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 always have worn make up for work and non work. But for me a full face of makeup isn't a lot. Foundation, a bit of powder, blush, eye liner and lipstick. It doesn't take long. My skin was always unevenly coloured and I have bad shadows under the eyes so I definitely look better with than without,

oh I love these beauty bashing threads.

faux innocent “I just can’t understand why anyone would wear make up”

these are also the people who say they’re so sad that people think they’re in their early 20’s when they’re actually in their 70’s

🙄

I always wear lipstick regardless of whether I am working or walking the dog . I actually don’t know what to do with makeup !

I often have to see clients and when I do I will dress smartly but will only ever wear foundation.
I always feel a little bit of an imposter when I'm smartly dressed. My low make up approach doesn't seem to have held me back.

I teach and we are about 50;50 on make up or not in my school (all female staff). Generally, we are far more concerned about our colleagues' ability to relate to children, deliver the curriculum and keep our children safe than whether or not they wear foundation.

I wear a full face (although reduced today due to teaching swimming) as I have a skin condition and I don't like how it looks. I forgot one day last week and not a single person commented on it.

YANBU. I wear make-up because I prefer how I look with make-up on, not because it's got anything to do with looking professional.
Of the many women I work with (in a girls' school), I'd say lots wear subtle make-up, quite a lot wear none. They all look professional (in a smartish, not overly formal way) and whether they wear make-up or not makes zero difference to how professional they look.

I think you missed the beginning of my post out when quoting me:

Some women on this thread enjoy wearing makeup. Some people are insecure about their skin etc and take certain steps to address that.

Wear make up, don't wear make up. It's a non issue. What is an issue is believing there is a need to wear it because there is a belief it is needed to look more professional or get a promotion or job etc etc. And I think it is important that view is challenged. If that is patronising, so be it.

I wear a lot less than I used to - stopped wearing foundation, powder, eyeshadow, lip liner and mascara. I developed FFA in my late forties, so now always wear a bit of eyebrow pencil(didn't need this before), usually a little eyeliner, bronzer, and tinted lip balm. I find the less the better, the older I get. Very dark eye lashes helps.