Can you dress professionally without make up?

[DarkShade]

There's a thread on at the minute where people are discussing what they look like at the school gates and I noticed that a lot of the posters who reference good jobs that aren't WFH say they have nice clothes on and a full face of make up. This has got me thinking - is full face of make up part of dressing professionally for the office?

I ask this genuinely, no judgement one way or the other. I'm actually curious as I don't wear make up simply because I never learned how to, but now I'm of the age where I really could do with it. The toddler years have not helped! I also am applying for jobs, and have just had a penny drop moment that maybe my natural haggard looking face is holding me back....

So if you have a professional job in an office or somewhere out of the house where your appearance matters, do you wear full make up? What does 'full make up' mean to you? And would you think someone who didn't do this was underdressed?

For the sake of the poll:

YABU - professional work attire includes full make up, would feel under dressed without it
YANBU - make up is an option but easy to look professional without full make up

I’m a teacher so semi-professionally dressed and literally never wear makeup

I'm a recently retired hospital Consultant, so not an office job but still professional. I don't even own any make up. Not wearing it never seemed to bother anybody or impede my career in any way.

I was firmly committed to no makeup– and I still am in principe….

but I came to a similar realisation almost a year ago. And as a result I am now always wearing make up at work. It does make me feel more professional somehow.

No need. But. If I have a big presentation or something major I do tend to put on a bit of makeup as more of a confidence boost. I don’t need that for everyday work though and quite frankly I’d rather have the extra time in bed. I am also lucky that I have naturally smart looking hair so I can get away with being relatively low maintenance.

I never wear makeup. Far too lazy for that. I do dress nicely though.

Nope. Never had a problem being taken seriously without it.

DM never wore any and was a city law partner in the 80s and 90s…again, never struggled.

Yes I wear make-up, but to be honest, I wear full make-up everyday regardless of whether I'm working or not.

The majority of the people in the office at my workplace wear no makeup. I've never worn anything other than eyeliner when younger and I wouldn't know how.

I wear a bit of concealer under my eyes, eye liner, mascara, and blusher if I’m going into the office, no not a full face of makeup. I never wear make up when I’m working from home. I don’t notice whether my colleagues wear it or not.

Why would they be underdressed if in appropriate clothing for the role?

I loathe wearing make up, never wear it to work, very rarely any other time.

I wore makeup only on my wedding day , never before or after

Men don't need it to look professional so I don't see why women would.

Professional public facing job. Also give presentations etc regularly. Never wear makeup. Hair is neat but I don't style or blow dry either. Not held me back in any way.

No make up here, professional job, it’s not an issue. I’d say about 50% of the women in my office wear make up, the rest don’t. It just isn’t an issue.

DH says make-up definitely needed, he'd feel so unprofessional without his lipstick.

I was, pre children, a senior partner in a law firm. Court work. Never worn make up, never dried my hair. Quick pliant or bun.

I was never without a two month wait for initial meeting family work, criminal would depend on court dates.

I would say make up for interview definatelu but not necessary for actual job but then again I work in a lab so it's different from an office or dealing with the public kinda roles

I'm a professional with a title- I wear makeup when working. Even on my days off with my little ones- I wear make up. It makes me feel presentable and well put together. I'd never go out without makeup- I'd feel like a slob.

Men seem to manage it [shrug]

See also: high heels

I have a professional job and dress smartly when I have client meetings. Regardless of whether I’m working I put on mascara and a bit of under eye concealer to try and look less tired. Whether people think I look sufficiently professional, I can’t tell you.

Of course it’s professional to go bare faced but I wear make up every day for work. Honestly I feel like the sexism and shitty assumptions about Middle Aged women bite harder if you look more knackered and I do look more tired without a bright lippy and without the under eye bags concealed.

Most men manage fine without it.

Going against the grain, but I can do my make-up in 4 minutes and do so daily. I wouldn't and never notice or care if others haven't done so but I feel 100% better for wacking on 8 products (just counted) and feeling a bit more polished. Also always put on earrings and a necklace. No judgment but i feel better and more confident doing so.

To balance things out, I've never worn heels to work and wear cardigans with my dresses and sometimes with uggs (the ultimate MN style sin) so I suppose it all evens out!