Try that MUFE primer, the green one. That should cover the red up in a snap. Link.
Also, because I haven’t mentioned this thus far: for any of the Makeup Forever products, go into your local Sephora and ask for a sample. They will give you a HUGE sample that you will seriously be able to use for a week or two (they just pump it right from the tester bottle into a plastic container). You can try the primer, the foundation, etc. before you buy (which is good, since it’s kind of costly).
I most certainly am, and can get myself to one if need be. I’m a little overwhelmed by the make up people at times, though. Once at the Mac counter, this woman started rapid-firing all these questions at me, stuff about base and primers, skin numbers, and all this weird make up jargon that made me feel like a complete maroon. I just said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and just want my skin to look pretty.” We settled on something that worked out for me, but I stopped buying Mac years ago because it’s expensive.
I figured it wasn’t designed to give the alien look. That whole line is a bit pricier than I’d like, but I’d fork it over if it worked. How’s about this Smashbox business? Original clear for $9. Any good? Their line is getting mixed reviews in this thread. Hell, for $9 I can just buy some and judge for myself.
Flattery. My only weakness! And whiskey.
This is the only liquid foundation I can wear, at all. I wear mineral make-up most days b/c I like it, it’s easy, and it looks good on me, but when I want to look really, really awesome, this is what I use.
A lot of people, myself included, don’t like liquids b/c they feel like a mask. This stuff doesn’t feel like anything at all.
I also like the huge variety of colors they offer. I’m very pale, and IME many foundation makers seem to think that pale=sort of yellow. I’m sort of pink, and MUFE actually has a pale, sort of pink (but not actually pink) shade.
Yeah, some of the makeup folks can be like that. The correct response is just to stare at them blankly. The funny thing is this: I am probably more in the “expert” side of the makeup stuff, but sometimes when I go to the Mac Pro store, they talk very condescendingly and sloowwwwwly explain my options. I usually cut them off and say, “Hey, I’ve got a Pro Card [that’s like, a professional makeup discount card from Mac] and I need [insert 10 million things]”. So, I suppose what I’m saying is- not all the makeup folks will be set to 10, if that makes sense :).
Yeah, it can get a little pricey. I’m happy to have my little 40% off card, since that basically knocks Mac into drug store price range for me. That said, it’s important to remember that while the Mac (and MUFE) stuff is more expensive, it lasts much much much longer than a lot of the drugstore stuff. Take an eyeshadow, for instance, you have to use much less of the Mac item than the drugstore brand to get the same payoff. When it comes to foundation-- that HD foundation I linked to? I bought a bottle like, a year and a half ago. I wore it every single day for about 6 months, then wear it make twice a week now. Anyway, bottle’s still not empty. You seriously need a teensy little pea size of it to cover your entire face. And I say this as someone who wears a lot of makeup.
I’m not sure, actually. Never tried it myself. This is a great review site to check out. The MUFE one has slightly better reviews.
Yeah, totally agree. The MUFE foundation is super light, but offers amazing coverage for what it is.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned NARS. Personally, as a make up junky, it’s my favorite brand. Everything looks great on me.
I swear by the blush color “orgasm”. It looks great on all skin tones and gives the perfect natural flush. I also love the lipsticks. Very natural, soft, and creamy without smearing. My favorite lipstick color is “Dolce Vita”. I’m also fond of “gypsy” but that’s a pretty dark red I use for a more retro look. That color isn’t great on everyone.
I really enjoyed reading this thread. Great tips and suggestions. Thank you. 
Yep, it doesn’t look good on lines.
They have a mall store in one of the local malls so after hearing so many wonderful things about them, I went in for a free makeover to see what they could do. The sales women were polite and helpful. They were of different ages, different races, different skin tones. And exactly one looked good with Bare Escentual’s foundation. The rest were sad and wrong. For most the color match was awful. The woman with freckles looked like she was trying, unsuccessfully, to cover them up. The women with dark skin didn’t even come close to matching, all the blending in the world wasn’t going to help, and I could clearly see the “this is where my foundation ends” line (which was also on one of the women with lighter skin). And the glitter. To me, glittery skin doesn’t look natural, it looks glittery. On the older women, the glitter settled into their fine & not so fine lines and wrinkles. They may as well have taken a highlighter to them that said “here are my crows feet! watch them sparkle!” And when that was the best match/look that the saleswomen (who do this every day. who are basically modelling the product to its best advantage) could get, I didn’t hold high hopes. (I was right not to, they couldn’t match my skin tone at all.)
BTW, I’m looking for a replacement for Prescriptives foundation. Most place’s “here’s our single foundation color for black women” is too light, too dark, or turns me gray.
There’s glitter in the Bare Escentuals foundation? I haven’t noticed any. I’ve had pretty good luck with mine so far–feels good and I definitely can’t tell I’m wearing it, except I do get told I look nice when I wear it, so that’s a plus.
I’ve heard good things about NARS orgasm, Shocker Khan, but I’m a bit reluctant to shell out for it since I don’t wear a huge amount of blush. Maybe for a splurge one day.
Mac has a pretty good range for darker skin, so does MUFE. Maybe give those a shot?
If you’re in a major major city, I suggest stopping by a Mac Pro store, they are better than regular Mac counters and have more stuff.
That stuff’s pretty good. Revlon makes a version in their Beyond Natural line. Not sure of the price point.
This is the one I’ve had problems with lately: http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P9890&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=3990
Supposed to control oil and fill in pores, but my pores look like I’ve gone all pointelle on them after I use it.
[quote=“amarinth, post:66, topic:533303”]
Yep, it doesn’t look good on lines.
And the glitter. To me, glittery skin doesn’t look natural, it looks glittery. On the older women, the glitter settled into their fine & not so fine lines and wrinkles. They may as well have taken a highlighter to them that said “here are my crows feet! watch them sparkle!”
