Mid-Week Beauty Master class: Setting Powder

Time for another Beauty Master class ladies! After applying your foundation and concealer, it is now time to apply a setting powder.  The aim of setting powder is to provide you with a shine-free finish and help make-up last longer.  However, people with dry skin tend to not apply powder to keep their skin looking dewy and prevent the powder from accentuating dry areas.  Basically, a setting powder comes in two forms: loose or pressed/compact.  I recommend you use a loose powder before leaving the house (they are more messy and the jars are usually bulky) and keeping a pressed powder in your purse for on-the-go touch-ups.  There are also powders with shade variations that give your face a hint of colour and also translucent ones that leave no colour behind at all.

Pressed Powder typically comes in a plastic compact case usually with a mirror (but not always) and an applicator (sponge or fluffy).  Since these powders are pressed together with oils, they are not really light-weight so be careful to use just a small amount and gently dab it where you want to eliminate shine to avoid it looking cakey. A fluffy brush is your best bet with these as it gives just the right amount of matte; sponges can build up the product to a cakey finish as they tend to pick up a lot of product!  To keep your powder in tip-top condition, make sure you wash the applicator very often to prevent oils, dirt and cellulr debris from your skin from ending up in the compact.

Loose Powder is much more messy to work with so when you first get it, just pin two or three holes in the sifter to prevent getting the powder all over the place.  The lightweight formulas of loose powders makes them the ideal product to use for setting your make up as they won't pack on as much as a pressed powder will.  A powder brush/puff will do the trick when applying such powders!

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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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Mid-Week Beauty Master Class ~ Make-up Primers

This week sees the official start to this new series of posts on my blog.  Initially I started this blog to provide an alternative way for young and older women alike to learn more about our skin, make-up and products available on the market.  So, finally I am starting this series to tackle each product individually and also some make-up tricks and face shapes, corrective make-up etc. I decided to start with the products first and then we will move on gradually to making the most of them according to your individual needs :)

First up, Make-Up Primers!

There exist make-up primers for the face, eyes, lips, practically every part of your face where make-up will be applied.  Primers act as a base to help the make-up stay on longer and in the case of face make-up, prevent it from clogging pores.  Personally, I use a face primer when I am going to wear liquid foundation and my choice here is Inglot's Under Make-Up Base.  It has a gel consistency and preps the skin for make-up application and also absorbs serum so it is great for people with oily skin.

Most primers, especially eye primers come in the form of a skin-coloured creamy textured products.  There are loads of eye primers available on the market such as UD Primer Potion, elf Eyelid Primer and Mineral Eyeshadow Primer, etc... Like the face primers, these provide a base for eyeshadow to stick to and they also help in making the colours pop and last longer.  Just a little goes a long way with these and for hygienic reasons, I prefer primers with a doe-foot applicator (like that of lip-glosses).  Eyeshadow Primers are a must have for people with oily lids to help keep the eye make-up put all day. 

Most primers are oil and fragrance free and hence they work especially well for people with oily skin as primers help control shine and absorb excess sebum.  This is especially true for the gel-like primers.  People with dry and sensitive skin also benefit from using a primer because it helps nourish the skin and calm inflammation.  It is important to bear in mind that a primer has to be applied after moisturizer but before foundation.  It is best if you give it enough time to sink in the skin and apply it on areas where the make-up tends to wear-off after a few hours, namely, chin, lips and eyelids or even the whole face.

Here are some more benefits of wearing a primer:

Protects your skin from the harmful UV rays - some primers have a sunscreen and SPF 15 or more

Fills in fine lines and wrinkles
Makes enlarged pores appear smaller and less visible
Keeps cosmetics out of the pores and in doing so, allow your skin to breathe 

Most brands offer a make-up primer nowadays and all come in different formulations to suit everyone's needs.  The most popular options are skin-coloured, white and shimmery.  If you are going to buy a primer for the first time, take time to assess the packaging as well... remember you want to keep everything as sanitized and free from bacteria as possible to prevent any nasty breakouts and/or infections.  Therefore, skip primers that come in jars or in lipstick format and go for those that come in squeezy tubes or look like lip-glosses.

I hope you found this post useful and I would really appreciate your feedback on this series so feel free to bring your thoughts forward! Until next post, stay beautiful & happy priming!

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New Year, New Series! Mid-Week Beauty Master-class!

Good morning ladies :) Hope you are now all cured from the festive hangovers and fully geared up for the New Year!

I decided to start this series dealing with make-up application and skin basics I feel everyone needs to know in order to make the best out of make-up. Therefore it will resemble a Make-up  one on one.  I have already written a few general posts which you might want to refer to so as the first post of the series, I am going to link all these posts here for easier referral. 

To know more about what the skin is and it's various functions, click here; you might also want to check out my face cleansing routine here.  However, always adapt this routine to your skin needs.  To know what your skin type is, check out this post! You can also find more tips for clear skin here.

The colour wheel is an indispensable tool when deciding which colours to use so be sure to have a look at it here.  This other post deals with all the basic make-up tools everyone should have.

Another post I had posted on this blog which is worth a read deals with eyebrow shaping. Click here for more.

I hope you will all enjoy this series and please do not hesitate to send me your requests about what you would  like to see here :)


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