Changing up the beauty routine - YouLookFab Forum

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Changing up the beauty routine

Kari

Veteran

Do you ever get bored with your beauty routine in terms of products that you are using, even though they technically work okay for you? I was feeling that way a couple months ago - I looked *fine*, but I just wanted something new to perk up my routine and, in some cases, make a couple items easier to manage.

Here's what I added to change things up a bit:

For the first time in many years, I changed my scent. I'd been alternating between Burberry London and Tokyo Milk Sparrow for years, and my perception of those scents must have changed because I no longer felt invigorated in smelling those aromas on my body in the morning; I just felt like the scent hung there rather than creating a pleasurable effect.
When the bottles I had ran out, I added two new scents that I had been thinking about for a long time: Hanae Mori "Butterfly" (which has been my mom's signature scent for years - I LOVE it on her, and decided to adopt it) for my everyday scent, and then Burberry Brit as a backup, which I like using when I feel like I need a little more playfulness and sass. I was able to find both perfumes at a steep discount at Costco and Nordstrom Rack, which was excellent!

For the first time in my life, I got my eyebrows waxed. I've been maintaining my brows on my own with tweezers since my early teens (thank goodness, I didn't wreck my brow line by over-plucking in the late 90's like some of my friends did!) but I really wanted a more defined arch. One of my friends is an aesthetician, and she did a fabulous job shaping my brows while maintaining their natural fullness.

I have been curious to try out BB Cream for a while. My mom and sister use the Garnier BB Cream, which I tried, but the color wasn't quite right and my face always felt a little sticky halfway through the day. However, I finally tried out Bobbi Brown's BB Cream, and not only does the "Light" shade blend perfectly with my skin and gives me that dewy-but-not-oily look that I love, but it feels SO light and clean. I still use a light dusting of Bare Escentuals mineral veil and foundation to seal everything in and touch up patches that need heavier coverage, but in general I'm able to use less product overall on my face, and I can't help but think that my skin will be all the happier for it.

Have the rest of you added anything new to your regimen lately?

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Raisin

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

What a wonderful way to treat yourself Kari! I get my eyebrows waxed about once a month and then just tweeze in between appointments. I love the way she can shape the brows with the wax.

I'm thinking of actually starting to wear perfume. Can you believe I don't wear any? My husband is a bit sensitive so I have to be sure it's not anything too strong. Still search for my perfect scent.

I switched about six months ago and am now using nothing but Bare Escentuals for my makeup. I cannot believe how much better my skin looks and feels.

Makrame

Veteran

I started using Jane Iredale mineral powder foundation after a discussion of foundation on YLF a few months ago (I used to use Eeveryday Minerals). I got a sample kit first, which came with a circle/delete concealer - now I am using both the conceler and the pressed powder.

I also got a sample of Bare Minerals primer from Nordstrom, and liked it so much that I bought a bottle. Now my morning routine is superfast (primer, concealer, foundation, lip balm) and I like the results. All of these products are pricier than what I used to use but since I don't buy much makeup, I figure they are a good investment.

Louise

Veteran

Last year I managed to find my perfect foundation and since then have been on a mission to add in other makeup items that work with my fussy skin. It's cost me a far bit in items that don't work. I'm currently on a mission to find eyeshadow. Bare minerals seems to work and Liz Earle I can wear all day.
I've also discovered my holy grail lip balms are Lanolips and Flexitol oh the bliss of smooth lips in winter. I've also found NATorigin for hand cream, eye make up remover and lipstick. Also Ecosoapia liquid soap which doesn't irritate my hands.
Generally I constantly switch products when I'm not quite happy but once I find something that works I stick with it though it can be good to try and find something else which works as well x

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I switched from heavier foundation to NARS tinted moisturizer and so far I'm really liking it. It also has a dewy (not oily) finish and I'm impressed by how opaque it is for a TM. Obviously, it doesn't cover everything as well as the foundation did, but recently I decided to address my skin problems rather than just cover them up. So I've made some changes to my diet and take more vitamins now, and I started using a new cleanser and an exfoliating toner, which I really like. I'm slooooowly adding things in since my skin is pretty reactive. It doesn't deal with big changes well.

