Tips for long-lasting shine-free summer makeup in Singapore!!

Yoz Yoz!! It has been decades since my last post! Geez! Been so busy but I suddenly have some blog-spiration now so I thought I'll pen down a post before I lost interest! Haha!

It's now the end of May and we're going soon into the hottest month, JUNE in Singapore!! Oh manzzz! It's so hot that I almost got scalded in the shower and no, my water heater wasnt even turned up high!

As I'm seldom indoors, it's my everlasting dream to have super long-lasting makeup. I always envy friends with great skin, and most of all, dry skin! Because their makeup never melts! At most, they look abitttt shiny that look simply dewy! Alas, too bad mine is combination skin, with oily T-zone and dry cheeks. So saddddd! =( It's sooooo difficult to NOT appear as an oil rig! So here I've compiled some products/tips which are super useful to ME in helping to stay as shine-free as I can.
I hope they are equally useful to you!  \(^o^)/

(P/S Sometimes don't have the time and I'll skip a few steps. Haha)

BEFORE MAKEUP

1) Use a cooling spray/mist.
The point is to lower the temperature of your skin. You need to start right! Else, just after application, you can feel your makeup is already starting to melt. Zzz. Dont use a too hydrating mist though!

 





2) Use a oil-controlling toner OR oil-controlling sunblock OR a primer(lazy, seldom use)
They can help your makeup to lasts longer and control your oil secretion.
Of course you should always use a sunblock in sunny Singapore, choose a light-weight one, milky or watery type.







3) Use a light-weight moisturizer just before makeup so that your skin is not too dry for makeup to glide. Alternatively, a light hydration mist works too. Cream based are a no-no.

This depends on how oily/dehydrated your skin is. Some people can apply makeup directly while some has skin which are too dry for the initial makeup. For me, I still prefer to do light moisturizing and then use a more oil-controlling foundation to last the day INSTEAD of skipping moisturizer and then using a more hydrating foundation.

NEXT UP : DURING MAKE-UP

1) Use facial sponges
Facial sponges absorb extra oil in your foundation/bb cream, can help to mattify your foundation. In addition, when you use facial sponges to apply, it's also more cooling and helps your makeup to last longer, because our fingers has temperature. It also helps to let your makeup to glide on more smoothly and reduce cakey-ness and reduce patches. You can either glide them across your face or else bounce them off your face to blend properly.

You can use any shape, but this type of textures(below) works better. They're very soft and toi toi type. Don't buy those which is a flat rectangular shape and feels harder and less toi toi to the touch. Beauty blenders are great but I find them too troublesome to wash regularly and too expensive to throw on a daily basis. I just use these disposable ones. SASA one's are also fine.

So my friend asked me before why her makeup appears to be patchy when she uses sponge and foundation doesn't seem to blend evenly. Ok reasons may be because
a) Skin is too dry
If so, moisturize first, OR apply foundation with sponge in a bouncing action instead of gliding across face, OR use a more hydrating foundation, ahh, but if so then makeup wont last le)

b) Pump too little foundation
You need almost double the amount you need when you use sponge instead of fingers

c) Sponges are not suitable, change another brand/type

d) If have dry debris hindering blending, it may be because of the product you used before applying foundation. Try changing your sunblock/primer

e) If really really still can't blend well then do a gentle exfoliation/scrub before everything to get rid of dead skin.



2) Avoid cream-based products

I know rightttttt, some cream-based blushers are so prettyyyyy! But usually they just end up enlarging your pores and making you shine like a disco ball down the day. SO, if you really like that natural flow effect, I think LIQUID blushers or tints(right pic) and MOUSSE/GEL blushers(left) work better. Or else, traditional powder blushes are still better in reducing the oil that your face secretes and reduce clogging pores.

But the tacky part is that these blushers are more difficult to apply on. You can dab abit on facial sponge, slowly dab and blend on cheeks then lightly powder on it.



3) Avoid highlighters which are too bright or glittery. 

