urban decay

When men say that they like their women with no makeup. They didn’t realised that what they meant is a no-makeup makeup look (wow, that sounds redundant.) Sometimes, we, women, need a bit of help to look fresh, not haggard; pretty but not overboard with face paint and some concealing of imperfections (unless, you are the lucky few, blessed with clear skin, rosy cheeks & naturally pink lips). I particularly love the glowing fresh makeup of Korean celebrities. It’s all about healthy glow-from-within skin, clean perfect eyebrows and a slight pinkish tint on cheeks & lips.

Two weeks ago, I attended the Korean Skincare & Makeup Workshop by Beauty Buzz Inc. I was excited to learn how Korean women achieve their radiant flawless look.

There were eight of us, eager women, in the workshop. We met our pretty instructor for the night, Miss Carina Tan, who has been trained in Korean skincare & makeup with her equally pretty assistant, Audrey.

We were told to wash our hands first and push back our hairs with velcro hairclips and pins. We got a brief introduction on Korean beauty.

The products we used that night was a brand I know and trusted. When I had one of my horrible breakouts during my Family Medicine Residency Training, a friend of mine introduced me to Mary Kay Timewise Collection and my skin improved so much. They have products for skincare as well and makeup that uses gentle and natural ingredients.

We started with Skincare. Korean is known for their 10-step skincare regimen. Yes, I kid you not. It involves double cleansing, toning, exfoliating, eye cream, using of essence, serum and moisturizer. We were taught of the proper way and the direction how to apply the products on the face. There are products that you have to pat on your face and products that you have to massage into your face on a certain direction.

After our skin was prep and clean with the intensive cleansing and moisturising, we are ready for our make up tutorial. The importance of primer and makeup base were emphasised. We were taught how to draw our eyebrows and line our upper eyelids. It takes skills and lots of practice. Our instructor have to step in and help us out. We applied foundation on our face with a light gentle motion with a neutral glittery eyeshadow on our upper eyelids and matte eyeshadow on our brow bone. We applied light pink powder blush and a soft coral lip color. We set it with powder using a large makeup brush and applied highlighted on places on the face where the light hits.

I learned so much that night and practicing what I learned requires me to check on my notes now and then. Yes, there are so many things to remember in order to achieve the Korean beauty. It takes patience and discipline to be a K-beauty, hehe..This is the result of the night’s workshop.

Photo Credit from Beauty Buzz Inc.

I get to have a photo opportunity with our instructor before the night ends.

Photo Credit from Beauty Buzz Inc.

I don’t have Mary Kay products at home so I made use of the products that I have at home first. For my skincare products, I used these.

I used Laniege Muti-Cleanser (not in the picture), Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner as toner, The Faceshop The Smim eye cream, Olay Total Effects cream which I alternate with Etude House Collagen Moistfull Cream. I also use Lucas Pawpaw as my lip balm (not in the picture). On days of exfoliation which is 2x a week, I use Skinfood Black Sugar Scrub followed by the Etude House Moistfull Sheet Mask at night. Lastly, I prep my skin for makeup with the Maybelline Baby Skin.

For makeup, I make use of my own makeup for now.

I use my Etude House Magic Any Cushion in Magic Peach as makeup base. I draw my eyebrows using the Urban Decay Brow in Brown Sugar. I use my RMK Gel Foundation and Cinema Secrets concealer. I apply Etude House Dear Darling Tint both for cheeks and lips. I also apply a bit of the Innisfree lip gloss. I apply the Etude House Secret Beam as my highlighter (not in the picture). I set my makeup with Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder and Urban Decay Deslick Makup Setting Spray.

For my eyes, I use Etude House Eye Primer, Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette and Stila pencil eyeliner.

Here is my other attempt on Korean skincare and makeup after the workshop:

Thank you Beauty Buzz for a wonderful learning experience that I will definitely incorporate in my daily beauty routine.

For more of Beauty Buzz workshop, head over to their Facebook page here for updates. they will be having a workshop on Korean Beauty Bespoke Workshop this January. Make sure not to miss that!

