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 know plenty of senior women in my profession who never wear make up! "

How do you know they're not wearing any?
When I wear foundation, not everyone knows I have it on, particularly by the end of the day.
I agree that's it's absolutely not a requirement though.

I work as a receptionist and don't wear make up or very rarely wear make up.
As long as you are clean and tidy looking, you look professional.
The director of the art centre where I work also rarely wears make up.

I find threads like this fascinating. I wear mascara because I like how my eyes look better with it on pissholes in the snow otherwise and occasionally use the tea tree spot concealer from Body Shop for acne. Also a moisturiser if my face feels tight. That's it though. I'm not sure if I'm normal or not based on this thread/MN in general!!

My workplace is majority women, majority scientific writers. We all use minimal makeup and are remarkably unfinished

Whatever you decide to do don’t be totally naive about it. People will judge you- it’s human nature. They will hopefully judge you mostly on what you produce/ achieve if it is a decent cie. And they will judge you a bit on how you look/ behave. Up to you to decide what influence you want to give that second part, and what you think is most important to you. If being make up free matters - do it. If you want to be full slap- go for it. Somewhere in the middle is fine too. All choices have consequences- pick the consequence you like most!
(FWIW I always do basic make up for work- senior professional & often with clients so impressions matter and I think basic make up helps me. Others make different choices- more power to them)

No, no need. Clean and tidy is all that's required.
Good luck in your new job.

There are numerous studies showing that wearing makeup increases your earning.

Is it right? No. Is it an average? Yes. So all the pps who dont wear makeup and are top of their game well good for you. But youre the exception, not the rule. And you might have the job title but do you know with certainty that your male colleagues arent getting paid more?

Disclaimer: havent read the studies so cant comment on the methodology.

Hi,

Just make sure you look presentable, whatever that means to you. I do think the comments below are slightly biased, in my experience at my job for an investment bank - the men are just as polished as the women; we do our hair and make sure we look fresh, they have immaculately ironed suits, groomed facial hair and hairstyles and I suspect spend much more time in the mornings getting ready than most women in my work place.

At the end of the day, it is nice to go to work where people take care of themselves, it doesn't have to include makeup, instead of walking into a general atmosphere of 'i can't be arsed'. Feel free to butcher me I'm the comments for being superficial but surely it's just courteous to others to make a small effort?

Good luck with the new job :)

I do think the comments below are slightly biased, in my experience at my job for an investment bank - the men are just as polished as the women

Not in the tech departments.

I've never been to work without make-up. It doesn't take long at all. I can do a full face - foundation, cheek & lip stain, eye-shadow, winged eyeliner, eyebrows and mascara - in about 5 mins.

YANBU. I’m in a predominantly female workforce with many women in very senior positions. I couldn’t tell you if they wear make up or not. I don’t notice. However, I do notice their work, the support they offer staff and their general demeanour and approachability. That’s far more important than what’s on their face. I say this as a woman who prefers to wear make up every day, so I have no axe to grind. It should be a choice.

Do you want to wear it?

There are unfortunately some workplaces where it's expected and some stupid cunts people who think you as a woman look less professional if you don't. See various posts in this thread.

Fortunately, this attitude doesn't infest all workplaces, but it infests some, and it would be a good idea to work out whether yours is/potentially is one. You can then make an informed decision about whether you'd benefit, and if so whether the benefit is enough to motivate you to do it.

Also don't make the mistake of thinking that if you do choose to wear makeup, you can do it how you like. Some environments are very fussy about how much. I've read about women being told theirs isn't subtle enough.

YANBU.

Wear it if it makes you feel better or more put together. I'm a qualified professional with a good reputation in my firm. I don't wear makeup and never have here past my first interview for an entry level job. I have since risen through the ranks and am well thought of regardless of how my face looks. I am always dressed as smartly as the occasion requires - smart/casual in the office, smart for court or visiting a client and my lack of make up has never been considered an issue.
Also my most inspirational female boss never did either.

