The Makeup Thread

Here is your semi-regular makeup thread, to discuss all things makeup and makeup adjacent.

Do you have a makeup product you'd recommend? Are you looking for the perfect foundation which has remained frustratingly elusive? Need or want to offer makeup tips? Searching for hypoallergenic products? Want to grouse about how you hate makeup? Want to gush about how you love it?

Whatever you like — have at it!

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Here is an unfiltered picture of me with absolutely no makeup on (hello there, zit on my chin!):

I will never not fail to notice flyaways while taking selfies.
You may be quite reasonably wondering why on earth I would post a photo in which I'm wearing no makeup for a MakeUp Thread, lol, but it's because today I want to mention something makeup adjacent: Skincare products!

Specifically, I want to talk about Drunk Elephant, a skincare line which has completely changed my life, and that is not even an exaggeration.

So, one of my dear friends from high school is now a makeup professional, and I recently asked him for advice on finding the best foundation for my skin. He replied by first inquiring about my skincare routine, which goes to show you how good he is at his job, because this was over text, so he didn't even know my skin looked like shit, lol! He just suspected — rightly! — that part of the reason I was never truly happy with any foundation is because I didn't have a good skincare routine, thus creating an unsuitable base for makeup.

I told him what products I'd tried, none of which had super thrilled me, and also gave him a brief report on my skin issues: Combination skin, sensitive skin that broke out with any skincare products that were the least bit oily, aging skin, ruddiness, melasma on my cheeks.

He recommended Drunk Elephant skincare products to me, and also helpfully shared with me his current routine using their products. He suggested that once my skin was better nourished, I would more easily find makeup that works for me. (And he made a couple of good foundation recommendations, too!)

Armed with terrific information (and a discount code he generously shared with me), I purchased Drunk Elephant's Littles collection (also available at Sephora, if you're a member). The set was a little different when I got it last year: It did not come with the Jelly Cleanser or the Eye Serum, but came instead with the Baby Juju and Baby Pekee Travel Duo.

At $90, it's not a cheap set, but it's also less expensive than a number of other products I've tried over the years that didn't work and I ended up throwing in the garbage after wasting a whole lot of money. And my pursuit of better skin isn't just vanity: I get lingering, cystic zits that hurt, and I've had many awkward and unpleasant exchanges over the years with people who mistake the melasma on my cheeks for bruises.

Anyway. With some trial and error, I've settled into a great routine with the Drunk Elephant products that work for me: In the morning, the Pekee cleansing bar followed by two pumps of the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel mixed with one pump of the C-Firma Day Serum. In the evening, the Juju exfoliating bar followed by two pumps of the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel mixed with one pump of the T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum.

Once a week, I do the Baby Elephant facial, which is amazing, followed by an application of the Protini Polypeptide Cream just on the dry areas of my face (as it's too rich for the oily areas but perfect for the dry areas). When I need a little extra moisturization anywhere, I use the Lala Retro Whipped Cream for an extra boost.

There are two products I haven't tried: The Shaba Complex Eye Serum and the Lippe Balm. I have tried the Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 and the Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, but both of those broke me out. Too rich for my skin, unforunately.

The long and the short of it is: I LOVE DRUNK ELEPHANT. My skin has never looked or felt as good in my entire life. I have far fewer painful zits, my skin-tone is more even, and the melasma is not as prominent.

I also have more fun with makeup, because I have a good base for it now!

For about the first 40 years of my life, I never really cared about makeup or how my skin looked — partly because I didn't want to feel obliged to care because of external expectations (which is good!) and partly because I didn't understand how to do makeup or how to care for my skin, so I just avoided the subject (which is not good).

I am really happy to be in a place, thanks to help and encouragement from my friends, where I know how to look after my skin and can express myself creatively with makeup when it makes me feel good to do it. (Since I am privileged enough to not have the expectation of full makeup as part of my job.)

Lots of women — and some men and genderqueer folks — have long and twisting journeys with makeup and skincare throughout their lives. I know I'm not alone on that. I hope this thread and all the people who participate in it make you feel less alone, even if you only read the comments and never participate yourself.

I know my journey isn't yet done, either. There are still challenges and opportunities that await me, as my skin ages and changes. And I'm very glad to feel ready to face them.

Pun intended.

(As always, I'm not affiliated with Drunk Elephant in any way, nor am I getting anything in exchange for this recommendations. UNFORTUNATELY HAHAHAHA. I just like their products!)

Anyway! What's up with you?

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Please note, as always, that advice should be not be offered to an individual person unless they solicit it. Further: This thread is open to everyone — women, men, genderqueer folks. People who are makeup experts, and people who are makeup newbies. Also, because there is a lot of racist language used in discussions of makeup, and in makeup names, please be aware to avoid turns of phrase that are alienating to women of color, like "nude" or "flesh tone" when referring to a peachy or beige color. I realize some recommended products may have names that use these words, so please be considerate about content noting for white supremacist (and/or Orientalist) product naming.