The Hype About CC Creams and BB Creams

The beauty industry has created tons of products that vow to make your skin flawless. In case you are new to makeup shopping, the long list of products can be quite confusing. Two of the most recent products to hit the market are the CC cream and the BB cream and they seem to be all the rave so read on to find out why, and what’s the difference between them.

Although these products are named after an acronym with only two letters, they can actually do a lot for your skin. Here’s what you need to know about these creams:

BB Creams Blemish Balm Cream

BB creams took the Asian market by storm and spread throughout the west quickly after. BB cream stands for “Blemish Balm cream” and is suitable for any skin type. It varies in coverage, ranging from matte finish to dewy effect.

BB creams are a lot lighter than foundations. They allow your skin to breathe more without compromising coverage. It has sun protection as well as anti- skin aging benefits. This product can be used for both men and women.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions BB Cream SPF 40

If you have naturally oily skin or have many blemishes, this BB cream is the right product for you. It has a matte effect that can last for 12 hours. It also has sun protection and it is available in medium to light medium shade.

Link: http://www.cosme-de.com/en/product/product_page.html?pdid=11721

Christian Dior DiorSnow UV Shield BB Creme White reveal UV protection SPF 50 - PA+++

This BB cream is lightweight in texture and has a great smell, as well. Despite being light, this product has an amazing finish on your skin. It also has SPF 50 to protect your skin against the harmful rays of the sun.


Link: http://www.cosme-de.com/en/product/product_page.html?pdid=11217

CC Creams Color Correcting Creams

CC creams, on the other hand, are certain times called as “Color Correcting Creams” because of their ability to give your skin instant protection while improving your skin tone. Technically, CC creams are lighter than the BB Creams. They are also fast absorbing.

Erborian High Definition Radiance Face CC Cream Skin Perfector SPF25 Sunscreen

This CC cream works great if you have fair skin. It protects and nourishes your skin while hiding away those unwanted dark spots and blemishes. Since it is in HD, this product will make you look instantly flawless.



Knowing a lot of product is not totally a bad idea. Since you have several choices, you won’t be having a hard time finding one that fits your skin best.


Have you tried any BB or CC creams? Let us know in the comments below.

Other Than Chocolates: A Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Her

 No, you can’t be giving her chocolates again.

While you might have probably spent the last couple of months trying to find something other than chocolates and flowers, you still end up buying and giving her that. Why? Because Valentine’s Day means roses and sweets. Or not

Women love beauty. It’s a fact. Women spent hours prepping up for a date. So, why not grab something else? Here’s a list.

·         Estée Lauder Resilience Lift 3-Piece Skincare TravelSet 

First, it’s Estée Lauder. She’ll appreciate that you’ve saved enough to buy her the brand. It’s also in a travel set. It’ll be just enough for her to try the formula on her skin and see if it delivers what it promises. It’ll be easy to carry around, too

Because it’s Estée Lauder, the set has to be inside the known blue and purple geometric designed bag. The set includes

• Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting / Firming Serum (0.5oz / 15ml) promises to reduce fine lines and wrinkles at a faster time.
• Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Crème SPF 15 (0.24oz / 7ml) enhances the skin’s moisture for a younger look.
• Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Eye Crème (0.17oz / 5ml) gives the skin around the eyes the boost it needs to feel refreshed.

·         Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skincare Travel Set

Elizabeth Arden’s name is popular among women. Her cosmetic products, however, are even more popular. The set contains:

• Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant (Fragrance Free) (50ml) is the first product to have Elizabeth Arden’s name on it. While she can use this to primarily protect her skin from chapping and drying, the product can also be used to scrub the lips and even condition the cuticles.
• Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer For Face (15ml) has SPF15 PA++. It moisturizes the skin while protecting it against harmful UV rays.
• Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick (3.7g) has SPF15. No more cracked lips.

