Makeup Discourse

Sweat Stains

For light to moderate sweating, these are ideal. These absorb underarm sweat and prevent Sweat stains.

I use Panty liners underneath almost anything with sleeves to avoid those sweat marks. Works great, make sure you find the soft ones. OR You can find Sweat pads online.

Oily, Sweaty Scalp

I shampoo every alternate day, though my hair turns dull and flat in just about a day. I spray Dry Shampoo or Baby powder before going to bed. I make sure, I keep them untied. So when I wake up next morning, I massage the powder/dry shampoo in circular motion and voila! VOLUME.
For Extra-Voluminous mane, I mix in Batiste XXXL with Baby powder and dust evenly on scalp.
I avoid blow drying since blow drying invites more sweat.

Body/Sweat Odour

How do I keep off body odour/sweat odour without using an Antiperspirant Deodorant?
This is exclusively for masking the unpleasant sweat smell. This does not prevent sweating or clog pores, but instead mildly exfoliates when you wash off in shower.

I grind Alum powder to the finest I can and store into a jar. After shower I take a pinch of the powder and rub on the areas I tend to sweat more. [Credits to a blogger friend]

If you cannot find Alum powder or are lazy enough, Baking Soda works just the same. I am testing a DIY Deodorant as well check back soon!

Taming Fly aways and Baby Hair
I don't have much of baby hair, a few here and there extremely close to the hairline.

I don't like using hair wax to tame them. I simply use a clean mascara wand, spray on some Hair holding spray and brush them in the direction I want. And sometimes, I just tame them with Clear Brow gel. Works just fine for me.

Staying Fresh all day

When I did not use EDTs or EDPs, I did follow this. And I still do. Essential oils are vital part of my Hair care. I use Hair rinses with Peppermint, Rosemary & Lavender to keep my scalp feeling fresh till next wash. And the best part, the more heat your hair accumulates, the more fragrance these oils release.

These rinses promote hair growth as well.
For Face mist: I prefer Peppermint, Tea tree and Sandalwood in 1:3:3 ratio in 100ml spray bottle.
Either Distilled/Mineral or Rose water with a drop of Vit. E oil. Great alternative to store bought Face Mists.
As Fragrance: I apply Rose Essential oil Or Jasmine on pulse points over Vaseline. These are multitasking, for balancing your mind, increasing memory. I use Vetiver Essential oil for boosting memory.
I think I cannot picture my shelves without these.



Blotting Sweat and Sebum
I have used and  despised The Body Shop Tea Tree Blotting Sheets (trashed it before I could use them all). I never repurchased Blotting sheets ever, instead I discovered an inexpensive alternative to them.
I always carry Facial Tissues (two whole packs) in my bag and pat sweat especially on hair line and under eyes. I dust the same tissues with Translucent Powder and when I pat, it absorbs oil and sweat exclusively. I cut them into squares so these Translucent Powder dusted Tissues are easier to carry around in an empty case.

I am compiling a post of Makeup Hacks since November 2014, lying around in my drafts. Its about time...

Bronzing is my newfangled Fancy!



I went into The Body Shop the other day to purchase the Dry shimmering Oil but that thing stained. I want something Neutral-Glistening-Dewy-Nonstaining to wear on my face.
When I ordered this, I wasn't sure if it would be pigmented enough for my Brown-Tan Skin. So if it wouldn't, I would just use it as Face Powder rather than Bronzer. Because if you observe the pan or swatches, they're barely pigmented or visible.
But when I swirled and layered once, I was bemused with the glow. But but the Glowing Cityline disappeared. sigh!



What does Physicians Formula claim

Paraben Free, Oil Free, Gluten Free, Non-Comedogenic, Hypoallergenic, Fragrance-Free and Dermatologist approved.





Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Inactive Ingredients: Talc,  Dimethicone, Mica,Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate,  Butylene Glycol,Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract,  Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric, Cetyl Dimethicone,  Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Disiloxane, Propanediol,  Sodium Dehydroacetate, Smithsonite Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract,  Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic, Tocopheryl Acetate,  Phenoxyethanol, Water, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Zinc Stearate,  May Contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Manganese Violet, Ultramarines

Price: $14.99 (approx 1040inr)
Is Physicians Formula City Glow Daily Defense Bronzer Cruelty-Free? Yes Physician Formula is Cruelty-Free.


Left to Right Swirled, Lower & Upper shades

This dual coloured bronzer has a powdery almost dry texture. A lot of fall out was noticed, I think it runs with all Physicians Formula Powder forms. I do not use the colours individually, I prefer swirling the brush into the pan. I use one layer from the cheek bones to temples and rest of the product on my forehead. Since I do not like contouring much, I prefer Bronzing. I do not use Bronzers to sculpt but to add warmth.
The longevity is average, it starts to fade after 3-4 hours, and if I pat my face with tissue or blotting paper,  the bronzer transfers. Though I have not noticed separation even on my sweaty-oily cheeks.
Though the shimmering city line fades away, the bronzer is not flat matte, but it has a slight sheen to it, almost like mineral foundation.


Indoors around 10 am


Afternoon glow, around 12.15 pm

On my face:
Philosophy No Reason to Hide Moisturizer
Rimmel Stay Matte in 003
Eyes: Buxom Full & Fabulous Mascara
Brows: Benefit Gimme Brow Eyebrow Gel in Medium/Deep
Cheeks: Bourjois Cendres De Roses Brune Blush
Physicians Formula City Glow Daily Defense Bronzer
Lips: Nivea Fruity Shine Watermelon

How I use this Bronzer
I prefer applying bronzer or blush after setting my base makeup and then setting with the same setting powder again. This blends blush, highlighter & bronzer seamlessly into each other.

Availability is an issue though I might not repurchase. I have other Physicians Formula Bronzers trying to connect with my psyche. =D
Besides, This Philosophy No Reason to Hide Moisturizer is incredible. Can you see, I have redness on my right cheek and one active acne and patchiness here and there?
Obviously, it did not hide my dark circles, so psyched that I might pick that up next.

Eat. Sleep. Shape Brows. Repeat - Anastasia Beverly Hills

My brows are sparse, possibly worse. Back in days, I remember women drawing their brows with pencils. As funny as it could be, I disliked everything about the trend.

I didn't start shaping my brows until I was 22-23 simply because the pain was unendurable. But by the time, I started with eye makeup and smokey eyes. And it became a necessity.

Wisdom, I say =]

For longest period, I would use Brow powders and clear pomade or even eye shadows to fill in my brows.

When I got hold of this, even the brow powders started to seem dull and unnatural.

Selecting the Brow Wiz Shade:
I settled down for Dark Brown.



Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Skinny Brow Pencil in Dark Brown is a deep brown with a neutral undertone. Dark Brown is ideal for Medium Brown to Black hair.

Price: $21 approx. 1449 INR

Is Anastasia Beverly Hills Cruelty-Free? Yes

Quantity: 0.08grams

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Skinny Brow Pencil is a dual ended. But coming to the spoolie part; the spoolie is unique and the bristles are bent inwards which really buffs the pigment, making it look more natural.
The Texture of wiz crayon is dry, somewhat powder finish. The pigmentation is excellent and the ultra fine tip actually mimics as brow hair if drawn using light strokes.
I don't like the fact that this is so expensive.
But it stays on until I remove my makeup at the end of the day ( approx. 7-8 hrs). This did not smudge or rather melted off in Mumbai heat. Nor it did transfer on my face or tissue while patting the sweat.


Bare Brow

Softly filled in with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Skinny Brow Pencil in Dark Brown

Bold Brow using Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Skinny Brow Pencil in Dark Brown


Recommendations: Purchase if you don't mind splurging, but I think the longevity validates the price tag. NYX microbrow pencil is exactly the same formula, except for the spoolie which makes a lot of difference in terms of finish.

