Bad Advice Women Get: Always Look Your Best

January 12, 2010     Posted in Advice, Entertainment, Relationships

Gotta load on the makeup for the big night....in.

When it comes to beauty, I’m pretty low-maintenance. I never really learned how to put on eyeliner because I’m afraid I’ll poke myself in the cornea, I can’t get the knack of painting the nails on my right hand, and I’m too impatient to slap on anything more than Chapstick and maybe mascara, if I’m feeling fancy, in the morning.


By Hillary

So to me, articles (or even videos) about how to get the perfect smoky eye or choose the right mineral foundation for your skin tone or make yourself look like a tiger or whatever aren’t generally that interesting. Even so, I can understand that there are plenty of industrious girls out there who actually find beauty tips useful.

And I’ve certainly got nothing against beauty hounds. In fact, I envy their hand-eye coordination and perseverance—while I’m embarrassed about the bags beneath my baby blues but too lazy to actually do anything about them, those girls always look effortlessly put-together.

But a four-page photo spread that I came across in the latest issue of Glamour crosses the line between giving helpful pointers and doling out straight-up bad advice. The piece, which unfortunately isn’t available online, is called “Have a Gorgeous Night… In.” Here’s its introductory paragraph:

“You’re young, you’re hot—you should not be in a Snuggie! The next time you and your guy are just hanging out at home together, try these undeniably sexy beauty ideas. And have fun!”

The article goes on to suggest that while a girl is spending a low-key night in her natural habitat, she should consider wearing lacy, revealing underwear, spending ten minutes on crafting a sexy, “bedhead-y ponytail” that artificially simulates hair that’s been slept on, and swiping on “red lipstick like Dior Serum de Rouge Lipstick in Crimson ($32, saks.com).” This will trick guys into finding her attractive, even if she’s just whiling away her time by munching on some Pirate’s Booty and watching Tough Love.

While I totally understand the appeal of glamming it up every now and then, isn’t a night in supposed to give us time off from worrying about hair and makeup? What’s wrong with a lady laying prone on a couch while clad in a zebra-striped Slanket, enjoying the way her face feels when it isn’t caked in inches of powder? In this situation, there should be no need to spend time painting your pout bright red, let alone with lipstick that costs as much as a skirt from Urban Outfitters.

This article is basically saying that girls always need to make sure they look their best, even if there’s nobody there for them to impress (if you’re just sitting around with “your guy,” doesn’t that mean that the two of you should be comfortable enough with each other that you don’t have to make an effort for once?). “Have a Gorgeous Night… In” implies that appearance is everything, regardless of where you are or what you’re doing.

When I’m spending an evening at home, I’m focused on staying comfortable and trying to decompress—even if there does happen to be a dude vegging out in the armchair next to mine. If this means that I’m doomed to die alone, well, so be it; I think I’d rather enjoy myself than constantly worry about whether I’m wearing my fake eyelashes correctly. Way to go, Glamour!

17 Comments on "Bad Advice Women Get: Always Look Your Best"

  1. carol says:
    Tue, 12th Jan 20105:00 am 

    I like the idea of making myself pretty for a night in. My boyfriend and I don't have much money to go out a lot and sometimes I like to spice things up on a night in. I put on makeup for myself and if its going to make me feel better about myself on a night in so be it. Some people enjoy makeup and some obviously dont but theres nothing wrong with either or.

  2. Lola says:
    Tue, 12th Jan 20105:23 am 

    i like this article. people are way to concerned with looks sometimes..

  3. criolle says:
    Tue, 12th Jan 20109:21 am 

    Might just be me, but I think a woman who can be herself, without a bunch of STUFF … is HOT!

  4. Victoria says:
    Tue, 12th Jan 20109:22 am 

    Girl, you and I share the same philosophies on makeup. I am not ashamed of the minimal makeup that I usually wear to class. Have you ever seen the girl who wears a lot of makeup on a day when she has a plain face? It kind of catches you off-guard, and not in a good way. On the other hand, when I do dress up my face on the weekends or for a special occasion, I tend to make a bigger impression than if I wore makeup all the time.

