Although I haven’t ever worn much makeup in my life (and even less since I married Jon, because he doesn’t generally like it on me), there are a few beauty products & services that even a minimalist like myself cannot do without:
1 – Multiple favorite skin care products: I take pretty darn good care of my skin and always have. I exfoliate regularly, use several kinds of moisturizer religiously, and I never, ever go outside without sunscreen. For years, my go-to daily moisturizer with sunscreen has been classic Oil of Olay fluid, which I slather all over my body, as well as my face. I still use OoO a lot, but I am finding that I need a heavier, more intensive daily moisturizer with sunscreen as I am getting older, so I am on the hunt for that. (All recommendations welcome, except I can’t use Neutrogena products without breaking out in a rash)
2 – Eyebrow tweezers and an eyebrow pro on call to shape and clean my brows up at least once a month.
3 – Lip stain and lip gloss: I’ve never been able to pull off full-on, traditional lipstick, but I’ve been hooked on lip gloss since I first discovered Bonne Bell Lip Smackers in middle school, at the height of their popularity.
Remember these? I definitely do! But I digress…
Today I wear a lip stain from The Body Shop (I use it on my cheeks too when I need a little color. I never use blush otherwise), and then I wear Clinique Superbalm Gloss over that. Sometimes I just go straight to the Gloss. I have tubes of the stuff tucked away in every bag and pocket so I will never be without. Love it.
4 – Mascara and an eyelash curler: There was a time, before Jon and I began dating, when I literally NEVER went anywhere without applying at least a little mascara, followed by thoroughly curling my lashes. But Jon is not a fan of eye makeup, period. So I wear mascara less than I used to, but I can’t give it up completely. When I do want a pop of color around my beady and quite unremarkable little eyes (they really aren’t my best feature), I go with one of the Almay colored mascaras, like their Intense i-Color Mascara, Purple Amethyst 021
And despite the fact that I don’t use it as much as I used to, I will never give up my beloved Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
One makeup item I have never been able to pull off is any kind of “foundation.” I’ve always found them to feel like a mask on my face, to rub off on my clothes, and to generally make me feel old and overly “made up.” I know that there are many lighter and less old-lady like foundation makeups out there these days, but even when I have tried a few of those, the color always looked off and I just felt like I was wearing a mask that people could tell I was wearing. I’ve also tried a few tinted moisturizers, but honestly didn’t see any difference in my skin tone with the tinted stuff as compared to my regular moisturizer.
However, I somehow recently ran across a story in a magazine about this new kind of foundation make up that’s become all the rage. These are called “BB” creams, and they are apparently like a cross between sunscreen/moisturizer/ and a foundation that looks really natural and really brightens up uneven skin tone.
So on a whim, I headed out to Walgreens and spent under $10 on a tube of “Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream”, which I bought in the “light/medium shade for my relatively fair skin.
The next day, before work, I smoothed the liquid BB cream over my daily moisturizer as evenly as I could (remember, I’m not good with the whole “foundation” makeup thing) and went in to my office. Almost as soon as I got there, someone commented on how pretty my skin looked – just totally out of the blue. And this happened at least three times that day – coworkers/friends asked me what I’d done to my skin to make it look so good.
Wow! I have never once in my whole life had that happen. Needless to say, I have been wearing the Garnier BB cream regularly since then – sometimes on top of my daily moisturizer and sometimes alone, since it has moisturizer and sunscreen in it. It goes on very liquidy and is absorbed into my skin immediately. The difference in my skin tone is subtle but immediate. It never rubs off on my clothes and it’s never gotten cakey or streaky. It just kind of fades as the day goes on, and I often apply it again a second time later in the day, just like I already did with moisturizer. It’s great at making under eye circles disappear, and just generally making my skin look more “finished” without looking “made up.”
I really love this stuff. I wish I’d discovered it sooner, but now that I have, I figured I’d tell y’all about it in case you might want to try it too.
So how about you? Do you have a few “must have” skin care and/or make up products that you really depend on? Have you tried one of these new BB creams? What did you think?
