Indian Vanity Case

Fudge Nude Nails ~ Ciaté Pocket Money

2013-06-19T23:52:00.005+05:30

On my nails this week is Ciaté Paint Pots Pocket Money, a fudge nude shade. Here, I'm wearing Bourjois So Laque Top Coat on top.

Price ~ £9 | Rs.828.

BUT I got mine for FREE with Marie Claire May '13 issue, as shown here.

Yes, that's a nail polish bottle of my dreams =)

NEW! Lakmé Office Stylist Range

2013-06-19T19:04:00.000+05:30

Lakmé launches its array of long wear make up that let’s you say good bye to Touch Ups.

Lakmé 9 to 5 range consists of a wide collection for daily office wear with subtle shades that require no touch-ups through the day, providing an impeccably styled look and allowing a hassle-free transition from the desk to the office party.

Lakmé 5 to 5 Flawless Make Up Foundation, Rs.550

Lakmé 9 to 5 Matte Complexion Compact, Rs.300

Lakmé 9 to 5 Lip Color, Rs.400

Lakmé 9 to 5 Lip Color Shades

Lakmé Eye Quartet, Rs.500

Lakmé 9 to 5 Black Impact Liner, Rs.300

Lakmé 9 to 5 Pure rouge Blush, Rs.450.

Lakmé 9 to 5 Long Wear Nail Color, Rs.200

Lakmé 9 to 5 Long Wear Nail Color

Lakmé 9 to 5 Long Wear Nail Color Nine to Five Defining Lipliner

Lakmé 9 to 5 Aqua Shine Lip Color, Rs.550

Carnation

Chestnut

Garnet

Guava

Lychee

Mauveberry

Passionfruit

This range is available in all Lakmé counters now!

2-in-1 Eye Makeup Tutorial ~ Metallic Eyes & V-Kohl Eyeliner

2013-06-18T09:49:00.000+05:30

What would you name this look? I didn't know what to call it, so I went with Metallic Eyes & V-Kohl. I hear laughing in my head. Good thing I ditched 'Golden Pomegranate Eyes'

This eye makeup may look "formal", but it's really not. Yes, you could wear it to a wedding, but it wouldn't look o-t-t if you wore it on a family picnic either. You'll see*

I've split this tutorial into two, so that I get to show you in detail how I did the eyeliner, as well.

Products I Used:

Shimmery Cream Eyeshadow ~ Maybelline 24Hr Color Tattoo Metallic Pomegranate or Pomegranate Punk

Gold Eyeshadow ~ Urban Decay Half Baked from Naked Palette.

Black Kohl ~ Lakmé Kohl Ultimate

Mascaras ~ Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama & Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume.

Brushes ~ Sigma E25 Blending Brush, Urban Decay Good Karma Brush.

1st Tutorial is the Metallic Eyeshadow:

1. Take Metallic Pomegranate on ring finger.

2. Apply it on your lid till your crease.

3. It should look like that. It's okay if the edges aren't neat right now.

4. Now take the same color tattoo on a fluffy blending brush, and go over the edges of the shadow using windshield wiper & circular motions.

5. Keep blending from one end to the other.

6. Once the edges look hazy, apply a gold eyeshadow on the inner half of your lid, but don't touch the upper edge of the previous e/s.

7. Apply the gold on your inner corner around your tear duct, as well.

8. Apply the same gold e/s on the outer half of lower lash line.

9. Apply the same metallic pomegranate on the inner half of lower lash line.

*I'm doing this to balance the look.

10. Line your top & bottom lash line with black kohl pencil. Tutorial below.

11. Apply lots of mascara on top & bottom lashes. I applied 3 coats of Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama first, then about 2-3 coats of Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara. Lashes look more clumpy up-close only.

12. DONE!

♥

Now, on to the 2nd Tutorial ~ The V-Kohl

1. Sharpen your kohl pencil first, then tightline upper lash line. That means lining on the roots of your lashes.

2. Line waterline all the way to the inner tear duct area.

3. See how that closes up my eye & makes it look smaller?

4. Start lining the top lash line. It's better not to drag it in one go. Make dots and join, instead.

5. Make kohl thicker at the outer corner. Extend it a little past the corner of your eye.

6. It should look like that.

7. That white line is just to show you how to join with it with the lower lash line.

8. From the tip of upper kohl, line downwards toward lower lash line, stopping before the edge of your eyeball. Fill inside the V or the <

9. Lastly, take some matte black eyeshadow on an angled or pointed liner brush and press it on kohl. Again, don't drag the brush. This will prevent it from smudging & also even out the edges.

10. Just mimic the previous steps. Press black eyeshadow on lower lash line....

11. .....and upper lash line.

12. DONE!

It's my favorite way to line my eyes, i.e. when my kohl is sharp. Bollywood actresses like Bipasha Basu, Rani Mukherjee & Aishwarya Rai line their eyes this way a lot.

If you line all the way in on the bottom lash line, you'll achieve Rani Mukherjee's heavy kohl-ed eyes like I did in the Bombay Talkies inspired look here.

♥

Hope you picked up some tips from these 2 tuts (two.toots.) I will be posting more before the month ends.

* [Full look with this eye makeup coming up shortly.]

Bows & Hangers

2013-06-16T21:01:00.002+05:30

Just something I did today - after vacuuming the house =)

Ribbons are from a throw and cushions I got from Primark (the green ones in the pics). You know the ribbons that tie them up? Ya, those. I didn't want to throw them away. How can anybody throw away ribbons? Hangers are also from Primark too, btw.

FREE & Fabulous Bourjois Sunglasses & Haul

2013-06-15T21:45:00.001+05:30

I think Bourjois gives out the best freebies! I saw these sunglasses, and I was literally forced to buy more products just so I can take them home! I don't know what I wanted more- the sunglasses or the polka dotted pouch. You tell me.....

