Convocation Studio Vibes

Just wanted to share a quick studio picture I managed to grab yesterday, 19 November 2025.

It’s always a rush right after a busy day! This shot was actually taken immediately after wrapping up a 30-minute, hot and sweaty outdoor photography session with some amazing undergraduate students. Phew, talk about needing a cool-down!

Despite the heat and the fact that it was just my own quick, self-applied makeup (nothing professional here!), I think it still helped me look a bit more "alive" and fresh in the studio lights. It definitely falls into the category of "something rather than nothing!"

I'm still very much on a learning curve when it comes to applying makeup specifically for studio pictures and artificial lighting. There is always so much more to learn in this art form!

My Simple Makeup Routine on 23 June 2025 Morning

Just sharing a little glimpse of my simple makeup look today, done on a calm Monday morning, 23 June 2025.

I started with my DIY face oil, which I use as my daily moisturizer It gives my skin that natural glow and softness. After that, I applied my sunscreen (always a must!), followed by dabbing on my homemade lip tint in pink. Not just on my lips, but also lightly on my cheeks for a soft flush.

Next, I did my eyebrows and used the same brush and pomade to line the top of my eyes. As multitasking made easy. Then I added a touch of concealer under my eyes to brighten things up, and finished the eyes with a pop of gold glittery eyeshadow at the inner corners. Just a little sparkle to lift the look.

I completed everything with a swipe of coral lipstick for a fresh, warm tone. Before heading out, I spritzed on a little of my go-to perfume, Ange Ou Démon EDT. And I was ready to face the day.

Today’s Makeup Check-In

I just finished doing my makeup in the morning of 4 November 2025, and here’s a little update on how it went. I started by applying my Face Oil evenly on my face and neck, followed by sunscreen non-negotiable, of course! After that, I went in with my foundation. It looked quite fair on my hands at first, but once blended on my face, it matched surprisingly well.

Before foundation, I did a light mist of setting spray (a new step I’m trying out), and I think it really helped the makeup settle nicely. Then it was the usual routine: filled in my brows, a little eyeliner, and some highlight at the inner corners of my eyes and under the brow tail to brighten up the look. I set everything with loose powder, added a touch of blush, and finished with lipstick.

✨ 4-Hour Check:

I’m actually happy with how my skin held up! After about four hours, my face wasn’t overly oily. Just a quick dab on the T-zone with tissue was enough. The foundation stayed smooth with no patchiness or blotchiness. Which is a win for me, especially with combination skin that leans dry due to perimenopause.

I know I still have a lot to learn, especially with eye makeup. Mature skin really needs extra hydration and proper prep for that smooth, long-lasting finish. It’s all about experimenting to find what works. The right texture, the right style, the right products.

But honestly, I’m satisfied. The effort I put into scrubbing and prepping my skin earlier really paid off, and it reminded me that good makeup truly starts with good skin prep.

Still learning, still improving and enjoying the process.

Today’s Makeup Routine & Thoughts

In the morning of 5 November 2025, I wanted to document today’s makeup routine so I can track what works and what needs tweaking. Especially for my combination, maturing skin. Here’s the full sequence I followed this morning:

🧴 Skin Prep & Base

• Washed my face using Facial Wash with niacinamide.
• Applied moisturizing serum for a brightening boost.
• Layered aloe vera moisturizing gel as a hydrating mask.
• Applied face oil under the eyes and on the lips first, then spread the remaining over the entire face for nourishment.
• Applied sunscreen generously.
• Spritzed setting spray to help grip the base.

🎨 Makeup Application

• Applied 0.5 pump of foundation using fingers. 
• Added concealer under the eyes.
• Another light mist of setting spray.
• Set everything with loose powder all over the face and double-checked the under-eye area.
• Filled in eyebrows with brow gel.
• Lined the top waterline with black pencil.
• Used brow gel as eyeliner.
• Applied the darkest brown shade (on the right) to the outer eye corners for depth.
• Applied Elianto Blush in Desert Rose, then layered a soft pink blush (SilkyGirl Shimmer Duo Blusher) on top for a fresher look.
• Added highlighter to the inner eye corners and top of the cheeks.
• Used shading/contour powder along the nose, under the blush, and along the jawline.
• Finished with another setting spray mist.

⏰ Started at 8:30 AM, finished at 9:00 AM.

✅ Conclusion & Self-Notes:

Overall, the finish looked better than yesterday, so the adjustments are working. However, a few improvements for next time:

✨ Use a damp makeup sponge to blend foundation more evenly, especially around textured areas.

✨ Include a primer to minimize visible pores. Especially around the T-zone and nose.

I also watched a makeup tutorial for women aged 70+, and it reminded me how much technique matters for mature skin. Layering lightly, hydrating well, and choosing the right textures truly make a difference.

Happy with today’s progress  slow improvements, but definitely moving in the right direction! 🌸

Still learning, experimenting, and embracing the journey.

