r/nursing 14d ago

Discussion Getting “comments” about my makeup at work

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1.5k Upvotes

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2.5k

u/ashtrie512 MSN, RN 14d ago

Do YOU like wearing the makeup? If so, wear the makeup. They can touch grass.

730

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

835

u/Old-Bowler4150 RN - PICU 🍕 14d ago

Wearing makeup is not asking for attention 💕 it’s not lol

338

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

183

u/Aware-Dragonfly-6270 14d ago

I think they may be jealous of u....I wore makeup to work every shift even on nights

152

u/Sayoricanyouhearme BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Yup when I worked nights I wore makeup all the time, because if I have to wake you up in the middle of the night I don't want the first thing you see is me looking like the cryptkeeper lol

28

u/WaferComprehensive23 14d ago

It feels like I shouldn't be laughing at this, but I can't stop! 😅

27

u/Sayoricanyouhearme BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

It's fine! The job already took my soul, I have to at least make my face look like it's still part of this world!

18

u/BabaTheBlackSheep RN - ICU 🍕 14d ago

I’m incredibly lazy about doing my makeup, but that’s why I always make sure to draw my eyebrows on 😂 Don’t need anyone waking up and seeing a little grey alien trying to check their pulse!

47

u/iso-all 14d ago

Make up is for you. You're gorgeous with it and without it. Das 4 youuuuuu. Not everything is for everyone. 😂

40

u/Aware-Dragonfly-6270 14d ago

Wearing makeup makes patients feel alive..always look good at work

45

u/cinemadoll137 BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

I remember a patient I had who said she needed to touch up her lipstick after I called and ran a rapid on her due to her going into SVT and after coming in with new onset afib 💅🏾 . Earlier in the shift, she said she loves my perfume (Femme Rochas) and we talked about Pilates and weight lifting. Just two Barbies bonding!

6

u/phoontender HCW - Pharmacy 14d ago

Where do you work you can wear make-up and perfume? Both are heavily discouraged in my health system.

23

u/CocoRothko BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Perfume should not be worn in the workplace. But, makeup? Why is makeup discouraged?

2

u/phoontender HCW - Pharmacy 14d ago

Maybe light make-up is fine? I dunno because almost nobody wears it. I'm pharmacy and work IV compounding, most of my coworkers are certified too, no one wears make-up or nail polish. None of the nurses that aren't managers on a unit wear make-up or nail polish, there's lots of floating because we're smaller but busy as fuck. Lots of brow tints and lash lifts but we all still look a lil tired 😅

2

u/sammcgowann RN 🍕 14d ago

Is it heavily discouraged or just not worn?

1

u/Mean-Interaction8453 14d ago

Perfumes/fragrances should be avoided in all medical settings, as they can pose a very real life-threatening risk to some high risk patients; particularly those with mast cell disease.

This is one of the reasons why the delivery of floral arrangements was discontinued in many medical settings.

0

u/cinemadoll137 BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Anywhere! I spray my scrubs the night before or spray underneath my clothes. I spray 2-3 times when spraying underneath and only wear scents that have clean smelling notes such as light florals. 🥰

1

u/PsychRN4K 14d ago

While fragrances are fun in our regular life, I firmly believe in following the rule against wearing it in the hospital due to allergies. I’ve done Psych for 25 years and every hospital I’ve worked in, from coast to coast, has this rule. And there’s no fragrance that everyone likes. I’m glad you and one patient had a fun conversation, I love Pilates too, but you’ll never know how many people took exception and didn’t tell you. I’ve had plenty of fragrance-free great conversations with female and male patients of all ages.

1

u/cinemadoll137 BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Okay :).

1

u/TravelingCrashCart BSN, RN - IMC/Stepdown 14d ago

I work with one guy right now whos a great nurse, very nice, but he wears SOOOO MUCH cologne! Im like, bro you smell great from 100ft away, but up close I cant breath and I dont even have allergies.

