MAC me over - blog sale

I bought a few things from MAC me over collection, but I have dupes in my collection so I thought I would have a blog sale rather than returning them since they are sold over everywhere and it would be a pity to see them being trashed..

Please send me an email with your offer. Shipping is $3 for each item - USA only at this time (sorry..).

All items are still in their boxes, and have been swatched 1-2x.

[1] MAC Stunner Blush
[2] MAC Midnight Blues Fluidline - sold
[3] MAC Avenue Fluidline - sold

Question from reader: Best eye cream

Question: I love your blog. And I am so glad I found it. I love your article on the skincare routine. Please could you have one on eyes. Due to genetics, and just having 2 small kids (less sleep at times) , I have major under eye circles and even wrinkles. Do you have an eyecream you use. I found the ones you said for the face very effective. Please help!!


Answer:
First, thanks so much for the lovely compliments :) Unfortunately, I have not found an eye cream that will reduce eye circles and wrinkles. IMHO, any eye cream that claims to do so is hokey..


I basically use my facial moisturizer as an eye cream. That said, these are some products that I have enjoyed using:


(in no particular order)
1. Nivea cream:
The blue tin, German formula. I especially love this in winter.

2. Dermdoctor Wrinkle Revenge Rescue & Protect Eye Balm
I got a generous sample of this in one of my online sephora.com purchases. My eye area felt really moisturized. 

 

The following two, somewhat helped with brightening my under eye area, but not significantly:

3. Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller
More than anything, I love rolling the cool roller ball under my eyes. Seems so soothing in the mornings.

4. Bobbi Brown Hydrating Cream
This cream has a silicony feel, and almost acts like a primer under concealer.

Follow New York Fashion Week live!!

If you love fashion as much as I do, then you will be thrilled to know that you can follow New York Fashion week live at http://www.youtube.com/liverunway

Yippee!!!!!!!!!

Let me know if you loved any of the makeup looks, and want me to recreate them.

Review: Fresh Rose Mask

What it is:
A hydrating and toning gel mask that contains real rose petals.

What it is formulated to do:
Rose Face Mask is a hydrating and toning gel mask that restores suppleness and radiance to the skin. The first-of-its-kindformula contains real rose petals that literally melt into your skin. The formula contains 50% pure rose floral water and is enriched with cucumber extract, rose oil, aloe vera, and porphyridium cruentum (a "smart" algae that seeks out the areas of your skin that needs moisture the most).

What else you need to know:
This innovative mask, formulated with real rose petals, was certainly an industry first. In fact, when Lev Glazman, co-founder and Director of R&D, initially briefed his team of chemists on the project he was told it couldn't done. After months of research and lab experiments, Rose Face Mask formula was approved and launched in 2001.


My review:
Fresh Rose Mask is bloody expensive! 3.4oz retails for $55. The jar is massive and it should last for at least 6 months if I use it weekly.

As soon as you open the jar, you are enveloped in a soft rose fragrance tempered with cucumber. It is truly fresh!! You can see rose petals suspended in the mask. The texture is like a gel, and the mask when applied is translucent. The color is brown.

I cleanse my skin, dry it and then apply a thin layer of the mask. On my tanned skin, I cant even see the mask. My first thought is how cooling, and soothing it feels. The fragrance is truly luxurious, reminds me of a spa. I leave the mask on for 10 mins and wash it off with warm water.

Results: OMG!! This mask is a god sent for folks with dry flakey skin. I had recently tried an at home microdermabrasion product, and it scrapped my skin OUCH, and left black marks. You know the type you get when you scrape your knee... I had to cover it with 5 layers of concealer and foundation..but I digress. This mask hydrated my skin so much that when I gently rubbed the towel over those scabs, they came off immediately. Halleluiah!!

Overall, if you can shell out the money, I would highly recommend this mask. You must at least get a sample from sephora and give it a try. Let me know what you think. I just know you will love it!!

What are your favorite hydrating masks?

Review: Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

From sephora.com
What it is:
A rich, velvety balm that dramatically helps repair damaged hair.

What it does:
This now legendary, cult classic features Ojon oil, nature's golden elixir, in its purest, most powerful form. After just one treatment, this rich, velvety balm dramatically helps repair damaged hair and increases strength against breakage. A must-have for lifeless, dull, brittle, frizzy, flyaway, or unmanageable hair, this product restores vibrant health to even the most deeply damaged hair.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
This balm is scented with the creamy, sweet aroma of Tonka Bean, Vetiver, and Benjoin.

Research results:
In a dry combing study using shampoo and Restorative Hair Treatment, participants saw 64% improvement in the condition of dry, damaged hair after just one treatment.


My review:
This mask is not cheap. 1.5oz costs $19.50, and 3.1oz is $33.

