Cosmetics or Au Naturale?

[Winona]

I'm one of those girls who loves going au naturale - no makeup, no hair dye, no hair cuts, no shampoo, etc. It's eco friendly and better for your health and wallet to keep chemicals off your face, your hair, your skin, keep bottles out of landfills, and spend more time making raw food for your health instead!!

When younger (I'm 24 now), I used make up, straightened my hair, got piercings, dyed my hair - all because society really messes with kid's heads. My family pressures me to conform and wear makeup - even an ex-boyfriend tried to convince me to wear makeup! I'm comfortable in my skin now - society cannot pressure me into a bad self image. I love the way I look, and i don't waste time in front of the mirror. I choose to spend that time going running and biking and raw food prep.

However, it is nice to minimally care for one's appearance. I do brush my hair once a day, and i wash it with plain water and occasionally baking soda. I wear earrings, necklaces, and comfy dresses fairly often - all of them are purchased at consignment shops. So in my own way, I try to look reasonably presentable in a normal way - not garish.

I'm wondering - if you use makeup, how do you rationalize the extra expense and time? Why put chemicals on your face? Whats your rationale for wearing makeup/ straightening your hair/ using shampoo/getting haircuts etc. How about the waste it creates?

I don't understand the use of makeup, except in theatre productions or halloween, when someone is trying to look scary or old or young or stressed or like a lion!

(Edit: This is expressed in a polite way, as I'm trying to learn from those around me. I'd simply like to hear others opinions, I'm not insisting that wearing makeup is 'morally wrong' - I'm just stating that there are several arguments against it, and in light of raw food being a chemically free diet, it's legitimate to ask raw fooders if they're for or against makeup.)

[Angie]

I wanted to wear makeup when I was a kid - I was mad that my mom made me wait until age 13! After several years of makeup, I realized that I was allergic to most of it. I also realized I didn't care about makeup much any more. About 10 yers ago, I had someone tell me I'm not the kind of person who can get away with not doing my hair & makeup. Then, a few years ago, I was considering not wearing makeup again. I talked to a male friend of mine who said that he preferred the look of no makeup, but that in order to attract most guys, I'd probably need to wear makeup. I went to a dance and purposely didn't wear makeup. I got more compliments on my appearance that night than I ever had before (I had been going to the same dances with a lot of the same people for a long time), so I decided I was done with makeup for good. Now there is a brand of makeup that is more natural, without all the chemicals, but I don't really care any more.

I use Dr. Bronner's on my hair, and I only wash it once or twice a week.

[Bunny Berry]

I'm a total lipstick diva. I love to wear powder and lipstick. I just like they way it makes me feel girlie and a little dressed up. I'm definitely not a "won't leave the house without it" kind of girl, but when I do hide blemishes, put on some powder, and love my lipstick!

Although, the more I move into this lifestyle, the lighter my lipstick shade is getting. Interesting!

[ThriveSurvive]

I used to love makeup. I loved spending hours putting it on, taking it off, buying it, reading about it, etc. Now I very rarely wear any. I sometimes wonder if I should, because I think I would look better with it on. I often wonder if family and friends think I have "let myself go" or that I just don't care about my appearance. That's not it. I just think about it on a much deeper level now; environment, chemicals, animals, packaging, marketing, feminism, nature, etc. I have decided to get some of those bare minerals powders (hand made by a seller on etsy), and some natural mascara (I use ecobella), and wear it only when I feel like it. Sometimes I want to wear makeup.

This is the seller I think I may buy from
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6358765

What I like about the minerals is that they last forever, don't clog pores or have any chemicals in them, are vegan, use very little packaging (the containers are reusable), they are natural, lightweight, and it doesn't look like you are wearing makeup. They also only take literally seconds to apply.

I also like burts bees tinted lip gloss. I use lip balm anyway, so when I want to feel fancy, I don't mind the tinted kind. I think the lip balm and the minerals look very fresh, natural, and pretty without looking made up, and you can even sleep in them.

[ThriveSurvive]

correction. it seems the makeup sold at the etsy link I posted earlier is not actually made by the seller. nevertheless, i think i will buy some.

[rebeccaj]

I'm struggling with this post - not over the subject matter, but over the way you've expressed it. You're asking people to "rationalize" their decision to do something that you have already decided is "wrong." To me, this seems argumentative and that's bothering me. It would be like posting a thread that demanded that those still eating cooked food rationalize such behavior. We're all moving through our lives at our own pace - some still eating cooked food, some still eating meat and dairy, some still drinking alcohol and caffeine, some still using cosmetics. None of these need to be rationalized. You've found what works for you and that's great; there's no need to request rationalization from people who are living differently than you.

I understand the use of makeup - it's fun. It's enjoyable. It's a sensual and delightful experience. It's a way of bonding with other women and connecting with certain men. It's a way of declaring your tribe and your availability. It's a deeply primal instinct for both men and women. I don't use much of it, but when I do, I enjoy it for what it is. My BF thinks I'm beautiful with or without it. If I'm going out with women who are more makeup-wearing types, I'm likely to wear more to connect with them. If I'm going out with women who don't, I'm more likely not to. It might seem vain, but it's a way of communicating with each other that goes beyond words (after all, the whole world is a stage, and we are all merely players).

