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Style and beauty

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Original poster

No make up but still well put together

41 replies

AmilyChestnut · 31/07/2023 19:03

Since having my son 18 months ago I've really overhauled my life, I've cut out sugar and processed food. Ive been vegan 5 years, sober the same amount of time and I don't smoke. Im 34 and size 10, 5'5". I have completely virgin hair in fabulous condition (after years of over bleaching, crazy colours and eventually shaving) I have really turned my life around.

I wear good clothes, I mostly dresses and sandals/boots or trousers/jeans with blouses and loafers kinda style. Think smart casual.

I always make effort with my hair, usually French plaits as awk length as still growing out from shave.

But I don't wear any make up. I have a decent enough skin care routine, I feel good, but I wonder if I look sloppy due to lack of make up. Before sorting my life out I wore loads, I didn't like to but skin was crap and I wasn't confident enough to go without.

My question is, if you saw someone in a nice outfit, with nice hair and no make up, would that ruin the look in your opinion?

I'm going to be going back to work in the next couple of years, and wondering if no make up is appropriate or unprofessional.

I know it's not very feminist of me to ask, but I'm curious

OP posts:
kcieciara · 31/07/2023 19:08

No! I think people look just as put together with and without makeup. It’s depends on other factors, if of course your hair clothes and hygiene is great then no makeup looks great

hallana · 31/07/2023 19:10

I don't wear makeup. I have a "big" role with lots of corporate engagement. I look professional. And lots of other women in my sector don't wear makeup; it's not just me.

OverTheCountryClub · 31/07/2023 19:12

Depends where you work I suppose, but no, I wouldn't think anything of someone not wearing make up at work. For one thing, I don't think I'd even notice. For another, I rarely wear make up to work as I always worry it will smudge or smear or go cakey/patchy during the day, so I just don't bother. Unless you work on a beauty counter or as a model or something where make up is pretty essential to what you're doing/selling, I can't see anyone finding it odd. And actually, purely as a personal preference, I much prefer a natural look to heavy make-up so I certainly wouldn't think it would ruin your look.

Gazelda · 31/07/2023 19:14

I don't wear make up. But I have fair hair so I tint my eyelashes and eyebrows every six weeks or so because it gives me more confidence that my eyes are well framed.

It sounds as though you are healthy looking and well groomed. That creates a good impression.

I don't think anyone in the workplace bats an eyelash at whether to people choose to wear makeup.

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 31/07/2023 19:14

That's great, thank you both. I feel empowered with no make up, but as I make an effort with everything else I wanted to check I wasn't being delusional. I love that there are many women in your work place who don't wear it. I think moving forward with the acceptance of all different genders, a lot more women will feel the confidence to skip the make up.

OP posts:
Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 31/07/2023 19:15

I've also been out of the work place for a long time, so am feeling quite nervous

OP posts:
Mumsanetta · 31/07/2023 19:16

I absolutely would not think someone who doesn’t wear makeup looks unprofessional and I work in the City where it’s common to
power dress. Strangely, I tend to find that the more senior someone is the less makeup they wear - maybe it’s an age or time thing! I do think it’s important to look groomed though. Personally, I think a tidy, defined brow and lip balm help most people to look well put together.

Usernamen · 31/07/2023 19:19

hallana · 31/07/2023 19:10

I don't wear makeup. I have a "big" role with lots of corporate engagement. I look professional. And lots of other women in my sector don't wear makeup; it's not just me.

Are we talking completely bare-faced or no-make-up make-up?

I work in a male-dominated corporate environment where the senior women (sadly) have to act like men etc. and while not one wears any noticeable make-up, if you look closely there’s some SPF on the face giving skin a slightly glow, a bit of eyebrow pencil, a lightly tinted lip balm etc.

This is the look I emulate and I would say “Oh I don’t wear make up” if asked, hence my question to you :)

Stratocumulus · 31/07/2023 19:21

Why not try just a slick of lip stick & a light touch of mascara?
Takes 30 seconds & would maybe give a more completed look?

Not saying you will or should agree but you might quite like the look?
I go without any makeup quite a lot but I do enjoy a bit of lippy most days.

Usernamen · 31/07/2023 19:21

Mumsanetta · 31/07/2023 19:16

I absolutely would not think someone who doesn’t wear makeup looks unprofessional and I work in the City where it’s common to
power dress. Strangely, I tend to find that the more senior someone is the less makeup they wear - maybe it’s an age or time thing! I do think it’s important to look groomed though. Personally, I think a tidy, defined brow and lip balm help most people to look well put together.

Cross post! I definitely think a lot of people who don’t wear make-up will still have neat eyebrows and do pop a bit of lip balm on. Certainly that’s what I see on the senior women I work with (also in the City).

thislifeliveit · 31/07/2023 19:22

Not unprofessional no. I have fair eyelashes and look a bit ill without make up so don't feel at all put together without a little foundation, blush and mascara. Personal choice and if you're happy then do you!

