How I Deal With My Acne-Prone Skin

If you:
1. are Asian,
2. live in a humid tropical country,
3. have oily instead of normal/dry skin,
there's a high chance that you've been suffering from acne ever since puberty kicked in, just like me.

I am one of those people who get "the occasional breakout" and always have at least one pimple on my skin. But through many tries (and errors), I've come to learn many things about my skin that enables me to keep the breakout at bay. My skin is now 100% acne-free most of the time, except when I'm on my period or when I put the wrong cosmetics on my face (in that case, I just have to stop using the product and stick with my skincare regimen, the breakout will go away in no time).

Before I start, I think I have to stress that this is what I do and what works for me. I'm simply writing this for my little sister because she's also dealing with acne problem. I think the three of us (me, my older brother, and my sister) inherited this bad gene from my dad, lol, since my mother has always had good skin.

So here's a few things I realized about my skin this past year:

• My skin always reacts badly to dust, sweat, and sun. That's why I always breakout the worse during July-September (read: when I'm vacationing; swimming, snorkeling, being at the beach a lot).
  
• Using harsh cleansers will only make it worse.
• Rubbing/picking at my skin will also only make it worse.
• I can never use thick, rich moisturizers/creams. Ever. They break me out.
• Most sunscreen lotions break me out (especially the ones with high SPF).
  
• Not getting enough sleep break me out.
• Any product that claims to "mattify" my oily skin (like mattifying moisturizers for instance) would break me out with tiny whitehead bumps. :(
  

If you're suffering from acne, you might always want to "try things out". You buy cleansers/gels/toners/lotions that are labeled "for oily skin" whereas these products might actually strip your skin dry or even cause flakiness. Just because your skin is oily, doesn't mean it's well-hydrated. Using harsh products will result in your skin getting oilier and more prone to breaking out.

Here's what I did instead: back to basics.

I stopped using everything that I was using back then; no more harsh cleansers and thick night creams. Most of the time, these "suitable for oily skin" cleansers only dry my skin out and make my skin look dull.

If your acne already spread all over your face or if you have nodular acne (go here to check out types of acne), I highly recommend visiting a dermatologist. A year and a half ago I had severe cystic acne problem. It had spread all over my jawlines and it was SO painful. I went to a dermatologist and got cortisone shots. It wasn't bad actually, it helped lessen the pain and swelling. My dermatologist did prescribe me with some products of his but what helped my skin condition most was actually getting facial treatments done (and stop overdoing my skincare routine!). Back then I only used a light cleanser, toner, plus day & night creams all from the dermatology clinic. At the first few months of my treatment, I would get facial at least twice a month, a chemical peeling at least once a month, and I also went through several light therapies.

After about 3 months, my face almost cleared up completely. I was left with nasty scars though, so I still had to go through facials and chemical peelings to improve the appearance of my scars. I also used Bio Oil very religiously back then and I think it helped with healing my skin. Fast forward to 8 months later, I've stopped using creams from the dermatologist (I didn't get addicted or anything) and I have finally found a perfect regimen to maintain my skin condition without having to use prescribed medications and/or go through facials again.

With the right regimen, you can maintain healthy skin even if your skin type is oily or even acne prone.

Here's what I do...

My Skincare Regimen

1. Cleanse my face twice everyday, morning and night, using a gentle liquid cleanser.
If you wear makeup (foundation/bb cream/what have you), be sure to take off your makeup first using milk cleanser or cleansing oil, then wash your face. It's important because your makeup contains oil and washing your face alone would not be able to fully get rid of it.

I find that liquid or gel-type cleansers work best for my skin, not cream cleanser (like those from Pond's) or soap bars. Soap is definitely a NO NO.

