Because I am a geek, I printed off the whole What's In Your Bag? topic and then attempted to highlight all of the beauty products you guys mentioned, figuring that if you were mentioning them, they must work.

I am in serious need of a new look and I never know what to buy that looks good on, lasts or actually works the way it is supposed to. Tell me what products you absolutely love so I can make my Visa cringe with a big purchase from Sephora.com!

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Answers

Oooo YAY! I love these kinds of topics. I don't use a lot of frillies (like eyeshadow or blush) so I like to experiment and find the best of the basics: foundation, powder, mascara, and lipstick. What's the best stuff, ladies?

The very most important thing to me is skin care, and y'all, I struggled so long with Clinique, trying to have good skin and failing miserably. Finally I went to Neutrogena acne care and I am a new woman. A NEW WOMAN, I tell you! I have not had a noticeable zit since I started using it. And that's saying a LOT. I used to go through tubes and tubes of concealer and heavy foundation. Now I use MAC Studio Fix powder foundation and it's plenty of coverage for my pale skin.

A lot of my concealer was hiding scars, and when I started using that Neutrogena Vitamin A zit-preventer sauce? They faded. Like, AWAY. I know it doesn't work for everybody but I could preach at the pulpit of Neutrogena for hours. Love it!

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

The Body Shop now sells these tubes with a brush on one end and a button on the other. You push the button and it sends glittery powder onto the brush so you can glitter yourself with maximum efficiency. And for $15, they're pretty large.

I've been told that Nars blush in Orgasm is the Best. Blush. Evah. But I haven't actually purchased one for myself yet, as in London I made myself vow to stop purchasing cosmetics for the rest of the year.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I admit it. I wear Mary Kay. I swear, my skin is addicted to it. If I change, I look all funky and my skin gets sort of angry.

So, I use the MK foundation and concealer (best. concealer. evah.) and the compact pressed powder, because it comes with this awesome little flat brush rather than one of those little powder smeary thingies.

I'm not going to tell you about my love for MK lip stuffs, because I'll make you sick. I gush like old faithful over the stuff.

But I'm a hair product whore. O where does my paycheck go? Judging from my bathroom: Paul Mitchell, KMS, Biolage, Tiwi, Short Sexy Hair, Graham Webb, and Sebastian. Also this Tea Tree Oil shampoo/conditioner that I use about once a week.

I'm sick. I need help.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Clinique lipstick lasts nearly half the day. Here's a technique I saw on Oprah and works well: Apply lipstick, blot, powder, apply another coat of lipstick, blot.

The L'Oreal lipstick I have in my purse doesn't stay on long, even with the above technique.

Aidan, thanks for the Neutrogena tip. I'm going to try it.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I am an Origins Slave when it comes to skin care, even if it is expensive as all get out. Because my skin gets very dry in the winter I use their Nite-A-Mins cream. Works well. Plus, it smells yummy. (But I do just use basic Oil of Olay oil free lotion for the day. Used it for 10 years. Probably always will. [Except I heard a nasty rumor that Oil of Olay may be no more.])

I really only wear lip gloss adn mascara, and a little blush. Lorac lip gloss is GREAT. No gross aftertaste and it's really shiny but not like SHINE! I use Maybelline Great Lash, but really, it's crap. I always buy it expecting to like it, and I never do. I'll keep paying $4 more for Loreal Volumnious. Also, Missy, I know you're blonde, and the key is to never EVER wear black mascara. Wear brown, or brownish-black.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Robyn, I've used Mary Kay and I really liked their liquid foundation. I still have some concealer and I like it because it's pale enough for me. I am pale, guys. P-A-S-T-Y pale.

I use what's supposed to be the best drugstore mascara, Almay Thickening. It's better than Great Lash (could that crap be any lumpier?) but it's still not wonderful. I like Clinique's Naturally Glossy mascara's texture and non-flakiness, but it's an underachiever when it comes to thickening my lashes.

Can we talk eyeliners? I am so greazy like Reezee my eye lines are all gone after 8 hours. Even Revlon ColorStay is no match for my oil slick eyelids.

Can I also sing the praises of Wet 'n Wild nail polishes? $1.79 a bottle at the store and just as cute and good as, if not better than, the expensive stuff.

