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!

[GG84]

@JeffreyBD @TeamBIC 

Any feedback on the Shani Darden line? Life has perfect timing 🙄 and what feels like day 537 of quarantine I ran out of facial cleanser and body wash. I ordered SHANI DARDEN SKIN CARE - Cleansing Serum just wondering if you’ve played around with the line yet. 

[meganlisa]

@TeamBIC Love this idea and see lot's of answers.  What about supplements?  Are you in or not?  If so, which brands and products (I'm thinking hair and nails, energy, mood, sleep).  Thx

[mannye59]

Hi! I am 28 going on 29 and I am looking to upgrade/update my skincare routine, but need help... I have dry skin and suffer from acne on my jaw line and hair line. Because of the dryness, my skin is also dull. I’m willing to spend some money on a new routine, but was hoping you could guide me to what I should be looking for and suggest products! 

[DavidBD]

@mannye59 i would suggest starting with a good cleanser that doesn't strip your skin but effectively cleans it like FARMACY - Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balmthis will remove makeup, dirt ,debris, and gently exfoliate all while nourishing your skin. for dry, acne prone skin maintaining balance is key to keeping healthy skin. this will start getting you skin back to balanced. then i would suggest using a mild exfoliant , either daily or a once to twice a week style. exfoliation is beyond important, it helps reveal younger fresher skin, helps remove debris and dead skin which can clog pores, and overall boosts the health of your skin. i love  DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE - Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peelthese are for daily use and ive never met anyone who hasnt tried them and fallen in love. they will help with the acne and the dryness. and seriously tho these are magical haha. next i would say consider a great overall serum to help boost your skin like THE ORDINARY - Buffet and Copper Peptides, this serum will provide your skin the neccessary pepetides needed for it to create essential elements like collagen and elastin , which will help the overall look and health of your skin. then you ned a great moisturizer especially if your skin is dry. i'd recommend Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid 2 oz / 59 mL this a great super light weight but intensely hydrating moisturizer that is also 'clean at sephora' !!

[mannye59]

Thank you! This is much appreciated! Do you have a foundation you’d recommend as well/anything I should stay away from? Again, much appreciated! 💕

[Mar6]

I am 65 years old and I can not find a foundation that does not go into my wrinkles and lines. I have tried so many products and I just can't find anything that works.  I am hydrating my skin and drinking lots of water but it does not help.  Please help!!

Thank you.

[JeffreyBD]

@Mar6 

Generally speaking, drinking plenty of water is always a good idea, because hydrated skin does have a tendency to look smoother and more plump. BUUUT I have found that TOO MUCH topical hydration CAN cause foundation to gather in fine lines and wrinkles because the foundation remains too wet (volatile) to the touch. Conversely, too much POWDER on the skin can add layers of buildup which can make wrinkles look deeper, and drier. SOOOO Long story short, I think we just need to find the right balance of moisture on the surface of your skin.

If this helps, you can make references to baking. If your batter is too wet, it's will never take shape and solidify, while if it's too dry, it doesn't make for a very nice taste/texture. But I have found a few foundations that are extremely flexible and have a tendency to move with the skin and smooth texture with pigments, or soft reflectivity.

One of my long time go-to's is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation because it's moisturizing enough to melt down surface texture and dry areas, while stable enough to sustain a durable wear. I LOVE applying it with a beauty blender as well, because the sponge thins the texture of the foundation so that it is easy to build in soft layers, which is IMPERATIVE when working with skin that tends to easily show fine lines and wrinkles. In this scenario it's far better to slowly build a coverage in areas that you need it and avoid areas that might show aging. But even in those areas like "marionette lines" or the forehead, where expression lines tend to be deeper, the sponge almost pixelates the foundation, turning it into a blurring/filtering tool. Think of this duo almost like liquid photoshop.

ARMANI BEAUTY - Luminous Silk Foundation

Beautyblender Beautyblender® pro one pro beautyblender

A few other foundations that I've found that really work for this concern is Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation, or the new Bite Beauty ChangeMaker Foundation. But I would strongly suggest applying all with a dampened Beauty Blender.

TOO FACED - Born This Way Foundation

BECCA - Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation

BITE BEAUTY - Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation

Lastly, you'll probably want to lightly set with a powder. But LESS IS WAY MORE when it comes to this step. I tend to grab Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder a lot because it's tried and true and really locks makeup in place. If that is too drying for you, Becca makes a hydrating setting powder called HydraMist Set and Refresh Powder.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Longwear Setting Powder Translucent

BECCA - Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder

I know this a LONG-Winded answer, but I hope it helps. Let me know if I can clarify anything I mentioned here. But in a round about way, it just takes a bit of trial and error until finding the right balance for you.

