Skin Care Routine

It's finally December! Which rhymes with fun shopping sprees, lovely strolls at night to look at Christmas decorations and illuminations, happy and smiling faces everywhere, warm and full of love family gatherings, delicious food and fantastic memories :) Amazing things that really amps up one's enthusiasm and holiday spirit! 

AND for us beauty junkies, it also means our skin needs some super special attention and care just for those extra flawless makeup for parties and get-togethers. We all want to look fabulous in those holiday pictures, right? 

I have recently changed my skin care regimen and loving all my products, so thought of sharing it with y'all. As a little background info, my skin is a combination of dry and sensitive on the cheeks, and the skin is oily on the T-zone and large pores. Basically, I look to have 1) a matte finish throughout the day 2) reduced pores 3) healthy and moisturized skin and 4) a clear complexion.

To cleanse my skin, I use the trusted Garnier Biphase Micellar Water which has become my absolute favourite. I'm on my second bottle and so far, it has been able to meet my expectations and removed the most waterproof of waterproof makeup ever! About once a week, I love doing a face massage using organic coconut oil to improve blood circulation and to have a healthy glow =)

Coconut oil is all natural and so beneficial for your skin.. And it smells heavenly *sigh* 

Diving straight into in my everyday skin care products after cleansing: La Roche-Posay Effaclar, an astringent lotion and micro-exfoliant. I use this lotion after cleansing my face and gently dab it with a cotton ball over my face. Next, every girl's bff, a nice, quick serum. I use Clarins' Pore Minimising Serum. It is my absolute combo - this coupled with LRP's Effaclar. My pores have greatly diminished in appearance and lesser blackheads. 

I moisturise my skin with Nivea's Light Moisturising Day Cream - this little baby is a star! The oiliness is more tamed during the day and skin super moisturized. What more can I ask for? Hahah. And since I live on a tropical island, I never go out without proper sunscreen slathered all over my face and neck. I love using Avene's Sun Protection in SPF 50+ which is super nice and does not leave your face looking white. 

At night, I slather on Ducray's Creme Hydratant for combination skin, since it is very nourishing and leaves my skin soft and supple in the morning. Plus, I love the delicate floral scent of this cream.

I exfoliate my skin and put on a face mask about once a week. For exfoliation, I use Clarins' Gentle Peeling - I love this product because it is gentle (as the name says) on my sensitive skin and sloughs away the dead skin properly. The skin really feels clean and fresh after. As an alternative, I also use Seacret's Mineral Rich Peeling Gel which is suitable for sensitive skin. I enjoy using both product since they do not have any grainy particles to physically exfoliate. Rather, Clarins' is more creamy and Seacret is a gel like product, both of which you put on your face for 1 min, and then rub it off with your fingers in circular motions.

The Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm is a creamy consistency product which can be used under your makeup to add glow to your skin. It makes your skin looking more healthy and less drab. I usually skip moisturizer whenever I use this product under my makeup. But it will work superb as well for people with dry skin. I also use it as a face mask to quickly add some boost or life to my skin on those days when I am dead tired with a sad, dull complexion. 

So that's it folks, my HG skin care products, and I have been sticking with them for a long time now, since my skin's oiliness is better controlled, skin matte, and pores have been greatly reduced in size. I hope this post was useful for you guys.

Let me know if you have used any of these products in the comment section below! And which is your favourite skin care product.

Happy Holidays sweethearts!

xxx

Ushina

Review: Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum

As you hit your mid-twenties, skin care becomes the main concern and top priority since everyone wants smooth, healthy skin. Right? And, I joined the same bandwagon! Prevention is better than cure! =)

I have been looking at skin care products, more than ever before. Skin care has always been my favorite thing to do and I was always (still am) on the lookout of new cleansers, moisturizers, face masks, you name it!

I have thus now directed my focus to skin serums! Talking of which, I got myself the Hydra Beauty Micro Serum by Chanel.

This product really is impressive. This serum is touted as a product providing an intense, replenishing hydration. It also has a "technologie microfluidique". 

I tried it. And it does meet the expectations. I used this serum mostly during winter and it really provide a boost for hydration while also making your skin look healthier, and youthful.

The effects were visible though I believe it would be more noticeable if used on skin having wrinkles. It makes the skin plump thus making lines less visible. And you have a radiant face! 

