Trouble dey sleep, iyanga dey go wake am up. Lancome people were there on their own oh, and I carried myself and went to them.
Some weeks ago, I was passing through Lancome at Macy’s when I saw a flyer for ‘Gal’s Night Out.’ What really, really, caught my eyes was the fact the fact that it was FREE. As a proper Naija gal, you know I have to love all things free. The Gal’s Nite Out party was to have my make-up done for FREE by none other than Tommy. Who is Tommy? I had no clue, but I was going to find out for sure.
I invited Funmi and Uju. They both didn’t make it. Uju had some reservations because she said Lancome will make her spend money she does not have. Eventually, I convinced her to come, but she still couldn’t cause she had to work. Funmi said she did not want to come because they would use the same brush they used for other people for her. Funmi gat jokessss! She must think that makeup artists change their brushes per customer. Anyway, I made an appointment for today at 6:30 PM sharp.
Before I went, my mind was already made up that I will not spend a penny. I knew there was nothing Lancome will say or do to me to ever make me change my mind. So some make-up lady started prepping me sha. Prepping me included cleaning my face with something, rubbing some gel on my face, washing the gel off, rubbing something else on my face, and then rubbing some lotion on top of the something. Oh, and she also rubbed something around my eyes – special lotion for my eyes. She asked me what kinda lotion I rub on my face, and when I told her that I rub my regular good ol’ Olay BODY lotion, she almost had a heart attack.
“Body lotion?! You rub body lotion on your face?!”
Ah ah! See me see wahala oo. Is my face no longer part of my body? LOL.
I could not hide my ignorance o. I had to ask her, “Am I supposed to be rubbing something else on my face?”
“Yes! Never, ever rub body lotion on your face. You’re lucky you have nice skin….” She went on to explain that the skin on other parts of our body is a lot stronger and tougher than the one on our face. The way she was rubbing the lotion on my face felt really, really good, so I had to ask (out of curiousity), “How much is the lotion?”
She said, “$43”
Forty-flipping-three dollars! Only for one small bottle of lotion?? You’ve gotta be kidding me. Does she know what I can buy with $43? Four big bottles of Olay body lotion. Big bottles ooo! And this does not include the cost of the other things she put on my face before the lotion alone sef. I could not help but ask her if she goes through the routine everyday, and she said yes. Everyday ke? Does she know how long I take in the bathroom already?? To add five more steps to my bathroom routine will mean an extra thirty minutes for me oh.
Anyway, so after the prepping sha, Tommy finally started working on me. He was kinda cute. Unfortunately, he’s gay. Why do the cute ones have to be gay? Apparently, Tommy is a big Lancome makeup artist in New York. He made me up sha, and all through, he could not stop complementing my eyes. In my mind, I was just thinking, “Tommy, you can say what you want oh, but you will not make me spend a dime here! I know you’re just tryna sell your product.”
Finally, Tommy finished and gave me a mirror, and I was like… WOW!! He actually did a wonderful job. I absolutely loved what he did with my eyes. In fact, I loved the whole nine yards. To be honest, the part of my face that gets the most compliments (however weird the compliments may be) is my eyes. And my eyes are my favorite part to makeup. Tommy used silver eye liner and I was loving it!
At the end, the lady that prepped me asked, “So what will you be taking home today?” She was smart enough to not say, “What will you be BUYING today?”
My brothers and sisters, before the woman finished talking sef, I said, “I want the silver eye liner.”
Twenty-freaking-three dollars!!! What da…?! That was how I whipped out my card and paid for it oh. As I drove home, all I could think about was the twenty-three dollars I spent on one skinny eye pencil/liner. How will I explain this to my husband? LOL. Okay, wake up, Vera…you are not married! LOL. Honestly, I really, really like the thing sha, but I just feel really bad for spending so much on only an eye pencil. Which kin yeye thing be this? If I add like $60 to it, I will be able to add one more perfume to my collection (I will blog about my perfumes some other day). But chei!!! These Lancome people don jazz me. Can you imagine the likeness?! A whole me? Realistically, the eye pencil is really long, but how often do I used make up? I have a drawer full of makeup, but I only use them when I’m attending something. I do not have time to be using make-up every time I’m going out.
