New Hair + Viva Glam Moment

Two major life-changing things happened this week.

One. I cut my hair after a year.

Two. I discovered the perfect everyday lipstick.

Well, it's not as dramatic as all that, but for someone who thought a light pink would be the perfect everyday color (I have tried and failed to find this perfect everyday light pink) - when I came across

this lipstick in my mum's makeup stash I was like meh, mom color. Then I tried it on. Now she keeps it under lock and key.

MAC describes it as a 'foxy brown plum lipstick'. And I think that's pretty accurate. It's got this brickish, neutral thing going on with a hint of a deeper red. And the best part about this lipstick is that you can really play with the intensity. I'm wearing one coat here (blotted) so it stains out to this really nice brickish wash. Almost a MLBB moment.

 

And of course, if you want to go more intense, a couple of coats gives you this gorgeously stunning lip that you can pair up with a nice bronzey makeup look.

I'm wearing a hint of golden eyeshadow from that trust Wet'N'Wild Comfort palette and a liner/mascara situation. Another point to note here is being a girl that has been shoving kajal under her eye since she was 12, this whole transition to upper lid make up only is a big step. And I'm kinda liking it.

And the hair. This is the first time in almost 8 years that it's been completely black and free of some form of hair color. I don't think it's even been this healthy. I'm growing it out so I chopped the dead bits off in this kind of blunt lob situation. And the best part? I CAN STILL TIE IT UP.

- A

 

The Skin Perfecter that actually Perfects

When I finally bit the bullet and bought the full size of the Loreal Paris Skin Perfect 20+ (phew), I felt no buyer's remorse whatsoever.


This product is REALLY targeted at the 20-30 age bracket. Loreal really understood that the issues 20-year-olds face with their skin are extremely different from what say, a 40 year old would. I definitely don't have the time for a beauty regime with my schedule, and Bangalore pollution makes it that much worse! Plus those late nights don't exactly have me looking like a Disney princess.

This is truly an erase-all/do-over/imsorryididntgetenoughsleep for your face.

 I'm not a fan of whitening day creams, so I was skeptical at first, but this didn't have that instant 'bleached' effect that some lower priced day creams do (I'm talking to YOU, Garnier White Complete Multi Action Fairness Cream). It's also really light, so it doesn't leave you feeling oily or greasy.

It's made my skin very smooth and imperfections have reduced a LOT (even some old zit scars have noticeably faded)  - basically, it does exactly what it says on the tin, which I really appreciate.

Would I recommend this? Absolutely. I see results, and that is good enough for me. And at 325 INR for 50g, it didn't break the bank.

The Revlon Ruby that Wooed

I love a good lipstick.

And a red, can never go amiss. Recently, I rediscovered this gem that I've had for a while, because of my best friend's wedding. It's got a bit of sheen, a bit of gloss, and a LOT of character.
I'm a matte lipstick girl through and through, but I will make an exception for this one. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Ruby (610 INR). 
It's that perfect 'Indian wear' lipstick, and I tend to pull it out when I wear more traditional outfits.

Cons? It's pretty slippery, and application is a bit tricky. Lipliner will go a long way here (need to get me one of those).

So if you're looking for a do-it-all dressy red - this one is it.

Pre Sangeet selfie :P

Why every girl needs bold lipstick

I was someone who didn't for the life of me know how to lipstick on till I turned...19?
They scared the living shit out of me. And the whole lipliner deal. And bold lips? Forget it.

I think it changed because I thought I was ready to buy some 'big girl' make up so I went to MAC at Express Avenue and bought (of ALL the colors) Russian Red. :P

After that, the lipstick buying started. I wore lipstick if I was going out at night ONLY cause I didn't have the guts to pull off a bold lip during the day :P
Then I was like, to hell with it. If I want hooker lips at 1pm, so be it.

But to the girls who want to buy a bold lipstick but really don't want a red - I suggest this.
A wine/berry shade. It's SO flattering. It's dark, yes, but I find it so sophisticated.
I steal my mum's lip liner if I'm really going all out, but I usually apply it without anything (I know, I know, that's not the best). But I'll get there :P

I recommend a matte lipstick over glossy/creamy because it's a lot less INYOURFACE and you can stain it out if you chicken out (I've done this MANY times :P)


I'm wearing L'oreal Moist Matte Lipstick in Arabian Nights (bit of a discount here :here)
Perfect for holiday lips :D

Happy Diwali!

