As you all know, I have had the problem of eyeshadow and eyeliner creasing. Trust me, I have tried numerous amounts of primers and different techniques such as spraying my eyeliner brush with setting spray and running the brush over my eyeliner.
So, a couple of weeks ago, I bought some translucent powder to set all of my eye makeup. So one fine day, I picked up this primer again to use since I had not used it in a while. And, I discovered that even if I wasn’t using my powder on top nothing creased. The eyeliners that I was using before didn’t crease either. O-M-G. That’s how excited this made me.
The key to this primer is applying a thin layer and to just let it dry and set everything with a powder. But, I am so so impressed. And, this maybe the perfect primer for hooded lids and even better than Urban Decay’s Eden.
This baby costs $24 dollars and can be found on Sephora.com or Ulta.com
You can surely bet that I will be repurchasing this one again. And, it comes in two skin shades. A lighter one and a darker one. By mistake, I picked up the lighter one but it’s still worked well.
I am back with a new skincare discovery. I had always heard about Tata Harper and seen the bright green bottles in Sephora but never purchased any of her products. I was cleaning up my skincare stash and taking out the more nontoxic products. I had heard the famous beauty blogger Caroline Hirons raving about this product called the Nutrient Complex so I decided to give it a go.
My first reaction was, I cannot believe this .33oz rollerball costs $48!! But, I decided to buy it anyway since all the ingredients in it are %100 natural. The best thing about this line is that all the products are made in small batches on the Vermont farm.
Have I seen any difference with using this product? Yes. This is marketed as an oil serum, and yes, there has been a difference. My black spots have dramatically decreased and overall my skin is looking brighter. I noticed my makeup going on smoother as well. Now, the smell is something you have to get used to as its very strong, and floral. But, the thing about this fragrance is that you can tell its all natural. I find there is a difference between natural fragrances and synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances have a very plastic-y smell. I usually use this oil after I put on my regular face oil and moisturizer. I just seal everything with a few dabs of this on my problem areas
I like that this comes in a rollerball as you do not waste any product.
Would I repurchase it? I think so. I feel like my skin care step is now incomplete without this product.
Go ahead and check it out! You can find Tata Harper products on Sephora.com or tataharperskincare.com
So, since I have dry skin.. my constant obsession is to try products that give me that glow skin. I shopped around for so many highlighters and powders and oils that might give me that effect but I never found what I was looking for until…
I was at Sephora one day, and complaining to one of the beauty advisors about my problem, when she turned me to the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist and told me this might help. Now, I had heard about this mist from Jaclyn Hill and remember her also mentioned the hefty price tag at $48 for 1.35oz. I was like– nah uh. Not buying it. But let me tell you folks- the minute I purchased that bottle and sprayed my first spritz, I literally fell in love and told myself this product is worth every penny and I need to stock up.
So why is worth it? No powder, no highlighter, no primer can give you this glow in my opinion. It hydrates your skin while making you look like you have glowing skin at the same time. Pair it with one of your favorite highlighters and you will look like a Victoria’s Secret model. Now, be careful, as if you overdo the spray, you will look like an oily mess. Not even joking. And, I do not think this is meant for oily skinned people as it probably will break you out. The bottle is just gorgeous and comes in a beautiful glass bottle. I mean, I already purchased backups btw. That’s how much I love it. 🙂
So eye primers can be a really tricky thing. There are some with a more slippery feel and there are some which are drier (Bare Minerals).
I have been using two eye primers alternatively and I have been pretty happy with the both of these. Urban Decay Primer Potion and Nars Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base. Both come with a doe foot applicator and have a slippery texture while applying but they dry invisible. The shadows last for a good 8-10 hours without creasing and longer if I use a makeup setting spray.
They can be found at Sephora!
I would like to try the MAC 24 hour primer to compare. Anyone try that yet?
You know when you come across a powder with such nice luminosity and glow that you take one look at it and you’re like.. I NEED THAT IN MY LIFE. Well yep.. this is what the Ambient lighting powder in Diffused Light did for me. Its a yellow toned.. finely milled powder which takes a away the redness in my skin completely and it adds a nice glow to my skin. This looks amazing to set an undereye concealer as well. I use a kind of peachy concealer under my eyes to cancel out the blue circles and then I use this yellow toned powder to even out everything and add a glow. And.. it does the job beautifully. I have always been a fan of the Ambient Lighting Powders and I think they are absolutely worth every penny at $45. The packaging for the powders is sturdy and beautiful.. but I sometimes think or wish the fingerprints wouldn’t come off on the compact.
Today I come to you with a review of a palette I picked up last week. It’s been a while since an eyeshadow palette has really caught my attention. It’s always that the colors are amazing, the payoff stinks or vice versa. But.. OH MY LORD. This palette is amazing. The colors are neutrals with a bit of a twist- it has a beautiful purple with some multi color flecks and a vibrant blue. The mattes in this palette are so creamy and bendable. Some of the best I have tried to date. The price point for this palette could not be better. For $30 you get 12 eyeshadow colors. The payoff for all the colors is amazing and the quality is right along the lines of Urban Decay/Buxom eyeshadows/Makeup Forever/ BE Ready, etc. So you get absolutely dream like eyeshadows for an excellent price point. The color pink champagne looks a bit chunky in the pan.. but in actuality it transfers pretty nicely. No chunky fallout.
