I hate blacklights, more so now because they make my makeup glow weird, especially concealer. I've tried several different kinds with no better results -- it's like reverse raccoon eyes! Anyone had and solved this problem?





I hate blacklights, more so now because they make my makeup glow weird, especially concealer. I've tried several different kinds with no better results -- it's like reverse raccoon eyes! Anyone had and solved this problem?
Smashbox was recommended to me at Sephora for this reason. I tried it and it did perform, but made me break out somethin' awful. Sorry![]()





What do you use to remove your makeup? I thought one I was using was breaking me out but it turned out I wasn't getting it off adequately and when I started using cold cream it helped immensely.
My NYC concealer with mineral makeup dusted on top looks normal under blacklights...my teeth, however, look disgusting.![]()
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I get a feeling that your concealer layer is a bit thick and also, you're using too light of a color. For the most part, you want to get your undereye concealer to be, at the most 1/4-1/2 shade lighter than your skin tone. I don't even wear concealer under my eyes. Are you trying to cover discoloration there? If you are, use a yellow, orange or lavender corrector and apply a concealer that almost matches your skin tone- apply think layers and blend!
also, if you're only wearing concealer and no foundation- then I would try wearing foundation to see if that makes a difference. concealer and foundation contain minerals to give opacity- and the minerals reflect light. If you wear foundation, that may reduce/eliminate the reverse racoon eye effect under blacklight.
i've found that the best way to remove makeup is to massage a msall amount of good quality oil (grapeseed, almond, jojoba) into the skin, and using a good suedecloth with a foaming cleanser (for makeup removal, liquid castille soap is the bomb).





I am really pale to begin with. I don't *think* I put it on very thick -- I use a brush and light strokes -- but if you have tips for light, light application I would love to hear them.
Yeah, I'm trying to lighten dark circles, so perhaps I'll try a yellow corrector.
You're right on about the oil -- that is definitely what gets rid of the makeup. I heard that cold cream is good because the particles in the mineral oil in it are too large to soak into your skin and block pores.
Do you use Dr. Bronners on your face? I would be scared -- got some in my eyes once and it was sheer misery.
Scarlett -- why do your teeth look bad in the blacklights? Mismatched caps? I had a front cap that did that and have been unbelievably happy since I had it replaced.
^ no, no caps...they just look so yellow in the blacklight. Uniformly yellow.
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Susan, I HATE this problem! I had been using a department store brand of make up for a while, until I caught my reflection in a mirror and realized I looked like I had a sunburn from the neck up!
I went to mineral make up, dusted on lightly (but enough to cover) and that's much better. If the Yellow concealer doesn't work for you, try not using it at all. If it is dark enough in the club and enough black light, then your skin might look more uniform without it?
I went and got a black light to keep in my room and I use it to check my skin, costumes, and make up before I go to work...just in case![]()





I was thinking about doing just that, EE. That's a terrific idea. Now to find the headshop where I can buy one.
Fascinating the little problems we have to deal with.
Do you have a spencer's near you? Or a Wal-Mart, that's where I got mine. It's been a life saver quite a few nights now! That one little black mini that had a stain that I couldn't really see in regular light.... and the deoderant that lied when it said it was clear, etc.... It's a good buy.





susan, walmart has them for $10 in the electrical/lighting department..you can also buy just regular black light bulbs anywhere that sell light bulbs.
also, i haven't noticed your concealer glowing"![]()
lol
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It's mainly a problem in the private dance area where there's more blacklight than other light -- on stage and on the floor the other lights dominate more.
And yeah, I see you looking down my dress
I won't shop at Wal-Mart but I'm sure I can find a Spencer's or a hardware store with them -- and then maybe use it at a bachelor party with blacklight paints, heh.




Are you warming up your concealer before you put them on? Warming up the product help it go on thinner. I always warm them up on the back of my hands for a few minutes before application. I like using my ring finger and using a light tapping motion, rather than use brushes. Using my fingers further warms up the product.
what color are the discoloration under your eyes? are they blue, purple, brown, etc?





there is a spencers in clackamas towne center. i bought one from there. you can get bulbs (just like regular light bulbs) at fred meyers too.
![]()
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Order through me & get a FREE instructional video!
"Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from." Jodie Foster




Dr. Bronners is a lifesaver for a friend that wears stage meakeup and greasepaint often. It does sting in your eyes, but that doesn't mean that it's *bad*. All soaps sting, and Dr. Bronners is quite concentrated.
I make my own soaps, so I use what I make, which is milder than Dr. Bronners, but they're both liquid castille soaps.
I hope you've found a solution. Again, if you only wear concealer- than wearing foundation will offset the different reflective properties of skin.
Uuummmmmm.... crap. So is my conceler glowing in the black light and I don't even know it?! (I use covergirl)
If you think school is hard, try being stupid.
I wonder if it's the same problem photographers have with makeup reflecting light in photos and making the face look pale. Do you know if your makeup has a lot of titanium dioxide in it?
Last edited by Guenevere; 12-23-2006 at 12:28 AM.




Almost all makeup contain titanium dioxide, even mineral makeup. It's one of the minerals that give opacity to the foundation and concealers. Obviously, since it's a white powder, darker foundations should have less (and if they have too much, it gives the ashy shade on dark skin). Foundations that photograph true to color does not change very much with flash photography, and that is what many makeup artists will use. General drug store brands do not photograph true to color.
Black light is slightly different than regular flash photography, but I would suggest using overall foundation so you have a similarly reflective product on your skin instead of just concealer.
It's not necessarily drug store compared to another though. It can be large or small amounts in cheap or expensive brands. I'm just wondering if it IS from titanium dioxide, if it has a lot, and if that is what is causing it. Plus there are quite a few makeup lines that do make camera ready makeup that wouldn't glow (although I doubt that going that far would be necessary).
What concealer are you using BTW? Did you mention it and I missed it, lol?
Last edited by Guenevere; 12-19-2006 at 08:46 AM.
K, So I was talking with a friend who works a department store about this and she told me that Photocrome, by Prescriptives shouldn't change under blacklight. It's photography make-up but at department store price.
It's enough coverage that you wouldn't need a concealer, but for those of you who don't like a lot of coverage it might be too heavy.
Anyway, it's worth looking into I guess.
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P.S. They may not carry it anymore...... I think some calling around would have to be done.




Price doesn't always equal quality, but i've found that for the most part, most drug store and department store brands don't photograph true to color. I've avoided MAC and Bobbi Brown ever sine they got bought out by Estee Lauder. The quality isn't the same, and the price is no longer... justifiable. That aid, his is from a makeup artist's point of view, not an end user POV. Some of the makeup artist brands I like are smashbox, makeup forever, and shu uemura.
However, ben nye, kryolan, cinema secrets, dermacolor, rmca are all the real decent bang for the buck in terms of coverage (adjustable), not turning color, quality, etc.
I like Cinema Secrets also and Makeup Forever is good, a little less of a theatrical type makeup.
I haven't put my Colortration to the test yet, but when I do I'll report back.




Colortration has excellent coverage, but it is very opaque (considering it covers tattoos).
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