I think they are okie for night outs, but day time is really not very suitable as they'll look doubly shiny. Matt and subtle highlighters are OK for daylight. And you do not necessarily need highlighters to highlight your face; You can use a concealer which is 1 tone lighter than your skin tone. =) 
I usually use a drier formula for nose and chin(T-zone) and a more moisturizing formula for under eyes. GENERALLY, sticks are drier form, followed by lip-gloss applicator types, followed by cream-based(in a pot), though it really depends; you gotta try it out. However, I rarely use stick or too dry types as it's easy to become cakey. And do use a brush instead of fingers(got temperature)

 




4) Summer make-up products
I think all these can be lumped into 1 point. As in, oil-free/lasting foundations, mattifying powder, water-proof/smudge-proof eyeliner. All these are pretty straight-forward. =) These are the items I love. =D

For the lips, I really don't like to apply lipstick or having my lips sticky. Only on RARE occasions, like wedding dinners then I apply lip gloss. Most days, I use this; Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet. It's like a mousse but has a velvet finish. I simply love them to bits. They are totally weightless and a DREAM to use in humid and hot Singapore because you totally can't feel them on your lips. But yet, they can be so pigmented. You can control the colours by the amount. If you want a light and natural hue, just dip a green bean size(yes that tiny) onto the middle of your lips and blend it out. I love how my lips look naturally pinkish and so smooth to touch too. If you want a richer coloured lips like Korean stars, then apply more for a gradient effect; it will look brighter and richer. They are VERY easy to control to achieve a NATURAL gradient lip than other lip tints in the market. The last time I tried a liquid lip tint, my hubby asked if I was sick. Zzz.

Granted, these are really not lasting. But, I don't mind re-applying, rather than having a rich, heavy and creamy lip colour on my lips. I bought almost the whole collection but kinda regret because I think most colours look about the same or can be controlled to look the same by building it on. So just buy 1 or 2 distinct colours will do.

5) Makeup Setting spray
You spray this after your makeup is done, so as to make it more lasting. Hmm...I heard about this, however, I've never used one which is effective. The Urban Decay one didn't work for me. And I think it's hard to find one which doesn't change your final look. So well, just an option for you to consider.


Hope you've enjoyed this post!!! Cya!!! Smuacks!!!


Missing last year this period(May) where we're in Barcelona. It's soooOOo cooling. Boooooo!

Sephora Medium Shopping Bag Makeup Palette & Sephora Happy Birthday Mini Shopping Bag Makeup Palette

Lin gave me this super gorgeous palette as my birthday pressie and really, I cant even describe how I felt then! I was really ecstatically happy! Because I loveeeeee palettes! Especially one which has such a sleek and classy packaging! Thanks girl!!!!

http://www.sephora.com/medium-shopping-bag-makeup-palette-P298320

This set contains:
- 33 x eye shadows
- 3 x eyeliners 
- 12 x lipsticks/lip glosses
- 4 x blushes
- 2 x bronzers

Size: 0.918 oz; 4.5 x 4.5 x 1" (closed);4.5 x 8 x 8" (expanded)

Exclusive & Limited Edition.

The above 2 words are purposely to irritate you. Lol. Alright I'm just kidding. 

At 1st glance, you'll think it consists of glosses, eye shadows and blushers respectively from left to right. However if you look closely, for the eyeshadows palette, the most bottom left 3 are eye liners. Although the 3rd and 2nd bottom of the blushers palette are referred as bronzers in this palette but because they have glitters, I will prefer to use them to lend a bronzy, warm glow to cheeks minimally instead of using them for contouring, which is usually the sole purpose of a bronzer. The eyeshadows are mostly friendly colours like greens, blues, lilacs, peaches and also some of the very wearable neutrals. I'm also very glad most of the blushers are nearer to corals and dusty pinks, which are more "me". The colours of the glosses are very wearable too. 

All in all I'm satisfied with the colour combo of this palette; all the colours are extremely wearable, nothing too crazy or difficult to control. The colours are of good quality and pigmentation are okie, though buildable. The size is perfect for travel and fits into a handbag well because it's nothing too big. Maybe just a tad heavier but for the variety of colours, one shouldnt complain. Perhaps the only gripe will be there isnt a matte bronzer for contouring and you need your own brushes.


And guess what?

I was shopping at Sephora on 8th aug(my birthday eve) and only when I was paying at the counter then I realized they have a birthday gift for me(I'm a member) without any purchase. It was a genuine lovely surprise, especially when the gift is very intricate as well!

I really laughed out loud when I received it. It is a mini shopping bag palette, looking exactly the same like what Lin gave me! It contains 4 eye shadows, 2 glosses and 1 blusher. Too bad it doesnt have mini brushes. But well, it's f.o.c! Still a happy girl. Lol.

Love the colours very much, they're very "me". Silver and black for smokey eye, usually for clubbing nights. Subtle brown for casual days. Peachy beige for highlight. Dusty rose blush suits every look. 

