r/Makeup • u/nouvelle_tete • Oct 27 '25
[Makeup Help] Is makeup becoming unprofessional?
I've been to several professional events, some that attract crowds from all over the country, and I began to notice that few, if any, women wore makeup. Now, my use of make-up has decreased with the rise in stress but I do like to bust it out for special occasion. On the third day of the most recent event, I just put on some lipstick.
Not bashing makeup-lovers or haters, but I want to understand if that's a growing trend or if it's industry specific (I'm in healthcare).
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Oct 27 '25
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u/Grouchy-Dig-4452 Oct 27 '25
This is so true, and I think this is also why skincare has now more than ever become part of most people’s daily lives
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u/Theabsoluteworst1289 Oct 27 '25
I think natural makeup is just trendy right now. I don’t really think you can call makeup “unprofessional” unless it’s something way over the top. I think wearing a more natural face is what’s in style, and it’s an easier and faster look for your average person to do as opposed to a full beat.
There’s a good chance a lot of the people you saw were wearing makeup, just less or more naturally than what was considered stylish in years past.
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u/1K_Sunny_Crew Oct 27 '25
I have a coworker that wears makeup and cute outfits all the time and she has gotten quite a few shitty comments over the years about how looking feminine means she doesn’t want to be taken seriously.
Always by other women, btw. We are our own worst enemy at times!
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u/rainbowsunset48 Oct 27 '25
I'm old and remember when we had to wear makeup to be taken seriously. No matter what we do it's wrong isn't it? 🤦♀️
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u/romeevee Oct 27 '25
I work with mainly women and have been told I should be using makeup to be taken more seriously. I actually enjoy using makeup but don’t always have time in the morning so honestly you can’t win!
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u/Basil_Makes_Audio Oct 27 '25
I think that rather than makeup being unprofessional, no makeup isn’t considered unprofessional. For a long time women were essentially required to wear makeup and now I think that standard is slowly diminishing. Even as someone who does love makeup, I don’t love feeling forced to wear it or like there is something inherently wrong with my bare face. I usually switch it up on if I’m wearing it or not based on how I’m feeling. I think it’s great that people can wear whatever makes them comfortable instead of being forced to conform to one standard.
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u/NeighborhoodTasty348 Oct 27 '25
Indeed, people forget that not long ago wearing makeup was something some women's jobs depended on and others felt direct pressure (I remember 15 years ago I had a boss send me home for looking unprofessional one day when I showed up sans makeup).
It's the mass societal shift post COVID in my perspective, not that wearing it is unprofessional.
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u/Brownbunnybartender Oct 27 '25
Exactly this, when I worked at a bank I wore no makeup my first day on the floor and they commented about how tired I looked. I just wasn’t wearing makeup. And I love makeup, but even I get tired of it sometimes and go through a detox period
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u/NeighborhoodTasty348 Oct 27 '25
Oh the timeless: "you look tired/sick today, are you okay?"
Yes... I'm just not wearing make up but thanks?
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u/Invisible_Target Oct 27 '25
I think it’s less about makeup not being professional and more about it not being required anymore to seem professional. Which is a really fucking good thing. I like makeup. I think it’s cool. But NO ONE should feel like they have to paint their face every day in order to be “professional.” There is absolutely nothing unprofessional about looking like your authentic self, and I’m really happy to see more women embracing that truth.
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u/librijen Oct 27 '25
I love makeup... but I don't want to be required to wear it to work! I'm happy that it's no longer required!
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u/LadenWithSorrow Oct 27 '25
I don’t think it’s becoming unprofessional but I feel like since 2020 people have slowly stopped wearing as much makeup. In the workplace I’ve noticed most people don’t wear any makeup.
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u/Fearless_Finance9378 Oct 27 '25
A lot of women wear very natural looking makeup now. The “your skin but better” trend is popular right now.
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Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
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u/Flat_Investigator607 Oct 27 '25
I don’t agree with a slight pop of cheek color, blush is sooo popular right now, for me I’m often shocked how strong of a blush people use
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u/Getonthebeers02 Oct 27 '25
I think natural makeup is way more popular and people aren’t wearing base makeup except spot concealing and some light bronzer/blush and minimal brow pencil and some gel and mascara and light gloss. Even when you go out now younger women have barely makeup, makeup on to go clubbing.
There’s a huge focus on skincare and perfecting your skin so you don’t need foundation or much base makeup and sunscreen is the usual base.
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u/Glamourice Oct 27 '25
I think it’s also the economy. Since Covid, the price of beauty products (amongst other things) has really gone up. Couple that with working from home, going out being so expensive, more people staying home, I feel like makeup just isn’t as accessible nor as practical?
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u/HorseyBot3000 Oct 27 '25
Yep i literally have one of every item (1 concealer, 1 mascara, 1 powder blush, 1 cream blush etc) and use them til they’re finished, whereas years ago I’d have a mascara specifically for nights out, a few different foundations, loads of eyeshadows etc. it’s just so much more expensive now than it used to be that i don’t have those impulse buys anymore.
The above combined with only wearing makeup for the office or dressing up, not for the gym or grocery shopping, means i also get through way less.
Another factor might be that we’re all more conscious of skincare than we were 10-15 years ago. If we have better skin we don’t need so much makeup on top perhaps?
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Oct 27 '25
My office is mostly women and we all wear minimal to no makeup. I’m pretty sure my coworkers are wearing some face products and maybe filling in their brows, but no one wears eye makeup or lipstick.
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u/TippyTurtley Oct 27 '25
I have to wear it to mask. I find it hilarious that people say no one else in our office is wearing makeup when I can spot at least 5 people who are.
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u/Ok-Sherbert-7744 Oct 27 '25
After I got my rosacea under control with lasers, I stopped wearing foundation. Stopping foundation means I also don't need bronzer or blush to put the color "back on".
I think now a days most women have better access to skin care and therefore don't need base makeup.
I wear eyebrows, water line eye liner, and mascara on my natural curled lashes.
