My Best Tips On How To Shop At Makeup Counters!

 

*Grab a coffee and some snacks before you start reading this long post*

Allow me to set the scene: You have just entered into the world of makeup and are trying to take baby steps. Now that you have seen a lot of tutorials and literally read more than thousands of reviews, you decide to buy some products and learn in person. You walk into a makeup store feeling all excited and a bit nervous. 20 minutes have passed and it feels like you have been put in a dungeon.

These are the two most common situations:

First situation: You’re surrounded by sales assistants who are being pushy, testing products on you without your consent and saying things forcefully like ‘Oh! This foundation is your perfect match’ or ‘This lip color looks so good on you and it actually stays for 24 hours’. When in reality, it looks like your face is covered with flour and the lip shade is too yellow. But you feel scared and end up buying a few of those products. You try them at home and regret purchasing them.

Second situation: You’re ignored!

Did any of these situations strike a chord with you? If yes, this post is just for you!

I remember the bad experiences I had when I was a makeup noob. Even if I didn’t want to purchase a product, I had to because I felt pressurized. Also, the products that looked good on me under the store lightening were a total disaster when I tried them at home. After having spent a long time in this journey, I feel a lot confident today when I go shopping for makeup than I did before. I’m not saying I don’t make mistakes anymore or feel overwhelmed (mostly when it comes to foundations!) but things are much better now.

Please see: This post isn’t about how to control your emotions and not end up over-spending. It’s about walking out of the store with things you actually planned on buying and not giving into buying something you don’t want to.

Let’s get started!

Here are my best tips on how to shop at makeup counters:

 

Figure out your needs

When you decide to purchase a new phone, you look into the specifications you want and decide on that basis whether or not you want to purchase a particular model. It’s the same with makeup. You first need to figure out your needs. What are the basic products you need? If you have a skin with a lot of scars, are you looking for a full coverage concealer or a foundation that offers light yet presentable coverage? Are you after some everyday lipsticks or a lip color which is the perfect red for your skin tone? Considering you have very oily eyelids, you’re looking for an eyeliner that’s smudge-proof.

Know your undertones

Going for makeup shopping without knowing your undertones is like making a shot in the dark. You’re just making a guess! Find out here how to determine your skin undertone.

Research

Now that you know about your needs and the kind of products you are looking for, take advantage of online reviews. Visit blogs, take advice from your trusted bloggers or join communities. Note the name of all the products you think will meet your needs.

Prepare a list

The above point brings us to this one: Carry that list which contains name of all the products or the category of products you jotted down. This will help you stay focussed. Also, don’t be too rigid and keep your options open. If you just liked a pencil eyeliner but aren’t too sure about the quality, do this: Swatch it on your wrist and see if you have to apply pressure. If you have to, this means the texture is not creamy. If it doesn’t, let it stay there and rub it a little forcefully after 5-7 minutes. See if it moves or not. If it doesn’t, you may want to take it home. This formula almost always works for me.

Use a smartphone

Stumbled upon a new product and feeling unsure about it? Use your smartphone to read online reviews about it and then, make a decision. Don’t feel ashamed! Just ask the SA politely to excuse you for a minute. Ensure that you aren’t blocking her time.

Choose an appropriate time

This one has the potential to make or break your beauty shopping experience. Weekdays or early morning weekends are the best times to go for makeup shopping. That’s because it’s less crowded. Makeup SA’s usually pay attention to your needs.

Carry essentials

A hand-mirror is a must have. Instead of trusting the store light, move to a place where there’s natural light and see the actual shade of whatever product you’re wearing to make a wise decision. Yes, you can also ask the SA for a compact mirror but if it’s crowded, you’ll have a hard time getting one. With your own mirror, you can take as much time as you want.

I also carry a sample foundation jar with me. There are no samples provided in drugstore brands and they are reluctant to give some even if you carry your own. If I have bought 2-3 products from one particular brand, I show my interest in getting myself matched to a foundation. Once I’m 90% sure that shade is for me after seeing it in natural light, I request them to pump some in my jar. Some throw disgruntled expression but they usually do it.

I also carry a blush brush and powder brush with me.

Keep calm

There’s quite a difference between how I get treated when I walk into a makeup store with makeup and without makeup. In the beginning, I used to get irritated and walk away. Now, it doesn’t bother me much. I play around with stuff and if I like something, I just ask them to bill those products (they turn attentive by this time!).

If you are being followed, just tell them this civilly: I’m just having a look and I’ll let you know in case I have any questions. Ask them for disposable brushes in case you want to swatch something. Please don’t use your fingers. If you expect them to have etiquettes, the same is expected out of you.

That said, I still hear phrases from them today like:

– The lipstick lasts all day.

