Make-up Archives - Page 2 of 2

New Beauty Favorites

You guys! This was my last weekend as a “single” medical school wife! For now at least. After today, Vishnu will be done with his boards and a free man! I can’t wait to have my husband back.

I used this weekend to prep for our upcoming trip to Turks and Caicos. I can’t believe it’s almost here! You better believe we’re ready to lay by the pool/beach and sip on some cocktails. More on that to come!

So today I want to showcase a few of my new favorite beauty finds because they’re pretty awesome. I’ve actually found a lot of my favorite makeup and hair care products via blogs, so I thought I would do my part and (hopefully) return the favor.

First up we have the Desert Essence Coconut shampoo and conditioner. As you know, I’ve been using a few Desert Essence skin care products (one of them being the face wash in the back of the picture) for a while now and absolutely love them. So when my cousin told me about this particular shampoo and conditioner, I knew I had to try it. This stuff has the same effect on my hair that the coconut oil treatment I do has, especially with prolonged use. The combination of Jojoba and Olive oil leaves my hair silky, soft, and super moisturized all without weighing it down. And the smell? It’s out of this world! I think I need to buy the Coconut Hand and Body Lotion so that every inch of me smells like paradise.

Next we have Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil. Honestly, the only reason I bought this was because I had a coupon. I didn’t have high hopes for it because I’ve heard that nothing comes close to the “real” stuff. Well, I was wrong. This stuff is liquid gold. I apply about three pumps to damp (just washed) hair and style as usual. My hair is noticeably smoother and softer to the touch. And I think using this before heading out in the humidity is helping to tame the frizzies. Also, this stuff smells incredible as well! I think the Desert Essence + Suave combo is perfect for my hair (which is naturally wavy and coarse).

And last but not least we have the Revlon ColorStay Foundation for combination/oily skin. I know I’ve blogged about my love for more expensive foundations, and while I still think the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick is a great product, my wallet doesn’t necessarily agree. After a little bit of research, I settled on this particular drugstore foundation. I was looking for something with good coverage and a matte look and feel. Oh and I also wanted something that didn’t aggravate my acne prone sensitive skin. Too much to ask? Not really because this foundation fit the bill in all respects. It’s comparable to the high end stuff, has a soft finish, and keeps my skin shine free for over eight hours. And for anyone who cares, I use a foundation brush to apply because I don’t like the idea of using my fingers.

The only problem with drugstore makeup is being able to find the right shade. Luckily, the Target associate working in the makeup aisle let me try on a few different shades. All of the bottles I wanted to try ended up having broken seals, so before she tossed them in the damaged pile, she let me experiment. She even helped me pick the right shade. I love Target!

Well, there you have it – my three new beauty product favorites. Share some of yours in the comment section!

Happy Monday!

3 New Product Loves

written by Parita 16 Comments

When I love something, everyone hears about it. From restaurants, to recipes, to makeup, to books, and beyond…if I love it, you will hear about it! Vishnu loves this about me because he gets to hear about EVERYTHING first…ha!

Anyway, I’ve wanted to share my three newest product obsessions for a while now but needed to be sure that I did in fact LOVE them before going live.

Let me start off by saying that I’ve never been a big fan of facial moisturizers. For some reason, I always equated added moisture to acne. Well, I now know that is false. After my face debacle late last year, I did extensive research on anything and everything acne related I could find. Something I learned, much to my surprise, is that when you don’t add back moisture into your skin (via lotions, oils, etc.) breakouts are more likely to appear and stick around. This is especially true if you use topical acne medications. Why? Because your glands are working overtime to produce more oil, since everything you’re doing is stripping away whatever oil is there. This is a very simplified explanation, but after reading more and more about this and thinking about my own skin, I realized that not using a moisturizer was a major mistake on my part.

The one thing I knew was that I had to select a moisturizer that worked with my skin type – naturally oily, especially in the T-zone. Again, I did a lot of research and finally decided to purchase Philosophy’s Take a Deep Breath moisturizer because I wanted something light, oil-free, and fast absorbing to use at night.

