The Naked Face Project: Could you go without makeup for two months? What does makeup teach our girls?
Could you go two months without makeup, shaving or deodorant? Could you go one day? Why do women wear makeup? What is it teaching our young girls about loving themselves as they are?
These are all questions two women from North Carolina set out to answer with an experiment: The Naked Face Project.
Both women, Molly Barker, 51, and Caitlin Boyle, 27, are affiliated with Girls on the Run, a running and self-esteem program for girls. They wanted to figure out why they wear makeup when they are telling their girls to love who they are.
“It’s a question they say comes from young girls in Girls on The Run, a running and self-esteem program Barker founded in 1996 that now has chapters in more than 190 cities. Barker, a triathlete, social worker and mother of two, says, “So many times, a little girl will say ‘If you tell me I’m beautiful just the way I am, why do you color your hair or wear makeup?’ “…
“The problem, they agreed, was they didn’t really know the answer.”
So they decided to go two months without wearing any makeup, nail polish, deodorant or shaving their bodies.
Sunday, April1, is the last day of their project and they are asking women around the country to go without make up for one day and see how they feel.
Some of the things they have liked about not wearing make up:
They have saved time and money. One women thinks she’s saved up to $150 a month.
One of the women said her skin has never looked better and doesn’t need the blush.
They both agreed they missed shaving their underarms and the deodorant seemed more like hygiene than beauty product.
I personally don’t wear make up every day. It’s just generally for special occasions or professional ones. (When I do wear make up people always comment how nice I look, which makes me think they think I look like crap most days.) I don’t like the way it feels on my skin and I’m not willing to get up earlier to drive the kids to school with makeup on.
I do however use copious amounts of face cream and lotion that I do not think I could give up at all. (I have such dry skin and it’s far worse out here in Arizona – sooo dry here.) I also don’t think I could stop shaving under my arms. That would really bother me.
At this point I am coloring my hair every two months and I just think it makes me feel better. The gray is all up front, and it’s just sort of depressing. Now my mom colored her hair for 30 years and finally let it go to it’s natural silver all over and it is so beautiful. She looks so much better in her natural color.
So what do you think? Do you normally wear make up every day? Why do you wear it?
Could you go without make up for a day? What about two months? What about face cream or shaving? What about deodorant? (That’s hygiene, not beauty!)
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107 comments Add your comment
Jeff
March 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
I’ve never been a fan of much makeup. If its the first thing I see, it’s too much for my tastes. That being said, many women dress, act, and style in public for the sake of other women. So let’s not make it sound like its the evil expectation of the male society that somehow forces this select group to go through the process.
I seriously question their claim that “so many girls ask us…….”. My daughter is in a GOTR in Charlotte
, she is 9, and I can guarantee you that kind of question has never crossed her mind, much less her tongue. So I wonder if these 2 women are actually pursuing their own anti-establishment agendas under the mask of making it sound like “so many” young girls are asking?!
They both agreed they missed shaving their underarms and the deodorant seemed more like hygiene than beauty product.
March 29th, 2012
1:25 pm
…OK – I just got back from the library and inadvertently picked up yesterday’s USA Today newspaper – the pictures of the two women accompanied the article – let’s just say that if neither of these women ever wore makeup before, or after, their “experiment” then no one could ever tell (especially the 51 year old – WOOF) whether they used it or not. So I am not sure what their point might be…
lawyerdaggett
March 29th, 2012
1:29 pm
I take very good care of myself and my appearance. I dress well and wash and style my hear every morning. However, I rarely wear makeup. It’s a personal choice and it works for me. I see a lot of really attractive women who wear so much makeup, they look fake. Many would look better without any, or at least with a whole lot less. Shaving underarms and wearing deoderant is a different issue. Stinking is simply not attractive, nor is having hairy underarms IMHO.
Shipwreck
March 29th, 2012
1:29 pm
Miss Priss!
March 29th, 2012
1:14 pm
Anything that might pop out on my nipples
And the steel wool around my quinny
Two of my lovers want to shave that part, but I think that’s creepy.
I’ll be in my bunk…..
lawyerdaggett
March 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
Oops. “Hair,” not “hear.”
