Make-up question (really!)

One of the downsides of being raised by wolves* is that I know bits and pieces about grooming, but not the whole picture. This is usually fine, I am reasonably genetically lucky and have never been fussed on occasions when I have turned up with Manga hair and everyone else is doing French rolls.

But sometimes I seek information, and have no sources! SO, for those of you in the US and UK, are any of you familiar with Smashbox cosmetics? If you are, could you do me a great favour and share some information?

They have some primers that sound really lovely, but there is no local stockist and they are too costly to buy on spec. I am a convert to primers, since you can often wear them instead of foundation, and you need less foundation for good coverage if you do use it, so they're perfect for 'meeting face' without feeling like a drag queen!

The two that I am looking at are Smashbox Color Correcting Foundation Primer in the green, or Smashbox Photo Finish Primer SPF 15 and Dermaxyl. I have fairish skin in a neutral tone (generally the 01 or 02 shades in most ranges). It's in fairly good condition for my age, but has some fine lines and is prone to dehydration. I have some slight discolouration from ripping my face off on a road, and will go pink at the faintest touch of sun or embarrassment. (Happily, it is very hard to embarrass me!) On the whole, it's sensitive and a little dry.

What I am interested in are the tones and the opacity. I dislike wearing anything masklike on my face and enjoy cosmetics that feel light and move with my skin. Anything yellow-toned is right out, as it looks obvious and gives me the visage du hepatitis. Anything too pink makes me look as though I have been chasing young men around the photocopier after drinking a bottle of vino ordinaire. I had one lovely light green powder from some French brand purchased in Lyon in 1984 that went invisible when I dusted it on my cheeks, leaving them creamy and luminous, Some bugger nicked it from my handbag in a German nightclub and I never saw that brand again. Every brand I have tried to replicate it with has made me look like Mrs Kermit, young Kermit's badly behaved mother.

And let us not forget the fine lines! Despite religious sunblocking, I have spent too much time outside and much of that in Australia, where there is no ozone layer, and Kenya, where there was no sunblock (it was the 70s). Anything that 'luminises', cosmetic monolith-speak for plays with light so the wrinkles look softer, is welcome.

So, to the three of you still reading, will either of the Smashbox primers make me happy that I have spent the same sum on one of them as I would on two new trade paperbacks? Any other suggestions? Is it just time to sew fine black veils to all my hats?


* Actually hippies and lesbians, but there are many similarities including but not limited to being encouraged to howl at the moon, running wild in packs over the moors, rarely bathing, and an awful lot of hair.

Make-up question (really!)

One of the downsides of being raised by wolves* is that I know bits and pieces about grooming, but not the whole picture. This is usually fine, I am reasonably genetically lucky and have never been fussed on occasions when I have turned up with Manga hair and everyone else is doing French rolls.

But sometimes I seek information, and have no sources! SO, for those of you in the US and UK, are any of you familiar with Smashbox cosmetics? If you are, could you do me a great favour and share some information?

They have some primers that sound really lovely, but there is no local stockist and they are too costly to buy on spec. I am a convert to primers, since you can often wear them instead of foundation, and you need less foundation for good coverage if you do use it, so they're perfect for 'meeting face' without feeling like a drag queen!

The two that I am looking at are Smashbox Color Correcting Foundation Primer in the green, or Smashbox Photo Finish Primer SPF 15 and Dermaxyl. I have fairish skin in a neutral tone (generally the 01 or 02 shades in most ranges). It's in fairly good condition for my age, but has some fine lines and is prone to dehydration. I have some slight discolouration from ripping my face off on a road, and will go pink at the faintest touch of sun or embarrassment. (Happily, it is very hard to embarrass me!) On the whole, it's sensitive and a little dry.

What I am interested in are the tones and the opacity. I dislike wearing anything masklike on my face and enjoy cosmetics that feel light and move with my skin. Anything yellow-toned is right out, as it looks obvious and gives me the visage du hepatitis. Anything too pink makes me look as though I have been chasing young men around the photocopier after drinking a bottle of vino ordinaire. I had one lovely light green powder from some French brand purchased in Lyon in 1984 that went invisible when I dusted it on my cheeks, leaving them creamy and luminous, Some bugger nicked it from my handbag in a German nightclub and I never saw that brand again. Every brand I have tried to replicate it with has made me look like Mrs Kermit, young Kermit's badly behaved mother.

And let us not forget the fine lines! Despite religious sunblocking, I have spent too much time outside and much of that in Australia, where there is no ozone layer, and Kenya, where there was no sunblock (it was the 70s). Anything that 'luminises', cosmetic monolith-speak for plays with light so the wrinkles look softer, is welcome.

So, to the three of you still reading, will either of the Smashbox primers make me happy that I have spent the same sum on one of them as I would on two new trade paperbacks? Any other suggestions? Is it just time to sew fine black veils to all my hats?


* Actually hippies and lesbians, but there are many similarities including but not limited to being encouraged to howl at the moon, running wild in packs over the moors, rarely bathing, and an awful lot of hair.