Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a woman can look professional and presentable at work without make-up?

263 replies

RevoltingPeasant · 05/04/2013 13:39

I have been pondering this recently, as a new convert to the Style & Beauty forum.

I go through stages with make-up, where sometimes I can't be bothered for weeks and then I wear the whole shebang every day for ages. I don't think 'looking professional' depends on make-up: I would say neat slacks and blouse with understated jewelry and a generally 'on-task' manner counts as a professional appearance.

But I have noticed quite a lot of people who feel they have to wear make-up for work. Is this so in your workplace? Would you care if you were interviewing for a post and a female candidate was bare-faced? AIBU to think you can look totally professional without paint?

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 05/04/2013 15:29

There's nothing to understand Saski.

Why do you have to wear make-up in a corporate environment?

Genuine question by the way.

I have a couple of friends with "corporate" jobs and they barely wear any. They do wear very smart suits, minimal jewellery etc. though. And they are pretty high up.

Salmotrutta · 05/04/2013 15:31

penelope - I honestly don't believe someone will look scruffy just because they aren't wearing make-up?

They may look pale or wan but scruffy? Really?

OneLittleToddleTerror · 05/04/2013 15:34

saksi yes it's dependent on your job. It is no less professional just because your chosen career path doesn't make it a norm that females wear makeup. I thought of academics because I was a research fellow. And it's something most people can imagine. Someone like Mary Beard should not be judged by her hair or makeup. In fact criticism on her appearance is very sexist. I am a software engineer and it is very rare anyone dress up in my office. I can see t shirts and hoodies all around me. But I don't think most people know what software engineers look like. the example of vets and vicars. Again something people can imagine.

sherazade · 05/04/2013 15:35

I do wear foundation and mascara for work but its very natural. pEople often dont believe i have makeup on , a couple of times i was complimented on my skin to which i answered its the foundation and people say they didnt realise i had any on. I use mac mineralise moisturise and a 188 brush. I am a teacher and no i dont need to wear makeup to work but I feel so much better when I do, like that extra effort gives me an oomph ! A je ne said quoi!

sherazade · 05/04/2013 15:36

Je ne sais. Typos nokia grrr

Mrsrobertduvall · 05/04/2013 15:37

I always wear light makeup because I like it. It can be applied in 3 minutes.
Just as I like having facials, massages and pedicures.
I am 52 and have always done it. Like Penelope I look washed out without it.

thermalsinapril · 05/04/2013 15:39

YANBU.

No make-up is the default for human beings. It's an optional extra, really not compulsory at all.

ithaka · 05/04/2013 15:45

I resemble a corpse dragged from a river without a bit of slap - which is not a professional look.

I am fair skinned with pale eye brows and lashes, so a bit of extra definition really helps.

For me, it is part of getting dressed for work, as opposed to throwing on my smelly jods to go and play with my ponies.

lubeybooby · 05/04/2013 15:48

I can't. I have terrible blotchy skin and dark circles under my eyes. I look seriously awful without make up. It doesn't feel or look professional to me at all.

Anyone with nice skin, even tone and naturally dark, defined eyebrows would be fine though.

znaika · 05/04/2013 15:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 05/04/2013 15:52

I think it is really sad that so many women think that their natural look is not attractive :(

It really is conditioning. We don't feel the same way about men wearing makeup, although the ancient egyptians may have. No one would ever think to ask the question about men

"Do you think men can look professional and presentable at work without make-up?"

Dawndonna · 05/04/2013 15:53

Dsis is Managing Director of a large firm with an extraordinarily big influence both in the city and abroad. She does not wear make up.
I'm a lecturer and write, so when able to work, much of it is from home, I'm a make up is porn person. You'd never know I was wearing it, but I have tons of it.
Each to their own. However, people who insist women should wear make up or need it, can go take a running jump.

PenelopePortrait · 05/04/2013 15:56

Salmotrutta yes they did look scruffy honestly. It wasn't mentioned until we got back to our office. Our director (female) asked us how the presentation was and my manager (female Head of Dept) commented on how both the presenters looked. I agreed with her.

None of us trowel it on but I believe that applying some make-up is part of how I present myself, along with my clothes. I have worked in banking and now education and from what I have seen in both careers, it makes a difference. But clearly there are other careers that make-up doesn't make a bit of difference.

Horses for courses I suppose.

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 05/04/2013 15:57

makeup is nothing more than a way to make women more decorative and perpetuates the idea that how women look is just as important as how well they perform their job.

YES!

also does it follow that a 'pretty' woman is more professional than an 'ugly' one?

