All right, I use Cover Girl Professional Loose Powder in “translucent fair”, as I have a very pale complexion. I’ve heard that loose powder is better for one’s skin than pressed. Know anything about that particular item?
The best lipstick I can afford is around 8 or 9 bucks. I think it’s Revlon ColorStay.
What about blush? I like cream blush myself, any advice on blush?
“Better for one’s skin” is sort of hard to answer - it depends on the skin in question.
The best way for me to answer the question is this:
If you love your skin - If you’re happy with the way it looks and feels - If you don’t worry about breakouts (with the exception of the occasional hormonal thing), then you’re using the right product for you.
Loose powders go on a little heavier (you get more on a brush), so they provide slightly more oil absorption - if you tend to get shiney, or if you have an oily skin, excellent. For a dry skin, not so good.
Pressed powders typically have more color - concealer and pressed powder is an excellent “foundation” for many - particularly young women/girls that want a "natural look.
Older persons, or those with fine lines (from sun damage or illness) should avoid all powders, as they settle in the lines and emphasize them.
For a young woman such as yourself, a covergirl or revlon lipstick is perfectly ok - I have some from both companies and like them quite well. When you get older, you may have to switch to something different as the lips can thin and product can feather which requires more than color application to fix.
Blush - choose a shade that is similar to what you look like when you ACTUALLY blush. Secondly - use it really sparingly - heavy blush looks bad on just about everyone (well, except supermodels doing runway shows - I’m assuming that’s not what you’re asking about here). As far as brands go, blush is the sort of thing you can go cheap on.
The items I suggest splurging on are:
Foundation - get the best you can afford in the best formulation for your skin type
Eye products - they’re going around your eyes - cheaper is probably not better. (I’m particularly thinking mascara here, but the same can apply to shadows - I’ve used some cheap ones in the past and had problems with both my eyes and the skin surrounding my eyes)
Cleansing and moisturizing - the most important for your overall skin health.
Ah, well that explains it, kinda. Cover Girl, Maybelline, Max Factor and Revlon are all drug store brands here. You can’t buy them in a department store. $20 is what Clinique charges for foundation, I believe Elizabeth Arden, Lancome and some of the other brands you mentioned are more expensive. They usually range between $20-$50. Clinique is generally the cheapest counter brand.
I know you’re probably not asking me, but I’m gonna answer anyway. 
Cream blushes are becoming really popular so almost all brands carry them now. Clinique’s got a good one, retails for about 12 bucks, IIRC. I use BeneTint by Benefit. It’s AWESOME. It’s a sheer, liquid blush. It’s red, so you can wear it with anything, makes you look like you’re just naturally flushed. I love it because if I don’t have some serious blush on, I tend to look like a corpse. You can also use it on your lips, but it’s always dried mine out.
As far as powder goes, I use loose powder in the morning, to set my foundation, then use a compact throughout the day. I have really oily skin, and it works pretty well for me. I’ll also use toilet seat covers (yes, you read me) before I put on compact powder, to blot excess oil. It’s the same paper they sell for that specific purpose.
Except it’s free.
Red could be beetles though.
Very tasty.
And many companies still use animal products to make their lipsticks - cow’s blood just doesn’t happen to be one of them.
The best part of this lady’s opinion was that only red lipsticks were bad - a beige or orange was fine, because the companies would use normal colorants for them.
*Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. *
Damn I keep forgetting to uncheck my signature!
BAH!
This strikes me as a very Canadian thread. Someone got upset, and we end up bonding. Now all we need is Tim’s!
Alice, you are most lovely and I miss you very much.
As a fellow fish-belly white type, thank you. I spent my teenage years in the 80’s being sold too-dark or too-pink foundations, “Because you need some color!” And they’d look at me funny when I said I thought that’s what blush was for! I was an addict at a young age.
Guin, if you’re in the US, Target’s Sonia Kashuk line has some nice cream blush sticks, and IIRC, the brand is on sale this week. On the high end, Paula Dorf’s cream blush pots are nice, and the Nars sticks.
Oooh, thanks for the tip!
I’ve been using a Cover Girl cream blush (or was it Revlon?) and cream shadow as well. I believe the shade is “Skin Light”, a very subtle one. Unfortunately, I’ve run out.
I have oily skin, so a pressed powder works-I don’t like putting a lot of stuff on my face, just enough to give me color.
Well, except for silver glitter occassionally.
Do you HAVE to use foundation and powder? I have really clear skin, and so far, it’s not too wrinkly either.
My “trouble” spots are my eyes, they’re, IMO, too small, so when I use makeup, I spend most of my time and money on eye makeup.
