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?