Make-Up Counter Wenches

[annuin]

I noticed today when putting on face powder that back when I bought it, the make-up counter wench did one thing I cannot stand. She gave me a shade that was slightly darker than my skin tone*.

This has happened before when I've bought make-up at a counter (the last time it was with foundation, not powder, and the incident was years ago), and when you're very fair-skinned (how goffik!) people seem to be inclined to want to make you look less pale, when I'd rather just have the shade that actually properly matches my skin, especially because it's not like I'm going to tan in the summer (which was the foundation lady's excuse, and I generally avoid sun like the plague and wear SPF 30 moisturiser).

I should have known when the girl helping me had an excessive tan, horribly overbleached hair and did that horrible and trashy looking pale-lipstick-dark-lipliner thing. It was at the MAC counter though >_<

In darker light, the powder is not so noticeable, but in bright or natural lights it looks kinda dodgy, to me at least, in the fake tan kind of way. AAARGH!




* Of course I did not notice this until months later (haven't worn much make-up recently), and after using it, so no chance of returning it.

Comments

[sublimecontessa.livejournal.com]

I hate that so much! The foundation I have now makes me look orange in the face.

[tanthe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm kind of getting that effect. It's probably not as bad as I think it is, because I'm really looking for it, but it's so annoying.

And of course the powder is expensive enough that I don't just want to bin it. Ah well, there's a reason to wear make-up daily, even when I'm not going anywhere... use up the make-up faster, lol.

[lafemmedelalune.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you can save too-dark stuff by mixing it with lighter. Have any too-light powder?

Random note: I have noticed when buying makeup, those from other countries never give me the dark shades or the "you should be tan" mentality.

[tanthe.livejournal.com]

Not strictly too light, but I did find a light powder that I though I'd lost (hence the replacement). The two together should make the darker one usable at least.

Random note: I have noticed when buying makeup, those from other countries never give me the dark shades or the "you should be tan" mentality.

Next time I'm going to find either a shop assistant who is actually pale also, or chance buying it online. I had thought that in person buying would lead to a more accurate shade, but apparantly not.

Those from other countries when you're actually in the other countries? or just try to find ethnic assistants when here in the US?

[lunamoth42.livejournal.com]

I hate when that happens. Also, I have a dreadfully hard time finding powders that actually *are* as pale as I am, without actually getting "white". Not everywhere carries white powder.

[ladyattercop.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh! I feel your pain. Even most of the lightest of the light powders I've found are still slightly olive/yellow-toned, and I am such a ruddy, freckled git that they always make my face look a shade wrong when I use them. I've given up trying to find one that matches and just accepted "translucent" into my life. Sure, all the zits and un-even red-tones show through, but at least my nose isn't shiny! :p

I've walked away from the make-up counter before because the woman who came to help me had such a horrible look to her own make-up that I made me want to run screaming in the opposite direction.

[tanthe.livejournal.com]

Well, the colour of the powder I got was something like NW02... and I'm guessing there's at least an 01, because it certainly wasn't the palest shade.

I know that generally I match the palest shades available, but I do need a clerk to actually give it to me, lol.