to not wear makeup to work?

[TheSunflower]

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.

When a man has to wear make-up to be considered 'professional', only then will I consider it.

Sexist and discriminatory.

Eyelash dye and defined eyebrows (without going OTT - some brow gel will often suffice) can make your eyes brighter without much hassle. And getting your smile fixed with braces will do wonders for your overall presentation as well as helping you keep your teeth for longer.

I think we just have to go our own wasy on this. As someone said above the lower down some organisations the more make up is worn. If women are earning a lot and doing well because ... of their brains - yes we can be judged by the quality of our work not how aesthetically pleasing we look ...... then we do fine. My great aunt was a senior nurse trained in the 1890s and no one cared less if she wore make up - just if people survived on her ward. Ditto when my mother was teaching in the 40s and 50s - how good is the teaching - not how much make up she had on; and today me as as lawyer. You can be a very successful high paid female (or male) lawyer in the UK even if you don't wear make up. Someone we known (female) flies planes for a living. I bet what make up she wears if any is irrelvant compared with whetehr shje gets the passengers safely from A to B, ditto your female surgeon or even my son's van delivery colleagues and when he was a postman his female co-workers.

My funnisest memory was Iran. I thought my business trips there might be quite freeing despite the head covering as we coudl concentrate on work and it wouldnt' matter what you looked under all that head covering etc - of course it was nothing like that. I haev never seen women with so much complex make up and eye make up on . I had none. I was also screened on massive screens all over the conference call as I spoke. I hope I showed my one third female audience that in the West you can be a very successful women professional and not wear make up (if you choose not to wear it).

To everyone saying they find this thread depressing: I disagree. I'm actually finding it really encouraging that the vast majority of women in this thread are saying either they don't wear it, or that they do but don't care if others don't. I've seen questions like this in the past, and back then a much higher percentage of women were arguing that you should wear it to look professional. So times are moving on. Yes, there are a couple of annoying people in this thread, but they're in a clear minority, which they wouldn't necessarily have been in the past.

A lot of people on Facebook are commenting that this is a stupid or ridiculous question. Actually, I think the OP asked a perfectly reasonable question. It's already well known that women's bodies are heavily scrutinised by people and the media etc, and we face discrimination and body/appearance shaming all the time. So I don't think the OP should wear makeup, but I do think she was perfectly reasonable and not at all stupid or pointless to ask the question.

*I would always put skincare ahead of makeup as a grooming priority.
Nothing looks less “professional” than makeup that tries to camouflage bad skin.

How insensitive are you then?
There are many skin conditions that cannot be fixed with a bit of cleanser, toner and moistiriser or a dab of spot cream.

Eyelash dye and defined eyebrows (without going OTT - some brow gel will often suffice) can make your eyes brighter without much hassle. And getting your smile fixed with braces will do wonders for your overall presentation as well as helping you keep your teeth for long

^^that has to be a wind up surely?
Why do my eyes have to be 'brighter'?
Who the hell can afford to have £££ of dental work done just to conform to someone elses idea of how they should 'smile'?

Willow - there are very few skin conditions that cannot be vastly improved with the help of a good dermatologist. And dental work is primarily about keeping your teeth in good health (you know, so you can continue to eat!).

Because everyone can afford a private dermatologist... and braces

Do what you like. Don't be influenced by other people. You will prob end up looking worse if you are not comfortable wearing make up. Personally I wear make up every day. I don't feel dressed without it. I feel like it accentuates my looks and makes me look more interesting. I regularly get comments about looking nice etc, but also 'how do you have time?'. Up to leaving house (and getting dc to school) is 45 minutes- so with practice doesn't take long at all!

Braces are about 2k aren’t they? And as for skin care. Believe me I have tried every single thing and nothing improves my skin. It’s just shit. I’m very self conscious of it but there is nothing I can do. Trust me- if there was I’d do it.

There are very few skin conditions that cannot be vastly improved with the help of a good dermatologist.

Oh really?
What if they are due to underlying incurable conditions? Occur without warning and take time to fade or leave permanent discoloration/thickened skin?

Dermatology in the U.K. is fairly terrible, I grant you! In countries where dermatology is a better respected speciality there are remedies for skin conditions that are easy and inexpensive. It’s always worth reading up about dermatology and getting your GP on board.

I never have and it’s never been a problem.

tec, I find it encouraging too , particularly a good few of us older professionals who know you don't need to wear make up to get on in most jobs in the UK including the very highest paid ones. Of course if you want to wear it you can. I also like the fact fewer young women in professional jobs these days wear high heels and that's a huge improvement on older days too.

Also I like English teeth. I have deep suspicon of those very weird white straight American teeth. Of course if you have missing teeth at the front it would look sufficiently strange in most jobs you should get an implanted one but other than that who cares if your teeth are yellow or not straight?

So someone with for instance S
L.E has to run to a dermatologist everytime they have a flare up on thier skin? By the time they get an appoint it will probably have subsided!

I work in banking. I wear bare minerals or neutrogena mineral powder and lip colour which is normally tinted chapstick. I have horrible skin so it really helps a lot!

This thread is somewhat of a pleasant surprise. A few idiots but most people supporting the idea that feminine beauty rituals should be entirely optional. I've seen threads be far more 50/50 or even dominated by the 'you must conform to be socially acceptable' types.

I've never worn makeup in my life and I never will. I don't dye my greying hair either, don't groom my eyebrows, don't even remove my body hair . I follow the universally accepted standards for men: be reasonably clean, brush your hair, brush your teeth, wear clothes appropriate to the situation. Anything women are meant to do but men aren't, I'm not going for it.

Female bodies are not naturally more disgusting, less presentable, less professional etc etc than male bodies. I am glad popular opinion seems to be shifting in the direction of actually recognising this rather than just people saying 'well technically you can do what you want, buuuut...'.

I would use concealer for any dark circles/ spots etc but otherwise just make sure your hair is washed and brushed/put up smartly and you are wearing smart clothes. You definitely don’t need foundation/blusher/mascara etc if it’s not what you would usually wear. You might find more women wear it than don’t but in my experience it doesn’t make any difference when it comes to success at work.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-you-wear-makeup-at-work/
(UK research)

fortune.com/2016/05/19/makeup-more-money/
(US research)

YANBU, I couldn't go make-up free but that's my own insecurity And I would admire someone like you.

Just look at The Apprentice- all the womenz look like they're on a night out.

Some days I wear it, some days I don't - makes no difference at all to how much work I get done, or how good that output is!

As an aside - we are a pretty female heavy office, all professionals, but very diverse of ages and nationalities (as we operate globally). The split is pretty even between those who do and those who don't - but it really isn't a "thing" here. For example - the CEO loves bright red lipstick and full on brows, but the MD and CSO don't wear any at all (make up!).

Do what feels good for you - any colleague worth their salt won't give a fig what you look like, they will only be interested in your ability to do the job.

Good luck in your new career!

I wouldn't bother if you are not used to wearing it. Plenty of professional women don't wear it.

Personally though I find it a godsend when I haven't slept. I enjoy wearing makeup.

I find it quite shocking that women are still being told that they need to wear make up to be deemed professionalism this day and age.

I work in a corporate team not many of the women wear make up. The under thirties tend to wear a bit but I used to when I was under 30! I can’t say I’ve really noticed until I think about it now!

Every female looks better in makeup - the less is more type, obviously.