Tips

Using fingers for eye makeup instead of brushes?

Paris B 2 Comments

Do you need to use brushes for applying your eye makeup?

If you ask most people the answer would be “Yes, you do”. If you ask me, I’d say that makeup brushes for eyes are actually pretty much optional. Why I say so is because I prefer using my fingers to apply my eyeshadow.

The only brush I use for my eyes is for applying my gel eyeliner. My fingers aren’t thin enough for that heh…

I used to use brushes. However, I felt that using my fingers gave me better control on where I wanted my colour to go, and I found that my eye makeup looked better too. Maybe it is the warmth from the fingers and the oils that help blend the shadow to make it look better. Also, I found that it was faster for me to just use my fingers and there is no danger of any brushes going missing or getting spoilt in the process of travelling.

I usually use my third finger for applying the light base colour, the ring finger for applying the medium colour and my baby finger to apply the darker colour or crease colour. It was easier for me to just clean off the colours from my fingers, rather than using a different brush for each different colour and task.

I have read about people having problems using their fingers due to the size of their fingers compared to their eye area. I guess it makes sense because I do have rather small fingers and I don’t have a very large eye area. Sometimes, when I’m not very careful, the crease colour does go on darker or on a larger area than I intend.

The other problem using your fingers is that some eyeshadows aren’t so suitable for this use. The oils from your skin may cause the surface of the eyeshadow to harden. It does not spoil the eyeshadow, you just have to scrape off the top with a piece of tissue paper or an old toothbrush and its as good as new. There are many brands though, that suit this purpose from my experience and a majority of them are the Japanese brands. There are many makeup artists too that use their fingers in addition to brushes. Just observe the next time you go for a makeover or have your makeup done.

And the third draw back is that sometimes, you may find more colour on your fingers than on your eye. Its something that happens because the colours get stuck on your skin and less of it transfers onto your eye area. This is good if the colour is an intense colour, but not so good if its a light shade. I particularly like using my fingers for shimmer colours as the shimmer will not transfer so much and I don’t end up looking like a glitter disco ball, but have a light shimmer effect, with the majority of the shimmer on my fingers instead of on my eyes!

So, the next time you lose your eyeshadow brush or forget to bring it with you when you travel, don’t fret. You always have your fingers with you wherever you go!

Tips on How to Prevent wrinkles and premature aging

Paris B 3 Comments

I’m no expert but here are some tips I have picked up from over the years to prevent wrinkles and premature aging. Nothing tells age more than wrinkles, especially those around the eyes.

Wrinkles and skin elasticity has a lot to do with lifestyle and genetics, but you can use these tips to delay the inevitable.

Eyes

The skin on your eyelids and around your eyes are very thin and delicate. Constant pulling and tugging on them will cause them to stretch and this will cause wrinkles. To prevent wrinkles and avoid premature aging, try these tips:

  • When removing eye makeup, don’t pull or tug on your eyelid. Instead, saturate a cotton pad with eye makeup remover then hold it over your eye for a few seconds before lightly swiping across your eye. This will help the remover dissolve and loosen your eye makeup and make it easier to remove.
  • When using waterproof makeup, always use an eye makeup remover that can remove waterproof makeup to prevent tugging.
  • Use an eye cream. Even eyelids need moisturising.
  • When applying eye cream use your ring finger (4th finger). Its usually your weakest finger.
  • To apply eye cream, dab some eye cream on each ring finger, rub your ring fingers together to spread the cream then dab gently and lightly on your eye area. Do not drag your skin.
  • Do not rub your eyes.
  • Wear sunglasses. Its good to protect your eyes and will prevent you from squinting.

Face

The skin on your face is usually more delicate than the skin on your body. Also, we don’t realise this but our face muscles move a lot during the day, and all this adds to wrinkles but these tips can help you delay that effect:

  • Don’t rest your face on your palm. Its tempting to do so when in thought, but this results in you pushing up your cheeks and causing lines to form.
  • Don’t frown often. Frowning causes lines to form on your forehead and if you aren’t careful those creases will remain permanently.
  • Don’t pull faces often.
  • Don’t squint.
  • Use a good moisturiser. Dry skin wrinkles more easily than properly moisturised skin.
  • When applying your moisturiser, don’t rub and pull on your facial skin. There are 2 ways you can apply your skincare. If its a cream, dab 5 dots on your face: forehead, nose, cheeks and chin and then gently spread out without tugging. If its a lotion, spread it in your palms before applying to your face.
  • When cleansing your face, lather up your cleansing lotion or cream or scrub in your palms first before applying to a damp face to avoid pulling on the skin.
  • Use a good sunscreen or sunblock. Make sure you use one that blocks UV-A and UV-B rays.Â
  • Try not to sleep on one side of your face but its hard to do.
  • Stop smoking or don’t start. The pursing and puckering up of your lips will cause lines to form on your lips and around your mouth.
  • Don’t sulk and don’t purse your lips with displeasure.

But above all, smile often. It will give you wrinkles but of the good kind. :)

Getting rid of cracked heels

Paris B 2 Comments

Tine of Oh for the Love of Me! had this cheap and easy way to get rid of cracked heels.

All it calls for is for a pumice stone, some body scrub, and a good moisturiser. All of these items can be picked up for cheap at a drugstore or your nearest Watsons or Guardian pharmacies.

The key thing here is regular scrubbing and cleaning of our feet, which is something many of us neglect. How many of us have neglected our poor feet that carry us throughout the day? I’m one of those guilty ones. But with Tine’s tips, I will now make sure I pamper my feet when I shower for nothing feels nicer than a pair of soft clean feet.

Read her entry on her blog here. And if you like what you’ve read, browse on over to her new beauty blog, Beautyholics Anonymous for more beauty tips and reviews.

Have you washed your brushes today?

Paris B 3 Comments

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If you use makeup brushes on a daily basis, this is something that’s easy to forget to do.

I use my fingers for eye shadow, but I use a powder brush or kabuki brush for applying loose powder. I also use a blush brush for my blushes and an eyeliner brush for applying gel eyeliners.

Once a week or once a fortnight, I’ll gather up all my brushes and give them a good wash. There are some brush cleaners in the market if you look under companies like MAC and Shu Uemura. However, I use Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Yep! The kind you use on your baby. Its formulated to be mild so babies can use it. And if its good enough for baby, its good enough for your brushes. Its also cheap.

  • Wet your brushes. Then soap up your hands with the baby shampoo and gently swirl your brush in your palm. I usually twirl it in a circular motion or in an up and down motion. Do this until your brush head is saturated with the soap.
  • Rinse by swirling in running water until water runs clear.
  • Pat dry on a towel. Do not squeeze the bristles and shape the bristles back into the shape of the brush.
  • Dry flat, not standing up. Its better for your brushes to lie flat as they dry so they don’t go out of shape.
  • Do not dry in direct sunlight for this will shorten the life of your brushes.

As I use mostly powder products, I can afford to wash my brushes less regularly. If you use a foundation brush or lip brush, make sure that you wash them often. At least 2-3 days for you don’t want the cream or liquid products to breed bacteria.

Cleaning your brushes will make your makeup go on easier and better. You won’t have old colours messing up the colour you are applying. Its also good for your skin, for you don’t get a buildup of old oils and bacteria on your brushes.

So, have you washed your brushes today?

I tell stories on Instagram @parisbmws