Tuesday 29 September 2015

10 Basic Skin Care Tips

Hey Beautiful People!

Today, I am going to share with you all some skin care tips which, according to me, are very important to follow if you want your skin to be beautiful, glowing and youthful for a longer time. I know that in today's world, everyone is so busy in their respective works that they are unable to devote much time to skin care. So keeping this in mind, I will tell you only those skin care tips which are easy to follow in the scarce time that you have. So, let's get started.



1. CLEANSING TONING MOISTURISING (CTM):


We all cleanse our face in the morning. But how many of us use toner and moisturizer after that? Some people may be using a moisturizer after cleansing the face but what about the toner? So guys, if you are not following CTM routine, start doing it in the morning and evening as soon as possible. First, clean your face with a face wash that suits your skin type (dry, normal or oily). After that, use a toner. Put some toner on a cotton ball and gently rub it on your face. It will help in taking off any remaining dirt and impurities from your face. There are different toners for different skin types. The last step is to moisturize the skin. Again, use a moisturizer suiting your skin type. Moisturizing the skin is very important to keep it hydrated even if you have an oily skin. Not just the face, apply it on the whole body. Else, there will be dark patches on your body due to dryness. So, follow this CTM routine two times a day i.e. morning and evening, starting today J




2. PAT YOUR FACE DRY:


One mistake most of us do is to rub our face while drying it. I know that we all are always in a hurry but that does not mean that we should be rude to our skin. It will only result in premature wrinkles on the face. Always pat your face with a soft towel or a cotton shirt. Never rub it




3. USE SUNSCREEN LOTION:


If you do not want premature ageing of your skin, always use a sunscreen lotion before stepping out of your home. A sunscreen lotion should be applied to all those parts of your body which are going to be exposed outside. Apply it 20 minutes before stepping out. I would suggest you to apply the sunscreen every time you go somewhere even if you are going out for 5 minutes only. No matter what season it is (summer or winter), always wear your sunscreen lotion. It protects you from the harmful rays of the sun.





4. USE MINIMAL MAKE-UP ON DAILY BASIS:


Do not use foundation on daily basis. We all want to look good while going out. But I think, foundations should be used for special occasions only like parties, marriages, outings etc. There are BB Creams, CC Creams and Tinted Moisturizers in Indian market now. They have very less amount of foundation in them and help in covering the imperfections on your face. So, according to me, use these creams or moisturizers instead of doing heavy make-up every day as it clogs the pores of your skin and result in acne, pimples and premature ageing of skin.



5. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE:


A lot of people have the habit of touching their face too often which is not good for the skin. We do a lot of work with our hands and that makes them dirty. Dirty hands are full of germs and bacteria. So, if we will keep on touching our face, all the germs will be transferred to it. It will result in break outs. So, stop touching your face all the time.




6. CLEAN YOUR MAKE-UP BRUSHES: 


If you apply make-up, you must be having different types of make-up brushes with you. How often do you wash/clean them? It is very important to clean your make-up brushes once a week. When we use make-up brushes again and again, dirt and germs get settled into them. So, if we keep on using the same brushes without cleaning them, all the dirt and germs will be transferred to our face which is very unhealthy and unhygienic. It may result into skin irritation, pimples, etc.  So, clean your make-up brushes and sponges at least once a week.




7. DRINK LOTS OF WATER: 


Moisturizing your face and body is not enough to keep your skin hydrated. Your skin should be hydrated from within. For that, drink lots of water. Water carries nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and enzymes which help in clearing out the skin and provide hydration. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you cannot drink this much of water, increase your water intake by drinking it in other forms like buttermilk, fresh fruit juice, lemon water, etc. 




8. EXFOLIATION AND FACE MASKS: 


It is very important to remove dead cells from your skin to keep it smooth, glowing and healthy. For that, exfoliate/ scrub your face at least once a week. There are many scrubs available in the market. You can choose any according to your skin requirement. Scrubbing/exfoliation helps in ridding the skin pores of dirt. As the pores are open after exfoliation, it is really important to close those pores which you can either do by washing your face with ice cold water and applying toner afterwards or by applying a face mask. Personally, I like you use a face mask after scrubbing as it helps in nourishing the skin with its healthy ingredients. So, I would suggest you all to go for scrubbing and a good face mask at least once a week.




9. REMOVE MAKE-UP BEFORE GOING TO BED: 


Girls, make it a thumb rule to fully remove your make-up before going to sleep. No matter how tired or sleepy you are, do not forget to take out every bit of make-up from your face. Else, you may have break outs. Removing of make-up will benefit your skin in long run also as you will not face premature ageing of skin. 






10. BEAUTY SLEEP: 


In this busy world, we do not get time to take some rest in the day time. So, it is very important to have a good and sound sleep at night. Our skin repairs itself on its own at night. For that, we should have a good and sound sleep. Ditch your mobiles, tabs and laptops at least one hour before you are going to sleep. It will help you in having a good beauty sleep.



