Beauty Tips – buffer

Favourite Sunscreens

We’re going to talk about one of the most important skincare products – SUNCREEN! We know some of you guys love this andthere are some who just hate it. Like Hollywood’s beauty icon Jennifer Aniston’s said in a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar :

“I hate it. I’ve been experimenting with ones that don’t make you look like you have Kabuki makeup on or like a corpse. I understand we’re saving our skin, but they gotta figure that stuff out. Who wants to be in the sun and not look cute?”

Jen is right! We definitely do not want to look like we have Kabuki makeup on or like a corpse! We know that purchasing sunscreen (the good ones that suits your skin) are expensive and you really have to find the right one for your skin.

Whether or not your foundation or BB cream has SPF, we believe it is better not to skip the sunscreen step. We have compiled some sunscreens which will blend well with makeup just for you to check it out and get yourself a consultation or test it out at their stores or counters!

KIEHL’S – Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA++++
This sunblock is one of the best selling product in Kiehl’s! With its oil-free lotion texture, you can still wear makeup on top of it. It gives a matte finish and it feels refreshing on skin.

Kiehl’s – Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA++++, RM155, available at Kiehl’s outlets.

CLINIQUE – Even Better City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40/PA+++
The product’s name sounds pretty intense but it does one heck of a job especially if you’re living in a sunny, humid country like Malaysia! It works well as a base, no clogging of pores, non-sticky and it applies easily all over the face. This sunscreen works perfectly for all skin types.

CLINIQUE – Even Better City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40/PA+++, RM160, available at Clinique outlets or counters.

SUPERGOOP! – Everyday Sunscreen SPF 50 with Cellular Response Technology
Holly Thaggard, founder of Supergoop wanted to create a sunscreen that’s non sticky, tacky or smells messy, one that you’ll want to wear every single day! It does its job keeping the skin from wrinkles, blemishes caused by UV rays. It’s water resistant and oil-free, which is also perfect to bring along with you on your beach vacations. Also, it has a very nice citrusy smell.

SUPERGOOP! – Everyday Sunscreen SPF 50 with Cellular Response Technology, RM143 (7.5fl oz), available at Sephora.

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream N Broad Spectrum SPF 38
If you have an oily T-zone, combination skin or prefer semi matte finish – this may be the sunscreen for you. Many of Shiseido’s customers stick around for the brand’s sunscreen. Their sunscreen products blends well with moisturisers. It’s also non-greasy, smooth and easy to apply.

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream N Broad Spectrum SPF 38, RM218, available at Lazada / Shiseido counters.

DERMALOGICA – super sensitive shield spf30
This heavenly sunscreen delivers UV protection without unwanted oiliness or chalkiness. Easy on skin, reduces inflammation, irritation, redness and sensitivity. This is definitely ideal for our girlfriends with sensitive skin. The downside is that the bottle is only 50ml with a very steep price.

DERMALOGICA – super sensitive shield spf30, RM284, available at Dermalogica outlets.

LANIEGE – Marshmallow Sun Cushion SPF50+ PA+++
This unique packaging is different from all the other sunscreens. Just like Laniege’s famous BB Cushion, they recently released Sun Cushion which contains Japanese apricot extract and skin soothing powder to protect the skin. It is convenient to carry around wherever you go. One thing you should know is that this product has a newly formulated Water ScreenTM technology that maintains the moisture balanced on the skin.

LANIEGE – Marshmallow Sun Cushion SPF50+ PA+++ (10g), RM110, available in Laniege outlets/stores.

GLOSSIER – Invisible Shield Sunscreen SPF35
If you still haven’t heard about the Glossier hype, you’re missing out! Glossier is the beauty brand that’s about to take over the world, slowly! This divine sunscreen formula absorbs faster than your best serum. It’s called Invisible Shield sunscreen because it is invisible on all skin types and tones! Our editor from Buffer Daily swears by this sunscreen (read here for the review). This product is not available in Malaysia yet unless you have awesome family/friends living in the U.S who could ship it over to to try, it will be great!

GLOSSIER – Invisible Shield Sunscreen SPF35 (30ml), $34, available in Glossier website.

