GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

I have been having Laser on my face and neck for a while now. I'm really really pleased with the results, which is good since it's $$$. I have little visible shadow left. Even the Laser tech is amazed at how well I've responded and thinks I'm way ahead of where I should be for the number of sessions I've had. There's a few lighter hairs that will require elctrolysis but they dont leave any shadow so I can get by with minimal makeup.

The only area where any shadow remains is above the upper lip and on the chin and even here it's light. So I apply a light cover of foundation which I increase a bit over the remaining areas.

So here's the problem. It's almost as if the foundation makes the pores over the small remaining slight shadow area stand out more. I say pores because it's not really shadow. It's a bit difficult to tell precisely as the view I see in the mirror changes a bit depending upon the angle of light. But my partner agrees with me.

So am I doing something wrong?

You're probably not doing anything wrong. I complained of a similar problem with my liquid foundation, but it happended all over my face. The deeper the pore, the worse it looked. An esthetician explained it that liquid foundation lays across the tops of the pores and looks good when first applied. But over time the foundation sinks into the pores and accentuates them. I switched to a dry foundation and it was a big improvement.

If you're using foundation to cover shadow, you may be using too much. You might want to try using a concealer to cover the shadow, and letting the foundation just even out skin tones.

I've been using Bare Minerals dry foundation. But I've tended to use a bit of liquid concealor first over the remaining shadow areas below my nose and on the chin. It may be that I should avoid the liquid concealor in these areas?

Katja

MAC makes a great concealer. It's consistancy is more like eye shadow than a powder or liquid.

Thanks...
It may be I'm worrying too much since I'm not getting clocked but still I would like to improve it a bit.

Katja

[quote=freespirit
Thanks...
It may be I'm worrying too much since I'm not getting clocked but still I would like to improve it a bit.

Katja [/quote]

I don't think it's about getting clocked. It's about looking the best I can for the place I am. Appropriate make-up is as important as good make up. Wear evening make-up to go to Starbucks at 8:00 AM, and you'll look like a hooker.

I went to a powwow last weekend, and lived in my tipi next to several other tipis. I didn't wear any make-up. I mean, who's going to accept a woman stepping out of a tipi with a cup of coffee to warm up by the fire in the morning, and wearing eye shadow?

Diana

The good news is that when you're done with laser you may not need foundation at all.

The bad news is that I've tried extended laser treatment twice with two different companies, and THEY both concluded that my very light colored facial hair was not appropriate for laser. One even refunded all my money after 15 months of treatment.

The other bad news is my facial skin quality is a train wreck. Too much sun for too many years. I've had numerous actinic keratoses (pre-cancers) burned off with liquid nitrogen, and one basal cell carcinoma surgically removed. Ack!

Bottom line, I really need foundation to even out skin tones and cover scars.

Ouch, and a friend of mine wonders why this happened and now I catch the brunt. She's 15 yrs younger and I got asked in front of her if I was her younger sister? She never uses sunblock and is out in the sun a lot during the summer, uses a tanning bed, lays in the sun in the summer. When she gets my age she's going to be a saddlebag with eyes. Me? I'm kind of a vampire. I like the evening and night.

Yeah, you probably need the foundation.

Alas when you do reach a certain age, eyebrow hairs start growing in the wrong places -- like on the chin and under the nose. Mine are white. I pull them out every couple weeks.

I use Bare Minerals primer, before I apply foundation. Primer lets makeup float over pores. Also, with bare minerals foundation, you can use it as a concealer. I apply it with concealer brush. Then I use regular foundation brush to apply foundation. If any area needs more coverage, use concealer brush.

There are other primers on the market, for use with liquid foundation.