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.

Fine. Public make up application is out of order, sorry, common (pp innumerable)
Still don't think colleague is justified in mimicking and disparaging op.
Colleague should remember her manners if social etiquette is her beef and ask op politely, to do it elsewhere.

Offensive, very weird, very unprofessional.. any more?

Anyone with true class would not refer to someone as “common”.

Old snobbery about makeup and the actions of others is what’s unpleasant.

I love makeup but I only reapply lipstick and lip balm throughout the day. I wouldn't do this in a canteen though. Just go to the toilets and do your makeup by the sink? I think it's odd to reapply mascara and concealer. Maybe look up better makeup brands that are long wearing?

If she wants, she can go to my manager and complain that spotttty put some concealer on on her lunch break in the rec room and how unprofessional it was? Fine by me

It's not a canteen, it's a break room.

I doubt she feels terribly uncomfortable but, as a few of us have now said, we'd find it a bit odd/unusual. I wouldn't comment or mimic you though!

A rec room is a social space.

I’m in two minds, she shouldn’t say anything, but I always find it a bit odd when someone sits and does their makeup like this, I think go to the loo. There is no real reasoning behind this though, other than personal grooming is normally done in private.

If they think it's a bit weird then I understand that. But like you've said no need to mock/make jibes.

This thread has been very entertaining, need to get to work now though, hope I don't see colleague who puts her make up on at her desk... I'll be so confused how to respond now. 😁

That says an awful lot more about you than it does about them tbh. Why does makeup scare/offend you this much? Why do you think anyone would care enough to make digs that you don't wear it? This is crazy stuff. I don't wear it either btw, but I'm not freaked out by the fact that others do.

I'm going to stick up you here OP.

The colleague hasn't complained about hygiene, appropriateness of make up application. She's commented on the values aspect of it.

OP just ignore her and carry on. If she does have a PA point to make then she needs to get better communication skills.

Just a quick one before I go... To pp who prefer using the loos... When using make up in the loos aren't you bothered about the airborne bacteria getting on your make up, it doesn't seem very hygienic to me?

Oh! I see! When you said it was a group of sitting at lunch in the canteen, I thought you meant the canteen!! Much clearer now….

I’ve been trying to think how to articulate this and I know this sounds ridiculous but to me, it feels like a cross between someone acting like a 1950s film star (which makes me feel like a) it’s old fashioned and b) promotes stereotypes of women that I find uncomfortable) and it puts me in mind of when gorillas preen and pick fleas out of their fur and food out of their teeth.

I wear make up so am perhaps being hypocritical but it’s pretty minimal and I find anything which is very ‘in your face / obvious’ sad and not as attractive as when I see the same people without make up.

It’s none of my business though and I wouldn’t comment, I’d just make a point of not sitting near you if possible.

What an odd point of view. You can put make up on in public

Also 'fix your face'. So fifties (or earlier!)

Social norms dictate you don't apply make up in a canteen. Go to the bathroom and do it if her comments bother you.

I don’t know why you’re being given such a hard time OP but I have to say I’m finding it all quite entertaining. It seems some people have a very emotive response to the idea of makeup, perhaps they think it’s somehow shameful and should be hidden away. Personally I probably wouldn’t reapply makeup in front of colleagues but it wouldn’t even occur to me to be bothered by someone else doing it.

I’d also be more embarrassed about calling somebody ‘common’ than discretely looking in a mirror in the staff room.

I saw a man clipping his fingernails on the tube once - now that was disgusting.

I don't care.

I just think it's sufficiently unusual enough that I'd wonder why they were doing it. And I'd base my conclusion on other aspects of their personality.

That's it.

I probably wouldn't say anything to them. It's not really necessary or my business.

Refreshing your lipstick is fine, getting out a mirror to reapply concealer and mascara etc in public in the break room is a bit off.

I can understand someone commenting if you do that regularly.

It’s certainly performative, rather than doing your makeup in the toilets in front of a mirror like most people.

Or coming down to hotel breakfast in your PJs and dressing gown!

I did wear a little make up when I was working, but once it was on that was it. Never did any retouching at all. OP did you get your make up bag out and put it on the table?

Eh? Even our late Queen reapplied her lipstick in public.

It's not 'social norms' for everyone though as the thread shows. I genuinely wouldn't bat an eyelid about this and have never come across anyone who's had a problem with it.

I’d view both in the same way to be honest