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.)

[Helen]

I know I said I wasn't going to comment on this thread anymore, but I lied - ha!!

I was thinking circumstances play such a big part in our thinking process and the fact that we are even able to debate this at all.

Just imagine if we were a group of women meeting in secret living under, for example, the Taliban regime. Imagine not being allowed out in public without being accompanied by a male relative. Imagine being denied schooling or the right to work. Imagine having to cover yourself from head to foot in thick, dull coloured fabric and imagine no makeup at all. Then imagine the punishment of disobeying any of the above as being both severe and totally inappropriate.

What would our 'opinion' of wearing makeup be then. Would it be the same or would we, as I suspect, look upon it as an amazing expression of our free selves and a choice to be treasured.

We have that freedom. The freedom to make choices about what we wear, do, eat, the friends we have the opinions we express.

Winona, you shouldn't feel like you have to leave raw fu because you have frustrated people with your opinion. It is just that. Your opinion. Just as others have expressed their opinion back at you. Because we have the freedom of choice we are all different and we should be celebrating that fact because we could just as easily be that other group of women meeting secretly and fantasing about a day when we are able to express ourselves freely.

Stick around Winona, contribute, everyones 'opinion' is valid here.......

[solocrudo]

Great post Helen... Winona I really hope you don't feel you have to leave. Forums get like that sometimes; you may indeed benefit from a little time away, but I hope you don't feel that just because not everyone agrees, that your opinions and feelings are somehow of no worth.

I like wearing makeup, just a little, because as I've mentioned before my number one accessories when I work are ratty old tracksuits and dog hair, LoL! So when I do go out, makeup makes me feel just that little bit special, and a little bit more glamorous.

[Terry]

I agree, Helen, great post.

Winona, you, just like everyone else, are entitled to your opinion and I also hope you don't leave just because you brought up a topic that began a vocal debate. Some of us just disagreed. And we can agree to disagree. Helen is right in that we have the freedom to make choices. We also have the freedom to have opposing opinions. Isn't that lovely?

So I, too, hope you don't choose to leave just because of this.

[Winona]

Hi Ladies! Thanks for commenting. Angie mentioned that I should check back at this thread, to respond to the nice comments posted.

Helen - I was reflecting on the same thing today!! Feeling quite thankful that we're living in this day and location. In the past, the whole world was an extremely male dominated society - to the point where women couldn't even earn a living or go running in shorts!! I am shocked every time I hear about societies that still exist TODAY where women are mistreated, really makes my hackles rise.

Disagreement is no problem, I just didn't want to create an uncomfortable place for others. I am quite happy with hearing a variety of opinions that I don't agree with, because I consider myself openminded.

I have given thought to leaving goneraw and rawfu for a while. It's a difficult decision, but one that doesn't relate directly to this thread. I guess the reason is because I used raw forums as a source of information and inspiration to help me go raw. Now i've been raw for 1 year, and it's easy as pie to eat raw every day. I feel that i've given back to the communities by helping newbies in many posts. Now it's time for me to turn attention to new hobbies, hopefully. Raw is a non-issue for me - I only want raw vegan food.

I am healthy as a horse, I love raw food, I'm an excellent unCook, I exercise regularly - my health is excellent and I honestly don't need anything more from online communities. So perhaps my time is better spend on a part of my life that needs improving, because - surprising as it sounds - I have made the successful transition to go raw and stay raw indefinitely. I'm all done! No more health improvements necessary for now! : )

Anyway, I'll hang around just on this thread, but otherwise I'll hopefully be off doing new hobbies and learning new skills.

[Fruiteeny]

Ashley! You " (-: DIRTY :-) " little girl! I absolutely LOVED your post and couldn't wait for you to reflect on this! Every day I checked this thread to check when YOU will speak up! Well, it was just as I expected. Love your comments and views and - honestly - couldn't wait. Your way of "being as natural as it can ever be possible" always fascinated me and you are one of my heroes in this. Even though I'm a man, I can't do half the things you do in the field of "no poo, no soap, ...no anything". But I certainly acknowledge that it is the way it should be and can't wait my "phase" to get there. Thanks again.

Ashley said:

I do not wear makeup.

I do not wear deoderant.

I go in phases of not using soaps or shampoo.

I also go in phases of not cutting my hair and not shaving.

In my opinion, makeup is very fake. It's like telling yourself that you aren't good enough so you have to slap some powder and crap on your face to "look better." Are you not okay with how you look!? I think that i COULD hide blemishes on my face if i used it, but why would I? It seems so fake to me. Even the words MAKE-UP bother me... making up a new face? or what?

I live in a society that tells me to eat meat for protein. i live in a society that tells me to drink milk for strong bones. I live in a society that tells me that it is unhealthy to eat too much fruit. I live in a society that tells me to take aspirin when i have a headache. I live in a society that tells me to wear deoderant and use soap. I live in a society that tells me that i need to shave and smell nice.

