Tell Paula, Rogue says to stop talking shit about Witch Hazel!

I deal with all manner of crazy and stupid on a daily basis.  I can usually forgive most people for their behaviour because I figure these people forgot to take their pills, or they’re just having a tuff day.   However, if your rude without provocation and believe everything Paula Begoun says then I probably can’t forgive you.  Neither can I help you.  But generally speaking those two behaviours tend to be married.
Why?
 
A woman walks into my cosmetic area.  She walks past me, does not respond when I say “hello, how are you?”.  She grabs what she's looking for and triumphantly goes to the cash to check out.  She reluctantly hands over the product over to me so I can ring it through.  Thats when I look at the product and see it’s made for someone with acne and the woman standing before me doesn’t have a blemish on her face, nor any scars to indicate she has overcome any skin issue.  Now here is a typical interaction with this type of customer. 
 
“Do you suffer from acne?” I say
 
“I get the odd pimple, so yes I have acne” she says
 
“How often do you break out?”
 
“Mostly once a month”
 
“How many at a given time?”
 
“Maybe one or two” she says sounding a little annoyed at my questions.
 
“It doesn’t sound like you have acne, and I’m afraid the product you have chosen is for an acne prone skin type.  May I recommend some other options that might suit you better?”
 
“Um, no!  I’m fine with this, I just told you I get pimples and this is for that” she says to me as if talking to a simpleton.
 
“It kinda sounds like you have hormonal breakouts. Do you always seem to get them on your chin and near your nose?”
 
“...yes they are typically there” she looks a little surprised that I would have any useable knowledge about skin.  But, then she remembers that she has been taught not to trust a word I say.    In fact, I’m at this very moment trying to sell her something else. “I don’t need any help okay, I’m fine with this". 
 
“Okay but in stead of buying this cream you could just use a spot treatment for the areas effected, and continue with the moisturizer you’re using now.  I’m just afraid this is too much and a little harsh to be applying it all over” I say with as much caution and compassion as I can muster for someone looking at me with such contempt.
 
“Well actually this product was recommended to me” she says in a snotty tone.
 
“Ohh by a dermatologist?” Now I’m thinking maybe I was wrong, maybe she does have complicated acne and she’s in the care of an amazing dermatologist and thats why I don’t see any signs of that skin condition.
 
“No, I got the recommendation from a really good book” she says with a gleam in her eyes that says to me she thinks she knows something I don’t.  However I do, and I know that no measure of information, skin analysis, years of experience or pleading to go to a dermatologist will help.  She’s read “Don’t go to the Cosmetics Counter without me” and she thinks that she has all the information she needs. 
 
“Would you like a bag for that?” and I let it go because I won’t win.  She looks at me with a subtle grin because she thinks she has beaten the lying cosmetician and saved herself the mumbo jumbo.  I don’t have the heart to tell her she’s already swallowed a big heaping spoonful.
 

Now I'm not saying you need to believe or listen to everything I say. Nor am I saying that everything that Paula says is crap.  But if you think that only one woman has all the knowledge needed to navigate the murky cosmetic waters, then you're nuts, misinformed, or worse you’re stupid.   Always listen, always ask, and never assume.  One person can never have all the answers.  More over if someone is preaching that cosmeticians are only trying to up-sell you, then ask yourself what Paula is trying to sell?  She sells books, and her own cosmetic line.  Hello!? That seems like a conflict of interest if you ask me.                                                        
Sure I sell things too, but I frequently recommend products that I don't even have in my store if I think they are better for the person I'm advising.  And in the end thats all it is; advice.  And I promise you the day I start my own cosmetic line is the day I stop advising people about other products. 
 
