Finding that "flawless" Foundation with problematic skin

I know this is not a typically ballet related post, but I felt the need to write my very first makeup review.


I've tried hundreds of different kinds of foundations. Cheap makeup and expensive makeup, mineral makeup, mouse, compacts,  name brands, no name brands.. the list is endless, and I never truly loved any of them. They all had their share of cons that made me search endlessly for the next "perfect foundation"

I have troublesome skin. I need a good medium coverage makeup that will cover my acne scars and redness as well as last through the day on my very oily, with dry patches skin.

My oily T-Zone is so bad that my makeup will melt without fail anywhere from 2-4hrs. Actually if it lasts 4 hours I consider myself extremely lucky. If I have to work a full 8 hour shift, I usually spend my lunch time washing my face and reapplying my foundation, mascara and powder all over again. Huge pain in the ass.

Well a few months ago I stumbled across a drug store foundation called Rimmel 28hr Long Lasting Finish.

 

I have a love-hate relationship with this foundation. I've gone through about 11 tubes of this stuff cause I keep coming back to it. It is super cheap (less than $10.00) and very easy to apply. Literally fool proof, and blends perfectly. I wear shade Ivory and although I find it just a tiny bit dark on my pale neck, it seems to work well enough on my face. It has a medium-full coverage and hides redness really well.

What I really hate about this makeup though is that even though the finish is nice it would never last. My pores would begin to show as the oil would started to build up and then it would cause my makeup to start separating. It didn't matter what powder I set it with - matte powders would look caked and dry, other powders felt heavy, or didn't seem to work at all. Primers were a battle all on its own, and I shuffled through numerous primers all guaranteed to help makeup last, reduce shine, moisturize, reduce pores.. on and on...

I continued to keep looking for foundations, but would still come back to this Rimmel foundation every so often when I was in a rush ( I could apply this foundation in the dark and it would still look perfectly blended ) Most of the time I would wear it to ballet class so I wouldn't sweat off my more expensive MAC, Estee Lauder or other brand name foundation I was cycling though at the time. It was perfect if I was in a rush, or just going to run around doing errands.

It always got the job done, but was never my "go to" foundation. I wanted "flawless" skin and would look at the people around me wondering what was their secret... what makeup was giving them oil free, even skin tone and why couldn't I find mine.

Until..... I was reading through some makeup review forums and came across a thread about a somewhat new drugstore makeup that had come out called Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Foundation.

 

Finding the right shade was a nightmare. I ended up buying 3 different shades. 

1) Ivory - too light and too pink for my already pink skin tone

2) Buff  - just the right amount of yellow tones

3) Natural Beige - too pink

I really wanted this foundation to work, I loved the matte finish it gave once it set on the skin, but the coverage was way too sheer, and the amount of building up I needed for full coverage looked terrible.

I was disappointed with another $30.00 wasted on makeup that I wasn't able to use. 

I don't know how it happened or what even gave me the idea, but one day I decided to combine my easy to blend, full coverage, but melt-able Rimmel foundation with Revlon's matte finish feel, and VIOLA! I found the magic secret!

I'm almost afraid to say or it for fear of jinxing it some how, but I think I finally found MY "perfect flawless foundation"

I apply my Rimmel underneath as a base, cover up what and where I need it. Then I go over my oily T-Zone with the Revlon makeup and it a perfect combination. Just yesterday I was jumping up and down when I hit the 7.5hr mark and my makeup was STILL SET! It's a freaking miracle!

I can now actually trust my makeup to survive a full day. No more rushing to the bathroom at lunch to wash and re-apply. All I have to do, is apply a bit more powder to my T-zone at about the 4hr mark and I'm good to go. No more hideous meltdown. It's a dream come true! (fingers crossed)

Still Alive and dancing

Phew! Where the heck have I been??! Amiright? Heh, whaaa it's only been like 3... maybe 4 months. you hardly missed me! Awwww... you did?!?! Liar.

Anyways, I finally... finally finally... got my baby back. I have an amazing 13lb or so desktop replacement laptop (why? Whynot?!) and anyways it had caught a pretty bad cold.. so it was out of commission.

Yes, I KNOW there are other computers in the world.. but between my precious laptop unusable I had to pull out my very slow old man ACER, that takes about a year to even start up... so anything like posting would just be a huge pain in the rear, that I just wanted to avoid.

So I'm back! Whats new with me...  you maybe wondering? Well not much. Still dancing twice a week, once in awhile 3 classes if I am lucky, and doing pointe classes 2x a week. I am still wearing the same old pointe shoes I had (even though I wanna buy new ones so bad - how fun is pointe shoe shopping?) well, that and I talked to my teacher about ripping out the shank when these pointes die and wearing them in class for strength building. BUT.. I am...still...waiting...for..them..to...die. Sigh.

