Favourite Face Brushes

My loves:

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

The Real Techniques Buffing Brush is part of the Core Collection Set (which is a MUST-GET because every single brush in it is good, especially the lip/concealer brush). It's the perfect size, not too small and not too big, very dense as you can see from the picture which makes it absolutely great for mineral powder. I use it to buff in liquid foundation such as the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, or to apply my mineral foundation, the Tarte Airbrush Foundation. The brush helps to spread product evenly, and is rather gentle on my skin as I work it all over my face. Definitely THE foundation brush to buy!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

The Real Techniques Stippling Brush is a more recent purchase (I bought the Core Collection Set last summer?). In this short time that I've had it, I've been using it almost every single day to apply my blush. It picks up cream blushes like the NYX offering so effortlessly, and can be used with the Clinique Cheek Pop blushes too even though that one's a powder. I haven't been tempted to try using it as a foundation brush yet, given how well my Real Techniques Buffing Brush's been performing. Maybe I'll give it a whirl for that purpose soon, just to test it out?

Real Techniques Setting Brush

THIS IS THE BOMBBBBB. The Real Techniques Setting Brush is an absolute gem in my brush collection. After I'm done with my foundation and concealer, I use this brush to gently tap on my setting powder, currently the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder, on my T-zone and chin. Previously a subscriber to setting with a powder puff, I've become a total convert - the brush applies a light layer of powder without disturbing my makeup AT ALL. Amazing.

P.S: the brushes all look a lil' dirty heh, I know. Proves that I've been using them frequently!! They actually all have white tips. All three featured are synthetic by the way, as with all Real Techniques brushes.

Daily School Makeup

Preface: The picture makes everything look more yellow than irl.

Face: bare, except concealer (Collection Lasting Perfection Longwear Concealer 01) on my chin pimple. Short review for the concealer: the lightest shade is a little too pinkish for my skin, but so far I really enjoy using it! It's creamy on application, but dries to a matte and impenetrable finish. I've been reaching out for it the most recently!

Eyebrows: I'm been loving MAC Eyeshadow in Concrete ever since I got it in Vancouver along with the MAC 208 brush. I'm a total convert to powder products for my brows now; they look more realistic and natural than pencil/liquid brow products?

Eyes: Clio Kill Black Brush Liner (oops, was trying to draw my eyeline downwards, but it ended up being a little crooked), MAC Wedge and Grain on my lids.

Cheeks: I am a total fan of the NYX Cream Blush in Rose Petal!!! SUCH a gorgeously natural-looking shade, and it gives my cheeks a glow due to its texture! I mentioned in a previous post that my skin seems sensitive to the formula, but I've had no problems whatsoever with it recently! Alternatively, I've been using the Clinique Cheek Pop in Peach Pop a whole lot as well.

Lips: My baby, the YSL Glossy Stain Rebel Nudes in Pink Taboo 103. It's a pretty watermelon-pink, and is quite similar in colour to the NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler. This contains subtle micro-glitter that endows the lips with a beautiful shimmery glow. I love it! One thing to note though: the YSL Glossy Stains leaves a film of product on the lips rather than really being absorbed by the lips it seems... I haven't really been impressed with its staying power compared to, say, the L'oreal Colour Extraordinaire Glosses.

My daily MAC quad

Wow this photo is as colour accurate as it gets. Taken with my new camera, Canon S120! Clockwise L-R: Concrete, Wedge, Blanc Type, Grain.

Just wanted to do a quick post about what I've noticed myself consistently using. I actually transferred these 4 colours in particular to my MAC quad that I was reserving to be used on trips as my travel eyeshadow palette.

They are: Concrete (used for my eyebrows and to line my lower lashline), Wedge (to bring warmth to my crease area and to create a slight shadow), Grain (swept over the front half of my lids, and used to highlight the inner corner so as to brighten up my eyes!), Blanc Type (my favourite brow bone highlight that simultaneously cleans up my look if I bring Wedge too high up).

Together, they create a very everyday, casual eye-look that's appropriate for school and whenever I'm lazy to think of what eyeshadows to use. Basically my default combination!

I really love all 4 of these eyeshadows, and definitely highly recommend them for beginners :) Swatches available in my previous posts!

LUSH face masks! - Oatifix and Catastrophe Cosmetic

First things first: these are like $8 in canada and $20+ in Singapore lolol omg I feel such a sense of accomplishment!!! 

The masks are okay, they certainly don't do miracles. Oatifix targets dryness, while Catastrophe Cosmetic is supposed to be a mild remedy to combat acne/breakouts. Both worked for me, but I wasn't wowed by the results. For instance, Catastrophe Cosmetic DID help reduce the redness of new and old zits, but I felt that it didn't do anything substantial to alleviate the situation - the zits remained. Oatifix is a real treat for my face; it always leaves my skin feeling utterly nourished and supple!

In any case, these masks are really enjoyable, especially since they HAVE to be kept in the fridge which leads to them being soothingly-icy on the face when you apply them. I also like the fact that given their shelf life of about 3 weeks, you are forced to not be lazy and just use them every other day. Oh oh, and I love their policy of giving a free face mask for every 5 tubs returned?? Damn I should have spent more time in Canada :P

However, given the stark price difference, I'd certainly not buy them when I'm in Singapore :/

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub

I've been using this product for more than a year now? This is actually my 2nd jar, since the 1st jar expired in May I bought another one while I was in Canada. This seems to last and last, I don't think anyone can actually finish it up before its expiry date. 

You only need to pick up the teeniest amount with the nub of your little finger, then exfoliate your lips with it. If you're into lip scrubs, you can actually lick up the excess. It has a salty sweetness to it. However, I've not been keen to do that at all, just grosses me out :P

I like using this scrub once a week. Lip scrubs are important to me because my lips are dry, yet I like bold lip colours. This combination can lead to disastrously attention-seeking flaky lips, so I'm grateful to LUSH for such a inexpensive and effective product that helps prevent that. After doing the lip scrub, I condition my lips with my favourite Kiehl's lip balm if I'm applying lipstick. At the moment, I'm a total lip gloss convert though, so I'd apply NYX butter glosses right after the lip scrub since they're so moisturising anyway.

The lip scrub cost me CAD $7 or $9 I think, which converts to sgd $10. This product is available in Singapore for $20+. Hehehehe score!!! 

Skincare Routine

My skin's finally been clearing up! I've been having huge zits pop up continuously, one after another, for a few months? Actually a whole year I think. I used to have such good skin, tight pores, smooth normal skin with the very very occasional zit which pops out during exam season. Sigh.

According to my dermatologist, the change in my skin condition can be attributed to my skin having been subjected to sudden changes in climate (since I've been overseas quite a bit these few years). My diet has also changed - I went from only eating simple and light dishes to craving for spicy food all the time, especially after I returned from Korea.

My skin right now:

• dry-normal
• pores are starting to look bigger - I'M AGING AND MY SKIN IS LOOSENING UP :(
• dry lips that need to be taken care of to prevent my lip eczema from returning
• some mini and negligible bumps on my forehead and chin -- a huge improvement from before

I think the improvement can be credited to Hado Labo, cus that's all I've been using recently: Hydrating face wash, followed by the Hydrating lotion and finally the Arbutin Whitening milk. I like using whitening products because they help brighten my complexion. I also like to dose my skin with a good amount of moisture because of my skin type. My skin tends to get dry if left unattended to.