Musings...

Well, here we are again. I think it's time to discuss something that every woman has done at some point; some love it, some would rather do anything but this. I'm talking about buying makeup from a Department store/Sephora cosmetic department. Did half of you just get chills? Sometimes it is a necessary evil - there is no escaping it. Either you want a specific product that is only available there or you need makeup help and have limited options other than the mall (I'm sorry).

Do a quick inventory before you go. Look at your brushes to see what you have, check your mascara ( 3 months is the time limit!!!!!). Know what you already have and you can spend your money where you need to. Brushes are always a good investment - but beware the Holiday brush sets - for most companies they are machine-made, not hand made (like the regular ones), so they are not as good. Holiday eye and lip sets are a good way to get a variety of colors, but, again, they may not be made as well as the regular items in the line  - ditto for "limited-edition" colors - it is a nice way of saying "we didn't make a lot and they are not always as good". There is a reason these sets are cheap. Again, just saying...

When you walk in the store, take a few minutes to check out the people working. If you are approached immediately ( beware the sharks!) tell them you want to look around by yourself for a few moments. Don't be intimidated by the first person to jump you at the door. Step back and scope out the makeup artists. FYI- there are exceptions to this next thing, but not many... if you are looking for a natural, polished business look, the one wearing 2 pounds of foundation w/8 eyeshadow colors (no matter how well done) and a full strip lash at 11:30 in the morning may not be the best one to help you. If their daytime "look" includes glitter (and it's not Mardi Gras) maybe he or she is not the right fit for you.

Now, this is something you MUST do! Tell whoever you are working with what kind of look you are hoping to achieve. Pictures help out a lot here. My version of dark eyes will I am sure be darker than your version. Trust me. With that said, let's be realistic. No matter how many pics of J-Lo you take with you, you will not leave looking like her. You will however get the point across that you like a softly shaded, fully lined eye with maximum lash (careful, you all know how I feel about caked on mascara) and a softer lip - bronzed (again be realistic - if you are winter pale, do not go for the darkest bronzer in the store; you will be orange and look ridiculous) and glowing. These are concepts that are easier to explain if you have a visual.

Be an active participant - if you need a look for work and the artist pulls out a bright purple eye shadow, question them. "How does this fit into what we talked about?" If they can't explain past "I like purple", thank them and move on. You are there for advice, but you also are the one who is going to be wearing this makeup, so you need to both look and feel good in it - or it shows in your face that you are not comfortable. Ask questions - if you like a sheer skin and they are showing you a 3 step foundation look, it ain't gonna work! "Is there something in one step that is easy and still looks polished?" Of course there is!

Make sure you understand what is being done, so that you can reproduce it. Almost every counter offers a chart with written instructions as well as a diagram. This will prove invaluable as time goes on - just to re-inforce the placement of the colors. The artist should be able to explain in a clear manner - if you don't understand, ask again. And again. Until you get it.

OK, you have had your makeup done - you like it, the colors look good, foundation matches, etc. Buy some things! If you take up the time of the artist, you need to buy at least a few things. If you hate the lips, buy something else. Please don't take up the time of someone who is working on commission and just say "Thanks" and walk away. If you don't like it at the end, some of the responsibility is yours - why didn't you speak up? This has to be a mutual effort to achieve what you really want. Your needs + their expertise should add up to a look that you both are happy with.

Now, here are some things to avoid:

If your foundation doesn't match in the store, it isn't going to match anywhere - stop them and try a different color.

Powder foundations ( Studio Fix, Dual-Finish, etc) can be a disaster.They have a tendency to be super-matte at first (skin should have a little sheen to it or it looks "corpse-like". Plus, people touch up w/these things like they are just powder - they have oil in them and will get thicker and thicker all day. The titanium dioxide used as a mattifier looks awful in a flash photo ( you know, tan body/white face, ugh!)

Just because something is on a feature unit on the counter doesn't mean it's better. The "new, trendy" things are not for everyone. The more classic colors will be in the regular line, not on the new units. Most of those things are geared to the 15 year old impulse buyer, or the "makeup junkie/victim" who has to have everything, no matter how hideous it looks on her.

Don't be bullied. Grow a backbone - some of these people are the epitome of the "hard-sell"! Buyer beware! Don't let them sell you things you don't need. Also, don't be a coward, buy things and then return it all. This is one reason that prices go up and up and up. Along with the culture of greed in corporate America. Oh, and the fact that almost all of the companies are actually run by exec's in suits who have never put on a lipstick in their lives...or at least don't admit to it.

Ok, that is enough for this time. Later...