No make up but still well put together

[AmilyChestnut]

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

Mascara is so much effort - how are you all applying it in 30 seconds?! It’s a minimum 5 minute job for me. I always have to layer it for it to be noticeable and can never apply it without getting some on my eyelids so I have to wipe that off with a cotton bud and moisturiser. Complete faff! 😁

I would think you were quite posh.

And it's a faff to remove, black under eyes for days

In all honesty, yes it would ruin the look for me. Not that you need full glamour but imho most women look better with a bit of help from makeup. So would
most men. I know women that have awesome skin, thick eyelashes and literally just put on an awesome color lipstick and look amazing. Sometimes that is enough but it is something. I wear concealer, mascara and a light lip color every day. It’s my minimum.

I wouldn’t judge at all someone not wearing make-up. In my experience, the women who don’t wear make-up tend to be naturally beautiful and don’t need it - so I’d probably be jealous rather than judge!
I don’t have the kind of face that can get away without make-up - I can look very wan and featureless without it and it makes me feel “flat”. No way could I approach work without it - I need my armour! Only tinted moisturiser, mascara, bronzer and tinted lip balm but I definitely need it.

I don't wear much. Have eyelashes dyed. Tinted moisturiser, Nivea tinted lip salve. Sometimes I wear a Matt red lipstick.

Loads of women look polished, without make up.

I mean no makeup.

I was at a meeting today with a woman who looked amazing. She was wearing a well fitting, nicely put together outfit, hair probably a day or two out from a good blow dry (so not perfect, but still some bounce and fairly smooth) and a tan with a couple of slightly darker/lighter patches that seemed to have been acquired being active in the great outdoors (she made a reference to sailing at one point so probably that). I did notice she wasn't wearing makeup, then spent the rest of the meeting admiring her really toned upper arms.

I absolutely think you don't need make up to look professional/ put together.
It depends on how you feel.
Sometimes if I am going into a situation where there may be conflict, I wear make up, because it helps me feel confident in that particular scenario.
Generally I wear no make up, but I am lucky to have good skin.

No, not at all - it’s entirely optional.

Obviously, if you are like me, and resemble a bowl of porridge, then you will look better with a bit, but that doesn’t persuade me to bother half the time.

Tubing mascara is what you need. Comes off with warm water, but otherwise stays put. Also don’t put it in your lower lashes.

I don't wear make up often and I don't look un put together. I have clear skin. My eye brows don't need filling in. I do have a light tint on my Spf but that's it. I think my face looks normal and no one would judge me.

Because you’re a woman, there is always somebody somewhere thinking you’re doing it wrong.
So, do what makes you happy and comfortable.

Fabulous. She sounds gorgeous!

I don't wear makeup to work. I stopped when my grad scheme suggested that wearing makeup was the only was to look professional. Maybe I'm just somewhat contrarian, but 8 years, nearly triple the salary and 4 promotions later on and I think I can conclude it's not impeding my progression.

How are you making such a meal ot it? I imagine it wouldn't take that long for most people.

I don't wear eye make up these days as my eyes are too wrinkly and removing it is a faff. I am fortunate that I have dark eyebrows and lashes. I keep my eyebrows tidy and wear a bit of fake tan in the summer months, plus a bit of blusher and lipstick or tinted lip balm.