February, the shortest month of the year, saw a bunch of new products enter my makeup routine. Let's get started:

Base: I've been loving the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation (mixed with a little Revlon Photoready Skinlights for a glow), applied with either my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush or the Miracle Complexion Sponge.
For concealer, I've been sticking to the Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage Creme for a full coverage look, concealing the spots and under eye circles (I had a bad acne breakout in January end).
I've been skipping powder whenever I can.

Eyes: A new favorite, Maybelline Hyper Matte Eyeliner has taken center stage along with my trusty Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara.

Lips: I've been a fan of matte MLBB (my lips but better) shades this month. On constant rotation are: Maybelline Color Show Creamy Matte Lipstick (Mysterious Mocha), Maybelline Lip Gradation (Mauve1) and Maybelline Colorsensational Lip Liner (Velvet Beige).

Also, after reading this post, I realized that there are a LOT of Maybelline products here! No, I have not been sponsored by Maybelline, its just that I've been loving their new launches a bit too much!

Which are your makeup favorites this month?

Among my favorite sheet masks from Leader's Insolution is their Wrinkle Filler Sheet Mask. Now I don't have any visible wrinkles, I still enjoy using this mask.

It is soaked in a thick, hydrating essence that just melts into my skin. The mask fits snugly to my face, ensuring that every drop of essence sinks into my skin. I put this mask on for 45 minutes to an hour and it thoroughly moisturizes my skin. This mask hasn't broken me out, nor has it irritated my skin.
Other than Aquaringer and Mela-Tox, this one is my favorite from Leader's sheet masks.
It really soothes and calms my skin.
Just a tip: Stick this mask into the fridge 15 minutes before application for an enhanced cooling effect. You'll love it.

I'm a huge fan of Real Techniques brushes and I absolutely had to give their Foundation Brush a try. 

This brush is similar to your standard flat foundation brush, except for its tip. Instead of a tapering tip, this brush has a slanted tip. 

This helps you get into all the nooks and crannies of your face (around the nose, under eyes). The bristles of this brush are very soft and don't shed upon washing. 

I use this brush to apply my foundation when I'm looking for a full, flawless coverage. I apply a thin layer of foundation with this brush and use a dense buffing brush to blend foundation into my skin.
It has become one of my favorite flat foundation brushes.

I will definitely repurchase! I bought this one from Flipkart for Rs. 600

I was feeling particularly inspired the other day and therefore decided to mix my two favorite foundations: Loreal Infallible and Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless. I mixed one pump of Infallible with the same amount of Maybelline on the back of my hand and applied it to my face with fingers. Then I went over with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, blending the foundation combo into my skin. The result was a perfect color match, with medium coverage with a glowy-satin finish.

I spot concealed with Kryolan and applied Revlon Colorstay concealer under my eyes. This foundation combination lasted all day on my face. The oil control was very good and I only needed to powder my nose once.
I've found my new favorite foundation combination. I can layer it up easily and it never looks cakey! Total win!

Have you tried mixing foundations? Which are your favorite combinations?

Sometimes my skin looks a little dull (and congested). Especially during 'that time of the month'. That is when I pull out all the stops and do this facial to help my skin heal and clear up.

Step 1: I cleanse with a gentle cleanser (such as Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion). If you are wearing makeup, please remove that first (with oil based cleanser) and then follow up with a gentle cream/lotion cleanser.

Step 2: I swipe a cotton pad soaked in Alpha-H Liquid Gold all over my face, concentrating on the areas where I'm most acne prone (cheeks, chin, jawline). I let this sit on my face for 10 minutes, allowing the glycolic acid to unclog my pores.

Step 3: Over the Liquid Gold, I apply a thick layer of a clay based cleansing mask all over my face. Current favorite is Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Pack. I let this sit on my face until the mask is completely dry.

Once that is done, I remove the mask with a warm washcloth and rinse my face thoroughly.

Step 4: Apply a sheet mask. Any sheet mask of your choice will do. Stick it in the fridge for an added cooling effect. I use the Leader's Insolution Aquaringer Mask. Let your skin soak up the soothing, hydrating essence. I let the sheet mask remain for 45 minutes.

