FAVORITE NUDE LIPSTICKS : HIGH END AND DRUGSTORE

I have been planning this post ever since I had written about my FAVORITE RED LIPSTICKS. But the delay was totally unintentional. Better late than never. By Nude Lips, I do not mean the Skin Colored Concealer Lips. MAC Myth does not work for me, for example. Such shades wash me out and make me look sick. By nudes, I tend to lean towards Pinky Nudes, as I find them more wearable. Brown Nudes and me are not the best of friends, though I have a sudden urge to try out MAC Honeylove. I have tried to include both High End and drugstore favorites in this list, so that its affordable for everyone on every budget.Also this list features Lipsticks in some different finishes, as not everyone is comfortable with every finish.  I shall start with my favorite(the almost stubby ended MAC lipstick in the first picture and go around clockwise)

MAC CREME CUP : 
As I have a warm undertone and am reasonably pale, I prefer cool toned lipsticks. I feel they compliment me better. Just a personal observation. MAC Creme Cup is described by MAC as being Light Blue Pink. Yes, my love for Blue toned lipsticks continue. Its a Cremesheen Finish which makes it ideal for drier Winter weather. This is a lipstick which I have purchased at least five times. Yes, the stubby ended lipstick that you see in the picture is the fifth tube in the same color. Its very hydrating. I love the color pay off. As its Creme Sheen, the staying power is compromised, but I don't mind touching up. It looks great both for day wear as well as paired with a heavy smokey eye for night.

Wearing CREME CUP 

L'OREAL JULIANNE'S NUDE : 

This was a part of the L'oreal Privee Collection of Nudes. By far this was the best Nude of the collection. It was a beautiful blend of Peach and Pinky nudes. This had a good color payoff and is deal for the Summer months. Being a drug store lipstick, its quite hydrating but does need touch ups after a few hours. Its a Satin finish and does not draw on the lips, when used for long. I have had two tubes of these, as the first one got tossed in the wash by mistake. Every lipstick has a story of its own. 

Wearing JULIANNE'S NUDE

REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS LIPSTICK IN KISSABLE PINK
This is a very creamy formula and almost reminds me of a tinted lip balm. It could also be a borderline Pink rather than being a Pinky Nude. Some people call it a Your Lips But Better shade. The color pay off is lighter than it looks in the tube and the staying power is poor. But its one of those pinky nudes which could be your every day pink when you are rushing out of the house and need a quick dash of color. Least favorite of the list.

SMASHBOX BE LEGENADRY LIPSTICK IN PRIMROSE
This was a part of the Holiday Collection by Smashbox in 2014 and came in a set of three mini lipsticks, along with a Berry and Red. But this color is a part of the regular line up of the Be Legendary Lipsticks by Smashbox and is available in full size all year round. This is described by Smashbox as a Mauve Pink. When you use this lipstick, you realise that its lighter on your lips than what it seems on the bullet. Slightly darker than Creme Cup but not as glossy. It has a slight purple undertone I feel. It pairs very well with my warm undertones,as its another Blue toned pink. Very pigmented and has good staying power. I am going to be purchasing it in full size as soon as my Mini runs out.

Wearing SMASHBOX PRIMROSE

 REVLON MATTE IN SKY PINK
I always prefer Matte lipsticks as I feel they look better on me. But its difficult to get a good drug store matte. Revlon Mattes have a good color pay off but they suffer in staying power. So you might need to reapply after a few hours. Its a nice Icy Pink Matte. And looks great with a tan. This could wash out some people. Of all the Nude formulas in this list, the Revlons rank the lowest in terms of preference.

 L'OREAL DOUTZEN'S NUDE

This is another Nude from the L'oreal Privee collection which was launched a few years back. But these Nudes are available at most beauty stores, like Ulta all year round. This is a Frosty Icy Pink. Its much lighter than Julianne's Nude. Its almost semi sheer so I used a few coats of it, to get a nice color. This might wash out some people. It does have that '80s feel to it with the frost and the particular shade of pink but its not dated at all. While Julianne's Nude is a universally flattering shade, this shade might not be for everyone. I think its an ideal Winter Pinky Nude.

