Are you Vain about your Vanity (bags)?

It often happens that when I’m packing, whether it’s for travel, work, or a regular day, I always leave my trusty vanity bag for the last. In my head, I’m always thinking, pack all the big stuff, or get ready first and then you could just throw all these things together and rush out the door.

And needless to confirm, every time I’ve done that, I’ve always forgotten something necessary. Take today morning, for instance, I took out my trust Tangle Teezer from my makeup bag, brushed my hair and thinking if I put it right there on there on my dressing table, I’ll put in the bag after I’ve packed my laptop and the charger. And what happened? I left my brush at home, only to remember when I got to work and to brush my hair before a meeting. The hair tie came in handy as I managed a “purposely” messy bun.

There are several occasions where we forget to pack the little things, even if it’s not going to be a rainy day (pun-intended if you’re thinking I definitely sound like the kind who forgets her umbrella as she’s packing for Mumbai’s monsoon).

Different occasions will call different requirements, your everyday vanity won’t be ideal if you’re travelling or spending the day at the beach. Here are my recommendations on things you’ll need.

Finding the right Foundation

I spent about 2 weeks last month just researching on foundations for Masala Magazine. And turns out there was a lot more to learn than just dabbing it on the back of your hand at Sephora.

This season has been all about foundation launches, what with Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty’s 40 foundation shades, Huda Kattan’s Faux Filter with some 20 shades, it’s easy to assume that foundation is on our minds.

Long gone are the days when it was hard to find a shade of foundation that matched the exact skin colour. With celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and much more, beauty brands are increasingly investing is catering to a wider market. And with an influx of rising beauty brands and their competitions, there are so many options with brands, colours and types, it’s safe to say I found it daunting to pick what would suit my skin. Ask anyone and they will confirm that foundation is one of the trickiest beauty buys- will the colour match your skin, will it suit your skin type, is it going to give the right type of coverage, what about this “undertone” that experts keep talking about and lots of more of these questions.

Since foundations create the base of our entire look, with Indian skin tones, it is important that the foundation has a slight yellowish/olive pigment or undertone. Several brands offer foundations they have pink, peach-ish undertones which will make your skin look whitish and rather chalky, and the yellow/olive will give a rather dewy finish.

BECCA Cosmetics ’ Style Director, Kerry Cole says, “Glowing skin can look beautiful when it’s not overdone.  Find a foundation that has a hint of luminosity built into the formula.  This way you’ll still get colour, and coverage from the formula but won’t be overdone with too much shimmer. ”

As a general rule, it is advisable to use a foundation that gives a healthy glow and look without being sticky. The best way to determine what matches your skin tone is by applying a foundation, and if it disappears into your skin, then that specific colour is your skin tone. Skin tones can change based on weather and sun exposure, for example, you will need a darker foundation in the summer and lighter on in the winter.

Gilbery Soliz, Marc Jacob Beauty’s Global Make-up Artist says, “One of the biggest beauty mistakes that women make is wearing too much or wearing the wrong colour foundation where they end up with a line of demarcation at the jawline. Always consider the state of your skin. The skin changes during each season and knowing what formulas and finishes work best will be the key to looking your best.”

There are four types of face foundations: liquid, powder, stick and mousse. Liquid foundations are by far the most popular. The texture of the liquid foundations are easy to blend on most skin types and do have matt-finish options which will go great with oily skin types. Liquid foundations do offer sheer, medium and full coverage, depending on how heavy the texture is.

Powder foundations are mineral-based and ideal for sheer coverage. They set instantly, and blur the skin’s patchiness. The best example of stick foundations, off the top of my head, is Kim Kardashian’s KKW Beauty’s crayon contour kits. You can use them directly to draw on your face and then blend them in. While they don’t offer full coverage, Mousse Foundations are slowly becoming the norm because they are creamier than liquid foundations and blend in better with the skin.

The Foundations that I recommend using are:

Becca’s Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation is best for those that are looking for that hydrating, luminous everyday foundation. This is perfect for people with normal to dry side skin and want light to medium coverage.

 

La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation has SPF 15, and it glides on perfectly, giving a natural dewy finish. The luxurious emulsion offers sheer, natural-looking coverage, that is suited to all skin types.

Charlotte Tillbury’s SPF15 Magic Foundation is not as runny as most liquid foundations, but it gives full coverage that doesn’t look caked upon. The only struggle is that you have to mix two colours to get the right shade.

 

MAC Mineralize SPF15 Foundation remains most Indian women’s go-to. The brand gets almost all the shades of Indian skin right, with options for sheer to full coverage, that doesn’t require touch-ups. This particular foundation has Vitamin E and shea butter that hydrates your skin.

 

Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation is the best for travel, as it is sweat and humidity-resistant. The foundation itself has skin tone correcting pigments that even out dark spots and blends easily on the skin.

