23 replies to this topic

[JulietteR]

Just wanted to share the latest in the legions of stupid acne comments I have been forced to endure over the years--

On Monday I was shopping and went to the Estee Lauder makeup counter in a popular department store. I had decided to buy a bottle of their Double Wear foundation, which I used to wear exclusively. Since my skin is lighter than it was when I wore it before, I asked to try a few samples to determine what color I should get. As I was putting some on, the makeup lady pointed to a spot under my eye (post-inflammatory pigmentation from a deep cyst) and said "Oh, you need some concealer to cover that." I told her it didn't matter, I was already wearing concealer and there was no way to cover it completely. She gave me a smug smile and said "Obviously you haven't tried our Double wear concealer then." She proceeds to go get the concealer and dab it on the spot only to discover--guess what!--she can't cover it up. She frowns at the spot and then says disdainfully "What IS that anyway?" I replied calmly that I have acne and that it was inflammation from a cyst. She pats me on the arm, lowers her voice and says "Honey, do you wash your face?" Biting my tongue, I said yes, I did indeed wash my face. "Twice a day?" she says, giving me a skeptical look. Again, I say yes. "With a cream cleanser?" she persists. At that point I had to leave before I said something not-so-nice.

Hello, I've been on Accutane 4 times, had smoothbeam, v-beam, IPL fotofacial, blue light, and the list goes on and on... don't you think somewhere in there I might have tried washing my face?

Anyway, I know that there was no way for her to know about my struggles and that she was just doing her job, but I still hate the stupid comments.

[alaskacne]

Just wanted to share the latest in the legions of stupid acne comments I have been forced to endure over the years--

On Monday I was shopping and went to the Estee Lauder makeup counter in a popular department store.  I had decided to buy a bottle of their Double Wear foundation, which I used to wear exclusively.  Since my skin is lighter than it was when I wore it before, I asked to try a few samples to determine what color I should get.  As I was putting some on, the makeup lady pointed to a spot under my eye (post-inflammatory pigmentation from a deep cyst) and said "Oh, you need some concealer to cover that."  I told her it didn't matter, I was already wearing concealer and there was no way to cover it completely.  She gave me a smug smile and said "Obviously you haven't tried our Double wear concealer then."  She proceeds to go get the concealer and dab it on the spot only to discover--guess what!--she can't cover it up.  She frowns at the spot and then  says disdainfully "What IS that anyway?"  I replied calmly that I have acne and that it was inflammation from a cyst.  She pats me on the arm, lowers her voice and says "Honey, do you wash your face?"  Biting my tongue, I said yes, I did indeed wash my face.  "Twice a day?" she says, giving me a skeptical look.  Again, I say yes.  "With a cream cleanser?" she persists.  At that point I had to leave before I said something not-so-nice.

Hello, I've been on Accutane 4 times, had smoothbeam, v-beam, IPL fotofacial, blue light, and the list goes on and on... don't you think somewhere in there I might have tried washing my face?

Anyway, I know that there was no way for her to know about my struggles and that she was just doing her job, but I still hate the stupid comments.

You were too nice. Its not her job to say that shit. She was very offensive and I probably would yelled at her, make her get all embarrassed so her face will turn red.

[imatoad]

what a major bitch.

if you want to know the truth, estee lauder make up ladies are not that great. they get their degree in cosmetology and cant make it in photoshoots and things which are important because of their poor social skills, so they get stuck working behind make up counters making minimum wage. she is a bitch. but think of it this way, she didnt make the cut and now she is bitter.

btw, i used something by estee lauder once. and it caused a lot of acne for me. it was called fruition. if you bought any fruition, i would totally recommend not using it.

one other thing is that maybe she got mad she couldnt cover it up because even the best cosmetologists can cover up anything (take a look at birntey spear's skin). she was probably mad at her own failure, because she doesnt have skills.

[adultAcne]

It's not too late to do something about it. Call her manager and tell her that she made you feel really bad and self conscious and that's not how you would expect to be treated in their store and you are never going back again.

[~Emma~]

I can relate. So many times I have dealt with behind the counter experts.

[MartinaL]

"do you wash your face honey"...

