True, but we have often pondered if we * really * need to shave or wear that tie which is much of the same thing.
I’ll tell you a story.
One day my mom decided she needed to look professional. She did the obvious thing- went to the make-up counter.
She came out a few hundred dollars poorer. They convinced her that she needed the full treatment- concealer, foundation, a couple kinds of powder, blush, lipliner, lipstick, lipgloss, a few shades of eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascera. Now every day she spends an hour putting on make-up. She won’t leave the house without it.
And she looks like she is wearing a mask. As the day wears on, her lipstick wears off, her mascera runs, and the foundation formes little cracks. No amount of blending will ever make a fully made up face look like it is anything but a fully made-up face, especially up close. The “natural” look is as much a look as any, and looks just as articficial as any. Now you can’t see my mom’s skin. She has to be careful when she eats, kisses, wipes the sweat off her brow. She is obviously uncomfortable with the make-up, and I wish she would find a simpler regime that makes her happier instead of sticking to one that gives her a standardized artificial look at the expence of her natural radience, hard earned cash, and personal comfort.
I’m not anti-makeup. I wear plenty of it myself. But the only people that look good with the full treatment are people that are going for a stylized highly made up look. People that are uncomfortable in their make-up look worse than people that don’t wear it in the first place. And make-up requires near constant maintance. Putting on a full face is a commitment to touch it up at least hourly. If you dont want to do this, it’s just going to look bad.
If I were you I’d go with a tinted lipgloss, a single color of eyeshadow, and some clear mascera. This will add a bit of polish to you look while remaining easy to maintain (you can re-apply gloss without a mirrior), easy to put on, and comfortable. You really don’t need anything more if you don’t want to, and I would actively advise against it if it makes you uncomfortable.
This doesn’t have anything to do with hair or makeup, but earrings can also make one look more mature and polished - so long as they’re subtle, non-dangling (although I suppose very delicate, tiny danglies might be okay), and limited to one pair per head. Maybe get a pair of pearl studs or simple metal discs (or some other shape).
Well, no, I don’t think it is. Women still have to do the “skirt or slacks? high heels or flats?” thing, and then there’s the leg-shaving, which is pretty much the same thing. Men aren’t expected to make themselves look prettier if they have uneven skin tone or pale lips. If it were a matter of wanting to look more attractive for a date, I’d be laying on the makeup tips, but this is a matter of deciding what is and isn’t standard professional attire for women.
Hey, does anyone remember feminism and how we weren’t supposed to need it any more because we’re all equal now?
Personally when I need to wear make-up to look more professional I go with the less is more thing. You’re face also sounds similar to mine so I’ll give my tips.
Definately go to Avon/MaryKay they can help you find you’re colors and what works good. Maybe buy some stuff for them but you can also go to the drug store and get colors very similar for marginally better prices.
If you’re eyebrows are unruly get them plucked. It won’t cost much and it can really make your face look better.
Most of the rest of the tips stated are pretty much what I would say but also instead of blush, use bronzer if it works with your skin tone. I use bronzer in lieu of blush and I find it looks more natural than blush usually does.
If your skin is oily just go for a powder or one of those 2 in 1’s of foundation/powder. I find foundation + powder is more like a mask. I can recall my face melting when we had a really wet snow and my hair got soaked which then had water dripping down my face. Haven’t worn foundation since except for the 2 in 1.
When I wear make-up my regimine takes about 5 minutes. At it’s most basic, 2-3. Usually I just have the 2 in 1 foundation/powder, eyeshadow, little liner, bronzer for blush and lip gloss/chapstick.
Someone mentioned above the eye stuff that stops it from creasing, putting foundation on your eyelids (carefully) andletting it set can do pretty much the same thing as well I find.
Congrats on the new job!
Oh, Pod, don’t go overboard. You describe me when you describe yourself, right down to the dark hair and bun. (I still have your quote on my work badge–“Screaming at idiots is undignified–Podkayne.”)
I was told in pharmacy school that I needed a “professional look”, and I was dragged to the Merle Norman Paint Counter. I told her I was not a big makeup person, and preferred a natural look. I came out looking like a cheap whore. Washed it all off at Sears.
The next year I was dragged to the Lancome counter. Spent $200 on mostly crap I never used.
Was forced to go to a Mary Kay demonstration. Broke out from the samples, and hated the dark colors.
I now use Lancome lipstick, Neutrogena powder compact and a Neutrogena undereye concealer from Target (workin’ nights, ya know), and all of that only occasionally. Takes around 45 seconds to apply the whole thing, and I usually forget even that. My entire makeup kit fits into an eyeglass case in my purse.
I haven’t worn any eye makeup in years and years. If your eyelashes are dark, you don’t need mascara. If you have dark circles around your eye, dot concealer underneath and blend with fingertip, and leave the discoloration on top. Instant Insomniac Eyeshadow! I’ve been doing this for over a decade, and it’s great!
