Dark Circles and Puffy Eye Bag Rescue

Ever thought how things we can easily get from our kitchen can help solve our beauty problems? Here is the trick, as given from my great-grandmother.



Put a smooth metal spoon in a glass of ice-cube water to chill for a few seconds. Take it out and roll over your under eye area gently with it. Hold it there until the spoon is warm again. Then repeat the steps a few times.

Not only this will solve your problem, you will have fresh dewy eyes just within few seconds.

Solution to sensitive skin

Hi, I am back again after my long holiday, had my rest and now getting back to where I had left... feeling rejuvenated and full of ideas to share.

A few weeks of absence, I had people writing into the beauty questions. Here is one that urgently needed my advice and I feel I should share this with everyone too.

My skin peels and it feels a burning sensation when I remove my makeup after a whole day under foundation. Is something wrong with my skin or my foundation?

Now that I have uneven patches all over my skin, I have to use a stronger coverage.

Please tell me what I should do? … Sandy, 23

Sandy, I feel so sorry that your skin reacts to foundation that way. Your skin is being attacked by the strong harmful chemicals in your foundation that you are using for few hours. Then it is further aggravated by the makeup remover you are using.

First, stop using both the foundation and the makeup remover. Dump them to the bin.

Next, you may want to consider changing your foundation to a something less harsh. Get a dermatologist to check on your skin condition and probably she may advice you on certain products of foundation.

Give your skin a few weeks of break and time to recover. Meanwhile, go check out the net for foundations for sensitive skin. Tip : Go for water based foundation.

After your skin had recovered, here are the steps to protect your skin from further damaging.

Protect your skin before makeup. Invest into some good skin care or makeup base that is vitamin enriched. Try out Bobbi Brown Vitamin E enriched Face Base. Remember to tone your skin before the base.

Use the recommended foundation for sensitive skin. Use foundation brush for a more hygienic application. Foundation brush application is less likely to push the foundation into your pores. Apply using downward strokes. Immediately was you brush clean and not let any foundation sediments linger around to attract bacteria to inhibit in your brush.

When removing makeup, opt for something more natural. Go for Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil as your makeup remover. It is gentle on the skin, removes makeup efficiently (even good for mascara remover), it moisturizes the skin without clogging the pores. Best of all, it is inexpensive and readily available at any convenience stores or supermarket.

Beauty Q&A

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Jolene Chan, 34
If I am in a hurry for a meeting, what are my essentials?

Pauline says : In the boardroom, you should command attention. So opt for stronger eyes. Line those eyes with dark brown or black eyeliner. Smudge the eyeliner a little and top those lashes with a coat of mascara. Go for strong lip color of natural shades. Choose matte lipstick over shine.

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Evon Liew, Marketing Executive, Kuala Lumpur
I love to party on Friday night after work. How do I change my look from Day to Night makeup in a jiffy?

Pauline says : Blot your face and apply 2 way powder pressed onto your face. For those eyes, just add on stronger and deeper colors. Add a little shimmer to the top of your eyeshadow. Careful not to put too much shimmer as it will make your eyes seem smaller and puffy. For that flirty look, try fake lashes. Shu Eumura has got a wide range of selections of funky lashes that work wonders. Tissue off old lipshade and top it up with glittering reds.

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Ms Chin, 29, Subang Jaya
Help! I have a pair of very small eyes. How do I make them stands out?

Pauline says : Dark brown eyeshadow (not too dark) and black eyeliner is the solution to create an illusion of bigger and more expressive eyes. Apply a layer of eyeshadow on the upper eyelid (close to the lash line) and slowly blend the colors upward and outward. Start with little colors and add on when you think that it is not enough. Line at the top lash line with black gel liner. Extend a little longer to make your eyes appear a little longer and winged it upwards. I love Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black. It gives your eyes the definition it cries for. Curl your lashes and top them with 2 layers of volume or lengthening mascara. At the bottom lash line, gently apply a thin line of brown eyeshadow. Go easy on the mascara at the bottom lash.

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Janet C, 23
How do I achieve that supermodel eyebrows like the ones in Hollywood?

Pauline says : Draw the desired shape with a soft eyebrow pencil (hint : brush your brows upward to find your natural arch). Tweeze the strays under the brow first. Using an eyelash comb to comb upwards and trim any hairs that extended beyond the natural arch. Clean your brow with cool toner. Defining your eyebrow with eyebrow pencil of similar shade of your hair color. Use small, light and feathery strokes starting from the inner corner working outwards. Brush through your brows with angle brush for a soft natural look. The trick that Hollywood makeup artist use is to highlight the brow bone area before applying eye makeup.

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Masitah, 43, Sunway
Each time I apply blusher onto my cheeks, it look streaky. Why is it so?

Pauline says : The keyword here is blending. Use a bigger and fluffier brush for easy blending. Start small circle at the apple of your cheek and gradually blending into bigger radius.

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Geena, 17, Student

I have waist length, straight hair. My grandma says brushing hair 100 times a day and you will get shiny and healthy hair, but how come I am dropping so much hair?

Pauline says : Brushing with the wrong method and wrong tools can result in hair fall. This is the right technique to hair brushing.

Start off by detangling your hair with your fingers, then the wide tooth brush (go for natural-boar bristle comb). Don't brush your hair when it is wet and brushing a 100 times is too much, just do it 20 to 30 times is sufficient. The act of brushing is actually to stimulate your blood circulation around the scalp area, thus stimulating your hair follicle to produce and distribute the natural oils from your scalp to your hair. Another way to stimulate your scalp is to massage your scalp area with the ball of your fingers, then brush your hair gently from root to hair end. This way you can reduce hair fall by half.

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You are most welcome to ask any beauty questions. Write in to www.makeupbypauline.com and I will provide you with solutions and ideas. Thank you.