Applying make up in public?

[Maryhadalittlelambstew]

Not really an AIBU but posting for traffic...

I was in a naice department store cafe in Oxford today (not debenhams, think more the one where you buy your knickers or have an emergency poo) and was just grabbing a quick coffee before an appointment I needed to be alert for and given that I had been deprived of sleep the night before due to kids who seemed to be tag teaming to ensure I got as little sleep as possible I decided to whip out my little make up bag and apply some much needed concealer and mascara in an effort to look less like a zombie. I was obliviously faffing away in a corner seat and there was a couple of women (I'm 29, I'd guess they were late 50's early 60's) who were looking over rather distastefully and tutting loudly. I smiled and one of the women asked me if my mother had never told me it was rude to apply make up in public and the other lady chimed in with "its common". Well my mother clearly dragged me up as she has utterly failed to inform me that its uncouth and "common" to apply my make up in public. I could understand it if I'd brushed my hair or sprayed perfume but I thought sitting quietly in a corner with a wee compact was fairly unoffensive but apparently not...I just wondered if its true that it is deemed impolite? Should I have snuck off to the loo's or is it ok to powder ones nose in a naice cafe?

[KingJoffreysRestingCuntface]

It's fine by me. I don't see why it's a problem.

[Trifleorbust]

It is traditionally 'common' but so is confronting people you don't know and tutting at them.

[WhooooAmI24601]

YABU for thinking that emergency poos anywhere but home are acceptable. Poos are only ever for home.

I think it's ok to apply makeup in public though it's not something I'd do. But I have two DCs and work in a school so it wouldn't occur to me. I don't think it's common though, that's just judgy and fussy. If something offends you but doesn't hurt you or anyone else, leave it be.

[KingJoffreysRestingCuntface]

Surely pointing out bad manners is also bad manners??

[EastMidsMummy]

One of the lesser social faux pas, I would say. Nosey cows.

[ThreeLeggedHaggis]

Not really an AIBU but posting for traffic...

YABU

[user1471545174]

I'm their age and they were being common.

[Ginlinessisnexttogodliness]

Oh my word.

I pity people that become incandescent at this sort of thing. They must be so wound up the entire time. They must tut tut in their sleep. What would she do if someone did something really inappropriate? Have a coronary??

I would have been sorely tempted to walk over with my makeup bag, pause with an item of makeup then say..."No, it's too big a job for me"

You carry on, dear.

[blackteasplease]

yanbu

Pointing it out is much worse

I would probably have said "fine, i am common"

[Maryhadalittlelambstew]

Agreed that poos are preferable in the home but when its a choice between shitting oneself or assaulting Mr m's and Mr s's naice loos I'm afraid I go for the latter...

Thank you everyone, good to know I haven't been naively wondering about applying lippy and mortally offending all who witness such an act. It hadn't actually occurred to me that they were rude to tut and inform me of my social faux pas but actually now you say it I suppose they were.

[lazytuesday]

just laugh it off. My gran used to say 'common' for eating in the street, brushing hair outside the house, holding hands, wearing trainers, dying your hair, having wet hair.... and a long list of other things....
I dont bat an eyelid at anyone doing any of these things and i do a couple of them myself and i dont think im 'common'. Im pretty middle class truth be told if thats of any value.
The only thing i sometimes worry about is touching up nailvarnish in public because of the smell.... i have had to do it on a couple of occassions when ive chipped some and have been on the way to an interview or wedding etc

[Losgunna]

I think a smudge of concealer and a bit of mascara is perfectly fine.

I don't know why exactly but I think I'd be less OK with someone doing the full primer, foundation, concealer, eyeliner, blusher etc etc etc.

Maybe touch ups are OK but full face is more of a 'do it in the bathroom' thing.


Either way you certainly weren't doing anything wrong unlike those two very rude women

[GeillisTheWitch]

I wouldn't care about someone putting on makeup in a cafe, unless they were spilling powder everywhere, smearing foundation on the table etc. What does puzzle me is my neighbour, who sits in her car outside her house every morning and does her makeup before pulling away. I just don't get why, it doesn't save any time compared to just doing it in the house.

[ThePiglet59]

Will nobody think of the children!??

[onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad]

How rude of them! I fail to understand why people think it's okay to comment on other people's behaviour unless it's hurting some one else. I'm in my fifties and wouldn't have an issue with it at all and even if I did I wouldn't dream of commenting.
I was in awe of a girl on a crowded tube the other day, as we hurtled around corners and I clung on for dear life and tried not to keep falling into the passengers next to me, she stood with a mirror in one hand and a eyelash curler in the other and proceeded to curl her eyelashes and apply mascara on a packed fast moving tube - whilst standing up! Didn't cross my mind it was common just a rather amazing achievement.

[coursesforhorses]

I apply my make up on the train in the morning. I have a 1 hour 45 minute commute (each way) and already get up at silly o'clock so no way am I getting up earlier to do make up at home. If people don't like it they can F off.

I'm a similar age to you OP and s while ago an old bag older lady on a train told me I was a "disgusting young lady" because I was wearing my gym kit (including quite short shorts) on the train. Ffs

[Whiterabbitears]

I've come across these types before, usually in the setting you describe. They are looking for things to be offended about or to judge others and they must have very sad lives to care about what strangers are doing at another table. I would have been tempted to tell the harridans to keep their nosy beaks out.

[VladmirsPoutine]

Yanbu but my only concern is when women do it on public transport how they keep their hands steady - I'd look like a drunk panda if I attempted it on the tube but each to their own.

[Maryhadalittlelambstew]

Gym gear on a train!

Some people seem to feel the need to comment on other people or find fault not matter what!

ThePiglet59 well quite, I shall take great care to ensure the children are not subjected to seeing others, or worse me...their mother, apply make up in public. And I shall also be sure to inform that to do is so is common.

I just read this out to my mum and she asked what "commom" meant and I couldn't actually come up with an answer so gawd knows what the woman meant!

[user1471545174]

Geillis, she must like the light

[Mysterycat23]

YANBU, not like you whipped out the wax strips and did your bikini line..

It is a taboo of sorts. The boundary of non taboo seems to be touching up lip gloss or doing a quick check in a compact mirror. I guess it's rooted in some male gaze bollocks about doing the full transformation in public exposes the feminine mystery and all that

[SapphireSeptember]

I was on the train to London the other week and applied my make up then because I wanted to catch my train and thought I might as well do it while I sit down for an hour. I've also been in awe of a woman doing a full face of make up on the Tube, that's skillful. Old ladies be rude. They need to chill. (Says the woman who can apply lippy anywhere, anytime and doesn't even need a mirror to do so.)

[ImperialBlether]

Hey never mind "old ladies can be rude." For one thing they weren't old, and for another people of all ages can be rude.

[Happyandhungry]

I used to live in Oxford its full of weirdos and posh entitled people. YANBU.

[Discobabe98]

Have never heard of applying makeup in public being common before ever! What snobby old hags.. I'd be tempted to say back 'Did your mother never tell you if you had nothing nice to say, to say nothing at all?' and continue on'