It's Summer Time! How To Keep Your Makeup Fresh?

It's summer and the hot sun and humidity can cause your makeup to run and smear, leaving you with a not-so-glamourous look. Here are some tips to keeping your makeup fresh.

Face
Skip foundation if you could and opt for a tinted moisturiser. But if you need more coverage, prep your skin first with a primer which will help keep foundation, concealer, blush and powder on longer. Choose liquid-based foundation rather than an oil-based one for a smoother look. Then set your foundation with loose powder.

Eye & Lip
When it comes to eye and lip makeup, keep it light. Try using matte powder eyeshadow or a cream-to-powder eyeshadow. Avoid cream eyeshadows, since they show creasing and smear easily. With summer's high humidity, you will need waterproof mascara and waterproof eyeliner to prevent smudges throughout the day. Go easy on the lips colours. Instead of using a thick lipstick, go for tinted lip balm with SPF. It gives your lips the right glow, and protects them from the sun too.

Remember, summer is a time to keep everything fresh and light, right from your attire to your makeup. So try out these tips and have fun this summer!

Protection Against UVA And UVB Rays

Wearing sunscreen can help protect our skin from the harsh Ultra Violet rays of the sun (these rays are known as UV rays). The sun radiates UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. Most UVC rays are absorbed by the ozone layer and does not reach the earth. However, both UVA and UVB rays penetrates the atmosphere and causes conditions like premature skin aging, eye damage and skin cancers.

UVA rays play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling whereas UVB rays causes skin reddening and sunburn. A sunscreen that offers UVA protection will have a "PA" rating, while those with UVB protection will have an "SPF" rating.

The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating indicates the degree of sunburn protection provided by sunscreens. For instance, if you usually normally develop a sunburn in 10 minutes without wearing a sunscreen, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will protect you for 150 minutes (10 minutes multiplied by the SPF of 15).

Choosing the right sunscreen
When choosing the right sunscreen, do consider how much time you are really out in the sun and do keep in mind how fair your skin is. If you are very fair skinned and tend to have freckles easily, then you will probably want a sunscreen with a higher SPF rating as compared to someone who has a darker skin tone. Also, look for a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection.

Proper use of sunscreen
1. Apply sunscreen before you are exposed to the sun. It takes 20-30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin, so it should be applied at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun.
2. Apply generously and cover all the bases including your ears, neck, shoulders and the back of your neck to ensure complete coverage.
3. Reapply sunscreen after swimming, perspiring or after using the towel.

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

When it comes to makeup, it is important to keep your tools and makeup brushes clean. Foam eyeshadow applicators, sponge wedges, powder puffs and brushes gets contaminated with skin oils, dirt, bacteria and makeup residue that can cause breakouts. Keeping them clean can reduce the likelihood of you experiencing such problems.

How to clean your tools and makeup brushes
There are specially-made makeup brush cleansers, but a facial cleanser or shampoo will do the trick just as well.

• First, run your brushes under warm, running water to rinse off any loose makeup.
• Apply a small amount of facial cleanser or shampoo and gently rub the bristles of the brush to get all the dirt out. Rinse and reapply cleanser/shampoo as needed until the water runs clear.
• Gently pat dry and reshape your brushes and let them air-dry naturally to preserve their smoothness.

How often you clean your tools and brushes depends on the frequency in which you use them. It is recommended to clean them at least once a week or as needed.

So if you have not cleaned your brushes within the past 2 weeks, then they are in desperate need of a bath! =)

Makeover Photo Shoot Session - 01 May 2010

Just did a makeover photo shoot over the weekend for 2 of my friends, Michelle and Huishan. Thank you gals for being my model!

Here are some of the photos taken by my hubby. =)

This is Huishan...

And this is Michelle...