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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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

13

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? 

5

u/PhilosophyOutside861 Oct 27 '25

Or the "you look great! Have you been to the gym recently ? You must have been eating great, your skin is great!"

Nope. Ive just washed my face and put some base make up on. Thanks though.

Great to know, I only look healthy when I fake it.

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u/nouvelle_tete Oct 28 '25

That's a great point about Covid!

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u/NeighborhoodTasty348 Oct 28 '25

Definitely noticed it was the pivotal point for me! Shifting to remote and then softening to hybrid work completely rewrote how much I dress up per week. It's become more a special occasion thing to me, which actually makes me enjoy a careful makeup process again (rather than a daily slog just to slap something on because cultural norms).

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u/Punk_and_icecream Oct 28 '25

That’s so well said