April Favourites! 2016

Hello beautiful people! 🙂

May is super special to me as it is my birthday month! I keep on saying, “Yay! It’s May!” while my family jokingly respond, “Yeah, is there a special date or something?” 😀 They do that every year! April flew by so quickly and I am glad it did! This is my final month as a teenager and I have no idea how I am going to cherish these last few days! All of a sudden ideas such as ‘Let’s go sky diving! Let’s go mountain hiking before you turn 20!’ come into my head and I have this incredible urge to fulfill them! However I am going to my hometown this month to meet up with my best friend and I am so looking forward to it! We haven’t met for years and May is when we get our summer holidays so she is coming from her college while I travel from my home to the place where we both were born.

I haven’t been doing favourites post for the last couple of months simply because I haven’t been trying out new products. Also there was a heat wave going on here and we were not allowed to go out, everything was closed so I didn’t get a chance to explore.

For April however, I did try out a few new things and loved it! That is what I am going to share with you all today! 🙂

Since it has been so sunny outside, I haven’t been leaving the house without a pair of shades and the one I am currently obsessed with and was throughout the April is this pair of brown Aviators from Forever New. It is very light and doesn’t give too much pressure on the nose, on the contrary, it didn’t even feel like I had sunglasses on! This shade of brown went nicely with all my outfits and it was so comfortable to wear! 🙂 (P.S. Ignore my reflection xD)

For make-up I have been loving these three lipsticks from MAC.

1. Lady Bug: A classic creamy red which is buildable and looks great with white net dresses and tops! When applied, it gives a subtle sheen and this makes it a great daytime red. It’s not too bold, so it would be great if you’re new to red lipstick.
2. Odyssey: This shade is an opaque, berry-wine with a frost finish. It became a staple MAC shade for me–it’s perfect for the fall and winter, but it’s not too dark.  I wore it during the day times and it’s a great choice for someone who doesn’t quite want to go mega dark but still wants something with more depth than a milky pink.  It works well on both cool and warm skin tones, and it’s not overly frosty either.
3. Fluid: It is a beautiful pinkish, plum, burgundy like color. MAC describes it as a “plum-brown with violet shimmer” and I couldn’t agree more. Lately, I have been obsessed with browns and nudes which is why I loved this shade! And as you can see, I used this one the most.

I have also been loving the Maybelline Gel Eyeliner a lot. However, I hate the applicator brush that came with it. I use it with a Real Techniques eyeliner brush and it works just fine. You can manage the intensity of black you want with this eyeliner which is why I like it because I don’t want my eyeliner to be super black all the time.

Two nail polish which I think are just PERFECT for the spring/summer season are the Maybelline Super Stay 7 Days Gel nail polish in the colours Mint For Life 615 and Uptown Blue 20. These two are beautiful shades of mint green and sky blue which I think scream Summer! I love them and can’t seem to take them off my nails!

As it is very humid and hot outside due to the heat wave going on, I need a good setting powder for my makeup and I have always relied on the Make Up Forever HD Powder to come to my rescue. If you read my post on 10 Best Setting Powders, you will know that this setting powder is one of the 10 best setting powders available in the market right now!

Also during the April month I had the best time watching Descendants of the Sun! It is a Korean drama and you guys know I love Korean dramas. If you are a K-drama fan you have to watch this. I have seen so many dramas but this tops the list! It is so moving and I loved the acting! (I also feel in love with the lead actor! Surprise, surprise!) 😀

Picture Source

There you go folks! These were the things I loved watching and using during the April month!

Hope you found this post fun to read! Don’t forget to join the S&S family! 🙂

Easy To Use: Drug Store Eyeshadow Quads For Beginners

Hello beautiful people!

I am sorry this post is a few hours late! We experienced earthquake here in North-East side of India and we had to leave our houses for a couple for hours which led to the post’s delay.

So lets get right into it, shall we?

When I first started with make-up, eye shadows to be more precise, I didn’t jump in purchase the big fancy looking eye shadow palettes. Instead, I started out with mini quads which I could control and work with without being overwhelmed by a vast variety of colours. Picking out quads have their own benefits, the colours match and allow you to create a proper look instead of just dipping into random colours and expecting it to turn out fabulous.

