkening my contours. Yet very few people spoke with me: usually older folk. I even tested this out on Tinder: if I had a no-makeup selfie as my profile, I have more likes. If I had a selfie full of makeup, I would get very little likes.

People, especially men, like me more without makeup. I’m not saying I’m beautiful or gorgeous with or without makeup. I personally think I’m average looking at best or a troll. I was just pointing out my features."

"I don't get all that much interaction with people but here's a list:
Boyfriend: I don't like it, you look like a clown, just don't wear it (it's not sarcastic just dramatized, he doesn't like it but he just jokes about it).

Boyfriends mom: Oh my God, you look so pretty today. How did you do that, tell me your strategies!

My cats: Your eyes smell good. Let me lick your eyelashes, please.

Friends: You're wearing makeup, right? Oh, I guess it looks cool, it suits you.

Friends: It looks dumb fricking good yo, how you did that one part?

Random people outside normally don't talk to me but if they do they don't seem to mention it like ever. I find it that when I don't wear makeup, I look like a heroin addict cause my face looks ultra sick. Maybe it's my eyelashes (they're long but completely straight so unless I curl or make them up with some mascara you can't tell I have any unless you're looking at me from the side and an inch away from my face (maybe it's just cause my vision is bad)"

"I don’t really wear makeup (it means no foundation, even no sunscreen, and nothing on my eyes) but I do wear lipsticks every day. To me, with vs. without lipstick already makes a huge difference. Someday, I feel like my lips are so dry, and I decided to “take a day off” for them, going to the office without putting anything on my lips.

And I would end up somewhere like this:
People in general: Are you sick? Is there anyone or anything that makes you sad? Is everything okay with you? Do you need a half-day off?

'My girls': Phuong, you look terrible! Go put your lipstick on, right away! I don’t want to work with your face like this! Or do you forget your lipstick, you can use mine.

On 99.9% of my working days, I always put on my red or pink or orange or sometimes purple lipsticks. And this is how the reaction of: People in general when I say 'Hi' to them 'You look so refreshed and energetic!', 'It feels so nice to see you every morning', Or 'you look sexy today.'

'My girls': act as if nothing happened (because lipstick is a must in a daily routine - no argue here)."

"I personally love to wear makeup and I feel a lot more confident with makeup. I do have a lot of men hit on me more when I’m wearing makeup vs. when I’m not wearing any makeup. I feel like people look at me weird when I don't have makeup on. When having the courage to go out without makeup, I get asked questions like 'why are you so red?', 'Why do you even wear makeup?' etc. But, even when I am wearing makeup, one of the questions that bother me the most is 'Can I like take your eyebrows off with an eraser?'

Once when I was younger, this person even tried to chase me around the classroom trying to take off my eyebrow. I love myself both ways, but I do personally think I get treated better with makeup on. I get more compliments with makeup, people talk to me more when I have makeup on vs. not but I am happy with who I am with or without makeup. It's about the inside, not the outside!"

"I get a lot of stares from males and females, yet I hardly ever get approached when out in public whether it be the club, bar, or social setting. I’ve been known to be the one that makes the move in the past. I know I get treated differently when I have makeup. Many can be judgmental, having preconceived ideas about me, thinking I’m stuck up or mean.

People can be really rude when they see me all dolled up and nosy as well. Asking what I do for work or if I have my lips done or any cosmetic surgery to my face, people aren’t the nicest, most likely from intimidation I like to think, so I pay them no mind. And then they get to know me and realize I’m very much the opposite.

I won’t lie, I do have more confidence when I have makeup on. I love makeup, though. It’s fun and I’m learning to love my face without it too. Makeup is simply my art and time to relax. I get treated differently without it. I look much younger than my age some people think I’m 15/16 so this causes a number of individuals to not take me seriously, whether it be in the business field or in public.

I also suffer from acne scars, so that affects my confidence, so I much prefer to have the foundation on. I’ve been asked before if I’m sick or that I look tired. I’m also approached more when I have no or little makeup on. Maybe I look less intimidating.

Ultimately I don’t feel like I look that different without it vs with it, it’s simply a fun art/pastime and you shouldn’t depend on it we’re all beautiful!"