History Main / MakeUpIsEvil

* The term "painted lady" was a euphemism for a prostitute.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'': Inverted. For the most part, the turians have painted-on FacialMarkings indicating which world they're from, a tradition stemming from a civil war between turian colonies a thousand years before the events of the series. "Barefaced" turians are considered untrustworthy, and the term "barefaced" is even used as slang for a politician. It's worth mentioning that all this is told through the codex, which is intentionally a bit of an UnreliableNarrator, and given that Shepard never sees any prejudice between turians in game, the stigma may have faded. It could also have something to do with the fact that the only barefaced turian consistently seen is [[BigBag Saren]], and neither Warden Kuril and Joram Talid from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' is trustworthy.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'': Inverted. For the most part, the turians have painted-on FacialMarkings indicating which world they're from, a tradition stemming from a civil war between turian colonies a thousand years before the events of the series. "Barefaced" turians are considered untrustworthy, and the term "barefaced" is even used as slang for a politician. It's worth mentioning that all this is told through the codex, which is intentionally a bit of an UnreliableNarrator, and given that Shepard never sees any prejudice between turians in game, the stigma may have faded. It could also have something to do with the fact that the only barefaced turian consistently seen is Saren, and neither Warden Kuril and Joram Talid from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' is trustworthy.

* ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'': The most made-up students are [[AlphaBitch Musume Ronshaku]] and her GirlPosse, as part of their GyaruGirl style. Of course, Ayano herself is likely to be EvilerThanThou, and she doesn't wear any makeup at all.

Due to the strong historical and cultural associations of cosmetics with femininity, a man who wears obvious makeup in present-day society (outside of certain specific contexts, such as stage acting or the circus) will often be taken for a {{Crossdresser}}, or at least be considered effeminate. This trope is thus (predictably) a staple of the CreepyCrossdresser archetype. By contrast, it is inverted by the DragQueen, who entertains by cleverly subverting gender roles, and shows crossdressing and makeup as positive and fun things.

A staple of the CreepyCrossdresser.

A ForgottenTrope nowadays, but one that lasted for many centuries in western Europe: wearing any form of "paint" on your face is a sign of evil, particularly dishonesty, more to be expected of the DeadlyDecadentCourt or ViceCity than any more wholesome place. Only an [[TheWickedStage actress]] or some such disreputable woman would self-paint, which is why "painted woman" is not a compliment. The FemmeFatale and TheVamp obviously use make-up, as part of their stock in trade is unnaturally good looks. ([[VanityIsFeminine The trope is rarer but stronger for men.]])

** Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch has ExcessiveEvilEyeshadow in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', where she starts as a villain, and significantly less makeup in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', where she is a hero.

[[quoteright:304:[[Disney/SleepingBeauty https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MaleficentMakeupMAC_6940.jpg]]]]

* Makeup company M.A.C. has collaborated with Creator/{{Disney}} to create the Venomous Villains [[http://www.temptalia.com/mac-venomous-villains-collection-for-fall-2010 makeup collection]]. It has Dr. Facilier from ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', the Evil Queen from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', Cruella [=DeVille=] from ''Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'' and Maleficient from ''Disney/SleepingBeauty''.

%%** ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'': The Evil Queen.
%%** ''Disney/SleepingBeauty'': Maleficent.
%%** ''Disney/{{Cinderella}}'': Lady Tremaine.
%%** ''Disney/TheRescuers'': Medusa.
%%** ''Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'': Cruella.
%%** ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'': Gender inverted with Jafar.
%%** ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'': Ursula. She even squashes a sentient creature to produce lipstick, literally making her makeup evil.

* Inverted much of the time in the case of male wrestlers, with the likes of {{Sting}} and (usually) Wrestling/JeffHardy being faces, while the heels are barefaced ugly guys. Makeup here implies that the character is [[DarkIsNotEvil psychologically tormented and even vengeful, but ultimately heroic]].

Historically, many forms of make-up have been hazardous -- such as lead-based or arsenic-based ones -- so a woman who used them might sacrifice her health or even life, not to mention her looks in the long term, for a brief attractive appearance. At the very least, this was a sign that she was [[BrainlessBeauty vain and foolish]].

When the trope appears nowadays, it's usually applied to ''garish'' makeup. From the very beginning, PunkRock and HeavyMetal have demonstrated that a painted -- and usually male -- face is a sure sign that a character is mean or crazy, or at least sinister.

%%[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* ''Literature/TheLastBattle'': one reason why Susan refuses to remember Narnia is her obsession with makeup.

