Makeup! Clothes! "Girly stuff" thread

[fire_fly]

Eh. Enchanted is a super overrated indie and there are deffo several indies that I can name off the top of my head that are better, don't cause pricing shitstorms, and aren't as difficult to find.

Oh I know. There's a reason I've only ordered from them twice lol. If you have recommendations though I'd love some, I'm broke as shit but I treat myself once in a while.

 

[melty]

I know nothing about indie makeup brands but I'm gonna assume they are really shitty at marketing and keeping stock.

 

[fire_fly]

I know nothing about indie makeup brands but I'm gonna assume they are really shitty at marketing and keeping stock.

Some of them are.

Spoiler

My worst experience was with a now-defunct brand called Archetype Cosmetics. The owner also had a small booth in an antique mall in Washington or something, so if you lived in the area you could just go pick the stuff up yourself. Not to mention the price was nice; a sample was $0.25, and they even offered "pro sizes" for like $9 that contained as much product as a pot of Sugarpill.

Unfortunately it was a toss-up as to whether or not you'd ever get your product. My third and final order was charged to my card, but never came. I sent email after email and got no reply, and eventually I gave up. Later on, I found tons of blog posts ranting about how they'd never gotten their orders, either. Apparently I'd gotten very lucky with my first two orders.

The real shame of it was the products were excellent; the eyeshadows were beautiful and complex, the lip paint I got was fabulous (a your-lips-but-better kind of shade but slightly shimmery with green sparkles, I loved it and I want to dupe it someday). I've still got the two samples that I'd ordered pro sizes of (RIP $18) in the hopes that one day I'll find something similar enough.

One day I just decided to see if the site was still up and it was gone. It's a real shame, the owner could've had a very successful business, if she'd treated it like an actual business instead of like a hobby.

It's still worth researching and buying from worthwhile indie brands though, there are some great ones out there that have wonderful products and customer service.

 

[yasscat]

Oh I know. There's a reason I've only ordered from them twice lol. If you have recommendations though I'd love some, I'm broke as shit but I treat myself once in a while.

Vapid Lacquer, Anonymous Lacquer, KBShimmer, Crows Toes (my absolute favorite), Contrary Polish, and Fair Maiden are good ones. If you're looking for a "boutique" brand (not really indie but not really mainstream), then ILNP and Rainbow Honey are great picks, too.

 

[AveraDiane]

The shade "Santa Sangre" in Kat Von D's ELL is probably my new go-to red shade (I got the lipstick pack for Christmas). I was a bit nervous about it due to my fair skin tone, but holy shit, I love it! Those liquid lipsticks and Makeup Monsters' are probably the best I've worn.

 

[Broken Pussy]

The shade "Santa Sangre" in Kat Von D's ELL is probably my new go-to red shade (I got the lipstick pack for Christmas). I was a bit nervous about it due to my fair skin tone, but holy shit, I love it! Those liquid lipsticks and Makeup Monsters' are probably the best I've worn.

I've been wanting to buy something from Makeup Monsters, but I have so much lipstick already. They have a teal color that I really like, but I just got two different teal lipsticks, so I'm like, no, self, no.

 

[fire_fly]

The shade "Santa Sangre" in Kat Von D's ELL is probably my new go-to red shade (I got the lipstick pack for Christmas). I was a bit nervous about it due to my fair skin tone, but holy shit, I love it! Those liquid lipsticks and Makeup Monsters' are probably the best I've worn.

I've been looking at Makeup Monsters, I'm glad to hear they're good! They have a greige that I loved the swatch of. I actually only heard of the company because their Instagram followed me a while ago (I used to post EOTD pictures and swatches).

 

[GRANDnumberofMULTIPLES]

I toyed with the idea of starting my own makeup company but honestly it really is an over-saturated market so I'd rather just be able to window-shop, see something I like, and make my own.

