One of my main acne related concerns is the scarring that I'm left with, after the breakout itself has receeded. Its frustrating and understandably so. As if the painful pimple wasn't enough, huh?

Acne scars are a problem because they take a LONG time to fade. Let me describe how it was for me, before I had a proper skincare routine: I used to break out, usually along my cheeks and jawline, around that time of the month. I would just cleanse twice a day, moisturize sporadically and hope that my scars would fade. They wouldn't. And a month would just pass by, JUST in time for another breakout!!! Therefore, as you can imagine, I had quite a collection of acne scars.

I've included some of my acne scar tackling tips below. Just a precaution, guys: This is what works for MY skin. I am not a skincare expert. That being said, here are my tips!
1) EXFOLIATE.
When I say exfoliate, I don't mean those grainy walnut/apricot/plastic microbead scrubs. NO. They don't do anything for the skin, except for irritating it and making it raw. By exfoliation I mean using acids. Salicylic, lactic, glycolic.
I tend to use both Alpha Hydroxy Acid (Glycolic) and Beta Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic) in my personal routine. I get Salicylic acid through my foam cleanser (Saslic Foaming Cleanser) and Glycolic acid through a cream (Glyco 6).
These acids dissolve dead skin, clear oil build up and reveal fresher skin with each use. The end result is brighter, clearer skin and a definite reduction in acne scarring.
(I will be doing a detailed post about AHAs and BHAs. Very soon.)

2) Moisturizer and Hydrate
The fact that you are using (chemical) exfoliants to treat your skin means that you need to be extra careful about moisturizing your skin. Pack on the moisture! Since I use acids on my skin during my night time routine, I prefer richer creams and lotions. Hell, I like to sleep with a full greaseball face!!! After using my acids I use one layer of Emolene cream and  one/two layers of Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion. And no, it does not break me out. Skin NEEDS moisture. Especially when you are treating it with regular exfoliation. It will also lessen the appearance of scars, if your skin is properly hydrated. Inside out. Drink plenty of water and moisturize.

3) SUNSCREEN
Oh. My. God. Sunscreen HAS to be a part of your everyday routine. Especially when you are using acids. Photosensitivity is a side effect of acid exfoliation. Your skin will be much more susceptible to sun damage. Please use a non comedogenic sunblock (preferably one that contains Zinc or Titanium Dioxide) that suits your skin type. Aim for broad spectrum (UVA & UVB) protection. I myself use no less than SPF 40. Lotus Herbals, La Roche Posay, Cetaphil and Neutrogena make good sunscreens (which are available in the Indian market). Reapply frequently (depending on the amount of time you spend in the sunlight). By using sunscreen daily, not only are you protecting your skin at present, but you are also shielding it from sun damage which will show up in your later years in the form of wrinkles and sun spots. Start early. Also, better late than never. Sunscreen is the best investment you can make for your skin.

Exfoliate, moisturize and protect (with sunblock), its that simple! These are my top three tips for fading acne scars (and also for preventing further breakouts). I will be doing detailed posts regarding acid exfoliation and my evening skincare routine very soon. Watch this space!

I'm a self proclaimed sheet mask addict. I find them to be so refreshing and relaxing. Applying a sheet mask soaked in a rich essence really hydrates my skin and plumps it up.
One such sheet mask that I've come across is the Leaders Insolution Mela Tox Skin Clinic Mask. I bought this mask from Luxola India. This is a very popular face mask, that sells out very quickly at Luxola!

This mask is targeted for blemished, lackluster skin. Upon opening the packet, you will find that the mask is completely saturated in the hydrating essence. It has a very pleasant scent.
The mask fits well on my face and covers all areas completely. I apply this mask for 15-20 minutes.
Upon removing the mask, I have noticed a visible evening out of my skin tone. This mask doesn't have a noticeable effect on acne scars. But yes, it does hydrate and brighten up the skin beautifully.

