After piling the kids into the car and taking them in for their quarterly haircuts, I struck up a conversation with the receptionist at my kids’ salon. It’s an adorable independent salon, one that employs really talented stylists and for just a few dollars more than the bargain-cut chains, the kids get actual hairstyles, rather than just a cookie-cutter chop job. As we chatted, eventually conversation turned to work, and when I told her about Beautypedia, her face lit up.

“So what’s your favorite product? You know, the one product that you couldn’t live without?”

I hesitated. Perhaps it was being put on the spot, but I honestly couldn’t think of one. I managed to evade the question long enough for her to launch into her own exaltation of mineral makeup (really?), but her question—and my lack of an answer—got me thinking.

So when I returned home I surveyed my makeup. Sure, there are several products that I love deeply: M.A.C.’s Powder Blush in Dame, Prescriptives’ MotorEyes Mascara, Paula’s Choice Constant Color Gel Eyeliner in Earthen, Cover Girl’s Sassy Mauve Outlast Lipstain. But none of these products, no matter how much I adore them, no matter how often I use them, could really be called my “you-complete-me” product. And then, I glimpsed my brushes.

As I reached for them, it hit me: I love my brushes. They are the one indispensible part of my makeup routine. It doesn’t matter how exquisite the eyeshadow, how silky the powder — without my brushes, I may as well not even bother. They’re the only aspect of my makeup that is truly irreplaceable, and that’s why I treat them with lavish care. Every Sunday night as I get ready for the week ahead, I wash my brushes and lay them out to dry for their Monday morning call. Sometimes during the week, I pat them lovingly, or brush them against my face just to feel their softness.

I have a complete (and then some) set of professional-quality brushes that I’ve pieced together over time, but within that set, there are a few that I simply cannot live without. My Trish McEvoy #32 Eyebrow Brush and #21 Large Laydown (I have big eyes that really appreciate the brush’s fullness); Paula’s Choice Eyeliner Brush (it’s tiny and perfect for subtle-lining of lower lids); and my Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki (at first this was quite bristly, but over time it’s opened up and softened remarkably). These are brushes that I absolutely rely on to make me beautiful every day, no matter what product I’m applying.

But my baby, my little sweetie of a brush has to be Trish McEvoy’s Powder Blush Brush. It’s so dense that it always picks up just enough powder, and is cut in such a way that glides right under my cheekbone. The best part – and I honestly cannot say this about any other cosmetic product – is that I literally get happier every time I reach to use it. Now out of everything that a makeup product can do for you, what could be more beautiful than that?

Inorder to compose the summaries of the brands Paula reviews, we have to gather information about the company history and background in order to put the brand’s products into context for Paula and, of course, for the benefit of Beautypedia subscribers. While compiling information for Sally Hansen, I encountered another positively baffling encounter with a customer service rep, which just might be the kookiest yet!

I thoroughly searched Sally Hansen’s website and that of their parent company Coty, Inc. to find some information about the brand—for instance, who is Sally Hansen? Why is she so focused on nail care? How did the company come to be a drugstore mainstay?—and was coming up with zilch. I couldn’t find any information, not even when it was founded and by whom—basic stuff that almost all cosmetic brands put on their websites. Even a search on Wikipedia and Google yielded no results. So I opted to call Sally Hansen’s customer service, explaining that I was doing some research on the brand and wanted to know some background history. Here’s how that conversation transpired:

Me: Hi! I’m doing some research and I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about the Sally Hansen brand. Who is Sally Hansen? How did the company originate? Or can you put me in touch with someone who might know?

SH: Sure! I can direct you to our website. All that information is available on SallyHansen.com.

Me: Actually, I started there, and there’s no “About Us” info on your site at all. Or if it is there, I’m just not seeing it.

SH: Then it should be on Coty.com.

Me: I tried there too, but Sally Hansen isn’t even listed as one of Coty’s affiliate brands. That’s why I thought I’d give you a call.

