Review: Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution
I’m not a fan of “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to cleansing and taking care of your skin so I was so happy to see that Bioderma made a cleansing water aka micelle solution for combination/oily skin. This solution comes in a few sizes but the one pictured above is from a starter set that includes an exfoliant and a moisturizer.
So what is a micelle solution? It’s a liquid cleanser that you don’t wash off. It can be used as a toner (depending on the brand) and it helps to cleanse the skin of dirt, sebum and makeup.
About this product (taken from the website) : Bioderm innovation, Sébium H2O gently cleanses the skin without drying it, through the micro-emulsion of impurities and excess sebum. Enriched with purifying active ingredients, Sébium H2O cleanses the epidermis in depth and regulates secretion of sebum. The patented sebo-correcting complex, Fluidactiv®, normalizes sebum quality.
How to use: Soak a cotton pad and cleanse your face. Repeat until the cotton pad is clean. It can be used morning and evening.
Overall: I really like the way that this micelle solution feels on my skin; it feels cool but not in a irritated kind of way. I also like that it doesn’t leave a residue on the skin and that I can go ahead and apply my serum and moisturizer on top. I’ve used it to remove my makeup and it removed it pretty well; I would still use an eye makeup remover though as I don’t know that this product is safe to use around the eyes. Although it removed my makeup pretty well, I prefer to use it on bare skin prior to a makeup application; which would make the perfect addition to the skin prep items that I carry in my professional kit.
Product Rave: Myrabelle Mascara Shield
I bought the Myrabelle Mascara Shield last year at IMATS and can’t believe that I’ve waited until now to try it. I had a client recently who booked me for her makeup for her engagement photos and I packed this into my kit to take with me. This tool is amazing. It’s easy to use and really does help to keep mascara from ruining the eye shadows that I had just laid down on her eyes. It lifts the lashes so that I can get right to the root of the lashes to apply the mascara; it’s also great for tight-lining the eyes as well.
This is by far the best $8 or so dollars that I have spent on my kit.
Review: Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System
After talking with Jill about skincare and skincare tools, I decided to pick up this cleaning system to try it out for myself at Shoppers; it was on sale for $27.99.
Inside the box, you get a water-resistant scrubber, a scrubber head, batteries and a sample-size squeeze tube of Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser.
What I love about this cleansing system is that it’s super easy to use. All you have to do is dampen your face and the brush, apply your renewal cleanser or your cleanser of choice on your face and the use the brush for about 60 seconds. It also has two speeds to choose from which is a nice touch.
What I think:
I don’t use this daily as I feel that it would be too much exfoliation for me; I use it no more than twice a week and and leaves my face feeling rejuvenated. I haven’t tried this in the shower; I prefer to was my face at the sink , so I can’t speak to the water-resistant-ness of the brush. I also noticed that the next day when I applied my makeup, it applied so beautifully and seamlessly. This would be a great addition for those wanting to take their skincare routine up a notch and for those that want to get some light exfoliation without having to purchase a separate product. This would be a great tool for brides-to-be to use the night before their wedding to help prep their skin for makeup application.
Overall:
This is a really nice skincare tool and an affordable price. It provides your skin with that little je ne sais quoi that I’m sure we’re all looking for. It leaves your skin baby-bottom soft and radiant. While I didn’t care for the exfoliating cleanser that came with the kit (I’m using a natural like of skincare due to being pregnant) , I like that I was able to use my regular cleansing with this and still reap some of the exfoliating/massage benefits that the cleaning brush provides.
How to look good in your wedding photos Pt. 2
In part one; we discussed skincare and what you need to do to prep your face for makeup. Proper cleansing and moisturizing coupled with drinking plenty of water will help to keep your skin soft supple and ready for makeup.
After your moisturizer has had a chance to sink into your skin, it’s time to apply your face primer. Using a primer is optional but if you find that your makeup doesn’t last during the day, a good primer or mattifyer will help with the longevity of your foundation. If you’re sensitive to silicone, there are ones on the market that are silicone free and work just as well. Allow about 5 minutes for the primer to set before applying your foundation.
Choose a foundation that gives medium coverage and doesn’t contain spf. Some products with spf contain high levels of titanium dioxide and can give you a ghostly cast in photos. If you have good skin and don’t need medium coverage, you can always sheer it down with a damp sponge. You’ll need two concealers, one for under the eye; these ones tend to me more fluid and should be on the warmer side to help make you look more awake and to help cover dark circles that you may have, and one to cover any blemishes that you may have; this one needs to match your skin. Set your foundation and concealer with a setting powder. Using too much powder can age you so remember to use it sparingly. A great tip is to blot away any excess oil and foundation using a single ply of tissue before setting with powder.
