I had to laugh when my 13 yo asked to use the Spinlash mascara last night. (My review is here.) I knew it was right before her shower. She informed me that she was trying one mascara on one eye and Spinlash on the other to see how they both looked and worked. Good girl!

She is at the age where she would like to start wearing makeup, but she is afraid someone might notice and make a negative comment, never mind that other girls are putting it on with spatulas.

Her first foray into mascara was a few weeks ago, and so far, she has opted not to wear it to school. She felt it was too hard to apply, and she wondered if she had done it right. (She had.)

That reminds me of a story from my niece in years gone by. She had a gf whose mother was a hair stylist. Her mother forbade her to wear makeup. I said to my niece, “She puts it on at school, doesn’t she?” And my niece was amazed that I knew. I wasn’t born yesterday.

How much better it would have been for her mother, who had access to all kinds of great products, to provide her with good products in right colors, show her how to use them, and let her go at it. Or, give her some of her own products that she was no longer using. I might not spend the money for my girls’ makeup, but it doesn’t feel like I’m spending anything when I let them ’shop’ in my stash. I have some lovely products, a little too dark for me, that look grand on this 13 yo.

I make comparisons between products all the time. Here’s how:

In general, compare only one thing at a time.
If I’m comparing foundation, I do not compare skin care the same day or vice versa.

How would I know which was contributing to the look?

Compare over the course of the day Look at it in various lights.
How does it compare at first? How does it compare after I’ve worn it a bit? Does one side look more moist or dewy? Has it smudged? Is it irritating?

How does it feel?

Conversely, if you have a lot of oil or a steady T-zone, how is it holding up, is it disappearing? Is oil coming through?

Comparing foundations or skin care
I divide my face with an imaginary line up the middle. I learned this years ago from a consultant for Viviane Woodard who gave talks at women’s groups with full makeup on one side and none on the other. That took chutzpa!

I use one product on one side, one on the other. Everything else is the same. I look at it in various lights and ask my daughters or a friend — and sometimes even SAs if I’m around makeup counters — which side they prefer. Surprisingly, or not, we usually prefer the same side.

The differences are subtle. Without being asked, and without drawing attention to it, no one would notice. But I notice; I’m particular; and I’m really looking for what is best.

If there’s any doubt, I do it several times over the course of a few days, switching sides, so that it isn’t my ‘good’ side that is providing the answer.

Eye cream
Use one on and under one eye; the other on and under the other eye. See which side is still hydrated and has less lines than the other over the course of the day.

Mascara
Try one mascara on one upper lash; the other on the other. Compare them over the course of the day.

Eye shadows or eye liners
I have been known to actually do two different looks, one on each eye. Most people don’t notice, LOL. You can compare brands, similar shades, different formulations, etc. You can even be intentional, as for a mardi gras look.

Perfumes
One on each arm or one on each wrist. You could put one on your arms, one on your legs.

I am reviewing two now that will go up later in the day, but I’m waiting to describe the mid and end points. I’ve worn them for several days this way, but I haven’t yet taken the time to describe them.

Lipsticks and lip glosses
You can put one on one lip and the other on the other and smoosh your lips together.

Or, you can try one, and when it is gone, try the next one.

Hair products
Generally, I compare on different days, but it is possible to compare products that tame frizz, for example, one on one side, one on the other. That way you know which you prefer and which you will re-buy. Or you could compare shampoos, by using one for the first wash, the other for the second, always remembering that the second sudses up more, so reverse it the next day.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-14 14:39:23.

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Wow, I really loved the shape of this eye. I have never had it done like this, and the trick will be if I can copy it.

Everything is Chanel unless noted. We used Sublimage serum and moisturizer and eye cream (over the Arbonne I had used earlier.) This was done at Neiman Marcus.

#16 Fall 2009 shadow – a quad with soft, medium and dark teals (the dark is shot with sparkle) and soft pink.

Pink done all over lid. Dark teal dry lining the lower lashes. Dark and Medium teal used to define shape and crease. The lightest teal was used in the inner corner. Then some grey over the inner corner to brighten even more.

Mascara: Chanel
Brow: Chanel Blond pencil
Ivory Foundation — a little dark.
Concealer: Beige 10 (hard to read the writing) also used as shadow base (shadow has creased in one spot hours later)
Lined on top with a liquid wand.
Rosee pressed powder — what a great color, shot with teeny sparkles — I’m not sure how it compares with what I have at home. I think it is lighter. Both are pinks; both are Chanel. She also used this all around the outside of my eye and top and cheekbones to highlight.
Blush: Sienna from the Fall colors also.

