Makeup (etc) recs for a special snowflake, in 🇨🇦 Canada
October 27, 2017 9:08 AM Subscribe
Hi! I have been sort of rusting away for the last two years, and, in some areas, two decades. I have a little bit of time and a little load of hoarded Shoppers Optimum points that I am going to go use tomorrow in their look-pretty sections. Please hope me from head to toe.
Okay, so, I had a vitamin deficiency issue and ended up kinda grungy, and now that I am getting better (as in, I finally made it to my hairstylist, not, out and about daily -- still very fatigued, which is...relevant here), I am trying to undo the mess for the usual reasons and to help lift my mood.
The whole thing sent my finances off to hell, so: I need recommendations for products that are awesome AND cheap. This is a small rural Shoppers so I don't even need to worry about bumping in to very many posh brands (or even a great selection, ugh). I have been perusing makeupalley.com endlessly but every time I turn up a "top pick/best value," it is only sold in the US, or in places with huge selections. I can't remember the last time I saw "Wet'n'Wild" or other discount brands that tend to garner great reviews for some of their products...
I have NO IDEA what is new. Pretend I was on another planet for the last two years. Pointers to exceptional new products (or companies?) appreciated -- ditto with warnings about lousy new stuff. Stuff like contouring and a few other things have escaped my notice. (And why do all the drugstore contour palettes have shimmer?)
"Rusting for twenty years"/"fatigue" -- I am still horizontal a lot, so I am interested in stuff I can glop on my skin and nap with and wake up to something being improved. (Example: I just found out that the MUA claims about castor oil and increased eyebrow growth are, wowza, true, for me. I lost some hair and got ridged nails and stuff so anything that fixes "you were sick" issues like filling in sparse brows is A+++.) And I am often not otherwise occupied, so don't mind looking weird while the whatever does its thing.
I stopped painting my nails in my late teens when Dior's "Linen" shade was discontinued; apparently I can REALLY carry a grudge. The last time I was a nail polish consumer, polishes came in your choice of pink, coral, or red, and...um, even the bottles looked different. My tween daughter and I got into painting our nails together and I have been amazed that I can now get a super-shiny periwinkle. I have no idea what is going to look good on a 42yo in 2017, though. (I did grok from the total lack of matching stuff on various sites that matching lipstick to nails has not been a thing since pantyhose, at least, but I still think it's cute. Revlon is the only company I found even one matching lipstick and polish from here, though.)
I am cool-toned -- anything with the slightest warm tone makes me look lousy, and even purported neutral whatnot usually doesn't work -- and pale, the lightest or second-lightest in any foundation line. I wear glasses, usually bold-ish hipster styles. I often pass for early thirties, but my usual disinterest in fussing with my light mousy brown layered side-bangs ultra-thin-fine hair is probably very aging at this point. I do not care about looking young, but I do worry about "aging gracefully" and not looking out of date or..."tired"?
My go-to is some sort of primer (in a fantasy land, one that deals with very very shiny skin, occasional pimples, has SPF; this usually means mixing a drop of three things in my hand...), a powder with light/medium coverage, low-key blush, mascara, and RED lipstick. More involved: dark brown shadow as liner and some sort of boring matte ivory/pink above that, a brow mascara, more carefully done foundation and blush. I am stuck on mascara + very red lipstick to get out of the house. You can see pix of me on FB, linked in my profile. I don't know if I should stay the course or if now would be a good time to figure out another colour of lipstick and more eye makeup. I have really really greasy lids and all shadows slide off, and eyeliner seems ageing, and every time a dept store MU artist has done something dramatic to my eyes I have felt overdone. (The red lipstick seems to be a good quick way to look "done" and to distract, plus I enjoy it. Current shade is MAC Liptensity Life's Blood, but I can never have too many reds, being still scrambling to replace what was "my" red but which was discontinued. Superior Shoppers Drug Mart blue-based reds, anyone...? Preferably not matte, but am also not great with most liquid lipsticks.) Any easy day look that removed the red would, I guess, need to be have one easy thing that went POP on my face and quickly made it look like I had not just gone from coffee to bath to out the door (usually the case). Magnetic false lashes gave me pause... My lids are pretty hooded, my eye circles pretty uncover-able, so between that and the greasy lids (& endless useless primers tried) I have never really found a simple eye makeup look that works. (I was bemused to find my tween daughter complaining about eye shadow for those exact same reasons. Use anything below your eyes and it just draws attention to the blue there; use anything on the upper lid and you can't really see it and it slides off anyway. I had no good advice...!)
When I started to feel better and left the house, the new-to-me intense red MAC lipstick, a Dermablend powder compact that does an amazing job of hiding some discolouration (too much sun, mostly, and other uneven whatnot, and undereye circles), and a selection of interesting nail polishes cheered me up, and I want that same sort of "ooh, I am...refreshed!" but on a budget. I am kind of thinking of this along the lines of detailing a car, with everything from stuff that will just be a temporary perk to effective rustproofing.
I have a small non-Shoppers budget I can use on OMG WOW stuff on eBay, but it has to be OMG WOW, AND FOR THE PRICE, EVEN!, heh. I have no fear of ordering weird stuff from overseas.
Brands the Shoppers will have the major products from: Revlon, L'oréal, Quo, Maybelline, Essie, Almay, Marcelle, Cover Girl, Annabelle, Sally Hansen, maybe Nyx, Essence, Joe Fresh? Not sure about cheaper hair and skin care brands.
