18 and i don't like makeup

Is it unacceptable if an 18 year old doesn't wear makeup? The other day my older sister yelled at me because I refused to wear makeup to my university (I wasn't in the mood to wear makeup and also because I don't like makeup). This basically resulted in me getting deep bloody scratches all over my face and a black eye. Why is makeup so damn necessary? I believe it really should be somebody's own choice if they want to or not. My sisters and my mom make makeup such a big deal.

I also have extremely low self esteem and I believe that I'm ugly (this is something that has always tagged along with me since childhood). But when I put makeup on I feel embarrassed for some reason. I'm the type of person that doesn't like to be noticed. I like blending into the crowd. I like to stay invisible. When somebody is staring at me I start to feel self conscious (because of that I also don't like to be included in pictures). And even if I was "pretty" I would be just as embarassed because I still would be standing out and people would be staring at me. I'm just a simple girl that doesn't exactly have 'her style' of clothing (my shirts are usually just plain long sleeved (or 3/4 sleeve) shirts - one colour throughout (or maybe a striped shirt)). Because of this I grew up as a tomboy I guess (or that's what my family calls me).

Also my sisters compete with each other to be the prettier one. I feel that *IF* I started to wear makeup they will say to me "Why are you trying to compete with me?!" in a rude way and it will just be a whole new fight which I'm not willing to start. Also when my mom gets dresses my sisters always fight over the one they want while the leftovers (which are usually the less pretty ones) goes to me. Im basically like the human trashcan...

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And I know how contradicting it is that I think I'm ugly and I don't want to be pretty at the same time... I guess I'm just messed up that way.

No way! Iim 27 and I don't ever wear make up. I did from time to time at your age...but not every day and eventually I stopped. Be your own beautiful self!

bubbles00, I'm 51 and I don't wear makeup. I think it is a huge gimmick just to make money. How many men wear makeup?

Agreed. What's unacceptable is someone attacking you, especially physically, for not wearing it! In some fields of employment, it's definitely expected, but you're 18. It's not expected in ordinary social life. I've never done it. I hate it. I have always been a tomboy too, and that is just fine. So just be yourself. Those people who think they know how to improve your looks can be very annoying. I don't mind improving my looks, but the unasked for advice I've gotten several times has been ridiculous. Forget about it.

I have a low self esteem when I don't wear make up, however with age Im learning that I dont care what people think. There are times I need milk and I will go get it with or without make up.

Who told you, you were ugly? Was it your sister that said you need to wear it? My sister used to tell me that as well.

What I have read, some guys like girls that dont wear make up. Take pressure off that part of the relationship and gets down to what really matters.

You dont want to wear it? Then dont!! I would suggest to live your life for you. Take suggestions and advise if you want. Dont lose the chance of being who you are. (easy for me to say)

I don't wear make up. No amount of make up is going to fix this much ugly so I just end up feeling self conscious. Like I'm trying to be something I'm not.

That your sister attacked you over something so trivial is disturbing.

I love love love make up but at the same time I feel it's bit hassle. You cannot cry or go to windy places not to smear your make up, rub your eyes, you have to remove it and some colors are damn persistant...

So if you don't consider it fun, you don't have to bother. Yeah, maybe when you go to interviews later in life, it's good to put on bit of cover up and mascara (apparently not wearing make up is perceived as "she is too emotional and cried all her make up off"....... i heard this BS too many times *rolls eyes*), but for now... it's your choice.

I don't think that you're contradicting yourself when you say you think you're ugly and you don't want to be pretty at the same time. I feel very uncomfortable drawing attention to myself as well. I just want to blend in and be anonymous, invisible. Remember though, beauty is subjective. Often the people that society thinks of as beautiful, to me really are not at all. I like character. You can have all the right features but with bad character, be ugly as sin. From reading your post, I can tell that you are an interesting person who possesses good character.