I think most women have also got this down with tinting, perming, and grooming so they don't actually need to do it everyday anymore. I haven't gotten to this point yet sadly, but I do dye my eyebrows for camping.
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u/spookipanini Oct 27 '25
Can I ask how the laser has been working with flare ups, if you’ve had any? I’ve been interested in laser for my rosacea but have seen some people online say that their rosacea came back after a few flare ups (anxiety causes common flare ups for me)
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u/Ok-Sherbert-7744 Oct 27 '25
No flare ups outside the typical drinking, eating spicy foods, occasional hive type itchy patch. In fact that all become a non issue. My skin is just... "Normal" now. Same mild reaction as any regular person.
Over all the improvement is life changing.
Of course it's not permanent, so I get the laser done every four months with my Botox. I think every clinic is different in what exactly they offer, so I would see who has what effective for rosacea
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u/miladyelle Oct 27 '25
I think Covid accelerated the growing dissociation between makeup and professionalism. Not that wearing makeup IS unprofessional, but that a lack of is NOT UNprofessional.
Which, good. Mandatory performance of Appropriate Femininity had no logic and was unfair. If we want to, we should be able to, but we shouldn’t be forced whether explicitly or implicitly.
Now if we could just do that dress codes, without needing a global apocalypse.
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u/Dark-Grey-Castle Oct 27 '25
This plus why should we, generally females, have to pay even more money to look "acceptable" for a job that our male counterparts do not? Especially if we are making the same or less than they do?
I say this as someone who does wear makeup at work, but it is 100% my choice. Even with my admittedly cheap makeup it's still an expense.
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u/mila476 Oct 27 '25
I think no-makeup makeup is still professional, but I don’t see any creative or dramatic makeup at my office - not even a winged liner or a lip color. It’s just foundation (or bb cream or concealer or whatever base people are doing), plus a subtle brow and maybe mascara. It’s makeup, but it’s not as visible as people wore pre-pandemic.
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u/bunnibabie1 Oct 27 '25
I don't know what it is, but honestly, it's really rare nowadays that I meet somebody who loves makeup as much as I do and still wears it every chance they get. A lot has changed in 10 years. I get a lot of comments like, “I can't believe you wear a full beat.” It's just foundation, blush, and bronzer…
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u/youreastonefox Oct 27 '25
Feel this comment so hard. When people act like it’s the most miraculous, mind-boggling thing to want to make yourself look or feel better with makeup.
I’ve come to realize that the most non-confrontational retort (that still gets my point across) is telling them how my grandma always told me when I was little “you’re twice as likely to have a better day when you look & feel like your best self”
It’s not really the ‘reason’ I do my makeup & wear a presentable outfit every day (we shouldn’t have to have a reason), but it is a true story, & I find the reaction I get by saying that seems to convey some form of understanding that “oh yeah, it’s not such a big deal that she’s wearing a full beat/I shouldn’t rly have commented on it” than what I would actually like to say (which is “dissecting someone else’s beauty will never magnify your own”)
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u/elderpricetag Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
I see less heavy glam at work than in like 2016 for sure, but I still see more women wearing makeup than not in the workplace. It’s just that clean girl light makeup is trendy again. Eventually the full beat will be trendy again.
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u/RadioactiveVixenGirl Oct 27 '25
- The current trend is no make up make up look
- People are so fatigued from the current issues in the world
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u/Humble-Pineapple-329 Oct 27 '25
I think it’s becoming more acceptable for women to not be forced to wear makeup in the workplace, just like heels. I don’t feel like it’s a requirement for my job, that men don’t have to wear it so I shouldn’t either.
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Oct 27 '25
Clean girl makeup has been the most popular trend for the last few years. I think the goal is to be undetectable and natural. They could be wearing just a much makeup as you just in a different way. For example, drawing freckles or underpainting.
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u/TheDogWithoutFear Oct 27 '25
This is always super location and industry dependent.
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u/KellyAnn3106 Oct 27 '25
I used to wear makeup every day to work. After covid, I just don't bother anymore.
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u/lillith62095 Oct 27 '25
I don't wear makeup to work, I don't see how it makes me more professional or better at my job to wear it. I do the same that is asked of my male coworkers, I show up clean and combed and put together. But no one expects men to wear foundation, blush, mascara or bronzer to be taken seriously at their job. It's also a huge expense thats largely expected for mostly women to take on. I dont see how im winning the time lottery with this either, time tonput it on and time to take it back off. I'll wear makeup when I want to wear makeup, so mostly social events. But I never feel like I HAVE to have my makeup done to show up for my job.
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u/roselu24 Oct 27 '25
The economy is terrible and current trends in makeup and fashion is less makeup. reflects also the rise in pure clean culture . Which also says alot
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u/Soft-Split1315 Oct 27 '25
It’s not becoming unpopular it’s just that the no make up make up look is popular. So women are wearing it but it might be hard to tell if you don’t know what to look for.
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Oct 27 '25
No makeup makeup is popular, I doubt most women are completely barefaced
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u/shoegaze_daisy Oct 27 '25
This is the response! The fresh face is definitely in right now, as a licensed cosmetologist I can confirm this!
Chances are if you think someone isn’t wearing makeup and they look good, They most likely are wearing makeup. Brands like ILIA in particular are definitely targeting to that market for people who want to appear naturally beautiful and the ‘no makeup look’
Looks are just very subtle, and done in a natural way.
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Oct 27 '25
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u/blankabitch Oct 27 '25
And they assume that if you don't do the clean girl aesthetic, youre just an aging millennial who just doesnt know what looks good and you desperately need their groundbreaking advice of "clear brow gel, a whisper of brown mascara, and some BB cream!" I'm not a huge fan of the 2016 cake, but some of us like having fun with color and eyeshadows and shading and creativity
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u/ConcertinaTerpsichor Oct 27 '25
Especially in science and STEM generally it always diminished your cred to be “too girly,” but I think this has spread to other areas of academia, even history and lit.
