Here’s my makeup box. Can you tell it’s a tackle box? My sister started this WAY back when we were young. She bought a tackle box to put all her makeup in and I followed suit. It makes a perfect box for all those little containers. And you can tuck it out of the way in a closet or armoire. I don’t use nearly all of this and I’ve even cleaned it out many times, but can’t seem to get rid of all the eye shadow kits and other things I don’t always use. My routine for makeup is much more simple these days.
Back in my 20’s, I was so into makeup and fashion. I still love makeup and fashion, but not nearly like I did then. I loved it all and was a real beauty products snob and always shopped at the department store cosmetics counter. Estee Lauder was my choice of cosmetics for the most part and I ventured out with Clinique, Lancome, and Ultima III. I lived for the free gift with purchase events. That’s when I’d stock up on foundation or loose powder or whatever else I needed to get one of those free gifts. Those days, I’m afraid, are over. I think I’ve gotten a little wiser over the years and realized that just because a beauty product costs a lot of $$, doesn’t mean it’s the very best OR that I can’t find something just as good for less. So, let’s talk money-saving beauty tips, shall we? About 3 or 4 years ago, I discovered Bare Minerals (or Bare Essentuals) mineral makeup and I haven’t looked back since then. I think it works great with my aging skin and seems to give an overall better glow, rather than the heavier foundations I was using previously. I have tried many liquid foundations over the years, from Estee Lauder, to Lancome, to Revlon and Loreal. All of them were fine for the most part, but as my skin has aged, I felt the need to lighten up on the foundation. Mineral makeup works great for me! It goes on lighter, still covers enough and let’s your skin show through without looking cakey or too made up. I have rather oily skin, especially the T-zone and the mineral foundation keeps me from looking like a grease pit at the end of the day. Of course, summer is still the worse for my oily skin, but overall I think mineral makeup is a big find for me. Have you tried it yet? I now purchase mine on Ebay. I’ve found several sellers on there and you can get some pretty good discounts if you shop around. The good thing is, one container lasts at least 6 mos. for me, so I don’t have to buy that often. I use Fairly Light for my rather fair skin. I also use the bronzer called Warmth. It adds just the right amount of blush and if I want more of a bronze look in the summer, just add a bit over my whole face. Bare Minerals is not particular cheap, but I like it so much, it’s worth it to me. Back in the 70’s and 80’s those huge makeup cases were all the rage too. I can’t tell you how many Estee Lauder and Ultima III eye shadow kits I bought. There were so many colors in there…wild, beautiful colors, but really how practical are all those colors? Not very. I’ve narrowed down my best colors to the ones above. These look the best on me with my blue eyes….pinky browns, russet browns, golden yellow, and creamy white for accents. I love these eye shadows from Ulta. We don’t have an Ulta store here in Birmingham, but I can always stock up when I go back to Atlanta. These eye shadows are very reasonable too and they often run Buy One, Get One Free promotions. Very practical!
Have you ever heard of Wet & Wild? I’ve been buying their lip liners for probably 15 years now and my favorite one is #666 (I know, strange), but it’s also called Wine. It’s a great pinky-brown shade for all of my lipsticks and that’s the only one I use now. Best part is, they sell for about $1. I see that Walmart carries them now, as well as Target used to and I just saw this shade touted by a makeup artist from NY in a magazine recently, so I see I’m not the only one who’s found it. Also picked up a dark blue eye liner for the same price and it works well too. Now, that’s budget makeup! I’ve also found that when I’ve picked up Clinique or Estee Lauder lipsticks over the years in those freebies and find a shade I like, I can check Ebay and find lots of the brand new sample sized ones for sale for much less money than going to the department stores. I just put in the name I like and do a search on Ebay. Very cost effective!
I‘m all over the board too with skin care products. Right now, I’m using Oil of Olay cleanser with microbeads (for anti-aging), Aveeno moisturizer, and some Boots of London aging serum, which I keep hearing lots about. Have you heard of Boots?? They are a low-cost botanically based skincare line out of the UK. I checked the line out at Target and it looks pretty good, so I think I’ll try more when I run out of what I have currently. I got persueded last year to try Arbonne anti-aging skincare products. They were expensive and I really couldn’t tell any difference in my skin, so I’ll never do that again!
Here’s another good hair product that I found at Walmart. Hask Spray-On Illuminator, one of those shine sprays with silicone to give a lot of shine to your hair. This one works well for me and I know there are much more expensive ones out there, but after I tried this one, I’m happy with it.
I‘d love to find some good recommendations for hair products. I’ve gone back and forth over the years buying expensive shampoo and conditioner and cheap ones. Paula Begoun (The Beauty Bible lady) says that cheap shampoos are just as good as the salon products. I think when I was younger, I could get away with the cheaper ones, but now that my hair is getting more gray and coarse, I really need something that will keep it hydrated, soft and shiny and it seems the more expensive ones do that better. I know my hair feels better after I leave the salon! Tell me what you’ve found for hair products that work for you. I have really thick, coarse hair with lots of natural curl and a tendency towards frizz. I’ve always said it is just like a horse’s mane and that’s about the truth. Right now, I’m using a Redken smoothing shampoo for dry hair to keep it softer and tame the frizzies. I also picked up a deep conditioner for colored hair at Sally’s by Ferria that works pretty well too, but
I’d love to hear from you about your shampoo and conditioner favorites. If I can find some that are less expensive, but still work great, I’m all for saving money.
