Primer 101: Find the perfect Primer!

Now that we know what Primers are and what they do, its time to find one that's good for you. Primers can be a bit expensive so finding one that suits you and the one that would help you target certain specific problems is the only way its going to be worth the money that you spend on it. 


What type of Primers to buy?
Since they are going to be on your skin for long hours sometimes, it is always good to look for Primers that have some skin care benefits. It is obviously an added expense so its best to look for one that suits your skin and can be worn in place of a moisturiser. 

All purpose ones

Ive put a collage of some of the popular all purpose Primers available in India. These are the ones that suit everyone and make for good general use..  

1. MAC Skin Base Visage, 2. Colorbar Perfect Match, 4 NYX HD Primer, 5. Revlon Photoready, 6. Loreal Base Magique, 7. Makeup Forever HD, 8. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Tinted Primers

Dont worry, there is nothing complicated about these. Just think of them as normal primers with a color coded mission. The different colors target different issues in the complexion like redness, dullness, add luminosity and radiance and recharge the skin.  

1. Makeup Forever HD Mocro Perfecting Primers, 2. MAC Prep + Prime Fortified Skin  Enhancers, 3. NYX Studio Perfect Photo Loving Primer

To cover and soften fine lines and wrinkles
There is only one such that is formulated specifically for fine lines and wrinkles and thats available in India. It is MAC Prep + Prime Line Filler. It softens and relaxes the expression lines and dries to a matte finish. 
We really need more companies in India selling a product specifically for this.





To cover the appearance of Pores
These primers instantly reduce the appearance of open pores and even out the skin for a smoother makeup application. 

1. Clinique Refining Solutions Instant Perfector, 2. MAC Skin Refined Zone Treatment, Benefit Porefessional

Primers for Eyes
There are primers specifically for the eyes. They ensure that you get a higher intensity from your eyeshadow and it stays in place all day. Eye primers also make sure that your eye shadow doesnt crease or stray.  

1 MAC Vibrancy, 2. Revlon Photoready, 3. BeYu, 4, NYX Eye Shadow Base, 5. Makeup Forever Eye Prime, 6. Inglot Eye Makeup Base

Lip Primers
The Lip Primers keep your lips from chapping and make the lipstick last longer. And again MAC is the only one that comes to mind thats available in India.. 

Now like I said before, Primers can be expensive and are an extra expenditure so hope this post helps you select the one that suits you best! 

Prime Time! All you need to know about Primers

Are you thinking "Primers.. now what on earth are they? until recently no one knew about them n now everyone seems to be talking about them!" If that is what is going on in your mind, worry not! Just read this post and you will know all that you need to about Primers, what they do, what is the difference between a primer and a moisturiser and whether or not you need one!

What is a Primer?
Primer is a sort of cream or lotion that 'primes' or gets the skin ready for makeup. There are primers available for you face (to be used under foundation), for your eyes (to be used under eye-shadow) and for the lips (underneath lipstick)

What do they do?
They prepare the skin for makeup by hydrating it and making the surface even to improve the coverage of makeup and to increase the staying power of makeup. They form an ideal base coat beneath foundations or eye shadows helping them spread more evenly. Some primers have defined purposes and target specific areas like open pores and help reduce them visibly, cover fine lines, while the others could be used specifically for reducing redness, dullness or for illuminating lifeless skin. Some primers have a mattifying effect on your skin that is excellent for women with oily skin. 

What is the difference between a moisturizer and a primer?
Moisturisers are what we have always used under makeup for ages.. But now that we have primers formulated to do specific tasks (like covering pores etc) we use them especially as they are more effective in increasing the longevity of makeup. 

I know a lot of people who use moisturizers and then a primer on top before applying makeup. Now that is something I would recommend only if you have extremely dry skin. For everyone else, I suggest that using a primer alone is good enough as sometimes putting on a moisturizer and then a primer and then makeup on top can become a bit too much especially in the summers and if you have oily skin..

