weee~~ I’m back!

 

Sorry I was MIA. On Thursday, I had a sudden attack of conjunctivitis which caused me to be blind for a whole half day. I was freaked out like anything and left work immediately to see a doctor. I’ll tell you more about that later.

 

More importantly!!

 

I made a new purchase last week that I’m really excited to share. I’ve finally reinvested in a dslr after selling my Canon 450d two years ago. I swear I will learn how to use this properly and keep this camera until the end of time!! #nods

 

Here are some pictures I took.

 

And ofcourse, this can be a little beauty post too! These are my most recent shellac nails. Yes, they are my real nails!!! I’ve been shellacing for about.. 2 months now!

 

 

 

I call my nails my “claws” as you see on Instagram. They are majorly long!!

 

I know some of the pictures are still blurry, but I’m still learning so bare with me! :D

 

Here are some of the other test shots I made whilst testing out the settings on my camera. I used Manual setting for these!! #Reallyproud!

 

 

 

Does anyone have any photography tips they’d like to share with me?

 

I’d love to learn more about photography! ^__^”~

Finally a new circle lens review!

I haven’t done these in a while because for the longest time, I was just wearing my favourite GEO Bambi in Green Apple. I’m so glad I’ve sorta grown past that phase now and experimenting with new lens – which means more reviews for you guys!

Shinny Gray – also known as Puffy 3 tone lenses by G&G have been one of my favourites lately.

Typically, I like lenses with the darker rim to help my eyes look bigger and brighter.. but these lenses don’t do that. If you like these lenses, you may need to check out my other reviews.

 

These lenses are 14.5mm – which isn’t “anime” big – and I like that cause it’s more comfortable to wear.

 

 

 

Comfort level is about 5/5 because I find that these lenses are much softer than most other circle lenses!!! The downside to the soft lenses is that if you have be careful if you have longer nails.

Longer nails = Higher chance of your lenses ripping!

 

 

Comfort: ✰✰✰✰✰
Enlarging effect: ✰
Design: ✰✰✰✰✰

 

Overall: ✰✰✰✰

 

 

Ending with a camwhore shot because I feel like I haven’t camwhored in a long long time!

 

 

 

If you don’t follow me on twitter or instagram, you may not have seen that I’m in the middle of launching my online clothing store Skylar Fashion! It is about to launch in about 2 weeks and I’m really excited to show you the gorgeous party dresses me and my partners have chosen!

 

Follow us on twitter and instagram to follow on our updates and we will let you know as soon as we launch!

 

Removing your make up after each day is the most important step of your preparation to sleep.

 

I wear foundation/powder/BB Cream every single day (working days and weekends) so make up removal is a critical step for me. Many girls seem to confuse “removing make up” with “cleansing face”… both steps are critical.

 

To end each day, I typically start off with wet wipes to remove my face makeup. I’ve tried a few different brands and you can go with each ever one you think is the most effective for you.

 

For eyes & lips, I’ve found that Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) has worked the best. It’s pure, natural and removes stubborn waterproof makeup without having to tug onto your skin (which causes wrinkles and aging).

 

With that, you have completed the steps of “makeup removal”.

 

Lastly, you must cleanse your face. This means.. removing any remnants of the EVOO or residue from the wet wipes.

 

By the time I get to this step, I tend to be quite lazy. I feel like I’ve already removed my make up and don’t want to have to double cleanse my face..

 

This is where.. Clearasil Perfectawash is handy!

 

 

With the ease of an on & off switch and a simple touch, Clearasil’s Perfecta Wash automatically dispenses exactly 1.5mL of product to cleanse your face. No more wastage of products when you accidently squeeze out too little or much!

 

 

Including the second cleanse in your routine can be frustrating to include but you must include it as a habit.

 

Click play to see step by step how I remove my makeup.

Advertorial

 

The “ulzzang” Korean make up look focuses on the clear skin complexion. To achieve this look, start by cleansing your face with the Clearasil Perfectawash (scroll down to the bottom of this post to learn how to win yourself one).

 

4minute’s hyunA is typically known for her beautiful skin. To replicate the look, start off a perfect base and prime prior to applying your base foundation and concealer.

 

By creating a smoother base, you will find your foundation will stay on for longer and look more perfect for photography.

 

 

 

I feel like HyunA’s eye makeup in the Gangnam style music video is very droopy so I have recreated the look by extended the eyeliner downwards to create a puppy eye feeling.

 

Her eyebrows are very light and bleached. I have recreated this by patting my face powder on my eyebrows and using a blonde hair colour eyebrow mascara, lighten the individual hairs on my brows. You can see that it instantly draws the attention away from my brows and brings more attention to my eyes and lips.

 

 

For the lips I have created a gradient of pink shades by using two pink lip products. I’ve created more of a pout by applying a darker/brighter pink in the inner areas of my lip.

 

See the whole tutorial in video here.

 

 

 

 

Clearasil is also giving my readers a chance to win their very own Clearasil PerfectaWash pack!

