If your willing to spend at least $50, you can do s custom makeover at sephora. I had one 2 weeks ago. They color matched me, taught me application techniques etc. It was 45 minutes and I made an appt ahead of time on their website.
Ooooh, I am very intrigued by this.
Do this! And invite me.
I'd also like to plug Brightest Bulb makeup blog. Good product reviews.
Side note: am I the only one who doesn't view shimmer as professional? For those of you who use shimmer do you wear it to work? Am I being crazy? I am totally open to finding out I am nuts.
yes, but I am soft with it and blend it with matte shades.
My employer prefers the sparkliest e/s I own (lol), but I think shimmer blended with matte colors is most flattering. It just looks better to me - all matte, no. All shimmer, no. And shimmer-y shades from most high end brands are not loud or tacky. It's not like it's glitter all over your eye.
Also, if you look at most quads (which are typically meant to be worn together), there is usually a mix of shimmer, matte, etc. because all of one type doesn't work as well.
Side note: am I the only one who doesn't view shimmer as professional? For those of you who use shimmer do you wear it to work? Am I being crazy? I am totally open to finding out I am nuts.
This is only slightly funny because I got flamed to high heaven for saying that glitter was unprofessional and made for teens. At least with shimmer, you can get a balance of colors that aren't clown like. You don't do an entire shimmery eye. You use matte shadows and some shimmer.
This is what I'm slowly figuring out. If I do a dab of shimmer in specific areas, such as beneath my (non-existent) brows or in the inner corner of my eyes, it adds just enough drama to mean something without making me look like I'm stuck in the 70s.
I just got my LORAC Pro palette in the mail yesterday and I LOVE it. Gah, I love it. It's $42, so I would start with a great foundation, L'oreal LUMI foundation is a nice coverage, not heavy, inexpensive foundation.
If you want a face you can make regularly with just a few products, I'd recommend: One eye shadow palette: Nakeds, LORAC Pro, the Naked Basics -- I have all of these, well not Naked 3, but four palettes. A bronzer blush duo: I would recommend NARS (yes all of these names are capitalized, it's kind of annoying), there is one with Orgasm and Laguna I believe. Great foundation: I use MAC prolong wear, I also have the LUMI foundation if I want a lighter, easy going face. Eyeliner: pencil or gel liner, I have MAC Blacktrack, or Loreal liquid. Liquid takes practice though. Great mascara: I love my Covergirl Lash blast in the purple tube.
oh yes, yes yes. Lorac Pro is great.
Loreal liquid liners are also quite good.
Loreal owns a bunch of high-end makeup companies (like Lancome, Yves Saint Laurent, UD-- so I trust Loreal's quality a bit more. Snobby?
Side note: am I the only one who doesn't view shimmer as professional? For those of you who use shimmer do you wear it to work? Am I being crazy? I am totally open to finding out I am nuts.
This is only slightly funny because I got flamed to high heaven for saying that glitter was unprofessional and made for teens. At least with shimmer, you can get a balance of colors that aren't clown like. You don't do an entire shimmery eye. You use matte shadows and some shimmer.
I think I remember that thread, and it was hilarious. Glitter is ridiculous on grown adults in nearly all contexts.
Side note: am I the only one who doesn't view shimmer as professional? For those of you who use shimmer do you wear it to work? Am I being crazy? I am totally open to finding out I am nuts.
have you seen how teachers' dress?
in a world where 'ugly holiday sweater' is just a sweater, shimmer is the least concern.
I also think in matters how much shadow is on you face. A little shimmer eye shadow can be the same as a little shiny lip gloss, unless you are in a very conservative field.
I've taught at schools where non-PE teachers wear track suits to work. So I totally get that. But now I'm at a school where the men wear ties. So its a little more on the professional side.
The other thing I would do is figure out what works best for you as far as brows. I like Laura Mercier's brow gel with an angled brush but there are great drugstore products too. Groomed brows that are filled in can make a huge difference.
