Tag: ASK LEE

Beginner Beauty FAQ

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Just starting out with makeup? Whether you’re a complete beginner or the ultimate beauty enthusiast, there are a couple of questions that we’ve all asked ourselves at some point. To make things easier for you, here’s a list of the most frequently asked questions about beauty and skincare!

Do you need to use toner?

This has crossed all our minds at one point or another: Do we really need to use toner? Or is it just an extra step that we can skip?

The short answer – yes, you should use toner.

Regardless of skin type, toner is definitely an essential step when it comes to achieving healthy glowing skin. After cleansing, toner helps remove stubborn dirt and grime, and any traces of makeup you may have missed.

A good toner can provide the skin with a much-needed boost of hydration along with other skin-supporting ingredients. Adding this step into your skincare regimen sets the perfect foundation for your other skincare products to perform better.

How often should you wash your makeup brushes?

We know, washing your brushes can feel like a total chore – but it’s soo worth it. You should aim to wash your brushes at least every 7 days or so to get rid of any germs or bacteria that will build up over time.

Not cleaning your brushes often enough could contribute to breakouts or other common skin problems. And honestly, your makeup looks so much better when you’re working with clean brushes!

Is “baking” just a trend?

“Baking” has been trending for quite some time now. The real question is, is it completely necessary or just another fleeting beauty trend? Well, let’s just say… if you want your makeup to last longer, then you definitely need to add “baking” onto your to-do list.

“Baking” is essentially setting your face makeup with a loose setting powder to mattify your complexion. Adding this additional step into your makeup routine extends the staying power of your face makeup by soaking up excess oil during the day.

All you need to do is apply a generous amount of loose setting powder over your face makeup with a damp beauty sponge. Let it sit on your face for a couple of minutes (5 or so) and then buff it out with a fluffy powder brush. Pro tip: For the ultimate staying power, spray your beauty sponge with some setting spray before you pick up the powder.

Do you have to use moisturizer if you have oily skin?

When you’re dealing with oily skin, adding more moisture into the equation is probably the last thing on your mind. But moisturizing your skin properly will make a huge difference when it comes to controlling oil.

When our skin is dehydrated, it actually overcompensates by producing even more oil to make up for the moisture it desperately needs. To minimize shine, oily skin types can benefit from staying hydrated by drinking more water throughout the day and moisturizing regularly in the morning and at night.

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments down below if you have any other questions for us!

Beauty Q and A: Why Is My Foundation Patchy?

Published on by Lee3 Comments

Patchy foundation is a makeup lover’s worst nightmare — especially if you’ve spent a significant amount of time perfecting your beat. As it turns out, there are ways to completely avoid patchy makeup and foundation, and all it takes is hydration and the right makeup base. Ahead, we broke down how to keep patchy foundation at bay, plus how to fix it if it happens to you.

What Causes Patchy Foundation?

There are many reasons why your foundation might be patchy. The wrong formula of foundation, mixing products with ingredients that don’t match or dehydrated skin are all culprits. For example, mixing a silicone-based primer with a water-based foundation is going to separate on the skin because the ingredients don’t mesh well. How to know if your foundation or primer is silicone based? It can be tricky, but the most commonly listed silicones (you’ll nearly always find them at the top of the ingredients list) include cyclopentasiloxane, siloxane and dimethicone. Also, most people are not as oily as they think they are, and using ultra matte foundation on already dry skin is another recipe for a patchy face.

How to Avoid Patchy Foundation

When it comes to avoiding the patchy foundation phenomena, we suggest that you want to pay extra attention to the products you use, and make sure your skin is well hydrated and prepped for makeup. A good moisturizer, a primer that mixes well with foundation and setting the foundation will all help to make sure your makeup stays where you want it.

For this, we recommend beginning your routine with a hydrating moisturizer like the NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Moisturizing Primer SPF 30. Next, apply a hydrating, gripping primer like the Tula Brighten Up Smoothing Gel Primer that will not only moisturize your skin, but it will also lock in foundation. Apply a water-based foundation on top, like the Urban Decay Stay Naked Lightweight Liquid Foundation. 

How to Fix Patchy Foundation

If the skin isn’t properly hydrated, it will draw the moisture from any product you apply on top of it; hence, your poor dehydrated skin will suck up all the water and emollients from your foundation, leaving you with small and unevenly dispersed splodges of color pigment. The moral of the story? Always make sure to apply an even layer of moisturizer over the skin before reaching for the foundation bottle.

