*obsessively lurks thread*
I've never bothered much about makeup growing up. It was against the rules to wear any in high school, and I just didn't care to wear makeup during university. In the working world, every other woman that I work with wears makeup, and it's really well done so I'm starting to feel awkward going around barefaced. I didn't have the greatest skin either (til a month ago!) since I never learnt how to care for it.
For facial skincare, I recently discovered the facial brush. I have the Olay ProX, and this thing is the best thing I have ever put on my face. Seriously. Washing my face with my hands just didn't cut it, but with the facial brush, the number of pimples I've had popping up has gone from around 20 to 2. It. Is. AMAZING. I swear, if you have oily skin, you're almost 30, and you're tired of looking like you're going through puberty, this is a godsend. I use Clean and Clear Morning Burst Shine Control Facial Cleaner every day with the facial brush. I also use Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser at intervals because it's nice, and Benzoyl Peroxide soap during oily episodes.
I've tried mascara, but my eyes are weird. Eyeliner makes them look ridiculously small, and anytime I've used eyeliner or mascara, it smudges throughout the day and I end up with hideous racoon eyes. Waterproof mascara is fine, but I'm afraid that's a bit too harsh on my lashes. I use Maybelline's The Falsies Volum Express, but that scoop brush pisses me off. I'm definitely looking for suggestions for mascara. And really, I would like to make the peepers look bigger somehow. Maybe eyeshadow would work? A specific colour? The Neocodex Beauty Gurus will know! I don't do anything with the brows apart from shaping them from time to time. Nothing drastic, just yanking out a few errant eyebrow hairs here and there.
I have the cream foundation from The Body Shop, along with their concealer pencil, all-in-one base powder, and their compact powder. I rarely use any of them other than the cream foundation. I don't wear any makeup during breakouts - which was happening a lot the last few years. Hopefully I can go back to that now!
I need lipstick suggestions. I have no idea what I'm doing in that area at all. Do you need pencils? Do you put the pencil everywhere? I've seen people outline and I've seen people colour it all in. Help! I only use shimmery nude lipstick because I'm self-conscious about not doing it right. I would like to try a bolder colour some day though.. I've also tried Maybelline's Baby Lips tinted balms. Worst things I have EVER used! They are so ridiculously drying and not moisturizing in the least. Even normal Blistex seemed to be backfiring on me. Now I've converted back to Vaseline, and they sell it in these adorable tiny tubs too!
Melasma runs in my family, so I'm going to be slathering on the sunscreen from now on. Neutrogena made these greasy, GREASY sunscreens about 20 years ago when I first started using them. That shit used to make me extremely tanned, even more than when I wasn't wearing it at all. It wasn't blocking the sun, it was instead focusing it on me and turning me into a fried mess. I think that was for the sun worshippers who are sitting on the beach trying to get a tan. I stopped using it altogether, but now I'm seeing that they have a greaseless formula out which seems really good. SPF 45 and 100 and crazy number like that.
I sparingly use nail polish.. I go for Rimmel and LA Colors.. Rimmel is the best brand I have ever used, and LA Colors does a good job for their extremely cheap price. I've never used anything high end, so I have nothing to compare them against.
Damn this is long
TL;DR: I'm a newbie, spill your beauty secrets!