Eye-Conic Checklist

I know, I know the whole Eye-conic pun has been made before but meh :P

Since I turned thirteen, I don't think I've ever fallen out of love with eye make up. Started with that stick of kajal we all used to have at the bottom of our schoolbags, and as I got older, the liner came along and with it, mascara.

I swear, if I lost almost everything in my make up bag, and the only thing I had left was the kajal and maybe liner, I'd be totally okay with that.
Eye make up, when applied correctly can trick people into thinking you're awake/give a shit.
How do you think I got through college juries?

Now, at 22, I don't think anything has changed in terms of what I do to my face when I go out.
It's all about the eyes, people.

But what I would like to focus on in this post is that I think that I have found the perfect set of holy-grail products that make up my eye routine. I've probably used more brands of kajal/liner/mascara than I can even remember. But this, this set I am happy with.

And I'd like to share. So here are four steps to hooker worthy  smouldering peepers!



1. Colossal Kajal
 Everyone owns this, or has owned this at some point in life. It gets over far too fast but whatever. We still buy it. I have tried that Kajal Magique business and the Eyeconic but I found both way too...hard? This one is creamy, I can use it to smoke out eyeshadow if I want and it DOESN'T MOVE. I can cry my eyes out over The Fault in our Stars and it'll stay put.

2. Revlon Color Stay Liquid Liner in Black Beauty with Flocked Tip I Don't Even Know What That Means
Even though the name makes me reminiscent of sheep, I am really happy with this recent find. Its 'flocked tip' (I Googled, it means it's pointy) is conducive to winged eyeliner which I love. You don't get the super sharp flick that you'd get with the brush applicators, but I'm okay with that. (Sometimes. I put the Lakme Instaliner wand in this formula. So I can get a sharper wing. As you can see, I like to live on the edge.)

3. Eyelash curler
I cannot tell you. How much of a difference. This step makes. Using an eyelash curler makes your lashes look like falsies. I swear. I don't use the curler if I'm going to say, a friends house. But on a night out, definitely. I bought this one in Thailand like, three years ago. There are some really good brands on the market, I suggest you take a look.

4. Loreal Volume Million Lashes in Extra Black
I love this mascara. To death. If they ever stop making this, I'd go into mourning.
The wand is huge. And a couple of coats of this and BAM. Your lashes touch your eyebrows (I'm not joking. With this on, my lashes leave mascara flicks on my glasses). It lives up to it's name, really does give you x-factor million lashes.

So that concludes my gushing.
I'm so happy with these products that I have, they really work for me and I don't think I'd be changing them anytime soon.

Happy Sunday!

Make Up Essentials for College/Work

I am in no way someone who wears a lot of make-up, but I do believe that a little war-paint goes a long way.

When I was in college, I would sometimes have to meet people after a day of work, or stay over at a friend's. So I constantly had a trusty make-up bag with me, holding all the essentials I may ever need in case of an emergency.
There is nothing worse than being without the mascara-kajal-chapstick pick-me-up and somewhere to go. I was the source of some flack from my friends (they thought I was being high maintenance) but when they started borrowing stuff off me for their own emergencies, somehow, I was praised more than blamed. (You girls know who you are :P)

Also, I get quite a few questions from friends who want to buy their make up basics, so I thought I'd share what I personally feel would be a good starter kit. All of these are available in your local Health n Glow, or department store or even your Selvam/Kannan/Murali stores. I sincerely advise you to physically go make up shopping instead of buying things online (unless you're repurchasing). You can never actually judge colors or textures otherwise.

So grab a make-up pouch and start filling it in!

1. Powder 
   I may as well start off by saying I do not wear powder unless I'm going for something along the lines of a wedding or a sit-down dinner. Here in namma Chennai we tend to have make up melt off our faces within the first ten minutes unless you're guaranteed an A/C venue. Even then. The walk from the car to the entrance may destroy you anyway (you know I'm not exaggerating). But I do recommend the L'oreal True Match powder. Any Loreal counter should stock this (I think Shopper's Stop or Lifestyle may have it). It's extremely blendable, doesn't look cakey on your skin and has pretty good color matches.

