Kat: like Lucy P said, sugary food can be a huge problem. Eating organically will help clear up alot of problems, not just skin. When our family started eating organically, we all felt better. Small graduall changes are better, so don't feel like you have to cut out all junkfood immediately.

Ahaha, I need to post a picture of me wearing my "guyliner" sometime.

yeah do that. I actually think eyeliner looks good on guys sometimes .

*nods at W4J's input on makeup, and laughs aloud at Andrew's term* (Peter Furler, anyone? I can't imagine him without it now, actually. *idly wonders if he still wears it now that he's not touring anymore*)

Good to hear from you, StudyMate (and thanks so much for your PM regarding all this). And to follow along with what you said, I think that a sloppy or unkempt appearance can be just as distracting and disagreeable as an obviously made-up look.

Foundation? I know I've said this before but I've never used it and probably never will. I just figure the less chemically-gunk on my face, the better, plus I'd rather spend my time on other things. (And I'm no 'spring chicken' anymore, lol.) My face isn't perfect, but I don't care to try and make it so. And I'm kind of attached to those wee freckly parts.

I do love using natural aloe (although it tends to be a tad sticky for awhile after application). We used to have a plant from which I'd get the stuff, but it went the way of all old plants. *makes a note to buy another one*

EDIT: As StudyMate mentioned, it does appear that using make-up as an art is an exception in the majority of girls' lives. I've worked with enough teenagers/young adults over the decades to have seen this to be true. Plus, I was a teen, myself, believe it or not ('though women of any age have to be on guard). I'm just cautioning you all to take heed, and be careful how much emphasis you place on the outward appearance, instead of making the heart's condition and character the prime focus ... which yields true beauty.

Now, I hope my comments haven't killed this thread because that was not my intent. What I've said comes from great care and concern that our priorities (yes, mine included) are in their proper spots. I know I have to constantly guard against wanting me in the limelight ... instead of the One who should be.

Having got that off my chest, I've been having troubles with my favourite mascara (Maybelline), which I've been using for years now. It seems to be flaking a bit, and it never used to do this. Any suggestions for an excellent mascara that is below $10? And at a drug store, not online?

I try not to put on too much makeup, cause I've never liked the look of it honestly! Makeup is just to highlight the natural beauty you already have, not to cover up your face!

I only use some highlighter under my eyes (which I'm looking for a better one right now, cause I don't really like the one I'm using!) & a little Bare- mineral "faux tan".

For mascara, I just curl my eyelashes, then apply a thin coat of Maybelline Great Lash. I don't like it clumpy or thick, so I wipe off the mascara with a plastic-y wrap or something. Then it just looks like my eyelashes are longer, & not like "Oh, she has mascara on!" lol!

For eye shadow, usually a light color in the middle/ inside & a little darker on the outside, then blended together.

I don't like to use foundation because it just shows every pore & gives away the secret that you are wearing make up! It's better to try & take care of your skin by using a good soap & moisturizer, & doing plenty of masks (which there are many good ones that you can make yourself, & you don't have to buy one! )

If you have acne, one of the best soaps you can use is Neutrogena Grapefruit Acne Scrub. My skin is very dry so I don't get acne, although I do have my share of black heads (yuck!). But my sister uses it, & it works very well for her! I also gave some to a friend of mine with acne, & hers cleared up almost completely in just a week! Both of them eat very healthy though, & that is a big part of it. For moisturizer, it's good to find one with "Alpha hydroxy", cause it gives your face a nice healthy glow, & it drys up the extra oil on your face. It works for me even though I have dry skin!

EDIT: As StudyMate mentioned, it does appear that using make-up as an art is an exception in the majority of girls' lives. I've worked with enough teenagers/young adults over the decades to have seen this to be true. Plus, I was a teen, myself, believe it or not ('though women of any age have to be on guard). I'm just cautioning you all to take heed, and be careful how much emphasis you place on the outward appearance, instead of making the heart's condition and character the prime focus ... which yields true beauty.

Ditto! this is really important, & I'm always trying to remind myself that it doesn't matter what I look like as long as I'm a girl that fears the Lord, as the Proverb says: "Charm is deceptive & beauty doesn't last, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised!"

