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 am one of those awful middle-aged women who looks their age and despite clearly ‘needing some help’ does not have the time, skills, energy or wish to apply make up each morning. Somehow I manage to go about my daily business without causing widespread panic/the next apocalypse/ a vomiting epidemic. possibly aided by powers of invisibility

On a more serious note, do not feel pressured to wear make up if you don’t want to. If you enjoy wearing it, great. If you don’t, also great. Your work performance will not be affected by your lack of defined eyebrows and a glossy ‘lip’.

And when did we stop calling blusher ‘rouge’? fond memories of watching my Nan put her make up on

Very professional, senior job. Never wear make up. It is NOT my responsibility to deal with other people’s bullshit expectations about how women should look.

I hate the make-up culture that encourages women to believe they are so hideous they need to spend half an hour covering themselves up.

Do what you want - I don't really wear makeup, though I do often wear tinted lip balm and do put on lipstick occasionally for meetings.

Nobody cares in real life.

There's the full gamut at my work - some plastered with it, including the ubiquitous unrealistic brows that are invariably several shades too dark (and that will look dreadfully dated in a few years) - through to plenty who wear no make up at all.

I wear make-up every day, but I defend to the death any woman's right to wear none.

And in all honesty, no make up looks miles better than the Mr Potato Head brows look.

Her craggy old face does somewhat distract from all that, Resistance! Swear I'm not trolling, but there's nothing anti-feminist about ensuring you're pleasing to the eye for everyone!

Another interesting perspective, because it assumes that "everyone" has the same standard of beauty. It must be very limiting to have such a narrow view of the world.

One person's "craggy old face" is another's pleasingly independent to see someone ageing naturally and not following the botox, fillers, makeup sheeple.

It is NOT my responsibility to deal with other people’s bullshit expectations about how women should look.

Nice to look nice though, innit?

No you don’t need to at all. Some of the very senior women I have worked with don’t. It’s definitely not a requirement.

We will all think differently on this one. I never wear makeup - most in my profession likewise or very little/unobtrusive. I personally find most make up (unless where dine really well) makes skin look much older and more blemished/wrinkled. Almost without exception people look older. Obviously there are exceptions where a skin condition can be skilfully managed but on normal healthy skin it just looks claggy and uncomfortable to me. In my profession more than minimal make up tends to look unprofessional I think.

Loving all the responses from people who don't wear make up.
The last thing you want to be worrying about in your new job is if your make up is still in place! You may not be able to just nip to the loo to look in the mirror!
Once you start see how you feel then do what YOU want. But if you aren't used to make up then I would avoid it in the first week or two whilst your settling in.
Good luck in your new job.

but there's nothing anti-feminist about ensuring you're pleasing to the eye for everyone, if you choose to.

You didn't finish the sentence, @ScottyTeapot, but I thought I'd help and do it for you. You're welcome.

Ah, "nice". That ever-shifting ephemeral standard that nobody can actually define.

Do Maori facial tattoos on women have the same impact in the UK as they do in NZ?

Japanese women going through dental procedures to obtain a crooked tooth (because it's valued there), versus the UK's increasing obsession with braces and bleaching?

I don't often wear make up. I sometimes have worn it for certain conferences I am speaking at where I suspect most women will wear it but even there last month I specifically did not as I could not be bothered I thin it is up to you. If you look smart and tidy it should not be required. (I'm a lawyer). Of course women and men can wear it if they want to but it is not essential in most careers. However don't go in looking scruffy in torn jeans of course.

Nice to look nice though, innit?

I look nice without make up.

And since when did anyone look pleasuring to the eye for everyobe?

I work in a very large, very corporate firm where I started on a graduate scheme 10 years ago. There are women at all levels (some earning millions and very much at the top of our game) who don't wear makeup.

I really dislike the fact that I don't feel comfortable leaving my house without makeup on - even for a 6:00am dog walk in the dark. I wish I didn't hate the way I look without it.

Presumably they saw you when you interviewed? So clearly they managed to cope and considered you professional and smart enough to employ you ;-)

If you don't want to, don't.

I had a colleague who wore makeup, far too much of it (really thick foundation etc). She looked like a clown. I had another one whose makeup was really OTT and made her look like a prostitute. Neither was appropraite in the context of our work.
Nearly everyone there was a lawyer and most wore very little/no makeup. BUT, everyone was smartly dressed and clean

Scotty I, and all humans, have the right to exist just as we are. We don’t have to look a particular way to take up space. It’s so deeply unfeminist to tell women they are not worthwhile unless they look a particular way.

Her craggy old face does somewhat distract from all that, Resistance!

Clearly it doesn't for most people, considering how successful and well-respected she is, Scotty. Could you explain precisely why it's so dreadful for a woman to look her age?

It doesn’t sound like you identify with make-up-wearing-you OP and so I wouldn’t make any changes.

My DF used to roll his eyes and say you’ve got your war-paint on then. and that’s kind of how I see make up. It’s how I psychologically prepare for my day.

I personally believe I look better with makeup, but I will admit that this is my perception. It’s more likely that those I work with (especially menfolk) don’t actually notice.

No yanbu. Clean and dressed appropriate to the role is fine, and I say this as someone who wears make up daily.

I manage a team of people, which includes all sorts of appearances, shapes and sizes. Some of those people are women who don't wear makeup.

I have only ever had to have a chat with someone about their appearance at work - and that was the young woman who used to come in looking like she was ready for a photoshoot, with thick foundation, false eyelashes, extreme contouring and heavy eyeshadow and liner. The problem with the current obsession with "Insta-ready" makeup is that in real life it looks extremely heavy and clown-like and is not suitable in a professional environment - especially if you are client-facing.

When I worked in an office I never wore make-up.
I never actually notice if people are wearing makeup or not, apart from if they always wear makeup and then they don’t.
I think it is nonsense that it makes you look more groomed and professional.

You are asking about an interview. I consider every aspect of my interview dress,jewellery etc very carefully. I am there to compete with other candidate s. I do not wear heels and my slightly uncomfortable conservative dress do work everyday. I do wash my teeth everyday and sometimes remember lippy 😂.

I also believe that people's perception of you is totally their reality, so while you think you're shunning the societal norm and forging your independent, make up free path, others may think you're lazy and a bit odd. Soz.

No. That would be childish shortening of the perfectly good English language. Sorry.