Slow day at work today...so my co-workers and I compiled a list of makeup tips. All product names mentioned are obviously all MAC...and even more obviously you don't have to use MAC products for these tips but you can check out maccosmetics.com for reference of the product colors we're talking about. And I elaborated a little on MAC skincare products most people don't know about. I always love hearing makeup tips from other people (you can never have enough tips, right?), so hopefully someone finds something here useful.


The best way to wear bright eye shadows is to use a neutral brow highlight (like Shroom), a mid-tone brown in the crease (like Kid), and the bright eye shadow only on your lid. Very subtle!

Having trouble blending your eye shadow? Apply your crease color first, and then work from there. This will soften the harsh lines of the crease color.

Still having trouble blending eye shadows? Dip your blending brush is a little loose translucent powder before blending.

Use colored eyeliner (navy, dark purple, bronze) to line your top and bottom lash lines, then use jet black eye kohl to line the "outer V" of your lash line.

Bright pink blush (like Dollymix) is flattering on everyone! Just apply it very lightly.

A bronze smoky eye is 100 times sexier than a traditional black and gray smoky eye. Best bronze smoky eye products: Vanilla eye shadow (highlight), Honesty eye shadow (crease), Bronze eye shadow (lid), Naked Lunch (tear duct), Smolder Eye Kohl eyeliner, and two coats of mascara.

Use Shadesticks and Cream Color Bases under eye shadows and Pigments to modify the color.

Use iridescent powder to highlight cheekbones, brow bone, and tear duct. Instantly wakes up your face!

Apply bronzing powder underneath your chin and jaw to make your face appear thinner.

Use Paints and Fluidlines as eye shadow bases.

Using a contrasting color to line your lower lash line always make your eyes stand out!

A subtle wash of color is sometimes prettier than constantly wearing dark shadows. Try wearing Vex eye shadow on your lid, Beautiful Iris eye shadow in the crease, and Vanilla eye shadow to highlight.

Liquid eyeliner is ultra glam- but sometimes tricky. To fix any mistakes, use a Q-tip dipped in a non-greasy eye makeup remover and then use another Q-tip to fix any holes in your eye shadow.

Your brows are sisters, not twins! They don't have to be identical, just similar.

Use a brow powder and an angled brush to fill in brows. Looks more natural than brow pencils.

Be weary of using eye shadow to fill in your brows. Eye shadows commonly contain more oil than brow powders, so it is more likely to smudge and smear.

Mulch eye shadow + Blue Herizon Liquidlast Liner = HOT. Trust me.

Easy contouring: apply bronzing powder to the hollows of your cheeks, then blush to the apples of your cheeks, and an iridescent powder to your cheekbones.

If you want to add a little sparkle to your eyes but are weary of using shadows to line your eyes (or in my case, you believe that Softsparkle Pencils are gritty glittery sticks of evil), apply your regular non-waterproof eye liner, and then use an angle brush to apply a dark shimmery shadow (like Black Tied)...it will stick to the liner and give you a much more subtle shimmering eyeliner without being globs of glitter.

Never neglect your brows!! Always make sure your brows are well-groomed. Clean up, shape, fill in any holes with brow powder/pencil, and keep in place with brow wax. A nicely groomed brow really emphasizes your eyes and frames your face.

Cremestick Liners are so overlooked! These are cream-based (not wax-based!) highly pigmented and moisturizing lip liners. Apply a Cremestick Liner all over lips before applying a Lipglass.

In a hurry? Essential steps not to ignore: define brows, highlighter/iridescent powder beneath brow bone and tear duct, concealer, bronzing powder, and mascara.

Avoid the overuse of shimmery and frost-finish eye shadows. Use at least one matte or satin eye shadow in your everyday look.

Use Fix+ to set makeup.
(MAC Fix+ is a water based spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, and cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi. Adds radiance, finishes makeup)

After picking up eye shadow with a brush, spritz some Fix+ onto the brush before you apply the shadow. Really intensifies the eye shadow color!

Lip Conditioner can be used on dry spots on your eyelid and eyebrow. This really works!

Mix Strobe Cream with Blushcremes to make your cheeks glow.
(MAC Strobe Cream is a lightly moisturizing lotion packed with potent botanicals; de-snoozes, de-stresses, moistens, freshens and boosts the look of dull, flat or tired-looking skin with a fully loaded vitamin zap and a mega dose of green tea. Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants. It enhances the effects of light on all skin and in all lighting conditions from sunlight to spotlight. Use Strobe Cream on top of your moisturizer; it really shouldn't replace your face lotion.)

