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Would you accept a job if they wouldn’t let you wear makeup?
If it was the only job I was able to get at the time, yes, absolutely. Would I continue to submit resumes and look for another place? Sure, since makeup has been such a huge part of my life for so long now, it would be odd to not be allowed to wear even a little bit! If the job where I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup was, in all other respects, a total dream job (great people, pay, benefits, enjoyable job, etc.), I think I’d likely learn to accept/deal with it and wear makeup after work or on the weekends.
— Christine
My shortest answer ever: NO, NEVER.
I’m right on with you about this. Unless I’m working in biochemical lab in a space suit because of contaminants or some other environment for need of sterility, for a job to be so strict as to not allow makeup would be a NO for me too. For a job to be concerned about something as trivial as makeup instead of issues with getting work done right would just seem like a controlling work environment. Wearing makeup has no bearing on how hard a person works or the quality of their work. I’d be wondering “Why do you care?” I get that some offices are more conservative than others, but to not allow makeup altogether is absurd to me.
That’s precicely why! Because honestly, in order for me to ever be in a Hazmat suit in a perfectly sterile environment such as you described, first I would need a degree in biology, chemistry or medicine, something along those lines. Which I do possess, and at 57 y.o., not happening anyway!
I see you wanting to wear makeup bc it is your career. Um duh a makeup artist must wear makeup. However, if I spent how yrs in college and spent how much money and they said no makeup I’d abide. Having a job is more important than something so trivial as makeup. If makeup is your concern, you’d leave a job for, it must be nice having such low priorities. I call that the epitome of FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS. lol. I love makeup. I have a ton of it. But come on really?
Erica, everyone has different reasons for wearing makeup. For me, it’s like battle armor. It gives me confidence and helps shove my ever-present anxiety away. Makeup helps me play up my favorite features to feel more beautiful and quiet my insecurities. Seeing myself in the mirror, it’s a way to ground me when I’m panicking or dissociating, zoning out to the point of forgetting my surroundings and being in danger. For some of us, it’s not trivial or having low priorities or something to laugh at–it’s a way to help ourselves.
AMEN, Sarah! It’s pretty much the same for me. I do NOT feel confident or comfortable in a bare face. Having had bad acne when younger and melasma added later left me with uneven pigmentation and scarring. Also have sparse brows and lashes, so my eyes are near invisible behind my glasses. No, I couldn’t take a job like that, not because I’m a snob or feel some sort of “First World” entitlement, but because I just do not feel passably pretty without at bare minimum: a BB/CC cream, concealer, mascara (with discreet tightliner!) and filled in brows. And must have a lip balm, too!
Bravo to Sarah and Nancy. I feel 100% the same way. I just don’t feel the confident enough to walk the talk. I have been wearing makeup since I was 17. Its a part of my life that I can’t do without. I get it if some people don’t like makeup or know how to apply it. Thats fine with me, I don’t give a hoot. And yes, there are many moments where girls chit chat and say ” oh my, I love my natural look” or I don’t care what I look like, this is me, no fake face “. Say what you want, but for me, I need my makeup face. And no, I would never, ever take a job if I could’t wear makeup. Makeup helps you to keep that fresh, polished look. A look that says ” Look out world, here I come” !!!!
I agree with Sarah. Having adult acne, I would feel horrendously uncomfortable having to go to work without makeup. And I also agree with Cherie, that having a policy like that would seem to suggest something deeper wrong with the company — a need to micromanage and control employees. That being said, I would LOVE to take a job where I could work completely from home and not have to wear makeup. I love wearing makeup, but actually putting it on for work everyday is soooooo time consuming. And most of the time I don’t even get to wear any fun makeup for work, because I don’t have time to experiment. I mean, the fact that I actually spend 2 hours every day making myself “look good” for work, between hair, makeup, and clothes… it’s unbelievable. That means my job includes an entire extra workday of just getting ready. If I could cut that out, it would be like having an extra day in every week. It just blows my mind.
Also a first word problem: women who wear makeup are hired more often, promoted more often, and earn more than women who do not? Something to consider. While the playing field might be level in a job where no one wears makeup, the standard exists and it’s not easy to just forget that makeup is a player in your actual career and salary.
http://www.bustle.com/articles/162092-women-who-wear-makeup-are-paid-more-according-to-bummer-study
So true ChynnaBlue!!!!!! Love your name
I agree with you. I love makeup, and I don’t see myself even applying to work in a field where makeup isn’t allowed, but it’s an extra for me. I go without it all weekend unless I have social plans, but I am fine, at 48, without it. Do I feel less pretty than other women around me who are more put-together? Yes, but I can live with that. Pretty is just facet of what makes me me – witty trumps pretty, but pretty’s great to have. Beauty is more than just pretty.
