Beauty Products Archives - My Inner Shakti

Sephora Sale Picks

So I’m going to preface this by saying that our expense have been cut way down over the past few weeks. Essentially, we spend $$$ on food and that’s it. I don’t see the point in going into the ‘sale’ rabbit hole until we know when this is all going to be “over.”

The Sephora sale is a bit different in my book. Skincare is a huge priority for me…quarantine or not, and a lot of the products I use are pretty pricey, so an extra 20% off is VERY helpful. And I’m not going to lie, I added in a few non-skincare things in the bag because…why not? In my defense, makeup that performs like skincare is so intriguing to me…

With that, here are my picks…

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer – IMO, this is the holy grail of moisturizers. It’s not greasy, it’s light, and helps balance my skin perfectly.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum – If you’re looking for that extra bit of hydration, especially during drier months, this is the serum you need. It also supposedly helps other DE serums perform better.

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil – This is one of my top 3 favorite DE products. It’s such a luxurious oil that absorbs beautifully into your skin for that perfect level of moisture. I never thought an oil would be a part of my skincare routine, but I was wrong. This is essential!

If you want to read more about my thoughts on other DE products, check out these posts – daytime and nighttime routine and retinol.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – So I still love my DE chap stick, but I’ve heard such good things about this lip mask that I have to try it out. I will report back ASAP.

Tatcha The Liquid Skin Canvas Primer – Ok, so I know this is pricey for not being skincare, BUT I’ve been looking for a good clean primer for some time now and thought I would bite the bullet with the sale. Even though I hardly wear a full face of make up anymore, I want more staying power. Regardless of what I wear, I definitely get that spotty, end of the day look whenever I do. I want to see if this helps with that. And the Tatcha brand is well known for being good for your skin. Will report back!

Kosas Tinted Face Oil Foundation – This was not a planned purchase, but after seeing a few people on IG talk about this as a must have, I had to try it. I love that this is makeup that serves as skincare, and the concept sounds so cool. I’m really trying to let me imperfect skin shine through, so anything full coverage is a no go for me. I’m not quite sure how well this will work with my skin type and texture, so will share more after I try it out a few times.

bareMinerals BARESKIN Complete Coverage Serum Concealer – I’ve been searching for the perfect concealer that I can use for those no foundation days, and I’m not quite sure if this is the one, but I’m going to give it a try. Hopefully, it works out!

NUDESTIX Blend and Buff Brush – I’ve been searching for a good concealer brush to help me apply concealer on the face. This brush caught my eye because it has a foundation side and a concealer side – 2 for one?! Again, we shall see how it works out!

ANNNND that’s it in terms of what I ordered. I was going to share other picks I would’ve gotten were we not in quarantine but decided not to because there’s no way I can share my actual thoughts on them at a later time (because I won’t actually use them).

Let me know if you have any questions! I love everything skincare and makeup :).

Drunk Elephant Daytime and Nighttime Skincare Routines

written by Parita 5 Comments

I’ve been raving about Drunk Elephant (DE) for a while now and finally managed to get a post together with my thoughts on the products I own. Yahoo!

Ok, first things first. DE products are expensive. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. However, as someone who’s never invested in a real skincare routine, I can say it’s 100% worth it to do so.

My overall take on the DE skincare line is that it’s one that could work for everyone. I love the founder’s perspective about there being no skin types and how we create issues by using products with harsh ingredients (and obviously diet plays a huge role as well) or the suspicious six as DE calls them. I’ll share more on this philosophy in a minute.

With that being said, let me share how and why I got hooked on DE.

I believe it was August of last year when I bought the DE C-Firma day serum and TLC Framboos (nighttime) serum. After talking to my friend Thea (also my beauty/skincare guru) about how they work and what they’re good for, I decided to give them a shot. Then, when I started using Differin, I had to give up the nighttime serum. Fast forward to April when I decided to take a huge leap of faith and transition over to all DE products, giving up the Differin.

It was a good choice!

