What is BB cream??

OK....just a little knowledge sharing session with those whose wondering what on earth is a BB cream??!!! (before i review my skinfood BBcream)
Well, BB Cream... register this word into your make-up vocabulary cos its getting pretty wide spread now.

The double B stands for "Blemish Balm". I guess with that, you get a better understanding of what BBcream does. It is getting extremely popular in asia and getting more and more exposure in the west too. From what i've read about it, it all started in Korea where an actress had undergone laser surgery....and the BB cream was in fact part of her daily use as cover-up as well as treatment process to recovery. It was said to be a miracle cream and because of her testimony, BBcream had become highly sought after.

The difference between BBcream and other make-up applications is that it is a skincare/healing product combined with make-up. While regular foundation liquid does nothing to your skin , BB cream is supposed to do wonders to your skin while covering up. There are many types of BB cream. Some is said to have whitening properties, some anti wrinkle, some to even out skin tone and lighten blemish scars....etc... But all of them works as moisturizer, sunscreen, make-up base and foundation too. So thats whats great about BB cream, apart from make-up to cover up your scars...it is also said to be a healing cream....though you should still stick to your regular skin care regime.

BB cream can be used as a make-up base before foundation. Or some will just skip foundation alltogether as it already has tinted color.

From what i've read, there are couple of well known brands that do carry BB creams in their product range. I've heard that BRTC BB cream is one of the best. Other than that, perhaps Missha and Skin79 i've heard have quite a range of bb creams and received great reviews........
Other brands are such as skinfood, the face shop, Etude......etc


Skin79



Missha

SkinFood

Recently went to 1Utama while hubby drop by homefix to get some tools....I hopped across into Skinfood. Yey!!

I've been looking for BB creams. And knowing that Skinfood is among the brands that does have BBcream in its collection, i went to check it out.
Frankly, i never step foot into Skinfood shop before. I always thought that the price was unaffordable, and the shop never appealed to me.

Somehow, my perspective changed as i walked into the shop. The price tag was erm.....ok.....more or less like TheBodyShop. Plus, the concept is similar too....using natural ingredients in their products. Skinfood hails from Korea. And the reason why BBcream became the craze now in Asia is because of the Koreans!! They started using BBcream when one of the famous actress started using it to cover some scars. I've been reading and hearing about the rave of BBcreams...how it is a little short of a miracle to cover up scars. I thought to myself, i must try one of those!!!

So, without hesitating, i took a tube of BBcream. There were 2 shades to choose from and i took the darker one. I'm not exactly fair, but the darker tone still seem a little light on me. I guess koreans are really fair. To my surprise it only cost RM54.90. Kinda cheap for a BBcream. I was told that this BB cream is actually a combi of moisturizer, foundation and sunscreen SPF20.
I love the concept as with this, i need not slab on layers and layers of stuffs on my face. Only 1 will do.

I also saw the foundation and was rather attracted to buy that too but in the end decided to leave that for another day.

I also bought the Shea butter Lip care Bar. I took raspberry for a tint of color. I love this one.

On my way at the cashier, I took the nail color in lilac. As it was only RM8.80! i took that to make my bill cross RM80. :) Every RM20 entitles me for a chop and i'd get a free gift after 5 chops. 1 more to go!

oh...and notice the little sachet? its a tomato whitening toner. The sales lady threw that in as a free sample.

KATE Mascara Base

Before i do a proper review of my recent Maybelline purchase. I thought I'd wanna share this with you gals.
If you are like me== totally in love with KATE cosmetics!! You should go ahead to Watsons now because If you purchase anything above RM50, you'd get this Kate Mascara Base for FREE!! Totally FOC you gals!!
I think it is really value for purchase at this time in Watsons. I've always wanted to try out this Mascara Base because I want my lashes to appear longer and Mascara base is the trick.

