[Maven]

I need my ladies for help--or drag queens, for that matter (I like glitzy and glamorous, too!)--on beauty and makeup, plus nails as well. I want to know what and where you buy, what makeup you like best, and more. Don't be limited by the examples; if you use a different store or whatever, just say so. So, on with the questions:

1. Do you have a favorite store(s) to buy? Do you prefer to buy online or in person? (For example, Sephora/Sephora.com, Wal-mart, CVS, JC Penney, Macy's, etc.)

2. Around what price do you usually pay for your cosmetics? If you've bought cheaper- and higher-priced kinds, do you feel you get more QUALITY for your money if you pay more? (For example, cheap--around $1-3, average--around $8-10, a bit higher--$16-20, high--$25-50, or more.)

3. Do you prefer to buy in palettes (several choices of a makeup, like 24 shades of eye shadow, multiple shades of blush, several colors of lipstick, etc., either all on one palette, or a variety of any one type of makeup in a palette) or individual items? Why?

4. Do you buy false eyelashes? Do you have a favorite brand? Why?

5. Sephora.com offers many brands I don't see in general, although I've heard of them (such as Urban Decay). Macy's offers MAC cosmetics. Do you have a favorite brand(s)? Why? Do you have favorite brands for each type of cosmetic (like a favorite brand of lipstick, a favorite maker of nail polish, etc.)?

6. Have you tried lip tattoos, or other makeup that is applied like a sticker? How do you like them? Are they easy to put on and take off? Do you have a favorite brand(s)?

7. It's been a long time since I've been to a makeup counter, like at JC Penney's. (I usually shop at places like Wal-mart or CVS.) Can you get free samples of makeup, or is that only for product like age-defying products?

8. Where can I get lip conditioner? Is it in the beauty section, or is that like Chapstick and stuff?

9. What's your favorite type of lip liner, eye liner, and any other items you want to mention? (For example, do you prefer a pencil eye liner to a liquid eye liner, cream eye shadow to powder, etc.?)

And, a final question, just because I saw this at Sephora.com and wondered:

10. Does anyone really need this many mascaras? http://www.sephora.com/lash-stash-P376731

Thanks to all in advance for those who will take the time to answer this and help me make wise beauty decisions.

[Bisque]

1. I buy my eyeliners/foundations/mascara at Shoppers Drug Mart (Canadian drug store), but I buy -all- of my eyeshadows from indie companies online

2. I find quality to be hit and miss. The -reason- I stopped buying eyeshadow from stores is because it's a hell of a lot more expensive most of the time and half the time the quality is sub-par. I hate eyeshadows with low pigment amounts. I like my colour to POP

3. I never ever buy palettes. I buy all my eyeshadows individually so I'm not stuck with colours I wont use. Plus..and maybe its just me..but more often than not I've found the quality of at least some palettes to be lower than paying a little more and buying individually.

4.I've bought falsies here and there, but havnt found a brand I like over others yet. I love the way falsies look but I lose them too often somehow when I take them off haha

5.
I don't have any fav 'mainstream' (or whatever) brands, but here are some of my favorite indie shops online
Lumikki Cosmetics- ( on etsy dot com)
GeekChic Cosmetics-
Fyrinnae -

(apparently I'm not allowed to link you to them though as I dont have 10 posts yet, sorry! )

there are many more reputable mineral makeup sellers online that *usually* have quite decent prices.

Etsy is also a great place to search for indie makeup

6. I've seen these tatto things but never tried them. I'd rather have the control myself over what goes where on my face haha. I'd be afraid of applying them crooked or something.

7.I dont think I've ever been to a makeup counter actually haha :x

8. I've never specifically seen lip conditioner for sale myself but I havnt gone looking for it either so I'm not sure. Searching on etsy does find some though if you're up for buying online

9. I use both a pencil and liquid eyeliner actually. I use the pencil first to help fade out and bumpy edges of the liquid liner which i use afterward to make things pop a bit more.

for eyeshadow I -never- buy pressed. I always buy loose shadows. I find them to go on smoother, last longer, and appear brighter than pressed when applied

10.oh my goodness that is a lot of mascara xD. I mean..would one even be able to USE all of that before you're to toss it? ( I mean you're not meant to keep makeup for years and years). You'd have to CAKE your eyelashes multiple times a day to get through all that haha

[Maven]

Thanks, Bisque, and welcome to Psych Central! Funny you mention buying loose shadows (like powder, right?)...I just bought my first loose powder eye shadow yesterday...and paid around $30 for it! Ack! I ONCE bought a lipstick for $16 from a JC Penney's cosmetics counter and I found I like the more expensive stuff, but I can't afford it, so most of my cosmetics are the stuff found in pharmacies, Walmart and all that. I haven't found some types of shadows I wanted in those stores, though, so I turned online and decided to find what stores have cosmetic counters around here. Macy's...expensive store, that.

I like the idea of palettes, but like you, I don't want to end up wasting a lot of it because only certain colors work for me. Plus, unless they're small amounts, you'll have to throw most of it away when the makeup expires or gets too contaminated.

I guess going to those makeup counters is the only way to find out if certain colors will work on you, but I don't like to have makeup applied to me that's been used on others. I know they apply alcohol to lipsticks and stuff, but it still creeps me out. I just wish you could get free samples to test one application. I'd be up to my neck in free samples, trying this color and that, LOL!