You know what I’m thinking about? I think I like the foundation too. I hope the Mary Kay people do not read this, but I think the Lancome foundation is better than the Mary Kay one. It probably costs like $35 as opposed to the $14 one I buy from Mary Kay (which is already expensive to me sef). Abeg, I never publish my book na. I’m gonna call them tomorrow and ask how much the foundation costs. And it better be lasting for at least one year! Anyways, to other issues sha…
Nigerian Reunion: I have never, ever attended a Nigerian Reunion. From what I have heard, NRC is the best reunion organizer. They are the ones I have known the longest sha. But anyway, NRC is finally hosting the Nigerian Reunion here in B’more this year, and I’m seriously considering attending it. What will be my excuse for not attending it? I went on their website to see what they will be doing, and one of the things is speed dating. LOL. I am currently writing a new article for Kitu Kizuri, and I am supposed to be open to new ideas and new ways to meet new people. I just might take part in this speed dating thing. If I don’t chicken out, I’ll definitely take part in it, but I’ll need my friends there oo. Hey, what’s there to lose??
…But before I call Lancome tomorrow, can someone please tell me to get a grip! Please, stop me. Tell me I cannot afford a tiny bottle of foundation that costs so much. please, tell me.
Kai…but the thing fine sha. I love the foundation so much that I don’t even wanna wash my face tonight, but I can’t go to bed with so much crap on my face. I don’t wanna wake up with pimples the size of moles in the morning. Maybe I’ll return the eye pencil/liner and get the foundation. Noooo, I want them both. Oh, Lord! This is a dilemna!!
Help….!
…..Sleepless in Baltimore.
UPDATE: I returned the eye pencil and got the foundation. I couln’t resist.
oluwaverastic…nah here u dey. Lol @ $23 eye pencil, don’t worry your pretty head it’s okay to spoil one’s self every now and then ya’know. Just look at it like dat.. Ehn, the reunion thingie i might actually come oh, make we all go together abeg, if those girls don’t wanna go, well we will have to drag them 1 by 1.
-beantowne-
Desiree’d: Ah ah! I was wondering who was calling me Oluwaverastc. LOL. This gal, so you don follow us for blogger, lol. But you should come ooo. It’d be nice. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re missing me. LOL
Hehe, the force pulled me into blogville oh, I have them to thx. lol yes oh i missed not only you but everybody ok ok ok u got me.. but wat gave me away sef?? is it my wide smile..muahaha
I’m planning on it.. by God’s grace I will be there live and direct. Tell those gals to start getting ready… no tabi or sugbons, wait how is ur yoruba nowadays sef?? LOL!
“Uju had some reservations because she said Lancome will make her spend money she does not have…”
lol…guess she was right after all
I’m sure you have somewhere, a picture of how you looked like after Tommy made you over.
Can you at put up a picture? Even if it’s only one silver lined eyelid.
I won’t be able to recognise your eye 😛
These people know what they are doing when they offer to do something free. It’s all psychology.
You better not call those lancome people back. Focus!!!!!!
I’ve never been to a naija reunion. They had it in ATL, but i still didn’t go. I can’t believe people travel to go to these things. From what i’ve heard, it’s not fun if u go without ur friends.
Definitely try the speed dating thing and let us know how it went.
Desiree’d: Wide smile ko narrow smile ni. And my Yoruba is getting better…@ least, I hope it is. I will tell them that you said you’re coming sha. It’d be nice to hang out again. If not for anything, @ least you’ll get to spend time with me, and what could be better than that? LOL
Webround: You’re very right. Uju was very right indeed. I wish she had gone with me; she woulda spent a lot more than I did. Boy!
Tobenna: My love, Tobenna, you’re out of luck oh. I did in fact have a picture of it. In fact, I had several pictures, but this morning, I put on my mary kay foundation and took pictures and compared them to the lancome pictures and the difference was loud and clear. In order to stop thinking about Lancome, I deleted all the pictures. That was my attempt to not be tempted 2 buy lancome. Has it worked? Dunno. I’m still thinking of Lancome. LOL.
