April 13, 2016

Are You Most Comfortable With Makeup Or Without It?

makeup or no makeup

Ahh the age old question, are you most comfortable with makeup or without it?

I don’t know who you are, what sex you are, what nationality. I don’t know if you’re slim, tall, chuubby, or short. I don’t know if you’re blond or brunette or perhaps a red head. What I do know is you likely have at least one thing that you might just dislike about yourself or something that makes you uncomfortable or insecure. It’s just life. Now I’m personally quite special because I have a MILLION things I don’t like about myself.

My eyebrows, my big giant eyes, my height, my super wavy out of control hair, my puffy eyes, and the list goes on and on and on.

But makeup always makes me feel a little more confident, a little more comfortable, and a little more secure.

Question is, am I most comfortable with makeup or without it?

As I get older I actually appreciate a more minimal look. Sometimes you have to know when to call it quits on the aqua eyeshadow front! But I’m still not completely comfortable without concealer under my eyes at the very least. They are one of my biggest concerns as they always look quite tired and puffy. A little concealer goes a lot of way at restoring my “youth”!

At one time in my life though, I felt the need to never leave the house without my complete face on. Nowadays, I’m a lot more comfortable just slapping a little concealer under my eyes, curling my lashes, and going.

So guess I’m ok with not wearing a ton of makeup but I’m not ok being completely bare faced.

How about you?

Which features do you accentuate?

Which are you looking to conceal and perfect?

What products do you use to address your concerning areas?

Are you comfortable without makeup?

Or most comfortable and secure with it?

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‘.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  • Susan

    Wow that pic of you reminds me of a gypsy. A beautiful gypsy, all that lovely hair down and your mysterious eyes. Just saying. I go out with/without makeup. While I do think I look somewhat better with it, I’m not afraid to leave the house without. Makeup is something that I play and experiment with. Depends upon my mood of the day.

    • Isabella Muse

      thanks Susan! I think I look like an idiot haha 🙂 but thank you! I’m ok without but at the least concealer under my eyes makes me most comfortable!

  • blee

    Musey, girl you are beautiful! I put pink, purple, white, yellow flowers and the list goes on in my yard. It makes it look beautiful with all the colors and trees and bushes if different colors and sizes. So why not some on my face? I think you can and if you don’t it’s okay too. We need to see more pictures if you awesome hair. 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks but not really Blee! Love ya for saying that 😀 Awesome hair it is not, it’s more like a hot mess 😀

  • Christina D.

    It depends upon the circumstance. Generally, of course I feel better wearing makeup — isn’t that the point? But I am so not dependent upon it. I often go out sans makeup: I refuse to wear it at the gym so I am in public every day without it; if i didn’t get a chance to apply any, I don’t cower in fear behind my front door and refuse to leave the house. I sometimes feel like I spend more time researching, purchasing, storing, organizing, etc. my stash that actually applying it! The only think that irks me is when my significant other makes comments about looking better with makeup — but he probably says it to annoy me anyway and it usually backfires on him!

    • Isabella Muse

      aww lol! I had just the opposite happen to me last year, it was “you look better without!” which was like, “WHAT!? REALLY!? ARE YOU CRAZY?” I don’t cower in fear without it either but I feel better if I at least conceal under my eyes!

      • Kathy Agel

        I get that ‘you look fine without it’ line from my husband — it’s usually because he’s in a hurry to go out. Sorry, Bob — after over 40 years together you should realize that it’s not gonna work on me.

  • Christina D.

    Actually, I was going to tell you that while both pictures are flattering, I do think you look even prettier without makeup! However, I’m sure when we eventually get our schedules coordinated and get together, I will be wearing makeup.

    • Isabella Muse

      you are TOO kind sis! And yes, please let’s do that? Our dinner/makeup date is lonnnnnnnnnnnng overdue!

  • Chynna

    Most days I am without makeup because I would rather sleep another 10 minutes. Other days I just throw on a tinted moisturizer and go because it helps even out my redness. On days I use more, I love to play with highlighters, mascara, neutral eye shadows, and peachy/coral blushes.

    I wear glasses and if I want to put any makeup on, that means I have to take my glasses off and can’t see well. I can listen to an audio book or the news, but that’s about it. On the other hand, I can paint my nails while I watch TV with my glasses on and I can spend as much time as I want doing them because I paint my nails at night, not while I’m trying to get out the door to go to work. So while I hardly spend any time on my makeup, I’ll change my nail polish 2-3 times a week and have hundreds of colors to choose from.

