March 17, 2016

Do You Look Younger or Older Without Makeup?

younger or older makeup

There was a time in my life when I wouldn’t leave the house without a full face of makeup on. I had to have my face in place before going anywhere. Nowadays, well, I’m living it up like the French where more equals less.

On the weekends, I’m good with curling my lashes, getting a dab of cheek stain on my cheeks, and going! GASP! I know! Shocking!

Question is, do you look younger or older without makeup on?

I look younger. Apparently so much younger I was carded to buy Batman VS Superman tickets last week (Affleck, if you screw this up I will never talk to you ever again for the rest of our lives!). Dude, the movie is PG-13 WTF? Are you not seeing these fine lines under my eyes? Maybe it was my hoodie, t-shirt, and Converse and not so much my lack of makeup that did it!?

I’ve also had a makeup artist tell me, in a condescending “you’re too young” voice, to “Not play with the lipsticks, sweetie!”

How about you?

Younger or older without your makeup on?

Do share!

38 Comments

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Dani

    Older, definitively older! I tend to look like a 15 year old even though I’m 25! So makeup gives me the image I need when going to work or to some important event where I need to NOT look like a child.

  • Mox

    Younger without it. I have a baby face and a very dark waterline naturally so the only thing I use is lip colour, or I look like a panda.

    Even then, it has to be a deep lip colour or I still look young.

  • ElfK

    After 40, everything changes. You need your concealer to look younger.

    • Dora

      Exactly. You still need a light hand but it switches to looking younger without makeup to looking younger with makeup. Mascara, concealer, and eyebrows in particular.

      • Merideth

        Completely agree. I’m pushing 50, and concealer or BB cream plus blush are absolutely required for a baseline natural look. Without them, I look tired and blotchy.

  • Jay

    Older with it. Without it, I look super young and don’t stand out at all lol. People seem to take me more seriously even if I only put on mascara and blush.

  • Caitlin

    I’m 19 years old but I look much younger because of my very petite build and baby face. I have a 15 year old sister who looks much older than 15 and when I don’t have makeup on people think she is older than I am. When we both have makeup on people think we’re twins. If I want to be taken seriously and not treated like a child I have to wear makeup.

  • N

    I look younger without it. The older I get I find less looks better. Concealer never hurts though. If you have some fine lines under the eyes, I find just putting it where it is dark toward the inner corners looks better as it can settle in the lines and make you look older.

  • natasha

    i loook sooo young … im 27 but if i dont wear makeup or eyeliner at least … then i look like im under 18 and still get carded for R-rated movies lol

  • sarah

    Either way, people always think I’m a teenager. I have been 16 to strangers since I was 16. I had to go to the bank yesterday to close out my account and open a new one because someone stole my card number and the gentleman I was working with was convinced I was a student. It did not help that my mother was there with me (we were going shopping together afterwards and she banks there to, so she tagged along) and hovering over the whole process. After shooing her away I had to explain our plans to him and that I was almost thirty not 16.
    I’ve been carded for everything, including spray paint, of all things. I guess it’s better than to be pegged as older, but I thought by now people would at least assume I was in my early 20’s.

  • Andrew

    I look between 5-7 years younger regardless (thanks to my mother telling me since I was 18 to take care of my skin). Luckily I blend in with the other college kids on campus so no one knows they’re going to class with an ancient 27 year-old :-P. With makeup it’s not so much younger as more alert, I guess. I keep it super-natural so the most I’ll do is undereye concealer, primer, light foundation, a little color/bronzer, then set with powder and mist. It just makes me look more rested. When I’m feeling super-spicy I’ll even do a little to my brows.

    • Isabella Muse

      Ancient 27 year old, PLEASE Andrew! 😀 That’s me, I look much more rested with makeup on versus without. Without it’s kinda the “up all night gaming dark circle” look going on!

  • Zovesta

    Older. I’m 19, but get mistaken for 25. I’m fine with looking like I’m older and just take great care of my skin! :p

  • Jen R

    I’m just about 37, and I think I’m at the point where I look younger WITH makeup – although that’s definitely helped by the fact that I tend to wear “fun” and bright/colorful makeup, even at work.

    People always seem to think that I’m younger than I actually am though, and at this point in life, I’m not complaining! 😉

  • Upsydaisy

    I look quite young for my age (am 36 but get 20-25 a lot lol), but without some make up I just look sick! I have zero color anywhere on my face and darkish rings under my eyes. Already 10-15 years ago if i dared to go without make up, i kept getting sent Home to rest since I was ill, or to sleep as I’m obviously tired 😀 LOL

  • Rachel Runyan

    I look a younger with makeup on. When I was younger, I wore it to look my age, because I was short and had a round face.

      • Rachel Runyan

        You know the struggle! 😉 Everyone though I was so young without makeup. I’d get carded well into my 20s.

        I lucked out with having oily skin, though I would have sworn otherwise when I was younger. Even without makeup, people guess I’m 32-35, and I’m 46. Oily skin and zits when you’re younger = next to no wrinkles when you’re older, so any shiny faced girls out there should take heart.

