Our Favorite No-Fuss Professional Makeup for Work

Where do you start? How do you choose the right products for your skin? And how do you choose an appropriate makeup look for work?

In hopes of nailing down the perfect simple workday makeup routine, we did some research. We learned a lot. 

Below, we’re breaking it all down. If you want to skip ahead, we created a few jump links so you can get there quicker! 

Where Do I Start With Makeup for Work?

At Career Contessa, we’re not beauty bloggers, so if you’re looking to learn how to contour so much that you look like a different person afterward, this is probably not the article for you.

But if you want to learn to create an easy, everyday makeup routine for work, we’ve got you covered. We’re trying to simplify the process in hopes that your daily workday makeup routine takes just twenty minutes or less. 

Below, we’re sharing our staff picks, from skincare to our desert island beauty products. We also crowdsourced on Instagram to round up and share your favorite (and most recommended) beauty buys.

Here’s the pared-down, workday makeup scoop from a few gals who definitely don't know how to contour. 

Before Makeup Comes Skincare

There seems to be one general consensus regarding a solid makeup routine—and it’s the importance of skincare. In order for your makeup to look and perform its best, it needs to be applied to cared-for skin.

Your skincare routine will require different products depending on your age, skin type, and specific needs, but here’s what most experts recommend.

Cleanser 

Skincare can be expensive, but a cleanser is a place where you can stand to save.

It’s hard to spend a lot of money on something that is only on your skin for a moment or two. But the importance of a cleanser is not understated; it’s one of the most important parts of your routine.

Your skin has to be clean in order to let it breathe or soak up the products that you’re paying to put on it. Let's start by giving our faces a nice wash. 

Spoiler Alert: Everybody Loves CeraVe

As far as affordable cleansers go, it feels like just about everyone recommends CeraVe. Their Hydrating Cleanser is a great basic option that leaves you with a clean feeling without the tight feeling of a cleanser that is too drying.

If you have oily skin, they also offer a Foaming Cleanser that people rave about. Users also love Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (it has over 4,000 reviews on Sephora). It’s also really gentle but does a great job of truly removing makeup.

Moisturizer 

If you’re like me, you need a moisturizer, but finding the right one can be tricky. 

Moisturizers are important because they provide moisture (hello) for your skin, keeping it healthy and dewy and not dry and flaky. Moisturizers also help balance your skin’s oil content, making breakouts less likely.

Finding the right moisturizer may take trial and error, but my favorite is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. It doesn’t smell weird, isn’t too heavy, and doesn’t interfere with my makeup. Our Content Director sears by Tula's Hydrating Day & Night Cream. 

People also swear by face oils, and while it may seem weird to put oil on your face, we’re told that it sinks in and can feel lighter than a traditional moisturizer. Lots of people recommend rms beauty’s Beauty Oil. It’s a little pricier, but it seems like a luxurious way to treat yourself.

Sunscreen

I asked my dermatologist a few months ago during my regular skin check (please do this) what her number one piece of skincare advice was. Without hesitating, she said “sunscreen every day.” (If you’re wondering, she said “retinol” after that, but we’ll get into that in a moment.)

If you take one thing away from this article, let it be this: wear sunscreen whenever you’re in the sun. The CDC says that most skin cancer is caused by overexposure to UV rays. It’s worth getting into the habit of sunscreen as part of your skincare routine as early as possible.

To that end, it was easy to choose my favorite facial sunscreen. I was influenced by Instagram, but I love Elta MD’s UV Elements tinted sunscreen.

It’s anti-aging, full of good ingredients, and doesn’t have that strong sunscreen-y smell. Supergoop sunscreen is also great, and I’ve heard multiple people touting their Glowscreen, which has a little shimmer and provides a flattering, dewy finish. 

Other Skincare Items

In addition to a solid skincare routine, there are a few fun extras you can add in for a little self-care and pampering. 

Silk Pillowcases

A silk pillowcase can help cause fewer wrinkles, and it can benefit your hair as well by reducing breakage. Plus, it just feels really nice to sleep on.

Masks 

There are masks for just about every skin type or issue you can imagine, and we love using them while watching mindless tv or reading. It’s pricey, but the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask is next-level good.

You can feel your face tighten as it dries, and it’s strangely satisfying, as it feels like it’s doing something positive for your skin. 

Retinol

We aren’t doctors, and a lot of retinol products are prescription-only, so talk to your derm before you introduce this to your routine. That said, good retinol can make a big difference in your skin’s health and appearance.

It's good at shrinking blackheads, preventing wrinkles, reducing dullness, and more. This Sunday Riley one has a cult following. 

Ice Rollers

Didn't you get a good night's sleep, and your face has puffed to twice its size? An ice roller can help—in a big way. We love keeping this ice roller nice and frosty in our freezer. 