I wwould have fucking belt on the lady......ugh i hate people

[Ph-rank]

I can see where you're coming from, but if we all havea go at explaining to people all the hassle and treatments that we've gone through, then maybe more of the community will realise that acne isn't just a washing of the face job

[MACGrrl]

what a major bitch.

if you want to know the truth, estee lauder make up ladies are not that great. they get their degree in cosmetology and cant make it in photoshoots and things which are important because of their poor social skills, so they get stuck working behind make up counters making minimum wage. she is a bitch. but think of it this way, she didnt make the cut and now she is bitter.

They don't even have cosmotology degrees. The company trains you. And they don't make minimum wage, they make decent cash and commission. I applied and asked them all about it...BUT I do agree that she should have never had said any of that to you. Ugh. Alot of people lack common sense these days. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I would call her Manager though, and definitely complain, something has to be done about it. I think you handled the situation well by just walking away.

[ayla]

It's not too late to do something about it.  Call her manager and tell her that she made you feel really bad and self conscious and that's not how you would expect to be treated in their store and you are never going back again.

^^^^^^

F*N BITCH! OMG. I woulda went off. DO something about it ....think of the teenage girl that'll show up tomorrow desperate for a coverup after having been made fun of in school all day. AHHhh...when I was done going off on her I think I would of sobbed my eyes out. The woman really needs some training, sensitivity, and perhaps a lobotomy.

I'm sorry you had to go through that ignorant woman's BS.

[xXillusion]

wow I'd think a make up expert would know that acne is not caused by not washing your face.
Just look at girls magazines. In the latedt issue of Cosmo Girl they clearly say that acne is not caused by dirrt buy by sebum clogging pores.

You should have told her what you think of her in the worst swear words ever.

[2die4Him]

I think I would have grabbed both her hands in mine, leaned over, and said, "No, I don't wash my face. I don't wash my hands after I wipe my butt, either." And, smiling sweetly, patted her face for good measure!

[JulietteR]

You guys are right--I should have said something to her (I particularly like the not wiping my butt comeback!) It's just that I really, really hate any kind of confrontation. I was almost eaten alive when I was in law school, it's amazing I made it through. Plus, whenever I think about doing something like calling the manager, I start going through these scenarios like "what if she's a single mother with 5 kids to support and my complaint gets her fired?" I know that's dumb, but I can't help it.

And yes, you would think people would know by now that people don't get acne because they're "dirty," but I can testify from experience that they don't. I've gotten the face washing comment more times than I can count. It's amazing really. I mean, would people go up to someone with a weight problem and say "Gee, have you ever tried not eating?" Even if that's what they secretly thought, would they actually say it to their face? But for some reason, people don't seem to have any qualms about basically accusing a person with acne of being dirty.

[JulietteR]

Ooops. I meant I liked the comment about telling her I didn't wash my hands after I wiped my butt.

[2die4Him]

People are so cruel, or thoughtless, I guess. My aunt was always very, very thin, and people (especially overweight ones) would come up to her and say, "Don't you EAT?" My aunt would say, "Well, I try to, but I have artificial bone in my jaw that causes pain everytime I chew, and my stomach is the size of a walnut due to fibromyalgia and other conditions. And, because I'm so thin, I now have very little cushion to protect my bones, and, with my osteoarthritis, I'm very breakable, too. But, thanks for your concern." Usually, the insensitive person would slink away.

[xXillusion]

People are so cruel, or thoughtless, I guess. My aunt was always very, very thin, and people (especially overweight ones) would come up to her and say, "Don't you EAT?" My aunt would say, "Well, I try to, but I have artificial bone in my jaw that causes pain everytime I chew, and my stomach is the size of a walnut due to fibromyalgia and other conditions. And, because I'm so thin, I now have very little cushion to protect my bones, and, with my osteoarthritis, I'm very breakable, too. But, thanks for your concern." Usually, the insensitive person would slink away. redface.gif

Errr was that real or a joke to make them feel bad?

[2die4Him]

No, all very real. She suffered from all that, and more. But, she was the most positive, upbeat, funny person you'd ever meet. I miss her greatly.

