My tutorials are usually geared towards the more skilled makeup aficionados – as a result, we have quite a few makeup experts hanging around here (you know who you are!). But what if you’re new at makeup, looking to get into it, or just want to learn the basics? Do you have a question that’s been tormenting you for ages, something you’ve scanned the internet up & down for, and found no answer? Is it something too advanced or perhaps too basic? Something you’re too embarrassed to ask?
Doe Deere Blogazine is a no-judgment blog. Anything goes here, and whatever it is you want to ask is cool by us. No question is too elementary or too stupid.
- You ask the question
- I – or anybody else willing – answers it in the comments.
That’s all! Before you know it, we’ll have a sweet database of makeup advice available for anyone to use! Please note that this is mostly for beauty basics, however if you have an expert-level question, feel free to post it too – I’m sure we’ll be able to help you out.
Does anyone know of a good face sunscreen/moisturizer? I have dry skin with an uneven texture, so anything that’s thick is a no-no. I’m looking for a runny sunscreen that won’t leave me with a white cast.
Also, what’s the best foundation for someone with skin like mine? (I have eczema, so my skin is typically very dry)
And…what’s a solution to get of redness? My face is kind of splotchy, ugh.
*whew* Thank you to anyone who answers my questions!
Stephanie:
For sunscreen/moisturizers, I reccomend Oil of Olay. Sometimes my face doesn’t feel refreshed enough with just that so I do Ponds Dry Skin cream and then the Oil of Olay. (I swear by Ponds religiously whether I am in need of sunscreen or not.)
How do you create the smokey eye look?
When applying eyeshadow is there a certain tecnique that gets better results. e.g Should you pat the shadow on, sweep it up or across?
lucesco: YES! I have tried brushing them. I’ll do what you suggested though. May be if I am consistent with the brushing it will help. Thanks!
Wow, this is just perfect! And a couple of questions have already been answered above, so thanks for that! :D
Something that’s been bothering me for quite a while now:
I lack three-dimensional sight due to one of my eyes having a vision of merely 10-20% (the other one’s about 70%). Plus, my eyes don’t work on their on, if I close one, the other one starts trembling madly and can’t focus anymore. Which makes it impossible for me to create any kind of cat eye, even if I try out for hours. No matter how long I’m thinking about how to draw the line and how it should look right and give the eye exactly the optical “stretching” it needs, it doesn’t work. Any advice there? Obviously I can’t create a stencil or anything for the same reason.
And a problem I’ve been having with smokey eyes:
My the skin around my lid is very flabby and therefore I have to apply eyeshadow with my eyes wide open, so I see how much skin will get swallowed by the lid anyway. However, I can’t seem to get it right and I haven’t come across a picture of somebody wearing smokey eyes who has the eyes open. They mostly take pictures with their eyes closed or just slightly open. I’d need pictures with open eyes from all sorts of angles. :/
Also, does anybody know how recommendable products by Manic Panic and Stargazer are? I’m trying to get my hands on a really really bright (and affordable) fuchsia, for example.
Thank you!
lucesco: I have a similar problem with mascara, my lashes are quite long and my eyes are deep set, so my lashes tend to brush along the lower lids and my brow, resulting in smudging throughout the day. My best advice is to buy a smudge proof mascara, like Clinique’s Lash Power Long Wear mascara. Although your lashes won’t be as dramatic as they might be with a super theatrical volumising mascara, it does at least mean you avoid the panda-eyed look! I’ve found that this is the only thing that works for me currently. I also tried Maybelline’s smudge proof mascara, and although it is indeed smudge proof, it made my lashes look rather thin and spider-y. I much prefer the Clinique one.
For the questions about washing brushes..
When I wash mine, I don’t use any special brush cleaner.. actually, I just use a mild liquid hand soap. I squeeze a tiny bit onto the brush, rub it in a little, and rinse under warm water. I’m not actually sure if it’s really a good idea, but it’s worked for me, and nothing bad has come from it. Also, it helps that I always have to wash my hands when I’m washing my brushes, because they’re also covered in makeup.. lol
Carmine.. To explain the apple of the cheek.. while, I wouldn’t have to. It’s exactly what you think; the round part when you smile. Not sure why it doesn’t look right when you apply there though.. I had some ideas for you, but I forgot them.. :S
lucesco – as far as i can tell the “eye sculptor” undereye cream by helena rubinstein really is the best for sensitive skin .
and to everybody with very dry skin : try out if cocoa butter works for you – it makes your skin really soft and smells like chocolate :)
my question is : do you apply make-up to your neck as well ? and how much ? (that is to say, just right under the chin or all the way to the neck line of the top?)
thanks :)
Bonnie – my favorite bright pink lipstick is Revlon Love That Pink. Such a gorgeous shade.