Yes. I have no clue what happened, but my eyebrows suddenly thinned out and faded. What's left of the outer edges suddenly went white-blonde. I literally looked in the mirror a couple months ago and wondered where the fuck my eyebrows were. It was so odd.
Anyway, using an eyebrow pencil really makes a difference, although it's easy to overdo it and look like a clown, so a soft touch is necessary.
I really need to get something to help calm some of my brow hairs. I don't dare pluck any because so few of them have pigment left, but I have a few that want to stand at attention and simply using a pencil to fill them in and then a brush to blend the color doesn't tame them.
irish, I'm with you on shimmer. I suspect the people who can pull off the shimmer in a professional setting are the ones who are more artful with the application. Personally, I don't have the skill to do it.
Step 1 - use a brush that is like a mascara wand (alternatively, buy a pack of disposable mascara wands from Sally beauty supply) to brush/groom your brows.
Step 2 - brow pencil
Step 3 - clear mascara or brow gel or brow wax (all are clear, colorless products). The brow wax I've used is from mac. I like brow gel/clear mascara as well though.
Post by DirtySouth on Feb 20, 2014 19:52:34 GMT -5
Since you are wanting to spend $100 total, I highly recommend TheBalm Nude Tude palette instead of a Naked palette. I have all three Naked palettes and like my Nude Tude just as much and it's not as expensive.
Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer is my holy grail item and it's something like $40. That said, I like Revlon photo ready foundation almost as much and it's a fraction of the price.
Another holy trail item for me is Benefit Watts Up luminizer. I have a bit of an addiction to highlighters and have tried everything from Revlon to Dior and I think that Watts Up gives the prettiest look.
I think these three items would put you a little over $100. I don't think that sephira carries TheBalm.
There really are many great drugstore products and it's absolutely not necessary to have all sephora makeup. My favorite eye shadow primer, eyeliner, and mascara are all drugstore brands. I've found that eyeshadow, foundation, blush and highlighters are worth buying higher end. I like Nars blush and Tarte Amazonian clay. Oh and I love Nars concealer.
I told her to treat me like a 12 year old who knew nothing about makeup. She was great. I ended up buying everything.
I highly recommend doing this - I prefer makeup counters with makeup artists over sephora because sephora can be hit or miss as far as having artists. But I've had good experiences at various sephoras; it's just not as consistent. I like MAC and Chanel. Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier are good, too. Nordstrom is usually a good place to go for counters.
I have a question about this. I basically did the same as ddi741 at Ulta, but it was technically at the Bare Minerals section, so the woman was very uninterested in selling me anything but BM. I did convince her to find me a concealer from a different line, but I ended up with a BM primer that I didn't like, because she didn't try any others and I didn't know better.
So, if I go to a counter at Nordstrom - they will only sell me their line, right? how will that help me find the best products for me?
If you're going to do foundation, go to a Prescriptives counter and have them blend for you.
Prescriptives was discontinued by Estee Lauder
Your coloring sounds a lot like mine and I LOVE the Dr. Jart premium BB cream . It is $39 BUT it lasts freaking forever (I just bought a new tube in January and the last one I bought, I had bought in 2012 although to be fair, I didn't wear it every single day). It blends in perfectly with my skin and doesn't look like I'm Wearing Makeup - it just makes my skin look nice and smooth.
Eyeshadow and foundation are worth spending money on, IMO - mascara, eyebrow pencil you can get cheapie versions at the drugstore and they're pretty much the same.
I highly recommend doing this - I prefer makeup counters with makeup artists over sephora because sephora can be hit or miss as far as having artists. But I've had good experiences at various sephoras; it's just not as consistent. I like MAC and Chanel. Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier are good, too. Nordstrom is usually a good place to go for counters.
