Job Interview Makeup Do's and Don'ts

Updated on February fourteen, 2021

When you're doing your makeup for a job interview, think soft and natural. Overall, a good dominion of pollex is to choose shades within a shut range of your skin tone. You lot desire to make a good impression without overdoing it. It'south meliorate to alloy in than information technology is to stand up out by overdoing and wearing too much makeup.

Beyond the bones idea that your interview makeup shouldn't be loud or distracting, what else works and what doesn't? Tin can you wear cherry-red lipstick to an interview? What virtually a cat-eye? Are false eyelashes a practiced idea?

Hither are some do's and don'ts for wearing makeup to a job interview, so you make the best impression.

Match Your Makeup to Your Peel Tone

Woman with nude makeup

Frank P. Wartenburg / Getty Images

This woman is wearing nude lip gloss, low-cal bronzer, and dusk rose eyeshadow. A stake lady would want to avert heavy magenta blush, and a deeper toned woman would want to avoid vivid pink lipstick or light biscuit eyeshadow.

Your goal is to accept your makeup blend in, non stand out.

Exist Primed Against Chroma

Mineral makeup cosmetics kit

JulyProkopiv / Getty Images

Remember that job interviews tin can be stressful fifty-fifty for people who have washed many of them.

If you lot're prone to deep flushing when you're nervous or flustered, and anticipate an intense interview, you may want to go calorie-free on the blush you apply and opt for a sheer bronzer or highlighter instead.

And if you're seriously concerned about getting carmine, because using a green-tinted primer before you apply your makeup. Though it won't be outwardly noticeable, it will assistance counteract any redness should blood start rushing to your cheeks.

Skip the Faux Eyelashes

Woman with false eyelashes

DigitalVision / Getty Images

Although faux eyelashes might make you announced awake and wide-eyed, salve them for the company holiday party, not for the interview. Can you imagine if your false lashes came off during your meeting?

You don't want to exist worrying too much about your appearance, so you can focus on acing your interview questions. Rather than falsies, opt for a coat of black, waterproof mascara (that way it'll be weatherproof, sweatproof and tearproof) instead.

Avert Clumpy Mascara

Close-Up Woman Eye Make-Up

RUNSTUDIO / Getty Images

That being said, don't go crazy with the mascara and end up with clumpy lashes.

Yous want to wait professional person and polished, not like you lot just got home from a hectic dark at the gild. In the case of interview makeup, less is much, much more.

Consider Natural Lip Gloss

Woman applying lip gloss

Moment Images / Getty Images

If you are inclined to use lipstick or lip gloss, keep the shade within a reasonable range of your natural lip color.

Be careful with gloss: you don't desire it to await sticky, get smeared, or dry up and leave nasty white residue. A thin, moisturizing lip gloss or even lip balm is a prophylactic choice.

Exist Classy About Your Reddish Lipstick

Smiling businesswoman seated at office workstation

Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

Ruddy lips are a glamorous archetype but maybe not for your interview. Here'southward the thing: ruby-red lipstick isn't a terrible "don't," it'southward merely something to arroyo with caution.

So when can it work? If the residuum of your look is understated—an all-blackness wearing apparel and shoe combination and minimal eye makeup, you lot might be able to go away with it.

Simply your lipstick must be applied with care. Bare lips would be amend than blotchy lipstick or smudged lip liner. And you lot probably don't want to be worrying about that during your interview.

Here's a secret: a sheer scarlet lip stain might just be your best bet. Just use information technology with grade.

Mineral Powder Is the Antidote to a Nervous Sheen

Brush With Powder

HighImpactPhotography / Getty Images

An interview tin can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it's important to go on your cool and perform under pressure.

If you're decumbent to sweating or getting cerise when you're stressed, a lightweight mineral pulverization volition come in handy. Just grit it on your face, either over your foundation, concealer or blank skin if you aren't wearing a base of operations subsequently, using a big brush similar the one pictured.

The benefits of pulverization: This will help dry up any sweat, so you lot don't look greasy and will also lend an even tone to your face.

Effort Pencil Eyeliner for a Softer Look

Close up of eyeliner on a woman

Jamie Grill / Getty Images

If you lot're used to doing cat eyeliner, tone it down for your interview. Rather than extending your eyeliner by the outer edge of your center, finish it right in that location.

You can likewise apply a pencil, as opposed to liquid liner, to achieve a softer, less harsh look.

Forget About the Crazy Eyeshadow

Woman with bright, bold eyeshadow

Pamela Oliveiras / Getty Images

Forget about the crazy, colorful eyeshadow. If you choose to wear eyeshadow, it should inappreciably exist noticeable. You want to be able to make house, confident heart contact while y'all answer questions, and your interviewer's attention should be on your answers themselves, non on your loud eye makeup.​

Cull Natural Tones for Your Eyeshadow

Close up of woman's natural eyeshadow

PeopleImages / Getty Images

That being said, opt for natural tones if you choose to article of clothing eye shadow for an interview. Globe tones are a safe bet; and easy to utilise. But use a lighter, slightly luminescent shade (close to your skin tone) on your lids, and so add some depth with a medium shade on the outer corners of your eyes.