Wearing DOUTZEN'S NUDE

RIMMEL LONDON LASTING FINISH MATTES BY KATE MOSS IN 104
This color is a true matte and is a great drug store one at that. I cant think of anything bad to say about this lipstick. Its a great Pinky Nude with a good color payoff. Its matte but its not chalky or draw on at your lips. The staying power of this lipstick is quite good. I have three shades from this collection of 5 shades and all of them are great. Its another Mauvy Pink. Recently I wore it to Sephora while shopping for a new foundation, and everyone at the store kept asking me, what I had on my lips.

Wearing RIMMEL KATE MOSS MATTE IN 104

WET 'N ' WILD 903 C 
(Second solo picture)
This is the best drug store deal you will ever get in a Nude Lipstick. Almost a couple of dollars, but the color pay off is just tremendous. Its a peachy nude and has great staying power. But for the price it comes in, its very drying and chalky. It drags on your lips when you put it on. I usually prime my lips with lip balm before I use this lipstick. Its a great product for the price it comes in and is a must have for anyone who wants to venture along the valley of Nude Lipsticks.

Hoping you have liked my list of favorites. Do let me know your favorites, through the comments.

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SUMMER TO FALL EVENING GLAM MAKE UP TUTORIAL

Hello everyone. Hope you are all doing good. I am clearly enjoying the last few warm days, before fall grips us in its cooler temps. And if your social calendar is booked with back to back parties over the weekends, I have you covered. At least I have your make up ideas covered.

I know blue eye shadow can be a tricky topic to discuss upon. Its often frowned upon by many for being too dated or specifically being too 1980s. But if done properly, it can be the right touch of glam. Being light handed when you are handling bright eye shadows , is a great tip. You can start off with a light wash of color and intensify as you go along, or as you feel comfortable about.

I had recorded this video a few months back, but it got delayed at the editing table. While I had recorded it originally as a Summer Glam evening Make up Tutorial, when I was editing it, I realized that it can work perfectly well, for Fall evenings too. With Fashion Week coming up and all the other glamorous parties around town, now is the time to go beyond the quintessential nudes on your eye lids.

I have played up with a few shades of Blue Eyeshadow from MAC and diffused it all with a Whitish eyeshadow from MAC called Crystal Avalanche. Sorry that I mentioned it as MAC Vanilla in the voice over. I had used a bright pink lip, because I personally have a thing for bright lips, but feel free to pair your favorite nude lips. A bright eye make up, can be the perfect Pop to a monochrome outfit. So go ahead and give it a try. And if you did like it, don't forget to give me THUMBS Up on the video in Youtube.

Here is a list of the products that I had used for the video: 

FACE: 
Foundation: Clinique beyond Perfecting Foundation in Golden Neutral
Concealer: MAC ProlongWear Concealer in NW 20
Powder: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium
Blush: NARS Orgasm

EYES: 
Eyeshadow Primer: L'oreal Magic De-crease Eye Shadow Primer
Eye Shadow : MAC Electric Eel, Atlantic Blue, Crystal Avalanche
Eye Liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Mascara: Maybelline Falsies and Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Volum Express

LIPS: 
Lipstick : MAC Girl About Town
Lipliner : Rose by Jordana

BRUSHES: 
Real Techniques Flat Foundation Brush
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Real Techniques Multi Task Brush
Sonia Kashuk Bent Fine Eye Liner Brush
MAC 217
Urban Decay Dual Ended Flat Shader Brush
Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush
Generic Powder Brush


Thanks for watching !!!

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EVERYDAY SUMMER MAKE UP TUTORIAL

Hello everyone. Hope all of you are having  great weekend so far. I had a great time too. I know its been  huge gap since my last Youtube video.While I had shot this the same day, and in the same vein, as the previous one, this did take a long time, in finally getting to the edit table. I had been tied up with so many Blog Posts which I had planned and the video got relegated to under the carpet. So I thought, enough as enough, Summer is almost on its way out, and my tutorial deals with EVERYDAY SUMMER MAKE UP.

