Tips to pulling off a red lipstick:

Crimson lips look fabulous and chic but it can look a bit tacky if you do not do it properly. I love red lipsticks and I have a variety of them but it took me quite sometime to figure out as to how to pull it off. Here I share some easy and effective ways in which deep red and its variants will look good on you! So without wasting any time let's get started. 

1. Getting the rest of your makeup right:

The first thing that you have to keep in mind is that your face should be clean and matte. Just imagine a shiny face with scarlet lips! Definitely a big NO! And if you have overall reddish look to your face then you will have to cover it with a good quality concealer and foundation. Having said that just make sure you start with a fresh and clean face and apply foundation and make your skin tone even before picking up that red lipstick!

2. Choose the right blush:
Next tip is that do not be tempted to match the red lipstick with a red colored blush else you will end up looking like a clown. If you decide to color your lips red, then make sure it stands out than the rest of your makeup. Keep your eye makeup subtle and try to choose a natural blush( and please not a red one). Remember you want to draw all the attention to your lips!

3.Deal with bleeding!
The main problem with red lipstick is that it tends to bleed at the corners of the mouth and trust me it does not look good at all! What you can do is, choose a good quality red lip liner( match it with your lipstick) and line your lips properly with it. Take your own sweet time while doing so because you want your lipstick to stay intact on your mouth. Another trick is that you can use a bit of concealer at the corner of your mouth to avoid this bleeding.

4. Tooth check:
Before leaving the house do not forget to check your teeth! After all you don't want a lipstick smile. Some ladies apply a dark red lipstick but it is more on their teeth than on their lips! You sure do not want to be one of them. So just make sure to have a small mirror handy in your purse when you choose to apply a red lipstick.

5. Subtle eye makeup:
Lastly do not forget to keep your eye makeup very natural. You don't want colorful bright eye makeup when you opt for a sultry crimson pout. You can skip blacks and use a white kohl pencil on the lower lash line to really open up your eyes. You can also apply a coat of mascara but nothing too dramatic. Remember red lips should stand out.

So ladies, these were some simple tips you should keep in mind before applying a red lipstick. Don't forget to be confident and your gorgeous smile will surely win every one's heart.

Love
Shikha

MAC Creme Sheen Glass in Richer Lusher:

Hello ladies. I love the MAC creme sheen glasses and today I will be reviewing the one called "Richer Lusher". The creme sheen glasses have a very light weight non sticky formula which is very comfortable to wear and add a super glamorous yet subtle touch to your look. These glosses are moisturizing and leave your lips feeling soft and nourished. There are a variety of shades to choose from, I prefer cream shades but there are several other shades with shimmer in the line.

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Richer Lusher looks peachy coral in the bottle but transfers to peachy pink on the lips. It sheers on to a milky peachy color which will compliment a variety of skin tones. It is very different as seen in the bottle so swatch it before purchasing. It is less gooey and far less sticky as compared to other lip glasses, as a result it stays for a lesser time that is 3 hours on me. Richer lusher glides on smoothly, thanks to the creamy texture. The color itself looks pretty flattering but I also like to layer it over my matte lipsticks to give it a creamy shiny effect or on my cupid's bow to give a fuller glossy effect. I can detect a mild vanilla fragrance but nothing over powering..

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PROS:

• Beautiful everyday shade
• Creamy texture
• Non sticky
• Looks good on my matte lipsticks too.
• Comfortable to wear
  

Cons:
Staying power is not good.

Verdict:
I love this Mac Creme Sheen Glass in Richer Lusher and because it is a bit expensive I think I will first finish this before purchasing the other shades. Overall love this gorgeous Lip glass from MAC and will highly recommend this to all of you. 

Love
Shikha

Charm Limit Nail polish review:

Hello ladies. This is a quick review on a nail polish brand I have never tried before! It is called Charm Limit. I love glitters and everything sparkly, so I decided to pick this up at a local store. Although the name of the shade is not mentioned anywhere I would like to describe it as a clear nail polish with small white bar glitters and a lot of golden hexagonal shaped glitters. The sparkles look very attractive in the bottle. Take a look

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As you can see the whole bottle is filled with glitters-hexagonal and bar shaped. Because of the golden glitters the overall look of the bottle is golden yellow. Sometimes I just put a single coat of this clear sparkly nail polish like so

But when I am in mood to add some color to my nails I use one coat of colored nail color and top it up with the Charm Limit nail polish. This way my nail color also lasts longer.