Annnnnnd…this stuff is amazing. A dime sized amount provides the perfect level of moisture and is really helping to smooth out my skin. I’ve see a huge difference in how my makeup goes on – no more rough spots. Also, much to my amazement, my skin is now less oily overall. And the best part is that I’ve experienced zero breakouts because of this product. Phew!

A major con for this particular moisturizer is the cost. It’s pricey ($34) for what you get (2 oz.). However, a little bit goes a long way, especially if you only use it once a day.

My next product love is also a moisturizer. A tinted one at that. For the past few weeks, I’ve swapped out my Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick for the Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer. While I still love the foundation stick for special occasions, I wanted to use something a little lighter for everyday wear.

This lotion is great for so many reasons. First, the medium tint is a good, rich color and could potentially work for a lot of skin tones (there is also a fair to light color). The amount of coverage it provides is pretty incredible as well (I use two pumps). And trust me – if it works for my spotty skin, it will most likely work for anyone! In fact, I think (although it’s still too early to tell) this lotion is helping to even out a lot of the discoloration on my face. Woo hoo! With a little powder as the finishing touch, I can’t even tell that I’m wearing tinted moisturizer as a base versus actual foundation. It also contains SPF 30 without smelling like sunscreen, which is always a good thing.

I honestly can’t think of any cons for this product, aside from the fact that there are only two color choices available at this time.

My final product love is not a moisturizer or anything you put on your face. It’s actually a nail polish top coat that a coworker introduced me to back in December called Seche Vite. She swore that this stuff not only cuts drying time down to a minute or two, but that it also keeps chipping and peeling to a minimum. At the time, I didn’t do at home manicures. However, my curiosity got the best of me, so I bought my own bottle of Seche a couple of weeks ago. Y’all, this stuff is liquid amazingness! It’s been six days since I painted my nails and look…

…still going strong. And I’m not one of those girls that wear gloves while doing the dishes either.

Quick tip: My coworker told me to reapply Seche on day two or three for longer lasting polish wear. Great tip because I think that extra coat helped my nails look half way decent all week long!

At first, I thought Seche was a little pricey for being a top coat (regular price is ~$10), but after personally seeing how well it works, I think it’s worth it. And if you have an Ulta near you, become a rewards member, get on the email list, and make use of the coupons.

Well there you have it, my three new favorite products and a wordy post (sorry about that!).

I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend!

What moisturizer do you use? Have you ever tried Seche Vite? If you do your own nails, I highly recommend it!

My New Skincare Routine

written by Parita 23 Comments

Back in October, I blogged about my experience with apple cider vinegar (ACV) and its effects on my skin. To sum it up, let’s say the experience was horrible…and painful. Because of a so called purging effect, my skin broke out more… and more…and more. After three and a half weeks of trying, I gave up. I was left with more pimples than I started with and quite a few more scars. I promised y’all an update on my new routine, and after 3.5 months, here it is.

Since the whole ACV fiasco, I’ve made quite a few changes to my skin care regimen. I no longer use homegrown products. Instead, I broke down and bought a three month supply of Proactiv. I say “broke down” because I was adamant about not using chemicals to treat my acne. I really wanted to go the natural route. But we know how that turned out. So in early November, I started using Proactiv. Given a little bit of time, I knew it would work on my skin. Back in high school, this stuff was the only thing that cleared up my acne. And I do plan to wean myself completely off of it sooner than later, but for now, I feel like I need to stick with what’s working.

So for about six weeks, I stuck with the 3 step Proactiv formula. And my skin slowly started to improve. Albeit, a lot slower than I had hoped. After seeing some positive changes, I decided to alter my routine a little bit. I still use the Proactiv cleanser in the morning, but at night, I use the Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean face wash (one of the best face washes I have ever tried) because it gets rid of all my makeup and leaves my skin super clean. I follow up both cleanings with the Proactiv Repairing Lotion where necessary. I also use the Proactiv Toner at night, as it helps to remove any residual traces of makeup.

In addition to this regular routine, I use the Clarisonic brush my mom bought me over Thanksgiving 2-3 times a week (usually at night). I’ll do a full review of the brush later, but after using it for a few months, I can definitely tell that my skin is a lot softer (less flakiness, rough spots, etc.). And it may be helping with the acne, but I want to give it more time before I say that with any degree of certainty.

