As a man, you probably don’t know anything about the fascination women have with cosmetics. However, it’s your girlfriend’s birthday and you’d like to surprise her with a gift basket featuring her favorite cosmetics. If you only knew what they are. This may seem like a hopeless situation, but all is not lost. With a little effort, you can make that surprise gift a reality. What you need is a guide to cosmetics for men.
About cosmetics
The first thing that you as a man should know about cosmetics is that most of the time, women prefer to choose their own cosmetics. This is because cosmetics, specifically makeup, is something that is considered a personal preference. Most women have invested a lot of time and money to find the specific fragrance or color options that they feel enhance their appearance. A product that doesn’t meet this preference will end up collecting dust on a shelf or in the bin. You don’t want your girlfriend to pick out your deodorant or aftershave for you, do you?
Become a private detective
If you really think your girlfriend would love a gift basket filled with her favorite makeup, you’ll need to do a little detective work. Talk to your girlfriend’s female relatives (mother, sisters, daughters, etc.) or closest friends. Probably, at one time or another, they have gone shopping with your girlfriend and know what kind of cosmetics your girlfriend likes. Explain what she is trying to do and that she needs her help. In most cases, these people will be more than happy to give you shopping suggestions. Make sure you only talk to those who you think might hold your secret.
If you already live with your girlfriend, you have an advantage. Most likely, you have your makeup stored in the bathroom or bedroom. Take advantage, when you are alone at home, to see what kind of cosmetics you use and take note of it. The way to choose which cosmetics you want to include in the gift basket is to look for the things that are used most often. Large containers of a specific product generally indicate that it is something that is used often enough to buy in quantity. Containers that are nearly empty are an indication that this product will soon need a replenishment. These are things that should be included in your gift basket.
buyer’s choice
Once you have a list of the different types of makeup you wear, there are several paths you can take to shop. You can go to:
Your local beauty supply store: Cosmetics can be purchased at wholesale prices, but customer service will be minimal. Local department stores – Most department stores have a cosmetics counter. The prices and the knowledge of the sellers can vary from low to high level.
The cosmetics boutique – Here the prices are higher but the vendors are usually very knowledgeable about the products. It is a guarantee that the people who work here will be able to answer questions and provide suggestions. They might even put it all together and wrap it up in a gift basket for you! Internet: If you feel comfortable buying cosmetics in a store, you can always buy makeup online. However, if possible, make sure you buy the makeup from the brand’s official website, so you know it’s the best quality.
Not just for brides.
This guide has focused on brides, but these same tips apply to the other women in your life as well. Most women buy and wear makeup and would love to receive a gift of their favorite cosmetics. For men, the makeup change process can seem a bit daunting, but it will be a good way to learn about it. Women will certainly appreciate the time and effort put into buying them such a personal gift. Having done the proper research will make it easier to shop for more makeup-related gifts in the future.