Has anybody given up on MMU?
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free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:35 am

Disclaimer: I'm feeling a bit low today...

Over the last few weeks, I've been trying out MMU samples from Alima and UGlogirl and have some from Lumiere on order. In the past I tried Jane Iredale. But so far, no right shade match despite countless attempts, I look dry (despite spritzing) and (gasp) old and feel poor (after ordering all these samples)!!! I'm sort of kinda within a MAC range of NC35-44-45.

So now, I'm wondering whether it is really worth it. I already have a foundation I really like and I'm questionning the whole MMU craze that I have worked myself in. Should I give up or keep trying?

Dispirited cat.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:02 am

I'm waiting on some samples from Lumiere as well. The best shade I found was from True, but it REALLY showed the flaws, even with a primer. I liked Everyday MMU, but it seemed to turn color on me. Alima was a little too drying and caused some bumps that I don't think was a coincidence.
I like MMU, I just haven't found the HG yet for me, but I will keep trying.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:03 am

No, cat, don't be dispirited. Not yet, anyway. I tried all kinds of MMU before I found 2 I liked. Talk about "dry", settling where I didn't want it to. I wanted MMU to work so much. BE looked grey on me. YUCK! All the others made me look like a little old lady with too much powder on--think Bette Davis in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" (really macabre) and I couldn't find the right shade. I wanted to stop using liquid foundation and was getting really dispirited like you.

Everyday Minerals worked nicely but finding the right shade took a lot of work. Ahh, hope on the horizon. Then I found Lumiere Veena Velvet. Even better for me as it doesn't settle in the creases. So, finally, I have two MMUs I can use though I do prefer the Lumiere. My skin looks like flawless skin not made-up skin.

Whew! What a long, drawn out testing process. So, just hang in there a bit longer. Smile

And, if you don't like the Lumiere once it comes in, at least you already have a foundation you like.

Ari

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:08 am

Oh. same here. I'm NC35 too & everything's either too orange or yellow or something. The ones that aren't are too light & I look chalky. Can't find a good match., The closest was alima's O-1, but I'd have to mix in another color cuz alone it was too light.I'm tired of ordering samples. Lumiere was too heavy & caked although light/medium warm was a pretty good match. Right now JI in Golden Glow is pretty good (pressed) & I think I'll stick to that one for a while. At least I don't look orange or jaundiced!! JI also makes a wonderful spray-3 types depending on your skin type. I found this really helped a lot, esp. if you're dry. I'm thinking of splurging on the anti-aging one-well, since I hae the powder I may as well make the best of it!

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:14 am

i'm also tired of ordering samples because the shades that are too light are just sitting on the shelf, like signature minerals, alima, and lumiere.

i like lauress' though. i think i have the closest match with their golden shades.

so far it hasn't irritate my skin yet. if that keeps going, i'll keep using it.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:24 am

Thanks for the support guys! We're doing all this so that our skin looks better (no harsh chemicals) in the long term, right??! Sigh!

marina, from Alima - have you tried W4/W5 mixed with something else? Perhaps the O1? I have W4+W5+G5 and that's too yellow and pale though. O2 was too pale too. BBlleeeggghhhhhh!

UGlogirl honey glow+wheat was almost there but too ashy/pink/whatever - just not it!!!

Isn't it awful to be "almost there" but not there in terms of color.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:29 am

I know the pain...I need to mix O-1 with W4. I just to guess what...order more samples to find the right %-I need a smidge of w-4 otherwise, I get some sort of orange thing going with a green undertone. It's more like 3/4 O-1 & 1/4 W-4. W-3 three was waaaaay too yellow. I'm on the right track with olive tones..just have to find the right mix. BTWm I found 0-2 to be too dirty looking & GREENish. I wish I was either superpale or dark-us medium types have the hardeest time with matches.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:32 pm

I used mineral makeup for years and loved it. As I have gotten older, it makes imperfections more obvious rather than covering them up. I have been using Some Kinda Gorgeous from Benefit as my foundation. It evens out the skin tone, doesn't provide great coverage but doesn't emphasize the flaws. Just the perils of aging skin.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:59 pm

I think layering helps get the perfect colour mmu. I am in the process of trying to figure how to get the coverage I need and not look like Baby Jane.

Yesterday I used a Lumiere sample ( Light Golden), which is too yellow for me and makes me look sallow, as a base.

So I added some bronzer, very light dusting. Then a light - very light - brush of pink on apples of cheeks.

Then an all over veil which is warm apricot..( a really nice one from MadMinerals) again very light.

It worked. Much to my amazement it worked, and I kept it on all day and it looked good.

The key to this is having really good brushes.Which I am currently finding out about.

I was a bit taken aback by the result of layering being actually BETTER than when I wear a 'match' like EDM Golden Fair, which simply matches my skintone.

The layering made my face much more... well, the opposite of flat and 'made up'.

Apologies if this is obvious to y'all. I only just found out about using a coloured veil and all this jazz.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:08 pm

I'm with Catski. The brushes are key (also regular cleaning - like every 3-4 days, I think) and also very, very thin layers. I don't know why it took me so long to get the hang of this - I was constantly fighting the urge to go BIG. Anyway, I've since been sprinkling tiny amounts for each layer and then lightly working them all over. Once that's done, I go to the next layer and spritz after.