Thanks for the advice The Pendragon!. I'd try to use some of what you said, I hope it really will work!

My aunt is a cosmetologist and she told me that teenagers don't need foundation, since its purpose is even out the skin tone and we usually don't have to deal with blotches that older people get.

No, we don't need foundation to even out contrasting skin tones or blotches as much perhaps as older people (although that's a generalisation in itself -I have many older relatives with gorgeous olive skin) but it's rather undeniable that foundation makes good skin look better -just fresher and livelier. Of course, if foundation is not your thing, perhaps tinted moisturiser is. It just kind of balances out the skin and makes you look more awake -it'd be rather odd to me to put on make up that enhances the eyes say, without having a relatively even base to work off of. But, each to their own I suppose.

I completely agree with what you said about sugar! I think it's something like one teaspoon of sugar a day will suppress your immune system for 12 hours -pretty crazy.

Any suggestions for an excellent mascara that is below $10? And at a drug store, not online?

I have tried just about every Maybelline mascara and I agree -they go flaky real quick and don't last long in the tube either. I'm still yet to find the perfect mascara but from the info I've gathered from a few places the go really seems to be on L'Oreal mascara, so maybe give that a go? And if it's horrible I shall owe you $10.

I've been having troubles with my favourite mascara (Maybelline), which I've been using for years now. It seems to be flaking a bit, and it never used to do this. Any suggestions for an excellent mascara that is below $10? And at a drug store, not online?

Hm, as Study Mate said, I'd reccomend L'oreal mascaras. The "volumious" one (in black, and make sure it's not waterproof!) is quite good. I think ww's a fan, too.

Yeah, cutting sugar from your diet has got to make an improvment on skin...I've *trying* to cut back on sweet stuff latly, and so far I haven't had any new breakouts!

Foundation? I know I've said this before but I've never used it and probably never will.

Well, for one thing your skin is pretty amazing. And for another, yeah, the less you put on your face the better.
I don't use foundation atm, but I'm thinking about getting some this fall/winter...last time I was in Sephora I tried out the "Nars" one, in the palest of pale, after going thru what seemed like the whole store trying to find a match for my iceberg skin.

Jo: I really like Maybelline's New York Colossal mascara. It's only $6.99 usually, and pretty nice for drugstore makeup .

Thanks for the mascara suggestions, gals!

Well, I wouldn't say my skin is 'amazing' but I'm honestly wondering if it is the way it is because I haven't used anything on it, except soap and water (and some aloe) for 52 years. I dunno; just surmising ...

Got my hair cut again this morning: the last time she partially layered and textured it to see how I liked it: I did so she took this to the full extent today. I'm trying the 'wet look' some days, which is kinda fun for a change. It all looks very natural and free and most importantly, it's a wash-shake your head-and-go style ... my favourite. No fuss; no bother. I first tried this new look/feel last month because my hair is so thick (each strand, even, so says my hairdresser) that it became way too heavy, hot, and cumbersome in the warm weather.

When I was getting my hair cut a couple weeks ago, the lady noticed I had bought some Proactiv and suggested using just rubbing alcohol on my face, and so I started trying that and it's worked better than anything esle I've tried so far. My skin still isn't amazing or anything but I definitely have less than half the acne I had 2 weeks ago.

^glad it's working for you . Is alcohol good to put on your face though? It must sting, but then again, so does my all natural acne cleanser .

Hmm, I would say it only stings if I have just scraped a zit off (a bad habit of mine), but then I think it removes it faster? And I've learned to hold my breath and blow out hard after applying it, to get rid of the vapors that burn my nostrils if I breethe them in.

Okay, with about four pages of reading to catch up on, I had originally decided not to reply to much, but...I'm shocked, so I have to.

'm going away in 2 weeks and trying to get uber awesome skin for that, so for the next two weeks I'm going to try and abstain from any sugary/greasy foods (french fries, pizza, pop, chips, cookies, candy, icecream)...and have at least one big bowl of blue berries and one mug of green tea a day. I've been doing it for a week already and I've actually noticed a positive difference in my skin!

