illitgal

[illitgal]

HEY LIT GALS

Today we are going head-on on beauty, Mythbusters style!

Yes, pretty princesses, through our diligent research, we are going to debunk our most common beauty and skincare myth-conceptions! We be pretty punny here ladies.

Myth 1: Blackheads on your little schnoz are actually not blackheads!

This was the table flipper and head turner here at the Illitgal team. Those little black dots are actually Subcutaneous filaments. In simple, real person talk… they are literally just a buildup of oil and dead skin cells that are trapped around the follicles of your teeny tiny hairs on your nose. Gross.

How do I get rid of them?

Ever tried to use a pore strip on these babies and find that they don’t go away? Well… In fact to get rid of these guys you need a type of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (aka; AHA) in your skin care products. Look out for Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Lauryl Lactate, Cetyl Lactate, Myristyl Lactate, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone or Fruit Acid.

We love:

Peter Thomas Roth - Max Complexion Correction Pads $32

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare - Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel $80-$88

Philosophy - Microdelivery Anti-Ageing Peel, $82

Myth 2: I need the highest SPF I can find!

You actually don’t! A little bit of the science side for you littens. There are three types of UV Rays: UVA, UVB and UVC.

UVC doesn’t even penetrate the atmosphere so we’ll just ignore them. Now UVA rays penetrate your skin deeply and alter the pigmentation of your skin producing that tan. As much as we want that tan it is still damaging to our skin. Finally, UVB rays are the primary rays that cause sunburn. The damage your skin’s DNA and causes pigment changes, photo ageing and possible cancerous tutors! (Eep!)

So what do I need?

SPF on your sunscreen actually refers to the amount of protection the product provides against UVB rays or Sunburn. However here’s to say that UVA and UVC rays aren’t harmful. You should look for broad spectrum protection as it protects from both UVB and UVA rays. SPF 15 and upward is enough protection from UVB rays and lookout for one of the following ingredients in your sunscreen: mexoryl, oxybenzone or avobenzone (Parsol 1789) for UVA protection, or titanium dioxide. Now you can kiss those lobster days goodbye.

We love:

Moonshot - Multi Protection UV Bouncer SPF 50+, $28

Murad - Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15, $40

Philosophy - Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi Rejuvenating Emulsion Broad Spectrum Spf 25, $28

Myth 3: Oily skin doesn’t need moisturiser

A common misconception amongst the ladies and gents that have skin on the oilier side of the spectrum is that they can skip the moisturising step in their skin care routine. Well, you little littens, here's a bomb drop for y’all: All skin always needs to be moisturised, especially oily skin.

The oil that your pores produce is called sebum, it is your natural oils that created by your face. Now we all know that the word ‘Oil’ in products can send us running in the opposite direction however completely stripping your lovely skin of all its oil actually causes our skin to produce more sebum making us more prone to acne producing bacteria!

What should I use?

It's simple! Just lookout for an oil-free or oil balancing moisturiser. There are so many amazing products on the market to combat excessive oil. You might want to also look out for the words’ ‘matte’ and ‘gel based’ as these are indications that these moisturisers will be less oily and also leave a smooth matte finish on your skin, combating that oily look.

We love:

Clinique -  Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel, $27

Philosophy - Renewed Hope In A Jar Gel Cream For Oily Skin, $14

Murad -  Oil-Control Mattifier, $40

So there you have it, three beauty myths - BUSTED.

See you on the feed,

xoxo KIKS

[illitgal]

Get educated and never suffer the cake-face life again!!

HEY LIT GALS

We all know what a foundation fail looks like. When it comes to foundation, LESS IS MORE.

Start off by choosing the right foundation for your skin type and skin tone. Hint: Match ya neck colour.

There’s a magical array of foundation types; Light, liquid, pressed, matte, dewy, full coverage… you name it. It all depends on the look you're going for (as always), but your tools are equally important.

Applying foundation isn’t as simple as it seems, but it’s also not rocket science. With the right techniques and the help of amazing blending tools, your face can look ALMOST AIRBRUSHED! #iwokeuplikethis

Foundation Brush

Foundation brushes are used for applying foundation to your skin and spreading/blending the product evenly and naturally.

These baddies range from flat top to kabuki, to small and precise, to a big oval beauty.

Which type you prefer is really up to preference, but remember that these brushes do best when paired with something like a beauty blender. Streaks are gross and they are common.

Blending Brush (or Stippling)

I CANNOT emphasize enough on how important blending brushes are. There are various types of blending brushes, it all just depends on your preference.

The major key to a perfect finish is blending.

If you’re not a professional or gifted with amazing blending skills, I advise you invest in a good blending brush, your face can go from cake face to airbrushed on photoshop real quick.

Beauty Blender

Beauty Blenders made news, girl. They’re a small sponge or silicon tool that you dampen (if sponge), add foundation or concealer too, and then stipple over the face for a perfect blend.

Depending on your preference, you can choose to go with a beauty blender instead of a blending brush, it's supposed to do the same job after all.

Their soft design makes them great for removing any streaky lines around the nose or eyes left behind by foundation brushes or liquid foundations, giving you that perfect, photo-ready face.

Your Fingers

Just kidding. Don’t. Your hands do NOT blend well with a large surface and they carry bacteria everywhere.

Ever noticed streaky finger marks down a woman’s neck? That’s from using her hands to apply liquid foundation. Real nice. Don’t be that gal.

Sponge vs Silicone

Silicone

If you’re a makeup enthusiast you’ve probably already come across the ‘silisponge’. It is a blending tool in a silicone material that looks like mini breast implants. Its genius design means it won’t absorb product, allowing you FULL USE of what you pay for. These silisponges are a breeze to clean afterwards, which is a huge bonus. It, uh, also kinda sounds a little pornographic when you use it to stipple, (rubbing it in a circle won’t work btw...) but that flawless finish is worth it.

Sponge

Ya’ll already seen it since it was the biggest trend of 2016. Like soooo last year, so you better have heard of it! For those of you who aren’t aware they are the teardrop/egg shape (usually hot pink) sponge. These beauty blenders are different from any other mediocre sponges. The sponge deposits a smooth coat for even coverage and streak-free application. Doesn’t end there! Beauty blender gives the MOST NATURAL FINISH, as the shape is perfect for snatching those unreachable spots that normal sponges just can’t. I recommend everyone have a beauty blender in their arsenal.

P.S. Beauty blenders have to be washed after every. single. use. due to the nature of the beast. These puppies are absolute breeding grounds for bacteria in their damp, dark insides. Yes, you should wash your brushes after every use anyway, but we know we don’t always do that. With a beauty blender tho… Just make sure you’re soaking it in a cleaning solution when you’re done!

P.P.S. Replace these every 3 months, or when they begin to deteriorate, smell or you’re breaking out for “literally no reason” - Whichever comes first. Better safe than gross.

xoxo TAVI