I have this arguement with myself about every 3 years and can't seem to come to long term conclusion that I feel comfortable with. So all experiences and opinions are welcome.

The biggest part of my personality is just to wear the same clothes all day that I went to yoga class in the morning in - because its a pain to change. I wash my face in the morning - usually!? but don't at night because its an inconvenience. I wear just a touch of color here or there on my eyes or lips so I don't look dead, but I don't want to do more because its expensive and takes time and then I look really awful if there's a day I don't wear any makeup. I like to hike or camp sometimes and don't want to worry any about makeup then. Mascara would probably do me some good but I don't want to have to wash it off if I decide to go swimming that day. I hate the racoon eye look.

Then again - I want to paint my nails when they finally get long enough every so often. I want to look nice when my DH takes me out on a date or for a special "dress up" occasion. And I want to give the impression that someone over 40 with long hair doesn't have to look like a backwoods hippie newage type who doesn't know how to present herself in a cultured society. But yet, its such a pain to have to look in a mirror every half hour to make sure everything looks reasonable.

I don't own hardly any makeup and when I go shopping I just look at the rows and rows of choices and the prices and get discouraged. I don't even know where to start - or if I even want to start.

I just don't know what I want to do.

with rhinestones, etc. to jazz up your updo's when going out. Choose simple make-up that doesn't hide your features (perhaps seeking the aid of a dept. store consultant would be appropriate if you need guidance in this dept.).

I don't wear any make-up at all daily, but when I go out with hubby, I try to look elegant and somewhat sexy ;) I choose light and earthy colors that emphasize my lips, eyes, and brown hair. I generally don't wear eye shadow but I do line the top outer lid of my eyes to open them up and then lightly brush on mascara (u don't want the Tammy Faye look).

Good luck thinkfirst and whichever way you decide to go, I am sure you will look just lovely!

Go to a department store or a similar store that has a counter person that can help you select colors, and testers so you can see what they look like on you. Maybe schedule a makeover, but be sure to tell them that you arent used to wearing a lot of cosmetics and are looking for a more natural look.

Well, as a backwoods hippie newage type, I'm not sure how much I have to contribute! ;) Seriously, I don't wear any makeup and I don't feel bad about it. Sure, as someone who is almost fifty, I could probably use a little color, but I think I feel that way because of the perception of "beauty" that our culture imposes on us. I don't buy into it. I think I can still look attractive, if not conventional, and if anyone else doesn't think so, that's really THEIR problem, not mine.

Do what makes YOU comfortable, Thinkie. What other people think shouldn't matter. Yeah, I know, the opinions of others weigh heavy on us, but the fact is that they don't have to live in our skin.....WE do....so what does it matter whether a stranger approves of our choices or not? (And who ARE these folks we give so much credit to anyway??!!) Put your hair up, put on a touch of blush or lipstick (only if you WANT to and feel like it) and you'll be gorgeous, regardless of your age! :mrgreen:

Ijust look at the rows and rows of choices and the prices and get discouraged. I don't even know where to start - or if I even want to start.

I just don't know what I want to do.

Why not go to your local drugstore... for a small investment, you can buy a translucent powder (Loreal, etc.) to even out your skintone, and a natural looking lipstick. A good rule of thumb is to match your lipstick (and your blush for that matter) to the redness on the palm of your hand.

If you want a bit more emphasis, try an eyeliner in a light gray (cool) or light brown (warmer) color, depending upon whether you like cooler (pink, blue) or warmer (peach, tan) clothing colors. Have fun!!! :)

Also, this site:

http://colormebeautiful.com/

has a guide to color harmony, which may help you decide which colors would best suit you.

thinkfirst, i'm not above 30. Can i answer your post? :D

you seem to prefer minimalism (like me). so i thought why not jump in here. dont highlight more than one feature on your face. then it looks like a made-up face.


1. lipcolor:
daily use: lipbalms which keep my lips supple and add a little sheen. sometimes if i have time, a neutral lipliner and lipbalm.
occasions: i run a earthy colored liptstick.
more special occasions: one run of earthy colored lipstick followed by a run of lipgloss.
if you are light skinned, go for light colored lip colors. many departmental stores have testing areas. you can play around and find out which color brings out the best in you and pick this color, in a drugstore. my purse doesnt like departmental stores.

