Your Makeup And Skincare Questions Answered

[pomba gira]

I've always used toners, even back when I had dry skin instead of the oilfield my face turned into in my late 30s. These days I use plain ol' Dickinson's witch hazel... it has alcohol but not enough to strip or irritate the skin. I have heard that using too strong a toner will actually make your skin produce more oil. Thayer's witch hazel is good too but costs 2-3x as much as Dickinson's. I like Dickinson's much more than the several pricier brands I've tried.

If you're going to try the tomato soap, you may want to use a toner. I've heard the soap can leave a noticeable film on your skin, but I've never had that happen, maybe because I use the toner. Who knows, though.

I took a close look at the loop, it's made by Tweezerman... hope that's helpful.

[bean]

I used witch hazel on my skin when I was younger - maybe that's why it was so great!

I got my loop at Target (it's in the section with the tweezers and make-up brushes).

[Brenda Starrr]

I apparently need one of those loop things.

So this is more of a nail question so bare with me lol. My nails crack and peel a lot for no apparent reason than just to do it, is there anything I can do to so that they won't do that anymore?

Are they hard? They may just be brittle, and in need of moisture. If so, take a little olive oil to them.

[FarrIL]

How bad for my skin is rubbing alcohol when I use it to dry up zits? (( it's what I go for all the time ))

Where can I find something decently priced that'll help me get rid of them?

[Brenda Starrr]

How bad for my skin is rubbing alcohol when I use it to dry up zits? (( it's what I go for all the time ))

Where can I find something decently priced that'll help me get rid of them?

BAD

It breaks down the cellular structure of your skin, which makes it age faster. Do NOT use it. There's an old-school method that I believe in: cheap white toothpaste. No gel stripes, no fancy-schmancy crap. Just plain old toothpaste. And drink a LOT of water.

[jynxxxedangel]

I've been doing the toothpaste thing for bad zits for ages. One of my friends who was a Ford model taught me that trick a long time ago-- and it REALLY works!

Also good, is a dab of calamine lotion, if you have any around; or also, a dab of mud masque, if you happen to use it.

[FarrIL]

Any brands of said toothpaste I should look out for?? Does colgate work?

[pomba gira]

Two things:

I have some questions about makeup brushes... first, what are some decent, affordable lines? I have Face Secrets and Palladio (both from Sally Beauty) which seem to hold up well and do what I want them to... can you recommend any others in the same price range?

Second, what's the best way to clean them? I have some brush cleaner that works well but poofier brushes, like my big Shu Uemura powder brush, just soak it up like sponges. I can't imagine they really get clean that way!

Next... I'm on the hunt for the perfect lipstick. I want a DARK wine/plum that's actually dark on ME. None of the drugstore lines have anything for me... even H.I.P. doesn't have a really dark plum lipstick (they have a very nice gloss but I don't like gloss for everyday wear). Iman has gone thru ownership changes and doesn't make my favorite color (Digital Berry) anymore. I hate the Flori Roberts lipstick, it ends up all over my face. Even Urban Decay has let me down (altho Beanie benefited from my Apocalypse failure)! Somebody help! Requirements are dark, wine/plum (no browns), reasonably long-wearing/transfer resistant. Help me out, I gotta look extra cute now I'm single again!

[jynxxxedangel]

Try this stuff, PG. Maybelline NY Superstay Lipcolour

I SWEAR by it.

[jynxxxedangel]

As for cleaning makeup brushes, THIS is the shizzle:

Parian Spirit Brush Cleaner