The 8 secrets make-up counter staff don’t want you to know – and whether you should go in with a full face or not
EVER wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the department store make-up counter?
The immaculate sales staff, who are fabulously talkative, have many tricks in their trade.
Here, as Christmas shoppers throng the make-up and skincare stands, Siobhan O’Connor has insider info from beauty’s front line . . .
IF YOU ARE NOT WEARING MAKE-UP, THEN THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED
ACCORDING to a former Sephora employee, fresh-faced shoppers might end up having a very different shopping experience from those with full make-up on and beauty counter staff could even give you the cold shoulder.
The rationale behind this frosty behaviour is the assumption that if a customer isn’t wearing any make-up, it’s likely they will have less knowledge about beauty products and are therefore less likely to spend lots of money.
STAFF WIN PRIZES WHEN THEY SELL YOU KEY PRODUCTS
ALL sales representatives are encouraged to have A Wolf Of Wall Street mindset and sell, sell, sell when it comes to customers.
To incentivise staff, some brands even hold contests to boost sales.
According to an ex-Sephora employee known as “Hey Paris” on YouTube, these competitions revolve around selling specific products.
The staff member who sells the most wins free make-up.
So if you’ve ever sensed that a particular product is being pushed on you, now you know why.
This tactic has led to beauty counters being dubbed “fast food make-up” for their focus on swiftly pushing products for sales.
DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE LAB COATS
EVER seen a beauty counter staff member dressed in a white lab coat?
According to a former Debenhams make-up counter employee, it’s “a marketing ploy to make them look like experts”.
Synonymous with scientists, the pristine lab coats give the illusion that they are aestheticians or product researchers, instead of just a good ol’ sales rep.
The ex-Debenhams employee adds: “One thing I pass on to friends and family is to take advice with a pinch of salt and always do your own research, as cosmetic counter staff are not dermatologists, but simply repeat the spiel we are told by the brand we represent”.
CUSTOMERS ARE ALLOWED THREE FREE SAMPLES A DAY
STAFF often hold back on sharing them with customers, but a former Space NK insider says that people are allowed more freebies than they would think.
They said: “You are actually entitled to three samples a day — and all you have to do is ask any member of staff.”
However, ex-employees from Sephora have also claimed they quickly learned to tell the difference between someone only interested in free samples, and shoppers they could get a sale out of — and would often not waste their time on the former.
YOU ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT, AND THEY MAY HAVE A NICKNAME FOR YOU
ACCORDING to insider Hey Paris, the headsets that staff often wear in stores aren’t always used for professional purposes.
Originally designed to call on colleagues for assistance, these devices are occasionally used by teams to discuss customers discreetly.
Paris revealed that in her particular store, a team member nicknamed one customer with blonde curly hair “ramen noodle”.
On top of that, the insider said they would sometimes use the headsets to exchange observations on customers they suspected of theft.
Hardly surprising then that numerous shoppers have taken to social media to share their experiences of being watched by staff.
OUT-OF-STOCK PRODUCTS ARE HIDDEN UNDER THE COUNTER
HAVE you ever been on the hunt for the must-have product of the season only to be told by a staff member that it’s out of stock?
While this scenario might be true on many occasions, there are instances where the reality is quite the opposite.
Hey Paris revealed that sometimes sought-after-products are deliberately stowed away in the stockroom for staff members to buy themselves at the end of their shift.
In some cases, staff ask family members to turn up as customers and request a product is put behind the till for the rest of the day.
So next time you’re on the hunt for that much in-demand mascara, consider asking a manager if there are any left in the hope you’ll get an honest answer.
MOST MAKE-UP ARTISTS ARE SELF-TAUGHT
WHILE it doesn’t diminish their skills or mean they aren’t fantastic at their job, many beauty counter make-up artists have received no formal, professional training.
In fact, many of the staff at your local beauty store make-up stand are self-taught.
While it’s likely you’ll still end up receiving an amazing makeover, one thing to keep a close eye on is the sterilising of equipment.
Rumours have circulated for years that beauty counter staff don’t always clean their tools properly, and some ex-employees have confirmed this can sometimes be the case.
In fact, Maggie, who used to work for Charlotte Tilbury, warned about using tester pots, after a customer double-dipped her finger despite having a cold sore.
According to insiders, it’s best to get your make-up done first thing in the morning, as during busy periods later in the day, there’s even less time for thorough cleansing.
IF YOU SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY, YOU CAN GET A FREE PRODUCT
THIS might not work for every store, but it’s definitely the case for bath-bomb brand Lush.
According to former employee Eloise Fouladgar, if you go into a store and say it’s your birthday, they’ll give you a free product.
In a Tiktok video, Eloise also explains that there’s a way to get something free, even if it’s not your birthday.
She says: “If you become friends with the person that’s serving you, they’ll likely give you a free gift too — I did this loads of times when I was working there.”