I have pretty sensitive skin, and I haven't found anything that has worked better than Oil of Olay moisturizer for sensitive skin. My face gets dry pretty easily if I don't use it every morning after I shower and wash my face.

As for makeup, I prefer that it not take more than 5 minutes to put on... heh. I use foundation, eyeshadow, and mascara and I'm applying chapstick or lip gloss way too many times a day. I like my lips to be soft and taste good I guess. :p I wear makeup almost every day... the days I don't are the ones when I'd rather sleep more than wake up and put makeup on.. or even take a shower... before classes. Usually on Sundays I don't either. It's not a planned thing, it's just that I'm usually at home doing homework most of the day. :)

Do you think there's a huge difference in the pigment of department store brand versus the brands they sell at your local shops? I always wondered what accounted for the huge difference in cost other than the brand name..

yes, generally higher-end brands are more pigmented, especially with eyecolours and lipsticks.

there are of course exceptions, which is why it's usually worthwhile to read reviews.

I might've missed it somewhere inthis thread, but do you know of any websites that shares more detailed reviews on different products?

you totally missed it, but it is worthy of repeat:

www.makeupalley.com

click the product reviews link.

:)

Thanks for posting that link,SiN....I spent over an hour there last night :)

MAC, for instance--their eyeshadows are pure pigment. Because of that, I find that they last a lot longer than other shadows both in wear and usage. Thus I buy more and more MAC eyeshadows versus other kinds--besides, MAC has the coolest colors.

I second this. The Oil of Olay is the only consistent thing I put on my face daily. If I'm feeling like it, I'll wear some foundation, liquid (almay skin-stays-clear), but only on my nose and under my eyes and maybe on my chin. If I do the foundation under my eyes, I gotta wear blush because my skin is super pale.

On occasion on a weekday, I'll put some mascara on, or if I have time I'll do the eyeshadow/eyeliner thing. Lipstick I keep to a gloss or neutral color.

Sometimes, I just wanna play and I go full out, red lipstick and all. Usually don't leave the house with that on :) A couple weeks ago I went to a musical, and I wore more "night" makeup than I usually would. Unfortunately, my timing usually sucks. I wear more makeup when I feel prettier, which is usually when my skin is at its clearest. Then the makeup clogs pores and I break out, I'm smart. ;)

I rarely wear makeup. Only when I feel like it, which isn't very often. And that's funny because I own a ton of it.

the facewash I use at night is Noxema..I find it works very well,
plus you get that really refreshes tingling sensation :P

the facewash I use at night is Noxema..I find it works very well,
plus you get that really refreshed tingling sensation :D :thumbsup:

For a moisturizer, I always use Oil of Olay with sunscreen for combination skin every day. I've been using Oil of Olay since I was about 16 and am now 30. It's always just the right amount of moisture and it never makes me break out.

hmmm i think i might try it.. :p

Thanks again for the link sin, I'm going to check that out!

I agree with onesnow, MAC seems to last a lot longer, but then again, I dont get much of an opportunity to wear much make up. When I do wear their eyeshadows, they do last all day. I've been a fool for MAC for a loooong time....

i only wear makeup a couple times a week... mostly on the weekends since i'm going out with my hubby and want to look cute for myself and for him :)

I love my skin, so i never wear foundation or blush of any kind , i have pale skin with nice pink cheeks at all times (Irish coloring) so i usually just focus on the eyes and lips:

eye shadow (always) ( in pinks or light greens)
mascara (always)
eyes liner (occasionally)
lip liner (sometimes)
Lipstick (always)

Sometimes during the week, i'll wear lipstick just to feel pretty... Overall though, i don't wear that much makeup... as Cello said, i feel pretty without it too :)

My hubby says he prefers me without because i look pretty naturally but that when i do wear it, it makes for a fun change and i look equally lovely .... (he's so pefect) :)

Sweetpea

I refuse to wear makeup. I have worn it only ONCE to go out, and that was for junior year prom. Never, ever again. It makes you look fake and unnatural, despite most women's claim that there is "natural" makeup.