Stephanie – for your question about how to get rid of redness:
I have very sensitive skin that gets very red at times, and what I do to help cut the redness is mix a few drops of Visine Advanced Relief eye drops into my moisturizer. It takes the red out in both my eyes and face! As always, be sure to test it on a small portion of your skin first to make sure you don’t have a reaction to it.
For those that asked about washing brushes:
I agree with Kellee that you don’t need to use a special brush cleaner. I use baby shampoo to wash my brushes about once a week. I put a little drop on each brush, rub it in, and rinse them really well. To dry them, I lay them flat on a towel and blot the tips. Then, I hang them upside down (brush bristles down) to dry. Do not dry them with the handles down and the bristles up, because the moisture can loosen the glue and they’ll start to shed! I ruined a very nice set of brushes before I figured that out.
Dear Gaiya- try using your favorite lip color then put Lipsmakers stawberry limade(or Vaseline for a non-scented version) over it for a glossy color.
Dear Debbie- I use Black Radiance (no im not african american, but its super pigmented) liquid liner for the lash line and then i take Covergirl line exact (felt tip)to draw the cat eye. If I need extra darkness, I put the Black Radiance over it, using the Line Exact for retouching.
Dear Sanaa- Combine equal parts sugar and olive oil and scrub on lips. Wash off. Repeat 3 times.
Question: What is your bargain beauty buy?
Debbie:
I use Pristige liquid liner and I love it! I really think its the applicatior that makes the most difference rather than the brand. I was never able to do winged liner until I tried Pristige. Also MAC has a really good bright red lipstick in their Pro-Long Wear called “Lasting Lust” I believe.
Genesis:
I use UDPP or MAC Paintpot in “Bare Study” for my eyeshadow base and haven’t had a problem with creasing. It may be the eyeshadow you’re using.
Ashe Mischief:
You should give MACs Fluidline a try! Just use it with a thin angled brush. I usually get the thinnest line using that. It’s also a nice inbetween for pencil and liquid. It doesn’t smudge like pencil and is darker, but not as dark and dramatic as liquid.
Asterisque – Being a former pink haired girly, I would recommend Special Effects ‘Atomic Pink’ :]
And I have the same problem as Lucesco, my eyeliner runs bad! eek!
xx
asterisque
Please please please don’t use Manic Panic. It’s not good. Use SpecialFX. You can get it at Hot Topic or other places that carry crazy beauty products, or amphigory.com (this site also allows you to see what colors look like).
Special FX stays in longer than most dyes like Punky Color and Manic Panic. Make sure you saturate your hair with it and leave it in for about an hour (it says 20-30 minutes but longer is better). Shampoo it every few days instead of every day if you can, it’ll last longer. It also stays longer over bleached hair.
asterisque–
another note on special fx. leaving it in longer when dying/making sure it’s fully saturated will get you a brighter color. the great thing about it is that it goes a long way and lasts a long time. Leftover dye doesn’t need to be thrown away and can be kept around to retouch your color when it begins to fade or grow out.
Sanaa:
I got this recipe from from a book; Cosmo’s Sexiest Beauty Secrets.(Great book, by the way!)
Try mixing 3 tsp petroleum jelly with one tsp honey, and a dash of cinnamon. Keep it in an empty lip gloss pot of any container. They say to put it on at night, leave on for 30 minutes then wipe off.
My roommates both use special fx and they put the dye in, then put a plactic grocery bag over their head and then a beanie on top of that and they leave it in over night. I don’t know if that really makes a difference, but they swear by it!!
To anyone looking for a good quality, cheap makeup brand: try out NYX and Milani. They carry some awesome bright colours and most things are $3-5. They even have eyeshadow pigment (loose) like MAC has.
Try to stay away from the makeup Hot Topic sells. It looks really bright and flashy in the pots, but in my experience, it doesn’t last, it’s hard to blend, and it doesn’t look like the colour in the pot. The reds and pinks also bother some people’s eyes.
Once you have been doing makeup for a little while, make yourself some business cards and have someone write you a letter of reference…attach these things to a MAC Pro application and you can get up to 40% off MAC makeup plus every once in awhile they send you free stuff!
