Foundation Tips From Noriana The Face Designer

Bounce your way to a fresh flawless face

By Nicole Lim on 16 Apr, 2019
Features Writer

We believe that one of the most important things in a makeup routine is creating a beautiful canvas to start with. And who better to show us than one of Malaysia’s best makeup artists, Noriana, also known as The Face Designer, using the brand new Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation from BeautyBlender.

The ubiquitous beauty sponge has spawned a multitude of dupes in the market but we think that none can match up to the real deal as it delivers that soft, skin-like perfection every woman strives to achieve. We spoke to Noriana (who is a fan of the sponge herself!) and learned a few tricks that will get you glowing as she does.

Start with fresh skin

Noriana believes that primer is the most important step in the base process as it allows you to start your look with a moisturised canvas. She recommends applying a primer directly on the face while it is still freshly sprayed with the BeautyBlender RE- DEW Set & Refresh Spray to achieve the best results. Its two-phase solution features supercharged water that contains antioxidants, White Birch extract and Hyaluronic Acid to ensure your skin is instantly protected, plumped and hydrated; while the other part features a milky oil containing Cocooning Silk extract and soothing probiotics to nourish and balance the skin.

Get a prime suspect

The next step is to choose from BeautyBlender’s selection of four primer formulas — The Leveler™; available in light and dark shades; Selfie Shield™; and our personal favourite, Opal Essence. To add luminescence to the face without the appearance of an oily complexion, Noriana opted for the Opal Essence.

Bounce and blend

Leaping right onto the inclusivity wagon, BeautyBlender’s new Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation comes in a whopping 40 shades. Noriana waxed poetry about this water-based, fragrance- and oil-free formula that will give you a velveteen matte finish without breaking you out. As the bottle comes with its own palette in the shape of a well that fits a damp beauty sponge, she advises stippling on the product little by little to avoid waste, and directly onto freshly primed skin to lock in moisture. The final look? A fresh, dewy look that is not cakey and overdone. Set and refresh As a finishing touch, spray on another round of the BeautyBlender RE-DEW Set & Refresh Spray to hold everything in place and ensure that your skin looks its very best as you go about your day. Your time and efforts to create a beautiful look will not go to waste with ample use of this product, and your skin will thank you for it too.

Set and refresh

As a finishing touch, spray on another round of the BeautyBlender RE-DEW Set & Refresh Spray to hold everything in place and ensure that your skin looks its very best as you go about your day. Your time and efforts to create a beautiful look will not go to waste with ample use of this product, and your skin will thank you for it too.

Bonus beauty

We asked Noriana for something special for our readers and she shared this little secret with us — ditch concealer for a more natural look because the Bounce Foundation’s airy, whipped texture allows you to layer to your preferred coverage without looking like you’ve spent hours perfecting your skin!

Here’s How To Achieve Happiness That’s Real, Simple And Sincere

In 7th heaven with belif

By Jordianne Cornejo on 15 Apr, 2019
Sub-Editor

It could be hearing a song you’ve always regarded as your favourite or hugging your pet after a tiring day — happiness comes in different forms, shapes and sizes. We’ve all heard different definitions of happiness before. And while many say it’s not a destination, we say it’s a state of mind that can be pursued. How do you achieve a state of utter bliss, an incomparable euphoric condition that feels real, simple and sincere? Singaporean digital influencers Clarie Teo and Leanne Ho share what they do to get to their version of 7th heaven. Plus, find out how you can enjoy some skin-lovin’ bliss by redeeming a skincare trial kit!

Clarie

Venturing into new horizons is one of the many ways Clarie finds joy. Another thing that makes her happy is by finding a sense of calm in chaotic waters. So it’s important that she does things that soothe her senses and calm her mind. Being a digital native, her eyes become prone to stress so giving it the soothing it needs — and deserves — is top priority.

The belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb is perfect in this pursuit. Made with Comfrey Leaf that locks in moisture and Pennywort that supports anti-ageing, the lightweight and refreshing cream gives the undereyes intensive soothing and moisture that lasts up to 26 hours. Aside from that, the cream also boosts skin’s elasticity and firmness.

The glow of good health also makes Clarie’s heart — literally and figuratively — happy. So she always makes time for fitness and chooses what she eats carefully. This also extends to her quest to always stay hydrated inside and out. Aside from making sure her water intake is good, she also prioritises using a hydrating product to keep her skin moisturised and radiant. The iconic belif The True Cream - Aqua Bomb gives intense hydration despite being lightweight and has been clinically proven to increase the skin’s hydration level by 70 per cent.

The moisturiser has Lady’s Mantle that’s packed with antioxidants and has pore minimising benefits, Napiers Aqua Formula that supplies abundant levels of hydration to the skin, Napiers Original Formula that offers skin-calming and anti-trouble benefits. It’s also formulated without mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, synthetic colours, synthetic preservatives and animal-derived ingredients.

For Clarie, happiness is not found just within one’s self but also in others, so she takes time to also share moments with her loved ones and explore the world and enjoy new discoveries.

Leanne

For Leanne, there’s nothing quite like the joy spending time with her family brings. It’s also her personal happiness goal to be able to spread positivity any moment she can. She also uses her social media platform to not just share good vibes but also talk about the wonders of beauty. To be able to enjoy all these, Leanne makes sure that she looks at the possibilities of a new day with glee and excitement.

Along with that, she revels in the importance of self-care in attaining a good balance in life. And armed with the knowledge that ageing is an inevitable part of life, Leanne takes comfort in the knowledge and pursuit that it can be done oh-so-gracefully. That’s why she prioritises using products that have been proven to not only be effective but also gentle. On her top shelf are belif’s Hungarian Water Essence - Moisture Binder, Peat Miracle Revital Serum Concentrate and The True Tincture of Chamomile.

Inspired by the Hungarian Queen’s secret to youthful skin, the Hungarian Water Essence - Moisture Binder gives the skin lost hydration in a jiffy. It has a blend of herbs, including Rosemary, which is packed with antioxidants and gives extra hydration. Because of its lightweight texture, it gets easily penetrated into the skin, replenishing skin’s moisture by 45.7 per cent.

Hungarian Water Essence - Moisture Binder

Meanwhile, the Peat Miracle Revital Serum gives nine skin benefits that will help anyone achieve their goal to age gracefully. This supercharged serum is packed with Peat extract, GABA (Gamma Aminio-Butyric Acid), Napiers Anti-aging Formula, Napiers Moisture Formula and Napiers Original Formula. All these will help give you intense hydration, reduced fine lines and wrinkles, relieve skin irritation and inflammation, promote skin renewal, smoothen skin texture, stimulate collagen production, exfoliate dead skin cells, strengthen skin’s elasticity and tighten sagging and enlarged pores.

For a healthy-looking glow and balanced complexion, Leanne relies on the True Tincture of Chamomile. Made with 93% pure organic Chamomile Tincture, this concentrated skin supplement instantly soothes the skin.

belif bestsellers

While their personal journeys to happiness may differ in certain areas, both share joy in celebrating good skin through a regimen composed of products created with superior ingredients in the most sincere way possible. Honest in their use of real herbal ingredients and processing of these ingredients to create simple but effective skincare products that will put your skin on 7th heaven, who better to honour good skin than with belif, who is celebrating their 7th anniversary this month? Ensuring your journey to a state of bliss has never been easier — and skin-lovingly better.

What puts your skin on 7th heaven? Learn more about belif and redeem a bestsellers trial kit featuring five of their bestsellers (featured above) and a 20% off 1 regular item voucher here.

Buttery Skin Makeup Trend: Should You Try It?

Skin that's smooth as butter

By Blessilde Limoso on 15 Apr, 2019
Features Writer

Makeup trends come and go but what never seems to go out of style is healthy, glowing skin. The demand for a smooth and dewy complexion reached its peak with last year’s glass skin craze and while that was great, not all of us (sadly) have the same level of flawlessness and extensive skin care routines that most Korean idols do. This season, however, we welcome a promising new trend that seeks to make beautiful skin wearable for everyone: buttery skin.

As its name suggests, buttery skin mimics the smooth, satiny sheen that a stick of butter has. It came into popularity when makeup artist Isabelle De Vries posted a fresh and glowy makeup look on Instagram with the hashtag #butteryskin. While glass skin focused primarily on skincare (think: hydration, hydration, hydration!), buttery skin is a makeup technique that builds glow in layers and the result is a dialled-down, dewy look. Curious about how to get it and if you should try it? Here’s how it works.

Prep

skincare products for buttery skin

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads, SGD135/~USD100 (sephora.com); Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturiser, SGD96/~USD71 (sephora.com); Huxley Secret of Sahara Mask; Moisture and Freshness, SGD38/~USD28

Prepping the skin is essential for a good base. De Vries used an exfoliating pad, specifically Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pad, to smooth out skin and remove dead skin cells and followed by a hyaluronic acid sheet mask or moisturiser such as Peter Thomas Roth's Water Drench Hyaluronic Acid Cloud Cream and Huxley's Secret of Sahara Mask; Moisture and Freshness to hydrate.

Prime

Cover FX Illuminating Primer, SGD59/~USD44 (sephora.com)

An illuminating primer like Cover FX's Illuminating Primer is key for a healthy glow. Apply it on to the high points of the face and smooth out for an even look.

Base

buttery skin base

Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation, SGD72/~USD53 (sephora.com); BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter, SGD72/~USD46 (sephora.com)

Opt for dewy/satin finish foundations such as Make Up For Ever's Water Blend Foundation over matte ones. You can also mix in a bit of liquid highlighter to your foundation like BECCA's Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter to add more glow. De Vries says she applies it with fingers, pressing it into the skin to achieve a more natural-looking finish. Apply concealer with a fluffy eyeshadow brush for an airbrushed effect.

Balm

buttery skin balm

Glossier Original Balmdotcom, SGD16/~USD12 (glossier.com)

Finish off with a balm on top of your cheekbones in lieu of highlighter for a slight sheen. We think Glossier's award-winning multi-tasker, Balm Dotcom, is perfect for this use.

After the base has been done, proceed with the rest of your makeup as usual opting for creamy/liquid pigments for more seamless blending. Set everything with a hydrating spray and you’re good to go. While buttery skin is admittedly a bit more time-consuming when it comes to doing the base, you might find that starting with beautiful-looking skin doesn’t require much else. We say it’s worth a shot.

(Cover photos from: @isabelle.de.vries)