What makeup do you wear to work?

user79

Well-known member
* Note to mods, I tried to submit this thread but hit a weird key on the keyboard so if it's a double, please delete the other thread and keep this one. *


What kind of makeup do you usually wear to work in a more FORMAL setting (like in an office). This doesn't apply if you work in a relaxed setting where you can wear whatever you want and bright colours, I think. I'd like to get some more recommendations based on what other people usually wear.

I work at an Embassy and I have to look fairly neat and propper at the office, so I can't wear any outrageous things, also makeup-wise. This is what I usually wear:

- Matte or semi-matte foundation, or when I'm lazy or don't want to wear heavy foundation I just use my Studio Fix powder as a base with concealer under the eyes.

- Eyeshadows: Paint in Untitled as a base, then a choice of Woodwinked, Shu Uemura Me Gold & Me Brown, Jest, Mulch, or Coppering (lightly) e/s, mascara & eyebrow wax/powder. Usually I just wear 1 colour because I don't have time to do a really elaborate 2 or 3 toned eye because I have to get up really early (6:30am).

- Lips: Usually switch between something sheer, like Boots Sweet Temptations lipstick in Tempt #15, or today I just wore really neutral eyes and went for a red lipstick. I don't usually wear really glossy lipgloss because I think it looks too "young".

- Blush: Nars Orgasm, MAC Pink Swoon or Blushbaby

- Sometimes I've worn Shimpagne MSF lightly as a highlighter (not too much) but it doesn't work so well with the Studio Fix powder because it's so matte.



What do you usually wear?
 

sewpunk

Well-known member
wow, that is pretty much exactly what I wear! I always wear studio fix powder to work. I save liquid foundations for weekend. I also do the brow powder/wax. My face is not the same without it.

I use a Chanel Blush in Desert Rose and a Chanel Shadow in Fusee for most of my work makeup looks.

I also like many of the same shadows you mentioned. I love to use Amber Lights and Goldmine lightly as well

I like to wear Benefit lip stain, with clear gloss over it (the Benefit pocket pal is my best friend). It lasts a long time, and I never worry about it fading or getting on my teeth.

I also have to get up early - 6 am, b/c I have to be at work at 7:15 am!
 

earlyglory

Member
As I'm working in an creative job I'm quite free to wear whatever I like if it's not over the top for work like very dramatic smokey eyes would be (but who would feel comfortable at work wearing an evening dress anyway
smiles.gif
)

But when it's very official, i.e. appointment with customers, than I think it's better not to draw people's attention on my make-up when they are supposed to review my work.

Face: SFF with Blot Powder or MSF Medium
Cheeks: Lilicent Blushcreme (its gives me a nice healthy glow without being noticeable (prefer this to powder blush, because it looks more natural on me)
Lips: Nude-Look like Viva Glam II LS with a tap of Lipgelee or lipglass on top or any non-bright lipstick without glitter like my new love, Instinctive
On eyes: Eyeliner, any eyeshadow that appears discreet on me like Shale, Woodwinked, Relaxing, Satin Taupe
Mascare (one coat)
Brow Set in Beguile

Have to get up between 6.00 and 6.30 A.M.
 

Selene

Well-known member
My current job is not in an especially formal setting, but when I have to dress up and look professional, here is one way I do my makeup:

Face:
OC Eight Oil Control Lotion
MAC NC35 concealer where I need it (no foundation)

Blush:
MAC Paintstick in Cool Pink, sheerly applied

Eyes:
Curled eyelashes (I use Shisheido's eyelash curler, and I love it)
Nars cream eyeshadow in Mykonos on the lid (cool toned caramel with slight shimmer)
Nars cream eyeshadow in Decameron on the crease (cinnamon brown)
MAC Luna Cream Color Base as a highlighter on the browbone (sheer frosted white)

Lips:
L'Oreal lipstick in Mica (natural plum pink with subtle silvery frost)
Also, sometimes I just wear clear lipbalm, because my lips are naturally very pink. My favorite lipbalm is Softlips, because it's moisturizing without being greasy or sticky.

