Cosmetic counters
 

For all of you females out there....

Have you ever had a "makeover" at a cosmetic counter in a department store.?

Like, at the Kauffman's/Lazarus around here, they have the Clinique, Estee Lauder, etc... counters where they do these.

I was wondering if it would be worth my time to do this because in looking at pics of myself, I'm realizing that I have no idea of what my "colors" are. Plus, my makeup application skills are struggling as well.

Thanks for your help!! :)

I've done them ... just realize that every makeup company is going to do very different things to you! You want to be careful where you go. Clinique will give you a fresh, clean look ... Estee Lauder more "made up."

Hopefully they would all be tasteful, but just make sure that the counter you pick appeals to what you want.

So even though the girls at the Clinique counter may be different throughout the week, and of course there are different people working them across the country......... are they all "trained" pretty much to give the same kind of look?

I think so. I would guess they want their makeovers to fit their image that they try to project in ads. Like Clinique isn't exactly mega-trendy - no black sparkly lip gloss for them. And different companies cater to different-aged customers. Look at magazine ads, and hang around the counters for a while and look at their customers.

Just need to say, the artists at the Prescriptives counters have always been not only helpful, but over the top with their desire to make you LOOK AND FEEL beautiful. I know every artist at my local counter and I love them...

On the other hand...

I LOATHE and DESPISE all MAC counters/stores. I have had nothing but snobbery and snotty "looking down their nose at me" looks every single time I go to that counter. I only buy one thing, the same thing. But they rarely want to touch anyone lest they get anything on their immaculate black clothes. And why do they always have the THICKEST black eyeliner?? Sorry, glam or not, they usually look scary extreme with the makeup. Sorry if anyone here is a MAC employee, but I don't like any of your front line employees that I have encountered. NOT ONE offers to help, ever.

Oh, and the one thing I hate is that I cannot go to any makeup counter (except Prescriptives) if I've just come from the gym and am not dressed to the nines. I may look grubby, but I've got cash to spend. Sorry, but I don't like how you have to dress up to go get makeup put on you!!!!!!

MoxieGrrl -

I think Sephora does makeovers - you might want to try there. The nice thing about going there is if your perfect foundation is in one line and your perfect lipstick is in another, they will use it - they aren't tied to the products in just one line.

I think the Sephora at Monroeville Mall is friendlier and more low-key than the Shadyside one, but it might depend on when you go. Plus, (this is Sephora in general) if you just want to play with the products for a while, they will leave you alone and not be looking over your shoulder the whole time. I'm afraid to even look at anything in Kaufmann's for fear of a counter lady crawling up my butt.

I've found MAC to be helpful, even if I'm just getting a tube of lipstick.

Is Sephora super-expensive? The only store I have ever seen was in Shadyside, and well.....you *know* how things are priced there!


Once, for convienience sake, I had a Mary Kay makeover. My boyfriend told me I looked like a witch. Seriously......green eyeshadow...bright pink blush....ugh!!

MoxxieGirl-
I really like Sephoria, I went and got a make over there in Santa Ana California while on vacation and it was such a LOW KEY store, they let a friend and I wonder around and play untill WE were ready for their help. I totally agree with 33 girl, with her Kaufmann's statement, also a plus with Sephoria is multiple brands . :) Best of luck on your make over search !!

Some lines are more expensive than others there, but you can tell the ladies you would like to concentrate on the more "comfortably priced" lines. Bourjois is about the same price as Clinique is, and the containers are adorable :). It's in the Monroeville store. They also have a house brand. Just stay far away from the Dior and Vincent Longo. (unless you hit the lottery) You can go to http://www.sephora.com and check out the prices, since they're the same everywhere.

hey moxiegrrl... maybe we could parlay this into some sort of alumnae activity :D

My MAC boys and girls have always been friendly. In fact, I find quite the opposite... the middle-aged women working at some of the other brands (Clinique, Estee Lauder, etc...) are the snobby ones it seems! I think those women just don't realize that us young-twenty-somethings have money to spend... and they're jealous because we don't have wrinkles to hide! Ha ha...

As for Sephora, the prices for brands that you would buy in department stores are the same as they would be anywhere else... they are standardized by the companies.