Monday, February 21, 2011

Everyday Makeup

Why is makeup so underestimated in India? Why do we painstakingly apply layers of cream n powder during special occassions to hide our truly beautiful skin? The  air brushed flawless complexion that you see in the glossies is a mixture of the efforts of the makeup artists and the technical team. The question is whether we can do this look for everyday usage or not? I say YES why not?


Every individual is beautiful and does have flaws which makes them beautiful and unique like a strategically placed mole on the face, dimples (yes dimples are flaws in your face) etc. Anyways the idea is to inspire everyone to do makeup everyday. Not that you've to do it reading this article but the benefits of makeup are to be considered too.....
Everyday makeup ...........
  • boosts confidence
  • protects your skin from environmental aggressors by adding an extra layer of protection
  • makes a statement
  • is fun
  • gives you the things that you did not get when born (hahaha)
The question is how to do your makeup everyday without looking made up? There is a perception that makeup spoils skin but the reality is the other way round.
FACE
Start with a good moisturizer that has sunscreen. Nothing beats sunscreen based daily moisturizers for acting as a good base or for protection from sun damage. If you are working and want the makeup to stay longer you'd use makeup primers. Primers not only make the makeup last longer but make it stay put in the perfect way it was put earlier. Follow the follwing steps: -
  • Start with a sheer to medium coverage foundation preferably oil free (for dry skins you can use a luxurious day cream underneath). Start from the centre of the face blending outwards and downwards against the facial hair growth. Start with a pea-sized amount and then build up. Even if you have skin concerns do not try to hide them ith a foundation, it looks cakey. Looking cakey is a human error and not a product error. Apply the foundation as a thin layer all over the face or wherever required and head straight for a concealer. Some day wear foundation that I love are Max Factor Xperience Weightless Foundation, Clinique Superbalanced Makeup, Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF15, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light and so many more. Choose the one that fits your budget and your agenda.
  • Dont forget the concealer. Cream concealers are good for stubborn places and liquids good to hide something that is not too stubborn like lighter under eye circles, acne etc. I prefer not using the cream ones as they move on your face or look too patchy. On acne skin, you must read my post on acne makeup.
  • Loose powder is good to set makeup. If you are combination skin you dont have to powder everywhere. Just do it on the T zone and sides of the mouth leaving the cheeks dewy and youthful.
  • Never forget blush. Blushes do enliven the complexion if used in right way. I love peaches, corals, bubbly pinks etc in shimmer and matte textures. The key is to keep it low and fresh and not stark and gaudy.
  • Use liquid highlighter to get a pearlised sheen. It looks young and fresh. You could also use oil free cream ones like Shiseido Accentuating Sticks for highlighting. Layer them with a powder blush for them to stay put better.


EYES
  • You dont have to do a full fledged eye makeup for work. Stick to basic colors like beige, chocolate browns, soft charcoal blacks, muted browns, minks etc for eyeshadow colors. Stay away from darker colors if you have under eye circles.
  • Brush and comb your brows everyday.
  • Always use a mascara. It gives you that wide awake look even if you've partied till 3 a.m last night. Love the way mascara transforms you entire look. I prefer black mascaras but brown are in as well for natural flutters. Stay away from colored mascaras as they are not appropriate but go ahead if you want to try them. You can also use clear mascara if you have lots of lashes but I dont advice.
  • Use eyeliners in all the forms. Although stay away from lining your lower lid heavily. It gives you those unflattering Panda like eyes. Use blacks, browns, deep purples, midnight blues and also colored and glittery liners. They cheer you up if your job is too mundane.

LIPS
  • I hate matte lipsticks for work. They look so stark and horrible. Women tend to look like vampires with those colors on. Instead try for satin or creamy textures. Use lipsticks as stains and top with a lipgloss.
  • Lipglosses wipe 5-10 yrs from your face so dont forget to look younger.






The look is coming soon.......

Till then,

Ciao




    Friday, February 18, 2011

    Best of Feb and March............


    I have decided to do a bi-monthly post of the best products in the market as this gives me and my readers sometime to plan our makeup planners.Spring is on its way and bright colors aka acid colors are in vogue.The key is to keep the rest of the makeup simple and just add a pop on the eyes, cheeks or lips. I am going to keep this theme in mind while giving the Best of - awards......