If you guys want to hear about my hair product adventures, we will need another topic, possibly another whole forum. I have naturally wavy/curly hair, need I say more?

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Can we talk eyeliners?

And how to apply them? I have never, not once, been able to put a decent line on my top lid.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

My top lid must remain lineless, because I am incapable.

Have you guys seen Nicole on The Real World? All that shading and different colors blending? How? Please tell me how.

If I manage to streak one black line across my upper lid, it seems to take up the lid up to the crease. Does she have ultra high eyebrows, and therefore a larger canvass? Can any of you do that?

I'm so impressed with her. Horrified and appalled too.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

WriterGirl and all others with eyeliner issues:

Forget the pencils. Invest in a good eyeliner brush (I love Bobbi Brown's eyeliner brush - it's about $15 and you'll have it forever) and a good, dark eyeshadow (I use Bobbi Brown Mahogany for everyday). But, I bet that Sonia Kashuk has a good brush, and for nighttime, I use her black eyeshadow for my liner.

Wet the brush, squeeze off any excess, dab the brush in the eyeshadow (just enough - I've been using the same Mahogany for about two years now), and draw a line above your lashes a little bit at a time. I NEVER line the whole under-eye area, unless I want to be really, extra dramatic. I just dab a little in the corner under my eye, that's all. You can use your pinky finger to smudge the line when you're done for a softer look.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I love Loreal's LashOut. It is the only mascara that has ever made my lashes thicken up.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

FYI, if any of ya'll watched Dawson's Creek last night and hear mention of the Lip Venom, save your money.

It claims to stimulate your lips so that they get all puffy and full. It does sting a little, but unless you have super sensitive lips, all it does is give your lips a nice shine. A nice shine that wears off rather quickly.

Hannah, thanks for the tip on the mascara. Guess which color I currently have in my makeup bag!? Any other tips? You & I look to have similar skin tones and coloring, I'd be interested to know which shade of specific products work well for you.

BTW, I use L'Oreal Voluminous mascara for anyone looking. Of all that I have tried it's my favorite. It goes on and stays on well, but washes off easily. The brush is longer than most, so it gives nice coverage.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

The Body Shop now sells these tubes with a brush on one end and a button on the other. You push the button and it sends glittery powder onto the brush so you can glitter yourself with maximum efficiency. And for $15, they're pretty large.

Good tip, WG! I end up with glittery powder all over the countertop and hardly any on the brush with my current stuff.

T, thanks for the eyelining tip. It sounds like something Kevyn Aucoin would recommend and since I love him & what he can do, I love you, too! Everytime I attempt to put on eyeliner, I look like someone drew on my eyes with a crayon. Ugh!

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

T, is this the brush?

I wish y'all would come to New York and come to Sephora with me, as I have zero makeup confidence. My Body Shop splurge was a once-in-a- lifetime (so far) event, as (a) it was my birthday and (b) I didn't buy anything particularly challenging (eyeshadow, the glitter tube brush, blue corn face mask, lip gloss, lipstick/lip color, and . . . oh, damn, tell me I got more for my money than that).

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Bath and Body Works also sells the brushes with powder in them. Also, the new concept store in Columbus is selling Lorac. In BBW! It's a miracle.

Missy - I wear really pale pink blush (sephora brand "fade") and mostly just clear or berry tinted lip glosses. I'm a big fan of the berry family.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

That is the brush - and Missy, it's a total Kevyn Aucoin / Bobbi Brown thing. In fact, if you want to learn all about how to apply makeup and what you need to have, and that you don't need to have, I highly recommend Bobbi Brown Beauty. She tells you everything you need to know, from the minimum to the way out there.

About mascara - I'm blonde, and I swear by Great Lash in Brown Black. If you wear hard contacts, though, avoid the waterproof.

In terms of blush, the words I live by are, "go for a shade that matches the color of your cheeks when you've been exercising" - that's your natural color, so it's definitely the shade that will work best for you.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

And if you're a fan of the berry family, I'll say it again, and I know that naked Hannah will back me up:

Aveda Lip Tint.

