Okay, so I'm going out in two and a half weeks...meaning "out" out. Dressed, in public, for the first time in my life.
Before this happens, though, I still need to put a few pieces of the puzzle in place. One of these is getting my makeup right. I've been buying willy-nilly, trying things I think might work, but really haven't got it down yet...particularly foundation.
So I decided I needed professional help. (Well, don't we all!) Since I don't have any friends nearby who could help me, I figured the only way I'm going to get that help is to brave it up and go to a makeup counter. So I did.
Nerves a-flarin', I walked into the Ulta Beauty store in Everett, Massachusetts. In total drab, of course, since I was on my lunch break. An SA greeted me and asked is she could help. Young thing. I asked if she'd be comfortable talking with me about makeup. She got just a little fidgety (but not in a bad way) and referred me to another SA who knew about makeup. (I gather the first girl was new there...a couple of times she came over asking where such-and-such was).
Again, I asked if she'd be comfortable talking with me. She assured me, with no fidgeting or even a blink of an eye, that she would. So off we went.
I asked her about foundation to cover my annoyingly dark beard shadow. She recommended Dermablend, which is the same that Tami recommended for me (thanks Tami!), and proceeded to match my skin tone. Five tests on my cheek later she found one we both thought was a good match. (Actually, it was only four tests later, but she wanted to try one more to be sure.)
To make sure, she covered my other cheek to make sure it would blend properly. Voila! I know what to use under my mineral powder!
Next I asked her recommendation for eyeshadow colors. We bounced some ideas, I told her what I'd be wearing, and we settled on a three-pack of browns (actually, one is coppery, which I hope will look really nice). Finally, I asked her recommendation for lip color. Since I'm putting more effort into my eyes, she thought a more neutral lip color would work.
I may not have a chance to try it all out until less than a week before I go out. I already had mineral powder, eyeliner and blush, so hopefully it'll all fall into place. It kind of has to, because on The Big Night I'll be putting it on in my car. LOL
Renee (my SA) was VERY helpful and professional, and my nerves just died away after a few minutes. I can definitely recommend the Ulta Beauty supply store at the Gateway Center plaza on Mystic View Road in
Everett, MA as a friendly place. Ask for Renee.
Anyone who's trying to work up the courage to do something like this, you need to just make a decision to do it, and stick with it. It really is all about attitude. Before going in I just said "I'm going to do this, I'm going to ignore any other customers in the store, and I'm going to get my questions answered come hell or high water!"
And I did.