Face Powder Help/Suggestions?

First things first.. Thanks to all those who noticed my post after post after post the past few days... That's what staying in on a Friday night and experiencing the "grown up" world can do for ya :) (After reading and catching up with a bunch of blogs, I was in the mood to blog.. So I went to my drafts and my list of blog ideas and I started typing away, I set the post dates for the following days)

With a busy busy semester ahead of me, I am trying not to really make any "plans" for BD and I on weekends, minus the "can't miss activities." If you know me, you know this is very uncommon.. For years I have had something of some sort planned for BD and I to do pretty much every weekend rather it simply be dinner or going out with friends or as extreme as going out of town..
Since I know I will be more exhausted come the weekends this semester, I'm ready to kinda 'grow up' and have more nights in relaxing... I know my big sis is probably saying see I told you or Thank God your realizing now, ha! But she has no room to talk as she has always been Ms. social bug!

Now that I went off on my random tangent, on to the reason for this post...

I need some of you wonderful ladies advice/help...

I'm not happy with my powder I'm currently using... As mentined in my post a few days ago about concelear, I strongly dislike buying new make-up!!

I'm one that always wants to try new things and I jump around.. Rather it be toothpaste, body wash, make-up, or even cloths...
I love trying new things and rarely 'finish' a bottle of anything in my bathroom.. I'm learning this is not smart for more than one reason!
1. Too expensive
2. Never know if your going to like it better than the last
3. Makes my bathroom look cluttered
and the list goes on...

You know the saying, if it's not broke.. Don't fix it! I need to learn to live by that, If I like the way something is..then simply stick with it and use it!

So with that being said!

In middle school/high school when I started wearing make-up I began wearing Cover Girl and would alternate and use Clinique..



Over the years I've used Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder




A few times over the years I've tried ( remember above me I mentioned I cant' stick with anything, prime example..I'd have something that worked fine but yet I wanted to try MAC) using MAC Stuido-Fix Power.. I never liked it, not the first time, not the second time, and yes you guessed it.. NOT the third time!
So many people wore MAC and I always wanted to be that 'MAC Make-Up user' don't ask why...




Over the years of switching, I decided to try Bare Minerals Powder/Foundation and really liked it! You might be asking OK well then why don't you use it, I mentioned in my Concealer Post, I'm allergic to Bare Minerals Make-Up. I absolutely loved the natural-radiant glow that this make up gave me though!


After reading some good reviews and having a lady at Sephora help me.. I decided to go with Laura Mercier Pressed Power

To be brutally honest I do NOT like it!
I feel as those my face looks like this...



OK, that might be a bad image.. Cause fortunately I do not have any wrinkles yet, but what I'm trying to get at with this image is you can see every little imperfection and hair.. You can def tell there is a layer of make-up on her face (You can also tell on mine when I wear that make up)

I feel like MiMi from the Drew Carey Show



OK not literally but you get the picture...

So what do I do? I want the natural yet pretty look back!! Do you have a recommendation or should I try going back to the Clinique that I've used for years or try another Mineral Loose Powder?

P.S.



I use this Primer after my lotion and have always had great results with it, I've also changed my face lotions a few times and have had all the same results of the thick yuck looking make-up!


Thanks in advance for any tips/opinions!

Concealer Make Up Help?!?!

I've learned in the blogging world, what better "go-to" for advice/tips than your blog or blogs you follow..

I'm on the hunt for a new concealer!

I strongly dislike (I do not like to use the word hate) buying new make-up.. Especially trying new make-up!

I have not been happy or consistent in purchasing a concealer for a couple years, I used to really like and use regularly the Bare Mineral's Powder Concelear

After wondering why I had these bumps on my face that looked like a rash for over a year... I finally realized I was allergic to Bare mineral's make-up, I stopped using all Bare mineral's and my face was clear within a few weeks!

Before that I used the MAC studio finish concealer



I didn't like how fast the MAC dried up..

Recently, my current concelaer is the Bobbi Brown


After reading several reviews and hearing ramps and raves about this concealer I made the leap and went and got it..... To be honest, I'm not that impressed! Especially for how much each little itty bitty tube cost..
This is a well known concealer but for some reason I'm just not a fan, If I remember right it was kinda watery at first and then now it's super dry.. And in the middle, it helped with my under eyes but not really any "cover-up" like I can normally get both out of a concealer
You can read about it here: Bobbi Brown Concealer

Does anyone know how long your supposed to keep make-up? I read a few articles but still unsure

So what do you use ladies, what's your FAV? I don't have to have the best of the best, I don't mind spending a little money just not too much!

Face Bronzer

Next up that I'm on the hunt for is a new bronzer!

I LoVe the one I use now....

Its the Two Faced brand which I purchase at Ulta!

I am happy with it, I just get bored with my make-up and like changing it up and trying new things!

A few things to keep in mind:
* I don't like glitter/shimmer in my bronzer
*Can't be too DARK or light for that matter, but you know some bronzers are just super dark!
*I only wear make up about once a week so its not that important to spend a lot of $$ so relatively fair price!
*I don't like it to be too thick and def not have a foundation of any sort

Some bronzers I have tried in the past: (at least the ones I can remember)

California Tan Bronzer, sold at Darque Tan or any Tanning Salon for that matter, used to purchase this when I worked there

Mac.. If I remember right I didn't like how thick it was

Physician's Formula, don't remember why I switched from this one to be honest

And that's all I can remember for now

So what do you use ladies? What are the pro's & con's?

Make Up Brush Roll

I currently have a black Studio Gear Make up brush roll.. Getting worn out and not very fun, ready for a new one :)

I was hoping to find one to match my travel make up bag
Or my travel hang bag thing..

(this is not the pattern I have but couldn't get it to save in the pattern I have)

But neither Jon Hart or Vera Bradley make a Make Up Brush Roll yet

So I went on over to the oh so loving site Etsy, here's what I found:

1. 2.
3.

Here's where you come into play... 1 2 or 3 ladies? They are from differnt Etsy shop sellers but all around the same price!