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What's your favorite "work-friendly" look?
What’s your favorite “work-friendly” look? If you’re fortunate to have a very makeup-friendly office, think interview, think conservative. 🙂
I love Hourglass’ eyeshadow duos in Suede and G*psy for really quick and easy eye looks that are soft, brightening, and slightly contoured. Paired with low-key brown eyeliner and a more natural mascara (like Buxom Lash), eyes are awake and noticeable but not too dramatic. I’d opt for a soft blush like Benefit Sugarbomb or Korres’ Natural for cheeks, and then a lipstick with a natural sheen – likely a MLBB shade like MAC Sweetie.
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Nothing too sparkly or glossy; I feel like I won’t be taken seriously if I’m all shiny/glitzy. For eyes, I try to stay with mostly matte and satin shades. NARS Madrague is one of my favorite go-to duos for and easy, natural/neutral look. I usually place a flesh toned shade on my lid; something that is slightly lighter than my skin tone to brighten without any shine then I usually use something like UD Naked or the caramel color from Madrague in my crease blended up and something only slightly darker if I want to add a little more depth. If I add any shimmer to the eyes, it’s a tiny bit right under the arch blended with a satin from MAC and/or in the inner corner. I stick to powder liner, or I make sure to smudge gel liner out for a softer look. For face/cheeks, I stick with NARS Sheer Glow then add a little blush. Usually I skip bronzer, highlighter, and contour because it makes me feel a little too made up for work/interview. For lips, I don’t like to go too shiny/glossy or too matte. I opt for a slightly rosier MLBB shade with a soft dewy look with that makes lips look healthy/moisturized.
I usually don’t do too much for work; Recently it’s mostly been the basics. (Depends on how early I get up, lol) I usually do foundation:,Estee Lauder Double Wear and a light dusting of Cliniques Almost Powder makeup to set it. Blush: Recently, NARS Super Orgasm blush or NYX Blush in Cinnamon (lovely bright coral shade, I just add a touch to my cheeks)Mascara: Recently, Benefit They’re Real Mascara or Loreal Voluminous Mascaraand just some lipstick: NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz or Tarte’s LipSurgance Natural Lip Luster in Sweet. I REALLY love the NYX Xtreme Lip Creams, you should check them out if you haven’t already! A great almost liquid lipstick. Lovely.
Since I am self employed, I do not have a ‘work friendly’ look.. and the horses and sheep do not seem to mind bad hair days with it tossed on top of my head held down by a giant clip and the I’ve just crawled out of bed and have sheet marks across my face look either. When I see the clothes people are wearing out there these days–going to work showing big cleavage–, I think employers have far more on their plates to worry about in that respect than makeup! LoL. I have nothing against people flaunting what they have btw.. it is just not my style and definitely not work appropriate in this old fashioned girl’s mind. If you work in an office and want to be considered professional, wear makeup/clothes that send a message on how you want to be perceived and treated.. it’s that simple.
I think my makeup is usually always work-friendly. I tend to favor more natural, neutral looks. For the most part, I like to have everything be “my _____ but better”–I don’t like to wear heavy foundations and choose more natural, semi-matte finishes, I like tinted balms, and I like my eyes to look subtly defined and slightly smokey but not too dramatic or bright
I’m currently a stay-at-home mom, but the last job I held was in a bank, and I found myself reaching for my Too Faced palettes most often, in Naked & Natural, though I really used a variety of neutrals. I also didn’t have a lot of time, so my usual routine was foundation/powder, eyeshadow, mascara, and a tinted lip balm. I opted for lip balm because we kept the air conditioner on freezing, and my lips needed the extra moisture, and because I needed something that could be applied often without a mirror.
A simple smokey eye in different browns, sometimes with a hint of another colour. Blush in brown, coral or pink – without too much sheen or glitter and a natural looking lipstick in nude, pink, coral, red or just a gloss. Very simple, but I like it! 🙂
I like to have a good foundation, a sculpted face with a small amount of blush, a soft brown eye with the top and bottom waterlines done in MAC’s Powersurge and lined with UD’s Whiskey or Bourbon or MAC’s Teddy. I use MAC’s Extended Play mascara. I like my brows, so I keep them dramatic, but realistic. I vary my lip color.
I would suggest a sheer liquid or powder foundation, a light blush like MAC Well Dressed, nothing too bold. For eyes a light color like MAC Shroom, Jest, Juxt, Burberry Rosewood or Armani ETK Silk eye shadow Nr. 9 or eye shadow trio Nr. 6 and black mascara. I rarely wear eyeliner to work. On the lips a MLBB color. For me Armani Nr 301, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Aventure, MAC Creme Cup, Shy Girl or Modesty.
I keep things pretty simple in the summer. I don’t like heavy makeup that could melt off in our 100 degree weather. I opt for tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. I love NARS tinted moisturizer it feels like a dream. For blemishes I like MAC’s studio finish concealer. For under eyes I use Benefit’s Erase paste. For blush, I like NARS Orgasm. If I apply a highlight I use Benefit’s Girl Meets Pearl on the face and MAC’s MSF in Whisper of Guilt on the inner corner of my eye and brow bone. I usually tight line my upper lashline with Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Perversion. I like to try different mascaras currently I like Revlon’s 3D mascara. Seems like a lot but I really go for that little to no makeup look.
Eyes: usually I like pairing Blanc Type with either Wedge or Satin Taupe in the crease or I just wear a wash of UD Halfbaked on the lid. I’ve also been wearing ETK in 28 on the whole lid and blended up into the crease lately, though it’s a little more dramatic than I would usually wear to work I think the color is so pretty I’ve been having a hard time not wearing it. Then a swipe of non-clumpy mascara of course.Cheeks: I like to softly contour with NARS Madly. Lips: Lipbalm is what I usually wear, but if I want color than I wear either MAC Patisserie for MLBB or MAC Cut a Caper for a little more (still work appropriate) pop.
