Summer-Proof Makeup

Most makeup doesn’t stay on me that well all year round, but when it comes to summertime, it gets even worst.  There is nothing more frustrating then putting on a beautiful face of makeup in the morning and having it turn into a makeup meltdown by the afternoon.  This summer, I have been experimenting with a few items that have become my daily beauty essentials to keep makeup from sliding off my face.

J. One Jelly Pack

This has been one of those products that have been a mystery to me for a while.  Everyone who loves it talks about its miraculous ability to firm and keep makeup on all day.  For a while, I think I just didn’t quite get the knack of it.  It is super sticky, and for a while, I would just use a little and tap it in.  I just felt like it really didn’t do too much though.

Known as the “corset mask,” it can be used as a one-step skincare routine.  Containing hyaluronic acid and fullerene, it is supposed to be moisturizing and brighten your complexion at the same time.  It’s most known for creating a smooth canvas for makeup through its firming effect and extending the life of your makeup through its “grippy” texture.

So what changed for me?  I guess, I didn’t want to give up on it, so I tried different applications.  The method that has worked for me most is to apply it in small amounts and rub it in till it absorbs into the skin.  Then, I apply my sunscreen and foundation over it.  I’m not sure if it is just summer time, but I really notice the notice the difference when I don’t wear it.  It keeps my makeup on all day even if I get a bit sweaty and I find the firming effect more noticeable.  If you have tried it, I would love to know your experiences and if you have tips with regards to its application.

Dolly Wink Eyebrow Coat

Like many others who are into anti-aging skincare, I often wear a hat when it is sunny outside.  I find that in the summer time, it is even more difficult to keep your brows looking filled in and groomed all day.  Putting my hat on and off and just generally sweating will cause the colour to fade on my eyebrows.  So to prevent this from happening, I have been experimenting with Dolly Wink’s Eyebrow Coat.

Different from most brow gels, it comes packaged like a nail polish.  Using the brush, you can apply a thick coat of the sticky clear liquid to almost seal your eyebrow.  Alternatively, you can just apply a little bit and brush it through with an spoolie.  I much prefer the second method as it looks more natural.

So how does it work?  Applied thickly, it is almost like glue and your brows don’t come off till you want them off.  Applied sparingly, it keeps your brow hairs and brow colour in place most of the day without looking too “crispy.”

Naturaglacé Marshmallow Powder

I used to never understand the need for powder in my makeup routine.  As I am almost 40, I am always trying to make more skin look more moisturized and dewy.  I don’t think I have purchased a powder in years.  The last one I remember having was the cult favourite Laurier Mercier Powder. So I actually got this particular powder as part of a set, and just have the deluxe size.

This powder is from a natural beauty brand from Japan called Naturglacé, which I am obsessed with.  From their website in Japanese using Google Translate, this powder is transparent, but is supposed to give your skin a radiant glow.  Like most powders, it helps to control oil and prevent makeup from fading as quickly.

This sounds obvious, but powdering really makes your makeup last longer.  However, I think a good one, not only controls oil, but also helps blur imperfections and should not leave your skin matte and cakey.  This powder definitely like that.  Plus, I also love using the puff to press in the powder to preventing creasing under the eyes.  Who knew?  I’m in love with powder!

If you have any great eyebrow gels or powders to recommend, I would to love to know since I am quite a newbie using these type of products.

5 Minute Face

What would you wear on your face if you had 5 minutes?  I love to spend my time and put on full face of makeup.  However, that rarely happens in the morning when I am getting ready to go to work.  These are the products I will often use when I don’t have very much time.  They apply quickly and most of them last quite a long time.

No matter how rushed I am, I will always do my morning skincare routine.  So these are just the makeup items I use afterwards.

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder

If you are in a rush, I feel like mineral powder is always the quickest to apply.  You just tap some into the lid and swirl onto your face and you’re done.  Plus, since it is already powder, you can kind of skip a step, and not apply face powder.  Although, sometimes, I do have to blot in the middle of the day depending on the time of year.

Other than it being quick, this is one of my all-time favourite base products.  For a mineral powder, it is quite glowy.  It also has really good coverage and never looks cakey.  Even when I am not in rush, I love to use it for an everyday face, and especially in the summer when I don’t feel like wearing heavy liquid foundation.  An added bonus is that it is a “clean” product, it is one of the desert island picks, from a well-known natural beauty blog called No More Dirty Looks.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

This product needs no introduction, because it is such a dependable product.  If you don’t have the time do the whole corrector then concealer undereye routine.  It has such good coverage that it works great in covering my dark undereye circles.  Plus, an added bonus is that it barely creases throughout the day on me.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze

I am a daily eyeshadow primer girl.  Nothing stays put on bare eyelids for more than a few hours.  I have tried many cream eyeshadows, but till this day, this is the only one that lasts on me.  Without primer, it almost last me an entire day.  It is truly like a “tattoo.”  However, I always find the amazing thing with this product is that it isn’t too hard to remove, and super easy to remove with a dual-phase makeup remover.

