Beauty Q&A: Face Makeup and Simple Baubles

By Jane Marie December 5, 2011

I love to wear short dresses year round, my legs are my best feature! I regularly pair them with tights, boots etc. But my question is how to dress up a short sleeveless shift dress without looking too retro/ stodgy. I wear a lot of cardigans, but I think it makes me look older than I am (25). So do you have any ideas that would make it feel younger and stylish as opposed to uncool?

I have two ideas for you, young’un: have you tried a cropped pullover or a knotted oxford? I know cropped tops are scary but they’re everywhere right now and we’re not seeing tons of exposed bellies (outside of magazine spreads.) So what gives? Well, most of us are wearing them as layering pieces this winter. A dress is the perfect thing to go underneath since there’s no threat of it riding up or down and showing off too much skin. Take a look around FreePeople.com for inspiration; they do layering so well they even have a tab called “Layering,” and their look is a young one. What about this sweater or this one?

For a different look, try a button-down. You should already have a chambray shirt like this in your wardrobe for when your cardigans need a day off. Get a few more in other materials from second hand stores or your boyfriend’s closet. You can wear them buttoned up, knotted, or belted. And don’t forget about scarves! A sparkly one paired with a dress, chambray shirt, boots, and tights? Unstodgy to the max.

I have a question about face makeup — like, the kind you put on all of your face. I have been following the very safe, not-very-thrilling routine of: medium amount of eyeshadow/liner, unobtrusive lipstick OR very little eyeliner, bright lipstick for a long time. The reason I do this is because I feel restricted to eyeshadow and lipstick because the rest of the skin on my face is constantly ravaged by acne which I have been fighting for years. It’s not awful, need-a-prescription, pit-making acne, but it’s definitely unbalanced skin, requires-daily-preventative-measures acne. Is it possible/reasonable for me to wear any type of foundation or bronzer? My skin tone (obviously) is not super uniform and I just plain don’t have very nice-looking skin. I know that things like tinted moisturizer and bronzer help people like me! But I am afraid to use them because I don’t want to make everything worse. Do you have any recommendations on how to use foundation/bronzer without wrecking my skin?

This is one of the most-asked questions around here: “Foundation/bronzer? How? Which?” And, as you’ve probably heard from me too many times, the beautifying effect of “face makeup” is beyond compare. Eat your heart out, mascara! Rules of thumb: if you are dry OR if you have acne with any sort of textural problems, I think powder-based things highlight those issues so avoid that. I know a lot of people will disagree with me but I have never been so sure about anything in my life! (HA.) No, seriously though, wrinkles, scabby zits, and dry patches from zit-medicine all appear worse under powder. And I know the idea of a lotion or creme might make you think of clogged pores, but not all moist products lead to zits. Some do! But not all.

So, first, look for a creme or liquid product. My favorite foundation is liquid, my bronzer is a creme and my tinted moisturizer with SPF is like a lotion. Next, cut your chances of clogging pores with a non-comedogenic product. It should say that word right on it or in the description on Sephora.com. And finally, make sure you wash your face at the end of the day thoroughly. Test it against a white towel when you dry, and if anything at all comes off, head back to the sink. Seriously, swirl the soap around on your face for at least a whole minute, which is longer than you think.

As far as brands, I mean other than what I use, it’s hard for me to say. My mom likes Stila tinted moisturizer, other people prefer the Laura Mercier. Some acne-prone friends of mine have great luck with the Dior airbrush stuff. Wherever you start, remember this: barring a terrible freak allergic reaction to something, the worst any product will do is irritate your skin a little or give you some more zits. If that happens, and you’re sure you’ve been washing it off completely every night, go back to the drawing board. You can always bring it back to Sephora and explain to them that it made you break out and you need a different product. Make this your new project. It might take a few months and cause you a few breakouts, but work at it and you’ll find the right stuff for your fussy face.

I would like to know your secret for maintaining a fabulous manicure, or even a regular old manicure, when you’re a fabulous woman who also has to do some chores? I am guessing the answer is gloves, but don’t they gross you out? Do you have a tip for gloves that aren’t gross?

Yes and no. Yes, the answer is definitely, always gloves. Or, in other words, never not gloves. Gloves, every time! Not just for doing the dishes, but really any chore that involves your hands being wet or in contact with a chemical other than nail polish stuff. However, no, gloves don’t gross me out at all? Should they? I will wear any nasty old yellow dish gloves if it means preserving a manicure; I do not give a what. You are obviously pickier, and therefore might want to check out Casabella cleaning supplies. Their whole thing is being aesthetically pleasing and not gross. Like, their dish gloves are lined in cotton?

Also, there’s a whole cottage industry of dressed up dish gloves. Etsy is a gold mine. Jolie, your endorsements?

I am the plainest person in the universe, fashion-wise. I currently do not wear a lick of jewelry and I’m looking for a few elegant pieces that aren’t dolphins or cats, and that aren’t ginormous hanging feathers. Just some classic, timeless pieces. Cost does not matter as I am not looking for a collection, just one or two items. Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings… The simpler, the better. Any suggestions? Even a few websites in the right direction would help.

Yay, an excuse to plug my favorite jewelry! I’ll admit, I do like to go a little crazy with accessories some days, but I wear a very simple, beautiful, bracelet and necklace every day. Even in the shower. Even when I’m doing dishes! If you want just a few simple pieces, I want to make an argument that you should buy gold. The finish on other cheaper material will wear off, often times right there in your jewelry box while you’re not even wearing it, and then you end up purchasing more. Suddenly, you’re a woman who hardly wears jewelry but you own a pile of the crappiest kind. Instead, try to invest in some high-quality work. If you save up and purchase one $300 necklace that will last you until the end of time, it suddenly feels like a steal. And choosing one designer with a cohesive collection allows you to say things like “I wear ____.” making holiday shopping easy for everyone around you.

My designer is ginette_ny. See? “My designer.” Isn’t that fun to say? Anyway, ShopBop.com carries a limited selection from them but if you see something on their website that you like, just give them a call. Most things are customizable by length and so forth.

Other simple, chic, semi-affordable brands? Check out Jennifer Meyer’s collection in yellow, rose, and white gold. Me&Ro also does some edgier work in less expensive silver and 10k gold.