Which Makeup Counter Is Best For Makeovers

Whether y'all're a makeup maestro or simply fiddle occasionally, many of us love the idea of visiting a professional person makeup creative person and having our faces properly 'done'.

Luckily, you don't need to be a celebrity to reach that these days; many loftier street makeup brands offer makeovers in-house, but with so many choose from, it can be baffling knowing which to get for. Are y'all more of a MAC or a Clinique daughter? No7 or Nars?

With this in listen, I decided to try out the makeover services every bit five popular high street brands. I asked each to give me 2 looks: one daytime (on the left), one evening glamour (the right). And I picked up enough of makeup tips (as well every bit a few purchases!) along the fashion…

MAC

What was I expecting?

MAC, for me, is all about drama: bold colours, stunning evening looks and attending-grabbing glory collaborations.

Lip, Cheek, Brown, Eye, Hairstyle, Skin, Chin, Forehead, Eyelash, Eyebrow,

What did I go?

Well, I finally constitute a foundation that perfectly matched my pare for a start! MAC'due south foundation range is separate into warm and absurd tones and has a huge array of shades (including darker colours – much-needed on the United kingdom loftier street). The makeup artist rapidly matched me every bit NC15, basically the palest shade, which made me happy because I seem to spend one-half my life trying to convince makeup artists that I am actually much paler than they think.

My day look was surprising subtle (yep, MAC does exercise subtle), although don't be fooled into thinking that but considering it looks natural, there's not a whole lot of product on there. I particularly love how fresh my peel looks; this is a combination of the foundation, highlighter, bronzer and blush working its magic. Believe me, after a long day at work not much of that glow was coming from me!

For the night look, makeup artist Phoebe went Large on my eyes, including false eyelashes, which I rarely employ because I can't stand up the feeling when they come unattached and start flapping around your eyeballs like a spider. Luckily that's non a problem when you have a professional on hand. Phoebe also taught me how to tightline, which is where you utilize eyeliner on the waterline of your upper eyelid, adding extra definition and making lashes wait longer. It'southward a bit fiddly at first, only certainly effective.

Tops tips I picked upwards:

Use a concealer that's slightly darker than your foundation for your undereye numberless, otherwise the area will look weird (I had NC20 concealer).
Ever curl your eyelashes. I have quite long lashes naturally so never bother with this; in fact, it makes a dramatic difference to anyone'south eyes, says Phoebe.
Don't worry if in that location are some colours y'all simply hate. I was worried Phoebe might think I was boring for maxim I merely use browns and golds on my optics – in fact she said we are drawn to what suits us, so it's fine to not experiment with colours if you can't stand the sight of them on your face up (that's the terminal time I carp with purple eyeshadow then).

Products used:

Product, Brown, Liquid, Red, Pink, Style, Tints and shades, Cosmetics, Peach, Beauty,

DAY

Consummate Condolement Crème, £24.50; Prep and Prime number Fix +, £17.fifty; Studio Fix Fluid, £22 – (my shade - NC15); Pro Longwear Concealer, £18; Prep & Prime Highlighter, £eighteen.50 – (my shade - Bright Forecast); Bronzing Powder, £22 (my shade – Bronze); Blush Powder, £18 (my shade – Plum Foolery); Mineralize Skinfinish, £24 (my shade – Soft & Gentle); Pro Longwear Pigment Pot, £16 (my shade – Painterly); Eye Shadow, £13 (my shade – Sable); Middle Kohl, £fourteen (my shade – Smolder); In Extreme Dimension 3D Blackness Lash, £xix; Lipstick, £fifteen.l (my shade – Patisserie)

Night

As higher up, plus: Amber Times 9 Palette, £25; Fluidline, £16 (my shade – Blacktrack); Eye Brows pencil, £14 (my shade – Lingering); Lip Pencil, £xiii (my shade – Boldly Bare); 7 Lash, £ten.50

NO7

What was I expecting?

I think of No7 a bit like John Lewis: no-nonsense, reliable, and a stalwart of the British high street. It launched back in 1935 and has been recommended through the generations since, then I definitely felt like I was in safe hands when I visited the Piccadilly branch.

Lip, Cheek, Brown, Hairstyle, Skin, Eye, Chin, Forehead, Eyelash, Eyebrow,

What did I go?

Pushed out of my condolement zone, surprisingly. The starting time look featured green eyeshadow and coral lips, which I would never normally pick (as I've mentioned before, 'variations on brown' could pretty much sum up my makeup expect). I am likewise a consummate eyeliner addict, so going liner-free for my daytime wait was definitely a refreshing change.

