MAC wedding makeover

Caution: lengthy rant! You've been warned...

After doing some research, I decided that I'd like to have my make-up done at one of the MAC stores in Warsaw. The fee is 150 PLN, quite a lot comparable to other brands, but redeemable on products, which is always a huge plus.

So on Monday I happily trotted to a MAC store, hoping to walk out with a gorgeous, long lasting make-up on my face. It was my first professional make-up application ever, but I think I was well-prepared, I took photos of the dress, the hair, a piece of fabric from my wedding dress... When I walked in and asked for a lady that I was supposed to have my appointment with (I asked specifically for her because she's been recommended by another MUA), she told me she's very busy and another person has to replace her. It was a bit odd, but I agreed.

Together with a MUA we decided that I wanted focus on my eyes rather than lips, I also said I have VERY oily skin and then let her pick the products for me. At this stage I began to be feel even more suspicious, because she went for Prep & Prime SPF 50 (I thought SPF reflects light in flash photography and is not recommended) and after covering my face in Studio Fix Fluid, didn't conceal any blemishes showing through. At the end she also went for some super glittery orange blusher that was not only gone within an hour from application, but also emphasized the shine on my face.

The strangest thing however was my eye make-up. She went for orange (Paradisco, I think, but I'm not sure since I wasn't given a face chart at the end) on the lid and dark purple in the crease and then she heavily applied some shimmery highlight shade under the brow bone. For my lips she chose one of the Slimshines, and the color she picked looked on me like Softlips lipbalm I put on BEFORE I do my make-up; it did abslutely nothing for my lips.

Here's the finished look:

My face got shiny within 2 hours, and, as I said, the blusher was gone even earlier. The shadow placement was uneven on both eyes as was the liner. Also, I don't think she used a waterproof mascara or liner (Blacktrack Fluidline) because it came right off with some cleansing water. But I think what pissed me off the most was the fact that the whole style of doesn't match the style of my dress or hairdo at all. FAIL!

Basically, I let her finish and told her right away I didn't like it and that we have to go for something entirely different. I suggested 40's inspired make-up with dramatic, reddish lip to match the retro style of the dress. I spent al least 15 minutes with 2 MUAs choosing a lipstick (they wanted me to get a lipgloss, but with the veil on my face I'd rather avoid having it glued to my lips). I settled on Cockney; somehow I have a soft spot for Lustre finish, and also got a Blot powder in Medium Dark, which still looks very light, so I hope it's a good shade. They booked me in for another quick makeover on Wednesday just to try a different eye look.

So I went there today again and despite having an appointment, the same MUA who booked me told me she was busy and had to hurry up because she had another client in half an hour. She was so rushed that she only took off the eyeshadows I applied in the morning and left my eyeliner and mascara ('Oh, you've already got the eyeliner, I don't have to apply it again'), then I told her specifically which colors I wanted and it took her maybe 3 minutes to do both eyes. Voila!

MAC Brule e/s on the lid, Wedge e/s in the crease and Vanilla e/s under the brow bone and in the inner corner

This was taken after I got home, so my mineral foundation is melted, I've got nothing on my lips, the eyeliner should be thicker plus there'll be some falsies, but maybe somehow you get the idea.

I'm seriously disappointed with the customer service at MAC. I think it's simply unacceptable. Today I made sure I was booked to a different MUA for the wedding, but as I've seen before, it doesn't guarantee anything. If I had all the products I need and wasn't worried that I wouldn't be able to do my own make-up on the big day due to stress, I'd rather do it myself.

I guess I AM being very picky here, but that's what happens when you know too much about something and are able to follow closely what a 'specialist' does on you. I'm trying to be positive and think that if I tell them in detail which products I want on my face and which I don't like, it's going to be fine.

What experience have you had with makeovers at MAC?