Bum-rushed

First, let me note that I admire and respect the vast majority of cosmetics salespeople I’ve worked with.  Most chose their profession because they are not only incredibly talented, but also because they are truly passionate about making you look and feel your best.

That said…

I stopped by the store for a creamy lip color and was all but attacked by the over-eager salesperson.  It wasn’t even her too-heavy foundation in the wrong color, overdrawn eyeliner and bright, crusty lipstick that alarmed me.  It was her incessant requests for me to “sit down so I can throw on some color.”

I don’t mention that I’m a makeup artist at makeup counters – partially because I don’t want them to think I’m trying one-up them, but mostly because I want to be reminded of what it’s like to be in the shoes of someone who’s not constantly playing with makeup.

Frankly, it’s intimidating.  Making a list beforehand usually helps me stick to my guns, but it can still be a very uncomfortable situation.

Next time you’re pounced on approached by a makeup rep who really wants to make the day’s numbers, just remember that it’s your face and your hard-earned money.  You don’t have to let them put any product on you, and you certainly do not have to buy anything even if they do (but by the same token, feel free to tip your beauty counter makeup artists who work wonders!).

Samples.

While working at a makeup counter, a co-worker asked her customer if she would like to sample any products.  The customer, loudly, replied, “SAMPLES!”  I assume she either a.) became really excited about getting free stuff, or b.) would take whatever she could get, but I literally could not contain my giggles…which quickly turned into uncontrollable laugher…which dissolved into tears. You had to be there.

We all like to get something for nothing, but when it comes to makeup and skincare, I’ve learned through trial-and-error that it’s best to aim for quality over quantity.  Here are some tips accumulated over the years that should help you the good stuff for free.

1. Sign up for rewards points.  While rewards points programs can be found almost everywhere, my favorite is the Sephora VIB program. It’s free to join, and you are able to get truly decent products to try before you invest in the full-size product – or to use as travel versions of your favorites.
2. Sample with a purpose.  If shopping at a department store, know that sales people have one objective: to sell.  If you are (or at least seem) generally interested in buying a product, you should be able to get several samples before committing.
3. Don’t buy something just to get something for free.  Sign up for email alerts and social media updates from your favorite brands and stores to know when they have free shipping, specials, and Gifts-With-Purchase.  Here’s the catch: you have to have a lot of self-discipline.  If you spend $50 just to get the GWP when you only needed $27 worth of product, it’s not a good deal.  Be patient because, especially around holidays, a great opportunity will show up.

Some of my beauty booty:

Malin + Goetz = found holiday free shipping via an email alert

Jouer Cosmetics = sometimes companies just need to unload product – on you

Sephora = Purchased the concealer, everything else was free + free shipping

If you take one thing from Electra Lane…

…understand this:

NO AMOUNT OF MAKEUP CAN MASK AN UGLY HEART

-Kevyn Aucoin (one of the best, brightest makeup artists ever)

Nor can it mask insecurities, a broken heart, or a host of other negative things. Makeup is meant to trick the eye, be fun, and help us feel beautiful and confident. It is so important to keep this in mind because there is no magic cream or eye liner that will make everything better.

It is also important to remember that those with whom we most often compare ourselves, aka celebrities, have an army of stylists, makeup artists, nutritionists, personal trainers, assistants, and, let us not forget, photo shop technicians, creating an image that is far from “normal.”

Wayne Goss, a British makeup artist who I follow religiously and will reference often, expresses my sentiments far more eloquently in this video. My goal is to make you comfortable enough to be your own makeup artist, but that will never happen if you chose to ignore the beauty that is already there.

Moisture. This One’s a Doozy.

If you do one thing for your skin, moisturize. There’s no substitute for great skin, and you can’t have great skin without moisturizing! Because I feel this topic is so important, please let me apologize in advance for this long-winded post. There is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. If your skin type is dry (versus normal or oily), that’s different than your skin not retaining its typical moisture levels for whatever reason and being categorized as dehydrated. Either way, moisturizer will help.

If your skin, which is made up of layers, is dry, it can have microscopic cracks which can fill with bacteria or dead skin which can subsequently cause breakouts. Think of typical behavior: skin breaks out, we put something on the skin to “dry out” the breakout, and it gets worse. (This was the story of my life until I was 25 years old.) If your skin is too dry, it can also cause lines wrinkles to look more prominent.

It’s optimal to moisturize the face, neck, and chest morning and night after washing your face. Many skincare companies want you to believe you need separate products for day and night, but that’s simply not true. Where that comes from is needing sunscreen during the day, and your skin’s ability to repair itself during sleep. If you do not need or want a special treatment for day and for night, don’t waste your money on it.

A quick note on sunscreen in your moisturizer: I always separate the two. Think of a plate of delicious, warm cookies. They’re just begging for a glass of milk, right? So do you get a glass of milk to enjoy along with your cookie, or do you dump milk all over the plate because, hey, they’ll be mixing in your tummy anyway? I hope not. Similarly, your moisturizer should moisturize and maybe have some healing and/or treatment properties. If you cloud that with sunscreen, you won’t be getting the full benefit of the moisturizer. In my opinion, if you absolutely do not want to use two products during the day, it’s better to pick sunscreen because it usually has moisturizing properties (but then you might want to invest in a night cream). Or, better yet, use moisturizer (to use day and night) while including a makeup product with built-in sunscreen into your routine.

5 Minute Makeup

  Most people tell me they want to look natural, to do their everyday makeup in five minutes, and then show me a picture of Kim Kardashian as inspiration. I hate to break it to them, but that isn’t going to happen.

So I challenged myself – a thirty-minute makeup girl – to a look with some oomph that only took five minutes. Miracle of all miracles, I finished in less than two minutes. With the last three minutes, I’d add bronzer to the eye crease and sides of the nose with a thin brush, and around the perimeter of the face, under the cheek bones, and down the center of the neck with a medium-sized fluffy brush to give the features a little more definition (M.A.C. 286 and 116 shown).

16 seconds: smooth on tinted moisturizer with fingers

23 seconds: dot cream blush on cheeks and lips with finger tips

19 seconds: fill in brows

38 seconds: curl lashes and apply mascara

22 seconds: with finger tips, blend concealer under eyes and down the center of the nose

I always keep lip products in my bag, so I added some pink gloss on the way out the door.