Makeup V: Inspired by a Diva

[Fragile Bird]

The last thread has hit 400 so here's the new one. I am taking inspiration in many ways from a beautiful Board Diva and her absolutely perfect makeup.

[Tears of Lys]

I tried to quote Kair and bring that gorgeous color over into this thread! Foiled again!

What I wouldn't give to get perfect nails like that AND to be able to apply my polish so flawlessly.

On the subject of makeup, how do other folks do their brows? Unless you're one of those lucky individuals who have perfect brows, you need to fill them in. And as you get, ahem, more mature, you may find your brows kinda start disappearing from the outside in. :( Mine are very blonde, so if I don't give them a bit of help, they look like they go from the inside corners of my eyes to about midway.

I've never had much luck with pencils. I'm not sure how people apply those without ending up with lines, if you know what I mean. I've been using a small angled brush, and with two shades of powdered eyeshadow, one a golden color, the other an ashy brown, I blend the two of them and judiciously apply them.

If there's some other way I'm not aware of, I'd sure like to hear it. I suspect I'm not up to date with the latest and greatest of makeup advances. :blush:

[kairparavel]

Benefit's Gimme Brow seems very popular.

http://m.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/gimme-brow

As for the polish, it appears to be more green than teal on my toes compared to that photo I linked.

[Er Rn]

I've used Smashbox Brow Tech for years.

http://www.smashbox.com/product/6026/17807/Eyes/Brows/BROW-TECH-TRIO/index.tmpl

The powders and wax are fine but I love the brush

http://www.smashbox.com/product/6009/17815/Brushes-Tools/ANGLE-BROW-BRUSH-12/index.tmpl

[Starkess]

I don't fill my brows in. I do have pretty thick brows, which I must tame frequently, but there are still a couple spots where they don't cooperate. But it is not worth the effort of filling them in to me. Plus I see a lot of brows I see look overly filled in, which makes a face look "fake" to me, and that is not my style. Seems too tricky for me to want to mess around with.

I knew a girl in college who had eyebrows tattooed on. Yikes.

[Tears of Lys]

Benefit's Gimme Brow seems very popular.

http://m.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/gimme-brow

That looks like exactly what we need. The reviews sound great. My mom's brows have disappeared from the ends in so badly that she now looks like she has small caterpillars that are perched over each eye! :P

I don't fill my brows in. I do have pretty thick brows, which I must tame frequently, but there are still a couple spots where they don't cooperate. But it is not worth the effort of filling them in to me. Plus I see a lot of brows I see look overly filled in, which makes a face look "fake" to me, and that is not my style. Seems too tricky for me to want to mess around with.

I knew a girl in college who had eyebrows tattooed on. Yikes.

Yeah, tattooed makeup was never a good idea.

When I'm talking about filling in brows, it's done very subtly. I know the "fake" look you're talking about, and yeah, it's clown-like. At your age and with your coloring, Nora, you shouldn't have to worry about your brows for quite a while yet. It's not until you get up a ways that your brows start doing funky shit. :lol:

OTOH, my hair has gotten pretty luxurious - something I would have killed for when I was in high school.

[Tears of Lys]

I've used Smashbox Brow Tech for years.

http://www.smashbox.com/product/6026/17807/Eyes/Brows/BROW-TECH-TRIO/index.tmpl

The powders and wax are fine but I love the brush

http://www.smashbox.com/product/6009/17815/Brushes-Tools/ANGLE-BROW-BRUSH-12/index.tmpl

That's exactly the kind of brush I use. :)

[DemiNymph]

Arrgh the posts were reset.

I talked about having done eyebrow embroidery, and it being the best procedure I've made. It's something like a tattoo but not really a tattoo. Do google what it is. And I saw Tears' reply saying that it being largely dependent on the artistry of the person doing it, and I totally agree. It can go very wrong and you can end up with lopsided eyebrows if the person doing it is inexperienced or having a bad day.

For filling in brows I use Benefit's Browzings. It's idiot proof; totally suitable for me. Hard to go wrong with it.

[Er Rn]

I've always had pretty good skin. But I'm 32 now and a summertime sun lover, and I've started to notice fine lines on my forehead :(. I discovered the Vasanti Brighten Up and I'm in love. I've used it about a month and I can tell a big difference already. It also has cleared the spot of eczema that likes to flare up on my cheek. I use it every other day, it's not harsh at all, and no heavy smell. Highly recommend.

http://vasanticosmetics.com/brighten-up-enzymatic-face-treatment-exfoliator.html

[Xray the Enforcer]

The woman who introduced me to the magic of Murad Mattifying Lotion hauled my ass out to Sephora last night. Her mission: find a Grace-Jones-esque lipstick for herself, and blush for me.

We walked out with eyeliner.

So it goes.

We also got some amazing Malaysian food in the Lower East Side afterwards. In all, an excellent night out.

[lady narcissa]

So not quite makeup but quite related and I didn't want to start a new thread for this and I had to share...so today I experienced age discrimination for the first time. My face is still quite oily despite my age and I get breakouts. My dermatologist tells me at this point the next shot I have to get less oily skin is menopause (which is not happening anytime soon) but I might have to deal with it my whole life at this point. (Who knew you could have oily skin past your 20s?!?!?) I've tried a whole range of products over the years and keep on having to switch it up every so often because things stop working. So this week I get prescribed a new Retin-A product I haven't used before. My insurance company denies coverage because, "you are too old to get acne." They only cover it up to age 39. Ummm okay, try telling that too my face?!? Should I send you a picture? Ultimately it doesn't matter too much as if I really wanted it I could pay for it or get more samples from my doctors office or try something else. But good grief, who knew you could be denied prescriptions because you were too old. Can't wait to see what I'm too old for next.

