MAC Counter- Bloomingdales

MAC, I love you. Your products are unbelievable and the makeup artists are always so helpful and friendly. Thanks for always giving me new makeup tips to keep yo girl lookin’ trendy.
Showstoppers: Teddy Eyeliner, customizable eye palettes, the blending brush and the eyeshadow base. I die.

I would have given this place a five star if it’s only about customer service. However, since this a cosmetic counter and I did purchase items here, this review is an overall experience with MAC.
I went on a Saturday morning, and they were pretty busy. I had to walk around the counter several rounds before finding one available to help me out.
Now… being a girl who had never try any make up by herself, I have tons of questions. Lisa, the employee who helped me out, was ever so patient with all my questions, even when they probably looked like common sense to her. And after I told her I had zero experience in the make up department, she gave me a reassuring smile and went to get all the make up she thought would suit me best.
As she put make up on me, she also explained to me about the different products she used, and the techniques and other pointers I should watch out for while trying by myself. I was pretty satisfied with the end result, and it seemed pretty simple to replicate myself. So I happily took everything she used. She even helped me choose some basic brushes to start myself off.
Here’s my purchase list:
— studio moisture tint foundation
— studio finish concealer
— mineralize blush
— mineralize skinfinish natural powder
— blot powder
— lip conditioner with SPF 15
— technakohl liner
— false lashes mascara
— make up remover wipes
— brushes, which were # 129, 190, 266 and 224
It totaled to about $ 300 I think. But hey, MAC is a good brand to invest that kind of money, or so I heard.
The next day when I tried to recreate what Lisa had done for me, I discovered a few ‘not so happy’ moments.
1. The mascara dried out. My excitement over putting make up on for the first time was put to a screeching stop when I opened my mascara and found dried gooey clumps at the tip. But since I had just purchased them and no way in hell am I going to waste that kind of money, I made do with clumping lashes.
2. When trying to do the eyeliner, I found myself in a nightmare. I have half-​hidden eyelids. So when I apply the eyeliner, it got smudged every time. The tip, while being creamy and soft, did nothing to help me, a green hand, at drawing a thin line across my eye. The upper eye looked a bit better since the lid was half hidden, and you won’t notice the smudge unless I close my eyes. But it had made drawing lower eye line so difficult for me, because it get smudged so easily.
3. It’s probably just me being a newbie, but no matter how hard I tried, after I applied all the make up, I have a face that screamed «I have make up on» when what Lisa did look so much more natural. Maybe it was the different lighting, but after using the skinfinish natural powder, I find my face in a noticeable darker tone, which didn’t help to blend my «with makeup on face» with my «natural neck».
4. Hair on the #129 brush came off as soon as I put it to use. It’s soft on my face, but I don’t like finding souvenirs on my face every time after usage.
While Lisa was perfect in her customer service, I wasn’t happy getting dried out mascara and finding hairs on my face after using the blush brush. (I don’t fault Lisa on the eyeliner, because she only thought to help me out since the pencil was easier to apply for a beginner, and also easy to remove. I just had stupid Asian eyes that mess up the application.)
Not to mention, I forked out over 300 bucks for all the products without getting any kind of freebie, while I got a little bag of something for spending only $ 64 at borghese. The makeover doesn’t count, since any cosmetic counter should offer makeover, aka product testing, to any potential customers.)
I’ll be snooping around other cosmetic brands before I venture back to MAC.

Bloomies was open late last week for their private sale. I really wanted to get my eye makeup done for the weekend. I had stopped by Macy’s but the Mac counter there was empty (and apparently requires a $ 50 minimum purchase). My friend and I trudged over to Bloomies were Krista (I THINK that’s her name and I’m really embarrassed that I forgot) was working solo. I told her about my request for an eye makeup makeover and she said she could do it but was going to take a break for about 15 minutes. No problem since my friend and I decided to peruse for clothes.
We came back and she got right to business. I have to say, these MAC girls are gorgeous and their makeup is impeccable (I know, I know, they train for this kind of thing) and Krista was no exception. She was really friendly and answered all of my weird questions (swirl left, swirl right? Order of colors, does it matter?) with careful and thoughtful answers. Since she was the only one there, other people came up and asked her for products and questions. Another customer watched as she did my makeover and bought all the products she used on me (that’s how good she is). She stopped once in awhile to help others but always asked me if it was OK. She even did my friend’s makeup right after.
I bought a ton of stuff and no doubt because Krista was amazingly helpful. I highly recommend her (it was a Thursday at around 8 PM) and would come back for more makeup when my wallet allows.