ANY thoughts earnestly welcomed, from "I too had given up on my toddler quantity of hair until I got into X, which costs me $15/year and takes seconds to use," to "I too did the red lipstick thing until someone thought I just liked make-up because of it and gifted me a pink lippie and..." to "That girl you saw who appeared to be wearing nothing on her face except for lots of a crazy-pretty shade of deep lilac shadow? You can do that; X will keep it on the greasiest lids" to "do not forget old standbys you were too tired for a year ago. Socks and Vaseline at night! Olive oil on your cuticles!" to "No offence, but if you are 42 and out of the loop? The following products and looks have not been in fashion for years: [...]" to "Shoppers? Just hit the Quo section, spend all your points there" to "The new Revlon X is a dupe for Dior X and #24 is pale and cool-toned" to "Go to the food section, buy heavy cream, and soak your bum in it -- I am a thong underwear model and that is a trade secret for us" to...
Okay, so, I had a vitamin deficiency issue and ended up kinda grungy, and now that I am getting better (as in, I finally made it to my hairstylist, not, out and about daily -- still very fatigued, which is...relevant here), I am trying to undo the mess for the usual reasons and to help lift my mood.
The whole thing sent my finances off to hell, so: I need recommendations for products that are awesome AND cheap. This is a small rural Shoppers so I don't even need to worry about bumping in to very many posh brands (or even a great selection, ugh). I have been perusing makeupalley.com endlessly but every time I turn up a "top pick/best value," it is only sold in the US, or in places with huge selections. I can't remember the last time I saw "Wet'n'Wild" or other discount brands that tend to garner great reviews for some of their products...
I have NO IDEA what is new. Pretend I was on another planet for the last two years. Pointers to exceptional new products (or companies?) appreciated -- ditto with warnings about lousy new stuff. Stuff like contouring and a few other things have escaped my notice. (And why do all the drugstore contour palettes have shimmer?)
"Rusting for twenty years"/"fatigue" -- I am still horizontal a lot, so I am interested in stuff I can glop on my skin and nap with and wake up to something being improved. (Example: I just found out that the MUA claims about castor oil and increased eyebrow growth are, wowza, true, for me. I lost some hair and got ridged nails and stuff so anything that fixes "you were sick" issues like filling in sparse brows is A+++.) And I am often not otherwise occupied, so don't mind looking weird while the whatever does its thing.
I stopped painting my nails in my late teens when Dior's "Linen" shade was discontinued; apparently I can REALLY carry a grudge. The last time I was a nail polish consumer, polishes came in your choice of pink, coral, or red, and...um, even the bottles looked different. My tween daughter and I got into painting our nails together and I have been amazed that I can now get a super-shiny periwinkle. I have no idea what is going to look good on a 42yo in 2017, though. (I did grok from the total lack of matching stuff on various sites that matching lipstick to nails has not been a thing since pantyhose, at least, but I still think it's cute. Revlon is the only company I found even one matching lipstick and polish from here, though.)
I am cool-toned -- anything with the slightest warm tone makes me look lousy, and even purported neutral whatnot usually doesn't work -- and pale, the lightest or second-lightest in any foundation line. I wear glasses, usually bold-ish hipster styles. I often pass for early thirties, but my usual disinterest in fussing with my light mousy brown layered side-bangs ultra-thin-fine hair is probably very aging at this point. I do not care about looking young, but I do worry about "aging gracefully" and not looking out of date or..."tired"?
My go-to is some sort of primer (in a fantasy land, one that deals with very very shiny skin, occasional pimples, has SPF; this usually means mixing a drop of three things in my hand...), a powder with light/medium coverage, low-key blush, mascara, and RED lipstick. More involved: dark brown shadow as liner and some sort of boring matte ivory/pink above that, a brow mascara, more carefully done foundation and blush. I am stuck on mascara + very red lipstick to get out of the house. You can see pix of me on FB, linked in my profile. I don't know if I should stay the course or if now would be a good time to figure out another colour of lipstick and more eye makeup. I have really really greasy lids and all shadows slide off, and eyeliner seems ageing, and every time a dept store MU artist has done something dramatic to my eyes I have felt overdone. (The red lipstick seems to be a good quick way to look "done" and to distract, plus I enjoy it. Current shade is MAC Liptensity Life's Blood, but I can never have too many reds, being still scrambling to replace what was "my" red but which was discontinued. Superior Shoppers Drug Mart blue-based reds, anyone...? Preferably not matte, but am also not great with most liquid lipsticks.) Any easy day look that removed the red would, I guess, need to be have one easy thing that went POP on my face and quickly made it look like I had not just gone from coffee to bath to out the door (usually the case). Magnetic false lashes gave me pause... My lids are pretty hooded, my eye circles pretty uncover-able, so between that and the greasy lids (& endless useless primers tried) I have never really found a simple eye makeup look that works. (I was bemused to find my tween daughter complaining about eye shadow for those exact same reasons. Use anything below your eyes and it just draws attention to the blue there; use anything on the upper lid and you can't really see it and it slides off anyway. I had no good advice...!)
When I started to feel better and left the house, the new-to-me intense red MAC lipstick, a Dermablend powder compact that does an amazing job of hiding some discolouration (too much sun, mostly, and other uneven whatnot, and undereye circles), and a selection of interesting nail polishes cheered me up, and I want that same sort of "ooh, I am...refreshed!" but on a budget. I am kind of thinking of this along the lines of detailing a car, with everything from stuff that will just be a temporary perk to effective rustproofing.
I have a small non-Shoppers budget I can use on OMG WOW stuff on eBay, but it has to be OMG WOW, AND FOR THE PRICE, EVEN!, heh. I have no fear of ordering weird stuff from overseas.
Brands the Shoppers will have the major products from: Revlon, L'oréal, Quo, Maybelline, Essie, Almay, Marcelle, Cover Girl, Annabelle, Sally Hansen, maybe Nyx, Essence, Joe Fresh? Not sure about cheaper hair and skin care brands.
