Josie wondered if her hat was too gangsta
until she saw that her new boss was
wearing an Eminem necklace.
This post is regarding what style of makeup to wear on your first day of a new job.
It's pretty simple really, both the actual makeup and the logic behind it.
You want to look polished. Not like you're the type who will steal stationary/petty cash/entire office desks, or the type who will be less interesting and just as useful than the ink in the fax machine, or the type who will be dancing on the bar in your bra at the Christmas party (although that is kind of fun) just polished.
You also want to send a message that you know you're the shit, you know how to wear makeup, you know how to wear appropriate makeup, and that possibly in a few years, you'll be running the joint. I imagine.
Here's what I recommend.
For foundation, go a semi-matte finish (I say this only so you don't go in with tinted moisturiser and a face of sheen). I will be using Biotherm's Light radiance foundation, which is Rather Excellent (and I don't find it to be drying like a lot of mid-coverage foundations).
Lovely healthy cheeks - ideally during winter, this will be a healthy flush of non-shimmer bronzer and blush. I'll be using the new Estee Lauder Tom Ford Azuree soleil Sunbronzer, which is beautiful and sans glitter and the perfect mesh of warmth and colour.
For the eyes, go either a standard, inoffensive brown-based natural shadow look, or, my obsession at the moment, a black wet-dry shadow applied as liner on the upper lash line only to define eyes (so much easier than liquid liner), and then a wash of white-based sheer shadow over the eyeball only. (Very 40s and cool.) Then two coats of your chosen mascara.
Lips? Better to go for a glossy lipstick over just a gloss. Most cosmetic companies offer lipstick variants that have a very high shine these days, so don't feel like you're becoming all nanna by opting for a stick over a wand. I just think a mouth dripping with high-shine gloss doesn't scream 'take me seriously', you know?
Shade wise, it depends on what you did on your eyes. If you went brown, go a nudey, neautral shade. If you went liner, you can employ some colour, which will also help brighten up what will usually be (on the first day) a very conservative wardrobe. A fresh, subtle, peach-based pink is sweet, and very on trend, and when combined with bronzed cheeks, makes your whole face look fresh and healthy and like you're ready to kick ASS. I like Maybelline's moisture extreme in watermelon.
I also like to spend time the night before doing my hair (clean, shiny, colour-refreshed, blow-dried) so that in the morning, it doesn't misbehave and cause me to have a meltdown over something as innocuous as there being no butter left for my fruit toast.