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Is that eyelash curler really worth the hefty price? If so, I’m going to order it today. The cheapy drugstore ones hurt and are no longer doing the job for me. What do you use to exfoliate? I don’t do this and I really need to.
I’m a moisturizer/eye gell girl. Apply them both to my face every morning (I like the Yes to Carrots/Cucumber brand.) I bought MAC lipstick and lip liner recently, which I use maybe twice a month when I got out to dinner. But otherwise, I’m make-up free.
@anjali
I wasted bunches of money by spending 5-8 dollars at a time on ones that ultimately fell apart or didn’t work that well. Once I bit the bullet & bought that spendy one, I had one that should last years and works SO much better than any other one I’ve ever tried.
Thanks, Katie. I’m going to order it tonight. I’m sick of pulling out my old eyelashes!
@anjali
I hope you like it as much as I do. (If you don’t, I will feel really bad for having recommended it!)
-Katje
I don’t go out without foundation — the best ones are subtle and enhance your skin.
In summer, I use Giorgio Armani’s Face Fabric, which is very light, and in other seasons his Luminous Silk Foundation.
Also — don’t leave home without Bobbi Brown blushes, including the dual-purpose blush/lip products (which tend to be very natural). Her blushes give a healthy glow. (My husband hates kissing sticky gloss, so that is out.)
I tend not to use mascara because my eyes are very sensitive and I tend to react badly to it; the only mascara that hasn’t made me tear up is Giorgio Armani’s Eyes to Kill (really, his stuff is amazing!!!). Generally, I line with an eye pencil or shadow.
I can totally appreciate why one would want to buy relatively cheap makeup and other beauty products (lotion, etc.). However, most of these are laden with unhealthy chemicals. If you want to find products that are made with less toxic ingredients, take at look at the Environmental Working Group’s list of safe and unsafe cosmetics at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep.
Oh, and about sunscreen… I happen to agree with a lot of doctors that the public panic created about wearing sunscreen daily is probably leading to a lot of other, much worse, health problems.
If someone has a family history of melanoma, lives in equatorial areas (or Australia) or spends a lot of time outside, then sunscreen is important.
But if you are like me — spending time outside only during low risk hours of the day (i.e., not midday), then I really see no need for it. It seriously hampers vitamin D absorption — most North Americans are deficient in vitamin D (you should have your doctor test you for your vitamin D levels — I was so deficient that my doctor gave me a vitamin D injection there and then, but then I have gastrointestinal issues).
Vitamin D is the only supplement my doctor advises patients to take (not in mega doses btw).
For the record, I don’t have wrinkles or sun damage, and don’t intend to start wearing sunscreen. (most skin cancers are not dangerous — basal cell carcinoma stays localized and is easily treated; not so other cancers that vitamin D inhibits)
I dunno. I got kicked out of contacts when I was about 25 or so and have worn glasses every since (>20 years). I have very few lines/wrinkles/spots anything around my eyes, while the rest of my face has more.
Since all prescription lenses come with UV protection, I can’t help but think that this is why my eyes look the way they do. Kind of makes me wish I could have an invisible face shield!
For getting natural Vitamin D (if you live in the north of our country, you’re just not going to get it from the sun in the winter, no matter what), the doctors that recommend it suggest getting it on your bared stomach for about 10-15 minutes a day.
My FIL who worked bare-chested on his family’s farm in the summers for a decade…has only had melanomas on his face. I think that that’s because that’s the part of him that has been consistently sun-exposed over the years. Lots of his skin was overexposed from 10-20, but the damage was continued over the years (as he went into a white collar job) only on his face.
I will say that I think staying out of the sun or using physical blocks (hats, clothing, etc.) is better than chemical sunscreens all the day long.
But they do have their place.
I’ve always spent a lot of money on expensive foundations (mostly MAC or Lancôme). However, recently I bought the Garnier BB cream on a whim (on sale) and I love it! Light but even coverage, really good colour for me. I’m a convert!
