Blog #24: Make-Catastrophe No. 1 - No Flash 제발!

Hello fellow K-Stylers! I'm here yet again to share some stuff from my dresser. This time, I'll be addressing an issue I'm sure most of us have encountered this nightmare: you enter your favorite beauty shop. See a new Cushion Foundation with a cute packaging. Test on your skin and it's too light but you but it anyway since it's too cute to pass. Go home and include in your collection. Wake up, take a bath, face the mirror and apply the Cushion, take selfies with flash and scan your pics only to see a gradient skin like APink Bomi:

OH MY LORD! What the hell is that visible line that cuts my face and neck? Why am I only glowing from the chin up? I've added three layers of foundation on my neck! What the heck?!? Flash, why you my anti???

APINK Bomi at a Laneige Event

APINK Bomi Flashing the Perfect Gradient Skin at the Laneige Event

Hyuna Showing Off Her Flashback Face

Hyuna with Immaculate White Face and Beige Neck

Calm down. It happens even to the best of us. Even KPOP stars get it. There's actually a name for it, the Flashback. No, it's not the pictures you upload during Thursday, it's the white face, a visible part of a person's face that's whiter than everything else. It happens when you get your picture taken with flash because the light reflects off your face hence, the Flashback. BB Creams and Cushion Foundations have high SPF, usually 30 - 50 and high SPF increases the risk of getting a Flashback.

How to avoid getting Flashbacks? Limit yourself to products with SPF15 max when you know you'll be photographed with flash in an event. Avoid make-up that gives off a dewy-looking skin as it reflects too much light and stick to matte-looking finish.

But what if you're not going to an event with media flashing away but still want to use your too light foundation because it's too pretty and expensive to throw away, I have a simple trick you can do:

 

So you found a cute foundation that you're itching to buy. Ahh... how can you resist this charming lil thing???

So you bought it even if it's two shades lighter than you because what the hell, you can always fix it, right? Not too much, just a few dab won't be too white, right?

WRONG! A make-up that's a shade lighter than your skin, regardless the amount you put on your face, will remain lighter than the rest of your skin.

OTTOKE!!! What to do???

Simple. Go get that stocked/hidden/piled bronzer or powder that's one to two shades darker than your skin.

Dab lightly onto your skin as if applying Cushion Foundation. If your powder's too dark, use stifling brush or powder blush that's for lightweight application in order to avoid streaks.

 Viola! Gradient skin solved!

Blog #13: Etude House Sweet Recipe Beauty Review (Multi-purpose Korean Make-Up)

Annyeong, yorebeun! So I was doing some spring cleaning when I found these cuties again.

Yep, they're Etude House's Sweet Recipe Cupcakes and they have two collections: Cupcake All Over (eyes, cheeks and lips) and Cupcake Eyes! Nope,they're not edible but this line comes in crazy yummy colors and designs:

Etude House Sweet Recipe Cupcake All Over

Etude House Sweet Recipe Cupcake Eyes

These swatches can be seen at Etude House's global website or at Etude House Philippines official site.

As a self-confessed beauty hoarder, I got my hands on three Cupcake All over and one Cupcake Eyes:

From left to right: Sweet Recipe Cupcake All Over Color in RD301, OR202 and PK002 / Top: PK001 

And yes, I admit, Sulli and Krystal's cute promos had a hand in my decision.

Just imagine creating sweet cupcakes with SHINEE... *sigh*

Ok, enough with delusions and let's proceed with a review of these multi-purpose Korean make-up...

First off in my list is the loner, Sweet Recipe Cupcake Eyes.

Etude House Sweet Recipe Cupcake Eyes in  PK001 Sweet Berry Lemon Mousse

I'm obsessed with the coral shade. Imagine my joy when I found out I get a sweet pink and yellow marriage in a pot! Though the texture of this shadow's a bit tough, I love that it has high pigmentation. A few swipes of a finger and the color's already visible. The combination of pink and yellow is a lovely coral shade which works best with a girly, soft look.

Verdict: 4/5 

Etude House Swee Recipe Cupcake All Over Color in OR202 Peach Sugar Cake

The Sweet Recipe Cupcake All Over Color claims to cover the eyes, cheeks and lips but I feel that this specific shade best fits as a blusher for me. I feel it will work well as an eye shadow base for those with normal to dry skin (which I don't have unfortunately) and a NO NO for those with oily skin (tried once and I end up with a fugly mess of lumped up make up in my lids).