Before I share how my skin has benefited from these changes, I should mention a few more things.

1. We bought a set of 12 pillowcases off of Amazon. Vishnu made a great point about how using the same pillowcase every night was probably a major contributor to my acne. Now I switch it out every night before going to sleep. So far so good.

2. When I started breaking out more so than usual, I touched my face a lot. I just couldn’t help it…there was so much going on. Now I do it less (almost never) and have noticed a major difference in how long the acne I do get sticks around.

3. And finally, I bought a new moisturizer that’s formulated to work with acne prone skin and acne medications. It also has the added benefit of SPF. I’ve been using it for 1.5 months and highly recommend it.

I am happy to say that all of these little changes have added up to a much clearer face. While I still get a few blemishes every now and then, I’m no longer getting a new pimple or two every day (yes, it was that bad).

And to be completely honest, I just feel a lot better about myself now that the acne has subsided. As silly as it may sound, this whole experience really started to affect my self-confidence (probably a topic for another day).

What’s next you ask? Well, if I continue to see improvements over the next few months, I want to find something to help with my scars. Will keep y’all posted.

Random Weekend Snippets

written by Parita 21 Comments

1. Remember when I blogged about Coursera? The whole concept got me really excited, especially when I learned that Khushboo signed up for a class too. I decided to forgo the Philosophy class (for now) and signed up for two nutrition classes…that overlap for six weeks. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking when I did that, but I think it’ll be fine since the level of learning I’ve selected is understanding (and not application or synthesis).

Anyway, the Fundamentals of Nutrition class started this past week, therefore I spent a few hours over the weekend reading about nutrition basics, dietary guidelines, and dietary tracking. Call me crazy but I miss being in school sometimes. Probably because I love to learn – especially about something that’s become a passion of mine. I can’t wait to apply and share all of this new knowledge…yep, I’m a nerd. We’ll see how it all goes…one week at a time.

2. I have to share the cute birthday card and picture my sister sent me.

Love it! I called to thank her for the sweet card, and about half way through the conversation we started talking about how I “bullied” her when we were younger. Because we’re almost seven years apart, it was quite easy to get my way. For example, I’d change the rules of any game if I was losing. If Aekta didn’t go along with what I said, I’d yell and walk away. A little while later, she would come get me so that we could continue with ~~our~~ my game. I’m surprised she still talks to me!!

3. Khusbu (my friend from college) and I had a little girls’ day on Saturday. I’m not going to post any pictures because I feel bad for those of you who are experiencing a brutal winter right now (which I’m guessing is a lot of you). Let’s just say the weather was beautiful enough that we were able to stop for some fro-yo and then go get manicures/pedicures. We ended our night with dinner and drinks at Tap42. I had my second blueberry beer ever and loved it! And for dinner I went with the housemade veggie burger. A very good choice!

4. After reading about Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stains on Mila’s blog the other day, I knew I had to try them out. I made a pit stop at Target on my way home from running errands and ended up purchasing two – one in Honey (a neutral, slightly pink shade) and the other in Romantic (a dark pink/reddish shade).

Me being me, the first thing I did after getting in the car was tear off the packaging so that I could try one of these out. My initial thought? I LOVE this lip product! It’s a cross between a lip balm and a sheer lipstick -super creamy and highly pigmented. And so far, the staying power seems to be pretty good as well. Yay…new makeup makes me giddy!

4. I know I’m late to the party, but I finally got around to making cauliflower crust pizza. Best. Decision. Ever. If you haven’t already, make this pizza. It is absolutely delicious.

I used Brittany’s recipe as a guide. My modifications included using the entire cauliflower head, two eggs, cheddar cheese, and a couple pinches of salt. For the toppings, I used store bought tomato sauce, sautéed onions, spinach, and red bell pepper, sliced olives, and feta cheese.

The crust was flavorful and hearty. While it didn’t taste like a regular pizza crust, in my humble opinion, it was 10x more delicious. And for those of you who don’t like the taste of cauliflower, don’t worry. With everything else that goes into it and on top of it, the cauliflower flavor isn’t overwhelming at all.

