Ask a Beauty Expert

[TeamBIC]

Ask a Beauty Expert

If you know your way around the Beauty Insider Community, chances are you’ve seen a few of our Sephora Pro Artists sharing their looks on the Gallery and dropping their beauty routines in some of our favorite challenge threads.  @ElizaPRO, @ShawnPRO, and @ProAmy are Makeup Artists with years of industry experience with a bounty of product knowledge to share. These beauty geniuses are subject matter experts and they give life-changing advice on how to build your basket and put your haul to good use!

We've created this thread to allow you all to better connect with our Sephora Pro Artists here in the BIC! This is a place for you to ask them ANYTHING beauty-related. Don't forget to bookmark this thread by clicking the bookmark icon at the top right of this thread. It will come in handy for those moments you wish you had a beauty expert on speed dial for questions like "is it a good idea to layer these skincare products?" or "what's the best brush for my foundation routine?"

Want to ask a question? Click the 'Reply' button below!

[Eugenicorn]

Hello, beauty directors! I know I am late but I rlly need skincare tips based on your phenomenal advice. My skincare type is combination and concerns are blackheads, pores, sensitivity, uneven texture/tone/dullness, and pimples. Plz guide me on what you decide my skincare routine products should be that are under $60 total. I can never find the right skincare products for my skin. I've used so much products that I wasn't aware of it wasn't for my skin type & concern and by that, I've ruined my skin. I know I can count on you guys. 🙂

[DavidBD]

Hello Everyone!! This week we are talking about the Sephora Spring Savings Event!!! It’s already going on and you have till 5/1 to grab all your goodies with your discount!! Feel free to ask any questions you may have about a product your considering adding to your cart!! I placed my order the day it started and I already got my package today with these 2 beauties inside! I’ve been eyeing these HUDA BEAUTY - Pastel Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette for a while and I’m so glad I got them( I think pastel colors are going to trend right into the summer months) 🤩

[Keila812]

Love these I think I might have to grab these up 💜

[SnugglePuggle94]

 Hi David! My question is about Vitamin C/AHA's and retinol. How do you incorporate both into your routine, since it's not good to use two actives like that on the same day? I want to use the TATCHA - Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA and the Lancer Caviar Lime Acid Peel into my routine. Since Tatcha I've seen is a daily serum, how do I use my retinol? Once to twice a week would I switch out the serum for the peel?

And how would I know I'm seeing results from both items? It's so hard for me to know the results I'm seeing is from which skincare item. I would love to review these two later on but need to see results!

[DavidBD]

@SnugglePuggle94 hi! your initial thought is correct. as the TATCHA - Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHAis a daily serum you would use this in a daily routine and then you would skip it once a week and use the LANCER SKINCARE - Caviar Lime Acid Peel instead. you don't want to use too many actives in one day . as for the second question of knowing which product does what, that is harder to tell. the truth is its not a product that makes skincare work ,its a routine. its the combination of how you address the vital needs of your particular skin with a customized routine that leaves your skin in balance and healthy. the slight difference you can judge tho will be this: peels and masks have an immediate result upon the skin, this is for those that you apply leave on for a specific time then rinse off, so you can judge any product like this by how your skin looks and feels immediatly after use. now of course the more you use the better the skin results will be but i can tell if i like a mask or peel after one use. the serum you will have to wait for a few months to see results . hope this helps.

[SnugglePuggle94]

@DavidBD Thank you so much! That was really helpful, I appreciate it a lot!!

[PS33]

Hi !! I am currently trying Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ and B-Hydra in mini set, Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Lotion. For lotion, i am trying clinique hydration mask. I am not done with Drunk Elephant product but i do not see difference. Should i try something else? I need brightness and glow in skin. Any suggestion?? 

[DavidBD]

@PS33 skincare can sometimes take around 2-3 months to see effects in any noticeable way. if you only started with the drunk elephant i would say continue until you have used it for 2 months the re-evaluate. with the products you have listed the only call out i would say is i don't see any exfoliating products. so remember that if you are not exfoliating , all the products you apply are being absorbed at first by layers of dead skin, so they aren't being used to their best advantage. maybe consider adding in a product to remove those dead skin cell layers , YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toneris a great daily exfoliator you can use after you cleanse your skin and just apply it and leave it on and continue with the rest of your skincare, or you can use Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial™ AHA + BHA Mask 1.69 oz/ 50 mL which is more of a at home peel you could do once a week, it takes 20 min but reveals super fresh youthful glowing skin.

