On a recent 2-hour train journey, I witnessed a transformation of sorts when a young lady doubled the length of her eye lashes and literally painted a face onto her skin as we dashed towards the city.

I can only assume the effort and effect was meant for someone not travelling on the train, someone who was never meant to witness the masking, the facial contortions and crumbling powders.

Recently, Michelle Keegan was applauded for appearing on morning TV without make-up, due I think to the tube strike and leaving no time to implement the disguise. And of course, she looked beautiful. So, would we have wanted to witness her being made into her “TV self” on air, the response to her appearance suggests not, at all.

As someone who barely wears make-up, I am probably unqualified to comment on it and there are lots of other blogging beauties who I will largely leave to cover the matter for that reason.

Don’t misinterpret me: I love make-up! 

But what I love is the mystique and intrigue; the artifice and artistry.

And, I suppose one of the reasons I don’t wear make-up day-to-day is to maintain its “special effect”.

After all, Sandy didn’t set up a stall at the fair to get her hair permed, peel on those leggings or apply the blue eye-shadow in front of Danny Zuko.

I have always imagined her and Frenchie planning the “big reveal” the night before, doing her make-up in the morning, practising the famous one-liner. She knew the key to impact was the privacy of the makeover and hence her audience was, literally, on his knees.

So, like Sandy, I won’t be doing my make up in public; it spoils it for everyone. We don’t look nice when we’re doing it and we reveal our secrets. No one is going to be conned by our “au naturel” look if they’ve had to sit next to us whilst we apply the highlighter below the eye.

It does seem to be the thing to pout into a compact and apply a bold lip, and I certainly wouldn’t have wanted Sandy’s smile to fade at the fair, so I suppose that may be my only exception to the rule…if we must!