WHY THE HELL WOULD I LISTEN TO SOCIETY AT THIS POINT!?

screw mainstream ideas. I'm so fed up with it!

by the way, if you wear makeup i am seriously not trying to hate on you... this is just my opinion... i have friends who wear makeup... i just never really say anything. I think people look fake in makeup... i love the natural look. No hard feelings. Do what you like.

I like natural living.... it's just how i think and what i believe in!

[Ashley]

=D you made my day, Fruiteeny!

Fruiteeny said:

Ashley! You " (-: DIRTY :-) " little girl! I absolutely LOVED your post and couldn't wait for you to reflect on this! Every day I checked this thread to check when YOU will speak up! Well, it was just as I expected. Love your comments and views and - honestly - couldn't wait. Your way of "being as natural as it can ever be possible" always fascinated me and you are one of my heroes in this. Even though I'm a man, I can't do half the things you do in the field of "no poo, no soap, ...no anything". But I certainly acknowledge that it is the way it should be and can't wait my "phase" to get there. Thanks again.

Ashley said:

I do not wear makeup.

I do not wear deoderant.

I go in phases of not using soaps or shampoo.

I also go in phases of not cutting my hair and not shaving.

In my opinion, makeup is very fake. It's like telling yourself that you aren't good enough so you have to slap some powder and crap on your face to "look better." Are you not okay with how you look!? I think that i COULD hide blemishes on my face if i used it, but why would I? It seems so fake to me. Even the words MAKE-UP bother me... making up a new face? or what?

I live in a society that tells me to eat meat for protein. i live in a society that tells me to drink milk for strong bones. I live in a society that tells me that it is unhealthy to eat too much fruit. I live in a society that tells me to take aspirin when i have a headache. I live in a society that tells me to wear deoderant and use soap. I live in a society that tells me that i need to shave and smell nice.

WHY THE HELL WOULD I LISTEN TO SOCIETY AT THIS POINT!?

screw mainstream ideas. I'm so fed up with it!

by the way, if you wear makeup i am seriously not trying to hate on you... this is just my opinion... i have friends who wear makeup... i just never really say anything. I think people look fake in makeup... i love the natural look. No hard feelings. Do what you like.

I like natural living.... it's just how i think and what i believe in!

[Angie]

Now here's something I have a problem with: An ad I saw said "Thin lips are ugly." Then it went on to advertise "lip plumpers". What?! :D

[Terry]

Now that's just not nice :-(


Angie said:

Now here's something I have a problem with: An ad I saw said "Thin lips are ugly." Then it went on to advertise "lip plumpers". What?! :D

[Terry]

It's funny...I grew up right in the era when feminism was coming into being. I was never a hardcore feminist (burning the bra, looking as androgynous as possible, etc.), but was obviously influenced by it and its message. Can't help it, I grew up with it. Then years later, I saw this whole generation of girls who had no idea of what their mothers/grandmothers did to make it acceptable for them to do some of the things they do. Now I'm seeing a whole other generation taking it back. It's awesome. The cycle goes round and round.

bitt said:

sorry to lose you winona!!! ((hugs))

it's great to see YOUNG women like ashley and winona who are of a different generation eschewing makeup. times are changing and watch out everyone!!!!

[Joplasia]

Makeup is not always necessarily conforming to the ridicuolous views of society.
I cannot leave the house without makeup. And i'm not talking about loading on eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush...etc.
I have severe acne and raw food has not helped in the slightest with my skin. Without the use of some sort of cover up ( i use physicians formula) the skin of my face is covered with small red welts. Some may say that i shouldn't care what others think of my appearance, but thats much easier said than done when you have very oily, acne covered skin. I look like a completely different person without cover up, and i feel very different too. It's not an issue of what others think, but rather what i think of myself.
I just wanted to present another view on the subject!
Makeup does not have to be materialistic. Sometimes it can be a real confidence booster when someone has a problem that is out of their control.

[Terry]

Right on. You go girl. Everyone has their own consideration for wearing makeup and I feel its too sweeping a generalization and judgment of character to suggest makeup is a consumer-driven campaign of fear and insecurity to impress the opposite sex.

I don't consider makeup materialistic. I consider it a celebration of our beauty, an extension of our art, an embrace of ourselves. Men AND women.

X

Joplasia said:

Makeup is not always necessarily conforming to the ridicuolous views of society.
I cannot leave the house without makeup. And i'm not talking about loading on eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush...etc.
I have severe acne and raw food has not helped in the slightest with my skin. Without the use of some sort of cover up ( i use physicians formula) the skin of my face is covered with small red welts. Some may say that i shouldn't care what others think of my appearance, but thats much easier said than done when you have very oily, acne covered skin. I look like a completely different person without cover up, and i feel very different too. It's not an issue of what others think, but rather what i think of myself.
I just wanted to present another view on the subject!
Makeup does not have to be materialistic. Sometimes it can be a real confidence booster when someone has a problem that is out of their control.