** The Doctor's EvilCounterpart, the Master, is often associated with makeup, with the Delgado and Ainley versions wearing heavy {{Guyliner}}, the Simm version being shown applying it, and Gomez's "Missy" incarnation using a makeup compact as a weapon, as well as often being seen applying lipstick or doing her nails. The Master's gimmicks are disguises and HypnoticEyes, playing along with the 'beguilement' and 'deceitful' part of this trope.
** Male Time Lords in "The Deadly Assassin" wear makeup as part of their culture's ceremonial dress, but it's subtle or absent on the sympathetic characters. Runcible and Spandrell are barefaced while Goth and Borusa paint it on, and you certainly wouldn't catch the Doctor in white lipstick and eyeshadow (though this overlaps with WardrobeFlawOfCharacterization in his case--his own culture's clothes don't suit him for clear RuleOfSymbolism reasons).
** Men and women wear UncannyValleyMakeup in "The Robots of Death". The makeup itself isn't evil but the degree to which it's modeled on robots is suspect and drives home how decadent and dependent on technology that Kaldor City society has become.

* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': In ''Annie In The Forest'', makeup is unknown to a village of elves Annie stays with during the summer. A group of teenage elves mock her for wearing "face paints", and [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1488 her own father disapproves and has her wash it off]]. This is later revealed to be because [[spoiler:he had a mild FreakOut seeing Annie for the first time in years due to her resemblance to her mother Surma and the TraumaCongaLine he experienced trying to see her again, which unwittingly harmed Annie due to them sharing the same LifeForce, and he later regrets doing this to her so publicly.]]

* ''Literature/RizzoliAndIsles'': Believing that BeautyIsBad, Jane Rizzoli refuses to even wear lipstick to try and improve her homely looks. In the first novel, she visits a makeup counter and is so disappointed in the results that she outright declares that models out to be shot for giving women false hope that makeup can make someone unattractive gorgeous.

* ''Anime/{{Beyblade}}'': Zigzagged with Kai Hiwatari. No matter what side of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor he is on, he's wearing face paint whenever he's beyblading.

** Sally Simpson applies lipstick and eyeshadow after being seduced by ThePowerOfRock, which her vicar father certainly considers evil. She then attends one of Tommy's concerts, where [[ItMakesSenseInContext she has her face split open by a policeman's baton]], has a grotesque scar stitched across her face to close the wound, and then marries a rock musician and becomes a sleazy teenage mother.

Historically, also, many forms of make-up have been hazardous -- such as lead-based or arsenic-based ones -- so a woman who used them might sacrifice her health or even life, not to mention her looks in the long term, for a brief attractive appearance. At the very least, this was a sign that she was [[BrainlessBeauty vain and foolish]].

The trope faded out as make-up became acceptable, with points at which heavy make-up rather than make-up in general was the mark, and the degree of evil entailed varies widely. The transition towards non-toxic materials also helped in this. Fastidiously-applied makeup might indicate a character is rigorous and strict, usually a trait found on villains or WickedCultured; a male character wearing makeup suggests a character who ignores normal gender roles, with a whole host of SissyVillain and OtherworldlyAndSexuallyAmbiguous readings that have stuck around even as attitudes towards gender have relaxed.

!!Examples

* Makeup company M.A.C. has collaborated with Creator/{{Disney}} to create the Venomous Villains [[http://www.temptalia.com/mac-venomous-villains-collection-for-fall-2010 makeup collection.]] It has [[Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Dr. Facilier]], [[Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs The Evil Queen]], [[Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians Cruella DeVille]] and [[Disney/SleepingBeauty Maleficient]].

* Femto (Griffith's God Hand persona) and Slan from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' are the only God Hand members to have such red lips.
* In ''Anime/DemashitaPowerpuffGirlsZ'', the source of Sedusa's powers of imitation is make-up tainted by Chemical Z, and one tell-tale sign that she's around is that she smells like cheap makeup.
* Seen in the ''Manga/YuGiOh'' manga with Ms. Chono, a SadistTeacher who wore so much makeup it was practically a mask.
* Shapiro Keats of ''Anime/{{Dancougar}}'', being a triumphant example of a SissyVillain and TheFightingNarcissist, wears very prominent blue eyeshadow.
* Played straight and {{Subverted}} by Kai Hiwatari in ''Anime/{{Beyblade}}'': no matter on what side of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor he's at the moment, if he's beyblading he's wearing facepaint.
* Although heroic characters of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' are also seen wearing makeup in many illustrations the most prominent villainous examples would be Kars with his distinct eye-makeup and the multiple instances of Dio being portrayed wearing dark lipstick.
* Ultear, Minerva, and [[DudeLooksLikeALady Midnight]] in ''Manga/FairyTail'' all wear makeup, though in Midnight's case it helps emphasize his {{Goth}} look. Noticeably, they all wear much less after their respective {{Heel Face Turn}}s.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* A buttload of [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney movies]] do this, and some pretty recent ones as well! In most of these movies, the only person with makeup on is the villain; [[Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs Evil Queen Grimhilde]], [[Disney/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]], [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} Lady Tremaine]], [[Disney/TheRescuers Medusa]], [[Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians Cruella]], [[GenderFlip Ja]][[Disney/{{Aladdin}} far]]... [[Disney/TheLittleMermaid Ursula]] takes this UpToEleven by squashing a sentient creature to produce lipstick, literally making her makeup evil.
** It should be noted that most of the women mentioned above are truly ugly even with the makeup. Maleficent, being a demon, even has a sickly green face--which makes any actress who dresses up as her at the Disney theme parks to be a RealLife example.
[[/folder]]