Trying to make pencil eyeliner stay on your waterline and not smear everywhere underneath: apply UDPP to both top and bottom lids (but not on your waterline, obviously). Make sure it goes all the way around your eye, especially the outer corner. If your eyes water a lot (IE windy day, allergies), your eyeliner will run, period. But if you can avoid having watery eyes, this should make your liner stay put better.
Gel eyeliner does stay put much better than pencil, but it bothers some people’s eyes (including mine). If you have allergies to any eye makeup, I wouldn’t recommend wearing it on your waterline, because it will be very itchy and painful if you have a reaction.
@Ali
Thank you, Special Effects does look interesting! I’ll hopefully find a store that ships to Europe. I’m stuck in Germany with brands like La Riche Directions, Manic Panic and Stargazer. :/
But I actually didn’t even refer to hair dye, I had eyeshadows in my mind. Should have made that more clear.
What do you believe is the best way to organize or travel with your make-up collection?
Okay, here’s one I could never figure out… After I’ve been crying, my eyelids get puffy and my under eye area is a mess. What’s the best way to camouflage this look besides eyedrops (which sting my eyes for some reason)?
(another Rachel posted, so this is a different one! xD )
I used Special Effects and it did not last at all for me. I kept it in my hair for about 3-4 hours, too.
I have a few questions:
- What is a good face moisturizer?
- My eyelids are super oily. Even if I put on primer, after about an hour or two my eyeshadow is completely gone. I use high quality eyeshadow too, so I don’t know what’s wrong.
- Is there any way to wear lipstick and not have it completely vanish after eating a meal?
Kristi:
I don’t know if someone else has said this, but if you want to get rid of your sunburn before it starts to be a problem, put vitamin E on it. You can buy vitamin E in bottles at the supermarket, and it comes in those gel capsules like liquid ibuprofen and so forth. You puncture the capsule and spread the vitamin E goo on your skin, and your burn basically vanishes overnight. It minimizes peeling and heals your skin really quickly. For peeling, I would exfoliate as much as possible in the shower as soon as you notice it. Get a loofah or a scrub brush and get rid of all that dead skin as fast as possible. Moisturizing will help, but the skin is already dead anyway so I think it’s best to just remove it quickly.
My main problem is my eyebrows – I don’t know what on earth to do but I think they need a little something…how do I get a great shape going, and any advice for ‘filling in’ brows?
Best kind of foundation for sensitive, combination skin prone to breakouts? Obviously needs to be oil free. I’m currently using Neutrogena Visibly Even liquid foundation. It works alright, and does help to even thinks out, but patches of my skin end up being really gross and dry looking (my chin and under my eyes especially!!) even though I moisturize before application. Would a primer help with this? Hopefully someone shares my sensitive acne-prone-even-at-24 skin woes!
asterisque– haha oops, sorry. my bad.
lara– mary kay cosmetics carries a really great gel for cooling eye puffiness post-crying (or whatever). I can’t remember what’s it called but it’s a blue-ish gel in a little jar. you should be able to find it on their site or something. i tried it out and it’s amazing! it’s not for cover-up, but getting rid of the puffiness and redness. for cover-up, i recommend a concealer a shade or two lighter than your skin tone (i use one by l’oreal, actually. cheap and very good.) plus a dusting of powder to even out the color.
♣ Caitlin
The shape of your brows depends on the shape of your face (oblong, round, diamond, triangle). I found that the easiest way to determine the right shape for you is to find a celebrity with a similar face shape – and copy what they do! :)
I don’t know if this is quite a make-up question, but I hate washing my face. I have to get up for school at 6 and usually only have enough time to use some toner before I get out the door. Even if I do make the time to wash my face, it’s always shiny and feels sticky for the rest of the day. I really don’t know what to do! I don’t have the worst acne, but the little that I do have makes me so embarrassed. Does anyone know a product that doesn’t have a lot of steps to it, doesn’t make my face so shiny and above all works?
♣ Rachel#2
- For face moisturizer, I recommend Jergens.
- Oily eyelids: hate to plug my own product, but Lime Crime Pixie Dust will keep the oil in check! Pat it on before using primer.
- Go for long-lasting lipsticks (most brands have them). The only drawback is, they are a little drying and may stain your lips. What I usually do is apply lip liner, fill in the lips, eat… Then disappear to the ladies’ room and fill them in again! Works like a charm. :)
Rae, I used to have your problem when I was in high school. The only way you can get rid of the problem is by using a gentle skin cleanser and moisturizer specifically for your skin, morning and night. Unfortunately its not a quick fix, but it does work better than just toner. I would recommend cetaphil cleanser/moisturizer (the one made for oily skin and with SPF) for your skin, and get into the habit of using it every day. Cetaphil is constantly ranked as one of the best brands on the market- and its easy on the wallet as well. Try and stay away from drying toners and cleansers full of chemicals…they will only make it worse. Trust me, i’ve been in your shoes. Good luck!
