Understanding my skin

Hello, how are you doing? I'll bring something that you might find interesting.

What kind of skin do I have?
We can have a mix of textures and sometimes some parts of our face are dry, some are oily. We should go to a Dermatologist to be sure; the doctor will do some tests on us to determine what type of skin you have.
You should have: dry, normal to oily, oily, dry to normal, normal, sensitive and acne-prone skin, rosacea, some spot or blemish on your face.

Skin tone and undertone:
The skin tone is the first “color” we see on someone: pale, light, medium, tan or dark. But, did you notice that even if two people next to each other tan can be in the same “tone” category is different? This is because of something called “undertone”, this could be cool, neutral or warm.

How do I know which one I am?
There some tests online, but I will tell you a couple of them, the most important ones.
You should answer the following questions:
- Do you burn or tan?
- When you see the veins on your wrist in natural lighting, are they green or blue and purple or a mix?
- How do they look something Silver and something gold next to your skin?

Depending on your answer you will be one of the following:
Warm undertones: tan, green veins and gold.
Cool: burn, blue and purple veins and silver.
Neutral: could burn and tan, mix of blue and green veins and either gold or silver.

I'd like to know what kind of skin, tone and undertone you have and if you have any issue finding a good match.
Hope this short post was interesting and helpful.

See you on the next one!!

Next post: Understanding colors.

My story (about makeup)

My first approach to the makeup industry was when I was 15 years old. At that time my friends, classmates and myself had our “quinceañera”, some of their parties were very similar to a wedding for it was too glamorous (translation: too much money, time invested in a party for celebrate that you now have 15 years old; mine was a lunch with family and close friends, not too shabby, not too fancy). And of course for the fancy parties you wore gowns and, of course, you somewhat were forced to wear makeup too.
At that time, year 2000, I only found one foundation shade which was a bit yellow and a slightly dark for my skin tone, not my exact match, but it worked fine for even the skin tone for the fancy parties (although I only went  to one and it was after my own “party”).

On that year 2000 I didn’t have as much knowledge as I have now about foundations, powders, concealers, “contour”, the different eyeliners. Referring to foundations, I didn’t know which one was the best for my skin tone or skin type (if it was oily or dry foundations), what was an “undertone”? The only memory I have was looking for a hypoallergenic foundation/brand and a non-comedogenic makeup. For some reason, I knew that the foundation I bought wasn’t the right for me. I didn’t know about pigmentation on eyeshadows eyeliners, lipstick; or blendability of creams and powders; if a product was long-lasting; if and eyeshadow has any fall out on my cheeks, if that eyeshadows was more powdery that buttery… a long list of things I ignored for so many years. And maybe the makeup application was with fingertips or the weird sponge applicator that they came with (something you still can found). What was a matte eyeshadow? A matte lipstick?
The only thing I remember buying was the “Avon” trios, they are matte (yes I still have them), and a lip gloss which I believe it was repurchased 3 times “WaterShine Liquid Diamonds” by Maybelline (09. Caramel Pearl); the year I don’t know, but I already have them around 2002, 2003.

For many years I couldn’t find a foundation that matched me not only by tone, also it should be undertone. A foundation that didn’t look yellow or a bit dark on me. I went over and over again to drugstores, high end stores, nothing. I was frustrated.
Worldly known drugstore brands, such as: Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel, L’Oréal; not even brands I consider local, such as: Arex, WAV, Get the Look, Dorothy Gray; not even makeup by catalogue brands, such as: Tsu Cosmetics, Avon, Natura; nor high end products, although they were out of my reach, I remember trying Lancôme and Dior… nothing.
Being represented by a brand, was a dream for many years…

Remember the yellowish and a tiny bit dark on me foundation I mentioned? I used it a couple of times on June or July 2016 (yes, 16 years later). But that wasn’t my only not matching foundation. Remember when I mentioned I was looking for a Hypoallergenic brand, I found one: Arex. And I bought 3 items from them: Concealer (#5, for fair girls), Powder (Translucent) and a foundation (translucent). 2 out of 3 items were repurchased after a couple of times. The foundation was too dark and orange to be “translucent”, but the concealer and the powder were a wonderful find. The concealer is in a “lipstick” form and the powder has a tint to it, but it is light enough (so far, the only I could find that I can buy again). I always paired them together. And the concealer sometimes were used as a foundation when was needed. So far so good, right. Well the concealer was too heavy, thick, waxy, gloppy and no long-lasting; although, I paired it with the powder to have a nicer feeling to the touch, but it was like wearing a mask, that’s why I only used it to hide my dark circles only, my rosacea had to wait…
What was a primer, a setting spray? Just recently you can find those things in Argentina.

