Looking polished at work

[Tyrannosaurusdrip]

Evening,

I've just a new job, it's a promotion, running my own clinic (nursing).
I've never really cared about my appearance atwork when bedside, but I'm aware that I need to look a bit neater etc.
I do have to wear a uniform (standard nhs blue) but there must be other ways to look more polished.
My current routine is letting my hair dry on the way to work, a bit of moisturiser and go.
I'm willing to put a bit more time in if I can feel a bit better!

Any tips or hints?
Thanks

In an office environment I always think lipstick adds that final ‘polished’ look, but not sure I’d expect a nurse to wear any.

My Dsis runs a clinic, not sure polished is her look, more strict and professional! She always looks fab out of work, but clean and scrubbed would be it.

If you are happy with your hair when dry if you let it dry naturally, then keep doing that. I’d put a bit of make up on before you leave the house though. Not much if it’s too much hassle, but defo some mascara, do your brows, maybe some concealer and powder depending how shiny you are/get, and some lippie or lip gloss?

Decent tinted moisturiser for natural healthy glow
easy to manage hair style
Self confidence & composure
congratulations! On new role

Tinted lip balm and a bit of mascara, always a bit of blush or I look like a zombie.
Just a slightly brighter look than I have naturally.

Subtle eyelash tint and eyebrow tint will make you look composed and less faff in morning

Clarins glow drops mixed with moisturiser will make you look healthy https://www.clarins.co.uk/radiance-plus-golden-glow-booster-face/CS00356124.html

I am surprised everyone is suggesting make up. I do not wear make up, work in an office where everyone look good.
you could do something different with your hair, you could wear some lovely earrings. Wear nice perfume? Nail vanish?

Make up can be transformative and a quick easy fix to looking polished. Hence it’s suggested frequently
Well applied natural make up an be very flattering . you don’t need to rock up looking like an apprentice candidate
jewellery and nail varnish aren’t always great in a clinical setting (@Tyrannosaurusdrip is a nurse)

Congratulations! I’m in a similar situation.
Still wear scrubs but make sure I’m well groomed now. Regular hairdresser and beautician visits and ‘smart’ trainers rather than my usual crocs when seeing my patients in clinic as opposed to the usual anaesthetised ones who won’t see or remember me.

A small amount of makeup so I don’t look too tired (hopefully).

You're right, I can't wear nail polish or jewellery, although I suppose stud earrings might help?
I do like my hair, but very aware it's fluffy even when I scrape it back. I maybe need to spend a bit of time making it smooth in the morning (as I sneak out and avoid waking everyone up!)
Thanks for all your suggestions so far!

Getting some new shoes is a good idea - my current crocs are clean and I love them, but they're not the smartest!

Regular manicures, may help even if you don't have the nail polish. Well cut and shaped nails and tidy cuticles look good.

Yea comfy new trainers is a good idea. Timberland have a sale on and do a 10 % nhs discount (use your blue light card)

Ooo polished for everyone is quite different!

I feel polished when my clothes are fresh and crease free, when my hair isn't flyaway (I've finally tamed my frizz!), when my skin is behaving and looking clear and when I've got good shoes on.

I get my nails done, which does make me feel put together and polished too. Same for makeup for work (mascara, powder and a dab of concealer or two!) and jewellery - always earrings, my watch, rings and a necklace.

However I work with women who don't wear any makeup or jewellery! They all look polished too, I think it's the clean clearly fresh clothes, clean looking skin (not sure how to word it, but even without makeup or with a spot or two they look clean - I think it's tidy eyebrows and just being hydrated possibly?!) and neat looking hair.

try a hot brush for your hair, it smooth it quite well for me 😊

Why do you need to look neater and more polished ? Presumably you got the job on merit, not a picture mock-up. Why can't you just carry on as before ? Presumably as it's a clinic the clients are there for your medical expertise, not your lipstick.

You're right, but I feel like it's a bit more one to one and I'm giving advice and making medical decisions. Liasing a lot more with senior doctors.
I suppose it's how I feel really, rather than what the majority of the public expect!
I've always been the nurse who's fairly neat and tidy, but also aware how I look doesn't affect the standard of care I give.

Well fitting clothes / uniform I would say is the ticket.

Does your uniform fit your shape? A uniform that's the right leg length (not turned up), and not gaping on the boobs or hanging off the tummy I think looks a lot smarter than an Ill fitting one. Also Is the colour still good in your current uniform? Not washed out? A little tailoring and a tidy clean pair of shoes would absolutely look polished (and a good coat and scarf combo for the winter).

That combined with a tinted moisturiser, tidy nails and a good pen in your pocket so your not scrambling for a BIC would look very put together x

I was just interested why you feel you needed to make yourself more attractive (which is what being neater and groomed boils down to in the end) to be taken seriously. Particularly as you didn't feel that way before.

Congratulations, and I'm sure your clinical prowess is more important than your looks!

But, okay, 'polished' sometimes makes us feel more on top of things. So:

Polished nails without nail polish = a buffing block. Buffing's quite a pleasant, mindless occupation for when you're watching TV or sitting on the bus. For extra polished-ness, use a cuticle removing cream/gel/liquid, and of course keep your nails neatly trimmed. You can rub some oil into them after buffing.

Moisturiser and a tinted primer.

Concealer or a dab of foundation under your eyes if you look tired.

A little bit of cream or gel blusher on both face and lips.

Eyebrows, but definitely not HD.

If you use mascara, experiment until you find one that doesn't make 'em look clumpy or spiky! You want low definition. Or dye your lashes.

If you want to make up your eyes, I'd suggest two or three very subtle cream shadows, one lighter than your skin, one a tiny bit darker and one (optional) a bit darker than that. I like cream shadow sticks as they're so fast & easy. The light one's for the inner corner of your lids; the darker one's for the crease.

Have you tried oil to tame your flyaways? Depends on your hair: try rubbing a bit of olive, almond, castor or baby oil between your palms, then stroking or scrunching it onto your hair. Glycerine used the same way can look amazing but can also end up sticky - have a go!

I don't think it means I want to be more attractive, and it's not really for anyones benefit but my own.
I want to look professional and neat and tidy. I'm away from bedside nursing so the slightly frazzled look doesn't quite work!

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'll have a look at some of the things you mentioned.