Sunday, July 11, 2010

Favourite Highlighters by Benefit


Not sure if you guys bother with highlighting in your everyday makeup routine but I find it's one way to make your skin "glow" just like those Korean actresses who always have perfect luminous skin. Sorry my camera doesn't take the best pictures- I actually look too shiny because of the flash- but in reality it's a very light shimmer.

There are many ways to highlight but here is what I use- it just so happens that both these products are by Benefit. There are alternatives out there and I will suggest a few at the end:)

Below is Benefit "10" and its a duo colour powder with a very shimmery light pink highlight and then a darker shade for contouring. I use a big fluffy brush and give it a couple of swirls and place the lighter colour on the top of my cheeks and then naturally the darker will be placed on the lower half of the cheek- all in one swipe of the brush. So easy! (as shown in the pic above) It comes with its own brush but I prefer using a big fluffy brush instead whish is easy to blend so as to avoid a striped effect. Not a very good look!

And finally I use the liquid highlighter "High Beam" for smaller areas such as the eyebrow bone and the bridge of my nose and a little bit on the highest part of my cheeks. This is also great to mix with your foundation and get a luminous effect. The good thing about these products is that it's not over the top glittery so you look like a fairy- unless that's the look are after. But otherwise the overall effect is very subtle.

If you can't get your hands on Benefit- there is another way! I sometimes use eyeshadows for highlighting and it works just as well. Eg. Mac E/S Jest or Naked Lunch. Jest is my favourite of the two- it gives are very nice "glow" and great finish too! I wouldn't suggest using anything too glittery- it's not the same effect!
I recently bought this on ebay- Skin Food Lime Secret Shine Base and can't wait to try it out. It comes in 3 colours but I chose the gold finish since I don't have this colour. If you've tried this please let me know what you think:)

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Lazy Winter


Winter blues are getting me down and very very lazy.......I miss the hot summer days! My appetite also is disappearing- nothing is appealing anymore which makes me even more sad :(

At least I can use makeup to make me look a bit more cheerful! Just want to share what I have been using these days when I feel extremely lazy. Especially in the mornings when I stay in my warm cozy bed an extra 10 minutes which of course cuts into my "getting ready" time. 

Firstly, I apply my Hourglass Veil mineral primer- this is the best primer I have used so far. If you like Smashbox photo finish primer (they both give a similar velvetly finish) then you would really love this product. 

I have gone back to using my BB creams (I finished with my beloved Laura Mercier Liquid foundation) and I personally think they blend easier than any foundation and it's so foolproof - kinda like a tinted moisturiser.  I've been using Skinfood Gingko Green BB Cream- which is my colour and blends really well into my skin. I even got a stranger complimenting on my porcelain complexion- which I never ever receive using other foundations! However, BB creams are notoriously hard to skin colour match especially for tanned to darker skins- not fair I know! Also they do tend to be oilier so avoid this in summer or if you are prone to a shiny skin. 

I also redisccovered my old favourite concealer- Lancome's Effacernes Longue Tenue (how do you pronounce this?!?) Anyway it just works well with the BB Cream and it lasts all day.

And to add a bit of cheeriness into my sallow complexion I've been using Benefit's Posie Tint which is a very pretty pink stain. Benetint is more rosy so this is a bit more girly. It gives a very light finish without the heaviness of powder or cream (ideal for hot summers!) I also use this on my lips- looks very natural and lasts longer than lipgloss:)


Last but not least, this Sephora colourful duo eyeshadow No. 9 is a very flattering colour for dark or brown eyes- I use the lilac on my lids and the darker dirty plum to line the upper lash line and the lower lash line. It looks so much better than plain old brown! Try it:)

Anyone has any lazy winter tips please share!