Like I shared in my postpartum acne journey post, I’m obsessed with DE. While my skin still has a ways to go, these products have definitely helped in several ways – tone, texture, appearance of acne, appearance of dark spots, etc. I can’t wait to see where continued use will get me!

Ok, enough blabbering. Here are my favorite DE products grouped according to my daytime and nighttime skincare routines…

DAYTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE

Thea told me about how you’re not really supposed to wash your face in the morning (something to do with your skin’s acid mantel). Well, after reading more about this concept, I now solely rinse my face with cold water in the morning.

The first products I use are a pump of the C-Firma Vitamin C serum and a pump of the Protini Polypeptide Cream. I mix the two together in the palm of my hand (all of the products can be mixed together before application) and apply to my face and neck.

Before applying my makeup, I take a small amount of the Umbra Tinte Physical Defense SPF and apply to my face and neck. On weekends, when I don’t want to wear a ton of makeup but have places to go and people to see (haha), I’m starting to use the D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum for that extra sun kissed glow. I mix it with the Umbra tint SPF along with a couple of drops of the Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil before carefully applying it to my face and neck. Seriously you guys, these products work so well together and give my [acne] scarred face an even look and feel.

NIGHTTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE

I start my nighttime routine by washing my face. I still use the Dessert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash because it does a great job of removing my makeup and creating a clean base for the other products.

I then apply one pump of the TLC Framboos serum and one pump of the LaLa Retro Whipped Cream (mixed together of course!) to my face. If I feel like my skin could use a little extra love, I add a drop or two of the Marula Oil to the mix as well.

I haven’t tried DE’s under eye creams yet but plan to in the future. I’m still finishing up the belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb sample I got a while back (a little goes a long way).

I also apply some Aquaphor to my lips and some castor oil to my eyebrows.

That’s it!

WHY I LOVE EACH OF THESE PRODUCTS

Now that I’ve shared what I use, how I use it, and when I use it, let me tell you more about why I love this brand and these particular products.

First and foremost, everything is made without using the suspicious six ingredients – 1. silicones, 2. chemical screens, 3. sensitizing colorants/perfumes, 4. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) 5. essential oils, 6. drying alcohols. This alone makes DE a great line for most everyone.

Secondly, the packaging is not only beautiful and sleek, but it serves a purpose. For example, a lot of brands package their Vitamin C serum in clear bottles, whereas DE packages their serum in a non-opaque white bottle with a pump (not a dropper). Additionally, their moisturizers also come in containers with airless pumps to ensure you’re not ‘double dipping’ so to speak. It keeps everything super clean.

Ok, on to the products themselves. You can read about the ‘technical’ details by clicking on the product links, but I’m going to share more of my personal take.

C-Firma Vitamin C serum – I really feel that by using this serum on an almost daily my skin is brighter and more glowy. This is also the product I attribute to my more even skin tone. Again, I still have a ways to go, but C-Firma is definitely giving my skin life!

TLC Framboos serum – This exfoliating serum is what I like to call my ‘keep breakouts away’ serum. Even though it’s not technically marketed for that. I love how I wake up to smoother skin when applying this the night before.

Protini Polypeptide Cream – This moisturizer is marketed as a shot of protein for your skin. Personally, I love using this during the day because it’s so light and does a great job of prepping my skin for SPF and makeup. It’s also not greasy at all.

LaLa Retro Whipped Cream – This is probably one of my DE favorites! I love love love this moisturizer. It’s thicker than Protini but still super airy. It’s made with 6 African oils and is honestly a dream! My skin has never been smoother and so hydrated. LOVE!

Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil – This is another favorite of mine! I love adding this to any of my mixes for that extra glow, moisture and softness. It’s also great on the lips and under the eyes. There’s nothing this Marula Oil can’t do!

Umbra Tinte Physical Defense SPF– Ah! Another favorite. This SPF is so perfect under makeup or on it’s own. It doesn’t leave any white residue on your skin. The formula is super light and creamy, and the tint aspect is awesome. I’ve heard many different skin tones can use this and it works well on everyone. Truly universal!

