I have a confession: I make up my face on the Tube most mornings. I’m going to say it’s an efficient use of the time underground, and nothing to do with the snooze button. However, in my experience ‘Tube make-up’ is a divisive issue: you’re either down with it or consider it an appalling public faux pas. This comes from a place where women are expected to magically appear perfect every day and that we’re supposed to be ashamed of our unmade faces. Well, I am not.

Let’s face it, plenty of us love watching people make themselves up – there are YouTubers with millions of followers to prove it. So what is so offensive about someone doing it on public transport? Tube etiquette is real: there are certain beauty habits that have no place in a public setting; nail painting (the fumes), hair brushing (the shedding), nail filing and clipping – I’ve witnessed them all. But, for those who use Tube time to prime their faces for the day? I salute you, with five compact, summer-worthy cosmetics for beautifying on-the-go.

Whether you carry your full kit or just the basics for touch-ups, it’s the multifunctional, mess-free products with express application that are the most commute-friendly options. Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright Face Primer is a spin-offfrom his best-selling eye cream. It can sub for a moisturiser and delivers a luminous glow: wear under your base. Speaking of which, Bobbi Brown’s new pigment correcting Skin Foundation Stick comes in 43 shades (everyone will find a match here). This compact stick goes on smoothly, is easy to blend with fingertips and gives a soft, natural finish (which can be layered up for heavier coverage) and it reduces shine (welcome in sweaty train carriages).

A brilliant, universal highlighter is the Honey Glow Waterless Balm from Pinch of Colour. Linda Tresker, the founder of the New York beauty brand, was inspired to create a water-free cosmetics line to support global water aid programmes. “Colour cosmetics and skincare products can use anywhere between 30-90 per cent of water content in the formulas,” explains Linda. “At Pinch of Colour we substituted water with natural, ingredients like shea butter, honey extract, camellia and apricot oils.” Take Linda’s advice and use the deliciously scented Honey Glow stick on the “face, lips, cheekbones, décolletage, even cuticles. It’s a multi-tasking highlighter, primer and moisturiser in one. Wear it under or over your foundation or bare skin.”

Miild, is a Danish line of conscious, allergy-proof cosmetics. The flattering Mineral Blush comes in four shades, is made with Ecocert organic ingredients and can be layered for extra colour. For the brows, Glossier’s pocket-size Boy Brow has replaced pencils in my cosmetic case (who wants to faff about with a sharpener?) This brush-on tint fills, fluffs and fixes brows in place in just a few strokes. Finally, ditch that skin-wrecking coffee and go for a cup of Matcha Glow from AIME. The surprisingly appetising, handbag-ready sachets can be added to hot water or milk, for a dose of skin-boosting marine collagen that isn’t frowned upon on the Northern Line.