..and

The formula is a bit on the thicker side and a little difficult to work with. Another downside is its weird smell like that of a cheap nail polish! Plus it is very difficult to remove. All it does is give a sparkly funky look to your nails, other than that it has nothing special. Did not really like the formula, smell and texture!

Pros:

1. Looks good on your nails
2. It gives your nails a trendy look
3. Inexpensive

Cons:

1. Hate the smell
2. Thick formula which is difficult to work
3. It takes too long to remove this nail polish.(Which is a problem with most glitter nail polishes)

Verdict:
If you just want a different cool look on your nails you can try it out, otherwise you can totally give it a miss. Not worth trying! 
What is your favorite glitter nail polish?

Love 
Shikha

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush review:

Hello my lovelies. Today I am going to review Clinique Cheek Pop blush.  There are 4 shades to choose from namely Ginger, Berry, Plum and Peach pop. I picked "Ginger Pop". This is because the other three looked pretty vibrant and I wanted to try something subtle. Take a look

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These blush pops look so pretty that I instantly fell in love with them. The colors are Oh so incredible. They look really intense if you swipe them with your finger, but with a brush they become very sheer. 

Packaging:

These cheek pops looks absolutely beautiful(probably the reason I decided to try them out). They come in cute little clear plastic case but are pretty sturdy and are embossed with a lovely flower detail. Although the packaging looks small but only a small product is needed at a time so it will last quite long. I love to leave these sat out on my dressing table because they are just too precious. Clinique describes their Cheek Pop blush as a "Vibrant yet natural-looking cheek color that looks virtually powderless."

My take on Ginger pop:

The Ginger Pop is a bronzy sort of coral shade which looks very subtle and you can wear it everyday. The color payoff is superb. Although it is subtle but very buildable. One swipe with my finger gives a super intense color but if I use a brush, I have to swirl it around so many times to get the desired effect. When blended on my cheeks,it looks so natural that nobody can tell that I am wearing a blush! Plus it will compliment all skin tones. Only after 10 hours of wear does this Ginger Pop begin to fade which is incredible!

Pros:

• Very subtle everyday wear shade
• Sheer blush which gives a natural glow to my cheeks
• Gorgeous packaging
• Easily blendable
• Perfect for my sensitive skin
• 4 beautiful shades to choose from

Cons:
None

Verdict:
As you can all tell, I love this Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in 'Ginger Pop' and I am eager to try the other shades too. If you love sheer blushes then you will surely like this one. It gives you a natural glow without the dolly effect:) Overall these blushes get a huge stamp of approval from me. I love using it and I don't think it will be leaving my makeup stash any time soon!

Love
Shikha

Sally Hansen Fuchsia Flare Insta Dry review+ Swatches!

Hello ladies.  Today I am going to review a gorgeous shade of nail color from Sally Hansen named 'Fuchsia Flare'. I have a lot of pink nail colors but I have to admit I am a big fan of the color PINK! As I have a soft spot for pink I end up purchasing very similar colors. But this one color from Sally Hansen called 'Fuchsia Flare' is a very different sort of pink which I did not have. I totally fell in love with it, the moment I saw it and could not leave the store without it. Another PINK addition to my nail polish collection! Here's the review. Hope you guys enjoy it.

Sally Hansen 'Fuchsia Flare' is a beautiful light fuchsia. It is almost opaque in one coat but I used two. The polish was a little thicker but nothing too difficult to work with. As the name "Insta-Dri" suggests the polish dries super quickly, even before I tried to smooth it out! I generally do not take too long to apply my nail polish so the insta-dri effect was not troublesome. However if you take time applying nail polish, then this can be tricky to work with. The color is so vibrant that it instantly lifts up your mood! I just love the way how it makes my nails look longer. Another noticeable thing is it's brush. The brush is a bit different from the conventional nail poilsh brushes and I have started loving it. It's a bit flat then others. Take a look

I love this color because it is so girly, feminine and classic. This nail color does not chip for at least 4 days which according to me is pretty good. It's perfect for those looking for a quick hot pink mani!

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Pros:

• The color is a very gorgeous shade of pink.
• It stays for a long time.
• It dries very quick.

Cons:
You have to apply the color quickly before it dries.

Verdict:
I love the color and the formula. Totally worth trying.