    FACE
    • Liquid Foundation               Max Factor Xperience Weightless Foundation
    • Concealer                             Clarins Instant Light Brush on Perfector
    • Loose Powder                      Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder
    • Pressed Powder                    Inglot AMC pressed powder
    • Primer                                  Shiseido Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21

    EYES
    • Eye Pencils                         NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils
    • Liquid Eye liner                  NYX Studio Liquid Liner
    • Eyeshadow                         Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in Tropicalia
    • Mascara                              Clinique High Definition Mascara in Black
    • Eye Primer                          Benefit Stay Dont Stray primer
    • Brows                                 Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows

    CHEEKS

    • Powder blush                      Chanel  Tweed Blush in Tweed Fuchsia and Tweed Corail
    • Cream Blush                       Max Factor Miracle Touch blush
    • Liquid Highlighter              Nars Orgasm Illuminator

    LIPS

    • Lipstick                                Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Parisian Red
    • Lipgloss                               Givenchy Pop Gloss Crystal Lip Gloss in Pop Orange


    Thats all for now guys..............do let me know if someone has used Makeup Forever Products..Would really love to know what is the best that they make.


    Till then,


    Ciao


    Fantastic Xperiences..............

    This experience actually begins with an "X"........yeah..talking about the new foundation by Max Factor called Xperience.......a weightless technology that inspired them so much that they came out with a magnificient mascara (which unfortunately went out of stock) and gloss sticks to get the complete Xperience.
    I was uber-excited to go and sample this foundation hearing the innovative technology that Max Factor has always been famous about. First was their Miracle Touch Foundation , then was Age Renew foundation that created a beautiful halo on the face and then was Second Skin Foundation that actually fitted on the skin like a second skin. Every foundation of theirs is like an individual with its own identity. And now is Xperience an altogether different formula that is nothing like what you have seen anywhere.
    The gel like formula glides without clogging pores to reveal a radiant complexion without one feeling like they have foundation on. This is truly a different foundation as it feels like your moisturizer but does give coverage.
    The formula is oil free and imparts sheer to medium coverage. Luckily MF did make some shades that flatter Indian skin tones but the spectrum is not wide enough. This happens with most of the drug store brands like L'Oreal and Revlon and even Max Factor who are bit sceptical in launching too many sahdes wondering whether people would buy them. And unfortunately a budget minded style conscious Indian woman ends up buying the wrong foundation, looking ghastly and with stays with a hope that some day this brand would make my own skin foundation. As said previously I am a strong believer of the fact that when someone buys a foundation that looks completely natural on them, they would buy the same one again and again till the formula discontinues or gets replaced by something better.
    So true.........anyways I am going away from the scope of the post.
    What I liked?
    • foundation feels weightless and light on applying
    • has a luxurious feel
    • gives a pretty decent coverage
    • does not go grey or white and blends into nothing
    • something different than your regular foundation
    • can be layered later on during touch ups
    • quite perspiration resistant but no claims made
    • costs half the price of a branded foundation and even less
    • does not clog pores or cause acne (mine didn't)
    What I did not like?
    • does not cover imperfections like your regular foundation
    • this is not "the" foundation for uneven skin tones and acne skins but can be fair if you have mastered the art of concealing
    • is not very long wearing and shows signs of weathering within few hours
    Btw Max Factor didn't give me a sample or pay me for the review.I purchased the product myself yesterday and am writing an honest review. So dont raise that brow!!
    I'd be featuring this foundation in my posts for spring so keep reading..........
    Oops I'd left the post half way...............Xperience foundation costs Rs.780 and you may get some discounts in Beauty Centre chains across Mumbai.


    It is available in the following shades: -

    1. Light Ivory 40
    2. Raw silk 45
    3. Beige linen 50
    4. Brown Hessian 75
    5. Dark Gypsum 80
    6. Deep Soapstone 85
    The last three shades compliment Indian Skin tones.


    How to make the foundation long wearing??


    I suggest using a makeup primer before you apply foundation for a smooth and long lasting results. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfect Touch, Estee Lauder Makeup Base and Oriflame Giordani Primers are excellent. I also suggest using pressed powders like MAC Studio Fix powder foundation or Clinique Perfectly Real Compact makeup for matte yet glowing finish.

    Keep a concealer handy for those problem areas though.


