getting makeup done at MAC counter

gossipgirl10

hey folks,

i'm getting my makeup done at the MAC counter in galway for a wedding next month and was wondering do you generally need to have an idea of the look you want (pictures etc) or will they just come up with a look that will suit you? i've had many disasters in the hairdressers where it wasnt what i wanted and ended up starting again when i got home so don't want to end up with the same happening with makeup

thanks!

anniehoo

The only thing i can say about getting your makeup done with MAC is tell them what you dont like. I like a very "strong eye" with my makeup and have had it done twice by them (without mentioning that) and its always been heavy strong eye makeup. Very happy both times but it doesnt suit everyone. My friend got a trial done for her wedding and the heavy eye makeup didnt suit her at all so the girl was told to tone it down on the day and it was lovely. Just dont be afraid to tell them what you want its all fixable.

MAC to me = smokey eyes

Pythia

If you have a clear idea in mind, then be firm about it and tell them exactly what you want. If not, then like anniehoo says, tell them what you don't want. They will probably show you the colours they're thinking of using first.

Bring a photo if you have one, or mention a celebrity you like. If you see it's going badly mid way through, speak out and say so. I get it done about twice a year so I've had a few done at this stage!

amdublin

Do they still charge for this???

How much does anyone know?

Pythia

It's e40 but you get e40 credit towards your purchases at the end so as long as you are planning to spend e40 in Mac, then it's free effectively.

Linguo

You're always better bringing in some pics from magazines that you like and specifying beforehand what you really want and really don't want, they'll want to make you happy so hope it turns out great:D

gossipgirl10

great thanks for the tips ladies must have a look through some magazines for ideas i'm always wary of bringing in pics though because all the make up in the world ain't gonna make you look like your favourite celeb!

also just on the price... i thought it was about 40 euro alright but does anyone know if it's always been 40 or has it gone up in price over the last couple of years? reason i ask is i got two vouchers for make up applications at the MAC counter for christmas 2008 and havent had a chance to use them yet (they were always booked up for any time i wanted it done for wedding etc). I've never actually seen these type of vouchers before and it only had a gift receipt with it so im not sure how much each one was worth (i was hazarding a guess at 25 each?)

so hopefully they will still accept those vouchers there was nothing on it about using by a certain date etc...

Pythia

gossipgirl10 wrote: »

also just on the price...

Yes, it used to be 25 but changed about a year ago to 40. They'll ask you on the phone to pay or come into the shop to buy a voucher beforehand (presumably to guarantee you'll show up) so you can mention you have the voucher then.

amdublin

Pythia wrote: »

It's e40 but you get e40 credit towards your purchases at the end so as long as you are planning to spend e40 in Mac, then it's free effectively.

Hmmm. I was not planning on buying anything so effectively it is not free.

Jeez it's expensive!!!

Michellenman

It'd be similar if not more expensive to go to elsewhere too though. You can't really expect them to do it for nothing like

Pythia

amdublin wrote: »

Hmmm. I was not planning on buying anything so effectively it is not free.

Jeez it's expensive!!!

At the end of the day it's a way of selling more products. It's a sweetener for buying make up. If you just want your make up done, there are salons who will charge you for it and won't give you any products afterwards. Since I buy Mac, I always like to book an application and buy all my stuff at it as I was going to give them my money either way, so I might as well get something extra.

Since you have the voucher, and they let you use it without buying the extra, then it's totally free and you get to bring home some make up. If they force you to spend the extra 15 and you don't want to, then I'm sure they will let you use it against e25 worth of products with no make over.

EDIT: Sorry, I am getting confused. You aren't the one with the voucher. Same general point still applies.

amdublin

Michellenman wrote: »

You can't really expect them to do it for nothing like

I kind of would tbh.

If it was free it would incentivise me to buy something so they'd be getting their sale anyway..... I don't like being obligated to buy €40 worth of stuff at one time.

€25 to €40 is one hell of a price increase as well!

Michellenman

amdublin wrote: »

I kind of would tbh.

If it was free it would incentivise me to buy something so they'd be getting their sale anyway..... I don't like being obligated to buy €40 worth of stuff at one time.

€25 to €40 is one hell of a price increase as well!

Yeah but then imagine the amount of people you'd get going up to have their make-up done and not buying anything? It'd be bedlam.

