Makeup setting spray plays a very important role in the application and setting of base. In fact, this is the reason the makeup looks so flawless and does not budge for a long time even during scorching heat. You have often seen the matte or dewy look on various celebrities and how impeccable it looks! It also helps in removing the cakey or any patchy look in case you applied the powder or foundation in excess. Sadly, not many Indian brands manufacture makeup setting sprays and therefore the other brands are quite expensive. One day, I was having a casual chat regarding makeup setting with my friend who is a makeup artist and she told me how she sets the makeup on her clients. She uses a concoction liquid of certain ingredients which are readily available in the market and I was so determined to make it. In fact, you can also make two different setting spray – one for dewy and the other for matte. So, scroll down to see how to make your own makeup setting spray.
INGREDIENTS
Rose water – act as a toner, moisturizer and skin enhancer.
Aloe Vera Gel – helps in setting the look without getting patchy or cakey.
Glycerin – moisturizes the skin and evens out the makeup. Acts as a sticky base to keep the makeup adhered to
Distilled Water
Empty Spray Bottle
PROCEDURE
Take an empty spray bottle and make sure it is completely cleansed, sterilized and dried. Fill 1/3rd of the bottle with distilled water.
Add 2/3rd rose water to the bottle.
Add 1 tbsp. of Aloe Vera Gel.
Now, add 1/2 tbsp. of glycerin or any other essential oil of your choice.
Shake the bottle very well so that the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
Voila! Your makeup setting spray is ready!
Note: If you want to make the spray for matte finish, use the distilled water and rose water in a 50:50 ratio and add only little bit of glycerin. However, if you want to make the spray for dewy finish, use the distilled water and rose water in a 20:80 ratio and add 1tbsp. of glycerin. Also, you can add Jojoba Oil or any other essential oil to increase the hydration factor during winter.
Caution: If you’re allergic to any of the above mentioned ingredients, please do not incorporate them in the concoction.
This can also be used a toner and refresher in this scorching heat. Simply spray the liquid from a slight distance, closing the eyes and let is dry on its own. Also, do not spray too much as it will take a long time to dry up. It is free from chemicals and preservatives and hence it is best to use it up within 1-2 months of making.
Editor’s Note: This sounds amazing Sanchita, definitely worth trying. I am surely going to.
I had real fun decoding the Kylie Jenner Makeup Tips, so after going through several teaching sessions, YouTube tutorials, interviews and Instagram posts of Mario Dedivanovic (Kim Kadarshian’s favorite makeup artist) I was so determined to do this post on Decoding Kim Kardashian Hair and Makeup Secrets.
Kim Kardarshian is famous for her contour, nude lips, smokey eyes and the list go on and on. No doubt we love every bit of her makeup and her luscious hair styles. So, want to know the secret tips behind her flawless outlook. I am sure the tips and tricks will simply amaze you. So let’s explore the details.
Makeup before hair – Yes, do you makeup first and then the hair. This is because the hair spray might leave behind its residue on the face which will make the application of the foundation slight difficult. Also, if you are going for a bouncy curly look, you have to back comb and tug it so that it stays away from the face while applying makeup. All in all, do your makeup first and then go for the hairstyle.
Skip the primer – When possible makeup brand came out with their version of primer and beauty bloggers vouching for the primer which ‘apparently’ helps smoothening the foundation and keeps it in place, Kim’s MUA Mario Dedivanovic says primer is totally optional and there is no harm at all in skipping it. He says so because loading too many products one after another will only make you oily, especially in humid weather. So next time you decide to splurge of the expensive primer, just don’t.
Emollient moisturizer – An emollient moisturizer is one which hydrates your skin, smoothens out your pores and provides a nice base to your foundation. This is why you don’t need a primer separately. Too many products will do more harm than any good and therefore to minimize the buildup of products between the skin and foundation, simply use a moisturizer. Kim Kardashian’s favorite moisturizer is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream which acts both as primer and moisturizer. Therefore, invest in a good moisturizer instead of too many products.
Beauty blender – From Kim Kardashian, Mario Dedivanovic, Kylie Jenner and all the possible celebrities and their MUAs have vouched for the goodness of Beauty Blender. Well, sadly Beauty Blender isn’t easily available in India (there’s also a lot of speculations about fake Beauty Blender sold online) and even if you badly want to have it, you have to pay a huge amount for a sponge. Therefore, the cheapest solution was given by Bhumika, the PAC’s Beauty Blender (a very similar one) which is efficient as well.
Master handling the puff – Kim’s MUA Mario Dedivanovic states that it is important to hold the powder puff while application. Put two fingers into the loop on the outer side and slightly press over the desired area. In general we always use the powder brush for baking and applying translucent powder, but Mario states that puffs are lot better in efficiency. It helps the powder to adhere well to the makeup, blurs out the pores and prevents the cakey application to a large extent.
Strong brow game – Brow game is something we all agree with. It defines the eye makeup and gives a neat and clean appearance to the makeup look. Well, to make this game stronger, Mario uses two colors to define the eye brows. Use a lighter color in the inner corners while a darker one on the outer portions. This will create a pretty strong ombre effect and brings out an appealing look.
There’s nothing called too many eyeliners – Mario applies more than four layers of eyeliners on Kim. He states that it will give your eyes a “beautiful definition and look more expensive”. Well, we got the trick. He first applies an eye pencil as the base, then another eyeliner, followed by the liquid liner and finishes off with gel or crème liner! Phew! That’s a lot. I once tried that at home and I was really astonished to see the beautiful effect it creates. If you are a deep kohled or dark eyes lover, you have to try this out.