Makeup for People Who Hate Makeup

We get it. Makeup can be time-consuming and expensive, and certain products can feel heavy on your face or cause breakouts or other reactions. It's not fun. 

But we think maybe people who say they don’t like all makeup are like people who say they don’t like to read—they just haven’t found their holy grail product (or book) yet.

To that end, we’ve gathered products that feel great on your skin, are super fast and fool-proof to apply, and take your own naturally beautiful face and subtly enhance it. Here are some of our favorites that meet these criteria. 

Makeup Sticks 

Famous makeup artist and expert Bobbi Brown recommends makeup sticks as an ideal multi-use non-makeup-y product. There are eyeshadow, blush, and lip makeup sticks, as well as highlighter, bronzer, and foundation makeup sticks.

She recommends applying them with your fingers and selecting options that can be used in multiple areas of your face. They’re easy to keep in your bag for touch-ups since they don’t require a brush.

Her brand makes a great foundation stick that can be used as a spot concealer, under-eye concealer, or as your foundation.

Ilia’s Multi-Stick Cheek & Lip is made from natural ingredients and is lightweight—ideal for someone who is makeup-hesitant. 

Tinted Moisturizer

It’s a classic for a reason. Another two-for-one product, tinted moisturizer hydrates your skin while providing a light layer of coverage. It’s essentially just a moisturizer with a little extra oomph.

It doesn’t feel heavy on your skin, is unlikely to gather in any creases, and many of them include SPF. If you need a quick way to look just a bit more polished for a meeting or work event, a little tinted moisturizer is an easy solution.

We really like the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer but have heard great things about Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint as well. 

A Nude Lip

A “nude” lip is perfect for an everyday makeup routine for work.

The best nude lip colors are the ones that bring out your lip’s natural tones. A nude lip can make your look feel more “complete” without the need for dramatic lipstick that takes a lot of maintenance throughout the day. We swear by Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk.

It comes in a gloss if lipstick isn’t your thing, but we think that matte-finish lipsticks are easy for a work makeup look since they don’t require as many touch-ups.

Essential Makeup Items for Work

Here are our suggestions for an easy, everyday makeup routine for work. First, a few caveats. We’re not here to tell you that you shouldn’t put on a full face of makeup every day for work if that’s your style. Or if you work in a creative environment where makeup is part of your look, you do you!

Your style reflects who you are, and if that includes makeup, that’s great. That said, we’ve left off the more “fun” products like false eyelashes, glittery eyeshadow, and super-bright lip gloss from this work-focused makeup list.

Rather than getting made up for a standard office job, we think it’s best to save those items for a fun night out or a special event. Without further ado, our pared-down list of essentials for a quick makeup look for work:

Foundation

Whether you prefer full coverage or something sheerer, foundation is an easy way to make your look a bit more polished. 

Bronzer/Highlighter

We’re definitely not condoning adding a full-look contouring session before work each day, but we think adding just a bit of bronzer or highlighter can make a big difference. We’ve chosen options that are easy to apply and blend (no TikTok practice necessary).

Blush

Like we discussed above, using the same product for your blush and your lip color can save you time and give you a pretty, cohesive makeup look.

YouTube makeup artist Eman notes that a peachy-toned blush is flattering on most skin tones and is easier to apply than super pink blushes.

Eyes and Brows 

Glamour says, “If you have 10 minutes to get ready, try playing up your brows.” We agree. Since they frame your face and draw attention to your eyes, don’t overlook them in your routine.

You can quickly fill them in with a little pencil and finish with some clear brow gel (or use a two-in-one product here) to give your face a polished look. 

For a workday makeup look, we recommend keeping your eyes pretty simple. With a little neutral eyeshadow and some mascara (and maybe eyeliner if you have the time and energy), you can emphasize your eyes without spending a ton of time. 

Lips

Since the typical office setting probably isn’t the best place to wear a super-bright lip gloss (in most cases), we like something that feels more natural—and neutral—and doesn’t require a ton of maintenance throughout the workday.

A matte gloss, lipstick, or lip stain stays put the best. 

Easy Workplace Makeup Looks to Try

Having fun with your makeup before work can brighten your day and give you a little confidence boost.

Whether you’re heading into the office or want to brighten your face for a Zoom call, you don’t have to put on a full face of heavy-duty makeup to enjoy a pretty workday makeup look. 

To Look Awake at Work

Tired or burned out? We hear you.

Fake an “awake” look by strategically using makeup. Here, we learned it’s mostly about the eyes. Curling your eyelashes takes just a few seconds, and it’s an easy trick that makes your eyes look more open.

That, plus defining your eyebrows with a pencil or powder, can subtly make your face feel more “complete.” 

