Eye makeup: How To

Paris B 3 Comments

I’m no expert at doing eye makeup. When I started using eye makeup, it was all I could do to stop myself from looking like someone punched me in the eyes, because at that time, I had the strange notion that purple/plum eyeshadow was the way to go. Silly me! Now, I know I absolutely CANNOT wear purple/plum eyeshadow at all! It makes me look like I haven’t slept in 20 years, or like I got punched in the face.

So, I started experimenting and since I have fair asian colouring, I realised I look pretty good in green shades or pastel shades (sometimes). I’d just slap the colours on haphazardly but with enough experimentation, I have now slowly learnt to make sure that it actually emphasises my eyes instead of just screaming “LOOK! COLOUR!!” heh…

Here are 2 is one makeup tutorial off Youtube that I found quite useful for beginners or even if you just want to improve on your technique. Its done on an Asian model though, so it would be more helpful for Asian (Chinese) girls. Its also in Cantonese so those who understand Cantonese will have an advantage over the rest of us who don’t.

The eyes are the hardest part to do (for me) so, if you want to learn how to do eyes, just give these a watch and happy experimenting! (I think the video is visible now 🙂

 

Preservative free eye drops

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If you are an avid blogger, or spend a lot of time on the computer, you’d notice that your eyes sometimes feel tired and dry. Its the same feeling if you have had the lasik procedure done on your eyes. A usual side effect is that of dry eyes, which can plague you for a short while or sometimes for much longer.

Instinctively, you’ll reach for the eye drops, everytime your eyes start feeling dry and tired, to refresh your eyes. Well, having read a bit online, and having had to use eye drops since my Lasik procedure, its recommended that you use preservative free eye drops where you can.

The eye membrane is very thin with lots of little blood capillaries and anything that goes in is practically absorbed immediately into your bloodstream. So, using preservative free eye drops are the recommended way as they are single use vials. So, you open one, use it up during the day and then throw it away after 24 hours to prevent contamination. I’m told that keeping an open vial in the fridge will prolong the life a little, but still, bear in mind that since it has no preservatives, its best not to tempt fate too much.

Presevative free eye drops come in large-ish boxes with individual clear tubes that are sealed. This is opposed to the normal eye drops that come in a single bottle. You twist off the top of a vial as you want to use it, and some are recloseable to a degree. As I said, its not meant to last you more than 24 hours, so try to use it up throughout the day.

The downside of these types of eye drops is that its not as portable as normal bottles with screw caps. However, I haven’t had any trouble transporting these single use vials around, even after reclosing them as the caps can fit in tightly.

So, its worth checking out these eye drops. Lots of brands have them. Just look in any pharmacy under the eye-drops section and keep a look out for the words “Preservative Free” on the box or label. Its your eyes and you only have a pair so its worth keeping them healthy!

Review: Makeup: Scott Barnes Chic Palette powder blush

Paris B 2 Comments

Here’s the Scott Barnes powder blush Chic Palette in Posh.

I bought this online as Scott Barnes isn’t available in Malaysia at this time. Scott Barnes is makeup artist who got famous doing Jennifer Lopez and giving her her famous glow. He then developed a line of makeup and this Chic Palette is a blush palette.

I like blushes, no doubt about it. I have tons and I still keep wanting more. I got this Chic Palette in Posh which is a trio of what is supposed to be peachy pinks. To be honest, all I saw was pink. 3 different shades of pink in a long slim palette.

The 3 colours are supposed to be used for contouring (darkest shade), colour (medium shade) and highlighting (lightest shade). In the Posh palette, you get 3 shades of pink. The darkest shade looks scary bright fuschia pink in the pan but it goes on a very lovely sheer rosy pink. I love the look! The medium pink is lighter and goes on mostly just baby pink on me. The lightest shade on the other hand is purely a highlighting shade for me. It is just shimmer. You can even swipe your brush over all the colours to mix them up. Its so versatile and so pretty! I’m warm to neutral toned so I think this will suit warm toned girls better.

The pans are large. If you own Nars blushes, their size of 1 pan is quite equivalent to that of a Nars blush. They are housed in a pretty sturdy chic case but the cover doesn’t fasten either with a magnet or a clasp. It just closes so if you like to carry your makeup around, you might find it unwieldly. I don’t so its fine with me.

This blush palette retails for US$44 or you may be able to get it cheaper online at strawberrynet.com where I got mine.

Pros: Lovely colour, smooth texture, sheer

Cons: Case should stay shut

[rating:4/5]

 

A Hairy affair

Paris B 3 Comments

I always say that finding a hairdresser is like finding a boyfriend/partner. When you find one that works for you, you do all you can to keep that relationship going, because that hairdresser – male or female – will make you look good every single time. And finding a good hairdresser that works for you, is about as hard as finding a life partner!

So, when you find one that works, the relationship is all roses and beautiful for a while. You let your hairdresser have free reign over your hair, you try out different hair colours and styles at his/her hands, you pay big bucks to keep the relationship going, and you feel great. However, human nature is such, that when the relationship has gone on for a while, you’ll get bored and feel the urge to stray and try something new. So, you cheat by going to another hairdresser.

When that other hairdresser botches up your hairstyle or colours your hair a wrong shade, you run crying back to your regular guy only to be admonished for doing such a foolish deed, and then he/she will rectify the damage for you and you gratefully hand over your credit card at the end, swearing that you’ll never stray again.

That was me.

I have a hairdresser I’ve been going to for a few years now. He understands my hair and (most of the time) I walk out of the salon feeling like a million bucks. He is based in USJ which is where I used to live, so going to him for haircuts were pretty convenient. But now I have moved 25km away and going to have my hair cut is starting to feel like a chore. What with the petrol, toll charges and haircut cost, I’m going to be spending a pretty penny every 2 months.

So, now the 7 year itch has struck me. I am now in the market for a good hairdresser in KL that I can go to without having to fill up my car with petrol and making my hair thing a whole day affair. I’m used to paying about RM65 for a haircut and wash, so anything in that price region is fine with me, as I’ll be saving on petrol and time.

Do you have a great hairdresser you’d like to share? I need to trim the jungle that’s trying to take over my head.

I tell stories on Instagram @parisbmws