Sometimes you need to air your grievances, let off some steam and climb aboard your soap box. After a recent trip to Boots, to stock up on some last minute essentials I was left utterly disgusted by some beauty stands - products that were not the designated tester opened and spoiled, foundations spilled and general chaos. Call me old fashioned but when I go to purchase a beauty product, I don't want to spend a good 15 or so minutes, routing around for that one elusive tube of lipstick that has not been on someone else's lips.
I've lost count to just how many times I have come home with what I have thought to be a perfectly new product from the likes of Boots and Superdrug, only to find it has been tampered with. Further adding to the fury is the fact that here in the UK, unless faulty you can not return a beauty product. It is so infuriating and down right, disgusting that I do tend to do all of my beauty shopping online. For the record I don't blame the staff, large stores with cosmetic aisles rather than counters can not be easy to man. I totally get it and other than telling someone not to open a product, their hands are tied.
Another thing that bugs me about the beauty industry is the hard sell. If I drop by a counter asking for a little assistance in regards to a moisturiser or general beauty product, that is all I want to learn about and/or purchase. I don't mind a few other product recommendations but being told that the product I have in mind, will only "really" work if I purchase a whole new skin care regime is excessive and off putting. Shout out to all the lovely sales assistants who go above and beyond, are not pushy - I will forever be a customer at your counters.
One last thing (I promise in person I'm not nearly as grumpy as this post may suggest), no-one and I mean no-one believes that celebrities who endorse boxed hair dye use such product. In my experience it is neigh impossible to go from dyed black hair, to a soft, even milky blonde tone with one, quick use of at home hair dye/bleach. Don't get me wrong in capable hands I'm sure with patience and perseverance it would be possible but the suggested small task the advert suggests is nonsense. I also feel the same way about foundation campaigns which clearly rely on air brush techniques to enhance the supposive capabilities of the product.
Gosh I'm grumpy today, feel free to weigh in with what irks you in regards to the beauty industry...we'll save the chat about the terrible weather for next week shall we ha!
Haha loved it, fully agree with the frequent inability to find an unopened product. I was looking for a cream eyeshadow recently and very single one of them had a dent in them, and I'm not talking testers! x
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that so annoying when you find someone has opened up non-testers and used them and yes same to pushy sales assistants!
ReplyDeleteI hate it when non-testers have been opened! I've bought products before and opened them at home and someone else has already stuck their finger in it! So annoying. I also tend to do most of my beauty/makeup shopping online now, just because of that reason.
ReplyDeletewww.missamyguest.blogspot.co.uk
xxx
I recently came home from Boots and realised my new lipstick was already opened and half broken off, it's so annoying, however they were actually really good about returning it.
ReplyDeleteI hate how badly stocked and messy boots is. Usually i shop in mid afternoon so always blamer earlier shoppers, but last week I was the first in and it was a disgrace. Another one that bugs me was when you know the product is going to be in one of the drawers, i asked a sales assistant and without looking they say no its out of stock, yet i open it and bamm right there. I worked in retail for years and would never have got away with half of what boots staff do
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I love going into Boots but not for makeup - the one near me doesn't even have tissues or mirrors for using the samples and they are never kept up to standard. It also annoys me how you can't return makeup - is this something we can appeal against?!?! Haha!
ReplyDeleteMascara adverts - all filmed with lash inserts and enhanced in post production.
ReplyDeleteMy local Boots stores aren't too bad luckily but I have been in some utterly disgusting stores, and have watched young girls putting the stuff all over their faces unchallenged.
I rely on blogger reviews on products nowadays and buy all my beauty products online, rather than going to stores and 'testing'.
I am with you on all of them, not forgetting how all these beautiful airbrushed girls on instagram make others feel they aren't good at makeup because they don't have a photoshop filter.