The 3 products I had to pick:

Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon Peach On The Beach ~ I am IN LOVE with this color! The finish is creamy & glossy. I will do a post on it soon. For now, swatches of all the shades posted here (I think I'm going to grab Red Sunrise too now) Price: £7.99 | Rs.722

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation, Shade 54 Beige ~ This has 3 correcting pigments to even out complexion: yellow for dark circles, purple for dullness, green for redness. I've only worn it twice, and it's too soon for a verdict, but I think it could be the best foundation I've ever tried. It has a matte finish that doesn't look too dry. Price: £10.99 | Rs.993

Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara ~ Nah, not great. I need to apply at least 5 coats to build volume. Lashes do look fanned out, though. I think it could work better with another mascara underneath, let's see. See the fan brush here. Price: £9.99 | Rs.903.

*3 for 2 offer at Superdrug, so I only paid for the 2 products. Bourjois Mascaras are ridiculously pricey here in the UK =[

Look at that pouch! ♥_♥ I wonder if there are shoes just like it.

You all have a great weekend! More tutorials coming next week. Was gonna post one today, but some unpleasant things had to happen. Okay, bye bye before I start saying unpleasant words ;)

Sleek Makeup Candy Collection Photos & Swatches

2013-06-14T20:18:00.000+05:30

The night before I went to buy these, I had a dream:

A cardboard box came in the mail. By mail, I mean it magically appeared inside our front door. The box was quite big, oven-sized. I was ecstatic, because I vividly remember seeing all my teeth. I opened the box, and saw another smaller cardboard box inside it. I opened the smaller box, and saw a long pink box among some bubble-wrapped things. As I dragged the box to the living room, I clicked photos at the same time. In my mind, I was doing unboxing for the blog. I had no idea what I was unboxing, but I kept clicking and walking towards the bright living room. I was about to unwrap everything and find out what's inside the long pink box, then....

I woke up. I woke up! Why? Why do dreams like this always get cut short???

I felt cheated & irritated when I got up. Later that day, I headed to Superdrug and got some Candy to get over the anticlimactic dream.

Sleek i-Divine Candy Eyeshadow Palette ~ All bright and sweet shades with cute names: Strawberry Sherbet, Bon Bon, Parma Violet, Apple Sour, Pear Drop, Flump, Liquorice, Blue Fizzle, Aniseed, Bubble Gum, Mint Cream, Cream Soda.

Price ~ £7.99 | Rs.730.

Sleek i-Divine Candy Eyeshadow Palette Swatches

Sleek Makeup Blush By 3 Sweet Cheeks ~ This is a palette of 3 blushers- a cream blush Cupcake, a matte blush Dolly Mix & a shimmer blush Candy Floss. This is a Hot Seller, because there was only 1 left that day. I got it only because I called Superdrug, and they kept it aside for me (Phew!) All the colors are so deliciously pretty! Take a look at the swatches below....

Price ~ £9.99 | Rs.911.

Sleek Blush By 3 Sweet Cheeks Swatches ~ Cupcake (cream), Dolly Mix (matte), Candy Floss (shimmer)

A fuchsia pink Pout Paint named LOL-Lip-Pop is also part of this collection, but I did not get it.

This collection is Limited Edition.

Available online at SleekMakeup.com. Sleek ships worldwide. I have ordered from India before.

♥

I know I went overboard with the macaron photos, but I hope they made you candy happy! =)

NEW! Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons ~ Photos & Swatches

2013-06-14T01:06:00.002+05:30

My favorite brand has jumped on the bandwagon, and has launched its very own lip crayons ~ Color Boost Glossy Finish Lip Crayons.

"A new generation formula that provides a bare lips sensation thanks to its sensory, light and non-sticky texture. With it silk extract formula, Color Boost ensures comfort and hydration for 10 hours. Plus, it has SPF 15 and Waterproof colour!"

Available in 4 shades (left to right in pic above):

Orange Punch

Fuchsia Libra or Fuchsia Libre or Fuchsia Free (not sure!)

Red Sunrise

Peach On The Beach

Swatches ~ Orange Punch, Fuchsia Libra, Red Sunrise, Peach On The Beach

They are all pretty summer shades, but my favorites are Red Sunrise & Peach On The Beach. I bought Peach On The Beach to try out, will let you know how it is.

Yes, they are different from Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. They feel different, and are fragrance-free. Packaging is the same.

Price ~ £7.99 | Rs.727 (Will probably be priced lower in India.) From Superdrug.

Are you excited about these, or are you're tired of seeing Lip Crayons? =)

NARS Angelika Blush

2013-06-13T19:14:00.001+05:30

You know what (I think) Barbies, Fairies, Princesses & Angels have in common? I think they all wear a blush like NARS Angelika ~ A cotton candy pink with gold and silver sparkle.

Angelika is the prettiest-looking pink blush I'd ever seen. It's performance also lives up to its appearance. It's pigmented, smooth, and the shimmer in it isn't garish or chunky. I'd say the silver shimmer is more dominant, because I hardly see gold.

*Pics taken with & without flash, because it has shimmer.

NARS Angelica Swatch (with flash)

NARS Angelica Swatch (without flash)

If you want a matte pink blush that is somewhat similar (in the same color family) & cheaper, you could check out NYX Blush Pinky. I've swatched it here

Price ~ $27 | Rs.1566

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4/5

Availablility ~ I got mine from Apothica and shipped through Shop & Ship.

Ooh, now I'm in the mood for more candy pink stuff! Wait for it.....

When A Beauty Blog Is Nominated For A Cosmopolitan Blog Award.....

2013-06-11T21:12:00.001+05:30

Election Candidate: "If I win this election, it will give me a chance to build a bridge from River X to the village. That way, when you're done doing laundry in River X, you won't need to do mountain climbing for 1 hour to get to your huts. This is my heart's only wish."

Village People: "YES! YES! YES! Finally somebody who understands us...who cares for us the people! Ah, no more darty darty fingernails & big big insect bites. We lob you man! WE VOTE PHOR YOU!"

