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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think putting on your make-up in public isn't rude or anti-social?

200 replies

MomentLostToTheSky · 09/03/2013 16:32

A thread I just read reminded me of an incident a couple of weeks ago.

I was on a really long flight and was waiting for my connection flight. The first flight had been overnight and I hadn't slept.

Was sat in departures, extremely bored and looking like a hot mess and decided to retouch my make-up. It wasn't busy and still a few people were staring at me.

A few people on the thread said that doing your make-up in public is rude and anti-social. I really just don't get how it's rude, it's just make-up which doesn't have a smell to it and as for anti-social - I wasn't planning on making conversation with the strangers sat opposite me.

I agree that in a certain situation such as in the middle of a job interview then yes it's rude.

But overall I really don't see the problem.

OP posts:
Original poster
MomentLostToTheSky · 09/03/2013 17:49

I am putting on a mask for the people who DO matter to me

See I really take offensive to that. I didn't start this thread to judge anyone who wears make-up or who decides not to wear make-up. It's personal choice.

But you have judged people that do by saying that they are wearing a mask. I don't wear so much make-up that if I went without it I would be completely unrecognisable.

OP posts:
conantg · 09/03/2013 17:50

I wouldn't think it at all unreasonable if you put make-up on in public. It would not bother me in any way. But the fact that you have written "was sat" instead of "was sitting", and "with the strangers sat opposite me" instead of "the strangers sitting opposite me" has made me feel very stabby indeed. So, YABU.

Pagwatch · 09/03/2013 17:53

I don't agree with the OP but I do think picking on her grammar is fucking dull.

Original poster
MomentLostToTheSky · 09/03/2013 17:56

conantg English isn't my first language, it isn't even my second.

So yes I make stupid and ignorant mistakes.

OP posts:
stripeyjimjams · 09/03/2013 17:57

No way is it offensive unless you do it in a confined space and dash powder all over everybody, or something similar. In some cases, it might even be the least anti-social option. For instance, I was on a flight to Madrid and there was only one working loo (Ryanair, bien sur). I was queuing for said lavvy behind an increasingly irate man with a bad tum. We waited a good 15 mins, him hammering on the door and asking the person inside if there was anything wrong. Out the culprit comes, eventually, face full of make-up and large make-up bag in hand. I'd much rather touch up my face sat down in a row of people I don't know than risk a dicky tum explosion mid-flight Wink.

Rainbowinthesky · 09/03/2013 18:00

As a teenager and student I often did full make up on train if I was coming from work straight out to meet friends. Shrugs. Didn't matter to me them and I wouldn't think twice at seeing someone do it.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 09/03/2013 18:03

I wish I only made mistakes like that in my third language!

Out of interest, what's the grammatical rationale behind 'feeling stabby'? Isn't it almost equally poor grammar? Wink

Original poster
MomentLostToTheSky · 09/03/2013 18:03

That comment has actually really upset me to the point where I'm crying

I should leave this thread before I offend others with my ignorant grammar mistakes.

I think people should realise that it might only be words on a screen to you but there is a real person reading them.

OP posts:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 09/03/2013 18:05

Your English is shit hot, moment, if it's not your first language. Please don't feel down.

ivykaty44 · 09/03/2013 18:09

So novice

Why wear make up for that meeting if you aren't bothered about them seeing you withou make up or apply it?

Pagwatch · 09/03/2013 18:11

Moment
Don't be silly. It's been an interesting discussion and one poster has been a twat. It's not the end of the world and certainly not worth crying about.

ivykaty44 · 09/03/2013 18:12

Moment don't leave the thread please

You have asked a valid question we should as adults be able to debate it without upsetting anyone

Foggles · 09/03/2013 18:13

Agree with others.

Moment - please do not be upset. I am enjoying this thread.

crashdoll · 09/03/2013 18:15

Moment ignore the twat pedant. You are not the ignorant one!

Nanny0gg · 09/03/2013 18:17

See, being a bit old, I vaguely remember the 1950s when, at a push, lipstick might have been applied in public, if you didn't mind being thought of as a bit 'fast'.
Anything more - never!

And I do, occasionally, hanker for those days of elegance and mystique...

BrandyAlexander · 09/03/2013 18:20

Ivy, it's about priorities for me. It's not happened in all the time commuting to the City, half the women on the train do it, so it wouldn't be a shock that I do it too. I have young children and would rather spend the extra 10 minutes with them in the morning than worry about whether I was going to meet my 9am person on the train.

everlong · 09/03/2013 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ivykaty44 · 09/03/2013 18:35

Novice I was sat in a hotel reception one day when two loud men talked about the deal they were going to make at their next meeting, how low they would go and how they would push the sale forward,

It was the easiest meeting I ever witnessed

It reminded me of that

You never know who is right behind you ;)

thecapitalsunited · 09/03/2013 18:52

Back when I had a 1.5 hour commute I would do my make up on the train. I used to sleep for the first hour and a quarter so if I had make up on it would have been all smeared around my eyes by the time I woke up. I really didn't care about someone seeing me putting my make up on since they'd almost certainly been watching me sleep for some time!

digerd · 09/03/2013 19:03

I am getting on a bit too, and remember my DM , who was beautiful, wearing a hat with a velvet spotted black veil. But can't quite remember how far over her face it went, just that she looked like a film star. Must have been in early 50s.

Aman1975 · 09/03/2013 19:21

I find watching women applying makeup fascinating. I find myself staring and have to stop myself. I love watching my wife getting made up as she does it rarely.

FamiliesShareGerms · 09/03/2013 19:25

I do some make up at home (foundation, concealer) and some (blusher, mascara) on the train if I get a seat. It takes me a few minutes, but those are a crucial few minutes in terms of getting out of the house with the kids and all our clobber.

The commuter train is already anti- social (when else would you be in full body contact with three strangers?) and there are the unwritten rules about not making eye contact etc which makes it feel like a private place. I don't see that doing a bit of face painting in the corner makes me rude

erowid · 09/03/2013 19:33

I don't apply make-up in public purely because I can't be arsed carrying around anything more than a lipbalm with me.

I wouldn't bat a eyelid if someone was applying make-up in a public bathroom because it seems like a sensible place to do it but in a cafe or in the middle of a train carriage it seems a bit exposed, but if they are happy to do it then that is their prerogative I guess.

auldspinster · 09/03/2013 19:38

I do my make up (mascara and eyeliner) when I get to work while my PC's booting up and as I check my email. If I'm seriously pushed for time I'll shove my damp hair up and fix that when I get to work. As I start at 7am there's rarely anyone there to witness it.

appletarts · 09/03/2013 20:05

I once put on a full face of make-up in the arrivals lounge at Nice airport while breastfeeding 3 month old baby. I sometimes look back on this event and wonder what I must have looked like, baby latched on and me doing my mascara! I'd had a terrible night and sod it wanted to look human. In my defence I was dressed very nicely.

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