Bake the dark circles – Baking is easy-peasy and all you have to do is apply concealer/color corrector/foundation and simply dab powder and let it sit for around 10 mins or so to let the natural heat from your body set the powder. After that simply dust off the excess. Baking is generally done on the areas we highlight i.e. under the eyes, chin, forehead, etc. Mario uses the baking technique mainly for covering the dark circles. This works excellent and does a double duty of highlighting as well as concealing.
Contouring isn’t everything – When I first read this one from Mario, I was like ‘What!’ This particular statement coming from Kim’s MUA whose middle name is ‘contour’ is surely a big deal. Well, he believes that contouring isn’t everything and you can still look equally photogenic without it. The extreme contouring videos we see from YouTube and Instagram aren’t essential for makeup. Nevertheless, if you want do this, there is no harm in making the features sharp.
Double highlighter – Mario stresses on the fact that to have that flawless look, highlighter is the key. Yes, of course blush, contour and everything else is there but highlighter is something that gives you the neat look. He applies double layer of highlighter on Kim. Firstly, he applies a brightening yellow powder like Ben Nye Banana and then some shimmery or frosty powder ones to add that ultra-strobing effect. And then finishes off with golden for that warm glow.
Stunning eye lashes – Kim uses a nice voluminous mascara on the natural eyelashes first after curling them. Then she uses individual falsies (longer on the outer portion, shorter on the inner one) and finishes of with another coat of mascara to adhere the falsies to the natural lashes. God! No wonder her smoky eye is so flawless.
Makeup removal – This is a very common tip vouched every now and then and Kim also swears by it religiously. It is so important to remove every trace of makeup when you are going to hit the bed. Residual makeup has some nasty side effects like pimples, infection, allergies, discoloration, pigmentation and the list is totally endless. Use a good cleanser or baby oil to wipe off every layer of makeup from face, eyes and also lips and wash off with a mild face wash or whatever suits you best.
Stop shampooing everyday – While you have heard it that to keep our hair clean you have shampoo every day, Kim says don’t. Regular shampooing will ruin the hair and strip off the natural oils. She prefers a blowout on the first day while on day two she goes for messy buns, curls and waves. On day three, when the hair starts to get flat due to the natural oil of the scalp, she straightens the hair and tries out sleek hair styles. In this way, the straightening doesn’t damage the hair as well. On day four it is ok to wash the hair. Kim uses Moroccanoil and Carol’s Daughter Monoi Hair Mask to make the hair soft.
Skincare – According to her, skin care is the primary step where you actually have to work hard. No amount of cosmetics will save you if your skin behaves badly. This is why regular skin care routines, clean up, healthy diet and lots of water is required.
Makeup brushes – the last tip from her MUA is the cleaning of makeup brushes, which is another important hygienic requirement for makeup. Mario uses Tea Tree oil to soak the brushes and then washes in a concoction of water and baby shampoo. Baby shampoos are gentle and hence doesn’t make the bristles rough while tea tree oil ensures that every layer of residual makeup is removed and also it is anti-bacterial.
Editor’s Note: Those were some very nice tips Sanchita. I skip primer majority of the days and shampoo every 2-3 days, so following some here 😀 And beauty blender indeed gives a beautiful effect. I am definitely trying layering the eyeliner and light and dark shade for eyebrows.
Did you like Kim Kardashian’s makeup secrets? Do you follow these? Know of any, you would like to add? Do let us know in the comments below.
Top 10 Faces Cosmetics Products in India, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
Hello everyone, I am back with another Top 10 list from a very well-known brand in recent times. Even if you would have asked me 2 years back to do a Top 10 with FACES Canada, I would have found it really difficult. Now, the scenario is totally changed and they have plethora of products to choose from. Over these years, they have really upgraded the quality of products and they are quite reasonable too. I have also noticed that the availability is good and easily accessible from online stores too. There are some of the products from FACES Canada that have become my HG ones.
So, here’s my list of Top 10 products that surely deserves to be included in your list of makeup. Let’s have a look at it.
1. FACES Ultime Pro Metaliglow – (799 INR) Review & Swatches HERE
Starting with this amazing and gorgeous highlighter that I literally use it every time when I am stepping out of the house. It comes in three shades – Opal (fair skin tones), Champagne (fair to medium skin tones) and Topaz (dusky skin tones). It has a gel-like texture that blends into the skin without much effort but you have to do it quickly because it has the tendency to settle down sooner than you can imagine. You can also mix with any foundation to get that luminosity and its looks totally natural. Bhumika has reviewed the shades Opal and Champagne and this one is a highly recommended from her side as well.
2. FACES Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayons – (799 INR) Review & Swatches HERE (BUY HERE for 675)
Chubby lip crayons are new trend and every brand has their own versions. FACES Canada, too, brought forward their versions and the quality is impeccable. It is available in 10 shades for now and the shades Peach Me, Midnight Rose and Sugar Coated has already been reviewed in detail on NLM, so surely check it out. The texture is soft and creamy which glides like a dream and settles down with a matte formula. The shade Midnight Rose is a must have from their collection.
One of the best, creamiest and long wearing kajal in the Indian market today. It comes in a retractable red plastic body and looks very chic and pretty. The texture is soft and creamy and glides on the eyes without tugging or pulling at all. The formula is water proof and smudge proof with a staying power of around 6-7hours easily. The pigmentation is great and makes the product really stand out. It gives a jet black color when applied on the water line as well. Overall, the price makes it great for a daily wear kajal.
4. FACES Canada Ultime Pro Mineral Loose Powder – (699 INR) (BUY HERE)
With an innovative non-comedogenic formulation which offers protection from harmful UV radiation, the FACES Canada Ultime Pro Mineral Loose Powder comes in a very unique and convenient packaging with a sponge attached to the lid. The powder gives a soft blurry effect to the pores and smoothens out the skin tone with its light to medium coverage. The finish is matte but doesn’t clings on to dry patches. The powders are mostly neutral tones and thus doesn’t makes you look whitish or chalky. The oil control is around 4hours and after that you might need touch ups.