That said, I understand and empathize with those who feel differently. I just wish you could see that you are beautiful and should be confident even without the makeup. I wasn’t always, but experience has made me see that pretty is the icing on the cake, and the quality of the cake is important.
Short answer to the question – yes, I would take a job that prohibited makeup, especially if it involved animals <3
I’ve had long runs of no-makeup-wearing in my life, then I go back to some, then up to full-face all the time, then back to none — it’s cyclic; I can tell you from long experience, Erica, that people respond better to me when I’m wearing makeup. I have a strongly red face from rosacea, and many people find that distracting when they’re interacting with me, or worse, they make assumptions (I’ve been drinking, am verging on a heart attack, etc.). It must be nice to look normal without makeup — I’m sure I did 35 years ago, but I don’t even remember what that was like. It’s not a luxury for me, it’s a necessity in order to be treated somewhat normally.
I think, Erica, that some people would respond negatively to this question, not so much because makeup is “super important” to them, but because of the implications of a work environment where the forces-that-be insist on that much control over something that is very personal. If it’s not a sterile environement, why the strictness? What are they like about other issues? Granted, if you’re stuck in a jobs desert, and you stumble across an oasis of the one and only available job in a 30 mile radius, you should take it and agree to the conditions over letting your loved ones or yourself go homeless or hungry — but keep posting resumes!
Sure, I can wear makeup in the evening or on weekends. Since I’m not a morning person I don’t have much time to do my makeup before work anyway, so it’s usually quite minimal.
It depends on the job and definition of ‘makeup’. I would be fine wearing no makeup or even a little base makeup, like foundation and eye corrector in the right situation. There may be very valid reasons for limiting the work environment to exposure to items found in makeup or it would be inappropriate or insensitive to the nature of the work.
When working from home, I’ve worn little or no makeup – less than I would typically wear when ‘in the office’, and very much enjoy those days.
If I was totally desperate (need job for medical insurance, meet mortgage payments, put food on table, etc) I would take the job but keep looking. Otherwise, no. I love makeup too much, it’s a form of self expression, fun, and creativity for me. And I don’t feel comfortable facing the world with just a bare face, I just look better with makeup on. And since it would probably take me decades to use up my stash, I need (and want) to wear it every day, at every opportunity.
Never. Make-up is part of who I am. It’s how I express myself. You spend too many hours on the work floor not to be able to be yourself there. I’m not saying I’d go to work sporting Avril Lavigne panda eyes and blue lipstick, but if I can’t even wear a subtle day-time smokey and a bit of lipstick, well, then that’s just sad. I actually quit a job because of this. At one point they changed the rules and wanted me to stop wearing make-up AND cut my hair. It was ridiculous. So I quit. And I don’t regret it one bit.
Can I ask what your job was? I haven’t heard of a job being that demanding before, it sounds horrible. D:
I worked at Ladurée, selling macaroons. So yes, it involved ‘food’ but the no make-up/no long hair thing was just utterly ridiculous, especially because it came out of the blue. If wrote about the issue on my blog, so feel free to check it out. I don’t want to spam Christine’s blog with an url, but if you type in ’employer’ in the search box at the top you’ll find the article.
To the best of my knowledge, working for the Disney Parks is almost like what you mentioned. If makeup and nail polish is worn it has to be done a ‘certain way.’
I tend to go bare-faced more often than not so I might even consider it as a plus as there wouldn’t be pressure to put on makeup in the morning. It’s kind of like how I wouldn’t have minded school uniforms. It’s evens things out. I have a few friends who have been in workplaces where if you don’t wear makeup you don’t tend to be promoted as they’re going for a certain “look” so that sucks for them. Ideally, I’d love to be in a workplace that’s very progressive in their policies (lots of vacation time, sick leave, both maternity and paternity leave, good benefits) as those tend to be more equal when it comes to women (and POC, LGBT+, differently-abled individuals, etc) so then it wouldn’t matter and people could do what they wanted.
