Makeup Testers

I've seen people do some pretty nasty things in cosmetic departments; cringe-worthy things.

I've watched women of ALL ages look around Nordstrom to see if anyone is watching (I am....) and when they think no one is, grab lipsticks that hundreds of people have touched and apply them directly to their lips without letting a beauty advisor clean them first.

I saw a woman in an Ulta store pick up a lipstick from the Benefit Cosmetics counter that had rolled on to the floor and was covered in dust bunnies, wipe off the fuzz with her hand and put the lipstick right on her mouth.

The amount of eye liners I've watched go on eye after eye after eye, without women even asking to have them cleaned makes me wonder how half the population doesn't have pink eye.

People. You're dirty. Plain and simple.

The next time you think about grabbing a makeup tester to apply to your face without letting a beauty advisor clean it with alcohol, consider this:

A study of cosmetic testers done by Jefferson Medical College showed that 100% of them tested positive for E.Coli (found in feces), Staph, Strep, or a combination of all. 

What this tells us is that someone was either sick, or used the restroom and didn't wash their hands, and stuck their germy fingers right into that sample you put on your mouth or on your eye.

Process that for a minute....

Ok, let's move on....

I personally have seen too much and I don't use testers. However, if you want to try a color, I suggest not applying it to your face. Wipe it with a tissue and apply it to the back of your hands (and wash them when you're done!). 

Even better, just buy the color and if you truly hate it when you get it home, bring it back, because there's nothing beautiful about getting sick from beauty products.

MAC Cosmetics' Recycle Program

Apparently the "Back To MAC" MAC Cosmetics recycle program that has made me a longtime customer isn't as well known as I thought! I was in the Nordstrom cosmetic department the other day and heard MAC artists continuously ask customers if they were familiar with the recycle program and repeatedly the answer was "no."

Besides the great products and trendy colors, the recycling program is one of the main reasons I buy MAC. Combined with their dedication to charities, good causes, and HIV research, how can anyone not get behind MAC?!

Ok, so here's the deal:

You buy MAC Cosmetics. You use up your MAC cosmetics. When you get to 6 empty plastic MAC containers, you bring then to your closest MAC counter, and you get a FREE lipstick! OR, instead of the department store MAC counter, you head over to a MAC store, and you can choose a lipstick or an eye shadow.

Pretty simple, right?!

So you get quality trendy awesome makeup from a company that helps a lot of people, you look beautiful, and you help the environment. So why aren't you out shopping yet? GO!

MAC Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Powder: Airbrushing In A Compact!

It's rare that someone at a makeup counter will put something on my face and try to convince me that I see a difference in the mirror, and I ACTUALLY see a difference. It usually ends with me saying "Oh...yeah...." when all I'm thinking is "I look the same as 2 minutes ago."

MAC $23

So when I was in the MAC Cosmetics Store on the 19th in Indianapolis (where I waited an ungodly long time while other customers came in and I was overlooked and ignored, and they were helped despite me asking for help, and I nearly left to go to a department store counter instead--I'm calling you out Indy!!!) and picked up Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Powder in a compact and asked the sales associate what it was all about, imagine my surprise when she took out her powder brush and applied it to one side of my face and I actually SAW a difference. I actually saw what looked like airbrushing of my skin! I was already wearing makeup when I went in and thought I looked pretty good. Then we added the finishing powder and I saw pores and flaws disappear even more.

So of course I threw that in with my 5 other MAC products. I'm a sucker for MAC and all it's pretty colors and applicators laid out to play with. Not to mention the sales associates wear a tool belt of makeup brushes--it's heavenly! :)

Don't let the white color scare you. Sure, I'm a pasty-white porcelain skin girl, but this powder doesn't have any color. It won't make your complexion any lighter or darker, it's just...invisible, except for the affects. It's meant for use as a finishing powder on top of all your completed makeup applications, not for color.

The closest product I can compare this to that I've used is Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder, which I do like (I like so many products in that brand!), but someone at Sephora once told me that product can't be formulated into a compact which is important to me for portability and storage, and frankly, although it doesn't sink into lines, I don't think it gives me the same airbrushed/photoshopped look that the MAC powder provides. (Sorry Makeup Forever--I DO love you!)

I recommend you go to your nearest MAC store, or the MAC counter at a department store and do the same test I did. Have them powder one side of your face while you watch in the mirror and SEE the difference. I guarantee you'll be sold. And let's face it, $23 for a compact is a whole lot less than buying Photoshop. ;)


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