I'm currently using a light cleanser from Natasha Skincare; it's green in color and it's liquid. Unfortunately, it's not available in drugstores or supermarkets in Indonesia, you have to be a member of Natasha Skincare clinic if you want to try it. It costs around Rp 40.000 for a 100mL bottle but I heard it's more expensive in other cities other than Yogyakarta. The reason why I use this cleanser instead of those that can be found in store shelves is because I still haven't found any products in Indonesian market that is gentler than this. If stuff like Purpose or Cetaphil gentle cleansers are available in your area, then go for them. Those would be great to use for oily/acne prone skin because they're not harsh and won't dry up your skin (and they're liquid!). Unfortunately, they're not available here in Indonesia. :(

Definitely DON'T GO FOR CLEANSERS/FOAMS THAT CONTAIN SCRUBBING BEADS. I don't know why in our market these products always got labeled "good for everyday use" but that's simply not true especially if you have oily/acne prone skin. Scrubbing your face everyday could irritate your skin and cause more acne problem. I've tried Ponds' and Garnier foams alike and they're rubbish to my skin. I certainly would not recommend them.

Here's some alternatives (for readers who live in Indonesia) that you can try out if you're looking for a gel/liquid cleanser for your oily skin:

Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Wash (the orange one): it's liquid in texture and inexpensive, BUT I think you have to use a lot for it to lather well each time you're washing your face.

Bless Acne Cleansing Foam: it's gel in texture and it works pretty well. I tried this once and I liked it. But again, I prefer liquid cleansers. Costs around 34.000 rupiahs depends on where you get it (can be found in Guardian).


The Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash: It's also gel in texture and it claims to be suitable for people with sensitive skin. Soap free, fragrance free, oil free; it sounds like a good product all the way. So if you have extra money in your pocket, might as well try this one.

How I Wash My Face

I believe how you wash your face plays important role if you want your oily/acne prone skin to clear up. What I see is that people usually rub their face A LOT. Too much rubbing would only irritate your skin and that's not good if you want to avoid getting acne. Here's how I do it:

• I begin with with splashing water to my face with my hands. I don't rub my skin when doing this, just splash the water... no touching.
• I work the cleanser with my palms until it lathers up well.
• Be very gentle when washing your face and neck, NEVER EVER RUB YOUR FACE, just let the the cleanser glides and works its charm. I usually work my way up; starting from my chin and jaws, then move my fingers up to my cheeks, nose, and lastly forehead. It doesn't take more than 25 seconds to wash my face. Dan Kern even tells you to wash your face less than 10 seconds to avoid irritation but hey, he doesn't wear makeup! :P
  
• I splash my face and neck with water again without touching my face until the cleanser is completely rinsed away.
• I don't towel-dry my face, only my neck. If you have to dry your face using towel, do it very very gently. I usually just go on with my toner. I pour some toner to cotton pads and gently swipe my wet face with it, then I'm ready for my moisturizer.
  

2. Tone my face with a basic toner every after washing my face (morning & night).
The next step is toning. Toning helps getting rid of your cleanser residue and preps your skin before you apply moisturizer. A good one is from The Body Shop, it's called the Vitamin E Hydrating Toner.


I like this one because it doesn't feel harsh on the skin (non alcohol) and it really does hydrate the skin; thus when you apply your moisturizer, it'll glide on easily and gets absorbed faster. I have repurchased it two times already. I sometimes switch toners to ROC Purif-AC Exfoliating Lotion (I usually buy it at Century or Guardian) which is also a good product but it's a bit pricey. The Body Shop's one comes in a 200 mL bottle so it lasts quite a while.


If you're on a budget, Clean & Clear Oil Controlling toner is a really good alternative. I usually use this toner instead of The Body Shop's one when I'm traveling because it's more effective in removing dirt. The scent is also not too bad compared to a lot of other cheap drugstore toners out there that are too perfumey.

Also remember to be extra gentle when swiping the cotton pad to your face. Again, DON'T RUB! Especially around the eyes. Just let the damp cotton pad glides, don't put it against the skin too hard.


3. Moisturize my face every after toning in the morning & night with moisturizing gel.
It is very important for me to avoid moisturizers/creams that are too thick and rich because those moisturizers will most likely clog my pores. If you've never moisturized your face before because you think moisturizers will only make your skin becomes oilier, then START NOW. Well-hydrated skin is less prone to irritation = decreasing your chance in getting acne.