ANY thoughts earnestly welcomed, from "I too had given up on my toddler quantity of hair until I got into X, which costs me $15/year and takes seconds to use," to "I too did the red lipstick thing until someone thought I just liked make-up because of it and gifted me a pink lippie and..." to "That girl you saw who appeared to be wearing nothing on her face except for lots of a crazy-pretty shade of deep lilac shadow? You can do that; X will keep it on the greasiest lids" to "do not forget old standbys you were too tired for a year ago. Socks and Vaseline at night! Olive oil on your cuticles!" to "No offence, but if you are 42 and out of the loop? The following products and looks have not been in fashion for years: [...]" to "Shoppers? Just hit the Quo section, spend all your points there" to "The new Revlon X is a dupe for Dior X and #24 is pale and cool-toned" to "Go to the food section, buy heavy cream, and soak your bum in it -- I am a thong underwear model and that is a trade secret for us" to...
I usually use Physician's Formula make-up when I buy make-up at Shoppers. I really like their pressed powder compacts. I dunno if you're into skincare, but I confess a deep and abiding love for their super cheap facial masks (clay/mud/peel-off/etc). You can get three for $10 and truthfully, you can get two uses out of one packet so it's like having six mini-spa days in your own home. They also have cheap foot masks and hair masks too! I've been using Burt Bee's cleansing oil for my face that I got a Shoppers too.
I'd like to add that I love this utterly Canadian question.
posted by Kitteh at 9:51 AM on October 27, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'd like to add that I love this utterly Canadian question.
posted by Kitteh at 9:51 AM on October 27, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'm not sure how limited your in-store Shoppers selection will be, but you can shop online (AND REDEEM OPTIMUM POINTS) at BeautyBoutique.ca, the Shoppers-owned beauty/cosmetics site. They are trying to compete with Sephora so they do free samples with every order and free shipping when you sign up for their newsletter and stuff like that.
The site doesn't have everything, but it has a good selection and they have Optimum bonus offers all the time. I found the shipping/customer service/etc to be great.
posted by kate blank at 10:05 AM on October 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
The site doesn't have everything, but it has a good selection and they have Optimum bonus offers all the time. I found the shipping/customer service/etc to be great.
posted by kate blank at 10:05 AM on October 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
I SECOND THE MASKS. A family member gave me some last year and they're delightful! You can totally get two uses from one packet.
The Life brand Vitaderm oil is affordable and actually pretty good for evening out tone, hydrating, and improving small skin imperfections like discolouration or acne marks or fine lines.
posted by halation at 10:15 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Life brand Vitaderm oil is affordable and actually pretty good for evening out tone, hydrating, and improving small skin imperfections like discolouration or acne marks or fine lines.
posted by halation at 10:15 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is the Milani brand sold where you are? That's drugstore makeup and their brow products are wonderful. You use brow mascara, so maybe you're less fussy than I am about the feel of those products... I can't use anything stiff/sticky like brow mascara... but if you want to try, the Milani brow powders (one comes in a little three-shade kit with a tiny but adequate brush, the other in a little pot and you use your own brush) and they're natural looking and wonderful. I generally can't be fussed to use makeup but the difference between a filled-in brow and not is so stark that it's the only thing I do on a regular basis.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:17 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:17 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I personally have huge issues with physician's formula. Everything has a very "makeup-y" finish or just doesn't stay on. Same thing with Revlon, maybelline, gosh and covergirl. They are noticeably "drugstore".
I highly recommend Nyx products, they're now available at a lot of shoppers locations and they are on par with much of my high end makeup products. The HD concealer is fantastic and will cover most discolouration and it sets down to a natural finish even without powder.
The powder illuminator in "ritualistic" looks awesome when lightly brushed over the high points of the face and it really makes you look more alive and awake.
I have yet to buy an eye product from them that was poor quality, as well.
For lip products on the cheap I think the loreal colour riche formula is pretty great, however they are scented so that may be a deal breaker for you.
Also, do you have a nearby shoppers with a beauty boutique(the little high end section some shoppers' have)? If so, spend your points on some estee lauder doublewear and a lancome mascara. Those are my two "investment" recommendations if you have access.
posted by InkDrinker at 10:29 AM on October 27, 2017
I highly recommend Nyx products, they're now available at a lot of shoppers locations and they are on par with much of my high end makeup products. The HD concealer is fantastic and will cover most discolouration and it sets down to a natural finish even without powder.
The powder illuminator in "ritualistic" looks awesome when lightly brushed over the high points of the face and it really makes you look more alive and awake.
I have yet to buy an eye product from them that was poor quality, as well.
For lip products on the cheap I think the loreal colour riche formula is pretty great, however they are scented so that may be a deal breaker for you.
Also, do you have a nearby shoppers with a beauty boutique(the little high end section some shoppers' have)? If so, spend your points on some estee lauder doublewear and a lancome mascara. Those are my two "investment" recommendations if you have access.
posted by InkDrinker at 10:29 AM on October 27, 2017
oh yeah NYX blush is great drugstore blush.
you said you have oily lids, which in my experience means your mascara choices are very limited or you're in raccoon eye city. There are two drugstore brands that are true tubing formulas that don't (can't) smear (because they form tubes that can't melt): L'Oreal Beauty Tubes (which is fine but not a pure black) and No.7 Stay Perfect (which is awesome.)
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:33 AM on October 27, 2017
you said you have oily lids, which in my experience means your mascara choices are very limited or you're in raccoon eye city. There are two drugstore brands that are true tubing formulas that don't (can't) smear (because they form tubes that can't melt): L'Oreal Beauty Tubes (which is fine but not a pure black) and No.7 Stay Perfect (which is awesome.)