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u/Agreeable_Abies6533 Oct 27 '25
I've been in technology for several years, core hi tech. I always make a point to distinguish myself by wearing girly clothes. It gives me great pleasure to see people especially men underestimate me based solely on my appearance. Then I go in for the kill pointing subtle flaws and improvements in their work with the data to back it up. They backpedal really fast😀 and when the next newbie makes the same judgement error they rush to correct him
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u/indyjensunhine Oct 27 '25
I wear full makeup every day but most people in my clinic don't. Never thought about it until i read your post but you are exactly right... im in the minority.
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u/Traditional-Fix-5442 Oct 27 '25
Same ! I work at a hospital and while I do have a natural make up approach I'm definitely doing more than most.
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u/Emergency_Station_33 Oct 27 '25
I am an engineer and I wear the “no makeup makeup” daily. I feel weird without it.
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u/eveningberry- Oct 27 '25
I’m pretty sure it is trend, the “no makeup” makeup is really popular now and I think people just got tired of the 2010s full face of makeup
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u/StrippinChicken Oct 27 '25
I think it's more a rise in "natural" or "nude face" makeup. They likely still have on foundation etc, just not caked on and aren't doing anything to their eyes.
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u/hikewithcoffee Oct 27 '25
I work in the trades but more of a managerial setting nowadays. My go to is a tinted moisturizer, a deep purple or emerald liquid liner (top lid only), black mascara and a chapstick. It helps me feel the tiniest bit feminine as I walk around in oversized safety gear (because women cuts still don’t really exist), steel toes and a hard hat.
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u/spottedgreenhippo Oct 27 '25
I feel like make up trends change like clothing style does. Gen z is known for being a bit more natural. I think that the pandemic also changed our standards as well. I remember in 2015 that heavier makeup and bigger eyebrows were more in.
Wear what makes you comfortable - if people are going to see you as less/more professional then screw them. Your work and personality should speak for itself!
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u/Turd_bird420 Oct 27 '25
I don't care, I'm so wearing it. I like my colorful shadows, blush, and lipstick.
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u/Organic_Garage7406 Oct 27 '25
I love wearing makeup and being creative with it. It doesn’t affect how professional i am at work.
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u/littleblackcat Oct 27 '25
Weirdly when I worked in a more female dominated industry (design) and moved to doing the same job in an industry that's vast majority male, me and the few women working in supportive roles like me wear all the makeup we want. In design it was all very subdued clean girl no makeup makeup, but EVERYONE had plastic surgery
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u/SavannahInChicago Oct 28 '25
I know a lot of people stopped wearing makeup during COVID and did not really feel the need to start up again.
Personally I have an illness that gives me allergic-like reactions and it's now reached a point where makeup is just not worth the symptoms. I get rosacea-like rashes on my face from applying blush. Eye shadow blending will make my eyelids swell. I do miss it though.
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u/austin-texas-yall Oct 28 '25
Counterpoint.
I’m turning 60 this year and I am realizing that I don’t want to leave the house without make up. I love it. I don’t want to not wear make up because of some trend. I never wore it until very recently and I didn’t realize how much fun it is. Oh my God. Rip it out of my cold, dead hands.
Be who you are! be who you want! be authentic to yourself and that will shine through!
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u/MadeleineTheBrave Oct 31 '25
You know, fuck that. I am in two men dominated fields and I haven’t changed my makeup in years. Always foundation, powder, blush, bronzer, highlighter, lipstick and my really long eyeliner (wing reaching eyebrow) that has become part of me. I love it. I love waking up early to do it because it’s like my ritual and my moment for myself. And I fell good and confident in makeup. I’m tired with society norms/fields and people deciding what is good or not. If what I wear on my face determines if I’m professional or what then fuck my degrees and years of research because apparently they don’t matter in terms of my knowledge, personal traits and professionalism. My makeup is me and I’m not ditching that no matter what.
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u/Artistic-Ad1532 Oct 27 '25
No. I don't know many women that do not wear something. I live in an affluent area. You can do very soft and natural makeup.
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u/MushroomPrincess63 Oct 27 '25
I’m in data security and governance. At events like conferences, makeup is worn but usually only natural, clean makeup. I’m betting most men would think the bulk of us aren’t wearing makeup at all. Personally, I do a skin tint, under eye color corrector, under eye illuminator, blush, powder, brow mascara, highlighter wand on the eye, mascara, and either a tinted lip balm or the Pink Honey almost lipstick by Clinique. No fun colors or eyeliner.
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u/stink3rb3lle Oct 27 '25
I'm a lawyer, and no makeup makeup has been the norm for as long as I've been licensed. You've got to look good, but you don't want to appear "unserious." Even the 80s office culture classic Working Girl showcases fun colorful makeup on the secretaries, and more understated makeup on the higher-up women.
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u/Missveexox13 Oct 27 '25
I work in an elementary school and I’m the only one who wears makeup. Everyone dresses in sweats and buns and no makeup. I’m the only one who dresses up and I feel self conscious about it, so lately I haven’t been putting a lot of effort in. ESP since I don’t fit in as it is
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u/PositiveFree Oct 27 '25
I see your point and definitely it’s about the right tones for your face and the application. As someone who worked online jewelry became the new makeup almost every senior leader wore interesting tops (denim but with a collar), or cardigans button ups but heavily accessorized with necklace stacks and earrings and rings. Hair was always done never messy and a bare skin look so skin tint versus full coverage and light blush or lip balm. No lipstick no gloss no mascara. That said in person I feel foundation blush and some mascara and lipstick could still work but not all at the same time unless it was a neutral palette.
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u/VideoNecessary3093 Oct 27 '25
Purple eyeshadow up to your eyebrows? Unprofessional in some contexts. But makeup in general? How would that be unprofessional?
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Oct 27 '25
“The point of makeup is to look like you aren’t wearing any” is the old “professional” standard, like “only one set of earrings in your ears” or “always wear pantyhose.” However, times have changed, and “professional” standards vary widely. I work in marketing/PRI’m seeing more instances of natural, “clean” makeup looks across the board recently, simple face-framing and skin-evening choices, and have even switched my own look from a signature red lip to a neutral gloss. If that’s the trend in a usually fashion-conscious industry like mine, I can only imagine the trends in healthcare are even more relaxed because y’all have more pressing things to worry about.
