Some time ago, a woman said to me, “women only wear make-up to attract men.” She was an educated woman, a natural beauty with long, dark hair who, at that time, had given up the habits of her younger self.

Another woman, a writer, seemed to shove her face forward as she insisted, “make-up is a waste of valuable time!” Yet, her casual clothes matched with an unsurpassed precision. Her sweater and socks were the exact same shade of green. Her khaki pants the same shade as her blouse and shoes. The purse, belt, and even earrings stunned in a matte brown.

In the early 1920’s, in America, make-up was something only actors/actresses wore. At that time, actresses were a step away from prostitutes. While their performances were enjoyed, their virtue was questionable. However, the invention of color films, the grease paint was tossed aside and actresses wore a heavier pancake make-up. Before long, women across the country longed for to color their lips, blush their cheeks, bat their eyes with magic mascara lashes. Max Factor invented in cosmetics for the average woman. Pharmacists were trained across the country, and women would get their cosmetics, and instructions on application, from the same.

I didn’t wear cosmetics until I was maybe 18, didn’t become a regular consumer until my 20s. At about the same time the first woman accused me of trying to “attract men,” I’d read an article which stated women who wear cosmetics make more money, raise to the top in business faster, and are taken more seriously. A 20/20 investigation showed that even kindergartners are unconsciously affected by their teachers who wear makeup. They had two teachers read the exact same story to the exact same class and even though the teachers read it nearly the same, the students showed preferential bias for the woman who wore makeup citing facts which didn’t exist such as “she did more voices,” “she read it better,” and the like.

Clear skin, bright eyes, and shiny hair indicates a healthy person. It’s built into the survival of our species to prefer the healthy partner. Perhaps we equate healthy with the beauty standards of the current era. More so, these days, women with a blush on their cheeks, lush lashes, and better than there lips fall under the assumptions of someone who takes care of themselves, perhaps women who seek more, the portion of the species that will provide successful reproduction activities.

At the age of 20, I went for a job wherein the woman hiring me said, “You have to wear makeup every day. We can’t have the customers thinking your sick.” I must not have been wearing enough that day as I didn’t get the job.

At the age of 30, I had a man leave a note on my car, “I saw you go in. I love women who don’t wear a lot of makeup, call me.” My friends laughed, “I guess he didn’t see you well enough.” I thought maybe I wore just enough. Enough to look healthy, but not enough to look like I was trying too hard.

These days, there are a lot more options to choose from. A different look for every day.

And, when doing videos, a little duct tape and spackle helps.