The only real trouble spot I have with my skin, is my chin, it’s kindof reddish, though it’s smooth and clear, no blemishes or ruddiness, just looks a bit 'blushy".
If it’s really hot, and I’m going out on a special outing, I do the whole foundation/powder thing, but should we wear it all the time???
This is by far the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Really. I miss you too. 
**Canvas - you don’t need to wear anything - if you have a lovely smooth skin, leave it bare(except for sunscreen, of course).
For special occasions you could use a tinted moisturizer - it will give a polished look without looking quite so “made up.” For someone who is usually natural doing the “full meal deal” can feel and look a bit too… something.
Ummmm . . . That’d be me. I haven’t had a zit since 8th grade. Using NYC liquid or powder (when I used something on my skin). No problems.
My face is slightly dry at my jawline near my ear, and shiney on the end of my nose. For about an hour after I get out of the shower.
I’ve actually had people come up to me and ask what makeup I’m wearing. When I tell them nothing, I can almost feel the glare as they say, “Lucky you.”
Also, my eyebrows don’t need to be plucked.
Ahem. Back to makeup. I love Almay eyeliner. The self-sharpening kind. Used to wear Wet&Wild, but it’d always blur and smear by the end of the day, which is a big deal when you wear as much eyeliner as I do, heh.
Don’t wear lipstick. Can NOT find a good shade. Anywhere. Ever.
Lucky you!
About 2% of grown women have “normal” skin. You’re one, and actually, I’m one as well.
The only thing I will say is make sure you wear sun-screen. It sucks to have lovely smooth skin, go skiing, and wake up the next day with a sun-stash.
Not that I would know anything about that. (And yes I was wearing sunscreen - apparently the SPF wasn’t quite high enough. )
Additionally, if you deeply want color on your lips, you could try a sheer lip tint - a bit more forgiving in the color department. Obviously, if you don’t care about lip color, wear nothing and enjoy not having to worry to reapply.
We should start a club. Sit around and not talk about our skin. Or something.
And oh yes oh yes, I wear sunscreen. I’m pale, and I like it that way. SPF as high as I can find it. Going to the zoo, to a park, in the car for more than an hour in a day, and I’m wearing sunblock.
I don’t worry too much about lip color anymore. I’ve gone 20 years without it so far, so it’s not a big deal. “Gussied up” involves slightly shimmery mint lipgloss. I smoke, so color comes off way too quickly. Plus, I’ve actually grown to love the color of my lips naturally. Nice soft pink. `Course, that means I think most women look better without lipstick now, but oh well.
Ahem. The cosmetician in me is compelled to point out that apart from sun exposure, smoking is probably the fastest way to prematurely age your skin. It’s nasty, and leaves a yucky film on there.
Really, you should quit RIGHT THIS SECOND; however, I was young once - you can smoke for 2 more years and then you have to quit*. Really. You’ll thank me when you’re 40 and STILL have smooth lovely skin like a baby. Really.
[/preach mode off]
Anyhow - you might like to try Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick. It comes in 5 sheer tints, and has an SPF of 15 - reapply often at the Zoo, garden, skiing, particularly if you’re eating or smoking. It feels really nice, moisturizes and wears very well.
*for cosmetic purposes only
I’m taking notes on this thread.
I’m a fellow pale-as-a-ghost girl with a tacklebox full of makeup from every cheap brand out there (and a few expensive items I caught on sale). My biggest weakness is eyeshadow. I probably have 30 pots of Jane eyeshadow (I get it for around 50 cents at a local salvage store, yay).
My biggest problem is that I have very oily skin everywhere but my nose - my nose is very dry. I’ve tried using moisturizer on my nose and then applying powder, but the powder just lumps up and makes my skin look uneven and peely. Only on the nose though. I rarely wear foundation, but it makes such a difference in evening out the redder areas of my face. If it weren’t such a hassle I’d wear it more often. Any suggestions?
My other problem is that I can’t make eyeliner last. It looks great when I first put it on, but then migrates until I look like the living dead.
My favorite product is the purple iridescent eyeshadow I got from the now-defunct Skinmarket store. Gorgeous stuff.
I’m sorry, but I’m going to end the lovefest.
I don’t tend to trust cosmeticians…I have had so many flat out lie to me, that I (possibly unfairly) put them at the same level as used car salesmen.
I have had so many pick out shades that were simply hideous and insist that it looked wonderful (usually because they had nothing that would match my skin tone - but they wanted to make the sale), when in fact it looked like I had a skin disease. (“No, my skin was not gray until you put that foundation on.” or “Oh good, now I look like I have a drinking problem thanks to the crap you just put on my nose. That you say just goes on my nose and nowhere else”) I have been painted like a clown in various makeovers, apparently, the thinking being that I have dark skin so the makeup must be applied by a trowel so it shows up.
