AIBU to do my make up in the bathroom at work

[GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas]

When I get into work I often spend five mins in the ladies loo doing my make up.

A colleague told me the other day that “some people” feel uncomfortable using the loo when I am “standing around in there”. I think she meant because I am outside the cubicle doors standing at the basin/mirror.

I thought doing your make up at work was no more intrusive than washing your hands!

We have a bathroom, technically a shower room but we all call it the bathroom as opposed to the toilets
Toilets at my work are individual rooms with sink
Bathroom is lockers with a changing area, showers and then separate toilets too

It's quite weird, dominant behaviour to do that at work. There's definitely a certain type of person that thinks the workplace is an extension of their own home

I'm no prude when it comes to bodily functions. I will happily drop off my load in any public convenience. But knowing a work colleague was outside the cubicle would put me right off. I'd be worrying about noises, time, smell etc. Not the things that I worry about when it is somebody I will never meet again.

Lots of us have more than one morning poo.

It matters what people actually get done.
Monitoring time is pointless.

Plenty of people put in loads of hours but still do less actual work.

Your workplace culture doesn't sound good.

I don’t know if you’re the unreasonable one or if I am, but it really annoys me when people do this!

If I need to use the toilet for its intended purpose and (without being indelicate) we’re talking solids, it does make me feel weird and uncomfortable if there’s someone standing three feet away listening the whole time. Washing hands takes 30 seconds not five minutes, so it’s not the same. It’s just awkward to have to either face a colleague who has just listened to your porcelain drum solo, or to wait them out when you could have wiped and been on your way.

Could you get a little mirror for your desk and do it there instead? Or just finish your makeup at home before you leave?

Canogapark

I always went to work fully ready. Why can’t you do your make up before you leave home instead of doing it in work time.
I used to have to park a distance away from one job then walk or get two buses. Your make up definitely doesn’t look like you’ve just done it!!!

Mine isn’t ready to make an appearance until after I’ve walked in to work!

Plenty of people go out to parties or to dinner after work, and will want to put on a bright lipstick or eyeliner, which they wouldn't wear at their desk. It's reasonable for them to use the work mirror to put it on.

Plus, people cycling or walking in might need to blot their faces and do a touch -up.

People pooing in a shared loo need to accept that they're pooing in a shared loo! They can't expect everyone to tiptoe around them.

I've done it in the past due to cycling on a really wet day, having to get an early hourly bus which then left me time before starting work or preferring the warmth of work to the lido toilets.

It’s strange to me that people have a problem with it.

She wants to do her morning poo in peace

Whilst it irks me to say it, a benefit if a mixed sex, universal bog, with floor to ceiling walls, and it's own basin and mirror, is that nobody would know you were doing your make-up or would be waiting for your shoes and ankles to retreat through the door before dropping their log.

They are much maligned but actually afford more privacy.

I dont think poo particle migrate the three feet between the loo bowl, through the cubicle door and on to the basin surround where I set down my make up bag.😆 Also I do my make up at home in the bathroom where there is a loo. Are these poo particles everywhere in every bathroom??

I accept about 50% of MN thinks I am being unreasonable so I’ll compromise - half my office days I’ll do my make up in the loo and the shy poo-ers will just have to relax and half my office days I’ll expose my haggard skin to the world or perhaps scrape on some foundation before I leave the house (unlikely).

Can you do your makeup in the car?

It's a pain if people are hogging the sink doing make-up when you need to wash your hands.

It's perfectly normal to put make up on in the loos at work. Ignore the weirdos.

If you're happy to do the school run, travel to work and arrive at work without make up then why bother with it?

I wouldn’t do this personally. I would use the accessible loo on the rare occasion I have to do my make up at work. But why not just do it at home and leave later if you’re arriving at work early enough to do it there??

erm… yes they are everywhere in the bathroom 😬 the taps, the door handles, the counters.

I thought I was one of the most relaxed 'public' toilet users of the stew. I'm usually rolling my eyes at other people's toilet hang ups. But when I read your OP, I realised that actually I do feel uncomfortable when someone is at the washbasins/mirror for a long time and I'm in the cubicle using the loo.

So I'm sorry, YABU.

I think if there was a separate cloakroom then it would be fine to do it in there but if you're doing it while people are expected to go to the loo at the same time then I think you're being really unreasonable and not allowing them their privacy.

You just put plenty of toilet roll bottom of loo so you don't make a splash 🤷‍♀️

Do you drive into work? I don't understand why you don't do make up in the car. It's more private, it's warm, you get to appear at work immaculate straight away, you can do it sitting down...

This would really piss me off tbh. I do not want someone outside my toilet door listening to me using the toilet. I think it's pretty selfish behaviour. Do it at home or at your desk. Organise your life better.

It’s not your problem that other people are so self conscious that they think you even acknowledge their bodily functions. Do your makeup. The space is for everyone to use.