MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter - Bright Forecast Review

Highlighters are one of my favourite makeup products ever! Dont care if I have lipsticks, or blushes, or foundation but highlighters are things I just cant live without.. I have all sorts of them, cream, liquid, powder from various brands. I had read a lot about MAC Prep + Prime Highlighters and went ahead and bought myself one!

MAC says: A pen-style highlighter that efficiently brings a soft sheer wash of colour to the skin. With its precision application, adds radiance just where you want it. Goes on smoothly for cushion-soft wear. Use over makeup for highlights, touch-ups or under makeup to brighten and prime. 

Theese highlighters come in three colors: Bright Forecast, Radiant Rose and Light Boost

After having tried all three, I felt Bright Forecast went well with my skin tone. It's not too yellow and not too pink. Light boost and Radiant Rose are too light and probably best for extremely fair people. These highlighters are slightly different from your regular ones in two ways:

1 - They contain no shimmer particles

2 - They can be used in the under eye area to lighten or as they say 'awaken' it

 

Bright Forecast on the back of my palm

Blended

The pen style shape makes it very easy to apply them. Just one sweep across the under eye and cheek bone area is enough to bring in the brightening effect. They make the skin look smoother and clearer and hence more alight without being shiny or glittery. That makes them perfect for the day time. 

I normally use a very little amount under the eye as I have dark circles and the use there makes the area more obvious I feel. So I would reccomend the same to all the girls with dark circles - just use it on the cheek bones, brow area or the bridge of your nose. The consistensy is light and slightly creamy which is why the product glides on the skin easily and blends well. 

Things I like:-

Consistensy - very light and smooth and blends very well

The shade is perfect for most Indian faces

Contains no shimmer particles

Excellent for use in the day time without making it look very obvious

Can be used either under or on top of make up (I usually use it on top just one areas that need highlighting)

Very light and handy 

The pen style dispenser makes it easy to use

Dislike:-

Cant be used in the evenings :(

Expensive (like all things MAC, but then a little product goes a long way so it would last you a good few months)

With the opaqueness of the 'pen' you can never tell how much product is left

Rating: 4/5

Price: Rs 1200

Available at: All MAC stores and counters across India. For more info, please check MAC India Store Locator

My Favourite Colorbar True Gloss Lip Gloss Shades

Colorbar True Gloss Lip Gloss Range

Now I have to give it to Colorbar for they have come up with a great over all range of lip gloss shades with their True Gloss Lip Gloss collection.  I love the shine of a lip gloss but for anything in the evening Ive gone back to my trusted lipsticks for they really stay for a long time and usually a normal lip gloss can never match the color intensity of lipsticks.. But we get a best of both the worlds with Colorbar True Gloss! They are a lipstick and a lip gloss rolled into one! The full range has 10 shades and below are my favourites:-

• Nectar Orange
• Coral Craving
• Radiant Pink 

As you can tell, Nector Orange is similar to Coral Craving. In fact I would call Nector Orange the brighter and more intense cousin of Coral Craving. Both Look fabulous!

The pop of color that they bring to your face makes it look very fresh and summary! Normally in the day time when I wear them and I feel that they're a bit too bright, I just dab them a bit with a tissue and they look perfect! 

The best part is that they stay on for a very long time..like about 8-9 hours easily, without causing any patchy dryness. A must buy for everyone who likes bright colors and would love to bring a bit 

Im wearing Coral Craving in the pic below.. 

Things I like:-
It is a lipstick and a gloss rolled into one
Keeps my lips hydrated. Not dry and not even wayyy to glossy
Love the shades and their color intensity
Very good staying power
Do not bleed outside the lips

Dislike:-
Nothing actually! 

Rating - 5/5
Price - 495
Available at - All newu stores and colorbar counters across the country. Check http://www.colorbarcosmetics.com/ for more info.

