Before You Go to a Makeup Counter...

  For some the idea of putting on makeup or trying a new look may seem overwhelming and maybe even impossible but, it doesn't have to be.  You can go to almost any makeup counter and receive help and there are a few things that you can do to ensure a productive visit.  

  The first thing you need to do is determine your overall goal, whether you want to experiment with a simple everyday look, an easy evening look, or both.  Whatever your goal is, write it down and if you have pictures of makeup looks that inspire you, by all means take them with you.  

  I like to visit different cosmetic companies' websites and check for new products and specials before I go.  This gives me an opportunity to familiarize myself with the the products that I am most interested in.

  I can't speak for every makeup counter in the world but, I know that the beauty advisors and makeup artists at companies such as M.A.C, Makeup Forever, Stila, Bobbi Brown, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Trish McEvoy, Clinique, and etc. receive good training.  

 My top recommendation is M.A.C because this company was created by pro makeup artists for pro makeup artists. One of things that I love about going to M.A.C is that the artists know their products, you can ask them any question about any product in the store and they will be able to confidently answer you. M.A.C is a great place to go whether you are a makeup novice or a seasoned professional.  M.A.C artists are trained and equipped to guide you in creating any look.  Many of their artists have worked behind the scenes at many notable events and fashion shows all over the world.  They train with some of the best artists in the world and are one of the forces behind each season's makeup trends.  So they are more than capable of helping you.  

  After you have decided which counter or store you will visit, you can make an appointment and ask about upcoming events.  I like to go during the least busiest times so that the artists can take their time and work with me without too many interruptions. 

  Another thing you can do is make sure to carry a pocket mirror so that after you try on foundation and/or concealer, you can walk into an area lit by natural light to see if you have a true match because, it's sometimes hard to judge in artificial light.  If you aren't able to see the makeup in natural light at that moment, ask for a sample of a couple of shades to try later when you are.  

  If you are on a tight budget or a makeup newbie, ask for help with a simple everyday look that can be transitioned easily into an evening look with minimal product.  Don't let the artist have all the fun, make sure to make up one side of your face so that you will feel confident about doing it on your own. 

  In this post I made suggestions about the cosmetic companies based on my experiences with those companies but, every counter is different and every beauty advisor's passion is different.  For example Ulta in your area might be equipped with excellent beauty advisors or artists but my experiences with the Ulta in my area weren't so great.  One of the employees that I dealt with didn't know what an eyeshadow base was.  I asked for a certain brand of eyeshadow base and she gave me an eyeliner pencil instead.  I was insulted and stunned.  How do you work for a makeup supply store and not know nor care about a major item such as an eyeshadow base, and where is your makeup?  I immediately left the store!   Those of you who have a strong passion for makeup can relate I'm sure :D  As I was driving to M.A.C, I thought about all of the times I was misled and all of the money wasted on items that didn't work for me and that's what inspired me to write this post.  I hope that the information shared was helpful and I am only half kidding about being insulted at Ulta--I like to tap into my humorous side every now and then. Thank you for reading!

Questions?  Email me @ jamiethemakeupartist@ymail.com