Make Up - my continuing battle to get it right!! And some help

• Posted by Devon Johnson September 29, 2014 #  #  953 views
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  Dear Reader,

  Not only do I have a Guide and Mentor in this world, Pauline Smith, but I have fashion stylist and critic, Donna Gee as well.

  Donna, advises me on all matters to do with fashion and style, but don’t blame her for some of my outfits, because I often choose to ignore her!!

  Anyway, Donna knows me so well now that she can tell what I’m going to do often before I do it!

  Regular readers will know that after 45 years I have been released into this fabulous World and I am trying to catch up with missed opportunities. First steps outside, first public bar, first meal out etc etc

  And Donna said the blue eye shadow had to go!!

  And the pan stick and foundation I was using made me look a bit “ill”.

  So I embarked on a journey starting at Dee Selecta for a makeover which culminated today at the No7 Counter of Boots at the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds.

  My 4 month journey to the No7 counter is irrelevant except for a link I saw on Transtastic a couple of weeks ago from Boots which suggested the correct lipstick shade for your skin tone.

  Up for anyhting that might improve my looks, I followed the link and it needed my skin tone (select from a number of skin tones on the screen) – errr... that one looks about right– you need one of these shades came back the computerised reply – a bright coral/red shade. Not my usual pale coral, but hey, lets try it!!

  So, passing my local Boots store and clutching my mobile phone with the web page on it showing the lipstick I needed, I called in to buy my lipstick.

  Except the No7 counter is staffed by real women!! Its not like the Maybelline / Max Factor cabinets where you just choose, self scan and go – these people talk to you!!

  As I chose my lipstick a very nice assistant came up, smiled took it off me and said “Is that everything?”

  “Yes thank you” I said and smiled back politely, paid and left.

  Chatting to Donna later that evening, she replied and what you should have said was “and could you recommend a foundation for my complexion?”

  And she was right. That is what I wanted to say.

  So last week with my big night out in Birmingham looming (see my Photo Album), I decided to try a Boots store away from where I live and so I went to the out of town Leeds one and started ‘browsing’ around the No7 foundation.

  Suddenly another lovely assistant “materialised” by my side, just like they do on Star Trek.

  “Can I help you? “ she asked

  I took a deep breath, paused and said “Well this might seem a strange thing to ask, but can you recommend a foundation for my complexion?”

  I held my breath and waited for the inevitable laughter (or worse)

  But it never came.

  She smiled and took me over to one side and got out a machine that reads the tone of my skin. She started chatting, assured me everything was ok and I immediately felt at ease.

  She asked me if I used a primer.

  Primer?

  The only primer I know about is the stuff you put on wooden window frames!!

  I needed a primer.

  The computer declared my skin tone – I could now have the correct foundation. She also advised me to ditch the panstick as the foundation would be sufficient (now that’s a brave thing to do).

  My skin tone then gave me a range of lipsticks and Sara (because by now we were great friends) encouraged me to go for a bold one.

  She asked if I was getting ready for a special occasion – I told her about Birmingham and my first meeting with Alana. Well in that case she said, I need to get my eye makeup right too.

  What did I use? Fortunately I had bought a few weeks ago, one of the No7 triple colour packs (in green not blue!!) and had been experimenting with that.

  Using the back of her hand, Sara showed me how to apply it properly.

  I needed a green eyeliner and what about mascara, was I using a silicone brush one?

  The only silicone I use is in my bra!!

  Right, now she knew all about my failings she could set to work to sort me out. She gave me samples of everything to try, primer, foundation, a bit of lipstick and a brush, a sample eyeliner and a small mascara.

  I couldn’t believe it. Didn’t she want to sell me anything? No, not until I knew it worked for me.

  I had just spent 20 minutes with a wonderful person who didn’t judge me in any way at all.

  Sara assured me that she dealt with others like me and that she just wanted to help and before I left Sara gave me the shop number and told me to ring her any time if I needed anything else.

  Oh and by the way, have a great night out and please bring me some photos!!

  The night out in Birmingham was a huge success in every way and my new makeup was........... well you judge, go and look at the photos especially the first one before I set off for the night and see what you think. In the later ones I look a bit messed up (too many selfies I guess!!).

  I didn’t need a panstick and my lips looked great. But my eyes were still in need of attention.

  Anyway, this morning I rang Sara (and she remembered me!!) She asked how Birmingham went and I told her.

  I told her that everything she recommended worked perfectly and I needed to buy some foundation and primer now but I couldn’t get my eyes to look right.

  She suggested I went in at lunch time and she would show me how to do them properly, they have a private consultation room in Store and she would book it so we wouldn’t be disturbed.

  I turned up at lunchtime and she gave me a hug and took me through the Store and into the private room. She looked at the photos and asked if we were meeting again (we are, in 2 weeks time).

  She had already laid out the makeup and she got to work on my eyes, explaining step by step what to do. At the end they looked great.

  So it is possible, it’s now just down to me to perfect it.

   

  Look out for more photos of our second Big Night out in Manchester in 2 weeks time!

   

  On a serious note, I asked Sara if she was happy for me to mention her by name and give out the shop number on this Forum and she was. She is happy to help anyone who needs advice or guidance.

  So if you need advice, don’t be shy, ring 0113 277 6196 (select option 5 then option 1) and ask to speak to Sara. You need not be afraid or worried, she is a lovely person and you will get all the help and advice you need (and who knows, like me, you might just buy a few things while you are there!!)

   

  Devon

  :-)