First things first, everyone. I seem to have given an inadvertent impression that I and MWS are taking 2016 off from the blog. My apologies! I honestly have no idea I alluded to it LOL! I did say I was taking a break at the end of the year, to the new year, which might have been misinterpreted due to clumsy prose. What I meant was that I was taking the last week of 2015 off, till the new year.
So, thank you all so much for your lovely sweet thoughts and wishes, but I’m afraid I’m here to stay, with my opinionated thoughts and nosy questions, like the one we have today. I hope you don’t mind.
This question that popped up today, was as a result of a lovely new year lunch with a friend on the opening day of the work year, where we had a fine time jawing over makeup, work, and our pet subject – bags! You don’t know what it means to be able to go on about bags, and discussing our dream birkins despite its cons, without having eyes rolled at you, openly or otherwise :D She also brought up this taking a break thing, and after reading a few other comments, I thought I’d better quickly clarify that I’m not opening and closing shop willy nilly; it just never closed :)
One of the subjects that popped up during our conversation was touching up makeup through the day. Did it matter? Did we do it? Do you? :D
Incidentally, both said friend and I are kind of in the “beauty industry” so we both are quite well aware of the need to look fairly polished through the day. I’m aware I sometimes get the “Wot? You, beauty blogger?” side-eye because I don’t look half as perky, chiselled or dramatic as many others out there, but hey, it’s just how I roll ;)
But do I touch up my makeup through the day?
Nope I don’t.
I don’t carry anything in my daily makeup pouch, except lipstick and a travel perfume spray, because that’s ALL I will touch up. Lipstick is pretty obvious – you can’t have a face with makeup and bare lips. It just doesn’t work. Besides, switching up your lipstick is the fastest way to switch up your look for the day and evening, if that rocks your boat.
Otherwise, I don’t powder nor touch up anything else. I realise I should sometimes, if I have something on at the end of a work-day, when my makeup looks decidedly faded, but I just don’t.
What I do, is use make up that I think will last me the day, if I know I’m going to have to look decent for most of the day, looking hot, as opposed to a hot mess :P This usually involves prepping my skin, layering on thin layers of longer-lasting foundation, concealer and a dusting of loose powder, long lasting eyeshadow (usually cream) and a blush that I know will last through the day. I sometimes blot off oil or shine with a piece of tissue paper, but that’s mostly it. Here are some of the products I usually pick out in instances like this, and I’ve actually written a whole post about it!
I don’t set anything with a setting spray. My friend uses a facial mist to set which works. I know of others who swear by setting sprays, but I’ve never tried them so I have no comment, really. If you’re an ardent fan, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them!
Besides, I understand that makeup will melt off eventually. I actually prefer it that way. Anything that’s going to sit on my skin without budging for hours and hours will worry me because I don’t think it’s that possible, nor is it that good for your skin.
So, if you see me at the end of the day, yes, do expect me to look rather faded. I try not to, and I try to at least look presentable, but I’ll never look as fresh-faced as I do first thing in the morning. Besides, by then, I’d be so tired, I don’t even FEEL fresh, much less look that way LOL! :D
Your turn: Do you touch up your makeup during the day or for the evening?
To recap, I touch up lipstick, and little else. Now, please don’t all of you go “Wot? You, beauty blogger?!” on me :P
Paris B
No I don’t . I feel that as the day passed . Oil buildups – I think it’s rather disgusting to put on more on top. Mentally I think it clogs up further and it gets my sponge and all dirty again . So no I don’t touch up . Except for lipstick
Ooh yes, that too! I know of some people who will clean off their makeup and then reapply. Some do so out of necessity of course, but gosh, I can’t imagine doing that, to be honest. I’m always amazed how the flight attendants keep their makeup looking so good though. Now, that’s something to learn!
I only carry lipstick and a travel perfume spray too. Don’t have the need to touch up.
I didn’t use to carry a travel perfume spray till quite recently and seriously, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done LOL! No more smelly food smells!
