What is your favorite work-friendly look combination? We have a ton of readers who rock the work look during the week, and I know they’re always on the look out for new ideas, so share yours!
— Christine
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I usually do bare study paint pot with naked lunch all over the eyelid. Then I do a wide crease of era mainly on the outer corner. Then I fill in my crease with either tempting or woodwinked, depending on my mood. I line the water line with stubborn brown power point eyeliner. I do a very thin line with stubborn brown on my lash line and smudge it with mystery eyeshadow. I also fill in my eyebrows with mystery. I do a very simple face. I use strobe cream all over and then buff in Mineralize skinfinish powder in light. I usually use shy beauty blush and a little mineralize skinfinsh warmed as a bronzer. My lips are Heatherette lollipop loving and nars orgasm gloss. That is me. It takes me about 10 minutes to get all that done. My hair takes a total of 15. However I cant get out the door in less then an hour and a half. What takes me so long??????? Probably watching the Today show and drinking coffee. Hehe!
That’s a great combo, Renee1 Thanks for sharing 🙂
LOL, it’s so easy to get distracted in the morning!
My favorite work look these days is:
Eyes – Soft Ochre paint pot as base all over lid
Yogurt e/s on inner corner
Bisque e/s on middle of lid
Copperplate e/s on outer corner and crease
Blanc Type e/s as highlight
Diorshow Black Mascara
Cheeks – True Romantic or Feeling Beauty Powder Blush
Lips – Nouveau Frou l/s with Nico Now or Corsette l/g
OR
BB Bronzed Pink Creamy Lipcolor with Naked Glitter lipgloss
Hey Nell!
That’s a great look! I loev the cheeks for it!
Face: Clinique sheer tinted moisturizer in FAIR
Cheeks: MAC blushes
STRADA – contour
TENDERLING – blush
PINCH O’ PEACH – blush
Loose Beauty Powder
NATURAL FLAME – highlight
Lips: MAC lipstick in BLANKETY
Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in GROUNDWORK
MAC Eyeshadow in NAKED LUNCH (highlight)
MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in DUCK (top line)
MAC PlushLash in BLACK
Hey Victoria!
This is great for work 🙂 I love Natural Flame as a highlight!
my basic work look (as of late) is:
Studio Fix Fluid
concealer
MSF Natural (Light Medium)
any blush (today it’s Dollymix with Porcelain Pink MSF as a highlight)
Bare Study or Perky Paint Pot
highlighter (Magic Dust, next to nothing, vanilla pigment, etc)
Honesty e/s
another darker nude/brown shade in the crease
black mascara (loving Plushlash!)
whatever lipstick/gloss i get my hands on that goes with my blush (today it’s Totally It with a touch of Hush, Hush tendertone on top)
if i wake up early enough, sometimes i’ll do liner (blitz & glitz fluidline usually), or smokey eyes, or color. but i’m not a morning person, so usually i just throw onn the basics and run out.
Love it, Courtney! I think this is an awesome look for work!
I use shades like Soba, Quarry and Shroom. Today I’m wearing Hoppin’ and All That Glitters with black liner smudged around with Plushlash. It’s not the typical office look, but it’s pretty simple.
Very pretty, Erin! Hoppin’ is such a lovely nude!
Mine usually is:
Bare study paint pot
naked lunch all over lid & if i have time i add a crease color
Any black eyeliner
underage lipglass
Nice, Lisa! Very simple and easy to do.
I like to use Bare Escuntuals. I like to go neutral for work. 🙂
I think most of us have to go neutral for work, lol!
I tend to switch it up, but I stick with browns, bronzes, taupes, roses, beiges, pinks – all neutral-ish shades. Today is one of my current fave combos:
Eyes –
Bare Study p/p from lash line to brow bone
Modest Tone e/s all over lid
Rich Flesh e/s in the outer crease/corner
Carbon e/s to thinly line upper lash line
Shroom e/s to highlight brow bone
Blacktrack f/l on waterline
CG LashBlast in Very Black
Brow Shader in Browning to fill in brows
Face –
Studio Fix concealer NW20 for under eyes
Everday Minerals Foundation in Medium Beige Neutral
Pinch Me sheertone blush on apples
Smooth Harmony b/p on T-zone
Lips –
Sublime Culture c/s/l
Lollipop Lovin’ l/s
Sock Hop l/g
Wow, this is awesome, Ariele! What a great look 😀 No wonder it’s a fave!
I use bare minerals during the work week, and there warmth, espresso on the eyebrows and some of there well rested base on the eyes and I’m good to go.
Oh and mascara! I can wear any crazy colors I want to work, I just to choose to give my face a break from tons of make up during the week.
Awesome, Sophia! Espresso is such a great brow color!
My fave combo is as follows :
Face : Select Moisturecover on the undereye
Studio Fix Fluid all over face
Prep and Prime eye on the entire lip
Followed by MAC loose powder
As for the eyes (For the past month, I’ve been on a smokey dark grey/silver mood).