 

To win, like their facebook page, comment in this post and let me know what your biggest skincare secret is!!

 

Here’s mine: I dry my face with a microfiber cloth each and every night to ensure that the make up on my face is completely removed prior to sleeping!

 

When it comes to the perfect bright, but baby pink lips, I think I’ve dug deeper than the ocean by the perfect pout. I used to be an insane “it’s all about nude lipstick” girl, until I dyed my hair darker of course.. and realised nude lipsticks only make me look like Snooki (hell no).

 

For me.. the perfect lipstick means that it has to be moisturising, long-lasting (cause I tend to grab food off any table top to “taste”) and pigmented. I dislike sheer lipsticks because it means you need to apply several layers which defeats the whole purpose of “long-lasting” because the thicker the layer, the easier it is to wear off. #doesthatmakesense?

 

I believe I’ve talked about all of these favourites at some point, but here they are swatched on my lips.

 

 

In the first #selfie photo, I’m wearing my favourite at the moment, Revlon’s Lip Butter in Cupcake. I bought it when I went down to Melbourne in April but for some reason never touched it until last month. Now I am obsessed. It is the easiest lipstick to apply because of it’s creaminess and it also doubles up as a lip balm!! Really convenient – especially for the office girls. It retails for about $21.95 (I think), so it’s not too bad, but some of the alternatives below are cheaper.

 

My second favourite is MAC’s lipstick in Lady Gaga. I know this lipstick can be hard to buy because it’s so popular but it’s one of the first lipsticks I’ve ever finished! It’s a little drying, but then again I’m not the biggest fan of the formula of any of the MAC lipsticks. This lipstick retails for $35 which I think is quite pricey, but if you can order it internationally, it’s definitely worth it! The pigmentation is immaculate and it can even be applied over a lip gloss or balm to further enhance the pink!

 

 

 

I remember purchasing this lipstick when I watched one of Hollyannarae’s favourite videos. I was desperate to find it but could never find it.. until I took a trip to the U.S and stocked up on it. I like this lipstick and it definitely belongs in one of my top favourites but I don’t think it’s any near as much as I like the other three mentioned in this post. Reason being is because the colour payment is not as “bright” or as “appealing” as the rest. Infact, it looks rather.. dull. But, it is definitely one of my favourites compared to many other pink lipsticks I’ve tried and for the price, you really can’t beat it. I think it was less than US$5!

 

 

 

This is the lipstick I bring out to most of my clubbing events because it stays on.. like.. #ITSTAYSON. I can’t emphasize that enough!!! Not your typical lipstick, infact NYX call it a “lip cream”. It is exactly what it claims to be. A matte lip cream which comes conveniently in a tube like a lipstick and you paint onto your lips. I’ve recommended this lippie to several friends and they all fell in love with it!! The only down side is that because it is a matte texture, it can be extremely drying. It’s also unavailable in Australia, but you can purchase on Ebay for less than $10!

 

 

In many of my youtube vlogs, I’m always asked what pink lipstick I’m wearing.. well, typically, it’d be either one of the above! If not, it’s listed in the description box!!

 

Tomorrow, I’m back with another tutorial. This time, it will be featuring a kpop star which I think most of you will like!!!

 

I’m so excited to share it! So visit again tomorrow!!!

#BRIBES :)

I know this tutorial was uploaded last week and you may have already seen it, but for those who haven’t and missed it on my youtube updates feed, here it is!

 

I haven’t made a tutorial in a long long time so I was actually quite excited to upload this look. I’m still getting used to filming tutorials so if I say “like” or “um” or “now” too much, please don’t complain! #puppyeyes

 

I actually wear this look to most of my night outings because it is the easiest and the most neutral to go with all my outfits! Feel free to replace the shades I use with any other eyeshadows of the same tone. You can also replace the inner tear duct gold with a silver or shimmer shade of green/blue/yellow. Go play with the shades you have rather than go out and purchase :)

 

My go-to clubbing look!

 

 

 

Click play to watch the tutorial

 

 

Sorry for the low res pics, my camera ran out of battery and I really wanted to get this post up!

 

So I recently purchased a konjac sponge (“konnyaku in japanese”)  from Ebay after seeing it at the Beauty & Spa Expo two months back! I was really intrigued at the texture of the sponge and started to do some research. There are many different konjac sponges and many compare this to the couple of hundred dollar Clarasonic!!!

 

“Konjac is a perennial herb in aroid family and since ancient times, it has been widely used as a medical and edible natural plant. It is a popular and healthy vegetable in Korea and Japan. Being unbelieably soft and gentle, konjac sponge exfoliates dead cells while wiping the face and body, and leaves behind a colloid film to nourish and protect your skin.” – source

 

I’ve never had much of a problem with my skin but of course, taking care of your skin is always a must.

 

The advantages of using a konjac sponge over your palms is that it will help you to deep cleanse areas which your fingers are not able to reach! The konjac sponge is also 100% natural (make sure you do not get a fake one!) and so it’s extremely gentle to your skin – also suitable for sensitive skin!

