At the moment the makeup industry is telling us to do all the things I was told not to do.
This is the downside of fashion that I have heard so many women in the past moan about.
Watching old makeup videos from the past you realise every woman was told to do the same look even if it didn’t suit them ~ bit lazy really.
We had progressed to doing fashion makeup and hair that suited different body types and face shapes, so why it has gone back to one look suits all doesn’t make sense and isn’t very progressive or interesting.
Maybe someone got the makeup platform and couldn’t be bothered to put the effort in.
Why take the job if your not makeup and fashion obsessed?
Growing up poor, I’ve lived my life outside fashion; we bought our makeup from small buisness budget shops where pink lipstick was on trend every season.
My look that was always this before covid fashion ~ also these lipsticks retailed from 99 pence upwards. On sale they would be 50 pence or 3 for ÂŁ1.99.
(Don’t feel humbled by this, I’ve met people who were a lot worse off than us.)
This brand was called Constance Carroll, Laval or was warehouse discounted L’oreal or other high street big names. There was also Corn silk and I purchased a lot of dupe Benefit ~ you can only get high end Benefit now. Suppose I can afford high end now, but feel sorry for women who are like what I used to be.
The market stall I used to get this from has been shut down to make a food hall and Library?
Hopefully that won’t happen and they will just rebuild the market for small buisnesses; a lot of ‘big’ people started off on barrows and market stalls and are passionate about such opportunities for young buisness people starting out.
I recently watched a local buisnessman on You Tube talking passionately about what was happening to small market stalls and independant retail shops.
My budget shop isn’t online and all the shops available aren’t selling my products?
After researching online buisness providers for small retail you realise it is just for rich people or people glorifying their own ego splashing out cash on professional photography and high end platforms taking more than 50 percent commission.
I could afford to set up an online buisness, but I’d want to make profit.
This in mind you realise that geniune small buisnesses have possibly got out when the going was good.
I think market stalls and mall buisness retail units have to come back, even just for something to do and they were far more enjoyable than internet shopping; just sat at a desk all day typing and looking at a screen. The high street is actually healthier for us too. The more buisnesses out there ~ the more chance of somebodt selling your look.
Yesterday I gave up and threw away all my new lipsticks, I just don’t suit heavy shades of lipstick or lipliner.
Before there used to be every colour you wanted as well as bra sizes for all women.
Luckily I’ve got a hoard of old makeup, maybe enough to last forever?
The makeup was old where I used to shop, so guess the makeup going off tip is just sales marketing type stuff for hard to sell high end makeup in horrible colours.
Even when I got money I didn’t purchase a lot of designer makeup and still bought from the small buisness makeup shops as the colours were nicer and the product hadn’t been sitting on the shelves for years so hadn’t dried up.
I did buy designer perfume though, hence perfume junky.
Do your eye makeup first.
Primer
don’t apply eyeshadow above the cut crease blend ~ really old school tip.
Have been following modern eyeshadow and I look terrible.
Wear a light eyeshadow on your lid.
Only go half way across your cut crease, blend, then reomove excess with a disposable wipe or eyeshadow remover.
Mascara
Fake lash effect without fake lashes.
Had to remember this as I can’t get revlon lashes anymore; they were the only ones that worked on me.
Use an eyelash curler first, heated ones are best but you can’t get them anymore, I used to use Carmen.
Go in again with a manual curler or at the moment this is step one.
Get the thickest, fake lash mascara you can purchase; I always opt for black.
Look down in your mirror and paint your lash underside.
Close your eyes and paint the top of your lashes one at a time obviously.
Paint your bottom lashes.
Repeat the procedure till you are happy with the build up and effect.
They will probably be clumped together, to brush with an eyelash comb.
With L’oreal this worked every time with any of their mascaras.
As I can’t get loreal anymore I’ve discovered Benefit and Clarins.
These do the job and I’ve been using them with a mascara brush from Argos.
This isn’t the natural look.
I did the natural look for work.
You want an unclumpy mascara for that.
This look just makes you look like you aren’t wearing makeup, but looks better than not wearing makeup.
I used to use The natural collection for this which is now sort of way out New Wave or 90’s I think?
Not natural at all?
Think I’ll have to work on the natural look next, but it isn’t anywhere to be found at the moment.
(Just remembered I used to use sample mascaras that you get free for the natural look, they also get the weight down in your work bag as are lighter.)
I like all Benefit mascaras and will purchase the full sized ones.
To be honest with you I never purchased high end Mascara even when I could afford to, but I keep going back to Clarins Mascara. Really like Clarins and will also use purchase their mascaras.
clarins-supra-lift-curl-mascara
Take off any excess eyeshadow before applying foundation.
