Red Lipstick Hides Dark Under Eye Circles?!

First off, I want to say this is not my idea. Credit goes to a Youtuber - Deepica Mutyala - a girl who's probably made all pricey "Dark Circle Correctors" obsolete. Her makeup tip of using RED LIPSTICK to mask dark undereye circles (and prevent them from showing through concealers) had everybody talking - because it sounds ridiculous! That is, until you see her demonstration. I'll attach her video below.

So, after I watched her video, I really wanted to try it on myself. I straight away tried the trick with a coral lipstick, because I knew red would not work on my skin tone. But just to put the original tip to the test, I also tried a red lipstick, and it did ended up looking too pink & didn't brighten up my under eye areas like the coral one. I guess red lipstick works best on deeper skin tones.

This is the 2nd time I did this. The 1st time, I was blown away by the difference it made. Something about the lipstick that made the result look almost airbrushed (especially from afar, and not so up-close like you'll see mine below... hehe!)

 I did a step-by-step to show you how I did it:

Step 1: I applied the coral lipstick straight from the tube. Just a swipe. I'm still not sure how much I need really =D

Step 2: I dotted concealer on top of the coral lipstick. That is a lil' too much, and I had to blend the extra downwards around my cheeks too.

Step 3: Blended them together with a blending brush. I find fingers or a sponge blend them better than a brush like this.

Step 4 (not shown): Set with loose powder. In the AFTER pic, I hadn't used powder yet.

I'll agree I didn't have serious dark under eye circles to begin with, but see how it concealed those little sun spots/freckles. Next, I'm gonna try different red/coral lipsticks (probably matte ones) on other spots and blemishes, and see how much they'll be concealed.

***I forgot to mention the staying power when I published this post: The concealer holds on really well to the lipstick, and they both set well on to the skin. I guess it's the wax in the lipstick. Once blended seamlessly, they don't crease & settle into fine lines. Especially after powder, the coverage is budge-proof!

Coral Lipstick ~ Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick #20 1,2,3 Soleil ~ Swatched here

Concealer ~ Maybelline Fit Me Concealer #20

Powder ~ The Body Shop Loose Powder #01

Brushes ~ Sigma E25 to blend concealer & Real Techniques Setting Brush to apply powder.

♥

Deepica's video:

Lovely girl! I think this beauty hack has changed many people's lives. Not to mention saved us some money too!

What do you all think? Have you tried this trick & found it helpful? 

Do share which lipsticks you have used with all of us! =)

Have a great week all....

Until next time......

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Purple Glitter Eye Makeup Tutorial

Pink Glitter 'Vs' Purple Glitter = Purple got the most votes (here). So here is the tutorial....finally!

I apologize for the delay. This is the 2nd time I did this pictorial - because I didn't like the first one too much & also, I kept searching for my Inglot Duraline to use with the glitter, hoping I'd find it, only to realize I'd sold it off in a Blog Sale! So I had to go old school, so as not to delay it any further.

STEP 1: After priming lids with an eyeshadow primer, apply purple eyeshadow on lids up to your crease line.

STEP 2: Also apply purple e/s on outer half of lower lash line.

STEP 3: Take some pink e/s on a blending brush, and sweep it along the edges of the purple e/s in a window wiper motion. Run the brush along the purple line on lower lash line as well. Blending tutorial here.

STEP 4: With a pointy pencil brush, apply a brown e/s on the outer V of upper lid.

STEP 5: Shade inside the V. Take more brown e/s to intensify the color.

STEP 6: With the same pencil brush, take a lilttle bit of matte black e/s, and make a V along the inner edges of the previous brown e/s. Just a little to define the crease line a little bit more (especially if you don't have a deep crease line), coz we don't black to overpower the other colors.

STEP 7: It should look something like that.

Just Kohl Pencil Smoky Eye Makeup ~ Step-By-Step Tutorial

I've gotten quite a few requests to do a very simple look with no eyeshadow, and with a minimum number of products. So here it is!