·         Clinique 7-Piece Bonus Travel Set

You can’t go wrong with a Clinique product. It’s even a 7-piece set. What more could she ask for? The set has:

• Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser (0.5oz / 15ml) that can remove all the make-up on her skin before she goes to bed.
• All About Eyes (0.17oz / 5ml) takes away that tired look on her face. It’s a cream to reduce the puffiness and shadows she has been telling you about the whole day.
• Even Better Brightening Moisture Cream Plus (0.5oz / 15ml) deeply moisturizes the skin and makes sure it’s locked in.
• Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector (0.5oz / 15ml) has been clinically proven. Say goodbye to dark spots and acne scars.
• Even Better Makeup has SPF 15/ PA++ 0.24oz / 7ml (64 Cream Beige (M-G)). It’s a sunscreen, a foundation and an uneven skin tone corrector.
• Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm 0.04oz / 1.2g (04 Mega Melon) has Shea butters. It’s perfect to keep those lips hydrated.
• Lash Power Mascara 0.08oz / 2.5ml (01 Black Onyx) works to give her that long curly lashes.

If you can’t find one on the list, you can purchase the perfect gift for her this Valentine’s Day here . Remember, it could be something else other than chocolates.

How to get the au naturel makeup look?

Less is more when it comes to the latest trend in makeup. There is even a growing hashtag – #nomakeup – on Instagram.

Last summer, Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston uploaded a picture of herself and her hairstylist on the social media app, looking sun-kissed and relaxed. The bare-faced look soon became a trend among celebrities and models worldwide.

The au naturel look is all about fresh, radiant and natural-looking skin with minimal makeup. Foundation is normally abandoned. Just a touch of concealer and a dab of highlighter are applied to make the skin look luminous.

Here are some great tips to get a natural glow without using a ton of makeup:

1. Moisture, moisture, moisture
The key is hydration. Our skin is constantly in need of moisture so if we give it the right boost, it will plump up immediately. Use a 3-step skincare routine that is suitable for your skin, plus brightening products, then your skin is ready to glow.

2. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the best way to brighten dull skin as it removes dead skin cells. Scrub at least twice a week to keep your face looking fresh.  

3. Apply a brightening mask
Many people think that serum is enough to hydrate skin and often skips using facial masks. Actually, face masks complement the skincare regimen by providing the skin with essential nutrients such as antioxidants and vitamins. Apply a mask once a week and it will give a natural glow to your skin instantly.

4. Dab on a highlighter
To give your face a dewy boost, apply a highlighter after concealing skin imperfections. Swipe and dab onto the contours of the face: bridge of nose, cheekbones, brow bone, and chin.

5. Drink green tea
Green tea is rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin C, which helps reduce wrinkles and get rid of free radicals that damage skin. It also gives a boost of collagen and elastin to keep your skin radiant. 

So there you have it. All it takes to achieve that perfect natural look are a few simple steps. What are your beauty tips to achieve the very popular au naturel look? Let us know in the comments!

Get rid of facial puffiness in the morning

The lack of sleep, drinking too much water before going to sleep or eating too much overly salty food will affect the body's detox ability during the sleep and thus creating puffiness. Lifting products and massage are your SOS.

If one day you wake up with puffed face, even makeup wouldn't be able to cover up, the best way to improve puffiness in a short time is to use lifting and firming serums, plus 5 minutes of massage for the face. Many make up artists and models recommend Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum (top), together with Clarins' unique facial massage, the puffiness on your face will be improved in 10 seconds. Clinque Repairwear Contour Firming Formula (bottom) is another star product to improve facial firmness.

Other than SOS facial cream and massage, you should eat less overly salty food, and remember to drink a lot of water to wash out the old dirt inside your body.

Must have: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Recently, I have switched my whole skincare routine to Clinique, for about a month now. And the products have been great, but one particular product out of all I really have to share with you all!

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

The texture is like lip balm, and no water is needed at the time of application, remember to apply it on a dry face. Start with your cheeks, when you rub it, it will become oil-like. Keep rubbing to your nose, then your chin, then forehead.

The great thing about this balm is that it could be used to cleanse lipstick and eye makeup! How amazing! But I always leave the lip and eye at last so the colour won't smear other parts of you face that much. When the eye makeup is really thick, although it's normally enough with one time cleansing with the balm, I would apply again on only around the eye area to make sure all makeup is gone.

