How About a Make-up Thread?
 

I used to wear full face! The whole she-bang! Three colours of concealer ... you name it. Um ... I don't any more. In fact, when we moved last September, I pitched everything old.
But now I have a hankerin' for new.
I think I'm good with the CoverGirl foundation, loose powder and concealer ... but then I'm struggling.

Want to talk about it? Colours, new colours, brands, products ... I could even use a nice set of brushes. Anybody?

I like bare minerals. Especially, the powder liner cause it can be turned ito a liquid liner. I want to try some M.A.C. I've heard thats the best stuff.

i like max factor foundation (good coverage) and maybelline mascare i think is the very best! for lipstick i like the outlast stuff

I went to a Sephora store and I was impressed because they had a very helpful staff that put stuff on my face, the results of which succeeded in luring me into buying it. (Bare Minerals in this case.)
Although I must admit, in my case it is like trying to put an attractive garnish on something that has already gone bad, so it's kind of futile. But the Sephora stores carry a wide range of brands so you can get all swimmy-eyed looking at everything.

Another Sephora fan here. I went in the other day and bought 2 lip glosses, a lipstick and two new eyeshadow palettes, what fun! It's an easy way to browse through a lot of options quickly, and I've found their staff to be quite helpfull too. And their own store line has a lot of nice stuff that's pretty reasonably priced compared to some of the department store brands. They sell nice brush sets too Susan, I picked one up last year that's held up quite nicely.

Are these mineral powders the only foundation you use?

I have SO much makeup, but I change up colors and stuff every couple months. It runs the drugstore-to-department store gamut. My basic face:

1) Mix Coppertone oil-free SPF 15 sunblock with Neutrogena Visibly Even foundation (Natural Buff) for a tinted sunblock. It does wonders for my insanely oily skin. I love it, and I've never ever been one to wear liquid foundation. I always have worn sunblock every day though.
2) Physician's Formula Mineral Wear pressed powder (translucent) applied with a brush.
3) Neutrogena Lash Tint (black) mascara.
4) A berry-to-red shade of lip gloss or lipstick. Brightens up my face.
5) Benefit Cosmetics Brow-Zings (02-medium).

If I go for blush, I use Delux Beauty Flush Stick (Camel or Orange Rose) or Tarte cheek stain (Tickled Peach). I also have a NARS powder blush that gets neglected. I may have to bust that out.

For my eyes, I hardly wear eyeshadow since it all melts off my eyes. when I do, I usually use a baby pink or gold. Both make me look awake and fresh, but not obviously made up.

As for brushes, I have used my Benefit Cosmetics brushes for years and years. Love them.

I had to add in the greatest lip liner ever: Sonia Kashuk Lip Definer in Maple. It blends into your natural lip tone so you aren't left with some gross ring around your mouth. Very natural. It's not an everyday product for me, but it does polish up your look when you need it.

I am curious about the minerals make up, too. To me it looks like old fashioned powder that you put on with a brush instead of a powder puff that they used , back in the day. Can someone enlighten me?

i'm a big mac user..when i use makeup. I love their base and blush and their eye shadows are fun and funky. I haven't been overly impressed with their lipstick however. I only wear makeup a 1-2 times a week...but i do like mac's stuff.

I'm with Bargoo ... the though of dusting on a light-weight powder that's going to act like foundation really appeals to me. From what I've read, it sounds like it's just much nicer stuff than our old compact.

Do green-eyed gals still wear purple tones? I've got a hankering for some of those lovely browns.

Susan -
Let me say that this is going to be like getting sex advice from the Pope --
BUT-
you don't need any other foundation besides the Bare Minerals.
However:if and when I want to do it really right:
There is a wonderful substance called Smashbox foundation primer. It does what it says it does: fills in lines and pores.
http://www.smashbox.com/index.cfm/fu...-87814fccd060/
then the mineral stuff on top of that, makes it about as good as it can get for me.

Bare minerals really does take care of itself. I love that stuff, but it is so expensive for the whole line. I also have very sensitive skin on my face, so store brand cosmetics are a big nono for me

I use Mary-Kay's skin care treatments and make up because its so gentle on my face.

I also use the Bare Minerals. I love it. Threw out all my other make up. I bought a starter kit from one of the shopping networks. Had 2 colors of foundation and 2 different brushes and mascara. Then I went to ebay and bought a lot of the other stuff. The eyeshadows, lip color and more brushes. It is all I will use now.

