How to Choose the Right Scent For You

Hi there.  Today I want to share with you a guest post written by Grace Nolan on behalf of Essential Fragrances, specialists in both men and women's fragrances.  I learned a thing or two from her tips and I hope you will enjoy them as well.  (This is not a sponsor post)

There are many people who choose a fragrance by having a quick smell of it whilst in they’re in a shop and then purchase it straight away. But it’s not as simple as this. If you want a perfume which is perfect for you, here’s some advice:

Start with a blank canvas
Before you go shopping for a new perfume, avoid using any other fragranced product. This will clash with the scent of any fragrances that you try on and make them smell different from what they actually smell like.

The Terms:
Perfume - Perfume is often available in small bottles but is very expensive because it is created from perfume oil and alcohol. It has a very strong scent and is most likely to last throughout the day.

Eau de Cologne - This type of fragrance is made from a mixture of perfume oil, alcohol and water. Eau de Cologne is usually light and very refreshing as it usually contains citrus oil. Perfect for wearing during the day.

Eau de Parfum - Eau de Parfum is usually a heavy fragrance as it has high amounts of oil mixed with alcohol. It is always lighter than perfume meaning it’s less expensive but still just as refreshing.

Eau de Toilette - This type of fragrance is also made from perfume oil and alcohol, to give it a strong scent to make it last throughout the day.

Seasons
As the year goes on, the weather changes meaning your perfume will change. Each fragrance, which has been designed and created by top end designers and celebrities, most probably has a certain time of year when it should be worn. Scents last alot longer during warmer months because your skin is hydrated and the moisture helps hold the fragrance on your skin. We advise you wear lighter fragrances during spring and summer and heavier scents during autumn and winter.

Notes and scents
Most fragrances have a range of notes running through them which are released throughout the day. Some fragrances could smell spicy one hour and sweet the next. If you’re unsure about what types of scents you’re
interested in, here are some terms which can help:

Floral Scents - Floral scents are created by using sweetly smelling flowers such as lavender, rose, carnation, orange blossom, violets and many more.

Fresh Scents - Fresh scents include orange, lemon, lime, fresh grass and apples as well as many others. These ingredients are clean and crisp making them perfect for a fragrance.

Oriental Scents - These types of scents are warm and spicy, including, incense resins, amber, vanilla and musk. They make a perfume inviting and sexy.

Woody Scents - Woody scents add depth to a fragrance and give it an earthy scent. These include oakmoss, bergamot, labdanum and patchouli.

Top Tips
Some of the things you need to remember are:

1) Let all scents linger before you smell them. Some scents need time to settle before their top notes emerge. And always spray it on your skin and not on paper as it smells different on different surfaces.

2) To keep the scent around for the day, lightly spray some on your hair and the back of your neck. You could also spray some on your coat and clothes giving the fragrance something to grip onto.

3) Don’t buy the same perfume as your best friend just because you like the smell of it. Every person is different and suits different scents.

How to Treat Sunburn

The skin on my arms is peeling from a recent sunburn.  I have like a dozen bottles of sunscreen (okay, a little exaggeration) and I am always reminding people to put on sunscreen, yet I got burned, how ironic.  What happened was, we were at the beach and I was busy putting on sunscreen for my daughter.  It is so hard, toddler does not like to sit still and what not, so next thing you know, I completely forgot to put some on my arms. The bad thing about sunburn is that by the time I realize, it is too late.  Anyway, it prompt me to write this post, what to do if you got burn.

1.  Once you realize you are getting burn (skin turning pink or feeling uncomfortable), immediately get out of the sun so you don't get burn even more.  If you can't get out of the sun immediately, another option is putting on protective clothing and hat.  You are also probably dehydrated as well, make sure you get plenty of fluid.



 2.  Cool down the inflammation with cool wet towel.

3.  Sooth your skin with aloe vera.  I know not everyone have an aloe vera plant laying around so the next best thing is a moisturizing cream or lotion.  I'd recommend Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion because it contains oatmeal which is great for soothing and protect your skin.

4.  I personally have not try this myself but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you can take ibuprofen or Advil to relieve swelling and redness.


