Make-up Counters

aisling.laura

I was just wondering what general training do most of the girls who work on the make-up counters in say, debenhams and BT's have? I'm assuming its different for each brand?

The reason i'm asking is because I went into debenhams in Blanch yesterday to pick up the Naked Palette from Urban Decay (which is beautiful!) and the girl serving me said they were offering a mini makeover with every purchase. So the girl did my makeup for me (foundation, highlighter, blush, lip stick, gloss) and I can honestly say that she did a terrible job. I was left with a one inch thick line of no foundation on my cheek, completely crooked lipliner, and clown like blush. I embarrassed to walk around the shopping centre afterward. I understand that i wasn't paying for it so i didnt have much reason to complain. But I just couldn't believe that someone working on a makeup counter could be so bad at applying makeup. If I had been paying to have my makeup done for an occasion I would have been disgusted.

So does anyone know if these girls get training or have to have previous experience doing makeup?

And I'm not for one minute saying that all or even most of the girls on these counters are as bad as the girl i had, i know most of them are fantastic!

Chuchoter

I think they get picked because they're pretty (for brands like benefit/urban decay etc) because its certainly not for their skills. Had one of those mini-makeovers in Benefit a few years ago. I looked like a clown, seriously.

LivingDeadGirl

I nearly got a job (nearly because I couldn't work the hours they wanted me to) in Urban Decay just based on the make-up I was wearing when I handed in my CV and I can honestly say it was way above the standard of the girl's who took my CV, and she told me she'd done a hair and make-up course!! :eek: I think higher end brands like Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier probably do require you to have done a course, or MAC because they focus more on make-up artistry. That said, I know someone who works for MAC who got in just with pull (and she did a rather ****ty job when she did my make up also), so maybe that's what's really going on and why they give clown make overs. :rolleyes:

donna.s

I don't think they have any special requirements to be honest, I think if you look pretty and can sell they will hire you. I never trust the girls at those counters, MAC in BT on grafton street is the worst. The girls there have recommended the wrong foundation shades for me on more than one occassion and really don't have a clue.

phasers

I was at the Mac counter in BTs last week and I thought that the girls looked like transvestites! Their make up was so ridiculous looking, is there a rule that they have to be wearing every single product at all times or something?

donna.s

phasers wrote: »

I was at the Mac counter in BTs last week and I thought that the girls looked like transvestites! Their make up was so ridiculous looking, is there a rule that they have to be wearing every single product at all times or something?

you said what I wanted to say! I just didn't want to seem like I was attacking them. Even the men working at the counters wear far too many products!

jellie

Id usually judge someones makeup knowledge on what their makeup look like on them. if theyre a state then ill presume they dont know much & certainly wouldnt let them give me a makeover!

Storminateacup

I was poached by some really nice girl from a benefit counter in tallaght shopping centre, who asked me to come over for a mini makeover, as it was her first day, so I went with her, and shes piling all this crap on my face, and shes talking me through each product, and then she starts to tell me the importance of a highlighter, and i say "i know, ive already got highbeam, and moonbeam. theyre great products". Then, all of a sudden, she didnt feel the need to bother with them.

Instead, she focused on bronzing me up to the high heavens - all sorts of incorrectly - and convinced me to buy this blue/green lipgloss that would make my teeth look white.

She didnt even remove my original makeup (and i never go out not made up fully), rather, just piled it on over my own.

Shmatter

Storminateacup wrote: »

She didnt even remove my original makeup (and i never go out not made up fully), rather, just piled it on over my own.

Knack :P

Storminateacup

Loike, roysh?!

Connie_c28

I have a friend who works for Dior in Clery's and another in Mac and both had to show all their certs from college courses they passed, plus they get sentt on courses every now and then when new stuff comes on market. I suppose it does depend on where you buy. I would always ask what training they have before letting them near me (mainly because I have sensitive skin)

Little Miss Cutie

Sorry to drag this up again but had to share my experience today.

I went to debenhams in blanch in search of new foundation. Counter 1 smashbox - would only apply it to my neck not face but colour looked right and happy to give sample.
Counter 2 lancome, makeup artist matched my skin tone perfectly- really happy.
Counter 3 benefit- explained that I dont like full coverage and want a natural look. The girl insisted on putting on the makeup over what i already had on!! I looked like I had been tango'd!! I told the girl it was too dark and she insisted that one colour suits all skin tones!! It has put me off benefit for life- if the professional cant make it look right, what hope do I have at home?????