D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum– This is DE’s newest product, and what I personally love is that when mixed (2 pumps for me!) with the SPF and Marula Oil, it truly gives my skin an even finish and a sun kissed glow. No joke! I used this as my ‘base’ when we got our professional pictures taken and loved how my skin looked ALL DAY! Not to mention all the other benefits.

PRODUCTS I’VE TRIED BUT DON’T USE OFTEN

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel – So this hydration gel can be used with any of the other products to give your skin more intense/long lasting hydration. Given the price point of everything else, I find this one unnecessary in my routine right now. I find the other moisturizer do an amazing job of keep my skin smooth and balanced.

TLC Sukari Babyfacial – This bad boy is an award winning resurfacing facial ‘treatment.’ People RAVE about this product. I want to love it so bad, but I find that after I use this my skin goes haywire. It looks more irritated and bumpy. Thea mentioned that this may be too strong for me, so I even tried mixing it with a pump of Lala before applying. No go! I may reduce my use of this to once a month (I was using it once a week before) and see if that helps.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW/CONSIDER

If you’re a cheapo (like me initially), there is a way for you to try all of these products before committing to full size versions. DE sells a kit called “The Littles” to give people a chance to try a lot of their line at a $90 price point. And from everything I’ve read, the set should last you 4-5 weeks if not longer.

While you should always consult with your doctor before starting something new, all of DE’s products are safe to use during pregnancy with the exception of the Babyfacial.

If you have ‘damaged’ skin like me, real results will take time. I’ve been using DE products consistently for over 2 months, and while my skin has improved for sure, it still has a ways to go. It’ll happen…be patient (says the least patient person in the world!).

If you’re really serious about cleaning up your routines, be sure to research and look into the ingredient lists of everything else you put on your face, including other creams, cleansers, make up products, etc. Personally, I still use a few ‘suspicious’ products like blush, powder, and bronzer, but I plan to do more research and try safer brands.

I think that about covers it! If you have any questions, shoot me and email or leave a comment below.

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included (minus the DE links – those all directly link back to the DE website). There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Recent Beauty Finds and Favs

written by Parita 2 Comments

As you all know, a beauty blogger I am not. However, this does not mean I don’t try my fair share of products. In fact, Vishnu claims Sephora is my favorite store. He may be on to something!

I don’t know what it is, but as of late, I’ve tried and loved quite a few new-to-me products. These aren’t things I was necessarily looking for now, but now that they’re in my possession, I can’t let go! With the exception of one item, the rest are samples (the majority from Sephora ironically). Two of the samples even resulted in full size purchases!

With that, here are a few of my recent beauty finds and favs…

First up we have the one and only Beauty Blender. I can’t tell you why I jumped on the BB train so late, but all I can say is I’m glad I’m here now. This little sponge is a time saver AND applies makeup as flawlessly as I’ve ever seen (on my face at least). If you’re a brush only girl like I was, I highly recommend trying the BB. The hype is real, people! This thing is pretty magical.

Next on the list is the Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer spray. I first received a sample of this hair spray in a recent Influenster box. From the very first use, I saw a huge difference in how my hair felt and looked – less tangles, smoother, and silkier. Experience told me I should give it a few more tries before hyping this stuff up too much. And guess what…after many more uses, I still LOVE it. My crazy post-partum hair looks and feels pretty good, and I attribute much of that to this spray. This is one of those samples turned to full size purchase. While you can buy this at a lot of places, the best deal I found was on Costco.com. So if you or someone you know is a member, I definitely purchasing from there. A must have in any hair care arsenal if you ask me!

My next recent find is the belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb. I’m still using the sample I received with one of my Sephora orders. I love how hydrated and smooth it leaves my under eye area. I know it’s doing what it needs to because when I use it regularly, I see a difference in how my concealer applies and stays put. Now I just need belief (or any other brand for that matter) to create something to erase dark under eye circles!