Enjoy the rest of your summer and hopefully you won't need treatment for sunburn :)



image source

5 Easy Ways to Style Short Hair

Last year, I took the plunge and got myself a pixie hair cut (see above).  There is something about chopping all your hair off that just make me feel liberating.  As much as I love it, after a while, I started to miss my long hair.  That is what I have been doing this year, growing out my hair again.  I like my hair either really short or long, but just short can be blah.  It is like there is not much you can do with it and it is not quite as chic as a pixie.  I have come up with a few different ways to style it to help ease the boredom.

1.  Flat Iron : it helps make it look more polish and defrizz.

2.  Clip It Up:  Clip it up to the side using a pretty barrette.

 image source

3.  Headband:  Putting on a headband is such an easy way to spice thing up.  You can go girly with flower and lace or modern with leather.

image source

4.  Wave:  This has got to be my favorite, I tried it for a party and it turned out great.  Make sure you use a curling iron that is no larger than 1 inch since you do not have much length to work with.  If you have natural wave, you can skip the heat and do a beachy wave instead.  After you wash your hair, apply mouse or spray gel and crunch it from the bottom up using your hand.  Let it air dry.

5.  Give Yourself a Bang:  Last but not least, bang is a great way to update any hairstyle without really cutting it. 

If you have any other great idea on how to style short hair, I'd like to hear from you.

Halloween: Leopard Look Tutorial

This is the look I did for last year Halloween party.  I procrastinated, did not have enough time to order the costume I wanted online and could not find anything I like in store.  So, I decided to put together something relatively easy myself.  This was what I came up with so hope you guys like it. 

Here is what you will need:
-  Urban Decay Naked Palette (Or any neutral eyeshadow will do) 
-  Black Pencil Eyeliner
-  Brown Pencil Eyeliner
-  Black Liquid or Gel Eyeliner
-  Mascara
-  False Lashes
-  Leopard Head Band and Tail (not shown, I misplaced mine, sorry) - bought mine from Party City, sold separately, about $5-6 each.  It is something I am pretty certain will be in stock again this year.

Here is the design up close.

How To:

-  Do your base makeup as you normally would and apply bronzer, I would avoid any pink blush.

-  I applied a wash of "half baked" from the UD Naked Pallett all over the eyelid.

-  For the leopard print, start with either a black gel or liquid liner, draw a half uneven circle.  Then draw the other half but do not connect the two to make a circle.  Repeat, all over your eyelids and a few on your upper cheeks.  They do not have to be perfect or identical, actually the varieties in shapes and sizes make it more real.

-  Depending on how dark your complexion is, you can fill them in with either "buck" or "wheat".
-  Line both your upper lash line and waterline with black eyeliner.
-  Apply mascara and false lashes.

That is it, you are now done with your eyes makeup.  Lets move onto the snout.

-  Start by drawing 3 dots in a triangle on the side of your nose, using a brown eyeliner pencil.
-  Draw 3 whiskers on each side of your face using a black eyeliner pencil.  Make sure they are where you like them to be, then trace them over with a black gel liner for staying power. 
-  Draw some more brown dots along your upper lips.
-  Draw a black vertical line above your cupid bow and smudge it a little bit.
-  Now draw a snout on the tip of your nose.  It is almost a shape of a heart (see image above).  You can go over with black get liner for staying power.  You then "lightly" fill it in with a pink cream blush.  If you don't have a pink cream blush, a lasting lipstick should also work.

That is it, you're now done.  I know the direction seem really long, I was just trying to be details but it is not as hard as it sounds.

Easy Beachy Wave: A dupe for Remington Emi Airwave

I can’t believe it take me so long to write this. Months ago, I saw a hair tutorial from Jen over at Head to Toe on how to get sexy beachy wave using the Remington Emi Wave blow-dryer. I look everywhere online and even my local Wal-marts and it was nowhere to be found, it has been discontinued.

After some more persistence search, I found another model that has the exact same attachment as the Emi Wave. It is call Remington 3-in-1 Styler model D-5015, sold at Target for $25. You probably can find it online too.