Eyes : Ricepaper e/s just below the brow area to highlight
I do a horizontal half and half – a thin line of Greensmoke e/s on the inner lid, mid lid and outer lid followed by Charred e/s directly above. Finally, just a light sweep of Contrast e/s on the outer and above crease area and blend, blend, blend. If time permits, i’d do a slight cat winged tip with MAC black liquid last liner. And finish off with Estee Lauder’s Projectionist mascara in black.
Cheeks : MAC blusher in either colours – Sweet As Cocoa/Plum Foolery/Springsheen
Lips : MAC lip-liner in Spice with Malt or Fresh Brew lipstick and with Ornamental or Mad Cap lipglass over.
The whole process (esp. eyes) sounds really lengthy and complicated but really, it is not. And believe you me, this look takes you from day to night, I’ve been told by colleagues.
That’s great, Theresa! I love that you can take it from day to night!
My work look depends on what I’m wearing. Most of the time though, I wear Bare Canvas paint and then add Vanilla pigment all over on top, my crease color changes based on my outfit. Today I’m wearing Too Faced Dirt Bag in the crease. I add mascara to top lashes only and white liner in the waterline. I don’t wear foundation to work, just moisturizer and Alpha Girl b/p. I alternate between Viva Glam VI and Spirit lipsticks for my lips.
My lazy look is Cash Flow as a base, Goldmine in the inner corner of eyes and Bronze in the outer and crease.
Very subtle 🙂 It’s a great idea to change up the crease color for some spice and vavoom!
when I’m in a rush I use…
Face: foundation (bare escentuals or MAC Mineralize foundation) mixed with moisturizer.
Eyes: UDPP and shape and sculp duo powder for crease and highlight and covergirl lashblast mascara.
Cheeks: Nars Orgasm blush
Lips: Any gloss I have availabe in my purse.
Hey Christina R! This sounds really nice ‘n simple!
The gold standard is:
MAC Mineralize SPF 15 Loose powder
Some translucent powder
Secret Blush beauty powder
Aishwarya’s Beige Loreal Color Riche lipstick
LORAC Take a brow in Dark Brown
Modest Tone e/s highlight
Rich Flesh on lid
Remotely grey on crease
Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner lining upper lid
Clinique cream shaper in Chocolate lustre on bottom lid
Haha, I love it, the gold standard 😀
Nice!
Gotta tell you, my boss doesn’t mind the crazy colors at all. For the most part I keep it simple, though. Foundation, concealer, and either a bold lip or bold eyes. It’s easy to wear eyes however I want because I have bangs. They automatically tone down whatever it I’ve gone on so I’m always appropriate 🙂 Right now I’m using Bamboom paint and assorted eyeliners(mostly black, sometimes colors) as my go-to. Today I have on Bamboom paint, the purple Heatherette eyeliner(dark first then the lavender glitter side, top lashes) and decorative lustreglass over Old Navy lip balm(sheers it out).
That’s cool, though 😀
Nice look you have on today!
Usually I have:
Lips = nude or plummy: Bare slimshine, Hug Me, Retrofluid, Clinique Black Honey
Eyes = Taupes and grays: Satin Taupe, Innuendo, Clue, all the N shadows, Smokey Eyes Royal Assets palette, Loreal Showstopping Taupes quad. Brown or black undramatic mascara.
I keep eyes pretty simple, usually. Just 2 or 3 colors in the same family, darker at lashline, lighter towards brow.
Hey Carrie!
Love the lip choices, very pretty.
🙂
I love shroom both on the lids and to highlight with romp in the crease!
Gotta have Shroom on the list!
Face: MAC Mineralize Loose
Sculpt and Shape in Lightsweep/Shadester
Eyes: UDPP with Cashflow PP. Cosmic all over the lid, Firespot in the inner corner and Saturnal in the crease.
or
UDPP with Perky PP. Paradisco all over the lid. Cranberry and Woodwinked in the crease.
I use carbon as my eyeliner. No mascara.
Lips: Strawbaby lipstick with Flusterrose lustreglass.
Nice look, Trojanchick!
Great work idea.
My new favorite work look is Rubenesque Paint Pot on my lids, and Nars Orgasm multiple on my cheeks. I set it with Cargo BluRay powder and then several coats of Lancome Hypnose mascara. For my lips, Nice Buzz plushglass or L’Occitane lip gloss in Honey & Lemon. I have received so many comments about how luminous my skin looks…
Hey Rabi! This is a really great look. How do you like the Cargo BlueRay powder?
Christine you should have them post pics of their work makeup looks that would be really cool.
I’d definitely love it if people did, but I know a lot of people are camera-shy! 😉
I wear Studio Fix foundation, Clinique Touch Tint for eyes in Nude Sparkle, Nars Orgasm blush, black mascara, and Mac Viva Glam V lipstick.
Great minimalist look, Melissa 😀 VGV is a nice choice!
