2 hours

Is how long one should go before reapplying, especially if one is outdoors under direct sunlight!

80%

of visible skin ageing is due to sun exposure! ): 

40 minutes

Is how long waterproof sunscreen maintain their sun protecting properties! 

The lowdown... 

What is SPF, actually? 

SPF stands for 'sun protection factor', which is sunscreen's ability to prevent damage from UVB! 

UVB rays are the main cause of accelerated melanin production.  

To tackle the bastards, SPF of 15 and higher is recommended!

There are two types of UV filters.

1. Chemical filters

 Absorb and convert UV rays to safe energy by the time it reaches the skin 

2. Physical filters

Reflect UV rays away from our skin!

Most sunscreens contain a mixture of different filters, allowing a wider range of protection! 

For more sensitive skin, less chemical more physical filters are recommended (:

When is sunscreen actually needed? 

Any time as long as you're out in the sun. Even if you're in the office, or it's raining or cloudy, slap on that sunscreen! 

80% of UV rays are able to penetrate clouds or are reflected by the ground, the little devils.

The sand reflects 20% of the UV rays as well! 

It may sound scary but don't fret, SPF cures it all (:

Note: This information isn't mine, but rather, collated from different websites and magazines. I have crossed-reference some and most of the figures are the same. (;

~~~~~~~~

A few of my favourite sunscreens or products that contain SPF are...


The Bioré UV Aqua Rich, a liquid-y formulation that is of feather-light texture that sinks into the skin, undetectable. It has SPF 50+ ad is enriched with hyaluronic acid and citrus essence. I love this on days when I'm going to be out in the sun and sweating all day as its consistency is so light, it doesn't mess with my dewy-finish foundations!

The Bobbi Brown SPF 50 UV Protective Face Base is a lotion that claims to prevent premature agin, dark spot formation and sun burn. I don't know how true all of these claims are but it definitely protects my face from the sun with its high SPF! This can be a bit tacky, though, and I would recommend this for drier skin types (:

Kiehl's Actively Correcting and Beautifying BB Cream (what a mouthful) has been my go-to base recently! This was gifted to me and has definitely come in handy for the hot weather! It almost immediately smoothens out my skin tone while providing light to buildable coverage. I use this under matte foundations as it is too dewy for my liking (I am an as-matte-as-possible gal). People have claimed this smells straight-up sunscreen, which they don't face but I say it smells sugary and caramel-y! I really enjoy using this and will continue to do so until I finish it all up! :D



What's your favourite sunscreen? (:


P.S. Sorry I haven't been posting as regularly. My camera's focus was wacky and I had to send it for repairs. Weirdly enough, the focus on my iPhone was broken too, so that didn't work as well. I'm glad to say I've gotten a new camera so yippee!!

2. Do your research on the product before buying, don't just go with the hype!

Of course not every product is going to work the same on everyone due to the variation of skin types, but it's always good to search for reviews of this product to see what people who have tried it have to say! Makeupalley is a great beauty product review website! 

3. Only splurge on full-sized high end products if you're sure of it.

I don't think anyone would want to spend 50 bucks on a foundation they don't like, now do they? (: Sure, the packaging may be absolutely gorgeous but ultimately, the thing that matters most is what's inside the packaging! High-end makeup brands might sound tempting, but always do research to make sure that that product is good for your skin type etc. If possible, ask for a sample of it to take home and try! As cheapskate as that sounds, it will really save you a ton of money in the long run. 

4. If you want a particular shade/product, make sure you don't already have it in your stash. 

If you do and it isn't even halfway through yet, use it up first before buying another of the same shade! No point having 4 dark plum lipsticks of the same undertone that you are probably never going to use up in time, or 6 black eyeliners that do the exact same thing. Yes, I know, it is hard to resist the temptation, but again, this will save you money in the long run, plus you'll have more space in your makeup storage for MORE different products! (:

5. Running to the store to grab an essential that you've just run out of? Always go back to your holy grail/tried and tested.

If you're running dangerously low on a particular product that is vital in your routine, make sure to get either the same one or one that has been tried and proven to work for you! If you get something that you haven't researched on or picked up in a rush, it could go one of two ways. Either you've accidentally discovered a gem, or, you absolutely hate it and are stuck with it. Don't take the risk if you're low on da dolla!

6. Invest in good quality makeup brushes

Makeup brushes are something that every girl should have, in my opinion. Investing in quality ones that last is better than buying 6 poor quality ones over and over again because they keep shedding and whatnot. Also, I don't think it's practical to have 5 makeup brushes that serve the same purpose and perform exactly the same. There's no point, to be honest. I'd rather save that money for some other beauty product! Makeup brushes can be very expensive. I think the ideal collection for me is 1 or 2 of each kind of brush (example 1 or 2 liquid foundation brushes, 1 or 2 crease brushes, you get the idea). 

7. Make use of sales to get backups

I'd say take advantage of sales or promotions to stock up on your most-used products, because that's what you spend most of your money on, right? Of course, I don't mean buy 4 bottles of foundation at a go, because you'd need to take into consideration the 'lifespan' as well as the type of product. Gel liners or cream eyeshadows might harden quickly and pencils might start to get crumbly. Remember to throw out old makeup! 

8. Back to MAC 

For those who haven't heard of it, Back to MAC is a program whereby you return 6 empty containers of product (eyeshadow cases, blush compact etc) and you get a free MAC lipstick! If you're a hoarder, stop buying makeup for a bit and try to use up/depot your MAC products! Z-Palette sells some pretty affordable (but great quality) palettes to store your single pan eyeshadows/blushes in! This way, you de-clutter your stash and get free lipsticks along the way!





Thrifty yourself? What are some of your fav money-saving and de-cluttering tips? (: 

Optional: 

1. You can also add colour after you have poured the wax (when it's still hot)!

2. If you want your items to float, you can pour a bit of wax, add a few items, pour wax, add more and so on and so forth!

3. There WILL be some bubbles when dealing with gel wax but nothing a little placing it in sunlight or warm oven can't handle! (more heat = less bubbles!)

4. If you want your items to be firmly at the bottom, pour wax about a quarter of the way and let it cool first! Then you can fill it up after!

5. Fresh flowers and branches are beautiful for Spring, sand and seashells for summer, pine cones, red autumn leaves and cinnamon sticks for autumn, pine needles, bit of holly (you can spray paint it with fake snow!) and tiny stream foam balls for winter! 

6. Make sure the wax is 95% firm before removing the pencil from the wick, or else it might fall and sink!

7. Stir potpourri in when the wax has liquified to give a very subtle scent!

6. It might take a few tries but it definitely cures a boring/sick day!