The best moisturizer I have tried so far is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisture Gel. This stuff simply rocks. It's a basic moisturizer that gets absorbed well by my skin and never causes me clogged pores unlike many other moisturizers I have tried. When it dries, it leaves your skin smooth and soft! It's perfect under makeup too so I really, really recommend getting this stuff if you have extra cash (a little goes a long way, so it's really worth it in my opinion). It really moisturizes without adding more problem to the skin. And it maintains your skin condition too. I recognize that after using this moisturizer for a month, I rarely get pimples anymore and my skin has become smoother. The only downside is that, if you are used to creams/lotions, you might feel that it's not moisturizing enough for your skin so you start applying more product and as a result a bottle doesn't last you long. Trust me, you don't have to, in my opinion it's moisturizing enough because we live in a humid place and we never have to go trough harsh winters or anything. If you need more powerful moisturizer at night, use Bio Oil (again, not available in Indonesia, I got two bottles from a friend who went to Malaysia) or Jojoba Oil before you apply this moisturizer. I usually put Bio Oil around my nose and mouth because that's where I get rough patches.


Again, there are always alternatives. I recently found out about this brand Biokos (an Indonesian brand) through my friend who's an avid fan of the Hydro Gel Moisturizer. Biokos is available in drugstores and supermarkets. I have yet to try any of their products but the Pure Balance line sounds really nice.



Or, if you can get your hands on The Skin Food (a Korean brand, I see many Indonesian online shops selling them), try the Lettuce and Cucumber Emulsion. I find the texture almost similar to Clinique DDMG except that it's more watery instead of gel-like, so it doesn't dry very fast. That is also a good moisturizer, cheaper than DDMG, and didn't clog my pores either. The downside of the Skin Food emulsion is THE PACKAGING. It's in a glass bottle so it's not very travel friendly.


4. Exfoliate/scrub my face twice a week.
Yes, just twice a week. Nothing more. I use Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream and I swear by it. I've been using it for a year or so.


Here's how I exfoliate at night:
- If I were wearing makeup, I'd take it off first using milk cleanser.
- I start with splashing my face with warm water.
- Put the scrub on my palms and gently scrub my face with circular motion starting from my forehead, nose, cheeks, jaws, and chin. Avoid eye area!
- Rinse the scrub cream away by splashing water to my face.
- Proceed with washing my face with liquid cleanser and I'm done.

Other exfoliators outthere (by Indonesian companies):

Biokos Pure Balance Scrub Gel

Wardah Acne Gentle Scrub

Look for something that's mild and won't likely to irritate your skin. Avoid soapy scrub cleansers if you can. Again, avoiding irritation and overdrying at all cost counts.


So basically those are the four main steps I do in my skincare regimen and it's been working well on me. I hope one or two things in this post could be helpful for other people outthere who are still struggling to find the right regimen for their oily/acne-prone skin. Also, for the makeup newbies (like my sister who just started using BB cream), please pay more attention to your skin! Find out what it likes/dislikes and never ever use more than one new product all at once (especially when you're breaking out!). Believe me, it took a long time (and a lot of googling) for me to finally understand my skin. So you're not alone. Take your time and good luck! :)

Really Rosy

I usually don't like how pink dark pink polishes look on my nails but I kinda like this one. It makes my nails look like pink jelly beans, I just want to eat them! XD

It's pretty opaque after one coat so I had to layer it to get the color out.

Really Rosy (110) by Revlon

pretty cute, huh?

What are you doing this weekend? I basically had to stay home all day since I got sick. Thanks to the really lame weather. Hope y'all have a better one!

Totally Looks Like... Part II

I recently found out that NYX has released a collection of bronzers so I checked them out over their website. And well, I don't know why I haven't seen anyone pointed this out before but some of the bronzers totally look like Too Faced bronzers which I happen to own.

from nyxcosmetics.com:

Too Faced The Bronzed and Beautiful Bronzer Palette:

Is this a coincidence? Umm, don't think so.

