Out of Office

Currently be away studying Certificate II of Makeup @ Academy of Makeup, Brisbane.  Will be back in November with more details.

Now here is another challenge, what to put into my pro-makeup kit.

Eye Primer
* Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion - A$22.18
From Beautybay.com (free worldwide delivery)

Eye Shadows
*

Foundation

Lipsticks

All About Brushes

You could have the most exclusive limited edition beauty products in the world but if you don't know how to apply them, you might as well stick to the drug store brands. Brushes can be your road to flawless looking skin and makeup, but not all brushes are made the same. Here is a look at the main shapes of brushes and what they should be used for. 

Foundation Brush:

There is some debate over whether a brush, sponge, or fingers is the best way to apply foundation, but for anyone who hasn’t tried a foundation brush, I would suggest giving it a go. It is the easiest way to maintain even coverage and work the product into your skin. If you’re worried about streaking, be sure to blend the product well and you can give it a quick sweep with your fingers to clear any remaining creases.

Stippling Brush:

A less common method of foundation application, a stippling brush has a stiff, flat surface that is great for layering higher coverage foundation. A bouncing motion on the skin helps this brush cover evenly and there are absolutely no streaks.

Powder Brush: 

Contrary to popular opinion, when using a powder brush, bigger isn’t always better. A more tapered and directional brush can help you buff powder into the surface of your skin rather than let it sit on top. A tightly packed brush will help distribute the product evenly and quickly.

Blush Brush:

As with the powder brush, a tapered blush brush is always best. When in doubt, choose a smaller brush so that you can apply thoughtfully. If the brush is bigger than the area on the apple of your cheek, you can guarantee that you’ll have too much product on your face.

Concealer Brush:

A concealer brush is one of the most useful brushes you have in your kit as it can help evenly distribute more opaque products. Concealer, like all other facial products, should be well blended with the skin and this tightly packed and dense brush can do just that with little effort.

Fan Brush:

A fan brush is another way of distributing powder on the face but works best for illuminating or highlighting powders meant to be worn on the cheekbone or around the eye. A larger powder brush is more efficient if you’re looking for overall application.

Bronzer Brush:

A blush brush or smaller powder brush will do the trick for applying bronzer but specially designed bronzer brushes are usually made with contouring in mind so think about how you use the product before investing in a new brush.

Sponge Applicator:

Another method of applying foundation, the main issue with sponges is that they, by nature, absorb liquid and therefore absorb product. To keep you from wasting money and makeup, always use a sponge applicator damp so that the sponge has less space to pick up product.

Shadow Brush:

A shadow brush is great for overall application and blending. If you’re applying a big makeup look, going back over your eyes once you're finished with a large shadow brush can smooth out any rough lines and blend the products together.

Crease Brush:

A crease brush is perfect for highlighting the socket line of the eye. If you have droopy or saggy lids, highlighting the crease can add depth to your eye makeup look.

Cream Shadow Brush:

As its name suggests, this brush is great for blending cream shadows into the lid. It’s also great for blending shadow into smaller areas of the eye.

Smudge Brush:

A smudge brush is perfect for applying, and smudging, dense bursts of color. Whether you use it to blend in a kohl liner or heavily pigmented shadow, a smudge brush can help you apply color where you want it without a mess.

Eyeliner Brush:

This type of eyeliner brush works best for applying gel or powder liners. A small, dense brush helps to evenly apply the liner. Additionally, this type of brush also works perfectly for concealer if you have any blemishes or small imperfections.

Lip Brush:

Most people overlook lip brushes as lipsticks and glosses often come packaged to not need an extra applicator but especially if you’re applying lipstick, a lip brush can help you to work the product into your lips and get that flawless finish, especially in the outer corners. A lip brush is also great for people who don’t like to line their lips as it can get a smooth clean line around the edges.

Source: Sarah Joynt on TheFashionSpot,com

MAC Cosmetics at Target

US cosmetics and fragrance giant Estée Lauder has launched legal action against Target Australia for selling counterfeit MAC Cosmetics at its stores.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/business/target-sued-by-us-giant-for-selling-fake-cosmetics-20120907-25iq2.html#ixzz25ki7Ma00

Japanese vs Korean Makeup

Paris Local Chemist (Drug Store)

Vogue Australia's Best Beauty Finds in Paris

Caudalie Eau de Beauté

Abbey Lee Kershaw named Caudalie Eau de Beauté her top French pharmacy find, saying the refreshing, fragrant spray was like having a cup of coffee. It's super refreshing and smells amazing. Keep it in the fridge during summer months for a dermal pick-me-up.

Boiron Homéoplasmine
No French make-up artist’s kit is complete without this ubiquitous pink tube, and models like Jessica Stam stock up on it whenever they visit the city of lights. The non-greasy salve is perfect for prepping the lips for lipstick and heals chapped skin in record time.

Bioderma Crealine
Another make-up artist must-have, Crealine is spotted backstage at fashion weeks all over the world as it's the hands down fastest and easiest way to remove make-up: simply wipe a soaked cotton pad over skin, eyes and lips for scrubbed-clean perfection.

Avibon Vitamin A Cream
Pumped full of skin-clearing and wrinkle-blitzing Vitamin A, this anti-ageing cream is a secret weapon of stylists, editors and movie stars. Gwyneth Paltrow couldn’t rate it highly enough on Goop.

La Roche Posay  50+ Anthelios XL Melt-In Cream
This super-strength, broad-spectrum sunscreen is a favourite of make-up artists, who use it to protect models on outdoor shoots. The ‘melt-in’ texture is non-greasy, making it ideal for under make-up, it’s also non-perfumed and paraben-free, so is sensitive-skin friendly.

Avène Eau Thermale Water Spray
A super soothing spray, perfect for cooling and refreshing when your skin is having a hissy fit. The whole range is designed for sensitive skin so doesn’t contain any nasties, and is pumped with über-hydrating thermal water.  (Available in Australian pharmacies)

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre 
This cult cream is a true all-rounder. Slather it on thick for an intensive moisture mask, wipe it over make-up as a cold-cream cleanser or pile it on dry skin and let the soothing blend of shea butter, beeswax and aloe vera hydrate skin back to health.

RoC Retin-Ox Wrinkle Filler
This plumping fine line fixer contains collagen-building and acne-clearing Retinol as well as hydrating Hyaluronic acid, which may explain why four tubes are sold every five minutes in France.  (Available in Australian pharmacies) 

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
Not only does this oil-absorbing dry shampoo work wonders in lieu of a shower, its also the ultimate quick fix for volume and texture. Stylists use it backstage to breathe new life into flagging blow-dries and over styled strands.  (Available in Australian pharmacies)

My Best Beauty Finds - Australian Local Chemist

Cleanser - Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Exfoliator - Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub
Moisturizer (Summer) - Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15 
Moisturizer (Winter) - still looking for the perfect winter moisturizer
Hydrator - Avène Eau Thermale Water Spray

Beauty QQ - Beauty Secrets

Queenie Chan is from Taiwan / Hong Kong and is an ex flight attendant turn make-up artist and beauty columnist in Hong Kong.