LAURA MERCIER – Flawless Skin Daily Face Shield SPF40 UVB/UVA
If you have combination, dry or sensitive/acne-prone skin, this may be the suitable sunscreen for you! Non sticky, runny liquid, lightweight, tinted and overall it gives the skin feeling silky smooth. You would not feel like you have an extra layer on your skin. It’s also great if you want to apply make up over it.

LAURA MERCIER – Flawless Skin Daily Face Shield SPF40 UVB/UVA (30ml), RM232, available on Lazada or Laura Mercier outlets.

CLARINS – UV Plus Anti-Pollution, UV Plus SPF50
Its formula is rich in plant extracts that gives a clear and light cream which is pretty suitable for all skin types. This sunscreen also helps to prevent your skin from ageing, which will make your skin look and feel younger, fresh and radiant. The light cream also spreads on your face easily, as well as drying up quickly.

CLARINS – UV Plus Anti-Pollution, UV Plus SPF50 Blue (30ml), RM185, available in Clarins outlets.

Your skin absorbs everything it touches, it’s important to be super choosy about your sunscreen! Let’s fight anti-aging, fine lines, wrinkles, all at once! If you have any great sunscreen suggestions, please feel free to share it with us too!

10 Epic Reasons Why Witch Hazel Is Magical AF

What is witch hazel? No, it’s not some fancy-schmancy product. It’s simply a plant-based substance that comes from the leaves and bark of the witch-hazel shrub, also known as Hamamelis Virginiana, which can be found in North America.

Where have you seen it? All over Pinterest, and maybe your grandmother’s bathroom.

One of our contributers is a witch hazel devout. She discovered this multi-purpose product by chance because in her free time, she likes to lurk around pharmacies across town looking for new skincare products. At first, what attracted her to it was the pretty packaging but before she decided to swipe her card, she quickly Googled its benefits. What she read was enough to convince her to purchase a bottle, and life has never been the same since.

Witch Hazel has many surprising uses, which includes:

It’s great solution to treat all your acne, dry skin and soothing dry skin. Our contributer says, “No other toner out there can quite compare.”
It’s the best type of makeup remover because it’s all natural. The last thing you want is more chemicals on your skin.
Helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This is a tried-and-true method by one of our mommy contributors. This is done by spraying once a day for a few months, and dilligently so.
It can heal bruises and cuts, thanks to its antibacterial properties.
Do you suffer from puffy eyes? Soak some cotton pad with witch hazel and apply to closed eyes. Allow a few minutes for it to really soak into your skin.
Throw out all your artificial deodorants and spritz some witch hazel to your armpits instead. You can even add some lavender essential oil for a pleasant scent.
Stock a spray bottle of witch hazel in the fridge and treat razor burns or sunburns with it.
Looking for an eco-friendly cleaning agent for your home? Add witch hazel with some baking soda and lemon, and voilà!
Next time you’re planning on going outdoors, carry a bottle of witch hazel with you because it can help treat pesky bug bites and ease the pain of stings.
Suffering from frizzy hair and dry scalp? Yeap, you guessed it. Witch hazel can help! All you gotta do is spritz some on your scalp before going in for a shower, and then wash it out.

There are a lot of witch hazel brands to choose from but most contain more alcohol than actual witch hazel. We highly recommend choosing this brand, which is available at all M+ Pharmacy nationwide.

EDITOR’S PICK: 3 Benefit Brow Products That Will Give You Life!

If you didn’t already know, having good eyebrows can really make all the difference. I heard somewhere once that if you spot somebody with amazing eyebrows, stop them and ask what exactly do they do. I’ve never done this in fear of looking like a crazy b*tch, but I highly suggest you all to do it!

As a teenager, I made the grave mistake of overplucking my eyebrows because back then a set of super-thin eyebrows were the thing – think Gwen Stefani during the Tragic Kingdom days. Little did I realize that overplucking can lead to uneven, patchy and just really disgusting looking eyebrows, which is what I have to live with today in my 30s.

Thankfully, there are plenty of products available to help temporarily save my eyebrows. While there’s an overwhelming to choose from, I’ve decided to narrow it down to the 3 best products from Benefit. Read on to find out how they can help your eyebrows like they have helped with mine:

Browvo! Conditioning Primer (RM135)
They key to long-lasting makeup is a good primer, and this applies to eyebrows as well. Packed with nutrients that’ll make your eyebrows look fuller and thicker, the Browvo! Conditioning Primer will also extend the wear of your other products. That’s right, say hello to on-fleek eyebrows all day, errday!