I picked out 4 eye shadow quads from my collection which has served me well and no doubt you will love. Several brands are making eye shadow quads but I wanted to focus on the drugstore ones as make-up beginners would go for the affordable ones rather than the high end products. These eye shadows mentioned below are easy to use, affordable and give beautiful results!

Maybelline Diamond Glow by EyeStudio: These eye shadow quads from Maybelline are affordable, pigmented and very easy to use. The shadows are all pearly and metallic, one of them has shimmer and the darkest shade has soft gold shimmers in it. As a beginner you will find this quad to be so easy and efficient. You can create quick looks with this. You can pair up colors or use them individually. I have mine in 01 Copper Brown but there are several other shades such as Wine Pink, Grey Pink, Lilac Mauve in the market for you to pick from! 🙂

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow: If you are just starting with eye shadows, you will find cream eye shadows very fun and easy to use. You wont experience fall-outs or the trouble of using eye shadow brushes. With creme shadows, you can just use your fingers to apply it on your lids and you are good to go. Revlon ones are so pigmented and attractive. There are several shades to pick from and I have mine in Moonlit Jewels which has colours such as green, peacock blue, copper and gold. They are super smooth, stay put for a long time and make the eyes dazzle. You can also opt for the Color Tattoos by Maybelline.

Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio: This isn’t a quad but if you are like me and wanted to jump in and buy a really affordable palette to create smoky eyes, then this one is for you. Now for a classic smoky eye, you need shimmer free black colours or pencils but this trio of colours is perfect for the night and very easy to use. I picked the Gris Dandy trio and I love it. The light grey shade adds the lovely touch of shimmer which makes the eye look even more spectacular. Not only that you can get several other shades of your choice such as- Blue Rock, Violet Romantic, Mordore Chic and Rose Vintage. Affordable trios with pretty colours for new looks everyday.

Be A Bombshell: The packaging is similar to that of the BOI-ING eye shadow by Benefit but in this case, you get 4 colours instead of 1. The shades are beautiful. Mine in particular, Madrid as it is called, is perfect for the everyday morning use. There are 16 other quads to pick from and they cost $16 each. The colours blend into each other to give that perfect look for everyday use.

There are several other options out there in the market but I personally find these to be amazing as I started out with these and I highly recommend them. Have you used any?

What are your favourite brands? Are you a quad person or a pallet person? Share your beginner eye shadow stories with me! I would love to know how you used your first eye shadow! 😀

Don’t forget to join my S&S family! 🙂

 

My Top 5 Maybelline Lipsticks

Hey Guys,

If you have been reading my blog articles for some time now, you will know that I have a major crush on Maybelline and their products. My first ever make-up items came from Maybelline and I have been hooked to them since. I think Maybelline is one of the best drugstore brand there is and their collection and range of make-up is incredible. I love the fact that I can purchase so many of their items as they are so affordable but that did not affect the quality of their products. The drugstore brands are coming out high and mighty with their spectacular launches and affordable prices. I think that is just lovely as you don’t have to spend hundred or thousands of dollars or rupees behind one product.

Now you know me… I go weak in the knees when it comes to 3 items: Eye shadows, Perfumes and obviously Lipsticks. Most of my lipsticks are from Maybelline and there are just so many colours and types to choose from. So I was going through them and picked out 5 shades I could never do without. I would definitely go back for them when they are finished.

So let’s jump in, shall we? 🙂

No. 1- Touch of Spice:

OH. MY. GOD. The shade is just so lovely. It is a very deep terracotta with plum undertone in it. I love the fact that it is neither too purple nor too brown. I think this shade looks incredible with a brown smokey eye and is perfect for fall season. Just like the range suggests, “Color Sensational Creamy Matte”, it is truly that. The texture feels like butter on the lips but gives such a beautiful matte finish. The creamy texture of the lipstick doesn’t allow the lips to go dry. In fact it still feels creamy after several hours but looks matte. It is so pigmented, one swipe is all you need and it doesn’t tug on the lips either. Super clean and quick application. Have you tried this lipstick? 🙂

No. 2-  Nude Nuance:

This is also from the Color Sensational Creamy Matte range and the pigmentation and texture is just like Touch of Spice. However, I have to be careful while applying this as it is so soft it tends to crumble and break if I apply it with too much pressure. The shade is a slightly muted, medium-dark brown with hints of warm orange in it. It provided good coverage that went on evenly and smoothly. This shade had one of the more matte finishes and the color stayed on me for five-six hours and was neither drying nor hydrating.