Later....

Election Candidate (Now Politician in Office): "Huh?! I don't remember saying anything about any bridge. Do people still go to that filthy River X? Put a tiger in that area, and mark it unsafe. ["EK THA TIGER. BEWARE!"] Bridge! Like I get paid enough to waste my time on something I'll never use myself... Sah-la!"

♥

Okay, that's a story I made up. But I have a strong feeling that it has happened in a village somewhere.

As I have mentioned before, my blog has been nominated for an award by Cosmopolitan India:

"We're excited to let you know that your blog (Indian Vanity Case) has been nominated by Cosmo readers in the Best Beauty Blog category for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 in Association with Dove! We have now opened the polls for voting so it's time to get your readers/subscribers to vote for your blog!"

Today is the last day open for voting. I owe it to my blog, my baby, to fight for it one final time & request you all to go VOTE for it.

Unlike the Politician, I have nothing to offer. No promises, no bridge. But I can assure you there'll be no tiger that will stop you from visiting this blog, no matter what happens.

You'd think that I've desperately asked (or forced) all my friends, family, friends of friends, cousins, friends of cousins, relatives, in-laws, old school mates, the plumber who came to fix a leak in our bathroom earlier, etc, to go vote for my blog, but NO. I've not asked any of them. Most of them don't even know. I'm still trying to decide whether I should let Mr.CZ vote, although I might, since he reads my blog (read: spies on me) and gives his opinions on photos and stuff.

Truth is, I want the votes to come from readers who love my blog before me. Readers who come to my blog for the lipsticks, readers who would feel crushed if I ever stopped blogging (not happening any time soon!), readers who know what 'Oh My Bows' means. I want the votes to come from YOU who are reading this right now. So, I'll leave it all up to you.

If you want to VOTE, please go HERE ~ Click on Like next to Indian Vanity Case under Beauty Blogs, scroll to the bottom of the page, fill in your details & click SUBMIT. It's done!

Thank you so much & Love you for voting! ♥

At the same time, you can also vote for your favorite blogs in other categories. All The Best to all the blogs that have been nominated!

Okay, now I'll go Vote for my favorite blogs, too. And no, I won't foolishly vote for my own blog! =D

TOP 12 Summer Lipsticks

2013-06-10T20:15:00.003+05:30

When it comes to numbers, I prefer even numbers. When I was a kid, seeing the number 24 always made me feel good. For no apparent reason, my head would get weirdly excited when I saw it's 24th on the kitchen calendar. I don't know why. This is just a thing, and I'm not saying odd numbers freak me out, or anything.

Then I grew up, and married a guy who is more obsessed with even numbers. Now even the volume on our TV has to be an even number- 16, 20, 24... 40. If it's 15, he will pick up the remote and bring it up or down to the closest even number. Maybe I should ask him what he thought of '24' when he was a kid, no? o.O

So! Here are my (~~TOP 5~~) TOP 12 Summer Lipsticks:

From left to right:

Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick Mauve Bliss 034 ~ A glossy light mave-pink that goes perfectly with smoky purple eye makeup. I have not swatched this yet, but you can see another shade - Passionate - that I know is a best-seller because of 'out of stock', here

Maybelline SuperStay Lipstick Stay With Me Coral ~ I have serious issues with the bumps on this lipstick, but I love the color too much to not use it.

Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate Moss #16 ~ Swatches here

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Rendezvous ~ The only orange lippy I use these days. Swatches here

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Sweetheart ~ You know I love this! Swatches here

Maybelline SuperStay Lipstick Infinitely Fuchsia ~ This is without a doubt my favorite fuchsia pink lipstick. I just can't get enough of it! Swatches here

Hello Kitty Lipstick By Superdrug Betz Believe ~ This is officially my favorite rosy pink lipstick. Trying to find a shade exactly like it from other brands. If you know any, please tell me. Swatched here

Maybelline Color Sensational The Jewels Collection Berry Brilliant ~ I love to use this lightly as a lip stain. Swatches here

Deborah Milano Rosetto MilanoRed #2 ~ A lovely peachy nude shade that's become a favorite. I wore it here

MAC Lustre Lipstick Patisserie ~ Obviously. Swatches here

MAC Veronica Lipstick Daddy's Little Girl ~ Satin finish. The unique one I reach for when I don't want to wear any other color. I wore it here

MAC Veronica Lipstick Ronnie Red ~ Matte finish. I like that this has a berry pink undertone, which makes it cooler-toned. Swatched here

Hope you enjoyed this lipstick post. Would love to know the lippies that top your list this summer, too! Oh, and it doesn't have to be an even number ;)

P.S. Voting for Cosmopolitan Blog Awards '13 ends day after tomorrow! If you like reading my blog, please show your support by voting for 'Indian Vanity Case' under Beauty Blogs ~ HERE

Thanks a bunch to everyone who has already voted! ♥

Pencil Shading Technique Eye Shadow

2013-06-09T00:27:00.000+05:30

Have you ever wondered what it'd be like if you used pencils to color your eyes? While that's possible, you need a brush to achieve the penciled effect. When I was studying Fashion Design, shading was part of Sketching, and we shaded with pencils & watercolors. I was very bad at it the first few times, but with practice I got better. Today, I thought I'd try it on my eyes with eye shadow.

I really really enjoyed doing it, and I think I might stick to this technique.

I used only 3 products:

Beige eyeshadow (WOS) on my lid as a light base, a black eyeshadow (Crave) for shading. Both from Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

An pointed eyeliner brush used like a pencil.

If you noticed the shimmery brow bone, I did a different makeup before this and maybe I didn't wipe it off properly.

If you want me to do a tutorial on this shading technique, let me know.

Happy Weekend, everyone! I should have been cleaning & mopping the house, but I played with makeup instead, so that's been postponed till tomorrow. Tonight, I'm just excited to watch Stoker and, of course, eat a lot of junk.

