October | 2015 | southindianmakeup

The Blogger Recognition Award

Posted on October 29, 2015 by southindianmakeup

I have been nominated for The Blogger Recognition Award by the lovely DashofDaisies, be sure to check out her wonderful blog. Thank you for the nomination, it encourages me to keep on writing 🙂

The Blogger Recognition Award Rules

1. Write a post explaining why you started blogging along with a few tips.

2. Nominate some of your fellow bloggers

3. Comment on their blog to let them know you nominated them

I only started blogging a couple of months ago. I always enjoyed writing and as I recently became more interested in beauty and started learning more about make up, I thought I would share what I was learning and the products I was using with others. I knew there were so many amazing beauty blogs already, however I thought I would write a blog focussing on products that suited darker skin. A lot of make up brands tend to have a limited range of shades so when I started noticing more brands were expanding the range of shades to suit indian skintones like mine, I wanted to write about it to make it easier for others to choose suitable make up for their skin tone. This blog encourages me to try out new products and I have more fun experimenting with my look with new make up. Another reason I carried on with blogging was how much it helped me connect with other bloggers. I learn so much from reading other blogs and other bloggers inspire me to keep on working on my blog.

A major tip is make sure you write about what you love and are passionate about. This will make you look forward to writing your blog post rather than you not having fun with it. Write about what you enjoy and others will enjoy reading it!

My nominees are

LA Girl Pro Conceal Orange Correcter- Ideal for uneven skintone for Medium to Dark Skintones

Posted on October 28, 2015 by southindianmakeup

A big issue I suffer from is uneven skin tone particularly around my mouth and under my eyes. Sometimes this causes me to overdo the foundation coverage to try and make everything match up and appear even, but instead makes my skin look cakey and still appear uneven. I heard about correcting red pigmentation with a green corrector and brown pigmentation using Orange so was on the hunt for a colour correcter in Orange. I searched online and found one from LA Girl. What set this apart from other correcters was that the shade of Orange looked deeper than the others so I thought it would suit me better.

When I opened it, it comes with a brush type applicator and you gently squeeze the tube for the product to come out. This is great as it prevents you from being to heavy handed and using too much. It is very pigmented so a little goes a long way and its a lightweight formula so is easy to blend. I used a primer underneath that I wrote about before from Maybelline and this worked well underneath the corrector.

Once blended, the area looks orangey/red as expected but when you layer foundation on top the coverage is perfect. Foundation blends over the correcter without feeling heavy and my skin looks so even now. It also means I use less foundation as I’m not over compensating for the fact that I need to even out the skin tone, since the corrector does this for me now.

This is a must buy for those with uneven skin tone. Since the Orange is deep I would recommend it to those with medium to dark skin. A more peach or light orange corrector would suit lighter skin better. If your skin tone is lighter I would suggest the NYX Dark Circle Concealer which comes in 4 different orange shades.

LA Girl Pro Conceal Orange Corrector is priced at just £4.99

BEAUTY BASE

NYC Dark Circle Concealer priced at £6.50

FEEL UNIQUE

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick- Ideal for Light, Medium and Dark Skintones

Posted on October 22, 2015 by southindianmakeup

I heard great things about Bobbi Brown particularly about how the brand caters for so many skin tones. I love using my current foundation which I’ve written a post about before from Smashbox, but thought I would try something new. I decided to go with the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick.

I have only used liquid or powder foundation in the past so this is like something in between which seemed interesting and also it comes in 24 shades which is great. I was tested with 4 shades applied to my skin. I was undecided between two shades but was advised to go for shade 5.5 in Warm Honey. Unfortunately, once I tried it at home with day light as opposed to store light, it looked a little too dark for me and had a somewhat Orange/Brown undertone. However, my skin is slightly uneven in tone so I decided to use both foundations that I had. I used Bobbi Brown on darker areas like around my mouth and chin and as a contour on my cheeks and forehead and applied Smashbox Foundation everywhere else. This worked great and the shades of both foundations blended seamlessly.

