Random rant

I went into Selfridges the other day in the hope to replace my Bare Minerals foundation. It's one of those products that when I wear it everyone tells me how lovely my skin looks, etc. etc. But I am still not sure if I like it as much as I should.

So, I asked the sales lady if there have been any new shades since I last purchased the product, and she showed me an in-between shade. And I did a swatch on the back of my hand, and guess what, there was shimmer!!!

I don't get it. Why do cosmetic companies feel the need to add shimmer to a perfectly fine product. Why? Why? Why? I don't get it. I don't like my face shining like the moon.

So, I am on the mission to find the original BM, the one that I like, sans the shimmer...

I'll tell you when shimmer is good for you. One word. Highlighter. I am absolutely loving highlighter this season. I have picked up the Illamasqua bronzing duo in (Burnish and Glint) and although I am not a big fan of the highlighter, I just love the way it looks. And if I feel like going really tan, I use MAC's Golden Bronze Iridescent Powder *much love* and indeed, a under rated product.

Right off to my baking for the holiday season x

Back to Basics - Cetaphil

Not all beauty products need to be high end. Your body moisturiser needn't be Estee Lauder to do wonders. As we upgrade our beauty regimes and lifestyles, we often forget about the products we started out with. For all of £5 or under, they worked just as fabulously as any high end brand and hence, why the need to go back to basics...

Source: cetaphil.com

I was first introduced to Cetaphil via. the youtube beauty community. Unfortunately, it is not available here in the UK. There are a few websites that import them from the States. However, you'll be paying twice the monies for it. I think I paid about £10 for a bottle from one such website. Interestingly, it is available in India at pharmacies and it's even cheaper than in the States. So, on my last trip to Mumbai, I ended up buying 6 bottles, each costing about Rs. 120.

Affordable, gentle, does the job, doesn't dry skin out, and keeps acne at bay - that's Cetaphil for you. It doesn't lather like regular face wash products. It's almost like a gentle cream cleanser. And smells a lil bit medicated but not in a way that it will put you off.

I normally follow up Cetaphil after my face wash (i.e. Clinique Gentle Cleanser or Boots Botanics Deep Pore Cleansing Mousse) although, you can use it by itself, I personally like to use a foam cleanser to make sure I get rid of the impurities.

It does make a difference to your skin. Unlike, other acne treatment face washes, this one will not dry your skin out. And anyone, absolutely anybody, in any age group can use it. Definitely, a back to basics facial cleanser. If you've got any worth mentioning, leave me a comment.

Later x

Do-it-yourself makeup cleanser.

I have been on the hunt for a good makeup cleanser for a long time. I am not a big fan of cleansing wipes. I only use them when I am too tired (lazy) to do the cleansing routine. Also, I don’t like using wipes to remove eye make up - the rubbing bit isn’t exactly eyelash friendly!

I came across this tutorial on youtube. It’s by oxfordjasmine.

It’s such a simple concoction. I mix half a bottle of Johnson’s baby oil (I use the Aloe Vera one) to half a bottle of Boots Skin Tonic i.e. Rose water and Glycerine. And that’s it. Your cleanser is ready for use.

MUFE in Mumbai

Image from sephora.com

Make Up Forever in Mumbai. I have been dying to get my hands on the HD Foundation. I've heard so much about it and definitely know that loads have tried and generally loved it. Might have to stop by the next time I am in B-town. Although, I wouldn't pay anymore than 2,200 Rs. In the US, it costs $40. It costs around £28-£30 in select makeup stores in London, so anymore than than would be extortion.

Must have makeup tool... psst it costs £3.50!

Image from eyeslipsface.co.uk

Let's put it this way. If I were stranded in the middle of nowhere and if there was just one makeup brush I could have on me, it would be this brush.

I use my ELF Studio Powder Brush for applying my Bare Minerals foundation, I use it to apply MAC Mineralised Skinfinish Natural powder, I use it to apply my MAC Select Sheer setting powder, I use it to apply my NARS Sheer Glow foundation... there is nothing that this brush can't do when it comes to makeup application!

It's so so soft, it's the perfect size, it looks gorgeous, it applies powder and liquid foundation like magic, I cannot begin to tell you how beautifully it blends, and it only costs £3.50. Yes, really.

ELF (eyes lips face) has a US and Europe website and when I last checked it had a website for India, although unfortunately, they don't stock much of the studio line :'( which is such a shame... but I reckon they should be getting the line in a few months time and when they do, I say buy it! For £3.50 you can't go wrong.

Budget foundation and choosing the right shade...

There is a lot of love for this foundation in the beauty community. I for one fell for the rave and bought Revlon Colourstay Foundation, and for a change, the product has lived up to the hype.

I am a NC 42 MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer and Colorstay shade number 330 Natural Tan in the Combination/Oily Skin formula - a point of reference if you are in the same colour range.

The foundation can wash me out a little bit and hence, I wear mine with MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder shade NC 45 and the two work like a dream!

I am a little sceptical when it comes to purchasing drugstore brands like Revlon/L'oreal/Max Factor because they don't offer the best colour range and very often I've come back home with the wrong shade and ended up never using the foundation again = money down the drain! (p.s. it costs £12 here in the UK)

This is a trick I use when I am on the hunt for the perfect shade of drugstore foundation. I refer to makeupalley.com which is such a fab website for the beauty community. I look for reviews of the product that I am interested in. For example, in this case I would look up Revlon (brand) Liquid Foundation (category) Colourstay (name) further narrowing down my search to Combination/Oily Skin formula. I would specially look at reviews by women who are the same skin colour as myself (i.e. Tan) The website has a drop menu to narrow down your search.

Often women on MUA (makeupalley) talk about the shade that has worked for them and give a point of reference (as I mentioned at the start) This helps me narrow down my options so when I pop into the store, I know which ones to swatch test.

Hope this help x

I like good things in life...

... I just don't want to pay full price for it!

I love makeup... but on a budget. And that's perhaps the simplest way to describe this blog. Yes, it is a beauty blog. But I'll be focusing on products that work. Not one to buy loads of products in the hope they'll do miracles, I stick to tried and tested and that's what I am here to share. Let's be realistic, most of us don't have the monies to stock up on every collection MAC comes out with, and neither do we have money to own six bottles of foundation!

So here's a beauty blog for women like myself who love make up on a budget and choose to buy foolproof products.

Until later x