marianna

Veteran

I've been feeling that way about my cosmetics, actually. Everything I am using now is fine, but I feel slightly bored somedays. You may have just motivated me to experiment a bit with some new products!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

yep! I have painted my nails a new 'hot' color of the season lol. Once, so far, but I plan on doing it again before the year is up. Baby steps.
I also bought a combo curling/straightening iron. Can you believe I have never flat ironed my hair? So I'm toying with styling my hair some different ways.
The actual makeup products, not so much. I have been using tinted moisturizers for several years now. They keep discontinuing what I'm using, so each year I change. This year has been Aveeno. I have skin trouble so I try and stick with what works and not mess with it too much. Been using mascara with tint of ruby in it for years now, as well, to bring out the green eyes. Don't use much more on a regular basis. I try and remember lip color but I'm bad about it. I get gloss or tinted balm on about once a week. I have thought about the lip stains out there. http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-H.....Stain.aspx

Jules

Veteran

What mascara with ruby do you use, Mo? I'm green-eyed and intrigued!

lynne

Veteran

This is a very timely thread for me. I'd been a new convert to BE Ready foundation at home in Ohio and had quit my other favorites. But here in Arizona I'm feeling a little dry. Yesterday I had to go to the mall for my MAC tinted moisturizer.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Jules, I have 2. First is Cover Girl Exact Eyelights, the second is Almay Intense I-Color. I prefer the Cover Girl but I accidentally bought waterproof last time, and saw the Almay on sale, so I picked it up. Almay is thicker, but therefore clumpier as well.

rachylou

Veteran

I decided - like a decade after my first tube - that I'd like another one of Clinique's Pore Refining cream. Well, they don't seem to quite make it anymore. I came away with some sort of two-tube process. The new cream isn't as good as the old cream... but the primer lotion is quite good.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm a little bored with some of my stuff too, although I think it all works well enough. I have switched to face and skin care products that are not tested on animals, and so far, so good.

- I'd like to try BB cream, I've heard so much about it.

- I tried on some new lip colors in Nordstrom one day at the MAC counter, but ended up going for a color distinctly in my comfort zone. I simply do not seem to look good with anything bold or bright on my lips. So, not so exciting news there.

- I'd be curious to get my brows professionally done, but I'm really nervous about it -- I would have to go to someone highly recommended. The brows don't grow back so much as they used to, and I do not want anyone making my brows too thin. I plucked the outer ends slightly thinner years ago than I would choose to make them now, but I had plentiful brows to start, so not much harm done. I basically trim them and pluck strays every couple of weeks, but I would like to try having them professionally done at least once.

Anonymous

I'm a huge Jane Iredale fan! I quit using it when the bismuth oxychloride messed my skin up, but resumed using it after they removed that irritating and questionable ingredient from their formula. I use the Amazing Base mineral foundation (Warm Silk shade) and the pressed powder blush (Parfait shade). I also use the eyelash conditioner, which is a fabulous product. In addition to looking natural, a little goes a long way and I get a lot for my $.

I use CoverGirl mascara and eyeliner, and Clinique "Black Honey" almost lipstick.

Raisin

Veteran

I've been on a big kick to wear less makeup. I tend to keep it very minimal, not that I wore a ton before. So I pared down a lot. I found a great tinted moisturizer that I use instead of foundation. I have too many freckles for foundation anyway, it looks very fake for me to cover them. It's sort of like BB cream but very thin, almost watery. It just blends out a bit of redness, and keeps my skin moisturizer and SPF protected, which is all I want. I still usually put on mascara and if I have time, eyeliner. I find it makes me look much more awake. Oh and under eye concealer, they're a bit dark under there, so it's a nice brightener. That's about it for me. When I have a special occasion I will add some eye shadow. I find I look much better with less, then more. But like I said, it's hard to wear too much with freckles, cause it looks pretty fake, and weird that I suddenly don't have freckles!

I don't do perfume, except I have a bottle of Fresh ....um the linen scent I think. I spray that on my clothes once in a while because I love the smell of fresh laundry.

Raisin

Veteran

Forgot to add....one thing I did add to my routine over the last year was the Clarisonic Mia face brush. I love it! It takes off the dirt and makeup so well and my face is super soft. I do it at night and then put on the Josie Maran Argan oil to moisturizer. My skin actually looks way better, and I don't get those little bumps under the skin around my chin and mouth anymore. I think it's improved my skin a lot and that's why I'm much more confident wearing very little make up now. That and I don't care what people think as much anymore :). That's my face, take it or leave it! Haha!