Use shimmer sparingly. The best places to apply a bit of shimmer is to the brow bone, tops of the cheek bones and on the inner tear duct to open the eyes. You’ll need three eye shadows to enhance and define your eyes: one to lighten, one to darken and one to deepen. Be sure to define your eye with liner and a water-proof volumizing mascara. Also be sure to apply blush to your cheekbones. If you need to, you can also contour the hollows of your cheek for added dimension and definition. Fill in any bare spaces in your eye brows with a tinted brow mascara, brow pencil or powder. Define your lips with a lip pencil that’s clear or one that matches your lip colour. Don’t forget to fill in your lips with the liner to help your lipstick or gloss last longer.
Makeup and Acne
At a bridal trial that I did for a client last month, she asked me if the products that I used were non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores), oil free and ok for those prone to or with active acne. My answer was three fold and I thought that I would share my answer with you.
Before I add any new product(s) to my kit, I do my research. I check out reviews and swatches, as well as talk with other makeup artists. I also purchase the product or order a sample for myself to test out. When I’m looking for a product, I want to make sure that it has good staying power, looks natural on, blends well and with minimal effort and most importantly is photo friendly. Next I take a look at ingredients and where possible try to stay away from products with ingredients that I don’t care for.
As a makeup artist, I have to carry a variety of products in my kit that are suitable for different skin types and skin tones. A product that’s meant for normal-dry skin may not be the best choice for someone with combo/oily skin and vice versa. Everyone’s skin is different and may react to something in a product which is why I always recommend that brides book a trial first. It’s also important that the makeup artist that you pick is sanitary with his/her products, doesn’t double-dip and uses disposable tools as not to cross contaminate the products.
That said,not removing or improper removal of your makeup before you go to bed will contribute to the way your skin looks and feels. To thoroughly remove your makeup, I suggest double cleansing; first with a cleansing oil then follow it with your regular cleanser. Double cleansing is the best way (in my opinion) to remove all traces of your makeup and sunscreen as well as the buildup of pollution that’s on your skin.
Don’t forget to clean your makeup brushes regularly; especially if cream or liquid products like foundations and concealers are used . Bacteria can grow in the brushes and lead to all kinds of nasty things like acne and infections. I wash all of my brushes before every makeup application and clean and sanitize my brushes with brush cleaner and 99% isopropyl alcohol in between clients.
I’d love to hear your thought on this, so please leave me a comment below.
Long-wearing Makeup: How to make it last and last
Long wearing makeup is about light layers that are expertly applied and the right products for your skin type. Both will play a factor in how you makeup will wear throughout the day. For me, every makeup application begins with skin that is well hydrated and cared. This will help with the longevity of the makeup. I like to advise my clients to gently exfoliate their face and lips the night before because it helps with the way your makeup is applied. Also note, that if your moisturizer is oil-free, your foundation should be too. Science 101 told us that oil and water don’t mix. So when you apply an oil-based moisturizer and a water-based foundation, the oil in the moisturizer will break-down the foundation.
Regardless if I’m doing a smoky eye or a more natural look, I begin with the eyes. This allows time for the moisturizer and primer to sink into the skin and set. It also allows me to see what the skin’s doing before I apply foundation. Some shadows can be crumbly and if it falls into the foundation, it can be quite difficult to remove and you end up disrupting the foundation. Be sure to use waterproof liners and mascaras so that if you cry, there won’t be any smudging.
Using a primer or modifier is a must. It acts as a barrier between your skin and your makeup and also gives you a smooth surface to apply your makeup to. It also helps to extend the wear of your foundation. I reach for a mattifyer for oilier skins because I find that they have more oil-absorbing properties then primers do.
For foundation, I tend to reach for the products that are long-wearing and/or silicone-based. Nine times out of ten, I reach for a silicone-based foundation because it’s long wearing, water-resistant. It feels like nothing when it’s applied on the skin and looks natural. Start with a thin application and build-up coverage only in the areas that need it. Cream blushes are great for extending the wear of your powder blushes. I like to layer a similar colour of cream blush under powder blush for added longevity. That way, when your powder blush starts to fade, you’ll still have a bit of a flush on your cheeks. The key here is cream to cream and powder to powder. Follow these tips and your make-up should last and last!
My New Favourite Setting Powder
Over the holidays, I picked up the MUFE Super Matte Loose Powder, and I have to say that I have found a new love. The shade the I bought is 36 Orange Beige. This powder is amazing. It keeps me from getting too shiny and I find that when I apply a very light layer prior to my foundation, my makeup lasts a lot longer.