Kate eyeshadow palettes are among my favorite eyeshadow palettes among drugstore products because of its price vs. quality. It is among the very few that is of a very good quality.
I would have bought KATE if i wasn't distracted by the Maybelline....hehe.....because i just finished watching the taiwanese tv talkshow raving about the Volum' Express! Anyway, Maybelline is giving out Free Lipstick too...and even Revlon is giving out free lipgloss over RM50 purchase....and i think perhaps L'oreal too. Only in Watsons!

Maybelline New York!! - my haul for the day

The hubby dated me out today to go 1U shopping. I jumped at the opportunity because i totally needed some retail therapy to ease my monday blues. kekeke.....

I was at Watsons and I noticed Maybelline giving out a FREE Lipstick with any purchase above RM50. And then i saw the Volum Express Mascara that I wanted......plus the new Eyestudio pallete that I've been meaning to try. I thought...why not! since id be getting a free lipstick anyway! So yey...
I'm back with these 3 items.

Though the banner showed that the Free lippy is the Moisture Extreme....But they gave me the Watershine 3D color pearl. In which i delightedly received cos i've always love the Watershine range. I did not ask to choose the color, am not sure if i am allowed to but i like the one the counter lady gave me, which is the color #21 Red bejewelled.

I'm going to try them tomorrow!! Can't wait to try these.
But you know what, in my haste, i forgot to check the color of my mascara....and only realized that i took BROWN instead of BLACK. oh well.......

Do you gals know that almost every single Taiwanese actress have a tube of Maybelline Volum Express??? I saw a make-up expert in this taiwanese beauty talk show that used them and also highly raved about them. They also raved about this Eyestudio pallet that i bought too. They used them for the make-up demo and boy does the make-over look awesome!

This Volum Express in pink text is an improved version of the similar mascara but in white text.
The talkshow raved about how this mascara automatically curls your lashes upwards plus adds the volume too. Which is what i need cos my lashes are stubbornly straight even after using lash curlers. I heard some of the celebs mention that they bought these mascara by the dozens for fear that it might be discontinued!! Seriously......is it THAT good??!! Well.....will find out the next few days!

Makeup Wedges

These makeup wedges are from bobbi brown.
But of course, there are plenty of these wedges around in beauty stores.

When i first learn how to make-up(the proper professional ones), i was introduced to this wedge.
It was the first time I see such a thing....and then learn how to use them.

But over the years, i've forgotten about them and I used my fingers most of the time to apply my foundation. I guess i feel that since those liquid foundation are so expensive, it should not be wasted, and having a sponge soaking them would be such a waste! Might as well spread all of them using my fingers and thus stretching the little bottle longer.

But recently i have gotten back to using a sponge to apply my foundation again. And one thing i realize is that the foundation is spread out more evenly and my face actually look much nicer and flawless when applied foundation with a sponge!! hehe.......silly me for using my fingers all along!

How do you put on your foundation?

Makeup/Skincare Don'ts

OK....got tagged by Ms.Beautyholics
I think its interesting to read about other's beauty nono's too....although it would be easier for me if we are talking about fashion crimes!! haaha...but....lemme try this


My Five Must-NOT Have Items

1. BRIGHT RED Lipstick
OK, confession. I loathe Bright Red Lipsticks.....most of my lipsticks collection are Pink, Nude, Brown, Rose, purple..........But no BRIGHT RED. I just can't stand them, makes me feel SOOOOOOO old school with red lipstick. I also think that red lipsticks makes people look older. But....well, as I AM getting older.......its getting more and more acceptable to me now ...who knows in a couple of years i might just go gaga over red? *shrugs*


2. Pink Eyeshadow
Pink eyeshadow. As much as i adore the color, it does not go well with my skin color. Somehow when i put on pink eyeshadow i would look like i was beaten up by my husband like that....


