In the wake of the Academy Awards and a great deal of on line chatter about bad plastic surgery and the (perceived) need to look young, author Laura Lippman suggested on Facebook that everyone post photos of their 'real,' un-made up, unretouched selves.
No problem. At seventy one I'm used to who I am and comfortable with it. I haven't worn makeup in a good many years -- I put some lipstick on for an author photo ten years ago and felt like I was wearing a clown face.
In my twenties, I did the whole thing -- foundation, eye make up, etc., etc. -- and I remember how naked I felt without makeup.
Then I got over it. What a pleasure not to spend time 'putting on my face.' (And when you think about it, what a truly weird concept that is.)
I can't remember exactly when I quit using lipstick but I kinda think it was when I read THE NAKED APE by Desmond Morris (1967.) He posited that reddened lips were a (probably subconscious) imitation of the female genitalia which flush red and swell on arousal.
Hmmm. And that would account for Botoxed lips as well.
One of the nicest things about the Internet, I think, is that we get to know people often with no idea of what they look like. One of my favorite friends on Facebook is, if his/her profile picture is to be believed, a mouse.
16 comments:
I don't even care for photos of myself made up, much less with a naked face.
I remember when I first started using makeup and lipstick, my dad made reference to a baboon's ass.
By the way, you look GREAT!
I avoid mirrors, so photos of myself...
Now, if I was a beautiful as you are!
Your thoughts on this reminded me of something I ran across a while back. The brand name Dove, hired a forensics artist to sketch women based on their description of themselves and then a second sketch of the same woman described by someone they had just met. Granted, this is a publicity stunt, but still, it tells you a lot about a woman's view of themselves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo_JiKi8ezI
Attractive faces, to me at least, are ones that look interested, open, and good-natured. There's also that ability I have of seeing all of my friends as attractive because I like them, not because of what they look like. So you score attractive on all of the above!
it is cool that we can know people based on their words...though even those get a little botox treatment at times....smiles...but...i wash my face and spend about 32 seconds standing my hair up. ha. had a fun talk on this with my students this week...embracing the beauty in our ugliness...ha
When I used a more natural photo, not smiling, as my "portrait" one friend said it didn't look like me, I was always smiling. I kind of felt like the non-smiler at the time, and was surprised at her comment. When I again felt a smile was warranted, she said, now that's you. It hides some of the flab which I'm quite proud of...well, instead of wrinkles, that's what nature and my life have given me. I'm ok with myself.
Vicki, I think your self portrait is lovely!
i grew up in an area where natural beauties were prized, although many of those females did use some make up to achieve their natural perfection.
Getting a summertime tan was part of the natural look. Years later, I wonder how many of those then young ladies have required skin cancer surgery on their faces like my own.
Nowadays, whether or not I apply any make up, I always, always use sunscreen, and have done for decades now. I guess that is my beauty advice.
xo
That's got to be the picture you use on your Shelton Laurel novel.
Not much to say about this subject. You look great Vicki just as you are. As for me I shave every other day and shower regularly. Oh cut my finger and toe nails once in a while. I'm getting balder by the minute so Joan electric clippers me about every other week. That's my whole story.
I wear makeup only on rare occasions. At a Christmas party the other year, one of my friends commented, "You sure do clean up good."
I have friends older than I who wouldn't dare leave the house without makeup. Not me. I don't even wear a bra except in summer.
BTW: You look mahvelous, dahling.
When young, I was concerned that my eyelashes and brows had no color, so as soon as I was allowed, I would apply mascara, I left the eyebrows alone after watching Liv Ullman's face on film. She didn't have much color there either.
I haven't used anything for years. And how great that feels. I no longer recognize people in the film industry because of what they do to their faces. And so young too, so many of them.
You look lovely and it is nice to find out what yet another one of my blogger friends looks like.
Great post. Great photo. Haven't wore makeup since the influential 60s. -- barbara
I know exactly what you mean. I still wear makeup, but only when I go into town for something special like our writing class. Around the cabin everyone gets the real me.
You're right not to dress up something which is just fine as it is! Your face is lovely - keep it just as it is.
I have always worn make-up, but lately I have cut down on it a lot and now just use a little face-coloured lipstick and a coloured moisturiser. I like that because it gives me colour without looking like a mask (LOL
I agree with what KarenB said so well. And I love the idea that often we do not know what blogger friends look like.
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