The consistency is like vaseline. But when you rub it between your hands it melts instantly and turns to oil. I apply it generously to my ends and reduce the amount as I move towards the roots.

I leave it overnight as a treatment, and wash my hair the next day. It did not stain my white cotton pillows. The product reminds me of the times when I was young and my mom used to oil my hair. This never worked for me, since the massage caused a LOT of hair fall. So I no longer oil my hair, and use this product instead.

Results are just stunning!! My hair was becoming rather dry (even after religiously applying the One n Only restorative mask weekly). I felt like my hair needed some over night treatment. The next day I wash with One n Only products and my hair is so shiny, and so soft.

The cons, and these are some serious cons with the product: the product really stinks. Not just of tobacco, but like stale tobacco - I smelt like an ashtray all night. The smell goes away when you wash your hair, thank god.

But, the product makes my hair so beautiful, that I endure the smell. Overall, if you can get past the fragrance issue, you will really enjoy this product. I highly recommend it!!

Review: One 'n Only Argan Oil Products

I am not much of a "hair person", but of late as with skincare, I have decided to reduce the sulphate and parabens in my hair products as well. Also, I recently had a brazilian blowout treatment and got highlights which means I also needed a product that would not fade my color.

After trying many many products, I found the best and most affordable sulphate and paraben free shampoo and conditioner; the brand is called One 'n Only Argan Oil and can be purchased from Sally Beauty.


What I like about these products:

•     Free of sulfates, phosphates and parabens


•     Safe for chemically and color-treated hair: 


•     Provides color protection


•     Affordable. All products mentioned below retail for $9.49 ($8.49 with the sally beauty card). Also sally beauty often has 20-25% off sales.

[1] One 'n Only Argan Oil Shampoo
This product does not strip my hair. It adds volume and improves shine and manageability. The argan oil hydrates my hair. I love it so much that I take multiple bottles for my family when I visit India :-)


[2] One 'n Only Argan Oil Conditioner
While I LOVE the shampoo, the conditioner is okay. Not very moisturusing. This I will not repurchase. If you have dry hair skip this and get the mask below.

[3] One 'n Only Argan Oil Restorative Mask:
I use this in the shower once a week as a heavy conditioner. I leave it on for 15 mins while I shave etc. It product claims to: "help improve texture and manageability. Leaves hair looking healthy with incredible shine. Provides color protection and helps reverse damage caused by environmental factors, heat stress, and chemical color treatments" - and it really delivers!!

Smokey gray brown look

Quick tip: how to make primer last on my lids?

I have oily lids and most primers just slide off, and my beautifully applied eyeshadows would get creased by noon.

I was determined to make primers work for me. So after trying almost all primer on the market, I thought about changing the routine or steps that I use to apply my makeup. Usually, I did my face first and then the eyes. So I thought let me do my eyes first. I applied primer to BARE skin, and then did my eye makeup, then my face. AND VIOLA!! UDPP worked like magic!! Maybe this is a known fact, but I sure discovered it by trial and error, and thought I would share my discovery with you:):)

If you have pigmented lids, apply any primer to bare skin again (dont put concealer/foundation yet). Let it dry, and then apply a base like MAC paintpot to even the lids.

This technique worked for me, but as usual each person's skin reacts differently to products. Hope this helps someone..

TAG: If All My Makeup Disappeared, Which (10?) Would You Replace First.

Here are my 10:

1. Black gel liner: BB Black Ink


2. Mascara: Prestige my longest lashes


3. Shu lash curler


4. A bent eyeliner brush: sonia kashuk


5. MAC 217 brush


6. MAC eyeshadow in brule


7. MAC foundation full coverage C40


8. MAC ladyblush creme blush


9. Revlon brown fantasy in brunette


10. NYX lipliner Natural

I would LOVE to hear what your 10 products are...

Bipasha Basu inspired purple look

Inspiration:

My rendition:

Items used:
lid: MAC violet pigment, dust MAC reflects pink very slightly to add glitter
crease: MAC sketch e/s, MAC Entremauve pigment, MAC Shadowy lady e/s
waterline: smudge the crease eyeshadows here
highlight: UD virgin (naked palette), wrong choice in hindsight. too shimmery

Review It Cosmetics: Bye Bye Undereye Concealer

I am completely loving this concealer nowadays. I have reviewed a ton of concealers here (part 1) and here (part 2). This concealer was included in part 2, so please read the details there.

In this post, I am attempting to include pictures to show you the concealing and brightening effect of this product.

With out concealer. I dont have very back dark circles, but I don have some

Undereye area with concealer. I have not yet applied foundation so the forehead etc is looking really dark in comparison.

Do you like this makeup? Check out this post for details.

MAC "Mac me over" Collection!!!!!!!

It's supposed to be released on Aug 25th. These are some things that I am eyeing!