    Till then,


    Ciao

    Wednesday, February 16, 2011

    Artemis, the moon goddess .........look 2

    My inspiration takes the next level.............when Artemis goes for the Winter solstice at Mt.Olympus. The makeup that she does look ever-ethereal in front of Zeus.......lets see what she used??


    FACE


    • Chanel Base Lumiere Illuminating Makeup Base Rs.2600 approx.
    • Chanel Vilalumiere Aqua Foundation Rs.2670 approx.
    • Chanel Eclat Lumiere Highlighting Base Pen Rs.2100 approx.
    • Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Rs.2670

    Start with a luminous complexion. If you tend to be oily, stick to foundations that are matte yet impart an ethereal glow. If you have blemishes use Clinique Anti-Blemish Foundation Rs.1600 + Concealer Rs.1035 to achieve the perfect base. Its very important to looking glowing and not shiny to look like  Artemis. Apply Base Lumiere all over the face concentrating more on cheeks and other areas of the face that catch light naturally. Use a light coverage foundation to keep the look simple and beautiful. Apply concealer with light reflecting particles in the inner corners of the eyes to bring them out and look wide awake. To conceal facial issues and blemishes please use appropriate concealers for the same. Apply minuscule amounts of loose powder to allow the skin to peep through.



    EYES


    • MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque Rs.1100
    • Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in Snow Shadow Rs.2100 (dark blue-grey/sky blue shimmer/white)
    • Dior Ultra Smoothing High Impact 1 color eyeshadow in Blue Declic Rs.1950 (light blue high impact shimmer)
    • MAC single eyeshadow in Motif (pink light duochrome) and Moon's Reflection (frosty light blue)
    • Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara in Noir Rs.1650
    • MAC Brow Fix Gel Rs.950 approx.

    Prime the lids with a lid primer that has subtle pink pearl in it all over eyes concentrating at the lid and diffusing towards the brow bone. The idea of the makeup is to look ethereal and goddess like. With MAC 219 pencil brush apply dark bleu-grey eyeshadow from the trio on the outer corners and in the crease.Apply the same color in the inner corners and allow the creases to meet eachother keeping the middle of the lid bare. With tapered MAC 222 brush or Estee Lauder no.25 brush soften the crease blending towards the brow bone. This symbolises the midnight where as the silvery blue the moon. Use MAC Moon's Reflection eyeshadow on the entire lid packing the color on with MAC 239 brush and then blend with 217 brush upwards and side-wards. Use the same color in the inner half of lower lids merging the color with dark blue grey in a smoked up effect. Use Dior's shimmery blue in the inner corners to create contrast, on the middle of the lids and a highlight. To create a halo of color use MAC Motif over the brows and on the forehead for the goddess like feel. The last step in optional. Create batty lashes with Exceptionnel mascara and groom the brows.



    CHEEKS and LIPS


    • Chanel Tweed Blush in Tweed Rose and Tweed Pink Rs.2500 each
    • Chanel Aqua Lumiere Lipgloss in Colibri Rs.1500

    Dust the Rose shimmer on the cheekbones and Pink Shimmer on the apples, sides of the temples and T-zone. Finish with a pink-beige toned liquidy shiny lipgloss on the lips that mimics the reflection of moon in water.

    So thats the look. Please volunteer if you want this look on yourself and many more. Mumbai residents preferred..............

    Till then,


    Ciao

    Tuesday, February 1, 2011

    Artemis, the moon goddess .........Look 1


    In the silvery moonlight and after reading Percy Jackson, I always felt of doing a look that was Artemis, the moon goddess inspired. The innocence, the cool radiance, the iridescence..............and the power.....it all feels so enthralling. There were many of such posts and looks done online by many bloggers and common in those looks very silvers, blacks and steely greys. So mine is an Artemis in a modern twisted way. Hope the Goddess herself likes this look of she's reading my blog.

    Silver is a color the represents cool tones. Its got an icy, shivery element to it, so donning silver becomes a part and parcel of cooler undertones according to conventional makeup theories. Now like other colors silver comes in many forms and textures making it a glamorous color for the evenings. I would not suggest using silver in the mornings and afternoons as its just not the color of the day, it represents dusk. And so does purple which will take the place of black and steely grey in this look. I love the stone Amethyst and a cooler stony amethyst eyeshadow is what perks up th look.

