Man, it’s been a hot minute since my last review huh (2020, last one was in 2020!!!). But I HAD TO make a comeback because this is HOLY GRAIL STUFF!!! This is the Emina Airy Sun Serum Barrier Hydraburst Sunscreen. Emina is a fairly new Indonesian cosmetics brand and came to Malaysia in only 2021. But it seems so widely and easily available here! And the entire product range is priced between ONLY MYR 8 to about 35! YES! I LOVE THAT!
The product. YES! I already got a backup!!! Squeeze tube with a narrow nozzle. Description on the back.
Description: SPF 50 PA++++ Sunscreen comes in 30 ml
Pros: > NO WHITE CAST!!!!!!! > Comfortable on the skin. Like wearing nothing! > Easy to apply and settles in pretty fast. > Reapplication is a breeze! (Reapply sunscreen on long days out people!) > Affordable!
Cons: > As affordable as it is, I wish it had a little more product. (I KEEP TELLING YOU I’M A CHEAPSKATE!!!)
For a long time, FiercePaint was a makeup blog. I reviewed products and occasionally shared makeup tips. As time went on, I started getting skincare products in exchange for reviews. That has been fun but I’ve never looked into nuance and I never knew the inner working of skincare products.
But as I age, I’ve come to realise that if I want beautiful makeup I NEED beautiful skin. Hence a recent obsession with skincare. Perhaps I have hopped on a bandwagon that has appealed to the scientist in me or perhaps I am just buying into the trend.
In any case, here are FOUR of skincare mistakes you need to stop making!
4. STOP over-exfoliating!!! The use of scrubs that contain micro beads, and, cleansing tools like brushes, to help remove dirt and dead skin cells, is called physical exfoliation.
Physical exfoliation (no matter how gentle) works by ripping skin cells of our face and notjust dead skin cells, leading to damage of the skin’s natural barrier. I admit I’ve abused my skin one too many times this way! This is not to say exfoliation is bad. EXFOLIATION IS NECESSARY. But using gentle chemical exfoliation with ingredients like alpha hydroxy acid would be more effective than physical exfoliation. And you don’t need to exfoliate every day! Just double cleansing does a whole lot of good already!
3. Not applying skincare on your ears and neck. YES YOUR EARS! No, but let’s talk about this! Ideally, it should go all the way down to your decolletage (your neckline and below) but how many of us practice this?! The skin on your neck showing signs of ageing means your appearance show signs of ageing too. And everything the facial skin is exposed to, the skin on your neck is exposed to as well!
2. STOP introducing too many products all at once. This one I learnt the hard way. After stopping mistake number one (coming up next), I also tried to pile on alot of night time skincare. Sure, it was good for the first few days but my skin eventually started itching! And this has NEVER happened to me. And as I went back to the experts to see what the problem was, introducing four (yes, FOUR) new products was the tragic flaw in my plan!
1. WEAR sunscreenNOW! This is perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learnt and what prompted this post. I remember speaking of SKII (https://fiercepaint.wordpress.com/2018/08/27/product-empties-24/) as one of the best skincare that I’ve ever used. It genuinely improved my skin to the point that I could actually see a difference. Using SKII has NOT even come close to the impact wearing sunscreen has had! I AM NOT KIDDING!!! The difference is ASTONISHING! Of course you’re not going to see results in a week or even two. Give it three months, then thank me! REALLY!!! SUN DAMAGE IS REAL!!! PLEASE WEAR SUNSCREEN!!!
ABOUT TIME! I haven’t done a product based post in a HOT MINUTE! And baby, I AM BACK!
And I love that I am about to start with a product regret; something that I have yet to experience in a while. Buying makeup has been on a rest the past couple of years and so I don’t ever buy something I feel I won’t get good use out of. So, landing on one that has irked me enough to warrant this post baffles me! That being said, this wasn’t at all a bad product!
Unlike previous product regrets post, I am going to add price and where to buy.
This is the IN2IT Lash Define mascara (volume and curl).
The product.The wand.It has a very nice curved shape! Very ergonomic for getting into the inner corner of the eyes.
Two coats! Definitely effective!
Price: MYR 29.90
Where to buy: Most drugstores/pharmacies in Malaysia.
What I liked about it: From the picture the wand is great and the formula gives a lot of volume! It even holds a curl pretty well!
What I didn’t like about it: Firstly, perhaps THE crumbliest mascara I’ve EVER used! After the very first time I used it I saw so many spots of mascara on my undereye. Secondly, and this was the deal-breaker, it is a PAIN to remove!!! Only managed to use it twice and haven’t tried it on since. When I tried applying with most of the product removed from the wand, it starts crumbling when it dries down. If I could have tolerated the fall-out and the arduous removal, I would have actually reviewed this. Alas, it had to make this post!
I know I keep saying this but I honestly can’t say this enough. THANK YOU for sticking by FiercePaint. I started FiercePaint in 2015 and in spite of the periodical hiatuses I have taken, I have kept it alive and without people reading I would have given up a long time ago! THANK YOU AGAIN. YOU keep me going!
Let’s now end this trilogy! Damn, what a delay! Like one of those production delays because of technical reasons. Only, this is not a movie and I have no reason except priorities! Hahaha! Anyways, let’s do tools! Unless you’re a makeup artist, the abundance of tools won’t really do anything to improve your skills unless they serve a purpose catered for your face. For example, wouldn’t matter how many blush brushes you have, strategic blush application can make the difference between dragging down your face and making it blotchy or, as the purpose it usually serves, make it well-sculpted and properly blended.
No more beauty blenders to apply cream and liquid products This isn’t really a recent revelation, I noticed this as soon as I started applying foundation, concealers and other cream products with sponges. Sponges absorb product and as much as it helps with flawless application, it becomes counter-productive to take away as much product as you press onto the face and end up using twice the amount of product required. I would find myself adding more concealer just to increase coverage. Later, I tried using brushes to first apply as best I can AND THEN going on to pressing it onto the skin with a sponge. Best results!
Yeah! EATS product!
No more large eyeshadow blending brushes Eyeshadow blending brushes is perhaps something even makeup users are not familiar with vis-Ã -vis how to choose one, which one to use, how to use. But I have come to realise that larger blending brushes don’t really help blending. Blending eyeshadows often require precision, over-blending can make colours muddle into each other resulting in a blotchy application. And that, in turn, is often caused by using too large a blending brush. It does, however, work perfect for nose contouring!
See! Perfect nose contour brush!
Using brush to set undereye instead of powder puff (unless stage makeup) With learning both from more insightful YouTubers and influencers and experimenting it myself, I have come to realise that unless I am doing stage makeup, which is intended to help makeup last against sweating, over-powdering is very UNNECESSARY. And when powder is applied with a puff, one risks over-powdering. With a brush, it is effortless, controlled and appears very natural
Using your fingers isn’t a bad thing I still CANNOT stand makeup all over my hands when working and brushes are my salvation. However, when applying makeup, some aspects can be only achieved by using my fingers. And that my friends, isn’t a bad thing! In my case, for example, highlighting the nose and the tip I can only ever achieve, to my own satisfaction, with the ring finger. YES, please use the ring finger. They apply the least pressure, especially when you intend to apply some kind of eye makeup or even undereye concealer.
Extra large powder brushes aren’t an essential product in your makeup kit Even if you are a professional. Yes, in my humble opinion, the large powder brush, to me, is only helpful for special effects makeup artist. For beauty makeup, the large face powder brush is often reserved to dusting on a little powder on the face, or dusting away powder when baked. For that, any regular powder brush would suffice. The picture below can give you some context. It is also difficult to pack up in a kit and would take up too much additional space in one’s storage.
See how big it is? How much of my face it covers?! And I got a large face! Imagine trying to apply bronzer or contour with that big brush! There would be absolutely no precision! You risk looking like a brown muddled mess!
And I guess that ends the trilogy! Thanks for sticking through with this and if you’ve made it this far, let me tell you, I am deeply deeply grateful… Thank you…
On to the second part in my epic trilogy *insert 21st century fox intro*. Wait, or is that a little outdated? Ok, *insert epic Marvel movie intro*. There! Cooler! On to the sequel! From products, to now, techniques I have changed my mind about.
1. Eyeliner isn’t always necessary No, this isn’t about the liquid liner specifically from the first post. I am talking any eyeliner… I am realising, as indispensable as makeup artists and enthusiasts often swear by, eyeliner isn’t always an essential part of makeup look. I KNOW, THIS IS ME saying it! But yes, when I examine and re-examine how I do my makeup, the eyeliner is slowly becoming obsolete to me. When I say eyeliner, I mean a thick black or dark line on the eyelid.
Wearing the tiniest bit eyeliner here. I love how open my eyes are.
2. Stopped plucking brows People who know me IRL, or at least those that know me enough, know that I am obsessed with my brows. I love keeping them trimmed, proper and well groomed. A bit too obsessed if I may add. However, I’ve realised that, and I guess this would be the harsh truth of reality and getting old, my brow hairs are becoming thinner and sparser. No, wait, I don’t have bald brow bones just yet but this is a preemptive preservation of my brows so that I’ll hopefully have luscious brows well into old age.
Full luscious brows!
3. Stopped overfilling the brows Yes, we’re still on the brows. The overtly carved out, very filled in, Instagram brows are OUT OF TREND and style. Bushy yet well combed out brows are IN and I LOVE IT! I very lightly fill them in now and just a little detailing on the tail end to give it structure and voila! Awesome brows!
Hey, I really prefer the one on the left despite it looking a little messier.
4. No more excessive highlight and contour… …unless on stage. Yes, I preface this by saying that the excessive highlighting and contouring isn’t altogether disposed but it won’t be in practice for any other makeup looks. Even when doing the highlighting and contouring for stage makeup, there is so much that I’ve learned that the triangle of concealer under the eyes and the stripes of dark concealer all over the face isn’t applicable any longer. And yes, this is influenced by both TikTok and Robert Welsh (if you want to know more about Robert Welsh click on this link here to find out).
NOPE!!!
5. A transition shade isn’t always necessary If you don’t know what a transition shade is, I implore you to take a look at the “Makeup Lingo Dictionary” page, linked on the side of the page or you can click here too. A transition shade has been knocked on our heads so much that it is basically stamped on every beauty makeup look at this point. Sure, it still does help blend two eyeshadows together but you can blend basically ANY two eyeshadow colours together. ANY!
Orange into green into blue and purple. No transition shade was used.
So I hope this helps in some way or another. What are some techniques you’ve changed your minds about? Let me know in the comments! Looking forward to be more interactive with everyone!
This is a three part series about how my thoughts, techniques, and application process has changed especially with the resurgence of various methods to do makeup in 2022 (wow my very own trilogy in the FiercePaint universe!). So, this post isn’t about a specific product rather a type of product which I have changed my mind about. I must confess at least three of these was me learning off of social media and out of those three, two were because of YouTuber Robert Welsh (channel link here). Keep reading, you’ll understand what I mean.
1. Liquid liners Hold it, I know you must be confused. No I haven’t changed my mind about the product itself but instead I am coming to realise that the traditional use of it to line my eyes isn’t something that is always necessary in a makeup look, especially if one has hooded eyes. When re-watching my Indian dance makeup videos on YouTube I’ve come to realise that the eyeliner doesn’t seem to flatter my eyes. In terms of Indian dance makeup, if I ever get to dance again, the dramatic winged liner with the liquid eyeliner would still be necessary. However, there are certain techniques I’d use to change the shape and it’s thickness. As of now, on a normal makeup look I do, both on myself and on others, I would not default to the winged liner. Having a dark line on the eyelids, depending on the shape of one’s eye, can be counter-productive and end up making the eyes appear, unintentionally, smaller.
Notice how thick the line is on the first two pictures are and how some of it disappears into my lids and to the side? Yeah…
2. Soft lip liners This was influenced by Tati, yes that now infamous YouTuber. She raved on about the Essence Cosmetics lipliners that come in two variations; the twist up version and a pencil version that needs sharpening. Both of which I have reviewed and loved. I still think they’re great but not for their intended purpose anymore.
See here’s the problem with extremely soft lipliners, no 1, they are an absolute pain to sharpen, and no 2, they act more like lipsticks than lipliners. The frustration with the former goes without saying but the problem with latter is, lipliners are supposed to, in addition to making some lipsticks more wearable, be a long lasting base for a good lip combo. Even if the lipstick fades away, the lipliner is there to provide some colour. When a lipliner acts like a lipstick, it ends up wearing away just as fast the lipstick does, ergo completely negating its need. I would now opt for formulas that may not be as smooth to apply but are opaque, pigmented and really adheres to the lips.
3. Sharpening pencils Vis-Ã -vis soft pencils let’s talk about sharpening them. In every pencil I have reviewed, be it brow or lip products, I’ve added this one ‘con’; “needs sharpening”. I hate sharpening makeup pencils with a passion! However, I’ve realised that as long as I am using a good quality sharpener and the product itself isn’t like the aforementioned soft pencils, sharpening isn’t that bad. Pencils often contain a lot more product and sharpening means you can get a sharp point for precise work. So, yea, I don’t hate it so much and won’t add into a con, unless the pencils are too soft for it.
4. Baking powders So here’s the thing, I have done baking (for definition please visit the page “Makeup Lingo Dictionary”, link here) and still do but now, I think it ought to be reserved to stage makeup. It really does behoove performers to set their face in copious amount of powder as it will help maintain base makeup through perspiration. The flipside to this is thick, cakey makeup that does not look good up close and in person. Moving forward, I would only lightly set base cream or liquid makeup with just enough powder. No more baking for a day-to-day makeup look.
5. Eyeshadow base Eyeshadows bases are typically liquid or cream products applied on the eyelids before application of eyeshadows to prolong wear time and/or enhance intensity. I have reviewed two, both from Essence Cosmetics, and, both loved and received good ratings.
So what changed my mind about these is, after using it on people and myself, I’ve noticed that these are essentially glorified concealers and on oily eyelids, it breaks down like a concealer does. It works only on specific skin types, and non hooded eyes. Eyeshadows on these concealer-like-eyeshadow-bases also tends to move around and smudge where it shouldn’t. The verdict is that I don’t think these make good eyeshadow bases. It doesn’t prolong wear because it has no element of adhesion. Now, what I would use are eyeshadow primers like the Urban Decay primer potion that aid eyeshadow adhesion to the eyelid rather than concealers or concealer like eyeshadows bases.
Yes, I am aware that these aren’t best kept secrets completely unknown to the makeup world. I don’t take ownership to any of these tips as I am sure many do it and may have figured it out on their own. However, I figured all these out, on my own.
TIP 1 Use a lip balm as liquid lipstick remover. If you aren’t yet aware, liquid lipsticks are lipsticks that apply like a lipgloss but dry down to a matte finish. They are often ridiculously difficult to remove and many stain the lip. So instead of repeatedly rubbing the lips with a makeup remover for removal just saturate the lips with lip balm, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then use a makeup remover to remove the product. It isn’t always foolproof but it certainly does ease the removal process.
TIP 2 Don’t immediately apply the second layer of mascara after the first. This is a trick I do all the time but I haven’t necessarily seen it being mentioned as a trick/hack. I don’t apply a second coat of mascara immediately after the first one. Letting the first coat dry out a little tends to help with volume and building up the lashes without needing too many coats of mascara.
One coat.Two coats. See! effective!
TIP 3 When using an eyebrow gel brush backwards. What makes using an eyebrow gel even more effective is if the brow hairs are properly coated. So instead of just brushing the brow hairs in only a single direction, you ought to brush it on the opposite direction too. It helps with longevity because it will coat the brows hair fully with product.
TIP 4 Use brown eyeliner instead of black. Many dark and brown skinned women gravitate to black eyeliner simply because it contrasts with their skin tone however, if executed poorly, can come off as unintentionally messy. If you have conquered the art of the eyelining/er power to you! Use the black! But if you want a more forgiving medium, and if you just want a different, more natural look, do give the often neglected brown eyeliner a go!
TIP 5 Use a blending brush to blend concealer. This tip is the reason I decided to share these tricks in the first place. Using a beauty blender just pushes product into the skin. It doesn’t distribute it evenly. Using a blending brush, much like how it blends eyeshadow out, picks up just a little product and blends it out seamlessly. You can also target the product exactly where you want as opposed to applying it frantically in excess.
Add some concealer to the back of your hand or a palette and pick it up with the blending brush.Slowly and purposefully build up and add coverage where necessary.
Do let me know if you do/are aware of any of these tricks. Thanks for reading!
My latest YouTube video dives a little deeper into why it is still a struggle being a male presenting makeup blogger/YouTuber ESPECIALLY being Malaysian AND Indian AND darker skinned.
I did this back in 2015 but SO MUCH has changed about the beauty world especially on YouTube and there are people to be removed and new ones to be added. Of course controversies were taken into consideration. Other aspects I’ve considered is content change and how these creators have persevered and updated their content without losing popularity.
I had a top 10 list in 2015 and this has reduced to a top 5 list here. I have unsubscribed from so many and I watch much less. These days, I watch beauty content only when I need it, for example, if I need a special effects makeup tutorial or product suggestions, then I go looking for it.
So here they are, my top 5 favourite beauty YouTubers. Their names are links to their YouTube channel.
This is in NO ORDER OF PREFERENCE.
The first two are the two that have remained from my 2015 post.
She was on my original list and she is on this as well. Emily Noel has been in the YouTube game since 2008! That’s like one of the originals of YouTube, before anyone even made money from YouTube! Her reviews, tutorials, hacks, tips and tricks are very in-depth and thorough and she is an absolute doll! Of course, like many original beauty content creators on YouTube, she has lost some audience and don’t pull the numbers she initially did but she’s sentimental and I always watch her videos.
A transwoman rocked the YouTube beauty world for close to 12 years and I AM PROUD! She still is one my favourites! Of course not free of controversy, Nikkie has somewhat managed to weather them and still seem personable and humble. Most impressive of all is that Nikkie has managed to stay relevant and is still pulling large numbers in terms of audience.
Robert Welsh may be new to the YouTube scene but definitely not new to the makeup industry as he has many years of experience. He essentially helped changed the makeup content in YouTube and re-introduced some older, practical and useful makeup techniques that content creators are now embracing and parading as “new techniques”. He also does a lot of debunking videos, in which he takes too-good-to-be-true TikTok and Instagram makeup hacks and explains why they do or don’t work. I absolutely LOVE his take as I have been doing a lot of these myself for forever.
If there was a beauty YouTuber that THRIVED in 2020, RawBeautyKristi takes the spot! Her battle with infertility and her 2020 surprise pregnancy, her makeup palette launch debacle, her take on makeup, her candid confessions, all these makes her so endearing and you just want to be her friend! Not to mention she’s actually really good at makeup from beauty to special effects.
YES, THIS is how I have changed as a viewer towards beauty content on YouTube. If you’re going to insert personality into it, make it funny and entertaining. Only relying on self deprecating humour isn’t going to cut it in 2022! And who else can do it better than a drag queen? The undisputable superstar drag queen extraordinaire, is, no other than Trixie Mattel (well, Rupaul too but we are talking about beauty YouTubers)! Serving varied content from music to food to toys to makeup, makes her a well rounded content creator. And don’t be fooled, she’s really good at makeup and if a drag queen tells you a product is good, the product is objectively GOOD!
In my previous post I included some Malaysian content creators as well but most of them have very sporadic content which makes it difficult to stay interested, however, I do have one suggestion.
Just a heads up, although she does make content in English, a majority of her content is in Bahasa Malaysia or the Malaysian language. She’s really entertaining to watch and has some pretty good beauty makeup skills.
FiercePaint 