Even though I was never interested in makeup as a kid, I pretty much love it now, specifically skin care products. I love checking out new moisturizers, cleansers, toners and SPF products. Sephora and Nordstrom are pretty much my crack dens.
But as much as I love them, I hate shopping at cosmetic counters because I am weak in front of the salesladies.
You know how it goes, you look for one product, maybe ask a few questions and then a sweet saleslady swings by you, smelling a new credit card and says something like, “can I help you find something?” or “oh my gosh you have gorgeous skin.”
Yes, that last phrase is my kryptonite. Once I hear that, I tend to open up my wallet as easily as a girl lifts her shirt on Girls Gone Wild.
No joke.
The saleslady always says how gorgeous my skin is but, of course, she has something to make it better.
Better? But everyone compliments me on my skin now! What is it missing??
That’s when she pulls out the mirror and magic light that makes every pore look the size of a quarter and makeup magically flakes under it and you wonder, OMG how did I go outside looking like this? HELP ME saleslady, help me!
And she does, putting on products, powders and creams that make you look amazing and sigh in relief that you now look like a normal person again and not a monster.
Now, I must have all those products too, I can’t NOT go without them anymore! And sometimes, rather than ask how much each is, you just buy, nearly choking on the bile in your throat when the total of $200 magically appears. Four products for $200? WHA?
Sometimes you pay it, sometimes you don’t. After being caught in that trap several times, I’ve learned to slow down and take breath and critically look at what I need now and what can wait. Just because you want them, doesn’t mean you NEED them all right now.
So Friday when I stopped in at Nordstrom and casually walked by the Laura Mercier counter, being drawn in like a praying mantis, I came out with only one product, one I actually wanted to get, but the lure of more is now planted in my brain.
But after going home and thinking more about it, the cosmetic counter deprogramming began and I’ll be able to resist…for now.
What about you? Are you able to resist the cosmetic counter unscathed? What store is your crack den?
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I just avoid at all costs. Otherwise, like you, I can’t help myself and suddenly I’ve spent money I don’t need to spend. If I avoid the counters then I am content to buy my makeup at Target where my wallet is much happier!
once, i was standing near a makeup saleslady at macy’s, and she roped me in. i didn’t fight it, because i had forgotten my mascara at home, and was trying to live without it (almost impossible, trust me.)
anyway, she said “wow, you have really gorgeous skin” and i started laughing, and said “not really, lady.”
there are some things about my face/appearance that i think are my best features: I have really, really blue eyes, my eyebrows don’t require much tweezing and they look pretty awesome, and i have nice cheek bones. but my skin? it’s got it’s problems, just like anyone else. it was clear that she used that line on everyone. just gimme my free mascara makeover and let me out of this chair!
I’m really boring … I order my stuff from Avon.
I tend to skip these counters because like you, I’ll give in. I’ll buy. I’ll walk away with something I don’t need. It’s dangerous!
Also? you crack me up… the girls gone wild line = hilarious!
I love makeup, but I can never make it look as good as they do, so then i’m frustrated and mad i spent a ton of money. but i love looking at all the makeup!
Yes, I’m the same way – I only know “Yes” when it comes to the cosmetic counter at Saks. Sephora is much safer place for me to shop, but still that’s like my favorite candy store! But more you get older, you better at spending, I think…
The Origins store takes so much of my wallet. I’m allergic to almost everything, and can’t buy anything with scents, so this narrows my selection down A LOT, thankfully!
I avoid the cosmetic counter like the plague, especially at those big department stores where the makeup is in the same area as the perfume — the stench alone sends me running. My three favorite stores are Gap, Old Navy and Pacific Sunwear.
Ahahah “Yes, that last phrase is my kryptonite. Once I hear that, I tend to open up my wallet as easily as a girl lifts her shirt on Girls Gone Wild” SOOO TRUE! I always say once they get me in the chair, I am done. I cannot resist at ALL.
I went to Nordstrom last week to get a tinted moisturizer…walked away spending $92 on Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and a Dior bronzer… ridiculous! But I look bronzed and beautiful hehe :)
I hate having to shop for make-up because I can never really seem to find products that suit me (if you have any tips on a good, brown, doesn’t leave clumps mascara let me know…). And what I get most annoyed about is if I enquire if a shop has a product – then the sales lady is all enthusiastic – and then ask for a tester because I have incredibly sensitive skin – then the sales lady is all of a sudden no longer interested and no they don’t do testers even if the product is 60 euros! I tried shopping for day cream last weekend but just gave up in the end. Too frustrated with the sales people!
