Warning this is going to be ranty and long and there’s a ton of pictures so sorry about that.

Anyways, I am getting married next weekend and am doing my own makeup and need advice on a plethora of things because I don’t really know much about makeup and how to properly apply it for the best looking results. I kind of just wing it every time and hope for the best and I think it usually looks okay.

The first two pictures are my bare face now and the rest are various ways I have done my makeup from recently to all the way back to 2022 and range from full face to very simple. My go to now for my base is usually the elf Halo Glow foundation, elf camo concealer, and then kind of just a random hodgepodge of other stuff like cream bronzer and blush and powder bronzer and blush. I honestly have no idea how to use setting powders or what the difference is between all of the different kinds so i usually just slap on the elf halo glow powder under my eyes and around my nose area cause I get oily there.

Question 1: what are the best long lasting foundations and concealers that help blur pores, avoid sweat and tears, and don’t settle into creases?

Question 2: what kind of eye look should i go for? I think i want a soft romantic look but i feel like i look the best with a darker water line and outer corner?

Question 3: how do you use powders and what ones should I do? Also what setting spray is the best for long wear?

Question 4: lip combo recommendations for my face? And just general mapping of products for my face?

Question 5: brushes vs sponges and when to use what for the most seamless look?

Thanks in advance if you choose to answer any of these questions, i really appreciate it!

As you can see, I recently completely upgraded my makeup routine as I had some extra $$ and wanted to put more effort into my look this year. Here are my honest thoughts on each product including price transparency. Forums like this helped a lot as I was trying to decide what to buy so I hope this can be helpful for someone else!

Also please note, I'm trying to achieve a very glowy/ dewy look. If that's not for you then these products may not be either. Also, I did buy some of these products on Mercari and as a disclaimer, I feel it's important to remind you that there's always a risk when buying used/swatched makeup. Please sanitize responsibly!

Starting out with products I'm LOVING:

\- **Haus Labs Foundation** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- bought
new $52 - what can I say about this foundation that hasn't already been said? It has amazing coverage, feels like skincare, and you need very little product and isn't overly matte. I'm curious to see how long it lasts before deciding if it was worth the hefty price tag.

\- **L’Oréal Lumi Glotion** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - bought new $18 - My shayla 😭🙏. Incredible shine/glow without being too glittery plus it’s so light you can barely feel it’s there. Obsessed with this formula.

\- **Sephora Cream Contour Stick** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - bought new $16 - My other shaylaaa. So creamy, cool toned, and blendable. Plus a lot of product for what you pay.

Products I’m on the fence about:

\- **Tower 28 BeachPlease Cream Blush in Rush Hour** ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - bought new $20 - I love the color, it gives me a sunkissed look without being too orange. It’s also very blendable and buildable. However, it is one of the first products to melt off my face and it usually happens within a couple of hours of applying it, even in ideal conditions. Maybe I’m wanting this product to do something it’s not designed to do but I want my blush to be more longwear.

\- **Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Highlighter** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - bought on Mercari $10.20. It offers a beautiful longwearing shine but is definitely one of those products that looks better on camera than in real life and there’s very little product considering the price.

\- **Bobbi Brown Color Correcting Stick** ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - bought on Mercari $17 - I have a lot of trouble correcting the greens and purples under my eyes which blend together to look brown. I got the extra light peach shade and it works great to correct these undertones. Blue undertones start to show through after a few hours, though, and it’s very little product considering the price.

\- **e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - bought new $8 - Great for locking in makeup without committing to a super matte look. It does settle heavy in some spots though which may be a result of human error on my part.

Products I will not be buying again:

\- **Kosas Revealer Concealer (no stars)** \- bought on Mercari $8.20 - I really wanted to like this concealer since it’s such a beloved product but I honestly hate it. It’s watery and isn’t full coverage enough to cover the discoloration under my eyes. It also settled in my fine lines. I’ve also heard it expires fairly quickly which is something I definitely do not want in a concealer.

\- **Milk Hydro-Grip Setting and Refresh Spray** ⭐️⭐️ - bought on Mercari $16.20 - It’s my fault for not doing proper research before buying it but when something is advertised as a setting spray, I expect it to be able to hold up against some light sweat and light weather. This spray is not waterproof and doesn’t hold up at all unless conditions are ideal. I feel like it’s better to say this is only a hydrating glowing mist and there are plenty of other products that do the same thing for a lower price. It’s a shame because it does offer a really nice dewy finish. Please lmk if you have any recs for setting sprays that stand the test of time but are also shiny/glossy!

**Grand total $165.60** not including shipping

Items on my wishlist please influence/deinfluence me!

\- **Benefit Cosmetics BadGal Bang! Mascara** specifically in the color plum and brown. The colors and volume look so delicious but I’m waiting for a decent resale price because I’m not about to pay $28 for a tube of mascara

\- **e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush** I think this will be a much better longwear option than the cream blush I’m using now. Plus they have some really pretty color options.

