OFM Style: Get the Beauty Beat for a Hot Date

I know, I know, if you heard it once you heard it a million times: beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what if I told you beauty is only as good as it is beholden? Going from January to February is the perfect time to experiment with your beauty beat. What are you wearing on your skin after you cleanse and keep up? 

Well, good thing I am here to help. Beauty is ours to behold.

If you are not too keen on makeup but want to experiment, an easy way to settle into the beauty world is not with foundation but with tinted moisturizer or BB (beauty balm) and CC (complexion corrector) cream. The first of the three is easy to come by in any makeup/beauty store and is a moisturize that is slightly tinted for your skin tone to help correct some color and even out complexion. It’s a fast and effective way to get your skin radiating and cover up some pesky discoloration. 

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BB cream is great for normal, non-acne skin to blur the look of pores and color correct. CC cream, on the other hand, is formulated for people who have more acne-prone skin but works on all skin types. CC cream is great not only for its color correction, oil control, and overall smoothing, but it usually contains SPF for UV protection. If you know skin care, you know that SPF is crucial for anti-aging and reduction of dark spots. 

Pre-foundation creams and balms are amazing, but what about full foundation? Well depending on how you like coverage (light to full) you may have a foundation you like but want to get a longer wear out of it. For people who use powder compacts, a damp sponge or brush to apply your foundation can extend wear from medium to full coverage in one go. Do note that if you use the wet applicator method, make sure to use a loose-setting powder to reduce any splotches. (Maybelline’s Fit Me powder comes in six shades that increase coverage.) 

For the people who use liquid foundation, a flat foundation brush can take a small pump and spread it to a nice, medium coverage over the face. However, when using a flat foundation brush, make sure to alternate between a buffer brush to blend foundation into skin, as flat brushes lack blending power and  can crease foundation in unflattering ways. With or without foundation, you can be flawless.

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If foundation isn’t your thing, then lips can be a big confidence boost for anyone. Wearing a lipstick and liner that are similar to your own lip color can add a flawless finish to your face. Top it off with some gloss if a night out or a night in takes your day lip to an all-nighter. One good thing to note is that if you aren’t used to wearing lipstick, using a lip scrub and balm before application can make your lips fuller and glow with whatever color choice you choose.

When we think of beauty, we have to remember we are the beholders and are able to play with our own perception however we like. Be it flawless finish or a touch of color to your lips, your face is your first impression. You get to make it count.