Babe, first of all, let me point out the obvious. I’m sure you already know this, but I feel like I should say it nevertheless.
By “on the go,” I’m referring to putting on makeup in the car AS A PASSENGER. Or, on public transportation, again, as a passenger. I mean, if you’re driving the BART train, please do not be putting on your makeup. I repeat, if you’re driving the BART train, a car or any other vehicle, do not put on your makeup.
Not a good idea. Stay safe.
As for putting on makeup as a passenger in a car/on a bus/on a train, it happens to me all the time, because I’m always running late! But over the years I’ve figured out ways to sort of maximize my car time.
1. Bring makeup wipes
Some companies sell portable packs or travel packs that are small enough to fit in a purse (baby wipes will also work in a pinch), but since I usually buy my makeup wipes in bulk (yes, I go through that many of them), I just stick a few in a Ziploc and put that in my purse.
El Hub, bless his heart, thinks that he’s a great driver, but he’s actually not (sorry, babe, but it’s true). The car will be swerving and stopping and starting and turning and doing all kinds of stuff. Inevitably, I’ll end up with a smudge here or there.
It’s easy to clean up any messes along the way with makeup wipes. Plus, you can also use them to quickly clean a makeup brush and, at the end of your process, clean your fingertips and hands if you use them to pat down your foundation or concealer (that’s what I do).
Which brings me to tip #2…
2. Don’t even attempt to do mascara or liner in the car
Just wait ’til you get to your destination, and apply there.
When I think of all the potholes on Highway 880, I can’t even deal. I won’t even attempt to put on mascara or liner in the car anymore, because what’s the point? It’s a surefire mess. Plus, chances are that nobody will notice that you aren’t wearing mascara or liner when you arrive wherever you’re going unless they’re looking really, really, really closely…in which case they’re freaks!
Whenever you get where you’re going, just head to the loo and touch up there.
On that note, if you are going to do liner, even at your destination, keep it simple. Resist the urge to bust out the cat liner. It’s just too stressful.
3. Keep it simple
I’m not about to do a cut crease in the car. It’s just too hard, and I’m not that talented. I stick to one shadow. One shadow, one brush, buff it out, and there you go. It doesn’t have to be difficult.
All this talk about cars…
My first car was a red ’95 Honda Civic named Murry…whom I had for approximately three hours before I crashed him!
Yes, I crashed my very first car on the very first day I had it. It was a classic Karen move.
OK, yeah, so…it was the day I picked up the car in Union City. That afternoon my parents and I drove the two hours up to where I was starting school at Davis. We took two cars. I drove the Honda, and Mom and Dad drove a truck loaded with my stuff.
So we get to Davis, they say bye, lots of kisses, and they drive back home. Me being the genius that I am, I immediately take the car to go visit my stupid-@ss boyfriend in Vallejo — my boyfriend that my parents don’t know about.
I crash the car in Vallejo, and I have to call my parents from my boyfriend’s house. They’re like, “What the $#@$ are you doing in Vallejo?! OMG, there’s a boy there?!”
They had to drive all the way to Vallejo to help me with the car… It was just awful.
What was your first car? And please tell me that your story is better than mine.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I don’t know in other countries but here I’ve seen many women doing their lashes or putting eyeliner in the bus, I always get worried about them when they do their waterlines.
When I’m doing my makeup on the go I try to make it simple but when there’s need I use liquid foundation if not I’ll go only with powder as my base product.
I don’t know how to drive, we only have a pickup from dad’s job so I can’t learn on it and I haven’t paid for any classes.
My first car was a red VW Polo, and I drove it for three years before I passed it on to a friend. She used it to transport tables one week after she got it and crashed it in the process. I cried so hard!
Hahaha your story is too funny! I have had similar mortifying moments in my past as well but my first car story is rather boring and just that I felt really cool driving my friends out for Subway during lunch break in high school lol
What’s the lipstick in the picture please :)?
Oh, gosh, several things to address. First of all, you look lovely as always. Secondly, I have occasionally put on lipstick or gloss in the car but never any other makeup. Third, OMG on your story. I can’t imagine anyone has a better one. HAHA! Mine was a used Oldsmobile Bravada (money pit) that I bought with my first job and little understanding of the car expenses other than a loan payment. I loved that thing with the heat of 1000 suns and cried when I traded it in about 5 years later. The Hubs was mystified that I wasn’t throwing a party to get rid of that thing. First car is like your first love – even if the bad outweighs the good, you still have a soft spot. 🙂
A friend of mine puts her makeup on on the train every morning — she just whips out her foundation brush and gets to work. But I feel like I could never do that — I would be way too self-conscious! I have applied my mascara or brow gel + lipstick on the train when I was in a mad rush and would miss the train otherwise, but I can’t get comfortable with it. I’m not really even comfortable walking to the train without my lip color on! In the privacy of your own car feels different, even if other people on the road can see you, but I’m always the driver, not the passenger! I’m OK with touching up powder and lipstick after eating in public, but that’s about it… I guess I’m just too old! When I was a kid, applying makeup (beyond the powder-and-lipstick-touch-up) in public would have been considered incredibly, insultingly rude, and it’s just hard for me to get past that. Not that I think that when other people do it (actually I love stealing glances at other people putting on makeup), but it just feels *wrong* if I try to do it myself.