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:33 AM on October 27, 2017
Honestly, my preferred brand of quality good cheap makeup is E.L.F., but Shoppers doesn't carry them. I wish they would! I hate having to go a Wal-Mart to buy their stuff.
posted by Kitteh at 10:36 AM on October 27, 2017
posted by Kitteh at 10:36 AM on October 27, 2017
Is your Shoppers too rural to have someone in-house that specializes in cosmetics? Not necessarily a full Beauty Boutique, just someone who knows a bit more about the makeup outside of where things are located. Some insight from someone in-store who can see your face (and your micro-reactions to suggestions) might be helpful. I get being hesitant to talk to them if they've made you feel over-done in the past (I'm hesitant to talk to them and they've never touched my face!), but they may steer you to something you haven't tried, whether it's a brand, method, or product.
I'm not a huge makeup wearer outside of occasional lipstick and eye stuff. I like the Burt's Bees lip crayon. I've heard nothing but good things about the Nyx line, but I've never tried it. I've honestly liked the NYC makeup I've bought, but my expectations are probably pretty low.
For hair, I really like Batiste dry shampoo. It goes on sale at Shoppers regularly. I had the regular one, then tried the XXL Volume (in the pink flowery-patterned can) and I really did notice a difference in volume. My hair is pretty short though so YMMV.
posted by melissa at 10:41 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm not a huge makeup wearer outside of occasional lipstick and eye stuff. I like the Burt's Bees lip crayon. I've heard nothing but good things about the Nyx line, but I've never tried it. I've honestly liked the NYC makeup I've bought, but my expectations are probably pretty low.
For hair, I really like Batiste dry shampoo. It goes on sale at Shoppers regularly. I had the regular one, then tried the XXL Volume (in the pink flowery-patterned can) and I really did notice a difference in volume. My hair is pretty short though so YMMV.
posted by melissa at 10:41 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Something for nail health -- I have had terribly peeling weak nails my whole life, and started taking some prenatal vitamins because I got them for free and don't like to waste stuff, and holy crap are my nails in the best shape of my life. I now actually have to cut them once in a while because they have grown TOO LONG.
posted by jabes at 11:24 AM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by jabes at 11:24 AM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: ...totally rural Shoppers -- am dropping daughter at birthday party, and trying to make a list of stuff to check out in there while I have just enough time to head over. (There is a rural Walmart that is "close" in rural terms, but the cosmetics section is so tiny so AND EXTREMELY GROSS that I just keep noping right past it. But I do mail-order non-perishable groceries from walmart.ca -- I don't like it, but I also really, really don't like carrying huge things of cat litter to the third floor litterbox, so...so E.L.F./other Walmart Canada recs are welcome for the next time I'm mail-ordering ketchup and stuff 🙄.)
I was going to put something in the Q about needing a really good makeup artist in store, and realised I had gone on too much...but the clerks out here come in two flavours: very very young with a scary-full face of makeup trowelled on, non-stop sales patter, and absolutely no understanding of how to deal with, say, lipstick "feathering," for the same reasons I had no idea what that was all about when I was their age -- little lines around your lips? Those are a thing? Why would the lipstick go there? Mysterious! -- or kind farm wife types who have wandered over from Cold & Flu, who do not use makeup themselves.
I did not know I could spend the points online! Sweet, as I am making this coincide with a "spend $X and get Y times the points today only!" thing. Scented is not a deal breaker unless it is gross or so strong other people will smell it -- I like the vanilla of MAC lipstick and the rose of Chanel, and I bought Revlon "Cherries in the Snow" to go with the polish on-line and it seems to smell like nothing, and nothing is fine as well. Super-synthetic strong scent is bad but I can even tolerate that it it's in a mask or something that I get to get rid of quickly.
Yes to skin care anything. Basically if it is sold in most Shoppers-es, on the cheap side, and from what you could glean from my rambling it sounds like it would be useful or fun for me, I want it on my Shoppers shopping list.
(Did I mention I still want a face cream that works as a primer, a degreaser, an acne prevention treatment, a sunscreen, a mattifier for an oily t-zone and a moisturiser for the rest, a fading cream for tanning abuses, and...and... They do carry some pricier skin care stuff -- NeoStrata, La Roche-Posay, RoC, those sorts of lines, and I would be willing to pitch it all on a lipstick {Revlon "HD" in the metallic cases: any good? Revlon and the rest of the drugstore always seems to torture me with orange/yellow undertones, even when the name is something like "Ice Cool Cherry Chill"} and an expensive tube of Magical Cream which acknowledged that there are people who have both pimples and grease, and the bothers that come with being a bit older. The skin care aisle seems to be divided into three sections: for people with untroubled, unfussy skin, for wrinklies, and for the zit-prone. Nobody is allowed to have skin that has all of those in different places! 😪)
Re. vitamins: I would have scoffed before, but given what happened when my body crapped the bed on processing b12 properly, I am also open to stories of internal whatnot making a difference -- obviously I am being routinely jabbed with needles to see if my vitamin levels are just right, but especially after the castor oil = eyebrows shocker, tales of "and I took evening primrose capsules and then my sebaceous filaments simply fell out; meanwhile, my dry heels became butter soft" will be cheerfully indulged. Huge thanks so far; many lolz @ the comment on the Canadianness of this. USAians: you have no idea what you have, cheap make-up-wise! It's another world!!
