Literally, my life in a quote.

A visit to the MAC store to buy a MAC lipstick can be a very overwhelming experience with the plethora of shades and finishes that they have. For tan skin (NC 42 and above) beauties, it's a pain to find THAT right shade of red that doesn't clash with their skin tone. The famous Ruby Woo is Sahara dessert in a tube and with the Russian Red always out of stock, we are done with options. Little do people know that there are 17+ red shades under the MAC lipstick umbrella, each with a different tone or finish.

Here are some non-conventional (read, "not-so-famous") red lipsticks that you can try on your next visit to a MAC store.

MAC Lipstick Price: INR 1350 ($20)

1. Party Line l Cremesheen

MAC Description: Red-toned Plum
My Description: Plummy-Red

Red lipstick with strong mauve influence, making it a tan skin girl's BFF. Very comfortable on the lips and lasts for 4-5 hours.

2. Sparks of Romance l Matte-Frost

MAC Description: True Red
My Description: Blue based Red

MAC should have named this lipstick, "Sparkles of Romance". The multi-dimensional sparkles can scare the hell out of a newbie red wearer, but the chunky glitter is not visible on application. This lipstick is a limited edition piece from the Heirloom collection. For me, this is the maximum blue-leaning red I am comfortable wearing. Lasts for a decent 6 hours, without  the stretchy and drying feeling.

3. Dubonnet l Amplified

MAC Description: Deepened claret
My Description: Brown-Red that can rock your party.

Very creamy and lasts for 5-6 hours. Read more about it here.

4. Lady Bug l Lustre

MAC Description: Yellow Tomato
My Description: Orange-Red

For ladies, scared to take the plunge into the RED, start off with an orange based red. This lipstick is not so opaque like the others in this post, thus making it easy to wear if you are a newbie. Lasts for 2-3 hours.

Swatches

Honourable Mentions

• Chili
• Brave Red
• Mac Red
• Cockney
• D for Danger

Do you have any red lipstick suggestion for me? Comment down below.

5 Under-Rated Products

With the beauty world changing faster than Cochin's climate, it is a pain to be on top of new releases. Manier times, my existing makeup gets pushed to the darker depths of the drawer to make way for the newer ones. I would like to highlight 5 products that do not get enough credit in the beauty world. Products that doesn't give you 1000's of hit on a Google search.

1. Patanjali Aloe Vera Gel l INR 40

Patanjali is the fastest growing FMCG company in India and I am a big fan of their Aloe Vera Gel. I don't see many Indian bloggers mentioning it, but I absolutely love it and think it's better that any high-end Aloe Vera gel in the market. I use the gel to soothe my skin from sunburn or mix it with the face masks.

2. Chambor Luminous Loose Powder (202 Ocher) l INR 1275

When I was on a look out for a good under-eye concealer setting powder, I couldn't get much info on this lil gem online. Though it's marketed as a luminous powder, I  have to tell you that this is the only yellow loose powder that doesn't make my undereye ashy. Sadly, the Banana shade from ABH doesn’t work for me. This one sets the undereye perfectly making it budge-proof and also gives a nice luminosity and highlight to my under-eye area.

Link: Featured in a previous Favorites post.

3. MAC lipstick in Dubonnet l INR 1450

You must be wondering why a MAC bullet is being mentioned in an under-rated products post. Well, I have a problem with people not acknowledging the color. Dubonnet is a warm brown-red color that looks absolutely bomb on tan skin, but then it's famous red siblings Ruby Woo and Russian Red is so hyped up that no one gives a damn about this poor shade. Next time you are at a MAC store, do give this a try and I am positive that you won't regret your decision.

4. Inglot YSM Foundation (52) l INR1100

Throwback to ages ago when drugstore brands didn't bother to cater to medium-dark skin tone, and MAC was the only option for deep yellow/tan skin tone girls. Inglot YSM foundation gives the most natural finish and stays put for long humid hours. Packaged in a plastic tub, it soon became my travel buddy. I don't see many YouTubers/Bloggers raving about this foundation which is so under-rated in the beauty community.

5. UD Brow Box (Brown Sugar) l INR 2100

I love my ABH Dipbrow Pomade, but that being a non-lazy girl friendly product, I was on a hunt for an easy to use eyebrow powder. I almost bought the Too Faced Eyebrow Kit, but luckily my order didn’t go through and I ended up purchasing this lil gem. It’s a perfect match for my jet black eyebrow. I use the lighter shade in the inner portions and the darker shade around the outer edges. I don’t use the eyebrow wax, the lower chamber houses two tiny eyebrow brushes and a plucker. I couldn't find a single thing online about this kit and this one is an under-rated product within the UD family. If you do get your hands on this, don't think twice, just buy it.

So, do you have any under-rated products that you would like to recommend?

BH Cosmetic Carli Bybel Palette Review

It's the era of YouTube collaborations, MakeupGeek x MannyMUA, Colourpop x Kathleen Lights, Becca x Jaclyn Hill, and last but not least BH Cosmetics x Carli Bybel. Though it was a struggle to receive my order in one piece, BH was supaaah nice and send in a replacement for my lost package.

When I opened the package, I was blinded by the light, the palette reflected. I have to let you see for yourself, wear your shades people....presenting before you, the bloody awesome Carli Bybel Palette.