(This is also how I start off most of my smoky eye makeup looks, whether I'm using a kohl pencil or a cream eyeshadow.)

1. When using a smudgy kohl pencil, do prime lids with an eyeshadow primer first to prevent creasing. Line outer half of top & bottom lash line. Create a wing at the corner by joining both lines. I used brown, but you can use black or any other color. The kohl just has to be one with a blendable velvety texture.

2. Line inner half of top lash line. It doesn't have to look even and neat, coz you'll be smudging it out.

3. Tightline the inner rim of top lash line right at the base of lashes and fill in any gaps.

4. Now it's time to smudge. With a fairly stiff smudger brush, start smudging the edges of the kohl to diffuse the color. *Your brush should touch ONLY the top edges of the line you've drawn, and try not to go near the roots of your lashes.

5. Gradually move the brush up to the crease line. Work with your eye shape. I have hooded lids, so I go up to where my crease is supposed to be.

6. Also smudge the lower lash line. I didn't all the way in, coz I didn't want my eyes to look smaller.

7. It should look something like that once you're done smudging.

8. A fluffy blending brush will blur out any harsh lines and correct unevenness.

9. Curl lashes & apply mascara on top and bottom lashes....and you're DONE!

More: Dab a shimmery eyeshadow on the center of your lids with your pinky finger. You could also apply a black liquid or gel liner, depending on the look you're going for. You can do anything now that you've achieved the base of any smoky eye.

*(As always, please excuse any errors in the explanations! I usually have to come back and edit.)

I used only 6 products for this look:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer ~ Not shown

Bourjois Kohl & Contour Eye Pencil Brun Design ~ LOVE! Product Of The Week (look on the right sidebar of this blog)

Colorbar Smokin' Eyes Smudger Brush

Shu Uemura Gold Eyelash Curler

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara

♥

I hope you found this tutorial helpful & I will be posting the other promised Glitter Tutorial next week!

Btw, did you How I Met Your Mother fans watch the series finale? I watched it last week.

I still can't decide whether I liked the end or not, but I'm not disappointed & angry with it, like a lot of people are =D

A FB status: "I will never forgive them for how they ended HIMYM! I want to cry!!! T_T"

I wonder whom she wanted to cry for.

So! Another tv show is g-o-n-e *sighs* 

At least there's still Game Of Thrones!

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Video: My Night Time Skincare Routine ~ No Pimples, No Wrinkles

Hi all, hope you had a great weekend. Mine was half spent on editing & tweaking this video. I wanted to put this up because skincare is one of the most requested posts from readers & this routine is the one that suits my skin the best.

I had major pimple issues (big cystic ones!) in early 2013 (Post here), and ever since I started this routine, I stopped getting pimples & my skin became smoother and firmer.

I wasn't a planned video. Remember when I said I did something else after packing my makeup in this post? Well, I just decided to point my camera at me while I was doing my usual end-of-the-night face routine that night early morning (time flew to 4am!) That night, I was staying alone in Scotland while Mr.CZ was in Newcastle.

Play the video below. Hope you'll find it helpful!

Products Used:

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Cleansing Oil ~ I usually use MAC Cleanse Off Oil, which contains no Mineral Oil like this one, but it was finished. However, this is good too, and my skin has no issues with the mineral oil. I don't know why people say it's bad, considering it's in most baby products.

Clean&Clear Morning Energy Skin Brightening Facial Scrub.

Nivea Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Exfoliant Astringent Lotion.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo.

Olay Total Effects Day Cream (Normal)

Maybelline Baby Lips Hydrate.

The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Hand Lotion.

♥

If you liked this video, please SUBSCRIBE to my Youtube Channel HERE! Maybe I'll do a Day Time Routine & Special Skin Treatments Routine too someday. I have another video planned when I move to our new apartment. Hopefully, soon!

Mr.CZ & I would like to THANK all of you from the bottom of our hearts for all the good wishes & love on the Baby CZ post! I was so overwhelmed by all the heartfelt wishes & reading them made me feel a lil' more excited about this change in my life =)

I had gone for my first scan & I put a pic on my 2nd blog CZloves: here

Talk to you again shortly.