Hahahahaha – I wouldn’t be OFFERED a job if I couldn’t wear makeup (at least a bit). Without a bit of concealer/brightener I look like I’ve been out on an all-night binge! But if in the odd chance I was offered a job, presumably out of pity, like you I’d be on the look-out for something else. 😉
I have! It was as a historical interpreter so I was in 1860s costume all day. Because the no makeup rule was framed as being for historical accuracy I definitely didn’t mind (plus it was summer and I was soooo sweaty). If it had been another job that claimed makeup was immoral, unprofessional, or otherwise morally negative I would have been a lot more hesitant to take it…not least because people who think like that also usually disapprove of short hair on women and even the museum let me just wear a hat to hide my pixie cut!
If it was a really great job and the reason for no makeup was valid (I can’t think of a good one, but for example if the environment did not allow for it- like a laboratory or manufacturing setting or something) then yes. But if it was a regular office job with a totally arbitrary rule, I think I would have serious reservations about the culture.
Only on 2 conditions – the first being that there would have to be a seriously valid and good reason why (I don’t think, at least here in Canada, that you could be barred from wearing makeup just because the boss doesn’t like it; I suppose if you had to work in a totally sterile environment, like assembling parts for computers, that could be a reason and it’s really the only valid one I can think of) AND the second is I’d have to be pretty desperate for a job. Thankfully, where I work, even scented products are allowed though in some areas, they do ask that you don’t use overpowering fragrances (I think that is actually aimed at teenaged boys who love to bathe in AXE spray between classes!)
Yes, and I would secretly wear concealer, brow pencil, and lip balm!
If it were my only option, then of course. If it was the trade off in financial security and job satisfaction for the rest of my working life, sure. But if it were just one of a couple of offers, then no. I could tolerate a low-makeup policy that didn’t allow me much in the way of color, glitter, and so on. But a big part of makeup for me is feeling better in my own little face–minus those pesky pimples and dark spots from acne past, and without the extreme “RBF” that accompanies my hooded eyelids. I’d lose a lot of confidence having to go into work with all of that out in the open. I’d worry that it’s all people would see, and most likely it would lead to more anxiety than a new job would already bring.
I spent seven years working in a clean room environment where makeup was a big no-no. The money was fantastic. I’d do it again for the money.
We all had masks and hoods on. All you would see is other people’s eyes. It didn’t mafter that you had no makeup on.
Same here! When no one is wearing makeup is not a big deal. More money for more makeup, and not using it every day made my collection stretch father. Once I got a job where I did wear makeup again I was shocked at how quickly I was panning items that used to last me forever!
It would completely depend on the job and the rational behind the ban in the first place. A no makeup policy would have to have sound reasoning behind it other than some form of mysogynistic or religious vituperation.
Exactly!!
Well put.
Wearing makeup isn’t that important to me so that wouldn’t be a big deal. Working somewhere that controlling though, sounds terrible. I don’t think I’d want to work somewhere so draconian on principle.
I would have to do some digging. Why didn’t they allow makeup? Because I’ve found that if they are controlling in an area non-essential to job performance, they will be controlling in almost every other area. If it was for sanitary reasons or health reasons then I would be fine with it. I’m comfortable either way.
To be honest, it would be a nice change.
In my thirty+ years of being a part of the working world, I’ve worn makeup in every job I’ve had. I was a hair stylist/cosmetologist when I was much younger, so wearing makeup, having your nails done perfectly, having perfect hair, etc. was part of the job. I had no choice. You were your own advertisement; no one would want to get any sort of beauty treatment from someone who looked like a frump. And, back then, beauty was everything to me.
When I finally moved on into accounting, I was still young enough to think that I needed makeup, so I wouldn’t have been caught dead without it. It gave me confidence, and it made me feel more mature. I also started working in a professional environment where most of the women dressed to kill, and everyone wore makeup. I felt as if I didn’t have a choice. I’m extremely fair to begin with (natural blonde, invisible eyelashes and brows), and makeup actually gives me a bit of color.
Now that I’m 50, I’m over the whole morning makeup routine. I still put my makeup on every morning, and I straighten my hair, but it’s a pain in the keester. I’m not going to lie, I do LOVE my makeup collection, but there are some days I’d rather trade that beauty hour for an extra hour of sleep. Every morning, I stand there at the mirror, thinking ‘why do I even bother’? I now work as a controller in the automotive industry, and makeup is never a requirement. I work with female auto mechanics who wear no makeup, and they don’t bother doing their hair. Everyone else wears jeans and t-shirts.