Buy it. Love it. Have the softest lips you've ever had.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Another good tip I've read about blush is to flip your head over and then after a few seconds flip up - apply blush where you're flushed. (And go for a similar color.)

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Y'know, one year I asked for Making Faces for Christmas, and my mother refused to buy it for me. Which gives you some idea of the amount of makeup advice I've received from her. Maybe this year I'll ask for Bobbi Brown Beauty just to annoy her.

Missy: my Body Shop lip balm has been working so far to make my lips soft, but boy, once you put it on, you'll be smelling it for a while. I've got Unbridled Passionberry in my purse and the strawberry flavor at home in my emergency makeup kit.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Well, Kevyn Aucoin's book is cool, but Bobbi Brown's is practical. So, there you go.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Nars Orgasm is indeed the Best Blush Evah. I also use Nars mascara in Bamboo (not too dark) and it also DOESN'T EVER CLUMP. Ever. Because it has no fibers.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Oh, and T! I lost my Aveda Lip Tint. I'm budgeting a week of Ramen noodles to replace it.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Oh, that's the saddest thing ever. Your poor lips!

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

T -- thank you for the eyeliner advice! So if I use the dampened eyeshadow instead of the pencil, the lines will stay on longer? I can do okay with a pencil but I'm worried about the skill level required by the whole brush thing. I guess I will just have to practice. Will any old dark eyeshadow do, or are some better than others? (You want to hear something REALLY sad --the closest Sephora to me is four hours away.) And once you've gotten the eyshadow wet, can you still use it as shadow? Or have you committed it to liner duty?

And speaking of trying to look good -- we just had one of those Whirlpool Personal Valets installed. We're still a little intimidated but so far it seems to work pretty well.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Oh, you can definitely use the eyeshadow - it's not you're getting it very wet. It takes a little practice - you need to be sure to not get the brush too wet, to squeeze the excess water off the brush, and to just dab the tip of the brush in the shadow, flat side down at a 45 degree angle.

That sounds complicated, but really, it isn't.

Any dark eyeshadow will do. I'm fair with blue eyes, so I usually use a dark brown shadow for daytime. The only shadow that doens't work well is Cover Girl - the powder isn't fine enough, I find. I love Bobbi Brown, and Target's Sonia Kashuk line is good, too.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

I've found the brush thing easier than the pencil thing. Just be sure to get a high quality brush.

I'm a member of the Kheil's cult. Lip balm #1, oh how i love thee. Rare earth oatmeal facial cleanser. yeah baby.

Benefit Benetint. I love this stuff for rosy cheeks. It also stays on forever!!

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

For those who care, here's PETA's list of companies that don't test on animals. Almost all the companies we've discussed so far, including Bobbi Brown and Kiehl's, don't test.

My roommate, who has more lotions, soaps, washes, etc., than I can shake a stick at, is also a Kiehl's devotee.

Honestly? My usual morning makeup routine? Eyebrow gel (I have really thick, occasionally unmanageable brows). That's it. I used to wear foundation, but (a) most foundations, even the lightest shades, look orange on me and (b) I stopped wearing my current candidate (Maybelline oil-free) in the summer when it would drip off me before I boarded my subway train, and haven't gone back to it since.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

By the way: you know how Ortho-Tri-Cyclen runs those commercials promising you less acne to go along with your sinful lovin'? They're not kidding.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

I'm really anti-liquid foundation. I had horrible skin in high school and wore foundation religiously. Then one day in college I realized that I didn't need it anymore. Cause if you don't need it, don't wear it. (And most likely, you don't need it.) Loose powder was invented for a reason. And so was MAC Studio Fix which is really amazing. I actually just apply it with a big brush, unless I'm wearing it for nighttime.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Amen, Hannah. I just switched from Sonia Kaschuk powder foundation to Studio Fix and I'm very happy with it. For one thing, I was going through Sonia's teeny compacts about once a month, way too often. And it's a good product, but she makes it in only THREE colors. Her palest shade was too yellow for me. I would give my beloved Neutrogena's powder foundations a try, but they too make only three colors and my skin tone laughed at all of them. What the hell is wrong with cosmetic companies?!?! My Studio Fix matches perfectly.