I don't even consider myself a feminist and rankle at these ideas that some are perpetuating.

Original poster
RevoltingPeasant · 05/04/2013 16:01

Dawn sometimes I wear my most extravagant make up when working at home, just for fun!

Blonde I probably shouldn't ask, but still not getting why you find the word 'paint' offensive. 'Paint' was once the standard term for make up. We still 'paint' our nails. Paint is just a coloured substance you apply to a surface. Don't get the offense........

OP posts:
BlondeLuxLisbon · 05/04/2013 16:02

makeup is nothing more than a way to make women more decorative and perpetuates the idea that how women look is just as important as how well they perform their job.

Should I stop shaving my armpits and burn my bra as well?

Why is make-up such a big issue? That is what I don't get Confused

I don't wear make-up to look "decorative".

Should I start wearing a baggy clothes to work too? Just in case fitted clothes would be considered decorative?

I wear make-up for me. No-one else.

I wouldn't judge or even care if someone decided to wear or not wear make-up.

Why does it matter to people?

Salmotrutta · 05/04/2013 16:02

I still don't see how lack of make-up looks scruffy!

To me, scruffy is messy hair, wrinkled clothes, dirty shoes, ripped tights/jeans etc.

Clean, well brushed hair, smart clothes and no make-up is not scruffy, surely??

Tell me I'm not mad- please Grin

BlondeLuxLisbon · 05/04/2013 16:04

Oh for goodness sake. I find it offensive - get over it already.

Face paint suggests that you are painting your entire face to the point where you are not even recognisable anymore. As in a clown, or a child wearing face paint.

shoesandwine · 05/04/2013 16:06

Totally agree with BlondeLuxLisbon. That's what I was trying to get at on my post. Everyone does some kind of grooming: brushing hair, choosing an outfit, cleaning fingernails....but different people see different things as "essential" parts of their routine.

Are nice suits, ironed shirts, shaved faces, well-groomed hair and tidy eyebrows "nothing more than a way to make men more decorative and perpetuate the idea that how men look is just as important as how well they perform their job"?

Incidentally, how I look is just as important to me as how well I perform my job. That's why I'm prepared to invest those 8 minutes in doing my make-up, just as I'd invest time studying to gain a qualification or broaden my mind, or invest time in exercise to boost my fitness level.

nightowlmostly · 05/04/2013 16:06

At my work all the women are expected to wear makeup, and to look 'groomed' and glamorous. I work in the hospitality industry, and they even check nails for varnish. There are lots of jobs that require women to wear makeup, I'm surprised to see so many people on these threads that can't imagine having to wear makeup for work.

I quite enjoy wearing it, which is just as well, but I do see the sexism involved and it irks me. The men who work here also have strict rules about their appearance, just involving neat hair and general tidiness though, so I do feel we get the shitty end of the stick!

OneLittleToddleTerror · 05/04/2013 16:07

salmotrutta I think we'll never agree with the must-have make up group. I honestly don't think those without makeup look scruffy. I have some myself today. I just popped up and looked at the girl on the desk across me. She has none. (Or she didn't look like she has lipsticks, eyeshadows, and I can see spots on her skin). But she looks tidy enough for the office. Her face is clean, her hair is tied up. I honestly don't see why anyone would think she looks scruffy.

Tuppence2 · 05/04/2013 16:07

I don't feel comfortable without make up on. I enjoy wearing make up, but for me, at work, it's helps me feel confident. Call it a mask or whatever, but I would never feel confident or presentable without make up, especially at work.
It would be fine for me to go to work without a scrap of make up on, but if I did this, I would feel self conscious all day, and not be working to my best, as it would be at the forefront of my mind all day

Icelollycraving · 05/04/2013 16:09

I wear makeup for work,but it's essential in my line of work. IMO most people look better even with a little.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 05/04/2013 16:10

nightowlmostly no I know people have to wear make up for some jobs. I would imagine you can't work in hospitality without it. But I find it hard people can't imagine you can't be professionally presented in some jobs without make up. I actually find it offensive some would think we are scruffy in fact.

JackieTheFart · 05/04/2013 16:10

I love make up and wear it daily.

I wouldn't not wear it for work because my skin is very uneven in tone and I don't like my face without it. I guess people at work might think I look 'less professional' purely because they never see me without it?

Otherwise, I can't see the problem.

BTW, I don't wear 'face paint' either - I'm not a child with a tiger's face drawn on! I know that it is in reality, paint for the face, however, that is not how it is generally referred to. Face paint is a whole other thing.