(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best foundstion makeup

Posted this on other account but it got moderated, had a bad word OOPS :(

I'm going to be blunt but it's in your best interests. This may also be long.

I don't think you have a large head as someone else has said, and there is nothing wrong with a square shaped head, it is not exclusively a masculine shape. In fact I see quite soft features when I look at you, which certainly would be improved and amplified with HRT.

The wig - It is very obvious and I would not recommend wearing it out in its current state. Depending on finances, you can do incredible things with hair extensions with just 4 inches of hair, which for most people is about 8-12 months of growth from a buzz cut.

Extensions - Depending on finances, as I said with 4 inches of hair or more you can get incredible extensions from a salon, they know how to make them look great (check reviews for your area though).

A cheaper option is clip in extensions, for a full head I recommend no less than 230 grams including the clips at about a 20" length. These can also be clipped in to very short hair an example video being here. I have only 2" of hair on back and sides and about 6" of hair on the top and using this method I get a flawless finish, I curl the top length of my hair and the extensions so they blend a little easier. This will also depend on your hairline but there are hairstyles you can use with extensions to cover that as well, and they look much more natural.

Makeup - I'm going to be very blunt in saying everything about it is wrong. Wrong shade, wrong tone, wrong finish and application.

Wrong shade - Your makeup is way too dark and it definitely makes you look like you're wearing a mask.
Wrong tone - Though hard to tell with pictures it looks like it is a yellow based foundation, so a warm tone (or cool tone if you go by macs definitions). Your skin to me looks pink based, so cool toned but I would never recommend a cool toned foundation to anyone so you should look for something in neutral tones to be safe.

Finish and application - You have applied it way too thick over your entire face, and the finish is too shiny, it is highlighting on ALL the wrong places to highlight.

How to fix it!!! :D

For beard cover I recommend Maybelline Dark Circles Eraser in probably the shade 'light'. I use this personally myself and it is incredible at covering beard, as it has a slight orange tone that does not require heavy foundation to cover but does neutralize the blue tones in beard shadow. It is a liquid concealer and doesn't look too heavy on the skin. I apply a layer all over with the sponge tip applicator and powder over it before putting foundation on (I will recommend a powder shortly). This product also works great for its original purposes as an under eye concealer :D. You may want to eventually buy a second in the shade 'fair' to give a little under eye highlight.

IF you find this and foundation are not quite enough cover, as I don't on some days where I have especially dark shadow (perfect contrast to my pale skin) I will use the Nyx Dark Circle Concealer in Medium underneath the maybelline concealer just to enhance the orange tones slightly, it is very sheer however and does not provide coverage on its own, it is purely to add more orange tones.

Foundation - I use Loreal True Match and for you I would recommend the shade N2, obviously test this in store to make sure you get the right shade as I am only going off photos.

I would apply this over the powdered beard area with fingers and a dabbing motion, kind of gently slapping your face with two fingers, this gives the best coverage. For the rest of the face I recommend a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge as this gives a lighter coverage and a nice texture. Once your beard coverage foundation has has a few seconds to set, you can also bounce this over it lightly to adjust the texture in that area.

Powder - I use Rimmel Stay Matte in Transparent. For a pressed powder it's quite fine and doesn't add any coverage (less cake), however it will ELIMINATE that shine on your face!

Some additional things you aren't doing as far as I can tell are blush and contouring, I love Nyx Powder Blush in Mocha for blush and Nyx Powder Blush in Taupe for contouring. They are both lightly pigmented making them hard to muck up, the mocha is not overly pink and in-your-face and the taupe is perfect for contouring as it is not orange and is very neutral. You will find 1 million and 1 YouTube tutorials on how to do both of these things properly.

The final thing I can say is you're muting your lips out and making them almost invisible with your foundation, buy some lipstick to fix that, and you can always overdraw the middle of your top and bottom lips slightly with a lip liner, but be sure to go over your whole lip if you do this, you dont want to be left with those lines if your lipstick wears off. :D

I know this is a long post, but if even one bit of information is able to help you, or somebody else it's all worth it. If you have any questions feel free to PM me, I usually check this account once per day :)

Hey! I was totally in this situation 6 months ago. Figuring out technique is a sort of "figure it out as you go" situation and tons of videos on youtube can help you figure it out. What I can help you with is your purchases. Figuring out what you'll need is extremely overwhelming, so here's a dirty rundown of what I've gathered so far:

1. Starting off can be pricey, so I highly recommend starting off buying cheaper make-up until you figure out your vibe. You really don't need the expensive stuff to look good, and make-up in stores like Sephora and Ulta are EXTREMELY expensive relative to how much you will be using vs. their price. That being said, amazon is your girl. Mehron has extremely cheap foundations on Amazon and they last forever (at least they did for me) - attached is my main shade, but you can look through the color options they have to guess your base/contour/highlight. I've only gone through one entire stick of my base foundation (which I use the most) since i've bought my base make up. I HIGHLY recommend in investing in beauty blenders and not brushes when it comes to foundation because i've found that beauty blenders make looks come out a lot more polished. (Not to say that good looks can't come out of brushes, I've just found blenders to be a lot easier to work with.
   
