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Original poster

Not wearing make up to work - unprofessional?

173 replies

Imamumgetmeoutofhere · 28/12/2023 21:16

This is probably going to be quite divisive in opinions but I'm going to ask anyway.

How many of us here wear makeup to work? Is it unprofessional not to wear it?

I'm 37, never have bothered really. I used to value the extra time in bed. Plus I never was in a customer facing role so didn't see the point.

Now I'm in a patient facing role. Most of my (female) colleagues wear makeup and I'm now wondering if I should wear some? Does it look unprofessional / untidy not to wear it? Do others even notice if we don't wear it?

Opinions please. I really can't decide if I should sacrifice the extra half hour in bed for the sake of some makeup

OP posts:
shiningstar2 · 28/12/2023 21:36

Half an hour??? My make up takes 5 minutes. 😁 Wear if you want to. Leave off if you don't. Don't think it normally matters. Your professionalism is to do with how well you do your job. 😀

chompargh · 28/12/2023 21:37

shiningstar2 · 28/12/2023 21:36

Half an hour??? My make up takes 5 minutes. 😁 Wear if you want to. Leave off if you don't. Don't think it normally matters. Your professionalism is to do with how well you do your job. 😀

Good for you. Some of us have to build coverage and that takes some time.

HaveIUpsetMyFriend · 28/12/2023 21:37

I work in a beauty store and none of us wear makeup, except the goth 🤣

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Beauty
mynameiscalypso · 28/12/2023 21:38

@Gliblet Ha, the last time I went make up free, one of my colleagues rang my boss to shout at him for clearly not caring about my physical and mental health because I looked so terrible 😂

mrsfollowill · 28/12/2023 21:38

Personally I always wear make up to work because I like how I look with it- takes me literally 5 mins for a basic face and takes 10 years off me. For a night out or an occasion I'll spend 15 minutes on a bit more 'elaborate' style.
I like doing it though - makes me feel good and 'put together'
I do it for me though- no-one else.

Whathappenstomyal · 28/12/2023 21:38

Sorry OP but that is ridiculous

Princesspollyyy · 28/12/2023 21:39

I don't mind what anyone else does, each to their own. I wear make up to work, it makes me feel good, and only takes 10 minutes of my time to put it on.

Mylobsterteapot · 28/12/2023 21:39

I don’t wear makeup, and no one has ever commented that it is unprofessional. Clean, smart and appropriate clothes, good personal hygiene and a professional manner are the things that matter. Make up, latest fashions and designer brands do not.

WeAreBorg · 28/12/2023 21:39

chompargh · 28/12/2023 21:35

I didn't say they weren't the minority I just said men can and do wear makeup and heels and no one even bats an eyelid where I work.

Show quote history

The men at my workplace wear tutus and ballgowns and it’s never been mentioned (this is actually the first time I’ve ever discussed it)

MinervatheGreat · 28/12/2023 21:39

All2Well · 28/12/2023 21:32

I've never attended work without wearing some make up. I do feel more polished with it. I've been a lecturer or teacher for all of my working life. Most of my colleagues dress well, and for women this includes a bit of make up.

It takes me 5 minutes to do.

This ^
I enjoyed wearing a light make up for work. It simply made me feel more groomed and only took 5 mins.
I no longer work but every morning still slap some lippy on!

Nothing to do with professionalism.
Horses for courses.

itsmyp4rty · 28/12/2023 21:39

MargaritaThyme · 28/12/2023 21:25

I have never worn make-up to work in my life. The idea has never even occurred to me. But I’m not a sales person, or a model, or a posh hotel receptionist, or a lap dancer, or airline cabin crew, or an actor etc etc so there is no expectation that I should.

It's ridiculous that anyone is required to wear make up especially airline cabin crew, fortunately Virgin and easyjet have left this behind but it seems that BA are still living in the 80's and still say women have to wear make up. They've updated the men's rules though so they now have the choice to wear it if they want. No choice for women though.

AdoraBell · 28/12/2023 21:41

I have always used light make up at work but some colleagues didn’t use make up. Never affected their jobs.

There is nothing unprofessional to not use make up. Entirely your choice OP

Sageseashells · 28/12/2023 21:41

I was called unkempt for not wearing makeup. I put on mascara and lip balm when I feel makeup is expected, it only takes 1 minute.