Face:
– MAC Oil Control Lotion
– MAC Prep + Prime
– MAC Studio Fix Foundation NC40
– MAC Studio Fix Poweder NC40
Eyebrows:
Paula Dorf’s Stencil Kit w/Espresso Eyeshadow
Eyes:
– MAC Your LadyShip Pigment all over lid
– MAC Blacktrack fluid line (cat eye)
– Chantecaille mascara
Lips:
– MAC Lovechild Lipglass
Cheeks:
– MAC Breezy or Sweetness
I am so in love with Your Ladyship pigment. Everyone at work loves it!!! 🙂
Love this look, Kimberly! I adore Your Ladyship pigment, too!
I’m a graduate student so it would be REALLY easy to just totally let my makeup routine go, but I still want to look polished and put together every day – even if I’m just buried in the books at the library 🙂 So here is my low maintenance day neutral look – I’m really into matte e/s these days and would love recommendations for neutral mattes (I’m NC20ish):
Face: I don’t wear foundation, and recently gave up BE, so I just swipe NARS Laguna bronzer all over for a healthy glow, sometimes add a touch of strobe cream on the orbital bone and down bridge of nose.
Cheeks: Chanel Reflex, sometimes with a pop of MAC Dollymix or BB Pot Rouge in Blushed Rose or Calypso Coral
Eyes: LM Eye Basics in Wheat
MAC e/s in Malt all over lid
highlight with shroom
depending on how much time I have, I’ll add LM’s cake
liner in bleu marine to upper lashline
black liner on lower lashline
curl lashes with two coats of Volumnious Carbon black
Lips: either NARS chihuahua, benetint with rosebud salve on top, or kiehl’s gloss in pink ryder
Finish with a spritz of fix+ and I’m good to go!
neutral mattes I love (I´m nc15):
copperplate, yogurt, blanc type, bisque, quarry
plus almost everything from Bobbi Brown
Nice! Those are all pretty colors for neutral looks!
Oh, I know exactly what you mean!! But congrats on not letting your routine hit the skids 😀
Nice look!
Face: Everyday Minerals all over, Jane blush in Blushing Petal (one of the best products I’ve found in years, ladies!!!)
Eyes: UDPP, and my favorite look recently is Vanilla pigment from lash to browlines with a blue-based purple in the crease and Maybelline Full ‘n Soft mascara. Then either Prestige Smokey Green eyeliner or black cake liner on upper lid.
Lips: Neutrogena Moisture Shine Hydra Gel (another of my all-time favorite products)
This is a fab look for work, Nora!
Here’s what I wore today:
Face:
Alima Satin Matte Foundation in W3+B3
Alima Finishing Powder
MAC Melba
Eyes:
UDPP
MAC Amber Lights, Soft Brown, Mulch
Clinique Brush on Creme Liner in Truly Black
MAC Plush Lash in Black
Lips:
Prestige Waterproof Lip Liner in Natural
Clarins Sensation #610
Hey Tonee! What a great look! I love the usage of Mulch in it!
I have to be at work at 6 am, so my makeup is very minimal – just powder, mascara and a touch of Stilla Teak liner. Also I use brow gel and some lip balm. Takes me about a minute, but makes me feel more awake. If I’m feeling a little rough, I’ll add some dollymix blush and a touch of shimmery shadow. I’m lucky that my skin is good so I can get away without much on.
Ouch, 6am!
My favorite, and by far easiest work make up is:
Soft Ochre paint pot from lid to brow
Modest Tone e/s all over lid and brow
Texture e/s on lower lashline, outer lid and crease
Dipdown fluidline eyeliner on lids
Luckily this is a super neutral look, so my lipstick is usually whatever is in my bag (lately it’s New York Apple for a little color)
The good thing that I have found with this look is it takes about two minutes to make it work for evening. I usually add a little Honeylust e/s or Woodwinked e/s to my lids, add some more Texture e/s in the crease (or even some Satin Taupe), line my bottom lids, add another coat of mascara, some Lipglass and I’m ready to hit the town!!
I love it! I adore Soft Ochre for a base to any neutral look! New York Apple is such a fab color, isn’t it?
I’m still a student, but I don’t like being “overly made up” on an everyday basis. I usually use Studio Finish Concealer (i always have dark circles under my eyes), a little bit of the Cream Colour Base in Virgin Isle on my cheeks, Slimshine in Funshine, and and a Paint Pot in Blackground as a liner on top. And, of course, generous applications of mascara.
Has anyone used pro longwear lipcolors? They sound amazing, and a long-wearing lipcolor would be really helpful for long days. I really want to try them out, but some bad reviews on Makeup Alley have deterred me. If I were to try them, I’d probably go for a color like Persist or Clingpeach. Has anyone used them for everyday wear?
I love Virgin Isle! Very pretty color 🙂
I actually DO like prolongwears, but you do you have to practice and learn how to work them. They can be drying, so you need to take good care of your lips and everything.