I am so bad at this! I’m so lazy to touch up my face and sometimes, I do put on some more lipstick/lipbalm, perfume and blot my face with blotting paper but that’s it. A lot of times, at the end of the day I would look at my face in the mirror and get horrified by how awful I think I look! My make-up last longer in the evening than the day so I usually don’t bother.
I know what you mean Hani! I think sometimes, it’s because in the evening, it’s cooler so we don’t sweat so much or generate so much oil here, since it’s so hot, that’s why our makeup lasts longer. I definitely experience that too!
I have to accept I carry makeup in my backpack, are the essentials as many times I get out barefaced of the house and I like to have the possibility of putting makeup whenever I want to. The little bag right now has foundation, loose powder, cream blush and brow mascara.
If I put a full face before getting out I may only put in my backpack a pressed powder and a blush, just in case I have somewhere else to go, as in my oily T-zone foundation will stay but I’ll look like an oily mess and blush just because many only resemble a little after long hours.
I’ve tried primers and setting sprays but I don’t find they make a really big difference on the lasting power but I think primer does make a better canvas and setting sprays reduce the powder appearance.
This is rather ironic, now that I think about it Efrain since you carry makeup and I don’t! LOL But you know what? Good on you for trying to make yourself look presentable. So few people actually take the trouble, whether men or women. In fact, the default look here for women, is no makeup! I often wonder where all those people who actually BUY the makeup are, since so few women I see on the roads actually wear any haha! But I also think you’re right about primer vs setting sprays. Not having used the latter, I can attest to primers helping everything stay on better and longer :)
You know I do it because I like to and I don’t bother doing it, but there are many I won’t do it and ironically, they are the times I should look more polished for example: parties. Most of the times I’d make my makeup the most bulletproof I can but when dancing, sweat comes and you don’t look fresh but I don’t care I’m having fun.
About carrying makeup I think the main reason is because it’s a backpack when I use a little messenger bag I only carry blush or powder; but yes you’re not the first who says about “Who uses makeup?” I also wonder it myself because many women have told me that I have more makeup that them and I’m like “but I don’t have a lot!”.
Haha whether we have a lot is relative, isn’t it? :D And when you’re having fun, you shouldn’t really care about how you look – fun is more important and if you did care, then you won’t be having as much fun eh? ;)
I rarely wear makeup nowadays :P On days that I do, like you, I just touch up lipstick / gloss … and maybe clean smudged eyeliner off. I feel abit iffy putting more powder on top of oily / dirty skin, but thats just me.
Do you decant your perfume into an atomizer to carry around? Am looking for a way to carry perfume around with me without wasting too much product :D
Aww why not Jenn? But I remember you didn’t wear that much makeup to start with – just your signature eyeliner :D I don’t decant or use a perfume atomizer (yet) because the perfume I have now came in a travel purse spray size and refills. But I have thought about using an atomizer. The problem is, I’m not sure I’ve steady enough hands to deal with the perfume without spilling the lot :P
only the lipstick mostly. i don’t like to touch up my already dusty/oily face with more powder after lunch :P sometimes i even forget to touch up lipstick after lunch if it doesn’t look too horrendous
Actually, I’m the same with lipstick. Often, my afternoons are lipstick-less :P
I thoroughly cleanse & reapply throughout the day. And I do it because I have to. Tbh it gets tiring and by 8pm I only have concealer and lipstick on.
I carry a lot in my makeup bag and it is heavy.
So perhaps the time has come to get myself a H bag too ;)
For me it gets tiring to reapply makeup but at least I get to use up my makeup stash and add more to my collection.
I can’t imagine having to clean everything on and start over! But on the bright side, it means you always look fresh, Romana! ;) And, as you’ve pointed out, you get to actually finish your makeup! Few of us do
I only wear sunscreenz spot concealer, smudge proof mascara (those that you can remove with warm water) and brow marker on a daily basis.
I can’t wear foundation because it will get rubbed off on my surgical mask (I get stripes where the folds of the mask touch my face).
Since my sunscreen doesn’t really dry down (it’s a more obscure medical grade EU sunscreen called Actinica Lotion, made for cancer and transplant patients) I apply loose powder to reduce the shine in the mornings.