I used to be a loyal Clinique follower for make-up. And then I was a brief Dior convert for skin products. But, then, I realized that many drug store beauty products are just as good (for me). So, I’ve saved myself the expense and the stress of having to bypass all those make-up artist people in department stores. That said, I did just start using some Avon moisturizing products that I’m pretty happy with … mail order with pricing equal to drug-store works fine for me!
I find myself walking around in Sephora for awhile but I try to stick to the products I like or ask for a recommendation if I’m debating between two products.
My crack den? The accessories area at Forever21. I could buy up every pair of bangle bracelets and chandelier earrings I could fit in my hands.
I prefer to stick with Sephora–online you get even more free samples and in the stores, I find people are helpful without being pushy.
It’s impossible for me to look at new makeup (especially when Urban Decay comes out with a new eye palette!) and not buy it.
Also, I’ve been trying to go to the QVC Beauty Bash for YEARS… I live TWENTY MINUTES AWAY DARNIT and every time I get wait listed. Maybe 2011 is my year… (you will seriously walk away with hundreds if not thousands of product)
Sephora.com and Amazon.com are my crack dens. I live in a town in the middle of a corn field, so makeup counters are not something I have access too. Shopping online can sometimes be a dangerous game. It is far to easy to just add one more thing to your shopping cart.
Never been one to be drawn into the make-up counters. I avoid those “free” make-overs like the plague because I feel guilty not buying anything afterward.
However, shoe departments are my downfall. I can ALWAYS find a reason to buy a pair of shoes.
I’m cheap.. so I tend to go, check out everything and let them do their best while avoiding a purchase – but the moment they throw in a free bag, or a free mini mascara, I’m done for!
I’m like this when it comes to perfumes. The sales lady helps me carry ten bottles of perfumes in my arms and keeps saying,”Please let me..” and I constantly say,”Oh, I’m just walking to the counter now so it’s okay”. And the walk to the counter doesn’t happen without more perfumes added to my arms.
Um the chick at the Bobbi Brown Counter calls me everytime there is a sale or a new product and has told me I have helped her reach her goal of best seller not in just cosmetics but the whole Store. My birthday I got only gift cards to Sephora and Nordstroms. Nordstroms is my pimp and I its ho.
For me it’s not so much the skincare products, it’s the makeup. I have drawers and drawers full of makeup, and I use most of it on a regular basis. I LOVE makeup! I also love really luxurious body lotions and oils. Sometimes I’ll splurge, but I usually just stick with baby oil because it’s cheaper and does the same thing! I also love perfume, but luckily a good friend of mine’s mom is a fragrance distributor so we’re always getting free samples AND full sized bottles!
LOL! Wish someone would say that to me. Nobody ever compliments me on my skin – you’d have to be blind to mistake my skin for anything short of irritated and blotchy.
I used to have beautiful skin, pre-puberty…people used to tell me son. Those were the days…
I once got told that I had “flawless” skin by a cosmetics lady. Duh, I was wearing make up!!!
:P
Nope not me! I have just about ZERO interest in beauty products and make-up although I’m sure this will turn around to bite me when I’m no longer 20-something and my skin requires things other than water, make-up remover and moisturiser.
Personally, I can’t resist anything food related. $10 jar of lavender blueberry jam? Sure! 5 new exotic spices like ghost chillies, amchoor powder and 3 kinds of mustard? Of course. Because you know, that recipe I looked at once, called for 1/2tsp of it and god forbid I leave it out or substitute and the recipe is no longer AUTHENTIC “insert exotic cuisine here”.
Yeah. It’s a problem…
I don’t really have this problem when it comes to makeup. I have pretty sensitive skin and there are only a handful of brands that won’t freak out my skin so I have no problem walking in and out sephora empty-handed (occasionally).
but clothing and accessories? ABSOLUTELY. I’ve been known to buy an entire outfit that was once displayed on a mannequin because of a compliment I received on one part of the outfit.
You must find a way to get to the QVC Beauty bash. I have the same problem but no longer spend money at Sephora because I get so. much. new. stuff to try and play with in my 22 lb box. Its a great money saver.