BEAUTY AND EXPECTATION
July 2026
I see women say they cannot leave the house without makeup. Some do not want their partners to see them without it. I understand that makeup can be creative and that some women genuinely love putting it on. There is nothing wrong with that.
What bothers me is how easily enjoyment can become expectation.
A man can arrive somewhere with his face exactly as it is. Nobody asks whether he has made an effort. But a woman’s bare face can be called tired, unprofessional or careless.
I do not want to feel uncomfortable being seen as I actually look.
Maybe my refusal is small. I am not making a statement every morning. Most days, I simply wash my face and leave the house.
But I no longer think of that as not making an effort.
My bare face is not a before picture.
— Anonymous, 28
