Being from a hot, humid, tropical country like Malaysia, I never really had to pay much thought to luminous skin. There was shine everywhere on my face, and if I put a powder over it, it still looked moisturised and dewy.

But then I came to Australia, where the weather just sucked my skin and hair dry (why is it that my hair has more bounce and volume when I'm in Malaysia, where it's hot and humid?!) and my face started showing signs of moisture loss. My skin became dull and lacklustre, and the one thing I focused on with constant devotion was getting luminous skin.

If you're from a country that is pretty dry in general, or if you are in the cold, or even if you are in a tropical country and have dry skin (yes, it happens!), here are a couple of makeup products that will really boost the luminosity in your skin!

Illuminating Primers



Illuminating primers fill in any crevices you may have in your skin, and provide a smooth canvas for your makeup to adhere to. There are tons of illuminising primers on the market that also add luminosity to the skin.  The above primers - the JK Jemma Kidd Mannequin Skin Complexion Enhancer and the L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Pure Light primer - are some great options. You don't have to worry about obvious shimmer or oily-looking skin - these are subtle enough just so your skin has a 'glow' about it, without looking like a disco ball. Here they are swatched below:


Both these primers are subtle enough to work on any skin tone, but if you love a pastel, cool-toned look then go for the L'Oreal Pure Light Primer, and if you love that warm golden tint then the Jemma Kidd is perfect.

Illuminators


You can also add an illuminator on top of your makeup to add that glow and luminosity to your skin. The Bloom Illuminiser in Glow, Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Liquid Illuminator in Angel Flame, and the INIKA Light Reflect Highlighting Creme are all illuminators with a subtle shimmer running through them without being too obvious. They suit almost every skin tone because the shimmer in them is multicoloured and therefore doesn't lean too far either way on the warm/cool scale. Again, I've swatched them below:


The Face of Australia product should be used with a very light hand because it is extremely pigmented and is more suited to be used as a blush instead of an all-over highlighter. All three illuminators posses very fine shimmer pigments so you won't look glitter-crazy.
Illuminators look particularly lovely in the winter when the light is very subtle. It brings out a gorgeous glow in your skin.

Shimmer Infused Blush


If you don't like the added step of putting on an illuminator, you might want to try a shimmer-infused blush. Depending on what products you use, shimmer-blushes are very versatile and can give you anything from a healthy, glowing daytime look to a more glamorous nighttime shine.

I highly recommend the Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Color for a subtle daytime sheen. If you're a fan of pigmented blushes, definitely try the Sleek MakeUP blushes in Pomegranate and Rose Gold - the Pomegranate has a more subtle shimmer whilst the Rose Gold is very glamorous without going over-the-top with shimmer. A huge plus is that they are extremely affordable. The Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick needs no introduction - this cult product is gorgeous and subtle enough for day, but can be layered to create a more intense evening look. Here they are swatched on my arm:


Eyeshadow Colours and Textures




Eyeshadows used to be plain, powder pigments that added colour to your skin. With the latest technologies, you can now add texture to your eyeshadows and create an eye makeup that adds to the overall moisturised, polished look of your skin. Use the Too Faced Intense Eyeshadow in Poison Orchid in the daytime as a liner or at night as an all-over eyeshadow - purple eyeshadow is perfect for adding a gorgeous glow to both cool and warm-toned skins.
If you have more mature skin, stay away from glitter. Instead, play around with texture with the Clinique Lid Smoothie in Imprompt-blue (the perfect everyday colour for winter!) and the new Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow in Nude Beach (launching in August 2012). Here are swatches:


Balm-textured Lipsticks




Hate the stickiness of a lipgloss? These new hybrid lipsticks are perfect for winter. Your hair doesn't stick to them, and you don't have too much shine on your lips, which can look a little bit unprofessional. The pinky tones of all three lipsticks - the L'Oreal Color Riche Nutri Shine in Rose Guava (AUD 22.95), the Bloom Princess (AUD 28) and the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Shy Honey (AUD 36) - all add a subtle glow to the skin. The balmy shine also makes the lips look more moisturised and plump.