Mix Strobe Cream with your foundation.

Use Gilded White Eye Kohl on your eyelid and place eye shadow on top to intensify your eye shadow.

Also another use for Lip Conditioner (clear) is to use it on your brows to groom them and make them appear a little darker rather than filling them in.

Use clear packing tape to remove any oil spots you may get on your Studio Fix compact foundation or other compact face powders. Just place the tape over the spots, rub over gently and lift away

To help ensure your lipstick doesn't bleed, after you apply your lipstick, dip a Q-tip in loose powder and trace the outline of your lips

Use a highlighter above your cupid's bow (the spot above the center of your upper lip) for a plumper lip look.

Instead of contouring, trying just highlighting, as it looks more natural. Add a slight line of shimmer down the bridge to make it appear thinner.

Iridescent blue, pink, lavender, silver, or gold powder in the inner corner (tear duct) of the eye = well-rested eyes, no matter what else you're wearing with it.

When setting your foundation with powder, swirl your brush in the powder, tap off excess, and blot on face softly, don't "brush" it on... it really makes a difference.

For blending in the crease, use a circular motion. When you just drag the brush across the crease, you end up with a big racing stripe...not so cute. So start with running it across, but on the outer edge, use small circular motion to blend, blend, blend.

Sprinkle some Vanilla pigment in Fix+ spray. Makes your face look so supple!

Mix metallic eye shadows. Use a charcoal silver eye shadow (like Silver Ring) in the crease with shimmering gold eye shadow on the lid (like Retrospect). Absolutely gorgeous and so sexy.

Use Cleanse-Off Oil before using your facial cleanser. It removes all makeup without drying skin. It's oil-based but does not contain mineral oil, so it would clog pores or irritate skin!

I wrote this page a long time ago maily to help people who want to cover up their acne scar and but don't know how to start. Here are some help.
http://www.geocities.com/research_note/acn...and_makeup.html

Men have hard time thinking about makeup, but one thing we need to keep in mind is the flawless application is what you need. You cannot achieve that with using color that does not match your skintone. Sometimes women also make mistake by selecting wrong shade concealer or foundation, which just make your acne scare more prominent. Let me make it clear one more time if you want to use cosmetic to cover or hide your scar, you have to have the exact match color.

Here are some cosmetic brands. for men (just to show you that guys also have their makeup too) oh well....if women want to use them, why not.

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I don't have anything to do with any of these companies at all, just want to help you understand a little bit more about how to cover up your acne scars. That's all.

The first two are corrective makeup. They are created for people with problematic skin who need some coverage. These first two are for both male and female.

1) Exuviance by Neostrata

1.1 Coverblend Multi-Function Concealer SPF 15 has 4 color choices.
•Where to get them: http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtm...ldPaginate=true
If you cant view this photo below, please click here



1.2 CoverBlend Treatment spf 20 This is from the same company but this one has 14 different colors.
•Where to get them: http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtm...ldPaginate=true
If you cant view this photo below, please click here


2) Dermablend
•Where to get them: http://www.dermablend.com/productDetails.aspx?prodID=1
If you cant view this photo below, please click here


This brand create makeup for people with severe scar and people with medical condition. I used this cover cream long time ago. It requires some practice but look really good if you apply them correctly.

Sample from dermablend
If you cant view this photo below, please click here


(to be continued)

So, I thought it would be fun to post reviews of products, and offer tips to others who are looking for new, innovative, inexpensive, hassle-free tips and products for hair; instead of having to sift through a bunch of threads, you could find it all in one place. Especially recommend products that combat acne breakouts.


I love hair; I know a lot about hair, have tried many, many products, and it's important to keep your hair healthy. So, have fun! Avoid Hairicide!

So, I'm on week 5 of the regimen. I'm having a hard time telling if it's working or not (deceiving red marks, etc). I think it might be, but very very slowly.

Anyhow, I'm noticing lately that the worst breakouts (those annoying big and red pimples) are forming around the hair line, or anywhere on my face where my hair might touch. So I'm figuring my hair might be the culprit!

I currently wash my hair every second day, and use fructis products.


Any recommendations on hair products (or otherwise) to get my hair to stop encouraging acne? (I know there is a big thread on hair products, but it didn't seem to specifically target this problem).

Thanks!

