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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not wear makeup to work?

477 replies

TheSunflower · 31/10/2018 06:15

I am starting a graduate job in January. I don't normally wear makeup. Am I sabotaging myself if I do not wear makeup?

Or should I wear makeup?

It is a corporate job.

OP posts:
Miscible · 31/10/2018 15:57

There's a make up minimum requirement at my work!!!

I do hope it applies equally to men and women.

Fluffyears · 31/10/2018 16:57

I stopped wearing it to work in my mid 20’s. I wear good make up and wasn’t wasting it on wirkmsnd I like my sleep. I dress well and and clean and well groomed. I’d actually say 70% of wine I work with don’t wear any. Thinking of the signatories in our office i’d say non of them wear it every day. A couple of girls go full on lashes but it’s all personal choice.

theveryhighlife · 31/10/2018 17:17

Purple - there were posts which demeaned women who do wear make up. There have been over 250 posts. Perhaps you missed them.
I've no reason to make it up 

theveryhighlife · 31/10/2018 17:19

Miscible - There are strict requirements for men in terms of hair and facial hair.
There are also guidelines for make up for men.

Chasingsquirrels · 31/10/2018 17:20

I've never worn make up at home, out or at work.
I graduated in the early 90's, trained as a chartered accountant in a professional office and have worked in a number of offices over the year at increasing senior levels.
It's not something I've ever considered has impacted on my ability to get or do a job.
Actually it's just not something I think about at all.

ReanimatedSGB · 31/10/2018 17:28

While there are certain unspoken pressures on men in terms of appearance at work (no facial hair, no lurid ties or whatever), when you get a workplace with a culture of completely unnecessary and intrusive rules around appearance, with strong gender demarkations, it's usually about reminding female staff that they should look fuckable or at least demonstrate that they care about being fuckable.
I'd rather more workplaces didn't bat an eyelid over staff with blue hair, noserings or facial tattoos, tbh. At work, you shouldn't smell, and whatever you wear or decorate yourself with shouldn't be a health/safety/hygiene hazard. but otherwise it shouldn't matter.

Xenia · 31/10/2018 17:51

That's wise Rean although in some professions you have to dress how the clients want you to dress if you want to get work sometimes and is one reason some doctors miss the traditional white coat as it covers things up and some barrister will like the gown and wig. I like to pull on the same suit every day./ In fact I wear the same clothes every day (obviously clean ones) - either jacket etc for meeting type days or just casual for working at the desk as I don't like to give it a second though.

However lots of women do get al ot of pleasure out of choosing clothes for the next day., having a vareity of different clothes for work , ringing the changes. I am the usual one who likes always to wear the same. I do have two different coloured jackets when I have two days of meetings or presentations so I don't look identical necessarily on each day as I am on show but i don't always bother with that.

Athena51 · 31/10/2018 17:55

I wear makeup most days because I like it and I like how i look with it on.

I don't care if women wear it or not but there is a very weird judgy attitude to women who wear it, that we are somehow shallow and not proper feminists. I don't think that not wearing it makes you somehow morally superior.

EenyMeenyMo · 31/10/2018 18:07

Worked in investment banking for years - Never worn makeup, too lazy and too worried I can't do it properly - actually i never even think about it now. I wouldn't wear it for big occasions either though. sometimes I wish that i'd got the subtle enhancing makeup right - but I'd rather err on none than on too much. I'd rather stand out for my ability/knowledge and not for my appearance.
i started work when women couldn't wear trouser suits, were told to wear camisoles under blouses (and men couldn't wear coloured suits - someone was sent home for wearing a green suit!) and things are relatively relaxed now and even at the most restricted i never felt out of place not wearing makeup

ForalltheSaints · 31/10/2018 18:26

Just as I think no-one should be required to wear high heels, no-one should be forced or even pressurised into wearing make-up.

Dextrodependant · 31/10/2018 20:40

Some days I wear full Instagram make up for work, some days I wear a minimal amount (concealer & mascara) some days I wear none at all. It depends what I gave on, what time I got up and how I feel.

The days I wear none I get asked of I am ok, I look tired etc. I feel more confident wearing make up and more prepared as I know I have put effort into my appearance. I like to look what I perceive as nice, for myself.

I agree with others who have said how judgy this thread is, like not wearing make up is far superior. No one should feel they have to wear make up but equally no one should feel judged of they choose too.