Usernamen · 31/07/2023 19:24

AmilyChestnut · 31/07/2023 19:15

I've also been out of the work place for a long time, so am feeling quite nervous

I think the fact you eat clean and don’t drink probably means you have great skin and look good without make-up, so I really wouldn’t worry.

Floisme · 31/07/2023 19:34

My question is, if you saw someone in a nice outfit, with nice hair and no make up, would that ruin the look in your opinion?
You have just described me - or so I like to think Smile So no.

MrsDooDaa · 31/07/2023 19:38

Men don't wear make up and do well in the workplace.

Perhaps it is the make up that is holding women back.

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 31/07/2023 19:40

MrsDooDaa · 31/07/2023 19:38

Men don't wear make up and do well in the workplace.

Perhaps it is the make up that is holding women back.

Interesting 🤨

OP posts:
Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 31/07/2023 19:41

Stratocumulus · 31/07/2023 19:21

Why not try just a slick of lip stick & a light touch of mascara?
Takes 30 seconds & would maybe give a more completed look?

Not saying you will or should agree but you might quite like the look?
I go without any makeup quite a lot but I do enjoy a bit of lippy most days.

I don't think I could wear lipstick. Tinted balm and mascara wouldn't be too much effort though

OP posts:
Zola1 · 31/07/2023 19:43

So I have my eyebrows done and I wear lash extensions, but for work I just wear futuredew to give me a glow on my skin, and occasionally some touche eclat under my eyes. Never any more makeup than that.

monpetitlapin · 31/07/2023 19:45

Usernamen · 31/07/2023 19:19

Are we talking completely bare-faced or no-make-up make-up?

I work in a male-dominated corporate environment where the senior women (sadly) have to act like men etc. and while not one wears any noticeable make-up, if you look closely there’s some SPF on the face giving skin a slightly glow, a bit of eyebrow pencil, a lightly tinted lip balm etc.

This is the look I emulate and I would say “Oh I don’t wear make up” if asked, hence my question to you :)

Show quote history

You've just solved a mystery for me about why a colleague, while wearing mascara, a touch of blusher and brows, seemingly lied to me and said she never wears make up. I've been trying to puzzle out why she'd lie when it was obviously on her face at the time but maybe she genuinely doesn't believe that putting this make up on her face counts as wearing makeup.

I know this probably comes across as snarky but I don't mean it that way at all, I have so many reservations about doing my make up that actually reframing it as "neatening up my face" instead is really helpful.

Businessflake · 31/07/2023 19:46

I think this depends on your features. I have very short, straight eyelashes. A quick flick of mascara makes a massive difference to me. I also look better with a quick sweep of blush. But I don’t wear foundation of any description.

I think at work it’s the clothes that make the biggest difference. All the make up in the world won’t make jeans, t shirt and trainers look put together in the office. But jeans, a heel and a shirt and blazer will look fine with no make up.

Littleme2023 · 31/07/2023 19:48

Hair good
Make up good
Outfit good
Nails good

I think as long as you have 2 out of 4 most people always look well put together. But a nice outfit and a manicure won’t distract from greasy hair and dark circles under your eyes, if you get what I mean. And nice hair and make up won’t compensate for a creased top, scruffy shoes and chipped nail varnish etc.

I rarely have all 4 by the way so I’m not judging lol. I work in a predominantly female environment and I’d say it’s 50/50 as to who wears make up and who doesn’t.

I personally tint my eyebrows and lashes at home so even when I don’t wear make up I still look a bit fresher than I would do without anything on my face.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 31/07/2023 19:48

Eyebrows, mascara and something to keep your lips from looking dehydrated.

AliceMcK · 31/07/2023 19:50

If you’re worried go with the light natural look. Ive never been big into make up but did wear it for work, no one knew I always had people commenting on how they had never seen me with makeup on or if they did it was just lipstick, I do like a nice lipstick it’s the one thing I’d happily wear. But I wore it every day in the office, I just applied it lightly, I’m very fair and just don’t feel the heavy make up look. I actually wear more now ima sahm, I have health issues these days so feel shit more often than not so will try and brighten myself up and mask my gaunt painful expression with a bit of slap. I still prefer to appear natural though.

Usernamen · 31/07/2023 19:50

monpetitlapin · 31/07/2023 19:45

You've just solved a mystery for me about why a colleague, while wearing mascara, a touch of blusher and brows, seemingly lied to me and said she never wears make up. I've been trying to puzzle out why she'd lie when it was obviously on her face at the time but maybe she genuinely doesn't believe that putting this make up on her face counts as wearing makeup.

I know this probably comes across as snarky but I don't mean it that way at all, I have so many reservations about doing my make up that actually reframing it as "neatening up my face" instead is really helpful.

Show quote history

See I would say mascara and blusher are definitely make-up (especially blusher!), but I guess this shows that people define it differently.

MoroccanRoseHChurch · 31/07/2023 19:52

I think women at my work who don’t wear make up look MORE professional. It looks confident IYSWIM. They probably do moisture their lips and eyebrows are tidy (but not “done” if you know what I mean)

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 31/07/2023 19:53

i don’t wear makeup, I do love a bit of lippy on a night out thought