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How To Apply False Lashes ~ Step-by-Step Tutorial

I've had quite a few requests for this tutorial, so I wanted to to get it in before this year ends. It's the right time too, I guess, with all the parties coming up. Maybe those of you have never ever worn false lashes can practice now, and be ready to glam up your eyes even more on New Year's Eve!

Step-By-Step Tutorial:

[You can click to enlarge pic]

Step 1: Apply black liquid or gel liner. I'm using Bourjois Liner Feutre Felt Tip Eyeliner.

Step 2: Curl your natural lashes, so they don't fall limp when you layer the false ones on top of them. I'm using Shu Uemura Gold Eyelash Curler.

Step 3: Most times, falsies can be to straight and stiff, so curve the lashes inwards so they mimic the shape of your lash line. This will prevent the ends from sticking out of your lash line. I can't remember which lashes these are exactly, but I think they are Eylure Katy Perry Oh,Honey! which came with the glue. Shown here

Step 4: Glue a dot on both ends of lashes. The ends are most likely to come off, so I like to make sure they're glued properly.

Step 5: Apply glue on the whole band or vein. Try not to smudge it too much on the lashes or they'll stick to your natural lashes. Wait about 20 seconds for the glue to get tacky.

Step 6: Hold them pointing the band downwards and try to place on the center of lash line first. Do it carefully, so the glued ends don't touch your lid.

Step 7: With tweezers or an eyelash applicator, stick the outer end. Do it carefully, so the glued band doesn't touch your lid. I'm using Tweezerman Tweezers.

Step 8: Check if inner end aligns with the starting point of your natural lashes. If it looks too long, pull from outer end. This is easily done when you do it quickly while glue hasn't dried completely.

Step 9: Stick the inner end. See the end point? It won't poke the tear duct.

Step 10: Use the end of your tweezers to press the band down. Make sure there are no gaps.

Step 11: With a finger, lift both your natural and false lashes, and press down to make sure the false lash is sitting close to your natural lash line. Also pinch them both together so the false lashes don't point up too much.

Step 12: The glue usually dries clear, but sometimes you still see white spots. Use black liner to darken the spots.

Step 13: Apply black mascara to blend the false and real lashes together. Coat the base of your natural lashes well. This will stiffen your natural lashes and help them hold up the false ones. I prefer to use an old-ish mascara that's dried up a bit for this.

DONE!

Easy Bronzed Chocolate Eye Makeup Tutorial

Hi All! 

Are you mad at me for the lack of posts this week? Sorry about that. So many things went wrong during the last few days. Hope this tutorial on my current go-to eye makeup will make up for it. It's easy to do, and the colors go with everything and every occasion, especially Fall.

 1. Apply matte brown eyeshadow only on the crease. Layer it to gradually build the color as desired. If you have a deep socket and a big lid, blend the eyeshadow a little bit down.

2. Apple metallic bronze eyeshadow on lid. Also apply it on your lower lash line. Sort of join then in a C at the outer edge.

3. It should look like that. You can always re-apply both eyeshadows to intensify them. 

4. Take a brown gel liner or pencil and apply on lower lash line starting from outer corner, and bring it inwards but stop somewhere in the middle, not going all the way in. 

5. Use same brown liner on top lash line. Join it in a V with lower liner similar to what I did here. I won't line all the way to inner corner. I will stop at the part where my lash line begins to curve down.  

6. It should look like that. See how it blends with everything because it's brown?

7. Apply black mascara on top and bottom lashes. I could have chosen a better mascara, but they all need to be repurchased.

DONE! =)

How To: Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter

Hi, hi! Sorry for not posting for days. This was supposed to be up yesterday, but editing took longer. There was a false eyelash mishap that ruined most of the pics, sigh. Long story short: lash glue and mascara stuck together and clumped the lashes, I ignored, camera didn't.