Sting: LOL. I’m laughing my head off hear. I can imagine you telling me to focus and not call Lancome. But sister Sting, e no dey easy ooo. LOL. As 4 the Naija Reunion, I definitely have 2 have my friends around. If they’re not coming, then I’m not going. Nope, no way. But if I try the speed dating thing, I’ll let you know how it goes.
A family member of mine works for Lancome and if I wore makeup I’d definitely be hitting them up for freebies because like you said, it’s not cheap!
Their products are really great though…I love their eye shadows. I didn’t even know they had decent colours of foundation for Africans (shows how much I know).
Anyways, good luck resisting…I would need a pretty big distraction for that to work.
No honey, u jazzed urself… did u think i was crazy when i came up with a silly excuse for you… omo money no dey sha..lol
good for u era… u should call them and make sure u buy allllll d roducts they used on u dat day….ah
Vera for era
products for roducts.
yea, i was tryna type fast
Stop, stop, stop dont call Lancome….who are we kidding, we both know you wont rest till you buy that foundation…yep I got the same desease…
Now u make me feel like a total make over…will look for a FREE tommy…get some FREE makeup done but will look for a free photo session place first…
Naija girl like me??? Even if I were to be dashed a million buck i would still look for the FREE in FREE!!!
GNG: Chei! People that have tails don’t have heads and people that have heads don’t have tails. Your family member works for Lancome & you don’t wear makeup?? Oh, noooo!!! Can we switch? I mean, can I have your family member please? And yeah, their eye shadows are wonderful too.
Funmi: Well, I’m glad I went sha. It was a fun event.
Anonymous (AKA Funmie): LOL. See why I think you’re crazy?
Afrobabe: You know you’re very, very right. I have not been able to stop thinking about the Lancome Foundation since Thursday, and I probably won’t be able to rest until I get it. The first thing I thought about this morning is the Lancome foundation. Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that I will not be able to rest until I have it…until I own it.
…Good luck finding FREE everything LOL.
First time here… like ur style…
…please go ahead and buy the foundation jare…
Na the tin wey bird chop na hin e go fly away with [ now thats not a very smart thg to say for someone trying to get off impulse buying]…dont mind me jare, do whatever u want
A Black James Bond: LOL. Thanks jare. Should I be thanking you? LOL. But you’re right; after all, I do deserve it – I hope.
Now i want to get some lancome as well! see what u did?? Even though i have no idea how to apply makeup..
come o, i heard their foundation causes breakouts after a while! (this that work?!) 🙂
I just got a $14 lip gloss from MAC. I love the way it looks on my lips…not my bank account, so I feel you.
If the face lotion costs $43, then imagine what the foundation would cost?
Simi Speaks: Ehn? Break outs ke? I will just return the thing with immediate alacrity. I kuku have the receipt anyway. If I see one thing that resembles a pimple, I will return it immediately. I no dey play ooo.
Bumight: My sister, e no dey easy oo. These people must have some good ol juju in their stuff for real. How did they get me so easily? I must investigate. LOL. $14 lipgloss? wow.
this babe..you are tew funny!!!me i dont carry myself to all dem make-up pple at stores o..cos u’ll end up buying something…no because you need it but because they spent so much time on ur face u feel ashamed not buying anything!!!wo taht how last month i was passing by mac counter and i was jejely looking before i knew it the man dey put eyeshadow on my eyes and all sorts…i felt pressured into buying it!i bought it o..but of course i sent my friend to help me return it !!lol…me wey never chop belle full…na eyeshadow i go chop!
well if u really like d foundation buy it jare!cos good foundation is hard to get and if u like d way it looked and all that buy it!
lmao @ simi’s comment…break out??? Babe, that loads of pimples oh..maybe the permanent black spots too….stay away from Lancomes oh….
hhaha, nothing in life is free, right? So the Naija reunion will be in my neck of the woods this year? I might just attend it for the first time. But, no offense, I don’t particularly care for BMore, but I hear its a nice city. But, for my Naija folks, I might just do the 30 minute drive…
Pink Satin: LOL. See the way she said it as if she was just jejely standing there and eye shadow came and fell on her eyes. LOL. My sister, those people ehn they have some mad jazz oh. Hmm. I was sooooo determined not to buy anything. I walked in there with confidence like there was nothing they could do or say to me to make me spend a dime. Lo and behold, they got me.