My search for my exact foundation was a dead-end road.
In August 2016 I attended a course about “job hunting”, and the man said something that concerned me a lot: “the girls should go to the job interview with some makeup on to look decent” (and an example was given). My head was spinning, my frustration arose once more. And once I arrived home I googled “why the foundation looked yellow on me?” (or something similar). My research on skin tone, undertone and skin type was about to start, and my discovery was about to shock me. That search led me to the Youtubers I follow now and learnt how unfair and uneven the makeup business around the globe is.
When you don’t have a job you don’t have money to “invest” in makeup; not to mention investing in high end products. So, how can you “invest” in makeup if your skin tone, undertone and skin type cannot be found in any drugstore in Argentina? Well, you cannot. So, then you should try to find any brand that brings the full spectrum of shades. MAC is the only one I know.

My passion for makeup started when I decided to go to MAC, but calling before so I could know about if there was any skin tone for fair girls, and leaving the store with that black outside, yellow inside, MAC bag and smelling like vanilla because I had the foundation on. My perfect shade!
“MAC STUDIO WATERWEIGHT FPS30 FOUNDATION” (NW13).
Thanks MAC!!

After MAC’s I went to a drugstore to buy a promotion: a Rimmel mascara and a blush. I also bought a “primer” and some makeup remover wipes; and it was a discount day! Extremely happy.

On October, if I’m not mistaken, I bought another Mascara (have to get rid of the 1st one), a nude lipstick, lipliner and eyeliner.

For Halloween I bought 2 “matte” eyeshadows and the Maybelline “Age Rewind” concealer (Fair).

On December I found that my MAC foundation was half way through and I didn’t want it empty. There was one drugstore foundation that could be a good match (before buying it I search for shades, swatches, youtubers…). L’Oréal “True Match” foundation (1N). And I also bought a couple of lipsticks.

That’s all my story about makeup. A search that ended but a journey that started with that MAC foundation. I really want to know your story, your journey, in this passion that is called “makeup” something that makes us feel pretty every day.

See you in me next post,

Daniela.

Mi historia (respecto al maquillaje)

Mi primer encuentro con el maquillaje fue cuando tenía 15 años para la fiesta de 15 de mis amigas. En ese momento solamente pude encontrar una base de maquillaje para chicas “pálidas” aunque no era exactamente de mi color (apenas un poquito oscura y amarilla), podía hacer lo suyo en ese tipo de fiesta.
En ese año 2000 uno no tenía tantos conocimientos acerca de base, polvos, sobre contorneo, distintos usos que se le puede dar al delineador, con respecto a las bases cuál era la ideal para tu tipo de piel (si tenías oleosidad o la piel reseca) ni que subtono tenías, lo único que recuerdo era así eras hipoalergénico o no, si tenían agentes comedogénicos o no, no conocía sobre la buena pigmentación tanto para la sombra de ojo como para los delineadores o para los lápiz de labios, ni si la sobras eran larga duración o si experimentabas partículas de esa sobra que te estabas aplicando en la mejilla. Y probablemente aplicadas con dedos o con el aplicador de esponjita con la que venían, la que a los pocos usos se deshacía. Qué eran las sombras mate? Los labiales mate? Lo único que recuerdo eran los tríos de sombras de Avon (que eran mate) y el brillo de labios que siempre compraba “WaterShine Liquid Diamonds” (09. Caramel Pearl) de Maybelline, que si mal no recuerdo lo había comprado en un total de 3 veces.

No había, ni por muchos años hubo, ningún tipo de color podía coincidir, en mayor o menor medida con tono y subtono de piel, ya sea en marcas denominadas “drugstore”, “low end”, “bajo costo” o “de farmacia” entre los mundialmente conocidos: Maybelline, L'Oréal, Rimmel London y Revlon, algunas otras marcas que creo son Argentinas como: Arex, WAV, Get The Look, Dorothy Gray, entre otras, las famosas marcas por catálogo como: Tsu cosméticos, Avon, Natura entre las más conocidas. Y alguna vez hasta probé marcas como Lancôme y Dior… nada.

Nunca me pude sentir identificada por ninguna marca respecto a las bases de maquillaje.

De tanto en tanto me acercaba a tiendas preguntando si había bases de mi color, sin tener mucho éxito. Mi base amarillenta sólo fue utilizada unas pocas veces, incluso la usé algunos días de Junio o Julio del 2016 (la terminé tirando). Tuve una segunda base en tono “traslúcido” de Arex, la que usé dos veces y que era muy oscura para ser “traslúcida”. Lo que sí usaba frecuentemente era el corrector de ojeras de Arex (#5), en forma de lápiz labial. Ese corrector de ojeras era el que yo utilizaba, no sólo para cubrir ojeras, también la usaba en toda la cara como base. Una base densa, con textura cerosa, la que si o sí era acompañada con el polvo compacto de Arex en “traslúcido” para que al tacto quedara mas suave. Pero se sentía pesada, como llevar puesta una máscara. Sólo usaba el corrector para ocultar mis ojeras. Mi rosácea tendría que esperar. 
Qué era el Primer y el setting spray? No existían. Por lo menos en Argentina, algo que recién ahora se puede comenzar a ver.

