To wonder what happened to the natural look?

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

Lighthearted thread for a Saturday (I hope, who knows, anything can happen on MNs).

When I say 'natural' I dont mean no makeup. I have faffing about with my hair and slapping on makeup since I was about 12.

When I was a school in the early 80s we were all rubbish at putting on makeup. It was all blue eyeshadow and tide marks. As I got older it was the fashion to pile on as much slap as you could possibly fit on your face.

Then it all started to relax a bit. Still makeup but at least it looked normal. I used to look at teenage girls and envy how well they did theirs. It was understated and well applied. They looked nice (if you think makeup looks nice).

I was out today and noticed that it seems to be on trend to wear a sort of airbrushed look. REALLY thick foundation and mineral blusher. Totally matt and mask looking. Not just a couple of girls but ALL of them.

I bought some powder from Boots last week in 'nude'. When I put it on it was orange! Is orange the new nude then?

What is going on? Or is it only in East London?

I'm sure we only wore Dewberry and Fuzzy Peach to drown out the smell of Lynx.

To the boys who wore Farenheit, however...mmm...

Farenheit stirs up some amorous memories...

Farenheit. Oh. My. God.

I loved it so much that I used to wear it. It's so lush.

I may have to get DH some

Mmmmm fuzzy peach

Can you still get it? I just don't get the oompa lompa look, but I am a toned down goth.

What was that bluey nail varnish called? Moonlight something. I used to spend science lessons repainting my nails. I put so many coats on they wouldnt dry for days.

I know teens have never really done 'natural' but when I was a teen and put loads on it was a sort of punky look thing. It wasnt done to accentuate my good bits IYSWIM. It was to make me look a bit mad and scarey. I also had black and orange dreadlocks down to my arse and a chain going from my ear to my nose (my poor mother).

Now its like they have to have bigger eyelashes (they WANT that clumpy, old mascara look), porn star lipstick, big blusher etc.

In my day (gimmer) we looked like that because no one had showed us how to put make up on. Like kids in a dressing up box.

I think the alexa chung thing is more middle class. My DFD is very understated (although she does wear a fair bit) and she is much posher than us . She stands out round here bless her because all the girls are into the tranny look.

We used to have to have the natural look, we weren't allowed make up and god forbid the dept head caught you (nun).

Maybe that's why we spent ages trying to make it look normal

White musk is much nicer than Dewberry I still quite like it now.

I love white musk, but my nanny has always worn it and thus it reminds me of her.

oooh, i used to love White Musk and always got a gift set for Christmas.
DH used to wear "Blue Stratos"....dear me, the memories.
My DDs are classier - they wear J'adore and that nice one in a bottle shaped like an apple...

I always liked bodyshop vanilla perfume - a bloke told me in my yoof that I smelled of custard!!

I bought some a while ago and still loved it!!

I could never do 'fashion' when I was a teen in the 80's. I was desperate for a flicked, hairsprayed fringe but I have the worlds most stupid hair (blonde afro) and was one of those kids who looks 8 when they are 16.

When I hit 35 for the first time in my life I discovered that I actually needed foundation in order to avoid looking half dead during the day but I like to make it look like I don't have any foundation on IYSWIM. I generally don't like 'obvious' make up but I do have a penchant for black eyeliner!!!

Fuzzy Peach!!! That was the back up if they were out of stock of Dewberry Oil.

See, the girls around our village, little village that it is don't have the 'Drag Queen Look'

However, as soon as you get into our nearest town, bang! You've been tangoed with thick orange polyfiller foundation, huge, clumped eye lashes and the most neon of pinks lipsticks.

They are usually wearing shorts, (or skinny jeans that are far too small) with tights underneath, squashed footwear where they've not walked in them but shuffled along and no coat.

Just 'layers'. Scarf, thin cardi, vests, etc.

Then there's the bling/bangles/giant rings.

Everything is just so OTT.

Yuk.

Their hair is matted from back combing and styling products.

But what do we think of how the boys dress these days? What's the look where you live?

