Colleague has said I'm vain a few times

[Spottttty]

Well not said it, but heavily implied it. I could understand if I'm going around saying 'Look at me I'm soo beautiful' but obviously this isn't the case.

She's said this because I sometimes put make up on or use a mirror at work at lunch. So what? Like it's not affecting her in any way.
She's made comments about 3 times, I've just laughed but next time I'll say something maybe?

It might just be friendly ribbing as she's nice otherwise but not sure what her goal is. She's someone who doesn't wear a scrap of make up and that's up to her, I'm not someone who can do that and that's just me.

BUT, WHY???? No one has actually explained this yet

^ this, just go to the powder room and sort yourself out

OP has had a lot of really catty and PA posts directed at her yet that post is the one you think has tipped op into nasty and bullying territory?

Tbh op I'd suggest next time she does it report her to HR for belittling and humiliating you. Oh, sorry, is that a bit dramatic? 🙄

Yes thanks, that's exactly what the first sentence of my post reflects.

I know I'm puzzled by it, it's like they've all come together and decided to come up with the most bizarre set of replies imaginable. In any case I've been laughing a lot so it's achieved something at least!

BUT, WHY???? No one has actually explained this yet

ive yet to see anyone reapplying make up that doesn't get out a hair brush and proceed to brush their hair - its really unpleasant especially in a food establishment

What powder room, I don't work for Buckingham Palace 🤣

Those are two different issues though. Also I've seen loads of women reapplying make up without doing their hair.

I personally wouldn't feel the need to be putting make up on sat at my desk. I apply make up in the morning then perhaps run a run a brush through my hair after lunch and apply some lip gloss if my lips are dry.

Hundreds of years ago, 'powder room' was a conventional euphemism for the women's toilets. Some of us are old.

Haven't you ever heard the loo called the powder room?

As is insulting someone online

That's really rude, type of behaviour you'd expect from a high school bully. You say she is otherwise nice so I think if I was you I'd point out how it makes you feel. Maybe she doesn't realise. Maybe it's her way of complementing the effort you put in to look good.

Not sure why you’re shaming a suggestion of seeking therapy.

OP sounds insecure needing to apply make up and check her appearance constantly.

I've posted this further up the thread, but here it is again.

It's normal to adjust your behaviour according to your surroundings. At work, with colleagues is very different to at home with friends or family.

There's theoretically nothing wrong with brushing hair, putting on make up, plucking eyebrows, brushing teeth etc. But they are actions associated with the private, relaxed sphere. It feels like forced intimacy to have your colleague suddenly do their makeup (all the way to concealer) in front of you.

There are many other actions that have a similar public/private divided that not everyone agrees on so can lead to some tension. Heavy kissing, sleeping, doing your nails, private phone calls, certain topics of conversation, different types of clothes (bikini on the beach is very different to a bikini in a supermarket).

At work, where a variety of personalities have to coexist in the space, it's perhaps better to err on the side of caution.

Who said she is doing it constantly?

I don't know why OP thinks it's posh to call the loo the ladies' powder room, the loos in my local House of Fraser shop used to be called the Ladies' Powder Room!
It's just bad manners to apply any sort of make up in public apart from lipstick, and unless in a loo you should use a small hand mirror and do it quickly.
I really can't imagine why anyone's concealer or mascara would need reapplying partway through the day, I say this as a woman who's worn make up for decades and used to work very long days. I would only reapply if I was going out in the evening straight from work and I would do it in the loos. OP needs to get some better quality cosmetics.

You’d mock someone for thinking their natural face is too unattractive to reveal? Do you not see how hurtful and unnecessary that is, and how you’d only increase the other person’s insecurities?

OP sounds insecure needing to apply make up and check her appearance constantly.

Insecure people don't generally do their makeup in front of people and reveal the fact that they use make up...on account of them being insecure. They'd be hiding it, not flaunting it.

Not caring whether people realise you have imperfections but feeling a bit better with them covered isn't a sign of insecurity.

Fair enough and that’s a very ‘reasonable’ approach…..but I’m another who just cannot see how someone applying makeup (in the way described) could possibly be an issue or even really noticed - and her colleague is definitely just being rude if they don’t have that sort of taking the piss out of each other relationship

all your other examples in second para are thing which cause stuff to be shed from you - brushing hair, plucking etc - which feels very different to me. I imagine the OP would definitely NOT brush her teeth in the rec room.

Some of the replies on here are frankly mental in my opinion but heh, differences make the world go round

1. It’s unhygienic. You should wash your hands before applying makeup like concealer, not digging around in your dirty bag in the break room and then smudging the bacteria all over your face. Even worse if there’s big pores/oily skin/spots involved.

2. Watching people touching and manipulating their face is gross. Same reason someone with something stuck in their teeth, or blowing their nose, would usually excuse themselves to the bathroom before dealing with it.

3. Makeup residue like excess powder can cause a mess, and go all over the surrounding area.

4. It’s bad manners. Sometimes things just are culturally bad manners, without a specific reason. Sure, do them anyway, but people will think you’re gross or uncouth.

Some of these comments are crazy! I think the not applying make up in public comes from some sexist views that we as women are supposed be subtle with make up and make it seem like we woke up looking like that.
If you are offended by some one putting make up on in front of you then you need to work on yourself.

Wouldn't bother me at all. I probably wouldn't even take any notice, unless I was nosey about the brand of makeup they were using or admired their application.

But, I'm 'common' (and don't give a shiny shite if someone thinks I am). I'd just ignore what colleague is saying or doing. It's just plain childish to openly mock someone.

'my dirty bag' 🤣🤣 some of these people don't realise how many germs are spread just from people touching the microwave/fridge/table and so on and not washing their hands. They're determined to make me out to be some sort of dirty, unhygienic slob 🤣

I really don't get it. If someone is sitting next to me, pulls out a mirror and dabs a bit of concealer on a spot, what harm is that doing to me? What possible negative effect, is that dab of concealer, having on my life and my sitting reading my 15th century demon book?