This is THE perfect tool when you want nice hair but only have 15 minutes or less to spare. It’s so fast and easy. Basically all you do it put 1-2 inch section of hair in the funnel and just turn on the blow dryer as usual. The way the air circulates in the funnel will cause a spinning while drying your hair. For looser curls, just use your fingers to move left and right as you brush down your hair, like a light shaking motion. I hope this help.

Soft and Romantic Look for Valentine

It is almost that time of the year again…Valentine. When I think of Valentine, I picture something soft and romantic. I came up with this easy natural look that has that soft and romantic vibe for daytime or romantic date.

Eyeshadow Primer - I used Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Apply a pink eyeshadow on the lids.

Apply a light to medium gray to the crease.

Apply a deep purple on the outer V and highlighter under your brows.  Make sure you blend, blend, blend!

For a softer look, I tightline instead of applying eyeliner.  I also added some gray and purple eyeshadow on my lower lash line.

Eyes:

Bare Mineral Flawless Mascara

Ulta Love (Pink)

Everyday Mineral Wood Sorrel (Gray)

Everyday Mineral Monsoon (Purple)
Urban Decay Sin from the Naked Palette (as a highlighter and not pictured)

Sephora Cream Eyeliner in Must Have (Review coming soon...)

Kiss Kiss brow pencil

Face:
She Uemura Architect Foundation
Stila Bronzer
NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic
NYX Powder Blush in Angel
Korres Cherry Oil Lipgloss in Light Purple

How to Stop Your Mascara from Smudging

If you ask me what my biggest frustration and challenge is with makeup, it would be keeping my mascara from smudging and I don’t even have oily eyelids. From what I heard, a lot of Asian has trouble with eye makeup smudging for some reasons. A lot of time, finding a solution is through trials and errors. With all the holiday parties you will be attending this season, let me leave you with a few tips to get you started.

- Powder your eye area to absorb any oil. Use a translucent or brightening powder. One that I love is Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder.

- Wipe the excess off your mascara brush before applying.

- Use a Q-tip to wipe your lashes after you are done to remove any excess

- Try an eyelash primer

- Remember formula is important. Most of the time, tube and fiberwig type mascara are more smudge-proof.

- Waterproof does not necessarily mean smudge-proof (for me, that mean CG Lash Extract WP). Also wearing waterproof everyday may do damage to your lashes.

- Probably not the best solution but sometime I just use waterproof mascara as a top coat over another mascara to seal it. It normally prevents smudging.

Do you have any tips to add? How about product recommendation?

My Skincare Routine

Hi there. Just thought I share with you all what my current daily skincare routine is like. Just as a reference, I have dehydrated combination skin that is also sensitive and prone to redness.

Night:
Lumene Oil Cleanser
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cottonseed
Thayers Rose Witch Hazel Toner
DHC Acerola 100
DHC Acerola Cream
First Aid Beauty Relief Cream
Olay Pro X Eye Cream

Day:
Thayers Rose Witch Hazel Toner
100% Pure Organic Acai Berry Antioxidant Eye Cream (I find one is better suited under concealer than the Olay Pro X)
First Aid Beauty Relief Cream
Kiehl’s Eye Cream Spf 30 (when spending time outdoor)
Clinique Face Cream Spf 50 or Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 - Sensitive Skin or whatever else.

For like a month, my skin was very problematic until I started using First Aid Beauty Relief Cream. It's awesome, full review coming up...

D.I.Y. Bridal Makeup Tutorial

Photo Credit: Brides.com

I have been writing a series of posts about wedding day skincare and it would not be complete without a post about makeup. I save the best for last  Are there any soon to be bride planning on doing your own makeup? It could be because the economy is tough right now or just because you want to do it yourself. It’s funny how we said men don’t notice these things but my fiancé actually requested that I do my own makeup. I am flatter that he thinks I have skill. Still, I am nervous but I think I can pull it off. So, I am no professional but this is from my experience and how I would go about it. Hope you will find it helpful.

Hopefully you have been diligent with your skincare routine and everything is in top shape. If not, it is okay, that is what good concealer is for.