This is one of the most requested tutorials! So many ladies want the JLo glow. For me personally, it's not a must-do, because I came from Delhi, where my face was always prone to sweating because of the heat. Now that I'm in cold Scotland, I do it quite often, and I see the why it's so sought-after. It does make your skin look more.....posh. Oh yes, Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) is also famous for her glowy cheeks.

Products I Used:

Bronzer ~ Benefit Hoola. Matte bronzer is always better.

Blush ~ MAC Bite Of An Apple. This was a Limited Edition blush.

Highlighter ~ MAC Soft And Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish. It's better to pick a highlighter that is more pearlescent than glittery. If you're using a liquid highlighter, just apply 3-5 tiny dots, and blend with finger.

Rest of the makeup: 

Face: I applied MUFE HD Foundation over Lakmé CC Cream, and they didn't agree very well, hence the spots.

Eyes: I used pinks & purples from the Sleek i-Divine Candy Palette. Swatches here

Lipstick here is MAC Betty Bright from Archie's Girls Collection. Shown here

How To: Intense Smudge Proof Black Kohl Liner

So many people have complained to me about their kajals & kohls smudging, so I thought I'd post this quick & simple mini tuto to show how I do mine.

Products Used:

• Bourjois Effet Smoky Pencil in Intense Black 
• Bourjois Intense Eyeshadow #10 
• MAC 266 Angled Liner Brush.

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? 

Tutorial: Winged Cut Crease Eye Makeup

Hello! Hope you all had a very Happy Friendship Day. I thought about making a quick post yesterday, and after pondering and searching my head for a meaningful and heartfelt message, I couldn't find it. I decided against a cartoon card from Google Images, and took a nap instead.

I'll wish you, my blog reader friends, with this step-by-step tutorial on how I created the Winged Cut Crease EOTD I posted last week here 

 ***The lighting changed in between because of the black eye shadow, so the pics didn't come out the same. I hate it when this happens.

1. Take a gel liner and draw 1st bit of line. Curve it according to the shape of your crease. If you have a deep crease line, draw it there. I used Maybelline Lasting Drama Black Gel Liner & Inglot 30T Eyeliner Brush. *Don't press the brush too much while drawing so it doesn't come out too thick. 

*My gel liner had dried up quite a bit, so it was difficult to make the line sharp.

2. Draw 2nd center bit. 

3. Draw the 3rd bit and curve it up towards the end of your eyebrow.

4. Draw downwards making a V. ***Try not to join from the tip straight away. That way it stays pointy when you start filling in. I hope the pic explains it better than I do =D

5. Draw on outer corner of lower lash line. It'll make it easier to line the outer edge straight.

6. Join the lines in the center. Also draw gel liner on lower lash line all the way to tear duct. Here, I mimicked the shape and curved the line out slightly as shown in Pic 7.

7.  Take a matte black eyeshadow with a pointy eyeliner brush or any small brush and shade inside the black gel liner as shown. I used Urban Decay Blackout from Naked 2 Palette.

8. Apply a shimmery eyeshadow on the center of lid. I used Urban Decay Half Baked (Gold) & YDK (bronze), both from Naked 2 Palette

9.  Apply the black e/s on the outer edge again over the outer edges of the shimmery e/s so it looks like the gold is peeking through the black.

10. Apply the same shimmery gold e/s on the inner tear duct area and lower lash line inside the black liner.

11. Line top lash line close to lashes with the same black gel liner.

12. Apply mascara on top & bottom lashes. I wore False Lashes here. I used Eylure Katy Perry Oh, My! lashes. 

EOTD: Winged Cut Crease Eye Makeup

I wanted to do the Pencil Shading technique for you guys, but I think that needs to be seen. So I came up with a similar but easier version for a pictorial. Step-By-Step pics on how I did it coming shortly. 

It's different from the Winged Eyeshadow I'd done before here, not to mention more challenging because of the precision required. 

 

What do you think? Something you'd want to try on yourself? 