“I just wanted the glow — the one that they promise you on the cover of those magazines. Well, I’m calling it: Pregnancy sucks! Making a human being is really hard, I have no control over my body or my emotions. Gar-bear, I’m sorry, all I want to do is punch you in the face…” – Wendy played by Elisabeth Banks in What To Expect When You’re Expecting

Some say when you get pregnant, you will get that “glow”. Some say that during their pregnancy they hate looking at themselves at the mirror and would rather hide for 9 months like Elisabeth Banks character, Wendy in the movie, What To Expect When You’re Expecting.

I am fortunate just like my mom that I am having a little bit of easier time with my pregnancy. I am feeling great and inspired. Some say that I glow. Can I tell you a secret? It’s not all pregnancy hormones that is making me glow. I need ‘a bit of help’ to achieve that so-called glow.

My pregnancy and the thought of having a wonderful miracle growing inside my belly inspired me take extra care of myself and to look good as a soon-to-be mom. At least, my baby would be proud to have me as a mom, teehee….

I discovered the magical power of highlighting and contouring. Kim Kardashian is famous for this makeup magic. Her makeup always looks flawless.

Before I introduce the tools of this ‘trickery’, it is important that your canvas is also spotless and blemish-free. I was expected my acne to go on hyperdrive during my pregnancy but thank God, it didn’t. I made sure I removed my make-up efficiently using my two favourite make-up removers. I wash my face daily with a hypoallergenic oatmeal soap.

I use a highlighter and bronzer to accentuate and contour my face. I use this guide taken from the Fashions for Divas website.

taken from fashionfordivas.net

Here are the make-up:

ETUDE PERFECT BROW KIT

I featured and reviewed this brow kit before. It is important to keep your eyebrows groomed. I usually have my eyebrows threaded monthly at Rupinis. Rupinis was introduced to me by a friend. They give excellent cheap and pain free eyebrow threading services. Then I used my Etude Perfect Brow Kit. I put the white highlighter on the edges of the lower area of my eyebrows for highlight. I occasionally use their Etude Color My Brows wand in Brown colour if I want to lighten my brow colour.

ETUDE FACE DESIGNING BRIGHTENER

There are several colour for the Etude Face Brightener but I chose this colour #Lovely as my highlighter. I apply it on the inner corners of my eyes on the top of both my eyebrows, the bridge of my nose, the upper 1/3 of my cheek area and on my chin. I used a flat thick eyebrow brush to apply it for precision. This will give you the subtle glow that you want.

ETUDE FACE COLOR CORSET

Pardon how tarnished look of the casing of my bronzer. I bought it way before and kept it but I just used it recently. I used the colour #5 Tight Shading Corset. I apply it on the lateral sides of my nose and brush it on the side corners of my forehead, the lower 1/3 of my cheeks and jaw line using a number “3” stroke repeatedly. During pregnancy, there are times when your face get puffy maybe from your cupcake cravings or there are times when puffiness just appears on your face (as well as your hands and feet) especially late during the day due to the accumulation of blood and fluid which is very notorious during pregnancy (especially during third trimester). To avoid that chubby chipmunks cheeks, this trick slim down your cheeks a bit.

MAKEUP BRUSHES

I used a simple Guardian eyebrow brush for the highlighter and Etude angled brush for the bronzer. I know I have to invest in more sturdy makeup brushes. I am loving the Mariounnaud angle brush which I use for my blush. Unfortunately, I tried using the MAC blush brush and it disappointed me.

URBAN DECAY DESLICK MAKEUP SETTING SPRAY

I set my make up with this baby. I learned about this amazing product from famous you-tuber Miss Glamorazzi who also have extremely oily face like mine. This is definitely a keeper you guys. It can set your makeup perfectly and hold your make up for hours.

So here is the finish product. Do you like?

You can use any pinkish plum blusher for your cheeks. Currently, I am loving the Benefit’s Hervana Shade for blush-on and I alternately use my Burt Bee’s lip tint in Fig or the Tarte lip tint in Lust.

Also to achieve that glow, you must also drinks lots of water, a mild exercise (as long as allowed by your doctor) and happy thoughts. Becoming a mommy inspires me to better myself therefore I take extra care of myself. Preggy mommies glow because they are excited and they are tickled daily by their little buns inside their bellies. Remember that happy mommies equals happy babies.

Have a happy pregnancy, all mommies-to-be!

BEAUTY BUZZ INC. KOREAN SKINCARE & MAKEUP WORKSHOP

HOW TO FAKE THE PREGNANCY GLOW