Make-Up Collection {Part 1 ~ Storage Cabinet & Face Products}

Hello loves :) I thought of sharing my make-up collection with you in a series of posts where I will divide the products in different categories.  I will also link the reviews to the different products so you would know which I have already reviewed and if you would like me to review any of the non-reviewed ones (if any) or  you simply want to know if I still like the product as much as when I initially bought it or if I have changed my mind about it or anything, just leave a comment down below :) 

I will start with face products today.  You will see that I as much as I love to collect make-up, I am not much of a hoarder in this regard as I just don't get the point of having say 10 peach blushes when you only have one face lol but that's just me! So don't expect a huge collection.  Also, my make-up is mostly drugstore with the occasional high-end product or two.

Anyway, first up are some pictures of the cabinet where I store all my make-up.  The cabinet is located in my room just under a half-length mirror and I apply my make-up standing up.  Mum & Dad had bought it for me after I had been complaining that I didn't have any more space to store all my make-up.  I quite like it being white and the drawers are all very spacious especially the wicker baskets.  Mum will however take off the flowery cloths and sew some out of left-over fabric from my curtains and bed-spread so that the cabinet matches my room more.  

Here's a quick rundown of how I store all my make-up in the cabinet, starting with the smaller drawers first...

In the first one, I mainly keep face products as well as some lip products while in the one beneath it, I keep my false eyelashes and other eye products.  In the third drawer, I keep all bits and bobs I use to tie my hair as well as fancy bobby pins etc and in the last one, I keep all my taller nail polishes such as China Glaze and Orly.

In the first wicker basket, I keep my brush-roll and other loose brushes in their covers as well as the brush shampoo and daily cleaner.  The second basket, houses all my eyeshadows while the third one, holds all my perfumes and some body lotions.  In the bottom-most one, I keep my Philips hair-dryer and New Look straighteners.  

On the top of the cabinet, I keep the brushes I use on a daily basis, basic make-up products I reach for most often and my hair brushes and deodorant.

That out of the way, I will let you have a nosey into my face products collection :P

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Candid Coral

e.l.f. Mineral Blemish Kit

e.l.f. Mineral Booster in Sheer

e.l.f. Studio Warm Bronzer

NYX Concealer in a Jar in CJ12 Green

Max Factor Creme Puff in 85 Light 'n' Gay

essence stay natural concealer in 01 Soft Beige

e.l.f. Tinted Moisturizer in Rosy Beige

Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in 180 Sand Beige

NYX HD Foundation in HDF02 Soft Beige

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream

e.l.f. Studio Complexion Perfection

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation in 100 Ivory

Inglot Under the Make-up Base

e.l.f. Studio Make-Up Mist & Set

Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

e.l.f. All Over Color Sticks in Pink Lemonade & Persimmon

So that's all of my face products collection ladies! Do we have any common products? Do you like these kind of posts?

Mid-Week Beauty Masterclass: Concealer

Hey guys! Next make-up item that goes on our faces after foundation, is concealer. There are different types of formulations and colours to suit everyone no matter how dark or fair you are and what your problem areas are as you will find out if you keep on reading.  Concealers are an invaluable make-up product especially if like me, you have dark circles or blemishes you want to cover up.  As I said before, concealers do not only come in flesh-toned colours, but there are also those known as colour correctors which are usually either green, lavender or yellow.  These serve to neutralize redness, brighten up dark areas and neutralize blueish under-eye circles respectively.

Now let's see the different types of concealers available and what are the best uses for each one!

Stick Concealers really resemble lipsticks and they have quite a thick/dry consistency, making them a little bit hard to blend.  Due to the thick texture, they offer a medium - high coverage and are thus best for covering up blemishes. These concealers are best avoided under the eyes as they tend to sink in fine lines.  To make blending easier, the best way to apply such concealers is with your fingers as the warmth will soften the formula, enabling you to blend it better.  Small amounts are recommended when working with stick concealers as they look cakey very easily.  If you feel you need more coverage, build it up gradually.

Liquid Concealers are probably the most widely used type of concealer and they are usually presented in either a squeezy tube, or in a lipgloss-like tube or else in a twist-up format.  The consistency of liquid concealers is somewhat lightweight and blends easily.  Since they are neither oily nor heavy, they are suitable for all skin types.  It usually doesn't crease and it has good staying power, offering light to medium coverage, but you can layer it to achieve almost full coverage.  Liquid concealer is suitable for use on both the face and under eye area, but you have to work fast, because it dries pretty quickly and if you don't blend it in correctly it can look patchy. The best way to apply it is to dot it on the area you want to cover either with your finger or with the applicator and then blend it in with your finger using a gentle, patting motion until it looks nice and even!

