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.

I feel those that wear makeup (like me) don’t stand a chance on this thread as it’s full of very defensive women who don’t, but I do enjoy wearing and putting on makeup and I think it can and often does make a woman look better, really I do and I’m sorry if that offends non- makeup wearers. I wouldn’t say however it makes anyone look more professional, but it can improve the way someone looks and in turn, how they feel. However, that is my opinion, just like those that don’t wear it for whatever reason, have their opinion.

I wear a bit of mascara and blusher. It's not any major effort.

I think it’s sad that so many seem to wear makeup to make themselves appear confident or ‘polished ‘. (Not sure I know what a polished look is). Why is this?

"EVERYONE needs a little help as they get older - you are no exception!"

She's a recent graduate FGS so likely to be young as all get out. Also, I [57] don't need any 'help' because my ability to do my job has sod all to do with how I look - same goes for all of the graduate professional women I work with, so this opinion is not "controversial", it's simply wrong.

I think it’s sad that so many seem to wear makeup to make themselves appear confident or ‘polished ‘. (Not sure I know what a polished look is). Why is this?

That word "polished" makes me cringe. I'm not furniture.

Tweez

There's a huge difference between wearing make up because you want to and usually do, than those who don't wear it feeling as though they have to in able to do their job.

It's interesting that you say but it can improve the way someone looks and in turn, how they feel. Yes, it can if they wear make up, it doesn't change how I feel apart from making me conscious of how i look, whereas I'm fine without it.

I genuinely think people are just used to my makeup free face as it is - so if you start off makeup free, that's fine. It's only if people are used to you with makeup that it suddenly looks odd if you don't wear any. (Disclaimer: I wear it on a night out usually but that's once a month or so, usually barefaced aside from some eyebrow taming stuff. Never got on very well with mascara or removing it, I seem to have panda eyes for days afterwards!)

RomanyRoots Fair point. I think I would feel very conscious if I didn’t wear it now....after 35 odd years of applying it, you do get used to how you look in the mirror, with or without. It’s like a comfort blanket for me, but I can see and understand everyone’s opinion. It doesn’t make me do my job any better or worse than my non makeup wearing friends and colleagues. The Op should do what she wants to do at the end of the day.

All the make up in the world couldn't make women feel as confident as if we were told our faces are totally acceptable as they are.

Confidence my arse.

(fecking patriarchy rant rant rant )

I never wore make up to work but do wear light makeup if going out for evening. Lip balm in winter and have eye lashes tinted all year round so no need for mascara. They will be looking at your performance not makeup.

Don't wear it. I started a (short-term) job last year and felt I should wear make up. Yes it made me feel more 'dressed fro work', but in the job I'm in now I just don't and that's that.

I think women who wear make up come in without and everyone thinks they look awful, or at the very least people notice.

Women who don't wear make up just don't wear it. That's what they look like and that's ok.

I think we are perpetuating societal norms where many girls and women lack confidence & self esteem unless they are wearing cosmetic products.
Many people do it just because they like it, fine.
But to say you lack confidence and feel unhappy and have low self esteem unless you have made up your face, is that really not slightly odd and sad?
Yes this makes me look judgy but honestly, how are we going to change these pressures that are put on women (and increasingly, men) unless we call it out for what it is.

Did the OP ever come back?

I only wear make up if I'm going out somewhere nice and I wear it for me.

I don't wear it to go to work and my skin feels all the more better for it!

I work in a very traditional corporate environment and wearing makeup is totally optional- it’s about 50/50 amongst women. . I think your question maybe betrays nervousness about what is expected in the work of work because make up just isn’t a big deal. All the best I hope it’s a great job for you

I am much more interested in whether people can do the job than whether they conform to shallow societal norms concerning women's looks. Sadly I realise that I'm in a decreasing group, particularly in this image-obsessed country. Good luck in your new job op.

