Sooooo, I gave the the makeup lesson service a try for the BIC Challenge (that ended last month). I went in on the second to last day of the challenge. Note to self - Self, try not to wait until the last minute 🙄 to get in the services portion of these challenge. I really need to be better at that. Next time @danielledanielle; next time. Booking An Appointment:Booking an appointment for any of the services offered is easy peasy to do online. One "to do" I highly recommend, especially for the makeup related services, is to take advantage of the "Any Special Request" field on the "Review and Pay" page, and include a note to your makeup artist of what you are hoping to achieve, work on during your time. Screenshots for booking an appointment for Beauty Lesson Spoiler(Note: A couple of the screenshots will include the date I post this reply and not the day I actually made the appointment. Apologies for the inconsistency, I forgot to capture a screenshot for a couple of pages when I was making the appointment).(Note: A couple of the screenshots will include the date I post this reply and not the day I actually made the appointment. Apologies for the inconsistency, I forgot to capture a screenshot for a couple of pages when I was making the appointment). Day of Appointment: * Arrive at the store 10-15 minutes prior to appointment. I arrived at the location earlier because I wanted to look around the store and check out some of the new summer releases in store. * I arrived wearing just a tinted moisturizer, no makeup, even though I really wanted to put on concealer to cover some of the redness on my face. * Check-In: I let the first Sephora employee I ran into know that I was here for a makeup lesson appointment. * Expectations: When it came time for my appointment, the makeup artist and I first discuss what we're going to do. This is where including some notes in the "Any Special Requests" field can be helpful. These are a few of the things we discussed: My skin condition and preferences (sensitivities, ingredient allergies, skincare preferences, etc.)What we wanted to focus on for the appointment / if there was anything else that I hadn't included in the "Any Special Requests" fieldLesson style - watching what the makeup artist did or seeing what the artist did and then trying the technique myself (with guidance from the makeup artist)What, if anything, I had on my skinWhat product(s) I generally use or was currently usingShe also asked me if there was a particular product (that they carried in store) that I might be interested in using/trying. The makeup artist used items from her makeup kit (e.g., Anastasia Beverly Hills, Makeup by Mario, Make Up For Ever, NARS, etc) Beauty Lesson: - Scope: I had shared that I was interested in (a) learning about summer makeup trends (which is a broad scope and I narrowed it down in terms of cheek products/colors) and (b) contouring, particularly my nose and jawline/chin, that I was looking to learn technique for a more natural contouring and not the heavier Kim Kardashian style contouring - the results of the latter are lovely but I don't have the patience to put the work for that type of look and I prefer a more natural contour. - Skincare Prep: I shared with the makeup artist that I was experiencing a mild rosacea flare up and had some redness on my cheeks and around my nose. I also shared with her the skincare products I was currently using. From there, she went to grab the following products: SEPHORA COLLECTION Micellar Cleansing Water With Postbiotics + Niacinamide 6.76 oz. / 200 ml. # - this would be enough of a cleanser for me to remove the tinted sunscreen I arrived to the store wearing.SEPHORA COLLECTION Organic Cotton Pads 50 Pads First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads 28 ct / container - I have used these pads off and on for over a decade now. Shani Darden Skin Care Hydration Peptide Cream 2.5 oz / 75 mL - the makeup artist and I discussed my current skin condition, needs and routine. I had mentioned to her that I have a couple of products from the Shani Darden line. Skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Hydrating Eye Cream 0.5 oz/ 15 mL - their cleansing oil is currently my go-to for a first (and sometimes second) cleanser. Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 Weightless Mineral Sunscreen which is one I'm currently using this week; I pulled it from my drawer after using it for the beauty lesson. - Lesson Style: We discussed the makeup products I'm currently using and the look I was going for - basic every day, weekend, full face, etc. We also discussed my preference for foundation coverage - full coverage, skin tint, etc. I asked for a bit of a mix - lighter coverage foundation-wise, but for the eyes, something natural, light, neutral for the day that I could (fairly quickly and easily) turn into a smokey eye for the evening. And glowy cheeks, slightly bronzed "I got some sun" face. I opted to do a mix of approaches as far as the lesson was concerned - I would watch as she applied my base makeup, lipstick, the eyes and most of the cheeks. Then, I would watch her do one side of my cheeks as far as contouring goes, as well as contouring my nose and jawline, and then I would try the technique myself on the other side (with her guidance). - Makeup Used: It was a mix of items from her pro kit, products I already have and currently use, and products that I was interested in using. I specifically asked to incorporate the DIOR Rosy Glow Blush Stick 012 Rosewood as I had recently purchased that a few days before my appointment. I've listed below the products used in the general order (by area of the face) she applied my makeup. While she went to grab the Dior blush stick and a few other products I mentioned or that she thought I might like using (separate from the ones she pulled from her kit), I used the skincare products she pulled / set out to remove my tinted sunscreen and to prep my skin. * EYES:Primer: DIOR Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer - I have this already and had shared with the makeup artist that my every day look most often consists of a skin tint, BB/CC cream or lighter coverage foundation and a more fuller coverage concealer. Eyeshadow / Eye Liner: MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Mattes® Eyeshadow Palette: The Original 12 x 0.03 oz/ 1 g # - this was from her kit; it's one she recommended, though she said we could go with the cooler toned one if I was more comfortable with those shades or she could find another neutral-to-cool toned palette. It is a warmer palette than I typically use but we discussed it and went with this one. I'm glad we did; I ended up liking the look she created with it and it gave me an opportunity to try his reformulated version of it - I picked this up when it first came out and found some of the shades to be chalky. Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Your Brows Set Medium Brown - just the liner. I *think* this was from her kit. I tend to use taupe or grey-brown shades but my hair has been lightened for the summer and she went with this shde to more closely complement the lighter highlights in my hair. Mascara: we opted to skip mascara. I actually had a mascara and eyelash curler in my purse (I was going to dinner after getting my makeup done) so I would just use that. I'm particular when it comes to mascara and since I was off to dinner I felt more comfortable going with something I knew worked well for me. * COMPLEXION: Primer: used the Tatcha SPF from my skincare routine as primer - this worked out well as I use sunscreen as my primer about 80% of the time Base: MAKE UP FOR EVER Super Boost Lightweight Moisturizing Skin Tint with Hyaluronic and Polyglutamic Acids - she pulled this from the floor and from her kit she pulled the MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Face Essentials – Longwear Full Face Cream Palette Palette 1: Light to Medium (which I have) from her kit. We opted to go with the skin tint. Concealer: Dior Concealer we used to prime my eyelids Setting Powder: She mixed a couple of powders - ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder and the HUDA BEAUTY Fragrance Free Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder (one of the tinted ones) Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Waterproof Setting Spray 3.3 oz / 100 ml * CHEEKS:Blush: Dior Rosewood Blush Stick + Saie SuperSuede™ Talc-Free Powder Blush Mia (which I have) - she also pulled the Saie SuperSuede™ Talc-Free Powder Blush Ciao Bronzer: MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt® Cream Contour & Bronzer Stick in Light-Medium and Light (from her kit) and the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Creamy Bronzing Powder 100 sunkissed sand Highlight: Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Seeker Champagne Gold Powder Highlighter * LIPS: I have both of these products but hadn't shared that with her. Love the combination and it will be a pairing that I wear from now on. Liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner Iconic Nude Lip Gloss: Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly Hydrating Non-Sticky Lip Oil Oat Overall Thoughts:Very fun and enjoyable experience, both the learning aspect as well as chatting with the makeup artist about beauty products. I appreciated learning a handful of tips and tricks and new techniques tailored to my particular features. I was very (surprised and) pleased that I was able to have them use a couple of products that were not part of the kit. And, I was even more pleased at the other product(s) the makeup artist chose for me - both those that were already included in her kit and others as well. Last but definitely not least, my makeup artist was fantastic! She really really took the time to review what I included in the "Any Special Request" section and paid care and attention to what I shared when we met - regarding products / brands I like as well as my general approach to doing makeup and what I was hoping to learn. After the Lesson: After the lesson, the makeup artist asked if there were any products I wanted her to pull for me (for purchase). Usually they will close out the service by processing payment for the services and any products purchased. You can (but are not obligated) to provide a tip to the makeup artist - either through the credit card used or in cash Takeaways for Next Makeup Lesson: First takeaway, there will be another makeup lesson When booking your appointment, include what you'd like to work on. Keep in mind the time frame you are working with. Alternatively, have photos on your phone showing the look you want to work on during your makeup lesson. I have a couple of ideas in mind but it's all tentative for the time being. I'm considering going in for another makeup lesson around the start of fall and doing something along the fall trends / colors. Also considering going in for a makeup lesson just before the holidays. I may actually do both, but it'll depend on what else I have going on. Or, perhaps going in for a makeup lesson just before the Sephora sale event, with the idea of trying a couple of the products that will be out at that time.

Vichey Mattifying Moisturizer is really great for oily skin, that's what I've been using. It was recommended to me by a dermatologist:)

@CookieGirl1 I bought it yesterday. My body can get pretty dry. It's very moisturizing and makes my skin soft. The lotion feels silky and absorbs quickly but it's very lightweight compared to SDJ Creams. I love the pump!The '62 scent is just like the Cream, Firmeza Body Oil, and Body Spray. I used it last night (Wed) and this morning (Thursday) my skin is still soft and moisturized/hydrated!I think it moisturizes just as well as the SDJ Creams, it's just a lighter/thinner formula.💛

I’m currently using either the SUPERGOOP Unseen Sunscreen, or the Glow Screen, but they are breaking me out. Anyone who knows what I should do?

Target is not a certified retailer of Davines - so the product you bought was old and could be expired/was damaged

@jaaayp that exfoliator sounds amazing!

@xShelex Glad I could help! Those questions always help me focus on what my particular skin really needs, so I don’t waste much money and time on useless (for me) products.

Do they announce it on here, is there a specific tab I should look for? I’ve been wanting to go since last year and so scared to miss it!