Why so much makeup?

[mincepieprivateeye]

I went to Boots yesterday as I needed a mascara and moisturiser. I got to wondering why some of the beauty counter staff wear so much makeup. I'm not talking nicely done either, the person on the Clinique counter had a tide mark of dark foundation and almost drag queen eyebrows and lashes, it would put me off asking for advice. A couple of assistants on another counter were nearly as bad while the others were all made up but looked nice. I fully understand they have to wear the make up they sell but do they need to wear it all?

[PurpleHairAndPearls]

In fact I think this thread needs lots of "make up free" and "with make up" photos. Sadly I can't volunteer as I don't wear it (apart from filling in eyebrows due to hair loss - and I had to ask in Style and Beauty for that too!)

[specialsubject]

very educational - I didn't know there WERE 17 different makeup things....

whatever does it all do?

[hollinhurst84]

Here you go
With makeup/without, photo with light makeup then pic with heavy shoot makeup

[CombineBananaFister]

I don't understand it either, its not good for business surely? I get that they need to wear the product but why apply it so badly?
I wouldn't hire a handyman if his paintwork was all patchy and wonky, same principle really.
I have to say, I too, am very fascinated with it all. My SILs got tatooed eyebrows and they are sooooo dominating, I keep expecting them to move across her face.

[BooAvenue]

Kels you look awesome. Heavily made up my arse.

I'd call that a normal, natural, everyday look.

[Stanky]

I think that they should just allow their staff to wear the make up they want to choose. Most people do this and look fine, but the companies just make them look odd and unapproachable.

[greenkitee]

I used to wonder why so much make up and reading the comments of people who used to work there this makes me sad

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

It's really not good for you. My mate worked on a Boots makeup counter for ages and when she took the foundation off, you could see her skin was red and often a bit spotty from it. But they weren't allowed to not wear it.

I really do wonder why they think it sells the product, though. I can understand how it might for stuff like eyeliner or mascara, but surely, everyone wants foundation to look exactly like skin?

kelsoo, are you really not wearing eyeliner?! You look lovely, but I would have sworn you had eyeliner on already.

[PurpleHairAndPearls]

You see hollinhurst you look (like kelsooo) very pretty but that make up (even in the "light" pic) looks heavy to me. I think in the natural photo your skin looks lovely and doesn't need covering at all. I will say I like your black eyeliner though - I do like "flicky" eyes. Or a flicky eye as fashionistas would say

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

Cross post.

boo, I agree she looks lovely, but do you really think it's 'natural' to have a thick black line around your eyes?

I find it a bit depressing - this implies that what's 'natural' is a look no one is born with, as if there's something unnatural about not wearing at least some makeup.

[redexpat]

According to 15 years old gossip from the staff cantine in gloucester boots, the make up sales in cheltenham dropped when they employed someone as youve all described.

[hollinhurst84]

The light pic is a tinted moisturiser, that's it on my skin. No foundation or powder

I am definitely an eyeliner fan! But it's fair to be said I don't attempt to go for natural look but I do want it to look immaculately applied (no tide marks etc)

[Roussette]

I think the drawn on eyebrow fad where they stop suddenly don't look drawn on, they look stuck on. Like you cut them out of sticky back plaster and then peeled them off and stuck them on! I have to avoid looking at people with them because my mouth drops open I know it does

[redexpat]

I am probably going to get flamed for this but actually the person whose make up i most admire is a younique seller.

[LorryX]

Sneaky NC

I wear about 15 types of make up and look completely different rough without.

[EponasWildDaughter]

I worked for Dior and Clinique for years and both companies send in their area manager, often un-announced for checks. Checks on the counter, checks on the appearance of the staff. You had to keep on your toes. A decent line manager would gently guide their staff on the subject of their make up looking crapy if that was the case.

Part of the criteria was x no. of products from the range. To be honest in the more boring moments it is quite fun to play with the make up which is all around you (other makes as well - we all did it) and it is easy to end the day plastered in the stuff

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

"I'd call that a normal, natural, everyday look"

And I wouldn't .

Someone else who wears a huge amount of makeup - Kate Middleton or whatever she's called now - I've seen loads of posts on here from (I suspect much younger Mumsnetters) saying that her makeup is light and natural.

[Roussette]

Kelsoo and hollinhurst, you are both very pretty. Hollinhurst I like your light make up pic.

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

Ok, I feel a hypocrite commenting without fronting up. First one is me with makeup, second one without. You can just about see there's a bit of mascara and brown eyeshadow, and (FWIW, though not sure it shows), there's a bit of foundation. You can see I'm wearing blusher.

I'd reckon on that being 'light' makeup - ie., not immediately visible.

[fastingmum123]

I feel a bit like I shouldn't have even commented on this as I don't own a single item of makeup and never have!

[hefzi]

bibbity I think that picture is one of my students! They are big believers in the comedy eyebrow look. There isn't a make up counter in town I'd trust to make me over - my clothes already look like I'm wearing them for a bet, and I don't want a face to match

[Theimpossiblegirl]

DD has 'started a new trend' at school. Instead of getting up at silly o'clock and contouring/penciling her natural look away (which she and her friends have been doing for a couple of years now), she has started wearing very little make-up and letting her natural youth and beauty shine through. I'm sure you can all imagine how happy I am. It's also really lovely that others are following suit. I do appreciate it took a lot of confidence for her to break away from the norm within her peers and am quite proud of her!

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Ooooh what are you eating Jeanne?

[SaucyJack]

This is DD3 with her HD brows.

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

Almond and chocolate German Christmas biscuits, bibbity. They were delicious.