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OT? Makeup suggestions

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Is beauty/makeup on-topic for YLF? I’m hoping for good suggestions because I think I need to upgrade my makeup look. I do wear makeup most days but I have the kind of skin where makeup slides off easily and by the end of the day I look like I’m wearing nothing, even with the colorstay/extended wear stuff. Also I’m quite pale and rosy-colored, and have trouble finding foundation that is light enough and not too yellow. On the maintenance angle, I have the 30s problem of both pimples and dryness and have issues balancing those two needs in my use of products. I’d love to hear other people’s experiences and product suggestions.

General

28 replies

Latest reply was from Louise

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

The only problem I share with you is the pimple-dryness problem: I found this combination worked well for me -- I use a light oil-free all-over moisturizer after I facial cleanse (I am currently using Neutrogena Oil Free Fresh Moisturize) and use a spot-zit-zapper (Neutrogena RapidClear SpotGel). This way, I can zap my zits but not have to dry out the rest of my face!

Queen Mum

Veteran

I like to use a mineral powder foundation and then a dusting of powder over that. This seems to be a good base for my blush and doesn't seem to be gone by the end of the day. On color, I use a slightly darker foundation than powder. This combination seems to give a bit of color to my pale skin.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I also have skin where make up slides off. Using a make up primer (I like the Magix one form Avon and the L'oreal one in a little jar- can't remember the name) really helps me. I even put it on my eyelids and under my eyes so my eye make up doesn't slide. It really works!

tarzy

Veteran

I've been trying primers too. And also - bronzer! I have a lot of red undertones in my skin, and most blush is too dark, or makes me feel like I'm wearing clown makeup. I started experimenting with bronzer for more of an overall "glow." It's difficult when you have very light skin because most of them are too dark (I don't want to look like one of the girls from "Jersey Shore") but I did some research and found one from Physician's Formula (Mineral Wear Light Bronzer 1099) that's really, really light.
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp22.....r_1099.htm

I buff it really well, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely sure it's actually doing anything, but I'd rather be subtle than overdone. I do think it adds some sort of "glow," but maybe that's just in my mind! Sometimes I also add a little coral blush on top of that (blended well.)

I'm always searching for a color that's light enough, but still adds some color!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I really like Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (oil-free). I work ten hour days and it works for me.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I go light on the makeup in general, but I recently discovered a tint moisturizer coupled with a light dusting of mineral powder foundation does the trick. I am in the sweaty south and it doesn't slide. Neutrogena Ageless Intenstives Tone Correcting tinted moisturizer SPF 30. Greatest thing I've found since mineral foundation. I use a tinted coverup stick for blemishes - maybelline pure concealer blemish treatment stick.

lady

ahhh makeup......i can't speak on your total condition specifically but as for oily and slippage, I'll throw in another vote for mineral foundation. everyone seems to have their preference. i'm a bare minerals gal most days but the bismuth does annoy me a little if i sweat. I just haven't tried any other brands bc I have so many jars of this stuff. (don't enroll in auto ship if you KNOW you wont use it that fast. I've got jars from 4 years ago that i'm still making my way thru)

right now i've been oily and pimply. i'm knocking on 30 and my skin is just 'wierd' right now. I'm not sure if it's a phase or if this is my new normal.

i can also vouch for a tinted moisturizer under a dusting of mineral foundation. But 2 products aren't required. Just tip a little of your mineral powder into your moisturizer of the day. Mix on the back of your hand and apply per usual. Buff on mineral foundation and then your finishing powder ( if you use one).

bc i've been so oily lately, I can't get thru the day without using my blotting papers (never had that problem before) but the foundation stays put. unlike some other things I've strayed off and tried over the past few weeks.

Kari

Veteran

I've always been oily and pimply, but in the past couple years my skin has shifted into the "combination" territory where it gets dry in patches and is even prone to eczema when the weather is really dry. Not so fun.

I've had great luck with the Bare Escentuals line - both the mineral veil (translucent powder) and the mineral foundation, which I also use as a concealer. One suggestion if you decide to try them out - get color-matched with both the original and the matte versions of the mineral foundation, and take samples of each home before you buy. I was matched pretty well to the "Fairly Light" shade, but found that the matte (non-shiny) version actually looked more orange/yellow on me and didn't blend very well, whereas the original shade just looked natural.

