#best drugstore makeup routine

[heyitsgigisadventures]

6 Unique Ways To Use Your Lipstick | DIY Makeup, Summer Makeup

6 Unique Ways To Use Your Lipstick | DIY Makeup, Summer Makeup   Summer is the perfect time to experiment around with your makeup, and your lipstick is the right place to start! These 6 unique ways to use your lipstick will not only allow you to have some more fun with your makeup, but also get rid of that product you bought and simply cannot finish!   Do you want to literally glow up overnight…

[beautytips123321]

Woman Using a Jade Roller

Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art. See more...

[seireiteihellbutterfly]

Bleach Headcanons: Skincare

Who’s the skincare expert and who uses just soap and water?

Jushiro Ukitake:

He doesn’t believe in flashy skincare, thinking it needs to be convenient, gentle and affordable. Think of brands like Cerave, Cetaphil, and La Roche Posay. He’ll probably have a trusted cleanser he’s been using for years (centuries?), a reliable serum, maybe retinoid based (gotta use something anti-aging at this stage) and a good, hydrating moisturizer (illness makes his skin dry and he hates looking that way). 

Byakuya Kuchiki:

Can and will only buy the best of the best. A skincare snob. Even if there’s an amazing drugstore brand, he refuses to use it. SK II, Tatcha, and La Mer are all you’ll find in his bathroom cabinet. Of course he follows the 7 step Korean skincare routine. Cleanse twice, toner, essence, serum, moisturizer eye cream. Adds a sunscreen if he plans on going out. He will not compromise his routine for anything, so be prepared to wait for him as he goes through this process everyday, twice.

Renji Abarai:

He’ll pretend like he doesn’t do any skincare but he has his little stash of items he uses for self-indulgence. He enjoys wearing face masks (thanks to Rukia), which he applies after using a cleanser that’s trending, like from Tula or Drunk Elephant. The man somehow has balanced skin so he’ll use an everyday moisturizer like the Clinique Moisture Surge. 

Kensei Muguruma:

He uses his body wash as face wash, and whatever body moisturizer he has on hand he uses on his face too. What’s the point after all? It’s skin. As long as it’s clean and not cracking, there isn’t a problem. 

Mayuri Kurotsuchi:

He creates his own skincare but it’s kind of questionable. He claims his skin can tolerate quite a lot, so his skincare always has heavy amounts of acids in it; glycolic acid, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid. Top this off with a heavy dosage retinol. Does it work? We may never know from all the makeup he uses on his face. At least he removes all of it before sleeping (?). 

Kisuke Urahara:

He also makes his own concoctions, but in a much less dramatic way than Mayuri. Grows his own ingredients, like oranges for vitamin C, mint for salicylic acid, and carrots for retinol. Think of his products like a  clean, organic skincare line that he wouldn’t sell to anyone unless he’s happy with it himself. He rarely buys commercially available products but the one thing he will spend his money on is sheet masks, they’re convenient and he honestly finds them tedious to make on his own.

Shinji Hirako:

He may not show it, but this man is very self conscious about his appearance. He has a mix of both popular and indie skin care brands. Think Belif, Youth to the People and Drunk Elephant. He probably regularly cleanses and uses a moisturizer, maybe something with vitamin C in it, since he can’t have people seeing the dark circles under his eyes.

Ichigo Kurosaki:

Essence? Toner? Serums? Isn’t a cleanser just soap? Give him some bar soap and a CeraVe moisturizer. He doesn’t have time to figure this shit out. There’s people that need to be saved and stuff. 

Rose Otoribashi:

Yes, he knows the difference between a toner and an essence. He also thinks essences are a gimmick. Give him a balancing cleanser for his oily skin, and a toner with some salicylic acid in it to further help the oil. Add a vitamin C serum and a lightweight moisturizer and he’s ready to rock. 

[louisa-gc]

de-influencing you

from someone who gets overwhelmed any time she opens a social media application.

expensive cosmetics. keep it simple and stick to skincare, makeup and hair products you know and trust. i've tried it all from salon shampoos and high-end concealers to ridiculously priced face oils and praised nail polishes, only to realise my favourites are the affordable drugstore products i can easily repurchase. it's the ingredients that matter, not the prestige or popularity of a brand or the amount of products in your routine.

new clothes. of course you can and should replace your holey socks and the jeans you've grown out of, but i'm certain most of us have more clothes than we need. what if we tried to use up (and, when possible, mend) our existing pieces instead of getting new trousers and sneakers just because there's now a trendier option out there?

dietary supplements. unless you have a deficiency and have been told by a healthcare professional to take a supplement, you probably don't need one. with a healthy, varied diet, you can skip all those green powders, probiotics and multivitamins, that weirdly enough have become part of some internet aesthetics. if, however, you do need to supplement (as i need to with iron), make sure you know what is in the product you're buying and how it works best — iron, for example, should be taken on an empty stomach and with vitamin c.

internet aesthetics. your style, your whole lifestyle, doesn't need to fit an "aesthetic". it's tiresome to try and classify your tastes and attempt to stuff them into the narrow confines of these artificial ideals. do things you enjoy, decorate and dress according to what appeals to your eye and forget about the rest.

regular beauty treatments. if your skin is healthy, a normal at-home skincare routine should be enough to make sure your face is glowing. a (fake) tan, hair removal and manicured nails aren't and shouldn't be necessities either, but if your beauty routines are important to you, just do the things at home and save your resources for more valuable pursuits than the ever-expanding requirements of modern womanhood.

cosmetic injections or surgeries. i've always been of the opinion that we should all be allowed to do as we please with our bodies, without shame or judgement from others. however, the more i learn about the risks of cosmetics procedures and the rates of patients' dissatisfaction with their results, the more negatively i've started to view it all. with more and more people walking around with filler, botox and surgically enchanced or erased features, i worry about our ability to accept ourselves as we are. i worry about the class divide these procedures are creating (who can afford it at all? who can afford a good result?) and i worry about people spending massive amounts of money and time on what are essentially unnecessary health risks. so i say: don't do it.

anything designer. as we all know, price and quality don't always go hand in hand. while i'm all for choosing great quality lasting products, popular designer brands might not necessarily be the way to go. people haven't ditched designer goods just because the go-to style is now "old money"; they've just moved from gucci to céline. i personally don't think any designer brand is really worth it, but wherever you buy, at least pay attention to materials and construction, and stay away from counterfeit goods.

trying to look "expensive". while i have always had a more classic style and was raised never to show logos ("you're not a free advertisement, dear"), i find the "looking expensive" thing such a strange trend, one that returns whenever times are financially unstable. even though i wholeheartedly approve of buying timeless quality pieces (if that is a style you actually enjoy), i don't think anyone should do so in order to look wealthy. nobody will think you're the trust fund offspring of a centuries-old family if you aren't, and most of all, nobody really cares whether you are one or not. the thing is, you really cannot tell whether someone is wealthy based on their looks, so why spend time and money trying to look the part?

clothes that don't fit your lifestyle. it's difficult to resist cute athleisure, but as someone who only wears workout clothes to actually exercise three times a week, i know i only need two or three sets. buy pieces that fit your everyday life, not the life you wish you had. no amount of cocktail dresses will make your life a flurry of parties, if these events are already few and far between.

most stationery products. i love stationery as much as the next person: i love a good notebook, beautiful pens and all the related little knick-knacks, but frankly, i only use one mechanical pencil, a specific type of black gel pens, and three notebooks at a time. no matter how cute some highlighters, letter papers or pastel page markers may be, i have zero reason to buy them.

trending books. i know this might be a controversial one, but buying piles of books on the recommendation of social media influencers isn't a smart use of space and money. just last year i got myself half a dozen popular titles from a cute bookshop, but ended up regretting the purchases because i only liked one of them. borrow the trendy new books from your local public library, and if you really want to collect books, only buy ones that you really love.