I have been steering towards Golds and Bronzes for my eyes. It has almost become my latest Go-To look. You can pair it with a lighter lip, for the day.Or feel free to sport a brighter lip as I did. The best part of this look, is that it can be adjusted according to the occasion. If you want to make it smokier, for a night out, you can change the color in the outer corner of the eye, from a Chocolate Brown to a Black . The possibilities are literally endless with this pairing.



If you liked my previous VIDEO featuring TRAVEL MAKE UP -BEAUTY MUST HAVES, then this video comes almost as second part. This video seeks to use the same make-up products which I had mentioned, in a cohesive make-up tutorial. Looking at products is one thing, and then looking at them being put to use, is a different thing altogether. I always prefer it myself when I see a product being put to use. In case you missed the previous video, featuring a review of all the products I have used in this video, here it goes as a quick reckoner.

Hope you like it. And if you do like it, then go ahead to my Youtube Channel, and click on LIKE. And if you want to keep updated on when I post videos, then don't forget to click on SUBSCRIBE on the channel.

Thanks for all the support.

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TRAVEL BEAUTY - MAKE UP MUST HAVES

For those of you who remember me from my past life, remember my days of facing the camera. Days of working 24x7 , and days of being deprived of vacations but days which definitely gave me a professional high. Its been more than 6 years I guess that I faced the camera professionally. From a popular Journalist working the National Networks in India to a home maker in the large Midwest, the transition has been bittersweet.

Youtube had been a constant companion of mine during the few years. It gave me the opportunity to appreciate the work of so many like minded people. All these people who grew working on stories they wanted to work on. Not something which had been thrust on them. They had no pesky producer sending them off on random shoots or some editor asking for re-writes of scripts or retakes of PTCs.

It took me long, but I jumped on the band wagon, to begin my own process of healing.

As I faced the camera, after so long, it was difficult. Memories kept coming back of the old days, and I had to fight it all back. The once flamboyant reporter who prided herself in single takes, was clearly fumbling on her lines.

But the journey began. Of producing,creating, starring in, and also editing and publishing your own work, in your own channel. A huge thank you to a few friends of mine, who had been asking me to do it for all these years. Thank you for believing in me.

As I had just got back from a week long vacation in the Canadian Rockies, it made sense that I rambled on all that I had packed in my beauty bag. So here goes my picks for TRAVEL MAKE UP - BEAUTY MUST HAVES.

Dont forget to click on THUMBS UP in YouTube and also do subscribe to my channel to keep track of the upcoming videos.

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CLINIQUE BEYOND PERFECTING FOUNDATION : REVIEW : BEAUTY

You know the feeling when you fall in love. You are on cloud nine. You can't take your hands off each other. And you just can't stop admiring each other. That walking in the clouds kinda feeling. well, I ma in love,for sure. Before you start jumping to conclusions, and get all judgemental, let me clarify. I am in LOVE with CLINIQUE BEYOND  PERFECTING FOUNDATION.

 I am very partial to my high end foundations. I always believe in the importance of getting color matched by a professional, who also match the product to your skin type, and not only color and undertones. MAC foundations have wooed me for years. I can't even remember when that of story started. I was running low on MAC Face and Body Foundation and had to stock up. But i decide dot venture  out of my comfort zone and try something new. Before I test out new make up products meant for a big event in my life, I will usually use them for a few smaller ones,and see how well or how badly they photograph. I walked up to my neighborhood ULTA and started person the aisles, looking for a foundation which did not have either SPF or Titanium Dioxide. And it was pretty difficult to find one. The choices were from TARTE( A Mineral Foundation), URBAN DECAY NAKED SKIN(which I already own) and lastly CLINIQUE BEYOND PERFECTING FOUNDATION. The mineral foundation was a no no as I have super dry skin. So I walked over to the Clinique Aisle.

I spoke with the representative from CLINIQUE and told him my concerns. He suggested this new foundation, which had been launched in February this year. Honestly, I had never even heard of it. But decided to give it a try as it did not have SPF or titanium dioxide. I was color matched to GOLDEN NEUTRAL, as I have warm undertones. It was a perfect match. Sometimes some brands will not have adequate color options,and you might have to mix in two colors togged a perfect match.  Its priced at 27 dollars, so its a pretty good deal.