  • Kitty Kat Does Makeup

    I personally feel better with makeup! I know it is bad to say but I think I look scary or sick without makeup. Also, as I get older I can see more imperfections and I think makeup helps so much!!! Ohhh how it would be to be 20 again 🙂

  • Natalie

    I think you look better in the picture on the right without makeup. You look fresher and more glowy. I think you are lucky to have big eyes, because you don’t necessarily need eye makeup to define and enhance them. I go without any makeup except concealer all the time and feel comfortable if not more comfortable than wearing makeup. I much prefer to spend my time on a great skincare routine to look naturally good and I get compliments all the time on my skin. When I do wear more it still is light and natural just because that is what I like. I think when as I get older heavy makeup makes me look like I am trying too hard and desperate to look young. But, that is just how I feel about it and I try not to judge others if they like a heavy look.

    • Isabella Muse

      thank you! I’m always amazed when people are like “you look better without makeup!” I have a hard time even understanding that 😀 I think that’s a very GOOD idea! Splurging on skincare so your skin looks good is an excellent plan 🙂

      • Kathy Agel

        I’ll be 61 in July. I have hazel eyes, short salt-and-pepper-to-silver hair which was originally a very dark brown, and could stand to lose about 25 lbs (not easy after menopause). Married 35 years next Tuesday, no kids (well, our only kids wag their tails and flap their wings — and two of the flappers call me Mommy).

        Around the house, I wear nothing but skincare (philosophy) — why bother? I’ll treat myself to a spritz of perfume, but that’s it.

        When we go out, usually twice a week, maybe three (we’re retired and happy to hang out in the yard gardening or reading by the pool), I HAVE to have makeup on. I wear more in the winter — foundation (Bare Minerals original, ranging from Fairly Light in the dead of winter through Medium Beige to Golden Tan in the summer, mixed with a wee bit of Golden Dark if needed), mineral veil, brow powder, eye shadow (minimum three colors, often four and when I’m in the mood, five), liner (often a darker color on the top lid and a slightly lighter color under the bottom lashes), mascara, blush, highlighter on my cheekbones, lip liner, lipstick (not gloss — 60-year-old lips and glosses do NOT get along), maybe a touch of bronzer. I tan naturally and easily, so as I get darker and my skintone evens out, I use less foundation, and might use a layer or two of Bronzing Mineral Veil instead of foundation. I might tone the eye shadow down (using an allover and a crease color) and use a brighter liner than my usual dark browns, plums, and navy) — bright blue or green (there are a couple of Ready shadows that make fantastic bright liners). But I won’t go anywhere without blush, eye liner, mascara, lip liner, and lipstick (the lone exception is the eye doctor — I can’t wear liner or mascara for dilations and pressure tests and it kills me to go out like that).

  • Jules

    Omg that pic with your hair down!! So adorable!!! And your hair/eyes/eyebrows are amazing! Yeah… Sounds like we have some of the same issues….although I have a few more (I admit to being a bit over the top with my insecurities!). I’m a quarter Greek, but got all the Greek genes for hair!! So I’ve got the wild, curly mane, the eyebrows that grow almost down to my lid crease, puffy eyes with super dark circles, lips that are too full, a lovely stache, discoloration from acne scars…with super fair, sensitive skin & chubby cheeks with no discernible cheekbones. UGH.

    I didn’t use foundation until about 5 years ago, but concealer was always a must!! I’ve always been a makeup girl, but now that I’m in my 40s, I’ve tried to tone things down a bit. I’ve sworn off silver eyeshadow like 100 times. It never lasts, though…I just try to be a little more subtle, and my focus has shifted more to my face, rather than my eyes/lips. But I honestly don’t remember the last time I left the house completely bare faced!!

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks Jules! Blush! 🙂 LOL omg don’t worry! I’m there with you! I’m half Italian/Half Portuguese this equals=HAIR! lol! If I let them grow I’d just have one single eyebrow lol! Don’t worry I totally get it 🙂 I have chubby cheeks too!!!!!!!!!! and a round face and a double chin I’m in denial about 🙂 Let’s have dinner, we can chat our problems hehe!

