Have you ever had a time where you've stopped wearing makeup entirely?
I can’t recall any specific time period–the longest I’ve probably gone was the last time I was extremely sick (swine flu), which was several years ago.
— Christine
Explore Temptalia
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Compare Any Two
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
39 Comments
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
Comments on this post are closed.
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
I think I stopped when I found out I was pregnant (because I was SO exhausted and just didn’t have the energy to apply it), and I usually stop if I’m sick or know I will be home for an extended period of time, i.e. baby is sick, etc.
I stopped wearing makeup halfway through college because my dermatologist said I shouldn’t because it was causing my acne. I eventually went back to makeup and found my derm wasn’t right about the cause of my acne.
Only when I was bedridden due to a things like a bad cold or chemo.
Sometimes, though, my eyelids or lips go through a dried out period, so I let them rest. I’ll go several days without wearing any eyeshadow (but I still wear mascara). If it’s my lips, I’ll wear lip balm for a few days instead of lipstick. If it’s really bad, I’ll stick to Aquaphor or Jack Black. Otherwise, I’ll use Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm.
When I had my hysterectomy and spent 5 weeks recuperating at home. Other than that, I have had periods of maybe a week long if I’m sick or life is too hectic, like right now that I’m moving in two weeks and I’m in a packing frenzy. I have been wearing makeup though, but not every day, depending on what I’m doing.
Definitely understand how it is recovering from major surgery, Veronica. I had forgotten about how I didn’t wear makeup for 3 weeks when my Crohn’s flare became deadly. Had to undergo major emergency emergency abdominal surgery for acute peritonitis and septic shock. Afterwards, I don’t think I even cared that I looked like death warmed over. I only wanted the pain to stop. Hysterectomies and bowel resections are times when makeup is probably the last thing on our minds!
I have Crohn’s too, Christine. I totally agree that weighing whether to spend the energy on makeup or healing, healing wins every time!
I did for a few months last year because my skin was breaking out so bad and I just want to get used to seeing myself without makeup.
Yes, while I was on Accutane. My skin was so dry that no base felt good, and I wanted to be able to put on moisturizer throughout the day. I pretty much stopped wearing makeup completely for a couple of months, or would only wear under-eye concealer.
I took Accutane 20 years ago, back in the days when I had oily skin ( that abruptly changed years later). It was absolute hell, especially having dry lips. You have my complete sympathy, and there is light and the end of the tunnel. You’re going to love your skin when you’re finished with this regimen!! I’ve never had a time when I stopped wearing makeup, but I can totally understand where you’re coming from. Good luck to you!
When I changed careers back in 2013-2014, I stopped wearing makeup for a couple of years. Mind you, I was never wore a lot of make-up before hand. I started “wearing makeup” back in my senior year of college in 2011, which was also around the time I discovered and started following your blog! At this time of my life, I had very clear skin with just dark circles and would wear random bold lip colors with a bare face — I know, I’m a weirdo. But I do very much miss those days where I had close to “perfect skin.” There weren’t as many foundation formulas back then as there are now, and since I hated the sensation of a full face of make-up I would just wear a tinted moisturizer (Laura Mercier). When I quit my last job/career, I stopped wearing it. LOL — I know, such a big difference. I started wearing makeup again in 2016 when I got tired of seeing my blue dark circles whenever I looked in the mirror. Wearing make up again made such a big difference and I help me realize that I was a bit depressed during the period when I was wearing any makeup. Even if I feel tired, sick, or just plain shitty, I feel better when I look in the mirror and see that my complexion is even and bright. I still hate the feeling of heavy makeup, so I still skip the foundation and try to focus a lot more on skincare. For my daily makeup I wear Dr. Jart+ tiger grass cream to help even out the complexion and Tatcha Pear Eye cream around the eyes. I then layer Tarte Shape Tape around the under eyes and cheeks to cover up the dark circles and acne scars. I use Juice Beauty Cream Blush and a cream or liquid highlighter. And of course, I do my eyebrows. For me personally, this combination creates the perfect natural, “no makeup” look.
Oh yeah. When I worked in a call center I hit a period of depression so bad that I couldn’t be bothered to put on mascara, much less a full face. It went on for a few months. Thankfully I switched jobs, moved out of the state I was living in, and life has improved significantly. Now I wear full glam day in and day out because I’m afforded that lil luxury and when I’m given the chance I’ll do my makeup that way!
When I was studying for the bar I didn’t wear makeup at all for the entire two months. Grew my eyebrows out and they came back with a (good) vengeance!
I’ve repeatedly tried to get into it since I started high school, but never felt I did it properly. I used to play around for six months, give up, then only wear it (badly) for special occasions.
A big boost in confidence this year combined with an extended absence from work (serious injury) gave me the opportunity to play around and believe that I could look “good enough”. Plus the growth of “you do you, break the rules” has given me more confidence to experiment and be “wrong”. There are things I haven’t figured out and thus don’t do. But I like what I do do: so I actually wear make-up now, more often than not, for the first time ever.
