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OK, so we’ve talked a lot about BB Creams on Beauty Fool recently (maybe even too much), but this is one BB Cream myth that I think really needs to be debunked. As we all know, one of the characteristic that is a selling point of BB Creams are their brightening/whitening powers. This is both loved and hated – loved by those who are already fair and and want a slightly brighter, fairer skintone, but hated because this feature can make your skin have this very white, mask-like appearance. I’ve also noticed that BB Creams don’t usually come in different colors, which is pretty outrageous to me. Because of this, I am sure a lot of people think that BB Creams are only made for those with fair skin.
I wanted to know if this was true – could BB Creams be used on darker skin tones, too? – and went down to Clinique’s counter at Isetan, where Jane Yap (you might remember her, she was my co-host at the Clinique event) was ready to educate me more on BB Creams, and of course, tell me more about Clinique’s new Age Defense BB Cream (which I’ve already reviewed here).
First of all, she assured me that BB creams can be used for any skintone. I was first taken aback because honestly, I didn’t believe. She reassured me that BB Creams can be used for all skin tones (well, at least Clinique’s BB cream can!) and to prove this, demonstrated on my PR-extraordinaire friend Yasmin.
Jane simply squeezed out the cream and applied it straight to Yasmin’s face (after the Moisture Surge Moisturizer) using her fingers, showing exactly how easy it is to apply. She also said that it is best to apply it from your nose outwards, especially for those with darker skintones, as we are naturally lighter in the center of our face.
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Since we’ve been on the topic of nails this week (I shamelessly copied Kate Middleton’s pale pink nails and revealed one of my mom’s clever nail polish trick) I thought this week we should talk about nails once more.
If you ever find yourself in the lost wilderness with a desire to file your nails, (or you’ve lost your precious emery board, more realistic I guess), look no further than a match book. Strike your nails on the side of it – it works just as well as your nail file.
… Simple, no? And so much cheaper than those fancy nail files beauty shops are trying to sell us!
Have you tried this out before?
Last Friday, I had a relaxing night in with some of my girlfriends. The plan was movies, manicures and snacks, and when I brought out my nail polishes, my friend Laura was so tickled by one thing: the fact that I tie rubber bands around the bottle caps.
My Mom have been doing this for as long as I can remember (I can even recall being a wee kid and asking her about it!). It’s been such the norm that I never thought twice about it, and do it myself now. However, Laura found it to be so clever, she actually called my other friend Glo to come from the kitchen and take a look – she too had never heard of my Mom’s savvy little trick, and so this week’s beauty tip was born.
So for whatever reason you may be having trouble opening your polishes – perhaps you keep them in the fridge (clever girl!), and are harder to grip due to the moisture, or your polish is a little dried up and harder to open – try this out. I’ve had years of testing this trick out, and believe me it works. All you have to do is tie a rubber band or two around the handle and voila – your very own griper. (Thanks, Mom!)
Have you ever done this before? My Mom and I can’t be the only one? 
You see this plastic tub of heaven? I used to stuff my face with these every night before bed while watching TV, and then wash them down with a whole packet of Kit Kats… disgusting, I know. Since my PCOS scare, I’ve taken a lot of steps to get healthy – and as horrible as that experience was, I think that that whole ordeal was a real eye opener to what my horrible diet was doing to my body. One of the things I am really committed to is beating my sugar addiction and getting rid of it (especially junk food) from my diet.
So if you’re interested in ways to slowly cut off sugar from your diet, here are some tips that have helped me to beat my sugar addiction and drastically reduce my intake of it.
Say HELL NO to soft drinks.
Soft drinks (or soda, fizzy drinks, whatever you call them) are so bad for you, it’s not even worth it. It’s literally nothing but sugar. Luckily I’ve always hated sodas, so half the battle was won with this one, but really – just say no. Drink water instead.
Don’t buy junk food and sugary snacks in the first place.
It’s so much easier to avoid something when it’s just not there. Also, don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach or when you’re emotional – you’ll just reach for all the “bad” stuff! I forbid my Mom to buy any of the junk I used to eat. And yes – the first week I was cranky, moody and craving sugar like mad (I almost felt like a drug addict), but once that week is over, it became much easier. Just make sure it’s not around you so you’re not tempted and stick it out – you can do it! Eventually you’ll lose your longing for them. (I used to adore greasy prawn crackers like crazy, but now I find them gross!)
Eat Fruits – lots of it.
When you get a craving for something sweet, reach for fruits. They are naturally sweet and are actually good for you! Growing up, I hated fruits. My Mom would run around the house chasing me, forcing me to eat a piece of papaya. Nowadays, I crave for fruits and one of my favorite snacks is a big bowl of fruits – can you believe it?! If I can learn to love fruits, I swear you can too. Just give it a chance.
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The first thing we always hear concerning blush is “apply it to the apple of your cheeks.” (Smile – you see that fleshy bit sticking out? That’s the apple of your cheeks.) This is great advice, and very true of course, but applying it only to the apple of your cheeks can make your blush look very artificial – think more doll-like, and less human-being. (Unless of course, “doll-like” is your thing, then blush on!)
However, if you want to do blush how it’s supposed to be done – a natural flush – then this tip is for you. Blush is supposed to mimic the natural flush of color you get while blushing, and does it only happen to that specific area of your cheek? No! Instead, when applying blusher, remember to blend across from the apple of your cheeks, upward into your cheekbone - this balances out your blush and looks much more natural.
Tell me – why do you apply blush? Is it to contour your cheekbones, a bit of a tan (bronzer), or for a bit of a color to perk up your complexion? Personally I never really thought much of blush but last year I definitely see what a big difference it makes and it’s now a big must for me!
Great. As if we need another person nagging at us to lay off the donuts.
It has been revealed by top skin doctors and scientists that sugar not only rots your teeth, or make you put on weight – it also ages you prematurely. So basically, if you want younger-looking skin, stop eating so much sugar.
I actually first heard about this a while ago, and was given a very scientific explanation behind it at this skincare event. But to be honest, when the presentation started, I didn’t like where it was going (I have a HUGE sweet tooth and nothing will stop me) so I mentally shut off and went back to my chocolate muffin. But to put it simply: excess sugar bonds itself to proteins in the skin, resulting in a process called glycation. This leads to stiff skin that loses its elasticity and flexibility, making it more prone to wrinkles.
Life without candy? BOR-ING!
…But everything in moderation, right? What do you think, girls?
Every girl has some sort of obsession with their hair. Some want nothing but length, some want to find the right color, some are still finding the perfect cut, and some just want some damn volume (that someone is me). (Although, this post may offer advice on finding your perfect hair.)
But if you’re a girl who’s obsessed with hair commercials and want some serious shine like the models, here’s something to think about – the less layers in your haircut, the sleeker it’ll look; and therefore the greater the shine.
Any thoughts on this week’s beauty tip? What do you do to get super shiny locks?
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