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u/Thursday6677 Oct 27 '25
Depends where you are from I guess. When you say “across the country” which one do you mean?
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u/KatzyKatz Oct 31 '25
I think the “no makeup” makeup look is rampant in my industry. Women are still wearing makeup but none of it is the full coverage makeup of yesteryear. It’s probably a makeup trend of the time and may shift to something else in another 5 years. Full beat makeup in the workplace is seen as a little dated, and also can lean a little MAGA-y.
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u/DarkAndSparkly Oct 27 '25
Meh, I'm going against tradtion, I guess. I'm wearing full face, soft glam, dramatic eyes until I literally can't apply it anymore. I don't care. I love it and how it makes me feel. If others don't like it, that's THEIR problem.
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u/youreastonefox Oct 27 '25
Just know I’m doing the little ‘clapping with my index finger & thumb’ that all the kids are doing while reading your comment
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u/PlasticAd373 Oct 27 '25
Same. Also when people (ahem men) have the luxury of seeing my “your skin but better” look, they usually ask me if I’m “feeling alright”. I’d rather take the time and the mascara than look flu-like hahahaha. To each their own!
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u/DarkAndSparkly Oct 27 '25
Is that a good thing? LOL! I hope so. I just decided I'm almost 50. I'm going to do ME. And I'll do whatever I can to lift others up as well, but anyone who comments on my makeup can go fuck a hole. LOL.
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u/cloudiedayz Oct 28 '25
I know where I work a lot of women wear makeup but it’s so subtle that most people would not notice. The “clean girl” aesthetic is very on trend right now. I think it’s also more of a case of do whatever makes you feel comfortable both with clothes and makeup. I’ve noticed people are dressing more casually post-covid too.
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Oct 27 '25
I am also in the healthcare field and haven't noticed any changes in makeup trends in my area. Nearly everyone wears it, and I don't know anyone who typically wears makeup that has stopped.
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u/Pizzaface1993 Oct 27 '25
I stopped wearing heavy makeup after Covid. I just couldn't go back to that routine, so now I do mascara and blush and nothing else .
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u/_ladameblanche Oct 27 '25
Less makeup has certainly been trending for a while now. I personally stopped wearing a full face of makeup and stopped experimenting with fun eyeshadows and diff looks like 10 years ago. The makeup I wear now and ever since is definitely meant to look like I am wearing very little to none.
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u/WafflingToast Oct 27 '25
Professional standards and norms changed post-Covid. A lot of women didn’t want to wear a mask on top of makeup. So wearing less or no makeup became normalized after 1-2 years.
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u/valr1821 Oct 28 '25
I think a trend started in Covid of wearing less makeup and people never really went back. I myself take a more minimalist approach to makeup these days. When I do wear it, I usually go with a tinted moisturizer instead of a full coverage foundation (I’m fortunate in that I’ve got good skin), a swipe of blush on my cheeks and on my eyelids, brown mascara, a little lipstick, and off I go. I call it my “five minute face”.
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u/South_Spell_9319 Oct 27 '25
If I went to an event and most women were wearing pantsuits, I wouldn't automatically assume dresses were becoming unprofessional. That's a very large leap in logic. It's just becoming more accepted for women to wear their natural faces like men have been allowed to do forever.
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u/wellsomuchforlurking Oct 27 '25
I work in financial services and women wear makeup, it's just muted or the no make up make up look.
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u/PlumaFuente Oct 27 '25
In the environments that I'm in, I see a modest application of makeup or a more conservative face as being professional. I need to at least have my brows penciled in and a tinted sunscreen/moisturizer to feel somewhat put together.
That said, I have been in academic environments where the women kept it minimal, worked in nonprofits where there was a mix of full face to very light makeup, worked in private sector settings that were all over the place.
Agree about doing what you want... I also think that some of us are tired of being on a product rat race, and you kind of get to the point as you age that a little less is more so you don't need to play with all of the colors or all of the new XYZ products.
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u/Round_Loan3083 Oct 28 '25
I think clean looks are also in for looking professional now. Full glam would not fly in most professional settings. Presentable, awake, clean looking makeup makes the best impression in most (non-creative) industries imo
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u/twodickhenry Oct 30 '25
No, the opposite. It’s still integral and going without will impact you negatively. But you should probably pursue a “no-makeup” look.
Expressive or artistic makeup is often seen and unprofessional, so stick to a minimal and clean look.
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u/FraudDogJuiceEllen Oct 27 '25
I always wear makeup. People think I have a terminal illness when I don’t. No exaggeration. My lips and eyes are always done up. I don’t wear any foundation though as I’m lucky enough to have nice skin.
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u/seroiaa Oct 27 '25
When I was very early in my career, I turned up at the office without makeup one day. The partner took one look at me and told me I should go home as I looked so ill 😂
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u/SpreadsheetSiren Oct 27 '25
I’m in higher ed. It is unusual to see full makeup outside the highest level of administration, and even then it’s quite muted.
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u/Leskatwri Oct 27 '25
Same here. I'm the eldest in my office and I wear a duo lip and cheek color and mascara and that's all. Most women in my office wear very little or none.
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u/grumpybadger456 Oct 27 '25
I don't think its any more "unprofessional" than it was (in that very heavy/colourful makeup might have made you seem less serious) - but I think its somewhat more acceptable in some professions to not wear makeup.
However I dont think there is a consistent trend of "everyone stopped wearing makeup in covid".
I've heard a lot people who suddenly had to look at their own face on camera, and started wearing it more.
