Beijing 101 Hair Consultants

How to & Tips

Do You Really Have “Sensitive” Skin?

January 25, 2012

Sensitive skin products

You know, it’s so easy to just say that your skin is “sensitive” just because you might get a reaction to a product. I was reading an article in Glamour recently on the myths of sensitive skin, and how women are so quick to claim they have sensitive skin, and that most women who think they have sensitive skin, don’t. I froze – could I be one of those paranoid women? I mean, I pretty much self-diagnosed myself. I kept reading and found out I wasn’t, as I have a lot of the “symptoms” listed below, but I wanted to share because I thought that some of you might find this useful as well.

So without further ado, signs that you might have sensitive skin:

  • a new cleanser or moisturizer, even without potent ingredients, make your skin burn, itch, sting, and/or turn pink.
  • mosquito bites swell bigger and redder than normal
  • your skin seems so dry and parched that no amount of moisturizer seems to “satisfy” it
  • a strong gush of wind irritates your skin and causes it to itch and sting
  • your pimples tend to be bigger (and badder!) than regular zits
  • your nose and cheeks tend to get flushed easily

So ladies – what do you say? Do you REALLY have sensitive skin? I have 4 out of those 6 listed, sigh. I guess I do have sensitive skin. (To read more about skin types, check out my post, How to Find Your Skin Type.)

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What Type of Moisturizer is Best for My Skin?

January 17, 2012

facial moisturizers

Moisturizer is a vital part of skin care for many reasons. First, it creates a barrier between the skin and the area that holds water in the epidermis. The right moisturizer should leave your skin feeling hydrated, smooth, soft and protect the skin from the harsh environment and pollution. Second, it is ‘the fountain of youth’ meaning that it helps skin retain it’s moisturize. (As we age, skin loses its moisture and therefore appears to have aged. Moisturizer reduces this process greatly.)

However, there are so many types of moisturizer on the market today, how do you know which one is right for your skin type? Though finding your ‘perfect’ skin care regimen for your skin does take some trial and error, I hope this list can help make that step a little bit easier. (If you don’t know what your skin type is, my post How to Find Your Skin Type might help.)

Dry skin

Dry skin needs a heavier formula, so oil-based moisturizers work best. Oil based moisturizers completely absorb into the skin and leaves it feeling ridiculously soft and supple. One that comes to mind is Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizer, which contains mineral oil. If you have dry skin yet are prone to acne, opt for a normal moisturizer (that is oil free) and apply two ‘layers’ (as opposed to one) twice a day, morning and night.

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I’m Completely New to Makeup! Where Should I Start?

January 5, 2012

new to applying makeup

Image: Melissa Overgaard

Khansa from Jarkata, Indonesia asked me this question and I thought I should write a post on it – maybe a few of you are new to makeup and want to try it out this new year too!

Dear Renee,

You’ll probably think I’m a late starter because I’ll be 17 this year and yet I don’t know a single thing about makeup. Which is why I decided to write an email about this.

I’ve never used makeup. I occasionally use face powder but that happens very rarely.

This year though, I want to start using makeup but I have no idea where to start. Should I buy a good foundation or powder? What would you suggest? Where should I start?

Hey Khansa,

Oh no, 17 is not late at all! Whenever you feel you are ready to wear makeup – that’s the best age. :)

OK. So makeup is pretty simple, it’s broken down to the following parts:

  • Face: Coverage makeup such as foundation, concealer, powders, BB Creams, etc.
  • Eyes: Products such as eyeliner, eyeshadow, eyebrow pencils, mascara
  • Lips: Lipgloss, lipstick, lip stains, etc
  • Cheeks: Blush, bronzer, highlighters, etc.

For a beginner I think you really only need the very basics. I mean, can you imagine one day not wearing any makeup, and then the next day you have a full face on? Yikes! What I did when I first started wearing it was to slowly start trying each product, seeing what I liked, and then took it from there. So for my answer and tips, I’m gonna go in the “order” I started makeup with.

Eyes

mascaras

I started with eye makeup because that seemed to be the most “exciting”! Well, at least it was for me – I remember I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some eyeliner! However, eyeliner may be too much right at the beginning, so for the eyes, you can start off with mascara (as I did!). My first mascara ever was from MAC, but if that’s out of your price range, I love the mascaras from The Body Shop and Bourjois as well. For tips on how to apply mascara, check out my posts, Simple Mascara Tricks.

Only if you want, then just grab some eyeshadow and eyeliner for more “special” occasions. If you really want to go all out and experiment with eye makeup (it is the most fun, in my opinion!) some products I really love that you can check out are listed here.

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Taking Care of the Girls

December 28, 2011

how to take care of breasts bra

Image: Unknown

Agata asked this question recently, and to be honest I have been completely stuck on how to answer. You see, it’s a really important topic, but what the heck would I know? I’m no doctor!

Recently I spoke with a friend of mine about how we can take care of our breasts and maintain them. So maybe this could be an idea for a next post?

So just a disclaimer: I am no expert on the topic, so if there are any concerns, you should always consult a medical professional. However, here are some of my tips of what I do to take care of them:

Moisturize after each shower

Moisturizing helps with the skin’s elasticity. Soft, supple skin are less dry, and dry skin leads to scaly looking skin, and eventual can form wrinkles. Wrinkles on your boobies? Heck no!