When to use a Primer?
Is it a must all the time? No. It isn't a must that you use a Primer all the time beneath makeup. It can be really helpful to use primers on days that you need your makeup to stay on for long and if you have certain things that you want to correct in your skin. On regular days it is fine to just use a moisturiser under makeup. It is great to know what needs to be corrected on your skin and then getting a primer that resolves that issue. That would make it easier for you to decide whether to buy an all purpose primer or one that focuses on a specific function like refining fine lines, absorbing oil, illuminating skin or even reducing pores. 

Hope this post helps you in solving some Primer mysteries that you might have had in your mind. Read my post Primer 101: Find the Perfect Primer that will help you buy the perfect Primer for yourself!

New In Stores: MAC Archies Girl's Collection!

I normally get the most random dreams but last night was serious. I dreamt that I was in a MAC store checking out the new Archies Girl's Collection and suddenly they announced a flat 50% off on all the products! Now that's something we can only dream about.. :( but atleast we can check out the collection thats in stores now! and needless to say I cannot wait!

Now whether you're more like Betty the girl next door or the glam babe Veronica, you can take your pick from the awesome collection that has different shades to suit both the girls. 

Here are some of the products and their prices:-

Betty Lipsticks Rs 1100 each

Girl Next Door

Betty Bright

Oh Oh Oh

Veronica Lipsticks Rs 1100 each

Daddy's Little Girl

Ronnie Red

Boyfriend Stealer

Betty Lipglass Rs 1100 each

Summer Sweetheart

Stay Sweet

Kiss and Dont Tell

Veronica Lipglass Rs 1100 each

Mall Madness

Straberry Malt

Feelin So good

Betty Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner Rs 1100 each

Lord it Up

Black Swan

Opulash Mascara Optimum Black Rs 1200

Vernonica Peralglide Intense Eyeliner Rs 1100 each

Petrol Blue

Designer Purple

Opulash Mascara Bad Bad Black Rs 1200

Betty Pigments Rs 1500 each

Cheers My Dear

Lucky In Love

Veronica Pigments Rs 1500 each

Black Poodle

Magic Spells

Betty Nail Lacquer Rs 1050 each

Pep Pep Pep

Cosmic Cute

Veronica Nail Lacquer Rs 1050 each

Past Curfew

Double Trouble

Betty Powder Blush Cream Soda Rs 1600

Veronica Powder Blush Prom Princess Rs 1600

Betty Pearlmatte Face Powder Flatter Me Rs 1750

Veronica Pearlmatte Face Powder Veronica's Blush Rs 1750

Betty Eyeshadow Palette Caramal Sundae X4 Rs 2800

Caramel Sundae

Cheryl Chic

Dream Maker

Show Stopper

Veronica Eyeshadow Palette Spoiled Rich X4 Rs 2800 

Spoiled Rich

Ron Ron Run

Pin-up Purple

Gravel

Archies Girl's Brush Kit Rs 3850

I certainly like the Veronica colors better and cant wait to try them on along with the themed accessories from the collection.. who do you wanna be?

10 Bad Beauty Habits You Must Break

We all have some of these terrible habits that we're not proud of.. these habits have been a part of our beauty rituals for ages and some of these we are even aware of and are outright destructive but never really give up.. Lets take a minute to review some of the most common ones, because maybe, just maybe, there's a chance that kicking these bad beauty habits will make us more beautiful in the long run :)

1. Skipping Sunscreen in winters or when its not too sunny outside or when we're in such a hurry! All the smart girls know by now that even when its not too sunny, the UVA rays of the sun that penetrate through the clouds, cause our skin to age. So promise never to step out of he house until you have covered all your exposed skin with a trusted sun screen!

2. Biting lips consciously or unconsciously because your lips are always chapped and split. Regularly licking or biting lips can make them even drier than they originally are.  good way to break this vicious cycle is to keep your lips hydrated. (I personally do this a lot!) and feel that applying plain Vaseline to my lips before sleeping at night really helps. I wake up with smooth lips. Also, I never leave the house without a lip balm.

