Cute Makeup Tips

I'm becoming frugal in my old age!

It’s official. I am the world’s worst blogger. I blame my lack of posts to being off my once-typical writing routine. I’ve gotten lazy with writing, and that’s not cool. Time for me to fish or cut bait, as they say.

So…it’s 2012. We survived the excess of the holidays, the hustle-bustle of the new year, and the forced romance of Valentine’s Day. Since I last wrote, I’m a year older (yikes!) and still busy with work and life. I’ve also noticed that I am becoming more and more miserly as I age.

My new-found frugality is another reason for my lack of blog posts: I simply haven’t had the desire to spend a ton of money on makeup and skincare products. GASP! I used to not think twice about plopping down $25 for a tube of mascara. Now? I find myself picking a $8 tube at my local Target without feeling like I’m missing something.

My skincare products have been whittled down to a bottle of Olay for Sensitive Skin for the daytime and a $5 jar of Olay Night before bed (when I remember).  I just haven’t invested money (or time!) into hunting down the hottest, newest, most exciting products. I seem to have made a subconscious effort to simplify.

And I’m ok with that.

There are plenty of kick ass beauty products out there that don’t cost a fortune. I’ve always been a big fan of Maybelline for mascara and Revlon for lipstick. And when it comes to a body moisturizer? I love Palmer’s Cocoa Butter more than I probably should.

So how about you? What is your favorite inexpensive beauty or skincare product? Do you feel that you’re depriving yourself of anything if you don’t buy a “prestige” brand product? Leave me a comment and let me know!

School or work is on a break, time to look fab for Christmas! Here are some glamorous look for the Christmas season. Great for Christmas parties or just to look special every day during the holidays. Time to kick back and be a little creative with yourself this Christmas!









FLAWLESS SKIN

It's Christmas and the snow is falling. Nothing is worse than blemishes, freckles and dark circles on your face. Picture a snow princess or angel, porcelain and pristine. So let's ditch the bronzer and tan for a season!


Tip 1: Use a primer. It'll create the perfect canvas for your face that will help your makeup stay put and fill in pores.
Recommend: Smashbox Studio Fix, Revlon's Au Naturelle Primer

Tip 2: Conceal with a multicolored palette. Don't think that your skin comes in one shade. Our skin has many pigments. Use yellow for dark circles and green for redness.
Recommend: Benefit's multicolored concealer, Lise Watier (available only in Canada), Physician's formula Concealer Sticks. 


Tip 3: Mineral foundation. I know some of you really dread layers and layers of makeup on your face but full coverage doesn't have to be thick coverage. Try a mineral makeup. You buff on as many layers as you want and still feel like you are wearing nothing.
Recommend: Bare Escentuals foundation, Physician's Formula mineral foundation, Revlon's Mineral Makeup

Tip 4: Spray on some natural spring water. This will set your makeup so it will last all day. Believe it or not, having water on your face will make your makeup rather waterproof for those of you living in rainy or snowy places. Plus, it will hydrate your skin for the dry winter. So very multi-functional!



CHEEKS

Brrrrrrrr...it's so cold when you are outside in the snow. But don't you just love those rosy cheeks you get from being outside? That's why I think rosy cheeks will be perfect for the holiday season. Nothing better than naturally glowing cheeks that make you look like you just came back from a snowball fight!



Tip 1: Use one of those shade smart blushes. The ones with microbeads that turn into the perfect blush color for you when you put it on. This will give you the best natural blush ever.
Recommend: Almay Smart Shade blush, Smashbox O-Glow blush.

Tip 2: Apply it in the right areas. Smile and dab it right on those cheeks. Plus, blend blend blend.







EYES

My favorite part. Think gold, silver, green and plum. Just don't mix too many colors together or you might look like a Christmas tree. To make all the difference, remember to wear fake eyelashes.


Gold: The trick is to mix the gold with silver. Never apply gold alone or else it will look unnatural. Put silver on the inner corner of both your upper and lower lid and apply gold on the outer. Blend the two together. For an evening look, mix gold with brown to look sultry.

Silver: Also do not wear alone unless if you have really deep set eyes. Give your eyes some definition or your eyes will look flat like a white piece of paper. Give it some contour with gray or brown where your crease is and bravo, your silver will make you look wide awake for those present opening moments.

Green: Depending on the shade of green you pick, you can achieve different looks. I personally think matte dark green, like a Christmas tree is perfect for Christmas. It can be worn alone or just underneath your crease if you apply a similar matte highlighter on your brow bone. Also, contour those creases with black or brown for a smokey look. For those of you who like lighter green such as lime or forest green, go for a frosty look. Remember frost not glitter. Mix green with gold or silver. If you are a little on the wild side, try mixing it with pink for an edgier look.

