My Job Interview Makeup Look

I've been having some luck again with scoring job interviews, until I actually go there and answer my questions. That's when I start to get really nervous, stutter, and talk really really fast.

One thing my mom has pounded in my head for interviews is that you must look impeccable. I remember how she annoyed me to no end about getting a haircut, nails done, brows waxed, finding the right clothes for most of my interviews, but especially before my interview with the DMV right before my 21st birthday. Even though I didn't wear a lot of makeup at the time (except for eyeliner, mascara, and some blush), I cleaned myself up accordingly and I was able to get the job with them. My mom was a flight attendant back in the 80's, the most glamorous job a woman in the Philippines could have. They had to look perfect from head-to-toe, or get reprimanded. She would always say to me, "People's first impressions of you last. Make it count. You and the other candidate could both be easily qualified, but they will remember the one who took the effort to look presentable". Now this doesn't mean you have to be drop-dead-gorgeous (though I have been paranoid about the studies about lookism and worry about not being physically attractive enough for a job), it just means that the fact that you took effort in your appearance will reflect on how much effort you will put in your job.

Now that I'm still on the job search, I am taking time to get ready in a way where I look mature and professional, with a touch of glam but not over-the-top. I tend to lean more towards mattes and neutral colors. I still go add some rosiness to my lips and cheeks.

I had an interview last Friday and yesterday. I did pretty much the same look for both of them. Here's the following makeup products I used:

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (6.5)

BECCA Backlight Colour Corrector (Peach)

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (Medium)

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

The Balm Bahama Mama Bronzer

Glossier Cloud Paint (Dusk)

Jordana Glow N' Go Creamy Strobing Stick (Radiant Glow)

Benefit Precisely, My Brow (5)

Benefit Gimme Brow (5)

Urban Decay Original Primer Potion

Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

Glossier Birthday Balm Dotcom

MAC Lipstick (Retro)

Face
I pump my mini tube of the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer and pat everywhere on my face, and start to rub it on with my fingers. Then, I apply the GA Luminous Silk Foundation on my silicone sponge, and pat it all over my face and blend in circular motions. I apply BECCA Backlight Colour Corrector on my dark circles with my ring finger, and then use Tarte Shape Tape Concealer for that extra coverage. Using a fluffy powder brush, I swirl a bit of the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and sweep over my forehead, nose, cheekbones and chin. With an angled contour brush, I apply The Balm Bahama Mama across my jawlines. Then I squeeze the Glossier Cloud Paint (a tiny bit goes a long way since it's super pigmented) and pat little dots of it over the bronzer before I blend. An interview is not the time for blinding highlight, but I still want to add some life and glow to my face. So i draw a bit of the Jordana Creamy Strobing Stick over my cheekbones.

Eyes
I outline my brows with the Benefit, Precisely My Brow pencil, and draw a some small strokes in the brows (following the natural shape). I fill my brows in even more with the Benefit Gimme Brow. Then I pat the Urban Decay Primer Potion all over my lid and brow bone. Then it's time for the Too Faced Natural Matte Palette. With a brush, I swipe the shade "Honey Butter" all over the lid and brow bone. With a crease brush, I apply "Chocolate Cookie" on my outer-V to the crease, and then then layer my outer-V again with "Sexpresso". Lately I haven't lined my upper lashes with liquid liner because I've been extra nervous and anxious, so I'm deathly afraid of messing up. Instead, I use a liner brush apply "Sexpresso" again on my upper and lower lids. Lastly, I coat my lashes with L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise.

Lips
For my lips, I usually go for a creamy formula so that it doesn't dry and flake like a matte lipstick would. My favorites are MAC (Retro), Bobbi Brown (Hibiscus), or Tarte Color Splash (Island Life). Before I put on any sort of makeup, I apply a lip balm for extra hydration and nourishment. Lately I've been loving the Glossier Balm Dotcoms.

The final touch

My mom also tells me that getting ready (physically) for the job interview is the easy part. Once you have the right clothes, shoes, makeup, and grooming styles down, you are more able to focus on the difficult aspects of the interview (figuring out how to answer the questions correctly, learning how to connect with the interviewers, etc.)

How do you prepare your makeup for an interview?