Long gone are the days where cosmetics counter girls (or the occasional guy) fawned over my skin. While prone to a blemish here or there, I had a relatively lucky adolescence skin wise. While I didn't appreciate my porcelain skin at the time, it was a thing of beauty to the women who spent hours and hundreds of dollars trying to achieve a dewy and fair complexion.
Now when I go to a cosmetics counter, I am bombarded by hard sells for cleanser, toner, and more creams than I have time to apply. I remember when I toyed with the idea of not using foundation for my wedding, and the woman at the Bobbi Brown counter looked at me as though I were plotting murder. There was this horrified expression all over her face.
I see these women - none of whom have great skin - convincing other women that they need a cream to get rid of oil, one to replace the oil, one at night, one for daytime, and much more. Meanwhile, my dermatologist has flawless skin and just instructs me to use sunscreen.
I used to love buying make up. It was fun. Now it's just depressing. I try to always remind myself of the summer I worked as a stock girl in the Saks cosmetics department. I learned some very important lessons there. 1) toner is a waste of money. It dries out your skin so you use more moisturizer, and the circle continues. 2) for years Bobbi Brown only sold essentials meaning very few skin care products. Then it was acquired by Estee Lauder... 3) most of these women who gleefully point out your flaws while ringing up cream after cream or serum after serum lead sort of sad lives. Most peaked in high school when they were still beautiful without a lengthy beauty routine. 4) most importantly, they work on commission.
Sure, I am starting to have a few small lines (with the occasional blemish, which I think is unfair and utter bull), but I am still young. I still have pretty good skin. And I know that creams and serums won't turn back time. I will never look 17 again, and I refuse to spend hundreds of dollars trying.
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