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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you wear make-up to work every day ?

98 replies

Neverlovedya · 04/01/2020 15:26

Not really AIBU but. I'm 28 years old and a teacher, but I usually get mistaken for early 20s even late teens. I'm baby-faced and also come across as younger with my mannerisms so i'm told.
I'm starting a new job on Monday and i'm determined to make a good impression and for the children to respect me.
I can look older with make up and i'm wondering if I should start wearing it for work, I rarely wear it at work usually.
I don't like just putting on bits, I either do a full face or nothing. I'll have to get up a fair bit earlier in the morning. Do you think it's worth it ?

OP posts:
onanothertrain · 04/01/2020 15:28

I wear it if I'm going out to work, not if I'm working from home. I don't wear a lot though, takes 2 minutes to put on.

PooWillyBumBum · 04/01/2020 15:28

How old are the children? Generally, regardless of how baby-faced you are, they'll think you're ancient and not think too much about your age.

I wear makeup to work every day, it only requires about 4 minutes of effort for a basic face, but if you're happy being bare-faced I wouldn't bother!

Original poster
Neverlovedya · 04/01/2020 15:30

The kids are 11-16,some of them have said they thought I was here on work experience 😳 youre right though it may not change much. Wow 4 minutes that's impressive. I usually take 45 minutes 😂

OP posts:
elmosducks · 04/01/2020 15:32

I am a elementary teacher. I put on a little bit of mascara and a touch of blush. Sometimes lip gloss, but that's it.

I am not keen on a full face of makeup at school, I save that for going out out. Grin

MereDintofPandiculation · 04/01/2020 15:33

Looking 18 or 38 isn't going to make a difference as to whether the children respect you. If the children do respect you, then being a role model for women to be professional and competent without a face full of make up is valuable.

TruculentandFarty · 04/01/2020 15:33

I don't wear it at work, I work mainly with men and I made a decision not to do so. I believe that it isn't a woman's job to be decorative and I didn't want to perpetuate that.

QuillBill · 04/01/2020 15:33

45 minutes!

No, I wouldn’t. I’d either accept that you look young and have a response up your sleeve or I’d try and look more authoritative through what you wear.

Even if people do think you are in work experience, they won’t after a while as everyone will know who you are.

Original poster
Neverlovedya · 04/01/2020 15:33

That's good, and maybe it is a bit much for school, I don't do glamourous make up just a lot of contour and eyebrows 😂

OP posts:
Stickybeaksid · 04/01/2020 15:33

Full face every day but it takes me less than 5 mins. Foundation, blush, eye shadow stick, mascara and my eyebrows. Don’t get people who spend 45 mins putting make up on.

Fredy45 · 04/01/2020 15:33

I do - am mid 40s and fairly senior in a professional services role.

It's very light though - I suffer with a lot of allergies so avoid too much eye make up so it's mainly just base, eyebrows and lips.

Started a few years ago post mat leave when I got a new role and wanted to project a different image. I always look a bit scruffy and wanted to be taken a bit more seriously.

I am not saying you need to wear make up to achieve that but for me personally I needed to look more pulled together and capable and the make up helped. Also I rarely wear on the weekend so it's part of my work battle dress...

Original poster
Neverlovedya · 04/01/2020 15:34

Thanks for the replies everyone !

OP posts:
Notagainnnn · 04/01/2020 15:36

I would apply a bit, at least. Moisturise, BB cream, bronzer, blush, mascara and slight eyeliner will make a huge amount of difference and easily done in under 7 mins.

DappledThings · 04/01/2020 15:36

Only ever wear it for weddings! My immediate colleagues are 4 other women aged 34-47, all of us reasonably senior. Only one of us wears any make-up.

SerenDippitty · 04/01/2020 15:36

I did when I was still working, five minute job. Since retiring I hardly ever bother, only if Going Out.

Chuffit · 04/01/2020 15:37

I've never worn make up at any time. I certainly couldn't be bothered to put it on just to go to work.
So long as you're clean and tidy, then what does having a face full of war paint matter.

Notagainnnn · 04/01/2020 15:37

Perhaps, if you don't already, get eyebrows threaded and tinted so you don't have to bother applying those.

polkadotpixie · 04/01/2020 15:38

I do but it doesn't take anywhere near 45 minutes. I do:

Concealer under eyes & on spots
Eyeliner
Blusher
Eyeshadow
Mascara

Takes me about 5-6 minutes but I don't bother with contour/highlight/eyebrows/lipstick etc

Original poster
Neverlovedya · 04/01/2020 15:39

Thanks for the replies, I need to get a bit quicker at it. I hate going to have my eyebrows waxed/threaded as I find it too painful so I tend to draw new ones on now.

OP posts:
ChristmasCarcass · 04/01/2020 15:39

Every day, but I’m on my 40s and much skin needs a bit of evening out.

I just wear foundation and some neutral eye shadow. Makes me look less tired. I dye my lashes and brows, so no need for mascara or anything else. I don’t bother if I’m at home though.

Basically, if it’s a situation where I’m in leggings, no makeup. Situation where I wouldn’t dream of wearing leggings, makeup. Grey areas are on a case-by-case basis Grin

PhoneLock · 04/01/2020 15:40

I rarely wear it at all. I only put on a bit of eyeliner for my own wedding.

I just don't like the feel of it.

Perhaps address the mannerisms instead. What are they? Cartwheels in the playground.

Elieza · 04/01/2020 15:40

Mrs doubfire right up with old granny clothes and go for it OP.
Hee hee Grin

Bessica1970 · 04/01/2020 15:41

Also in teaching. I wouldn’t be too worried about what the students think, but thinking about my school - the women who wear makeup tend to get promoted more quickly.

Now before I get slated... I don’t think they’re getting promoted because they wear makeup, but being bothered to look the best you can probably correlates with being proactive in other areas.

I actually have the opposite problem to you - I’m a late entrant to teaching (late 40s), so don’t want to be seen as past it and too old for promotion, so make a lot of effort with clothes and makeup.

EmmiJay · 04/01/2020 15:42

If it makes you feel better/ more confident, then try a smidge of make up like mascara, lip tint and blush. Not much just an enhancement. I used to wear a full face but I was like the face and voice of the company so I didn't want to frighten people when they came by the offices and wanted to put a face to the name.🤣

ChristmasCarcass · 04/01/2020 15:44

DappledThings you’d probably think I wear no makeup too! But I definitely look better with foundation or tinted moisturiser. Less grey, less blotchy.

I agree not many people wear a full face of makeup to work, and OP’s contouring is definitely over the top for a school, but I think most people do wear something.

Bluntness100 · 04/01/2020 15:44

Gosh, I can put a full face on in less than five mins. I don't think you need to do the whole 45 min thing, that sounds really excessive for day time.

I wear make up if going to office, not when working from home.

I wear primer, foundation, powder, concealer, eye shadow, brows, eye liner, mascara, blusher, lip liner and lipstick, all in fairly natural colours and as said it takes less than five mins. I've genuinely no idea how you spend forty five mins applying make up.