Acne and Foundation.

So let's say you have acne, and whether it be mild or severe you find your having a really hard time getting rid of it.  You've tried everything and you just can't beat it.  So you've resolved to just covering it up as much as possible.  Well, have ever considered that it might be your foundation that is causing a majority of your skin problems?  What many people don't know is that alot of foundations have pore clogging properties that can damage your skin and cause it to break out.  So before you pick out the cheapest foundation in CVS (or any other store)  because you don't want to spend tons of money, take a look at some of these tips.

Ingredients: Really do your research on common foundation additives.  I highly suggest the book "Don't go to the make-up counter without me." I was only able to read the first few chapters (Nook sample) but even those were incredibly helpful.  It helped me to understand very common, yet highly agitating and damaging, additives in all types of cosmetics, and skin care products.  Also if you are trying many different types or brands of foundations try comparing the ingredients of each formula; especially if you find that one is working better than another.  I know that it can be tedious looking at the long and painfully tiny print of the ingredients list, but it can really help you to avoid certain things in the future.  For instance, lets say your using Bare Minerals and you find that when you use it you often develop some form of skin irritation.  In this case I would say that you are  probably having an allergic reaction to the Bismuth Oxychloride in this particular foundation.  Having this in mind, you would be well advised to keep away from foundations with this in it.  I know that it may seem like a large task, but in the end it will be well worth it.  Because healthy skin means that you won't have to use as much foundation.

Forms of Foundation: There are so many types of foundations and cover ups.  The most common being liquid, followed by mineral, powder, cream, mousse, tinted moisturizers, and BB creams.  If your having trouble deciding what kind of foundation to use, the first thing you should take into consideration is your skin type.  For instance, I used to think that I had oily skin, I only recently realized that I actually have combination to oily skin.   If your skin type is similar to this, than you can use pretty much any type of foundation.  If your skin is dry, then I would suggest a moisturizing foundation, tinted moisturizer, or BB cream.  And for those of you who have true oily skin, I would suggest staying within the mineral to powder range, as these will help keep the oil at bay.  For combination skin, I would really encourage you to experiment with all different kinds of foundations to see which works best for you.  A little side note; If you have dry, normal, or combination skin that tends to have acne, scars, or general unevenness, I would really, really suggest a BB (blemish/beblesh balm) Most of them have all the coverage of a foundation, and are very beneficial to the skin (for more information see my post on BB creams)

In Conclusion: Remember everyone's skin is different and what works for other people with your skin type may not work for you.  Play around, do some research,  find what works for you and what makes you feel confident.  Good luck :)

BB Creams!!

I recently discovered an amazing product.  I mean truly amazing.  Not only is it good for your skin but it also gives fantastic coverage.  This product is BB cream.


What are they?  BB cream is short for blemish or beblesh balm (same thing) this product originated in Germany when the plastic surgeon Dr.Christine Schrammek designed it for laser surgery patients to protect and give light coverage to the areas that had been operated upon.  Introduced to South Korea and japan in the 80's it was soon dubbed "the secret of Korean actresses" and has been taking the beauty world by storm ever since. 


What do they do? BB creams are a novelty product, which lightens skin tone by healing visible wrinkles and blemishes with excellent skin cover ability, and prevent skin aging through effective whitening and anti wrinkle properties.

Brands? Many popular makeup brands have tried to make a BB cream, mainly Estee Lauder, Garnier, Clinique  and Too Faced.  Though I'm not sure if these are true BB creams or foundations mascarading under the label.  Some of the most popular brands that make true BB creams are; Missha, Skin 79, Etudde House, Lioele, Skin Food, and The Face Shop.  


Who's it for? Depending on which one you get they can be either really moisturizing or just normal.  I would definitely say if you have true oily skin then you should set it with a powder.  Personally I set my t-zone and that keeps the oil at bay throughout the entire day.  If you have dry or normal skin then you have a little more room to play.  However I've heard that a few can bring out the dry patches in your skin. Personally  I have one right in between my eyebrows (it's so annoying!!) but as long as I put a little moisturizer on before, it's not noticeable.


