Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Please help me to not be intimidated by the makeup counter ladies

48 replies

Souper · 15/12/2013 14:28

I keep thinking that I would like to update my makeup bag with some lovely products, but every time I am in town I don't dare approach the 'posh' counters.

Today I finally steeled myself to try on a Chanel lipstick, but I was so disappointed by the service. It wasn't busy so I had the attention of the two girls but they had such poor knowledge of their products and colours that they were actually more of a hindrance than a help. Despite this, I was still scared of them! I did end up buying a lipstick in what I think is an okay colour... But that was more a matter of luck than good management.

Ideally I would like to go to Space NK, I think, but if I am intimidated by the girls in Boots how am I ever going to do that? Last week I walked through Harrods beauty hall but I didn't approach any of the counters for exactly this reason.

I do think that some of this stems from my DM's attitude to clothes and makeup. Growing up we were not short of money but her favourite shop was a factory seconds shop. She bought my other clothes at Sunday markets - and her own too. We would NEVER go to a shopping centre or town and buy things from high street shops. She never wore any makeup except on very special occasions and had a little bag of makeup that was kept for this. The stuff in it was ancient and never updated. I was allowed to play with it, even!

When I started earning my own money I went a bit mad buying clothes etc but I always went for quantity over quality. So for quite a few years I have had wardrobes stuffed to bursting with complete tat. Ironically i could afford to shop high end high street but instead used to go to Primark and buy bags and bags of rubbish! I have now stopped doing this, and am gradually replacing all the crap with some better quality garments.

So help me to do this with regards to make up, please?!

OP posts:

HedgehogsRevenge · 15/12/2013 19:16

If it's any help a make up artist friend of mine who uses Mac products for work swears by bourgeois make up for herself, her skin always looks amazing.

Fairylea · 15/12/2013 19:18

*themselves

Stupid autocorrect!

BunnyLebowski · 15/12/2013 19:20

To be fair the people who work on the counters aren't always all that knowledgeable.

I've been colour matched completely incorrectly by both EstÃ©e Lauder and Bobbi Brown. I didn't buy the products because I knew they were wrong.

I think being burned has made me super wary!

Fairylea · 15/12/2013 19:21

also if you can manage it go early on a weekday. You'll often find agency staff cover counters on a Sunday or Saturday to give counter managers and full time staff a weekend off so this may explain why the two women on the chanel counter didn't have good knowledge of the products. They should have done if they were employed by chanel - the training is really intense and you have exams you need to pass.

(Uniforms do not necessarily show where a worker is agency or employed by the company as these can be given to agency staff depending where they are hired from).

tshirtsuntan · 15/12/2013 19:22

Bobbi Brown salespeople are usually really nice & know their stuff too, space nk has never been good for me,always a bit dismissive and snooty for my liking!!

bunnymother · 15/12/2013 19:31

Don't worry - next time "is that a gloss? Because I'm looking for a creamy lipstick". [smile that doesn't reach the eyes]

Hohohowhatfuckeryitis · 15/12/2013 19:37

I had crap service on Friday, went to buy red lippy to go to staff do at mac- my fav for lipstick. Now I am the other Side of fifty, and for the first time I felt like the lass thought I was just the wrong demographic. I went to Bobbi brown instead-lovely friendly young woman. Both in A Large Store in Newcastle.

BitOfFunWithSanta · 15/12/2013 19:40

I've just read this Guardoan piece about make-up- lots of recommendations.

spanishring · 15/12/2013 20:05

Fairylea that's a really sweet post and sorry it must be hard to hear criticism about something you were obviously so good at but those targets are exactly why it's such hard work makeup shopping.
I recently went To buy an under eye concealer and was given the spiel about how you need to buy the primer the concealer and a powder. All of which is bollocks. Its infuriating.

Fairylea · 15/12/2013 20:15

Oh it's ok :) I enjoyed it but there were reasons why I left and plenty of them!

And yes it is bollocks - you don't need 3 things to do the job of one.

Graceparkhill · 15/12/2013 20:22

I would recommend Bobbi Brown and going at a quiet time if possible. You can usually book an appointment.

