Emily's Anthology - a Malaysian beauty blog: Etude House

, by Emily Quak

Product Review: 6 Primers That Actually Work

For most people, primers are a grey area. Do you need them, or are they just a waste of money?

I personally used to think that primers were a waste of time, and that I didn't need to use them. Now that I'm spending so much time here in Malaysia, I've begun to change my mind.

My main concern? Makeup that melts away at midday to reveal my large pores and panda eyes. So really, it's more than one issue.

I've experimented with these brands before and have been lucky enough to have received some of these products to trial, so I dragged them out of my beauty stash to test out on my oily/combination skin, in humid weather.

So, starting off with the top left corner and going clockwise:

1. Napoleon Perdis Autopilot Primer
This one is one of the most moisturising primers I've tried. For this reason, if you have very oily skin, I wouldn't recommend this. However if you have normal/combination skin, then this will be an absolute dream to use. It helps your makeup glide on, and whilst it might not have the best 'filling' capability (to mask the appearance of pores and fine lines), it does make your skin look positively flawless, and keeps your makeup on for hours.

2. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
This beauty has the best filling capability of the lot! It masks everything from fine lines to large pores, and even minimises the appearance of scars and spots. It does give a tiny bit of flashback when it is photographed though, so it's best to skip this one if there's going to be flash photography. To use this, apply the balm and immediately apply your foundation on top of it without letting it dry or set. Letting it dry too much will cause it to ball up underneath your makeup, which is probably something you'll want to avoid.

3. Benefit Porefessional
This is my favourite primer for reducing the appearance of my pores. It is my go-to primer at events and for meetings. It is an absolute genius

formulation, and basically fills in those pesky holes to create a smooth, flawless base. Just apply, let it dry, and smooth/buff your foundation over it. It does an amazing job and keeping the makeup from melting off too, even on hot, humid days.

4. L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Light Reflecting Primer
This thing of beauty is one of L'Oreal's latest primers to hit the beauty market, and one of my favourite affordable makeup primers. Longtime readers of my blog will know how much I love luminous, glowing skin, and this primer gives you just that. It disguises flaws and large pores, and keeps your makeup fresh all day.

5. NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Next up are the eye primers, and this one came pretty darn close to making the top of my eyeshadow primer list, if not for its price. It keeps eyeshadows in place and really helps to boost and intensify the colours of the eyeshadow - and you all know I absolutely adore intense pigment in my eyeshadows, so anything that can boost that gets a big fat yes from me.

6. Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
I just had to include the Etude House Proof 10 primer - hands down my absolute favourite eye primer. I compared it to the famed Urban Decay Primer Potion, and it actually came out on top! It keeps eyeshadows smack where they were applied, and it keeps them there for hours on end without the slightest smudge.

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, by Emily Quak

In Dry Skin, Etude House

Keeping Your Skin Healty in Air Conditioning

Nowadays, it's common that people spend hours and hours' worth of their day in an office of some sort, or store, and it's even more common that these offices and stores have air conditioning. You may not know it, but your skin is suffering in all that dry, moisture-less air. Air conditioning, whether it be cooling or heating, can also be very harsh on the skin, and can suck precious moisture out of your skin.

There are many ways in which you can help keep your skin hydrated and protected from this, but here is what I personally do, because it works, and it's easy to do.

Step 1: Apply a primer

Primers are not only great for helping makeup stick to your face - they also provide a protective layer that rests in between the skin and makeup, and keeps your skin moisturised. The Laura Mercier primer is one of the best on the market, and my personal favourite primer. It keeps the skin hydrated, yet controls oil beautifully, and most importantly, it keeps your makeup intact.

Step 2: Apply a Makeup Spray

Makeup sprays in the market today are miracle workers. They no longer just seal your makeup in place, they also contain hydrating particles and serve many other purposes, depending on the type that you get. One of my favourites is the Nymph Aura Volumer Mist from Etude House, a simple spray that keeps your makeup in place, hydrates your skin, and makes your skin look like it's glowing from within. No shimmer particles in this one, yet your face looks radiant and luminous. A total steal too - I purchased my bottle for around AUD 14.

Step 3: Keep Your Skin Hydrated with a Thermal Water Spray

If you get the wrong kind of spray, it could be detrimental to your skin, because applying water to your skin usually makes your skin drier, because when the water evaporates, it takes your skin's moisture away along with it. The Uriage Thermal water is formulated in such a way that its natural minerals and nutrients (as well as the all-important moisture for your skin) is absorbed by the skin before it evaporates, making it the perfect companion for you in a bone-dry, overly air-conditioned room.

