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Let's talk about the Make-Up Free Barbie

Rebecca VA

By Rebecca VA,
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Rebecca VA

Rebecca VA

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Here's the story: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2013/04/18/women-rally-behind-makeup-free-barbie-created-by-mexican-graphic-artist/?test=latestnews

 

What do you ladies think of Barbie without any make-up (and braces)? Would she be the kind of doll you'd want your daughters to play with?

 

To me, she's not really unattractive, but I can see where she wouldn't capture a child's imagination. She's just too ordinary. Plus, I don't think the gorgeous Barbie clothes would look right on her.

 

I don't think I'd have wanted to play with a Ken who had braces, either.

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FaithManor

FaithManor

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Hmmmm...I don't look that sallow when I'm without make-up, nor am I red and puffy around the eyes if I've had reasonable sleep. So, what concerns me is that they've made her look "worse" which is sort of a way of promoting make-up. I know LOTS of women who look good without all of the glitz.

 

DD was never into Barbies type dolls so I can't answer the question. She's a very pragmatic, earthy girl so this doll might have appealed to her though.

 

She was into American Girl Dolls and her Bitty Baby.

 

Faith

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FaithManor

FaithManor

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I've seen this on Pinterest as "grad school Barbie", I'd say that's a pretty accurate picture :).

 

 

:smilielol5: Good one!

 

Oh, yes, not fond of the proportions as well. Even when I was stick thin, I never had that figure and I don't meet women irl that have it either. Seriously, none of us got the kind of genetics that leads to no hip bones, double DD top, and zero internal organs so our waist disappears. I'm not certain that waist could even be achieved with 24/7 corsets made from titanium!

 

According to wiki, if Barbie were real, she'd be six feet tall, weight 100 lbs, have a 21" waist, and 33" hips.

 

Nah, make-up barbie is an alien anyway...sallow barbie just looks like a sick alien. Maybe she should come with her "Area 51" I.D. badge!

 

Faith

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Paige

Paige

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Barbie's supposed to be a young woman, maybe in her early 20s, right? She wouldn't look like that without a lot of hard living! I don't think that's the Barbie image. I saw these pictures of dolls without make up last week and they are much more realistic. I'd be happy to buy my kids a Barbie like this but I would not buy them Had a Hard Life Barbie from the link above! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/11/artist-creates-barbie-doll_n_3060626.html#slide=2325082

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Kathryn

Kathryn

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Barbie's supposed to be a young woman, maybe in her early 20s, right? She wouldn't look like that without a lot of hard living! I don't think that's the Barbie image. I saw these pictures of dolls without make up last week and they are much more realistic. I'd be happy to buy my kids a Barbie like this but I would not buy them Had a Hard Life Barbie from the link above! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/11/artist-creates-barbie-doll_n_3060626.html#slide=2325082

 

 

Those look a lot more normal to me also.

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jenn-

jenn-

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I think giving her braces and maybe a more natural make up would be cool, but the artist went too far. Part of that could be that the person was creating the image in a Photoshop situation or something and could only do so much removing of stuff already there.

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Ghee

Ghee

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Barbie's supposed to be a young woman, maybe in her early 20s, right? She wouldn't look like that without a lot of hard living! I don't think that's the Barbie image. I saw these pictures of dolls without make up last week and they are much more realistic. I'd be happy to buy my kids a Barbie like this but I would not buy them Had a Hard Life Barbie from the link above! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/11/artist-creates-barbie-doll_n_3060626.html#slide=2325082

 

Had A Hard Life Barbie LOL I love it! I like the dolls from this link, the first doll just looks like a drug addict or something. I went to some pretty wild parties after high school and I don't think I saw girls looking that bad even after a long night and a vicious hangover. The ones in the second link (in the quote) actually look more realistic to me.

 

Frankly, part of the allure for me was that Barbie was NOT realistic. I loved her pert face, curvy body, and long and flowing hair. I don't remember ever once thinking I was going to grow up to "be" Barbie. She was just a pretend person, like the Disney princesses.

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Unicorn.

Unicorn.

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Did ya'll look at the second image.. the one w/ the dark hair and altered body- much better! I actually liked the barbie w/out makeup, with the exception of the red puffy eyes, and she needs some eyelashes! Other than that, yes, I think she looks more normal.

 

OP- do you realize you insulted all women who aren't "barbie beautiful" by saying all the beautiful clothes wouldn't look good on her? So basically, if we don't have all the makeup and the figure of a model, we can't be beautiful? Thanks for that. I think that's a horrible message to send to little girls (and to grown women).