I have really enjoyed using this product. You might notice there is only about 1 quarter of product left! =(

I used this religiously for months under my moisturizer. My skin never felt so plump and well hydrated.

However, if, just like me, you have combination to oily skin, then you can as well just apply the serum and then use a sunscreen. This is what I did on hotter days when I want to skip my moisturizer.

The packaging is really classy, with an almost transparent bottle. You can know exactly when the product is getting over and when you need to get a new one!

The nozzle pumps just the right amount of product you will need on your face.  

You get this amount of gel serum in one full pump, which is enough for your entire face and neck area.

Here, you can see the texture of the gel serum. It is not oily, but rather more water based. And gets absorbed really quickly. 

The floral scent of the product is simply wonderful and light enough to make you enjoy this experience thoroughly.

Though quite pricey, it is a product which is definitely worth it. 

Hope you liked this little review! =)

Have you ever used this serum? Which serums do you recommend using?

Please do share your views =)

Makeup Haul: Benefit Goodies!

Benefit is one of my all time favourite brand. I love all the products which I bought from their line till date and I am really satisfied with each one of them.

So, enough of my babbling... I ordered from Benefit Cosmetics - Majorette cream blush, They're Real mascara and gel liner pen combo and Coralista blush o' box.

All three in their respective costumes... uhmm.. packaging ;)

I bought this blush after reading/ watching many reviews and makeup tutorials. Aaaannndddd.. I love it! It goes on quite sheer with a subtle hint of color, andit is buildable. I believe it will be perfect on tanned skin and on medium to medium dark skin tones.

What can i say on this one? The Majorette Blush is the softest, creamiest cream blush I have ever used! It feels so velvety against your skin, I'm absolutely in love! It provides a nice flush and since it is a cream blush, it gives a natural finish, which I really like.

AH! Coming to the scent! It smells like oranges. Or more like a citrus-y scent. But it is pleasant one- nothing overwhelming. I usually dislike makeup products which an overpowering scent - gives me major headaches!

And see how pretty it looks in the packaging!

You can use this blush on its own. However, I do find it prettier when a pale pink blush is dusted over the Majorette blush. It gives a natural, and gorgeous flushed look to your face.

Finally, I had to lay my hands on these two babies! I had used They're Real mascara before, and I ADORED it to bits. I had to buy another one. This mascara is the best. It really adds that lengthening effect to your lashes. 

One tip - ALWAYS curl your lashes well before applying this mascara. It makes a HUGE difference. After curling my lashes, I apply two coats and no falsies needed. It makes your eyes look bigger with flirty lashes. And who does not want that, right? 

I took a close-up of the mascara wand, to show you the bristles. They are quite stiff actually and you should be careful to not poke your eyes with this... Ouch.

Lastly, I got the much hyped Push Up Liner. I initally did have some troubles to apply my eyeliner since it was not creamy enough. But as I started getting more product out, it started getting creamier and easier to work with. 

One thing though, you need to apply your eyeliner quickly because the product tends to dry in a relatively small amount of time.

The tip is soft, silicon like; making a flick or cat eye is easy-peasy with this one :)

So there you go, my (not so recent) haul. All the products have been used by myself, prior to writing this post. 

What is your favourite Benefit product? And which products do you recommend?

Please share your views, I'd love to hear about them! :)

Salvaging your Beauty Blender!

I love using the Beauty Blender. Ever since I bought one, it has become the staple (if not the only!) makeup tool I have to use everyday. It gives such a flawless, and perfect finish when applying foundation or BB cream. I simply love using it. 

So, as I live on a tropical island, weather conditions are really hot and humidity level is high. It so happened that last month I discovered a very ill beauty blender among my makeup stash. My beauty blended was mouldy. Yes girls.  My heart stopped. Literally. I paid a lot for this pink sponge, I am not yet satisfied from using it to the max, and it was already spoilt. A terrible moment, I know.

Next thing I know, I tossed the sponge back in the plastic container it came in, and it lay there almost forgotten. Until I eventually found a way to use this same sponge.

What did I do?

I simply started cutting off the bad parts. I know, that is like mutilation. Lol. I would have never thought of using scissors on ANY of my makeup brushes and sponge. I thought I might as well try something to salvage the beauty blender since the next best option would be to throw it away. I started cutting it and uncovered a fresh layer of clean sponge. Boy, was I ecstatic! Yay!  So, I continued with the delicate mini operation, and sure enough, the pink surface was restored.