I have very pronounced red marks all over my cheeks (which are taking ages to fade thanks to Accutane), and am trying to figure out better ways to cover them. I also have mild pitted scarring, but the marks are mainly what mar my complexion.

What I do:

1) Apply a light/medium coverage foundation all over with a stippling brush (MAC 187)
2) Dot on MAC Studio Finish concealer from the pot with my fingers
3) Blend lightly + reapply where needed
4) Stipple one another light layer of foundation to even out tone
5) Set with pressed powder (only when I'm going somewhere important, though)

This doesn't cover everything, not even close really, but I don't know what else I could do. I tried a concealer brush because I thought that might help, but it distribute concealer too lightly.

How do you guys conceal your red marks? Full coverage foundation? Concealer? And how well does it work for you?

Hi everyone, I'm really hoping I can get some advice and help. I'm a 26 year old mom of two and I suffered with acne for years. I had horrible cystic acne which Diane35 finally cleared up. I'm happy to say that since having my kids I don't breakout much at all.

However, I have a lot of small pitted scars and a lot of redness leftover from everything. I'm getting family photos done this week and I would LOVE to find some nice makeup to help cover things up. In the past I found that my makeup would always look flakey or caked on. I stopped by Shoppers Drug Mart and the cosmetician recommended a new makeup they have called CoverFX. She said it's really good at covering up scars and red marks. The only thing is that it's really expensive. Has anyone used this product? If yes, what do you think of it? Is it worth the money? The application brush alone is $38 but if this stuff is good I'll definitely buy it.

If anyone knows of other good products please let me know!

Thanks so much,

Kim

One little trick I picked up while looking for ways to extend the shave on my razor was to keep it in a dish of olive oil. The oil prevents water from building up on the metal and causing microscopic rusting and provides a natural moisturizer while shaving. It makes for a realllly smooth shave and moisturized skin afterward.

Works for men and women. Give it a try!

I live in Iceland and have very white skin (although my face is a little reddish after 6 months on the Regimen). I don't have any active acne so I think it's safe to start using a sunscreen. I've also been on AHA+ for a while and that has added to the redness. Although there isn't much sun here I feel that my facial skin is irritated by fluorescent lights at school and strong lights as well. I've decided to start using a sunscreen to try and protect my skin better and to reduce redness and hopefully help fade red marks. I am now wondering which sunscreen would be best for me. My skin is naturally very oily although it isn't really while I'm on the Regimen. Could you please recommend me one? I found this one at my local pharmacy and I see that it's non-comedogenic. Do you think it'd work?

Also, when should sunscreen be applied? After moisturizer and Jobjoba oil? Should I use it every day and only during the day or night too (I'm not exposed to light at night but I'm just wondering if it could still help having it on).

Okay so Ive had major skin problems and this has led me to wear makeup wherever I go, I'm working on getting that fixed though with laser treatments. However for now I have problems whenever I'm making out with my boyfriend, i end up having virtually no makeup left on my face! And that makes me extremely self conscience. So i was wondering if anyone has had the similar problem and found a makeup resolution? Thanks!

I am a sucker for tanning beds. Even though my skin naturally is far from pale, I still always enjoy tanning once a week because it relaxes me and gives me a nice glow. Ever since I started Retin A I was under the impression I couldn't tan. I tried the whole towel over face thing, but I burned. The reality is even with a towel only 6-10% of UV rays get blocked out, which makes it ineffective.

Anyway long story short, I have been browsing and browsing for a UV blocking face mask, and couldn't find one anywhere until about a month ago a lady at work told me that they do exist and where I can buy them. I tested it out and my face hasn't burned at all and I still get to tan. It sais on their site the mask blocks out greater than 99.8% of harmful UV rays, and you can actually breathe when you wear it in the tanning bed, unlike with a towel.

I don't think I can post a link to the site here, but if anyone is interested let me know, and I will pm you the site. This is seriously great for those of us using topicals that still want to tan the body. Woooo for the nice sexy glow.

so i'm going to the derm for the first time in a very long time on friday...

when i was younger, i didn't care as much about being seen in public without makeup, but now... not so much. i wish i could still be like that, though!

so my question: all of you that go to the derm- do you wear makeup there? does he/she make you remove it?

Anyone have a good eye cream that reduces wrinkles underneath the eyes? I need a new one, my mom's isn't working. lol
Basically I've been wearing eyeliner for 4 years almost every single day, and I've got wrinkles under my eyes from it. And I need something new... suggestions?
P.S - I can't get something that's like $20. Something cheap and that works would be great.