Problem is, everyone in my job is so accustomed to seeing me with makeup, that on the few days I haven’t worn it, I’ve had so many people ask me if I’m feeling okay, or if I’m unwell, or whatnot. Or, they’re surprised that I’m bare-faced. Then, I feel I have to explain why I didn’t wear it.
It’s almost like if you start the job with no makeup, no one thinks anything of it. But, if you wear makeup for the first while, there’s an expectation that you’ll continue to do so (which is where I’m at now). It sounds dumb, but there it is.
So, to get a job where makeup isn’t allowed? I’m sure I’d miss it after awhile, but it would sure be nice to get that extra hour of sleep in the morning!
I agree with you, Diane. For as much as I treat make-up like a hobby, I would love to get out the door faster each morning than stand in front of a mirror for a half hour. But, like you, everyone except my fiancé knows me with makeup on. On days when I cut back, people are concerned about my health. I think you’re right…one should start out an interview/job without makeup. This way, you are known like this … If, one day you decide to wear makeup, it’s only like the icing on the cake! Just don’t make it a habit!!
I’ve actually tried to do the whole ‘no makeup’ thing when interviewing, but, believe it or not, whenever I’ve interviewed with no makeup, I didn’t get one call back. When I finally did put makeup on and continued to interview, I got three job offers. It’s sad, but there it is. I’m so pale and washed out with no makeup that I guess interviewers want someone who looks more ‘professional’.
I did get one job in the past where I stopped wearing makeup and straightening my hair after I started working there, but they took issue with it, telling me that I ‘looked professional’ during the interview, and they needed me to ‘continue to look professional’ during my stay. I didn’t last long there for other reasons (one supervisor was verbally abusive), but I did find it pretty offensive that they thought makeup and straight hair would help improve my job performance in an accounting position. It was crazy.
But yes, once you’re known for wearing makeup, it’s really difficult to get away with not wearing it.
You are so well-spoken. But an hour? Can’t you pare that down? I am about your age, so I really identified with a lot of what you said, and I wear makeup to work most days to my administrative assistant job, but I only take about 10 minutes to get it done. My alarm goes off at 8:05 for my 9am job. (My commute is short, I bring a protein shake for breakfast at my desk, and I shower and wash my huge hair the night before).
If I go without, people ask if I’m sick – Them: Are you tired/sick? Me: No. Them: No, you look tired/sick. Me: That’s just what I look like.
I actually do go without when I am not feeling well in the hopes that they will send me home – it works about half the time. And if my eyes are allergy swollen, I do skin, brows, cheeks, lips all to draw attention away from the eyes.
Aw, thank you! 🙂
The hour is for both my hair and makeup. I do like to take my time with the makeup, because I have some neurological issues that affect my coordination; therefore, if I try to apply anything too quickly, I usually end up poking myself in the eye (I do this far too often even when I go slowly, and end up with one eye that waters all day). 🙁 I also have to shower in the morning, because I sweat so much at night, having a shower before bed doesn’t really help (it’s a menopause thing). My hair is frizzy (not curly, not wavy, just frizzy), so I do have to dry and straighten it, which takes more time.
But, yes, I’m one of those people that always looks ill without makeup, and I just get so incredibly tired of the comments. I’ve even had people make joking remarks such as, ‘Whoa, I didn’t know you were a vampire’, or ‘Wow, haha, did you just crawl out of a cave?’ It’s funny in some ways, but at the time the comments are made, I usually don’t have the patience for it.
It just baffles me that people don’t think you look okay (or take you seriously) unless you’re wearing makeup.
I also naturally have resting bitchy face, which doesn’t help! 🙂 It’s a curse.
Diane;
Thank you so much for your comments on this. The reason I wear little to no make up to work is that I just am not a morning person. It takes everything I can do to get up, get going, and get to work on time (not really) on a weekday. I do wear lip products all the time, but that’s it unless I have time to slap on some lash serum. On weekends, it’s a different story; I wear eye makeup, lip products, and more recently, highlighter. I do agree that make up makes you feel better and more confident about yourself, but making it necessary for your appearance only reinforces stereotypes about females ( that is directed to the above commenter who posted the link about women who wear make up making more money. If she wants to play into stereotypes, that’s her issue.). Make up really should not have anything to do with your skill set.
If, on the contrary, I took a job where makeup was required (apart from a beauty retailer of course), I would likely wear very harsh, thick black liner all over my eyes and dark, harsh lip color, just to drive the point home and possibly make the employer realize how stupid their dress code is.