I would rather watch Glee for 24 hours straight then step foot 10-​feet of this make-​up counter.
Let me first say, I’ve worked in retail before. I understand… I really do. The long hours, the shitty pay, the stupid holiday hours, the POS customers that come in and give you the hardest time about the smallest things, etc. But really? You pathetic, bitchy associates still want to try me? Bring it on!
This place makes me want to keep my pimp hand strong and swinging. Shit, I’d be mad too if I worked for a make-​up counter, wore 5,000+ lbs of make-​up on my face everyday and still look like an ugly, angry gorilla. (Special thanks to Anna F. for her awesome influence!)
I brought a M.A.C. item I got online and brought it back here to return/​exchange for another product from Benefit. (Please read my Bloomingdale’s review for the full experience here:
.) — For those who want the short version:
–M.A.C. sales associate IGNORED me to help another customer when clearly, I’m just going to make a return.
–Had another associate from a completely different department process my return (when I supposedly can only return my M.A.C. products back at only M.A.C. counters?)
–Rudely cut off my conversation with the nice associate who helped me to start her own conversation.
Bitch, you’re lucky I don’t know you and I don’t want to get arrested. Otherwise, I’d take this as a clear sign of aggression and we can fucking duke it up outside like real women.
I don’t even care how awesome their make-​up is, I refuse to endure such bullshit for a line of makeup that doesn’t even look natural. I hate the way these girls look anyway. I will never buy another M.A.C. product as long as I can possibly avoid it.
Rude, apathetic, undeserving of my business, this counter is a cesspool of wretched bitchassness. I’ve been to Asian restaurants that spend more time on customer service than these trolls do. The cake-​face bitches at this place need to learn some manners and get some customer service lessons ASAP.

i just need to announce to the world that MAC LIQUIDLAST EYELINER is the shit… it is the most resistant eyeliner i have ever encountered in my life. it looks like you’ve just applied it even after your face gets battered by ocean waves for 2 hours. and even when you’re sweating your face off in high humidity for the entire 24 hour day. i appreciate this!
i like this counter because it is small and open on all sides, so everything is easily accessible when you are browsing. and the people who work here are nice.

What a terrible experience this was! Walking into Bloomingdales in the Stanford Shopping Center is an assault (not a welcome one) on all of your senses!
First of all, there must be at least 5 different places playing different types of music (and varying loudness… from respectful to obnoxious).
Secondly, I walk up to the MAC counter, looking for something very specific (I’m well versed in the MAC cosmetics line;)), and get offered no help. So I walk around the 5 girls working at the time, find my product and then approach one of the earlier mentioned 5 girls to ask if they have this product and can I purchase it. I get a «yeah, I’ll look it up» without even making a move to do just that. Then, with 4 girls surrounding the register, the one girl has to ask the others where it is! What? It’s the smallest area to find a very limited number of products. Know your area, girls!
Next, I wait while they figure out all of this, and I DON’T CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY GAVE ME THE RIGHT PRODUCT. well, my bad, but I do expect a little bit of expertise of the worker, which is OBVIOUSLY misplaced, as when I get home one of the products is the wrong color. This is not Rocket Science!
I will not ever go back to that MAC counter again, let alone go into Bloomingdale’s again.
The abhorrent lack of customer service, training, and plain manners of the Bloomingdale MAC girls kind of brings the entire line to its knees for an instant. If I were MAC, I’d fire the store!

I remembered coming in here to check out their LE nail polishes; at that time it was either Whirlwind or wildfire. I’ve had great courteous service from this counter compared to the usual ignore the customers attitude at the freestanding counter at Valley Fair.
By the way if you haven’t check out their newest eyeliner (pearlglide). These are awesome; it stayed on my oily lids even though i do use a primer.

I’m a makeup whore. Rather an eye shadow & lip gloss whore. Plain and simple. I can’t get enough. I must be stopped.
Note: You can only get the *best* foundation known to man, Studio Mist, at the boutique shops — not at the counters in department stores. Run. Don’t walk to the one nearest you. Pick up a can. You’ll love me for it.

I really do like MAC cosmetics, but on two different occassions I was snubbed at this counter. The first time, was when they were offering free makeovers and two of my co-​workers recieved them, but when I went in to ask for an appointment, a girl with bottom lip piercing said it would be a $ 50 dollar reservation. I walked away. Two days later, I spent a good $ 100 for products, and the same girl that told me to pay for the makeover, kept glaring at me. Such a rude person. If at all possible avoid that girl, because I think she has a standard for who should use MAC products.