topic Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome? in Beauty

Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

beach-mom — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 06:39:03 GMT

Last year DD bought Anastasia's foundation. She really liked it and said I should try it. So after Thanksgiving I went in to get a match, and bought it. The first day I wore it DD and I went to another Sephora store that was larger so she could pick up some powder she uses. I wandered over to the Anastasia area and was looking at the range of shades when an SA came over to help . I told her I was wearing it for the first time, but I wasn't sure about the shade. She told me I was wearing the wrong shade, and she would definitely put me in shade X, which she had applied on one side of my lower face. Another SA who came over agreed. So I came home confused. I tried wearing the original shade once more before the holidays, and just wasn't happy with it. It did seem like shade X matched my skin better (but I hadn't bought it).

Fast forward to tonight. DD and I went to the nearest Sephora again, with the idea that I would exchange it for the other shade. I wanted a third opinion, so I asked for help. The SA that came over said she was going to call over her associate who was an expert on foundations. She put me in both shades on each side of my lower face, and wasn't really happy with either. She recommended Lancome,and said it was a better foundation. The other SA, who stayed with us, said she also loved Lancome best of all the foundations in the store and listed all of its selling points. OK, I'll try it. We went over to the Lancome area and both DD and I tried Teint Idole. We both thought we had a good match and liked the feel of it, so ended up getting it. These two girls spent a lot of time with us.

After checking out I asked for the manager. She came over, and I told her how helpful "S" was to us. She said, "Who?" I repeated her name and she looked puzzled. Then I saw her on the other side of the store. The manager said, "Oh, that's one of our brand reps." I asked which one, and of course she replied, "Lancome."

I was not happy. "S" had never said she represented Lancome, and she should have. I told DD she could have said she wasn't sure about the Anastasia match, but "I represent Lancome, and I can show you what we have." I could see DD was hoping I didn't say anything, and I didn't. But after we left I was angry. OF COURSE she would steer us to Lancome!

I have nothing against Lancome. One of my good friends worked in their head NYC office 30 years ago. I got to try a lot of the products, but could never find a good foundation match, so I haven't even looked at their foundations in a long, long time. And this one does seem nice.

But now I'm thinking I should have insisted on trying more colors in Anastasia.

Have you had experience with either of these foundations?

And what would you do? Would you keep the Lancome foundations? It's not that I NEED any other foundations - I'm just always searching for the perfect one, and I have a variety!

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Katcat1 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 09:12:42 GMT

That was really sneaky of the rep not to introduce herself as the Lancome rep. I may have walked up to her and said, so you are the Lancome rep. I have never had experience with Anastasia or Lancome. I wore Laura Mercier for qute a few years until they changed the ingredients and it oxidized on me. Now I am wearing Philosophy's tint which I bought for $20 because it is being discontinued and I also have Urban Decay's foundation that is like a tinted moisturizer but better coverage.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Janey2 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 10:08:20 GMT

I am a Sephora shopper. Whenever a rep helps me they always identify themselves. The one that helped you sounds like a hardcore salesperson who wanted to make the sale. In the end it didn’t, really matter if you liked the product, it was always up to you. As far as foundation, it sounds like the Anastasia foundation is not for you. You are having too much trouble finding a match. Not every foundation color choices are for everyone. Always take a sample and apply it yourself at home. I find putting a foundation on yourself helps, as opposed to a sales person from the store. Some of them know what they are doing, and some of them just want to make a sale. I am a hard color to match. I am always trying new foundations, nothing is as perfect as the one I am wearing for years. I always go back to it. Good Luck in your search. I find foundation the hardest thing to buy.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Karie2022 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:29:05 GMT

I agree with jewel, always get samples, bring them home and try them on in good lighting...the lighting is key...most Sephora's have horrible lighting...I never understood why they don't put makeup counters like in Macys, over by the windows. Instead they are in middle of the store. I have had no luck with Sephora makeup ladies, nor has my daughter...again, probably the fault of poor lighting. I've also found I cannot wear foundations anymore, only bb creams or tinted moisturizers...my 50+ oily skin can't handle it I guess 😩

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

chiclet — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:29:25 GMT

I have rarely found an SA who could find a color match. Also being oily the color can change as the day goes on and also change with the sunscreen or powder you use. I have never found any foundation that I am happy enough to use the whole tube or rebuy.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

jackthebear — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 13:18:17 GMT

@beach-mom wrote:
Last year DD bought Anastasia's foundation. She really liked it and said I should try it. So after Thanksgiving I went in to get a match, and bought it. The first day I wore it DD and I went to another Sephora store that was larger so she could pick up some powder she uses. I wandered over to the Anastasia area and was looking at the range of shades when an SA came over to help . I told her I was wearing it for the first time, but I wasn't sure about the shade. She told me I was wearing the wrong shade, and she would definitely put me in shade X, which she had applied on one side of my lower face. Another SA who came over agreed. So I came home confused. I tried wearing the original shade once more before the holidays, and just wasn't happy with it. It did seem like shade X matched my skin better (but I hadn't bought it).