Do you use cheap shampoo and conditioner or expensive and why? Can you really tell the difference? I’d love to find some good ones that are maybe in between really cheap and really expensive. We don’t have any good places to shop for the salon products over here except at a salon (or at least I haven’t found one yet). I used to shop at Ulta all the time in Atlanta, but we don’t have them over here.
So, let’s hear your recommendations! The girl who cuts my hair (and I’m still going to the Supercuts girl) said we should change up our shampoos and conditioners very often, as hair gets used to the same products and it’s better to mix it up. Maybe we’ll all get some good ideas! Feel free to offer any other good tips on makeup and skin care products too. What can’t you live without?
artist in NC says
Hi Rhoda, I cannot live without my Mediterraean Olive Oil body butter. It comes in a large jar and feels oh so good. Available on line at http://www.dandelionstyles.com Try it, it’s wonderful and only about $20.00 for a large amount. Your skin will thank you!
Tara says
I like the recommendation about the HASk–thanks! I was really into Bumble and Bumble for awhile which you can only get at a hair salon as they exclusively distribute. Then one day I am in Costco and try the Dove shampoo and conditioner–very within muy means–and it is great! Gives my hair super shine!
Carrie says
You’re right, the mineral makeup works much better now than foundation. I have been using Bare minerals for a few years now.
Jen r. says
Rhoda, I have very dry, thin hair and I actually like Mane and tail!!Have your tried it? It was a for horses!…either that or garnier fructis..with a coupon! I laughed at your makeup case, because in the 80’s I had that and a pampered chef style spinning organizer to hold all of my makeup! Now the spniner holds my paint brushes! I might try that make up;I always need something new to work with my skin.
Jen R
joan says
Hi Rhoda,
I use Bare Minerals also and love it. I was never good with liquid foundation and this looks great on my skin. We have a BM store here in Cincy and you can buy it at Sephora. I use the Redken All Soft shampoo and conditioner and sometimes I use the John Frieda Sheer Blonde(honey to caramel). They are both good. Did you mention mascara in your post because that is what I am still looking for, a good mascara that makes my eyelashes look long. Love this post because I love talking about makeup.
Kim says
Love your blog…you have really inspired me to tackle some house projects that I have put off far too long. Love Clinique makeup and have worn it for over 20 years. Although it is costly, I do go to an Aveda salon and use their hair products. LOVE THEM – well worth the money.
The Tomball Three says
Sometimes to clean my hair better, i.e. get all the hair gunk grit out, I rinse it in plain ol’ vinegar. Then before I get out of the shower, I step back and stick my head under a full COLD blast of water to close up the pours and let that vinegar work.
… and no, I don’t smell like a pickle. It works like a charm. A friend of mine, who owns a salon, has been doing it for yaers.
The Tomball Three says
I meant “pores”!
🙂
Sunny Kristi says
For shampoo and conditioner I have, after years of searching, settled on Back to Basics. It is a Graham Webb product, but at not nearly the price! I did a quick search and I think you can find it cheap online. I purchase it at Ulta. Now my hair is not thick, nor coarse, but they have so many different formulas, you could try one for your hair type. The products smell terrific and I really don’t have to switch shampoos that often after using this brand.
I use Biore Shine Free Moisturizer for oily skin. It is in a light green plastic bottle with a pump and I LOVE it. I need the moisture for dry months and aging skin, but also have the oilies and can’t afford to use too much moisturizer without shining. With this, I don’t shine.
I won’t go into more of my products. But I did want to mention about filing recipes. You mentioned a while back you wanted to try the binder method using page protectors. Well I saw a great idea to go with that from an old BHG mag. You can buy clear pages with photo pouches that will fit into a 3-ring binder to store all of your recipe cards. I imagine you could fit two in one pocket so you can see the front of a card on each side. Now my recipes are all over and would love to get them all into my binder system which seems to work best.
PAT says
Biolage Shampoo and Sebastian hairspray. I looked a long time for what works for my hair and these two products have worked best as far as my hair goes. I’m almost totally gray and gray hair can be problematic. So far so good with these products. I’ve tried several wax type products for separating or spiking. I have not found anything that compares to ICE. I haven’t been able to find that product in awhile. I think it’s discontinued. I bought a gallon of Biolage shampoo, at a discount. I have a litre size bottle with a pump and pour from the gallon size into the litre bottle, for the shower. I’ve had the gallon size quite awhile.