Like, there's this one line I've bought from a couple times and I like, Enchanted Polish. Problem is, about half the colors I want are constantly sold out and some of the swathes on their Instagram are from monthly subscription boxes and they're gorgeous but not available anymore. I'd like to not have to worry about getting my hands on a bottle of a much-sought-after color like "Moon Water":

And yeah, I have a massive collection too, lol. I'm getting rid of a ton of it though, I have way too much that I'll never really wear.

I have a Milani polish called Cyberspace that is a bit more blue than that and it shows as available on Amazon. Nice formula too. Since I got a Hello Kitty x OPI nail art kit (finally I have a tool for art!) and a butter gift set I've been chucking some polishes, like the really shitty ones or dupes that I no longer care about.

I wish Essie worked out better for me. It seems that my lighter shades and pastels blow chunks. Chalky, streaky, some of them are four-coaters. Meanwhile I have Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear that's one and done or two and ready to go. Essie's darker shades seem to perform fine for me.

I played around with my colourpop shadows/cheek shocks as well. Love the texture. My mom is hooked on hers as well.

I went to the NYX store yesterday for some of that sweet, sweet clearance shopping and was not disappointed. I got a new shade to contour with as my bronzer is a bit too orange for this time of year and I got some of the HD Blush Singles. I've wanted to get a red blush for a while and with everything but my makeup remover and royal blue polish being half off I couldn't say no.

 

[AveraDiane]

I've been wanting to buy something from Makeup Monsters, but I have so much lipstick already. They have a teal color that I really like, but I just got two different teal lipsticks, so I'm like, no, self, no.

I debate on getting the teal one, but I get pretty nervous on how it will look on me.

I've been looking at Makeup Monsters, I'm glad to hear they're good! They have a greige that I loved the swatch of. I actually only heard of the company because their Instagram followed me a while ago (I used to post EOTD pictures and swatches).

You mean Twisted Taupe? I love the hell out of that shade, but my favorite is Wilted Rose (which was revealed in the holiday collection). I was looking for a perfect pink nude and that was it.

 

[fire_fly]

I wish Essie worked out better for me. It seems that my lighter shades and pastels blow chunks. Chalky, streaky, some of them are four-coaters. Meanwhile I have Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear that's one and done or two and ready to go. Essie's darker shades seem to perform fine for me.

Essie is extremely hit and miss. Most of the paler shades are sheer to begin with, and a lot of them have terrible, streaky formulas. Their brighter colors tend to stain horribly. But the darker shades are great, for the most part. It's weird.

Source: I have a shit-ton of Essie polish because I used to get it for cheap at work.

 

[GRANDnumberofMULTIPLES]

Essie is extremely hit and miss. Most of the paler shades are sheer to begin with, and a lot of them have terrible, streaky formulas. Their brighter colors tend to stain horribly. But the darker shades are great, for the most part. It's weird.

Source: I have a shit-ton of Essie polish because I used to get it for cheap at work.

Good to know it's not just my feelings on the matter. Damn their cutesy names and pretty bottles! Frock n Roll is one of my go-to Essie shades and it's a toss up between that and China Glaze's Heroine Chic for NYE. I love how Frock n Roll almost looks like black nail polish but then looks deep burgundy and a tad sparkly in the right light.

I have a few OPI reds that stain the shit out of my nails and skin no matter how carefully I try to remove them. It drives me nuts because it looks like I performed open heart surgery with my bare hands on a patient and then filled them with pomegranate seeds after. I've got a couple of other really great reds that don't do that now.

I've even started a list of palettes I want to toss because I have better ones now. I've been cleaning my closet like a mofo because I was finally able to rebuy a couple things I outgrew years ago. I have a few nice cashmere sweaters from J.Crew again along with a peacoat in the mail from them as well. I have a few gorgeous vintage coats (all knee or below length) but my only shorter coats are leather motorcycle jackets.

 

[bloodcoffee]

Fuck neon nail polish. It always needs white polish under it. I have a real soft spot for 80s looking nails so it annoys the shit out of me.

 

[yasscat]

Not gonna lie, that's how I feel about most jelly/sheer polishes, no matter how pretty they are. The fact that most while polishes (at least those I've tried) are usually a thick, gloopy, streaky mess doesn't help.