I fully understand that there are some greedy, commission crazed cosmeticians out there.  I’ve worked with some, and as a customer I’ve been accosted by their slimy and forceful sales tactics.   “Gee you look tired, do you even use an eye cream?” One woman at a department store brashly said to me. I said I did use a good one and the tired look was from being.... wait for it....tired!  An $80 eye cream wont help that, but a good nights sleep will. One man had the balls to tell my beautiful mother that she needed some anti-aging cream.  She came back with “I think you need glasses or some tact, probably both”. This kind of pushy sales person attitude is sometimes part of that persons persona or enforced by the company/brand they work for.
And I gotta tell ya working with these types of people sucks too.  Because you spend half the time repairing the damage they inflict on the customers.  I’ve met these unhappy customers when I’m processing their return.  They’re pissed off because they have bought something they don’t need. Sometimes its because the cosmetician didn’t care enough to help this person out, or they just wanted to make a sale.  And this creates the stereotype that all cosmeticians are stupid greedy bitches. It makes me nuts, because for every one of these commission crazed twits there are five amazingly knowledgeable and kind cosmeticians who actually love what they do and want to help you!
 
So I don't blame people who would gravitate to a woman like Paula Begoun.  She's a harbour in the cosmetic sea of possible truths and beautiful lies.  But I have some issues with many of her recommendations and her advice.  For example whenever she's on CityLine (lifestyle TV show) here in Toronto she always recommends Neutrogena.  Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database (non-profit) rates products for toxic properties using a 0-10 rating system.  Neutrogena avarages a 7.  I will not say more than that.
Some reparable natural and organic skin care brands are not even on her website or books..  Brands like Neal's Yard and Pangea both have an average of 3 on Skin Deep.  These brands have no parabens and other questionable ingredients.  
And lastly I was amazed when I read that the Cosmetic Cop thinks Witch Hazel is an irritant?  Maybe one in million is allergic and will have a reaction.  But Witch Hazel is nearly harmless, however its uses are many.  It can help to heal bruises, insect bites, and shrinks blood vessels back to normal size.  And it's amazing for acne.   I have a lot of personal experience with this ingredient.   When I fell on ice and fractured my ankle I soaked my bandages in Witch Hazel and it really took the bruising down a lot.  And frankly my skin would be a pimply mess if it weren't for my Thayer's Witch Hazel and Cucumber Toner.  Seriously it's my secret weapon.

But Paula Begoun is not wrong all the time. I have seen on the Cosmetic Cop website a lot of good information about products.  She tells her readers about false promises and great finds, and some of what she says I whole heartedly agree with.  And I don't doubt for a second that someone has cruised this blog and seen something I have talked about and thought I was crazy for recommending it.  Remember that Lash Explosion Mascara I rated as being horrible, well I know some customers who love it and even a colleague of mine thinks its "awesome" and I value her opinions and thoughts on the products.  
So what am I trying to say? The lesson I am trying to teach here is; Please don’t look to just one source.  Look and ask anywhere and everyone.  And for god’s sake, if you don’t want to listen to a cosmetician for whatever reason, at least be cordial and nice to them and not rude.  Bad vibes and mean behavior is no way to treat a total stranger.  Unless they unceremoniously tell you that you're in need of a face lift and it so happens this new cream will fix the ugly on your face.  Then be as rude as you like, hell I would!  

But seriously, if you don’t trust a cosmetician or esthetician than go see a dermatologist and an allergist and get diagnosed.  Knowing your skin type and what you're allergic too will help you big time!
 
Now go moisturize and be merry!

Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database:  http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Cosmetic Cop: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/index.aspx
Thayer's: http://www.thayers.com/?fa=home

Product Review: Thermal Spring Water by Avene*****

Wedding Make-up Special!

I'm getting married!
And I've put together some tried and true products that are good on almost any skin colour, and I will be using myself on my big day.   All of these products are user friendly and help to create that "natural" fresh look.

Tanning = Boot!

Would you like to know a secret?

I bet you do you saucy minks, well it has to do with anti ageing.  Does that incite your interest?  Well I have the answer to all your ageing problems, the lines, the dehydration, and the age spots!
Wanna know?  You have to come a little closer, thats right lean in so I can whisper into your ear the secret to ageing well....

WEAR YOUR GOD DAMN SUNSCREEN YOU MORON, OR WEAR A FUCKING HAT!!!

