Just how bad is it to apply make-up at your desk? And what about cyclists getting changed and draping their kit all over the place?

[ChickenVindaloo]

Following on from the thread about eating breakfast at work, can we discuss applying make-up at your desk?

I have a complicated skin-care routine and like to have time for my various creams to sink in before applying make-up. I also find that I get sweaty on my commute (I'm unfit) or my make-up can be ruined by rain.

I get to work via a combination of very busy buses/car/walking. (On different days).

Does it matter if the office is open-plan or more private? Is it wrong to apply perfume? Most of my colleagues are other women, if that matters. Does it depend if it's full on contouring vs a bit of lipgloss?

Also, some folk cycle and change at work. The office then looks like a teenager's bedroom with clothes draped everywhere.

Many thanks for your thoughts!

Toilets for applying make up.

It is wrong to apply perfume, as people may have scent sensitivities.

Toilets for make up surely?

My office building has a little block of showers, changing rooms and lockers for cyclists and runners. It's a big 600 seat office block full of government agencies, so lots of drive (ahem) for green transport and lots of people to help hustify the cost even though bikes are pinched out of the garage on a far too frequent basis

Yep no more than lipgloss at the desk and no more than changing shoes either.

Can't stand people applying perfume, aggravated my asthma. As for make up... I'd probably just gawp as that's what I used to do on the tube... I find it fascinating

Very slovenly, sorry. Eating at your desk is totally different! Everyone needs to eat throughout the day, but doing your make up is part of getting dressed. I hate seeing people do it on the train too. Toilets if you need to top it up after your commute.

None of the cyclists in my office drape clothes everywhere. They all change in the showers and walk into the office with a rucksack with all their stuff in.

Depends what your work environment is like. Do you have cubicles? Are you on reception? A teacher? Do you get in earlier in order to apply the make-up? At my work we have to account for every minute spent, so logging "ten minutes to do make-up" would not do! Could you not do your make-up in the ladies' loo? I'm in an open-plan area, but I wouldn't mind if someone did their make-up at their desk. I might think it a bit odd, though. I work somewhere where most women wouldn't really wear make-up anyway, and so people might look askance if you apply make-up at your desk. But it really depends on your workplace.

As for cyclists, as long as they don't get changed actually in the office, that's fine. What do you mean, "clothes draped everywhere"? Cycling gear hung off the back of their chairs? I wouldn't mind that either.

Wouldn't bother me as long as you don't spray perfume or hairspray.

No perfume, stinks out an office.

Get there earlier and stick it all on in the bog. Where your low carbon, non polluting colleagues should be changing and keeping their gear.

I'm guilty of doing make up on train (including plucking the odd eyebrow hair -I have trichotilomania, if I don't do it it will drive me nuts, I try to hide what I'm doing)

I don't do make up much any more but not more than lip stuff at desk or moisturiser really quick when the office is dead. Toilets are for full on make application and contact lenses (why do people leave the packets on the counter?!)

Purfume is not to be sprayed around people. My boss recently told a few of us that when someone sprays purfume (and air freshener) around him it makes him want to claw his skin off! The person who was doing it at her desk was doing it multiple times in an hour - she's been let go (not for this) so he won't have to suffer much longer.

I haaaaaate when people do their make up on the train or at their desk. Get up earlier!

If you must do it at work then go to the toilets.

Makeup at a desk is the lesser of two evils given the choice between that and sweaty lycra bunting draped round the office but really I'd far prefer to see neither.

I have a complicated skin-care routine and like to have time for my various creams to sink in before applying make-up. The office really isn't the place...

Why would anyone even care if someone did their makeup on the train ?

I do the skincare at home then the make up at work.
It's a small, professional office. Out of sight of clients.
Yes, the cyclists drape the clothes over chairs/doors/radiators.

Pleaassee....don't put on your make up on the train, thank you .

Pretty bad. Spraying perfume is a total no, it gives a lot of people headaches, a tiny spritz of something very light before leaving home at the most.

Doing anything at your desk that obviously isn't work is unprofessional looking. As is being seen spending 10 mins in the toilets doing it, if you are in work time.

I'm intrigued at how complicated a skincare routine can be? (Totally missing point of thread!)

Don't spray perfume in case someone has an allergy.
But putting on makeup is fine.
It doesn't affect anyone else.
Posters who have a problem with this can you explain why?

It does affect other people if you are doing it in work time.

What if it's during a break?
I assumed the op didn't mean when you aren't meant to be working...
Also on a train people are bothered by but that doesn't impact anyone else either.

Not bothered by make up- we used to have a couple of male colleagues who shaved their face with an electric shaver at their desks. At least make up is silent.

Far worse was the cycling colleague who would 'air' his cycling mankini/onesie thing on the coat rack. Yuck!

Does your office not provide a safe space for this activity?

Re: no make up on train..'manners maketh man (or in this case women)....enough said

Don't really understand why anyone would have a problem with someone doing their makeup on the train or at their own desk? Unless they're getting it on you, it doesn't affect you in any way.
I know people are going to say if it's done in work time it affects them as they have to pick up the slack, blah blah blah, but there's plenty of things people do in work that take up time - making cups of tea/coffee, going for a cig, making personal calls or pissing about on their phones etc. Unless someone is taking 30 mins to do a full face of evening makeup I don't really get the issue?