5. FACES Hi-Shine Nail Enamel – (199 INR) Review HERE
Available in more than 70 shades, the FACES Hi-Shine Nail Enamels are truly superb in quality. It comes in a thick glass bottle and delivers a glossy and high shine formula to the nails. The nail enamels contain a blend of non-harmful plasticizers which modify the nail enamel film to be flexible, thus resisting chipping and cracking. It also provides proper hardness, gloss and adhesion to the nail. These lacquers are TOLUENE & DBP, Camphor and Formaldehyde free and won’t damage the nails in the long run.
6. FACES Long Wear Eye Pencil – (449 INR) Review HERE
The FACES Long Wear Eye Pencils are considered to be one of the best eye pencil with a reasonable price tag. It is available in 9 shades and each of them has a beauty of its own. The texture is soft and creamy and hence you can easily create smoky eyes with it. It gives a matte finish after setting down within 5-10mins and has a water proof and smudge proof formula. Free of preservatives, dermatologically and ophthalmologically approved, the eye pencil are great for water line too. The shade Black and Navy Blue are the raved ones in the collection.
7. FACES Ultime Pro Velvet Matte Lipstick – (649 INR)
FACES Ultime Pro Velvet Matte Lipstick claims to be an exclusive lipstick with an unbeatable gliding quality and unique satin finish. It comes with a sleek matte black packaging with twist up function. The texture is truly creamy and glides like anything on the lips. It is one of the most comfortable matte finish that doesn’t dry out the lips sucking life out of it. However, do make sure to scrub and prep your lips before you apply the lip color. The staying power is commendable and you are a matte lippy lover, you have to try this out.
8. FACES Ultime Pro Eyeshadow Crayon – (799 INR) Review HERE
The FACES Ultime Pro Eyeshadow Crayons are one of the recent launches from the brand and truly an amazing one. It is available in 6 shades for now with pretty names and comes in a sharpenable chubby pencil packaging along with a free sharpener. The color coded packaging is extremely good and the eye shadows are pretty long wearing. The texture is smooth and creamy which makes it perfect to blend and layer as much as you want. The pigmentation is also great and application is so easy that a beginner can also use these.
9. FACES Prime Perfect Foundation – (699 INR)
The foundation is considered one of the best foundations for the oily to combination skin for the summers. It comes in 5 shades although dusky complexions might not find a good match. It is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid that delivers deep hydration & keeps skin nourished with sun protection and anti-ageing formula. The texture is creamy but it sets very quickly hence needs to be blended fast. The coverage is medium to buildable but gives a great finish of satin matte to the skin. For the price, I would say that this is a great foundation for daily wear with a wear time of 5-6hours.
10. FACES Sparkle Dust Stackable – (899 INR) Review & Swatches HERE (BUY HERE for 722)
The Sparkle Dust Stackable are stack of 6 color sparkles comes in 4 different family of shades. These are fine milled glitters with powdery texture and Bhumika has already shown in her review that these can be used as eyeshadow, eyeliner, glitter nail paint, highlighters, blushes, etc. So have your fun and experiment with these amazing glitters for a very reasonable price.
Editor’s Note: I absolutely love some of the Faces Products, and they keep launching something new. Currently they are revamping all the old stuff into new packaging and formula. The Faces Eye Pencils are the best, have been using them since they were priced at 249, they have increased the prices a lot now! Also would like to add their skincare range, new Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayons and their Moisture Rich Lipsticks. Even their blushes are quite good.
So, what is your favorite product from Faces Canada?
I am reviewing three shades from the new Lotus Herbals ColorStylo Lip Color Range.
Product Description:
• Long Stay
• Moisturising
• Preservative Free
MRP: INR 495 for 3.7g
There is not much information available online yet, but these come in 10 shades from nudes to reds to plums.
To start with the packaging, they come color coded according to their shade which makes it easier to identify. They have retractable swivel up packaging with a transparent cap.
The pigmentation is amazing, you get full opaque color in 2 swipes. These glide on easily and are quick to work with. The finish is glossy but you can blot the color to make it a bit matte. However you won’t be able to blot much as it would otherwise even take away some color/pigmentation. Since these are creamy and glossy, it is also easy to go overboard and beyond the lip lines, so be careful there.
Staying power is quite impressive too, it stayed for 4-5 hours on me without eating and leaves behind a strong stain. Even with eating or drinking, the stain is quite strong and stays though. It is not transfer proof though, but the glossiness would transfer and then later on the stain doesn’t transfer and stays put, if you know what I mean.
206 Ruby Red is a deep berry cool toned red, would look amazing on deeper skin tones.
209 Orange Madness is neutral coral orange, no neon hint and very wearable. Perfect summer colour.
205 Russian Red is a neutral red that would work on pretty much everyone.
Ruby Red swatch was a little blurry as I have a new lens and currently struggling with it, hence did not include it here.
I love all three reds and oranges, but I would love to try a lighter shade too from this this range. I am eyeing the shade Nude Blush.
Here I am wearing Russian Red.
Price point of 495 is pretty amazing, when all brands are pricing lip crayons much higher. If you don’t mind glossy lip colours, then these are definitely worth checking out. Only problem currently is availability, they are not available online yet, but I have seen it at Lotus Herbals Kiosks all over. Recommend it.
Rating:
Quality: 4/5
Value for money : 4/5
Availability: 3.5/5
Overall rating: 3.75/5
Have you tried the new Lotus Herbals Colorstylo Chubby Lip Colours yet? What do you think of them?
