Skincare Routine #1

As of the beginning of this year, I have focused my energy on committing to a skincare routine in hopes of making my makeup application improve. So far so good and here's the 411.

The team that is to improve my skin!

Makeup Removers:

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Soap&Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser

Bioderma Sensibio H2O

Annayake Gel Demaquillant (sample)

My makeup removal routine depends on how much makeup I am wearing. I use the cleansing oil when I have heavy makeup or have been playing around with editorial looks as it removes all my makeup in one go and isn't a hassle. I use the hot cloth cleanser when removing minimal makeup and it works just as efficiently. I find that the Bioderma toner is gentle yet efficient at removing eye makeup. However, the Annayake makeup remover does not perform as well as the others and feels thick and as if it has just moved your makeup about rather than get it off. But I use it to remove all the swatches from the back of my hands after visits to the mall. 

Cleanser and Scrub:

Annayake Active Cleansing Foam

The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion

I cannot rave about this cleanser enough! With the smallest amount it creates the most abundant lather and leaves your skin squeaky clean without leaving it dry. It has a very luxurious soapy scent.

I only use this scrub when I want a more smoother makeup application. It is quite harsh and I wouldn't recommend it to overly sensitive skin but it sure does leave your skin feeling new and smooth.

Pimple Treatment:

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

Annayake Extreme Radiance Mask

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

Despite such a skincare routine, pimples are inevitable for me. I use the Effaclar Duo as a sort of spot treatment and it really does make a difference. After applying it to a budding pimple, the next day the redness, swelling and appearance has drastically reduced. As recommended by the sales woman for Annayake, I have started to apply the smallest amount of the mask directly on to my pimples. After 5mins, I wash it off and the appearance has reduced and I feel as if the impurities have been taken out! I only use the tea tree oil on really stubborn spots as I feel its very harsh but it helps overall.

Eye Creams:

Nuxe Anti Fatigue Moisturising Eye Cream

Annayake Soothing Eye Contour Care (sample)

Eye care isn't the main priority of my skincare however its never too early to start. I use the Nuxe cream in the mornings mainly. The Annayake eye contour care really helps to sooth your eyes and in my experience really helped reduce puffiness after binge watching Orange is the New Black and Hannibal. ( Why do I have to wait so long for season3?! *crys*)

Moisturisers:

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast

Jojoba Oil

Annayake 24hr Creme

Upon recommendation of the talented Lisa Eldridge I picked the cicaplast pro-recovery skincare. I use it mainly on dried up spots and it really helps in added some moisture back into it and helps concealing it easier. I use Jojoba oil mostly on acne scars and as a neck moisturiser. The Annayake 24hr cream is out of this world moisturising! You only need a little bit and use it as a night moisturiser. When you first apply it the cream its slightly runny giving you time to spread it around your face and then it almost thickens and your skin completely absorbs it. I wake up to such soft smooth skin now.

Lip Care:

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm

Being a matte lipstick lover, smooth lips are a must have. The lush lip scrub is a favourite of mine and although you can make your own scrub, I feel the results aren't as good or maybe I'm not good at DIY's? The Nuxe lip balm rave is one rave that you MUST follow! This lip balm adds so much moisture and waking up the morning after using it, my lips are still moisturised. I also like to use this before applying matte lipsticks because unlike other lip balms this one doesn't have a slippery glossy feel to it and is rather thick thus provides a more truthful matte lip whilst still having a moisturised lip.

Sun Protection:

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturiser

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen

Living in a country where temperatures above 40°C are a norm, sun protection is a must. During the summer, I have been leaning towards the Aveeno daily moisturiser more due the SPF, although it does have a some glitter in it. Days where I know I'm going to be out for long I will apply a separate sunscreen under my makeup even if my foundation has a SPF just to be safe.

The skincare main skincare products are Annayake and I highly recommend their products. Although expensive, they live definitely show results. Some days I try not to put any skincare and makeup products on just to let my skin breathe a bit and just wash my face with water.

