Jamilla's BACK! Update and FOTD - Fighting Sallowness

Apologies for being gone since July 2010! I know, it's been 10 months or so. What have I been up to? Mainly lots of hours on the job and numerous trips to Muscat! I promise to catch up on CBox questions too - a bit late, I know.

I've been in a new role at work since April 2010, which requires a LOT of contract reviews and partner/account negotiations. This has not left me with much time to do much but work. The good news is, I got a big bonus for my hard work, and things have stabilized at bit at work and it's not so crazy. Alas, this job requires ZERO travel, so I am not jetting off to cool places and shopping at duty free! A big part of taking time off from blogging was thinking about how I'd blog and how often I would blog without the international backdrop.

Jamal and I have spent quite a bit of time in Oman at our house, which is great. I'm also about 2-3 shades darker now (NC35) than I was, so I have decided to embrace my darker skin tone. My main concern now is sallowness and lack of radiance, rather than dark spots.


I'm one of those people who tans even with SPF100, so I really can't avoid tanning. The one thing an ultra-high SPF DOES do, is prevent brown spots. I may be darker, but my skin is really clear with very few freckles. High SPF is THE one thing you can do to fight off brown spots, fine lines, and inelastic skin. I've also stepped up my skincare routine, using Perricone R2 products rather than standard skin care plus whitening products. However, I'm using Boots No. 7 Restore and Renew Day and Night creams, because I find that the Perricone serums pack quite a punch already. Adding the Perricone Face Finishing Moisturizer on top really irritated my skin. But more about my new skincare routine later - what am I doing these days about sallowness and lack of radiance?

Firstly, as a foundation primer, I've been using Nivea Visage Natural Beauty Radiance Boosting Moisturizer. This is a light textured cream with a subtle gleam that quickly fixes dull-looking skin.

Another lifesaver is a good corrector and concealer: I use Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque and Bobbi Brown Warm Beige Creamy Concealer. Bobbi Brown calls concealer the "Secret of the Universe" and I think she's right! You can watch a video tutorial on this topic at Bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Next, comes a sheer, moisturizing foundation: here, I'm using Estee Lauder Double Wear Light SPF10 in Intensity 3. It's sheer, buildable, and very moisturizing. To take some shine off, I dusted some Estee Lauder Nutritious Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Makeup SPF 15 in Intensity 3.0 on my forehead, nose, chin, and a tiny bit under the eyes to set the concealer. To apply the foundation, I used a Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush, and for the powder, a MAC 187 Duo Fibre brush. I like the MAC 187 because it picks up the smallest amount of product, and blends very delicately.

To warm up my skin, I applied the lightest bit of Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Bali Brown on my forehead, cheeks, and chin, and a bit under my chin and on my neck and decollete, using a Bobbi Brown Bronzer brush.

To give my cheeks a bit of glow, I dabbed on some Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in 06, a pretty pink. If I want a bit more pop, say in the evening, then I apply some Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick on top of the blush with a Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush.

Next, onto the eyes. I lined my top eyelid with Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Graphite Shimmer Ink 15 using a Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush. On top of that, I applied Intense Eyeliner Pen No. 3 by Barry M, a pretty peacock blue shade. I went for a cool shimmer on my eyelids, applying Bobbi Brown Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows in Mercury and Chrome Patina with a Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Brush.

For extra pop, I applied two coats of Diorshow Waterproof Mascara in 258 Azure Blue. To finish, I'm wearing Bobbi Brown Metallic Lip Color in Calypso Glaze, a pretty coral.

Here's today's lineup!

I'm really glad to be back, and I've been re-connecting with everyone. See you in the blogosphere!

Love,

Jamilla