Peter
March 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
I always were make-up, shave my body, use deodorant/perfume. That way Im ready when my husband come home!
Eric
March 29th, 2012
1:43 pm
I have no problem with women who wear a small amount of make up. But for those that apply it with a spatula are a total turn off. And for the record, most men are NOT attracted to women who wear a bunch of perfume. There is nothing that smells better than the light clean scent of a woman. When you spray half a gallon of perfume on your body, it makes me gag. Nothing is worse than getting caught in an elevator with some women who filled up the tub with perfume and jumped in. What the hell is that all about? Do you take a bath? Are you trying to cover up bad body odor? Seriously, the days when a woman should wear that much perfume are over. Get on board and stop it. It’s a nasty and disgusting habit. I dated one woman for a whopping three days, then had to cut her loose. I told her I couldn’t stand smelling her. She was all upset and offended and said she spent a fortune on her perfume. I told her to save her money, take a bath, and get over herself. Gross…gross…gross.
Why do women feel like they have to transform themselves into this fake picture of perfection. You will NEVER be perfect, grow up, and learn to appreciate who you are. Stop painting your face, you look like a clown, stop wearing inappropriate clothing, you’re only attracting the wrong sort, stop bathing in perfume, you are choking me to death. Be a real woman, fake is ugly.
Think abut it Eric...
March 29th, 2012
1:55 pm
…why some women wear a lot of perfume – what other smells are they trying to hide? DOH…
Pamela Parker
March 29th, 2012
1:56 pm
Enter your comments here
K's Mom
March 29th, 2012
1:58 pm
@Eric, glad to hear you mention perfume. I am allergice to it, as are many and I wish everyone understood that too much perfume can cause migraines and allergic reactions for many. I wish those magazine pullouts were outlawed. If I smell too much perfume or cologne it can literally make me gag and put me down for 2 days with a migraine. Soap and deodorant really do the trick for most!
motherjanegoose
March 29th, 2012
1:59 pm
Some conferences are FRAGRANCE FREE. This means NO LOTION, SCENTED ANTI PERSPIRANT, HAIR PRODUCTS etc. I have never attended one of these venues but wonder how things smell after a long day in a room with hundreds of other people.
Valstake
March 29th, 2012
2:06 pm
I rarely wear makeup, use deodorant, shave when necessary and don’t use perfume. At 60 years old, I don’t try to impress others with how I look – to me it’s enough to be clean and comfortable. The only thing I usually have on my face is a smile.
Jilted Spouse
March 29th, 2012
2:06 pm
Just wondering Theresa…….Does your new boyfriend approve you of not wearing make up?
Becky
March 29th, 2012
2:13 pm
I wear make only when I go to work and church..I am very fair skined and I wear foundation with sunscreen in it..I’m not a fanatic about it though..I do have to have masacra (sp) as I do look very washed out without it..
@Eric..Amen..The owner of the company that I work for made a coworker cry one day about the smell of her perfume, yet he bathes in his cologne…When he comes in, it takes me about 2-3 hours before I can stand to be around him for the smell..I have never had my eyebrows waxed (never will), I don’t wear fake nails and I apply makeup very lightly..You take me as I am or not at all..
Demetri Martin
March 29th, 2012
2:17 pm
It’s no coincidence that cologne rhymes with alone.
catlady
March 29th, 2012
2:21 pm
Due to allergies (don’t mention allergenic to me) I don’t wear makeup. I am not an everyday shaver, and with my coloring it isn’t very noticeable. I will wear deodorant, bathe, and wash my hair twice each day (gets the pollen out). I don’t color my hair, but I do use a perm.
I’d like to see more of our beautiful, healthy young women and girls go without makeup.
My daughters (26 and 35) wear very light makeup in public frequently; they are both very fair. Neither colors her hair, nor uses perms. They both use deodorant, and will shave as needed. My DIL does not shave–ever! She does not wear makeup or do anything to her hair, and she is lovely. Her shaving status is a bit off-putting to me, but it is totally her decision, and my son supports it. MYOB.
motherjanegoose
March 29th, 2012
2:24 pm
Valstake…Love a person who wears a smile! I hope to see you this summer!
Demetri…What does perfume and after shave rhyme with?