Outfit Of The Day ~ Crop Top & Skater Skirt

2013-06-07T19:31:00.000+05:30

In about 1 minute that skirt is going to fly and spread out like an umbrella (under my umbrella...ella...ella...) But nobody saw. Never wear a skater skirt when it's windy.

And in about 10 minutes, while walking on the road, the rain is going to come down on me like an unwanted birthday blessing. I didn't have an umbrella (ah, the irony!) & my mascara wasn't waterproof.

This is what I wore on my Birthday over 2 weeks ago, btw. I took these pics in a jiffy before heading out. It was the first time I did a photoshoot in our new balcony, and it was soo windy! We're on the 1st floor, so anyone who walks on the road down below can see. I had to run inside and hide every time a car came by. Hence, the odd leg in previous photo... haha!

Top ~ Quiz Lime Textured Crop Top | Black Skater Skirt ~ H&M. Got it on sale, only £3 (Rs.266) | Lime Belt ~ H&M. Sale again, £1 (Rs.89) | Shoes ~ Suede Mary Janes from Ebay | Clutch Bag ~Primark | Jewelry ~ Primark Earrings, Claires Bracelet, Fossil Rose Gold Watch | Of course I had to wear black tights & a leather jacket too before heading out in the cold.

Lipstick ~ I was confused which lip color to wear with lime green. I tried peach & nude...then in the end I went with coral. I used Maybelline SuperStay Stay With Me Coral (Swatches here). I don't really remember what I put on the rest of my face! Definitely got older!

Hope you have fun plans for the weekend. I want to go to Superdrug and get some new makeup I see doing the rounds in blogosphere, but I have no money. I mean, I have spent my monthly budget online recently. Sigh. =D

How To Conceal Undereye Circles ~ Tutorial

2013-06-06T21:57:00.000+05:30

In all my years of beauty blogging, I think this one of the most requested. So many readers are troubled by panda eyes. I personally don't have major dark circles (I have other major skin problems, so I'm thankful this is not one one them). Still, my eyes look tired without any concealer under them, especially on sick/stressful days, and when I'm wearing heavy eye makeup. Some days I apply an extra layer of foundation, some days a concealer is necessary.

Here, I applied some kohl and mascara beforehand, so that they bring out my dark circles more. Black kohl on your lower lash line really brings out your under eye bags, and emphasize the shadows under your eyes.

IVC Tutorial Month ~ Tutorial #2

Step 1: Apply Eye Cream. The skin on your undereye area is thin & delicate, so eye cream will act as a protective layer the concealer can adhere to. Use your ring finger for this as it's the gentlest of all your fingers.

Step 2: This is important. To prevent your concealer from looking too cakey & cut down blending time, apply and dot concealer only on prominent hollows & shadows. To locate them, tilt your head down and look up at a mirror. Here, I used a thin liner brush to apply concealer in the hollow and to dot under the eye bags, inner corner & the outer corner between my top & bottom lash lines. You can use your concealer wand or a Q -tip (earbud), too.

Step 3: Blend the concealer with a blending brush or fingers. You can blend the concealer on your eyelids as well. I prefer not to because concealer usually doesn't blend well with my eye shadow primer and ends with looking blotchy.

Step 4: Pat the blended concealer with your ring finger just to make sure it's all smooth and ready to be set.

Step 5: Take some loose powder with the same fluffy brush (or another, if the same is too wet), and dab it on top of the concealer. This will set it in place & prevent creasing.

DONE!

What a difference, right? My ~~eyes~~ eye looks more awake & less tired! =)

Products I Used:

Botanics Radiant Youth Hydrating Eye Cream by Boots

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in #3 Medium

The Body Shop Loose Powder #01

Brushes: To apply concealer- Inglot 30T eyeliner brush. To blend & powder- Colorbar Emphaeyes Eye Blending Brush (shown here)

Picking the right products:

If your dark circles are very dark & almost purplish or bluish, try to pick a concealer with yellow or peach undertones. Anything pinkish will make dark circles look greyish.

Stick to creamy concealers that will blend well & not settle into fine lines.

Avoid powders that have pink in them, stick to translucent or yellow-toned powders.

Good Undereye Concealers: I like a few- Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer (shown here), Kryolan Cream Concealers, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot, YSL Touche Eclat, etc.

Although I have yet to try them myself, I've heard these are good: Maybelline Fit Me & Eraser Concealers, Revlon PhotoReady Concealer, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealers & Correctors.

I guess there are a lot of concealers to be explored, and it will require a separate blog post.

I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Do tell us if you have any favorite undereye concealers.

*If you enjoy reading this blog, and like my tutorials, hope you have VOTED for 'Indian Vanity Case' in Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 HERE. Only a week left for voting. It would help a lot, Thank You!

EOTD With MAC Frozen Violet Pro Longwear Paint Pot

2013-06-04T21:14:00.000+05:30

I just love MAC Paint Pots with shimmer, like MAC Genuine Treasure, which is still a favorite till today. Frozen Violet is described as a frosted purple silver, and it is gorgeous. I love that it looks almost taupe, and not as purple.

Products Used:

MAC Frozen Violet Pro Longwear Paint Pot on lid, bottom lash line & inner corners. I applied it with my ring finger up to the crease, then using my eyelash curler I defined the outer edge by filling in the paint pot with a fluffy blending brush. Eyelash Curler Technique shown here.

Princess Black Liquid Eyeliner slightly winged out.

Lakmé Kohl Ultimate to tightline & on waterline.

Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama Mascara on top & bottom lashes. 3 Coats.

MAC Frozen Violet pro Longwear paint Pot Swatches ~ It can be layered to look more opaque

Price of Frozen Violet ~ £14.50 | Rs.1253.

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.7/5

I think it's part of the permanent collection, but I'm not sure.

Fallouts are from a black e/s I used on my brows =\

What do you think? Your kind of eye shadow?

