I like using something like MAC Fix+ to improve adhesion or intensity for wet/dry products or more sparkly powder products. I also mix in liquid highlighters into foundations for sheerer coverage and/or luminosity.
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I don’t really like to use such products, for me it’s best if my beauty products can work right without the need to mix, add or change anything. I recently bought the foundation lightening drops by The Body Shop and I’m not happy at all with the result. I may just throw away the foundation I bought them for and buy it in a lighter shade!
I’m sorry TBS Lightening Drops didn’t work out for you. I recommend these drops so much that I’d love to know what your concerns were with the product, if you don’t mind me asking. I’d be curious to know if your skin type is on the oilier side? (I have another product that is much more of a matte white that I don’t like very much because I’m on the dry side. I’m intrigued by your experience because I’m a geek when it comes to mixing products, lol.) And could you also share the brand name of the foundation you’re thinking about tossing? I’m just wondering if there could have been an ingredients-not-mixing type of problem. Thanks.
i’m with Lulle, I don’t use any extra products. I’ve worn makeup for decades without having to use any extra products and it’s always been fine so I don’t see the need.
I’m with you girls also. Have never felt the need to mix a thing and I’m no expert enough to dare either. Whatever I have it has worked fine to my delight. Perhaps in Summer i do like mixing a light bronzer under my blush instead of drawing that contouring line which I’m afraid to look obvious. I’m very fair so I apply everything lightly. Also eyeshadows I like to mix two colors few times but no need really. I’m rather simple and mostly go for a natural look but love to experiment with different colors.
I apply waterproof eyeliner for tightlining a little haphazardly, getting a little on the lash roots, brush rhrough with a metal comb (RT has one) and it acts like a primer helping to set and hold the curl. I’ve found this plus waterproof mascara gives me beautifully curled lashes all day long.
I forgot a step – after the eyeliner, I curl the lashes and then apply waterproof mascara.
The TBS Lightening Drops to improve color match in the winter.
Not products or tools per se, but I like to customise in other ways; My MAC Burmese Beauty quad is decorated with pictures of Burmese cats on the back, and for my MAC Light Festival palette I used the Diwali promo pic to adorn the lid (otherwise the packaging looked boring, lol).
I had a wonderful Burmese cat once. I lost custody in a break-up.
Much as Christine (and many others, I’m sure), I like using luminizing-type drops mixed with foundation or moisturizer to impart some glow and also to lighten the texture and “spreadability” of foundations. I often use primers on their own, without topping them with a foundation (Becca’s backlighting primer is a “prime” example – bad pun, I know!). As for tools, I find the stir stick thingies from Second Cup or Starbucks to be excellent beauty tools. Because MAC Pro Longwear Concealer dispenses way too much product, I pump it into an empty MAC sample jar and then use the stir sticks to dip in and place the concealer under my eyes, just where I need it, before blending. I have samples of 2 Nars liquid blushes and do the same with those little sample pots – use the stir stick to dip in and then place the product just where I want it. They’re smaller and finer than finger-tips and can be sanitized between uses. And they’re free!
Good tip with the MAC Pro LWC! I have RA and seriously struggle finessing the pump. I more often than not wind up with far too much product. I use very small amounts with my base mix to tweak colour and increase coverage.
Wwendy, so many people complain about that pump and I’ve posted this suggestion a bazillion times on Makeupalley, here too, I think, and other places. It’s a shame to waste the product and it’s a shame to have to faff around with it, only to end up with too much product in spite of being careful (I don’t have RA but it’s a struggle for pretty much everyone). I gave up early on trying to control the pump to get “just the right” amount. Now, I just put a pump into an empty MAC sample jar every couple of days. It doesn’t dry out and those Second Cup/Starbucks plastic stirrer/stoppers are absolutely perfect to apply it (the Starbucks ones are actually a bit better for this, as they have a small, round, flat tip).
Mariella: LOL. Surely I can find a few of those Starbucks stir thingees in my car ?
I always mix illuminators with my foundation, moisturizer or primer for an all over glow. Lately, I’ve been using the NYX Total Control Drop Foundation to add more coverage to my tinted moisturizer as well. I love playing around and mixing beauty products!