Top 10 L’Oreal Paris Products in India, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
L’Oréal Paris is another brand in the Indian market which needs no introduction. Their products, although slightly on the higher side, is always known to deliver the best quality and we can’t stop adoring the huge range and shades they deliver. Having the best fashionista like Sonam Kapoor, Aishwariya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif endorsing the brand, we get to see a lot of trending products. What makes L’Oréal stand out is that they variety. Be it skincare, makeup or hair care – they have been consistent in the unbeatable quality. One plus point is that, the brand is easily accessible across the country. So, today I will compiling the 10 best products from L’Oréal Paris which are simply superb in their own way! Here goes the list.
1. L’Oréal Paris Volume Millions Lashes Mascara (850 INR) (BUY HERE for 773)
L’Oréal Paris Volume Millions Lashes Mascara makes those eye lashes dramatic and audacious to the core. Once you apply this one, you would never go back to the falsies or any other mascara in that case. A power packed mascara that not only add volume but length to the lashes without clumping or being messy. In India, it is available in the shade black and enhances the eye makeup within few coats. In dries up super-fast and counted among the best mascaras ever since it has been released.
2. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Mono Eye Shadows (500 INR)
Available in 10-12 shades, these L’Oréal Paris Infallible Eye Shadows are incredibly pigmented. It comes in a round pot and can also be used as wet eyeshadow pigments. A single layer of the color gives a smoothen look and applies beautifully. The texture is powdery but feels like creamy soft when touched. They are blink proof, crease proof and waterproof completely. Also, it blends seamlessly and stays almost the whole day. A must have product for every eye makeup lover. (P.S: All Night Blue and Endless Chocolate are my absolute favourites and must have. Though I have heard these are discontinued and hence not easily available)
3. L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Hair color (575 INR) (BUY HERE for 510)
L’Oréal Paris is the most trusted brand we it comes to hair coloring. We are always afraid what would the chemicals to do your hair but trust me, having tried and tested L’Oréal Paris, I just could not dare use another hair color. It is available in 12 shades and astonishingly, all the 12 shades are perfect for Indian beauty. Therefore, there’s no chance you would go wrong with the color. It looks so natural and nourished that we would love using it. The color lasts up to 25washes and conditions the hair like anything. It also provides a glossy shine as well.
4. L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte lipstick (925 INR) (BUY HERE for 620 to 836)
The words ‘moist’ and ‘matte’ are simply enough to steal our attention. The L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte is available in 12 stunning shades and there are some lipsticks with the Limited Edition Swarovski packaging, which is gorgeous to the core. They glide on the lips like butter and very light weight. Though it maintains a certain level of hydration on the lips, it looks semi-matte. The shade Lincoln Rose is one of the popular red (worn a lot by Aishwariya Rai Bachchan) and Arabian Nights which is perfect for fall/winter season. (P.S: I absolutely love Raspberry Syrup and Spring Rossette)
5. L’Oréal Paris Mat Magique Compact Powder (399 INR) (Review, Swatches HERE) (BUY HERE for 358)
In the recent past, L’Oréal Paris launched the budget friendly mat compact in 5 shades (which is rare in the Indian market). The shades are such that everyone would definitely find a suitable match for themselves and works great on the skin to give flawless finish. It absorbs oil well and keeps the skin oil-free for around 6hours or so. It is also enriched with SPF 34 PA+++ to help protect your skin from the sun. This is the perfect one for the upcoming summer.
6. L’Oréal Paris Super Liner Gel Intenza 36H (875 INR) (BUY HERE for 610 to 691)
Gel liners are such a rage these days and L’Oréal came up with the 36H formula of gel liner. It has a gorgeous golden lid and glass pot packaging and also comes with a brush. It is available in 5 different shades which is outstanding. It is creamy and gives such a rich and intense tough to the eyes that you won’t feel like applying anything. It finishes matte and doesn’t cake up at all. The gel liner is also tear-proof, smudge-proof and lasts for the whole day. (P.S: Royal Blue is absolutely amazing)
7. L’Oréal Paris Color Riche L’Extraordinaire Lip Color (950 INR) (BUY HERE for 314 to 758)
If matte lovers adore the Color Riche matte lipsticks, L’Oréal has brought the Color Riche L’Extraordinaire which is a cult favorite among gloss lovers. It offers 13 shades and each has its own beauty. These are something between lipstick and glosses. It provides a magnifying shine and gloss to the lips which rich colors, that of a lipstick and makes a ravishing difference to the lips. It hydrates it thoroughly and quite forgiving for dry and chapped lips. It is non sticky and long lasting than any gloss.
8. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation (1325 INR) (Review & Swatches HERE) (BUY HERE for 924)
Another star product from L’Oreal Paris. It is one of the best liquid foundations in India currently. Full coverage, photographs beautifully, comes in 11 shades, matte finish, stays put whole day long! If you have weddings/events, etc., then you got to have this foundation.
9. L’Oréal Paris Collection Star Red Lipsticks (INR 995) (Review, Swatches HERE) (BUY HERE for 645 to 746)
Probably the most talked about and raved launches of L’Oréal Paris. Every woman goes weak seeing a red lipstick; L’Oréal went a step ahead and launched 7 stunning red of different variety, endorsed by 7 different celebrities and their signature in the packaging. The lipsticks are intense in pigmentation, rich in texture and screams vanity with every application. The finish is comfortable matte and is a pure indulgence.
10. L’Oréal Paris True Match Foundation (INR 1025) (BUY HERE for 959)
The True Match series of L’Oréal Paris is indeed great – from mineral makeup to concealer but if I have to choose one, I would blindly go for the foundation. It has 11 shades ranging from warm to cool undertones and offers a great finish to the skin. It is so easy to blend and wears just like your natural skin. It gives an oil free natural finish and has medium to buildable coverage. It photographs really well and imparts a flawless touch to the skin.