Lips:
Guerlain #8 + Chanel Rosey pencil + Chanel Sundress lipgloss
This looks nice in RL; looks too made up in the pix; but I still prefer a softer look using all the colors rather than so much product on my lips.

What do you think?
I’m definitely going to keep analyzing this eye today and try to copy it tomorrow. I like the eye a lot.

To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don’t have a representative, go here.

Thanks for looking!
Karin

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This look is from yesterday, Thursday. I haven’t done my look for today yet. This was a quick summer look, using the NYX lippie that Miranda had reminded me of, when she commented the other day on a look she particularly liked.

Eyes: all Aromaleigh, unless noted
AL makes some gorgeous mattes. I just don’t wear matte much any more.
Base: Nude Frost, then BE Queen Phyllis for some sheen
Lids and into crease: Dune
Crease and outer corners: Heron — this surprised me, I thought it would be gray, but it is slate blue — so I wrote on the label ‘blue’ so I wouldn’t forget! I like it probably better than gray.
Drylined top and bottom: Lagoon – one of my absolute faves
Trish: sparkly (using my finger to dab, pick up some, then dab on top) — can’t be completely matte!
Concealer: YSL + Arbonne
Mascara: Arbonne 2 in 1
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Primer: Arbonne
Foundation: Arbonne
Rouge under my sparkly mix: Chanel stick
Blush over my sparkly mix Arbonne promise, also used lightly as all over highlight
Guerlain meteorites powder used as bronzer

Lips: NYX Love Angel
This really is a pretty color!

Update on my skin
I am enjoying the Arbonne and love the luminosity of my skin. I see improvements around my eyes — and I would like even more…I like using the night products. My face looks luminous in the morning and feels perfect, still moist, but not greasy like some night products. I’m a happy camper!

Book girl has had a couple of Arbonne parties and is enjoying showing the products. She is very happy with the improvements in her skin. Others are telling her how much they like what they purchased! Be sure to contact her if you don’t have an Arbonne consultant. You can reach her by contacting me here.

Thanks for looking!

To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don’t have a representative, go here.

Karin

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This is the 3rd NYX trio palette in my amazingly cheap NYX haul.

Eyes:
TS 30 Baby Pink, White Pearl, Baby Blue
These are more my colors than yesterday’s!
Base: Lancome pink cream
Pink on my lids; Blue in the crease and lined under lower lashes; White on brow bone.
Brows: Prescriptive pencil — has a super thin lead, easy to use
Lined top: Lancome Blueberry wand
Tightlined Lined lower: Tidal Wave gel liner
Lined top and lower: Prestige Denim pencil
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose on upper; Tarte Bottom up on lower

Primer: Smashbox purple
Foundation: L’oreal N1
Rouge: Chanel stick
Powder: my sparkly mix + BE Mineral Veil as bronzer
Over powder: Benefit Georgia Peach
Blush: MAC Moon River
Concealer: Dior Skinflash

Lips: I liked this really well!
Too Faced Pink Diamond Gloss from their super Vintage sale
Rimmed with: MAC Baby Sparks Dazzler gloss

I was happy with the way this turned out. The color was nice with my denim top. And much more to my taste than yesterday.

What do you think?
Karin

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Once in a while a product comes along that seems revolutionary. This is one of them.

I have a SA to thank for sharing this with me the other day. I could feel an immediate difference even with some other product likely still on my eyes.

It is pricey, but in this case you get what you pay for.

Eyelid lifter, wrinkle minimizer, anti-bags, anti-dark circles
What more could you want!

Most lifting products are drying — that’s what makes them work.
This is not drying, and it is not like other lifting eye creams I have ever used.

It can also be used as an eye mask, once or twice a week
I have not done this yet.

My take
The SA was turning 64 she said. Her eyes looked as if she could have had surgery, but she had not.

She and I both agree that the Orchidee eye cream didn’t seem to do much. (I have had a sample.) I preferred the lip and eye cream to the Orchidee. But I prefer this cream over anything else I own. That, of course, means I have others to use up and not replenish.

My eyes are hooded, always have been, but they feel more open — seriously! And they felt this way from the first application.

Do yourself a favor and find a counter that sells this. Let them put some on you. See if you don’t agree.

In a month we’ll have to see if we see a difference in my eyes. In the meantime, I feel a difference.

