Tell me about your "going to work" face..

[Bluesheep8]

Hi, I work in a small office with 3 other women all aged between mid 30's and 50. I noticed yesterday that I'm the only one who wears make up-mineral foundation, blusher, eye pencil and mascara and I'm thinking that might be too much for work (I'm 44). How old are you and what's your everyday work face for an office environment?

Work in an art gallery. Full face with contouring/ being very "done" etc would be considered very odd in that environment. People have some - er - unconventional looks and some are just plain old soap-dodgers

I use bb or tinted moisturiser, subtle blusher and either strong nude or red lipstick. Tint my eyelashes and brows so don't have to deal with them daily.

Early 30’s, I wear tinted moisturiser, bronzer, blusher, highlighter, finishing powder, lipstick, eyeshadow, eye liner and mascara. I work in a secondary school and would say 90% of female colleagues wear some form of make up to work

I think that a level of grooming is a requirement to look professional.

So women, hair presentable and controlled, not the birds nest look, clean hands and nails. If no makeup, fine. But no dirty unkempt clothing etc.

Exactly the same for men, hair groomed and styled, clean hands, clean Mary clothes.

Early 30’s and client facing. I tend to wear light make up most days (tinted moisturiser, neutral shade eyeshadow, eyeliner mascara) some days I go “full face” and include foundation, liquid eyeliner, lipstick.

Early 40s and lecturer in a creative subject. Light foundation, blusher, nude eyeshadow, mascara, brows, finishing powder, and always bold lipstick - nine days out of ten it's red, but I occasionally go hot pink. It's kind of my trademark, even on days when I am otherwise completely barefaced I have red lips. My colleagues are very mixed, from full on contouring to no makeup at all.

Occasionally mascara. Often a moisturiser which has a smoothing effect, otherwise just moisturiser.

I think views that women (and it is only ever women) look unprofessional without makeup are huge double standards.

I work with women who wear everything from no makeup to a full contoured face. Some are fabulous to work with, others a bit of a pain but it's not to do with their make up!

I’m 41 and work in a creative cultural environment. I wear very little - often none, occasionally mascara (am blonde) lip gloss and a light powder foundation.

I wear nice clothes and jewellery so I don’t feel crap when with designers and creative directors.

I wear tinted moisturiser, powder, eyebrow powder, eyeshadow, mascara, lip tint and sweep of blush, possibly highlighter if I remember. It's pretty light make up, takes me less than 5 minutes and I can do it in semi darkness but it makes feel work ready...I love make up and spend much longer doing my face if going out for an evening but equally enjoy being bare faced on weekends and holidays. I'd say it's a 50/50 split of the women I work with who do/don't wear make up.

Mid 40s scientist, I don't wear make up. I'm actually in a job that sometimes requires no makeup and no jewellery. The majority of people wear no makeup all the time, those that do stand out and not in a good way. Historically I've heard some old school male managers refer to heavy makeup as a negative that implies the woman will not work hard! I do think the amount of makeup that's acceptable varies from career to career, I'm not sure I'd get away with no makeup if I was cabin crew for example.

Early 30s, financial services, do geeky stuff but also external-facing role as part of management team. Very male dominated team in a male dominated industry.

Face: foundation, concealer, powder, blusher, bit of brown eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara. Some highlighter at corner of eyes if I feel fancy. Tinted lip balm or orange red lipstick if I have a big presentation.

A touch-up at lunchtime or before meetings and evening events.

Early 30s, I wear foundation, powder, blusher, eyeshadow, fill my brows, mascara and tinted lip balm or a natural lipstick. Only takes me 5 mins and I don't think I look overdone, although I do wear more makeup than a lot of women in my office.

Late 30’s customer facing role that’s not office based - I go to work wearing B.B. cream, mascara, eyebrow pencil and tinted lip balm. I come home from work sans makeup though. I’m never sure wear it goes during the day. I don’t know why I bother

The key thing for me is facial self tan. A bit of colour covers a multitude of sins.

I'm 37 work in a corporate male dominated environment, this is going to sound a lot .... but it's natural I promise. bb cream, mineral powder, ysl touché concealer, benefit hola and blush, natural eyeshadow on cream/natural colours, natural penciled in brows (to give extra shape), false lash mascara, highlighter powder on cheekbones, nose and around hairline and a bit of nude lippy ! (All Mac and benefit mostly) (Eek that's a lot - promise I don't resemble a clown)

I wear blusher, eyeshadow, mascara eye brow pencil, lipstick and in winter foundation under all that. I look grey and grumpy without it.

Early 40's I work in a engineering firm and the only woman in the office, I wear a suit dress with steel toe boots, I thought I wore very simple make up for work until reading this!
I wear no7 full cover foundation, bronzer (I'm tanned from a holiday), simple eye pencil for lid colour, mascara and a nude or plum lipstick.
I never knew so many women didn't wear foundation everyday?

I agree that looking like you have made an effort is important; this doesn’t have to be with makeup; clean tidy hair and looked-after nails and skin are most important. People who say it’s a double standard - in every job I’ve worked in, men are required to be clean shaven. I think that’s way more of an imposition than thinking a woman should brush her hair!

I've never worked anywhere where men have been required to be clean shaven. It doesn't seem to be a very common expectation to me. And it's not really about whether people are required to do certain things, more that people seem to judge women harshly for meeting the same standard as men (no make up but clean and tidy).

I don’t do foundation but I’d look shocking without blusher. Truly, like I’m about to pass out.

I think the problem is that nowadays, we’ve kind of gotten used to people being “painted”. Everyone has a rosy glow/tan in October (sometimes real)/even skin tone. Looking back on photos of my Mum, everyone was pale, most of the year round (up North 😉). I think the makeup, subtle or otherwise, has just become the default