CountryBumpkin's Blog

This is a tip - and one I learned on my own.

A few years ago, for halloween, hubby and I had a party to go to, and my daughter had a party to go to.  She was a Geisha.  After working on her costume for 2 weeks, and trying to hurry and get her ready to go - left little time for myself.

I had a HUGE (well, to me it was huge) zit - dead in the center of my chin.  No concealer could cover this bad boy up.  We have all had those kind - the kind you feel like can be seen from 100 yards away.

I got frustrated - took all my makeup off.  I used my daughter's white halloween face makeup over it, then put my makeup OVER the white.  You could not see a THING!  It was amazing!

Now - I keep the white cake-makeup stuff around - just in case.  I haven't had to use it since - but it never fails to happen right before a family photo, party, etc.  Just wanted to share that tip for everyone to file in the back of their brain for future use!

As I have mentioned - I like the "no makeup" look.  And - I like FAST.  I don't want to spend a ton of time putting on makeup - and my little routine now - takes 3 - 5 minutes.

I have ALWAYS used Shiseido - The Makeup Powdery Foundation.  It is JUST a powder - but it covers like a foundation does.  You can see the difference - how you can see my pores, my freckles, etc on the side that is NOT covered.  And - it doesn't look cakey - like a lot of foundation + powders do.  I LOVE this stuff.  Quick and easy.

No makeupMakeup Side

Shiseido does make a waterproof liquid foundation - for summer.  You cannot sweat, swim or shower that stuff off - you MUST use a makeup remover to get it off.  I don't use it, but my daughter does - I look at it as if I am going in the water, I won't wear makeup to begin with.  But - for summer parties and stuff - where you could sweat a lot and get "streaky" - it is good, too.  And - you can always use this powder on top of it.

Also for your face - the HG of facial washes - is Shiseido Purifying Cleansing Foam.  This is AWESOME.  I kept harping on my sister to get some - she never did, so I got her some for her birthday.  She is a believer now, too.  You can see a difference in your face after the VERY FIRST time you wash with it.  Don't know how it works - but it does.  But - two things - you SHOULD use the Massage Brush that goes with it.  It does NOT work the same without that brush - It will work, but those rubber things in the middle of the brush is what makes a HUGE difference. 

The other thing - if you get random, occasional breakouts - this will put an end to them - HOWEVER - you WILL get them everywhere you don't wash with it.  I know it sounds odd - but both my sister and myself got 2 or 3 zits under our chin - so we rationalized that it must be that was a spot we were missing when we used the face wash.  Now - be both get that "spot" - and have not had another breakout since.  I am telling you - this stuff might be on the expensive side - but I will panhandle if I have to - it is just AWESOME!!

I am not really "married" to any mascara really.  I DO prefer the new rubber-brushed ones, though.

My new favorite - which actually took me a bit to get used to - is the Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara.  It is the one in the light green tube.

The brush is NOT hard - it is very flexible - which took me a bit to get used to.  But - the way it works - it is necessary for it to be that way.  It really makes my lashes look a LOT longer.  I am going to stick with this one for a while, I think.  Until I see a new rubber-brushed new one - but it has a high standard to meet up to.

I am putting a picture of right after I applied it - it is a little smeared at the bottom - but you can still see how long it makes my lashes look.

I don't do the "layered" or multiple coats of mascara - I want a mascara that does the job in ONE coat.  This one does.

I have worn L'Paige lipstick since I was a freshman in High School.  It has changed names / companies SO many times - and each time I would try other names / brands - and never ever found one as good as this.  It is like a stain - so once you put it on - you better want it on for a while.  The green turns to pink, the blue turns to maroon/dark red, and the yellow is a coral color.  I use the yellow one.

I also use HollywoodRx exfoliator / plumper.  It is AWESOME as well.  I have used many lip plumpers (Lip Venom, KISS, and a few others) - this one works - and it exfoliates. The exfoliator is the BEST part, too.  Will leave your lips very soft and your lipstick will not bleed after using this.  I have very thin lips - and with this - you can tell a huge difference.  The website says they are out of stock - which doesn't surprise me...  this stuff really works.  There may be other places to order from - but I don't know where from. 

To show how good the lipstick works with the plumper program - here is a pic I took of my lips in the MORNING after.  This means that I put on lipstick, worked all night, went to sleep, woke up, then I snapped this picture with my cell phone (I took it because I was so impressed I had to show my sister!!).  Remember - I had not applied my lipstick for about 20 hours - and this is how well the color stayed on....

I was SO happy they finally started selling my lipstick through Amazon....  Makes my re-ordering MUCH easier. 

First - I am going to let you know about a website that I always visit before I buy or try any new makeup, hair care product or anything like that.  This website is AWESOME!

It rates everything from shampoos, makeup, perfume, everything you can imagine.  It is MakeupAlley .  It is reviewed by normal people and they rate and comment on everything.

Makeup and hair stuff is expensive - and trying new things can break the bank if you are just randomly buying - especially if you wind up not liking something you just bought - and have to go back and buy your usual instead.

So - a good place to research is Makeup Alley - and a good place to buy from (if they do not have it in local stores) is Sephora.  I am a HUGE Sephora fan - and Sephora ALWAYS gives you free samples of stuff with every order - and YOU pick the samples.

My daughter's FAVORITE product is Liquif-Eye from TooFaced.  It really is an awesome product - it will turn any eye shadow into a water-proof liquid liner.  And - it really does work.  I am not a liquid liner person - but for those who are - this is well worth it.