topic Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret in Beauty Confidential

Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Anonymous — Sun, 14 May 2017 15:40:31 GMT

If you've been playing with makeup for awhile, you've probably picked up or developed tricks of your own that most people wouldn't think of. Do you have an unusual foolproof technique for applying your foundation? Do you use a particular product in an unexpected way? Have you found an unconventional hack for clearing up a blemish overnight? Here's the place to trade your little-known ideas!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

jemly — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:08:27 GMT

i talk about it a lot on these boards, but to the outside world it's still a bit of a novel approach: treating a zit/breakout with facial oil. either it brings it to a head, or it calms and soothes it into submission before things get really nasty. and afterwards, scaring is virtually non existent, as the area has been nourished rather than dried out.

i'll add more as they occur to me !

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Mcakes — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:13:02 GMT

What a great thread idea! I can't wait to hear someone's answer to the unconventional hack of dealing with an unwelcome pimple.

I've always preferred natural skin looking foundation and was having the hardest time achieving that (keep in mind this is way before the beauty blender came around). I was so frustrated so I went into the store to return the foundations I had and to talk to an associate about another one they would recommend.

The associate was actually very helpful and gave me some great tips that I now swear by! Hopefully these aren't too basic for you beauty experts lol.

1. You can do a lot with concealer if you don't want to use foundation. This obviously gives the most natural look and it's perfect for the summer!

2. Warm the foundation up with your fingers. Take a little pump and rub it between your fingers before applying to your face. It helps it blend in much easier.

3. Apply less than you think you need then build on top of that. I don't think I even use a full pump of foundation anymore, I just apply little by little until I get the coverage I need. Since pouring through the skincare threads my skin is looking and feeling great so the only purpose I need for foundation is for redness.

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Mcakes — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:14:28 GMT

Which facial oils would you recommend @jemly? I have normal/dry skin. Thanks 🙂

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Asche — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:18:57 GMT

Most of what I do is pretty conventional. One thing I used to do, that I've never really seen discussed, is using UD's Ozone on my face to fill in any wrinkles.

I also like to use Becca's liquid Shimmering Skin Perfector on my body (shoulders and such) in the summer to add a little glow.

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Anonymous — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:20:21 GMT

The pencil?? That's so smart! I may have to try that!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Anonymous — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:21:20 GMT

Lisa Eldridge swears by these very principles in every video and they really do work!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Anonymous — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:22:13 GMT

Your campaign for oils is winning me over a little more and more every day. 😉

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Anonymous — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:25:34 GMT

Mine aren't super exciting, but...

While there are so many suggestions out there for making you look more awake via makeup, nothing works better for me than basic redness-reducing eye drops. I swear by them and make sure to always have a bottle on hand!
I use setting powder religiously, but instead of using a powder puff and/or applying it to my whole face, I just take a small fluffy brush (ABH #23, I think?) and lightly tap the powder into my t-zone, where my pores are largest and where I tend to get shiny. Works like a charm for blurring and mattifying without getting cakey!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

angel7594 — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:39:45 GMT

One of my best kept secrets is using a lash primer before mascara! It really works wonders for volume and length!

My two favorites are Lancome Cils Booster XL, and Diorshow Maximizer 3D. Sometimes I use the Dior one as a lash treatment in the evening. My lashes are longer since trying this tip out!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

greenchilli — Sun, 14 May 2017 17:09:22 GMT

@Anonymous

I don't have hacks, and these are no secrets. But worth sharing......

1. Oil balances oily skin

2. There is NO magic skincare product. Skin health needs a holistic approach - makeup/cleansing habits, skincare products/routine, diet, hormonal concerns, stress.

*I don't have makeup tricks. My makeup routine is very basic and requires no skill, a child could do it.

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

blackkitty2014 — Sun, 14 May 2017 17:00:40 GMT

I have super short Asian eyelashes and I use either one of these everyday the same way. I like the Dior one more but they are both excellent products;) @angel7594

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Asche — Sun, 14 May 2017 17:00:59 GMT

Yup! That's the one. 🙂

http://www.sephora.com/ultimate-ozone-multipurpose-primer-pencil-P395733

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

jemly — Sun, 14 May 2017 17:22:02 GMT

@Mcakes my HG and all time favorite is CLARINS blue orchid oil. the lotus oil in the same range is formulated for oily skins--so maybe not best suited for you--but has oils with antiseptic properties which are particularly great for 'spot treating' with an oil. the blue orchid is formulated for dehydration, so it's particularly conditioning to compromised skin.

so these are my favorites. i know greenchili loves the UMA range (i haven't tried these). def get some samples of various oils if you can and see how your skin likes them !

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

unfungirl — Sun, 14 May 2017 18:03:29 GMT

what a fun thread!! i'm sure more will come to me, but the first thing that comes to mind is my mascara routine.

i curl my lashes, apply lash primer (i like diorshow lash maximizer), apply 2 coats of mascara, and then GENTLY curl them again after they dry. it really makes my lashes look long and the curl holds all day! being gentle with the second curling is important though so you don't rip out lashes!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

unfungirl — Sun, 14 May 2017 18:07:15 GMT

i also love the dior lash primer @angel7594!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

eleonorarosa — Sun, 14 May 2017 18:16:38 GMT

Oh yes.. @Anonymous

I use a mascara fan brush (MAC 205) before and after I apply mascara.. it's the only way to keep my lashes separated, no matter the mascara wand I use.

I have quite uneven brows and lips so when I use the pencil on both I like to look at myself in the mirror through another mirror (it this makes sense), so I get a flipped image of my face and spot irregularities better.

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

sister13 — Sun, 14 May 2017 19:33:21 GMT

I have a terrible time with foundation staying on me more than a few hours, even long wearing foundation and all the primers that get great reviews by others. I finally started using the following method and it seems to hold pretty well:

i use use a setting spray before applying foundation, then set with powder, then apply the rest of my makeup and finish with setting spray. Setting spray alone as a final step never seems to help, nor does primer alone, but the setting spray before and after seems most effective? Btw, MUFE, UD, and MAC setting sprays all seem pretty comparable.

Otherwise, A can't live without beauty product is NARS eyeshadow primer, which is the only thing that keeps my eyeshadow on more than a few hours.

The only other thing I do is take a selfie and I always notice more detail and often something "off" like an uneven patchy eyebrow, or crooked lip line, or eyeshadow fallout that I don't see with the naked eye.

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

jemly — Sun, 14 May 2017 19:37:10 GMT

@unfungirl good one ! curling lashes after mascara is considered a big no-no, but it's the tip my mom taught me and i do it too. i've seen makeup artists do it while still advising others to "not try this at home". i always make sure my mascara has dried, and i do it very carefully. but i always get such a better result !!

Re: Your Best-Kept Beauty Secret

unfungirl — Sun, 14 May 2017 19:40:37 GMT

@jemly I should add a "proceed with caution" disclaimer, good point! Curling gently, and making sure your mascara is dry is key to avoiding any lash loss. It really does make my lashes look soooo nice though so even if it's technically a no no, it works well for me!