Yeah, cutting down to non-processed foods can do that. It's also great for the rest of your body, too! When your skin clears, it probably means your body is clearing itself out, too.

4 glasses a day sounds about right to me, Glen. It's important to keep the entire body moisturized but one also has those kidneys to think about. Rather than drinking more water I would focus on eating more fruit.

I really would urge the drinking of eight glasses (I know, sounds like a lot), rather than just eating more fruit, for a couple reasons:

1. Your body NEEDS the water. Try drinking eight glasses for 4+ days, then try going back to your original water consumption. Your body will make it very obvious that it isn't happy.

2. Fruits are high in sugars. This isn't a problem, if your main meal components are other fruits, veggies, and grains. However, if you eat processed foods, your body isn't going to know what to do with the extra sugars which means...yeah.

3. Slightly unrelated, but oh well: Be Fore Warned. Drinking more water and/or switching to a predominantly non-processed meal plan will make your face break out for a day or so, as your body flushes out any extra toxins that have been floating around.

Interesting tutorials, Val, I had a peek at the last one because I always wonder how to put on bronzer properly.

If you are looking for good tutorials on how to apply a specific type of make up or for a specific area, MAC has great online tuts for everything. Very helpful, even if you don't use their product.

I would assume it's good for skin too, but my philosophy on skin care goes strictly to diet -cut out the processed, synthetic foods and soft drinks, cut down bread and especially dairy...basically try to eat a less Western diet and you'll notice a difference.

Amen.

I can't stand green tea either -tastes like hay so I try to make up for it by drinking every other herbal tea under the sun...which taste less like hay.... If you're after nice anti-oxidant liquids though, you might like to try drinking pomegranate juice.

Can't stand tea either--makes me feel sick. My mum does the pomegranate juice route, and I do...a strange variety of juices route. If it looks disgusting in color, its probably something I mixed up earlier in the day.

I see my makeup as sort of an artists supplies--I've got to have a huge variety of shades and colors and tools for creating just the right masterpiece.

For some of us, very much so! An artist must have a pallet, and there have been many days that I've looked at the person I'm working on and then down at my shades and gone "I wish I had this just one shade lighter/darker..."

Still, I really struggle with a verse such as "He [Christ] must increase, and I must decrease", hastening to add I don't think in any way thing we're to look like slouches and dumps ... by no means. But I'm sincerely trying to reconcile spending much time, effort, and money on our bodies that are solely just our temporal 'tents', so have a sincere puzzlement about that, as well as how this area can help point people to Christ.

I very much agree, Jo. It seems hard to be able to balance having enough to direct people to God, and not to our own looks/beauty. Twould be an interesting study, sometime.

Speaking of foundations, can anyone recommend a good drugstore liquid foundation? All the ones I've tried so far make me break out. *hides her blemished face from the world*
I've been experimenting with using less and less makeup lately. I used to wear quite a lot. Now, especially that it's summer, I just wear foundation or powder, a little concealer, a subtle eyeshadow, and mascara.
And of course chapstick, if that even counts as makeup.

Lady Arwen, would those 8 glasses of water be an addition to other drinks or just what one has to drink in a day? I usually drink a glass or two of juice, 3-5 glasses of milk and approximately half a glass of water in a day , and I'm thinking that if I add seven more glasses, the total would be quite a lot...

Mehinen, it is supposed to be on top of all other liquids, but if you are drinking five to seven glasses of other liquids, I agree that would be quite a lot. I would say try to at least get four glasses of water in, and work up from there. Is there a reason you drink that much milk? It may be worthwhile to back off on the milk a bit and get more water. Just water can do a lot that fruit juices and milks just cannot do.

Also, as another note (Mehinen's post reminded me): if you drink any caffeinated beverages, you are *supposed* to drink even more water, going ounce for ounce (So if you drink one cup of coffee, you should drink a ninth cup of water). I...find this pretty hard to do, but I actually drink about ten glasses of water in the hotter months, so I probably ignore this more than I follow it.

And all of this for clearer skin...wow. But it does work--I used to have the WORST acne on my back, and it went down drastically about a week after I made sure I was getting adequate water.