Fancy a quick makeover with just one product, read on!

Here is the thing about makeup, there are no rules. Necessities are the real source of invention, and in my case this statement holds true. Last Friday, Mr. G was invited as the chief guest for a popular award event hosted by a Malayalam channel. I was at my home relishing home made fish curry, hardly carrying any makeup when the invite came through. I didn't have enough time to go to my apartment and pick up my HGs. I had to make use of whatever I had and in my case all I had was a BB cream (Colorbar), gray and black Lakme Eyeconic eye pencils and a lipstick. I used the gray and black eye pencil in multiple formats that day and here is how:

• As a kohl on my waterline (eyes)

• As an eyebrow pencil; I have black (jet black) eyebrows that is sparse at spots. I used the eye pencil in light small strokes. I blended the color outwards using my fingers and also made sure that I didn't take it too close to the center of the brows to avoid harsh looking brows.
  If you have any other hair color, it may not work out for you. Use the product light handedly as these pencil are very pigmented.

• The gray pencil as an eye shadow. I applied all over my eyelids and then blended using my fingers. Blending was a tough task as the gray pencil was very dry. It would be a great idea to choose a creamy eye pencil, as it will make blending a lot easier.
• As a bindi. I do this all the time if I need a quick and small bindi.

Original picture from the event day

Original picture from the event day

  I tried to re-create the eye shadow effect, this time with a more neutral brown pencil: Chambor Eye Tattoo Liner.

On my face in the above picture:
Foundation: Loreal True Match (N7) + MAC Studio Fix (NC43.5)
Concealer and Contour:  LA Girl Pro Conceal (Warm Honey and Fawn)
Blush: Tarte Poppy Picnic Palette
Eyebrow: Maybelline Colossal Kajal
Eyeshadow: Chambor Tattoo Liner
Lipstick: MAC Relentlessly Red

See what a RS. 250 ($3.50) pencil can help you with!

Colourpop Eyeshadow Review: Central Perk, Desert, Game Face, and On the Rocks

I solemnly declare my undying love for shiny-sparkly eye shadows!  

More the metallic, higher the probability of me snatching it up and making it mine. Colourpop is the second brand I discovered through Instagram, the first being Makeup Revolution, and that was long before the whole YouTube was gaga over Colourpop's eye shadows and lippie stix.

I requested one of my friends who was traveling from US to pick up a few eye shadows, and she did. I ordered Kathleen Lights-Where The Light Is palette, 5 individual eye shadows, and 3 lippie stix. (I gifted1 each to my friend).

Order

I ordered  the eye shadows from Colourpop US website. Each eye shadow (weight: 1oz) and lippie stix retails for $5 (INR 350). The items reached my friend (Miami, US) in 2-3 days. It came in  a white cardboard box, with a hand written note.
Shipping charges: Free within US. The total order was for $60, and with the $5 off coupon, I paid around $55.
Shipping mode: USPS Priority
Payment: Paypal

Note: As of now, they don't ship to India.

From my Instagram feed

Packaging

The  eye shadow singles came in a paper cardboard box with peekaboo circular cut on top. You can see the product through this peekaboo hole. Inside is a white tub with a screw on transparent top which has a holographic sticker of the brand. The name of the eye shadow is printed on the bottom. The actual product itself is housed inside a metallic pot in the plastic tub. With certain shadows (Central Perk), I noticed that the inner metallic casing also rotated, while I tried dipping my finger into the product. There is a pattern overlay over each eye shadow, which disappears once the first layer is through.

Products

Mousse like consistency and very soft and squishy. The only matte shade from the loot (Central Perk) was slightly dry as compared to the metallic ones.
Note: Keep the cap tightly shut, else the product will dry out.
Other: Cruelty free 
Ingredient List:

From Colourpop website

Staying power: 7-8 hours
 

•  Central Perk: Matte, deep purple-brown 

Central Perk does not have enough pigmentation. As long as you want a single colored, no-fuzz easy matte eye lid look, it is ok, but combined with other shadows, they can be a bit tricky to work with. As the brushes don't pick up enough product, you will have to rely on your fingers to do the job. If you are expecting to get that airbrushed eye look, you will be disappointed as this one is a tough cookie to blend :).

• Desert: Satin, nude-beige 

Perfect shimmery nude on tan to deeper skin. If you need something on your lids for work, this is the right shade to start with. Provides a light wash of color and shimmer, without screaming " Look, I have eye shadow on" 

• Game Face: Ultra metallic, antique-gold

Game changer oh yeah!. The pretty gold is a wedding season must have. I could just get enough product on the RT brush to apply this shade as a liner.

• On The Rocks: Metallic, bronze 

On the rocks is another wedding season favorite. Again, I use it as a liner.

From my Instagram feed

 Application

Applies best with fingers. I tried using RT brush to line the eyelid, and the brush does not pick up the required color, instead it picked up a tons of glitter.

Eyelook

 1: Central Perk as the base. Shade, Heirloom from ABH Shadow Couture palette as an all over lid color.

 

 2.  Desert all over the lid

Verdict

I prefer Colorpop metallic eye shadows over mattes. The metallic ones are total value for money.

All about the glow: Highlighters

I have given up on contouring, finding MY cheek bone is a lost cause, the only thing I can find is my Apple-like cheeks. So, when "Strobing" did a Kim Kardashian and broke the internet, I was all up for it...bring on some glow baby. Today I am comparing three highlighters, all three of them, very different, almost like, morning, evening, and night…it’s as different as it can get...this blog post would cover the broad spectrum of highlighters available in market.

MAC Strobe Cream: An all-white highlighter that can either be used in the traditional way of highlighting or be mixed with your foundation for that fake glow from within. White highlighters tend to look stark on tan skin. MAC strobe cream has a tendency to attract dirt, so if you are traveling on a bike, you will start feeling greasy and yucky in no time.

Cost:  2500 INR ($40) Ouch…Pricey

Staying Power: 3-4 hours, post-which it gets a little greasy.

Sleek Contour Palette in Medium: This here, my friends is my highlight bae! We bring on the glow where ever we go. Peachy- golden highlight is perfect for medium to dark skin tone. If I have to be nit-pick on the performance, I can say in my meek tone,* This highlighter can be a bit chalky *.

Price: $10
Staying Power: 6-7 hours

Elf Baked Highlighter in Blush Gems: Last but not the least, Elf baked highlighter. This is a rosy-apricot highlight with veins of silver sparkle running though. It is perfect for lighter skin tones. One major issue I have is, it applies patchy leaving less-color, and more glitter on the skin. Also, the packaging is flimsy.
Price: $3
Staying Power: 3-4 hours

Application

Apply highlighter on the high points of your face, bridge of your nose, cupids bow, forehead, and high point of your cheeks, right above where the blush is applied.

Tools

I dab the highlighter (liquid) with my fingers, or I use the following brushes to apply highlighter:

• ELF Small Tapered Brush
• RT Soft Dome brush

Alternatives

There are no rules, you can use your highlight eye shadow to get that Jo-glow.

Caution

Using stark white highlighters for tan skin.

Glowy- everything from foundation to blush to highlight can make you shine like a disco ball.