Other than this palette, I can choose to enjoy double points(1 point is 1 dollar) OR enjoy a 10% off(because I've reached 250points) during the birthday month for members(white card). So I chose the 10% off straight away. The perks of accumulating points is because once you accumulate 250 points, you get to enjoy 10% off your next entire purchase.

I bet you must be thinking how to be a Sephora member? It's so easy!

Simply make any purchase and sign up free at any outlet will do. ALTHOUGH I'm not sure is there a specific amount of points to accumulate before they give the birthday gift for members. =O

Here's more, http://www.loyalty.sephora.com.sg/sea_avantage

假素颜 look (Fake bare face)

Lately, I've discovered a new makeup routine or rather, a very natural, light and fuss-free look for myself, which I love very much. I call it the 假素颜 look. =P Somehow, I'm slowly easing away from the fuss of applying foundation or bb cream to my face. It might be because of age catching up, so I just dont wish to have anything heavy on my skin or to look very "made up" especially when I'm just at the neighbourhood areas catching a movie. However, I can look really haggard with my dull skin if I'm going out bare. And with my oily & combination skin, nose and forehead tends to become shiny in a few hours and I abhor that. 

So these few stuff are my to-go lately. Especially when I'm catching a dinner and movie or doing marketing with dearie at nearby neighbourhood areas which lasts around 6 hours or so. Oh well, call me vain then. But I dont wish to scare little children outside. =P

Apply in this order after toner on clean face:

1) Stila - One Step Correct Correcteur (can buy at Sephora around S$50+)

2) Biore - UV Perfect Face Milk SPF 50+ PA+++ (white bottle)

3) Etude House - Collagen Moistfull Smoothing Ampule Primer (around S$20)

4) Beauty Credit - Lovely Face Power(loose power) in colour 21 Crystal

It's helpful to use an oil-control toner prior to all this if you have really oily skin. Stila - One Step Correct Correcteur helps to correct and even out your skin tone to a natural finish. It gives a cooling sensation and preps your skin well so that other products can easily blend on. That being said, it's not a super wonderful product which will cover all your flaws or pores. Never step out of the house without a sun-screen. Biore - UV Perfect Face Milk SPF 50+ PA+++ (white bottle) is suitable for oily to combination skin as it has sebum control and it helps to let Etude House - Collagen Moistfull Smoothing Ampule Primer glides on smoothly without any debris(which strangely appear when I skipped the sun-screen once). The latter gives a very natural radiant flow and gives minimal coverage. But be careful not to apply too little or too much. Too much your skin will look overly radiant(very "made-up") and too little will have no effect. Lastly, lightly pat on Beauty Credit - Lovely Face Power(loose power) in colour 21 Crystal and you're done.

If you have even better skin, go ahead and use Laura Mercier's loose powder because it's even finer, smoother and lighter on the skin(thus almost no coverage, I usually use it after bb cream). I chose to use Beauty Credit because I still wish to have some very minimalllllllllll coverage. The end result is a brighter and more radiant face with a natural finish. And frankly speaking, I thought it looks like my face is totally bare without makeup(unless you look really closely). It simply looks fresh and clean. I call it the 假素颜. =) What's best, it looks fresh for around 6 hours without any need for touch-up. To last more than 8hours, a heavy duty primer from Make Up For Ever Primer is more suitable. But of course, it wont have the light and 假素颜 look. 

Lastly, sweep your eyebrows lightly with eyebrow powder, apply some lipbalm and the whole look is finished. If you have really pale skin and wish to have some colour, Relvon Powder Blush in Tawny Peach is a very subtle and sheer peachy blush which is great for light/sheer makeup. 

Movie title: Hansel and Gretel

Ratings: 4.3/5

Comments: We watched it in 2D. Yeah, finally a nice movie!! The last few we watched are kinda disappointing. Pretty thrilling. Love the effects. Some scenes might be sinister so not suitable for kids. Hmmm......I feel the way the cameraman catches the scenes is kinda odd....it swings from place to place and made me felt kinda giddy. Thank god I'm not at the first few rows. Be sure to watch it from some distance ya. 