I use clinique and have for years…I might switch moisturizers now and then, but I’ve used clinique almost exclusively for over 25 years. I tried Bare Minerals, for awhile but returned to cliniqe. My daughters use Bare Minerals and are very happy with the product. I use the clinique foundation and blusher. This has proven best for my skin. Since foundation and blush are what I wear most of the time when I am going to be away from home for the day, for one reason or the other, the cost doesn’t bother me. I rarely do up my eyes, other than a little liner and mascara. I use L’oreal mascara. Fortunately, I have fairly good skin…inherited that from my Mother’s side. It doesn’t take much to maintain. Keep it clean and moisturize. I don’t wear makeup everyday. Most of the time clean and moisturize, that’s it. At 64, I continue to take care of my skin.
My nail polish of choice is OPI. I’ve not found another with the “staying power”. Love it and don’t mind paying the little bit of extra. However, my friend recently found a brand at Walgreens that seems to have some of OPI’s longevity. I need to asked her what brand the Walgreen’s polish is.
I tend to buy all my hair care and cosmetics at Beauty Brands and places like that. All I need, fits nicely into a medium to small zippered cosmetic bag. Except for my obsession with the above mentioned OPI, which is a whole ‘nuther story!
Pat
PAT says
Back again…I just read tomball three’s comment about her vinegar rinse. My mother used vinegar to rinse my hair when I was a child. My hair always had a nice shine. No soap residue!
Pat
Mary says
Rhoda, I have tried many different brands of makeup (including the mineral makeup) but I found Merle Norman Luxiva tinted moisturizer in bare (I’m very fairskinned) is my all time favorite. I sometimes mix it with the merle norman luminizer for an added glow but I prefer the feel of the tinted moisturizer by itself. Very natural looking.
Hair products….I’m curious as to what everyone has to say. I get something called B from the hairdresser. I’m not thrilled for the price.
I love Arbonne’s mineral salt rub for hands…it’s has the most refreshing scent and makes my hands feel so soft. Well worth the cost.
I don’t use perfume, makes me ill. And I use wet and wild liner too. Other than a Mary kay blush and lip gloss that’s all I wear. I think I have a total of 6 items in my makeup bag! \
Rosemary says
Hi Rhoda,
I love Bare Minerals too!!!
I like Clinique, but I only buy it if they are having a good gift.
I use Enjoy on my hair right now. You can get it in the Salons, but I do change it up sometimes, like your girl told you.
Thanks for your beauty tips.
Rosemary
Ruth with The Beautiful Life.com says
Hi! Love your blog! From one Southern Lady to another, I gotta tell you, if you love Bare Essentuals, try L’Oreal Bare Naturale. It is AWESOME! I used the Bare Essentuals for a long while then the L’Oreal version came out and, as you said, ‘I’ve never looked back.’ And, it doesn’t hurt that its almost 1/2 the price of the B.E. brand, AND Walgreens has it buy-one-get-one-free almost every other week! SO! Try it, you never know…you may also become a devotee! I like it better for me because it doesn’t the mica in it which can settle in fine lines, etc. and can give you sort of that ‘eerie’ shine…Anyway, loved your blog! 🙂 – Ruth
Sandi McBride says
Oh Lord, I learned the tackle box trick from my Aunt Margaret who was an Avon rep when I was little girl! Her black genu-ine imitation leather product bad had seen better days and she really didn’t want to pay what they wanted to replace it and my Uncle bought her a bright red tackle box to use! Don’t they say necessity is the mother of invention? And I’ve used Bare Minerals from the beginning…don’t you love it? Can’t wait to go find me a bottle of Illuminator…I’ve never seen it! Thanks for the tip girlfriend!
hugs
Sandi
Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio says
Interesting post!
I am conducting a decorating style survey – come participate!!
Penny
DebraK from ~the Bunnies Bungalow~ says
Great post! I am now using Olay products. With all the great articles about Olay products recently , I decided to switch & the price is right.
I too have been a cosmetics snob & used only the high end products, but now I try anything.
For shampoo I use Suave and occasionally I’ll buy a better brand. I’m still getting my haircut at Walmart & bought a great hairspray in their salon,Kenra volume spray & Design Line whipped wax. Both are great products especially the hairspray.
I just got my first mineral makeup from Maybelline & am still trying to decide if I like it or not.
Eyeliner is the one thing I can’t be without. I like a kohl pencil & have several colors.
So many good ideas here, Hugs, DebraK
Minnesota Kathi :) says
Rhoda, I have been enjoying your blog for some time now. My Mother-In-Law lives in Mount Olive, just a hop-skip-n-ajump away from you :).
Your home and ideas are wonderful, I must add I’m a tad jealous of you being able to yard sale or estate sale probably year round down south.
Thank you for your beautiful blog.
Kathi 🙂
Dianne says
Rhoda, I am in the south,in N.C., on the coast. Where are you? So many refer to your home, I just wondered.
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says
Thisis so much fun! I love to hear all these ideas from y’all. Great to get recommendations from people who have used these products. I’m taking notes!
Dianne, I’m in Birmingham, AL. It’s listed in my profile (upper left) and I do talk about it from time to time too. Thanks for coming by!