Video Tutorial: How I Created My Look In Cosmopolitan Magazine

Over 1 month later than promised, here it is! It went up on my Youtube Channel after 11 pm IST last night....after I waited over 3 hours for it to upload on YT. But it's okay

Pics from the magazine issue here, in case you're new here.

Why this delay? Computers are to blame for this. The laptop I edited this video on didn't work without the charger anymore (battery spoilt), so I decided to take Mr.CZ's old laptop to India, as there used to be daily power cuts in my hometown. I quickly transferred video, and happily thought I'd upload it from India after I'd seen the magazine issue. I found out in India that video couldn't be played in the other laptop...maybe coz it's Windows 8...I don't know! Then the hurried move to Scotland happened....and then the wait for broadband. The End.

Still, I apologize for the delay. 

Anyways, hope you like the video....and think my editing is a little bit better than my purana (old) videos =D

*The lighting is bad in some parts because the sun was shining in my face.

I was going to do a voiceover, but I couldn't do it right. I bought a mike attached with funky headphones and everything- like a DJ's, but then the background noise (including vibrations from the fridge) was deafening. Hoping I'll learn all the techie stuff before the next video. 

Do you know what's arrived? My birthday month! Hola! I better start looking for things to wish for & lust after... I mean material things.... I know Zayn Malik is too young for me, okay- even younger 20 days from now! ;p (Gosh, if malik of my heart and soul sees this....)

Celebratory And Crazy Artistic EOTD After Apartment Hunting

We got back late from Dundee on Friday night. Yesterday was supposed to be a day to rest with only Grey's Anatomy, but somehow I ended up doing this look- not just eyes, a whole complete look, which I will post shortly.

*It's okay if you don't like it. Even Mr.CZ found me very scary-looking =D

I guess I felt inspired, coz we finally found an apartment we liked in Dundee, Scotland. Btw, we'll only be there for 6 months.

[To be continued...]

Products Used:

• Minty green + turquoise eyeshadows from MUA Poptastic Palette. SORRY I WENT FOR THIS COLOR AGAIN! I DON'T KNOW WHY!
• Urban Decay Blackout (black) on bottom lash line & corners of top lid.
• Black and silver glitter is Collection Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liner in Rock Chick.
• Lakme Kohl Ultimate to tightline & to smudge on bottom lash line. 

• Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara on top & bottom lashes. Review here.
• Demi Lashes are Bourjois Faux & Fabulous Lashes Lady In Black. Shown here. 
• Eyebrows:  Urban Decay Blackout (black) &the same glitter gel liner on top. 

♥

So.... The Story of  our 2-day apartment hunting: 

Day 1:

We were supposed to view one apartment. We met the agent in front of the door....she lead us inside and it was one of the most dingy walkways I'd ever seen! Red door, grey cemented walls & floor, dirty stairs.... Mr.CZ & I looked at each other with horror. As we started ascending the dirty stairs, the agent stopped walking, turned to us, and said, "There's a nice apartment on X street. Would you like to have a look at that one?"

We: "YES! Is it better than this?"

Agent: "Yes, much better. It's a brand new apartment. Nobody's ever lived there. This one *she scrunched up her nose*", then she lead us back out into the street without showing us the apartment at the top of those dreadful stairs. 

We reached X Street. I noticed a book store, a takeout restaurant named Curry-something & a nice bakery. We're going inside a door next to the bakery. Ooh, apartment is above the bakery! 

It was an odd-looking (read: down-market) walkway. There was a small messy garden with a clothes line,  and 3-4 black garbage bins in the corner. First impression was a put-off, third rate. Then we reached the stairway with minty green walls...and we stopped outside a metallic door.

We got inside, and OMG it's a brand new 3 bedroom apartment, and it's very nicely done up! Grey carpeted floors, L-shaped couch in kitchen-slash-living room,  multi-colored cushions, fun colored lamps. It had all the amenities & white goods. The bedrooms were awesome with the same type of decor as in the living room. 

1 of the extra bedrooms looked like this

We fell in love (mainly coz everything's new), and immediately wanted to take it. It's so meant to be, we I thought. Agent informed us there were a couple of interested students who viewed it earlier that day too, but they want couple tenants for the place. Okay, now we must take it asap! Long story short, we had to wait till the next day to know if the owner of the place, who's all the way in Hong Kong, will agree to 6 months. [We cancelled rest of the viewings that evening.]