I like the texture of the Bobbi Brown Stick. It is smooth and lightweight and the product is buildable without leaving a cakey texture. Another thing I love about the stick is that it can be used as a concealer for small areas like on blemishes or under the eye aswell as a foundation for full coverage. The creamy texture leaves a smooth finish and despite my oily skin type, I do not feel like my skin feels heavy or greasy after application. If you have very oily skin however, I would advise using a finishing powder to complete the look.

The foundation is so compact that you can just pop in your hand bag and touch up your make up wherever you are which is so handy. I definitely recommend this foundation, it’s priced at £29.50 but I know for sure this product will last long as only a few strokes of the product on your face is required for full coverage.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick is available at

SEPHORA (if buying in USA)

NORDSTROM

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

Posted on October 20, 2015 by southindianmakeup

Since I have oily skin, at times the pores on my cheeks become very noticeable despite foundation coverage. I heard about the Benefit Porefessional but being a bargain hunter I thought i would look for a cheaper alternative, just to see if something else with a smaller price tag would work before paying a higher price. I decided to purchase Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser which was considerably cheaper at £8 in comparison to Benefit Porefessional which costs £24.50.

The product is like a clear gel. I was worried at first that it may be to greasy or heavy on my skin, but once I applied it and rubbed it into my skin, it felt lightweight and left a smooth finish. I used a minimal amount and found it works more effectively when pressed into skin properly. I only use the gel on areas where I notice pores rather than on my whole face. I really like the product and it really worked well under my make up. Hours later my skin remained matte and smooth so I’m so pleased I tried this first. That is not to say Benefit is not worth trying but for now I am really happy with the results of the Baby Skin Pore Eraser and is an excellent solution to blurring and hiding your pores!

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser £7.99

Available at

BOOTS

SUPERDRUG

Clean and Clear Dual Action Oil Free Moisturiser- Ideal for Acne and Blemish prone skin

Posted on October 14, 2015 by southindianmakeup

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I suffer from occasional breakouts. My skin type is oily so I always look for oil free products. I wanted to find a spot fighting cream to help prevent future breakouts so my first choice was to try a Clearasil product. However, Clearasil is way to harsh on my skin. The cream I tried called Clearasil Rapid Action Treatment Cream, completely dried out and irritated my skin so I decided never to try products from the Clearasil range again. This is not to say it will not work for others but I personally would not recommend it for sensitive skin. So I decided to try out a product from the Clean and Clear range instead so I bought the Clean and Clear Dual Action Oil Free Moisturiser.

All I can say is what a find! This is my absolute favourite moisturiser. Since using it I hardly break out and the appearance of my blemishes have significantly improved. It is fragrance free so is ideal for sensitive skin and when applied it feels completely lightweight. The texture is smooth and non greasy so works well under make up and my skin remains oil free for hours.

I’m really amazed that a cream this affordable (under £4) actually helps prevent spots appearing on skin but for me it actually works and I will not be switching to another moisturiser. You only need a little amount and the size is quite big (100ml) so lasts ages. So if like me you suffer from occasional spots then this is a must buy that I highly recommend!

Available at

SUPERDRUG

BOOTS

VO5 Nourish My Shine Miracle Mist

Posted on October 11, 2015 by southindianmakeup

In today’s post I want to talk about a hair product I bought a while back. It’s from VO5, which is a hair brand I love and it is called Nourish My Shine Miracle Mist. I really love it but for some reason it is hard to find in store these days, but fortunately it is available online on Amazon and in some Supermarkets so I’ll add links at the end of this post.

After blow drying and hair straightening, all the heat applied to my hair left it looking quite dry. I decided to look for a product that would add shine, however I wanted a spray since I did not want my hair to feel weighed down like serums tend to do sometimes. This miracle mist looked good since it is a leave in conditioning spray and contains 5 essential oils. The first thing I noticed when I applied it to my hair was the smell. It’s a lovely, sweet coconut scent that made my hair feel fresh. Usually hair products smell quite strong like a chemical smell so this was a lovely surprise. The bottle says it includes added heat protection so you can use it on wet or dry hair. Personally however, I still prefer to use a heat defence spray seperately that’s designed specifically for that purpose as I feel other heat defence sprays would be more effective than this at preventing heat damage.