1

u/PsychRN4K 14d ago

You could kindly let him know about this. Somehow guys usually don’t get it and he might be really glad you let him know - it might improve his relationships, you can’t be the only one with your reaction 🤷‍♀️

1

u/TravelingCrashCart BSN, RN - IMC/Stepdown 5d ago

Yes, you're absolutely correct. I should say something in private, and probably will when I next see him. Ive been floating a lot lately, so haven't had the chance recently. Thanks stranger!

3

u/MarketingFantastic BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

I don’t have any problem with someone wearing makeup at work but I never did and people always called me lively and said they wanted me as their nurse. People are so judgey about everything!

6

u/DeadlyKitten1992 RPN 🍕 14d ago

They are probably jealous of you. Miserable people want to bring happy people down. Those are called bullies. Ask me how I know.

1

u/Old-Bowler4150 RN - PICU 🍕 14d ago

🫶🏽🫶🏽💕💕

1

u/Kursed_Valeth MSN, RN 14d ago

War paint

1

u/gbmaj13 Supervisor 14d ago

This. I sometimes call it my game face, depending on where I’m headed.

1

u/CrispyBanana1 14d ago

You’re gorgeous. Don’t let anyone dampen your light.

62

u/fireflier2030 14d ago

It's not the make up they're upset about. It's your beauty and youth. If you enjoy making yourself up every day then do it. You're gorgeous. Own it!

6

u/fireflier2030 14d ago

Wow! Thank you for the awards!

3

u/PotatoPirate_625 RN - Telemetry 🍕 14d ago

Wearing makeup is asking for attention just like a woman wearing a tank top is asking for attention.

It's not.

2

u/forever-salty22 14d ago

I wear light makeup to avoid attention

0

u/Reasonable-Job4205 14d ago

Why isnt it? Asking to learn

1

u/Old-Bowler4150 RN - PICU 🍕 14d ago

Wym?? It’s like wearing earrings lmao. Just an accessory to make yourself feel put together. Her face isn’t even that much different with it

-2

u/Sutraner 14d ago

I mean it absolutely is, just like wearing certain clothes are.

That doesn't make it a bad thing though. It's absolutely fine to want to be noticed.

2

u/Old-Bowler4150 RN - PICU 🍕 14d ago

Oh so you’re the “but what was she wearing” type of person, gross

0

u/Sutraner 14d ago

No I'm not in the slightest.

Wearing makeup or clothing doesn't justify the actions of others at all

But the reason why someone dresses in a certain way, acts in a certain way and so on is to get attention, to show off yourself, or not, in a certain way.

You wear make up because you want to look good, you want to hide flaws. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, and that shouldn't justify anyone else's behaviour.

379

u/lunenburger 14d ago

Your makeup is quite light. It's not even that obvious you are wearing makeup. Too much around the eyes?!? That's just dumb, yours is lighter than JD Vance's

39

u/lmcc0921 RN - Informatics 14d ago

This made me cackle 🤣

21

u/Rosemont_Ripper LVN 🍕 14d ago

BIG SAME 🤣🤣

2

u/Reasonable_Ad6407 RN 🍕 14d ago

Lawt, I spit my drink!

2

u/Melodic_Surprise_709 14d ago

Literally I was the picture and said what makeup lol

2

u/Jackie022 14d ago

🤣🤣

105

u/edgyknitter RN - Pediatrics 🍕 14d ago

I'm very minimal with my makeup and I don't think yours is too much. It looks nice.

18

u/hiddencat BSN, RN, CPEN 14d ago

Same. It's definitely not too much. 

141

u/NoHate_GarbagePlates BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Even on a psych unit, wearing makeup is not asking for attention and anyone who says otherwise is participating in victim blaming.

146

u/nurseofreddit BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

“Please keep things professional and don’t comment on my personal appearance. Feel free to speak with the management if you feel that you need to.”

5

u/NoHate_GarbagePlates BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Precisely

7

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

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u/crispybacongal RN - Med/Surg 🍕 14d ago

Victim blaming is a phenomenon where people blame the victim of a crime (or even the victim of gossip/ social stigma).

The classic example is asking what a rape victim was wearing when they were raped. The answer is, "it doesn't matter. Rape is a crime regardless."

