wearing makeup to work?

[meghan91]

I am still in nursing school and I usually always wear makeup when I'm out most of the time like a "full face of makeup" not like a clown or anything weird and over the top haha but I usually always wear foundation, concelar, eye liner, mascara, a little bronzer niti have always thought it would be kind of pointless to wake up every day or everyother day (whatever my work schedule will be) and put on a full face of makeup when I'm going to be running around a hospital all day, helping people to the bathroom, giving baths, doing charts, giving meds etc. but I still feel like when I'm a nurse I dont want to look like a total bum either like I just rolled outa bed with no makeup on (because that is never a good look when I'm pale because I havent tanned or I'm beyond tird that day). I know I am not going to want to put on a ton of makeup everyday when its just going to rub off , sweat off etc.

I just dont want to look sloppy infront of patients, their familys, other co workers, or bosses.

Do you wear makeup to work as a nurse?

If so, what do you wear to keep it simple?

Do you think its silly to put makeup on in this type of profession when we are just running around non stop?

Also, how do you make yourself look put together when it comes to usually always havng your hair up a lot of the time?

[Blackheartednurse]

BA_anthropology said:

Can someone tell me what the actual logic to this is?? How can one's face become "used to" makeup. I've heard people say this before and I just do not understand how a person's face *changes* after wearing makeup. I think that people just get so used to seeing them with makeup and when they don't have it they look bad, compared to how they look with make up.

I am kind of obnoxious about wearing makeup all the time, even if I'm going outside to take out the trash. I'm 25 years old and I think I started wearing makeup every day at 20. Started with mascara, now it's all the basics. To me, the basics are: green concealer because I'm very red-skinned, mineral powder, loads of mascara (my favorite part!), 2-tone shadow, and lip gloss (or just some chap stick). I hate the way I look without my skin covered and really envy women who have gorgeous skin and can pull it off!! There are a few girls in my clinical who have that amazing creamy-toned skin and it's just gorgeous.

Plus, since we have to wear ugly scrubs to work, no nail polish, short nails, and hair back for hygienic reasons, makeup helps me feel like I'm in nursing school rather than military school...

I have a friend who wears a very perfect make up,every day she looks dolled up,glamorous,you name it,one time she was sleeping over in my house and I saw her without make up,she looked terrible,oh my god,she was well aware of that, she even tried to cover her face and leave my house asap.

[Blackheartednurse]

backatit2 said:

most of the girls I know who "won't leave the house without make-up" don't look good without it - one reason being that everyone is used to seeing them with it, but the other reason being that they often do have skin flaws, mainly acne. I personally think the make-up is what contributes to if not causes the acne in the "never leave the house without it" population. obviously, the make up is going to block pores and that can't be good. it's just too big of a coincidence that people with "good skin" happen to not wear make up most of the time.

Make up won't make one beautiful if one isn't-seriously,it may make you look more dolled up,but your features still won't be classic,beautiful,an truly attractive person doesnt need a make up.

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

backatit2 said:

I think it's really sad that so many women "won't leave the house without makeup." that's really a huge lack of self esteem. I can understand if there is scarring or some skin condition trying to be covered up, but I think it's a shame more females aren't comfortable in their own skin.

I rarely wear make up. I've gotten all kinds of compliments on my complexion and my eyes. then when I DO wear make up, everyone notices and says something. on the other hand, when someone always wears a "full face" they look like DEATH if they show up with no make up on even if they're actually pretty bc that's the face everyone gets used to.

I don't think it's fair to say it's "always" self esteem. It isn't for me. At 46 I think I've aged well thanks to my genes. People always guess me 10 to even 15 years younger, patients and co-workers, I guess when it happens that frequently and people then inquire on my skin care...it's sincere.

I don't have self esteem problems at my age. Maybe I did when I was younger and tried to allow people to mold me into their idea of beautiful (aka dyed blonde hair when I'm naturally a brunette) Now, I crack up when I see the younger generation that thinks they're all that. Overall I'm pretty pleased when I look in the mirror, never wished to look any different, sometimes don't appreciate the attention, b/c it to me is always about my heart foremost not my looks, my husband gets that, and I love him more for that. He says that b/c I'm attractive..that's bonus to him not the thing, never had that before. So yeah, when I was younger I was definately stupid for letting others define my perception of me.

I am however really pale, so I see nothing wrong with evening that out and adding a little color here and there, as others have said to look awake, put together. Most people I work with use a light hand, the key being to make it look like you aren't wearing any, just playing up your features. Some people that I work with think they're all that w/o anything and make comments as such. To me, their snotty attitude loses that whole beautiful inside and out thing and makes them even more unattractive.

Just because I think I'm a little too pale with nothing doesn't mean I'm not comfortable in my own skin. IMO that's more or less something that happened when I got older. When I was young I didn't appreciate my features. I can remember in the 70's that ad with Chris Everett and the starburst effect her eyes had. I wanted that, instead of my large hooded eyes, I remember try to press the lids back further b/c none of my friends had big eyes like mine and I thought it made me look like a freak. then I grew up and appreciate them. It's good to get older

[tech1000]

I wear powder, blush, eyeliner on the bottom, usually really light eyeshadow, and mascara. A lot of people in hospitals wear their hair down all the time. I wear mine down sometimes, sometimes up. Just depends on what my hair looks like when I wake up. I think makeup is fine as long as somebody doesn't look at you and think "She's definitely wearing makeup."