3. Not removing makeup before going to bed is a bad bad thing to do! Please clean your face and remove any traces of makeup before sleeping no matter how tired you are. Makeup along with dirt and oil, clogs pores and sends your skin into an over production of 'sebum' (not a good thing this is), giving you unpleasant surprises filled with zits the next morning. I understand how hard it can be on some days so if going to wash your face is looking impossible, just keep some wipes by your bedside table to remove that daily grime and wake up to a clean and fresh face!

4. Using moisturizer only when skin feels dry is wrong. They not only hydrate your skin but replenish lost moisture and help your skin face harsh whether. So no matter what skin type you have, find yourself one that suits you!

5. Ignoring your neck is not fair, especially as the skin on your neck is more delicate than your face and can start sagging or develop fine lines if neglected! So while applying makeup, creams or face mask, don't forget the neck. 

6. Plucking grey hair is hard not to do (ask me!) specially when you have the one of two shiny silver strands right above your forehead! The truth is that they are going to grow right back only short and stubby and even more noticeable :(

7. Holding on to makeup forever is something that I have seen many people do. I understand that it would hurt a lot to throw out that super expensive cream or mascara that has been in your kitty forever but skin infections or conjunctivitis is not worth it! 

IMP NOTE: Shelf life of various makeup items

Lipsticks, glosses and lip liners - up to 2 years

Mascara - ideally 90 days + or - one month

Eye shadows and eye liners - 4-5 years

Creams and cleansers - 1 year

Foundations and concealers - 1 year

8. Excessive exfoliation can lead to oversensitive skin and even broken capillaries (ouch!). Always use gentle exfoliators to wash away dead skin and to give your face that beautiful glow.

9. Picking on pimples or popping zits is something we all know is not right! One moment of relief that popping them gives you can lead to a huge red spot on your face and develop craters on your skin that might last forever!

10. Using acetone instead of nail paint removers is really harmful for the nails. I have noticed how some salons use it sneakily during a pani-pedi. Nail polish removers sold by most cosmetic companies are a lot milder than acetone available at drug stores that can lead the surface of your nails to become yellow and rough. 

So there! Ive given us all something to think about and hopefully we will break some of these habits and come out sashaying all swan like! (hahah)

Marks & Spencer Floral collection Rose Roll on Review

Author: Divya Sarin

Roll ons are the must haves in summers. They not only refresh us but also prevent sweating. Little goes a long way :). I’m someone who is an ardent collector of perfumes and toiletries and I will be reviewing some of my perfumes very soon, coming back to the Marks and Spencer Floral Collection Rose Roll on. I normally used Fa till last season but this time when I was at a mall looking for clothes at Marks & Spencer, I saw these little pretty things in the toiletries section and when I opened it to smell it I was pleasantly surprised with the fragrance of Roses. I tried a few others, they were good too, but this was the best, so of course needless to say, I had to pick it up. To my surprise, it was quite reasonably priced

Price: Rs199 for 50ml

What the product claims: With the fragrance of timeless English Rose, this alcohol free anti perspirant roll on is specially formulated to reduce stinging.

My experience with Floral collection Rose Roll On

It comes in a plastic bottle with a white body. The product is transparent in colour and doesn’t leave any white film when used multiple times. The bottle is small in size and is travel friendly. I find the smell super floral yet subtle and it stays for the whole day, especially in Delhi hot summers, this is a good product and I am satisfied especially at this price and the quality of the product. Now let’s sum up the pros and cons.

Things I like:-

• Reasonably priced
• Strong floral smell (which I like)
• Stays 8 to 10 hrs easily
• Dries easily

Dislike:-

None, overall a good product

Rating: 4.5 on 5

Available at: Marks & Spencer Stores across the country

Would I repurchase/ recommend this?

Yes I would repurchase this, however now will look at buying new variants of the same range.