(Wait, I have access to Jean Coutu, eventually, so if there is a Québec wonderproduct, tell me! I know about Druide and Lise Watier, but if there is a cheap line in PQ hidden away, I have no idea...)
posted by kmennie at 11:36 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I was going to put something in the Q about needing a really good makeup artist in store, and realised I had gone on too much...but the clerks out here come in two flavours: very very young with a scary-full face of makeup trowelled on, non-stop sales patter, and absolutely no understanding of how to deal with, say, lipstick "feathering," for the same reasons I had no idea what that was all about when I was their age -- little lines around your lips? Those are a thing? Why would the lipstick go there? Mysterious! -- or kind farm wife types who have wandered over from Cold & Flu, who do not use makeup themselves.
I did not know I could spend the points online! Sweet, as I am making this coincide with a "spend $X and get Y times the points today only!" thing. Scented is not a deal breaker unless it is gross or so strong other people will smell it -- I like the vanilla of MAC lipstick and the rose of Chanel, and I bought Revlon "Cherries in the Snow" to go with the polish on-line and it seems to smell like nothing, and nothing is fine as well. Super-synthetic strong scent is bad but I can even tolerate that it it's in a mask or something that I get to get rid of quickly.
Yes to skin care anything. Basically if it is sold in most Shoppers-es, on the cheap side, and from what you could glean from my rambling it sounds like it would be useful or fun for me, I want it on my Shoppers shopping list.
(Did I mention I still want a face cream that works as a primer, a degreaser, an acne prevention treatment, a sunscreen, a mattifier for an oily t-zone and a moisturiser for the rest, a fading cream for tanning abuses, and...and... They do carry some pricier skin care stuff -- NeoStrata, La Roche-Posay, RoC, those sorts of lines, and I would be willing to pitch it all on a lipstick {Revlon "HD" in the metallic cases: any good? Revlon and the rest of the drugstore always seems to torture me with orange/yellow undertones, even when the name is something like "Ice Cool Cherry Chill"} and an expensive tube of Magical Cream which acknowledged that there are people who have both pimples and grease, and the bothers that come with being a bit older. The skin care aisle seems to be divided into three sections: for people with untroubled, unfussy skin, for wrinklies, and for the zit-prone. Nobody is allowed to have skin that has all of those in different places! 😪)
Re. vitamins: I would have scoffed before, but given what happened when my body crapped the bed on processing b12 properly, I am also open to stories of internal whatnot making a difference -- obviously I am being routinely jabbed with needles to see if my vitamin levels are just right, but especially after the castor oil = eyebrows shocker, tales of "and I took evening primrose capsules and then my sebaceous filaments simply fell out; meanwhile, my dry heels became butter soft" will be cheerfully indulged. Huge thanks so far; many lolz @ the comment on the Canadianness of this. USAians: you have no idea what you have, cheap make-up-wise! It's another world!!
(Wait, I have access to Jean Coutu, eventually, so if there is a Québec wonderproduct, tell me! I know about Druide and Lise Watier, but if there is a cheap line in PQ hidden away, I have no idea...)
posted by kmennie at 11:36 AM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Did I mention I still want a face cream that works as a primer, a degreaser, an acne prevention treatment, a sunscreen, a mattifier for an oily t-zone and a moisturiser for the rest,
Sooo I know you're kidding but I will share that the Neutrogena Clear Face sunscreen - comes in spf 30 or 55 not that I believe there's a difference - is actually also surprisingly nicely mattifying, though invisible. And it does seem to be breakout-free.
Downside is it stings like a bitch on retin-a treated skin. We live in an imperfect world.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:03 PM on October 27, 2017
Sooo I know you're kidding but I will share that the Neutrogena Clear Face sunscreen - comes in spf 30 or 55 not that I believe there's a difference - is actually also surprisingly nicely mattifying, though invisible. And it does seem to be breakout-free.
Downside is it stings like a bitch on retin-a treated skin. We live in an imperfect world.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:03 PM on October 27, 2017
So, I am useless with makeup, but am decently experienced in the world of Shoppers Drug Marts. Is there a makeup counter at yours? I find when i go in to any of several Shoppers in the morning their makeup counter person is extremely chipper with her "Hello!" and otherwise looks bored, so I'd totally harass these people for suggestions.
For anyone else who knows makeup and wants to go virtual shopping - this is the current product lineup at Shoppers: https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/beauty/makeup
OP I suspect even if they didn't have a particular product in store they might be able to order it in?
posted by cgg at 12:45 PM on October 27, 2017
For anyone else who knows makeup and wants to go virtual shopping - this is the current product lineup at Shoppers: https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/beauty/makeup
OP I suspect even if they didn't have a particular product in store they might be able to order it in?
posted by cgg at 12:45 PM on October 27, 2017
Vindaloo's wife here, and fellow Canadian. Makeup gurus are my YouTube vice, and I've been a makeupalley subscriber for 20+ years. I'm a big fan of drugstore brands and a natural makeup look. I'm also 42, and a cool-toned pale brunette with normal to oily skin, so here's some recs I use or are holy grail products for a lot of folks in the beauty community to try at Shoppers!
Foundation
CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous foundation. Inexpensive cult classic.
Splurgier. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (Bourjois owns Chanel, and this foundation is very similar to vitalumiere.)
Primer
Don't use, find the above foundations perform fine without it. I set my nose and forehead with a translucent powder.
Concealer
Under eyes. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind. Try shade fair or light.
Spot concealer. Maybelline Fit Me (weirdly numbered shade range, fair is #15, light is #10)
Powder
Rimmel Stay Matte.
Essence All About Matt.
Eyeliner
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal eyeliner in navy or brown. I have hooded eyes too, and if you run this just along the top waterline and lashes it doesn't budge and defines subtly. If you're cool toned, the navy shade will be flattering and less ageing than black.
Eyeshadow
Just skip it if you have hooded eyes, or save it for evening looks. CoverGirl TruNaked palettes are popular and cheap.
Mascara
Really depends on your lash type. Current internet faves are CoverGirl SuperSizer, L'Oreal Lash Paradise, Essence Lash Princess.