Mr.CZ was uneasy that whole night coz he really wanted the place. I played the calm-whatever-happens wife, but ya, I couldn't stop thinking about the colored lamps & cushions & contemporary kitchen.

Trailer Of My New Makeup Video

I know, right? So dramatic I am. "Trailer" and all....haha! Nah.... actually, this is video editing practice and for me to see what mistakes (many many, I'm sure) I might have made in this one before I edit the final video. You know I've found video editing such a challenge before.

But ya, all my videos will always have trailers from now onwards. One thing I absolutely LOVE to do on Saturday evenings is watching trailers. I could watch them for 30-60 minutes straight when I'm looking for a good movie (read: horror/thriller) for the night. So, I thought... why not make my own trailers too?! Indulge my inner storyteller & director (Gosh, I hope you know I'm kidding.)

Hope you liked my amateurish Trailer & you're excited to watch the whole blockbuster! =D

Videos will be more regular this year. It has been one of my new year's resolutions for over a year! To tell you the truth, regular blogging was boring me a little bit....I don't know.... I guess I just needed a change...something new. You know, Gemini (and a little bit of Taurus) mentality.

Thanks to everyone who still subscribed to my channel even though there was only one video.

Cheers to new beginnings.....

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

EOTD: A Touch Of Rose Gold

I used Product Of The Week: Sleek Oh So Special Palette. 

• Celebrate on outer half of lid & outer half of lower lash line
• Ribbon & Organza on inner half of lid
• The Mail in the crease & to blend edges
• Gateau on inner tear duct area
• Gift Basket on inner half of lower lash line
• Noir to line lash line & outer half of lower lash line
• Bow on brow bone.
• Boxed to fill in eyebrows
• Lakmé Eyeconic Kajal to tightline & on waterline.
• Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara on top & lower lashes 

Tip: If you don't have a rose gold eyeshadow, just mix a peachy-pink eyeshadow or blush with a gold eyeshadow.

Try Mixing: Lakmé  Chromatic Baked Blush in Day Blushes (photos here) & Maybelline Color Tattoo On And On Bronze (photos here) & a lil' bit of gold eyeshadow. You could also add a gold-ivory like Inglot Eyeshadow #30 shine (photos here).

Have a good week!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

MAC Angel Lipstick ~ Look & Review

Apart from Shaggy's insanely popular song, 'Angel' makes me think of a story a college roommate told me about that still makes me LOL to this day. A guy (admirer) had handwritten a love letter to her girlfriend:

"Blah.... blah..... blah........

...... You are my angle."

I think it's actually one of the most misspelled words in the English language. 

Sometime this year, I saw In Facebook:

• Proud mother put up photo of her kid with caption: "My little angle." 
• Status of some girl: "Treat me like an angle, and I'll show you what heaven is like."

Uhm, wrong angle, dudes! 

Coming to topic in hand, MAC Angel. One of MAC best selling lipsticks. I'll start with the look I did with it.

 

LOTD ~ Modern Cleopatra

[Letter body taken from TV series 'ROME'. Antony was so devastated, he killed himself after reading it. Truth was, Cleopatra was lying in the letter.]

Some believe that Cleopatra was the original Samantha Jones (Sex And The City). A while back, I took a Facebook quiz- 'Which Shakespearean woman/character are you?' - and I got Cleopatra (hoped for Juliet or Portia, dreaded the Lady Macbeth). That's how I know that. My old favorite tv series 'Rome' portrayed her as an insatiable pharaoh. She had short cropped hair & was addicted to opium. So, I guess the Facebook quiz was right. I'm kidding! My guilty pleasures are way too..... modern.

I guess you know what she used to kill herself? Ya, we won't go there *shudders*

Nicki Minaj Inspired Makeup Look

Did you miss the OTT, crazy & fun make-up looks on here? I really missed doing them, and I'm aware they're the reason some people come here. I know, I know... even my Bollywood Babes series is hanging in limbo, just give me some time with that. Right now, I'm in the mood for spontaneity & quirk, maybe coz it's Halloween month! More make-up looks coming up.....very excited about one in particular (I just received some jewelry from Ebay, but I still need a few more items & bangs for my hair to complete the look.) No, two actually. I'm excited about 2 crazy OTT looks! =)

I didn't give this one much thought, and I think I should have polished the eyes a little. Oh-kay, enough babbling. Hope you like!