3. Smelly Shampoo or hair products
My hair MUST smell good at all times. It comes with the pet name my husband gave me. I'm "The fragrant princess". My hair always whiff out great smells. (tip: Sunsilk!) Whenever I try new shampoos or any hair care products, i must make sure they smell great. If they smell like herbs or medicine, forget it man! I won't buy them even if they are the best products in the whole wide world... nah'ah won't buy them...


4. 1 dollar china make-up from who knows where
I will never ever buy those make-up from unknown brands...especially something like Meiling or Fei Fei or something like that. I can't trust my face on those stuffs.....sorry.


5. Imitation Make-up
I never knew it exist until I saw 1 EXACT replica of Maybelline XXL Mascara!!! wow......those China people really can imitate anything.



Five Biggest Makeup/Skincare Crimes

1. Mix and matching too many types of facial products
- Skincare are not like make-ups where you can simply mix and match. It is best that you don't mix and match facial care products as the skin reacts differently to different products. I often make this mistake that i buy too many types of facial products to use and ended up using various types on different days.......which is bad. Because this way, you are not giving the product enough time to show results and totally end up wasting a whole lot of money on top of spoiling your own skin. (Tip:Use one product at a time. Buy a new one only when you finish them.)


2. Pinch,squeeze,touch my pimples
sigh...bad habit....i can't stand ripe pimples that i must squeeze them.
Ggrrrrrrrr.....i always unconsciously touch my face all the time and......because our fingers are normally dirty....it causes breakouts......gawd why am i still suffering from breakouts at this ancient age!???

3. Clumsily matched foundation
Well, sometimes i do make this mistake too especially when i buy new foundation and not quite sure of the tone. This is my peeves!! Wrong foundation color!!! I hate to see pretty women putting on makeup but is oblivious to the fact that their foundation is 2 tone lighter(or darker) than it should be...... duh....can easily see the contrast btwn your neck and your face loh.


4. Goes to bed without totally washing off all my make-up
A BIG nono......but sometimes I do that too when I am just too tired and konked out.........i even forget to take off my lenses sometimes. Bad bad bad.....Never ever do that......


5. Untouched eyebrows
Especially ladies with bushy brows.........trim trim trim...
But i for one is very bad at this. I dont know how yo shape my brows properly and i am very lazy to do it too. I wish i don't have to do my brows and go get myself inked(tattoo brows). But i don't like the looks of that either....too fake....

Revlon MUST BUY at Guardians!! [22 Mac 2008]

Hey girls...
Just a quick announcement....

Revlon is having a really worth beauty buys over at Guardian pharmacy.

1. Revlon Colorstay Soft Flex foundation
Usual price: RM 54.90
NOW(tomorrow last day!!) at: RM 35.88!!!

2. Revlon Colorstay lipstick
Usual Price: RM34.90
NOW(tomorrow last day!!) at: RM19.88!!!

Totally worth it!! I've been using Colorstay foundation for many years now but normally i use the other type in matte (black cap). Been meaning to try this one (red cap) and i couldn't miss this opportunity to get it at a bargain. However the colors were limited....sigh!!! I bought a couple of tones darker but oh well......foundation can always be blended......no sweat, just mix with a lighter tone foundation.

I love the lippy too! i bought the color Ravishing Rose. Awesome dark color. I don't have a lot of dark lippy colors, mostly in pink or nude. I'm so tempted to buy more lippy loh.....but it was a quicky dash to guardian while i was having lunch appointment so i couldn't linger long.

So girls....go grab them tomorrow if you can.

Eyeshadow Sticker

I was clearing up some of my old beauty loots on my small little plastic drawers and surprise-surprise i found this!!

Eyeshadow stickers!!
I can't even remember when or where i bought this from. Definitely eons ago. I haven't got any chance to use them...a pity...because i would really want to know how well it sticks to the lids...and does it come off easily. This is perfect for party queens because the color will not fade and gives you glitters all through the night. Haven't got a chance to use them.....hopefully i'd get to try them out during some wedding dinners or something...