@Sarah -
Since you’ve used the high end, more traditional foundations, what do you find the difference to be with BB cream? The stuff sure is all the buzz among beauty editors right now – not just the Garnier but also the other brands that have recently introduced their own versions.
Katie
I have always used the O oO lotion too…however just switched to loreal regenerist face cream and love it! Definitely a bit more substantial but not too heavy. Also I loooove Burt’s Bees lip shimmer..a bit of color and feels nice and moisturizing, not too oily. Thanks for the recommendation…will try BB!
I have used an Estee Lauder light foundation for years. But it’s expensive. I never found a relatively inexpensive one that wasn’t heavy or caked. I will definitely try this and report back. Thanks.
I bought some of it last night… Love the smell and so far (at lunch) I love it, living in the ‘Sip, it’s hot and humid today, I have tried all kinds of foundation! The only thing I don’t change is clinique eye shawdow, strawberry fudge, my eyes are hazel and after all these years, people still compliment me on it…all other items are fair game!!!
Thanks for sharing!
I bought some of it last night… Love the smell and so far (at lunch) I love it, living in the ‘Sip, it’s hot and humid today, I have tried all kinds of foundation! The only thing I don’t change is clinique eye shadow, strawberry fudge, my eyes are hazel and after all these years, people still compliment me on it…all other items are fair game!!!
Thanks for sharing!
The products I use the most consistently are Clinique’s Even Better foundation with SPF. I apply a very small amount with a foundation brush. I used to apply it with my fingers but I find that I use less and get a better finish with the brush. Lately I’ve been applying it over Smashbox Photo Finish Moisturizing Primer which improves the finish and makes the foundation last longer. I also use Clinique’s finishing loose powder.
My favorite face moisturizer is the Eucerin one with SPF 30. One of my favorite products ever.
Lately I’ve been more focussed on hair care. I’m very lazy but I have naturally curly hair so if i don’t do anything, it is bad. I’ve discovered a range called Deva Curl and I particularly love “Set it free” which is a leave in moisturizer/detangler and their light defining gel. The gel really is awesome, it keeps my curls enhanced while being soft and natural. So all I do is spray in the detangler, brush out my hair while it is damp and then apply the gel and scrunch my hair a bit.
I don’t wear make up every day, eye shadow being my favorite thing when I do wear it. When I’m getting really gussied up I will put a little foundation (remember when they called it “pancake makeup”?) in certain areas. I will definitely try your recommendation! I do use lots of lotions all over me (all my favorite things come from Yves Rocher) and I certainly notice a difference in my skin compared to other people my age who do not do that.
I like the Garnier BB cream, except for the scent. Makeup. Should. Not. Stink.
I lived in Australia for years, so here is a sunscreen/cancer primer: UVB causes redness and SPF refers to protection from ONLY it. UVA causes serious cancers and wrinkles, and there is NO protection from it provided in most sunscreens EXCEPT the zinc and titanium ones. The moles that go horribly evil (malignant melanomas) are the ones that only get exposed to light sometimes, like on your upper thighs when you get sunburnt in short shorts once a year. And removing those things is not like getting a mole removed – think more like excising a slab of your skin and muscle – don’t mess around. Vitamine D is super cheap, and super important for so much else, too.
My Canadian dermatologist bemoans the fact that it is so unbelievably hard to get Zn/Ti sunscreens here, but we found some. Good thing I’m pale to begin with, because it pretty much functions as a light foundation for me.
Apart from that, it’s eyeliner for me (Almay liquid i-colour in purple is a bit clumpy but pretty if you can get control of it or Revlon something or other in the same shaped bottle. That one is amazing) Oh, and lipstick. You just gotta own that. Andy Rooney did a great essay on women over 30, years ago, where he pointed out that only older girls can pull off red lipstick. While that is true, you don’t want to blow your coworkers away with your astounding, jaw-dropping beauty. Try a dark rose and work your way up. But I dare you to pull out some red for a night out. Wow.