Must women wear makeup to be taken seriously?

I never wore makeup, and I was a Vice President of a corporation and a director of a division.

I never wore make-up and I’m always taken seriously – except when I’m being funny. Perhaps it’s my tuxedo.

I’ve never noticed if a woman in the office wore makeup unless she wore too much and looked like a clown.

Thinking about my career and personal life, the criteria I used for taking or not taking a woman (or a man) seriously may not always have been totally fair and objective, but I can honestly say I don’t believe makeup was ever on that list, at least not at a conscious level.

On a related note, I always feel a little sorry for female celebrities who get photo-ambushed and wind up in a supermarket tabloid without their “face.” Not because they’re not wearing makeup – I couldn’t care less about that – but because in that profession it’s essential for them to maintain the face that made them famous and that people expect never to change forever.

It’s much worse to wear inappropriate makeup than it is to wear no makeup at all.

Going to work like This or this is not going to help you be taken seriously in a traditional office environment.

Something like this is better.

No makeup at all is, well, just that. Neutral. Default.

@Seek_Kolinahr Nice. I immediately thought porn stars. Shoot me but that’s what popped into my mind.

Yep- and the same goes for men and pets too! ;-)

I don’t think so. I wear make-up because I enjoy wearing it and I feel more confident with it on. It’s fun for me and I’m extremely plain Jane without it – a look I despise on myself. I also think I look about 16 years old without it, so I do think makeup adds a few years in my favor (I’m 23). But needing makeup to be taken seriously? No. And the only way you’d be taken seriously with makeup is if it’s applied correctly, and many women have problems accomplishing this.

In our office, it’s not required but it does seem to be preferred for the ladies ‘selling’ the product. Most women do, but there are about four (of 20) that don’t on a regular basis. Personally, if I do my eyes, I feel okay with that and still dress professionally.

Depends on the woman’s complexion, loads of women look absolutely fine/gorgeous without any make-up, while others can look tired/drawn, not a good look in a professional environment.
Overly made up gals should stick to their own career, on the streets ~

I think it depends on where you live. I work about 45 minutes north of NYC, and the majority of women at work have on at least some makeup, at the least some mascara. A larger portion of them have on eyeshadow, liner, mascara and lipstick. If I travel a bit north (home, what’s considered “upstate”) many women wear no makeup.

For me, makeup is pretty much a must. I look very white without it. I don’t wear so much that I look like a clown. I wear eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, sometimes blush and sometimes lipstick, but usually it’s just the eyes that are “done.”

IMHO young women don’t need much makeup. “Mature” women look more polished with it on. Don’t shoot me for my opinion – it may be attributed to the region I live in, and my opinion about how I look without it (white).

@livelaughlove21 I apparently am a Plain Jane without makeup as well.

I guess I hate makeup because I always think I’m not being true to myself and others if I wear it. To me, it’s like hiding who I really am because I am not natural. It’s like I’m deceiving people because they don’t see what I actually look like, they just see me with a made up face.

@Aesthetic_Mess I look at it as being kind to those around me in that they don’t have to see me natural. You’re welcome, society.

Those that wear makeup are not hiding, lying, or deceiving others. That’s like saying, “I don’t like wearing clothes because I feel as though I’m hiding who I really am.” Clothing is not “natural” just like makeup is not “natural,” but I think the rest of the world appreciates that you and I wear clothes.

If you’re fine with how you look sans makeup, don’t wear it. Simple as that. Who cares what other people think?

To me, when I wear makeup, I look a bit more polished and professional looking. Without makeup I look pale and unpolished, IMHO. If anybody wants to see pix with and without as proof, PM me and I’ll provide. Anybody who is my FB friend will see that I don’t look clownlike, I look pretty good. With makeup I get compliments, comments and attention. Without, I get little.

Nope. I work in a law office and hardly ever wear make-up. No one seems to respect me any less. However, I do look pretty young so some people think they are talking to a young woman when I’m actually more middle aged.

I would say the opposite. A woman that is comfortable in her own skin, without makeup, is more likely to be respected. All of the women that I have met and who ignore make up were the most interesting and intelligent. Frankly, the most arousing part of a woman is her intellect. I think intelligent, free thinking women are very sexy.

I find that many men don’t even know if a woman I wearing makeup or not. If applied skillfully and lightly, no one will be able to tell.

Keep that in mind when reading from men who say they prefer women without makeup. They may, but it depends on if they can truly tell the difference. More women wear makeup than men (and some women) realize.

I don’t think wearing make-up or not should have any bearing on whether women are viewed as mature and professional. In reality, it depends on where you work and your role I think. In my workplace nobody would give a rats if women wear make-up but I work for a university and I’d like to see what would happen if someone suggested this idea. I do wear make-up but I just feel I look better with than without. I don’t wear it at weekend though. Nobody would ever question my professionalism.

What sort of work will you be doing and what sort of workplace is it? You could always break the mold and regardless of pressure, do what you feel is right for you. Certainly don’t feel pressured into wearing make-up unless you can see that it does have a logical connection to your role. For instance, if you work as a make-up sales person, ,I can see wearing make-up would be expected. A secretary in an office. No requirement.

When I was a young professional I wore eye makeup and a little bit of lip gloss. I always have had rosy cheeks so no blush needed. I absolutely despise powder and the liquid stuff so I have never used that. I managed to succeed in a very competitive field. I admire you for not feeling like you need the stuff!

I am doing just fine getting respect in college, at interviews, at my job, etc. without makeup.

@livelaughlove21 ” find that many men don’t even know if a woman I wearing makeup or not.” It is possible that I am one of those guys. I can’t tell when my wife wears makeup but she can and she feels better with it. I go along with it but I just feel better when she’s with me. If she feels she needs makeup, who am I to disagree?

Not in Germany. They need to be organized and knowledgeable to be taken seriously. Same criteria as for men.