Scorching Summer & Makeup Heroes

Hey all! Summer is slowly but surely creeping into our lives. So, all us makeup junkies need to bring out the big guns don’t we? Even Hercules can’t save us now. In dire times like these I turn to my unlikely heroes, which I believe a girl needs most in the makeup department to battle the summer heat. So, I hope you find this post helpful. I will be giving loads of opinions in this post based on my experiences so grab a cold soda and enjoy!

E.L.F Mineral Infused Face Primer in “Clear”

There are a couple of face primers in this range. I plan to get the green one to cancel out the redness over my nose and cheeks, which interferes with my blush at times. This is the Clear one that claims to “Fill in fine lines and create a flawless finish”. I have read reviews where bloggers have claimed that there is no difference between this and the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. Shout out to my blogger buddy, Sherry (From The Other Side of the Mirror), for recommending this. You get 14 mL for approximately PKR 1000 depending on where you shop as it originally retails for $6. I think this works superbly for a drugstore face primer. I inherited lots of smile lines around my eyes and mouth from my father, which I love, but they can create makeup application problems. This makes a HUGE difference in blending all sorts of cream and powder products. It does half the job for you especially for under the eyes. The look and feel of your makeup is totally transformed with just one product. Makeup sits really well on your face and there is zero cakey-ness. I believe this would suit normal to combination skin type best. If you’re really dry or really oily then I can’t say. E.L.F does have a Hydrating and Poreless option now too. Packaging wise its pump is user and travel friendly, sturdy and looks cool. I think this is a terrific bargain.

Ofra Cosmetics Laboratories Makeup Fixer

I grabbed this as I was going towards the counter at the recent Makeup 4 U exhibition in Lahore. Ofra is a high end drugstore brand so getting 240 mL of their fixing spray at discount around 1600 PKR (Originally retails for $19.50) seemed like a steal to me. Yes, I am unashamedly cheap. Please, feel free to judge me. I have only tried one other fixing spray (Stageline) but this is one of those products that you can feel working instantly. It has many natural extracts in it, which is why I think it imparts a lovely silky feel to the skin and locks your makeup in place. Not only that but it gives your base a “finer” look. A perk is its soothing gentle fragrance that doesn’t linger at all. The nozzle releases a super fine mist effortlessly sort of like you’re standing close to a waterfall. It makes me so happy! One thing I detest about Ofra is that although their cardboard packaging is dope, the containers are just meh. FYI, this doesn’t come with a cap or a box but a clip to prevent the nozzle from being sprayed by your resident poltergeist.

Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder

First things first, Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder is a discontinued product but I cannot live without it particularly in the summer. This is a setting powder that doesn’t change the colour of your foundation, withstands the monsoon season and gives your makeup a refined appearance. What more could I ask for? Never fear my beauties! I have some excellent alternatives for you including the Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and RCMA No Color Powder.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in “Ash Brown”

This product needs no introduction. Instagram has made millions of people buy it, including me. I have not-so-thick but broad ash brown brows with bald spots. It was quite hard to find my shade in brow pencils but I finally did in Beauty UK (Ash Brown) in case anyone’s interested. However, a penciled in look proved way too harsh for my light brows. The best thing about the ABH pomade is that you can do literally any style with it. All you need is common sense and a firm angled brow brush. I recommend the Morphe G21. It’s my new bae. It is packed full of pigment, blends beautifully and lasts all day. Need I say a little goes around the world and back in 80 seconds?  Take that Phileas Fogg! Oh, and it is waterproof so, I don’t mind going swimming on the first date ;) No doubt $18 is an enormous sacrifice to make so, do think long and hard before you get it.

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in “Sequin”

Now here is a brand that knows how to please: Colourpop! I’ll admit the Super Shock Eye Shadows are best used with fingers (which many dislike) and they stain leading to pigment wastage. The one thing that makes this the best eye shadow formula in the market is that IT DOES NOT FADE. Honestly, that’s all I ask for. I am so sick of pretty lids becoming wells of oil in the summer. Unacceptable! At just $5, this is a miracle in a pot. You don’t even have to prep your lids all that well. These will last hours and hours and then some more hours. Sequin (Metallic) is a festive glittery copper but there are many neutral mattes and satins you can wear to school or work. Also, I have heard people complain about shimmery fallout. If you continue trying to blend them once they have set, then stubborn shimmer will inevitably grace your under eye area.