Bottom line…make this pizza as soon as humanly possible.

6. Finally, I started researching Miami apartments because Vishnu and I are 99% sure we’re moving in a few months! More on this later…I promise!

Did you buy, make, or try anything new this weekend?

My Favorite Beauty Products

written by Parita 23 Comments

I’ve always been fascinated with beauty products. But not in a “I like to paint my face a bunch of different colors” kind of way. When I was younger, I loved to read the descriptions on the back of packaging/containers/bottles/etc. To this day, I often find myself lingering in the beauty aisle picking up random products and reading about them. I’m a nerd…what can I say!

Anyway, over the past few years, my focus has shifted to finding products that work for my skin/hair and give me the look I want. And after a lot of experimenting, I’ve finally found a few solid products that have become a part of my day to day beauty regimen. And because I know how hard it can be to find good quality products that do what is stated on the packaging, I’m going to share some of my favorites!

This Nivea chapstick is my absolute favorite! It leaves my lips super smooth and slightly glossy, and it’s not sticky or thick. And it comes two to a pack and costs less than $3.

I once read that all mascara formulas are pretty much the same, and that the brush matters more than anything else. Personally, I love this Maybelline Great Lash mascara because it makes my lashes look naturally full and doesn’t clump. And the brush is pretty awesome too – as you can see in the picture, the brush works with the shape of your eyes to coat lashes evenly.

I never used to wear bronzer, but when a coworker of mine mentioned how she really liked this Neutrogena Bronzer, I decided to give it a try. I’ve been using it for over a year now, so I guess you can say that I’m a fan. It’s lightweight and gives my often dull looking skin a healthy glow. And I think it’s actually helping to improve my skin (well before the whole ACV incident).

This Bobbi Brown foundation stick is honestly a life saver for my acne scarred skin. The coverage is amazing, and it brings an evenness to my skin that has never been there before. While you can use your fingers to apply, I use a brush to allow for even application. The only downside to this product is the price tag. But for me personally, quality > cost. And yes, the quality is that good!

This Laura Mercier Powder Foundation is unlike anything I’ve ever used. And trust me, I’ve tried a lot of different powders over the years. I love the soft matte coverage, which is important for skin that tends to be oily. When applied with a large powder brush, it blends beautifully. The combination of this powder and the foundation stick works extremely well to hide most of the imperfections on my face. And unfortunately, this product is also relatively expensive. But for what you get, I think it’s worth it – especially if you weren’t blessed with porcelain skin!

And last but certainly not least, you have my new favorite hair product – Garnier Fructis Blow Dry Perfector. As most of you probably know, Florida isn’t exactly a dry state. In fact, it’s humid year round. Extremely humid – like “I don’t want to put in the effort to dry and straighten my hair because it’s going to poof up the minute I step outside.” And with my coarse, slightly wavy hair type, I have the “do I put in the effort or not” debate every single morning. So when I first tried this product, I didn’t have high hopes. You can imagine my surprise when my hair stayed relatively flat and frizz free all day. And I’m happy to report that my experience since that first use has been just as amazing (and surprising). Florida humidity has nothing on me!

While it looks like my beauty routine is extremely involved and over the top, I promise it’s not! Trust me…I’m not one to waste my precious time applying makeup. And I’ve learned that with good products, you don’t have to. I’m done in five minutes tops!

Are you a beauty product lover? What are your go to essentials?

Festival of Chocolate

written by Parita 19 Comments

I can’t believe it’s already Monday. Sometimes I’ll say things like, “I wish the workweek was four days long so that the weekends were longer.” And then Vishnu will respond by saying something about being grateful that we even get days off, and that people had to fight for the concept of a weekend. I know all that but still…

On Friday, instead of relaxing with wine, cheese, bread, olives and The West Wing on our comfy couch, Vishnu and I had dinner with my boss. We had a great time talking about things like spirituality, the medical profession, and our personal experiences and beliefs. By the time we got home, I was exhausted – early morning (5:10 am) and late night (getting home after 10:30 pm) makes for a tired me!