– This foundation will make your pores invisible.

– This primer keeps oil at bay all day long!

Honestly, I just keep nodding my head and carry on with my stuff. Also, I do remember this incident: This MUA from a high-end store was matching someone to one foundation and I could see from a distance how white it looked on her. It was a complete mismatch. Even the girl tried telling that SA that this shade doesn’t look good on her but the SA said it’ll settle after a while. Given the stark difference, in no way, it was going to! I was getting my items billed at that time. I just turned towards the girl and told her politely to not go with that shade.

Read ingredient labels

When you begin with your beauty journey, it’s important to pay attention to how products behave on your skin. Today, I know of some ingredients that don’t suit me at all. Example: Tea tree oil! It caused havoc on my skin!

Don't fall for freebies

Well, not unless it’s something as good as this beautiful Maybelline clutch. Most of the freebies otherwise are really pathetic. If they are cosmetics based, I maintain distance. Either they have no expiry date written on them or the shade selection is blah.

Test under natural light

Store lighting is deceiving. If I am shopping for makeup (particularly base makeup), I make sure I have a source of natural lighting someplace near.

Wear minimal/no makeup

When I go shopping for base makeup, I don’t wear anything on my face. Yes, you can always get it removed there before trying but since my skin flakes easily, removing again and again doesn’t let me see the real texture of that product.

Search for inspiration online

Found a pretty colored eye pencil but don’t know how to wear colored eyeliners? Don’t put it back. Have fun with makeup! Take out your phone and search for inspiration online. If it’s an orange lipstick, search for ‘orange lipstick makeup pictures’.

Don't test eye/lip based products on your face

Although I never tried eyeliners, mascara and eyeshadows on my face, I sometimes tried lipsticks I really liked on my lips. I once got a serious infection and since then, I haven’t. Some stores like MAC and Sephora disinfect them for you which is super good.

Now, I get it that the lipstick which we tried at the back of our hands won’t look same on our face. The solution? Swipe it on your fingertip instead which shows your actual undertones. It’ll give you a much better idea. Hold it next to your lips and figure out.

Be confident 

Or, at least fake it! Entering in a store and telling the SA that you know nothing about makeup and need help is a sure shot way of ending up with wrong products. At least, in my personal experience. This is where the first four points listed here will help you.

Communicate your expectations

Some SA’s aren’t pushy, listen patiently and help you make some good purchases. If you are confused about something, ask for their help. If you know you’ll be needing attention from them or a makeover, refer to point no.6.

If you liked a product but aren’t sure how to use it, request them to show it on your face.

Value your time as well as of others

It’s really not cool to waste time of the sales assistants there. Please remember that their livelihood is mostly based on a commission based model. I know that they can mislead their customers at times but it’s not okay walking up to them and demanding a makeover with no intention of buying stuff at all! It’s rude. Also, please don’t expect them to be sickly sweet as long as they’re entertaining you. Everyone one has their off days.

Do not feel obligated

You walk into MAC store on a weekday and it’s almost empty. All eyes are on you! You swatch 8 lipsticks, get a blush tested on your face, inquire about some other products like primer, concealer, cleansing oil, etc. All have been helpful to you. But you still can’t make up your mind to buy or not to buy. You are all confused or maybe, you actually didn’t like something. You start feeling guilty for having spent so much time in there and walking away with nothing. Please don’t! It’s your hard-earned money.

Some days, it’s just the empty feeling! Although you feel like buying makeup, you leave from there empty-handed. It’s okay! Thank them for their time genuinely and walk out.

Always get them checked

This one is super important to avoid any kind of hassles at a later stage! A brand new lipstick was broken when I checked it at home. The pump of a cream wasn’t working properly. The brush of a nail polish was in a bad condition. The compact’s mechanism refused to work. Some stores understood this well and offered me an exchange. Some didn’t.

In malls, the payment is done first and then, the items have to be collected from the respective counters. When doing this, always ask them to open your products there itself and get them checked. I always get this done, unless I’m really absent-minded that day.

In shops, the products are usually brought to the person at the billing counter. Once you have made the payment, you are handed those products. Get them checked and please don’t feel embarrassed.

Take a friend along

Regardless of the fact, she knows about makeup or not! It’s always helpful. And if you can take someone along who has a good knowledge about makeup, it’s the best. Just ensure you tell that person about your needs clearly.

Phew! That was quite a session on how to shop at makeup counters! I really hope you found this super useful. Let me know in the comments section below if you’ve any more doubts and please do subscribe to my mailing list to never miss an update. Also, please don’t forget to share your best and worst makeup shopping experience. If you’ve another tip, do tell! You never know who you’ll be helping  ^_^