School or work is on a break, time to look fab for Christmas! Here are some glamorous look for the Christmas season. Great for Christmas parties or just to look special every day during the holidays. Time to kick back and be a little creative with yourself this Christmas!
FLAWLESS SKIN
It's Christmas and the snow is falling. Nothing is worse than blemishes, freckles and dark circles on your face. Picture a snow princess or angel, porcelain and pristine. So let's ditch the bronzer and tan for a season! To help improve your skin texture, check out my post on How to get Acne Free Clear Skin.
Tip 1: Use a primer. It'll create the perfect canvas for your face that will help your makeup stay put and fill in pores.
Recommend: Smashbox Studio Fix, Revlon's Au Naturelle Primer
Tip 2: Conceal with a multicolored palette. Don't think that your skin comes in one shade. Our skin has many pigments. Use yellow for dark circles and green for redness.
Recommend: Benefit's multicolored concealer, Lise Watier (available only in Canada), Physician's formula Concealer Sticks.
Tip 3: Mineral foundation. I know some of you really dread layers and layers of makeup on your face but full coverage doesn't have to be thick coverage. Try a mineral makeup. You buff on as many layers as you want and still feel like you are wearing nothing. For more pointers on which mineral foundations best suit your skin, check out my post on Mineral Foundation Hype.
Recommend: Bare Escentuals foundation, Physician's Formula mineral foundation, Revlon's Mineral Makeup
Tip 4: Spray on some natural spring water. This will set your makeup so it will last all day. Believe it or not, having water on your face will make your makeup rather waterproof for those of you living in rainy or snowy places. Plus, it will hydrate your skin for the dry winter. So very multi-functional!
CHEEKS
Brrrrrrrr...it's so cold when you are outside in the snow. But don't you just love those rosy cheeks you get from being outside? That's why I think rosy cheeks will be perfect for the holiday season. Nothing better than naturally glowing cheeks that make you look like you just came back from a snowball fight! For a list of my favorite blushes, see Best Blushes for all Budgets post.
Tip 1: Use one of those shade smart blushes. The ones with microbeads that turn into the perfect blush color for you when you put it on. This will give you the best natural blush ever.
Recommend: Almay Smart Shade blush, Smashbox O-Glow blush.
Tip 2: Apply it in the right areas. Smile and dab it right on those cheeks. Plus, blend blend blend.
EYES
My favorite part. Think gold, silver, green and plum. Just don't mix too many colors together or you might look like a Christmas tree. To make all the difference, remember to wear fake eyelashes.
Gold: The trick is to mix the gold with silver. Never apply gold alone or else it will look unnatural. Put silver on the inner corner of both your upper and lower lid and apply gold on the outer. Blend the two together. For an evening look, mix gold with brown to look sultry.
Silver: Also do not wear alone unless if you have really deep set eyes. Give your eyes some definition or your eyes will look flat like a white piece of paper. Give it some contour with gray or brown where your crease is and bravo, your silver will make you look wide awake for those present opening moments.
Green: Depending on the shade of green you pick, you can achieve different looks. I personally think matte dark green, like a Christmas tree is perfect for Christmas. It can be worn alone or just underneath your crease if you apply a similar matte highlighter on your brow bone. Also, contour those creases with black or brown for a smokey look. For those of you who like lighter green such as lime or forest green, go for a frosty look. Remember frost not glitter. Mix green with gold or silver. If you are a little on the wild side, try mixing it with pink for an edgier look.
Plum: To be used for evening looks. Here's your chance to have smokey eyes and stand out. I love plum and this will be the look I will be rocking most of the holiday season. Matte or shimmer, the possibilities are endless. Use plum with silver and I like to use a black shade on the crease to give my eyes some contour.
LIPS
Marilyn Monroe, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani. What do they all have in common? They are huge fans of red, bold lips. Me too but when I first tried red lips, it looked horrible. After some experimentation, I finally figured out why! For more tips on how to achieve the perfect red lip, see How to wear a red lip for Christmas, New Year's Eve or just everyday.
Tip 1: Use a lip liner. Contrary to popular believe, you are not supposed to match your lip liner with your lipstick. Match it with your lips because the point of a lip liner is to accentuate your lips, not your lipstick.
Tip 2: If you have thin lips or if you just want poutier lips, use a gloss on top. This will make the color underneath last longer.
Tip 3: Use one of those long lasting lipstick. One side with color, the other side with gloss. No doubt you will be munching on something throughout the day during the holidays. Nothing more annoying than reapplying every hour.
Recommend: Revlon's Colorstay Lipstick, Mac's Prowear lipstick, Maxfactor's lipstick.
For those with thin lips: apply gloss on top of your red lipstick. The trick is to make them look bigger. Matte red lipstick will shrink your lips, it did to mine.
Recommend: MAC red lipsticks and glosses, Clarin's Joli Rouge (my personal favorite)
For those with full lips: you will look gorgeous in matte red lipstick. It will look classy and elegant.
Recommend: Revlon's Matte collection lipstick (I'm in love with this one), Mac's matte lipstick
Christmas makeup looks and ideas - how to look gorgeous for the holiday season
10 ways to get acne free, clear skin- the secret to great skin
Here are ten simple things you can do to prevent and treat acne. Clear, beautiful, acne free skin is a blessing. Genetics play a big part but we can modify what we can control to prevent acne and maintain good skin. One can have acne for years before achieving manageable skin. Here are top 10 ways to maintain clear and acne free skin. For some product recommendations, please visit my post on Acne Product Recommendations.
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Keeping your face clean is key to having clear skin because it gives the bacteria less chance to grow and clog your pores. Use an oil free cleanser with a small dose of salicylic acid.
2. Exfoliate regularly
Exfoliating your skin with a gentle scrub or glycolic acid help your skin get rid of dead skin cells and generate new ones. This also help keep your pores clear or debris.
3. Use an oil free moisturiser daily
Choose a moisturiser you feel comfortable wearing. For example, use an oil free cream for night time and an oil free gel for day time. For those with acne, choose one with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in the moisturiser.
4. Deep clean your face at least once a week
Use a deep cleansing, detoxifying or hydrating mask on your face once or twice a week. This really helps to extract all the oil, dirt and debris from you pores that may have accumulated throughout the week. Do not overuse as it may dry out your skin and overwork your sebaceous glands so you may get oilier.
5. Balanced diet with plenty of water
You are what you eat. As cliché as that may sound, the vitamins and minerals from healthy food choices do make a difference in our skin. Drinking plenty of water will give your skin hydration it deserves so that your pores remain unclogged.
6. Wear oil free, non-comedogenic makeup