The Foundation is a medium to full coverage foundation and is not super matte.  although its Demi-Matte , its not drying at all. I hate foundations which stick to dry patches on my face. This did not happen with this new love of mine . It did not feel like my pores were clogged.

It comes in a glass bottle, with a wand applicator and you're supposed to apply the product in dots across your face. Then use either a brush or a damp sponge to bend it out. I used dots of the foundation from the wand and then used a flat FOUNDATION BRUSH from REAL TECHNIQUES to blend the product. Then used a damp MIRACLE COMPLEXION SPONGE from REAL TECHNIQUES to blend it out further.

I used this foundation for quite a few days for quite a few different occasions. Shopping trips in the typical Midwestern Summer Sun, parties at home which went for crazy hours, but this foundation stayed put. Its long wearing for sure,and was humidity resistant. I had set it with MAC MINERALIZE SKIN FINISH NATURAL,but it didn't cake up. I was photographed at all the events and it photographed beautifully. There was no flashback at all, even used with a strong flash. I highly recommend this product.

The product name claimed that its a concealer and foundation blended into one. But I have severe dark circles under my eyes and so had to use my MAC PROLONGWEAR CONCEALER to counteract those and give my under eyes a lift.

MAC,CLINQUE and ESTEE LAUDER are all sister brands,so maybe my love story continues with the Mother Ship as they say.

If you are in the market for a new foundation which photographs well, go ahead and pick it up. Its pretty hydrating but does not met away in summer. Thumbs Up !!

5

RIONA DOES MOMMY'S MAKE UP

Its no mystery as to how much of a Make Up Buff I am. I love Make up, I dream about make up, I write about make up. I am mostly a self taught make up artists and have learnt so much from this whom I have watched in close quitters, Yes, I come from a  film family in India, with both my grandmas being popular and important in the Bollywood and Tollywood circuits respectively. I have grown up seen the power of the Red Lipstick on these lovely ladies. Then there is my Mom. The perfect Diva if there ever is. Her ma dup is always on point and she would not even step put for gravers without a touch of her favorite lipsticks.

So another generation takes this love forward, it needs to be documented right. Here's my lovely daughter Riona, doing my make up, when I had tried to sneak in a nap. Her touch was a blessing to my fever ridden brain and it was such a joy to see her tiny fingers working up a magic. Here's a sneak peak from what I could capture with my cell phone.

Enjoy !!!

  Ω

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DRUGSTORE MAKE UP MUST HAVES : BEAUTY

I have been planning a DRUGSTORE MAKEUP MUST HAVES post for quite some time. And the day I decide to finally go ahead and write it, my laptop crashes big time. I have all the pictures on that laptop. Whoa !   And the external hard disk which has the back up of the pictures needed for this post, is having some synch problems with my husband's Macbook. But you know what, I thought, even if I have to compile this post without pictures, I would go ahead with it. Let's strait writing and then see if we can sort out the technical issues. 

Coming back to Drugstore Beauty, I know there are so many holy grails. But I have extremely dry skin, which almost resembles a prune at times. And my skin is super sensitive. Lastly I take way too many pictures,so I need to look put together for that. I need products, which take care off these primary concerns of mine and are not to harsh on my skin. I have tried many products over the years and very few have stood the test. The problem while selecting a drug store make up product is that there are no testers to check out the actual product before you commit to it. I  know I tend to gravitate more towards High End Make up products, but if I had to compile a list for some one who wanted to venture into make up and was on a budget. Another problem while trying to pick up drug store make up, is to navigate through the seemingly endless aisles of make up, without a trained make up professional being there to help you out. But yes, there are products which do stand out and deserve mention and can often stand up to their higher end cousins. So i went ahead Make Up shopping to pick up a fresh stock of my favorite drug store products as it was high time, I went ahead with this post. 

This post does not include Make Up Brushes and Make up Removers as I shall be doing separate posts on them shortly. 