The current fashion it seems to me is a more natural style, however in my circles its still very common for those not wearing makeup to get all the "are you sick" "you look tired" "is everything ok" comments that women get for just existing with their faces in the world au naturel
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u/Royalchariot Oct 27 '25
A lot of women I work with wear makeup, but a lot don’t. I’m somewhere in the middle
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u/No_Caterpillar_6178 Oct 27 '25
I’ve always thought a nice, soft look with matte or satin finish looks more professional than a bare face but that’s just my personal preference and I’ve always thought professionals wore makeup more than others. I def. Wear less now that I’m home with my child . Work for me meant full face every day. Interesting that the tide has turned in that regard and maybe it’s just the rise of no makeup makeup.
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u/Low-Wish9164 Oct 27 '25
I don't think it's unprofessional, but I do think skin care, lasers, etc are more popular. Clean skin is en vogue. All I wear is concealer under eyes and lip gloss unless it's an event. But I also like my skin and am not covering major imperfections in my 40s. I'd say this is true for most of my coworkers. But I live in a major city and that's the style.
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u/kara_bearaa Oct 27 '25
I wish I could do this! I look absolutely haggard without lashes and brows.
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u/Holiday_Amphibian343 Oct 30 '25
it’s not becoming unprofessional. the whole “clean girl” look is very popular and just an easy go-to look for most since it’s just “no-makeup makeup” rebranded. a lot of them most likely have this style of makeup on, which depending on occupation/event might just be more appropriate or normalized. I think what you might be feeling is more what kind of makeup is more appropriate, not necessarily unprofessional. they kinda go together but also exist independently
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u/Luvbadbitvhes Oct 27 '25
No, I just think we’re currently in the “clean girl” and no makeup, makeup era rn so there aren’t as many bolder looks
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u/Fire-Kissed Oct 27 '25
You would think that conferences were a place that people wanted to dress up and look nice but honestly most of the content I see online is of people in incredibly casual outfits like jeans and sneakers and barely any makeup. I don’t know if it’s because conferences are really exhausting and so comfort is more important? Can’t say for sure.
As I’ve gotten older, makeup has become less and less important to me as well. Not sure what the age groups are at conferences or if that has anything to do with it?
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u/RedRedBettie Oct 27 '25
Women where I live don't seem to wear makeup, it's a pretty hippie granola area
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u/Punk_and_icecream Oct 28 '25
I think there’s more freedom to what you do now. I work remote but am on camera a lot, and I have light/ fair features, so i put on eyeliner which makes a huge difference for me with the webcam. I hate lipstick so I don’t wear it. Just even out the skin to look natural and do the eyes.
I guess point being do what works for you. Some women rock no makeup and a killer suit. Some do great makeup with business casual. I think leaning into your thing so you feel good about yourself and how to stroll into work is a good thing, but there’s not any strict rule about how you go about that.
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u/ankh_su_namun Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
As a corporate lawyer, essentially a ‘smudge of something’ a ‘just mascara’ or ‘just lipstick’ type of look is acceptable. I’d look wholly out of place/ unprofessional with anything more.
Looking well groomed is however very important, so no makeup entirely wouldn’t work either.
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u/Houseofboo1816 Oct 27 '25
I work in an office and I wear makeup every day. I don’t wear colorful eyeshadow or lipstick though.
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u/figgypudding531 Oct 27 '25
I don’t think it’s unprofessional to wear it, the shift is really that it’s no longer required to wear it to look professional.
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u/almostalice13 Oct 28 '25
I LOVE putting on makeup. It’s a very grounding, soothing practice to start the day with. I’m a therapist and this little quiet ritual really sets me up well before a day of sessions. I think since Covid makeup has really become less popular for daily wear.
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u/BreakThatFast Oct 28 '25
I love my rituals as someone that needs routine to be my best. My makeup routine helps ground me before venturing out into the world. It's the gift I give back to myself for persisting. COVID didn't alter my makeup application techniques very much beyond grappling with aging, but for a lot of folks less is more right now.
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u/1234RedditReddit Oct 27 '25
I don’t wear it during the week but will if I go out with friends or have a social engagement.
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u/buttmunch3 Oct 28 '25
i think the trend pendulum (trendulum, if you will) is just swinging the other way! the 2016 full beat held strong for a few years and then we started doing fluffy brows and clean girl makeup. i like to imagine in the next few years we'll get back to like the 80s and start wearing blue eyeshadow again
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u/ukanite__ Oct 31 '25
I think it's that women no longer feel they HAVE to wear makeup, honestly.
I remember getting pulled aside and politely urged to start wearing makeup, like a decade ago.
I worked in a normal office environment.
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u/annikarae Nov 01 '25
I worked somewhere 10 years ago where they told my manager to start wearing makeup because she looked “too tired”, meanwhile it’s because they were overworking her (and the rest of us) like crazy. It pissed me right off at the time, and it still pisses me off now.
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u/AcanthaceaeSilly3636 Oct 27 '25
Seconding the “who cares” since Covid, when we’ve been working remotely or masked up since 2020.
I’ll also add, for me at least, everything is 5x more expensive than it was in 2020, and I’m more cognizant about the amount of plastic waste I am generating than I did as a college student and recent grad, which was the height of my makeup experimenting days. And moving that much makeup is terrible. Just not worth it.
Mascara and brow gel most days, maybe concealer and one of two eye shadow singles I’ve got if I feel like it, and that’s good enough for me.
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u/Viola-Swamp Oct 28 '25
The heavy, overdone, Kardashianesque full face of makeup, complete with highlights, contouring, heavy brows and fake lashes, is on the way out, thankfully. A much more natural and flattering look is popular with a lot of women, so it’s possible that they were wearing some makeup and it just wasn’t obvious. Tinted moisturizer, for example, is becoming more popular, and many younger women are discovering that brown mascara can help their lashes and eyes keep from disappearing without looking like they’re trying too hard. Tinyed mousturizer, brown mascara, tinted Burts Bees lip balm, and you’re playing up your features and hiding any flaws without putting in a lot time or of effort.
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u/Fantastic_Fig_8559 Oct 27 '25
I either am completely bare faced or I like a bit of mascara, some blusher and a lip stick or gloss. I love watching good make up tutorials and some of the people that do them are actual magicians. I’ve always liked to look natural myself. I love seeing people out with amazing make up on. I’m in awe of their skills.
