Some time ago the beauty world was buzzing with the new breakthrough in make up, aka the "blemish balm" (blemish base) or BB creams. Garnier seems to be at the forefront of the game in this country and they also brought the oil free version not long ago. It was also only a matter of time for the other companies to join.
So what it is supposed to do, this cream?
Apparently it gives coverage, evens out the skin, illuminates, provides SPF protection and speaks five languages while at the same time ironing your clothes and doing the food shopping online. Ok, I'm kidding, but you get the picture.
My opinion? Save your money. Why, you say, as such product is supposed to be good and kill a few birds with one stone?
Here's my opinion, you may like it or not.
1. The coverage is not good, it covers just like a tinted moisturiser. If your skin is not flawless you'll still need concealer. If your skin is flawless then why bother with BB cream anyway?
2. The shades are limited, mainly light, medium and dark. We all know how "lovely" those high street shades can be. Orange or pink anyone?
3. They can be a bit on a greasy side.
4. The "glow" can be a bit too shiny.
5. Too many ingredients mean too easy to get an irritation as it's more difficult to know what's for what.
My suggestion: get a good SPF moisturiser. A proper one WITH skincare benefits. It should leave your skin silky and not oily.
Get yourself a MAC Strobe Cream. It doesn't shimmer, but it has skin brightening agents that make your skin look fabulous. It just works.
Whether you decide to proceed to the next step or not is up to you.... Next is a tinted moisturiser if you want some colour and coverage. And that's it!
Yes I know, it's buying more products... But, they will last three times as long as one cream will and you'll get tailor made products that actually work and not a substandard "jump on a bandwagon and let's make some cash as everyone is doing it" cream.
And remember the two in one shampoo and conditioner.... do you actually still use it?
Monday, 28 May 2012
A Million Dollar Question - What Product Should I Use?
If I had a pound for every time I've been asked this question, I'd be a seriously rich woman by now.
The thing is, I can't tell you what foundation you should use and what moisturiser is good for your skin. No one can.
You have to try the products on your own skin to know. It's almost like choosing a perfume, not everything smells good on each and every one of us. Hell, even certain perfumes smell differently on me depending where I am in the world! I had to throw away a few foreign purchases that smelled amazingly on me while abroad, got home and in humid British climate I could not stand them!
So the point I'm trying to make is.... There are loads of blogs about and lots of people claiming certain products are great. While I have no real reason to believe that they have your own best interest at heart (and are not paid by the PR companies to flog a certain product - you'd be surprised how many are and they claim they are not), you should not take some random person's opinion and take it as a given. Not even mine.
That's why I don't want to go there and I don't want to review the products.
So why have I started my blog?
I wanted to highlight the ingredients in products and figure out if they work or not. I want to take apart the list written in gibberish (for most people) and if a company makes up an ingredient and does not tell you that it's fictitious and that only exists in their marketing manager's imagination, I want to point that out.
Sure I'll mention products that I like and I use to make my clients and models up. If something is amazing, and was amazing on many people, I'll write about it.
But to find out if that will work for you, if that colour is any good on your skin, either try it on yourself or book a make up lesson with a pro.
Here's an example.... I love this foundation (Armani Luminous Foundation), it looks amazing on skin, it covers up well without looking like "too much".
Well, I can't wear it. And no, I'm not allergic to it either. I just don't like my skin while using it. I look too "poreless" and fake. Plus there are some silicones in it that don't gel with me so I my skin feels tacky and oily after a while. Becca's Luminous Skin Colour is much better on me, even though I'd sometimes wish it had more coverage.
But would I carry on using Armani? Absolutely!
Other people find it fine, so why would I base my point of view on only me?
Same thing with colours. Some colours in "theory" look good on certain skin tones. But that's not taking into an account that a person's skin chemistry can change that same colour and turn it into a something different.
There you go. I won't be recommending moisturisers, but if you're buying something with no active ingredients and paying loads of money for it, don't worry, I'll let you know!
The thing is, I can't tell you what foundation you should use and what moisturiser is good for your skin. No one can.
You have to try the products on your own skin to know. It's almost like choosing a perfume, not everything smells good on each and every one of us. Hell, even certain perfumes smell differently on me depending where I am in the world! I had to throw away a few foreign purchases that smelled amazingly on me while abroad, got home and in humid British climate I could not stand them!
So the point I'm trying to make is.... There are loads of blogs about and lots of people claiming certain products are great. While I have no real reason to believe that they have your own best interest at heart (and are not paid by the PR companies to flog a certain product - you'd be surprised how many are and they claim they are not), you should not take some random person's opinion and take it as a given. Not even mine.
That's why I don't want to go there and I don't want to review the products.
So why have I started my blog?
I wanted to highlight the ingredients in products and figure out if they work or not. I want to take apart the list written in gibberish (for most people) and if a company makes up an ingredient and does not tell you that it's fictitious and that only exists in their marketing manager's imagination, I want to point that out.
Sure I'll mention products that I like and I use to make my clients and models up. If something is amazing, and was amazing on many people, I'll write about it.
But to find out if that will work for you, if that colour is any good on your skin, either try it on yourself or book a make up lesson with a pro.
Here's an example.... I love this foundation (Armani Luminous Foundation), it looks amazing on skin, it covers up well without looking like "too much".
Well, I can't wear it. And no, I'm not allergic to it either. I just don't like my skin while using it. I look too "poreless" and fake. Plus there are some silicones in it that don't gel with me so I my skin feels tacky and oily after a while. Becca's Luminous Skin Colour is much better on me, even though I'd sometimes wish it had more coverage.
But would I carry on using Armani? Absolutely!
Other people find it fine, so why would I base my point of view on only me?
Same thing with colours. Some colours in "theory" look good on certain skin tones. But that's not taking into an account that a person's skin chemistry can change that same colour and turn it into a something different.
There you go. I won't be recommending moisturisers, but if you're buying something with no active ingredients and paying loads of money for it, don't worry, I'll let you know!
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Some fashion shoot photos from my day job - Moth and Vertigo
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