I mean, this is not the first time NYX ever copied other product. I first noticed that their Jazz Night palette looks exactly like one of Kat Von D's palettes. I don't know if that's a legit move, but hey, I'd rather see NYX showing some originality instead of obsessing over creating "dupes".

If NYX created these bronzers just so people would buy them as "dupes" then, wow, that's kind of a lame approach. Because I think dupes are great. They're cool, IF they perform half or nearly as good as the real thing. But if they look all pretty like some kind of high end cosmetics but perform like crap, then why bother?

I'm not saying that these bronzers are crap. They might not be. I don't know. I haven't tried them. But to be honest, the Jazz Night eyeshadow palette (that I owned and tried) is a big disappointment for me. Some people like them, sure. But I have my reasons not to like the eyeshadows: they don't stick to your eyelids, they crease like hell, and they are not the easiest to blend. That experience alone left me questioning the quality of NYX's newer releases.

But anyways, if any of you have tried any of these NYX bronzers, do let me know what you think of them!

Revlon ColorStay Blemish Concealer Review + NOTD

I'm bringing you a boring review today (and an NOTD!). My skin is currently acting up (I suspect either my new night cream or MAC studio fix powder foundation), so maybe it's my chance to gear up on posting reviews instead of FOTDs.

This one was requested by Nisa. She wanted to know my thoughts on the Revlon ColorStay Blemish Concealer I bought a few months back. I use this concealer mainly to cover up redness and pimples. I've never used this on my undereye area. I figured it's too thick and dry for that, it would settle into fine lines.

It's been raining and gloomy outside these days, I didn't get good lighting to photograph the product. Sorry for that!

Price: $9.99/6.2mL on drugstore.com (I believe I didn't spend that much money on it at the Indonesian counter but I don't remember the exact price)

Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid (0.5%)

Inactive Ingredients: Aqua (Water, Eau), Cyclomethicone, Trimethysiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, Boron Nitride, Alcohol Denatured, Tribehenin, PEG/PPG 18/18 Dimethicone, Nylon 12, Isododecane, Polyisobutene, Sodium Chloride, Serica (Silk, Soie), Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Serica Poudre de Soie (Silk Powder), Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract (Mallow), Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract (Lily), Lactobacillus/Eridictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Cymbidium Grandiflorum Flower (Orchid) Extract, Polydimethylsiloxane/Polymethysilesquioxane Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Bisabolol, Dimethicone, Cetyl/PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Methicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylene Brassylate, Trisiloxane, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

This product is basically a liquid concealer in a tube packaging. Revlon provides six shade choices while I got mine in Medium. I know that concealer is supposed to be a tad lighter than your skintone but I think I should have gone with Medium Deep instead. I'm an NC35-37 on MAC.

It comes with a steady doe foot applicator which works fine but it might not be that hygienic. You know, since it's a "blemish concealer" you apply it on your zits all the time, and when you're done it comes back right into the tube? Umm, kinda gross. Lol. Maybe it's better if it comes with a pump instead.

The Good

• Truth be told, it does cover up redness pretty well, but it might not work on stubborn pimples.
• It's buildable. The key is to dab the product with a sponge if you can. The finish is much smoother than working it out with your finger.
• It spreads easily on your skin.
• Contains Salicylic Acid but I don't see if that really helps with treating my acne :p

The Bad

• You need to work fast when blending it; it dries pretty fast.
• It can settle into fine lines.
• Not going to work on flaky, dry skin. It will accentuate the flakiness.
• It definitely will cake up if you use too much.
• Can only wear it under a thick foundation like MAC Studio Fix Fluid because if you use BB cream or any other type of foundation with light coverage then your makeup could end up looking blotchy. Ouch!