If you don’t feel like dealing with foundation, a little concealer under your eyes  à la Bobbi Brown can make you look awake when you feel anything but. Lots of you recommended NARS Soft Matte Concealer, which comes in a ton of shades.

Also, a little strategically-placed highlighter can brighten your face, making you look less tired. rms beauty’s Living Lumizer is pretty, fool-proof, and quick to apply. 

Easy Eyeliner Tricks 

If you want to draw subtle attention to your eyes for work but the thought of dealing with eyeliner has you intimidated, there’s a TikTok hack for that.

Basically, you draw three lines to start and then connect them instead of having to use a steady hand the whole time. 

If that’s still too much, Eman demonstrates creating the winged liner look, but with a brush and eyeshadow. It’s a little more subtle. Pro Tip: If you mess up, just blend it in for a “smokey eye” look. 

Confidence-Boosting Makeup Tricks 

While we definitely promote keeping a natural look for the most part, sometimes it’s nice to bend the so-called “rules” and have a little fun with makeup for work.

Whether it’s the perfect red lip or a pretty eyeshadow, there are a few ways to make sure you feel confident before an important meeting or presentation.  

The Red Lip

Experts swear by NARS’s matte lip pencils because they stay on well since they’re not glossy—but they’re not drying. They come in a range of colors, but we like Dragon Girl for the perfect red. It’s super bright and true red-red.

We learned the best way to create the perfect red lip is the preparation beforehand. Before you use a lip crayon (especially a matte one), you want to exfoliate and moisturize your lips. Once you’ve done that, here’s how to create the ideal red lip in four steps.

Favorite “Zhuzh It Up” Tricks

We know that confidence starts from within. That’s why we’ve got confidence tricks galore at Career Contessa. Makeup-wise, here are a few of our own favorite tricks that help us increase our confidence. 

Makeup Brands to Try

There are a ton of new makeup brands popping up—it can be hard to keep up. Here are a few that we kept hearing about over and over (plus a few that we’ve tried ourselves and love). 

Ilia

This brand is popular for good reason. They’re a clean beauty brand that creates products that are actually good for your skin (lots of them include hydrating ingredients and SPF). They also use sustainable packaging. Our favorite Ilia picks are their mascara and their lip and cheek multi-stick.

Artis

Full disclosure: these brushes are pricey, but people are crazy about them. They simplify makeup application (whether it’s liquid, cream, or powder) and they provide a really pretty finish. 

Best Inexpensive Makeup

Makeup doesn’t have to destroy your budget. There are plenty of options on the market that are affordable and still perform great. 

Covergirl LashBlast Mascara

I’ve tried multiple mascaras, and even some of the more expensive ones don’t hold up to this one from Covergirl. I used it for years. 

Versed

Versed products are more skincare-based than true makeup, but for a new line, they certainly have a big following. Most items are less than $20 and have great reviews. 

Best Middle-Tier Makeup

There are about a zillion choices for solid, middle-of-the-road makeup—so many, in fact, that browsing Sephora can be downright intimidating. Here are a few of your favorite tried-and-true recommendations. 

bareMinerals

bareMinerals is another clean line that makes just about every makeup item you can think of. Their tinted moisturizer is great, as are their makeup brushes and lip products.  

Thrive Causemetics

Of course, we had to include a beauty brand that gives back to causes like female first responders, racial justice advocacy, women fighting cancer, and more. It’s the icing on the cake that their products are really good (some of you swore by their Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara).

Best Inclusive Makeup Brands

The beauty of makeup is that it’s not one-size-fits-all. We love that these brands include every skin tone and type and feature diverse and inclusive imagery.

Fenty

With over 50 (!) shades, Fenty is known for its skin tone inclusivity. Their foundation has a 4.0-star review average with over 16,000 reviews on Sephora, so you’re likely to love it if you try it.

Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever also offers 50 different shades of foundation suitable for tons of different skin tones. Their campaign images are super gender-inclusive and age-inclusive.

BECCA Cosmetics

Their skin highlighter comes in various shades that are flattering for everyone. 

Makeup Brands the Pros Swear By

They’re classics for a reason. Here are some of the most often recommended makeup brands from the pros. 

Chanel

Makeup artists and beauty bloggers still love Chanel makeup, especially their foundation options. Their Hybrid Fluid Foundation is well known for its lightweight feel and ability to stay on all day.

Westman Atelier

It’s a bit of a pricier option, but pros love Westman Atelier’s clean products and their emphasis on sustainability. We’ve heard people rave about their Baby Cheeks Blush Stick. 

Kevyn Aucoin

Created by makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin in 2001, these products are long-lasting and highly rated. The brand is known for this multitasking product that can be a concealer, foundation, or highlighter.