Rounding out my list are a few lip products. First up, the Nars Velvet Lip Glide. My coworker and good friend Thea gifted me a mini of this gloss for Christmas, and I immediately fell in love with the color (Bound) and feel/texture. The color is a great nude/neutral for brown skin tones and the feel/texture is very light compared to other glosses I’ve tried. It’s perfect for work and/or daytime errands. I plan on swatching other colors during my next Sephora visit and hopefully making a fun purchase.

And last but certainly not least, on the lip front, I’ve been loving a lip brand called BITE Beauty. Thea introduced me to BITE (duh!) when I was pregnant and looking for more natural makeup. I love them and the products for a few reasons – the color payoff is amazing, many of their shades complement brown skin tones, and the products are made with food-grade ingredients. To that last point, I don’t feel too guilty when I get a little bit of lip balm/lipstick on Kaiden’s cheeks!

So that’s a little BITE background, and now, here are a few of the products I’ve tried and loved…

Agave Lip Balm – this stuff is magical. I kid you not. I’m notorious for having super chapped lips in the wintertime and not doing anything about them. Vishnu gets on my case all the time. This balm not only feels good and gives my lips some well-deserved plumpness, but it’s one of the most moisturizing lip products I’ve ever used. I apply it throughout the day when I remember and always use it at night before bed so I can wake up to the smoothest lips ever. Happy lips, happy husband!

Amuse Bouche lipstick in Chai – Creamy, moisturizing, and nicely pigmented. This lipstick is a dream, especially for someone who prefers glosses to other lip products. And the color Chai is the perfect bolder nude for brown girls as it truly complements darker skin tones. Love!

Matte Lip Crayon in Glace – I’m not a matte lip product kind of girl. I prefer something creamy and moisturizing. Up until I tried this lip crayon, I never knew I could have both. This product has a beautiful natural finish and really leaves my lips feeling hydrated and not dry. And again, the color Glace is perfect for brown skin tones, as delivers the right amount of color in a very pretty shade. Love!

*Pro (ha!) tip – Both the Amuse Bouche lipstick and the Matte Lip Crayon pair perfectly with the Agave Lip Balm.

And that’s all she wrote! Like I said, I’m no beauty blogger. I am, however, a mom who now prefers to use products that will give me the biggest bang for my buck. And these beauty favs and finds really do deliver!

Your turn – any new/fun products I should know about???

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Beauty Essentials – New Bronzer + Finishing Powder

written by Parita 4 Comments

I don’t run a beauty blog that’s for sure. But I LOVE trying new makeup, skincare, and hair care products. There’s a caveat to that though. I always run my decisions by my close friend Thea. Always. She’s my go to when it comes to these things, and truth be told, she’s saved me from myself a few times. I’ve switched up my purchases based on her recommendations and always end up happy when I do.

So a few months ago when I randomly decided I was ready for a new bronzer and finishing powder, I obviously went to Thea for some help. I wrote down what she suggested, went to Sephora, made my purchases, and never looked back once!

If, like me, you want/need to upgrade your makeup bag, keep reading.

First up is the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Chocolate. If you follow beauty YouTubers, you know this stuff comes highly recommended and is loved by pretty much everyone.

Personally, I love the matte finish as I’m kind of over shimmery makeup with the only exception being eyeshadows. I don’t have the most even skin tone, but a little bit of this bronzer applied over my foundation and concealer with a big fluffy brush gives me the ultimate healthy glow. I can’t speak to using this for contouring (although I know you can and lots of people do), but if you’re looking for an all over the face bronzer, this stuff is the jam. AND it’s made with cocoa powder, which means it smells like CHOCOLATE.

If the ~$30 price tag sounds too high for you, remember a little goes a long, long way. I’ve been using this stuff for months and haven’t made a dent yet. A must have product if you ask me!

Next we have the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. If I had to pick a few ‘can’t live without’ makeup products, this would definitely be in the top three.

I apply this over my bronzer with a big fluffy brush and love the radiant finish it gives my skin. As my long time readers know, I suffer from acne, and with acne comes scarring. This powder helps to blur and soften my imperfections while also providing a photo ready glow. And while it looks shimmery, it’s not at all (see above). In fact, it gives my skin a dewy, natural look. You guys, this powder is a GAME CHANGER. It will take your makeup game to the next level.

