THE BEAUTY EXPERIENCE : SELFRIDGES BEAUTY PERSONAL SHOPPING
WHERE?
Selfridges' famed Beauty Halls have long since been established as the gold-standard of luxury beauty shopping destinations, and the chain's Manchester store stands at the forefront of the beauty buzz as the premier luxury destination for beauty lovers outside of London. Housing over 50 brands, including Armani, SUQQU, RMK, and Aēsop, as well as staple favourites [Chanel, Tom Ford, YSL, and Nars], the flâneur is well-served and the browser quite spoilt for choice. Beyond the hustle and bustle of the beauty hall however lies something a little out of the ordinary; a room designed to cater for a one-on-one beauty experience that transcends conventional retail boundaries - the home of Selfridge's newly instated Beauty Personal Shopper. The room is kitted out to cater for all scenarios, from intimate conversations [elegant armchairs centred around a small table where Diptyque candles burn], to a more proactive hands-on experience - a worktop and long well-lit mirror beside a sink stocked with Aēsop's finest.
WHO?
Presiding over this beauty oasis is Charlotte Ingram, the store's 'beauty-expert-in-residence', a woman as passionate about creating a positive, empowering, and enlightening retail experience as she is about winged eyeliner and Eve Lom's Cleanser. Charlotte's background in beauty [having previously worked for the likes of Nars, Diptyque, and Space NK] combined with experience gained from the fashion side of the personal shopping industry, more than qualify her for her position; and aside from being one of the most passionate beauty lovers I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, Charlotte is something of a beauty encyclopaedia [pretty much a requirement when you need to have Selfridges' entire beauty catalogue ingrained in memory].
WHAT?
Offering completely unbiased, impartial advice in an unregimented and wholly bespoke service that is entirely catered to each individual's needs and requirements, Charlotte helps her clients with everything from finding the perfect liquid eyeliner, to establishing a skincare routine, adopting the season's biggest makeup trends, achieving the best foundation shade match, and picking out a perfect gift. The hour-long consultations are completely free of charge [booking in advance is recommended - the service is popular enough that you're unlikely to be able to just pop in], and Charlotte is assisted by a store full of highly trained makeup artists and skincare specialists who will supplement her knowledge and advice by putting beauty into practice right before your eyes. Within just five weeks of opening, Charlotte's clientele has ranged from teenagers seeking an introduction to makeup through to brides prepping for their wedding days, men who favour the privacy of the personal shopping room over the busy shop floor, and gift-hunting [and clueless] husbands and boyfriends - her doors are [quite literally] open to anyone.
What's more is Charlotte's position as 'beauty guru in residence' transcends the 9-5 boundaries of retail; you can follow her Instagram account to stay up to date with launch previews, exclusive offers, and instore events, and even drop her an email [charlotte.ingram@selfridges.co.uk] should you wish to source a hard-to-get product, keep an item aside until your next visit, or put yourself on the waiting list ahead of next big launch.
To book an appointment with Charlotte at Selfridges Exchange Square Manchester, call 07341070587 or email charlotte.ingram@selfridges.co.uk