Sorry rant over

Storminateacup

^ I tend to avoid benefit for foundation, but don't let that put you off benefit products altogether LMC.

Benefit are really great for eyeshadows, and highlighters and blushes, ect.

phasers

+1 on Benefit's other stuff, High Beam is fabulous

Dinkie

Agree with Benefit foundation. I like high beam, and have a great pencil which brightens up your eyes (can't remember the name and too lazy to go up stairs and check). Their mascara is really nice and their eye shadows are nice, but a bit boring. Was looking at their lipstick the other and they looked nice.

Went to the Makeup professionals in Arnotts and bought mascara there. Its terrible stuff. You would hardly know it is on you! And I am blonde and I bought the black mascara. She also put some lipstick on me and managed to coat most of my chin etc with it also. Will not be going back there.

Have had a good Benefit make over, but not in Ireland, so wonder if the training is different in other countries? And I like the MAC makeovers, but ony if I'm going out later that night.

CK2010

theres actually a new girl working in urban decay in blanch,she only started a couple of days ago, so perhaps the offer was for her to practice without it being on a paying customer, which tbh would be fairly reasonable, and would mean she wouldnt be so bad when people are actually paying. could be wrong, just a thought!

although i dont find any of them good at that counter!

also, at some counters there is actually a rule that you've to wear a certain amount of the brands products while you're working and its sometimes quite a high number of products, not just two or three, it can be up to twenty or so- literally primer, foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, highlighter, eyeshadow base, eyeliner, lower lash liner, inner ,lash liner, eyeshadow x2/3, highlighter, lash primer, mascara, brow pencil, lash gel, lip liner, lip gloss etc.
so in order to meet the requirementof wearing X amount of products they do need to pile it on!!

genberally though ive never been happy with any advice at MAC or benefit or urban decay!

Linguo

I'm gonna save up to do a starter make up course myself cause I don't trust the counter girls to do it! The MAC girls all look very glam but it's not in a nice way, they're caked in the stuff!! Some of the other girls are better but they still pile it on and I've never really been happy with how they've done my make up. I think we're all better off doing a little course and learning how to do it perfectly ourselves!

yummers

I went to sephora in italy to get foundation and the girl i asked couldnt speak a word of english she just sat me down took off all my makeup and completely redid it. then she got a girl to speak english to me and told me why this foundation suited me and how to apply it. she didnt mention any of the other products she used and when i said i wanted the concealer she used she was like no no no dont spend money on it you dont need it. It was great. so helpful and its the best foundation i ever used.

8BlueBubbles

I agree with the comments about the benefit foundation. A girl at the counter in Debenhams 'colour matched' me and I bought it... The colour was waaay too orange. I wonder about the training in other countries also as I was coloured matched in America for MAC and Make Up Forever and both are perfect!! Its tough because you go to the counters expecting the workers to be able to colour match you perfectly. If they don't do that you might aswell just go into boots and take a chance yourself:p

giddybootz

Usually for counters such as MAC they are supposed to look extreme...like it is for a mad event/show. They are given face charts in the morning showing them the days 'looks' and they have to copy it. It is very VERY rarely a wearable daytime look but they have to wear it. I actually find them a LOT better in BTs this last year or so...they used to be terrible at shovelling it onto customers faces but now they really listen to you.

Little Miss Cutie

It so disappointing when you waste money on make up that is the wrong colour.
The girl in smashbox gave me a sample of two colours to try at home as I wasnt sure in the shop. I have decided which one I love and will be returning to buy it this wkend.

Twee.

Little Miss Cutie wrote: »

It so disappointing when you waste money on make up that is the wrong colour.
The girl in smashbox gave me a sample of two colours to try at home as I wasnt sure in the shop. I have decided which one I love and will be returning to buy it this wkend.

The best thing to do really. If they won't give you a sample, ask can you put some in a your own empty tub, and if they won't let you, take your business elsewhere!

Have to agree about Benefit! I got Some Kinda Gorgeous foundation last year after the sales assistant told me that even though it only comes in a few colours, it will suit me. Poor pale me looked orange in the lightest shade :rolleyes: On the other hand, I went to Mac Pro in Berlin and she gave me the best foundation I have ever had. It's so pale and perfect that it properly blends in with my skin and I can only put it on where I need it, as opposed to putting it all over my face just so it will blend.