No. 3- Summer Sunset: The shade is a very toned down red, more of a slight red with hint of dark rose pink and a little brown with medium intensity of coppery-red in it. This is perfect for day time and is not matte. It is actually quite creamy and gives the lips a bit of a shine. Personally, I tend to stick with mattes but the shade was EXACTLY like sunset. You know when during sunset there is like several warm shades in the sky? I can pin point and tell you which one this shade is from there. It is so lovely and looks incredible during night and day.

No. 4- MAT 4: This lipstick is a bright coral red colour which is very attractive and I usually wear reds on festivities or weddings. This claims to be matte (Bold Matte as it says) but is not, it has a velvety creamy texture and appears shiny on the lips. 2 coats of this is enough to achieve to rich vibrant colour. It is very pigmented and has a decent staying power.

No. 5: MAT 1: If you read my post, Favourite Lipsticks: Reds and Pinks then you have seen this shade there. It is an attractive neon-pink shade which immediately brightens up the face without the help of any other make-up. It is matte and can tug a little on the lips and dry it out but the colour is just so delicious! It is one of my favourite pinks and can be worn during day and night.

How many of these shades do you have?

Do let me know about your favourite Maybelline lippies! 🙂

Here are the swatches of the lipsticks:

I hope you guys liked this post. I would love to hear about your opinions on Maybelline products and your favourite Maybelline lipsticks 🙂

Please follow if you aren’t already and I’ll see you guys soon, bye! 🙂

December Favourites!

Hello Everybody!

How is the new year going so far? Well I hope! 🙂

My new year so far has been marvelous! If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen the pictures of me hanging out and enjoying the new year cold! Sadly, the winter season is almost over here and it is quite sad as it is just January! Which is why I took the opportunity to go out more and enjoy the cold chills before the winter ends.

However, I have an exam in a few days!! That is actually the reason why I had not posted my Monthly Favourites post earlier. Usually I have it up in my blog by the 4th of every month but I was a little busy these past few days.

December had been the best month for me in 2015 because so much happened! If you read my latest post, “New Year Goals and Resolution”, you probably know what I am talking about. My sister left for the US and I have been lonely ever since! However, I am so happy for her! My best friend’s birthday was in December and I had so much fun last month! Winter is my favourite season and that is usually when I like to hang out more and wear amazing winter clothes!

I know you all came to read about my December Favourites so I will stop my ramblings and get right to it! 🙂

 

I will start with make-up items first so, the 2 lipsticks I absolutely loved using in December are Lady Bug from M.A.C. and Saucy Mauve from L’Oreal Paris. The consistency of of these lipsticks are just fantastic! They are so rich and creamy. I used Saucy Mauve pretty much everyday as it imparted such a lovely shade of pinky mauve which looked very natural and it hydrated my lips so much! I don’t really possess many red lipsticks but I really wanted a new one this year so I got the Lady Bug from MAC and wore it during the whole Christmas and New Year time period. Oh my goodness, it was heavenly! It was so creamy on the lips and smelled like cookies and cream! I loved using it so very much!

There are 2 nail polishes that I became obsessed with and they are Bling Thing from Maybelline Color Show Gold Digger Collection and Fresh Maker from Jenna Hipp. The Gold Digger Collection was newly launched in India last month and being the Maybelline lover that I am, I had to pick it up! It had a very festive vibe and I wore it during Christmas and New Year. Usually I steered clear from minty colours but when I applied the Fresh Maker I just fell in love with it! It is such a beautiful bright minty green colour! I would highly recommend it to everyone!

Lets’s move on to hair products!

How cute are these ribbon clips?

How cute are they?

They killed me with their cuteness!

I wore them every single day! These clips are just so adorable and perfect for the festive season! I can’t get enough of them!

