Beauty Pet Peeves 2

[veronika23]

The other thread was getting too long and difficult to load! 

So what are your beauty pet peeves? What grinds your gears? Share your stories!!!

[greeneyedgirl107]

Oh my - I had a second pet peeve to post today.  I wanted to contact Sephora's CS, and found that the online contact form seems to be no more.  We're encouraged to use the toll free number or online chat.  I can only speak for myself, but I find those options to either be inconvenient or inefficient.  It seems like a lot of companies are doing that - Gap, Old Navy, Netflix, Dermstore, Target, Kohl's, BBW.  I find myself giving up.  And it's not just for negative issues - many times I'd like to give a shout out to an excellent SA, give feedback that I think would help, make a suggestion, etc.

[Guessgal]

@greeneyedgirl107 Interesting, I actually really like Sephora's new chat function. It's helped me reach CS about missing items in my order or other issues must quicker and gets solved in minutes rather than days. For positive feedback on an SA or store experience, I think you can fill out a survey online (Sephora Canada had this running with Medallia) and an SA should be able to give you a notecard with it. I do see what you mean about an online contact form being convenient for general site feedback though.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@Margalee There used to be a contact form that was separate from the CS group.  It was confidential in that it was sent directly to Sephora - kind of like an e-mail.  That's what option was taken away.

[greeneyedgirl107]

I'm having an issue with BOPIS.  Companies are pushing it these days, and I think it's a great idea.  The problem is that at Ulta and BBW I've wanted to place BOPIS orders, only to find that the item(s) I want aren't in stock at the brick and mortar store.  The thing is, I know that they are in face available in store.  I e-mailed Ulta about this, and they sd that it could be related to low inventory.  I understand that - you don't want to offer something for BOPIS with only a few left.  BUT, I know BBW had plenty of candles in my store (as in dozens).  What's the point of BOPIS if it's going to be like that?

And while we're on the subject, BBW only gives you two days to pick something up.  If I'm doing BOPIS it means I'm busy- so two days isn't enough.  For me, Ulta's five day is more reasonable.

[missjr]

I have a pet peeve that has driven me batty for months.  It's the beauty "influencers" and reviewers, who critique products and unfairly give them bad ratings.  

The reasons for the bad reviews are many.  But, if the reviewers were honest, the real reason is often the people in the mirror.  It's usually the people demonstrating the "no makeup look."  Now, the products come with explicit instructions, including a short instructional video.  Why is it so difficult to use the products as they were intended and to follow simple instructions?  For instance, the reviewers often use the products incorrectly (i.e. applying numerous layers of foundation with a brush when the instructions specifically state that a small amount should be used after warming up with the fingers).  Then they wonder why the foundation is cakey and moves around despite applying copious amounts of setting powder.  To put color back in the face, they then apply lots of bronzer, which makes them look like a Thundercat or the Great Pumpkin.  The reviewers then proceed to apply these huge triangles of concealer from under their eyes to their cheeks, do a poor job of blending it all out, and then pile tons of setting powder on top. Baking is a technique developed by drag queens for the stage and yet...

The other issue is when the reviewer uses a product that is clearly not intended for his or her skin type. Nothing sends me through the roof quicker than someone with dry skin complaining that a matte product (that is clearly marketed for oily skin) sticks to every dry patch and accentuates every pore.  Did they not read the product description?  Then there are the skincare products that should only be used sparingly or periodically.  Yet, they will review the product after 7 straight days of use--morning, noon and night--and then gripe because their skin broke out.

Another instance is when a product is misused such as a mattifying primer, which is only intended to be used in the T-zone over the foundation.  Instead the reviewer used the product all over his/her face--including the delicate eye area!--before applying foundation and then is highly upset because the product didn't work for them and their foundation flaked right off.  

Granted, there are products out there that shouldn't be on the shelves, particularly hair products that cause breakage or skincare products that cause adverse reactions.  They should be called out as a public service.  But, when someone misuses a product and unfairly gives it a bad review, it "influences" others to shy away from buying something that may be just right for them.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@missjr Piggy-backing off of this: I can't stand it when someone with "typical" hair or skin or whatever tells people how great a product is for, let's say, anti-frizz, when their hair isn't frizz-prone to begin with.  It's easy to like a product when you aren't suffering from a malady to begin with.

[Loretta55]

The darn plastic inserts that are inside of the eyeshadow palettes drive me crazy. I was excited to use my new Tarte Juicy eyeshadow palette and in my excitement I forgot to remove the insert and it fell on the floor.

[heavyhedon]

@Loretta55 

 Haha, I love those. I keep them on and keep my makeup in the original box for as long as possible (till box is falling apart) to help keep it fresh. I really like my makeup to look pristine no matter how much use it gets. But I get why others dislike the films, and I also wish they were more eco-friendly, at least.

[heartsmyface]

@Loretta55 Ahg, I keep those for the shade names but end up wasting the mirror in palettes by tacking them to the mirror.  I have full appreciation when brands write the names on the actual palette and I can just toss the plastic film. 

[Titian06]

@Loretta55 - I feel your pain!  😥

[Guessgal]

@Loretta55 Oh, yeah. I totally feel this. I kinda wish palettes would have the flap attached like the KVD Star Studded palette did so that the insert wouldn’t fall and get dirty and would protect the shadows better.

