I have hoarding tendencies, especially, when it comes to eyeshadow palettes. There is always a new palette that catches my fancy, there is always that limited edition product. The "self-control" struggle is real. Today, I am listing down 5 products that I love with all my heart, but refuse to use for various reasons.

The Original BeautyBlender l $20

I love a good blender sponge, as blending my foundation is the only cardio I am used to. Sponges revolutionized the way makeup is applied and literally, forced brushes out of the market. I have a love-hate relationship with the RT beauty sponge, and my dislike gradually evaporated once I tried the PAC Beauty Blender (*open AMAZON and buy that pink beauty, you will thank me later). I purchased the OG on a whim from BeautyBay, but have never used it in full glory.

Reason: Cleaning. I am perpetually scared of the sponge growing mold. Also, cleaning the sponges can be a bit tricky, especially, getting the soap out of it's inner soul.

NARS Audacious Lipsticks l $32

I own three NARS Audacious lipsticks, they are the best lipstick formula I have tried, opaque in one swipe, creamy, yet, 5+ hours of wear time with greasy/oily food. I can't seem to stop talking about them, and then, they are the least used lipsticks in my collection

Reason: Cost, at 32 Dollars a pop, I have a crazy heart pull each time I take it out of my of the drawer.

ABH Modern Renaissance Palette l $42

The most raved about palette of 2016 is nothing less than a superstar. As much as I love the warm colors, I hardly use them on a day to day basis.

Reason: Most of my office wears clash with the colors and I find them a little too bright for a non-makeup friendly workplace like mine.

ABH Dipbrow Pomade l $18

Brows from the gods, that's the effect this product gives me. The product is an absolute favorite, but I refuse to use it for the following reason!

Reason: Inconvenience. My usual office routine is less than 5 minutes long and to include a product that comes with an additional brush and one that requires a lot of patience is a con.

MAC Painterly Painpot l $ 22

On days when I feel like walking an extra mile, I apply the paintpot as a base for my shadows. This, in turn, increases the longevity and improves the eye shadow vibrancy, as per the textbooks, but I don't use a base whatsoever with my eye shadows!

Reason: I forget! I forget to apply an eye shadow base every freaking time.

So what are the products you love, but refuse to use?

Giveaway: 2.5K Worth Products To Be Won

As readers, you guys encourage me (the lazy bum) to churn out posts more frequently, leave awesome comments, and encourage me throughout and today, I would like to show my appreciation to my loyal readers by hosting my first ever giveaway.

Rules

• This giveaway is open only to Indian residents. *I apologize to my international subscribers*
• The giveaway will run from 11-September to 12-October.
• The winner will be selected randomly by Gleam.
• I will announce the name of the winner on 16-October on the blog and Instagram.
• Giveaway accounts will not be considered.
• If you follow to unfollow post the giveaway, you will be disqualified from all my future giveaways.

How to enter

Click on the link below and follow the instructions:

https://gleam.io/z3q5W/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-instagram-giveaway 

or

Click on the Enter Competition button under the Giveaway widget on the blog.

Entries

• Follow my blog
• Subscribe to my FB page
• Follow my Instagram account
• Follow my Twitter account

Prizes

1. Lakme Lipstick
2. Lakme Eyeconic Kajal
3. Maybelline Nail Polish
4. Lorac Eyeshadow Primer (Travel Size)
5. NARS Orgasm Blush (Sample)
6. Clinique Primer (Sample)
7. NudeStix Lip Pencil (Travel Size)
8. Face Mask
9. Loreal Gel Liner
10. Gel Bomb Hand Sanitizer

All the best guys!

Foundation Matrix for NC 42

Buying foundation online can be a daunting task, especially when it is a high-end foundation. I have put together a shade suggestion list which you can refer if you are looking to place an online order.

Skin Type: Combination-Oily [Requires blotting in 4 hours]

Skin Concerns: Pigmentation around the mouth area

Skin Undertone: Yellow-Golden

What do I look in a Foundation: Matte, long-wearing, humidity-proof (Coastal-area problems)

Notes:

• All foundations contain 30 ml product unless mentioned.
• Products marked in YELLOW are what I have tried out either as sample or in-store. I do not own these, with an exception of MUFE Ultra HD which is still with my relatives in Canada.
• Brands that are not available in India, I purchased from Sephora US or Nordstrom US.

·         FOUNDATION	SHADE	FINISH	COST	COMMENTS
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation	NC42	Matte	INR 2290	Good oil control, Medium-Full coverage, Nice color match, Cakey. Needs an applicator to apply
MAC Studio Fix Fluid	NC43.5	Flat-Matte	INR 2290	Very orange, Full-coverage, Sits funny on my skin, Long-wearing, Extremely plasticky smell, Oxidizes
MAC Face and Body	C5	Dewy	INR	Nice color, Very dewy, Tacky on touch, Transferable on clothes
Estee Lauder Double Wear	4N2 Spiced Sand	Matte	INR 2790	Long-wearing, Sweat-proof, Good color, Heavy coverage
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light	4.5	Matte	INR 3000	A shade dark, Long-wearing, Light on skin
Inglot YSM	52	Demi-Matte	INR 1100	Spot on color match
NARS All Day Luminous Weightless	Syracuse	Demi-Matte	$ 48	Accentuates dry patches, Long-wearing, Good color match, Sits funny on textured skin (around the mouth)
Maybelline Fit Me Matte+Poreless	322 Golden Honey	Demi-Matte	INR 475	A tad ashy around the mouth, Long-wearing, Skin like finish
Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua	B50	Dewy	$ 47	Becomes ashy as the day progresses, Pink undertone which makes the color look off
L'oreal Infallible Pro Matte (US)	108 Caramel Beige	Demi-Matte	$13	Long-Wearing, Skin like finish
L'oreal True Match	W5	Demi Matte	INR 1025	Minute shine (glitter), Ghostly white cast
L'oreal Infallible (India)	322	Matte	INR 1126	Leaning towards pink undertone, Dulls the face
MUFE Ultra HD	153 (Y405)	Satin	CAD 50	Spot on color match. Makes me oily within 2 hours!
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte	310	Demi-Matte	$34	Tad bit light around the mouth area. Long wearing
Too Faced Born This Way	Sand	Dewy	$39	Way too neutral. Causes white cast
L'oreal Infallible Pro Glow	209 Caramel Beige	Dewy	$13	One shade dark. Dewy, non-tacky finish
MUFE Mat Velvet +	65	Matte	$39	A tad darker
Dior Forever Perfect	Honey Beige 040	Demi-Matte	$50	Ashy around the mouth area
Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow	Hazelnut	Dewy	$36	A tad bit dark
WISH LIST
FOUNDATION					PROBABLE SHADES	COST
Becca Ever-Matte Shine-Proof					Bamboo	$42
NARS Sheer Glow					Syracuse	$45
UD Naked Skin					6/7	$40

 Swatches

Different Lighting: From L-R, L'oreal Infallible Pro Matte, Maybelline Fit Me Matte+Poreless, Inglot YSM, MAC Studio Fix, MAC Face&Body, Estee Lauder Double Wear, Chanel VitaLuniere Aqua, NARS All Day Luminous Weightless, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light

                                   

Note: My arms are way lighter than my face, so the foundations may appear way dark on my arm.