Cosmetic things that worked for me - sharing girly stuff

Artsee- I have used both kinds of coconut oil. I am not sure which processing makes it so that it does not smell like coconut - but I prefer the smell! We have the 365 organic that does smell right now and I love it for my skin and for making pancakes! (not from the same jar! Gross!)

I don't use waterproof mascara just water resistant. Meaning if it gets wet it won't run but if you touch it after it gets wet it comes off. I never liked waterproff mascara. So that means if I'm going swimming I don't wear it.

There are eye makeup removers specially formulated to remove waterproof makeup.

Don't mean to scare anyone, but at the "Look Good, Feel Better" class, the instructor said never to use waterproof mascara because of some bad things in it. Did he actually say "tar"?? Sorry, don't have any more info and have not checked it out myself. I just threw mine away. Have no idea if the same warning applies to water-resistant mascaras... 

Wren...It's called 'spectrum' organic coconut oil. USDA organic. Got it at Walmart in the cooking section with the other oils. I love the way it melts when it gets on your warm skin. The Cod I made for supper in it was also pretty good tonight.

I love cooking with coconut oil. My skin hasn't been too dry. Most of the time I forget to use moisturizer on my body. My skin was very oily before treatment. Now it's just normal. I figured out how to control my acne a short time before treatment. The brand Arcona has been a godsend for me and I can still use it. I use the hydrator Magic White Ice and raspberry exfoliating toner pads. They both have some natural anti fungal properties that keep my acne in check. My skin looks really good since chemo as well. I use rx Ziana at night; it's combo retin a and clindamycin. On the rare occasions I want more moisture I like argan oil or camellia oil.



I remove makeup with the Origins cleansing oil. When I run out I may experiment with regular oils (argan, camellia, coconut or something new). My favorite cleanser is First Aid Beauty. I'm a bit of a lip balm junkie. 3 in my current rotation are First Aid Beauty, Avalon Organics vitamin C, and one from Eco Tools. For tint I love Burt's Bees that comes in the cardboard tube in Hibiscus. It has no shimmer.



My new favorite cosmetic brand is TheBalm. Especially the under eye concealer. I'm also a fan of Tarte. My favorite mascara is Blinc. It's a tubing mascara. No smearing from my oily eyelids. Waterproof (or is it water resistant?) unless friction is used with the water. It's a wild concept that it doesn't budge with sweat, tears, rain etc unless rubbed when wet. It comes off very easily in 'tubes' unlike traditional waterproof mascara.

Cider8, it's nice to hear a recommendation for the First Aid Beauty cleanser. I'm almost done using some giant bottles of Philosophy Purity that I don't love (but got for free) and will be switching to the FAB cleanser when that's done. I've been usinkng their hand cream (Ultra Repair Cream) for a couple years. It really hydrates dry areas and calms my occasional eczema, isn't sticky or slippery, and no obnoxious fragrance. I use a couple of their other products, too, the toning pads, and the undereye roller. (The insect bite stick is also great.) I was also very oily, and am a bit more dry since starting chemo. I've got a bottle of FAB 5-in-1 face cream that came in a kit if I dry out too much. (So far, though, my Ole Henrikson cream with vitamin C is still doing the job.)



I'm also a fan of Tarte (love their blushes and lip tints, and their primer is affordable and very nice) and theBalm (just got a great price on a couple theBalm items that are on HauteLook today, in fact). I've tried the Blinc mascara, and found it was only ok for me. It doesn't lengthen or volumize as much as I want, but it is a good product.



I currently use Urban Decay's Lush Lash mascara. I love the brush an it gives me great lashes. It's also a bit water resistant, but comes off with my face cleanser. (If I want more volume I add a little bit of Too Faced Size Queen to the tips of my lashes.)



My favorite lip balm is Jack Black. It's a brand for men, but their lip balm is amazing. My husband and I both use it (I like mint, he likes lemon). I like to use Fresh Sugar lip balm before bed. I think I have a tube of the FAB lip balm around here somewhere, too.

I have never found a drugstore brand that did anything other than leave my lips feeling like they were coated in wax, and they were constantly dry and cracked. Gross!

I haven't had chapped lips since I started using Fresh and Jack Black, worth every penny.

Primer makes your skin smooth, and helps foundation to "stick" on and last a little longer.  It goes on after your moisturizer (if you use one), but give the moisturizer a few minutes to soak in.  I have large pores on my cheeks near my nose, and primer just smoothes those over so they're not so noticeable after I put on foundation.  You can also use primer to help "fill in" fine lines.  Apply by patting it on with your fingertips- don't rub it in.

A lot of brands have primers now, and there are different formulations.  Some brands make me break out, some smooth better than others, some help block oil, some moisturize.