2. makeup:
i dont wear makeup. i'm just a moisturize and go, girl. my moisturizer had sunscreen too. oil of olay is good. but i've recently started using jonobie's cleansing oil, which i do thrice a day - no moisturizer too. sometimes i apply aloevera gel on my face, if i feel like. aloe has sunscreen.
having said this, i also have an estee lauder foundation for those more special occasions. its liquid, its a dab-it-in-your-hands-spread-on-your-face-and-go kinds. nothing more work than this will suit me.
you can buy something like a tinted moisturizer, which also has sunscreen in it.

3.eye makeup:
eyes are my best feature. so i tend to show it off. cant use masacara cos i have long lashes. so, a simple eye pencil is my best friend.
black color - for a sexy-eyes look
'chanti' - dunno which brand it is. i got it in walmart. brings out my eyes without telling that i have used eyeliner. its a burgundyish brownish pink shade.
if you have light colored eyes, you probably use a very light eye pencil in pale pink. there are many one coat waterproof mascaras available in the market. you can buy grey or charcoal or brown depending on your eyecolor. black might be too harsh if you have light colored eyes.

i sometimes use a lipliner pencil on eyes and viceversa, if the color is subtle. minimizes the clutter in my bag.

clothes:i'd certainly recommend changing clothes between wearing yoga and catching up with daily life. yoga helps out clear the toxins in the body and mind. i have 2 yoga gurus - one of which says, its very good if you can shower after 30-60 mins after yoga so that the toxins are cleared away.

hope that helps even a teeny weeny little bit.
~smiles

A good rule of thumb is to match your lipstick (and your blush for that matter) to the redness on the palm of your hand.

Wow, I learn something new every day. I never knew that, and always struggle with buying blush that looks decent. Thanks. :)

Cheers,
Jonobie

gee ThinkFirst, I could've been the one writing that! well, except for the yoga part. ;)

On my wedding day, I went to a makeup counter and they made me up because all I owned was some blush and a few eyeshadows.
Today, I hardly wear anything, maybe blush and some lipstick. At times I use the blush on my eyes for shadow. Pretty pathetic in the make up department I know.

But I don't want to primp and deal with the bother. I'm a simplistic person and want to keep it that way.

I am sure my lipstick is the wrong color for me and I'm using the last bits of blush. I'm too embarrassed to go to the makeup ladies and have them tell me what I'm doing wrong, what I need and what looks good on me. I can tell that whatever they recommend will be WAY too much for me. I too get discouraged at the makeup aisles and just give up.

But with that all said, I'm okay with how I look. I buy the pretty hair toys and take good care of my hair. I've battled my oily skin all my life and now that I'm getting older it's drying up, so I do put on some Oil of Olay after I shower. I don't worry about makeup, although when I go out on a date I will use the lipstick and blush. And I don't bother with checking myself in a mirror any more than I already do.

What bothers me most is that I don't want my daughter to become the same discouraged person I am. Not that I want her to be a Makeup Molly, but I do want her to be informed and let her choose her own style. As her mom, I need to be able to show her, and yet I am ignorant.

But, on a happy note, don't let it get you down. I'm sure you look lovely (with hair like yours it'd be hard to be anything else.) I can't imagine that you can't present yourself as the clean beautiful woman you are - because you are already doing it.

and yes, the nails - i recently bought a clear topcoat off the shelf in walmart for 2 bucks and i love it. no color on my nails, but they definitely look decent.

somebody suggested OPI - nail envy for clearcoats. its a little expensive for me though.

I have been thinking about having my lashes dyed, almost all the mascaras I have ever tried irritate my eyes. :( I don't really want longer lashes, just darker. I remember a thread from a few boards back, I think you can buy lash dye at Sallys and do it yourself, if you have a steady hand or someone you trust to help.

I like to wear Mineral Powder cosmetics (http://www.geocities.com/mineralcosmetics), it takes me 90 seconds tops to put on an everyday face, but when I feel like playing I can really get some nice polished looks without looking like a teenager or a hooker LOL. I swear playing with minerals helped lift me out of a 10-year funk I was going through.

and I know what you mean about comfortable clothes, I live in t-shirts and jeans. My only advice is to discover which colors look best on you and make you feel great and wear those colors only. Throw out everything that is an unflattering color.