I've looked at some mixed reviews about it, but I still want to try it sometime. Has anyone used it, or tried it before?

Okay, heres my quick question:

Way back in summer I had my skintone matched for Double Wear Original Foundatio. They guy matched me with Fresco, and mentioned something about Pink undertones. However, when I apply my foundation, it looks a little pinkish to my original skintone on my neck. Does this mean I have to go with a shade lighter or darker? I really suck at picking out shades, so I could use a little help on what I should do...
Thanks!

woot

Hey guys I recently started using this Whish product to eliminate my ingrown hairs on my face. Its called Whish Flawless Ingrown Hair Serum. Its ingredients are,:
Aloe Barbaensis, Leaf Juice, Water, Willow Bark Extract, Glycerin, Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Carica papaya fruit extract, Organic Rose Hips, Cucumis Sativis (organic cucumber) fruit extract, Camomilla Recutita Extract, Calendula Officinalis ( Organic Marigold) Flower extract, Parfum (fragrance), Hydroxethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, PED-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethyllhexyglycerin, Xanthan Gun, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linoalool
Could this be breaking me out? Thanks in advance!

Are there any ingredients in hair gel that should be avoided if you're acne-prone? I'm currently using John Frieda's Sheer Blonde Funky Chunky, and wonder if there might be something in it that aggravates my skin?

Thanks

Hey

I was wandering what is a good make up primer to use. I have some scars and a lot of redmarks on my face. I heard primer can be good at covering up that stuff but I am not sure which one. Suggestions?

what are some products that you have bought over and over again? your holy grail, really would not want to live without you products. it can range from skin care, hair, anything.

some of mine:
blistex DCT (go thru these like nothing)
HIP paints
sweet pea B&B lotion (i don't think that this is the best hydrating lotion out there, but that scent gets me all the time)
crest pro health mouthwash : )

makeup remover irritates my face since im using RAM!! will regular face wash (like oil free neutrogena, cetaphil) remove mineral makeup without leaving any residue or causing breakouts?

any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

Is a buffer brush similar to a kabuki? I want to get a brush similar to my kabuki from MAC, because I love the one brush I have from them, but my kabuki gives better coverage. I'm only looking for light coverage. The brush I use now picks up almost nothing.

Edit: I'm using a duo fibre brush to apply a pressed powder.

My name is Khatol and I've had acne since I was 16. I started with Proactive (at 19), worked Great! I had clear skin or two years. I always had hair on my face so I started waxing/or threading. I've been breaking out like crazy! The Proactive is not working at all. I've started on Kate Somerville's product On the 9!, its been 3 weeks of no waxing or threading, I'm going in for threading on Tuesday(hope i Don't breakout)

Can someone explain why I am breaking out when I get threading done?

Hi there!!

Looking for a good appearance? It's my humble opinion that, like clothes and body-shapes, different hairstyles work well with acne prone skin - yet some don't.

Good hair can make the world of difference to your appearance and to your confidence. So, here we go.

Oh and sorry to the female population of the board.. this topic isn't for you I'm afraid

Gel
If you have acne, never use gel in your hair. Whether it is long or short - gel, grease, brylcream, shockwaves or waxed, it makes you hair look really greasy, making your face look greasy. When your hair is soft and gentle, it makes your skin look better and softer however bad your skin is. You want to avoid the chav stereotype of spotty skin and greased up hair to oblivion. Shower your hair one a day so that it's not picking all the dirt and grime up and passing it to your face.

Length
In my opinion, it is best if you have your hair long and big, simply for the fact that, if you do have acne on your forehead or at the back of your neck, your fringe will cover it right up, so nobody will ever notice. I don't bother with BP on my forehead, and it stays alright - if I do get a spot or too here and there, nobody will even see!

Remember, the more head of hair you will have, the more people will look at that rather than that self-conscious yellow head that's just appeared on the left hand side of your chin. If you 'don't do' long hair, then at least let your fringe grow!

Symmetry
I've not always noticed this, and I don't think others do either - the chances are that your skin isn't perfectly aligned - as in - there isn't a perfect split down the centre of your face where one side looks completely the same as the other. Why try to combat this with your hair?

I know this could sound mega crude, but big girls always look better with big hair - and the same goes for the rules of symmetry. If one side of the face looks different from the other, then you should do the same with your hair. Style it. Move it around - Ever noticed that the 'Samurai' look or the 'Ponytail' look never looks at all good with acne?