I have had enough “questionable” experiences at the cosmetics counter that I’m skeptical when I walk up. I’ll pay if I believe you ($85 for foundation that matched…and it really did match). I just don’t like paying that much money for something that will look like crap when I take it home. And too many people have tried to get me to do exactly that.
I’m 24 years old, and I have never gotten the hang of buying cosmetics. Once I managed to buy CG liquid foundation that looked good, total luck, any other time I have tried it has either been too pale or too orange. What part of you are you supposed to colour match to? My face is not all one colour. Someone told me the inside of your wrist, that was the time the colour was too pale.
Maybe Alice will be along to help out. In the meantime, the guy at the MAC counter told me to match the foundation to the skin colour right under my chin. Also, I was told most caucasians should be looking at a foundation in the yellows, not the pinks. Works great for me.
Well, in defense of my profession (but not the boneheas you’ve seen in the past) generally, the bulk of cosmetic manufacturers seem to think that everyone, everywhere is a shade of fishbelly white, or that they are “tan.” Obviously this doesn’t excuse people for trying to sell you stuff that doesn’t work for you - that’s just obnoxious; but, some of us really just want our customers to be happy and look nice. Honestly, I sell so much stuff (little stuff, $4 nail polishes, files, lip glosses, hair dies, etc), that I make a good commission anyway without selling big ticket foundation items. However, I don’t have sales quotas and I get paid a good base wage - sometimes at department stores the women are under huge pressure to sell and some will sell crap just to get the transaction. I find these people obnoxious. I’m not one of them. Ahem.
For a darker complexion, I like Iman (as in David Bowie’s lovely wive, Iman). Her products are specifically designed for women of color and her foundations come in shades that have both golden undertones typically good for many African/Jamacian complexions, as well as greyer undertones which work well for Indian complexions. Some Latina women can wear her lightest or second lightest color in the gold range (or darker if they’re tanned, I suppose).
Magayuk - don’t feel bad - choosing a foundation color for yourself is very, very difficult. Generally, I like to try to match the darker part of a woman’s face, unless it’s MUCH darker than the lightest bit. If there is a big difference in tones, I will show the woman both the darkest (about 1/2 shade lighter) as well a the lightest (about 1/2 shade darker) and let her choose. Most women with darker complexions prefer the lighter look, and most with lighter complexions prefer the darker look - go figure.
Additionally, match the “white” part of your face - I always cringe when a gal comes in with pink foundation on becasue she was matching the rosy part of her cheeks - eek!
Basically, you’ll need to experiment a bit. Most of the cheap (inexpensive?) companies don’t provide testers and unless your store of choice elects to open a product for you to try, it’s almost impossible to select a good color without trying it on. Save your pennies and opt for a slightly more expensive product that you can try in the store. The cosmetician should give you q-tips/sponges for you to try with as well as providing a space with a brightly lit mirror so you can check the color - if she (he) doesn’t, go elsewhere. Additionally, ask this person for there opinion - they’ll usually be able to be more impartial when it comes to color selection.
Finally, if they suggest a different brand or product, at least try it, even if it is a bit more expensive. Many times the formulation of a particular brand works better for certain skin types/colors.
Which brings me to Astra:
Firstly, make sure you’re cleansing and moisturizing you face with appropriate products. Do you break out? If not (if you’re just oily), I like Biopur by Biotherm - it’s somewhat expensive (but not outrageous), and it’s excellent to help control oil. Something to keep in mind - even oily skins need moisture - not oil, but water. Applying a moisturizer will make a nice base for whatever cosmetic products you want to try. I would use the oil control product all over your face except your nose, and then get a light moisturizer for the nose area. If it makes you feel better, you’re not the only person I’ve met with this skin combination.
Regarding a foundation, for an oilier skin, a cream to powder is a nice choice, but shop around. Some of them are quite greasy - not a great choice for an oilier skin. Generally the types that are wet/dry work well on an oilyer skin - try them dry first to get a nice, light surface. For more coverage, wet the sponge.
Regarding color choice, make sure you’re cleansed and moisturized when you’re choosing and follow the steps I outlined above. The cosmetician should help you - if she (he) offers to show you a product, check it out. Remember, cosmeticians have skin types too, and there’s the chance that her’s is the same as yours.
When selecting a product, feel is as important as color - try it on - it should really feel like you’re aren’t wearing anything - this is one of the key differences between the cheap vs. more expensive brands.
Finally, and most importantly, if you feel like the person is pushing something or isn’t listening to your concerns, leave. Really. Shop elsewhere.