Getting professional makeup looks for work isn’t difficult; in fact, when it comes to most places of employment, less is more in terms of makeup. With a few basic makeup tips, you can get a polished and professional look that lets your skills and talent shine.

Why Wear Makeup for Work

There is nothing wrong with choosing not to wear makeup. Every woman is truly unique and beautiful just the way she is. For many women, however, choosing to wear a bit of makeup adds the finishing touch to their look and gives them confidence.

In the professional world, looking put together and polished is essential. Like it or not, first impression and perceptions count. A little makeup can go a long way in covering up minor blemishes and flaws and giving a professional edge.

Makeup for work doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming, but be sure to use the best quality makeup products you can afford. Quality products will both wear better and be better to your skin.

3 Simple Professional Makeup Looks for Work

There are an infinite number of makeup looks, but for most places of employment, women need something understated, neat, and professional looking. If you work in a creative field, you can probably get away with a bit more color or more creativity in terms of makeup, but you still can’t go wrong with a classic look. Following are three simple looks you can achieve that are business appropriate.

The Clean and Natural Professional Look

If you are a younger woman, or an older woman with plenty of cheek color, you may not need to add much color; a clean and natural makeup look will suffice. For this look, all you’ll need is:

• An eyelash curler
• A good black or brown mascara (depending on your coloring)
• Concealer for under eyes and/or blemishes if needed
• A makeup foundation of your choice
• A nude colored lip liner
• Clear lip gloss

Apply concealer on any problem areas, then apply foundation to cover the face, applying first in the t-zone and blending well. Curl eyelashes and add two coats of mascara (allowing the mascara to dry and comb through between coats). Line and fill in the lips with a nude colored lip pencil, and fill in with clear blush. Optional: a sweep of nude blush.

Subtle but Striking Professional Look

For this look, your makeup colors won’t be obvious, but you’re look will be striking and certainly professional. In addition to an eyelash curler, mascara, foundation and concealer, you’ll need:

• Two colors of eye shadow: a base color and a medium shade that compliments your eyes
• A nude, peach, or pink blush that matches your skin tone
• Lip liner in a nude colors lip liner and a medium dark nude lipstick.

After following the basic steps of the clean and natural look (save the mascara until after you apply the eye shadow) apply the base color eye shadow to the entire mobile lid. Use the medium color above the mobile lid and draw it out toward the crease. Using an eye shadow applicator or brush, apply a thin line of the same color shadow under the lower lashes. Apply blush, sweeping on the apples of cheeks and upward to highlight the cheekbones. Last fill in lips with the lip liner (to give you lipstick staying power) and apply lipstick. The result of this look will give color to your face and give subtle emphasis to your eyes.

Strong and Savvy Professional Look

For this makeup look, choose an appropriate concealer, foundation, and mascara. You’ll also need:

• Two shades of eye shadow in a neutral color or subtle shade that compliments your eyes
• A neutral color of eye liner (dark brown, taupe, and grey and classic choices that won’t overhwhelm; the liner should be darker than the shadow)
• A light and midtone blusher
• Matching lipstick and lip liner in a berry or brown red shade that matches your skin tone

Apply concealer and foundation, then apply base color eye shadow to the lid and the darker shadow shade above the lid, moving out to the crease on the top lid only. Finish with the pencil or liquid liner (liquid liner makes a sharper line and won’t smudge throughout the day) line a thing to medium line along the entire top lash line. Finish the eyes with two coats of mascara.

Apply the lighter colored blush at the top of the cheek and along the cheekbone. Use the darker shade of blusher to apply in the hollows and sweep upward (hint: blend well!). Finishing with the lipliner (again filling in the lips for staying power) and apply lipstick with the tube or lipstick brush.

The resulting look gives a clean, but very professional emphasis on the eyes, the look of high cheekbones, and a classic professional lip. The overall look is a complete professional makeup look for work. It doesn’t look overdone because all the shades are neutral or medium tones so the makeup is not too dark or overwhelming.

More Tips on Professional Makeup Looks

• Keep your brows neat and groomed. Perfect brows scream professional and show your attention to detail.
• Stick with medium neutral colors, and you can’t usually go wrong.
• You can never blend too much – nothing looks less professional than makeup lines!
• Oily Skin Makeup Tip: Keep blotter sheets and small mirror in you bag and touch up your face throughout the day.
• When you find a shade of lipstick you like, buy two; one for your purse to touch up at work, and one for home to keep at your vanity.
• Makeup looks to avoid for look include: anything glittery or shimmery; thick, dark liner eyeliner; really bright or bold eye shadow colors; avant garde or risqué makeup looks.