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Dandelion

Dandelion

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I think there's a big difference between *make-up free* and *intentionally unattractive*. While I applaud the intent behind this project, I think they went too far with it. There is really no need to give Barbie bags under her eyes and braces on her yellowed teeth. I'm not a big fan of Barbie, but I'm not rabidly anti-Barbie either. That said, I would not buy DD this doll.

 

I do like the second version where they altered Barbie's body to make it more realistic.

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Seasider

Seasider

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Oh, CLEAR braces! I thought maybe the braces were just an idea and not necessarily on that image.

 

Still look yellowed to me. Maybe she's not a meth addict. Maybe she's just a coffee fiend!

 

I do think it would be nice to have a more natural looking Barbie, but this prototype takes it a bit too far, IMO.

 

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Jennifer3141

Jennifer3141

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I'm 41 year old homeschooling farmer with two kids who still co-sleep with us and stay up much later than I would prefer, and I STILL don't look as bad as this Barbie. This Barbie looks like someone punched her in the night.

 

You can be makeup free and still look good. I'd like to introduce this poor woman to Korres and Lush skin stuff. She needs help! :lol:

 

I'm afraid that all the good a doll like this might accomplish will be lost by people focusing on how bad her eyes look. This is less, "No makeup Barbie" and more, "Needs a Nap Barbie."

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aggieamy

aggieamy

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I think make up free Barbie shown here is ugly and it's kind of insulting. I feel more comfortable with a bit of make up on each day but I have a friend that looks beautiful without a bit of it. I didn't even realize she didn't wear make up until I insisted she tell me what foundation she wore to make her skin look so glowing and flawless ... none! They should make a Barbie that looks like my friend.

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Jean in Newcastle

Jean in Newcastle

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I don't think she looks that bad. I don't like the yellowed teeth because not using make-up does not mean not having good oral hygiene. And I agree that she should have some eyelashes because they are standard equipment even on women without make up. I couldn't figure out why her nose was narrower on the doll without makeup. Do women without make-up have pinched noses?

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Dandelion

Dandelion

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Someone up thread mentioned something about barbie in real life.

 

It reminded me about an article about a real life barbie. Well it turns out there is now a real life Ken.

 

http://www.dailymail...ight-other.html

 

Wow. In some of those pictures, they both look computer-generated. Freaky. I thought they were both much more attractive in their "before" pictures.

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LucyStoner

LucyStoner

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Her teeth aren't yellowed -- she has clear braces.

 

Anyone would look bad wearing elegant clothing and no makeup. It's not a question of beauty -- it's a matter of appropriateness. Please don't take offense where none is intended.

 

 

Um, plenty of women wear elegant clothing and no makeup. My wedding dress was quite nice and I wore no makeup. And if I say so myself, I was a very nice looking bride. I have some great clothes and I still do not wear makeup ever. Once while at the opera with my fabulous black dress and 4+ inch heels, I was approached and told that I must get marriage proposals just for putting on those shoes and leaving the house. I get compliments on my skin and complexion all the the time. I am not the only gal I know who avoids makeup.

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Lisa R.

Lisa R.

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Frankly, part of the allure for me was that Barbie was NOT realistic. I loved her pert face, curvy body, and long and flowing hair. I don't remember ever once thinking I was going to grow up to "be" Barbie. She was just a pretend person, like the Disney princesses.

 

 

I agree.

 

I've never quite understood people's hatred of Barbie. Why feel threatened and/or angry at something that isn't even alive? She doesn't look like anyone in real life. Is there anyone who thinks she does? Really?

 

I once saw an article where someone took Barbie's measurements and keep them proportional while making her height the size of a real woman. Her measurements were laughable. I remember the article saying that with a waist that thin in relation to her height, there would not be enough room for all her internal organs. It said that if a real woman were really that thin, she's have to carry her kidneys in her purse.

 

Since reading that article, when I look at Barbie, I picture her with her kidneys in her beautiful purse that she carries.

 

Call me twisted, but I find that really funny.

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Alice

Alice

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I agree.

 

I've never quite understood people's hatred of Barbie. Why feel threatened and/or angry at something that isn't even alive? She doesn't look like anyone in real life. Is there anyone who thinks she does? Really?

 

I once saw an article where someone took Barbie's measurements and keep them proportional while making her height the size of a real woman. Her measurements were laughable. I remember the article saying that with a waist that thin in relation to her height, there would not be enough room for all her internal organs. It said that if a real woman were really that thin, she's have to carry her kidneys in her purse.

 

Since reading that article, when I look at Barbie, I picture her with her kidneys in her beautiful purse that she carries.

 

Call me twisted, but I find that really funny.

 

 

I agree. And I think the kidneys in the purse is pretty darn funny too.