Leona Lewis Trouble Inspired Trial Make-up Look

"I told you never to get used to me...I stay awake when you fall asleep...I’m a whole lot of trouble....We’re in a whole lot of trouble...I told you you should never follow me...But here we are, and you’re in too deep..." 

I am obsessed with Leona Lewis's newest song- Trouble. I love the video...and her makeup in the video. I tried to copy her look the other day, and this is how it looked. I managed to click only a few okay-ish pics before the battery died + the skies darkened. I decided to put them up, coz the look is flattering on both light & dark skin tones.

Products Used: 

Face: Revlon Colorstay Foundation, Lakmé Absolute White Intense Concealer Stick Light to Medium, The Body Shop Loose Powder 

Eyes: Maybelline On And On Bronze Color Tattoo (bronze), Inglot eyeshadow 417 (olive), Bourjois Intense Eyeshadow 10 (matte black), Inglot #30 shine (cream gold) on inner tear duct areas, Lakmé Eyeconic Kajal, Bourjois Volume Glamour Mascara.

Cheeks: Benefit Coralista & Hoola to contour under cheekbones.

Lips: Bourjois Sweet Kiss Naturel #06 Rose Tendre  & Lakmé Absolute White Intense Concealer Stick Light to Medium dabbed on top to give that pale peachy nude.

Unpublished LOTD ~ 'When I Had It All....'

These photos are from my old laptop. I went through them, and I almost didn't recognize the person in them. Where's that glossy hair?! Btw, it's a variation of Rihanna's Rockstar look posted in 2010 here. I don't know why I didn't put them up.

Mint Eyeshadow Tutorial

I have not done a tutorial for you guys since the Black Smokey Eyes I did in....in....May! No wonder I was beginning to feel uneasy.

I wanted to do something bright, and decided on MINT- the hottest color of the season. Really, I can't get enough of the color! I keep dreaming about a mint tea set....and mint handbag.....and mint cotton candy (just to look at, not eat).....and I'm looking for a mint t-shirt for Mr.CZ. I know, I'm going mintal.

Eyes Of the Day ~ Plum & Black Smokey

I realized I have not done any look since April! So today, I managed to do one...Yay! I melted in the heat a little while posing for my "photo shoot" in my balcony (where the good lighting is), but it was worth it. I wanted to talk about the eyes separately, so the other post won't get too long.

I used only 2 eyeshadows on the eyes: 

Adele Inspired EOTD

"The scars of your love remind me of us... They keep me thinking that we almost had it all.......
.....You had my heart inside of your hand....But you played it to the beat."

How To:

• After priming lids, apply a shimmery white or a beige shade close to your skin on your lids. I used Virgin from Urban Decay Naked Palette

• Apply a light brown shadow on the crease using a pencil brush. Also apply some on your lower lash line. I used Buck & Naked from Urban Decay Naked Palette with Inglot 80 HP/S
• Line your eyes with liquid or gel liner. Make it thick towards the outer corner. It's a thick version of the Cat Eyeliner. I used  Maybelline Hyper Sharp Liner
• Curl lashes & apply 3-4 coats of mascara on top & bottom lashes.
• Optional: Apply a nude pencil on the waterline. I did it with MAC Chromagraphic Pencil & then used a Q-tip to done down the color.
• Optional: Put on false lashes that are longer at the outer corners, like Adele's here. I was lazy ;p 

*The liner dried up on me before I could retouch & darken the liner =\

Inspiration

Hope you like! :)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

MAC Genuine Treasure Paint Pot........

.......is a genuine treasure. No, ......is a treasure. Yes, they both sound dumb. Thank goodness I didn't put them in the title, phew.

Oh-My-Bows! This one puts the Posh in MAC Posh Paradise. If you like glitter on your eyes, but can't be bothered about the tedious methods - with Vaseline & clear lip gloss & Duraline, then MAC Genuine Treasure is the answer!

About MAC Paint Pot:

A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners.

Kareena Kapoor Eye Makeup : Bollywood Babes Make-up Series Preview

Welcome to Bollywood Babes Makeup Series. I'll be doing some looks inspired by some of the most popular Bollywood actresses.