And I noticed after the first couple of times I used it, my skin felt like SATIN when I washed it after wearing Studio Fix all day. I was very impressed.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

for foundation purposes, i'm hooked on shu uemura. a friend of mine does makeup at photoshoots and swears by it. it's super light, doesn't get clumpy, and, if used sparingly, will last a really long time. i use two different shades and mix them together. it's great stuff, kind of hard to find though.

and we all know that i've got problems when it comes to lip gloss. i've been hooked on my shine in "sinner" ever since i bought it. it's a huge pot of gloss, but considering my reapplication rate is way higher than the normal person's, i'm scraping the bottom.

for mascara, my eyes are super sensitive so i'm really picky when it comes to mascara. i found tony and tina's mascara at sephora. it's all natural so it's really easy on my eyes. it does come off before the end of the day, though, which is mildly annoying. but at least my eyes aren't red and i can see... i do make some compromises when it comes to beauty.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

When you guys say Studio Fix are you talking about this?

It sounds too good to be true, but since you guys seem to like it so much I have to assume the $22 price is worth it? I HATE foundation (at least the ones that I have tried), so I'd love an effective alternative.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Studio Fix is fabulous - I only use loose powder and concealer now, though, and occasionally I use Boobi Brown cream foundation, but rarely. Very rarely.

The trick with Studio Fix is to remember that the way it looks when you first pur it on isn't what it will look like ten minutes later. it might even look powdery at first, but it has to "set" and then it will be all smooth.

Oh, and the sponge is in the bottom of the compact - it has three parts (the compact, not the sponge). It took me two compacts to figure that out.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

I think you can get Shu Uemura at Sephora and Saks and Neiman's, can't you? And Nordstrom, I think.

If you have shiny skin, I swear by Philosophy Never Let Them See You Shine. A teensy bottle seems like a rip-off at $12, but that teensy bottle will last you at least a year.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Our Saks opens TODAY! Woohoo! (But see, if miranda buys it via make-up artist she gets a discount. Ahem.)

It sounds too good to be true, but since you guys seem to like it so much I have to assume the $22 price is worth it? I HATE foundation (at least the ones that I have tried), so I'd love an effective alternative.

Missy - One Studio Fix will last me at LEAST 6 months. Plus, MAC recycles their compacts which is always nice. I put it on with a blush brush and it's plenty for day wear. The great thing about it is you can get mini to straight up maxi maximum coverage just depending on how you apply.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Missy, that's the stuff. My shade is N4. I think it's well worth the price -- I've been using it for a month and I've barely made a dent in it. By now I'd be heading to Target for another dose of Sonia and they're $9.99, so I think I'm coming out ahead as far as the cash goes. And it's good makeup.

I am going to Nordstrom after work in search of Bobbi's eyeliner brush. T, do you recommend the regular eyeliner brush, or the ultra fine eyeliner brush? I am leaning toward the ultrafine because it seems like it might be easier to control for a beginner like me.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Go for the ultra fine - you can always make a thicker line with that brush, but you can't make a thinner one with the thick brush.

If you get Studio Fix, there are so many shades that it is wise to have your color matched by a pro.

And finally. A Saks? In Ohio?? It is a fine day!

Oh, and the best concealer in the WORLD? Laura Mercier Secret Camoflage.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

I know that T swears by Bobbi Brown brushes, but I'm not comfortable paying that much for brushes. The Sonia line at Target has great, much more reasonably priced brushes.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

This is great! I'm not a very girly girl and need all the help I can get. My only problem is that I live in the middle of nowhere, far far away from Sephora, Neiman's, Saks, and Nordstrums. You can find all this stuff online, right?

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Sephora.com - your new best friend.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

If you get Studio Fix, there are so many shades that it is wise to have your color matched by a pro.

There's a MAC store on 5th right by me. Must not go . . . will not go . . .

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

I wear really pale pink blush (sephora brand "fade")

I meant to say it's STILA, and the color is "fade." Sorry.

Went to the new Nordstrom today with miranda. Finally! All the great brands are here and I don't have to travel to buy them. Heaven.

I went to Laura Mercier to buy the secret camoflauge concealer and the guy told me not to bother because I don't need it! Amazed! Made my day!