Overall, I think this concealer is okay. First off, isn't it too pricey for the amount & quality you get? I think so. If you're someone who doesn't need to cover up much, then it might work for you. Other than that, I think you might want to look for better alternatives.

I don't see myself repurchasing it because when I have pimples I usually use topical acne treatment and that can cause the skin around the pimples to dry up. This concealer + dry skin = not pretty. But I like the fact that it covers redness really well and so I'm going to use it up mainly for that purpose. Sometimes I got redness around my chin and nose.

I'm done!

Time for Nails of the Day. Even though I'm not too impressed with the Revlon concealer, I got to admit that Revlon makes good drugstore nail polishes. This was one coat only...

natural light

with flash

It's actually the third day since I painted my nails and it still hasn't chipped that much. I got my toenails painted with this color too. I just love it! It's funny how the perfect red nail polish can make you feel so sexy. ;)

To Indonesian Online Shop Owners..

..who happen to come to this blog only to spam my commenting section with advertisements, I just want to ask:

Please stop it. It's annoying.

If you don't speak English, here's a hint:

Tolong dong jangan ninggalin comment di personal blog saya kalau cuma mau ngiklan. Dan gak perlu panggil saya "Sis" karena saya cuma punya satu sodara cewek di dunia ini. Terima kasih.

Berikut contoh iklan berkedok komen yg baru-baru ini saya terima:

(click to enlarge)

Sebenarnya sudah beberapa kali saya menerima komen seperti ini. Saya sudah catat nama-nama toko online-nya dan YAKINLAH, saya tidak akan berbelanja di toko anda. :P

Kalau Anda mau beriklan, lakukan dengan fair dong. Ajukan propsal via email, jangan seperti ini. Bayangkan; buka blog, lihat ada comment awaiting moderation, tentunya saya senang. Saya kira ada orang yang benar-benar ingin komentarin post saya, ternyata isinya cuma dari orang yang mau nyolong ngiklan. GONDOK kan rasanya? Jadi cobalah untuk punya rasa sensitif sedikit. Jangan cuma memikirkan kepentingan bisnis Anda sendiri. Terlebih lagi blog ini saya tulis secara personal, ini bukan tempat bagi orang lain untuk seenaknya berjualan. Blog ini MILIK SAYA, jadi hargailah saya sebagai penulisnya.

Sekian dan terima kasih.

My Current Hair Care Routine

This was requested by Sven and to be honest, I don't have any special hair treatment at all. I'm trying not to put too much product to my hair because my hair is so thin it gets weighed down by styling products very easily. I think this simple hair care routine works best for me so far. I don't have any major hair problem, except some split ends if I forget to trim my hair. I usually trim my hair once every 2-3 months. Oh and I've never dyed my hair until recently, so my hair hasn't undergone too much chemical processes either if that should be taken into consideration. Maybe if your hair is in a damaged stage, you need more products to care for it.


So first of all, I wash my hair every other day using L'oreal ELSEVE Nutri Gloss Light shampoo and conditioner. I've been using both products for about six months now and they still work great. I think they're one of the best drugstore shampoos I've tried so far. And believe me, I've tried a lot.


After shower, when my hair is still damp, I apply Mylea Intensive Hair Tonic onto my scalp and roots and massage for about 2 minutes. Massaging your scalp stimulates surface blood circulation and that's good for your hair, just do it very gently. I used to use Garnier Neril Hair Tonic but the strong chemical scent is just a bit too much sometimes so I changed to Mylea, which is an Indonesian brand. It smells better and it works as good as Garnier Neril. This tonic claims to help reduce hairloss or breakage and mantain hair strength.

I then also apply The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum to the roots (edited: sorry I misremembered the word! haha) ends of my hair before I blowdry. This serum can also be used when your hair is dry. If you have very dry ends, then this product can help moisturize and smooth them.