 

[Pina Colada]

I got my first facial () this afternoon! It was a birthday present from my mom, who had a hot stone massage. Soft music + baby smooth skin + a scalp massage = The best 50 minutes I've spent in total relaxation this year. The lady was very nice and showed me some of the Dermalogica products she used during our session, although I told her I'd consider saving up for them.

I floated all the way home.

 

[fire_fly]

I got my first facial () this afternoon! It was a birthday present from my mom, who had a hot stone massage. Soft music + baby smooth skin + a scalp massage = The best 50 minutes I've spent in total relaxation this year. The lady was very nice and showed me some of the Dermalogica products she used during our session, although I told her I'd consider saving up for them.

I floated all the way home.

Ugh, I miss facials. I used to get them all the time at school (I went to esthetics school) but I haven't had once since about six months before I graduated... in 2012. I really do need to go back, I get a post-grad discount, I just haven't been able to make it over there.

It really is good for your well-being to get regular facials and massages. I noticed a lot of improvement in my overall health when I was getting regular facials, and then a drop when I got to a certain point and couldn't get them anymore because I was either busy with clients or working on my stuff for my international certification.

 

[GRANDnumberofMULTIPLES]

My mom took me to see her esthetician when I was still youngish, maybe around 9? I hated it. She would always rag on my eyebrows and tweeze and wax without my fucking permission. When I was 12 I had a regimen that was fucking complicated and had a lot of strong-ass stuff like a sulfur clearing medication. I had skin that was on the oilier side (lol puberty) but never really any blemishes. At the end of every treatment was a steamer and it felt like torture because it was so hard to fucking breathe. One of the last times I saw her when I was 13 she insisted on doing extractions all over my face (I never really broke out) and chastising me with "oh come on, it doesn't hurt" when tears started coming out of my eyes. The promise of the redness going away in two days did not happen and I looked like a pepperoni pizza come Monday. That was fucking it.

I wish I could enjoy them but I even fucking start to panic when I have someone try applying something on me at a beauty counter. I've gotten better about that but I don't think I could submit to the mercy of someone for however long it goes.

Massages, on the other hand... One of the offices I worked this year had 10 or 15 minute blocks of chair massage time weekly that were absolute heaven. It's been a while since my last full body massage and just thinking about how good those have felt makes me . I rarely get manicures/pedicures and a couple of my favorite spots do both regular massage and with hot stones in the same massage. The one thing I miss about going to a salon to get my hair cut is the scalp massage, for sure.

@bloodcoffee, I feel you on the neon polishes. I have a pink one from Color Club that actually shows up as neon with no white base needed and a China Glaze polish in "Turned Up Turquoise" that is a great satiny turquoise. Maybe not super neon but my old China Glaze Celtic Sun made a great top coat to turn it into neon green. The other issue with Celtic Sun (aside from it requiring a white base lest you look like you colored your nails with highlighter in 3rd period geometry) is that it really fucking stained. Badly. I didn't have nails that color again until I quit smoking after college.

@Blake Bumbleby Simply Nailogical did a test of best white nail polish and found that Color Club's "French Tip" was the best. Since it was actually for french tips the formula was the best. She did have to switch out the brush from another white CC polish because French Tip's was different but it looked really great.

 

[bloodcoffee]

Not gonna lie, that's how I feel about most jelly/sheer polishes, no matter how pretty they are. The fact that most while polishes (at least those I've tried) are usually a thick, gloopy, streaky mess doesn't help.

OPI's Alpine Snow is fantastic. In a pinch, I can actually use it as a stamping polish, and if applied well, makes a perfect white basecoat for neon polishes.

@bloodcoffee, I feel you on the neon polishes. I have a pink one from Color Club that actually shows up as neon with no white base needed and a China Glaze polish in "Turned Up Turquoise" that is a great satiny turquoise.

Man, that colour is nice, but those weird finishes on the CG neon polishes bothers me. On the one hand, you know when it's dry, but on the other hand, you don't want to be caught without your topcoat.