Testing 2 make up items

This is taken on the morning of 30 April 2025. Before leave the house. Where I managed to remember to take pictures of the applied make up for that day.

Selfie outside UTM Career Fair venue upon finished registration. It was 1.50 pm at that time.

The look of the matte lipstick in code 15 (DFOR DANGER). In the pictures, looks like hot pink. But when I wear it, it gravitate to more reddish colour.

The look of eyebrow cream in code 2 (Chocolate).

Selfie at Intel booth.

Taking picture with Dr Suhana before she enter the venue.

Until then, have fun in testing new make up items.

My simple make up look

This is taken on the morning of 3 June 2024. It is public holiday in Malaysia due to birthday of Agung.

I make sure to put on deep moisturizing mask before put on make up. Just forget to exfoliate skin during bath. I put on sunscreen. Then put on concealer for spot correction. Apply powder all over face to set. Then apply eyebrow powder to define my eyebrows. Then I put on tight eyeliner. Add highlighter on corner of my eyes. Put on blush. Then lastly I put on my self made pink lip balm.

Until then, have fun in applying simple make up.

My selfie for the day

This is taken on the noon of 11 June 2024. Just before going out for lunch.

Very simple make up. I just put on sunscreen. Then apply my self made lip balm on lips, cheeks and eyelids. In order to put up some colour on my face to give more fresh look effect. Then lastly I put on powder on the face to get mattifying look. 

I do prep my skin before the above. Which I put on sleep gel mask on my face right after bath. Then I put on silicone mask to seal the sleep gel mask from drying for 8 minutes. After I take off silicone mask and my face dried up, I apply my self made cocoa butter nourishing cream.

I also drink strained noni (mengkudu) juice before take bath. With empty stomach. It is tedious work. But worth it for me.
Frankly, I am satisfied with my skin condition. Without any pimples despite the slow body movement due to red flag days of the month (menstrual).

Until then, have fun in taking selfie of yourself daily.

My light make up for attending seminar

This is taken on the morning of 8 May 2024. Where I managed to remember to take selfie picture before arrived at the seminar venue.

I put on light make up. I put on sunscreen first. Concealer for under eyes. Next I powder all over face. Do my eyebrows. Then put light eyeliner. Highlight on the corner of my eyes. Blusher on cheeks. Finally orange lip tint. I set it up with my self-made setting spray. 

Quite a nice outcome. Despite I do not remember to scrub or put on mask early morning to prep clean my face.

Until then, have fun in putting on light make up while attending a seminar.

The look of jantung (heart) to my pisang nipah (banana) plant

This is taken last morning of 11 November 2020. Where I am able to see clearly the jantung (heart) to my pisang nipah (banana) plant. Basically after 1 year, 8 months and 10 days it is planted. This is after few obstacle faced last time. Where the planted offspring withered but able to produce new offspring  last 12 May 2019 [1]. It was planted last 2 March 2019 [2].

My simple make up look in the morning before meeting

This is taken in the morning of 21 September 2020. Where I manage to take selfie with my abundant kelapa pandan (coconut) fruits. I am satisfied with my simple yet fresh make up look.

I just make sure that I do mild exfoliation in the morning after bath to clean up my skin from dead skin cells. Then proceed to moisturized my skin with aloe vera gel. Followed by sunscreen.  Then I put on Ultra foundation stick from Kyolan to cover my under eyes. Define my eyebrows and eyes. Put on blusher lightly on my cheek. Last with a touch of lip matte.

Selfie on my make up look in the morning of industry exhibition

This is taken last morning of 15 September 2020. Where I put on light make up. As usual, I only focus to get fresh look. So I only use stick foundation under eyes, side of nose and chin. Then I define my eyebrows. Define my eyes with brown eyeshadow. Put on subtle blusher with lipmatte to colour mlips.

Group photo of the day. 

Till then, have fun in putting on light make up for exhibition day.

Selfie with my sunglasses and 90% purple based attire in background.

This is taken in the morning of 1 November 2019. Selfie with my sunglasses and 90% of purple colour in background. I am applying my very minimal make up look that consist of sunscreen as my base, do my eyebrows, put on blusher and top it off with my Fever Glam liquid lipstick+L.A. Girl lipmatte.

It is just a simple look while running errands.

My simple make up look when under the weather

This is taken in the noon of 20 February 2020. Where I just use 3 products for my simple make up look. That is eyebrows powder, blusher and lipmatte. Have to put on at least these 3 products. So that I am able to look more presentable for the day. Also to perk up my mood.

My simple daily make up look that I focus more on my eyebrows

This is taken in the noon of 12 February 2020. Where I do focus more in defining my eyebrows. Since I notice my eyebrows looks unnatural in few days back.

Pictures below taken in my lab with light assist from my 24 LEDs selfie ring light [1]. Where I do improve my ways in defining my eyebrows. So that it will look natural and well blended.

My simple make up look

This is taken in the morning of 10 February 2020. Where I have to attend class for subject advance digital signal processing (DSP). I choose to put on light make up to get fresh look. Took me less than 15 minutes.

