I think women tend to underestimate the value of being attractive. If you had to live your lives being shunned, mistrusted, and feared by members of the opposite sex you would probably feel differently about it.

Believe me, if there was anything I could do to become attractive I would consider it. My best hope is that reincarnation is real.

There’s a whole lot of assuming going on in this post. I don’t wear makeup to get attention from men. I’m 52 years old and well past the need of that sort of attention.

I wear makeup because I like it. It makes me feel good about myself, especially in a work setting when people tend to also dress more nicely.

There also appears to be a tone of thinking women who don’t wear makeup are superior. No ... you simply make other choices. True, some people can go overboard, but judging someone for wearing lipstick to an event you deemed casual? Pshaw. To each her own.

Vanity make-overs and cosmetic surgery is often done to gain (or avoid losing) social and/or economic standing because our society/culture tells us what is most preferred/accepted/desired. Many black women in America have gotten the message over the years (maybe less so in recent years) that the dark skin and tightly coiled hair they were born with is most unattractive. Think about what that means in terms of dating and employment (especially in corporate America). Many have opted to use damaging products like lye to relax their hair; skin lightening creams; glue-on waist-length, Asian- or European-inspired wigs.

Also, many women work in media/entertainment and their body is their brand/commodity. They too alter their bodies in order to gain (or avoid losing) social and/or economic standing.

I wouldn't say it's to look easy but a form of self expression. I shave because I feel cleaner. I rarely wear make-up. I have nice long unpainted nails not because it's feminine but they help with itching and handy when opening things. I do wax because of hirsutism. I draw the line at surgery. Most if not all men I've picked up I did so without all that to do.

Because it makes them happy.

You say you use eyeliner and used to color your hair. Why did you do that? It's the same answer, whether taken to an expensive ridiculous extreme or not. You 'felt' better about your looks when you did, otherwise you wouldn't have done anything at all. I don't understand the mentality of the extremes, though I suspect it is a way of covering up an inner ugliness one sees in themselves. By making the outside look good, maybe people won't see what is underneath? There is also a lot of pressure put on women from societal expectations of what is considered attractive, and many women seek superficial attention due to being less comfortable with themselves in areas that aren't dependent upon occular vision. I have always been a tomboy at heart, and think time spent in front of a mirror is largely wasted. I wear minimal make up and the one rule I have for my hair guy- he can do whatever he wants but that it needs to be wash-n-go and not add a bunch of time to my daily routine to manage. I think men's preferences vary as much as women's do in this department, though I suspect they come from the same inner issues. Those who prefer a woman more near societies perception of perfect and attractive aren't all that interested in what lies beneath, simply what the additional attractiveness can add to their perception of their own self worth. I find that men who tend to prefer more minimalistic physical efforts tend to be more concerned with the quality of what lies beneath that which is dependent on occular vision alone.

There's nothing wrong with improving one's appearance, such as by combing one's hair, smoothing one's skin with lotions and enhancing the contrast of facial features. The trick is knowing when enough is sufficient.
The same applies to the rest of one's body. Obesity is not natural - it is the result of not caring enough. (Don't confuse "obese" with "plump'. The latter can be quite natural.)