[faith]

I have been dismayed lately to realize that the pores on my (prominent) nose are HUGE. I know that nothing can actually shrink pores, but should I be getting regular facials or something? Or those scary dermabrasion things? I can sort of cover with makeup (using primer so my powder doesn't just cake in the ginormous cratery holes) but I would love to think this might be reversible.

[pinkmartyr]

maimy, i bought something new the other day!

its called "amazing concealer." it was $40, you can get it at sephora but the bath and body works flagship stores are also carrying it. there are several shades. i'm olive and the medium beige/light worked for me. the girl at b&bw had me try all of them til we were sure of the color. its thick, and you only need the tiniest bit. so far, i am very happy with it. it lasts a long time, esp with a really light dusting of studio fix overtop. but, if i decide i don't like it, i can take it back anytime for a full refund. i agree that its pricey, but i'm willing to pay for something that works, esp since you don't need much to cover.

my friend lisa and i are really curious about the mineral powders since you all seem to like them so much... in your opinion, how are they different from a regular powder?

[maimy]

Pinkmartyr, I've had wonderful luck doing exactly that. I like Maybelline Smooth Result foundation, but they've discontinued its make - I've gotten a few bottles on eBay, but when it's gone I don't know what I will use. It has such wonderful coverage without the cakey-makeuppy look. Over that, my Larenim mineral powder, just enough to set. I follow with a wet sponge to de-mattify a bit, so my skin looks neither too dry nor made up. The end result is good coverage with a very natural, moisturized appearance.

[dani837]

OK, there are a lot of MAC addicts here right? Has anyone tried the new plushglass glosses? (they're supposed to be 'plumping').

The last time I tried something that's supposed to have that effect it was a whole lot of burning (cinnamon oil?) and not much else! I have some faith in MAC though.

Oooh I LOVE Mac! But I haven't seen those new glosses. But I have tried 2 other ones, one is "Venom"(I don't remember the manufacturer, but I bought it in Douglas. They sell it in Sephora too) and another one is "Thin Lips", by Wexler(they sell this one in Bath and Body works). The one that works the best/you can feel it the most is Venom, cause you can certainly taste/smell the cinnamon AND it BURNS. The Wexler one is not that bad, but I don't think it gets as good effects as the Lip Venom.

[pinkmartyr]

puppykitty, i need the concealer for undereye circles. the rest of my skin is (thankfully) clear and has a nice texture most of the time. right now i use a MAC concealer and studio fix, both applied with make up brushes. I do also use a MAC circle lightening eye cream. It does a good job preparing my skin for make up, but I've noticed no difference in my circles after over 3 months of use.

my skin is cool toned, so my under eye circles are bluish. using a warm-toned hue concealer or foundation under my eye works best because it cancels a bit of the coolness out. sometimes i feel like my under-eye circles are quite creepy looking... and somehow i feel like they've gotten worse since i started eye drops for glaucoma. i'll be sure to check the side effects of my meds.

i wonder if i need to use a liquid foundation in place of concealer, with a powder foundation on top? any ideas?

[mornington]

I like the "lightening touch" from the bodyshop for undereyes. it's also quite handy for dabbing on the odd blemish. It doesn't stay on wonderfully, but pretty damn well.

I am continuing on my search for a decent handcream. So. dry.

[opheliathemuse]

I recently got my makeup done by someone and she put false lashes on me as per my photograper's request. They are easy to get used to imo--I slept in them, I hauled her baby around, and generally forgot they were there. Oh, I wear contacts too, if that helps.

[aliboo]

There's a makeup thread here....where have I been *whoomp* heh heh

*goes back lurking but ready to join in at some point*

[puppykitty]

pinkmartyr, what do you need the concealer for? Under eyes? Blemishes?

I don't usually use concealer, but when my undereye circles get bad, I use Ooh La Lift by Benefit. It is pink creamy stuff that cools your undereye area, too. I have never used their Boooing! concealer, but I have heard that it is good for blemishes.