I tried blotting and adding more loose powder at lunchtime but I find that it makes my skin too dry and I tend to get itchy when that happens.
At most, I top up my sunscreen if I’m going to be out for lunch. I do carry a parasol and wear sunglasses too. I guess I’m just paranoid!
You know what Firn, you just described the typical Asian ;) Parasol and sunnies! :D You’re also right about the loose powder making skin dry. It’s why I stopped using it for a while. My skin was drying out and I didn’t know why!
I have combination-oily skin so yes, sometimes I do touch up (re-apply cream blush if it fades, use blotting paper, even apply a bit of concealer if it fades). But most of the time I don’t, except for lipstick. And yes, on really important occasions I use Urban Decay’s All Nighter setting spray, and I love it! I generally don’t like powdering my face much as I hate that over-powdered look, and a setting spray is so useful when I don’t want to look faded at the end of the day!
One day I’ll have to check out this setting spray thing. Never know when I need to look perfect for the whole day! :D
Lol how apt that this entry came today. I don’t touch up because of the washroom freak that I am when it comes to hygiene and the fact I need to bring brushes etc. Today I ended work late and went into the same elevator was my boss. I got into my car only to realize that my new mascara betrayed me and I looked like a battered panda…Maybe I should really touch up next time. I’m with you – if the makeup stays pristine without touch up I’ll be worried.
Oh dear, the dreaded panda-eyed look! >.< On the flipside, perhaps your boss might think that it's lack of sleep, and take pity on you ;) That's actually one of the reasons I stopped using mascara - that and losing my lashes. But even with liner, I do get that dreaded panda effect sometimes too - can be highly embarassing :P
Heheh – it depends. I love the act of touching up makeup. One of the larger toilets at work has a separate well-lit vanity. It’s even got a generous mirror. I’ve spent many fun moments discussing lipsticks with women from work. I touch up my lipstick religiously because it’s my escape from sanity. As for other bits of makeup, I do touch up on powder here and there if I feel like it. The one thing I’m quite religious with is when I was using the cushion foundation. I use a clean finger each time I dip into the cushion so there’s no cross-contamination. In fact, I find using the provided-sponge is way too fiddly. I binned mine the moment I got it. Nothing like clean fingers. LOVE. It gives me a continuously dewy look throughout the day. You know, the kind Korean film stars have? :P
You know, I’m starting to believe that that dewy look only suits those in a cooler climate. Here, it’s so easy to go from dewy to greasy! >.< I still don't mind using the sponge thingy to apply the product you know. A friend using a brush with her cushion foundation - whatever works, I say! :)
Most of the time I will use blotting paper cause my t-zone is oily. Rarely dust on more powder but sometimes I spritz on spring water. Not sure if it just mentally, it feels more refresh and hydrate visually for me.
Spritzing water mist does refresh the skin, so it’s not just mentally :) I tend to be a little too lazy to do it, but it’s also good habit, especially in dry air :)
The only thing that I touch up during the day is my lipstick. I take time in the morning (get up a little earlier) and apply my makeup carefully. I don’t use a spritz or spray.
You know Linda, I feel kind of the same as you do, in that properly applied and layered makeup will last longer, so it’s a smart thing to do! :)
Nope – not really! Maybe lipstick as you mentioned or if I’m super shiny I will use some blotting papers.
I have used a makeup setting spray – Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray I believe it is called… I’ve had it for months and months (probably not a good thing – and I have the small travel sized bottle, which is plenty for me!) because I rarely have the need for it, but when I do, it does come in handy! I use it for work events (I obviously don’t have to many of those) or stressful situations like interviews. It gives me a dewy finish without looking oily or sweaty. And if anything, it keeps coloured makeup fresher and brighter for longer (think blush or bronzer etc.). Oh – it’s also good for weddings since they can go on for quite a while! :P
I also get those funny looks when I mention that I blog about beauty, because I rarely have a face full of makeup. For me it’s not a necessity, but it makes me feel good and is a creative outlet!
