Every day you’ve got to wake up
And disappear behind your makeup. – Blondie, “Living In the Real World”
OK, female readers (especially but not limited to sex workers), it’s my turn to ask you a question, and you can answer in the comments below (or email me if you prefer a private conversation for some reason.) Except for occasional pre-hysterectomy episodes where my complexion went to hell for a few weeks or months, I’ve always been fortunate in that I don’t really need makeup. My skin tends to be clear and I have excellent natural coloration; in fact, I literally never wore makeup when I was working unless the client was taking me out somewhere. This was really convenient because I had no makeup for sex to ruin; a quick brush of the hair and I looked the same going out as I did going in. The most I might have to do was wash my face if something got on it. Nowadays, when I do wear makeup I just use this skin bronzer stuff which is like a powder that goes on without foundation, then do my eye makeup, blush and lipstick. My skin isn’t oily, but neither is it dry, and I find that the oilier the foundation the more quickly it looks old and crappy on my face. This powdery bronzer looks good for a lot longer than any foundation/powder combination I ever used, even the expensive stuff, and I can do my whole face in six minutes flat. However, it still doesn’t last as long as I would like, and I’ve noticed it tends to make my face look tanned or flushed in photos (which is not a good look for me). So now that I’m about to go on this tour, I’m really thinking about trying something new and I’d like suggestions. What I’m looking for is makeup that doesn’t take 20 minutes to put on, yet looks good and lasts a long time. It would also be nice if it doesn’t cost a fortune, and if it’s available from regular stores so I don’t have to locate a department store in a strange city that happens to carry that exclusive line. The most important thing is the base, because I’m actually pretty happy with my other makeup; however, if you have a suggestion for a whole line I would still like to hear it. Yes, I realize I’m asking a lot; that’s why I’m “crowdsourcing” this rather than just asking one or two friends. I figure that somewhere out there is the perfect makeup for me, and I’d rather not try another 50 things before I find it.
(Have a question of your own? Please consult this page to see if I’ve answered it in a previous column, and if not just click here to ask me via email.)
Hey Maggie – I don’t use base or foundation makeup of any kind, just a bit of powder (Mac). I often wear mascara (Lancome Hypnose, black, NOT waterproof), also use Lancome concealer. Love Mac eyeliner and lipstick, which sticks beautifully and which I highly recommend; my colour is Girl About Town: http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/168/310/Products/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick/index.tmpl
In a word…compact
Pressed Powder
Easy to take along
Has a mirror and what girl doesn’t love one of those
Takes off any excess surface oil
Light on the pores no clogging
Just find your shade that matches your skin tone
I found LA Colors very good and inexpensive about 2 bucks
I’d agree. Pressed powder. And play up those eyes.
I too tend towards little makeup. I occasionally add a bit because I’m pale. But mostly I’ve depended on my red hair to be all the color I need.
Since the bright sun has never been my friend, I’ve avoided it, even back during the late 70’s in Southern California. Thus I’ve avoided a lot of wrinkles.
I do also use skin cream because I tend towards dry.
Sounds like some sort of BB cream would do the job. They’re all-in-one products and much lighter than regular foundation.
Maybe try a mineral based loose powder or a tinted moisturizer?
They look very natural because they’re sheer and absorb into the skin well – no “tide mark” or layer of foundation sitting on your face, just your actual skin but with fewer/less noticeable blemishes, even skin tone and less greasy. You need to use a shade that matches your skin (try on inner wrist, it should be invisible when blended) but it’s actually pretty easy once you figure out the “makeup speak” name for your skin tone – mine is usually word meaning pale+qualifier (“fairly light”).
Tinted moisturizer and mineral powder are pretty easy to find at decent sized drugstores, easy to apply and usually come with an SPF. Some makeup artists refuse to use mineral foundation/powder on photo shoots because they claim it makes people glow bright white on camera, but tinted moisturizer should be fine if you have clear skin.
As women age, a primer is their best friend. Purminerals makes a “correcting primer” that you apply after your moisturizer. Seriously minimizes pores and gives your skin a very smooth look and feel. There are other brands but I like this one best. (My skin tends towards dry, I keep a jar of coconut oil and a dab works great on my face.) I am partial to Chanel pressed powder. It’s expensive but lasts a long time. Somewhere I read it was the only one Christie Brinkley would use, and, well, look at her. (Her own beauty line notwithstanding.)
