Cosmetic things that worked for me - sharing girly stuff

cystal maybe its the wrong kind of eyeline for you. Some people fine the pencils easier.

Some people swear by laura mercier creme eyeliner that you put on with a brush. Bobbie Brown also puts out a cream liner that people seem to like. You do need a good tiny eye liner brush.

 I've been wearing eyeline for as long as I can remember and I'm a graphic designer so I can  handle a brush. I actually just use eyeshadow and wet my brush. It's a bit tricky. I wouldn't recommend you start with this.

I will admit now at 52 I need glasses to put it on. I had to purchase these make up glasses. Thankgoodness I can wear OTC reading glasses

I, too, would like help navigating Zenni. My optician's office suspected this is what I was going to do when I asked for my eye results and warned me that I have astigmatism in one eye and these online pair would not address it. Is that a big deal???



Iago, I, too, bought a pair of those one-frame glasses for putting on makeup, but still find the 10x magnifier mirror works best. I've been wearing eye makeup for 50 years and still won't go out without eyeliner and mascara. I've given up shadow. I use pencil liner, usually Cover Girl, which isn't expensive. I think that 50 years of pulling my eyelid to put on eyeliner has given me way too many wrinkles.



Crystal, make sure your skin is dry before putting on eyeliner. When I put on eye cream or wrinkle lotion, it starts smearing and running.



My all- time best buy, though, is the Anastasia brow duo Iago recommended many moons ago. After chemo, my brows never came back fully, just sparse and white. Creating brows makes SUCH a difference.



I'm thinking of having ultherapy, a noninvasive face lift, for my upcoming 65th birthday, Anyone else had that??? My derm said it wouldn't be a ' home run' because of my age and sagging skin, but she said she would have told me 'no' if I wasn't a candidate at all.

Also I find the younger newer make-up sales people will try to sell you the kitchen sink as trained. The more experienced knows that us middle aged women don't want to spend ages putting on make up.

The last gal I went to at Nordstrom was young and Hispanic. I am neither, but she made the best suggestions yet. Great colors. Only mistake she made was telling me that this eye shadow color would make my eyes look bigger. I laughed at her and said "Do I look like I have a problem with that?" I have big eyes. Granted the color did brighten me up so I did buy it. She was just in auto comment mode. Right product wrong sales pitch.

WaveWhisperer I have a mirror that is 3X but it's still too strong for me. I'm only at a 2+ for reading glasses. I have yet to find a 2X mirror.

Here's to keeping the thread active!!

I can't seem to wear eye liner without looking like a hooker! But my girls wear it like it's nothing!! I NEVER wore it. I do find though, that I have to wear really dark eye shadow at the outer edges of my ears for emphasis (in my avatar I have no shadow on and am sweating after a hot walk). But, I do know I need something new. I remember reading that if you're wearing your make-up the same way you always did then you're out of date. Weird, my eyes and face are the same!!! I use browns to darken and like to put that really light white/cream at the inner blob of my eye like they do on What Not To Wear. That was a great tip. The other great tip I got from them and posted pages ago, now that I'm older I don't use under eye concealer as it looks wrong. I use the same powder or foundation that I am wearing all over my face and it looks so much more natural!

I like the idea of using powder for an eye liner and think I'll try that. Great tip!! I, too, have large eyes and no one has EVER been able to do my make-up and have it look good. They always brush a dark colour right across my lids which looks WAY too heavy!! With big lids like mine you have to gradiate the colour from an inner light to a darker outside. Look at magazine ads that's how the models do it, why can't the "pros" do it that way?

Wish me luck on my "non-hooker" look!

I did see those glasses!!! Tres chique!! I'm lucky enough to have a mirror that's a x15 or x17 or whatever that works for me. I stand though and wonder if I need to find a way to sit down.....hmmm. Never thought to use a liner brush, I've tried the edge of my current brush and it seems to work okay but I bet a liner brush would do better!! Can L'Oreal shadows get wet? I like the idea of wet as it would sink into the lash line. Or maybe I should just try a wet liner? I would automatically grab a black as I do in mascara....should I do brown then?