I was able to tick off some things on my Saturday to do list. I cleaned, worked out, and then headed to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Kohl’s. After almost 3 hours of shopping, I came home with pillows and a lipstick. That’s it. I couldn’t believe it either.

P.S. My friend Monica introduced me to this lipstick a few weeks ago. It’s Flirt brand and sold at Kohl’s. I love it because of the no fade wear. And the color is beautiful and intense. If you’re in the market for a new lip color, I suggest you try this brand out.

After my shopping excursion or lack there of, Vishnu and I made our way to the bowling alley to meet up members of the Student Advocate Association (a club dedicated to the significant others of the medical students). We had a great time bowling and chatting it up. One of my goals is to meet more people in this area, and this organization is great for that. It’s nice to meet people who understand your situation and can relate to your stories.

We woke up bright and early the next morning to attend a panel discussion at Vishnu’s school. I suppose I was technically not supposed to be there, but Vishnu’s friends with the organizer and she okayed it. The panel was about international health, mission trips, and student doctors. I found the discussion and the personal accounts incredibly interesting and an amazing showcase of how a small group of people can make a huge difference. Vishnu is very interested in doing an international rotation so this was a perfect introduction (for the both of us).

And finally, after the panel discussion, we made our way to the Festival of Chocolate!! The minute we walked through the doors, my nose was in heaven. It smelled amazing! But first we had to buy “chocolate coins,” so that we could sample the goodies from the various booths. One coin equaled one dollar. So with $15 worth of coins, we headed into a chocolate wonderland!

Excited little me wanted to try the first thing I saw, so Vishnu and I split a dark chocolate and sea salt square.

That little thing cost $2!!! It was the most expensive piece of chocolate we’ve ever eaten!

Next, we tried waffle bites drizzled with Nutella. We’re now convinced that we need to own a waffle iron.

We also sampled a Nutella, strawberry, and whipped cream crepe. I think this was Vishnu’s favorite item. The way the crepes were made reminded us of the dosas (savory Indian crepes) that our moms make at home.

We also indulged in a chocolate praline cupcake that was by far my favorite treat. Y’all, the frosting was to die for. The lady described it as a light buttercream made with egg whites. It was so incredibly fluffy. Yum. In fact, this particular cupcake won first place in a competition that was held the previous day. Very deserving!!

We tried a few other things that went undocumented – a dark chocolate almond truffle, a cold hot chocolate drink, and a chocolate granola. All very good!

The event was very well organized, and the chocolate nerd in me enjoyed all of the non-food aspects as well. For example, there were lots of facts and figures on display throughout the venue, and there was also a section set up with step by step descriptions of how chocolate is made. My favorite, however, were the chocolate horoscope signs – the chocoscopes!

By the way, the second Aquarius bullet is completely false for me. I love my chocolate plain if possible!

I’m so glad we went to this delicious festival – it was definitely a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon! And there’s nothing like starting your week with a sugar-filled body!

Happy Monday!

What I’ve Been Loving Recently

written by Parita 11 Comments

1. Buxom Lip Gloss

This lip gloss is pretty much the best thing ever. It delivers the perfect amount of shine, creates the illusion of fuller lips, and keeps lips soft and smooth for hours. And the best part is the slight tingle you feel upon applying the gloss.

I was actually able to try this via a free gift at Sephora, and the color I got was called Sugar. Unfortunately, I lost my little sample while out in Atlanta with my cousins but plan on picking up a full size gloss soon. You won’t regret this purchase. Promise!

2. Zac Efron in The Lucky One

Anyone else? After catching 17 Again on TV this Sunday, I was even more excited for The Lucky One to hit theaters. The movie is based on the Nicholas Sparks’ novel and is set to be released next Friday! When I first heard that Zac Efron was playing the male lead, I didn’t think too much about it, but after seeing the trailer, I’m kinda in love…with him. And yes, Vishnu knows. I don’t care what anyone says, he’s dreamy!

3. The Big Bang Theory

I can’t get enough of this show lately. Every episode cracks me up. And I have to admit, Sheldon Cooper is my favorite. His inability to comprehend basic human emotions is endearing….most of the time. Oh and “bazinga!” Ha ha!