Step 5: Remove the sheet mask, pat excess essence from the mask into your skin and follow up with your favorite moisturizer & eye cream!

This facial really helps in perking up my skin. It is a great way to have a spa night at home!

Which are your favorite hydrating, exfoliating and cleansing face masks?

About a year ago, if you had asked me what my favorite type of base makeup finish was, I'd surely say matte. But oh, how the times have changed! I've ditched the matte train and jumped on the dewy skin bandwagon full time.

These are some of my favorite highlighters:

1) Revlon Photoready Skinlights in Bare Light:
Ohhhhh... How I love this one! It is a liquid highlighter that you can mix into your foundation to get a subtle glow. You can even apply it directly to the high points of your face for a little more oomph. Either way, it works VERY well. I can't fault this one, its one of my absolute FAVORITES!

2) Colorbar Spotlight Illuminating Lotion:
This one is a liquid highlighter as well. I take one pump of it and apply it all over my face, as a primer, before applying my foundation. It prolongs the wear time of my foundation while making my skin look glowy and alive. This was a totally unplanned purchase, but I'm so glad I tried this!

3) Benefit High Beam:
Yes. The famous High Beam from Benefit. I received a small size of this in my Sugarlicious Kit. I love the dinky little bottle! So cute! I apply this to the high points of my cheekbones and Cupid's bow directly using the nail polish style applicator. It blends seamlessly and gives my skin a 'lit from within glow' that is perfect for night time! Love!

4) Makeup Revolution Radiant Lights Highlighter in Breathe:
The only powder highlighter in this edit. And its beautiful. I apply it using my Real Techniques Setting Brush and the champagne/gold powder blends so well into my skin. It does not exaggerate open pores, but blurs them instead, all the while giving my skin an iridescent glow. This shade is perfect for my skin and you get a generous quantity of product for the price you pay. I sometimes layer this with High Beam for a full on strobe.

Which are your favorite highlighters? Are you a fan of strobing or contouring?

You know how it is. Sometimes you get a little less sleep, eat a lot of junk food. And it shows up on your skin in the form of acne and dark circles. Yep. I've been there, more times than I can count.

Everyone needs a little extra help when it comes to looking more "alive", which is why I'm bringing you my concealer edit.

1) Revlon Colorstay Concealer in Medium and Dark:
This is one concealer that just won't budge. I apply Medium under my eyes and pat it in with my ring finger. I mix Dark and Medium to cover up any blemishes. This is a wonderful liquid concealer which is non-cakey, matte, easily blendable and lasts all day! Even through tears!

2) Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer in Honey:
This offering from Maybelline New York is an illuminating concealer. I apply it in an inverted triangle underneath my eyes to highlight and conceal simultaneously. This takes a bit of work to blend in, but I find that my Zoeva concealer buffer brush works well with this. If you're looking for an inexpensive illuminating concealer, give this one a try!

3) Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage Creme in DFD and D64:
These are my big guns when it comes to concealers. They come in tiny pots, but they pack a punch! Highly pigmented and full coverage, these concealers cover up my blemishes and dark circles COMPLETELY without looking unnatural. I use DFD on blemishes and D64 under my eyes. Like some of my readers have pointed out, it can be a bummer to use these in the winter. Just warm them up between your fingers and they'll be good to go! I use these concealers for special events, you know, parties & weddings, when I need full coverage. If you're looking for concealers for spot concealing, I'll highly recommend these.

Which are your all time favorite concealers? 

I was bored. Bored of my usual Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion (gasp!). Don't get me wrong, I love Cetaphil, but I just wanted to try something different. In came Dr. Batra's Natural Cleansing Milk.

Priced at Rs. 100 for 100ml, this cleanser is 'enriched with Chamomile and Echinacea'.
This white colored lotion is runnier than Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion. It also has the lovely scent of chamomile, which is very calming and soothing.

I apply this cleanser to dry skin and massage it in with my fingertips before removing it with a warm washcloth. This cleanser washes off clean and does not leave a residue/film on the skin. Sidenote: Don't let this cleanser get into your eyes, it STINGS. Been there.

This is a good product, does its job, doesn't irritate my skin, doesn't cause breakouts and doesn't break the bank. But will it replace Cetaphil for me? NO.