Amarinth, Thanks for the laugh, you describe me to a tee. I might as well take a highlighter to them! :eek:
Well I ordered the Bare Essentials starter kit online and if this thread is still here I will let you know how it comes out. If it doesn’t work out I can throw it in the mail to anyone that can use it.
Mean Old Lady, Your name does not fit you at all. Your gorgeous! Yes, The cosmetic counter women kind of wreck me too. I end up leaving looking like a clown or an evil witch. I can’t wear heavy makeup I think the make up with tint is the answer for you if you need to get rid of red. True match, the stuff I’m using now has three tints cool, warm and one other? I have to use cool or I look yellow. Once they ran out of a C3 and I went with a W3… Big mistake.
Heart Of D, I don’t have Rosacea but I do have rosy skin from my Irish and Indian ancestors. Try cool colored foundation, anything cool which minimizes red or the green that Bella mentioned. I would go for matte with no shine. I love Cetaphil for washing and moisturizing. My client that is in her late 80’s got me to try it.
Diosabellisima, Thanks for the links. I am looking into the Makeup Forever HD foundation line. My problem with make up has been recent and have always looked good with anything before 45.
I am learning a lot by reading you all. It is also better to hear from people that actually use the stuff and your take on it.
Yeah, I hate going to the cosmetics counter because they always want me to wear eyeliner. I look weird in eyeliner.
FWIW, I use Vaseline on my lips when they think they’re going to get super dry on me. Normally, however, drinking a ton of water (3L+ per day) and the occasional swipe of Burt’s Bees lip balm works wonders. Essentially, you want something that’s super-moisturizing, so if petroleum-based stuff isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options out there for overnight lip stuff. (Note: This also works great if you’ve got dry hands; just add some cotton gloves on top.)
MeanOldLady: If you can’t find a shade that suits you well in MAC or MUFE, try Prescriptives; they can custom mix a shade for you. Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s the only way one of my friends (who’s on the opposite end of the spectrum at “lily or lobster”) can get a foundation that’s light enough with the right undertones, and the stuff lasts forever. Personally, I swear by Too Faced Magic Wand Illuminating Foundation; I am, however, Paris in their color range, which is pretty damned limited. It provides sheer, layerable coverage, which is great for me-- I’m naturally kinda rosy-cheeked and have little to cover up or correct, but foundation makes me look just a touch more even and refreshed.
Zsofia: I don’t like other people doing eyeliner on me because they tend to put it on too thick and then I look likethis.
I read this as “turns me gay”. Heh.
This is more of a skin care question, but has anyone tried an oil cleanse for clogged pores? I have some awful clogging on my nose, even though I use products that are supposed to be non-clogging. I have one of those loop extractors, but I really don’t think you’re supposed to use them nightly.
I also want to put a plug in for the Sonia Kashiuk (sp?) brand at Target. I have some eyeliner that comes in a little pot and you brush it on, and it’s just so silky and color-rich.
I got a $50 Sephora gift card for Christmas and was all excited reading these endorsements for Makeup Forever, so I went to the Sephora web site to check it out, and of course the ingredients list:
All shades contain:
Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Mica, talc, PEG-10 Dimenthicone, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phenyl, Trimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimenthicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Cyclohexacyloxane, Methylisothiazolinone, Sorbitan Sesquileate, Silver Oxide, Propylene, Carbonate, Parfum (fragrance),
so back to square one, aka Clinique.
However, I see Bare Escentuals foundation primer is fragrance-free, so I’m thinking about it.
I do it sometimes, and it’s nice. It’s good at getting gunk out of your pores, and is actually good to use before using a loop extractor, makes the stuff that’s left over easier to get out.
Also good for clogged pores is an aspirin mask. When I do it, I use a few drops of tea tree oil, and usually skip the honey or yogurt, then when it’s dry I scrub it off with a bit of warm water.
I’ve never had luck with MAC foundation (lipstick & eye shadow? yes. Foundation? ehhh). I’ve been to the MAC Pro store in Vancouver before. I’ll ask next time I’m there (it is 3 hours and a border away), I’m not planning on that until late May or June.
At the local Sephora, MUFE has the “here’s our one shade for black women” thing going. I wonder if they’re not required to carry the entire line?
Prescriptives went out of business in December. They were very worth it, but now they are gone.
Prescriptives long ago stopped making Constant Comfort, the best moisturizer ever, so I stopped looking at them. There’s an outlet mall near me with a cosmetics store in it that has some Prescriptives stuff; I see Seattle Premium Outlets has one too. Get 'em before they’re gone.
I’ve been playing around a lot with makeup lately, having some fun with color and whatnot. My go-to skin care and makeup products are:
Face wash/scrub: Kiehl’s Yerba Mate Tea Cleanser, Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub
Face lotion: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 for day, Creme D’Elegance Repairatuer for night
Lip balm: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15. I love this stuff. It smells great (lemony-sugary), goes on smoothly, and lasts forever. I use it on its own and as a base under lipsticks, which sometimes dry my lips out like crazy. I’m almost out of my current tube, and while I’ll get a replacement, I’m also thinking of getting the Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment (also SPF 15).
Lip gloss: Fresh Sugar Lip Gloss in Sugar Shag. One of the only glosses I’ve liked that gives me a bit of color, shimmer and in a totally non-sticky way.
I do need a new powder. I’ve been using an Almay pressed powder and I like it, but I’m running low and need something to replace it. Looks like I might be heading over to Sephora this afternoon.
I like the Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment. It’s great for days when I don’t want to or can’t think about major touchups. Swipe it on, and it just brings out my lips a little more.
Hrm. OK, next option: Iman’s makeup line. I’ve heard really good things about it- my dark Italian mother even uses it!
