16 yrs, 9 mths ago

A chance to start again

Now, I recently had an overnight bag stolen, and inside it contained (apart from some other expensive and sentimentally valuable things) 95% of my make up and skin care!!!

To me, make up is a creative outlet. I’m an artist and illustrator with a strong theatrical background, and make up is one of the major ways I express myself. I had literally hundreds of dollars of gear in my overnight bag, so I am understandably upset that it is all gone!

But… here is a chance for me to start afresh. A clean slate, so to speak. It’s a chance for me to learn and find better products, better value, etc.

I have extremely fair skin, and have always had a hard time finding something that came even close to matching my skin tone, in terms of foundation, concealer, and loose powder. I have an oily t-zone, but if I use harsh products I peel very easily.

I have blue eyes, and use a lot of warm colours, as well as the occasional purple and peacock green, when it comes to eyeshadow. My eyes are the focus of my face, and probably my best feature. So I need products that will be hard wearing, long lasting in terms of not running out too soon, and relatively inexpensive, seeing as I have to replace pretty much everything.

I prefer to use waterproof mascara, and I always use black. I do get sensitive skin around my eyes, however, and need a great combo of mascara, and eye makeup remover, that wont make my eyelids peel!

Are there any brands I should be looking at in particular? And nice box sets of eye, cheek and lip pallates that are not too chunky, and have a nice range of colours?
What brands have the best colour ranges in terms of foundations? Which skin care brands are best for combinaion skin, and sensitive eyes?
Which are the best tools to use; brushes, applicators, eyelach curlers, etc?

I’ve been relying so long on my horde of makeup that I felt it was decadent to go and buy more of the same things, just to see if they were better. But now I have virtually nothing, and a very busy social schedule! I’m not particularly vain, but I feel less like myself without some fun pink eyeshadow, and wide black lashes. 😀

I’d greatly appreaciate any advice!

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Replies

  • 16 yrs, 8 mths ago

    I have bought the L`Oreal translucent powder Translucide, and it`s pretty good… but it`s just nothing compared to my stolen Artistry powder! It`s a better match in colour, but not in cover. I`ve been using it in combination with the TrueMatch foundation and powder, but I still get oily within a couple of hours. Great for a quick trip somewhere, but not for a party or an all day affair. I`m going to a wedding in the Whitsundays in May, and I need something that will match my skin tone AND stay put! >.<

  • 16 yrs, 8 mths ago

    It sounds as though you have similar skin to me, Darkfeline. I have heaps of trouble finding foundation as well! I really like MAC studio fix foundation (the one that looks like pressed powder) applied with a brush. It has good coverage – I rarely need to use an extra concealer, usually I just use the sponge when I have blemishes that need to be covered- and there are heaps of colours that actually suit pale skin! I think powder foundations make you look old when you put them on in a way that doesn`t suit your skin (using a sponge all over my face just doesn`t work for me!). MAC foundation seems quite expensive but always lasts me at least 5 or 6 months! Give it a try next time you`re looking for foundation. Also, I really like Australis blushes and eyeshadows, and I had a set of these that was very reasonably priced with some awesome colours.

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    It`s good to see that you`ve taken this in your stride (well, as much as you can be expected to) and have seen this as an opportunity rather than a tragedy.
    For cute make-up, Chi Chi is great.
    Good to hear you`re getting yourself set up again =]
    xx

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    Have you ever tried using L`Oreal translucent powder to set your liquid foundation? It`s almost completely white and improves your skin tone. I use it under my eyes when I have dark circles to lighten my skin.

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    You poor thing!!!! My make-up bag was stolen a year ago, and even though I have about three of them, I had all my Napoleon and MAC in there so it was a few hundred dolloars of stuff!!! I was devastated, I cant imagine losing everything.

    I like Inglot – but in Perth all the staff are Napolon people! I wonder if Napoleon owns them, or they just lost heaps of staff to them when they opened. Anybody know?

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    Well!
    I`ve replaced most of my stuff.
    I bought some Garnier skin care products because they were on sale, and my skin is feeling softer than before, which is nice. Not the best stuff I`ve ever used, but I can`t buy Artistry products in a department store! Will have to renew my membership one of these days, so worth it.
    Anyway, I bought the L`oreal True Match in Porcelaine again, because I just couldn`t find anything else that was pale enough. I also got the True Match pressed Powder, but it`s even darker than the foundation! Will have to go back and get a lighter coloured loose powder of some sort. I prefer the look of loose powder anyway.
    I bought a Natio mascara, and it has a nice soft effect, great for low key makeup, and it`s only smude free, so it`s not as irritating. I also got the new Lash Exact, and its pretty nice! Not the best, but the best for the price, I think.
    I still need to get a lot of the tools I used to have; extra brushes and applicators, eyeliner pencil sharpener, etc, but my stash is getting bigger 😀
    I went and got some cheaper eye shadows just to experiment and to last while I`m still kinda poor, but when I have more money I`m going to go to the nearest Inglot store (Fountain Gate or maybe Chadstone), because their colours look fabulous, and I adore the idea of mixing your own palatte. As an artist, it`s very important to me to have all the right shades and textures, and have everything available to me in the one place, so I don`t have to mess around with multiple containers, and with makeup it`s the same. Sure, I`ll have multiple items I use to do my make up, but I don`t like having to open up 5 different pots of shadow to do my eyes!
    Maybe I`m just fussy 😉

    I was in such a rush at the Priceline store, and the cashier was quite rude to me, so I was flustered when finding a Natio eye cream, and bought one of the Men`s range! Not much difference though, apart from fragrance, and it is perhaps a little heavier. My skin feels nice however, and I feel fabulous having all these new things. I got a matching black and pink set of makeup bags by Revlon, and I`m feeling more settled and less stressed about having lost so much stuff.

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    Wow, I can`t imagine having to start again, you must have been devastated to loose all your stuff! For cheap but good eyeshadows, try Red Earth and Prestige. They both have a good range of colours, and they last well. You can get them at Priceline.

    For a good foundation colour match maybe you could go to a few different cosmetic counters and get samples to find something that works for you. IMO it`s worth spending a bit more money on foundation, if you can afford to.

    Bonne Bell make great, cheap lipglosses, as do Rimmel and Face of Australia.

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    OMG

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    I just looked up talc in the glossary and it has been known to have traces of asbestos in it however not in pharmaceutical grade. It`s also believed to be linked to ovarian cancer. People with sensitive skin can have a reaction to talc. I have tried L`Oreals mineral powder however if you are going to go mineral go for a company which specifically specialises in mineral products and read the ingredients.

  • 16 yrs, 9 mths ago

    talc is bad and apparently it has been proven in a study to be a contributing cause of cervical cancer in women who use it `down there`. how scary is that. the best alternative is cornflour (obviously not in makeup)

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