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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:
SalviaDivinorum · 28/12/2023 21:50

Only if your male colleagues do.

LadyWithLapdog · 28/12/2023 21:51

I wear makeup on some days. I apply it on the train (I know, another topic). I use foundation and lipstick and rarely bother with mascara.

blueshoes · 28/12/2023 21:53

Wear make up. Don't wear make up.

But if you want enough of the made up look to not look like death warmed over (referring to me) with no effort at all, try semi-permanent make up. You can essentially tattoo your eye brows, eyelids and lips, if you so choose. It costs a few hundred quid, and you probably have to top up every 12 to 18 months.

That way, you wake up and look make up ready all the time. I also have oily eyelids and teary eyes for which no amount of eye make up will stay on. Semi-permanent eyeliner is the only way for me to wear eye make up. I can now rub my eyes with impunity.

It is life-changing. I am also very lazy.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
RichardMarxisinnocent · 28/12/2023 21:54

Purplecatshopaholic · 28/12/2023 21:22

In my workplace there are people who wear it, and people who don’t. I do, and consider it more professional to do so - makes you look more polished imo. However no criticism of those who don’t - very much each to their own on this one I think.

So you claim not to be criticising women who don't wear makeup, yet you also say you think it looks more professional and makes you look more polished. Thus you're saying make up less women look less polished and less professional, which seems very much a criticism to me?

SweetPetrichor · 28/12/2023 21:55

Well men aren’t expected to wear makeup to look professional so I don’t see why women should. I never have. I value the extra sleep!

BlueGrey1 · 28/12/2023 21:57

I always wear makeup to work, a little bit of makeup looks good and shows you have pride in your appearance and care about small details, it makes people look more professional and groomed and shows they took some time to make themselves presentable ( in my opinion)
Too much makeup does the opposite and makes people look overly concerned about their appearance and unprofessional

Waitingfordoggo · 28/12/2023 21:59

I’m customer-facing but in fitness facilities so hardly anyone has make up on there- including the women who wear make up in their regular lives. I’m glad it’s not expected because I’m crap at make up and most of it makes me look older so I prefer to be bare-faced. I would never apply for a job where being ‘well-groomed’ is expected because it just isn’t me.

chompargh · 28/12/2023 22:03

Ansjovis · 28/12/2023 21:50

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.

Show quote history

Lots of women ARE judged for wearing makeup

olympicsrock · 28/12/2023 22:03

I choose to start the day with a touch of foundation/ bb cream over moisturizer, mascara and eyebrow mascara as I look better with it. Takes about 1 minute in total. Also a clinician. By the end of the day I suspect it has mostly worn off.

FussyPud · 28/12/2023 22:03

A boss once tried to tell me makeup was mandatory at work. I told her to highlight it in my contract. I continued not wearing any. I also refused to buy a pair of ‘smart court shoes’ with a two inch heel. Her idea of work-smart didn’t match mine, and thankfully the company requirements didn’t match hers.

(I was always clean, didn’t smell, and wore appropriate clothes. I just refused to rock the 50’s shitshow.)

chompargh · 28/12/2023 22:04

BlueGrey1 · 28/12/2023 21:57

I always wear makeup to work, a little bit of makeup looks good and shows you have pride in your appearance and care about small details, it makes people look more professional and groomed and shows they took some time to make themselves presentable ( in my opinion)
Too much makeup does the opposite and makes people look overly concerned about their appearance and unprofessional

See.. judging women for wearing makeup.

Just let people do whatever they want with their faces

TheWeatherOutsideIs · 28/12/2023 22:04

I don’t think it makes any difference however i choose to wear make up - concealer, blusher, mascara and eyebrow pencil and it takes 5-10 minutes. So I don’t think 30 minutes is necessary. My bare minimum make up is mascara.

Guavafish1 · 28/12/2023 22:04

I previously wore make up in my 20s and 30s to work.