How to cleanse it?
Just use warm water to thoroughly wash off the balm like other facial cleansing foam. Then the skin will feel supple and clean. Follow by daily skincare routine afterwards.

And you don't need to apply much every time, so that's why I have been using it for about a month now, and I have only scratched the surface of it!

Try it yourself, this is really THE product to have! :D

Tis' the season to be jolly!

Sha la la la la, la la la la!

Have you completed your Christmas shopping yet? Or worse still, are you like me, who had barely started?! I know. It's nerve wrecking when you think about how many people you ought to shop for and how much you haven't accomplish. Very, very daunting thought.

But well, we have to get started somehow and for the lovely women in your life, what better way then getting them looking and smelling good? And trust me, no woman, absolutely no woman doesn't love a good beauty product as gift. We have some for your pickings... But try not to keep them to yourself and be the good friend, daughter/son, sister/brother wife/husband that you are!

Guerlain Meteorites Poudre D'or Exceptional Pressed Powder, US$126 (Limited Edition)

Guerlain Meteorites Poudre D'or Exceptional Pressed Powder (Refillable) is a stunning mix of beige/gold illuminating powder accented with lavender, pink and white bees, all in a stunning collector compact decorated with real black Swarovski crystals. A surprising new powder design featuring imperial bees.

L'Occitane Immortelle Skincare Travel Set, US$28 

 

 L'Occitane Immortelle Skincare Travel Set includes:

• Immortelle Biologique Brightening Cleansing Foam 50ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Cleansing Foam is a gentle face cleanser that's enriched with Immortelle floral water and citrus fruit peel to lighten and brighten the complexion. It lathers away impurities, make-up, and accumulation of daily or nightly residue. For all skin types.
• Immortelle Biologique Essential Water Face 30ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Essential Water Face is a toner with anti-aging benefits: Formulated with Immortelle floral water, this toner removes traces of make-up and impurities and continues the anti-aging process. Alcohol free and enriched with moisturizing agents, toning Green Tea extract and firming Centella Asiatica, the face is pleasantly refreshed, toned and the skin is firmed. Apply after Foaming Milk, or on its own for instant freshness.
• Immortelle Biologique Precious Cream 3ml
Precious Cream is a smooth, light, fondant-textured skincare treatment for daily use and is suitable for normal to dry skins. Immortelle essential oil, concentrated into micros-capsules for 24-hour release, is combined with nourishing phytoceramides, restructuring vitamin A and vitamin E with anti-free radical action.
• Tote Bag, size around 35cm x 29cm

Jill Stuart Fairy Garden Collection, US$89 (Limited Edition)

 

Christmas night, with snowflakes falling like glittering flower petals. Christmas fairies invite you to their secret garden and enjoy the happy moments! Jill Stuart Fairy Garden Collection (Limited Edition) includes:

• Jewel Crystal Eyes #104 Fragile Opal
Delicately overlapping pearls, glittering like an aurora, give you gentle, delicate eyes. Glittering with a light, cute sparkle, like fairies.
• Loose Powder N #101 Twinkle Dust
A fine purple, like the delicate dust left when a fairy takes off. The softness of fairy wings. Loose powder that brings you pure skin, glowing with translucence.
• Jelly Lip Gloss #103 Crystal Kiss
Like a delicate, fragile kiss, gone in a fleeting instant. Jelly Lip Gloss that brings delicate color and sparkle to your lips.
• Jill by Jill Stuart Fragrance Sachet x 2
A fragrance sachet from which the sweet and refreshing fragrance of Jill by Jill Stuart gently emanates.
• Fairy Garden Pouch, size around 13.5cm x 14.5cm x 13.5cm

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skincare Travel Set, US$38

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skincare Travel Set includes:

• Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant 30ml
• Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer for Face SPF 15 30ml
• Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense for Face SPF 50 High Protection 30ml
• Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15 0.13oz / 3.7g
• White Cosmetic Bag, size around 20cm x 14.5cm

Clinique Happy Perfume Spray, US$53 (50ml)

Clinique Happy Perfume Spray is chic, modern, multi-layered floral with sparkling, lingering fragrance of Ruby Red Grapefruit, Boysenberry Bush Flower and Hawaiian Wedding Flower. Wear it and be happy!