While I agree that I think €40 is too much, I can't agree with you that it should be free. If you go in looking for a particular shadow or bronzer or foundation of whatever, they girls will colour match you and help you out to the best of their ability free of charge, to expect them to apply a full face of make up which takes the guts of 30 minutes if not more and to not be guaranteed a sale isn't fair

Pythia

amdublin wrote: »

I kind of would tbh.

If it was free it would incentivise me to buy something so they'd be getting their sale anyway..... I don't like being obligated to buy €40 worth of stuff at one time.

€25 to €40 is one hell of a price increase as well!

That is for one hour's work with a make up aritst. It also restricts her from serving anyone else during that time so she is not making any other sales. As I said a minute ago, this is a way to ensure sales. They need to know that after one hour of effort, they are going to get a certain amount back. Otherwise too many people would abuse the service.

If you feel e40 isn't worth it for an hour's make up application plus e40 of products, then don't go for it! I always felt e25 was surprisingly cheap to be honest. A make up application in Brown Sugar for example costs e55 and I don't believe you get anything with that.

Twee.

Does anyone know how much the lashes are, and if you're already paying the €40 for an application, do they charge on top of that to put on the lashes? I'm getting the ol make up done for my 21st on Friday
I do think it's expensive, but I've always been happy when I've gotten my make up done there. And I can guarantee they'll have a foundation pale enough for me!

amdublin

Short term thinking if you ask me. An hours work plus all future sales that I would buy IF free. Instead I feel pushed into paying their €40 so they are getting their €40 but nothing else from me.

At the end of the day they are effectively getting Advertising by you wearing their products all day after they do it for you - they should be paying you!

Pythia wrote: »

If you feel e40 isn't worth it for an hour's make up application plus e40 of products, then don't go for it!

Eh thanks for telling me what to do.

Michellenman

amdublin wrote: »

At the end of the day they are effectively getting Advertising by you wearing their products all day after they do it for you - they should be paying you!

By this thinking then shouldn't shops be paying you to wear their clothes?

amdublin

Michellenman wrote: »

By this thinking then shouldn't shops be paying you to wear their clothes?

Good point.

But at least clothes shops tend to reduce their prices rather than increasing by 37.5%.

Come on!!!!! Surely I am not the only person who thinks this is mad money to pay to sit in a shop and get some makeup put on!!! If it was a salon and it was the whole salon experience it would be different. But it's a shop!!! Where you will probably buy something if they do it well. The point of doing the makeup should be to encourage you to buy something not push you to by charging €40.

I got my makeup done in Victoria Secrets in Las Vegas (great makeup btw) and I bought it all: foundation, bronzer, blusher, eyeshadow, liner, mascara, lip gloss because it looked so good. Free! (the makeup application, not the makeup )

Pythia

Twee. wrote: »

Does anyone know how much the lashes are, and if you're already paying the €40 for an application, do they charge on top of that to put on the lashes? I'm getting the ol make up done for my 21st on Friday
I do think it's expensive, but I've always been happy when I've gotten my make up done there. And I can guarantee they'll have a foundation pale enough for me!

I'm not sure what the lashes are but they'll come out of the 40, not be charged on top. The actual application is free, as in if you have your own Mac ones already they'll put them on as part of it.

But at least clothes shops tend to reduce their prices rather than increasing by 37.5%

The increase was 60% - (40-25)/25

amdublin

Pythia wrote: »

The increase was 60% - (40-25)/25

Maybe I am doing my maths wrong???

Increased by €15. €15 as a percentage of €40 is 37.5%
(Or should it be a percentage of €25??)

Somebody help! What was the (pretty disgraceful imo) price increase??!!!!

amdublin

amdublin wrote: »

Maybe I am doing my maths wrong???

Increased by €15. €15 as a percentage of €40 is 37.5%
(Or should it be a percentage of €25??)

Somebody help! What was the (pretty disgraceful imo) price increase??!!!!

Actually yes, you are right it is 60%!!!!! :eek:

Oh come on folks!!!!!! This is just getting more ridiculous!!!! 60% increase to €40 - to sit in a shop getting your makeup done!!!!

Pythia

amdublin wrote: »

Maybe I am doing my maths wrong???

Increased by €15. €15 as a percentage of €40 is 37.5%
(Or should it be a percentage of €25??)

Somebody help! What was the (pretty disgraceful imo) price increase??!!!!

Since the original price was 25 you need to divide by 25 not 40 as you are trying to work out the price increase from the original price. So it's worse than you thought!