Fast forward to tonight. DD and I went to the nearest Sephora again, with the idea that I would exchange it for the other shade. I wanted a third opinion, so I asked for help. The SA that came over said she was going to call over her associate who was an expert on foundations. She put me in both shades on each side of my lower face, and wasn't really happy with either. She recommended Lancome,and said it was a better foundation. The other SA, who stayed with us, said she also loved Lancome best of all the foundations in the store and listed all of its selling points. OK, I'll try it. We went over to the Lancome area and both DD and I tried Teint Idole. We both thought we had a good match and liked the feel of it, so ended up getting it. These two girls spent a lot of time with us.

After checking out I asked for the manager. She came over, and I told her how helpful "S" was to us. She said, "Who?" I repeated her name and she looked puzzled. Then I saw her on the other side of the store. The manager said, "Oh, that's one of our brand reps." I asked which one, and of course she replied, "Lancome."

I was not happy. "S" had never said she represented Lancome, and she should have. I told DD she could have said she wasn't sure about the Anastasia match, but "I represent Lancome, and I can show you what we have." I could see DD was hoping I didn't say anything, and I didn't. But after we left I was angry. OF COURSE she would steer us to Lancome!

I have nothing against Lancome. One of my good friends worked in their head NYC office 30 years ago. I got to try a lot of the products, but could never find a good foundation match, so I haven't even looked at their foundations in a long, long time. And this one does seem nice.

But now I'm thinking I should have insisted on trying more colors in Anastasia.

Have you had experience with either of these foundations?

And what would you do? Would you keep the Lancome foundations? It's not that I NEED any other foundations - I'm just always searching for the perfect one, and I have a variety!

are you disappointed in the actual products or that you wanted a rep from the company to help you

if you don't like the product take it back

Sephora has lousy lighting, I usually check in natural light then go back and buy if I like it

last 2 foundations I got were drugstore, tried a chanel which I love their products generally but the color just didn't do it

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

San Antonio Gal — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 13:22:20 GMT

Since you said you like the Lancome product, I would continue to use it. What she did was steer you away from Anastasia, but in the end you found something you like.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Shanus — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 15:55:55 GMT

@beach-mom

Unfortunately, ULTA and Sephora's sales associates are not pros. They're given minimal training and mostly in location of products. There are a few makeup artists, but I've tested them out getting a few makeovers and only one or two had sufficient knowledge in all brands/shades/products.

Their "brand ambassadors" are there for that reason and will always steer you in that direction. Unless I'm purchasing a product I've used before, I'd depend on dept. store counter help and always ask for samples of anything and everything first before purchasing.

In Sephora, and most stores, a SA would much rather sell you a new and different product than exchange one you didn't like. It's all about $.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Trinity11 — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 16:14:47 GMT

Sorry that happened to you @beach-mom . I was in Sephora about ten years ago and encountered the same thing. It was my daughter who asked her if she was a rep for the company she was pushing on me. She doesn't buy makeup but she is quite astute when it comes to business practices as she had her own company for quite a few years.

I have never truly had a perfect match when it comes to foundation. They work for a week or two until I encounter a mirror that tells me differently. Usually they come off as mask like and never quite match my fair complexion.

In answer to your question about Lancome foundations... I have worn them over the years but they have too much coverage for me. At this point, I look better with a light dusting of powder than any foundation.. If I need to cover something I use a dot of foundation (Estee Lauder) but most days I forgo all foundation.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Shanus — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 16:26:03 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:

Sorry that happened to you @beach-mom . I was in Sephora about ten years ago and encountered the same thing. It was my daughter who asked her if she was a rep for the company she was pushing on me. She doesn't buy makeup but she is quite astute when it comes to business practices as she had her own company for quite a few years.