ReplyDeleteI hate it when i try to locate a product and the one that is left in my shade is open. Luckily when i pop into my local superdrug in newmarket i ask them if they can locate another for me and luckily they do. I have noticed more products are being sealed tighter nowadays because of this but they really should have extra cameras to zoom in on it or have staff walking around watching a bit more. They must lose so much money themselves having so many products wasted.
Loved this post!
Missy xo
www.missynadm.com
I wish we could return makeup - I would have saved hundreds, possibly thousands of ££ on products that don't work for me!
ReplyDeleteMy worst experience was purchasing a Barry M nail polish from Superdrug, not realising when I purchased that the lid was cracked and it leaked out in the bag. If that wasn't bad enough, when I went to return it, the manager refused to let me exchange it and quite loudly and rudely accused me of breaking it myself (!) to try and get a new one. I had to get my dad to come and help me out as the manager was so rude, eventually I did get a new one out of it thanks to him! But that's never an experience I wish to repeat over a £3 nail polish!
http://beckyalyssasbeautybox.wordpress.com
Used products in retailers peeves me off too.
ReplyDeleteThe way perfect images in promotional material and on official twitters etc are so very misleading; I have never met a human being with perfect marble skin, especially one who "just woke up and threw on some mascara".
In the words of Rice Krispies "It's all lies..."
I wanted a cream shadow last week and they were all opened and had finger marks in them, luckily there was a sales assistant who found me one in the drawer, she was saying it is really annoying for them because they can't sell them. I don't like the hard sell either, I know the sales assistants are under pressure but sometimes it can be a bit much xxx
ReplyDeleteZoe ♥ MammafulZo
Nodding away at every point. I *hate* buying something to find it's been used. I deliberately pick something second from the back and check but even then, I don't always get the chance and get so angry when I get home. My local Superdrug is the worst. Whoever runs the cosmetics section needs a stern word because everything is a mess and there are no clear testers.
ReplyDeleteI try to order things online if I can get away with it (aka no colour match required) just so that I don't get told about a million and one other products that I don't care about. I do enough research before buying something to not need to be told about other things.
Sophie x | Essential Twenty
I hate it even more if people steal testers! That's just ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteIn Germany I can return products if someone used them and in some stores they seal brand new makeup product with sticky tapes. However used products are a no go!
http://www.bubblycolor.com/
I hate pushy sales assistants but my biggest pet peeve are the sales assistants who act like its a hassle when you ask them for some help, really puts me off and I end up not buying anything from them. I recently went in to my local boots to get colour matched and the woman who worked at the No7 counter was absolutely lovely and informative.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! I worked in a Superdrug once and the amount of people who used to come in to do a full face of make up put my off testers for life!
ReplyDeleteEmily x
www.emandthem.co.uk
I'd rather spend 15 trying to get tape off a product, than open the product and see it's been used!
ReplyDeleteI worked at a Hema store (big Dutch company with some stores in UK, France, Germany..) and the make-up counter was near the till. I could keep an eye on everyone there. So many young girls trying out lipsticks, painting their nails, opening whatever they wanted. I tried to educate them about testers and not putting them on your lips, but I couldnt be rude about it. The struggled was real ;)
I'd say that used products is the main reason I don't buy much makeup from Boots or Superdrug. It's absolutely disgusting! I really wanted those Maybelline Colour Drama lip pencils but when I went to buy some every single pencil had been used! Definitely wish we could return products too. Americans even get to return skincare that hasn't worked for them which is totally unfair.
ReplyDeleteI hate the counter staff who follow you around Boots trying to get you to come to their counter for a "makeover", which we all know will actually be a hard sell of products you don't even want! Opened cosmetics are also up there, eugh.
ReplyDeleteJess xo
http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk
I just hate when I can't find a tester at all! I was at my local drugstore the other day and I desperately wanted to swatch some nude brown lipsticks but all the testers seemed to be missing... Alright, the closed ones were taped up so no one would have been able to swatch a lipstick that's clearly not a tester, but I don't want to pick up a lipstick with the risk of the colour being to pale or just not right for you. I didn't pick up any lipsticks in the end, just because I was so put off by having to search for on-store testers. The store is not even that big so I think the fault was with the staff on this one... They should check regularly if there is still a tester available...