7. Watch out for hands, pillows and hair
An average person touches his or her face hundreds of times a day without thinking. Bacteria can easily spread to your face every time your hands touch your face. Clean your pillows often because the bacteria may spread while you sleep. Keep your hair clean and oil free also minimizes the chance for a breakout.
8. Exercise
Exercising helps your body circulate and skin breathe. Do something active 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes can help improve the texture and clarity of your skin.
9. Beauty sleep
It isn't just a meaningless phrase. A good 7-9 hour rest helps you maintain the regular turnover of your skin cells. This also gives acne-fighting ingredients a chance to do its job while the skin is repairing itself.
10. Be patient.
Acne come and go. It can be triggered by genetics, hormones or unhealthy lifestyle. Try your best to avoid picking it as the bacteria may spread to nearby areas and cause more breakouts. Do not blame yourself as multiple factors come into play. Do what you can to prevent it but visit a dermatologist if your acne persists or becomes severe.
10 Ways to Make Your Foundation Stay On All Day
Here are 10 ways to make your foundation stay on the entire day without touch up. Use these tips for a flawless complexion all day. Whether you purchase cheap drug store or expensive luxury foundation, there are ways to prolong the wear of your foundation. Some low-end foundations actually stay on better than high-end foundations if used the right way or paired with other products.
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1. Choosing the right formula of foundation:
Different foundation formulas tailor to different skin types. If you have dry skin, use a cream or liquid foundation. For oilier skin, choose oil free liquid formulas, powder, or mineral foundation. For a list of foundation reviews, watch my Flawless Foundation Routine and Massive Foundation Review/Collection video.
2. Priming your face:
Priming your face with a silicone based primer not only help you save the amount of foundation you use but also create a flawless canvas for your foundation to go on. Think of it as prolonging the wear of a nail polish with a base coat; same idea.
3. Apply with a brush:
Applying foundation with a brush can help you achieve flawless coverage without using too much product. The brush helps to deliver the foundation seamlessly into your skin. A kabuki brush helps to buff mineral foundation on and a flat top brush helps to evenly distribute liquid foundation.
4. Use the right amount of product:

5. Keep your skin clean, exfoliated and moisturized:
Clear, exfoliated skin allows the foundation to go on effortlessly and smoothly since the foundation lies evenly on the skin. To maintain clear skin, visit 10 ways to get acne free, clear skin- the secret to great skin
6. Use a finishing powder:
When using liquid or cream foundation, always finish off with a finishing/translucent powder which helps to seal the product just like how a top coat seals the nail polish color. For mineral foundation users, the equivalent of a finishing powder would be a mineral veil.
7. Set the foundation with a spray:
Makeup fix sprays are growing popular for a good reason. These water based sprays not only make your makeup last longer but give you that dewy, fresh, au natural skin. A cheaper alternative would be to load up a spray bottle with water.
8. Choose Oil free and long lasting makeup:
Generally oil free makeup stay on longer. Look for foundations that say long-lasting or even waterproof. Many makeup lines such as Rimmel or Revlon make extremely affordable foundations that last between 8-25 hours!
9. Try a mineral foundation:
Mineral foundations tend to stay on the skin for longer period of time, especially for oily skinned individuals. They are weightless and most have oil absorbing properties. To see which mineral foundation best suits you, visit Mineral Foundation Hype.
10. Reduce oil on your skin:
Keeping your skin matte and shine free can reduce the amount oil on your face, which can then minimize the chance of the foundation sliding off your skin. Using a matte, oil control moisturizer and blotting paper throughout the day to keep the excess oil at bay.
Please also visit my posts on 10 ways to make eyeliner stay put all day and 5 ways to make eyeshadow stay on all day.
How to get a golden bronze face for the summer and top best bronzers
There`s nothing sexier than looking like a golden goddess for the summer. We can all tan under the sun for the bronze but ladies, UV can be really damaging in the long run so why not just fake the healthy glow! In this post I will share with you ways to not look muddy (if you have dry skin) or shiny (if you have oily skin). I will also be providing you with my top 10 favourite bronzers of all time after much investigation and testing. As always high end and low end products will be equally represented so you can decide whether you want to splurge! Without further ado, let`s get bronzed!
To use as a contour: Apply it in the hollows of your cheeks, sides of the forehead, temples, bridge of the nose and underneath the chin for that "I just lost 10 lbs" look. For how to achieve this look, please watch my How to contour your face and look 10 lbs skinnier video. Remember to select a matte bronzer that is 3-4 shades darker than your foundation for ideal results.
To use for an all over healthy glow/tan: Apply the bronzer all over the face, concentrating in areas where the sun would naturally hit the face such as the forehead, cheeks and sides of the nose. Use a larger and fluffier brush to get an even bronze. The trip is to select a bronzer that is easily blendable. You may choose a bronzer that has slightly more glitter and shine if you prefer the glowy look.
Skin Type
If you have dry or mature skin:
Stay moisturised under the summer as the heat and humidity may dehydrate you even more. If possible select a spray on bronzer or cream bronzer. Using this type of bronzer will not accentuate fine lines and give you a dewy and youthful glow. For a list of foundation reviews, please watch my Flawless Foundation Routine and Massive Foundation Review/Collection video.
If you have oily/combination skin:
Most people prefer powdered bronzer for ease of application and its long wearing abilities. Choose a matte or semi-matte bronzer that will absorb the excess oil from your face. The powder will not only mattify your face but also give your face a little more coverage so you can get away with less foundation.
Recommendations for best bronzers
Best high end bronzers:
NARS Laguna bronzer or NARS Casino if you have darker skin (powder)
Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel (cream)
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (powder)
Dior Bronze Sun Powder spray (spray)
Best low end bronzers:
NYC Sunny bronzer (powder)
NYC Mosaic bronzer (powder)
Rimmel Sun bronzer (powder)
Elf studio bronzer in Golden (powder)
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Sheerest Cream Bronze (cream)
Stay Protected Under the Sun
1. Use a sunscreen whenever you go out

2. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen
This means it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. So do look for sunscreens that target both rays as they both can be damaging
3. Use an oil free or non-greasy formula
The worst thing you want is to look greasy, waxy and white all over. Choose a non-greasy formula that can be easily absorbed into the skin. This will also prevent clogging of pores and breakouts.
4. Reapply often
Even the strongest SPF sunscreen requires constant reapplication. I would recommend reapplying at least once every 1-2 hours depending on the intensity of the rays. Please don`t be lazy. Research also states that an average individual only applies 30% of the effective dose of sunscreen so please apply a generous amount to your body before heading out.
5. Incorporate SPF into your daily skincare routine
Tinted moisturizers are the hype right now and some of them have SPF 30 which is very impressive as it does the trick of 3; moisturizer, light coverage foundation and sunscreen. Other than that, a finishing power or foundation with SPF 15 is sufficient for cloudy days. A moisturizer with an SPF of 30 can also be used during the day time to kill two birds with one stone.
La Roche Posay and Vichy Sunscreen- Great texture, broad spectrum, easy to apply and relatively affordable.
Clarins UV PLUS Protective Day Screen SPF 40 Oil Free- It`s oil free and feels like a moisturizer. It has great protection and is small to fit in the purse. Great on the go sun screen.
Clinique City Block Oil Free Face Protector SPF 40 or 25- Love the tint in this sunscreen along with its non-conventional smooth and light texture. It does even out the skin tone a bit without looking greasy.
Still not satisfied with your tan? Then fake it! Read my post on Sunkissed Goddess for the Summer to fake a gorgeous Jennifer Lopez tan.
Sun Kissed Goddess for the Summer
Summertime and no one wants to look as pale as snow. Having a natural sun kissed tan not only makes you look leaner, healthier but more attractive overall. That’s all fun and dandy but the worst mistake you can have with tanning is looking orange and uneven all over. So I’d like to share with you through my experience with many products as well as dealing with customers regarding my top tanning product recommendations to look perfectly tanned for the beach. Depending on your own personal taste and preference, I bet one of these will work for you.
I have ranked all of them based on reviews- the list goes from the most instantaneous tan to the most natural tan. Take your pick and start looking like a bronze goddess! To learn how to apply face bronzer for a Jennifer Lopez tan look, please read my post on How to get a golden bronze face for the summer and top best bronzers .
- Dior Bronze Brume de Poudre Sun Powder Spray

