How do I tell a beautiful girl she needs less make-up?

Question

I know this East Indian (Gujarati) woman in my botany lab who wears a lot of makeup and looks really good, but would look even so much better if she just took it all off.
It's so obvious that she is gorgeous underneath it. You can tell her skin isn't perfect underneath it, but it's not bad at all, and would actually look better without anything over it. Especially in the long term. Her eyes are HUGE, dark, and deep, and her eyelashes are already like 2 inches long. Her lips are deliciously dark like a plum and the only thing she should even THINK of wearing is lip balm.

As a man, I would think that telling a girl she is so naturally gorgeous that she doesn't need any make-up at all would be a compliment: "God made you beautiful so you wouldn't have to!"

I think most women would take this badly, like "you do your makeup badly and look ugly" kinda thing.

Is there a nice way to tell a woman something that is essentially nice, but sounds bad?

Answer 1

do what my bf does and just come straight out with it, it wont offend her (it didn't me, it made me fill better)

Answer 2

You have already stated the most perfect things to say to her. "It's so obvious she is gorgeous underneath it." (makeup) You would probably make her day, altho it may or may not cause her to listen. Where I am geographically & the culture(s) about the place has at least a little determining factor in my own makeup habits. I prefer wearing very little makeup, however there are some places where people stereotype women who wear no makeup (they must be lesbians!) thus I choose the alternative of more elaborate making up of my face to be in public with.

Saying "God made you so naturally beautiful, I don't know why you spend all that time & money covering it over with makeup" also is complimentary.

I never thought a man to be insulting when these kind of things are said. It's always nice to hear that. It's a real shame that culture pressures some of us so much sometimes. On my part, it's probably silly, however it's a crazy experience traveling from somewhere where makeup is unnecessary & being another place on more than one occasion, overhearing ignorant people pointing me out as a lesbian simply because I was not made up. Yes, big duhhhhh on them. They are totally wrong. & I remain pressured into making my face up to comply with the local cultural standards.

Answer 3

This can be a really sensitive topic with women. It could be that she is really self conscious about her imperfect skin and feels that she needs to hide the flaws. Or it could be that she's just worn the makeup for so long it's a part of her routine and she just thinks it looks good like that. What you said was a great answer that I think any woman would like to hear.(God made you beautiful so you wouldn't have to.) I used to wear makeup all the time because I thought I needed it, but it only took a few people telling me something similar to what you did and I toned it down quite a bit.

Answer 4

My first advice is not to pay attention to what those guys say!

Secondly, if your friendship is to a point where you are considering actually talking to her about this, you definitely don't approach it with tips or techniques!
Be sure you are not in class. You need the right surroundings where you can talk freely and casually.
Tell her all of the the wonderful things about her that you obviously love. Eyes, lips, lashes... As you talk about how beautiful she is, her language will give you clues as to her comfort level. If she is receptive you will eventually be able to tell her that you think she would look amazing even without all that makeup. Maybe you will not be able to add this last part until you have told her on more than one occasion how pretty she is. You sound like a smart guy, play it by ear.
Third, Invite me to the wedding!

Answer 5

You got a crush, don't you? *lol* Yeah, I know how you feel. It drives me nuts with women with full beautiful eye brows pluck them out until there's nothing left but two Arch shapes lines, and then they try to make the lines look darker so they look more natural. Why don't they just leave it natural to begin with?

Yeah, I've noticed that most women who do that are very touchy about it. Even if you're paying them a compliment by saying they're naturally beautiful, they take it the wrong way and think you're trying to be controlling or saying that they don't know how to put make-up on properly.

Unless she's your girlfriend, there's really no tactful way to approach this. You could just tell her what you just said here. At least you don't have to worry she'll break up with you. You never know, maybe she'll take it to heart.
If she were your girlfriend, I'd suggest a year long campaign of subtlety working on her. Just commenting on how good she looks if and when you see her without her make-up, things like that. Nothing too obvious. If she says "Good? I'm not even wearing make-up". Tell her, "Well...hmm, I like it!". You know, like you always thought she looked good, but you've just been surprised by her natural beauty.
Honestly, I wish there was a formula to having that conversation, cause I'm with you, pal.

Answer 6

Don't say anything directly, believe me she will take it the wrong way. Perhaps if you are friends invite her somewhere that makeup wouldn't be practical like a swimming pool party or a trip to the beach. If she doesn't wear makeup because she knows she will be going in the water then you can compliment her on how beautiful she is "wow you look different your even more beautiful than i thought!"

Answer 7

I had a guy tell me once that I was beautiful without makeup on...he was my boyfriends best friend and he was not hitting on me, he was just telling me his thoughts...I didn't wear a lot of makeup, just too much for him.

I thought it was really sweet, maybe you should just say "Not many women are as naturally beautiful as you, I bet you would look amazing with no makeup on."

You sound really nice...I hope it works out for you!

Answer 8

Catch her at a time before she's put any makeup on or has very little and tell her it seems like a lot of wasted time and effort, because she has a great "natural" look.

Answer 9

Just tell her straight out. There is no beating around the bush on this matter! So go up to her and tell her you think she is beautiful but is hiding all that beauty behind a mask.

Answer 10

it is your opinion and clearly she thinks differantely. yet some human beings women folk positioned on extra make up then we elect considering the fact that we expect of thats what you men elect or makes us look extra effective. in the adventure that your on a specified dating w/this female and in informal communication you would be able to desire to show that she doesnt elect make up and that her character and organic radiance of splendor is each and every thing a real guy needs. hehe yet no count what you think of or how convincing you're if its no longer what makes her sense good or how she feels approximately it, she would be waiting to proceed doing her beautification the way she needs.

Answer 11

tell her how pretty she is for all that make up and how you would like to see the girl behind it. say that she has gorgeous eyes and so forth, tell her that she is perfect the way she is with out so much stuff on her face. reassure her that she is beautiful but do not imply nor say something stupid.