Cost

$12.50

Packaging

• Sleek-travel friendly cardboard packaging with a magnetic closure.
• An all-white/silver cushion and pearl print on the top. The all-white/silver theme is a stark contrast to the rich warm tones inside.
• On the backside, you will find a small write-up on Carly in English and French and the ingredient list.
• On the cardboard spine, you can see a cutesy pink penguin. 

• Open up and inside you will find a good sized mirror and the quote "Aspire to inspire" printed below the mirror.

Ingredients

• Vegan
• Paraben Free
• Non-Irritating
• Allergy Tested
• Clinically Tested
• Cruelty Free Product

Contents

• Contains 10 eyeshadow shades ( 5 mattes and 5 shimmery shades) and 4 highlighters.
• The matte eyeshadows are plummy~neutral shades and shimmery ones are rich warm earth tones making it a universally flattering palette.

Swatches

Top Row

1. Matte Cream
2. Pink
3. Brown Cool (Crease) 
4. Cool Matte Plum
5. Warm Matte Plum 

Middle Row

1. Golden-Pink
2. Golden
3. Warm Brown Bronze
4. Copper-Bronze
5. Satin Black Brown

Bottom Row (Highlighters)

1. Pink
2. Golden-Pink
3. Golden
4. Bronze

Performance

• The palette does kick up some dust (matte shades) and is slightly chalky.
• The powder doesn't sit well on synthetic brushes. Tap the excess off, and you will be left with little or no product on the brush.
• The shimmery shades are a dream to blend and apply.
• Some shades do look similar. For example, 1 Middle Row and 2 Bottom Row or 2 Middle Row and 3 Bottom Row.
• Highlighters are very fine and buttery to apply.
• Average wear time is 6 hours without primer, after which the shades start to fade.
• Strong scent can be an issue for people who are sensitive to certain smell.

Application

A simple eye look with the palette

I applied the highlighter under my foundation for a subtle glow

Verdict

It's a super affordable palette and a dream for neutral lovers.

Most Used Face Brushes

If you ask my brush babies, they would tell you the kind of bad mother I am. I mean, I do prefer some of my brushes more than others. I go through phases where I am obsessed with a certain something, candles, foundations, palettes, and I used to be weirdly obsessed about brushes during the earlier half of 2015.

If I have to pick and choose five face brushes that I absolutely can't live without, these would be my pick:

1.      MakeupGeek Flat Kabuki Brush: I was so obsessed about the brush, that I had to buy a backup. The brush bristles have the perfect density to apply foundation and are soft on the face. The finish is super flawless. I had a major issue with the length of the handle (was a little long, making it hard for me to have a close look in the mirror), but the newer version has the problem sorted. Bristles are synthetic and there is no shedding or bleeding while cleaning :).

2.       Vega Blush Brush: I know, I know, you might be wondering what this ratchet looking black pocky brush is doing in my top brushes list, especially when I have a soft RT blush brush! I just can't get rid of my first blush brush. It picks up the right amount of color, and it is small enough for my face. Also, as the bristles are black which helps me to see the amount of product that I pick up. The brush might not be the softest one in the market but it does tick all the right boxes in the perfect blush brush checklist.

3.       Colorbar Flat Eyeshadow Brush: To be frank, I've never used this brush for its intended purpose, ie, on the eyes, instead, I use this brush to set the under-eye concealer. I gently pack on the brush with my Chambor loose powder and pat it over my concealer. This brush has not given me any troubles and the bristles are synthetic.

4.       Elf Concealer Brush: I was going through this concealer only phase and this brush has served me well. It made it to the 2015 favorites list. You can read about it here.

 5.       RT Angled Contour Brush: Finding the right contour brush and the journey itself is worth a whole post. After my tryst with the disappointing Sigma contour brush, I ordered this brush on a whim from Amazon. The bristles are firm enough for a super, blended contour, but also soft enough to be loved by my face. The angle makes it easier to chisel out that non-existent cheek bone.

So these are my most used, dessert island brushes.  What are yours?

PS: I do intend to do a similar post for eye brushes.                                         

Disaster!

The month February has been officially re-named as the disaster month. I had my fair share of back to back makeup heart breaks in February.

A Broken Glow: TheBalm Betty-Lou Manizer is my favourite highlighter of all time, it survived a fall on the floor once, but didn't the second time around. I lost my grip, and the poor thing was on the floor before I could process the fall in my brain. I shouldn't be complaining as the palette is not in unusable condition, just that it has heavy fall out. There is no palette or heart, rubbing "alcohol" can't fix, I am yet to attempt fixing the broken palette.

Evaporated Into Thin Air: I usually carry my makeup and perfume in my handbag while travelling, *go ahead, call me crazy makeup obsessed*. As I own only Ninna Ricci Elixir in the 30 ml bottle, I carry it around when I travel. On the flight to Bali, I realised the perfume was leaking. I tried keeping it upright to save whatever was left, but in spite of my efforts, the entire perfume just leaked and evaporated. Imagine me carrying the handbag around, with a trail of sweet Apple like-scent. I smelled like a man whole through the trip * Thank You Lacoste Men (husband's perfume)* 😖.

Missing Palette: I ordered Carli Bybel palette from BH Cosmetics along with a brush. The package did arrive in 20 days, but it was empty. It didn't have anything inside. I suspect that the palette must have slipped off in transit as one side of the package was in open condition. 

Update: BH Cosmetics emailed me and they promised to send me a replacement.

That's it, folks! hoping this month turns out into a disaster-free month.