Make up on the train: get up ten mins earlier

[Trainarmrestfairy]

Just get up ten minutes earlier!! It’s not hard.

You’re taking up two seats. Your elbows are jabbing the person next to you. Your setting spray just hit me in the bloody face. And, even worse, you’ve painted your eyebrows on wonky because you’re on a moving bloody train!!!!

Why do people not get up earlier?!

I regularly do my makeup at work as well. Especially when I want a slightly “fuller” face. But I just wear mascara and lipstick on some days (no important clients, court dates etc.) which I apply on the train quite frequently.

I am both fascinated and revolted. I'm fascinated by the inevitably grubby make up bag that comes out and the yucky look of all the products, plus the gurning for lipstick and mascara application. I'm also intrigued at the shamelessness of it.

I'm revolted because it just seems so grubby and dirty to me to put make up on when using public transport with your dirty hands. But I accept that those are my hygiene issues and clearly no one ever died from using dirty fingers to put make up on.

God no, I love watching women put makeup on!

I love seeing what they use, how they do it, which products they will be scraping the very last of. It feels a bit like getting to know them - you learn what they really think of their faces!

I'm someone who does put makeup on at home, and wishes she did more so I think that's part of it. It's how I found out most people apply foundation/concealer with a brush or sponge and not their fingers (game changer!).

I love watching and judging covertly. There's always a point when they should stop but continue to slap it on. Usually poor contouring when they start drawing brown stripes everywhere

How would I jostle somebody? I’m not waving my arms around. And I certainly take up less space than those eating their breakfast spreads.

But more importantly:

Nobody sat next to me. I usually prefer the single seat row when I travel alone.

Genuinely surprised at all the judgy comments on this thread. I really don’t see putting on make-up as some shameful action that can only be done in private. I do occasionally do my make up on the train when something interrupts my usual routine, or I need to get in much earlier than usual. I get on my train early when the carrriage is empty; it takes me a little over 10 minutes and I’m done well before the carriage starts to fill up. I genuinely don’t see how that should offend anybody.

That said, people who are inconsiderate on trains regularly annoy me - and the person sitting next to OP was definitely that. But it is not nearly as annoying as those watching TiKTok etc without headphones, having loud conversations on speaker phone, and men who take up half your space as well as their own as if it is their right.

Well, if you're not sitting next to anyone, then it's impossible. But in OP's case, someone was. Hence why she didn't like it.

If there were no single seats available and you had to sit beside someone, would you still apply the make up? If not, not a problem. If you would, I suppose that runs the risk that you would accidentally elbow or spray someone.

My morning, up at a quarter past 6, drop husband to train, then home to get lunches ready, make sure kids have had showers and have eaten breakfast and are ready, then two different school runs then work for me. Most times I don’t get to the make up stage. If I had a train journey I’d so do it then!

AMillionTomorrows

Make up is stupid.

I have roseacea, make up turns me into a non red human, it also hides dark circles, for other people acne and grey skin. If people don’t like it fair enough but I love it!

Judgy. You don’t know anything about their set up at home or what else they are having to go through in a morning. If anything they're probably just about keeping it together. Let them do their make-up on the train if that’s what works for them. I am much more irritated by people getting the laptops out and starting work before they've even got to the office.

Or they could leave the make-up off and save a fortune. Or wait till they get to work.

If it took her an hour, then how would getting up 10 mins earlier help her? People use the 'dead' time on the commute for various things, reading/listening to podcasts/chatting/doing make up. No-one else's business. The example you describe does sound quite extreme though and almost too over the top to be entirely true and unexaggerated..

I think it's gross and unacceptable, it is a personal thing which should be done before leaving the house. Reapplying lipstick - OK. Nothing involving liquid foundation can be OK in public in my opinion. And definitely not nails, anything which creates a smell. Yet like others I find it fascinating to watch, I always wonder if I can pick up a few tips. I only see this when I'm back in the UK though, have never seen this where I live (Germany), certainly nothing beyond lipstick or possibly mascara. I feel it would not be seen as appropriate.

Why get out of bed 10 mins earlier when you can do it on the train? It’s efficient use of time. I do mine without using any extra chairs, no elbowing and no spraying, but still get annoyed looks from people (usually sitting across from me on the tube). I give them a big smile and they generally look elsewhere after that. It’s my business if my fingers are covered in germs, and I’ve been doing it for years with no ill effects. Feels like just another way people are judging women (‘classless’ etc) and honestly they can take a flying jump.

But why should OP let them when they're jabbing elbows into her and spritzing her with their sprays? At least a laptop doesn't invade anyone else's space.

If they take up 2 seats and prod/spray you then I agree but that's someone just being anti social. If someone just puts on makeup in a way that has no impact on you then I don't think you should care.

It doesn't bother me so long as I'm not getting covered with it. But you don't really use makeup in those sorts of quantities.

But I had to laugh at the first reply being a very specific set of circumstances and how could the OP possibly know that they didn't apply to each and every make up applier. Never, change AIBU.

I find if i pu my make up on before i leave the house, by the time ive walked the 30 minutes to the train station its gone flakey and my mascaras falling off a little etc - looks awful! and god formbit it rains- as thats even more of a disaster!

So i do my makup on the train!

Why not liquid foundation out of interest?

@4naans , I just feel like starting to get out liquid foundation and smear it on, for me crosses the line into too personal, should do it in a bathroom territory. So reapplying lipstick, OK, a discreet powder compact, OK, basically what you imagine someone in the 1940s doing on a tram in a floral dress LOL.. but getting out a huge bag with stuff spilling out and smearing loads of stuff on, I just personally think it should be done in private. Probably old fashioned. When I have seen it I am amazed at the level of skill as I am not very competent with makeup. But also grossed out.

Just get up ten minutes earlier!! It’s not hard.

No thanks I already get up incredibly early to sort out a baby and a toddler. I’ll make use of “wasted time” on a train however I want.

But why? It’s just makeup

This!

I also agreed with the poster saying it was unreasonable for the woman doing so.

You can apply the get up 10 mins earlier with these things:
. Buying coffee
. Taking your kids to Greggs before school for a sausage roll every morning.

I know I'm probably just old fashioned as I am myself not very elegant but aspire to be, and I just don't think it looks very classy in public. Same as extracting wedged knickers or biting into a massive burger, these things may be unavoidable but I just like it when I go to Paris or whatever and everyone is just sashaying around

Totally agree. It's very selfish and inconsiderate of others. No wonder the roads are jammed with cars.