We've all been there. You walk up to a beauty counter in search of a new lipstick and walk away with a bag of other stuff and $200 in the hole. OK, $247 in the hole ... man, I miss the days of disposable income and too much free time.That said, there's still a lot to be said for the department store makeup counter, and trained makeup artists, especially for women who don't have a lot of time to shop or experiment with things that may or may not work. The key is knowing how to navigate the system... when to fold 'em and when to run.
For starters, do a quick inventory - check to see what you really need (or want) and then head to your beauty counter of choice (see below for my favorite local spots). Should you end up in the chair, be specific about what you want and what kind of lifestyle you lead (eg you're a working mom with two little kids and .056 minutes to pull it all together in the morning).
In the end, if you're happy with the results, its customary to make a product purchase but you don't have to buy everything that's been put on your face. While talented, these folks are also trained in the ninja art of upsellng and using 2-3 different products when one will do just fine. Take a look at what was used and determine if you have anything similar already, or if it can be easily replicated at the drugstore (hello, mascara, blush, moisturizer, etc). I've got very pale skin and have a tough time matching foundation or tinted moisturizer so that's often my splurge. When its decision time, stick to your guns, and your budget. Ask your salesperson to write down what he/she used and where so if you decide to make another purchase at a later date, you've got the info already. If you're on the fence about anything (i.e. a foundation color that you want to see in real-life daylight, ask for a sample so that you can try before you buy and take a walk around to inspect the work in better light / outside). Otherwise, choose your one or two favorites and be on your way.
My local favorites are Circles, for their great selection and skilled makeup artists (Kyle is terrific, listens well and really knows her stuff), Sephora in the Crossgates JC Penney because its out of the way and quiet and they've got a very liberal return policy and Target for the genius that is Sonia Kashuk (more on that later).
In the end, if you're happy with the results, its customary to make a product purchase but you don't have to buy everything that's been put on your face. While talented, these folks are also trained in the ninja art of upsellng and using 2-3 different products when one will do just fine. Take a look at what was used and determine if you have anything similar already, or if it can be easily replicated at the drugstore (hello, mascara, blush, moisturizer, etc). I've got very pale skin and have a tough time matching foundation or tinted moisturizer so that's often my splurge. When its decision time, stick to your guns, and your budget. Ask your salesperson to write down what he/she used and where so if you decide to make another purchase at a later date, you've got the info already. If you're on the fence about anything (i.e. a foundation color that you want to see in real-life daylight, ask for a sample so that you can try before you buy and take a walk around to inspect the work in better light / outside). Otherwise, choose your one or two favorites and be on your way.
My local favorites are Circles, for their great selection and skilled makeup artists (Kyle is terrific, listens well and really knows her stuff), Sephora in the Crossgates JC Penney because its out of the way and quiet and they've got a very liberal return policy and Target for the genius that is Sonia Kashuk (more on that later).
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