E.L.F Matte Lip Color in “Cranberry”

My sister has a thing for lip crayons so she picked this up at the exhibition for about PKR 600 (Originally retails for $3) and I didn’t give it much thought at first. Once I actually opened it up and applied it, Heavenly light shone upon me and angels sang (Not the Taher Shah variety!). This is such a brilliant product and a life saver for many. I’ll tell you why. It’s a lipstick that you can carry around in your purse like a pen anywhere. The high end looking packaging will not fail you although, it’s best not to twist up too high during application. Another plus is the corresponding shade ring at the pencil’s bottom. The tip is neither thin nor thick but in the words of Goldilocks, “Just right!” This means that the clumsiest of people (Read me) can precisely apply it in a few seconds. The finish is matte but not flat at all. Its vitamin infused moisturizing formula makes your lips look healthy not parched and it doesn’t stick to the flaky bits either. It’s excellent for all ages especially since the shade range has nudes and bolds. You can build it up or wear it as a stain and it lasts reasonably well. It does not feather or bleed and lies super comfortably on your lips. Cranberry is a gorgeous soft berry red.  I can’t recommend this enough for the summer season.

Thank you for tagging along on this adventure with my Summer Makeup Heroes!

What makeup products are your personal heroes this summer?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Summer's Treat - My Bronzer Collection

Hey girls! Summer is almost here, well here actually, so what better way to welcome it then getting our tan on? I prefer bronzing over contouring so I have a couple of options for my fair to medium neutral skin tone. Some may seem too warm to you but I have figured out ways to make them work for me because I hate perfectly good products going to waste.

What Is A Bronzer?

Just a little info for those of you who are confused about its purpose, contrary to popular belief, bronzer is NOT meant to make you look DARK. It gives you a sun kissed tan meaning it brings warmth to your skin (red/orange tones). It prevents you from looking pale like a mannequin especially after you apply foundation because that covers up your skin’s natural shadows, highlights, flush and tan. The idea is make your skin look healthy. However, if you are naturally pale and wish to keep it that way, that’s your choice. 

Contour vs. Bronzer

Contour creates shadows with its cool tone (grey hint) and bronzer warms up the skin (orange, yellow, red hints). Here is a comparison of MUR Ultrabronze with a cool tone medium brown eye shadow from BH 120 shade 5th edition palette, which I sometimes use to contour my face.

So, let’s begin shall we?

Makeup Academy Mosaic Bronzer - Natural Glow

This is the first one I got because well, look at it and of course, the price tag was too good to resist. You will notice it has many cool toned browns, which are basically for contouring, but fear not. It has shimmer so it cannot be used for contouring. Swirling my brush in the pan creates a pale neutral-ish brown that is excellent for cool toned fair/pale ladies because it is not too warm to make them look orange. The pigmentation is moderate so you don’t have to be afraid with this one.

Makeup Revolution Ultrabronze

I have had this for a couple of months now and I am in love. It’s bigger than my palm and costs only PKR 500. I mean come on! It’s matte, not orange and blends so well. It’s a slightly warm light brown and works well on light to medium skin. 

Sleek Contouring Kit-Medium

Yes I know it says “contouring” but this can only be used as a contour on warm dark skin like African American origin dark. This Sleek Contouring Kit is a matte dark neutral brown which is quite warm and dark for my skin but it works with a light hand and a big fluffy brush as a bronzer. 

LA Girl Pro Conceal - Toast

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal Toast is another product I originally bought for contouring but like the Sleek Contouring Kit, it cannot be used as a contour unless you fall into that very dark warm category. It is HELL to blend unless you use a buffing brush that eats up product like kids stuff down candy on Halloween. This praise is for the Real Techniques dupe I was recently scammed with (Review coming soon). I apply it sparingly over a dewy foundation so that helps. Otherwise you could try spraying your brush or sponge with rosewater for smoother blending. I do love the look of a cream bronzer honestly. It’s very natural. 

Makeup Revolution Baked Bronzer- Rock on World

The only baked bronzer in my stash. Swatching it is just Heaven! If you have ever tried a baked product from MUR you will know what I mean. Not only does it feel like Heaven it looks and blends like it too. I have never seen a rich copper bronzer like this ever. It might look scary in the pan but it blends out to give that lit from within glow we crave so badly. I have used it just over my sun block and it looked fine. However, I recommend applying it sparingly over a matte bronzer for a more even look if you are fair or have large pores.

ELF Blush Palette- Shade

I won this blush palette in a giveaway by The Beauty Finds and trust me, it is a gem. The pigmentation of all four shades is excellent and they all blend out well. It comes with a big mirror and the price cannot be beat for the packaging is sleek and sturdy too. This is the most orange out of all the bronzers I own. It has tiny specks of shimmer which look very pretty. Like Rock on World, it is better to use it over a matte bronzer if you feel like you want it a bit more orange toned appearance. Blending it backwards into your bronzer on your cheek also gives great results.

I have another bronzer in my BH Carli Bybel palette which is actually the darkest highlighter. It’s a pure deep baked copper-y bronze which will look great on dark skin but is a bit too much for mine.

I hope you guys now have a better idea about the drugstore bronzers available in the market and how they perform. I like MUR Ultrabronze best out of all these.

Which is your favorite bronzer for the summer?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Soft Smokey Fall Look - Step by Step Tutorial

Hey guys! Since fall is officially here, we have all transitioned to appropriate shades for this season. Fall / winter in Pakistan means wedding season so, I thought I would share my all time favourite technique for soft but sultry eyes for any event which you can pair with a deep lip and glowing cheeks.

The Eyes

Step 1

Do your brows and prime your eyes. I used the Essence colour and shape brow gel and I <3 stage eye primer.

Step 2

For the eyes I used my Makeup Revolution I <3 Makeup Naked Chocolate palette and my BH Cosmetics 120 colour palette 5^th edition. Blend in a medium mauve-brown colour (Milky) in your crease with a fluffy eye blending brush like the Morphe MB23.

Step 3

Deepen the outer half of the crease with a dark burgundy or plum shade (Choc-fest) with the same brush and blend it out.

Step 4

Use a black pencil like the Essence I <3 stage smokey eye pencil and a smudge brush like the Morphe M213 to create blended smokey eyeliner close to your lash line. Tightline your upper lash line directly with that pencil or use a flat definer brush like the ELF Flat eyeliner brush.

Step 5

Apply a shimmery rose pink (BH Cosmetics 120 colour palette 5^th edition) to your entire lid with a flat shading brush like the Sigma E55.

Step 6

Use a deep chocolate brown (White) to further deepen the outer crease with a tapered blending brush like the Sigma E45.

Step 7

Highlight your inner corner and brow bone with a cream matte shade (Smoothy) using a small dense shader like the Sigma E57.

Step 8

Define your lower lash line with that same deep chocolate brown (White) from Step 6 using a pencil brush like the Sigma E30S and merge it with the outer crease.

Step 9

Apply your favourite lengthening mascara like the Catrice Lashes to Kill Volume mascara and false lashes if you prefer.

The Face

Step 10

After moisturizing your face and getting rid of any eye shadow fallout, apply your foundation or BB cream. I used the Garnier BB cream for combination to oily skin in the shade Light with my Real Techniques Expert Face brush. This is the part where you shape your eyes. I like to follow my lower lash line in this regard. You may apply concealer/corrector above or below this layer depending on your preference.

Step 11

The lips are the focal point of this look and we have colour in the eyes as well so I wanted fresh glowing cheeks. I used the cream blush Macaroon from the Sleek Blush by 3 in Pink Lemonade. It is a soft natural pink that must be concentrated on the apples of your cheeks. It gives that lit from within glow so I skipped highlighter and face powder or fixing spray. You may use your fingers but I prefer my Real Techniques Expert Face brush.

Step 12

For soft sculpting I used Makeup Revolution Ultra bronze as a contouring shade with an angled blush brush from BH Cosmetics Wild Purple brush set.

The Lips

Step 13

Fill in your lips with a vampy lip liner like Makeup Revolution in Rebel. Top it off with a pretty plum gloss like Golden rose Ultra brilliant lip gloss in 31 to soften it up.

You are all done!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful. Please let me know what you think the comments below and if you have any questions about it.

Share your idea of a Go-to Fall look in the comments below

Love,

Sadaf

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Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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