ReplyDeleteLove, Charline | Charline Has a Blog
So funny but true
ReplyDeleteThese things annoy me too, the worst thing is that you plan to buy a specific product and then the only thing left is a product that was already tampered!
ReplyDeleteMiriam ♥ A whole lot of serendipity
Here in Philippines, we have designated testers and most items are sealed.
ReplyDeleteA beauty Bella
My local Superdrug uses security stickers to seal most cosmetics but then it's nigh on impossible to get rid of the sticky residue when you peel it off at home. Never happy me!
ReplyDeleteAgreed with tampered products - that's why I check them before taking them to the till! x
ReplyDeletewww.angerawrs.co.uk
There is nothing more disgusting that bringing home a product that has already been used, something really needs to be done! xxx
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness i know. Sometimes I'm like, "no look you don't understand, I want a simple moisturizer not the toner, exfoliator, face mask, under eye cream etc etc"! It's totally infuriating! I love this kind of post, so glad I'm not the only one! You have a lovely blog as well xx
ReplyDeletewww.iridescentplaces.blogspot.co.uk
There was a lot less opening of products when everything was carded. Now eyeshadow and lipstick is loose and it's easier to just crack it open. The main reason for taking things off cards was to help the environment, but now there's much more product that has to be trashed - which hurts the environment. Six of one half dozen of the other.
ReplyDeleteMy other peeves are copying (if I see one more fat lipstick pencil I will scream) and companies that constantly introduce new products and then whisk them out of the store just as quickly. It's counterproductive because people are getting to the point where they're afraid to try something new, you might fall in love with it and it might be gone tomorrow.
It is so annoying to go home with a tampered product. I've learned I have to spend extra time looking for seals that aren't broke. Where I live in the states however our stores don't have testers...so to the stores out there that don't, PLEASE make testers! Great post! XO -Kim
ReplyDeletewww.thethirtysomethinglife.com
Love these types of posts! I was actually planning a similar one after running out of an eyeliner that has only 0.2g of product in it?! WTH.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with all of these, especially disgusting makeup stands!
Fee x
I am a moan about a lot of things. I hate how boots never have wipes out. I hate the people who actually feel the need to use the instore testers on their lips etc, seriously they are disgusting... blech! I also hate how the girls on the higher end make up stands feel the need to all ask you if you are ok, and if you need help with anything... then when you actually do what help they are no where to be seen smh. I also hate the upselling too.. no MAC, I dont want your mascara! I also hate how Conditioner and Shampoo are the same size... you do not use the same amount of each, its upsetting lol im done for now :P
ReplyDeletehttp://www.makeerinover.co.uk
Similar to the foundation campaigns you mentioned, I can't stand mascara adverts that use photoshop to enhance the lashes as well as using falsies and claim to be using some sort of miracle mascara. I'd rather see exactly what it can do! I also hate when you're told that a product will only work if you buy something else, I'm more likely to buy it if it's a friendly recommendation rather than a sales pitch. x
ReplyDeleteMegan | http://www.meganjean.co.uk
I totally agree with everything you wrote! Another thing that annoys me about testers/ people opening make up is when people steal the testers and there are just none there-that is probably half the reason why people end up opening things! (not that that excuses it because it is vile). The bit about the counters and pushy staff...well there is a reason that I mostly do shopping for higher end beauty things online, after looking at swatches and reviews etc. I just cannot bear pushy assistants trying to upsell. Oh and another thing that bugs me is the counter staff who wander round Boots trying to push you into coming to their counter to 'have a look at some products' (I'm looking at you Benefit!). If I wanted to come to your counter, I would come myself ok?!