[Robynlynne]

Keep with drunk elephant it does transform your skin and I would continue to use it regularly to get the best results.

[nayyera]

Hi, I am 41 so need a clean skin care. I have started getting crow feet and wrinkles under my eyes and lines on my forehead and smile lines. Please can you suggest me any vitamin c serum, day cream and night cream , eye cream. Thanks or any nice skin care regimen please

[DavidBD]

@nayyera sure i can help you with this! i would suggest The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C & EGF Brightening Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL for your serum. Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer 1.69 oz/ 50 mLfor daytime moisturizer , Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Night Cream + Mask with Vitamin C 2 oz / 59 mlfor nightime hydration and nourishment , and finally Biossance Marine Algae Eye Cream for Fine Lines & Dark Circles + Squalane 0.5 oz / 15 mL. all of these are 'Clean at Sephora' and super effective !

[Anonymous]

Hey, I was wanting to the purchase the Laura Mercier flawless fusion concealers, can I get some help with selecting shades if at all possible.

I wear the shade 'sand' in the tinted moisturizer, I wear the shade '2C1' in the flawless fusion foundation, I'm wanting to get concealers for both of those products, I don't like anything to light preferably something that would blend in with the tinted moisturizer and the foundation

Thanks! 

[DavidBD]

@MCXOXO unfortunately its really hard to choose shades of products and skintones without seeing someone in real life, but going on general knowledge and some familiarity with the Laura Mercier Fusion collection i think you would be safe to get the LAURA MERCIER - Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealerin 2C. 

[emelodious]

I have dry, sensitive skin so I’m super religious about my skin care. The only problem is that my hydrated skin smudges any mascara within an hour. I have deep set, hooded eyes too so that doesn’t help either. Is there anything I can do to prevent raccoon eyes without skipping my skincare or am I doomed?

[Robynlynne]

So completely same problem, I have tried every mascara out there as they all transfer under and over my eye. I don't think it's a skincare issue but eye shape, I also have hooded eyes. The only mascara that doesn't transfer is L'Oréal double extend. It actually really works absolutely zero transfer. You apply the white coat first then use the black coat and it seals and extends the lashes so they are long. It's easy to remove with only water. I haven't found any other mascara that works and I have literally tried them all.

[DavidBD]

@emelodious this is really common. the best solution is to use some powder around the eye, especially on the lid since that is where the culprit is. the eyelid gets oily naturally as a way to keep that skin flexible , even the smallest amount of oil touching your lashes will breakdown mascara (remember no makeup is oil proof ,not even waterproof can stop oil from breaking it down) . so take a small eyeshadow brush like SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Crease Brush #27 and dust a layer of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Longwear Setting Powder Translucent around the eye , especially over the lid. depending how fast your eyelids get oily again will determine when to re-apply a little layer more of powder. to help this you can also use some eye primer like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original on eyes first before the powder, this can help control oil and then with the powder it will create a strong barrier between your eye skin and your lashes.

[emelodious]

Oh this is so helpful! I had never thought to use such a small brush for setting powder. That’s perfect so I don’t have to mattify my whole face. Thanks so much for your thorough answer! 🙂

[DavidBD]

@emelodious im happy to help! and you got it, the small brush allows you to just focus the powder where its needed and not get it all over if you don't want it on other areas. 🙂

[emclem99]

Hey! I am interested in trying Kate Somerville Eradikate spot treatment, but I can’t tell if it is the right product for me. I have oily sensitive skin and I usually have 1-2 inflamed acne spots and maybe a few small ones. I recently stopped using an adaphalene/benzoyl peroxide treatment because it stopped working. Eradikate intrigues me because it contains zinc and sulphur which (I think?) have been helpful for me in the past. I appreciate any thoughts 🙂

[DavidBD]

@emclem99 i think Kate Somerville EradiKate™ Acne Spot Treatment with 10% Sulfur 1 oz/30 mlis an exceptional product. like you mentioned, the zinc and sulphur are wonderful for fighting blemishes. plus there is a BHA - beta hydroxy acid - as well. BHA's go into the pore and exfoliate the cell lining to remove dead skin cells that can often cause congestion and blockage . overall i would say definitely try it out!

[binhbd]

Hi. I am looking for the right shade of the MUFR ultra HD Foundation. I was matched to Y345. However I found that the color does not totally match my neck which has more green tone. Which shade do you recommend? I am asian. Thanks.