This is a well-loved product and I won’t go too much into how it is a look in one,a  very flattering colour, and blends out well.  The only con is it dries out pretty fast in the pot, so I think I am on my third one.

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in New Black

This pencil eyeliner in this particular shade has been a long time favourite.  Pencil eyeliners are always a little bit more forgiving the liquid ones, so this is a good pick for fast makeup.  Plus, this liner lasts on me almost all day and because the shade is not “the blackest black,” even if there is a little smudging it is not as obvious.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light

Yes, I know this is a bit crazy, I could have picked mascara or maybe brows, but I think I am addicted to highlighter.  I don’t want to leave the house without it.  Like many, I love Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop.  However, you do have to watch how much you apply and have to blend it out a bit.  With the Ambient Lighting Powders, they look great without blending and give you just the right amount of subtle luminosity on your cheekbones.

What are your makeup picks when you only have 5 minutes?

Review: naturaglacé Starter Set (Foundation Puree, Make-Up Cream, Powder)

naturaglacé is a natural and organic brand from Japan.  I first spotted them in a Japanese magazine and then later noticed that their base products were often top ranked in Cosme Kitchen, which is a Japanese organic and natural product beauty store (check out the beautiful photo of the store taken by the lovely blogger Tokyo Beauty Book on her Instagram).  To my surprise, recently, I found a seller on Amazon who shipped this starter kit to Canada.  They sell it on the U. S. Amazon site as well, but it is more expensive.   Of course, I bought the kit right away because it can be hard to get hold of smaller Japanese brands where I live.

This kit comes with two deluxe samples of the Make-Up Cream (12 ml) and Loose Powder and three packets (0.5 ml) of the Foundation Puree in Shade YE2.  For best results, they should be used together as indicated on the back of the box.

Make-Up Cream (SPF 30 and PA++)

From their website (I translated it from Japanese using Google Translate), this product is an all-in-one base which combines a “moisturizing essence” and a “light foundation.”  It only comes in one shade.  Plus, it also has sunscreen, which pretty much makes it almost like a CC Cream.  From the back of the box, it also tells you that this product can act like a foundation primer.  I have worn this alone and under foundation and I love it both ways!  It gently blurs out your pores and fine lines and provides a beautiful glow to the skin.  This is a lovely base for an everyday look or just a quick stop to the supermarket.

Not a con, but because it is a natural product, it takes a little bit longer to blend out on the skin. Usually, I dot it all over my face, gradually blend it out with my fingers, and then pat it in.  Lastly, if you have oily skin or combination skin, this might get “too glowy” as the day goes on.  If you powder, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Foundation Puree in Shade YE2 (SPF 25 and PA++)

The foundation gives a similar finish as the Make-Up Cream.  On the website, it states that this is an “airy foundation”, which “moisturizes and firms the skin.”  Like the Make-Up Base, it is glowy and gently blurs pores and fine lines, but the foundation gives you a bit more coverage and evens out your skin tone even more.  Similar to the Make-Up Cream, this is best applied with fingers.  I actually tried using my Beauty Blender, and it moved the foundation around and it didn’t settle into the skin.  It was strange!  Maybe it was natural oils in the foundation that didn’t combine well with the dampness in the sponge.  Lastly, a little powder on the areas where you get shiny keep your base shine-free all day.

One major con is that it only comes in three shades and they are all yellow-based.  I was lucky and the shade matched me really well.  I am around a MAC NC20.

Loose Powder

This translucent powder is light-weight and finely milled.  It does a good job of absorbing oil on your face without looking cakey.  It comes with a puff, but I usually use the brush to lightly apply on forehead and undereye area.  It keeps the oil at bay for most of the day.

Longevity

Used alone, I feel like the Make-Up base lasts a good 8 hour work day.  With the primer, I feel like it lasts all day.  I notice when I remove my makeup at night, a lot still comes off on my cotton pad.

VERDICT: Some of my favourite base products I have tried lately.  If you are looking for some good organic and natural base products to try out, I would say give naturaglacé a try.