Make-Up, Skincare, Hair Care
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Quick & effective beauty hacks every woman should know
#1 Stash your moisturisers in the fridge for depuffing
This one’s especially handy if you aren’t a morning person and need a little jolt to feel more awake. Cooling your moisturiser and eye creams in the fridge is great for dealing with a puffy face in the mornings, and give you a temporary tightening effect. With our hot weather, it might be worthwhile investing in a mini refrigerator to keep your lotions and creams in so you don’t have to worry about food interfering with the integrity of your creams.
#2 Fill the gaps between your lashes
If falsies and mascara aren’t your thing but you still want to make your eyelashes look fuller, filling in the spaces right between the roots of your lashes (not above the lashes) with an eyeliner will make them look thicker and fuller. You should pick a shade as close to your lashes as possible, so avoid the blackest of black eyeliner and opt for a more natural brown black instead.
#3 Get your winged liner on point in a flash
You’ve probably heard of the credit card trick for drawing eyeliner, but that still leaves room for error if the card isn’t the exact same angle on both sides. Use some sticky tape to make the job easier. The most popular tape for the job is the slightly “cloudy” sort of tape that holds up more firmly, instead of the clear scotch tape that tends to fold or bend. Stick it to the back of your hand a couple of times first to tamp down its adhesive strength (for the sake of the delicate skin around your eyes).
The most tedious part of this is simply getting the tape on both sides of your eyes to be symmetrically angled. You can follow the natural angle of your lower lash line and place the tape from the outer corner of your eyes angled towards your eyebrows. From there, you can fill in the eyeliner and only have to worry about getting the top line straight, which is much easier to do.
#4 Set your moisturiser with powder
We’ve all been told that liquid should never be applied over powder, which has always meant applying powder at the very end of your makeup routine. But after discovering this beauty tip in a video by UK makeup artist Wayne Goss, my worldview has shifted. He says that setting your moisturiser and primer with a translucent powder before you apply your foundation can seriously prolong your makeup, without making your face look cakey. The moisturiser and the primer absorb the powdery finish of the translucent powder, giving you the perfect canvas and making your foundation go a long way so you use less product to get the same flawless look. This might even make it easier for us girls with combination or oily skin to get away with more dewy and water-based foundations.
#5 Lock those lips
An oldie but a goodie, I learned this trick many years ago and it has served me well. For anyone not wearing a waterproof liquid lipstickwho wants their lipstick to lastlonger and keep from bleeding or feathering at the edges, a dusting of setting powder is all you need. Instead of applying it directly which will just sit on your lips in patches and look unsightly, you should take a single ply of tissue paper (separate any two or three-ply sheets), hold it over your lips, and go over it with a large powder brush and setting powder. The tissue helps filter out excess powder so your lips only get a fine coat of powder, and the result is your lipstick being that much more secure.
#6 Get fuller looking hair
If your hair is looking a little sparse around the roots, especially where your hair parts, this quick trick is all you need to get by. You can use eyeshadow or brow powder, though I prefer brow powder as it tends to stay longer and matches my hair better. Using an eyeshadow brush, pick up some brow powder in a similar colour to your roots and fill in any areas you want to look fuller, just like you would with your brows. Go in with a light hand and be sure to tap any excess powder off the brush before you start. You don’t want lots of powder falling on your face or to overdo it with the filling in. It’s safer to start slow and build up than to go in strong and have to clean up the excess.
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Cheaper Alternatives to High-End Makeup Brands To Save Money
Buying knockoffs of name brands can get you in a lot of legal trouble, and even land you in prison. In the makeup world, women have the choice of many imitations for expensive makeup brands at a much more affordable price – and it’s all legal.
The average woman will spend $15,000 on makeup in her lifetime. Imagine if you could put $10,000 of that money into a high-interest bearing account for 30 years. Brand name knock-offs allow you to cut one-third of your makeup budget. You could go on a spa vacation every year with the savings.
We have consulted the expert beauty bloggers for the best makeup swaps for high-end brands. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that you do not have to compromise. There are many high quality, affordable alternatives to expensive name brands.
Ignore These Fashion Myths That Don’t Make Sense
The Best Makeup Dupes From the Beauty Bloggers
TotalBeauty.com has replaced Giorgio Armani’s $59 Luminous Silk Foundation with NatureLuxe’s Silk Foundation for $10. The beauty site says the CoverGirl brand has the same look and flawless finish but with added features. They include sun protection and are oil free and paraben free.