But then I developed a skin condition, in which make up makes it worse.

So I've stopped wearing make up, but moisture my face a lot.

unfortunately with the skin condition I lost most of my hair, so not wearing make up doesn't make a big difference

LangMayYerLumReek2024 · 28/12/2023 22:05

I almost never wear make up and never have. I'm 49.

Very few of my colleagues do and they tend to be the youngest ones.

It's just not an expectation in my sector (charity) and even if it was I wouldn't care.

I don't understand how it could be linked to my professionalism or ability to do my job

RichardMarxisinnocent · 28/12/2023 22:06

chompargh · 28/12/2023 22:04

See.. judging women for wearing makeup.

Just let people do whatever they want with their faces

Show quote history

They're also judging women for not wearing make up, so it seems women need to wear the exact right amount of make up to avoid judgement.

SD1978 · 28/12/2023 22:07

Nope, never do. Health care and wear a mask. So not an issue at the moment, previously didn't either because CBF. it doesn't impact the care I give, and if others want to, good for them. I don't care either way

BigFatLiar · 28/12/2023 22:09

Entirely up to you. Maybe if it boosts your self confidence but really I'd ask why you feel the need. I didn't wear makeup or perfume to work and seldom wore any out of work. My DH always said he'd rather kiss me than the products of a makeup manufacturer.

LangMayYerLumReek2024 · 28/12/2023 22:10

it makes people look more professional

Professionalism isn't measured in lip gloss. 😂😂😂

theduchessofspork · 28/12/2023 22:10

You definitely don’t

I sometimes do and sometimes don’t - I am pale and don’t get enough sleep so it helps me look less like a corpse. But I look professional without it, living dead or not.

user1471554720 · 28/12/2023 22:10

You must all have good even skin tone, to get away without wearing makeup. I have a high colour, ruddy cheeks, which go redder when I am warm. I look like I am sunburnt without makeup. I hate the comments and faux concern, asking if I feel ok. I put on a small amount of white, light makeup and set it with powder. Some lipstick and no one will look twice at me. I want this, to just blend in with everyone else.

AliceMcK · 28/12/2023 22:10

Each to their own. I wouldnt think anyone not wearing makeup was unprofessional, sweat patches, BO, fag hanging out of their gob, drunk, yes fresh faced, no.

Rattenbury · 28/12/2023 22:11

10+ years ago in a previous job I was told I had to wear make-up to work (receptionist). It's one (of many!) reasons I prefer to WFH now.

theduchessofspork · 28/12/2023 22:12

BlueGrey1 · 28/12/2023 21:57

I always wear makeup to work, a little bit of makeup looks good and shows you have pride in your appearance and care about small details, it makes people look more professional and groomed and shows they took some time to make themselves presentable ( in my opinion)
Too much makeup does the opposite and makes people look overly concerned about their appearance and unprofessional

Is that one of The Rules?

Make up but not too much make up, such a waste of mental energy that could be better spent elsewhere

chompargh · 28/12/2023 22:12

RichardMarxisinnocent · 28/12/2023 22:06

They're also judging women for not wearing make up, so it seems women need to wear the exact right amount of make up to avoid judgement.

Show quote history

That's true.

It's a bit of a sore subject for me as if I don't wear make up I get stares and comments and if I do it's the thick kind high coverage type that is probably "too much".

DappledThings · 28/12/2023 22:13

a little bit of makeup looks good and shows you have pride in your appearance and care about small details, it makes people look more professional and groomed and shows they took some time to make themselves presentable ( in my opinion)
And it's a thoroughly depressing opinion. I have rosacea. My face is usually quite red, sometimes had raised bumps and pustules. Not desiring to cover that up doesn't mean I don't look professional.

What does "having pride in your appearance" mean anyway? I'm not that bothered about how I look as long as my clothes are clean. Does that translate to not having pride in my appearance and why is that a negative anyway? Why is confidence in the status quo not just as professional looking?