Makeup

I just noticed that we don't have a topic for beauty so I'll post here.

I have been wearing makeup since I was a teen. I enjoy making myself up for any occassion from day wear to glamour wear.

I'd like to share a couple of ideas with you and maybe you can do the same for me. You may already know these but I thought I'd share anyway.

I fingertip my foundation and use a large fluffy brush to blend from forehead to neck. It makes my face look flawless and is very gentle, unlike fingers rubbing it in.

I apply my lipliner as soon as I finish showering. I brush my teeth BEFORE I shower and my lips are soft, pliable and less wrinkled?;) so there is no bleeding and I fill in the blank space later on. Then I daba bit of shine in center of lower lip, then loose powder so my lipstick stays set for hours.

I use an eyelash curler, always have and thanks to a dear friend, found a way to make it work better. Heat the rubber with your hairdryer before using. Works like a curling iron.

Use orajel if you find tweezing painful.

Dust applied eyeliner with like eyeshadow colour to prevent running later in day.

I always use loose powder as my almost final touch all over. Lastly, I give the second coat of Mascara.

Almost forgot... sharpen all pencils before each use.

Voila, I'm done.

Care to share? Love to know your secrets.

chick

Thanks for the ideas. I have never heard of the lipliner right after the shower before. I will try it tommorow morning!

I have worn makeup since I was a teen, too, and seldom go a day without. I never leave the house without at least some makeup - foundation, mascara, blush and a touch of lipstick. I feel so much better when made up a bit.

My tips:

I warm my mascara up before putting it on. A glass of warm water, or (don't get grossed out here - remember mascara is in a closed tube) by putting it in my armpit while I put on my foundation.

I use eyeshadow as an eyeliner for under my eyes, it doesn't run.

I use eye cream on my lips under lipstick. It is a wonderful moisturizer and I seldom have chapped lips.

And, it is not makeup, but I always use a leave in conditioner before drying my hair to prevent damage.

Ann

These are all great tips! I don't wear much makeup any more. But when I do, I use liquid foundation applied with a damp makeup sponge. Makes it look sheer and 'dewy'.

After the loose powder, I spritz water on my face to help everything 'set.'

I use very little make-up.
I can't say enough about the mineral foundations, tho. I use L'Oréal Paris Bare Naturale. It takes sooooo little and looks sooooo natural.
Immediately after I get out of the shower, when my pores are open, I apply moisturizer. By the time I've detangled my hair, swabbed my ears and applied deodorant, the moisturizer has become part of my face and I can apply the powder foundation. Over that, I put a touch of blush under my cheekbones.
I apply eyeliner pencil and a bit of mascara and I'm good to go.
Occasionally I use a tinted gloss; seldom do I use lip color.
Call me a plain jane if you want... I like simplicity.
The tips are good ones tho, especially the under the arm one... I think I'll do it to see if my DH notices... lol.

I don't wear make-up all the time (I go to the gym 6 mornings per week and there is absolutely NO point in putting on make-up before that as I'd just sweat it off) but I do wear it when we go out or if I'm going someplace with my gal pals or whatever.
I apply moisturizer as soon as I get out of the shower......face first, and then body. I apply an eye cream first, then I use a regenerating serum on my face followed by a moisturizer with sunscreen. By the time I've dried my hair, face is ready to apply makeup. I LOVE Vital Radiance smoothing eye primer.....just a tiny dab before applying eye shadow makes the eyeshadow last all day, and it doesn't end up all in the crease of my eye....it actually stays put! Also like their under-eye concealer.....it has a hyrdator you apply first and then a concealer. I swear it hides under eye shadows very well.
Then a light touch with eye-shadow,and a little eye-liner (I like Cover Girl eyeliner that's like a fine point magic marker, I can get a really thin line with it, and I like the charcoal grey color, with my coloring). Mascara, which I apply, then go over my lashes to seperate them even more with a little spooly brush. A touch of blush on both cheekbones, and I also like the mineral foundations. I tend to be tan year round and I like the Neutrogena bronzer mineral foundation. Just a little bit and it leaves a very natural yet smooth looking finish.
I like the Sally Hansen lip plumper (not so much for the way it plumps lips -- I really can't tell that it does that so much.......as the way it looks and feels) and then a touch of colored lipstick, right now my favorite is a Revlon lipstick.
On days when I don't wear make-up (most of the time!) I still use the eye cream, regenerating serum, and moisturizer. I swear by the regenerating serum, my skin is much smoother than it used to be. Usually I use Olay regenerating serum but I recently got a sample of Patricia Wexler's serum from Bath and Body works and that stuff is fabulous........I may have to switch permanently after I use up my bottle of Olay.