I have been thinking about having my lashes dyed, almost all the mascaras I have ever tried irritate my eyes.

Have you tried "Kiss Me" mascara? It forms tubes of color around each lash. It doesn't flake off or irritate my contacts. When you want to take it off, you just use a warm wet washcloth, and it comes off in a little spider web form. Really neat and works!!!

http://www.whosthefairest.com/Whosthefairest/catalog.cfm?dest=dir&linkon=section&linkid=29

Thinkfirst, I'm so sorry you're frustrated! I go through phases--sometimes I turn into a complete girly-girl and won't even go to the grocery store without putting on mascara and powder...other times, it's au naturel (I'm there now) but then I get to feeling exactly the same way you're feeling now, and I go back to painting and glossing.

I'd like to throw in a caveat about the dept. store cosmetics counters...if you're feeling curious, go ahead and ask questions and play with the samples, but I would only schedule a sit-down makeover there as a last resort. I've known so many women who have gone in for a fun time and come out looking like a completely different person and getting even more discouraged about makeup.

I agree with trying one new thing at a time (lots of great advice and links above), like a colored lipgloss (not all of them are glossy and don't really require any thought or a mirror to apply) or a bit of powder to look more polished now and then. In fact, if I'm not looking for a specific lipstick color or powder, I'll go through the 'teen cosmetics' section (it's cheaper!) It's fun to play with makeup to express yourself, but I also have to agree with Pixna all the way--do it to please yourself first!

I don't think it's necessary to wear a lot of makeup to look polished and unhippie-like. I see many women over 30 who look great with just a minimal amount. Pixna is right though, if other people are passing judgement based on something as superficial as makeup, does their opinion really have much value?

I rarely use more than face powder and lipstick these days, and save the mascara/eyeliner for times when I feel like dressing up a bit. I like my face better now that I'm older and have more confidence, and don't feel the need to hide behind a ton of glitter. :wacko:

bunniee

I have been thinking about having my lashes dyed, almost all the mascaras I have ever tried irritate my eyes.

Have you tried "Kiss Me" mascara? It forms tubes of color around each lash. It doesn't flake off or irritate my contacts. When you want to take it off, you just use a warm wet washcloth, and it comes off in a little spider web form. Really neat and works!!!

http://www.whosthefairest.com/Whosthefairest/catalog.cfm?dest=dir&linkon=section&linkid=29

Oh I've read the raves for KissMe mascara, but it's hard to imagine tubes of like plastic on my lashes. It's expensive too, isn't it? 22$ a tube, yikes! I don't wear mascara that often, and you're supposed to throw mascara away every 3 months or something, right?

I had my lashes dyed once as a teen (mother/daughter bonding trip to the beauty parlor LOL) and it was great, no bother. I don't remember how long it lasted though, probably just a couple of months...

I know exactly how you feel, Thinkfirst! I'm really looking forward to hearing everybody's suggestions.

Generally I wear no makeup at all. (And only lately have I started to try to take care of my skin much.) I'll makeup maybe 5x a year for really special occasions - and even then I can't stand the foundation / concealer / powder thing. Here's what I do...

If I know people will be taking pictures, I'll use a little of the Este Lauder foundation/powder combo I got for my wedding. (Just to even out the skin tone.) It comes in a compact and goes on just like a powder, but it feels a little richer. But usually I skip that step. Then I take a dusty-rose powder blush and brush it lightly on cheeks and eyelids for color (the WHOLE eyelid - lashes to brows). Then I take a reddish-brown eyeshadow and add a little depth to my eyes by brushing that on just the lids and where the brow-bones cast a little shadow. Follow with light eyeliner and light mascara (Este Lauder has a light one called "Minimalist" that I like, but even though it's light I still dab some off the applicator before I put it on.) Then some earthy lipstick - I like the Burt's Bees "Honesty". Very subtle. I can put all that on in 5-10 minutes and it looks pretty natural. Sort of me in Hi-fi.