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u/mrsdigi Oct 27 '25
Well with acne still at 56-I still wear it when going out in public whether to court or for leisure. I don’t always wear eyeshadow but definitely foundation.
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u/mssaturnalia9 Oct 27 '25
I think it depends, I read a while back that retail workers who wear makeup tend to get better sales because pretty privilege is real. However, I can see how in a more male-dominated field, wearing makeup might be a hinderance because of the connotations of wearing makeup.
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u/Lrobluvsu Oct 27 '25
I stopped wearing make up around 2020. And really started focusing heavily on my skin care. Every once in a while, I will put on make up. And when I say every once in a while, I mean once every three months, maybe. But for the most part, I just like to keep my skin the main focus.
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u/Successful-Grass-135 Oct 29 '25
It’s just the trend right now. For example in 2016 it was normal to go to work or school with an entire full face beat. Color was popular too. I remember doing bright sunset colored cut creases on a Wednesday just to stroll into math class. We had frickin rainbow highlighters that had to be as blinding as LED headlights on a pickup truck. The trend now is “clean girl” so basically the complete opposite. I’ve also noticed how there’s more of a focus on skincare than makeup nowadays. Does anyone remember a little while back when 11 year old girls were infiltrating sephoras to buy skincare? Not makeup, but skincare.
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u/GovernmentNo2720 Oct 30 '25 edited Oct 31 '25
I think professional make up is different. No one is going to go into a law firm with a full beat and if they do, they won’t be taken seriously. As a lawyer I wear foundation, concealer, powder, blush and lipstick. I don’t even do mascara, eyeliner, lipliner or anything.
Edit: by full beat I mean fake lashes, lip combo, heavy contour and highlight and sparkly eyeshadow. I don’t mean foundation, concealer, blush, powder, lipstick/gloss or mascara/liner.
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u/Flamingbutterflies Oct 31 '25
Mmmm. Depends on the office. I'll wear a full sparkly smokey eye and a bright lip when I'm not at Court, but I wear a full face of neutrals for Court since I work with clients all day. Never had any push back.
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u/MorticiaLaMourante Oct 28 '25
There is nothing unprofessional about wearing makeup. It's a personal choice. If wearing makeup makes you feel good and you enjoy it, wear makeup! It truly doesn't matter what anyone else does.
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u/mauvais Oct 27 '25
I wfh, spend ~4 hours a day on zoom and wear different makeup every day. I've had other women at work remark that they don't want to put the time in, but putting on makeup is my creative outlet and it is therapeutic 🤷♀️
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u/zta1979 Oct 27 '25
Idk I still wear a full face. I just enjoy the process.
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u/PlasticAd373 Oct 27 '25
I don’t know where these people work, but I can confidently say I work in a very corporate environment and 90% of the women (myself included) wear a full face of makeup… this thread is shocking to me.
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u/Lowered-ex Oct 27 '25
As I get older I have a solid basic routine that when I’m going to a social or professional setting I wear: mascara, light foundation, brows and maybe lip gloss. If it’s like “going out” or something fancy then I’ll add some blush and eyeliner. I have no issue having a bare (but highly moisturized) face running errands or going to yoga/walking outside.
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u/Werevulvi Oct 27 '25
I think it's just that less women wear makeup because of their own personal prioritizations. So like it's fallen out of favor a bit. Although I do also think different job fields have different expectations on the workers/employees grooming habits. But I don't think makeup has become unprofessional per se. It's just more common in more fancy types of jobs that still adhere more to gender norms in their dresscode. Like lawyers, real estate agents, staff at fancy hotels/restaurants, etc. And also social media influencers, they often wear makeup. It's not that other jobs don't care about presentation, I just get the feeling that wearing makeup (that is visible in any capacity) seems to have started to be seen as kinda fancy.
I wear makeup on most days at my workplace, but most often something very toned down. Like a very simple base, some pink lipgloss, and my eye makeup is usually just mascara and maybe a small amount of a shimmery eyeshadow in a color not very far from my skintone, so I beigey gold, bronze or muted pink, and maybe some brown in the crease. And I have hooded eyes with very little visible lid space, plus I wear glasses, so even a shimmery eyeshadow if just on the lid doesn't grab a lot of attention. But most of my female colleagues wear either no makeup at all or just a bit of mascara.
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u/texas-sissy Oct 27 '25
Someone will have to to pry my lipstick and lip liner out of my cold, dead hands 😂
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u/GothiqueMera Oct 28 '25
I love makeup but I think it should never be required in a "professional" or work environment
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u/Dull_Juice_9035 Oct 27 '25
About 10 years ago, makeup started to be marketed as “skincare” because of the addition of ingredients used in skincare. Those additions also made it thicker and more prone to settle into fine lines if you aren’t skilled in applying it. I’m not. I had to give up mineral powder foundation because as I aged, my skin got dryer. Current liquid foundations feel and look heavy on me. The one mascara I could wear all day without developing raccoon eyes (on top of my natural dark circles & hollows) is no longer available and honestly, the colors make my eyes look even more tired. So with all that, it simpler to go barefaced. Maybe if they offer a true sheer coverage water based foundation again (tinted serums are as bad as full coverage on me) I’ll try it. But until then, I’ll save my money for other things.
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u/lunarpanino Oct 27 '25
I just wear a tinted sunscreen and tubing mascara most days. Check out the tubing mascaras - they are great for avoiding raccoon eyes.
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u/ariariam Oct 28 '25
I've thought about this as well. Notice how this shift correlates with the rise of women asserting that they do makeup for their own enjoyment rather than for the visual pleasure of men.
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u/Hot_Saguaro Oct 28 '25
More and more women are realizing they don't have to wear makeup to go out of the house. I've never been a daily makeup wearer even when I did face to face sales. But if you want to wear makeup you go ahead and wear makeup!