I've never felt comfortable in make up. Always feel like I look like I'm playing dress up. I only do eyebrows and eyelashes. Don't need a lash curling thing cause mine are okay, just too light. I need a good moisturizer. Everyone says to use one but never say which one. Any suggestions?

I use Clinque makeup and moisturizer. The one in the yellow square bottle!

I am looking for a good revitalizer for wrinkles!! Never thought I would become so vein but I don't like the circles and wrinkles under my 58 year old eyes!! What do you girls use? Some are very, very expensive. Do you believe all the commercials and ads in magazines? I need a referrel from someone using a good one. Help please!

I only wear makeup maybe less than 20 times per year now. And for me, after using moisturizer, it's foundation, blusher and lipstick. I dislike wearing mascara: my eyes feel more tired. I do curl my hair everyday with a curling iron. I no longer want a perm to ruin the deepness of my black hair.

actually I will wear abit of lipgloss when I cycle for hours or snowshoe/walk around...alot in the sun. Just a convenient lip protector.

Did you ever try electric curlers, Orchid? I find they're quicker than a curling iron (and a little less damaging to our hair because there is sort of a cushion on each curler). My hair is really straight...ugh.

I bought Avon's Anew Alternative Intensive Eye Cream for lightening the circles under my eyes a few weeks ago...I don't know whether it's just my imagination, but it does seem to be working!

No offense to regular Avon Ladies, but I always buy my Avon stuff from Avon Ladies on eBay and purchase the products for about half the catalog price.

What do you ladies use for puffiness under the eyes? I've tried a couple different products but haven't seen any good results yet.

Oh yes! Great question TVC15. I don't know what has happened to my eyes the past 6 months. I never had wrinkles...and suddenly they are there..Help! Where did they come from? I also discovered that some of those eye creams make the wrinkles even more pronounced and deeper!
And my neck! What is happening to my neck?!!! Creases are appearing from out of space! I assume micro inhabitants are housing in the folds. Can anyone recommend a neck cream; that flattens hilly, fold-like skin like a bomb?!

As I've matured, I've made some changes in my cosmetics, and how I use them. The greatest changes I made, were in the choices of color-shades, in everything. I went to softer, more subtle shades, ones that complimented my natural coloring.

I stopped using face powder in my thirties. I noticed it was giving me a look that seemed to age my appearance. By that time every cosmetic company had come out with foundations that made powdering unnecessary. I found that applying my foundatin, then merely making use of a tissue to blot all over, set the look just right. I've found that powder, even the ones touted as very fine, 'nearly invisible', 'moisture rich', will settle in any little fine line on the face. Many mature women, who think they have oily skin, and need powder, find, that if they change their moisturizer, find one that is absorbed better, into the complexion, as opposed to just sitting on the surface of the skin, they no longer need to powder-down.

I like the creme eye shadows, applied at the minimum, then gently blotted. I'll still use some powder ones, because I like the colors, but I mix a teeny amount of my moisturizer with the powdered shadow, then apply. Dry powder eye shadows, dry powder anything, just makes a mature woman's complexion look flat, and dull-dry. I make use of a coverstick, again, mixed with just a touch of my moisturizer, and apply it only to the very front of the under-eye area, where I tend to have dark circles. I've found that my foundation used alone, at the far corners of my eyes, is enough.

I like the rich, creme, moisture lipsticks. Nothing flat, dry-looking, and matte. Oh, my godness! I recall trying one of the 'all-day-stay' lipsticks, and what it did to my lips was like sucking every drop of moisture from them! Same with the 'all-day-stay' foundations! Can you imagine, starting to use these in your twenties, and what the effect will be, in your fifties, as to your complexion!

