E’steem gets the
door for me as I march down the steps of the Brooks Brothers flagship store carrying
shopping bags and a garment bag. This new suit, heels, and blouse I just bought
are going to leave a powerful first impression on Professor Saunders when I go
to interview with him this Friday.
We’re headed
down Madison Avenue when E’steem stops and stares in the tall glass window of a
small designer boutique on the corner of 46th Street. I peer up at
the brown and beige striped awning and wonder what’s so special about Sepia.
“What’s got you like
a kid in a candy store?” I inquire.
“Make-up made up
for us.” E’steem replies.
“Wow, I never
thought I’d see a designer make-up store for Black people on Madison Avenue.”
E’steem’s brown
eyes light up as they meet mine. “Shows us how far we’ve come as a people. If
you really want to make a lasting impression at that interview you have to wear this make-up.”
If Sepia’s beauty
products can make a satisfied customer out of someone as attractive as E’steem
then maybe it wouldn’t hurt for a plain Jane like me to take a look.
E’steem gives me
an eager smile as she opens the tall glass door of the upscale boutique. As we
walk onto the sales floor, an antiseptic smell hits me in the face and bright
fluorescent lights are hard on my eyes. The stark white décor of the store’s
layout are a harsh contrast to the colorful packaging of the make-up and
perfume on display. Is this a make-up store or a hospital?
“Should I page
Dr. Welby?” I inquire.
My question is
answered by an eager salesgirl who approaches us. The tall attractive Latina
dressed in blue medical scrubs, white sneakers, and clear goggles smiles at us
before going into her sales pitch. “Well, we take a scientific approach to
cosmetics here at Sepia.” She tells us.
I guess one size
doesn’t fit all when it comes to make-up anymore. I didn’t know there was so
much complexity to modern cosmetics. I glance at the girl’s plastic nametag and
find out how much the world of beauty has changed over the last thousand years.
“Well, why don’t
you tell me about Sepia’s scientific approach to cosmetics Melinda.”
On hearing her
name, Melinda’s eager to show me what she’s learned during her day of
on-the-job training. “Sepia’s cosmetics are designed by Dr. Raheema Sanders to
specifically deal with the skin issues of African-Americans and to accentuate
the colors of the distinct skin tones of women of color like yourself.”
“And what would
those issues be?”
“The skin of women
of color, especially Black women is much more sensitive than those of other
races.” Melinda continues. “So we’re more susceptible to skin issues such as
acne, blotching and blackheads.”
Thankfully, I’ve
never had those issues in the past two thousand years. Then again, I don’t use
that much make up. All I’ve ever used over the past six decades is lipstick.
Revlon’s Crimson Scarlet is all I’ve ever needed to add some color to my face
these days.
“And your
cosmetics are supposed to help with those issues?” I ask.
“Customers who
use our products report a significant reduction of skin issues. Would you like
to watch some testimonials?”
“We’re just
gonna look around.” E’steem says.
“Okay. If you
need any help I’m here.”
E’steem and I
peruse the shelves. While she scans the colors of the lipstick selection, I
flinch looking at the price tag on one of the tubes I pick up. I don’t think I
could pay that much for a stick of red colored grease and wax.
E’steem smiles
slyly as she catches the reflection of my grimace in the mirror of the lipstick
display. “I’m guessing that’s not your color?”
“It’s not my
price.” I answer. “Seventy-five bucks for a tube of lipstick?”
“It’s not that
much.” E’steem dismisses.
“Only if you
make a hundred million dollars a year.”
“Or if your boss
gives you an expense account.” E’steem quips.
I doubt I’d have
one of those as a lowly Columbia adjunct. “And as the assistant to a CEO you
have to leave a strong first impression on international clients. Don’t you
feel it’s extravagant to spend this kind of money on make-up?” I continue.
“Hey, this is a
Black-owned company. I’m just doing my part to give back to the community-”
At these prices
I think Raheema is taking too much from our people. “You don’t have to give
back so much. “I could never spend this kind of money on makeup-”
“What? You never
liked stuff like perfume and make-up growing up?”
I wish. Being a
slave I couldn’t afford those kinds of luxuries. “I didn’t get into that stuff
until I left Nubia. Being a tomboy, I spent most of my childhood hanging out
with the prince and his guards.”
“So you were
just one of the guys?”
“Well, Osiris
did want a son.”
E’steem laughs
as Melinda approaches us again. “Ladies, are you finding your shopping
experience at Sepia satisfactory?” she asks.