Brows
L'Oréal Brow Stylist Definer. A skinny pencil with a spoolie end that dupes the Anastasia Brow Whiz.
Essence Brow Gel.
Blush
Essence Satin Touch.
Highlighter
Essence Pure Nude. Very popular pale highlighter on par with high-end like Becca. (It's a smidge dark for me in winter)
Lips
Revlon Super Lustrous have been in the drugstore for 50+ years for a reason. Good cream lipstick formula, tons of shades. Shade Violet Frenzy is my personal fave - it's a sheer blackberry your lips but better for cool toned people. (I haven't tried the HD line yet, but they're also well reviewed).
Maybelline Color Sensational. A matte creamy formula with great staying power. Has a play-doh scent.
Lip liner
Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic (for when you wear shades like red, if you find they feather).
For skincare, I'm a big fan of the Cerave normal to oily cleanser and Garnier micellar waters. I've tried a ridiculous array of sunscreens without much drugstore luck, and instead order online Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light spf 30.
And this bucks popular wisdom, but if you have oily skin with occasional breakouts, just skip moisturizer (you've got it built in!) and see if your products perform better.
On YouTube, try Lisa Eldridge videos for technique and Jessica Braun for drugstore reviews. Have fun blowing your points stash at Shoppers!
posted by Vindaloo at 3:07 PM on October 27, 2017 [9 favorites]
Foundation
CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous foundation. Inexpensive cult classic.
Splurgier. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (Bourjois owns Chanel, and this foundation is very similar to vitalumiere.)
Primer
Don't use, find the above foundations perform fine without it. I set my nose and forehead with a translucent powder.
Concealer
Under eyes. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind. Try shade fair or light.
Spot concealer. Maybelline Fit Me (weirdly numbered shade range, fair is #15, light is #10)
Powder
Rimmel Stay Matte.
Essence All About Matt.
Eyeliner
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal eyeliner in navy or brown. I have hooded eyes too, and if you run this just along the top waterline and lashes it doesn't budge and defines subtly. If you're cool toned, the navy shade will be flattering and less ageing than black.
Eyeshadow
Just skip it if you have hooded eyes, or save it for evening looks. CoverGirl TruNaked palettes are popular and cheap.
Mascara
Really depends on your lash type. Current internet faves are CoverGirl SuperSizer, L'Oreal Lash Paradise, Essence Lash Princess.
Brows
L'Oréal Brow Stylist Definer. A skinny pencil with a spoolie end that dupes the Anastasia Brow Whiz.
Essence Brow Gel.
Blush
Essence Satin Touch.
Highlighter
Essence Pure Nude. Very popular pale highlighter on par with high-end like Becca. (It's a smidge dark for me in winter)
Lips
Revlon Super Lustrous have been in the drugstore for 50+ years for a reason. Good cream lipstick formula, tons of shades. Shade Violet Frenzy is my personal fave - it's a sheer blackberry your lips but better for cool toned people. (I haven't tried the HD line yet, but they're also well reviewed).
Maybelline Color Sensational. A matte creamy formula with great staying power. Has a play-doh scent.
Lip liner
Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic (for when you wear shades like red, if you find they feather).
For skincare, I'm a big fan of the Cerave normal to oily cleanser and Garnier micellar waters. I've tried a ridiculous array of sunscreens without much drugstore luck, and instead order online Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light spf 30.
And this bucks popular wisdom, but if you have oily skin with occasional breakouts, just skip moisturizer (you've got it built in!) and see if your products perform better.
On YouTube, try Lisa Eldridge videos for technique and Jessica Braun for drugstore reviews. Have fun blowing your points stash at Shoppers!
posted by Vindaloo at 3:07 PM on October 27, 2017 [9 favorites]
I like L'Oreal True Color for drugstore foundation, concealer and powder.
I like the Maybelline shine free foundation stick (on sale) as an eyeshadow primer.
I agree with Milani too and haven't tried their blush but it's on my list as they have a Nars orgasm dupe. I don't do reds but I love Milani's nude lipstick and it looks like they have some nice reds, and I agree with neutrogena sunscreen for under makeup and on hands, if you have costco friends you can get a 3-pack for $20 and they have decent expiry dates.
L'Oreal has a good liquid liner if you do liquid liners, the gold tube.
I haven't had much luck with drugstore shadows, am so happy with my urban decay nude palette and tarte eyeshadows, for cheap I do like ELF as it doesn't totally dry my skin out.
Not shoppers but seconding The Ordinary for things that will improve your skin - they have rosehip seed oil that is like $7, a silicone primer for $5, their foundation is $7 and not bad. Only downside is they can take a while to ship. They have a range of retinol/retinoid products and I also like their azelaic acid.
posted by lafemma at 3:13 PM on October 27, 2017
I like the Maybelline shine free foundation stick (on sale) as an eyeshadow primer.
I agree with Milani too and haven't tried their blush but it's on my list as they have a Nars orgasm dupe. I don't do reds but I love Milani's nude lipstick and it looks like they have some nice reds, and I agree with neutrogena sunscreen for under makeup and on hands, if you have costco friends you can get a 3-pack for $20 and they have decent expiry dates.
L'Oreal has a good liquid liner if you do liquid liners, the gold tube.
I haven't had much luck with drugstore shadows, am so happy with my urban decay nude palette and tarte eyeshadows, for cheap I do like ELF as it doesn't totally dry my skin out.