1. Always start your makeup with a fresh, clean face. You can spray a moisturizing and soothing toner after you cleansed your face.

2. Use a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type. For flash photography, avoid using product with sunscreen as it can give your face a white cast.
(In my experience, I only get a white cast from physical sunscreen so you may be safe with a low spf level of chemical sunscreen. However, don’t just take my words for it as we all use different products. Always do one or two trial run, take some pictures and see if you like the result)

3. Apply a primer of choice. There are many different types, such as, for moisturizer, oil control, pore minimizer, skin tone corrector. Make Up Forever has color primer intend to correct skin tone. Pink and mauve are for brightening and green is for neutralizing redness.

4. Wait a few minutes for primer to absorb then apply your favorite foundation. Personally, for special occasion, I prefer liquid and cream foundation over powder as it provides better coverage.

5. Spot conceal where necessary. For concealing under eye areas, I have done reviews on Bobbi Brown Corrector and Benefit Erase Paste.

6. Set your foundation with a setting powder.

7. This step is optional – apply your bronzer. Do not go too dark or it will look unnatural. Just apply it anywhere the sun would hit your face, like your cheeks, temple, bridge of nose, and don’t forget your neck. Blend, blend, and blend.

8. Even if you wear a bronzer, you should still wear some blush on the apple of your cheeks because it will look more natural and flattering. The trick to make your blush long lasting is by layering. First apply a layer of cream blush and I like doing this using a skunk brush. Then apply another layer of matching color powder blush on top to set.

9. As always, don’t forget your brows. You can read my tutorial on how to draw your eyebrows.

10. Follow with your eye makeup. I will hold off on this as eye makeup should be another tutorial on it own. Beside, there are so many different looks and variations.

11. In between step 2 and 3, you should apply a moisturizing lip treatment. By the time you are done with your makeup, you would have enough time for it to absorb. Blot any excess off with a tissue. If you like to neutralize your lips, you can pat on some concealer. By doing this, it also help your lipstick last longer.

12. Line your lips and apply a matching lipstick using a lip brush. I find that when apply with a brush, my lipstick last longer as well. Blot your lips on a tissue and add another layer with a lip brush. Apply a little bit of gloss only on the middle of your bottom lip for a pouty look.

13. For extra protection, you can set your makeup with a finishing spray. You can use MAC Fix+ or Skindinavian (they have a variety of spray depending on skin type and purpose)

Voila you’re done!

This concludes my bridal series. It was a lot of writing so I hope you guys enjoy it and find it helpful. If you yourself have any tips, please share with us!

Related Posts:
How to Prep Your Skin For the Big Day
Do and Don't for Healthy Skin
Recommended Read: Makeup Makeovers for Wedding

Warm Summer Neutral

If you follow my blog, you’ll notice that I am rather private and is shy about posting my picture, hence, no tutorial, FOTD, etc. Heck, I don’t even have a Facebook account. Yet I have a blog…I know! Well, I guess we all have to start somewhere. Today, I’ll try to crack that shell and ease in slowly with this neutral face of the day. Hope you guys like it.


Face:
Base - Shu Uemera Architect Foundation in 764
Blush - American Beauty Mineral Blush in Coral Beach



Eye:
Primer – Too Face Shadow Insurance (full review)
Lid – Clinique Strawberry Fudge
• It’s a very pretty warm pink with very fine gold shimmer – you see more of the pink in
person.
Outer V and Crease – Bare Minerals Eyecolor in Wild Beauty
Tightline – Sephora Flashy WP eyeliner in Deep Black (optional)
Mascara – Avon SuperExtend (full review)
Brow – A matte soft black eyeshadow (I used Avon in Night Sky)

Lips:
MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga Lipsticks

How to Prep Your Skin Before the Big Day

Hi everyone. Hope you guys are having a great long weekend. Today post is a continuation of my series of special posts written specifically for brides. It is no brainer that we all want to look our best on our wedding day. As the days are fast approaching for me, I thought I share with you a mini series on bridal skincare and makeup. But really, this applies to anyone who is seeking healthy skin and flawless makeup. Beautiful skin makes a beautiful canvas for makeup. Depending on the condition of your skin, it may take work to get that gorgeous glow.