    I dream of a healthy Artemis whose rosy cheeks are enlightened with a silvery halo of iridescence and whose rosy lips bathe in the early morning dew rather than a snowy frost. We are not doing character makeup, something for a party or an evening occasion, so please do not expect extremes. Its just about adding softer nuances and highlighting strategically. I follow the crescents of the face, the one starting from a high point of the brow bone to the temples and coming all the way towards the heights of the cheeks in a "C" shape and the one that starting from the cheek to jaw line. I would be ignoring the latter though. So lets see what we need.....


    FACE: -

    ·         Estee Lauder Illuminating Makeup Base Rs.1280
    ·         Givenchy Photoperfexion Foundation Rs.2200
    ·         Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer (Not in India) and has no dupe
    ·         YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Concealer Rs.2150
    ·         Clinique Blended Loose Powder Rs.1600
    ·         Shiseido Accentuating Stick in Rose Flush
    ·         Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose (not in India) , the Body Shop makes a dupe sheerer though
    ·         MAC Limited Edition Blush Duo in Hang Loose (Lavender/Baby Pink)
    ·         Brushes: - Estee Lauder Foundation Brush, Clinique Powder Foundation brush, Estee Lauder Concealer Brush, Shiseido Blush Brush, Benefit Fan Brush.
    Since this look is interplay of matte and shimmery textures, I would powder some areas and keep some areas dewy. Start with illuminating base for that lit-from-within glow. Mix illuminating oil free tinted moisturizer in a full coverage foundation and apply all over face including under eye area. Since this is an evening look you would not need much of concealer unless you have raccoon eyes under eye circles. Use a radiant concealer in the inner corners to highlight. Blend on some Rosy flush cream blush on the apples of cheeks and blend into nothing but a simple natural flush. This keeps the powder blush last longer. Dust pink rose from the Bobbi Brown shimmer brick on the cheek apples and towards the temples. Dust the highlighters from the brick over the cheek heights. Then with a fluffy powder brush dust loose powder all over the face, a minuscule amount though concentrating on the T zone areas and some on the cheeks to diffuse the impact of the shimmer. Then with a fan brush dust gently some Lavender shimmer. Lavender is not a stark shimmer the way silver color. Remember we need to have a halo of all colors rather than something solid. So use sparingly.


    EYES: -

    • Benefit Lemonaid Correcting eye lid primer (not in India….www.benefitcosmetics.com)
    • MAC eyeshadows in Clue (Taupe with silver pearl), Blue Sorcery LE (Silver/Turquoise), Thunder (Violet with nuances of charcoal)
    • L’Oreal Paris Infallible eye liner in White Rs.500
    • Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara in Black Rs.1075
    • Brushes: - Shiseido Large eyeshadow brush, MAC 217,219 and 222

    Start with an eyeshadow base just over the lids and blended into the crease upto brow bone. Add subtle washes of Clue on the entire lid and blend till the creases on the upper lid. Same on the lower lid. Use 219 pencil brush to blend Thunder on the outer lash line and little bit in the outer crease. The purple is just to add dimension and should not be major part of the look. Use the silver flecked eyeshadow from the Blue Sorcery mineralize duo and apply on the brow bone with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. Then use a clean 219 MAC brush to apply some in the inner corners. You can also use Pink Opal pigment from MAC for higher impact. Then with the same fluffy brush dust this loose silver glitter on the entire eyelid as a wash. These particle catch light and look amazing in the evenings. Apply 3 coats of mascara dragging the wand in the outer direction as you go from root to tip of the lashes. Comb brows with a transperent brow gel.

    LIPS: -

    Drench lips with Shiseido Gloss in G5 Chianti Rose for wet looking glossy lips.

    This is a look that needs lot of blending. So do try and I’d love to see if you send photographs.


    Till then,

    Ciao

    Notice!!

    This is a small post for my dear Reader Shriniwas whose email id I unfortunately lost while deleting my posts. He wants to know where can he find Paul Mitchell and TiGi products in Mumbai....


    Shriniwas you can find these products in high end salons across Mumbai or browse through grey markets in Crawford Market where they sell authentic stuff at a little lesser price.

    Thanks and Sorry for losing your email id.

    Till then,


    Ciao

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