This is how I've gotten my best results and it also addresses the near-match problem because it truly does look better with your normal skin tone shining through just a little (even but natural). At least, that has been my experience. Oh, almost forgot, make sure you are well exfoliated and hydrated/moisturized. This makes a big difference in how it ultimately looks.

Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:42 pm

I have been close to giving up on MMU so many times! But every time I've tried to go back to my old liquid foundation it feels so icky, melts off my face onto stuff (like the cordless phone and my sunnies, eww!) and given me breakouts.

I have so say that the Alima #25 brush that has has so many raves on here has made the difference for me. My old brushes I had to wash every couple of days because they got so scratchy but this one is always so soft and nice plus it gives a really nice even layer.

And I totally agree with scalawaggirl that very thin layers plus making sure your skin is smooth and super hydrated are the difference between looking like an old wrinkly powdered lady and gorgeous, fresh and bare faced Very Happy

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:20 pm

I'm with you Cat. I had a foundation I really liked and fell into the mmu thing because of this board. I tried UGG - itched like crazy and Lumiere, lovely but my face broke out in tiny bumps.

kimberly

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:00 pm

i totally agree with the layering. ive been going back and forth the last couple months with tinted moisturizers foundation and mmu.. and mmu has won for the (last) time. at first i wasnt too happy with the coverage it looked really thick and chocky til i started doing what scalawaggirl mentioned, sprinkling just a tiny bit and keep layering.. looks MUCH better and never settles into lines and pores. also what catski mentioned about using bronzer and blushers layered over it to make it look more natural.. totally works! my current mmu (youngblood) is a shade too light for me and the next shade is way too dark for me.. ive been using a bit of bronzer besides blush the last month and it looks fantastic!

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:31 pm

You're not alone - I gave up on MMU, even with the careful application and blending it still was just OK on me, not the lovely finish that everyone talks about. Even when I did a good job applying it, you could def tell I had makeup on and by about 1-2 in the afternoon it was gone, hello giant pores, scars, uneven skin tone. And without the careful application and blending forget it, HELLOOOOOOOO giant pores and I looked 100 years old.

So I used to go between Jo Malone Finishing Fluid some days (when I did not need that much coverage) and MMU (Jane Iredale Golden Glow) other days (when I needed more). Neither made me totally happy but they were BTN (better than nothing). Of course now I am totally 1000% happy with SKII Airtouch so I've ditched MMU for good, never going back. LOVE LOVE LOVE THE AIRTOUCH.

But if you don't want to splash out the $$$ for the Airtouch and you need coverage, I'd still say MMU is a good bet. As the other ladies have said, application technique will make or break you. You must apply very thinly and expect to spend time layering to get the best result. You can't just dust some on and go unless you have good skin underneath. For me and my not-so-good skin, applying MMU was a time consuming process. I never got miracles with MMU even after spending all the time on it, but it was decent and gave me coverage that did not feel heavy.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:04 pm

I also tried many brands of MMU: Everyday Minerals, Barefaced minerals, Buff'd and non of them worked for me. They really dried my face and caused bumps all over. Plus, they just didn't seem to look natural. They looked chalky and dry on my face.

I'm currently using GloMinerals, which isn't REALLY a mineral makeup, but it's been ok for me so far. The coverage is much more natural.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:14 pm

To tell you the truth, all the work involved is too much for me. The right brush, the layering, etc. I am always rushing out the door for work, and I can't picture myself having the time to apply "layers". I don't wear traditional foundation, just concealer where i need it and cream blush. I like the glow i get from my current makeup, I even sometimes use a great highlighter by Nars. I tried BE, and i know they are not the best, but it was $$ wasted, and it settled in all the very wrong places! Maybe again in the future, but for now, nuh-uh.
Very Happy

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:48 pm

You'd have to wrench my MMU from my cold dead hands Very Happy

I'll never, ever go back to liquid foundations, ever!!
I have 'mature' skin and it took awhile to find a MMU that didn't emphasize my pores and lines, but I hung in and sampled, sampled, sampled. I finally found my HG - Lumiere VV finish.
I agree 100% with Scally, that you need to exfoliate and moisturize, have the right tools and apply very light layers to get a natural look, but it's so worth it in the end.

free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:14 pm

anya wrote:

You'd have to wrench my MMU from my cold dead hands Very Happy

I'll never, ever go back to liquid foundations, ever!!
I have 'mature' skin and it took awhile to find a MMU that didn't emphasize my pores and lines, but I hung in and sampled, sampled, sampled. I finally found my HG - Lumiere VV finish.
I agree 100% with Scally, that you need to exfoliate and moisturize, have the right tools and apply very light layers to get a natural look, but it's so worth it in the end.

Yup, Anya. Me too.

