Take it easy… (with the highlighter)

I know highlighting and contouring has been fashionable for a while, with strobing (highlighting without the contouring) set to be a ‘thing’ for this year. But one thing I must say… it gets to the point where SO much highlighter is used that the skin takes on a grey sheen. It doesn’t matter if your highlighting cream or powder is prestige or high street, too much doesn’t look good – it looks grey. It totally negates the whole point of the trend because grey isn’t a good look for anyone, unless you happen to be a breezeblock wall, then go for it.

But – in the words of The Eagles – take it easy…

When enough is enough. Time to quit?

As if the chaos of ‘Black Friday’ wasn’t enough, getting shouted at over the 5p carrier bag charge is putting another nail in the coffin of my career in beauty.

I have become increasingly disillusioned over the last year; the industry that used to be about glamour, feeling good, luxury, treats and (to a certain extent, although it is debatable) empowering women has slowly become about discount and what the customer can get for free.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Miserable Wednesday

I made the last one up but, although it may not be ‘a thing’, it exists, believe me.

As does Terrible Tuesday, Crappy Thursday, Hideous Saturday and ‘I want to go home’ Sunday.

“Have you got a problem with me?” YES, I DO!

Dear friends,

I have held back posting about this for a long, long time, as it took me a long, long time to get over it.  I now feel able to share my story.

Unecessary Anger

A couple of months ago, I was on the shop floor, doing my thing. I noted a customer walked in and started browsing. I looked over, smiled, and said ‘hello’. All normal so far.

“Anyone can do beauty retail!”

Yeah yeah yeah. You keep telling yourself that.

The problem is, while it is an ‘entry level’ job in many aspects (needs no particular qualifications, or industry experience and training is often given on the job), not everyone can do it.

Facial etiquette

I’ve never understood the idea behind turning up for a haircut with unwashed hair. I remember when I was a student someone asking me why I was washing my hair prior to a hairdresser’s appointment. When I asked them if this was unusual they responded with “Hell yeah! I’m paying them to wash my hair so why wash it beforehand?

Half Term Hell: My Counter is not a Crèche

Half Term. That delightful time when sales usually soar and jammy children get to have (yet another) holiday.

I would say I have every sympathy with parents having to juggle jobs around children but I don’t. We all have to juggle things in our daily lives: work & studying, family and career, Coronation Street or the thing on the other side (always Corrie. Always).

The most important thing for you to know re: my thoughts on children and holidays is – my counter is not a crèche.

The Counter Confessional – Part Two

January is a bleak month in many ways – the excitement of Christmas is over, the department is much quieter and customers decide to cheer us all up by being utter arses. Still, one Counter Dolly’s misery can turn into great humour for everyone else.

Here are some excellent confessions that should brighten up a dark and dismal January evening and bring a little ray of sunshine…

The Counter Dolly Confessional

Dear Fellow Counter Dollies,

This time of year is tough. Long hours, big targets, and throbbing feet. It’s worse than tough, it’s hell. Well, hellish.

You want to vent. You want to throw moisturiser around with wild abandon. You want to run around in a circle flapping your arms around at the next person who says they’re ‘just browsing’ when they are clearly just stealing precious inches of handcream and pilfering cotton buds. I understand, I’m with you.

Therefore I am throwing open my Counter Dolly Confessional. Do you have an ‘overheard on the shop floor’ that you wish to share with the world? An inner frustration on speed gift wrapping? Perhaps you have uncovered a previously unknown customer type? (New species are known to pop up at this time of year).

If you would like to share anything – so we can all sympathise with your pain and join in with a chorus of “I hear ya, sista!”, then feel free to email me (counterdolly@beautycountergirl.com). Please rest assured that your submission will remain entirely anonymous, in the spirit of The Secret Diary.

Yours in solidarity,

Counter Dolly

Sunday shoppers – a polite request

Dear Sunday shoppers,

Sundays are a busy day in the retail world; only 6 hours in which to trade, usually skeleton staff, and lots of customers wanting to cram as much shopping in as possible.

When it comes to 5pm, we want to go home and enjoy what’s left of our weekend. When it gets to 5.01pm we can’t serve you – it’s in breach of Sunday trading hours if we do. Please don’t swear or shout or tut at us, or drag your heels on the way out (which means we will miss our bus or train home). You can always buy that lipstick tomorrow…

Many thanks,

Counter Dolly