Recently in the beauty industry there seems to be an influx of “breast” lotions claiming all sorts of BS, such as preventing sagginess, wrinkles, and keeping your breasts looking firm and young looking. Some even claim to bring up a cup size. Seriously, do these people think we are stupid? Don’t buy into it. Just like eye creams, I think this is a big scam – your regular body moisturizer is enough.

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The “Best Eyeliner Ever” Reader Beauty Tip!

November 16, 2011

Kich wrote to me recently asking what happened to my Beauty Tip of the Week “segment”, if you will, that I used to have here at Beauty Fool.

Can I be honest? I ran out of them! I wrote almost 200 tips and my brain is fried, I can’t think of anymore. I know a lot of you enjoyed them (I did too!) but it got a little stressful trying to think of them every week. So… how about Beauty Tip of the Month? Or should I just post tips as I think of them? Let me know your thoughts, and to start things off, Kich kindly sent in a tip for us. Now you may be wondering why there is a picture of mascara when the post title says “eyeliner”. Well, as Kich says, it’s “the best eyeliner ever”. Take it away, Kich…

Take a damp, angled brush and a cheap mascara. Wipe the mascara on the side of the tube, so that you get a bunch of that “excess” mascara there. It might sound weird, but then, dip your brush lightly into the excess and use it as eyeliner!

Kich explains that mascara makes the best liquid eyeliner or cream shadow because it “applies like a dream” and has great staying power – and Kich, I have to agree; I actually did this once! Well, kinda. I was at a sleepover and the next day I realized the only makeup I brought was a tube of mascara, and miraculously I created a full smokey eye out of it – I was quite pleased with myself! I used the tip of the mascara brush as an eye liner wand, and then smudging it all over my eyelids as eyeshadow. I have to say that the mascara was incredible in terms of staying power and it gave a real sexy, messy look. And like Kich said, it applies like a dream.

Has anyone else tried to used mascara as eyeliner? Oh, and if you have any tips or anything cool you’d like m to share on the blog, please feel free to write me! :)

UPDATE: Reader Stacey had a great idea to use this method for those who are new to liquid liner and need practice – definitely more affordable to “test” with mascara than make many mistakes with a proper liquid liner! Thanks, Stacey!

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Visiting Singapore: Where To Go, What To Do

September 14, 2011

I’ve had SO many questions regarding Singapore, so this post is a long time coming! To be honest I am the worse tour guide ever ’cause whenever my friends from overseas visit I always don’t know where to bring them. So even though I’ll give my suggestions, please remember to do some research beforehand as well!

First and foremost, ask any Singaporean why they love Singapore and they will say it’s the food. Unfortunately, you’ll have to go look at the food blogs for that one because I am not a “foodie” at all! I know nothing about food. However, some places that are uniquely Singaporean on the top of my head: hawker centers. Any food court at a mall has local dishes, and one hawker place I really like is Lau Pat Sat. Seafood at East Coast is also great (they have tons of eateries there too, and the park is nice for a walk after), and places like Holland Village, Little India, and Dempsey Road all have cute little restaurants with not only local food but Indian, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean… you name it. But definitely try out the hawker food here!

For shopping, the obvious is Orchard Road! There is mall after mall there. At Orchard Road you’ll find the usual high street brands like H&M, Topshop, Zara, and then luxury brands like Chanel, Prada, etc. But if you’re looking for more unique stuff, I really like Haji Lane. Also, go to Bugis! Both places are full of cute little boutiques and you can find some nice gems there.

For sight seeing and general attractions, there is Sentosa, the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Universal Studios, The Singapore Flyer, Raffles Hotel, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, Little India, Chinatown, the Esplanade…. I think I’m missing something. They are all mega touristy, so expect to pay a lot.

For partying, unfortunately I don’t have any good recommendations. I went clubbing a lot when I was 17 but I think most of the places have closed down or are really lame now! I only go to clubs if it’s for a special occasion now, like birthday parties, etc and I don’t really pay attend to the name. That being said, your best bet is Clarke Quay. Some clubs at the top of my head there that are popular are Zirca, China One, Le Noir, and Attica.

To travel around Singapore, definitely get yourself an EZ Link card. You can find them at any MRT station. Public transport here is very good and easy to figure out. Taxis are usually not too expensive, especially compared to places like Europe.

People here kinda get a bad rep for being rude, (or so my tourist friends say), but I personally haven’t had any problems with talking to strangers. So don’t be shy to ask for directions or any other things you might have help with.

I hope this has helped a little. I am the worse tour guide ever, so Singaporean readers, please add in your own recommendations! All I can say that when you’re in Singapore, it’s definitely a “city” holiday, so just explore and enjoy. :)

Here I am a few years ago at Raffles Hotel, a must visit! It is a stunning place.

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And I’ll See Your True Colors…

August 18, 2011

mac red lipstick

What! Thursday already?! Here we go again!

So, if you really like the way a lipstick color looks in the tube (who doesn’t?) then there is a little trick for making sure the TRUE color shows up on your lips. (Who else is always disappointed when you see a color you like that doesn’t show up well on your lips?!) This happens because it’s going over your natural lip color, hence the slight dullness. To combat this, apply a touch of foundation over your lips before applying your lipstick. That way, you’re starting off with a blank canvas, and the lipstick can show off it’s true color.

Have you tried this out before? It really works! Plus, the foundation also acts like a primer, so your lipstick will stay on longer than usual.

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