Do you use this?
Have you ever tried this? What do you think? It seems like magic to me.

Karin
5 for effectiveness
$$$ About $110 — on a par with some Shiseido, La Prairie, Cle de Peau

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This was a busy day today! I’m just getting around to posting pix. I really was happy with the way this turned out. I like red on my eyes. How about you? Do you wear reds in shadow? I never did before AL.

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost
Lids: Meow ScandalEyes Nicole S light pink
Crease: Meow IdealEyes Twilight taupe
Outer corners and outer of lower eye: Meow VandalEyes Resisting Arrest red
Middle lower lined: Meow VandalEyes Shoplifting bluish purple
Pencil lined top and lower: MAC Light as Air light blue
Brows: Clinique pencil
Mascara: Cover Girl Eyelights Black Sapphire

Face:
Primer: Guerlain Meteorites
Foundation: Guerlain
Rouge and blush: Beauté liqui-gel stain Harlot — This gives such a natural flush to the skin. I like it a lot!
Powder: My sparkly mix topped with BE Mineral Veil as bronzer
Concealer: Guerlain

Lips:
MAC Sweetie, topped with Pinkarat gloss, topped in the middle with Beauté IF to make it a little less pink, rimmed with NYX Chandelier.

What do you think?
How do you like it?

Karin

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Take care of your skin today, it will thank you in 10 years. Or sooner!

I will be posting individual reviews in each category, but they are not ready to go up. This is a short synopsis.

Avon has a comparison of before and after pictures, in recent catalogs of models at different ages, with and without their products, using corrective products for their age as well as skin types. What a difference!

I showed the picture to a friend who didn’t believe that makeup was all it took. But any of us who know how we look with and without makeup, know it can be the truth.

She saw a TV show not too long ago where they debunked a particular product. I believe it was for the eyes. I told her that some eye creams do what they say, see below.

Meantime I saw a beautiful black woman the other day. She was wearing blush and lipstick, for sure. Her skin was luminous. I complimented her, then said, I bet she hears that a lot.

“Yes,” she said. “And I never do anything to it. I have to thank my mother and father. I am a combination of my mother and my father’s skin.”

As we talked further, she repeated, “I never do anything to it.”

Then, the kicker: “All I’ve ever done is use Clinique’s 3 step for twenty-five years.”

It works for her! And she didn’t think she was doing anything?

My adage:

It is easier to prevent than to correct.

It was explained to me once that the only part of our body that we rarely cover is our face. Everything else can be hidden. Don’t crimp on your face.

Do skin products really work?
Yes, some of them really do.

Nearly all lines show before and after pictures of women who used their products over time.

Do they have to be expensive?
No, but some of them are.

Avon makes some great skin care, age appropriate. They are also leaders in research and development.

Some drug store brands work; some department store brands. Guerlain makes many great products. Clarins. Clinique. Estee Lauder. Lancome. La Prairie. Olay. Shiseido. Cle de Peau. Avon. Mary Kay. I wear them all, and I always use Viviane Woodard moisturizer (since I was 18.) I am truly an equal opportunity customer.

Do you have to wear all products from one line?
No, but often SAs want to make you think so. OTOH, some products are meant to go together.

I wear different brands for different products. I don’t wear one brand-specific. I do use some products together that are meant to be used together.

I go by how my face looks or feels any given day.

What about the weather?
Yes, change moisture products when the weather changes. In general, heavier formulations of products (creams) when it is very cold or you will be exposed to wind. During hot weather, lotions or oil control products. Use this same idea for your foundation. Use a lighter one in summer.

Exfoliate your skin
Moisturizers penetrate better if you exfoliate regularly.

There are many ways to do this: masks that peel or not; Retin-A or other similar products; scrubs (gentle, please, don’t use a foot scrub on your face); cleansers that contain beads (Mary Kay Timewise is great, needs no toner, and comes in different formulas); diamond exfoliators (Mary Kay’s Microdermabrasion Set is great.)

Sunscreen? Limit hours in the sun.
Faithfully! I never go without it.

Don’t forget your neck. I probably did for far too long. I am currently using on my neck a sunscreen I don’t like on my face. Hurray, gonna finish a jar.

My favorite sunscreen is:

I am currently using one with spf of 85.

How can you tell if it is only hype?
How can I tell if I need it, or if it works for me?
If you wonder if you need it, you probably do. Start preventative early, so you don’t have to correct later.

Compare your skin with and without it. See my next post, that more fully explains how to make comparisons.