Hair that covers your head in particular styles and fashions is a lot more interesting to look at, therefore detracting someone's view from that yellow-head on the brow of your chin I was talking about earlier. Another thing - If you have one side of your forehead with an outbreak of acne, and the other side without, covering the danger side up will altogether make your skin look better and make your hair look more interesting.

Dictation
You can dictate the way your hair moves without the use of gel. It's easy. Get out a comb, a hairdryer and a towel when your hair is still wet from the shower. If you have wavy hair, drying your hair with a hairdryer should eventually straighten it out, and so lengthening it. But try to avoid touching your hair and fiddling with it too much throughout the day - the grease in your hands gets into your hair.. which gets onto your skin. If you do have the complete urge to fiddle with your hair.. make sure your hands are clean .


I hope this has helped and, I'm sorry if I was a bit crude. But the difference is, acne takes weeks and even years to improve, yet hair can take a matter of a few seconds. This adds to your overall looks, this heightens your confidence!!



I'd love it if people read this topic and actually responded. I doubt that will happen but, if anybody has any more suggestions, feel free to add. That would be great.

Arcade

Maybe some of you ladies (or fellow men) out there can assist me.
I'm male, 29, and have developed some fine lines on my forehead after using Accutane. They're pretty minor, not a huge deal, but they bother me some because I didn't have them at all prior to Accutane. If they would've developed gradually over the course of years, that would've been one thing, but this is a little more alarming since it happened within the space of only a few months.
Anyway, I was prescribed Retin-A for some back scarring and have been using that on my forehead as well for about four months now. I do think that there has been a slight improvement, but I'd really like to get rid of these things (or close to it), and I'm not convinced that the Retin-A is going to be the answer.
So I'd like to know what products there are out there that can effectively treat this. I've tried to do some research online, but most of it's a lot of hype - companies trying to sell you their product. I also don't want to conceal or cover this up - again, I'm male, so I don't wear makeup - I want it actually improved. It looks to me that I've lost a little collagen in my forehead (and possibly in the rest of my face, too). I've read that topical L-ascorbic acid has been proven to stimulate collagen production. I've tried reading scholarly journals to see if there's anything to this claim, but they're too technical for me to really understand. Is this true? Anyone tried this? Anyone tried anything that really works? Thanks in advance.

Basically I have no clue when it comes to these things, but I really need to find one that will give a tan, that is gud on acne prone skin, even tho I havent really got any atm.

I want to have a summer glow type (because I look pale/unhealthy), not the brown look, like I used to back in 2007.

So my question is, which one would be the most suitable to me?

Ive been looking and Cliniques seem alright, but like I said I really dont know much about them.

So any help, would be much appreciated.

Hi, I'm going on vacation and need a base tan before I go so I don't burn and look hot and when I'm on vacation I need a tanning product that I can use daily. I already got a tanning product on my face that doesn't affect my acne. I just want a great body product that gives awesome results. I've used Maui Babe but it stains my clothes so I gotta switch to something else. Suggestions?

Alrite so i'm away from uni. Ive read alot of good things about nizoral.
Recently my dandruff has been over the roof, and im starting to get some hairfall aswell.
I'm too broke to open a file(since it would be my first time) / get a doctors consult, so i'm just wondering.
Could it do me harm to start the nizoral shampoo without a doctors consult?
Thanks in adv everybody

Hi all. Well, this is my first post here in the cosmetics' forum... I'm sure many before me have asked this same question but I'm not sure where to find those threads. So I need to ask what make up you have found covers acne the best in the daytime, and in bright lights? And also, what have you found works best in dim lighting? If you could give me tips on applying, that'd help too. I have severe acne... large swelled lumps on several parts of my face, & smaller zits as well. I also have scars and discoloration. Basically, you name it, and I've got it... lol. Well, I really need some help here, as there's a thing I'm going to soon and I'd love to look my best. Thanks in advance...

Hi all,

I made a bunch of purchases on makingcosmetics.com

here's what i got

polysorbate-80
zinc oxide (micronized) powder
zinc oxide powder
colloidal oatmeal powder
AS corn starch
l-ascorbic acid powder
magnesium ascorbyl phosphate powder
niacinamide powder
citric acid crystals
liquid licorice extract

Now, all these have different pH and combining them will result in some other pH. Where can i learn how to mix these ingredients properly, find out which ones don't mix well together, figure out what pH i should try to aim for, etc. etc. etc?