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April 18, 2012

Losing My Luster


I turn 36 in a month.  I've noticed in the past few years that I'm starting to get a little neurotic around my birthdays.  This year's neurosis is manifesting itself in a general unhappiness with my face, namely my lack of luster.  I've always had dewy, peachy skin, but now I'm all dry & red & sallowy yellow.  Oh, & hairy, but that's a whole other post.  No one warned me that at some point you basically have to start waxing your entire face.  I feel like I'm turning into a billy goat.

I digress.  Like I do when I'm obsessed with something, I talk to EVERYONE about it.  I was talking to my hair stylist because she's like 15 & gorgeous & always has good makeup.  She told me about these YouTube videos by a London based makeup artist, Pixiwoo & recommended I watch them.  OMG, y'all.  These videos are CHANGING MY LIFE.

Pixiwoo is teaching me so much.  Based on recent conversations with friends, I'm convinced no one knows how to apply eyeshadow, especially multiple colors.  Pixiwoo is here to help.  She shows how to properly use all the colors in a palette & how to blend them.  It makes so much sense!  And she tells you what products she's using.  She tells you while she's doing it & then she lists the products on the page under the video, brushes & makeup.  There are two things on my list right now thanks to Pixiwoo:  1) MAC Tempting & 2) Avon Supershock Gel Liner.  Where do you even buy Avon?

I'm also realizing that wearing foundation may solve a lot of my lackluster problems, pun intended.  I used to wear foundation, but I got lazy, quit wearing it & am having trouble working it back into my routine.

A friend turned me on to the blog, Into The Gloss.  I love it.  They interview people in the fashion industry & ask them what their favorite products are.  Thanks to this post, I'm now convinced I need a Clarisonic & am saving my pennies to buy one.

So yeah, this is what I'm obsessing about right now & probably will continue to be for the next month.  Thanks to all of my friends who are patiently answering my never-ending stream of questions about what concealer they wear & how often they use their Clarisonic.

Now, on to the Pixiwoo videos.

This is a video where she does a Friday night makeover on a friend (while drinking a pint).  This is a good video for seeing how to blend multiple colors, as well as smoking up your look for night.  Also note the use of the aforementioned Avon Supershock Gel Liner.



This video is Pixiwoo showing how to do Adele inspired makeup.  As long as I live, I'll never master the liquid eyeliner cat-eye, but for those who can, this video is for you.



Check out the Pixiwoo Channel here & here.  Read the Pixiwoo blog here, including lots of makeup tips & product recommendations.

I love you, Pixiwoo!

12 comments:

  1. So my mom is all up on beauty products and I benefit from her love of over shopping. I have a clarisonic, but I've only used it once. Gasp. I know. I need to break it out again. My mom also has flawless skin. Having had horrible acne and two rounds of acutane, me, not so much. She also is a product whore. Sometimes I wish I was more like her! Thanks for the video recs!

    I bought one of those laser hair removal groupons...haven't redeemed it, but I am curious to see how it works. One of my friends had her legs done and she loves it!

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  2. Lady, I swear, the Benefit Get Bent eyeliner brush will make liquid eyeliner cat-eyes flow out of your fingertips like you were born doing it. Literally foolproof.

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  3. Lord have mercy child! When I was your age I had a 15 yr old....oh wait, that would be you! Adopt a 15 yr old, and I promise you the last thing on your mind will be lack of luster! Ha!

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  4. Definitely feel your pain, Kim! I feel like I need some new makeup. Thanks for posting these videos! I have considered going to a counter for some instruction, but then they will just try to sell me $200 in makeup. I have a Clarisonic - it's great!

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  5. Sarah: hahaha! I'm actually about to buy a Clarisonic, so we'll see how it goes. I am also a product whore. And it's just going to get worse with the Clarisonic because I'm going to have to buy serums & god knows what else to use with that. Oy....

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  6. Mom: hmmm, adopt a 15 year old or buy a Clarisonic? Yeah, I'm just going to buy a Clarisonic. Nice plug for a 5th grandchild though.

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  7. Libby: speaking of, I just found out that everyone at Nordstrom works on commission, even the girls at the makeup counters. No wonder I got conned into buying $78 worth of Laura Mercier (which I have since returned & am now putting towards a Clarisonic).

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  8. BEFORE YOU BUY THAT CLARISONIC... This post inspired me to look into a Clarisonic. I, too, was outraged by the cost and instead opted for an $80 Nutrisonic. As far as I can tell, the only differences are that it doesn't beep like the Clarisonic and it's WAY cheaper. I've had it a week and I'm in love. Save your money and get this instead!!
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TK78K4/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

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  9. Christina: good to know! I've also heard good things about the way cheaper Oil of Olay version. I've got a $25 off coupon for the Clarisonic, so I may still get it. I'll report back either way. Thanks!

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  10. I know I'm chiming in a little late here, but I've got the Olay version of the Clarisonic and I was AMAZED at how well it cleaned my face. My pores are so much less noticeable now. Also, I use Therapy Systems Glycolic lotion (sensitive skin version) for the exfoliation and moisture and I love it. My skin is on the oily side though. AND I'm also noticing random hairs on my face that are longer than the others. Thank god I've got blonde hair.

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  11. Kelly: I've heard other people say that the Olay version is just as good. I'm so cheap, that may be what I end up buying.

    I hear you on the blonde hair, haha!

    It's never too late to chime in. Thanks for letting me know what you use, especially since you're fair & have sensitive skin, too.

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