Benefits of makeup primer you wish you knew earlier

Makeup Primer

Makeup primer is a liquid or gel like texture that you applied on your face before your foundation.

Benefits of makeup primer:

1. Extend foundation wear

Have you experienced your makeup wear off after your lunch break or at the end of the day? This is a normal phenomenon during summer and especially for ladies who reside in the Asian countries given the hot and humid climate of those Asian countries.

Face primer acts like a magic potion that helps to keep your makeup in place and save the hassle of touching up your makeup during the day.

2. Face Protector

Face primer is applied after your skincare routine but before your makeup. Primer acts as a protective barrier of your face so that your makeup does not clog your pores. 

For those who have not been using makeup for fear of clogged pores, fear no more thanks to face primer. It is time for some colour and radiance on your face, just in time for the festive Christmas mood. Ho!Ho!Ho!

3. Sun Protector

There are face primer that comes with sun protection factor (SPF). SPF is important as it keeps ultraviolet rays UVA (causes skin aging) and UVB (causes sunburn) from damaging our delicate skin. SPF is still required although you are sited indoor most of the time as UV rays can still penetrate through the window. As such, you are still susceptible to sun exposure even at your office desk when there is natural light shining into the office.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends selecting cosmetics with SPF within the range of 8 and 15. You might wonder what does the SPF number means. If you normally get sunburn after 10 minutes under the sun, then SPF 15 enables you to be protected from the sun for up to 150 minutes (15 X 10) before your skin gets sunburn.

Continuous sun exposure without any protection causes sun spot and skin pigmentation which is not a pretty sight. Start protecting your skin from the sun to keep your face looking young. Prevention is better than cure, better to start early and be safe than to be sorry.

4. Smooth and Flawless Skin

Face primer creates a smooth base on your face to apply foundation. You can feel the smoothness immediately after you have applied a layer of the primer. As the foundation glides easily on a smooth face, you will need lesser amount of foundation to be applied.

Face primer also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, large pores or any imperfections on your face for a flawless looking skin.

If you have not been using makeup primer, it is never too late to start NOW!

 

Benecia’s favourite makeup primer:



Mary Kay Foundation Primer with SPF 15


 

Love,

Benecia Tan

 

 

 

Two reasons moisturizers should be different for the hands and face

1. Skin needs  for our hands and face differs

Skin is thinner on the face compared to our hands. Furthermore, blackheads and acne only develop on the face and not on the hands which needs special treatment.

2. Dry conditions varies between hands and face

On average, we only wash our face twice a day with a  mild cleanser that is gentle to our skin.  However, we have the tendency to wash our hands several times a day. Our hands are also exposed to harsh dishwashing soap and laundry detergent which may cause our hands to be peeling and severely dryer which will require stronger moisturizer compared to our face.  

We need to use different products to cater to our different skin needs. Our hands are often overlooked although it is subject to the first sign of aging. Select a hand cream that is heavier in texture to protect your hands from harsh condition. By taking good care of your hands you may keep your age at bay. For face moisturizer, select a moisturizer that is lightweight and non-comedogenic and may contain anti- aging properties to assist in reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Using the right product on the right skin will give you a better result.



Love,
Benecia Tan

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them

This is a long overdue post but it's never too late to celebrate my achievement as a certified makeup artist (MUA). J

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
Wohoo..finally graduated!

 With Dily Wang, the examiner

6 months as monitor of the class

Received an appreciation gift from the Principal :)

   

Fun, happy & crazy moments 

I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to everyone who had supported me throughout my makeup course. A special thanks to members of the TSMU. I am thankful for their invaluable constructive criticism and friendly guidance throughout the course. I would also like to thank my lovely classmates for all the fun times we had together in class. I would also like to thank my friends especially my colleague Nat who have supported me by offering their time as my model for my practice and exam. Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to my fiancé and family who constantly motivate and encourage  me to  strive  towards my dream as a makeup artist. 

Makeup practice with Nat during our lunch 

Success is not the KEY TO HAPPINESS. Happiness is the KEY TO SUCCESS. IF you love what you ARE DOING, YOU WILL be successful.

I am glad to be living my dream. It is true happiness when a career and a passion come together!

Freeze Aging Skincare Class

Today is a happy Monday for me as I just conducted a skincare class for three of my lovely friends. It was a fun session whereby they learned about the daily skincare routine from how to cleanse their face to protecting their skin from sun damage.