And in the UK traditionally it was a bit non U and lower class and a bit like a loose morals actress to wear make up remember and to paint your nails so it is not always as simple as rich succesful women ttend to wear make up (although they often do). I find more than enough reasons not to bother and it has not to my knowledge affected my earnings. if I have ever wanted to wear it I have.

Gosh there's some catty posts on here. Lots of superiority posts, which is a shame. Sometimes women are their own worst enemies.

I imagine lots of the women who claim not to wear make up wore it on their wedding day.

As I said in a previous post, sometimes I do wear it and sometimes I don't - and I wear perfume too - everyday 
I do look better when wearing make up though.

It’s down to your preference. I’m the Director of a service in a large Local Authority. I know many of my (female) opposites don’t wear make up. One of my male colleagues does. I wear a lot, but I do it for me, it makes me feel better and more confident to be completely honest. I have horrendous skin and acne scarring so covering it makes me feel better.

I imagine lots of the women who claim not to wear make up wore it on their wedding day.

So what? That’s a totally different thing. Everyone is looking at you and there are hundreds of photos during the day. Not the same as everyday work.

I wear makeup every day, I'd be annoyed and quite upset if someone told me I shouldn't- so why on earth would it be ok to tell someone else that they should?

A few months ago I had to go and support one of our consultants at a thing in London, where I met a bunch of people from the national senior team for the first time. Some of them wore makeup, some didn't, some were incredibly groomed, some were not, some wore recognisably expensive accessories, some did not...

It really, really does not matter to decent people whether or not someone has painted their face.

Purple I thought someone might pipe up over that statement.
If you read and understand the sentiment of some of the posts it implies that women shouldn't need to wear make up - which is true. However, a lot of women who don't wear make up day to day (and have criticised people who do) will wear it for special occasions, because they feel it enhances the way they look. Which is a good enough reason as any.

Another senior manager here saying you don't need to wear makeup, ever.

Wear it if you like but if you're not bothered I'd come down on the side of not doing - as that strikes a blow for normalizing women not wearing any make up.

History will be on your side - if you're just starting your career I guarantee it won't hold you back as long as you are clean & keen!

I am a senior professional woman. I did not wear makeup in my first job as a graduate, but I started to wear make up eventually as my skin is slightly rosacea, not pimply but prone to redness. I think in professional life both men and women need to think about first impressions and looking presentable. For women, this may involve putting make up on, for men it might mean shaving, I think I can put my make up on as quickly as my husband can shave. I don't think that it is right that appearances matter, but I think it is a fact of life.

I never have and it hasn’t held me back. In many case I think those who are very heavily made up can get judged too. Just be you, starting a new job is stressful enough without feeling you’re being something you’re not.

I was on a competitive graduate scheme in case that’s relevant.

However, a lot of women who don't wear make up day to day (and have criticised people who do) will wear it for special occasions, because they feel it enhances the way they look. Which is a good enough reason as any.

Most posters aren’t criticising women who wear make up every day. They’re criticising those posters who are saying women SHOULD wear make up to work. It’s entirely a matter of personal choice.

And it's not about 'it being nice to take care of yourself'. It's capitalism, pure and simple. You're not good enough until you've bought more grooming products.

"They steal your love of yourself, and use it to sell the product".

Resist!

i didn't - "I imagine lots of the women who claim not to wear make up wore it on their wedding day."

I have worn it for some public events my 40s and 50s.
The first time I had it put on was for TV appearances in my late 20s or early 30s and I still have some photos we took at home before I washed it off and the video footage. It was interesting having it put on in the TV studio but it would never be for me day to day or in work nor for a wedding day. I always thought my face looked quite nice as it stands. i don't have spots or anything like that to cover up.

However if women want to wear it - let them.

I think that if you feel confident that you can present yourself well without make up then you absolutely should.

If you feel more confident with make up on, go for it.

I don't anyone "should" wear make up.