Fell for hard sell at Charlotte Tilbury…

[Sandyshandy]

and feeling a bit like I’ve been robbed.
I never normally make impulse purchases.

I just wanted a bronzer or some sort of glowy powder and a lip tint to look a bit less corpse like.

I asked for advice and explained that I only normally use soap and spf. Somehow ended up with layers of stuff - a cream, a primer, some sort of shiny stick thing. Lip liner and lip balm. I did look better tbf but would never use all this. I asked if the cream was comedogenic and she said no. She was forceful and made me feel rather stupid (ridiculous I’m nearly 50!). Ended up buying the magic cream, magic lip balm and lip liner. £78, I feel robbed!!

Then came home and read reviews…. apparently the cream is comedogenic (glycerol styerate?). The lip balm- £28, but I already have lanolips which I love!! All unopened - should I just return? Is it actually worth it? Are there cheaper alternatives? I didn’t even get the bronzer which made the most difference!!

Yep I found Charlotte Tilbury foundations rubbish and I've tried a few, they're to pearly and shiny for me so back to my trusty old Revlon, I won't be swayed by her fancy packing again! The price I paid for such dross makes me wince...

One of my daughters loves the Maguc Cream so we get it for her for Christmas every year. It is very expensive 😮

I like the CT high calorie mascara (or whatever its called) but have tried the flawless filter and, on my skin, the ‘dewy’ finish looks like “just sat in a sauna for half an hour”!!

Just take it back if unopened. For glowy skin at our age retional and spf. Decent moisturiser under make up.

I was a beauty consultant many years ago for a premium brand in a London department store . The pressure is intense to sell and targets are high. By all means have buyers regret and return the items (you absolutely can return unopened items to CT without any issue), but don’t complain about a (probably young) woman doing her job. That is really unpleasant and unnecessary. I’ve seen people have the confidence knocked out of them because of petty complaints. You could have said no and been clear about what you actually wanted and that’s a lesson learned. I don’t think twice about a firm no if I’m having a browse of products or want to try something that I may not buy, however, I am polite and do it with a smile because I remember how I felt when I was doing that job.

Excellent points 👍

Don't be mad at yourself for being upsold. And don't be annoyed at the sales staff for upselling. That's their job!

Selling and upselling is a skill. I trained in it via Dixons and then financial services. I was bloody brilliant at it. I recognise it when I see sales staff doing it and I respect it. And every extra and add on purchased added to my commission based wage.

Being aware of the skills and techniques has made it easier to resist them but even so, occasionally I encounter someone so charming and convincing that I fall for it hook, line and sinker. This normally leads to the unused, sealed, unwanted items being returned to a different store once I've regained my senses but once in a while I'll be upsold something really wonderful and then I'm very grateful to the salesperson for steering me that way.

Wow !! Thankyou !!!!! I wouldn’t have had any idea about this !!! X

The one time I bought CT was at Heathrow and I bought a lipgloss

oh the smell and taste 🤢

CT is overpriced crap. There have been some wonderful suggestions for other products here tho! Thanks to all for the hints ☺️

Return it! This is no way to shop for things to make you feel better. Try a different shop and look for a salesperson with a nicer approach. You could try saying 'I'm not going to buy anything now because I promised to look properly with my friend later, but can I just try a couple of bronzers to see if it's worth coming back?'

I've been using this and it's brilliant. It's expensive but it lasts a long time as you only use a small amount.

Agree, Korean skincare and make products are brilliant

I love the flawless filter it makes me look very glowy, BUT it gives me perioral dermatitis and I end up on antibiotics.

its obviously not nice stuff.

For the posters who used to make make up consultants @TheFormidableMrsC did you have to look very 'made up' to do the job?

I buy some high end make up and often feel 'judged' if I'm dashing in to look at something, dressed in clothes for outdoors and the shop is boiling, and feel some assts look down on you- as they are all preened and glam.

Most the assts look very 'overdone' and I think many of us feel intimidated by this.

I didn’t like their bronzer and blush on. I thought it was me. It’s been 3 years I purchased, don’t think I used it even 3 times. I also purchased their magic cream, didn’t do any magic even though reviews were great.

Yes we did and I started as a Saturday girl at 16
and did it until I finished education and got a full time job in a different industry. I think it’s far better now, especially when used to demonstrate their own products but quite honestly, it wouldn’t have occurred to me what people were wearing and if as a customer I was treated in a judgy fashion, I’m afraid I’d call them out. It used to be a lot worse, some counters were so up their own arses. That is not the image brands are trying to project! They are expected to look “done” and professional because that is the look you’re selling. As with every walk of life, you get arseholes. They get side eye from me but I certainly wouldn’t feel intimidated. So try not to be!

I don’t get all the CT hate on here - I use loads of her products, and have done for years. They really suit my skin (I’m 59). I do prefer Mac dewy finishing spray to the CT one though.

primark do a dupe of the CT moisturiser which is really nice and about £3

Went back and returned it - absolutely no problem and they were very nice. I’d have had a very different experience either way the people there today I think. When they opened the cream to check it was ok it was absolutely tiny!! Apparently it was a travel size and the original girl definitely did not tell me this - I actually asked to see the size and she said there were none available to look at. There is no way I’d have bought it - I told the women today and they said there was no reason why she could have shown me and were very apologetic. So I do still think she overstepped the line!! Even more so in fact!!
I followed several people’s advice and went to space nk- really helpful and understood what I was after, it was really good to see different brands to and not at all pushy. I bought a Nars blusher n the end - the girl recommended a colour I wouldn’t normally try and it looks great, just what I was after. Aldo tried the eobrian (?) cc cream recommended by several posters and I like it - will see how it lasts the day but will probably get. Will definitely use space nk again!

I am a non-fuss type of person usually but I want to look neat and healthy.

After trying every bronzer on the market, I love Sisley Phyto-Touche Illusion d'Été. It is extremely expensive but I have had the same compact for four years.

It has a very fine glow without a sparkle. It is almost impossible to over apply it, and is very easy to apply so you don’t end up with dirty bronzer sploges which need to be corrected with endless blending.

I love the purple Erborian, Dull Correct when my summer tan has faded. Instant pick me up.

What colour Nars blusher did you get?

Yet that hasn't ever been my experience.

I've used the Erborian CC cream before Op, it is very good if you don't like/need a lot of coverage. I prefer more coverage than it gives me, I'm a Estée Lauder double wear worshipper 😁 which is the opposite end of the coverage scale.

Haven't used Lancome mascara in years but their lipsticks are my absolute favourites.

Anyone wanting a dupe for the CT fixing spray, Lacura (Aldi) do an amazing dupe. Mine is more than half empty and I'm kicking myself I didn't go back and buy more because it's not often in stock.

I ended up using magic cream on my legs, was lovely for that. It's a shame I don't like CT makeup that much - the concept of the 'looks' when she first launched is such a good one. It's a shame more brands don't do something similar. Would make makeup so much easier.