8 Products I'm Obsessed With ATM....

By Obsessed, I mean I'm really really enjoying using them. I reach for them everyday, or every other day. Bath....Skincare....Makeup....

And The Beautyblender Is Mine......

Look what arrived in the mail today! How a little spongy thing can brighten up my day is one of perks of being a crazy an incurable beauty addict. Look at the packaging! It sits like a diamond, but it's so much more intriguing.

What it is: It's simply a makeup blending sponge. It was featured in a post here. 

Price ~ £14.99 | Rs.1474 from Amazon. They've hiked up the price now to original price, £16.50 | Rs.1622.

I'm going to use it right away! Everyday. Until I can tell you, without a doubt, whether it's worth the hype or not.

My Beauty Blogging Camera + Tips

I'm  doing this post purely as a blogger, just to show you how I click photos for this blog. It's been requested by some other beauty bloggers, but all you non-bloggers might find these tips handy too, you know, when clicking pics of your kid's birthday cake, or your new mani to show-off on Facebook. If you don't have a camera, and never click photos, you can just look at the MAC lippies. I put them in there just for you =)

Since I couldn't use my camera, I used my mobile - Samsung S3. Previously Mr.CZ's, coz I was using Nokia Lumia 820, which I no likey. We swapped, sadly not before he dropped it on a marble floor and cracked the screen. I wanted it anyways, coz that Windows phone was driving me crazy.

My Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V. When I'd gone shopping for a new camera (after my Panasonic Lumix got stolen along with my handbag), I picked this over 2 DSLR's - Canon EOS-something & Nikon-something. Reason: It's smaller & lighter than the 2. It's simply more convenient & fits in my small handbag too.

Main Features: 10x Optical Zoom, 16.2 megapixel sensor, 3D images, Full HD Movie. I really don't know the rest.

Mini Vacation Pics & Haul

So last Thursday we'd gone for a mini vacation to Edinburgh, mainly for Mr.CZ's birthday. We stayed there for 3 days, and came back on Sunday. Too short, but we made the most of it, and had fun. 

These are most of the things I hauled:

Benefit Rockateur Blush ~ Rose gold blush. Can't wait to try it on my face. £23.50 | Rs.2362.

Shu Uemura 24K Gold Eyelash Curler (Limited Edition) ~ I wanted to try a new curler. I'd left the original silver one in India, and decided to get this gold one because it looks so beautiful. £20 | Rs.2010.

Soap & Glory Hand Food Mini Hand Cream ~ Wanted to see what the big deal is. I like it so far. £2.50 | Rs.250. 

Balmi Raspberry Lip Balm ~  These used to be round like the eos Lip Balms (pics here), but they changed it to square (I smell a lawsuit =D). £4.99 | Rs.500.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Astringent Lotion ~ Repurchase. It's a toner, and I missed not having it. Post on it here. £8.25 | Rs.828. 

MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks ~ Already posted photos here.

Warehouse Coral Pink Clutch Bag ~ On Sale! Got it for £10 | Rs.1004. Original Price: £24 | Rs.2410.

New Look Leather Biker Jacket ~ I'm wearing it in pics below. £39.99 | Rs.4017.

What's In My Makeup Bag? Sequel

Remember when my handbag was stolen in Goa when I'd gone for a holiday with my friends in 2011? Remember I told you the only thing that wasn't in the stolen handbag was my makeup bag? Or maybe I didn't mention it here, and just tweeted? I don't recall. Okay, I'll just tell you the gist:

While a bar/restaurant on a beach, I stood up for 2 mins to talk on my phone. I came back and my handbag wasn't on my chair anymore. This happened while all my friends and Mr.CZ were right there! We all went mad! When we sat down again, somebody pointed at my little makeup bag, sitting there on the center of the table among food & drinks. Oh, the joy! I must have taken it out to get a lipstick or something before that, and I'd forgotten to keep it back in my handbag. Quite strange, right?

This bag here is a new makeup bag, but I still have & use that one too in another handbag. How can I leave it when it didn't leave me?

• Too Faced Glamazon Eyeshadow ~ A gorgeous shimmery taupe eyeshadow, which makes a great cheek highlighter too.

• Benefit The Porefessional Face Primer Sample ~ Don't know if I like it, but I keep it in the bag in case

• Bourjois Cream Blush Nude Velvet ~ Cream blushes are better to keep in your handbag, because you don't need a brush.