Editor’s Note: I would also recommend the L’Oreal Paris Base Magique Primer, one of the very good primers available in India currently. And from the new Pink Collection, Julianne, Eva and J.Lo’s shades.
Do let me know your favorite product from L’Oréal Paris.
Very recently Kylie Jenner has introduced the personalized Lip kit of hers and the colors are oh-so-amazing! She has been famous for her gorgeous plush pout and it is a brand in itself. Some of the colors are so amazing that you just can’t stop staring at it. Kylie revels that the secret behind her pretty pout is the definition i.e. the lining of lips with a similar colored lip liner with that of the lipstick. She vowed that it makes a radical difference when we use the lip liner with lipstick. Now that we are so smitten with her amazing lips, let us see the possible dupes we can find in India to imitate the pout we have been gushing about.
1. Maroon Lips
Kylie doesn’t shy away from dark lips and I have to admit, the colors are quite unconventional. The color on her lips is stark maroon with a hint of brown undertones. Generally maroons always have a reddish undertones, something like MAC Diva but this one is the different one. For this, I found Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Matte – Wine Not is the perfect choice. It is matte, similar to that of the picture and gives a nice definition to the lips.
2. Red Lips
Red hot lips is the favorite for very women and Kylie carries it off like a diva. The perfect choice for the color she is wearing would be MAC Ruby Woo, SUGAR Cosmetics Matte As Hell Crayon Scarlet O’Hara and Colorbar Deep Matte Lip Crème Deep Red. All three shades are readily available in the Indian market, they are gorgeous pigmented, matte and brightens up the face like nothing else. Make sure to line the lips with a red lip liner for the perfect pout.
3. Nude Lips
Kylie rocks the neutral lip colors like no other celebrity. She can do minimal eye and lips at the same time and she kill it. My perfect pick for the nude lips, comparable to what she is wearing on the picture would be Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick Undressed and MAC Yash Lipstick. If you are slightly dusky or with medium complexion, try the Colorbar Take me as I am Lip Color Bare Dare Pink. In this color she has a slight sheen on the lips so I am guessing it is a satin finish lipstick. You can dab a thin layer of lip balm to get the sheen on the lips.
4. Soft Pink Lips
A nice everyday muted pink lips. This is a great color even wearable in office. For Indian skin tones, the color would be very close to Chambor Powder Matte Lipstick Desert Rose and Tom Ford Indian Rose. Both the color are matte in texture and all you need is a muted pink lip liner like Colorbar Lip Definer Splendid Pink to line and fill the lips. Then apply the lip color and voila! You are done. Pair it up with a soft kohl look or neutral eyes.
5. Vampy Lips
This one is surely not for faint hearted. A plum black vampy ombre lips is the perfect one for the fall/winter look. For this lip color, you need a darkish maroon lip liner like MAC Nightmoth Lip Pencil or NYX lip liner Currant to line and fill the lips leaving out the centre part of lower lips. Then apply MAC Prince Noir Lipstick, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen or Revlon Super Lustrous – Black Cherry along the lips leaving the centre part of lower lips. Use a brush to merge the color to have that ombre effect.
6. Tea Rose Lips
This is absolutely my favorite one among all her looks. The lipstick gives a soft rosy/tea rose pink touch to the lips and it is up to you whether to wear it as matte or satin finish. You can wear the color literally for anything and everything and you would still look gorgeous. My favorite picks are Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick Rose Tea, Faces Canada I Do #11 Ultime Pro Velvet Matte, L’Oreal Color Riche Natural Lipstick in Velvet Rose. You can also wear it as a soft wash of color on the lips. Also, Chambor Powder Matte Lipstick in Sugar Pink is a very close dupe of this color and looks great on Indian skin.
7. Glossy Brown Nude Lips
A nude glossy brown with smoky look is the terrific combination. I loved how Kylie carried off the soft black-brown smoky eyes, flawless base with a slight wash of earthy blush on cheeks and the glossy nude brown lips. For the lips, the only thing I came close to is the MAC Half ‘n Half Amplified Creme Lipstick. It gives a smooth shine to the lips and extremely long wearing.
8. Dark Brown Lips
I really had a tough time finding a dupe of this one. The color is a pure dark brown color with no undertones whatsoever. Generally a brown always comes with an undertone to suit the complexion but the one Kylie is wearing is totally unconventional. Thanks to the humongous range of MAC lipsticks, I found that MAC Antique Velvet and MAC Lady Mystery are the closest dupe for this one. The color is so loud in itself that the cheeks and eyes has to be kept very minimal.
9. Signature Kylie Jenner Lip Color
The ultimate lip color for which we applause her like a diva. For the lip liner part, I would advise to go for the Colorbar Lip Pencil Nude Pink. Then apply the Colorbar Deep Matte Lip Crème – Deep Earth or MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick and dab a thin layer of lip balm. This is the lip color you can wear anytime of the day and still look gorgeous. The color is such that it would suit each and every Indian skin tones. A totally bang on color!
10. Earthy Mauve Lips
The last one is the stark matte earthy mauve lip color. Also, a great color for the fair to medium skin tones. For this, first you need something that resembles MAC Whirl lip liner to line and fill the lip completely. Next, apply the MAC Twig Lipstick all over the lips. Blot it with a tissue and dust some translucent powder on top of it. This will give a stunning matte finish to the lips and also make it long lasting.
Editor’s note: Those are some fabulous dupes Sanchita. I would like to recommend a few Kylie Jenner shades in general: Maybelline Lip Gradation in Mauve, Colorbar Kiss Proof Lip stain in Mauve Dusk and Haute Latte, Colorbar Deep Matte Lip Cream in Deep Cocoa, Miss Claire Soft Matte Lip Cream in 09, 17 and 17A, Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Sultry. I know there are still many but could only think of these few for now 😀 I will update this post whenever I come across more Kylie Jenner dupes, so keep a check on this post.