My first car was a (used, I’m not *that* old) 1965 army green Plymouth Valiant that I bought for $500. I loved that car — I could even tune it up myself! Nowadays I open the hood and have no idea what I’m looking at…
Hi there! I was also wondering what lip color you are wearing in the picture! Thanks!
I only ever put on lipstick in the car and only if Dear Husband is at a stop light. There are too many speed bumps on the streets in our neighborhood to attempt anything else. People drive like idiots on 101 and 280 down here, so I’m always watching as an extra set of eyes when DH is driving.
I shared a used Dodge Dart with my mom when I was in high school, so I guess technically it was still her car. The very first car I bought was an ’88 Honda Civic with a stick shift. It was all the dealer had on the lot in my price range. I limped that thing home from the dealer on Friday afternoon. Went out the next morning with my girlfriend to learn how to drive a stick on the hills in SF. By Monday morning I was able to drive to my new job in San Jose.
The only makeup I can manage in the car is lipstick and mascara. Maybe powder.
Once I picked up my friend to go out, and she managed to do both her liner and mascara in the car. I was in awe. Either she is exceptionally talented, or I drive incredibly smoothly, LOL!
I sometimes put my lipstick on in the car before I head out to work. I may touch up my lips when my husband is driving. Other than that, I don’t bother. In all my years commuting, I never did my makeup on the subway or commuter train.
My first car was a used Chevy Chevette. I bought it in the mid 80’s from a person who worked at the company my dad was working for. I was living in Brooklyn and it was quite a schlep to get to my parents in Northern NJ. I had it for four years and sold it to a friend of my sister when I moved into Manhattan.
I don’t do any makeup but lipstick in the car while it’s moving, but the visor mirror in a parked car is one of the best places I’ve ever found for doing eyeliner. I’m sitting at the perfect height to look in the mirror which I don’t have to hold, it’s great.
Hey Karen! Long-time lurker, first-time poster 🙂
I used to do my cat eyes on the bus on the way to work by using a pencil eyeliner and a smudger/sponge applicator that I got from a drugstore eye makeup brush set. The applicator was basically a firm sponge about the size of a Q-tip (or ‘cotton bud’ here in the UK!), with a typical brush handle. I’d draw a line along my upper lashline up to the outer corner of my eye, then use the applicator to smudge, using the ‘excess’ liner to extend beyond the outer corner and into a cat eye flick. It wasn’t perfect but it worked great as a smokey, grungy cat eye. I actually got many compliments from it!
I don’t do this as often as I live closer to my current job, so I have more time to work on my eye makeup. But I’ll do this whenever I’m running late for something. I find it looks really good with a dark smokey eyeshadow.
PS: your blog is awesome 🙂
OMG Davis and Vallejo! My parents and I used to frequent those places all the time when we lived in Vacaville. I have so many memories of the big farmer’s market in Davis!
My first car was a hand-me-down from my dad: his 1988 Volvo 740 station wagon in navy blue. It had tan colored leather seats that were totally cracked and worn, the driver’s seat was practically molded to his body! The sunroof didn’t work, the radio/CD player stopped working like 2 weeks after I got it, the A/C blew black foam in my face, the foam or adhesive in the interior ceiling had dry-rotted, so the fabric was all billowy and the entire interior was held together with clear packaging tape (looked better than duct tape according to Dad!). Anyway, I drove it for my senior year in high school (class of ’02!) until my dad sold it to a Volvo enthusiast for $800 and then I got my mom’s 1997 Camry which I drove up until a few years ago.
What foundation do you have on in this pic? Looks great- I’m thinking it’s the UD one and done??? And lip color? Very flattering on your skin
You look gorgeous! Like many have asked what is that lip color and if I may what shade/brand of hair color? I am thinking of dying mine and really like your color especially since I have the same base as you.
I curl my lashes and apply mascara in the car sometimes but only when parked. I had a friend in high school who would apply liquid liner while driving on the freeway. Though even after 11 years of hub’s driving I am not as jumpy as I used to be he it is still too scary to attempt anything when he drives.
My first car was a 1999 Ford Contour and a year old when I bought it. It was crap, left me stranded 6 times and needed the same part replaced 3 times all while still under the original warranty(3yrs/36k miles). My second car was a 2002 Camaro I absolutely loved and cried when I traded it in.
I don’t care how early it is or how little time I have, I just can’t do my make-up in the car/on the train/on the go. But for those who can I guess these are good tips 🙂 But I’ll just stick to getting up a little early and doing my face in front of the bathroom mirror.
Girl, one of my professors gave me a ride to an event once, and applied mascara while driving. Scary as hell!