"research"

[amalnahurriyeh]

Where would one go to buy nice makeup in London? Somewhere like Sephora, with salesclerks to help you pick the colors that suit you and high quality supplies. And, in addition, what's a likely place you might go to find make-up that's less high-end, but more ubiquitous? (In the US, this would likely be a pharmacy, or a large grocery store in the suburbs.)

Look, it's all amyhit's fault, OK?

Comments

[naraht]

MAC, possibly. Or one of the big department stores: Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nicks, Liberty.

For less expensive makeup, Boots ("the chemist," AKA a pharmacy). Or a slightly less posh department store like Debenhams, though it would also have salesclerks.

[amalnahurriyeh]

Helpful! Are there any meaningful subcultural distinctions among the places you mentioned? For instance, I'd assume someone younger (& urban) would be more likely to go to Sephora than Macy's.

[naraht]

No doubt there are (and probably finer ones than I've observed, being neither a native nor a makeup wearer). What sort of shopper are you envisioning?

[amalnahurriyeh]

(Yeah, I'm not a makeup wearer either, except on occasions of high formality, which makes an entire story revolving around cosmetics a smidge difficult to write...)

Has money, youngish, not a regular make-up wearer, acquiring supplies for a specific purpose. I'm trying to decide between "trends young and hip" vs "would go to a place that older female relatives used because knows of its existence."

[thinking_lotus]

I don't know anything about Sherlock, but as the American daughter-in-law of an English family I do know a bit about makeup purchasing.

English women aren't in general makeup wearers the way American women are, ie they aren't into a full face with foundation, blush, contouring etc. They are more like the French in that way (without the emphasis on skin care and facials). But they all do generally like to wear mascara, because most of them have blonde lashes, and they wear lipstick because they are pale. For this reason, they also like to get tans (though this may be changing). This will of course vary if you are in fact talking about English women of non-European origin.

[thinking_lotus]

Miss Selfridge, maybe, or a large Boots. For the high end, Space NK or Harrod's, Harvey Nicks etc.

ETA: I can't believe I forgot Topshop!

[amalnahurriyeh]

Excellent! I've never had to write about a place I've never been before Sherlock fandom, so I keep running up against these "BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE LIPSTICK COMES FROM" moments. *g*

[thinking_lotus]

Apparently there is a Sephora counter in Harvey Nichols, even. Otherwise, Boots has the broadest range, I would say, outside of the department stores. Topshop, Oasis, Miss Selfridge are all own brand.

[thinking_lotus]

you could also poke around here: http://www.refinery29.com/london

[nanila]

Seconding the above. You can also generally find boutique shops supplying one brand only (e.g. MAC or Benefit) in the high streets of the nicer neighbourhoods, e.g. Kensington, Angel/Islington or Kings Road in Chelsea.