Nails:
Usually a soft shade of pink (like OPI Argenteeny Pinkini), which goes with just about everything, and does not show chipping easily, but sometimes other colors too, so long as my manicure is neat and fresh looking (i.e. not chipped).
 

lizsybarite

Well-known member
I work in a small office that does mostly creative marketing projects - however, we have to look professional (i.e., no jeans). There are no makeup guidelines, so I push the envelope a little and wear colors sometime (definitely more than my coworkers do) - but nothing as dramatic as I would on the weekend. Also, since I work at a computer, I wear my glasses during the workday, which seems to "tone down" whatever I do on my eyes. But I don't have a work "look." If I'm in a huge hurry and my skin doesn't look awful, I might just throw on mascara and a tinted lip conditioner! But most mornings I spent at least 15mins on my makeup, sometimes more.

For client meetings, I tend to go neutral: Hug Me, VGV or Sophisto on the lips, and a slightly smoky eye in earth tones or light plums. I clean up my complexion and so on but don't attempt to look overly "done." Other days, I just try to coordinate and look nice with a touch of playful.
smiles.gif
 

vivaciousv1114

Well-known member
Face:
Studio Finish Concealer NC45
L'Oreal True Match Foundation W8

Eyes:
Bronze e/s with mascara
or
Sumptous Olive e/s with mascara
or
Woodwinked e/s with mascara

Lips:
Clear l/g or just lipbalm

I tend to go very neutral for work.
 

tracie

Well-known member
I don't work in a setting that really requires conservative makeup, but I think its how I look best.

I use studio finish concealer to cover my undereye circles, and blemishes. Studio fix for foundation, and nars orgasm with either a little naked you or shimpagne msf. I use espresso on my brows, UD PP for a base with goldenaire on the lid, mulch lighly in the crease, and relaxing on the brow bone. Graphic brown fluidline to line the top and waterline, and a quick coat of mascara. Lips have been politely pink l/s with elaborate, instant gold, or phosphorelle l/g.
 

~LadyLocks~

Well-known member
Fortunatly I work at a place where I can wear whatever I want and same goes for MU. But...some days I feel like keeping it light as far as e/s so I usually wear:

all that glitters, sable, haux, softbrown, expensive pink, honey lust, mythology, melon pigment, tan pigment, or antiqued

Lips: usually when I'm at work I either wear chapstick, or some kind of lip balm but sometime I throw in Early Bloomer lipglass...it's a very light color, beautiful!
 

Temptasia

Well-known member
I usually wear:

Bareminerals or Studio Fix Fluid mixed with moisturizer for sheer coverage. Spot conceal with bareminerals or Studio Fix powder.

Fill in brows with a dark brown powder like MAC Expresso

A thin dark brown line on my upper lids with liquid liner (I find it lasts longer than pencil) For a bit of color, I sometimes go over the liner with a bronze/olive/burgundy shadow to soften the line. I sometimes use extra Studio Fix Powder on my browbone for a finished looking lid.

Curl and coat lashes with mascara. I use mascara on the bottom lashes, but I don't line them.

Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Rose or Nars blush in Madly.

Lips: I usually just keep them bare with lip balm. Sometimes I might fill in my lips with MAC's Whirl lipliner.
 

MissMarley

Well-known member
I work at a non-profit (my title is youth development manager) and I work with kids in the juvenile detention system, foster care, etc- all teens. I get to wear pretty funky and fun stuff to work. On a typical day, I do light foundation and concealer, pink blush with an MSF or other highlighter, shimmery pigments or fun colors on my eyes, lots of mascara, and I start off with lipstick and lipgloss (usually in bubblegum pink or plums), but I'm lazy and always forget to reapply.

However, if I have a meeting with a donor or with our board of directors, I do mattes, neutral blush, neutral eyes with no shimmer, and neutral lipgloss (usually VGV)
 

rosquared

Well-known member
well, i'm a programmer so no one really needs to see me buuuuut i do wear colors a couple times a week, but i keep it pretty simple.

usually, i do a brown smokey look w/ mystery and sometimes just a simple wash of color with romp (my fave). but when i do colors, i choose pinks and purples. they're like neutrals on my skintone. i can wear green too if i smoke it out with some carbon or print.
 

ginger9

Well-known member
I work in Banking/finance. And I too have to get up early between 5:45am to 6am. I stay away from looking "sparkly" or "dewy". My goal is to look energetic and AWAKE -because I am NOT a morning person and I'm usual still half asleep when I roll into the office.
tong.gif


I try to go for a fresh, bright face with minimal makeup (frankly its uncomfortable working 10 hour days with a face full of makeup). I use Mac Studio Fix or Lise Watier's Teint Mousse foundation on areas needed and sometimes concealor. Then I usually finish my face by dusting MAC Select Sheer Loose powder. As for blush, anything matt/ slightly shimmery and in moderation.