* The Madam of Liquid Silver in ''Film/TankGirl'' is really overly made up.
* In ''Film/LittleShopOfHorrors'' Audrey (the girl, not the plant) wears a lot of make-up due to her poor self-image. She takes it off when Seymour convinces her she doesn't need it in the "Suddenly Seymour" number.
* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' most citizens of the oppressive, decadent Capital wear heavy make-up (in the film, if not always in the book). The evilest characters tend to avert the trope, though.
** This trope was even used to show a subtle shift in characterization for Effie Trinket. While in the first film, it's practically impossible to see Elizabeth Bank's skin under all the makeup she wears, by the second film, although Effie's clothes are still outlandish, she's wearing considerably less makeup, showing that she's begun to identify less with the citizens in the Capital and more with Katniss and Peeta.
* The Joker from '' Film/TheDarkKnight''. He does it to accentuate the grisly scars across his face, in this version the white face being clown makeup and not his actual skin color.
* There's also a (more subtle) example in the original ''Film/Batman1989'': DarkChick Alicia is always in glamorous makeup, while Vicki Vale is (usually) barefaced, or at least looks natural by comparison. This is then turned UpToEleven in the museum scene: Vicki is wearing hardly any makeup at all, while Alicia has painted her face white to disguise the fact that the Joker has [[FacialHorror burned off half of it]].

** Sally Simpson applies lipstick and eyeshadow after being seduced by ThePowerOfRock (which her vicar father certainly considers evil). She then attends one of Tommy's concerts, where [[ItMakesSenseInContext she has her face split open by a policeman's baton]], has a grotesque scar stitched across her face to close the wound, and then marries a rock musician and becomes a sleazy teenage mother.
** Tommy's mother (Ann-Margret) turns into a vain, decadent woman after she becomes rich, sporting excessive mascara on her eyes. She also wears a ridiculous amount of costume jewelry, which her son rips off of her after [[HeelFaceTurn she converts to his new religion]].
** Played more straight with [[Music/TinaTurner The]] [[MushroomSamba Acid]] [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment Queen]] who is not as "evil" as the [[CreepyUncle creepy uncles]] and [[TeensAreMonsters sadistic teens]] of the world but is definitely framed as immoral and insane. This is emphasized by her demonic red lipstick on her [[TheUnSmile Un-Smile]]. [[https://media.giphy.com/media/2gOZ0RpRhSa5y/giphy.gif See for yourself if you dare]].
* We reach some kind of singularity with the ''Film/{{Catwoman}}'' film. The [[UnholyMatrimony two main villains]] are the CEO and spokeswoman for a cosmetics corporation, and their EvilPlan involves an anti-aging cream that causes skin to rot if you stop using it.
* In ''Film/ElviraMistressOfTheDark'', Elvira checks into a motel and meets the cranky old motel owner. The owner's granddaughter then comes downstairs, only to be confronted by her grandmother, and be told that she will not wear makeup. Later in the scene, Elvira reassures the girl that she used to have the same problem with the nuns at the orphanage. (Of course, she was only 8.)
* One of the most insistent teachings of Maria's church in ''Film/StationsOfTheCross'' is that make-up, fashion, and dresses are self-absorbing topics that serve only to invoke lust in men and keep women from God.
** The first scene sees the parish's priest mention fashion and dresses as a temptation established by [[{{Satan}} the Devil]] to lead the people of the real Church astray.
** In the second scene, Maria tries to avoid being in a picture to avoid thinking of her appearance, but her mother orders her to. Ironically, Maria's mother chastises her, not for lacking confidence, but for being too preoccupied with her appearance by not being preoccupied with her appearance. Faced with a family that will always see her as self-obsessed, Maria ends the scene on the verge of tears.
** In the fourth scene, Maria's mother smiles and tells Maria she can buy a dress with stripes for her Confirmation as if that's somehow scandalous and cool for a mother to allow. She acknowledges that her standards are a little peculiar, but only in the context of decrying the fashion of the modern day.
** In the fifth scene, the parish priest pushes for Maria [[{{Confessional}} to confess]] that she's been attempting to stir lust in a boy she's been talking to, even though Maria knows that's not the truth. Still, it confuses her enough to want to totally cut contact with that boy, who happens to be her only friend as she goes through suicidal depression.
* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
** Wanda Maximoff / Scalet Witch has ExcessiveEvilEyeshadow in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', where she starts as a villain, and significantly less make-up in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', where she is a hero.
** Other female characters also follow the pattern. Villains like Hela in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' generally wear way more make-up than heroes like Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow.
** Even some male characters play along. Two villains -- the Winter Soldier and the Grandmaster -- wear the GuyLiner. None of the heroes does.