I go without makeup on a weekly basis. Sometimes I’m in the mood to wear makeup and sometimes I’m not. In fact wearing makeup on a semi regular basis in new for me. Until I hit my early fifties, I went as long as a couple of months without anything on my face. Temptalia has been such a useful tool for me because I want to use everything that I have. Christine has helped me avoid purchasing subpar products on many occasions. I have now amassed a relatively small, curated collection that works for me.
For me, same — only when I’ve been really sick. Even out running an errand or at the gym I’ll wear at least mascara, brows and spot concealer.
Yes, very often actually. There are periods when I do not to wear any makeup on my face, keeping though a tinted lip balm or a lipstick on my lips. It happens during the weekends, even when I go out doing my groceries, at the beach/pool, on holidays (except sometimes when I dine out in the evenings), when I travel by plane. I feel that my skin has time to recover after wearing makeup during the week. I’ve been focussing lately more and more on improving and taking care of my skin while scaling down my makeup.
I only wear eye makeup on special occasions. Given my grueling 4am-noon shifts at work, I don’t really see the point of going to work so early with a fully made up face. I do love my lipstick, though. There always has to be some color on my face.
Once over 25 years ago. I came down with a severe case of viremia at 33 y.o. The infection caused me to have severe conjunctivitis and iritis, so I went without makeup for 3 months. Had to throw away all my eye makeup once I was finally able to wear it again. Lipstick had to be sanitized due to my also having pneumonia, too. Viremia is the devil. It hit everything. Pneumonia, viral meningitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis w/ iritis, you name it. On top of that, my son also got sick with a milder case of it, too. Strangely, my daughter and ex-hub only got bad colds! Once I could finally start wearing makeup again, I was only able to get about a 10th of what I had to toss.
I have gone through two major depressions in my life and I stopped taking care of myself altogether which included not wearing makeup. I now almost always wear a full face of makeup and work to look put together in general. People often make comments about how I’m always “on”, but it’s actually a part of my self care. Plus it’s fun!
I love the time I spend doing my make up, it’s like a nice therapy moment. If, when I feel I’m about to fall down that hole again it’s even more important for me to have that me-time, and when I feel so stressed I’m about to panic I need the time as it relaxes me.
(I’m having a chronic depression, that at times gets really bad.)
Opposite to most of the commenters, I would especially wear makeup when I’m sick! The application of eyeshadow, in particular, is fun for me. It takes my mind off of my symptoms and makes me feel refreshed. And I would play with makeup, when sick, even if I’m staying home.
On an everyday basis, I wear very light makeup, only ever wear a full face on special occasions. But I’ve been skipping makeup altogether for the majority of spring and summer, mainly because I’ve been happy with how my skin is looking. I’d been taking better care of my skin lately and it shows. And I haven’t been feeling the need to wear any sort of makeup, not even undereye concealer!!
I still use a touch of mascara, though! I’d use mascara even staying at home, tbh 😛
Same here! The less well I feel, or the more tired I am, the more important makeup becomes (also a full shower with smell-good stuff and lotion after … the whole 9 yards).
I remember reading an article about 20 years where the author mentioned that when she was in her late teens she caught an extra-bad cold and felt like death … couldn’t eat, couldn’t motivate herself to get out of bed or do anything except moan about her suffering. She wrote that her mother came in and bullied her out of bed and into the shower, then stood over her while she did her hair and face and put on clean clothes, and she said that changed everything — when she felt and looked clean and refreshed, it didn’t make her cold go away, but she felt much better emotionally and dealt with her illness better afterwards.
I think about that story when I’m feeling especially tired and unmotivated. I suppose one’s “recovery ritual” wouldn’t necessarily *have to* include makeup, but anything that you would do normally to get yourself ready for the day should be part of the routine even when you’re unwell — keeps the focus on being ready and moving forward rather than being nailed to one spot by an illness or state of mind.
Yep, when I was in the Peace Corps, grad school, and then for a couple years after I almost never wore makeup. Before then I’d had an office job and wore makeup to work every day, and I’d break it out for parties and special events, but that’s it. Probably six or so years I didn’t wear makeup on a daily basis.
I have in times of extreme stress or during bouts of depression. I just don’t have the will to bother. Or I feel so overwhelmed with life, I cannot even decide what shade of lipstick to wear. These periods usually last a week or two.
I don’t wear it when I’m really sick, either.
I also didn’t wear makeup very often when my kids were babies and toddlers. I was too tired, too busy, and too broke.
Have you considered making yourself an “emergency kit” for times like these? When you’re feeling well, pick colors you know you really like, then either make a list and keep it handy, or literally put the items together and even label them something like “color tonic” or “mood enhancer” or some such. Then when you don’t feel well enough to decide, you can rely on the judgment of your more upbeat self to take the next step and keep your personal care routine going uninterrupted.
Don’t wear it at all when I’m sick. Sometimes skip mascara when working all day from home – hate having to get it off at night (eye makeup remover reccs anyone?). Otherwise, I count on it as a the one reliable playtime I get to have everyday.