2. Once you have painted your foundation in a way you're happy with, use light layers of setting powder to set it down. Remember that although the more powder you use will have it last longer, the more cakey you'll come out. Also keep in mind that the powder will soften colors, so don't expect the foundation to be as intense as it was before you put the powder on.
   
3. Colored eyeshadow can be really tough when you don't know what colors work for you. This is the palette I highly recommend getting based on it's color variety and price. Mind you, some of the colors came in cracked, but if you press them down without mixing them into the other pots, they are deff still usable. Remember that you'll need a lot of brushes if you want to experiment with different shades. Elf brushes found at any general store (Target for example) typically go for a dollar each, so stock up on those so you have room for experimentation. I'd recommend around 10 or so just to be able to play around.
   
4. EYELINER. I personally love a sharp thick liner, so I primarily get some cheap liquid liner and cover it with black eyeshadow to make it POP. (This can also be applied to any part of painting - If you want it to really POP (I cannot stress this enough) start with a liquid or cream material and cover it with it's powdered equivalent. Any cheap elf liquid liner will do. If you're not really focused on a sharp liner, go for pencil because it's generally easier to apply.
   
5. Eyebrows - Not sure what your eyebrows are like, but trust me when I say that they're one of the biggest inconveniences when it come to painting your face. If your brows are thick, I highly suggest investing in a multipack of glue sticks. Gluing techniques vary among queens, but I tend to apply a heavy layer of glue, smooth out as much as I possibly can as fast as I can before the glue gets tacky and dry with a hairdryer. After the glue is almost dry, I apply a light layer of setting powder (DO NOT GO OVERBOARD, because your brows WILL come out crunchy). After this initial layer, continue layers of glue and LIGHT powder until they're fully blocked. Be sure that they're completely dry before you continue on to the next layer or else the tackiness will cause them to break (and you'll have to start all over). Honestly I'd say shave them off if you have the ability to do so and don't mind what you look like browless as boy.
   
6. CLEAN UP. Cleaning up is one of the things I dread most about drag. You'll need some stuff to clean both your face and materials. When it comes to removing make up, wet wipes feel nice, but are (again) pricey. If you're on a budget, cotton rounds and micellar water should do the trick just fine. When it comes to your materials (blenders and brushes) I don't care what anyone says. Dish soap and hot water will ALWAYS remove makeup quickly. Don't use any specialized brush cleansers until you feel comfortable enough to invest in quality brushes.
   
   ​
   
   Again, you don't need EVERYTHING listed above, but for my personal complete look, I require everything I mentioned. Starting off, I blew about around 300 dollars, so save money when you can. When queens joke about how they spent a lot of money to look "this" cheap, they really aren't lying. ALSO, don't be discouraged if you don't have the coin. There are tons of other resources available out there and if possible, you can always slowly acquire items over time.
   
   ​
   
   Good luck! ✨

I have erythematotelangiectatic rosacea with a papule or two every month. My cheeks are covered in permanent telangiectasias, but I don't mind them because I can cover it with makeup easily. I've had them since I was a kid. Occasionally I get a small papule or two

My nose has worsened over the last 5 years. I have no telangiectasias but my whole nose up to the bridge has diffuse erythema. Above the bridge of my nose has some redness too, leaving the bridge of my nose white... The redness goes away if I press on my nose (it blanches - not permanent). It is difficult to keep makeup on my nose throughout the day without it coming off. This is the most annoying thing about rosacea for me.

My forehead has patches of eczema either side that I've had success treating with elidel (pimecrolimus cream) and a better skincare routine. I have rosacea in the middle of my forehead. Easy to cover with makeup.

I've tried metrogel and finacea, both without effect. Finacea just hurts my skin. I'm taking 50mg doxycycline capsules and I thought they were working, but then I forgot for a while. It's difficult to tell. Rosacea is difficult to control, unfortunately.

___

I currently use the following of an evening:

• Mineral oil massage to remove makeup - emulsify and remove in the shower with water.
  
  
• Sulwhasoo Snowise Ex Cleansing Foam - low pH cleansing foam that leaves my skin lovely and clean without over-cleansing.
  