The effects of this mask are temporary and last only till the next day for me. I believe that continuous use of this mask will definitely brighten up your skin tone. This mask does not contain parabens, which is a huge plus for me.
This is one of the best brightening sheet masks I've tried recently and I will definitely repurchase. Also, I'm looking forward to trying out more masks from Leaders Insolution!

Hey guys! Today, in my Five Questions section I'm proud to be featuring one of my favorite bloggers, Debasree Banerjee! She runs a blog called All She Needs. She is one of the fastest growing Indian YouTubers as well, so be sure to check out her channel! Debasree is an amazing girl and she's one of the first friends I made when I joined the blogging community. If you're looking for some straight up, no nonsense beauty related advice, she's the one to turn to.
And now, without further ado, let's dive straight into the Five Questions and hear what Debasree has to say!

1) What is your everyday skincare routine?

When I am not feeling lazy, I wash my face using the LRP effaclar face wash or the Avene Cleanance Gel, followed by LRP effaclar duo+ and the LRP sunscreen. At night I remove my makeup with bioderma and clean my face with TBS chamomile oil. I wash it off and follow the exact same thing. 

2) What advice would you give your thirteen year old self?

I would tell her to wash her face at least once a day, and I wish I could have told her not to apply vicks on her temples and slept. 

3) Your ultimate beauty pick me up when you're feeling low? (Can be anything from high heels to red lips!)

It definitely is a good perfume and a bright lip. Oh and a new dress also helps. :) 

4) If you had all the money in the world, which is the one beauty (skincare or makeup) product you'd splurge on in a heartbeat?

Oh this is a very difficult one, I'd buy everything off of the US sephora shelves. But if I had to choose just one, I can't think of anything right now. 

5) Who is your ultimate beauty icon/inspiration? 

I would say Lisa Eldridge. 

There you have it, peeps! Five Questions with the lovely Debasree! Make sure to watch this space for more beauty/skincare related content!

Whenever I do my makeup, my main focus is on creating a flawless, even base. I concentrate on it the most, taking the most time trying to make my acne prone skin look as healthy as possible.
There are three brushes I tend to reach for the most, when it comes to doing my base. All are from Real Techniques (No surprises there!).

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush:
This brush has very dense bristles and I use it with cream/liquid foundations to create a full coverage, flawless face. Its shape helps me blend the foundation around my nose and even my under eye concealer.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush:
This brush is comparatively less dense as compared to the Expert Face Brush. I use it with tinted moisturizer and BB creams and it gives me a medium coverage, sufficient for everyday. This is a brush I reach for when I'm having relatively good skin days. Just like with the Expert Face Brush, I can use this to blend my under eye concealer.

Real Techniques Multitask Brush:
This is my favorite powder brush. I use it for application of loose and pressed powders. Its bristles are perfect for dispensing just the right amount of product. It doesn't make your face look too powdery. It helps in blending the powder into my skin thoroughly. It is my most used powder brush.

There you have it guys! My most used base brushes! Which brushes are your favorites?

I've been in love with the Celine Audrey sunglasses for a long time. The Audrey, New Audrey or Baby Audrey, I love them all! But, sadly, they are expensive. I was always on the lookout for dupes/lookalikes. And when I found these sunglasses from Mango at Myntra, I was over the moon! I ordered both the available versions, Black frame/Purple gradient lens and Tortoiseshell frame/brown gradient lens.
Now these sunglasses remind me more of the Baby Audrey than the original Audrey, due to their smaller, more rounded frame shape. They suit my face shape perfectly! The quality of these sunglasses is really good and they're quite sturdy. Considering the fact that I got them for a fraction of the price of the original Celine sunglasses, I couldn't be happier. My only regret? Not ordering backups. That's the hoarder in me talking.
Anyway...my birthday is coming up in a few months, maybe I'll finally take the plunge and get myself some actual Celine sunnies? Who knows! But for now, these Mango shades are making me VERY happy.

