The debate over whether not wearing makeup in the workplace is “unprofessional” has gained attention on TikTok, where women have been questioning societal norms around makeup and professionalism.
Several viral videos have brought this issue to the forefront. In March, TikTok user Melissa (@mel_weave) questioned, “Does wearing makeup to work make a difference?” after attending a job interview without makeup. Melissa said the recruiter told her she “hadn’t put enough effort” into her appearance for the role she was interviewing for.
Commenting on the video, which has had over 888,000 views, TikToker Jenny Freeman said, “that honestly feels like discrimination,” while another user, @tawnyrobinette, sided with the recruiter, saying, “appearance at an interview is everything.”
Payton Leihgeber (@littleburgers) shared a viral clip about her experience of going to the office without makeup because she was running late and makeup was causing her skin to break out.
“I did not wear makeup to the office today,” she says in the video, which has amassed over 443,000 views since it was shared in October 2023. She added, “And guess what happened? Absolutely nothing…it was great.”
Lauren Mastroni, a career expert at Resume Genius, agreed, telling Newsweek: “Gender-biased beauty standards like this make more demands of women than men, creating a hostile working environment where one’s value to the company is determined in some way by one’s appearance.”
According to Mastroni, “It is not unprofessional to choose not to wear makeup to work, but it is unprofessional to judge one’s colleagues based on their choice to do so or not.”
Hayley Haywood, the chief equity officer and founder of Elevating Access, an equity-centered organizational change firm, emphasized the restrictive nature of narrow concepts of professionalism.
Haywood told Newsweek: “Narrow concepts of professionalism create a culture of conformity, which hinders innovation, hurts employee morale, and lessens employee engagement, especially for those who are pushed to the margins for not assimilating.”
Haywood noted that “not all women wear makeup, and not everyone who wears makeup identifies as a woman” and that it’s important to find employers who value workers for their contributions rather than appearance.
“Throughout the job search, pay attention to how you feel when interacting with people, who you see, and whether that aligns with what you’re seeking—interviews are a two-way street…we all deserve an employer who recognizes our talents run deeper than foundation [makeup],” she said.
Monica Burkoth, a trial lawyer and equity partner at a high-stakes law firm in Chicago, Illinois, who also works as a mindset and confidence coach, reinforced that makeup is not tied to professionalism.
“I think makeup has nothing to do with professionalism—it is the energy, the essence, the vibe of the person showing up,” Burkoth told Newsweek. “You could be completely glammed up but super self-conscious, and you will be eaten alive. But if you are poised and magnetic and your energy is emitting confidence, then makeup or no makeup, you will thrive.”
Newsweek