When I try to use concealer for undereye, it tends to cake after a while. And it smears with my eyeliner. I guess it gets too wet under my eyes.

I just ordered some waterproof eyeliner from Avon, and I hope it is good. Right now I'm using Makeup Forever black eyeliner pencil and, although I love it's softness and dark pigment, it gets messy. Same with Benefit Bad Gal. I love lots of black eyeliner, so this is a problem for me.

For foundation, have any of you ever tried the Shiseido Sun Protection Foundation? It's Very Water Resisitant, and SPF 42. It doesn't streak, and it stays put for a long time. It also has really good pigment, so I don't use concealer most of the time. It costs about $30, put I find it to be a good bargain because it spreads so nicely and doesn't need to be reapplied often. I don't use powder with it, either.

I find that the foundation spreads even more nicely if you use an exfoliating scrub right beforehand. I use Aveda All-Sensitive moisturizer with a drop of Aveda sensitive skin balancing oil in it. It seems so make my makeup go on really smoothly.

OK - so after all these years, I have finally found products to be loyal to. Except for the black eyeliner. Still looking.

[zawadi]

OK, there are a lot of MAC addicts here right? Has anyone tried the new plushglass glosses? (they're supposed to be 'plumping').

The last time I tried something that's supposed to have that effect it was a whole lot of burning (cinnamon oil?) and not much else! I have some faith in MAC though.

[halcyon]

FYI...I was lurking in my local TJ Maxx the other day and found a little goldmine of Bliss products...it seems they're discontinuing their makeup line and it's starting to hit those places (skin twin for four bucks!). Yay!

[pinkmartyr]

its been hot and humid around here, so i was concerned last night when i decided to wear serious eyeshadow and related eye products last night. on a whim, i decided to try the smashbox photo finish primer. its a gel and really enchanced my skin. for my eyes, i applied concealer then used the MAC eye paint in a neutral color just on the lid. i topped that with an assortment of lancome and mark eyeshadows in a range of blues, and used black eyeliner with purple shadow smeared over it. when blended, it was a nice blue-hued dramatic eye, and stayed true all night.
as for my skin, i did have to use blotting sheets once for shine. i don't know whether to chalk that up to the weather or not. i am wondering what would happen if you used philosophy's "the present" (clear gel that soaks up oil like a powder) with the smashbox photo finish on top.
i got a lot of compliments last night, so now i am actually considering playing around with products for the next few months and doing my own make up for my wedding. this would be really fun, and i would be proud to pull off an impressive looking diy make up job on my own. the only thing that scares me off about it is the concealer... i can't find anything that covers and holds for an extended period of time. any suggestions?

[oceandessa]

Oh my god ladies, I look fantastic in coral red lipstick. Who knew? I am looking at myself in the mirror - and yes my lipstick is orangy, yet it looks great.

A miracle. I feel very mid 1980s.

[edna]

Oh, sybarite, Chanel lippy is the shit. I even love the way it smells.

[maimy]

Has anyone ever used fake eyelashes? Ugh. It sounds so bad. But i'm actually interested in trying them out for special occasions. My eyelashes are perhaps my worst feature - sparse, thin, puny. Anyway, I'm just looking for recommendations. <BR> <BR>And-- I'm tired of my makeup. I bounce back and forth between drugstore makeup and the good stuff. Currently I'm using a mixed bag of drugstore stuff. Some of it is kind of old and I'd really like to pitch it and try a new brand all together. I'm really bad about this part of "being a girl". And I'd really like to start paying more attention and treating myself a little more. So some friends of mine use MAC cosmetics. What other good brands are out there? <BR> <BR>

Going back in time for this one a little ...

Yummy, I have pretty mediocre lashes, and *have* used false lashes ... but have you ever tried Lancome Definicils mascara? The trial size (the regular apparently doens't work as well - oddly). I've been a total convert to this stuff since WalkingBitch gave me some last March when she visited for St. Paddy's day. For one, I've only used maybe three tubes in just over a year, and for two I got SIX tubes on eBay for under $10. So there's that. But more to the point ... this stuff is incredible. I'd post a recent pic of my lashes with this, but haven't explored posting options yet - but I had no idea I could get this kind of length out of mascara. Ever.