  
• Actives - Elidel for eczema if required.
  
  
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Toner - Not astrigent at all. Super slippery base makes the next steps more effective.
  
  
• Holy Snails Shark Sauce and Snowbang Essence - Small amount, mix together in hand and wipe across face. Contains ceramides to help replenish lipid barrier, niacinamide and n-acetyl glucosamine for anti-inflammatory effects, lots more lovely stuff.
  
  
• Mizon Snail Repair All In One cream - Small amount all over face. It's a very light cream, almost like a gel. It has a lovely texture.
  
  
• Shara Shara Honey Bomb Ampoule - niacinamide, so good. Small amount, all over face.
  
  
• La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP+ - One pump to cover whole face (400ml bottle has a pump). I love this stuff. Niacinamide (anti-inflammatory), glycerin (humectant), shea butter (emollient), mineral oil & silicone (occlusive emollients).
  
  
• CosRX Ultimate Moisturising Honey Overnight Mask OR Mizon Snail Repair Recovery Gel - Moisturising gel to "set" the layers of moisturiser beneath. I'm still testing out the snail recovery gel, not sure if I like it because it doesn't "set" as well.
  
  In the morning I gently wash the set slippery layers off with water and apply:
  
  
• Actives - Elidel for eczema if required.
  
  
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Toner
  
  
• Holy Snails Shark Sauce & Snowbang Essence
  
  
• Mizon Snail Repair All In One cream
  
  
• Lipikar Baume AP+ on bad skin days, or CosRX Ultimate Honey Overnight Mask on good days.
  
  
• Shiseido Hada Senka Mineral Water Gel SPF 50+ - I love the finish of this sunscreen. Sunscreen is super, super important, especially with the niacinamide use. Use a sunscreen every single day, even in winter, even if only inside. Every day!
  
  I take a resveratrol capsule every day to combat sirtuin inhibition caused by niacinamide.
  
  I've been following this routine for four months and my skin has improved a lot in terms of texture. The flaky patches went away and the eczema almost completely disappeared with occasional maintenance use of elidel and just generally looking after my skin. The rosacea erythema has stayed the same, but I have developed fewer papules. Hopefully, if I can remember to take the doxycycline, the redness of my nose may also improve.

Random, but here's how I've learned to hide shadow:

Shave, wet shave if you can for a closer shave. Dab all these on with a sponge, apply where the shadow is darkest (usually the chin) first, then dab and feather out from there, including your neck. Make sure all of these match your skin colour, examples just fit mine.

First, concealer:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0058CPGAO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

This gives you a good base, you don't need much of this to cover but it should be heaviest where your shadow is more pronounced. You can also use a nice lipstick shade for this as the red will offset the shadow, but liquid concealers are best.

Second, Primer:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BENEFIT-COSMETICS-POREfessional-oz-Comes-Unboxed/dp/6041750573/ref=sr_1_30_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1550416069&sr=8-30&keywords=primer

Again, from the darkest areas, this gives your skin a nice matt soft, even and flat base for the rest of your makeup. It'll hide lumps and bumps from shaving. I use the one I linked because it's great for sensitive skin, moisturizes and smells like chocolate oranges.

Third, Liquid Foundation:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bourjois-Healthy-AntiFatigue-Foundation-Vanilla/dp/B01N4EGMTG/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1550416544&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=liquid+foundation&psc=1

Apply as you did the concealer - this will be a little more liquid and stains clothes super easy, so be careful! Starting at the darkest areas, then cover the face and neck. When that is dry move onto step 4.

Fourth, Powder Foundation:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rimmel-London-Pressed-Powder-Transparent/dp/B004M9L0WW/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1550416690&sr=8-4&keywords=powder+foundation

This is to make your makeup a little less shiny and a little more natural, it also helps hide and deal with sweat on your face.


This may sound like it would look super cakey but as you're applying it you'll be able to see where you think it's looking that way and deal with it as you go along. It'll look really natural and is a great every day makeup.

This also works for chest areas if you're looking to wear something a little low cut - I get a shadow almost immediately too and this lasts me all day.

After you've applied all this you'll have a good base for the rest of your makeup - contouring (find a complimentary colour to your skin and apply with a brush), eyebrow, lips and eye. For a darker eye liner look, I've been told to use both a pencil as a base and a liquid liner on top.

Hope this helps!

Right there with you my friend; I have pale, thin skin, deep-set eyes and as such have very clearly defined and deeply colored dark circles all the way around my eye sockets. I know how much it sucks, but there are lots of great makeup products to help camouflage the dark circles.

