Skincare specialist Yoshiko Roth answers your questions

Confused
Hi Yoshiko,

Confused

Hi Yoshiko,
Well I just switched to one of Olay’s facewashes for sensitive skin with aloe and I use it both morning and evening. I wouldn’t say my acne is severe and I usually can cover it up pretty well with just a concealer. I really don’t like to use heavy foundations or powder since I have very dry skin and it usually makes me look cakey. However, I’d like to find a more moisture foundation. Do you have any suggestions? But I use products from Maybeline, CoverGirl and Isadora, perhaps there’s a foundation from these companies you would recommend? Also a new make-up direction is the mineral make-up. What is your opinion about that? Does it really work? Have you tried the famous Sheer Cover? Does it really work like the commercial says it does? I’ve recently got interested in Shiseidos make up and face cremés products. What is your opinion about Shiseido products? Do you have any good suggestions besides Sephora in Manhattan? I can find professionals who can help me find my skin tone foundation.
Anna

Hi Anna,
These are great questions. I have gone through a big shift as far as foundation use in the last 3 years. I rarely use liquid foundation any more. Like you, I do not like the dry, cakey look, and therefore, I used to swear by liquid foundation. But with the arrival of highly sophisticated mineral powder foundations, I have really changed my habits. Up until recently, I used bare essentials powder foundation. While the application was a bit messy, the coverage was incredibly flawless without looking one bit cakey, and it did not clog my pores. Just a few weeks ago, I walked into a tiny boutique in Boston “A matter of face”. The owner, Paula, introduced me to Susan Posnick’s Colorflo. Their shades have a nice yellow undertone, making it suitable for Asian skin, the coverage is flawless without being cakey, and it has a natural broad-spectrum SPF20. The best part: The powder is applied through a self-dispensing, refillable brush. I have not tried Sheer Cover, yet, but may do so after I go through my Colorflo. There are still times, however, when I will revert to liquid foundation. Since most drugstore brands won’t allow you to try the different shades in the store, I usually buy department store brands. One favorite of mine with absolutely gorgeous luminous finish is Giorgio Armani Cosmetic’s Luminous Silk Foundation. It does not really get any better than that, in my opinion. The makeup artist behind the creation of Giorgio Armani Cosmetics, Pat McGrath, ensured that there is a large selection of shades that suit many different skin tones. At $55 a bottle, this foundation is an investment. Jane Iredale’s Liquid Minerals is great as well, and less expensive at $46 a bottle. The application is a bit odd in the beginning, as the encapsulated minerals suspended in a gel base, burst upon application. At first it looks like the foundation is not blending properly, but after a few strokes, it just melts into your skin and creates long-lasting coverage. It also contains a lot of good-for-you ingredients like Aloe Leaf Juice and Coenzyme Q10. As far as alternatives to Sephora, my recommendations are New London Pharmacy on 8th Avenue and 23rd Street (they carry Jane Iredale) and Space NK on Greene Street or on Columbus Avenue and 69th Street (they carry Susan Posnick). Giorgio Armani Cosmetics is available at SAKS as well as Bloomingdales.

Oily sensitive skin

Hello! i have the same type of skin – dark circles, large pores and even outbreaks of acne. (i never had acne as a teen). i now use the japanese brand “effusais”. they specifically target oily, acne prone skin and also developed a line that combines whitening and evening skin tone while combating acne. i already used their moisturizer and toner and the powder foundations and am very satisfied with the results. however “effusais” products may not be available overseas, and it might be a bit expensive to jet to tokyo in order to eliminate some blackheads 😉 also, the brand targets specifically asian skin – which is often oily and tends to develop brown spots.
jane shimizu

Hi Jane,
Are you looking for an alternative to effusais? You may want to visit some of the Japanese markets in Manhattan or Yaohan in Edgewater New Jersey. If you can’t find effusais there, I have heard great things about Kose’s Junkisui Series (the “green” line). These products are targeted towards oily skin types with large pores, but do not offer any whitening solutions. But you can combine products from both the Junkisui range and the Sekkisei range, which specializes in whitening benefits. Both ranges quite accessible and available in the US. I hope this helps!

Check out Yoshiko’s skin care line www.juaraskincare.com

Let your questions and Yoshiko will answer them in next month’s issue!