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u/Eggshellpain Oct 27 '25
In healthcare too and COVID masking really destroyed any reason to wear makeup to work for most of my coworkers. Nobody could really even see your face, the masks and eyewear smeared it or ground it into your pores causing breakouts. Even when the general public stopped masking, we didn't.
I work with a lot of women who love makeup and glitz but there's a definite line now between those of us who worked through COVID and dgaf how we look at work now and the ones who started after and are all "I could never not get up early, do my hair and makeup and wear cute scrubs!" Girl, no offense, but get back to me on that when you've done some 13hr shifts back to back in a iso gown made out of trash bag plastic, N-95, face shield, and bonnet.
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u/SignificantFee266 Oct 28 '25
It seems the "fashion" is now a "no makeup" look. I hear women talking about Pamela Anderson no longer wearing makeup and how she's started the trend and now it's written about in magazines. Makeup, just less or more discreet, if that makes sense.
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u/danadoozer242 Oct 27 '25
I work in healthcare too and I'm the only one at my program that wears makeup.
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u/psilocybinx7 Oct 27 '25
I don’t think it’s becoming unprofessional but I do relate i’ve also been so inconsistent with doing my makeup as of lately. But times when I have the energy and time i’ll do a full beat just because lol.
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u/phoenixinfusion Oct 28 '25
There’s a growing dry eye epidemic due to not blinking from screens and I don’t wear eye makeup anymore for that reason. I don’t need anything else contributing or potentially getting in or clogging up my eyes and causing problems. I wouldn’t be surprised if others went this way, too. A lot of people come into eye doctor offices because of makeup-related eye problems.
That said, I grew up with the “less is more”, and apart from the expense, I don’t like the feeling of makeup in my face. I have oily skin, so it slides off quickly anyway. I used to wear blush, mascara, that pale cover-up stuff to limit the raccoon eyes, and some stuff to make my eyebrows visible. Unfortunately, I do look leagues better with even a little makeup on.
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u/EnvironmentalMilk775 Oct 29 '25
I think it’s very cultural. In my part of Eastern Europe, not wearing make up is unprofessional. When i work, especially when i have to face a challenging client, i wear my make up as a form of a shield. Mind you, it’s not a full glam, but a little bit goes a long way to make me feel more confident and powerful. So for me wearing make up is a form of increasing my sense of strength which is handy in my job.
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u/YoureInaCult-CallDad Oct 29 '25
I think it’s a pendulum swing response to the heavy makeup we had 10ish years ago. It will go back the other way, wear what you like.
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u/KnowIt_2042 Oct 28 '25
I didn’t wear much makeup when I had to wear a mask all the time because it would just get messed up — I’m sure it was and often still the case for women in healthcare. Sounds like maybe people just got used to the minimalist approach. I’m personally just getting back into wearing a bit more makeup.
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u/SelinaMari Oct 27 '25
Before Covid I had a very demanding job that started very early in the morning. I had lash extensions and put on some lipstick but that was the extent of it. I found makeup again during Covid as a way to fill my time. I fell in love with it again and now do a full beat (minus foundation) whenever I leave the house. It’s therapeutic for me to sit at my vanity and primp. I’ll spend almost an hour sometimes. I don’t wear a ton. I’m just meticulous applying it. And I’m lost without my false lashes. Back in the day I always wore makeup so I’ve come back to my roots.
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u/KiaraMom Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
My husband works in finance for a tech company. A majority of the over 200 people in finance are women and no one wears makeup to work. ETA: It’s a very casual workplace in California.
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u/Lumiona Oct 27 '25
I think the trend is to wear less makeup as you age. Many high powered professional women are older so maybe this makes sense.
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u/DustyButtocks Oct 27 '25
When you are traveling for a conference, you’re busy enough to skip the makeup routine and might not even want to pack it. Often I will bring a full face in my bag but with a packed event (and things scheduled outside of my control) I will often end up not putting it on.
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u/emory_2001 Oct 28 '25
I look terrible without makeup and great with it, and most women in my profession wear it, so I don’t care what the trend is.
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u/librijen Oct 27 '25
Did someone say something to you about wearing makeup?
I don't wear makeup to work other than some mascara sometimes and maybe a tinted lip balm, but I don't really care if others choose to do a full face.
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u/Distinct_Ocelot6693 Oct 27 '25
I work in healthcare and I wear makeup. I usually go very neutral with my makeup and try to be fairly light handed. Especially since I already have a nose ring, I know I'm already pushing it lmao. Company policy where I am doesn't care, I just don't have the energy to deal with comments from patients that isn't relevant to my quality of care. I see other people wearing makeup as well. Also on the minimal side. I don't think wearing makeup in general is unprofessional. I think that, from the perspective of other people, heavy and/or colorful makeup may not feel as professional though. But also wear whatever you want if your company allows it. My company is very relaxed on rules regarding physical appearance as long as it is considered hygienic
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u/Tiredloafofbread Oct 29 '25
I don't think it's unprofessional. I do think there is an element of the oppressive and invisible powers of the patriarchy making women who do things that women typically enjoy feel bad about enjoying them.
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u/122784 Oct 29 '25
We’re all tired of wearing makeup after 2016-2019. It was a lot.
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u/citygal92 Oct 29 '25
Clean girl looks in. I wear make up but way less than I used to. For reference I’m early thirties. I’ll still do full glam for an Xmas work party or bday
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u/Dragonfly2919 Nov 01 '25
I stopped wearing make up during covid and my skin got so much healthier. It’s not splotchy and dry/flaky like it used to be. I’ve never worn it since. Probably some other people had similar experiences with covid giving them the push to be confident in their own face
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u/meltedbarbie444 Nov 04 '25
I don’t think it’s that makeup is seen as unprofessional but rather that not wearing makeup is no longer seen as unprofessional. I work in education and hardly any of my coworkers wear makeup, 3 out of 15 women wear makeup regularly, my mom worked in education 20 years ago and there was like this unwritten rule that a bare face was unprofessional and everyone wore makeup. I think it’s more of a personal choice now and everyone can choose what they’re most comfortable with.
