Tuesday, November 22, 2011

z.ky: Skin Profile

As I will be reviewing BB creams and other skincare products, I thought it'd be helpful to describe my skin type. So if we have similar type and flaws, you can be reasonably sure that you'll get the same results I get from various products! Hopefully this helps :)


Note: I do not have blue skin.

Skin type - Combination skin:
Moderately oily nose and chin, normal to dry cheeks and forehead. Becomes normal and dry respectively in the wintertime. Needs extra oil control for the nose, chin, and surrounding areas in hot weather.

Problem areas:
Dark circles underneath eyes, dark shadows around eyes, visible pores on nose, redness around nose. Dry patches appear under tearduct and on eyelid occasionally. Fine lines directly underneath tearduct.

Good points:
Texture is very smooth, have never experienced acne - no scarring present.

Makeup routine:
I only use concealer for my dark circles - I hate the feeling of foundation, so I never use it. I use oil-blotting papers or tissue paper to blot away any excess oil during the day.



November 2011 Skin Routine:

Day
Pond's Flawless White Visibly Lightening Daily UV Cream SPF 15/PA++ (available in Asia only)
Pond's Flawless White Light Infusing Under-Eye Cream (available in Asia only)
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum

Night
Pond's Flawless White Re-Brightening Night Treatment (available in Asia only)
Pai Echium Organic Eye Cream

I'm in the process of switching out my skincare routine for more natural/organic, paraben- and silicone-free products, starting with the Pai eye cream. The Pond's whitening range was excellent before it was repackaged/reformulated as Flawless White - it used to come in a white and navy container. Now I find the day cream a little too reminiscent of pure suncream, while the night and eye cream are good but not mind-blowing. I have a review on the Pai Echium Eye Cream coming up, but first up is Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream!

Friday, November 18, 2011

z.ky reviews: Maycare Double Eyelid Eye Tape

For a couple of dollars, I bought a pack of Maycare double eyelid tape - for fun, since I have hidden double eyelids already. That is, the outer edge is visible, but overall not very dramatic or overly visible. There's no point in showing pictures of my eyelid, as everyone's eyelid shape is different. In addition to that, you can achieve different effects depending on the positioning of the tape; apply it higher for a more dramatic effect, but beware that it may cause the skin of your eyelid to fold over and lose the effect. Experimentation is key!





The pack contains 72 pairs of tape, nicely presented, including a plastic applicator similar to the one included with double eyelid glues.

From looking up other brands of tape, this one seems to be relatively discreet - it's not thick, doesn't have a strange pattern/airholes, nor does it leave any residue. It will last at least half a day (I took it off after that amount of time) and is quite comfortable - similar to wearing (well-applied) false lashes. I haven't tried using it with make-up on, but I imagine that I would first apply the eyelid tape, then stick to eyeliner and mascara only.

This is what I've gathered from my research on double eyelid tape brands:

- Nexcare: Most breathable.
- Eye Charm: Seems to have good reviews.
- Wonder: Not as big as Eye Charm, but more natural.
- Maycare: Moderately natural, inexpensive.