What works best for me is a thin layer of Revlon colorstay cream foundation all over (including the undereye area) after doing my usual skincare routine, then I use Revlon photoready concealer on any little spots I want to cover, and a few swipes on the undereye area to get the dark circles almost completely hidden. I use clean fingers for application of these products and blend them out around the edges. Then I follow up with a light dusting of Revlon pressed powder with a brush to keep the concealer and foundation from creasing. Then I finish up with whatever mascara, blush, etc. I feel like using for the day. (Not affiliated with Revlon, I just like their makeup... except their mascara, which sucks.)

If you don't like a full face of makeup you could certainly just use a touch of foundation or concealer on your undereye area with a bit of powder to set the products. There are also options such as tinted moisturizers and BB creams to help blur imperfections without looking too "done-up." There are a huge range of brands to try, so what works for one person may not work for the next. You'll have to experiment with colors as well; figure out what skin color and undertones you have - this can make a big difference in the makeup illusion. For example, I can't wear makeup with pink or blue undertones since my skin has a more yellow undertone. If you're unsure of how to determine the right colors for you, you can visit makeup counters and ask them to give you an evaluation, or you can simply experiment by buying a few products to try out at home in different light settings - just make sure the store has a good return policy, like CVS or Walgreens.

Hope that helps some, and you might also like to give /r/MakeupAddiction a visit. There are some serious makeup gurus over there, and can probably give you even better advice and product recommendations!

I have been lurking ScA for about three weeks now and I have learned so much!
Here is my current Skin Care Routine I have developed and I would love some input.

[AM]

>100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffiene Eye Cream

This product smells so great, just like coffee beans. It wakes me right up in the morning! It is a bit greasy though. I still like to use it because it feels like a little treat for me in the morning!

>CeraVe AM SPF 30 Moisturizer

This product is great. It is so light in the morning and does not leave my skin feeling greasy at all! When it is summer, I will be needing more protection and I plan on using Cetaphil's 50+ SPH moisturizer. Has anyone had luck with this?

>Sometimes I will use Nutrogena's Healthy Skin Enhancer SPH 20

I believe this is a tinted moisturizer? I use this when I want a bit more even looking skin-color. It also contains a retinol treatment it says.

This is all I use in the morning, I also do not put on any make-up.

[PM]
>Cleanse with Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp & Neem Oil

I really like this product since it has all natural and good ingredients! It doesn't leave my skin feeling tight at all, and I usually have that issue with cleansers. I usually only cleanse if I feel my like face is very dirty though.

> Exfoliate with Silk Natural's 8% AHA Toner

I did have some issues with my skin 'purging' to this product for the first few days, I got little bumps on my forehead, but after that I really noticed my skin getting clearer. I do want to switch to a product that helps with evening skin-tone.

I want 20 minutes before I put on other products.

>CeraVe Eye Cream

I just started using this last week and it really reduces puffiness! With that though more fine-lines are visible... and I am not sure what to do about that. Also i noticed that my undereyes feel kind of tense now.. is that normail
>Moisturizer with Silk Natural's Firming Moisturizer

THIS IS THE BEST MOISTURIZER! My skin looks so radiant the next day! It looks brighter and still feels soft and supple, yet my skin feels firmer. I was using a trial but noticed a difference after the first night! I am now purchasing the full size bottle.


[Products I will be introducing into my routine]

I ordered the following from Paula's Choice:
>RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid


>Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Serum

>RESIST Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment


I was hoping these products would help me with evening my skin-tone. Let me know if anyone has had luck with these PC products. I've heard great things!

Most of my stuff is high-end. Probably not terribly wallet friendly for someone just starting out and trying to figure out what you like...But when you factor in I've been using makeup for (cringe) 26 years and my skin can be incredibly picky...

Invest in the stuff that is closest to your skin...like your foundation. I have not yet tried the Korean BBs but I hear great things about them and the prices seem incredibly easy on the wallet. /u/Feeling_Pretty is our resident expert. I'm just scared to get into them because I can never find swatches online and I'm insanely pale.

I'm personally a fan of the Smashbox BB because my skin doesn't always get along with stuff that already has SPF in it and this one doesn't seem to bother it.

I also love Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner because it wears really well on me - I have issues with eyeliner evaporating by the end of the day. Not the best for travel because of the built-in sharpener (I lost one to the TSA because of that teeny-tiny blade and it made me sad) so plan to chuck it in your checked luggage or have a sub when you travel.

Mascara - go drugstore. I'm using a Stila one right now because I lucked into the Beauty Brands Mascara Sale earlier this year and bought a couple for $9 each - slightly more than I would have paid for a Covergirl or a Maybelline (they usually run $7-$8 where I live). Since you should religiously change your mascara every three months drugstore is better on the wallet.