So here are my picks for the DRUG STORE MAKE UP MUST HAVES :

FOUNDATION: 

REVLON COLOR STAY FOUNDATION FOR NORMAL-DRY SKIN: 

You need to start with your base. If the base is patchy and chalky, then it doesn't matter how fabulous your smoky eye is blended. When I am shopping or foundations, I avoid products with SPF and Titanium Dioxide in them, as they cause flashback in photographs. You don't want to look like a ghost face in your pictures from the great party you attended last month. And if you have dry skin like me, you don't want to pick up a foundation which clings to your dry patches on your face. Revlon Color Stay is a great drug store option for foundation as it does not have SPF in it.That makes its  a great choice for photographs. Its a full coverage foundation which dries to a matte finish. There are two formulas of the same foundation : Normal to Dry and Oily to Combination. So the same color comes in two formulas. It comes in a glass bottle so its not great for traveling and it doesn't have a pump to dispense the product. Use a flat foundation brush to apply the product all over your face. Then use a wet make up sponge to smooth it all out to give it that air brushed feel. 

CONCEALER: 

MAYBELLINE FIT ME CONCEALER 

Its very difficult to get a good drug store concealer which won't crease on you or which won't dissolve away to oblivion at the middle of the day. My vote goes for the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. I am in the shade Sand. Its got a great selection of shades and undertones to take your pick from. Its a part of the FIT ME range from Maybelline. The foundations come in two formulas, but they have SPF in them, which don't work for me. But the concealer does not have SPF in it,which makes its  great choice again, for when you have your pictures being taken(read:everyday). Its almost a great Dupe of NARS CREAMY Concealer. Its creamy and thick and comes with a doe foot applicator which makes it easier to apply under eyes. Its long wearing and if lightly set with a powder, then will not budge for a long time. 

EYE SHADOW PRIMER: 

L'OREAL MAGIC DE- CREASE EYE LID PRIMER

This eye shadow primer is a great dupe for Urban Decay's Primer Potion in Original. Its got a similar consistency and also comes with a doe foot applicator. I usually apply it on my eye lids, then use my fingers to blend it out. Give it a minute to set before you start applying your eye shadows. It will extend the life of your make up and stretch it through the night. It also neutralizes the dark eyelids and gives it a uniform color, if you were thinking of skipping heavy eye make up. If you plan to apply  foundation on your eyelids,it will crease and your eye lids will be one color and the rest of your face will be another. So opt for this product as an eye lid base. 

EYE LINER : PENCIL 

RIMMEL SCANDAL EYES EXAGERRATE WATERPROOF EYE LINER 

There are days when I have time and will rock a gel eye liner,and there are days when I need a good eye liner pencil to do my eyes. Rimmel's Scandal Eyes Exaggerate Eye liner is a great option and does not smudge for quite a few hours. It comes in a variety of colors, besides the general black one. It also has an option in Shadow Sticks if you wanted all over lid color quickly. 

EYE LINER : GEL 

WET'N'WILD GEL EYE LINER

I have tried mostly all the drug store gel liners but they smudge away when the days get humid and warm. Not Summer friendly, I call them. But the Wet'n'Wild option which probably costs a fraction of what the other drug store gel liners cost, delivers the greatest punch. The black version is super jet black and it does not smudge even the days get warm. But it dries out fast, so be careful of closing the lid quickly of the pot after you use it. 

MASCARA: 

MAYBELLINE FALSIES WATERPROOF AND MAYBELLINE FALSIES BIG EYES WATERPROOF

I  may be a strong advocate for higher end make up products, but when it comes to Mascaras, I have always advocated Drug Store versions.You have to replace a Mascara every three months for sanitation and health concerns, so you might as well, opt for a few good drug store ones, which you can switch up in between. My all time favorite Mascara is MAYBELLINE FALSIES MASCARA in the Waterproof formula in Black. It gives you an illusion as if you are actually sporting falsies. I would not trade it for anything else. If you feel you smudge up the lower lashes with the thick wand, then MAYBELLINE FALSIES BIG EYES has a solution. There are two separate wands for the upper and lower lashes. Its almost like Clinique's Bottom Eye Mascara finally has a drug store dupe after years. 