6 months before or longer: If you don’t have one already, you should develop a daily skincare routine, consist of at the minimum: cleanse, moisturizer with spf 30 or higher in the morning, and a night moisturizer. However, this is very basic and may not be enough to give you that glow unless you are blessed with good genes. You can add toner, serum, and a weekly exfoliation and mask that is appropriate for you skin type. Many argue that toner is unnecessary but I find that it adds a layer of moisture and it also preps your skin for other treatment. You can read on more tips and the sequence to use these products in this article.

I know that many of you will also be tempt to get a nice tan. Do so without actually sunbathing outside or in a tanning bed. Not only does the harmful UV ray cause wrinkles, you also don’t want to develop any hyper pigmentation problem. Read here for more do and don’t for maintaining healthy skin.

Two Weeks Before: Two weeks leading up to the day, do NOT use any new skincare or makeup product. The last thing you want is panicking over an allergic reaction that can take days to heal. Allergic reaction flares up are normally a lot worse than the occasional zits here and there; they can be rashes all over the face. So make sure you test whatever product(s) you want to use way in advance. If you do get irritation, try rubbing your skin with Aloe Vera as it sooth inflammation. You can also try Pangea Japanese Matcha Green Tea with Acai and Goji Berry mask, which works wonder for my delicate sensitive skin.

The Night Before/Day of: Get plenty of sleep. If you eyes are puffy, cut two cucumber slices and put them over your eyes for 5 minutes. If you have time that morning, if not the night before, apply your favorite moisturizing mask (make sure it is one you tried before and have no allergic reaction to). The boost in hydration will help your makeup go on more smoothly and blend easier.

Most importantly of all, don’t sweat the little things. There is no do over so just enjoy your special day and dance till your feet hurt.

Image credit: Marie Claire

Get Her Look: Jessica Biel's Ready for Summer Makeup

I want to try something new that I have not done on this blog yet, which is the “get her look” segment. I was inspired when I came across this picture of Jessica Biel and though “Wow, this is perfect for summer. I am going to try this on myself.”

Face: To get glowing skin, use satin or dewy finish foundation and skip setting powder all together. If you have oily skin then just powder on your t-zone instead of all over. VS Soft Focus spf 20 has a nice glow finish. For cheeks, bronzer is optional, follow by a coral or peach color blush to warm up the complexion. Try Nars Orgasm or American Beauty mineral blush in Coral Beach.

Eye: Just keep it simple. Any brown/taupe/bronzy eyeshadow color will do. I would use the natural shades from Sephora Wanderlust palette then top it with Maybelline Full & Soft mascara for natural flirty eyes.

Lips: You can either choose an orangy red base lipstick like her. Another option is a coral or peachy shade lipstick or gloss to match with your blush. I would recommend BE Buxom in Bambi.

Get Healthy Skin Now!

Image Credit: Sephora

It is no surprise that we all want beautiful skin. The emphasis on perfection is more so today than ever because I think the media can put added pressure to both young girls who are dealing with acne and middle age women who are battling wrinkle with Photoshop celebrity photos and ads of flawless skin. So, just bear that in mind and do what you can to keep your skin healthy and age gracefully.

Here are some of my do and don’t when it comes to skincare:

-Do develop and follow a skin regimen. At the minimum, you should wash, moisturize, and use sunscreen. But it would be better to also incorporate serum and other treatment. You will find tips on how to in this 5 steps skincare article.

_Do always always remove your makeup and wash your face at night.

_Do wear sunscreen, even in the winter.

_Do eat your 3 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

_Do eat fish at least once a week or take omega supplements.

_Do exercise. Exercise keeps you young in general and it’s the one advise I am giving you that I myself struggle with…sometime it’s just so hard to find time.

_Don’t smoke!

_Don’t sunbath.

_Don’t over exfoliate. Do not use harsh scrub if you have sensitive skin or rosacea.