Brighten Your Décolletage




Spray the Bobbi Brown Shimmering Fragrance Oil on your décolletage and on the tops of your arms to add to your overall glow. The oils (essential oils of olive, sesame, avocado and jojoba) plump and moisturise your skin, and the shimmer is undetectable, yet so effective, it's insane. The Beach Fragrance (which smells of frangipani) might be a little out of place right now in winter, but you all know I never believed that a fragrance has to be season-appropriate anyway.
This fragrance is available from August 12 at Bobbi Brown counters.

I hope you found this post helpful! Do you have any special tips that you use to enhance your glow?

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.

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 :)

This product I find works beautifully for acne-prone skin. It's helped me through a couple of rough patches, and I have been using it pretty much every week since!

5. Shu Uemura Full Shimmer Illuminating Hair Treatment

Shu Uemura: "Formulated with precious musk rose oil to meet the essential needs of natural or color treated hair. rich in fatty acids and vitamin a, it helps prevent oxidation and color fade while providing optimal shine."

I've been using this hair treatment for years now, and whether you have coloured hair or not, this treatment adds a subtle but beautiful gloss to your tresses. I usually only use this on special occasions, because this stuff isn't cheap! I find that it doesn't really do anything to help with coarse or frizzy hair, so you'll need an anti-frizz treatment as well.

6. Al'chemy Lavender & Anthyllis 24 Hour Intensive Moisture Leave-In Conditioner

The Purist company: "Al'chemy’s rich natural leave in conditioner has a transformational blend of Amino acids anti-oxidants, herbal extracts, vitamins and richly nourishing Australian Jojoba and certified organic Avocado oils to help add moisture and strength and to help protect your hair from heat styling and environmental damage."

You may remember my review of this leave-in conditioner here. It is great for de-frizzing hair, and my hair feels soft and smooth after I use this!

7. Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Liquid Illuminator

These are brand new to the Australian market! The shimmer particles are subtle and very finely milled, but the shimmer is beautiful. After application, either with your finger or a sponge or stippling brush, the result is glowing, lit-up skin. Brilliant!

8. Luview Gleam Full Long Lash Mascara

This mascara has given me the longest, most fluttery lashes I have ever seen! I liken this to the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Mascara, but it isn't as difficult to remove (yay!). Compared to the MM mascara, this gives me much longer lashes, but slightly less wear time.

9. Face of Australia Colour Max Eye Shadow Palettes

These are a great affordable option for anyone looking to create a dramatic smoky eye for their New Year's Eve celebrations. This palette houses four pigmented, smooth eyeshadows, in complementary colours. They come in three shade groups - Gold Mine (pictured above), Mercury Rising (grey tones), and Northern Lights (purple shades).

10. Tom Ford Eye Color Quads

This is the (way) more expensive option for New Year's Eve party looks! These Tom Ford palettes are designed to provide 4 different finishes - sheer sparkle, satin, shimmer and matte. The range consists of 10 different eye color quads, each quad in complementing colours, of course. The packaging is gorgeous, with a magnetic closure, and the eyeshadows pigmented and buttery smooth.

11. Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate

To sculpt and highlight your face, go no further than this duo. I received this to review from Kimmi at The Plastic Diaries, and the review will be up and running on her website soon. I will let you know when it goes live! It is luxe, and it is pricey, but in my opinion, it is well worth the money!

12. Bioderma *edit* Crealine* H2O Makeup Remover

Bioderma: "At the cutting edge of innovation, BIODERMA has pioneered micellar solutions. Specially formulated for sensitive, normal to dry skins, the Sensibio H2O micelle solution gently cleanses face and eyes. It removes water-resistant make-up.The micelles contained in its formula effectively micro-emulsify impurities while maintaining the skin’s balance (soap-free, physiological pH)."

This makeup remover and cleanser removes makeup and yet remains gentle on the skin. I've been using it for a few weeks now and I love the effect it has on my skin. My pimples are clearing up well, and it removes my makeup really well.

I hope this has helped you, and look out for my party makeup tutorial, coming in a few days!

*edit*
I put the wrong product name on this! The product is called Crealine H2O, and can be found in select pharmacies in Australia.