I just wanted to share this with you people since we all know how much we love the beauty blender 

And its way of blending has remained unchanged. It blends as perfectly as before. 

After cutting off the bad parts, I plunged the sponge in a solution of Dettol and warm water, washed it well and left it to dry in the sun. I then started using it as before and I am so glad I did not throw it away. 

I would also like to point out that the mould that was formed was like tiny specks, spread across, and not big patches. It is now like a new sponge.

Below are home pictures of the salvaged BB :)

Damp Beauty Blender

Dry Beauty Blender

I can definitely use it now for few months before buying another one. 

Sure enough, my storage and brush cleaning habits have changed after this incident. I leave the sponge in the open for some days after washing, to ensure that it is dry to the core. As for my brushes, I clean them after each use, especially the face brushes!

Hope this little post helped you all!

And please, do share your experience with the beauty blender!

Lots of love,

Ushina

xxx

Review: Real Techiques Makeup brushes

Hello lovelies!

I recently made my first purchase from Real Techniques and decided to make a review on how I found them.

 I have received all my makeup brushes in a big neon pink envelope and I loved it!!

Real Techniques Brushes
From left to right - Shader Brush, Blush Brush, Expert Face Brush and Setting Brush

I purchased four brushes from the Real Techniques website - the Blush brush, Expert Face brush, Setting brush and a Shader brush for eyeshadow application.

What did I love about 'em brushes?

All the brushes have long handles with a metal body. I am not really into brushes with colored handles, but well, that can be overlooked since what I was looking for was the blending ability and how well the brushes pick up the product.

I love the Setting Brush; I use it to highlight and used it with my Ben Nye's Banana Powder. It picked up the right amount of product that you need. I used a sweeping/ patting motion to highlight under my eyes, and the feeling is awesome. It's so soft, I Love it!

The Shader Brush is another pleaser. It picks up the eyeshadows really well and the soft bristles make it easy to work with. 

I used for blending on the harsh edges of the eyeshadows, since the bristles are short and soft. Precision is what you will get with this babe, since it is so easy to control your movement to blend.

Real Techniques Shader Brush

The Blush brush is a large, full brush with a tapered, rounded end, which I adore! I also used this brush to apply my face powder, and I love it!

I enjoyed applying my blush using this brush (tongue-twister, much?).

I loved the feel of it on my skin; it's like a  it-can-totally-make-you-sleepy kind of brush, if you know what I mean :) 

Coming to the Expert Face Brush... 

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I am not a big fan of the Expert Face Brush. I was somewhat hoping it would work great since I read many positive reviews on this brush; I tried it with my BB cream (quite runny consistency) and then with a thick full coverage foundation - the ones I usually use.

The end result was not really satisfying to me. This brush left streaks all over my skin and I had to blend in the foundation using my fingers. This brush is being marketed as being an all-in-one, a multi-tasker, so basically, it ought work fine with foundations. I also tried it with a face powder, and it was fine, working like a buffing brush. But honestly, I prefer the 182 brush from MAC over this brush. So this one is quite a disappointment for me.

I can strongly feel it will be lying idle on my vanity table. 

This said, I can safely recommend the Blush Brush, Setting Brush and Shader Brush to you guys.

Which brushes have you bought from Real Techniques? And which ones do you recommend me to try?

Hope this little review will be helpful to you guys!

Lots of love,

Ushina

xx

Picture Perfect tips!

In each one of us, there is a selfie king/queen! If  you are addicted to taking selfies and love being photographed, then have a look at these tips, which have been shared by some makeup artists. It is a collection of videos that have been helpful to me and contains some really awesome tips. These are the preserved secrets of having the perfect click. so Ssshhhhh! ;) Heheh!

1. 10 Makeup tips for Perfect Photos by HudaBeauty

Huda Khattan has recently uploaded a video on makeup tips to have perfect photos. I have personally liked the makeup tips. Some of them are already known but it is a good reminder since we may miss out on one or two don'ts when it comes to makeup for photo shoots.