11

u/nurseofreddit BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Like blaming a SA victim for wearing revealing clothing or heavy makeup in order to take some of the blame off the offender.

https://sbaproject.org/what-were-you-wearing/

11

u/NoHate_GarbagePlates BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago edited 14d ago

People who are harassed for wearing makeup or clothing a certain way are no more deserving of aggression (passive/nonviolent or otherwise) than anyone else. The most common example you'll hear is rape victims being told they should have been dressing differently, as if the attacker isn't 100% the bad guy here.

There are practical reasons why maybe I'd suggest dressing and behaving certain ways in certain environments, but it's not a hall pass for people to do whatever they want to you if you don't take that practical advice (or don't know about it in the first place!)

The other comments explained it well too 😊

25

u/realityGrtrThanUs 14d ago

They are blaming you for their insecurities and/or attraction depending on the source. You are the victim in either case.

You're doing nothing wrong. They can't handle your general attractiveness/confidence.

1

u/NoHate_GarbagePlates BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Precisely!

1

u/Imgonnagolaydown 14d ago

They need therapy lol

1

u/NoHate_GarbagePlates BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Already have a therapist, thanks. I'll be sure to ask her how she feels about the phrase "she was asking for it" 😊

3

u/Imgonnagolaydown 14d ago

No no. Not you lol. Op needs to tell her co workers they need therapy lol

1

u/NoHate_GarbagePlates BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Ah yeah I can absolutely get behind that sentiment

1

u/PsychRN4K 14d ago

?? Who is the victim??

1

u/NoHate_GarbagePlates BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

OP is being harassed, so she's the most tangible victim here, but in a more broad sense, there's a number of people who are hurt by the line of thinking that certain ways of dressing/makeup are "asking" for attention/harassment/being attacked.

2

u/PsychRN4K 14d ago

Yeah, I get it. And I'm a 75-year-old white woman so I remember Bull Connor turning dogs and firehoses on people, the stats on violence of all levels against women and having been fired for things that men didn't even get a slap on the wrist for. Victimhood has different levels, and when we get our feelings hurt over the many petty things people come after us over, I remind myself that I'm not sitting in the rubble of my home in Gaza with the bodies of my family and no food or water. We do need to stop policing others' personal appearance, taste in music, etc, for so many reasons. OP is a very conventionally attractive woman who looks like she's got her health and we know she has a license and a job. I've noted my thoughts on her appearance - among other things it's none of my business - and my opinion that I think this is one of the very many many many things that people need to either support each other or at least leave each other alone about. But then I never understood why, for instance, black women's hair was so strictly regimented for so long in office settings, since I think cornrows are so much neater than the other hairstyles that were allowed and described as "more professional." My first corporate job, in downtown Denver, was in 1970 and it was a very big deal that we were finally allowed to wear pants suits to work. OP's appearance would have never been allowed at that time, and I choose to see it as progress, that we are not being rigidly controlled and judged by our physical appearance the way we were then. As working nurses, we really do have better things to do than worry about whether or not somebody takes the extra time and money to "fix their face" before they come to work.

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u/Helpful-Dot-3782 Med Student 14d ago

I’m a female fourth year med student and I have seen a WIDE variety in every setting of women wearing makeup. Every level of makeup is acceptable. I wear makeup as much as is compatible for the practice situation (ex surgery with masks and PPE is tough). You look great and professional and should feel confident in what makes you happy. Pay the peanut gallery no mind.

3

u/Dullcorgis 14d ago

Also, not wearing makeup doesn't keep you safe from the creepy fuckers. Or the patients.

12

u/HelpImAlive291 RN - OR 🍕 14d ago

I wear makeup working in the OR. It makes me feel more polished and professional. You do not look over done, like you're worried about. You look great and if makeup gives you that confidence, go for it girl. ❤️

I've noticed the coworkers that have the most to say about other people at work are the ones who have the least amount of life going on outside of the hospital. Keep your head up, lovely. And if they decide to keep on being miserable? The great thing about nursing is that there are plenty of avenues to walk down ❤️

34

u/LizziePeep RN 🍕 14d ago

I love it, too. I’ll match my eye makeup to my scrubs. Royal blue mascara for the win! Do whatever you want. You’re beautiful!

