How To…#4

How To Choose Make-Up Brushes for Foundations

This is just a brief (if I can afford to make it short :)) overview of several types of foundation brushes you’d need in your make-up kit. I’m not a professional make-up artist so I don’t own an extensive collection of make-up brushes, however I do like to invest in good brushes, which don’t necessarily come with a hefty price tag.

Foundation application is a tricky area as there are so many different tools/brushes you can use. It is very much based on preference more than anything.I will elaborate in each category (according to the types of brushes often used), the different brands available and the types of foundation that can be used with.

1. Flat Foundation Brush

The obvious approach is to use a foundation brush which is made out of synthetic bristles, explains why its a little stiff. A foundation brush is good, especially for an oil base foundation as it picks up product and slathers on quite well but I always find sometimes the application looks a bit streaky on my face. I do however use it from time to time, especially on occasions where I need a full coverage.

some high-end options : MAC 190 Brush, Sephora I.T. Foundation Brush (how gorgeous is that pink handle?), MakeUpForEver HD Brush (which is quite known to be good for giving you an even and airbrushed look)

source : maccosmetics.com

source: sephora.com

source: makeupforever.com

Cheaper alternatives: Sigma F60 Brush (very very comparable to the MAC 190 brush above, quality and size wise), E.l.f. Studio Line Angled Foundation Brush (such a good buy for its price and quality; angled brush helps to get into hard to reach places like the side of your nose etc. ), Crown Brush M10 Taklon Brush (a fav. brand by some makeup artists)

source: sigmabeauty.com

source: eyeslipsface.co.uk

source: crownbrush.co.uk

Use if for:

Liquid foundations, tinted moisturiser

2. Duo Fibre Brush (Stippling Brush)

My favourite type of brush so far, to use with most of my liquid foundations and tinted moisturisers has got to be stippling brushes. This is a staple brush in many beauty lovers’ collection, as it is very versatile. For those who are unaware for its use, I will try and explain as best as I can. A stippling brush has that “skunk” look to its bristles, be rest assured that the skunk title doesnt include the smell 🙂 It has white and black bristles; the white part is made out of synthetic hair and is mainly used to pick up the product, the black part is made out of natural hair usually goat hair and is mainly used to buff the product into your skin. The effect you get is absolutely beautiful, as it gives you the airbrushed look.

The idea behind the brush is, you pick up products like liquid or cream foundation in a stippling motion (dotting it onto the product) and you began to stipple it all over your face distributing it evenly (dotting it onto the skin). Next, began by buffing it into our skin, in a circular motion all over your face. This will achieve the most even look without feeling like you’re slathering on products.

The most common stippling brush is the MAC 187 brush (larger) and MAC 188 brush (smaller). But over the years many other versions from other companies have introduced this in their collection. I have the MAC 187 brush, it is expensive but worth every penny as I foresee abusing this for many years to come.

source: maccosmetics.com

If you’re looking for something of a cheaper range but works almost just as well, try the Sigma F50 and F55 brushes. They are the dupe for MAC 187 and 188 brush but at more than half the price!

source: sigmabeauty.com

Other alternatives: E.l.f. Studio Line Stipple Brush, Sephora I.T. Stippling Brush

source: eyeslipsface.co.uk

source: sephora.com

Use it for:

Liquid to cream foundations, powder foundations, tinted moisturisers

3. Egg-Shaped Sponge

I know this may sound bizarre unless of course you already know what I might be talking about. It is the very famous BeautyBlender sponge that everyone in the makeup world has been raving about. Sadly I have not jumped on this bandwagon just yet, I might be soon if they stock it up at Sephora in Malaysia.

source: sephora.com

This is a multi-purpose sponge that works 100% better than your regular sponge. It is supposed to double in size as soon as you wash it under a running tap and use it while it is slightly damp. It applies any liquid/cream based make-up (foundations or blushers) beautifully, without giving you any creases. As skeptical as this may sound, it achieves a different look altogether compared to using a brush. Apparently a more fresh and natural look.

The wider side of the sponge lets you roll on products onto your skin without giving an obvious streak line, and the pointed end lets you blend the product on any small and hard to reach places on your face (ie. the sides of your nose, under your eyes etc).Like any other sponges, there’s that annoying factor that you would have to wash it properly every single time after application as it might breed bacterias faster than normal brushes do.

Sephora has a dupe for the famous BeautyBlender brush called Sephora Precison Brush, it is not exactly that much cheaper and I’m not too sure if it is as good but you could try and check it out.

source: sephora.com

Use it for :

Liquid to cream foundations, tinted moisturisers

4. Kabuki Brush

This is a fully densed brush with a short cute handle. The small handle is made so that there is more control to the user during application. It is exceptionally good for buffing the product into the skin. This is my choice for mineral powder foundations as it will buff well into my skin without me looking ‘powder-y’.