[lilly-chou-chou]

Skincare And Lifestyle Tips To Nourish Your Soul :-

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐༘

Hello, everyone!! I back at it again with brand new post! This time the topic we're going to dive into is skincare. Now I am a woman who has been doing skincare since she was practically 10 so it's been many many decades and what not, mind you I wasn't one of those sephora kids who are stupid enough to use retional at the age of 10 💀 my skincare back then consisted of just cleanser, toner, sum protecting lip balm and sunscreen.

Today I would like to give general skincare advice that is applicable for ALL skin types. Mind you if you have serious issues then do go to dermatologist because the tips I am giving today is to how to have better skin and very general stuff. Hope you guys like it!! <3 💕

Pre-Advice:-

Always know your skin type. This makes things way easier than people actually realize.

Don't always follow the trend because not everyone has similar skin and I doesn't matter ift hey claim to cure you so called problamatic spefic areas always ready the ingredients, be sure about it, consult with your doctor and then use it.

Patience patience patience. I cannot stress this enough, skincare takes time it may take 1 week or even whole 1 year to heal or to see the results. Don't go blaming products if you skip skincare or aren't using it properly. If you are getting rashes you aren't using correct products. If you have sensitive skin I highly suggest you to carefully select your products because anything can give you rashes or irritate your skin. Be careful and take care.

Step 1

Always make sure you know your skin, make sure you are 100% sure with what you want to tackle. The very first step of skincare and general wellbeing is knowing what you want to achieve, for example the sole reason I do skincare is to protect my skin and to make sure my body deserves better. There are many types of skincare routines, you are free to pick one and be dedicated to that.

My skincare consists ONLY of Korean and Japanese products, few of my favorite brands are suwalhsoo, innisfree, hadalabo and such. Skincare is an investment and I hate to say it but splurging on little expensive products REALLY DO make the difference and they do bring a lot of change. If you don't have the budget then I suggest buying trusted drugstore brands (I am kind of unfamiliar with them 😅) and stick to home remedies instead.

I am Asian and we are known to have thousands of home remedies that actually work. Some remedies that I use on daily basis are cucumber and rice water. For this you need to slice cucumber and soak them in rice water for 3-4hrs and put each slice on your face and let it sit for 20-25 mins and don't throw the starch rice water, you can use that in your hair after you shampoo and conditioner put that water in your scalp and massage it keep it for 10mins or so and wash it off for healthy hair, if you have black hair it looks so lustrous and shiny!!

Other remedy is using loose "wet" green tea leaves and mixing it with pure honey, now for this you need to use organic honey for best results. You can't just go and buy honey from grocery store, simply yuck! I suggest you go to organic market and splurge some on organic real honey. Mix those leaves and honey and put the paste on your lips and keep it for 10mins Or so and wash it off, you will get so nice, plumpy and soft lips.

If you don't wanna do all this work then you can simply use a really good lip balm, I used to use various types but in the end I realized that the lip balm they make for babies are the best because they are mild, made with baby safe ingredients so it's best for sensitive skin and it actually works. If you feel like you're too "grown up" to use baby lip balm then I highly suggest any dior lip balm, sure they are expensive but my lips have NEVER FELT SO PRETTY after using dior. Often times with luxury brands these makeup or skincare is either hit or miss but with dior oh! They ate!! It's so good!! You can also simply use innisfree green tea lip balm too, works wonders. Honestly just plain Vaseline also works wonders but choice is yours.

Step 2

Body! This is definitely a sensitive topic but fret not, it's not what you think. By this I mean what goes inside your body also plays a huge role in your skin and body, we need a balanced life by that I mean yea sure healthy greens and well balanced protein options are good but once in a while it's not bad to eat fast food, I absolutely hate how tiktok people say "chemicals" and refuse to use it like boo, everything is chemicals 💀 the only difference is good and bad chemicals. From toothpastes to even the gastric acid that is present inside our body is all chemicals, when will people learn this?

Few steps to have a nourished body are follows:-

Always drink probiotic drinks after you've had a heavy food at the END of the day. My favorite probiotic drink is yakult, it is best to drink at the end of the day because when you are at rest the good bacteria has great chance of working even more prominently.

This one goes out to all the people who can't live without spicy food. Yes, it's time to put down jalapeno, king chili, thai green chili, especially chili powders from India and give your stomach a rest for at least a day. This is a devastating news but I've had a lot of Indian friends who moved to white dominated country and their skin actually improved because food there is super bland and I'm talking full on painful pimples, acne and even healed stomach issues like ulcers, ALL GONE because of bland white people food 😭💀Yes, so you can definitely eat spicy food but don't overdo it in the name of "must have spicy food or I refuse to eat anything"

Please hydrate yourself, and I am sick of hearing "but water tastes bland, can I mix some juice powder?" Umm no?? If you hate the taste of water drink infused water. Some of my favorite infused water "recipes" are cucumber and lemon, blueberries, strawberry. But tbvh you MUST drink water as it is, even if you feel like it's bland, it's for your own good.

Step 3

Gossip, gossip, gossip. It might seem surprising but gossip does play a huge role in lifestyle. It is a factual thing that your skin and body reacts based on how you've been feeling and how you choose to surround yourself. It is true that bad person do have huge affect on your wellbeing...Especially skin, yes you heard that correctly, bad person do affect skin because when you interact with toxic people their ruin your mood, when your mood is ruined you are often faced with so called "negative" feelings like anger, stress and even anxiety. These things bubble up and have negative side affect on your skin and thus make you not only break out but also cause hair loss, headaches and even chronic fatigues.

People underestimate this so much it's crazy! You must remove all the toxic members in your life. If it's family member and you feel obligated then your next best option is to keep a distance or fight back. You deserve the best and surrounding yourself with genuinely nice people will be so wholesome and nourishing for not only your mental health but skin as well.

Toxic people DO ruin your skin and make you break out like hives! Even if it's a relationship, do find the strength to break up with your toxic partners.

So for now I have only done this much I hope you guys enjoyed this mini post. I had come back from this long hiatus yesterday and it took such a long time to do everything, and when I checked the suggestion post a lot of comments were deleted so I could only pull out this many skincare advices, so sorry for super late post and super long hiatus. See y'all in my next post!! 😭🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🏼

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐༘

[femmefatalevibe]

Hi! Do you have an easy peasy guide to skincare and hygiene for depressed dummies? 😃

Hi love! Sharing a high-level, basic skincare routine and hygiene tips to follow:

Morning Skincare:

Gentle facial cleanser & water

Vitamin C serum + hyaluronic acid

Facial moisturizer

Sunscreen designed for your face (at least SPF 50 – I think that this La Roche Posay SPF 60 choice is the best option for the money)

Apply sunscreen to your hands, neck, and any parts that will be exposed to the sun (Don't forget to use an SPF lip balm, too!)

Nighttime Skincare:

Remove any makeup (I love these Simple makeup wipes!)

Gentle cleanser

Toner/serums (only use AHAs like glycolic acid or lactic acid and retinol/retinoids at night, using them during the day can increase chances of sunburning)

Facial moisturizer (can be heavier than the one you use during the day, especially in the winter or if you have dry skin)

Spot treatments (if needed)

Eye cream

Skincare Extras:

Exfoliate your face 2-3 times/week (I love the First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads but the CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser is a great drugstore option!)

Always use disposable cloths instead of a regular towel on your face to reduce bacteria, breakouts, or infections (I love the Clean Skin Club ones!)