EYE SHADOW PALETTE: 

MAYBELLINE THE NUDES PALETTE

You're a fan of the original Naked palette from Urban Decay, and had always wanted a drug store version of it. Well, its not possible to re-create the magic of Naked , but Maybelline has come the closest. MAYBELLINE THE NUDES PALETTE has 12 neutral eye shadow colors,including a matte black. The colors are pigmented and when layered over a good eye shadow base, deliver a decent job. Its compact and the plastic packaging and the overall size of the palette makes it a must have for travel. Its pretty small to fit into a purse  for touch ups as well. Use it with your normal make up brushes and not the one it comes with. The colors range from Mattes to some Frosts , all warm neutrals. Maybelline has also recently launched THE BLUSHED NUDES PALETTE, which is almost a drug store dupe for NAKED 3 

BLUSH:

MILANI BAKED BLUSH

When it come stop drug store blushes, Milani is surely one of the market delivers. I am a big fan of the Baked Blushes. My favorites are LUMINOSO, DELICIOZO PINK and BELLA ROSA. If you have these three in your stash, then you have coral, a pink and a berry blush respectively. They are highly pigmented so please be very light handed when you are applying them. Its good bag for buck 

LIPLNER: 

RIMMEL LASTING FINISH LIPLINER AND RIMMEL EXAGGERATE FULL COLOR LIPLINER

Bothe these Lip liners from Rimmel seal the deal for me. I am a big advocate for drug store lipliners. They are pigmented and creamy and don't drag over the lip. Rimmel Exaggerate Full Color Lipliner does not need to be sharpened as its one of those twisty ones, which you twist up like a lipstick. They do a great job in preventing lipsticks from bleeding. Rimmel's East End Snob is a perfect dupe for Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk Lipliner. 

LIPSTICK: 

RIMMEL LASTING FINISH MATTE BY KATE MOSS 

The Kate Moss range of Rimmel Lipsticks are the only drug store lipstick which can give the high end lipsticks a run for the money. They are highly pigmented and are super matte. I have a thing for good matte lipsticks,and Rimmel actually delivers a great product. They don't drag on the lips at all and have great staying power. 

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NAKED PALETTE 3 : REVIEW AND TUTORIAL : BEAUTY

I had mentioned in my ULTA HAUL that I had picked up the NAKED 3 PALETTE. I had been blown away by the NAKED 1 years back, so it took me some time to get over it, and venture into another NUDE palette from the same brand. I have skipped NAKED 2 for now.

Lets start with PACKAGING AND FREEBIES.  Unlike the NAKED 1 with its single brush, NAKED 3 contains a dual ended synthetic Make Up Brush, with an impressive rose gold body. I am a sucker for Rose gold packaging and rose gold anything. It also comes up with 4 samples of URBAN DECAY PRIMER POTION in ORIGINAL, EDEN(nude matte), SIN(shimmer), and ANTI-AGING. While the NAKED 1 came in a cardboard and velvet packaging, the NAKED 3 is stronger in an all metal rose gold packaging with a pretty large mirror. Which makes it not only a perfect size for travelling,but also sturdy enough.

Coming down to the actual product, we find that there are 12 Eye Shadows. If NAKED 1 was golden brown, NAKED 3 is more ROSE TONED in its choice of NUDES. The colors are super blendable and very highly pigmented. As the colors are lighter toned, the fall outs being visible is less of an issue. But fall outs is a problem with Urban Decay Eye shadows in general.

The colors range from pale pinks to  purples and shimmers,but what caught my eye and attention the most was the color called BLACKHEART. Its a deep matte black with red micro glitter in it. It somehow reminded me of MAC'S BEAUTY MARKED. I haven't come across such a color in many years. Among the Matte Shades NOONER is surely a winner in its own right.

Pink eye shadow is pretty tricky to wear, as it can give an impression that you are sick if not used properly. Moreover this Palette has many frosty shimmers which can make you look dated if not used in conjunction with Mattes or a good Transition Color. You don't want to look like you have stepped out of the 80's with frosty eye shadow. While NAKED 1 was targeted more for Warmer skin tones, and NAKED 2 towards Cooler Skin Tones, NAKED 3 is better suited as it works well with everyone.