Despite the oils in the product, the spray feels really light and left my hair feeling smooth and looking frizz free. It left a mild shine on my hair and it dried quickly without weighing my hair down. My hair no longer looked dry and looked healthier with a quick spritz of this. Sometimes I just spray it on my hair purely because I love the smell of it so much!

VO5 Nourish My Shine Miracle Mist £4.28

Amazon

ASDA

Chapped Lips – Lip Balm Reviews

Posted on October 10, 2015 by southindianmakeup

My lips tend to get dry and chapped unfortunately and as the weather gets colder, it gets worse 😦

I exfoliate my lips once a week with sugar and honey which leave my lips feeling soft and smooth. The sugar buffs away dead skin and the honey soothes and softens my lips so I make sure to do this regularly! Alongside this however, I love using lip balms so in this post I’m going to talk about some I have tried, the good and the bad.

Collection Lip Balm Green Apple £1.99

I picked this up randomly as it was on offer. The smell is really refreshing and lovely. It glides on smoothly and feels light. However, it did not leave my my lips feeling moisturised for very long at all so I would not purchase again.

Nivea Lip Care Essential £1.65

This balm is unscented but Nivea also have a range of fruit scented ones too. My lips felt very moisturised and protected when I used this however, the texture feels thick and somewhat waxy. Also its very soft so it is hard to apply on lips lightly or evenly.This lip balm is a good one to use at night before bed rather than for daywear but I still feel this lip balm despite the texture, made my chapped lips feel soothed and protected.

Carmex Moisturing Lip Balm Classic £2.69

I really love this lip balm except I’m not a fan of the smell as it is a bit strong. It is really effective on my chapped lips and I really noticed that since using this lip balm, the condition of my lips improved considerably. The texture is light while still feeling moisturising and makes a good base for matte lipstick and makes lips shine. It is one of my favourites and I highly recommend it.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lip Balm £1.89

This lip balm smells lovely and is another favourite of mine. The texture is nice and I do not need to reapply very often. My lips feel hydrated for hours and it works well with lipstick without feeling heavy. I use this regularly and the applicator is a nice shape so product can be applied evenly.

Burts Bees Beeswax Lip balm £3.60

Burt_s_Bees_Beeswax_Lip_Balm_Tube_4_25g_1366212818_main

This balm contains oils and vitamins so your lips feel nourished and healthy. My lips are really soft and hydrated when I use this balm and it lasts a few hours without needing to be reapplied. I’m really glad I found this lip balm because my lips feel more repaired and the texture is smooth and glides on easily.

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm £2.99

This lip balm is wonderful. It’s very moisturising and lasts ages. This is another balm where I have noticed a real difference to my lips as it feels softer naturally after using it for a month. The lip balm has SPF20 protection so is also perfect for sunny weather too. It’s a really nourishing and softening balm and the texture is so light and nice to wear. This is my current favourite and a must buy!

All these products are available at Boots and Superdrug.

Have a lovely weekend 😀

The Sunshine Blogger Award

Posted on October 9, 2015 by southindianmakeup

I have been nominated for The Sunshine Blogger Award by Beccaannebeauty. Her blog is wonderful so definitely check it out!

Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you
Answer the questions by your nominator
Nominate 11 other bloggers and give them 11 questions

Questions I have been given:

How long have you been blogging for? It’s been a little over a month so I’m still a newbie 🙂
Why do you blog? I’ve always found it hard to find make up that suits my skin tone. I was always so happy when I finally managed to find products that worked for me, so I thought I would write about the products I came across and love to others who have the same difficulty finding make up that suits a more medium to dark skin tone. I also received encouragement from family and friends so thought I’d give it a go!
What would you consider to be your biggest achievement? I still think think that my biggest achievement is yet to come.
What is you dream job? I would say a career in Publishing
What is your favourite perfume? It changes frequently but right now I would say Estee Lauder Pure White Linen. It’s a delicate, floral fragrance so I really love it.
Your current go to product? My Bellapierre Foundation Compact Powder. Even if I wear no other make up, my skin always looks nice and matte with this product so I always feel pretty when I use it.
Where is your favourite place to be and why? I always love visiting India. I enjoy the family time and the beautiful weather and new environment. There are so many scenic places to visit.
A current song you are loving? Jess Glynne- Don’t be so hard on yourself
Summer or Winter? Winter. I just love the atmosphere and I love winter clothes!
What are you looking forward to this season? Going to visit my lovely sister in New York and celebrating my 25th Birthday there this year!
What will you be doing for Christmas this year? Spending it with my wonderful family at home. The best place to be.

My nominees are

Here are my 11 questions

Why did you start a blog?
What Country would you love to visit right now?
What was your most recent make up or clothing purchase?
What is your favourite accessory?
What is your favourite movie genre?
Tea or Coffee?
If you could choose a Superpower what would it be?
What makes you smile?
What or who is your inspiration?
What is the last film or tv show you watched?
What piece of advice would you give new bloggers starting out?

I hope everyone who reads this checks out the blogs I nominated! xx

One Lovely Blog Award

Posted on October 9, 2015 by southindianmakeup

I’ve been nominated for the One Lovely blog Award by ibeautytalk. Thank you so much it put a smile on my face 🙂

Rules

Thank the person who nominated you and include a link to their blog
List the rules and display the award
Add 7 facts about yourself
Nominate 15 other bloggers

So here are my 7 facts

My mum is the reason I became interested in beauty. She has always loved beauty and make up and always presents herself in a glamorous and beautiful way. So I’ve always been inspired by my mum.
I’m 24 years old and have lived in London all my life. I also have two wonderful sisters.
I’m South Indian and my parents are from a stunning place called Kerala which I love visiting.
I have a gorgeous cat called Jupiter. He came into my life at just 12 weeks old as a little kitten and recently turned 7. I love him to pieces!
I would say I am an introvert. I find that writing is an easier and more comfortable way for me to express myself.
I’m not a big traveller but there are a few places I would like to visit one day which include Japan and Hawaii.
I love watching foreign films and documentaries from all over the world.

The 15 blogs I’d like to nominate are all wonderful and so make sure to check them out.

Thebrokegirlfashionista

Have a lovely day everyone x

Affordable Nude Lipstick great for Indian/Medium/Dark Skin

Posted on October 7, 2015 by southindianmakeup

I love the MUA range at Superdrug since it’s so affordable but great still quality. I tried a lipstick from the range and the colour really suited my skin. It is hard to find good nude lipsticks so this shade was a great find. I think the brown undertone in the lipstick is why it blended with my skin tone so well. The colour is Shade 11 and costs only £1.

This is a great colour and does not wash out darker skin tones which is ideal. It’s a mild nude shade which is perfect for everyday wear or you can perfectly balance the subtle lip colour with heavy evening wear make up. This shade is also nice because it makes my small lips appear bigger which is always a plus point. So go ahead and try it out!

Quick Make Up Remover Tip- Baby Wipes

Posted on October 7, 2015 by southindianmakeup

I have sensitive skin which at times break out in spots. This is why I am especially diligent about removing my make up before sleeping. I’ve found makeup wipes are too strong on my skin and I feel a mild stinging sensation. Then I remembered I heard about people using baby wipes. It sounded random but I thought why not try it out since my sister suggested it too. I bought a pack of Johnson’s Baby Gentle Cleansing Wipes from Boots.

They are available everywhere from Supermarkets to Drugstores and are priced at under £2. I usually shower or wash my face after using the wipes so I use it to remove stubborn makeup like heavy foundation and eye make up beforehand. I feel no irritation on my skin and can use it regularly. This is a really easy, cheap and quick solution to make up removing for sensitive skin so I recommend it.

