A LOT of questions :)

[alohaaina9207]

Hi! My name is Peggy, and I have been lurking around the SN boards for the past few weeks, and staring at all the swatches and daydreaming
I have a TON of questions to ask... not because I have never worn make up before, but I think I'm not very good at picking colors for myself. I have tried other brands of mineral foundation (EDM and BE) but I didn't like the way BE felt, and with EDM I tried so many sample kits but never found a match. I don't wear foundation or makeup everyday, so for something I'm not going to be using everyday, it seemed like a lot of effort to try to find a match (and now I have like 20 samples of colors that don't match). Also, eye colors I have tried before ended up looking like different shades of shimmery grey brown, no matter what the color was. I am not sure if it's b/c of the base or formula of the shadow, or because of the shimmer. In addition to my foundation issue, I would like to start a small collection of makeup that actually works with my colorings and lifestyle. I will probably be ordering a little bit at a time until my collection is complete So, I would love to know what color foundation you think would suit me, along with helping me figure out what products/colors to achieve 3 different looks.
I am hopefully going to get into nursing school (I find out first week of June!)
So the first look I am interested in is a very natural "everyday" look. I am going to be in school for 12 hours/5days a week, a long with caring for my baby who will be almost a year by then, so I want this look to say "I totally got at least 8 hours of sleep" and give me that fresh faced glow. Would probably apply just an eyeliner or a wash and eyeliner, blush and lip gloss? And maybe foundation/perfecting powder. I would like this to take under 5 minutes to put together

Second look- a little more professional, something that I can wear to interviews, give presentations. Again if you could suggest eye colors (and maybe how/where on the eye you would apply them?) blush and a lip color? (and if you would put any other products to compliment the look)

Third look- something for the rare occasions that I get to go on a date with my hubby So, I guess something that looks sexy and sophisticated? Again, with the eyeshadows, if you could suggest how/where to apply them for the look that would be super!

Also, what perfecting powder and/or glow would compliment me? (do i need glow?)

Oh, and to give you an idea of how lip colors look on my lips, I have MAC Viva Glam VI and on me, it pretty much looks like my lips but with a frosty shimmer. I actually don't like to wear it much b/c the frost/glitter feels chunky after a while. I don't mind shimmer in eye color, lip colors or blushes as long as it doesn't look frosty.

Ok, now that you have read my novel of a post here are some pictures to give you an idea of my color. All these pictures were taken about a year and a half ago, but I think I look pretty much the same

me w/ no makeup. taken at night w/ flash

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again w/ no makeup. taken outside ( i think the sun was setting a little bit) Please ignore my silly face.

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no makeup, taken inside. (AGAIN with my silly face)

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[Cupcake]

Hi Peggy and welcome to Silk Naturals forum. It's lovely to see you over here and you're in for a real treat. The forum moderator, JenW, is excellent at giving foundation advice and it's so easy to mix up and tailor to your needs. I'll dig up some links and add them here - these are for swatch collections for a large part of the SN range. Some of the newer colours haven't been included yet and there is another new collection getting ready to debut in the next couple of days.

Switching from EDM to SN is quite a difference. The texture of the formulas is so different. SN foundation is comforting and forgiving and enhances the complexion so much. My sensitive, reaction-prone skin was comfortable in SN foundation even when broken out to an allergy, so I've the strongest confidence in the quality of the blend. The lippies are so good that I've stopped looking elsewhere - the Black Label range in particular are a real nourishing treat. The eyeshadows, though - wow, they are something else! The complexity of colour composition make them not just beautiful, but they make you look beautiful too. You're not wearing a colour that wears you, but instead they enhance and compliment and stay colour true all day. The photography on the site and in particular the swatches gives a very accurate impression of the colour, but the real-life texture and dimensions to the colours have to be experienced. Nothing's too "bling", instead they are satiny, velvety and elegant.

The ladies will be along soon to recommend colours for you, but please take my warm encouragement that you can't go wrong with this brand. I'll send you a PM and let you know more, and you can ask questions anytime.