I have a question about this. I basically did the same as ddi741 at Ulta, but it was technically at the Bare Minerals section, so the woman was very uninterested in selling me anything but BM. I did convince her to find me a concealer from a different line, but I ended up with a BM primer that I didn't like, because she didn't try any others and I didn't know better.
So, if I go to a counter at Nordstrom - they will only sell me their line, right? how will that help me find the best products for me?
This is why Sephora is good because they aren't loyal to a specific brand. The department stores like Nordstrom or Bloomingdale's are good if you know you like a specific line but you're right in that that is what they will sell you - they won't mix Bobbi Brown and Clinique and Lancome together.
I highly recommend doing this - I prefer makeup counters with makeup artists over sephora because sephora can be hit or miss as far as having artists. But I've had good experiences at various sephoras; it's just not as consistent. I like MAC and Chanel. Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier are good, too. Nordstrom is usually a good place to go for counters.
I have a question about this. I basically did the same as ddi741 at Ulta, but it was technically at the Bare Minerals section, so the woman was very uninterested in selling me anything but BM. I did convince her to find me a concealer from a different line, but I ended up with a BM primer that I didn't like, because she didn't try any others and I didn't know better.
So, if I go to a counter at Nordstrom - they will only sell me their line, right? how will that help me find the best products for me?
Yes, that is true. In that sense, sephora is superior, but for me, most makeup at that level is equivalent so I care more about the skill of the artist in finding colors and showing me application tips. Plus, I have so much makeup that I have a lot of different brands and know what I like. I admit that I am very loyal to "my" makeup artist and when she went from MAC to Chanel, I started using/trying a lot more Chanel products. If I am just getting makeup, I am totally okay with sticking to one brand. I buy a lot of stuff from sephora to try on my own or from reading reviews or just seeing things that appeal to me, so when I want an overall new makeup look, I don't mind sticking to one brand.
I have a question about this. I basically did the same as ddi741 at Ulta, but it was technically at the Bare Minerals section, so the woman was very uninterested in selling me anything but BM. I did convince her to find me a concealer from a different line, but I ended up with a BM primer that I didn't like, because she didn't try any others and I didn't know better.
So, if I go to a counter at Nordstrom - they will only sell me their line, right? how will that help me find the best products for me?
Honestly, the Sephora crews are hit or miss. I know makeup. I know it pretty damn well. I walked into a Sephora, and it was pretty horrible. They had no clue as to what they were doing or where in the store their product was.
I would shop around and ask a few questions at your local Sephora and build a relationship with someone that works there that you feel isn't just trying to sell you. Also check out their makeup. They shouldn't look like a clown. I would then make an appointment to have your face done. But I wouldn't go in blindly. Not unless you have a recommendation.
This is what scares me from most places. I think most women selling makeup actually don't know how to do their makeup in a way that doesn't make them look overdone. Our local Sephora used to have a guy that did beautiful makeup on himself.
One rec on brows...go semi cheap. Get the Sonia Kashuk brow palette (it's 4 colors) at Target, and only use the darkest (I know that sounds like a waste, but that 1 color is great for brunettes). Use an angled eyebrow brush to apply it. I know that will seem weird with a cream brow product, but it will allow you to blend it perfectly. Color stays, and the cream keeps your brows in place.
Post by stephm0188 on Feb 20, 2014 20:16:09 GMT -5
I've been slowly upgrading over the past few months.
Naked Basics was my first palette. All matte, and all versatile. I use it to fill in my brows as well. It's a softer look than a pencil. I also recommend the Lorac Pro palette. It's half matte/half shimmer, but the shimmers are more pearly than glittery if that makes sense. It's a subtle shimmer. Sephora is no longer carrying Lorac though.
I bought a nice foundation (Estee Lauder Double Wear Light) and a Beauty Blender for applying it.
My very favorite eye liners are Tarte's SmolderEyes. They're creamy and go on smoothly with no dragging, but they don't budge.
