Going to the MAC store

[SharonRose]

Hello everyone,

I haven't posted in a while. Hopefully I will post more often.

Last sunday I went to the MAC store at the local mall. A GG friend had recommended MAC cosmetics to me some time ago, so I've been wanting to try them for a while. I was starting to run a bit low on the stuff I've been using in the past. I was planning on waiting for my GG friend to go with me, but she lives in NYC and it wasn't going to happen any time soon.

I had lunch while en femme with a GG friend in Washington, D.C. That was fun! (and a whole other story).

After lunch, I drove to the mall. The mall was somewhat crowded but not packed. I parked near MACYs as I knew MAC was just inside the Mall. I browsed MACYs for a bit just to relax. Then I walked into the Mall. I found the MAC store but it was a bit too crowded for me. There were perhaps seven or eight customers in there and only two or three sales associates that I could see, and there were all helping other customers. So I decided to walk back to MACYs for a few minutes. When I came back some of the customers had left, and there were more sales associates working. I looked at some of the displays for a couple of minutes, figuring that someone would offer to help me. Finally, a trio of customers finished their purchases and left, and a sales associate came by and offered to help me. Her name was Jacqueline and she was very friendly.

I asked her "Do you get alot of customers like me?" and she said "All the time." I figured she was going to read me because of my beard shadow so I might as well break the ice. She asked about my skin color and I really wasn't sure if I was an olive or a pink. So she handed me a cleansing cloth and I cleaned a section of my face so she could see.

Then she picked out foundation and powder to match. She also recommended implements. She was very helpful demonstrating why she picked certain colors, how to apply them, and what implements to use. She really put me at ease, and treated me just like any other customer.

I spent $140, of which $60 was for implements (a powder brush and makeup brush for $30 each.) Previously, I've purchased cheaper implements at CVS, but these felt so nice on my face I just had to get them.

I also purchased full coverage foundation and magic fix pressed powder, which were $25 each, and 3 eyeshadows which were about $10 each (along with a quad compact to put them in).

She wrote down the names of the three colors of eye shadow on a piece of paper and swiped some of the shadow on each so I would know which color was which and which part of the eyelid to put them on.

All of my purchases were recorded in their computers (I only gave them my femme name and email, and I used a credit card in my femme name) so I can go back anytime to purchase additional products.

It felt great to be out and about in the Mall. I even passed a female acquaintance (not someone I know really well, but I've met her once or twice while in drab) and she didn't recognize me at all.

Sharon Rose

[Sara]

Sharon:

That was cool! What a blast. Way to go, girl!

[S. Lisa Smith]

Hi, Your experence at MAC was very similar to my experence at Merle Norman. I always recommend that someone seeking makeup advise just go ahead and go to a "makeup store" like MAC, Merle Norman and Saphora, or consult a Mary Kay rep. You do end up spending a bunch of money, but you get makeup that is matched to you and you get professional advise. Drug store makeup is cheaper but you waste alot of money on unsuitable makeup that doesn't work. MAC seems to be very transgender friendly (RuPaul was their spokesmodel for a while) and I'm glad you had a good time!

[SharonRose]

Thanks Ladies! Its nice to know others have had the same experiences.

[Anita]

Hi SharonRose--
I had been wanting to upgrade my makeup technique for a long time, and kept putting it off. I suddenly found myself being slated to appear in a film documentary, so I knew that I HAD to get some help. It took some calling around, but I got a referral to MAC over in San Francisco.

I did the hour-an-a-half lesson, and of course I ended up buying almost all of the products we used. But I was happy to get a professional opinion about what I'd been doing up to that time. It was great to talk about the problems I'd been having with someone who was going to take the time to deal with them.

The store was really crowded on a Sunday! I had an appointment, so we went to a less crowded area in the back. I was surprised at the number of young couples who were in there. The clerk said that guys were interested in makeup for video shoots, but I couldn't see all that much traffic just for that. It was quite a scene.
A

[S. Lisa Smith]

Sounds like you had a great time. What kind of documentary and please, post some pictures!

[Anita]

Hi Lisa--
The documentary is called 24 hours on Craigslist, and it's about an online community that's in 23 cities around the world. Since it started in San Francisco, they shot the film here.

The band that I mentioned in my opening post is a hard rock band that has "Ethel Merman" singing Nirvana, Led Zep, and AC/DC. The filmmakers loved the idea, and made us the lead story in the film. So I get interviewed in guy mode, and then we're shown getting publicity pictures, and playing an outdoor concert in San Francisco.

The film is opening at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, in March. I have not seen it yet, but there's supposed to be a screening for us in February. It was a lot of fun to do!

As for pictures of me--well, the FAQ is confusing to me on this subject. I haven't wanted to cry "help", but I don't see any clear instructions on how to do it just yet. "Posting images under your name" seems the closet, but does not say HOW one does this--it just says that board administrators have final say over them. I'm missing something here. But I do have one picture off the web that I have a URL for.
Anita

[S. Lisa Smith]

You can post on this site by uploading from your computer. Go here:

http://crossdressers-forum.com/coppermine_dir/index.php

register, create an album and upload. Looking forward to your pictures. In fact everyone (who would be comfortable doing so) should post pictures!

[SharonRose]

Anita,

Thanks for posting your story about your experience at MAC. I really do think its a great place to go for makeup, and T-friendly advice.

Sharon Rose