Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello there all you beautiful people :) It's gotten to the point where my apologies for not posting often enough just seem silly...so I'll just promise to post when I can! 2011 has gotten off to a great start and I have been indulging in some great makeup/skincare purchases!! My sister once told me that drugstore makeup is like a gateway drug...it starts you off with a less expensive and innocuous seeming product which leads the way to more expensive and frequent purchases - she's a wise one :P Honestly though, nothing lifts my spirits like a MAC or Sephora haul...well, maybe shopping for shoes and bags...anyways, you get my point!


Lately I have been trying out a bunch of things, some old favorites and some completely new types of things. I'll use this post to give a brief overview of my beauty going-ons for the year to date. On a side note - some people go through phases, they are into one thing, lose interest, then move on to another obsession. I, on the other hand, keep adding to my list of obsessions. It started out with lip products, then I tacked on blushes, and now I have started adding perfumes to that list. Heaven help my bank account, I don't know how much more abuse it can take!! :P


Drugstore:
- I am a huge fan of the Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss line and recently added a fifth gloss, Firecracker, to my collection (Nude Lustre, Pearl Plum, Pink Pop, Coral Reef). At first glance, it is a pretty orange-toned red gloss that goes on a bit more sheer than the other glosses I own in that collection. They are all either a little more thick and pigmented or milky. But, since I don't currently posses the confidence to rock a bold red lip, I am pretty pleased with it!
- I am obsessed with the movie Aisha and Sonam Kapoor's make-up throughout. She used L'Oreal products, and that inspired me to go check out the L'Oreal 6 Hr Infallible Lipgloss. I love her nude lip look and picked up Suede, a frosty, shimmery nude color. Very cute! Finally a neutral lip color that I can pull off :)
- CoverGirl Lash Exact Waterproof formula in Very Black is my current go to mascara! I loved the regular formula and this is even better. The wand is slighly curved to allow for better control and it just gives me that lovely bright-eyed look I love! My lashes appear longer and fuller, but not in a fake, over the top way.
- Finally picked up a few e.l.f. products, they were available at the Strawberry location near Grand Central and I was super excited! I got the e.l.f. makeup remover wipes and eye lash curler. Haven't really tried them out yet, but am looking forward to it!
- Revlon Matte Powder Blush in Blushing Berry, such a pretty rosey pink! Gives just the perfect hint of color to my cheeks for daily use.


High end:
- After having heard so so much about the Korres Lip Butters, I had to try one out for myself. I picked it up in the shade Wild Rose and it is the perfect berry shade. I layer it on top of Bath and Body Works' C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve and the combo leaves my lips soft, berry tinted, and rose-scented, love it!!
- In addition to getting my free gift of Gucci Flora (part of my Sephora perfume sampler), I decided to also pick up Vera Wang Princess. I find Flora to be a great nighttime or date fragrance, whereas I love spritzing Princess on a daily basis! I am currently on the hunt for my next perfume buy, I think it will be VS Very Sexy Now.
- I went a little MAC crazy recently, it is really too easy for me to get carried away in that store. I never have shoppers remorse though, the euphoria just lasts and lasts :) I got two MAC Kissable Lip Colors, Super and Temper Tantra, and highly recommend them for their texture and feel, super smooth like a gloss and very pigmented like a lipstick, really the best of both worlds. My only wish is that they weren't limited edition and that they had more shades! I also got a MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink. It is a great neutral pink shade and it feels great on the lips. I got the MAC Studio Sculpt concealer to address my severe lack of sleep issues - all self imposed of course :P I also was recommended to try the MAC Fast Response Eye Cream...lets see how that works! In continuing with my blush craze, I picked up MAC Sheertone Blush in Peaches and MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, both on the peachy, neutral side and they really give a super natural glow to my face. I did pick up one item from the Wonder Woman collection, the Utility Belt Face Brush Collection that comes with a mini foundation brush, blush/powder brush, and concealer brush. The gold bag and belt are cute too :) Super excited to have MAC brushes at a fraction of the cost!!


