This is so sad to everyone (and to myself who is also a customer too). I don’t like to report negative news, but WE DESERVE TO KNOW what’s going on! The original article is published at AOL here.
U… Beauty is facing allegations of unsanitary sales practices in a lawsuit.
A California woman is suing the suburban Chicago-based retailer over claims the company sells make-up that has been returned.
The lawsuit comes after a former employee posted photos alleging to show returned make-up being cleaned and re-packaged before being re-sold.
The allegations began after Twitter use @fatinamxo, who claimed to be a former U… employee, posted several messages about her time as an employee:
(there’s more images but I can’t take it anymore)
Other U… employees said they have done the same thing.
U… issued a statement saying it is does not allow the sale of re-used or damaged products.
The lawsuit seeks damages for the money consumers spent purchasing used beauty products, and injunctive relief to force U… to stop repackaging used beauty products and reselling them.
One word Ew…. What do you think?
IcanGWP Gift with Purchase 
It sounds like it was store practices rather than company policy. Sephora resells their returns because twice I got used product in my orders…that’s equally as bad.
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LOL what’s going on, right? Luxury beauty industry is something I expect to be such a high return. Awful thing like this shouldn’t be in the news!
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Nordstrom in Dallas too, I got an used lipgloss with a few strings of tiny farbic stuck on the ward the first time I pulled it out. They kept saying it’s from manufacturer and just asked me to exchange.
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Oh no. You must feel terrible to see that. But when I’m thinking about it. Could it be that some stores are innocent? It was the customers that swatched it. If beauty companies pack their products with proper seals, that would be fantastic. Thanks for sharing Emma.
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I agree. I have a feeling it’s more of a case by case (or store by store) basis as opposed to company-wide. I’ve visited a few ULTA stores that definitely looked and acted like they resold used items, whereas other locations I’ve been to are exceptionally professional and friendly. And yes, same types of experiences with Sephora stores as well.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts Lexie.
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I actually don’t shop at ULTA, even though I don’t have full Sephora where I live. I just don’t feel a click when I go to my normal ULTA store. I’m glad the former employee had courage to speak up, but at the same time, I hope it doesn’t happen at every ULTA store…
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I totally agreed, good that they speak up. I hope that this case can push ALL beauty retailers to damage (to the point it can’t be resell) and toss all return items right in front of us.
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I absolutely, 100% think this is disgusting. But honestly I’m not surprised. People take advantage of the lenient return policies, and the stores probably feel the financial pressure to keep up their numbers. I think it’s terrible that some people will buy high priced cosmetics, use them for weeks, then return them. Or even buy them just to try with the intention of returning them. It’s unfair to the company. It’s like returning food to the supermarket because you don’t like the taste.
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I think so too. Stores were pressured by the big guys and the big buys were pressured by the bigger guys 🙂 When I am thinking of lipstick or mascara, ew. I’d buy them at the reputable retailers because they can really make it look like new.
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Defiantly no store should knowingly resell anything that is used. That being said, I did work in cosmetics and if a customer said they did not use it and it looked like it was unopened we would use it as a tester. Also, we had problems with kids (and adults) who would come by and start putting on makeup straight from the tube not even thinking about how gross that it is (lipsticks, mascara all of it). If we saw it we could dispose of the item but what about all the times you don’t see it? My 6 year old would try on every lipstick in Sephora if I let her have free reign in there so I can see how this could unknowingly happen (but not from online orders). Ugh, I’m starting to rethink how maybe cosmetic counters with everything locked away is the way to go! I’ve seen adults in Sephora just try stuff on their face without even wiping it down or anything.
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Thanks for your great tips, Carol! Next time I could ask for a new one from the locked away drawers! And instead of damage it, they could use it as a tester. We’ve learned cool things from you!
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