Makeup in the Work Place

Last week, I read a blog about how to prepare yourself to re-enter the work force and how things you do, or don't do, can sabotage your job search.  I definitely saw something missing from the list of suggestions.  A makeover. 

Many women allow themselves to become dated, not only in their work skills, but in their appearance.  They stick with the same look for many years - and while when they first got it it might have been in style and looked great - a lot of times the style came and went and it is waving back at them to the 80's and 90's from the 2000's.

When you are going on a job interview a potential employer makes a judgment on your first impression in the blink of an eye - and you guessed it - facial appearance makes the biggest impression! 

"Like it or not, judgments based on facial appearance play a powerful role in how we treat others, and how we get treated."

Furthermore a recent study shows that women who wear well applied makeup to work are perceived as more trustworthy, competent, and successful than those who do not.

It is worth getting a makeup lesson that teaches you exactly how to apply your makeup in the correct colors for you - because the wrong makeup has the opposite effect - someone who wears too much makeup, the wrong color lipstick or thick eyeliner, can be perceived as incompetent. Would you ask a clown to handle your business? 

I often hear clients tell me that they "just threw this on" - or make other excuses for wearing the wrong colors or not having any makeup on - my questions is this - why throw on the wrong thing, if it takes the same amount of time to throw on the right thing?  You got it as a "free gift", from your girlfriend, daughter, mother, or someone else who recently had a makeup lesson and realized it was a horrible shade for them. Or you got taken over by aliens when you entered the department store and bought that color.  I have heard every excuse of why someone is wearing the makeup they are (truth be told I never ask - they volunteer this information). 

Get rid of what does not work, and if you are not sure get a makeup lesson and ask for a few alternatives for lipstick.  I tell my clients to have 3 - one for running around doing errands (typically very natural and soft), one for work, daytime affairs: bridal showers, baby showers, lunch with friends (this one gives you a little more color and a polished look) and one thats more dressy - evening affairs; weddings, holiday parties, a night out with friends (this one is your dressy look to glam it up a bit).  You do not wear the same kind of clothes everywhere - you should not wear the same kind of makeup.

The other excuse I often hear is "my husband/boyfriend hates makeup".  My smartass answer is "then tell him not to wear it" however the real truth is this: he doesn't hate makeup (I'm sure his head turns when a beautiful, well madeup woman walks by) - he hates bad makeup.  It's like a toupe, you never notice the good ones - meaning someone just looks great (Ted Danson anyone) - you don't dissect why. With a well madeup woman the makeup is like the well worn toupe - it is not noticed, but instead enhances and adds to the overall beauty.  And if you wear the wrong shade, just as his mother wore a horrid shade of lipstick, the wrong color foundation, or too much blush, he just knows he did not like the way the makeup looked and blames it on "not liking makeup" in general. (Freud would have a field day with a man who doesn't want his wife to wear makeup because he disliked his mothers).  Then it would make sense that he likes you better with no makeup and understandably so. 

If you had the right colors to enhance your features in a natural way, and you looked and felt better, he would like it - plain and simple.  Well done makeup makes your features  stand out (green eyes greener, high cheekbones higher, full lips fuller, great skin greater) - not the makeup. Everyone has something beautiful about their face - EVERYONE.  A good makeup artist knows how to cash in on that feature & show it to the rest of the world!

A polished, professional, natural makeup look can be done in a "5 minute makeover".  That is all it takes - and everyone has 5 minutes to make themselves look & feel better!

Perfume is also something that can be offensive.  Perfume is supposed to be an intimate thing and fragrance is a very personal choice (one womans rose is anothers rotten egg)- the people across the room should not be able to smell your perfume. Only people who enter your personal space (typically a 2 foot diameter around you) should be able to comment on your fragrance - if you leave the room 3 minutes ahead of your fragrance - you are wearing to much, or if the checkout girl across the counter comments on it - you're wearing to much.  A light squirt on each wrist and one on your neck is all you need - not 2 or 3 squirts on each and multiple sprays on your neck - think of drawing people in - not hitting them over the head! 

You may love your fragrance - but if the person interviewing you (trapped in a car or elevator with you, behind you in line, next to you at lunch) does not - and stepping back from your personal space offers them no relief - then your interview (friendship, car-pool, date) may be over before it starts.  An offensive smell of any kind makes people want to run in the other direction and the thought of encountering that smell everyday at work or in life may be enough of a reason not to hire, date or become friends with you! 

So if you want to land a job, get a date, get a house listing, get a promotion or change careers a good place to start would be a makeup lesson and cutting back on the perfume!  With a blink and a sniff you just might be off to a whole new direction!