Review : MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 & some handy concealer tips!

Concealer (n.) - The very-much-out-of-adolescence girl's best friend.   


And how many of us girls agree to my definition of a concealer? I think I see a million..no no wait a billion(?) hands go up! And the fact is whoever made concealer went to heaven! (god bless her/his soul)

All those who follow my blog, know that I've been at the receiving end of adult acne (which is actually a continuation of teen acne). Life is tough when you know your only constant companion throughout those 11 years of  adolescence and adulthood has been your acne :'(

So when office is all about looking good (and well to some extent working good as well :P) I just had to 'invest' in a good concealer! Why do I call it an investment, you'll find out in a moment!

I have always been lusting after something MAC for as long as I remember, since after my exposure to makeup! I just had to get a MAC! What and why was something to decide later on-the aim was to get something MAC! :D
 I first wanted foundation or powders from MAC but later found that my not so frickin' expensive brand's foundation/compacts suited me to the T, so I skipped (smart shopper,remember? :) ). Next was blush-but the again I'm not a very blush-y person..I have enough embarrassing moments in my day to blush naturally than to fake it!! Lol. Lipsticks weren't that great, I easily found dupes in Revlon and Maybelline..So pointless..


But what I did not have and I knew I had to get was a concealer!Now all that mattered was the right choice of it :)

Sorry for the totally shitty picture

I had read in so many blogs that MAC's Studio Finish concealer was a heavy duty concealer that fared well on all testing scenarios! (The software Quality Assurance analyst in me says so :-/) So off I went scouting for a MAC store when I was in Bangalore for a short trip! 


The MAC counter from where I got mine had this sweet make-up artiste Gayatri who was the sweetest thing.so knowledgeable and so patient in explaining things! ( If you're reading this, I owe you a big hug!) :)


Since I was on a holiday, I had tanned a lot(wasn't regular with my sunscreen) and was now between NW35 and NC42 for a concealer. The reason why I mention concealer specifically coz, concealer of a shade darker than your skin color is needed to conceal acne or any marks..Had I used a foundation of the similar shade, I would've looked like I rolled in mud and dust!  I was happy with the demo and I purchased this Studio Finish version in NC42 at Rs.1200 (expensive!!!!!)
 And yay!! that's how I got my 1st MAC :D


Ok, I have been using this concealer for over a month and I can now give a decent review in terms of pros and cons for judging the product.

Pros: 

Creamy, thick and non-oily texture
Highly pigmented, meaning full coverage

Gives excellent coverage to both dark circles (thank god touch wood I have very faint ones) and erupted acne

Non-comedogenic hence does not cause acne or irritate existing ones by clogging pores.

Is slip-proof, stays in place even on my oily skin

Does not cake up even if I pat on 2+ layers

Excellent shade range-has one for everyone! :)

Has beeswax and jojoba oil which are skin do-gooders

Sweat proof to a decent extent

SPF 35!! Has physical sunscreen minerals! Read more about sunscreens and the right way to use them

Paraben free! 

Does not look fake-like you have put on concealer-nope

Quantity is generous at 7gm, can last for a good 2 years, value for money? :)

Good shelf life of almost 3 years

Handy little container that can be slipped in anywhere!

Can be used with a brush and also fingers- wears well both ways!

Cons

Does have tendency to fade away slightly, so oily skins need to set it with powder.

Expensive but not a con since quality and quantity are justified

So you see how it's soo many pros to just 2 cons? :) Tested in the worst of  weathers in a humid, hot Mumbai! And that is why I vote this as the concealer for acne cursed girls!!

Some tips for getting the max out of your concealer

Never buy concealer online. Always be at a store and try it against your skintone and type. There are many concealers available and you need to find your best match. So always do a complete analysis of your needs and some valuable research!

Apply foundation always before concealer and powder always after. So your order is foundation-concealer-powder to get the max out of your concealer!

When wiping sweat, pat with a tissue so as to not move or remove the concealer by wiping it off!
If you have reasonably clear skin free from marks but still seek perfection (don't know why really but there are many who do this despite clear skin :-/) select a concealer which is watery like Select Moisture Cover

Hope this post helps you decide on your favorite concealer! If you have already found it, share it! :)

Lots of ♥ § cheese,

DIY : Almond oil body cream-The easiest way to treat rough, flaky skin

Here's another excellent recipe for treating misbehaving skin! This cream is one sun-of-a-gun in its own right! I was tottering around online in search of a suitable alternative to beeswax. Vaseline was what most people suggested as an emulsifier (say thickener in layman lingo, exactly what beeswax does-but of course more natural)
So here's a recipe you an enjoy from the comfort of your own kitchen-it's as easy as popping a peanut into your mouth :P

So here's what you need
1 cup of almond oil (or coconut, whatever you prefer-almond oil is less sticky)
2 tbsp of Vaseline jelly in original (clear white w/o any fragrance)
1/2 cup of distilled water (available at a chemist's or boiler,cooled water)

And this is what you do
Heat almond oil + Vaseline in a double boiler to melt
Once melted, pour into a sturdy steel or glass bowl
Start adding water little by little, whisking away till an emulsion is formed = oil+water have mixed
Transfer to an old lotion jar which has been sterilized.


