Bobbi Brown’s 11 Tips for Professional Workplace Makeup

“When you feel good about how you look in the mirror, and you go to work, I believe that the confidence that it gives you is worth everything,” says successful makeup artist Bobbi Brown. What matters most with work makeup is the boost it gives you. You don’t need a lot of products, and ideally, your work look won’t be too time-consuming. For more of Bobbi’s workplace makeup tips, see below:

1. 1. Know your audience. Your office makeup routine should be appropriate for your specific workplace. If you’re someone who works in a law office, there’s probably a look. If you’re someone who works at a magazine or a more creative office, there’s probably a look. It’s always good to kind of go with the crowd and know what to expect. For your typical workday, you want to make sure you look polished, you don't want to look shiny, and you do not want to come in wearing really strong makeup that possibly you would wear to a black-tie event or special occasion.
2. 2. Aim for a natural look. While your evening or nighttime look may involve bronzer, smoky eyes, highlighters, red lipstick, eyeliner, and fake eyelashes, your morning routine for work should focus around creating a more natural look. Avoid looks that make your face look like you’ve just come from the club.
3. 3. Keep it light. While it may be tempting to draw on a cat-eye or add deep contouring to your cheekbones, Bobbi’s mistake-proof work makeup look involves a more natural look. She uses tinted moisturizer or spot concealer, filled-in brows, soft, brown eyeshadow, a cream blush, and lip color to create a light look for the office.
4. 4. Make sure your skin looks good. Whether it’s a tinted moisturizer or foundation, make sure you have the right one for your skin. Make sure you have your concealer on, and just add a little bit of polish. You don’t need a face full of powder—a tinted moisturizer or just spot correcting for blemishes is good, and that will help even out your skin.
5. 5. Highlight your best features. You don’t need to put on a full face of makeup to look polished and refreshed. Think about the features you feel most confident about and polish them up: It could be fresh, glowing skin, nicely groomed eyebrows, or softly defined eyes—whatever makes you feel comfortable and self-assured.
6. 6. Try a neutral eyeshadow. For eye shadow, warm neutrals look flattering on everyone and are versatile to wear: nothing too matte or too shimmery or frosty—natural-looking textures and finishes.
7. 7. Balance your lip color. A bold lip color can make a polished statement as well, but bright lipstick requires a lot of touching up. If that’s not something you have time for, rethink color for your lips and try a glossy tint instead. You want a color that is not too strong and over the top, but not too pale, and definitely not a lip gloss.
8. 8. Bring a little makeup bag. Keep a small touch-up kit in your work bag that has all the beauty products you’d need to freshen up your look. It might include powder, blotting papers, a lip color, a brow pencil, face mist, mascara, and tinted moisturizer. You can use face mist and moisturizer for a midday touch-up—hydrating the skin and refreshing your look. (Bobbi always keeps mints in her bag as well.)
9. 9. Try multiuse makeup. Multiuse makeup products and stick makeup that you can blend with your fingers are great for their ease of use—especially for touch-ups and wearability. For eye makeup, eyeshadow sticks are quick and easy to apply. You can throw them on, blend them, or even put a little bit under the eye for a polished look. You can apply stick makeup with your finger, so you don’t have to carry around a makeup brush all the time.
10. 10. Wear products that are comfortable. Avoid wearing makeup that will distract you from doing your job. If it’s something you’re constantly going to be self-conscious about or have to touch-up often, it’s going to affect your work. You want to look comfortable, confident, and together.
11. 11. Make it quick. Bobbi doesn’t know anybody that likes to spend tons of time on their makeup during the day. Develop a routine that you can apply to your skin quickly and easily so you can get yourself out the door.

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