How useful do you find beauty workshops?
Speaking from a personal point of view, I am in two minds about these.
Beauty workshops are helpful
I find beauty workshops, whether for skincare or makeup, useful if you are new to a brand or new to using certain skincare or learning how to use makeup. At a workshop, if its a hands on workshop conducted by proper trainers and consultants, it can be very enlightening. I do sometimes learn something new although I might not agree with everything preached 🙂
So I think that brands are doing a great thing by holding beauty workshops to introduce their new product lines to the public. It creates brand awareness and helps with sales and teaches people how to use a product because you’d be surprised at just how many people buy products without knowing the proper way to use it!
I am however increasingly feeling a bit non plussed about beauty workshops.
Beauty workshops are not useful
I find that beauty workshops stop becoming useful when you are familiar with a brand or product. Its great when the trainer keeps it short – if its an introduction to a new product but many times, they tend to get carried away which brings the whole experience down for me. Also workshops that tell you the same thing over and over is pretty much a waste of time for me. I think the people running the workshops should gauge their crowd – whether it is a crowd of beginners or people who are more experienced and tailor their delivery accordingly.
I also find that some “workshops” are merely thinly disguised marketing tools where you are effectively “sold” products or “special promotions just for today”. Nothing much different from a Tupperware party if you ask me. Such workshops are disappointing because you learn nothing new and feel compelled to buy something because its “on offer for just one day”.
What’s your take on this? Do you enjoy going for beauty workshops or do you find them a waste of time? Or perhaps you are just there to pick up door gifts? 😛
Paris B
geekchic says
May 11, 2010 at 9:12 amNope, I find them useless most of the time. But that’s just me being a cynical biatch and believing that there’s no such thing as a free lunch 😛 It’s ALWAYS a marketing event 😛
ParisB says
May 11, 2010 at 9:38 amYeah I tend to agree. I must admit I do sometimes learn a new trick or two but many times, its the same thing over and over.
Hanny says
May 11, 2010 at 9:24 amI haven’t really attended one before, but all workshops seem like a marketing gimmick to me. But the case would be different if I was eying the products the workshop was talking about, I guess.
ParisB says
May 11, 2010 at 9:38 amYes that would make the workshop worthwhile I guess. Matter of perception and expectations.
Connie says
May 11, 2010 at 9:24 ammarketing ploy for sure. As with makeover photoshoots… Ultimately, they wanna sell. There is a high target for workshops compared to a normal day so it does matter if the attendees buy or not. Most of the time, they charge beforehand with a “fully redeemable voucher”.
Beauty enthusiasts would usually find workshops less useful. Hey, if you’re the kind of person who probably knows more about a product than the sales assistant does (because you do all those research and reading), I doubt there’ll be much to learn from a workshop.
Simultaneously, most attendees don’t attend workshops to learn. A workshop is just another “free” item for buying something and on top of that, they get door gifts or special sets exclusive for workshop attendees
ParisB says
May 11, 2010 at 9:39 amActually, I sometimes learn something new or a new way to use a product that I might not have thought of before. But yes. Beauty enthusiasts will find workshops less useful unless the trainer springs a surprise 🙂
Connie says
May 11, 2010 at 9:51 amthing is, almost always, we have to commit ourselves to buying (fully redeemable voucher) before we can attend the workshop. so, what if it was just another waste of time?
I don’t think I know it all and I’ve definitely learned a few things from some workshops (eg. I Nuovi) that I’ve attended but committing myself before I can learn something new from the brand or product is not the way to go.
Juan says
May 11, 2010 at 10:05 ami think you are right when you said it is useful for those new to skincare and make up. i attended my first beauty workshop when i was 16. it was held by Shiseido and i learnt a lot from it especially on how to properly cleanse the skin, apply toner (even how to hold the facial cotton in between fingers) and how to choose the right moisturiser. I learnt the step by step process to make up and habits changed from then.
ParisB says
May 11, 2010 at 11:09 amYep! When I was starting out in skincare and makeup, workshops were a well of information! I learnt a lot. I still do if the trainer is an experienced person.
Sugar says
May 11, 2010 at 11:34 amwell i used to be really really lax abt my skin, i never put anything at night except pimple cream, i never had a serum, i didnt even put moisturizer or sunscreen during daytime. and i had no makeup whatsoever.
only recently when i started working did i realize i had no choice but to makeup, so i started asking questions at makeup counters, and when all i got was “oh u need a cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, sunscreen, day moisturizer, night cream, night serum, makeup base, foundation, pressed powder, loose powder and so on so on, i decided that there was no point asking ppl who were only interested in selling you their products and the kitchen sink.
So i came online to look for recs. and found this blog. from here i learnt abt what is for what and all, and so on, and i bought almost all my products that i’m now using after Paris’ recs.
But then again, i went for a skin analysis at a Lancome promo in Mid Valley, and there i bought my Primeordiale, which is now my HG. (Btw, what does HG stand for? hehehe! i know what it means but dono what it stands for >.<)
So i guess it was kinda a workshop, but it was free. but still. all makeup tricks i've learnt have been from Paris, and now from Connie as well. so i think blogs will really soon replace the need for all these workshops.
Speaking of which, thats how Michelle Phan from youtube fame got so popular anyway.
ParisB says
May 11, 2010 at 11:47 amHG – Holy Grail 😀
You are very sweet so thank you 🙂 I however don’t think blogs will ever replace workshops because you need an element of hands on facility to fully understand a product. Also, most (not all) bloggers are non profit so we have no incentive to sell anything except what we truly love. If we could all be like Michelle Phan it would be a wonderful world haha! 😀
That said, you must have skin that is similar to mine if my recs work for you hehe… And I love love the Lancome Primordiale night cream. I have a gazillion others, but I come back time and time again to this one.
Sugar says
May 11, 2010 at 11:58 amyup, my skin should be quite similiar. i also dont have oily lids, i have very pale skin, my cheeks and forehead are drier compared to the rest of my face, i dont use facial blotters and i also break out from products that arent compatible so i never use any of those which you say made u break out. except for my dior sublissme. hehe!
Jo says
May 11, 2010 at 12:37 pmI do agree that beauty workshops are useful. They are informative, and also provides the opportunities for the audienbce to clarify doubts on skin care
Jyoan says
May 11, 2010 at 4:12 pmI guess it depends. Most are useless, since they like to impress us with Science, but I already read most of the things before. So I am more interested in the “using” part, since skincare and makeup artists normally have lots of inside tips. =)
But on top of all that, yes, at the end of the day, I definitely feel that they are just marketing tools. And a way for me to get samples. LOL!
Jess says
May 11, 2010 at 6:11 pmI have been attending workshop quite frequently. Generally the workshop are helpful, however they are some which are a waste of time. Not long ago SK-II have this workshop, but they are charging RM350, which is ridiculous high, and its obvious that they wanted us to spend on their product rather than educated the participants with the proper information and technique. I am quite selective when I choose to attend workshop, first of all it shouldn’t be too expensive, second look at who is the speaker (google a bit to find out). So far I think Clarins and MAC workshops which I attended previously offer quite a good knowledge and technique to me.