How to mix your own Organic Foundation

Illustrated by waiChing

It's that time of the year again where we are getting a little more frugal as we gear ourselves to give, give and give on Christmas. For those who are preparing a war against their conscience to either buy a toy for niece Carol or to get another foundation because you are now a shade lighter/ because you should reward yourself / because the Christmas packaging is just too cute / because ... well, come on, there are thousands of reasons to get a new foundation. There will always be a reason. Yes, we know. We feel the same.

And with that in mind, we made a little tutorial on how to mix your own organic foundation! The materials are mostly already available in your kitchen. Unless you are living alone and the only use of your fridge is to store your facial masks. Then, you might want to head over to the nearest convenient store to get some spices. 

As in the diagram above, Arrowroot flour is used as the base of the powder.  If Arrowroot flour is not common in your area, you may want to use strained cornflour or any powder of the same consistency. Some spices may look like it has a strong colour, but don't be deterred by your first impression. You may be surprised by how mild it might turn out to be. Just as an additional option, adding in some coconut oil or jojoba oil can turn the consistency into either a creamy foundation or a liquid foundation, depending on the quantity of liquid mixed in. Alternatively, you may also use argan oil, aloe vera or even which hazel as the astringent. Zinc Oxide, the compound needed for sun protection could be found in most pharmacies. 

In the end, if you fail to match your colour, you can always bundle it up in a pretty little tiny container with a bow and send it off as a present to your friend. Christmas is coming and she doesn't have to know that it's a fail experiment. Handmade presents? Aww, how thoughtful of you. BFF forever!

DIY Papaya mask

Illustrated by waiChing

We are back again with another tip. This time, we are making papaya mask from scratch. The sweet tropical fruit contains some magical ingredients, mainly vitamin A and Papain that would gently exfoliate your skin, making it smooth while keeping wrinkles at bay. 

Add the paste with some other ingredients for extra benefits:
Lemon: for whitening
Yoghurt and Rice Powder: to rejuvenate skin
Cucumber and banana: to stimulate circulation and flawless skin

Technically, this might not be a one size fits all combo. If you have sensitive skin, it is best to do a test patch before slathering it all over your face. Green papaya contains more papain making it more efficient but it might be too strong for sensitive skin. Best to start with ripe papayas as it is less harsh.

Do try this out and let us know if it works for you.

Natural looking Gradient Lips

Illustration by waiChing

Gradient lips are especially essential to complete the fresh no-make up look. Yes, we realise the irony of putting on makeup to look like we did not put any makeup on. But hey, make up is to help enhance our natural beauty. So, here we are, a step by step guide to achieving beautiful, natural looking, gradient lip. 

The key to this is to layer on a few times and blend in the colours for a naturally healthy looking lips. And as busy as you may be, it is best not to skip the concealer or nude lipstick as this will help enhance the sheer colour of the lip tint. As an additional tip, do try to exfoliate and use a lip mask at least twice a week for a smooth kissable lip. It will also help to plump up the lips and keep the lips from cracking. 

Our team is loving the Innisfree E-co Fruit Tint. The soft colour blends in effortlessly and the sweet taste of fruits is definitely a plus point. 

How To Identify the Basic Neckline

Illustration by waiChing

It really doesn't matter if you are a dude or a dudette nor does it really matter which ever way you swing, by the age of 30 this should be part of your general knowledge. To be honest, we don't think that there are much of a rule on who should or should not wear anything at all. As long as you have the confidence to pull it off and you are comfortable with it, go ahead. Just as long as you are not breaking any rules. Anyhow, below are some notes on the basic neckline. 

Round neck

Named (we presume) after the round cut out for the head-hole, this cutting is generically used for most t-shirts in the market. There are a few modify versions, namely the crew neck and boat neck which we will discuss below but this somehow still seems to be a crowd favorite when it comes to manufacturing t-shirts.

Crew neck

In case you are wondering, this is not just for crews. If you are a boss, wearing this neckline does not automatically demote you. Apparently, it was originally designed to be used for undergarments for the American footballers. The neckline is easily confused with the round neck but it does have a distinct difference whereby the cutting sits at the base of the neck, making the head hole smaller.

Boat neck or Bateau neck

If you pay attention to the cutting, you will realise that it resembles the silhouette of the undercarriage of a boat or a 'sampan'. It normally has a wide and long eclipse cut out for the neckline that sits on the shoulder and tend to make the shoulder looks broader. 

V neck

V neck can be rather daring depending on how low the cutting goes. Some like it at the base of the collar bone while others won't mind showing some decolletage. Whichever way it goes, the V cut surely creates the illusion of a longer the neck. But don't worry, unless you have extremely long neck, you most probably won't end up looking like a giraffe. 

Sweatheart neck

This pretty neckline emphasizes the chest area. Well, chest is a more decent way to say boobs. This cutting is over used in prom and wedding dresses. But hey, if it works, why not. Of course, just to be diplomatic, if you are a male and decides to wear this, go ahead. No judgment. 

Square neck

The square neckline is never really a square. Most probably a rectangle but we think rectangle is too long a word to use in the past. This neckline is rather generous with the amount of skin shown. If you are into thick chunky necklace, this is probably your pick. 

But do keep in mind that these are the names used by the general public. You may come across some other names for the same cutting or slightly altered neckline. There is no hard, fast rule in fashion. If you feel it, go for it.