Makeup Discourse

It was not too long ago, I discovered a miracle product on my shelf. Sweet Almond Oil. I never used any eye creams until I got them as samples. I have always used Almond oil/Castor Oil for my under eye area, with or without dark circles. In the journey of discovering oils in skincare, I switched using oils for everything. From cleansing, to moisturizing to pampering.

That's when I discovered how my skin loves Sweet Almond Oil.

How I wake up to supple radiant skin.

Night Time Routine

You can read how I remove my Makeup here.

After Oil Cleansing Method, I massage my face with Forest Essentials Delicate Facial Cleanser and Rinse off.

Post cleansing, while my skin is damp, I massage a coin sized amount of Sweet Almond oil onto my face and neck including the under eye, lips and eyelashes. Just about every inch and every contour of my face. I have been using the same brand for years now.

If my eye area feels dry, I layer Dermalogica Eye cream.

For days when I feel, my skin is producing more oil. I use Philosophy no reason to hid on the old acne scars and around my mouth. And then smear oil on the lips, eyelashes and under eye area.

I like layering the Forest Essential Rose Petal lip balm upon almond oil since the lip balm has a strong artificial rosy fragrance. I am sure, they use the essential oil. The Almond Oil sweetness just takes it all away.

Daytime Routine

Daytime is all about Makeup for me, so skincare except the Moisturizer & sunblock is a low-key affair. For healing, my night time routine just works fine. I use the same cleanser for day & night routine. But Instead I spray my face post cleansing with Rosewater & Tea tree Essential oil both tone and soothe my skin, especially open blemishes. Tea tree Essential Oil is antiseptic and my acne dries out within a day or two. Holy Grail!
Follow up with Forest Essentials Light Day Lotion with Indian Rose & Marigold. Marigold is used for Acne but this lotion is extremely light for my normal/combination skin.

I layer Sunblock over this and proceed with my makeup.

For under eyes, I pat Neutrogena Fine Fairness Eye cream and after 5 minutes or so, I wipe it off with a damp cotton pad. My concealer smudges and smears with it underneath. Fresh Soothing Rose Eye Gel worked great with my concealer.
I am running out of most of these things. I have switched to this routine since 1st January 2016  with a resolution of making skincare pivotal in my life. I am about to switch to a new routine from 1st March 2016.

How often do you switch routines? *.^

Frizz taming is the most important part my winter haircare routine. I follow quite a low maintenance haircare routine and prefer spending less time in styling them. I'm just a wash-and-blow dry-kinda girl.

What causes my hair to frizz?

Heat (styling and sun; you think the sun doesn't damage hair?)

Humidity

I heat style my short hair thrice once a week. But what affects my thin hair is humidity if not dryness. The weather is punch-drunk with humidity and dry air in winters. So I follow these 5 Ways to Tame my Frizzy Hair.

1) SLS Free Shampoos

Ever since I have switched to SLS Free Shampoo, I have noticed a major difference in the hair texture. Less frizz and More volume. Read my Hair story HERE.

2) Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

This is one more step that I have been combining with SLS free shampoo routine. Cider Vinegar is highly acidic which helps in taming the frizz and adding volume and shine.

3) Cold Water Rinse

If you cannot follow the above to step, You could rinse the ends of your hair with cold water after you condition them. This seals the open cuticles and seal in the moisture you added to them.

You may add a tablespoon of Glycerine in the water for an extra boost of hydration. Or Simply choose Glycerine based Shampoo or Conditioner

4) Heat Protectant Spray

I think styling your hair without one is a sin. When I wouldn't use one, I would often escape the heat styling aftermath with the chopping of the damage. Like it was a war between the strands and the rod, either one would come out alive.

5) Bblunt Climate Control Anti-frizz Leave-in Cream*

I love the sleek hair, poker straight. This smells incredibly good, a floral accent I love! I use this as a styling cream as well as postfix. This works fine as a heat protectant. I find when I apply this before blow drying, it amplifies up the volume with a sleeker outcome. This does keep me frizz free for 6 hours straight (inclusive of being out in sun & traveling hours.) Read more about it here
Price: 450 INR for 150grams 

*The product featured is sent by the brand for consideration.

I was on cloud nine when Colourpop.com accepted my Indian card (I am not talking via Paypal)(how remains a secret).

I placed my first Colourpop order with a Lippie Stix and four Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipsticks (forgot the $5 off discount code, cancelled and placed another). For my second order, I added 11 golds and bronze supershock eyeshadows. I felt as if I needed them all.

I restricted myself and had to refrain myself from placing the third one. I want all their eye shadows, literally.

I wanted this with all my heart! BeautyBlender Make-Up's Best Friend: A 4 Piece Collection (limited edition) which is just precious. I kept procrastinating and after Sephora VIB Rouge sale in November, my nightmares came true. It was out of stock. for. ever. and so was the Kat Von D Lipstick duo I fancied. So I had to hunt this down, I couldn't just sit there and watch other people's hauls on Insta. I searched everywhere and found it on BeautyBay at a higher price tag. *sigh* I had no choice but to order it right away.

I was never excited about Real Techniques Brushes. I always told myself to hold on... I wanted the Bdellium Tools Bamboo Brush Set, but my card didn't process through. So I zeroed down on Real Techniques when they had 30% off throughout their website during Black Friday Sale.

I loved them so much that I ordered the Real Techniques Core Collection Brushes (not included in the picture) from Amazon India. To my amazement, I am glad I waited this long because the brushes have a major difference with the bristles. The ones from Amazon India shed and the bristles are coarse as compared to those from the States. [I believe it is mostly mishandling, but they are authentic for sure.]

My first the Balm, I was restless when theManizer Sisters Palette (limited edition) was Kohl's exclusive. Kohl's won't accept international card. I waited patiently for the Balm cosmetics website to stock them. To avail free shipping, I added the new Nude Dude® Palette. I picked the palette for one colour: Faithful.

For tarte Cosmetics, Beauty.com had few offers running. I added Nars products in my cart as they had 20% off on select Brands. But I changed my mind and I added tarte instead and I wanted to try BareMinerals LE Foundation (that jumbo size!) but Medium Beige went out of stock soon enough. I got these beauties at 20% off!

Great news: tarte Cosmetics now ships to India and many other countries. The minimum cart amount for free shipping to India is over 8,500 INR.

I purchased these from their website using 25% off welcome code. And then they had 40% off the entire website the very next week...ugh. I forgot to add NYX high Voltage lipstick they were offering as GWP. Haste makes waste, serves me right.

That completes my haul for 2016, and my makeup ban began with the dawn of 2016 (that birthday something is an exception).