I’m make up free 90% of the time but still succumb when attending in person team meetings; mainly as the demographic of the wider team is waay younger and I do feel the pressure! My eyelashes haven’t grown back post chemo and the hot flushes mean any makeup drips down my face regardless of make up claims so I have given up! Not really a bold feminist statement more exhaustion! I do worry about what it means for employment prospects...I’m on a mat leave cover....and should I make more effort but with med appts and until recently a carer for my Dad as well as working full time, I don’t have the time to waste/invest depending on how you look at it. Great writing as always Sam.
You’ve made me wonder if I fell out of life with mascara during the hot flush years. I certainly remember my eyes sliding down my face on many meetings! That’s an interesting and horrifying thought about employment prospects. Obviously not something that would bother a man…
I still love make up! But putting it on now feels like a pleasant choice rather than a necessity before leaving the house. Like you I work from home so most days don’t wear it. So a make up day feels like a treat
Exactly this. Now it’s quite rare that I begrudge putting it on. And it astonished me that o truly love red lipstick. I wonder how much it has to do with being judged and how much to do with judging yourself…
I am the other way around. I grew up in a house without makeup and it never felt right except for delightfully extreme goth looks in uni. Now, thanks to my 40 something newly hatched trans friends sharing their learning it also feels more accessible to me as something I might enjoy. Before it was just alienating and intimidating representation of the correct kind of woman I was not so I just avoided it.
Personally, I always wear makeup even if I don't go anywhere. Its for me, not anyone else. I enjoy putting it on. However, with skin/face changes it is getting harder to put on, and I am wearing less: tinted moisturiser and mascara is often it.
I find this so interesting as in the field I work in (social work), it would not occur to me that wearing make up would affect my job prospects. Most men don't wear makeup and Im guessing it doesn't affect their promotion opportunities. I never wear make up, the last time I did was my wedding day. That said, if I was Pamela I would probably wear make up to a fashion event, but then she goes to far more of then than I ever would.
That’s so interesting. I was taken aside by a (v old fashioned male) boss early on in my career and told that if I wanted “to be taken seriously” ie promoted I needed to change my approach to my appearance ie get groomed and start buying designer clothes. He was very old school but I think in many “public-facing” industries that still applies.
I love make up, but have given up on foundation. Going make up free during covid made me realise my skin is better without it. But I’m not sure I’ll ever give up my eyeliner pen!
I’m make up free 90% of the time but still succumb when attending in person team meetings; mainly as the demographic of the wider team is waay younger and I do feel the pressure! My eyelashes haven’t grown back post chemo and the hot flushes mean any makeup drips down my face regardless of make up claims so I have given up! Not really a bold feminist statement more exhaustion! I do worry about what it means for employment prospects...I’m on a mat leave cover....and should I make more effort but with med appts and until recently a carer for my Dad as well as working full time, I don’t have the time to waste/invest depending on how you look at it. Great writing as always Sam.
You’ve made me wonder if I fell out of life with mascara during the hot flush years. I certainly remember my eyes sliding down my face on many meetings! That’s an interesting and horrifying thought about employment prospects. Obviously not something that would bother a man…
Exactly that…
I still love make up! But putting it on now feels like a pleasant choice rather than a necessity before leaving the house. Like you I work from home so most days don’t wear it. So a make up day feels like a treat
Exactly this. Now it’s quite rare that I begrudge putting it on. And it astonished me that o truly love red lipstick. I wonder how much it has to do with being judged and how much to do with judging yourself…
Just wanted to say you look gorgeous in that pic.
Not why included it but I’ll take it! X
I am the other way around. I grew up in a house without makeup and it never felt right except for delightfully extreme goth looks in uni. Now, thanks to my 40 something newly hatched trans friends sharing their learning it also feels more accessible to me as something I might enjoy. Before it was just alienating and intimidating representation of the correct kind of woman I was not so I just avoided it.
And yes, as per my pic, red lipstick!
That is such an interesting point. I also identify as a teenage goth - extreme or not at all!
Personally, I always wear makeup even if I don't go anywhere. Its for me, not anyone else. I enjoy putting it on. However, with skin/face changes it is getting harder to put on, and I am wearing less: tinted moisturiser and mascara is often it.
You might like India’s book, when it comes out, it’s all about this
I find this so interesting as in the field I work in (social work), it would not occur to me that wearing make up would affect my job prospects. Most men don't wear makeup and Im guessing it doesn't affect their promotion opportunities. I never wear make up, the last time I did was my wedding day. That said, if I was Pamela I would probably wear make up to a fashion event, but then she goes to far more of then than I ever would.
That’s so interesting. I was taken aside by a (v old fashioned male) boss early on in my career and told that if I wanted “to be taken seriously” ie promoted I needed to change my approach to my appearance ie get groomed and start buying designer clothes. He was very old school but I think in many “public-facing” industries that still applies.
Ha ha, well there’s still time to change my mind!
It suddenly became a BAD look 😔
I love make up, but have given up on foundation. Going make up free during covid made me realise my skin is better without it. But I’m not sure I’ll ever give up my eyeliner pen!
It also takes me 5 mins! More than that is too high maintenance.
I felt like that about my eyeliner - until I didn’t! And yep 5 minutes is three minutes too long!