• Accessorize Brow Kit ~ The brow powders could also double or triple up as eyeshadows & contouring powders - in emergencies. I love that it has tweezers, which I like to have with me. Shown here

• Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation Sample ~ There's an offer at Debenhams- Buy this foundation and get 1 YSL Cream Blush FREE! So I got it to try first. My shade is BD30. I find it quite oily, but that also gives my skin a nice dewy glow. I don't know if I'd buy the big pricey version, but I wants the free cream blush so badly! =D

• Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Powder ~ Compact powder! Very important. Read about powders here

• The Face Shop Mini Pet Hand Cream ~ Dry hands, my pet peeve. More pics here. 

• Maybelline Cover Stick Concealer Medium Beige ~ Just an emergency concealer.

Classic Chic Nails ~ Clipping & Shaping Tutorial

Hello! I wanted to post a different kind of tutorial today ~ Nails! Classic Chic Nails that are comfortable, go with everything, and are appropriate for everyday & every occasion. Hope you'll like! I'm sure many of you don't need a tutorial for nail shaping, but I've been asked how I do mine several times, so.....

1. Position the clipper horizontally& clip straight from one side, stopping at the center of the nail. And behold my explaining skills....

2. Move clipper to the other side and clip in the same way, straight in.

3. If the corners are too sharp and pointy, clip a bit diagonally.

4. Do the same on the other side. 

5. Start filing. Straight. Back & forth. Use little pressure, and file evenly, until you get the desired length & shape ~ square with rounded edges here.

6. Should look something like that. *Wash or wipe off powdery nail bits, before next step.

7. Apply a beige or nude nail polish. 

8. After 2 coats, it looks like that. *You could apply a top coat if you want.

9. Apply some Vaseline or cuticle oil on the cuticles. That is, if they look dry.

DONE! =)  

[I do the same on my toenails as well.] 

What I Used:

• Nail Clipper: Small & light nail clippers. I prefer small ones, to the big chunky types.
• Filer: Scholl. Very old, but nothing works better. Even with filers, I prefer the sleek and thin ones. 
• Nail Polish ~ Maybelline Colorama Balé Clássico. My favorite neutral nail polish. More pics here
• Cuticle Moisturizer ~ Vaseline Pink Bubbly Lip Balm. More pics here

♥

Personally, I've always preferred square & squoval (squarish-oval) shapes, sometimes even rounded. Pointy claw-like nails are a big NO-NO. Please. Don't. Chaku hai, chaku!

(Chaku = knife)

What's your favorite nail shape? 

Heart-Shaped Makeup Brushes, Anyone?

Hope you all had a good weekend. I watched a romantic movie 'Like Crazy' & a thriller psycho movie 'No One Lives', cooked black bean sauce, did some online shopping, etc etc....  and I stumbled upon these heart-shaped brushes. Oh-my-heart, I'm smitten and can't stop looking at them!

The one up there is from Ebay. Just search 'heart shaped blush brush' 

Source

Source

I think I want to get some. Or maybe I could DIY? Let's see, which brush do I hate? Nah, ♥ shape will only look good on pink bristles, so I have to get pink brushes first. Oh no, not the one on the header!

Want to see heart-shaped lipstick & blush? Please go here 

Makeup Trick Using Eyelash Curler ~ Tutorial

IVC Tutorial Month ~ Tutorial #1

I was watching DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge- the greatest Bollywood movie of all time) on a Saturday night sometime in February, and during the following scene....

Raj: "Suno, jisse tumhare shaadi hone wali hain...uska naam kya hai?" (Listen, The one you're marrying....what's his name?)

Simran: "Kuljit Singh."

.....this idea occurred to me. I paused the movie, went to make tea, then I went upstairs try it out. I worked!

Nowadays I use it almost every time. It makes it super easy for me to achieve that precise Cut Crease look, especially since I don't have a deep & defined crease line.

Click to enlarge

1. Place eyelash curler on the outer corner of your eye, aligning it from the bottom lash line straight towards the end of your eyebrow. Place the tip of curler till your crease, or where you want to wing of the eyeshadow to end.
2. Press curler a little, and apply your eyeshadow using the edge like a ruler.
3. Now place the top of curler over your lid. The curve is almost the same as a crease. Apply eyeshadow right on top of it.
4. Move the curler around your lid to adjust it to the curve of your eye, until you reach the inner corners.
5. Fill in the center with the same brown  eyeshadow. You can apply all over, but I chose to leave a half moon shape bare.
6. If you want a sharp cut-crease look, you don't need to blend the edges. But if you want a blended look, apply a lighter eyeshadow (beige or taupe) by placing the curler right on the previous brown line, and running the brush right on the top of the curler. The curler will help you stay only on the line that needs blending.
7. Since I have hooded lids, I decided to apply a shimmery e/s (Urban Decay YDK) on the bare part of my lid.
8. You can apply eyeliner on the top lash line, but here I just tightlined the roots of my lashes with a black kohl and applied some on my waterline (bottom lash line)
9. Applied mascara in bottom lash line.
10. DONE!

