I am a beauty warrior. From anti-aging serums to avante-garde sunscreen potions, I have an unquenchable thirst to hunt and gather products to make women look and feel their best. As every woman knows, the beauty industry is vast encompassing hair care, makeup, skincare, body cleaners/moisturizers and an endless parade of accessories to accompany the products. Even for a beauty editor, it can be overwhelming. Last week, while out hunting in downtown Chicago, I discovered an incredible resource: Target offers complimentary beauty concierges! Strolling the aisles in a chic black apron are hard core beauty enthusiasts employed to help match products to customers’ needs. In contrast to the commissioned-based sales staff manning counters in department stores, these employees are not affiliated with a single brand. They offer unbiased advice. And, they are equipped with mini iPads to easily access the minutiae of product information often requested by shoppers. My concierge –Keisha Taylor — really knew fact from fiction. I asked her a slew of questions. Which conditioner is best for color treated hair? (L’Oreal Sulfate- Free Everpure Moisture Conditioner) How can avoid parabens in sunscreens ? (La Roche Posay/Neutrogena). Is expensive prestige mascara much different from the mass version? (no) Then we got to the hair tools aisle. I needed a new hair dryer to manage my super thick mane. Instead of pointing me towards the most expensive option, she recommended the titanium ceramic Con-air which she uses. Why? This light-as-air version would save me time and energy with each blowout.
In this age of virtual, faceless consumerism, it is nice to experience old school customer service.
MY PICK WITH KEISHA (ATK+ Keisha Taylor-Target Beauty Concierge)
Beauty Buddies: I was so impressed with Keisha that I asked her to supply me with her 5 top beauty picks at Target.
Skincare:
VichyLiftActiv Serum 10 – This little product gives you an initial lift and plumpness to your face but it’s even more than surface effects. So while it gives immediate results it also works over time. It’s great for anybody who’s ever wondered if they should be using anti aging products–anywhere from your early 20’s on up.
Laneige BB Cushion – Everyone is loving the 5-1 products these days and this one is very light weight. I can’t use foundation because it makes me break out. From this BB Cushion I get the coverage of a foundation but it’s still very light and hydrating. I use medium but I’ll swap to dark in the summer when I start to get more color.
SPF:
La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Face & Body Melt In Sunscreen – It’s totally lightweight and has a nice, light fragrance that fades away after awhile. It covers UVA and UVB spectrum damage and it’s not sticky, even though it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Cosmetics:
Pixi Large Lash Mascara – It doesn’t clump and it separates the lashes amazingly while giving natural looking volume and length. If you’re looking for natural looking length and volume this is your pick.
Hair Care:
Umberto Repair Treatment Masque – For $12 it’s a complete steal. If you color your hair or heat damage this product does salon quality repair on your hair. It truly does wonders!