Expert: Terri - 4/15/2004

Question
First, let me just say, thanks for being available to answer questions, I think this is a wonderful service. It's so hard to walk into a department store or salon where they surround you, or ignore you depending on how you're dressed,  and then snub their noses at you for your "lack of sophistication" when it comes to make-up. This service is great!

Now, about my questions. I have never been into make-up. I wear it to help me keep from scaring people. I have used the same technique and pretty much the same everything since I started using make-up. My skin is pretty good, good genes from my mother who is 61 and has no wrinkles. I am 37, and I am definitely seeing a difference in how my current regime looks on my skin, the colors, the type of foundation etc. It's not blending well, and it in fact makes my skin look older. I actually look younger when I don't have make-up on, (except for the dark circles under my eyes, which are always present, no matter how well rested I am, plus my eyelids tend to have a beige shading to them naturally).

I wash my face every ngiht, with Neutrogena liquid face soap. And every morning apply foundation, blush, a little bit of eye shadow, (I've never been able to master this) some mascara and lipstick. I takes me no longer than five minues, and I don't want it to take longer.

So, basically, what type/brand of makeup do you recommend for skin that is starting to show age, I don't really have wrinkles, but the textures and tones are different than a few years ago. I have normal skin with an oily t-zone. My skin color is very light olive. That is I am Hispanic but quite light skinned. I have dark hair and brown eyes. I hate to look too made up, but I also want to be able to glam it up with little fuss for evenings out.

What colors, types and brands would you suggest?

Answer
Ok, first of all, theres only one thing that I'm going to reccomend. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but you probably have. i.d. bare escentuals makeup is based on crushed bare Minerals that occur naturally in the earth, making this the purest cosmetic collection in the world. bareMinerals provide a luminosity to the skin and a radiance that takes years off the face, and come in a collection of colors that will inspire you to be creative and spontaneous. A product that works as effectively as this one does, its very very inexpensive for what it can do. Its not like most foundations where you need a sponge or pad, it has a brush blush that you just sweep over your face and it takes like 15 seconds and your done. You cant buy this product in stores so visit this website: http://www.bareminerals.com/index.jsp
GOOD LUCK, hope i helped...thank you