Why I Ask to See Your Makeup Before Your Lesson

Photo by Ginny Filer Photography

If you’ve had a makeup lesson with me, you may remember me asking you to send me a picture of your current makeup and brush collection before we meet. And if you’ve ever sent those pictures, there’s a good chance they came with a little disclaimer: “Please don’t judge me.” Or “I’m embarrassed by how much stuff I have.” Or maybe an apology for the products that have been sitting untouched in a drawer for who knows how long.

So, I wanted to explain why I ask for those pictures in the first place.

It is never, ever coming from a place of judgment.

You are hiring me because you want to learn. Maybe you’re in your 30s, 40s or 50s and your makeup routine doesn’t seem to be working the way it used to. Maybe your skin has changed, your eyes have changed, or you simply aren't sure how to update the makeup techniques you've been using for years. Maybe you don’t know what half the products in your bag actually do. Maybe you’ve accumulated makeup over the years because something was recommended to you, looked great on someone else, or was on super sale. Maybe you have a drawer full of products you bought with the best intentions and then never figured out how to use. I have no opinions on any of it. In fact, it gives me information.

I will never judge someone for wanting to learn. Ever. Learning, growing and asking questions are some of the things that fuel me, and I genuinely enjoy figuring out where someone is starting and how we can build from there. That is particularly important when I’m working with someone who feels like their makeup routine needs a refresh but doesn’t know where to begin. A personalized makeup lesson should be exactly that: personalized.

The reason I ask for these pictures is because I approach every lesson differently. There is no universal makeup routine that works for everyone, because we don’t all have the same face. We have different complexions, skin types, undertones, eye shapes, facial features, lifestyles and preferences. Someone looking for makeup lessons for women over 40 may have very different questions and concerns than someone who is just learning how to apply makeup for the first time. Someone with dry or textured skin may need completely different product recommendations than someone with oily skin. Hooded eyes require different techniques than deep set eyes. And some people love a full face of makeup while others want five minutes and a fighting chance.

My job is to understand what you need and make the most of the two hours we have together.

Your makeup collection gives me a surprisingly useful snapshot of that.

It can tell me a lot about where you may be getting your makeup information. Your products can give me clues about whether you prefer a bold look or something much more natural, whether skincare has been a priority for you, and how comfortable you are with the basics. It can show me whether you have been influenced more by marketing than by actual research, whether certain features of your face are important to you to highlight, and whether brand names matter to you or whether you are more interested in finding products that work within a particular budget.

Photo by Ginny Filer Photography

And sometimes, it tells me what isn't working.

That is useful information, too.

Seeing what you already own allows me to prepare for your private makeup lesson before you even walk through the door. Rather than spending the first part of our appointment trying to figure out what you have, what you like and what you’ve been using, I can come prepared with a better understanding of where you are starting. We can talk about the products you already own, figure out what is worth keeping, troubleshoot the things that aren’t working, and identify what might actually be missing.

For clients looking to update their makeup routine, especially those who haven't changed their techniques in years, this can be incredibly helpful. You don't necessarily need an entirely new makeup bag. Sometimes you simply need someone to explain why the products you already own aren't giving you the results you want and show you a different way to use them.

Most importantly, those pictures give me a chance to get to know you before we ever sit down together.

So please don't feel like you need to clean up your makeup bag, hide the products you’re embarrassed about or apologize for your collection before sending those pictures. There is no makeup shame happening over here.

The products in your bag simply give me a little more insight into you. And the better I understand where you’re starting, the more useful I can make your lesson…whether you're a complete beginner, trying to figure out makeup for mature skin, looking to update a decades-old routine, or simply wanting to feel more confident doing your own makeup.

And honestly, that’s the whole point of a customized makeup lesson.

You don't need to show up knowing what you're doing. That's literally why you're here.

And the more I know before you arrive, the more time we can spend doing all the fun stuff once you get here.