If you see no discernible difference or you don’t like how it smells or feels, consider returning the product. Companies don’t know, if we don’t return products.

Serums used before moisturizers? C-products? Copper products?
These have their place.

Fine lines around the mouth?
Chanel has a good product.

Be faithful to use exfoliation. I’ve written earlier about both Beauticontrol and Mary Kay having good lip exfoliation-balm sets.

How about eye creams?
Do I really need a separate eye cream?
Yes, after a certain age for sure. And hopefully sooner as preventative. Eye creams work differently than face creams.
Eye creams are made for specific problems.
If you have fine lines; if you need lifting; if your eyes are puffy, there are products specific for each.
Lifting Products
In general, lifting products can be drying (tightening), so you might need to moisturize. You might notice your lines becoming more prominent. Use a lifting product during the day; moisturize at night. Or, layer them during the day.
Puffy eyes
If your eyes are puffy from water retention — maybe you cried or you are traveling (like happens to me, even though I use my own pillow usually — eye creams can help this. A magic product is Chanel’s Precision Eye Cream. It takes care of puffiness. I haven’t found anything better. And it works better than their mega uber expensive Sublimage line.

But if your eyes are puffy from genetics because of fatty deposits, no eye cream is going to affect that. Unfortunately, to take care of that means having surgical removal. This can be done at the time of an eye lift or separately, but it is considered cosmetic as far as insurance is concerned, whereas the eye lift portion would be covered if you are having trouble seeing because of the skin sagging around your eyes. Eye cream will keep your eyes hydrated.

Don’t forget your hands!
See my separate post here.

That’s all for now. Anything else you want me to share?

Book Girl says I should tell you that I’m 70, that way you’d think I look great. Fortunately or unfortunately, I am not 70. On good days, in good light, with great makeup, I do not look my age. We won’t speak of other times.

Karin
If you do not have a Mary Kay consultant, consider buying from mine. Tell her Karin sent you.

If you do not have a Beauticontrol consultant, please contact me for information on mine.

If you do not have an Avon rep, mine is great. You can tell her Karin sent you.

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I’m not a minimalist. I learned a long time ago with perfume that I don’t have to use up a perfume to get another. In fact it spoils a perfume for me, if I feel I have to use it, when it’s not what I’m in the mood for.

I don’t know about you, but I have product that I could use up. If I feel overwhelmed with stuff, it’s time to clear it out. So I’m starting to.

I am an equal opportunity customer, when it comes to cosmetics. I don’t care if it’s expensive or inexpensive — if it works. And I’ve learned that I don’t have to use a product up to the end in order to try another product. Sometimes I just like having the option of variety. I use different forms of creams or lotions or even foundation, depending on the weather or the season.

And why, if I really like something, do I sometimes treat it like family silver? Who am I saving it for, if I don’t use it? I should treat myself good and use it every day!

What to do, what to do…
Here’s some ideas:
Throw it out!
You know you can do this, even if I can’t!
Take a deep breath and toss it.

Give it away. Then it’s no longer a burden to you.
Let someone else think about it.
Share it with someone who would appreciate it or needs it.
Gift it to a friend. Let them use it up!

Trade it with a stranger
There are site-specific websites that help you trade perfumes — or cosmetics — and other, like Craigslist, that would help you sell or trade the tile off your roof or the bikes in your garage.

Return or exchange it
If it doesn’t work, don’t feel badly about returning it to the store you bought it from. Do it early, rather than later. Companies don’t know you don’t like it, if you keep it.

Layer it with other product
I have Chanel No 5 in Douceur Satinee pour le corps…a lovely spray oil. I never used it for a variety of reasons: I rarely wear No 5, and while this is a lovely way to wear it, because there is no alcohol, so it is like wearing parfum (I do recommend this product), it would conflict with the perfume I really wanted to wear, and I prefer lotions.

So about a year ago, I started to mix it with lotion. I picked lotions that would pick up a note in No 5 or be changed by the No 5. As an added plus, I’ve used up one lotion, a fairly strong vanilla from Bath and Body Works that I never liked the scent of, and I’m working on another: Iris of Tuscany which I found at TJ Maxx a long time ago. It was very inexpensive at TJM, and if I could find it again, and if I didn’t have plenty of other lotions, I would buy it again. It’s made in Italy and quite lovely.

I take about a quarter size of lotion and spritz about 6-7 small sprays of oil into it in my hand, and I use it on my legs. It cuts the amount of No 5, gives me a lotion feel, and is far enough away from my face and dissipates soon enough, that I use it every day.