Elianto Aqua Shadow

I recently bought an eyeshadow from elianto.
I did not intend to buy anything but the moment i saw it, i just fell in love with the color that i just have to get it.

Its called Aqua shadow, the color is aquamarine. A very rare color but bright and really gorgeous. Though i seldom put on eyeshadow, i still buy it because i love the uniqueness of the color. It is pretty easy to put on the shadow, but quite difficult to even out using the brush. I rather dab them on the eyes with the brush but even them out using my fingers. The texture of the color glides on easily. The color is bright but not too bright. It doesn't screams out even if you choose to use it for day.

I bought this at only RM15 from elianto counter. They have plenty other lovely colors to choose from too.

Elianto Concealer

I love concealers....i feel that a concealer is a must for people with imperfect skin.
Foundation alone just wouldn't do it.

Normally after moisturizer, I will dab on some concealer on spots that i would like to cover. Such spots includes pimples, acne scars, freckles....the dark under eye, eye bags...etc.

After concealer will then come the foundation. I will even-out the foundation with a sponge. I used to only use my fingers rather than using a sponge....but recently, i've discovered that you can actually have better coverage and more even spread by using a sponge as compared to the fingers.
But of course after this step, the imperfections that we tried to cover up earlier with the concealer will start to show up again.....not to worry.......cover up again with the concealer after foundation.

I normally work on the blush after this, then work on the eyes....usually a simple eye liner for me. But if i have more time, i'd put some colors(very seldom) and then mascara. I have a considerably large eye so the liner does it for me, but for those will smaller eyes... Mascara will open them up even more. Lastly, face power to set and I'm all good. If i can still see the spots, i would at this point dab on a bit more of my concealer. See how important concealer is to me?!!

teehee....

So anyway, below is the new concealer that I am currently using. It is from Elianto.
I think I bought it for about RM22 (if not mistaken).
I bought the color in Medium (#01). I only saw 3 numbers available at the counter #0, #1 and #2.


I usually use Medium color. This works for me....but i would like it if they have slightly more shades to choose from. I would probably try #2 next to see if the color matches better because I find #1 a little on the lighter tone. But after blending.....it is fine.

Next, i think this concealer is so fragrant! it smells good! haha....
I did not realise the smell comes from this concealer.....so after I made myself up and went out....i kept smelling some nice fragrance from somewhere and couldn't pinpoint where it came from!
Only after many rounds of using did i realize the pleasant smell came from this concealer! do'uh....haha......sorry the senses on my nose is a little malfunction due to sinusitis. kekeke
(do tell me if u have use this and if it does have a nice smell? im still not 100% certain it comes from this tub.......)

Though the tub seems small.....and the price not exactly cheap, but i find that it does last pretty long so it is kinda worth it.

The Body Shop-Oil Free Foundation SPF 15

I'm currently using Revlon Colorstay foundation, which is by far THE BEST foundation ever! So i'd be using it as a benchmark whenever i try other foundations.

I prefer liquid foundation as to cream because it spreads easier and covers better.
I wanted to try out this oil free foundation from the body shop and as i am a member, i was entitled to 20% discount at that time of purchase so i went for it.



After using it, i realize that this foundation is pretty good. I like it at that it doesn't feel heavy on my skin when i apply it. It smoothen out evenly and easily across the face. I don' feel like putting on a thick layer of stuffs on my face but yet it manage to cover-up spots and troubled areas much to my delight. It doesn't smell and gives a matte, shine free finish.

As much as i loveeee this foundation, the only down side about it is that it washes off easily. A weee bit tooo easily for me. My face practically melted when in touch with water. Sooooooo, i panicked whenever i felt sweaty for fear that my make-up will look ruin.... which is such a pity because i like the texture of this foundation so much! if only it is water-proof! or at least a little bit water resistant. It would be perfect!

Priced at RM65 for 30ml, i find that a little steep as Revlon colorstay is about RM55. However, with 20% discount, it came to about just the right price i would pay for a foundation.