If that isn’t for you, I would try a tinted moisturizer. It’s easy and quick…if you get into a Sephora in your travels you can play with many until you find one that suits your skin tone.
I’m fond of the e.l.f. brand face primer, which you ought to be able to find at Target. I only rarely wear makeup, so I can’t say I’ve extensively field-tested it, but if I recall, my makeup still looks good at the end of the day when I use it.
My skin is very sensitive and very fair. And when I got older, it was getting blotchy and showing some redness, more than before.
I had tried suggestions such a Bare Minerals, which are great products but makes older skin look “cakey”.
I went to a facialist and she turned me on to Eminence products, which are organic and originated in Hungary.
The rose cleanser is just great for my face and so is the stone crop gel wash. I use one in the morning and the other at night.
The reason why I’m mentioning these cleansers (instead of actual makeup products) is once I started using these products, I could easily go back to wearing some light powder and a bit of blush.
I dislike wearing a lot of makeup as well but sometimes, a barn door does need a little painting! Grin.
http://us.eminenceorganics.com
After that, she suggested a light base with moisturizer, or a little pressed powder, and this is what I’ve been using for the last few years.
The Eminence products have been a godsend for my facial care. Hope this helps!
I agree with the pressed power, it’s easy to touch up. I also use a BB cream, which has worked very well.
To all those who suggested pressed powder: Strangely, I’ve used it since my teens, but I always used it with foundation; I actually never thought of trying it without. That will definitely be my first of these suggestions to try since it’s so damned simple and I’ve got a partially-used compact or two floating around.
My suggestion would be to go to a markup artist at a department store and ask about powder foundations. They will let you try out a bunch of different stuff, and once you find something you like you can either by it or do a quick search for similar products.
I am fond of Physician’s Formula organic wear tinted moisturizer with a mineral veil over it. It goes on very light and basically just evens out my color, takes maybe one full minute to put on both liquid and powder. I picked that one up bc my skin breaks out from dimethicone (ubiquitous in most foundations) so it might be lighter than you want…but, like you, I have never been a full makeup sort of gal and never lacked for male attention. This stuff doesn’t make me look or feel heavily (read: obviously) made up, just subtly better than my skin on its own. I am not sure how long it lasts bc I pretty much only use it for evening wear. Curious to see the other responses…good luck!!
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L’Oreal has always been my go-to for drugstore brands when I couldn’t shell out the dough for Chanel or Lancome. Any loose powder should do the trick for foundation and be sure to have a large body brush to apply it with because it will give you the thin coverage you’d prefer.
I use Studio Fix Powder plus from Mac, a powder and foundation in one. Very light-weight yet very effective. I’m just like you actually, I never wear make up while having a ‘date’, it’s extremely impractical I guess. On top of that, I’m brown-skinned, so the residue would look really ‘nasty’ on the sheets 😉
Studio fix from MAC is great so are the High Definition Foundations from Make-up Forever! Lipsticks and mascara by Besame, and shadows once again MAC. Hope this helps you are beautiful btw!!
My internet paranoia module is wondering if that’s really a picture of Maggie. 😉
My reality check module suggests that since you’ve spoken at events where presumably there were cameras, there’s not much point to hiding your face, so it’s probably real. I am curious though. I’d gotten the impression in the past that you make a point of not posting your image, but those may have been older posts.
(unsurprisingly, I have no comment on the subject at hand)
I’ve always made it a point not to show my face, but as you say I’m doing so many public appearances now it seemed a bit silly to continue. I mean, it’s even on my book cover, though that’s just a drawing.
Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer! It’s a bit pricier than drugstore formulas, but the travel size is a great way to try it out and it actually comes out cheaper per ounce than the full size, and since you only need about a pea-sized amount it lasts forever. Feels great on my face, too!
For a cheap, easy to find alternative, the maybelline Fit Me line of powder is great.
Well, it’s a very pretty face, so I’m not complaining that you dropped the policy. 🙂 It is still strange to see behind the mask, so to speak.