make up counter - tricks of the trade or real beauty advice?

[puffling]

Here are some of the things I've been sucked in by at various make up counters:
I need 3 slightly different nude eyeshadow shades, 2 won't get the right effect.
I need 2 eyeliners, a liquid and a powder.
I need a special liquid to turn my eye shadow in to eye liner.
I need a smoother or serum aswell as my moisturiser.
... and so it goes on.

Does anyone/has anyone her worked on a make up counter? Which are the tricks of the trade? What honestly is a good buy?

I havent worked on a counter but have a few tried and tested tips-

high beam - benefit will always make you look good

If you buy a foundation from a counter and its the wrong shade you can take it back

The body shop make up brushes are fab

I go for smaller brushes as it is easier for intricate work

Sometimes fingers better than brushes

I worked for benefit.

High beam is awesome- honest- browbones and cheekbones it works wonders

A good primer will always see you in good stead

Ask for foundation testers if youre not sure- most counters will either give you a tiny bottle or will apply it for you but feel free to go for a walk and see how it looks at the end of the day before committing to a purchase.

Sometimes cheaper is better (ie: rimmels liquid eyeliner at £4 instead of mac at £15)

Spend your money on good foundation and brushes ...everything else you can get cheap

" A special liquid to turn my eye shadow in to eye liner" is spit (or vaseline)

As bethjeff said - Testers, testers, testers!

what does high beam do?

yes i was wondering that Cornsilk

I bought this today on advice of mac counter girl ....any comments oh wise ones?

High Beam is a liquid highlighter. It catches the light and makes you look as though a. your skin is highly reflective and bouncing light off it - which is a quality of youthful, healthy skin and b. your brow bones and cheekbones are pronounced enough to catch light. It also draws the eye (of the beholder) to those areas of your face.

It's more subtle than powder shadows in gold, for example.

[animula remembers the days she had enough time to properly apply make-up. Smiles happily at memory.]

I am going to check out the High Beam!

I was just wondering if there are known tricks they use to encourage you to part with your money?

If you decide you dont like it then bring it back....

Dont fall for it- only buy if you reallyyy want. Otherwise it'll go into your makeup bag and be forgotten about.

Estee Lauder for foundation Id recommend aswell

bargainous!

puffling- we were always 'strongly encouraged' to link sell... ie if a customer came in looking for a lipstick you'd say that for best results she'd also need to apply a lipliner and use a lip brush etc. Obviously you don't NEED any of these things!!

Even those who have worked on counters aren't immune though ... I parted with £200 of my hard earned cash after encountering a particularly slick Bobbi Brown salesgirl once.

Just try and remember what you went in for and if they really push to buy something else just ask for a sample and say you'll think about it... and if you say from the outset that you dont have much money to spend they'll usually be less inclined to push you

If in doubt WALK AWAY!!

you dont need high beam if you get the right foundation

MY best buys ever are:

vitalumiere
bobbi brown pot au rouge/mac creme blush
estee lauder eye pencil (doubleweare in grafiti)
mac eye pencil in minted
mac eye shadwon in shale ( is a strange plum grey)
clinique impossible glossy in sugarplum ( they odnt make any more)
and mac vivaGlam vi lip gloss
dior show mascara

I've ordered it now su. Will send it back if it's crap though.

I used to use Prescriptives version of that High Beam and it is lovely stuff. THAT is a QVC bargain

What's it called cyb? I got some prescriptives bargains fromhouse of fraser 'cos they were selling it all off.

there are only 2 prescriptive things on QVC

Illuminating potion from their MAgic range. Lovely irridescent pink

OOOH looked in Marks today for that orange dress. What a pile of cack my store is. Kingston is a young place but the M & s is senior citizensville

I did try this on which in true MArks style looks VILE online but is lovely in the flesh. I didnt draw string it and it looked better

cyb I can find hardly any prescriptives on the internet

arrrgh that's vile woman!

I know its gorn under hasn't it?

did you buy it?

I know it looks vile it really isnt in RL