[xXillusion]

I'm sorry

I think that we should answer to people like that make up woman with something that will make her feel sorry, ashamed, like a bitch for the rest of her life. Well, at least for a couple of days

[blondegirl21]

Just wanted to share the latest in the legions of stupid acne comments I have been forced to endure over the years--

On Monday I was shopping and went to the Estee Lauder makeup counter in a popular department store.  I had decided to buy a bottle of their Double Wear foundation, which I used to wear exclusively.  Since my skin is lighter than it was when I wore it before, I asked to try a few samples to determine what color I should get.  As I was putting some on, the makeup lady pointed to a spot under my eye (post-inflammatory pigmentation from a deep cyst) and said "Oh, you need some concealer to cover that."  I told her it didn't matter, I was already wearing concealer and there was no way to cover it completely.  She gave me a smug smile and said "Obviously you haven't tried our Double wear concealer then."  She proceeds to go get the concealer and dab it on the spot only to discover--guess what!--she can't cover it up.  She frowns at the spot and then  says disdainfully "What IS that anyway?"  I replied calmly that I have acne and that it was inflammation from a cyst.  She pats me on the arm, lowers her voice and says "Honey, do you wash your face?"  Biting my tongue, I said yes, I did indeed wash my face.  "Twice a day?" she says, giving me a skeptical look.  Again, I say yes.  "With a cream cleanser?" she persists.  At that point I had to leave before I said something not-so-nice.

Hello, I've been on Accutane 4 times, had smoothbeam, v-beam, IPL fotofacial, blue light, and the list goes on and on... don't you think somewhere in there I might have tried washing my face?

Anyway, I know that there was no way for her to know about my struggles and that she was just doing her job, but I still hate the stupid comments.

Im suprised you were able to get away without saying anything back to her!! OMG..I definately would have told her, and made her feel VERY stupid. Expecially since Im an esthetician...I know that I know more that those makeup counter ladys! That would have been one of her worst days at work if I would have been faced with her!! MAN I feel your pain!

[xXillusion]

It's funny ho she asked "do you was youe face?"
wouldn't face look dirty if you didn't wash it?
Stupid people. Yes, we take showers, obviously, because we don't stink and out hair's not greasy, but, somehow, we manage to keep all the water out of our faces!

[greenenvy]

Just wanted to share the latest in the legions of stupid acne comments I have been forced to endure over the years--

On Monday I was shopping and went to the Estee Lauder makeup counter in a popular department store.  I had decided to buy a bottle of their Double Wear foundation, which I used to wear exclusively.  Since my skin is lighter than it was when I wore it before, I asked to try a few samples to determine what color I should get.  As I was putting some on, the makeup lady pointed to a spot under my eye (post-inflammatory pigmentation from a deep cyst) and said "Oh, you need some concealer to cover that."  I told her it didn't matter, I was already wearing concealer and there was no way to cover it completely.  She gave me a smug smile and said "Obviously you haven't tried our Double wear concealer then."  She proceeds to go get the concealer and dab it on the spot only to discover--guess what!--she can't cover it up.  She frowns at the spot and then  says disdainfully "What IS that anyway?"  I replied calmly that I have acne and that it was inflammation from a cyst.  She pats me on the arm, lowers her voice and says "Honey, do you wash your face?"  Biting my tongue, I said yes, I did indeed wash my face.  "Twice a day?" she says, giving me a skeptical look.  Again, I say yes.  "With a cream cleanser?" she persists.  At that point I had to leave before I said something not-so-nice.

Hello, I've been on Accutane 4 times, had smoothbeam, v-beam, IPL fotofacial, blue light, and the list goes on and on... don't you think somewhere in there I might have tried washing my face?

Anyway, I know that there was no way for her to know about my struggles and that she was just doing her job, but I still hate the stupid comments.

That's so mean! I know how you feel. I've had the same thing happen to me. When I was in hs I was going by makeup counters to try and find a concealer that would cover up my red marks for senior prom. When I asked the woman at the Clinique counter if she had a recommendation for me she told me none of them would help and I just needed to wash my face. She refused to even let me test some. The only thing she would tell me was to wash my face. Then she proceeded to give me pamphlets. I forget what they were about. Something for acne sufferers.

I WISH I had gone to the manager of the store like other epople in this thread suggest. I hope you do! She deserves for the manager to say something to her about it. I know that someone who isn't prone to outbreaks most likely won't completely understand, but to be so ignorant as to believe DIRT is our problem... It makes me so angry I'm really sorry that happened to you Juliette!