When you’re short of time, whether  you’re late for work or a busy mum, here are some time saving tips when you’re in need of some war paint.

• Choose a tinted moisturiser instead of a foundation. That way you don’t have to worry about blending
• Ensure your tinted moisturiser that has an SPF to by-pass the sun cream stage
• If you have oily skin you could opt for a powder foundation that you can buff in quickly instead if using a liquid and a setting powder. (more…)

Posted on March 8, 2010 @ 15:00

Make-up |

3 Comments

Liquid foundations can dry out a little. If this happens after a year or so they product has expired and you need to replace it. If it happens during the shelf life of your product it can be rescued.

All you have to do is mix some alcohol free toner into the foundation, shake like crazy to mix and voila, foundation saved! This works on water based foundations. If you try it on oil based products the ingredients will separate.

Posted on March 7, 2010 @ 13:00

Make-up |

1 Comments

I have had Maybelline Mineral liquid foundation for a while  now. I gave it a try this week. Here are my thoughts (deep as always hee hee):

The good:

• SPF 15
• Creamy but light  texture
• Fresh glowy effect on skin after it is applied
• Easy to blend and apply; fingers, damp sponge, foundation brush
• Pump bottle. No mess what so ever.
• Cheap and often on special offer
• Very accessible. Stocked in chemists, boots & some supermarkets
• Colour looked natural on me
• Light to medium coverage. It’s also quite buildable. But at most you’re going to get a lighter side of medium coverage.
• Can be easily mixed with your moisturiser for even lighter coverage for Summer
• Good for dry skin

The bad:

• Still needed a little bit of concealer but then again I do with most ‘drugstore’ foundations
• Glass bottle makes it too heavy for my handbag. Not a hope in hell it’s fitting in my clutch
• Needed powdering on my skin
• Not very long lasting on me. Lasted about 4-5 hours before I needed to touch up. I only reapplied to my chin though. I bet this wouldn’t last an hour on oily skin!
• Limited colour range
• Not for those who need medium to full coverage
• It may photograph a little funny due to the SPF
• The marketing spiel: Minerals, sounds healthy right? Wrong. It’s full of all the usual chemicals and preservatives.

I applied this foundation using a foundation brush. Then I blended using a duo-fibre stippling brush.

If you have dry skin and you’re looking for an affordable product it’s worth a try. If  you have oily skin you’ll probably want to stay away from this product, it will make you shine…in all the wrong ways.

What do you think of this foundation? Have you tried the Maybelline mineral powder?

Posted on February 28, 2010 @ 17:13

Make-up |

7 Comments

Most people I come across use liquid foundation. I get so many questions about what foundations to use for a particular skin type. I thought I would post a little information about the types available to help those of you who are new to make-up choose the right one for you.

Many women (myself included) choose foundations based on friends recommendations. That can work out fine but more often then not you won’t get the same finish your friend got. You have to consider your own skin type and your suitability to the product. For this reason most of us are on a quest for the the Holy Grail foundation. In reality what is holy grail for you, may not be for the next girl.

When we delve in to foundations it’s clear why finding the perfect one is such a long journey of trial and error.

There are 3 things to consider 1.The type of foundation 2. The Coverage and 3. The Finish

Liquid Foundation:

These can be oil or water based. It is important to check which and factor in your skin type. If you have oily skin and you choose an oil based foundation, chances are you’ll end up with a shiny face a few hours in, or even have no make-up left.

If you have dry skin and you choose a water based foundation it could be too drying leaving a caked on look. If you have normal skin you will probably get away with either but you’ll probably have to experiment to find one that’s perfect.

Finishes:

• Matte: Zero shine
• Luminous: glowing, shimmery
• Satin/Velvet: Semi-matte finish

Coverage:

• Invisible: For very clear skin. Less than 50% pigment
• Sheer: Light coverage for skin that has a few tiny flaws
• Medium: Covers around 60%
• Full: Bad acne, scars,birthmarks etc Can look very heavy.No need to use all over

No wonder it’s taking us so long to find ‘the one’. When I am considering a foundation purchase I factor in type, coverage and finish. If they tick the 3 boxes I am a happy woman.

Posted on February 25, 2010 @ 01:31

Make-up |

4 Comments

Ok so spots aren’t what you dream of for your big day but sometimes they are a reality. Stress and diets reek havoc on the skin.

To conceal blemishes  you will need a dryer, solid concealer in your makeup arsenal. You don’t want the spot to look cakey but if the concealer is too moist it will just slide off. Dryer concealers will stay put. (more…)

Posted on February 23, 2010 @ 00:10

Make-up |

2 Comments

This concealer has been in my make-up bag for nearly two years. I still have the same tube. It occurred to me that this is a product I use almost every day and I have never mentioned it. How very dare I!

The good

• Not oily or greasy
• Easy to work with
• Light but good coverage
• Smudge proof
• Sanitary.No need to stick your finger in a pot of product, just squeeze
• Works well under my eyes when I’m tired
• Covers my old spot marks on my chin
• Wide range of shades available for cool and warm skin tones
• It didn’t break me out
• Doesn’t look cakey

The bad

• Looked a little dry when I used it on a spot (but most concealers I have tried do)
• Plasticine scent isn’t really a winner
• Can be too drying on people with a dryer skin
• The cap is tiny, easy to loose.

Ok so it’s not a holy grail product but it does what it’s supposed to do. It’s reliable and that’s what I need in a concealer.

Have you tried select cover up?

Posted on February 20, 2010 @ 01:00

Make-up |

11 Comments

Rosacea plagues so many women. It causes redness and swelling, usually on the face. It can be difficult to mask but here are some tips for concealing the affected area.

• Choose a yellow based concealer. Apply it to the red area only.
• Use your fingers to blend the outer part of the concealer into your normal skin (then skin without Rosacea)
• It’s important not to over-blend or rub in as you could wipe off the product.
• Use a stippling brush to apply foundation over the area so it blends with the rest of your face. Avoid using fingers or foundations brushes as you could move the concealer.
• Roll a light finishing powder over your skin with a powder puff.

Not that the tools you use to conceal redness are so important.

I have been asked about hoe to conceal redness quite a bit so I hope this helps.

Posted on February 17, 2010 @ 21:00

Make-up |

8 Comments