Fifty Shades Of Grey Inspired Look & Smoky Grey Eye Makeup Tutorial

"Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, this is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever." ~ Fifty Shades Of Grey by E L James.

I've had this post in my head for over a year. I had almost everything, except the most important thing- the Grey Tie. It had to be very similar to the one on the book cover. In New Delhi, I went to all the shops that sell men's formal wear - Lifestyle, Shopper's Stop, Van Heusen, Arrow, etc. It became an obsession. I kept saying to the man that I wanted to buy it for him, but really it's for me ;p

Then we moved to Newcastle. I looked for one there too. I read that grey ties had become a trend in UK after the book, and I wondered if they just meant London. I was so confident I'd find it quickly there that I bought a grey eyeshadow & a grey nail polish. But no luck.

Then about 6 months later, when I'd almost given up, in a shop in Dubai {Koton}, I found something close (or it found me!) By close, I mean something textured, not with stripes or plain.

When I created this look, it's not the female protagonist, Anastasia Steele, who inspired me, it's her complicated & highly controlling lover with very dark secrets ~ Christian Grey.

Here's the step-by-step tutorial on how I did the eyes:

1. Take matte black eyeshadow on a pointy pencil brush, tap or blow the brush so there's minimal fallout, apply it on the outer corner & inner corner. Do it like you're drawing a C. Curve the black e/s all the way to the hollow of your crease. I used Sleek Makeup Noir from Oh So Special Palette with Sigma E40 brush.

2. With a clean blending brush, join the two C's at the crease by running the brush back & forth in a windshield wiper motion. I used Sigma E25 brush.

3. It should look like that. You could add more black if you prefer it darker. 

4. Wet a flat shader brush and wipe/squeeze off excess water before using it to apply the grey eyeshadow on the center of lid, not touching the edges of the black e/s. Applying eyeshadows with a damp brush make them look more vibrant, and it gives shimmery eyeshadows that foiled effect + they stick to skin better. I used 2 grey eyeshadows- Rimmel Glam Eyes Mono Eye Shadow Night Jewel & Sleek Makeup Glitz from Oh So Special Palette with Sigma E60 brush

5. Apply the same grey eyeshadow on the center of your lower lash line.

6. With the pencil brush & matte black eyeshadow you used before, apply on the outer 1/4th of lower lash line. Join it with the black e/s on upper outer corner.

7.  Do the same on inner 1/4th near the tear duct.

8. It should look like that.

9.  Apply black kohl on the upper waterline & lower waterline, but only on either side leaving the grey area in the center. I used Lakmé  Kohl Ultimate. *This method does not suit my eyes, and makes me look drunk (hehe!), mainly because I have hooded lids. I should have lined and smudged the black all the way.

10. Apply black liquid or gel liner close to your lash line. Line straight out till it touches the edge of the black eyeshadow at the outer corner. I used L'Oreal Super Liner Instant Impact Felt Liner.

11. Touch up the black eyeshadow if needed. Here, I applied a little bit more and repeated step 2.  

12. I put on false lashes, and applied black mascara on top & bottom lashes. I used Eylure 101 lashes & Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara.

DONE! 

 I hope you'll try it. You could always replace the grey with other colors, any color you want- gold, bronze, peach, green, blue, beige/taupe, etc.

Products I Used:

Face: MAC Prep+Prime Line Filler, Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundtion #54 Beige, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer Medium, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer, NARS Loose Powder Beach.

Blush: Sleek Blush Dolly Mix from Blush By 3 Sweet Cheeks. Swatched here 

Bronzer: Benefit Hoola. Swatched here 

Lips: Bourjois Levres Contour Lip liner #12 Facetieuse, Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick #32. Blotted those, then I applied Bourjois Levres Contour Lip Liner #11 Enjoleuse. Yes, I was confused what to wear, and should have applied only the last one! =D

Grey Nail Polish: Miss Sporty Lasting Colour in New Black

Shirt with bubble sleeves: Mango Suit.
Grey Dress: Guess
Grey Tie: Koton
Silver Earrings: Forever 21

***[This is for readers under 18 years of age: I don't want to sound like a parent, but I would advise you not to read this book until you're over 18. Better yet, wait till you're 25.]

