So I had a bit of a drugstore lipstick haul at lunch, along with a few other items I needed like hair products… I am the type that will absolutely not buy cosmetics without first trying, which I think is a justifiable rule, and after casting an eye around to see if I was in close proximity to a CVS employee (there was one, but she seemed very preoccupied in the skincare section), I started swatching Revlon lipsticks, which of course requires opening the plastic to do so because CVS doesn’t provide samples to swatch. Ok, I know the place isn’t Sephora, but this is a principle I just can’t shake…

I really, really don’t feel bad about it. I would never steal from these stores, and because I rarely buy drugstore brand cosmetics, it’s not as if this is a common occurrence. I swatched in all about 10 Revlon lippies, 2 of which were already unwrapped I believe… I bought the open containers that I swatched, and purchased 4 of the lipsticks I tried (buy one, get one 1/2 off, holla!). It’s always annoyed the crap out of me that drugstores that sell cosmetics don’t provide testers – CVS especially, even after expanding the cosmetic section so much in the last year. The colors NEVER look the on your skin or even out of the tube as the plastic color swatches show. I don’t want to have to make 3 return trips and do exchanges because of the bizarrely different real life shades!

Well suddenly, I hear the CVS employee working the beauty section say loudly, “OH. MY. GOD. You can’t do that!” I played it a bit stupid, I must admit. “I can’t try before I buy? I didn’t know! Well, I will take the open packages of the lipsticks I buy!” She told me it was a health code violation to have them open and that I had damaged the products; they would have to be removed from the display. I apologized profusely (but it was not truly sincere, whoops!) but she seemed quite annoyed.

COME. ON. I know as well as you do that CVS loses virtually nothing from a few open packages, of lipsticks nonetheless! All you have to do is get rid of them, maybe scan them as damaged items for inventory. I can’t say I feel the least bit bad about it. I don’t understand how Sephora as well as department store counters are perfectly ok with multiple customers swatching, but CVS has to play by different rules to avoid health code violations? There is a hygiene issue as with all swatching, but it’s a risk many of us are willing to take in order to get the right shade the first time around. With an employee working exclusively in the cosmetics section, as I’ve seen in almost all CVS stores, why couldn’t said employee casually monitor in-store swatching and maybe sanitize the products with alcohol occassionally??

I did feel slightly, and I must emphasize slightly, bad that the woman seemed so agitated, thought I can hardly see how this could cause such an enormous inconvenience. Write them off as damaged and if necessary explain to the manager that some irritating chick was swatching as soon as I turned my back!! I touched her arm as I was walking away and said, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize. I hope I didn’t ruin your day.” She laughed sarcastically and said, “Well it’s just, they’re damaged…”. Oh well, sorry lady, but get over it. Geez, you would think this was a beauty supply store that she herself personally owned, and would lose money on this incident. GAH!

I hope this doesn’t make me a bad person… I just felt it necessary and that’s the way it is. Sorry if that makes me a rotten chick today!

I do however feel bad that I had to ask the cashier to remove several items from my purchase because of lack of funds on my card… I knew exactly how much was in the account, so I had to cut back on a few items… BOO! I really wanted my Rimmel lipliner, Loreal HIP eyeshadow duo, two hair products, and base/top coat that had to be put on hold! Damn this economy and it’s stranglehold on my cosmetic purchases! Maybe my dear boyfriend will toss me a bone and let me pick up these items later.

Anyhow that’s the story of my lunch break today!

I’m going to post some swatches of the lipsticks later and probably a quick vid of the same! They are quite pigmented, supposedly long-lasting, and have a pretty shine. Let’s hope they are as moisturizing as they claim to be!

<3
amy

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