For clothes, the best solution I've found is black jeans. I've got a couple pairs of black jeans (I like Lee Relaxed Fit, cause I'm very curvy), a drawer full of identical black socks (Amelia's Organics in cotton or cotton/hemp blend), and a pair of black Dansk clogs (with the closed back - very comfy, look sharp and wear forever). I can wear anything on top and it matches. T-shirts or knit tops for work, pretty blouses and jackets for going out. The all-black bottoms thing is flattering, easy and really minimizes the decision-making process - I just have to pick a top.

Hope this helps a little!

hey smiles not to pick on ya :)
but
aloe has sunscreen.


no it doesn't naturally or not enough to make much of a difference. if your brand does, then it has been added after the fact. that is a myth.

Thinkfirst

Permit me to speculate?

Maybe you're just feeling restless about something else - on a deeper level - but are shifting that feeling onto your appearance.

Your typical routine and self-maintenance behaviours seem perfectly normal and healthy to me.

Is it what you look like to other that bothers you? Is it how you perceive yourself?

Maybe you just need a change in your life (career? leisure pursuits?).
Maybe going into the mountains (or wherever) alone for some "own-time" would help.

I'm 37 and every 9 months I get a hunger that nothing except 1:1 quiet contact with wild nature will satisfy. I have learned to respond to this call and respect it. I gave up permanant employment because it allowed me to go walk-about. It is as important as breathing to me.
Prior to this I was as frustrated as hell and changed everything I possibly could, all the while ignoring this gaping hole inside myself and denying the one thing I had to do to heal it.

Anyway, we are talking about your story, not mine.

Only you know what's REALLY going on. And if you don't, you need to find out.

Take care

You can wear make up on days you want to and skip it on days you don't. It doesn't have to be "always" or "never". Wear whatever suits you at the moment. I used to wear full make-up every day, and I mean concealer, foundation, powder, blush, eyeliner, mascara, 3 shades of eyeshadow, mascara, lip liner, and lipstick. EVERY day!! :shock: As I get older, I just feel that all that isn't necessary. These days I usually wear a powder foundation compact (I use Estee Lauder, sounds like the one someone else described here) that I just sweep a tiny bit on with a big poufy brush, a bit of plum blush, mascara, and either a natural looking pinky beige lipstick (Estee Lauder's Sultry Blush) or just a clear lip balm. If I'm feeling creative or want to look more dressy, I can add eyeshadow, maybe an eyeliner, and/or a more noticeable lipstick color. Just do what makes you happy and that you feel comfortable with!

Thinkfirst, I like the minimal look, I like to look natural but I like to wear make up. I usually just wear a little concealer under my eyes with little touches here and there if I have a blemish or whatever. I don't like foundation and the only time I wear it is when I use my mineral make up. My mineral powders are my foundation. I think you would like mineral make up, it's quick, easy and you won't look made up after you apply if you apply correctly.

BUT I only wear that when I have to go out in the sun or when I go out for a special occasion. Otherwise, the less I have on my skin, the better! I hate the feel of anything heavy on my face.

A touch of eyeliner just at the outer corners of the eyes looks best IMO, I really don't think mascara is necessary unless your eyelashes are white ;) just a little curl with an eyelash curler really opens up the eyes and then you don't have to wash mascara off later :D

A little blush on the apples of your cheeks where you would naturally blush really brightens up the face and a touch of lip color in a natural shade, just a touch brighter than your natural lip color and some gloss over that for evening and you're ready to go!

And to take that little bit of make up off, just a swipe with a warm wash cloth and you're done ;)

Check out the mineral make up that Dulci was talking about, it's great if you want more coverage, but light enough so you won't even know you're wearing it.

If you keep it minimal and at your comfort level, you won't have to check your make up every half hour :D just put a little on and forget about it :D

hey smiles not to pick on ya :)
but aloe has sunscreen.
no it doesn't naturally or not enough to make much of a difference. if your brand does, then it has been added after the fact. that is a myth.

karen, i opened a thread for this. Please look for it on the same forum.

in the morning - usually!? but don't at night because its an inconvenience. I wear just a touch of color here or there on my eyes or lips so I don't look dead, but I don't want to do more because its expensive and takes time and then I look really awful if there's a day I don't wear any makeup. I like to hike or camp sometimes and don't want to worry any about makeup then. Mascara would probably do me some good but I don't want to have to wash it off if I decide to go swimming that day. I hate the racoon eye look.

