My Concealer Favorites

And here we are, bored by the ins and outs of CFIDS/ME/CFS and fibromyalgia and our funky skin.  Well, fear not, I've been busy trying to find the concealers that I like most for "our skin." "We" all too often have skin problems due to hypersensitive and dehydrated skin and HOW we hate those wrinkles, be they cute or elegant, depending on the look you think they give you. In fact, I think there are very few American women who think that they have good skin.  Yes, we American women have a problem with anything and everything when it comes to the "looks" category, no matter how badly or wonderfully we look to the rest of the world.

Well, today I thought I'd take on a few of my favorite concealers which I've found to be a huge help, especially at this time of year when the cold weather combines with the dry conditions in our homes or at work.  Add to this dryness factor the rapid yoyo'ing of winter's temperatures and we end up feeling pretty darn awful about ourselves.  Then you throw in the insomnia and you had better have pretty good concealers if you plan to go out of doors where people will see you.  Really, we DO owe it our fellow citizens to allow concealers to protect some of us from huge pores, hyperpigmentaion, wrinkles that'll soon reach and connect with our neck. Oh the problems which take over our faces are not only humdingers, but almost too numerous to count.  But I thought, present three concealers: that's quite doable.  Plus, the three I'm discussing come in two different forms, so that should add a bit of spice to our lives. One last thing to keep in mind, make sure you put some sort of eye cream around your eyes!  After a certain age, not having used a eye moisturizer can become a real problem. (And reviews on several eye creams are coming up!)

So let the games begin!

• Lancome EFFACERNES Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer.  I've literally been using this since my senior year in HS or freshman year in university and I couldn't stand not having it in my arsenal.  The back of the tube (which lasts forever) says you can use this under or over foundation when wishing to camouflage under eyes to a matte finish. (I use it around my nostrils as well.)  Fantastic product.  I think I'd rather be impaled than lose this gem of a product.  And ALWAYS remember to put eye cream on around your eyes, very gently (very thin skin there, so use your non-dominant ring finger to pat it into place).
• bareMinerals multi-tasking minerals with the SP 20 sunscreen is a powder I love. It's the concealer I've mentioning which DOES require a brush for application. (Yay!)  Unfortunately, the only problem is that as you get older, you need to be careful that the under eye area doesn't look too wrinkled/crepey because you can get a cakey look for your troubles. I've also heard it said by various makeup artist that these powder foundations are really good one to use if you plan to have pictures taken.  The the powder form of the SPF in the mineral doesn't go nutso, making lights bounce all over the place and thus make your face look glowing - as in really shiny - and your head doesn't look almost-alien like.  Having worn this off and on for the last 4 or more years, I have to say that I agree! 
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer with SPF10 . Perfect. Nothing else needs to be said. I carry this in my little bag of essentials each time I go out, but most especially when I have a hair appointment and know that there'll be little makeup left on my face by the time everything's over.  Furthermore, concealer is a must after the eyelashes are done.

Concealers can be applied with a brush or with your fingers. I've always used the finger technique but have started loving the brushes so much that I've decided to join the 21st century and its love of makeup brushes. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks?

And that's it!  Here's to everyone not just looking great but feeling their best, only better!  Ciao and Paka!

Brushing Up On Your Makeup Skills

Laura Mercier and Chanel brushes and cosmetics

Since starting on one of my newest medical adventures, that of the hypothyroidism, (and another one of the battles described at this link as well) I've had a real problem with my face, the color of it, that is.  Fortunately (I suppose), I've always had to use foundation, so it hasn't been a problem to use a foundation now.  When I was young I needed it to cover my (many) freckles.  As I've aged it's been to cover freckles PLUS the hyper-pigmentation.  (OK, it's "age spots," shudder!)  The final nail in the coffin has always been that I've needed foundation to cover a bit of redness anytime I've ever been exposed to the sun in any shape, way or form.

However, since the thyroid problems began, my skin has been playing even more tricks on me.  Too often I turn ghastly pale.  Other days, I seem to have a yellowish cast.