So I bought Keihls lip balm and Stila lip shine in Petal.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Sephora does not carry MAC or Laura Mercier.

Gloss.com carries MAC and Bobbi Brown, but not Laura Mercier.

Nordstrom online seems to carry quite a few of the products mentioned here, so it might we worth checking out if you are trying (as I am) to place one big order from somewhere rather than a bunch of smaller orders.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Whooo Hannah! If the SALESMAN is telling you your skin doesn't need his stuff, you ARE something!

I went shopping this weekend too. I didn't make it to Nordstrom, but I did get to Target. I bought Sonia's eyeliner brush and her eyeshadow in "Night" (and a faux Burberry hat for $1.97, but that's a different story). I am a dark gray liner kind of gal. I practiced yesterday with the line drawing, and I have to say, I think I've got it down! And I didn't end up with eyeliner all over my face and contacts either! But I think I will end up going to the Bobbi counter and buying her brush because Sonia's brush has extra-long hairs that are mildly vexing to me.

The true test will be whether my eyes are still lined at 5:00 tonight.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

oh, also Benefit has a great liner brush. It's bent and very small and only $12.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Bought the "yellow stuff" from Clinique yesterday, and am waiting for my skin to magically turn supple and creamy. Any minute now.

And I went back to the Back to Basics Curl Enhancing shampoo. I don't know if I've already raved to you guys about this, but there is a Bain de Terre mousse that is specifically for roots, and it has this crazy little nozzle that deposits the mousse in precisely the right spot.

You know all these years that you've been hearing "use mousse on your roots/use gel on your roots", but getting it to your roots while not losing it all on the hair shaft is impossible?

No longer impossible, my babies. Bain de Terre, root mousse.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Robyn, let me know if you like the Dramatically Different stuff, because I have like four thousand miniature bottles of it I will send you.

In fact I have all manner of Clinique skin care crap I will share with somebody if they are so inclined. A swap would be awesome.

So you like the Back to Basics Get Curly? I use the conditioner faithfully once a week but the shampoo and gel are too weighty on my ultra baby-fine hair. They totally flatten my curls. I generally have to use volumizing shampoos and spray gel to get really good, defined curls.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Neutrogena Healthy Skin will make your face so very pretty. I just now realized how nice my skin is looking and realized why- my dad bought me some when he was out here.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

So far, there is no drastic difference. It's been approximately 7-1/2 hours since I put the lotion on my face. (it puts the lotion in the basket...)

The Get Curly is the only curl enhancing stuff that seems to actually work for me. The KMS stuff eats big stinky ass. It also smells overpoweringly sweet. I use the Biolage Thermoactive spray on stuff, too, after I use the root mousse. I was using Tiwi's Medium hold hairspray, but I decided it was way to smelly to continue loving.

I could definitely get into a swap. Let me check my rations, as I just recently got rid of a ton of product I wasn't using.

As devoted as I am to the lip stuffs, the hair stuffs will be the death of me. I have no fewer than 6 bottles of shampoo/conditioner actually IN the tub area, and at least 3 heavy moisturizing products in the basket on the edge of the tub. The gel/mousse/hairspray collection is beginning to edge out into the driveway. It's getting ugly.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Bumping this up...

Okay, wavy-haired people, I have a problem. See, a few years ago, my hair decided that it wanted to be wavy. So, little by little, it grew in wavy, starting at the back of my head. My hair is *finally* wavy all over, and I kind of like it, and becase I have great hair it will usually do whatever I want it to - ie, be straight, have body, do velcro rollers, whatever.

So. Wavy hair. I have a diffuser, and it works like a charm. But when I've difussed it and it's all lovely and wavy, it's also rather tangly, and if I comb it out, it goes from wavy and tangly to frizzy and awful. How can I have nice, non-tangly, non-frizzy wavy hair? (Unfortunately, it takes seven hours for my thick hair to air dry).

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

T - you have discovered the Great Wavy Hair Dilemma. Unfortunately I have lived with this hair for 27 years and I have never found a perfect solution to "wavy, with no tangles." You have already discovered that you absolutely may not brush or comb it once it is wavy and dry.

