Beauty Classes

Sometimes the best way to learn is to experience it for yourself.  About a month or two ago, I discovered that one of the Sephora's in my city was offering beauty classes!  The BEST part is that the classes are completely free with no obligation to buy any product.  Classes are open to anyone, with the exception of a few open to beauty-insiders only.   To sign-up, you must reserve a spot online.  (The spots are pretty coveted - the class I signed up for filled up within a week of being posted online!).

The Class
The class I attended was called, "Perfectly Paired: Lips and Cheeks".  The class was held in the store, after regular store hours on a Sunday.  About 12 customers, like myself, were in attendance with 5-6 Sephora beauty experts there to help.  There were three large tables set up in a u-shape, and each customer had a spot with an ah-mazing set of Sephora brushes to use, mirror, and complimentary bottled water.

At check-in, we received a clipboard for notes and our "Skin Color IQ" and the lead instructor introduced herself, with introductions of each Sephora beauty experts thereafter.  She explained that she would teach, while one of the beauty experts served as her model.  Then, we would have time to apply what we had learned.  Our table beauty experts would be there to help if we needed it.

Blush
To start, we began with blush.  Our instructor went over different ways to wear blush and what kind of brush we could use to apply it.  This was not new information to me as I've always applied blush using an upwards motion on my cheekbones.  A new technique I did learn about was "high fashion" blush.  Using this method, you apply to the cheekbones and then sweep up into the forehead, slightly above the eyebrows.  Once we learned these different techniques, we ended up exploring what colors work best on our skin and found a blush that we liked within the store to try.  The blush I used was Nars in Deepthroat.

Lips
After reviewing blush and cheeks, we went into lips.  I probably learned the most at this point in the class: make sure to prep the lips, line, and then apply lipstick.  Prepping and caring for lips includes exfoliating and using a moisturizing lip balm.  This is great to do in the morning and evenings (especially in the wintertime).  When actually applying lipstick, our instructor taught us use a primer to keep it in place.  Then, line the lips.  The trick she showed us was to place an "x" in the cupid's bow area and then always draw upwards.  (If you draw downwards, the line will make your lips appear thinner).  On the lower lip, start in the middle and draw up to the corner of your mouth.  Finally, use a brush to blend, blend, blend the liner.  Top with a coordinating lipstick!  The lipstick I used was YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Color 8, Pink In Confidence.  The liner to coordinate was Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Line in Nude Fair.

After the Class
As I mentioned, there is no obligation to purchase anything... but, after the class is over - the store is your playground!  I did end up purchasing the blush, liner, and lipstick... along with some other purchases... but there were a few girls who headed home and didn't make any purchases that night.

I really enjoyed this classroom-like experience and learned a lot about makeup application.  So much so that I would definitely do it again!  In fact, there is a current class open at my Sephora called, "Skin Care Basics".  The class description reads, "Understand your skin type and exactly what kind of skincare it needs.  Start with Skincare IQ to select the right products, then get your routine down to a science - from cleansing and removing makeup to savvy application techniques for masks, seems, moisturizers, SPF, and BB creams."  I think this will be a great way to ring in 2015!

To sign-up for a Sephora class in your area, go to www.sephora.com.  Click on "Stores" in the upper right area and search for a store in your city.  Click on the store of your choice and go to the "Beauty Services" tab.  Keep in mind that not every Sephora is able to offer these types of classes.

If you live in the Omaha, NE area like I do - the Village Pointe store offers these classes.

Let me know if you know of any other beauty classes that are available to those who aren't cosmetologists, but who just enjoy learning more about makeup!