Good skin vendors?

Where are people going these days for truly nice skins? I understand that nice = expensive. TY!

Funny thing about skins, really

I rarely change my skin (other than tone or makeup of the same model) but when I do I spend days and days going from shop to shop trying on massive numbers of skin. It's utterly dizzying, especially given the wait time for rez.

There are talented designers out there that don't charge top dollar. I've tried L1000+ skins and found just as many awful ones at that level as good ones. In fact I find a lot of the highly realistic, expensive ones either too creepily realistic or just overly made-up.

The single most important part is your shape under the skin. Even the best quality skin (as in workmanship) will look terrible if your shape doesn't support it. One skin can look utterly different from one person to another.
This is the reason that many skin designers include a shape with their skin as that will make the skin look as intended.

UNFORTUNATELY (and listen to this, designers), the effort spent on those shapes was put into the face, leaving the rest of the body looking like it was squished together by a noob, with bizarre angles of hip and butt or legs that belong on a giraffe. Then, to make matters worse, they make the shape no-mod so you can't fix these problems.

So, before you spend a lot of time and money on a skin, make sure that you are pleased with your shape. or be prepared to tweak your shape to make the most out of the skin you buy.

I use SinSkins

SinSkins are great! I also have used Naughty Designs and X2. I haven't bought a skin in years though so not sure what's out there currently.

Patasha

Last I checked, about a month ago, her $10 Retirement sale was going on. She is retiring the 2.0 line to make ready for a new series is what I've been told. I bought about 20 skins at $10L each.

I'm actually pretty happy with the shape my av has now. The face seems to look beautiful with just about any skin demo. I think the worst part of the shape is the arms, and I need to examine nicer demo shapes to see if this is just something that all av's have to put up with.

I have found that the demo shapes that come with some of the skins are seriously ugly (to me) sometimes, though it's not too bad if I can make the face values match what I have now.

I will check out those skins! TY, and if anybody else has suggestions, please let me know!

Redgrave is supposed to be a top of the line skin, some of my friends use them and they do look good. I've looked around Nomine a few times, and they also seem to be very nice. I found SinSkins my first month in SL, she had an under 30 day freebie pack. I've never worn anything since.

I ended up making my own skin. Yes its tedious and takes a lot of time and effort but I’m happy with it and isn’t that all that matters? I’ve had a few people comment on it and that’s nice but even if everyone told me it was awful, if I like it then that’s good enough.

There doesn't seem to be a location for SinSkins. Apparently Pixeldolls sells them? I'm anxious because I have about 2 days left before I'm "too old" for the under 30 day free packs. I can't find it.

Edit: wait. Why am I panicking. They are 10L.

SinSkins is at Pixel Dolls, as you've found out. And don't panic, for the $10L each, even if you miss out on the newbie special, those closeouts will be good money spent. Sinskins was the first skin I had and I still wear them (I, like Brenda, scooped up a load more at the sale).

As for other issues Brann is correct regarding the shape situation. Some skins just won't look as good on you as others no matter the price (and some, I agree, are just too creepy "real" looking for my tastes). I've done best with League (my current favorite and thus far the best looking of everything I've owned), Tuli (and I love that they give away a good amount of freebies if you join the group and their new Gothic skin is the best I've found for myself) and Free Speerit (which are modify - a plus). Sinskins, is still a good standby as well for a less expensive choice - they all "fit" me well and they have wonderful colored skins too.

These are all great leads, and places I never would have found on my own. TY all!

w00t!!! shopping!!!

One problem with the Sinskins is that there seems to be more dark shading in the cleft above the upper lip than one would see IRL, which is esp. noticable in the lighter skin tones.

(Edited for clarity)

I wear Laqroki for my human look, SinSkins Etheria for fantasy looks. I have others including Mela's but that's all I can remember at the moment.

My personal experience in skin shopping was not to be in a rush to spend L$; it took me 4 months in SL before I found the one that I felt was "right" for me.

I suggest trying demos of every skin you can get your hands on, and if your shape is modifiable, you can change your face shape a bit to make a skin "fit" better. (Sounds weird but it really does make a difference!)

I don't believe the Pixeldolls Sin Skin sale is going to last much longer, so if you're interested, don't procrastinate.

I like Tuli skins.

But but I am at work!!!!! Argh why do I find out about a sale when I am at work

Red Queen do fantastic skins and i think are worth every penny

I am currently wearing a LAQ skin.


My kitty wears one from Exodi as her default.

The problem with Redgrave is that EVERYBODY has a Redgrave. I didn't join SL to look like everybody else.

I have a strong preference for ISSIGONIS skins (http://www.issigonis.com/). Not too many skin/shape designers seem to be able to pull off a good, realistic Asian look, but ISSIGONIS does it really well. I also have a skin/shape set by Nany Merlin that I got back before Soul skins became popular.

I checked the notecard from the update group, they're being removed Monday, so you probably still have time.

Monday?!?! WOW, am I glad I started this thread today!

I'm a Gala girl (on the Curio sim). I used to be devoted to Celestial Studios, but she hasn't updated her skins in a while and they look a bit dated to me now. Nomine is my goto for less traditional skins...her new zombie line is amazing.

Um, can anyone suggest some skins for men???

I've tested many skins and really like the coloring and detail of Redgrave.

The musculature is very realistic, not over done... and even shows veins!

Dude! Veins! (not a selling point on female skins)

ya she does great work..i have been calling them ruby quan for some reason lol

but the tag is [rQ] red queen and i have been telling people [rQ] ruby quan lol

i bought a couple of her skins lastnight and another couple of hair styles..

they are very nice skins