If there is one loose powder I have been faithful to, its the Kryolan Translucent Loose Powder. I use the shade TL4. This shade has just the perfect amount of yellow undertones, which reminds me of the Ben Nye Banana Powder. This powder comes in a jar form, with a slide off lid.
This powder is finely milled and blends in very easily without looking patchy. I use it to set my foundation and concealer. I use my Real Techniques Powder Brush and my Real Techniques Blush Brush to apply this powder, depending on how diffused or concentrated I want my powder application to be. This powder does not sit in my pores and it does not clog my skin. It has never broken me out. Its yellow undertone enhances my complexion without looking cakey or providing any extra coverage.
This powder prolongs the lasting power of my base and controls oil efficiently. I get a matte to semi matte finish with oil control for 4-5 hours without needing to powder my nose. This powder photographs amazingly and does not give a ghostly white face in flash photography.
I use this powder for everyday and for special occasions as well. And let me tell you, this powder lasts! I had bought the bigger sized jar of this foundation and it lasted me for ONE AND A HALF YEAR, with DAILY USAGE!
The only con about this powder is its packaging. The jar and lid packaging leads to wastage and is not ideal for travel.
But for the price, performance and value for money, I'm willing to ignore the bad packaging! I have been using this powder for the past 5 years now and will definitely keep using in the future!

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara has often been compared to Benefit's They're Real Mascara. And I am a big fan of Maybelline mascaras.
That's why, when I spotted the Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Mascara, I knew I had to try it!
This mascara comes in the standard purple colored tube packaging that we all associate with the traditional Falsies mascara. What's unique about this one is that is has TWO wands. One for the upper lashes and the other for the lower lashes. This double ended wand specifically targets your upper and lower lashes. The formula of the mascara is similar to the original Falsies. It lengthens and defines lashes beautifully. It also gives slight volume to lashes.
The wand for the lower lashes is perfect and deposits just the right amount of product to your lashes, defining them without looking over the top.
I have the following combination for full and dramatic lashes that works for me: One coat of Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes on upper and lower lashes each. And I follow up the upper lashes with a coat of Maybelline Colossal Waterproof Mascara.

Since the Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes mascara is waterproof, there's no risk of smudging or smearing. Its a total winner for me. I will definitely repurchase this. In fact, after I run out of my current tube of Big Eyes, I'm going to wash the wand with baby shampoo and water and store it in my makeup bag for the future!
This mascara is a hit for me and a must try for all Maybelline lovers! Thank you, Maybelline India for releasing this one in India! (If you could only launch the entire Fit Me range in India, it'll be awesome!)

My morning skincare routine has been pretty much the same throughout. I've shortened it on purpose, keeping only the essential steps, because the last thing I want to do each morning is to go through a complicated, multi layered skincare routine.
I save the longer routine for night time.
Here's now my new morning skincare routine goes:

1) Cleanse: I use my favorite cleanser, Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion to cleanse my skin. I apply a coin sized amount of the lotion to dry skin, massaging it in thoroughly. After that, I take a warm washcloth and remove the cleanser, following it with a proper rinse with lukewarm water. Cetaphil cleanses my skin without making it dry or tight. And I only cleanse once in the morning.

2) Moisturize: I follow up with moisturizer directly, no acid toning or anything. My moisturizer of choice is Emolene, which has a gel/serum like consistency. It hydrates my skin well, without making it greasy, prepping it for the day.

3) Sunblock: The last step in my routine is sunblock. I use the Lotus Herbals 3-in-1 Matte Sunblock which has SPF 40. It is a mineral/chemical hybrid sunblock which is also tinted. It gives me the slightest amount of coverage, perfect for daytime while keeping my skin protected from the sun. Also, this sunscreen is not greasy in any way and gives me a matte finish. I have been using this sunscreen for years now, it is my Holy Grail sunblock!

So there you have it guys, my short and simple updated morning skincare routine. It tackles all the basic steps and keeps my skin well hydrated and protected. The products themselves are affordable and easily available at my local drugstore and they fit perfectly for my skin requirements.
I will be doing an updated evening skincare routine soon and trust me, it will be a long post!

