Hi Ladies~ I was thinking about doing my own makeup for th BIG day b/c: 1) there are not many great makeup artists in RI (where I'm from) and 2) I am Asian and its tough to do makeup on an Asian if you're not Asian yourself. So, after contemplating hiring Jessica Lee from Hairday in LA....and realizing that it wouldn't be the most cost effective route....seeing as Mr Podo would probably call me crajee....I am opting to DIM (do it MYSELF!) Soooooo...anybody have any suggestions? I am looking for a great foundation for dry skin that will make me look fab in the wedding pics....I have heard that SKII is great....by the way anytime I have gone to those makeup artists that show up from MAC, Lancome, whereever I end up looking like a clown...or a geisha...they love to put red red lips with really strong eye makeup....anyway......this is what my mission will be in the next couple months....going to get facials to prep my face and finding a killer foundation so it will look fab in pics...=) I tried this new lipgloss by Loreal that one of the bees had recommended and it's really not bad...but I don't like shimmer in lipgloss so I am going to take some polaroids of before''s and after's so maybe you guys can help a sista out?? I will post them in the GUEST BLOG section!!! Thanks!
I just went to a larger Prescriptives counter at a Dillards where they did a custom blend foundation (not all counters do this, you have to go to a large city.) I am so pale that she had to add in 12 shades of white (obviously I am so pale, a normal foundation would not work!) I told her I am also very dry so she added a mild moisturizer (it will not replace your true moisturizer) into the foundation - I even had her custom blend a concealer for under my eyes and she added a vibrancy ingredient to perk them up a bit. They can pretty much blend whatever to make it match your skin perfectly and it wasn't that expensive. I paid $62 for the foundation and $32 for the concealer! They also do custom lipgloss. Go here: http://www.prescriptives.com/custom/custom_blend_landing.tmpl
If you have any more questions PM me, hope that helped!
Here is my two cents about SKII ...it is great...but not for a wedding, IMO. It's very very light...it makes you look like you just have natural, glowing skin which is great for everyday, but I don't think that would translate in pictures b/c it's so light. And if you need to cover anything (acne scars, blemishes, etc.) it's really too fine for that, IMO.
Another thing to consider with SKII...once you have it on you can't put anything over it (so you would put your blush/eye shadow on first then spray over it with the foundation). You can put mascara over it and lipstick but anything else you really risk ruining the finish
And it really does need time to set. You spray then wait at least 5 mins preferably 10 before you touch your skin or else you will get a noticeable smear that is hard to cover. Even then sometimes by the end of the day I noticed the foundation on my nose would wear off a bit. You need to give yourself time to become proficient in the application.
There are days where I love my SKII and think it's amazing and others where I don't think it's worth the hype. The inital investment is a lot so I don't know if you'd want to fork out $150 just on foundation if it wouldn't work well for the wedding. Before you spend the money I'd recommend watching this video to become more familar with it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XbH7NOZ1Iw&NR=1
For the wedding I'd recommend going to an Elizabeth Arden spa...they have a machine that takes a picture of your skin and analyzes the color...then a machine mixes the right tones to make your own unique bottle of foundation. It's the best I've ever seen for color matching...and I'm so pale it's normally impossible to find a good color match.
I don't know exactly what ethnicity you are- there's a lot of skin tone variation among Asians. I am half Filipino and the only foundation brand I've ever found to match my yellow undertones (ie. versus a red/pink) is Stila. Even the lady who did my facials commented on how amazingly well it blended into my skin. Check it out- good luck!
Thanks girls....I'm Korean ttshoo....I have yellow undertones....and I just want to have the dewy, flawless skin look for the wedding pics...it's tough...I have bare essentials, but my skin is dry so it doesn't help that it's a powder....I spoke with Jessica Lee from Hairday in LA and she was the one that recommended SKII...but from what I just read maybe that wouldn't be the best? I know SKII has a pancake foundation maybe I wll look into that, but Prescriptives sounds nice too......=)
you could also give some of the asian brands a shot, like shiseido or shu uemera. i've tried shiseido's foundation and had nice results in terms of the color match! i'm not sure if there would be makeup counters at your local mall for these brands, but that's what sephora is for =P.
