Can we talk about getting skincare advice requests from strangers in public?

I was at the grocery store yesterday, and a cashier noticed my esthetician badge on my bag. She started asking me about her rosacea right there in the checkout line, wanting a full consultation. I was caught off guard and tried to be nice, but it's hard to give good advice without seeing her skin up close or knowing her routine. I suggested she book a proper visit, but she seemed to think I could just tell her what products to buy on the spot. It put me in a weird spot between wanting to help and keeping things professional. Stuff like this happens more often than I'd like. Do you guys get stopped by people who want free advice on the fly? What's your go-to way to handle it without sounding rude?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryan_scott362mo ago

Sometimes a quick tip helps, no harm done.

parker_jones501mo ago

Consider how a quick tip might backfire if you don't know someone's full story. @the_luna made a good point about steering someone wrong without meaning to. It's easy to think you're helping, but skin stuff is so personal and tricky. What works for one person could really mess up another's skin. So maybe holding back is the smarter move sometimes.

the_luna2mo ago

Ryan's point about a quick tip seems okay, but it really can open a door you didn't mean to. Telling someone to try a random product without knowing their full history could make their rosacea way worse, and then you're partly on the hook for that. My go-to is saying something like, "That's a complex thing to get right, and I'd hate to guess and steer you wrong." It shuts it down kindly but firmly.