Beauty is bigger and better than ever in John Lewis & Partners Cambridge

The Cambridge Independent speaks to the Beauty Guides of the John Lewis & Partners Cambridge Beauty Society.

Tell us about the Beauty Hall?

The Beauty Hall is located within John Lewis & Partners Cambridge on the ground floor. The Beauty Hall in our store has always been a key destination for any kind of beauty shopper. We have customers from all over the country, and even the world coming into our store for beauty shopping. We have everything from make-up, skincare, haircare, electronics for personal grooming, and a massive selection of fragrance.

We also have The Beauty Society, which is a place for beauty obsessives and newbies alike. It’s just a great atmosphere and feeling when you walk in and see such a range of brands. It’s exciting.

Anyone who has been into the store recently will have seen some changes are being made. What is happening to space?

Our Beauty Hall is becoming bigger and better than ever. The Beauty Hall has been undergoing a makeover of its own, with an exciting new expansion and we cannot wait for our customers to see the new additions and changes. We hope they will be as excited as we are. We will still stock all the favourite brands and offer the same services our Cambridge customers have come to love, but now there will be even more favourites to add to the list!

What are some of the new brands and experiences coming into the store?

We have so much coming in. Some of the brands will be seen as a counter, and some of the brands will be within our Impulse area. But we are really happy to announce the likes of Dior, Kheils, La Labo, Hourglass, Tom Ford, La Prairie, and IT Cosmetics. But there will be new additions coming all the way into the new year and some that we can’t say at the moment... but watch this space for more news!

I think what we can now say with confidence is that the Beauty Hall really does have something for everyone now. We will also be hosting new services and customer experiences, like the new Scent Room. It’s like an oasis of fragrance which will host luxury brands. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself into the luxurious scent filled shopping experience. After all, your perfume selection should be like your wardrobe and you have something for every occasion.

What do you want customers to know about the new brands?

We want our customers to know we have really listened to them on this one. The brands joining us are some of our best sellers online that we know customers want to be able to try in store, as well as being brands which have been requested by our customers for some time now.

We will also have a space for makeup minis, so you can try a little version of a product to see how you like it.We think the new brands and services are going to fit really well into the Beauty Hall and that customers are going to love the additions. We cannot wait to show people around!

Why are you so excited for new brands in the hall?

We have a lot of clients who come to us who are new to exploring beauty. Whether that means they’ve never worn make-up but want to find a signature style, or they’ve never cracked the code to a perfect skincare regime.

We love to take these clients around the store to inspire them with what we have to offer.

It is all in the hope of helping people to love the skin they’re in, and celebrate their style. More brands means more options, more inspiration and more fun in the appointment.

Tell us a little bit more about The Beauty Society?

We like to think of The Beauty Society as the heart of the Beauty Hall. It is a space where any question can be asked and answered from make-up, to skincare, and from haircare to fragrance. We have been around for a few years now, but with more options in the hall, and so many trends and techniques for make-up and skincare online, it can be a little daunting to know where to begin in person. We like to think that The Beauty Society should always be the first stop in the Beauty Hall. Beauty Guides are literally there to guide and inspire our customers.

We are also there for customers who just want to have a great day out in Cambridge. We love to see customers when they come with a friend, or a family member. They can come to us and share an experience with a makeover and some fizz. A lot of times when customers bring guests they are going on to an evening out with girlfriends or partners. We love that we’re helping them feel as good as they look and bringing a little glam to their evening!

Your title is Beauty Guide. What is that?

We are experts in the field of beauty, and we know the brands in the Cambridge Beauty Hall like the back of our hands. We have all been through the same training with brands that their own experts do. Essentially, we are impartial and honest advisers. We are also make-up artists and skincare experts in our own right. We can find solutions to beauty problems if a customer asks, but we also do bookable services for makeovers and skincare overhauls.

What are the appointments you offer?

First we have The Beauty School. This is perfect for someone looking to make some changes to their make-up bag, find a new skincare routine, or looking to learn a new skill such as a smokey eye. It is £35, which is redeemable against purchase, and up to 45 minutes in a one-to-two session.

Secondly, we offer The All New You. This appointment is like an A-Z of beauty. It’s up to 60 minutes in a one-to-one session which emcompases both skincare and make-up. It’s £45, which is redeemable against purchase. This is perfect for someone looking to overhaul their beauty routines, or even for someone as a beginner to beauty and looking to understand what they need to get started.

Finally, we have the Photo Finish. It is £60, and you get up to 90 minutes in a one-to-one session. This is the appointment if you have an event in mind. Out with the girls and want to look glam? This is the appointment for you. Are you a bride-to-be and looking to learn how to recreate a signature bridal style make-up? Then we have you covered in this appointment. The extra time allows for us to delve into makeup details and achieve a look so picture perfect you won’t be able to resist some selfies!

How do you book an appointment for the Beauty Society?

You can come into the store and see us and we can discuss the best appointment type and book you in there and then. Or you can go online to johnlewis.com/our-services/beauty-society for booking options. And don’t forget we also offer virtual appointments if you aren’t able to make it into the store. We can help you find the perfect products so you can shop online from the comfort of your own home.

If you are in the store we are always happy to offer advice and suggestions to any customer looking for some help, even if it is just a five-minute walk and talk around the Beauty Hall.

A day in the life of a Beauty Guide

7am Wake up and make-up!

Time to wake up and get ready for the day. I love waking up and using the Fresh Rose Floral Toner Mist. It lightly hydrates and reinvigorates my skin after a good night's sleep! The perfect prep as I move on to my make-up!

My base is the Hydrating Futurist Foundation from Estee Lauder. A perfect foundation for this time of year. Buildable coverage, with built in hydrating ingredients to protect my skin against the harsher cold weather on my way to work.

8am Off we go

I am so glad I prepped my skin and used hydrating products. It's freezing and I need the heater on full in my car. Nothing dries out my skin like heating and aircon. I make a mental note to spritz some Mac Hydrating Fix+ once I’m at work to rehydrate my skin and set my make-up!

9am The day begins

I’m on the shop floor with my fellow guides, we clean down The Beauty Society ready for the day ahead. We ensure we have fizz at the ready in the fridge, and check out what appointments we have for the day.

10am-12am Photo finish

I have a Photo Finish appointment with a bride! I love bridal clients. We create a soft brown smokey eye look with a touch of deep purple to compliment the wedding palette. We pair it with the universally adored Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk lipstick. My client purchases her items, and has a book of notes to recreate the look on her special day! She is now armed with all the knowledge she needs to look and feel amazing!

1pm Time to shop

Break time and I can’t help going to have a look over the new brands we have in store. I make a list of all the items I can’t wait to use on clients, and the ones I want to buy myself.

2pm Shop Floor Time

I don’t have an appointment so I stay on the shop floor in the Beauty Hall. I’m ready and waiting to help out any customers in the area.

4-5pm All New You

I have an All New You appointment with a younger client, she is with her mother and looking to create her very first make-up bag! We look at brands like Bobbi Brown and Benefit for easy to use, reliable products in their budget for her to create her own make-up looks! I also run through skincare basics so she can begin her first morning and night-time routine. As we aren’t looking for anything too active I select the Dermalogica Clear Start Fizz Mask for when she has the occasional breakout...As we all do from time to time. She also has a selection of products to create a subtle look for school which she can build on when she feels creative.

6pm Home time

After my last appointment, the other guides and I discuss the day and prep anything we need for tomorrow. We will be doing a style talk so we plan themes and gather the fragrances we are going to showcase.

As I head home and have the heater on again, I make the decision to give myself a pamper and an at-home facial this evening.