Goof Proof Brow Pencil (RM115)
Hands down one of my favourite brow pencils ever. I use the darkest shade, which is number 6 and it’s the most perfect shade of ashy brown. It’s easy to use and the most important part of all, it stays on. I absolutely love how it’s really buildable and the wide part of the pencil helps fill in my bald brow spots.

Gimme Brow (RM115)
If your eyebrow was a cake, think of Gimme Brow as the icing. I cannot even begin to describe how much I swear by this eyebrow gel. At first impression, you would think that this product is more suited for those with busy eyebrows. Well, not necessarily. My eyebrows are neither think or bushy, but pair this with the previous two Benefit brow products, you’ll have Cara Delevigne runnin’. It is that good! Its ingredients add fibers to your brow hair making them appear fuller!

4 Reasons to Toss Your Cleanser for Micellar Water

If you haven’t been living in a cave somewhere, you’ve probably caught wind of a new skincare product called micellar water. While the product may sound super fancy and complicated, it’s far from it. In fact, micellar water is the answer to all minimalists and lazy women’s prayers because it does way more than just cleanse the skin.

Here are five reasons that will probably make you a micellar-convert:

Unlike skincare products that caters to certain types of skin, micellar water is one product that’s made for all. Extremely mild and non-irritating, this baby will even suit those with sensitive skin.
Thanks to its lack of alcohol and harsh chemical content, micellar water will provide the much-needed hyration that your skin craves.
It also removes makeup effectively. And yes, even waterproof mascaras!
This is probably the most travel-friendly skincare as you get a cleanser, toner and makeup remover all in one nifty bottle.

If you’re not on micellar water bandwago, we highly suggest you get on it. Check out Garnier, Simple, or Bioderma to help get you started.

EDITOR’S PICK: Make Up For Ever’s Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer

Looking for the right primer can be such a pain, trust us, we have been there and we have done that. In fact, over the last few weeks we’ve been searching far and wide throughout the makeup land for some of the best primers available.

And guess what, chicas?! We’ve found it – the best primer! Well, it may not be the “best” best but it certainly makes our top 10. Introducing: Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer by Make Up Forever.

Read on to find out what we love so much about this little tube of wonder:

It’s lightweight AF – Have you ever applied primer onto your face, only to feel like you’ve got seven layers of makeup products on? Yeah, that’s gross. The Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer (in all seriousness, could the name be any longer) doesn’t do that, which is a relief. It’s got almost a matte finish but doesn’t dull out the skin.

Easy to use – Squeeze some into your palms and just evenly spread the product all over your face. No patting or fancy rubbing motion required and it also blends beautifully into the skin.

It’s small – We don’t know about you guys but we love its tube size. So travel-friendly and contains more than enough to last you a couple of months!

Super hydrating – If you’ve got oily skin, especially in your T-zone area, this primer is the “Mr.Big” to your “Carrie”, and if you didn’t get that Sex and the City comparison, it means this product is the one for you. A lot of primers end up making you feel like you’ve greased your face up with cooking oil but not this one. It’s nourishing formula also helps hydrate those that suffer from dry skin.

So smooth – The skin-smoothing properties of this primer is enough to win us over because who doesn’t a flawless canvas for makeup?!

So, should you get this? We say YES!

Available at Make Up For Ever and Sephora outlets, the Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer is priced at RM180.

INTERVIEW: Getting To Know Beauty With Makeup Artist, Min

We took some time out to chat with local makeup artist, Min to find out some of the hottest makeup tips:

1. As a makeup artist, what are the five key essentials you have with you at all times?

A concealer, pressed powder, a cream blush (can be used for cheeks and on the lips), eyebrow pencil, and a kabuki brush!

2. If you could do the makeup for one celebrity, who would it be?

Kim Kardashian, without a doubt.

3. You do a lot of work on brides, what are some of the dos and don’ts for brides-to-be?

Get as much rest as you can although it may be hard because there’s only so much fatigue makeup can hide. Don’t get a facial at the last minute, your skin might break out as it heals. If possible, do a simple mask treatment the night before the wedding so that the skin is plump the next day. Most importantly, think good thoughts, trust your makeup artist and don’t fret too much about the outcome. Let your makeup artist do their work as you’ve hired them for a reason.

