Since collections are always released a few weeks later for me, I get to read reviews and see swatches before hand! I'll have a general idea then go down and look/try for myself/ If its MAC items I'll look my regular MA and get her opinion. I've stuck to her for more than a year and I trust her...I always buy lesser stuff when she's guides me on the many similar colours I have and tells me not to spend so much!

what is this live mac chat that i keep reading in everyone's comments and how do i go about finding it? i am constantly curiose and want to kno new tips and tricks when it com,es to makeup...

I am almost addicted to Mac live chat:)

I don't ask other questions other than asking for swatching products or about new upcoming collections. All the Mac stores/counters staff where I go to know me by now and chit chat with me but when I go in there, it's because I already know what I want. I like to figure out things on my own I guess.

I sometimes ask. Usually I only ask if it is something I have tried and I am having trouble with, or basically if I am having technical trouble, like when my shadow used to smear. I don't tend to ask color opinions, because that's just opinion in my mind.

I like other peoples' opinions about makeup, so yes, I often ask. It's also why I come to your blog and read other blogs because I love seeing others' take on products, or color combinations, or application strategies, etc. It's how I learn new things and gather information. Then I feel better about offering advice to others :-) The only problem is when I ask an MA about a certain color or something, they either end up convincing me that I have to have it (when I wasn't planning on getting it before or was iffy about it), or I feel bad if I don't get it because they've just praised it so much, and finally (rarely) sometimes I then feel stupid still wanting something after an MA has told me that it's no good or I don't need it :-P

It really depends on which MA is in the store when I go there. I find a lot of them to be fairly useless and rather pushy sometimes...but there are a couple other girls at one location that I really like and can visit with as well. When they're in, they *know* me, so I definitely ask them for advice, help, etc.

I often ask for help or advice. Sometimes it's regarding a skill like contouring, other times it's about colour matches since I have a hard time with them. If someone is rude when I ask for help, though, I will walk out.

I almost always ask. I really want imput when I buy new things or in a rut with specific make up looks. MAC stands in Hondo's (Greek make up/all-in-one store), especially the one nearest me, has the best ever staff. They are really helpful, don't ignore me and don't push for a sale. The free-standing MAC shops have some really bad staff who either ignore or have no clue about any new releases, very few that I have talked to are actually nice. For other counters, it's really rare to find somebody nice and helpful. I tend to ask and if I get a mean response, I tend to either go to another store, or just refuse to shop.

Well sure! Even with all I know about make up, I'm still not a pro and I definitely don't know everything. I may not ask questions about foundation application etc but I might ask how to best use a product that I'm having trouble with. I might also ask which brush is best for a sort of application. I usually just use MAC Chat but sometimes I'll remember something when I'm at a counter or store.

Most of the time I know exactly what I am buying, but I will ask for advice on how to best use the product, etc. Sometimes I ask for application tips and tricks.

At times, I go in and pick things myself and other times I might ask for advice on colours, etc. If I'm buying a new product, then I sometimes like to ask the Mac sales advisor for colour combination suggestions, as they often come up with combinations I haven't thought of or colours that I might not usually go for but I end up really liking. The girls at the Mac counter tend to be really helpful and aren't pushy, so I don't mind asking them questions but I don't normally ask sales advisors at other make-up counters.

not really i'm a little shy so i kind of search around myself and get what i like...the artists at my nordstrom mac are super nice so if i had questions i would usually go to them...i guess i should be more talkative and ask questions to fix my dark circles!! i need super concealer haha

All the time. But most of the time I consider their suggestions and end up doing what I feel like anyway. Often what they suggest does not match with my personal taste or budget.