Current Makeup & Beauty Favourites | Go To Base Makeup Products
Hi guys,
I have shared all my current makeup and beauty favourites in this video along with a mini review of each product. Also covered my current go to base makeup products, explaining how exactly I do my base.
Products mentioned:
Face:
MAC Conceal & Correct Palette Medium Deep – Rs.3650
The Body Shop Cushion Foundation in Wanaka Honey- Rs.2695
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer- $10
Wet N Wild Mega Glo Contouring Palette in Caramel Toffee- $6 or Rs.550
Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter – $38
Pixi Beauty Glow Mist- $15
Eyes:
Avon True Cosmic Brown Glimmerstick Eyeliner – Rs/399 (Buy HERE)
Lakme French Rose Eyeshadow Palette- Rs.995 (Buy HERE)
Mistine 3D Brows Secret Set – Rs.500 (Buy HERE)
Colourpop Honey Dude eyeliner – $6
MAC In extreme Dimension Lash Mascara- Rs.1990 (Buy HERE)
Lips:
Kat Von D Lolita & Lolita II- $20
How I cover my dark circles now is covered more HERE, learning from Director of Makeup Artistry, MAC India and celebrity Bollywood Makeup Artist, Mickey Contractor himself. I mix the orange and yellow correctors from the Concealer palette to get the perfect peach and then go on top with the concealer. A detailed break up in the video above.
I hope you liked this video, let me know your favourites in the comments below.
If you remember my huge Makeup Geek Haul (if not, check HERE), I am doing an updated post on the review of all products with swatches.
Starting with the Sparklers, these are loose glitter pigments.
A sparkle beyond compare, Makeup Geek Sparklers go where no cosmetics company has gone before! Loose, reflective particles create a glitter-like effect that is out of this world.
For maximum impact, Sparklers are best applied with an eye-safe cosmetics adhesive.
Duochrome and beautiful, the shades are very unique. If you spray some setting spray and use them, they almost come out as pigmented shadows without the glitter texture. They are very multi purpose and I do recommend them.
Shades seen here are..
L-R: Stargazer, Zodiac, Solstice
Solstice is a pista green with silver shimmer
Zodiac is a sky blue with pink and purple shimmer
Stargazer is a light champagne white with gold shimmer
Zodiac and Stargazer are to be discontinued soon, so if you are interested in them, buy soon!
Coming to the Full Spectrum Eyeliner Pencils, these are super creamy and pigmented! And again, some unique and pretty shades. They glide on like butter and stay put whole day. I even use them on my waterline or on the upper lashline or as a eyeshadow base.
The pan size of 4.25g is huge, these are highly pigmented and totally worth the price.
Spellbound is a matte peachy pink
Romance is a peachy coral gold, a famous NARS Orgasm dupe.
Romance, Spellbound
Coming to the contouring powders, I have Complicated and Infidelity. I was highly impressed by the colours, this is the first company I see coming with proper cool toned contour powders and for different skin tones.
Complicated is for cool medium and Infidelity is for cool fair. I usually use Complicated, but if I want a very sharp contour, then I may use Infidelity or mix the two.
I love how these gives perfectly defined and chiseled cheekbones. Cool toned powders work perfectly for creating shadows.
Again super pigmented and you need just a tiny wee bit, these huge pans are going to last forever. Very economical.
Complicated, Infidelity
Talking about my favourite now, eyeshadows. Let’s start with something that blew my mind! The foiled eyeshadows!
I have never seen such pigment with any eyeshadow in any brand ever! These are beautiful, gorgeous and I can stare at them whole day.
I have the shades In The Spotlight, Grandstand, Starry Eyed, Magic Act, Day Dreamer.
Magic Act is a muted medium gold. This will work beautiful with Indian outfits.
Day dreamer is a cool toned light lilac
Grandstand is a medium rose gold, again beautiful with Indian wear.
L-R: Magic Act, Daydreamer, GrandstandL-R: Ritzy, In The Spotlight, Starry Eyed
Ritzy is a warm reddish brown with green and gold duochrome reflects, most unique shade I have ever seen! (It is a normal duochrome, not foiled. Sorry for the confusion, this one is $6)
In The Spotlight is soft coral pink, it works as a center shadow with numerous looks!
Starry Eyed is champagne pinky beige
And their normal eye shadows, which are $6 each and a total value for money! These are absolute must haves.