I have to say, I wouldn't accept expected the dark-time await from No7 either – I judge I was expecting something a bit more 'safe' than this heavily contoured, bronzed look. I beloved the eyes and the actress definition in my brows, and the fact I was encouraged to attempt a peachy blusher instead of my usual pink.

This being No7, skincare was plainly loftier on the agenda – at my age (28), the Early Defence range was recommended, although I've heard great things nearly Lift & Luminate and Protect & Perfect for those aged 40+. I as well tried No7'south bang-up trivial Match Made service, where they scan your pare with a special device that idenfities the platonic foundation, lip and blusher shade to complement your skin.

Top tips I picked upward:

Employ your serum properly. If there's one thing No7 excel in, information technology'south skincare, then I paid attention when advised to dab in my serum, rather than rubbing (oops…)
Apply foundation properly too. That means from the eye of your confront outwards, as the primal bespeak is generally where yous need the coverage most.
Don't panic if you apply too much nighttime eyeshadow. Instead of completely starting again, but counteract it past brushing a paler shade on top.

Products:

Brown, Product, Red, Lipstick, Pink, Tints and shades, Style, Cosmetics, Orange, Peach,

DAY

Beautifully Matte Foundation, £14.50 (my shade – Cool Vanilla); Match Made Concealer, £7.l (my shade – Absurd Vanilla); Instant Radiance Highlighter, £9.95; Powder Blusher, £ix; Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Trio, £9.50; Lash Touch Aureate Special Edition, £13.50; Match Made Moisture Drench Lipstick, £9.95 (my shade – Rose Mist)

NIGHT

Equally higher up, plus: Shade and Ascertain, £8 (my shade – Black Shimmer); Stay Precise Liquid Liner, £seven.50; Beautiful Countenance Sculpting Pencil, £eight; Precision Lips Pencil, £6.75 (my shade – Nude); Lucifer Made Moisture Drench Lipstick, £9.95 (my shade – Dearest Bloom)

CLINIQUE

What was I expecting?

Most people associate Clinique with skincare above all else. In line with this, I expected the makeup looks to be extremely focused on the peel, and fairly natural in terms of middle and lip colours.

Nose, Lip, Cheek, Brown, Hairstyle, Skin, Chin, Eyelash, Forehead, Eyebrow,

What did I get?

A seriously bold look! For the day, I chose from a selection of pre-set looks (you tin can vary each ane upwardly according to your tastes). Mine was called Acoustic, and featured some barely-there eyeshadow with brown eyeliner, plus a nifty lip.

For night, nosotros went full-on. The ombre lip is a tendency I've never tried earlier – I think you demand a professional makeup artist involved to ensure it looks manner-forwards, and not like you've simply applied stake lipstick with overly dark lipliner! I love the centre makeup – winged eyeliner and brownish eyeshadow is right upwards my street. Overall, a much more than vibrant, stylish look than I anticipated from the brand.

Elevation tips I picked upwards:

For a subtle twenty-four hours look, focus on your socket line. Rather than daubing eyeshadow all over the lids, a wash of nude shadow with a more intense colour composite over the socket line makes your optics popular without beingness too 'done'
Don't exist obsessed with covering all your 'flaws'. Some people want their skin to wait similar a bare sheet after applying foundation (i.due east. all one color), simply assuasive a bit more of your natural colouring to show through looks far less mask-like.

Products:

Brown, Peach, Orange, Tints and shades, Amber, Beauty, Cosmetics, Beige, Maroon, Tan,

Solar day

Chubby In The Nude Foundation Stick, £23 (my shade – Abundant Alabaster); Airbrush Concealer, £xix (my shade – Fair Cream); Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm, £19 (my shade – Robust Rhubarb); Stubby Stick Sculpting Highlight, £19; Lid Popular, £xv (my shade – Vanilla Popular); All Virtually Shadow Singles, £sixteen.l (my shade – Nude Rose); Quickliner For Eyes, £16 (my shade – Chocolate); Loftier Bear on Mascara, £17.l; Merely Browsing Brush-On Styling Mousse, £16.50; Quickliner For Lips Intense, £14.fifty (my shade – Intense Sassafras); Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Color + Primer, £xvi (my shade – Melon Drop Pop)

Dark

Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour, £19; Truthful Bronze Pressed Pulverization Bronzer, £24.fifty (my shade – Sunkissed); Chapeau Popular, £15 (my shade – Cocoa Popular); Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen, £19; Superfine Liner For Brows, £14.50; Quickliner For Lips Intense, £14.50 (my shade – Intense Liquorice); Pop Lip Colour and Primer, £sixteen (my shades – Nude Pop and Berry Pop)

NARS

What was I expecting?