      • Jules

        Haha! Oh yeah…I forgot about my uni brow & double chin…and if ya ever find yourself down in the wilds of Kentucky, we’ll do dinner, and I’ll sing you happy birthday in Portuguese! Boa tarde!

        • Isabella Muse

          haha sounds like a plan! if you’re ever in New York, likewise, Portuguese Happy Birthday and all ;-D

  • Natasha

    you look FANTASTIC without makeup!!

    i used to wear a lot more makeup , in a sense of layers foundation and lots of eyeliner, the older i get i tend to wear lighter foundations such as Loreal Lumi and a bold lip! i feel like a statement lip forces you to keep you makeup minimal.

    Natasha

    • Isabella Muse

      thanks :)! You’re too kind! I go really minimal with foundation too! I like something that eases dullness but doesn’t look cakey or unnatural 🙂

  • Dee

    Muse, don’t ever dislike your eyes. They are beautiful and you are gorgeous in both pictures!

    I feel more comfortable in makeup but am trying to step out with less of it on.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks Dee. I don’t really like my eyes, they seem to dominate my face :-/ But thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am too! I like minimal lately a lot 🙂

  • Dora

    I have said for years that I’m in mascara prison — basically cannot leave home without it. I mean, not to work out or go to the beach or to zip out for a takeout coffee or something, but for almost everything else, yes. Recently, that has extended to a little eyebrow product and under-eye concealer. OK, and a little lip product of some kind. I just feel like those four make me look awake and refreshed. Like, how I SHOULD look when I wake up (but don’t).

  • Thiel

    I admit, I basically don’t leave the house (actually the dorm) without makeup; if nothing else, I don’t get the “are you tired?” “Have you been crying?” “You look sick” type of comments when I have makeup on. I have discoloration around my eyes and very dull looking skin so people, particularly people who mostly see women who either have naturally flawless skin or wear foundation all the time (college guys), often don’t realize that that’s just how my skin looks without makeup.
    As for what I like to play up, I live my full, pouty lips so I wear statement lipstick a lot. I also like to play up my brows. No one was happier than I when the Cara brow became the epitome of style! I’m sure as I get older and start having to take work appropriateness into account I’ll embrace subdued pinks and nudes but for now, I’m a 21-year-old college student so if I wanna experiment with rainbow ombré brows or bright orchid lips, I will.

    • Isabella Muse

      I think it is so so rude when people ask those kinds of questions. I’ve gotten the “wow you look tired!” it’s such a passive aggressive way to say you look bad lol!

  • Garrett

    Muse my love you are so gorgeous!!! If I ever move to NY I am finding you and we are gonna be bffs! I feel the same way . I’m a guy but I love putting makeup in and feeling confident but I also sometimes only a little bit of brow and base to feel good too!

    • Isabella Muse

      I love you Garrett 🙂 We can totally be BFF virtually hehe just until you get yourself to New York hehe 😀 So long as I can get a little concealer under my eyes I’m comfortable without anything else. I just hate my puffiness booooo!!!!!!!!!!

  • Hanna

    When I was a teenager I hated my giant eyes. I thought I looked like an alien.
    Now I’m always trying to make them look even bigger!
    Yours are beautiful and you look lovely without makeup.

    I like to go without makeup on a day to day basis, my toddler doesn’t care if I’ve got mascara on I assure you.
    But when we go out on the weekends, I do feel more put together with eyebrows and concealer.
    When I go out with my girls, full face!

    So I guess I’m comfortable either way.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks Hanna. I’ve always felt like my eyes just dominate my face, I don’t really love them! I wish I had smaller ones 🙂

  • Rachel R.

    I LOVE your huge doe eyes! I think they’re beautiful. I think you’re very pretty, with or without makeup. I wish I looked as good as you do without any makeup BTW, I love the Stevie Nicks vibe in your made up picture.

    I’m comfortable in no makeup, but I think I look much better with at least a little bit on. I’m pale, I’m round faced, I’m fat, I still get acne spots. Mostly I wear a full face of makeup, but it’s because I like to. I have fun coming up with looks and applying the makeup. I like to accentuate my eyes with all kind of colored eyeshadows, eyeliners, and mascaras. I also like to play up my lips with bright and unconventional colors. I dislike how round my face is, and how big and wide my nose is, so I do some light contouring and major highlighting. Sephora Blush in Tranquil works best for contouring my fair skin. It’s got a nice cool, gray tone to it.