I will repurchase this cleanser, but only when I'm looking for a change from Cetaphil.

Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion is my one true love, but Dr. Batra's Natural Cleansing Milk comes a close second.

I had been on the lookout for a good matte bronzer for so, SO long! Until now! I came across the Makeup Revolution Ultra Bronze Bronzer at Flipkart. It was on sale there! For Rs. 607.

I bought it immediately and after about a month of using it, I'm very impressed. As I mentioned earlier, it is a matte bronzer. It is a warm toned bronzer. But not to the point of looking orange. I apply this on the perimeters of my face: temples, under cheekbones, under jawline. And it gives my face a subtle definition.

A little contour and a little bronzing in one!

This bronzer never makes my cheeks look ashy or muddy. I use my Real Techniques Multitask Brush to apply it. You get a HUGE quantity of bronzer for a very affordable price. The packaging is also quite sturdy. 

This is good stuff, people! This bronzer will suit most skin colors, except for those who are too pale and those who are too dusky.

I will definitely repurchase this bronzer when I run out. But at the current rate, I won't need to buy this for another year at least!

Maybelline Baby Lips has always been a favorite of mine. Among the new additions to the Baby Lips family is the Maybelline Baby Lips Candy Wow. I bought the shade Cherry.

It is a tinted lip balm that comes in chubby stick style twist up packaging. Five shades are available in this range. The formula is not vastly different from the original Baby Lips. Candy Wow Cherry is a bright red color. Upon application, it shows up quite sheer on the lips. I need 3 swipes for good color payoff.

Personally I don't think this is an exceptional, out of this world product. Sure, the packaging is cute, but for Rs. 275 for 2gms of product, I can find other tinted lip balms that can do a better job.
I won't be repurchasing this.

Being an oily skinned girl, setting my base makeup with a powder is a must for me. I love the convenience of pressed powders. So handy and portable, they make for easy touch ups.

If you're looking for a budget pressed powder, I've got three options for you:

1) L’Oréal Mat Magique All In One Matte Transforming Powder: (Rs. 399)
If you're looking for a COMPLETELY matte finish, opt for this offering from L’Oréal. It blurs pores and absorbs oil in a jiffy. I wouldn't recommend this for dry skinned ladies though, as it may accentuate dry patches. Just a warning: apply this powder with a light hand as heavy applications may end up in a cake face.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder: (Rs. 250) 

A HUGE favorite in the beauty blogosphere, Rimmel Stay Matte is one of my all time favorites. It gives a slight coverage, hours of oil control and is easy on the pocket too! The only con is its flimsy packaging AND its accessibility (it is almost always sold out on Indian beauty shopping sites like Nykaa.com)

3) Maybelline White Superfresh Compact: (Rs. 150)
The least expensive and lightest packaging of the lot, this one is a hit from Maybelline New York. Available in three shades, it has a light coverage. It blurs my open pores and gives pretty great oil control. Out of the three powders in this post, this one is my favorite. For the price, shade selection (YELLOW undertones!!!) and performance, you can't get any better than this!

Which is your favorite pressed powder? Any recommendations?

Highlighters are incredible when you want to add that glow back into your skin. Whenever I'm I'll or my skin is looking dull and lifeless and I have to do my makeup, I double up on the highlighter.

A great option from Makeup Revolution is their Radiant Light highlighter. I own it in the shade Breathe.

It is a powder highlighter, packaged in a compact. The compact has a mirror which is very handy for reapplications.
Breathe is a champagne/gold highlighter, which is perfect for my skin (I have yellow undertones). There is no chunky glitter in this highlighter, which is a relief. It provides a beautiful iridescent glow, a "lit from within" look, if you will. The lasting power is pretty good! It lasts on my skin for 6-7 hours.

I use my Real Techniques Setting Brush to apply this highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones, bridge of the nose and Cupid's Bow.

This highlighter is available on sale at Jabong and Flipkart quite frequently, if you want to buy it.
I will definitely be repurchasing this, when I run out. Although I must admit, hitting pan on this one will take quite a while since only a little is required per use. This highlighter will last me a LONG time!

I've been recommending this to anyone who'll listen. Please go give it a shot!