I’ve actually had good luck at MAC standalone stores. They will do a free 15 min makeup consultation that you can book in advance online. Their makeup prices are reasonable and also sold at Ulta and Sephora.

A lot of the MAC reps are very made up, but when I’ve said I wanted a natural look, they delivered.

PP here. Both places are generous with giving samples of products, so definitely take advantage of that. I find I have to try a product a few times at home to decide if I like it.

I shop at both of these places and I don’t find the people to be very helpful or knowledgeable about their products. Sephora is especially terrible. When I ask questions about the products, they pull out their phone/scanner thing and look up the product in the website to answer my question (which involved just done myself). Blue Mercury sales associates can be a bit pushy with products but are generally a bit more knowledgeable. I typically do my homework before shopping so I don’t need to rely on them.

Also, the people who work at these places often have terrible makeup. It’s often way too heavy and borderline theatrical. I wouldn’t trust either place with doing a makeover on me let alone my DD who is just starting out with makeup.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both. I agree with you, PP, about Sephora. They are getting paid to push products, esp. to kids. That's why they all go there and want to buy all the stuff we've never heard of that they see on TikTok/YouTube. My kid wants stuff the Kardashians sell and I refuse to buy anything that supports that family.

I saw on Sephora's website that they actually sell makeovers and I was thinking about getting her one of those to teach her how to apply makeup, but they don't come cheap - $75. And I don't want the thing to be all pushing whatever products are hot that week.

The only paid makeover I've ever done was an advance wedding consult at a day spa in North Bethesda. I went home looking ready for a ballet recital. Never been back.

How about getting a reasonably muted, modestly-priced palette and a book on makeup technique? (Don't buy something too expensive.)

A book on make-up techniques? Okay, Avon sales rep.

Foundation and a brush or sponge ito apply are the most crucial parts. I'd offer to take her to try out foundations. No reason for a whole makeover. Sephora can make several suggestions and give her samples to test over several days. Tell her you'll come back to buy what works best for her. That'll also make it easier to not purchase anything else they might push on her. But as far as crazy clown eyebrows they're doing now, you just kind of have to let her do it even if it isn't the best look for her.

Yeah, this is a pretty hilarious suggestion.

It's 2024; you don't get a book for this, you watch youtube tutorials.

I did one at Sephora. It was worth it as I needed to buy a bunch of make up anyway. But I was 40, not 13.

Can anyone recommend a spa or salon they've been to for this?

Also, looking at Bluemercury's website, they're not exactly run-of-the-mill brands -- I'm not going to be routinely buying my kid Trish McEvoy and Le Mer, soo.....

I use Blue Mercury for makeup applications before weddings and parties. They are always great, never pushy and I learn a lot each time.

Some salons/spas offer makeup tutorials or applications — might be worth checking them out. They can be pricey but might give you more of something tailored.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both. I agree with you, PP, about Sephora. They are getting paid to push products, esp. to kids. That's why they all go there and want to buy all the stuff we've never heard of that they see on TikTok/YouTube. My kid wants stuff the Kardashians sell and I refuse to buy anything that supports that family.

I saw on Sephora's website that they actually sell makeovers and I was thinking about getting her one of those to teach her how to apply makeup, but they don't come cheap - $75. And I don't want the thing to be all pushing whatever products are hot that week.

The only paid makeover I've ever done was an advance wedding consult at a day spa in North Bethesda. I went home looking ready for a ballet recital. Never been back.

How about getting a reasonably muted, modestly-priced palette and a book on makeup technique? (Don't buy something too expensive.)

A book on make-up techniques? Okay, Avon sales rep.

Foundation and a brush or sponge ito apply are the most crucial parts. I'd offer to take her to try out foundations. No reason for a whole makeover. Sephora can make several suggestions and give her samples to test over several days. Tell her you'll come back to buy what works best for her. That'll also make it easier to not purchase anything else they might push on her. But as far as crazy clown eyebrows they're doing now, you just kind of have to let her do it even if it isn't the best look for her.

Sephora used to do this for free but not anymore. I think the make up counters at the mall they do them free but expect you to buy stuff. I’m not sure about taking a teen to blue mercury. A couple times I’ve been to the one in McLean, they have a lady they’re trying to push Botox, other cosmetic procedures in customers. Not something I would want my teen exposed to as a norm.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both. I agree with you, PP, about Sephora. They are getting paid to push products, esp. to kids. That's why they all go there and want to buy all the stuff we've never heard of that they see on TikTok/YouTube. My kid wants stuff the Kardashians sell and I refuse to buy anything that supports that family.

I saw on Sephora's website that they actually sell makeovers and I was thinking about getting her one of those to teach her how to apply makeup, but they don't come cheap - $75. And I don't want the thing to be all pushing whatever products are hot that week.

The only paid makeover I've ever done was an advance wedding consult at a day spa in North Bethesda. I went home looking ready for a ballet recital. Never been back.

How about getting a reasonably muted, modestly-priced palette and a book on makeup technique? (Don't buy something too expensive.)

Thank you both. I agree with you, PP, about Sephora. They are getting paid to push products, esp. to kids. That's why they all go there and want to buy all the stuff we've never heard of that they see on TikTok/YouTube. My kid wants stuff the Kardashians sell and I refuse to buy anything that supports that family.

I saw on Sephora's website that they actually sell makeovers and I was thinking about getting her one of those to teach her how to apply makeup, but they don't come cheap - $75. And I don't want the thing to be all pushing whatever products are hot that week.

Took dd to Blue Mercury to have them teach her how to apply for a natural look and to buy product for her when she first expressed an interest in wearing makeup daily

Many years ago, I got an OK one at Sephora, but it didn’t look like me. And I recently tried to get help at the Capitol Hill Sephora on a Friday afternoon and it was like trying to get a taxi in New York City in the rain. That said, in areas that are more Frequently visited by teens, there are probably better ones.

You have to remember that the makeover crew are low wage workers getting paid not for makeovers, but to sell products, so they’re going want to use as many as possible.
They’re also on the young and trend-following side, and I looked at some of them and thought, that’s not my taste, I’m not going to ask for their advice.

heavy foundation unfortunately is something that a lot of teens use. You may want to shift her look, but don’t give this as a gift to your daughter as a way of trying to do so. You can ask if she wants to do it, but if you foist it on her, I think she might smell your motive and be resentful. I am very sympathetic about loathing the trends that I think make my daughter look like an unattractive version of her cute self , but tread lightly.

Thinking about getting one for my DD, who's in 8th grade. She's worn light makeup for a year or so, but sometimes it's too heavy and not always the right color foundation/contour, etc. (she uses things I've never even heard of; I don't wear a ton of makeup). She watches YouTube plenty but I want her to learn how to select the right kind of makeup, good products for her face and how to properly apply.

Has anyone done this at Sephora? I've also seen recommendations on this board for Bluemercury, so has anyone used them?