Make-Up in the US

whitewave

Hey, looking for some advice as I'm fairly useless with make-up! Heading to the states next week for a holiday (yay!) so thinking of stocking up on different bits and pieces make-up wise...but not sure what to get, any idea what there's good value on, brands wise? I love benefit, so I know what I want in terms of that, but any other brands/ items that people would suggest?

I tend to wear fairly tame make-up, but I'm not against trying something new. Tempted to get some MAC eye shadows, but I rarely wear eye shadow bar gold/brown so any suggestions?

Stench Blossoms

Go to Sephora. It's makeup heaven.

You'll get MAC in the likes of Bloomingdales and Macys.

whitewave

I adore Sephora, always go if I'm in France or Spain. I had hoped to go to Macy's so that's handy.

Might pop into Brown Thomas and mess around with some Mac stuff, see what I like. Just don't want to waste the opportunity to pick up some decent make-up at cheaper prices!

Stench Blossoms

Just mess around with it when you are over there.

In my experience, the MAC staff in the states are a lot more helpful. There's none of this booking in weeks in advance stuff.

I've gotten my makeup done a good few times there anytime I go to the states.

dee_mc

The girls on the Bobbi Brown counter in Sak's NYC are excellent, love their eyeshadows and blushers and the products are much cheaper there than in Ireland.
NYC products are cheaper in the US too, especially in drugstores like RiteAid. They do great mascaras.
Sephora is great for free samples, and Ricky's NYC stores are great for the best selection of hair products I've ever seen!

Twee.

The Urban Decay Naked palettes are worth a look if you're into brown/neutral shades.

boogle

Definitely Sephora, it's an Aladdin's cave of make-up. I spent ages in there when I was in The US.

chickenbutt

If you are going to spend a lot of money in Sephora, I highly suggest you sign up for the Beauty Insider card while you are in there. You can get deluxe samples of products with the points you rack up ($1 = 1 point and they have gifts for 100, 250, and 500 points).

If you are on a budget, stop in at Walgreens or CVS. There is always a BOGO1/2OFF deal on varying brands each week. Wet 'n Wild has some great eyeshadows.

Eerie

Having lived stateside for almost 2 years now, here are some tips i've picked up along the way...

If you plan on going to an outlet mall, check if they have a Cosmetics Company Outlet (aka "the CCO!"). They do all of the Estee Lauder Corporation brands including MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Smashbox, Origins etc. They tend to have discontinued products heavily discounted or have overstock of the less popular shades of foundations/powders. If you're very pale or very dark, you'll be in heaven but they do have some mid-tone shades too.
To give you an example, on my last trip to the CCO I got a Bobbi Brown eyelash curlers for $12.50, Bobbi Brown corrector for $15, a BB discontinued foundation for $22.50, MAC blush from the Hey, Sailor! collection (can't remember the price but it was around $15-18). They also had a ton of the MAC christmas gift sets for about 20-25% off the original retail, and some limited edition MAC shadows for $9. Also got some Bumble&Bumble hair products for half the price they are in Sephora.

Ulta are also a great make-up store - they do a mix of some higher end brands and "drugstore" stuff.

If you're shopping in Sephora, ask for samples at the tills. They always have them but may not give you any unless you ask.

For department store make-up shopping, look around for free gift offers. You'll usually find an offer for most brands if you shop around, as they work on a rotation through the major department stores.

Also, don't count on getting makeup at US airport Duty free - the selection is crappy and not that much cheaper than department stores.

Hope you have a great time!

cupcake83

I love Mac lipstick and don't have anything to add to what others said already! enjoy your visit over here! I can't wait to come to Ireland lol.

whitewave

So much advice, I knew I came to the right place!

Thanks a million, there are some places there I haven't heard of, must add them into the itinerary!

whitewave

Twee. wrote: »

The Urban Decay Naked palettes are worth a look if you're into brown/neutral shades.

Also, which would people recommend, Naked or Naked 2? I've always wanted the palette but can never afford it, might try myself while I'm away

Twee.

whitewave wrote: »

Also, which would people recommend, Naked or Naked 2? I've always wanted the palette but can never afford it, might try myself while I'm away

It depends on your skin tone and preferences. 1 has some darker shades, and I found 2 to be more glittery/shimmery. I'm on my phone so linking is awkward but you can look up comparison shots on google images and see them side by side. The Naked matte palette is nice too if you want less shimmer.

If you're in NY, as mentioned above Ricky's is amazing!! All the hair stuff in the world.

Walgreens is another good chemist, I guess it's kind of like boots here. Lots of the cheaper brands and skin care.

Stench Blossoms

I've never heard of this Ricky's place.

Is there a few of them?

Twee.

Yeah threre's a good few of them! http://www.rickysnyc.com/ustorelocator/location/map/

dee_mc

There's a good Century 21 and a Ricky's very close to 66 st/Lincoln Center subway station. Much quieter than the ones in Corlandt St and Time Square respectively, there's a L'Occitaine shop nearby too and lots of quirky little boutiques, great restaurant called Lansky's Old World Deli; we spent a hangover day in this area and got some great shopping done, walking distance from the Dakota Building and Strawberry Fields too if you're a Beatle's fan! Oh I wish I was going back to NY!

Seren_

Definitely second the Wet n Wild recommendation! I got the Comfort Zone eyeshadow palette in a swap I did on Reddit last year, and the quality of the eyehadows is brilliant for something so cheap. Tarte blushes are meant to be amazing, and you can't get the brand over here so might be something to look out for. Their lipsticks are meant to be good too. NYX is another great brand, their lipliners are great - better than any higher end brand ones that I've used! The Jumbo Eye Pencils by NYX are great also. Also, if you're into nail polish, China Glaze, OPI, Essie et al are a lot cheaper in the States.

Valentina

There's a Ricky's on 5th Ave near 35th and 36th St. If you like nail polish they stock some great brands - I got loads of Butter London polishes here for about $10 each when they are upwards of €15 here. You're also just a stone's throw from the huge MACY'S in Herald Square.

I went to MAC in MACY'S before and even though it was pretty busy I got a make up artist to myself. We went through loads of products seeing what suited me for different looks and then she did my make up for me. I did end up buying a ton of stuff but I would have bought it anyway so it was nice to have the help/advice.

NeonCookies

Definitely Sephora! I got a palette for green eyes when I was in Prague a few months ago and it's amazing - wish I'd bought more stuff there!

Dark Phoenix

Nyx bronzers and mascaras are amazing

echo the CCo recommendation I went to one in an outlet in florida and got a mac set for anout 25 dollars and a bobby brown shimmer brick for really cheap