My Current Skin Care Routine for the Fall/ Winter

Hello Everyone! I know, long time without a post on my blog! I feel horrible. I do post videos regularly on my YouTube Channel however.

So this time, I had gotten a request by a friend to do a current skincare routine.

Products Mentioned:

Clarisonic Mia
Clarisonic Gel Cleanser
Lancome Creme Radiance Cleanser
Shahnaz Hussain Sharose Toner
Dior Diorsnow UV Shield Protectant
Josie Maran Argan Oil
Lancome Renergie Lift Volumetry

Hope to see you all again soon. Until next time! Happy Holidays!

Harsimran

Lancome Color Design Infinite 24 Hour Eyeshadows

After the revolutionary Giorgio Armani's Eyes to Kill Eyeshadows created a buzz in the beauty community, Loreal also came out with their own version, the Loreal Infalliable Eyeshadows. Now, Lancome has also joined the bandwagon with what seems to be a dupe of these silky cream to powder eyeshadows. I do giggle a little knowing that Giorgio Armani and Lancome are both owned by Loreal. So, it does seem like now, these eyeshadows are available at all price points to satisfy all types of consumers on the economic front.

The packaging is similar to both the GA Eyes to Kill and the Loreal Infalliable Eyeshadows. Not exactly the same, just similar.

There are 15 shades that were released.

The formula is an innovative (well at least it was) cross between a cream and a powder. Add silkiness and long lasting into the mix and it makes sense as to why these eyeshadows are so popular.

Depending on the shade, the finish varies between matte, satin, shimmer, and metallic.

In terms of performance, I would have to say that the colors are either a hit or a miss. Primers will definitely help the vibrancy and evenness of some of the chalky ones. Without a primer, they are long lasting, however they start to fade after 3-4 hours. With a primer, that increases to the 7-8th hour mark.

Initial Swatch at the counter. From Left to Right:
104(Extreme Espresso)
602 (Forever Noir)
102 (Timeless Taupe)
500 (Enduring Vert)
502 (Absolute Jade)
303 (Endless Purple)
302 (Vibrant Violet)

Out of the 15 shadows that were released, only these 7 were the ones that actually struck out to me. And of these seven, only three were hits (102, 502, 302). The other four were all chalky except for 104 and I didn't like that one because it is an extremely common color (a matte dark brown). 102 is a beautiful shimmering taupe color which leans slightly purple. I love 502 because it is a beautiful bright khaki color which goes really well with the warm undertones of my skin. And the 302 is not a color I would usually go for (I am not much of a purple person) but I love the vibrancy of the color and it is perfectly in tune with the purple makeup trends for the fall.

Outdoor Lighting

In all, I do like a few of the shades, but the whole collection is not a must have for me since the shades are very dupable and the formulas are not consistent among the shadows. I still do feel that of the three, GA Eyes to Kill by far still has the most unique shades.






I hope this was helpful!

-Harsimran

Burberry Velvet Foundation Review

After hearing the buzz about the Burberry Velvet Foundation, I knew I had to get my hands on it. The only problem I was facing was that because of the limited counters in the United States, it was very difficult to find an accessible Nordstrom location with a Burberry counter. There was the option of purchasing online, but recently, it has been very difficult to get foundation matches for me, so I wanted to make sure that I was able to swatch the product first and then buy it.

The Packaging was a very high quality plastic. Not flimsy in anyway, very durable. Ideal for travel since the pump has a lock position and also because it is not in a heavy glass bottle.

The texture is thick; even more so than the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 Hour Foundation. I usually apply on one area of my face at a time since it sets quickly.

The coverage is medium buildable. It isn't cakey or powdery.

Finish is satin but leans matte (similar to the Teint Idole Ultra). Those with normal to dry skin do not really need to use setting powder. I have really oily skin and on some days, I can get away with not powdering. I like to not powder over this foundation because I really like the finish. It looks like my face is hydrated however it is not at all greasy or shiny.

