This upcoming school year I want to make a conscious effort in my appearance and wake up a little earlier to do my makeup each morning. My birthday's coming up in 9 days (not that I'm counting) and my mom said that she'd buy me new makeup as part of my gift. We happened to be near a Sephora location the other day while running errands so we stopped in to browse around and see what we could find.
I love the eye makeup that I currently use so I was more focused on buying some products for my face. I recently ran out of the drugstore mousse makeup that I used as foundation (although it wasn't actually supposed to be used for that) and decided it was time for some real foundation. My mom flagged down a saleswoman so that we could get the expertise advice we needed rather than walk around aimlessly trying powders and creams on. I explained to her what I was looking for: a foundation that was light, would stay on all day, didn't look "cakey" and wasn't extraordinarily expensive. Simple, right?
Instead of looking at my face and suggesting what she thought would be best, she held up a little handheld gadget and took pictures of three different areas of my face. This little gadget (called the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ) then gave my skin color a number and suggested products in the store that would work well with my tone. As cool as this Color IQ machine-toy was, it lacked the personal care that I usually experienced while makeup shopping. The woman brought us about three of the suggested creams, put a dab of each on my face and that was it.
I picked the one I liked the best out of the three and then the woman went on to help other customers. The foundation cream I had picked wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Even though it looked fine on my skin I wasn't completely satisfied with it. It was a little more sheer than I had in mind. And if I'm going to dedicate part of my birthday gift to some new makeup then I want it to be something I 100% love and feel good about using.
My mom and I both agreed that we should look around the store some more before committing to the foundation that the Sephora + Pantone IQ had suggested. In theory the gadget should have recommended the perfect product for what I was looking for and for some people it may do exactly that! But the first woman helping me was very shy and quiet and she seemed to depend solely on the Pantone Color IQ rather than her own professional opinion so I didn't feel like the products were being specified for my personal needs.
As my mom and I continued our browsing we asked another woman who worked there for her opinion on a BB Cream we thought may look good on me. Although we started off discussing the cream in my mom's hand, I was soon telling the woman, Meghan, what I had been looking for when I originally came into the store. She gave my face a studious once-over and then rushed about finding products she thought would work. Meghan was a miracle worker! It was a bit awkward when she was applying creams to my face to test them out because the woman who had helped me out at first was standing nearby, but it is what it is.
It turns out that the amazing Meghan M. is actually sort of a makeup specialist. Although she works specifically for Smashbox Cosmetics, she travels around to different locations in the Midwest as an "area artistry trainer". I guess that means she goes to different makeup stores to help out customers and teach them what she can! I definitely lucked out with her help because within the next half an hour, my face looked bright, fresh and smooth. Happy birthday to me! Below are the products that I ended up buying with Meghan's help & my mom's money.
Comment below with your favorite cosmetic products!
I love the eye makeup that I currently use so I was more focused on buying some products for my face. I recently ran out of the drugstore mousse makeup that I used as foundation (although it wasn't actually supposed to be used for that) and decided it was time for some real foundation. My mom flagged down a saleswoman so that we could get the expertise advice we needed rather than walk around aimlessly trying powders and creams on. I explained to her what I was looking for: a foundation that was light, would stay on all day, didn't look "cakey" and wasn't extraordinarily expensive. Simple, right?
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| The Pantone Color IQ in action |
I picked the one I liked the best out of the three and then the woman went on to help other customers. The foundation cream I had picked wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Even though it looked fine on my skin I wasn't completely satisfied with it. It was a little more sheer than I had in mind. And if I'm going to dedicate part of my birthday gift to some new makeup then I want it to be something I 100% love and feel good about using.
My mom and I both agreed that we should look around the store some more before committing to the foundation that the Sephora + Pantone IQ had suggested. In theory the gadget should have recommended the perfect product for what I was looking for and for some people it may do exactly that! But the first woman helping me was very shy and quiet and she seemed to depend solely on the Pantone Color IQ rather than her own professional opinion so I didn't feel like the products were being specified for my personal needs.
As my mom and I continued our browsing we asked another woman who worked there for her opinion on a BB Cream we thought may look good on me. Although we started off discussing the cream in my mom's hand, I was soon telling the woman, Meghan, what I had been looking for when I originally came into the store. She gave my face a studious once-over and then rushed about finding products she thought would work. Meghan was a miracle worker! It was a bit awkward when she was applying creams to my face to test them out because the woman who had helped me out at first was standing nearby, but it is what it is.
It turns out that the amazing Meghan M. is actually sort of a makeup specialist. Although she works specifically for Smashbox Cosmetics, she travels around to different locations in the Midwest as an "area artistry trainer". I guess that means she goes to different makeup stores to help out customers and teach them what she can! I definitely lucked out with her help because within the next half an hour, my face looked bright, fresh and smooth. Happy birthday to me! Below are the products that I ended up buying with Meghan's help & my mom's money.
Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer:
I put this on before my foundation so that my makeup stays on from morning until night. It's nice because it also moisturizes and hydrates my skin making it look and feel healthier.
Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (SPF 35, Color- light):
I really love this cream because not only does it blend easily, but it fills in my pores which gives my face a smooth and even look. Plus, it provides some protection from the sun.
Sephora Collection Microsmooth Foundation Face Powder (Color- porcelain):
Even though I love the look of the BB cream, I think that this face powder gives an overall better coverage. It has a natural finish, helps set the BB cream, doesn't feel heavy or look cakey and can be applied while wet or dry.
Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer:
The reason I bought this concealer is because when applied correctly, it covers up the dark circles and bags I have under my eyes as well as brightens my face dramatically. I'm lucky because my face rarely ever breaks out, but this concealer will be great for any blemishes I end up having to hid!