Not shoppers but seconding The Ordinary for things that will improve your skin - they have rosehip seed oil that is like $7, a silicone primer for $5, their foundation is $7 and not bad. Only downside is they can take a while to ship. They have a range of retinol/retinoid products and I also like their azelaic acid.
posted by lafemma at 3:13 PM on October 27, 2017
Essence has really great matte lipstick. There's one called Kiss me if you can. It's a deep blue based red with great color payoff that lasts and it's absurdly cheap. I seconding the recommendation for lash Paradise by L'Oreal mascara. I have oily lids too, but this stuff is great!
posted by peppermind at 8:07 PM on October 27, 2017
posted by peppermind at 8:07 PM on October 27, 2017
anything that fixes "you were sick" issues like filling in sparse brows is A+++
Years ago there was a big rage for 'fiber' mascaras; L'Oreal makes a well-regarded eyebrow product that incorporates that feature to fill in sparse brows (alone, or over a wax pencil like Nyx's): L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper Brow Gel. It's similar to a pricier product, Benefit's Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel... which is currently experiencing a recall.
Lanolin (the medical-grade kind found in a nipple ointment like Lansinoh) is great for cuticles, heels, and as an overnight lip balm treatment; warm it up a bit first to soften it before applying.
Temptalia is good for finding decent makeup dupes.
posted by Iris Gambol at 9:19 PM on October 27, 2017
Years ago there was a big rage for 'fiber' mascaras; L'Oreal makes a well-regarded eyebrow product that incorporates that feature to fill in sparse brows (alone, or over a wax pencil like Nyx's): L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper Brow Gel. It's similar to a pricier product, Benefit's Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel... which is currently experiencing a recall.
Lanolin (the medical-grade kind found in a nipple ointment like Lansinoh) is great for cuticles, heels, and as an overnight lip balm treatment; warm it up a bit first to soften it before applying.
Temptalia is good for finding decent makeup dupes.
posted by Iris Gambol at 9:19 PM on October 27, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks all! Okay, so... I went a bit overboard, but at "20x the points!" and while picking up Xmas stocking stuffers and a...new look. Some notes for other Canucks wishing to leverage their Optimum points:
I bought L'Oréal Voluminous, my go-to since they inexplicably canned Lash Out, in ("new" -- meaning USAians have probably had it for a decade) cobalt blue, and a Nyx VividBrights liquid liner in "vivid blossom," a lilac shade. So that's...new. I used the eye primer from a Smashbox "Try it Kit" and added some lilac shadow above it. Nah, still couldn't see it. But it looks nice if I look down, and I found a line called...
...Artdeco, which was not cheap, but which was cheapish because so many of their things are, brilliantly, sold loose to go into palettes. 212 chiffon rosé is a browbone winner. I did not find any decent all-in-one palette and only noticed the Artdeco stuff late in the game, and made my own out of a blush, a light contour powder, a darker one, a blush -- which I winced at when I noticed it had shimmer, but, I could not detect the shimmer on my face. A++ colour payoff from Artdeco. They had a gorgeous red lipstick (05? 05) that they had of course sold out of. Anyway: Artdeco -- recommended. They have an advent calendar which was $86 but which still appeared to be a very good deal and which I now want.
Rimmel coughed up an on-sale clear liner that does not need sharpening, which I needed for my purse ("needed" -- ah, the joys of the first world). Essence had a duo contour/highlight eye fat eye pencil; the "contour" is a good highlight for the inner corner and the creamy coffee shade on the other end looks like my usual sort of low-key smudgy liner.
"GOSH" was 50% off. The BB cream works well but went on a bit too dewy for my liking, but it did do well with gluing down powders afterwards, and had very light natural-looking coverage. So much of the freakin' drugstore is orangey or glittery and this was a pleasant, non-orange exception. I also got their "Overnight Primer Oil" as a base for some hi-test ingredients I have in my DIY stash, and a brown fibre brow mascara.
That was, over and over, the problem with the drugstore stuff. Finding good pigmentation is hard. Finding good pigmentation that is not inexplicably too orangey or too glittery? Quite the challenge. There is one drugstore foundation that works for me (CG Smoothers in the compact, "natural ivory," winter only; not summer-suitable for greasy sorts) and I was all ready to snag a Marcelle blush that looked nice on-line but which was really shimmery. The Revlon HD lippie cases were pretty; the product was gooey, too warm-toned in all the red shades, and, glittery.
Essence All About Matt! white fixing powder was a let-down in the car when it settled into every flaky bit on my face, but when I was at home and had the BB as a base, it did a really impressive job of what it claimed to do, viz: mattify, and, 'help to blend blush and foundation together.' If you tend to overdo or poorly blend your blush/contour shiz, buy it; it blends stuff really well, and mattifies invisibly (unless you have some flaking and did not deal with that on your way out the door. Curse ye, winter-wacky skin). (Oh, and. I got a terrific deal on a set of the Quo brushes a while back and handed down my old set to my kid. A lot of the Quo line is aces -- the "Quo by Orly" nail polish hints at what I have long suspected, viz: like President's Choice "black," it is mostly stuff made for them by higher-end companies and no different from the stuff in other packaging.)
I got a couple of neutral lipsticks, a Quo and an Essence, out of the sale bin for $2, and the Smashbox bestsellers box included a mini lippie in "primrose."
10 yo daughter's take: liked the lilac okay, "thought I got ripped off" as Voluminous is more low key than I had been wearing recently (and I am totally switching back to it; I had forgotten that it doesn't clump and makes my stubby lashes super-long while looking very natural. More smudgy liner, less heavy mascara, I think.) She pronounced the BB/various powders a hit (and my skin did look splendid), and then told me that a neutral lip "might be okay if you were just picking me up from school or something." This is apparently what happens if your kid never sees you leave the house without an aggressive red.