I used the Garnier Oil-In-Cream twice and I think it’s pretty good! If you are running late and your hair looks horrible and in desperate need of oiling or moisture, I think this might help. (It is not a styling cream. You have to wash it off with shampoo) I am not exactly a big fan of this product but it helped me in time of need so… yeah…

I’d like to mention a book. It’s called Live Organic and it is by Lynn Huggins-Cooper. I learnt so much from this! It has topics such as, Mindful Eating, Vegetable Vitality, Dreadful Deodorants, Herbal Heaven, Organic Dairy Products and several others! It is so informative and eye opening. I’d really ask you guys to grab a copy of it! You wont regret it!

And do you see that little notebook with owls and other birds on a colourful tree? Yeah, I am a sucker for everything cute! I had to mention that absolutely pretty notebook! I love it so sooo much!!

And now (FINALLY!!) let’s talk about chocoloates!

Christmas and New Year is not special unless you have chocolates! Usually if I have chocolates, I will have a few squares or a few bites but the moment I bit into Cadbury Bubbly, I knew I was not going to be satisfied with just few bites. This is my 3rd pack, I believe! And the Biscotti has always been a favourite but it tasted even more delicious that time of year!

DELICIOUS DEATHS!! 😀

 

There you go folks! My December favourites! Hope you enjoyed it!

You can follow me on Instagram! (For unpopular pictures! 😛 ) Link is below the picture!

 

SUKANYA MUKHERJEE- sukanya_mjee

Bye! Have a wonderful day ahead!

 

 

Festive Make-up: Gold Nude

Hi Everyone! 🙂

Since it is the month of festivities, I thought I’d show you how I did my make-up for the occasion! I am by no means an expert when it comes to applying make-up. I apply it the way I think it will look good on me and sometimes I watch some make-up tutorials to help me out.

I love nude based make-up as it really suits me and it goes well with all outfits. During Durga puja, I wear bold glamourous colours so keeping a nude based make-up helps balance out the look. It is not over-powering but subtle and quite natural.

Basically I just used 7 products to get this look. So if you’d like to know more about this make-up look, keep on reading!

So firstly, after washing my face, I applied my moisturizer which Johara PhytoBright Whitening Day Lotion with SPF 20. I love this moisturizer! It is light, gets absorbed quickly and makes my skin really soft and hydrated.

I tend to steer clear from primers, foundations and concealers not because I don’t want to use them but because the climate here is extremely humid and everything, no matter how light the formula is, will run down my face. So instead of those, I used a tinted cream called Lakme CC Cream, which is my all-time favourite. It provides medium coverage and blends in smoothly.

To set everything on my face, I used my compact powder from Bourjois Paris. I love this compact as the powder is very finely milled and delicate. The applicator sponge is squishy soft and has a velvety silken texture. The powder blends snugly and gives a very flawless finish. The shade of the powder gives out a luxuriant soft golden-pink glow which is just perfect!

Now that may face is done, I move on to my eyes. For my eyeshadow, I used my Maybelline Diamond Glow by EyeStudio in the shade Copper Brown. I used the light soft gold medium shade (2^nd from left) and applied it all over my lid and used a blending brush to blend it in. Then I went in with the gorgeously bright gold colour (3^rd from left, 2^nd from right) and applied over the 1^st colour but only 2/3 then blended it. Then taking the dark copper colour on the extreme right, I applied it on the outer corners of my lid and on the outer side of the crease then blended it inwards to create a shadow and a subtle copper smokey eye. It also acted as the transition colour. Finally, taking the highlight colour, I applied it on my brown bone and lightly blended it to make the eyes pop out more even in this soft look. I cannot live without eyeliners. For me, a traditional outfit (Or any otheroutfit for that matter) is not complete unless I have my eyeliner. I used my Maybelline Colossal Liner and created a small wing on the outer lids.  I finished the eye make-up off with generous coatings of my Maybelline Hyper Curl Volume Express Waterproof mascara.

For my lips, I lightly dabbed the Lakme Absolute Lip Tint Matte in the shade Magenta Magic. I didn’t build up the colour to its fullest as I was going for a soft golden-pink look. The shade looked light and gentle and it completed my look.

Here is the finished look! 🙂

There you go guys! My very simple and gold nude make-up look. I hope you guys like it! Let me know your thoughts on this look down in the comment section! Also, if you liked this mini tutorial, let me know if you’d like to see some more!

Have a wonderful day! Keep smiling!!