Bourjois Bronzing Primer ~ Incredible!

2013-06-04T11:00:00.000+05:30

Bourjois nailed it! This is the first cream bronzer I've ever used, and I don't think I'll want to use any other cream bronzer- or any other primer, for that matter. It's that Incredible!

Bourjois Bronzing Primer has a mousse-like texture, but it feels a little more moist than mousse-to-powder foundations, and more moisturizing than all those silicone-packed clear primers. The first ingredient is Dimethicone, which usually causes my skin to break out (cystic pimples), but even after over-using & over-layering it greedily, I haven't seen any of the dreadful things (touch wood!)

It's made with cocoa beans and orange blossom elixir for radiance and hydration. It smells delicious- like chocolate, and I think a little bit coconutty.

It blends so effortlessly- like whoosh whoosh and it's gone. It does not darken my skin tone or make it look muddy, it only adds a bit of sun-kissed holiday bronze. It evens out the texture of my skin, and makes it feel plumper.

How To Use It: Although it's a primer, I prefer to use it over foundation. I apply with fingers, as well as a contouring brush, like the Sigma F05 (which sheds crazily when used with cream products). I actually want to gift it its own special brush, because it's so good to me.

[Click to enlarge]

If you were expecting to see a face swatch, don't worry. I'll probably be wearing it in all my looks from now onwards.... until you get tired of seeing it- just like my The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder =D

Price ~ £6.99 | Rs.607

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 5/5.

I doubt it's been launched in India, but it won't be long.

I'm addicted to it! Really, who needs Nutella?

Mystery Giveaway WINNER

2013-06-03T21:42:00.001+05:30

The WINNER of the Mystery Giveaway is Poorva!

Please Email Me HERE.

If I don't hear from the winner within 24 hours, I will pick another winner.

Thank You all for participating, there will be more Giveaways!

To Wear ~ River Island Polka Dot City Shorts + Textured Peplum Jacket

2013-06-03T20:25:00.000+05:30

I just felt like doing this today. Pair stuff, and add a wee bit of zing to a small River Island haul.

When I went birthday shopping, I wanted to buy some new outfits. I went to Topshop, Zara, H&M, etc, but I didn't like many things, except these 2 River Island items....

River Island Black & White Polka Dot City Shorts ~ So happy these are longer and not knicker-length like most of the high waisted shorts these days. I tried a pair at H&M one day, and I swear they looked like boyshort panties! The zipper part is the back, front is plain.

River Island Black Textured Peplum Jacket ~ I love the that it has a zipper, and it's long enough to cover the behind.

H&M Bustier With Gold Zipper ~ This is very cute! It has got ribbons at the back. Of course I won't wear it alone.

Accessories ~ Primark Clutch, Suede Mary Janes from Ebay, Accessorize Earrings, Forever 21 Key Necklace, Claire's Bracelet.

What's missing? Black leather gloves. I'm want those short ones with snap buttons.

I'll probably wear black tights too.

By the way, I'm no longer a Size 6.....

I've been upgraded to UK 8. Nando's & Greggs Chicken Bake went straight to my tummy & hips. Now I'm hooked to macarons too, so I'm guessing it's only UP from here on out... woohoo! =)

Hope you liked this post, coz I want to do more!

Makeup Trick Using Eyelash Curler ~ Tutorial

2013-06-01T23:00:00.000+05:30

IVC Tutorial Month ~ Tutorial #1

I was watching DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge- the greatest Bollywood movie of all time) on a Saturday night sometime in February, and during the following scene....

Raj: "Suno, jisse tumhare shaadi hone wali hain...uska naam kya hai?" (Listen, The one you're marrying....what's his name?)

Simran: "Kuljit Singh."

.....this idea occurred to me. I paused the movie, went to make tea, then I went upstairs try it out. I worked!

Nowadays I use it almost every time. It makes it super easy for me to achieve that precise Cut Crease look, especially since I don't have a deep & defined crease line.

Click to enlarge

Place eyelash curler on the outer corner of your eye, aligning it from the bottom lash line straight towards the end of your eyebrow. Place the tip of curler till your crease, or where you want to wing of the eyeshadow to end.

Press curler a little, and apply your eyeshadow using the edge like a ruler.

Now place the top of curler over your lid. The curve is almost the same as a crease. Apply eyeshadow right on top of it.

Move the curler around your lid to adjust it to the curve of your eye, until you reach the inner corners.

Fill in the center with the same brown eyeshadow. You can apply all over, but I chose to leave a half moon shape bare.

If you want a sharp cut-crease look, you don't need to blend the edges. But if you want a blended look, apply a lighter eyeshadow (beige or taupe) by placing the curler right on the previous brown line, and running the brush right on the top of the curler. The curler will help you stay only on the line that needs blending.

Since I have hooded lids, I decided to apply a shimmery e/s (Urban Decay YDK) on the bare part of my lid.

You can apply eyeliner on the top lash line, but here I just tightlined the roots of my lashes with a black kohl and applied some on my waterline (bottom lash line)

Applied mascara in bottom lash line.

DONE!

Remember, you can use any other eyeshadow colors- black, purple, teal, etc. I used brown, because it's more everyday-wearable.

This is a suitable look for all eye shapes:

If you have a crease socket ~ you can use the eyelash curler just for the outer V. If you want a softer look, fill in your lid space with a light eyeshadow color. If you want an intense smoky look, you can go all out with a black eyeshadow.

If you have monolids ~ Don't leave any space in your lid area, fill up the entire lid area with the brown eyeshadow.

If you have hooded lids, like I do, you can apply eyeliner on your top lash line, but it's better to make it very thin.

Products Used:

Matte Brown e/s- Urban Decay Faint from Naked Basics Palette

Matte Taupe e/s- Urban Decay Tease from Naked 2 Palette

Lakme Kohl Ultimate pencil

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara. Shown here.