Added Bonus: A fun experiment, would be to try setting one side of your face with powder once versus twice versus not at all and see how much powder you really need. 

[DavidBD]

@Mar6 hi! so there could be different reasons for this happening. i would ask first what is your skin type ( even someone at 65 can have oily skin so i would want to be sure before i make recommendations ) . second you say you are hydrating your skin , so what are you using to hydrate? and then out of curiosity ... why are you thinking hydration would fix this problem? also do you or have you tried a primer? 

looking forward to hearing back 🙂

[Mar6]

I have tried Clinique and YSL Forever Light Creator  CC Creams.

[Mar6]

I have combination skin. The reason I think hydration would help is I believe it’s good for your skin and everything else. The skin care I am using is Rodan and Fields.  I have used many primers such as Laura Mercier, Channel, YSL, Lancôme and more. Most of them tend to goo up with the foundation and make a mess. I don’t like anything heavy. 

[Noratabar]

Try using a BB, CC or tinted moisturizer. I find they give enough coverage but still a nice finish to the skin and easy to blend out throughout the day if it settles in any lines.

[Anonymous]

I typically use the Urban Decay Naked 3 palate. I find I’m just using up the first four or five colours. Is there a smaller palate or similarly coloured singles I could order instead? I don’t mind switching brands so long as the quality remains the same.

[Anonymous]

n

[Anonymous]

n

[DavidBD]

@jentheresa there are smaller palettes out there for sure , tho they won't be exactly the same.it seems you are looking for soft light tones that are more neutral to cool and with some matte and some shimmer.  here are some options worth looking at SEPHORA COLLECTION - Eye Love Eyeshadow Palettein 'Light Cool' , TARTE - Cue the Confetti Eyeshadow Palette, CHARLOTTE TILBURY - Luxury Eyeshadow Palette - Pillow Talk ( tho this is bit warmer than the urban decay its similar and only 4 shades so could be great for you) HUDA BEAUTY Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette Nude Light, and then there is also the option with Anastasia beverly Hills to build your own custom 4 pan palette with their single shadows. ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - Eye Shadow Singles - Pink Champagne , ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - Eye Shadow Singles - Fresh, ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - Eye Shadow Singles - Vermeer, those are just some options in shades but you could choose what you like best of course.

[ArtistDacia]

Are the born this way concealers and foundations the same colors? I have a sample of concealers but I want to buy a foundation online and I’m just curious if they’re the same (just different consistency I’m assuming). Thank you!

[DavidBD]

@ArtistDacia  , i think @Noratabar answered this perfectly 🙂 

[Noratabar]

The concealers are formulated to be a shade lighter than the foundation so it should be the perfect shade for you if the concealer is a bit brighter. Or you can always go one up in to same undertone

[treestar86]

for overnight peels or masks, should you use other things like toner, serum?  or just by themselves?  and do you really need to rinse them off?

[DavidBD]

@treestar86 so for a dedicated overnight product it will say whether to rinse off or not, and also when in your routine to apply the product and if you should follow with the rest of your products.  for me, i use overnight masks alot and will wash my face , then apply a serum or 2 then the mask, this just boosts the overall results to my skin the next day. i also do like to use overnight peels or exfoliators , currently i am using KATE SOMERVILLE - Liquid ExfoliKate® Triple Acid Resurfacing Treatment, i wash my face then sweep this over my whole face ,let it dry for a minute or 2, then apply my serums and moisturizer right on top. 

[Peelings]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to get a good skincare regimen going and am trying so many different products I can't really tell what's working and what's not! My main concern is to even out my complexion and dark eye circles (OLEHENRIKSEN - Banana Bright Eye Crèmehas been working great so far!)

So right now I have these products and am applying them in this order:

1) VOLITION BEAUTY - Celery Green Cream with Hyaluronic Acid + Peptideson entire face

2) OLEHENRIKSEN - Banana Bright Eye Crèmeunder eyes

3) OLEHENRIKSEN - Truth Serum® Minion entire face

4) FRESH - Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturizer Mini(day or night depending on time of day) on entire face

Sometimes at night I just use TARTE - Knockout Tingle Treatment Tonerby itself.

Is this overkill? Should I be waiting between application? Is it okay to be mixing all these things together? Any advice would be appreciated!