SH: Well, I guess that site hasn’t been updated in awhile! Can you please hold?

*TEN MINUTES PASS*

SH: Sorry for the long delay. I can tell you that Sally Hansen wasn’t actually a real person, and all the other company history information we have is available at SallyHansen.com.

Me: Okay, that’s helpful. But I’m just not seeing where that information is on your site. Can you tell me the tab you clicked on or the URL of what you’re looking at?

SH: Did you click on Contact Us or Customer Service?

Me: Yes, I’m looking at that page now.

SH: All the company information is listed there.

Me: But there’s nothing there.

SH: Well, then, I’m told that’s all the information we have.

Me: So all the information you have is no information?

SH: Yes, all the information we have is listed there.

Me: But have you looked at the page? There’s nothing there. It’s only the customer service phone number and an email address.

SH: Well, you should send your inquiry via email and someone can get back to you.

Me: Great! Which department receives those emails?

SH: This department. Customer Service.

Me: But aren’t I talking to you now? How would emailing you help?

*EXTREMELY AWKWARD SILENCE*

Me: Thank you for your time.

*CLICK*

So, dear readers, after all that, all I know for sure is that Sally Hansen wasn’t actually a real person. Whether or not that accounts for the company’s gaps in their employees’ logic and the staggering lack of background information they give their customers, I can’t say. But in my experience this kind of doublespeak and nonsense at the customer service level doesn’t bode well for how their products will stand up to Paula’s scrutiny. Either way, look for those reviews on Beautypedia soon!

R eaders of this blog know that I spend a lot of time in stores with sales people or on the phone talking to Customer Service representatives. And even though I regularly write about my bizarre (and sometimes infuriating) experiences out there in the beauty trenches, I still find myself amazed at the strange things—lack of knowledge, inconsistencies, rudeness—that transpire on a regular basis. In the spirit of the Best of 2009 lists peppering blogs everywhere, here’s my top 5 head-scratching moments of the year:

5. Elizabeth Arden:
When I contacted Elizabeth Arden directly to find out if their 2-in-1 Cleanser had been discontinued, they told me that it had been renamed “3-in1 Daily Cleanser Exfoliator.” I asked them if they could tell me how the formula had changed, and they said it hadn’t. “No change at all?” I asked. “None,” they confirmed. Now, I’ve double checked the math, and still don’t understand how a product can go from being 2-in-1 to 3-in-1 with out adding anything else to it! I suppose the folks at Arden simply decided they’d sell more of this cleanser if they added another benefit to the name, even though it was there all along.

4. A Downtown Seattle Luxury Spa:
While making a sunscreen purchase in a spa, I asked about their return policy, not that I intended on returning anything, but out of professional curiosity. The girl at the counter said “It shouldn’t be a problem as long as you have your receipt.” Fair enough. However, after I’d made my purchase, a manager came over and proceeded to explain that there are no returns allowed whatsoever, for any reason. When I told her that the cashier, who was still in front of us, said that it wouldn’t be a problem, the manager balked at me, saying, “Oh, come on, we aren’t Nordstrom!” The salesperson didn’t say a word. I have news for that manager, not only aren’t they Nordstrom, they are an embarrassment from start to finish.

3. Ulta:
Researching some Lorac products, I asked the salesperson if she could tell me which active sunscreens Lorac uses their lipstick, since I couldn’t find it on the packaging and was concerned about broad spectrum protection. She said she didn’t have that information, but assured me that if I didn’t like the sunscreen protection, I could return it. How does that make any sense? Whether or not a lipstick includes sufficient UVA protection isn’t something that’s determined by preference! And if this salesperson had been better trained, she might have known that.

