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?