* In Creator/LMMontgomery's ''Literature/TheBlueCastle'', Valancy had once tried to put color in her cheeks before a party by pinching them. This started a rumor that she had worn rouge, which, unusually, did not manage to sink her reputation, because everyone knew that dowdy Valancy Stirling could not be fast.
** In ''Literature/ATangledWeb'', Aunt Beckie puts on rouge before her last family gathering, shocking her living companion, but insisting on it. Then she orders Nan to wash off her rouge--over Nan's objection that Aunt Beckie was wearing it herself. (Afterwards, Nan amuses herself by setting out to romance a young man to take him from his fiancee.)
* In Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''Her Father's Daughter'', this is a mark against Eileen.

* Queen Jezebel of Literature/TheBible notoriously put on makeup before confronting God's prophet. Unfortunately, it didn't stop her from becoming dog food.
* In the Victorian story "The Fatal Cosmetic" a woman who starts out flattering a poor performance ends up using a dangerous cosmetic, not disposing of it properly and then lying about it, so that it is mistaken for medicine and administered to another woman with fatal results.
* In Creator/TomRobbins's book ''Skinny Legs and All'', this is the in-universe BerserkButton for fundamentalist preacher Buddy Winkler, he calls the protagonist a jezebel for wearing makeup and once washes her face till she bleeds.
* In Creator/LouisaMayAlcott's ''Literature/LittleWomen'', Meg is made up "like Literature/{{Cinderella}}" but it includes this -- though she revolts at rouge.
-->''On the Thursday evening, Belle shut herself up with her maid, and between them, they turned Meg into a fine lady. They crimped and curled her hair, they polished her neck and arms with some fragrant powder, touched her lips with coralline salve to make them redder, and Hortense would have added 'a soupcon of rouge' if Meg had not rebelled.''

-->''"Of course not. Don't I always tell you everything? I was ashamed to speak of it before the younger children, but I want you to know all the dreadful things I did at the Moffats'."\\

* In Creator/GKChesterton's ''The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond'', one character comments on its decreasing significance, but still thinks it shows something of character.
-->''we all know that making-up and even dyeing your hair doesn't mean what it once did; lots of women do it who are perfectly decent; but not those who are--well, utterly inexperienced. ''
** In "The Sword of Wood", the stranger is known to come from the corrupt city by this (and does turn to be, if not quite villainous, hardly a good guy).

* In ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind'', Melanie is admonished for acknowledging Belle Watling, a painted woman who was a prosperous town prostitute. Later, Mammy has a fit when Scarlett asks her to buy her some rouge, outright stating that only whores wear "face paint".
* In Creator/LisaShearin's ''All Spell Breaks Loose'', while the princess wears make-up, Raine comments on how she probably would have looked just as well without it, and the villainess wears too much for good taste.
* In Creator/CSLewis's ''Literature/TheLastBattle'', one reason why Susan refuses to remember [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia Narnia]] is her obsession with make-up.
* In Creator/PGWodehouse's Literature/JeevesAndWooster novel ''Literature/RightHoJeeves'', when Tuppy and Angela quarrel, he says he disapproves of this habit of modern girls, putting on make-up.
* While not exactly "evil", ''[[Literature/{{Twilight}} Midnight Sun]]'' has Edward go on about how all the other girls in Forks are unwilling to do things like enjoying the rain because it ruins their makeup, with the implication that those girls are silly and shallow. Of course, ''Bella'' doesn't wear makeup [[BeautyEqualsGoodness because her complexion is flawless anyhow]]. Naturally.
* The notorious French couplet ''Egle, belle et poete, a deux petits travers: elle fait son visage et ne fait pas ses vers''[[note]] Egle, "beautiful" "poet", has two minor crimes: she makes up her face and she steals all her rhymes[[/note]]--[[ValuesDissonance nowadays]], saying "you are a plagiarist '''and''' you use make-up" is [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking ridiculous]], but in the 18th century both were seen as equally dishonest.
* In Creator/SeananMcGuire's ''Literature/OctoberDaye'' novel ''Rosemary And Rue'', Toby's criticism of a girl who confronts her at Home mentions the overdone makeup--and how one thing she looked liked was a downtown whore.
* In ''Viva Maria'', Marie tells the titular Maria that her otherwise kind father once hit her when she once put on lipstick. Though this may be more because she put it on despite them being members of LaResistance...
* In Xenophon's writings about Creator/{{Socrates}}, make-up gets mentioned twice: in a legend about Heracles being offered a choice between two women, one Vice and one Virtue, and it's pointed out that Vice was more white and scarlet than nature allows; the other when a husband finds his wife wearing make-up and goes to rebuke her, pointing out that she would not like it if he falsely showed her property that was not his.
* In ''LightNovel/AnotherNote'', the only character described as wearing any kind of makeup is the VillainProtagonist, Beyond Birthday. (A notorious SerialKiller, who acts more like a realistic {{Ninja}}.)
* The Apocryphal [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] book "Enoch" specifically mentions makeup as being [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow something mankind was not meant to know]], and a secret given to the world by sinful angels.
* In ''Literature/TheJenniferMorgue'', the [[UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory Bathory]] [=PaleGrace=][[superscript:TM]] makeup line carries a youth-projecting glamour and uses VirginSacrifice as an active ingredient. That said, thanks to stem-cell research and PostModernMagik, the manufacturers have cut the virgin blood down to just 14 parts per million, so at least it's [[PragmaticVillainy efficiently evil]].
* In line with her staunch BeautyIsBad beliefs, literal PlainJane [[Series/RizzoliAndIsles Rizzoli]] refuses to even wear lipstick to try and improve her homely looks. A scene in the first novel has her visiting a makeup counter and being so disappointed in the results that she outright declares that models out to be shot for giving women false hope that makeup can make someone unattractive gorgeous.
* In the family memoir ''Literature/CheaperByTheDozen'', father Frank Gilbert becomes increasingly strict with his daughters as they approach womanhood, refusing to allow them to cut their hair, wear stockings, perfume, and indeed, makeup, deeming all of the above as only worn by loose women.
** He doesn't mind it on his daughters' friends, though.
* ''Literature/SherlockHolmesAndDoctorWasNot'': Referenced in "The Adventure of the Walk Out Wardrobe". Franchise/SherlockHolmes is explaining the odd actions of the victim, and comments that because commercial cosmetics are associated with prostitutes and actresses, respectable ladies wishing to enjoy the benefits of makeup often attempt to make their own.