Dramatic skin-evening results from Clinique

Blame it on the sun, genes or lack of moisture from the winter season that just passed us. Women are at high risk of developing dark spots on the skin, a notoriously stubborn problem.

But before you seek out a brightening procedure with your doctor, try Clinique's Derma White Clinical Brightening Essence, US$86. Designed exclusively for Asian skin based on Clinique's rich dermatological expertise, this ground-breaking innovation uses Clinique's most advanced technology to deliver clear, even-toned and translucent skin in as quick as four weeks.

Powered by CL-302 complex 
 The secret behind Derma White Clinical Brightening Essence lies in its top-notch formula that's powered by the breakthrough CL-302 complex with vitamin C and other ingredients that is clinically proven to improve evenness of skin tone, radiance and clarity.

It consists of five synergistic brightening ingredients, including:

• A rare botanical extract derived from Dianella ensifolia (Border Silver) - fights free radicals, reduces and prevents the appearance of uneven, pigmented skin and contains anti-irritant properties to soothe sensitive skin.
• Ascorbyl glucoside - a potent vitamin C derivative to even out existing and emerging dark spots.
• Blackout yeast extract - breaks up large clusters of pigment at the skin's surface intro microscopic particles that are eventually diffused.
• Acetyl glucosamine and salicylic acid - regulate cell turnover and help to shed pigmented skin cells for renewed clarity and brightness.

Not all sunscreens are made equal
Did you know that other than UV rays, harmful pollutants can also penetrate and irritate the skin, causing excess melanin production? To keep your skin dark spot-free, even-toned and radiant, step up on your current Derma White regimen and shield your skin against environmental aggressors with Derma White City Block SPF40/PA+++, US$45.

Also, dermatologist-produced and proven, fragrance-free and allergy tested, this new formula contains an invisible pollution filter, potent antioxidants and brighteners to help skin appear more even-toned. The subtly tinted, lightweight oil-free cream, which is suitable for all skin types, also imparts a flawless protective base that primes skin for makeup application.

Like many women, I've suffered from uneven skin tone and other than using foundation to give the appearance of a smooth complexion, I wasn't sure how to solve the problem until I started using these two products. After two weeks of daily application, I witness a subtle yet obvious brightening in my skin and even without makeup, my complexion is fresh and more even toned!

Keep the parties going!!!

How are you all pretty ladies? Party party party at Christmas? Let's not let it stop, keep on partying!

Happy 2010!

While the make-up are drying up your skin, use this magical Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion with Pump. I first thought it would be oily (as it looks very thick textured), but actually it's more watery to oily. And VERY moisturising. Love it. Use it to replenish the water your skin needs, and then move on to the next party tonight!!

My own Clinique 2-step skin care system

Clinique's 3-step skin care system is very well-known, I am not sure how many people are following it completely, I just know that I am not one of them. I have created my Clinique 2-step skin care system. Since for its Step 1: Cleanse, I replace it by Bioderma Non-rinse cleanser which I wrote about a while back on this blog. It's simple and fast, can be used for eyes and mouth and face.

Then it's Step 2: Exfoliate

I use Clinique Clarifying Lotion No.2 (normal/combination skin) for exfoliation, my face feels very clean and fresh everytime I use it. But I have to admit that although they say that it's alcohol-free, it's very strong when I sweep on my face with the cotton pad, every time I do it, I have to close my eyes and stop breathing, otherwise my eyes and nose wouldn't feel well. Anyway, afterwards my face feels cool and fresh, and as the product description said "A gentle 'tingle' tells you it's working", and that's what I feel on my face, so I suppose it works every time! :D

Step 3: Moisturize

I bought this Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Relief solely for my long-haul plane ride in June initially, and after that I have put it aside for the whole summer. It's only until recently, the weather becomes drier, and it comes back to my magical product. Every morning and evening, I would apply it after the Clarifying Lotion, before the foundation. I can feel that my skin immediately becomes more supple and smooth, and elastic. It's a perfect product for Autumn/Winter seasons.