- Lancome Flash Bronzer

- Clarin’s Delicious Self Tanning Cream

- Lancaster Ultra Natural Bronze care

THE MINERAL FOUNDATION HYPE
Minerals are huge right now. It's on TV, in the store, ads, everywhere. I do love the fact that it is great for your skin. But honestly I have tried at least 10 kinds of mineral makeup right now and I will share with you my experience with them. Hopefully this will help you to decide which ones to start with. Let me know if you need help deciding.
Bare minerals
My Experience: I love the matte yet dewy finish. The coverage is a lot better than just a regular powder. I enjoyed it quite a lot and would purchase it again.
Pro: Great finish, buildable coverage, natural-looking, waterproof, flawless finish
Con: Expensive, cakey if applied too much, slides off on oily skin
Suitable for: those with combination and sensitive skin
Rating: 8 stars
Sheer Cover Minerals
My experience: This to me was similar to Bare minerals. The one thing that was different was that it was a lot lighter than Bare Minerals. The shades also adapted to my skin color easier. The concealing power isn't so great but then they have the best creamy concealer so that makes up for it.
Pro: Light weight, natural, decent coverage, flawless finish
Con: Poor packaging, expensive, messy to use
Suitable for: Those with not much to conceal wanting a light coverage.
Rating: 7 stars
Pur Minerals
My experience: I personally love this. Some people have a problem with this but I tried it on and it was instant gratification. It was flawless, matte and makes you look like you are about to do a photoshoot.
Pro: flawless, not messy(comes in a pressed powder form), great coverage, natural colors, matte finish, multipurpose (4 in 1)
Con: sometimes drying, not much color selection
Suitable for: Quick, on the go, perfect skin.
Rating: 8.5 stars
Everyday Minerals
My experience: This is my most recent purchase. The first time I put it on, it had a nice texture. Overall, the coverage is good, not great. What I like about it is that there is such a wide selection of shades available, you are bound to get the true shade. Also, it looks oh-so natural on everyone.
Pro: Natural, Affordable, Choose from various finishes (original glow, intensive, matte, semi-matte), long wearing
Con: not flawless coverage, packaging too plastic
Suitable for: everyone depending on which finish you want.
Rating: 8.5-9 stars (not so sure because the coverage is not as great as Pur Minerals)
Physician's Formula Mineral Foundation
My experience: I use them on a regular basis. I only use them on top of liquid foundation as a setting powder. The foundation is rather natural and doesn't cover up but it makes a nice and matte finish.
Pro: cheap, good for sensitive skin, convenient packaging (do not use brush)
Con: comes off easily, doesn't cover much
Suitable for: those with sensitive skin or not much to conceal.
Rating: 6.5
Prestige MultiTasking SkinLoving Minerals
My experience: I bought this on a whim because it was a multitasking powder with concealing properties. This fits my busy lifestyle so I gave it a try. Much to my surprise, it was a lot better than I expected. Cheap and worth your money!
Pros: good coverage, buildable coverage, cheap, easy to use, fast fix
Cons: medium staying powder, little shade selection
Suitable for: those who wants to get out the door in 5 minutes and pay little.
Stars: 8.5 stars
L'oreal Bare Naturalle Mineral Foundation
My experience: I heard some good things about this so I bought it. I was not really impressed. However I do believe that it is because I have much to conceal and it didn't do the job. Overall, it was a decent mineral foundation with normal staying powder.
Pros: cheap, easy to apply applicator, very natural looking, lightweight
Cons: poor brush, not flawless coverage, not super longlasting, powdery looking
Suitable for: oily skin, those wanting natural coverage with not much to conceal
Stars: 6.5 stars
HOW TO GET ACNE-FREE, CLEAR SKIN
MAKEUP TIPS FOR THOSE HOT SUMMER DAYS

Summer is approaching. Don’t you hate it when your skin gets oily and your makeup smears. Well what can we do? We certainly can’t ditch our makeup. So, I have compiled a list of tips for summer. Look good and stay fresh in your makeup all day!
Foundation: Under the scorching heat, we need a great foundation that won’t melt and have super staying power. Get light foundations such as ones that you can spray on your face. I’ve tried the Sally Hansen spray on foundation before. It creates an airbrushed look. It worked alright.
The key is to buy something that is oil free because the sun is already triggering your oil glands to produce excess oil! A moisturizing foundation works too. Just don’t forget to set your foundation with loose powder girls! If your foundation still smears, read my post on 10 Ways to Make Your Foundation Stay On All Day .

Eyes: Waterproof waterproof waterproof eyeliners. Eyeshadows can get a little messy but for eyeliners and mascara, pick a waterproof one. You wouldn’t want streaks of mascara running down your face. I’m not a big fan of mascara because they dry out my lashes. So this is what I do. I put on a layer of non-waterproof mascara and then layer on the waterproof one. Not only do I get thick sexy lashes but my eyelashes are protected and the mascara still won’t run. As for eyeshadows, stay with powder eyeshadow and remember to put on a base. Avoid cream eyeshadows as good as they look. I love golden shimmery colors. They make you look like tanned and like a goddess under the sun. With eyeliners, pencil eyeliners are not really great for the summer, especially those self sharpening ones that contain wax because they contain oil. So, pick a liquid eyeliner and set it with powder afterwards if you really like the pencil eyeliner look.
Cheeks:

I love bronzer! Fake that tan. Many girls get shiny bronzers but I like ones that have less shimmer. Why? Because when you naturally tan, do you have shimmers on your face? Exactly! What I like to do is go under the sun and look at where the sun hits your face, then apply bronzer in those areas. Remember, never put bronzer down your nose, run them down the sides of your nose to make them look skinnier. Please refer to post on How to get a golden bronze face for the summer and top best bronzers you want the perfect bronze. Most people like to skip the blush. Adding some redness to your cheeks makes your makeup look believable, so why not? Grab a blush that has great staying power like a mousse or powder blush. If you want you can spray your cheeks with a bit of water after your makeup, that way your makeup will stay on longer.

I like lipgloss. Be simple. Nothing hotter than a nice shimmery lipgloss reflecting off the sun. Stay away from dark colors as they will make you look a little tired and dead under the sun. Bright coral and pinkish colors look great on anyone. If you absolutely do not know the color of lipgloss you want, then simply wear your usual lipstick and add a clear lipgloss on top. Clear lipgloss can act as any color you want. So experiment with the endless possibilities. However I must warn you, lipgloss tend to fade throughout the day. So in order to make them stay on longer, powder your lips, apply lip pencil to shape your lips and fill them in with a moisturizing lipstick and finally add gloss. One last thing for the finishing touch, add a dab of highlighter in the middle of your lips on the top and bottom for extra pouty lips.
LOOK GORGEOUS WITHOUT PULLING A SWEAT
Use a primer:
Buy a neutral eyeshadow palette:
I know we all want to create those colorful looks. Those looks take hours to accomplish. Why not stick to a neutral palette. Stick to a routine. I'm not saying that once in a while you shouldn't be creative but to save time, having a neutral palette saves time and gives a very mature look. NARS multiple in orgasm would be great too since you can use it on your lids, lips and cheeks!


Eyeliner. Mascara. That's it! Pick a blendable eyeliner and smudge it so its smoky and sultry. Then layer on the mascara for a simple sexy look. A kohl eyeliner would be the most blendable. Altogether it only takes a minute or so. Do give it a shot. Practice makes perfect.
Turn day makeup into night makeup in minutes: There are only three things you need; dark lipstick, matte bronzer and a sexy violet eyeliner. Those three things will show up on your face at night the most and give you a natural yet sexy and glamorous look.
Tone down the shampoo:

Let your hair style while you are sleeping:
After washing your hair, braid them or put them in a low bun. The next morning, pretty waves. Spray on some hairspray or work mousse into your hair and you are good to go!
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: PICKING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION
I have a problem with picking the right foundation. Honestly, I can never find the right color. When I do find the right color, I don't like the texture of my skin and so on and so on. I give up! So I want to take some time to share with you some foundations that I have tried and liked. Again, I'm grouping them into categories since not everyone have the same foundation needs.
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For acne prone skin:
Recommend: Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil Free Makeup
Purpose: It is oil free so it won't clog pores and worsen acne. It also helps to conceal redness. I love this one especially because it is affordable and contains salicylic acid, one of the most effective pimple-fighting ingredient.
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For dry skin:
Recommend: Almay TLC Truly Lasting Color 16 Hour Makeup Skin Nourishing Longwear SPF 15
Purpose: It comes in a cream-like texture and contains antioxidants to make up for the lost H2O in yotr skin. Your skin will look non-greasy and moisturized the whole day.
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For skin with fine lines:
Recommend: Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup SPF 15
Purpose: Heavy makeup make lines look deeper, so this is a lightweight formula made of soy. Soy helps to tighten lines that dwell around the eye and mouth area.
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For uneven skin:
Recommend: Chanel Mat Lumière Long-Lasting Soft Matte Makeup SPF 15
Purpose: Created with a matte base containing light reflecting molecules to camouflage those spots, uneven surfaces and sallowness. Definitely my lifesaver!