"Laters, baby."

Pretty Little Lipstick ~ LOTD

I'm not the type of girl who wears cutesy side ponytails, but I was having a bad (unwashed) hair day, so I sprayed some Batiste Lace Dry Shampoo & hastily tied it up like that. So please ignore anything that doesn't look right. By the way, I haven't had a haircut for 9 months! My hair has reached my waist, and it needs a trim, badly. I'm looking for a good salon in Dundee that doesn't charge 2000-4000 INR for a cut. I'm telling you, never leave the India, okay? =D

I wore this makeup 3 days in a row, because it doesn't take much time, and I pair it with Product Of The Week ~ Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon in Peach On The Beach. I am in love with this buttery lip crayon.

"Frozen" =D

Face:

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation #54 Beige

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer #3 Medium

The Body Shop Loose Powder #01.

Cheeks:

Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder Blonde (Also on forehead, chin, nose)

MeMeMe Coral Blush . Swatches here 

Eyes: 

Step-By-Step Tutorial posted here

Brows: 

Too Faced Brow Envy Kit + Bourjois Intense Eyeshadow #10 (Black) << I use black on my brows only when I'm doing close ups, like in tutorials.

Nails: 

Ciaté Pocket Money. Swatches here

Lips: 

Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon Peach On The Beach

Bourjois Color Boost Peach On The Beach

You know what's pumping in my ears as I write this?.....

Happy Friday! 

2-in-1 Eye Makeup Tutorial ~ Metallic Eyes & V-Kohl Eyeliner

What would you name this look? I didn't know what to call it, so I went with Metallic Eyes & V-Kohl. I hear laughing in my head. Good thing I ditched 'Golden Pomegranate Eyes' 

This eye makeup may look "formal", but it's really not. Yes, you could wear it to a wedding, but it wouldn't look o-t-t if you wore it on a family picnic either. You'll see*

I've split this tutorial into two, so that I get to show you in detail  how I did the eyeliner, as well.

Products I Used:

• Shimmery Cream Eyeshadow ~ Maybelline 24Hr Color Tattoo Metallic Pomegranate or Pomegranate Punk
• Gold Eyeshadow ~ Urban Decay Half Baked from Naked Palette.
• Black Kohl & Eyeshadow ~ Lakmé Kohl Ultimate, Bourjois Intense Eyeshadow #10
• Mascaras ~ Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama & Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume.
• Brushes ~ Sigma E25 Blending Brush, Urban Decay Good Karma Brush.

1st Tutorial is the Metallic Eyeshadow:

1. Take Metallic Pomegranate on ring finger.

2.  Apply it on your lid till your crease.

3. It should look like that. It's okay if the edges aren't neat right now.

4. Now take the same color tattoo on a fluffy blending brush, and go over the edges of the  shadow using windshield wiper & circular motions.

5. Keep blending from one end to the other.

6. Once the edges look hazy, apply a gold eyeshadow on the inner half of your lid, but don't touch the upper edge of the previous e/s.

7. Apply the gold on your inner corner around your tear duct, as well.

8. Apply the same gold e/s on the outer half of lower lash line.

9. Apply the same metallic pomegranate on the inner half of lower lash line.

*I'm doing this to balance the look.

10. Line your top & bottom waterline with black kohl pencil. Tutorial below.

11. Apply lots of mascara on top & bottom lashes. I applied 3 coats of Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama first, then about 2-3 coats of Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara. Lashes look more clumpy up-close only.

