recommend makeup brand for me?

[Anonymous]

I'm another Bare Minerals convert after years of dabbling in Clinique. I have sensitive skin, but am also really lazy and pressed for time; I could never get in the habit of daily makeup. One of the reasons I was drawn to Bare Minerals is that it won't count against my 1 qt baggie of 3oz bottles when I travel (rarely check luggage).

I'm about two weeks in, and I think I'll stick with it. It doesn't feel gloppy by the end of the day, and just makes my face look polished. Nor does it look flaky, which was a concern, as I have both dry and oily spots. That plus some mascara and a tinted lip balm (Burt's Bees or Neutrogena LipSheer), and I'm pretty much good to go.

I went to the Bare Minerals store at Tysons Corner to get matched and learn how to use it. They had a tough time matching my skin tone (northern European descent, ie pale, but with very rosy cheeks) and spent quite a bit of time and opinions from several of the makeup artists/sales clerks.

[Anonymous]

OP- you didn't mention what kind of skin you have - oily, dry, sensitive, etc. That will really make a difference in what would be recommended for you. It's essential to have some kind of foundation, but as a make-up newbie you will want to keep it simple. I'm guessing that you don't want to be bothered with foundation and powder, so I can't recommend highly enough MAC Studio Fix powder foundation. The color range is incredible and it a one-step process. Just get yourself a good brush (don't use the sponge it comes with) and lightly buff your face. It gives great natural coverage and it makes your skin look naturally flawless. Some people have mentioned Bare Escentuals, but in my experience it's a real pain to apply it correctly, it emphasizes any dry patches you might not have known you even had, and it's way too shiny. That goes for any loose powder mineral make-up. Besides, the bismuth that most of them contain can really clog your pores.

Blush - MAC for powder blush, Clinique for cream blush in stick form, Stila (Peony) for cream blush in a compact. It sounds like we have similar skin tones and Peony is a great color. Check it out.

Mascara - Lancome

Lipstick - MAC and Chanel

Lip gloss - Bourjois #27

Eyeshadow - MAC for single colors, Chanel for quad compacts

Brushes - MAC, or if you have more disposable income, Shu Uemura (Nordstrom Pentagon)

Overall great line for most everything: Make-up Forever (Sephora)

This is really just a list of great basics to get you started. There are certain lines that do a great job with specific items and you would never buy anything, but that one thing (Bourjois for lip gloss, for example), but there's no sense in giving a lesson in nuances until you have the basics. Besides, as you get more make-up experience under your belt, you'll figure our what you like, what works for you and what doesn't.

Just try to always purchase the best quality that you can afford and always ask for samples. I'm a total make-up, skin care and fragrance junkie, so I'm always excited to give advice and encourage people to experiment and form their own opinions. However, I'll leave you with a list of make-up lines that I think are totally over-rated from my own experience in using the products:

Trish MacEvoy (make-up over-rated, a few of the fragrances very nice)
Christian Dior
Laura Mercier (foundation and powder colors too limited)
La Prairie
Nars
Clarins (with the exception of a few niche products)
Estee Lauder (over-rated on every count)

Well worth investigating as great overall lines:

Make-up Forever
MAC
Bobbi Brown
Clinique (way under-rated and inexpensive)
Chanel

If you like fragrances, but are new to the world of perfume, I would recommend Balenciaga Paris. It smells great on everyone and is a fragrance for a sophisticated woman, with nothing stuffy or old lady about it.

Good Luck and let us know what you liked!

[Anonymous]

Agree with the recs for Bobbi Brown, Trish McEvoy, and Laura Mercier. I would just do either a powder (if you have oilier skin, Bare Essentials is a good option) or a tinted moisturizer with powder (if you have drier skin, Bobbi Brown makes a good one). Then just eyeliner, blush and a lip gloss. I am not a mascara person, but I know others think this is a critical step.

[Anonymous]

agree - bobbi brown, mercier, chanel, makeup forever.

check out lisa eldridge youtube tutorials -- priceless.

[Anonymous]

I love love love makeup forever.

[Anonymous]

OP here and big big thanks for all of your helpful hints and advice. i finally bit the bullet and headed to the mall - i HATE shopping - where i ended up getting a few Bobbi Brown items. i tried the MAC store and came out looking like a painted clown so you guys were right, MAC not for newbies. then it was Sephora where i felt really old - so i scurried off to Nordstrom. now if i could just find someone to dress me.........still not totally a makeup convert but i really appreciate all your suggestions. thanks, ladies!

[Anonymous]

Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals