[BerkshireGrl]

As a pseudo-redhead with the redhead-like sensitive (yet annoyingly oily in my T-zone) skin, I have gone through many rash-inducing encounters with ze beauty products I have accumulated a stash of wonderful things though in the learning process.

My top favorite things:

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion - no perfumes, just good non-greasy moisture. I put this on right after I dry off from the shower and I'm good to go. Keeps the winter alligator skin at bay, especially on my lower legs.

Dove Fragrance-Free Soap - gentle but gets the cleaning job done.

Biolage Daily Leave-In Tonic - the only thing that saved me from shaving my head after a disaster perm in August last year (I went to another salon after my normal hairdresser refused to perm my hair. In hindsight, my faith in her should never have wavered.) A life-saver. Plus it smells so, so good, like all their products. Pricey but works!

Loreal Intense Repair conditioner (in salons) - I got a few little pots of this from my hairdresser as a little free gift, and it's amazing. I just need the tiniest dab, like a half teaspoon for mid-length hair, then washed out in the shower, and my hair is tamed and smooth, but not limp and greasy.

Avalon Organic Botanicals Lavender Clarifying Clay Mask - smells divine and works wonders to shrink pores. I use it in a 3-step weekly process: wash face with soap, then exfoliate gently with homemade mixture of sugar and honey scrub, then apply mask and let dry for about 10 minutes, wash off with warm water and washcloth. Feel purified. :

Kiss My Face Moisture Shave in Fragrance-Free - I like the Peppermint one too, but I can't find this near me anymore. This stuff is great, gentle, slippery, moisturizing, and not full of freaky chemicals like isobutane (used also to make aviation fuels.) Who wants that junk on skin you're about to shave?


For makeup, I like:

Loreal Translucide Sheer Blush - a potently colored gel that looks very natural.

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow - set of 4 little cremes that last all day and heck, they moisturize too.

Almay Amazing Lasting 16 Hour Eye Pencil - about the only pencil I've found that doesn't spread during the day.

Jane Iredale PureMoist lipstick - I got a free sample of this, in a very pretty color called "Sarah" by pure chance (hehehe) and it's very nice, not drying, lasts, doesn't get tacky like most lipsticks. If I could afford it, I'd try out more of her line.


And for perfume, I mostly wear Body Shop perfume oils, like Tea Rose, or Woodsy Sandalwood. Unfortunately, I become allergic to most perfumes I put directly on my skin, but not these. (I mourn the fact that I can't wear Clinique's Happy anymore. Loved that.)

Can you tell I'm a beauty products junky?

[ellis]

Does anyone know of a mascara that really IS waterproof?! They used to work for me, but now I'm constantly getting the "raccoon look". I've tried Revlon and a couple of others, but they're not working for me!
I do put moisturizer under my eyes (Neostrata), and I suppose that may be the problem, but I can't afford to go without it at my age.
Any suggestions?

[BerkshireGrl]

Ellis,

I've had good luck with the Covergirl Professional Waterproof Mascara (in the turquoise tube.) Need to try that again actually - mascara that I have now is way too gloppy.

Can you put your moisturizer under your eyes before you go to bed and skip it in the morning? Maybe get a little thing of super-intense night eye cream?

That's a tough combo for any mascara, since the oils in the lotion heat up, spread and then act like a make-up remover... er, spreader, in your case!

I've had the same problem My solution is that I usually use eyeliner and no mascara hehehe!

[lizziness]

They also make clear mascara which I have taken to using. It works really well if all you want to do is separate them and enhance them slightly. If you're using mascara to give the appearance that you HAVE eyelashes, then it's not for you. All the other one's I've tried just irritate my eyes and I wind up picking at them til I smear it everywhere. Then again, I wear makeup like twice a year, at best.

Thanks for the lemon tip back there for my stinky paws too. I could try one other thing... never doing anything with crab again. What a messy pain in the *** that is. And I wasn't even the one doing it!

[tljl]

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Anyone have any good ideas for getting rid of onion, garlic, or seafood stink from your hands?


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the best thing to get rid of onion and garlic on your hands is metal...what you do is rinse your hands with water and then rub your hands all over your tap. It sounds odd but it works great. Some cooking stores even sell a bar of metal (shaped like soap) and you just use as if you were lathering up.

However I don't know that this works on crab and other seafood...only the onion family.

T

[ellis]

Thanks, Sarah... yes, I've tried that one, too. Can you please teach me how to put on eyeliner?
I wonder if I put a bit of face powder atop the moisturizer...

Lizzi, I've never tried the clear mascara... that's a thought...
My eyelashes are long, but they've faded at the ends. I suppose I could get them dyed!

tljl, I've seen those metal things, but never tried one... I've heard they work quite well!

[aphil]

ellis-I only wear mascara on my top lashes...and let the lower ones go. I wear eye cream and have never had a problem with racoon eyes doing it that way. (the only time I wear a lot of liner/mascara UNDER my eyes is for performance-and I skip the eye cream those days only and just do it at bedtime)

I use bottle lemon juice to get smells out of my hands.

[ellis]

Thanks, Aphil... that's what I just did. I'm on my way out the door now, and I'll see how it goes. (why is it that when we get raccoon eyes, our partners don't bother to tell us? they just let us wander around looking pathetic...)

[aphil]

Remember that Seinfeld episode where Elain had the raccoon eyes? (It was the one where Jerry was dating the "good light/bad light" girl?) When the girl sees racoon eyed Elaine and says "This must be the ugly girl I've been hearing about."

[kellibee2000]

I love Seinfeld so much! I got the boxed set for Christmas & enjoy it so much more.
~I had to use the 16 hour waterproof mascara by Avon bc normal mascara would flake in my eyes & my contacts would get so messed up! My Ma uses the professional mascara in the tourquoise bottle & I'm sure it works just as well.
~I've heard you can use the clear mascara to set your eyebrows, too. I'm gonna try that. My brow hairs are long, but my brows aren't bushy, so plucking just makes them bare. I used to use hair gel, but it would break me out.
~Speaking of breaking out, I'll be 21 in a couple weeks, and I've never had a zit problem, but recently I've been breaking out on my chin & forhead. I've been using masks & overnight treatments, but not working too well. What are the best ones you all have tried?

[aphil]

I use clear mascara to set my eyebrows!!!!! It works GREAT.

I have adult breakout problems...and Proactiv Solution is the only thing that keeps them under control. *the generic versions-Proacne, etc. are NOT the same.*

[ellis]

I have big eyebrows. They're my best feature.

Well, after a full day out, my eyes are just a little dark underneath. How does the mascara get from my upper lashes to under my eyes!? Crap... I'm going to have to try something else.

Kelli, good luck with the breakouts. I have more now at 40 than I had at 20. Who knew?

[mauvaisroux]

ellis- I put my moisturizer on and then go and do something else, like make my coffee or breakfast, this gives the moisturizer a little time to sink in and not be so moist. I put my mascara on a few minutes before leaving the house. I can't remember what I am using at the moment but it is something new from Avon.

[ellis]

Hmmmm... that's an idea. Thanks, Mauvais!

[ellis]

I've been using these little cleaning pads by Clean and Clear. They have little bumps on them for blackheads. They work quite well! (how did I get to be 40, anyhow!?!?)