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1/14/13

How To Buy The Right Foundation

I know foundation shopping is a tough chore. It's become easier these days with beauty blogs that give you a pretty good idea if a particular foundation is what you're looking for. BUT picking the right shade is still a challenge for a lot of people. I've lost count of the number of foundations I've used, but I'm still not a 100% confident when it comes to picking the right shade.
Once, when I was buying Revlon Colorstay Foundation at a Watsons in Kuala Lumpur, I almost went mad! Mr.CZ had left me alone to do my makeup shopping, and when he came back after an hour, I had not moved an inch from the Revlon shelf. My hands & arms were dirty with swatches, I was so exhausted, and I think I wanted to cry a little bit. Really. I wanted to sit on the floor like a child, raise my arms & cry out: "HELP ME! WARM GOLDEN OR THIS BEIGE-SOMETHING??? SOMEBODY! WHY ARE YOU ALL STARING AT ME?!!!" I told you I almost went mad.
It has gotten easier since then. Buying my most recent foundation (Rimmel Wake Me Up) took only a minute or two. I thought it would be kind of helpful if I shared a few tips and things like that. 

What I do: 

  • Set a day for foundation shopping, and I don't wear much makeup on my face that day.
  • Take along a bottle of my favorite foundation shade for comparison*. I swatch it on my hand & swatch the others alongside it to find the closest matching shade. For me, it's Make Up For Ever HD Foundation #120. You'll see why below.
  • *Don't use up all of your favorite foundation or throw away the bottle, so you can use it as a guide to buy your next foundation. Unless you're buying the exact same one.
  • If I didn't carry my "guiding foundation", I'll pick shades like Nude, Beige, Sand.... basically, shades that look more yellow & I'd swatch them all on my arm in an orderly fashion (smallest number first), so I don't forget which is which if they look very similar.
  • Then I'll take the foundations from the swatches on my arm with my fingers & apply them on my jawline or neck side-by-side.
  • I'll pick the shade that blends into my jawline & neck perfectly.
  • I take a pack of Wet Wipes & tissues. They make swatching many shades at the same time so much easier. In India, they may not be as important, because most stores have SA's who are always ready with cotton balls & cleansing milk. But in drugstores, there's no such service, you're on your own. 
  • Having a handbag mirror which has a magnifying mirror on one side can be super helpful when buying foundation.

1/11/13

Mehr & Me ~ LOTD

A spontaneous look I did in between coughing fits. I ate 2 small packets of popcorn one night and next day my throat got so sore & my voice almost gone. I usually like having sore throat so I can sing "I'm all out of faith....this is how I feel....I'm cold and I am shamed....lying naked on the floor...." but this time I don't sound  exactly like Natalie Imbruglia.
Anyways, this is how MAC Mehr Lipstick looks on me. I'm liking it a lot, and it actually looks better in pictures.
Face: Garnier BB Cream, Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, Maybelline Cover Stick Concealer & Rimmel Nude Scandaleyes Kohl to conceal, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder.
*Confession: I forgot to conceal under my left eye! Because I only planned to do a EOTD with just the right eye... haha! See how my concealed right eye (with YSL Touche Eclat) looks more lifted & my left eye looks dragged down and tired? Especially in 1st photo.
Cheeks: MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish. Shown here 
Eyes ~ Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (review & swatches to come), Rimmel Extreme Definition Eye Definer Black, Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara
Lips: MAC Mehr Lipstick (Matte). Photos & Swatches here 
Earrings: Accessorize 
Peach Leather Jacket: ZARA.

1/10/13

M.A.C INTRODUCES EXCLUSIVE WEDDING TROUSSEAU SERVICE FOR INDIA

M.A.C INTRODUCES EXCLUSIVE WEDDING TROUSSEAU SERVICE FOR INDIA 

With the wedding season right around the corner, M.A.C Cosmetics introduces an exclusive and  luxurious Wedding Trousseau Service in India, for all the beautiful brides-to-be ahead of their special day! 

M.A.C professional makeup artists, the  bridal makeup experts, have been enhancing Indian brides’ beauty for a long time. Now, we are celebrating this specialist area by introducing a tailor-made service along with a beautiful trousseau. This service will teach brides  how to achieve a variety of looks for throughout their married life and select makeup products that will  create  and complete their very own trousseau  to keep forever. 

“Educating   customers  is  an  integral  part  of  M.A.C’s  artistry   expertise   globally.   We  strive   to   make   every woman  feel   beautiful   for   now   and   forever”  explains  Sonic   Sarwate,   Senior   Artist,   M·A·C   India. “Indian women continue to inspire beauty  all over the world  and I’m personally proud that we have now created  something that celebrates and enhances their individual style and beauty for such a memorable occasion in their lifetime.” 

1/9/13

Battle Of The Lakmé Eye Pencils: Eyeconic Kajal 'Vs' Kohl Ultimate

A handful of readers wanted a comparison between these 2 Lakmé eye pencils, so here goes....
I have reviewed both of them:
  • Lakmé Eyeconic Kajal Review ~ here 
  • Lakmé Nine To Five Kohl Ultimate Review ~ here

One is definitely better than the other. Let's find out which one!
Price:   Eyeconic Kajal-Rs.199  |   Kohl Ultimate- Rs.650.
Pigmentation: They are both black, but Kohl Ultimate is more intense. Also, I had to press Eyeconic Kajal harder to draw the swatch above.
Pencil Softness: Kohl Ultimate is softer, gentler & glides more smoothly. Eyeconic Kajal gets harder especially in winters, and sometimes I get that something-is-in-my-eye feeling when I have it on. I never get that with Kohl Ultimate.
Comfort: As I'm writing this, I have Kohl Ultimate on my left eye & Eyeconic Kajal on my right eye. My right eye wants to blink more, left eye is relaxed.