!!!Out of topic!!! New livefyre Comments section is only looking “loading” and I cant see any comment and it is sooo frusturating.. Am I the only one having this problem or else?
Like xamyx, I really like looks from the TF Natural palette, or I fall back on MAC’s Naked Lunch and Mulch. As I get older, I find that a lighter colour on my lid (TF Silk Teddy or MAC Naked Lunch) with a darker shade just on the outer V area to widen and elongate my eyes looks most flattering, not just for work but for almost any time. Pink or rose blush on my cheeks and always a colour on my lips – MAC’s Plumful, Craving or Capricious are 3 I can always rely on. A bit of dark brown or black liner and I’m basically done. I rarely wear mascara because no matter the brand, no matter what I do, I always seem to get some “migration” under one eye – just my left eye!
I often like to do a soft, neutral, slightly smoky eye, using Guerlain’s “Les Fumes” quad, or taupe shades like Mac Mothbrown and Nars Ashes to Ashes. Blush-wise, I go with Nars Deep Throat or just a natural glow like Nico or Edward Bess’ South of France. If I’m going for a “MLBB” look, I’ll opt for Nars Mayflower, or else I’ll use a light, but slightly more noticeable pink like Mac Viva Glam V or Armani 605.
My office is pretty lax when it comes to make-up (and hair and piercings).
I tend to stick with a natural smokey eye (think any Naked-type palette or greys/black) because I tend to always over sleep 😮 When I have time I’ll do a bright pop of colour. I tend to go with a natural cheek, lots of mascara and a red or skintone lip product.
I wear make up to an office every day. I switch it up a little every day, but here are the basics:Either BB Tinted Moisturizer or Dior Extreme Foundation with MAC blot powderVichy Dermablend concealer (Or LM Secret Camouflage and BB Corrector)Neutral/brown eyeshadows (often wear Indianwood paint pot or any combination of the following: MAC Orb, Sable, Soft Brown), brown eyeliner and black mascaraOn cheeks either a peachy or pinky soft color (MAC Posey, BB Cabo Coral or MAC Peaches)A neutral lip either slightly peachy or pinkyIf I’m feeling more adventurous, I may put a soft pop of color on my eyelids-something sheer and matte. Or I may opt for softly lining my lid in black liner instead of brown if I want my eyes to stand out. Since I usually wear glasses to work, I don’t put too much effort on my eye make up. Instead, I make sure my skin looks nice (conceal all spots) and that I look awake and fresh (blush and undereye concealing are my tools for this.)
I don’t usually wear a lot of makeup to work. Here’s one of my favorite looks: For eyes, I will use one brightening shade, like MUFE Aqua Cream #13 and mascara (right now I like Almay One Coat-Thickening for work). For my face I either use L’oreal True Match liquid foundation in a custom blended color made up of two shades or Urban Decay Mineral powder foundation. I use either MUFE HD powder or Coty Airspun powder over the foundation. I like to use Nars Taos blush and Nars Velvet Matte Lip pencil in Dolce Vita. It’s a simple look, but I think it makes me look awake. If I find myself with extra time, I’ll add eyeliner to the top part of my eye only.
I’m fortunate that I work in a makeup boutique, so rainbow colors are acceptable, but on my days off I tend to keep it neutral, with a matte beige peach on the lid and a matte taupe in the crease with a bit of some liner and mascara, no foundation, and just a pink or nude lipgloss. For an interview, that would be a look I would stick with as well, but I would just add foundation.
Lollybug Where do you work, if that’s not too personal? And I love your “days off” look!!
I work at a startup, so I can be a little more adventurous with makeup (and clothes!). Typically, though, I usually do a neutral or soft smoky eye. My go-to when I’m rushing is UD Sin on the lid and UD YDK in the crease for countouring. Add some liner and mascara and you’re good to go! I’ve been adventurous with colored smoky eyes, too. It mainly depends on how much time I have in the morning and what I’m wearing that day!
On the eyes, I usually wear MAC Charcoal Brown paired with Girlie or Arena and Shroom as highlighter; brown eyeliner and black mascara. I like MAC Peachykeen or Warm Soul for blush and for the lips, I switch – sometimes I wear a lipstick and others a gloss. My workplace is not strict with respect to makeup or clothes, so it´s OK if one day I feel like wearing bright eyeshadows or lipsticks!
Hourglass duo in Dune 🙂
My work allows some leeway in makeup choices. Today I used Too Faced’s Label Whore with a cream colored shadow from UD. I can get away with red lipstick from Cle de Peau.
Honestly, I rarely wear make up to work, because I have to be at work extremely early in the morning and I work with children most of the day and they don’t care what I look like! lol However, when I do feel like looking “extra cute” for the day, I usually just go for a fresh face look. I usually use the following routine:Primer: Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Oil Control Primer (This works well for my crazy oily t-zone.)Foundation: MUFE F&BPowder: Black Opal Invisible Oil Blocking Powder Brows: Filled with NYX Single eye shadow in BlackBlush: Varies, but my favorite is La Femme Coral (Coral always brightens my dark skin instantly…LOVE IT!)Lips: again varies to coordinate my blush, but my go-to is NYX Mega Shine Gloss in Natural
For me, it’s just tinted moisturizer, matte beige shadow, winged liner, mascara and a soft pink lipstick.
This summer, I wear lots of black mascara, flawless complexion (I try), and a different lippie every day. They say you shouldn’t wear bright lippies to work, but I love them and no body says anything negative!!