2. Blush
I feel like a good blush can really make you look healthy and awake. Most people I see tend to think that darker blushes work on darker, Indian skin. And then they proceed to the Lakme counter and pick out some shade that looks like powdered brick. NO, LADIES. A healthy 'flush' is something that is a coral, or a rosy pink. There are so many brands with so many different light shades that we Indian women shy away from because we think it won't show up on us. They will!
I have currently been loving Pearlescent Pink by Wet n Wild. A US purchase. Works wonders for dusky and fair skin. VERY versatile. If you have an uncle/aunt/brother/sister/boyfriend/cousin in the States, ask them to go to their nearest Wal-mart or drugstore and pick this up. It is $2.99 and according to the make-up gurus, a real dupe for the higher end blushes that cost ten times more.

3. Liner
Eye liner is something that can really define your entire look. It is part of my holy trinity (liner, mascara, kajal) and I almost NEVER leave the house without my little cat-eye (or big, depending on my mood). Experiment with your liner to see what shape suits you most and stick with it.
I think every single girl I have ever met has the ridiculously cheap but awesome Lakme Insta Liner. I've used this from the time I was 14 and have never looked back. Only problem is, it isn't waterproof AT ALL. It's okay. Reapply through the day if you need to.
I do own a couple of more expensive ones, but I think if you're carrying this to college or work, stick with something that you wont cry over if lost/stolen (personal experience here).


4. Mascara
Mascara is a staple for that 'I'm wearing make up but not really' look. It requires no time at all to apply, and can really open up your eyes. You can even do away with liner and kajal sometimes, and just put this stuff on and run to college. You'll still look put together. I recommend waterproof in the summer but a regular formula post August.
I use the Volume Million Lashes by Loreal. A little pricier than your average Maybelline ones, but worth it. It does what it says. As someone who has average lashes (not too sparse, not too thick) this makes me look like I'm wearing false lashes sometimes. Best part? It doesn't clump. I recommend also Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Mascara (thicker, more dramatic) and Lakme Iconic Curling Mascara (a more everyday one)

5. Kajal
Every Indian woman knows the power of this item. All my late nighters are followed with a copious swipe of kajal under my eyes in the morning. You can double this up as an eyeliner, too. It truly is a lifesaver.
I prefer the thin twist ups over the fat pencil variety purely because they don't need sharpening. But I do know that they don't last very long. The day that they make a long-lasting twist up, I will be the happiest person alive. I recommend Maybelline The Colossal Kajal and L'oreal Paris Kajal Majique.

6. Lip Balm
Hydrated lips are extremely important. Nothing is worse than well-done make up and chapped lips. And they're actually a make up essential for me. When I don't want to wear lipstick, I feel like a bit of lip balm sheen still makes you look put together. I swear by the Himalaya Lip balm. It costs a grand total of INR 25 or so and when I have chapped lips, this fixes it in 24 hours and makes them soft and supple. When I want something with a little bit of color, I've been loving the Body Shop Born Lippy chapstick in Plum that I spoke about in my last post.

7. Cream Eye Shadow
Why cream eye shadow, you ask? Because they're awesome.
Powder shadows in single cases or in quads are all well and good when you're getting ready at home, but when you're stuffing this in the bottom of your college bag or handbag there are very high changes of it shattering and staining your make up pouch (again, personal experience). I find that my blush never shatters, funnily. Maybe because it's bigger? No idea.

I think a single, neutral shade of cream eye shadow is something that you can swipe on with your fingers if you ever have to go out anywhere directly from work or college. The Maybelline Color Tattoos (I'm using Pomegranate Punk) or the L'oreal Infallible 24 hour eyeshadow (a powder-cream formula) are an absolute godsend (I wish I had used these in college). My lovely friend gave one of the former to me and I've been carrying it around in my bag ever since. Cream eye shadows stay on your eye a fair bit longer than powder ones do, so any impromptu nights out/clubbing plans can be saved by this and this alone. Smoke it out with a bit of your kajal and there. You're ready to roll.

8. Lipstick
I could do a whole post on just how much I think lipstick can change your life. But that's another story.
I think that even though you may not wear the lipstick every day, all day, it doesn't hurt to carry around one with you. It's such a pick-me-up, it can make you feel like the sexiest woman alive. Lipstick honestly changes my mood. I carry around a couple with me and depending on what I need I either go full-on, or sheer it out by mixing it in with a bit of my balm. In my bag currently is MAC's Russian Red and Revlon's Ruby. The former is an in-your-face matte red and the latter is a shinier, more cool toned one. Love them both.