I think that makeup that makes someone look fake and unnatural has been done wrong. It's definitely an art- the subtlies of it look great when they're done right, but done wrong they throw everything off-kilter and make the whole picture just look bad.

It's like perfume, to me. Just the right amount is sexy, but anything more than that and you're gagging.

There are some women who would look really scary without makeup(aka some celebrities). I barely wear makeup, I never really have. The most I will wear on occasion is concealer, powder and lip gloss. I have always gotten compliments of my skin tone, and have decided to leave well enough alone.

that's good--it's important to give your skin a break if you wear it every day, or often..to breathe!

The only time I wear makeup is when I go clubbing. I'll do the basics - blush, lipgloss, and spend time on my eyes (I think they're my best feature). I never wear foundation or powder. I'm lucky - got good skin.

I never wore makeup in highschool - mom didn't let me and then when I was old enough, I just didn't care - more of a jock than a girly-girl. I just got into the makeup thing 2 or 3 yrs ago. Still don't wear it much, tho.

i think the women that look "scary" without it (like celebrities) only seem scary just because we are so used to seeing them all made up everywhere and all the time.

Hmm on your recommendation I may buy some of that... :)

I don't wear makeup for work.
Well sometimes lip gloss.

If I'm goin shopping I'll wear subtle makeup.

But going out is heavy black eyeliner, glittery eyeshadow, very dark lips and blusher too. :)

I almost always use the Bare Minerals collection of makeup to even out my skin tone. I have "problem skin" its very sensative, prone to acne and rashes and these products actually help it, amazing! It's easy, very light and always very natural.

I use Paula's Choice products for cleansing and moisturizers and skin balancers. They are also very light and never, ever greasy.
Plus, I ALWAYS use some kind of sunscreen.

Hey, my twin! I've used Bare Escentuals foundation for a long time, it's one of the things that finally helped me get rid of my low-grade but constant acne. But I still do mix it up, try to not use only one thing all the time. But the BE is the closest thing I have to a holy grail, foundation-wise.

And PC is the best, and inexpensive too.

If I'm just running out to get groceries or out paying bills I don't wear anything. When I'm going out for any other reasons dinner, clubbing ect. I wear it.

I'm not big on makeup. I had a severe reaction to eyeliner a couple years ago where my eyelids burned crisp and my eyes swelled shut. So, I was scared to for a long time. Last year however I decided to risk it. I only occassionally wear makeup, and only on the weekends. I can't wear eyeliner and mascara to work because the dog and cat hair stick to my eyes. blech

When I do wear it I wear only eye liner, mascara and maybe some lip glosss....that's it
My skin is too sensitive to risk anything else and lip color never lasts on me so I don't bother

Too damn dependent if you ask me. I know a girl that, despite her very good looks, feels so insecure without make-up that she wears it during the night! :rolleyes:

Personally I like make-up but only in small doses. I only use mascara except when I go to a party/wedding etc - then I throw in some lipstick and eyeliner too. Wearing more than that makes me feel to incredibly false.

Loverboy's not really into women wearing make-up and often tells me how good I look without it. He often encourages me to wear none at all. I can't tell you how much that boosts my self-esteem not to mention that it makes me feel incredibly relaxed around him.

Even so I say that it takes a women with a damn good self-esteem to walk around wearing none at all. I admire such women to death.

:eek: my hero!

No matter how perfect it's been done it's still only a mask which makes some women feel fake and with good reason..

For me, that's one of the things I enjoy about make-up--the drama, the theatricality of it (recovering theatre nerd here). I like to do things like bold, smoky eyes--things that stick out and make me look obviously made-up. BUt that is only for very special occasions--big parties, dinners out, etc. Would you catch me wearing that every day? No. Every day is a little eyeliner, a little eyeshadow (usually light pink or yellow, brightens the eyes), and Chapstick...shoot, it's usually not even that much.