I've never worn make up and have got pretty much every job I've ever been interviewed for, bar a Saturday job in a seafront gift shop when I was about 17 and still at school.

I've career changed a couple of times because I'm indecisive and like new things... I worked as a PA in the City without make-up when I was in my 20s, taught for many years both before and after 5 years as a PA, and then after a phase as a Sahm/ childminder/ teaching evening classes now do something else again. Return to employed work in a new career and getting a place to retrain along with a load of 20 somethings in my 40s didn't require make-up either. I do have reasonably long virtually black eyelashes which could be one reason I've never been tempted to bother with mascara, but I'm average looking.

If anyone gets to this post....
What's with all the self righteous people who somehow think that wearing makeup makes them.somehow diminished. It protects your skin and as you get older takes years off
. If you say that you don't are about this you are lying. At sixteen, in 1953 I gave up wanting to be a boy and set myself to learning how to make up from women's magazones. My skin.at 81 is pretty good and not wrinkled. Modern cosmetic creams also.contain.sunblock now which is what keeps your skin protected. Maybe the self righteous will find themselves out of a job in older age (and looking it) and be passed over for someone looking younger. Seems just lazy not to.look after your appearance.

.

But to say you lack confidence and feel unhappy and have low self esteem unless you have made up your face, is that really not slightly odd and sad?
Ihaventgottimeforthis ....er, no, why would that be sad or odd? If applying makeup makes a woman feel better then that’s great. It’s like a woman buying a lovely new dress that she knows fits her well and looks good, making her feel better and more confident. Is that sad, or odd? It’s a matter of choice at the end of the day, but it’s quite harsh to say that someone who feels low but feels better and more confident wearing makeup is sad and odd.

So long as you’re clean and composed you’ll be fine
Wearing make up is a preference,it isn’t mandatory

Dont wear makeup if you don't want to! Many senior female colleagues of mine don't wear makeup. It's not an issue at all, as long as you look professional and presentable, same as men. Assuming you've had an interview for the job and didn't wear makeup on the interview and still got the job?

Grannieali
Well said totally agree. I bet you look wonderful.

But the men don't wear make up granieali, will they also be passed over for jobs? If it's to protect your skin then why don't men wear it? Hmmmm, odd.

It protects your skin and as you get older takes years off

Do you have the peer-reviewed evidence as proof that make up protects your skin? And why do you want to take years off? They're years of experience and knowledge.

If you say that you don't are about this you are lying.

Where do you go with this? It's such an odd statement. "You say something I disagree with therefore it must be a lie". There's no point in repeating it, because you'll just decide in advance that I'm lying

At sixteen, in 1953 I gave up wanting to be a boy and set myself to learning how to make up from women's magazones. My skin.at 81 is pretty good and not wrinkled

You wanted to be a boy? You've lost me here. Is this your way of saying you're transgender? Or do you just think there's something intrinsically female about makeup? Have you ever come across guy liner? Seen Eddie Izzard? Presumably you remember the 1980s. Pretty much every new romantic boyband was awash with make up.

Modern cosmetic creams also.contain.sunblock now which is what keeps your skin protected. Maybe the self righteous will find themselves out of a job in older age (and looking it) and be passed over for someone looking younger. Seems just lazy not to.look after your appearance

You can get moisturisers with sunblock in. These are good to use from a health point of view, although not as good as just staying out of the sun. We do have laws against age discrimination these days. And fortunately, many employers will give women jobs based on their skills, not what they look like.

In terms of looking after my appearance - I prefer to look after my health. I cycle a lot, don't drink too much caffeine, avoid too much alcohol and make sure I eat plenty of fresh veg and fruit. To me, this is more important that painting on stuff that simply covers up and clogs pores. You can look healthy from within, not without.

Unfortunately in certain professions your are expected to. I find absurd. Thank God I am in a field that people don't care much they way I look. I will wear lipgloss to work. Will put a bit of make up on in a night out of I feel like it.