After I put on a sheer coat of suncreen (I use the Neutrogena line) as a base and let it dry, I'll dust a coat of Mineral Veil powder all over, especially the areas where I tend to get oily. Then I'll go to town with foundation - a thin layer all over, and more concentrated with a concealer brush in areas where I have blemishes or need more coverage (under eyes, etc.) After I'm done, I'll put another layer of Mineral Veil over the top. As long as I have a "before" and "after" coat of transluscent powder, my makeup stays on pretty well (unless I'm at the gym or something similar that involves heavy perspiration.)

My sensitive skin is still troublesome from time to time, but it's actually improved a lot since I made the switch to mineral foundation, and a lot of people actually compliment me on my "good skin", not knowing that most of it is just an illusion. However, I've heard of other folks with sensitive skin who have trouble due to the bismuth or mica content that BE uses, so again, I'd highly recommend trying out a sample before you buy a whole pack.

(And if you do decide to get an entire container of foundation, BE now offers a new "starter kit" for $60 where you just pick out your foundation and pop it in the kit - it includes several brushes, brush cleaner, mineral veil, and "warmth", an all-over color that I use as blush or bronzer or even eyeshadow. Well worth it if you actually need & will use all components of the kit.)

Maya

Veteran

I'm an oil slick in summer and did not like BE Sorry to throw a spanner. That is the makeup I originally got because I heard such rave reviews about it, but it was a letdown. It either looked invisible on me, or it looked cakey, blotchy, and powdery. I returned it.

I have not had success with makeup lasting on my skin, so lately I have just been trying to use an intensive skin care regimen, hoping it will minimize my need for makeup. Lately I have been trying wearing just plain moisturizer, and while it is still a bit sticky, applying a bit of blush on top (I am a very tired and haggard person, so I wear blush mostly as a means of making myself look like I'm...not dead rather than pretty). It seems to work fairly well. No, not all of my imperfections are covered, but that's ok. I'm not a porcelain doll.

If it doesn't work out, I have a sample of Tarte primer to try underneath my Tarte tinted moisturizer, which worked out much better for me than BE.

I do not have sensitive skin and my "problems" are trivial compared to some, though.

lynne

Veteran

I've not had luck with powder foundations either. I like the LM tinted moisturizer previously mentioned. Recently I've been wearing more tinted sunscreens and love the ones I have from Boscia and Neutrogena.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, everyone, for your informative posts. Like Maya, I haven't had success with mineral foundations in the past - a few years ago I tried Bare Escentuals and it made me break out, and it didn't last on my face either. I recently bought a 'matte foundation primer' from Boots/Target, and so far it's working fairly well. I will give your suggestions a try and report back!

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I love makeup. One of these days I want to work as a makeup artist. Hahahaha.
Anyway.
Primers are a must. I love in a warm/humid climate and I also have naturally shiny/oily skin. I use the Laura Mercier primer and love it - but if you have success with the Boots, by all means go for it.
I used the LM tinted moisturizer for awhile but it just wasn't enough coverage. I don't break out a lot, but my skin scars very easily and I have scars from break outs from years ago.
But most foundations are just too heavy feeling, so I stumbled across this product by Clinique and I'm in LOVE.
http://sephora.com/browse/prod.....oryId=1254
It looks pricey I know, but it's excellent coverage for very little product applied. I also apply it with a foundation brush, which gives an almost airbrushed look.
I finish with a beige transluscent powder, a matte bronzer, and cream blush for a very natural face. I recommend Cargo's matte bronzer, btw. Most bronzers have sparkles and shine, which I tend to avoid.
Also, filling in your eyebrows can make a huge impact, and some days I only apply a tiny bit of mascara to finish it off and call it good.

shana

Veteran

I don't like mineral foundation and have yet to find the right shade for my skintone (BE was a bust). Day to day, I really don't use much makeup except for some lip balm & sunscreen. Otherwise, I use a light tinted moisturizer (Clinique Moinsture Sheer Tint) over my sunscreen (which seems to function really well as a makeup primer).

The best resource I've found for makeup related questions is makeupalley.com

shana

Veteran

Sarah, we must have been writing at the same time - that's the same tinted moisturizer that I have been using. I did a mad search for tinted moisturizer a year or so ago and I literally tried EVERYTHING under the sun. LM was way too sticky & tacky for my taste, even though it seems to be universally recommended. I love the Clinique TM - it has good coverage but it is still light.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Agreed Shana! I'm surprised it isn't more popular because it's a great product. I've put lots of people with it since I found it, and everbody loves it.

shana

Veteran

Sarah, agreed! I think that Clinque gets overlooked sometimes because it's been around for so long. What's unfortunate for me is that I can only get my shade at Sephora otherwise I'd love to combine stocking up on this product with one of the department store gift offers! None of my local department stores (Macy's, Nordies or Lord & Taylor) carry my shade (deep).