Exfoliate your body 2-3 times a week using a dry brush or a scrub (I love the CeraVe Salicylic Acid Body Cleanser, but my favorite is the OUAI Sugar Scrub) and follow it up with a hydrating body moisturizer

Always exfoliate and moisturize before shaving, waxing, or other body hair removal treatments (look up the timeframes for the type of hair removal you choose)

Scrub under your nails daily with antibacterial soap & water and a nail brush

Vaseline is a versatile staple item that can be used as an affordable alternative to an eye cream, cuticle oil, lip balm, or hand cream, and can be used to treat any dry, cracked, or rough patches on the skin

Use a hand lotion and moisturizer on your feet with socks every night before bed

Aloe vera and coconut oil are great skincare staples to keep on hand to soothe burns, irritation, or inflamed skin

Haircare Tips:

Shampoo your skull, condition the rest: Focus shampoo on your roots and work it through your scalp; concentrate conditioner on the ends and work your way up until you reach the base of your skull - around your upper ear lobe

Always comb, never brush, your hair when wet: Gently use a wide-tooth comb, from root to tip, on wet hair to prevent breakage

Use a special towel to dry your hair: My favorite is from Crown Affair (pricey for what it is but worthwhile in the long-term), but a Turbie Twist from the drugstore works infinitely better than a regular towel that weighs down and causes frizzy, damaged hair

Always use a heat protection spray before blow drying or straightening/curling your hair: (Briogeo and Oribe products are my love for all haircare products, including their blowdry creams – also love R +Co. for a heat protection styling mist)

Choose your hair ties wisely: Use seamless or silk hair ties exclusively to prevent breakage or awkward creases on your hair. Wear a silk scrunchie if you prefer. These hair ties from Amazon are my holy grail (only $7 for 100 hair ties!), and they come in a portable ziplock bag

Use dryer sheets to minimize hair frizz and water or Vaseline to slick back fly-aways

Other Hygiene Tips:

Brush teeth, floss, & skincare (2x/day); Get a water pick, too, if you can!

Use a toothbrush cover at all times; Close the toilet seat before flushing

Wash your body towels at least once a week

Wash your pillowcases weekly and sheets at least once every 2 weeks

Throw out and replace your mascara every 2-3 months

Change your underwear and socks daily or more after sweating/working out

For those who menstruate, change your pad or tampon every 3-4 hours

Vulva owners: Use a fragrance-free soap on the outside, only water to clean the inside – no fancy wipes or douching. Wipe front to back!

Wear cotton underwear whenever possible; Find a fabric that breathes

Have a similar buttocks cleansing routine that you do for your face to prevent embarrassing zits or acne

Don't shave between waxes; Use tweezers if necessary a few days after your hair removal treatment

Always wash your hands before touching your face

Hope this helps xx

[ros3ybabe]

A Bit About Me 🎀

So I've been getting tagged in a lot of stuff that is basically just talking about yourself. Favorite color, music artists, movies, etc. I never reblog because honestly, I'm not the best at formatting all of that stuff and I don't have the patience to figure it out. So I thought I'd make a little post about myself, including some of my favorites and just little bits of info on me!

🩷 I am currently turning 21 very soon

🩷 I am studying nutrition at my university

🩷 I am in a 1.5+ year relationship w/my man

🩷 Favorite Color(s): light pink, black, white

🩷 Favorite Movie(s): Barbie & The 12 Dancing Princesses, Bratz Live Action (very nostalgic for me, those are childhood favorites for sure)

🩷 Favorite TV Show(s): I really really like Anime, but my current comfort show is American Dad

🩷 Favorite Music: Kpop, hands down

🩷 Hobbies: I like to read, draw, work out, take walks, do my makeup

🩷 Favorite Book Genre: Self Help, though I'm open to read just about anything

🩷 Favorite Female Kpop Idols: Lisa, Wonyoung, Yunjin, Yuna, and all of (G)-Idle and New Jeans

🩷 Favorite foods: pasta, salads with balsamic vinaigrette, dark chocolate, and Greek yogurt bowls

🩷 Favorite Scents: flowery or gourmand. I have an almond macaron candle and it smells divine

That's just a bit about me! If anyone has any specific questions, send me an ask and I'll be happy to respond!

Will be making a couple more updates soon. Favorite drugstore makeup, my current favorite skincare products/routines, favorite meals, 2024 vision board, etc!!

til next time lovelies 🩷

[bonesandthebees]

I would love some makeup and skincare tips if you're willing :)

-🌼

of course!! (these answers are very general/assuming you're starting from the very beginning. if you want more specific advice lmk just give me more specific questions)

so I've talked about skincare on here before so I'll put that at the bottom of this ask, and I'll start with make up instead this time

makeup takes a learning curve to figure out how to use. there's no getting around that. it took years for me to figure out makeup stuff and I started playing around with it when I was only 12-13ish. don't feel embarrassed if your makeup doesn't turn out how you want. depending on what you're doing, you're basically learning how to paint but, like, really specifically and only on your face. it takes practice and that's ok! if you're embarrassed about people seeing you with makeup on, just do it alone in your room. the only reason I got good at winged eyeliner was because I made myself do makeup every day during the first quarantine era of covid so that I'd have a daily routine established and wouldn't just sit in pajamas in bed all day. I wasn't going out at all, so I made myself do winged eyeliner every time bc I knew no one was gonna see it, and it didn't take long for me to get good at it. so practice when you're alone and wipe it off when you're done. you'll figure it out eventually.

now as far as what kind of makeup to do on your face. well, that depends on what you're trying to achieve with makeup. do you want to cover up acne? do you want to do fun eyeshadow and eyeliner? do you want to enhance your natural features? if you're completely new to makeup I'd recommend starting with the basics of just trying to enhance your natural features. that's usually very simple and easy makeup that'll help you learn the foundations of it all so you can build up from there.

'natural' makeup routines that you read about online are probably going to consist of some kind of tinted moisturizer, maybe some concealer, maybe mascara, and probably a bit of blush. it depends on how much you want to do. if you're going for something with more coverage to cover up acne, look for foundation instead of tinted moisturizer.

if you're just starting out you're probably going to want to go for drugstore makeup instead of the expensive stuff. maybelline anti-age rewind multi-use concealer has been my go to concealer for years now. elf as a whole is a really low-priced and generally well recommended makeup brand with a lot of variety to what they sell. for whichever product you're trying to get, tbh just google 'best drugstore brand [insert product here]' and you'll find a ton of magazine articles pop up with recommendations.

last tips for now. here's what you don't need when you're just starting out: primer (you are probably not going to be doing heavy daily makeup right off the bat it's not worth it in that case). look, I know everyone talks about primer being amazing. but I basically never use foundation or tinted moisturizer, I just use concealer. so it's very unnecessary for me. later on you might find you need it, but at the start I promise you don't

hope that helps with some makeup stuff! skincare info below!

okay so for skincare, I've found that it's easiest to build a routine one step at a time. don't feel like you have to rush into everything all at once. first get into the habit of washing your face every morning and night if you don't already. make sure you have a good facial cleanser that's suited to your skin type (please don't use body soap for your face). cetaphil and cerave are both very highly rated drugstore skincare brands that have a lot of options for face cleansers for all skin types (oily, dry, sensitive, etc). then you need a moisturizer. again, I recommend either cetaphil or cerave to start off with bc of their low price point and how highly rated their products are. I use cetaphil daily face cleanser and cetaphil's daily oil free moisturizer with spf 35. definitely try to get one with spf in it because sun protection is the other essential part of a bare bones skincare routine. when looking for a face moisturizer, try to go for ones that say they're non-comedogenic which means they won't clog your pores. oil-free is probably preferable too especially if you have acne.

after you have the basics you can get into other stuff! this stuff is going to depend on what skin issues you have. there are a whole lot of serums out there you can look into (niacinamide I think is one of the best serums for most skin types and you can get a bottle of it from both good molecules or the ordinary for like $6). different serums are formulated to target different things, so again try to google stuff to see what might be most helpful for you. skincare brands besides cetaphil and cerave that I think are good to start out with is the ordinary (high quality at a very low price) and good molecules. neutrogena also has some pretty good products, and I really love elf's eye cream. but if you're really unsure where to start, the ordinary has an online quiz you can take on your site which will recommend products to you based off what you say your skin issues are, so even if you don't end up buying anything from them that can give you an idea of what products to start looking at.

[mashriqiyyah]

If we want to promote the boycott of is-not-reali products, we need to give substitutes and options for it.

Now, I also remember sisters asking me for my skincare/haircare routines, and I wanted to give a detailed article on that, but now it ain't about the time.