2. SK-II:
With full page ads in multiple high-distribution fashion magazines, I was eager to get a hold of SK-II’s new Skin Signature Cream, which the ads claim can be purchased at Saks, Bloomingdales and on their own website. After contacting these stores to no avail, I did a live chat with a representative at SK-II.com only to learn that they have no idea when Skin Signature Cream will be on the market. When I remarked to the Customer Service rep “I must say, it’s weird to run ads for a product that’s not available anywhere,” the rep replied, “I know!” Her candor was refreshing, but those ads continue to run, with no product launch date in site. So weird and so expensive!

1. Olay:
An attentive reader alerted us to the fact that Olay had reformulated and repackaged some products in their Regenerist line. Sure enough, I looked it up on their website and the formulas had changed. So, after purchasing the products and confirming that the new ingredients were indeed on the labels, I called Olay’s Customer Service to get more info, yet they denied that there had been any formulary change to the Regenerist line, claiming that those products hadn’t changed since 2006. When I directed the CS rep to look at her own website, she saw the different ingredient lists and said, “I have no explanation for that.” I really felt bad for the awkward spot she was in, but given Olay is owned by Procter & Gamble, a giant in the consumer products industry, there really is no excuse for them to leave their Customer Service reps in the dark about their products.

Who knows what double-talk and outright misinformation I’ll hear in 2010, but rest assured the best of them will make their way to this blog!

As Twilight fever continues to sweep the nation with the release of New Moon last month ($230 million in ticket sales and counting!), it’s hard to deny that the film hasn’t only had a marked impact at the box office, but on the cosmetics industry as well. Now, and I’ll say this up front, I’m definitely not a Twihard (though we do have a few in the office, and I have one tweenage member of Team Jacob at home), but I’ve read the books, seen both films, and can most definitely see the appeal and its natural progression toward influencing beauty trends. Between its target demographic of makeup-loving teenage girls, its stars gracing every possible magazine cover, and the fact that Edward, Bella, and co-stars are all just so unbelievably attractive (at least as measured by the average teen girl’s “scream-o-meter”), it makes sense that the beauty world is taking cues from Twilight.

First of all (and this is great news for skin), we can all thank vampire chic for making pale cool again. Fashion magazines and beauty blogs across the globe are reporting that tanning and bronzer sales have seen a huge drop-off, seemingly replaced with sales of ivory and rose powders, particularly Bare Escentual’s illuminating Mineral Veil, all of which have skyrocketed 200% in the past month. No doubt it’s in an effort to capture Bella’s wan complexion (courtesy of Washington’s lack of sunlight from tall trees and overcast skies) and the Cullen lady vamps’ luminous translucent skin (courtesy of their immortal, bloodless, inhuman state). We can only hope that in everyone’s effort to look pale that the sunscreen gets slathered on as well!

Not surprisingly, a Twilight-themed line of cosmetics called Twilight Beauty is now available at Nordstrom, and even though Beautypedia doesn’t review limited edition makeup lines (nor have we had any subscriber request to review the line—not that we expected to), professional curiosity brought me out to Nordstrom to see for myself what this Twilight Beauty was all about, and I have to admit that what I found more than surprised me.

Designed by the team behind mid-range makeup brand DuWop, Twilight Beauty is actually not novelty junk. Sure, the testers looked like they’d been handled by every teenager in the state (and they probably had), but the products themselves were better than I expected. Consisting of two sub-brands—Luna Twilight and Volturi Twilight—the products aim to provide lots of shimmer in body sprays, illuminators and cream-to-powder mousse blushes, all with swirls of pearlescent shine (even the mascaras all had metallic sheen to them!). The effect is overtly glowy and shiny, but if that’s the look you’re going for, product-wise you could do a lot worse. To my surprise, I was slightly enamored with the lip glosses; the texture was lovely; the color opaque, and the finish was perfectly glossy, but not high-shine. (Word of warning: avoid the awful Lip Venom stain: it’s a stinging cinnamon lip plumper made to look like a vial of blood that can end up making lips chapped and dry).

