For glowy healthy skin and make up to last, here are some of the trialled and tested handy tips that has worked for me and helped me overcome skin issues. Hopefully you’ll find it useful during this silly season.
1) Wear a primer
One for the face and one for the eyes. Especially if you have oily eyelids NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is god sent. Whatever you do, don’t put silicon based primer on your eye lids or else even the toughest long wearing shadows won’t be able to stay in place.
Other primer recommendations include - Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Primer $45, Napoleon Perdis Autopilot Pre Foundation Skin Primer $55, Face of Australia Face Base Primer $11.95, NP Set – Pre Foundation Brightening Primer/Calming Primer $33 each
2) Use mask regularlyÂ
5 years ago, I banged on about my obsession with facial masks. 5 years later, I still do and commit time and effort to do at the very least two facial mask sessions a week. Be it cream, gel, facial cloth, clay variation I make sure I do masks according to my skin’s need.
Facial masks that I recommend – Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (for boosting), Rodial Snake Mask $85 (for tightening), Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisture Filling Mask $95 (for moisture), Jan Marini Skin Zyme Mask (for brightening)
3) Use lash strengthening products
With sparse eyelashes like mine and daily abuse (curling, mascara, make up removal), I find my lashes fall out faster than they can replenish that was until I met lash boosting products. These products not only work for lashes so if you have brow sparseness you can use it too. It helps to prevent lash prematurely breakage and to keep lashes healthy, strong and boosts the length.
Highly recommend – Rapid Lash Eyelash Renewal Serum $65, Xtreme Lash Amplif Eye Lash & Brow Fortifier $129, Â MAC Prep + Prime Future Lash Serum $60
4) Never neglect eye cream
It worked for me and I firmly believe eye cream works. With new technologies, eye cream helps to de-puff, tightens, reduce dark eye circles and plump up the eye area.
Try: Garnier Skin Naturals Caffeine Eye Roll-On $17.95, Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator $95, AUM Anti Age Organics Firming Eye Cream $26.95, StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles $69
5) Arm yourself with make up spray
Think of it as your “hairspray” for your face. Helps to lock in moisture, make up and to help blend everything together. Usually just spray 2-4 pumps all over face after make up is done and gently pat everything in place and viola, long lasting makeup all day!
Love: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray $29.95, Clarins Fix Make-up Mist $34, Kora Balancing Rose Mist
Every night, I have a cleansing ritual that I do. I am a firm believer of going to bed cleansed, hair free from styling products, face free from makeup/dirt and body free from sweat, grime and whatnot accumulated during the day.
I have been doing this for quite a while now but have never thought of it much until I was in the shower the other day wondering if other girls would do this too. So what I have been doing is to apply a thick layer of mask all over my face and neck after cleansing my makeup off or first thing in the morning depending on when you have your shower. Make sure the mask is creamy/thick moisturising kind that is great for anti-aging, skin booster type of mask. Then, I’ll follow on with a thorough dry body brushing before jumping into the shower.
While in the shower try to avoid water going onto the face, so I’d wash my hair and body and rinse everything off including the mask as a final step. The great thing is not only will you have showered but you’ve essentially done a face mask at the same time.
Thank me later for the awesome tip, now you too can have awesome looking skin without having to set time aside to actually do one.
Great products for “shower mask” are:
Jurlique Moisture Replenishing Mask
Why I love it:
- This intense moisturising mask is dual action, meaning it works on both moisturisation level of your skin AND brightens dull skin. Score!
- Designed to boost luminosity and intensely hydrate skin to restore radiance (exactly what I need for these cold and miserable days)
- You’ll be pleased to know that it is suitable for all skin time even for those acne prone (all the more you need moisture to heal scarring and the brightening!) and is 100% fragrance free
- The texture is creamy and doesn’t dry on the skin making it uncomfortable, so there’s no fear of leaving it on the skin over the recommended 5-10 minutes
- Results: Skin looks clearer, softer and instantly plumped. I love leaving a thick layer on my skin in the morning prior a big day (may or may not be listening to Slim Thug’s Like a Boss), make up goes on like a dream after this!
Here’s the compulsory mask shot!