    • Isabella Muse

      thanks Rachel! I’m blushing! You are way way way too kind! haha Stevie Nicks? Thanks!!!!!! I’ll take that and run with it 😀 I have a round face too, double chin YUCK! And chubby, and short 🙂 We are who we are though..if it wasn’t a round face, acne spots, and being pale it would be something else right? I think it is human nature to just rip into yourself! I talk to you daily and already know you’re beautiful! I’m sure the outside package is just as good 🙂 <3!

  • Nat

    Erm, exqueeze me but I would kill for your adorable doe eyes. And I wish I had nice full eyebrows like yours; I have to fill mine in!

    I feel better with makeup, although I’m just fine going without. I have blond sparse eyelashes, so if I do wear makeup I tightline and add mascara, even if I don’t put on anything else. 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      you can have them Nat and my brows too 😀 hehe! I feel best with at least concealer if I can get a dab under each eye I’m golden 😀

  • Elaine

    Pretty—both photos—you look younger w/o makeup– but so sultry with! I applaud you for embracing what nature gave you and loving yourself. We all have personalities to share with the world (w/makeup we can explore) and being able to decide who we are and what we present is a way to tell our story! Good question! Elaine

  • Yen

    You look super gorgeous with that long curly mane! Both pictures of you are great one is mysterious and one is glowy and fresh.
    I’m with you on appreciation a more minimal look with age. I use to never leave the house without a full face! Back then eyeshadow was my must have item or I refused to leave the house. Now, I literally just dust on powder foundation really quick, fill in my brows, and go to work. I still look quite tired since I skip the concealer, but I rather sleep another 10 minutes haha. If I’m going to work, brows are a MUST DO! My brows are literally non existent if you took a picture of me sans makeup. Otherwise, I don’t feel the need to put on anything except sunscreen when I run errands. Applying makeup is something that depends more or less on my mood now/occasion.

    • Isabella Muse

      thank you yen! <3! I was so like that! I used to always have my face on when I went out but nowadays I'm cool with concealer and cheek stain on the weekends 😀

  • Cel

    Okay, can I just say I thought it was Vanessa Hudgens in the photo?

    These days I’m completely fine with having no make-up but it definitely helps.
    I’m definitely in the no-makeup make-up style right now but I feel like I should have more fun like I used to with colors.

    All the things you listed you disliked I’m actually pretty envious of! I’m pretty sure a bajillion girls would kill for your brows especially.

    • Isabella Muse

      OH STOP LOL! I should be that good looking, Cel but thank you! YOU ARE TOO SWEET 🙂 You guys can have my brows, they are all yours 🙂

  • kellly

    I feel like I look sort of half dead without eye makeup on. I have large, deep set eyes with epic dark circles under them b/c they are so deep set. So I MUST wear concealer and even if I was going for a super-minimalist look, it would have to include at least a major dose of volumizing mascara. I could technically do with only that, but I generally also add a neutral, skin-colored shiny shadow to try and make my deep set eyes look not quite so deep set, and light, natural toned blush and a sort of neutral or lip-colored lipstick or stain. It takes me about 10 minutes to put it on and I do it every day, weekends included even if I’m not going anywhere and nobody is going to see me except myself.

    • Isabella Muse

      I’m like that, even if no one is going to see me I still feel a little better with concealer under my eyes 🙂

  • TwirlyGirly

    Miss Muse, you are a stunningly beautiful woman – both with makeup and without. I’m not going to say you look “better” one way or the other, but you do look different with makeup and without makeup. Honestly, I’m a bit jealous! I’ve never, ever looked that good without makeup, even in my prime. If Botticelli were still alive, he’d probably kidnap you to use you as a model for his angel paintings.

    I am going to say this, however….the angle of the photos you usually take when reviewing a product and the headbands you wear in those photos do not do you justice. I realize you probably do that on purpose to make us focus on the makeup and not YOU, but the photos above are so much more flattering to you AND to the makeup. Would you even consider taking your review pics face-forward and without the headbands? What about if you put the issue to a vote with those who comment here? If the majority vote for face-forward, no headband (your hair is gorgeous!), would you make the change?

