The majority of the workforce spends their passing hours during the week in an office environment, cooped up in cubicles. But you don’t have to look dull and boring. Learn to liven up your days at work by looking and feeling fabulous with makeup tips that will bring more life to your office and your next meeting.

The thing to remember when it comes to wearing makeup to work is that not all colors and shades work well with an office environment. How you present yourself on the job is very different from how you would present yourself going out to dinner, to the clubs with your friends or on a romantic date with your sweetheart.

Wear colors that complement your skin tone and be sure to avoid loud colors. There’s nothing wrong with attracting attention but you want to make sure it’s favorable and not off-putting - or the source of talk at the water cooler. Some safe colors you can include in your makeup palette are brown or black mascara, brown or black eyeliner, warm tone base, rose or apricot blush, gloss or peach lipstick and eye shadow in warm tones.

For those who can pull it off, skip out on the foundation. At most dab concealer where needed. If you choose to wear foundation, be aware of how the color may appear with your office’s fluorescent lighting. Try to use a base that has warm, gold tones to offset the greenish tones of the lights. Pink-based tones can make your complexion look muddy or orange. In keeping with a warm complexion, opt for rose or apricot shades of blush. Blend well to avoid sharp, defining edges. Using pink or red shades of blush can appear too harsh for office lighting.

When it comes to eye makeup you want to keep it simple and natural. Office lighting tends to not only make things look harsh but can also bring out details you normally wouldn’t notice so keep that in mind when choosing the right colors to wear. Your best bet is to stay with lighter eye makeup colors, such as rose, gold and peach. Avoid blues and grays since they can make your face look dull and drab. To keep your look natural, try brown mascara and eyeliner instead of black. Or you can choose a mix of brown/black mascara and liner for a happy medium.

It’s helpful to play up your eye makeup and keep your lips natural when it comes to office makeup. Opt for peach shade of lipstick colors or simple gloss. Sheer or shimmery lipstick shades also look flattering for office makeup. Be sure to avoid taupe, beige and other earth tones that can appear muddy and dirty under fluorescent office lighting.

Because of the professional atmosphere, you want to aim for a makeup look that is soft, light and natural. Skincare-wise, you’ll want to stick to a clean and fresh look. In the mornings be sure to thoroughly cleanse, tone and moisturize. Because the air and heat in office buildings can wreak havoc on the skin, keep a bottle of water handy on your desk to keep yourself hydrated. Carrying a bottle of hand moisturizing lotion in your purse, on your desk or in your car can also help keep your hands from getting dry and cracked.

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