♣ Rae
I know what you mean! Except, I never wash my face in the morning because water makes my skin blotchy and irritated. To keep the shine to a minimum, I used to use loose powder throughout the day, but now use Pixie Dust from my own line. I feel awful plugging it the second time in a row, but it really does work! In addition, rice paper sheets can be used to absorb any oils.
Rae: Also remember that your teen years/early twenties your harmones are shifting right now, so you will notice some changes in your skin. Just be patient, it will get better if you take care of yourself :)
Also, to get rid of shine throughout the day, try using the blotting strips that soak up the oil. i think clean and clear makes them, and as far as I know they are fine for your skin and are good for a quick fix. Using these is better than layering on powder repeatedly and clogging your pores.
I love the red lipstick look, but I’ve got pretty big lips, and anytime I use red lipstick, they look ridiculously huge – almost clown-like. Am I using the wrong shade of red? I have dark hair, dark eyes, and an olive skin tone, although I’m not very tanned at the moment.
I don’t have many questions, but I do have a couple tips, as I’m slowly starting to take better care of my own skin care:
As Ashley said, Cetaphil really is great. My dermatologist recommends it and it’s the only wash/moisture that consistently leaves my skin fresh and healthy-feeling.
As for make-up, I really like those light green concealer wands for red spots… I think Physician’s Formula makes them? The only problem I have is that they tend to make me look a little ashy, especially if I’m dealing with a healing/drying zit. I’ve tried wearing powder over it, but that just makes it worse. I haven’t tried foundation over it yet (don’t own any… yes, I’m severely under-supplied)… do you girls think that’ll help? For your information, I have rather oily skin that is a dark olive/golden color. Reference: http://kagitsune.deviantart.com/art/The-Lolita-Blouse-88791273 http://kagitsune.deviantart.com/art/The-Dragon-Dress-Full-Outfit-88798592
Thanks. ^^
(Also, I like to use yellow-toned concealer under my eyes for the dark circles… )
BTW, Xenia… I think a small, free forum would be a better format for a discussion like this. Does your blog server/provider have a service like that? If not, you could always try forumer.com or another free service like that. Hope that helped! ^o^/
Jenny:
Try a deeper shade of red, and line the inside of your lips with a darker liner. That should do the trick.
I have really puffy lids. What’s the best way to make them… not so puffy?
Oh my, I only started reading the first few before I realized theres tons! I can’t stay up long enough to write my own question and think of one, but.
Gaiya – I like Wetslicks by Covergirl, they have gorgeous colors and I think it barely feels like anything’s on.
A. Gray Lamb – Try NYC’S Retro Red or Sheer
Red. I’m of asian descent, oliveish skin dark hair, my pale italian friend and my irish friend both look great in sheer red, so do I. Plus its $1, can’t beat that =]
I always have problems making my eyeliner work. I like it pretty thick and dramatic, but whenever I use a pencil it smears and just looks strange. I have problems using liquid liner (it doesn’t go close enough to the lash line for me). Help?
Also, how do you wear bright lipstick properly? It goes on the center of my lips just fine, but whenever I run it over the corners of my mouth, it looks very smudgy, thick and garish? How do I make it a neat precise line like it should be?
I’d love to know what other ladies are doing to
(a)daily cleanse their face
(b) any sort of regular care for their face… like anti-aging creams, or sunscreen, or facials, etc…
personally, I’m 29 and have relatively oily pale skin. I pretty regularly have breakouts even though I wash my face with cetaphil twice a day. I’ve never quite known what to do with my skin and end up trying all these different things not knowing what is working well and what isn’t.
I’d love to hear also about what people use for anti-shine when they’re doing longer photoshoots. I often have events where I’m in the same makeup for several hours and have to stay looking good that whole time.
For all those with foundation troubles~
I’ve noticed a lot of you don’t know what type of foundation to use and boy, that can be frustrating. Especially when someone’s suggested a brand to you and you just can’t find it!
Here are a few general tips I’ve discovered over the years from having foundation troubles myself.
Oh god, there’s a million different types of foundations, which one do I use?!
Liquid – This foundation works for pretty much all skin types. If you have oily skin you must, MUST buy an oil-free, water based or an oil-absorbing one.