2. Perfect Selfies by Michelle Phan

For all the selfies fanatics, this video is a must-see! Though there are no hard and fast rules of taking a selfie - so long we look good in the picture! - Michelle Phan proposes some tips to click that perfect selfie which you will be proud of :) 

3. Makeup for HD photography by Jordan Liberty

He's another awesome Youtuber and makeup artist. In this video, Jordan shows us the perfect way to apply makeup when taking HD photos. He also shares some tips, which will blow away our minds. Like, products containing SPF are a no-no for photos, because they give you a white face in photos. But it is not true for all products. some actually work well. HD photos and videos are just great compared to their grainy ancestors. Hehe. But, a flawless makeup will only enhance our look and you will just be clicking away photos! 

These three videos are really useful when you know you will be taking lots of photos of yourself. 

Do you have any other helpful video on makeup for photos? Please do share! 

Regaining a healthy glow after flu!

Source: http://healthfitnessrevolution.com/

It's the flu season. With the change in weather, we get prone to bacteria and flu is the most common illness we can contract.

I have been down with flu for the past week, and I was so looking forward to get back to health. I am now steadily recovering and I am seriously so happy!

With illness comes a dull, grey-ish complexion with dark circles. Ah.  So the following are some tips that I follow (in fact, I swear by these steps!) to get healthy complexion and glowing skin back!

1. Drink lots of water 

When down with flu, it is important to maintain the hydration level of you body. It is essential to drink water and ensure you are properly hydrated. I usually ensure that I drink a minimum of 2 litres water each day.

2. Get plenty of rest

It seems like some people have unlearned how to relax. A time-off a particular task is usually translated into logging onto a social network, taking out your phone to surf the net and this is by no means a relaxation technique.

Instead turn off and stay away from your laptop and mobile.  Consider it as a detox program and simply avoid it. Just sleep, and get plenty of rest. The added benefit is that there will be less dark circles under the eyes.

3. Have your dose of vitamin C

My favourite thing to do when I am down with flu is lemon tea! I simply love it, plus if it is really good for your health with the Vit C boost you will be getting. 

Simply boil water, add into a cup with a tea bag (the vanilla flavoured ones are really good!) and squeeze half a lemon into your cup of tea. You can also stir in a teaspoon of honey, which is a natural humectant and will soothe the scratchy throats.

Another variation is ginger tea. You can add grated ginger instead of lemon juice in your tea, let sit for some minutes, strain, add honey and enjoy. Though most food will seem bland, the tea will bring relief and you will enjoy it (seriously!)

After the flu:

4. Scrub, scrub, scrub!

A good sugar scrub with honey and some olive oil will be pampering for your skin and leave it smoother and more refreshed than ever. Prepare a homemade scrub and you can store it for upto a week in a mason jar. The scrub will remove all the dead cells and leave the skin polished.

5. Face mask

A carrot face mask works just great on the skin to give it back its youthful glow after a dreadful time spent with flu.

To prepare the mask, boil one medium sized carrot in water until it becomes soft. Take out the carrot and mash it. Add some honey and 1-2 drops of almond oil. Mix well and apply on your face and neck for 20 mins. Wash your face with warm water and enjoy the glow! Carrots are full if vitamin A and C. They are an excellent food for the health of our skin and eyes.

A good 10 mins face massage will also do you good. You can use olive oil or sweet almond oil and massage the face. Thus will improve blood circulation and make your complexion less greyish.

6. Though the above will bring a noted  difference to your skin's appearance, nothing will really make you feel back to normal than a great fragrant bath! It is the ultimate therapy. Pamper your skin and hair with some delicious conditioners. This will make you feel refreshed and happy!

7. To tackle with the undereye dark circles, give trusted potato juice a try. Potatoes are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, carbohydrates, potassium, calcium, and iron among others. The juice will help lighten the dark circles and with regular use, the dark circles will fade to a great extent.

Another option would be to use undereye creams for dark circles. However the potato juice remains the cheapest alternative.

And there you go, the tips which I follow after being slow with flu. Do let me know about your way of getting back your glow skin and health back after flu!

Skin products: Prepping skin for special events

Source: pixgood.com

Hello my lovely readers!

Happy Festive Seasons! It's my favourite month of the year (besides September, which is my birth month!), and I am enjoying, relishing and captivating each moment I am spending. Ahh! December. 

Sooo, I have been away from blogging for quite long, due to professional commitments. Yeah, it's because of those sticky situations, others making emergencies for you, work stress, work pressure, and what not. I won't start rambling about that, it will take a whole blog post to share this with you all. But I'm sure you girls understand. 

