The Beginner's Guide to Beauty

For my first blog entry, I felt it necessary to write something that beginners can use as a guide to the beauty world. I will be presenting a list and going into detail about some of the products that I feel are essential to beauty enhancement and other general information about skin care and makeup. 

First thing you need to know about beauty is how to take care of your skin. A lot of factors, both external and internal, can cause the skin to breakdown. Such factors include weather, stress, and an unhealthy lifestyle, among other things. The list of products that I provide today will simply be a general overview of what each product can do for you. 

Note: Study your face and identify some of the areas that you feel need treating and which areas you'd like to enhance.

I. SKIN CARE

Taking care of your skin is especially important and while it might be more advantageous to start young, you can basically begin at any age. 

Skin maintenance will help prevent premature skin aging, treat certain skin issues, and at the same time enhance the way your makeup will look. 

If you don't already have your own set of skin care products then I strongly suggest you invest in a high quality one. Don't worry, high quality doesn't necessarily equate to expensive. There are several brands that carry inexpensive yet highly recommended skin care. Otherwise, you can also research on natural concoctions that you can make in your own kitchen. 

TIP: When applying skin care, always remember that the skin on your face is especially delicate as compared to the body. The secret to maintaining the elasticity is to gently pat on products rather than to vigorously rub it on. The gentler you are with your skin, the better. 

1. SUNBLOCK 

Sunblock is the first essential item on the list. It protects your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun so if you're outdoors a lot, make sure to apply sunblock all over exposed areas. This will prevent the formation of dark spots (freckles) and premature skin aging. 

How to use:

Apply this after washing, toning, and moisturising your face. 

Favourite Sunblock: Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Water Base SPF 50

The holy grail of sunblocks in my opinion! It's not sticky and feels absolutely refreshing on the skin. This product is unfortunately not available in local department and beauty stores but you can get it online. 

Available in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

2. EYE CREAM

The skin around your eyes is more delicate than your face is to your body. If you aren't careful when applying products around these areas, premature lines will start to appear. Avoid rubbing the area when applying products and also avoid scratching your eyes. 

Depending on your under-eye dilemma, you can research different kinds of eye creams that can help target your specific problem. For example, there are eye creams that target dark circles, eyebags, wrinkles, etc. For older ladies, products may need to be more potent so make sure you know what you're getting.

Also, don't assume that you're too young to place eye cream. I personally feel that the moment you start wearing makeup and the skin is exposed to the chemicals, it starts to age a bit faster than usual. During this time, I would suggest you get your skin care products ready to slow down the process. 

How to use:

Gently pat a little amount all over eye area after cleansing the face and applying toner.

Favourite Eye cream of the moment: Christian Breton Precious Gold Eye Cream

One of the most effective eye creams I've tried so far and I've actually tried quite a number. It gets rid of fine lines and plumps the skin up. 

3. ACNE TREATMENT CREAM 

For those who are prone to pimples because of genetically imposed oily skin or perhaps stress, acne treating creams can save the day. It will either prevent them or get rid of existing ones. If you have sensitive skin, I suggest consulting a dermatologist first to find out a suitable cream for your skin. Otherwise, it would be best to look for an acne treating cream with salicylic acid. The ingredient targets pimples and blasts them goodbye! 

How to use:

Simply place over area of concern and pat until the product is absorbed.

Favourite Acne Treatment Cream of the moment: Yves Rocher Pure System Blemish Lotion

II. MAKEUP

Now we move on to makeup must-haves for those who are beginning to build their personal makeup kits. In this segment, you can choose any of the items from the list that befits your personal taste. 

Choose the part/s of your face you'd like to enhance.

1. BROWS

I actually have the hardest time fixing my brows every morning. You can't just fill them in and expect it to work. Brows should be identical and shaped properly. Once it is, it can really bring structure to the face whether it's light or bold in colour. 

TIP: You can always have your brows professionally shaped and I would recommend you do so rather than shave it off yourself; most especially if you aren't used to that sort of thing. Brows can break your look if it's not done right. 

Simple brow shapes to avoid: The overly arched brow that looks like this ^ ^. As much as possible, stick to the natural curve of the brow and fill in sparse areas with brow powder, wax or a brow pencil. 

2. CONCEALER

Concealers are perfect for concealing dark circles, discolourations in the face, pimples, broken capillaries, etc. 

When choosing concealer, it's better to have someone there who can help check whether or not the colour is right for you. You can always ask for assistance and get cotton swabs to apply different shades of concealer on your jaw area. The colour that fades away and matches your skin would be your shade. Try swabbing 3 different colours that you think will match your skin tone. 

How to use:

Gently pat the product on the area of concern. You may also use a concealer brush for this.

TIP: To make your concealer last all day, top it off lightly with some powder. 

Favourite Concealer of the moment: Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer 

This concealer gives medium coverage and smells really great. It's creamy so it doesn't crack. Place under finishing powder and you're good to go.

3. BLUSH

Blush is a woman’s secret weapon. Applying blush will make you look instantly healthier and fresh. Just apply over the apples of your cheeks for a flushed appearance. Remember not to over apply otherwise you'll end up looking like you've got windburn. 

If you want to go the extra mile, you can also choose to apply an illuminator or highlighter on top for a dewy finish. 

4. EYE MAKEUP

Eye makeup consists of a variety of products. From eyeshadows, mascaras, eyeliners, to paint-pots, pigments, etc. All of these work to make the eyes stand out. However, for the purpose of this blog, I chose the most basic eye makeup products. You may choose whatever will suit your taste.

a) Eyeshadows: Choose neutral shades for a natural finish. You may even use eyeshadows with a little sparkle but avoid the chunky kind of glitter. 

There are several brands that sell individual eyeshadows and those that are already placed in a set (ex. MAC, Shu Uemura, Bobbi Brown). It’s up to you whether you’d like to create your own palette or simply purchase a ready made one. 

b) Eyeliner: There are different types of eyeliners available: Pencil, liquid, and gels. If you're a beginner then I suggest sticking to pencils first. You can even use eyeshadow as a liner if you’d like. It’s easy to apply and adjust. Just keep practicing with those before upgrading to liquids and gel liners. You'll need to master a stable hand to do so. 

Eyeliners can instantly give the appearance of fuller lashes especially when you tight-line  (lining the inner lash line) your eyes. This method will also make your eyes look more awake. 

c) Mascara: For those who are blessed with full and long lashes, you can choose to emphasise your eyes with this product alone. Mascara elongates and darkens the appearance of your lashes.

Note: Apply after curling your lashes.

And finally, to conclude, 

5. LIPS 

People naturally look at the lips when a person talks so it's important to make sure that yours is moisturised. Keep them from flaking with some lip balm and add colour with lip-stain, gloss, or lipstick. This will not only make you look more healthy but it will also prevent any discomfort from chapped lips. 

TIP: If you prefer wearing lipstick, choose one that has moisturising effects rather than a matte finish. Matte lipsticks make the lips look dry during the course of a day. 

I hope this helped you! 

BESOS,

Bambi xx