Let's talk about beauty products.

[tessymessy]

Things I love:
WEN. I have used it for 5 1/2 years. Basically since my hair came back from chemo. I will never use shampoo again.
Smashbox photo finish. I put it on my red areas (cheeks mostly) before foundation and it makes a huge difference.
Laura Gellar baked mineral foundation. I was a Bare Minerals girl but Laura Gellar's foundation lays nicer on my old face.

Things I have discovered through Birchbox:
Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle. I use it on dry hair before I use my curling iron. Not only does it protect my hair but it also smells AWESOME. Kind of like cotton candy. I totally ordered a full size.
Klorane Dry shampoo with Oat Milk: Love. One of the best dry shampoos I have tried. Does not leave white residue on my dark hair. I am ordering a full size.
Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texture Spray. Never tried a sea salt spray before. Love it for wavy hair and don't care days.

Things that suck: Salley Hansen Miracle Gel. Everyone I know raves about this polish. It does not last any longer than regular polish for me.

[squirm]

I am on the hunt for a good dry shampoo. My hair gets so stringy and greasy. I really like the shampoo from Costco in the giant purple bottle. It's a rip off of a fancy shampoo and works really well. Neutrogena bb cream was a big letdown for me. I have really sensitive acne prone skin and I broke out like crazy. I did a big mascara test a couple of months ago but I dont remember all the names off hand. None were fabulous. I used to love loreal telescopic in the silver tube (not waterproof) but the last one I got was not impressive. Idk if they changed formulas or if it was just a bum tube.

[ciaomama]

Not a big product person, but I like the e.l.f Tone Correcting Concealer from Target.

I also use the Garnier BB cream instead of foundation.

I use the e.l.f High Definition Powder from Target to help keep my skin from looking greasy/shiny and it lasts most of the day.

I just got A sample of Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Mositurizer in my ipsy bag from this month and I love it. Smells great too.

[5ofthem2ofus]

I love my Arbonne mascara and bronzer! I don't use much else because freckles. I always thought it would be funny to use a cover up and see what my face would look like w/out them!

I love Aveda shampoo- the tea tree one smells great!

[ivedonethisb4]

I read someone mention a microdermabrasion abrasion session the other day in the "I look like I'm 13" thread. Mary Kay has an awesome at home microdermabrasion abrasion set that runs like 55 (or that's what it was a few years ago). You have to find a consultant in your area but I love the stuff. It lasts a while too and I try to use it once a week or so...its a lot better than 150 a session...that's for sure.

I was a MK consultant several years ago but where I live there's just not a big customer base for those products when you have women who sell at cost just so they can get their makeup and face products cheap..I couldn't even get my mom to buy from me because of that lady. My mom was like well I can get the same stuff from her cheaper.. /end random story.

[LBS2012]

squirm I make my own dry shampoo using cocoa powder and cornstarch. Sounds weird but it totally works without any questionable ingredients. I wasn't able to find a safe dry shampoo option on EWG or Good Guide.

[LBS2012]

I love my Jane Iredale eye liner pencil. I just started wearing eye liner again and forgot how much I loved that stuff. It's super soft so it glides on unlike any other pencil I've tried and their grey color is great for daytime. Oh and free two day shipping on all orders equals almost instant gratification.

[lalaprep]

tessymessy Klorane dry shampoo is amazing! I've used them all (at least it seems) and it is by far the best. They recently came out with one that sprays on tan instead of white. So look for it when you order a full size can. Also, be sure to keep the can upright. I can't remember if it happened with a Klorane, but I've packed my dry shampoo before and the aerosol has leaked out.

squirm L'oreal is my go to for drugstore mascara. The voluminous line, especially the original is my favorite.

My current obsession is finding a new shampoo/conditioner. I have straight, thick, soft hair that tends to get greasy easily. I was using bumble and bumble for ages, but never really loved any of the shampoos or conditioners and for how expensive they are....I should love it.
I used to use Dove, but now that I don't wash my hair every day, it feels too thick.
I have travel size versions of the new living proof line that sephora carries....I'm undecided right now.

YSL- has a lipgloss/stain that I'm obsessed with. Looks and feels like a gloss, but gives you a stain after it wears off, which is nice, b/c I'm horrible at remembering to reapply my lipgloss.

[squirm]

Oh and makeup forever HD is the best foundation. It was literally like airbrushing and covered everything without looking goopy.

[lalaprep]

mamosey I'll have to try it. I used Aveda ages ago, but I think they've changed their products a lot since then. Thanks for the recommendation.

[laur]

I use Loreal Youth code BB cream. I use the cheap covergirl yellow eye concealer over my bags, then I put Benefit Eye Paste over that and then BB cream.

Lately I love the Urban Decay mascara I got from Birchbox- Persuasion? Poison? Something with a P.

[likethewheels]

I love Clinique's Even Better Dark Spot Corrector. It helps fade discoloration but it doesn't dry out my skin (I have sensitive acne-prone/dry skin).

My favorite foundation is Tarte's Amazonian Clay. It's light weight but covers well and is oil-free. For mascara I like cover girls lash blast length, but if I'm splurging my go-to is Benefit bad gal mascara.

I'm pretty consistently an Aveda girl when it comes to hair products. I'm liking the Pure Abundance shampoo/conditioner for my flat, straight hair these days.

[cyclone]

I bought benefit fakeup on recommendation of the Feb14 ladies and love it as a concealer.

If I'm feeling ambitious, I'll throw on MAC pro long wear paint pot eye shadow (shimmery skin-tone pink color) and benefit badgal lash

[shellbell]

Jan 26, 2015 9:50:33 GMT -5 mamosey said:

What is BB cream and do I need it?

Yeah, I was wondering this too. What will
It do for me?

