I was looking through the things we've been loving post and in particular the 1950's dating post. It got me thinking about the "men don't like girls who borrow their handkerchief and smudge them with lipstick - makeup in privacy..." picture. Although I too wouldn't like someone else’s lipstick smudged on anything of mine (goodness knows it’s annoying enough when it’s your own lipstick) and I agree that makeup seems to confuse men a little, but it got me thinking about makeup in privacy.
What do people think? I personally am fascinated by people applying makeup, whether it is my friends, a stranger on the bus or a MUA in a department store. While I don’t expect people to apply their whole face in the middle of a restaurant, I don’t care if I see someone redoes their lipstick. What are other people’s opinions? Is there a Dos and Don’ts list I never got? What is the makeup in public etiquette?
Thu, 2012-02-09 13:50
#1
Makeup In Public
What an interesting topic. I personally have a little bit of a voyeuristic obsession with watching people do their makeup on public transport, and if I'm being honest, I say go for it. Where I draw the line is with fingernail maintenance. I find it disgusting to sit next to someone on the train who is giving themselves a manicure (and believe me it has happened more than once). I always end up with their nail dust on my clothes - GROSS! Once I even had someone apply their nail polish on the train and that is just plain rude.
Editor - Makeup Utopia Magazine | Community Manager - Makeup Utopia Forum | Freelance Makeup Artist
I would have to agree, I think nail maintenance can go right next to flossing, yep, we all need to to it, its vital at times but eeewwwwww!!!
I often re-apply lippie in public, I'd never thought twice until I saw somewhere, not even sure where now that someone thought it was disgusting....I felt like that scene in pretty woman where she didn't know what cuttlery to use...an people are horrified...had I been offending people for all this time and been oblivious to it, how embarrasing...
Lizzi | Makeup Utopia Contributor | makeupandsmellthecoffee.blogspot.com.au
Honestly I think some people spend half their lives looking for things to be offended by. My philosophy is that if something has no real impact on another person then what's the problem. E.g. Filing nails on the train - person next to you gets nail dust on them, EW! Applying lipstick in public - what impact does this truly have on another person.
Editor - Makeup Utopia Magazine | Community Manager - Makeup Utopia Forum | Freelance Makeup Artist
Nail maintenance - agreed. Too gross! Don't get me started on some other grooming I have seen on public transport - anything to do with nails/hair that leaves residue behind after you're gone is a no-no.
"Putting your face on" as my Nanna would say, however, is fine, as long as it's not totally packed on the train/bus - I don't want to wear others' makeup on my dress due to the close quarters. That is not where it belongs. But if people stick to their own area without invading others' space - it's fascinating. I'm a real voyeur for that kind of stuff - it used to annoy my mum when I'd watch her apply makeup when I was little.
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My hubby saw someone on the train a few weeks ago (at about 7am) gluing rhinestones to thier face - that is one makeup application I would have loved to see! I keep thinking about it and wondering where on earth she was going that needed rhinestones at that time of day!
Editor - Makeup Utopia Magazine | Community Manager - Makeup Utopia Forum | Freelance Makeup Artist
LOL! I was thinking of the exact same question when I read it!!
Love and lipsticks, Keely
My best friend always watches me and one day i challenged her on it (i'm not a fan of being watched) she declared that 'I always watch you, its how i learnt to put makeup on, if it I hadn't watched you all these years I'd have no idea what I was doing!' it was possibly one of the nicest makeup related complements i'ver hever had.
Lizzi | Makeup Utopia Contributor | makeupandsmellthecoffee.blogspot.com.au
That is such a nice thing for her to say! I personally don't really like being watched either - it can feel pretty confronting!
Editor - Makeup Utopia Magazine | Community Manager - Makeup Utopia Forum | Freelance Makeup Artist
As long as it's not a full face makeup application, I don't mind. A touch up here and there doesn't bother me. I love seeing what other people use re: makeup brands etc
It also helps especially when you see a lipstick shade you like and they pull it out to re-apply. You get a glimpse of the brand and that can help you find the shade (if, like me, you're too shy to ask!)
Beauty Snippets
I'm with you, it's awesome to have the opportunity to see what brands and products people are using!
Editor - Makeup Utopia Magazine | Community Manager - Makeup Utopia Forum | Freelance Makeup Artist
I don't like being watched when I put my makeup on either...especially eyeliner! my hands are already as shakey enough as it is haha
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It feels pretty confronting, doesn't it!
Editor - Makeup Utopia Magazine | Community Manager - Makeup Utopia Forum | Freelance Makeup Artist
after being qute warm in Melbourne today, I got my body spray out a couple of times to 'freshen up' and it made me think of this thread
I use my body spray when I'm in the public toilets, but I have seen people do it in public. I think this is another thing that you just don't do in public (or at least near someone else) , the same goes with spraying perfume. I once was sitting next to a woman on a train that sprayed perfume on herself . It was so strong and it smelled awful.
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I tend to agree, I think spraying strongly fragranced products near other people is fairly obnoxious - it can be such a trigger for asthma apart from anything else.
Editor - Makeup Utopia Magazine | Community Manager - Makeup Utopia Forum | Freelance Makeup Artist
I Agree i feel that personal hygiene and it does include makeup application is a private thing. i see people applying makeup all the time in public and some times it makes me laugh specially if they seemed to be having trouble with it. i work at kmart part time ( to pay for my makeup addiction) and i see people using the testers all the time right to their face, like lipsticks on their lips and mascaras and eyeliners straight to eyes without a thought of the germs and gross things that could be on them.
YUCK! every time I see someone use a tester, i think 'Do you think you're the only one who does that? you know you're not the only one right?' mmmm random strangers sharing a lipstick...ick. I'm a little obsessive about germs and the like, I'm aware of that, I am at the extreme end of not sharing (if a friend asks to borrow socks, i don't care how often they are washed, they're now a gift) but surely people who are not as odd as me also don't like to share makeup with potentially 10s of random strangers? Whyyyy.....
Lizzi | Makeup Utopia Contributor | makeupandsmellthecoffee.blogspot.com.au
me too...it makes me cringe when I see someone using a tester, ick!! Even if it's with their finger (in a lipgloss pot) eww it's like "do you know how many people stick their fingers in that lipgloss!" Don't worry, you're not the only one that is obsessive over germs. I use hand sanitiser after swatching makeup in stores, I'm THAT bad about it haha
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I used to work in a microbiol lab so I like to think my obsessiveness is due to that, but I was bad before. At Inglot the lovely girl swatches them for me....no touching it all hoorah!
Lizzi | Makeup Utopia Contributor | makeupandsmellthecoffee.blogspot.com.au