Oh, and a good recommendation for those of you looking for an alternative to base: Nivea makes a cream called Simply Glowing that has light-reflecting particles in it to make your skin appear brighter and smoother without actually covering up your skin. It's a lightweight moisturizer that I tend to use everyday (I trade off with a moisturzer by Neutrogena that has glycolic acid in it).

I hear ya! Make-up can be sooo much fun. It just seems like some girls become obessed with the perfect image that make-up can provide and ultimately they have trouble embracing their natural look. Pity I say.

I went looking around for a good book on makeup (and different makeup looks) and found a real gem in amongst all the others- Making Faces by Kevin Acouin. This guy has been doing makeup for runway shows and celebrety photo shoots and all sorts of stuff, and is AMAZING at applying makeup. He explains about all the different types of makeup, and goes on to say that for a large majority of women, they've gotten used to doing their makeup one way and often it's too over the top- they could just wear concealer and powder, instead of full foundation for example. He illustrates tons of everyday and superglamor looks in the book, makes them really easy to understand how to do, and i find the results allways look smashing! I recommend it to anyone looking to find out more about makeup or wanting to try different looks.

ON the other hand, I must say that as a woman who wears makeup every day (tho about half those days I only wear mascara) I do *not* consider my makeup a "mask". I don't wear it because I feel bad about myself, rather, I wear it because I feel good. I am beautiful, wearing makeup only enhances that. I can expierement with different looks for myself, not because I'm unhappy with the one in the mirror, but because it's fun! Life isn't a dress rehearsal- every day is a new act, with a diffent costume and different makeup.

People can get too wrapped up in "life" that they forget it's not real, it's not where the big focus lies. Driving to work isn't supposed to be the big focus in your day, spending time with yourself in the car listening to good music and being happy is. So, some women feel compelled to wear a bunch of makeup because it's "what they do" or what they're wrapped up in, and they forget to focus on what *really* makes them beautiful. But, it's not fair to say that all women who wear makeup (be it a little or a lot) are like that, because we're not! Some of us just do it for fun!

He was also very well-known for doing makeovers on Oprah where he changed everyday women into celebrity look-alikes.

Sadly, Kevyn Aucoin died of a brain tumor in 2002. He was a true artist.

thx for spelling it right, one. I didn't know about his death- it is truly sad, as I really like his stuff.

Kevyn Aucoin. Yeah, get his book!

For those who look good natural, that's wonderful. I'm not one of them. I don't want to embrace my natural look, as it's quite a bit less than the enhanced version. I can't remember the last day I went bare faced. Makeup is part of my morning routine. It goes on early in the morning, gets touched up throughout the day, and doesn't come off until I know I'm in for the night and there won't be any visitors.

To me, it's like my outdoor clothes. I'm not ashamed of my nude body, but that doesn't mean I'm going to display it to the world.

Gilda

Yes - Kevyn Aucoin was a genius! I have two of his books, Making Faces and Face Forward, and they are wonderful. I learned a lot from him..

I love experimenting with makeup and rarely go a day without some form of application. I usually spend about 10 minutes, with most attention going to the eyes. My indispensible tools are eyeliner, eyelash curler, mascara, blush and lipstick. However I don't feel less attractive without it. If I'm playing soccer or working out, I don't bother applying any.

Depending on the day and my mood I can be low-key and natural or all-out "gussied" up. Makeup is fun, it's one of the best parts of being a girl. ;)

Foundation
Mascara and curl lashes
Lipgloss
Eyeshadaow, light for daily/ bright or dark for special events

I wear it almost on a daily basis and kinda feel naked without it. I absolutely loooove shopping for it. It makes me feel creative as I put it on and adds a needed femininity to my personality.

I wear make up to work... eyeliner and lipgloss, MAYBE some shadow. Most other times I do without the stuff altogether.
I love shopping for the colors, but I can have a pat of shadow for years without making a real dent in it.

I never wear makeup. I view it as a waste of time and money for me. Yeah, I'm lazy.