12/11/2014

Beauty counter make overs - yay or nay?

As a beauty blogger, I love nothing more than a good nose around a beauty counter. The lure of undiscovered products and a swatchathon is usually too much for me to resist. However there’s one aspect of the counters that hasn’t got me entirely sold – the makeovers.

Over the years I’ve had more than my fair share of counter makeovers – I like to think I’m quite open at trying new looks and new products, so often end up being dragged in to a chair and trying something out. But more often than not, I’m left feeling slightly disappointed, and pressurised into buying products that I’m not entirely sure about.

beauty counters

We’ve all been there – a casual browse of a counter has led to ‘ooh, would you like to see what it looks like on?’ and before you know it, you’re walking out the door with at least one new product. I usually like to take my time in making a decision about whether or not I want to buy a product – how long does it wear, what’s the finish like after a few hours, how do I actually look when I leave the god awful lighting of the shop floor and get out into daylight?

Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand that from the perspective of someone working on the counters that time is money and that the makeovers are there to help improve sales. But on the flip side, I don’t feel that consumers should feel pressurised into purchasing something immediately – we need time to work out if this is actually “the one” – after all, it’s not like we can bring it back if we get home and realise we made a purchase faux pas.

Even the quality of the makeovers can vary – I know not everyone on the counters are trained makeup artists, but I’ve had some terrible experiences before and left looking like a panda (attempt at a smokey eye), the corpse effect nude lip and don’t even get me started on ‘brow-gate’. That said, I always want to give them another chance – just maybe with a different brand and different makeup artist.

Counter hygiene can also leave a lot to be desired. MAC and many other brands may have a rigorous cleaning process for testers and brushes, but I’ve been approached with unsanitzed lipsticks and a mascara wand that’s seen multiple eyes too many times to make me comfortable. In my opinion, if you’re not happy with the hygiene of the products, get your butt out of that chair immediately – even if it does mean leaving with only half a face of make up.

All this aside, I’m still happy to be a makeup guinea pig from time to time – I’m just a bit more fussy about who, when and where it happens. And after all, those awful makeovers certainly give me something to laugh about on bad days!

What are your thoughts on counter makeovers? I’d love to hear about your experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly.
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21 comments

  1. I really really really dislike that pressure to buy. I know the "time is money" part makes sense, but even if the customer doesn't buy right away, haven't they invested in the future investments of the customer?
    I had my makeup done last week and the following day my right eye was quite sore. I noticed I had some sort of bump on my eyelid and it kind of freaked me out. I then started thinking about the products that had been used on me and, if possible, was even more freaked out... So, for now, for me, I would say no to the beauty counter makeovers.
    Ivory Avenue

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    1. I hope your eye is ok! I agree - it shouldn't just be focused on short term sales but hopefully building longer term relationships with customers x

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  2. I almost always feel pressurised into buying something that doesn't suit me, maybe that's because I'm a pushover though!

    I wonder if the experience might be different however if the counter staff did not get commission on sales and were just paid a decent wage!!

    http://www.audacityoffood.co.uk/

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    1. It would be interesting to see how a lack of commission would change things! x

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  3. I hate how pushy some of the shop assistants are on the high end make up counters! I feel scared to even go near them most of the time, haha!

    www.beyondthevelvet.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. It's a shame they often come across as quite intimidating x

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  4. I really don't like counter makeovers! I don't think I've ever liked any of the makeovers I've had which is such a shame.

    The little things in life

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    1. It can definitely be hard to find a good one x

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  5. Having spent time working on counter I can see both sides of the argument - ultimately, when you work on counter your primary role is to sell products and hit targets and demos are part and parcel of that process. As a trained makeup artist this was always my favourite part because I was able to indulge in the aspect I loved which was making people over - what I wasn't so good at was the sales aspect, target or no target, when you're giving someone a makeover and you get talking, if I knew a product from a different brand would suit their needs better then I would always openly recommend it, my theory being that if you're honest with people and you give them good service you're doing yourself and the brand you're working for justice. If you push a product onto someone that you know will not work, you've lost them as a customer.