Thanks Kim ... I'm not too shocked by the prices. Decent lines are expensive. Do you have a favourite Ebay store? I struggle with the cost of shipping. You could pm me if you think that's more appropriate.

Haha I must be in the minority, because Bare Minerals just didn't work for me. I was really disappointed...it looks like it works well for others!

I am a big MAC proponent. I had a MAC artist do my makeup for my wedding, and after having their products, I never use anything else. I use smaller than a dime-sized drop of their foundation every morning because it covers so well. I don't even have to use a powder to set it. As for their eyeshadow and lipstick, it will last for years because it is highly pigmented. Don't get me wrong - I don't use the makeup like the girls on their website. But I love love LOVE their stuff. It seems expensive (about $14 for eyeshadow, $25 for foundation), but when you see how long it lasts you, it pays for itself. I used to use CoverGirl foundation but I would have gone through at least 3-4 bottles (which is about $20) in the one year that I have had my MAC foundation... and I've only used about half of the bottle.

If you do buy MAC, I really recommend splurging and buying their small contour brush. It says it's used for powder and blush, but the MAC artist I worked with taught me to use it as a buffer for foundation. I apply the foundation to the brush and buff it onto my skin. No lines, perfect blending every time!

some of my favorite products...

Studio Fix Foundation

Swish eye shadow

Hue lipstick

Hi Susan....this is the one I deal with and I've never had any complaints:

http://stores.ebay.com/Your-Makeup-Store

Swiminky.. you HAVE to try Urban Decay Potion Primer. It's an amazing eyeshadow base... the shadow wont budge as long as you put UDPP on first! I have oily skin and I swear by it. I just ordered another bottle from Sephora.

(that said.. I'm addicted to MAC eyeshadow.. so when you're paying that much and putting that many colours on ya gotta make it last as long as possible)

Has anybody else gone to everydayminerals.com and ordered the free starter kit? All you have to do is pay shipping.. it's mineral makeup.. and it's affordable :) I use it.

seriously I could talk about makeup forever. MAC has been my guilty pleasure for a couple years now... once I moved away and realized the only reason I couldnt stop rubbing my eyes was allergies. (I couldnt wear makeup.. I'd just scratch/rub it off!)

I hear good things about shoppers drug mart brushes honestly. But I still have quite a bit of MAC brushes. Have you tried Benefit for some simple quick fixes? I bought one of their highlighters.. but it didnt really work for me.

Oooo I can find a Shoppers DrugMart! For today I'm just looking around on the internet. I'm working evenings so the mornings go so fast. But one day this week I could make a quick trip to Shoppers.
There's a Sephora about 2 hours from here. That would take a bit of planning :D

MAC has the best eyeshadows!!! I basically wear the whole she-bang everyday, just on weekends its more BANG!!! On regular days I also use Prescriptives "false eyelashes." Great stuff!!! On weekends I have fake ones on, and WILL not leave the house without bronzer and blush. I think bronzer is the best invention ever.

This is what I'm currently in love with. I'm amazed how many people love BE like I do! :) I know lots of brands like Almay and L'Oreal are coming out with copies.

Foundation: Bare Escentuals mineral foundation
Foundation Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish
Finishing Powder: Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil
Eyeshadow: Physician's Formula or MAC
Eyeliner: Avon Glazewear
Mascara: Maybelline Lash Exact

I like Everyday Minerals. They have a great website and also offer a Free Sample Kit. You only pay 3.97 for shipping and comes w/a concealer, 3 foundations, and blush. I'm also on a budget and the prices are very reasonable.

Oh for anyone who's never tried a mineral type makeup. I've suffered from acne my entire life and once I switched to Everyday Minerals my pimples were gone in about 2-3 weeks here I think my years of using heavy regular foundations had been clogging my pores and causing my outbreaks. What a relief to finally hit my 30's and get rid of the zits!!!!

Thanks, Valpal. I have it saved to my drugstore.com list. Out goes my Benefit
f.y...eye.

So Mac shadows eh? What colours are nice? I know I should wear purple (and jewel colours are in for fall) but I like brown, bronze, green ...

SusanB,
All those earthy colors look great on green eyes. You can wear your browns and bronzes as eyeshadow, and use the jewel colors as eyeliner if you want to keep up with the trends. The beauty of makeup is if it doesn't look good, you can wipe it off!

I used to do makeup at a spa I worked at, and some of these women acted as though the makeup was permanent! And they didn't want to change from what they were used to. Have you ever seen women whose makeup (and hair) are so outdated? It's as if they keep going back to the time in their lives they were happiest, and continue to work that look, no matter what.