And again, if you’re not impressed with the price point, purchase the mini size. Not only does it cost much less, but it’ll give you the chance to test out the product before splurging on the standard size. I have the mini, and it’s still going strong.

I highly recommend adding these two products to your makeup collection. If nothing else, your face will thank you!

Your turn – as far as makeup goes, what are your top three favorite products? For me it’s definitely the two I talk about in this post + the NARS soft matte complete concealer.

Review: NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

written by Parita 3 Comments

I’m no beauty blogger, but I can say with absolute certainty that my NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer is a must have product. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s the one product I can’t do without.

I can’t take the credit for discovering this little gem. That goes to my close friend Thea. She’s my go to girl when it come to makeup, skincare, and hair care product recommendations. When I told her I was looking for a good quality concealer that truly blends into my skin and provides all day coverage, she suggested we go to Sephora after work and check out the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer. Well, we checked it out, and ultimately, we both ended up buying one. That was a few months ago, and we still talk about how that was the best purchase ever! We even introduced our other coworker to it, and she’s hooked too!

It’s magical I tell you.

Anyways, enough rambling. Let me get to the heart of why every woman should own this product.

COVERAGE
First things first, the coverage is incredible. I have dark acne marks all over my chin area, and this stuff covers them up and evens out my skin tone unlike anything I’ve ever used. During the workweek, I layer my foundation over the concealer, but on the weekends, I often just use the concealer with a little bit of powder and bronzer. Good to go.

On the same note, my under eye circles are problematic these days. As you all know, sleeping through the night has been a huge problem for me throughout my pregnancy. This concealer covers my dark circles and creates a much needed evenness. A mom-to-be’s dream!

TEXTURE
The second thing I love about this particular concealer is the texture. It’s creamy, velvety, smooth, non-drying and like I said earlier, super blendable. The best way to describe the way it feels on the skin is…comfortable!

FINISH
As the name implies, the concealer does have a soft matte finish. However, it definitely applies like a cream.

PACKAGING AND SHADE SELECTION

Generally speaking, I’m not big on product packaging. In this case, I really love the ‘pot’ container the concealer comes in. It makes the application process that much easier in my opinion (I use my fingers).

And finally, I really like the range of NARS concealer shades. There’s literally something for everyone. For example, the shade ginger is perfect for my skin tone.

There’s not much left to say except if you’re looking for a solid concealer, this is the one for you. What are you waiting for?! Go get it now!

Homemade Wax Recipe

written by Parita 14 Comments

If there’s one thing all women of South Asian descent can agree on, it’s that excessive hair growth is a real thing and it’s a b****.

We all have our horror stories! Trust me, two of my coworkers and I talk about this very topic almost every day. Like I said, it’s a real thing. The only difference between now and when we were young girls with long sideburns, overgrown eyebrows, and hairy legs/arms is that we can do something about it on a regular basis.

Before I tell you about how I deal with this issue now, I have to share a funny story about 12 year-old me and my Elvis like sideburns…

I stood in front of our bathroom mirror with the door locked behind me. I inspected my super thick sideburns. “How can I get rid of them?,” I thought. Then then idea hit me. I grabbed a pair of scissors and started snipping away. For some reason, I thought this was the answer, not realizing that you can’t snip the roots of your hair away. I went from having long hairs growing down the side of my face to short stubbly hairs in their place. I was horrified but didn’t think anyone would notice. Of course, my mom noticed RIGHT AWAY, and she was mad. That’s when I lost my s***. I started crying and yelling, “God wanted to make me a boy but changed his mind at the last minute!!!” Oh the drama! I’m pretty sure my mom laughed!

When I got older, my mom took me to get my eyebrows threaded and my side burns waxed. The relief! I no longer felt like a hairy tarantula.

Soon thereafter, my aunt taught me how to thread my own upper lip and chin. She probably doesn’t know it, but she changed my life. I could now remove my facial hair at any time. LIFE. CHANGING.