12. DONE! 

♥ 

Now, on to the 2nd Tutorial ~ The V-Kohl 

1. Sharpen your kohl pencil first, then  tightline upper lash line. That means lining on the roots of your lashes.

2.  Line waterline all the way to the inner tear duct area.

3. See how that closes up my eye & makes it look smaller?

4. Start lining the top lash line. It's better not to drag it in one go. Make dots and join, instead.

5. Make kohl thicker at the outer corner. Extend it a little past the corner of your eye.

6. It should look like that.

7. That white line is just to show you how to join with it with the lower lash line. 

8. From the tip of upper kohl, line downwards toward lower lash line, stopping before the edge of your eyeball, allowing the gold e/s to still show. Fill inside the V or the <

9. Lastly, take some matte black eyeshadow on an angled or pointed liner brush and press it on  kohl. Again, don't drag the brush. This will prevent it from smudging & also even out the edges.

10.  Just mimic the previous steps. Press black eyeshadow on lower lash line....

11. .....and upper lash line. 

12. DONE!  

It's my favorite way to line my eyes, i.e. when my kohl is sharp. Bollywood actresses like Bipasha Basu, Rani Mukherjee & Aishwarya Rai  line their eyes this way a lot.

If you line all the way in on the bottom lash line, you'll achieve Rani Mukherjee's heavy kohl-ed eyes like I did in the Bombay Talkies inspired look here.

♥ 

Hope you picked up some tips from these 2 tuts (two.toots.) I will be posting more before the month ends.

* [Full look with this eye makeup coming up shortly.] ~ Updated

More pics here

How To Conceal Undereye Circles ~ Tutorial

In all my years of beauty blogging, I think this one of the most requested. So many readers are troubled by panda eyes. I personally don't have major dark circles (I have other major skin problems, so I'm thankful this is not one one them). Still, my eyes look tired without any concealer under them, especially on sick/stressful days, and when I'm wearing heavy eye makeup. Some days I apply an extra layer of foundation, some days a concealer is necessary.

Here, I applied some kohl and mascara beforehand, so that they bring out my dark circles more. Black kohl on your lower lash line really brings out your under eye bags, and emphasize the shadows under your eyes.

IVC Tutorial Month ~ Tutorial #2

Step 1: Apply Eye Cream. The skin on your undereye area is thin & delicate, so eye cream will act as a protective layer the concealer can adhere to. Use your ring finger for this as it's the gentlest of all your fingers.

Step 2:  This is important. To prevent your concealer from looking too cakey & cut down blending time, apply and dot concealer only on prominent hollows & shadows. To locate them,  tilt your head down and look up at a mirror. Here, I used a thin liner brush to apply concealer in the hollow and to dot under the eye bags, inner corner & the outer corner between my top & bottom lash lines. You can use your concealer wand or a Q -tip (earbud), too.

Step 3:  Blend the concealer with a blending brush or fingers. You can blend the concealer on your eyelids as well. I prefer not to because concealer usually doesn't blend well with my eye shadow primer and ends with looking blotchy.

Step 4:  Pat the blended concealer with your ring finger just to make sure it's all smooth and ready to be set.

Step 5:  Take some loose powder with the same fluffy brush (or another, if the same is too wet), and dab it on top of the concealer. This will set it in place & prevent creasing.

DONE! 

What a difference, right? My eyes eye looks more awake & less tired! =) 

Products I Used:

• Botanics Radiant Youth Hydrating Eye Cream by Boots
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in #3 Medium 
• The Body Shop Loose Powder #01
• Brushes: To apply concealer- Inglot 30T eyeliner brush. To blend & powder- Colorbar Emphaeyes Eye Blending Brush .

Picking the right products:

• If your dark circles are very dark & almost purplish or bluish, try to pick a concealer with yellow or peach undertones. Anything pinkish will make dark circles look greyish.
• Stick to creamy concealers that will blend well & not settle into fine lines.
• Avoid powders that have pink in them, stick to translucent or yellow-toned powders. 

Good Undereye Concealers: I like a few- Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer, Kryolan Cream Concealers, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot, YSL Touche Eclat, etc.

Although I have yet to try them myself, I've heard these are good: Maybelline Fit Me & Eraser Concealers, Revlon PhotoReady Concealer, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealers & Correctors.

I guess there are a lot of concealers to be explored, and it will require a separate blog post.

I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Do tell us if you have any favorite undereye concealers.