I went into a downtown department store with one goal in mind - to purchase a particular lipliner. My usual, honest salesperson who never oversells was off for the day. As I approached a saleswoman and asked for the lipliner, another woman, presumably the line’s make-up artist, interjected asking if she could show me something that would enhance my eyes. Open to learning a new technique, I said sure but stipulated I didn’t want any of my eye makeup undone and I needed it to be a quick tutorial. She assured me of both. OMG, rusty due to Covid-curtailed shopping, I got myself trapped!! She added what seemed to be a copious amount of serum under my eyes and then layered it with eye cream. Then she applied 2 different concealers, black eyeliner and more mascara. True, she did not apply makeup remover and remove my eyeliner, mascara, eye cream, and concealer. However, did she “undo” what I had applied? Undo meaning “cancel or reverse the effects or results (of a previous action or measure.”) Fittingly, there was nothing quick about this! Even though I was monitoring sensitivity to the fragrances, I felt relieved that what she did to my eyes which, by the way, was not an enhancement, did not necessitate racing home to get it all off before I went out for the evening.

In essence and unsurprisingly in retrospect, her intention was to sell me many additional products. Luckily, reinforcements came with a call from my son. He provided a pause, a jolt out of the sales spell she was attempting to cast on me and the trap I got myself into. This was immediately followed by the fact that the store was out of the products. Despite her insistence on ordering them online right then and there, I politely said no thank you and that I was out of time. She then looked at me and sternly said, “This isn’t fair of you, I spent my time, I gave to you, and now I won’t get compensated.” I responded with, “I really have to go and thank you.” I did walk away with my heart tugged a bit and feeling compassion for her. I also realized I am not responsible for her, so compassion for myself too. I only asked for 1 product.

Eww! In combination with intrusive energy, what an uncomfortable experience! Definitely an unusual one in my years of brick-and-mortar shopping, and one I will be mindful of not repeating certainly at the cosmetic counter.