Frappe is a medium brown
Cocoa Bear is a reddish brown
Creme Brulee is a soft peachy brown
Mocha is a deep matte brown
Shimma Shimma is a metallic champagne
Frappe, Cocoa Bear and Creme Brulee are great transition shades for the crease to layer up one by one or blend two shadows together. Mocha is a nice outer corner shade to deepen the colours on the outer V and Shimma Shimma is a good inner corner/highlight shade or the center shadow.
L-R: Cosmopolitan, Bitten, Corrupt, Moondust
Cosmopolitan is a rose gold with gold shimmer
Bitten is a matte berry maroon
Corrupt is an intense matte charcoal black! The most pigmented black shadow ever, in any brand!
Moondust is a metallic silver taupe
I have picked these shades out of the number of shades they have, after watching numerous videos and seeing a lot of blogs. These are like the absolute must haves if you planning to place an order on makeupgeek.com
All Makeup Geek products are animal friendly, paraben and talc free and made in USA. They are super affordable for the price and I highly recommend them. For that price and quality, they are a steal!
Have you tried any Makeup Geek products? Your favourites? Let me know in the comments below.
10 Best Sunscreens for Different Skin Types in India, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
Sunscreen and summer go hand in hand. Applying any base makeup is really tedious but you just can’t step outside the house without applying a generous amount of sunscreen. Also, make sure you apply 15-20 mins before stepping into the sun. Summer is already here and the heat is becoming unbearable day by day. Therefore, no matter what is your skin type or complexion, apply the sunscreen before stepping out and reapply whenever required. Here’s the list of the best sunscreens in India for all skin types.
The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock comes in a white and blue tube with a decent price tag. It is stabilized with Helioplexâ which provides superior balanced broad spectrum protection against skin aging UVA and burning UVB rays. The SPF 50 (PA +++) is the perfect thing for Indian summers and the product imparts a fresh smell too. It blends into the skin really good without any white cast and gives a true matte finish.
2. Lotus Herbals Safe Sun UV Screen Matte Gel SPF 50 – Price Rs. 395 (BUY HERE for 308)
This is one sunscreen I have been using for years and I have no intention to shift to any other product. It comes in a bright orange tube with a flip open cap. It has a thick vicious gel texture and blends into the skin so quickly, leaving a fresh trail of bloom and matte touch. It is a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50 and works like a charming for skin protection and tanning. It is priced at a budget friendly tag. This is one of the best selling sunscreen for oily skin in India.
3. Lakme 9 to 5 Mattifying Super Sunscreen SPF 50 – Price Rs. 525 (Review HERE) (BUY HERE for 394)
The Lakme 9 to 5 Mattifying Super Sunscreen has a broad spectrum protection from UV rays with SPF 50. The sunscreen comes in a beautiful rose gold packaging with a convenient pump. It’s a non tinted light weight sunscreen which glides easily on the skin due to the presence of silicones. It doesn’t leave any whitish cast and gives a decent matte finish. The sunscreen is non-comedogenic and hypo-allergic and will not break you out. It also prevents tanning, sunburn and helps to even out the skin.
The Suncros Soft Matte Finish Sunscreen has a broad spectrum UV protection with SPF50. It has a convenient tube packaging and the texture of the product is thick and creamy. It is completely waterproof and sweat-proof and hence perfect pick for sultry summers. It has silicones and act as a decent primer as well. It gives a soft matte finish and is completely free from chemical sunscreen agents. The micronized zinc oxide is Suncros’ USP which penetrates through the skin and protects the skin from UV rays. Overall, all this is another great pick for oily and acne prone skin.
The Kaya Skin Clinic Daily Moisturising Sunscreen SPF 30 is a two-in one sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays which also hydrates the skin and thus a perfect pick for dry and sensitive skin. It prevents from tanning and skin ageing due to sun exposure. The formula is approved by dermatologists and safe for skin. It is creamy, light weight and white in color but doenst leave any whitish cast. The skin remains hydrated and radiant with looking unnecessarily oily.
6. Lakme Sun Expert Fairness UV Lotion (SPF 30) – Price Rs.400 (BUY HERE for 287)
The Lakme Sun Expert Fairness UV Lotion has broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB and has SPF30. The product comes in a bright yellow tube with a thick white creamy texture. It does leave a white cast but after 5-10mins it vanishes. It is best suitable for dry skin and gives a light hydrated look. It protects he skin from harmful sunrays and prevents tanning. It also evens out the skin tone and is enriched with the goodness of lemongrass, cucumber and lactic acid.