* Appears once or twice ''Series/DowntonAbbey'', reflecting opinions of the time. In particular, Mrs. Patmore is furious when she catches Ivy wearing rouge (no doubt to impress the chaps), and demands she scrub it off immediately.
-->'''Mrs Patmore''': Not in this house, Miss Hussy!
* The trope is played somewhat more {{literal|Metaphor}}ly in ''Series/HorribleHistories'', where the dangerous nature of 17th and 18th-century makeup has been touched on in a few skits. The ladies wearing makeup are just vain and oblivious to the danger, not evil, but the makeup itself is literally bad because it's got things like lead or arsenic in it.
** The more standard take on this trope pops up in the Cromwell Christmas sketch, where Cromwell actually says almost as much ("Make-up is ''SINFUL!!''").
* An InvokedTrope in ''Series/{{Rome}}'' when Octavian's propaganda machine is accusing Marc Antony of having been corrupted by Cleopatra and her decadent Eastern ways. "He blackens his eyes with soot like a prostitute!"
* When she's impersonating Sarah while meeting their mutual birthmother in ''Series/OrphanBlack'', Helena gives herself away (to the viewer) by the light red eyeshadow she hasn't removed.

* ''Series/MurdochMysteries''
** A subtle one occurs in the episode "Till Death Do Us Part". When Eunice is first seen, she is complaining that she remains pale no matter how much she pinches her cheeks. Later, after [[spoiler:she is revealed as a con artist and a murderer]], she is applying bright red lipstick.
** Later invoked but averted in "Painted Ladies", when the male characters are surprised to learn even respectable women visit the cosmetician. The times are changing...
* Parodied on an episode of ''Series/InsideAmySchumer''. A BoyBand appears to Amy and starts singing a song called "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyeTJVU4wVo Girl You Don't Need Makeup]]", about how she should remove her makeup because she doesn't need it to be beautiful. As soon as she does so, the boy band literally change their tune, singing about how they were wrong before and Amy should put her makeup back on.
* Mimi from ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'' wore infamously garish makeup for which Drew often mocked her, and she was often a grade-A bitch. The trope is a bit [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]], however, in that the mocking was overall more because she ''was'' a bitch, rather than the fact that she was wearing makeup. Given the nature of the show, a similarly painted but nicer character probably would have gotten much lighter and more good-natured riffing.
* Played with in PowerRangersInSpace. One of the first things Astronema/Karone does after her HeelFaceTurn is to ditch her wig(s) and most of her makeup. The Rangers certainly consider it an improvement.

* This appears in the video for the Music/{{Paramore}} song 'Misery Business'. As part of a HumiliationConga inflicted on the preppy, evil high school bully at the end of the video, Hayley Williams wipes a damp towel across her face, revealing that she is caked in makeup. Hayley then tuts and walks away. Rendered deliberately ironic by Hayley's spectacularly dyed hair and flamboyant eyeshadow, but nevertheless...

* Shakespeare's "Sonnet 67" is a lament that people try to imitate a man's beauty with make-up, so that he is actually a corrupting influence.
** "Sonnet 68" chiefly complains in similar tones of wig-wearing, but opens with the observation:
-->''Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn,\\
When beauty lived and died as flowers do now''

* In Creator/RobertBrowning's ''The Flight of the Duchess'', the Duchess used damaging make-up that ruined her looks.
* In Alexander Pope's ''Literature/TheRapeOfTheLock'', Belinda's use of make-up is tweaked:

* Oddly inverted much of the time in the case of male wrestlers, with the likes of {{Sting}} and (usually) Wrestling/JeffHardy being faces, while the heels are barefaced ugly guys. Makeup here implies that the character is [[DarkIsNotEvil psychologically tormented and even vengeful, but ultimately heroic]]. Played straight with Tatanka and his (very brief) "vengeful Indian ghost" gimmick in WWE in the winter of 2006-2007--although Tatanka's spooky war paint was [[UnintentionallySympathetic so cool to look at that many fans didn't know he was supposed to be a heel]].