Once to twice a week, I use Mylea Lancry Deep Treatment Mask. After shampooing (without conditioning with my L'oreal conditioner), I towel dry my hair, apply the mask all over my hair except the roots, clip it up and wait for 20-30 minutes before I rinse it off. It leaves my hair smooth and moisturized. I love it! :D


If I'm going to straighten my hair that day I'd use Rudy Hadisuwarno Styling Hair Spray to act as a heat protector. This hairspray is non aerosol so it's not too strong, just don't spray too close so you don't get that crisp effect. Lol. It contains pro Vit B5 and UV protection so it's good in my book. Another affordable Indonesian product I love! I really don't recommend putting any heated styling hair tools on your bare hair without any substance of product that can act as a heat barrier.

Now the last product is the hairspray I use when I curl my hair. It's Schwarzkopf Sihouette Pure Hair Spray in super hold. I love it because it hold my bouncy waves really well, makes my hair look shiny and healthy, and of course it smells so lovely. I think I'm going to try the gel version of the product next. :)

Andddd that's it. Thanks for reading and happy Monday! :)

Still in a Summer Mode

I know it's Fall already in other parts of the world but hey, I live in a tropical country so I should be excused for still wearing a summery maxi dress. ;)

I have to admit this dress is a bit of a hassle though. It's hard not to look like I was "expecting" when I'm wearing it. Lol.

lol, awkward pose.



another blah pose but you can see my exact hair color when the sunlight hits it

My hair is naturally dark brown (a touch lighter than black), then I dyed it blue black, and now after the dye fades it looks like reddish dark brown? Pretty weird. Indoor it looks normal though.

face:
-BE Prime Time foundation primer
-NYX concealer in jar (under eyes)
- MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus foundation
- MAC Blot Powder
- MAC blush in Sunbasque

lips:
- Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Soft Nude
- Revlon Superlustrous lipgloss in Nude Lustre

eyes:
- ELF mineral eyeshadow primer
- NYX jumbo pencil in black bean
- Urban Decay deluxe e/s in Graffiti (all over the lid)
- Milani e/s in Storm (black on the outer corner)
- NYX e/s in Dark Brown from TS 03 trio palette (crease)
- Milani e/s in Sheer Sand (browbone highlight)
-Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil in Covet (lower lashline)
-Stila Smudgepot in Black (upper lashline, waterline)
- Maybelline Volum Express mascara
- Elise Fake Lashes #02

Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Graffiti
($18 at urbandecay.com)

Each Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow has different "art cover" on the packaging. I think it's pretty cool. You can check out the website to see what I mean. This one I got is called Graffiti and Urban Decay simply describes it as "bright green".

SWATCH

I think the best way to apply this eyeshadow is to pat it gently to the skin; swiping it alone would not intensify the color as much. All in all this is an ultimate eyeshadow junkie's dream though; smooth, vibrant, long wearing, and easy to blend. Awesome stuff and I'll definitely be checking out other colors after this.

Have you tried UD's Deluxe Eyeshadows?

September Collective Haul

So, here's the haul I talked about in my last post. I certainly didn't buy these all at once. Over the last few weeks I've done a bit of online shopping, yet the package didn't arrive until a few days ago (and a few days ago I was out of town so I couldn't blog about them straight away).



First two items from the loot that I've been meaning to try for quite a while; BE Prime Time Foundation Primer and Neutrogene Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock SPF 55. I actually have tried the primer yesterday for the first time and it feels like Monistat, just slightly more moisturizing. Definitely will have to do a review on this one after a few more applications. :)



I envy you guys who live in the US and are able to get UD on discounted price from sites like hautlook.com. Well, I had to pay full price for these. Blah. Not sure if I'm ever going to buy UD again, they make me broke. Haha. But as you know, the quality of the products is amazing! I put on "Covet" 24/7 glide-on eye pencil yesterday on my lower lashline and boy was it hard to take off!