I've learned a couple of things, though, from the YouTube video I mentioned (or did I? I forgot--anyway, I watched some YT videos on applying makeup for certain looks), you should use lip conditioner (I'd never heard of that!) and eye makeup primer. Now, that I heard of, but never saw it in among the pharmacy- and Walmart-store brands.

Again, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I know it's a lot. Just trying to get a feel for how others are doing what I'm trying to get back into.

I like to find my makeup wherever I can...Walmart, tourist gift shops, Ulta, any place really.

I prefer individual colors, your more likely to find a color you can fall in love with.

4. Do you buy false eyelashes? Do you have a favorite brand? Why?

I don't.

Yes I have a favorite brand...It's of course Nyx!

I prefer liquid liner, it takes some time to get it perfect ...but it stays on longer and bolder.

I don't believe you need mascara, but it is always a nice touch.

[Maven]

One company I want to try is Medusa's Makeup, but there's so much I want from them. $8 here, $8 there...it all adds up.

[whenwillitend]

I just discovered ELF at Target. That stuff is amazing! I simplly LOVE their mascara and eyeliner. I haven't replaced everything yet, cause I wanted to try it first. But I will now. Most of the things are $1, some are $3, and the only "expensive" item is the foundation for $6.
I do not like pallettes, because I only use one shade and the rest gets wasted, so I buy singles.
No false eye lashes, I think they're too obvious and fake looking.

So, right now my routine is, Neutrogena anti shine primer, Garnier BB cream, Neutrogena anti shine powder, powder bronzer, powder blush, then eye shadow base (that step is so important for me, and I use Neutrogena), some of the anti shine powder over the base, then eyebrow pencil and clear gel (my eyebrows look terrible without a bit of help), black pencil eyeliner along the top lash line, I usually make a rather thick line, because it gets covered anyway, then shimmery brown eye shadow all over the lid, covering the eyeliner so that it *just* shows through, and a bit of eyeshadow under the lower lashline, then I curl my eyelashes and put that ELF mascara on, top and bottom, while I keep the bottom one light. Another layer of eyeshadow, and done.

I know, this sounds like an awful lot, but it only takes about 15-20 minutes, and it looks a lot more natural than it sounds. Also, it lasts all day without any touch ups. And that although I usually sweat quite a bit at work from all the running around. Friday, I put it on in the morning and went to work. I got off at 6pm, but had to come back at midnight for another shift until Saturday morning at 6am. I came home and my makeup was still perfect. LOVE it.

As for fancy brands, I LOVE Estee Lauder. That stuff is so amazing, and it's not too expensive. And it smells so good. And it really makes a difference. But right now I can't afford it. Except for the eye cream. I refuse to use anything else. And you only use a tiny bit, so it lasts forever. So that $40 really isnt' that much. And it is by far the best eye cream I have ever used in my life. I swear by it. It makes the deepest wrinkles go away. And bags.
I have tried Clinique too in the past, but that did not work for me at all, and I took it all back. The fancy brands let you take back what you don't like. Even opened. Some of the cheapo brands do that too, but not all.
Oh, and I used Mary Kay for a while too, that was nice too. But it's not cheap either. Right now I have to use cheap stuff. Luckily I found all products that work for my super dry skin, even the anti shine stuff.

Okay, enough blah blah. Sorry.

[Maven]

Thanks for the info, whenwill! I don't find the $1 and cheap makeup is good quality. Then again, I used a nail polish that I got for $5 but from the company itself (Manic Panic) is $8, and it was thin and watery.

I just discovered Hard Candy at the Super Wal-mart (the regular Wal-mart told me they carry the gift sets, but not individual products). I haven't tried it yet, but I got some glittery eye shadow and lip gloss, and I also bought their makeup remover. I got an eyeshadow base, too, but I forget if it's by them...I think it is. I've never used an eyeshadow base because I've never seen one, or at least not a product labeled as such. Neutrogena makes one? I'll have to look for that; I like their products.

I want thicker eyelashes, but I can't afford Latisse, even though my doctor was happy to give me a prescription.

I like to do my own manicures, and I've found that the Sally Hansen polishes last longer than more expensive brands like OPI.

Eyeshadow base is great! It really makes a difference in keeping the shadow from getting into the crease. Laura Mercier is wonderful. There are several shades to choose from.

I like to keep my makeup simple and only buy what works for me - forget palettes! Fun, but not practical.

I like MAC blush because it's sheer and I apply it until I get the effect I want. Usually 5-6 strokes, rather than one that I have to try and blend.

Going to a counter at a decent store like Macy's is great for finding what works for you. I've found that they're good on hygiene, and apply products with a Q-tip, so they're not reusing the same thing for everyone. Nordstrom is especially good at this! You can see exactly how things look on you, and only buy what you've tested out.

Sephora is good because you can return things you don't like. Also, stores like Macy's can give you samples to take home and try yourself. I like that this eliminates those mistakes that you can't return!

[Maven]

I asked for samples of makeup at Macy's and they told me they didn't have any! I wouldn't mind letting them put makeup on my face, but I'd be there all day, trying out everything, and I'm too fat to sit in some of those seats. It's not so much about being fat, but being weak. It's hard for me to get on a stool and things you have to step up to get on, and if I don't get myself high enough to sit, I'll end up pushing the seat back with my butt and falling. Then I can't get up (because my legs are too weak).