I love makeup!!!

If you're looking for shadow names... I like naked lunch, swimming, tempting, shroom and gorgeous gold. My fav purples are satellite dreams and beautiful iris because they are blue based purples instead of red. I would suggest putting a naturl coloured cream eyeshadow underneath it before applying the other eyeshadows to give it some lasting power.

Honestly... makeup is kind of an addiction on my side. Makeupalley.com has a makeup forum that gets kinda crazy with the impulse buying... so after a couple years on there I had to ease off. BUT it's got thousands of great product reviews if you're looking.

Let us know how it goes! In the end its just about having fun :)

I agree, Valpal ... it is fun! And if I look like an idiot ... swoosh, it's gone.

Thanks to you too Darby1. Many years ago I was an Artistry rep. But they were heavily into choosing your season, getting the pallette and living forever in your purple for green, blue for brown and brown for blue. What fun is that?

Hooray for MAC eyeshadows!

Those jewel tones are all fabulous, Susan. Some of my favorite jewel tones from Mac are Cranberry, Beauty Marked (great for that smoky look), greensmoke, deep truth, and satin taupe. My favorite color of all is Swish, which is a frosty pink. Man, now I want to buy some more MAC! :dizzy:

oooo satin taupe... THATS what i was thinking of. I get that one and naked lunch confused for some reason. Swish is my all time fav too :) yay!

I ordered some base stuff from that ebay assoc. of Kim's and bought some brushes up town today. Next ... the fun stuff ;)

Greensmoke and satin taupe sound wonderful. Shiny? Matte? I'm too old for glimmer.

Wow!
 

So, there are truly some seemingly expert make-uppers on here! :carrot: That makes this the perfect place to ask a question I've had FOREVER!

A little background info 1st, though:

I'm 30 and I've never consistantly worn make up. I know HOW to put it on and make it look GOOD. A lot of people think I don't wear it for religious reasons (I'm not sure why they think that--I've never even insinuated that!) and others think I don't know how to apply it properly. BUT the real (and here-to-fore SECRET) reason I don't wear makeup is because...................

My FACE IS HAIRY and I feel like the makeup draws extra attention to the FUZZ.

Is there any makeup that won't "cling" to the hair on my face?

Hmmm make-up. MAC is my all time fav too. I use other brands too though ;)

FACE: Studio Fix
EYES: any pencil liner in black
MASCARA: Voluminous by LOREAL
SHADOW: MAC - Vex, Shroom, Black Tied, Pink Freeze, Nylon Fost are a few of my favs.
LIPS: Victoria Secret lipgloss in French Kiss
Blush: Don't use it!

4Myself - have you ever thought of waxing or using hair removal creme for the face? My best friend is "fuzzy" too and she uses the cream and only has to do it every 3 weeks or so. You cant really notice t on her - but it bothers her so she takes it off.

Smashbox fan all the way here! Their photofinish is AMAZING! I highly reccomend it.

No, I'm with you as well. Bare Minerals wasn't so hot, neither was the mineral veil itself. I like the imitation of it by loreal- much better for em than Bare Minerals, and cheaper too.


I used a handful of other items, half sephora items (lancome, chanel, smashbox, vincent longo, stila, and bourgeouis) and hald pharmacy store (maybelline, revlon, loreal, etc). I prefer all my perfumes bought at sephora though. I don't like avon products.

Velvet Skin Coat from DHC is another excellent foundation primer.

I have a tiny jar where I mix a few foundations to get the right color and consistency. I think it has some Sephora powdered liquid foundation and L'Oreal Perfect Match.

so is mine! ahhh it bothers me. so I have a cream hair remover.. but I can only use it on my upper lip because it's pretty harsh on the skin.

For anything else noticable.... I tweeze. If it's really bother me I trim it short with tiny sizzers. I also make sure not to put much powder on my face AND I only apply it in downward strokes when i use it. I'm chicken to wax my face because I use chemical exfolients and I dont wanna rip skin off... :|

You can also buy bleaching kits to make facial hair lighter.. I havent tried that. But I hear ya... its so annoying! I guess the only thing I would avoid is mineral makeup... like bare minerals or everday minerals because powder is just going to catch on the fuzz/make you more self conscious. (in my experience, atleast!!) I use a tinted moisturizer to minimize the fuzzies.

I think the biggest thing about makeup though... is skin care. daily moisturizer and especially sunscreen is something I used to regularly skip. My skin improved so much and foundation is practically unnecessary now that I've got a great skin care routine with a good exfoliating glycolic acid toner.