Verdict: 3/5

Etude House Sweet Recipe Cupcake All Over Color in PK002 Strawberry Chiffon Cake

I love pink but this is my least favorite of the bunch. I can't use it in my eyes since my lids get oily easily (hello Mr.Clumps!) and I look like a sick patient when I apply it as a lip color (not to mention, it makes my chapped lips visible). I only use it on my cheeks when I feel like having color on my face.

Verdict: 2.5/5

Etude House Sweet Recipe Cupcake All Over Color in RD301 Raspberry Mousse Cake

This one I love! Unlike the earlier two, RD301 fits my natural lip color well. Love that I don't need to neutralize my lips with BB Cream just to have a standout color. This one works like a doll to my lips and cheeks. Will definitely not use it in the eyes.

Verdict: 3.5/5

I'm a sucker for anything cutesy and I have to say, Etude House hits a home run with its kill-me-now-it's-too-cute packaging of its Sweet Recipe line. The visuals on these products definitely contribute to its selling prowess. 

How can you resist those yummy treats??? Check out Etude House Global's Twitter and Etude House Global Instagram and Etude House Philippines' Twitter and Instagram account for more crazy pretty beauty loots! 

Blog #7: Stealing Sandara Park's Look (Make-up Concept)

If there's one celebrity, just one frickin' celebrity you can steal the look of for one day, who'll it be? For me, it's got to be SAN-DA-RA! It's a given that she has super clear and flawless skin but she always manages to get away with whatever make up her stylists put her in!

So I took it upon myself to list my (meaning this is solely based on my personal opinion) fave Sandara looks. I'll also give my recommended beauty tools to help you guys recreate her fabulosity! :)

1. I AM THE BEST

We all know that Sandara easily tops the KPOP visual game so it's no wonder she sings "I AM THE BEST". But besides slaying all plastic dolls with her natural beauty, her look in this music video is a real standout.

Look starts at 0:55

Quick Fix:

• Go for sharp black liner for precise cat eye! Skip on the black shadow for a wearable casual look. Try Clio Kill Black Waterproof Liner.

• It's about the length, babe! Swap your volume mascara to Clio Hitch Eye-King Longlash.

• How to get that perfect gradient lips? Dab sufficient amount of silky BB Cream all over outer lips. Clio VF 21 Glam BB fits the job perfectly!

• Opt for subtle pink than full on nude lips for a flushed, just kissed lips. Clio Virgin Kiss Tinted Lip in 001 Devil Pink is a dream.

• Cap off the look with Clio Lipnicure Top Coat for a voluptuous pucker!

2. I LOVE YOU

I admit it, I love her so much! I mean, who can resist such a beautiful creature inside and out, right? I also loooove her look in 2NE1's I LOVE YOU music video. How can she look so lovely and tender sporting the Bansak hair of hers???

Look starts at 1:04

Quick Fix:

• Trade in black shadow for a more wearable dark mocha shade. Etude House Look at My Eyes Cafe in #BR402 (Caffe Mocha) does the trick!

• Choose a champagne shade with subtle shimmer for the inner corner of the eyes. Play with Etude House's XOXO Minnie Look at My Eyes Jewel in #BE104.

• Shine... shine... like the stars in the heaven! Go for pearly shine on lips with Etude House Dear My Crystal Gloss in CPK002 (Shimmering Pink). 

3. HAPPY

This is what I want for Sandara... happiness. Someone as pure and loving as her deserves someone who'll proclaim his love for her and cross any sea or desert just for her love! Pardon my overly-sentimental monologue but you get my point, right? Anyway, my third fave look of hers comes from 2NE1's HAPPY video. No, it's not the one with the octopus-like hairstyle but the one with her normal, black hair. :)

Look starts at 1:46

Quick Fix:

• Pastel is all the rave in HAPPY music video. Go for the fresh and breezy look with Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Upper Liner in Mint Ade.

• Milky lips seal the deal for this look. Check out Etude's Dear My Milky Gloss in MBE101.

There goes my list! Do you agree or you have your own top 3? Send me a shoutout on the comments box. :)