Plum: To be used for evening looks. Here's your chance to have smokey eyes and stand out. I love plum and this will be the look I will be rocking most of the holiday season. Matte or shimmer, the possibilities are endless. Use plum with silver and I like to use a black shade on the crease to give my eyes some contour.



LIPS

Marilyn Monroe, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani. What do they all have in common? They are huge fans of red, bold lips. Me too but when I first tried red lips, it looked horrible. After some experimentation, I finally figured out why!




Tip 1: Use a lip liner. Contrary to popular believe, you are not supposed to match your lip liner with your lipstick. Match it with your lips because the point of a lip liner is to accentuate your lips, not your lipstick.

Tip 2: If you have thin lips or if you just want poutier lips, use a gloss on top. This will make the color underneath last longer.

Tip 3: Use one of those long lasting lipstick. One side with color, the other side with gloss. No doubt you will be munching on something throughout the day during the holidays. Nothing more annoying than reapplying every hour.
Recommend: Revlon's Colorstay Lipstick, Mac's Prowear lipstick, Maxfactor's lipstick.

For those with thin lips: apply gloss on top of your red lipstick. The trick is to make them look bigger. Matte red lipstick will shrink your lips, it did to mine.
Recommend: MAC red lipsticks and glosses, Clarin's Joli Rouge (my personal favorite)

For those with full lips: you will look gorgeous in matte red lipstick. It will look classy and elegant.
Recommend: Revlon's Matte collection lipstick (I'm in love with this one), Mac's matte lipstick

Here are ten simple things you can do to prevent and treat acne. Clear, beautiful, acne free skin is a blessing. Genetics play a big part but we can modify what we can control to prevent acne and maintain good skin. One can have acne for years before achieving manageable skin. Here are top 10 ways to maintain clear and acne free skin. For some product recommendations, please visit my post on Acne Product Recommendations.
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1. Clean your face daily with an oil free cleanser
Keeping your face clean is key to having clear skin because it gives the bacteria less chance to grow and clog your pores. Use an oil free cleanser with a small dose of salicylic acid.







2. Exfoliate regularly
Exfoliating your skin with a gentle scrub or glycolic acid help your skin get rid of dead skin cells and generate new ones. This also help keep your pores clear or debris.







3. Use an oil free moisturiser daily
Choose a moisturiser you feel comfortable wearing. For example, use an oil free cream for night time and an oil free gel for day time. For those with acne, choose one with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in the moisturiser.



4. Deep clean your face at least once a week
Use a deep cleansing, detoxifying or hydrating mask on your face once or twice a week. This really helps to extract all the oil, dirt and debris from you pores that may have accumulated throughout the week. Do not overuse as it may dry out your skin and overwork your sebaceous glands so you may get oilier.






5. Balanced diet with plenty of water
You are what you eat. As cliché as that may sound, the vitamins and minerals from healthy food choices do make a difference in our skin. Drinking plenty of water will give your skin hydration it deserves so that your pores remain unclogged.






6. Wear oil free, non-comedogenic makeup
Your makeup can mask your existing acne but can also make you break out. You may fall into a vicious cycle by masking your acne with acne causing makeup which will cause more acne. Read the labels carefully before purchasing and try the makeup out at the makeup counter, wear it for one day to examine the degree of oiliness on your face and then purchase. Try a mineral based foundation.

7. Watch out for hands, pillows and hair
An average person touches his or her face hundreds of times a day without thinking. Bacteria can easily spread to your face every time your hands touch your face. Clean your pillows often because the bacteria may spread while you sleep. Keep your hair clean and oil free also minimizes the chance for a breakout.






8. Exercise
Exercising helps your body circulate and skin breathe. Do something active 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes can help improve the texture and clarity of your skin.




9. Beauty sleep
It isn't just a meaningless phrase. A good 7-9 hour rest helps you maintain the regular turnover of your skin cells. This also gives acne-fighting ingredients a chance to do its job while the skin is repairing itself.




10. Be patient.
Acne come and go. It can be triggered by genetics, hormones or unhealthy lifestyle. Try your best to avoid picking it as the bacteria may spread to nearby areas and cause more breakouts. Do not blame yourself as multiple factors come into play. Do what you can to prevent it but visit a dermatologist if your acne persists or becomes severe.

Here are 10 ways to make your foundation stay on the entire day without touch up. Use these tips for a flawless complexion all day. Whether you purchase cheap drug store or expensive luxury foundation, there are ways to prolong the wear of your foundation. Some low-end foundations actually stay on better than high-end foundations if used the right way or paired with other products.

