The Do's and Don'ts of Public Primping

Andrea Arterbery, Shine Staff

Women are expected to look their absolute best at all times, and with hectic lives that often mean grooming on the go. A survey by UK retailer Debenhams found that that at least 67 percent of women apply their makeup during their morning commute and extra 22 percent also touch up their lipstick or mascara while traveling.


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More proper ladies may prefer a private trip to the powder room, but there are occasions when public primping is hard to avoid. If you're a lady who can't resist multitasking, these do's and don't will keep you looking perfect in public without offending those around you.

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1. DO use your own mirror. Sometimes you need to refresh your lipstick or lipgloss, but do not attempt to use a window reflection, the side mirrors of your vehicle, or someone else's mirror near you. Aside from snagging an inaccurate or rushed glimpse, you're merely drawing attention to your awkward grooming habits. Be a bit more discreet and use a pocket sized mirror (Tweezerman Unbreakable Mirror, $15, sephora.com) or a lipstick or gloss that has a mirror attached (Artistry Light Up Lip Gloss, $16.05, amway.com).

2. DON'T primp while driving. When you're in your car, you need to be alert at all times, so don't apply a whole face of makeup at red lights. If you're a busy woman on the move, take a second to pull over in a parking lot and take care of business. If you must do one quick step in traffic, skip the lengthy mascara application process and use an eyelash curler which opens up the eye and won't create messy smudges.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, $20, shuuemura-usa.com

3. DO apply lip balm in any situation. Because there are no mirrors needed, it's always ok to dab on some lip balm. Etiquette expert Lesley Carlin approved of this basic beauty step to Allure magazine. You can easily forego the lipstick and relieve a dry lip spell anywhere by quickly applying your favorite tinted lip balm. Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm, $2.97, walmart.com

4. DON'T apply your makeup at the dinner table. While you may want to re-apply your lip color after drinking or eating, try to refrain from any makeup applications at the dinner table, especially at an upscale restaurant. "Anything other than lipstick is really pushing the limit - and degrading the whole experience of going out to the restaurant for the rest of the patrons," advises Real Simple's Modern Manners columnist Julie Rotten berg. This rule can be shirked in emergency situations. What if you spot your ex-boyfriend across the room? Or perhaps your boss just waltzes in. In these imperative look-your-best scenarios, skip the face powder and quickly dab your face with oil removing shine sheets. Boscia Blotting Linens, $10, sephora.com

5. DO put your hair into a ponytail or a bun. Hair elastics make it easy to quickly put your hair up, but, leave the brushing business for the bathroom or other private spot. Carlin told Allure brushing in public is considered rude. If you happen to duck into a bathroom, a styling wax can sub in for a hair brush. Once you've fastened your hair in place just smooth over it with the wax. Many formulas come in stick form, so they're super easy and light to carry in your purse. KeraCare Styling Wax Stick, $14.99, sleekhair.com

6. DON'T paint your nails while riding public transportation. The smells of nail polish and nail polish remover may be OK to you, but the strong chemical odors may disturb fellow passengers. If it's an absolute emergency situation, use nail stickers. There are fragrance free and can be quickly applied to clean, bare nails in a cinch without the mess. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips, $7.59, target.com

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