If you prefer powder foundations, it is best to use a kabuki brush rather than a normal powder brush as the product will sit on the skin better when you buff it in. Thus, creating a longer lasting foundation.

There are so many good kabuki brushes out there, the key to look for one is to test it on the back of your hand. If it feels soft and not scratchy, chances are it will feel the same on your face. A good kabuki shouldn’t scratch your face, it should be soft enough for you to apply some force onto it when buffing.

Some good but expensive options: Bare Escentuals Kabuki Brush, NARS Botan Brush, MakeupForever HD Kabuki Brush.

source: sephora.com

source: sephora.com

source: sephora.com

Use it for:

Powder and mineral powder foundations

My mum uses the Sephora Retractable Kabuki Brush with her mineral powder foundation and she recommends it. It has a retractable casing so it is perfect for on-the-go touch ups!

Websites for these brushes:

www.maccosmetics.com
www.sephora.com
www.crownbrush.com
www.sigmabeauty.com
www.eyeslipsface.co.uk

That is all for my version of most used foundation brushes. However, there are of course a lot more options which I shall not cover. Please check out my Cleansing Your Tools post to find out how to take care of your brushes to make them last for another 10 years!

Also, check out my How To Buy A Foundation post to get some ideas on different kinds of foundations you might be interested in 🙂

Have a great Wesak Day (Vesakha) !

What I’m loving this month

I’m back from my long M.I.A

Just updated my monthly favourites for the month ofApril.

Check out the Monthly Favourites page on the top right corner for more info. As usual, here is a sneak peek…

Have a great Wednesday!

How To…#2

How To Buy A Foundation

This is probably the most basic and yet the most confusing matter when it comes to make-up, and it probably doesn’t help with the overwhelming flow of different foundations at make-up counters. Most of us just detest foundations just because it has that “fake” look so we rather not be caught looking like we “try too hard”.

To be honest, I wasn’t very good at picking the right foundation for myself, still probably isn’t that great now but I have learned and picked up a few information and tips here and there along the way. It was years ago when I was one of those heavy foundation wearer. I guess it didn’t occur to me then that the idea was to look like you’re not wearing anything, maybe I thought then it was to look like you’re wearing a thick mask. Like everything else, we learn from our mistakes. Thankfully mine wasn’t pointed out by anyone, then again people around me could have been too sorry to tell it to my face that I looked like a clown.

To me, back when I was clueless, it would’ve been helpful if I were to read a written a guideline to buying the right foundation. It would have saved me a few years of bad choices.The content of this particular post is inspired by all the make-up gurus and experts that I have read, watched, listened and witnessed. This is a mere encyclopaedia to the amount of information I have with me thus far

There are probably a few questions you need to ask yourself before going to the store to purchase a foundation. Most of the time we are so swayed by the sales person that we end up picking something that probably wasn’t what we wanted in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they are con artists hehe, it’s just better to be more aware and informed than walking into a store half-knowing.

1. What kind of coverage are you looking for?

There are typically 3 types of coverage; sheer, medium and full. Often enough, most foundation will deliver something that offers a range, for an example, sheer to medium coverage, medium to full coverage etc. If you live in a hot country or maybe you want a new foundation for the summer, it is best to go for something sheer to medium as it is generally a lighter formulation. That means, it feels light and almost like a second layer of your skin. There is a famous saying in the make-up world “a better version of your skin” and essentially that is what you will achieve with this.

Besides creamy formulation, there are also powder or mineral powder choices for those who are more prone to oily skin. By choosing powder foundations, it will instantly mattify the skin! For users with acne who are worried sheer coverage doesn’t cover the imperfections well, there is always concealer.

Tip: I tend to reach for my full coverage foundation to conceal as I find it works so much better.

My recommendations :

For liquid lovers; Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (this is a stunning stunning foundation that feels almost like you’re wearing nothing! Gives you the most glowing looking skin like you won’t believe), Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil-Free ( beautiful option too, perfect for acne-prone skin as it is oil free so it doesn’t clog up your pores), Sephora Light Veil Foundation (It gives you a matte airbrushed look, absolutely light on the skin)

For powder lovers; Bare Minerals Foundation (one of the best mineral powder foundation that doesn’t give you a powdery look. It is a splurge item though.), Urban Decay Mineral Powder Foundation (My favourite for a cheaper option of the bare minerals)

If you are just not confident with the coverage sheer foundation gives or you are ready for a night out and you want something that will stay throughout the night, try foundations that will give you a full coverage. It will cover almost all your imperfections well! I love this type of foundation for a night out or a birthday do etc, as it usually is beautiful on camera and saves me the time of having to touch up my make-up.