But it’s like the proverbial pot of oil in the Bible, it never runs out! But at least I’m using it!

Use it on your neck
Facial lotions or creams that are either too rich or not rich enough for your face.
Sunscreen you don’t like on your face. I’m almost to the bottom of one.
Mineral foundations that don’t quite match your face.

If you don’t like it on your neck or face, use it on your body
Elbows, knees, feet can use creams too rich for your face.

Mineral foundations
Use for eyeshadow as a neutral base for other colors.
Combine shades to make a new color that might work better.
If all else fails: use them on your neck or body.
They cover a birthmark nicely and help heal other problems.

Vow to use it up Reach for it first
I have an eye cream that I like; I just didn’t reach for it often. The last time I used it up, I didn’t think I would replace it, but then I did. So it sat there staring me in the face, making me feel badly.

I put it where I would use it as part of a 5 minute pick-me-up. When I woke and removed eye makeup that had smudged (even if I had removed it the night before), I would put a dab of this eye cream on, until I got around to doing my whole face. For my regular makeup, I’d layer on another eye cream. If I just needed a pick-me-up throughout the day, I’d put on a dab of the one I was trying to use up.

I’m happy to report, I used the last drop, today.

Use up lip or eye pencils
Draw on the tip of your index finger.
For blush: Add a small drop of moisturizer, mix with your other index finger and apply.
For eye shadow: Add a small drop of moisturizer or eye cream, apply as above.

All those little sample baggies of shadows or highlighters
Ones you don’t wear as often or as well
Make your own mix by combining.
Turn eye shadows into highlighters. Turn highlighters into shadow.
Turn blush into eye shadow or eye shadow into blush.
Mineral foundation samples or full size a little dark
Combine them or use them alone as bronzers.
Mineral foundation samples or full size a little light
Combine them or use them alone as highlighters.
Ones you love
Replenish them from full size.
Put your faves into your travel bag so you don’t have to think when you pack.

Eyeshadows
Turn eye shadows into highlighters.
Use them for blush.
Use them for brow color.

What’s the last thing you used up, and how did you accomplish it?

What do you do to use up product?
Send me your ideas, and I’ll post them or you can be a guest writer.

Karin

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This is going to be an ongoing post that I will update as I think of other things.

There are times when you want to tweak your look. Maybe you just don’t like the colors you chose. Maybe you feel you look tired — or old!

Pick one or two of these:

Add
a concealer Touch up any place you might need it, with illuminating concealer.
a lippie Swipe another color or gloss, or both, over the top of what you started with.
a brighter, deeper, or smokier color to your shadows Either as shadow or brightliner, as you wish.
a liner Swipe on a deeper or another color.

Clean up
any smudging under your eyes
any migrating into lines around your mouth

Freshen
your lippie
(or add) eye cream This will camouflage lines. Use an illuminating one.
dab on moisturizer around your lips if you are dry; pat it, don’t wipe.
under your eyes, around your mouth, or beneath your brow with illuminating concealer.
your blush Choose a different color, if the one you started with isn’t working.

Can you think of other things? What do you do to freshen up?

Karin

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Is it ever possible to have too many _____________? You fill in the blank.

I know we talk at POL about how many perfumes are enough already. The sky’s the limit with some things.

Yesterday I asked myself, is it ever possible to have too many eye creams?

Well, actually, no, if you use them all. I never seem to use them up as I have so many, plus I get them in gifts with purchase too. So that adds a few more to the mix…and I don’t worry about end dates. If they smell perfect and still work good and the consistency hasn’t changed, I keep using them.

Do they work? well, yes, I expect so, especially since I have dry skin, and always have had, but you couldn’t tell it, because, yep, I use eye cream(s.) And I have them in every price range and several companies, from Avon to Lancome to La Prairie or YSL and Estee Lauder — there’s even a good one by Olay which my daughter-in-law shared with me. I’m not sure if one works better than another, or if I just think they work better on any given day.

If I read or hear about a good one, I’ll see if there’s a way to sample it…and then it goes into the rotation. I pick one by what I feel I need that day. I try now to buy ones that have light diffusing elements in them.

I wouldn’t feel dressed without eye cream. And if I’m in Las Vegas, I carry some with me, because one application is not enough to cover/moisturize me for the day in such a dry climate.

Do you have a favorite? What is it that you couldn’t do without? Or is one enough for you…

Karin

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