[cyclone]

Jan 26, 2015 9:53:53 GMT -5 shellbell said:

Jan 26, 2015 9:50:33 GMT -5 mamosey said:

What is BB cream and do I need it?

Yeah, I was wondering this too. What will
It do for me?

Make that 3.

I'm pretty sure bb means beauty balm, but that's as far as my knowledge extends

[shellbell]

I'm like a beauty product drop out. I'm plenty girly, but not with beauty product. If I buy it, I only remember to use it inconsistently.

[shellbell]

@elf828 do I need to pick a color of bb cream like if pick a foundation color?

[likethewheels]

@thatgolfbitch - I tried they're real and I think my lashes are too short for it to be a good mascara for me. FWP.

[lalaprep]

On BB creams:

not elf, but usually they come in shade ranges, so not as specific as foundation, but less generic than tinted moisturizer.
I was using an amazing one by skinrevision..I loved it. I was home sick for a couple of days so didn't use it and I noticed despite it being right before my period that I didn't break out at all. Stopped using for a full month and had no breakouts. I had been spending a fortune on this product that was supposed to help my skin and turns out it was breaking me out. UGH...so annoyed.

I've been hesitant to try another, so I've been mixing my own by combining my moisturizer with Armani's face fabric (a really lightweight foundation).

[suzyqq02]

I love Rimmel London primers and BB cream. I switched to Almay CC cream and HATED it, and ran back to my Rimmel when it was out. Bonus, the Rimmel is like $3 cheaper.

@thatgolfbitch, thanks for the ELF pen endorsement. I've been wanting to try a liquid liner again (haven't used one since I "retired" from my performing days), but can't bear to shell out $$$ if I don't like the look. Will check it out!

[tessymessy]

What's the difference between BB and CC cream?

[Lsquared]

I love trying new product samples but rarely make new purchases. That being said I tried Real Chemistry 3 minute peel and LOVE IT. I use it once per week(ish) and it takes away all of my dead skin and leaves my face and neck looking super bright and soft. It's a little pricy around $50/tube but I imagine it will last quite a while only using it 1x/week.

[shellbell]

Jan 26, 2015 10:31:10 GMT -5 @elf828 said:

shellbell there are usually two or three color options. So for the Garnier one I use, I buy light/medium and you would too.

Lol

I love that a.) you know this, and b.) you knew I wouldn't know.

[jackiep1023]

Jan 26, 2015 10:00:51 GMT -5 shellbell said:

I'm like a beauty product drop out. I'm plenty girly, but not with beauty product. If I buy it, I only remember to use it inconsistently.

This is me! I'm not sure why I am even reading this thread. I don't wear mascara. I don't wear any makeup. I slather regular lotion on if my face seems dry... I alternate shampoo products based on sales, and things that I've used in the past and liked. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have worn any makeup in the last 15 years. (Senior Prom, my friend's wedding, my wedding...)

I use the Frizz Ease Dream Curls spray for my crazy hair. Some days it works better than others. Considering I only leave my hair down the 2 days a week that I work, it lasts awhile. (It's always up otherwise, because grabby baby.)

[mevaroo]

I have yet to find a BB cream that matches my skin tone. Even the light ones tend to be too dark or yellow-y for me.
#palegirlproblems

[mevaroo]

Jan 26, 2015 14:17:34 GMT -5 @starrynight said:

Jan 26, 2015 10:34:11 GMT -5 likethewheels said:

@thatgolfbitch - I tried they're real and I think my lashes are too short for it to be a good mascara for me. FWP.

I have found that mascara to be SUPER clumpy on me. I probably threw out 4 or 5 mini tubes of it that I received over the past year. Next time I know where to send it instead!

Also accepting any free makeup samples....

[f14mama]

I am a big fan of Olay Total Effects CC cream. I tried a million bb creams, and I could never get the color right, and they were either too oily or too dry (garnier, almay, sephora brand, Origins to name a few), and when I found Olay CC cream I almost cried (okay, I did cry). A recent discovery, Trader Joe's serum, $10 and leaves your face so dewy and soft, and did I mention TEN DOLLARS for a huge tube of serum.

Can I ask advice on eye cream? My crows feet are a serious drag, when I smile in pictures all I can see is my crows feet that extend almost to my hairline. Mix that with the lazy eye from the bells palsy that graced itself during my third trimester, and I need all the help I can get in the eye department.

[mevaroo]

My current foundation is a Nars one. It's too dark for my "winter skin" but it's one of the lightest they make, and it matches the rest of the year. I've been too lazy to go about finding a separate winter shade.
Eyeshadow is Urban Decay Naked palette, but I've really been wanting the Naked 3. Maybe for my birthday I'll justify the cost.
Mascara varied between They're Real by Benefit, and Maybelline Colossal.
My favourite shampoo/conditioner is Enjoy Luxury. They smell so good, and I ran out a bit ago, so I need t splurge on myself again and buy more.

[lalaprep]

f14mama Ok, this is expensive, but it is the first eye cream that I've actually noticed a difference in my eyes. I don't have a huge wrinkle issue (yet) I guess a plus of being on the oily side, but it has really brightened up my under eye and inner eye area. It is one of the few that you can put all over your eye.

I know it is pricey, but I use it morning and night and have been on the same 0.5oz tube since early November.
www.amazon.com/Revision-D-E-J-Eye-Cream-0-5/dp/B00JI7AI3A

[lalaprep]

mevaroo I'm super pale too! I have dark features, so every makeup artist tries to give me too dark tones. I wear a 0 in bobbi brown concealer and am a 1 in the Armani face fabric that I mentioned above.


I'll look through my drawers tonight and see if I have anything that might work for you. I tend to be a binge buyer of make-up and rarely wear much of it anymore.