EOTD - Cyan turquoise eyes

Just so to match my new dress =P

Steps:
1) Blend beige eyeshadow over entire eye socket as a base. So that eyes can be more 立体(3D) later
2) Apply L'oreal "Innocent turquoise" over eyelid
3) Apply L'oreal "All Night Blue" lightly, with an inverted "c" shape on outer 1/3 of eyelid and blend inwards
4) Apply Shu Uemura "P blue 610" on the middle of eyelid, blend in circles, to make eyes pop. Apply some in inner eye corner and bottom tear duct to brighten whole look
5) Line upper eyes fully with a slight wing tip and 2/3 of lower eye with any black liquid eye liner(mine is from étude house proof10, discontinued)
6) Apply mascara to top and bottom lashes
7) Put on falsies

*Pictures taken with iPhone w/o editing except cropping so colors are pretty true to pic though the camera can't really capture the graduation in colors very nicely*

Review of DHC Cleansing Oil, Biore Makeup remover

I've been using Biore Hydra-Clear Make-up remover, which is basically a cleansing oil in their blue bottle for YEARS. It's my holy grail product. It has been serving me very very well because it removes absolutely everything, like waterproof mascara, eyelash glue etc, although I always follow up with double cleansing after that. It's a must after cleansing oil makeup remover.

However, ever since I switched to using Darkness, the glue for falsies over DUO eyelash glue, I had trouble removing the glue reside from my eyes. I do not regret using Darkness because IMHO, it's the best eyelash glue around. Falsies stick on all day and never bulge. And sometimes even when I impatiently tug them out(wrong step, please dont follow), my eyelids dont feel hurt. It's not that the glue is difficult to remove. Merely you need to pull them out from your lashes, they do come out easily and doesnt tug your lashes at all, just that they simply do not come out after oil/foam cleansing. 

It's actually nothing serious, just that after oil cleansing and foam cleansing, I need 1 more step; a.k.a eye makeup remover to remove the glue residue, gently tugging them away from my lashes. 

So being the typical lazy me, I wish to sought out a cleansing oil which can once again remove EVERYTHING including the Darkness eyelash glue residue and I tried out DHC, because it was widely raved. I know about all it's benefits and if you're interested, you can read them up at their DHC website. But if you can only read on what I have to say first.

Review: Super Negative

I am super irritated with it because not only it's far more expensive than Biore, it doesnt cleanse HALF as well as Biore. It cant remove the eyelash glue residue, that's fine, but it even pose problem at removing waterproof mascara. Quite the lousiest oil cleanser I've ever tried!! Fancl is second to Biore, just that it's expiry date and price is not attractive since I always have to force myself to finish before it expires. Shu Uemura comes third, in terms in power of cleansing.  I hated the smell of DHC cleansing oil too. Whatever organic/olive oil it claims, it has a very "oily" smell and I felt like I'm literally applying oil to my face.

Although we're supposed to remove our contact lens before removing our makeup with cleansing oil, I've always leave them on since I'm not sleeping after makeup removing. There has never been a problem with Biore, but DHC irritates my eyes too. It might be because they're more watery than Biore, that's why it tends to get into my eyes.

And just because it's over S$40, which is very expensive in my opinion for a makeup remover, I dont wish to waste it. However, I'm beginning to lose my patience. It's annoying me every night after makeup removing. I'll probably give it to friends who do makeup but dont apply mascaras. Ultimately, I believe it's still a good-quality oil and it didnt break me out.

In short, I hated it and I regretted spending money on it, especially when I know perfectly Watson is over-pricing them by a huge degree. Watson is super greedy.....they used to sell Fairydrops platinum mascara(the rose gold tube) at below S$20 and then jacked up to around S$24 when it's selling well. This is what I call "SWORD". They think people dont notice? Actually I kinda remember Biore's cleansing oil(blue bottle) was around S$19.90  few years ago and then it also raises to S$23.90 too. Inflation? But other items on the racks doesnt seem to go up that much. Why?

Being desperate, I bought another cleansing oil by Biore, when my fave blue bottle wasnt on the racks!

Biore Aqua Jelly makeup remover

Heard they're new. Heard they're the same as the blue bottle. Heard they're better because it's serum-based. 

I dont care already, I'm desperate! So I bought it and tried it.

They're just not the sameeeeeeeeee!!!

It doesnt remove makeup as effectively as my beloved Biore Hydra-clear makeup remover(blue bottle)!!!!!!!

I want back my Biore Hydra-clear makeup remover(blue bottle)!!!!!!!!!!!

Natural-looking and long-lasting make-up for oily, combination and sensitive skin.