    On the flip side, I don't like shopping on counter because I hate being on the receiving end of a pushy and often quite patronising sales pitch. I find the "thanks, I'm a makeup artist so just browsing for the kit" line tends to keep them at bay on most occasions. You're also absolutely right about hygiene, I was obsessive about cleaning my brushes and ensuring products were sanitised but the same cannot be said for everyone which is why I will not have my makeup done on counter.

    Maybe my views would be different if I was a natural sales person but I'm not!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Vicky - it's good to consider both sides of things. I wish more brand reps were as honest as you! I think this is why I love the fact Selfridges Birmingham have employed a beauty personal shopper - totally brand neutral and there to help you get exactly what you need. I just wish there were more of them in different shops! x

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  6. I've not had a makeover from a counter before. I went with a friend who had a mini one at Smashbox and that was a good experience. I'm just so fussy about what goes on my face and my skin isn't quite at that stage yet where I'm happy about being makeup free to start with xx

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    1. I'm glad she had a good experience - going makeup free in public isn't fun! x

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  7. mmm, on the whole I'm not keen. I hate the whole feeling of being pressurised into buying something, even if they're not really hard sell I still have that feeling in my stomach when I remember that it's going to be very difficult to walk away without buying something and not necessarily because I really like it, simply because I feel awkward not doing!!

    Also I often find they never do my makeup as good as I do my own, I always end up wiping something off my face when they've finished.

    I know they've got a job to do and all that but I'd really rather try it all myself without being hassled :)

    Jade x
    Beauty Butterfly | UK Beauty Blog

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    1. how would you feel if counters offered 'self-makeovers? Maybe there could be staff on hand to help if you want, or alternatively leave you to apply the products yourself in a way you'd like to wear them? x

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  8. This is a great post about a topic that I think many of us can relate to! I think for me, the makeover that stands out the most in my mind was at a Dior counter. I'd gone in for a Bridal consultation & I can't put into words how messed up she made my eyes look! I was new to high end makeup & had never tried a smoky eye before. The only way I can explain what she did to me was a dark, blue (why she chose blue I've no idea!), unblended smoky eye! I left not buying anything. I went straight to another store, where a Bobbi Brown artist fixed me up & explained what she was doing so I could recreate the look on my wedding day. I left having purchased all my wedding makeup bar the lip products & that's just because I was allergic to the ingredients. I still love each of the products I bought! I think the artists experience & ability to listen is key. Hygiene is just common sense & there's no excuse for double dipping, etc. Xx

    Tania | whentaniatalks.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Hmm...not a great start to the consultation then! I've always found Bobbi Brown to be great at more natural makeup - the makeovers always seem to be understated and work on bringing out your best features x

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  9. My only experience has been at Hourglass, she spent 10 seconds using the Ambient Lighting Palette on me and I walked out with it 5 minutes later. Having said that it is my 21st present, but I can't wait to get my hands on it again! x

    NINEGRANDSTUDENT: A Student Lifestyle Blog

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  10. I think it very much depends on the counter and whether you have a rapport with whoever is doing your makeover. In general I've had the best experiences at Space NK, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier counters. My biggest bugbear - which I'm sure you can relate to - is being encouraged to buy base products that are 'warmer' than my skintone. Yesterday I was trying to choose between two foundation shades in Space NK and just couldn't - it was such a dark day I couldn't make a judgement in the window light so asked for samples. The girl basically shrugged, got them and walked off out the back. She didn't know I was there to purchase another (pricey) product and needed help with that too. Her loss - someone else got the commission! That's unusual though - I generally get the best, least biased service at Space NK.

    Nic x (oops didn't mean to rant!) ;)

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    1. Oh gosh, if I hear 'shall we warm your complexion up a bit' one more time I will scream. I suspect you have the same issue - warming up usually leads to looking tangoed! x

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  11. I've only had my makeup done on counter a few times (I'm quite cautious as my skin is really quite sensitive and can react very quickly) but on each occasion I've just wanted to remove it as quickly as possible. In the past I have felt pressured into buying products because I didn't really know how to say no, but at the moment I'm in the position where I can't afford to spend the money, so it's easy to say no! x

    Becky @ The Little Blog of Beauty

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