Okay, so wow...after writing it all down, dang, I've had a busy month and a half of shopping, huh? Don't judge, don't judge...it happens to the best of us! Did a bit of shoe shopping recently (am a recent heels convert), will probably post on that in the upcoming future. Also, be on the lookout for more in-depth reviews on some of these recent purchases!!


xoxo <3

July Favorites

Image taken from ClassroomClipart.com

Summer is speeding on by, just like always, but this year I am not so upset about it. The massive humidity and heat that has been plaguing the Northeast has been very on again/off again and I, for one, am looking forward to Fall!

Now that July has come to an end, I thought I'd share with you, dear readers, the beauty products/fashion trends/skin care items that I have been the most into this month <3

1) Turquoise jewelry -- I am woman obsessed when it comes to turquoise accessories! I love pairing turquoise bracelets, earrings, or rings with neutral outfits. The stones add the perfect pop of color and have the added bonus of complementing tan Indian skin tones!

2) T-strap sandals -- This style really makes my wide-ish feet appear longer and leaner and, in my opinion, add a little class to all of my summer ensembles. My favorite pairs are wedges...I'm not a big fan of heels, they just hurt too much :( Put me in a 1-2" wedge heel though, and thats a completely different story ;)

3) Bold pedicures -- As I mentioned earlier this month, I have really been into bright, bold polishes for my piggies. Makes 'em feel so ready for summer! I'm currently sporting Essie's Chubby Cheeks, a bright coral-y orange color that I am in love with!

4) The smudged eyeliner look -- I love this look for night! I like to apply eyeliner, mostly to the outer half of my eye, and smudge, with either the pencil's built-in smudger or a Q-tip, inwards to give it a smoky look. I've been using teal, purple, and shades of brown.

5) Maybelline Dream Mouse concealer -- I cannot rave about this product enough! It really pulled through for me when my skin just was not in a cooperating mood!! Best part, it stood up to the high levels of humidity and heat, what more can I ask for? Click here for a full review.

6) Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash -- This oldie-but-goodie that is usually collecting dust in my medicine cabinet (knock-on-wood), got a lot of use this month and helped to clear up my blemish outbreak! 

7) Nivea Lip Care A Kiss of Flavor, Cherry Tinted Lip Care -- I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I'm a lazy girl! I will jump at any opportunity to get the benefits of two products in one, and this product does just that. It has all the moisturizing/conditioning properties of a lip balm (c'mon, its by Nivea after all!) while leaving you with a pretty reddish pout, reminiscent of one too many cherry popsicles.

8) L'Oreal Colour Juice Sheer Juicy Lip Gloss in Peaches-n-Creme -- This is the perfect nude shade I've been searching for...the subtle peach gloss really goes great with my pigmented lips and brown skin :) The gloss smells nice, glides on smoothly, isn't sticky and lasts for a good amount of time. I may reapply once or twice over the course of a day...but it's a lip gloss and that's not a big deal for me at all! 

9) Side bangs -- About mid-July I got my hair cut...I went from mid-back length to just below my shoulders (not too crazy) and got my longer bangs (about chin length) cut a couple of inches to give me a fun fringe of side bangs! I rocked this look last summer and am loving it again this year. Though it may take me a couple more minutes to style my hair in the morning now, it's completely worth it...side bangs are a fun look that suit many face shapes :)

Let me know what your July favorites have been!!

Just what the doctor ordered: Target haul

Been feeling a little blue and in my book, there's only one fix for that, shopping!! Doesn't Tar-ghay just brighten up your mood? In the past, I focused more on their selection of shoes and clothes, but this time I decided to foray into the health and beauty aisles to have a little look-see...some may call this an addiction, I call it Retail Therapy!


Here is what I picked up:
1) Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Twilight
Have been dying to try this product since I saw Jessica Biel's ads :) My obsession with lip products combined with the fact that I have a major tendency to eat whatever I put on my lips made this product especially enticing to me! First impression: Non-drying, buildable, berry stain that lasts for 4+ hours! I like it!!