I became fed-up with trying to find a blusher color that worked for me. They were either too dark, or too pale, and the color shade choices left a lot to be desired. I discovered that the color shade of lipstick I used, was perfect as a blush color. I purchase two at a time, one for lips, one for blush. I also use a touch at the eye area, since the colors are ones that are natural, as to my own coloring. I don't use any vivid, or contrasting color shades, at all.

I use a powder-pencil eyeliner, and soften the line. I use a touch of mascara, and switched gears, years ago, going from a black, to a black/brown color shade, for both eyeliner and mascara. It gives me a softer look. I stopped wearing mascara on the bottom lashes, too 'doll-eyed' a look.

My brows I have always kept more natural, as to their look. Plucking or waxing the brows to a hard, thin line can give a mature woman an aged, dated look. My eldest daughter, age 35, has stopped doing her brows in this manner. It has been her look since her twenties, and she's finding that now the practice is actually making her look older, hardening her appearance.

Someone mentioned the Vital Radiance line of cosmetics, by REVLON? I liked many of their products too, especially liked the color shade choices. Imagine my surprise, when I discovered the line was discontinued, at the end of 2006! Financial woes are besetting REVLON. Oh, you will still be able to find the poducts, probably for awhile, but, what a shame! I especially liked their website, featuring REAL women age 50 and over, wearing the products, as models. Unfortunately, REVLON has really made none of the miracle, anti-aging claims, as to the majority of their products, like so many of their competitors, for instance, L'Oreal. Possibly, a major mistake, for REVLON? Is that what an aging woman wants, being sold on a 'miracle in a bottle'?

Muddying the Fountain of Youth

Jeannine, for years I searched for the right foundation. Cheap, expensive, you name it, I tried it and wasn't happy with any of them. Then, I found Estee Lauder Futurist. Love it! I makes my skin look so smooth and pretty.

If I'm not going out, I will use foundation, bronzer as a blush and mascara. I find myself using less and less make up because, as you said, it ages me. No powder for me either.

Revlon. Grrr....I used to know the Pres of Revlon and she was an amazing woman. Of course, they found a way to get rid of her and the new MEN who took over, dumped Cindy Crawford because she was too old. I stopped buying their products at that time.

If we are going to talk about makeup then I HAVE to join in! I used to buy a hodge-podge of materials at the local Walmart, including moisturizer but never felt very good about my appearance. During my divorce, I never wore anything except on Sundays to save $$. By the time I was divorced (took 2 yrs) my skin was in a terrible mess! Red and splotchy, with dark brown patches ran across jaw line and down the sides of my neck and met in the center in a huge brown circle at the base of my neck! My skin was rough and my neck felt like 'chicken skin' all bumpy.

I was invited to a Mary Kay Skin Care Class and was AMAZED! After just that one session my skin felt so much smoother--no over the counter products had worked so well. I was so impressed I started my own Mary Kay business!

Now 5 months later, my skin is soft and smooth. The red and blotchy look is gone. The dark brown patches along my jawline have disappeared. The brown patches on the side of my neck have almost completely disappeared. The dark brown patch at the base of my neck has reduced in size and is no longer brown but a light red color. I can wear a necklace again and not be embarrassed!

My routine is Mary Kay 3-1 Cleanser at night followed by Mary Kay Even Essence which works to eliminate the red and blotchy problems, followed by Mary Kay Time-Wise Night Solution which works to repair damage from sun and age--works miracles on deep lines! I use Mary Kay Firming Eye Cream around my eyes to brighten and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

In the morning I cleanse with Mary Kay Time-Wise 3 in 1 Cleanser, follow with Mary Kay Even Essence, followed by Mary Kay Time-Wise Day Solution with SPF25 (works to energize cells and protect against sun damage), top with Mary Kay Time-Wise Age-Fighting Moisturizer.

Sounds like a lot but it is applied in such thin layers that all you feel is soft smooth skin. My fines lines and wrinkles are nearly non-existent--even my pores appear smaller!

