Femme Asylum - Makeup queries

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06 January 2008 @ 11:04 am

Makeup queries

Uh, hello? *peers around asylum door* I just joined and hoped I could rant about my freckles/negative body image for a little while...?

The thing that I, ok I don't hate but do fixate on quite a bit, is that I have freckles on very pale white skin [apart from when it goes splotchy and red occassionally] and this means that they are pretty much always there, because the makeup that is pale enough for me doesn't cover them or hide them or anything.
I don't know whether this is just my insecurities, but all my friends will start off with pretty normal skin, a mole here, some blotches there, acne, whatever, they're not totally perfect, but then something magical happens and they suddenly have clear, gorgeous skin. I mean, it looks made up, its not like it looks natural, but I'm pretty young and don't know all that much about makeup anyway, so maybe I'm applying it wrong, or simply have the wrong products in the first place, or am not using enough?
I'm confused about whether I even should want to hide my freckles, because everyone is always talking about negative images in the press, and maybe I'm hoping that out there somewhere is a cream that will somehow give me an air brushed quality. I don't hate them, I just resent them, because as far as I know there isn't anything much else wrong with my skin, and if it wasn't for them... well, I don't know what kind of miracle I would expect to hapen if I was prettier, since I don't buy into the more popular/wealthy/happy myth, but whatever.
Is there a way to hide freckles, or at least learn to love them?

Ok, some less insecurity based questions, and more just, questions questions. I'm left handed, so I find it much easier to apply liquid eyeliner to my left eye. Should I keep using my left hand on m right eye, which is easier but more awkward, or should I start trying to use my right hand on my right eye, which would be much less awkward but would probably take a while to get right without drawng all over my face?
And of course, how how how do you get the courage to talk to/approach/make eye contact with the gorgeous ice queens at the Chanel etc tables in places like Boots or Debenhams or hell, even in Harrods? I know that they are in the shop, so they must want to sell me something, and so are probably not going to be horrible or totally ignore me, but how can I even find out when I'm totally mortified if one of them even catches me looking? Ok, that was quite an insecure question. Oh well. The ridiculous thing is I'm pretty damn self confident usually, just not about what I look like...

Any help is appreciated!

Tags: makeup

Current Location: Oxford, England

Current Mood: anxious

8 comments | Leave a comment

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minuet9 on January 6th, 2008 12:23 pm (UTC)

Hi, welcome ;)

1. Try a mineral powder, gives an airbrushed look without covering completely (which is the latest look. if your skin looks too flawless it also makes you look expressionless. What you want is to even it out, not have a 'clean slate' to decorate.

2. Remember that the ice queens are there to SELL YOU SOMETHING. Remember that ultimately it is YOUR money that will buy their lunch. Also remember that you DO NOT HAVE TO BUY anything.
Good lines to remmber are "Thank you, I want to wear this for a while and see how it ages" or, "thank you, I'll be back on payday." Or just "thank you, I'll think about it."
In fact it is never a good idea to buy makeup on the spot. Go outside, get a mirror, look at the colour in a different light.
If you go to a counter of course then they should PROVE on your skin that their product does what you want it to do.
I recently did a course where a qualified beautician showed us how to find the right colour foundation, testing it on the jawline. It should blend between the colour above it and the colour of your neck. She said you should always place the testers on, then go look at eyeshadows for ten minutes, then come back to the mirror.
On one girl this was seen very clearly, when she applied the 3 initial tests we all, she included voted on the middle colour. 5 minutes later that colour stood out like a sore thumb while the shade next to it had blended in with the skin tone perfectly.

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fashionvictem on January 6th, 2008 02:43 pm (UTC)

okay, i feel you on this cuz i have freckles + red splotches!

Red Splotches - easily disappeared with lotion + a good concealer. [no seriously.]

if that doesn't work, it might be an allergic reaction to something.

