Posts Tagged ‘basic make up essentials’

If you’ve lamented about the lack of recent updates, I will not hesitate to point fingers at my very comfortable bed that has held me hostage the past week or so since I came back. But other than that, I wish unpacking was an easy job, unfortunately it’s not. If I may be honest, I still have clothes somewhere in my suitcases strewn across the living room floor. But the easiest and naturally, most obvious items I unpacked first was my makeup and I thought I’d let you have a peek inside the make up case I brought to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Inside My MakeUp Bag

Instead of lugging my original make up case that’s 4kg heavy across oceans and beyond, I narrowed the items down with the help of Mag from makeupstash.com for the specific look I wanted for the Miss Universe 2011 competition.

With 3 check-in luggage and 1 hand-carry, it was close to impossible to bring everything inside my make up bag for make up every day for 26 days. So I took a leaf from the travel make up kit I brought to Hong Kong and packed the essentials in my brand new make up bag given to me by Singapore’s one and only, Sarah of facesbysarah.com

I’ve split the entire stash into 2 parts. The first part focusing on how to get the face of a beauty queen (ie foundation, concealer, blusher and lippies) while the next part will be all about the eyes. So have you ever wondered what goes inside the make up bag of a beauty queen? Well, let’s start unpacking the contents and have a tiny peek.

(more…)

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
6
comments

First it came in Original and the Eden garden. Next, Urban Decay asked you to join them in Sin. And now, if your deadly sin is Greed, this is for you.

Urban Decay Primer Potion Greed

The Urban Decay Primer Potion is by far one of the best make up primers around. Newbies in make up probably wont use make up primers, but I’m starting to think it’s quickly earning a regular spot in my basic make up must haves.

Urban Decay has been very clever with reinventing their make up primers. They’ve introduced 2 previous colours – Eden and Sin, with their Primer Potions and now the third tinted Primer Potion, Greed, is a shimmering gold. The perfect embodiment of the deadly sin its named after.

What I really love about the Urban Decay Primer Potion is its great versatility. Thanks to its tint, you can wear on its own ala cream eyeshadow, or even as a radiant brow bone highlighter. Of course, you’d also use it for its original purpose of giving you more intense eyeshadow colours sans creases.

Already available on Sephora.com, I wonder when this Urban Decay Primer Potion will hit the counters of Sephora Singapore. Ah yes, Greed. Such a perfect adjective for describing my make up desires. But with a colour like that, wouldnt you say my desires are warranted?

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
1
comment

Beauty queens always get us talking. Whether for their beauty, brains or breasts body, no one can resist talking about them. I dont know about you, but watching these girls on TV or seeing them in person, I sometimes wonder, is such beauty is born or bred?

Having been through Miss Earth 2009 and then witnessing the recent Miss Earth 2010, these gatherings of gorgeous ladies never fail to make me feel inferior. Seriously, how can such beauty be allowed to exist? There must be something that makes them shine.

Miss Earth 2010 Winners

Despite breathing the same air as these beautiful women, it doesnt seem as though I’ve inherited any of their good genes. I swear, they probably have access to some incredible beauty tips and secrets. Indeed, some of this ethereal beauty boils right down to being born with good genes but the rest of it, well, let’s just say everyone, including beauty queens, could all use some help here and there. So if I may, let me share some beauty queen tips and secrets never previously revealed before.

1. Do your own make up
Just like the photoshoot tips from previously, it’s best to have your own set of basic make up and brushes with you at all times. Instead of waiting around for an available artist to do your make up, you’ll be able to do up your own face and be camera-ready every single moment.

2. Luscious locks
A full head of long, smooth and silky hair is associated with grace, femininity and believe it or not, good health. But when you’re on stage, curls or a classy updo always help to add volume to your hair and make you stand out. Take care of your locks by conditioning them and using serum for that added shine. If you cant get enough volume normally, you can always get help with extensions or fake hair pieces.

Valerie Dress Sense
Photo by: mycake.sg Dress by: Dress Sense Raffles City

3. A winning gown
It’s important to get a gown that accentuates your figure in all the right places. You want your dress to compliment and flaunt your best asset instead of hiding it. If you’ve got good shoulders and a smooth back, choose something backless. If you’re well-endowed in the chest department, a plunging neckline is sure to raise some temperatures. Long legged girls will opt for a dress with a high slit to make those long gams look longer. On top of choosing the perfect dress for your best asset, make sure it has some bling detail on it. If you’ve got it, flaunt it!