Two things that really work for me for "less tangles" (as "no tangles" is inattainable) are:

1. If I know I am going to wear it wavy, I will use twice the conditioner in the shower (now, I only put conditioner on the hair that isn't touching my head someplace anyway, and I prefer really heavy cheap ones for this particular de-tangling purpose - think Suave.) - I mean a whole handful. Then I work it through with my fingers, for at least two or three full minutes - separating out the most possible tangles as I go. Then, I continue to finger-comb as I rinse. I rinse twice when doing this de-tangling.

2. I used to love the diffuser. Now I dislike it because it's time-consuming and puts so much heat right on the ends of your hair.

My new faux-diffuser solution: go to Sally Beauty or your salon or beauty supply store, and buy one of those packs of 30 chip clips. On towel-dried hair, put a little volume product around the crown (mousse, whatever), then clip it up in sections, starting with the crown. You will be inclined to twist the sections, but don't - just collect sort of a pile of hair with your hand, and clip that right in the middle.

Then, finish your routine with the makeup and clothing and coffee. Finally, hit the whole thing with your hair-dryer on low for about 10 minutes, and you are done.

The process, which sounds all crazy complicated, is really quick and easy - easier than diffusing. Also, you get the benefit of less heat on your hair. And what is does for my hair is let it air-dry a bit into the waves, but not all crunched up into hot tangles.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Okay, I'll try the chip clip thing - it makes perfect sense. My hair is so frizzy right now, and I am very sad.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

The slippery slimy stuff that is designed for getting rid of frizz works well, too. Used sparingly, it won't make your hair greasy or straight, just soft and silky.

And tea tree oil (just a drop) has the same effect. Just put it in your palm, rub the hands together, and then run your hands over the top of your hair. Soft, shiny, pretty hair. Plus, if you buy a great big thing of tea tree oil, you will use it all over your body. I swear, there is nothing that stuff can't do. I secretly believe it cures the anthrax.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Since you have thick hair, T, Pineapple's trick will probably work well for you. But I have super super fine oily hair, so if I use conditioner I can count on swim cap hair of limpness and woe that separates into stringy strands. I only condition once a week, and that is plenty for my hair (I don't color my hair).

I've found that the best thing to cut down on frizziness is the styling product I use. A good slick lightweight gel should make the waves clump together and prevent strands from frizzing out. And I always chase that with a shot of sculpting hairspray just to make double sure.

This works for me, but unlike you and Pineapple I'm in a Northern climate. When I was in San Antonio years ago my hair was insane, and I too had the urge to brush it and regretted it immediately. I hope you find something that works with the humidity.

And my hair just decided it was going to be curly one day too. I had straight hair for 23 years, then all of a sudden, POOF. One humid day and it was all over.

Robyn, what's the verdict on the Clinique yellow stuff?

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Sebastian's Laminates rock my world when I'm going for smooth soft hair (as opposed to the days when I want frizzy muppet hair).

Aidan, Clinique's yellow stuff is hands down the best moisturizer I've ever used. I feel like I'm finally seeing my real skin. My face is soft but not greasy, and I am using less foundation than before. Plus, my skin absorbs it so quickly that I don't have to wait 5 minutes for my face to "dry". Go Yellow Stuff!

I'm using Clinique pressed powder, too, but I have to say that I'm still partial to the Mary Kay pressed powder.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Mary Kay died last week, you know. And across the world, pink cadillacs everywhere will never be the same.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Oh my jesus, no I didn't know that. That breaks my heart. We'll not see another like her in our lifetime.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Oh, no. You know she (or one of her top associates) had a house near us in Colleyville. Every month or so the place would be SWARMED with pink cadillacs.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

wut i have to say is definitely THE BEST CONCEALER is the Boing by Benefit. I have huge dark circles and this is the only stuff that'll make them invisible. It does cost 18$ but i have had it for a year, and im not even half way throught it.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

I don't know how I missed a thread about cosmetics, but after it got bumped up last week, I read that bit that T posted about using dark eyeshadow and a fine brush for eyeliner. I said to myself, "Self, you've always had eyeliner issues, you should try this." And I did try it, and can I just say T rocks? My eyes thank you. Excellent advice!

