The countdown has started; It's less than 10 days to a brand new year. Looking back, 2018 has been quite uneventful in terms of beauty and makeup. You can read all about my thoughts and feelings here. Rounding off, 2018 has been the year of:

• No Base: This was the year of “No-Foundation”! I couldn’t muster up the energy to apply foundation using a tool (read: Brush/Beautyblender🌰). Also, having a baby means, she is constantly touching my face and foundation is definitely not baby-friendly. 

• Primer Love: I have been using a whole lotta primer to give my sleep-deprived, mommy-face “a glow”. I alternate between the Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer and Laura Mercier Radiance primers.

• Bright Lips: To make up for the lack of drama on the eyes, I have switched to brightER lipsticks this year. 2018 was the year, I could comfortably rock my MAC Russian Red lipstick without giving a care in the world on what people thought of me.

• Purge: This is one of the most unfortunate events of 2018. I had to purge a ton of eyeshadow palettes and lipstick owing to a fungal attack. I shifted my base, and with the new arrangement came the BIG fungal attack. I had to discard, Lorac Mega Pro, UD Naked 1, Zoeva Caramel Melange, MUFE lipstick, and so on!

• Low Buy: Usually, I hit VIB by mid of the year. However, this year was a bit of a struggle. I purchased only things that were absolutely necessary, but I did make some mindless purchase at the end of the year  just to qualify for 2019 VIB. Other than that, I was pretty much on Santa’s good books this year.

• Curly Girl Method aka CGM: I am a late entrant into the curly hair community. I was so insecure about my hair growing up; It had a mind of its own, a spirit like mine, untameable. I have a combination of 2b-2c hair, and I have slowly switched to CGM. The side effect, however, is that I never knew CGM was so much hard work and requires so many products.

 

Nykaa x Shreyaa Jain Master class

Nykaa comes to Cochin (Ground Floor, LULU Mall, Edapally), hallelujah!!! When Shreyaa Jain, one of the biggest beauty YouTuber in the Indian beauty space announced a master class contest on her Insta, I couldn't let the chance slip by! I posted a picture of my favorite highlighter and contour duo and was selected as a winner for attending her master class. The event was held at Le Meridian Convention Center followed by Meet and Greet which was an open event.

Instagram post that got me selected for the Master Class

The theme of the master class was "Beachy Bombshell"🏖💣 look. Here are five things I learnt from the master class that I think you should know.

1. Moisturize: As an oily skin person, I have always ignored the moisturization step in my skincare routine. Well, hello, self produced oil mines, I don't need an additional level of moisturization to make me feel more oily. But as Shreyaa puts in, applying a moisturizer is a cue for the skin to stop producing more oil. Sometimes, dehydration can be the cause for your sebum glands to produce more oil. Finding the right moisturizer can be quite tricky for oily skin peeps though. Currently, I am loving the Belif Aqua Bomb moisturizer for oily skin.

2. Apply Products From Center of the Face: Always apply face products from the center of your face towards the perimeter, this is to ensure that the focus is on the most prominent features of your face. I am guilty of not following this step religiously as my nose tends to sweat excessively if products are piled on.

3. Baking: Baking with powder will help set the base product. If you feel that applying layers of powder can make your product look lighter than what it is, that is not the case. The powder will react well with the naturally producing oil on your skin and adjust accordingly.

4. Tube on the Lips 🗢: If you are someone who is paranoid about applying Tester product, a quick tip is to place the tube on your lips to get an idea on how the lipstick will look against your skin. If the tube is not transparent, open up the bullet completely and place over the lips.

5. Facial Mist as Setting Spray: Facial mist/toners as setting sprays will help powders settle down, taking away any powdery feel. Also the facial mist is good for your skin.

6. Reverse Contouring: If you are someone who can't contour your nose for the heck of it, reverse contouring is the way to go. Apply a lighter shade concealer on the sides of your nose to achieve the same desired effect as contouring.

Some Pics From the Event 

AliExpress Earring Haul

If like me, you live by the mantra #FasunIsMyPasun {hashtag credits: @nehadoodles} but don't believe in spending tons of cash on unaffordable-fast fashion, read on!

I was smitten by a particular earring, that was retailing around INR 1200 ($ 15) at Zara. I had the item in my checkout cart for the longest time, but then my brain somehow didn't allow me to make the purchase.

One fine day, I casually searched for "Zara earring" on AliExpress website, and boom! a world full of 'earropportunities' opened up. AliExpress is an online platform that connects Chinese sellers to potential buyers. I placed my order on August 14th, (the items were purchased from different sellers) and I received my items between 2 weeks to a month's time. So before you get all excited and make your purchase let's analyze some Pros and Cons.

Pros

1. Price, Price, Price 🤑 : It won't come cheaper than this!  
2. Refund Policy♻: AliExpress has a good refund policy, wherein which buyer protection is enabled for a 2 month period. In case, the item goes missing or doesn't reach you within the stipulated time frame, you can raise a dispute with the seller, and most oblige to either refund or replace the items.

Cons

1. Shipping Time📦: Unless, you are purchasing items for your best friend's wedding, next week, you are good. Shipping times may vary based on seller; Most reach you in 7 days to 1-month time frame.  
2. Finish😤: As for the quality, you cannot expect an Iphone at Nokia 1100's price. The finish is of far less quality than the original, for example, if you look carefully, you can see that the thread on the earring is uneven.

💡Smart Tip: If you like something, but would want it in a weeks time, check Shein for the earrings. The earrings might be a tad bit costly, but at least you have a guaranteed delivery timeline.

Pro-Tip

When buying accessories from AliExpress, check for:

• Read the policies accurately. What does the seller offer in terms of buyer protection?
• The same items are sold at different price tags by different sellers, so go over few sellers to ascertain the lowest price.
• Check for Shipping Charges. Most sellers ship items to India for free using standard post, but there are a few sellers who charge a small amount. If an item has Shipping Charge, search for a different seller.
• Ensure the seller has adequate reviews.
• Check/read through reviews and actual pictures posted by real users.
• Payment is via PayPal or Credit Card. Check the transaction rates carefully before ordering as most items are listed in US Dollars.

Let's get into the haul, shall we?

Item 1: Maroon Tassel Earring

Link To Buy

Price : $1 (INR 75)

Note: The threads are uneven. The top round portion of the earring is easily detachable, making the earring difficult to manage.

Item 2: Red Beaded Earring

Link To Buy

Price: $2.82 (INR 210)

Note: This is the earring that started the snowball effect. I have the same earring in Blue (purchased via Shein)

Item 3: Multi Color Tassel Earring

Link To Buy
Price: $1.68 (INR 126)

Note: This is a replica of the earring that is sold in HnM. The threads are uneven.

Item 4: Pink Beaded Tassel Earring

Link To Buy

Price: $2.88 (INR 216)

 

Note: This earring was part of ZARA's last seasonal campaign (inspired by African tribal  jewellery). The stud portion of the earring is made of metal, and not beads. This earring is very heavy.

Item 5: Geometric Green Earring

Link To Buy

Price: $2 (INR 150)

 

Note: Probably, the most practical and most worn item from this haul. Again part of ZARA's last seasonal campaign.

Item 6: Red Tassel Earring with Rhinestone stud

Link To Buy

Price: $1.5 (INR 100)

Note: Least favorite out of the lot. The threads are coming off and also the rhinestone stud looks cheap and tacky.

So, did you like something from this haul? Have you shopped from AliExpress? What are your thoughts?