I’m actually working on my Electrician apprenticeship so I don’t wear makeup or much of anything other than concealer and mascara everyday. Having a background in makeup artistry I have a ton of makeup and love it. But I find I’m more excited to play with my makeup and looks on the weekends more than I use to on a daily basis. I actually love not putting makeup on every morning and my skin has been looking way better lately.
Makeup-loving electrical engineer here. Umm, you sound awesome. Can we be friends? 😀
I can’t imagine any place being no makeup. Maybe not bright makeup. I would be torn, but I’d probably do what you said. I hate infringements on person expression in ones look. As long as it’s not a health hazard, I’m for it.
Depends on the job. Day job while in college? As long as I can wear mascara and a tiny bit of concealer on my dark circles and acne scars, I’m okay with it. Office job? I’d avoid my faaaaavorite super colorful smoky eyes but still do a full face just because that’s my kind of professional. So if the requirements were no makeup, that’s a no from me. I feel more able to perform to my fullest with makeup on. Otherwise it looks like a sunburnt potato in a button-up and skirt ?
If the job was otherwise fantastic, and/or if I needed a job and this was the only option, I’d probably agree. However, such guidelines can be a red flag for other restrictions that are repressive and discriminatory, which I react very poorly to. Once I saw a bank’s dress code for its male and female employees, and the restrictions on the women were over 2 pages long and very restrictive, while for the men only part of one page and more commonsense. A red flag if I ever saw one.
Yep, I believe it. Back in the 1990s, I was desperate for a job, so went to work for a big bank in their back office call center, and they had a “no pants policy” for all women. To test the waters, I showed up one day in a very nice pair of business slacks, and my boss tried to send me home. I left as soon as I could find another job. Can you imagine if men were forced to only wear kilts to work, no pants? There would be a revolt!
You’ve reminded me of a situation when men were not allowed to wear shorts to work (during hot weather) so they’ve gone for skirts. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22828150
You reminded me — my first job was in the US Senate, and the senator’s wife required that only women could answer the main office phone.
Short answer: if it was a great opportunity and it’s setbacks (like this scenario) were relatively mild, absolutely.
Long answer: I have never heard of a job that outlawed all make up, period, unless it’s for hygienic reasons or an ultra conservative place. The former, well, that can’t be helped, but the latter I’d have serious misgivings about, especially ALL make up, period. I could get behind “no crazy colors/ultra dramatic/glitter n sparkle” policy, but I’m having a hard time justifying a good reason why a company wouldn’t want their employees to use complexion products if they wanted to, or having a polished, defined look that would aid with their confidence and boost their morale. To me, the attitude is unsettling.
True, for conservative businesses, I have heard the term “no noticeable makeup,” which I took to mean yes to base, concealer, neutral blended blush, eyebrow fill-in, natural mascara, clear or natural lip-tone balm/gloss? But I have never heard “no makeup” in an office environment, unless it’s a scientific type setting.
Of course I would! I understand that some of you will cringe when I say, “It’s only makeup” because some of you have a more visceral relationship with it. For me; however, it is only one of many ways to adorn ourselves and it has nothing to do with my sense of self-confidence and worth–I get those strokes from doing work that I love whether I’m wearing makeup or not.
Raising a glass to you! Obviously, we all love makeup or we wouldn’t be on Temptalia, but your understanding of its role in your life is so healthy.
Eileen; You rock. Thank you!
I once had a job where I wore no makeup by choice. I worked in a stable. Got there early in the morning and I am not a morning person. It was by and large an outdoors job. I swept stable aisles, mixed supplement feed, groomed, tacked and exercised a few horses before I took a lesson on my horse. It was cold work in the winter and sweaty hot work in the summer. Since I liked to reapply my sunscreen frequently it was just easier to not wear makeup. I would just pop into the toilet, rinse my face with water and apply more sunscreen and lip balm. There were gals who wore makeup every day. I just wasn’t comfortable sweating and being so physically active and having stuff on my face and eyes. I also never wear makeup to the gym.