Do you like Kylie Jenner’s lip shades? Also add your dupes in the comments below.
Sedona Lace Vortex Synthetic Professional Makeup Brush Set Review
Hi guys,
Today I am reviewing the Sedona Lace Vortex Brush Set which I have since quite some time now, I got it around the time when I was shifting and I kept them safely somewhere. And the place was so safe that I just couldn’t find them :/ Happens with you too? Let me know in the comments below.
Anyhoo, I finally found them and have been using them since some time. I have even used them in a makeup tutorial which will be coming up soon.
What the Company claims: The Synthetic Vortex Collection exclusively designed by Renelyn Monteloyola of Makeup by Ren Ren for Sedona Lace. This pro line of brushes takes makeup application and technique to the next level. All of the brushes are multi-purpose and versatile. The pink and black colors on the bristles is a registered trade mark of Sedona Lace
MRP: $109.95
You can get the zipper belt at an additional cost of $10. So the brush set with zipper belt costs $119.95 (Buy HERE). I also have a special coupon code (without expiry i.e. lasts lifetime) for you guys where you can get $4 off on a minimum order of $15 on www.sedonalace.com , so if you want to buy just 1-2 brushes, still you can use that. The coupon code is ‘newlove’
I absolutely love the pink and black color to start with and that is a registered trademark of Sedona Lace. You get 13 brushes in total out of which one i.e. the angled brow shaper and spoolie is dual sided.
The brushes are all odd numbered from F01 to F23. Let’s start with the Face Brushes first.
FB01 is a jumbo fan brush which is the softest brush I have ever used! I just cannot stop touching it and it is perfect for dusting your powder or just cleaning your face or to apply highlighter on the high points of face, or your blush or contour.
FB03 is Tulip Contour Brush which is the perfect brush ever for contour coz it will perfectly fit in the hollow of your cheeks. Also this brush is great for diffusing your over done blush or highlighter or just give a final finish to the face.
FB05 is Dome Contour brush. It’s a multi tasking brush, apply your blush, contour or powders or powder foundation or buff in your high coverage cream/liquid foundations. This one will work with everything.
FB07 is a Flat Top Buffer Brush. Now flat top buffing brushes are perfect for foundations, be it cream/liquid/powder. Set your concealer with powder or use it on places to bake for precisely placing powders. Again multi purpose but best for foundations.
Coming to the eye brushes now,
EB09 is the Universal Blender brush which is good for applying shadows all over the lid and even blending for softer, diffused looks. Like a soft everyday brown eye makeup look or times when you just want to use one shade and sweep it across and blend the same.
EB11 is the Flat Synthetic Brush for applying metallic, glittery shadows and pigments on the lid i.e. mostly for patting shadows and not blending or sweeping them. Or even for applying your eyeshadow primer/base and concealer under the eyes. Also works to contour the sides of your nose.
EB13 is the Synthetic Blender brush. It has more dense and tapered bristles, it is absolutely perfect to blend your crease colors and create those dark smokey eyes.
EB15 is the Pointed Crease brush. It can be used for your cut crease looks or for looks where you don’t want to over blend or merge colors but just a softer edge.
EB17 is the Brow Spoolie Duo. Apply powder on the brows using the angled side and brush through with the spoolie to set it in place or diffuse the powder for a softer brow.
EB19 is the Bent Liner Brush. Now we do get it separately too in a few brands here like in Inglot and PAC Cosmetics. I had done a DIY long back with my Audrey Liner Brush by bending it a bit and the bent shape helps a lot in lining your eyes easily without getting in between the lashes.
EB21 is the Detailed Shader brush which is good for highlighting the brow bone or the inner corners or even smudging shadows on the lower lashline.
EB23 is the Angled Detailed Brush which can be used for gel liners or applying powder eyeshadows as liners on upper and lower lashline.
And lastly LB25 the Capped Lip Brush, it comes with a separate steel cap and can be folded and carried along. You can just remove the cap and place it below and use it like a normal lip brush. Good to carry along and precisely apply your lip colors especially the reds and deep berries which need precision.
So these were all the 13 brushes in the Vortex Synthetic Kit. I highly recommend getting the zipper belt if you are a makeup artist, coz the belt snuggly fits around your waist and you can pick up any brush you want and place it in the belt while working on a client.
And if you are just a beginner, you can go for this set without the belt. These brushes are all you will ever need for any makeup look. If you have these, you are pretty much sorted. I highly recommend these brushes and the quality is fabulous too. Super soft and the bristles hardly shed hair, majority of the brushes which I own as part of brush sets shed hair crazily!
Thumbs up from me, also if you can wait, they keep having offers on Black Friday, etc., where they sell these sets at half the price!! All the brushes from the set are pretty useful and it is total value for money. I did not have to pay customs on this. Shipping cost varies on distance and weight but they usually use USPS.
I personally love these and have been reaching out for these brushes quite often. I have 2-3 brush sets and none matches the Sedona Lace quality wise. It is very essential to have one good quality makeup brush set in your stash coz good quality brushes will make or break your entire makeup look. And if you invest in expensive makeup and the tools you use do not justify that, then the end result would not be good, trust me.
Let me know your thoughts on the Sedona Lace Vortex Synthetic Brush Set in the comments below.
Faces Sparkle Dust Stackable Glitter Review, Swatches, Ways to Use
Hi guys, If you remember Faces Cosmetics had stack of pigment eyeshadows, they had a different name earlier, they have relaunched it with a new name and they are called Stackables now, since you can stack 4-5 shades one upon the other.
These come in 4 different families of colors, Wild i.e. more greens and blues, Zeebra i.e monochromes grey, white, black, Whish i.e. loads of bright colors and finally Glitter which are all glitter pigments and mostly metallic.