I love the effect of adding half a pump of Marc Jacobs Dew Me to my Lancôme foundation to add some soft luminosity. Also, just as you mentioned above, Christine, I utilize a Fix+ (type of) spray to help certain eyeshadows adhere better and have denser coverage. Mine is the one by e.l.f., I do like it quite a lot! Other than those, the only other one is using my eyeshadow primer in UDPP Eden under my eyes to keep my concealer from breaking down.
OT: I wouldn’t mind a more specific explanation on how you use the Mac Fix+, Christine. Do you use it for eyeshadow?
This one is fairly common: I like to use a slightly damp beauty blender for powder. both under my eyes to set concealer and for face.
UD velvetizer has been a recent and solid find. I am an avid mixer and use multiple products to achieve my proper shade. Velvetizer acts like a binder for my multiple products and helps give me the satin finish I am looking for. Matte is too unforgiving and drying and dewy starts out well enough until it starts travelling around my mature skin and gathering in frown lines, and *grimace* naso labial folds. I’m too lazy for primer and hate the feel and I’ve tried a number of ‘blur’ products and thought ‘meh’. I find I prefer to use about half the product suggested on label.
Depending on the formula, I’ll usually spray my eyeshadow brush and then pick up product, or alternatively, apply the eyeshadow dry, then spray the brush to intensify on the lid directly (if I am trying to smooth/bind a product, then I spray the brush first or pick up product, spray, then apply).
Thanks Christine!
I had never heard of this product until your post. I went to the Sephora web site and it has really good reviews, and I noted it provides a bit more coverage. However, none of the respondents noted that they have dry skin. So, I’m wondering if this product would work for those of us who don’t need a more matte finish.
Hi Anne:
I have combination skin, but do tend towards more dryness in the winter so I will definitely see how it fares then.
It may largely play into how emollient the products you are working with are. I predominantly use with my mix of Nars TM / iT cosmetics CC / wee bit of MAC pro concealer mix. I do not use with traditional foundation as I have none which I truly love. Without velvetizer, my custom mix becomes a hot greasy mess when the finish extends way beyond youthful dewy to loss of coverage on my nose and cheeks and chin and lines of product stuck in my fine lines within a few hours. If I use setting powder alone to deal with the glow, I feel it makes my base look too heavy for my tastes. On the other hand I know this mix well and developed it as a very good colour match for my skin.
By using the the velvetizer, I am able to cut back on the amount of product and yet get equal coverage and also require far less setting powder. I think it comes off looking at lot less makeupy and I get better wear over the hours. Not sure that helps you any further.. but does let you know the type of products I am pairing with.
Thanks, Wendy. I see what you’re doing. That’s an intriguing product. Next time I’m in Sephora, I’m going to see if they will give me a small sample. I know what you mean about setting powder. It can get heavy looking very quickly.
I like to layer/mix product to give a more custom finish/color. I also use my BB to apply powder in any areas that crease (undereyes, forehead, mouth) to create a more flawless, less cakey application.
YTer Stephanie Nicole recently commented that she uses Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue Glitter Bonding Eye Shadow Primer. Has anyone used this on their lid for eyeshadow other than glitter? Like shimmering or frosty or other types of eyeshadow prone to fall out and transfer? Does it work well? It has great reviews. Is it difficult to get off in the cleaning process? Are synthetic brushes recommended when using this product? I’m thinking I need to run, not walk, and get this product.
I also tried this the other day after watching a Stephanie Nicole video! It did intensify the color of the shimmer shadow somewhat (though I wouldn’t say as much as Fix+ does) but it did a great job of preventing shadow transfer on my hooded eye crease, which was awesome.
I often apply Tatcha’s mist before or after application.
I use Manic Panic Dreamtone in White (aka Virgin) to tweak foundations. I use e.l.f. Mist & Set (Original) to wet eyeshadows. I like to use white and black eye bases underneath shadows to change their intensity or tone (I use Nyx’s).
Hi Rachel. This is the first product I bought to lighten my foundation. It’s very matte and I know a lot of people use and love it. Because my skin is dry, TBS lightening drops is better for me as they are a bit creamier. Hopefully those reading here will consider both as options. Someone also has mentioned that they use the Illamasqua foundation in white. I tried to find that awhile back and couldn’t locate it (then TBS brought out their lightening drops and I went with them), but that’s certainly another option as well. All of these products beat the heck out of buying two shades of foundation and mixing them, or passing on a really nice foundation because the shade range is too dark.