_Don ‘t overdo with skincare and treatment. Sometime I feel like doing too much all at once can stress your skin out.

_Don’t neglect your neck and décolleté area.

Do you have any do and don’t to share?

2010 Hair How To with Celebrity Stylist Tippi Shorter

I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A session with celebrity stylist Tippi Shorter, whose clients include Beyonce and Alicia Keys. The focus of this interview is on 2010 hair trends and professional how to tips.



1. What are 2010 hair trends and can you give us tips on how the average person can style this hairstyle in 15 mins?

Controlled volume and sleek ponytails are two of my favorite 2010 hair trends. They can easily be achieved in around 15 minutes or less, depending on your hair length and texture. If you have a limited amount of time, a ponytail is a classic that looks fabulous on almost everyone.

Here is the scoop on how to:

Big, sexy volume
- Begin this look by running volumizing mousse through hair from root to tip.
- Create soft curls by setting hair with curlers (like Advance Techniques Pillow Curlers). Spray a light mist of hair spray to ensure hair will hold curl.
- Remove the curlers from your hair. Flip hair over front of head and spray with additional hair spray to create extra volume and hold. Run fingers through hair to loosen curls for a soft finish.

Sleek ponies/bun
- To create the perfect canvas for a defined part, start with clean, smooth hair.
- Apply serum to the ends of your hair and a straight smoothing balm from root to tip. Using a brush (she recommends Advance Techniques Cushion Brush), blow dry hair straight.
- Use a comb to create a defined part on the side of the head. Pull all hair into a tight, sleek bun at the back of the neck to make the part really stand out. Spray a light mist of shine spray to create a high-sheen finish.


2. Can you give us tips on how to grow and maintain long hair?

Always make sure to nourish hair with masks and treatments that have hydrating and soothing ingredients. Each person’s hair is unique and needs special attention. Advance Techniques Moisture Sleek Collection is a universal collection from Avon that works to smooth several different hair types. Also, to maintain long, healthy hair, get trims regularly.


3. What is the trend for 2010 bridal hairstyles? Is there any new trend for bridal hair accessories?

Weddings are a time to celebrate and experiment with hair styles and accessories. Trends for 2010 include flowing, luscious waves, sleek ponytails and ballerina buns used to achieve a formal yet chic and sexy look. I love accessories; they can change the look and feel of a hairstyle! Brides have so many choices from jeweled headbands to clips to wearing fresh flowers in the hair. The accessories greatly depend on the fabric, style and build of the dress.


4. Can you give us some recommendation for both higher end and budget friendly hair care products?

Look for multi-tasking hair care products. I love Avon's Advanced Techniques Dry Ends Serum, which works to repair damaged hair and add shine (and it's only $5.00). I also love Ojon if you're looking for a splurge. The most important thing is finding products that work best for your hair type.


You might also like:
How To Achieve Beautiful Eyebrows
Asian 5 Steps Skincare Routine

Save Your Skin This Winter!

Credit: Makezine.com

This winter is colder than usual. We actually already have a few snow storms since December, which is rare where I am at. So between the blistering wind outside and indoor heating, it is understandable if your skin is not very happy right now. Here are a few tried and true tips to help your skin out this winter.

1. Nothing feels better than a hot shower on a cold morning. But don’t do it! Hot water will dry out your skin. Instead, take a warm and quick shower.

2. Apply body cream right after shower when skin is still damp.

3. Put a humidifier in your bedroom. The humidity will help your skin retain moisture.

4. For facial skincare, use a hydrating toner after cleansing. It does wonder.

5. Your skin type will most likely be different between winter vs. summer. Change your skincare products to something more hydrating.

6. If you still are not getting enough hydration from your routine skincare, apply a moisturizing mask once or twice a week.

How to Achieve Beautiful Eyebrows

A few weeks ago, I had a friend over for a makeover. She is low maintenance so I emphasized to her that if she is not going to wear makeup, she should at least draw her eyebrows as it will help frame her face. Sure enough, that night, many people compliment on her eyebrows and eye makeup. Filling in the eyebrows is often overlooked. It is one of those things where when you do it well, it is not a prominent feature. However, if you neglect it or color it too dark, it just stands not in a good way.