I currently work at a job whose policy on makeup MYSTERIOUSLY began to change once a drag queen (myself) began working there. Before, during the hiring process, I was encouraged to come to work in full attire and makeup and was made to believe it was a welcoming environment for the type of person I am. Now that I am finally trying to express myself, the story has suddenly changed and I have been firmly directed to not wear drag makeup or woman’s clothes. I feel like their policy was fabricated on the spot, and I know for sure that I never signed anything that agreed to any of the above stipulations, but I need my job desparately. I also live in Texas, which is known as a “right to hire/right to fire” state. I am unsure what to do, but in the meantime I am trying to save up funds and resources so I can quit this job and perform drag full-time. This particular topic touches very close to home for me and I don’t wish this on anyone — whether you are terrible or amazing at makeup, it should be your choice what you put on your skin.
I am sorry to hear you are going through this. You shouldn’t fear for your job. If I were in your shoes, I’d do some research on the Texas Department of Labor website. You should have access to know what your rights are, they may even have someone you can call to get some advice.
Good luck & I hope this helps!
Thanks for the helpful advice and support. I have been sneaking around my office in lipstick lately and it makes me feel pretty awesome.
I hope you find a much more progressive working environment; one which embraces you, and does not mislead and then disappoint you. I think that is the most awful part; making you believe you were welcome only to subsequently change policy. Best of luck!
I know — it takes a lot of shrugging to get past it, but I know I won’t be here forever.
That sucks…did you interview for the job in drag? If so, wtf is their problem? Unfortunately, they do have the right to change or modify their dress code, but in your case, you might have a discrimination case? Not sure where drag queens fall in the gender identity spectrum, but you could look into it. I assume you are dressing and making up as a woman appropriate to the job you do?
Best of luck to you in achieving your dreams of performing full-time…remember most entertainers did jobs they hated before their big break.
I’m currently at a job that prohibits makeup as its a clean room environment. Not being able to wear makeup to work took some getting used to, but its a really minor trade-off for a job I like with co-workers who are awesome and paycheques that are even better.
I still have plenty of time outside of work to play with my makeup ?
Pretty much the same as you. If I really needed a job ASAP, and the only one available for the time being banned makeup, I’d still take it. If I had an opportunity to do something I absolutely loved and/or make really good money, I’d also take the job.
Yikes, scary thought to even consider but if it meant taking care of my family over make up then sure, I ‘d do it. Thankfully I haven’t had to consider that because like many other girls here I do believe make up gives me more confidence and projects a polished image.
If it was a matter of keeping my kids clothed, fed, with a roof over their heads, of course I would. But if one is in that dire straits, I am sure makeup/no makeup falls to the bottom of the list of things to worry about. I would also bet it would be the beginning of a lot of rules and regs from a despotic employer. People put up with this every day, because they have to.
Since I give thanks every day I’m not in the situation above, no I would not take a job with that rule. As others have said, makeup empowers me, makes me feel good about myself, and that leads to being a much better, happier, and productive employee.
Yes. I am fine not wearing makeup. I usually look young without it, but it’s not a big deal to go without.
What??!? Isn’t that illegal? Unless there was some kind of health reason like working in a sterile environment of some sort, but really, bleaugh, nobody would want to look at me if I came to work wearing no makeup every day!! My entire face would disappear!!!!
Naturally if I needed to work and could find no other. I’ve experienced a similar situation -the rules of supervisor heavily involved in his religion which doesn’t allow makeup, hair cuts and even limits using pants – in a job that I loved. Generally put me in a mood because It was like this religion was being imposed on me to keep my job. No job should do this unless makeup interferes with the job.
NEVER!!!
Absolutely not. I can understand dress codes & in certain jobs and the need to limit jewelry or long nails for safety reasons – but makeup doesn’t apply in these situations. Other than perhaps a very sterile lab situation – a big fat no!
No
This is a different Erica than the earlier commenter lol. Personally, I don’t think I’d get a job offer if I showed up at an interview with no makeup. Everyone would think I was seriously ill. Seriously, I could see certain professions and work environments (health care) prohibiting makeup. If it’s a choice between unemployment and makeup, I would wear my makeup on my day off.
Although I LOVE makeup, I would certainly accept a job. I must say at 20, my self esteem was too low and I would have died of starvation before saying yes. I work at a company that makes medical devices. while I work in the office portion of the building, there are days I help in the labs. Anyone who works in a cleanroom or lab is not allowed to wear makeup. If I am running late, I have no problem with it since so many others are bare-faced. Those jobs pay very well and one of my best friends here is more makeup-obsessed than me and has a lab job. She gets eyelash extensions to feel beautiful at work.
I make my living as an actress, and I did a play last year where I was told to wear no makeup until the lat scene. I found it liberating!!!