I have naturally curly hair, which means that my hair is always prone to frizz. And I'm always on the lookout for serums/leave in conditioners/ treatments. I just want to add moisture back into my hair, which helps them become more manageable.

Recently, there was a lot of hype surrounding the Garnier Fructis Oil In Cream and I knew I had to try it out. Its quite affordable and comes in a bright yellow colored tube. It claims to be an oil replacement product and contains olive, coconut and sweet almond oils.
Upon squeezing out some of the product, I found that it has a lotion like consistency. It is not too runny, or too thick. It is white in color and has a sweet, fruity fragrance. The smell does not irritate my sensitive nose at all.
When I applied it to my dry hair, I found that it spreads easily. My hair becomes soft and detangles easily after I apply this cream. The cream is true to its 'non sticky' claim and does not leave a residue on your hands after application.
I also applied it to my wet hair, post shampoo and conditioning and found that my hair looks really shiny and healthy after I have blow dried it.
I am quite impressed with this product and will keep using it. But I will only use it as a leave in conditioner, post hair wash and not as a replacement for my weekly coconut oil hair masks.
I cannot think of any product replacing my pure coconut oil hair deep conditioning masks.
The Garnier Oil In Cream is a great and affordable leave in conditioner for me and I will definitely repurchase once my current tube runs oil. This product is a boon for dry haired girls, but almost any hair type will benefit from this! Give it a shot!

Okay...get ready for a major rave. I came across the Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush while watching one of Zoella's (Zoe Sugg) YouTube videos. And when I saw that Luxola stocked the brush, into my shopping cart it went! And my god, I LOVE this brush! Its taklon bristles are super duper soft. They are dense enough to flawlessly blend cream and liquid base products (foundations and tinted moisturizers) into my skin and they have enough "give" that they don't cause streaks on your face. The bristles are softer than that of the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. The brush cleans easily with warm water and baby shampoo and dries quickly. I haven't experienced any shedding with this brush even after several washes. I love this brush! It a total winner. I cannot rave enough about this! Will definitely repurchase.

Buy at: Luxola India

PS: Each ZOEVA brush comes in a handy plastic zip lock pouch. So convenient to travel with!

Makeup Revolution is one of the recent brands to enter India. As I was browsing through their offerings on Jabong, I came across their Protection Palette. It is a complexion palette, with seven products in it. I got the palette on shade Medium/Dark. We get three types of concealers, one pressed powder, one contour powder, one blush and one highlighter.
I have labelled each product of the palette with a number for your reference and will review each of them below:
There are three concealers on the left side of the palette. The top most one (1) I use under my eyes, for highlighting and covering dark circles. The middle one (2) I use to conceal blemishes. The lowermost and the darkest concealer (3) I use as a cream contour (when I'm feeling fancy!). All the concealers are sheer in coverage and need to be buil up in layers. However, they blend really easily and have a decent lasting power (5-6) hours.

The pressed powder (4) is next. The powder is warm, yellow undertones and it matches my skin color well. The powder is finely milled and blends well into my skin without making it look cakey. The oil control ability of the powder are slightly above average, but nothing exceptional.

After this comes the contour shade (5). It is a warm brown color and honestly, I don't like this color very much. It makes my skin look muddy. The pigmentation is good and it blends very easily too. But my main issue is with the shade itself. A definite thumbs down for the contour shade.

Next up is the blush (6). It is a rosy pink blush which blends really easily. The color payoff is great and I use my Real Techniques Blush Brush to apply this. The blush complements my skin color quite well.

The last and final product on this palette is the highlighter (7). Now this highlighter is pink toned. I prefer gold toned highlighters on my skin. The good thing about this highlighter are that there are no obvious, chunky shimmer particles. The highlighter is finely milled and gives my skin a glow. However, I would have given this highlighter very high points if it had been gold tones instead of pink.

All in all there are hits and misses in this palette:
Hits: Concealers, Powder, Blush
Misses: Contour/bronzer, highlighter.