Then about 15 years later, a friend introduced me to the idea of homemade wax and waxing my own sideburns. She even made me my first batch of wax! Again…LIFE. CHANGING.

Homemade wax

I’ve been using this homemade wax on my sideburns for years now. It’s easy to make, works like a charm, and only requires cloth waxing strips to help with the hair removal process.

Not sure why it’s taken me so long to share this recipe. Probably because my last batch lasted forever, and I didn’t have to make a new one until this past weekend.

Side note – Pregnancy hair growth is a real thing. My sideburn hairs are growing at an exponential rate!

With that, here’s how you make this super effective wax…

Homemade Wax
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups sugar

To make the mixture: Add the water, lemon juice, and sugar to a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir together and let the mixture come to a boil. Turn down the heat, stir again and let it come to a boil one more time. The mixture should be amber in color at this time. Take it off the heat and let it cool down for a few minutes.

To use the mixture: Take a butter knife, dip into the wax mixture, ensure it’s cool enough to apply, and then apply in the same direction of hair growth. Quickly place a cloth strip over the wax, press down and rub the strip a bit, and then pull off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Repeat until hair is removed.

To store the mixture: I used a glass jar. You can use whatever kind of container you want. Just make sure it’s microwavable. That’s key for reuse!

One more thing. For those of you, like me, with extremely low pain tolerances, this wax is liquid gold because there’s no pain. TRUST ME. It’s a little unbelievable and simply amazing! I’ve waxed my own sideburns and underarms without flinching. And I’m the girl who cried when she went to get waxed before her wedding. Big huge crocodile tears! Ask my sister. 🙂

I’m so glad my friend introduced me to this recipe and method. I’ll never resort to scissors again!

Your turn – what’s your go to hair removal method?

Persona Identity Eyeshadow Palette

written by Parita 4 Comments

If you’re looking for the PERFECT eyeshadow palette, look no further because I have just the one you need. Perhaps the only one you need!

Let me start off by saying that this is not a sponsored post, as I was gifted this palette for my birthday by my friend Thea (thanks, T!). I truly love this product and wanted to share, as I know how hard finding a versatile eyeshadow palette with all the right colors is.

With that being said, let me share a little more. Persona Cosmetics was founded by beauty blogger Sona Gasparian of Simply Sona, and the Identity Palette is her very first product. I’ve followed Sona for years now, and absolutely love her makeup tutorials, product reviews, etc. Because of this, I had every intention of buying this for myself, but Thea got to it first!

First things first, check out the packaging…

…it’s BEAUTIFUL! I love the artwork, and as silly as it sounds, looking at it every day is kind of inspiring. When you open up the palette, you have a fairly large mirror on one side and 12 eyeshadows on the other.

Speaking of the eyeshadows, how gorgeous are these colors?!

There’s literally something for everyone here, in fact, there’s more than just something. This neutral palette would flatter most skin tones/eye colors, especially brown eyed gals! There are six matte shades and six shimmery shades, and each one is buttery and so pigmented. As you can tell from the picture above, I’ve done my fair share of experimenting over the past few weeks!

Not only is the color rich and true to what you see, but there’s no fallout! My favorite part of all. I hate applying eyeshadow only to then have the same color all over my cheeks. There’s none of that with this palette. Super impressed by that.

My favorite colors include Charming (for the crease), Audacious (for the lid), Bossy (for a bit of extra depth), and Fearless (as a liner). The other colors are just as beautiful, however Charming and Audacious are my daily go to shades for that simple neutral look.

I cannot rave about the this eyeshadow enough! And for what you get, the $32 price tag is 110% worth it, as you can go from day to night with a single palette.

I know there are a million products like this one out there, but trust me, this is the one you want and need.

Your turn – do you have a go-to eyeshadow palette?

Sephora Sale Picks

Drunk Elephant Daytime and Nighttime Skincare Routines

Recent Beauty Finds and Favs

Beauty Essentials – New Bronzer + Finishing Powder

Review: NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

Homemade Wax Recipe

Persona Identity Eyeshadow Palette

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