I have intense curly hair. And, at one point I use to straighten my hair like nuts, but didn’t really like the way it turned out. I started going to a new salon back last November, and my hairdresser taught me the art of changing up my hair. The key is to first have a good blowdryer, then straighten on top if it. But, it is the blowdryer that truly makes a difference of the world. I took my Conair, threw it out, and purchased a travel size T3 Featherweight compact Blowdryer. It costs about $150 but I think its been worth the investment. I purchased a travel size version as the reviews were much better for it and it has all the same features as the big sized one, except its smaller in size.
It has different settings for cool, warm, and hot air. It gets a bit noisy and heats up fast, but those minor things do not really bother me. Overall, I am really happy with it! It’s not enough though if you just have a good blowdryer.. as you also need to use good products to get a smooth blowout (saved for another post). I discovered Phyto’s products to work extremely well!
It comes with a little nozzle attachment as well. I think that if you wanted to also get a diffuser you can order it directly off of their website.
I have never ever been a fan of matte eyeshadows. I have always liked shimmer in my eyeshadows. Although lately, I have changed my mind!
Since its summer, although I like the glow and whatnot, it’s easier to just throw on a bit of matte eyeshadow and a little liner and be done, instead of doing a whole lot of blending and applying a glam eye.
Urban Decay recently brought out some new shadows for their summer collection and I picked up my favorite one from the lot called Riff.
It is a gorgeous orange/rust color with a hint of sparkle, but on me it goes on matte. And, it works fantastically as a crease color to just blend everything together.
I would definitely wear this eyeshadow with a primer, so it stays put.. but even then on me I had a bit of creasing.. which happens with every eyeshadow that I wear. But overall, gorgeous color and would repurchase without a doubt when I hit pan. Check it out!
Well, since its like a 100 degrees outside, today is a no-makeup day. Most of the time, while at home, I tend to go bare faced and its a relief.
So on days like this, when you probably just want to have a constant jet of cold water pouring down your face (and let’s be honest, thats not practical either), I tend to use some hydrating mists to just perk up the complexion and to cool down a bit.
My number one favorite right now is the Caudalie Grape Water. Basically this a 100% grape water toner. It just refreshes the skin, and keeps it from being inflamed. Typically I also use this is a hydrating toner, after I use apple cider vinegar. But, this can also be used throughout the day to re-energize the skin. You can easily find this at Sephora and it retails from $10-$18.
Caudalie Grape Water
Some of the facial mists, tend to have an overload of essential oils which I avoid as they break me out and frankly a lot of them can be irritating to the skin even otherwise.
I would like to try the Fresh Rose Floral Toner next.. anyone try that yet?
Now is the time, when the weather is at is peak! Although it’s gorgeous outside with it being warm and sunny, let’s be honest- our makeup is probably sweating off this moment as we speak. So, in order for your makeup to stay put, I have figured out some essentials that are definitely needed in the hot weather.
1) Eye Shadow Primer- This is must if you want your eye shadow to stay put or your liner. The makeup on the eyes can easily transfer to the brown bone if you just walked through the heat for 5 minutes. And, if it melts, you end up looking like you have raccoon eyes. My personal favorite that have worked most of the time- are the Urban Decay Primer Potion, and the Nars SmudgeProof Eyeshadow Base. Both of these are wonderful, but I think that the Urban Decay Definitely works better with their own line of shadows. The consistency of both primers are more runnier, and go on clear.
Urban Decay and Nars
2) Face Primer- For those of you with oiler skin, or have a bit of textured skin, I highly recommend a face primer before putting on your foundation. This just evens out the texture and the makeup on your face ends up looking a lot smoother. All in all, this does help your foundation to stay put and not slide off your face. I personally do not use a face primer, as most of them contain silicones which break me out. In fact, I have tried a water face primer by Smashbox which ended up breaking me out as well. But, I have known a lot of people who rave about that one as well as the Laura Mercier face primers.
Smashbox Primer
3) Setting Powder- This is a translucent powder (usually is white in color), just melts into the skin and takes away any excess shine. It just keeps the oiliness at bay so that you do not get extra shiny during the day. Usually I would apply this in the T-zone area as that’s where I get very shiny. I like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders very much for this purpose. They are a bit high end, but they do the job very well. Even though these have a bit of a sheen to them, they had a glow to your face, and take away the excess shine! Th ones I recommend from their line as a setting power are Dim Light, and Mood Light.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
4) Makeup Setting Spray- This is like God sent from the heavens people. Since my top liner was running everywhere even with the use of primers, I discovered the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray. And let me tell you, I am hooked! This just locks in all of your makeup, and it takes away the chalkiness from your makeup to give you that natural look. So be outside and lounge by all means, and this baby will keep everything in place.
Urban Decay All Nighter
5) SPF- Its getting hot, and I wouldn’t want any one of you to end up with skin cancer. Being India, I do not get a sunburn, but I tan very easily. Needless to say, this is a very important thing for anyone. But, most sunscreens are chemical based which again, break me out. Recently Tarte released a new Sunscreen which is amazing. It is not chemical based, and it smells like lilies. I mean, what more can one want?
Tarte Sunscreen
If you’ve tried any other products from the same categories, or think anything else is essential, then do let me know!
Krutika Puntambekar 