Thread: Mirror, mirror...beauty for changing skin...

Originally Posted by khalima

No way, Souzan, unless your profile picture is about 20 years old!

I love the pan stick makeup, too, especially since I need heavier coverage. I've had a hard time finding it lately, and rumor has it that Max Factor is phasing out US sales, so I stocked up from drugstore.com.

Khalima, that picture was taken about a year ago. Thanks for the tip on the PanStick. I'll have stock up on some more. Another tip from the ballet dancer--use PanStick in dark shades for contouring under cheekbones and jaw line. Easy to blend by applying with wet fingers or sponge.

Originally Posted by anala

Dining with a friend of mine (she was 39) and her two daughters -

I would have had to kill you.... nothing personal.

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,
Trust me, had my friend not been who she is (great sense of humor), she might have clobbered me with her omelet.

Souzan, I dance with a lady who is 61 - and she is amazingly gorgeous as you are. I think if you treat your body well, it shows, and if you laugh a lot people will always remember you from your smile. No amount of magic bullet creams can replace that...g.:

Originally Posted by Sahirah_Badr

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,
Trust me, had my friend not been who she is (great sense of humor), she might have clobbered me with her omelet.

Souzan, I dance with a lady who is 61 - and she is amazingly gorgeous as you are. I think if you treat your body well, it shows, and if you laugh a lot people will always remember you from your smile. No amount of magic bullet creams can replace that...g.:

Genes have a lot to do with it too. I had oily skin when I was younger and my mother always told me not to complain because I wouldn't get as many wrinkles when older. Maybe she was right. One of my sisters, however, is 10 years younger than me and doesn't take care of her health or exercise or take care of her skin. She looks like she is 70 instead of 52.

Didn't someone recommend a face yoga book a while back? *looks hopeful*

Originally Posted by TexasRuya

Didn't someone recommend a face yoga book a while back? *looks hopeful*

Actually - that does work to a degree! I know there was something called T Tap my facialist talked about. I teach Yoga. The funny looking face is called Lion on this page... Face Yoga: Fountain of Youth? - Gaiam Life and it gives some helpful information. I teach that LION face to kids and they love it! ..l;, It also helps clear the lungs and throat when used with a elongated HAAAA sound. There's a few other suggestions - I do inversions a lot, mostly shoulder stands and plow pose.

I agree Souzan - good genes and taking care of yourself are key - and like you - had oily skin long past my teen years. It was very frustrating. I STILL get breakouts, and it is monthly cycle oriented, not any products I use.

My esthetician says - water, water, water... not sugared water like those yum Vitamin drinks - spring water plain is best for the body tissues. Don't give it sugar to flush out too. It also helps with dark circles under the eyes as that is a sign of dehydration, but it won't help if hereditary, allergies or you never sleep.

For those of you swearing by Retin-A:
how long did it take for the flaking to stop,how did you start your routine?:)

Since I´ve had so good results with retinol,I haven´t considered prescription strength yet.
I experienced *major* flaking in the beginning with 0,5%...

I'm having similar issues... I'm 43, and looking to closely in a mirror is starting to freak me out. I went to Ulta a few weeks ago to have a look around and this absolutely gorgeously skinned woman asked me if I wanted her to put some make up on me. I of course had my jacket off and was in the chair before she finished the sentence.

I told her that I didn't want to look like I was wearing a bunch of makeup, and she agreed, saying that she prefers to use makeup in a way that makes skin look like skin. She used all Napolean Perdis products, and very little amounts, and I swear I looked 10 years younger.

One of the products was a face primer, and one was a pore concealer. As soon as I save my pennies I am going to buy this stuff. It's a little pricey, but she really used such a minimal amount that I think it would last a long time.

Ms. Emma, did you use the Neutrogena Healthy Skin eye cream, or did you use the regular (night?) cream as an eye cream? Thanks!

Continue to wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Rest, drink plently of water, don't rub your eyes or squint.

When you first begin to use it..Retin A.. the scaling takes about a week to wear off. It is the accelerated renewal process that causes it. I use .25% and use it every other day and mix it half and half with a very thick emollient. I use the sandy micro crystals that come with the battery powered twirly thing to ex-foliate and get rid of the scales, but I use my fingers in the shower after my skin has absorbed a lot of water.

My pores are starting to enlarge and the skin directly above my lips is turning tan, so, I look like I have a moustache, according to my son.
I don't smoke, so I can't say it's nicotien coloring, I'm baffled as to what would cause my upper lip to tan and nothing else.