  By: Rashid Azar

Fab India Silk Protein Nourishing Cream Review

Author: Divya Sarin

Hi, beautiful ladies, this is my 1^st review ever on any website and I have no idea as to why didn’t I review any products before. I have always had struggle with daily face cream, kept trying one after another but never got satisfied. I wasted so much money and products in finding the ideal one until one day I found this wonder product at such a reasonable price... I was at Fab India to buy my hair products, I specially like avocado hair conditioner and then I saw this sitting prettily at the glass shelf. I checked the ingredients and immediately bought it.

Price: Rs 150 for 50 gm

Shelf Life: 2 years.

Fab India Silk Protein Nourishing Cream

Fab India Silk protein nourishing cream comes in a white and maroon jar and is quite handy and lightweight. This cream is white in color. It has a nice, mild floral fragrance to it. A small amount of product is required for the entire face. I carry this cream daily to office as its very light and easy to carry. It doesn’t make my skin oily or greasy, nor does it break me out. It only makes my skin better by adding suppleness to the skin. Formulated with Sunflower oil, Olive oil, vitamin E and Sericin - a silk protein, this cream is ideal for nourishing dry, dull, lifeless skin. Regular application leaves the skin soft and smooth. Ideal for summers and winters but of course it doesn’t fight the blemishes and acne marks on your skin but combats dryness.

Things I like:-

Reasonably priced

Makes my skin healthy and supple

Blends very well into skin

Doesn’t make my face oily or greasy

Ideal for summers and winters too

Combats dryness

Doesn’t break me out

Dislike:

No SPF

Apart from this, I can’t think of anything!!

Rating: 4.5/5

Will I Repurchase/Do I Recommend Fab India, Silk protein Nourishing Day Cream?

Yes, for sure, I feel that my search for a good day cream has ended after I discovered it.

Home Remedy for Glowing Skin - One that I swear by!

My combination - oily skin (combination in winters and oily in summers) does not like facials :( 

Every time ive got one, I've had pimples the very next day! And believe me there is not even a single type that I havnt tried that was recommended by the salon people.. all those Kasmara, Oxy, fruit, herbal, kaya and what not have been a complete waste of time and money for me. Even the most sensitive ones have done more damage than good :'(. I could go on venting about this topic but I'd rather get on to what works for me instead. Its simple and home made and the best part is that it works! 

Ingredients:-

• Besan (Gram flour. It has skin lightening properties that gently remove the tan and is great for skin that is prone to acne) - 2 spoons 
• Haldi (Turmeric. It is a herbal antiseptic and combined with besan gives a glow) - 1 pinch
• Juice of 1 lemon (Lemon is a natural antioxidant and a bleaching agent and lightens the dark spots)
• Grated orange peel (It is a high source of Vitamin C and maintains the natural balance of skin oils. It absorbs excess oil and keeps the skin tight)
• Curd - 1 spoon (Curd has soothing properties that help ease any skin irritation by cooling the skin)
• Honey - 1 spoon (It contains Vitamins B & C and keeps the skin supple, hydrated and elastic. Regular use protects the skin against dryness and wrinkles)

Mix all these ingredients together and you have a gentle scrub and mask that you can use as frequently as possible. The quantity of the mask that comes out of all these put together is good enough to last a whole week. So I just put it in a bowl, cover it with cling film and store it in the fridge after using.

For girls who have extremely oily skin should put only have a tea spoon of honey. 

Expect a slightly thick consistency which you can lighten by adding a bit of rose water if you like. 

Apply this pack all over your face and neck and leave it on for 20 mins. Wash it off once its dry and follow it with a moisturiser. 

Every single time I use this, I feel like my skin has become softer, clearer and it glows! As if Ive just got a facial done! I love this pack and on regular use (2-3 times a week), I feel like my the dark spots on my face left behind by ungodly pimples have become lighter.. 

I love the subtle glow on my skin that I get after using this mask and I would recommend this to everyone. Just try and you will be hooked to it just like me!