Beauty blogger Roanna Tan's 'cure' for acne breakouts: Just hydrate
Each week, Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore profiles a beauty blogger that is based in Singapore. Get to know their beauty secrets and find out how you can improve your daily skincare and make-up regime. This week, we feature Roanna Tan, who runs the blog Parade of Love.
1. How did you become a beauty blogger?
It all started out with my passion for international beauty brands that were not available in Singapore. I used to watch a lot of YouTube videos on make-up tutorials for monolids (or single eyelids) and I started learning how to beautify my looks with make-up.
It was also then that I joined a beauty MNC as an intern and the interest in all things beauty developed from there. I wanted to share my beauty know-how in my free time, hence the birth of “Parade Of Love” and its social media platforms.
2. Can you describe what a typical day is like for you?
I hold a full-time job, so a typical non-work day – like on the weekends – is a day for me to indulge and play with my beauty products. I usually start the day by photographing my products, doing flat lays and also experimenting with new things.
I could spend hours and hours going through tonnes of products, and usually, I end the day by editing my photos and writing blog reviews. Interestingly, when I have photos of myself in full make-up using new colours and products, they’re usually on weekdays before I head out for work.
3. What’s your morning beauty regime?
My mornings begin with regular gel cleanser, followed by toner, serum, beauty mist, a morning mask (this is a leave-on mask with a mousse-like consistency), eye cream and sunscreen. I enjoy going through all the essential steps to look good because it makes me feel good too.
In my make-up routine that follows, I have my face primer, foundation, face powder, brows, eyeshadows, eyeliner, bronzer, blusher, highlighter, lipstick, etc, basically everything you can possibly use to enhance your features. I take about 45 minutes to get ready despite seemingly having 101 steps in my morning beauty regime.
4. What’s your night-time beauty regime?
This is definitely much simpler sans the make-up. I first remove my make-up with an oil cleanser, followed by a gel cleanser. I’ll apply toner first before putting on a sheet or clay mask, depending on my skin’s needs. Before bedtime, I apply my night serum, eye cream and moisturiser or facial oil.
5. What are your current favourite beauty products? Why?
Honestly I have too many favourites, but I’ll name three from skincare and two from make-up. I swear by all five of them and I’ve gone through multiple bottles and tubes for most too!
Skincare:
Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion – I swear by this toner. It helps to remove all the dirt and gunk that can be difficult to remove during skin cleansing, and it also helps to soothe any inflammation on the skin caused by stress.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir – Nothing beats this mist for me. It hydrates my skin and sets make-up at the same time. I love the minty feeling it leaves on the skin, it’s like getting a “vitamin shot” when I feel tired.
LANEIGE Fresh Calming Morning Mask – This is the morning mask in my morning beauty regime. The refreshing lychee scent helps wake me up as I apply it on my face. It also hydrates my skin before I put on my make-up.
Make-up
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Waterproof – This mascara is jet black and holds my stick-straight lashes up even after curling. I love that it elongates my lashes, gives them volume and extra oomph without even needing to put on false lashes.
Hera UV Mist Cushion – I’ve gone through tons and tons of BB Cushions but found none like this one. I think this Korean brand can really do their cushions well. I think it provides ample coverage for my blemished skin, and it also lasts for more than six hours in hot and humid Singapore. The only downside is that you can only get it in Korea.
6. What is the most common beauty mistake you’ve heard/seen Singaporeans making? How would you wish to correct it?
Many Singaporean girls love to put on eyeshadow without eyeliner and mascara. But really, no eye make-up look is complete without both eyeliner and mascara. When you pat on eyeshadows, some of it will fall out onto the lashes and turn them into a lighter colour than they are supposed to be.
Without eyeliner and mascara to complete the look, you will notice that your eyes can appear smaller than they are. It’s like wearing shoes without socks! With colour on the lids, you really need to define the lash line and make sure that the lashes are also properly “dressed” so that your eyes look bigger and more defined.
7. Is there a beauty secret that you swear by?
Yes, of course! I have many to share, but I really just want to share one that changed my life and improved my skin tremendously. I have super active, sensitive and acne-prone skin which will break out a week before that time of the month. Instead of focusing on anti-acne products, I just use hydrating skincare products to “cure” my acne.
Anti-acne products are very drying and may cause even more breakouts if your skin gets immune to the product, hence I always try to avoid them. Dry and dehydrated skin that results from anti-acne products just reduces the skin’s ability to repair itself.
I was taught by my facial therapist many years back to focus on basic hydration skincare to speed up the skin’s recovery process, especially for scarring issues.
Ever since I started on my hydration regime, including putting on a sheet mask every night before bed, my skin has tremendously improved and scarring has lightened too! The key is to hydrate as much as possible for your skin to focus on repairing itself.
8. How big is your beauty collection now?
Honestly, I don’t know how to answer this question. I can only say my collection has taken over my entire room, and invaded all my drawers and cabinets such that I had to buy new storage. Skincare, make-up, nail polishes – you name it, I (most likely) have it! My friends and family members often say that walking into my room is like walking into a Sephora store.
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