Masterclass - BB Creams

If you heard haven't of BB creams since the beginning of the year, then you have been living in cave with ear muffs on. This is the biggest launch item that most of the brands are bringing out, and yes I even own one (This one).

BB stands for Blemish Balm, Beauty Balm, Blemish Base or, because of copyright laws in Korea, Beblesh Balm. It was developed in the 1960's by dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek for patients that had gone under laser procedures and surgery. These were then introduced to the Asian market in 1985, where the healthily, pale skin is held in highest esteem, this was especially in the case of some creams that had whiten properties to them.

They are promoted as a all in one solution: serum, moisturiser, primer, anti-age properties, foundation, and sunblock. They increased popularity because they are a lighter alternative to foundation without having to compromise on coverage. A lot of the ranges that were developed in Asian also had nearly white tones suitable for western pale skins that struggled to get the right light colour.

To give you a better idea BB creams in Korea make up 13% of the overall cosmetics markets. When they launched in the Europe market a lot of brands were criticised for not making a 'true' BB Cream because they didn't have the whitening properties that the Korea market ones had.

They are really suitable for people who lean towards the slightly combination/oily as drier skins might find this doesn't provide the moisture that your skin needs (thus leaving it dull and flaky). I really like to use my BB Cream for everyday use and then used a foundation for the evening as it doesn't have the staying power to last all the way through.

Bloggers Block and Solving it with a Q&A

This weekend I've drawn a blank, which has never happened. I am sure it happens to most bloggers that you just cannot get inspired to find something to talk about. I am currently in the middle of trailing some new products out like Avon's new skincare treatment, Purity skincare, and some fantastic Montenge Jessense products (including a lip balm!). At the end of the month I am also going to Olympia Beauty, a beauty trade show to browse what is coming up over the AW season as well as anything I want to add my collection.

I spotted the below on one of the blogs (Mymaneblog) I follow who is also one of the #bbloggers who works tireless to make sure that everything is run as fairly as possible for our twitter chats on a Wed/Sun night at 8pm. It also provides a few answers on a few basics about my own skincare and make up routines which you will hopefully find useful.

I do also want to take this time to say hello to readers and say thank you for the comments I have had over the weekend (I will replying over the next week to you all).

Skincare

Q: How many times do you wash your face daily?
A: If I'm not wearing make up I just use a foaming face wash, or I cleanse the make off and then give it a wash if feel I haven't got that 'clean' feel.

Q: What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
A: The traditional T-zone over the head, nose and chin. Now I'm getting older it's starting to change that need to give it a bit more TLC on the drier parts

Q: What is your current facial wash?
A: Love Your Skin Rosewood wash - Got this in my LatestinBeauty Editiors Box, love the delicate scent, soft exfoliating action and pump bottle.

Q: Do you exfoliate?
A: I do but not as much as I used to because it used to make my skin inflamed.

Q: What brand do you use?
A: Currently a mixture of Purity, Avon, Boots No.7, whatever I'm trailing out really.

Q: What moisturiser do you use?
A: Currently the Avon treatment with some Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm if my skin needs a boost.

Q: Do you have freckles?
A: Yes, they come out more when I catch the skin, but it's also why I have to be careful with the sunscreen.

Q: Do you use eye cream?
A: No, I don't really just because I don't have any. My favourite has been Estee Lauders Advance Night Repair, you need the smallest amount but it's light and does what it says.

Q: Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
A: Not as bad as when I was a teen but I still get them, epically on the days I really don't need them!

 

Make Up

 

 

Q: What foundation do you use?
A: Currently MUA BB Cream

Q: How about concealer?
A: I use YSL's Touche Eclat and Estee Lauder's Disappear as mentioned here

Q: Do you know your undertone colour?
A: Olive, but often get mistaken for more of English rose pink.

Q: What do you think of fake eyelashes?
A: Nothing wrong with them at all! Worn them when on special occasions and when the lashes are the focus of the look.

Q: Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
A: Yes of course, my maximum is 6 months of usage before it goes.

Q: What brand of mascara do you use?
A: Max Factor Masterpiece in black brown, still love 2000 Calories as well.

Q: Boots or Superdrug?
A: Being a former Boots girl it'll have to be Boots, but Superdrug because I love MUA Cosmetics and it's exclusive there

Q: What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
A: Can't live without my brushes and clean fingers to finish off.

Q: Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
A: A bit of concealer and powder before eyeshadow still works for me.

Q: For the face?
A: However my face still needs a helping hand, just finishing Benefits Porefessional.

Q: What is your favourite eyeshadow (colour or shade)?
A: Was Estee Lauder's Tea Biscuit, best base shadow ever! Need to find a replacement.

Q: Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
A: Pencil for day then liquid for night

Q: How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
A: Not as much as I used to!