As for eyeshadow...I can personally vouch for the Lorac Pro and the Stila in the Light palette. Both have good pigmentation and wear beautifully (I do use a primer due to oily lids) and have enough variety in them I can do lots of looks with them. The bonus on the Stila is you also get a coordinating eyeliner.

You can also shop eBay for sample lots. Most of the time it's folks that have amassed a bunch of samples and want to get rid of them. Great way to sample lots of stuff at once - but do look at the seller's feedback rating and read the reviews left in the past six months.

If you're at all comfortable and have one nearby you can't beat a trip to Ulta or Sephora to try stuff out.

i am not really sure what you mean about the eyelid thing, maybe a picture would help?

i have never used costal scents, but ive seen a few girls here make some nice looks with it. no idea on the quality. i know you said ELF is too expensive, but this palette is only 10 pounds. i have it and i like it. they are pretty good quality for a cheaper eye shadow palette. if you can afford some eye primer, the colors will look even better. i use urban decay primer potion, but that sounds like its a little out of your budget, maybe someone can recommend a cheap one!

i have combination skin (oily and dry! ughhh) and I always use liquid foundation. Powder can make the dry spots look really flaky. Revlon Colorstay is a good drugstore brand, I like it, it has good coverage and staying power, and I hear a lot of people mention it on here.

[edit] i see you are a teen and have youthful skin. if you dont get many breakouts and dont have a lot of unevenness in your skin tone, you could probably get away with a tinted moisterizer or a BB cream instead of a full coverage foundation. i recently got a sample of loreals BB cream and I was a big fan!

i really like ecotools brushes. They are good quality and relatively cheap!

Good luck!

I'm not that "girly" either but here is my input. Since you leave your hair down, I'm assuming you don't have crazy poofy hair like I do so I would suggest getting a haircut with layers and side bangs. Easy and pretty. Get a good straightening iron and wear it straight or use the iron to flip the ends out. You could also find a lightweight hair serum (like frizz-ease), work it through hair and let it air dry for some natural waves. Yes bobby pins are always good. You could pull back one side with a few pins and instantly look a little more polished. Pick up some pins with a little sparkle or color for an extra treat. As for makeup, you will need tinted moisturizer, loose powder, powder brush, blush, blush brush, eyeshadow (find a good pallet), eyeshadow brush, eyeliner (I use this applied with a wet liner brush but pencil is easier), liner brush (optional), mascara, chap stick (burts bees is awesome), lip color (this and this very sheer and pretty). I have this brush set and I love it. Throw in some nice fragrance oil like this and you are set up with the basics!

(FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, THESE LINKS ARE THE OLD VERSION) EDIT: The old line is being discontinued.
That's funny - because I looked back at the Amazon Order I made and the IOPE website...they all list it as "XP" and have SPF50 in the description, Amazon doesn't add to the name, IOPE does write "Broad Spectrum" on their website, but I think that Peach and Lily is the only one to throw in the word "sunblock"! I'm pretty sure it's the same item though. It's their only Air Cushion XP.


NEW 2016 4th GENERATION VERSION: The new line is still super new still. Someone told me about it when I was asking about IOPE recently, and when you google "IOPE Cushion 4th generation 2016" blogs come up, but theyre hard to find swatches and reviews of because theyre so new. Here they are on Tester Korea. And omg they are on Amazon !

• HERE IS A GOLDMINE OF SWATCHES AND COMMENTS FOR THE NEW CUSHION!
  
  What was handy was clicking on the +1 of the images on this listing - there are super handy swatches.
  
  One of the biggest changes is that they added a "W21" and "W23" which are darker, yellower. I'm yellow-neutral...(olive?!) so I'm always wary of going toooo yellow. But because it's a cushion and sheerer than swatches, maybe the yellow might not be so bad. And it could be that the W21 is a better match for you, depending on how yellow you are!
  
  Just FYI from what I was reading online, you might want to look on youtube and watch people put on the different finishes. I read online that some people complained that the Natural Glow lines were TOO sheer&dewy! But it really depends on your skin needs.
  
  ...I will be shopping with you too! I really want to see if the W23 fits my NC25 skin better. Thanks for asking your question - now I know what cushion I can look forward to trying!

Hi guys, I've been loving AB for about a year now but I haven't stuck to one routine for more than a few months at a time, mainly due to travel and addiction to trying new things 😅 I'm sorry for the epic novel to follow, skip to the bottom if you want. I'm just so tired of dealing with crap skin!


I've had a horrible breakout in the last few months on my back that I can't seem to shake. I don't know why. I got back on the pill after being off it for several months in the hopes of fixing the breakout; it's helping a little but I'm only just starting my second month back on the pill so it might take a while to see results.



