Laneige Brush Pact

My 3rd little goodie from Laneige is the Brush Pact and I got it in No. 2 Pore Blur. It looks like a white powder. The Laneige Brush Pact comes in 2 shades on Sephora online. The other shade is No. 1 Natural Finishing, which looks like a light beige. For some reason my face is super fair so I thought it would be the safest bet to get the colourless one. Ok let's get to it!

The Laneige Brush Pact comes in a really cute package. First you twist out the bottom, which contains the powder, then you can twist out the brush on the other half. Very nifty and very easy to pop in the handbag. I'm thinking I might have been a little over amused with this. But it's really good to carry around. 

So I wait for the right time, middle of the day, so something like 4 hours into the work day. When my face starts to look greasy. I've never been in the habit of re-applying make up half way through the day for a few reasons: my skin is super sensitive so in my head, if I am to put powder on my face that is not clean, I feel like I'm rubbing the dirt into my face. That generally causes me to have some pimples. So I don't like to re-apply makeup. The other reason is coz I'm a germaphobe so putting the brush on my face which is 4 hours into the day just feels like the dirt is going to fester and reproduce into a colony on the brush.

Ok so 4 hours into the day, I blot my face with some blotter paper... then I whip out my handy Brush Pact. I start applying it all over my face and asked everyone who was around me if my face was still greasy before going to see for myself in the mirror. Lo and behold!!! It works really well and I didn't look like I had another layer of powder plastered on. So bye bye greasy face!

Now for my other concern... will I break out. There are 2 times that I check if I have a break out from makeup. Once when I just get home from work, and once again the next morning. Patiently I awaited. To be honest, every time I try something new, I worry that I will break out. 

Verdict the next morning: The coast was clear! I didn't break out. So this is going to be a permanent fixture in my handbag. You can, and you should get this! I got it on Sephora online for SGD$42, link for you to get it is here. You're welcome.

Benefit Hello Flawless!

Hello Flawless! by Benefit is a powder foundation with SPF15 that glides on silky and sheer and lasts all day.  The coverage can be customised depending on how and how much you choose to apply.  It comes with a sponge and a brush that keeps neatly under the powder.  If you want sheer light coverage or for touch ups later in the day, I'd recommend using the brush.  This creates a matte "no make up" kind of look.  If you want more coverage (generally for going out at night), then I'd recommend using the sponge.  Applying the powder with the sponge can cover up small imperfections on the skin and create a flawless look.  For daily use I'd say it lasts me for at least 2 months.  I personally don't have very good complexion so I use the sponge... That helps cover up big pores quite well.

It comes in a range of 9 shades so you would definitely be able to find a shade that is perfect for your skin tone.  The 9 shades from lightest to deepest shade:

• "I love me!" Ivory
• "Never Settle" Petal
• "Me, vain?" Champagne
• "I'm cute as a bunny" Honey
• "All the world's my stage" Beige
• "What I crave" Toasted Beige
• "I'm haute for sure" Amber
• "Why walk when you can strut?" Hazelnut
• "Too fierce to beg" Nutmeg

I have a very sallow yellow tone to my skin which makes it really difficult to buy face powder.  I've tried many other brands but so long as they have an underlying orange or pink tone to it, my face turns too orange or too pink and I look super weird.  "Never Settle" Petal is the best for me.  It doesn't make my face look pasty white, nor does it make it look too pink or orange.  This shade works for me is I suspect is because the undertones are yellow.  Not to mention, Hello Flawless! does not irritate my sensitive skin nor cause me any unsightly allergies.

Benefit's website also has a Shadefinder page to help you choose the most ideal shade.  What I like best is that their shades caters to Asians and Africans, not only Caucasians.  I'd imagine a Caucasian with olive skin would experience the same troubles finding the right shade of powder, they would probably find something at Benefit.  You can also go to their stores and ask them for help in choosing a shade if this is your first time buying from Benefit.  I however, being the queen of lazy and online shopping did not go to the stores.  When I started buying Benefit makeup, they didn't have any stores that sold it here so it's not like there was a choice.  Hello Flawless! goes for US$34 online, in Singapore stores I think they go for S$54.  Buying online is a good option when they have free worldwide shipping for purchases above US$125.

DIY Makeup Face Powder

This is for all of you who have had a heap of trouble trying to find the right shade of face powder. I've tried almost every brand there is out there and none of them seem to suit my skin tone (I have no idea WHY!!!!) and also tried adjusting the tones with brozers and still no luck. My face will always end up looking pasty and weird. Not ideal I guess... unless you hang around in really dimly lit places all the time. To top it all off, I have extremely sensitive skin so many powders didn't work as they caused me to have breakouts.

It may sound really troublesome just thinking about making this but it's really easy and doesn't take much time at all. You only need 3 ingredients, only 1 of which I had to search for. The other 2 are pretty everyday items.

1. French Green Clay

2. Cornstarch

3. Pure Cocoa Powder (Unsweetened)

Yes you read me right... it's cornstarch and cocoa powder. You will smell like chocolate but that's not a bad thing right? I bought normal cornstarch from the supermarket for a few dollars and Hershey's Cocoa Powder.

French Green Clay

Anyways, I bought the French Green Clay online from Cest Natural (if you're in Singapore that's easiest I suppose. She met me the next day to pass it to me at Orchard). For $28.90, it goes a LONG way. I think it can make you powder to last 2 or 3 years, everyday use. Not to mention a lot of wastage cause that's the way I roll. 

How To...

Take equal amounts of french green clay and cornstarch and mix it together thoroughly. Then add in the cocoa powder bit by bit till the colour is suitable for your face. 

Done! Easy right?!