FAVORITE BLUSH : HIGH END AND DRUGSTORE

In sync with my Favorites series on makeup, are my favorite Blushes. I decided to include both High End and Drug store in this post.

When it comes to Blushes, I don't experiment much. I have very dry skin, so I am very wary of formulas and how they might look on me. I have always felt that Blush is one step in Make-up wheere you can go terribly wrong, if you either pick the wrong color of if you apply wrongly.

So while applying Blushes, always use a Light hand and  a Blush Brush and apply the Blush on the Apples of your Cheeks in an outward motion. You can always build up more color if you want to. And you do not want to look like your cheeks are red blobs. If you feel your Blush is looking too strong for your comfort level, then just go over it with your Beauty blender or your foundation brush with which you have applied your foundation. This is a trick which always helps in making the Blush look more put together on the Cheeks.

I like to keep a variety of basic colors in my Blush Collection which suit my warm undertone.

ORGASM by NARS
Cult Favorite and also my favorite. Every make up enthusiast has had multiple pans of it in their collection. And you can see from the way, I have touched pan on this one, that how mI love mine. Its a shade which universally suits everyone. Yes, its the Ruby Woo of the Blush World, if I may say so. Its a Coral with pink undertones and tiny gold flecks in it. You can wear it during the day as well as rock it at night. Perfect with Nude lips or Red lips. Its a fool proof formula. LUMINOSO by MILANI is a close dupe of this blush to some extent.

COPPERTONE by MAC Cosmetics
This was my first ever MAC Cosmetics purchase. I had picked it from Bangalore(India),at at time when my home town Kolkata(India), did not have its Mac Pro Store or a MAC Counter. Its the Blush with which my love story with MAC Cosmetics began. Its a Matte Blush. Its Orangey but do not be put off by how bright it looks in the pan. its a warm color which is just perfect for Summer. And if you want to venture into Contouring,this can be used as a great contour as well. I have also used it as an overall bronzer to match my Foundation to my Tanned Skin when I had recently come back from a beach Holiday. Its a Product with multiple uses.

DELICIOZO PINK by MILANI
In Drug Store Blushes, I feel Milani does a decent job with their baked Blushes. Bella Rosa is a lovely Bubble Gum Pink almost. these Blushes are highly pigmented,so I recommend a lighter hand while applying these. Love their shinny gold packaging and the domed baked blush. These Blushes are ideal for travel, as even if they break, you don't lose much sleep,as they cost so less.

BELLA ROSA by MILANI
Its a a lovely Berry Color and comes off as very strong. As its so highly pigmented, this is a Night Wear Color only, I feel. Perfect for Fall and those cold days. It could also pair perfectly for Holiday Make-up

MELLOW WINE by WET'NWILD
Its a dusty rose color but the formula is not chalky. The pigmentation is quite strong ,but the blush fades off after a few hours. So if you are wearing this blush, you might need to keep it handy for touch ups. More suitable for Nights. This is surely a blush which you can throw in your travel make up bag for those nights when you want to party. A Budget buy for anyone who is looking to start a Make-Up collection and wants to play with colors.

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DEEP PURPLE AND UBER VIOLET: FALL FESTIVE MAKE-UP

 What's not to love about Fall ? The leaves all round are changing colors, and we get an excuse to change up our make up routine. Hello Vibrant Berries, Posh Purples and Ravishing Reds. I love it all.

MAC PURE HEROINE by LORDE !!! Its sheer Purple-Violet magic on the lips. I had been waiting all Summer to rock it in Fall. I was holidaying in India, when MAC had launched this collection. So the Husband was directed to pick it from our local MAC Pro-Store at the Country Club Plaza, before it ran out.

It was Durga Puja a few weeks back. Unlike in India, we Probaashis do not have the luxury of week long celebrations. We have to squeeze in as much of worship, fun and fashion in a single weekend. So everything amps up to a zillion degrees. Its one of those annual events, which have me planning all year round. Which sarees to wear? What accessories to pair them with? and most importantly what Make-Up do I team it all with ?

When you have a Diva for a mom, it makes life a lot easier. Maa handpicked my Pujo Sarees and all of them are bang on. Each one of them was extra special. Thank you Maa !! If I can learn half your style tricks,and can master some of your make-up tricks, I will surely become a Super Diva.