FYI..I was shopping in Big Lots once and poking around the aisles. Two Grandpas were meandering around and looking at me. I was wondering what they were up to. Finally, one comes over to me and says…”you smell really good…what is the scent…I may want to get some for my wife!” UM..not available at BIG LOTS. Cracked me up for sure…getting noticed by Grandpas at Big Lots!
Sort of on topic: I buy my perfume online from Scentiments. They will send you counter samples and you an save a LOT! The bottle may not be pretty but the price is right!
Augusta
March 29th, 2012
2:31 pm
My sister in law wears so much make up, spends so much time on her hair, that it’s almost a joke in our family. It takes her at least 2 hours to get ready every day and she spends thousands of dollars on make up (must be top of the line department store, no grocery store make up for her), manicures, pedicures, eyebrow waxing, tanning, etc. She’s 40. I can be ready to go out in less than 30 minutes, shower to car.
One year on a trip to the beach, she had to go buy more make up at the mall, since she couldn’t pack all her stuff from home. This is a woman, who packs 4-5 suitcases for a week at the beach, two alone for hair and makeup. Five different swimsuits (she NEVER gets in the water), and at least 3-4 outfits per day….when I’m at the beach, all I require is a swimsuit, coverup, towel, SPF30, and a cooler full of beer, and a really good book, and my family. She has these beautiful sandals that I just adored, She told me she spent $100 on them and they were very uncomfortable. I asked WHY did you pay so much for something that’s uncomfortable, and her reply was “they look great on my feet”. Poor thing….I feel so bad for her husband, he’s paying for all this…..
catlady
March 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
home schooler: I was 14 when I sneaked out to a basketball game and used some lip gloss. You’d have thought I was drinking on the sly!
My daughters were about 12 or 13 when they wanted mascara and lip gloss. We went for subtle colors, since they are fair.
I use unscented and noncolored stuff as much as possible, including detergent and dryer sheets. I want people around me to smell me smelling clean. Like others mentioned, scent can trigger headaches or worse! If you can smell a person before or after they are there, it was TOO STRONG. Also, I find I can smell people smoking or with too much scent in cars beside or in front of me at stoplights–EWW, As a teacher, kids come in smelling of cologne sometimes, but quite often come in stinking of cigarrette smoke or dope smoke that their parents used on the way to school drop-off!
Augusta
March 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
The smell of someone after they have smoked a cigarette is the worse smell ever. I could just gag. When I do go into the office, there is one guy who smokes, and I have told him he is NOT to come into my office after smoking…..EWWWWWw…I hate cigarettes.
YEARS ago, I worked with a guy from Laos….they have HORRIBLE hygiene, and one day his BO alone stunk up the entire office. I was pregnant with my first, and when he got to smelling, I would have to leave the building. It was horrible. I think he bathed about once a week and he never wore deodorant.
Denise
March 29th, 2012
3:04 pm
OMG…perfume can be the near-death of me!! Migraines almost 50% of the time I ride with someone who just put on perfume and I want to cry when someone sprays it in my house. I have had to move seats in church because I was sitting between 2 broads with too much perfume. I can use body sprays without a problem so I don’t know why the perfume lays me out.
But I would rather risk it with perfume than smell funk and obnoxious cigarette/cigar smoke in clothes and coming out of your pores.
K's Mom
March 29th, 2012
3:51 pm
@Denise, I would love to know if all perfumes have some sort of common chemical. I can smell flowers, soap, lotion, shampoo and nothing affects me like perfume. They can be expensive (I bought a Chanel fragrance one time before I gave up), mid priced or cheap and they all affect me if they are close by. I hate you experience the same thing, but I am glad to know I am not the only one.
Penguinmom
March 29th, 2012
3:57 pm
Makeup I could do without, I only wear a little bit (foundation) and occasionally blush. Rarely use eye shadow or lipstick (weddings, special occasions). I could easily go 2 weeks without makeup.
Not shaving under the arms and not wearing deodorant, I don’t think so! That is not a matter of beauty to me, shaving under my arms is for me because I don’t like the feel of hair there. Putting on deodorant is mainly for me because I like not having sticky underarms, but also for others in case I sweat.