So, here, I'll try to compile these two topics.

Skincare that's effective without using any israeli/american product.

First of all, I don't have a skincare routine. I don't follow any step by step process. But, I do use products that help me keep my skin clean and hydrated.

And the most important advice I'll give to sisters is not to go for "skincare brands" that give pea sized products in bag size money. These industries are mostly scam. Always go for drugstore products. Those that are created for medicinal purposes oriented towards genuinely healing the skin problems. And if you don't have any active skin problems, don't expose your face to various products for achieving "perfect skin". There's nothing like that. Normal skins have occasional pimples, pigmentations, dark spots and uneven texture.

Anyway.

If you're going for drugstore products...

Go for phrama companies like Cipla and Reddy's Laboratories.

I personally use Reddy's Venusia Max moisturizer as my skin gets extremely dry often. If you have dry n normal (combination) skin you can use it. And if you have oily skin, go for squalane based moisturizers from Derma Co.

Next in line, if you want to use any serums, vit C is best for skins and there's a product by Cipla "Rivella Vit C and HA Serum" it's soothing, and effective. Alhamdulillah.

As a face cleanser or what you call as face wash, there are very brilliant new company products from DeConstruct that I love love love because they are so gentle on face and keep your pH balance and moisture intact (great substitute for Dove soap)

Then there's one more important aspect on skincare that's protection from UV...so you'll need a sunscreen. Go for Regaliz Truederma SPF 50. It's efficient. Alhamdulillah. Or Minimalist Suncreen spf 60 + Niacinamide incase you wanna go economically minimalistic. Derma Co Zinc Sunscreen is good too (one that comes in orange coloured pack)

Now, these four things are more than enough to keep your skin good.

Cleanser, Serum, Moisturizer, Sunblock.

Apart from that if you still wanna have some extra products...not from drugstore but excellent Indian brands...then Go for Pilgrim or Minimalist. They have best the ranges in every product.

And then comes Haircare...

Boycott Garnier. Boycott Loreal Paris. Boycott Head n Shoulders.

Go for St. Botanica. The Shampoos are sooooo great. Allahummaabaarik. SLS, Paraben Free, Actually formulated for cleaning dirt from hairs and reduce hair problems. Conditioners too are effective and they actually work as they advertise. If not St. Botanica, mamaearth would be good...but I didn't see it's results as best as St. Botanica.

For lipbalms though, you can go for Mamaearth. The shades are subtle and help keep your lips hydrated and avoid pigmentations. Stop using Ponds, Vaseline, Nivea. .PLEASE!!!! Their lipbalms do nothing but make your lips darker and greasy.

Makeup, I don't use tbh. But few years back, I had gotten a lipstick from MyGlamm and a Foundation of Biotique. They were good. You can go for it.

Bodywashes, Feet scrubs - Bodywise

Hair removal gels/creams - Sirona

Perfumes - Ajmal / Maison De Fouzdar are best. No doubt.

I'm sharing this post not to promote any sort of "self care" in this situation....but as an essential need of substitutes. Infact these substitutes are way better and effective than the Israeli American products we've been wasting our money on.

I have tried to mention most of the things used by women because that's the biggest market for Israeli products.

If you are an Indian, promote Indian brands 'cause we gotta "make in India" ;)

For that we need to use only that which is "made in India"

Go ahead...you can add anything else I might've missed. And yes...If any Mother's seeing this, let us know baby products that are made in India.

- Umm Taimiyyah 🕊️

[astroariska]

Virgo sun (12 house ) 4 degree

Virgo rising 5 degree

Cap moon (4th house) 1 degree

Virgo Mercury (1st house) 24

Leo Venus (11 house ) 1 degree

Sag mars (4th house ) 24 degree

First of all ... I'm sorry it took so long to finish it. I am a lil bit busy these day.

Second, Wow ... Virgo beauty never fail to amaze me. Y'all literally the goddess of this universe. Built different, god's favourite angel 😭

Okay. Firstly, let's talk about Rising Sign. Rising sign is how your overall appearances would shift and lift you up and Virgo Rising lifted by appear as pristine, crystal clear and as angelic as you could (since virgo often represented as the virgin angel too). So keep in mind that in order to elevate your look, you should pick something virgo-ish.

With Leo Venus in the 11th house, i want you to embody the same energy as Princess Diana, the ultimate princess in people's heart until now. Leo Venus is a royal venus. Think about how british royal ladies present their beauty into the world. Especially because you have that the holy Capricorn Moon, ir adds a quality of elegance, mature and longlasting beauty.

So here is your personalized glow up tips for you based on your looks and your astrology sign.

HAIR CARE

Because you are Leo Venus, the health of your hair is important. Add hair oil to your haircare routine. Oil your hair or give it hair mask before washing it. Avoid washing it too often bcs it will damaged your scalp (Capricorn Moon) Two times a week is the maximal amount.

Dry shampoo is the real enemy of Leo Venus. Avoid this as far as you can.

If you want to colour it, makes sure you keep it into more natural colour with cool and bright undertone rather experimenting with high vibrant colour.

Blow your hair and give it hair massage before styling it. Your hair already shinning but somehow as a beautician itself i see you often not caring your hair as far as how you care on your skin. Invest in a good hairstyling equipment.

MAKEUP

While you have Virgo rising, you have Leo 11th. You also have this rising in Leo degree so to glow up, you need to combine Leo-Virgo energy into your everyday makeup.

I see how Leo people love to swing it up when it comes to makeup because Leo Venus express themselves with makeup. I often see this placement style of makeup often influenced by their mood (it's like how your makeup is messy during your bad mood day and how it's very awesome when you feel great with yourself) so before makeup, try to speak your daily affirmation first to make sure your energy flow positively.

When it comes to makeup style, Leo Venus is a royalty Venus. It's shine the best when you dress like you are the royalty of a kingdom family. So ... Maybe you need to take reference over Lady Diana, Kate Middleton or Princess Eleanour dresses and makeup. The point of these beauty is a noble beauty, a beauty that makes everyone know you are raised in high status family.

And when it comes to your Virgo rising and Capricorn Moon. Make sure you don't overdo the makeup Keep it simple. Stay in NATURAL, COOL and CALM colour (for example : nude with cool pink tone. Avoid overlining your lips and keep your eyes with one or two eyeshadow colour with natural shimmer. Since Leo-Virgo is the energy of pure shinning soul, do your makeup with a lot of natural highlighter that soften your facial features. Keep it clean.

Avoid contouring/bronzing too much. Also, avoid too much overlining your lips. Virgo rising appearances might indicates someone who peoole think hard to reach when actually you are Leo Venus who wants to befriend all people from all background. Virgo rising is also the rising of the humble, skilled, smart and the confident one. So the key to your makeup look is soft and classic look. I think less is more for you.

SKINCARE

Be careful on picking skincare. As you have Capricorn Moon and Sagittarius Mars, your skin might need more than drugstore skincare. Invest in your skincare more, it might help you stay fresh longer.

Look for retinoids. Capricorn placements is someone who need retinols and retinoids earlier than they think they need.

As a Virgo Rising, also look at skincare that contains probiotics and prebiotics as the main ingredients (usually korean skincare) Virgo Rising might indicare that your body healths could be indicated by the condition of your skin. If you feel like you haven't take care of yourself, your skin will react first as the sign of how unwell you are. Virgo rising means your skin is the first body parts than give you signal over your health.

Make sure your daily protein, vitamin and zinc intake also supplied properly.

Virgo-Capricorn folks also need to be more diciplined when it comes to moisturizer. They usually need a lot of moisturizer than other people.

Balance your diets. A lot of Virgo-Capricorn person is more inclined to have breakout skin if they start to ignore their daily diet. Capricorn and Virgo's biggest enemy -> softdrink and food that are too spicy. Leo's biggest enemy -> fast processed food.

FASHION :

Sun and Moon in both of the earth sign. Wow, that's s recipe to get your own longlasting, graceful and forever beauty. So the key to your fashion is elegance and classic.