        • Isabella Muse

          likewise! It’s a bit of a pain sometimes! I have dry skin but thankfully still maintained a youthful face! I wish I did have oily skin 🙂 means I’d like 30 in my 60’s hehe!

  • Lauren

    I’m a pale ginger lady with crazy dark circles and nearly invisible lashes. For me, makeup is more about looking alive lol 😀

  • Loren

    With make-up usually I’m not older than 16 for people, without people put me at around 18-19. I’m actually 27 so I’m always happy to hear anyone say I look younger.

  • Cheryl

    Well, when you are closer to 50 than 40, the only person who thinks you are “young” is the 80+ year old guy at the liquor store who can’t see anything without his glasses. That said, I think I look younger with makeup, as a bit of blush, mascara, a rosy lip tint and hydrating cc cream impart a lttle glow and definition that we lose as we fade into our “elder years.” ; ) One thing is for sure, less is more as you get older. Too much makeup can come across as “desperately chasing youth” or “creepy clown”!

  • Lace

    It depends. Usually I look younger without. I get carded all the time or asked what school do I go to. I’m 33.

  • kellly

    I’ve worn makeup for so long, I think I definitely look BETTER with it, younger, more alive and pulled together. I don’t think I look younger with no makeup; I think I look unfinished and would scare the small children if I went outside the house that way!

  • Kimmyyy

    I definitely look younger without makeup. I just turned 28 on the 2nd of this month and I still get carded to go into R-rated movies. While I do love makeup, I hate wearing any foundation or any type of heavy eye makeup, as I already have dark thick lashes and plus, my eyes are hooded. I feel like anytime I wear more than a lip color and blush, I look my age. Then again, I’ve asked other people if they agree and they say it just makes me look like I’m actually over 20, haha.

  • Karen

    I look much younger with or without. A light touch is better than completely bare but still I got carded into my 30’s.

  • M.

    I am almost 30 and a mom, I have to wear make up for work, but when i dont i get carded each time i buy a pack o cigarretes ( i know nasty habit )or wine its funny cause it the same people that sold them to me before on my way to work with a full face of makeup, but it can get annoying if i I am in a hurry; cause i hardly think i look 19 (legal age in Canada) lol

  • Jean

    Definitely younger. I think makeup makes everyone look older. I was surprised when I saw miss universe pageants without their makeup, they look like teenagers! Their makeup makes them look over 30.

  • Ardis

    Definitively younger without makeup. I’m in my early 30s and have a baby face and without it can be mistaken for being under 18. When I wear makeup, I look more “my age”- esp. with a dark eye and red lip. But with nothing or soft colors (pink esp.) I look so much younger. And tho I enjoy being mistaken for being way younger now that I’m older- I love makeup so much- that I’d rather “look my age” and wear some.

  • genevieve

    I look much younger with makeup on because the foundation evens out my skin tones. I have very few wrinkles and my skin is generally in a good condition, but foundation just adds a smoothness to my complexion. When I had my two year old grand daughter at the local park recently, a lady thought I was her mother.
    I am 60+ years old and I still LOVE my makeup. I think it makes you really take care of your skin.
    Cleanse, exfoliate (once a week), sunscreen in your daily moisturiser.

  • Iris

    I look older with makeup on. Depends on the type of makeup too. Smokey eyes and red lipstick make me look older. I like it as I’ve been mistaken for a uni student lots.

  • Val

    I look younger without. I’m 34 and the other day I wore just tinted moisturizer eyeliner on top only (I usually line bottom) and lip balm, and the lady at the grocery store carded me for the beer saying I look too young to be buying beer! I guess I should start wearing less if I want to look young!

  • Jodi J.

    I definitely look younger with makeup. I’m 51 and was asked twice in the same week if I was in my 30s. I usually don’t run errands, etc., without makeup on for a reason.

  • Alecto

    I’m pushing 50, so it’s definitely younger with, older without. I rarely do “fresh-faced no-makeup makeup” (I’m more metal, with looks and colors that tend to make others uncomfortable and that aren’t necessarily flattering), but when I do, I swear it drops 15 years off my face! Easily!

  • Siyawolf

    I look more youthful and younger without it and think anyone under 30 does. I like making cause I have a had a lot of acne in the past and have scars now. But I still thin ink I look like 20 rather then 26 without it and a lot of other people think so to. I get carded every time without and not at all with. Makeup on a young person just make you look more mature and sophisticated and without it on young women you just look like a laid back college girl in my opinion. I used to wear every day now I don’t wear anything ate all, abouslutly nothing. I just wash my face a lot I feel fresher and young and skin never looked better. It takes to long to take off and put on and to much money. I’m not against and still wear it on special occasions or photos and I think it’s like nice lingere it make you feel sexy/mature and just more confident. But my opinion I think everyone under 30 that’s healthy and drug free lol look youthful, clean and fresh.