I am glad though that I went to the counter to purchase this because the shade selection is very poor. I picked up shade Trench 207 after much hesitation. However, it does work well with my color. This shade has a very yellow undertone (even more than what is natural for me, but once it sets, it looks great with my skin color).

It is flash friendly in case you plan on taking pictures on nights out. Does not contain SPF.

This foundation lasts 8-10 hours on my skin while only having to use blotting paper once.

I have tried this foundation with fingers, beauty blender, standard paddle foundation brush and my Sigma F80 flat top kabuki brush and this foundation looks great with any of the above methods for me.

A primer did not make any difference in the longevity of the foundation for me.

It does accentuate dry patches so for people with more drier skin, I suggest you sample it before buying.

If you would like to see application than here is a link below:

Happy Shopping :-)

-Harsimran

Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation

Finally, I decided to splurge on the foundation I had been wanting to try since last year. The Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation. I have very oily skin so when I had heard about the product raves this foundation seemed to achieve, I had been trying to convince myself the fork the $59 + Tax. I finally caved and here is a video review on the product. Also, some pictures of this foundation:

The Contents of the Package

Swatched against my NC-35 Hand

Blended Out

Slightly Luminous Finish

DiorSkin Forever Compact Foundation Review

So, after much consideration, I was finally able to compile a video on a review of this powder foundation. I hope it can be helpful for those looking to purchase this foundation or just simply wanted another opinion on this. 

Products worn:


Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 Hour Foundation in Bisque 360
Lancome Teint Miracle Under Eye Concealer in 04
L'oreal Infallible Concealer in 680 Light/ Medium
Lancome Color Ideal Powder in Medium 20W
Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush in 04 Exotic Pink
Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown
Diorshow Blackout Mascara
Lancome Artliner
Givenchy Magic Kajal
Lancome Color Design Cream Lipstick in "All Done Up"

Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating SPF 10 Foundation

According to the Sephora Website, the foundation is described as below:

       "Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10 blends 100% natural mineral pigments     with Dior's exclusive, active mineralized water to deliver flawless, glowing skin that actually improves over time. By using advances in mineral makeup technology, this product will take your complexion to a whole new level".

This description also states that this foundation is clinically proven to improve skin quality after one month of daily use. 

So, I will begin my review by talking of the packaging. It is the standard one-ounce size Dior Glass Bottle Foundation with a pump. It is luxuriously packaged to the standards of it's retail price of $47. Normally, I would say that a glass bottle is not travel friendly with the risk of it breaking, but in this case, I would say it is appropriate due to the mineral water content of this foundation. Mineralized water can last up-to 2 years in a glass bottle (versus only 1.5 years in a plastic one). So for the price of this foundation, I definitely do not mind the inconvenience of a glass bottle (at least it makes a good show piece for your vanity). 

Next, there is no scent to this foundation, so for those whose skin gets irritated by fragrance, this foundation doesn't have any such characteristic. There are 12 shades to this foundation, from fair to dark skin, with pink, neutral, and warm undertones. However, I will say that this shade range is not enough. There are not a sufficient number of shades with pink and warm undertones. Especially for the people in the NC or NW 35-42 range. 

The consistency is runny due to the high water content. Also make sure your skin reacts well to mineral makeup. My skin does not react well to powder mineral makeup (like Bare Minerals), however, I have not had any adverse reactions to this liquid. 

Since it does contain SPF, it is an ideal foundation during day time wear. At night, I would not suggest this if you were planning on being photographed since the white cast will appear. 

I first purchased this foundation in 040, Honey Beige (since I use 040 in the Dior Forever Compact). However that was a horrendous shade for me. Within 30 minutes, my skin looked gray and ashy. I looked very unhealthy and the natural glow on my face was gone. Later, while researching, I realized that 040 was a neutral shade whereas I need one with a yellow undertone. So, I returned to Sephora in hopes to pick up the 041, (which would have been the warm undertone to this shade), however, I found out that 041 did not exist. The next one up would be 051, which would be much to dark for my NC-35 skin. So, I went for the lighter shade at 031, Sand. Even though 040 was a perfect match to my color when first applied, it turned gray within the hour. As expected, the 031 Sand was a bit too light for my face when first applied, however it worked out perfectly since all foundations oxidize on my skin and make it darker by half a shade. 

