Holy spackle, Batman

So I turned to my go-to beauty gurus on YouTube yesterday and came across one who suffers from similar skin ailments as I: redness, acne scars, discolorations. She posted several videos professing her adoration for an Estee Lauder product that I decided I had to have. Off to Dillards I went! After having a religious experience at MAC (curse you, friendly makeup artist!) I strolled over to the Estee Lauder counter and announced that I wanted to purchase the product that had worked so well for my kindered youtube spirit. The woman behind the counter gave me the crazy eye and asked was I sure I wanted that product? Um. Excuse me? I held back as much attitude as I could when I confirmed that yes, I wanted what I wanted. What did she know? Uh, well, it turns out she knew a whole heckuvalot. She asked me to sit down and talk with her a little bit about why I wanted the product. I kept saying how bad my skin is and she kept the crazy eye on me as she tried to convince me that my skin wasn't anywhere near as bad as I was describing. I agreed to let her take off the makeup covering my right cheek down to my chin and paint on the Double Wear foundation she said I'd love instead of the product I came to buy. I invisioned what reaction I'd give her when she finished that wouldn't hurt her feelings but at the same time would communicate, "Lady, I know what I'm talking about and I'm sorry but this stuff isn't worth my time." She finished after probably less than a minute and handed me the mirror. Here it was, the moment of truth- and how wrong I was!! The coverage was outstanding, the color was a perfect match for my skin tone, and it gave the fabulous matte look us oilyer-than-thou girls dream of. I smiled politely and told her I'd take a bottle. Maybe I'm not right all the time.

Note- she also gave me a free Double Wear eyeliner in black as a gift with purchase. I wore it the next day on my waterline and it was gone fairly quickly-Laura Merier's pan eyeliner in Black Ebony has yet to find a worthy challenger.

Power wash, moisturize, prime, then paint

When did putting on war paint (as my husband so fondly refers to it) become such a process? Then again who am I kidding- the more products I get to smear all over myself the better I feel. Folks at the makeup counters see me coming from a mile away. I up sale to myself. Recently I went the drugstore route to buying cleansing products and holy moly did my skin pay for that mistake. Say it with me ladies (and gents) you get what you pay for. I have oily and breakout-prone skin that also happens to be sensitive with enormous pores. I've been drowning in the deep end of the gene pool since puberty and have actually learned to deal with my problem skin. Gone are the days where I'd sneak into the bathroom before my husband awoke and quickly dust on powder foundation simply because I was so ashamed to be seen "naked". The dear man caught on quickly and demanded I stop such a foolish ritual immediately. Since I had the ring already I thought, what the heck. For better or worse, right? My bare skin was and always will be to me the epitome of worse. This is what he signed up for.

There are a few products that have allowed me to go "naked" much more comfortably the last few years and try as I might to find a cheaper alternative, THERE. ISN'T. ONE. Beg and borrow people. Do whatever you have to do to get the good stuff. You will not be disappointed with...

Power washing: Clinique Liquid Facial soap (I use the one for oily skin) and Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3

Moisturize: Clinique Even Better *Clinical* Dark Spot Remover, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, and Philosophy Eye Hope cream
Prime: **Product I'm trying: Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion- Pore Perfecting

Paint: Oh, the possibilities. The paint is the heart of this blog. The textures, finishes, and colors are endless. Join me as I attempt to try them all.