The trick to Lisa Eldridge's concealer "airbrush technique" for silicone-free products

When I first saw Lisa Eldridge use, and recommend a tiny eyeliner brush for pinpoint concealing of blemishes I desperately wanted to make it work for me.

Who wouldn't want "airbrushed skin" after all?

But despite doing my best to replicate her technique, and even finding a tiny Pupa concealer brush (the little silver one in the picture), it never quite worked for me. The concealer would go on cakey and if I tried to blend it out, it'd just rub off.

My theory is that Lisa uses products that have silicone which makes blending a whole lot easier. My silicone-free concealer on silicone-free foundation however was having a much harder time of it.

Then one morning, I remembered a tip I heard once somewhere long ago, from a makeup artist video which I can't quite remember right now. It said that "The lighter a hand you use to apply your makeup, the better it looks". 

Beauty Blender sponge - a lifesaver for non-silicone foundation users

Sorry ladies, I know I haven't been posting much lately,but it's been an exceptionally busy time. If I'm not travelling, I'm hosting someone. Right now actually Syen's staying with me. Whee! It's all been fun but has left me little time or energy for posting.

Still I was so thrilled about this wee pink egg that I had to share!

Reading reviews online I was never quite convinced that the Beauty Blender Sponge was that much better than a regular damp sponge. While some ladies gave it rave reviews, others said they preferred their buffing brushes to it (more on that later). Also, it wasn't available in Asia.

When I spotted this in the Sasa outlet on D'Aguilar St, Central for HKD170 (ouch yes I know, but it retails for USD19.90 so the price is fair) I bought it and gave it a go... also gave it death threats all the way home should it fail to perform. Good thing for its hot pink skin that it did!

Loving Bourjois Bio detox organic silicone-free foundation & concealer!

Is it the perfect foundation? Hell no.

No silicone-free foundy can compete with the perfect airbrushed smooth goodness of the evil silicone (dimethicone, cyclomethicone, methicone...etc). But at GBP10 its' way WAY cheaper than Laura Mercier's Oil Free Foundation, it works well enough with a little effort and it does not break me out. Huzzah!


Now on to the review, I warn you this will be a long one:

Repurposing old buys:The brush for heavy cream undereye concealers

It all started with a post on Not Martha referencing The Muse's review of Sephora's Professionnel Platinum Concealer Airbrush. I looked closer at the brush and thought "Hey that looks like my barely used Everyday Minerals Kabuki Eye Brush!". Which in turn made me think "Why not?"

I gave it a try with Bobbi Brown's concealer and it was... magic.

Review & Application: Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation

It's finally happened. Much to my dismay, the latest version of Revlon Colorstay has too much silicone for my skin to take and it broke me out. In despair I turned to the net to find a dimethicone-free foundation and the only viable result made me despair more. 

I mean come ON. Laura Mercier's Oil Free Foundation costs RM169. 

But after a tester not only did not break me out but helped my skin clear up, I bit the bullet and bought the bottle despite the fact that the stuff is damned near IMPOSSIBLE to apply. 

Application Tips: It's all in the Fingers

No makeup brushes? Fret not, just make use of your fingers. I came across this delightful guide in a magazine recently. I thought it was a great guide for people on the go who can't be bothered to carry a bunch of brushes around (like me).

Now, if only I can remember which mag it was...

Wet your sponge woman! And why I love Revlon Colorstay

I actually had another post scheduled for today. But a combination of insane work load and a niggling flu has left me bereft of the ability to review anything coherently. So I've bumped the review to next week and will instead share with you a revelation I've recently had.

WET YOUR SPONGE, WOMAN!

ParisB's new method of applying liquid foundie is probably awesome for all things but very thick makeup like Revlon Colorstay and cream, pancake makeup. For all those things, watch the following vid:



Convinced? Now move on for a confirmation of why I absolutely adore Revlon Colorstay for my acne-ridden skin. And now I've discovered the joys of the wet sponge, I love it EVEN MORE. L

I'll be honest with you girls. I do damned near everything she does. I don't bother with the tiny brush or additional concealer unless it's a very special occassion and I use ZA 2-Way Foundation instead of mineral foundation these days (for convenience sake). But otherwise, it's scarily similar. And it works! Thank god for this foundation, Revlon please don't improve it out of existence!

Video: Friday is for Foundation, Foundation, Foundation

Tips: Makeup Application Techniques (Part 1: Foundations & Concealers)

I firmly believe that the way you slap on the ol' warpaint can make or break the product (unless of course the formulation itself sucks). Which is why the beauty industry's tendency to include cheap and useless applicators with their decent products baffles me.

Each new formula, blend, form, and ingredient used in cosmetics may require different application methods and tools. I am a compulsive researcher and have been experimenting and testing different techniques with different formulas. Here's a rundown of my findings.

Foundations & concealers are by far the trickiest cosmetic to apply, since what you truly want is a method that makes you look like its your skin. Only better. This is a case where understanding what goes into your foundation or concealer is key.