Ollivander84 · 31/10/2018 20:43

It's whatever you feel comfortable with
I don't leave the house without makeup on (ranges from full face to BB cream and mascara) but I enjoy makeup, I like doing it and I find it relaxing
I wouldn't judge anyone for wearing or not wearing makeup

gfk62 · 31/10/2018 20:55

Personally I just wear lipstick as in my opinion I look washed out without a pop of colour, it gives me confidence, and depending on the shade a bit of Sass Wink. However, at the end of the day, be happy and confident in yourself no matter what. Many of my colleagues are make up free. No issues in perception of professionalism either way. Badly applied / rushed makeup often looks worse than none at all imo. Just be yourself.
Congratulations & good luck with your new job !!!

celticprincess · 31/10/2018 21:09

Personal choice I’d guess. I do because I have very pale (verging on blue some days) skin. I also suffer acne (still st the age of 41 due to PCOS) so need to even put the skin tone. I literally do just wear a powder foundation and some blusher. You’d probably hardly notice. No lippy, just lip balm. No mascara. I struggle when I go out as I wear glasses. I’m not a natural at doing makeup. I’m also permanently knackered so I guess it hides the bags too.

I’ve colleagues who wear a tonne of make up, clearly a different colour to their neck and complete with eyes and lips. They don’t do their job any better. Equally I’ve colleagues who don’t wear any. They do sometimes look more tired.

Whatever you feel comfort with. As long as you look professional, clean and tidy then you should be ok.

Polkapjs · 31/10/2018 21:27

I always wear it since I started with foundation age 17. I regret it as if I don’t wear it now I get “ooh you look ill “ or “ooh you look tired”. I’m very pale and do look s bit deathly but work with two women who do t wear any and I’m jealous that when they do put some on for nights out, they look beautiful and different and it’s a whole new look. I just have variations of pale!

Lanzlaze30 · 31/10/2018 21:38

Ive never worn make up. I take pride in doing my job well. I've received great feed back and won several awards. I've achieved excellent results. I've had local and international clients. I guess it depends what sort of job you do.

SuperMumTum · 31/10/2018 21:50

I don't wear make up except when I'm going out out (and it's pretty minimal). My mum was the same and I hope my daughter doesn't feel that she needs a full face on to leave the house when she gets older. I have no issue with people who love make up and choose to wear it but it's sad that some women feel that it's necessary.

Biologifemini · 31/10/2018 21:53

My problem is I have always worn minimal make up. So if I forget or don’t do it then people assume I am unwell.
So on goes the bronzer again Grin

DelurkingAJ · 31/10/2018 21:56

In finance. Never considered wearing it. Was told by drunk boss that he took me more seriously for not doing so. Have been challenged once and called the person out for sexism (he didn’t help his cause by being unable to tell which women in the room were wearing it). Far far worse is to wear make up badly...that does look slightly unprofessional.

Sunhill4 · 31/10/2018 21:58

Why are women expected to paint a ask over their face? What is wrong with presenting the face you were born with to the world? Sorry I just don't get it!

userofthiswebsite · 31/10/2018 22:05

If you're comfortable without it, then no need.

Knittink · 31/10/2018 22:18

I know plenty of men who wear a bit of tinted moisturiser or shaving balms, so the men don't alter their appearance argument doesn't really stand up now.

Hmm It really does stand up. Because the whole point is that men aren't EXPECTED to wear make-up. Some of them may choose to, but nobody thinks a man is lazy or unprofessional for not wearing make-up, because it is not the norm for men, and probably never will be.

I wear make-up every day, and really wish I didn't feel I needed to.

Bimgy85 · 31/10/2018 22:29

Of course you shouldn't wear make up if you don't want to. Makeup doesn't make someone look more 'respectable' 

Last time I checked it was something people wear because they like how they look when they put it on, or they feel good, doesn't make a difference to how 'respectable' you look.

I am the kinda person who looks very tired if I don't have makeup (bags due to stress) so I always make sure to put at least a bit of foundation and bronzer on.

But yanbu op wear as much or as little of anything you like

BackforGood · 31/10/2018 22:57

How very depressing that this is even a question to cross anybody's mind in 2018 Hmm

seventhgonickname · 01/11/2018 00:27

Wearing make up does not make you look professional it just looks like what it us,makeup.
Enjoy your new job.

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