Stop the Mad "Makeover"

By twistedsister1 Feb 04, 2008

205

hen was the last time you went to a cosmetic counter within a specialty store (like Sephora) or department store (from Saks or Macy’s) to seek expert advice from the beauty advisor? Was your intention to create a “new you”, a total updated, cosmetic look, or just to window shop and see if a particular new shade of lipstick caught your eye?

Perhaps, inebriated by the possibilities of change or seduced by the tantalizing offers, this was your first flirtation with the makeup brush wielding, cosmetic maven at the store who most assuredly promised to create a whole different person, really a “new you”.

Regardless of how you came to sit in the chair and stare at yourself in that less than feature enhancing, fluorescent-lit mirror, you find yourself suddenly credit card slip in hand, lugging home hundreds of dollars of cosmetics. Then the sinking feeling slowly starts to permeate your gait. You know you will leave those bags untouched, unopened for days, as you grapple to overcome the “why did I do that & should I return it” syndrome. The symptoms are easy to recognize ? from buyer’s remorse to guilt to indifference - but the cause is less obvious. Simply put, you do not know how to begin to duplicate the beauty maven’s Edward Scissorhand approach to application, and even worse, are not sure that her vision of what you should look like is even right for you. You looked great when you left the store but creating this “new you” is now a blind date with your mirror.

Ladies, you have been the victim of the dreaded “makeover!” How do we know this? We are Tina Hedges and Beth Ann Catalano, co-presidents of twist and have over 40 years in developing, marketing and selling products that (we hope) you buy at cosmetic counters. And, of course, as beauty experts, we have a definite point of view on how to recover from this first date with lotions, potions, blushes, lipsticks, foundations and brushes as well as how to get the most information and service from your local beauty advisor.

reating any relationship takes effort. Creating a relationship with a beauty advisor is no different. Attraction, a good impression, chemistry, good eye contact, thoughtful questioning, and committing to see each other again is the beginning of a friendship. Perhaps, a single, casual, one nightstand is all the other party wanted and you feel taken advantage of when you open your Amex bill. In some cases, there is no other way to say it, you feel made-over, rolled-over, coifed, plucked, dusted, glazed and just plainly, wham, bam and thank you Ma’am-ed. And this feeling lingers, making you recoil slightly the next time you walk thru the aisles of the beauty department. Could this describe your feeling about the advisor at the beauty counter after your last “makeover?”

Beauty advisors are knowledgeable consultants. Connecting and finding the right fit is key. Posturing yourself with the right attitude will help you gain valuable service and information from a beauty professional. It is also necessary to become your own expert and develop the right relationship with yourself, so here are a few of our thoughts:

Remember, take control of your newfound expertise. No one is an expert, at first. If you have selected the right teacher, are committed to learning, and are open to discussing options, creating a relationship with someone that can help you look and feel more confident, sexier, and more beautiful is like, well, like finding the right love affair.

Uhmmmm, sounds like that French playboy both of us fought over the last trip to Nice?. But that’s a different lesson?.

Make a Comment

Comments

by cberry1 | Palm Bay, FL

Jul 28, 2008

Thank you so much for the tips, I am def "one of those"

by KinaKaye | Nashville, TN

Jul 28, 2008

this information is very useful, and even though probably mostly common sense to someone else, it seemed to be enlightening to me and very helpful to know.

by levada | Strasburg, VA

Jul 27, 2008

levada says:

Thanks for the great tips, is most useful.

by sweetenp | LOGANVILLE, GA

Jul 27, 2008

I have had extreme face makeovers at the cosmetic counter. I have auburn hair and an olive skin tone and the consultants always put peach colors on me. YUK!! I find that I get the best make-up advise from magazine articles and right off the package of the eyeshadow or product itself. I steer away from the cosmetic counter these days for makeovers, although the consultants are great for information on their products, I'll apply it myself. Thanks for the insight. If I decide to do it again I will use your advise.

by Salemsw | Millbury, MA

Jul 27, 2008

I have been a hairdresser for 23 years and I myself find the best advice I can give to someone is to go home shut the bathrooom door relax and start playing with makeup- hair etc- and have on hand lots of makeup remover and cotton balls. It's trial and error and see what works for you!

by annshalon | shreveport, LA

Jul 26, 2008

Great advice. My teen daughter will be reading this tonight.

by almitchell07 | Brooklet, GA

Jul 25, 2008

This is really helpful information. I had a couple of makeovers and were really disappointed about the quality of the advice that I received. Thanks!!

by rtrap | Lakewood, NY

Jul 24, 2008

It is so nice that someone recognizes that when you want advice about makeup you are not asking for a complete makeover. This is a great observation and really helped me look at this whole situation in a new more positive light.

by Christyrose_ | Fraser, MI

Jul 23, 2008

I really have a hard time letting a stranger touch my face. So, to go through and have a makeover at a counter is very hard for me. I found my best friend and my daughter are my makeover teachers now. I will go with either of them to find the best match in color or style for ME, not the "expert". We play with a lot of different ideas before choosing any makeup or color. After we tired out, we all end up having a wonderful lunch, and a great time. I end up spending more then I should or at one of the expensive places. Been there, done that!

by mkay2213 | Midland, MI

Jul 23, 2008

Thank you for giving me a tool that I can really use. I feel like I don't have to say ("I'll take it") if I'm not really sure how to use the product. I also feel like, it's ok to say. Can you show me that again just so I'm sure I got it right befor I go home.

by Lynn1978 | Greenwood, IN

Jul 23, 2008

I always felt like something was wrong with me as I could never create the same "makeover" after leaving the store and having purchased ALL the Makeup they used! Now I feel much better after reading this! Thanks, Michele

by great | brooklyn, NY

Jul 23, 2008

greay advice this can be extremly helpful!

by WorkingMom67 | Elk Grove, CA

Jul 23, 2008

Great advice...love the empowerment and leaving out the makeover language from our vocabulary. Love step 4 to really learn how to re-create the look if we really like it and want to do it. If the set up and sell tactics were less intimidating and overwhelming, more people would want to approach and learn the make up tips. Pass on these tips to our younger sisters, neices, daughters and friends!!! There are days the 5 minute make up routine looks better than the 20 minute make up routine!!

by momoffive | Mobile, AL

Jul 23, 2008

I once got a makeover in the mall from a "Let's say very respectable retailer" and I have to admit it was horrid. I looked like a cheap woman who was run over by a few worldy elements. It wasn't that bad :) But, the woman was apparently in a hurry and did not like me being picky or not liking the BRIGHT reds she was choosing for me. I just do not like red and I was not going to settle for red. Give me pink, give me purple, but not reds! She just could'nt seem to understand I said no thanks! IN the end, I washed off a gallon of makeup and I did make a purchase but not anything I had tried on. I do go to great lengths in purchasing things I want and I want to make sure its right for me so there are great beauty consultants out there. I now have one that is a angel to me.

by tsukaharab | Denton, TX

Jul 22, 2008

The thing I do when I get talked into the chair "make over" is to allow the ladies do their job. When the sales pitch begins I tell them that I need to wear the new look out in the real daylight and allow my facial oils, etc. to change with the make up on to see how it adjusts to the real me. I then explain that it takes a day's wear to learn how the make over really works. If it does a great job I will be back! This is my rule of thumb; no matter what. I have to know how I am going to look in the sun and after a few hours of wear.