Makeup is not needed to look “presentable” or “polished.” Neither is straight hair.

If makeup really made you look more polished, men would wear it…and many of these dress codes actively forbid makeup for men.

(And look, if you really feel a lot more “polished” when wearing makeup, I’m not saying to stop. I’m saying it shouldn’t be required outside of jobs that require, for example, performing on a stage. Because it’s an unfair and discriminatory standard. And employers aren’t exactly paying women more to cover the extra money they demand we spend).