* In ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', the Prince berates Ophelia (or, rather, all women) for being false in various ways, and through makeup:
-->''I have heard of your paintings too, well enough; God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another.''
** Later, faced with a skull, he comments on how it will not keep her alive.
-->''Now get yet to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that. ''
* Subverted in "Welcome to the 60s", from ''Theatre/{{Hairspray}}'', where part of Edna's confidence-boosting make-up specifically calls for lipstick.

* In ''Theatre/TitusAndronicus'', Aaron derides the other characters as using paint--"Ye white-limed walls! ye alehouse painted signs!"--and cites his own black skin as preferable because it could not use make-up.

* Ultimecia from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' plays this trope straight, complete with FacialMarkings and ExcessiveEvilEyeshadow. Edea is a justified case, [[spoiler:as she was a victim of a GrandTheftMe from Ultimecia, and after regaining control, stop wearing it, as seen in the [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/d/dd/FFVIII_Edea_Cid_Recording.png/revision/latest?cb=20130206123151 ending]].]]
* {{Medusa}}'s appearance in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', while based off of her depiction in [[VideoGame/KidIcarus the original game]], seems to have taken on a more gothic look, with (among other things) {{e|xcessiveEvilEyeshadow}}yeshadow and [[FacialMarkings a tattoo around her left eye]].
* Inverted in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' with the turians, who for the most part have painted-on facial markings indicating which world they're from, a tradition stemming from a civil war between turian colonies a thousand years before the events of the series. 'Barefaced' turians are considered untrustworthy, and the term 'barefaced' is even used as slang for a politician. It's worth mentioning that all this is told through the codex, which is intentionally a bit of an UnreliableNarrator, and given that Shepard never sees any prejudice between turians in game, the stigma may have faded.
** Could also have something to do with the fact that the only barefaced turian consistently seen is Saren... ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' gives us a couple more in with Warden Kuril and Joram Talid. [[spoiler:Neither is trustworthy.]]
* Played straight in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'', where's God's angels will tell you take makeup is the work of the devil. Considering how much of a {{Jerkass}} God is in Shin Megami Tensei, though, you should take it with a grain of salt. Lucifer [[GodAndSatanAreBothJerks isn't much better, though]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'', {{Adorkable}}, plain-faced Filia is the resident NiceGirl. Her EvilCounterpart, Fukua (a clone made by an even-more-morally-questionable-than-usual MadScientist), dons eyeshadow and lipstick.
* In ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', Sith Warrior companion Jaesa Wilsaam can turn out either Light or Dark-side depending on your actions, with the main physical difference being that Dark Jaesa wears purple eyeshadow and lipstick.
* The most made-up students in ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'' are [[AlphaBitch Musume Ronshaku]] and her GirlPosse, as part of their GyaruGirl style. Of course, Ayano herself is likely to be EvilerThanThou, and she doesn't wear any makeup at all.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Erstwhile}}'', the evil bride in "Maid Maleen" [[http://www.erstwhiletales.com/maidmaleen-26/#.T298lNm6SuI tries makeup to hide her hideousness.]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2007-05-23 downplayed to a lack of make-up being natural and real.]]
* In ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'', [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1242 Sydney is so unused to wearing makeup that she feels like a streetwalker after she puts on chapstick.]]
* While not evil, in the ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' side story ''Annie In The Forest'', makeup is unknown to a village of elves Annie stays with during the summer and a group of teenage elves mock her for wearing "face paints". In real-life, some early readers were put-off by an eleven-year-old Annie wearing makeup (it's actually a memento of her then-recently deceased mother).
** [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1488 Her own father disapproves and has her wash it off.]] This is later revealed to be because [[spoiler:he had a mild FreakOut seeing Annie for the first time in years due to her resemblance to her mother Surma and the TraumaCongaLine he experienced trying to see her again, which unwittingly harmed Annie due to them sharing the same LifeForce, and he later regrets doing this to her so publicly.]]