I'm Chinese and I alternate use two forms of foundation. For everyday wear, I use bare minerals in the color "light" (don't use the mineral veil 'cause it adds a slightly pink hue). For evenings out (longer wear and more coverage), I use foundation (#2) from Thi Cosmetics (http://www.thicosmetics.com/) and use the bare minerals foundation very lightly to set it. If you have really pale skin with lots of yellow undertone, set your makeup with T LeClerc's loose powder in "Banane"
I will second Red on T. LeClerc'sloose powder. This stuff is the most amazing powder ever and it gives a great finish that lasts and lasts.
I have normal-dry skin and I use Stila's Illuminating Powder Foundation and buff it in with a kabuki brush. If you are looking for something liquid and more traditional, Giorgio Armani's LSF, Chanel Aqualumiere Foundation, or Chanel's Skin Fluide Foundations are also excellent for dry skin. Shu Uemura also has great foundations for Asian skin as their tones are more geared towards us. Good luck!
I like Laura Mercier's Foundation. I am very pale, but found that this foundation blended very nicely with my skintones. My face and neck were the same color when my makeup artist was done with me! And it was very light. I didn't feel it caked on my face.
one of the girls on the knot forums recommended Bobbi Brown foundation/concealer to me. i visited their store and was really satisfied with how well the foundation blended with my face (i have olive skin, but my face tends to look white with makeup). my friend did my makeup using the bobbi brown foundation and powder that i had purchased and i really liked how natural it turned out.
I actually have great luck with Bare Escentuals. I have seriously sensitive skin, plus the yellow undertones. I use the medium beige for all-over color, then summer bisque as a concealer.
As a medium toned Chinese American, I also second Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. However for a bit more coverage than that(which is still sheer -- it does not completely cover freckles), of late I've been using a combination of Armani's Designer Shaping Cream in 5.5 shade, with a pump or two of Armani Sheer Fluid (I don't have the shade # with me at work, but it's a gold tone). This works best for me and I used it at our second wedding reception, where I did my own make-up (for the actual wedding day I had pro make-up, which was thicker, but looked great overall). If you are at all interested, go by the Armani counter (Saks carries the full line) and have the Armani make-up artist put them both on you for comparison. The wedding make-up artist recommended and used a Laura Mercier loose powder as being very fine, but I have yet to try it on my own, since I normally don't wear that much make-up. If you're still not sure, you should ask for samples from Armani.
Also, one of the recent Weddingbee brides (now married) did a detailed post on foundation for Asians about 6-9 months ago. I forget which one, but I think she was from the Los Angeles area.
For Asian skin it is better to stay away from pinkish shades and stick to a yellow base foundation. Your best bet is to go to a large department store that stocks dozens of brands and shades (like Sephora) and test out different colors. See more of my ideas at my gift registry at
mydreamhomeregistry dot com
Some great brands to try: Prescriptives makes 500 shades so chances are you'll find your perfect fit. Also Shu Uemura and Shisheido are two Asian-based companies that cater to Asian skin. You might also try custom blending. The trick to testing foundation is to stand near a window to view the shade in natural light. Cheers!
I'm Chinese with very delicate and sensitive skin (w/excema) and I swear by Bare Escentuals/Minerals for the everyday. I do notice you HAVE to pick the right shade. They have ones with pink undertones and ones with yellow undertones. Even though my skin is seriously dry - BM actually helps keep the moisture in.
For any heavier or more even coverage, I have found Stila, Shu Uemura, and Chanel to be very good matches.
Can you go to a make-up counter to get your makeup done early in the morning? Chanel does a great job and only requires (I think) $50 purchase.