Over at GetTheGloss, L’Oreal Paris is a reasonably priced alternative to several more expensive brands. Consider swapping out Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette with L’Oreal Paris Color Riche La Palette Nude. L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes So Couture Mascara provides small bristles and a rigid wand to compete with Lancome Hypnose Mascara, long a favourite for avoiding clumping. Savings $15 – $25.
Replacing NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo at $42 with ELF Studio Contouring & Bronzing Powder at $3 could pay for your monthly yoga membership.
Home » Life » Beauty & Fashion » Cheaper Alternatives to High-End Makeup Brands To Save Money
Cheaper Alternatives to High-End Makeup Brands To Save Money
Buying knockoffs of name brands can get you in a lot of legal trouble, and even land you in prison. In the makeup world, women have the choice of many imitations for expensive makeup brands at a much more affordable price – and it’s all legal.
The average woman will spend $15,000 on makeup in her lifetime. Imagine if you could put $10,000 of that money into a high-interest bearing account for 30 years. Brand name knock-offs allow you to cut one-third of your makeup budget. You could go on a spa vacation every year with the savings.
We have consulted the expert beauty bloggers for the best makeup swaps for high-end brands. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that you do not have to compromise. There are many high quality, affordable alternatives to expensive name brands.
Ignore These Fashion Myths That Don’t Make Sense
The Best Makeup Dupes From the Beauty Bloggers
TotalBeauty.com has replaced Giorgio Armani’s $59 Luminous Silk Foundation with NatureLuxe’s Silk Foundation for $10. The beauty site says the CoverGirl brand has the same look and flawless finish but with added features. They include sun protection and are oil free and paraben free.
Over at GetTheGloss, L’Oreal Paris is a reasonably priced alternative to several more expensive brands. Consider swapping out Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette with L’Oreal Paris Color Riche La Palette Nude. L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes So Couture Mascara provides small bristles and a rigid wand to compete with Lancome Hypnose Mascara, long a favourite for avoiding clumping. Savings $15 – $25.
Replacing NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo at $42 with ELF Studio Contouring & Bronzing Powder at $3 could pay for your monthly yoga membership.
If you are seeking sun protection, Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation SPF 15 provides the same protection as Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup SPF 15, according to Paula’s Choice Skincare. If you missed your yoga class and needed some glow in a bottle, luminosity can be achieved with Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer for much cheaper than the $40 Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch.
For when you need to take all of the makeup off, Paula recommends Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser over Mercier’s more expensive Flawless Skin Foaming One-Step Cleanser, which costs five times more.
You can even develop your own professional makeup studio. All of our bloggers have found substitutes for the makeup artist’s favourite brand, MAC. Here’s how to look like runway models and actors for a bargain price.
Cheaper Alternatives to High-End Makeup
ELF Single Eyeshadow at less than five bucks can replace MAC Power Eyeshadow. Paula recommends the NYX Eyeshadow line for the same “velvety smooth texture, rich pigmentation, and vivid colors.” A wide colour assortment is also offered.
MAC lipsticks can be replaced by Revlon Lipstick, whether you are after bold orange or neutral nude lips. For luscious red lips, Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss appears to have more lustre than MAC Russian Red Lipstick.
Ben Nye Translucent Powder can smooth out skin tones with the same finesse as MAC Set Powder.
Follow our links and you will find dozens of other affordable alternatives to high-end makeup brands. These beauty bloggers attest to the quality of the cheaper equivalents. The next time you are headed for the department store, consider stopping off at the drugstore instead. You may find all your makeup needs at a fraction of the price.
Affordable Alternatives For High-End Brands
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Thanks for suggestion.I would like to use these products.
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5 gym bag essentials every Singapore beauty junkie should own
Every beauty junkie knows that a workout can be tough on your body and your skin. Your body heats up, pores expand, sweat and dirt get in those pores – and if you aren’t conscientious about keeping your skin clean, blemishes are a distinct possibility.
Then there’s the hygiene factor. Hitting the gym without the right essentials can make you feel unprepared and a little self-conscious about how you’re going to look and smell after. It’s tough to focus on pushing yourself to new levels physically if you’ve got distractions on your mind.
Bottomline: No one wants to leave the gym looking and feeling like a hot sweaty mess. You want to look your best and emerge from the gym complete with that fresh post-exercise glow. If looking good is one of the main motivators that get you in that gym on the regular, then you’re going to need to make sure you’ve got these beauty essentials with you too!
If you’re someone who goes to the gym at the end of the day, you’re going to want to make sure you take off all the makeup you have on before you get sweating. Imagine a full day’s worth of makeup, sebum and grime clogging your pores while your body heats up and your pores expand.