Another however: a biggie!  I'm finally happy that in the past decade or so I haven't been able to make it to any store to buy foundation.  I need to order over the Internet and THAT becomes iffy at best, not to mention a bit expensive.

But finally, I have an upside!  No matter what color my skin, I have a shade I can work with.  Talk about an extreme case of making lemonade out of lemons!  Now I no longer need to feel guilty about having so many foundations.  Furthermore, because my skin is dehydrated one day and too oily the next, I have all the types of foundations to choose from as well, from powders to creams to liquids.  My only problem: making the right decision as to which foundation to try on my face on any particular day.  As many who are plagued with CFIDS/ME/CFS and/or fibromyalgia, I have a huge problem with decision-making.  (I can just hear hubby breaking out into hysterical laughter when he reads this last statement about decision-making.  Hey, Hubs! I'm a Libra who has to analyze everything ad nauseum, remember?)

At any rate, I had an appointment with my GP the other day.  Understand (if you will, please), that since I almost never go out, I try to make going to any doctor's appointment a dress-up day if at all possible.  But as I said, my face has been tricky lately. Too often I find that my foundation looks like a mask on my face. I've always maintained that makeup is only flattering when the skin underneath looks good and that bad color or pallor makes for Halloween-type looks.  And if you want to try to get away with the "no-makeup" or "flawless" makeup look, well, fuhgeddaboudit, as Robert De Niro would say.

However, yesterday was a success with the makeup job and yippee!  I'm delighted because by all rights it should have been a "mask" day.  However...

I love and have an obsession with makeup brushes.  (Yes, I've always maintained that I'm an odd duck!)  To make things worse - or much to hub's chagrin - I have an embarrassingly large collection of brushes, especially for someone who doesn't go out very often.  But I suppose where some people love crayons, I love brushes. While some can paint on canvas, I can't replicate a drawing of a basic tree.  So, makeup?  That must satisfy some sort of wish-I-were-an-artist part of me.  (Get back on topic, I know!)

Yet of all the brushes I own, I've never had a proper foundation brush. I've always thought my fingers were superior to any brush out there.  And I've been so very wrong.

I finally broke down and bought a couple of foundation brushes, stippling ones, and have used them three times thus far.  The verdict: I absolutely love them.  No mask-look on my face!  Each time, with the "before," my skin looked horridly pale or awfully red.  By the time I got the foundation on and blended, blended - and then blended some more, as Laura Mercier would say - the foundation became part of my face, only vastly improved.

So if you're having the same problems I've encountered and:

• want good coverage because of discoloration (breakouts, freckles, acne scars or *agh* age spots)
• want skin which looks rather youthful despite the DD
• want an even, air-brushed finish
• want a "fail proof" application despite shaky or inexperienced hands
• want to look age-appropriate without any wrinkles getting caked (*agh* again!)
• and want that "flawless" and "no makeup" look...

... Then consider getting a foundation stippling brush.  I'm "over the moon," that I finally did so!  The stippling brush is the one which has the little light ends and because of the combination of natural and "faux" fibers, it consequently has a light touch which lends itself to layering foundation, if need be.  It gives a very well-blended look with a wonderful sheen, with no streaks at all, of course!  I was naughty and treated myself to a Chanel foundation brush and I just happened to "find" another stippling brush in the Laura Mercier Ten Essential Brushes Collection which I purchased earlier in the year.  I'm sure any good quality stippling brush designed for foundation will give you great results as well.

So, if you're well enough to get out to go to any Christmas or New Year's Eve parties, even though your skin is telling you to stay home, these foundation brushes may be just the ticket to make yourself look and feel awfully special!  If your skin needs tender loving care, a foundation brush may be your best friend for looking even more "invisibly" sick!  (Groan?)

As always, I hope everyone is feeling their very best, only better.  Ciao and paka!


(NOTE: Top picture background is Laura Mercier's Ten Essential Brush Collection makeup kit in red, which included the gorgeous translucent handled brush pictured as well.  The black handled brush is the Chanel foundation brush.  The CC cream (review here) and one of the Chanel liquid foundations are also pictured, review of the Chanel foundation coming up soon.)