But yeah, if it was a company or a corporate atmosphere and they had some b.s. reason to codify the appearance of female employees, then forget it. No way. That is so sketchy, and they’d fire me for some other perceived wrong soon enough.
No I would not, I am blond eyelashes and eyebrows and am washed out without makeup. Can’t even imagine a job like that!
Same here! Plus my face is void of pigment so I am pale beyond pale!
same as you…..
No way! I have worn make up every day since I was about 14.
If it was a Job where I am Sitting alone in a room with no contact to Clients maybe. Or for a LOT of money. I only use Foundation, powder, Mascara and Lipstick Most of the Time. Could live without Mascara and Lipstick but no Foundation and powder would be really hard. I would Look really oily.
I totally agree with Christine plus except makeup is ones career like makeup artist or retailer, etc, there’s just so much to life than just a face beat… I do love me some makeup though but not at such expense
Probably not, but I’m cripplingly agoraphobic and except for being taken to my (very close) workplace and home, I almost never leave the house. So, all my dressing up/makeupping is mostly on workdays. More relevant is that I’m really only cut out for work-from-home and will be transitioning to that when I (CRINGE OF TERROR) move states to join my husband in NY.
So sorry to hear this. Is there no treatment for agoraphobics? I ask because I honestly don’t know, but it seems awful for you to have to live this way.
I’ve been through a lot of different treatments but have not been responsive to any of them, really. There are a few other mental health issues at play, as well as some neurological and physical things, so it’s complicated. It’s restrictive and sometimes frustrating, but I am all right with the bulk of it, as I am a very solitary (and indoor) person. I think don’t mind as much as someone who really liked being social/going places would. Like, I have dysphagia and can’t swallow solids well, but it’s been 13 years of that so while it does suck, I am pretty used to it and have learned to love blended soups. It’s a little like that with the agoraphobia.
If they paid me well…why not? That’s what the weekends are for.
I used to wear makeup every day, in every job I ever had with no problem. now I have my own business and never have time to apply makeup on me…ironic isn’t it?
: – )
I would not accept it. I like makeup and I need very little to accomplish a big difference. If I have a job, I always try to keep my makeup very minimal and simple. So I would be very disappointed if I was not allowed to wear makeup.
However, if it was the only job I could get at that moment or if the circumstances made it hard for me to wear makeup in the first place (a place where you’ll get dirty very easily or a place where you’ll work with a lot of heat/water and any makeup would slide of anyway) I would accept the job for sure. I think that’s different, because you knew from the start that wearing makeup during work just isn’t really practical ánd it was your own choice to take the job, which means you really like it if you’re a makeup-lover and you’re willing to give it up for a job.
It would really depend on what you were doing in this job if it is an office job or labor intense job yes I would like them saying no one wears makeup. Also, everyone would have to be following that same rule not just certain people! It would be freeing to have a job were no one at all wears makeup.
I think like most women that I look better with makeup it is suppose to help enhance ones features and to cover things that you don’t like so much. Some people use way too much when they take their makeup off they look like they took their whole face off.
Absolutely not. Although I do not wear elaborate make up on a daily basis, it is such an important part of my identity that I would not feel myself without it, especially in a professional setting. Although I wear concealer and the like to give the impression of better skin, and do feel self-conscious without it, it’s also about the image of myself I want to project and show the world.
No, I wouldn’t. No job is worth asking a lady not to wear makeup. If it was in the health industry that somehow it would matter then I can understand – but no thanks.
I can’t fathom a position in my field (education) where I wouldn’t be interacting face to face with people on a regular basis. And as several people have already eloquently stated, I feel my best and much more confident with “my face” on, so I would most likely say no.
I don’t know if there is a workplace around that wouldn’t let you wear makeup – I think that unless you are turning up for work looking like dracula, really it is up to you.
If I was desperate yes, I would accept the job, but otherwise no.
No. If a company is controlling my makeup, what else will they want to control? Big red flag. That’s too personal and creepy. I would hope the company has more important things with which to concern itself than makeup—like maybe my hair style!!!
😀
In my field, absolutely not. It’s male-dominated but not customer-facing, and one way or the other, it doesn’t reflect well upon the culture. As it is, there’s a double standard in the office where I’m not allowed to color my hair, but there are bleached individuals whom that rule does not apply to.
Maybe if I got paid six figures. Probably yes, if I worked in an industry where there was a sensible reason for it.
It would depend on the job and how much it paid, but probably not. In my younger years I wore minimal makeup but in middle age I really do need it to look my best.