My recommendations :

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation (it covers all my imperfections without needing to apply concealer), Chanel Pro Lumiere (heard so many good reviews about this product, Chanel is discontinuing this product soon so get it fast!), Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation (it delivers exactly as it sounds, feels like silk on skin :), a thicker consistency though), Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation (a good product and it is relatively cheaper than the ones I’ve mentioned. Revlon has a good range of colours so it is so much easier to find one that matches your skintone)

2. With SPF or without

We are brought up to know that having SPF in a product is good for our skin, to protect us from the sunlight. It is however not ideal for flash photography as sunblock has properties that are UV light reflective therefore people tend to look shinier/oily on camera. I have combination skin so sometimes I tend to ignore this tip since the “shiny/oily” look doesn’t really transfer in pictures for me. Foundations with SPF are excellent for daytime wear 🙂

3. Colour match

This is where a lot of people, including myself have probably done wrong countless times. I think I had so many foundations that were so wrong for my skin tone. The most useful tip is to ask for samples, I know it seems a bit daunting when the sales person gives you a look or usually sounds reluctant to do so, but if you tell them you are allergic to most brands I’m sure that would do the trick? (let me know if it works haha) The reason for that is, if you have samples, you can try them at the comfort of your own home. Make-up counters’ lighting are usually misleading; you’d usually get a different effect in daylight. Also, taking testers home will give you time to see if the product breaks your skin out or not. Nothing hurts more than spending and not getting to use the item!

Our faces and necks are more often than not, of two different shades. Someone who has the same tone to their neck as they do to their face, I truly truly envy that person! When picking a foundation, try and match the colour that is closest to your neck. This way once you apply it to the face, it automatically blends in with your neck.

source: fashionshowphotos.net

4. Dewy or Matte?

This boils down to personal choice. There is usually no right or wrong for the type of finish you want. Obviously during the summer, it is more popular to have a dewy finish to your skin but if you have oily skin, this probably would not appeal to you. Always ask the sales person what finish does the foundation gives you.

———–

There are more questions to be asked or considered, but I won’t make it too boring for you guys 🙂 As long as vital questions are answered then it shouldn’t be difficult to find your perfect foundation.

Hope this helps!

Cleansing Your Tools

Yes you heard it right….cleansing your face tools!

We always neglect our brushes after using them to apply our makeup, and the repercussion of that is bad skin! Think about it, when we keep using the same dirty brushes on our skin day in and day out, the bacteria accumulated will be transferred onto our skin day in and day out.

There are two types of cleansing, deep cleansing and quick cleansing. I’m a very big fan of deep cleansing just because I’m not the most efficient person. I deep cleanse my brushes at the end of every week. So, if you’re as lazy as I am 🙂 or you’re just busy with work throughout the week, you can pick your Saturday/Sunday to do this. It is tedious I know but it is very good for your face and your brushes in the long run!

1. Quick cleansing

The only product you need is a brush cleanser. My personal favourite is the MAC brush cleanser.

source: maccosmetics.com

Since the bottle is not very user friendly in my opinion, I tend to fill a smaller spray bottle (like below) that you can easily find at any local drugstore near you. This small bottle is easy to pack for travelling too!

All you need are some dirty brushes and a small clean cloth. Spray the cleanser onto the cloth, then begin swirling the brush onto the spot that you have spray, then you will instantly see all the dirt coming off, staining the cloth. Do this repeatedly on different sides of the cloth so that you can see when the dirt is almost gone. Keep spraying more if its beginning to dry off on the cloth.

Let it dry for a few minutes and you can use it straight after! It is super quick but not a thorough cleanse. Perfect if you need to use the same brush for a different product!

2. Deep Cleansing

This may take up your time, but the best part is, you will get squeaky clean brushes (well that depends on your technique and your patience). You will need a shampoo. Yes, a shampoo, if it is gentle enough for your hair, its gentle enough for your brushes. I would recommend something like Johnson’s baby shampoo but to be honest, any mild shampoo would do (not anti-dandruff shampoo or anything for coloured hair).

First squirt some shampoo onto your palm,put a little water to foam it up later. Swirl your brush on your palm in a clockwise motion (or anti-clockwise whatever you fancy) and you will start to see the water turning brown/black/pink. Run the brush under a running water, squeeze the brush as you do it. Repeat this process, add appropriate amount of shampoo if needed until you get an almost clear water/foam as you squeeze water out of it. When you think it’s clean enough, let it to dry on a small towel.

Note: Do not let water into the ferrule part of the brush. That would be the one in between the wood handle and the bristles, as it hold the glue that binds the bristles together. That is why, from all the pictures, I specifically held my brushes in a downward motion to prevent the water getting into the ferrule.

The drying may take up a full night’s sleep. So it’s best to pick a day that you feel you wouldn’t need to rush somewhere the next morning.

Some people would do several quick cleanses throughout the week and a deep cleanse at the end of the week. I would recommend the deep cleanse if you’d prefer to do just one of it. If you take care of your brushes, you can use it for many years to come! I have had mine for many years and they are still going strong 🙂

(sorry for the background of the pictures..eekkk)