Let us know how the new job works out! Good Luck! -Theobroma
It is funny to me how different people react to different things. My skin is the best it has ever been since I switched to Mary Kay products. Several of the Neutrogena products gave me some kind of allergic reaction where my entire face became covered in bumps a few hours after applying it.
I guess the point is that you might have to try a few different things before you find the stuff you like and that works for your skin. It is probably not best to go crazy and spend hundreds of dollars on the first product you try.
Get makeovers from at least a couple different places, write down names and shades of products you try. If you want, take your picture afterwards or write down your impressions. Do not buy on the spot - go back later after you’ve had some makeovers and buy. This is why you have to write down shades and product names, and also this way you don’t feel guilted by the makeup artist into buying a lot of stuff. Convince your makeup artist that you want a very subtle makeover, not a “glamour” or “night on the town” one. You want to see how their makeup looks on your skin. If you have to, tell them that you don’t want to look made-up and will not be interested in anything if you end up looking that way.
You don’t have to buy very expensive stuff, either - my powder and undereye/blemish concealer is from Cover Girl. I used to use their foundation but switched to one from L’Oreal that’s very subtle and smooth, and (so far at least) doesn’t clog pores.
In case it needs to be said, don’t buy a cream blush - powder only.
Lands’ End is my professional wear source. Pretty much everything I wear. I’ve been told it is also the GUPPY uniform… not that I’m a GUPPY, but if you want a selling point… 
I personally prefer BeautiControl makeup - similar format to MaryKay (home demos, etc.), but I like the products a lot more, and they appeared to me to be aimed at professional women. They also have an image profile that does a style and body type analysis and helps you avoid disasters, style-wise. And they have a color book that you can take with you to the store to help you pick the right colors of clothing, if you struggle with that. Both were helpful to me, but the color book is probably more helpful (and cheaper). I liked the products enough that I even started selling it. Then I stopped because I suck at selling things. But I still buy the stuff, because the lipsticks feel and smell better (that is, less stinky, less waxy) than most, the blush and shadows last forever (I’ve thrown away ones that were more than five years old and still going), and the colors are decent. Lots of subtle shades and brown variations in eyeshadow, which are more professional. They’ve returned to some shiny styles, for fun, but mostly, skip those.
The “don’t go to the makeup counter without me” books are pretty good, but do sometimes have inaccurate chemisty info. She INAChemist. But she does have good concepts, such as what the purpose of the different items are, and how to tell what is total sales pitch (garbage) vs. an actual helpful product. Her advice on skincare was completely wrong for me - I tried her advice, and my skin was unpleasant to live with - greasy and broke out worse than usual. I’ve reverted to washing my face with water, no soap at all, and removing my makeup with a mild tonic and/or an oil-free moisturizer. Now, I get a few zits here and there, sometimes. Much better. That was advice I read from a dermatologist (wash with water, use moisturizer).
Try multiple brands. Do not get sucked in by the ‘all things from one line’ concept. Every producer makes some things better than others. BC’s best item, IMHO, is their lip balm. Color items are very good, but so are the color items from Clinique, etc. It becomes largely an exercise in trying things and seeing if you like the feel/scent/application/colors.
My one real tip: BLEND. Buy bags of those sponge triangles, and whatever you put on, blend it with the sponge. It keeps things looking smooth, and will prevent you from putting on too much (it comes off on the sponge). Also, if you apply something unevenly or inexpertly, blending fixes it. You can do a crapola job of applying eyeshadow, hit it with a few swipes of a sponge, and look like you had a pro do it. Same for blush. And applying foundation with a sponge (if you bother) keeps it from being thick or gloppy or streaky.
Blend, blend, blend, even cheap makeup, and you’ll look professional. Fail to blend even good makeup, and you’ll look cheap. Nice professional brushes for application reduce the need to blend, but take time and care, and I don’t have the time…
BTW, my daily professional look takes less than 5 minutes to apply, and can be done in the dark (another benefit of blending - takes the EEK out of the occasional oops). Oil control serum (like liquid powder you put on first) especially if it is warm out or I might be shiny. Concealer, dabbed rather than smeared on. If I’m blotchy, liquid foundation, but usually no. Eye liner (freeze-type, all day wear). Eye color foundation (nude, BC also has ones that are colored, so you can be done at that step if you want). One color of eyeshadow. I’ve got dark lashes, so generally skip the mascara. Lipstick base (stick form, BC, helps the lipstick last). Lipstick. Sometimes use the lipstick as a creme blush (pat lips with fingers, rub on cheeks), sometimes use powder blush, depends on what color/depth I want. Blot lips (keeps them from running). Hit everything but the lips with a sponge as it goes on or after it is all on.
And don’t forget to blend! (Did I belabor that point enough?)
Most of your expense will probably be in trying things that don’t work out. But keep trying. You’ll find the items you need, over time.
Every single time I go anywhere I put on foundation, pressed powder, eye shadow, and then another eye shadow that I use as eye-liner, mascara and lip stick.
It takes me 10 minutes to apply the entire package. I don’t look too made-up. In fact, my husband says he can’t ever tell when I’m wearing or not wearing make up. He just (aparently) thinks that some days I look better than I do on other days. haha
Just figure out what you like. Experiment with a couple different things.