Brushes ~ Too Faced Smoker Brush, Inglot 10S, Sigma Pencil Brush.

Eyelash Curler ~ QVS.

I wasn't going to put a full face look, coz my hair was dirty & I had a tired face, but I wanted to show you that this look makes eyes look smiley....

Lipstick is Deborah Milano Rosetto Red #2. Shown here

♥

Hope you liked this tutorial. Idea occurred in February, tutorial done in June. I don't really remember what happened in between.

Enjoy your weekend! I will make aloo gobi (potato + cauliflower), and watch Breaking Bad Season 2 all night.

P.S. If you enjoy reading this blog, and like my tutorials, hope you have VOTED for Indian Vanity Case in Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 HERE. It would help a lot. Thanks!

A Girl Spat To Sorbet Shoes....

2013-05-31T20:27:00.000+05:30

Friday, 24th May '13, 10:40 am:

We reached the train station. An hour later, we're supposed to be in Edinburgh. As we walked in, I saw a magazine shop, and decided to pick up LOOK Magazine. Mr.CZ went ahead to get the tickets. The shopkeeper was a woman in her late 20's to early 30's (I couldn't tell). She had an almost gothic rock star style- very short cropped black hair, maybe some piercings, she wore a black t-shirt with skinny jeans. I've always admired this style & find it fascinating. She was boyish, but petite. Maybe one size bigger than me, and a couple inches taller.

I paid for the mag, and took out one copy from the middle of the stack, and not the one on top. It was a habit, you know. Usually, the copy right on top of the stack gets dusty & has probably been touched and flipped through by a lot people, maybe some people who don't wash their hands after doing susu & doodoo. It makes sense, because that way, it won't feel eww when you read the magazine in bed. Plus, this magazine didn't come with an outer sleeve.

Boyish Woman: "They're the same thing."

Me: "Oh, I know. I just want one from the bottom.", I said nicely, and smiled at her. I thought she'd say, "Oh, I see! No problem, you have a naa-ice day now!"

But she didn't.

Boyish Woman: "But they're the same thing! They're the same thing!", she shook her head wildly. Then she twitched her top lip to one side, and raised her giant eyeballs without looking up- like those male dancers with the heavy kohled eyes & smudged red lips (What are they called?) She kept mumbling, and hit her palms on the magazines. I started to walk away from the uncouth violent behaviour, and that's when she added:

"S-c-h-t-o-o-p-i-d" (that is: Stupid)

For a second, I thought about ignoring it, but my inner gothic rock star chick didn't let me.

Me: "What the hell is wrong with you? I KNOW they're the same! I just don't want one from the top of the pile, what's s-c-h-t-o-o-p-i-d about that?!", I looked her straight in the eye.

In that moment, she somehow looked smaller than me, and a question raced quickly through my mind: Could I take her, if she jumps over the counter and drops those giant eyeballs on my face?

Then, instantly, she stopped mumbling and twitching, and just shrugged. I reckon she probably thought a little Asian woman was going to take it, and run away feeling ashamed. She went back to the counter, as some other customers approached the store, and I walked away with a tarnished mood.

I started flipping through the magazine as soon as we sat in the train, and my eyes landed on something that made me forget about what happened 10 minutes ago. On page 6, were these Primark Sorbet Strappies [£12 | Rs.1028]. My mood brightened up again. This time, in 3 very specific colors!

(If you're wondering why I keep buying the same style of shoes {you must have seen the black & red ones here}, it's because they're the only ones that fit my inadequate feet -thanks to the ankle straps. They've recently launched nude ones too, by the way.)

About 3 hours later....

In Primark: There was only one pair in 'Size 3' available. But for about 7 minutes, the right side was missing from the shelves, strangely. Only the left side was there. Usually, each pair is tied together with an elastic string.

Mr.CZ concluded somebody had stolen it. "But why only one side?", I asked incredulously. He said, maybe the person had the shoes, and one side got spoiled or something, so she came to steal one of them....haha!

I wanted to cry! Then..... magically, like a Fairy Godmother, a SA appeared with the missing side of the shoe!

....and the sorbet shoes and me....oh, and a bonus pair of coral Bold In Ballerinas [£.6 | Rs.514]....

.....lived sorbetilly ever after.

THE END.

Tutorial Month Starts Tomorrow!

2013-05-31T18:17:00.000+05:30

I will slog, and you will be a PRO!

[That's just for dramatic effect.]

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick Hot Plum Photos, Swatches

2013-05-30T17:57:00.000+05:30

When Maybelline says 'Vivids', they mean just that. I'm impressed!

Hot plum 906 is a vivid fuchsia with a rich purple undertone. So intense it could cover my lips with one single stroke. It clings to lips for hours and stains when it lets go. Smells the same as the original Color Sensational Lipsticks, by the way, like some kind of vanilla caramel toffee....something sweet like that, but mild & tolerable.

Price ~ £7.19 (3 for 2 offer at Boots) | Rs.613.

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.5/5.

If this isn't your type of color, maybe you will like Shocking Coral (shown here) more. Will swatch it soon!

MAY 2013 Favorites ~ Make-up, Best Concealer, DIY Waxing, Etc.

2013-05-28T20:33:00.001+05:30

May is not over yet, but I'm in the mood to talk about my May Favorites now.

Carpe Diem!

We start with makeup, as always. From the back:

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer ~ This, this is THE BEST CONCEALER. No kidding. It's great for under the eyes, it conceals blemishes, it does it all! And yes, it lasts. It's available in 4 shades- Fair, Light, Medium, Deep. I use #3 Medium (which was always out of stock!) I think my tube is broken somewhere, because the concealer keeps leaking out- messy, messy! The best thing about it- it costs only around Rs.350 (£4.19). This is one thing I'll be buying in bulk when I leave UK =D

NARS Loose Powder in Beach ~ This powder has a lot of yellow in it, that's why I like it. It's smooth and lightweight, and sets my foundation without looking cakey. It reminds of Ben Nye Banana Powder, which I've yet to try out.

