The Power of Make-up

Kristen

I don't know what possessed me to take these photos; I think it was because I tried on a new eye cream/concealer and the difference under my eyes seemed startling. *gulp* So I will be brave and post them.

I am actually relatively new to the idea of makeup; for years I insisted that natural was best. Now I am looking at this before-and-after comparison, and am pretty embarrassed by the before; I look like my grandmother!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/k.....92/detail/

16 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

rute

Veteran

Well-done!
I agree that natural is best when you have 20 years, I'm 40 and I have the same problem as you... dark circles under the eyes.

You can still be natural and wear make-up.. the concealer you used is great, natural, no one can tell and it gives you a fresher look!

Now you can add just a little bit of mascara on the upper lashes and a rosy gloss.. still natural, but much more fresher!

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Interesting - but you don't look like a grandmother in the before.

Dark circles aren't really an issue for me but without a touch of foundation my face is just too splotchy and red. I use a light touch and apply just a dab or two. I also don't feel dressed without a light touch of color on my lips.

Your eyebrows look amazing.

Can I take this opportunity to rave about my favorite moisturizer? I've been using Lancome Renergie Microlift. I bought it originally for my DH for xmas, and we've been sharing (basically he only uses moisturizer at night, so I have taken over the daily all for myself, since he wasn't using it). It's intended for people with deep wrinkles - more for the 50-60 set. I don't have many wrinkles yet but wow, just wow.... this stuff is great! When I use it consistently I find I can get away without foundation. My skin looks more even and a lot firmer. I am running out now so I've been saving what's left for when we go out, and I can really tell the difference. I need more!

16 years ago

Ele

(website)

Active Member

Wow, that is one hot grandma you must have

Concealer can be such a great product for under eye circles, and I love how it looks whenever I get my makeup done (which is very rarely). I don't even have any myself, though, which I've been meaning to do something about for years. I use a Bobbi Brown foundation stick as concealer, if and where I need it. If I'm wanting to look very polished, and also wear a very light dusting of Bare Minerals ID foundations- it's like a miracle flawless skin product for me.

Other than a base, my most "important" makeup products are blush and mascara. I never understand why more women don't wear blush- I LOVE it! Just a light dusting makes me feel so much prettier.

OT- I have sometimes thought that if I was a "good style fairy", and could go around London doing anything to make women look better, I would have two secret weapons: a loaded blush brush, and some thread clippers with which I would snip the back of coat vents that people always always seem to forget to open. (That is a pet peeve of mine- why?!) Ok, you probably all think I'm crazy now...

If I have time/am going somewhere nice, I also like to wear eyeliner, for which I like the Bobbi Brown gel kind. Eyeshadow and lip colour and not that important to me. I like them, but am very likely to forget to apply.

16 years ago

Anonymous

You look good in the before and the after, but I can see that the under eye area with concealer looks extra smooth. Very nice. Thankyou for sharing this. It lets me know that it is important to wear a little makeup. It doesn't have to be alot. I really cannot stand to wear a lot of makeup on my face. I don't feel like myself and I feel dirty. I know I am weird.

16 years ago

sinead

Active Member

Kristen, you look great with just a little makeup. I think the best thing makeup can do is bring some life to your eyes, and that's what you've done here. I don't think you look Grandma-ish in your first photo, but you have taken off years.

I'm looking for some new concealer- could you tell us which one you tried here?

16 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Haha, I should have been more clear about the grandmother comment; I didn't mean I looked ancient, I meant I saw my grandmother's eyes when I looked at the photo. She had very broad Polish features, very old school, and once in a while I see her in myself and the instant memory of her surprises me.

Although I do think the before picture does make me look about 10 years older than I am, too.

Rute, I don't normally have circles as dark as these but I've been skimping on my sleep this week. Bad me! Still, I need the concealer under them now that I'm in my 40s.

Shiny, I'm glad you like the brows; I went to a new girl last week, and I thought she made them much thinner at the ends than I like. I usually get a straighter brow, but maybe I should re-think that. I may have to try your moisturizer; I have a regenerating one for my neck but I've been resistant about using it on my face. It makes it feel too weird after!

Ele, I am a blush fan too; I wear Nars Orgasm every day! I want to go to the makeup counter this weekend so they can show me how to use the cream stick version. I'm afraid I will end up looking like Raggedy Ann without some guidance!

San, yes, a little can go a very long way. I was wearing a lot more this winter, especially with eyeshadows and liner, but for the summer I'm keeping it to as little as possible. Tinted moisturizer is a great place to start, especially if you don't like makeup -- you're moisturizing anyway, might as well have it do double-duty! Aveeno just came out with a tinted version of their daily moisturizer; I just started using it this week but I love it. Creamy and light.

Sinead, I am using Olay's Regenerist Eye-Lfiting Serum -- they just put out a new version that has a "Touch of Concealer". Since I needed a new eye cream, I thought tinted would mean one less product for the summer so I tried it. Got it at Ulta on sale!

16 years ago

Debora

Veteran

Kristen, you have pretty eyes. I like Olay's Regenerist Eye Serum, also, for around the eye area. Do you like the new version with the hint of concealer? It would be nice to combine the concealer and moisturizer.

Shiny, I think I'll try the Lancome Moisturizer. It sounds like you use it as a daily moisturizer, right? I, too, have problems with red splotchy patches on my face. I developed them in my thirties and tried everything. My dermatologist even gave me a gel for rosacea which did nothing. My new dermatologist prescribed Renova cream about a year ago to use at night for fine lines and it seems to have evened out my skin tone. I'm not sure if this is an intended effect, but my forehead and cheeks are less red and much smoother since I've been using it. Only problem is that it is pretty pricey.

16 years ago

Chris

Active Member

I am a huge believer in the power of makeup. Not saying the Vegas show girl look but a little tinted moisturizer/foundation and concealer can go a long way toward helping me look polished.
I always do tm, concealer/highlighter pen (YSL Touche Eclat) under eyes and curl the lashes/swipe a coat of waterproof mascara.
I also discovered cream and gel blush blushes which last longer on me than powder.
A little tinted lipbalm or lipstick and I can be done in about 7 minutes.

16 years ago

taylor

Veteran

You look good both ways...:) Make up is my friend:) it does alot for me. I wish I could go without, but I just look washed out and tired:(

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kristen, you look great. Make-up means two things in this country. Are you talking about foundation, or all things make-up like lipstick, mascara etc?

16 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Debora, I do like the version with the concealer. It's so much easier if it's one step, and the concealer works far better than I thought it would.

Angie, I did mean all things make-up. I do wear everything -- mascara, blush, bronzer, liner, etc -- but not a lot of foundation or powder.

Funny, the Google ad is VERY savvy -- the ad is for how to get rid of eye bags! Bwahaha.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Kristen. I believe that a bit of face polish goes a long way as you get older. There are very few women who get away with wearing NOTHING on their face and look just as good. Usually they look better with a tiny bit of mascara, blush and lip colour. Sometimes just lip colour if their skin is radiant and the eyebrows are groomed. By the same token, I am DEAD SET against women wearing too much make up for ANY occasion. It’s right up there with wearing pants too short. Very bad style. Makeover shows always overdo the make-up part, but they get away with it on camera (you need a LOT of make-up on camera), but irl, it’s just too much.

I don’t wear foundation, but I like to wear lipstick, mascara and eyebrow pencil, and if I’m a little paler than usual, a bit of cream blush works wonders too. I have never worn anything else and don’t think I will. My late Mum didn’t wear foundation either so I’m hoping to get away with it for as long as she did.

16 years ago

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