[Fragile Bird]

Weird, because you can get acne at almost any age. Cheap bastards.

[deleted01]

Blah. I refuse to believe you're a day over 25, narcissa.

I have no idea if this would work for you, but when the NHS stopped funding the removal of sebaceous cysts, one of my doctors told me that if it was on an area like my chin, jaw or forehead, I could claim that it was too painful to wear the helmet I always wear when I always ride my bike (ahem), and so it was becoming a hazard.

I never tried that, because I always end up getting rid of my cysts, eventually, and I'm not sure I could lie like that over something that is, generally, cosmetic (except for when I get them in.. other places). But they can get infected and cause some issues, so if you can somehow play the system, I'm for it.

[Pendergraft]

So not quite makeup but quite related and I didn't want to start a new thread for this and I had to share...so today I experienced age discrimination for the first time. My face is still quite oily despite my age and I get breakouts. My dermatologist tells me at this point the next shot I have to get less oily skin is menopause (which is not happening anytime soon) but I might have to deal with it my whole life at this point. (Who knew you could have oily skin past your 20s?!?!?) I've tried a whole range of products over the years and keep on having to switch it up every so often because things stop working. So this week I get prescribed a new Retin-A product I haven't used before. My insurance company denies coverage because, "you are too old to get acne." They only cover it up to age 39. Ummm okay, try telling that too my face?!? Should I send you a picture? Ultimately it doesn't matter too much as if I really wanted it I could pay for it or get more samples from my doctors office or try something else. But good grief, who knew you could be denied prescriptions because you were too old. Can't wait to see what I'm too old for next.

Lady N,

Just txted my pharmacist friend and apparently you just need to inform your dermatologist to change the prescription to an TX of acne or DX of acne. The higher the % of the Tretenoin (generic name for Retin A) level the better or hopefully your dermatologist's office is nice enough to clear it with your insurance. Good luck!

[lady narcissa]

Blah. I refuse to believe you're a day over 25, narcissa.

Aww you are sweet. My skin agrees with you, it thinks its still 13! As my dermatologist tells me, at least this means I don't have wrinkles.

Just txted my pharmacist friend and apparently you just need to inform your dermatologist to change the prescription to an TX of acne or DX of acne. The higher the % of the Tretenoin (generic name for Retin A) level the better or hopefully your dermatologist's office is nice enough to clear it with your insurance. Good luck!

Thanks! The pharmacist did recommend my doctor call the insurance company to tell them, yes I do still get it despite my ancient age(!) and that I'm either non responsive or allergic to the other options to see if they will give me an exception. But if not I am lucky I have options. I worry about those that do not who find themselves in this same position.

[Pendergraft]

Thanks! The pharmacist did recommend my doctor call the insurance company to tell them, yes I do still get it despite my ancient age(!) and that I'm either non responsive or allergic to the other options to see if they will give me an exception. But if not I am lucky I have options. I worry about those that do not who find themselves in this same position.

Thats great news! My friend told me those prescription creams can be exorbitantly expensive running to $100 to $150 without insurance. Glad you sorted it out!

[lady narcissa]

My friend told me those prescription creams can be exorbitantly expensive running to $100 to $150 without insurance.

Oh this Retin-A product goes for $375 prior to insurance coverage. $311 for the generic! I started laughing when they told me the amount.

[Angalin]

So not quite makeup but quite related and I didn't want to start a new thread for this and I had to share...so today I experienced age discrimination for the first time. My face is still quite oily despite my age and I get breakouts. My dermatologist tells me at this point the next shot I have to get less oily skin is menopause (which is not happening anytime soon) but I might have to deal with it my whole life at this point. (Who knew you could have oily skin past your 20s?!?!?) I've tried a whole range of products over the years and keep on having to switch it up every so often because things stop working. So this week I get prescribed a new Retin-A product I haven't used before. My insurance company denies coverage because, "you are too old to get acne." They only cover it up to age 39. Ummm okay, try telling that too my face?!? Should I send you a picture? Ultimately it doesn't matter too much as if I really wanted it I could pay for it or get more samples from my doctors office or try something else. But good grief, who knew you could be denied prescriptions because you were too old. Can't wait to see what I'm too old for next.

A 40+ friend said to me not long ago, "If you'd told me when I was 20 that I'd still be getting pimples now, I'd have cried for two days." I'll remind her of the benefits of not having wrinkles. ;)

Oh this Retin-A product goes for $375 prior to insurance coverage. $311 for the generic! I started laughing when they told me the amount.

:stunned:

[Pendergraft]

Oh this Retin-A product goes for $375 prior to insurance coverage. $311 for the generic! I started laughing when they told me the amount.

Holy cow! I hope its more than 5oz and not in a tube!

[Xray the Enforcer]

Started in on a new mascara primer -- this one from Dior. Goes on very nice, and seems to have a bit of staying power. Will report back after a week's trial.