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Do you belong to the Sephora Beauty Insiders club? I get freebies every time I reach a certain dollar amount and if you order online you can use Ebates for cash back.

Kyrania

Oh my...I am a makeup ADDICT! I swear by Urban Decay...it's reasonably priced, great for sensitive skin and offers products that were not tested on animals.

I use the face and eye primer lotions BUT this new spray is amazing! I use the Dew Me because my skin is often dry....They offer differnt formulas for all skin types.

I also LOVE the eyeliner 24/7....it really does NOT come off until you take it off with makeup remover.

Makeup Setting Spray:

http://www.urbandecay.com/cate.....gSpray.cfm

http://www.urbandecay.com/cate.....gSpray.cfm

Primers:

http://www.urbandecay.com/cate.....ecting.cfm
http://www.urbandecay.com/cate.....Potion.cfm

Hope this helps! ^__~

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

For primer, when I use it, I like Benefit's Dr.Feelgood and want to try "That Gal". For foundation if I want to go light I really like DHC's water based foundations. I also use Maybeline's Mineral Power liquid foundation, which works pretty well. I don't use powder foundation - it looks like makeup on me rather than looking natural.

I have oily skin and am prone to break outs. No dry skin here, but boy can I sympathize in the 'where'd my makeup go?' effect!

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I've only discovered primer recently - makes a big difference.

I use Jane Iredale's powder foundation. She was (I think) the person who initially developed mineral make-up. Fab, easy, makes me look 'expensive' (according to DH!) and can be used on its own on 'non-make-up' days so I look vagely civilised...

Auburn

Veteran

Glad to see I'm not the only make-up lover/addict around here.
First, a word of encouragement to those oily faced YLF-ers: oil production acts to preserve the skin and you will age MUCH better than your dry-faced counterparts as a result. So, at least there's a silver lining to the oil cloud!

I'm a Laura Mercier devotee. I like the skin care and the make-up lines a lot and she prides herself on "the flawless face" which really focuses on concealing imperfections and products that STAY on your skin. Though I only wear foundation for special occasions (and it's her tinted moisturizer when I do), for me the secret is her translucent loose powder which you apply with the puff (and yes, technique is key here) by making it like a taco and sort of rolling it and pressing the powder into your face. No matter what I apply first, finishing with this powder works unbelievably well for me in "setting" my face and I don't experience any slippage at all, as a result. You can go to your local LM counter and ask for a free demo. They should also be able to help you with color matching for your specific skin tone.

Another great "primer" product I use is her Eye Basics in Wheat. It looks like concealer in a tube but acts as an eyeshadow primer. I wear it EVERY day, regardless of whether I wear eyeshadow or not. It evens out my eyelid color and seriously does NOT move all day long. Which means that whatever I put on top (shimmer, shadow, liner, etc) does not move. Pretty incredible product.
Finally, I love cream blushes (Stila does great convertible color) but if you are prone to oily skin, you should probably stay with powder formulations, applied with a big fluffly brush, on top of powder.

Hope this helps. What I wouldn't give to be able to fly around and "do" make-up on willing participants!!

Tanya

Veteran

Another make-up lover with oily skin here.

Yet another vote for a primer, I also love the L'Oreal one. When combined with this Estee Lauder foundation:

http://www.esteelauder.com/pro.....index.tmpl

my make-up stays in place for around 12 h.

Kyrania

I wish you could fly, too Auburn....I SO want to try a makeup makeover! Every time I try going less I end up going MORE!

Kari

Veteran

Also, if you are up for trying liquid/non-powder makeup, I really like the Origins Nude & Improved line. It stayed on very well, and I was able to find a good color match. The only reason I'm not using it now is that it was sheer so I still had to use my BE for concealer/coverage, and it was simpler just to use one product for both purposes.

lynne

Veteran

I'll second shana's recommendation of http://www.makeupalley.com as a great resource/forum for skin, makeup, etc.

teri

Veteran

Newbie here.... I love makeup too and have recently gone almost totally to airbrush. I've been using the Dinair airbrush and waterbased makeup for about 6 months now. It dries on contact and has dramatically helped my breakouts. If you love makeup adventures... jump on in. I bought my stuff from palazah.com (cheaper than Dinair)

Lisa

Veteran

Has anyone tried this foundation by clinique for oily skin? Moisture Sheer Tint SPF 15

http://www.sephora.com/browse/.....goryId=B70

Louise

Veteran

Lisa the link goes to the superfit makeup? I think sarah linked to the same sheer moisture tint above x