A Tiny Tote for Makeup
DEAR HOT: I used to have this great makeup kit. It fit in the palm of my hand and contained everything I needed to get through a day: lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, blush, etc. Now it has run out and I can’t find a replacement. I’m back to carting around an entire makeup counter in my purse. Have you heard of anything like my old compact?--A.M., Montebello.
DEAR A.M.: Benetton, the international chain known as much for its rainbow-hued merchandise as its global brotherhood advertisements, has just what you want. Look at all the stuff they’ve stuffed into a tiny, palm-size compact: two lip glosses, two shades of blush, black mascara, face powder, eight eye shadow shades and two eye shadow applicators. It’s all contained in a pentagonal, black lacquer box about four inches wide with swing-out compartments and a big mirror. If you don’t need that much makeup, Benetton also has kits that contain only eye shadows in three different color palettes.
In keeping with the company’s the-world-is-a-beautiful-place philosophy, Benetton’s cosmetics have not been tested on animals. The tiny, “World Palette” makeup kit sells for $32.50, the eye shadows for $18.50. They’re available at Benetton stores.
DEAR HOT: I hate shopping. I despise malls more than anything on earth. You should have a column for people like me called “I’d Rather Be Dead Than Shop.”
Anyway, I’m a very busy and smart guy. I go shopping once or twice a year, or maybe it’s once every two years. When I go, I have more important things to think about than where I park. I spent a lot of money at a big mall this week and had one of the most horrible experiences of my life.
It took me two hours to find my car. I almost called a cab to drive me around to find it. It all looks the same to me. Why isn’t there someone to help you when this happens? Or a shuttle service?
R.S., Mount Washington
DEAR R.S.: Next time, Mr. Smart Guy, make a note of where you park. Write it down, if that’s what it takes.
In addition to noting the parking level and aisle, we take a look at the car and surroundings from the angle we’d be coming from to find it . And assuming we may be slightly brain-damaged by thoughts of semiannual sales or Mrs. Fields’ cookies, we also try to remember from which store we entered the mall (if it’s a department store, from which department).
For those who persist in getting lost, some malls do, in fact, have trams that drive shoppers around to their cars. Other malls have security officers who help folks who can’t locate their vehicles.
THEY CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE--In our never-ending quest to bring you news of discounts, we’ve found a new source book titled “The Wholesale By-Mail Catalog 1991” from Harper Perennial ($19.95). The chunky paperback lists hundreds of discount catalogues and warehouses where shoppers can order everything from clothes to craft supplies to health and beauty products to jewelry. There’s even a handy guide to ordering by mail, including how to handle complaints, how to save on shipping costs and how to order from foreign countries.