Kareena Kapoor's "soft smudged eye liner look" is the most requested celeb makeup. I don't really know which look exactly, so I just picked a photo for inspiration & also because she wears this particular look a lot.

She & I have very different eye shapes, hence the deep lid-making with an eyeshadow brush =D

Tutorial for this look is coming soon! I have to edit & put the pics together.

Bollywood Babes to come:

Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Vidya Balan.....and who else? Who wears good make-up these days? 

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

TOP 5 Artistic Eye Makeup Looks: VOTE For Your Favorite!

Revealing the TOP 5 looks of IVC Artistic Eye Makeup Contest. They were picked out by me (and a few of my loved ones) based on ORIGINALITY, CREATIVITY, SKILL & PRESENTATION.

All Artistic Eye Makeup Looks In One Place

Please give it up for all the contestants of the Artistic Eye Makeup Contest ~ 25 entries altogether! TOP 5 Looks will be announced tomorrow! Boy, am I having a tough TOUGH time! I'm staring at my computer screen trying to put only 5 photos in a collage (and listening to Jay Sean)

I just want to say that, you all did a fantastic job creating your own artistic looks. Whatever the results, please know that I appreciate all your efforts & also for simply participating in my small makeup contest. I'm sure all IVC readers enjoyed seeing all the different & unusual eye makeup & picked up some ideas, like I did.

Once again, THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK.

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Artistic Eye Makeup Contest Entry 25 ~ Floral Fantasy

"Floral Fantasy"

Contestant: Suhani Dubey

Products Used:

Ben Nye Matte Finish Foundation

Ben Nye Suede Visage Poudre

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeshadow Colours:

Urban Decay Sin, Side Car and Darkhorse from the NAKED Palette

Maybelline Dream Matte Blush in Peach Satin (used as eyeshadow)

Red from VOV Eyeshadow Palette

Blush:

Maybelline Apricot Flush Blush

Eyeliner, Kajal and Mascara:

Maybelline Colossal Kajal

Maybelline The Hyper Curl Volum Mascara Easy Wash

Rhinestones and Eyelash Glue

Fake Lashes

Props:

Real Flowers

Camera: Sony Cybershot 14.1 MP

Photographer: Self

*Thanks for your entry Suhani. Good Luck! :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Artistic Eye Makeup Contest Entry 24 ~ Indian Tigress

"Indian Tigress"

Contestant: Priyanka Kantak

Products Used:

1.Coastal Scents 88 Color palette

2.Maybelline Hypercurl Volume Express Mascara

3.Lakme Quartet - Tanjore Rush

4.Elle 18 Eye Sparklers - Blue Blast

5.MAC Studio Fix C4

6.L'Oreal True Match Concealer- Neutral 

*Thanks for your entry Priyanka. Good Luck! :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Artistic Eye Makeup Contest Entry 23 ~ The Lord Of The Rings

"The Lord Of The Rings"

Contestant: Martina Manfredi

Products Used:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight

Essence Gel Eyeliner in 04 "I love NYC"

Essence eyeliner brush

L'Oreal Chrome Intensity Eyeshadow in 186 Timeless Green

Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Clinic

Mac Eyeshadow in Woodwinked

Mac Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe

Sephora Eyeshadow in Universal Beige

Bottega Verde eyepencil in Pure Gold

Maybelline Expert Eyes Crayon Oriental in Starry Green

Essence Liquid Liner in Black

Cargo Triple Action Mascara

*Thanks for your entry Martina. Good Luck! :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Artistic Eye Makeup Contest Entry 22 ~ Party Lanterns

"Party Lanterns"

Contestant: Mara


Products Used:


Face
BRTC – jasmine Water BB Cream
Kryolan – supracolor fondation in 1W
MAC – Fleur Power blush

Eyes
Urban Decay – Primer Potion in Eden
Ben Nye – Royal Purple, Iced gold, Dark Brown eyebrow pencil
Paris Berlin – CR200 kohl pencil, Pink [LU9] brilliant powder, black eyeshadow
Kryolan – Lachsrosa, Gold, SP571,
Make Up For Ever – 07 White Shimmer, 82 Silver Iridescent
MAC – Chrome Yellow eyeshadow, Soft Ochre paint pot
NYX – Crytal glitter liner
Stargazer eyelashes and Max Factor mascara
Rhinestones in clear, light blue, light gold and red.

*Thanks for your entry Mara. Good Luck! :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^