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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to do my make up in the bathroom at work

246 replies

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 14/11/2024 20:53

When I get into work I often spend five mins in the ladies loo doing my make up.

A colleague told me the other day that “some people” feel uncomfortable using the loo when I am “standing around in there”. I think she meant because I am outside the cubicle doors standing at the basin/mirror.

I thought doing your make up at work was no more intrusive than washing your hands!

OP posts:
Illegally18 · 14/11/2024 23:29

Raquelos · 14/11/2024 21:02

It's like William Shakespeare is in the room with us.

Brilliant turns of phrase 😂

Dunderass is good, isn't she!😅

ivegoneswimming · 14/11/2024 23:22

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/11/2024 23:08

Who are all these people waiting to get to work to do their morning poo? 😶‍🌫️

Most people would have their morning poo and do their makeup before leaving the house. I do make a coffee before starting work but that's it.

shellyleppard · 14/11/2024 23:14

I've seen people driving and putting on makeup.....no you aren't weird at all!!

BrotherViolence · 14/11/2024 23:14

RosesAndHellebores · 14/11/2024 22:09

@verycloakanddaggers because when the rest of the team are going above and beyond and working 8 until 6 (45 hpw) because they care, and someone else is working 9 until 4.15 (32 hpw) but pulling down the same money, it's called taking the piss. Had they been working their full contracted hours - fine. But not fewer.

Were they getting their work done? Strictly tracking worked hours vs output is a backwards way of evaluating performance for a lot of professional jobs.

loropianalover · 14/11/2024 23:13

I keep a little desk mirror in my drawer, wouldn’t it be better to use that and just quickly top your face up at your desk?

Bit grim to be opening your products around all the poo particles on the sinks.

Moveoverdarlin · 14/11/2024 23:10

I can see both sides. You are more than entitled to use the bathroom to apply your makeup in the mornings. But would I want to do a pooh while you were applying your mascara? Definitely not.

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/11/2024 23:08

Who are all these people waiting to get to work to do their morning poo? 😶‍🌫️

MrsPeterHarris · 14/11/2024 23:07

ThisIsSockward · 14/11/2024 20:55

Some people get 'stage fright' in public restrooms. If someone's washing their hands, it's usually noisy and fast, then they're gone. Someone quietly applying make-up will be more likely to overhear whatever's happening in the stalls. I'm not surprised some people don't like it, to tell the truth.

This!

Franjipanl8r · 14/11/2024 22:51

Do you have to do your make up in the toilet? Can’t you do it with a compact mirror somewhere else in the office?

Pre 9am is the prime morning poo slot at work I’m afraid. Well done to your colleague for speaking up!

Skepticgal · 14/11/2024 22:40

I just use the loo for pooing or peeing, and when I need a poo, I really do hate it when someone is in there doing their make up for the entire duration. I would never complain, but I do seeth inwardly.

DeliciousApples · 14/11/2024 22:38

newdiamondring · 14/11/2024 22:21

Is there a disabled loo you could use in peace? That's what I used to do when I cycled in

That's not a good idea because a disabled person may actually need the toilet and can't manage to go in a regular sized cubicle.

DeliciousApples · 14/11/2024 22:37

@Dunderass Brilliant. Totally agree.

OP if it's really just "five minutes" just do it at home. Or don't wear any!

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 14/11/2024 22:37

It's a shared area and standing at a basin for five minutes is quite unremarkable.
I guess this woman has a problem with it for some reason but she'll have to cope somehow.

newdiamondring · 14/11/2024 22:21

Is there a disabled loo you could use in peace? That's what I used to do when I cycled in

JamSlags · 14/11/2024 22:18

I was always like you and then realised people coming to use the loos felt uncomfortable. I do my makeup in the car now, even though I know that’s what bathrooms are for and it never bothered me. Just less embarrassing’ for the wee-er/poo-er.

And if I did it at home before leaving, those 10 mins are the difference between getting a parking space or not. And I arrive at 0730 after a good hour’s drive.

pilates · 14/11/2024 22:16

Just get up 10 minutes earlier.