 

I got mine in a heart shape from this fellow ebayer for about AU$4.50.

 

 

 

The konjac sponge arrives in a regular plastic packaging with instructions on “how to use”. These instructions were actually rather useful because when you first take out the sponge, it’s hard as rock!!

My face was like literally like.. :O when I took out the sponge. Felt like… a pedicure rock.

 

You need to run it under water for several minutes prior to use, or you can fill a bowl up with water and leave your sponge in there to absorb.

 

 

 

If you are not a regular make up user, you do not need to put a cleanser over the sponge, but I like to because I need to remove my daily make up. I’ve been using a foam cleanser from The Face Shop. But your regular cleanser is just fine.

 

 

 

Squeeze the excess water out and you are ready to cleanse!!! Be sure you make circles around your face so you can ensure every area has been properly washed. I’ve found that using the konjac sponge has helped me to uselessproduct whilst feeling cleaner!!

Many have been comparing it to the Clarasonic’s rotating cleansing brush which is about $200 for the Mia!!

 

 

 

There are also many alternatives of the Konjac Sponge. I know Sasa also sells one (which is currently out of stock) and many other bloggers have reviewed the Kuu Konjac Sponge which I want to try next.

 

Have you tried the Konnyaku Sponge and have you replaced it with your Clarasonic brush due to convenience or price?

 

Lots of people mistaken me to have perfect skin. But ofcourse, that’s not the case. No one has perfect skin. Especially for a girl who wear make up every single day, it requires alot of care to have perfect skin. Unfortunately for me, I just need to fake it.

So, I’ll teach you to fake it. LOL

To be honest, there’s really not much to it. The most important thing is to really take care of the smoothness of your skin. Exfoliate, cleanse well, and eat well.

I choose to use a light daily exfoliator. That way, I can get rid of the dead skin cells and dry skin and excess make up from my skin on a daily basis. I use Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash pink grapefruit scrub but ofcourse, you can choose any of your choice.

Next, I like to use a rose water mist to keep my skin hydrated. Sometimes I replace my moisturiser with the mist. I use a natural rose water mist, but you can choose from any brands, such as Jurlique or Trilogy (as a cheaper alternative,  Australis also make a make up setting spray with rose water and aloe vera).

Now that my skin is set, I prime with a make up primer. To be honest, I don’t find primers very useful in controlling oil but I do find them useful for creating a smoother surface and protecting your skin from sucking in all the chemicals in your foundation. This step really helps to free your skin from clogging up.

 

 

 

After primer, it’s covering up the blemishes time. For the summer and special occasions, I love to use my Revlon Photoready foundation. It really helps to create an amazing flawless face without feeling overly heavy.

 

 

You can check out my flawed (non photoshopped) skin. #shame

For many years, I didn’t take care of my skin because I thought I was blessed with such flawless skin. Little did I know, it’d slap me back on the face one day.

Ok, so to cover, I suggest you DAB the liquid foundation (up to you which one) on the areas you need most coverage. I have been breaking out like crazy on my chin and jaw areas, so I have dabbed a fair bit on those areas. Do not dab foundation on the other areas you do not need the coverage because we can go back with the excess on those areas later.

 

 

 

Using more of a “patting” motion rather than “swiping” motion, try to blend out the foundation to create maximum coverage on your blemishes areas. This can also be doubled up as concealer, but ofcourse if you require, you can also use concealer (which will be shown later). The reason I use my hands is because using your fingers can warm up the foundation allowing it to blend more flawlessly into your skin.

 

 

Tada. See how most of the red spots and blemishes are gone already? The technique you use to apply make up is sometimes what makes the biggest difference. 50% product, 50% skill.

Now, you can go back in with concealer and cover any spots which need the extra coverage. I typically skip this step unless I have a huge red pimple or a cluster of acne. But this is rarely the case.

I like to use a concealer palette because it means I can mix my own combination of shades depending on how tan I am during the year.

 

 

 

With concealer, I like to take a flat concealer brush (shown below) to pat on the blemishes. I find this is more helpful with aiming at smaller areas – especially any where you may have missed by using your fingers in the first step.

 

 

The last step is the most important step which I think most people seem to miss! It is to set the concealer. Setting the concealer is important because if you just use a big fluffy brush to set your own face makeup, you will most likely miss the little areas you just spent minutes concealing!

I like to take a blending brush and loose powder and similar to setting your face make up, I set the areas I applied concealer or had more blemishes!

 

 

And you’re done!!

Remember to deep cleanse your face every single night and take care of your skin by keeping hydrated and moisturised at all hours of the day. Keep a water spray – such as rose water sprays or Avene thermal water spray – in your bag handy to spray when you need like you need to freshen up!

Don’t pack on more and more foundation because more than 90% of the time, your skin is only feeling dehydrated. And one of my biggest tips would be “do not pick your blemishes“.

Keep these things in mind and you’re on your way to a brighter, clearer complexion!

Leave any other tips in the comment section to help everyone else battling with their skin!