4. Brilliant smile
Smile, and the whole world smiles with you. In a pageant this statement might hold truest. You hardly see beauty queens with a frown on their faces. They’re looking for a beauty queen, not an ice queen. Those pearlie whites are meant to dazzle and stun you. Whitening toothpaste or bleaching strips are easily available over the counter in any drugstore. Alternatively, if you prefer a more natural way of whitening your teeth, look no further than strawberries.

5. Silicon inserts
These come in two types: the permanent ones and the non-permanent types. Short of permanently implanting them under your skin, chicken fillets, as they are affectionately called, are a great and painless way to give you an added lift where you need them. And yes, you can use them under your skimpy little bikinis too.

Fake Nails
Nails by: fauxynails

6. Well-groomed nails
If you’re like me and cant keep your manicure on for more than a week, fake nails are the way to go. Some girls opt for a gel nail manicure, but these grow out and it may be difficult to find a place to do infills or touchups during the entire duration of the pageant. Opting to do your own glitter nails might tide you through to competition night. But applying fake nails just before competition day will ensure that you have a “fresh” manicure on stage.

7. Get a tan
Although the sun’s UV rays are harmful to our skin, getting a tan actually makes you look slimmer and toner on stage. Flaws are naturally hidden behind your sun kissed skin and you’ll sport a healthy glow instead of looking like a vampire. Wanna know the real secret to getting tan without those harmful rays? Self-tan in a bottle.

Heeled
Photo by: Brad Lau

8. 4 inches no less
Beauty queens are hardly ever seen without their heels. In fact, sometimes you think they were born in them. When it comes to heels, we all know they elongate your legs, correct your posture and create a sexy silhouette. But for truly maximum effect, I say go AT LEAST 4 inches with your heels. No less. When the time calls for you to be outstanding, them 4 inch babies will serve you well. Whether you’re sitting or standing, legs that go on forever and stop people in their tracks is what you get. They dont call them killer stilettos for nothing.

Call it beauty cheating or just being very hard-working, being beautiful is no mean feat. Making the effort to take care of yourself shouldnt be frowned upon, in fact, I think it’s an art. A skillful art which is perfect over time and through lots of practise. Now that you know the tips and secrets of beauty queens, pick one beauty tip and try one on yourself. Although not everyone can be a beauty queen, everyone can be beautiful.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
9
comments

If there’s one thing I love about doing What’s In My Make Up Bag is the fact that I get to document my make up stash. What with 2011 around the corner, it’s always good to do a stock take of my make up items before deciding to add anymore to my basic make up essential stash. When it comes to eye liners, I’m proud to say that they are not something I buy all the time. Although there are different types of eye liners to choose from (pencil, gel and liquid), I can safely say my all time favourite has to be gel eyeliners. The two I currently own are, in my opinion, the best gel eyeliners in the market.

Eyeliner

1. Kate Eyeliner Pencil in Black
2. Maybelline Expert Eyes Soft Kohl Eye Pencil in Black
3. H&M Eye Pen in White
4. Revlon Bedroom Eyes Powder Liner in Sultry Sapphire
5. L’OREAL Super Liner in Black
6. Kate Gel Eyeliner in Black
7. Gino McCray Auto Eyebrow & Eyeliner Pencil
8. M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smolder
9. Urban Decay Ink for Eyes Cream Eyeliner in Demolition
10. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencils in Electric

It’s probably a good idea to have a mix of all three sorts of eye liner types to create varying definitions in your make up looks. I probably need to beef up my liquid eye liner collection so yes, I definitely need to find my tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner. Bah!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
5
comments

I know make up primers arent in the list of basic make up essentials to have, but ever since I started doing my own make up for photoshoots and had to live in my makeup for the longest of times, I find primers an essential in my make up kit. Normally, you dont always need a primer but it does help keep skin matt and allows make up to stay on longer. It works kind of like a glue, holding your products to it, lengthening its staying power. And that is precisely why I insist on using it nowadays under my make up.

Other than that, other benefits of using primers include creating a more flawless finish and intensifying colour. Make up primers work pretty much like a base before your foundation, but come made specially for either foundation, eyeshadow or even lips.

Whats In My Bag - Primers

I’m proud to say I dont have a lot of make up primers (and that’s probably a good thing) but I figured that if I were to own any, I would have to pick the best make up primers that everyone knows:

1. Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer
2. Urban Decay Shadow Primer Potion in Original
3. L’OREAL Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer
4. MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage
5. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
6. Urban Decay Shadow Primer Potion in Sin

Do you use make up primers? Which brands do you own?

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
8
comments