Your sister(s) seem(s) almost neurotic in this aspect. I am 23, and I normally wear make-up - but not everyday. Not if I don't have the time or just don't bother, or if I am spending a day watching movies on Netflix and slacking around, trip to the store the only distraction. I don't always wear it to school or to work. In my opinion, most people don't have a problem with you not wearing make-up and a lot of people don't notice the difference.

Most guys I know think a lot of women wear too much make-up. No offense to Brits, but Brits are the worst (and some Southern European women). All short dresses, high heels and a face so full of chemicals that the skin can barely breathe. In my opinion, having SOME make-up (for instance a bit of foundation/powder and a bit mascara) is the best "compromise" - it doesn't make you stick out in any way, it looks natural, and it makes guys think you're down to earth and full of confidence. It makes you seem like a woman who's not afraid to have fun or be adventurous. A lot of make-up to a lot of guys seems attention-seeking or even desperate. When certain women realize this, they will be much better at attracting good men instead of sleazes who just want to get in their pants.

Since you say your mom and sisters make such a point of it, I am assuming they might be in the "unknowingly wearing too much make-up"-category. So don't listen to them when it comes to make-up. You could try putting on just a little bit, see if you're more comfortable then.

Yeah i understand that i will have to wear makeup for my presentations and interviews (but i don't mind wearing it for that). But when i do put makeup on, i usually put on a little bit of foundation or powder (but i really do look the same with or without makeup so i dont really see why i need to wear it). And yup the negative comments i get about how i look come from my sisters/mom (kinda learned how to live with it now since i hear it all the time; not hearing it is weird to me now). And both of my sisters have really bad acne so they put a lot of foundation on (I'm the only one that doesn't have it).

I didn't start trying makeup until I was 18-20, and didn't start wearing it frequently until I was in my early 20s. Now I'm in my mid 20s and I can't even fathom going to work or seeing people or having my photo taken without it. I've officially crossed to the dark side.
I have serious issues with my appearance, I'm insecure with or without makeup, because of course makeup can either look really good or really bad. I didn't even know how to wear it when I first started, I literally just put foundation on and mascara and was done. *Vogue*
But now that I've really got into it I do actually enjoy it, I find it fun, I love looking up different techniques on Pinterest about how to apply things properly and make it look good. I don't regret getting into it, but I do wish I wasn't so reliant on feeling more confident with it.
You don't have to wear makeup if you don't want to, and you don't have to listen to other people questioning you if you do decide you want to wear makeup.

Stand your ground if you don't want to wear makeup nobody has the right to impose it on you

I only wear makeup occasionally for weddings or maybe eating out at a posh restaurant and one of the best things about my decision to abstain is that now I am the wrong side of 25 I look a lot younger than most of my friends

You have said both your sisters have bad acne and that you don't. This is almost certainly down to you refusal to wear makeup which probably really cheeses off your catty siblings.

As for the physical violence you encountered, perhaps keep a discrete record of it date it occurred and perhaps a photo on your phone. It if happens again I would then suggest that you report the abuse. I know we are talking about family but that doesn't give them the right to inflict pain and injury

They're doing a really poor job of masking their insecurity by attacking you because they wish they didn't feel the need to wear makeup. They wish their skin is clear like yours. As others have already said, it's ridiculous of them to put your down over something that is your choice. Their jealousy is their weakness. Makeup makes you uncomfortable, you don't like it, so you don't have to wear it. We all know it's not healthy for skin anyway.

It sounds like their problem ... not yours!

I'm 18 too. It's fine if you don't want to wear it Don't let others put you down for it. I don't wear it because of my bad acne.

I spent most of this week, without makeup. No comments about looking tired or different. Just wasn't up to it. That's not unusual for me. I'm well over 18.
Once worked with a woman who's husband had never seen her without it. She made a point to wake up early. But she also owned that neurosis and didn't pass it onto her daughter, who I'd hung out with a while. It was just her, she admitted it was her.
Makeup is such an odd thing to war over.
No, it's not mandatory to wear, lest you sign a work contract that says so. Some legal offices are sticklers, especially in business contract law firms. Skirts mandatory, too, type. Some financial firms, same thing.