Eyeliner
Keep trying, but for me L’oreal pre covid is still the best.
It stays where you but it, isn’t too thick or black.
Really hope it comes back.
Liquid Liner
The best one I have ever found is Benefit.
I’m rubbish at applying liquid liner, but this is really easy to use.
This is in my basket now.
I think it is possibly the fact it is like a pencil rather than a little bottle with a small applicator.
I’m not brilliant at art so this really helps me.
benefit-roller-liner-liquid-eyeliner
If I couldn’t find a cheaper dupe of this ~ I’ll definately pay full price fot this and repeat Purchase.
Primer
Really like Lancome; it sinks into my skin and doesn’t create build up or that peeling type effect. Obviously we are all different, hence different types of product. I’m happy with this.
lancome-la-base-pro-perfecting-make-up-primer-smoothing-effect-oil-free
Foundation
As I’m so fair it is almost impossible at the moment to get foundation.
The only one that ever stopped my nose going orange was L’oreal.
It applied effortlessly also.
I’ve had to use Rimmel at the moment, but apparently your not supposed to use what you used as a teenager?
Nothing else works at the minute though?
Rimmel doesn’t go orange on fair skin either.
rimmel-london-lasting-finish-35-hour-foundation
Foundation brush
The No7 one is glooped up with foundation that won’t wash out for love nor money.
The Clarins one is just what I want in a foundation brush.
Really worried how long it will last washed in shampoo though?
The pre covid No7 brush cleaner was my go to product ~ please bring that back!!!!
boots.com/clarins-foundation-brush
lip primer
Haven’t got any.
Pink Barry M lipliner
Still got a few Thank God.
I don’t suit brown lip liner, tried it and looked stupid.
If I was a teenager wanting to look edgy fair enough I suppose, but I’m not.
Light coloured lipstick
Got some pre covid Barry M, a pink Mac and a few budget makes and a Pink Yves Saint Laurent pre Covid.
You can’t get these colours anywhere at the moment sadly.
Draw the attention to lips or eyes, but never both.
I don’t suit the red lip one, but blondes particularly suit this look.
I think blondes tend to suit red better although some brunettes suit red lips.
I think this tip is old school Chanel, but not sure; works on everyone.
Bronzers
Particularly good for fair washed out complexions or people trying to discuise problem areas on their face.
I can’t wear a lot of blush, but I can pile on bronzer.
Just use it on your problem areas, makes it look smaller or flatter.
It works as it is just the fake effect of how a suntan makes everyone look better.
I need it as I’m not allowed to sunbathe anymore due to my skin condition and have to wear sun factor 50. I’m cured, but have to be careful now,
Sunbathing does create premature ageing, so bronzers are a safer way to go if you are worried about this, (learnt this on a beauty course.)
Being fair skinned I’m a bronzer addict ~ Rimmel have some of the best bronzer products I would say.
I used to repeat purchase Estee Lauder gradual build up fake tan as I liked the look and fragrance.
Also liked Guerlain Summer Bronze products.
Basically if I saw bronzer I like the look of I would purchase it.
I think we are supposed to look like fair skinned ladies of the past at the moment.
Really struggling with pink cheeks and went back to bronzer.
I used the pink blush for eyeshadow instead this time.
The packaging is lovely ~ will keep trying, but would rather look natural than way out.
Bronzer Look
This used to be my look; was so easy to do and suits women who don’t suit makeup like me.
Hopefully this will come back soon.
Brush Cleaner
I used to only use this on my makeup brushes, but can’t get it anymore.
Really struggling to wash my brushes at the moment.
A lot snap in two, and some of the bristles have started falling out, wonder if the brush cleaner was more gentle.
My go to make was No 7, but they don’t do it anymore, just something in a cheap plastic container to wipe your brushes on; this doesn’t wash the brushes or work though?
The original container was high end.
Conclusion
As you can see I’m really struggling with makeup at the moment.
I used to love makeup and had a lot of it due to where I shopped.
I have had debt problems in the past, but never from makeup as I bought most of it from a small independant buisness that weren’t expensive.
Mainly due to other people getting into debt at the top then affecting us ‘little people’ as we seem to be referred to as for some reason?
Charming!!!!
I think the high street and small buisnesses need to come back along with variety of choice in makeup colours and fashion sizings.
When you look around you wonder if other people have given up on fashion and makeup too.
I didn’t used to be that fussy with makeup, but since doing this I’ve had to be.
Hopefully the small amount of makeup I’ve discovered in the massive field of chaff type products might help you save your money.
I’m quite pleased I remembered I’m canny or tight with my money, why not be.
Hope you enjoy this blog and you can relate to my honesty.
Have a lovely weekend.
Saphire
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