I use Mark Kay Medium Coverage Foundation, their powder blush and eye colors. I use Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara and a lash curler--never heard about warming the rubber strip-will try it! I use MK lip liner sometimes but usually just Mary Kay Signature Creme Lipstick and Mary Kay Signature Nourishine Lip Gloss.

For the first time ever, I look and feel pretty, I have confidence that I look put together and that I am wearing the right colors/shades. My skin is soft, smooth and radiant but I have gotten rid of the oily yuck that I always dealt with. After 50 years I have finally learned that oily skin isn't always oily--sometimes it's overcompensating for being dry! Guess what?! My skin was actaully dry and screaming for moisture! Who knew?!

I am thoroughly sold on Mary Kay and their products. Since I use them daily I am confident they will work for everyone. Mary Kay trains women to help other women with their skin care needs, so you have the ability to ass questions and get the right help and products for your skin. And if something isn't working right, you can call your Mary Kay Consultant and she will exchange it and help you find the right combination that works for you.

If any of you are frustrated with your skin care, please feel free to contact me, or a Mary Kay Consultant near you. I am here to help!

Great topic! I am always interested in tips on makeup and skin care. I too, have worn makeup since I was a teenager. I wear a light liquid foundation, eye shadow, mascara, and lipstick & sometimes a little blush. I also use to wear face powder and black mascara, but have stopped using the powder years ago, and have changed to using a dark brown mascara. How do you all feel about the age defying makeup?? I personally don't like it. It looks and feels too heavy on my face. I look....made up! Another way to curl eye lashes is to use your dryer. Put it on low and blow them upward after you have applied mascara. Works pretty good. I have natural curly hair, but not eyelashes. They are as straight as can be!

I have tried lots of different creams and moistures over the years, but always seem to go back to Ponds. Works as good as anything for me. I don't use soap to wash my face neither. Remember Noxzema? When I was a teenager, I use to use that everynight after washing my makeup off my face before going to bed.

I've used L'Oreal for years. Being a child of the 60's, I had to have full face makeup on at all times. Some residule of that still haunts me - but hate having to put it on daily. As I age, my pores have enlarged - so using foundation just looks pitiful - glops of color pool in the pores.

I have been using a mineral powder for overall coverage - that's it. A little blush, eye brow powder to fill in the gaps from overplucking (rememeber when a full set of eyebrows were a no-no?? I'm still paying for that.)I line the upper lid with a taupe pencil and smudge it practically off, then just one coat of mascara.

I have smokers lines around my mouth (which nearly killed me - appeared overnight after going off of premrin..... The sad part is that I quit smoking 30 years ago - guess the damage was already done.) So, I wear a light beige lip color - no need draw further attention to the wrinkles, but need a little color more now than when I was younger.

I probably spend as much time as before. I remember my dear mom - I knew that she was loosing it when she stopped putting on her eyebrows. Of course, she was in her 80's - before vanity no longer was a big deal. That means I have another 20 years to go

I wear no makeup when I'm at home, since I am allergic to mascara. I can only wear it for about 6 to 8 hours, then my eyes begin itching. I wait until right before I leave before I apply it.

I'm seeing a dermatologist for rosacea and have that under control now.

I use a pencil to line my lips, then fill it in with the pencil also. It lasts much longer.

I recently noticed that my cover-up stuff was too thick and stopped using it under my eyes. I just use foundation now and that does the trick.

There is some stuff from Lancome that lightens and smooths out the under the eye area. I can't remember what it's called. I had to stop using it because it's $50.