So I decided to go ahead and give the colors a spin for a special night out. It was the anniversary of when we got our Marriage License and a special Date Night called for unboxing of the magic called NAKED 3.

DATE NIGHT SMOKEY EYES TUTORIAL WITH NAKED 3: 

I started with my BASIC FOUNDATION AND CONCEALER ROUTINE as outlined in my EVERYDAY SPRING MAKE UP TUTORIAL

I prepped my eyes with URBAN DECAY PRIMER POTION in ORIGINAL.

I picked up BUZZ(Metallic Rose shimmer with silver microglitter) on a flat shader brush and used it from the inner corner of the eyelid to the middle of it.

Then I opted for NOONER(Medium Pinky Borwn Matte) with a fluffy crease brush and used it on the outer corner and crease in circular motions. Go light handed when you are dealing with Matte Shades. You can always build up as you go. I went ahead and increased the intensity by packing in my favorite shade of the palette, BLACKHEART on the extreme outer corner. This lent in that extra smokiness and sultriness.

Then I used NAKED from NAKED 1 palette as a transition color to blend out any harsh lines. the key to a great looking eye make up is to blend blend and blend your eye shadows.

Finally I sweeped DUST(Pale Pink Metallic Shimmer with iridescent mirco glitter) as a subtle highlight below the brows.

Used  MAC GEL LINER in BLACKTRACK to line my eyes and MAYBELLINE FALSIES MASCARA in Black(waterproof).

NARS ORGASM BLUSH on the Cheeks and MAC'S KELLY YUM YUM Lipstick. Its a matte hot pink Lipstick from the limited Edition collaboration of Kelly Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne last Summer. Its basically CANDY YUM YUM with a bluish twist. The idea was to play up the pinks of the eyes with a bold Pink Lip. My Outfit of the Night was all black and I had a multicolor Pink Bag from Coach to bring it all together.

This is just the first of the looks that I tried with this Palette. Many more to come.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS POST: 

ULTA HAUL: http://journotalk.blogspot.com/2015/03/ulta-haul-and-make-up-gifts.html

MASTERING GEL LINER: http://journotalk.blogspot.com/2015/04/mastering-gel-liner-step-by-step-guide.html

EVERYDAY SPRING MAKE UP TUTORIAL: http://journotalk.blogspot.com/2015/04/everyday-spring-make-up-step-by-step.html

FOUNDATION AND CONCEALER BASICS : http://journotalk.blogspot.com/2015/02/foundation-and-concealer-basics-make-up.html

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EVERYDAY SPRING MAKE-UP : STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL : BEAUTY

Make -up is always seasonal. Just like our wardrobes change with the season,along with our nail color, so does our make-up routine. Its time to do away with the heavier foundations of Winter and do away with the vampy lip colors. Its all about looking fresh and feeling fresh and letting the skin breathe as much as possible.

Every year there are new trends which emerge in Spring makeup. But some tit bits remain constant over the years. I have tried to tackle in the few basic elements of Spring Make up which have remained unchanged and which are my personal favorites. You can add to it to take it from every day to a party Make -up, simply by chnaging up the eyes. You could play with eye shadows to range from a  single color sweep, like a Champagne or a blush toned hue all over the eye lids for a day time look. Or could you play with some Vibrant colors, like blues and greens to pastel pinks and do a subdued smokey eye for the night outs.

A light foundation which is water based is a pre-requisitie at this time of the year. That helps it to take it to Summer and all the days at the pool. You could also substitute foundation for a good Tinted mosturizer or a BB Cream.Black eye liner and water proof mascara. Pastel pink blush and coral lips.

Let me take you through a step by step tutorial. Thanks to my Husband Debashish, for taking such brilliant photographs. May be next time, we will actually be able to a shoot a proper step by step tutorial.


STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL :

first I started off by moisturizing my face with some Lubriderm Moisturizer for extreme dry skin. This prevents the make up from sticking to dry patches. I dispensed some MAC FACE AND BODY FOUNDATION in shade C2 on the back of my hand. With a flat FOUNDATION BRUSH from REAL TECHNIQUES, I applied the foundation all over my face. It has light to medium coverage but you can build it up if you want to go heavier. As I have dry skin, I do not use a Primer, but if you have Combination to Oily Skin, then use a Primer by all means.

I took a REAL TECHNIQUES MIRACLE SPONGE and dampened it under running water. Squeezed out the excess water and dabbed all over the face to blend the foundation. This is what gives it the air brushed feel.If you have a beauty Blender, then use it by all means.

I used some L'OREAL DE-CREASE EYE SHADOW BASE all over my eye lids to prime them and blended it with my fingers. I was running low on my URBAN DECAY PRIMER POTION. That's my ultimate favorite. Although I did not use Eye shadow for this look, the eye shadow base, helps in keeping the eye liner in its place and also take care of the discoloration on the eye lids.

I dispensed some MAC PRO-LONGWEAR CONCEALER in NW20 on the back of my hand. This a a few shades lighter than my complexion and in a different undertone. But it acts as a concealer and highlighter. I used a DOMED EYE SHADOW BRUSH from REAL TECHNIQUES to apply the concealer from the inner corner to the outer corner of the under eye and tale it down in a triangle formation. This is what helps to erase dark circles and all signs of being sleep deprived mommy. If you have blemishes on your face which you want to concealer, then use a concealer in your exact skin tone match. Use a small DETAILING BRUSH to dab it on the blemish, then use your fingers to feather it out. I have some redness around my nose, so I use an exact skin match CONCEALER for those areas.

Coming back to the highlighting  role of the concealer, take it down the bridge of the nose and also on the Cupid's bow.

 Use the same damp MIRACLE COMPLEXION SPONGE to blend it out .

I used a large fluffy brush to dab on some MAC MINERALIZE SKIN FINISH NATURAL in MEDIUM all over my face to set the base. This is one of the setting powders I have come across, and help prevent shine on your face,which foundation and concealer can sometimes lend to, if they have a dewy finish.

I used a fine liner brush and MAC FLUIDLINE in BLACKTRACK to line my eyes. its a gel eye liner. Start closest to the lash line and then thicken as you go up. I use the same eye liner to line my upper lash line and water line. If you want to use a Pencil Liner, then use RIMMEL EXAGGERATE EYELINER.

 I used MAYBELLINE FALSIES MASCARA in black for my upper lashes. Start at the base of the lashes and then wiggle your way up. First coat the mascara on the upper part of the upper lashes and then repeat the same procedure from below. I take my Mascara for a few coats on my upper lashes as I am a mascara junkie.

For my lower lashes, I used MAYBELLINE BIG EYES MASCARA. This mascara comes with two wands on two sides for the upper and lower lashes. Its a good drug store alternative to the CLINIQUE LOWER LASH MASCARA. Both the mascaras I used are water proof formulas,which means they would need an eye make up remover to remove them. I used the NEUTROGENA OIL FREE EYE MAKE UP REMOVER.

 I used a MULTITASK BRUSH from REAL TECHNIQUES to pick up some MILANI BAKED BLUSH in DELICIOZO PINK. Pick up the blush and then tap off excess. This blush is very pigmented. Begin with less product always, as you can always build it up. Start from the apples of the cheek and take it outward in an angular fashion towards the temple.

I used NYX BUTTER LIPSTICK in FIREBALL. which is a very good CORAL color. Its soft and creamy and pigmented. You could also opt for a colored gloss at this stage and skip lipstick altogether.

I used URBAN DECAY MAKE - UP SETTING SPRAY all over my face to stretch the longevity of the make up. Its also ideal for sultry warmer days to prevent the make up from melting down. L'OREAL has a good drug store alternative to this spray.

I matched the coral of the lips to the coral of my nails. I used ESSIE'S SUNDAY FUNDAY.

So go ahead give it a go and feel free to tweak it to your preferences.

I shall be doing detailed tutorials on how to tackle Gel Eye Liner and also Reviews on the NYX Butter Lipstick next.

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