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.

I think it's bad manners to put make up on in public.

You don't.

Shouldn't put on make up in public. Maybe a bit of lipstick is ok but I wouldn't start putting on concrete and mascara in public!

Maybe it's the ones that wear no makeup that are actually vain? They think they don't need makeup because they are naturally beautiful!

Wtf?? You're vain for putting on makeup in the canteen?? Jesus Christ mumsnet is a moron hotspot

This seems to be one of those arbitrary social norms where if you think it's BS, or didn't get the memo, it means people who see it as massively important to uphold are entitled to bully others with no come back. I can't see the hygiene argument as being a big issue.

OP has been defensive as people have been pulling her up on behaviour which is absolutely fine.

Perfect. I was trying to think of something along those lines!

Ate you suggesting people who wear no or little make up do not take pride in their appearance?

I could not imagine applying makeup without first washing my hands. I get that you perhaps do not touch the mascara wand or lipstick but it is likely that you do touch your face. It sounds like the optimum breeding ground for bacterial and fungal infections.

Well, this thread's nearly full... Is someone ready to add the link to "colleague has said I'm vain a few times the debate continues" ?

🤣🤣🤣

You've posted asking for opinions yet don't want opposing opinions.

Sounds like the green-eyed monster op. Keep doing your makeup 💄

Even funnier because the colleague never said that at all.

'Shouldn't'? Why?

You are vain. To me someone doing the makeup publicly at work is unprofessional. I’d assume you are either very young, very insecure or very shallow. Do your makeup at home in the morning and if you need to touch up use the bathroom.

Genuinely don't understand why you've asked if you are so set on arguing that you're not being unreasonable. You've asked for opinions, and most of them are that you're doing makeup in an inappropriate setting. If you are unwilling to hear that, then don't post.

It must be a real kicker to the 'it's breaking social norms, don't you know' crew that the Queen used to apply lipstick in public, so they have to keep carving that out as an exception in their argument.

It's an arbitrary social norm to object to others putting make-up in public, as it affects no-one in terms of noise, smell or body particles.

I see it constantly on the tube. I used to do it at my desk at work in my younger years before going out in the evening. I doubt even a small amount of people care about it or think of it as breaking social norms anymore. I'd rather people did it in public rather than blocking use of sinks at work.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lipstick-etiquette_b_1540157#:~:text=When%20in%20doubt%2C%20don't,home%20or%20in%20a%20restaurant.

Love this:

"In general, personal grooming should be done in private for the simple reason that it can be annoying and it's tacky. ... When in doubt, don't do it, such as when you're at a business meal or with people you don't know very well."

Oh there’s the word we were all wanting use but felt it was a bit rude!

From an apparent etiquette expert

This is from 1989

https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/22/magazine/beauty-going-public.html

And very interesting given the thread from the woman that thinks no one should wear make up. I don’t agree with that.

Make-up is fine. Men shaving is fine. But just as a guy would look a bit of a clueless knob shaving with a battery powered shaver in the canteen, so too do women look a bit lacking in class. Nothing to do with gender. Nothing to do with hygiene.

… who even stole my word gauche! Turns out we had etiquette experts on our side all along Team Private.

@Spottttty please just reply with 'Did you mean to be so rude?'