7. Lakmé 9 to 5 Hydrating Super Sunscreen + SPF 50 – Price Rs. 525 (BUY HERE for 368)
The Lakmé 9 to 5 Hydrating Super Sunscreen is the right pick normal to dry skin. It has SPF 50 and helps to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays. The product has a light lotion like texture and very creamy. It blends well and since it has silicones, it acts as a primer for skin as well. The sunscreen is hydrating and feels very light on the skin with a mild cooling sensation. It is enriched with the goodness of Vitamin B3 and Pro vitamin C and helps the skin to protect against tan and sunburns. Thus, it nourishes and maintains an even tone.
FOR COMBINATION AND NORMAL SKIN
8. Avene Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50 – Price Rs. 1375 (Review HERE) (BUY HERE)
It is slightly expensive but works like a charm for hyper sensitive skin. The product comes in a sturdy, hygienic, and travel friendly manner and the product is absolutely free from oil, parabens, alcohol, and silicones. It is has a mild fragrance and gets absorbed into skin easily enough. It will make the skin neither greasy nor dry and there is no whitish cast as well. It doesn’t clog pores, break you out and gives a broad spectrum sun protection. The ingredients list is impressive.
9. L’Oreal UV Perfect 12H Longlasting UV Protector – Price Rs. 550 (BUY HERE for 368)
The L’Oreal UV Perfect 12H Longlasting UV Protector comes in a slim pearly white tube with a twist-y cap. The texture is medium and blends into the skin very well. The high SPF50 with optimal UVB and UVA protection is worth mentioning. It has Detoxyl that protects skin against free radicals and pollutants and mexoryl SX and XL. The product gives ultra fine and non greasy and non sticky texture and doubles up as a daily moisturizing make up base as well. This is a good pick for combination skin.
The La Roche-Posay Anthelios Xl Dry Touch Gel-Cream has SPF 50 with optimal protection reinforced against UVA rays. It is further enriched with Mexoplex combined with La Roche-Posay thermal spring water, which is antioxidant and refreshing on the skin. The formula is gel-cream, blends well and great for sensitive, combination to oily skin. It is water resistant and formula is free from parabens, fragrance and non-comedogenic. It gives no white cast or greasiness and prevents tanning and hyper pigmentation.
Editor’s Note: That’s a nice list Sanchita. I love the Lotus, Neutrogena and Avene sunscreens. Suncros is also quite good.
#MACxMickeyContractor Indian Beauty Essentials Natural Makeup Look, Tips & Tricks
Hi guys,
So towards the end of March, I attended a session with MAC Cosmetics where Mickey Contractor, Director of Makeup Artistry, MAC India and celebrity Bollywood Makeup Artist, taught us to create a flawless base and a step by step Natural Indian Look!
I was so stoked and happy, I had no idea till I reached the venue that we had to do it step by step with him and he would be teaching us. I thought it was a regular event where the video will be unveiled, etc., but no, we saw the video and we created the whole look on ourselves with Mickey checking each step and teaching us how to do it correctly.
The video came out today and hence I wrote this post half way through earlier and saved in my drafts, because many of you asked me to share the tips and tricks and I thought I should jot them down quickly.
Here is the video..
So here are few tips and tricks Mickey taught us:
Always moisturise your face and undereyes before starting with your base. Mickey recommends MAC Studio Moisture Cream. He even mixes it later with the foundation when he needs a sheer look.
Spray MAC Fix Plus after the Moisture Cream and then start with concealer/corrector.
Everyone has dark circles and that is completely natural. If you try to layer too much of concealer and powder, it will only look ashy and settle in fine lines and crease. So correct and conceal once, go over the concealed area with a foundation and set with powder.
We used the MAC Pro Conceal and Correct Palette and he made us mix the concealer and both correctors on our hands to get the perfect match first. And then apply it on the dark circles. It made world of a difference. I mixed the corrector and concealer directly on the under eye area and applied it on one half and it was still looking ashy. I used the Medium palette which had shades close to and lighter to my skin tone. And the lighter concealer was making the dark circles look ashy. He made me take the yellow and orange corrector and the concealer shade on the back of my hand from the Medium Deep Palette, mix it in and add more untill I got the perfect peach. And then I applied it to cover dark circles, it was a perfect match!
He usually goes for the same color or a darker concealer for the under eye area and then covers that area with foundation for a seamless, even toned base.
Always match the foundation to your neck and body and in natural light only. Wear it through the day to check if it oxidizes and then go ahead and buy your perfect match.
Dab powder with a sponge on the under eye area and the T zone and take excess off with a brush. Never swipe concealer/powder. Always dab!
Take your eyelash curler till the base of the lashes and press and release the curler till count of 10, hold for 3-4 seconds and leave. Voila, you get amazing well curled lashes.
