Photo: Trunk Archive/Levi Brown

Unless your best friend is a makeup artist, your go-to spot to learn about new products and pick up new tips is an old classic: the department store beauty counter. But what really happens there? I went undercover at a handful of New York stores, from Bergdorf Goodman to Sephora, to find out. I told each artist the same thing: I have a first date tonight; I want to look fresh, but not too made up. I also let them know that I'm pretty low-maintenance (my normal beauty routine consists of moisturizer and mascara).

I worked with five different makeup artists and got five very different looks. My main takeaway? It's more about the artist you work with, and their interpretation of the brand, than the brand itself. But see for yourself — here’s what happened:

LANCÔME AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

30 minutes with makeup artist Chong Panda Yu

The Makeover

Panda skipped foundation, only applying Maquicomplet ($30.50), the brand's lightest concealer, underneath my eyes and around my nose. I was happy she didn't want to cover up my skin — or my freckles. She focused mainly on my eyes, layering shimmering peach, brown, and bronze shades from the Eyeshadow Palette ($50) in Canary Chic on top of a matte ivory shadow. To keep the eyes looking soft and pretty, Panda didn't use liner — just their new mascara Grandiose ($32). I had to ask for lipstick and blush; she chose a Blush Subtil in Miel Glace ($30), another shade of bronze, and Rich Cashmere for lips ($30), a peachy nude, for an overall sunkissed effect. The only product she tried to sell me on was Lancôme’s new mascara.

Photo: Mark Iantosca

The Look for Real Life

I loved Panda's light touch; I still looked like me instead of someone trying to look older or different. She taught me a really interesting eye makeup contouring technique that I will definitely use again: She applied ivory shadow all over the lid to the brow bone and the pink-peach shade in the inner part of the lower lid, and then swept the brown across to the outer corner just above the crease. Finally, she layered the darkest shade all along and under the crease. To take it into night, she suggested simply adding liner.

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NARS AT BARNEYS

45 minutes with makeup artist Matthew Ambrosio

The Makeover

Matthew started with a trio of foundation ($45), concealer ($29), and powder foundation ($45). He also used a trio of blushes ($30): Luster, a bronzy shade, paired with the peachy pink shimmer of Amour and bright pink Desire on top. He used the NARSissist smokey eye compact ($59) on my eyes. The cream, espresso, and brown-plum shimmer shadows were topped off with black liner pencil. I'm not sure how he put it together since I didn't have a mirror in front of me. At the end, he let me know about a sale they had on a new compact and how much those colors would cost separately, which was helpful to know.

Photo: Mark Iantosca

The Look for Real Life

I would never be able to recreate this look — he used 14 products! The palette was darker and moodier than what I would typically choose, but I loved the glossy plum lipcolor ($26). I would definitely try it for a special occasion. While this was more makeup than I'm used to, it was fun to try out a totally new look.

HOURGLASS AT BLOOMINGDALES

25 minutes with makeup artist Alexandra Sorgi

The Makeover

Alexandra began by applying a gel-like mineral primer ($52) with a powder finish all over my face, followed by a very sheer foundation ($55) in Beige. Both products were softer and lighter than I expected. She swept the ivory color in the Gypsy eyeshadow palette ($38) all over my lid, putting the darker brown shade in a V shape from the middle of my lashline, out beyond the corner of my eye, and back in the crease. A very thin line of black pencil liner ($26) lined my top lashline, and By Terry's mascara ($47.50) finished my eyes. Alexandra wanted the spotlight to be on my lips with a burst of bright pink liquid lipstick ($28) that started out as a gloss, but turned matte. I loved the Ambient Lighting Palette ($58); three shimmery powders that made my cheeks look candlelit. Alexandra added a touch of a poppy shade of a blush ($35) and highlighter hybrid on top. She was incredibly friendly and talkative and there was no hard sell.

Photo: Mark Iantosca

The Look for Real Life

I hadn't heard of the company before, and Alexandra was great about giving me the scoop on their unique products and sharing makeup tips. Alexandra taught me about different makeup techniques, such as: If you do a statement lip, then don't overdo the eye, and vice-versa. I'll definitely follow her lead and do a strong lip with a subtle eye next time I go out. It was pretty and girly.

SEPHORA ON 5TH AVENUE

10 minutes with makeup artist Alyssa

The Makeover

Sephora's Express service offers a free consultation focusing on one aspect of your face (eyes, lips, or complexion). You can also buy a full-face makeover that takes 30 minutes and is redeemable in $50 worth of products. I chose to do the express smoky-eye service and then asked her for her recommendation for lip color.

Alyssa began with Smashbox eye primer ($20) to make shadows more vibrant and last longer. It was a new concept for me — I didn’t know eye primers existed. To create a smokey eye, Alyssa used three colors from Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette ($54). Tease, a dusty pinky-brown, was the base all over the lid, followed by a V-shaped application of Busted, a rich sparkly espresso shade. My favorite part was how she applied a sparkly pink shadow called YDK in a thin line just underneath my lower lashine, underneath the brow, and in a V-shape in the inner corner of my eye. A black Givenchy eye pencil ($23), lash primer ($28.50), and black mascara ($20) finished the eye look. For lips, she chose a rose-colored lip pencil ($24).

Photo: Mark Iantosca

The Look for Real Life

I felt like this was the most doable eye makeup look, since the products and color palette were similar to what I already use. She applied them in a way that I could definitely re-create from memory. I probably wouldn't use the eye makeup primer or the lash primer (I wouldn't consider them essentials), but I really liked the High Pigment pencil in place of lipstick — the finish was more matte and lasted longer. The vibe was relaxed and there wasn't a hard sell, which I liked.

CHANEL AT BERGDORF GOODMAN

45 minutes with makeup artist Brenna Ann Vashisht

The Makeover

Brenna could not have been more friendly or helpful. She explained everything she was doing every step of the way. She used a very light foundation ($45) with a dewy finish and a creamy concealer ($40), and set both with light powder ($45). She used Les 4 Ombres Eye Kit ($61) in Tisse Mademoiselle on my eyes, dusting a pinky brown shade all over the lid, brown in the crease, and gray right above the lid. She swept the cream shade just underneath my brows. A very soft rose petal blush ($45) was flattering and I loved the soft plummy pink lip ($35) in a sheer shade.

Photo: Mark Iantosca

Makeup in Real Life

The colors and the effects of the Chanel makeup made me want to buy everything she used — it just looked beautiful. She also taught me so much, including how to apply moisturizer — pat, don’t rub! She showed me how to apply concealer in dots under the eye and on the lid, and how to do a V shape in the edge of your eye with a dark color to create a more dramatic eye. She also showed me what each brush does, and how to use them to to blend your makeup nicely. All tips I will use going forward.