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

triquee said:

It is my impression that full coverage makeup prematurely ages your skin. I haven't worn it more than a handful of days in my lifetime. Don't like the way it feels. I've never needed to wear it, I have great skin, but I can't help but wonder if not wearing makeup over the years is the reason why I have great skin into my 30s.

Nah, you might just have good genes or have a good routine going. I've been wearing a full face of makeup since I was 13, and I get told I look like I'm in my 20's rather than almost 40. I always take my make-up off before I go to bed and wear sunscreen, either in my makeup or alone. The "makeup ruins your skin" spiel is something mothers used to tell their daughters years ago to keep them from looking like hussies..

I have gone without makeup, usually at the gym or beach and I haven't frightened any small children yet. I'm attractive without it, but I personally don't care for the too natural look that many women sport-it just looks like they can't be bothered.

And of course, smoking KILLS your skin..smokers almost always look older than their age.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

GadgetRN71 said:

Nah, you might just have good genes or have a good routine going. I've been wearing a full face of makeup since I was 13, and I get told I look like I'm in my 20's rather than almost 40. I always take my make-up off before I go to bed and wear sunscreen, either in my makeup or alone. The "makeup ruins your skin" spiel is something mothers used to tell their daughters years ago to keep them from looking like hussies..

I have gone without makeup, usually at the gym or beach and I haven't frightened any small children yet. I'm attractive without it, but I personally don't care for the too natural look that many women sport-it just looks like they can't be bothered.

And of course, smoking KILLS your skin..smokers almost always look older than their age.

Heh...I don't know that washing my face with Dove bar soap in the shower qualifies as a skincare regime, but hey, I'll take what I can get.

Parabens, dioxanes, petroleum by-products and fragrances irritate skin. Prolonged skin irritation (wearing a full face of makeup all day, every day) can compromise skin cell lifespan. Cell death => cell regeneration. The greater the number of times cells regenerate, the less functional and resilient (read: youthful) they become.

The process of applying and removing makeup also severely compromises the integrity of skin cells via irritation.

It could be genetics. It could also be that I allow my skin to do its job without impeding, irritating, or destroying it. I'll probably never know.

[StyleNurse, BSN, RN]

So I am about to start nursing school and I am a girly-girl who likes wearing makeup. If any makeup is allowed this is what I would use and recommend: BareMinerals because it looks very natural and doesn't make me break out, any under eye concealer if you have serious dark circles like me, Almay water-proof mascara because it looks natural and will last all day, natural blush, natural looking lipstick like Clinique Long Last lipstick in Creamy Nude or your favorite lip balm, a taupe or nude colored eye shadow with little to no shimmer. If you love doing your brows just fill them in a bit but that's definitely extra and I highly doubt I'll be doing that very often. If you like eye liner and your hospital allows it try not to make it look too dramatic. I guess I would recommend the no makeup- makeup look if that makes sense. I give props to those who love their faces au naturel so these are recommendations for nurses and future nurses like me who want some extra help to look awake, radiant, natural, and professional. If all else fails just get a good night sleep. I hope this helps any nurses out there. :redpinkhe:heartbeat:D

[al586]

I took a bit of a different tack regarding makeup. I don't have the time to spend on applying makeup, but need (IMO) a bit of help to look my best. I invested in permanent (tattooed) eyeliner and lipstick. Now, when I get up, I only need to apply a bit of concealer and mascara. Best cosmetic investment I ever made!

[regularRN]

I never wear makeup but I always apply moisturizer and sunscreen. I don't get the whole "full face of make up" - I've never seen a male nurse feel the need to wear foundation etc. etc. Why should I?

[NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN]

I haven't worn much makeup my whole life and it hasn't changed once I started nursing. I doll up for the interview, and for "orientation," and once that's done...so long eye shadow, and so long contact lenses for that matter. On evenings when the patients are tearing up the place and you're running half-staff...no one bothers to worry about makeup. lol

I did work at a place that was so violent that staff getting glasses slapped off their face or broken was a daily occurance...so I wore my contacts there but that was as getting "fixed up" as I could take. Shoot, our night shift wears sweats half the time.

[NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN]

Oh, but you know, if I were young and "single," especially working around EMTs or residents...I'd probably get fixed up. LOL

[LouisVRN, RN]

I ALWAYS wear makeup to work. I would never go to an office job with no makeup on and feel that nursing deserves the same respect. Granted our work can be more physical but I don't feel put together unless I have it on. My usual makeup routine is moisturizer, then i have an airbrush machine that allows me to do foundation, blush, highlighter and bronzer in about 1 minute, then apply a little eyeshadow and a gel eyeliner and a neutral lip gloss and I'm good to go. Oh and if I'm reallly lazy my makeup last so long I can go the 12 hours sleep in it and then wear it to work the next day with only a touch up of shadow and lip gloss.