Washing your face correctly is a fundamental skincare step. Our fingers are never enough and will never get our skin really clean. Skinvigorate Cleansing brush is a spa like paradise for skin. This brush helps to remove more makeup, dirt and oil than cleansing with your hands alone. With a cleaner skin, skincare such as serums and moisturizer tends to penetrate better into the skin.

There are things that can be done to freeze aging (wrinkles, brown spots, uneven skin tone...... ) without surgery. Daily skincare that suits your skin type and being hardworking on completing your skincare routine is essential to maintain a healthy and glowing skin.




Spot who is trying to copy another person's answer in the guess your skin's age test?

Group wefie after the skincare class

Join me for a complimentary session of pampering and beauty fun. Book an appointment with me today:

Facebook: Benecia Tan
Email: makemeprettypretty@gmail.com

My creative makeup

Creativity is something very subjective and varies depending on individuals preferences. I have seen the work of several makeup artists’ creative makeup.  I have to admit some of the makeup works were pretty impressive but some were rather too scary for my liking. 

To me, creative makeup is my expression of my love for stunning colours and everything pretty.

Spring Blossoms

“The cold heart winter has passed. Spring follows to warm the air and thaw

 the ice. Flowers now bloom and butterflies flutter around them playfully.”       

Why did I select this makeup theme?

It took me a while to decide the theme for my creative makeup. I was contemplating between winter or spring. As some of my friends would have known, winter theme is definitely inspired by my recent obsession for my favourite princess cartoon character- Princess Elsa from the Frozen movie. However, I finally decided to choose spring theme instead as it coincides with the starting of the spring season this March. I absolutely love butterflies as well as flowers and stunning colours, so this theme is the best theme that fits my personal liking as well as my personality.

Brainstorming for ideas is not exactly that difficult as I initially thought it was but to choose a particular style can be a little challenging. I went ahead with my preference for simplicity yet sweet, lively, merry, happy, colourful and soothing to the eyes.

It took me 3.5 hours to complete the entire makeup with a majority of the time trying to capture good photos of my work.  It is really challenging to be doing creative makeup on myself as it takes lots of effort and concentration to be putting together all the leaves and flowers at my ear and on my face. However, it is still an enjoying process. I believed I have captured the spirit of spring using the very basic- flowers and butterflies.

Thanks to my fiancé I have photos of the pretty outcome of my work.

Makeup used for this project:

Flawless Face

a. Mary Kay Foundation Primer Sunscreen SPF 15

b. Mary Kay Timewise Matte- Wear Liquid Foundation in Ivory 5

c. Mary Kay Cream Blush in sheer bliss

d. Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Maui 3

Stunning Eyes  

a. Mary Kay At Play Baked Eye Trio (Sunset Beach, Ocean View)

b. Sasa Trio eyeshadow MS001

c. Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner in Jet Black

d. Mary Kay Lash Love Waterproof Mascara

e. False Eyelashes

Alluring Lips

a. Mary Kay Satin Lips Lip Balm

b. Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick in tangerine pop

c. Glitter Powder 

Love,
Benecia Tan

My FIRST skincare and makeup class and more makeovers....

I'm back! Sorry I had been silent for almost two months as I had been busy with multiple things and only had time now to write my second post for 2015. I just came back from my one week Malaysia trip for Chinese New Year. I was superbly busy but it was a very fruitful trip as I have accomplished so much during this short trip. I did six makeup makeovers, conducted three skincare class and one personal skincare and makeup class. I will blog in a separate post on my makeovers,

Enjoy the photos below on the skincare and makeup class.

Say goodbye to puffy eyes

 

Say hello to mesmerizing eyes

Skincare & Makeup Class- Learn the basics to achieve flawless and radiant skin

Flawless Skin- Skin Care with Mary Kay

I am very happy with my one week of accomplishments of classes and makeovers. I am looking forward  for the next skincare and makeup classes that I will be conducting in the next two months. 

Next up will be a bridal makeover photoshoot. I am so excited.. It is gonna be BIG!!!

1,000 readers !

Thanks to all my readers. Make Me Pretty Pretty now has more than 1,000 readers within two and a half months. A pretty good start for 2015. A greater motivation to work harder and continue blogging about my makeup journey, passion and beauty tips.