Best London make up counter/brands?

[sciencegirl91]

I’ve realised I need to completely refresh my make-up look. I used to wear it regularly in my early twenties, but now (early thirties) I rarely do, I’m out of practice, and just using random/old stuff which doesn’t look great.

I’d like to take myself to a make up counter for a lesson (prepared to spend £££ on lesson and/or products). I’d previously (over ten years ago) had Bobbi Brown lessons, found them useful and liked the products. But looking at their online booking there doesn’t seem to be a general makeover option anymore, only things focussing on eg eyes or lips. I’m also aware that there are lots of new brands eg Charlotte Tilbury which was barely on the scene when I last was interested in make up ten years ago!!

Can anyone recommend brands and/or where I should take myself in London for a general make up lesson/makeover for a natural low-key look? And do you think it matters which store I go to? Eg there’s a Bobbi brown in my local suburban department store, but I can’t help thinking the one at Liberty or Selfridges would be better. Do you think that’s true?

I would try Trinny London in Fenwick

Also I recently had an excellent free make over at Armani inside Selfridge's. I just walked in on a quiet week day morning and the guy at the counter was happy to spend ages with me trying their products. I only bought a concealer

To save the cost I'd just look at a bunch of YouTube tutorials and invest in good makeup and brushes. To make things simple, you'd just need to search for a good moisturiser/primer, (embryolisse is a good 2 in 1), a good foundation, any of the higher end ones are good like Estée Lauder double wear or the too faced foundation, Giorgio Armani luminous silk is my personal fave, and getting your right shade is essential. A good concealer, the tarte concealers are the best selling on the market, too faced are good too for a more natural finish. Also it's really important to make sure that your primer, foundation and concealer are either oil based or both water based or both silicone based, if it doesn't match up your makeup won't look good as water based and oil based products don't mix. Then a good setting powder like the Laura mercier powder or HUDA beauty powder.

That's all you need really for a basic everyday look, the morphe brushes are good or if you're not too great with brushes just use a beauty blender for the whole thing. The ladies at the counters in selfridges etc actually aren't all qualified makeup artists, a lot of them are just sales assistants who are not bad at applying makeup