Love
Shikha
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NYX butter lipsticks review:

Hello ladies! Today I will be going to review NYX butter lipsticks in the shade Hunk, Sweet Tart and Taffy. Like any good cream these go on very very smooth. The colors are vivid but not overly bright. If you loved NYX butter lip glosses then you will surely love these. The best thing about them is that they are so light in weight that you will almost forget to are wearing one! Lighter shade require 2-3 swipes but darker shade are good in one application. But personally I love the lighter shades more as compared to the darker ones. OK now lets go onto the review:

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The tube colors correspond to the lipstick color inside. You can choose from 22 different shades. I picked these three. They are very moisturizing and are very kind to dry lips. The consistency is a bit on the thinner side. They are very comfortable to wear and you can pull off these shades at work.

The only downside of these butter lipsticks is the staying power. They need reapplication after every 2-3 hours which is a disappointment. 

PROS:

• Soft supple feel
• Amazing texture and color
• Wearable on daily basis
• Does not feel like you are wearing lipstick
• Inexpensive

Cons:
Needs touch ups after 2-3 hours.

Verdict:
I love these NYX butter lipsticks and I am eager to try the other shades as well. If I do I will post the review soon. Till then you guys can totally try these amazing shades which are so smooth and comfortable to wear. 

Love
Shikha

Revlon Color Stay 'Ravishing Rose' lip color review:

Hello ladies! Today I am going to review a beautiful shade of lipstick from Revlon called 'Ravishing Rose'. Revlon Color Stay soft and smooth lip color promises to keep your lips smooth and smudge free for a long time. Although it looks very ordinary but it is more than a regular lipstick. The formula is so soft and nourishing it feels very buttery and smooth. Lets get on to the review:

Packaging:
The packaging is nothing fancy and it comes in a regular plastic case with a transparent lid. But it is quite sturdy and easy to carry. The shade name and the color sit at the bottom of the bullet. But don't forget to swatch it because the color is quite different from the one shown in the label.

My take on the product:

Revlon 'Ravishing Rose' is a creamy rosy raisin, deep pink color.It is highly pigmented and one applications is enough for an opaque finish. It glides on smoothly and gives a very soft and moisturized feel to the lips, almost like a lip balm. One thing which is a big PLUS is the staying power. It stays on like forever:) I mean I had put it yesterday and even after a day the color is still on my lips(although not as intense). After the color fades away there is a sheer stain which is left behind but even that looks very natural and pretty. Having said that there is no need for touch ups! Enjoy your day, talk, eat, drink whatever but it will still be there. The color is deep pinkish and perfect for a night out. It will compliments all type of skin tones(well almost). A beautiful gorgeous lip color which stays on for so long. What else would you want in a lip color. Plus not to forget that its super moisturizing. All in all a must buy! Take a look at the swatches.

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Pros:

• Gorgeous shade
• Moisturizing
• Amazing staying power
• Smudge free
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Cheap looking packaging
• The label color and the actual color are very different. So don't forget to swatch before purchasing!

Verdict:
I am really impressed with this Color Stay lip color range from Revlon. Buttery soft and smooth application. Just try it out for yourself. Overall a must buy!

Love
Shikha

How to tell when to toss your old makeup:

Hello ladies! Do you wonder what could be the signs you need to know to throw your makeup away? Using old,expired makeup can not only harm your skin but can cause allergies, acne and other problems you would definitely not like. Does that mean you should throw away your makeup frequently and switch to new one? Relax! Makeup has quite a lot of shelf life but there are some signs which could warn you to discontinue using it asap and buy new one. What are those signs? Well here I list the most important changes to look for in your makeup which might be hinting you to toss it away!

1. You have had it for months:
There might be some products which have not been used for the past few months or an year or so. Throw them away! If you use old makeup especially eyeshadow and mascara, you put yourself at a higher risk for eye infection, say experts. Mascara has the shortest life span and use it as quickly as possible after opening its packaging. Note down the date when you opened the bottle and use it for only for a few months and then replace it with a new one!

2. It smells:
If you notice a strange smell coming from your makeup products its time to part away with them! Especially lipsticks tend to produce a strange odor if  expired. This is because with time ingredients can degrade or the product can harbor bacteria which can grow and multiply in it. This may cause many skin problems and infections. Give your stuff a whiff every now and then to stay on top of things. If I notice even a slight strange smell in my makeup I immediately toss it away before any second thought!

3. Change in texture:
If your eyeliner stops creating a smooth even line or your creamy lipstick becomes clumpy its time to replace them asap. In genral whenever your makeup changes texture you should buy new one. Change in texture is an indication of chemical degradation in your makeup and is always wise to discontinue such stuff! On the positive side , a good reason to buy new one :)

4. It separates:
Separation is a problem with liquid makeup products such as foundations. If that happens just chuck it right away. If you do not discontinue using such stuff, it can cause Staph infections and flesh eating disease! Nobody would want that, so do not risk your skin and change your makeup products often. Having said that, if you notice that your stuff is separated don't shake it and ignore the issue but buy new one.

So ladies are you getting ready to go through your makeup? It will only take a few minutes I promise but will save you from skin infections and allergies! I hope that was helpful.

Love
Shikha

Revlon : Flirt Review

Hello ladies! I am feeling so lazy and tired these days all thanks to this super hot weather! Just to lift my mood up I decided to go for a shopping spree. I have many functions coming up so I bought a lot of dresses and some makeup. I did not want to purchase any nail color because I have "a lot" of them which are just lying untried in my makeup drawer. Probably I buy more quickly than I can use! But when I saw this gorgeous color from Revlon called 'FLIRT', I could not leave the store without it! The color itself is so lively and makes me cheerful when I look at it. Long story cut short, let's get onto the review:

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Flirt by Revlon is a very cool shade of orchid. I wish I could capture its beautiful true color on camera but alas, the camera does not translate exactly. I always had a soft spot for these kind of lavender/pink colors. It compliments the shape of my nails and gives them a longer appearance. The color is bright and an instant mood lifter but not too loud.

and

The Revlon FLIRT stays on for a good 5 days on me. I am not the kind of person who would like to change their nail color very often, so a longer lasting nail color = A happy me:)
Plus its not expensive so I can always repurchase once I finish it. All in all a gorgeous shade from Revlon and if you like all sorts of pinks/lavender/orchid then go for it!

Love
Shikha

Creative ways to reuse your makeup!

Hey lovelies. I know we all have some eyeshadow, lipstick or mascara which is a regretful purchase, sitting at the bottom of our makeup drawer. We simply do not toss it away thinking that we will reuse it later but lets admit it WE DONOT use it and probably never will. So what's the solution? Shall we throw it away or are there any creative ways to use them. This post is just about that! Read on..

 1. Eyeshadows:

I have so many eyeshadow colors which I never use and may be dont even look at! But I decided to reuse them instead of throwing them away. Here is what I do: I take the eyeshadow which I wont be using any more and crush it into powder form. I take a small container and put vaseline into it and mix the eyeshadow and the Vaseline well. This will create a gel liner for your eyes. I had a green eyeshadow to which I crushed and mixed Vaseline and the result was a gorgeous green gel eyeliner which I use quite often. I am happy that I did not put it in the bin and made good use of it!
NOTE: If your eyeshadow begins to loose its pigmentation, then DONOT use it and toss it away!
Plus you also want to make sure that the container in which you put Vaseline should be clean and dry!

2. Mascara:
 Mascara is one product which does not have a very long shelf life. You need to throw them after every 4 to 6 months. But the good news is that you can still recycle your mascara brush but only after it has been washed well. You can use a mascara brush to:

• Brush your eyebrows for a groomed look.
• You can also clean jewellery with the help of this small brush.
•  You can put Vaseline on mascara brush and apply it on your lashes to make them grow longer!
  
  3. Lipsticks:

I have a whole lot of lipsticks which I use no longer and dont even intend to. They are just occupying space in my makeup bag. But as they are expensive I dont even feel like throwing them away. Here is an innovative way to reuse them. If you have an old lipstick that is about to finish, just scoop out the left over product in a small microwavable container and put it in the microwave for 5 seconds. After it is melted mix it with new and different colors to create exciting fun shades. If you want a glossy texture simply mix it with Vaseline and use a lip brush to apply. This is how you can reuse old lipsticks.

Now mix it with Vaseline..

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These were some fun and easy ways to recycle your old makeup! I hope you guys enjoyed it. If there is anything you want to ask just let me know by commenting in the comment section below. 
Love
Shikha

Sephora by O.P.I -Note to Self review:

I am a huge fan of colors. Colors in my eyeshadow, my lipsticks,Pencil eyeliners and off course my nails!  I love to experiment with different colors and looks. Today I am  going to review a vibrant and fun nail color from Sephora called "Note to Self". Pretty interesting name!! Lets get on to the review:

What it does?

Sephora by OPI Nail Color, a line of 54+ trend-setting shades, puts the final touch on fingertips and toes with a top-quality formula you have come to expect from OPI. The long-lasting, chip-resistant polish ensures flawless results with each application, and its green ingredient list excludes DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde.  Sephora by OPI combines the quality and color expertise of OPI, the world leader in professional nail color, with Sephora’s reputation for the latest in beauty and sophistication.

The color "Note to self" is a gorgeous, trendy orange shade with gold and amber shimmer in it. Two coats are required for a perfect finish. One impressive thing is it's staying power. Normally my nail color would chip in 3 days but this one did not chip for 5 long days! Impressive! The final results are shimmery and shinny nails with a trendy colorful shade. Take a look:

The second one is without the flash.

I love how vibrant the color is! Perfect for summers! What's your favorite?

Love 
Shikha

Lancome Blush Subtil in Aplum review:

Hey dolls, today I am going to review a blush which is from Lancome. This is described as being a "delicate oil-free powder blush". Anything which says "oil free" is definitely a plus for me! I have tried a lot of blushes but many of them are so pigmented that I end up looking like a clown! :(  So I am very careful while choosing a blush. But this Lancome blush is totally a wonder product. Read on to find more:

Packaging:

The Blush Subtil comes in a regular black Lancome case with the conventional Lancome signature rose.  I got it as a freebie with a purchase so it does not have a brush. Other wise it is quite expensive but then all Lancome products are! It is quite compact and easy to carry and it has a mirror inside too! Yayyyy! ( I use a mirror quite often)!! :)

My take on the product:
The Lancome Blush subtil in Aplum is a gorgeous berry shade which goes on lightly but the good thing is that it is quite build able. It looks very natural on me and I have got a whole lot of compliments when I apply this! This blush is so wearable on daily basis plus you can build it up for a night out. One good thing is that it will flatter a lot of skin tones. Another good thing is that it is oil free and feels super duper light on my skin. It goes on like a dream and is pretty blendable. You are left with a healthy glow sort of effect! What else do you want? 
Another reason to love this blush is its Staying Power! Even at the end of the day I can still see that soft subtle pinkinsh blush on my cheeks and I feel no need for a touch up! Amazing though, now I know why the product is so expensive. Inexpensive blushes go quite intense from the beginning but this Lancome Blush Subtil goes on smoothly and you can gradually build it as you would like.

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Pros:

• Oil Free
• Easy to apply
• Compact and easy to carry
•  Looks very natural as if I am naturally blushing:)
• Amazing staying power

Cons:

• EXPENSIVE (in capital letters:) )

Verdict:
Needless to say that I love love love this blush but the only downside is the price. Nevertheless if you are looking for a very natural soft blush and price is not an issue then I would surely suggest you to purchase this Lancome Blush Subtil in Aplum!
For me its a 5 on 5.

Love
Shikha

  

L'oreal color riche naturally nude lipsitck review:

Hey lovelies! Nude lipsticks have always been my favorite because they give a very natural color to my lips and go with a variety of outfits. Today I am going to review a lipstick from L'oreal called 'Naturally nude'. As the name suggests it looks quite natural on the lips and imparts a very subtle peachy color to them. The first think which grabbed my attention was the name. Then I decided to pick it up for myself as it is a drugstore product and not too heavy on my wallet. Was it worth the buy? Well, read on to find more...

Packaging:

The packaging is simple, a regular silver case, easy to carry. If you carefully notice, there is a small teardrop of 'Anti aging serum' that runs through the middle of the lipstick. The basic purpose of this is to improve the look of your lips and decrease fine lines. Quite interesting! You may wonder as to how this can be done? The way it does this is by acting as a lip plumping lipstick thereby minimizing any fine lines!

My take on the product:

The L'oreal color riche 'Naturally nude' is a coralish nude that goes on semi sheer but is still opaque enough to deliver color on my lips once applied. You can also notice a slightly glossy sheen with a frost finish. I love the color pay off and it lasts pretty long. 6 hours on me which is quite decent!!

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Pros:

• Glossy semi sheer effect
• Anti aging serum gives a plumping effect and fuller looking lips
• Nice every day shade
• Lasts on pretty long
• Drugstore hence affordable 

Cons:
None

Verdict:
I love this L'oreal 'Naturally nude' lipstick and I wear it quite often. It looks natural and goes with a lot of my outfits! I would surely repurchase it.

Love
Shikha