Of more concern to me is a new cystic breakout along my jawline--I haven't had such sore acne in years. I'm 19 and I've gotten my acne a lot better under control thanks to the pill and PocketDerm (don't like the name Curology lol) but I've dealt with it in varying forms of severity since like 6th grade.



Before the cysts (bear with me here!) were all these closed comedones, as well as tiny white marks on my face--some raised, some not--which are either CCs or scars, I'm not sure. I plan to eventually get laser treatment because I hate the texture of my skin and all the PIH I have but I want to make sure I'm stopping new breakouts before I spend a ton of money on treating old scars.


So basically I've stripped down my routine to complete, tried and true basics in the hopes of not irritating my skin and making sure nothing's breaking me out. And yet I have like three whiteheads on one side of my face near my mouth and cystic acne on my jawline and near my temples. Nothing has changed in my lifestyle, I haven't added anything new to my routine...please give me any ideas or product suggestions!

TLDR my skin is somewhat freaking out, may be hormonal but I want help setting up a routine to help my moisture barrier, acne, and PIH

Oily/Acne-Prone: | Boston, USA/Dry, windy: | Acne, PIH:

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM

• Hada Labo Cleansing Foam
  
  
  
• Kose Sekkisei Lotion (I just pat it on with clean fingers)
  
  
• Kose Sekkisei Emulsion
  
  
• Innisfree Eco Daily Sunblock
  
  
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Light
  
  PM
  
  
• Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil White
  
  
• Hada Labo Cleansing Foam
  
  
  
• Pocketderm prescription (4% Azelaic Acid, 1% Clindamycin, 4% Niacinamide)
  
  
• Kose Sekkisei Lotion
  
  
• Kose Sekkisei Emulsion
  
  I used to use Korres Wild Rose 24-HR Brightening and Moisturizing Cream at night too but I stopped because I stopped everything I thought might be irritating.
  
  I specifically want help with rebuilding my moisture barrier, calming down current and stopping future breakouts, and maybe adding an exfoliant or Vitamin C to my routine...any advice?
  

A few years ago I moved to Southern California to live on the beach so that I'd have stable weather. Even though about 75% of my symptoms have cleared up (Success story w/ helpful info here https://www.reddit.com/r/eczema/comments/5ahk4z/at_30_years_of_age_i_was_finally_able_to_find_a/) once and a while I still have flare ups.

I just got back from a trip in the mountains where the temperature dropped down to below -20c at night. It was very dry extreme conditions. I survived for about 5 days, just barely. I've taken a photo just out of the shower where you can see my skin is starting to become very red (no steroid use either). I want to show all the other guys that have similar problems how I make it through a flare up without having the embarrassment of an extremely red face and neck. The light in the photo somewhat exaggerates the "tan" color on my face. A second application of the moisturizer detailed below would smooth over those areas that are still red and flaky.

I've tried many other products to try to calm my face or to try and hide the redness. None have worked. To hide the red face many products try to use green tint to neutralize the color, but it ends up turning your face into a ghostly white color that you probably will get many more comments on than a red face that most people assume is from too much sun.

I use bareMinerals tinted moisturizer cream. It is sold as a "complexion rescue". It sells for $25-35 (http://amzn.to/2jrKSOt) in the USA and one bottle with daily use is good for about 3-6 months. They have different levels of tint depending on your skin tone. I'm somewhat fair skinned so I use "02 vanilla" which seems to be fairly popular. http://i.imgur.com/d8oEdko.jpg

As you can see in the picture you can use a smoothing brush ($20-30 http://amzn.to/2jrQGI0) to help apply the moisturizer. You put a few drops on your hand. http://i.imgur.com/nyXhMbE.jpg

Then you dab the brush in the moisturizer and make a swirling motion to apply it. I noticed that I use much less of the moisturizer when using the brush because it spreads it out into a smooth thin layer on top of my skin.

I would suggest you going to a bareminerals store, or go to the bareminerals website and find out which stores sell their products (they are sold worldwide). If you go to a bareminerals store they will help you find the correct shade of tint. They can also supply you with a 1-2 week sample that you can take home so you can try the product to make sure your skin will not have a reaction.

I have very sensitive skin, but I wouldn't classify my skin as the most sensitive. The moisturizer really doesn't moisturize the skin that much, so it is best if you take a shower, apply your moisturizer, and then let that sink in for a few minutes before applying. The tinted moisturizer in my opinion is very light weight and does not sting.