Maybelline Crayon Oriental Kohl Intense Black ~ I don't want to finish my repurchased Lakme Kohl Ultimate so soon, so I've been using this. It's soft & black, and hardly smudges.

MAC Cream Soda Betty Blush from Archie's Girls Collection ~ As I predicted, I ended up loving this light neutral coral blush with a satin finish. Although it looks light, it actually shows up quite coral on my cheeks. Maybe the micro shimmers in it attract attention. Swatches here & LOTD wearing it here

Sleek Oh So Special Palette ~ When I bought this, I had no idea I'd be using it so much. It has almost every eye shadow I need for everyday. Swatches here.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain in Sweetheart ~ Most-worn lippy from April-May. Swatches here

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick #16 ~ A summery grapefruit pink lippy I reach for every time I think medium pink lipstick. Swatches here

Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama Mascara ~ This is different from the original "The Falsies", okies? Aside from having a fancier lace design, it's also better for my thin lashes. The formula is thicker, and it does make my lashes look like falsies. I have done a post on the original here

Maybelline Colorama Cremoso Nail Polish Equilibrista ~ I'm liking this girly lilac color more than pink on my fingernails these days.

Here, we have my favorite skin care & a hair tool:

The Body Shop Raspberry Body Butter ~ Raspberry is the new Strawberry.

Veet Oriental Wax ~ This comes with wax, wooden spatula & strips. My 1st time waxing at home, and it was a success! Basically, you just heat the container in microwave, or place it n hot water, and it's ready to use! It didn't irritate my skin too much, or caused too many bumps. I'm afraid to even guess how much the salons here in Scotland charge for waxing whole body.

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm ~ It took me a while to get used to the cherry scent, after using the original/plain. But now I like it a lot.

The Face Shop Mini Pet Hand Cream ~ More pics here. I need more of these cuties. better than L'Occitane.

Babyliss Volume Waves Curling Tong ~ I.Can't.Live.Without.This. I've been curling my hair every 3rd day now. When it's straight-straight, I feel....ordinary.

♥

The Etc's:

Leather Jackets ~ I've been living in furnace Delhi for so long, that I never had a chance to really indulge in leather jackets, but now I want so many types! Every second girl in UK wears a leather jacket, and every time I see a unique one, I get this urge to go up to the girl and request her to show me the brand tag inside (Let me see! Let me see! Take it off!) Ooh, look at that- Zara, with ruffle detail. Want!

Mama Hot & Spicy Noodles ~ OMG, these are so spicy! Although I do add extra chilli powder & pepper. They're awesome! If you live in Delhi, you might find them in INA Market or big supermarkets.

Macaroons or Macarons (whatever) ~ I tried, I LOVE! Thank goodness, because I've told you I don't like sweets and cakes and chocolates much. But these are so different & fun to eat- just like I imagined in my head (although a little less crunchy). My favorite flavor is Pistachio (green). Btw, these were from Marks & Spencer.

Current Favorite Song ~ Thanks To H&M for introducing me to it. It's always playing in the store, and I'd never heard it before. I noted down some words from the lyrics, and went home to Google. You know, I heard it in both Dundee & Edinburgh H&M stores. They must be promoting it, or something =D

Lastly, I'm watching Sex And The City from Season-1 again these days. I'm amazed at how much I'd forgotten. Last night, I watched 'The Baby Shower' episode, where Miranda said to Carrie:

"I just realized...maybe it's maturity or the wisdom that comes with age... but the witch in Hansel & Gretel, she's very misunderstood. I mean, the woman builds her dream house and these brats come along and start eating it."

Haha! Her bluntness, so hilarious.

That's all from my side. What are your May Favorites?

WE Are Featured In LOOK: Britain's Best Selling Fashion Magazine + A June Special For YOU!

2013-05-27T19:45:00.001+05:30

I say WE, because I'm representing Indian women in LOOK Magazine's International Fashion Issue- 27th May, 2013. The story is all about beauty trends around the world, and I feel so proud that LOOK wanted to include India in it. A special Thank You to Look Magazine's Beauty Editor, Samantha Freedman, for that.

For those who follow IVC Facebook Page , remember I asked you some questions here? Well, it was for this. LOOK gave me a bunch of questions to answer, like: Favorite Indian Celebrities, Beauty Style, Most Popular Makeup Look, etc. But, understandably, they could only pick a few for the feature.

I'd like to THANK all of you who took some time out to tell me about your beauty styles. I was so overwhelmed by all the response! Please know that although I couldn't reply to all of you, I read all of your comments & emails.

The 5 other beauty bloggers are from Russia, Australia, Norway, Dubai & France.

LOOK Magazine: What's your favorite makeup trick?

I mentioned the eyelash curler. It's the makeup trick I discovered and I'd mentioned it a few months back here . I am going to post a step-by-step tutorial. It's delayed because it's difficult for me to hold the camera, curler and brush at the same time, but I will manage somehow =)

That's the look I posted recently. I did it specially for this, because I didn't have recent headshots where I'm wearing 'normal' makeup. I wore that head piece to sort of add an Indian-esque accessory to my look. Products I used listed here

♥

On 22nd May, I received an email from LOOK, asking for my address, so they could send me a copy of the issue. So thoughtful!

(It was my birthday, and God knew I needed something to make up for all the things I couldn't have, and all the phone calls I did not get.)

It hasn't reached me yet, but I bought one from the train station when I went to Edinburgh on the Friday, because I couldn't wait to see it! Good thing I did, otherwise I wouldn't have known about these fabulous Primark shoes.....

GOT 'EM! =) [Last Size 3 pair, btw. Phew! Will post pics soon.]

♥

What's the June Special?

