JenR

OK, ladies. I need the straight scoop. I used to wear make-up every day to work. Then I got contacts and things went downhill. I was always rubbing my eyes, making for constant "clean-ups"....then I got a series of eye infections and decided I was done with eye make-up. I do still wear undereye concealer if necessary and I wear lipstick sometimes, but I often forget to re-apply. I have a lot of natural color in my cheeks, and fairly black eyelashes to start with, but I am definitely a "natural" girl. My co-worker made sort of a snippy comment about how I don't wear make-up. I work in a law office for context. I asked DH and he said he thought it was a little unprofessional not to wear make-up. I do still wear it for client meetings, but not while I'm just in the office. So, give it to me straight - is it unprofessional? Thanks for your input!

Bensmom

I don't think it's unprofessional in the least- but as a social worker the office environments I'm familliar with are probably alot different- I'll be interested to hear what others think.

Finn

Personally, I think there are a lot more ways to be unprofessional than to not wear make-up! When I was Controller/HR I had to deal with some weird "unprofessional" sh*t and make-up was never one of them (gosh, how I wish I would have had to deal with make-up instead ~shudder~). That being said, you do need to look polished and presentable, but I don't think that everyone needs make-up to accomplish that.

Hay lady

I think she is right on. I could never go without makeup, but that is just me. I have yucky skin. There are other girls in our office building who don't wear any and look just fine. Maybe have DH take some before and after shots of you so that you can see what you look like. Then you can make the decision for yourself.

Sparqi

I don't think it's unprofessional. That's a ridiculous comment. Do men wear makeup? No, and frankly some of them need it! You just need to be well groomed. That does not include makeup.

Lynni

I think Finn's statement is right on as well. I've seen plenty of overmade faces that were far from polished.
If make-up isn't your thing, then forget it.

On a side note, I too have contacts. Have shopped around different mascaras? I find that makes the biggest difference. Like Christy, I need my face on to face the world. Even if it is concealer, mascara and lip gloss. My sister who (another contact wearer) swears by Almay mascara. Just a thought.

BigNutbrownHare

I agree that there are other, more important, ways of being unprofessional. If you don't look sloppy without makeup then it shouldn't matter if you don't wear it. Besides, it isn't like you don't wear any makeup, you just don't do the full amount that has become standard.

KBtotheBB

I agree with Finn.

I don't wear makeup to work either unless I have a meeting with program management. (They wear suits, so the least I can do is throw on some mascara.) I end up looking better at the end of the day, because I haven't rubbed my mascara down to my chin or smeared lipstick all over my teeth ... as I am prone to doing.

I would say that making snippy remarks about someone's appearance is rather unprofessional.

**As far as Lynni's suggestion of Almay mascara, that's the mascara I use. As long as I don't let it get too old, it works great. (I have a really bad habit of not dumping old makeup when it's time. I just don't think about it until I'm rubbing my eyes a bazillion times a day.)

baseballmama

ITA with everyone else - make-up does not make someone professional and not wearing it does not make someone look unprofessional. Are you clean? Is your hair clean and in a nice style? Are your clothes appropriate, nice, and not wrinkled? If so, then you are professional

luvin4kidz

I don't think it's unprofessional in the least. I'm not a big make-up wearer either. Half of the time I'm just to busy trying to get my kids out the door that I kind of forget about myself. I also have a very light complexion, so too much make-up and I just look fake! I wouldn't worry about it personally!