Makeup help?

[Anonymous]

I need a complete makeup overhaul. I am approaching 30 and have never been much of a makeup person, but I am starting to feel like it's time to start figuring out how to select and apply makeup appropriately. I've got the basics, but I never seem to feel pulled together. I will get a powder here, a mascara there...but I've never managed to get a nice, professional look. Should I visit a specific department store counter or Sephora, or should I do something like Mary Kay since I'm pretty clueless? Thoughts? Recs of specific people, cosmetic lines, or stores?

[Anonymous]

Go to Sephora or a make up counter in Macy's or Nordstroms but don't let them sell you a bunch of stuff you'll never use or don't need. Get the basics. Mary Kay always seems to look homemade or clown like. Don't forget they work on commission.

[Anonymous]

I am a former makeup artist who worked in the department stores and I will tell you to stay away from the stores. There is no such thing as a free makeover. The people behind the counter are trained to push sales anywhere from $250 to over $500 - and to sell the new season colors (or items that are not selling), whether they work for you or not. They also apply and really don't teach you how to do it yourself.

What you need is an independent makeup artist who doesn't sell products and works with a variety of brands. They will help you decide on a style and intensity, edit your makeup, tell you why (a) works better than (b) and show you how to apply as well as share tricks of the trade. They'll draw diagrams about application, suggest different products to buy and also go out shopping with you. Try www.aici.org - many of the consultants are professional makeup artists who will travel to you rather than you having to go to them.

[Anonymous]

I like Clinique. It's one of the lower cost lines in the department stores, so if you get roped into buying some products, it's not horrific. Get the basics about application, and then you can experiment with other brands later if you'd like.

A good eyebrow shaping at a salon does wonders without even have to touch makeup too, by the way. And it's not just for those with thick brows. I've got thin ones, because of plucking for 15 years. A quick wax and shaping just really does wonders for my eyes.

[Anonymous]

There is a big article about this in this month's Washingtonian.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I will check out the article and the aici website.

[Anonymous]

i also have to say don't just walk into a store and ask for a makeover. they suck.

the one time i had a good makeover in a dept store was when they had a special 'national makeup artist' come in for a special event. he really taught me a few things.

there's also a lady on youtube who was recently in the nytimes for her popular videos on how to apply makeup. i forget her name but i bet you could google for it.

[Anonymous]

I went to Neiman Marcus at the Chanel counter and the guy there really helped me pick out the best stuff. AND he showed me certain shades/brushes etc. but told me to buy them at CVS because they were cheaper. i pretty much just got foundation and one eye shadow from him and bought the rest of his recommendation elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I would go to Sephora or Nordstrom and have them do your makeup. The ONLY things I would purchase from whatever counter you go to is foundation and concealer. You NEED a good foundation and concealer. I love Laura Mercier. Then I would suggest what another poster said and get the rest (eyeshadow, blush, mascara at a target or cvs).

[Anonymous]

I would purchase "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" and give it a good read. Then, proceed.

[Anonymous]

Yknow when I decided that going out of the house with just Oil of Olay wasn't cutting it anymore I checked Kevin Aucoin's Making Faces and Face Forward out of the library. Fabulous books. He goes over eveything you'd need to know: brushes, types of foundations, skincare, etc, and then at the end of both books he did a bunch of looks. The best part for me was that he included several *real women* before and afters and broke down every step he took.

[Anonymous]

I would rec Bobbie Brown. When I needed to step it up after grad school I hit the counter at Nieman's and have been happy ever since. The majority of their sales staff (including at Macy's) are trained. It's best to call ahead and schedule an appointment with one of their make up artists. They take the time to go through the process and have a chart with a face on it where they show you how to apply. I really like the new foundation (I think it's called natural skin or something) because it covers well but isn't heavy and you can build up the coverage. BB tends to base its looks around neutral colors and you can add in color if you want. I think I'm starting to sound like a salesperson. I've just been really happy, 8 years, and like to share the joy! Plus, they just added lip pencils for the fall that are great.

[Anonymous]

I went to the Faye Mendelsohn person at New Wave Salon in Rockville. She is there every Saturday and may be there other days as well. She is really good although certainly pushy with the products. I think most of the products are overpriced and they come in cheap packaging that cracks/breaks (I travel a lot so it gets knocked around). But I buy a few things from her and then find other similar products to use instead of the Faye products.

My daughter tried Sephora and it wasn't great but at least they have a range of brands. The problem with the dept stores is that you basically have to pick a brand and I think the quality of the make up advice varies widely.

[Anonymous]

I've had good luck with the following brands: nars, bobbi brown, and laura mercier. go to nordstrom and explain what you want. ask for samples to try at home. come back and buy what you like.

[Anonymous]

The woman featured in the NYT article is Lauren Luke. I agree with PPs who advised staying away from buying all one brand at a dept. store counter. Find a good foundation, concealer and, if you're shiny through the T-zone, matte powder from a good line -- Prescriptives and Laura Mercier are nice, mayb check out the new Bobbi Brown formula. Then buy lipstcks, blush/bronzers and shadows from any line, including drugstore lines like Revlon, L'Oreal, etc. I love L'Oreal's little eye shadow quads -- 4 shades, very subtle, but pulled together and they include directions for application right on the back of the compact. Most of all, have fun playing with colors and don't stress about it.