Wearing
make-up in humid Singapore weather can be a struggle. Here are some make-up tips that will ensure your make-up will stay put all day:
Keep
your make-up light. Heavy foundation will cake and melt in the humidity, leaving you with a streaky
look. To keep foundation in place during humid weather, use a fluffy powder brush
to apply a light dusting of powder as this will
absorb the excess oil. Never press powder into the skin or it will cake when you perspire with the
humidity.
To
stop your eye make-up from creasing in the folds
of your upper lids, always apply foundation and
powder to your eye area before applying colour. This will keep your natural oils from your skin from mixing with the eyeshadow
and creasing.
Humidity
and high temperatures will melt the wax in your
eyeliner and lipliner. Keeping them in the fridge will ensure a clean line is achieved every time.
Lipsticks
are made of 95% wax so make sure they’re stored away from windows or hot bathroom lights, which can melt lipstick.
Makeup
Basics
Foundation
Foundation
evens out your complexion and covers your imperfections. It makes your skin appear flawless, natural and give it a natural glow. Click here for tips on applying foundation.
Powder
is an absolute necessity for setting foundation
and concealer. It helps absorb the skin’s natural oils to help control shine throughout the day. Most women skip powder when in rush or think that it will look cakey on the
skin which is incorrect as your make-up won't last
the day without it.
Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow
enhances and adds shape to the eyes. It can come in many finishes such as matte, shimmer, iridescent to frosty.
Eyeliner
Eyeliner
defines and brings out the eyes.
Brow
Powder
Brow
Powder
Brow
Powder is the most natural way to fill in the eyebrows. A well-groomed brow can make eyes appear larger and can instantly lift your
face. Click here for tips on eyebrow shaping.
Blusher
adds a warm glow to the face and can brighten dull
skin.
LipLiner
Lip
Liner
Lip
Liner defines your lips and prevents your lip colour
from bleeding into fine lines. Using a lip liner improves the staying power of any lip colour that your apply.
Makeup
has different textures and finishes such as shiny,
matte, iridescent and sheer. The same colour can look completely different when you vary the texture. It can be the key to updating your makeup look and keep it current.
Here
is a list of different make-up textures:
Matte
Matte
is used to describe eyeshadow, lipstick, foundation,
powder and even blusher. It has no shine and can give a flat look. Products that are matte tend to be drier on the skin but can last longer.
Shimmer
Shimmer
is about shine and sparkle. It is the opposite of matte. Lipsticks with shimmer can make your lips look bigger as it contains tiny iridescent
particles.
Gloss
Gloss
is usually found in lipsticks. It has short staying power.
Sheer
Sheer
is thinner and more transparent. It can help mature skin look brighter and less lined.
Iridescent
Iridescent
is about maximum shine and sparkle. These work best on young skin for a fun, sexy look.
Metallic
Metallic
can be found in lipsticks, eyeshadows and eye
pencils and this has a shiny metal finish. It can look harsh on light and mature skin.
Luminous
Luminous
usually describes a foundation or concealer with
light reflecting qualities. It creates a glowing, refined look.
Satin
Satin
products are not as flat as matte and not as
shiny as shimmer. Satin is particulary good for older skin as it glides on the skin smoothly.
Essential
Make-up Tools
Just
like an artist needs good brushes to create their
paintings, you will need good tools to apply make-up. Using tools and brushes will take you less time to apply your make-up and your
make-up will stay on longer. Even expensive make-up can look overdone and streaky if it's put on with fingers
and wrong tools.
Here
is a list of handy tools you should use in your
make-up regime:
Pencil
Sharpener
This
is identical to the one you would have used at
school, except this one is strictly for eye and
lip pencils! Having sharpened pencils gives you a more accurate application and it's important
to keep your eye pencils clean to avoid eye infections.
Tweezers
These
are to clean up your eyebrows. Look for a pair that you can hold easily and avoid pointed tips which can pinch
your skin.
Eyelash
Curler
Eyelash
Curlers crimp your eyelashes upwards which makes
them look longer. Apply your mascara after curling and wash the rubber curling pad often.
Cotton
Swabs
These
are perfect for blending and to remove any eyeshadow
or mascara mistakes.
Latex
Wedges
Wedges
are great for applying foundation and cleaning
up smudges under the eyes.
Keeping
Makeup Hygenic
You
should be aware that bacteria and bugs like to
breed in humid weather! The following tips should keep you nice and clean:
Get
in the habit of cleaning your makeup brushes and
applicators regularly in antiseptic soap.
Never
use makeup that is outdated, especially around
the eye area. Throw away any makeup products that has discoloured, has an unusual smell or
has separated. Mascara is one product that should be replaced every 3 months.
Tapping
off excess blusher from your brush before applying
to your face is a great idea, however never blow
on the bristles as you’ll spread bacteria from your mouth onto the brush.
Lipsticks
that have changed texture or colour from the humid
climate can be given a shave – just slice off the top and the sides of the lipstick.
