15 Real Women Sound Off on Why They Choose to Not Wear Makeup (2024)

We're definitely in the Golden Era of makeup—every day, it seems there's a new makeup line, a new eyeliner, or a highlighter everyone on Instagram is screaming about. And that's great and cool, but there's also the people for whom makeup isn't a priority. They appreciate what it does for others, but they've got other things going on. That's a great thing — what's good for one person might not be the best for another, and that's the best part of being in the beauty industry. There are skin benefits to not wearing makeup, but there are also makeup products that are good for your skin, too. Your relationship to makeup should benefit and boost your life, not harm it—so if it's not your thing, that's totally fine. It's all about what makes you feel most beautiful and the most comfortable. Ahead, check out the benefits of not wearing makeup and the reasons why real women say they opt to go bare-faced.

The Benefits of Not Wearing Makeup

Going without makeup can really have benefits to your skin, particularly if you were regularly wearing heavy, comedogenic makeup that was clogging your pores and causing acne—time away from that sort of regimen will be great for your skin.

"Unlike many skincare product ingredients, which penetrate into your skin, makeup sits on top of your skin," Dr. King explains. While super-heavy coverage foundation can look good, that level of coverage can also affect your skin's sebum production as well as its natural hydration, because skin behaves differently depending on external factors, like humidity."Taking a break allows your skin to recalibrate.Often a barrier of makeup increases oil production, so not wearing makeup can decrease oiliness, clogged pores and pimples."

Another benefit can be on skin ailments makeup can exacerbate, like rosacea —You'll definitely see an improvement if there were any ingredients in the makeup that were irritating the skin.

A tip to have handy whether you're cutting out makeup or not is the importance of developing a skincare routine featuring products that will keep skin clear so you feel confident. This includes a great toner like Pixi Glow Tonic, which features 5% Glycolic Acid, as well as nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, ginseng and botanical extracts to exfoliate and brighten skin.

Dr. King recommends the H2O My God Water Moisturizer from GoodJanes, which has dimethicone, squalane, safflower seed oil, argan kernel oil and glycerin to hydrate and moisturize, as well as Licorice, daisy and rose extracts to provide additional skin-soothing properties. It also contains anti-aging peptides, vitamin C and plant stem cell extracts with potent antioxidant properties, and it's vegan and cruelty-free. Everybody wins!

Here's What Real Women Had To Say

"I enjoy the feeling of having the same look when I wash up at the end of the day as I did when I woke up that morning." — Enki, 22

"I've come to love my natural look instead of hiding behind makeup." — Caroline, 24

"I feel better not fussing over a makeup routine—I just try to cleanse my skin well, moisturize, and hope for the best." — Chelsea, 25

"I've read that putting a lot [of makeup] on clogs your pores and causes pimples, and that's the last thing I need more of." — Morgan, 25

"When I take the time to apply makeup, I don't feel like it shows up enough to be worth wearing it. Maybe I'm not applying it correctly, but I'm fine being without it." — Elaine, 57

"I wear less makeup because of my freckles. If I covered them up, I wouldn't be or feel the same." — Jane, 30

"I've personally always hated the feeling of makeup on my skin." — Katy, 31

"I want to give my skin a break and let it breathe." — Rian, 29

"I don't like to wear makeup because I actually really like the condition of my skin and the way it looks without using foundation." — Marcia, 56

"I never got a good makeup lesson or had anyone recommend products to me. I'm a creature of habit, so I've just stuck to my ways." — Andrea, 28

"After my skin cleared up from terrible acne, I haven't really worn [makeup] in ages." — Colette, 27

"I have super-sensitive skin, and lots of products irritate me." — Danielle, 32

"I just don't have time in the morning to apply a full face of makeup, but I'm confident without it, so it works." — Carrie, 62

"I don't really know how to apply makeup other than eyeliner and mascara." — Claudia, 26

"Not wearing makeup every day makes wearing and experimenting with makeup on a night out way more fun!" — Rebecca, 28

Opening Image: Imaxtree

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.