How To Apply BB Cream

Hello everyone! I said I would start doing more "basics" videos this year and I wanted to kick-start that trend with one of the most highly requested videos, a "how to apply BB Cream" tutorial.

I was actually surprised to see that so many of you wanted to see this, but like with foundation, the texture of the product has a lot of impact on how best to apply it. My technique is actually a bit different than how I apply foundation so here's a step-by-step look at how I prefer applying BB Cream.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Skin 79 VIP Gold Triple Functions BB Cream (use code FRMHEADTOTOE for 5% off!)
NARS Concealer in Custard
Tarte Smooth Operator Powder
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

ON ME:

Lipstick is Urban Decay Naked
J. Crew bateau tee (similar/similar)
Nailpolish is Urban Outfitters polish in Hangover (similar/similar)

So for those of you new to "bb cream", they are Asia's answer to an all-in-one tinted moisturizer. They give a natural coverage while giving additional benefits like sun protection, anti-aging properties, evening skin discoloration, and help to heal blemishes and unbalanced skin. I do have an overview review and post of several different kinds which you can check out here.

I show you the entire process in the video, but I'll break down my process into a few easy steps:

1. Dot all over face

2. Blend into skin

3. Add extra dots where more coverage is needed

4. Pat into selected areas to get more coverage

5. Add concealer if needed

6. Set with powder if needed

I also added some of my favorite natural blush, Tarte Exposed, as well as a bit of Urban Decay Naked lipstick to get the final face that is fresh, glowy, and perfect for everyday.

I hope this was helpful for those of you who wanted some extra-precise direction in applying BB Cream. I do want to mention as a disclaimer that there really is no "right way" when it comes to makeup and to experiment with brushes, fingers, sponges, etc. to see what works best for you! For me, the ease of using no primer, brushes, or even setting powders most days makes bb creams a great everyday face makeup winner. :)

Let me know in the comments what you'd like to see in the next "basics" video!

Drugstore Haul & Bloopers!

I'm sure most of you have heard tons of hype about several new drugstore products that have launched recently. In addition to Revlon's Lip Butters and L'Oreal's Infallible eyeshadows, Maybelline has also come out with a new cream shadow product that had me literally going to 4 different stops around town to find!

Here's what I picked up during my hunt below:

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow (999 Eternal Black, 889 Midnight Blue, 891 Continuous Cocoa, and 888 Iced Latte)
Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Eyeshadow (Tough as Taupe, Bad to the Bronze)
Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Plum Wine
L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black
Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow in Sunbaked Neutrals
Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Revlon nail polish in Scandalous

ON ME:

Victoria's Secret Shirt (similar/similar/similar)
Ebay scarf (similar/similar)
Square ring is from Hautelook (invite here)
Nailpolish is Urban Outfitters polish in Hangover (similar/similar)

The black furry thing is my dog, Cherry. :) You can see more of her in my Bday vlog here.

So here are the new Infallible eyeshadows I picked up:
Clockwise from left 891 Continuous Cocoa, 889 Midnight Blue, 999 Eternal Black, and 888 Iced Latte

And here are swatches. You can see the silver glitters in Eternal Black. Midnight Blue and Iced Latte both have a pretty metallic sheen to them while Continuous Cocoa is more of a satin-matte finish. All are incredibly pigmented and long-lasting.

999 Eternal Black / 889 Midnight Blue / 891 Continuous Cocoa / 888 Iced Latte

Here's an alternative swatch image screencapped from my video footage. You can see how Iced Latte has a gold tint to it which is why I love it so much!

The next item I wanted to highlight are the Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows which are a long-wearing cream shadow similar to MAC Paint Pots.

Tough as Taupe is a beautiful matte mushroom grey with slight purple undertones.

Bold to the Bronze is a medium bronze that is slightly cooler than it looks in the pan. I could see this looking nice on both warm and cooler skintones.

Here are my swatchs for the 2 colors I picked up. I only got the 2 most neutral shades because those are the ones I thought I would love the most, but they also do come in several more brighter colors including orange, turquoise, purple, and burgundy.

I have worn these for the last couple of days (ever since I bought them) and they have been stellar in terms of wear. They do dry pretty quickly so I actually prefer using my fingers for application versus a brush to get maximum smudging control. When I swatched my hand yesterday, these didn't come off until I used cleansing oil to remove them at the end of the day! This is something to note for those of you who tend to have issues with, say, NYX Jumbo eye pencils creasing. You'll probably need a waterproof makeup remover to get these off at the end of the night but they last throughout the day which is precisely why I LOVE them!

I want to test some of the other items in my haul out more before I give them a full review but I'll try to put them up here on the blog soon!

Hope you enjoyed my haul and let me know if you picked any of these items up as well, or if you have suggestions of other items I should try. :)

Everyday Monolid Makeup Tutorial

I feel like it's been quite a while since I last posted up a strictly monolid tutorial! I've had a lot of requests for looks that don't involve any type of false lashes. I know falsies can be intimidating and over-the-top for most people to wear on a daily basis, so I wanted to show you guys what I've been wearing lately on days when I want to look a little more dressier but still working with my creaseless eyes.

Watch the video below!

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Urban Decay Primer Potion
Urban Decay Naked Palette (Buck, Virgin, Darkhorse, Creep)
L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in 892 Amber Rush
Wet & Wild Gel Eyeliner
NYX Slide-On Eyeliner Pencil in Jet Black
Stila Pencil in Topaz
Shiseido Eyelash Curler
Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara
K Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Yeyo
Skin79 VIP Gold BB Cream
Nars Concealer in Custard
Tarte Smooth Operator Powder
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch

MY OUTFIT:

Target gingham shirt (old)
J Crew honeycomb sweater
I don't remember where I got the necklace & earrings from!
Silver rings are from ebay
Nailpolish is OPI Pamplona Purple with bronze tips

For those of you who are new to the term "monolid" it refers to the lack of an upper eyelid crease which is common among (but not exclusive to) Asians. As you can see here, there is no distinct crease on my eyelid. To enhance the flat surface, I layered my eyeshadow to create depth and interest, accentuating the almond shape of my eyes.

When I recorded this tutorial, I actually had uneven eyelids, the left eye being a true monolid and my right eye had a very small crease which in Korean we call "sok ssangapul" which literally translates to "inner/hidden eyelid crease" which you can see below.

The main point for this look is to create a soft winged cat eye to emphasize the shape of the eye when open, while avoiding the dreaded "black hole" on your eyes while your eyes are closed which so many monolidders default to. Ideally, the eyes should be attractive open or closed. :)

Layering the steps of waterproof eyeliner (gel liner, then waterproof pencil to smudge, then set with eyeshadow) will help the eyes to stay strong all day and not smudge around giving you panda eyes.

And you know me, I always have to take some sillies with each photoshoot. Kiss, kiss!

I hope you guys enjoyed this tutorial and let me know in the comments what you would like to see next.

I'm thinking I want to focus on doing more "basics" tutorials like how to apply gel/liquid/pencil eyeliner, how to apply foundation, how to apply bb cream, etc but I'd love your feedback on what is most important on your list!