Hi. Starting Over, what a great testimony to MK. And to hear you say that you look and FEEL pretty is wonderful! Browse, vanity comes at any age. My grandmother is 100. When I was taking care of her, she told me to go get her magnifying mirror and bring it to her along with her tweezers. She peered into the mirror and plucked her chin hairs. Then she asked me to tell her if she had missed any! As I age, I am getting a full face of fuzzy hairs, including the course chin hairs. Dianne, you would look pretty with a bag over your head! Cookie, I remember Noxema. My grandmother would tell me to put it on my pimples. It's funny that after 30 years she had the exact same jar of Noxema in her bathroom. Yes, it was the same jar! The one she kept at her house for me and my zits. The cream turned yellow, but it smelled the same! Right now I am using Olay products. I saw TV infomercial conducted by Cindy Crawford for meaningfulbeauty products. You pay about $30.00 every 2 months for a LOT of products that come in the mail. I was almost sold. The two worst things of being a teen beauty queen was 1) my mother teaching me to shave my legs because the hairs were curling under the panty hose that I needed to wear for Confirmation 2) my mother taking me to her hairdresser for my first eyebrow tweeze and shape. As far as I am concerned, I would have never tweezed my brows. Now it seems as though the dark hairs on my legs have transferred to my face, and I don't have to shave my legs so often. Or maybe I'm just not wearing panty hose so much! Anyway, I am getting grey/white hairs on my brows. If I pluck them, I'll have nothing left. Oh, what to do! I bought some Clarins cream yesterday that promises to reduce the appearance of pores and wrinkles. I don't believe it, but I bought it anyway. I don't wear blush anymore. If I were on a desert island the one item I would want to have is my eyelash curler. I never heard of heating it, but it makes sense!

Remember to work from the inside out...
Green Tea antioxidants reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. Green tea also high in polyphenols to eliminate cancer-causing free radicals. The polyphenol, EGCG, is the "fountain of youth" for skin, reactivating dying skin cells. Also has vitamins C, D, K, riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Wild salmon (fatty fish), walnuts and flaxseed are high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Also have protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.

Blueberries are a food source high in antioxidants. Antioxidants and phytochemicals in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals. Also have soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin.

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, required nutrient for healthy skin and are high in antioxidants. Also have fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

Water helps keep your skin young and healthy-looking; should be pure, clean water... hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in.

I eat and drink those things, have for years, gimster. Guess what, still aging! I saw a tv news program where they were comparing moisturizers and other face products. They said Olay Regeneris cream was one of the least expensive and one of the best. Anyone tried it before I buy it?

Saundra, I've been using the Olay products because they are cheap and easy to come by. I can put them in my cart when I go to Sam's. I don't think it makes a bit of difference, but then I don't know what I would see if I did not use the products. My neck is the worst feature of aging. I drink lots of water.

Saundra, of course you are still aging, but what would you be looking like if you hadn't been eating those things for years. You radiate beauty, so you must be doing something right. I can tell when I've been eating poorly. The elasticity in my skin isn't the same. In fact, the skin under my eyes droop when I've eaten junk versus nutritious foods. Of course, genes have a great deal to do with skin condition, too.
I switch between Olay and Nivea moisturizers, Nivea being my fav. I use Olay in the hot summer months, because it doesn't seem to be as heavy. I've not tried the Regeneris, but have thought about it.

Some of you might have seen this Dove online video, if not take a peak...
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/flat4.asp?id=6909
They have a new one coming out with 5 or 6 women over 50 bearing their bodies.


Editing to add 'found it', the link to the new Dove pro`age ad with women over 50:
http://www.doveproage.com/?source=dove_a

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Did you ever try electric curlers, Orchid? I find they're quicker than a curling iron (and a little less damaging to our hair because there is sort of a cushion on each curler). My hair is really straight...ugh.

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Haven't tried electric rollers..it just looks like too much work/time. I spend 8 min. in early morning with curling iron. It's just before 5:00 am when I'm doing my hair.

I have noticed because of gradual sun exposure even despite sun bloc, my face skin has grown darker enough that it is abit of a challenge to find a brightening blusher without it looking garish or too dark, as if someone slapped me across the cheekbone.

I do have straight hair, but thankfully it's fine and there's lots of it. It grows fast...so a good, chic haircut is the best beauty thing I could do to uplift my whole face. Enough that alot of guys at work will notice and compliment when I get a haircut. And this is possible..with absolutely no makeup. No I don't have smooth, flawless skin. I've reached a point where keeping fit and maintaining healthy weight is far more important.

Believe me, when the nerd-girl from decades ago, discovers a sport she loves, makeup fades in importance.