I don’t recall a time that I have left the house without makeup, except when my mother was ill and I had to run to the pharmacy it was an emergency and I was not going to stop and put makeup on for that. Otherwise, I retired two years ago so I don’t put makeup on unless I am going out, so I go days with no makeup, and now I find it is very time consuming to put it on lol!
Nope, never. Even when I had my babies in hospital, there I was putting on makeup for the visitors.
I may miss a day if I am really ill, but never for long.
I feel very fortunate that other than short bouts with a flu, I have never been so ill that I didn’t wear a full face. I had major chronic depression when I was younger but even then wore it. I thought I was too ugly to leave the house without it.
Oh, yes. That had to be when I was young and dumb and I let a man tell me he preferred me without it. Now maybe he really thought I looked better without it, as more of a compliment. I have my own thoughts on this and being in my mid thirties is not all that young although I’d love to be that age again and know how to put on makeup like I do now. Imagine the winged liner looks I could create! I’ve done light makeup lately due to time factors. Illness almost always keeps me makeup free. Even worse, if it’s on when I start feeling lousy, I sometimes don’t remove it which is a big no no (another thing I used to do in the days of my youth ‘how can I let him see me without it? Gasp!’)
I retired 2 years ago (due to RA & other health issues) and have been very happy to go makeup free frequently during this time. I live in a small town & sometimes only place I go each day is the post office & perhaps library or our small grocery store. No way am I doing full face for those errands. Strictly sunscreen and maybe powder on my nose.
This is partly due to the fact that first thing in the morning my hands are not limber or functional so doing makeup just isn’t reasonable. And if I am in the midst of a flare….just no. When going out with husband in the evening I do take the time to apply light makeup but I feel quite confident going without now most days.
Definitely when I got to University. I wore quite a lot of makeup everyday in High School and then the first semester in University I went for a very subtle look. The second semester I stopped wearing make up entirely. That was 3 years ago. Now I only wear it sometimes when I feel like it for my everyday life, but a much quicker and more simple routine. Heavy make up only gets put on for drinks etc. And too, only when I feel like a it!
Much love from Switzerland ?
I stopped wearing makeup, after my mom’s death.
Not if you don’t count the times I’ve been in bed having the flue, or the odd day when I just don’t have any inspiration at all,
Comment two from me just to say how much easier it is to live with a chronic depression when others are open about their mental problems.
Thanks to Christine for keeping Temptalia a safe place on the net, where so much abuse can be thrown around by people who’d never dare to say any of them in real life.
OK, I’ll stop ranting now.
I look much better in makeup. It defines my eyes and makes me look less pale and old. However, there comes a time after 60 years of wearing makeup, when it’s just not worth the effort. I enjoy being fresh face at home and on minor errands. I wear makeup to my multitude of doctors’ appointments and when I am going out. Wearing eye make up to the eye doctor is a waste of time and makeup, since they are determined to screw up your eyes with all kinds of yucky goo. I guess it depends on the day and the activity. I went on an entire 10 day tour to Canada with no makeup. When in Hawaii, NOBODY wears makeup. You don’t get flirted with so much with no makeup. A major disadvantage.
I work from home so some days especially when I have flare ups probably due to wonderful pms and now going into menopause…finally! Lol! I have pretty good clear complexion but like to let my skin breath without any makeup at all when I’m going to spend an entire day home. I usually wear minimal makeup anyways I mean minimal that I blend a lot and don’t like heavy cakey foundation/anything feeling sticky. Sometimes when I been sick I actually rather wear at least blush or I look like a sunken vampire. A bit of blush/bronzer gives me much welcomed health. On some days when things don’t go too well ‘life’ happens I actually prefer to wear some minimal makeup it does help me feel much better. 🙂
Yes, for about 8-9 years in my late twenties to early thirties, though I can’t say I dropped it entirely — I didn’t wear foundation or any other base product, just the occasional translucent-powdering of my slightly oily skin through the day; *never* used blush and lipstick, and only very sporadically used an eyeshadow, liner, or mascara (maybe once a month). I wasn’t an enthusiastic makeup-wearer in my youth, and honestly treated it like a chore; I was only too happy to eventually drop it entirely.
After I moved to go to college, I ended up in a place where less-traditional makeup looks were more apparent, and I took a side job as a stage makeup artist as a result of doing mixed-discipline classes at the art college I was attending. The combination of a lot more color in my life and my new environment giving me permission to go non-traditional inspired me to take up makeup for real (also, my skin had become ever more rosacea-stained over the years, and I finally admitted defeat and started wearing foundation to stop people asking me why I had a sunburn in the winter in a dreary overcast climate, and full-coverage foundation is not a good look if you don’t add some color on top).
Anyway, approx. 15 years later I’m all in, and I couldn’t be happier about it. 🙂
Yes. After losing my dog 2 years ago I got so depressed I stopped wearing anything cool or creative (I kept up with my full coverage foundation because I had bad acne). After that, I would really only spend time on it if I was going out or something. This past summer I wore absolutely nothing because my skin was good and I had to work early, so I prioritized sleep. Now, finally, I feel that I’m enjoying makeup again. Took 2 years, but I’m having fun.