* On ''WesternAnimation/AtomicBetty'', [[AlphaBitch Penelope Lang]] is the only girl in school who wears eyeshadow. In contrast, Betty just wears lipstick, mostly while in her Galactic Guardian uniform, but she sometimes she puts on lipstick for special occasions. Also, Betty's mom wears both eyeshadow and lipstick, but while she might be a bit of a neglectful and self-absorbed mother she's not evil.
* The ''WesternAnimation/MegaMan'' cartoon had a corrupted cosmetics robot attack Roll and give her a bad facial.
* The flashback episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' that shows how Homer and Marge got together has Marge's mother insisting she pinch her cheeks before high school prom to make them look rosier. When Marge asks if she can just use some rouge instead, she gives Marge this advice: "Ladies pinch! Whores use rouge."
* Major ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' villain Him always wears a lot of make-up, and he's basically the devil with lobster claws for hands. There is also the one-off villain Mask Scara who ran across the city covering everyone in make-up that wouldn't come off. When she came across the already made-up Him she dressed him in clown make-up.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
** Asami Sato was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen initially meant to be a case of this when designed as a villain]], but ended up [[SubvertedTrope subverting it instead]]. She wears noticeable amounts of lipstick and eyeshadow, in contrast to her rival for Mako's love, the protagonist [[UnkemptBeauty Korra]]. This along with her [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver color scheme]], helps give the [[SheepInSheepsClothing false]] impression that she's a dangerous FemmeFatale.
** Two female antagonists play with the trope: Eska, the {{Yandere}} princess of the Northern Water Tribe, wears heavy purple eyeliner (which [[YourMakeupIsRunning visibly runs]] when she's [[WomanScorned gunning for her abused ex-boyfriend]]). And P'Li, the [[BombThrowingAnarchists Red]] [[RenegadeSplinterFaction Lotus's]] [[StatuesqueStunner 6'8"]] [[HavingABlast combustionbending]] [[TheBrute heavy artillery]], wears red-black nail polish, understated brick-red lipstick, and subtle black eyeliner. Both, however, are ''less'' blatant than the aforementioned good gal...and both are {{Dark Action Girl}}s with no hint of [[TheVamp vamp]]. In Eska's case, the makeup mostly just serves as a way to [[IdenticalTwinIDTag distinguish her from]] [[HalfIdenticalTwins her twin brother]].

* Caroline of Brunswick, being sent off to marry George IV, got a lot of grief for her appearance at the British court, including for her "painted eye-brow".
* Some religions discourage or forbid the use of makeup, on the grounds that either looking too good will entice others to lust, or that changing one's natural appearance is an affront to the Creator(s).

* Some religions discourage or forbid the use of makeup, on the grounds that either [[BeautyIsBad looking too good will entice others to]] {{Lust}}, or that changing one's natural appearance is an affront to the Creator(s).

* "Cosmetics" used to be a euphemism, because still earlier a cosmetic meant something that would actually improve appearance, removing a blemish or freckle or whatever instead of hiding it.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: Everyone who performs in a film, television show, or a theater performance is wearing makeup to some extent, to make them look natural under the lights.
* Depending on who is saying it and what context, the ever-classic "I think you look better without makeup" is either a compliment or an expression of this trope.

* The film version of ''Film/{{Tommy}}'':

* ''Literature/SherlockHolmesAndDoctorWasNot'': Referenced in "The Adventure of the Walk Out Wardrobe". Franchise/SherlockHolmes is explaining the odd actions of the victim, and comments that because commercial cosmetics are associated with prostitutes and actresses, respectable ladies wishing to enjoy the benefits of makeup iften attempt to make their own.

Historically, also, many forms of make-up have been hazardous--such as lead-based or arsenic based ones--so a woman who used them might sacrifice her health or even life, not to mention her looks in the long term, for a brief attractive appearance. At the very least, this was a sign that she was [[BrainlessBeauty vain and foolish]].

The trope faded out as make-up became acceptable, with points at which heavy make-up rather than make-up in general was the mark, and the degree of evil entailed varies widely. The transition towards non-toxic materials also helped in this. Fastidiously-applied makeup might indicate a character is rigorous and strict, usually a trait found on villains, or WickedCultured; a male character wearing makeup suggests a character who ignores normal gender roles, with a whole host of SissyVillain and OtherworldlyAndSexuallyAmbiguous readings that have stuck around even as attitudes towards gender have relaxed.

When the trope appears nowadays, it's usually applied to ''garish'' makeup. From the very beginning, PunkRock and HeavyMetal have demonstrated that a painted--and usually male--face is a sure sign that a character is mean or crazy, or at least sinister.

May overlap with BeautyEqualsGoodness and EvilMakesYouUgly: only evil people would need to paint, since good ones are naturally beautiful.

* In ''Film/LittleShopOfHorrors'' Audrey (the girl, not the plant) wears a lot of make-up due to her poor self image. She takes it off when Seymour convinces her she doesn't need it in the "Suddenly Seymour" number.
* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' most citizens of the oppressive, decadent Capital wear heavy make-up (in the film, if not always in the book). The most evil characters tend to avert the trope, though.

* In ''Film/ElviraMistressOfTheDark'', Elvira checks into a motel and meets the cranky old motel owner. The owner's grandaughter then comes downstairs, only to be confronted by her grandmother, and be told that she will not wear makeup. Later in the scene, Elvira reassures the girl that she used to have the same problem with the nuns at the orphanage. (Of course, she was only 8.)

** In the fourth scene, Maria's mother smiles and tells Maria she can buy a dress with stripes for her Confirmation, as if that's somehow scandalous and cool for a mother to allow. She acknowledges that her standards are a little peculiar, but only in the context of decrying the fashion of the modern day.

** Even some male characters play along. Two villains, the Winter Soldier and the Grandmaster, wear the GuyLiner. None of the heroes does.