The word "glow" in the title made me a bit skeptical since I thought that might be targeted for those with dry to normal skin. However, since it contained mineralized water, I figured it would be oil-free so it might work. I just really wanted to try it since I wanted a sheer foundation for the summer and I love Dior cosmetics. The coverage is sheer so I would suggest it to people who either have minimal blemishes or are just plain looking for a low coverage foundation. It is slightly build-able but not to the medium coverage level. It works great with my extremely oily skin in hot summers! I only have to use blotting sheets once during the day. I apply at around 9:30am, and it easily lasts till 7-8 pm. After that, I start to see minimal fading on my nose and the sides of my cheeks.

In terms of application, I noticed that it sets very quickly, so unless you can finish blending your foundation your face in less than 2 minutes, I highly suggest applying it in one area at a time. That way you can get the most out of it. I have tried this foundation with a standard foundation brush, a flat top kabuki, as well as a blending sponge. I prefer using the foundation brush to pick up the product and apply it to one area at a time. Then, after it is all on, I go back with a damp blending sponge and blend it in for a super natural look.

It applies well on all my face (which is very oily) EXCEPT the sides and top of my nose. I have been noticing that these areas on my face have been very dry lately and this foundation just accentuates it as well as ends up flaking on the surface. Not exactly sure why, so I have just been avoiding this foundation in this area and using a concealer to hide the redness instead. This does not make my pores prominent either.

As far as the claims of improving skin quality is concerned, I am not sure that it is due to this product. I have been testing out new skincare over the last few weeks so I cannot say whether the improvement in my skin texture is due to this foundation, the new skin care, or both.

Overall, it is a great foundation for anyone searching for a lightweight formula that provides sheer coverage. I would suggest it to those with more oily skin than dry skin. 

Brightening and Lightening Asian Complexion: A mission

For many years, I, like many Asian women, have struggled with issues regarding my complexion. Our society, media, and culture have made it very difficult for women with less than fair complexion to feel beautiful. It is constantly thrown in our face that fairer women are naturally more beautiful. I would first get angry whenever I would hear these types of comments. I felt the urge to defend women with darker skin, but now I feel that I was defending myself as well. My complexion isn't fair, but it is fairer than wheatish. In the winter, I am at around an NC 30-35 and in summer, I usually am NC-37 (In MAC reference).


I have finally come to terms with what it really is that I want. I now understand, that I do not have a problem with my natural complexion, rather, I have an issue with the lack of my proactiveness with skin care as a teen. I never knew how important sun protection was. My biggest concern at that age was trying to get rid of my acne. I feel that Indian women just do not take precaution when it comes to skin care. We would rather treat than prevent. At least, that is how it was in my family and the families I knew. 


Now, I am on a search for skincare which will treat the hyperpigmentation, which is a byproduct of the years of sun damage my skin was exposed to. My first stop was the local Dior counter at Bloomingdales. I purchased the DiorSnow UV Shield SPF 50 PA +++. The DiorSnow Line in general is aimed at brightening and lightening of acne scars and sun spots. I know sun protection is one of the most important skin care element so I figured I would start with the sun screen. I have been using it for 3 weeks. At the 2 months mark, I will post pictures of before and after and let you guys see if there has been any noticeable difference. I plan on using multiple products from multiple lines and putting them to the test.


 Since some creams are targeted towards Asian skin more, I decided to try my hand at these first. Stay tuned for updates on this very controversial topic.

June & July 2012 Favorites

So I decided to combine my June and July favorites for this year since I didn't post for June and in all honesty, most of these products have been ones that I have been using since June.


