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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can you dress professionally without make up?

133 replies

DarkShade · 21/09/2022 20:53

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

OP posts:
Sleeptightnightlight · 21/09/2022 21:51

Very much depends on the job. All women I know in my industry wear makeup (often 'natural look'). I tried to hold out but literally had HR hinting at me about professional appearances. (I am still the only hold out woman in my workplace who doesn't carry a handbag because that is my hill to die on).

The men are fine without makeup and handbags of course, but such is the shitty sexist world we live in.

TheTeddyBears · 21/09/2022 21:52

See I think it's a hard one. I think I look terrible without makeup. Think it's the dark circles! Even a bit of concealer some mascara and eye brow pencil wld be enough to make me look alive! So for me I need it or I feel that I wld never look professional enough. However I know others that don't wear make up and look fine without it. Actually one of the female directors at work doesn't wear any, she looks fine.

user1471554720 · 21/09/2022 21:54

The people who wear no make up probably have a good even skin tone, no blotches or deep wrinkles.

I have very white skin and my cheeks go red in extremes of temperature. The contrast is very noticeable especially as I have dark hair. I find that wearing a small amount of light brown foundation makes me look less 'rough'. I only wear foundation and powder. I might wear a neutral lipstick.

I could get away with no makeuo in my 20s as my skin tone was more even. Now in my 50s I need plain make up in order to look polished.

I never wear heels at work. My clothing is comfortable so I don't mind making the concession with make up.

lannistunut · 21/09/2022 21:57

Makeup isn't necessary to look professional. Personally I sometimes use a little bit of creme blusher because I am pale to the point of looking unwell but that's the extent of it.

tunainatin · 21/09/2022 21:57

I work in academia, never wear makeup, but if you work in a uni you can get away with most things. I dont really know the definition of a full face of makeup but it sounds uncomfortable!

Foldingchair · 21/09/2022 22:00

I also feel that if I wear big makeup for work, how do I differentiate on nights out?

INeverSawAPurpleCow · 21/09/2022 22:02

Blokes manage it all the time.

Foldingchair · 21/09/2022 22:02

I spent a number of my formative years asa goth. Full on war paint and sparkle. I've spent the last 20 years training myself out of the habit. Still love a well executed eye makeup.

FuncaMunca · 21/09/2022 22:08

Well, some 'professional' women wear makeup and others don't. In my experience most wear at least some. But of course things like this are influenced by (1) fashion trends and (2) societal expectations. See also: high heels

Eeksteek · 21/09/2022 22:08

I would like to. It looks nice and put together and polished. But I can’t be bothered to make the time in the morning, don’t want to spend the money, don’t have the skill to apply or ability not to rub my eyes etc and don’t really feel comfortable in it. Ditto virtually anything but jeans (pockets. Nuff said)

I did have a professional job, but it was clinical and my uniform was tracksuit bottoms and trainers. Fortunately.

Thistleinthenight · 21/09/2022 22:10

I wear eyeliner, a little mascara and lipstick, nothing else on my face. Rarely do nails.

EllietheElephanti · 21/09/2022 22:11

I used to wear a full face of make up and now wear what I would consider the basics like mascara, concealer on my dark circles, brows and sometimes blusher and bronzer.

i do think people look more put together and so more professional in some cases with a bit of make up but too much can have the opposite effect.

luxxlisbon · 21/09/2022 22:13

I think you can. Although outfit and hair needs to be a little more polished imo.
I rarely see women with full faces of makeup on their way to work these days, it’s all very understated and natural looking if they are wearing some.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/09/2022 22:16

I do it for the high profile meetings and VIPs, along with a frock, tights and shoes. Because my usual working state is 'I'm here on time and I'm clean, what more do you want from me?', anything I do extra is noticed and it's appreciated that I'm differentiating between the day to day and the important occasion.

Carrotzen · 21/09/2022 22:17

I don't always wear make up for work but I would for an interview

I do feel I look better with make up though, just less tired. And so do men. But it's not necessary to look professional

sillysausage2001 · 21/09/2022 22:22

I have never worn makeup and don't feel that I have to in order to be considered 'professional.' I think that as long as your hair is clean and tidy and you wear appropriate clothes, have a good attitude etc., then it's fine.

AliceMcK · 21/09/2022 22:27

Ex corporate, I’m not a big makeup person but I did wore makeup for work, I don’t think many women I worked with didn’t, but I’ve been out of the office for almost 10 years.

Even if not wearing makeup in the office I’d still definitely wear makeup for an interview.

ManateeFair · 21/09/2022 22:27

I personally wear makeup, but not because I think it’s necessary to make me appear ‘professional’. I just like the way I look with it on. The minimum I wear for work is foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, brow pencil, blusher and tinted lip balm and it takes about seven or eight minutes to apply. I also always have painted nails.

Clothes-wise, we can wear what pretty much what we ant to the office and I have an inward facing role in a fairly creative department. I usually wear jeans, a black midi dress or a jumpsuit and leather platform Converse trainers, flat sandals or Doc Marten boots.

The only thing that looks ‘unprofessional’ to me is a general lack of grooming/apparent hygiene. I have loads of colleagues who don’t wear makeup and I wouldn’t think of anything of it, but I might think it was a bit odd if someone had stained clothes or grubby hair or something.

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 21/09/2022 22:29

I really love make up! I love how it even sound my skin tone, makes my eyes darker, makes my eyebrows more noticeable. I wouldn't want to go to work or anywhere significant with just a scrubbed face. I would if I didn't have pale skin, red hair, pale lashes etc.

AnnaMagnani · 21/09/2022 22:30

Never worn it, and abandoned the heels a long time ago. And embraced the grey.

Nearly all of my office don't wear it either and I don't think we went out of our way to recruit women with 'strong features''dark eyebrows' or 'smooth skin, not pale or mottled'. For starters I'm very pale and back in the day when I tried it, I was always the palest colour foundation.

If you think you look dead without makeup, that's honestly on you and the social conditioning you were given about your face and expectations of women. None of the men are wondering if they look dead due to their pale eyebrows or skin tone and a good number of women aren't either.

WonderingWanda · 21/09/2022 22:31

My face seems to react badly to make up these days so lately I have given up, can't even manage mascara without a reaction.

Merlott · 21/09/2022 22:48

I want to progress my career and to me a small amount of make up will help me get there. I feel more confident and look "brighter". The sexism aspect does piss me off, but unfortunately that's the world we live in. I work to earn money, more money is good.

eyesbiggerthanstomach · 21/09/2022 22:51

I wear make up to work everyday. A full face as such but very natural colours. It makes me feel more put together. If I ever don’t have time and go in with no make up, colleagues ask me if I’m tired or feeling unwell!

Wineat5isfine · 21/09/2022 22:53

Yes of course you can. Why does anyone feel the need to hide what they really look like?

Confidence is key. That and not giving a fuck what anyone else thinks. (Over 40, never worn make up…confident in my skin).

Dont hide behind a mask!

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 21/09/2022 22:53

I’m a teacher and exhausted mum so I don’t go to work without make up. Mine consists of 5 products and takes me five minutes but I feel so much better.