back off! beauty

Oh, my.  I sit staring a bit harder at my face today because I was pressured into buying a $40 product I'm pretty sure I didn't need when I went to a large chain cosmetics store yesterday.  And while I can return the product if it doesn't live up to the hype, what lead to me buying this item distressed me. 

Salesperson #1: "Excuse me? Can I just do something - can you come here?" (Proceeds to wipe/blend my foundation into my jawline in a more efficient manner).  "OK - that's a bit better."

Salesperson #2: "Do you have time for me to redo your makeup? I can totally take care of whatever mess that's, like, happening with all this."  (Gestures to indicate she's talking about my whole face).

Salesperson #3: "What face cleanser are you using? Cause, girl, we can totally work with what's going on, like, here."  (Additional gesturing to my face).

Salesperson #4:  "Oh! What blush are you using today??"

Me: (Reply with name of cream blush).

Salesperson #4: "Oh! Well, when I wear too much streaky blush like that, I totally use this product to, like, tone it down and make it look better."

Hell. 

OK, people.  You got me.  I figure I must look like a hot-mess troll, and I take Salesperson #4's product, put back the two products I actually went into the store for, and shuffle my way to the register, self-esteem at a negative-4 code-red. 

I get I was having a bad beauty day, but I don't get how these people's sales techniques were considered helpful or effective. Rather, the next time I go into this store, I'm sure to be head-down, no eye contact ever. 

I talked about the difference in makeup-counter department-style stores in an article I wrote for Vanity Cosmetics, and my words rang even truer today.  I have never seen or experienced high-pressure sales at Vanity Cosmetics, nor have I ever been insulted into buying products I didn't want or need. 

So quick reminders, ladies - 1) keep your heads held high, especially when untrained salespeople heap on the pressure to guilt you into buying products; 2) there's often good reasons why professional salon experiences are worth the extra drive and price you pay.  

Here's the product I bought.  Cheers to hoping it can help with this hot mess of a face I'm carrying around.