The boys in the town here have their hair all swept to one side. Very new romantic but without the make-up.

Jeans are skinny, with pumps and shirts.

Still, the look as unwashed as the girls do!

The girls around here wear thigh high, navel low crap, I swear it makes me victorian.

I am only 31 but feel that going out (in our fairly small Irish town) constitutes being psrt of a meat market.

part

One word Jordan! that's what happened to the natural look.

(she says twirling her hair extensions)

I wonder what time these young girls have to get up in the mornings to do all this stuff? They look like they're on a night out clubbing, most of them.

I'm 48 now and must say, I do still like to "play" at the makeup counters but, I was in my early twenties before I started wearing the stuff regularly. I liked the attention it got me, to be honest.....going from a rather mousey looking girl to a proper head turner. The girls today are just doing the same thing I guess but THEY START SO YOUNG !! I think it's a shame though....to completely cover a young skin with all that goo.

My 16yr old sd wears wore full face paint for the last 2 yrs of school...... She's now at college and bought an Estee Lauder foundation that would be too much coverage for someone of my age. Shame.

Am I he only one who would actually quite like to have a go at this mousse foundation now to see if it is really as mask-like as people say?

Trills - I thought you posted mouse foundation!

Don't worry, you are safe!

You have to wear a primer now as well

Its like going back to the 80s.

It was so much easier in the 90s with the boho hippy stylee or happy house look.

Now we are back to panstick foundations and blushers and batwing jumpers with padded sholders.

I tried that Mousse stuff trillian and i hated it. I have worn foundation on a daily basis since my teens so I am no novice. It did feel like a mask. My face felt all itchy and stiff. My nieces swear by the stuff but I am not keen on their look (although they are all beautiful of course).

Not sure the matt look is that good for a woman in her 40s though.

MrsDeVere - matt foundations emphasise the tiniest imperfection, fine line, wrinkle, enlarged pore, flake of dry skin etc.

I tried Rimmel's Matt Mousse and threw it away after two uses.

It sank into my pores, clogged my face and felt so stiff on application.

Not tried Maybeline though, the 'air whipped' stuff.

I used to work for Estee Lauder but can't afford to use it these days.

So I use Max Factor and find their make-up is lovely.

I have tried loads. I like tinted moisturisers but need more coverage really. I have about 6 on the go

I used to love benefit's all purpose one (they have two shades now so perhaps it wasnt so all purpose after all!).

I like the True Match mineral brush one (Loreal I think but might be MF). The powder one by No7 is really awful and orange even though I bought the nude shade.

Have yet to find my ideal one. So recommendations would be welcome. I dont mind paying a bit more for a really good one but would prefer a cheapy.

My skin is combination and its not too bad for my age (43). Its dryer than it was and I get a flakey nose (boo). I am pale and tend towards sallowness. I have a baby who wakes up a lot so look knackered most of the time.

I want to look bloody gawjuss!

I got a sample of a chanel foundation. By god it was brilliant and I eked out every drop of it.

Until I win the lottery though I will have to stick with body shop for day to day...and in my mind (and economy!!) that's a 'posh' foundation!!!

I have v.dry skin and can't get on with powders and mousses. I need liquid that I can layer on with a trowel, plus tons of touche eclat and a smattering of clarins beauty flash balm. Oh, and stuff for my eyes to minimise puffyness and lines.

Apart from all the above I am totally natural.

I love clarins. Its my thing. Because its so expensive I only get the skin care (for christmas, birthdays and any other excuse I can manage). I wonder what the make up is like?

Chanel - if only...

the natural look is still alive and kicking in our house

I have always worn eye stuff, but still feel like a little girl dressing up if I wear proper lipstick and foundation - I'm more of a tinted moisturise/chapstick girl.

A couple of years ago I had a Clinique consultation and was blathering away to the 20 year old girl about my oily T zone, when she looked at me like this and told me I have dry skin! Somehow in my head I have teenage skin (I am 41) - what happened to the interval between spots and lines? - there was none!!