When it comes to beauty, the New York woman is busy indeed: There are always blowouts to schedule, manicures to get, eyebrows to maintain. Into this fray leaps Rouge New York (130 Thompson St.; 212-388-1717), a new makeup bar that welcomes everyone from the woman on her way to a job interview to the teen who just might need a glam look for the prom. The salon offers everything from a total makeover ($75) to a late-afternoon refresher ($25).
Newly opened by “Law & Order: SVU” star Stephanie March and Rebecca Perkins, the head makeup artist on the show, the salon is on a mission to make every woman feel worthy of her own glam squad.
“We just kept wondering why this didn’t exist,” Perkins says of the idea for starting Rouge. “On every corner, you can have someone tend to your nails, and now with the blowout bars, there’s all this attention to hair — where’s the place that you can get beautiful makeup application for any skin type, and tone?”
In the name of intrepid reporting, three New York Post staffers — each with varying degrees of make-up prowess, and all looking for a party-ready New Year look — decided to try it out. Read on for the results:
Lindsay, The Novice
The Mission: Having grown up in a small New England town, makeup was never a top priority for me — a dab of concealer here, a swipe of mascara there, and I called it a day. Since graduating from college and moving to the “Big City,” I’ve wanted to play more with makeup and have fun being a young 20-something. Cherise, my makeup artist at Rouge (and a fellow recent grad), helped get me out of my comfort zone with the “You . . . Only Better” option ($50).
Satisfaction with final look: I loved the affordability factor of the products Cherise used — who knew $11 L’Oreal Voluminous mascara could look so good? And she gave me lots of tips, including playing up my eyes with a liquid liner (I’d always used a pencil, much to Cherise’s horror). She also used a heated eyelash curler (Sephora, $17) to give my lashes extra pop. I often avoid using bold colors, as I’m afraid of looking clown-like. Cherise eased my fears with a few strokes of magenta shadow under my eyes, while keeping the rest of my face neutral with translucent powder. The end result, which took about 30 minutes, was a put-together look that is easy to maintain with items that fit my budget. I’m definitely going to invest in some liquid liner!
Takeaway tips:
- Liquid liner creates a defined line that “fills in your lash line more than a pencil can,” says Cherise.
- Fake fuller lips with the lipstick and gloss you have at home by slightly extending the edge of your upper lip past its natural line.
- Cream-based foundation (Face Stockholm Picture Perfect Foundation, $48) offers more coverage than powder and feels less cakey than liquid foundation.
Doree, the Drugstore Dilettante
The Mission: I warmed up to the concept of a blow-dry bar pretty quickly, so getting used to a dedicated beauty bar wasn’t hard. I definitely know how to negotiate the beauty aisle at Duane Reade, but this experience was a major step up — with a professional who takes the time to communicate with me about the kind of look I want to achieve. I knew I was in good hands with Rebecca, a co-owner, who has been a makeup artist her whole life: “I did my sister’s prom makeup when I was 11,” she said. She listened to my needs — addressing my skin issues and being receptive to my color palette suggestions. I decided to get the works, a k a “Total Polish” ($75), replete with airbrushed foundation and just the right amount of shimmer.
Satisfaction with final look: I loved the populist mix-and-match philosophy — Rebecca used both drugstore and designer brands. She swears by the $11 L’Oreal Voluminous mascara: “But you don’t use a fancy one that oscillates?” I ask in disbelief. “You know what else oscillates?” she retorts. “My hand. There’s no other mascara that gives you as much bang for your buck.” And I’m sold. Between that and her petite palettes of Yaby eyeshadows ranging in price from $3 to $4, we are in business — and so is my gorgeous golden look, which took about 45 minutes to achieve. Still, would I pay $125 for my own compressor and gun to try airbrushed foundation at home? It’s doubtful.
Takeaway tips:
- Avoid going overboard on the blush when a highlighter gives better all-around glow. Temptu gold highlighter, strategically applied to cheekbones, $35.
- Airbrushed foundation — spritzed from a compressor and gun — achieves a more polished, yet natural, finish than sponge application. You can DIY, but at a steep price (compressor and gun, $125).
- No need to stick to one makeup line: Try to customize the best mix of high- and low-end brands.
Candace, The Glam Diva
The Mission: I don’t leave my house without makeup. It’s a hobby for me to get the perfect smoky eye or a luscious pouty lip. From past experiences with quick makeup stations, I was a little leery. One time, I trusted a makeup artist and she made me look like Casper the Friendly Ghost. When I got to Rouge New York, I brought my MAC foundations from home just in case, but I was assured by my makeup artist, Jessica, that she had every foundation shade she would possibly need. She even pulled open her drawer to show me her stash! I relaxed and decided to get my nose out of her business. I decided on the Bold Choice, a complete look with emphasis on a particular feature (in this case, my lips), which cost $60.
Satisfaction with final look: At other makeup companies such as MAC and Sephora, the artists are often distracted by other customers and get drawn away by a potential sale. Here, I enjoyed the one-on-one experience. All the attention was on me. It was such an excellent service and the makeup artist truly understood beauty for women of different ages and ethnicities. She took the time to prep my skin thoroughly, go through products and give me tips on how to improve my skin. While the $60 price tag could be perceived as steep for some, I thought it was well worth it to get a flawless face. I’m confident they can create any look, from edgy runway to red carpet. Would I go back? The question is not if, but when!
Takeaway tips:
- Jessica applied single eyelashes in lieu of the strip lash that I am used to. “Strips are for strippers,” she said.
- I usually go for a bold eye look, but Jessica kept my lids bare and played up my full lips. She used a bright red lipstick and gold glitter for added shimmer. This was my first time applying glitter to the lips.
- I have been unsuccessful in learning how to achieve a perfect cheek contour for my dark skin complexion. Jessica helped me by applying a deep creme foundation into the hollows of my cheek and suggested I pick up “Embark” eyeshadow by MAC whenever I want to get the look.