Mi búsqueda para obtener una buena base que coincida estaba en un callejón sin salida.

En Agosto del 2016 voy a una charla sobre búsqueda laboral y el disertante expuso “las chicas tienen que ir un poco maquilladas para verse más presentables”. Un gran problema entonces. Un profesional experimentado en reclutamiento de personal indica que las chicas deben ir maquilladas, entonces mi frustración se agravó bastante. Llegué a casa y busqué por Google “porqué las bases de maquillaje se ven amarillentas en mi?” Desde ahí comencé mi investigación sobre tonos, subtonos y tipos de piel. Mi descubrimiento me terminó sorprendiendo, lllevándome a seguir a algunos de los YouTubers que actualmente sigo, y viendo lo desproporcionado del mercado global del maquillaje.
Cuando uno no tiene trabajo no tiene mucho dinero para “invertir” en maquillaje. Y menos mirar a esas marcas caras. Entonces, cómo puedo maquillarme si no hay maquillaje para pálidas de bajo costo en Argentina? La respuesta es no, no se puede. Definitivamente debería de “invertir” en alguna marca que trae en espectro completo con respecto a todos los tonos y subtonos,  y tipos de piel y hay sólo una. Nada más ni nada menos que MAC cosmetics.

Mi nueva pasión por el maquillaje inició cuando hice una llamada telefónica a uno de los locales preguntando si tenían color de piel para pálidas y se hizo más fuerte cuando salí del local con la bolsita negra por fuera y amarilla por dentro con la inscripción MAC y oliendo a vainilla con la base puesta.
“MAC STUDIO WATERWEIGHT FPS30 FOUNDATION” NW13.
Gracias a MAC Cosmetics que tengo mi base, luego de 16 años!!!

Luego de MAC, pase por una “Perfumería Pigmento” dónde había una promoción la cual era: comprando una máscara de pestañas a $225 te llevabas un rubor de regalo.
También había comprado un “primer” y toallitas desmaquillantes. Y todo tenía descuento… super felíz.
Por octubre, si mi memoria no falla, decidí comprar otra máscara de pestañas, un labial, delineador de labios y uno de ojos.
Para una fiesta de Halloween, compré dos sombras de ojos y el corrector Age Rewind de Maybelline (Fair).
Para diciembre noté que ya el frasco de MAC estaba por la mitad y decidí buscar un alternativo de farmacia. Comprando a ciegas (sin “tester”) la base de L'Oréal y un set de 2 labiales de Revlon.
Esta es toda mi historia respecto a este viaje respecto del maquillaje.
Me gustaría que compartan conmigo sus inicios en esta pasión que nos hace sentir más lindas.

Hasta el siguiente post,
Daniela.

Welcome to my Beauty Blog

Hello friends, welcome to my blog. Week after week I will be reviewing makeup products, or anything beauty related.
I'm Daniela, and I'm 31. My skin tone is fair or porcelain, cool undertone. My skin type is combo (normal to oily). I suffer from rosacea, I have freckles all over my face (and some parts of my body), two scars (on my left side of the nose and on my lower lip), some blemishes specially on the chin area. And I shouldn’t forget my dark circles situation.
In this blog you will find reviews of makeup, on each product. I will evaluate different aspects of that product, and considering part of it the brand and the customer service experience.
I will be eternally grateful if you can share with me all your experiences (I will try to make a form for further and better details). Every single experience is positive if you learn from it.
I invite you to join me in this adventure… and, why not, relieve you from future headaches.

Bienvenidos a mi Beauty Blog

Hola, y sean muy bienvenidos a mi blog. Semana tras semana haré alguna “review” (reseña) de productos de maquillaje.
Soy Daniela, tengo 31 años. Mi piel es de tonalidad pálida con subtono frío (también se le dice “rosado” o “azul”). Tambien el tipo de mi piel es "normal a oleosa". Tengo rosácea leve, pecas en toda la cara, dos cicatrices (una en la nariz lado izquierdo y la otra en labio inferior lado derecho), y algunos granitos que salen de tanto en tanto; sin contar las ojeras oscuras debajo de los ojos. Todas imperfecciones que quisiera disimular.
En este blog encontrarás estas reseñas de productos a los que evaluaré en varios aspectos, desde el producto en sí, cómo es  la marca, el lugar en dónde se los puede conseguir y todo lo relacionado a la experiencia vendedor/marca-consumidor (respecto a atención al cliente).
Estaré agradecida si me comparten sus experiencias (intentaré hacer algún formulario así no se nos escapa nada). Toda experiencia es positiva, si de ella se aprende.
Están invitados a acompañarme en esta aventura… y evitarles dolores de cabeza.