I'd recommend this palette to makeup beginners who are just starting to experiment with products. You get seven base products in this palette, therefore the value for money is great! Also, this palette may come in handy if you are traveling.
But personally, I will not be repurchasing this palette. 

If you are a big user of gel eyeliners, then you'll know how important it is to get a brush that helps you in the application process. One of my favorite gel eyeliner brushes has to be the ZOEVA Fine Liner Brush.

This brush has a 'bend' to it that helps it reach the hard to reach areas such as the inner corners of the eyes. It also helps apply the eyeliner well into the lash line which helps in creating the illusion of fuller, thicker lashes.
The bristles of this brush are very soft, as is the case with all ZOEVA brushes. The bristles form a very fine tip, which helps create really thin, precise lines. It is especially helpful if you want to create a cat eye.
This brush cleans very easily and dries quickly.

The ZOEVA Fine Liner Brush is my favourite gel eyeliner brush. If you are a gel eyeliner enthusiast, you should try this brush!

I'm one of those people who have the most nonexistent cheekbones. Ever. And when I discovered contouring, it was a whole new world for me. But doing the actual task is quite difficult. At least for me it was. I had almost given up on the whole shebang when I came across the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush on Flipkart.
*cue Hallelujah chorus*
This pink beauty is the BOMB, let me tell you. The bristles are super soft and dense enough that they pick up just the right amount of product (works well with both cream and powder contours). This brush's bristles have a slightly asymmetrical shape, which make contouring a breeze. This brush fits wonderfully into the hollows of my cheeks to give me instant cheekbones! The bristles are firm and help me blend my contour shade effortlessly.

If you don't want to stick to only contouring, this brush can also be used to apply and buff in your foundation! Its quite the multitasked that way. As with all Real Techniques brushes, this one cleans really easily (I use baby shampoo and water). It is a much cheaper option as compared to the Real Techniques Bold Metals Flat Contour Brush.
I'm glad that Sam Chapman was thoughtful enough to add a contouring brush to the regular Real Techniques collection. I love this brush and will buy a backup very soon! Have you tried the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush? What are your thoughts?

I'm a fan of lip balms, that's true. Especially tinted lip balms. But usually, the colors are too sheer and it takes multiple layers of the balm for the color to show up. Which in turn leads to sticky, slippery lips. Not cool.
So when Maybelline India came out with their new Baby Lips in Electro Pop, I had to check it out. It is available in three shades here, Berry Bomb (Purple), Fierce And Tangy (Yellow) and the one I'm reviewing today Pink Shock.
It is a deep, hot pink color that really brightens up my complexion. The balm has a faint, fruity/mint scent. The color payoff is really good and I need only two swipes to get the full color on my lips. It is decently moisturizing, nothing exceptional, but it does its job. As this color wears off, it leaves a stain on my lips. I use this balm on days when I don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup. Tinted moisturizer, mascara and this lip balm! That's it!
If you're looking for a pink tinted lip balm, try out this shade. It just might be the one for you!

When it comes down to choosing the perfect foaming cleanser for my skin, I have a few rules. Usually, I have three types of cleansers on rotation: cream, milk/lotion and foam cleansers.
Today, I'm focusing only on foam cleansers because they help in really purifying your skin, after you've removed your makeup. Read on to know what I look for in my perfect foam cleanser!

pH: This is perhaps the most important rule of them all. Usually, I look for cleansers with a pH of 5.5 as that is optimum for healthy skin. Just slightly acidic (below 7). Do not use alkaline cleansers, they will deplete your skin's moisture barrier, which will lead to irritation. Look for the cleanser's pH on the packaging. If there is no pH mentioned, raise your query with the company that manufactures the cleanser, on social media or via email.
I had been using the Clean and Clear Foaming Cleanser for awhile, but I was doubtful about the pH. So I contacted Clean and Clear via Twitter and they told me that the pH was around 7-8. Yeah, I've stopped using that cleanser now.