If that isn’t enough to scream blemish central, what about the bacteria on all the machines and floor mats at the gym? If you touch anything and then touch your face, your skin isn’t going to be happy. Get the gunk off your face with a wipe or two before you hit the treadmills, so you don’t end up with cake-face halfway through your workout.
Face wipes are also a great way to refresh your skin after a gym class if you don’t have time to shower before heading home. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about your face!
All that water loss and panting at the gym, not to mention the dehydrating air-conditioning of the rooms, can seriously leave you feeling parched. This means your lips are going to feel a lot drier and be even more prone to chapping. Slather on your favourite hydrating lip balm before and after your gym sesh to make sure your smackers stay nourished and protected.
Getting enough water in your body everyday is an importance that has been emphasised over and over again from the time we were kids. It’s not enough to just catch a drink at the gym water cooler while you’re on your way to the showers, because all the hard work you put in during your workout caused your body to lose quite a lot of water. You’re going to want to keep sipping on your water as you go about the next couple of hours as it not only keeps you from getting dehydrated, but also aids in muscle repair.
For the sake of everyone you are going to be walking by after your workout, please please please make sure you use deodorant. Firstly, body odour is unpleasant enough to deal with when living in a hot and humid country, and secondly, you tend to perspire more easily for several hours after a workout – all of which means your underarms are not going to remain odour-free for as long as usual.
The quickest way to cool down the surface of your skin on the go is a quick spritz of face mist. And if you want to leave the gym looking hydrated but not shiny, the La Roche-Posay Serozinc face mist contains zinc which is said to boast mattifying and sebum-regulating properties. It’s touted as an oil-blotting mist, which makes it perfect for anyone with combination or oily skin.
That said, it definitely isn’t drying, because it’s also packed with La Roche-Posay’s iconic Thermal Spring Water. That means it’s also going to hydrate your skin and reduce inflammation, both of which are important post-workout skincare concerns.
How do you use it? Well, you can spritz it on after cleansing your face as a “toner” of sorts, or throughout the day as a post-makeup mattifier. Just let it sit for a minute, dab off the excess with a tissue and you’re good to go!
Brought to you by La Roche Posay
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Life-saving eyeliner hacks to keep your makeup intact during party season!
1. Don’t use eyeliner.
Searching for a smudge-proof solution to streaky gel liner? Drumroll, please: Just don’t use eyeliner. Make for mascara to line your lids instead.
Wait, what? But how? Easy-peasy. Grab an angled eyeliner brush and dip it in your mascara of choice, then brandish the brush as you would any conventional eyeline. Most mascaras have a weightier proportion of waxes and oils in their formulas, making them highly “hydrophobic” (chem-speak for water-repellant) and therefore better suited for our budge-proof purposes. Takeaway: Moisture-resistant mascaras make for an excellent eyeliner alternative.
2. Upside down, you turn me inside out.
Storage is of the essence when it comes to extending the longevity of your liquid liners. Stash ‘em standing upside down in a clean container and let gravity do the work in ferrying the fluid downwards to bathe the bristle tips in fresh formula.
3. Lube up!
By the same token, simply dispense a drop or two of your favourite face oil directly into dehydrated gel pots for instant invigoration. Stir it around the surface of the erstwhile bone-dry eyeliner and it’ll be good to go!
4. Mind the gap.
For a natty negative-space spin on the conventional cat-eye, try this futuristic feline flick trick courtesy of Shu Uemura’s assistant education manager Sophia Chia: “Leave a tiny gap in the middle of the tail for a really cool graphic look.” Product recommendation-wise, try Shu Uemura’s spectacularly smudge-proof Calligraph:Ink liquid liner ($58 for cartridge and applicator), which boasts carefully chosen bristles of varying firmness for a gorgeous glide.
5. Lock lips with your liner.
A creamy cinnamon or chocolate coloured eye pencil is perfect for pampering your puckers, particularly if nailing moist-matte #KylieJennerLips is your #InstaBeauty goal. If you’re concerned about creases, remember to layer a moisturising salve on your smackers under your colour.
6. DI your eyes with eyeliner.
Most of us with a glancing knowledge of makeup will know that white liner on your waterline, which is the pinkish rim around your eyes, will give the illusion of bigger peepers. Selecting a liner with good glide is absolutely essential for waterlining – you don't want painful tugging around the delicate orbital region. In any case, once you’ve got your white liner on hand, simply start from the inner corners and deftly trace around the contours of your lower waterline. Blink rapidly to transfer some of the white pigment to your upper waterline for a diffused, more natural appearance. So easy!
