Patser, if your skin is like mine, you might just save yourself lots of money and grief, and stop using eye make-up. I too started getting allergic reactions after using eye make-up for many years. I could not see myself without eye make-up and so had allergy tests done and they said it was the black (charcoal) that I was allergic to. I switch to brown, same problem. I tried Clinique, Physician's Formula and others that all claimed to be hypo-allergenic, same problem. One honest person told me that there was no such thing as hypo-allergenic stuff because there would always be someone who would be allergic to an ingredient, whether it was natural (like fruit) or chemical. I went into work one day with no eye make-up feeling so self-conscious and told whomever I encountered, "o.k., what do you think"? They didn't know what I was talking about. I really wish you good luck and hope you either find that one make-up that will be right for you or you just give it up.

Natal - Oh, I know. IMO Photoshopping like that shouldn't even be allowed. I always say anyone can be beautiful with the help of a makeup artist, hair extensions, spray tan, fake eyelashes, airbrushing, etc. :) So far I haven't spent a bunch of money on any product in general. I know most have big price tags with empty promises. I am a sucker for infomercials though so I have to stay away. lol My last purchase years ago was the bun and thigh roller! Nuff said. The appealing thing to me was that brand isn't pricey and I've heard AHA is good for your skin and dermatolgists recommend it? Since I bought all that I'll finish using it but I guess I've always figured in my mind a little wrinkle cream or serum can't hurt. An example that comes to mind often..Poor DH doesn't have much hair left on top of his head. At one point, he was using Nioxin products. I found it interesting that they have different steps to their line. System 1 is for fine, natural, normal to thin looking hair. System 2 is for fine, natural, NOTICEABLY thinning hair. There's probably reasons but I can't wrap my head around why you wouldn't just jump to system 2 if you were having this issue. Same goes with face products. Olay has a bunch of different systems. When I considered trying some of theirs it recommended the total effects. My mind wondered why I couldn't just buy something for skin that was already wrinkled thinking it would help more. Again, that may not be the case and I haven't done any real digging around but that's how I look at it. Jen - My t zone gets pretty darn oily so I also couldn't figure out why I was always hearing moisturize. Even oil free doesn't make sense to me really. Cooper - I figured you'd get what I was saying since you're not far away. There's not that many in the state. Even the ones I was 1st hoping to get into were a good hour away. I'm honestly a little leary of putting chemicals on my face in general and I think part of me doesn't want to know what's in them. This includes sunblock even though I've been using that on my face. The food we eat, the air we breathe.. I know that was windy but I'm feeling blabbery tonight. I really should be wrapping presents!

Mascara! Get out of this relationship RIGHT NOW! I'm sorry to sound harsh. But, Mascara, I'm not telling you anything you don't know when I say that this is going nowhere fast. There is nothing in it for you. I don't care if the guy looks like Johnny Depp, thinks like Einstein, loves you like Romeo, has money like Bill Gates, and sings like Frank Sinatra -- there is nothing to look forward to here but disaster. STOP focusing on distractors like - whether he is inconsistent with regard to his son - whether the mom is to blame, lazy, irresponsible, inconsiderate, radioactive, purple or polka-dotted! She is completely irrelevant. - whether he is fair or right or wrong in preferring, in any sense, his son's needs to yours You are focusing on all this stuff to avoid looking at what you know you really need to: what is in the future for you. That's human nature; everyone does it. It's so much easier to think about blame and fault and chances and clues in remarks than to look at the harsh facts. But you have to get past it. (Some people never do -- they are pathetic at best and self-destructive at worst.) For a while there you were on the right track, but it sounds like you've backslid a bit. That's okay, but it's time to get back to the hard work of ending this. I think you know that. I think that's why you posted here. It's just too hard to tell yourself this (also human nature), so you came here for us to do it for you. That's okay, too. (I have to say I have been wondering where your own mother has been.) But, honey, you really have to get out of this mess. That little family has enough major problems without having to worry about your (very legitimate) 19 year old needs and insecurities, and you have enough on your plate without having to deal with - a very sick little boy -- and by the way, 6 years old is PLENTY old enough to be aware of whether his father is there for him. - an unreliable boyfriend (with an alcohol problem and a broken foot) - his ex-girlfriend You are more than entitled to be thinking about your own needs -- indeed, that's what everyone here has been telling you. But you are NOT entitled to expect everyone else to put your needs first all the time, and especially not right now: there is a 6 year old boy undergoing a kidney transplant! His parents will need -- for quite a long time -- to focus 100% on him and what will help him and make him the most comfortable -- whether it is more or less convenient for one of them or whether he has a broken foot, and even if it is totally unfair to you. Even if he were married with 3 more kids, his wife and kids would have to take the backseat right now; indeed, they should pitch in. If he ditches that sick child to go drinking with his friends, that's awful; but it's hardly less awful to do so to be with his girlfriend. I think the thing holding you back is what you said in an earlier post, that you don't want to give up while there is still a little shred of good in this relationship. Big mistake. And also a very common one. (Goes for quitting a job, moving, changing a major, etc., too, not just relationships, by the way). But when it's time to move on, you move on, even though there are indeed some great things remaining in the situation or relationship. That's what makes it so hard -- if it were all already 100% bad, it would be easy. But think about it: would you enter a situation that was only 25% good? Even 50% or 75%? Then why stay in one? You know what to do. It seems you just needed someone to tell you to do it. So reread all these posts if you need that push. (The fact that you two have had some nice times lately doesn't change anything; the problem was never that he was an ogre.) He is not speaking to you; he may actually be the one to end things. If he does, that may even make it easier in the end. Again, I'm sorry to sound harsh. I really am in your corner. This is exactly what I would tell my own daughter. Good luck to you -- we are all rooting for you.

Over time my eyes have become very sensitive and itchy. I've always worn eye makeup -- tons and tons. I never go out without eye makeup. Love it but the last few years, just putting on eye liner is very itchy. So I have some work arounds. First, I use Visine soothing drops before trying to put on any makeup. I like Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes liner pencils -- soft and not too expensive. Sephora has them. Then I fill in with Milani eye liner. It's inexpensive and has an accurate brush. Drugstore.com has it. I've gone around with mascara but always come back to Lancome. They have a base coat/lash conditioner that makes the mascara go on easier and say on very well without irritation. Another mascara that has worked well is Laura Mercier though it didn't thicken enough for me LOL. There are a few removers that work well. I find I need more than one. Lancome's Bi Facil is my longtime staple. It gets most any eye make up off very easily. But then I go over my eyes with the Eye Scrub Lyban linked above -- also from drugstore.com It's sterile in sealed pouches and removes the little bits. I also sometimes use Klorane Floral lotion which is very mild. My eye lids were awfully dry a few years ago -- my skin has become dryer over all. I use Mario Badescu Special Eye Cream V every night. It's sheer and doesn't irritate. Mario Badescu, in NYC., is a salon that makes their own products which are quite gentle. I order those online and usually wait till they have a % off sale and free shipping around holidays. Their emails let you know. They are the best quality/value I've found overall for skin care and the choices are extensive. They have 8 different eye creams depending on skin needs. They also give free samples with order. And their Glycolic Foaming face wash removes all traces of makeup after the two removers -- but leaves skin moist. But there's a whole menu of those too, geared to skin type. I also really love their face creams -- it's hard for me to get any that really moisturize but theirs do. So many suggestions! Will be interesting to see what you like.