Editorial: In their natural state

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Today I'm going to boldly go where no man should venture (not even in the USS Enterprise) ... Women's makeup.

It made a splash - or at least a smudge - across the nation's media last week with the "phenomenon" of generally attractive young women posting pictures of themselves on the internet. Sans maquillage!

Yes, photos of bare-faced, powder-free, creamless, natural faces was a "going-viral" activity. It originated in Britain as a fundraiser for Cancer Research UK.

Last week it hit our online shores for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

Nothing wrong with raising money for cancer services, but the fuss surrounding these "brave" women who forsook lipstick and mascara for the few seconds it takes to snap a photo seems a tad off-kilter.

Interestingly, most of the posted photos - assorted actresses, models and media personalities - still showed generally attractive young women.

It was almost as if they were saying: "We don't need makeup."

Except they weren't. They were saying: "We are making a sacrifice for a worthy cause."

No doubt the warpaint was slapped back on as soon as the naked image hit the worldwide viewing platform.

In real life (that is to say, away from the world of actresses, models and media personalities) it appears lots of women don't bother with makeup. Or have I missed something ... ?

It made me think what a chore it must be to have to perform every day.

Why do women feel they have to subject themselves to it ... or is it men who impose such a requirement on womankind?

A chicken-and-egg conundrum if ever there was one.