Repurchase?: No. Since I don't simply rely on this single Brow wiz to fill in or define my brows.

I wanted ColourPop since November 2014, I wanted their 1st Anniversary LE Super Shock Eyeshadow: Birthday Girl. I wanted ALL My Favourite Colour in ColourpPop Cosmetics.
I was irresolute about their products except for Super Shock Eyeshadows. So I decided to pick these for trials: Two Soft, almost pastel colours and Two Brights, just how I love them! ;-)


I have tested these more than thrice and I am glad I just picked only 4. [Hello Satin Mattes! I'll rescue you soon- The Li Girl. ;)]
1st Base is my most Favourite Colour out of these, And second favourite is Mars, Donut being my least favourite of them.


L R: ColourPop Ultra Matte in 1st Base, Donut, Ouiji, Mars

The swatches are clicked with Bare and Prepped Lips, Unlined and are Uncorrected with concealer.

Above: Direct Light. Below: Indoor

ColourPop Ultra Matte 1st Base is a Mid-Tone True pink, as described by ColourPop.
1st base is a Neutral Pink and almost looks subdued Mauve. With one single layer of this, looks amazing. My camera could not pick the right hue, I shall use this in one of my makeup looks.
I wore this first time to T's Birthday Dinner and every time, I want a soft Pink Lip. This mid-tone pink come forth as a cool toned Pink on my Neutral under tone. The warmer the undertone, the pinker it shall be.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Donut is a Bright Peach, as described by ColourPop.
I picked this on whim, a warfare between Solow & Donut. ColourPop Ultra Matte Donut is almost Pastel Peach with warm Brown undertone. This clashes with my neutral undertone and washes me out, or so I think. I think, this should be a great colour for summer.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Ouiji is a Bright Coral Red, as described by ColourPop.
If there is, out there, a theory like: Love at First Sight. This will be it for me. It was decided, Bright Corals warped in Pastel would define my liking?
The Colour is as described A Bright Coral with Red undertone. This is brings out more brownness indoors and more yellow outdoors, either in my skin or in itself?

ColourPop Ultra Matte Mars is a Red Fuchsia, as described by ColourPop.
I have Hues of pinks in my wardrobe, and I always pair Pinks with Bold Lips ofcourse Pink!
So I was torn between Highball and Mars, I was sure Highball would turn Violet-ish on me, so I skipped and friendzoned Mars.
I love the Planet too, fiery & misconceived. And so is the colour, Can I just not tell you how much I love this colour?

Cruelty-Free Status: Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Price: $6 for 3.2g/0.11 oz

Texture & Application:
ColourPop Ultra Matte are 100% Matte Liquid Lipsticks. These Dry completely and does not transfer once they set/dry.
They did crack on my lips in winters, irrespective of the lip balm underneath. And it turns streaky and patchy, if you layer or reapply. But ColourPop Ultra Matte Mars is the only colour that refused to crack or turned streaky on application. I should've bought ColourPop Lip Pencils too.
The battle would've been much easier, I assume.
ColourPop Ultra Matte Donut on the other hand, cracked, turned streaky and worn off patchy.
Reason? The Darker shades stain deeper than the soft ones.
You CANNOT apply and expect flawlessness without prepping or conditioning lips.
I use a Lip mask, a night prior and then exfoliate and heavily moisturize them. Before applying, I wipe off everything, every trace of balm or else these ( esp Bright/ Soft Colours accentuate, every thing.)
Bare but Prepped Lips is what makes it long lasting. Any trace Lip balm underneath degrades the longevity and I find it absurd.

Recommendations: Not for Dry, flaky unprepared Lips. These are not really uncomfortable, but these do crack if you have dry lips. On the other hand, Deeper staining shades are blessings!
I surely love these for occasions where I don't want to touch up. My lips are not dry unless the weather. Own these if you could, at least one to not curb your curiosity.