On my eyes I stick to a lot of neutrals/browns (I know boring). I wear combination of bare canvas paint, shroom, woodwinked, tempting, sunnydaze pigment and some other non MAC brands that are in the rose, taupey shade ( <3 my Revlon Caramel Crush e/s). When I have a bit more time I line the top of my eyes with Graphic Brown or B&G f/l. Oh almost forgot, I never leave home without curled lashes.

Finally for lips, being asian C30/c35 I wear reds, and rose/mauve shades. Nothing too pinky and since I'm usually running late (hit the snooze button too many times) red lips is my quick & easy way to brighten up the face. I apply red lipsticks with a lipbrush to make the colour more sheer and then I top a modest amount of gloss or balm to finish.

Hmm, it sounds very similar to your routine...I don't know if I was any help
tong.gif
Oh and on Friday's I like to get away with a bit more
winks.gif
 

ohhhhhthehorror

Well-known member
I'm not trying to impress anyone so I generally just wear one color e/s, mascara, sometimes liner on the lower lashline, concealer, foundation and blush(if I don't wear blush I look washed out because I am so pale and have black hair).

It's pretty boring. I work in an office where it'd be ok to wear bright makeup, but I don't want to waste me makeup on people at work, haha.
 

Beauty Mark

Well-known member
I've been lucky to have worked in places where no one cares. From day to day, it varies.

When I did work in an office dealing with the public, I wore:
Benefit's Playsticks foundation in spots around my face (acting as concealer)
Neutral lipstick or something a bit richer (like a plum shade)
Neutral eye makeup (browns)
 

MacVirgin

Well-known member
i can wear almost anything (mu) at the office as long as it looks classy, but i always wear neutrals, pastels ct.

mulch, coco pigm, melon, humid, sumtious olive, naked, twinks. or just melon or coco pigm with liner, mascara and glos.

Sometimes no eyeshadow, just foundation, powder, mascara, liner, blush and gloss
smiles.gif
 

CrouchingAfroHiddenPick

Well-known member
My job up until a point was pretty lax on make up( I could wear peacocky eyeliner and no one would bat and eye), I use to wear really bold colors but we have a new, conservative admistration, so i have to tone it down a bit and that is why I am searching for more neutral alternatives.
 

hyperRealGurl

Well-known member
Ehhhh when i was working i wore:

Face: SFF NC40 mixed with Strobe cream or lotion (any kind) to give a sheer coverage

No powder... really not into powders that much

Eyes:
Honesty e/s
Tempting e/s
and i use a light hand application so that the colors were toned down
No liner
Mascara
lighty filled in brows

cheeks:
Fluer Power; that color is very light on my skintone

lips:
Clear gloss/ or any type of nude lipstick

pretty much the nude face pic i posted.. a long long time ago.
not that my job was all that great i was the store manager for T-Mobile
I was never told what i can and can not wear on my face.. I just figured with my title that i needed to look semi professional. LOl didnt want to show up to work as if i were going out to the club or something.. lol
 

Cruella

Well-known member
I work in a library and I'm pretty much the only one who wears makeup but I wear whatever I think I can get away with. The only thing I don't wear is red e/s or super heavy black eyeliner. Everything else seems to be okay.
 

mzreyes

Well-known member
i work at a childrens clothing store. so i wear any makeup i want to. the kids like to compliment it. lol... one day (for my eyes) i wore fuschia pigment, nocturnelle, sketch, and electra.. a customer said, "wow has anyone ever told you that you look like a bratz doll! but in a good way though, my daughter loves bratz dolls." lol thanks i like em too.
 
Top