• Social Light, Curvaceous lipgloss


• Butternutty shadestick


• Equilibrium and stunner blushes


• all neutral eyeshadows if they are unique: Moleskin, Creamy Bisque, carbonized, outre


• Avenue, midnight blues fluidline

What are you planning in getting from this collection?

Top 5: Must Have MAC blushes for NC40-43 women

MAC blushes retail for $18.50, or you can buy refills for $16.50

[1] Ladyblush (Perm, cream)
Demure pink flush. Perfect for work, pulls a bit of peach on me.

[2] Prim n Proper (LE, powder)
It's the color of my natural flush. The perfect nude/pink color with a little bit of brown! The closest dupe is I found is NARS Douceur which I found was really hard to blend, I dont know why.


[3] Peaches (Perm, powder)
Pure peach (Sheertone). Other favs in peach family are Pinch O Peach (Perm, powder) and Hipness (LE, powder). I like to layer Springsheen (Golden tawny peach, Sheertone shimmer, perm) on it when I want a golden glowy peach look, or PeachyKeen (Very baby peach, Sheertone shimmer, perm)  when I want a glowy soft peach look.

[4] Dollymix (Perm, powder)
Pure candy pink (Sheertone Shimmer)

[5] Fab (LE, powder)
Soft sparkely plum brown. Closest permanent dupe that I found is NARS Sin.

Top 5 MAC Lipsticks

In order of preference/used most frequently. All MAC lipsticks are usually $14.50.

1. Bare again (supreme sheen)


2. Velvet Teddy:Deep-tone beige (Matte) 


3. Half n Half: Creamy pink (Amplified Creme)


4. Cherish:Soft muted peachy-beige (Satin) 


5. Viva Glam V:Neutral pink with pearl (Lustre)   

Honorable mentions:

• Viva Glam II: Muted pink-beige with shimmer (Satin)  


• Brave New Bronze (LE): Pinky Peach

UD Naked Palette: Look 2 (day time weekend)

Here is another look, still natural but I would wear this on weekends and not to work.

Colors used:
Lid: half baked
crease: naked and buck
outer v: dark horse
upper lashline: smudge creep, and the define with any black liquid line (I am lovingg laura mercier cake liner in black)
lower lash line: lakme black kohl, inner 1/3 half baked, outer 2/3 darkhorse

Love of the week - Fay Farm Shea Body Butters..yum!!

As you know I am a sucker for floral smells, and since I have uber dry skin I am always on the lookout for moisturizing creams that are NOT greasy! I am also trying to "go natural" and reducing sulfates and parabens from my products. I tried the following two products from TheFayFarm.com

Shea Body Butter in Lavendar and Cucumber Jasmine.

Ingredients: Shea butter, Cocoa butter, Sunflower & Safflower oils, Coconut oil & Beeswax, fragrance & essential oils.

Sizes: They come in 2 sizes: 4oz ($18) and 1.7oz ($10)

The quality of the shea butter is insanely awesome, and the product just melts as I rub it between my palms. I need only a tiny amount of my entire body. It absorbs instantly, and leaves a lovely sheen, NOT GREASE on my body. The scent is strong, but not overpowering, and lasts for 3-4hrs.

UD Naked Palette: Look 1 (day time natural)

Hi all

As requested, I will post a few looks primarily using the Urban Decay Naked palette. This first look is day time, office appropriate.

Btw, if you dont have the UD Naked palette, look at this post where I compare it to MAC eyeshadows.

Items used

Lid: sin, highlight, virgin, eyeliner: creep, lower lashline: darkhorse

First few pics only have sin on the lid. you can stop here, or add some Buck and Naked to define the crease as shown here

Defined crease with Buck, blend with Naked

Another pic of defined crease

Top 5 MAC Lipglosses

In order of preference/used most frequently

1. Ample Pink (soft rose, $18.50, plushglass)
2. Lust (Soft muted pink, $14.50, lipglass)
3. Viva Glam V (Neutral pink with pearl, $14.50, lipglass)
4. Big Baby (Peach with pink and white pearl, $18.50, plushglass)
5. Lovechild (Coppered plum, $14.50, lipglass)

EOTD: smudged eyeliner

items used:

Lid: MAC brule, MAC Naked pigment

Crease: UD shakedown, MAC Espresso

Liner: MAC Carbon, define with any black gel liner

Highlight: MAC Naked pigment

Soft smokey brown gray

items used:

Revlon charcoal smudged over the lid

MAC carbon on upper lashline

MAC brown script in crease

MAC jardin airs to highlight brownbone, inner tear duct

It's all about blending and layering in this look.

Kim Kardasian eye makeup dupe

I finally got a chance to recreate look#3 from this post.

Inspiration:

Items used:
MAC Goldmine on lid, layered with Urban Decay Half Baked
Crease: MAC Corduroy, Follie, Brown Script
Highlight: MAC Ricepaper