Of course if I needed this job to put food on the table, yes. But whether it’s hairstyles being “too ethnic”, nail colors being “not professional”, or the archaic idea that taking pride in your appearance means that you’re not a serious employee, it’s continuous regulation on women (and men’s) appearances.
Totally agree. I’d not take a job if they thought my hair was too “ethnic” versus not being able to wear makeup. I did my interview with my bald blonde fade and started work with a long black curly wig LOL. They can’t play with my hair..take the makeup but not my hairstyles.
Probably not. That sounds a little too extreme to me. It doesn’t sound like the kind of environment I’d want to work in. Makeup helps me feel and look my best and I just wouldn’t feel comfortable, let alone confident, if I wasn’t able to wear any at a place that I spent 8+ hours a day at. If I really, really just needed a job, I’d take it for the time being, but keep looking for something else.
Except if the job is my dream job with a big paycheck and a lot of free time, I wouldn’t accept a job if I can’t wear makeup ^^ It’s a pleasure for me to do my makeup (almost) every morning, just for me, so I would be sad if I couldn’t :/
No
That would be a difficult decision to make. I suppose if it was a dream job in every way I would seriously consider it. But NO makeup at all? Oh boy, that would suck lol.
I’m a nurse and I cant imagine a day in my life of not wearing makeup, so no. I LOVE it, my coworkers are interested in my makeup looks, and my patients love seeing what I will look like next. My job has ZERO problems with me wearing makeup. Everyone knows how much I love it, and they always want to see what is next from me. I also have tattoos and piercings, which don’t limit my ability to care for any patient that I have, in any way.
It would be worse for me if requiered. I wear minimal makeup on a daily basis and I couldn’t wear full-face makeup every day.
Oh! Agreed. I would detest being required to wear a full face all the time but again, would put up with if I needed or loved the job.
Absolutely NOT! I am more than happy to tone it down, where it looks like I am wearing hardly anything. But it’s Not that I am uncomfortable wearing no makeup at all, IT’S The General Point of “Why” should I change “WHO” I Am?! I mean seriously!!?? I SHOULD Be Hired for My Capacity to fulfill the job requirements. To have a passion for my job and to be extremely compassionate to My Patient’s. You are allowed to wear makeup in Hospital’s, Nursing Home’s… but we aren’t able to wear any acrylic or artificial nails. Nail polish must be very light in color. I’m NOT going to change Who I am, and that’s exactly what I am always talking about. Take me as I am or go right over me!
I would NEVER accept a job where makeup wasn’t allowed! Makeup is not a frivolous or vain thing to me. It’s part of who I am and has been since I was 13. Besides being fun, makeup gives me confidence and privacy by covering scars that are no one’s business but my own!
it would depend on the job, pay package, benefits and definition of makeup. I would never work without skin protection in the form of moisturizer and sunscreen no matter what. If I was paid in 7 digits, i would be happy to put my make up on after work!
If I needed or loved the job, then yes, absolutely. I can always wear makeup after work.
Yes, if it was a high paying job i would. In that case,i have to create loads of no make up make up looks lol. What,are they gonna fire me? Haha.;)
I love makeup, but I love a roof over my head and eating more!! Being able to have a comfortable life and to afford the basics would for sure win out over feeling pretty. Although I would probably break the rules in small ways, concealer, tinted brow gel just to make me feel more like me.
As an HR rep, I can tell you that unless it was a danger to wear for your specific job, employers here in the US cannot tell you that you can’t wear makeup! There are strict laws to protect workers from discrimination, and this is covered under those laws. That being said, even if it wasn’t protected, I would not accept a job that said no makeup. I sever rosacea and my skin is red an sensitive. My makeup actually protects my skin from the environment and making my skin condition worse. In addition, I’m very self conscious without it because of the stares and comments I get.
Of course. Makeup, as much as I love it, doesn’t define my beauty (not saying it does for others) I’d still feel pretty and because they most likely won’t be able to tell, I can probably get away with a no-makeup makeup look LOL. At my job now, they don’t say anything but I don’t wear say like my Kale BiTE lipstick or my really dark lip colors just because it’s non-profit “corporate” and I like to look a bit more neutral in case any board members or donors visit, etc. So since I limit myself like that, it would be easy to go without it not saying that I’d like to though.
I’d most likely end up saving a boat load of money that I can spend on having a fabulous shoe collection instead of lipstick collection : )