Beautiful colours and high quality products. In my head, Nars is a chip of a 'care for' brand, and this luxe feel was reinforced when I entered its pristine new makeup store in Covent Garden.

Lip, Cheek, Brown, Hairstyle, Skin, Chin, Forehead, Eyelash, Eyebrow, Style,

What did I go?

I actually actually love both these looks. The day-time confront is slightly more full-on than I got at some of the other brands, simply that definitely suits my fashion (I'chiliad one of those 'total face of makeup to buy a pint of milk' blazon of girls).

For the night-time expect, makeup creative person Vicki-Ann opted for a zing of colour on my lower lash line, using a bright bluish liner – a keen manner for a colour-phobe like me to introduce a rainbow hue into their palette.

I'm slightly obsessed with these matte lipsticks too, as they somehow manage to await adequately natural and bold at the same time.

Height tips I picked up:

Invest in a liquid bronzer. If you lot don't want to purchase a whole new foundation to friction match your Summer tan, only mix your existing base of operations with the bronzer (Nars Laguna is a corking option).
Use a lighter shadow in the inner corner of your eyes. This will brighten and widen your eyes.
If you accept pink-toned skin, opt for peachy blushers. Naturally pink-cheeked folks should opt for more coral tones to neutralise their redness - who knew?!

Products:

Brown, Lipstick, Orange, Tints and shades, Cosmetics, Peach, Maroon, Tan, Rectangle, Office supplies,

Solar day

Oil Free Primer, £26; Sheer Glow Foundation, £31 (my shade – Deauville); Radiant Creamy Concealer, £22.50 (my shade – Custard); Low-cal Reflecting Loose Setting Powder, £27; Laguna Liquid Bronzer, £26.50; Blush, £23 (my shade – Luster); Alhambra Eyeshadow Duo, £25; Dual Intensity Eyeshadow, £21 (my shade – Telesto); Eye Paint, £18.50 (my shade – Black Valley); Brow Perfector, £17 (my shade – Kalamata); Velvet Matte Pencil, £23 (my shade – Popular Life)

Dark

Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner, £19 (my shade – Abbey Road); Audacious Lipstick, £24 (my shade – Arlene)

BENEFIT

What was I expecting?
I mainly associate Do good with astonishing brow products (and true to form, they recently launched this extensive new range of countenance products), equally well every bit first-class bronzers and highlighters. Nevertheless, I was really interested to find out what the overall Benefit artful would be when I visited the buzzing Carnaby Street store.

Nose, Lip, Cheek, Brown, Hairstyle, Eye, Skin, Eyelash, Chin, Forehead,

What did I get?

Equally I expected, the contouring and bronzing for both my day and nighttime looks were on point (I've taken these pictures side-on only so you can admire my makeup-enhanced cheekbones!)

For both day and night, the center makeup was adequately dramatic; this was built up for the night-time expect with the add-on of actress eyeshadow and a glossy lip, which I liked much more than I expected.

Another surprise came when I was introduced to Benefit's skincare range. To be honest I've never really associated Benefit with pare products, but the eye foam, serum and moisturizer which were used during my makeover felt lovely and hydrating – worth a endeavor!

Top tips I picked upwards:

Do your smokey eye before the residual of your makeup. That way if you end up with eyeshadow all down your face, you can wipe information technology off easily instead of having to remove all your makeup.
Use your ears and lips to map your contour. If you lot're non sure how to profile your cheekbones, imagine a line joining the tiptop of your ear and the corner of your lip – this is the place to use it. Some other selection is but to suck in your cheeks and come across where the line falls!

Products:

Product, Brown, Liquid, Aqua, Beauty, Azure, Turquoise, Tints and shades, Cosmetics, Beige,

Twenty-four hour period

Information technology'due south Stiff Middle Cream, £25.l; Total Wet Facial Cream, £26.55; Instant Comeback Facial Serum, £36; The POREfessional Primer, £24.50; Playstick Cream-to-Powder Foundation, £26.50 (my shade – Tea Party); Hoola Bronzing Powder, £23.fifty; Dandelion Blusher, £23.50; Shy Axle Liquid Highlighter, £xix.fifty; Boi-ing Full Coverage Concealer, £17.fifty (my shade – Light); Forehead Zings Eyebrow Shaping Kit, £24.l; Gimme Brow, £xviii.l (my shade – Medium); Big Beautiful Eyes Eye Contour Kit, £25.50; They're Real! Beyond Mascara, £xix.50; They're Real Eye Liner, £eighteen.l; Hydra Smooth Lip Color, £13.50 (my shade – Frisky Business)

Dark

Every bit above, plus: Hydra Polish Lip Colour, £15 (my shade – Talk Flirty)

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