Ok! So let this be a reallllly quick post! I have colleagues asking me what powder/eye-liner/mascara do I use because my make-up stays pretty much the same at the end of the working day with totally no smudges under my eyes. So here is a post sharing what products I usually use, they're mostly very lasting products even on it's own. I dont use all of them all the time, but I can share when and how do I use them together. 

I have oily/combination(oily t-zone + dry cheeks), super sensitive and kinda fair skin. And before this, my makeup used to melt and oxidize into an ashy colour at the end of the day(damn the weather). Now they dont. Most of the time(esp. during work), I wear pressed powder, liner/mascara, blush and tinted lip balm. An example of the finished look can be found in the 1st picture just below this post. If you're interested in natural-looking and very long-lasting makeup, then do read on. Guys, you can skip this. =P

A) Primers

Primers are basically stuff which you apply onto your face before your makeup to prep your skin for better application and to help your makeup lasts. 1,2,3 & 4 are in order of application.

1) Etude House Skin Mal-gam Oil control toner - apply this with a cotton wool on clean face. Wonderful scent!

2) Biore UV perfect face milk for oily skin, spf 50+ PA+++ - controls oil, acts as a sunblock too

3) Nivea Visage UV blocker oil-free moisturizer, spf 30 PA++ - I usually apply this if I'm wearing pressed powder alone without foundation/BB cream. It's to prevent the surface from becoming too dry and flaky after you pat your pressed powder. If I'm wearing foundation/bb cream, I'll skip this.

4) Make-up Forever HD Primer in #5, oil-free - helps makeup lasts and to cover slight redness. You can get a Sephora consultant to choose a suitable primer for you because there are as many as 7 types for different skin types/colours. As it has a slight white cast, so I only apply on T-zone and below my eyes and blend out(very impt), so that it acts as a contouring primer too. 

5) Urban decay Eye shadow Primer Potion - apply this only if you're applying eye-shadow and just before your eye-shadow. It helps eye-shadow stays all day/night.

B) Face products (not in order)

After your primers, you can choose to apply pressed powder or loose powder or foundation/BB cream and then set with loose powder. It's your choice. Apply concealer if you need before these products.

6. Make-up forever HD foundation, colour#117 (oil free) -  as it's a fond de teint, it only offers sheer coverage. More for day makeup.

7. Etude House Moistfull BB cream - spf 30 PA++ with collagen - a moisturizng BB cream with medium coverage. I use this during nights out. 

8. Make-up forever High definition powder - to set your foundation/bb cream. Apply with a puff

9. Etude house BB magic pact in No.1 Light Beige, pressed powder. I usually wear this alone during work after my primers. Sheer coverage and natural looking

C) Eyes/Cheeks/Lips

10) Fresh Inc, Sugar Honey tinted lip treatment - although it's a balm, it has very pigmented colours, just like a lippy. I love this pinkish nude lip balm with it's very buildable colour. Simply dab on lips for very natural-looking lips. Apply once or twice for a more intense colour. It's not super moisturizing so it's quite lasting. 

11) Fairydrops Platinum mascara - Lengthens and doesnt smudge all day but I really hate the brush sometimes, coats unevenly.

12) Revlon blusher in 020 Tawny Peach - not a very pigmented blush but I really like that it's a very buildable and natural colour. For fair skin like mine, I'm terrified with very pigmented blushers which can go very intense at first swipe. I'll look like I'm singing opera. (=.=)''''' Therefore I love this Revlon peachy blush because I can control how intense it looks. Natural base make-up needs to go with natural-looking blush. Very lasting. Not recommended for tan skin as it might not be visible.

13) Maybelline Impact Express Smooth Felt eye liner in black - I use them to line upper and lower eyes too and they dont smudge at all. Very easy to control/use. However, it's not water-proof. But it's already good enough for me on normal working days. 

All the above mentioned products are simply great because they're so flexible - they can be very natural looking or applied more intensely for a night of clubbing depending on how you use them. 

Sometimes, I'll throw on a pair of falsies if I have time to spare . =P This is the best eye lash glue I've used. IMHO, it's much much better than Shu Uemura or DUO. 

14) Darkness eye lash glue, from Korea. Comes in clear or black.

Last but definitely not the least, always bring 15) Clean&Clear Oil Blotters with you! And you're done!

All these products dont break me out and can be purchased at Watson, SASA or Sephora.

Thanks for reading!

(P/S Products with numbers underlined are what I usually use/wear for work)