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, by Emily Quak

In Daniel Sandler, Etude House

How to Keep Glowing Skin After Foundation

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, by Emily Quak

In Clinique, Dermalogica

4 Simple Steps to Natural, Glowing Skin

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, by Emily Quak

In Anastasia Beverly Hills, Arbonne

Makeup Tutorial: Get the Victoria's Secret Runway Look

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, by Emily Quak

In Adore Beauty, Bobbi Brown

YouTube video: June Favourites!

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, by Emily Quak

In Alpha-H, Beauty Secrets

How to Make Your Makeup Last Longer for Big Nights: Part I

So I got a few requests to do prom makeup tutorials, and I thought I'd write this little post as a supplement to those makeup tutorials. Also, my blog has been looking a little boring since I started the YouTube videos, and I'm hoping to change that!

So on Prom night, or during a big event, or when you're out clubbing, the last thing you want to have to worry about is touching up your makeup, and having to run to the bathroom every half hour or so. Here are a few tips that might help lessen those trips to the bathroom, not to mention the load of your (presumably) teeny little clutch!

Part I of this topic is preparing your skin for the makeup!

Prep Your Skin

The condition of your skin affects your ability to buff your makeup onto your face, and how well it stays on. The smoother your skin, and the smaller your pores are, the better your makeup is going to look. Here are a few great products to achieve great skin on your big night.

1. Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

This is one of my favourite products! It is great for clearing out your pores so that pore minimizing products will work better. It really grips on to those nasty blackheads and pulls them out to clear out your pores very effectively. Trying to minimise your pores without cleaning them out is like trying to close an overly-stuffed suitcase full of dirty clothes (weird analogy, I know :/). Using this in conjunction with an exfoliator (not too frequently, or you will aggravate your skin! I would recommend using this once a week) will help clear out those nasty blackheads, whiteheads and oil seeds. This will prevent further enlarged pores, too!

The Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips retail for AUD 5.69 per pack of 6, so that works out to be less than $1 per pore strip!

2. Alpha-H Liquid Gold Smoothing + Perfecting Mask

This mask is a great exfoliant and provides instant hydration to the skin. It clears away dead skin cells and helps clear out inflammation and scarring. Use this weekly about 2-3 weeks before your big night, and you will see a noted improvement in the radiance of your skin.

3. Simplicité Rosehip & Lavender Complexion Refiner

This is the perfect mask to use in conjunction with the Bioré Pore Strips! It helps to clear out congestion in pores, and leaves the skin looking brightened and glowing. I have been using this mask for 2 weeks now, and the results are amazing! I have bright, radiant, smooth skin. What's even better - after applying this mask, makeup seems to stick better and look better. This is a total miracle product!

4. Elixia Crystal Derm Exfoliator

This is a great exfoliant to use 2-3 times a week. A couple of weeks before your big night, up your exfoliation to 3-4 times a week. Do this only if you aren't using any other form of exfoliation. If you are using a form of daily exfoliation already, it's best not to use this (if you insist on using another form of physical exfoliation, limit it to only once a week, or once every other week). Clearing away dead skin cells helps the skin maintain its glow and helps your makeup grip on to your face.

Simple Skin Preparation for the Big Night

It is good to apply an emollient moisturiser to prepare your skin for your makeup. Well-moisturised skin helps you buff the makeup into the skin, and avoid your makeup looking cakey and dry.

My favourite moisturiser to use is the Ella Baché Hydra Repulp moisturiser. It is very emollient, and provides excellent hydration to the skin. I also mix in a pump of the Esteé Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator, to give my skin that lit-from-within glow.

Primer!

Primer is a great way to ensure that your makeup grips onto your skin and stays put. Oily skins tend to cause makeup to slip and slide around, so primers are a great way to avoid that.

1. INIKA Pure Primer

This primer is certified organic - so definitely one for your eco-conscious people out there, or anyone with sensitive skin. It works a treat, too. It keeps the foundation from melting off your face, and from personal experience, I can say that it helps a lot in humid weather.

2. Face of Australia Face Base Primer

This is one of my favourite primers - it is moisturising and oil-free, which is perfect for my oily skin. It is very easy to spread, and very easy to use. It does exactly what it is meant to do - keep the makeup on my face. Another big plus? For such a functional product, it is so affordable!

3. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

This is a little more pricey compared to the Face of Australia primer, but if you've got a couple of extra bucks to spare, then you should try this out. I might do a little product face-off between the FoA primer and this Laura Mercier one, just to see which one works better!

4. Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

This is my favourite eye primer. I compared it to the Urban Decay Primer Potion in this product face-off post, and the results speak for themselves!

That's all for the first instalment of How to Make Your Makeup Last Longer! Check in tomorrow for more makeup tips :)