I had to buy a new pair of slippers. My favorite Bloch Canvas worn so much through the big toe.. I tried to switch feet to even out the holes. That lasted for a little while. Not long enough. I'll have to take a picture of them later on. I still hang on to them, I just <3 em that much.

(these are very similar to my old used and abused ones)

The store I went to didn't have much that I liked. They didn't have those exact Bloch ones, I tried on several others, leather and canvas, but I think I was still grieving and nothing seemed good enough.

I settled instead for the cheapest ones.

 

(Just like these ones - see how shallow they are??? I don't think mine are as baggy though)

UGH! They are not my favorite. The only pro they have is that supposedly you can get away with not sewing on elastics if you want to. I've been wearing them and so far the pleated toes holds up well enough, but the shallow heel on my right foot forces me to tug it up every so often in class. I will probably get around to sewing on the "not needed - but came with the shoes anyways - elastics" ......Maybe.

Bury me in pointe shoes

I was chattering along the other day, feeling quite hyper after downing a huge cafe mocha with whip cream, topped with chocolate and cinnamon sprinkles...( YUM! ) when Mr. STB and I got onto the subject of our favorite comfy clothes......somewhere in the middle of our sugar and caffeine high I believe I formally requested that when " it's my time," I'd like to be buried in my warmest comfy socks, (did I mention how much I am obsessed with thick wooly socks?? ) also wearing my white and pink fluffy hat  (complete with bunny nose and ears ) and of course... my pretty pointe shoes on my feet.

The conversation wasn't the slightest morbid, in fact it was quite the giggle fest.

Alright, rabbit hat.. maybe not the best choice, it'll probably just clash with my outfit (and would look just silly in the summer time ) but you can never go wrong with a good pair of shoes...amiright?

But, hey, why stop there.......

Ha, ha and you were starting to think I was strange...?

See you next week........?

I think the saddest part about ballet class is just how many people are lost along the way. People come and go from an Adult ballet class so often, you really can't be sure that as you wave goodbye after class....you'll ever see them again.

Attending ballet class week by week is a challenge itself for most adult dancers. Far too often life gets in the way, kids, money, work, or other... ballet gets placed on the back burner... and it's really a sad day to discover yet another classmate won't be coming back.

Well my already small class lost another one. It's tough because you make such good (in class ) friends with your fellow dancers only to discover you wont see them again. Sure there is always facebook (if you ask / or they ask - a conversation that doesn't always comes up as people are rushing into class or out ) but even then it isn't always the same.

Adult ballet dancers are a rare breed. In class we encourage, applaud, become inspired by and even giggle with throughout the many up's and down's of the ballet world. The smaller the class get's the lonelier it almost becomes. (Sure there is more opportunity for private lessons which is gold itself) yet, I look out amongst what's left of the group and I can't help but wonder who I might not see next week...or the week after that....I dunno.... maybe I'm just too sentimental for my own good.

Have you've ever watched the movie The Sandlot, (1993) the movie about the story of a group of best friends told through the eyes of the new kid to the neighborhood. Together they survive a crazy summer full of adventures, hard times, and good which cement their bond..... You may remember the scene at the very end of the movie where they focuses in on them playing their very last baseball game together and one by one each child seems to fade away ( symbolizing their journey forward in their life / growing up, and, leaving their childhood, childhood friends and the baseball diamond behind) until there is only one remaining circling the baseball diamond to score a lonely home run by himself.

Ballet Class is the field in which we practice, the barre is the diamond where we perfect technique, classmates make up the team, and I, the narrator of our story.

Oh Noes!... NOt the TOESSS!

You've heard the rumors... pointe shoes and sandals don't mix. Once you strap these babies on your feet, your pedicure strutting days are OVAH!

"But... this only applies to professional dancers"... .say Whaa? Sure maybe..... If you strap those little piggies up in all kinds of softness...foot undeez, toe tape barriers, toe spaces, moleskin or "any other" magically strange combinations ( bubble wrap.. whatthewhat!?! )......anything to... finally......PLEASE..... just.... KILL THE PAIN ALREADY! GAAAH!





I take 2 pointe classes a week. I love pointe. I actually feel myself working alot harder while on pointe, mores so  then when ( sadly ) on the floor. Why? Well to put it simply... you just can't fake it on pointe. There is no way around not using your muscles properly ( something I commonly forget to engage in soft shoes) There are no short cuts with these bad boys. They can and WILL hurt you hardcore if you don't step up and recognize!