9. Moisturizer
I cannot emphasize enough on the use of a good facial moisturizer. Especially after you've washed your face. It helps restore the balance of your skin and prevents drying. I carry around the age-old, tried and tested Olay Moisturizing Lotion which is good for face and body.

So that wraps up this post, I hope you guys find this helpful.
Contents of a make up bag is just like a wardrobe, you have to build it. Don't go out one day and buy 7 or 8 essentials all at once. Spend time hovering around the counters especially for lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushes and powders which are all skin tone specific.I strongly advise again buying these items on the internet for the first time (unless you're sure of the shade and it's cheaper online). Check that you're not allergic to powders/blushes by patch testing it on the inside of your wrist.

And most importantly, ALWAYS take your make up off before you go to bed!

Purchases: Smooth Sale-ing

So I recently went to Express Avenue to go to The Body Shop to pick up a couple of things with the vouchers I had. And somehow, two other items ended up in my bag. I have no idea how that happened. But come on, sales suck you in. Those red stickers/markers which just boast of 20, 30, 50, 70% off the original price. Think of all the money you'll actually be saving! What if you need something similar in the future but it's full price? You'll regret it then.

And so on.

1. The Body Shop Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser - NOT ON SALE

    It was a toss up between this and the Tea Tree face wash, but as I recently purchased something very       similar to the latter (I honestly think it works just as well), I went for the cleanser. Now I'm one of those people that strongly believes that foamy face washes or cleansers are the only ones that actually work. It's some weird placebo that makes my face feel cleaner. It's the same with shampoos and body washes (am I alone here?) But this cleanser (I've been using it for about a week now) is amazing. I use it twice a day and it leaves my skin feeling absolutely velvety soft. I have been caught many a time poking at and stroking my cheeks because I simply cannot believe how a tiny blob of cleanser can make such a difference. I have mild combination skin (the t-zone is dry most of the year but during the summer it gets oily) and I find that this just evens everything out and makes it super super supple. A definite repurchase.

2. The Body Shop Born Lippy Sticks in Plum

    I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I've wanted a chapstick that gives a TINY bit of color

without looking like a tint and this really does the job. And I'm allergic to 9/10 of them. As someone who absolutely despises the little potted ones (they get sticky, stuff gets inside, and they burn your lips off more often than not) I really like the stick versions. The only downside is that they don't taste as good as they smell. They don't taste like anything, actually which I find sad because they smell really, really fruity. It was around INR 200 (originally priced at INR 395). Pricey for a glorified chapstick, but I think this works for those days where I want a LITTLE bit of color on my lips.

3. Head Over Heels - Black sandals

    Oh my god. If you're going to EA anytime soon, go to Westside and see if you can find these in your size. I absolutely love them. They go with both day AND night time outfits without looking too casual or too dressy, whatever the case may be. And I love the zipper detailing on the back. Perfect, perfect, perfect. The original price was around INR 1200 but on sale, it was around INR 699 which is a really good deal. I love Head Over Heels sandals and flats purely cause they last a long time. I used to travel by train and bus with them all year round and they don't come apart easily AT all. Trust me, with people stepping on your feet all the time on public transport, you need a pair of hardy shoes to do the job.

4. NUON Lace Dress

   When I saw this dress, my world stood still. It's like nothing even existed anymore. As long as I could have it, the universe would be alright, I'd get a job, be successful and win at life.

It wasn't the gorgeous black lace at the front.

It wasn't the sexy bandage back.

It wasn't even the cost (INR899, people.)

It was an XXS.

Being petite and skinny isn't fun. Finding a well-fitting dress that doesn't gape or isn't too long is almost impossible. When it's my birthday, or New Years, or Christmas, or an event which requires me to find a nice dress, I don't get excited at all. Because I'm sure that no matter where I go, nothing will fit. And if it does, there'll always be something wrong with it. Color-wise, fabric-wise, trim-wise, price-wise.

BUT THIS. THIS WAS PERFECTION. It fit like a dream.

(I will take a picture of this dress when I find someone to take a picture of me in it :P)

Have a nice week!