And yay for you not taking a break from blogging! I love your posts, so this makes me happy :) <3
Aww you’re sweet BB! :D Not to worry, I’m here to stay, whether or not anyone likes it hehe… Sometimes, I feel the same way you do about telling people I’m a beauty blogger, but sitting there looking fairly plain. Quite obviously, I don’t sit there looking like I just stepped out of Instagram, with sharp brows, deep contours and crazy eyeshadow LOL! But then, I think people forget that beauty blogging encompasses so many aspects of beauty, and for me, I really enjoy the skincare side of things, even as I enjoy pretty makeup. So, I’d like to think that even if my makeup skills don’t pass muster, my skin more than makes up for it haha! :D
Your skin is FAB! And I love how honest both your skincare and makeup reviews are!
Skincare is really important to me as well. I don’t think most people would believe that I had serious acne issues in my teens (I went on roaccutane like… 3 times!) and I have seriously minimal scarring/pigmentation despite this :D There is a certain magic to it ;)
Haha thanks Sylvia, I think I’m doing well for my age, which naturally makes me happy :D I too had very bad teen acne, all the way to early adulthood. So, I always tell people that it’s only in the past 5 years that I’ve had the skin I now have, and it’s thanks to diligence, care and blogging, because that reminds me of what works, helps me find others who have awesome tips and recommendations, and helps me stay away from what doesn’t! :D
i never touch up my makeup. and yeah i’m one of those who doesn’t really wear makeup and if i do, it’s tinted moisturizer + concealer (maybe tinted lip balm). my skin is oily/combi +heat+perspiration = hot mess right in the morning.
But i do keep a makeup pouch of liquid foundation, pressed powder, 2 eyeshadows, eye primer, mascara, eyeliner and lip colour. If i go out in the evening, after work I wash my face, put moisturizer and then face the evening with fresh makeup.
Great question! I always assumed most women touch up makeup with powder. From the comments, i guess it is a more even split… (most women in my field don’t really wear makeup to work so never had chance to observe haha)
Thanks for sharing! I honestly thought too, that most women touched up their makeup during the day. I’m actually surprised that so many don’t! Or at least, just make themselves look presentable, without actually adding on any more product, except lipstick. Isn’t it absolutely fascinating how we all think? :D
I don’t really touch up my make up either at work. I feel like I should probably powder my nose but I usually forget. If I’m going out in the evening, I might bring an eyeliner to boost up what I put on in the morning. The most I carry is a lip balm or gloss!
That makes you one of us, Su! :D Sometimes, I think there’s so much already going on in the day, powdering the nose is the last thing we’ll remember to do, even if we do intend to :D But I’m sure if you’re headed out for the evening, you make sure you look kick-ass! ;)
I will only touch up on lips. face makeup touch up is way too troublesome (in my opinion) and I tend to carry smaller makeup pouch when I’m at work or travel to meet customers. But I will say have a good makeup base that last and oil control is so important.
You’re right about a good base! Have one, and it takes care of most of the problems :D
I always carry a pretty full makeup bag with me at all times… in the morning when I get ready for work and do my makeup I empty the makeup bag and only add in what I need for that day. Usually it’s just some mattifying powder, an eyebrow pencil (I don’t need it 99/100 but that 1/100 time i need it, I need it! Usually to do with rain), my kohl to touch up my waterline, possibly blush if it’s powder, and whatever lip product I’m rocking that day. A lippie and a balm usually.
I have oily skin and used to be one of those girls who three times per day would remove the makeup on my skin and reapply until I realised that wearing foundation or primer, and then a loose powder, and then a mattifying powder where needed, actually controls the oil and means I can get away with blotting the oil off and a dusting of powder again and I’m fresh as a daisy! I can’t tell you what a revelation that has been, as previously my skin was SO OILY (when I was leaving my skin just mattifying powder and nothing else) I would have to plan during the day when I was going to escape off to the loo with wet wipes and start afresh without anyone noticing. Now I don’t even carry wet wipes.
But yes, I will always be someone who carries around a tonne of makeup! <3