 

[fire_fly]

My mom took me to see her esthetician when I was still youngish, maybe around 9? I hated it. She would always rag on my eyebrows and tweeze and wax without my fucking permission. When I was 12 I had a regimen that was fucking complicated and had a lot of strong-ass stuff like a sulfur clearing medication. I had skin that was on the oilier side (lol puberty) but never really any blemishes. At the end of every treatment was a steamer and it felt like torture because it was so hard to fucking breathe. One of the last times I saw her when I was 13 she insisted on doing extractions all over my face (I never really broke out) and chastising me with "oh come on, it doesn't hurt" when tears started coming out of my eyes. The promise of the redness going away in two days did not happen and I looked like a pepperoni pizza come Monday. That was fucking it.

I wish I could enjoy them but I even fucking start to panic when I have someone try applying something on me at a beauty counter. I've gotten better about that but I don't think I could submit to the mercy of someone for however long it goes.

This makes me really sad. I'm sorry you had such an awful esthetician. My teachers emphasized getting consent for things like foot massages and brow shaping, and if someone tells you your extractions are hurting them, you need to fucking stop. Or at least steam their face for a minute with a towel and soften the pores up so you can go back in.

I will tell you, though, even people who have "perfect" skin need extractions. It's not just for getting out zits and blackheads. There's all kinds of shit that gets in your pores and just stays there, you might not even see it.

Spoiler: gross

I can still clearly remember extracting on someone who had tiny pores that I didn't think would have anything in them, but not only were they full, the oil had been in there for so long it was rancid. The smell was disgusting and strong enough that she noticed and asked me what it was.

I feel you on the steamers, though, I always hated them. They just make my sinuses go crazy.

 

[yasscat]

I can't wait until I get my funding next month. I'm gonna treat myself to a spa day. Facial, massage, brows waxed/shaped, and a hair cut and color.

I have cystic acne, so facials are legit one of my favorite thing. I'm always like "YOU CAN PUSH HARDER" () during extractions...but I'm also a weirdo who likes extractions and cleaning my pores.

 

[GRANDnumberofMULTIPLES]

This makes me really sad. I'm sorry you had such an awful esthetician. My teachers emphasized getting consent for things like foot massages and brow shaping, and if someone tells you your extractions are hurting them, you need to fucking stop. Or at least steam their face for a minute with a towel and soften the pores up so you can go back in.

I will tell you, though, even people who have "perfect" skin need extractions. It's not just for getting out zits and blackheads. There's all kinds of shit that gets in your pores and just stays there, you might not even see it.

Spoiler: gross

I can still clearly remember extracting on someone who had tiny pores that I didn't think would have anything in them, but not only were they full, the oil had been in there for so long it was rancid. The smell was disgusting and strong enough that she noticed and asked me what it was.

I feel you on the steamers, though, I always hated them. They just make my sinuses go crazy.

Definitely! I do my own extractions now. I had some really isolated deep nasties this year in places I never get them (right by my ear close to the jawbone, a fingertip length away from my nose) and getting the crud out was so satisfying and much easier for me to do myself. Combined with a magnified mirror nothing escapes me now. Wouldn't say I fucking love doing it but it's no longer this instrument of torture.

I'm disgusted yet amazed with how much pores can hold, honestly.

Every winter though the skin where my neck and jawbone meet breaks out a little. I'm good with not touching my face but by god I'm fucking terrible at not resting my head on my hand. I need to wear spiky gloves or something. I'm getting better at realizing what I'm doing and stopping, at least.

The sort of faded birthmark/freckle thing by the side of my mouth really started fading this year and I'm overjoyed. It also looks like my freckles are fading as well. It always looked like I ate a chocolate bar and wiped my mouth really badly. I use the Milani Conceal + Perfect foundation and alone it does the best job I've seen on covering it with no extra concealer. I still use extra but I'm finding I need less now. I've been using the Pixi Glow Tonic and I love how it's made my face look. I've tried other brightening products and some of them straight up burned me and I don't consider myself to have especially sensitive skin.