To define your cheekbones, apply blush in a slight slanted upward motion and just for a flush of colour, on the apples of your cheeks.
Dab the sponge on your highlighter to blend it in with the skin and take it slightly around the under eye area as it should not be a stark slanted highlighted line on top of your cheekbones and look seamless.
Always apply foundation on the neck if you are doing your whole face or just apply foundation partially like only on T zone and problem areas. There shouldn’t be a stark/visible difference between face and neck.
Clean and natural base using minimal products is his USP. He doesn’t like sharp contouring and highlighting, bold brows and all that you see on YouTube and Instagram these days.
He has done numerous Bollywood movies and magazine covers especially Aishwarya Rai, Kajol and Rani Mukherjee’s makeup and you can see how he loves a clean base, natural look and dark kohled eyes. He is a master of the Bollywood Smokey Eye.
In this video, he teaches a Natural Indian Look with a light smoke of kohl which is perfect for summers.
I used these products to create the look, as shown in the video..
MAC Pro Conceal & Correct Palette in Medium Deep
MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC37
MAC Cream Colour Base Hush
MAC Eyeshadow Embark
MAC Modern Twist Kajal Cat’s Meow
MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara Volume
MAC Mocha Blush
MAC Lipstick in Half n Half
MAC Brushes 217 and 168
The Conceal & Correct Palette helps you mix and match the exact amount of concealer and corrector till you get your perfect shade. This palette is also a must have if you are a makeup artist or do your friends and family’s makeup.
MAC Conceal & Correct Palette Medium Deep
Embark is a matte deep brown eyeshadow with red undertones. It is a perfect shade for a wash of colour like we have done here or for a soft smokey day time look, smudging it with a black kohl pencil underneath. We have used the Modern Twist Kajal in Cat’s Meow, which is the black shade as kohl on the waterline. If you like jet carbon black kohl, you can go for Squid. Gently smudge Embark on the lower lash line to merge the kohl and shadow. Flick the kohl slightly to create a wing like effect. Tightline with Cat’s Meow
Mocha, Hush, Embark
MAC Blush in Mocha is a matte soft peach colour which is very flattering on Indian skin tones, fair to medium especially. MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush gives a very soft and subtle highlight and can also be used all over eyes as a base or to highlight brow bone and inner corners.
MAC Half n Half Lipstick is a satin finish nude brown, I absolutely love this shade. It reminded me of Maybelline My Mahagony which was my favourite nude and was discontinued later on. But I highly recommend Half N Half if you are looking for a good, everyday wear nude shade.
MAC Half N Half
I love how simple this look is, and yet pretty and polished. Clean base, neutral tones and kohl rimmed eyes, suitable for any occasion and works for everyone.
I hope you liked this post and found it helpful. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
As you all know I shave and I am a huge fan of the Gillette Venus, I have covered shaving and Gillette Venus many times on the blog, review HERE.
Gillette Venus has recently launched a new razor ‘Breeze’. Most of you would be knowing about this as it’s everywhere on Instagram 😀
Claims: Now smooth skin is just a shave away! The all new Gillette Venus Breeze razor for women is the secret to a time saving shave. It is built with flexible shave gel bars and contains rich body butters for a light lather. A smooth glide that makes no need for separate shave gel or soap.
3 Spring-mounted blades with telomer coating with shower storage.
Gives a smooth and silky shave
This razor is gentle on skin
Easy to use and convenient to carry
MRP: Rs.299/-
Pack of 2 cartridges: Rs. 350/-
It is available online on Amazon and Nykaa.
Ingredients:
The razor comes in this purple and blue box with the body and razor head separate. You just need to attach the two and it’s ready for use.
The razor itself has a pretty purple colour and looks quite good. The body has ergonomic grip so that the razor doesn’t slide off even for in shower use.
The USP of this razor are the two soap gel bars on the top and bottom of the razor head. They have a floral freesia scent which is quite nice. You don’t need a separate shaving gel with this razor, you just need to wet the razor or the skin and directly shave. The soap gel bars produce a soft lather and they also have moisturizing butters (Olive, Avocado, Kokum) which makes the razor shave smoothly, leaving the skin moisturized. There would no dryness whatsoever.
The 3 blades are quite sharp and nice, and it gives a smooth shave. Since it is shaving gel and razor both in 1, it’s a 2 in 1 product giving One Step Smooth Skin.
I often experience itchiness after shaving if I don’t moisturize my skin well with a rich body lotion/butter. But from the time I have started using Breeze, there has been no itchiness at all. I even skipped moisturizing once and nope, no itching.
