Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts

24 June 2015

Spot The Difference aka My Skin Story

OMG.. I found an old photo of meself! I was so shocked when I saw this 😱😱😱.

Anyways... Before we examine the differences, let me state the points of similarity for the comparison photo below:
  • I am in both pictures :D
  • Both pictures were taken while I was in a car
  • I was wearing makeup in both pictures. Although the left one didn't look like it, I was wearing foundation and powder. On the right, I also had my eyes and lips done on top of my foundation and powder
  • Both pictures are of high quality resolution - Left one taken by my Sony Cybershot, and right one with iPad (that's the camera I use for my daily #motd pictures anyways)
  • I did not, in any way, edit or use filter on these photos. I simply cropped and stitched them together.
Can you spot the differences? I can :P
Picture on the left was taken in 2008, while the one on the right was taken this year, about a couple months back. So there's a 7-year gap between those two. In 2008, that was when I just ended my year long makeup artistry course.

If you notice in the picture on the left, my eye areas looked like there's a hint of green.. I was covering a very bad burnt effect due to bad reaction to cosmetics that I put on my face for the makeup class. So I was trying to use makeup to cover up, and it definitely wasn't enough. The surface of my cheeks also looking rough from the scars despite the foundation that I had on. Eye bags? Well those look very apparent as well. Besides that, there are also scars on my forehead area, even though I attempted to cover them with my fringe.

Back then, I learned about skincare and makeup from my makeup academy. But to be honest, the skincare was just in theory,as they concentrated on the makeup a lot. I was also advised not to wear makeup on the days that I didn't have makeup class to 'save' my face. I didn't understand it back then. But now, looking back, it's as if that it was expected that wearing makeup will somehow have damaging effect on the skin. So true enough, by the end of my makeup course, my face was burnt. I have the picture, but I don't have the courage to share it yet. I went to dermatologist and had and skin prick test for all the things I put on my face.  Apparently almost everything gave me allergic reaction, except for a couple of products. My skin is really really REALLY sensitive. My other classmates in the same course didn't have the same reaction I was having. That's how I found out. My dermatologist then consulted me with some medications (which I had to take for almost a year) and asked me to stop wearing makeup and the skincare that gave me the allergic reaction.

After that I just had to wash my face with really mild cleanser and use basic moisturizer with Vitamin E and sun block. Throughout this period, I didn't put makeup on my face at all, so imagine having to go to work with naked 'burnt' face. Not a confident booster for sure, I'm telling you. Everybody noticed and even asked if I was 'okay' cos I looked 'tired'. Yup, that was how bad it was.

My skin continues to be better but at a very slow pace. It took me a couple of years (yes, years..) to get the burnt areas to clear up. And after the makeup course I didn't really put on makeup on daily basis, just on special occasions and only on my clients' faces.

Then about a year ago, I learned about how to take care of skin from a friend, Waheeda. I was skeptical at first, not to mention was very cautious too, about putting on stuff on my skin since it's so super sensitive. But I tried anyways, since she comforted me, saying that we could stop at anytime if I had any reaction. So I went and tried on till the end. I was trying a new brand of foundation and so my friend shared with me the right way to care for our skin before testing the foundation on. I really appreciate her sharing and I absolutely LOVE the foundation (no joke!). Because of the foundation, I decided to sign up as a 'beauty consultant' with Mary Kay. Let me be frank to you, I always buy my makeup supply at a discount, regardless of brands. I really use my professional certificate to my advantage. So same with this instance :D. Signed up, and since I have discounts for the products, I bought my skincare as well because, why not? I have tried it and it didn't give me reactions. The starter kit that I first got came with an anti-aging range so I got another range for my personal use, which is milder for my skin - the Botanical Effects. After a month of using it, I notice my nose became smoother. The blackheads somehow melted away. I also found that my face became brighter. I was surprised for this as the range is not a 'whitening' range. It just showed that with the right regime, your skin will be as bright as it can and will be in its most optimum condition.

After 3 months, I graduated to the anti-aging range, the Timewise. You know, I thought my skin was already in its best condition with the previous range, but boy was I wrong. I COULD get better. I was so excited to see the changes, it motivated me to continue taking care of my skin.

The picture on the right hand side was taken a year after I started using Mary Kay skincare. My skin really got a lot better. AND...... nowadays I get to wear makeup almost everyday! Or whenever I feel like it - which I absolutely love. I don't need a lot of foundation, because the skin underneath is good, the makeup I need is just enough to even out the skin tone and to protect from the external elements. Sometimes, just a layer of CC Cream and I'm good to go. I get to play with colours everyday, I don't have to 'save face' because the makeup and skincare work together to improve my skin.

What's your skin story? I'd love to hear them :)

01 June 2015

NPU: Endless Performance Creme-to-Powder Foundation, Eyeliner andLiquid Eyeliner Pen by Mary Kay

I had the chance to try out the newly launched products by Mary Kay a few days before it was available to everyone and I was sooooo excited!

They are launching new, staple products for their regular line and that means, it's going to be available all year round starting this month. When I said staple, I mean products that you can use everyday. These are the things you might want to invest it for great daily looks.

A lot of my close friends know how I swear by the Mary Kay Timewise Matte-wear Liquid Foundation, as it gives me just enough coverage and I absolutely love the consistency. Now I'm even more excited as I got to try the new Endless Performance Creme-to -Powder foundation. It is a cream foundation in a 10-gram pan that you apply with sponge (I love wet sponge) to give you full coverage.  It comes in five shades; Ivory 1, Ivory 2, Beige 1, Beige 2 and Bronze 1.