A Purple-Indigo  Mangalgiri Saree with a broad gold border, was my choice to kick start the celebrations.  It had come with its customary blouse piece, which I had even gotten tailored to my current size, during my visit to India in summer. But back home, when I was admiring the sarees for the Nth time, I decided to go for something different. The blouse was doing no justice to the wonderful weave of the saree. So out came the big guns. A hot pink Brocade Blouse, which I had also picked up. It was the perfect contrast.

The sheer amount of compliments which came my way, when I walked into the Pujo, was proof enough the choices were more than perfect. 

For my accessories, I had picked up a purple and pink Statement necklace, which came to the rescue. It had the touch of gold, to tie it all in. A big bright blue Bindi seemed to be the perfect companion.  

Now for the make-up !!!

A sultry Purple-Violet smokey eye might be a no-no for some, but it seemed to be the ideal choice for me. Pujo comes once a year,so its alright to go for the big guns.

When it comes to Foundation, everyone has their favorites. I, for many reasons, stick to my favorite brand, MAC Cosmetics. As my skin is parched dry with changing weather, I opted for MAC Face and Body Foundation. Its  a medium coverage, water based foundation. And you can build it up for increased coverage. The best part is part, it has absolutely no flashback. I knew I would be photographed a lot during these days,so could not take any chances. I used a Flat foundation brush to apply the foundation. Then used a damp Beauty Blender, to smooth it all out.

When you have a baby in the house, you will have dark circles undoubtedly. But the world doesn't need to know that on special days, do they ! So that's where your trusted Concealer comes to the rescue. Not only does it cover dark circles,and blemishes, but also gives that woken up appearance. A concealer in your exact shade match is great for concealing blemishes and spots. For under eyes, and in your cupid's bow, its best to go with concealer, which is two shades lighter than your skin. That just works wonders. The trick is to blend blend and blend. While applying concealer, I used the Deluxe Crease Brush from Real Techniques to apply it,and then used the same damp Beauty Blender to blend it all in. Did I just forget to mention which Concealer I used ? Well, I had used MAC Cosmetics Pro LongWear Concealer, in NW20, which is in two shades lighter than mine. While I am of a warmer undertone, and fall into NCs of Foundations, for the concealer, a different undertone, will work as a color corrector.  Just a single pump, will dispense enough product for covering both under eyes,

Now Concealer is a tricky product. It will slip out on you in a few hours, if you do not take the necessary precautions. So its always best to set it with powder. While any translucent powder works, I am partial to a particular Pressed powder . With Translucent powders, there's always the risk, that they might have silica, which gives off a white flashback in photos. So I opted for MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Natural in Medium, with a large powder brush to set my foundation. I am the shade Medium. That locks in your base, so that you can party harder and harder.

And now for the Fun part ! The Eyes !! The Purple Eyes !!
For those of you who might be thinking that this post could have been a sponsored post by MAC Cosmetics, for all the products used so far, now here comes a change in the line up. For the Eyes, I used Urban Decay Primer Potion all over my lids. Let it settle down for a minute, before you start loading up your eye shadows. Since I was working with darker colors on the yes, and my base was already done, I used some loose translucent powder below the yes, to catch any fallouts. And this loose powder can be brushed away with a fan brush, once the eyes are done.

I used 'Blue Bus', Eye Shadow from Urban Decay with a flat shader brush from the inner corner of the eyes, to the middle. Then with a fluffy crease brush, I used'Gravity', from the middle to the outer corner. These colors were from a limited edition palette, so feel free to use violets of your choice.

With another fluffy crease brush, I used 'Naked' from Naked 1 palette of Urban Decay, in a windscreen wiper motion, in the crease, to buff out the harsh lines. Alternately, you can also use 'Soft Brown', from MAC as a transition color.

Blend blend so that there are no harsh lines.

I used MAC Black Track in Fluidline, which is gel liner, with a fine liner brush from Sonia Kashuk to line my eyes, and finished it off, with Maybelline Falsies Mascara. Always stick to waterproof mascara.

Nars Orgasm Blush is a wonder blush, as it is known to suit and flatter every skin tone and undertone across the g;lobe. So if you're starting your make -up collection, make sure you pick up one. That's a blush on which you can bank on any occasion. Diffuse it for a lighter look, or go heavy when you want to. Its a beautiful Peachy Pink with light gold specks in it. Its not a splurge,its an investment !

Last but not the least, the piece de resistance: MAC Pure Heroine Lipstick by Lorde. I lined the lips with MAC Nightmoth lipliner and then filled in with the lipstick.

The result as they say, is magic !!!

Whats not to love about looking good ! And Make Up can be your Best Friend !!

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