I am Korean with lighter (definite yellow undertones), super dry skin. I used to really like Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer for everyday looks and now I use Vincent Longo's water canvas creme to powder foundation. It has great coverage and feels so refreshing all day. When you put it on, it literally feels liks water on your skin and blends in incredibly. I rarely ever have to retouch and i get tons of compliments on how glowing my skin looks. I use bobbie brown concealer and nu skin loose powder (which works WONDERS). A note about SKII - I have heard some really horrible things about the long term effects (from friends in the make-up and skin care industry). Plus,a lot of the ones they sell for sale in individual boutiques in and around los angeles are usually expired. Check the date before you purchase! Sephora sells vincent longo if you are interested! good luck!
If you find you aren't getting enough coverage, try a few things:
Use a damp sponge and "pat" to blend in your foundation instead of swiping with it or blending with your fingers. You'll be surprised how much more coverage this offers you.
Try using a foundation brush and do small circular motions to blend it in.
Make sure your skin is sufficiently moisturized and exfoliated, whether chemically or mechanically. Skin that's dry and/or flaky won't take anything on it well, especially if you want coverage. It doesn't look good, either.
Thanks so much ladies~ So many great suggestions.....I am going to practice since that's what makes perfect right? Chanel, Giorgio, LeClerc, Laura Mercier...are all great companies....so i will go to Saks and try em out!! Thanks for the nu-skin recommendation Pancy! never heard of it so I will look into it~
Hi Ladies~ I was thinking about doing my own makeup for th BIG day b/c: 1) there are not many great makeup artists in RI (where I'm from) and 2) I am Asian and its tough to do makeup on an Asian if you're not Asian yourself. So, after contemplating hiring Jessica Lee from Hairday in LA....and realizing that it wouldn't be the most cost effective route
....seeing as Mr Podo would probably call me crajee....I am opting to DIM (do it MYSELF!)
Soooooo...anybody have any suggestions? I am looking for a great foundation for dry skin that will make me look fab in the wedding pics....I have heard that SKII is great....by the way anytime I have gone to those makeup artists that show up from MAC, Lancome, whereever I end up looking like a clown...or a geisha...they love to put red red lips with really strong eye makeup....anyway......this is what my mission will be in the next couple months....going to get facials to prep my face and finding a killer foundation so it will look fab in pics...=) I tried this new lipgloss by Loreal that one of the bees had recommended and it's really not bad...but I don't like shimmer in lipgloss so I am going to take some polaroids of before''s and after's so maybe you guys can help a sista out?? I will post them in the GUEST BLOG section!!! Thanks!
posted by MissPodo 44 posts 6 months agoI just went to a larger Prescriptives counter at a Dillards where they did a custom blend foundation (not all counters do this, you have to go to a large city.) I am so pale that she had to add in 12 shades of white (obviously I am so pale, a normal foundation would not work!) I told her I am also very dry so she added a mild moisturizer (it will not replace your true moisturizer) into the foundation - I even had her custom blend a concealer for under my eyes and she added a vibrancy ingredient to perk them up a bit. They can pretty much blend whatever to make it match your skin perfectly and it wasn't that expensive. I paid $62 for the foundation and $32 for the concealer! They also do custom lipgloss. Go here: http://www.prescriptives.com/custom/custom_blend_landing.tmpl
If you have any more questions PM me, hope that helped!
posted by msbutton 50 posts 6 months agoHere is my two cents about SKII ...it is great...but not for a wedding, IMO. It's very very light...it makes you look like you just have natural, glowing skin which is great for everyday, but I don't think that would translate in pictures b/c it's so light. And if you need to cover anything (acne scars, blemishes, etc.) it's really too fine for that, IMO.
Another thing to consider with SKII...once you have it on you can't put anything over it (so you would put your blush/eye shadow on first then spray over it with the foundation). You can put mascara over it and lipstick but anything else you really risk ruining the finish
And it really does need time to set. You spray then wait at least 5 mins preferably 10 before you touch your skin or else you will get a noticeable smear that is hard to cover. Even then sometimes by the end of the day I noticed the foundation on my nose would wear off a bit. You need to give yourself time to become proficient in the application.