I must have sampled at least 15 different lines, and given up on MMU half a dozen times, only to hate the feel of my old stand by liquids and then dip my toe back in the MMU waters....then came Lumiere and the VV finish, and finally, an MMU I can crow about. I'm test driving the new glowier Luminesse, and we will see if it compares to the VV, but I have been happily wearing the Lumiere for a good couple of months (a record for me!) and still loving it.

Maria Laughing

Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:01 am

I have combination skin, and found if I brushed on my alima MMU, it only looked good in my oilier T-zone. Then I read somewhere about mixing the MMU with some sort of moisturizer. I tried mixing it with HA (smaller then a dime) in the palm of my hand and applying it like liquid makeup. I LOVE IT!! It doesn't collect in my pores or make the drier areas look bad. Everything looks smooth and feels very light on my face. The drawback is that you have to do it quickly because it dries out fast in my hand, and that you have to make sure it is mixed really well before applying or you will find "patches" of darker areas. I remedy that by putting a drop of HA back in the palm of my hand and "reapply" to the areas that may be dark. With that, practice makes perfect. If you would really like to keep trying MMU, it is worth a try and keep from wasting all your samples!!!

free skin care · Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:23 am

Thanks for the continued support. I am puzzled by the layers catski, Scally and the others are talking about. Is there by any chance a video of this or something of the sort? Anyaway I'm just trying to find the foundation base before I worry about the other layers (Boy, will this is be fun - NOT!).

Lumiere samples came yesterday and unfortuantely none worked. I think that Liz said somewhere that it looked like dirt on her face and that's how I felt. I'm not dissing out Lumiere - I am very impressed by the no-fuss and cheap attitude. It was great to receive my samples in a thin innocuous envelope rather than another package which raises eyebrows. I had ordered the 10-sample pack and really reached out wide. Even though some of the colors were dark enough, they just looked wrong and flat. As for application, I sprinkle a little bit (about one-eight of a teaspoon) in the palm of my hand and swirl the Alima brush in, tap it and swipe on my face from the nose down. So far, I prefer the quality of Alima and Uglogirl powders but still working on a match. Deep deep sigh!

free skin care · Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:52 am

Agent, regarding layers, we are speaking of the application "layers" as in each step. First off, I recommend getting a bowl of some type (I have a sushi bowl for soy sauce that I love) that will allow you to swish the brush all around the MMU to get a nice, even covering. Then, tap the brush on the side of the bowl to shake loose any excess. The method you're using now is almost definitely causing problems for you and I think changing that is going to help greatly.

Now, I can make you a video but it would take me a day or so to get it up for you! But I will describe what I do in the meantime, okay? Well, I start by doing as above, on a well-moisturized, exfoliated face. You are using too much MMU, as well. I use maybe, maybe 1/32 tsp. and it's probably less. What I do is tap a tiny, tiny amount - just a few sprinkles, really - into the bowl. Then, I swirl the brush thoroughly and tap. Next, I gently (key) swipe the brush on each area of my face but move it all around - in other words, I don't cover one and then move on, I lightly work them all repeatedly. After I'm done with one layer, I will do one more in the same manner as above and then spritz with a fine spray of whatever (distilled water, facial spray and so on). Let air dry and voila! Here's a pic of the final outcome - done quickly this morning before my ortho appt. My skin is tight because I just did a TCA peel but you can see that the finish is light, airy and natural looking.

free skin care · Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:14 am

It looks beautiful. Thanks Scally. You look all grown-up and glamorous!!!! Are you still using UGlogirl? And, are you serious about making a video? That would be awesome!!! I'm impressed that such a tiny amount suffices?! So you swirl the brush in the bowl and then swirl the brush in buffing motions on different spots of the face - like paint by numbers not long strokes of wall painting? hmm

free skin care · Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:28 am

CAT I gaped when you said you used 1/8th tsp - that's way too much Shock

I use about the same amount as Scally using the MAC #187 (or is it #188? I'm too lazy to go look). I apply in a light circular motion all over my face and jawline - emphasis on "light". When I've finished all my layers (blush,bronzer, finishing powder) I do final downward strokes then spritz to set everything. I also use different brushes for foundation, blush, bronzer, finishing powder.

free skin care · Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:00 am

I really like alima-they can custom blend your MMU for you if you know the shades you want blended.

free skin care · Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:11 am

Agent OO-CAT wrote:

It looks beautiful. Thanks Scally. You look all grown-up and glamorous!!!! Are you still using UGlogirl? And, are you serious about making a video? That would be awesome!!! I'm impressed that such a tiny amount suffices?! So you swirl the brush in the bowl and then swirl the brush in buffing motions on different spots of the face - like paint by numbers not long strokes of wall painting? hmm

Thanks, girl! I am still a very happy user of UGloGirl. In fact, I mix 90% Honey Beige and 10% Cafe. When I start faux-tanning, I will up the Cafe to go darker. Regarding the video, sure! I was serious that I could do this for you and may be able to get it done this afternoon but it might be tomorrow.

Yes, I do swirl the brush in the bowl and then swipe it very lightly on my face in buffing motions - not long strokes of wall painting. Like Anya does, it's more circular than paint-by-number. Think swirling here and swirling there and so on. I also do just like Anya for a last downward swipe and spritz after all my layers are applied.

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