Monday, June 10, 2013

Spring/summer make up - the I'm not wearing any make up look.

I know that half of you will probably not be interested in what I'm going to write about today... Because it's for girls!
BUT maybe some of you guys might be curious about what we do in the dressing room...

I just want to share my new make up regimen for the spring /summer. It's a clean, natural look which doesn't compromise on the protection.
I was inspired to come up with this look because of my recent trip to Boracay. I got a nice healthy tan which I want to show off, not hide. I'm glad I used plenty of sunscreen on my face there, so I didn't peel much and my colour is even, which helps create the effect of having a clear, glowing complexion.

 If you're not interested in a play by play, here's the long and short of it :

TLDR
Make up base : Stila one step correcteur
Tinted Moisturiser : Laura Mercier original SPF 20 in Porcelain
Powder : Stila brightening powder
Concealer : Za perfect fit 01
Highlighter : YSL Radiant Touch
Mascara : Chanel INIMITABLE
Pencil Eye liner : Prestige total Intensity (Black)
Liquid Eye liner : Maybeline Hypersharp
Blush : Averine (I use the 3 colour compact, the darkest colour lets me define and the lightest goes nicely on the apples of my cheeks)
Stila one step correcteur.
Skin tone correcting and brightening serum

So.  After cleansing, exfoliating, toning, hydrating (I don't put cream moisturisers because they tend to clog my pores. I was also advised that my skin lacks 'water' not oil), I swipe on a make up base.
I normally choose one of two that I like - shu uemura's uv base which is tinted and has spf, or stila's.
I've been favoring stila's recently because I feel that it's lighter on my skin, I think it's water based, and it lacks the spf which generally makes makeup feel thicker.
Over this I apply Laura Mercier's tinted moisturiser with spf 20. I use the original in porcelain. Since this tinted moisturiser already has spf, it's another reason why I chose stila's base. I've tried the oil free version and it goes on a little cakey on me, probably because I have somewhat dry skin. I'm aiming for the dewy effect anyway, so a little extra shine doesn't bother me. Applying it this way seems pretty pore friendly so far, I tend to think it's because of the base I chose which creates a barrier between the moisturiser and my skin.

The coverage from this isn't much, but it seems to bring out a really nice glow. If you need to hide some redness or black eye rings, you can try the concealer from Za, or Yves Saint Laurent's fond de teint.
 
Za perfect fit concealer in no. 01
the new packaging is pink. I also have the one in older packaging which is dark blue.
the much raved about Touche Eclat Radiant Touch highlighter by Yves Saint Laurent.
When I'm pleased with the colour, I put some translucent powder on. Currently I'm using stila, because it goes on sheer-er than my shu uemura's translucent powder does. Go easy on the powder, it's not meant to provide coverage, but just to set and even out a little, and provide some mattifying texture. (I say texture because products with spf tend to feel a little tacky to me, which I don't like. So the powder takes away some or most of that feel.)
stila compact. There's a mirror on the underside of the cap
Like the make up base, the powder has pink, blue and green in it to brighten the complexion.

I follow with some light blush or shimmery bronzer on the apples of my cheeks, depending on whether I want to look sun kissed or sun pinked.
For eyes, I've always favoured a dramatic, dark lined goth look, but since it's spring and everything is gentle and in pastel hues, I've lightened up a little. Literally.
Curl your lashes, if you need to. I normally don't because I have super curly lashes, and small eyes that don't fit very well into curlers. Add about 4 coats of mascara. I'm using Chanel's.
Coat the lower lashes as well.
This might be out of production already, but I use INIMITABLE, the waterproof one, without lengthening.
I might have decided to lighten up, but I can't do without my eyeliner yet. I tried this look with no eyeliner and i feel that it looks a little too bare. Even if you have thick lashes, I do suggest lining the lower lid on the inner eye corners for some definition.
For myself, I line very closely to the upper lashes and i end the line on the outer corner where my lashes end. I don't extend it up or out and I don't thicken the line. For the bottom, I line from the inner eye to the outer side of my iris, practically drawing on my lashes. I don't line the waterline.
I'm currently using prestige black waterproof pencil eyeliner and maybeline's hypersharp liquid liner for this.
Prestige total intensity pencil liner
I also use the YSL waterproof pencil liner which I find creamier and softer to apply, but I feel that this one has better staying power on the lower lash line.
Maybeline's hypersharp liner
You can tidy up your brows a little, but I don't color mine in because I want to avoid harsh colors and lines.
I find that some people might need to blot their oily zones a little after wearing this for a few hours, but since I'm trying to get the dewy look, and I'm not a very oily person, it lasts me the day fine.
I like this look because it makes me look like I'm not wearing any make up at all. It's quite different from my normal defined eyes and cheekbones preference. It goes well with a cute frock or a bright top, enhancing it all without fighting for attention with your outfit.



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