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1. Choosing the right formula of foundation:

Different foundation formulas tailor to different skin types. If you have dry skin, use a cream or liquid foundation. For oilier skin, choose oil free liquid formulas, powder, or mineral foundation.

2. Priming your face:

Priming your face with a silicone based primer not only help you save the amount of foundation you use but also create a flawless canvas for your foundation to go on. Think of it as prolonging the wear of a nail polish with a base coat; same idea.

3. Apply with a brush:

Applying foundation with a brush can help you achieve flawless coverage without using too much product. The brush helps to deliver the foundation seamlessly into your skin. A kabuki brush helps to buff mineral foundation on and a flat top brush helps to evenly distribute liquid foundation.

4. Use the right amount of product:

Less is more. Start off with a bit of the product on your brush and build coverage by gradually applying more product. Excess amount can easily rub off and crease on your face.

5. Keep your skin clean, exfoliated and moisturised:

Clear, exfoliated skin allows the foundation to go on effortlessly and smoothly since the foundation lies evenly on the skin.

6. Use a finishing powder:

When using liquid or cream foundation, always finish off with a finishing/translucent powder which helps to seal the product just like how a top coat seals the nail polish color. For mineral foundation users, the equivalent of a finishing powder would be a mineral veil.

7. Set the foundation with a spray:

Makeup fix sprays are growing popular for a good reason. These water based sprays not only make your makeup last longer but give you that dewy, fresh, au natural skin. A cheaper alternative would be to load up a spray bottle with water.

8. Choose Oil free and long lasting makeup:

Generally oil free makeup stay on longer. Look for foundations that say long-lasting or even waterproof. Many makeup lines such as Rimmel or Revlon make extremely affordable foundations that last between 8-25 hours!

9. Try a mineral foundation:

Mineral foundations tend to stay on the skin for longer period of time, especially for oily skinned individuals. They are weightless and most have oil absorbing properties.

10. Reduce oil on your skin:

Keeping your skin matte and shine free can reduce the amount oil on your face, which can then minimize the chance of the foundation sliding off your skin. Using a matte, oil control moisturizer and blotting paper throughout the day to keep the excess oil at bay.

Please also visit my posts on 10 ways to make eyeliner stay put all day and 5 ways to make eyeshadow stay on all day. 

There`s nothing sexier than looking like a golden goddess for the summer. We can all tan under the sun for the bronze but ladies, UV can be really damaging in the long run so why not just fake the healthy glow! In this post I will share with you ways to not look muddy (if you have dry skin) or shiny (if you have oily skin). I will also be providing you with my top 10 favourite bronzers of all time after much investigation and testing. As always high end and low end products will be equally represented so you can decide whether you want to splurge! Without further ado, let`s get bronzed!

How to use it

To use as a contour: Apply it in the hollows of your cheeks, sides of the forehead, temples, bridge of the nose and underneath the chin for that "I just lost 10 lbs" look. (For how to achieve this look, please watch my video on contouring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v8XIOt43Hk  . Remember to select a matte bronzer that is 3-4 shades darker than your foundation for ideal results.

To use for an all over healthy glow/tan: Apply the bronzer all over the face, concentrating in areas where the sun would naturally hit the face such as the forehead, cheeks and sides of the nose. Use a larger and fluffier brush to get an even bronze. The trip is to select a bronzer that is easily blendable. You may choose a bronzer that has slightly more glitter and shine if you prefer the glowy look.

Skin Type

If you have dry or mature skin:

Stay moisturised under the summer as the heat and humidity may dehydrate you even more. If possible select a spray on bronzer or cream bronzer. Using this type of bronzer will not accentuate fine lines and give you a dewy and youthful glow.

If you have oily/combination skin:

Most people prefer powdered bronzer for ease of application and its long wearing abilities. Choose a matte or semi-matte bronzer that will absorb the excess oil from your face. The powder will not only mattify your face but also give your face a little more coverage so you can get away with less foundation.

Recommendations for best bronzers

Best high end bronzers:

NARS Laguna bronzer or NARS Casino if you have darker skin (powder)
Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel (cream)
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (powder)
Dior Bronze Sun Powder spray (spray)

Best low end bronzers:

NYC Sunny bronzer (powder)
NYC Mosaic bronzer (powder)
Rimmel Sun bronzer (powder)
Elf studio bronzer in Golden (powder)
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Sheerest Cream Bronze (cream)

GIRLS, as much as we love the sun, sun damage is no joke. You may not see the visible damage of the harmful UVA and UVB rays now but trust me it is perfectly concealed and will show up in your future. By that time, it may be too late. So let`s list a few simple sun screen rules to follow for these sun shining days.


