| 4 may 2001 a new big apple review! it's like they knew i was in town. | pretty Sometimes, I have so much to write about that I can't write about any of it. Such has been this week, one of more contemplation than expression. If I can't say something interesting, I figure I'd better just hush up until I can figure it out. I don't wear much makeup, if I decide to wear any at all. Aside from looking respectable for work, I don't see much need for anything much more advanced than mascara and a smear of lipstick. For nighttime events, I'll slap on some fun color or smear that foundation goo over my freckles, but for the most part it's just plain old me up here. Apparently, many American women don't regard makeup quite the same as I do, as a nice "extra" versus "necessity". Like, they get all weird and agoraphobic without it. Yarg. So I'm kicking back in front of the television late this afternoon, and I stopped on a show focused on vanity--healthy and unhealthy forms of it. The women in the studio audience were asked to arrive at the show wearing NO makeup, though they weren't required to do so. Some of them complied, but a startling number did not. They showed up with full-on spackle-face. When some of them were questioned as to why they could not go without their makeup, these were some of their responses:
Three of the guests had been challenged to go a week without makeup. This included work, social engagements, and general puttering about. In their video diaries, one woman broke down in tears because she couldn't do anything to "look better". (Though, in my opinion, I thought they all looked five years younger without the stuff.) She also admitted that, through the end of her three pregnancies, she applied makeup before falling asleep each night in case the babies were born. She didn't want to look bad in post-birth photos. Yeah, that's totally what I'd be worried about. Healthy baby? That's nice, now pass the lipgloss. The point of the whole exercise was that these women could, and did, eventually leave the house without makeup. From the woman who wouldn't even take out the trash without mascara and lipstick, to the other whose husband had never seen her naked face; they became somewhat more comfortable with their own faces. One woman stopped being "startled" by her reflection each morning. For a moment, I thought, "hey, now this is progress." And then came the commercials. In the course of two minutes, I witnessed two makeup commercials (one age-defying foundation, one multi-product exclusive brand), and two hair product ads (one color, one styling product). I guess the producers of this particular show kind of forgot to tell their advertisers, "hey guys, let's not be ironic or anything this show. How's about some Twinkie and Pringles commercials, pronto!" The thing is, most men that I've known over the years actually prefer women with little or no makeup. For the most part, women get all gussied up to compete with other women. Not only that, but have you ever looked critically at a women's magazine, and then compared it to a men's? Gals, do yourself a favor and grab a Playboy or Maxim this week. Now, please keep in mind that these chicks have been as airbrushed as those in Cosmo , and they've been granted more than their share of genetic blessings. However, if you think you're going through all of your trouble to snag a dude, Mademoiselle isn't going to help you. Eyeball that centerfold. Note that she isn't starving. Read the articles. (No, really, some of them are pretty interesting.) You will be hard-pressed to find one that states that lipstick or eyeliner is high on most men's turn-on lists. Besides, makeup tastes bad. Go ahead, try it--glop some of that foundation into a spoon and enjoy. That's what your boyfriend tastes every time he has to smooch your face. Same with the gooey lipstick. Think not? Take a bite and see if you don't gag hard. Pretty has an interesting way of keeping beauty just out of reach. |