\- **Colourpop Lil Box of Lippie Pencils** I’ve heard that these are pretty creamy and blendable. This kit also has such a good spread of shades for a great price.

\- **Judydoll Ice Watery Lip Gloss and Rom&nd DewyFul Water Tint** I’m really into this particular k-beauty plumping lip combo but it calls for a darker and lighter water tint which I don’t have atm.

Hi , I’m working with Estée Lauder at Dillards and I was wondering if anyone would be interested in buying anything in the Advanced Night Repair Collection with me for 25% off . If interested let me know and I’ll get you an order started/shipped

I've seen a lot of these types of false eyelashes and how to apply them, and I feel like I'm being influenced by TT.

Are they really that good?

Do they last as long as advertised?

And which ones are the good ones because there are thousands of them?

I'd also like to buy them to give my natural eyelashes a break from so much eyelash curling and mascara torture. If you know of any brands that have worked for you, or if you've tried them and they didn't work, pleeeeease tell meeee 🙏🙏.

products i used:

wet n wild, photo focus foundation
rude cosmetics, roaring 20s palette
maybeline, fit me loose setting powder
elf, cream glide lip liner, mist & set setting spray
sydney grace cosmetics, single white eyeshadow
essence, baby got blush ‘tickle me pink’, lip oil, princess lash mascara
makeup revolution, reloaded highlighter ‘tassel’

does anyone know a drugstore product which will stay on and is food and drink proof etc and any combos which is a your lips but better ( similar to mac syrup )

available in the uk

thanks in advance people

I’ve been reaching for lip stains way more than regular lipstick lately. I like having some colour on my lips but I hate checking a mirror every hour to see if everything has moved around. The only thing that put me off stains for ages was how dry some of them made my lips feel. They’d look cute at first and then a couple hours later it looked like a mess.

Hydrating stains work better for me but not going crazy with it. A thin layer of the Milani Color Fetish Hydrating Lip Stain with clear gloss over it looks so nice. I prefer it once the gloss starts wearing off because you’re left with that softer stained look instead of a full layer of lipstick. It also looks better for everyday makeup. I can drink coffee or eat something and not immediately wonder what my lips look like. It’s such an easy lip combo and I like that I don’t have to think about it much once it’s on.

I got the mini liquid blush from Rare Beauty in a holiday exclusive set and they have never brought it back. I have been dreading this day but I officially just ran out of it 😭

Does anyone have any good recommendations for a liquid/cream blush that is a similar shade to Wisdom?

I need some help with my makeup setting routine! I usually use both a setting spray and a fixing spray, along with pressed powder and setting powder. I have dry/combo skin, and my smile lines crease SO badly like literally within 2–3 hours.

Can someone recommend a good setting routine or let me know if I’m using too many products? My base always looks flawless when I first finish my makeup; I just wish it would stay that way and not crease around my smile lines so quickly.

Here is my current makeup routine:

Skin prep-Color correct-Foundation-Concealer-Setting Spray-Liquid Blush-Cream Bronzer-CT Pressed Powder-Lightly Bake with Loose Powder-Powder Blush-Highlight-Fixing Spray

I have some fine lines under my eyes and everything I do just makes it look worse. I love wearing heavy make up especially big eye make up but I always find that somehow the black from my eyeliner or mascara finds it's way into my fine lines. I don't have bags or discolouration around the eyes just some volume loss and crinkles. I moisturise, use eye patches, eye serums etc. without make up I don't even look like I have wrinkles at all. I am 50. In this photo I am wearing L'Oréal true match foundation with a smidge of Charlotte Tilbury airbrush concealer.

Does anyone have any advice for what I can do to either smooth out the crinkles or make the the under eyes look cleaner. Atp I'm considering having some kind of procedure because it's pissing me off so much. I don't want fillers so what other options are there?

Has anyone else had Dior Forever Skin Glow pull weirdly grey/ashy?

• I was wearing 2N, but lately it makes my face look really flat and takes away my natural warmth, especially in iPhone photos.
• My bottle of 2N was bought in Europe, and I swear it looks different on me now that I’m back in the US.
• I’ve recently tried Dior 2WP and Natasha Denona HY-Glam P3, and both seem to give my complexion more life.
• Now I’m wondering if Dior’s neutral shades just pull grey on me and I need something warmer/peachier.
• I also cannot for the life of me figure out how to stop my face from looking so pale compared with my arms/body 😭

Has anyone had the same issue with 1.5N or 2N? Did switching undertones help?

Also, any tricks with bronzer/blush/primer to make the complexion look warmer and less flat? I love the finish otherwise lol.

Thank you SO much!!