Cream Concealer is usually supplied in little pots or pans. As the name suggests, it has a nice, creamy consistency, making it ideal for people with dry skin. It can be used both on the face and under eye area as it provides medium to full coverage and lasts pretty well even without any setting powder.  There are various ways of applying this type of concealer such as with your fingers, a sponge or concealer brush.  For hygienic reasons, I always recommend the use of a brush especially if you are covering zits to prevent the spread of infection and contaminating your concealer (this applies for all types). Also, make sure to sanitize your brush after each use.

Mineral Concealer is the latest formula to hit the market and it has gained quite a lot of popularity.  It comes in powder form and because it is mineral, it is free from parabens and preservatives and is therefore hypoallergenic.  It usually offers a light - medium coverage and stays on for quite some time.  It is suitable for most skin types but is especially good for people with oily skin as it absorbs oil.  On the other hand, if you have dry/mature skin, steer clear of it as it will make dry patches/fine lines/wrinkles more visible. The best way to apply it is by using a full and fluffy brush and tap the brush on the areas you want to cover until you achieve the coverage you want.

A tip to remember when using concealer is keep in mind what type of foundation you are using; if you are using a mineral foundation, the concealer goes on after the foundation because otherwise, the powder will stick to the concealer and look cakey.  If on the other hand, you are using liquid foundation, it doesn't matter when you apply concealer but I prefer applying it before foundation but you may apply it afterwards if you so desire.

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Mid-Week Beauty Master Class ~ Foundation

Welcome back to another post from the Mid-Week Beauty Master Class :)  As you can tell from the title, this week's post deals with foundation.  Foundation is usually the first step most people begin with when applying make-up so it is crucial that you choose the best one for your skin type (click here to determine yours) espcially if you do not use a primer (you can have a look at this post for more information on make-up primers if you wish).

There are tons of foundations out there so really want to make sure to get the perfect one according to your skin's tone and needs.  Let's start with the different formulations of foundations available and which skin type they suit best.

Liquid Foundation is perhaps the most popular type, the reason being, it suits most skin types and comes in a vast array of formulas to cater for the needs of everyone. Examples include liquid foundations for mature skin with anti-ageing properties, for acne-prone skin that won’t clog the pores of the skin, even HD foundations for high definition filming and photography services.  The best thing about these foundations is that you can control how much product you put on your face.  However, this is also determined from the technique and tools you use to apply your foundation with.  If you want just some light coverage, your best bet would be to wet your sponge/brush or apply it with a stippling brush; if on the other hand, you want a heavier application,  layer your foundation or else apply it with a flat top brush. Liquid foundations are also great for mixing with your regular moisturizer to create your own tinted moisturizer for day when you just want a sheen of colour on your face.  My current choice for liquid foundation is Revlon ColorStay.

Mineral Foundation is quickly gaining popularity amongst people with sensitive and oily skins (me included) mostly because since it is in powder form, it absorbs excess oils from the face and therefore prevent shiny t-zones and also because since they are mineral, they do not contain any parabens or preservatives, thus there is no or minimal risk of a reaction.  Some of the minerals that these foundations contain help combat ageing and help firm the skin. If you have dry skin however, steer clear of powder formulas as they will only accentuate dry bits as well as fine lines/wrinkles.  Such foundations usually offer a light- medium coverage but be careful when layering them as they tend to look obvious if too much is applied. This is the type of foundation I use on an everyday basis and I like Rimmel Lasting Finish Minerals Loose Powder Foundation.

Mousse Foundation is a relatively new foundation formula on the market and the texture is quite airy and light.  It is suitable for most skin types but if you have oily skin, I'd advise you to first try out a sample of such foundations to check their staying power.

Cream Foundation is best for people with dry or mature skin because of its moisturizing properties.  Most of these foundations deliver a medium to heavy coverage but you can always wet your brush/sponge if you want a lighter coverage. These foundations will usually last all throughout the day and give off a nice, dewy finish which makes them look natural despite their heavy texture! There are also cream-to-powder foundations, which have a creamy texture, but they dry to a more matte finish. Cream foundations are also suitable for use as concealers, because they're creamy and offer good coverage.

Powder Foundation is usually marketed as a pressed powder however, you may also find it in a loose form.  Such foundations are your best bet of you have oily or combination skin.  Sponges are not the best way to apply powder foundations because the sponge will pick up a lot of product and hence your foundation will end up looking cakey.  So I suggest you go for a nice fluffy brush and always make sure to tap off the excess.

Stick Foundation offers the heaviest coverage and lasts for a very long time so it is the foundation of choice for many professional make-up artists.  Since they are so heavy, I wouldn't recomend that you use them as an everyday foundation.

Airbrush Foundation is a very expenisve way to have your foundation done! It is done by a very little compressor machine and is best applied by a professional.  It is mostly used for photography services as it delivers that nice airbrushed look.

Tips on choosing the best foundation for you

After you have decided which type of foundation suit your skin's needs best, you will want to match the colour to your skin tone. Here are the two tips you should always keep in mind:

- Always try foundation on your temples or your jaw line for colour matching, never on your hands as they may be slightly different in colour than your face.

- If possible try your foundation in natural light for optimal judgement.

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