All customers can avail of this complimentary service - where you can get a customised lesson to arm yourself with the necessary know-how to create your own makeup looks at home.
Bobbi Brown makeup artist Donna was tasked with giving me a detailed lesson, which began right back at the basics: skincare.
Skin
She removed my makeup with the Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil, which melted away my makeup easily (even my heavily applied mascara) then once my skin was squeaky clean, spritzed on the Hydrating Facial Tonic which is a lovely hydrating and refreshing toner to prepare skin before your moisturiser, a step I wouldn't usually have bothered with. As the last step in the skincare routine, Donna applied the Hydrating Face Cream, which left my skin feeling really soft.
Face
With my skin prepped and ready to go - Donna set about priming - and I was delighted to get to try the brand new Skin Smoothing Pore Perfector, which set to work smoothing out the noticeable pores on my nose and chin. Primer is a product that people may think isn't 100% necessary, but if you have skin that is combination or oily it is indispensable for not only creating a smooth, even base for foundation to sit on, but also for controlling oil production and ensuring your makeup lasts all day without sliding around.
Next to foundation - and I was delighted that Donna decided to use the Skin Foundation Stick in Warm Ivory - a product that I love using. I usually just apply the foundation straight to my face in stripes, then blend with my fingers, but Donna used it in conjunction with the unbelievably amazing Full Coverage Face Brush. This ultra-soft, tightly packed brush delivers just the right amount of product when lightly swirled over the foundation stick - and leaves a really polished finish - much more professional looking that when I apply it with my fingers. This is one of the most useful and effective makeup tips I've ever picked up!
To give my cheeks a pop of colour, Donna applied the new limited edition Pot Rouge which has been launched to support the Pretty Powerful Campaign. It's a universally flattering pink that would suit most skin tones. To add another dimension, Donna then lightly swept the Brightening Brick in Pastel Pink over the apples of my cheeks for extra glow.
To set my base, Donna used a powder brush and the extremely pretty Brightening Finishing Powder in Porcelain Pearl for a flawless finish.
Eyes
For the eyes, Donna demonstrated a really simple smokey eye that is suitable for day and night. To start things off, she lightly filled in my brows with a powder shadow, concentrating on filling in the sparser areas and creating a natural but full shape.
She then used a pale shade as a base on my eyes, followed by a taupe shadow on the lid and up to the crease, before using a gel liner with a powder eyeshadow over it to create a diffused, smokey eye that didn't look too precise. I've been creating this lived-in look at home easily - simply lining my eye with a black gel eye pencil, then smudging it out with a cotton bud, before going over the line with a dark powder eyeshadow and a liner brush. This not only creates a nice finish - but it lasts really well throughout the day too. To add another level of interest, Donna dabbed on a hint of the Sparkle Eye Shadow in Baby Peach on the centre of my eyelid, which opened out my eyes really well.
Lips
To compliment the subtly coppery smokey eye, Donna used the Beige Bobbi Brown lipstick. This isn't a shade I would have picked out of a line-up - but it's now one of my favourite lipsticks. It's the perfect, flattering warm beige, that has just the right amount of pink to suit my pale complexion. This is a winner!
The final look was wearable, polished and pretty - but I still felt like myself and I didn't feel (or look!) caked in makeup. Donna did a great job of explaining the best way to get the most out of the products I was using, and I felt that the tips I picked up in the hour-long lesson will be with me for many more years!
By Sarah McIntyre
