Redhead Tutorials? Spring tips for redheads?

Apr 6, 2014

Tiff F.

I'm a redhead... freckles and all. To give you an idea of my skin tone and the factors surrounding it... As I've gotten in to my early 30's, I've been pleased that my face freckles have faded dramatically. When summer hits, they do darken but not nearly as much as they did when I was younger. The same goes with my body freckles although they haven't lightened as much as my face. I have Lupus so I sometimes get a slight reddish colored "butterfly" pattern across my nose and cheeks but in comparison to many people who have this skin affliction due to Lupus, mine isn't that noticeable when it's occurring (a few times a year for a week to a month at a time). I do have some signs or aging but nothing too bad. My neck bothers me a bit.

The problem I have with applying makeup is that there is a very fine line between natural and over the top, especially in regards to eyeliner. I usually go with earth tones (browns, darker greens, etc) for my liner, mascara and shadow. With Spring here, along with my ever increasing interest in makeup, I'd like to start experimenting with more color. I know that purples/lavenders and greens look nice with my complexion but along with these colors I'd like to play with other colors, also. Are there any GOOD tutorials out there for redheads?

Secondly, I have a really hard time with foundations not looking dry/cakey on my nose and between my eyes. I do everything right when it comes to my skin but no matter if it's sort of dry, smooth, moisturized... it just doesn't matter... my it looks terrible there. Usually my nose loses the foundation, even if I set it, after an hour or so. Then it gets really shiny. Sometimes, however, it looks a a key just like between my eyes.

With all that said, hopefully someone can direct me to some good tutorials or at least give me some tips. Freckles and redhead complexions are tricky. Thanks!

Apr 6, 2014

Chelsea E.

I'm in love with the liquid foundation sold at only walmart by "flower" cosmetics its natural but buildable its wondeful for dry skin (even if you forget to moisturized!) and the lightest shade fits me perfectly and I'm very pale. I'm below an NC15 in MAC. Its a very liquid product and may fill a bit slippery after applying so a powder overtop by "flower" cosmetics works great, its their powder foundation. They even have a cream stick that is good but I prefer the liquid. The other products of the line (foundation/concealer wise) is very off in my opinion to the lightest shade besides the powder foundation and the liquid foundation (assuming youre very light as well). Anyways flower cosmetics is only sold at walmart but they definitely have some great products!
hope it helped somewhat!

Apr 6, 2014

Ariana G.

I can't really help you with the foundation thing because I have a similar problem but as for makeup I think relatively anything can work for you! I think a champagne color would look nice and of course the colors you already mentioned.

Apr 6, 2014

Bree B.

My SIL is a red head, very freckley?, copper colored hair, has spent a ton of time outside, was a national park worker in Utah, peace corps worker in Africa. So she's got a lot more going on than you, freckle-wise, and I'm working on her as one of my models. I also did her wedding makeup.

Are you trying to cover your freckles? I don't try to cover hers. Yes, foundation does lighten them, but she still looks natural, just a little more even. However I noticed she had the dry spots you mentioned. She is a very natural no makeup girl, so I assumed it being winter she might not exfoliate and that could be her issue? Are you exfoliating? And what products are you using?

Also of importance, what foundation are you using?
Are you using primer? What brand?

While I've been playing around with her makeup I used MUFE Aqua Eyes 5L, it's a bronzey-green, it is metallic so it doesn't look dark and it's very flattering. But even better is to use some beautiful neutral shadows, I like the Naked palette, and with a wet eyeliner brush pick up some shadow and with a stamping motion apply along your lash line. It's a pretty, soft liner look w/o a harsh line and you have a whole palette, or whatever shadow you own, to make liner from.

Apr 7, 2014

Jocelyn S.

I'm a redhead as well. The only foundations I am liking right now is the Dior Airflash foundation and Dior BB cream. Before p, I used to use MAC Studio Finish powder for my foundation. I don't try to hide the freckles. I am red under my tan freckles, so it's very tricky. I really like the Maybelline Stipudio gel liner I got in brown...but yeah. Going for natural and glam can happen very quickly...very fine line. I try to follow You Tubers with pale foundation. There's a girl called BeautybybritneyXO or something like that and she has red hair...maybe look her up.

Apr 7, 2014

Tiff F.

@Bree B... I spend a ton of time outside as well...I'm really in to fishing, kayaking, Morel hunting etc... basically a tomboy outdoors and a girls girl indoors lol. I do get a lot "darker" in the summer but ever since about, have, 26 (33 now), they've really tamed down. I do my best not to get burnt but it usually happens at least once each summer. It definitely sounds like she has more outdoor time than me though, for sure! I'd love to be forest ranger! As for your questions...

~ No, I'm not trying to completely cover my freckles up (usually - there's the rare occasion where I do want them 100% covered but only in the Winter since in the Summer it looks ridiculous for me to have none on my face but tons everywhere else). I moreso want them to be faded looking. So many foundations make them look greenish (ugg) or cause the problem I described previously.

~ Yes, I exfoliate and take really good care of my skin but I have to be careful because even the most gentle of washes can cause me to break out. I have a good record with Clinique for my wash then I use my Mia every other day... every day is too harsh first my skin. I use a great moisturizer and I change them up from season to season to match up with the changes in weather and how my skin reacts to it.

~I own large number of foundations. From drugstore brands to pricey brands you can only find at Ulta about Sephora. I do best when I avoid yellow based ones, so as to alleviate the greenish freckle tones.

~Primers... I have a love/hate going on with them haha. I don't apply my eye makeup without putting on lid primer but. for my face I have found that they cause more problems than not. They seem to make the cakey issue worse, especially between my eyes and on my nose. I've used and own a large assortment.

~I own the Naked palette and love it. I find that when I use shimmer of any sort, it tends to just look... wrong?... on me. Even with an eye primer, it really makes my eyelids show their age :/ I don't have the brand you first spoke of so I'll have to check that out!

I guess what would really help is more of a tutorial video on how to apply two or three "Spring" colors or something like that, for redheads. I like your suggestion regarding how to apply eyeliner for a softer look. I have a product that sets eyeshadow so you can use it as an eyeliner and I love it! I wish more people should use it in tutorials because it's awesome.

Thank you and also thanks to the other commentors...any and all advice is very much appreciated! Sorry if there are lots of typos... I'm replying on my Nook HD and it's not super easy to type on lol

Apr 7, 2014

Tiff F.

Jocelyn... I LOVE that liner! It stays put super well.

Apr 7, 2014

Bree B.

Real quick, about facial primers, I also have a love/hate relationship. I've found the ones like Smashbox do nothing for me. M.A.C's Prep+Prime Skin and Hourglass's Mineral Veil are both a very different type of formula, they're more tacky? I would say? but in a good way. Whenever you're next at Sephora and Nordstrom ask for some samples and see if those work better!

I know what you mean about the shimmer eye shadow as you get older, heh heh. I find I can do a shimmer on my lid as long as I do matte elsewhere. But, Stila has a neutral, pretty all matte palette "In the Know".

Apr 9, 2014

Tiff F.

I'm exactly the same way! I'll hafta check out the Hourglass brand primer. I've never heard of it. They give out samples?! I never knew!! I guess it makes sense but I had no idea!