The benefits of using cotton pads to apply your skincare

Happy Tuesday!

So a very popular question that I get asked all the time is, "Why would we use cotton pads to apply skincare?" I guess a lot of people understand why we use it to remove makeup... but how would it work to apply skincare?
People have the misconception that cotton pads (like sponges) absorb your product, so it seems like a lot of your $200 toner would be going to waste. Well, I'm here to tell you that it is only true depending on the brand or type of cotton that you're using. So the next time you go shopping for one, do your research and facts about the cotton pads before you purchase. Because even though they could be cheap, they could cost you to lose a lot of product.

Right now two of the hottest cotton pads on the market is the Shisedo and Cle De Peau cotton pads. These two brands (which are actually under the same company), have a different technology in their cotton pads that actually helps your skin absorb the product better.

So let's cover the main reasons why you should be applying your skincare (at least your toner and serum, and your more liquid skincare) with a cotton pad instead of your bare hands.

1. Helps your skincare penetrate deeper into your skin

Like I mentioned above, Shiseido was able to come up with a new technology in their cotton pads which absorbs the product that is poured onto it. But once you apply the cotton pad onto your face, it releases your toner right on to your skin. The reason why this happens is because the cotton contains large holes that is going to help take in the product, but at the same time have the ability to pour it right back on when it touches your skin. So using a press and rolling motion, start from your t-zone and work your way out. You'll definitely see and feel the difference. Trust me, it won't feel as sticky and watery as it used to.

2. Allows your skincare to be evenly distributed across your face

When you use your hands to apply your skincare, because of the way our palms and fingers are shaped, it causes products to be applied unevenly. Since the cotton pad is like a cushion which your fingers will help to adjust its shape, it's really going to help get your skincare into all the corners of your face. That's including close to your hairline, under and around your nose area. You don't want to risk uneven application from happening.. especially when you are using a toner or serum to help with any pigmentation or discolouration you're trying to fix. If you accidentally apply more brightening toners on one area than the others, it's just going to cause your pigmentation problem to become even bigger.

3. Is more sanitary to apply using the cotton pads rather than using your bare hands

Even though you wash your hands a million times, there will always be some sort of bacteria that stays attached to your hands. Unless you literally do a deep cleanse, detoxify and sanitize your hands before you use them to touch your face. Just make sure you keep the cotton pads in a box or container so that it doesn't absorb or trap in any dust.

4. The cotton doesn't come loose and drag across your face as you apply your skincare

It really depends on which cotton pads you purchase, but the Cle De Peau cotton pads have a layer of silk that compacts the material together. In doing so, it prevents the cotton pieces from getting all over your face when you spread your skincare across your face, or when you're using it to remove makeup. It's also a bigger piece, enough for you to remove your whole face of makeup. So although you're paying a bit more for cotton pads.. just think of all the benefits you'll be receiving from spending that extra money. At least you don't need to spend another $150 on a moisturizer that you thought you needed because your toner wasn't giving you enough of the results you needed, when you only needed the little sidekick cotton pads.


I hope this helps you guys! And for those skincare junkies out there who haven't already tried using cottonpads to apply your skincare. Try it out, you definitely should try it at least to see and feel the difference. I'll guarantee you, you're going to see and feel wonderful results.
Please let me know what else you wanna know about! I really need to get started on my looks with the Vice 2 palette... super excited!

Have a good rest of the week!

-Carol


#nowplaying: summertime sadness - Lana Del Ray

Makeup post: Fall trends

With the Fall season just hitting, it's time to dress warm, and change up our makeup colours!
If you haven't already, let's take out the warm colours, browns, blacks, and you know, the new black of this year, ORANGE!

Yeah that's right, orange is the new black of the year, so besides the brown eye shadows and red lips, don't be afraid to pull out that orange eyeshadow (which I have done below), and orangey red lipstick.

What do I have in this look? 1) A matte complexion 2) Warm eyeshadow colours (yellow, orange, brown) 3) Matte red lips 4) Full, strong brows 5) Contoured cheeks

1) Ok, it's fall time, so time to put away your JLo Glow, and put on your matte face! Well, technically makeup shouldn't have any rules, and you can go do your glow if that's your thang I guess. 

But, I'm just telling you this year's trends ... So I put away my Nars Sheer Glow foundation, and took out my Nars Sheer MATTE foundation instead

Sorry for my oily forehead, it seems to have unfortunately taken away from the matte affect, forgive me. 

2) So carrying on, I combined eyeshadows from Mac in Gesso (yellow), Makeup Forever no.18 (orange), and Urban Decay from Naked palette 2 (brown). And surprise surprise, yess, they are all MATTE finishes as well!! I used the yellow and orange all over my eyelid, these colours were pretty much chosen to resemble the fall leaves falling off our trees. (surprise surprise) I used the brown all over my top lid and crease to create that more wide eyed look. 

3) For my lips, I'm using Stila's liquid lipstick in #10, aka Beso. This is one of the best and long lasting lipsticks that actually stay without staining and is a pain in an ass to remove. Nope, once it becomes matte, it becomes kiss proof. Next time you drop by a Sephora or something, try putting it on, allow it 30 seconds to dry, and then kiss your hand. I guarantee nothing is going to transfer over. So I guess it's boyfriend friendly too. The only thing you have to make sure is to not get it wet, so I probably won't guarantee a happy ending if your kiss is too wet........ haha anyways moving on...

4) As usual, for my eyebrows, I'm using Anastasia's brow wiz twistable pencil in Ash Brown to fill in and shape my brows. To set, I used the tinted brow gel in Brunette just to keep all my eyebrows in place, and so the colour does not get wiped off so easily. Using that mascara wand in the brow gel will also help to groom and comb down the fine hairs.

5) Lastly, on the contour of my cheeks, I used my favourite go to bronzer that I use all year long. It is the Nars bronzer in Laguna. It generally is matte, but it has a few signs of sparkles if you play with it on the back of your hand. But once it's applied on to your face, you really don't see it anymore.

This is my current everyday look for the fall, of course once in a while i'll be lazy and just use neutral browns on my eyes, or darker berry colours instead of bright reds on my lips.

I hope you guys enjoyed this simple look. 

Stay tuned next week, I'll be doing a look inspired by Kpop star Ji Eun from Secret for her new solo music video. 

Let me know how you liked it, and what other looks you want to see!

Now enjoy these pictures of my cute puppy~

-Carol