Looking closer at the lipstick box

[brightlotusmoon]

You know, it is so fascinating to be able to understand every single ingredient in a lipstick as you are copying the list from the side of the box to a computer document. Now that I have Aveda's Cherrybud and Cerise lipsticks, I've compiled a complete lists of all my favorite lipsticks, including colors and ingredients, removing two lipsticks and adding two others. These are the only colors I will use, and as of today's Aveda purchase, I won't be buying any makeup at all, until each product is finished. And I find that it's important to make lists for myself, to remind myself to stick to the products on the lists and not stray elsewhere. Having transposed every ingredient, I now have a much better understanding of cosmetics. I've looked up and researched each and every ingredient, from botanical oil to carrier oil to plant extract to wax to essential oil to fragrance oil to chemical to amino acid to peptide chain. It really is amazing what they put in cosmetics, both synthetic and natural. It makes me want to go to a school for holistic estheticians and learn everything I possibly can about skin care. It's why I won't use mineral oil and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates on my skin and hair (actually, SLS isn't so bad to me, it just really irritates my scalp and skin and causes breakouts; switching to organic shampoo was the best choice I ever made). It's why I am becoming more aware of what goes onto my skin. My trifecta, my "holy trinity" is still Sea Buckthorn Oil, Tamanu Oil, and Helichrysum Oil, but I like seeing what other oils and extracts can do.
It's why I love when people ask me for advice on how to treat their skin problems. I make suggestions and recommendations and I caution people in case they might have a reaction, and I make sure I can back up my claims. I'm happy to have made friends with at least two different estheticians and skin care therapists; they're a wealth of information.

I know I am being superficial, but this is just so very intriguing.

Comments

[franny-glass.livejournal.com]

dear jo, your bathroom must look like ulta.

love sabrina

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

*laughs*
Not quite. I've been... weeding. It looks like half of Ulta.
My bedroom dresser looks like the other half. Hah.

[greenteadragon.livejournal.com]

You're not being superficial, silly little monkey, you just have a hobbie! Don't get me started or I can on and on about crafts or cooking. I get frustrated with makeup because I want it to enhance my face, but not paint it. The problem I run into is it's either to little and you can't see it or it's too much and I look like a clown.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

You just need to apply it the right way. :) I hate looking clownish. I always choose colors that look as natural and as subtle as possible, while playing up my features.

[greenteadragon.livejournal.com]

I wish application was my problem. Unfortunately, my skin tone and color is more then problem. I have olive colored skin that changes colors rapidly depending on sun exposure. Mostly I stick to brown and bronzes, but sometimes I wish I could pull off more fun colors.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Ahh. Yeah, that can be a problem. I'd say you could also try purples and dark greens and golds because of your coloring.
Do you use foundation or concealer?

[greenteadragon.livejournal.com]

When I want to glam it up I use dark purple. It's fun, but not really for everyday use. I was thinking of trying some dark purple eyeliner.

I used to use foundation (Bobby Brown), but now that my acne has cleared up I use tinted moisturizer just to even out my skin tone. If I happen to have a blemish I use concealer (Smashbox) or if I have under-eye circles from lack of sleep (often).

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

My personal favorite dark purple eyeliner is Almay Intense I-Color in Purple Amethyst. You'd like that.