My suggestions; My current favorite BB cream (and the only one I've tried thus far) is the Missha M perfect cover BB cream.  I love this product! It has really helped to improve my skin and , gives beautiful coverage, and looks and feels like my own skin.  When you pump it out it seems like it would be really thick, but it's not.  The consistency is quite creamy.  The finish is the awesome part.  I would describe it as a satin finish; not quite matte but it has no shimmer.  The over all effect is really, really natural.  Two big pluses for me are; you can apply it with your fingers (it actually looks better this way) and, it has SPF 42.  Which makes it great for quick application.  Also I've found that if you do 1 or 2 more layers over the first one, it can double as a concealer. A big claim for BB creams are the whitening properties.  I've found these claims to be true, since I've started using mine I've noticed a big difference in the visibility of my scars.  They are a lot lighter and much less noticeable. Also my acne has been much less aggressive since I've started using this.


In conclusion: BB creams are a brilliant product.  I would highly suggest trying one.  Remember to do your research before buying though, just to make sure you get the right one for you.




For more information and refferances:


I found this video very helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v9H1xI1GyM


I got my BB cream from the ebay seller rubyruby76.  She is great, good prices and she got my order from South Korea to North Carolina in I think about 2 weeks, and she gives free economy shipping. How awesome is that?

Update

Hello! Just a few quick updates, sorry I haven't posted in so long.  I've been working on several very in depth posts, which I will put up in the next few weeks.  Also, I'd really love to know if there is anything in particular that you would like to know about or want me to review.  Please comment if you do.  Okay, that is all for now.

Thanks a zil,
Caitlin.

Review: MAC's Luster Drops in Sunrush.

I finally got MAC's luster drops.  I've been wanting this product for months and was finally able to afford it a few days ago.  And in short, it.is.amazing! It has so many uses and is just plain beautiful. It gives your skin a gorgeous sun kissed glow and looks lovely dabbed on your cheekbones,mixed in with your foundation/tinted moisturizer or used as a normal highlighter.  It is a bronzey gold with small gold flecks.  I think it'll suit most any skin tones beautifully.  It hasn't broken me out either so that's a plus.  This product is an absolute must for any collection!  There is one other color in this product, pink rebel, it reminds me a lot of Benefits "High Beam", I didn't like this color at all really, far to frosty.  This product retails for around $18.00 to $20.00 dollars, And it comes with .60 ounces.  I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but a little goes a long way.

In conclusion: Absolutely brilliant. Buy it if you can.

How to: Red Eyeshadow

So, as you may know, I adore red eye shadows.  Unfortunately, this color has gotten a bad rep, because it makes some people look "sick".  However, I have found that the only reason for this is using the wrong shade of red, and improper application.  As with many colors, red has a plethora of different hues.  Cherry, copper, and deep brick are just a few examples of the range.   If you are ready to boldly go where you may  not have gone before, here are a few steps/tips, so you can look ravishing in red.

Step 1: Find your skin undertone.  To do this just look at the veins on your wrist.  Blue is cool, green is warm, and if you can't really see them, then you're probably neutral.

 Step 2:  Once you know your undertone, find a red eye shadow accordingly.(This trick also works for red lipstick).  If you are unsure where to start, try asking at a make-up counter and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

  Quick Tip 1:  I've found that people with cooler skin tones look best in darker, more coppery reds.  Where as warmer tones look better in more vibrant reds.  Neutrals can go either way.  The rules are not universal however, choose whichever looks best on you.

Step 3: Once you've found your red eye shadow, its time to experiment! You can come up with your own look, or even try one you found on YouTube or Google.

Quick Tip 2: Red eye shadow can make other redness on your face stand out, so make sure that you try to cancel out as much of the redness as you can. (Look for tips soon!)

Quick Tip 3: It is one of the rules of thumb in makeup that you should not wear red lipstick with red eye- shadow.  I agree with this rule to a degree, I do think that a red lipstick would be a little too much for day wear.  However, a sheer red lip gloss can look quite nice.  I've found NYX supershine lip gloss in "Spicy" looks really good.

How I wear reds.

1. Using the Color Me Glow palette #2, I take the lighter of the two reds and apply it all over my lids.     

2. Next I take the darker red and apply it in my crease, and just a little above it.

3.Then I take a fluffy brush, and fade out the two colors to give it a slightly smokey effect.

4. As a highlight for my inner corner, I use the yellow color in the palette on the inner corner of my eye. It's okay to go slightly over the red.

5. Then I take the yellow color,  put it on the inner half of my lower lashline, and then use the red very lightly on the other half.  

6. Finally, I used the Avon eye brightening stick in Pink Dust on my brow bone, (This is very similar to the Benefits Eye Bright)

7. I occasionally tight line my upper water line, for a slightly darker look.

Note: I apologize for the lack of pictures, my computer is not letting me load any at the moment =(