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

Sebastian Texturizer(quarter size) mixwed with a dime size of laminates gel also works on wavy hair, it should be applied when wet.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

I have wrinkles. I always had a few lines under my eyes, but now, shit.

Tell me about your skincare.

I did buy Keihl's new eye cream, and so far I like it. But I put on too much last night and it made my eyes sting, but that was clearly my fault.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

You have wrinkles? Bullshit.

That's all. I have nothing of beauty to add.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I just got an Oil of Olay knockoff (as in, it was CVS, not some scary "Oi of Oray" $2 import) with SPF 15 in it, for the 10 minutes each day I spend out in the sun.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I swear to you, I do. All around my eyes. This is my punishment for hours spent in tanning beds. (And for 5+ years smoking, I'm sure.) I've been using Oil of Olay oil-free since I was about 14. I figure it's time to up the battle. I use Origins Night-a-mins at night and I've heard great things about their Have a Nice Day moisturizer but it's $30, and that seems high to me.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Ok, I agree...YOU do not have wrinkles.

But anyhow, Clinique has this anti-aging serum (is that a technical term?) that's supposed to be great. I've only been using it for a few days, so I can't really tell, but others swear by it. For what that's worth...

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I use Nutrogena's eye cream, sporadically. I think it does an ok job. Once upon a time, I was very good about doing the Mary Kay eye cream nightly, and I think it was just as good as the stuff I'm using now. My wrinkles are all from smoking and walking across campus in harsh weather.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Sisley makes an amazing eye-and-lip-combo night cream that is to die for. You apply just a smidge with a Q-tip before bed, and I swear you wake up in the morning looking as if you've had the Botox. Tiny lines go *poof*!

Of course, the stuff is so good that if you apply more than a smidge you can actually wake up puffy, so you have to be careful, but it's God's own night cream, I promise.

...course, you pay God's own price, but still...

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I swear by Clinique. I've tried all sorts of makeup in my lifetime, drugstore and department store brands alike, and the only thing that sticks to my face is Clinique.

And did you know that I thought everyone used liquid and powder foundation at the same time? I never thought of using one without the other.

And my favorite lipstick is a brand that I bought from the grocery store that seems to be HEB's own brand of makeup.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Wow! I love all hearing about all these products. I really need some sure-fire under eye cover up stuff that doesn't get clumpy or dry all wierd. And do you put the under eye cover up stuff on before or after you put on the foundation? These under eye circles are my biggest make up dilemma. Sometimes I feel like I have them all covered up so nicely then I'll get back a photograph of myself and it looks like I have white stuff all around my eyes - Ugh. Oh and no one has mentioned Merle Norman. I love Merle Norman foundation. And it isn't very expensive either. I bought Chanel make up once at $55.00 a pop and Merle Norman is at least half the price and stays on much better.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Lois, I don't wear foundation, just loose powder over moisturizer, but still the rule is concealer goes on first, under everything else. If you look like you have lighter circles under your eyes, then you are using a shade too light. The omnipotent They usually say that concealer should be the same shade as your skin, not one lighter like They told us in the 80's.

Also, have you considered using using one of the colored concealers for under eye? I can't remember the name of the line, it's that doctor one, anybody help?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Physician's Formula, PG. It comes in green and purple. I don't remember which color does which, though. Avon used to have the colored concealers, too.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Keli, yay! Yes! Physician's Formula.

The green is used to tone down reddish areas, like blotches (not that I am speaking from experience -- but say you picked, even though you could hear your mother's voice from heaven reminding that one must never pick or one makes a spot worse, and then you had a red blotchy area even though you had to be at a party in one hour -- this would be the stuff you would want),

...and the lavender one is supposed to offset yellowish areas, like the bruise-y undereye bags that some people get. (If I get bags, from fatigue or whatever, mine tend to be dark, so I go with regular flesh-tone concealer)

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

And, not that I have ever had something so tacky, but if you were to have a hickey? The green one is the one you want.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

Okay - this is a great site! I'm 48 and live in northern Michigan. Very dry, harsh winters and I practically need motor weight oil on my face to feel comfortable. I've been using the $50.00 a jar Lancome and it's the answer but way too expensive for my budget. Any suggestions?