There are days where I love my SKII and think it's amazing and others where I don't think it's worth the hype. The inital investment is a lot so I don't know if you'd want to fork out $150 just on foundation if it wouldn't work well for the wedding. Before you spend the money I'd recommend watching this video to become more familar with it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XbH7NOZ1Iw&NR=1
For the wedding I'd recommend going to an Elizabeth Arden spa...they have a machine that takes a picture of your skin and analyzes the color...then a machine mixes the right tones to make your own unique bottle of foundation. It's the best I've ever seen for color matching...and I'm so pale it's normally impossible to find a good color match.
posted by BaghdadBride 205 posts 6 months agoI don't know exactly what ethnicity you are- there's a lot of skin tone variation among Asians. I am half Filipino and the only foundation brand I've ever found to match my yellow undertones (ie. versus a red/pink) is Stila. Even the lady who did my facials commented on how amazingly well it blended into my skin. Check it out- good luck!
posted by ttshoo 22 posts 6 months agoThanks girls....I'm Korean ttshoo....I have yellow undertones....and I just want to have the dewy, flawless skin look for the wedding pics...it's tough...I have bare essentials, but my skin is dry so it doesn't help that it's a powder....I spoke with Jessica Lee from Hairday in LA and she was the one that recommended SKII...but from what I just read maybe that wouldn't be the best? I know SKII has a pancake foundation maybe I wll look into that, but Prescriptives sounds nice too......=)
posted by MissPodo 44 posts 6 months agoyou could also give some of the asian brands a shot, like shiseido or shu uemera. i've tried shiseido's foundation and had nice results in terms of the color match! i'm not sure if there would be makeup counters at your local mall for these brands, but that's what sephora is for =P.
posted by fadedblue 33 posts 6 months agoI'm Chinese and I alternate use two forms of foundation. For everyday wear, I use bare minerals in the color "light" (don't use the mineral veil 'cause it adds a slightly pink hue). For evenings out (longer wear and more coverage), I use foundation (#2) from Thi Cosmetics (http://www.thicosmetics.com/) and use the bare minerals foundation very lightly to set it. If you have really pale skin with lots of yellow undertone, set your makeup with T LeClerc's loose powder in
"Banane"
http://www.amazon.com/T-LeClerc-Banane-Loose-Powder/dp/B00080FABQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=beauty&qid=1211425496&sr=8-1
Good Luck!!
posted by Red 42 posts 6 months ago
I will second Red on T. LeClerc's loose powder. This stuff is the most amazing powder ever and it gives a great finish that lasts and lasts.
I have normal-dry skin and I use Stila's Illuminating Powder Foundation and buff it in with a kabuki brush. If you are looking for something liquid and more traditional, Giorgio Armani's LSF, Chanel Aqualumiere Foundation, or Chanel's Skin Fluide Foundations are also excellent for dry skin. Shu Uemura also has great foundations for Asian skin as their tones are more geared towards us. Good luck!
PS: I'm Chinese. :)
posted by JCM9608 466 posts 6 months agoI like Laura Mercier's Foundation. I am very pale, but found that this foundation blended very nicely with my skintones. My face and neck were the same color when my makeup artist was done with me! And it was very light. I didn't feel it caked on my face.
posted by MissBlueBear 271 posts 6 months agoI use Armani Luminous Silk and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
I'm Korean, not too pale, and love the way it gives me a dewy glow without being too sheer or too cakey.
I highly recommend it!
posted by mpark46 24 posts 6 months agoone of the girls on the knot forums recommended Bobbi Brown foundation/concealer to me. i visited their store and was really satisfied with how well the foundation blended with my face (i have olive skin, but my face tends to look white with makeup). my friend did my makeup using the bobbi brown foundation and powder that i had purchased and i really liked how natural it turned out.
posted by kbok 42 posts 6 months agoI actually have great luck with Bare Escentuals. I have seriously sensitive skin, plus the yellow undertones. I use the medium beige for all-over color, then summer bisque as a concealer.