    • Isabella Muse

      you are too too kind Twirlygirly! I am not but thank you! Haha I do love the idea of being kidnapped by Botticelli though 😀 LOL! Honestly, I probably wouldn’t do my hair any different simply because I take my photos in the AM before I head to work and I like my hair up and away from my face when I work. I think I do face forward photos? It don’t really have an extensive set up, it’s kinda pose with my arm holding the camera out. I’m sorry the photos aren’t really great. I’m not a fab photographer or even a photogenic person! If I ever go into full time blogging (doubt it haha) I’d def consider getting a better set up for photos and such! Sorry!?!?

  • LisaO

    I agree with the others that you look lovely in both pics. I have to confess I’ve never liked to the leave the house without wearing makeup, though when I was younger, I had great skin. But I’ve always had really dark circles under my eyes, the kind like your skin is transparent & the blue veins show thru. I’ve never found a concealer that works for them-high end or low. But I definitely feel more confident wearing it & I swear people treat you differently. Weird that now I’m older, I worry about wearing too much makeup!!

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks Lisa! 🙂 Ha..likewise I kinda worry I’m wearing too much too!

  • Shisha Birmingham

    I’m confident either way. It doesn’t bother whether or not I wear makeup. Sometimes I go to work with only lip balm on. If i think I look a little washed out then I just slap on some lipstick.
    I guess maybe it’s because I got into the whole makeup game late in my life (only started makeup when I was 21).

  • Lauren

    I’m the kind of girl who is either prepared to slay or looks like I just rolled out of a garbage can. There’s really no in between, so I’m comfotable either way. I love the way makeup makes me feel, but I’m also cool without it.

    • Isabella Muse

      haha I love the “just rolled out of a garbage can” haha so many mental images!

  • Zovesta

    I’m completely comfortable without any makeup on my face. But I /prefer/ to wear it. I like to have my lashes curled, mascara on, and eyebrows held with a gel. I also try to cover the redness on my cheeks and nose. Those are my only problem areas, the rest is just for fun. =x

  • genevieve

    I also think you look lovely in both pictures and you have the most beautiful eyes.
    I have always worn makeup and I will to my dying day. I love it. But it only looks good if it suits you. You need to take care of your skin first – cleanse, exfoliate, moisturise and use sunscreen. I think foundations have saved my skin over the years before sunscreens were widely available.
    As I am 60+, very fair with red hair, blue/grey eyes, my skin tone is uneven now, so I wear a medium foundation to even things out. A light blush, eye brow pencil, a good moisturising lipstick and a gentle swish of eye shadow and mascara does the trick.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks dear you’re too kind! I agree skincare is def important part of looking god 🙂

  • ccf

    but I love your eyebrows and your big giant eyes!!!! you’re beautiful muse!

  • Jenny Nicole

    Muse, you look absolutely gorgeous with or without makeup! I don’t honestly wear a lot of makeup on a day to day basis. Maybe that’s because I’m only 23 and don’t really have many face issues. Most days that I do decide to wear makeup its BB cream, powder, eyeshadow, mascara, blush, and some kind of lip product usually in the form of lipstick or lip gloss. On the days I go light on the makeup I just do powder foundation, mascara, and lip gloss or even lip balm. I do like to wear a foundation or BB cream that will provide me light to medium coverage, don’t have much to cover just want to even out my skintone. I still have slight redness on my cheeks and acne scars because as a teenager I couldn’t stop picking at the pimples. On the days I go without makeup and contacts, I do get mistaken for a 16 year old at times. I kind of like that lol. I’m learning to take better care of my skin and will definitely start to update my skincare regime!

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thank you Jenny 🙂 <3! xoxoxoxo! When you're 23, makeup always seems optional 😀

  • Michelle Flamingo

    I did not read more than a few comments. I read one comment which said she thought you looked better on the right without makeup and I see comments where they say you look equally pretty in both pics.

    Fighting the tide due to honesty (not the devil’s advocate), in my opinion you look prettier on the right without makeup. That is not saying you look better without makeup most of the time or in general bc these are just 2 photos. Photos capture us at a moment AND depending on the light, things do not necessarily look in the photo as they truly look in reality. To muddy the waters further, depending on the specific makeup application and colors worn, I will never say a person looks better with or without makeup as a blanket statement.

    But based on these sole photos alone, I think you look prettier on the right.

    • Isabella Muse

      Thanks Michelle. Mostly, was asking what are you most comfortable with….with makeup or without? 🙂