Just relating my thoughts on this one.
I feel exactly the same about not wanting to look awful once I wash my face because everyone (including my partner) is used to seeing me made up only. I have this picture in my head about meeting a gorgeous guy in a club at night just to have him run away in horror when he sees me au natural the next morning, LOL (mind you this won't happen cause I'm in a happy long term relationship, but still ...)

Anyhow, my solution was getting make-up that I only have to think about every so often. I have a subtle permanent eyeliner (more what they call an "eyelash enhancement") done on my upper lid which lasts for two to four years until I have to renew it. I get my eyelashes dyed and brows (and other unwanted facial hair) waxed every three to four weeks. That's all I need for looking fine everyday.

I also get my nails strenghtened professionally with UV gel, which means that they look great without any polish, and if I choose to apply polish it will last me weeks without chipping.

All in all I have one appointment with my beautician and one with my nail tech about once a month and that's it. It's pampering time for me and I enjoy it.
Everything else is just about washing and using moisturizer twice a day to keep my skin happy. I can play around with additional eye shadow and lipstick, but I don't ever feel like I have to, not even if I go out real fancy.

Maybe that would be a solution for you too?

I wear no makeup on a daily basis, just a bit of moisturizer in the morning after I wash my face, and again at night before bed. I use a bit of blush for special occasions. I might put a bit of colored lip gloss on that has sun screen if I am going to be outside a lot.

I found that since I started biking regularly, I have more natural color in my face due to the improved circulation and therefore less need to wear makeup to minimize that half-dead look. I prefer the pro-active approach to skin/body care rather than re-active. I keep my skin moisturized and protected from UV.

It sounds like the mineral make up will be just the thing for me and if I use it sparingly, then the cost won't be prohibitive.

I will start a new thread about that

Thanks for all your comments. I appreciate them all. I almost wish I could be either really into the totally feminine, wearing makeup, loving jewelry and foo foo fluff victorian thing or totally a outdoor natural type. I have moods of both so I am clueless about certain aspects of both lifestyles. oh, well. Such piddly little trifles, aren't they? It means I have too much time on my hands if I can worry about such things.

I am healthy. I can see and hear. My family is all doing great. I have God and faith and hope in my life. Really nothing to worry about .

Thinkfirst,

I think you should wear makeup only if and only when it sounds like a fun thing to do. The rest of the time, take good care of your skin for health and comfort's sake. Personally I think that's likely to keep you in good skin for many more years than if you clog up your pores with makeup day after day.

One day I looked around and thought to myself, "Now look, just about every woman I see has a much more attractive face than any of the men, yet somehow we think we need to 'improve' our faces, and the men are comfortable and happy in their own skin. Why do we buy into this?"

Then I looked at the precious babies, toddlers and children that I know, and realized that, thankfully, we have enough sense to adore and love them and to think they are absolutely beautiful just as they are. Can you imagine thinking to yourself, "Heck, little (insert name) looks pale, or puffy, or whatever else. Guess I better get out the mascara and blush." But for ourselves we feel insecure about our appearance, and think we need to 'fix' our faces, as though they were broken, when in fact most of us have a beauty all our own that we cover and color, rather than being happy just the way God made us.

Okay, I'm hopping down from the box now.

Anyway, I washed my face, put on some lotion for dry skin, walked out the door and never looked back. I haven't missed wearing any of that stuff even once.

PLEASE, don't think that I believe that others shouldn't wear makeup. I just learned one day that I don't need it! If you like wearing it, then have fun! If you just feel that you 'should' wear it, well why should you?

I hope this helps, or that at least you don't mind hearing my nutty opinions. Anyway, I'm 50, so at least I qualify to answer!

Deborah

Thinkfirst,
Then I looked at the precious babies, toddlers and children that I know, and realized that, thankfully, we have enough sense to adore and love them and to think they are absolutely beautiful just as they are.

But I had good skin when I was a child. <whine>. Now it's all blotchy and uneven (in color and texture) (old acne marks of varying ages, etc) and my lips are pale in comparison. But I do agree somewhat. If you have beautiful skin that isn't oily, there really is no need for cosmetics. Eye makeup doesn't do anything to improve my appearance. I almost never wear blush. But I can't go without my face makeup and lipstick. I do see lots of people without makeup and think to myself how pretty they are, followed by, I wish I had their skin.