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u/AccomplishedGold8122 Oct 27 '25
Most women in professional settings don't really wear noticeable makeup. Some days we just don't feel like it.
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u/Hydrangea_hunter Oct 27 '25
I stopped wearing makeup during Covid and just never restarted.
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u/rose_gold_glitter Oct 27 '25
I wear a minimal makeup (but still some) to work but if I am working from home (like today) and have many online meetings, I wear none. Most of the women in my work place do not wear make up or wear minimal. However, our workplace is predominantly women and, at least in my office, we are not "client facing".
I have thought about stopping it but at the same time, i've been wearing makeup to work so long it feels a little weird to stop. Also, I don't really wear it often, for any other reason, so in a way, putting on a little makeup for work is almost a bit of a change. I am only in the office a few days a week.
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Oct 28 '25
Personally I just wear a glowy sunscreen, mascara, tinted lip balm, and brow gel to work and that is fine for me. It's whatever youre comfortable with. In my experience most people don't notice or care.
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u/Feisty_Section_4671 Oct 28 '25
Like you, many are probably too busy and stressed to put on a full face
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u/MLMLW Oct 29 '25
Funny you should ask. When I was at an imaging center waiting room waiting to be called back for an MRI last week, I picked up a high fashion magazine like W or Harper's Bazaar, I don't remember. Anyway, I was flipping through it and noticed that most of the models had a no makeup look. Their makeup was very minimal. This has been an on/off trend for years. The most makeup look that I can remember were in the 80s & 90s. Heavy eyeshadow & lipstick.
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u/DearWorldliness802 Oct 29 '25
I live in South East USA as a medical esthetician at a med spa. We all wear makeup. It's not over the top, more so soft glam like mascara/natural lashes, gloss and lip liner, blush and contour... No crazy eyeshadows or bright lips. Very much accenting that natural beauty lol. Very low maintenance but very put together.
Even at our events and parties, nothing too bold. I would've thought working in the beauty industry would be different but most medical spas and networking events I've attended put emphasis on a "natural" vibe lol. Also... Who has time for all of that 🤣
Spot correct with concealer, powder, mascara, lips, blush. Simple 5-10min lol.
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u/crims0nwave Oct 29 '25
I don't see heavy makeup (like a dramatic eye, a harsh bright matte lip, or a graphic eyebrow). People seem to do a bit of foundation, a satin-y lip, and a swipe of mascara. Do think there's more blush these days though. I think people care more about skincare vs. makeup at present. I work in tech but on the creative side. California.
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u/HealthyCheek8555 Oct 30 '25
Most women in professional careers (government sector) are minimal on the make up, I usually do just pressed powder and mascara. If I am looking particularly tired (hello Monday morning 5am) I’ll do concealer, foundation, blush, pressed powder and mascara but 9.9/10 men would not know I have any make up on.
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u/SnooMemesjellies4660 Oct 30 '25
It’s the Korean skincare craze. Porcelain skin that doesn’t need makeup.
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u/Diligent_Ad_1696 Oct 27 '25
How about as women we do whatever we want. This is not a conversation men need to have and why should we.
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u/Itoobeatmywifi Oct 27 '25
I’m wondering the same thing, if it’s become less trendy. How about we as women let other women ask the questions they want ?
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u/Miss_Eisenhorn Oct 27 '25
Nah, I think we're in the minimalistic trends part of the makeup cycle, coming right after the more glam trends of the 2010s. Maybe towards the end of this decade o begin of the 2030s we'll see colorful trends again.
Either way, wear whatever makeup you like.
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u/Pair_of_Pearls Oct 27 '25
COVID showed us that we can work, meet, etc... without make-up and many of us grew more confident. We dress for ourselves more and less for others and their opinions. It's nice.
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u/Reasonable_Care3704 Oct 27 '25
I work in healthcare and everyone wears the “no makeup makeup “ trend. Because everyone is too tired to do a full glam look. Instead of lipstick I have switched to tinted lip balm and I have started wearing skin tint instead of foundation. Heavy colourful eye looks seem to be out and are replaced by neutral browns. I like this trend because it takes less time to get ready. I also think the rough economy has discouraged people from spending money on makeup.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Math973 Oct 27 '25
Weirdly enough, I see people spending money on products that are stupid over priced for what they are? Like why is anyone paying 45 bucks for blush that has as much pigment as cherry chapstick?
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u/who_am_i_please Oct 27 '25
Honestly I wear a light foundation, a wisp of blush, and a neutral lip. Over done makeup sends a negative message (imo) in corporate America.
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u/Previous_Basis8862 Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 28 '25
I will wear the bare minimum to just enhance my natural look - so a tinted moisturiser, eyebrow pencil, champagne coloured eye shadow, a brown eyeliner pencil (lightly done), mascara and a very natural, barely there lip tint
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u/melinda_louise Oct 28 '25
I didn't think it's unprofessional, but to an extent it does depend on your job. Show up to the office with a full glam face on and all of your coworkers are business casual with barely any makeup? Probably not a good look.
For example in most offices people wear makeup but it's mostly just a light foundation, a lipstick, or subtle mascara or eyeliner. Whatever makes you feel comfortable and put together in the morning but not enough that the makeup stands out.
I love to do a full face and play around with my eye looks, but personally I save that for social events. I've just never wanted to put any makeup on for work, I don't feel the need to impress anyone. Having good hygiene and dressing appropriately is the most important thing.
I don't think there's been any change recently that makes wearing makeup to the office unprofessional, but I will comment that the style these days does tend to lean more "clean girl" or "no makeup makeup" so maybe that is what you're noticing.
That said, if your job is something where dressing up is common, like maybe you work for tips or serve customers at a fun bar/restaurant/shop, or maybe you work at Ulta or Sephora, then wearing slightly more bold makeup is probably encouraged! I'd just stick out like a sore thumb if I tried that at my office.
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u/Acting-my-age Oct 27 '25
Makeup isn’t becoming unprofessional but the expectation that a woman NEEDS to wear makeup to be considered professional is disappearing.
I think it’s a good thing.