I don’t consider lotion to be ‘makeup’. It is skin care just like putting conditioner on my hair is not about beauty as much as it is about being able to drag a comb through it after the shower.
HB
March 29th, 2012
4:20 pm
Denise and K’s Mom, I think orris root is the common ingredient that people are tested for to see if they are allergic to perfume. That’s not to say that body sprays, etc won’t cause allergy problems, but apprently that one ingredient is the main culprit. Some hypoallergenic perfumes, like Clinique, don’t have it (Clinique still sets off my allergies, but they say many people allergic to orris root can use it). Some French perfumes don’t bother me nearly as much as most do, so I think there must be something left out or something about their processing that makes it easier for me to tolerate.
Jeff
March 29th, 2012
4:27 pm
I think the consensus between the normal people is that less is more when it comes to almost all of these accessories.
Shaggy/ms shaggy: you kill me.
Becky
March 29th, 2012
4:33 pm
@Augusta..I worked with a lady once that was the same way..She would “refresh” her makeup about 3-4 times per day..It takes me about 10 minutes to put my makeup on..Any more time than that and I go without it..Like you, shower to car, I can be ready in about the same time half an hour..All of my makeup can fit into a ziplock sandwhich size bad with room left over…
K's Mom
March 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
@HB, interesting. I can’t tolerate Cliniques perfume either. Clinique Happy was huge when I was in college and it made me gag too. I am highly allergic to all lillies too and I wonder if there is something common in perfumes that comes from lillies.
missnadine
March 29th, 2012
5:05 pm
I am an ex-smoker, and smoked for 20 years. Strangely enough, I love the smell, not on a person in an elevator, but love walking through the smoking area outdoors!
missnadine
March 29th, 2012
5:29 pm
wow Teresa, this would be a good time to remove a post.
Denise
March 29th, 2012
6:09 pm
@HB and K’s Mom – Clinique’s Happy does me in too. :-( I just can’t do any of them. I have a girlfriend who had to work from home because too many scents gave her migraines and she couldn’t be in her office and stay healthy. When I’m in the mall, I hold my breath and run thru the perfume area and give the meanest looks to the ladies wanting to spray me. If it wasn’t impolite I might give them a few choice words when they block my path! LOL
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
March 29th, 2012
6:38 pm
Miss Priss I just deleted a bunch of inappropriate comments — I’ve had several notes complaining about your inappropriateness. Post one more inappropriate think and I’m about to ban you. I know you’ve been with a long time and most often play OK so ….. it’s up to you.
Fred ™
March 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
It’s funny. I KNOW who “Snooki’ is because you would have to live in a vacuum not to, but I have NEVER watched Jersey Shore. They posted a picture of her that she tweeted (don’t do twitter either) without makeup. I couldn’t believe it. She actually looked GOOD. She looks like crap with her makeup on.
Oh well just my 2 cents……….
Fred trademarked...
March 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
…his name – give me a break…
A friend with whom I used to go to church...
March 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
…many years ago (God rest her soul) used to put on make up BEFORE she went to bed – when asked by her closest lady friends why she did this, her response was she did it because “what if “K” wakes up and looks at me” – and that is the gospel truth…
cobb mom
March 30th, 2012
7:04 am
Due to a medical condition I have extremely sensitive skin and can’t wear any type of makeup. As a teenager and an adult I’ve never had acne, very fortunate indeed. I do wash my face and use a light moisturizer. Due to the skin issue I can’t wear perfumed lotions or perfume in general. I have to wear unscented deodorant and use unscented shampoo.
Miss Priss!
March 30th, 2012
8:50 am
Goodness gracious! I just shot Africa Katamu out of my nose! Women complaining about something … why am I not suprised!
Anyhow, I’ll will try very hard to behave. Less is more?
jarvis
March 30th, 2012
9:04 am
No new blog today, huh? Guess I’ll read the obits.
March 30th, 2012
9:29 am
“Miss Priss I just deleted a bunch of inappropriate comments — I’ve had several notes complaining about your inappropriateness. Post one more inappropriate think and I’m about to ban you. I know you’ve been with a long time and most often play OK so ….. it’s up to you.””