Prepping the skin correctly before foundation is the true way to eradicate patchiness before it starts, but if your foundation is already patchy, here is another trick that can help, take a damp sponge and blend out the patchy spots.

More Primp Tips

If we neglect the exfoliation step within our skincare routines, it will likely result in our foundation applying unevenly, and gripping on to (and exaggerating) our dry patches and textural issues. Using a mild liquid exfoliator will help to keep dry patches at bay, and will keep the skin looking even and smooth.

Will you be taking any of these tips on board, or do you have any methods or tricks you’ve found helpful? Let us know!

Help! How Do I Remove Eyelash Glue From My Lashes?

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Falsies are a girl’s best friend — bring on the volume and length. But if sticky eyelash glue gets stuck to your real lashes, it’s game over. The buildup and tackiness can make reapplication nearly impossible and cause unwanted irritation. To ensure that our false lashes can be used more than once and our real lashes stay healthy, it’s important to keep ’em clean. For some advice on the best way to do so, scroll down and enjoy!

Tip #1: Use Less Glue From the Start

To prevent a buildup of gunk and glue on your lashes at the end of the day, try to use as little glue as possible during application. My best tip is not to apply too much glue on the false lash to begin with. Think you may have gone too heavy with your glue? Recommended wiping it off and starting from scratch. Not only will this make it easier for you to take off your falsies at the end of the day, but it’s also a way to ensure that too much glue doesn’t get on or around your eyes.

PRIMP TIP: Apply Lash Couture Strip Lash Adhesive on the eyelids like an eyeliner then apply your favorite pair of lashes. Its easier and quicker to apply the lashes plus it is just less messier overall. Lee wished she came up with this brilliant beauty trick but she actually received it from Raye Boyce.

Tip #2: Don’t Pull Them Off 

Time to take off your lashes for the day? Don’t start pulling them off, tugging or scrubbing. You won’t get all the glue off your lashes, and you risk getting glue in your eyes. What’s worse? You’re going to end up ripping your own lashes. 

Tip #3: Use a Gentle Eye Makeup Cleanser

eyelash glue

Instead, to get your fake lashes and glue off cleanly, Lee recommends using a soft and gentle eye makeup remover. For years I’ve been using the Lancôme Bi Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover; it’s the best for getting rid of lash glue. Just pour some onto a cotton pad and dab it over your lashes until the strip falls off cleanly. Plus, you can also use the product to clean glue off your falsies so they’re good as new for reapplication. 

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Beauty Q&A: Should I Sanitize My Makeup?

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OK, so you’ve probably cleaned and sanitized every square inch of your living space lately in an effort to keep your home germ free, but have you thought about your makeup products? We’ve all read about how important it is to clean makeup brushes and sponges on a regular basis, but your eyeliner pencils, powder compacts and palettes need love, too. Ahead, we chatted with makeup artist Frankie Padron about the best methods for sanitizing your products and how to do so at home.

Why Sanitize Your Makeup Products?

There are plenty of reasons why you should sanitize your makeup products in addition to your brushes, says Padron. For one, if you are sharing products in your collection with others, you want to make sure they’re clean. “I sanitize after every person because I’m using makeup on different people daily,” she says. Another reason to sanitize your products is if you’re prone to acne and breakouts. “If you have a breakout, I recommend cleaning your tools after every use so you avoid spreading bacteria.” 

How to Sanitize Makeup Products

According to Padron, a cosmetic sanitizer mist is a must-have for cleaning your makeup powder and cream products like eyeshadows and face palettes. She recommends using the Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizer Mist which comes in a no-mess spray bottle that can be distributed on any product.

“I would avoid using any products that have a high concentration of alcohol in them, as this may dry out your makeup.Frankie Padron, MUA

As far as pencil products are concerned, Padron takes a slightly different approach. “For eyeliner and lip pencils, I sharpen them before it touches anyone, making sure I shaved off the area I used on someone previously,” she says. This works the same for any lip liners or eyeliners you use on yourself if you feel like you need a fresh tip before application. 

For brushes that need a quick clean during application, try the NYX Professional Makeup On the Spot Makeup Brush Cleaner Spray. The formula keeps bristles soft and is perfect for when you don’t have time to do a full-on brush wash. 

What to Avoid When Sanitizing Your Makeup

Padron notes that when picking your makeup sanitizing products, make sure to read the label. “I would avoid using any products that have a high concentration of alcohol in them, as this may dry out your makeup.” While brushes and sponges have a reputation for holding and spreading bacteria, it is important to give your powders, palettes and creams a little cleaning, too.

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