I do recomend the Mary Kay line of products, but I’ve actually never used them. Just had “make overs” a couple times in college. I LOVED their products, just couldn’t afford them.
Just my 2 cents!
Thanks again, everyone, for all your suggestions.
Clear mascara? Such a thing exists? Marvelous! My lashes are so thick that I feel like a total freak when I wear mascara–I can’t escape the feeling that my eyelashes are waving hello to everyone. I’ll definitely have to lay hands on that stuff.
Oh, and Hello Again, yes, I was exposed to the magic of Lipfinity in my third stint as a bridesmaid. Fabulous stuff! Put it on, forget about it. Exactly what I want from all my makeup.
I went to the cosmetics section of the grocery store last night, and, whew, it’s a bit overwhelming! However, armed with all y’all’s tips, I was able to do a little bit of scouting and see what was available at least. I think I need to do some kind of a makeover thing to find products that match my skin, though. There were lots of signs at the grocery store saying that if you use the testers on your face you’ll get hepatitis C or something 
and I don’t trust just testing on my hand. My sister is an Avon lady, as it turns out. Maybe I can arrange something with her–though not before my new job starts, I fear.
Theobroma, I’m terribly flattered. I’m still shopping around Valentine-Michael-Smith Soup for the Soul, but no luck finding a publisher. 
Are you…
Are you me?
I’m not a physics lecturer, but a whole bunch of what you said is exactly like me. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a whole buncha solutions.
I recently bought something foundation-y. Up till this point, I refused to wear anything the least bit like foundation except when I was onstage. I went to my local drugstore (which has a makeup counter and a very nice lady who helped me out) and I got this compact thing, it’s sorta pasty in the compact, but feels like a powder when it’s on. It’s by Revlon. I can bear wearing it.
If you don’t like lipstick, don’t bother. I can’t really deal with it, it tastes awful. What I do (when I feel like it) is use coloured lip-gloss, or blend small amounts of lipstick with non-coloured lip balm. I just hate the dry feeling of lipstick and I like wearing lip balm, so that works for me.
Question: if your lashes are so long, why bother wearing mascara at all? Isn’t the point of mascara to make them look longer?
Yeah! Join us, Podkayne! Join LaurAnge and me, we’ll form the Professional Women Who Would Just As Soon Not Bother With Makeup League!! Jarbaby and Opal (IIRC) and others have said that they wear makeup because they enjoy it…
Good for them!
And good for us too! If you feel funny “face-naked” you can stick on some colored lipstuff right before a lecture, and then to hey with it!
Join us…oooooooooooo…Join us…
There is a book called something like Don’t Go to the Cosmetic Counter Without Me. It rates products. It is amazing how often the best product is one of the least expensive. (Often the manufacturers of expensive department store cosmetics put out a less expensive brand that is virtually the same thing.)
Although I don’t normally buy department store cosmetics anymore, I think that it is the Prescriptives counter that can educate you on what colors are best for you.
If you do decide to wear a foundation, be sure to match your natural color. Don’t try to go darker or lighter.
Consider taking advantage of those long lashes by using an eyelash curler. Some of the heated ones are really great.
But I definitely get the sense that you really don’t want to wear makeup. Consider not doing it.
I’m a receptionist, and expected to look professional. I usually tie my hair back in some way (barette, half-tail, bun, twist or braid) and just wear Covergirl Outlast. That’s just the same stuff as the Lipfinity, just a different brand.
I’m not a fancy sort of gal. I have foundation and eye shadow, but I only wear them to fancy-dress parties or when I really need an I’m-pretty boost.
Just wearing the lipstick and no other make-up makes me look made-up and professional, so I just stick with that. Just make sure that the extended-wear lipstick is fully dry before you put on the topcoat, or it will flake or ‘grain’ off.
Find a friend who likes to play with makeup, and have her come to the cosmetics counter with you (and try some of her stuff at home, first, just to get a general idea of what looks good on you in terms of colors - this helps more if your friend has a similar complexion).
I’ve been working in the legal field for lo these 10+ years now (is it really that long?), so am expected to look “professional.” I rarely wear eyeshadow or lipstick; they’ve never felt natural to me. My whole face routine takes about 5 minutes: wash with Kiss My Face liquid cleanser, a dab of moisturizer, under-eye concealer (Clinique), eyeliner, mascara, and just a wisp of blush. If I’m feeling wacky, for special occasions I might add a bit of eyeshadow or a sheer lipstick/gloss (those I have in a few different colors, generally pretty subdued ones).
I’ve done the department store makeup counter thing a few times; it’s fun to play “dressup” once in a while, but I’ve never felt natural wearing that much gunk on my face. Especially liquid foundation. And I never end up feeling like myself afterward. A little bit is fun, for a change of perspective, but too much and I feel like Michael Jackson.
Have fun experimenting, and don’t let anyone sell you a bunch of stuff you won’t use!