Hey everyone! I'm soooo sorry for my months long hiatus from blogging. It's been a tad crazy ... but I promise you that I'll be back to a normal blogging schedule starting 2010 once a few of my projects are completed and others are well underway (and no longer in prep stages lol) :)
So without further ado ... let's get on with this overly due blog, shall we? Hehe.
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To sum up this past year ... it's sad to say that the ongoing trend (not by choice) has been the giant financial struggle we've all had to deal with. So in light of the situation ... I thought I would add to my DIY series with a few "Money Saving Tips" thrown in every few entries to help all you makeup lovers get by with what you already have (or you can get for very cheap).
My first tip is to invest in loose translucent powder.
That's right ... loose translucent powder can be used in so many different ways, that it is definitely worth the investment.
1. Setting foundation and concealer
Why not start with the most obvious? As mentioned in previous entries ... you should always set your foundation and concealer with a setting powder to ensure longevity. It is also useful in mattifying your skin if you're a victim of oily pores.
*application tip* :: pat and roll the product instead of brushing it on. This will ensure that you are setting the product, not brushing/swiping the product off. I highly recommend a powder puff to apply.
2. Setting your eyeshadow/eyeliner
If you're worried about losing intensity of the eyeshadow during the day ... pat on a light layer of your translucent powder over your desired eye look and this should set it for a few more hours without reducing the intensity of your eyeshadow colors.
3a. Preventing an under eye mess
I believe I've mentioned this before in a previous entry, but no harm in repeating good advice, right? :) Start by applying a generous amount of loose powder under the eye prior to potentially messy eyeshadow applications. Then go about your normal eyeshadow application process. Once the application process is finished ... grab a big fluffy brush and gently sweep away the loose powder and eyeshadow fall out to reveal a nice, clean under eye area.
3b. Fixing an under eye mess
Forget to use the 3a method and created a mess? No worries! You can clean up the mess under your eyes by grabbing a smaller fluffy brush and blending away the mess with some of your loose translucent powder. Blend, blend, BLEND until the product is gone. It shouldn't take too long.
4. Blending your eyeshadow
This is probably my favorite use for my loose translucent powder (apart from keeping my oily face under control haha). Instead of adding color after color to create a blended look, I rely on my loose translucent powder to do that job for me without losing the integrity of my colors. Perfection.
5. Smoothly applying streaky blush formulas
Ever find yourself tossing out pretty toned blushes/bronzers because of its horrible streaky formulation? I'm definitely guilty of having done that. Thank goodness I tried out the following method--much better for the wallet: Apply a thin layer of loose translucent powder to cheeks prior to blush application ... then easily blend on the blush/bronzer.
6. Softening up heavy handed makeup applications
Do you over-apply your makeup? Ever find one side of your face slightly overdone than the other? No problem! Just take a big fluffy brush and gently buff the area until desired softness. Easy enough, right?
So there you go ... with just one product you can fix/prevent any under eye fallout messes, soften up your heavy handed makeup application, keep your streaky powder products, AND set your makeup look and increase the longevity of your makeup without having to reapply and waste product.
So? What are you waiting for? Go out and get yourself some loose translucent powder. You won't be disappointed.
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Happy makeup-ing!xoxo,
Grace
makeup@gracechun.com
www.twitter.com/gracechunmua