Remember, you can use any other eyeshadow colors- black, purple, teal, etc. I used brown, because it's more everyday-wearable.

This is a suitable look for all eye shapes:

• If you have a crease socket ~ you can use the eyelash curler just for the outer V. If you want a softer look, fill in your lid space with a light eyeshadow color. If you want an intense smoky look, you can go all out with a black eyeshadow. 
• If you have monolids ~ Don't leave any space in your lid area, fill up the entire lid area with the brown eyeshadow.
• If you have hooded lids, like I do, you can apply eyeliner on your top lash line, but it's better to make it very thin.

Products Used:

• Matte Brown e/s- Urban Decay Faint from Naked Basics Palette
• Matte Taupe e/s- Urban Decay Tease from Naked 2 Palette 
• Lakme Kohl Ultimate pencil
• Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara. 
• Brushes ~ Too Faced Smoker Brush, Inglot  10S, Sigma Pencil Brush.
• Eyelash Curler ~ QVS.

I wasn't going to put a full face look, coz my hair was dirty & I had a tired face, but I wanted to show you that this look makes eyes look smiley....

Lipstick is Deborah Milano Rosetto Red #2. Shown here

♥ 

Hope you liked this tutorial. Idea occurred in February, tutorial done in June. I don't really remember what happened in between.

Enjoy your weekend! I will make aloo gobi (potato + cauliflower), and watch Breaking Bad Season 2 all night.

P.S. If you enjoy reading this blog, and like my tutorials, hope you have VOTED for Indian Vanity Case in Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 HERE. It would help a lot. Thanks!

Colorbar Eye Makeup Brushes

I dropped by Colorbar and picked up some eye brushes that were launched recently. I didn't get any face brushes, because they are made of natural bristles and felt rough & straw-like like the tips of my own over-colored hair. Such a shame coz they are hot pink!

Weirdest Japanese Beauty Tools

A few days back Some weeks ago (see how long I've had this in my drafts?), Jay Sean posted a photo of a Japanese beauty tool in Facebook:

He wrote: "so apparently this "invention" is supposed to give you a bigger "smile". First of all, she doesn't seem to be smiling in the slightest. Crying would be a more appropriate description of her face. Secondly- i would argue that this "invention" is goin to be misused to come in handy for "other things." "

Okay, you didn't have to say it out loud, dawg! 

This MOUTH claims to fight wrinkles around your eyes and help shape the overall look of your face.

Then typical me googled more Japanese beauty tools, mainly to laugh at them, and I found a few more weird, but interesting, beauty tools.

Please Note: All pics & descriptions are copied from a website ~ www.japantrendshop.com. 

Searching for that youthful look? Forget expensive surgery or dangerous therapies! Japan has the answer and it is as simple as it is, well, unusual. Just pop the colorful Pupeko gently into your mouth, clench your jaw and breath in and out. This will then start training and tightening your cheek and jaw muscles, helping to offset the signs of aging and bringing a fresher, youthful look back again to your cheeks!

Push up that nose of yours to create the perfect profile with this handy Beauty Lift High Nose, a beauty gadget that applies gentle electric vibrations from the bottom, side and front. Just slip it on and turn on the switch on the front of the frame. While the supports hold your nose in place the buzzing will help shape your nose into just that little bit firmer and higher. All you need is three minutes once a day and you (and everyone else) will soon notice the difference!

NEW! Faces Makeup Brushes

FACES Cosmetics launches 10 new professional range of makeup brushes.

The brushes are made from selected natural hair along with the finest synthetic imitation soft hair to give you the desired results. Nurtured by leading technical expertise FACES, offers highest quality cosmetic brushes in an attractive packaging at a very competitive price giving you the best value for your money. The newly launched range encompasses a comprehensive range of brushes for the eyes, lips, cheeks and face owing to the longer service life and customized design.

Faces Foundation Brush, Rs.399

Faces Concealer Brush, Rs.249

LOTD ~ Big Hair With Babyliss Volume Waves Tong

Do you have a dream hairstyle? One that you have always imagined yourself with, but have never been able to achieve it? Sometimes you're sooo close to it, then *BAM!* the stupid hairstylist trimmed it too much or burned part of it during rebonding; OR you ruined it yourself by doing something equally stupid- like, streaking with Fem Bleach or spontaneously giving yourself a "razor cut" with some puraana blunt scissors and you ended up with high-low hair (one side shorter than the other). And then it's only just a dream, again.