To me, the most impressive products were the palettes. In fact, I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but I might have bought the Rosalie palette had it not been sold out (the salesperson told me that she couldn’t believe the amount of stock they’ve gone through: “Piles and piles,” she said.). They’re all smartly-packaged in slim plastic cases, with two eye shadows, two lip glosses and a creamy blush. The powder shadows were butter-smooth, intensely pigmented and the shades (apart from the ghastly Alice) were distinctive and gorgeous. The thing that really appealed to me about the products was that even though, yes, they’re blatantly cashing in on the Twilight phenomenon, everything seemed age-appropriate for their demographic, and the quality was hard to deny.

While I can’t imagine a grown woman wanting to wear any of these products on a regular basis, the line really reflected the frivolous freedom of being a teenager without any of the obnoxious pandering (I’m looking at you Too-Faced!). I left the counter feeling more than a little nostalgic for my own teenagehood, which is very much how I felt when I read the books and saw the movies—a fact which makes me think that, for better or worse, DuWop did an excellent job of capturing the spirit of Twilight.

By the time I returned to the office, I was all fired up. Even though I had a considerable amount of work on my desk, all I could think about was writing that letter. The more I stewed over what had happened, the more I wanted to make sure I wrote it down before the details slipped away. And so I wrote and wrote.

1000 words later, I’d gotten it all down and begun to feel better to boot (ah, the therapeutic virtues of writing). My only concern with the letter was that I knew I had an obligation to not disclose that I worked for Paula, but at the same time, it absolutely shouldn’t matter who I am or what I do, since I was shade-shopping and taking down information in no different manner than any other customer would. So in my letter I stretched the truth by saying I worked for a local makeup artist (which isn’t much of a stretch, actually; both Paula and Bryan are makeup artists).

In hindsight, I should’ve asked for permission to just disclose that I worked for Paula and Beautypedia, because there is really no reason that this should be objectionable to Ulta; we highly recommend hundreds of the products they sell, and spend hundreds of dollars (if not more) in their store. In fact, the work that we do ultimately drives business to Ulta! Any cosmetic retailer with business savvy should welcome us warmly.

In order to send the letter to Ulta corporate, I trolled Ulta’s “Contact Us” page, and to my delight, there was a phone number through which I could log my complaint with Guest Services (rather than sending my letter into the abyss). After a series of prompts, I found myself talking to a real-live person to whom I began recounting my story. She listened, and I could hear her typing away as I spoke.

“The manager on duty said that it’s against store policy to write anything down. Is that true?”

The representative replied, “You are not allowed to take photographs of any kind in Ulta stores.”

“I wasn’t taking photos; I was taking notes. Is there a policy against note-taking?”

“Our policy is that no photos are allowed to be taken in our stores or of our storefront”

“I didn’t have a camera. I had print-outs from Ulta.com and a black pen.”

This inane exchange continued, and it was as though I had encountered a glitch in the matrix: I kept telling her that I didn’t have a camera, and she kept telling me that there were no photos allowed. Finally, after taking down my contact information, she said that she’d forward my complaint to the store’s District Manager and that person would contact me by phone within 48 hours. Sensing that perhaps she’d misunderstood what had happened, I decided to cover my bets.

“Can you give me the District Manager’s name so that I’m prepared when they call?”

“I can assure you that she will announce herself when she calls.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like her name.”

She sighed — she actually sighed! And then I could hear typing.

“Ma’am, I cannot find her name at this time.”

This should have been the final straw. Still, I tried to keep cool.

“Look, I don’t want to seem combative here, but how can you possibly forward my complaint if you don’t know who you are forwarding it to?”

Another sigh.

“If it’s that important to you, I can go look it up.”

“Of course it’s important to me! I’ve taken the time to call you, but at this point I don’t have a lot of confidence that you’ve understood what happened or that the right person will hear about this, since you can’t be bothered to look up their name.”

“Please hold.”