My favorite way of using it
I scrub away all the dead,dull skin on my hands n' feet using the lemon+sugar scrub {I made for mom but sneak it anyway} and follow with this cream! 


Your lotion is ready! Add any fragrant essential oil if you need to, I just kept it simple :)
 
 Lots of ♥ § cheese,

DIY : How to dupe NARS Turkish Delight lipgloss at home!

I feel like a scientist right now! The accidental types! :D I feel like saying - Mission.Accomplished. Complete with suit, shades & hat! :P If the title isn't enough a whistle blower already- I duped the exact shade of the exclusive, expensive, elitist lip gloss Turkish Delight from NARS!!! Woohoo!!

Like I said, it was a complete accident! The story goes like- I was fiddling with the idea of putting to use my rather misfit of a lip butter from TBS- the white cream Shea variant :/ All I did was wear it at home, at night due to the white color it gave to my lips! :( I thought, why not dive into the  trend of melting lipsticks and mixing 'em up to create your own custom shades! When I was done, I felt it looked similar to something very famous!

And I instantly remembered & queried  Kim Kardashian's fave lip gloss! Turkish Delight answered Google! One look and I was convinced! I had 'invented' Turkish Delight's twin at home..for free!! :D

So here's my accidental combination for making NARS Turskish Delight = TBS Shea lip butter + Nivea Fruity Shine lip balm in Strawberry + Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Peach
 
I simply melted almost an inch of lip balm and 1 1/2 cm of peach lipstick on a large dinner spoon over the stove. Poured the molten mix {it smells weird when melted! :/} into the creamy white lip butter {I poured this mix on the centre, avoiding the hot liquid from touching the plastic tub}..Mixed well & voila!

NARS Turkish Delight duped in my very own kitchen!! #grinsproudly

Here are the pics! Note how exactly similar are the two! The original and my homemade dupe!

source- Google

It will go soo well with classic smokey eyes & even with a simply, yet darkly drawn kajal+liner!!

Kim K..Now your favorite gloss, is my favorite too..and it's wayyy cheaper..almost free! :D

But of course, I'll always buy a NARS product if I ever get a chance ;) It's something worth experiencing!

 So what are you guys duping next? ;)

Lots of ♥ § cheese,

Foodie's Corner: Mumbai Chaatwala Style Dahi Puri!

Continuing with cool summer recipes, here's my favorite way of making classic chaatwala style dahi puris! Being the typical Mumbai ki chokri that I am, chaat love is in my blood xD So feast your eyes on 'em baby! And of course, make some for yourself  and enjoy :)

Make sure the yogurt is chilled !! A perfect summer treat :)

                                      Click on the pic to expand it for proper viewing of the recipe

 It's completely homemade so you need not worry about hygiene issues! :) Just pure 'chatpata' fun :D


 Lots of ♥ § cheese,

DIY : Lemon n' Sugar hand scrub

  Well I wanted to gift my mom something this mother's day..I had gone to shop for some cute bags but did not really think she'd personally like any of them..and sneaking up things for myself when aim for mumma's gift, felt a bit unfair :P
So I rustled her up something really really personal! An effortless yet heartfelt lovely little gift that I gave to my dear mum!
A fragrant lemon-sugar scrub to smooth her tired, overworked hands in need of some serious pampering! She's never been to parlors..so why not give her something special to use at home, eh? :)

Ofcourse, nothing very fancy..but trust me, this scrub works like a dream! How do I know? After bottling up this beauty, I scooped a little myself :P hehe
Simply made using
4 tbsp sugar
1 whole large lemon-juiced
1 tbsp almond oil
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 drops of essential oil (I used citrus)
homemade label :P
plastic/glass bottle


To  use, just scoop up a little and scrub away near your fingertips and scaly portions of the hands..use it even on the elbows and feet if need be! Wash and pat dry..use or skip a moisturizing body lotion as per your need ;)


And there you have it! The BEST lemon scented body scrub ever to make your skin smooth as silk..and what did you spend? A whopping nothing! haha! :D My mom loved it to bits! Made me even more happy than to feel my silky hands :P


So what did you gift your mum this mother's day? :)


Lots of ♥ § cheese,

General Discussions : The gimmick about 'special' after sun skin care

You know the time, when it's April-May..lousy summer weather beating the crap outta all things living..You just tried your best to get some good sunscreen & lo n' behold! there's an after sun set of facials and treatments surrounding the whole sun saga! You begin to wonder, isn't some protection against the sun good enough? Do I really need after-sun treatments too??