I've gone through phases of wearing none, not washing my hair, not shaving, etc., and I've gone through phases of being pretty high maintenance. I enjoy both, and everything in between. It's all valid, and none of it matters.

[Winona]

It's too bad that you're bothered by my question. However, it is a valid question, and I simply expressed my personal opinion about hygiene when I said that I don't understand the use of make up.

I asked my question in a reasonable and polite way, no need to take offense.

I'm interested in hearing why people use makeup, in the context of raw food - which is a diet eschewing chemicals, promoting environmentalism, sustainability.


rebeccaj said:

I'm struggling with this post - not over the subject matter, but over the way you've expressed it. You're asking people to "rationalize" their decision to do something that you have already decided is "wrong." To me, this seems argumentative and that's bothering me. It would be like posting a thread that demanded that those still eating cooked food rationalize such behavior. We're all moving through our lives at our own pace - some still eating cooked food, some still eating meat and dairy, some still drinking alcohol and caffeine, some still using cosmetics. None of these need to be rationalized. You've found what works for you and that's great; there's no need to request rationalization from people who are living differently than you.

I understand the use of makeup - it's fun. It's enjoyable. It's a sensual and delightful experience. It's a way of bonding with other women and connecting with certain men. It's a way of declaring your tribe and your availability. It's a deeply primal instinct for both men and women. I don't use much of it, but when I do, I enjoy it for what it is. My BF thinks I'm beautiful with or without it. If I'm going out with women who are more makeup-wearing types, I'm likely to wear more to connect with them. If I'm going out with women who don't, I'm more likely not to. It might seem vain, but it's a way of communicating with each other that goes beyond words (after all, the whole world is a stage, and we are all merely players).

I've gone through phases of wearing none, not washing my hair, not shaving, etc., and I've gone through phases of being pretty high maintenance. I enjoy both, and everything in between. It's all valid, and none of it matters.

[Lauren]

I use makeup everyday. I've always liked the way I look with it on better then the way I look without it. My mother barely ever wore it so my love for it is on my own. I just feel like an artist when I put it on, it's my way of showing creativity. I have changed to more natural makeups, and I spend a lot less money on it now a days. I say do what makes you feel good, with or without makeup!

[Winona]

I agree - it's sad that some very young teens have low self esteem because of societal pressure to act/look a certain way. I think that teens sadly use makeup/hair/clothes to the extreme as a way to cover up these insecurities. We should celebrate differences, wrinkles, white hair, freckled skin - not try to hide them.

Lauren said:

I use makeup everyday. I've always liked the way I look with it on better then the way I look without it. My mother barely ever wore it so my love for it is on my own. I just feel like an artist when I put it on, it's my way of showing creativity. I have changed to more natural makeups, and I spend a lot less money on it now a days. I say do what makes you feel good, with or without makeup!

[ThriveSurvive]

I found another etsy makeup seller who actually makes her own: http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=5089487
I am reading her profile now and it seems she knows her stuff. I haven't decided yet if, or from whom I will actually buy makeup, but I am considering it.

[Winona]

I never thought of it that way - nifty! It's kind of like wearing earrings - you feel like it's a special day, or that you're more formal and presentable when wearing lipstick. Thanks for sharing your perspective!

Bunny Berry said:

I'm a total lipstick diva. I love to wear powder and lipstick. I just like they way it makes me feel girlie and a little dressed up. I'm definitely not a "won't leave the house without it" kind of girl, but when I do hide blemishes, put on some powder, and love my lipstick!

Although, the more I move into this lifestyle, the lighter my lipstick shade is getting. Interesting!

[Winona]

Ah, creative expression - like art. I never thought of that - so you feel like the artistic expression is through the way you style your face, and then throughout the day people can enjoy the art. Cool.

Lauren said:

I use makeup everyday. I've always liked the way I look with it on better then the way I look without it. My mother barely ever wore it so my love for it is on my own. I just feel like an artist when I put it on, it's my way of showing creativity. I have changed to more natural makeups, and I spend a lot less money on it now a days. I say do what makes you feel good, with or without makeup!

[Winona]

Ah, safe minerals as an alternative to chemical makeup. Now you're thinking!! I love it that eco alternatives exist. Burts Bees is a wonderful company - my only problem is the price tag and the packaging. Some folks had the idea of creating their own coconut butter lip balm - now THAT is the best idea!

ThriveSurvive said:

I used to love makeup. I loved spending hours putting it on, taking it off, buying it, reading about it, etc. Now I very rarely wear any. I sometimes wonder if I should, because I think I would look better with it on. I often wonder if family and friends think I have "let myself go" or that I just don't care about my appearance. That's not it. I just think about it on a much deeper level now; environment, chemicals, animals, packaging, marketing, feminism, nature, etc. I have decided to get some of those bare minerals powders (hand made by a seller on etsy), and some natural mascara (I use ecobella), and wear it only when I feel like it. Sometimes I want to wear makeup.

This is the seller I think I may buy from
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6358765

What I like about the minerals is that they last forever, don't clog pores or have any chemicals in them, are vegan, use very little packaging (the containers are reusable), they are natural, lightweight, and it doesn't look like you are wearing makeup. They also only take literally seconds to apply.

I also like burts bees tinted lip gloss. I use lip balm anyway, so when I want to feel fancy, I don't mind the tinted kind. I think the lip balm and the minerals look very fresh, natural, and pretty without looking made up, and you can even sleep in them.