 

I was into Barbies as a kid for awhile. I liked them and playing with them. My Mom likes to tell people that my friends and I played things like “Barbie goes to medical school†but that is so not true. It was all about dressing them in their clothes and then having them meet Ken. There was nothing empowering about it. :) But at the same time I never wanted to be Barbie or thought that her body was something to emulate any more than I wanted to be one of my hundreds of stuffed animals. She’s a doll not a role model.

 

I kind of hope my daughter doesn’t want Barbies but mostly because I don’t want to add teeny-tiny high heeled shoes to the Lego debris currently invading our house.

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Dahliarw

Dahliarw

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I didn't realize you couldn't wear makeup AND have braces! :rolleyes:

 

I understand what they are trying to do, but you can be attractive and not wear makeup. This Barbie is not.

 

I'm not a fan of Barbie anyhow. Glad my 3yo has not discovered Barbie yet...

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gardenmom5

gardenmom5

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there are two no-make-up barbies currently being presented. one getting most of the press should be named - hung-over Barbie, 'cause that's what she looks like. the other one *is* Barbie with no make-up and she looks just fine. but if you've seen the original Barbie - the current ones don't have nearly as much make-up.

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gardenmom5

gardenmom5

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. And I agree that she should have some eyelashes because they are standard equipment even on women without make up.

blonde lashes and brows. you can't see them. mine finally turned partially dark so they can be kinda seen without mascara or brow pencil. My mother was tow as a child, and only the fact her brows were lighter than her skin made them visible. only my Norwegian tow-blonde niece had naturally jet-black eyelashes. (ironic really) mascara is one of the few things I use when I do use make-up, and only so I will have eyelashes.

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Jean in Newcastle

Jean in Newcastle

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blonde lashes and brows. you can't see them. mine finally turned partially dark so they can be kinda seen without mascara or brow pencil. My mother was tow as a child, and only the fact her brows were lighter than her skin made them visible. only my Norwegian tow-blonde niece had naturally jet-black eyelashes. (ironic really) mascara is one of the few things I use when I do use make-up, and only so I will have eyelashes.

 

I've lost most of my brows but that is due to a thyroid and adrenal problem. Come to think of it, we don't know what health problems Barbie might have. . .

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sewingmama

sewingmama

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I wouldn't let my DD play wit it. It looks like drunk, hung over Barbie...not an image I want her to think is normal.

 

I don't get what the big deal is about Barbie wearing makeup. It's a normal part of our culture and there is nothing wrong with women who do.

 

My DD has one of those dolls were you actually apply the make-up. She loves it although I did end up getting rid of the make up because she kept grinding it into the carpet.

 

Barbie is a teen (I think) and its appropriate for her to wear makeup. I'd have different thoughts if she was a toddler doll with make up.

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Melissa in Australia

Melissa in Australia

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I remember when I was a child that I had a barbie that was meant to be a teen. you could turn its arm over and it's flat chest was transformed to having breasts. I don't think it had much makeup on, but I really cannot remember.

 

 

 

My FIL (age90) tells me that the Barbie doll's body proportions are based on some famous actress from the early 50's. He even pointed out to me this actress in a movie once. Sorry I do not recall the name. I am imagining that in the early 50's most actresses wore a type of corset.

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stripe

stripe

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It's over the top, and there are cuter options for girls to play with.

 

I had a Barbie when I was young that I bought with my own money ebcause my mother hates them. I just liked her for combing her hair and changing her outfits, but she was not the object of an obsession on my part.

 

I thought she was the Pretty in Pink barbie, but who knows. Mine was the black barbie. I thought she was prettier and had nicer hair. ;)

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Rebecca VA

Rebecca VA

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Manah, I did lots of imaginative play with my Barbies, and a fair amount of it was based on looks. My friends and I would talk about who was prettier, Barbie or Midge (this was the 1960s), and which date was more desirable, Ken or Poindexter (I kid you not -- he usually ended up as Midge's date). We loved dressing the dolls up in their mink stoles and stewardess outfits. They were so glamorous. We had a wonderful time decorating Barbie's Dream House.

 

It's easy to look back now and say that that kind of play was so superficial and had nothing to do with reality, but actually it had a lot to do with reality. We were learning how young women lived -- going on dates, dressing up, and acquiring homes. We used our imaginations a very great deal!

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MrsJewelsRae

MrsJewelsRae

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Yuck, so the message I can take from this is that women are ugly without makeup? I don't have a problem with Barbie's makeup, but her body proportions are ridiculous. My dd prefers Only Hearts Dolls, and has almost the whole collection, plus they're more pose able than Barbie and cheaper. Love them! http://www.onlyheartsclub.com/only-hearts-club/

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