I have never truly had a perfect match when it comes to foundation. They work for a week or two until I encounter a mirror that tells me differently. Usually they come off as mask like and never quite match my fair complexion.

In answer to your question about Lancome foundations... I have worn them over the years but they have too much coverage for me. At this point, I look better with a light dusting of powder than any foundation.. If I need to cover something I use a dot of foundation (Estee Lauder) but most days I forgo all foundation.

@Trinity11 May I suggest trying a tinted moisturizer and a foundation stick in matching shades? Most lines have both now realizing that some women don't want or need full coverage. A foundation stick has good coverage, but lighter weight than concealer and if you purchase both if, for example, Lancôme the shades should have the same names. Concealers are usually too light to spot cover on your face since they're used under eyes.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Trinity11 — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 16:33:40 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:

Sorry that happened to you @beach-mom . I was in Sephora about ten years ago and encountered the same thing. It was my daughter who asked her if she was a rep for the company she was pushing on me. She doesn't buy makeup but she is quite astute when it comes to business practices as she had her own company for quite a few years.

I have never truly had a perfect match when it comes to foundation. They work for a week or two until I encounter a mirror that tells me differently. Usually they come off as mask like and never quite match my fair complexion.

In answer to your question about Lancome foundations... I have worn them over the years but they have too much coverage for me. At this point, I look better with a light dusting of powder than any foundation.. If I need to cover something I use a dot of foundation (Estee Lauder) but most days I forgo all foundation.

@Trinity11 May I suggest trying a tinted moisturizer and a foundation stick in matching shades? Most lines have both now realizing that some women don't want or need full coverage. A foundation stick has good coverage, but lighter weight than concealer and if you purchase both if, for example, Lancôme the shades should have the same names. Concealers are usually too light to spot cover on your face since they're used under eyes.

@Shanus Foundation sticks are still too much and stick in every pore (Bobbi Brown) and tinted moisturizers do nothing for me. They are always the wrong color...either too pink or too yellow. A drop of Estee Lauder foundation stippled on a flaw, always blends in and works for me. People at makeup counters have often asked me why I would ever need foundation when I am looking for one. I think we are our own worst critic and a lifetime of looking at every pore with a 10X mirror, I am finally realizing that my complexion is fairly good without much makeup.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

beach-mom — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 18:31:44 GMT

Thank you for your advice everyone! DD and I decided to keep the Lancome and give it a chance. I'm VERY reluctant to return makeup, and I've done it only one other time before this that I know of. I know they just have to discard it, and I care about that.

I'm still upset that she never told us she represented Lancome. It wasn't until we were leaving I found out from the store manager. We did not see her again - she was helping someone else at the other side of the store.

Had she told us she represented Lancome, that would have been fine and I still would have let her show me. I'm just upset at the way it happened. When I first asked for help with the Anastasia shade I was hoping to get an SA who was familiar with matching shades in any line and could tell me which of the two she liked better - since I already had two different recommendations from two different stores! I never got to look at any of the other shade choices in that line. I guess I could have insisted, but I'm not really one who would do that!

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Wsmom — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 20:57:03 GMT

I have found I can't rely on strictly the SA trying to sell me the makeup. I have to get what I like and rely on a friend to help with the color match. I was in Macy's the other day and the Lancome SA told me the color foundation I was wearing was all wrong, way too dark for me, and gave me a sample of the "perfect match" for me in Lancome. I got home and checked and though different brands, virtualy the same color. The Lancome was not any lighter nor did it look any different on my face (colorwise) when I did each one on two different sides.

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

JustJazzmom — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:49:40 GMT

@Wsmom Perhaps the foundation oxidizes on you? At least you were able to sample it at home. Maybe go back for a lighter shade? Fluorescent lights always throw off a person’s coloring in a department store.

How did you like the foundation itself? Did it cover well w/o caking?

Re: Foundations - Anastasia, Lancome?

Wsmom — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 01:06:41 GMT

@JustJazzmom wrote:
@Wsmom Perhaps the foundation oxidizes on you? At least you were able to sample it at home. Maybe go back for a lighter shade? Fluorescent lights always throw off a person’s coloring in a department store.

How did you like the foundation itself? Did it cover well w/o caking?

@JustJazzmom, I didn't like the foundation at all so it didn't matter. As far as the oxidizing, I took off the one side and applied the Lancome when I got home. The other side was the same foundation I was wearing that day when she commented it was too dark.