My dream hairstyle is a longer (on the sides), pouffier (at the roots), shinier, evenly colored (dark roots make them look flatter) version of what I have here. Dreamy, romantic, cascading waves.....like cashmere between his fingertips.....yeah yeah.

But a dream hairstyle is like everything else in life. If you want it, you have to make an effort and get it yourself!

So.... I got myself a curling iron. I've always wanted one! I had a hard time trying to decide between Babyliss Volume Waves Tong & TRESemme Salon Professional Volume Curls Tong . In the end, I went with my gut. By that, I mean I went with the more established hair styling tools brand.

Barrel Size- 38mm (1 and 1/2 half inch)

Plates- Nano Titanium Ceramic 

Heat Settings- 155°, 170°,185°, 200° C.

 

This was just a trial, and my 1st time using it. I will come back let you know if it makes me happy, how to use it, products etc, another time. But first impression was quite good, considering I didn't really make an effort. The curls started to flatten at night, but the waves & volume were still there the next day.

Most Popular Beauty Products Right Now

These are only some of the most popular products right now. By that, I mean they're the most raved about products, and they're on every, say, 10 beauty blogger's & vlogger's  'Favorites' or 'Holygrail' list.

I wanted to add more in this collage, but I just couldn't remember any other products. It's like my mind wanted to hide them from me. No, I don't believe in all that 'ignorance is bliss' nonsense.

• Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder (Price- Rs.400+) ~ It became an instant internet sensation when every makeup enthusiast saw Kim K's makeup artist used it to set her concealer under her eyes. He highlighted & contoured her face (not an out of the ordinary technique if you're familiar with Kevyn Aucoin's work). Now everybody on Youtube is using this powder, and contouring & highlighting like Kim K & pretend it's their original idea *sigh*.  I'm drawn to the yellow-ish shade because I used to love using a yellow Kryolan Loose Powder (do try that one if other powders make you look ashy). Btw, Inglot also have similar yellow-ish/peachy loose powders. 

• Seche Vite Top Coat (Price- Rs.500+) ~ Is it the world's finest top coat? Many beauty & nail polish junkies seem to think so. I think I want this the least out of all these products..... but I want to try it.

• La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo (Rs.950-1000 in India) ~ Since last year, I'd been looking for it & still have not got it. I've been seeing it everywhere! It's very popular in the UK. When I moved here, I started reading a few UK beauty blogs, and almost all of them are raving about this. They say it really does help clear out pimples & blemishes. I NEED IT! Always 'Out Of Stock' in Boots, btw. I have to get it online.

• Bioderma Crealine H2O (Around Rs.900 for a 500ml bottle) ~ Gentle cleanser/makeup remover. This baby has put this French brand on the map! Is it oil? Is it water? Is it oily water? I gotz to know!

• MAC Candy Yum Yum Lipstick (Price- Rs.990) ~ This bright neon pink matte lippie was a limited edition item which came out with the Quite Cute Collection in 2011. By popular demand, it is now part of the permanent line. Woohoo! I'm happy even though I got it in 2011, and have done a look with it here & swatched it here. 

• Beauty Blender Sponge (Price- around Rs.980) ~ Dampen it.... bounce it.....roll it....dab it....that's how you use it to blend face products with it for a flawless finish. It has a suede texture and its unique curves fit the contours of your face. So darn pricey for a sponge BUT everybody loves it, wants it. I want to squeeze - no, pinch - it.

• Moroccan Oil (Price- Rs.2000+) ~ This is old news, but I have not mentioned it before, so I will now. It is Moroccan Argan Oil for hair. It not only claims to make your hair healthier, it claims to reduce drying time as well. I hadn't even heard of argan oil until this came along, and now all hair care brands have copied it. BUT original is original &  first is first, okay? Nobody will care if you & I are the next people to climb Mount Everest. But good God, look at that price!

♥ 

Yes, I MUST have ALL of them! Follow the herd to greener prettier pastures.

You joining, or are you already there?

 ♥ Cynthia Z *.* 

 

Bourjois Faux & Fabulous Lashes & 2-in-1 Tweezers + Eyelash Applicator Photos

Hope you all had a good weekend! I spent most of mine watching FRIENDS Season 5 - with extended episodes. There's about 3 mins of extra stuff! I've watched it all, like, 20 times, so it feels new again. Btw, UK clocks went back 1 hour since yesterday, so now IST is 5 and 1/2 hours ahead. My laptop clock is still on Indian time (I refuse to change it!), so I always feel like I'm living in 2 time zones. Ironically, that movie 'Back To The Future' is always playing on one boring (read: free) movie channel.