Endless Performance Creme-to-Powder Foundations


Just like the liquid foundation, this cream foundation smooth over your skin so easily and it gives more coverage that I'm used to when I was using the liquid foundation. The coverage is full, and it glides over my skin so easy. I can choose to set it it with powder for more matte finish or leave it for more dewy finish. I haven't tried it on dry skin, but since I have combination skin, it sets more dewy for me. What I like about it, is that it feels very light on my face. I'm giving this two thumbs up!! I actually tried it on my face, but I forgot to take pictures before I washed it off! Arrghhh!!!

What the foundations look like inside.

Mary Kay's Eyeliner is the eyeliner that I reach out and wear everyday. So you  have to understand my excitement when I know they are relaunching the range with new formula and more colours! I'm most excited with this range compared to the other products launched this month.. Hehehe.. So, they have new colours with this range; MK Deep Brown, MK Dark Denim, MK Steely, MK Turquoise and MK Black. It comes in a retractable pencil, just like the previous formula.

Retractable Mary Kay Eyeliners


I LOVE this eyeliner!! The colour is more pigmented, and creamy when I put it on. And it really stays on. I mean, really, stays ON! Talk about long-lasting. I was having some allergic reaction on my lids for few weeks now (that explains why the lack of #motd posts on my Instagram). So I tried on my eyes and really used the eye makeup remover to take it off. I even swatched in on my forearms and I didn't remove it immediately. Six hours later, I tried washing and rubbing it off with water. And It wouldn't come off, literally wouldn't budge! So I know it's water and smudge proof! Wooho!! Love this! Two thumbs up!

The retractable eyeliners swatches after 6 hours! It wouldn't budge!



Last product I tried was the Liquid Eyeliner Pen. It comes in only one colour, black, in a pen with felt tip. The felt tip really helped with the application if you're just trying out eyeliner as part of your daily routine. The sharp end surely helps with the cat eyes or glamour liner precision. However, what I didn't like about it was that, it is not waterproof and it doesn't finish off as really matte. You can easily wash it off with water.  So, if you're a fan of pen eyeliner, you might want to set it with your eye shadow or you can use it to get the shape of the eyeliner on your lids, then follow through with a gel liner if you want to make it last longer. Because I know it's sometimes easier to use this pen first to get the shape as opposed to using gel liner on a brush, especially for newbies. One BIG pros to having a non-waterproof eyeliner? Obviously, it's wudhu' friendly!!

Mary Kay Liquid Eyeliner Pen


Swatches of the retractable eyeliners and the liquid eyeliner pen


I haven't got a chance to create looks using these products yet, but do follow my Instagram as I'll be updating more looks there! Till next post, kisses!

P/S: Please Whatsapp me for appointments to try out any of these products!

01 May 2015

My Secrets to Flawless Looking Foundation

I used to wonder - when looking at magazine covers or editorial photos - how does the skin look so smooth and gorgeous without looking like there's a lot of foundation being put on? Trust me it's a lot going on the face. Especially when it's for printing or video. 

I love trying out makeup on my face just so that I can experiment on different looks and colours. You can see them all on my Instagram account. I have been experimenting with skin for a long time now and only for the past few of years I got it almost right. Why almost? Well I believe there are an abundance of tips and tricks out there and what I have discovered may not include all of them. 

It starts with the skin
Who doesn't want flawless looking skin? But how many really are willing to invest in taking care of their skin? If you want your foundation to look 'like skin' or 'flawless-looking', you have to look at the foundation of your foundation. Your skin. If the skin is already taken care of and is in a good condition, it doesn't take a lot of makeup to make it beautiful. Makeup will only enhance it. How to take care your skin? That topic deserves a post of its own. 

Well moisturised skin
When your skin is well moisturised, the foundation will blend nicely on your skin. In a way it clings on and it will stay longer as well. That's why it is important to understand your skin type so that you can use proper moisturiser for your skin prior to putting on makeup. Even if your skin is oily, moisturiser is a must. Look for oil free or gel type moisturiser. For dry skin, you can use the more creamier type. 

Is foundation primer necessary
Yes and no. Nowadays a wide range of primer has been developed for many reasons - to smooth the skin, to give sun protection, to correct colour, to give radiance - just to name a few. In that case you will have to look at the needs of your skin. The use of primer also helps the makeup to stay on longer. Some primers have multiple purposes so you get more mileage with the use of a single primer. 

That being said, sometimes I skip primer when I am using my CC cream for daily use. Or when I only need the makeup for only a couple of hours, like when going out for dinner function. 

Choose the right colour of foundation
It is crucial to match the foundation to your skin. Not lighter, not darker. The effect of foundation is to make your skin to look even toned, not to make your skin fairer than it is. With the contouring hype going on right now, I would recommend to get the shade of foundation that matches the highlight tone of your skin. What's the highlight tone you ask? Our face is normally not one colour all over. Some parts are lighter and some are darker than the others. So you can look at your forehead or the top of your cheeks for the lightest colour of your skin.  If you want to contour, choose a shade or two darker, and blend well to make sure the effect is soft and subtle. That way your face will look neither too made up nor too flat. 

Setting the foundation
When you're using cream or liquid foundation, depending on the formulation, you will need to set it to stop it from moving. Yes it can move. Some liquid foundation however can set on its own after a while. So choose the right setting powder for your foundation. If you're looking for a lot of additional coverage, you can use two-way cake. Otherwise, sheer pressed powder or loose powder will give a slight add-on coverage. I personally prefer to let my foundation set on its own for dewy finish. If I want a matte look, then I will use the translucent loose powder, which will not alter the foundation colour at all. My favourite foundation at the moment is Mary Kay matte-wear liquid foundation which has the coverage and finish that I love. It will set on its own without using any powder. 


So I hope this sharing of mine is helpful for you. Happy experimenting and playing with makeup! 
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