Eyeshadow "How To Apply" diagrams and advice: http://www.silknaturals.com/callouts/Ey ... grams.html

Eyeshadow swatch collection: http://www.silknaturals.com/callouts/sh ... tches.html also see Jen's sticky-pinned swatch thread in the Colour section for more and newer photos.

Some of the lippies, swatch collection: http://www.silknaturals.com/callouts/Or ... tches.html

[Rhys]

In your first pic you look cool, in the second two there's some gold undertones so I'm not quite sure but I'll try - and you've got great skin, so that always helps

Hmm...I think I'd go with the original formula foundation - that's the sheerest, good if you're not used to make up and absolutely does NOT cake. You'd need some ivory, some dark ebony, and maybe a little warm gold? It's hard to tell from the pic, but those are my best guesses - probably mostly dark ebony, maybe half as much ivory, and possibly a little warm gold mixed in. It's not scary, btw - all will become clear when you're actually mixing the colours in real light at your house. It just sounds intimidating to start with, it's actually pretty fun to mix your own makeup.

For blushes, I've never found anyone Flirt didn't look good on, so that's worth a sample (and it's a great everyday blush), as are Pretty Plum and Forbidden. Pretty Plum's cooler, Forbidden's warmer, but neither of them too much one way or the other. And Satisfied - that's one that tends to work on everybody, too. You might want a fibre optic brush to go with, at least if you're anything like me - it prevents clown cheeks.

I think Berry Nice would look good on you for a lippie, and I don't know how you feel about Viva Glam 5, but Berry Crush - a pretty close clone - might work - and goes great with Satisfied. For a red that's not screaming - Hot Blooded or Rouge. Or both. Karen does GREAT reds. Stick around, and you, too, will end up with at least 30 lippies

A special occasion glow: Cupid, Siren, or if you're warmer, maybe Heavenly. Everyday FP, if you want one: either DateBait or Lovelure (keyword: samples)

Eyeshadow, keeping it simple: an all-over wash of Vinyard, with some Velvet as eyeliner - it'll really make your eyes sparkle, and Velvet's got just a hint of copper in it that makes it absolutely fantastic. Trust me on this. I bet you'd rock Plush, too, but that's eye shadow 102, not 101

More neutral: Honey looks like it'd be a good one-colour wash for you, too, with either Vogue or Cosy as a liner. Or you could use one of the blacks for a liner - I'm so pale I automagically blip those off my radar, but for you they'd work.

Semi-dressy: Use Dolce or Olive You on lower part of your eyelid, with Honey as a highlighter, and Wildcat as a crease colour.

Super fancy: The modern smokey eye kit (comes with instructions). Don't go there yet. Get down the basics first. How to's for simple eye looks are here: http://www.silknaturals.com/callouts/Ey ... grams.html

Brown eyed girls can wear just about any colour shadow and get away with it (okay, there will be some individual ones that'll look wretched on you, we all have those, but as a rule, something in any shade works). So what colours do you like? I think I know what you mean about the EDM shadows, they all looked kind of sooty on me, too.

Jen's better at colours than I am and I'm sure she'll be along presently, but these are just some ideas. Mostly, have fun with it - you will, I think

[alohaaina9207]

AH! thank you ladies for your speedy replies. I immediately checked out the colors you recommended Rhys, and they are on my wish list When you said "In your first picture you look cool" at first I was like, "How nice! she thinks I'm cool" LOL and then I realized you meant cool toned But yeah, sometimes I think I am cool toned other times I think warm. I am mixed Caucasian and Filipino, so I guess sometimes the Caucasian in me wants to come out, and other days the the Filipina in me comes out.
Anyway, thank you again, and can't wait to see what Jen will recommend too

[JenW]

Hi and welcome, Peggy!