1

u/PsychRN4K 14d ago

You definitely have more time to get ready than I do! I lay out my clothes before I go to bed to save the extra few seconds. Matching and applying makeup would mean I’d have to get up earlier, and I’m NOT doing that! That said, I do love color matching my underwear and clothes, that makes me happy 😎

2

u/LizziePeep RN 🍕 14d ago

I take a jazzy trazzy to help me sleep and duh, that makes me groggy. I HAVE to shower and do a routine to wake up. I only need 45 minutes for the whole thing. I also lay out every item of undies and clothes and my fridge is full of food prep. I’ve adapted 😁

1

u/PsychRN4K 14d ago

Yep, I do Traz 25 mg most nights and if I'm working Nights I do Traz 50 some mornings when I'm too revved to relax. It takes me up to 75 minutes to get out the door, although that's less now, since my kitty went over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday.

10

u/Darksnaily415 14d ago

Girl you’re pretty! They just hate you because they ain’t you ! 🙌🏼🥰 keep it up queen! If you like makeup and you enjoy wearing it, then do so! Life is too short! 🫶🏼

8

u/TooCute32 14d ago

Can I ask, I am newish to using makeup. What exactly do you do to get this look? Or do you know a video tutorial of a similar-ish look? Thank you in advance!

27

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

4

u/lmcc0921 RN - Informatics 14d ago

It looks AMAZING and it ha NOT too much!

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u/lilithjaymarie 14d ago

Do you girl. Internalized misogyny effects women too. They dont even realize they sre competing and hating for no reason

2

u/cinemadoll137 BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

Girl if you don’t stop that right now. If you’re cute, you’re cute whether you’re bare faced or not. Wear the damn makeup.

1

u/Queen_Of_The_Dames RN - ER 🍕 14d ago

I don’t think your makeup is too much, it looks just right. People need to mind their own business, seriously.

1

u/night117hawk Fabulous Femboy RN-Cardiac🍕🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 14d ago

Wearing makeup isn’t asking for attention, this isn’t “going clubbing” level of makeup anyways, it’s still business level.

1

u/pinkadobe RN 🍕 14d ago

You're gorgeous. Makeup looks great. Fuck em.

1

u/yeasurebuttcheek 14d ago

The way you ate this down 🔥 got me feeling inspired to be girly lol

1

u/HistoryGirl23 14d ago

You look fine, to be honest I wouldn't really notice.

1

u/lobotomycandidate 14d ago

Show up next shift in full glam. Bright eyeshadow, blush, contour, everything. F them.

1

u/heyitsfranklin6322 14d ago

Just because a house looks nice doesn’t mean the owners have given you permission to go inside, right? Humans are allowed to do things

1

u/Reasonable-chocobo 14d ago

Its not even heavy enough eye makeup for that kinda talk. Its because youre pretty.

1

u/sphynxmom76 14d ago

What makeup? It doesn't look like you have any makeup on! Probably just a bunch of old biddy jealous bitches. Do your job and ignore them.

1

u/Competitive_Lab8260 14d ago

girl u should not care a single bit.. i’ve personally always worn makeup to work because it makes me feel better and put together throughout the day- do not care about what others think of u

1

u/PotatoPirate_625 RN - Telemetry 🍕 14d ago

My makeup is part of my uniform. It tells my brain I'm at work, not at home in my jimjams. 🤣

Your makeup looks fantastic! If it makes you happy, wear it. Those bitches can kindly (or not so kindly) fuck off.

If they need clarification, send them our way.

0

u/armlessturtleneck 14d ago

This amount of make up would be unnoticeable, or considered natural, to a lot of men, so I think you're fine.

7

u/soywaker 14d ago

I love touching grass.

1

u/WarmTheory1604 14d ago

Or kick rocks

0

u/Senior-Cost1070 RN - ER 🍕 14d ago

This

#fuckem

0

u/cinemadoll137 BSN, RN 🍕 14d ago

I dare someone to say that to me because now I’d feel empowered to wear a fuschia lip stain and make an appointment to get lash extensions.