RM175 / Roughly AUD$ 50
This product is not available in Australia naturally, so try Sasa or a overseas traveling friend!
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being awesome), these The Face Shop’s Salon Effect Collagen masks probably scored 1 or less.
- First of all, it was extremely difficult to mix/stir the powder with the warm water. The powder just simple refuse to dissolve and everything started to stick together in big globs.
- It was extremely messy to apply even with a mask brush. Imagine dripping, uneven application.
- They both dries out onto the face and were meant to peel it off. However 45 minutes upon application, it was near impossible to peel it off as the application was uneven. I ended up rub washing it off with warm water.
- Horror of the horror, my forehead (usually less sensitive part), my chin, nose and cheeks were flaring up bright tomato red. While I did not feel any pain or burning sensation; my face was certainly reacting to the mask, albeit a bad way.
- The mask did nothing to improve my skin texture, definitely wasn’t any smoother or visibly radiant like how the skin usually react after a good mask.
Lucky thing is that, these mask were cheap and the flaring died down over night. Have seen been using these mask on my leg/feet and arm instead.
Like shoes and lipsticks, a girl can never stick to just one mask. In my beauty cabinet, I have whitening mask, age-defying mask, firming mask, exfoliating mask, toning mask, moisturizing mask and of course, purifying mask. I have been using this purifying mask for years. By that I meant five. I love how this mask smells awesomely aromatic in a good way. Smells very much like plants, flowers and all things green.
Reasons why I choose this particular mask?
- It is gentle enough for my weekly combination skin treatment and it is relatively easy to apply and remove as it is rich cream based.
- It does not dry out onto my skin, no cracking and no more I-can’t-talk-because-I-have-mask-on awkward uncomfortable moment.
- It purifies, calm, balances, moisturizes my skin just like it claimed.
- I sometimes double it as an instant beauty booster treatment. Slabbed plenty onto the face and tissue it off. It helps to revitalize tired skin and my skin appears to be softer and replenished.
- Packed with aromatic benefits of essential oils and the beauty treatment properties of plant extracts.
Need I say more how wonderful this product is?
This whitening mask comes in the form of a tube of black goo. Sounds disgusting but this baby is a joy to apply on. Non dripping, non of the messy misconception. All you need to do is slather it on dry and peel off when it is ready.
Sounds good enough for me. The smell of this mask is of a fresh, delicate herbal scent that is very comforting and mildly addictive all at once.
The mask also serves as a extracting mask. As more often than not, I pulled out blackheads and impurities under my skin especially around the oily T-zone area as I peel off the mask. Since the mask is black, you’ll be able to see the evidence of dirt, impurities and even fine hairs out on display once peeled off.
Currently, I am using this once a week on my t-zone area. Absolutely brilliant product.
Missha’s Super Aqua Oxygen mask is a bliss to apply on. None of the dripping messy mess. Simple to use and quick to adsorb into the skin. I have slept on it before and it left my skin feeling supple and soft. Not a problem to use on a daily basis. Unfortunately, that is where the benefits stops.
This is mask for skin that are looking for hydration, suppleness and softness. If you are looking for brighten, radiant skin; you might find this mask just won’t cut it for you.
However, the price for this product is relatively cheap, this jar last quite a long while even if you slather it on luxuriously all over the face and neck. The smell was pleasant, nothing overbearing.
A box of Biore’s Self Heating Mask comes with 8 huge capsules. So huge so that one capsule can actually be shared between two person.
Pro:
The heat sensation felt good upon application but it dissipates fairly quickly.
The mask was very easy to wash off and it wasn’t messy at all.
No dripping, no dropping and certainly no drying and crackling.
It is reasonably priced. Worth trying out for.
Cons:
The portion for one capsule is way too much for a face even when I slathered on a huge glob all over my face.
If you have extremely sensitive skin you might want to be careful while using this product as the heat may be a little too hot for the sensitive skin. It was quite a burning sensation when I first applied it on and it felt like burning my cheeks for 5-10 secs.
It did not do much difference to the skin. My skin was not immediately deep cleansed or anything like that.
Verdict:
Will not repurchase this as I have yet to see any results.
