HOLIDAYS : Fresh Face for the Season : Many full-service salons offer a range of beauty services from day-to-day grooming to looking your best for parties.
Every woman wants to do something special for a holiday party--buy a new dress, splurge on new jewelry or maybe get her hair done. But something different--and useful for future day-to-day grooming--is a makeup application or lesson.
Many full-service salons house makeup artists who offer these services. The beauty treat, which averages 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the level of instruction, is fairly reasonable in price. Fees range from $6.95 to $30 for makeup application, but for a higher fee, most of the salons listed here offer lengthier lessons.
Several Valley-area salons offer special party makeup applications. Many prefer advance notice but most can accommodate last-minute clients.
* At Centre Salon at Sebastian International’s corporate headquarters in Woodland Hills, makeup artist Lisa Mayling says the number of clients for makeup applications jumps 20% during the holidays.
Makeup artists here use the company’s Trucco cosmetics, and they give step-by-step instructions. The process begins with the artist consulting the party-goer about attire for the occasion. Then any residual makeup is removed with cleanser and a toner. Moisturizer and eye gel are applied, followed by concealer, powder, and eye and lip color. The procedure, lasting 45 minutes to one hour, costs $40.
* A more conservative but nevertheless festive approach is taken at Channels Hair and Skin Care Salon in Woodland Hills, where Redken makeup products are used. The process, which takes 45 minutes to an hour and costs $25 to $35, starts with a clothing consultation. Makeup artists here prefer that clients bring in the clothing and even jewelry that they will wear, to achieve the best total look. (Occasionally, party-goers leave for their soiree directly from the salon.)
After the consultation, the face is cleansed and moisturized. Foundation, contouring, blush, shadow, liner, mascara, brow makeup, lipstick and setting powder follow.
* At Aida Grey in Encino, a $25 makeup application takes half an hour. The clothing to be worn is reviewed verbally with the artist, who uses Grey products. The face is cleansed and moisturized, and eye cream is applied. At this salon, eyes are made up first and then foundation is applied. Custom foundations, suited to the individual’s skin type, are mixed on the artist’s hand. Then contouring of the cheekbone area is done, followed by powdering and finally lip color.
* At Skin Spa in Encino, makeup applications cost $25 for a 45-minute session. This includes a thorough cleansing and makeup application, accompanied by step-by-step instruction. However, the instruction is not as in-depth as the $45 makeup lesson, which lasts about an hour. The Skin Spa consultation relies somewhat on the chosen holiday attire, but emphasis is placed more on personal coloring. Makeup artists here cleanse, conceal, lay the base, contour and do eyes and lips with products by Mary Cohr of France and Gerda Spillman of Switzerland.
* Although the digs may not be as luxe as other tony area salons, the best deal in town for makeup application is at Marinello School of Beauty in Reseda. For $6.95, beauty school students apply the salon’s own private label cosmetics inside the school’s salon area. The facial cleansing and makeup application average an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the student.
WHERE AND WHEN
Centre Salon: 6109 De Soto Ave., Woodland Hills, (818) 347-1900.
Channels Hair and Skin Care Salon: 4859 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 887-2489.
Aida Grey: 17304 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 783-0302.
Skin Spa: 17487 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 995-3888.
Marinello School of Beauty: 18442 Sherman Way, Reseda. (818) 881-2521.