7. Engage in some shadow play.
“Eye” adore using single shadow pots – try Cle de Peau Beaute’s beautifully blendable suite of seasonal colours – as a quick-and-dirty stained liner look. All you need to do is to grab an angled sponge to pick up the pigments from the pot. Use fluid, feathery strokes to rim the upper and lower lids, then smudge ever so slightly for a provocative morning-after vibe.
8. Finally, shake it all off.
Well okay, more like swipe it off. Made a makeup boo-boo? Try this quick-and-dirty (or is that quick-and-clean) hack on for size. All you need is a bunch of cotton buds and some micellar cleansing water on standby. Dip the cottony end of your bud in the cleanser, press the wet tip onto the superfluous smudge on your lid, then sweep out and up towards the temples in one deft, decisive move. You can then pat in some concealer to cover up the newly smudge-free swatch of skin.
Right, then. You know the drill: Sharing is caring, so if you’ve got a good DIY hack of your own to recommend, go right ahead and spill it. Here’s to keeping your flick “on fleek”!
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Skincare for the busy woman
Proper skincare plays a huge part in maintaining beautiful skin. But if you are strapped for time, try these make-up products which contain ingredients that are good for your skin.
Biotherm EverMoist CC Cushion, $69
Infused with Biotherm's signature Life Plankton, the EverMoist CC Cushion also contains skincare ingredients such as Andenosine to prevent the formation of fine lines, Symwhite to diminish pigmentation, and SPF 23 to protect the skin against UV damage.
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream, $62
Besides hiding flaws, hydrating skin and enhancing skin brightness, the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream is also infused with an anti-ageing serum that contains hydrolysed collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and vitamins A, B, C and E.
Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15, $34
This nourishes and adds a refreshing light pink tint to dry and chapped lips while protecting them from sun damage.
La Mer The Reparative SkinTint SPF 30 PA+++, $160
Containing La Mer's proprietary Miracle Broth, the La Mer The Reparative SkinTint is able to protect your skin against UV damage and pollution while preventing the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Cover FX Mattifying Primer With Anti-Acne Treatment, $62
Keep pimples at bay with the Cover FX Mattifying Primer With Anti-Acne Treatment - it fills in fine lines and pores, forming the ideal base for foundation. Plus, the mattifying properties mean your skin stays shine-free for much longer.
Shiseido White Lucent OnMakeup Spot Correcting Serum, price unavailable
We have seen concealers that hide blemishes while treating it, but lightening pigmentation marks? Not until the Shiseido White Lucent OnMakeup Spot Correcting Serum came along. Making use of the Shiseido White Lucent range's whitening technology, it is able to simultaneously diminish dark spots while preventing the formation of new ones.
Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation, $93
The Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation is more like an anti-ageing serum that happens to cover imperfections as well. Formulated with neuropeptides, alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C ester and mineral sunscreen, the No Foundation Foundation is able to boost your skin's firmness, protect against free radical damage, correct skin discolouration and defend against the UVA and UVB rays.
Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For The Mascara, $51
If you use mascara daily or have the habit of wearing falsies or lash extensions, some fallout is inevitable as these products might end up weakening your lash follicles when they are not removed properly. The Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For The Mascara contains macadamia nut oil, provitamin B5 and bamboo extract to condition and nourish lashes.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, $85
Containing carrot extract and loads of vitamins, the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base is able to protect your skin from free radicals while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, creating a seamless base for foundation to glide on.
Urban Decay Naked Skin - One & Done Complexion Cream, $50
Combining foundation with moisturiser, this complexion cream is fortified with peptides, vitamins and hydrating ingredients. It also has SPF 20.
This article is adapted from The Singapore Women's Weekly.
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7 Ways to Update Your Bob
We all go through that contradictory phase with our hair where we’re craving a new look, but aren’t ready to take the full plunge with a big chop. If you have a bob, this situation is especially frustrating because it seems like cutting a daring pixie or buying a set of expensive extensions are the only options to get out of your rut. Thankfully, there are some amazingly versatile ways of how to style a bob that can bring a little change into your life — without a huge commitment.
To help you figure out how to style a chin-length bob, we pulled together 7 options for you to choose from.
