I would never have believed it even a few months ago, much less a year ago, and certainly not when I first joined this oasis of a site, but I did it. Encouraged by my recent experience of getting busted by an EKG technician and surviving, I decided that I was going to walk in to a MAC store and get makeup advice. I was on an out of town trip, so that lowered the risk, but business associates were there too, so it wasn't entirely risk-free.
I've been fantasizing about getting some professional makeup advice. My only foundation has been purchased for me by my wife, while I wasn't there, and I think it's either too light or too dark. In addition, it is liquid foundation and doesn't cover as well as I would like.
The nearest MAC store was in a Macy's in an indoor shopping mall near the hotel where I was staying. I walked in (in drab) and approached the counter, where there was a clerk behind the counter and a clerk in front. One of them (I don't recall which) asked if they could help me. I said yes, I was looking for some cream foundation (I had heard it is better for us CD'rs than liquid foundation). She asked, "did she tell you what shade?" and I responded, "no, it's for me." WELL! She literally beamed and said "great!" That was cool! I felt really at ease.
She walked me over to an area and started pulling out what looked like compacts, opening them and holding them up to my skin. I thought, ok this isn't too bad, I'll just get the shade she figures will work best and be on my way.
Then she started in on applying a shade to one side of my face with a brush! She asked me what I thought and I looked in the mirror. I said it looked a little bit orangey, so she picked another shade and asked me to go over to a chair and sit down. As we were walking over to the chair I told her that I wanted some color correction for dark circles under my eyes and for my (fairly minimal) beard/mustache shadow. She asked if I also wanted to look into a highlight for under the eyes, too. I said sure. So she picked out some and brought it with us. I sat down in the chair.
The chairs were on one wall, surrounded by the area with all of the makeup displays. There were mirrors along the wall and the whole location was completely visible to other customers in the MAC store as well as the department store (Macy's) within which it was located.
So anyway, I'm sitting down and we wipe of the orangey foundation. She then gets to work on the new foundation. She starts in on the color correction when, evidently, a previously scheduled appointment walks in and she has to take that customer. So the first clerk who was initially behind the counter takes over. In contrast the the one who was helping me before, she is very distracted. She leaves me several times to take care of other customers, and I start to feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
Finally, I say that "you're really busy so why don't I just take these items, and a foundation a shade darker, and leave it that." Ok so I'm done. I wipe off the make up, pay for my foundation, correction and highlighter and leave with a smallish MAC bag full of my haul.
I walk back through the mall on my way back to the hotel to stash the goods. I'm walking towards a department store through which I intend to exit, when I recognize one of my business associates sitting on a bench! Fortunately he is absorbed with his cell phone and doesn't see me. I turn around and scuttle to another exit.
Well I've made it home safe and sound. I haven't had a chance to try my new make up, but hope to be able to do so soon.
Overall the experience was both exhilarating and terrifying. I'm sure that in time the exhilarating memory will predominate over the terrifying part, and I'll be braver and more comfortable.
Thanks for listening!
. Of course, once in the chair, I worry about what if a co worker got seated next? Pretty unlikely. A month ago while on a road trip dressed I stopped in without an appointment en femme just to see what they'd recommend for a more dramatic eye look. In that case there is no obligation for purchase, but if they come up with something I like... anyway, it was mid afternoon and slow... and we touched on almost everything except foundation. I did like the eye, bought two shades that were the look. 