I am reviewing the Glitter one today.
What the Company claims: This concentrated shimmer is especially handy when you want shimmery, sultry eyes or to create unforgettable drama. Available in stacks of inspired color themes to help you create the most unique and stunning look.
MRP: Rs. 899/- (Available for INR 764 on Nykaa but currently OOS)
While the rest stackables have 5 shades and are priced at 799, the Glitter one has 6 shades and priced at 899.
I love how they are perfectly stacked one upon the other and you cannot misplace any shade as all have to be together since the base of one pigment jar is the cap of the other. Which also means you cannot carry them individually :/ I would have loved if they came with additional separate 4 caps to carry them individually too.
I absolutely love each and every shade in this Glitter Stackable, there are numerous options you can do with this.
Silver- True cool toned silver
Gold – Warm bronzy gold
White – My favourite, pure white with blue green duochrome effect.
Sky Blue – True Sky Blue mixed with a bit of silver
Plum – Aubergine Plum with gold
Deep Navy Blue – Deep Navy Blue with silver
What I love most about these is that the glitter is very finely milled and not at all chunky, it’s not like thick glitter much visible to eye and you cannot feel this. This feels soft and almost like a powder, even though it’s a glitter.
Numerous ways in which you can use these pigments:
1. As an eyeshadow obviously. You can dampen your brush with a makeup setting spray, take the pigment and apply directly on the lid.
2. Use glitter glue/Duraline and make an eyeliner with it, you can make 6 different colored eyeliners.
3. Mix with clear nail paint to get colored glitter nail paint. I would suggest taking some in an empty nail paint bottle or some base as you don’t want to mix the complete nail paint with single glitter option when you can try multiple options every time 🙂
4. Make only one figure glittery like the ring finger, I love doing this and as you can see I have done that above.
5. Try glitter french manicure by applying clear top coat on the tips and dipping them in glitter.
6. You can also use the white glitter one as highlighter, the matte sparkle dust in pinks/plums as blushes.
7. Use the white to highlight cupid’s bow too and mattify your pink/purple lipsticks by just dabbing some matte pigment on top. It will also make the colors look vivid and makes the lipsticks stay longer. A makeup artist tried that once on me during a shoot and the lipstick stayed much longer and I loved how vibrant and matte it looked.
There are endless possibilities with pigments and glitters in makeup. Experiment and have fun, my most favourite ways of using are definitely as eyeliner and single nail with glitter.
I would definitely recommend getting the Faces Stackables, the color option is something that depends on your personality and kind of makeup you look. If you are more into basic smokey, go for Zeebra. If you love colors, go for Whish while the Glitter one definitely has multiple uses and can work for everyone. Also I would suggest buying it from Nykaa only when it is on discount, coz INR 764 is a great deal.
What about you? Do you like playing with pigments?
PAC Cosmetics Beauty Blender First Impressions, Demo, Buy Online
Hi guys,
So I got a few products from PAC Cosmetics including this beauty blender. While I am trying out the other products and would review them soon, this beauty blender got me really intrigued and I did the first impressions/demo video with it.
Claims: The unique shape & exclusive material which is edgeless sponge a high definition cosmetics sponge applicator. This sponge will allow the product to sit on the top of the sponge rather then being absorbed. Allowing you to complete your make-up application with less products & less time. When beauty blender is wet it would double in size & become even softer. It would returned to its own size after its dries Top Tip: Use this unique sponge for your cream, liquid or powder foundation. It can also be used contouring, highlighting with cream or powder products.
It looks and feels exactly like the original beauty blender and PAC Cosmetics also has a set of two or three tiny beauty blenders for concealers,etc just like the original brand.
There are a lot of beauty blender dupes and brands having similar sponges like from Forever 21 and many, many others. Real Techniques also has a mustard colored Miracle Complexion Sponge which is flat from one end though. That also makes it easier to blend on cheeks or apply powder.
While I have two Sigma F80 brushes and always use the F80 only for blending, this is the first time I am using a sponge/beauty blender. If you see the video, I was subconsciously rubbing and buffing the product like with a brush :/ Err, yes I am that used to a brush. I saw Kandee Johnson’ video on how you have to ‘Push and Roll’ when you use a beauty blender which looks like bouncing when done quickly. I ended up buffing but still it was super easy to blend the foundation with it, I am surely trying to correct method again and it should show even better results.
But I am blown away by how super soft and squishy this is and makes blending foundation super easy, I blended it within 1 minute and some seconds, this was super quick and it does not go streaky or patchy at all. Also the tapered end is perfect for under eyes and the corners of the nose.
While the Real Techniques one is around the same price, from the few reviews I have read, the Real Techniques one is a little harder and not as soft as this one. For the price of Rs.485/- I am loving it and definitely recommend it, it will make your foundation/base routine change forever. You can use it daily with your BB creams/Tinted moisturizers and it will work just as well. Also saves your time in the morning.
I love it and recommend it, if you try it, do let me know how you find it.
PAC is a professional makeup line, often used by makeup artists and now since the products are easily available online, we all can take advantage of it and buy the professional makeup brushes which perform as good as the MAC ones at half the price. The brushes range from Rs.300 to Rs.800, I have one more brush from them which I will review soon.
Update: My beauty blender tore a bit from two sides in the first wash :/ Not really happy about that, and I didn’t even wash it vigorously. If you follow me on Snapchat (@bhumika_t), you would have seen the pics and video. I will try and update you guys after more uses.
Do let me know your thoughts on the PAC Cosmetics Beauty Blender.
