Yes, just like makeup “changes appearance”, application of deodorant changes how one’s body smells. Different senses, same result - alteration of the “natural” state with no underlying reason other than “societal norms”.
“What’s the primary purpose of those items you referenced, BB? To enhance appearance? I would say no. What other purpose does makeup (that is not primarily a skin care item) serve?”
^^^This.
Plus, if I look at a picture of a woman with a make up vs. no make up, even the most natural make up changes your look. You look more “flawless”, “perfect”. A hat doesn’t do that. It may cover a part of your face, but if you see the person with and without the hat, they pretty much look the same. Same with light reflected off of clothing. Yes, everything changes you, but not as much as make up. The entire purpose of make up is to cover up ‘flaws’ - the natural skin (pores, tone, etc.), the natural color of your lips, the length of your eyelashes, etc.
And yes, some men do enhance their appearance, but a lot of men don’t have anything (other than maybe moisturizer) on their face. Do some get plastic surgery or botox? Maybe. But it’s rare. They wear their wrinkles and their pores and everything else. And why not? More importantly, why should a woman have to feel the pressure to wear anything other than her natural face?
“Natural” doesn’t exist. Do we wash our faces, comb our hair? It’s a continuum. Where we draw the line of acceptable is a personal choice.
I don’t wear makeup because 1) It feels yucky to me. 2) I am fortunate to be genetically blessed with good skin. 3) It isn’t a negative in my social group to go makeup free.
I never go to my nail salon that there aren’t men in there. These men aren’t exactly young, fashion plates. This is what they consider basic good grooming. This is not a major metropolitan area. It is obviously a norm for whatever group they belong to
While I see nothing wrong with women wearing makeup. I have to admit some of it is scary. I’ve gone to the pool before and there are women who without makeup look completely different. As in I wouldn’t know who they were if they weren’t with their kids.
"You look more “flawless”, “perfect”.
^^Wrong understanding of how makeup is supposed to be used. 
As for clothing, we subconsciously gravitate towards colors that “work” with our features, so most people don’t think about that as enhancing mechanism. My closet is mostly cooler hues - that’s because they look more natural with my complexion. Nothing wrong with that.
““Natural” doesn’t exist.”
I don’t agree that natural doesn’t exist - the line may be somewhat hard to draw for some things, but with most procedures there is a clear line between grooming (cleanliness) and enhancement. For the face, I find it mostly a pretty easy line to draw. Same with hair. Come to think of it, same with the body.
Again, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with someone liking make up (I have an issue with it being expected and the social pressure applied on women, but not the personal choice), but I also don’t buy that there isn’t a “natural”. Of course there is!
BB, if you don’t believe make up is designed to enhance your appearance and make you look more flawless, while enhancing your ‘good’ features, what do YOU believe it does? Or what do you use it for?
“I think men get away with “letting themselves go” with a lot less criticism or judgment than women do.”
Hmm. This is probably true but I have never seen it as aspirational or inherently unfair. Makeup and fashion are fun.
To me makeup is decoration, pure and simple. I like decoration, so it’s fine with me. In a social group where makeup is frowned upon for being frivolous and unnatural, wearing makeup can be a radical act of rebellion against social mores. Because I don’t like how makeup feels on my skin, manicures and pedicures have served this purpose for me at times.
It is true that men experience less pressure to look good, but they have their own demons to fight. Little blue pills, sports cars, etc. exist for a good reason.
When women remove body hair, is that grooming or enhancement?
The very concept of grooming is a cultural norm. Think about this historically. People used to walk around with body odor and lice and that was a norm.
I don’t think acollegestudent and I are saying there’s something morally wrong or weak or bad with a woman who chooses to wear makeup. What I do think is makeup is designed to “fix” what is “wrong” or “improve” what is unacceptable. You can say it makes you feel better, or look better, or “enhances” or whatever, but that seems to imply that you aren’t okay as is. That line of unacceptable seems to be different for men, than for women. So my question still is why are women socialized to believe so much of what God gave 'em is “wrong” or “unacceptable”? Again, not judging at all. and yes, brushing hair, dressing in clean clothes is the same kind of alteration for a social norm, altho it’s more gender neutral. (And no, I don’t wear makeup, and never have. And I have a pretty noticeable scar… Makeup feels very, very, unnatural and weird and yukky to me. But I use deodorant and moisturizer!)
“Is women removing body hair grooming or unnatural?”
Funny you bring that up. Yes, I am not a fan of that custom. I think shaving armpits is the STUPIDEST thing. I do it. Because I have to (social pressure, plain and simple). But I don’t see any point in it, and I really wish it would change. I think it’s one of those really pointless, superficial customs that exists for no reason.
Lice is unhealthy and causes physical discomfort - I had to treat lice in one of my animals who came from the street, and it wasn’t for social customs, haha. Body order is offensive to others (bad smells) - I am not in favor of doing something that causes discomfort to others (like farting or picking out boogers, etc.)
greenbutton: Do you and acollegestudent wear bras? If so, why? They change the body from natural. Why is anyone wearing spanx?
For the record, I do not wear spanx. It is only in very recent years I’ve worn a bra.
To answer your question, acollegestudent. I rarely wear makeup, but when I do, I use it to draw attention to my facial features where it is required, depending on the surrounding situation. If it is a function involving conversations in a dimly lit ballroom, I try to highlight my eyes with a little bit of eyeshadow and eyeliner applied at waterline - because eye contact is important in conversations. Otherwise, my pale green eyes would not be as noticeable because of the lighting. Also, if I have a blemish, I would cover it up, because people’s attention subconsciously gets drawn to such things, and it distracts from the conversation.
@greenbutton says exactly what I feel, just more eloquently.
I do wear a bra. I feel that not wearing a bra makes a woman look more ‘sexualized’ - unfortunately, it seems to have a sexual message, if you go around and your chest jiggles. Should that happen? NO. Another custom I don’t like. But that’s the reason I wear one.
My bras are not padded. I don’t wear spanx.
acollegestudent: You have picked your line separating grooming from enhancement. You have decided shaving armpits is necessary though stupid. (I don’t shave mine) Some women will use makeup because they feel the need to bow to social pressure. Others just like to paint their faces. As far as I can tell, some women have enjoyed this activity since the beginning of time. Some men, too. I decorate myself in other ways.
I love these threads because this sort of rumination occupies a whole lot of my time. 
Sexualized? Lol. Try to run a marathon without a bra… or in a poorly fitted bra.
It seems to me bras can serve both purposes: sexualizing or desexualizing, depending on the individual woman and the individual bra.
BB, well, of course, for running it’s comfort. I just mean for work - I can’t show up to work without a bra (would be obvious on me in at least some of the outfits) without getting in trouble. And that IS because it’s considered sexualized and inappropriate! I didn’t make that up! I avoid wearing one as much as I can, just because I don’t find them comfortable, but I can’t really get away with it in the summer.
Alh, I am not saying I am immune to social pressure. My hope is that the older I get the more I am able to not bow to social pressure, but it doesn’t mean I am immune. That doesn’t mean I can’t criticize that same social pressure. In fact, experiencing it makes it all the more personal to me. As I said, I have no issue with women liking make-up (I like certain things - like dressing up - that some women don’t like but feel the need to do) - I have an issue with the expectation and social pressure. I think it’s cool that you don’t shave your armpits. Do people ever give you any trouble?