  5. s says:
    Tue, 12th Jan 201010:06 am 

    nice article. Although i do wear make-up, I agree with you. If i want to have a quiet night in, and relax i'm not going to go through some beauty ritual just sole purpose of giving my boyfriend something "nice" to look at. besides has he ever done this for me? no. Do i want him to? no. Date someone that thinks you're sexy even if you're not wearing make-up or lacey, revealing underwear.

  6. Erin says:
    Tue, 12th Jan 20106:36 pm 

    If I'm doing a night in, I take the make-up off.

  7. Julie says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 201010:22 am 

    Great article! I guess for me it's just all about my mood. I love getting beauty advice from magazines and wanting to try different products as long as I see it as fun and harmless. But honestly, I'm usually too lazy to put on a full face of makeup (I don't think I even own enough makeup to do this haha) and most of the time I'm going au naturel. So I guess I understand wanting to just veg out with your boyfriend without worrying about your face (something I'm very familiar with) but I also understand just being in the mood to get a bit dressed up or frivolous for the night too. Not saying that I'd be spending hours in the bathroom or anything, just a bit of tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip gloss maybe. It can't hurt if it makes the night just a little more fun for me :)

  8. bella says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20101:39 pm 

    I like this article, and respect all opinions.

    However, I also like to believe in the good ol'fashion traditions. Where girls can always look nice and groomed (doesn't mean we have to put a ton of make up on to look groomed) and the men are those who look more rough.

  9. S says:
    Thu, 14th Jan 20105:48 pm 

    uh, my question is why not? sexy underwear and make-up is kind of like another sex toy, it's used to stimulate the attraction. why deny yourself of that every now and then? i don't think they are saying that a girl has to do this all the time. i think the implication here is "dress up for a night in… for a change".

  10. Julis says:
    Thu, 28th Jan 20104:20 am 

    i never do bright make-up. it's awful to see so much on someone's face! also i hate lipsticks and powders… it makes me uncomfortable.

  11. Shannon says:
    Mon, 22nd Mar 20107:51 pm 

    LOL what a bunch of crap! There are (few and far between) nights when I put on a teddy from fredericks and swipe on lipgloss, but my husband most prefers me natural. Now let me tell you, my natural is NOT schlumpy by any means. I do go clean faced, but I will spend all of 10 SECONDS throwing my hair into a ponytail so it REALLY is sexily messy. I would never spend 10 minutes on my hair for it to look messy lol, that is ridiculous. Also instead of wearing sweat pants I like to lounge around the house in some cute panties and a baby doll tee, I am still comfortable and my husband finds it incredibly sexy. I think this idea of getting "glammed up" would be great for a gal who normally is a jeans, tshirt and chapstick girl, but I do my hair and wear makeup everyday.

  12. brandi says:
    Wed, 31st Mar 20101:19 pm 

    Hillary I'm just like you. Anytime I had eyeliner near my eye, I was bound to poke my eye. I keep short hair so I don't have to do anything but wash, condition, and moisturize. I never understood girls who had to take a day off from school to get their hair done.

  13. Christina says:
    Fri, 9th Apr 201012:52 pm 

    I agree with Carol. I don't feel comfortable if I look hideous around my boyfriend. If I'm by myself, that's a completely different story. Bring on the baggy pants, glass, and unwashed ponytail. But when your with your boyfriend, what exactly are you trying to prove by looking like shit around him? I'm not saying you have to buy expensive lingerie and wear 30 dollar lipstick, but there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about in taking at least some pride in your looks.

  14. edcatra says:
    Thu, 21st Oct 20101:58 am 

    I like to look good all the time, even in front of the tv.

    But my definition of sexy includes a comptorfable fited shirt and sweatpants in my favorite color with some lip balm on my lips :D

    The magazine version just makes me LOL. Silly silly magazine.

  15. Blusher says:
    Fri, 19th Nov 20105:44 am 

    I guess when you never put any effort into being attractive, you get just what you deserve.
    That goes for guys as well as girls although in different ways.

    It makes both the girl and her boyfriend feel good. So why not even bother? Maybe laziness…

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