I've had my moments of absolute panic, you know... the kind that forms knots in your stomach, the kind that has adrenaline pumping  so violently through your veins you'd swear your heart might burst from your chest, all the while you are still trying to casually shrug off the horror of what just happened... to the rest of the class.  - What..??     That horrific ankle sickle that had you holding your breath in fear was.... nothin! Pssh... I planned that from the getgo! .. sheesh! Pain??? HA!  You tool! ........ Please....( "trembles silently" )


Okay well maybe not THAT extreme... but I did fail to use my muscles and this did leave me terrified after a sickling incident twice.

Fear + Adults + Pointe = BAD

The greatest thing about youth is being fearless. They can accomplish anything....." jump across two buildings??? SURE! - I can do that Shh...T....... " with my eyes closed, while txting Biatch!!


Adults however... as they age  ( so it seems ) begin to grow ever fearful.  - Yo know that super crazy Wild roller coaster that made your friends puke and you psyched?! - Well as each year passes.. you realize just how slightly scarier the ride seems to get...( I call shenanigans)  until well.. you wonder how you ever liked it at all??  Only crazy people could like this.. which CLEARLY you ARE NOT!



Fear can be a bad thing, especially on pointe when you need to fully exert yourself... if you hold back from fear you can cause more harm then good, and, may not progress as quickly as you would if you accepted the fear and became determined to trust yourself.. your technique and your teachers.


Er... so..... back to my main point of this thread... (wow where was I going with this... ) I took a good look at my toes the other day while switching from my soft shoes to pointe shoes.... and all I could think was EGAD! My toe nails are terrible! Some of my toes almost look like they have layers?? ( Is that even normal ?? ) My big toe has a semi-broken toe-nail. ( My nails are rather weak ) and I guess just slight pressure on a nail not cut properly seems to break it slightly. Not that it hurt.. my nails are too weak to feel pain or anything .....the hard callus built up under the big toe.. and minor toughening of skin on the tops of my toes... just made me do a double take. UGH! My feet look horrible!

In my defense I have NOT been taking of my feet... They are the last things on my mind especially now with winter and all those amazing comfy socks ( my weakness  ---  Seriously, think of your favourite comfort food.... and now picture it's an equivalent in sock form    zomg! Baked macaroni and cheesey soft socks....H E A V E N...) I LOVE comfy socks, and my toes can be lost in these fluffy-kins for days. Out of sight out of mind. 

But WOW! I really need to start taking a moment to appreciate the hard work my feet go through, and the toll standing completely on your tip toes can take on your limbs. ( especially more painful if your technique isn't great or you're wearing bad shoes.......i.e knuckling/bunions/ etc)


Take care of your tootsies... you need them... and they need you.

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Prizes!

You're looking at one of the selected winners of a Halloween Contest Giveaway fellow Blogger Rori Roars  http://roriroars.wordpress.com/ offered in October.


Yay! Prizes! I won the Ballet Beautiful Classical 60min Workout made by Mary Helen Bowers - You know ... she helped whip Natalie Portman into shape for her role in The Black Swan (awesome movie btw ) Before this contest I didn't even know this workout series existed... wow how out of the loop am I ?? Gee, what other amazing gems are out there that I am missing out on.. huh?!

Anyways, Yay! So I got this in DVD in the mail a couple weeks back, but I wasn't able to try it out until the other day. ( Complete with personalized note from Rori - Aww, nice touch <3 )

 Hmm... what's that? You can't read it? Ha! Too bad! It's not for you! Teehee

 So it's been a hectic couple weeks, between work, ballet class and having company in town  - I just couldn't muster the energy or space to try it out.

This DVD has quite a few exercises which are all done on the floor... (too easy right? WRONG! ) Each exercise is specific to a certain body part - Legs, Abs, Arms, etc.. and are done in 4 sets of 8, increasing in difficulty.

She does offer beginner poses as well for those that are just starting, and simple stretches.

What I love about this DVD is that it cuts straight to the chase. It's like it gets right down to it... you work hard on each body part and each exercise targets that area to make results. I also love how she is always reminding you to keep your tummy muscles working (which I always forget) and that within seconds you literally feel the burn. Trust me, it burns bad!

The only thing I don't like about this DVD (but I can't really complain - it's a simple fix ) is that it almost seems backwards. You start on the floor with all these exercises and then at the end there is a small cardio series. I've learned my lesson though.. I didn't bother to warm up at all before starting this video... so next time I think I will just play the cardio part FIRST.. then go back to the floor exercises.


Overall this DVD kicked my ass! I am sooo sore... I could hardly keep up. My legs were dead within mins, but I really appreciate how this DVD gets right to the point and gets the job done! I am very weak in my legs and abs and I am very excited to (once the pain goes away - lol ) incorporate this DVD into my weekly workout.


Thanks again Rori! <3