Never come across it in my working life. I suppose there’s always one.

neilyoungismyhero · 14/11/2024 22:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

This is so apt and so funny..made me laugh out loud..

RosesAndHellebores · 14/11/2024 22:09

@verycloakanddaggers because when the rest of the team are going above and beyond and working 8 until 6 (45 hpw) because they care, and someone else is working 9 until 4.15 (32 hpw) but pulling down the same money, it's called taking the piss. Had they been working their full contracted hours - fine. But not fewer.

verycloakanddaggers · 14/11/2024 22:01

RosesAndHellebores · 14/11/2024 21:07

As long as you are ready to start work when you should be it wouldn't bother me. If you tell everyone you start at 8.30 so leave at 4.30 but arrive at 8.28, faff with your coat, go to the bathroom, put on your make-up, pop to the kitchen to make tea and pop some toast in the toaster, which you eat and drink while logging on and do nothing constructive before 8.50, that would really piss me off. If you then go to the toilet at 4.15, touch up your lippy, come back and put on yiur coat, scarf, change your shoes and log off at 4.29 and 20 seconds, that would really, really piss me off.

I had someone on my team who did that, they thought they were under the radar, then I went in for 8.15 for a week. They did not like the conversation.

Would that really bother you? I can't imagine clocking other people's time.

I worked with someone who used to keep a record of other people's times. Totally weird behaviour.

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 14/11/2024 21:57

Ooh it’s a 53/47 split right now on the votes - suggesting that, by a small margin, I am being unreasonable.

It’s close but I must accept MN verdict 😪

OP posts:
Chan9eusername · 14/11/2024 21:53

Do you never go out after work and need to put on a bit more makeup before you leave the office?

Nope. No one ever needs "a bit more makeup". If you can't be bothered getting up 10 minutes earlier to put it on, don't wear it.

Yetanothernewname101 · 14/11/2024 21:17

I used to work on a beauty counter selling makeup. We all put our makeup on in the locker room of a morning before heading along to the shop floor.
Now, if I've been to the gym or for a swim I do my makeup in the bathroom at work.

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 14/11/2024 21:09

RosesAndHellebores · 14/11/2024 21:07

As long as you are ready to start work when you should be it wouldn't bother me. If you tell everyone you start at 8.30 so leave at 4.30 but arrive at 8.28, faff with your coat, go to the bathroom, put on your make-up, pop to the kitchen to make tea and pop some toast in the toaster, which you eat and drink while logging on and do nothing constructive before 8.50, that would really piss me off. If you then go to the toilet at 4.15, touch up your lippy, come back and put on yiur coat, scarf, change your shoes and log off at 4.29 and 20 seconds, that would really, really piss me off.

I had someone on my team who did that, they thought they were under the radar, then I went in for 8.15 for a week. They did not like the conversation.

Ugh. I know exactly what you mean. Maybe we worked in the same place!!

No, that is not me. The coffee and make up is all done and dusted well before 9 and I routinely work after our official ending time. There’s not an office culture of lateness/ long lunches.

OP posts:
zaxxon · 14/11/2024 21:08

YANBU, there's nothing wrong with putting on makeup at work. Bathrooms aren't just for pooing in.

All the people saying YABU - do you not cycle in to work, or imagine what that might be like for a cyclist?

Do you never go out after work and need to put on a bit more makeup before you leave the office? And not want to do it at your desk, if it's an open plan office?

RosesAndHellebores · 14/11/2024 21:07

As long as you are ready to start work when you should be it wouldn't bother me. If you tell everyone you start at 8.30 so leave at 4.30 but arrive at 8.28, faff with your coat, go to the bathroom, put on your make-up, pop to the kitchen to make tea and pop some toast in the toaster, which you eat and drink while logging on and do nothing constructive before 8.50, that would really piss me off. If you then go to the toilet at 4.15, touch up your lippy, come back and put on yiur coat, scarf, change your shoes and log off at 4.29 and 20 seconds, that would really, really piss me off.

I had someone on my team who did that, they thought they were under the radar, then I went in for 8.15 for a week. They did not like the conversation.