All the above tips have helped me immensely over years in keeping my skin healthy and I am sure these easy ways can do the same for you as well. Do share your feedback in the comments section below. I hope you all enjoyed reading this post as much as I did writing it. Also if you want me to write about something particular you need, send in the request :).

Sunday 27 September 2015

Lakme 9 to 5 Eye Color Quartet - Tanjore Rush

Hey Lovelies

How's your festive shopping going on? I really love the months of October and November as we have a lot of Indian festivals in these months like Navratras, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth, Deepawali, Bhai Dooj, etc. So many festivals means so many different make-up looks :p. According to me, an eye make-up can really change one's whole look. So, today I am going to do a review of an eye shadow palette which I find perfect for the festive season. It is Lakme 9 to 5 Eye Color Quartet. This color quartet palette comes in two different colour ranges. One is Tanjore Rush (Purple, Gold, Bronze, Forest Green) and the other is Silk Route (Peachy pink, Light brown, Magenta and Midnight Black). I am reviewing Tanjore Rush palette for you guys.




PACKAGING: The eye shadow palette comes in a thick plastic case with a transparent top. It also includes a two-sided applicator. I love the packaging of this eye shadow palette as it looks very elegant. 





PRICE: INR 550/- (I got it for INR 440/- at 20% off from Nykaa.com)



AVAILABILITY: It is easily available at Lakme counters and on-line. Right now, jabong.com is selling this at 20% discount and nykaa.com at 15% off. 



MY EXPERIENCE WITH LAKME 9 TO 5 EYE COLOR QUARLET - TANJORE RUSH:
This eye shadow palette has 4 different colours in it - purple, forest green, bronze and yellow gold. All colours are bright which makes this palette a perfect festive choice. I don't really use the applicator that comes with this palette. I like to apply the eye shadows either with my own eye shadow brushes or with fingers. Yes, I get beautiful application on my eyes with fingers. I like to apply yellow gold - forest green colours together for the day look


Gold + Green

Gold in the inner part and Green on the outer part of the eye


For the night look, I like the combination of purple and bronze shadows as it gives a beautiful smoky eye look.
Purple + Bronze

Purple all over the eye lid and bronze on the outer corners and crease


You can mix and match these colours in order to get a new look on different occasions. Also, these colours can be applied individually for a simple look or along with a dramatic lip colour.




PROS:
* Beautiful packaging
* Bright colours
* Long staying power
* Not very expensive
* Adequately pigmented
* Colours can be mixed and matched with each other
* Perfect colours for both day and night look
* Smooth coverage
* Can be easily applied with fingers also


CONS:
* Applicator is not that useful


OVERALL VIEW: I am in love with this eye shadow palette. It is easy to apply and carry. Perfect for any occasion. 


RATING: 5/5 

Friday 25 September 2015

My Top 5 Favourite Lipsticks

Hey Lovely Ladies

Hope you all are doing great. As my previous two posts were detailed lipstick reviews, this time I wanted to do something different. In this post, I am going to talk briefly about my Top 5 Favourite Lipsticks. I'll start with my 5th most favourite lipstick and subsequently move to number 1. I am really excited about this post and hope you too are :p. So let us begin the countdown :)






5. MODEL CO PARTY PROOF MATTE LIPSTICK - COACHELLA CRUSH
This one is a dark orange lipstick, perfect for summer as well as winter season. I don't know why they have named it Matte Lipstick because I find it creamy in texture. It's a fun colour to go with. It is perfect for those days when you want to play with your make-up ;).







4. MAC MATTE LIPSTICK - CANDY YUM YUM
It's a beautiful neon pink coloured lipstick with purple undertones. I find it more of a barbie pink colour. It is a very bright shade, perfect for summer time. Staying power of this lipstick is quite good. 










3. MAC AMPLIFIED CREME LIPSTICK - GIRL ABOUT TOWN
This is a magenta coloured lipstick with creamy consistency. For those who do not like matte lipsticks, this one is a perfect choice as its staying power is commendable. What I like the most about this shade is that it suits all skin tones. It is a very beautiful shade.






2. L'OREAL PARIS PURE REDS COLOR RICHE COLLECTION STAR LIPSTICK - PURE GARNET
I have already reviewed this lipstick in my previous post. I am in love with this shade. A very deep wine colour which is perfect for winter season. You can check the detailed review of this lipstick here
http://withloveakanksha.blogspot.in/2015/09/loreal-paris-pure-reds-color-riche.html








1. MAC RETRO MATTE LIPSTICK - RUBY WOO
And here comes the most talked about lipstick by MAC. It's the perfect red coloured lipstick I have come across till now. A beautiful bright red colour with blue undertones which makes your teeth look whiter. It is from the retro matte collection which makes it very dry on the lips. So make sure to exfoliate and moisturise your lips before applying this lipstick.








