MinMinMa

GLOW IN A JAR

To get that effortless healthy glow everyone is talking about, my #1 advice is to ditch your face powder. Yes! Ditch it or at least, use it only where it’s not so pretty to shine like around your nose, forehead and such. And for someone with dry or dull complexion and those who simply want an extra kick of radiance, look for luminizing products with the least amount of shimmers or sparkles because you don’t want to look preteen or a raver.

To apply: after moisturizer and foundation, gently pad little bit of the product with your fingertips onto the cheekbones, brow bones, nose bridge, lip crest, chin and collarbones, and proceed with your usual makeup routine. You can touch-up throughout the day but I recommend always fact checking in natural day light.

MY WISH LIST

After a long but fun day of shooting, I wondered what to do. Gym? Too tired. Drinks? Same thing. Couching? A waste. Sephora? Sounds good. So up I went to the Sephora store on 5th Avenue and found bunch of amazing products that I want to share with you.

Illamasqua Liquid Metal – To be honest, I never got acquainted with Illamasqua until today. Needless to say, I am very impressed with the brand’s overall quality and its selections especially the Liquid Metal. It’s highly pigmented so you don’t need to use much and the colors are just beautiful. My favorite is Phenomenon.

Nars Duo Cream Eyeshadow – I use Nars all the time. Love the eye creams because they are versatile and easy to use, and add a subtle dewiness. For example, you can smudge it with bit of khol pencil for that soft smoky effect or mix it with a powder-based shadow for long-lasting wear. Unconditional Love is a stunner with its mat pale blue shade combined with a peach beige shimmer.

Benefit ‘That Gal’ Brightening Face Primer – Professionally and even less personally, I am not big on primer. I use it occasionally for shoots under extreme hot/ humid weather or for T.V. commercials because hours tend to be long so the makeup needs to stay longer too. After testing That Gal on my hand, I am digging the smooth texture and the right amount of brightening effect it offers. It can definitely be useful for an instant pick-me-upper. Who’s that 6am call time model sitting in my chair?

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleansing Clothes – This might sound biased but hey, it’s my blog. Philosophy has a special place in my heart. I have pretty much used everything from the creams to the cleansers to the fragrances. These cleansing clothes are much needed in my makeup kit: they are fragrance-free, non-greasy, and tough enough to wipe away mascara but gentle enough for your baby soft skin.

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Gold Shimmer Dust – This is purely for fun: golden sparkle dust packaged in a classic perfume-like bottle with an atomizer for fine and even spraying. It’s definitely a cute gift idea for my little nieces.

Boscia Illuminizing Black Mask - Yes… black… jet black… elegantly jet black. This mask contains alcium Montmorillonite Clay, Maritime Pine Bark, Witch Hazel and Rosemary Leaf Extract, to name a few, all to purify, detox and brighten the skin. And it peels off easily when dried so it is convenient to use on photo shoots

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Courtesy of Intermix

The makeup direction was soft yet festive. So I used Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Charade on upper and lower eyelids, 2 coats of mascara and simply left the lips natural (lip balm is good!)

WINTER BLISS

It’s beautiful to look at but I am glad I don’t have to leave home.  I wonder though for the ladies who do need to step outside and conquer the world, what can they do to still look pretty and dainty without too much fuss?  Simple: cream based and water-resistant products. Let me break it down for you.

Snow when in contact with human face turns wet, cold and yucky. Mascara is a day to day must and under the current circumstances, waterproof mascara is a double must. Try Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara Waterproof. Something like Dior HydrAction Deep Hydration Skin Hint SPF 20 helps with windblown blotchy and dry complexion. Wear cream based products for eyes, cheeks and lips keeps the makeup longer lasting. Professionals often use this technique when shooting under the water, on the beach, in the rain and etc. Remember to look for shades with warm undertones like Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Cocoa Shimmer, Nars Cream Blush in Penny Lane, Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera and DuWop Icedteas Translucent Lip Treatment in Strawberry Kiwi. Avoid purple, blue or green to avoid looking like a popsicle.