Lipstick Masala

It takes a very special lipstick to attract my attention- I’m more of a gloss/liner kind of girl. That’s why the few lipsticks I actually do own are my prized possessions, bought after great mulling, surveying and consideration. So, you can imagine my horror when I returned from the hot tropical climate of Karachi with the melted, mangled corpse of my fabulous new, only twice-used, perfect red lipstick. Yes, the heat had broken it in two, allotting it the fate of many lipsticks before, lost in the same fashion.

Friends all around recommended two options: either use a lipbrush to pick up the color and apply to the lips or just buy a new one. Now, I’ll be honest – as much as I love spending hours in front of the mirror doing my makeup, I really don’t have the patience to use a lipbrush. Plus, does anyone really want to have to carry a brush and multiple tissues in their purse just for touchups? At the same time, I really had no interest in spending another $16 on the same lipstick.

For those of you that have suffered multiple (or even single) broken lipsticks because you either live in warm climates or asserted strength you didn’t know you had, there is another option. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently, I’ve been asked by a lot of ladies whether eye makeup primer is really necessary. My answer? Only if you actually want to keep your makeup on. I understand choosing staple makeup items can be frustrating – every commercial, every magazine speaks of millions of products that you MUST have. There is regular makeup primer, eyelash primer, lip primer, you name it – I’m sure someone somewhere is even creating a body primer for lotion. But, ladies, believe me when I say fs there is one primer to buy, it’s eye makeup primer – prepping the eye area before you apply shadow really makes a world of difference.

There are two main benefits of eye primer:

1) Does your shadow either fade away during the day or crease so you have a cakey line on your lids? This doesn’t just happen to oily-skinned girls, we all have natural oils on our face that make our shadow almost melt away. Read the rest of this entry »

Prescriptives has jumped on the Friends and Family end-of-summer-sale bandwagon. Get your favorite products at prescriptives.com for a 30% discount. This offer ends Thursday so grab it as soon as you can!

Don’t know what to buy? Check out Prescriptive’s famous “False Eyelashes” mascara, translucent *magic Liquid powder, and Moonbeam cream eyeshadows.

* Enter code Friend09 at checkout to receive 30% off
* Free Shipping on orders over $60
*While supplies last – get a free sample with purchase
*Discount not available in stores. Only applied to purchases made on prescriptives.com.
* Offer valid 8/24-8/27

For offer details: http://www.prescriptives.com/exclusives.tmpl

Like most desi girls, I’m a fan of MAC products. The pigmented shades, professional brushes and manageable prices are unbeatable. But, I have to say I’m less than impressed with the new Style Black Collection arriving next month in MAC stores. While I’m sure the products will sell out quickly like all the ones before, I find the collection contrived, boring and completely uninspired.

MAC is known for its bold looks and innovative style. But, they have definitely dropped the ball on this one. Black nail polish? Been done. Black eye shadow? Used and abused. Black lipgloss? Already graced the YSL collection a year ago. MAC seems to be simply repackaging old ideas and trying to dupe us into thinking they are new, fresh and edgy. Edgy maybe (if you are intrigued by the goth chick look), but completely unimaginative. Read the rest of this entry »

A while ago, we raved about Tarte Cosmetics’ Cheek Stain as one of our favorite blushes. Now, you can try your preferred cheek color, along with Tarte’s fabulous liner, shadow and gloss collections. For a limited time, Tarte Cosmetics is offering 40% off as part of their Friends and Family sale. The discount applies to any purchase on the site, no minimum required. Head on over to tartecosmetics.com ladies, 40% off is almost unheard of in the cosmetics world!

Enter the Code FF09 at checkout.
Free Shipping on purchases over $60
Offer ends August 24^th, 2009

For years, I spent every third Sunday evening melting wax I purchased from Boots pharmacy over the stove, running to the bathroom to apply it on my upper lip before it hardened again, and ripping it off with little to no visible results. I then attempted to learn how to thread my own eyebrows, which resulted in an uneven catastrophe – that year, I perfected the art of using an eyebrow pencil. Finally, I located a salon that dealt solely in threading, but the $$$ spent on beauty treatments burned a large sized hole in my wallet (those of you that live in the western world can probably empathize).

Over the course of a year, I’m sure I have spent upwards of $800 on waxing and threading. While I’m still waiting for a cheap, effortless and moderately painless at-home fix for my waxing needs, it appears my prayers may have been answered for my facial concerns. How many of you have wished you or a friend knew how to thread? Good news, you don’t need to learn how. Read the rest of this entry »

Fall is almost here and the new cosmetics collections are arriving in stores. This season is full of vampy lipstick/gloss colors like purple, red (of course) and even black (yes, now you can enjoy Halloween every day). But, before you reach for these new goth-inspired shades, did you know that the lipstick/lipgloss color you choose to wear can affect how big or small your lips look? Read the rest of this entry »

Naomi Campbell once famously said she didn’t need plastic surgery because she had great genes, and well, “black don’t crack.” For many years, I mistakenly believed the same thing – i.e. that my darker skin tone and the fabulous skin of my mother and grandmothers would save me from crow’s feet. It was only recently that I began to see the folly of my ways. Sure genetics may play a big part in how I age, but my mother and grandmother did not lead my 21^st century life. They were not exposed to the same chemicals in their food, or the ever-diminishing ozone layer. They may have plucked, tweezed and primped, but they stuck to one product rather than the millions that are available today with God only knows what ingredients in them. And finally, they most certainly did not pull all nighters throughout college or go to clubs till 4 am and fall asleep with their makeup on.

Now, you may be reading this and rolling your eyes. I’m not going to lie, I used to think the same way. But, ladies, being brown is not the panacea to aging – it may slow down the process slightly, but in today’s world, you have to take whatever measures you can to prevent yourself from looking older than you are. If you believe leaving your eyeliner/mascara/foundation on when you go to sleep isn’t a big deal and that experts only insist on removing it to prevent acne or infections, you are making a big mistake. The chemicals in the products are drying and damaging, they don’t allow your skin to breathe, and they will, believe you me, cause premature wrinkling. If you want skin like your grandmother’s, then you need to keep it clean like she did, and the first step is investing in a good eye makeup remover.

“Why can’t I just use face wash to remove my mascara?” Well, first of all, many face washes have harsh ingredients that are not appropriate for the delicate skin around your eyes. Read the rest of this entry »

When getting a manicure or pedicure, there are two things that I make sure of (besides basic hygiene protocol) – that the color I choose is cheery and maddeningly vibrant, and that the topcoat is perfectly shiny, you know, the kind that makes your nails gleam so they still seem wet long after they’ve dried. This Fall, however, it seems I must temporarily put away all my favorite shades, for shiny is out and matte is back.

The nail polishes of this year’s Fall lines are focusing on the exact opposite of what the Summer brought. Gone are the glossy neon nails ladies everywhere have been sporting since the weather turned warm. This new season is all about being dull – dull colors, dull nails, and perhaps dull moods? Read the rest of this entry »