As long as you are honest that the product is used, I wouldn't feel guilty if the store policy includes accepting used products.

Agree about returns being part of pricing. I do not hesitate to return if it doesn't meet my expectations. but I do think people misuse and abuse generous return policies and knowingly use merchandise fully intending to return as they walk away with the "purchase". I think that's a veiled form of stealing or as a minimum, renting the darned thing. Wearing to a party with tags with purpose of returning: I am dismayed that many TV shows make light of this practice in their scripts.

Back to OPs concern, mfrs are not always innocent bystanders. They formulate makeup with allergenics and tweak them a little bit so they can call them something else on the label. So if your eyes swell shut b/c of makeup and misleading label, heck yeah you're entitled to return.

that happened to us. DH is allergic to lanolin and we bought a fancy shampoo that did not contain the word lanolin. Poor fella's scalp broke out like mad. Being suspicious, I googled every word shown on the label and discovered that one of them was a lanolin derivative. I was so annoyed.

I got tired of wasting money on un-useable stuff because it didn't live up to the marketing hype, so no, I don't feel guilty anymore. I bought some expensive mascara from Sephora and on me, it was horrible. I really tried to make it work but it didn't. I returned it with no problem. I think if more people returned stuff it would send a message to the manufacturer. But totally agree with bossy.

When Sephora gets a return, they do not absorb the cost themselves. They pass it on to the manufacturer in the form of a chargeback. Same goes for Costco and most other retailers with generous return policies. As long as you don't misuse the policy, I wouldn't feel guilty.

I can only think of one item I returned -- it was an expensive one and was something I could not use. There have been a couple of borderline items -- things I am on the fence about or don't use regularly, and on those, I don't return. I have three items I bought recently to try together. I have only used them a three times now and the jury is still out. I bought them because of a promo that made them less expensive and the fact that I could return them if I wasn't happy with them -- so they will go back if I don't see or feel more of a difference. I agree that the costs are so high and the products always changing - thought it is something we haven't been used to, returns are part of the marketing and pricing, so I wouldn't feel guilty about it

Those are skin care items. I don't think I have returned makeup. That's a more recent policy, so it's partly timing. I did buy a collection of things that I was planning on returning. The items that caught my attention were ones I did not like, but I decided to try the others and found that I really liked the eye shadow, blush compact and brush. The collection price was good enough that it made sense to keep them and pitch what I didn't like.

I returned a bottle of Clinique Smart Serum to Nordstrom's. The product balled up on my face and flaked off making it look like I had a skin condition. I had only used it 3 or 4 times. This is the reason I like to try samples before I buy expensive products. Remember the tiny lipstick from Avon? I am sure that's not very cost effective for the manufacture but that's a nice way to try something you are not sure of.

I returned a bottle of very expensive liquid make up as the expiration day was two years past.

I usually buy makeup at Macy's and I return it without hesitation if I don't like it for any reason. For instance, eyeshadow colors can look totally different in real light compared to the lighting at makeup counters. Everything looks great at the makeup counter, right? I have taken the lead from the counters, "if you don't like it for any reason, just bring it back." If I didn't think I could do that, I'd be reluctant to buy anything.

Absolutely. I usually buy drugstore cosmetics and only from stores like Walgreens and Rite Aid that take returns.

Linelle, you are absolutely right about the colors looking so different in the stores and outside them. Even on larger items. I've bought clothing for my sons or DH and come home and been totally surprised by the color. I don't understand the need for mood lighting when you are trying to select colors, etc. Also agree with Rory about samples.

I think this is something of an adjustment to a new market -- and for the marketers. I noticed that the brand I am currently trying out now says "gently used" items are accepted, so while we adjust tot he idea of being able to return something we have used, they have apparently adjusted to curb the abuse. Fair enough.

Only twice. First time the products made me break out in a rash. The second time I was talked into a new formula that was terrible (and $120).

I did once. I had a make over at the Chanel counter. I bought a lot of the products. turned out in the real light of the day they were way to orangy for my skin. I kept the mascara and the brushes and returned all the make up. I tried it a couple of days and it was just all wrong. they didnt bat an eye and recommended I go to clinique saying that their foundations were more neutral or pink or something. they were right.

It doesn't happen very often, but I do return a product if there is a problem with the formula or if I am dissatisfied in some other way. I recently returned a lipstick because it smelled as if it had gone rancid after using for a couple of days.

My personal feeling is that if a store offers a return policy on personal use products-then I don't feel bad about returning them after I've used them and they weren't working out for me. I used to feel bad about returning produce that went bad a day or two after purchasing, but realized I'm out good money for something that can't be used again.

I too like to get samples whenever possible. Things like powder or blush, powder foundation etc which you can not get a sample for I'll try on at the store and take for a test drive ;-) But even after that if I do end up buying it and then trying it for a few days and I can tell I don't like it at all, I wont hesitate to take it back.

I haven't returned any makeup yet but I don't think it is wrong to return something that is not as described.

Of all the things we women can find to feel guilty about, let's not make one of them operating within accepted store return policies. ;-)

I return products that don't deliver or are not as I expected them to be. Doesn't happen often, but I definitely have returned used products on occasion. Otherwise it feels like I've just thrown money away.

Yes, I'll return makeup. In fact I have an eye pencil right now that's going back to the store because it caused my eyes to water and sting. When I was searching for a new foundation to replace the Lancome Tiente Idole that changed formulas a few years ago (sigh), I returned a few foundations that just didn't work on me. Each time the saleslady would tell me, "if it doesn't work, just bring it back".

This this is a timely post, for some reason I always forget I can return make up. Just bought a lipgloss at Ulta that is not working. It appears they have a good return policy and I'm going to take it back and get something else. Thanks for the reminder.