Stick – This tends to suite those with dry to ‘normal’ skin. It’s not something you can cover your whole face in, but it’s great for light coverage. This is also a great way to cover small imperfections before applying powder or another form of foundation.
Mousse – This stuff tends to be more on the expensive side, but it works for pretty much all skin types and ‘sinks’ into the skin rather than sitting on top of it. If you live in a hot climate like I do, it can be a life saver.
Tinted moisturiser – Best for dry or flaky skin.
There are many others, but those are the ones you are more likely to come across.
Powder – compact or loose?
Loose tends to be better to set your foundation with. It contains more oil absorbers than pressed/compact, so it works well for oily skin. The finer the powder the better, it’s less likely to cake or feel gritty. Powder is a MUST for oily skin.
Also, when buying a foundation look at the colour base when choosing. Steer clear of those with a more ‘pink’ tone because very few of us truly have pink undertones in our skin. Instead pick something with a slightly more yellowish tint. It will look more natural. However, the best way to pick the right shade is to try them out! Don’t just test in one place though. The skin of your face is never all the same colour so you need to do what is known as a ‘stripe test.’ You literally make a stripe of foundation with your finger. The stripe starts on your face, usually next to your chin and goes under your jaw to your neck (about 3-4cm long.) If the foundation blends on most of the test, you’ve got a match. The reason for testing upon your neck is that part of your skin tends to be the ‘neutral’ zone when it comes to your skin tone, so a foundation that blends well on your neck is going to work better with the rest of your face.
I hope this helps.
Happy foundation hunting!
@ Various Liquid Eyeliner Queries:
I’ve become a bit of a veteran in the war on liquid liner, so perhaps I can offer some of my experience.
I like Mac and Urban Decay and Almay the best. They stay the best and are the most opaque and pigmented.
To put it on, I stretch my lid (Like you’re making a funny face at someone! :D)back towards my hairline, and then I draw from the edge of my outer eyelid towards the inner. Its best to get it in one clean pass. You can even change how you press down with the brush to change the width of the stroke, mid-pass :D
As if getting it on wasn’t hard enough, once its there, you’re trapped with super smeary, super evil stuff poised dangerously on your face! EEP! As a young gothling, I often blinked or sneezed and ended up with reflections, smears, the works. But then I tried fanning my eyes with a little lace fan (super cheap, haha), and it dried like a charm! :3
Hope that helps someone :D
Heya i just brought impassioned from mac (hot pink) i just wanted to know what eye makeup to do with it, any colours you recommend?
thanks!
^ btw i meant a hot pink lipstick xD
@Julie
fluidline…
most mac artists would recommend the angle brush, but my success has come from the 311 lip liner brush. the bristles are a bit firmer and with a little practice you can get a pretty thin line…
a little trick i use when applying:
put a small bit of the fluidline on the brush and take a piece of tissue paper and squish the brush between my fingers to straighten it out.
Lumen: I’m very pale and I have found no department store foundation that is light enough for me. I’d suggest you try Meow Cosmetics. Their products are bismuth free so they won’t cause bumps or itch. And there are over 80 shades to choose from! I use Pampered Puss formula and it gives me enough coverage if I apply two layers. If you’re in doubt when choosing the right shade, there’s a discussion forum you can enter through their website: Jen (Camellia Rose) is a true colour expert!
Even with primer (both foundation primer and eye primer) my makeup never stays on for more than a few hours. It’s not like I rub my face and smudge it, it just seems to disappear. Does anyone else have this problem?
Also, what do people use on blackheads? I have really large, open pores and I’m prone to blackheads. I use a cleanser, acid toner and oil free moisturizer and a scrub every second day and Clinique pore minimiser, but I still get bad blackheads on my cheeks and chin. Help???
I can’t seem to get foundations to work with me and my mad complexion. My skin goes from very dry to disgustingly greasy at the drop of a hat and I’m prone to blemishes and spots (normally just one in the most annoying place, chin, nose, cheek etc). I am also quite pale.
I used to use MAC foundation, concealer and powder but using all three together makes it very heavy and usually makes me look like I’ve just put a load of wall-filler on my face.
I’d like some advice on some brands avaliable in the UK that aren’t heavy, look natural but will cover up the worst blemishes.
I have a skincare question too – I have blackheads on my nose that just won’t go away. I have tried scrubs, facials and even changed my diet. Any advice there?
The other suggestions here already posted are fantastic by the way. Thanks for all the help!