With Venus Leo in 11th house, it might be wise for you to not follow the trends of fast fashion ever because it will trigger your insecurity and your sense of wanting people's approval. Fast fashion is not for you.

Instead, invest in more timeless and classic piece. Your Capricorn Moon speak for alpha female vibe inside you. So make sure you choose to wear something that makes you seems effortless. I suggest you to buy some coat, some high-end sweater and some classic boots to enhance the elegance inside you.

Even if Leo Venus 11th house is a venus that want to get appreciation and attention more than other people, but your Virgo Rising is not something that could handle way too flashy clothes. Keep it simple and modest. Pick the clothes that not too revealing, but comfortable enough that it rightly FIT you. Also with your Sagittarius Mars, you might not look that good with oversized clothes.

Virgo-Capricorn loves quality and Leo Venus demand luxury. So, i think when it comes to clothes. Good quality fabrics > everything about clothes.

Virgo-Capricorn also speak for pleated skirt and sweater. This is the ultimate combo that would elevate your look.

Also Virgo-Capricorn-Leo combo : Stay in monochomatic looks. But you can experiment by combine your red/pink tops with your neutral earth-tone bottom or pick an emerald green with your gold jewelry. 100% works.

Some inspiration about your fashion.

If you can, please give me a feedback by giving me "before advice" vs "after advice too". Thank you so much.

[nibhamishramakeupartist]

Drugstore vs. High-End Makeup: Finding the Right Fit for Your Beauty Routine

Nibha Mishra Bollywood Makeup Artist

When it comes to makeup, the debate between drugstore and high-end products often sparks passionate opinions. Both categories offer unique benefits, and the right choice largely depends on your needs, preferences, and budget. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each to help you find the perfect fit for your beauty routine.

Drugstore Makeup: Quality on a Budget

Pros:

Affordability: Drugstore makeup is known for its budget-friendly prices, making it an excellent choice for those who want quality without breaking the bank.

Accessibility: With numerous options available at local pharmacies and supermarkets, drugstore products are easy to find and often have a wide range of shades and formulations.

Innovation: Many drugstore brands have made significant strides in quality and formula innovation, offering products that rival high-end counterparts.

Cons:

Limited Shade Ranges: While improving, drugstore brands sometimes have fewer shade options, which might not cater to all skin tones.

Consistency: Quality can vary greatly between different drugstore brands and products, so it might take some trial and error to find your perfect match.

Top Drugstore Picks:

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation: Known for its wide range of shades and natural finish.

L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara: Offers dramatic volume and length at a fraction of the cost of high-end mascaras.

High-End Makeup: Luxury and Performance

Pros:

Superior Quality: High-end makeup often uses premium ingredients and advanced formulations, resulting in products that offer exceptional performance and longer wear.

Luxury Experience: The packaging and application experience of high-end products can feel more indulgent and sophisticated.

Extended Shade Ranges: High-end brands frequently offer more diverse shade options, catering to a broader spectrum of skin tones.

Cons:

Price: The main drawback is the cost. High-end products can be significantly more expensive, which might not fit into everyone’s budget.

Availability: High-end makeup is usually found at specialty stores or online, which can be less convenient than picking up drugstore products during your grocery run.

Top High-End Picks:

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation: Praised for its long-lasting coverage and wide shade range.

Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette: Known for its high pigmentation and versatile color options.

Finding Your Balance

The key to a great makeup routine is to blend both drugstore and high-end products according to your needs. Drugstore products can offer fantastic value and versatility for everyday wear, while high-end products can be worth the splurge for special occasions or if you’re looking for a particular performance boost.

Experiment with both types to discover what works best for you. Remember, the ultimate goal is to find products that make you feel confident and beautiful, regardless of their price tag. Happy shopping!

[heyitsgigisadventures]

Say Goodbye to Melting Makeup: Tips for a Sweat-Proof Look | Makeup Tips

How To Have Your Makeup Look Amazing All Day Every Day | Makeup Tips, Sweat-Proof Makeup   Click here to take a look at The Ultimate Glow Up Guide That Will Completely Change Your Life!   If you struggle with makeup that melts off in the heat, these tips are for you! From using a long-lasting foundation to setting with powder and finishing with a setting spray, this guide will show you how to…

[cinemaocd]

I'm very interested in your thoughts on foundations and products for gen x skin. How I miss the days of college when I would just tamp on a thick layer of Studio Fix powder (wrong shade, always), use a lip liner (Twig, always) instead of lipstick and then hit the town living my best life looking like a dry crusty ghoul. Being young really mitigated a lot of make up mistakes. Wait I got off track there...

Oh wow, I'm so flattered you sent this ask. I'm so sorry because...

Get ready...here it comes...

Insanely Detailed Make up Skin Care for Gen X skin Info Dump

So this is for typical post menopausal skin, which is my situation, and pretty much blemish free (I do get the occasional blemish when I do something silly like use lip balm or lipstick as a blush because they have the same effect as a cream blush, but often have pore-clogging ingredients), running normal to dry with a light medium complexion.

I'm a huge believer in skin prep before makeup. If you don't have your skin right, your makeup is always gonna look like makeup and it's probably going to age you rather than make you look younger. For over 50 skin it's all about moisture. All those bougie make up branded prep products are really just adding moisture. Get yourself a tube of Vanicream at the drugstore and slap a bunch on before you do your makeup. It works just as good as Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream or the ilk at a fraction of the cost.

Skin care routine:

Micellar water: Removes makeup with gentle/sensitive formula (walgreens has a good knock off of the bougie French one in the pink bottle). I use it on my eyes in the mornings because over night oil and dirt build up in that area and it effects makeup performance. It does not irritate my eyes which are very sensitive.

Second cleanse: I Wash with vanicream bar soap in the evenings. Costs $5 and was recommended by my derm. A bar lasts months and I use it as a regular soap in the bath as well. It's just very gentle and moisturizing. I have stopped needing body lotion in the winter since using it. In the mornings I don't second cleanse because I don't need it. I just splash my face with warm water and head right into the next step.

Paula's Choice perfecting gel (a little easier to use than the liquid and better packaging but pricier). Amazing all around face acid, gentle enough to use twice a day even on my delicate little face. Improves almost every skin issue while adding moisture. The GOAT tbh. There is nothing at the drugstore to compare to it, sadly.

Cereve AM moisturizer with SPF. Another drugstore product. Under $15 and Walgreens has a knockoff that's just as good that's even cheaper. My whole family uses this stuff. It works for everyone really. If you want to have good looking skin into old age stay out of the sun and use sunscreen every day, even when it's cloudy, etc.

Vanicream moisturizer (Tube is under $20 and is huge by skincare standards. I buy maybe two a year and just slather it on in the winter). It has a light consistency that soaks in fast and makes layering it over itself easy. This was the moisturizer rec'd by my derm and honestly it's just so great.

Twice a week I end my night routine with the Paula's choice retinol/moisture barrier repair cream. I don't use it daily because it dries out my skin too much. Retinol helps with a host of skin issues, especially if you have acne scars. This formulation is great because it's very occlusive and makes a great last step before bed. You need to be careful not to wear it in the day though because it can make you sunburn. (Also it won't play well with makeup).

Lips: I love the Paula's choice lip balm with spf. My lips get so destroyed in MN winter between wind and UV. It has a slight tint to it that makes it a bit lighter than my lip color which has a plumping effect. (In general paler colors in the middle of the lip will make your lips look fuller). I also use Boodah lip treatment because it's plastic free and it works really well. You can get an unscented one, but it still smells like coconut oil which I like. (Scents in lip balms actually dry out your lips because they cause inflammation. Many lip balms have ingredients that actually GIVE you chapped lips...Burt's Bees I'm looking at you). Also I totally simp for Cereve healing balm. It comes in a small purse sized tube and it's just great for any irritated, cracked angry skin. It even works on diaper rash. Great stuff.