You will noticed in the photo that after applying there are still some red spots. After the tinted moisturizer has dried I put some Aquaphor on those areas and mix in some of the tinted moisturizer. With the finishing brush I can also get my ears, neck, and a bit more into my beard. If you see my face in natural daylight it is very hard to tell unless you are within a few feet that I might have anything on my skin. The light in my bathroom does seem to make it look more than that it is. I could probably use a second thin coating of moisturizer to help smooth out the colors. One application typically lasts for about 6-8 hours before you need to reapply.

If anyone asks I just tell them I have a tinted sunscreen that I use because I get burned easily and it hides my sunburns and/or it gives me a little color.

I'm sorry to hear you aren't digging the semi sweet palette /: I've been eyeing it down but haven't made the leap because I have the first one and feel like they're too similar for that kind of cost. Is the smell similar to the first one or stronger?

I could recommend a couple of lip products that I use that have great staying power if you want :D My go to lately has been Nyx lip pencil in mauve all over my lips with Nyx Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar and I usually only have to reapply it MAYBE once during the day, and that's after eating! There's also these lipsticks. I have two of them and LOVE them. They dry to a matte finish and aren't sticky like lipglosses. I don't have to reapply them at all during the day! They stay on until I use a make up wipe at the end of the day to take them off :)

I've also got a drugstore foundation that maybe you could try! It's a little pricey for drug store, I think I paid fourteen dollars for mine from walmart, but it's my absolute favorite foundation. This is the foundation. I don't have a problem with it transferring, and it has a great coverage. I have a big problem with most liquid foundations looking to oily and most powder foundations looking really, sort of cakey even when there's very little on, but this liquid foundation is like my holy grail right now!

> Unless you have very oily skin and need a matte product, a more dewy foundation will look more natural.

I do have pretty oily skin, and my pores are fairly visible. This did succeed in covering them up pretty well, for what it's worth.

> You may also want to experiment with different types/amounts of powder--you don't always necessarily need it at all (it can make you look cakey and almost geisha/Elizabethan-like if you use too much).

Honestly, I'm still a little unclear on exactly how to use it. I will definitely experiment.

> I also think the shade might be just a smidge too yellow. It might just be the lighting, but it's worth looking at foundations with different undertones. One I think you might want to try is L'Oreal True Match in W1. It's got a more natural (less matte) finish and is ever-so-slightly less yellow, but is very similar in shade.

I'm getting other people telling me I should get one that's in a cooler undertone. So what do you think about the C1 (Alabaster) instead? It seems just as light but significantly less yellow.

> Side note: I love your beauty mark! Is it real or drawn on?

Drawn on, haha! Thanks!

Since you're really pale,
I would suggest some asian brand makeup for foundation.
http://smile.amazon.com/IOPE-Cushion-Matte-Finish-SPF50/dp/B00W8RFX4Q?sa-no-redirect=1
That foundation is HIGHLY popular. My mom uses that one and it makes her skin color looks great (gets rid of all her redness and brightens her face up)
Or maybe for redness, you could use CC cream. (color correction cream)
http://www.tinytouchups.com/bb-creams-cc-creams-skin-type-10276/#a8
I used one before as a sample (from the face shop). Holy... it's like my pores vanished.

you might need a oil control moisturizer like Neutrogena's Oil-Free Oil control moisturzer (combination skin version). I use this twice a day (once in morning and night after showering/washing face before bed) and I dearly wish I knew of it earlier.

For the oiliness, you might be applying too many layers of makeup that dries your skin and makes it oiler as the day goes by.
Try just applying maybe a liquid foundation and a powder finish.

Contouring is totally possible for a pale skin person.
The only way to be good at makeup is to get a good makeup remover (i suggest an oil based one for its gentleness and overall better removal effienceny) and sit in front of a mirror and play around until you are happy.

I suggest makeup revolution for a great budget makeup!
I feel that a lot of the stuff they have works just as good as the high end expensive stuff.

Eyebrow Cover - Elmer's Glue, Pros-aide Cream. Raven talking about Bianca recommending it to her.

Powder - Coty Airspun is the best on the market for the cost. You can literally get it at Walmart, and for Translucent Powder the only thing that matters is the texture. Ben Nye Luxury Powder is the other standard, but it's pricier. The "girl, look how orange you fucking look, girl" powder is Topaz. A ton of queens of color use the Banana powder, and even cis women use it now because Kim K's makeup artist uses it on her. Ben Nye also makes a Super White powder that gets used over their Clown White foundation for very stark highlights, like under the brow. I believe Super White is the powder Sharon Needles uses to look ghostly. Raven's preferred pressed white powder is Mac Studio Fix in Shivering White.

