Still confused by CC creams? Don't be.

Sometimes when faced with a wall of shiny new products in the beauty aisle, we buy things we don’t know how to use.

Sometimes we don’t even know how they work or what they’re supposed to do. We don’t mean to, we just get sucked in by the fancy schmancy packaging.

And who can blame us? It’s a baffling new world out there in the beauty industry.

Three-step skincare routines have turned into six or seven-step routines.

There’s products that ‘magically blur’ fine lines and wrinkles and ones that somehow illuminate and chemically exfoliate.

It’s no wonder we’re confused, and in need of a white lab coat and science degree to figure this stuff out.

But it’s okay, I’ve got my pen protector in my top pocket; we’re gonna figure this out together.

CC Cream.

CC = colour corrective. So if you have pigmentation or dark spots, redness or uneven skin tone a CC cream ‘corrects’ areas that you can’t cover by building up layers of BB cream or foundation alone.

Try: I found the Clinique CC cream too dry for my skin, but know so many people who can’t live with out it. I love L’Oreal Paris Nude Magique CC Cream and Smashbox Camera Ready CC cream (Mamamia publisher, Mia Freedman is obsessed with this one).

Illuminating Foundation.

Foundations got jealous of all the fun illuminators like YSL’s Touche Eclat were having and decided they wanted in. The light-reflecting pigments in these super foundations help fake that glowy-dewy-I-woke-up-like-this model skin that takes ages for makeup artists to fake. And who doesn’t want skin like that?

Try: L’Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation (it’s SUPERB), Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation, Clinique Moisture Surge.

Chemical Exfoliant.

Sounds terrifying, but I promise that you won’t end up with skin a la Samantha in Sex and the City. Rather than having a granular texture that traditional face scrubs have, chemical exfoliants contain ingredients like salicyclic acid to micro-exfoliate, which lift dead cells to brighten and soften the skin.

Try: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant or Mario Badescu Rolling Cream Peel with AHA.

Perfect Blur / Magic Blur / ALL THE BLUR.

Blame it on Instagram, but the latest trend in skincare is blurring your face. These spac-fillers for your face are divided into two categories: pre-foundation and post-foundation. Products like Nanoblur are best applied on top of your foundation, and as they suggest, apply soft-focus-filter trickery to your face by ‘blurring’ your fine lines.

Sadly, they only last a few hours.

Try: Post-foundation heavyweights: Nanoblur, Mac Prep + Prime Line Filler, L’Oreal Paris Revalift Magic Blur. Pre-foundation prodz: Garnier Perfect Blur.

Pigments.

Pigments, while not having the sexiest name on the planet, are super fun things and you don’t have to be a makeup artist to use them.

These bottles of glittery, shimmery (and matte) magic can be used as a blush, illuminator, highlighter, eye liner and eye shadow.

It can also be mixed with clear mascara and clear nail polish to make coloured mascara and nail polish. I impulse bought a neon orange MAC pigment powder, which when I dab it over red lipstick takes it matte and highlighter bright (in a good way… I think).

Try: the one and only, MAC Pigment powders.

Have you tried any of the products mentioned? Leave your review/s below. And if you have any specific beauty concerns or questions leave them in the comments, I’ll do my best to answer them. Nicky x. 

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