If there is any generation that’s cracked the code for the perfect office makeup look, it’s Gen-Z. Now that Gen-Z has entered the workforce, we can see them striking the right balance, we are keeping it fresh and professional without losing a sense of individuality and a unique flair of our personal style. We are no longer wearing that one-winged eyeliner and a brown lip to work. Whether you work in finance, tech, or even marketing like me, I have 10 perfectly curated looks that you can choose from, whether it’s just for work or even a little shindig after work hours.
10 Gen-Z Makeup Looks For Work
Be ready to find some classic, some contemporary, some fresh, and some refreshed looks to embrace the workplace as a Gen-Z (or even a millennial, we won’t tell if you don’t).
1. Bare Face With A Pop Of Colour
This makeup look is the definition of low-effort, high-return. If you are someone who doesn’t like to sit in the humid commute and frigid office space with heavy or any makeup, this look is for you. Even though the reference here is Ms Hadid sporting a lovely yellow, you can swap it with any coloured eye-shadow, in fact, do what I do, a different colour in the inner corner of my eye every day. Make sure you wear a nude lipstick so all the focus is on the eyes.
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Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, 802 Very Black, Lengthening & Waterproof (6ml)
2. Cinnamon Girl With A Spicy Twist
This is a very trendy makeup look, and we even have a Nykaa Academy masterclass with Baltasar González Pinel, MᐧAᐧC Cosmetics’ Director of Artistry for Europe and India, exclusively on Nykaa Play. This look is warm and fuzzy with a hint of monochromatic goodness that can help you ease from meetings to presentations effortlessly.
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Kay Beauty 24HR Coloured Matte Kajal – Brown (0.35gm)
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3. High Lash Moment
Never have I ever gone wrong with a high lash moment. A dramatic lash at the outer corner of the eye, a barely-there lip colour, and a pinch of blush on your cheeks can make your day without adding a lot of effort. Make sure to not overdo it with lashes all over. I recommend adding a little bit towards the outer end for that subtle yet chic look.
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4. Clean Girl Meets Baddie Energy
Gone are the days when a clean girl look was limited to the soft-girl aesthetic, even the baddies have entered the chat with this makeup trend, adding their own spin with a simply glowy skin and a graphic liner. A soft freckle moment and a nude lip is all you need for that right balance.
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Lakme 9to5 Overtime Shine Hydrating Tinted Lip Gloss Oil with Hyaluronic Acid – Everyday Nude (5.3ml)
5. Lips Don’t Lie
Don’t have fuller lips but want to make them look bigger? This lip combo is the perfect lip-plumping routine you need for bigger, fuller lips. Start with a lip liner with a deeper shade than your lips; it helps if you overline a bit; this way, your double-lined lips will look more coherent. Follow this light nude and then a lip plumping gloss. You can keep the rest of your face bare or minimal, as all eyes are going to be on the lips.
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Maybelline New York Lifter Plump – Plumping Lip Gloss – Hot Chili(5ml)
6. So You Think You Can Bake
The only baking Gen-Z women want to do is the one that makes their faces poreless and flawless. This look, although a little extra, is for those days when you need people to remember you making an impact, may it be a client meeting, a presentation, or even addressing a large crowd. All you need are a few essentials, and you are good to go.
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7. Let Your Frames Frame Your Look
Are you even a corporate baddie if you don’t have a pair of (real or fake) glasses that you wear to be taken seriously among a sea of middle-aged men? Don’t let your glasses stop you from slaying that nerdy queen energy with icy blue eyeshadow and a glossy lip.
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8. K-Drama Kween
A Korean-inspired pinstripe pants and a sweater to work is the perfect outfit to beat the freezing temperatures at the office. Pair this look with makeup that complements your face and location. A soft satin base, with a bubblegum lip, and a pop of colour in the eyes without the sharp eyeliner, is all you need to achieve this look.
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9. Summer Goddess With A Slick Back
Channel your inner glow goddess with this minimal yet radiant look. It’s perfect for slick-back Wednesdays, when all you want to do is tie your hair back, add a little blush, some fake freckles, and a small wing to look nonchalantly dressed for work.
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10. Done With Gloss Summer? Here’s A Matte Look For You
If Zendaya, the queen of a glossy look, can serve with a matte affair, we too can ditch the shimmer for a quieter look. A nice mauve matte lip with soft lashes, a baked cheek, and some matte eyeshadow is all you need.
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Kay Beauty Matte HD Setting Loose Powder – Banana (10g)
Parting Thoughts
Gen-Z makeup styles are not just your run-of-the-mill styles that you can dabble with because it is comfortable. Gen-Z makeup helps celebrate your individuality, yet maintains professionalism without looking too boring. These looks are inspired, curated, and crafted for people who may or may not particularly like going to work, but definitely love a slay moment, especially when their work crush is around.
FAQs
- What are popular Gen-Z makeup trends for work ?
- There are several popular Gen-Z makeup trends for work. Here are some you can try:
- Fuller and lined lips
- A pop of colour on the inner corner of the eye
- Skincare pimple patches, instead of makeup
- A subtle wing
- Blush blindness
- There are several popular Gen-Z makeup trends for work. Here are some you can try:
- How to maintain makeup for the whole day ?
- If you want your makeup to last all day, don’t forget to prep your skin before anything else. Make sure you follow your CSMS routine and head in with a primer that minimises uneven skin texture, open pores, and fine lines. You can follow this with a water and moisture-proof formulation and end the whole routine with a setting spray.