Why You Should Probably Learn How to Make Your Own Cosmetics

Not me personally but courtesy of me.me

The first time I discovered ULTA, the self-proclaimed largest beauty retailer in the U.S., I was kind of stoked.  I mean, they carry almost all cosmetic brands and some hard-to-find items under one roof, even though the price may be higher.  Also, you sometimes have to BEG for free samples after paying more than what some major department stores charge.

However, not getting that travel size hair gel should no longer be a concern for us consumers, as allegations of selling used cosmetics as new has resulted in a lawsuit. A California woman alleges that the Chicago-based company has a practice of doing this after a former employee posted claims on Twitter that her store did this routinely.  A representative for ULTA claims this is standard practice for some products, there is a quota and the used items are placed in a clearance bin.  On my Facebook feed were mixed accounts from former and current employees.

The store closest to me has such high turnover that I got tired of waiting in line and not receiving any samples.  Even worse, while there were plenty of people to ensure that I didn't steal anything, no one on that floor could really give advice about cosmetics (recently, I got burned by Whole Paycheck's vitamin department for the same thing).  If you're going to market yourself as something greater than the rest, why not bring it all the way home?

Anyway, while most of us know to use caution at most beauty counters, here's a breakdown of what can happen when you keep cosmetics around too long.  It stresses that eye makeup needs the most caution, as infections can develop but here's a chart that breaks it all down.  These days, I order online directly from the manufacturer.