Top 10 Neutral Eye Shadow Palettes in India, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
Neutral eye makeup are the ‘in’ thing now and no matter it is daytime makeup look or night one, neutral eye always turns out to be the glamorous one. Improvising with neutral look is the safest choice if you are unable to decide the look you want. On Indian skin, the neutral look suits the best with pale browns, taupe, soft copper and bronze. Just add a dash of winged liner and a rocking lip color, which would give you a simple yet stunning look. These kind of looks can hardly be creates with one of two colors and you need a proper palette at your disposal. Hence, I thought of doing an affordable list of best Neutral Eye Shadow Palette in India. These brands are readily available in various e-commerce sites or retailed easily in the market. So, let’s take a look at the list.
No matter what makeup it is, Maybelline will always top the list for me. The Nudes palette is has 12shades of various neutrals like browns, grey, bronze, and taupe with few matte and shimmery highlighters for various looks. It is perfect for both warm and cool skin tones and a number of looks can be created with this one. The texture is soft and the pigmentation is also good for daily wear. This is surely a great neutral palette for the price tag.
2. Urban Decay Naked – (Approx. 5000 INR)
The ultimate madness for neutrals started with the UD palettes and honestly, I can never decide which one to choose between the three. UD Naked palettes are legendary! Each of them is gorgeous to the core and undeniably amazing. Each palettes consists 12 colors and best for creating any neutral or soft smoky look. The texture is just like butter and highly pigmented. It is very easy to blend and layer and known for its outstanding quality. The staying power and finish is also commendable. Although the price is high but totally worth it.
3. Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 Palette – 1050 INR (BUY HERE for 790)
The Iconic range of Makeup Revolution is the dupe of UD palettes and are easily available in India as well. UD costs a bomb and hence when we want an affordable dupe, Makeup Revolution is the best deal we can get. Among all the Iconic and Iconic Pro, my favorite for neutrals will be the Iconic 2 which is the dupe of UD Naked 2. The combination of colors are very pretty with bronze, soft browns, grey, black and shimmery highlighters. It is a perfect daytime palettes and readily available on discounts as well.
4. MUA Heaven and Earth Palette – 1050 INR
One of the best neutral brown palettes I have used so far! Though most of the shades are shimmery finish but they look exceptionally natural on the eyelids. Most of the colors are warm toned and especially suit the Indian skin tones. The texture is very soft and pretty blend-able. The pigmentation is also good and you can layer it very nicely if you want that intense look. MUA also has the palette “Undress Me Too” (Review & Swatches HERE) which is another great palette for cool toned and grey colors. P.S: While Heaven and Earth is Urban Decay Naked Dupe, the Undress Me Too is Urban Decay Naked 2 Dupe
5. L’Oreal Paris Color Riche La Palette – 1399 INR (BUY HERE for 1119)
The Color Riche La Palette from L’Oreal Paris comes in a sturdy black casing with a double tip sponge applicator and an in-built mirror. It is a very recent launch in India and is available in 2 shades – Beige and Rose. The colors are very similar but has slight changes in them. The Beige one is lighter than the Rose. In my opinion, the Rose will be a perfect choice for the Indian skin tones with a handful of deep colors and various neutrals to choose from.
This is a brand I surely want to be officially available in India! Their quality is impeccable and the price is comparatively affordable even after shipping and taxes. The texture is soft and creamy powdery and has very less fall out issues. The pigmentation is as gorgeous as it can get with single swipe itself! Their i-divine palettes are incredibly good and when it comes to neutrals, there are two best of the best – Au Naturel and Oh So Special. Au Naturel has beautiful peaches and deep browns and a jet matte black for night time look. Overall, it is a highly recommended one. (All Sleek MakeUP Review and Swatches HERE)
7. Makeup Revolution I Heart Chocolate – 1550 INR (Available on Nykaa)
The ‘Chocolate’ series of Makeup Revolution is worth all the attention is has. These are the dupes of the high end Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette. Of course, Too Faced is high priced and often out of stock. However, the Makeup Revolution one is available and the quality is definite worth talking about. The blend of browns, burgundy, deep chocolate, beige and pearly highlighters is just as craving as a chocolate bar. The pigmentation is very good and a lot of day and night time looks can be easily created with this. P.S: I have the Too Faced Palette and I know how exactly similar this is, at 1/4th the price, this is definitely a must have!
8. Freedom Pro 12 Stunning Smokes – 1200 INR (Available on Nykaa)
Freedom is another London Based makeup brand and becoming very prominent in the beauty market in India. Their Pro 12 palettes are excessively popular with various mattes, nudes, shimmery and deep colors. The best neutral palette is the Stunning Smokes which has 12 gorgeous mixture of mattes and shimmery colors. The colors are so pigmented that even the lighter ones shows up pretty well on the lids and the texture is also a total winner.
9. FACES Glam On Color Perfect Eyeshadow Smokey – 599 INR
A quad of 4 shimmery beautiful colors – bronze, plum, taupe and a pearly highlighter with an affordable price tag is surely worth trying. The packaging is sturdy and compact which comes with a mirror and an applicator. The texture is soft with a decent saturation of color. It works well even without primers and will suit the cool and neutral skin tones very well.
10. Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette – 2300 INR
This is the closest dupe of the renowned Urban Decay Naked 2 and Naked 3. There are 20 colors in this palettes, consisting of various shimmery and matte peach, browns, burgundy and taupe. The texture is very soft and blends profusely on the lids. The pigmentation is also good and helps you the layer the deeper color easily. It has a very good staying power of 5-6hours without primer and the palette, overall, is a great value for money.
Editor’s Note: I love the Sleek MakeUP Oh So Special palette, it’s my favourite. And also the Too Faced Chocolate bar Palette, the Makeup Revolution I Heart Chocolate is an exact dupe shade to shade, another must have! I want to try the Coastal Scents Revealed 2. This is a very useful compilation Sanchita.
Tell us your favourite neutral eyeshadow palette in India, in the comments below.