I am a mom on the go. Putting on make up for me usually means I’m doing it in the car on the way to my destination. While there are many things I make sure I do for my beauty regimen, one thing I am sure of, is that they have to be easy.
But I have to admit. I love what make up can do. As I have gotten a little bit older, I am slowly starting to see the affects of all the sun worshiping I did when I was younger. Truth be told, when I was younger I would use baby oil instead of sunscreen. (OUCH!) I have lots of freckles (Don’t get me wrong. I LIKE my freckles.) I have a few noticeable wrinkles…and I’m not quite sure why but I have noticed that my pores have gotten much larger than they were before. (Does that automatically happen as we get older?)

Learning how to put on falsies can totally change the look of what ever your make up is for the day.
Now, in my perfect world, I would have a professional make up artist applying my make up every morning and a hair stylist blowing my hair out as well. As luck would have it, I don’t live in that world of perfection where I have stylists living in my closet with my husband’s valet from Downtown Abbey. (What was the valet’s name again?)

Even something as simple as an eyebrow pencil can change your look. But take note…no razor needed for this okay?
So, instead…I take make up classes. I enroll in all kinds of make up classes and have just recently started watching short make up tutorials on Instagram. I also pick my friends’ brains who are professional make up artists as well…Like recently I was talking to my friend Eliza about what all the fuss is about with my eyebrows and why every make up artist I have gone to wants to mess with my kilay. (Please…for make up artists that I will work with in the future…Take NOTE: I like my eyebrows full and bushy and untouched. You may pencil and clean up, but do not shave off parts of my kilay. TYVM.)
Awhile back I was able to take a make up class with my daughter (who is already at that make up wearing age) with some blogger friends of mine 🙂 My friend Patty facilitated the make up class offered by Tina Henson Ngkaion, and we were really comfy as a small group. Helene Ging, Patty, Joei and I (plus Gia) learned about new (to me) make up products, and techniques to help us apply said make up with ease.

After primer-we applied pore minimizer. I thought this was a product I should invest in, so I asked my BFF to pick me up a tube when she came this past New Year’s.
So Tina is a make up artist here in the south and she not only offers lessons for Mommas like me who are always looking to learn new things, but she also offers her services of hair and make up for those of you who need assistance getting beautified for your special occasions.

Matching your foundation is important…and in my case it is also important to tell your make up artist that you are acidic…BTW I’m upset with myself that I didn’t fix all the tops on the bottles. Looking at this pic makes me feel a little O.C.
One of the things that Tyn said as we opened up our session was this: “You don’t have to spend a lot of money on all your make up products.” For this mother of four that was practical advice that was music to my ears. She did however say, “Make sure you spend on quality products that are important.” ( I took that to mean moisturisers, foundation, and powder.)

Using this loose powder can help keep your eyes clean. Apply under your eyes so that you can brush away any eyeshadow that might have fallen during application.
Things that I took home on this day?
- If you are acidic (I AM!!) then you need to choose a foundation that is one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. (Can you say lightbulb moment?)
- When you are testing your foundation, you should apply it on your jaw line for matching.
- There are lots of ways to correct imperfections in your flawed skin (I have many flaws. I’m 40.) Orange is for dark circles Green is for redness. AND Yellow is for hiding veins. Check out Helene’s helpful and informative post that has a picture of the corrector palette Tin shared with us.
- At 40, I now know that I need a pore corrector.
- I can use simple tools (like scotch tape) to make it easier on myself when completing my eyeshadow look.
- Don’t put moisturizer with SPF at night. It gives this whitish glow when you are seen in pictures.

So you end up looking something like this because you have it all under your eye. Thanks Patty for being my model 😉
I asked Tyn how long she takes to put on make up on a normal day. Normally, she takes about 1/2 an hour to apply make up before she is ready to walk out the door. I need something a little quicker…I need my make up to be ready to walk out the door in half that time, and usually it’s with a wet head. I will continue to be on the lookout for tips and tricks to applying every day make up and then learning new techniques for those evenings out with the hubby when I would like a little more polished look.

Another trick you can use is scotch tape. I thought it was a great way to keep the eyes even! I never though of this!
Truth be told, I really don’t spend a lot on make up. I started cutting back on this when I realized I just didn’t have the time, and I was throwing make up out after some time that I hadn’t even used. (Yes. Make up has an expiration date.) But because I have learned a bit about how to have a more even and polished look, I might begin investing just a little more on these fun products, yet again. I’m not getting any younger and I believe applying make up in the proper way can only enhance what’s already there for me. Plus…now that Gia is make up wearing age, we can do these things together.

I loved this whole afternoon…it was girly with make up, snacks, and conversation. Plus my best girl was with me by my side.
I was even able to use some of the techniques that Tina taught us over the holidays…it felt fun to experiment with new products and a new way to play and be creative. Thanks Tina for sharing some great tips and tricks with me and Gia. I hope to go make up shopping with you really soon!

My before and after 🙂 We started mid afternoon and because we were having so much fun, we finished up when it was dark na! We ended up eating dinner together!
Even Gia’s look was done perfectly for her…she’s still quite young, so she doesn’t need too much color…but I do think she had fun with the mommies 🙂 Come to think of it, maybe she can do this as an activity with her friends…
If you would like to contact Tina Henson Ngkaion for make up tutorials or for your special occasions you can reach through social media, phone and through email.
Make Up by Tina
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinangkaionmakeup
Twitter: @its_tyn
Instagram: @itstyn
Email: tinangkaion.mua@gmail.com
Cell: 09209728462 or 09177246576