So, these were my favourite lipsticks. If you want detailed review of any of these lipsticks, do let me know in the comment section below :). Take care




From left to right - MAC Ruby Woo, MAC Candy Yum Yum, MAC Girl About Town, Loreal Paris Pure Garnet, Model Co Coachella Crush


Wednesday 23 September 2015

L'Oreal Paris Pure Reds Color Riche Collection Star Lipstick - Pure Garnet

Hey Lovelies 

As the autumn/winter season is almost there, I want to tell you about a must have fall lipstick. Trust me girls, you really need this lipstick if you want to rock the autumn/winter season ;). So, today I am going to review about L'Oreal Paris Pure Reds Color Riche Collection Star lipstick in the colour Pure Garnet. 

PACKAGING: The first thing we notice about any product is its packaging. So, it should be attractive. In that term, I liked the packaging of this lipstick. It comes in a pure black tube which has a coloured square in its front part which depicts the colour of the lipstick. The lipstick tube also has the autograph of Sonam Kapoor (who is the brand ambassador of Pure Garnet shade) which is really classy and different.
                                        





PRICE: INR 995/-  for 4.2 gms


AVAILABILITY: It is easily available at cosmetic/departmental stores and on-line.


MY EXPERIENCE WITH L'OREAL PARIS PURE REDS COLOR RICHE COLLECTION STAR LIPSTICK - PURE GARNET:
I saw this shade while watching a youtube video. A beauty guru was wearing this shade. The moment I saw this shade, I fell in love with it. So, the very next day, I bought it. Pure Garnet is a beautiful deep plum wine colour. It has a satin-matte finish that helps in keeping the lips a little moisturised and at the same time gives the look of a matte lipstick. It is a very bold colour to wear. I never tried such a dark colour earlier. This one is first in my collection and I am glad that I bought it. Can you tell how happy and excited I am for having this lipstick :p?












 The staying power of this lipstick is for 5-6 hours without meals which is quite good.  But if you are going for lunch or dinner with this lipstick on then keep the lipstick with you because it is going to transfer on your meals and glasses :p. I like to pair up this lipstick with a winged eye-liner. I like to keep my eye make-up minimal with this shade as I want my lips to do all the talking ;). 







PROS:
* Beautiful deep wine shade
* Perfect lipstick for autumn/winter season
* Satin-matte finish which is not drying on lips
* Good staying power of 5-6 hours
* Autograph of brand ambassador
* Fragrance free



CONS:
* Expensive
* Transfers while having meals or drinks


OVERALL VIEW: I really loved L'Oreal Paris Pure Reds Color Riche Collection Star lipstick in the shade Pure Garnet. I am obsessed with this lipstick these days. I really liked the fact that it is not over drying on the lips and is perfect matte lipstick. 


RATING: 4.75/5 (Go get it girls :*)




Saturday 19 September 2015

NYX soft matte lip cream in Amsterdam review

Hey everyone 

This is my first post on the blog which is about this soft matte lip cream by NYX in the shade Amsterdam. This range of lip creams are very famous in NYX cosmetics. So, let's get started with the review.

PACKAGING: It comes in a small plastic bottle which displays the colour/shade of the lip cream. The lower part of the bottle is coloured one and the upper part i.e. the cap is in the matte black colour. The applicator is just like a normal lip gloss's one.

                                                                






PRICE: AU$12.95 for 8ml
              INR 750/- (approx.)
              

AVAILABILITY: These NYX soft matte lip creams are easily available in Australia (Target) and India (Sephora).


MY EXPERIENCE WITH NYX SOFT MATTE LIP CREAM IN AMSTERDAM:
I am a huge fan of matte lipsticks. When I was in Australia on my visitor visa, I came across NYX brand. The first thing I bought from NYX was this soft matte lip cream only in the shade Amsterdam. It's a beautiful orangish red colour. Prior to be introduced to this lip cream, I was not a person who liked to wear red lip shade on frequent basis. I was really shy to carry a red lipstick in day time. But when I bought this lip cream, I started applying this shade even while going for shopping. This shade makes my teeth look whiter. These lip creams, as the name suggests, are matte in nature. When I first applied it on the lips, it was creamy in texture which made it easier for me to apply it on my lips. But after a few seconds, it turned into total matte finish. The only problem I face with this lip cream is that it makes the lips very dry as it is matte. So, I always moisturise my lips well before applying this matte lip cream. 


Natural Light

Artificial Yellow Light

Artificial White Light



PROS OF:
* Beautiful orangish red colour 
* Very pigmented
* Cute packaging
* Not very expensive
* Does not transfer a lot
* Feels light on lips
* Nice mild fragrance
* Easily available in stores as well as on-line
* 4-5 hours of staying power
* Easy to carry


CONS:
* Makes lips dry 
* Lips need to be exfoliated and well moisturised before using this lip cream
* Not apt for people with dry and chapped lips
* Needs to be reapplied after 4-5 hours as it starts to fade away a little
* Settles into lines after some time



OVERALL VIEW: Overall, it's a nice product and the shade Amsterdam is very beautiful for all the skin tones. I think, we face the problem of dryness on lips with all the matte lipsticks and lip glosses which we can correct by exfoliating our lips and moisturising them before using matte lip products.



RATING: 4/5