2) L'Oreal Hip Jelly Balm in Delectable
Another product I've been on the hunt for...Target really is a magical place :P Soo many Youtube vloggers have spoken highly of this product that I haaad to pick it up when I saw it! It being on clearance sale didn't hurt either ;) The second I opened it, I fell in looveeee!! Hip packaging (no pun intended), nice scent, and great color payoff! Delectable is a pretty raspberry shade. I've made quite a sizable dent in this recent purchase!


3) CoverGirl Last Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara in Black
I have already found my HG everyday mascara combination: clear Jane Curling Mascara + black CoverGirl Lash Exact. It gives my not so naturally impressive lashes a nice touch. That's all and good for work and casual events, but sometimes I want a little bit of drama! Also, I thought it was about time for me to try a waterproof formula. I really like mascara brushes with plastic bristles, give me a more smooth application. Here's hoping that this mascara gives me the diva glam lashes I'm looking for!!


4) Sonia Kashuk Dramatically Defining Eyelash Curler
MUA reviewers have compared this to the famed Shu Uemura. I like that at $9.99, it doesn't break the bank! 


5) Giovanni Frizz Be Gone Super Smoothing Anti-Frizz Hair Serum
I like to consider myself somewhat of a drugstore anti-frizz product connoisseur. Now that Garnier Fructis has stopped making my favorite Sleek & Shine Leave-in Weightless Anti-Frizz Serum (why!?!), I thought it was time to start looking into other options. So far, it smells amazing! Hope it works as well as it smells :)


6) EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set                   
My first official set of brushes, yay! This truly was a deal that I could not pass up, 5 brushes + a handy carrying case/brush roll all for $9.99, who'd have thought? And, this is eco-friendly and cruelty-free to boot. 


Ah, the joys of shopping! Now that I know all about the amazing-ness that is Target's Health and Beauty section, I will definitely be back :)


Let me know your thoughts on my haul and be on the look out for some product reviews in the future!                                                                                                                                                                     

Lip Product Haul

My makeup mania is making it really difficult for me to step out for a bit of light shopping without spending the majority of my time in the drugstore health and beauty aisle. I am pleased to say, however, that my last excursion has left me extremely happy with all of my purchases! So let's start, shall we?

1) Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks in Rosy Nude and Peach

Just had to have these lipsticks after hearing HollyAnnAeree's positive review of them. Rosy Nude is the first pink shade that I absolutely love! It goes really well with my coloring and should suit most Indian girls. Peach is a coral-y color that I think is great for summer. These lipsticks are very moisturizing. I don't know about them being that long lasting though, I just might be a lipstick eater...

2) L'Oreal Color Juice Lip Gloss in Peaches-n-Creme

Another coral-y shade that gives your lips a sheer tint of color. It smells amazing and tastes great! It is slightly sticky though, but the feeling goes away shortly after application. Gives my look a summery feel :)

3) Jordana's Gloss Sensations in Mauve Delight and Bronzy Charm

After reading Addicted To Blush's rave reviews, I was dying to try Jordana's lip tints. Unfortunately, they don't carry those in my local dollar store or drugstore. They do however carry these nice glosses, which at 99 cents were too irresistible to pass up! Both go on sheer with a touch of pink (Mauve Delight) or bronze (Bronze Charm) which is nice over chapstick or lipstick. They don't feel that great on the lips by themselves, give a dry, sticky feel. These also smell and taste yummy!

Lately, I'd been finding myself taking full advantage of the drugstore makeup return policy. I was a little bummed that I couldn't find anything that suited me. This haul has really upped my spirits (while lightening my bank account) :P

Are there any products that you have recently discovered that you just want to rave about? Share them in the comments below!

