How-To: Work Appropriate Makeup

Tue, 24 November 2009 12:30PM

If you work in the beauty/fashion/magazine industry (lucky you!), you can go ahead and disregard this post. But if you’re like the rest of us who don’t get to be too creative, funky or experimental with makeup and hair at work then read on.

I, for one, work with mostly guys on my team and out of habit I tend to keep my makeup simple for fear of being teased by colleagues. I suppose no one wants to risk being called ‘the girl that wears too much makeup to work’ for the rest of her duration at the office.

To keep it simple, there are a few rules and a few things I always keep in mind when I reach for my makeup stash on weekday mornings.

Rule #1 – Blending is key. Always make sure everything is perfectly blended, always.
Rule #2 – Keep shimmer to a minimum. If you must, pick only one from lips/cheeks/face/eyes. Keep it subtle!
Rule #3 – Try to avoid bright lipstick unless you can pull it off confidently. It is often distracting and stands out a lot.
Rule #4 – No smoky eyes or any variation of it.
Rule #5 – Always carry a makeup bag with the basics in it. I once smudged my eye makeup on the way to work, before 9am, and had left said makeup bag at home. Needless to say, it was a disastrous day for my face.

For the face:
• A tinted moisturiser + foundation +highlighter combo is the best bet. It will keep your skin hydrated and dewy in a dry office environment.
• You are allowed to go crazy with the concealer.
• The aim is to achieve a light, even-layer of makeup; nothing cakey or too heavy.

For the eyes:
• Minimal eye makeup is encouraged.
• Definitely no false eye lashes or anything overly shimmery or glittery.
• I often skip serious eyeliner, saving it for evening drinks or parties. My favourite is to opt for a soft pencil liner and blend it very closely across the eyelash line.
• Go with neutral shades or shades that compliment your eye colour. For example, I have dark brown eyes so I usually go with neutral shades, brown hues or even a subtle bronze if I’m feeling like a hint of colour.
• It is okay to experiment with different colours as long as they aren’t too striking or bold. I sometimes play with safe colours like pinks, greys, plums, golds and purple shades. Just make sure you choose shadows with softer pigments and blend it well!
• Don’t forget mascara.
• Always carry cotton buds in your makeup bag to fix your eye makeup when necessary.

For the cheeks:
• Basically anything goes as long as you blend it well to avoid the clown face.
• Cream blush and dust of bronzer is always a favourite.
• If you use sculpting products, make sure the colour isn’t too dark for your skin tone. It will stand out under the bright fluorescent lights in an office.

For the lips:
• Lip stain or lipstick usually lasts longer than any gloss variety.
• Safe colours: light corals, pinks, apricots, roses and mauve.
• Always prep lips with a moisturising balm to avoid any flakiness or lipstick bleeding into your lips.

I suppose one of the key things that I’ve always relied on is to go with my gut instinct. If you have a big meeting today and think you may have been a bit heavy handed with your makeup; chances are you have. Trust yourself.

Remember, at work, the main focus should always be on your work and not your face.

I’m keen to hear your favourite office makeup tips!
Ponikuta

Posted by: Ponikuta

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Tags: makeup, neutral, office, ponikuta, work