How much (if any) makeup do you wear to work?

[nicelyneurotic]

I wear a fair bit of makeup to work, a little bit of everything - foundation, mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner, blusher and lipstick.

Most of my colleagues wear little or no makeup.
I'd like to do this but would feel self conscious, shiny and worried I look ill (am pale with dark under eye circles).

Was wondering what/how much makeup you wear and if anyone has any tips for a less made-up, but polished, look?

BB Cream and a natural-looking lipstick usually. But some days, I skip these if I don't have time. I pencil in my eyebrows occasionally. I used to wear eye make-up religiously when I was younger but now, I find that it irritates my eyes.

None. They can take me as they find me, or bog off!

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, Benefit cheek tint, Bobbi Brown Bone eye shadow, with small amount of dark brown or purple eye shadow to define and line and a dab of mascara. Currently Mac mascara, not loving it but hate waste. A dab of concealer when needed.

I don't know why I bother, I'm behind a face mask 50% of the time...

Oh and rosy Vaseline on my lips.

I do all of mine in 5 mins too, same order every day.

Brows
Corrector/primer on eyelids/circles
Eyeshadow
Gel eyeliner - that's the tricky bit, if that goes wrong I take all eye make up off apart from brows and stop there.
Use only a tiny amount of mascara (lashes are dark and I use brown/black so don't do lower lashes or go right down to the roots ).
Cream to powder foundation.

Lipstick goes on later just before I leave the house, I keep them in the hall and take the one I need, I use natural colours so just a quick swipe.

Would love to know how people get it down to 5 min - takes me at least 20!

Normally none unless I am going to job interviews and important meetings. Even then only enough to look like I have bothered.

I feel I don't get taken seriously if I look pretty, problem working with loads of men

I wear the works every day cept at the weekend when I wear more eyeliner, much much more

Elle I work in a large organisation which is approximately 95% men in a 'masculine' industry and I don't feel that I don't find that I don't get taken seriously for wearing dresses, make-up or being 'pretty'.

Do you wear make-up outside of work and just don't feel you can in your industry?

Would love to be able to get away with no makeup but look like a corpse without it!

Most badly constructed sentence ever up above - ignore the 'don't find' bit!

Today is fairly average

Skin - bb cream, concealer, powder, blush
Eyes - three colours out a mac quad (copper type shades), black gel liner, mascara
Brows - pencil and gel

Hi Winnie,

I've always struggled a bit with professional clothes/ make up from when I started proper career. Before then I was pretty uninhibited and wore clashing colours and prints. I liked to do my own thing and never followed fashion. Make up depended on what I was wearing and was generally red lipstick.

So professional / classic clothes and Mae up really jar with my personal style. If you don't wear a suit you stand out where I work and I just feel I'm wearing school uniform!

So I wear smart dresses as an alternative but if I add make up then I feel too glam if that makes sense?

It's funny coz I read somewhere that you should wear make up if you want to be taken seriously at work but it doesn't feel like that in practice. Most of the blokes I work with are my father's age though so it could be more of an age/experience thing and nothing to do with looks!

I wear the same make up as the OP. I do not wear very professional clothes, in fact my work and day to day clothing is the same and is relatively informal. I like make up.

Tinted moisturiser with high spf
Lipstick

Occasionally mascara

None. Unless I'm chairing a meeting, in which case I'll put on a bit of slap, if I remember. I work in academia: different rules apply.

I also work in academia and I wear the same makeup as OP. I wear makeup every day whether I am going to work or not.

I wear natural looking makeup and wear it to enhance my natural looks.

I don't wear make up, and generally only notice make up on other people if it's OTT. But I'm not naturally hugely observant :)

None.

Well then, Chottie, you will have noticed that wearing make-up is not de rigueur among female academics. The only women who habitually wear a full face of slap on a daily basis at my uni are junior clerical staff.

Foundation, blusher and mascara. I'm pale too and if I don't wear make up then I get asked if I'm ill.
Mind you, I wear a lot less than most of my female colleagues (I'm a secondary school teacher).

Always wear make up to work as I'm pale too with terrible dark circles under eyes I've had since I was a teenager.

I use Clinique skin care and it's evened out my skin tone to some extent and I don't get as many dry patches.

Where I work its all women besides the boss and most of us wear some make up. It's by no means compulsory though.

When I do the school run if I'm off work or not in til later I skip make up and I know I look ill!

worried that you think you look bad without it...no-one does.

wear it if you want, but if you don't want to, stop. No-one will notice.

BTW everyone has under-eye circles, and most people are pale in winter.

Erm, I beg to differ.

I definitely notice when women are not wearing make up. And most women particularly of a certain vintage could do with a little boost.

None. The idea is to look like I'm wearing none. It works.

Never could get the hang of it. Sometimes notice someone looking lovely in make up and wish I could learn but I know I'd never have the time.

Moisturiser
BB Cream