From The Good Queen: My Amazing Sephora Experience featuring Estee Lauder, Urban Decay, NARS & more!

I've been in a rut lately. Around Christmas I began trying new moisturizers because my tried-and-true BareMinerals was just not cutting it in this dry winter air. Also, I'm now in my mid-30s and not only is my skin changing, but it's time to get serious about anti-aging. I've also been feeling as if I need an entirely new routine. A dear friend told me that you can get your face done at Sephora for free with a $50 purchase -  how easy is that?! - and I've been searching for a free weekend day to go. That day finally arrived. When I went to make the appointment I discovered that there is another option: a personal beauty consultation. More in-depth and a minimum $125 purchase. Sign. Me. Up.

The appointment is supposed to last for 90 minutes. But thanks to a cancellation, my personal beauty adviser (PBA), Rosita, spent two hours with me. A PBA-in-training, Sharee, set me up in a private room in the back of the store, offered bottled water and snacks, and made me feel like a real VIP.  Sharee removed the tinted moisturizer and concealer I had on with a Caudalie makeup remover product and, because I mentioned dry skin, applied an amazing, life-changing product called GLAMGLOW Thirstymud as a masque. Rosita and I talked for a while at first about my concerns and what I was looking to achieve that day. I also brought along a all the e.l.f. brushes, e.l.f. geometric eyeshadow palette and Stila Portrait of a Perfect Eye my fabulous sister The Evil Queen gave me for Christmas, but I unfortunately have no idea how to use.

The next step was prep. The store was hosting an Estee Lauder global makeup artist and skincare expert named Derek for the day. Rosita had him come in and give me a mini-facial. Derek first cleansed with a product called Perfectly Clean, which is a non-foaming cream cleanser that doubles as a moisture mask. He recommended applying before I get in the shower, letting the product and steam work some magic, and either rinsing or buffing off with my Clarisonic. Then he used a pair of classic serums: Advanced Night Repair and Advanced Night Repair Eye. After the serums he applied Advanced Time Zone eye cream, a new product called Revitalizing Supreme, and Resilience Lift Night for the neck and decolletage.

LESSON #1: "Night" creams and serums can and should be used during the day. 

Between the GlamGlow and the fabulous Estee Lauder products, my skin has never felt better. I bought the GlamGlow, cleanser and serums. They were expensive but worth it. 

I will use the moisturizers I have (Clinique Moisture Surge Intense and Moisture Surge Eye) and will consider the Estee Lauder creams when it's time for new. And one of my self-discovery items that I may keep up forever is Clinique's Take the Day Off oil cleanser. I've been using it at night only for two weeks and I'm obsessed with it. Oils are a new trend that I hope stays around, because this cleanser is an absolute must for my dry winter skin.

Rosita stated with eyes. I had my face done at the BareMinerals boutique once and they did this also. I think the reasoning is so you don't get eyeshadow dust all over your under eye concealer. I've been trying this at home for a few days and it's a trick I will stick with. She applied Urban Decay Primer Potion using a brush, which allows for more control and only the amount of product you need, as opposed to applying with your finger. Rosita taught me how to play with color, which is something I've never been good at, and how to layer and blend eyeshadows. We went through my brushes and pallets at the same time so I could replicate the look at home. She used a BareMinerals Ready 4.0 pallete called The Happy Place: a pretty peach shimmer on my lids, matte grey in the crease, and shimmery plum as eyeliner.

LESSON #2: Apply eyeshadow first.

LESSON #3: Apply eyeshadow primer with a brush.

LESSON #4: Blend your eyeshadows!

Before we got started with foundation, Rosita color matched my face using this neat Sephora + Pantone computer system. Basically, this device takes pictures of your face in three places and spits out a code, which you then plug in to the in-store system or the Sephora website to get a complete list of all the foundations that match your skin color. You can email it to yourself and save it to your Sephora.com profile. No more testers! No more buying something that is perfect in the store but looks weird in natural light! It's pretty amazing. We tried a few different options but settled on Makeup Forever Professional Face & Body Foundation. The product is lightweight, sheer-to-medium coverage, and made of 80% water. Rosita applied Makeup Forever Professional HD primer and foundation using a cute pink Beauty Blender sponge. She applied a NARS concealer to my under eye area in a V-shape, extending the V up past the outer corner of my eye for a lifting effect, and blended with the sponge. Then she added a Sephora Smoothing & Brightening Concealer in rose to the inner eye and dark circles and blended with the sponge. The combined effect was fantastic and I've been able to replicate it successfully at home.

LESSON #5: Have your foundation color matched by a professional. It's free and easy!

LESSON #6: Apply undereye concealer in a V shape for a lifting effect. 

Rosita then brought out a NARS palette called NARSissist cheek: bronzer, Orgasm blush, and highlighter in one. She taught me how to use all three products for a combined sculpting effect that is great for everyday contouring and highlighting without being full-on Kim Kardashian. She finished the look off with a Sephora Collection Nano lip liner and lipstick, and a fantastic Tarte pencil called EmphasEYES Inner Rim Liner in nude that gives a natural bright and awake look. Advising that I shouldn't need to set with powder, Rosita gave me a light spritz of a Caudalie spray by L'Wren Scott and, after checking that the mascara I'd applied at home that morning was still in good shape, I was good to go. 

I've been able to replicate everything successfully at home because the entire concept of the PBA is to teach you how to do it all yourself. I use Urban Decay All-Nighter setting spray before leaving the house in the morning. At lunch, I use translucent powder (BareMinerals READY luminizing Mineral Veil) on my nose to reduce shine. It's been a week and I am very pleased with the long-lasting effects. My skin is happy and I feel fabulous.