So! I got some of the stuff from my Shopping List on Saturday. First up, the new launches from Bourjois ~ Faux & Fabulous Lashes and 2-in-1 Tweezers & Eyelash Applicator.  

Bourjois Faux & Fabulous Lashes in Lady In Black ~ These are demi lashes with black studs- oh, 'precious gems' - on them, which I think look really fabulous. You can wear them on your top or bottom lash line. Adhesive included & cute pola dotted pink & black packaging. Price: £5.99 (Rs.517) Also available in other designs, please see here

Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser

What do we have here? Something like Clarisonic & Sigma Cleansing & Polishing Tool, but so much cheaper! I thought you might be interested, because I am!

New Neutrogena® Wave Power Cleanser is clinically proven to deliver softer, smoother skin after just one use! At the click of a button, the battery operated facial cleanser delivers 10 times deeper cleansing than conventional manual cleansing. The ergonomically-designed system applicator comes with disposable, one time- use foaming pads that can be refilled.

 The Neutrogena® Wave Power Cleanser has a three way action:

• Textured foaming pads gently sweep away layers of dead skin cells to reveal noticeably smoother and softer skin
• Gentle vibrating motion of the system applicator massages skin. You will feel your pores open for deep cleansing
• Lather removes dirt, oil and makeup while awakening your senses

Now change the way you look at cleansing. Neutrogena® Wave Power Cleanser is simple to use
Step 1- Attach disposable pad
Step 2- Hold it under running water
Step 3- Turn it on and gently massage your face
Step 4- Rinse your face and wipe it clean 

Revlon Hollywood Lighted Make-up Mirror ~ LOVE!

This is the very very interesting product I mentioned here. The Revlon Hollywood Lighted Make-up Mirror! This is the stuff!

We have only 2 mirrors in this rented house - one in the bathroom over the sink, and one in the bedroom. So, I really really needed a mirror in the other bedroom to do my make-up. I wanted something small, and something that I can carry back to India when the time comes. And this one is perfect, coz it can be folded flat, and weighs 950g. Plus, I didn't have to play handyman, and make holes on the wall.

The Body Shop Lily Cole Collection [Cruelty Free] Review, Swatches, Look

If you want pink & cute.... If you adore cutesy Korean/Etude House make-up products.... if you believe in Cruelty-Free make-up products.....take a look at The Body Shop Lily Cole Collection! All products are Limited Edition, so if you fancy anything, go get them before they are going.... gone!

Eylure Katy Perry Lashes Photos

I like Katy Perry. I like false lashes. I like pretty packaging. I like romance-inspired names on cosmetics (I would name a lipstick "Unfaithful" someday....someday.) 

So ya, I did fall hard for the Eylure Katy Perry Lashes ever since they were launched. 

All Eylure Katy Perry lashes are handmade, 100% natural and each style is reusable. Adhesive included in all.

Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush With A BOW ~ Product Of The Week

Oh-my-bow! It's like it flew right out of my imagination, albeit a little modified. Meet my new powder brush - Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush. It is super soft (cashmere soft) because it's made teddy bear hair [100% Cruelty-Free] I've washed it once already (before using it), and the bristles didn't shed or bleed.

J'adore!

The satin bow is perched on an elastic band which can be slipped off the handle

My Pink Too Faced Handbag Brush Kit & How To Create Your Own {DIY}

You know how doctors carry their stethoscopes everywhere? We makeup artists/enthusiasts also feel we need to carry make-up brushes with us everywhere. Yes yes, I know, we're not the same & make-up brushes don't save lives, I'm just saying that we feel incomplete without our "tools". Okay, maybe I should have compared us to plumbers instead of doctors. Talking about plumbers, can you believe they killed off Mike in Desperate Housewives??!!! 

Anyways, let's talk about happier things .... Too Faced Essential 3 Piece Brush Set. OMG I'm loving it so much!

One: It's PINK! *squeals*

Two: It's light & perfect for my handbag!

Three: The brushes are made of teddy bear hair. Tip of the cuteness! 

Four: It holds 3 essential brushes. I could live on them. 

I love Too Faced. So princessy & vintage-looking.

This kit is for $39.00 = Rs.2000. Bought it from apothica.com. I got it shipped to Shop & Ship, coz it worked out cheaper, since shipping within US is free. I told you about S&S here

Too Faced Shadow Brushes Essential 3 Piece Set