While the muzak played, I turned to Brooke, my office mate, and told her everything, and I even posed the possibility that this was all an elaborate prank and that hidden cameras might emerge any moment. She shared my disbelief, but added, “I guess that would explain why their in-store service was so lousy. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She’s a wise lady.

After a few minutes, the representative returned and gave me the District Manager’s name. I thanked her, and our call ended.

A few minutes later, a well-connected colleague who had heard my ranting all the way from her office, gave me the direct email address of that same Ulta District Manager. (Ironic that the staff here was more helpful than Ulta’s own Guest Services!) Using that email address, I sent the District Manager my epic letter directly. To my surprise, within 3 minutes (incidentally, probably not long enough for her to have actually read my letter), I received the following reply:

Dear Ms. Burnett,

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
District Manager

Of course, it didn’t undo what had happened, but her professionalism and the promptness of her reply did make me feel better. I didn’t bother telling her about the petulant Guest Service Representative’s incompetency on the phone. At that point, I just needed closure! In my response to her, I simply said, “Once this is sorted out with your team, I would be happy to continue shopping at Ulta, as long as I can be assured that no member of the staff will publicly embarrass me or anyone else again for taking notes.”

The whole experience reminded me that this is an industry that overall doesn’t appreciate customers who want to make careful, informed decisions about what they buy, and prefers instead to keep itself cloaked under a shroud of secrecy and marketing nonsense.

It’s worth mentioning that I needed to go back to Ulta the next day on business (though I opted for a different location), and as a precautionary measure, I printed out that email from the District Manager, should anyone have given me any trouble for taking notes. I’m happy to report that my subsequent Ulta experience was hassle-free, if not actually enjoyable! Ultimately, I hope my “showdown” at Ulta will keep other consumers from going through a similar experience.

I ’m still in a state of disbelief over what transpired at an Ulta store earlier this week. Needing to purchase some products and gather information on a line, I came into Ulta with a few product print-outs from their Web site. Generally, I use these to take notes on shades and finishes, so that I can put check marks next to noteworthy colors and jot down information about the product’s texture, finish and packaging. Most of these notes are in shorthand, so it’s not as though I’m hunched over, writing novel-like in the store. Given that the store’s motto is “Play, touch, test, learn and explore,” and given that my print-outs all came from Ulta.com, there was no conceivable reason for me to think that the following was about to unfold. But unfold it did, and it left me more enraged and embarrassed than I can describe. But I’ll try nevertheless!

After being in the store for less than an hour, discretely taking notes, a floor manager approached me.

“Can I help you with anything?” she asked.

“I’m good,” I replied and smiled.

She then came at me, quite close, and said, “You are not allowed to write anything down in our store. I have to ask you to leave.”

I let out a small laugh; I was surprised, thinking that surely she misunderstood what I was doing. She pointed her finger at me and said, “Don’t act surprised. You’ve been told this before.” Her eyes narrowed at me.

I had, in fact, never been told that before, so I said “No I haven’t, and I don’t appreciate your tone or your accusation.” What ensued from there was nothing less than a full-blown verbal blow-out in the middle of the store, with customers and sales associates watching us argue whether or not I was allowed to take notes.

And it got heated. The more that I tried to reason with her, allowing her to look at my notes and see that they were completely innocent (and printed out from Ulta’s website no less!), the more she dug in her heels. She told me that if I wanted information about products, I could ask a salesperson.

“Can I write down what the salesperson says?”

“No.”

I told her this was all very ironic considering Ulta’s slogan encourages learning and exploring, “Doesn’t ‘learning’ include writing things down?”

She said, “It’s against store policy.” (I would later learn this is 100% false.)

“It’s against store policy to write things down?”

“Yes.”

But there’s more: she went on to say that testers are for personal use, (though I was “personally” using them, wasn’t I?) and that only paying customers are allowed to use testers.

“So,” I asked, “I have to buy the product before I use the tester?”

“Now you’re just being condescending to me,” she snapped.

“Well, you’re making it very easy for me.”

