Q and A time. Your makeup dillemas answered.

Hi there, if you ladies have an "how to" questions on makeup application or similar, please post. Will answer as best as I can, and give some tips along the way.
Christmas makeup looks questions, FIRE AWAY!

Sometimes i cant be brand specific, as of course i haven't used every single brand of cosmetics. The answers are just IMO. I have used a range of different priced makeups over the years, and sometimes the cheaper ones are just as good, as more expensive, sometimes the cheaper ones don't cut it too. I posted 2 of my favorite makeup youtube videos, as mentioned below, the ones i liked the most are ASMEMAKEUP (shes Australian too YAY) and i used all of her tips on my wedding day, and for hair/makeup Johnny Lavoy (hes on Twitter and blogger.com) he also replies to you directly on twitter which is nice.
Blogger shows makeup reviews, does color swatches for eye shadows, lippies, blush etc cosmeticsseller.blogspot.com/

Q by getsilks

Hi cosmeticsseller you are just the person I need :)
I have always used a product from NZ called natural glow ( winter) I loved it, suited me perfectly. I cant seem to find it now and wondered what I could replace it with.
Thanks Erin.

Replied by cosmeticsseller
Hi getsilks, i had a friend who was a huge fan of the natural glow range, but it didn't seem to suit me. There's one i have seen advertised called Thin Lizzy on TV.It's advertised as an all in one powder like the natural glow. Foundation/blush/eyeshadow/contour etc. Personally i prefer to put bronzers on top of foundation,but that's just me.

Q by skintec

Hi cs, do you have any tips on wearing make up in the humidity of the tropics, it seems to look all sweaty and shiny very quickly. I changed from a cream foundation to Sheer cover and it does help, but sometimes I need more cover.
I don't wear make up everyday, only occasionally.
Do the anti-shine moisturizer work?
Thanks
skin

Replied by cosmeticsseller
hey skintec, yer, i think a moisturizer that's oil free may help, and there's a few brands round now that help also absorb oils and make the skin look more matte.
Sheer cover (haven't used) but you may find you need to loose powder on top to help mop up any shine on the face. I thought they made a rice powder for that job.
There's a few brands that make a mattifying cream that you can put on top of your foundation...off hand Clinique made one that was pretty good, and Clarins also makes a mattifying gel.
You can also use the oil blotting papers (MAC, CLINIQUE, BODY SHOP, SHISHEDO all make them) or powder (Benefit makes a yellow oil absorbing pressed one)
Mineral powder can help a little bit, when you go shiny, you use a stippling brush, and stipple over your face, but if the mineral is a pain, you can take in your handbag compact powder and just use a patting motion over the face.

One thing that can help if you don't already do it, is to use a very mild exfoliator a few times a week, oily skin can sometime have a slightly dull appearance, exfoliating will brighten it up.
If you don't use a toner already, that might help, every brand makes a toner, and you may find that one with a small amount of alcohol can make the skin feel less oily. I can imagine, that makeup doesn't last, and slides off.
A twice daily routine of cleansing, toner, and the mattifying moisturizer could help the skin feel nicer, and if you just want to make it look more even in color, use just a loose powder. Keep the skin nice a cool during the day with one of those facial spritzers, and if you hate blotting paper, use a tissue.
You can buy similar oil control for about $30 like Clinique t-zone control, and Clarins t-zone gel. Further on a previous post where makeup slides off, your toner needs to contain some alcohol for really oily skin, and avoid hot water, or washing your face directly under the shower flow (its far too hot) if you live in QLD, NT your skin will sweat more due to the heat.
A good tip is to just fluff on loose powder.
On a positive note, oilier skin tends to age better, and usually gets drier with age, so you might find in a few years the excessive oiliness isn't so much a concern.

Q by skintec
CS, thank you, there is another thing that really baffles me, I like watching those tutorials on youtube on make up application. It would be great if you could put up a picture, name of and where to use all those different types of brushes. There is so many of them, for eyes, eyebrows, lips and many for different usage on the face.
Cheers, this is a super thread.