Amazing Quick Fix Face Masks from Superdrug

Posted on October 4, 2015 by southindianmakeup

Sometimes our skin needs a pick me up but it’s hard to find the time. I always notice when my skin is tired and needs extra care when my makeup doesn’t set properly. That is why I love using the wonderful range of 10-15 minute face masks from Superdrug. I’ve tried quite a few so will write about my favourites. They also have a range of self heating masks but I wouldn’t recommend them for sensitive skin as the one I tried was too strong on my skin so I wouldn’t use it again. All the face masks are 99p but they currently have a 3 for 2 offer.

SUPERDRUG YOGHURT SMOOTHIE MASK

The texture of this mask is so smooth and is like putting face cream on. It smells of sweet fruits and vanilla which is lovely. It contains cocoa butter and honey so it’s really nourishing for your skin. My skin felt so soft after washing it off and my make up blended easily afterwards. The mask is really gentle to use regularly even for sensitive or acne prone skin.

SUPERDRUG SUPERFRUITS EXFOILIATING MASK

This is my go to face mask when my skin gets really oily. If you have spots I wouldn’t apply this until they have gone as it could irritate the spots and make it worse. But once the spots have gone this is a good mask to control oil to stop anymore spots occurring. It’s nicely scented with berries such as Blueberry, Cranberries and Raspberries. It is really cleansing and I am left with my skin feeling a lot more oil free. The exfoliation texture is mild but effective.

SUPERDRUG SUPERFRUITS CLAY MASK

Full of fruit goodness this mask is refreshing and invigorating. The clay is great as it helps remove oil and dirt from skin so your left with clear matte skin. It contains dead sea salt which removes impurities, and nourishes skin with Acai Berry, Goji Berry and Pomegranate. These ingredients are excellent antioxidants. It may be too strong for very sensitive skin so I would not recommend to everyone.

SUPERDRUG DETOXIFYING DEAD SEA MINERAL MASK

This mask is Lavender scented so I highly recommended you use this at night since lavender is an excellent sleep aid. This mask is ideal when you’ve had a stressful day and need a relaxing treatment. It contains seaweed which is rich in nutrients and the dead sea minerals purify your skin. This left my skin looking vibrant and brighter and I had a great nights sleep after using it.

SUPERDRUG DEEP CLEANSING FRUIT MASK

This is a great brightening mask and lifts up a dull completion and leaves it looking radiant and fresh. It contains Peach Kernel oil so I would recommend this for those with dry skin. It is a very hydrating and nourishing mask and is ideal for dry skin as its very moisturizing. The natural clay contained in this mask draws out impurities and the scent of fruit is really refreshing.

SUPERDRUG DEAD SEA PURIFYING CLAY MASK

This mask is perfect for spot prone skin as it contains witch hazel. Witch hazel helps sooth irritated skin and deeply cleanses pores. Clogged pores and oily skin tend to lead to spots so I highly suggest those with acne prone skin or/and oily skin use this mask weekly. It really works for me as I’m left with oil free skin and I noticed I do not break out in spots as much when I started using this mask. It contains eucalyptus which leaves skin feeling cool and the lemon it contains helps brighten skin and helps for blemish prone skin.

So these are my favourite masks and I highly recommend using it when your skin needs some looking after. It just takes 10 minutes of your day and it can help revive and refresh your skin, making it feel and look healthy again. With a price tag of under a £1 there’s no excuse not to try them out!

All available at Superdrug

http://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Yoghurt-Smoothie-Mask/p/442352

http://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Superfruits-Exfoliating-Mask/p/440452

http://www.superdrug.com/Skincare-Offers/Superdrug-Superfruit-Clay-Mask/p/945759

http://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Detoxifying-Dead-Sea-Mud-Mask/p/441153

http://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Deep-Cleansing-Fruit-Mask/p/442354

http://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Dead-Sea-Purifying-Clay-Mask/p/440350