I haven't lost weight (thanks!) but think the lighter hair on my face may make a difference. I'm gray in the front (highlighted blonde) and very dark brown in the back! I have a natural hombre look going on....

Should I try brown eyeliner against black mascara? My girls have a heavy hand to their eyeliner and it looks cool. When I try it, it's just too much. So a thinner line it is, now which colour? Good point about bacteria as I don't wash my mascara off every night as I find that too harsh on my eyes and lashes. This way I just touch-up my lashes (or not) each day.

Oooh, I have green eyes!!! Would that look amazing or what?? What do you mean by durrrrr Cyborg? Is it tough to do?

Brown it is!! I do use plums a lot as well, they actually look more natural sometimes than browns, like bruising...hehehehe. So maybe...plums it is!!! Hmm....I'll keep you posted.

It is so nice to see this thread active again. I am still trying to do the eyeliner, simply because I think I look great in it. but I struggle with it, mostly because  even a waterproof liner ends up "below" my eyes, where I am dark to begin with.

I think the idea is to not use a moisturizer on my eyes, but I have dry skin and want to keep my skin well moisturized. I am starting to wonder if when I laugh i squinch my face all up and the liner goes down "under" my eyes?? (I only use liner on the top lids...so it is curious to me)

barbe what brands are you using that stay on even during sleep?

Lago, I have mouse shit brown hair...and have been having severe dermatitis reactions to hair dye. I am frustrated.

crystal, if I even remember to use eye moisturizer (once a week, maybe?) I put it on at night. I don't blow-dry my hair which keeps heat from my face and do NOT rub your eyes!!! Maybe that's what you're doing without thinking??? I've rubbed my powdered brow into the gap between them giving me a definite "unibrow" look! hehehehehehehe. I put brown powder to the beginning inside of my brows as they have thinned to non-existence!

Some ladies can put eyeliner (sticks) to the inside of their eyes. I think that's got to do some damage....wouldn't it???? I know someone who has to re-apply it a number of times a day as her eyes water. crystal, do your eyes water??

crystal, have you considered getting low-lights put in by a pro? That's what I do an it blends my gray into londe. Because my underside is dark it looks kind of cool. I need to update my avatar!

Twohobbies, thanks for the tip on the grey!! Never even considered it, but it might just be the ticket. Also you made me recall that I already have a little eyeshadow that has a "liner" brush. Now to find it....

Hi Ladies

I have so enjoyed your posts and I will try some of the products you've all recommended. I do have a question though. It seems not many wear fake eye lashes. Do they look silly once the real ones fall out or are they uncomfortable? 

I will have to check her out @TwoHobbies!

@Jasra I have tried and tried to wear false lashes but cannot find ones that look good (too fake), maybe because my lashes were sparse and light to begin with.  Mine still have not grown back enough to use an eyelash curler which is really killing me!!

Hi, just thought I'd come in and mention that I used to wear the individual lashes back in the 70's, every day, would you believe!

I could trim them to desired length with nail clippers and apply with just a dot of glue, and a light coat of mascara on top. Once you get the knack of applying them, it is really simple, just a bit of practise and you'll be an expert. They are reusable, but are so cheap it doesn't matter if you throw them out.

There are also sets of extremely fine false lashes that are made for the bottom lash line. They may work for those who've lost their top lashes to treatment as they don't have a thick line, and are sparse hair.

I worked for a number of high end cosmetic companies, and had my own business for many years doing the makeup for weddings and events, I worked for Clarins in the early 90's and did "Look good Feel Better" training with them and thoroughly enjoyed doing the worshops . I am sure it would have been mentioned on this thread, but it is a great thing to do. The makeup companies donate great product, and the operators are well trained.  It is a really fun way to spend some time, pick up some tips and some great product with a group of ladies.

Just a thought, if you are going to try the false lashes, do an allergy test for the glue before putting on your lids.

Take care everyone!

My eyelashes are thinner than they used to be but I have large eyes and wear liner so it's not a big deal for me. I never put mascara on the bottom lashes. The last thing I want to do is make the area under my eyes darker… that's for the under 40 crowd.