I am absolutely in love with this razor as it makes the process even quicker, skipping the shaving gel part. Also this makes it perfect for travel as you do not have to carry a shaving gel separately now.
When the soap gel bars are completely used or the lubrastrip fades, you just need to change the cartridge/razor head which you can buy separately as a pack of two. So the body will last you for a really, long time. Very economical.
Only con would be I wish it came with a plastic cover, so that it is convenient to store and travel with. As the gel bars get moist after use, they become a little sticky and you have to store the razor vertically and dry.
Other than that, it is just perfect. I would highly recommend trying the new Gillette Venus Breeze if you haven’t yet.
Have you tried the new Gillette Venus Breeze? Your thoughts?
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC42 Review, Swatches, Buy Online
By Sanchita
INTRODUCTION – I have been planning to buy this concealer for a long time and when it was available online, I immediately picked this up. I once tried this concealer at a MAC store and loved the consistency and coverage. MAC is known for their extraordinary base products with an array of shade range. Having used the product for quite some time, here’s my review on the product.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION – A lightweight fluid concealer that provides medium to full coverage with a comfortable, natural matte finish. Colour-true formula lasts up to 15 hours. Helps conceal and correct the look of under-eye circles, and discolorations. Comes in a clear glass vial with a matte black pump.
PRICE – Rs. 2100/ $22.00 for 9 ml / 0.30 US fl. oz. (Available on Nykaa)
MY REVIEW
The MAC Pro Longwear Concealer has a convenient packaging for travelling. It comes in a transparent bottle with a black opaque pump and the packaging is really sturdy. Although, it is hygienic and travel friendly, it has downside too. The pump dispenses a lot of product in a single pressure and sometimes you need end up wasting it. And honestly, you don’t want to waste a product from MAC. Therefore, the packaging fares well but nothing something I prefer.
Coming to its consistency, I would say it is medium. The texture is slightly runny but the moment you start blending, it kind of turns creamy. The best thing about the product is that it gives a medium to full coverage. Every liquid concealer I have used so far sheers out and we just end up wasting money. Therefore, I was very careful while purchasing this one. The concealer is also water proof and smudge proof. Once you have set the concealer, it is not going to smudge or spread at all.
I use this concealer mainly for under eyes and I have extreme dark circles. I simply apply a faint layer of orange corrector and apply this concealer with the help of my fingers. And using a blending sponge, blend the product. It completely hides the dark circles and gives a fresh, awake look.
Now, the shade range of MAC is outstanding and one can’t complain about it at all. I chose the shade NC42 because it matches my skin tone. I didn’t want the highlighting effect at all therefore went with something natural. For minor discolorations, pigmentation and acne cover also the concealer works like a charm.
The blending is really easy and it doesn’t cling on the dry areas of the face or eyes at all. Since, my eye area is extremely dry, I use an eye cream prior the application of product. The concealer gives a natural matte finish and would work great with oily and combination skin. It causes little to no creasing of under eyes if you set with a translucent powder. However, if you have dry skin, make sure you use the appropriate hydrating emollient to make the concealer work smoothly.
The concealer gives no flashback at all and I simply love that. It looks as natural as possible and would bring a huge difference to your look. It is surely long wearing and stayed on my eyes for about 8-9hrs with minimal fading in a moderate climate. I can also use this concealer for full face too. There are time when I mix it with sunscreen, moisturizer or any BB/CC cream to perfect a perfect natural coverage. The only downside of every MAC product is that they are unapologetically expensive. However, the quality is undeniably good and the product would last a long time.
WHAT I LIKED
1. Hygienic and travel friendly packaging.
2. Perfect shade range.
3. Medium consistency with slight runny texture.
4. Very easy to blend.
5. Medium to full coverage.
6. No flash back in photos.
7. Can be used with tinted moisturizer or any BB/CC cream.
8. Natural matte finish.
9. Water proof and smudge proof.
10. Long wearing.
WHAT I DISLIKED
1. Pump dispenses a lot of product.
2. May be little dry for dry skin.
3. Expensive.
RATING – 4.5/5
OVERALL – The MAC Pro Longwear Concealer is a medium to full coverage concealer with an extensive shade range. It has a liquid based formula, slightly runny and sets in easily to give a natural matte finish. It is easy to work with and if you have been looking for a full coverage liquid-cream concealer, this excels in its wonderful quality. I am really happy with the product.
Editor’s Note: This sounds really good! I wanted to try this, but right now I have the MAC Pro Conceal and Correct Palette and quite happy with it. As you can mix and match with the correctors and create your custom shade
Have you tried MAC Concealers? Which is your favourite?