Imaxtree
1. Blunt Bangs
If you already have a blunt bob, try giving your look even more of a mod vibe and cut bangs of a medium-thickness that fall right below your eyebrows. While they may need some management, the length provides you with the option of pulling them back or growing them out with ease.Imaxtree
2. Fake Bangs With a Bobby Pin
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. The bobby pin is completely underrated. Fake fringe without actually cutting them by parting your hair on the side and pulling the hair over your forehead and then pinning it back with a bobby pink or a dressy barrette. The pins will also double up as a cute hair accessory.MORE: 6 Tricks to Sleeping on Wet Hair
Imaxtree
3. The Thick Headband
Give your workout headband another wear and rock it during the day, using it to pull flat-ironed hair back and out of your face. This look is ideal for someone transitioning their bangs. Place the headband right at your hairline and be sure to calm your hair of fly-aways and static for a sleek look.Imaxtree
4. A Middle Part
You might not believe it, but changing your hair part alone can make it appear like you got a new cut. As hair flips into different directions, it creates the illusion of layers, angles, and volume. Go for a modern middle part with a chin-length bob with piece-y texture at the ends. -
Beauty sticks for lazy girls
What if we told you that you could hydrate, smooth, conceal, and protect your skin with just one product? Would you believe us? Well you should. From working as highlighters and bronzers to doing the job of blushers or eyeshadows, beauty sticks are clever, compact cosmetics which have become increasingly prominent on make-up counters over the past year. And they’re popular because… practicality. For instance blusher and bronzer sticks are much easier to tackle than their powdery cousins and they’re great for applying make-up on the go.
Skincare sticks can help a variety of skin woes, including cleanse, exfoliate dead skin cells, as well as hide enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles all in one easy-to-use bullet. They’re also a lot more practical, when travelling for instance, which makes beauty sticks perfect for the lazy girl within all of us.
Cleansers
Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover Stick is quickly going to become your heroine product. Simply swipe this lipstick-size stick over your lids and lashes to remove every ounce of liner, shadow, or mascara after a long day or night out. Tarte frxxxtion stick 3-in-1 exfoliating cleanser is a twist-up, vegan friendly cleanser, free of chemical nasties. It can be used as a cleanser, exfoliant and a treatment mask. Apply directly onto damp skin in circular motions along the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Using your fingertips, continue to massage formula all over the face and then rinse thoroughly.
Highlighters
Benefit Watt’s Up is perfect for less experienced make-up users as it’s so easy to apply. The creamy stick glides easily onto cheek and brow bones, and can be blended in using the sponge applicator at the other end. The barely-there finish suits a variety of complexions and skin tones and its dewy finish will add a much needed glow. Kiko Radiant Touch Creamy Stick Highlighter is another foolproof stick that’s useful for topping up make-up throughout the day and freshening complexion. The shape lends itself to direct application on your cheekbones. Then, simply blend in with your fingers.
Lip and cheeks
Check out Smashbox L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Color’s are chunky double-ended beauty sticks for adding creamy highlights, glow, and colour to your lips and cheeks. With product on one end and a sponge on the other, you can avoid using fingers to blend it in. Try Hollywood & Highlight, for a veil of golden highlights or Venice beach bronze for LA style bronzing. Bourjois Paris ColorBoost Lip Crayon in Red Sunrise feels is as light and moisturising as a balm, but gives a great depth of colour. It’s got a built-in SPF15 as well as being waterproof.
Cover Media
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My hair is very fine and stubbornly refuses to hold a curl. About 4 years ago, when I began to acquire more and more pinup and vintage attire and started styling my hair, I had such a hard time getting my hair to stay in a wavy style. Over the years, I have experimented with many styles, products, and curling methods (pin curls, hot rollers, foam rollers, curling iron) and have finally figured out a way to make some styles work.
1. I accepted the fact that on rainy or humid days, it is a waste of time trying to wear my hair down in a curly/wavy pinup style.
2. Nylon hair scarves are your best friend. The ones currently being sold on the PUG website are actually the best I have gotten, and I have bought quite a few. This is the style that is great for either rainy days, or on second day hair if you are trying to not wash it as often, since most of the hair is pinned away and hidden. There are some great tutorials on youtube (I like the ones by cherry dollface ), and you can practice until you get the style you like!
3. Teasing is also your friend. I never used to tease my hair before because a) i thought it was useless and b) I wasn't really sure how to do it, but done properly, it can definitely give your hair a boost, and is really helpful for creating a high front roll (with the bangs).
4. On less humid days where I know my hair has a greater chance of surviving, I generally pin curl my hair the night before using Lottabody setting lotion (the only setting lotion that did anything for me). Then, brush out the curls carefully in the morning using hairspray both before I brush them out, and after to set the style
