Why I Don't Wear Makeup

Especially at work.

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There are many more holiday toys to be purchased and I’d love if some of them were tea party sets for boys!!

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Dan planned a surprise date night and I made the rare decision to put on makeup for the night out. As I was rushing to get ready (the baby sitter had arrived and the girls were coming in and out wanting attention) I reflected on how infrequently I put on make up now.

I have gone from putting on makeup daily when I was in my 20s to maaaaaaybe three times a year now.

In my 20s I would only enter the office with a full face of makeup. Now, I’m actually pretty dogmatic about *not* wearing makeup in a work-related setting.

I’ve come to think that encouraging women to come to the office as they naturally are is one of the most beneficial things we can do to improve gender equality at work.

I know, I know… this doesn’t show up on any DEI priorities list (and I couldn’t imagine it, frankly). But that’s what makes this a Rule Breaker post. 🙃

Let’s dive in…

Makeup Was My Armour

Early in my career, I felt makeup was a prerequisite for respect and acknowledgement in the corporate world.

During my consulting days when I was travelling, I would sneak back to my hotel room after the gym, unwilling to let colleagues see me without makeup. Later in banking, my morning makeup routine became a ritual. It was a preparation, a mental and physical gearing up for the challenges ahead. 

Makeup, in my perception, was a tool to be taken seriously, to be considered competent, and to be an integral part of the team.

Corporate Jess circa 2012. This was from a photo shoot I did with Ivey Business School.

I Left Corporate And Ditched Makeup

Leaving a corporate job and going to work in a startup world altered my perspective. 

As the only woman in an early-stage startup with a laid-back vibe, I questioned the necessity of my makeup routine. The guys rocked free tech conference t-shirts and jeans, and it dawned on me - why was I adhering to a corporate dress code?

One day, I decided to ditch the makeup. Surprisingly, the world didn't crumble. Our corporate clients treated me with the same respect and the team didn’t say anything. In fact, I think they kind of preferred it because I was showing up as my most natural self.

I began to see that makeup wasn’t a professional necessity.

Au natural Jess at a work event circa 2016. I think I even let my hair dry naturally that day!

3 Reasons No Makeup Is Good For Women

There are three big reasons that I stopped wearing makeup.

It is the same three reasons that I think encouraging women to ditch makeup can actually help gender equality in the workplace. 

1. More Time

I would spend 20-30 minutes grooming in the morning.

I knew that my men colleagues were maybe spending 60 seconds by passing a brush through their hair and splashing their face with water.

Compounded over 250 working days in a year, that’s 125 hours. That’s 125 more networking meetings I could be taking, 250 more sales calls or watching every episode of the 7 seasons of Selling Sunset - twice over!

2. Em-phasis On The *Right* Sy-label

I wanted the assessment of my worth at the office to come from my internal abilities - not my external appearance.

Yes, we all make judgements based on external factors. And, I didn’t want to amplify how I was perceived by adding makeup.

Instead, I wanted my competence and professionalism to be defined by who I am and what I do, not what I look like. 

3. Self-Confidence

It might seem counter intuitive, but my self-confidence grew when I stopped wearing makeup.

When I was in the habit of wearing makeup, I felt that the true me wasn’t good enough (and hence why I would cover up my natural face).

Breaking the habit of wearing makeup at work also got me comfortable with other elements of my authentic self - flaws, large pores and all! 

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Everyone is unique and the choice to wear makeup is personal.

And… there is a lot of social pressure to do so.

And and… I think most women wear makeup because they would feel inadequate if they didn’t.

So… I think it’s worth challenging the status quo of women believing that makeup is needed at work.

What if we were just ourselves? Starting with presenting our natural physical self could pave the way for acceptance of the unique person within.

For real gender equality at work - and, frankly, overall diversity - I think we either have to start encouraging women to come bare faced.

Or, start encouraging men to show up with their skin tone a bit more even and eyes more defined.

Keep well,

✌️

J

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I want to be clear that I am in no judging people who decide to wear makeup to work. For many, it is a form of self-expression and a way they present their most authentic selves. If Glam is how you want to show up, go for it.

My thoughts are for those that feel that makeup is used to coverup flaws, fit in or to fill in something missing.

And, with all that I write, I like to present a different lens and push us to think differently. Hope I got there with you.

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P.S. I’m prioritizing shipping over perfection, so this post may not convey all my thoughts perfectly. I’d love comments or questions to keep the discovery going.

P.P.S. With thanks, as always, to my Junior Associate, ChatGPT-3.5.