Foundations:

Most of the time liquid foundations are not recommended for older skin because they tend to be drying because the alcohols they use to let the foundation dry down quickly can be drying. For years I formulated my own bb cream by mixing a liquid foundation like MAC Studio fix with MAC Strobe cream. I've tried loads of BB creams but I feel like they never last on me, unless I powder my whole face, which defeats the purpose, my skin just gobbles them up.

I've tried ultralight foundations like MAC face and body, glossier skin tint but because those products are made to be applied and dry instantly they also have loads of alcohols. They are also just better marketed versions of pro air brush foundations, so if you like this category of products, check out air brush foundations. They are usually way cheaper ounce for ounce...

Kosas Revealer: This is ounce for ounce my most expensive foundation but I had a bottle that lasted me a year. It's the closest in texture to the effect I got from mixing studio fix with strobe cream but it comes in a single package with a pump. Applies best with a damp sponge, but I will use a dense brush when I'm in a hurry (The Real Techniques face perfecting brush is a fantastic drugstore foundation brush). Less is more with this as with all foundation. Do thin layers and build up spots where you need more coverage. (Or add in a color corrector or concealer).

Wayne Goss Cream Foundation: I bought this when it launched and I still have so so much left. I apply dots of it with my fingers and spread it with a brush in a stippling motion. It's a fantastic base for a cream blush. It wears like iron when correctly powdered. This is very similar in formulation to RCMA cream foundation which is what Beyonce uses on stage so you know it's bullet proof. It's just mineral oil base with massive amounts of pigment suspended. (This is really the basis of all pro cream foundations going back to the literal grease paint of victorian times) It should never go off. I think I will bequeath my jar of this foundation to my grandchildren should I ever have any. Also doubles as a concealer. (I wish Wayne would put out smaller/cheaper containers of this stuff. Then I could buy a lighter shade for concealing...). The pigment load in these foundations is so high, I actually don't think they are necessary for every day use. It's more coverage than I really need most of the time. I'm not on TV. Camera Ready Cosmetics sells samples of all their cream foundations, so if you want to dip your toe into this world of products without investing I would go there and try the RCMA or the William Tuttle...

Concealers:

I struggled with every concealer I liked being discontinued for a while. I was paying top $ for Lancome Touche Eclat because all of the drugstore knockoffs I adored disappeared. Liquid concealers should be really thin and have moisturizing ingredients. I think it's standard to say avoid them over 50, but products like the Kosas liquid concealer are very good and don't get that dry, cracked look that shape tape and the ilk does on older skin. I've used the Elf camo concealer and I went through many tubes of Maybelline age rewind over the years, but I'm just over them. There may be some newer drugstore alternatives, but I've been living in Bill Tuttle's blissful world of Hi-lite (see below) now long enough that I've stopped paying attention to new products in this category. I don't even use concealer any more...

Color Correctors:

William Tuttle hi-lite: OMG if you have light medium skin this stuff is utter magic. It masks redness and darkness, blending in with the undertone in my skin without flattening me out or making my face too red. I just can't explain it but it even masks my hyperpigmentation spots that absolutely no foundation will cover and many concealers fail with as well. There used to be a maybelline age rewind product that worked but it disappeared and now they only have the one for under eyes. Hi-lite's original purpose was to cover marionette lines for studio lighting which often makes those lines way worse. And it works great for that too, but it's just so amazing as a corrector/concealer for me.If you have a deeper skin tone with more darkness around your eyes, it may not work, but it worth a try. Tuttle has other similar products in different tints that I haven't tried. The jar is under $15 (Jones Road who?) and I have had it over 6 months and it's not even half gone. (Miracle balm is almost $40 a jar and it smells weird after a few months.) Hi-lite'stexture is perfection. You can do light thin layers and spread it out. It just melts in and disappears. Applies beautifully with a finger but a concealer brush is useful because it fits in the jar better. The brand also has a foundation that is $15 a jar as well. Sold at Camera Ready Cosmetics and some pro/specialty stores. William Tuttle is honestly the find of the last five years for me. If you take nothing else away from this post, check out William Tuttle. I lowkey think Bobbi Brown was using this shit as a makeup artist and one day realized it worked great as an overall concealer/color corrector on older skin and decided to make her own version and market it as miracle balm...

Powder:

Despite what Bobbi Brown says in the Miracle Balm ad, powder is a necessary step and actually your friend if you know how to use it. The main thing is to be strategic with placement and actually learn powdering technique that make up pros use and not what you see on on most of youtube.

Controversial take: I bake my under eyes and you should too. Here's why...

Cream products, which are mostly what we're using here, plus moisturizers/sunscreens are going to move around and settle in lines and actually exaggerate them. In the summer they may look shiny when you sweat which isn't great either. Powder will keep it in place and give you that soft focus/glass skin effect. Powder is also blurring. So it's keeping your concealer from settling in under eye wrinkles, acting like the Photoshop healing brush for you face. Another bonus for baking is that if you leave it on while you do your eyeshadow/liner it will keep fallout from sticking. You'll be able to just brush it away. Baking also lightens the color of the skin in the place where it's done. It started in drag as a technique to make highlights pop from the stage. It is so great in the undereye for this reason. No need to get a brightening concealer with bake...

My technique is I apply an eyeshadow base (really like the NYX ultimate shadow/liner primer) from my under eye to brow. Don't skip the undereye! The reason you need a primer is to create a barrier between your eye skin and the powder. (Eye liners and the heavy pigments in dark eyeshadows will absolutely fuck up the skin around your eyes.) Then I color correct with a thin layer of the Hi-lite, then I powder. I use a powder puff or powder sponge (Real techniques makes an awesome powder sponge) and press in the first thin layer. Then I pile it on with a fluffy eyeshadow brush and leave it. I do my eye makeup and brush it away with the fluffy eye brush or a small powder brush. That's it. If you moisturize and prime adequately it is not going to dry out the skin on your eyes. It's all in the prep.

Don't waste money on fancy powders. I bought a massive bottle of RCMA transluscent powder more than 10 years ago and I still have it. I use it every day. I recently bought the William Tuttle powder just because it was cheap and the container was cute. It has a slight pink cast to it, which is really great for the under eye. Coty airspun which is a drugstore classic is great as well. Maybelline fit me is a fantastic "finishing powder" which means it has a little tint and some micas for glow. I use a finishing powder sometimes instead of basic transluscent powder if I want a little more coverage. If you have a lot of acne scarring a finishing powder will be your friend. Wayne Goss and Mel Thompson (RIP) both have amazing tutorials for buffing/finishing techniques. The Wayne Goss Air brush is a god tier brush for this but the RT perfecting brush works great too and is cheap enough that you can have one for creams and one for powders).

Highlight: MAC Strobe cream, strobe cream, strobe cream. Did I mention strobe cream? How I love thee, bougie upscale scented product. Blurring perfection, added moisture, a beautiful soft focus glow that doesn't look like make-up. Mix it with a liquid and foundation and make a bb cream. Throw it on as a last step for a "no makeup" (lol as if) day. You can use it any step in your routine almost and not fuck things up. It's just so great. I use it daily and a bottle will last years. They will pry my strobe cream from my cold dead, gently sparkling hands.

Honorable mention for the Wayne Goss powder highlight which is such a beautiful soft touch glow that doesn't emphasize texture. Absolutely does not look frosty or powdery. Only downside is you have to also buy a powder blush with it, which is a beautiful product, but it adds to the over size and cost of the product. Fantastic highlight for eye shadow as well though...

Contour/blush: I am a big, big fan of cream products for older skin and there such great cream blushes and contours now. One of the best I've discovered is Phytosurgence Skin Spark in Condensate which is a deep burgundy red that works as a contour and blush. It looks like it would be too dark but when it blends out it just works with the underlying redness in my skin to look so incredibly natural. Sometimes I put it on and blend it out and can't tell where my natural flush ends and the phytosurgence begins. Sigma also makes awesome cream blushes, though pricey, they are huge and last forever. I've had a sigma cream blush for over ten years and it's still going strong. The coral shade looks great on everyone. Especially if you are sick or exhausted a coral blush will make you look healthy and awake. If I were gonna do Joe Biden's makeup, I'd use my Bill Tuttle Hi-Lite and sigma coral blush. He might get re-elected.