Likes:


Alterna Bamboo Volume Conditioner
Alterna Bamboo Kendi Hair Oil Mist
Loreal EverSleek Conditioner
EcoTools Facial Sponge
London SOHO Beauty Blender
Essie Nail Polish in Turquoise and Caicos
ELF Gel Eyeliner
Loreal Eyeshadow Quad 821 Bronzes
DiorSkin Nude Foundation
Up & Up Sport Sunscreen SPF 30


Dislikes:


Nair Cooling Gel Hair Removal
OPI Nail Polish in Hello World




If anyone would like in-depth reviews on any of these products, just go ahead and let me know.


Until Next Time!

Natural Makeup for Indian Skin

I have always noticed that Indian or South Asian women prefer to flaunt their natural beauty rather than the the flawless foundation face (rather the no makeup makeup look). For the last few weeks, I have been rocking this look myself and wanted to share how it is possible to look effortlessly radiant.

This routine, (after prepping my skin), takes me no more than 7-10 minutes everyday.


The most important step in this look is the preparation of the skin. With the hot summers most of us are in, your no makeup makeup look can easily be ruined with a greasy looking face.


I first, wash my face with a gentle cleanser. For higher end, I suggest Lancome Clarifiance Gel Cleanser. For drugstore alternative, I really like the Neutrogena Oil Free Face Wash (They have different formulas based on your skin type). Then I like to use some Rose Water as a toner and spray it on my face. I am using the Shanaz Hussain ShaRose. It's a great non-alcoholic toner which doesn't strip your face of its natural oils; keeps your skin supple and adds a beautiful glow. Then use a moisturizer with a Broad Spectrum Sun Protection. This protects against UVA and UVB rays. I recommend DiorSnow UV Shield or as a drugstore alternative, Neutrogena Dry Touch Formula has a great formula which is non greasy.


The current foundation which I am trying is the Dior Nude Foundation which contains a high water content. I prefer a sheer or powder foundation which is not heavy for the summer but still provides enough coverage. 


Next, I use a concealer for the under eye area. I am using Lancome Teint Miracle. My shade has a pink undertone and contains light reflecting particles. This helps lighten dark circles and brighten your under eye area which can look dull very easily. Loreal, as well as many other drugstore brands, have a version of this concealer. 


I lightly dust a face powder over my t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin area) to set the foundation. (Currently, I either switch between Givenchy Face Powder or Lancome Color Ideal. If I am using a powder foundation, then I skip this step otherwise it looks too powdery. 


Then I apply a rosy pink blush with more warm undertones. Blushes with cool undertones tend to look ashy against my warm complexion. 


I apply kajal in my waterline and 2 coats of mascara on my top lashes to make them defined. I finish my eyes by filling in my eyebrows. 


Then lips require 3 steps for me. This is because I naturally have dark purple lips (this might be an exaggeration, but to me they are very dark). So, because of this pigmentation in my lips, no lipstick or lip gloss shows up on them true to color. So, I first apply a lip balm to moisturize them. Then I take my Loreal Stick Concealer and apply that to my lips. This neutralizes the pigmentation. Then I continue with a lipstick. (Top it off with a gloss in the center of your lips to make them look more plump). 


I know that in many Indian cultures, natural beauty is true beauty. While I agree with this, I also feel that natural beauty looked more radiant because of the fresh fruits and vegetables that women use to eat, the lack of pollution from this globalizes world, and the lack of the stress of our hectic lifestyles. It's obvious that we cannot change our environment, but just making a little effort can boost our confidence and make us look at the positive picture in this world filled with negativity. 


Until Next Time!!

A Teenager's Guide to Indian Beauty

Growing up, I didn't have a clue about makeup and beauty products. I knew what was beautiful to me and what I envisioned myself to be in my adult years, but no understanding of how to get there. Now, as a young adult in college, I want to share my experiences with all those young girls.