Man, she is
pushy. “I’m enjoying myself Melinda.” E’steem says. “Do you have the new Sepia
Sensations Amber Red lipstick?”
Melinda fishes
through the sticks and hands her the tube. “Here it is. Would you like anything
else?”
“I’m about done.
Do you want anything Isis? My treat.”
After getting a
sticker shock looking at seventy-five dollar lipsticks, I’m afraid to check the
price of any of Sepia’s other merchandise. The medical staff here might need to
wheel me out of here in on a stretcher. “I’m good.” I reply.
“Might I
interest either of you in a BeautyScan?” Melinda asks.
“BeautyScan?” I
inquire.
“It’s where we
capture your facial features in our computer and it comes up with the colors
that are best for your skintone. While Amber Red might look good on you, we may
have other colors that may be more flattering.”
I’m up for
seeing what I’d look like in Sepia cosmetics. Not like I’d buy any, but a
BeautyScan sounds lot cleaner than trying on lipsticks someone previously
smeared on their mouth. “I’ll give it a try.” I tell Melinda.
“I’m up for it.”
E’steem replies.
Melinda leads us
over to a pair chairs in a corner of the store. As we take our seats in the
booth, she drops plastic bonnets over our faces and gives us instructions. “Now
you’ll just feel a little warmth from the LEDs of the scanner. It’s nothing to
worry about. Just give us a smile and I’ll be able to show the best products
for your skin color.”
Melinda presses
a button on the computer station next to me. In a few seconds an array of warm
red lights shines on our faces. When the stream of lights end, Melinda strolls
over and eases the bonnets off our heads.
“It’ll just take
a few minutes to get your information in the computer.” Melinda tells us.
We hop out of
the BeautyScan chairs and head over to the monitors next to the BeautyScan
station. The screens show images of our smiling faces. “Before I go any further
and show you the cosmetics that would be best for your skin colors could I have
your names?”
“I’m Isis.”
“Like the
Egyptian goddess?” Melinda asks.
“You could say
that.”
“And I’m
E’steem.”
“As in self-esteem?”
“You could say I
have a healthy self-confidence.”
“You have to in
order to take a BeautyScan.”
Melinda runs the
pointer over E’steem’s picture and clicks the red bar under it. With the
exception of eye shadow, the photograph doesn’t change.
“Well, E’steem the
computer says that the best colors for your face are our Amber Red lipstick,
our Almond Bronze foundation and some Egyptian Kohl eye shadow. But it looks
like you already use the Almond Bronze foundation.”
E’steem smiles
at Melinda. “I don’t use any foundation.”
“Then you must
have flawless skin. I could have sworn you used our Almond Bronze.”
“Lipstick is all
I use.”
Melinda turns to
me. “Well Isis, it’s your turn.”
Melinda clicks
the red bar under my picture. My face is shown wearing foundation, eye shadow and
lipstick that makes me look like a clown. “Isis, the computer says that the
best colors for your face are our golden Bronze foundation, Coral Red lipstick,
Nubian Green eye shadow, Kohl Black eyeliner and a glisten glow bronzer to
bring out your cheekbones.”
That sounds like
about five hundred dollars worth of merchandise. And from the looks of the finished
results it doesn’t seem like their products are worth the price. I’ll stick
with my old beauty routine.
On giving the
sales pitch Melinda gives us eager looks. I think she has a big commission
riding on it. “Would you like to try some of the suggested products?”
“Maybe another
time.” I say.
“I’ll just take
the lipstick.” E’steem replies. Are you sure you don’t want anything Isis?”
I’m not really
into this makeup, but I’ll just buy something so we can get out of here. “You
can get me a Coral Red.” I sigh.
“Changed your
mind?” E’steem asks.
“Your treat
remember?” I retort.
Melinda grabs
the Coral Red lipstick from the display, takes the lipstick from E’steem and walks
around the sales counter. Before she rings us up she makes one last pitch.
“Would you like
to get on our mailing list?” She asks. “It’s the best way to learn about all our
new products. Plus we offer a chance to win a one hundred dollar gift card every
month in our Sepia Royal Raffle.”
I need more junk
mail in my life. Besides, it’ll be fun to see if I win the raffle. That’s probably
the only way I’d be willing to buy another tube of their lipstick when this one
runs out.
“Where do I sign
up?” I ask.
Isis: The Beauty Myth in paperback
Isis: The Beauty Myth on Kindle
