How to apply BB cream?

How to apply BB cream, such that I will look fresher, vibrant and youthful?

It sounds like a dumb question, and people will answer it with “just slap it on!”

However, the process of applying BB cream or foundation is not that simple and there are a lot of techniques that most people don’t follow.

More often than not, I follow my routine of using my BB cream, concealer, then brush loose powder all over my face to remove excess shine and set the makeup.

But on some days, I don’t feel like using so many products. How do I achieve a youthful look without using multiple layers of product?

I’m going to share my way of how I make myself look healthier with just one product. Don’t scorn, I look like a fragile old maid without makeup on.

Here we go:

#1. Protect your skin

If you’re using foundation, don’t forget your sunscreen. Sunscreen is really important because UV rays damage our skin in the long run, and using a high SPF underneath your makeup would definitely help!

If you’re using BB cream, congrats – because you can skip the sunscreen. Also, BB cream is great for dry skin as most BB creams comes with moisturizing agents.

In case you didn’t know, I’m definitely a BB cream user. I don’t like how foundation cakes up my face and I don’t mind little imperfections showing from the sheer coverage of BB cream.

#2. Don’t use the wrong colour

Buying the right colour of foundation is extremely important! We don’t want to look like we have a mask on, right?

Read about how to choose the right colour of your foundation HERE.

#3. Use the right amount

I always squirt my BB cream onto the back of my left hand instead of putting it directly on my face.

Then, I will dab just a little on my cheeks, forehead and jaw.

This way, I will not use too much product on my face and excess BB cream will make me look as white as liquid paper.

Also, the BB cream on my hand will be warmed up slightly and application would be smoother.

#4. Sponge, brush or fingers?

Some people prefer using a foundation brush because they are able to manipulate the product better by blending or patting whenever they need to.

I prefer using my fingers because it blends better and there will definitely be no streaks left on my face. For my dark spots , I will dab it with more product for extra coverage.

#5 Blending it evenly

I always blend outwards, from the centre of my face – just like applying moisturizer. Don’t neglect your ears, hairline, and neck!

#6. Skip the concealer

I have extremely dark eye circles, and you can see it from my pictures. But sometimes I don’t use concealer at all.

Instead, I just pat a little more BB cream underneath my eyes to get more coverage.

If you don’t feel secure without the concealer, always remember the rule – less is more.

 

Lastly, just brush on loose powder if you can’t stand the extra shine and you’re good to go!

 

 

Primer: Make your makeup last longer

A reader emailed me earlier on, asking me to recommend a ‘good, affordable face primer’ and I thought I would share it with everyone.

In case you are wondering what a primer is, it works as a base before foundation is used so that makeup will adhere better to the skin. It will also make your makeup last longer. A foundation primer will also help prevent clogged pores, and hence prevent acne, skin irritation and breakouts.

Choosing a foundation primer would depend on your skin type. There are primers out there that can combat dry skin and control excess sebum production. But be careful, because if your skin is oily and you use a primer that is too emollient, your skin can look more oily than before.

For dry skin, it is best to use a cream based primer that contains ingredients such as glycerol. For oily skin, you might want to use a gel based primer which can minimize sebum production.

 

One primer that I like is the M.A.C Prep + Prime skin (Picture shown above)

Apart from making makeup last longer, the smooth texture of this primer hydrates the skin and minimizes fine lines. It allows foundation to glide on the skin, and help it last all day.

This primer also even out skin tone and creates a nice, smooth finish after application of makeup.

Price: $42.

 

For eyeshadow primer, I would definitely recommend the highly talked about, legendary, Urban Decay primer potion in Greed Picture shown above).

This Holy Grail of all primers helps eyeshadow last more than 24 hours. No more touch ups, no more smudges, no more creasing of eyeshadow!

Price: $30

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The texture of my foundation

If you have not tried foundation before, here’s a short summary on the texture of foundation you should get.

Before finding out what type of foundation should you buy, you need to know your skin type (combination, dry, normal, oily).

Oily skin 

L’Oreal powder foundation

For people with oily skin, it is more appropriate to use powder instead of liquid so the sebum that is produced can be balanced out. If your skin is extremely oily, do look out for oil-free foundation. Powder foundation gives pretty good coverage, but it will not look as natural as liquid foundation.

Dry skin

L’Oreal liquid foundation

For people with dry skin, using liquid foundation is more ideal. As a liquid foundation is more moisturizing than powder foundation, and dry skin will look better with a satin finish.

You may also wish to use tinted moisturizer or BB cream if you prefer a light coverage. This is a preferred option among younger women.

Open pores and uneven skin

Unfortunately, most types foundation will not be able to conceal open pores and uneven skin as the coverage is too thin. As maximum coverage is needed to even out the skin, it is best for you to work with a concealer then layer foundation over.

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Hope this helped you in selecting your first foundation!

The colour of my foundation

Many girls often scratch their heads and ask, “What colour should my foundation be?”

To help those who don’t already know, I am going to discuss how to choose the right colour of foundation for yourself.

I personally feel that choosing the right colour of foundation can be pretty tricky, especially if you thought that you chose the colour correctly but turned out to be the opposite instead. Then you realised that the (wrong) colour on the compact is being magnified a few times after application to your face.

Oh no, what shall we do? Don’t worry, you can use a darker foundation for contouring, and a lighter one for highlighting purposes. Or perhaps for a costume party. Remember, don’t throw that wrong colour away because there will always be alternative uses.

ZA two-way cake – favourite among many girls!

First and foremost, the colour of your foundation should be chosen based on the colour of your skin. For most of us, we have a yellow undertone.

At times, we might not want a yellow based foundation if we are already extremely yellow (I’m Chinese). Instead, we would perhaps opt for a foundation with a pink base to neutralise our skin colour. The yellow based foundation, however, looks most natural on most skin tones.

But remember, we want the foundation to disappear on our skin and not let it make us look fairer or tanner.

Next, we need to decide how we would like our complexion to be. In this case, application is key. If we prefer a natural coverage, we should apply only a thin layer so it would be sheer. This sheer coverage should cover some blemishes, yet does not hide the shadows on our face.

Speaking of which, have you seen some ah lians who cake their face with a solid colour and use thick black eyeliner? It is quite disturbing, really, knowing that they only own a foundation compact, a kohl pencil and a comb (for super straight long hair). Don’t ever do that, please! We should have natural looking shadows on our face, not a flat piece of colour that reminds me of brown paper.

Before purchase, we need to test out the foundation colour. The right place to test the foundation is on your jawline, where your face and neck merges. Also, try looking at the skin colour indoors and outdoors as there may be a difference in the colour of the foundation.

If you wanna read about texture and coverage of different types of foundation, stay tuned!