Replied by cosmeticsseller

my fave youtube video is AKSMEmakeup www.askmemakeup.com/ as she shows you exactly what products she used. Its a step by step vid.
another to look at is FORD models with Johnny lavoy fordmodelshowto.blip.tv/rss , who is their hair and makeup guru. He also goes thru brushes etc.
Basic brushes most people can use are.
Foundation brush (flat brush) you put the foundation on your hand, and either use the brush (stroke it over face) or blend foundation with fingers, and brush over to make it smooth.
The stippling brush (I got mine here) is a fave now. Use it for foundation (just dab it over your face) liquid bronzer, or cream blush.
Powder brushes are large and fluffy.
Blush brush can be contoured
Eyeshadow brush comes in all sizes, but you probably can get away with one in a medium size. You can just contoured brushes for the eye socket.
Lots of ppl swear by a lipstick brush for making lipstick stay on forever.
You could just get away with 4 basic brushes, as good ones are expensive, usually they are hand stitched, and made of different hairs, most expensive is sable brushes.

Q by fashionistahills
Hi CS, this is a great thread :) I have a question about concealers, I have a lot of freckles, & my foundation doesn't cover them up much, I have never tried a concealer, if I put that on my freckles before my foundation, do u think that would cover up my freckles a bit more, or would it look like too much stuff packed on in those areas? My freckles are on my cheeks & my nose. Thanks :)

Replied by cosmeticsseller

You don't have to hide freckles anymore. Of course use sunscreen daily. And get your skin checked.
You can conceal larger freckles with concealer the same shade as your skin before foundation, then apply foundation over the top. But too much concealer looks bad. I too use to have freckles on my face, but they seem to be gone now, as i use sunblocks, and wear hats.

Q by fluttabuy
can i ask about mascara please?? i have average length eyelashes with blond tips, so they look shorter. I'd really like a brand that thickens and appears to 'lengthen' but don't go clumpy. don't like waterproof. usually go for black, but would blue look alright with green eyes/blond hair??

Replied by cosmeticsseller

flutta, a blue mascara might take away from your green eyes. Mascaras go clumpy usually due to the person using them. When you get your mascara, just gently wiggle the wand out of the container, and apply in a zig zag motion to your lashes. The mascara brush contains enough mascara to coat your lashes, you don't need to pump the wand into the tube, that's why it goes gluggy. Try brown instead of black. Black for evening maybe, brown for day. All mascaras will slightly thicken and lengthen lashes. If you hate throwing out your mascara when you should (after 4 months) buy a less expensive brand, Covergirl, Modelco, Australis, Maybelline, all those are usually under $15 and still good mascaras.
Just an edit, Blue mascara can look good, but usually I use it when I'm going somewhere fun (i too have green eyes)

Q fluttabuy
thx cs never even considered brown lol!!! oh man i pump the wand alright hehehehe..... norty flutta!! thank you

Replied by cosmeticsseller

Yer flutta, i was going to edit previous post, but fun colors for everyone to try of mascara are:
Purple, Blue, Green, Grey (might look OK if ur own lashes are going a bit grey)
Blue mascara looks really good on girls with brown eyes.
Purple looks good on both blue (makes blue eyes brighter) and green eyes (it will make green eyes look really green)
Green mascara can look nice on a hazel eye and green eyes too.
Grey mascara is a bit more subtle than brown.
If you go the colored mascara, and are a bit messy with it, wear it with matching eyeliner, so any smudges don't show. And wear complimentary blush and lipstick.
SO for BLUE mascara, go for blue or navy liner,and plummy/pinkish-plum blush, and lippy.
Green mascara, try tawny shades of peaches, rusts, even some reds.
Purple mascara, again try plumish blush and lipstick.
Wear according to your skin tone, eg fair skin go a bit lighter, olive skin, go a touch more dramatic.
If you make a mistake, doesn't matter, use makeup remover, and start again.
Makeup isn't an exact science, and it's not rocket science either. Just have fun with it.
But BLEND everything in, don't do a Nicole Kidman.