LunaTheCat · 28/12/2023 21:43

I am patient facing. I don’t have a uniform and wear makeup now… very simple, tinted moisturiser, slick eye shadow, some brow mascara and a lippy…takes 2 minutes and makes me feel brighter. I couldn’t give 2 figs if clinician wears makeup or not. When I was younger I never did but am older now and like bright lipstick… the other stuff is just to balance the bright lipstick.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 28/12/2023 21:44

Hopefully OP you'll come back and see it wasn't divisive at all. Everyone has said basically the same thing about the make up specifically (while some have disagreed over minutiae). It's not unprofessional to not wear makeup but some people do.
And that random man wearing heels to work has probably never asked himself if it's unprofessional, has he?

Edit: Everyone bar one person whose post appeared after I started writing a post. 🤷‍♀️ Still pretty good odds that YANBU to not wear makeup.

DappledThings · 28/12/2023 21:44

Sageseashells · 28/12/2023 21:41

I was called unkempt for not wearing makeup. I put on mascara and lip balm when I feel makeup is expected, it only takes 1 minute.

By who? Unless your job is advertising make-up there's no time it is reasonable to make you feel you are professionally lacking by not wearing any.

OP you're being ridiculous and you know it.

Tonight1 · 28/12/2023 21:44

WeAreBorg · 28/12/2023 21:39

The men at my workplace wear tutus and ballgowns and it’s never been mentioned (this is actually the first time I’ve ever discussed it)

Show quote history

Oh yeah, mine come in in leotards, false eyelashes and rollerskates. It's just annoying when they go into the coffee table by mistake.

therealcookiemonster · 28/12/2023 21:45

@Imamumgetmeoutofhere I think not wearing make up is fine. wearing too much on the other hand can be inappropriate and unprofessional- unless of course someone is a model/actor etc.

I also work in healthcare and always been patient facing (although my patients are usually unconscious or become unconscious soon after meeting me 😀). I've never worn make up except occasional very light lipstick if I felt like popping some on. definitely no foundation or anything (I only do a full face if going somewhere fancy). many of my colleagues don't wear make up and no one cares. too busy worrying about our patients.

SteadyEddi · 28/12/2023 21:46

Professional would be clean and tidy. Makeup is irrelevant

ru53 · 28/12/2023 21:46

As a patient I would not notice or care either way.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 28/12/2023 21:47

Sageseashells · 28/12/2023 21:41

I was called unkempt for not wearing makeup. I put on mascara and lip balm when I feel makeup is expected, it only takes 1 minute.

So what happened in your life that has made you so insecure that one comment from one person that one time has you scurrying to put crap on your face that you don't even want to put on it for the rest of your life? Why do you live like this and let other people's opinions dictate your life choices and what you spend your money on?

Bandolina · 28/12/2023 21:48

I do not wear make up
I never really learnt how to do it properly so it always looks a bit shit if I try plus I CBA buying all the products and taking the time to figure out what I need and how to apply it.
People who like to do it male or female should be at liberty to wear it but equally I am at liberty not to. I refuse to pander to ridiculous gendered expectations
If it's OK for my male colleagues not to wear make up then I don't see why I would need to
Same with heels.
I am clean and tidy and appropriately dressed for my role and that is all that can be expected surely
People probably do judge me but I am past caring.

betterangels · 28/12/2023 21:49

SteadyEddi · 28/12/2023 21:46

Professional would be clean and tidy. Makeup is irrelevant

Agree. I've not worn makeup a day in my life. If people have had issues with it, they've never said.

compactopera · 28/12/2023 21:50

Fuck, this is depressing.

Nobody questions whether it's "unprofessional" for men to venture into the workplace without wearing makeup. Why are women subjected to these bullshit standards.

Ansjovis · 28/12/2023 21:50

chompargh · 28/12/2023 21:35

I didn't say they weren't the minority I just said men can and do wear makeup and heels and no one even bats an eyelid where I work.

Show quote history

The post is about women being judged unprofessional for not wearing make up. The prevailing argument is that because most men don't wear it and don't get called unprofessional this is evidence of a specific inequality between the sexes. The fact that some men do wear make up and are not judged for it is a different situation altogether. Though if you consider that women who do wear make up aren't judged for it either we have evidence of equality in this situation, which is great.

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