As to falsies, I do wear 'em on rare occasion, but only when I am interested in looking really "costumey" - last time was New Year's, I think. (I have also tried the single-lash falsies, but those are impossible for my shaky hands to get right. I think they require more investment than I'll ever put into my lashes ... especiallly with Definicils right there in the drawer.)

[sybarite]

Pinkmartyr, a facial should include an extraction, which is where (prepare for ew-ness) they extract blackheads (around your nose and forehead usually) with a tweezer-like thing. The rest of the facial is very pleasant. Usually they will cleanse your face(usually using massage motion), apply a toner, do the extraction then follow it with a mask, which stays on for about 15 minutes. For me, facials are the only way I can get those stubborn nose pores really clean and they make your skin look (and smell) great. I have heard about the phenomenon Zahia describes, where your face expels toxins a day or two later, but it's never happened to me.

I try to get one at least twice a year and apply a mask at home weekly-ish in between.

I originally came in here to rave about my new lipstick. The only makeup I wear (except for mascara at weekends) is lipstick, so I thought I'd splurge for the first time in my life. I prefer a good red lippy and am *so happy* with my brand new Chanel red. It stays on like no-one business, give a great colour and seems to moisturise. Well worth €25...

[zahia1996]

((pinkmartyr)) Facials are wonderful! My sister is an esthetician, and every now and then I get a freebie from her. Basically, you just lay back in a comfy chair and you get a good cleansing, steam, scrub and scalp/facial massage. Its really relaxing and cleans out your skin, but just a note of caution, it can actually cause you to break out a little a few days later because it brings all the bad stuff out.
Also, if you're breaking out, you might want to consider using less harsh products. Using a lot of products for "oily" skin can actually dry you out and cause your skin to produce even more oil. Try skipping the witch hazel and just use a light moisturizer when you're done with your cleansing.
((yummyyum)) For false eyelashes, the little individual ones work best because you can place a few around your eyes to make the lashes look longer but not so fake. They only last for the night though. As far as makeup...the good stuff generally costs more because it has a higher concentration of pigment in it. So, the color goes on your skin truer to what it looks like, and requires less coats. MAC makes terrific eyeshadows and lipsticks. For mascara I haven't been able to find anything that beats Lancome. It is soooo worth it if you have stubby lashes like me! The rest of it I usually just go with drugstore brands...especially Loreal, which is actually owned by Lancome.
Sorry for the long post..just passing along some of the stuff I learned by having an uber-girly older sister!

[curioushair]

I'm beta testing the new Physicians Formula mineral makeup. It's half the price of Bare Minerals. So far so good. The brush that came with it isn't too bad, kind of like the baby buki (or whatever they cal it) brush, but the handle's a little stubby. I'm wearing medium beige, which is rather light for a beige. (I'm the second or third lightest Bare Minerals or Mac N3 Studiofix, for comparion.) Color's good. I'm the rare woman with pink rather than yellow undertones and find Bare Minerals to be a little sallow, except for the lightest shade, which looks death white on me.

[pinkmartyr]

does anyone get facials? my pores are clogged around my forehead and nose. i use philosophy's "purity" cleanser, then witch hazel as a toner, followed by clinique's superdefense for oily skin as a moisturizer. i am pretty consistent about cleansing day and night. i know that i could use a good facial scrub to have around, but was wondering... what exactly happens during a facial?

[sixelacat]

Maddy, I have had the best luck with Physician's Formula Translucent Multi-Colored Pressed Powder. I too have combo skin and get the pimplies. The powder's great for not aggravating the breakouts and takes the shine off my whitey white skin. They have green colored stuff in a liquid form and a concealer form, and either one would take the extra rosy out of your skin w/o agitating the delicate balance, too. Isn't it great when your skin acts like endangered wetlands?! oily, dry, flaky, pimply, rosy, pale....I just wish it would make up it's mind....