Since I feel like this is such an important step in an everyday routine, the following is a step-by-step tutorial on how to fill in your eyebrows.

Things you will need:

- brow powder or matte eyeshadow
- brow pencil
- an angle brush
- brow comb

The purpose of filling in your eyebrows is to define them while still keeping them looking natural. When choosing your brow powder and brow pencil, you should choose one that is one shade lighter than your brow hair color. Do not choose a darker than your natural hair color shade as this will make you look unnatural.

1. First, shape your eyebrows. For first timer, you may want to seek the help of a professional or purchase a kit from Sephora. If you are doing it yourself, refrain from over plucking. Brush your eyebrow hair in the direction that they grow in and pluck any excess, one tiny area at a time. Take a step back and check to see if it is the shape you like. Pluck more if needed. The key is to work on one small area at a time.

2. Groom you eyebrows with a comb in the direction you want the hair to lay.

3. Use the angle brush and lightly dip into the brow powder or matte eyeshadow. Tap off any excess. In feather strokes, fill in the outer half of the brow. Use the left over powder on the brush to fill in the inner half. Less product is needed in the inner half because you tend to have more hair in that section. Repeat if necessary.

4. Use a pencil in matching shade to extend the brow a little longer than where it naturally ended. Again, use short strokes.

5. Use the comb and brush your eyebrows again to blend out any harsh line.

Remember, your eyebrows are sister, not twin. The natural shape they grown in will be slightly different therefore they should look similar but not identical. Also, as I mentioned before, do not over pluck and make them too thin. A medium to thicker eyebrows lend a more youthful appearance.

Homemade Toner

This is a good and easy recipe to make.

-Water
-Green Tea
-Aloe (optional)

Boil about ½ a cup of water. Then steep about 2-3 packs of green tea for 30 minutes. If you have fresh aloe plant, add some aloe gel (about a teaspoon). Just refrigerate and it should stay fresh for about a week or so. See, simple huh?

Green tea is a good antioxidant as it contains polyphenols. Polyphenols have protective effects against free radicals that age our skin. Aloe is good for healing and anti-inflammatory.

Related Post:

Double Cleansing

Asian 5-steps Skincare Routine

Asian 5 Steps Skincare Routine

The best things you can do for your skin is to develop a skincare routine and be diligent about it. Often time when I see a Korean movie stars, I always admire over how smooth and porcelain their skin are. It’s probably a combination of good gene, healthy food intake, makeup, and diligent skincare.

Below is a step by step routine for night time:

1. Cleanse/Double Cleansing: A while back I wrote about double cleansing which provide more information on this process. When necessary, use cleansing oil to remove make up and dirt. Make sure not to pull on the eye area. Then cleanse your face with a gentle facial cleanser that is suitable for your skin type.

2. Tone: Use a toner to remove any last trace of residue. It also help balances out your skin PH level after washing and help prep your skin for better absorption of serum. Find one that is suitable for your skin type or for your specific treatment need (example: such as brightener).

3. Use a mask and facial massage once or twice a week: Masks comes in a variety, such as brightening, purifying, hydrating, exfoliating, etc. For summer, a gentle clay mask is ideal as it help eliminate oil. Then there is also the weekly facial massage to encourage good blood circulation. Some Asian brands carry facial massage cream for this purpose. However, I imagine you can just use your regular face lotion or cream.

4. Serum: It is basically a “more concentrated” amount of active ingredients than what you would get in a cream. Also, since its texture is normally in a liquid or light gel form, it is easier for your skin to absorb. On days that you don’t wear a mask, you would apply serum right after your toner. Personally, I think if you are still young, it is okay to skip the serum step to save yourself some time and money.

5. Moisturize: Depending on the season, you will want to find a suitable moisturizer. It also helps seal in the serum. If you have very dry skin in the winter, use a cream instead of lotion. For oily skin, try a gel type like Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer.

There you have it. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it? =) I have to admit, I myself don't always follow all the steps. But when I do, I always enjoy the relaxation and benefit a good mask provide.

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