L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24H Matter Foundation 

(namshi.com)

gives medium to full matte coverage is really smooth to use for skin.

 

 

 

 

How does changing weather effect your skin?

Last month, I wrote an article for Masala Magazine about how the skin is affected when the weather changes. So, here we go:

The temperatures are finally starting to drop, and the outdoors will be friendly again. And while this change in the season probably requires a change in wardrobe, it also requires a change in our skincare regimes.

When the weather was hot and humid, a lot of skincare specialists suggest looking after your skin, especially in terms of sun care and avoid the higher humidity to result in breakouts. But, as the weather starts to cool down, it becomes less humid and the indoors become especially dry and stuffy, depriving skin of natural moisture. In general, this new dryness can lead to flakiness, red patches and excess dead skin cells that clog pores and causing acne.

What is needed is to combat the skin from becoming dry and losing its natural lustre. The winter is actually a blessing for those with oily skins- as the lesser humidity and drier weather help with the breakouts and reduces flare-ups. The skin’s natural oils work hard to compensate for the loss of moisture. And while the dry breeze will remove excess oils, the skin will still need hydration, exfoliation and moisturizing. While the markets are suddenly stocked with petroleum jelly and oil-based moisturisers, they won’t be right for oily skins. Lush’s Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask, packed with fresh blueberries, is perfect for cleansing the skin and soothing redness and irritation, without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Dry oils like the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil are perfect for this weather and oily skins.

For many, the winter days bring a rosy hue to the cheeks, dry skin-types, especially, struggle with skin troubles in the cooling weather. With lesser moisture than usual, the skin will be in need of a more heavy-duty moisturizer, a softer exfoliator and a lot of hydration. Hot showers and bath will sound especially alluring, but they will strip the already dry skin of natural oils and make the skin flaky and rough. It is ideal to take shorter baths or showers with lukewarm water. The skin will require more water than usual, without adequate water levels, it will appear dull, with exaggerated pores. Using a lighter Facial cleanser will ensure that your skin is clean without excessive scrubbing. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser does just that and completely removes makeup. Using a moisturizing scrub like Reine Michi Beauty’s Moisturizing Sugar Scrub will help clear the dead skin and keep your skin hydrated. La Prairie’s White Caviar Illuminating Serum helps in reducing the appearance of lines and spots, and gives the skin a subtle light, followed by La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Luxe cream for strengthening and lifting the skin. Adding a facial mist, like Caudalie Grape Water to hydrate skin will make your skin glow and happy.

Change in weather often gets confusing for combination skin, i.e when you have an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and your cheeks are dry. Combination skin starts to flake because of dehydration and excess buildup. These dry flakes require mild cleansers such as the Neutrogena Hydroboost Waster Gel Cleanser that gently cleanses and locks in moisture. Mild exfoliators like Starskin Foaming Peeling Perfection Puff will remove the dead cells and give the skin a natural luster. Lush’s Tea Tree Toner Tab will balance the skin’s oils and soothe redness and irritation.

And while you are updating the seasonal skincare, you might want to stock up on the sunscreen, lip scrub and lip balms. While it might not be as sunny anymore, but the sun is still prevalent, and the skin will still need SPF for protection; irrespective of skin type, the drier weather will have you end up with chapped lips. Lip scrubs, like Glamglow’s POUTMUD Fizzey Lip Exfoliating treatment, exfoliates the lips and leaving them softer, and free of dead skin, and Sephora Rouge Balm will keep your lips moisturized and lightly layered with SPF 20.

This Week’s 3 Beauty Bloggers to Follow!

I have a confession to make- I don’t know how to do my make-up. I’m really really shit at it. But, oh my god- I’m obsessed with watching makeup tutorials on Youtube and Instagram.  And I really mean obsessed. I can not- how much ever I try- get the same results- or even results that you’d recommend to be close to the real thing- but I’m mesmerised by all the many contouring, smoky eyes and the perfect no-make up look. (The only no-makeup look I can pull off is the one where I’m actually just wearing no make-up).

So, I had to put all my knowledge and wit and research to some use- and what better than to share with you, my beloved readers! (HI MOM!)

1. Huda Beauty
   

   

   Picture from Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Online

   Alright, if you don’t know her- you really have been living under a rock for a very long time. She is literally the most amazing and influential beauty blogger ever. Things she’s reviewed on her YouTube channel have sold out instantly. (PR girl pitch here- but – when she reviewed one of the FOREO LUNA devices {my amazing client!}, two of the four types of the devices actually sold out at Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales in the region!). Her videos are funny and actually- if I were to follow them properly- would suit my skin type! And I mean, she’s a beauty mogul. She’s got her own line of eyelashes, lip contour pencils, lip mattes, highlighters and the buzz is she’s launching her own foundations soon- which if you ask me is super brilliant. I swear by her lip mattes! My current favourite is the Bombshell lip matte!
   And I’ve actually met her- and she’s so sweet and friendly!

