It just seems silly to take the extra step to open each of them, tap out the powder, and swirl on my hand. Not to mention the extra hand washing step.

This is morning, and EVERY SECOND COUNTS!

I asked her why I couldn't just mix all of them together in another container, and she said I couldn't do that.

Just try it with a little bit of both shades, like on a plate or something. It's not like mixing them on a plate (rather than your hand) is going to cause them to combust.

t edit What I mean is, if it works on the plate, it'll work in a container.

And I imagine it'll work in a container. I can't think of a single reason why it wouldn't. I think the people at Sephora are just trained in A Specific Process and don't deviate from The Process.

Maybe if they sit packaged together for too long, the color will change a bit?

Well, or possibly it's the worry that if you're mixing colors, and use the whole container but don't get the color right, then you've messed up a whole container. Whereas if you mix them in your hand and get the proportions off, it's just the handful?

OK, this is entertaining--I'm reading the employee handbook for the new company (my company got sold to another company) and while their IT policy is rather out of date (who posts to usenet newsgroups anymore?) it has a separate section on social media--wherein it tells me that bosses are NOT ALLOWED to friend-request subordinates! (And no one is allowed to get pissy if their friend requests are denied). I find that hilarious and awesome.

Vortex - they are totally missing out on the opportunity to sell a special palette just for their makeup.

it tells me that bosses are NOT ALLOWED to friend-request subordinates!

Awesome.

I have been spending too long in meetings that explain to me what social networking is, and how software like facebook works and what one can do with it.

I feel I should be able to test out. Perhaps we can develop a test that technoatrophied management can hand out to staff, and if you pass it, you don't have to take training courses on how to use a threaded message board or embed a youtube video.

I think the people at Sephora are just trained in A Specific Process and don't deviate from The Process.

This is the only reason they are telling you that you shouldn't mix the colors together.

HOWEVER, being someone who has done a lot of custom blending of mineral makeup, I would suggest that you take a few spoonfuls of each color and mix them in a container before you commit to mixing everything. Just to make sure you like the effect.

Oh, and Steph, oatmeal helps. Seriously good suggestion.