My ethnicity is Indian (From India) so living in a environment where all the girls were either, Caucasian, African-American, or South-East Asian, it was difficult because our skin needs were different. So the types of products they needed, didn't exactly match my needs. I wish there were girls around me from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh so we could have related with each other and benefited. But all was not lost! 


I think the essentials in your beauty / make-up bag should be: 


1) A concealer (one shade lighter than your skin color) for your under eye area. A yellow toned one will cover up the blue/ purple under eye bags.


2) Another concealer (the exact shade of your skin) to cover blemishes and redness around your nose, and cover darker areas around your mouth (an issue which is prominent among South Asian women).


3) A black color mascara


4) A kohl pencil in brown, black, or navy to rim your waterline to enhance your eyes. (If you want larger, brighter looking eyes, then use a white or flesh tone eyeliner for your waterline since darker liners tend to make your eyes look smaller). But I have always liked dark eye pencil since we naturally have beautiful eyes so I prefer to flaunt it.


5) A face powder to lightly dust over your concealer so it sets and improves the lasting power. 


6) A peach blush (I think peach beautifully compliments our skin since we tend to have warmer 
tones)


7) A tinted lip balm with SPF (your lips need sun protection too)


8) A clear or colored lip gloss.


I would suggest to carry Blotting paper around with you to blot off excess oils during the day (especially after gym class). ELF Blotting paper is available from Target for just $1 and which contain 50 sheets. 

Lancome Huile Douceur Cleansing Oil

From Nordstrom Website

After owning this cleansing oil for more than 6 months, I can honestly say I have a good grip on this product. 


Cleansing oils have become amazingly popular in the last few years with almost every high end makeup brand coming up with their own version. I have to say, I was new to the cleansing oil before this product but will definitely try more to see what the market has to offer. 


For application and use: I dispense one to two pumps (depending on how much makeup I have on that day), on my clean dry hands and start massaging my face with that. I also place a little bit of the product on each eye and top it off with a cotton round and let that sit while I complete massaging my face. What this does is penetrate through your eye makeup (especially waterproof mascara) so that it is a breeze to remove. Once my face is done, I gently remove the eye makeup with the cotton round. Then I take a little water and massage that onto my face as well. This emulsifies and becomes milky. Once that is done, I wash the product off my face with warm to cool water. 


So here's what I have noticed: 


First off, Lancome is notorious for their floral scent in their products and this oil is no different. Consumers with sensitive skin might find this off putting, but I, however, am a big fan of this smell. The scent lingers with me even after the product is washed off. 


It doesn't sting my eyes unless it falls off my eyelashes into my eyes, then it hurts! So be careful that you take it off completely. When I use a cotton round to saturate the product onto my eyes, the makeup removes without any tugging on the eyes, but if I don't then I do need to pull on my lashes to ensure that all that WP mascara is gone which, of course, is not beneficial to this sensitive area. 


The next thing is something that most bothers me about this product and that is that it leaves a film of oil on my skin. So I have to go in and wash my face with a cleanser (and bare hands with a cleanser will not work), you have to use some type of exfoliating tool. For example a clarasonic (I have been using an exfoliating sponge that seems to work well). If you use bare hands, then I assure you that your face will not be clear of that oily film. (Think of oil on plastic containers, and how difficult that residue is to remove). 


In all honesty, this cleansing oil has some great features which I enjoy (like the smell, and the amazing makeup removing properties), however the oily residue at the end is something I do not enjoy at all. And it is enough of a flaw for me to look for other cleansing oils on the market. 


Will be back with more in-depth product reviews!


Harsimran

Missing in Action

For any of you that have wondered why suddenly I went MIA, it was nothing more than re-organizing my life and my priorities. Lots has changed for me in these past several months. I know that everyone's life undergoes constant changes, so I apologize for not handling them as best as I could have. I will be posting on a regular basis now. I have updated my Youtube channel so please take a look at that for current videos: 


http://www.youtube.com/user/89harsimran?feature=mhee


Thanks!


Harsimran