Napoleon Perdis at Target:NP Set : Beauty : Target

Update, re: drugstore foundation. I bought Revlon's PhotoReady Foundation and transparent powder and have been using it the past two nights - I LOVE it - it gives a luminous effect, and really does help minimize pores and doesn't collect in lines like the Colorstay I was using. My skin looks fairly flawless, even in flourescent light.

I've also started using white liner only on my lower waterline, skipping both black liner and mascara completely under the eye. I also have taken to making the black line on my upper lid shorter, and using a bit of white on the very outer edge to help bring the line upwards (my eyes are downturned and if I follow the natural line of my eye all the way across, my eyes take on a "Miss Piggy" appearance). By lifting up on the liner before I reach the corner of my eye, and by using white on the lower lid, I've been able to mimic having a more cat-like shape to my eyes, I look more alert, and skipping all the black on my lower lids has kept the area clean, even after sweating through several sets per night.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Okay, so I've also decided that I need to change foundation (I'm using Revlon's Colorstay foundation right now). Ultra-expensive won't work for me right now, so if anyone has any recs for good quality drugstore or Ulta brands that will help give a smooth, dewey appearance, I'm all ears...

I see you've found one since this post.... but just wanted to share the one that I love- Lorac. I usually use it mixed with moisturizer, so my own "tinted moisturizer". Amazing, nice coverage and a soft dewy finish without settling into fine lines.

Originally Posted by Sahirah_Badr

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,
Trust me, had my friend not been who she is (great sense of humor), she might have clobbered me with her omelet.

Well, THAT would have been messy. :)
Another tip- when we apply dark eye makeup and get "fall out" under the eyes and on the cheekbones...at this stage of the game we need different procedures. "Old school" (or if you're still in school ) says either dust off with powder (that you may have loaded on underneath your eyes before doing your eyes), or simply layer on more foundation and powder. NO! Cake city...but worse- grey cake city as it's mixed with eye makeup. I do foundation on my forehead and then do my eyes. THEN I remove the "fall out" either with a moisturizing toner or gentle water based eye makeup remover. Following that, I re-do moisturizer and then put foundation on the lower part of my face. It avoids layering too much product on an "iffy" area.
Oh, and MAC has a wonderful lip primer that really prevents feathering; even with reds!

For brightening up my complexion I love lemon juice. :-) I don't need to dilute it as my skin is not terribly sensitive. It lightens sun spots and brightens up everything! It makes an awesome toner (pores look smaller). I also notice it helps to dry out any spots I may get occasionally on my chin. Lots of vitamin C...why buy an expensive cream? If your skin is sensitive, I would dilute it but it also exfoliates dry skin. I use it at night.

I use bottled lemon juice but you can just cut open a lemon. ;)

Originally Posted by Zana

Ms. Emma, did you use the Neutrogena Healthy Skin eye cream, or did you use the regular (night?) cream as an eye cream? Thanks!

Hi there:)

I used the regular version for the face as it contains more retinol,to get used to it gradually...after 3 weeks with the Skinceuticals 0,5 the skin around my eyes seem to "shrink" and took on the *very*shiny look it has now.
My cousin thought I had an eyelid lift!

Thank you Anala,I´ve been contemplating to start using Retin-A since I´m both an smoker and an ex-sunworshipper,f::

To all the young girls here;don´t tan and don´t start smoking!

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

I see you've found one since this post.... but just wanted to share the one that I love- Lorac. I usually use it mixed with moisturizer, so my own "tinted moisturizer". Amazing, nice coverage and a soft dewy finish without settling into fine lines.

Well, THAT would have been messy. :)
Another tip- when we apply dark eye makeup and get "fall out" under the eyes and on the cheekbones...at this stage of the game we need different procedures. "Old school" (or if you're still in school ) says either dust off with powder (that you may have loaded on underneath your eyes before doing your eyes), or simply layer on more foundation and powder. NO! Cake city...but worse- grey cake city as it's mixed with eye makeup. I do foundation on my forehead and then do my eyes. THEN I remove the "fall out" either with a moisturizing toner or gentle water based eye makeup remover. Following that, I re-do moisturizer and then put foundation on the lower part of my face. It avoids layering too much product on an "iffy" area.
Oh, and MAC has a wonderful lip primer that really prevents feathering; even with reds!

Thanks Samira, I may yet try that!

I totally agree with the rest of your post - the layering of powder and foundation in the under eye area has been a nightmare lately, and I've ended up looking like I have bruises or bad dark circles under my eyes (it's not a big problem for me yet otherwise). For me, eliminating liner completely under the eyes has been great, but there may be times when I want to do the kohl-rimmed look, so I'll be sure to try your method.