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish Swatches

Because this is a Limited Edition product, I thought I'd post quick swatches in case some of you are considering getting it. I will post a review with a face swatch sometime. 
MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish is one of MAC's most popular & hyped limited edition products. Whenever it comes out, it sells out very very quickly. I think that's the main reason I wanted to get it. I wanted to see for myself what the big deal is, you know. It recently came out with MAC Après Chic Collection (for the third time, I think?)

1/8/13

Indian Women Reveal Their Make-up Habits & Secrets

This is an infographic that Revlon India sent over after they got the results from polls they conducted in their Facebook page in an attempt to understand Indian women’s habits on cosmetics. More than 70,000 women participated in these polls. All this was part of the launch of the revolutionary Revlon ColorStay Whipped Crème


Let's see what my habits & secrets (if that) are:
I am BUGGED most by foundation that.... is too dry to blend effortlessly & end up looking cakey.
I normally apply foundation using..... brush. Sometimes with fingers. If you want to avoid the unnatural look, get a synthetic buffing brush like the Sigma F80
How often do you apply foundation? It's part of my daily makeup routine. It makes everything else look better.... look complete.  
How much time do you spend applying makeup? 15-30 mins. 
Which compliment would you feel happier to receive? "WOW! Your skin looks flawless! It's glowing! It doesn't look like you have makeup on!"  =D
How many times do you touch up your makeup in a day? Powder- once or twice, depending on the weather. Lipstick- more than 3 times for sure.
What's your skin type? Oily/Combination. Verging on Normal in winters.
[Err... what about "How much are you willing to spend on a foundation?" 
I'll answer it anyways: No more than ( Rs.1000 Rs.900 if it's a drugstore brand.] 
Good news:  Revlon ColorStay Whipped Crème retails for Rs.800. I will be reviewing it soon-ish.
 
If you feel like it, do copy the questions and jot down your own answers in the comments below =)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

MAC Archie's Girls Collection!


How did I not know about this sooner?!!! MAC is releasing a collection inspired by Betty & Veronica of Archie's comics. Oh....my....bows!
Did you know? 
You know how I came to know?
My blog stats. A bunch of people looking for "MAC Archie's Girls swatches" landed here last night. It was more than once, so I got curious.
My first thought was lipstick from some new collection. I hadn't thought about Jughead's two-timing idiot friend in a really long time.
I did my favorite thing. I googled.... and.....

1/7/13

The Girly Girl's USB & Wallet Drive ~ Classy, Fabulous & PINK!

"A Girl Should Be Two Things..
Classy & Fabulous."
- Coco Chanel.

And she should also have fancy jewelry-inspired USB's and drives to store all her fabulous photos & data.... and yes, if they are pink & have  diamonds crystals on them, even better!

1/5/13

Jewelry Haul ~ Accessorize & Primark (Boxing Day Sales)

These are all the jewelry I got on Boxing Day. If you're not familiar with this day, it falls on the 26th of December, and most stores in the UK (and a few other countries) put up major sales for some reason. Don't ask me why it's called 'Boxing Day'. I read about it on Wiki, but I don't remember... maybe I didn't even understand. 
Anyways! I'm very happy with my haul, especially Accessorize because I find it more expensive in the UK & I'd been waiting for the sale for months!
Accessorize Jewelry: All 50% off
  • Carved Rose & Leaf Ring ~  £2 (Rs.177)
  • Gold Earrings ~ £3 (Rs.265)
  • 3 sets of gold hoops ~ £2.50 (Rs.220). 
  • Gold Chain Hair Bando ~  £4 (Rs.354)

Maybelline Superstay 14HR Lipsticks Review & Swatches

I've already given you a preview of Maybelline Superstay 14HR Lipsticks, so you can click here to see more pics. I have 2 shades: Infinitely Fuchsia & Stay With Me Coral, and will talk about them separately here.
Finish: Semi-matte & opaque with some sheen. They are not velvety matte (like MAC or Colorbar mattes). I'd say they feel kind of sticky- used sellotape sticky. For a smooth application, you have to avoid locking your lips in between. It's one of those high maintenance lipsticks.
14 hours, really? Not really. They last, but the texture start to crack like candle wax and begin to look flaky where your lips meet, after eating & drinking. Then it's uneven city. Maybe they'll last that long only on the outer edges =D
Fragranced? Yes. They smell of cherries.... maybe even pineapple pastry. I love.
Packaging: Cute. Young. Color coordinated- every shade has its own individual matching casing.
Infinitely Fuchsia 160: I'm so in love with this vibrant fuchsia color. If you're looking for a true blue-based fuchsia, this might be up your street. You can see how intense & opaque it is, and that's what I like best about it. It is more intense & deeper than Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense #32 Satin Fuchsia

1/3/13

Accessorize Lipstick Smitten Review & Swatches

First official makeup blog post of 2013! I wanted to show you something so very pretty. A lipstick with floral prints....butterflies.... and an owl. On top of that, it's called 'Smitten'! I love that word, because I feel it all the time.
*If you hate anti-climaxes, I apologize in advance. But it's not like the series finale of 'Lost'.