FYI, you can’t really “ban” someone permanently, however you can slightly inconvenience them.
Good grief!
March 30th, 2012
9:55 am
What is wrong with looking and smelling nice? Of course, there are limits. I admire a neatly dressed and well-groomed person and appreciate them for the time they took to look nice rather than a rag bag looking somebody who looks like they came out in public with no consideration how they look or smell. It is called personal pride. Our society has become too casual for my tastes. Looking your best raises your self-esteem and moods. How could anyone not consider bathing, brushing their teeth, or grooming themselves daily???
Anyone else
March 30th, 2012
10:00 am
Anyone else think the reason we don’t have a new blog is Theresa is busy putting make up on for her boyfriend?
Denise
March 30th, 2012
11:39 am
@Good Grief! – I agree. Grooming should be a basic, must-do, but some folks just don’t do it. I do think it is an indication of low self-esteem. In college I took “pride” in being the “casual” one in the group. I figured that everyone needed to “love me for me”. Needless to say I only had one real relationship and I was looked over by most of the guys I was interested in. They definitely prefered girls who did more than threw on a sweatshirt and jeans and wore ponytails. When I outgrew that phase it was hard to transition into better clothes and makeup because I thought I wasn’t “keeping it real” but I do indeed feel better when I look like somebody with pride about myself. I am also cheap so I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes and shoes but I learned that I didn’t have to to be cute. Today I have on a $20 maxi dress from Old Navy and some $16 dollar sandals from some souvenir shop and I happen to like my look. I don’t have on any makeup but my skin looks nice (I think…considering the fact it is not super clear yet) and my shoulders are out. I like my shoulders. So yeah, I’m feeling pretty good. I no longer feel good with ratty sweatshirts and jeans. The only sweatshirts I wear are Saints sweatshirts in football season. I doubt I ever REALLY did but I “branded” myself that way and felt that I had to go with it…until I couldn’t anymore.
Fred ™
March 30th, 2012
12:48 pm
Fred trademarked…
March 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
…his name – give me a break…
Yeah well I have Stalkers across several blogs who use my name to post asinine posts. They then say it’s just a “coincidence.” Now if they add the trademark it’s obvious that they are scum sucking stalkers trying to defame me which IS against the forum rules here and an IPO bannable offense.
Thanks for your concern though mystery meat.
Augusta
March 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
She can and will block you. There’s this little thing called an IP address, and she can prevent you from posting here……Just ask Enema’s for Easter, and several innappropriate names….oh wait you can’t, they’ve been blocked!!!! I’m sorry……
March 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
“She can and will block you. There’s this little thing called an IP address, and she can prevent you from posting here……Just ask Enema’s for Easter, and several innappropriate names….oh wait you can’t, they’ve been blocked!!!! I’m sorry……”
You missed the point entirely.
I clearly know how someone is supposedly “blocked”. My point was that one can’t be truely “blocked” as there are plenty of means to go around it.
Enemas for Easter
March 30th, 2012
2:11 pm
Did I hear my name?
Rectal Bleeding
March 30th, 2012
2:13 pm
There sure are a lot of uptight women here. Maybe it’s time you head back to the kitchen.
Voice of Reason
March 30th, 2012
2:15 pm
So no topic today eh?
Fine I’ll make up my own.
So ladies who dressed up for National Cleavage Day?
Pictures, or it didn’t happen.
Enemas for Easter
March 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
What’s inappropriate about my name?
Augusta
March 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with your name, but you were reprimanded a few months ago, for not playing nice. :)
djm_NC
March 31st, 2012
7:18 am
i wear mascara to work…sometimes some blush…i hate the feel of make up on my face and to me it doesnt look great. i agree that deoderant is a totally different subject and i never go without that.
my daughters started playing with make up at a very young age and by the time the were old enough to wear it in public they were very proficient at applying it…they both went through a stage of wearing it but now neither wears it, only very rarely. i think they are beautiful with or without :)….
i agree too-its a tad disheartening when one day you wear make up and everyone tells you how great you look (when you usually dont wear it and no one tells you that you look great lol) but i go for comfort. i cant live without my mascara…and some good moisturizer. thats about it. oh yeah…and the deoderant lol