put (one's) face on
To apply makeup to one's face. Especially said by or of a woman. Hold on, let me put my face on before you take a photo! She never leaves the house without putting her face on first.
put one's face on
Fig. [for a woman] to apply cosmetics. Martha's gone to put her face on. Well be on our way once my wife has put her face on.
put one's face on
Apply makeup, as in Helen won't stir out of the house before she puts her face on. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]