This went on and on, because she kept making ridiculous and illogical statements that were just too outrageous not to question. Even though I was mortified (and visibly shaking from all the adrenalin), I knew that I’d done nothing wrong and didn’t back down for a second. Seeing that logic was having no effect, I attempted reason, explaining that I had indeed planned on buying something, and that this was part of my shopping process. I even told her she could scan my Ulta card to see for herself the considerable amount of money I’ve spent at Ulta stores. But whatever I said to her, she just continued to demand that I leave the store—almost, it seemed at that point, on principle. When I asked if I was banned permanently, she said—and get this—as long as I put my print-outs and pen in my car, I was allowed back inside to make my purchase. So, like a scolded child, she watched me walk my papers to my car, and then come back in to be rung up. Had I not absolutely needed to make the purchases, I would have surely walked away and never returned. As a paying customer, I have never been so belittled, harassed and infuriated. Ever.

While I was rung up, I thanked her. “You’re welcome,” she said, with a smug smile, as if she’d somehow proved a point to me.

“I wasn’t finished,” I said. As I took my bag from her hand and looked her in the eye, I continued, “Thank you… for giving me the opportunity to write the most vitriolic letter ever composed when I explain to your District Manager that I was asked to leave your store for note-taking while I shopped.”

“I told you, if you need help selecting shades, then you must ask a salesperson for help.”

“So Ulta won’t allow their customers to think for themselves? I’ll be sure to add that to my letter.” And I left.

The story doesn’t end here, but I’ll save what happened next for a future blog!

A ccording to Webster’s Dictionary the adjective “original” means, “not secondary, derivative, or imitative; or, being the first instance or source from which a copy, reproduction, or translation is or can be made.” As far as I can tell, someone needs to get this definition to Neutrogena pronto! The liberties that they are taking with the word “original,” are creating confusion for us and consumers!

This first inkling of what was going on came to our attention when a subscriber wrote in asking about the availability of Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin products, several of which Paula recommends. In order to answer her question, I had to sort through a dizzying array of products, most of which had been repackaged and some reformulated, all to become part of Neutrogena’s new Ageless Essentials line. As I worked through the line, I realized that what they called their Original Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream had actually been reformulated to include SPF 15, but it was still called Original Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream, only now it had an SPF 15 noted on the box, yet the former Original Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream had no SPF at all.

I even checked this with the company, and they confirmed that indeed they were no longer making this product without the SPF 15, and yet it would still be called Original Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream, even though it’s not the actual original formula. As it happens, this reformulation caused the product to lose its Paula’s Pick rating because the sunscreen included does not provide sufficient UVA protection. Poor rating aside, to me this begged a larger question: Can a product still be called Original if it has been reformulated?

This is not the only instance of Neutrogena playing fast and loose with the word “original.” Their transparent orange Facial Cleansing Bar comes in Original and Fragrance-Free versions, which is spelled out clearly enough on their site and on the packaging, but another of their classic products is Liquid Neutrogena—you know, the orange face soap in a square-shaped pump bottle—is now exclusively made in a fragrance-free formula and no longer with its original scent. No doubt, that’s a formulary improvement, but it’s not explained for consumers, who might, as I did, assume that the “original” product is discontinued and not that the fragrance-free version is a permanent replacement, especially since original Liquid Neutrogena and Fragrance-Free Liquid Neutrogena used to sit side-by-side on shelves, clearly marketed as separate products.

When I called Neutrogena to get the scoop on this change, the rep told me “It’s still the original formula, only now it’s fragrance-free.” Since I’m not looking to nit-pick, omitting only fragrance could still grant the formula “original” status (especially since it’s ultimately better for skin), but it doesn’t make this ever-changing brand any less confusing to figure out!

Honestly, if anyone from Neutrogena reads this blog, please submit my plea to stop the insanity! It’s a disservice to your best products and is bound to alienate customers.

