Sephora...not as nice as you'd like

Well, sometimes.

Why is it when you request a sample, some businesses are more than willing to give you one? Like the deli at any grocery store: you want to see if that ham on sale is actually tasty or if the muenster cheese is bland. How about ice cream shops? They let you try a sample of any flavor as, well, you are about to eat it & it ends up tasting like crap; obviously you snot pick that flavor. But what if you weren't able to sample the ice cream..so, no matter how good it may look or sound and you spent a few bucks on...crap. You toss it..it was only a couple of bucks but that was a couple of bucks you wasted.

Same goes for cosmetics. And skin care products. Especially if you have sensitive skin, why is there a problem sampling a product to see how your skin reacts to it, especially at the fact skin care "ain't" cheap...even the secondary skin care, like what you'd find at Target, Walgreens isn't that inexpensive, but I know you can either write or email any of those companies and ask for either a sample or coupon and I'm sure they'd accommodate you.

And this is an investment. I mean, it's not rum cherry ice cream you're eating but some chemical compound that may react in either a positive or negative manner to your face. Your skin, which is the biggest organ of your body and needs proper care aside from anti-aging products, you want to protect it from pollution, the sun, wind, cold, etc... so, why would there even be some sort of dispute or problem with obtaining a sample or questions regarding what sort of sample you wish to obtain?

I am asking rhetorically, of course.

But at times, after putting several high-priced items on the counter at a Sephora the last thing I want is stink eye from a Sephora employee who's job is in retail, and is to inform, help, etc...& when I question a product and then ask for a sample, here's the stink eye. I've noticed the State Street store & Orland Park store is notorious for this having dealt with this first hand. I mean, I'm asking for a sample of some expensive facial cleanser & age-defying cream that I'm very interested in buying so this crap better work! And most of the employees act as if I'm asking for the entire jar or something out their purse. Like I want their own mascara, lipstick or face cream from their own stash.

Now, mind you I am aware of some who ruin it for others but come on! I WAS buying over $50 of hair care and my usual skin cream(I happen to have a delusional yet steady relationship w/Nick Perricone. Google him as he's fantastic and want to marry him for obvious reasons...snicker). The only redeeming grace for State Strrets Sephora, after I was receiving injudicious looks from all the pompous employees......I mean come on! I am not asking for the entire jar...but if they offered I wouldn't say no. I just want to try the product before I invest $100 on a skin care treatment.

....except for one. This absolute gorgeous older woman named Kathy, with her long brown locks and contagious smile made me feel as if I were talking to my mother on a great day! She was welcoming, warm, did not hesitate to provide answers to my questions nor gave me any "guilt" for asking for samples. Can you actually believe I will refuse to shop/patronize at an establishment who won't even provide a smile? Kathy at the State Street Sephora provided that...& because of her I will make an occasional trip to that specific Sephora; but I shall ask for Kathy.


FYI...my personal favie Sephora is the Nordstroms/Michigan Avenue location. EVERYONE there is fun, happy, energetic and makes shopping a complete joy! And I have absolutely no problem getting samples!