I find it helps to be honest- I am looking for a foundation for xx skin type and my budget is yy or even I am looking to update my make up but am only browsing today. I usually say it is the week before my pay day( whether true or not).

Graceparkhill · 15/12/2013 20:25

Oh - the other thing I do if I find an assistant I like is get her name and find out the days she works. This means if I do return to buy I will try to give her the sale and commission
Realise this makes me sound like a stalker!

BananaNotPeelingWell · 15/12/2013 20:27

I had very friendly unpushy service from a lovely chap at Bobbi Brown.

HanneHolm · 15/12/2013 20:27

i would go and be up front
" i get really nervous about makeup, i know i wont wear much - please can oyu help?'

Chottie · 15/12/2013 20:30

Another vote for Bobbi Brown. Their staff really know the products. I've had good service from BB in JL in London and BB in House of Fraser in BW and BB in JL in Cambridge.

Roshbegosh · 15/12/2013 20:31

Ignore snooty look from a shop assistant, just go to another counter. Someone will help you and I agree with other posters, Bobbi Brown staff are good, but so are Nars, Laura Mercier and Chanel. Elizabeth Arden never, ever have any staff on their counters anywhere. My experiences at space NK have been mixed. They can be helpful or I can be invisible and they so often don't have half of what I want in stock.

The whole make up buying experience should be a pampering, pleasurable indulgence. Just move on to a better sales person if you aren't comfortable at first.

Original poster

Souper · 15/12/2013 20:33

Fairylea thanks for your knowledgeable posts. I think perhaps today's girls were agency... that would utterly make sense.

I think I need to give myself a good talking to before my next attempt, remind myself that they are just people.

OP posts:

ggirl · 15/12/2013 20:37

I have become much more assertive with age.
I have no qualms telling sales girl that I don't like what she has put on my face or even how she has put it on.

Once had a mac girl apply gel eyeliner at the counter at Heathrow. She applied it so badly I laughed when I looked in the mirror and said "really?"
She had put it on way above my eyelash line I looked like a mad woman.

womma · 15/12/2013 20:44

It's tough isn't it? I've gone off shopping at counters too, being given the hard sell to buy stuff you don't need, and just crap service have really turned me off. I think because make up is so personal, and a treat as well, having good, bad or indifferent service makes a big difference.

I've found the staff on Laura Mercier counters to be good, and MAC have been good in the past (although I do agree with the PP that they see themselves as a 'young' brand).

Space NK is in my experience full of great products, but the staff are really hit and miss. My local branch seem to specialise in a sales technique of staring over your shoulder and half listening, so not surprisingly I don't buy much in there! The best one was when I asked for some help and the girl did a super dramatic big sigh and rolled her eyes! I think it's fine to say, ' oh I won't bother if it's too much trouble for you'.

I prefer to look at beauty blogs like Lisa Eldridge and buy make up myself using someone I trust's recommendations now.

Lavenderhoney · 16/12/2013 07:30

I used to be intimidated but I approached a lovely lady at lhr ( travelling for once without dc) and she was wonderful.

She even went through my make up bag and said not to replace some things as they were fine, and even though I was very excited with the look she gave me and wanted to buy all the stuff she said no, just the things you need and don't have now.

I like mac and space Nk but not when its busy. Go early and browse.

I once was made up by a benefit girl and I looked like a clown. She kept saying its fabulous! Look at the difference! I had a 2 round circles on my cheeks coloured in red. It looked like dd had tried to make me up:)

ihatethecold · 16/12/2013 10:10

I've had my make up done at benefit before,
They did half of my face first so I could see how amazing there products were.
I swear I couldn't see any difference!

whereisshe · 16/12/2013 12:02

They had a similar fail with me once at benefit - one eyelid with the yellow stuff that's supposed to make your eyeshadow stay on / look amazing, one eyelid without it. The eyelid with it looked AWFUL (crepey and horrible). The assistant was most disappointed. To her credit she didn't try to convince me it looked good!

alemci · 16/12/2013 12:14

Yes the Clinique counter is always pleasant and I like Clarins. I don't buy very much but usually like the buy 2 product offers.

TBH most counters are ok. I usually go to John Lewis or Boots.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread