Beauty Tips the Internet Has Taught Me

Hiya everyone

I'm back!  It must be a least 3 months since I last posted.  In that time, I gave birth to my second daughter and have been coming to terms with life with a new baby and a 3 year old!

Anyway, to get back into the swing of things, I thought I would do a post on beauty tips the internet has taught me - be it Youtube, blogs or web pages.  

Back in the 90's when I was a teenager, the internet wasn't like it is today.  Back then, I don't think there were beauty blogs, and there certainly wasn't Youtube.  To get any sort of beauty information, I had my older sister and magazines.  But today!  Geez, I don't think there is anything you can't find out on the internet - in any field.  I even connect my treadmill to the internet and have a virtual walk anywhere in the world (using iFit) - complete the terrain modulations.  I have spent the last week walking through US national parks - and I live in Australia!  Anyway, I digress......

The Importance of Acids in Skincare

I love acids for the skin - specifically AHA's and Hyaluronic

AHA's include glycolic and lactic acids (among others).  Essentially, I believe AHA's work by removing the dead skill cell skins which not only make your skin look dull, but also reduce the effectiveness of other skincare.

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that can hold 1000 times its weight in water.  It is an excellent moisturiser and really plumps up the skin.

I will not be without these two ever - full stop.

Don't be Cleansing Lazy

I'll admit it - I haven't always been consistent with cleansing my skin at night - my bad.  I didn't realise the damage I could be doing to my skin by not cleansing every-night - whether I had worn make up that day or not.  

As the skin ages, pores don't "snap back" the way they used to.  If a pore is clogged with crap (makeup/sebum/general gunk) and isn't cleansed out asap, after time, the pore will begin to stretch and not "snap back".  Sagging pores are one of the many signs of ageing skin.

Korean Skincare is Awesome (though kinda complicated)

I love Korean skincare - initially introduced to me via Youtube (Memebox reviews by Coffee Break with Dani), I have since expanded beyond Memebox and have been sampling all sorts of goodies.  I particularly love sheet masks and sleeping packs.

The products themselves are a bit different to those typically available in Australia (i.e. a toner has a moisturising component, rather than being astringent), so that's taken a bit of time to get my head around.  Additionally, the average Korean womans daily skincare regime can include more than 10 steps.  If you are interested, Skin and Tonics has an excellent summary of the Korean skin care regime, which is linked here.

Priming the Skin

I remember reading years ago, a quote by Napolean Perdis, which was "To not prime is a crime" (or words to that effect).  At the time I though it was kinda naff and was an attempt to sell more product.  I was wrong!

Watching Youtube, I would see all these You-tubers priming their skin before applying their foundation.  After a while, I figured there must be something to this.  I gave it a try and my skin has never looked better while wearing foundation.  My pores are less obvious, and the longevity of my foundation has increased.

Priming the Eyes 

Similarly to skin priming, I haven't looked back since I started priming my eyes.  Not only does priming increase the longevity of the shadow and decreasing creasing, it also intensifies the colours themselves.  

If an Eyeliner is Not Long Wearing and Budge-proof, I don't Wanna Know it!

So much so, that I have thrown out/given to family any eyeliner I previously owned that don't meet both these criteria.  Life is too short for eyeliner that likes to go for a walk off the eyes - period.

One Eyeshadow brush is not Enough (well at least not for me)

For years I got along quite nicely using one eyeshadow brush (sponge tip), and I made that work.  I could both apply and blend colour really effectively.  However, having my eyes opened to the joy of the blending brush has made that task so much easier - I've never looked back.  That fact that I've know got overt 60 brushes (whole face) is a whole different story.........

My Makeup Collection is Not Insane

Well, combatively speaking to other makeup collections I see on Youtube.  The fact a reasonable number of Youtubers make a living through makeup, I am willing to completely overlook haha.

More a Confirmation than Anything

Makeup and cosmetics in Australia are an absolute rip off!!  A Mac lipstick in the US is about $16 - there they are $36.  Likewise, a Revlon lipstick is $6 in the US, while they are $25 here.  

The Australian dollar is $.90 roughly (as of today) to the US dollar - so currency isn't a factor.  I know some things are more expensive in Australia, but I don't believe for a second that they are so significant that the price is justified being doubled.

Also Nyx just launched in Austrlia at Target - some of the lip products are $15!  The most expensive Nyx product I have seen on CherryCulture for Nyx is $7 - and that's for Nyx's top of the line lipstick that Target doesn't even carry! Oh, and don't even get me started on E.L.F ($8 for the eyebrow kit!) grrrrrrrrrrrr.

I'm sure there are more things I could write here, but this is all I can't think off right now. What beauty stuff has the internet taught you?

Have a great day!