Til next time,

Mani :)

Hits n' Misses: Lip Products

My latest craze has been collecting lip products. Up until a couple of years ago, my only real exposure to lip products has been tacky and bright red stage lipsticks (I'll do another post sometime on the horrors of dance makeup :P) and clear glosses and balms. I have a teeny tiny collection of colored lip products that range from daily must-haves to the not-so-greats. Here's a run through of my mini-stash:

1) Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer - Being such a huge fan of Burt's Bees Lip Balm, I just had to try out these shimmers. I have four different shades:

- Raisin - a dark reddish, berry color

- Rhubarb - a mauve-y pink color

- Nutmeg - a peachy nude color

- Papaya - a dark coral color

From the left: Raisin, Rhubarb, Nutmeg, Papaya

As advertised, these products are indeed shimmery and give a cooling effect to the lips. They glide on very smoothly and the color intensity is buildable. I personally prefer to mix the Raisin and Rhubarb colors as together they give me a nicer shade then when used individually. I find Raisin to be a little too dark and Rhubarb to be a little too bright for my taste. These two shades are shimmery, whereas Nutmeg and Papaya appear glittery, which I don't like. The Nutmeg shade appears to wash me out, this may be due to my skin color (olive skin with warm undertone) or that I have pretty pigmented lips. Although they were easy to find (drugstore/Walmart) and not very expensive, I do not think I will be repurchasing these Lip Shimmers.

2) Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss- Again, my drugstore/Walmart beauty aisle curiosity steered me towards purchasing 2 tubes of this gloss:

- Nectar Nude - clear gloss with golden shimmer

- Zesty Red - reddish-maroon gloss with shimmer

From the left: Zesty Red (less and more product), Nectar Nude (less and more product)

I find these lip glosses work best on top of lip balms or lipsticks because they aren't very moisturizing . My favorite is the Zesty Red as I find it really suits my coloring. They are shimmery, but I do not find them to be glittery, which is a plus in my book! The only downside is that at times the gloss can feel a bit gritty on my lips. I will definitely be repurchasing the Zesty Red gloss

3) Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey - My 1st non-drug store lip product purchase! I got this the first time I went to Sephora and absolutely love it! It's more like a gloss than a lipstick (hence almost lipstick). The color is a darker reddish shade (don't be fooled by the actual color of the lipstick), glides on very smoothly, and is extremely buildable. I did about three or four layers in my swatch, but you can make it a lot darker if that's what you prefer. It has a light, pleasant scent. I will definitely repurchase this even though at $14 my bargain hunter's soul found it a tad bit pricey!

4) Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Blushing Brunette - Nice creamy mauve-y pink lipstick with a bit of shimmer. Not so sure if this is the best shade for me, I find it a bit too light pink, but combined with my Burt's Bees gloss in Zesty Red, it's perfect! It has a pleasant scent! I will probably not repurchase this one as I'd like to try another.

5) Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Rum Raisin - My current favorite lipstick! Can be a bit drying, but I like to cover it with a slick of Eucerin Aquaphor or Blistex DCT and I'm good to go! I really love the brownish-reddish shade as it is not too bright nor too dark. I find it to be a natural color on me, not too crazy a shade for work or too dull for night. Especially love that it is matte and not shimmery/glittery at all! Seems unscented to me. Will definitely repurchase this one.

6) L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Fairest Nude - Last week I was on the search for the perfect nude shade...sadly I am not so sure if "nude" really suits me or my taste. I am not so sure how much I like muting my natural lip color. Fairest Nude is a pinky nude color which really does not suit me at all. I was really disappointed after reading lots of positive reviews on MUA and also seeing a lot of YT Makeup Guru's recommending it. I am considering returning this as I do not think I will be wearing it at all, thanks to Rite-Aid's lenient return policy!

From the left: Black Honey, Blushing Brunette, Rum Raisin, Fairest Nude

So there you all have it, my very tiny lip product stash...my pride and joy :P I am hoping to add the L'Oreal Colour Juice Stick Lipstick in Personali-tea to my collection soon as I've heard good things about it and that it suits all skin tones (my last attempt at nude). Any idea where I can find it, besides online? I've searched a couple of drugstores to no avail.

Any other lip product recommendations?

Til next time,

Mani :)