Eye Shadow:

Controversial Opinion: I wear sparkly/glittery/mettalic eye shadow over 50 and you should too. Here's why...

Life is short. Have fun while you can.

Charlotte Tilbury, Wayne Goss and Lisa Eldridge have spent a lot of time trying to sell you eyeshadow specifically formulated for older skin and they are amazing. They are also really fucking expensive. Eye shadow is some of the cheapest make-up to produce and the mark up is just coo coo bananas. The difference between $20 a pan eye shadow and $1 a pan eye shadow is the fillers, packaging and marketing. That's it. The main thing to look out for is the way the makeup is pressed and what the kind of sparkles it has in it. You want something that is pressed so that you don't pick up huge amounts of pigment sparkles at a time and get massive fallout which just fucks up the area you've worked so hard to perfect. (Don't get me started on what social media did to eyeshadow formulations to cater to influencers swatching on their arms...). You usually want more pearlescent micas which looks softer, but mettalic eyeshadows give me life and I won't give them up. Some less expensive brands that have good beginner friendly/age friendly formulas are The Balm, Colorpop and Karity. These closely mimic the drugstore formulations of the 80s/early 90s which were pretty low on pigment/micas. (Most drugstore formulations now like Elf or Wet and Wild are too pigmented and fillers are just not great quality so the performance varies).

Another reason for wearing eyeshadow is that it makes you look more trendy and youthful, I think. If you get your undereye sorted, you can make your lids look as textured as dragon scales up close and no one will notice or care in real life. I am huge fan of Pat McGrath and I have three 6 pan palettes and I don't think I'll ever need another PM shadow in my life because they last forever. Not a super beginner friendly formula as it is very pigmented. A little goes a long way with Mother Pat but if you are that person that can't go into Ulta or Sephora without slaying and getting compliments from the staff than Pat McGrath is your friend. You'll never get it too look as amazing as it does on instagram though because that's all in the lighting and using a super good camera lens.

Brushes: Look if you want to do eyeshadow you need brushes. I could do an equally huge info dump just on eye shadow brushes but the most basic kit is three brushes: a bog standard liner brush from anywhere in the world, they sometimes come free with eyeshadow you can even use a water color paint brush which is cheaper but will have a weirdly long handle; a flat paddle fluffy blender like the classic Sigma E27 and a dense round pencil brush like the Sigma E42 blender. Those are synthetic brushes, I prefer natural hair but that's a whole area and those get pricey fast. Sigma brushes are pro quality and they absolutely stand by their shit. I've seen them accept returns at their store without a receipt.

Technique: The best way in my opinion is to start with your darkest color and work to the lighter colors, not the other way around. You don't need transition shades. Most of us have hooded eyes by now and there's no transition zone anyway. That is what transluscent powder and highlighter shades are for! Use your liner brush to apply the darkest shade to your lash line. On the upper lash line extend it past your eyeball upward toward your brow. This will counteract the look of sagging skin at the corner of your eye. On the lower lash line go about a third of the way from the outer corner toward the inner corner and stop. Completely encircling your eyes in dark shades will make them look smaller. Use the pencil brush to blend outward, away from the lashline. You want it diffuse and smokey. Go in with whatever the main shade will be for your lid and you can either apply this with the paddle brush or use your finger for metallic shades. Press lightly and then drag very gently to activate those micas. You will get way better shimmer results with your finger than any brush, I promise. I use my pinky to apply my inner corner highlight. I usually do my brow highlight with a paddle brush. Now flip that paddle brush on it's side so the wide part makes contact with the crease of your eye and blend out the edges. If you've got a good powder/primed base it should blend really easily. That's it. It's like three little steps and I can do a basic eye look in under ten minutes. You've probably heard a lot about "hooded eyes" and needing special brushes, techniques etc., but where you fix hooded eyes is with eyeliner...

Eyeliner:

Controversial Opinion: I wear heavy black eyeliner every day over fifty and you should too. Here's why...

Eyeliner is not only bad ass, it is the biggest bang for your buck in the makeup world. Nothing else is so impactful for the time and money involved. It is also an invaluable tool for reshaping your eyes if you want to look younger...

My favorite eyeliners are pencils that can be sharpened. I have one gel eyeliner I love but pencils are my bread and butter. I have so many and I just keep buying more. They last forever. My oldest piece of makeup is from the last century and it's an eyeliner pencil. Favorite formulations of pencil are: Lancome Creamy water proof, Urban Decay 24/7 and melt. At the drugstore: wet and wild, rimmel kohl, Revlon photo ready kohl and NYX epic wear.

I use Rituel De Fille Black orb gel liner, which I've had for over three years and it hasn't dried up. The key with this is very thin layers because it will get crusty and flake off if you use too much product. It lasts all day, makes a terrific black base and smokes out like butter. Also comes in a spherical jar which is so flipping charming. Love this shit. (Actually really wanna try the new trixie mattel gel liners because they look good and lets face it trixie's entire drag is gel liner based...).

Technique: key technique for older folks is tightlining. I usually tightline my upper water line and the outer third of my lower water line. This emphasizes the eye without getting into issues with sagging skin and makes the lash line fuller which is an area that thins out when you age. The effect is kind of subtle, but the way makeup works is layers and layers of subtle changes. :) Pencils work best, but you can do gel with a good brush. The Wayne Goss #8 has no equal for tightlining. I then tightline the lash line all the way on upper lid and use a pencil brush to smoke it out at the edges. Always blend upward in a straight line toward the tip of your brow. (Beginner tutorials have you hold a tissue there or whatever. I don't think it's necessary, just practice.) If you have very hooded eyes, you may not have any real lid space in which case just skip eyeshadow and tightline. It's all anyone can see when your eyes are open.

Lips:

We are almost done I swear. :D

Not that much difference for ageing but life is too short to buy super cheap lipstick. Any decent drugstore lipstick will run you $10 these days and it's worth it. Bougie designer lipstick is the same shit, in nicer packaging and trendier colors. My favorite formulas are basically all of them but I have a fondness for covergirl, the maybelline matte trance (in the skinnier tube) and revlon anything. A little light colored gloss in the middle of the lip even with no lipstick just takes years off your face, I don't know why. I love the fenty gloss bomb and any of Trixies. Lifter gloss at the drugstore is supposed to be great but I haven't tried it. I'm still finishing that gloss bomb I got when it launched, lol. In general a lighter shade in the middle will make lips look fuller. Lining used to be critical when you get little fine lines around your lips, to prevent lipstick from bleeding but these days lipstick formulas really don't bleed much, I think. A dark "nude" lipliner will make your lips look bigger, but keep it to the outer corners.A MAC lip pencil will probably last you the rest of your life if you don't lose it.

Finishing Spray: Everything I said about liquid foundations using alcohol goes double for finishing spray. It's just different kinds of alcohol with other stuff like micas for shimmer, scent, glycerin and water. No other ingredients are really proven for finishing sprays because there's so much water it's like a homeopathic concentration. I make my own by combing a few tablespoons of whatever finishing spray is cheapest at the drugstore, distilled water and a few drops of glycerin. It helps with that powdered tight feeling and I think it does help it last a bit more. The hardest part about making your own finishing spray is finding a spray bottle you like.

And we are done.

Whew.

That was a lot but it was fun to impart.

[supercyberlife]

✦2022 beauty favorites✦

Nyahello ヽ(o＾▽＾o)ノ!! Last year I went through makeup like it was nothing and finally found brands that I really liked and a makeup style to compliment me and my style. It was totally fun and I just love doing my makeup everyday or whenever I have the time. One of the best hobbies I've picked up so far. This is ultimately just going to be a list of my favorite products that I use everyday. I hope it helps if you’ve been having a hard time getting into makeup yourself plus most of these products are stuff you can find at the drugstore which is always a plus. 