Well, I've decided June to be "Tutorial Month"! That's right, I'm planning at least 1 tutorial every week. Don't think I haven't noticed the lack of tutorials here lately, because I have. I've not stayed still long enough to do any, but I will make up for lost time. The 1st one will be posted on 1st June. I won't set a specific number of tutorials, and be disappointed with myself if I fail to reach it, so we'll just go with the flow, ya? ;)

Oh, you must have seen that 'Watch This Space', on the right there, for a while now. That's another thing I'm working on, and it's taking longer mainly because of my fickle-mindedness. It's just something new & fun, you'll know all about it sometime during Tutorial Month.

Hope you're excited about it, and if you have any requests, feel free to jot them down in the comment box below, or Email me.

Make-up Haul from Edinburgh ~ MAC, Maybelline, Bourjois

2013-05-26T22:06:00.000+05:30

I apologize for disappearing for days. I was in Edinburgh, and there was no wi-fi in our hotel- Travelodge, to be exact. Tiny & congested room it was, but it was located in the heart of the capital- 5 to 20 minutes walk to all temptations. Because of all the walking and store-hopping, I had to specially go into Superdrug to get a pair of Scholl Party Feet Gel Cushions for the balls of my feet. OMG, I could have easily passed out from the pain! I wasn't even wearing very high heels. BUT all's forgotten now ;)

*I will update this post with all the prices shortly, coz I have to search for the receipts.

I told you there's no MAC counter here in Dundee, so it was nice to be in a MAC store after over a month. I picked up 3 items:

MAC Patisserie Lipstick ~ I finally got another tube of my holy grail nude lipstick. Swatches here.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft And Gentle ~ I've decided to start using highlighters more and try out the glowy bronzey look, and this is so gorgeous!

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Frozen Violet ~ I adore shimmery paint pots and cream shadows, so I had to have this.

Maybelline have some new stuff in their counters too. I got these from Superdrug:

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral 910 ~ You can never have too many coral lippies!

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Hot Plum 906 ~ I thought this would be a dupe for MAC Daddy's Little Girl Lipstick, but its more intense and darker. It's a hot seller, coz there were only 1-2 left in both Boots & Superdrug counters. The last one in Superdrug was broken, so I had to run to Boots the next day.

Maybelline SuperStay Lipstick in Beige For Good 610 ~ Just a beige shade. I want to wear it under a clear gloss, and complete my glowy bronzey look =D

Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder in 01 Blonde/Blonde ~ There's another darker trio in Brunette, as well.

Maybelline 24HR Color Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate 70 ~ It's an intense metallic plum shade.

My favorites from this haul- just because there look so YUM!

Bourjois Maxi Delight Bronzer in 02 Olive/Tanned Skin ~ I shopped in such a rush that I didn't notice the other lighter shade 01 Light/Medium shade, so I might go exchange this.

Bourjois Bronzing Primer ~ Look.At.That! It looks like chocolate, it smells like chocolate. It is rumored to be a dupe for Chanel Soleil De Tan Chanel , a bronzing makeup base that's caused quite a stir among makeup lovers. since both brands are owned by the same company, it could be true. I will let you know what I think about it later.

Bourjois has launched a lot of new cute products ~ A Bronzing BB Cream, Caviar Manicure Toppings in 3 shades, Travel-sized Volume Glamour Max Holidays Mascaras in 4 colors. All available in Boots.

Garnier Moisture Match Mattifying Fresh Cream for Combination to Oily Skin ~ I noticed this Green Tea Extract moisturizer by Garnier, and couldn't resist grabbing it since I'm craving green tea products. There are 4 other types- for dry skin, dull skin, normal/dry skin, dry/very dry skin. For those in the UK, I see they are sending Free Samples through their website here

♥

Just a few pics using my Nokia Lumia 820 phone. I didn't use my camera at all there....

Nightclub bathroom pic =) I'm loving my pink panda couple phone case I ordered from Ebay

Hope you all had a fun weekend!

Until tomorrow.....

Look Of The Day: Birthday Girl, Pink Roses & Macarons (Updated)

2013-05-22T18:43:00.001+05:30

Birthday Girl is not supposed to blog, but she realized she wants to celebrate with you all too.

This is not my look for today, I've yet to wear my birthday suit. I did this makeup over a week back. Ya, that's how pale I am now. I will update this post with many more pics and list of all the products I used, because I have to head out asap.

Face ~ MAC Prep+Prime Line Filler (not in pic), Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Soft Beige, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer Medium, Nars Loose Powder in Beach.

Cheeks ~ MAC Cream Soda Blush from Archie's Girls Collection, The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder (I've hit pan! :))

Eyes ~ Simple. Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Maybelline On & On Bronze Color Tattoo on lids & inner corners, Urban Decay Naked Palette, Maybelline Crayon Oriental Eye Liner, L'Oreal Super Liner Felt liner, False lashes (I don't remember which now), Maybelline The Falsies Lasting Drama Mascara.

Lips ~ Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Rendezvous. More swatches here.

H&M head piece. It's not really a head piece ;) | Accessorize Earrings (shown here) | Topshop Grecian dress (shown here) | Hair ~ I used the Babyliss Volume Waves Curling Iron. Ombre: I used 4 boxes of hair colors to achieve that. Will do a post.

THANK YOU to Mr.CZ for surprising me with Macarons & a gorgeous Pink Cake with Roses ♥

I cut the last night, and it's YUM! Will let you know how the macarons taste.

On my nails today ~ L'Oreal Le nail art stickers in 009 Poudre D'or. Maybe I didn't stick them right, but they bubble at the tips =|

I made my wish last night after 12 am, now it's time to make yours. Close your eyes and wish for something you want with all your heart. It will come true. (*_*)

Bye for now, and thank you for being here. Do come back to check this post tomorrow night or Friday morning- it will have (Updated) in the title.*

*Now Updated! =)

P.S. It was a gloomy day, so Rimmel Wake Me Up, a foundation with shimmer, was a bad choice, because most of the photos came out too unnaturally bright. In some deleted pics I looked like a ghost, or The Joker....seriously.