Cream & Oil based
If you live in a cold country, you'll find that warming it up helps it go on in thinner, smoother layers. You can opt to blast with a hairdryer, pop it on the heater for a bit, hold it in your hands, or (as some girls in MUA do with their MAC cream concealers) sit on it while doing your skincare!

Applying with your fingers also helps warm up the product. However, I find I seldom like the look achieved by using my fingers. I find it takes off more product than I puts on and the finish can be uhh.. fingerprint-y.

Here's what I do now with my GloMinerals Oil-Free Cream Concealer:
Step one: Load it on with Bare Escentuals Maximum Concealer Brush (excellent for heavy coverage with either cream or powder concealers and foundations).
Step two: Buff it into the skin lightly with a dense Kabuki brush (I use Lily Lolo's Mini Buki).

Try it! I find this gives me high coverage plus a very natural uncakey finish.

Light reflecting concealers
I've tried a few of these, and again I hate blending it into my skin using my finger as it shifts the concealer about and takes off more than it blends in. Plus it makes your finger shiny.

Instead I blend it out using The Body Shop's foundation brush. Any foundation brush will do of course, so long as the bristles are soft and synthetic and the brush head is flat.

Liquid
In this instant, you can opt to use a wedge, your fingers, a brush.. whichever you feel works best for you and the foundation you choose. I find fingers usually work fine, with a brush for heavier coverage in spots.

Powder & Mineral Foundations
A good dense Kabuki is often best in both cases. It lets you apply as lightly or as densely as you need. For the wet application method, simply spritz the kabuki before blending it into the powder. Not all mineral foundations work well with this method though. So test and see!

I've also found amazing results with the Illuminare Fast Application Pad! I'll admit I had my doubts initially about this leopard-spotted furry thing, but I'm SOLD. It not only applies Illuminare's liquid foundation like a dream it works wonders with mineral & powder foundations (like ZA's Two-Way Foundation). It DOES make application fast, and the finish is bee-yoo-ti-ful. I still reach for my kabuki because minerals like to be buffed and the application is lighter. But if I'm in a rush, I reach for the Fast App Pad.

Silicone Based Foundations
This is the new-comer to foundation technology. While most foundations now have dimethicone in them, some are almost entirely silicone based. Examples include Max Factor Miracle Touch & Benefit's Some Kinda Gorgeous.

I've mentioned this before, but just to be thorough, I find these foundations work best when applied with a foundation brush. Fingers just don't cut it, and neither does the foam pad provided by Max Factor. With a brush you use a startlingly tiny amount, but attain the most gorgeous perfect coverage!

Foundations brushes are also one of the few that I feel need not be pricey to work as the bristles MUST be synthetic. The Body Shop's offering has more than kept me happy. =)

Well, that's all for this installment. Mascara, Eyeshadow and Eyeliners to come next!

Note: This is not intended to be absolutely complete or even definitive. It's just me sharing what works for me. Please share with us YOUR chosen method, and what works for you! Can't wait to see what you girls have to say. =)

Getting that French Manicure just right

I love french manicures. They scream elegance and are good for everything from black-tie evenings to everyday at work. However, must of us can't afford the time it takes to sit down and get it just right ourselves, or the cost of going to a professional manicurist. Here's an amazing tip I found on Youtube that really does work! I've given it a try and achieved perfect nails - which I promptly ruined during cooking, so no pics (sorry about that). However, here's the video. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Another quick tip: Use fast-drying nail polishes. You need so many coats that you're BOUND to mess it up while waiting for it to dry if everything it's quick-drying.

Beautiful makeup for Asian Monolids

It saddens me that so many girls with monolids are afraid to use eyeshadow altogether. Don't be! You don't have to have a crease to use eyeshadow, and you don't have to go crazy trying yo make your eyes look Caucasian.

Monolids are beautiful and exotic. Play them up, emphasise your unique features. Here's a lovely tutorial I found online that shows you how gorgeous "mata sepet" (Asian eyes) can be.

Mineral Foundation Application Technique

Although this can be used for all Mineral Foundations, this particular method is tailored specifically to Silk Naturals. I find slightly different brushes and methods work best with different foundations.

As Silk Naturals is rather sheer, I tap a generous amount out onto my sifter bowl (it's a large porcelain Chinese sauce dish. You can use the sifter jar's lid, but I spill less this way and it's easier to wash), dip my brush in, tap, and sweep it on. I use my Pout blush brush for this as it's the right size and density, and slightly flat.

If I have bad underye circles, I apply the foundation over Clinique All About Eyes Undereye Concealer, after setting the concealer with the Sheer Perfecting Powder.

Next I lightly buff my face with my beloved Bobbi Brown Kabuki / Face Brush for a perfect finish before going over spots and blemishes with the Bare Escentuals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush dipped in more of the foundation. When I am done I use the kabuki to dust on the Sheer Perfecting Powder and I'm good to go.

I've recently added another step thanks to recommendations from the Mineral Makeup Blog, and the last thing I do before heading out the door is to spritz on some face mist to set and to reduce the initial powdery finish mineral makeup has when first applied. I'm currently using The Body Shop's Vitamin E Face Mist