Don't Be A Victim - Makeover Session Review

I signed up for the free session expecting to learn about "correct skin care and the latest make-up application techniques and trends from the experts" as was advertised in the newspaper.

I arrived at the location armed with my notebook and pen; chose my seat and waited excitedly for the session to begin.

Disappointment soon set in as I quickly realized that it was actually make up testing disguised as makeovers.  The whole thing was just a sales gimmick - you were supposed to love your makeover so much that you ended up buying some or all of the products used.  It really was a smart move on their part; kudos to them.

My first reaction was to leave because I did not want a makeover.  All of the horrible past experiences (read about them here, here and here) have left me very traumatized at the thought of someone else applying my make-up.  I eventually decided to stay and observe what was happening in the hope of learning something.

The makeovers got off to a great start.  I nodded my approval as he cleansed, toned and moisturised the faces. I was impressed when he used the correct shades of foundation and powder on both dark and fair skin tones.  Believe it or not; a small part of me was even considering getting a makeover.

BUT one thing kept me glued to my chair - the make-up artist was not sanitizing his tools/products.  He was double dipping (read Error #6 and Tip #6).  He was also using the same brushes, mascara wand and lipstick on everyone which would spread germs, bacteria and infections.  I shuddered in my chair and tried to look elsewhere during those unsanitary moments.

Image Source: www.beautysoclean.com

Sadly, the fifth person's make-over did not go as well as the others. Initially the selected shade was perfect  but as her face began to perspire the make-up started to look ashy.  By the time he finished; she looked as though she was wearing flour or baby powder on her face.

She loved it though, and bought every product that he used.  I felt so sorry for her and for the fact that I was not in a position to advise her. I was merely a fellow participant; and an unknown while the host was an international expert.

Tell me honestly; whose opinion would you have believed - the international expert and host of the session or the casually dressed, local, unknown with the neutrally made-up face?

I sincerely hope that others will learn from my experiences which I share in my posts and not have to find out the hard way like me.  It is important to know when a make-up professional is giving good or bad advice...our beauty is at stake. 

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

ERROR - That Is Not The Correct Shade For This Client (Part 3)

Click here for Part 1


Click here for Part 2


My suspicions were confirmed; the shade used really was too light for my skin tone.

I told the sales rep this but because it was the darkest shade in the store she encouraged me to buy it.  Needless to say I left the store without buying the foundation.

I went elsewhere and bought something that was more expensive but it was something I had used years ago.  The only reason I had stopped using it was because the retailer had stopped selling my shade; thankfully it was in stock.

It saddened me and angered me slightly to think that (1) had I not known what to look for I would have bought that foundation and (2) unsuspecting women would have received and accepted similar 'solutions'.

More make-up sales reps must realise the importance of what they do and take it seriously.  They have a duty to ensure that their recommendations enhance the beauty of their customers.  Please, please don't just sell what you have; sell something that meets the needs of the customer.

In the meantime we must educate ourselves so that we know what to look for.  Thankfully there is a lot of information available on the Internet. I shudder to think that I would have been styling around with an ashy looking face as was the case years ago from previous consultations.

What kind of experience have you had with make-up consultations and recommendations?  

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

ERROR - That Is Not The Correct Shade For This Client (Part 2)

Click here for Part 1

I took a deep breath and put my doubts aside.  I left home without wearing any make-up  because your natural skin tone must be visible, and went to the make-up store hoping that this time would be different.  

Here is a summary of my experience:

It started off on a good note.  I was greeted well and made to feel at ease but then everything went downhill... fast.  

Error #1 

 She did not ask about my skin type (normal, dry, oily or combination skin). 

Tip #1 

 Some types of foundations (liquid,powder,cream) work better with a particular skin type.

Error #2

 She did not ask what conditions I would wear the foundation in. 

Tip #2 

 Air conditioning dries out your skin and being outdoors may cause you to perspire more than usual. These factors affect how your foundation will look during the course of your day.

Error #3 

She did not ask which type of foundation I preferred. 

Tip #3 

Some persons may prefer a particular type of foundation i.e. cream, liquid or powder.  

Error #4 

My face was not cleansed with a facial wipe/toner, nor moisturised, nor primed.

Tip #4 

Make-up should only be applied to clean, moisturised skin;  while on my way to the store my face would have been exposed to dust/dirt in the atmosphere.  

For persons who want to minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles, using foundation primer is critical.

Error #5 

 The foundation was not tested on my jawline. 

It was applied from my temple and went as far as quarter-way down my neck. 

Tip #5 

Foundation must match your face and your neck.  

You should not see where it starts nor ends.  

The jawline is the perfect area for determining  if the shade matches your skin tone.

Error #6

She was double dipping i.e repeatedly dipping the brush in the product after applying it to my skin.  

Tip #6

After double dipping the product must be sanitised before using it on the next client to prevent the spread of infections/germs. She simply replaced the cover on the container and returned it to the product table with the other testers.

Error #7

 I was not invited to go outside to view the result in natural light. 

 The shade used looked too light to me but I decided to go outside to be certain.

Tip #7

 It is surprising how different your make-up looks in natural lighting vs artificial light.  

Make-up viewed in artificial light can be very deceptive.

I asked for a mirror and went outside to view the result.  What would I find when I got there?

To be continued... Click here for Part 3

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires