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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.

Soft Matte Complete Concealer

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!

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

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).

Soft Matte Complete Concealer

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!

Written on May 25, 2017 Related:Beauty Products, Make-up, Uncategorized

Persona Identity Eyeshadow Palette

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…

Persona Identity Eyeshadow Palette

…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?!

Persona Identity Eyeshadow Palette

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?

Written on February 8, 2017 Related:Beauty Products, Make-up

beauty quote lipstick happiness

Four Must Follow Beauty YouTubers

written by Parita 4 Comments

I feel like beauty blogging/YouTubing has taken off in the past few years.  And I love it!  My bank account?  Not so much.

beauty quote lipstick happiness

While I don’t follow a ton of YouTubers, there are four in particular that I try to keep up with on a regular basis.  Not only do these women share wonderful reviews and tutorials on their channels, but they bring their entire personality with them.  They interact with their followers as if they are friends.  Not that novel in this new digital world but very much appreciated!

If you love beauty products as much as I do or if you want to learn how to apply makeup or if you want to know whether you should splurge on that lipstick, these four beauty gurus have you covered.

With that, here are four must follow beauty YouTubers!

Sazan Hendrix – Not only is she gorgeous, but Sazan’s videos are fun to watch, and her tutorials are easy to follow.  Personally, I follow along for the beauty tips and tricks as well as the relationship videos she creates with her husband Stevie.  Sometimes I make/force/whatever Vishnu to watch with me!

Sona Gasparian – Sona is a former makeup artist.  Her videos are so put together, and her product reviews and tutorials are well thought out and super informative.

Teni Panosian – Teni is probably the most edgy (ish) beauty blogger I follow.  Like the others, her stuff is great, but what I love most about Teni is her honesty.  You can tell when she absolutely loves a product, and when she doesn’t, she says so.

Deepica Mutyala – Deepica’s story is inspiring, and it’s been fun to watch her channel and brand grow.  Her very first video about how to cover dark circles with red lipstick is just over a year old and has over 9 million views!  Deepica is a favorite because she’s obviously South Asian like me, and many of her reviews are catered to that population.  So appreciated because it really can be hard to find products that work on darker skin tones.

If you haven’t jumped on the beauty YouTube bandwagon, I highly suggest you start with these four channels and go from there.  You won’t be disappointed!

Your turn – what are some of your favorite YouTube beauty channels?  

Written on July 13, 2016 Related:Beauty Products, Make-up, Par's Picks

Tarte BB tinted treatment primer for the face

New Beauty Favorites – Tarte BB Primer & Physicians Formula Bronzer

written by Parita 12 Comments

When you have acne prone skin like I do, every beauty product you buy goes through a rigorous process – research, read reviews, buy, test, cross your fingers and toes, keep/return.  It’s pretty scientific!

A couple of months ago, I randomly started looking into BB creams.  After reading a few reviews, I came to the conclusion that they just weren’t for me.  I need something that provides lots of coverage and has staying power.  And from what I was reading, BB creams equaled tinted moisturizer and not the kind of product I was looking for.

I put the idea of BB creams behind me and went to Sephora to buy some new foundation.  And as it goes every time I step inside that store, I started browsing.  And that’s when I came across the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30.

Tarte BB cream

To make a long story short, I started talking to one of the associates about my skin, beauty regimen, etc., and she recommended I try this particular Tarte BB treatment/primer.  Based on customer reviews, she was convinced I’d love it.  The worse case scenario, as she explained, is that I end up going back to return the product.

I obviously bought myself a tube and called it a day!  And guess what, I didn’t end up having to go back and return it!

You guys, I LOVE this stuff.  And that’s saying a lot because my skin is not in the best condition.  It’s definitely clearing up, but I still have lots of scars.  This BB treatment/primer does a really good job covering up imperfections.  I would even go as far as saying it’s just as good if not better than most foundations I’ve tried.  In fact, 99% of the time I use it as my foundation!  Not only that, but it has a very light consistency and feel.  It’s not creamy at all, yet it goes on super smooth.  And trust me, I get it.  When I first saw this tube, I was like, “This is going to last me all of 30 days.”  But little did I know, you don’t need a ton of product to get the look you want.  A little really goes a long way!  And it lasts all day too…in Florida heat and humidity.  Magical!

Finding the right shade can be a little tricky.  This particular BB treatment/primer comes in five shades, ranging from light to tan.  I use the medium tan shade and it’s a little light on my summer skin (while the tan was way too dark).  I would highly recommend trying the product in store and going from there.

If you’re wondering how I make the slightly lighter shade work, keep reading!

After buying and trying the Tarte BB treatment/primer, I quickly realized I needed a bronzer…pronto!  I wanted something that provided a hint of color and that extra glow.  BUT I was not going back to Sephora to find it…my wallet said NO!

That’s when I got back on my computer and started researching.  I quickly learned that Physicians Formula bronzers are great for people with sensitive skin.  And so I went to CVS…

…where I found this Physicians Formula Nude Wear Bronzer.

Physicians Formula Bronzer

And again, I LOVE this product!  It gives my skin the warm natural-looking color it needs.  And while there is a bit of shimmer, it’s not overpowering at all.  I wanted something a bit more subtle, and this delivers.  The perfect complement to my Tarte BB treatment/primer!

I know BB creams and bronzers are more of a summertime thing, but I’m convinced this duo will work for me year round.  For the first time in a long time, I’m happy with the way my skin looks – more natural, less caked on mess!

If you’re looking to change things up/try something new or just want a more natural look, I highly recommend you check out my new beauty favorites.  I’m very happy with my purchases, and that’s saying a lot, especially when you take into consideration my rigorous process! Smile

Please share your latest beauty favorites!  I love finding new-to-me products.

Please note: This is not a sponsored post.  However, it does contain affiliate links. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

Written on September 16, 2015 Related:Make-up, review

5 Ways to Incorporate Coconut Oil into your Beauty Routine

5 Ways to Incorporate Coconut Oil into Your Beauty Routine

written by Parita 20 Comments

Coconut oil has been trending for a while now.  It’s pretty much the magical cure for everything it seems. 

Personally, I cook a lot of my dishes using coconut oil.  I also love coconut oil hair masks.  I even gave oil pulling a chance (sadly, it wasn’t for me)!

So yeah, you name it and coconut oil can probably do it!

Aside from using it on my hair, I had yet to incorporate coconut oil into my beauty routine.  As you all know, my skin is super sensitive and prone to breakouts.  I was terrified that the oil would cause my skin to freak out, so I never used it on my face.  Until recently that is.

After reading a countless number of articles and blog posts, I decided that I should at the very least give coconut oil a chance in the beauty/skincare department.  And to my surprise, most people reported that it didn’t break them out. 

So off I went to Trader Joe’s to pick up some of their organic coconut oil.  For one thing, I wanted to keep my cooking oil and my beauty oil completely separate.  Also, Trader Joe’s oil (when you buy it in store) is super affordable for the quality you get – virgin, organic, unrefined, and cold-pressed.  And these are all must haves when considering what brand of coconut oil to buy. 

With that being said, here’s how I’ve incorporated coconut oil into my beauty routine…

5 ways to use coconut oil

1. Lip balm – Every night before I go to bed, I rub a tiny bit of coconut oil onto my lips.  It does feel a little strange at first, but when I wake up in the morning, my lips are super soft.  And believe it or not, they stay that way pretty much throughout the day.  LOVE!

2. Eyebrows – Not sure if any of you can relate, but my eyebrow hairs shed.  And it’s only getting worse with age!  So when I read that coconut oil stimulates hair growth, I decided to start applying a tiny dab to my eyebrows.  I haven’t been doing it long enough to see a difference, but I figure it can’t hurt!  And this is part of my nighttime routine as well.

3. Under eye area – Earlier this year, I started researching anti-aging creams.  Even though I’ve been spared up until now, you never know when those crows feet will pop up.  But because I was dealing with acne issues for the first half of this year, I put all the anti-aging stuff on the back burner.  And then I read that coconut oil is a great natural anti-aging solution.  Basically, I rub a tiny amount under and around each eye before bed.  Again, I haven’t been using it long enough to notice a difference, but hopefully it keeps those wrinkles away!

4. Eye makeup remover – Eye makeup remover has never been a part of my beauty routine.  My everyday face wash and good old fashioned water seemed to do the trick.  And while any traces of makeup appeared to be gone, I always woke up with itchy dry eyes the next morning.  And then I started using coconut oil as an eye makeup remover (massage a small amount directly on to eyelids and surrounding area and wash away with normal face wash and water).  It magically melts away all my makeup, AND I wake up to normal eyes!

5. Body moisturizer – Did you know that when applied to the skin, coconut oil absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave an oily residue?  Me neither.  And that’s why I never bothered to use it as a moisturizer.  Eventually, like everything else on this list, I decided to give it a go.  I work from home, so even if I looked like a grease monkey, no one would see me.  Lo and behold, coconut oil is an amazing overall moisturizer.  Like I said, it’s not greasy, it smells amazing, and it leaves my skin feeling soft and silky.  I’m sold!  Just be sure to use a nickel sized amount at a time.

So as you can see, coconut oil truly does do it all!  You can cook with it, you can use it as a mouthwash (if you wish), and you can most definitely incorporate it into your everyday beauty routine.

What’s your favorite way to use coconut oil?

Written on August 26, 2015 Related:Beauty Products, Make-up, Skincare

Four of My New Favorite Things

written by Parita 2 Comments

While in Chicago and London, I discovered a few new items that have quickly become some of my favorite things. Thanks to my coworkers Toni and Thea and the sweet cashiers at Sephora I can say that I am in love with these purchases and will be going back for more!

And what kind of person would I be if I didn’t share my new loves with all of you!

Let’s start at the top left corner.

I first heard about this Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz pencil from Thea, one of the best saleswomen I know. I figured there had to be something to this pencil when she raved about it more than once! Honestly, I’ve never used anything for my brows but decided to give this a go since they could use a bit more definition. You guys, this pencil is legit. The medium brown color is very natural and soft, and the pencil itself is easy to use. I highly recommend Anastasia Brow Whiz to anyone looking for something new to use and/or an eyebrow newbie like me.

Moving to the top right.

I had no idea who Cath Kidston was until we were walking down a street in London and happened to see a store on our way to lunch. Toni loves this particular designer so we decided to pop in and take a look. I fell in love with a number of bags but not necessarily the price tags. However, I did end up buying a cute little cardholder/wallet thingy. The design isn’t quite the same as the picture above – the one I bought has a dark blue background and a beautiful floral design – but it’s essentially the same thing. This little wallet is perfect because it fits in all my little purses and holds just what I need (I am so not a big purse person!). LOVE!

On to the bottom right.

Loft. Lou & Grey. Thank you, Thea! I first heard about Lou & Grey from Thea when I saw her wearing a cute zip-up sweater back in July. I loved how comfortable AND stylish it was. She told me all about how Loft carries this particular line and how amazing the pieces are – great material, texture, etc. I was sold! However, it wasn’t until last month when I actually made my own purchase…or two! I bought the sweater tunic pictured above as well as a dressy sweatshirt top (best way to describe it!). And now I want all things Lou & Grey! If you’re into very simple design that’s both comfy and trendy, I highly recommend you check it out.

Finally the bottom left.

After years of trying everything under the sun, I think I’ve finally found my ideal foundation. The Hourglass Immaculate Liquid-Powder foundation is perfect for those with oily, acne-prone skin (i.e. me!). A little bit goes a long way and the finish is smooth and matte. Unlike most other liquid foundations I’ve tried, this doesn’t leave any weird streaks or blotches. When I told the ladies at Sephora that the new BareSkin Bareminerals foundation didn’t work for me, they told me they weren’t fans either. When I asked about what would be good for my skin type, both girls (almost in unison) said Hourglass. I got a sample, loved it, and now own a full size bottle. If anything changes, I’ll let y’all know, but for now, I think I found a keeper!

Well, that about covers my new favorite things.  Have a great weekend!

FYI – this post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your continued support!

P.S. Happy birthday to two of my favorite people in the world – my hubs and my sissy!

Tell me – what are some of your new favorite finds?

Written on October 3, 2014 Related:Fashion, Make-up, review

No Longer An Eyeliner Dummy

written by Parita 9 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!  Regardless of where you are in the world or if you “celebrate” this holiday or not, I hope your day is filled with good food, people you love, and lots of laughter.  That’s what it’s all about!

This year Thanksgiving is a two day affair.  Today, my parents, sister, and I will be eating traditional Turkey Day food, watching a Bollywood movie, and chillaxin’ at home.  On Friday, Vishnu, his parents, and brother are coming over.  The eight of us will be feasting on some traditional Indian food, playing board games, and chillaxin’.  Smile

Thankful doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel!  And no worries…I’ll be sure to take lots of pics for my recap post on Monday.

* * * * *

Now on a totally unrelated note, I’m going to tell you all about my new eyeliner obsession.

But first, a little background on my past eyeliner experience.  As I’ve mentioned before, I love makeup.  I love the packaging, the colors, the descriptions, etc.  What I don’t love is wearing it.  I honestly only wear makeup because (I feel) I have to.  And on a daily basis, my makeup routine includes a little foundation, powder, lip gloss, and mascara.

Notice, the list does NOT include eyeliner, and there’s a very good reason for that.  Simply put, it’s just too much of a hassle.  I’m a perfectionist when it comes to the stuff.  The line has to be thin and even on both sides.  And really, who has time to go through that process every day – apply eyeliner to one eye, fix mistakes with Q-tip, apply to other eye, fix mistakes with Q-tip, realize both eyes are still not even so repeat the process.  Nope, no time for that.

Well, while my mom and I were at Ulta the other day, I overheard one of the salespeople talking to a customer about the Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama eyeliner.  She said it cut her application time in half and that “even a makeup dummy could use it.”  After hearing that, I looked up the liner on my phone and read a few reviews.  It really did sound too good to be true, so I made my way to the Maybelline makeup and picked up the Blackest Black liner…still very skeptical.

photo 1

All I can say is I am no longer a skeptic.  This stuff is legit!  The gel formula goes on smoothly in one fell swoop.  The color is rich and super dark.  And the angled brush is perfect for both a simple look as well as a more dramatic one.  However, I wouldn’t say it’s 100% smudge-free, but I did notice that after (unintentionally) rubbing my eyes a couple of times the liner stayed put for the most part.  Also, I’ve noticed that the liner does fade a little as the day goes on.  But I think that happens with most brands.

photo 2

After years of never getting a perfect line, I am now able to achieve the look I want without the hassle. And it takes less than two minutes.  If you’re an eyeliner “dummy” like me, I highly recommend you try this one out.  I’m so happy my eavesdropping led to to this random purchase!

Written on November 28, 2013 Related:Make-up

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