My Makeup Secret

Makeup is amazing. It can make you feel like a million. But there is a mind-blowing amount of it out there. Walking into a Sephora or approaching a department store makeup counter is overwhelming to me. How can I be sure I’m getting the good stuff? I used to spend a lot of money because I thought it ensured I was getting a good product.

Years ago, when I was unemployed in Chicago, I found a resource that helped me tremendously. I spent some time at the public library, and discovered a series of makeup books by author Paula Begoun, called The Cosmetics Cop. In these books, she and her team reviewed nearly every makeup and skin product on the U.S. market. They were reviewed for their ingredients, their advertising promises, their value, and how well the makeup worked. I was hooked, looking up everything in my makeup bag, and referring to the books when I needed to make a purchase.

I don’t know if the books are still in print today, but her enterprise has gone online. If you want some truth behind makeup purchases instead of looking to ads, magazine editorials (which are ads in disguise), and the subjective nature of sites like Makeup Alley, my friends, go to beautipedia.com.

The database of makeup and skin care reviews isn’t free - you need an annual subscription. And this is not a sponsored post, this is completely objective ME telling you a little makeup secret. I don’t currently have a subscription, but I did for the past two years. I’d check it out if you’re needing new blush/lipstick/foundation and want to see if there’s a less expensive, equally good drugstore brand out there. It’s kinda like Consumer Reports for beauty products.

Their reviewers will tell you which mascaras are the best value, which skin lotions are full of harsh or irritating ingredients, and which miracle potions really can’t deliver. It’s pretty cool. You can search by price range, brand, or category.

Let me know if this helps you, my friends. And if you have makeup secrets, please share them!

The Five Year Lipstick…or, I Now Own Enough Makeup to Last the Rest of my Life

Some people have peer pressure. Some people feel pressure to perform or succeed. I often feel another kind of pressure, so odd that I can’t categorize it. Let me try to explain.

I feel pressure when I walk into a bookstore or library. I suddenly feel overwhelmed with the need to read everything there. If I don’t, I will be missing something important that could change my life!

I feel pressure when I look at my ever-growing collection of cookbooks. I received no less than five cookbooks for my wedding, after owning…zero. And people still keep giving me cookbooks, or if they don’t, they give me magazines with recipes in them. I feel pressure to make almost every single recipe I come across. As a result, I mark each recipe in my cookbook when I use it, so I don’t make the same one twice in my pursuit to cook everything between its covers. It’s a special kind of torture.

I also feel pressure to use every single lipstick, eyeshadow, and nail polish I own, on a regular basis, year after year, until they go bad, melt, or get smashed.

Now I think for the average makeup-wearing girl, this wouldn’t pose a problem. But for some reason, even though I wear a full face of makeup every single day of the year, the only makeup I ever use up is foundation, mascara, powder, and blush. The rest of my makeup lives on. And on. And on.

I’ve never purchased eyeshadow. Almost all the eyeshadows I own were given to me by people who received them in their department store brand’s Bonus Gift bags. They didn’t want them so now I have them. Imagine the pressure I feel to use up these free shimmering pearls of color!

Now here is a lipstick I am really excited about. It’s Lancome’s Rouge Magnetic in Smooch, my fave red lipstick. I think I’ve had it for more than five years. They don’t make it anymore, the line has been discontinued. Do you see how it’s almost used up? The day it’s gone will be a giant victory for me, in about about two years.

Do you see this concealer? I remember when I purchased it because it was the year my sister got married, 2002. I wore it in her wedding. I’m still trying to use it up.

I hope some day I will be able to break free of all these strange anxieties. Especially since I know all this makeup has (had?) expiration dates. Until then, my friends, please, please don’t give me any more lipstick.