Heya girlies!

As a belated Christmas present, my mom is taking me out to get some customized makeup--you know, foundation, concealer, and other makeups that are tailored to my skin tone and coloring.

I'm just debating where I want to go, and waffling between a department store (with the bajillion counters) or Sephora.

What do y'all recommend?

The best make up "make over" I got was at Mac, but I love Sephora, too. I've never found Department stores to be incredibly helpful in directing me towards great products- just what they want me to buy. I only buy from dept. store counters when I know exactly what I need- usually Lancome.

Pick the one the has the brightest light. Everytime I go to a dept. store the light is always very dim so when I go outside the color doesn't even match my face. So then I end up going back inside and returning the stuff for a different color. It's very annoying. At the mall in my city the Sephora seems to be pretty bright though.

What an awesome gift!!! I am a makeup junkie...I have found that the sales people at Sephora are really knowledgeable and helpful, but aren't pushy--unlike sales people are dept stores who may be knowledgable and helpful, but are really pushy. Have fun!!!

I don't buy a lot of make-up. When I do, I go to Sephora. They give great hands-on instructions, there's no sales pressure and it's just a nice place to be.

Another vote for Sephora's. I like that they have a wide variety of products, great prices, nice salespeople and yes it is bright in there. I've never found the ladies at the Macy's etc kinds of make up counters to be helpful in my finding the right product for me. They always want to push the brightest, cakiest and most expensive products on me... um, no thank you.

Go to sephora they are awesome and KNOW what they are talking about.

Do not buy MAC concealor or any face type of powder- it's so thick eventually your skin starts breaking out- I only recommend their eyemakeup- I LOVE their Smokey eye kits

I use bare escentuals from Sephora it's AWESOME STUFF!

I'd have to say go with Sephora. Like others, I don't find department store counters very helpful, and even then, if you go to one brand counter, they'll try to pressure you to buy from there and it might not give you the chance to try the other brands. I also don't like MAC much... I dunno, whenever I try something from there I just end up throwing it out! But yeah Sephora staff is always helpful, and it gives you so many options to choose from!

i LOVE Sephora. their salespeople don't work on commission, so they don't try to force you to buy stuff.

SEPHORA!!!!! I could live in that place. The sales people are very helpful and very nice. It's very bright in there..they have an awesome selection of makeup. I'm not allowed in there, cuz my hubby says I spend way too much money on makeup..lol.

I must go to the wrong Sephoras. I never find enough direct light to match colors for foundations or concealers.

Sephora! I love that place! Once you know what you need you can order online and get free shipping on orders over 50$

sephora definitely. always been treated well there.

Well, I walked thru the entire Sephora store, and not ONE employee offered to help or even say hello. So....I wont be back!

I love love love the MAC counter at Macy's. I use the studio fx for my foundation concealer and it's amazing. I have a very dark chin (pcos) and this stuff keeps it hidden for hours!!! All the makeup folks are trained and know their stuff. I have never had one that tried to sell me stuff I didnt want.

I know it's not what you asked for but I have recently fallen in love with Merle Norman. My favorite product is their tinted SPF called Luxiva. That stuff rocks! I have several skincare items too and absolutely love them all.