Between You and the Moon

"But…but—you all have GREAT skin"

Here we have a real conversation that I recently had at a local dining establishment. I was sitting with 4 friends--all women in their mid-to-late thirties and all of who have been using my products for at least a year. Halfway through our meal, the sister of one of the ladies joined us and sat down next to me. The following conversation occurred:

Friend: Oh, you have to meet Emma. She has that amazing product line that I have been telling you that you have to try. (I blush wildly, as is usually the case) We all use her stuff and it’s just really good…

Sister: Really? Because I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING and nothing has worked…my skin is just so bad—I’ve done chemical peels with that guy on the subway and my dermatologist has me on antibiotics, and I have done proactive and now I do the all-natural stuff with White Willow Bark and Tea Tree from Whole Foods, but it just doesn’t work…(there was probably more, but I don’t think you need to hear all of that) What do you suggest? I AM WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING!

Me: (treading gently) Well, my program is very different…I start by having you wash your face once a day with a grain cleanser—

Sister: (cutting me off) I HAVE to wash my face 3 times a day! I need to use acne soap! I couldn’t do that—I get too oily!

Me: That’s just the first part of the program, because then I use herbal oils to balance your skin so that it will be less—

Sister (cutting me off again) No No NO! I cannot use oil on my skin…I have ONLY EVER used Oil-Free products and look how much I break out! (Do you hear the unreasonable quality in that statement?)

All of the other women: No, this stuff is great…it controls the problems and your skin feels so much nicer (and on and on…this time I do not blush, but I may have turned a little more red with frustration) We all use these products...

Sister: Yeah…but, but—YOU ALL HAVE GREAT SKIN!

Do you get my point here?