ReplyDeleteEm x
http://themusingsofem.blogspot.co.uk/
Great post and I definitely agree with you! One of the things that annoys me actually happens in the comment section "Great Post! Would you like to follow each other on Bloglovin?" because people aren't reading what you've spent so much time on!
ReplyDeletehttp://abigailalicex.comc
totally agree Abigail
DeleteHa ha I feel better after reading that!! And breatheeeeeee lol x
ReplyDeleteHa ha I feel better after reading that!! And breatheeeeeee lol x
ReplyDeleteOh my nothing drives me more crazy than when stores have half stocked shelves with those left being in a disgusting state without even mentioning the testers. I don't know what's more of a worry, the store or the people that helped get it into those states.
ReplyDeleteAnd why don't more have a box of tissues, I'm forever walking out with swatches on my hands as I've been unable to remove.
I could go on and on!
Victoria x
FlorenceandMary.com
I am with you on the tissues, I always have to delve into my own bag for tissues to wipe the swatches off.
DeleteOh my god YES. Nothing more annoying than used products. I actually took an eyebrow palette home once to see it had been used and took it back to Superdrug who were surprisingly great with the whole thing and replaced it no problem. I also took back an MUA corrector palette when the plastic in the lid fell off so the product was essentially just open to bacteria etc, they swapped it straight away no worries. Still a hassle to go back to exchange a product just because someone else has decided to use it though!
ReplyDeleteLaura x
http://www.shortsoul.com
You know my annoyance is more re with the blogger and magazine world when it comes to products. Some blogger s and magazine promote products that are absolute garbage. To the point in my head that the song from the leggo movie I sing everything is awesome. Sometimes I need honesty. No not everything is universal, not all things that are expensive all perfection in a bottle or Tube. The hyping of a product just to buy it and it be terrible is crazy
ReplyDeleteYou know my annoyance is more re with the blogger and magazine world when it comes to products. Some blogger s and magazine promote products that are absolute garbage. To the point in my head that the song from the leggo movie I sing everything is awesome. Sometimes I need honesty. No not everything is universal, not all things that are expensive all perfection in a bottle or Tube. The hyping of a product just to buy it and it be terrible is crazy
ReplyDeleteLOL! This post is fantastic....and so true. Sometimes I even have to open up a box for the product I want to buy just to make sure the thing hasn't been used (because the buggers sometimes even get to those) and then have security watch you because they think you're a thief when in actual fact you just don't want to spend your hard earned cash on something gross.
ReplyDeleteSal xxx
UmmBaby Beauty ¦ @ummbaby
Best post ever
ReplyDeleteThese things annoy me too, especially the lies in adverts! What gets me most is mascara adverts that use models wearing fake eyelashes, how are we meant to know if their product is any good!
ReplyDeletesirensandbells.co.uk x
I agree with the tampered with products, I always always pick one from the back especially if it hasn't got any security wrapping on it as it is least likely to be tampered with.
ReplyDeletehttp://beautyskooldropout2013.blogspot.co.uk/
Used products in the drugstore are the bane of my beauty life! And I agree I hate the hard sell you get at some high-end counters. Whether you go expensive or cheap beauty shopping can be a minefield xx
ReplyDeleteJasmine Talks Beauty | High-End Palette Giveaway
I believe was it Nice & Easy have just had their wrist slapped for suggesting in their advert that Christina Hendricks went from red to a light blonde just by using their dye.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same as you about displays. It's been getting worse for a while and some are truly disgusting. The Soap & Glory stand is one of the worst with makeup smeared everywhere and I gave up on getting one of Bourjois' new eye shadow crayons as I haven't been able to find an unusued/none smushed one yet. I've started going into the drawers at the bottom of the stands (after a quick check to make sure nobody else is close by) but I feel bad doing it and often can't find what I want! x
Becky @ The Little Blog of Beauty
I'm the exact same! I tend to order most things online to avoid both those issues - hate being pressured into parting with more cash and equally hate opened products everywhere urgh the struggle >_<
ReplyDeleteIqra |The Blushing Giraffe x