Seriously, I'm not trying to be a mean women here but the truth is the sun will incur more damage on you than chronological ageing.  And sadly many of you are either oblivious or choose to ignore the fact that every time you lay your self out to bake in the sun like a Sunday roast you are causing irrevocable damage to your skin and health.

It makes me nuts to think that all these little teenagers who bow to the sun tan god will one day be sauntering up to a beautician begging to buy the newest thing to clear the damage.  Which will cost a lot of money and take years to work, and thats if your anal about applying and wear an SPF 70 to prevent any further damage.

But you know if the sun spots and wrinkles are not enough there is one more reason to consider; cancer!   Thats right people sun+skin= Melanoma which is one of the most common cancers, and although it is curable, many have died from it because of too much exposure or late diagnosis.  So you know it's not just about the vanity kids!

NOT A SUN-HATER
I am not against getting some sun (emphisis on the word SOME), in fact it's a rich source of vitamin D which makes ya feel great!  But when people can not go a day without being in one of those sunshine coffins it scares me, and it should scare them too.  Its clearly an addiction for some, and mental health professionals should be talking to these people.

TANNED IS BEAUTIFUL
But fucking orange is not (I apologize to anyone who is naturally orange, I love you and your crazy orange-ness.... its the ones who are wannabes I have little patience for)
Does wrinkled skin that looks like a suede boot sound sexy to you?   Well I've looked into my crystal ball and all you Tanaholics have a boot-iful future.

Boo!  This is your future, now go buy a damn hat!

For some, the ugly one is in the middle.

Product Review: Posie Tint by Benefit ****

Coming soon....Product Reviews, because I like you and want you to be pretty!

When I see a grown woman clutching a mascara to her heart and gazing off into the distance like some Jane Austin character, I know this mascara must be good.  When I see multiple acts of the same nature then I know a product is fucking good and should be shared.  12+ years working on the retail side of cosmetics and skin care has allowed me to try and test hundreds of products.  I also listen to what other women are telling me.  Because just like the deliriously happy woman with her mascara, I also experience the opposite.  The woman slamming down her no good product like a jilted lover.  I don't let these women walk around with all this hatred, I ask them what that no-good dirty product did!  After I talk to the woman some more to look for possible signs of crazy, I then read the ingrediants to see what the problem is.  After that I wait to see if more women come in with the same issue.  If I get two or three more then it becomes clear that this product is a piece of shit and no one should have to buy or use it.  Unless your mean to me or someone I like, then I sell it to you because thats Karma bitch!

Getting something off my chest!

Sometimes when I'm at work I catch people doing things that drive me bonkers and I need to get it off my chest.  These are behaviours that are rude, annoying and most times disgusting.

1) Please for the love of god stop putting eyeliners, mascara's, lipsticks and eye shadows on YOUR FACE!  It's teeming with grossness and a good soaking of alcohol and a layer removed is the only safe way to try them with out exposing yourself to any number of illnesses.  But the mascara's are a no go, you can never proporly clean those suckers, so don't bother unless you like pink eye.

2) Nothing on the market will make you look like Gwenyth Paltrow (or whomever is your beauty archetype), so please don't get angry with me because you tried an eye cream for three days, and naturally didn't get any results.  I'm not your fairy godmother, nor am I a wizard and I never promise a product will perform miracles.  Those ideas came from some place else, and if it's from any voices in your head then I suggest skin care is not the kind of "care" you need.

3) And lastly in addition to not having supernatural powers I am also not employed by any cosmetic companies marketing department.  So when Revlon discontinues your favourite lipstick (which they absolutely will)  please don't look at me like I gave you cancer of the puppy.  I had NOTHING to do with that decision.  Believe me I didn't bust into Revlon's board meeting and demand they take that particular colour out of commission just because I knew that would ruin your life.   Seriously, when Guerlain stopped making my favourite lipstick I didn't blame you, I blamed the morons on Guerlain's marketing team that decided to discontinue the best red colour ever, smooth and long lasting, rich colour.... *sniff*... I'm clearly not over that,  BUT I never treated someone like shit for no reason because of it.  Just saying!