Makeup

Makeup: Beauty Brand Pronunciation Guide

Some brands may be downright difficult to pronounce but with one quick read of this handy-dandy guide, you won't ever have to feel shy at the makeup counter again

by Audrey Fine, Kristal Bailey

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When it comes to makeup and beauty brands, there are those good old, simple-to-say American brands like CoverGirl or Revlon. Then there are intimidating foreign names like Shu Uemura that can leave you feeling like Nomi in "Showgirls" when she says her couture gown is "Ver-SAYCE" instead of "Ver-Sa-Chee." Read: more than a little mortified.

Learn how to pronounce beauty brands now.

So why is it so hard to figure out how to say the names of some beauty brands? (Heck, even non-beauty brands -- Miu-Miu, anyone?)

Number one: many hail from far away lands where they make complete sense to the locals but are undecipherable to us foreigners. Number two: more than a few are simply foreign people's names -- again easy-to-pronounce if you're from the specific country but less so when you're not. (ie. Yves Saint Laurent = Eve Sahn Loran) Number three: some are simply made up words derived from the founder's past or some driving force behind the business. Those are the most difficult to figure out because, unlike trying to pronounce, say, an Japanese or French last name, even the bilingual among us don't have a clue where to begin.

In an effort to help you become the most well-rounded makeup and beauty brand connoisseurs possible, Total Beauty brings you unbiased reviews, and proffers all sorts of beauty advice. Now we're here to offer up this pronunciation guide. Click on through and you'll find out how to say the names of 10 very popular brands -- and you'll also learn a little bit about their history and what/who they're named after.

Banished forever will be those moments spent cowering at Sephora too shy to ask for a product by name. (It may be hokey, but knowledge really is king.)

Let's learn how to pronounce those tricky beauty brands now...

Image via @sephora

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Older comments

awesome information

by LittleBunny Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 07:07PM Report as inappropriate

I need to make a cheat sheet from this! So so helpful.

by EricaC123 Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 12:16PM Report as inappropriate

Wow, this post was actually made for me!

by schien Friday, November 9, 2012 at 01:52PM Report as inappropriate

Informative!

by robyne00 Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 01:54PM Report as inappropriate

interesting

by eatinglipstick Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 11:40AM Report as inappropriate

The meaning of shiseido is pretty epic for a makeup brand!

by luxylexi Monday, April 9, 2012 at 05:55PM Report as inappropriate

I have been doing a pretty good job

by AmandaAmanda Friday, March 2, 2012 at 08:48PM Report as inappropriate

Now I can sound fancy and pronounce these correct.

by Only1KimmieD Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 08:33AM Report as inappropriate

This was most excellent.

by LynnStOver Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 07:41PM Report as inappropriate

KID OF PROUD OF MYSELF...SO FAR, I PRONOUBCED BOTH RIGHT. I WANTED TO SAW THAT NOW BEFORE I PUSH MY LUCK! THIS IS A GREAT IDEA...I ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT SOME AND I AM VERY CURIOUS ABOUT ONE COMING UP. I NEVER KNEW HOW IT WAS PRONOUNCED THERFORE NEVER TRIED IT,

by mrsangelb Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 07:16PM Report as inappropriate