Deluxe Eyeshadow in Graffiti, 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Mildew and Covet

Finally got my hands on MAC blot powder and the studio fix powder plus foundation. I love them both and I think they'll last me a while. :)

my shade:
foundation - NC35, blot powder - medium dark

And well, I saved the best for the last. This dried out my pimple in just 2 nights. I tried many zitzapper products and so far I like this tea tree oil best. It does smell awfully strong and offensive, but it doesn't sting my pimple. Also, it doesn't dry out my skin like Zapzyt does. Man, Zapzyt sucks. It doesn't do anything to the pimple but it makes my skin drier than a desert (and I have oily skin!!). So I guess Benzoyl Peroxide hates me. :(


You can find Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil and Neutrogena sunblock at drugstore.com. BE and UD are available at sephora.com, and MAC at maccosmetics.com

Just a Warm Up

...before I do proper posts again. I know I haven't been diligent with blogging lately but that's because I was enjoying Eid holiday in my hometown with the family. I guess some random pictures will do for now. :)

baby niece :)

that's my brother in the background :)

typical Indonesian dish; not much to look at but tastes YUM! Lol. This one is called Tahu Telor or Hulor. It's basically tofu and egg (and a few other ingredients) with peanut sauce all over.

I have a haul post coming up, just need to transfer the pictures and get them watermarked. Thanks for stopping by and have a nice day! :)

Makeup Tutorial: Natural, Brighter-Looking Eyes

I'm sure by now in most homes in Indonesia people have already started preparing cookies and sweets for the upcoming Hari Raya Idul Fitri or Eid or whatever you call it in your part of the world. It's basically my favorite Muslim holiday because I get to gather with my family and friends in my ol' hometown. In other words; it's gonna kick ass! And I am so excited! :D

For the big day I'll most likely keep it natural and simple because it's a religious holiday after all, I don't want to look too made up. The most important thing is just to look radiant and awake, so I'll still be focusing on the eye makeup.

This look is very simple and easy to do. I only use four eyeshadows (which you can substitute with whatever eyeshadow brand you got in your stash), they are:

• Too Faced eyeshadow in Heaven (a matte, nude/cream color that I use as a base color)
• Too Faced eyeshadow in Silk Teddy (a shimmery champagne color that I use to brighten the inner corner of my eyes)
• Too Faced eyeshadow in Sexspresso (a matte, dark coffee color that I use on the outer V of my eyes)
• and Thevi Matte Eyeshadow #250 (a matte, light brown, some kind of a flesh color eyeshadow that I use to contour my crease)

My camera is lousy in picking up the subtle colors so I made up the red lines to point out the areas where I put my eyeshadow on. Enjoy! :)

Always start by priming your eyes. I'm using ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer. In this picture I haven't blended it out yet just to show you that it's there. Blend it well before you apply your eyeshadow. :)




Using a big, fluffy brush, apply Heaven all over the eyelid.




It'll look something like this.






Using a smaller blending brush (I'm using ELF Blending Eye Brush), apply Thevi Matte Eyeshadow #250 on the crease and blend.






Apply Sexspresso on your outer V using a small eyeshadow brush. Make a V-shape and blend it upward. Also apply the eyeshadow on upper and lower lashline starting from the outer corner going in.




Line your eyes. I'm using Revlon Fabuliner Liquid Eyeliner on my upper lashline and Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner on my waterline.




Finish up by applying mascara or fake lashes (or both!). And don't forget to apply a shimmery nude eyeshadow on the inner corner of your eyes to brighten 'em up a bit. It makes a big difference!




And there you go. Instant eye lift! LOL. I actually wanted to apply a more natural looking falsies but I couldn't find my pair.






on my face:
- Hanskin Premium Magic BB Cream
- NYX concealer in jar
- Maybelline Clearsmooth Powder
- Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Score

on my lips:
- Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Natural Nude
- Revlon Superlustrous Lipgloss in Nude Lustre

I think I look a bit ghostly in the pictures, thanks to the large amount of SPF lotion on my face. And I recently fell deeply in love with Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Score. Perhaps it's appropriate to call it "Urban Decay's version of the infamous NARS O". I don't have NARS Orgasm though, I'm just guessing. :)

That's it and I hope this tutorial would be helpful someway. Thanks for reading! :D