I have a lot of NYX favorites. It's a drugstore brand, but I like the quality better than Cover Girl/Maybelline/ect. Ulta carries it, and some Target stores do. The jumbo eye pencils are decent... not as good as my Tarte pencils, but lots cheaper. Their powder blush in Pinched is a great dupe for Nars Orgasm. I like their Pore Filler primer. I've been told it's a dupe for Benefit's Porefessional, but haven't compared the two. I also like their translucent powder.
Most of my brushes are Real Techniques brushes. They're affordable and decent quality. Again, you can get those at Ulta.
Basically, I've been spending money on eyeshadow and foundation, then subbing NYX products into the mix until I'm ready to splurge on the higher end stuff.
The other thing I would do is figure out what works best for you as far as brows. I like Laura Mercier's brow gel with an angled brush but there are great drugstore products too. Groomed brows that are filled in can make a huge difference.
Yes. I have no clue what happened, but my eyebrows suddenly thinned out and faded. What's left of the outer edges suddenly went white-blonde. I literally looked in the mirror a couple months ago and wondered where the fuck my eyebrows were. It was so odd.
Post by NewOrleans on Feb 20, 2014 20:31:41 GMT -5
ugh, that Benefit Watt's Up highlighter looks absolutely dreadful on me. It just looks like I was sweating, and I am not at all an oily/shiny face. It was in my December Yuzen box, so I tried it, but yuck. For highlighting, I prefer Hourglass Ambient Lighting.
ESF, post what loot you get from Sephora this weekend!
Re: Maybelline, their gel liner (in the little pot) survived a 22 mile run on me a few months ago so I'm pretty sold on it.
Re: eyebrows, I recently discovered the Tarte eyebrow mousse via the Brightest Bulb blog that was mentioned and I really like it.
I think the Naked Basics is a really great starter palette. I have Naked 1, but I use the basics palette on its own almost every day. LORAC Pro will probably be my next palette purchase.
Post by lyssbobiss, Command, B613 on Feb 20, 2014 21:00:09 GMT -5
I spend the most on foundation (tarte Amazonian clay, best investment ever for me), then eye makeup because eyes are usually my focus. I have a naked palette. (Naked 2). Also I have urban decay vice, which I absolutely love but I like to play with makeup when I go out. I also usually like to use a pretty good moisturizer.
"This prick is asking for someone here to bring him to task Somebody give me some dirt on this vacuous mass so we can at last unmask him I'll pull the trigger on it, someone load the gun and cock it While we were all watching, he got Washington in his pocket."
ugh, that Benefit Watt's Up highlighter looks absolutely dreadful on me. It just looks like I was sweating, and I am not at all an oily/shiny face. It was in my December Yuzen box, so I tried it, but yuck. For highlighting, I prefer Hourglass Ambient Lighting.
ESF, post what loot you get from Sephora this weekend!
Love Hourglass Ambient Lighting!
I also really like the Chanel bronze glow - it's liquid, but I usually only use it in the summer since I am somewhat fair.
I didn't read the thread but I would like to recommend Nars products and this Benefit mascara. It is the best I have ever used and I buy and use A LOT of mascara (I have an obsession with trying to make my short lashes be long and thick):
LOVE this mascara.
I also really like Chanel's mascara (the volumizing one - it's really wet and can be a bear to work with but it is awesome once you get used to it) and Trish McEvoy's mascara.
I need to find videos to watch to decide what I realistically can do.
So here are a few more questions --
for eyes, what is the difference between primer and base, and do I need them?
what is the difference between bronzer and blush?
Liquid eyeliner - yay or nay? If yay, is there a drugstore brand you recommend for me to decide if I can apply it?
Brushes. Years ago, someone got me some pack of Sephora brushes. There's 5 or 6 of them. I forgot I had them until recently, so I haven't ever used them. Do you clean your brushes after every use so the colors don't get all mixed up? How do you clean them?