No! There's something quite simple that I do, which takes care of all things 'after-sun' imho :)


If you really aren't too keen on spending money on Lakme or Lotus after sun gels and packs or you tried and it did nothing for you- try this!


Mix a teaspoon of curd, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric(medicinal grade) & 1/2 a lemon's juice. Apply like a mask onto skin, massaging gently. Do not worry about the tingling sensation which may be irritating, scratchy or just plain itchy! Just grind your teeth together with patience :D Wash off after it dries.


The next thing you know, amazing skin with a glow, that's brighter & cleaner!
yogurt/curd - lactic acid and essential fatty oils nourish skin and remove tan. Replenish lost moisture due to sun exposure
turmeric- amazing antiseptic properties which helps blemished skin. Gives that golden glow & reduces facial hair with prolonged usage
lemon juice - if at all you get sun spots and get darker(?!), this will rescue! 


So what's your favorite anti-sun skin care? Found any of the Lakme or Lotus gels/masks to work? :)
Share up!

 Lots of ♥ § cheese,

Review : Suncote SPF 30 gel based sunscreen

Just as how important it is to keep cool from inside, it is equally important to stay well protected on the outside!   Summers mean damage all through-inside out!

 The above mantra is what I've been following ever since the summer season started this year! Hard as it may be to believe, I've never used a sunscreen before by itself, albeit I've using products containing SPF 15-30 in the form of moisturizers or makeup.

I thought it was protecting my skin..But how wrong I was? Read on..

SPF is not meant to be rubbed into skin at all! It is supposed to be applied as a thin film over the skin, as a layer which will help reflect away the rays that hit your face/body or absorb the rays itself, stopping them from directly coming in contact with your skin. SPF components when rubbed in, lose their chemical composition which in the first place, allows them to successfully beat away the sun rays! 

So now you understand how silly it is to be thinking your moisturizer or makeup product would protect your skin? You can't apply layers of foundation on your skin & not rub it in or blend!! You'd look like an idiot- all caked up!
SPF in makeup products is a gimmick! 

This is how I reached my conclusion of investing in a good sunscreen! Now let me move on to reviewing my current sunscreen :)

Suncote gel SPF30 is marketed by Curatio pharma. It is a chemical sunscreen containing chemically derived sunscreen components - Octylmethoxycinnamate, Avenobenzene, &  Phenylbenzenzimidazole Sulphonic Acid as the key ingredients (Phew! I typed it all!)
As opposed to physical sunscreen!

Directions to use : Take sufficient quantity of gel and apply liberally to cover the exposed areas. Apply gel 15-30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every 2-3 hours & after swimming or napkin drying. Avoid contact with eyes.

How I use : After washing my face and applying an oil-free moisturizer (again gel based in my case), I apply a 50p coin sized qty of this light pink-hued,transparent sunscreen to my face and neck. While taking care not to rub it in, I ensure it is well spread out as a thin layer.
The gel is quick absorbing hence I need to be quick as well when spreading it on my skin. I repeat the same for the exposed part of my hands and feet(I wear open, strappy sandals) 
It gets absorbed and leaves behind a glow!
I do not wear foundation when I'm wearing this sunscreen. I only spot conceal with my MAC studio finish SPF 35 concealer. Oh btw, this concealer is quite fulfilling my sunscreen desires for my spots :P I just apply or pat it on, not rub it in :D

How well does it work? 
I usually catch my bus to office at around 9:30 AM and the sun's right there! I haven't tanned! But I don't reapply this gel after 2-3 hours as suggested, but I still go out in the afternoon, after lunch break to sit outside, away from the AC environment! I expected to be tanned since I wasn't following what was written, but I didn't! So I'm guessing this really is pretty good!

Summing it up
Pros:
Prevents tanning
Light-weight
oil-free, gel based
Does not break me out
Does not give a white cast  in photos!
The layer/film of sunscreen makes my face glow like I lit it from the insides! Compliments galore :P
No sun spots noticed on my skin *touch wood*
Smells great! Very elegant and not at all irritating.


Cons:
Blah! Can't wear makeup on it, at the most a cheek tint! :D

All in all, I love my first sunscreen & I'm a believer! :)

Oh did you know that you need to apply sunscreen in the ratio 2mg/cm(^)2 of your skin? Which equates to a 1/2 teaspoon or 50p coin sized qty! I read it here!

Hope this post helped!  What's your favorite sunscreen and why? :)

 Lots of ♥ § cheese,