To climb the career ladder, an Ivy League degree and intellectual prowess certainly help, but -- fair or not -- studies show that for women, beauty matters too.

Economists have long observed a "beauty premium," where attractive people tend to do better and earn more at work. With that, makeup may just give you a professional edge. Research from Boston University suggests women wearing makeup appear more likeable, competent and trustworthy than their barefaced colleagues.

"Dating back to the ancient Egyptians, royals would use dyes and henna to portray their importance and wealth," says celebrity stylist James Cornwell. "Nowadays, we expect only women to wear makeup -- but it's not just to enhance beauty. It's a statement of power."

Of course, this isn't carte blanche to wear crimson lips to the office. There are rules to pulling off makeup at work, which often depend on your field.

Let's say you're striving for a high-ranking position in a corporate or male-centric environment. In this case it's a good idea to keep your look "more simple, more traditional," according to Megan Brandle, Image Consultant and Personal Stylist at Best Kept Self. But if you're in a creative field with more women, "You can go ahead and play. Creative people respond to that. They want to know who you are."

So, how do real women wield their makeup brushes to their advantage? To find out, we spoke to ten successful women across a variety of industries to learn the beauty tips that have helped them get ahead.

Danielle DuBoise and Whitney Tingle, owners of startup meal delivery program, Sakara Life

In 2011, New York-based DuBoise and Tingle founded the organic meal delivery service that celebrities, including Lily Aldridge, Karolina Kurkova and Lena Dunham, swear by.

Signature look:
Whitney: "Sexy and a bit undone. We aren't the type of girls to get blowouts or even wash or comb our hair on some days for that matter. We embrace our natural waves and don't try to tame them."

Ultimate advice:
Danielle: "Style yourself like the person you want to be in your career. You have to take risks in every aspect of your life if you want to see change -- including your look. Still be yourself, but an enhanced, even more empowered version of yourself -- the you you'll be a year from now."

Beauty power play:
Danielle: "Makeup shouldn't cover you up or turn you into a different person -- it's there to bring out your best natural features. You want people to remember you for you. For me, sometimes that means nothing more than some nourishing moisturizer and a face spray."

Whitney: "I love a pop of color and am really into pink lipstick right now. We just had a Sakara team photo shoot in our office and had all the girls wear pink lipstick. It instantly turned up their confidence."

Shama Hyder, CEO of Marketing Zen Group

Included on Forbes' 2015 "30 Under 30" list, Hyder is the CEO of an integrated online marketing and digital PR firm and the bestselling author of "The Zen of Social Media Marketing." Her job involves constantly zigzagging across the country.

Signature look:
"Very feminine. Women don't have to wear suits and shoulder pads to be respected in the business world. I have long thick hair, which I wear down with just a bit of a Moroccan hair oil to tame frizz. For makeup, I like to keep it natural yet sophisticated. I have almond shaped eyes so black eye liner is a must (Kat Von D's Tattoo Liner is a favorite). I generally finish with a little contouring and a nude or light pink lip gloss."

Beauty no-no:
"It's important not to imitate another person, because what works for them may not work for you. For example, I love seeing women in red lipstick, but it just doesn't work for me. Over time, I've discovered that experimenting to find what makes you feel good is the key."

Ultimate advice:
"Invest in key pieces of cosmetics, just like you do for wardrobe. I may use a drugstore brand chapstick, but I invest in the essentials such as eye cream, foundation and moisturizer."

Beauty power play:
"Since I travel so much, I have to find ways to look and feel fresh on the go. I've learned that ice is my friend. Running an ice cube over my face before putting on make-up reduces puffiness and makes my makeup go on smoother."

Heidi Seifert, psychotherapist

Seifert is a licensed social worker and clinical psychologist. She owns a successful private psychotherapy practice in New York City.

Signature look:
"Simple and neat. A little eye shadow, a little mascara and some color on the lips. The colors tend to be soft. It's a natural look, but it's feminine. Being a psychotherapist is a different kind of authority. I'm not an executive, but I need to look like someone people should want to listen to and trust."

Ultimate advice:
"When you're in a position of authority, you can't have too much fun with your look -- you don't want it to seem like that's your main priority. In my line of work, you have to be especially careful, because you don't want to send the wrong message to male clients. They tell you things they won't even tell their girlfriends -- there's intimacy there -- so your look has to connote professionalism. At the same time, you can't look 10 years behind. A lot of my clients are aware of what's in style, and they judge you based on that. I actually get a lot of fashion and beauty inspiration straight from them."

Beauty power play:
"Nice shoes. For some reason, as a woman, whenever you walk into a room, everyone looks straight at your shoes."

Erika Kauffman, General Manager and partner at 5W PR agency

Kauffman is an award-winning, senior-level executive at a large PR agency in New York City, where she competes and interacts with primarily male colleagues.

Signature look:
"Sleek and chic. I gravitate toward more natural looks. Think: Natalie Portman -- simple, but timeless. I usually also try to hit one trend during the day, like a standout nude lip. My go-to products are Jane Iredale's Glow Time Mineral BB Cream , Chanel's Rouge Coco Baume and, of course, my G.M. Collin Masque Phytoaromatique at night. This rejuvenates and hydrates my skin after a long day in the office, leaving me looking fresh the next morning."

Ultimate advice:
"In a fast-paced corporate environment, less is more. I'm always on the run, so easy touch ups are a must -- a little gloss here, a little blush there. And always portray confidence in your own skin. It's not the most unique advice, but it's true: When you have a sense of self-assurance, the world is at your fingertips."

Beauty power play:
"Picking up a green juice is always my first stop on my way to the office. You would not believe how amazing it is for your complexion. It's filled with antioxidants that help your skin glow all day long."