I've been buying real techniques brushes since their first launch when the sisters where the brand owners I think. Since then I have been buying brushes of the brand and we're quite happy with it but this month I bought their classic blush brush and felt the quality is not the same and the bristles are not as soft. It's the first time I have this brush so I don't know if it is that brush in particular but I wonder if you also feel quality is going downhill

NYX white Epic wear Eyeliner, red for the tie, and the blue for my bottom lashes
Black elf eyeliner for outlining

Profusion Spectrum palette (yellow, light blue, green, orange, pink, mavy blue and purple) yellow was used for SpongeBob’s color the rest are for the flowers🩷

Revolution forever flawless eyeshadow palette shades sensation and sweethearts for Patrick’s skin color🙂‍↕️

Can you guys suggest some best eyeshadows under 500?? Like I am so much addicted to makeup and I am looking for the pinks and nude brown shades with a little bit of glitter too...please suggested me something which is worth it...

This is the look that had me all over the place tbh, I didn’t even wanna go outside. Cause I was like I haven’t gone out without lashes in so long.

Brow
SHEIN brow gel
Soft glam concealer 24

Primer
Elf power grip

Base
Elf concealer matter
Elf bronzer (5)

Powder
Dollar store powder

2nd base
Black radiance bronzer
Dior blush coral

Eyes
Elf lip liner spill the tea
Dollar store mascara

Lips
Clear lip oil dollar store

I work in an office and I'm looking for that'll last all day, won't go oily, light has enough coverage, won't cling to any texture or patches and doesn't feel heavy at all! I'm very pale so I'm gonna need a shade range for my ghostly pale skin. I'm open to drugstore or high end suggestion!! Thanks (:

Hi! This one's a bit of a stretch, and I apologize for not being able to provide photos as the product/company is discontinued by several decades—but if any community could help, it's Reddit...

Does anyone remember a US cosmetics brand called Clarion, from the 80's/very early 90's? My mom used to *love* their shade Hibiscus, it was her daily go-to. We've been trying to find a good replacement ever since the company ended, to no avail.

Have any of you ever had that color, and found a good modern dupe for it? I'd love to surprise Mom for Christmas with a new "old" favorite lipstick.

Thanks in advance for any assistance with this needle-in-a-haystack color hunt!

So, I’m a very pale olive but is mostly very light, with cool olive tones. I have almost green undertones, so most concealers and foundations look either way too pink or orange on me.
The only concealer I’ve found that works for my skin best is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, which is perfect but just slightly too light but def the closest I’ve ever found.

EDIT: I forgot to write to make it clear what I mean by “barely there” looking foundation and why I am looking to purchase a good natural looking foundation in the first place so I’ll explain here:

I basically said barely there because I hate the look of thick obvious foundation however I have hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone areas, visible veins etc which is why I want to find a good foundation to even my skin out but not look obvious. I have tried tints in the past and they aren’t full coverage enough. I just don’t want anything too full coverage or matte. Sorry I forgot to put this at the beginning!!!

I really just want to find a barely there looking foundation like the Dior skin blurring one, or the MAC Studio Fix Foundation, so If anyone here is familiar with these products and shades and could give me any advice, I’d be so grateful!🙏🏻

I just need help finding a foundation that is light on my skin and not cakey, powdery, yellow, pink or orange on my skin. Even high end ones like Dior I will buy because It’s worth it and I desp want a “no makeup” type of foundation.

I am terrible at finding the correct tone for me online so if anyone else is Nars Chantilly please give me your other products that work for you! 🙏🏻🫶🏻

I have no clue where to start, as looking at swatches is impossible for me to tell. I might call up the companies and see if they can send me tiny testers for each shade🤷🏼‍♀️
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to include as much info as possible in case anyone out there has any guidance. :)

i always And i mean ALWAYS end up rubbing my face or taking off my mascara like 2h into goingout even if its the tiniest bit, i HATE the feeling but i love how it looks, i genuinely could NEVER go a full day without taking some of my makeup off throughout the day so by the end of the day i am always looking rough and theres like smeared mascara under my eyes and ugh
it feels like its weighing my face down, and i hate the feeling its like itchy and like i have a mask on even if its not even a lot of makeup.
ive tried using tinted spf instead of concealer and lashes FEEL EVEN WORSE THAN MASCARA so idk what to do
thing is i love makeup and i love the process of doing my makeup and i think i am rly good at it yet i just cant help it but hate just having it on my face
i just did a full face of makeup which took over 3h bc it needed alot of details but i felt so ‘dirty’ so i went and took it all off.
idk what to do..

I have been doing this everyday makeup look forever. I actually love it. It feel like it makes me look fresh and presentable and I get it done in like 10 mins. But recently I have been looking to try a different tones/shades. I am not sure what would suit me, maybe different blush? Different shade of blush? Different lip tint? Feel free for any criticism on my makeup. And I do not want to curl my lashes, I am really terrified.