posted by Anonymous 19 posts 6 months agoAs a medium toned Chinese American, I also second Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. However for a bit more coverage than that(which is still sheer -- it does not completely cover freckles), of late I've been using a combination of Armani's Designer Shaping Cream in 5.5 shade, with a pump or two of Armani Sheer Fluid (I don't have the shade # with me at work, but it's a gold tone). This works best for me and I used it at our second wedding reception, where I did my own make-up (for the actual wedding day I had pro make-up, which was thicker, but looked great overall). If you are at all interested, go by the Armani counter (Saks carries the full line) and have the Armani make-up artist put them both on you for comparison. The wedding make-up artist recommended and used a Laura Mercier loose powder as being very fine, but I have yet to try it on my own, since I normally don't wear that much make-up. If you're still not sure, you should ask for samples from Armani.
Also, one of the recent Weddingbee brides (now married) did a detailed post on foundation for Asians about 6-9 months ago. I forget which one, but I think she was from the Los Angeles area.
Good luck on your search.
posted by nopushover 2 posts 6 months agoFor Asian skin it is better to stay away from pinkish shades and stick to a yellow base foundation. Your best bet is to go to a large department store that stocks dozens of brands and shades (like Sephora) and test out different colors. See more of my ideas at my gift registry at
mydreamhomeregistry dot com
Some great brands to try: Prescriptives makes 500 shades so chances are you'll find your perfect fit. Also Shu Uemura and Shisheido are two Asian-based companies that cater to Asian skin. You might also try custom blending. The trick to testing foundation is to stand near a window to view the shade in natural light.
posted by stephw98yahoocom 6 posts 6 months agoCheers!
i also third armani. i'm chinese and have found that it works really well for me. (medium tone complextion).
posted by Amy 209 posts 5 months agoI'm Chinese with very delicate and sensitive skin (w/excema) and I swear by Bare Escentuals/Minerals for the everyday. I do notice you HAVE to pick the right shade. They have ones with pink undertones and ones with yellow undertones. Even though my skin is seriously dry - BM actually helps keep the moisture in.
For any heavier or more even coverage, I have found Stila, Shu Uemura, and Chanel to be very good matches.
Can you go to a make-up counter to get your makeup done early in the morning? Chanel does a great job and only requires (I think) $50 purchase.
posted by vivian 109 posts 5 months agoI am Korean with lighter (definite yellow undertones), super dry skin. I used to really like Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer for everyday looks and now I use Vincent Longo's water canvas creme to powder foundation. It has great coverage and feels so refreshing all day. When you put it on, it literally feels liks water on your skin and blends in incredibly. I rarely ever have to retouch and i get tons of compliments on how glowing my skin looks. I use bobbie brown concealer and nu skin loose powder (which works WONDERS). A note about SKII - I have heard some really horrible things about the long term effects (from friends in the make-up and skin care industry). Plus,a lot of the ones they sell for sale in individual boutiques in and around los angeles are usually expired. Check the date before you purchase! Sephora sells vincent longo if you are interested! good luck!
posted by pancy 201 posts 5 months agoSome suggestions:
If you find you aren't getting enough coverage, try a few things:
- Use a damp sponge and "pat" to blend in your foundation instead of swiping with it or blending with your fingers. You'll be surprised how much more coverage this offers you.
- Try using a foundation brush and do small circular motions to blend it in.
- Make sure your skin is sufficiently moisturized and exfoliated, whether chemically or mechanically. Skin that's dry and/or flaky won't take anything on it well, especially if you want coverage. It doesn't look good, either.
posted by JCM9608 466 posts 5 months agoThanks so much ladies~
So many great suggestions.....I am going to practice since that's what makes perfect right? Chanel, Giorgio, LeClerc, Laura Mercier...are all great companies....so i will go to Saks and try em out!! Thanks for the nu-skin recommendation Pancy! never heard of it so I will look into it~
posted by MissPodo 44 posts 5 months agoI love the foundation from Armani! Def. give it a try! makes ur skin look great!
posted by justjules 20 posts 3 months ago