Gentleness: Your foaming cleanser should be effective, yes, but it should also be gentle. Please look carefully at the ingredient list in order to make sure that your cleanser does not contain any potential skin triggering agents. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble with this basic ingredient awareness. You can have an active ingredient (AHA, BHA) present in the cleanser, depending on your skin concerns, but be careful not to go overboard with cleansers containing active ingredients. You'll end up drying your skin.

Affordability: You've found a gentle, low pH cleanser. But is it affordable? Is it value for money? Remember, a cleanser stays on your face for not more than a minute (maximum), after which is goes down the drain. Using an expensive cleanser that will run out quickly is not a good idea, especially if you are on a budget.
There are two good foaming cleansers that I've found in the Indian market:
Saslic by Cipla (pH: 5.5, contains 1% Salicylic acid)
Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam (pH: 5.5)

Saslic comes for around Rs 250, which is not a lot, considering how effective the cleanser is.
The Sebamed cleanser comes for Rs 630-650. Now granted, it is expensive, but one bottle of this cleanser lasts me two months with twice daily use. TWO months. That is definitely a great value for money for me!

Do you know of any low pH foaming cleansers available in the Indian market that I could try? Leave your recommendations below!

Hey guys! I'm back with another Five Question interview! I'm so excited to have the lovely Aashna Shroff from The Snob Journal answering my questions today. She is a fashion blogger, a YouTuber and also curated The Snob Shop. I've been following her blog and her YouTube channel for a long time and honestly, I love her! The girl is a fashion chameleon and there is nothing that she can't pull off. She makes the switch from glamazon to girl next door effortlessly. Her beautiful smile and bubbly personality are like icing on the cake!
Read on to know about her skincare routine and her favorite beauty pick-me-up!

1) What is your everyday skincare routine?
I use a cleanser, toner and moisturiser + SPF in the day, and the same without an SPF at night. Would you like the names of the products?

2) What advice would you give your thirteen year old self?
I'd advise my 13 year old self to be patient, because eventually everything works out for the best.

3) Your ultimate beauty pick me up when you're feeling low?
Somehow painting my nails always cheers me up a lot!

4) If you had all the money in the world, which is the one beauty (skincare or makeup) product you'd splurge on in a heartbeat?
The Giorgio Armani Crema Nuda tinted moisturiser. At such a whopping price, I'd be really intrigued about what makes it so special. 

5) Who is your ultimate beauty icon/inspiration?
Not much of a beauty icon, but Blake Lively is a huge inspiration!

There you go, peeps! Five questions with the lovely Aashna Shroff! Watch this space for more such interviews!

I'm a hardcore Real Techniques fan, you all know it. And when I found out that Samantha Chapman (the woman behind Real Techniques and Pixiwoo) had created a limited edition set of her favorite brushes, I knew I had to get it! Enter Sam's Picks and there is only one word to describe this set: AWESOME.
Really!

Sam's Picks consists of 6 brushes: Multitask Brush, Setting Brush, Buffing Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Fine Liner Brush and the set exclusive, the Essential Crease Brush.

I got the set for around Rs 1600 on Flipkart. And if you divide 1600 by 6, it comes to about Rs 266 per brush, which is a pretty fantastic deal!
Most of these brushes I have already used before and I love them to death, so I'm happy to have backups of them!

I'll tell you what I use each brush for before reviewing in detail the two brushes I haven't used before:

Multitask Brush: Applying setting powder all over face
Setting Brush: Highlighting, setting under eye concealer with powder
Buffing Brush: Applying cream, liquid foundation
Pointed Foundation Brush: Applying cream, liquid foundation

Now, onto the two brushes I've never used before:

Fine Liner Brush: I use this to apply gel eyeliner on my upper lashline. This brush helps me get a clean, precise line.

Essential Crease Brush: This brush is a set exclusive. I use this brush to apply eyeshadow to (you guessed it), my crease. It applies just the right amount of product and helps me blend it in really easily. Its pretty foolproof.

All in all, I think Sam's Picks is THE BEST set from Real Techniques yet! I've fallen in love all over again!