Most days I just use moisturizer, and I use a powder foundation because I'm oily.  If I'm going out somewhere and feel like "dressing up," I also use primer.  I like Too Faced Primed and Poreless or Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Primer.

I also almost always use an eyeshadow primer- even on days I don't wear eyeshadow.  That is formulated to help eyeshadow to stay on longer, not crease, and the colors are usually more vibrant/true.  I use Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Cottontail, I see you are a bit of a product junkie like I am! I like to think of it as product research. I've been using FAB Ultra repair cream on my daughter's eczema laden legs, as it's the only cream that gives her any benefit. The FAB kits are a great deal.



I found a lot of TheBalm at Marshall's/TJMaxx. Such a delight to find good products at such a steal. I've got an unopened primer from them that I'll try this summer.



BTW, I lived in Bonner Springs, KS for a couple years in the late 90s. Fond memories.



For fingernails. I like my nails to look well maintained, but I can't take colors and having my nails done at a salon gives me the heebie jeebies. My solution is to use Barielle Natural Nail Camouflage. It's slightly tinted a nude, a thin formula, dries in minutes, medium shine. I think it can be used as a base coat. I like it best as one coat and love that the chipping is barely noticeable. Great low maintenance!

I use this only sold at Sophora for dark circles. It doesn't go on heavy therefore doesn't emphasise the wrinkles under your eyes.

Mister _________ Instant Light Corrective Pen by Givenchy
I use the Mister Milk color

When I was 13, I was very overweight, and had a unibrow. God bless my mom, who took me to her salon for a professional wax and shaping. Unfortunately, she didn't wear much makeup, so when I started wearing foundation, I missed the part about blending it into your neck. Mine was rather orange, and ended exactly at my chin line. But a well-meaning stranger in a department store set me straight about that one!

Many years ago, I went to the beauty counter at one of the larger department stores. The sales clerk told me I should never take my eye makeup off with Vaseline, as it tended to build up behind the eye, and eventually they would have to remove your eyeball to clean it out!!!!!!  I had a little chat with the manager.....

I've been to the Esthetician in the Dermatology department at Kaiser. She had me buy the entire Obagi line of skin care. One day on that regimen and my face broke out so badly I had to take Benadryl and use cortisone cream to calm it down. Turns out I'm allergic to most of the chemical ingredients - especially the sulfates.

Just bought my jar of Organic Coconut Oil at Trader Joes...keeping it in the fridge. Can't wait to try it.

I'm on a medically supervised fast until July, and I don't want to end up a big bag of wrinkles, so I have high hopes for well-conditioned skin.

Oh, and here is a pic of the "spoolie" that was mentioned a few pages back...they're like little rubber martini glasses - you wrap your hair around the stem, then flip the top part down over the hair.

My dermatologist mentioned A&D ointment under the eye or near crows feet before going to bed. This is for wrinkles.

Thanks for the under eye tips - sounds good. I'm particularly interested in anything 'natural'. Though I must admit - it's a lot of work researching products and reading between the lines to see what really goes into a tube of mascara. 

I'd prefer to wear nothing these days, but since I'm going back to work, vanity is winning. 

I am going to have to try coconut oil based on everyone's recommendations.  At my local store, they only have it in a huge container, but I think I saw it at Whole Foods once in a smaller.  I'll have to make a trip.  I hope coconut oil is good for you when you eat it in throse banana chips that are fried in coconut oil.  I'm officially addicted to those after making the mistake of buying a bag.  

I love bare minerals for under eye concealer.  I also love it as make-up.  I will never wear liquid foundation ever again. 

Apple, I don't know if this would work, but there's a liquid you can put over eyeliner to make it last.  I'm thinking this might help make your eyebrows stay.  I know Too Faced makes one.  Of course I can't think of the exact product name.  A make-up artist put it on my eyeliner one time and it did help. 

Wow those spooly things do not look any more comfortable than those pink foam rollers we used to wear to bed.  Darn I hated those and luckily, the hippie look came in shortly after that and I could wear my hair long and straight the way god made it.   

Random notes on coconut oil:

(Got mine in a jar, organic, from Trader Joes)

1.  Keeping it in the fridge was a mistake. Needed a jackhammer to get some out. Put some in a tiny container to keep in the bathroom, THEN you can put the jar in the fridge to keep from going rancid.

2. Be very careful when taking off eye makeup. Once it gets into your eyes, it doesn't necessarily sting, but can leave a filmy coating in the eye. Ick. I was rubbing a small amount into my eye makeup, then removing it with a warm washcloth. I want something to take the makeup off without a lot of rubbing...have been using Neutrogena makeup remover wipes which work beautifully, quickly, and don't sting or leave a residue. Just thought I'd try the coconut oil (something without chemicals).

3. HAVE been using it as a facial moisturizer. Feels nice, although I do smell a bit tropical when I use it.