Recently, a Beautypedia subscriber wrote in to inquire about a discrepancy she found between the bottle and the box of Bare Escentuals’ bareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper, a BHA product that she had purchased because it earned a Paula’s Pick. Her email chronicled her struggle with the company to understand how the bottle and the packaging could be different, and how was she to know which was accurate? Ultimately, Bare Escentuals’ Customer Service couldn’t explain it either, and only told her that, “as a consumer she was supposed to know that what is written on the bottle is always the correct ingredient list.” Her plight caught our attention, not only because we need to keep Beautypedia as accurate as possible, but also because if this were the case, this product’s real ingredient list (which includes arnica, St. John’s Wort and witch hazel) poses serious problems for skin, and it would need to lose its Paula’s Pick status, ASAP!

So I headed out to investigate at a nearby Ulta. When I came upon the Bare Escentuals’ display, I found the small-sized bottle of the Skin Rev-er Upper product that comes with the intro kit, I couldn’t find it on the kit’s box, at least not before the salesperson approached me, so I asked him where I could find the ingredient list. He simply said “Glycolic acid is the active ingredient.” I had to laugh to myself, because that not only didn’t answer my question, but it’s inaccurate: Salicylic Acid (BHA) is the “active” ingredient, not glycolic acid (AHA). I didn’t correct him, however; instead I told him that I wanted to see the whole ingredient list for myself, and he located a full-size box of Skin Rev-er Upper, which I opened to find that the list on the bottle and the accompanying box were indeed dissimilar, in all the problematic ways that had been outlined in the reader’s e-mail. I showed the salesperson the discrepancy, and he looked appropriately confounded, saying “My, that is strange…” I said, perhaps a little antagonistically, “What about customers who might be allergic to one of those omitted ingredients?” He didn’t answer my pointed question (and I don’t blame him), instead he handed me off to a Bare Escentuals’ Regional Sales Rep who just so happened that the in the store while I was there. I couldn’t believe my luck – it looked like I might get some answers after all!

She came over to me swiftly, and spent a long time looking at the box and bottle, and then finally, looked up and could offer no explanation. She said that there had been no reformulation, and had no clue why the discrepancy existed, but thanked me for pointing this out, said that she’d take the matter up with the appropriate people, and seemed to generally want me out of her hair. To my surprise, she didn’t take my name or number to follow up, she didn’t discuss the matter further, she didn’t even try to sell me anything; instead, she just started to back away. But before she got too far, I took that opportunity to share with her our subscriber’s experience of calling the company about this same discrepancy (though I could not disclose that she was a Beautypedia subscriber or that I work for Paula and Beautypedia), and so I explained that when my “aunt” inquired, she wasn’t met with any thanks at all, only ridicule for not knowing that what’s printed on the bottle is always correct, no matter what other packaging indicates. I swear she turned eight shades of red – her face reflecting anger, embarrassment and more than a little discomfort at being held accountable for her company’s products and behavior. At that moment, I really felt like I was advocating for our readers and for everything that Beautypedia strives to do, even if I didn’t get any real answers. And, by the way, the Bare Escentuals product in question is no longer rated a Paula’s Pick.

I can admit when I’m wrong, and so here’s my confession: I’ve been wrong about bronzer. In the past, this product always mystified me. I never understood how these over-sparkled powders were sold all over the place, and always in shades that resembled various stages of rust corrosion more than any natural tan I’ve ever seen. In my defense, genetics and diligent use of sunscreen have kept my skin eight shades lighter than pale, so bronzer was never on my radar as something I could actually use convincingly (Incidentally, I feel the exact same way about scrapbooking: it’s great for some people, but just not for me). Turns out, I have been wrong, wrong, wrong – not so much about scrapbooking, but definitely about bronzer. It is an amazing and versatile addition to anyone’s makeup collection, and I’m here to sing its praises.