A pox on ellieBOA as I ended up throwing down $39 for La Roche-Posay serum, after using the sample bottle on my hands. Crap! It has all the hallmarks of a holy-grail must-have, given the feel, and the look after using it, but of course couldn't have been a $6 Life Brand thing. Heh. For "fine lines, visible pores, rough skin texture." Half a dropperful gave me, after I had washed everything else off, fabulous skin. I have the forehead lines that everyone who has spent some time raising their eyebrows at things has; even these went off into near-invisibility, and, pore, what's a pore? Meanwhile, my skin doesn't feel tight or weird or anything. Hopefully the 30mL lasts a while...
And then I came back to Ask and wept, for there were no more drugstore aisles to conquer, and the cleverly loosely sold magnet-backed Artdeco stuff that I am now in love with is, save for the eyeshadow, all too thick to fit in the nifty bamboo magnetic case I got off eBay to "de-pot" stuff in to. 😪
posted by kmennie at 4:07 PM on October 28, 2017
I bought L'Oréal Voluminous, my go-to since they inexplicably canned Lash Out, in ("new" -- meaning USAians have probably had it for a decade) cobalt blue, and a Nyx VividBrights liquid liner in "vivid blossom," a lilac shade. So that's...new. I used the eye primer from a Smashbox "Try it Kit" and added some lilac shadow above it. Nah, still couldn't see it. But it looks nice if I look down, and I found a line called...
...Artdeco, which was not cheap, but which was cheapish because so many of their things are, brilliantly, sold loose to go into palettes. 212 chiffon rosé is a browbone winner. I did not find any decent all-in-one palette and only noticed the Artdeco stuff late in the game, and made my own out of a blush, a light contour powder, a darker one, a blush -- which I winced at when I noticed it had shimmer, but, I could not detect the shimmer on my face. A++ colour payoff from Artdeco. They had a gorgeous red lipstick (05? 05) that they had of course sold out of. Anyway: Artdeco -- recommended. They have an advent calendar which was $86 but which still appeared to be a very good deal and which I now want.
Rimmel coughed up an on-sale clear liner that does not need sharpening, which I needed for my purse ("needed" -- ah, the joys of the first world). Essence had a duo contour/highlight eye fat eye pencil; the "contour" is a good highlight for the inner corner and the creamy coffee shade on the other end looks like my usual sort of low-key smudgy liner.
"GOSH" was 50% off. The BB cream works well but went on a bit too dewy for my liking, but it did do well with gluing down powders afterwards, and had very light natural-looking coverage. So much of the freakin' drugstore is orangey or glittery and this was a pleasant, non-orange exception. I also got their "Overnight Primer Oil" as a base for some hi-test ingredients I have in my DIY stash, and a brown fibre brow mascara.
That was, over and over, the problem with the drugstore stuff. Finding good pigmentation is hard. Finding good pigmentation that is not inexplicably too orangey or too glittery? Quite the challenge. There is one drugstore foundation that works for me (CG Smoothers in the compact, "natural ivory," winter only; not summer-suitable for greasy sorts) and I was all ready to snag a Marcelle blush that looked nice on-line but which was really shimmery. The Revlon HD lippie cases were pretty; the product was gooey, too warm-toned in all the red shades, and, glittery.
Essence All About Matt! white fixing powder was a let-down in the car when it settled into every flaky bit on my face, but when I was at home and had the BB as a base, it did a really impressive job of what it claimed to do, viz: mattify, and, 'help to blend blush and foundation together.' If you tend to overdo or poorly blend your blush/contour shiz, buy it; it blends stuff really well, and mattifies invisibly (unless you have some flaking and did not deal with that on your way out the door. Curse ye, winter-wacky skin). (Oh, and. I got a terrific deal on a set of the Quo brushes a while back and handed down my old set to my kid. A lot of the Quo line is aces -- the "Quo by Orly" nail polish hints at what I have long suspected, viz: like President's Choice "black," it is mostly stuff made for them by higher-end companies and no different from the stuff in other packaging.)
I got a couple of neutral lipsticks, a Quo and an Essence, out of the sale bin for $2, and the Smashbox bestsellers box included a mini lippie in "primrose."
10 yo daughter's take: liked the lilac okay, "thought I got ripped off" as Voluminous is more low key than I had been wearing recently (and I am totally switching back to it; I had forgotten that it doesn't clump and makes my stubby lashes super-long while looking very natural. More smudgy liner, less heavy mascara, I think.) She pronounced the BB/various powders a hit (and my skin did look splendid), and then told me that a neutral lip "might be okay if you were just picking me up from school or something." This is apparently what happens if your kid never sees you leave the house without an aggressive red.
A pox on ellieBOA as I ended up throwing down $39 for La Roche-Posay serum, after using the sample bottle on my hands. Crap! It has all the hallmarks of a holy-grail must-have, given the feel, and the look after using it, but of course couldn't have been a $6 Life Brand thing. Heh. For "fine lines, visible pores, rough skin texture." Half a dropperful gave me, after I had washed everything else off, fabulous skin. I have the forehead lines that everyone who has spent some time raising their eyebrows at things has; even these went off into near-invisibility, and, pore, what's a pore? Meanwhile, my skin doesn't feel tight or weird or anything. Hopefully the 30mL lasts a while...
And then I came back to Ask and wept, for there were no more drugstore aisles to conquer, and the cleverly loosely sold magnet-backed Artdeco stuff that I am now in love with is, save for the eyeshadow, all too thick to fit in the nifty bamboo magnetic case I got off eBay to "de-pot" stuff in to. 😪
posted by kmennie at 4:07 PM on October 28, 2017
Shoppers is the only place I know that considers 55 a senior for the purposes of giving a senior's discount. If you're not senior yet yourself, make friends with one and save yourself some money.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:02 PM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:02 PM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by kitcat at 9:20 AM on October 27, 2017