4. How do you attain such flawless skin? Could you share with us your skincare routine?

My skin is ultra thin and sensitive, so I make a point to stay away from heavy products and I try to keep it simple. I wash all my makeup off with Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil, and follow up with a cleansing gel (I rotate between Murad and Michael Todd). Then I tone my face with Soo Beautee’s Snail Toner – it cleanses my face off the last bit of dirt and has soothing properties. During the day I use Olay’s White Radiance Moisturizing Lotion (been using this since I was 11, I’ve changed moisturizers but I always go back to this) and at night I only put on a serum after cleansing because I do not want to overload my skin. The one I use is by the brand Suisse Programme. I also consume skincare supplements, there are many out there to choose from.

5. One of the most challenging makeup tricks would be achieving the perfect eyeliner flick. What would you recommend is the best way to do it?

Practice, practice, practice. Use either a liquid or gel eyeliner. You’re never going to get it right on your first few tries but the only way to perfect anything is to keep doing it. I used to look at various pictures of different eye shapes and study the thickness of the lines as well as the angle of the flick, and then try to do it on myself. It takes commitment!

6. Which latest makeup product have you got your eye on at the moment and why?

I’m really looking forward to trying the new foundations by Estée Lauder, their classic Double Wear made a huge comeback recently and I love a good face base as great makeup always starts with a good base.

7. Besides setting spray, what’s your advice when it comes to maintaining our makeup throughout the day in this humid weather that we live in.

Use a primer underneath your foundation, a good one does make a big difference. You can also bring a small kabuki brush and pressed powder to touch up throughout the day.

8. As a makeup artist, what has been your biggest challenge?

Coming up with your own style is definitely the biggest challenge. You don’t want your work to look just like everybody else’s and at the same time you have to keep up with the current trend because that’s what clients usually want.

1934786_1197879236902427_3202274656581684788_n

9.Tell us about your favourite look.

My favorite look will always be a shimmery brown smokey eye, strong brows with highlighted cheeks and a shade of pink lipstick that works with your skintone. Looks good on literally everyone.

10. What do you think will be the next big makeup trend?

Lipglosses are going to make a comeback for sure, as right now people are raving about matte lipsticks.

For more on Min and the Makeup, check out their Facebook page.

Best Makeup Products to Get You Through Our Humid Weather

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

With so many beauty products out there, it can sometimes be a little overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right ones. It’s not simply a matter of having to consider a product that’s compatible with our skin type but also the blistering hot and humid weather we live in.

Thanks to us, you can save yourself the headache of trying to find the perfect products because we’ve rounded a few of the best, which are all available at Sephora:

Everlasting Liquid Lipstick by Kat Von D (RM99)
When the weather is hot, you’ll find yourself drinking more, which can smudge away your lip colour. Introducing Kat Von D’s best-selling Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, the perfect lip colour that will give you full and long-lasting coverage.

Ultra HD Foundation by Make Up For Ever (RM195)
The Ultra HD Foundation is one of the most talked about products in the makeup world at the moment. With 15 shades available to suit every skin tone, this foundation by Make Up For Ever is all about giving a flawlessly natural finish. It’s also extremely lightweight, which makes it perfect for our humid weather. And guess what? Kylie Jenner loves it too!

Watt’s Up! Highlighter by Benefit Cosmetics (RM145)
Simple and easy to use, the Benefit Watt’s Up! Highlighter comes with a nifty applicator that makes blending on-the-go super easy. If you’re not really familiar with highlighters, this one is the perfect one to start with as it will give you that natural finish, and really helps with accentuating your cheekbones!

Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder by Tarte (RM 128)
With this insanely humid weather we live in, the smartest thing you can do is to make sure your makeup stays on your face. This finishing powder helps keep your face in place, and it also removes excess oil on the skin. WIN!

Mat Miracle Liquid Foundation by Lancôme (RM205)
This foundation is perfect for extreme heat and humidity. It’s so good that we’re sure it has staying power even in the Sahara desert. Lancôme Mat Miracle provides great coverage, is an all day oil resistant liquid foundation that gives you natural and radiant finish. If you are running errands, attending meetings outdoor or have an oily skin, this may be worth a try.

All items are available at Sephora outlets nationwide or on sephora.my