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

I use Origins Nite-a-mins and I love it. It comes in a thicker cream and a lotion, and I use the cream. It has lots of vitamins in it, including A and it smells lovely. I live in Ohio and one jar will last me all winter and keeps my skin from tight, dry itchyness. I swear by it.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

Barbara Ann (and you must get sung at a lot -- my apologies), I apply two moisturizers in the morning: Body Shop Nut Butter (which is not their strongest available -- they're all listed here) and then the aforementioned Oil of Olay knockoff with SPF 15. I got the Nut Butter mainly because I love the smell, but my skin has been much less dry this winter than last. Of course, we've also had a milder winter.

Has anyone here ever had their eyebrows threaded?

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

WG, I haven't, but I asked my aesthetician about the process. She said that it has the exact same effect as having them waxed, but it can be better for sensitive skin, especially if you react to the heat or the wax. Eyebrow waxing works great for me, so I don't plan to change, but that's my $.02 of my skin girl.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

the whole What's In Your Bag? topic

Can I just say that every. single. time. I come to this topic and read those words, Ludicris instantly starts singing in my head, "What in the woooorrrld is in that bag? What'cho got in that bag?"

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Anyone know a cure for static? My hair flies up six inches, easy, y'all. My old hairdresser said to use a dryer sheet on it, but that left my hair a)greasy and b)smelling like fabric softener.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Spray Static Guard on any offending items of clothing, like scarves, jacket collars & hoods and also on the upper part of your chair. That should help to prevent it.

If you have it and need to get rid of it, spraying the Static Guard into the air and then walking through the fallout should fix your hair without weighing it down or making it yucky.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

It gets staticy from lack of moisture, both in your hair and in the air. You can also just rub lotion on your hands and then smooth out the ends. There's also the effective, classic spray hairspray on a brush and brush your hair trick as well.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

There's also the effective, classic spray hairspray on a brush and brush your hair trick as well.

For a non-brusher like myself (you know, with the 'fro), I like the combo of HB and Missy's tips: spray the hair spray into the air then walk through.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Alright! I ordered the under eye cover up from benefit right after I saw that post, and when I got it, I promptly sent it right back to exchange it for the medium shade as opposed to the light shade. I also got some of that lavender stuff from Merle Norman and seems to work just great. When Benefit sent me the Boing under eye stuff they kindly included some samples of their Pineapple scrub. Pineapple, I thought you might be interested in it b/c of your name... and the fact that this stuff smelled SO good, I am a little embarassed to admit I briefly considered tasting it. And I too, am a curly hair victim. In fact, since I have grown my hair longer I cannot wear necklaces of any sort or they get all tangled up in my hair.I am curious about this Suave conditioner technique... does this really work?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I'm tempted to get Benefit foundation/eye concealer. my face is just so irritated lately plus I haven't been getting enough sleep (hence the dark, dark circles) and the Covergirl just isn't doing it - in fact, I think it's past its due date for freshness anyway. hrm, to say 'no' to frivolous makeup or say 'yes' and feel better about self. ugh.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

to say 'no' to frivolous makeup or say 'yes' and feel better about self.

Wait, this is a question? Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage is my pimple and undereye savior. I mix it on the back of my hand w/eyecream for the undereye part.

And y'all will be pleased to know I've solved the static problem with Kiehl's high gloss conditioning oil applied to hair before drying. I'd stashed it away b/c it was too heavy and greasy for my hair in Boston, but it's just right for my hair in LA.

Okay, maybe it's just me that's pleased to know that.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Ok, I know this is going to sound totally wierd. The other day after I was done working out, I noticed that my lips looked a bit nicer: not so pale, smoother, and the slightest bit plumper. I assumed that this was because of all the sweat spilling out of my poors, and as you know, sweat is basically salt water. So the next day I decided to experiment. You mix some salt in some water and then exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush that has been dipped into the mixture for a minute. And though this method will not last you all day, it primes your lips perfectly for lip color. You know, in case you're going on a HOT date and don't mind taking the extra time to look SUPER SEXY...

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002