Now that we are in December, all I can think about is shopping! I love shopping. And right now, though I am not in holidays and still working (and working till eve of New Year), I am making the most of my lunchtime by running into shops and quenching my thirst for shopping! Heheh. But, I am no Rebecca Bloomwood! ;) Heheh! I keep a tab on my budget and finances since I don't want those giddy moments when receiving bills or credit card statements. 

Ok, I have rambled enough now. 

Today, I though of sharing with you my skin routine to special events.

 December is packed with parties, dinner dates and lunch dates for the couples, and other exciting events which makes us want to look our best. I had recently been to my office's end of year party, and wanted to share with you all my routine to prepare myself for a special event.

Right now, it's summer in Mauritius. We are like in an oven over here. I love summer, but it's too hot during the day. I feel like I'm melting away on most days. My skin is thus oilier and is more prone to pimples. I have sensitive, combination to oily skin. But hey, summer also means long hours on the beach and enjoying the sea! 

Starting off, I cleanse my face and neck using mild soap or savon de marseille, which is currently working great for my skin. It is really soothing and I use it with warm water and a washcloth. I then indulge into a luxuriously nourishing bath. 

I firstly use the St Ives Purifying Sea Salt exfoliating body wash with an exfoliating glove followed by St Ives Nourishing Vanilla body wash. I love the scent of vanilla and including it in my bath really helps me relax and makes me smell yummy :) 

Source: St Ives.com

Source: St Ives.com

Following my bath, I use a face scrub and gently exfoliate my face and neck. It is an important step, since we want our makeup to glide on and be smooth looking. Following my scrub, I wash my face and use the Clarins Baume Beaute Eclaire as a face mask. This is the ultimate product for tired and dull skin. It really gives a boost to the skin and makes it look nicer and more smooth. 

Once the mask is removed, I like to put some ice in a plastic bag and put it on my eyes. It instantly gives a lift to the eyes, making it look pétillant/ sparking. I also like to press the ice gently over my face just to refresh my skin and make the pores look smaller. 

Finally, I apply my moisturiser (I am currently using Mixa Soin Rehydratant) after some time and then I prime my skin using Benefit's Porefessional primer. 

I noticed that the routine actually gave me a glow when my makeup was on and the finish was fresh and dewy, without using any mists or setting sprays. I love using MAC's Studio Fix Foundation (in NC 40) and Makeup Forever HD Foundation (in 127, as highlighter) for special events. These two work wonders together .

That's it about the routine. Hope this helps! And I really hope from the bottom of my heart that each one of you is having a superb December. As for me, I am off to watching a good movie on my laptop, with a nice cup of tea and some chocolate cookies. My little me-time :) heheh.

What is your skin routine for special events? And how is your December (and, shopping sprees) going on? :)

Please do share!

Lots and lots of love!

Ushi

xxx

Making Brown Eyes Sparkle: Gold Makeup Look

Products used for the eyes:

MAC Paint pot in Soft Ochre
Liquid black eyeliner
Eyeliner pencil in black
They're Real Mascara
MAC Rule eyeshadow
MAC Woodwinked eyeshadow

In the pursuit of Happiness

Over the course of the journey called life, we come across moments, though fleeting, which causes us immense pain, sadness, discouragement, fear, or simply a lack of trust in ourselves. Overcoming those negative feelings and facing those situations with the right attitude is often the key to peace and happiness. Easier said than done. 

But, I have personally experienced that doing the things that we love and adopting a positive attitude, whatever happens.

Whenever I feel sad, I try my best to shift my focus from the source of sadness, to my source of happiness. There are many things, however simple, which procure me with a great sense of well-being and happiness.

Pampering Time! My night time bath routine

My favourite thing after a stressful and hectic day at work and with studies, is to unwind myself and relax with a warm, long, delightful and perfumed bath! The time I spend to take my bath is like sacred for me. I totally get immersed and dedicate this time for myself only. No disturbances please! ;)

My night time bath is more elaborate than my morning one. At night, however, there is a whole ritual, as I like to call it. I usually apply a face mask which I let work on my skin while I dry exfoliate my body. Following that, I use my body wash and finish with moisturizer.

First off, I remove my makeup with a gentle cleanser and wash my face with warm water. I then exfoliate or apply a face mask to pamper my tired skin, depending on my 'skin's mood'. Yes. *Sigh* My skin has her own personality and behave differently each day.