AfroBabe: Look, stop this thing oooo. If I see one pimple, I will sue you and Simi. Make una no tempt me here o.
SolomonSydelle: Don’t start ooo! I know you’re in PG, so don’t even get me started!! In short, just for your sake, I will blog about PG when I update my blog next. Girlllll… mm mm mm. Bmore no bad. But yeah sha, it’s right here in Bmore. It’d be nice if you come…and bring Officer Bomboy. I have a feeling we will kick it off. LOL.
u’r starting to feel funky sha.. *eyeroll* u missed me dat much ehn??i understand jo who wudn’t shey u get. Meanwhile reunions are exactly waht they told u o stingy… if u go without knowing ppl there or having someone come with u and on top am no get car… be rest assured u no go have fun! u will be frustrated and bored to death. and all the damn “events” dont even take place most of the time… last one in atl i went to the events were just very disorganized, thx goodness for ppl i knew and met there phew i wuda been hella pissed for going. But if you got ppl and car to move around u’r straight like a ruler and it could be really fun time too 🙂
Funmi is very jobless i can see lol
its okay 2 buy d foundation, d question is will you keep up with it, like when its finished will u b able 2 buy anoda 1?
9c blog.
Desiree’d: Well, since I live here in Bmore, I’m hoping that I won’t have a problem knowing people there. I’ll definitely be going with my friends. As for knowing places…well, shebi na for inside the same Bmore. Where am I gonna visit again? But they berra have the events oo! If they don’t have the speed dating, I go vex. By the way, who organized the reunion you went for and how much did it cost?
Oluwadee: My sister… that’s a very good question you have asked. Indeed, it’s not like they’ll be giving me lifetime refill (gosh, the sound of that excites me!). I guess it depends on how long the foundation will last. Thanks 4 stopping by babe.
vera buy the eye shadow and email me the bill and stop winging already. by the way i bought us a vacation all u have to do is show up and the earport and if u dont fly i made back up plans. meet me at pier 15 at sounth street seeport. u dont need to pack any luggage either. i got ur front and back.
Why do u have to complain to the whole world when I am here. How much is $23 chicken change.Hiss…lol
No mind me o, u need to see the way i have been using my MAC foundation with so much care cos i really don’t enjoy putting down £19 for the stuff.
Maybe i should start using,naija powder sef.Any suggestion please?
Hello, crazy Vera :-D. Been a while. So can we see those eyes? Or are we going to have to bear with the same green one that’s been there for as long as I’ve known you? 😉
ChiefO: Aren’t you a darling? A vaccation for us both? I’m there already! Come oh, are you coming for the Naija reunion here in Bmore? Lemme rephrase that: You berra bring some isi ewu when you are coming for the Naija Reunion.
Temmy Tayo: E no dey easy oo. 19 pounds?? Eya. As 4 Naija foundation, what about make-up by Banke Meshida-Lawal? She does a fabulous job with make-up; I’m assuming her products are the bomb too. How are you, my love? Long time.
Azuka: Thanks for stopping by, and yes, I have equally missed you…though not half as much as you have missed me. I got all your lovely text messages, thank you. LOL. And yes, you will also continue to see my green eye. Deal with it!
I dont wear makeup(want to learn how to now though… how to wear liner at least.. lol.. ) but i cant live without lancome juicy tubes.. have them in almost every colour theyre made in… i want to start wearing red lipstick (getting closer and closer to looking like a drag queen as the days go by… life is good.. lol)
haha at overwhelmed naija babe, d mugu returned d eye pencil cant even spoil her own self hehe
Overwhelmed: LOL. At least you’re looking like something, right? That’s the most important thing. Haha.
Anonymous AKA Uju: You go wound o! Of course I returned the eye pencil. Why not, if not?? At least, I bought something better.