2. Kathleen Lights
   

   

   Picture from Instagram- Kathleen Lights

   After Huda, she’s the most fun for me to listen on YouTube. A Cuban-American beauty influencer- she knows what she’s talking about and is just funny to listen to. It’s funny, but her ‘Kat Chats’ are actually something I prefer over her regular beauty videos- mostly because they are start so simple and get so professional that I’m regularly lost- but I can’t help listening to them. She does regularly do series of products that she liked or didn’t like- which are funny and honest! She has her own palette, nail polish ranges and more too!  I’m yet to try her stuff- well whenever it’s available in this side of the world!

3. Nikkie Tutorials
   

   

   Picture from YouTube: NikkeiTutorials

   
   I think she’s from the Netherlands- I’m not sure. But, this girl is funny. Yeah, if you haven’t figured out my trend yet- it’s I like funny beauty tutorials. She’s really quirky and an interesting character to watch. I feel like if I met her in person we’d just talk endlessly about any random nonsense. Her beauty tutorials are absolutely brilliant- nothing that I can copy because- alright I suck at makeup. But, I still like watching them- mostly in a hope that one day- just one day- both my eyes will have eyeliner of the same thickness without drawing on more than one time! She’s launched several things in collab with other brands!

 

 

Travel Essentials for me

When packing for more than 3 days, we all have mental checklists of items to carry. These are the most basic items that we most definitely will need when we travel.

I’m a little OCD. If I could, I would carry everything- basically my whole house- with me. But, I can’t. Also, this is one of the reasons why I don’t think I’d ever be able to do any backpacking. Mostly, because a backpack won’t be able to hold the million things I travel with. But these items below, I can’t imagine travelling without!

1. My passport. DUH.
2. My camera. I love my camera- I’m an amateur photographer- who tried to listen to unlimited podcasts, read about photography and do a lot more research on improving my skills. I can’t imagine travelling without my DSLR.
3. Earphones. I’m a very social person, but the best way for me to really enjoy a place is to put on some music and walk around like I’m in a movie singing that song. Are there any songs with Bollywood dance sequences I imagine myself in? Yes.
4. A good book. As much as I love staring out of the window to the clouds, I love reading my romance novels. I always have a book (or two) that I carry for any trip.
5. Diary and a pen. I like penning my thoughts on occasion. And my favourite muse is travel. I like to make incessant notes about my travel, or anything that inspires me to write.
6. My little vanity bag. Umm. I like to look a little presentable when I’m travelling- or at least look like I’m making some effort. While, I’m not a beauty fanatic or know-it-all, there are a few things I simply can’t travel without:
   – Neutrogena Facial soap
   I’ve been using this baby since I was 15 years old, and needless to say, I’m still very loyal to it, mostly because it’s suited my skin really well and really done wonders for any funny zits around that time of the month.
   
   – Shampoo and Conditioner
   There are lots of people who are crazy about using and collection hotel shampoos and conditioners- I’m just not that person. I bought these tiny bottles that I keep refilling for every trip- but I carry my own shampoo and conditioner to keep my hair and scalp healthy and happy. *does a little hair flip* Currently, since the last 6 months, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Lush’s Rehab shampoo and American Cream conditioner. So I carry them in little bottles everywhere.
   
   

   

   – VICCO Turmeric cream
   Most of you might not know this, but this is my miracle moisturiser for my face. And if you’re Indian and don’t know this- you are bizzzzzzare. My maternal grandma used to use it for as long as I can remember. I started using it after she passed away because it smelt like her- it’s been some 6 years, and I still love it. It’s like a little bb cream that works for my skin.
   – Make up
   Again, I’m not a beauty fanatic or genius, but I’m all for trying fun make-up brands. I’ll at any point have a lip colour, concealer, bb cream, blush, liner, mascara and highlighter in my make up bag. Although, I’d probably only use the lip colour- but I’d still carry it everywhere. The BEST lip colour to carry is Huda Beauty’s lip matte. They are amazing. They stay on the lips for FOREVER, so you don’t need to do any retouching and they are matte- just the way I like my lip colours!
   – A bazillion hair ties
   I think I have pretty much donated a hair tie in every single hotel I’ve ever been in.

7. Sanitary Napkins- do I need to explain why?
   
8. Crepe Bandage and other emergency first aid crap
   I’m the clumsiest person ever. I’ve fallen and really badly bruised my knees in Moscow, my ankle in Goa, my knees again in Jordan, my ankle again in Singapore, my hand in Singapore, my knees in Kashmir, had an incredibly bad and viral case of warts on both my feet in Maldives (don’t ask- it was bad) .
   
   

What are somethings you can’t travel without? Let me know! Until then…