Bananas for Bronzers ~ A Recent Collection

I have never purchased a bronzer in all my life... that is, until I started watching a few many YouTube videos on how to contour one's face. By the way, I think I'm addicted to YouTube of late and have discovered quite a number of really fab "beauty gurus".

You see, I have stuffed chipmunk cheeks. The kind of cheeks that are fat and round and wide. I didn't get around to looking at bronzers or contouring powders before because my cheeks used to really ruddy and splotchy, and I was afraid bronzers would emphasise the redness. However, my face redness has somewhat lessened after using Clarisonic Mia and several skincare products that seemed to help even out my skin tone. This makes me so happy because I can finally use cheek and face colours without looking like a clown.

The Body Shop Honey Powder Bronzer in #001 Light Matte

I got this after reading SkinDeco's review and I really liked the fact that it's a very subtle bronzer and it's matte. As a first timer with bronzing, it's probably safer to start out with something subtle and not too pigmented. This bronzer looks very natural in person and quite honestly, hardly shows up so I find myself dipping my brush in a few more times. I have used it as a face powder and it warms my complexion slightly without looking too obvious.

Bloom Aloha Bronzer

The Bloom bronzer may look rather dark in the pan but when applied with a light hand, it shades my face in a rather subtle manner. I use it as a blush or a contouring powder, to shade the shadowy areas beneath my cheekbones and on my jawline. It is mostly matte and not too orange or muddy but I'd need to be quite careful to not use too much because it can appear a little dark on my skin. I switch between a MAC 209 and a MAC 187 brush to blend.

Essence Bronzing Compact Powder Matt in Love to be Matt

That's right, it's spelt without the "e". I got this from Watson's for only RM13.90 and it is probably the most budget-friendly bronzer available in our local market. I am quite pleased with this product although it is rather powdery and requires a bit of blending to smoothen it out. I use it as a contouring powder and it performs quite well. I don't think it's very lasting though but for the price, I cannot complain.

Essence Bronzing Compact Powder Shimmer in Bronzing Queen

I got this together with Matt. As it has subtle shimmers in it, I only use it as a blush and not so much a contouring powder or bronzer. The colour is really nice and creates a light, healthy flush against my skin tone. The shimmer is not noticeable and adds enough shine without making me look oily. Like Matt, the texture is powdery however it seems to stay on longer than it's matte counterpart.

Paul & Joe Blue Horizon Bronzer in Siren

This is limited edition and may be hard to find these days. The girlie and pretty packaging is typical of Paul & Joe. It is a really nice and versatile product. When swirled together, it creates a subtle allover glow applied lightly and the peachy-pink shade works beautifully as a blush too. The white decorative overspray on the etched fish comes off after a couple of uses.

Etude House Aloha V-Line Slim Maker in #02

Don't you just love the name "slim maker"? I really need something that can tone my fat face down and am hoping that this product will work as claimed. I have not used it yet as I just got it yesterday. I like that it's a two-in-one product (good for travel) with a contouring shade (Cherry Wood) and highlighter (Sun Pink) packaged together in a slim, pretty compact. I tested at the counter and the texture is smooth and soft.

theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer

This is the darkest bronzer shade I now own but I have not used it yet because I just bought this yesterday. I did test it over the counter and it appears as a matte, bark brown when swatched heavily. When used with a fluffy blender brush, it adds some depth to my face, making it look a bit more defined but I need to use very little otherwise it will be too dark on my skin tone. The texture is very silky and smooth, really lovely stuff.

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I now use bronzers to add a bit of warmth and to shade parts of my face. A couple of them can be used as blush to achieve that healthy flush of colour that looks a bit more natural than bright pink blushes. Admittedly, I'm not that accomplished at applying them yet and am still experimenting with different brushes and techniques.

So, I'm really interested to know... What are your favourite bronzing or contouring products and why do you like them?

Fave Five for August

It's time for another monthly favourite roundup. I initially planned this post at the beginning of the month but life (and work) got in the way :-) My skin went a little crazy due to stress, dehydration and using a number of wrong products, which caused really painful breakouts all the way down to my neck. Thankfully, it has gotten better because I've been on a semi anti-acne regime.

Anyway, here's a list of what's been working really well last month.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex

Many, many years ago, my mum gave me a travel-size bottle of this legendary serum but the consistency back then was much thicker and felt really uncomfortable and tacky. I believe the ANR has gone through several reformulations and the latest one is simply the best serum ever. It is hydrating but not overly so and does not feel heavy. My face feels so velvety and smooth after applying a few drops of this stuff. It has not caused any break outs, of which I'm really thankful for. I absolutely love it!

Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush
I reviewed this brush last month (link) and it is now one of my favourite face brushes to date. I especially like using it with loose or pressed powders. The bristles are dense yet soft. I sometimes use mineral powders and certain brushes can feel a little scratchy but never with this fat and fabulous brush.

Skin79 Super+ Hot Pink Beblesh Balm

This was such a pleasant surprise and I did not expect to like it so much. It applies smoothly, does not make my face too oily, has relatively good coverage and provides some sun protection. I have been using this BB cream for most of August and even reviewed it before (link).

Clinique Moisture Surge Eye Gel

I cannot use eye skincare products that are too rich as it will cause milia so I need to be very careful when choosing the right eye cream. The Clinique eye gel came in a set that I got at duty free in one of my travels. It comes in a pink tube, which is hygienic and cute at the same time. The texture is quite light and is of course, in a gel form. It hydrates my undereye area well without feeling too heavy and has not caused any bumps (hurray!). This is a basic moisturising eye gel and I don't think it has any hefty anti-ageing properties.

Bloom Liquid Foundation Brush

I had given up hope on many paddle-shaped foundation brushes because the ones I had before created streaks across my face and no matter what I did, I could never get my foundations to blend or spread properly. The Bloom foundation brush however has restored my faith in the existence of good foundation brushes because this thing blends like a dream. The bristles are firm yet soft and pliable. I have tried it with different liquid foundations (except those with runnier and thinner consistency) and they all apply beautifully with this brush. No more streaky face!

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So, that's it for now. What's been your favourite?