My Skin Care Routine - April 2013

Morning

• Wash my face with Forest Essentials Narangi and Nagkesar Facial Ubtan + Rose water
• Tone it with Loreal Hydrafresh Toner
• Apply Loreal Youth Code Luminize Serum
• Apply Garnier BB cream

Night

• Remove make up first with Himalaya cleansing milk and then wash my face with FE Narangi and   Nagkesar Facial Ubtan and Rose water
• Tone it with Loreal Hydrafresh Toner
• Apply Loreal Youth Code Luminize Serum       
• Forest Essentials Jasmine and Patchouli night cream

Once or twice a week at night, after cleaning my face I use the FE hand pounded organic fruit scrub and follow it with FE Mysore Sandalwood and Nagkesar face masque. They just clear the skin off of any dirt, grime or grease that my oily skin attracts all day. The next day my skin is super soft and feels so polished :)

Makeup Tips for the Summer Months Ahead

Summers can give a real hard time to the skin and specially to makeup in the day time. Im talking about that sweaty, oily, uneasy feel you get when you've got make up on and you're out and about in the sun. Here are a few tips to let your skin breathe easy and to look good in the summer sun!

• Keep your skin hydraded with a good moisturizer with SPF
• Instead of foundations, try a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream. They are great for the day time as they provide a light veil of protection from the sun and cover any uneven spots on the face. (I personally like the Garnier BB cream)
• Go with nude gloss on your lips or just a lip balm. (i love the Nivea fruity shine ones. They feel good on the lips and the light tint of color in them makes it perfect for the day!)
• Try blushes in peachy shades to bring out a splash or brightness in your face
• Keep your hair tamed and tied in a stylish updo or a girly side braid
• And last but not the least.. Smile! Coz what Audrey Hepburn said is true "Happy girls are the pretties girls! :)

MAC Strobe Liquid Review

MAC Strobe Liquid Review

I bought MAC Strobe Liquid a while ago as a part of my quest for finding the perfect highlighters for the face. The SA told me that they have the same product in cream form as well but since since I have a combination to oily skin, the liquid one would be best for me.

MAC Clains – Blending soft focus diffusers with iridescent pigments, this ultra-fluid strobe formula produces a soft radiant light on the skin, reducing the appearance of skin imperfections by providing a natural looking glow. Spreads on smoothly and absorbs quickly leaving the skin looking healthier and more radiant. It is a lighter weight addition to the popular strobe cream.

Directions – Use a pea size amount either mixed with the foundation. You can also apply it only on areas of your face that you want to highlight.

My experience

The stobe liquid is a non oily product that I have used in the following ways:-

• Mixed with the foundation and applied all over the face
• On certain areas of your face, on top of foundation
• Without foundation, to just highlight certain areas

The is a subtle silvery white colour and it is one of the few highlighters that have come across that have NO visible shimmer particles. Now that is something I love because I hate to see tiny specs of shimmer on the face making it look unnaturally shiny. (Shimmer is sometimes great in the evenings but in the day it can look a bit too much). I wanted a highlighter that just blends with my skin creating an illusion of a glowing, beautiful and healthy looking skin and the Strobe Liquid does that extremely well! The texture is smooth and just glides on the skin and settles making it look absolutely beautiful. I am so happy with it!

I use it with or without foundation on days that my skin needs an instant uplift. Mixing it with foundation and applying it all over the face, I feel is not such a good idea as it tends to even highlight the areas that you don’t want too much focus on (e.g. Under the eyes etc.) So I use it on my cheek bones, bridge of my nose and on the area right on top of my lips and it does the job! Using it on certain areas after applying the foundation is also okay but you need to put it before the foundation sets and blend the two together for an even finish. A great product if you love the ‘no makeup’ look and can be used daily!

A pic of my friend whose make up I did using the strobe liquid on top of foundation. Love the way her skin is glowing!

I feel girls with normal to oily skins can also try this.

Things I love:-

Non-oily formula

Gives an instant uplift to the skin with a subtle glow

Is not obvious to other people so all they see is great skin!

No fragrance

Dislike:-

It is a expensive! (Like all good things in life.. sigh!) The good thing is that a bottle would last you a good six months.

Rating – 4.75/5

Price – Rs. 1700 for 50ml 
Available at – All MAC stores

Products used in the Pic above: Krayolan Primer, MAC Matchmaster foundation, MAC Strobe Liquid, eye shadows Pearl 433 and AMC 44 from Inglot freedom system, MAC Blacktrack eyeliner, Loreal Million Lashes mascara, Maybeline Collossal Kajal and a nude balm on her lips.

New in Stores - MAC Strength Collection!

Colour is a vehicle for women to flex their femininity, and MAC’s new collection reflects this state of mind and style. It starts with dramatic eyes and lips pumped with vivid colour to project power while cheeks are softly chiseled with natural tones. And nailing it for overall presentation, MAC’s high-gloss high lacquer.