Freckles - as much as i wud like to help you in making them go away, they don't. but they DO fade. believe me. i'm 20 + they're slowly fading. my dad use to have freckles + now you'd never know.

freckles won't disappear with makeup, but in time they fade. so at least there's SOME good news! :]

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firehead30 on January 6th, 2008 03:39 pm (UTC)

*points to

minuet9 response to you.* She gives excellent advice.

I am not sure how old you are, but if you are still in your teens, do you want to apply heavy makeup that would conceal your freckles?

Remember this, the ice queens are there to help you. It's ok to browse and ask questions. If they are not busy they might be bored and would love to have someone they could help try on makeup. In college I worked at a department store. Normally I worked in shoes, but a few times I worked in cosmetics, normally at the Clinique or Estee Lauder counter. I HATED just standing there and loved it when someone came over and asked questions.

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court1429 on January 6th, 2008 05:10 pm (UTC)

I agree with what the others have said. I'm left-handed, too, and use only my left hand to apply makeup regardless of side. No way could I do it with my right hand. lol

Regarding your freckles, I wouldn't try to cover them up. I don't have capping skills, unfortunately, but every time I see this Crate & Barrel commercial, I think what a pretty woman the woman in the bed is and she's covered with freckles. Also, on my tv screen, she's obviously much bigger and you can really see them. I don't think it makes her less attractive *at all*. Her skin is great, though freckled most definitely; her smile is big and bright; her hair is really pretty. http://www.crateandbarrel.com/TV-Commercials/gifts.aspx

And yes, I think you will have to learn to love your freckles. Or at least come to peace with them, since they're not going to change. Reality is what it is and while sometimes we can reality, a lot of the time the only thing we can change is our reaction to it.

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singlewoman on January 6th, 2008 05:55 pm (UTC)

Freckles, you learn to live with them because they'll be with you forever. I am 48 and have had them all my life, even in places that have never seen the sun!

It is virtually impossible to completely conceal freckles unless you are using kabuki make-up and want to look like a geisha. But there are ways to help tone down redness. The main thing is to make sure you are not having any sort of allergic reaction to the products you are using on your face, or to any medication you may be taking.

Once you establish that, the next is finding the right toner and moisturizer for your skin type. If your skin is dry or oily on the nose and forehead, you will need a moisturizer tailored to those specifics. If your face is oily all over, you will need to look at a moistuizer that will help absorb the oil produced, something wiht silica in it.

Foundations can be tricky. I agree with what others have said: test drive the foundations, don't be pressured into buying anything. If you are young, under 25, consider using a powder foundation. it will not give you the coverage that a liquid will, but younger skin can usually make it work. If you want fuller coverage, there are products that can help reduce the redness in skin tone. I personally use Perfectly Real by Clinique because I tend to have a bit of redness. It works for me.

I realize that I have rambled a bit, but the main thing is experiment, observe, compare before investing a lot of money. Good luck.

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plasticine_star on January 6th, 2008 10:30 pm (UTC)

Welcome!

Don't be afraid of asking for help at a makeup counter, walk around a department store, look at the products and colors, once you find one you like ask if they have makeup applications, in some cases it's free, some lines like M.A.C. charge a small fee that you can later use to buy one of the products used in the session.

The important thing to remember is that makeup is fun! Don't be afraid to shop around the different lines and discover what works and looks good on you.
Always ask if samples are available so you can try it out at home before you buy.

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xie_xie_xie on January 7th, 2008 02:18 am (UTC)

I'd also suggest that you check out Aveda products, which are sold only at Aveda Salons and stores (there aren't too many of those).

You can find one at www.aveda.com, and ask to have a consultation with someone about the makeup and skincare lines -- make sure it's an actual Aveda Concept Salon, someone who can really help you, not just a salon that carries Aveda products.

The products are not cheap but very reasonable, and when I was younger and had different skin, I was THRILLED with the coverage I got from their products, and yet it didn't irritate my sensitive skin or make me feel too fakey looking.

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britin_forever on January 8th, 2008 07:13 pm (UTC)

This not at all realated to your rant but I love your icon. Stupid Owen.

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