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The BB Cream Craze

By Carleenp · Comments (1)

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

BB creams can be called the one-stop-shop of everything related to makeup and skin care. Why is it so? There are several reasons why BB creams are the talk of the town at this time and day and it will all be discussed in this article.

What are BB Creams for?

This is one of the big questions when it comes to BB creams. Those who may have not heard of this product in the past may be left scratching their heads and wondering what the product even is. In simple terms, these products are multi-purpose creams that can act as the all-in-one, one-stop-shop, go-to face cream. These creams are great for those who are short on time for their face routines or for those who don’t want to do so many steps, but it’s actually also excellent for those who are seeking a miracle product as well.

Depending on the formulation, BB creams can:

Moisturize - Most of these products are designed to keep your skin moisturized. As a matter of fact almost all BB creams are supposed to be hydrating to the skin.
Protect from UVA/UVB Rays – Sun protection is very important when it comes to skin care as it keeps the skin young and healthy. SPF is an important factor in keeping the skin free of wrinkles for as long as possible to maintain a youthful glow, and most BB’s have SPF-just look for the right one for you.
Anti-Wrinkle – Some formulations of BB creams have components in them that can help to prevent wrinkles. There are even some formulas that are specifically for anti-aging.
Skin Brightening/Lightening - Because many Asian women desire to have their skin appearing lighter, many formulations of BB creams are targeted for lightening. However, skin brightening formulations can bring out the skin’s inner radiance, slowly fading old blemish scars and marks to make the skin beautiful in the long term.
Blemish Healing – BB creams were first formulated as salves for those who underwent laser surgery, and as such most formulations have retained their skin-healing properties. Some formulas are made to help with acne and other skin problems.
Makeup Base or Foundation - Most BB creams have pigment to them that makes them tinted. As such, they may provide light to heavy coverage akin to those of foundations.

Who knows what other purposes BB creams have nowadays, especially with cosmetics companies dreaming up product after product after product. There is one simple thing to be said about these products-and that is that their convenience is truly unbeatable. With so many purposes and uses these products can have, it’s truly no surprise that so many find them to be the miracle product, the one-stop-shop.

South Korean actresses were the first to really discover this product for the beauty purpose and since then the craze has undoubtedly begun. Today, BB creams are popular the world over-from South Korea to Japan, South East Asia and today, even the USA, Europe and Australia.

This article was written by Chrissy, the content writer and editor for Smart Poppy–Australia’s Top Online Cosmetics Discounter.

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

About the Author: Carleen Coulter

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Categories : Makeup, Primer, Skin

Tags : BB Cream

Best Of Make Up For Ever Kit Review

By Carleenp · Comments (0)

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Make Up For Ever is one of my favorite brands overall. Their aqua eyes liners are simply incredible (see aqua eyes swatches at Beauty and Fashion Tech), and both their liquid and powder high definition foundations are my regular daily use foundations. Make Up For Ever also makes good primers and lip products. A good way to test them out is through the Best of Make Up For Ever Kit at Sephora.

The kit contains the following products:

High Definition Microfinish Powder: A wonderful finish powder.

Aqua Cream in 13 Warm Beige (champagne shimmer): A beautiful shimmer highlighting cream that is great as a pretty overall shimmer eye shade or as an eye highlighting cream (which is how I use it).

Travel Aqua Eyes in Mat Black 0L (black): I love aqua eyes. The liners are seriously waterproof, glide on easily, and wear all day and evening.

Lab Shine Lip Gloss in Star Collection – S4 (pearly pink beige): A pretty pink gloss in a neutral shade that will work for just about anyone.

High Definition Microperfecting Primer: a great overall skin and makeup primer.

Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara: a Good basic black mascara for daily use.

Here are swatches of the the Make Up For Ever Lab Shine Gloss and Aqua Cream.

Overall, I love this kit and highly recommend it.

Buy it at Sephora

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Categories : Color, Gifts, Gloss, Highlighter, Makeup, Powder, Primer

Tags : Make Up For Ever, Swatches

Four Steps To Perfect Eye Makeup

By Carleenp · Comments (0)

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

How to Apply Eye Makeup

Applying eye makeup is not always an easy task. Sure, you could just slather on some eye shadow, but for a flawless all-day look, it is best to take some care. Below are three tips to getting you on your way to the best eye makeup application. All of the items below can be found at Sephora.

Start with a primer:

Eye primer fills in tiny lines and smoothes the surface, allowing for more even coverage and longer wear for your eye shadow. One often recommended product is Primer Potion from Urban Decay. If you are going natural and jsut want to even things up, it can be worn alone, but it really works best a a base for shadow. Primer Potion prevents your shadow from smudging and creasing, and it help keep your color lasting all day.

Choose the best eye shadow palette:

Choose the best shadow shades for your skin tone and eye color goes a long way toward creating the perfect look. For a natural day look, find a good basic set of neutral shades for daily wear. Then, pick some favorite stronger hues for evening wear.

Look for multiple use palettes, such as the below palette from Tarte, which offers shades appropriate for both day and evening wear in a variety of pretty colors. The kit is packaged in a cute case with a shadow brush and eyeliner for simple application.

Apply Shadow Carefully. Less Is More:

One of the most fundamental makeup mistakes is applying too much. too bright of a shade during the day, or too much of any shade can look garish and will only act to age your appearance. this doesn’t mean that you can’t wear fun shades, it simply means to proceed with caution anytime you start getting brave with shadow. For a simple look, apply a light shade to the brow bone, a medium shade to the lid and use a darker shade as a liner. drama can be added by darkening the crease. Save the bright shades and high contrast items for evening looks, or for fun daytime outings where a neutral professional look is not required.

Use a Quality Mascara:

Mascara completes the eye makeup routine. An often used rule for a natural look is that women with dark eyes and hair should use black mascara, while those with blue eyes and light hair should chooser brown mascara. However, that certainly is not set in stone, and many pale skinned women will look quite good in black mascara. Black is also the best for all evening looks. there are numerous quality mascaras on the market. For the best look, curl lashes first, wipe your mascara brush in order to prevent clumps, and apply one coat of mascara. For greater drama, wait for the first coat to dry, fill and wipe the brush again, and apply one more gentle coat. DiorShow Iconic Mascara an all around great product for any more dramatic mascara look, as well as for regular wear. For more natural looking and thinner lashes, Lancome Definicils Mascara does a nice job of providing natural definition and length.

Shop for Makeup at Sephora