EYE SHADOW x 4

ALL WOMAN

Flawless Figure Pale warm shimmering white (veluxe pearl)

Brains & Brawn Mid-tone taupe (matte)

All Woman Greenish dark grey (satin)

Black Magique Deep, dark black with warm tones (veluxe pearl)

INNER STRENGTH

Lithe Spirit Palest white pink (satin)

Inner Strength Light cool mauve taupe (matte)

Fabulous Fit Mid-tone cool grey (matte)

Heatherbelles Deep charcoal (satin)

LIPSTICK

Party Parrot Bright red pink (matte)

Pink Pigeon Bright cleanest pink (matte)

Strong Woman Bright violet (matte)

Absolute Power Rich red (matte)

Firm Form Gilded black with gold pearl (matte)

LIP PENCIL

Embrace Me Vivid pinkish fuchsia

Lasting Sensation Bright coral

OPULASH MASCARA

Bad, Bad, Black Black

PENULTIMATE EYE LINER

Rapidblack True black

KOHL POWER

Feline Rich Black

TECHNAKOHL EYE LINER

Graphblack Rich graphic black

POWDER BLUSH

Taupe Shape Satiny taupe (satin)

Poised Muted pinkish brown (satin)

NAIL LACQUER

Muscle Tone Pale neutral nude

Triumphant Mid-tone cool brown

BRUSHES

168 Large Angled Contour

275 Medium Angled Shading

Forest Essentials Hand Pounded Organic Fruit Scrub Review

My skin tone: Medium, Type: Combination to Oily

FOREST ESSENTIALS – Hand pounded Organic Fruit Scrub

I tried FE for the first time at the behest of my ex-flatmate who had brought home this scrub in a tiny jar and I was hooked on to it the minute she took the lid off and I put on a little bit on my face. It smells like being around roses with a subtle whiff of apricots and a gentle kiss of honey! And oh how I absolutely loved the feel of this scrub on my face! I would bathe in it if it wasn’t so expensive!

Forest Essentials Claims – This nourishing face scrub, hand-pounded to the right consistency, blends fresh organically grown dates, peaches and apricots with rich apricot kernel oil, pure honey and finely milled almonds to gently exfoliate dull cells, revealing a beautifully polished and glowing complexion. With an intensive conditioning action and packed with antioxidants, it is the ultimate skin food. It Nourishes, Exfoliates and Polishes.

Ingredients – Purified rose water, fermented date pulp, fermented peach pulp, sweet almond crushed seeds, crushed walnut seeds, organic honey, bael powder, glycerine, vitamin E, manjishtha and nagkesar.

Directions – Use a small amount on the damp skin after cleansing and toning and rub gently to cleanse.

My experience

The consistency of the FE Hand Pounded Organic Fruit scrub is slightly thick yet gentle on the skin. Normally over time and especially during the winter months, as it does get a little thicker, I add a bit of rose water to get the right consistency. Most of the scrubs make my combination skin very stretchy in places but this one is perfect. Though it should be used simply like a scrub, I normally take a small amount and spread it all over my face and leave it on for five minutes. I then just scrub it off with upward strokes and the result is skin that feels nourished and clean, polished with a subtle glow! (I think FE really means it when it says that a particular product will add glow to your skin.)

I feel girls with normal to dry skins can also try this but may not leave it on their skin as I do.

Things I love:-

Doesn’t dry my face

It’s gentle on the skin and in no way feels harsh

Gives a very soft and supple feel to the skin

Polishes the skin giving it an instant glow

Will probably suit all skin types

The mild fragrance that lingers on till a lot later

The packaging! Comes in a small carry bag with a bow and dried rose petals inside J

Dislike:-

It is a bit expensive like most other FE products. Although a jar does last me about two months and for the results it gives, I would say it’s absolutely worth it!

Rating – 4.5/5

Price – Rs. 1175 
Available at - www.forestessentialsindia.com and at Forest Essentials stores across the country

Recommendation – A great scrub for people who love all things organic and aren’t too keen on lapping their skin up with products loaded with chemicals. I would recommend it specially for working women who at times need that instant glow as it really lifts up a tired and dull skin. For me it’s the third time I’ve bought it and has really become the ultimate food for my skin!