This power comes in 16 shades, so everyone will be able to find one that works for them.
According to the MUFE website: “The Super Mat Loose Powders are ultra-fine, ultra-transparent powders. Very light and discreet, they set the make up, even it out and give the complexion a matte and natural finish.”
As with any setting powder application, you want to keep it light; too much powder can age you. My favourite brush to use with this powder is a duo fiber brush because it doesn’t pick up a much product as a powder or blush brush does.
The Basics Of Beauty By Sam Fine
I’ve been trying to get my hands on this DVD for quite some time. I was so excited last week when I found that it shipped to Canada. This little gem arrived in my mailbox in record time and I’ve watched it about six times already.
For those of you who are wondering who Sam Fine is, he’s a celebrity makeup artist who is the go-to mua for women of colour; were talking Queen Latifah, Vanessa Williams and Iman, just to name a few.
In this DVD, he covers the basics of beauty. For any woman of colour that’s new to makeup, this is a great DVD because it’s not overwhelming and he’s very thorough. The focus in this DVD is on technique; not product. Where you place your product is so important; it can really make or break a look.
Makeup in a Hurry
The key to applying makeup when you’re pressed for time is to find products and tools that will multitask, that way you can cut down your time and the amount of products you use.
The main thing that you’re going to want to do is to even out your skin tone with either a tinted moisturizer or foundation (liquid or powder) depending on your preference. I find that the best tool for this is your fingers (for liquid foundations) and if needed, you can use a brush (or a sponge) to blend the foundation into the hair line and down your neck.
Cream blushes are also great because you can use your fingers to apply; I find that you get a better application when you use your fingers vs. using a brush. Cream blush will add a subtle colour and make you look fresh. Don’t forget to apply concealer under your eyes. For this I recommend choosing a concealer with warmth to it to brighten up under your eyes and make you look more awake. Buff a light coating of a translucent powder to set liquid foundation, if you’re more on the dry side, you could skip this step or just powder lightly down the t-zone to combat the shine.
My new favourite things are cream eye shadows. Not only can you find them in an assortment of colours but they last all day and some are even waterproof. To apply, you can either use your fingers or a dense but fluffy brush. If you have a bit more time, add a matte eye shadow shade a few tones deeper than your skin tone into your crease for added definition. Skip the liner and add a few coats of a volumizing or lengthening mascara depending on your preference.
Since the rest of the face is fairly subtle, add a medium toned lip gloss or lipstick to the lips to finish off the look.
The tools you choose are just as important as the products. The M.A.C 217 is great for placing and blending both powder and cream eye shadows and blending concealer under the eyes due to the dense yet fluffy bristles. M.A.C 187 is great for applying liquid and powder foundations and cream and powder blushes.
*pictures courtesy of MAC.com & Sephora.com
Makeup for Mature Skin
As our skin ages, some people may notice that their skin changes in a few of the following ways: it becomes either drier or oilier and it loses it’s luminosity. You may also notice that your skincare products are no longer working the way that they used to.
The key to this type of makeup application is to keep everything light; mature skin doesn’t need full-coverage foundation all over but may need a bit more coverage in certain areas like under the eyes or on the cheeks to help neutralize rosacia. You may want (depending on your skin type) to look for products that are more moisturizing or hydrating (if you have oilier skin). With the right makeup application techniques you can look fresh and luminous; the wrong makeup application techniques cane actually age you further.
The “rule” that mature skins should stay away from shimmer or frosty eye shadows, in my opinion, don’t apply any more. Eye shadow formulations have come a long way since that rule came to exist and you’ll find that the shimmer/frost shadows are more finely milled. That said, you are going to want to use it sparingly and only on the high plains of the face. Opt for a liquid highlighter as opposed to a powder one, if your more on the dry side.
Because my model had good skin and only a tiny bit of redness, I kept the foundation and powder application very light. She has great eyes, so I decided to play them up and gave her a bit of a sultry look.
My favourite foundation for a mature skin is Face Atelier Ultra Foundation. I find that it gives light-to-medium coverage, has a bit of a sheen to it (thanks to the silicone) and it holds up well under most situations. If your skin is more on the dryer side, only powder lightly down the center of the face (t-zone). I applied a peachy shade on the cheek bones as opposed to the checks to give her face a bit of a lift. To finish the look, on the lips, I went with a colour that she probably wouldn’t have picked for herself; MAC “O” lipstick. It a gorgeous purple-ish red with golden pearl. “O” is one of my favourite lipsticks and can we worn sheer as shown above or more full-on. It’s a great colour for those of you who want to try a red but aren’t sure where to start.