Make up on the train

[failingmammalian]

Is it acceptable to do your make up on the train .. Powder blush mascara and lip balm. Nothing gross like eyebrow plucking
I do get some funny looks. Isn't it normal/acceptable?
What's a girl to do?

Hilarious! We don't have trains and tubes here for the work commute, but I frequently put make up on in the car. I can't see how it affects anyone else.

It's really annoying having someone faff around with make-up when you're trying to read etc. Just don't do it.

I put my make up on while I'm on the train every time I travel into London, about once a month. Can't see the problem. No-one's ever given me a second look. I've even managed mascara when I've forgotten a mirror, by using the window (it was dark outside). I have one small bag and there is no "faffing around". Done in 5 mins. I can't see why it would be unhygienic either. I don't wipe the mascara/blusher brush all over the table? No more unhygienic than doing it at home.

Next time I do it, I'll look out for all those MNers who think it's odd, smile sweetly and carry on regardless.

I admire anyone who manages to put on make up in the morning (no matter where it is!) I consider myself lucky if I get chance to do my hair and put on my deodorant! (I carry spare in my work bag in case I forget - I'd never put it on in public I'd like to add :-) ). All in all its just as well I work in a youth work setting and get to sling on jeans and a top most days

I get the tube each day and think the following are acceptable:
lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow.

I don't think full face of foundation is, or the loving application of four different colour blushers. I guess my personal rule is, if you are just doing a quick job it's fine, if you are going to spend an hour on yourself its a bit much.

I sat next to a man the other day clipping his fingernails. Had to move, as thought one might flip into my hair.

I also don't like facial hair tweezing or hairbrushing really.

God, I love spying people put their make-up on. Love watching how they do it and how they can transform themselves. I couldn't coordinate it all in public. Am always impressed.

So it's ok to just use one blusher and as long as you don't lovingly apply it you're ok?

Do I need to say 3 hail Marys as well?

I think, if you are doing it as a quick fix it's fine, but spending hours on it is too much.

i once sat opposite a girl who spent the whole journey sculpting her face with four different blushers, her neck, her cleavage, it was all a bit too much IMO. plus she coated the people around her in a film of sparkly powder.

Totally acceptable to put make up on on the train, as long as you're not spray painting your fellow passengers.

I don't do it but don't mind those who do.

I usually drive to work and put my make up on sitting in the car in the car park when I arrive. TBH if I took the train to work I would use the time to apply make up then.

Reason? If I try to do it at home my 6 yo follows me around with an endless stream of "watcha doing Mummy? Why? What's make up? Why do you wear it? Can I have some? Please please please oh look Mummy a bit of fluff look at me twirl Mummy Mummy Mummy Mummy Mummy look look LOOOOOOOOK" while I try to apply eye liner.

And just when I distract her with a promise of unguarded gummy bears in the kitchen, DH races into the bathroom, pants already half down, having to poo RIGHT NOW.

I know I'm going to sound like my Granny but I can't help feeling it looks 'common'.

I drive but do make up at home.

all extra stuff to carry plus if train jolts you might poke yourself in the eye with mascara and emulate a panda

I don't care - I would assume long commute time/children not being good at waiting! Stale farts - now that's a different matter...

nugget I just personally find it intrusive. I don't think I relate it to sex particularly, and I'd find it just as annoying if a man did it. Just one of those things I find hard to tune out, and when I am sitting on the train I want to be able to switch off and read my book in peace. I suspect for me it's partly because I have a bit of a face phobia (I hate going to both the dentist and the optician and had major problems with contact lenses).

Of course there are other far more annoying things that people can do on the train. I've also had some guy sit down and have a wank and other gross things, but this thread was about make up.

Shit, it's hard enough. Full time job, commute needing a train, possibly some DCs in the mix. Fuck it, who cares if some busy women put on a bit of make up on a train. Do what you like, apart from opening your legs wide, therefore taking up some of my space and eating smelly food. Nowt wrong with it. If I don't like it, I don't have to look.

Have only skimmed thread so apologies if someone has already linked, but great images here of Beauty Editors applying make-up on train
www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/14/the-gentlewoman-olivia-williams_n_962639.html#361136 .

Well nooka that sounds like the problem is with you, not the people putting on makeup, as it is just something that distracts you from your book and because you have a phobia. That's not the fault of the person putting on makeup. That's like me saying I find it very distracting if people opposite me are talking to each other and therefore distracting me from my book - but I don't come on here saying 'talking is intrusive people shouldn't do it on the tube'.

I think as the OP has asked if we think it's acceptable or not we can all give our opinions. We're not going to be forming vigilante groups and hunting people down, either stopping people from applying make up or forcing them to put it on.

Crowded rush hour tubes are weird places. I had a couple snogging 5 inches from my nose the other day, and we were packed in so tightly I couldn't turn round.

great thread. I cant help but think it was the friday night posting that really gave it wings. It looks like this has more to do with the issues of the commuters than those applying the makeup.

Well talking can be intrusive can't it

If I was the only person who said it bothered me then I'd totally agree with you, but a fair few people have said they don't like it for a variety of reasons. I think using public transport should involve thinking at least a little bit about the comfort of your fellow passengers.

Of course talking can be intrusive but that doesn't mean it's not acceptable which is what this thread is asking!

People have said they don't like it but no one has given a good reason. Me putting on make up interferes with other people's comfort no more than people talking interferes with mine but I would never expect people not to talk so as not to annoy me.

Slapperati. I love it. Can i join?
But please, non matching pants and bra is enuf to qualify??

It's not something that bothers me per se, but it's also not someone I'd ever do.

I assume people who apply make-up on trains are the same people who go to the loo in front of the entire family, and as per a recent thread on here, choose the moment other family come into the bathroom while they're showering, to give their fanjo a good scrub.

I.e. people 'not like me' who don't place any importance on keeping a little bit of mystique about them.

Which is fine. We're all different.

Margaret I would not go to the loo in front of other people . Putting on make up in front of strangers is not the sake as pissing in front of people!