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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:
zingally · 31/10/2018 08:06

I'm a teacher and have never worn make-up professionally.
My mum never wore, or even owned any make-up, so I never got the message that it was "the done thing".

When I was a teenager, I dappled in make-up for nights out, weddings etc, but now I don't even bother with that.
This is how I look, this is my face. Deal with it.

That being said, you do exactly what makes you comfortable. If that's wearing make-up, then great! If that's make-up free, then also great!

theveryhighlife · 31/10/2018 08:06

There's a make up minimum requirement at my work!!!
I don't tend to wear much at home, usually because I go to the gym in the morning- so it's pointless putting on and then I'm home studying in the afternoon.
I have no qualms about going out with no make up on.....however, if going out for the whole day, or meeting a friend I would put some on. I feel and look better with it on. I realise this is ridiculous,
But it's just the way it is. I work in an industry, which is still antiquated in the way it sees women.
If you decide to wear make up to work, I'd recommend using a quality brand - Bobbie brown is nice if you like a more natural look.

jay55 · 31/10/2018 08:07

I don’t. It would all melt off on my commute anyway, and I’m not going to arse about in the loo putting it on when I get in.
When starting out it’s good to not have something else you need to spend money on.

Tahani · 31/10/2018 08:11

others may think you're lazy and a bit odd. Soz

How apt Hmm

Loonoon · 31/10/2018 08:14

My best mate is a remarkably successful woman in her field. Anyone who reads the FT will know her name. She has never worn make up at work or at home and it has yet to negatively impact on her career or her personal life.

Another good mate also never wears makeup and her working life is a shit storm as she lurches from job to job never finding the elusive perfect fit, constantly struggling to find her niche.

Wear it or don’t OP as you choose. I doubt it will make any difference to your success or otherwise

JamPasty · 31/10/2018 08:15

You know what ScottyTeapot - she does bloody well look nice. She looks a lot nicer than someone with obvious makeup on.

MrsWembley · 31/10/2018 08:16

When I was 18 I worked as a croupier and it was part of the expectations of the females there that we wore makeup. To be fair, we were under heavy lights and it was a little like being on stage, but I did feel a bit that the men weren't expected to. And I felt very when I was called into the office to ask if I wanted makeup lessons as I wasn't applying it properly as far as they were concerned! Apparently I should have been wearing mascara and I hate wearing mascara. Didn't stay there much longer.

I used to coat myself in foundation as the rest as a teenager because I had bad skin but I think now it just made it worse. As an older woman, I put foundation on as infrequently as possible because all it does is highlight the wrinkles. If I know they'll be a certain type of lighting or photos taken then I'll bother, but otherwise a touch of eyeliner is all that's needed to stop my eyes disappearing, 'like pissholes in the snow' as I heard someone once say.

I fell in love with DP all over again years ago when he told me he preferred me without makeup! Not having to worry is so liberating. Don't start now or it'll be really hard to stop

MrsWembley · 31/10/2018 08:19

Oh, and Scotty, I thought you were joking with your first post. and with your second. Ruth is amazing and a reason I watch the stuff she is in!

Bodicea · 31/10/2018 08:20

I wear a bit of makeup but have never got the whole tinted moisturiser/concealer thing. Hate mascara too.
You can be far more minimal than that. Personally I like to curl my lashes ( get them tinted if you are a blonde like me) and wear a bit of blusher and groom my non existent eyebrows with a bit of pencil.
That’s enough for me.
I think blusher makes the biggest impact out of everything so if you only do one thing do that.

Mmmmmmmchips · 31/10/2018 08:20

Be you

I love makeup but honestly do you

MikeUniformMike · 31/10/2018 08:21

Is the OP female?
I wish colleagues would lay off the fragrance. Especially those who think it's ok to spray it on at their desk.
I don't want to be in a small warm poorly ventilated room with someone who smells like a perfume department (or ashtray or ...).

slkk · 31/10/2018 08:24

I never wear make up either. IMO, if you never do, it will look weird to start doing it and will be be difficult to maintain. I think the best way to look fresh faced is to be fresh faced.

Xenia · 31/10/2018 08:25

There are some jobs for what used to be called dolly birds where rules dictate women must have make up on. There are other careers where if you look at the senior women most of them do have a bllow dry several times a week, spend a fortune on their clothes and usually do wear make up - and I include some female lawyers in that too as well as business leaders; but in those senior roles you don't have to wear make up. Lots of successful businesswomen and lawyers etc don't wear it. I've never been in a meeting with a client where they have backed off looking disgusted because there is no lip stick on my lips.

Do what you feel like. It does no harm to look at what them ost senior woman in the company does and get some tips for what she wears eg I am not a fan of bare legs on professional women at work (nor arms for that matter but that's mostly because I just get cold and you don't see men in meetings with bare arms).

diddl · 31/10/2018 08:28

I wouldn't, especially if you don't usually.

bridgetreilly · 31/10/2018 08:29

I guarantee at least half your colleagues won't be wearing make up.

Dontknowwhatimdoing · 31/10/2018 08:29

I have never worn makeup to work, and in my last two annual appraisals I've been written up as exceptional for professionalism, so it doesn't seem to have done me any harm. Now I think about it all the women I work with do wear makeup to one degree or another, but it is not something that anyone seems to really notice or care about.

Member869894 · 31/10/2018 08:31

This is a very thought -provoking thread. I'm 53 and a lawyer and have always worn makeup to work. Few of my female colleagues do, come to think of it I think I'm going to stop now and the thought is absolutely liberating.

LittleTechGirl · 31/10/2018 08:32

I'm grad too at a major multinational software company. I'm in a customer facing role but at different levels. I never put makeup on for the office but will consider it for customer engagements depending on who I'm seeing - devs/techys no. Snr board/C level yes because I like to look polished. But I only wear a concealer with powder foundation because i have awful skin and look scruffy as f without and then blush because foundation makes me look like a corpse because I'm milky white. I don't want people remembering me as the tired spotty woman. I have a male colleague the same age really bad spotty skin. No matter how nice his suit is he looks like a scruffy teenager. He is treated differently as a result because he screams fresh graduate. I, on the other hand, seem to get my input more respected as I look more mature. The girls in sales seem to plaster it on and imo look unprofessional as it's teenager thick. If I had good skin I would never bother.

bridgetreilly · 31/10/2018 08:32

Oh, and if I ever do want to look 'pleasing to the eye for everyone', which is pretty rare, tbh, then I find that a genuine smile does the job perfectly.

SEsofty · 31/10/2018 08:32

I assume that you didn’t wear it at the interview and they gave you the job. I’d wear whatever you wore at interview

OHolyNightOwl · 31/10/2018 08:32

I don't believe makeup makes any difference in how you advance your career. Hygiene and grooming does however.

I also believe there is not a person who does not look better with (well applied) makeup on.

slkk · 31/10/2018 08:33

I (shock horror) don’t shape my eyebrows either! It’s not about forging an independent path. It just doesn’t seem necessary.

LostInShoebiz · 31/10/2018 08:34

I’m all for choice but as a manager I wouldn’t be happy with too much make up (unless there was a reason like covering a skin condition) - we’re not on a night out - or popping to the toilet every hour for a touch up. Neither are in the least bit professional. Someone who comes to work ready to focus and is clean and tidy, on the other hand, is professional regardless of the colour of their eyelids or lips.

ileclerc · 31/10/2018 08:35

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

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.

DanielRicciardosSmile · 31/10/2018 08:36

Unless your profession is model, actress or dancer I see no correlation between wearing makeup and looking professional.