Selfie in the class as proof I was the only student that present that morning put of 4.

The sequence: skincare→define eyebrows→put on eyeshadows →blusher→lips.

My simple make up look after applied in a moving car

This is taken early morning of 10 January 2020. It makes me remember why I always use brow powder to define my eyebrows in daily basis. As it is very convenient and safer for me when applying my make up in a moving car this morning.

The steps taken to apply my make up in a moving car:
●do my skincare routine. Where I put on my moisturising cream from SkinLabs 3 times [1]. As I do feel my skin is not have enough moisture that morning. I am very fortunate my skin is smooth and have enough moisture after this steps. Which makes the make up application process smooth and turned out well.
●I put on concealer to cover my dark eye bags using my finger
●powder face using It Cosmetics Essential Kabuki brush [2]
●Then I just define my eyebrows using my Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) no 7 brush [3]. I used Cosway brow powder [4].
●put on some eyeshadow to define my eyes, using my Real Technique (RT) base eye shadow brush.
●put on blusher using powder and cheek brush from Pony Effect, Mini Magnetic, Prism Effect Limited  [5].
●last I apply lipgloss using my fingers to avoid smear. Since I am on a moving car.

The finished look. I love how fresh my face look despite I hardly get to sleep during my 2 hours resting time.

After finished presentation around 3 hours and 40 minutes time. Where my face still looks fresh without any touch ups.

My simple make up look with bright pink lip matte

This is taken in the morning of 20 January 2020. Taken while waiting for my coffee for breakfast 

I am wearing bright pink lip matte from True MatteMoist code Baby Gia [1]. I just put a little bit of it. Since it is very vibrant pink colour. In order to get slightly washed pink look for my lips.

For eyes, I use Tease as my transition colour. Then I add Snakebite on top of it. I also use the Blackout, the black eyeshadow to do subtle eyeliner. All from my Naked 2 eyeshadow palette [2].

My simple make up look that focus more on skincare and use only 3 cosmetic products

This is taken in the evening of 29 January 2020. After end of 1 whole day workshop. I myself astounded to see how glowing and fresh I look. As I am 95% sluggish in moving like sloth. Despite that, I am thankful I am still able to think well under such condition. Also I notice that being patience, consistent and ability to follow SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) is the key to strive through such condition. 

Since I am not that even 6% fit, I decided to focus on my skincare routine and use only 3 cosmetic products. That is concealer, brow powder and lip glosses. Where I applied after my Zohor prayer.

Below is the result after 4 hours workshop and tea break food.

Steps for me to achieve the above look as follows:

1. After I finished my skincare steps, I use concealer to hide my very dark eyebags. In order to achieve fresh look.
2. Then followed in using brow powder to define my eyebrows. In order to give frame to my face. 
3. Last I put on matte lip gloss code Bazaar from L.A. Girl. Which is orange red. Since this matte lip gloss dried very fast while I try to evenly even it out. I top it up with nude orange gloss from Amoura Cosmetics code Pink Thing to make it slightly even [2].

That is all.

I am able to see very good improvement of my skin condition with this unplanned experiment. Basically my effort in focusing on my skincare routine does works almost 80% in helping improving my dull skin condition to be fresher. This is after 9 days incorporating new skincare routine. Quite an achievement for me that already passed my 20s age range for quite a while. Being patience, consistent and ability to follow SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) does helps a lot and contribute to this.
Same steps used in the morning. Which is why I decided to repeat the same process. As it only took 10 minutes of my time for my total skincare routine and application of 3 cosmetic products. To be frank, my arm does feel so much strain when I was defining my eyebrows. Respect to those who are able to put on full face make up application daily.
Basically there is no excuse for me to look presentable during a workshop despite not feeling well. But it is all up to individual preference and need. Like me, a bit of colours in my face helps to make me look less sick or ghostly. Such helps to perk up my mood whenever I am under the weather. 

Till then, have fun in incorporating new hydrating skincare routine to your existing one.

References:
[1] My new hydrating skincare routine https://serinurulbeauty.blogspot.com/2020/01/good-consistent-skincare-routine-is.html
[2] My Amora Cosmetics lip gloss code Pink Thing https://serinurulbeauty.blogspot.com/2020/01/disinfect-hand-me-down-cosmetics-before.html

My simple make up look

This is taken in the morning of 8 January 2020. The only time I am able to take selfie. As I am now tend to be busy through out the day with workloads.

I am really thankful for being able to apply on light make up to achieve this fresh look.

My make up application sequence:

Wash face→apply moisturiser→apply lip balm→apply sunscreen→apply concealer to my under eyes area→powder my face with loose powder→define my eyebrows→put on some eyeshadows to define my eyes→put on blusher→put on lip gloss.

My simple make up look after a good skincare routine

This is taken in the morning of 21 January 2020. I am able to see how hydrate and plump my skin looks after incorporating new skincare routine yesterday and this morning.