* In Creator/LouisaMayAlcott's ''Literature/LittleWomen'', Meg is made up "like Literature/{{Cinderella}}" but it includes this--though she revolts at rouge.
-->''On the Thursday evening, Belle shut herself up with her maid, and between them they turned Meg into a fine lady. They crimped and curled her hair, they polished her neck and arms with some fragrant powder, touched her lips with coralline salve to make them redder, and Hortense would have added 'a soupcon of rouge', if Meg had not rebelled.''
** There is no doubt of the evaluation, since when later confessing to bad behavior at the party, Meg includes it:

-->'''His face is painted,' said Griffin. 'That is the sort of thing they do in London. And he wears a pile of false hair out of a barber's; and walks about in it, like the house of a Jack-in-the Green. ''

* While not exactly "evil", ''[[Literature/{{Twilight}} Midnight Sun]]'' has Edward go on about how all the other girls in Forks are unwilling to do things like enjoy the rain because it ruins their makeup, with the implication that those girls are silly and shallow. Of course, ''Bella'' doesn't wear makeup [[BeautyEqualsGoodness because her complexion is flawless anyhow]]. Naturally.

* In Xenophon's writings about Creator/{{Socrates}}, make-up gets mentioned twice: in a legend about Heracles being offered a choice between two women, one Vice and one Virtue, and it's pointed out that Vice was more white and scarlet than nature allows; the other when a husband finds his wife wearing make-up and goes to rebuke her, pointing out that she would not like it if he falsely showed her property than was not his.

* Appears once or twice ''Series/DowntonAbbey'', reflecting opinions of the time. In particular, Mrs Patmore is furious when she catches Ivy wearing rouge (no doubt to impress the chaps), and demands she scrub it off immediately.

* The trope is played somewhat more {{literal|Metaphor}}ly in ''Series/HorribleHistories'', where the dangerous nature of 17th and 18th century makeup has been touched on in a few skits. The ladies wearing makeup are just vain and oblivious to the danger, not evil, but the makeup itself is literally bad, because it's got things like lead or arsenic in it.

** Men and women wear UncannyValleyMakeup in "The Robots of Death". The makeup itself isn't evil but the degree to which it's modeled on robots is suspect, and drives home how decadent and dependent on technology that Kaldor City society has become.

* Played with in PowerRangersInSpace. One of the first things Astronema/Karone does after her HeelFaceTurn is ditch her wig(s) and most of her makeup. The Rangers certainly consider it an improvement.

* Shakespeare's "Sonnet 67" is a lament that people try to imitiate a man's beauty with make-up, so that he is actually a corrupting influence.

* Ultimecia from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' plays this trope straight, complete with FacialMarkings and ExcessiveEvilEyeshadow. Edea is a justified case, [[spoiler:as she was victim of a GrandTheftMe from Ultimecia, and after regaining control, stop wearing it, as seen in the [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/d/dd/FFVIII_Edea_Cid_Recording.png/revision/latest?cb=20130206123151 ending]].]]

* On ''WesternAnimation/AtomicBetty'', [[AlphaBitch Penelope Lang]] is the only girl in school who wears eyeshadow. In contrast Betty just wears lipstick, mostly while in her Galactic Guardian uniform, but she sometimes she puts on lipstick for special occasions. Also, Betty's mom wears both eyeshadow and lipstick, but while she might be a bit of a neglectful and self-absorbed mother she's not evil.

* The flashback episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' that shows how Homer and Marge got together has Marge's mother insisting she pinch her cheeks before high school prom to make them look rosier. When Marge asks if she can just use some rouge instead, she give Marge this advice: "Ladies pinch! Whores use rouge."

* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler condemned the wearing of cosmetics by Nazi-era German women, since it violated the "wholesome" image he wanted the women of his country to have. He preferred German women with their hair tied back, their legs covered, and no makeup--not "whores in Indian war paint." Consequently, American women in World War II were encouraged to wear red lipstick as a TakeThat.

* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler condemned the wearing of cosmetics by Nazi-era German women, since it violated the "wholesome" image he wanted the women of his country to have. He preferred German women with their hair tied back, their legs covered, and no makeup--not "whores in Indian war paint."

* Depending on who is saying it and what context, the ever-classic "I think you look better without makeup" is either a complement or an expression of this trope.

* Subverted in "Welcome to the 60s", from ''Thaetre/{{Hairspray}}'', where part of Edna's confidence-boosting make-up specifically calls for lipstick.

* There's also a (more subtle) example in the original ''Film/{{Batman}}'' (1989): DarkChick Alicia is always in glamorous makeup, while Vicki Vale is (usually) barefaced, or at least looks natural by comparison. This is then turned UpToEleven in the museum scene: Vicki is wearing hardly any makeup at all, while Alicia has painted her face white to disguise the fact that the Joker has [[FacialHorror burned off half of it]].

* In ''Anime/DemashitaPowerpuffGirlsZ'', the source of Sedusa's powers of imitation is make-up tainted by Chemical Z, and one tell-tale sign that she's around is that she smells like cheap make-up.

* Although heroic characters of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' are also seen wearing make-up in many illustrations the most prominent villainous examples would be Kars with his distinct eye-makeup and the multiple instances of Dio being portrayed wearing dark lipstick.