To go to work without makeup on?

[Streambeam]

I am a professional working in the public sector, with daily contact with service users. I’m in my 30s. Sometimes I go to work without makeup on. Is that an un-groomed / scruffy thing to do? Would you look askance at a colleague / professional looking washed out with no makeup on?

Femisism aside for now? I know that ideally women shouldn’t have to wear makeup etc to be respected, but the world isn’t an ideal place, unfortunately.

(I’m not talking about a full face of slap btw, I normally just wear concealer and light foundation to cover acne scars / under eye shadows, and mascara. But some days I just want to give my skin a break / am in a morning rush and don’t bother. Maybe I need more self pride?)

I've all but stopped wearing foundation in the recent heat and i'm surprised how little difference its made. I kept up with a bit of mascara and eyeliner, and filled my eyebrows in but that was all. I think its a lot to do with how you're used to your own face looking.

I enjoy wearing makeup. When I want to.

HOWEVER.

The idea that our faces are somehow not good enough or 'ill looking' without it is bollocks. Ingrained, deep rooted bollocks, but bollocks nonetheless.

People who say they look ill when they don't wear it - that's only because you and those around you are used to you being a different shade/complexion!

If you started a new job without it, no-one would bat an eyelid, guarantee it! After all, I'm assuming you didn't all look ill as children right up until the day you discovered mascara?

I have never worn make up at home. At work. Anywhere. I work in a professional full time job and no one has ever said anything nor has it hindered me in interviews or promotions. I’m not really sure why women do other than habit and convention, men never do as far as I can see.

Some of my colleagues wear make up, some don’t. I wear it some days and others don’t bother. None of us wear a full face of slap.

Teachers in a college for reference.

Your face, just as it is, is enough and perfectly acceptable to wear anywhere.

I've never wear make up to work I probably only put it on about once every 6 weeks for a meal out or wedding!
I'm a civil servant and deal with companies on a regular basis never had a comment about looking scruffy

I think it's great you have the confidence to go without make up. It's neither a virtue nor a sin to wear make up, each to their own.

If you were talking about brushing your teeth or wearing deodorant we might need to have a little word.

I feel more put together with make-up on, and I think I look unwell without it on. However, I've started to question this - how come we think that a woman with a naked face looks washed out and unwell, whereas we don't think that about a man with a naked face?? Is it just that we are so conditioned to seeing women with make-up on that this has become the norm to compare against??

Why the fuck should anyone have to wear make up to work (unless they are perhaps on stage)?

Why are we even asking this question?

How fucking depressing.

Yes @harshbuttrue !
And we probably only notice it on women who usually wear makeup.

I think it’s completely down to personal preference. In my years of working in offices it’s been a range - some women wear a full face, others just a lick of mascara and a quick brush of blush, and some don’t wear any.

Some women see make up as their war paint and feel better equipped to face the world with it on.

It’s whatever you feel comfiest with!

So long as your skin doesn't look dirty without it (visible blackheads/sebacious filaments) then it's not really necessary same goes for both men and women. If you prefer wearing make up, so long as you keep it natural, nothing wrong with that but it's not necessary unless you are covering up a distractingly bad complexion.

I didn't wear makeup to work once and was told I looked tired and asked if I was feeling ok, and I actually think I look pretty good without makeup! Never again. Never felt so shit about myself in my life!

I am a teacher and generally wear light make up to work i.e. light foundation, but of eyeshadow and maybe lol gloss. No more than that and some days I don't bother.

I haven't had make up on since term ended in July!

I am always clean, smartly dressed and hair done so I don't think it makes any difference if I wear it or not. I wouldn't notice if another woman was wearing make up or not.

Personally, I like to give my skin a break sometimes and if the weather is warm, I don't like the feeling of make up on my skin.

Most women where I live don’t appear to wear makeup ever, including to work. There are a small number of VERY glamorous women in my town but I’ve never encountered them in the workplace. I generally wear at least under-eye concealer at work but rarely more than that. I look much less attractive with no makeup, but I don’t look unprofessional, so who cares?

I don't wear make up to work or any other time for that matter. I wear a bit probably 2-3 times a year.
I dislike seeing people that have it piled on. And those that have to be immaculate before they can leave the house. Each to their own though.

It disappoints me that my mum won't even nip to the village shop without make up on! Takes her 20+ mins to get ready for what is 5 mins out of the house. I wish she was comfortable enough in her own skin for even a quick nip somewhere.

I sat in a senior board meeting today. Approx 15 people. Only 2 men. Aged 30 - 60 I would say. 2 had full faces of make up like they had just walked off a make up counter in a department store. Good quality and well applied. About half the others had tinted moisturiser, a bit of blusher, some lip gloss and mascara. The rest had a clean makeup and product free face. All looks vary. Young, middle and old, both bare faced and light make up. No one bats an eye lid and they are all senior professionals in a patient facing role. The bare faced people were certainly taken every bit as seriously as the made up people.

So long as your face is clean I don't think it matters. I wouldn't be impressed if someone wore scruffy clothes to work.

I haven't worn makeup at work for a month as a challenge for something to do with my work. Not one person has noticed. When I've mentioned it, people have been surprised.

I think so long as your skin is clean and eyebrows groomed (tweezed not pencilled) then people really do t notice.

I've been to work without makeup once in my current job. I got loads of "you look awful are you ill?!" I just reply "nope I'm just ugly!"

I will add though I love makeup, it's my only creative outlet! Some days I wish I didn't have to if I'm extra tired or something but hey ho.

For most of my 60-odd years I have been everywhere without makeup on - I reckon if people don’t like my face, that’s their problem. I have never had anyone at work complain

I don't wear make up ever,and don't even tweezer my eyebrows.Not many of us there do,working in a fairly busy restaurant that's a little warm at the best of times,it'd be a waste of time.My face and hair is clean and tidy which is all my boss expects.