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You might have spotted eyeliner being applied on the bus, powder being brushed across a face on the tube, or nails being painted on the train.

What's acceptable when it comes to make-up on public transport?

Is doing make-up while on the move just a really efficient use of time? Is it OK to do your foundation on the bus, tube or train? Is getting out the nail polish too much? Should you pluck and pencil in your eyebrows while in public? Or is it all just a bit gross?

Emma Barnett, broadcaster and writer Sali Hughes, and journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer swapped views and horror stories on this for Late Night Woman’s Hour.

Here are their thoughts on the protocol around preening yourself on public transport.

Sali Hughes: I do it all the time

"I think make-up on public transport is fine within reason. I do it all the time," says writer and broadcaster Sali Hughes.

"As long as you’re considerate of those around you, it saves time, passes the journey and means that you arrive looking presentable.

"I’m a fan of doing a base before I leave the house and then I add the details on the train. But even then, I’m really careful to make sure there is no spraying, dusting, putting fumes into the atmosphere of the trains - so that means no perfume, no hairspray, certainly no nail polish.

"I don’t like brushing my hair near people, I don’t think they should put up with any dust that comes out of my hair. I’m very careful about dusting powder and so on.

"One still has to be considerate, just as one wouldn’t sit there with headphones turned up high, or eating smelly food, although actually I wish other people were considerate of other things on the train as I am with make-up."

"Amazingly, I have been touted out by a man who was watching pornography as he tweeted out me putting on my lipstick, which was a beautiful illustration of the gender divide there."

Miranda Sawyer: I find it quite entertaining

"I think putting make-up on public transport is completely fine. It’s a way of passing the time, to be honest", says writer and journalist Miranda Sawyer.

"If you can’t get reception on your phone and you’re bored of the book, you might as well do your ‘slap’. The only problem for me is that I’m not very good at [it]. Because I’m not very good at make-up I don’t put very much on, it doesn’t take enough time, so actually what I might be better doing is going to the toilet if I’m on a train, and washing my hair, bringing a dryer, I could do that, that would take up a bit of the journey from London to Manchester.

"Maybe I could have a full on manicure, pluck a few hairs, because my make-up regime is very short. It only lasts about five minutes and if you’re on a two hour train journey, you need something else to do really.

"I’m pretty liberal when it comes to make-up on public transport because I find it quite entertaining. If somebody is going the full whack, I would be watching for tips and also because it’s just quite interesting.

"I imagine people saying you must not pluck or paint your nails because it’s a terrible smell, but I quite like the smell so as far as I’m concerned, as long as you’re not beard trimming, I think you’re doing fine."

Emma Barnett: I don't like people judging you for doing it

"There was a stage of my life where I only did make-up on public transport", says Late Night Woman's Hour presenter Emma Barnett.

"I was incredibly disorganised and I’d have about four items and it would just be bish-bash-bosh.

"Once I started wearing glasses, it was harder because I’m utterly blind without them. But if I have my lenses in, I was a pretty lean, mean machine at getting make-up on on the tube or the bus or the train or wherever I was.

"I draw the line at people doing nail varnish, I think that’s hideous, it stinks, I have seen people clip their nails, their toenails in the summer on the Virgin Pendolino to Manchester. I think that’s probably the worst thing I’ve seen.

"But I don’t like people judging you for doing it. There’s all sorts of things that people do that are far more offensive. I’ve sat next to people listening to the most horrendous music, I’ve also had a man rub up against me on the tube, and I was on a Woman’s Hour assignment.

"So make-up is fine, the only thing that I think is just a bit...is when you do your foundation and you see people...and they’ve got a handful of it and then they hold the bar, and you’re just like, that’s not great. Apart from that, I’m fine with everything."

Tips for doing make-up on public transport

"DO save eye-liner for stops", says Sali. "Eye liner requires a bit of a pause for lots of people unless you’ve been doing it for as long as I have and then you can do it in any old rattly train. Anything that requires a steady hand, just wait until your stop."

"DO the things you can do in motion between stops, so things like cream-blush is very easy to put on while the train is moving, face powder, that sort of thing", Sali adds.

"DO try and use products that are multi-tasking. Perhaps a lip and cheek cream that you can just dab on with your fingers, that works really well", according to Sali.

"DO stay in your lane and not inflict anything on anybody else", says Sali. "I think they have to be looking at you to notice, I think is the rule."

"DO find a spot with a bit of elbow room because there is nothing worse than having to do your eye liner in a stop quite quickly with everything else going on around you and then you elbow the person next to you, then they will have a case against you", says Emma.

"DON’T judge anyone who is doing their make-up on public transport", says Emma. "They didn’t have enough time to do it anywhere else, or it doesn’t matter, they are not affecting you."

"DON’T cut your nails on public transport", says Emma. "I really hope that is self-evident why not."

"DON’T paint your nails because the fumes are horrendous", Emma adds. "Those are the two times you can judge."

We asked for your thoughts on this topic and they came flooding in:

• “Have seen a woman pluck her brows on the bus! I think that's a no-no because the discarded hairs could have fallen on someone.”
• “People totally used to tutt me and give me the side eye! Who wants to sit on a train for an hour and waste that time that could include makeup?!”
• “I know people are offended by people doing make-up on the train however I’m offended by people eating beef crisps on the train and entirely missing their mouth.”
• “I used to do a daily commute from Birmingham to London. Apart from the joy of a friendship (and what we call #120mphbeautyclub) my most ....extreme appearance was seeing a woman take her sandals off and APPLY ATHLETES FOOT POWDER. On the train. I nearly vommed.”
• “I like watching people do their makeup on commute, but one time this lady was doing her mineral foundation on the bus and all the bits were flying over to me as she was swirling her brush in the lid. I was really not impressed - blue coat looked like it has dandruff everywhere!!”
• “I once saw someone putting fake tan on while on the tube. Make up yep totally fine (though I have nearly lost an eye doing it) but fake tan? She had a mitt and was wearing a short dress and was tanning her legs!”
• “My only big No No is going crazy with any kind of spray, I don't want to smell like your perfume/setting spray/sickly sweet face mist.”
• “My commute to work is the only time I have, without my children distracting me, to do my make-up. I consider it ‘me time’. I do a full face on the 40 minute commute, from primer to powder. It’s something I enjoy, makes me feel good, and I honestly don’t care if anyone is watching!”
• "I think I'm in the minority here. I hate doing make-up in front of other people, maybe it’s a confidence thing, I hate doing it even in public bathrooms or around friends. So when I see people in public doing it I respect their bravado. But I also find it inappropriate on public transport."
• “God no. Just get out of bed earlier.”

The Late Night Woman’s Hour podcast is out every week with loads more chat about life, politics, culture, sex, relationships and parenting – nothing is off the table!

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