We have an option? I really, really wish I felt I had more of an option NOT to wear makeup without it hurting my job prospects or opportunity. Really, I have had such problems with make up causing horrid skin problems in the past the the idea of putting any sort of cosmetic on my face can move me to tears… and yet the first advice I get anywhere I go for job hunting advice is “wear some makeup”. Even if it causes a health problem? After which there’s a heavy sigh and a “well, you’re hurting yourself” and “what, you can wear a little bit for just a day?” or, if I’ve tried “shouldn’t you see a doctor about that rash? You might want to wait until after it’s gone to interview - and wear a little makeup…”
It’s not an option, it’s a societal mandate though not as bad as it used to be. I only wish the day when it was truly an OPTION could get here sooner.
I’d say wear it only if you’re comfortable in it. You don’t need anything making you feel more nervous or weird. I don’t wear makeup at all, and wearing pantihose and a skirt is bad enough as far as not feeling like myself! Luckily I live where makeup is not a requirement at all.
I will let you know on Wednesday if it messes up my lips. I really hope it doesn’t. The idea about trying it a couple of days in advance was a good one, of course I didn’t see it in time to use that great advice. :smack:
So I’m going with a light make-up job and tinted lip balm. Thankfully, my “interview suit” still fits. Shoes look decent. Dug out my nicer purse. Have copies of my resume. I think I’m ready.
I want to thank all of you for your tips and advice. You really helped me out!
Oh! This is funny. (I live in southeastern Tennessee.) So I asked at WalGreen’s about the lip balm. The lady there, with her accent, kept calling it tainted lip balm! I about died.
No, not my WHOLE face, just where the make up is. So if I use eyeliner (for example) and react badly to it the margins of my eyelids redden and swell up and break out in little blistery rashes that ooze and maybe even bleed. If I’m really unlucky all that raw flesh might get infected. Ew.
Eye shadow doesn’t seems to be quite as bad, but I’ve had problems from that, too. And lipsticks (I have to be careful about lip balms). And face powder.
After my infamous Zit From Hell episode my dermatologist and plastic surgeon both suggested/advised that I avoid make up as much as possible in the future given how freaky my skin can get. In fact, my dermatologist told me that simply avoiding the sun would be preferable to using sunscreen, although if I had to be in the sun for hours and hours sunscreen would probably be better than burning but stick to only hypoallergenic, unscented stuff and try not to use it more than one or two days in a row. Which is a pain, because I have the skin color of a vampire and it’s a wonder I don’t spontaneously burst into flame in direct sunlight. (As it happens, my current job does have me working outside for hours and hours at a time - I worked up into a “tan” on my hands and arms because exposing them is unavoidable, but for the rest I wear pants and a hat.)
Indeed.
If I absolutely HAD to get made up at this point I’d be inclined to go somewhere and have it done professionally, except I haven’t the money for it, as I am totally out of practice with cosmetics. It’s just really annoying to hear statements like “a little cosmetics say you care about your appearance” when in my case it’s just the opposite. Of course, people DO judge on appearances. I suppose I’m resigned to be judged for lack of makeup rather than being judged for having a nasty, oozy skin.
I just wanted to let you all know that what they say is true: Dopers are the BEST.
I love, love, love the tinted lip balm. No dry cracked lips at all. The color went on just fine- not too dark, not too light.
It might sound silly to be so grateful about something most people would consider to be small, but it’s been a problem for me for a long time, and I am really happy to have it solved.
So, thank you!
ETA: The interview went very well. We’ll see what happens next…
Broomstick, I’m not sure that it matters on a day-to-day basis whether you wear make-up or not, as long as you’re comfortable in your own skin, I think that’s what matters. If anyone is going to judge you for it, then you probably don’t want to be friends with them anyway.
Like I said above, I don’t usually wear it, and I don’t judge anyone on whether or not they do. I do kinda wonder about those that seem to wear it as a mask. You know what I mean? When it’s on so thick that it just looks fake?