Q: Do you use mineral makeup?
A: Great for day wear and sensitive skins. They're now coming on leaps and bounds, might be my next investment, so any recommendations will be great.

Q: What is your favourite lipstick?
A: Red - Always on the look for a new red lippie, a girl can never ever have enough red lip!

Q: How about lipgloss?
A: Juicy Tubes, I have tubes that seem to be going on for years. Melon is the perfect all rounder colour.

Q: What is your favourite blush to use?
A: I fall in and out of love with blusher, still trying to find the 'one'

Q: Do you buy your makeup on eBay?
A: Nail varnish yes (See Here), other stuff - not really not without knowing what I'm buying.

Q: Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
A: Currently doing my BTEC in Make Up Artistry so yes I may have.

Q: Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
A: No I did at first, the brush used to shake in my hands when I did my first customer.

Q: Name a makeup crime that you hate?
A: Any foundation too dark or too light, there are no excuses for it anymore.

Q: Do you like colourful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
A: Neutral eyes but a bright lip, I'm still trying to embrace colour on eyes without looking like a drag queen.

Q: If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use?
A: Lip balm, I have loads because my lips dry out and get flaky without it.

Q: Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
A: Yes I do. See below: Scotland April 2012

Q: Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
A: I like to think I look OK, it's not the end of the world. I try look after my skin so even without make up it still looks the best it can.

Q: In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
A: I will always hold a soft spot for Estee Lauder as I worked for them a long time and they gave me my first job in cosmetics. Other than that Bourjois just make the cutest packaging and colours, while Urban Decay are just fun and funky.

Q: What do you think of Makeup?
A: I've found that I've made friends just by talking nail varnish or lipstick. We want the same thing: To be the best that we can be. There are some women who are just stunning, but who hide underneath a mask because they lack the confidence. I really wish they knew how stunning they really are.

Masterclass - Concealers/Colour Correctors

This is a carry on from last weeks vlog effort on How to apply foundation, towards the end I put on a bit of concealer because a spot decided to come along on that morning and ruin my smooth skinned week.

Concealers can come in creams and sticks, and are designed to cover any minor skin blemishes that the foundation hasn't been able to cover but not mask the skin. They are more pigmented than foundation, so if you tried to put them all over ace it can look thick as well as drying for the skin.

The first concealer was launched by Max Factor in 1938 simply called Erase. One of the highest selling is the one you see in the picture above, YSL's Touch Eclat. This has a brush on light reflected concealer that can be used to highlight as well as conceal.  Next to it is Estee Lauder's Disappear, a lot more creamer for more stubborn blemishes but blends in smoothly.

For more deeper marks like bruises, birthmarks, thread veins, and tattoos, a camouflage concealer is needed. They are set with a special fixing powders that is waterproof and more likely to not rub off. When I used these on people I build into thin layers to make sure it doesn't over power the rest of the area without looking like you're covering something up.

Abother catagoary to concealers is colour correctors, these are designed to cut through colours of the skin to decrease unwated colour. They can come in a base applied before foundation or a concealer form to put on afterwards. The general rule is this:

• Green kills any red spots like the nose or cheeks where were catch the most sunlight so it colours quiker.
• Pink/lilac brightens any yellow or sallow skin.

To me there is no set in stone rule about when to apply a concealer, just keep in the mind the manufractures instructions. I use my concealer after my foundation as I use it more a blemish cover or highlighter.

Feeling Spotty? This Might Help

My current skin care hero amongst its new family

As you call know I hit my thirties in April, however this message hasn't quite got to my skin yet as I still break out like a teenager. Not small ones either, the ones where wearing a paper bag becomes the go to accessory.

Witch Skincare a while back asked for bloggers to join the Flawless Friends club, I didn't in (however a lot of blogs I follow did so congratulations to them). As a thank you for applying they sent the hero product - The Blemish Stick. Now I used one when I was around 14 and found that it didn't work, that was purely because I used it once rather than multiply times.

Didn't get much opportunity to use it until a little raised area was coming up on my forehead by my eyebrow, you know the ones it's red swollen and incredible sore. I used this in the morning and evening with putting moisturiser on the area and let the witch hazel do its work.

Witch Hazel is a natural astringent that tightens pores, soothes and supports the healing process of skin. The Blemish stick not only contains this but alcohol to tighten (not for drier skins as this can dry you out further), and Glycerin that calms the skin.

Within a couples of days the redness and swelling was gone, even better the spot that threatened never developed. It goes on like a clear light balm and can even have make up put on top of it. I really like the fact that after 46 years that this still works like when it was originally created, as well as not being animal tested. They're latest release is a anti-blemish BB cream as part of their increasing make up range.

Read about it here http://www.witchskincare.com/