First I'm going to talk about skin prep because preparing your skin is just as important as using good products. These products work for me but may nor work for you which is totally fine and why you should always find what works for you and incorporate it into your routine.

First is cleanser. I’ve used a lot of cleansers and have a few favorites but my top two are the CeraVe foaming facial cleanser. It's very good at cleansing but doesn’t leave my skin dry and tight afterwards. I also love the dove sensitive skin bar. It's perfect for sensitive skin like mine. I mostly use it in the winter when my skin is the driest.

Next is moisturizer. I've used a couple of these and have my own very specific moisturizing routine. Because my skin gets really dry, I use oil and a moisturizer after I wash my face. I use a mix of coconut oil and shea butter on my face while it's still damp and then go over that with Dove nourishing face, hand, and boy cream. This method looks in moisture and leaves my skin so soft. I recommend this if you get really dry skin in the winter like me.

Next is primer. I've tried so many primers and absolutely love the elf power grip primer and the elf putty primer. The power grip primer is good for when you want your makeup to last all day. This primer is for you. I use it for my special events like prom, school dances and prom. The putty primer is good for everyday use and makes my base look so smooth and amazing.

Now I'm going to talk about base makeup. The perfect base elevates a look from a 3 to a 10.

I start off my base with my foundation. My favorite is the maybelline fit me matte. It's perfect for everyday makeup simple looks but also great for a fully glammed up look. Another one I recently bought and love love love is the fenty pro flit’r matte foundation. It's so good and lasts all day. I highly recommend getting it. 

Next is concealer I use the elf camo concealer when i say its matte i mean it. It lasts all day but it does dry down pretty fast so I recommend putting it on one area at a time, blending it in and repeating on the next area.

The i set with the black radiance true complexion setting powder. I highly recommend this to dark skin people since it comes in a wide variety of shades. Honestly I recommend black radiance as a whole because of the shade range and how great all the products are all together.

I don't have a contouring palette i just use the brown eyeshadow out of an eyeshadow palette i was given for christmas a while ago

One staple I always have in my makeup collection is a rainbow palette. It doesn't matter where it's from, just have one with all the colors and you’ll be good. I highly recommend any of the Ucanbe palettes off amazon. They are super bright and pigmented and are so super amazing.

And lastly setting spray. I absolutely adore the M.A.C Prep and Prime Fix+ spray. It's so good for not only setting but also fixing makeup looks. It is a bit on the expensive side so I also recommend the Milani make it last setting spray, it's a great drug store alternative. 

That's all for my current faves thanks for reading. 

[rusalkaandtheshepherdgirl]

hii, pls talk about makeup i'm curious :)

Absolutely!!! This discussion is best had while you're sitting next to me as I put it on in a bathroom mirror, but given we're onlike plz just imagine those vibes. Now, I only wear makeup when I feel like it or I have something important, but let me disclaim that I know that it's a fucked up expectation for society to have of women. That being said, makeup does make me like 20% prettier which is really good to be able to deploy for a date or whatever. It did not always do this for me– you will see the pics of high school me when I thought my eyeliner was symmetrical (it was not) when hell freezes over and not a moment sooner– but by now I've got a routine down. I use lip gloss the most cause I keep it in my purse, like pulling out my little mirror and doing my lipgloss when I'm anxious is an excellent fidget. However favorite product hands down is liquid eyeliner. I have managed to put it on a lot of people and can confirm literally everyone looks hotter with it on. Next up is probably mascara, but that's boring, so I'm a blush girl– although I have a glittery pink highlighter that I could use instead of blush if I wanted which is just so much damn fun. Speaking of blush, I hate to give into trend cycles but when e.l.f. dupes those new Milk Makeup jelly sticks I will probably have to buy one because they're just so goofy. Makeup packaging is at its best when it looks like something else (see: Beauty Bakerie, Flower Knows, Colourpop's numerous collabs, Glossier to some extent). Not that I have much of that, cause my makeup collection skews drugstore, but still. Whoever's in charge of cosmetic packaging should hire me as a consultant tbh I'd be great at selecting things that makeup should look like. Anyways, makeup has helped me understand what makes good art so much better like I know exactly where the human face should have shading cause I have to manually do it on myself sometimes. Beauty standards are so weird but hey, at least it means that I can go to Target and buy stuff to put on like a mask if I know I'm going to have a bad day (if my makeup's cute, I can convince myself not to cry under most circumstances that aren't like, breakups or stuff more serious than that)

[femmefatalevibe]

Hello! I love your blog and would like to ask for your advice. I want to look like an elegant, expensive woman. However, I am having a hard time applying makeup and setting up a skin care routine. Do you have an tips or resources on how to wear makeup elegantly and care for one's skin (for those new to makeup and skin care)?

What are the basic products needed for a dewy, classy make up look? Do you have any tutorials?

What are the basic products needed for healthy, minimal skin care routine?

Thank you for reading this ask! Have a great day!

Hi love! Sharing some of my tips below:

Skin:

Always use a disposable cloth when washing your face: Regular towels store bacteria and can cause breakouts too easily. These facial wipes from Amazon are my holy grail.

Wear sunscreen daily: Yes, even when you spend all day indoors. UV rays can interact with your skin through windows, too.

Niacinamide, Vitamin C Hyaluronic Acid, & Tea Tree Oil are among the few skincare ingredients almost everyone should consider incorporating into their skincare routine.

Learn the correct order to apply the products in your skincare routine: Cleanser, Toner, Serum, Eye Cream, Spot Treatment, Moisturizer, Sunscreen (or Retinol/Skin Oil at night).

Remember: From a dermatologist's perspective, your face starts (or ends) at your nipples. So, ensure you're cleansing, exfoliating, and applying sunscreen daily to your neck, chest, and décolletage to keep your skin smooth, youthful, and well-hydrated.

Vaseline is a great (affordable) alternative to traditional eye creams.

Sugar scrub your facial hair for a more gentle alternative to waxing (Combine sugar, lemon, and water). Laser hair removal, especially under your arms and your arms/legs is life-changing.

Follow up a warm shower with a dry brush and coconut oil for smoother, firmer skin.

Always apply a hydrating lip balm, mask, or Vaseline, hand cream, and moisturizer to your feet before going to sleep.

Layer complementary scents. Ensure the scents of body wash, lotion, and perfume work well together and don't clash.

Makeup:

Learn your skin undertones and educate yourself on color theory (I can create a short ebook/PDF if you want some more educational content on these types of topics – I write about them for a living!).

Test any foundation, concealer, or face powder on your wrists, too.

Don't forget to color-match your bronze and blush: They can appear orange or muddy if you don't find a product with the correct shade or undertones for your skin type.

Invest in products that go on your face, brow products, and eyeliners. Great mascaras and lip products are easy to find at a drugstore or relatively cheap (I suggest Covergirl and NYX, respectively).

Apply concealer in a triangle; don't dot it around your eyes for better coverage.

If you have oily skin (or it's humid outside), apply powder before your liquid/cream products. Set them again with a light powder to lock the color in.

Apply mascara from tip to base for the best lashes of your life: One coat on the tip, another from middle to tip, and the last coat from base to tip.

In a pinch, use a fragrance-free moisturizer and a Q-tip to remove excess makeup (no more raccoon eyes).

Use a light nude or white eyeshadow underneath your brow to make them appear more defined.

Apply face powder under your eyes to help the eyeliner on your waterline last longer.

Create a simple daily makeup routine formula: 1 skin coverage (foundation/concealer), 1 skin color (a favorite blush or bronzer), brows, mascara, an eye-definer (eyeliner or shadow), and a signature "your lips but better" lip shade (1-2 shades deeper or lighter than your natural lip color): This formula provides you the basics, so you never have an excuse not to put yourself together for the day (5-10 minute routine here).

Discover your day-to-night hero product: Always keep a slightly deeper lipstick, a smoky eyeshadow, or liquid liner in your bag to transition your day look into the evening with one portable product.

Hope this helps xx