Part of my initial dismay with bronzer rested in the overwhelming amount of options out there. Gels, sticks, matte and shiny powders, liquids with and without shimmer, even aerosol sprays – I was curious, sure, but just had no clue where to begin. So while I recently sorted through some stock here in the office (we have a mind-boggling array of just about every product imaginable) my curiosity got the best of me, and I found myself elbow-deep in the bronzer box. Right away, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the colors looked far more natural than I remembered. I opened up a Sonia Kashuk Matte Bronzer and swept some on. Suddenly, I had a cheekbone where there once was just a cheek! And, to my surprise, it did meld nicely with my fair skin after all. Gingerly, I continued, careful not to create the intensely over-sculpted faces I see so often on TV. With an angled brush I managed to create a convincing glow, accentuate my bone structure and camouflage discoloration all with one product. Color me bronzed and impressed!

Since my conversion, I’ve been intermittently using Paula’s Healthy Tan Pressed Powder SPF 15 as a bronzer, but I’m still on the lookout for some bronzing options that might impart a hint of shine in addition to a sunless glow. As much as I like the look, sometimes a matte finish feels too flat, especially in the summer – something Paula understands, thank goodness! So far, Benefit’s highlighter/bronzer powder 10 has performed excellently, M.A.C.’s Bronzing Powder more than impressed me at the counter, but the sleeper hit of the bronzer line-up has to be Wet ‘n Wild’s Ultimate Bronzing Powder – only $2.99, with a silky feel and a lovely natural finish, it’s an enduring Paula’s Pick (and bona-fide beauty steal) for a reason! I’m not sure if I will keep up the bronzing after summer ends (this is Seattle, after all, where the resident skin tone is best described as “pallid gray”), but I am pleased to find myself on the other side of a makeup rut. Now, who’s up for some scrapbooking?

It almost goes without saying, but since starting to work for Paula, I’ve begun using her products religiously. Sure, it’s taken me a little while to figure out my skin’s preferred product cocktail, but now I wake up each morning unable to believe that the skin I’m looking at belongs to me. Talk about employee benefits!

Now that I’ve committed to my new skin care ritual, I’ve also started to think differently about why I take such good care of my skin. At first, it was thrilling simply to see what my face looked like as it became increasingly blemish-free, as the blackheads that used to pepper my nose became barely perceptible, even in the scary high-magnification mirror. Finally, products that work! Soon friends and family took notice and started to comment, and it felt great. But the more time I spend caring for my skin, the more I am beginning to understand that it’s not just about the way you look, it’s also about the way you feel.

As trite as that sounds, a simple self-esteem boost isn’t exactly what I mean (though it is a lovely byproduct of clear skin). Like I imagine most people do, I used to perform my skincare ritual leaning over the sink, staring at myself in the mirror, focusing on every blemish, hating the enormity of my forehead with my hair pulled back, and cursing fine lines and the beginnings of crow’s feet as I dabbed them with creams. But I’ve started doing something different: Instead of obsessing in the mirror about fixing every flaw as I apply products, I close my eyes while I put them on. The experience is amazing.

With my eyes closed, I can really appreciate the elegant, silky textures of these incredible products as I use them, as well as the softness of my skin – something easy to overlook when you are fixated on only the negative (and, let’s face it, we can always find something negative to fixate on). But I’m learning that reaching complexion perfection isn’t the sole point of skincare, far from it. Whether we choose to acknowledge it (most cosmetic companies certainly do) skincare really is a uniquely tactile experience, and it’s one worth relishing daily. Just by closing my eyes, I can think less about skincare as a way to simply look better and more as a way to feel better – on the inside and out.

Below is the daily routine that I am currently using:

AM
Skin Balancing Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination
Skin Balancing Toner
Blemish Fighting Solution (2.5% benzoyl peroxide)
Barely There Sheer Matte Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20

PM
One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Oil/Combination
Blemish Fighting Solution ((2.5% benzoyl peroxide)
2% BHA Liquid
Super Antioxidant Concentrate for All Skin Types