This will be the first of many skincare posts and hope you've enjoyed!

Shini 

INGLOT Jon Hennessey Workshop

A few weeks ago I attended the Inglot store re-launch at Al Wadha Mall. A makeup masterclass was held by makeup artist and Inglot Ambassador, Jon Hennessey, who is also the owner and creative director of NOBASURA Agency.

 I got to see the Perfect Eyes and Foundation Course where he spoke about pin point concealing, keeping eyeshadow well blended and where to place your cheek highlight. The eye makeup done on the model was slight smokey as the crease colour was blended outward and was very subtle.

Some questions that were asked by others were how to contour your nose where he suggested to follow the contour of your eye to your nose and for those who asked about keeping their skin matte and oil-free, he suggested a blotting powder rather than ordinary powder for more of an effect.

 You can slightly see the look he did on the model here.

Here's the makeup I wore. It was a very neutral eye look with a dark brown crease, beige lid and a baby winged liner. I wore MAC's Diva on my lips.

Those who were selected to attend received a certificate signed by Jon Hennessey himself acknowledging our attendance as well as a gift bag. I received a nail polish in 038 and a matte eyeshadow from the Freedom System in 389.

Overall I throughly enjoy the workshop and the event as a whole and look forward to more of these sorts of events done by Inglot!

Shini.

Me, Myself & Makeup

After seeing Lily Pebbles' post, I felt the need to introduce you to how my passion for makeup started.

Little me with smears of my mothers lipstick on my face.

As a little girl I had always admired the way my mother applied her makeup. A quick swipe of blue kohl on her lid, mascara, powder, lipstick and she was done. A vivid memory I have is of her blue tube of Christian Dior lipstick, which I broke and now live with the guilt. My beautiful mother was a stewardess in her early twenties and she's has always kept a strict skincare regiment and took all her makeup off even after midnight long haul flights! Its funny how it used to be me rummaging through her makeup and now I find her in my room looking for things to use. Oh how the tables have turned! 

My father bought me my first two makeup products since cheeky little me knew that my mother would have never let me. The first was the pink glittery powder from Marks&Spencer which I would never leave the house without. And then of course the iconic Lancome Juicy Tube which I still have as a memory that is surprisingly still going strong. I wore lipgloss religiously back in the day and now I'm the complete opposite and live the matte lipstick life.

I have a family friend who is 9 years older than me and whenever I went over she would let me play with her makeup. She had a drawer full of M.A.C makeup and would never complain about me rearranging her makeup. I can't believe how patient she was with me and that she let me pile on eyeshadow on her! She taught me to tap off excess eyeshadow; should have taken the hint.


When I was twelve I went to camp in Crimea, then Ukraine now Russia, with a bunch of girls from my ballet troupe. Three of them were sixteen at the time so they were all into makeup. I would beg them to let me look through their makeup bags and give me make overs. This trip was a highlight in my makeup addiction journey as my mother bought me my first ever set of makeup. Eyeshadow, a couple brushes, blush and lipstick were all mine to use! We had little discos every night, and that's  when I 'rocked' purple eyeshadow and thick swipe of silver glitter liner.


Since doing ballet one of my favourite parts to this day is performance makeup. It started off with blue eyeshadow all over my lids and some red lipstick and gloss. Now I spend about two hours before a show perfecting my double winged liner and making sure my contour is both natural and visible from stage. It really helps calm down my nerves. Once I get to the theatre, we all help one another and have a relaxed bonding experience over makeup before we sweat half of it off.

I discovered the makeup community of Youtube pretty young and continuously watched videos of Lauren Luke, Pixiwoo and Wayne Goss. Hopefully after establishing this blog I may branch out into Youtube? Who knows...

I think the real turning point for me was when I realised that makeup isn't just and only about trying to look better for others and to hide imperfections, but a way for one to self express. The possibilities for makeup are endless and every day makeup artists across the world create beautiful pieces of art with makeup. I don't think I'll ever stop loving makeup and I hope one that I will pursue my passion.

Shini