[greeneyedgirl107]

I've often posted about an eyeliner I like, SEPHORA COLLECTION 12 Hour Contour Pencil Eyeliner .  I wear it in Tiramisu, and used to also wear Fifth Avenue until it was discontinued.  I got my makeup done earlier this month, and the MUA used the shade Flirting Game.  I added it to my Loves List, only to find out shortly thereafter that Sephora has discontinued it.  I don't think I've ever had a product be discontinued *before* I got a chance to fall in love with it!

I was lucky enough to find a few in-store, so I bought one.  I doubt I'll have time to play around with it long enough to decide if I want to stock up on several, though.

ETA: I found that Sephora does appear to be carrying this shade again - in the newly designed version which Sephora told me is only outwardly different.

[Loretta55]

I purchased a new product when I had my hair done last week. I left it inside of my bag along with my blow dryer, diffuser and top that I wear when I get my hair done. I was wondering why I had trouble removing my top from the fabric bag to find my new gel all over my top and my bottle of gel only was a quarter full. I was able to wash the gel out from both the top and bag. The AG Liquid Effects gel has made a huge difference in how my curls look with minimal effort. I guess that it will be a repurchase next time I get my hair done.

[yomama6969]

• @Loretta55 🤣

[danielledanielle]

@Loretta55 , yipes.. 😐

[curlychiquita]

Oh, ugh, @Loretta55. 😔

[Kittyos1985]

When my mascara is clumpy and sticks. Hate it!

[Ispend2much6]

EDIT: @danielledanielle @greeneyedgirl107 @quspork @heartsmyface @curlychiquita  I spoke to a different supervisor this morning.  He assured me that the team at the distribution center is very thorough, and that the condition of the return was officially listed as "empty," meaning that they received the compact, but it was empty.

I explained to him how I knew this was not possible, that it's not a refillable compact that could have lost its pan, so if any product was missing, then someone from the center emptied it out, not me.  I did use the term theft to describe my opinion of the situation...since they said they received it, I know it wasn't my mistake in any way.

He also mentioned that I had many returns (true, but I've calmed down since the fall,) and this never happened before.  I agreed, saying that's what makes it all the more unusual.

He did make an exception for me and I did receive my refund.  Still have a bad taste in my mouth from all of this though.  Again, please protect yourselves if you make a return.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I'm not sure which thread this fits in, but I really wanted to share my experience in case it helps others.

@TeamBIC   If there is any way you could help me with this situation, I would be very, very grateful for your help.

My advice is:  If you are going to return something, take a picture of it.  If the item is a covered palette, compact, etc., open it up and then take the picture.  If you'd like to hear my tale of woe, please feel free to read on.

I received an email today telling me that the Distribution Center will not process my return because it was "more than gently used."  It was the Westman Atelier highlighter in Peau de Rose.

This was confusing to me, because I received in on March 11, and I was notified today that it was "more than gently used."  Since I only swiped it once to try it (and if you read my review on it in the Hauls thread, you knew I wasn't going to keep it, one way or the other.)

I called Sephora's customer service.  After a little digging, the official description that the operations management recorded was that the "product was empty."

To me, that can mean one of the following:

1. I forgot to put the box and its contents in the Sephora return box (entirely possible, as I once packed an Ulta return item in a Beautylish box, who then graciously contacted me and asked if I wanted it mailed back to me.)

2. I sent back the empty box with no compact, thinking I had packed it.  This did not happen as it is definitely not at my house.  Although I have an extensive collection of beauty products, my new purchases are in two small boxes and it is not there nor is it on my dresser.  All of my other cosmetics are neatly organized into plastic drawers.

3. Someone in the warehouse liked the product, and decided to keep it.

I did have an Ulta return around that same time.  It may have ended up in an Ulta return and I may have dropped the WA in the wrong box while packing the returns.  Ulta said their policy is to return items that are not part of their inventory back to the customer.  That has not happened.

I was told by the two people with whom I spoke tonight, one being a supervisor, that there is NOTHING that can be done for me.  I can be neither refunded nor receive my "more than gently used" product back.

There are a few things really wrong with this policy. 

1.  I'm pretty certain that Sephora has the ability to send customers a gift card in certain situations.  They certainly can issue reward points.  Neither were offered to me, even after I asked if this was an option.

2.  Where is the customer's protection with this type of decision?  If the warehouse has the ability to have a 2-step, two-person checking system in place to come to an agreement with the condition of the product, why is there not a method for making a more specific summary of their decision so the customer can know exactly what happened?  Does management not think that a customer might make a mistake, or not care that they are out $75 with nothing to show from it?

I literally have no idea if the product was completely missing, the box was present but empty, or the box and compact were returned with all the highlighter removed from it  by someone else, or it was decided that a couple of swipes on top of the compact rendered it "not gently used," even though Sephora can't resell used products.   I would like to know what happened to my $75 item.

I actually have received two items not in saleable condition from Sephora since February.  One was a Fenty eye palette that looked like it had dried queso on the outside of it and inside on an edge (@TeamBIC graciously replaced this, so I'm not complaining about their treatment of me.)  The second item was a Rare Beauty cream blush, which I loved and was planning on repurchasing during the April sale.  I returned that because when it arrived it looked like someone had taken a brush and dipped it in the middle of the cream to try it.  So, I do wonder what's going on in the distribution center.

Anyway, I hope I get some answers and that Sephora will reconsider their policy and method of assessment.  And of course I would like a refund if it was a misjudgment on the condition of the product. 

[curlychiquita]

I'm glad they fixed it for you, @ispend2much! That's crazy that it happened, though. Still sorry you had to deal with it.

[Ispend2much6]

@curlychiquita   Thank you, I am too.