I am just going to dig right in here! I do recommend samples, because we want you to love what you get. There are not samples of eyeshadows and lippies, but those come with a guarantee.
Foundation.....I really think Deep Ebony with a little Warm Gold like Rhys suggested. I really have not taken a close look at Deep Ebony myself but I know it is about twice as pigmented as Ebony (I think my Deep Ebony sample is currently on its way to me.) The only other color that might blend with the Deep Ebony to make your color will be the Olive. My guess is 1 scoop Deep Ebony:1 scoop Warm Gold: 6-8 Ivory. I also agree since you have lovely skin to stick with the Original (lightest) Formula Foundation. It is the most forgiving when it comes to mixing. A great everyday finisher for you is Love Lure. You can definitely get by just wearing it with blush and a lippie and a minimal eye. For the days you want a little glow, try one of the Perfecting Glows (Pristine will be the color you will want). Medium Sleep in a Jar will be the right undereye color concealer for you.

For blush, I really recommend one of our more pigmented ones because your coloring might be too dark for some of the others (samples, sometimes you may find the perfect one amongst those we didn't recommend!!!). I recommend samples of Embrace and Satisfied first, and maybe Tart later. Embrace will probably be more everyday, and Satisfied a little more for going out. Satisfied plus the perfecting glow is the date night look.

Good choices for going out lippies will be Hot Blooded or Morello. Hot Blooded is fairly red, so if you are not used to reds of any kind, it might not be the right place to start. One other lippie color that will look fabulous on you for going out is Morello. It is more in the plum family than red. If you want a neutral red (meaning a brownish red), Jaybird is the one to pick and it will be a professional look, or a lippie in between casual and special occasion. For everyday, I think the nude that matches your own lip color will be Fig Leaf. If you want it to show a little pink, go with Breathless or Berry Nice instead. If you want it to show a little brown, go with Birthday Suit. I kind of stayed away from the frosty ones for now. If you really want one with a shimmer try Sugar Plum or Berry Crush. I am kind of leaning toward the more pigmented end for you to complement your coloring.

I recommend the Elegant Brown Quad for everyday and office. For office use Chic and Posh along with a dark liner of Vogue. If you are on your casual day, just a wash or Posh plus liner. For the office day, just do a wash of Posh with Chic on the vee (kind of the outer crease and outer next to the lashes), and line with Vogue. You can also highlight the brow woth the Cream from the Quad. For going out eyes I do recommend Vinyard and Velvet with Cream from the Quad. Highlight the brow with Cream, lid and crease with Vineyard, and line with Velvet.

I think I got it all......we are all here to answer any questions you might have!

[Rhys]

Ooh, forgot that Cream was with the brown quad - yes yes yes on that! One of them is pretty close to Honey, and you've got accent and liner colours, plus a great highlighter with Cream that you can use with almost any other colour. Definitely a good choice there.

I thought Embrace was one of the discontinued blushes for some reason - daft of me. I think it'll look really good on you, too, Peggy - had I realised it was still available, I'd have recommended it. Tart may be a winner, again, sample - if you end up not liking it it'll be perfect for somebody you know and then you'll have someone to be an addict with - how cool is that? Tart helps me to look less dead when I haven't slept.

[JenW]

Sorry to threadjack.......

Rhys,
It is great to have you back! I missed you!

[alohaaina9207]

Thanks, Jen! and thank you again Rhys and Helena
My husband came home tonight to find me clicking back and forth between the forum and the site, and writing things down like I was studying. He was like "What are you doing? Do you have a test tomorrow?" And I said "Uh.... writing an outline of makeup that will suit me of course" . So, I've got my looks mapped out on paper and am going to start putting together orders. I can't wait!!!!

[zeebs]

Thanks, Jen! and thank you again Rhys and Helena
My husband came home tonight to find me clicking back and forth between the forum and the site, and writing things down like I was studying. He was like "What are you doing? Do you have a test tomorrow?" And I said "Uh.... writing an outline of makeup that will suit me of course" . So, I've got my looks mapped out on paper and am going to start putting together orders. I can't wait!!!!

oh, I know that feeling... I study twice as hard for makeup as I do for school.

[karen]

Welcome Peggy! I'm so glad you came out of lurker status! You're gorgeous! The girls gave you some fabulous advice, but I've got to throw rare berry into the ring for your consideration.

I study makeup waaaaay more than I ever studied anything in college- it's just so much more fun!