I haven’t tried any drops. I’m glad they work for you. I have oily skin and prefer a more matte look, so I’m happy with the Manic Panic.
I sometimes use blush as a wash over my eyeshadow (I don’t have sensitive eyes) when I can’t get my whole look to go together, usually because I applied the wrong blush, and don’t like the way it looks with my eyes.
I don’t really except for using some Fix+ to intensify my eyeshadow and I have added liquid highlighter to my foundation . Otherwise I don’t really
I always mix moisturizer with foundations (or BB creams) to give luminosity and glow to mature skin. Ratio of foundation (or BB cream) to moisturizer: 1:1 or 2:1. This mix goes over serum and moisturizer. So there’s a lot of moisturizer in my layers.
I kind of follow what you do at 54 I have my laughing lines (better than having crying ones I suppose? Lol!). I tried a few primers and didn’t like any on face I would break out in tiny Millie bumps. I will use a bit of primer on eyes though and works well but even then only sometimes. I doubt I’ll be repurchasing more. So I don’t mix mine but just dip with my rectangle sponge my Cera Vé moisturizer let it soak and then apply a bit of foundation just to even out my overall face and neck area color or bit of marks, redness, I love how is been working I have a more supple skin, better moisterized than the gooy ‘don’t do any benefit’ from a primer. It fills out my starting lines and future craters. 🙂
I’m not keen on primers either. I mix foundation and moisturizer in my hand, then apply to face with fingers. I’m low tech!
Me too. I like to keep it simple. 🙂
Christine, is the MAC Fix + the same as MAC Prep + Prime + spray?
Yes! It’s Prep + Prime Fix+!
Thank you! I learn so much from you!
A very respected mentor at my office started selling Rodan & Fields products. I loathe their business model and as a rule, will never buy. I felt i had to for political reasons and chose a single product called Lash Boost, expecting nothing. It is pricey at $130/tube but surprisingly works! Insteadn of using it before bed, i do it in the morning, then brush out wirh a clean spoolie. While wet, i curl my lashes and when dry, just a partial swipe of mascara. It is a great base and has thickened my individual lashes and lash line. Still zero interest in their skincare but this is good.
I use a replica of the Makeup Forever flash creme color Platte (cost me like $12 on eBay and has the same exact ingredients as the original) almost everyday. I use a tiny amount of the green shade with a stainless steel spatula to make most of my foundations more olive, I need the tiniest amount. I also use the Illamasqua Skinbase shade mixer in white to lighten my foundations and concealer. I tan easily so I use it a lot when my summer tan is fading. I use Mario Badescu rosewater facial spray to wet and intensify shimmer shadows as well!
I just googled this product. I didn’t know it existed. I knew about the White Foundation in 01, but never ran across this product. It also comes in 3 other shades (all of which could be helpful for darker skin tones). Why other companies don’t provide this type of product is a total mystery to me.
For anyone reading this, here’s the website: http://www.illamasqua.com/skin-base-mixer-white/. It looks like it’s available in the US from a website called lookfantastic.com, but I’m not familiar with it.
I can’t really think of a time I’ve mixed product to change the overall look. I have liquid highlights, but I tend to layer them on my skin. The only example I can recall doing is if battling a particularly dry patch and I’m already too far into my makeup application, I’ll add foundation to a heavier moisturizer to try to keep the area hydrated until I can exfoliate it properly.
I don’t really use any other products either to customise my makeup. So far I have been lucky enough to find foundation shades that work for me – I would like more, but at least I have a few to choose from.
A drop of face oil to foundation in winter is about it. I am not familiar wit the products everyone is talking about and am looking forward to playing with them.
Special tools: Baby Wipes!
I wear some sort of wing everyday. Lately it’s a smoky wing that’s done with eyeshadow then sharpened up by dragging the edge of a baby wipe along the bottom edge. (From the outer corner of my eye to the tail of the eyebrow) Works a treat for clear & clean wings!
I use brushes as I see fit. For example, mac 222 is used for setting my concealer instead of eyeshadow. Too big.