Being
an Informed Shopper
The
mistake with many women when purchasing make-up
is that they are not informed shoppers, and they
are often talked into buying products that will
not suit their colouring or lifestyle. These products are always the ones that sit in the bottom of their make-up bag.
To
avoid this, the best thing you can do is get to
know yourself confidently. Know the colours, textures and finishes that work best for you. If dark matte lipsticks are the trend of the season, these will not suit you
if you have thin lips - you should be looking for
light lip colours with frost or gloss for their
plumping effect. It’s useful to know that some cosmetic brands have a “rewards” system for their staff who promotes their current makeup promotion, so you may
be led to products that do not complement you at
all.
Flying
and your Skin
Living
in Singapore can often mean lots of flying to exotic
island getaways or long haul flights back home
to visit the family. No matter how long the flight is or which end of the plane you’re sitting in, flying can be havoc for your skin.
While
it’s appealing to load up your in-flight beauty bag with lots of products, it’s better to keep it simple. Here are the essential products you should carry with you:
Make-up
Remover Wipes to remove your make-up and clean and protect your skin
Eye
Cream to avoid dehydration lines and an Eye Gel to reduce puffiness on landing
Moisturiser to
keep your skin hydrated. Avoid gel texture as it can cause drier skins to tighten.
Lip
Balm to prevent your lips from chapping
Toner or Moisture
Spritz that contains moisture-binding ingredients to keep the moisture in the skin.
Travelling
With MakeUp
Your
travel makeup bag should always contain miniatures
of your makeup products as this will protect
them in case of spills, (miniature bottles and
tubs can be found in any chemist or pharmacy
store). Lipsticks can be cut and mashed into
a mini tub.
If
you're travelling somewhere warm, remember to
pack sunscreen and you may want to leave your
regular foundation behind and take a tinted moisturiser
instead. Applying translucent powder over the
tinted moisturiser can minimize the shine and
create a polished evening look.
iKeep
your makeup simple. One eyeshadow, an eye pencil, mascara and blusher is all you'll need on holiday. For lips, decide on no more than three colours and lip balm is crucial for keeping
lips moisturised underneath.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Where
is the best place to test if a foundation is
the right shade for you?
Testing
foundation on your jawline is the best place to
test foundation. With a cotton bud, draw stripes of foundation on the jawline and then check
them in natural light, (you may have to pop outside
the make-up shop to do this). Never test foundation on your hands as they are usually darker than your face
from being exposed to more UV light and less exfoliation.
I
have invested in make-up brushes. What is the best way to clean them?
It’s
very important to keep your make-up brushes clean. Not just for hygienic reasons but also your make-up will look more defined. To wash your brushes, wet the bristles and clean with an antiseptic liquid soap. Rinse thoroughly, and air-dry the brushes overnight with the handles on the
counter with the bristles hanging over the edge. Never leave them to dry in an upright position as water will seep into the handles,
causing them to rot.
I
wear glasses. What are my options for eye make-up?
For
a defined look, curl your lashes, apply eyeliner
and one coat of mascara. Never wear frosted or glittery eyeshadow as this will give a dirty look under
your glasses.
I
have mature skin. What make-up should I avoid?
For
mature skin, avoid eyeshadows and lip colour
that have a “Frost” or “Iridescent” finish as it can draw attention to fine lines. Also, avoid matte lipsticks as these can dry your lips. Anything with a “Metallic” finish such as lipsticks, eyeshadows and eye pencils can be too harsh for mature
skin types. Click here for more tips on make-up for mature skin.
How
long does certain make-up last? Is it when I’ve noticed that the product has separated?
Make-up
does not last forever and using old products can
cause sensitivity and infections, especially in
humid weather! Here are the typical guidelines for make-up products:
2
years – Powder and Powder Blusher
1
year – Foundation, Concealer, Eye Pencils, Eyeshadow and Lipsticks
6
months – Cream Blusher
3
months - Mascara
I
have bushy eyebrows. What is the best way to shape them?
I
would consider having your eyebrows professionally
shaped, and then you can follow that shape at home
by tweezing regularly. Investing in a spiral-bristled brush, (it looks like a mascara wand), will help
with trimming. Simply brush your eyebrows straight up with the spiral brush and then trim any
hairs that stick up with a pair of nail scissors. Click here for more tips on eyebrow shaping.
Do
you need to wear a moisturiser if you're wearing
foundation?
Moisturizing
is a must before applying any make-up to your skin
as it helps your foundation go on evenly and smoothly. You can use a light or heavy moisturiser, just make sure that you choose the
right one for your skin type. If you are wearing planning on wearing eye make-up, don't apply moisturizer
to your eyelids as it will cause your colour to
crease and not last long. Applying moisturiser to your lips before applying lip colour will help it go
on more smoothly.
I
wear eyeglasses. What shape do you recommend for a round face?
Click
on the attached link to read an excerpt from Aileen
for Shape Magazine on the right eyeglasses for
your face shape: Choosing A Frame.