1. Use a sunscreen whenever you go out

Don`t neglect those cloudy days because around 80% of the rays do penetrate. There can be damaging rays even on the cloudiest days that isn`t visible to the eye. Apply at least an SPF of 15 for cloudy days and SPF 30 for sunny days.


2. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen

This means it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. So do look for sunscreens that target both rays as they both can be damaging


3. Use an oil free or non-greasy formula

The worst thing you want is to look greasy, waxy and white all over. Choose a non-greasy formula that can be easily absorbed into the skin. This will also prevent clogging of pores and breakouts.


4. Reapply often

Even the strongest SPF sunscreen requires constant reapplication. I would recommend reapplying at least once every 1-2 hours depending on the intensity of the rays. Please don`t be lazy. Research also states that an average individual only applies 30% of the effective dose of sunscreen so please apply a generous amount to your body before heading out.


5. Incorporate SPF into your daily skincare routine

Tinted moisturizers are the hype right now and some of them have SPF 30 which is very impressive as it does the trick of 3; moisturizer, light coverage foundation and sunscreen. Other than that, a finishing power or foundation with SPF 15 is sufficient for cloudy days. A moisturizer with an SPF of 30 can also be used during the day time to kill two birds with one stone.

Summertime and no one wants to look as pale as snow. Having a natural sun kissed tan not only makes you look leaner, healthier but more attractive overall. That’s all fun and dandy but the worst mistake you can have with tanning is looking orange and uneven all over. So I’d like to share with you through my experience with many products as well as dealing with customers regarding my top tanning product recommendations to look perfectly tanned for the beach. Depending on your own personal taste and preference, I bet one of these will work for you.

~I’ve taken the liberty to rank all of them based on what you guys prefer- the list goes from the most instantaneous tan to the most natural tan. Take your pick and start looking like a bronze goddess!~

1. Dior Bronze Brume de Poudre Sun Powder Spray

Instant instant instant. For those of you who just want to fake that tan you wish you’ve always had! Go to the beach and spray away. The easy application delivers smooth, radiant, matte finish to your skin without streaks. It feels like an airbrushed tan only it’s easier and has a smooth powder soft finish that leaves your skin velvety smooth. The finished result- Naturally smooth and glowing skin.

2. Lancome Flash Bronzer

This stuff is awesome. It gives you an instant even tan. Apply this and you’ll accomplish a natural glow that compliments every skin tone. The little specks of shimmers in this product gives your skin a sun kissed irresistible glow under sun. This is transfer resistant so you don’t have to worry about it once you apply.

3. Clarin’s Delicious Self Tanning Cream

The best thing about this product? The smell! Once applied, the coconut and cocoa flavour takes you straight to nostalgia of palm trees on the beach. Don’t get me wrong, this stuff is also great for those of you who want an even and more gradual tan. Not to mention the texture is velvety and smooth and applies evenly on the skin. It’s not as instantaneous as the Lancome Flash Bronzer but it really works judging from many testimonials at my work.

4. Lancaster Ultra Natural Bronze care

For those of you who want to be even more conservative and prefer a gradual and natural looking tan. Lancaster is known for its quality. Although not advertised as much, I do believe in this product. The product is moisturizing and the patented Tan-Color System exfoliates and preps the skin for a natural golden glow. This product is also great for sensitive skin and is proven to have neutralized 80% of free radicals. The small dose of 6SPF also puts those of you who are a little anxious about tanning at ease.

I have a problem with picking the right foundation. Honestly, I can never find the right color. When I do find the right color, I don't like the texture of my skin and so on and so on. I give up! So I want to take some time to share with you some foundations that I have tried and liked. Again, I'm grouping them into categories since not everyone have the same foundation needs.

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For acne prone skin:
Recommend: Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil Free Makeup

Purpose: It is oil free so it won't clog pores and worsen acne. It also helps to conceal redness. I love this one especially because it is affordable and contains salicylic acid, one of the most effective pimple-fighting ingredient.

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For dry skin:
Recommend: Almay TLC Truly Lasting Color 16 Hour Makeup Skin Nourishing Longwear SPF 15

Purpose: It comes in a cream-like texture and contains antioxidants to make up for the lost H2O in your skin. Your skin will look non-greasy and moisturized the whole day.

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For skin with fine lines:

Recommend: Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup SPF 15

Purpose: Heavy makeup make lines look deeper, so this is a lightweight formula made of soy. Soy helps to tighten lines that dwell around the eye and mouth area.

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For uneven skin:
Recommend: Chanel Mat Lumière Long-Lasting Soft Matte Makeup SPF 15

Purpose: Created with a matte base containing light reflecting molecules to camouflage those spots, uneven surfaces and sallowness. Definitely my lifesaver!