Foundations - Kryolan TV Paintstick has been the industry standard for about a decade now. It used to be MaxFactor Panstik, but they discontinued it in the US. Jackie Beat bought all of it that she could in bulk when that happened, but then I think eventually switched to Kryolan. Dermablend was originally formulated to cover burns, so it also gets used. I believe Katya used it on Drag Race, if she doesn't still use it. Ben Nye Clown White is the product that Nina accused everyone of stealing from her, and is an incredibly versatile product. Manila Luzon used it in her makeup tutorial to cover her black brows.

Eyeshadows - Sugarpill Pro Palette is pretty ubiquitous at this point, but they were founded in like 2010 so there are still old-school queens who are holdouts. Bulletproof and Tako are just about the best black and white eyeshadows on the market. Trixie and Farrah both use Dollypop constantly. On the other hand, they mostly concentrate on crayola colors and less on browns. La Femme and Mac are basically responsible for Raven's beige face. Miss Fame uses a lot of Cozzette Infinite Eyeshadow.

Lip Pencils - MAC are basically the standard. Nothing else comes to mind. I've used drug store pencils, but these are the only ones I've gone out of my way for. Sharon swears by Nightmoth lip liner.

Lip Color - OCC Lip Tar used to be everywhere, but Jeffree Star seems to have put them out of business. Traditional lipsticks are easy to make, so basically any drugstore brand does the job if you can find a color you like.

Highlighters - Jeffree Star Skin Frost, Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit. These didn't used to be a thing. In Manila's 2011 makeup tutorial she used dots of MAC loose pigment in Vanilla for this purpose, and that was kind of groundbreaking because it was how her face didn't look matte after being powdered to hell.

YNMV on NYX. People love it, but I use it to wet my brush.

Ben Nye comes in a bunch of different sizes (that get SUPER cheap as the size goes up) but you’ll need your own spritzer bottle for the larger sizes. It also has a scent, so if you are sensitive to that beware. But my friend works at Disney Land and he uses Ben Nye to set his makeup, so if it works for a Disney Prince in the summer I’d say it’s good enough for me.

2 Oz - $16

8 Oz - $40

16 oz - $44

Start with these three simple things:

1. Liquid Foundation (https://www.amazon.com/Maybelline-New-York-Foundation-Packaging/dp/B001Q8568G/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1466479185&sr=1-3&keywords=liquid+foundation)
   
   
2. A brush to apply the Liquid Foundation (https://www.amazon.com/EcoTools-1202-Flat-Foundation-Brush/dp/B001KYVOJQ/ref=sr_1_13_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1466479200&sr=1-13&keywords=liquid+foundation+brush)
   
   
3. A powder foundation (https://www.amazon.com/Maybelline-New-York-Poreless-Porcelain/dp/B00PFCSNWK/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1466479234&sr=1-1&keywords=powder+foundation) and this includes a pad brush inside of it.
   
   You apply the (1) liquid foundation to your face very evenly with (2) the brush (especially around your eyes) and then 'set' it with the (3) powder foundation by just tapping it all around your face until you can't see any of the shine from the liquid foundation anymore. Good luck!! And welcome to the makeup club; you're in for life. :P
   
   P.S. it's called a 'foundation' because it's meant to cover up your whole face and make it look perfect. Once you get good at this, you can move on to more fun things but this will make you look nice :)

Moisturizer, Orange NYX Concealer, Dermablend Cover Cream, Mousse Foundation, then a Powder = no shadow. It takes work, but it's effective :)

ben nye cream makeup is what i used for my, and it worked great! just make sure you get some setting powder too.

http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Nye-Clown-White-Makeup/dp/B003AT6JGM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411438932&sr=8-1&keywords=ben+nye+cream+face+paint

its from their true match collection :) Here you go!

Hi there this is the link. I found it on amazon.com, so that's why I wasn't sure if it was OK, but I know we have all been needing swatches! :-)

Click on the '+' sign and you will see the swatches.

https://www.amazon.com/IOPE-CUSHION%C2%AE-Intense-Cover-Refill/dp/B01G44NL1A/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1468410444&sr=1-7&keywords=2016+iope+cushion+intense+cover

try using color corrector before your foundation. there is also a beard hiding makeup for cross dressers called dermablend. there's some good youtube videos for this. i generally use a color corrector, then foundation, then spot concealer. that's what works for me. just keep experimenting. there are tons and tons of youtube resources.

I can get this: http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Nye-Final-Fl-oz-236ml/dp/B00AYOP76O/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1458866977&sr=8-2&keywords=ben+nye+final+seal&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

The normal size is 2 oz so I'm assuming this is fairly large (if we went larger we'd save more money but I wasn't sure how much you'd want). We could split it even and then I could try to ship it as cheap as possible so it'd cost the same price as you plus shipping as getting the 2 oz, except you'll get 4 oz.