Tarte, Rosebud, Korres

Hi gals!
I am so sorry that I have not updated my blog in such a long time. I was out of town for actually 5 weeks and was not able to write. Now that I am back, I really want to talk to you all about some products. First off, I was able to purchase a Tarte cheek stain in the color, full blossom. For those of you who don't know what this product is about, let me update you. It is basically a gel-like, push-up blush stick. It is so sheer and light. I find that when I wear this product my skin looks dewy, and bright. I purchased this on ebay, as they do not sell this particular color in the stores. I just purchased a new set of these cheek stains and I will definitely share a review.This is basically a nice raspberry color, and can be worn in the winter or summer!










The second product I wanted to talk about is the Rosebud Salve. This is basically a nice lip balm with a hint of a light pink color to it, but it is not sticky and has a slight sheen. I personally love it, but the only downside is that it is made out of petroleum, but honestly it is the like a sheer gloss without the stickiness. You can purchase this in Sephora and is sold for $6. I have also tried their mint one as well and love that one equally. It comes in a little tin, but do not leave it out in a warm area as it will melt. For those who do not like the tin, it can be found in a tube. But, don't let the tin stop you from purchasing it. :)


















I also ended up purchasing the third color in the set of the Korres Cheek butters. It is called Chara Crimson. This is a rich red color, with a hint of sparkle. But I love it! I reviewed the two other colors in my previous post, so be sure to check it out!
















-Krutika

Korres Cheek Butters and Lip Butter

Hi gals!
So I was on the look out for a cream blush that was formulated with natural ingredients. I went to the MAC counter thinking that I would pick up one of their creme blend blushes but I just didn't feel right buying something with a lot of harmful ingredients. I saw many ingredients on the list that I just could not even pronounce. So, I went up to Sephora to see if they had something, and viola! They had just stocked their Korres line with the new cheek butters. And OMG, I am totally in love with these! They are just so creamy and dewy and really looks very natural. They have three shades so far in Philia Rose, Eros Coral, and Cara Crimson. I have the first two and have to pick up the third one. So far, I think that you can only find these in Sephora. They each cost $25. I would definitely repurchase these and I think are totally worth each and every penny! The other product I wanted to talk about was the Korres Lip butter in the color Guava. This is a lip balm with a tint and a little bit of a shine. I personally didn't find it very moisturizing and the color was a little white on my lips, but I know that a lot of people are extremely happy with this product. This retails for about $12! 

Eros Coral

Lip butter

Philia Rose

Bare Escentuals READY duo and new Real Techniques brushes

Hi guys!

So I recently purchased one product/two brushes that I am totally loving. The product I purchased is the new Bare Minerals READY eyeshadow duo in The Top Shelf. So I have a lot of Bare Minerals eyeshadows in their powder form. I am not a huge fan of applying eyeshadow in general as I feel like its too much of effort for me. BUT, after a lot of consideration, I decided I had to try out their new pressed shadows, and let me say that they are AMAZING! So they are pressed with some sea-nutritive complex and have good skin care benefits too apparently. So the duo I got is called The Top Shelf. The shade on the right is called Mixologist. This is a light bronze color that has a little bit of a sheen to it. The one not the right is called Cognac which is nice Champagne color. These are perfect for any skin tone.. but I would prefer to use them on some tan skin color so the color can really pop. But, the color payoff on these is just wonderful. You just really need a little to get nice application. This is worth $20. They have quads as well which are $30. I would definitely recommend checking these out, as they are definitely worth it. You can get these at Ulta, Sephora, or any of the the Bare Escentuals boutiques.

 So I want to review the Real Techniques brushes I purchased. For the those of you who watch the Pixiwoo channel, Samantha Chapman designed these brushes. Even Tanya Burr from Pixi2woo uses these as well.  They are made of taklon. So the pink one is called the stippling brush. This is a completely multi-tasking brush. You can put on liquid foundation, or cream blush, and it blends the product really nice. The one on the bottom is called the powder brush. I use the one on the bottom for mineral makeup and is good for applying bronzer as it has a light hand. I definitely want to go get the other brushes in her collection. I purchased these in Ulta and each one I think is about $8, so well worth the money!

Bare Escentuals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner- 11 AM

Hey gals,

First off, I am so sorry that I do not blog that regularly like I should be doing. Sometimes, I just put it off then I realize, whoops, I never finished that post. But today, I just wanted to talk to you about this new eyeliner that I picked up. It's by Bare Escentuals and it's from their new waterproof collection. I picked the color 11 AM up at a preview event they had sometime in April. But, this color is a lovely moss green. And, the best part is it makes your eyes pop! ;) I have brown eyes so this makes my eyes like a really nice light shade of brown. It is very long wearing,and is much like Urban Decays 24/7 pencils, except with better ingredients. This one costs $15.It is a pencil, so you would have to sharpen it. 

So, this is what the pencil looks like, but the one in the picture is a different color. I couldn't find a picture that would give you the right color. But, I am really excited to pick up the other colors that they have. I really like these and would definitely repurchase.

                                            Krutika

New Origins BB cream

Hey gals!


So I went to Origins a couple weeks ago and I came out with their new BB cream from their Perfect world line. So BB stands for Beauty Balm. This basically primes, evens out the skin tone, has Spf in it, is tinted, so it is like an all-in-one product. If you want heavier coverage this is not for you. But, if you would like a flawless, dewy finish then you will love this product. My skin looks amazingly smooth, and blemish less. I have been combing it with a bit of the Origins Vitzing, so I do not let that product go to waste. The effects are still the same though. This product retails for $35. It is a little bit pricey, but I think that it is totally worth it. It is similar to Vitazing, but I feel that this has more coverage to offer, and the dewy effect is more pronounced. The smell is amazing, and their is this cool effect on my skin when I put it on! I feel like I do not need anything else on my face after applying this on. I would definitely repurchase this product instead of a heavy foundation any day.  Be sure to check it out!

                                                                                                                                 Krutika

Buxom lipgloss in Dolly and ZuZu luxe eyeliner

Hey gals!
So for the delay again! Two products I wanted to talk to you about today is the Buxom lipgloss in Dolly and the ZuZu luxe eyeliner. The lipgloss can be exclusively found at Sephora and the eyeliner at Whole Foods or online. The brand Buxom is a spinoff of Bare Escentuals. This lipgloss retails for $18. I love this shade and basically the entire line. The smell is like cake and once you put it on it gives a little bit of a tingly feeling, but nothing that is uncomfortable. It is has a little peppermint oil or something in it and makes your lips look a little fuller. It is a little sticky but it is not overwhelming. I think that this lipgloss is worth the money and I would repurchase anytime and not just this shade, but the other shades as well. 


Now for the eyeliner! I love black liquid liner and since I was not able to find the brand Lavera anywhere I found the ZuZu luxe eyeliner at my local Whole Foods. It is vegan and comes from a cosmetics company called Gabriele Cosmetics. I love, love this eyeliner! It is very matte and pigmented and comes in a little bottle. The brush is stiff and like a pen. This color definitely makes my brown eyes pop just like the Bare Minerals liner shadows do but I feel like this has a better staying power with out using liner sealers and things. I will continue to repurchase this eyeliner for sure! The price of this is about $15 and I think it is worth the money!
 Hope you enjoy!


                                                                                                                                 -Krutika


http://www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com/index.cfm?category=3


http://www.bareescentuals.com/Buxom-Big-Healthy-Lip-Polish---Bunny/MasterBuxom,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=BX_SUB_LIPGLOSS

Origins Skincare

Hey Everyone!
So sorry that I haven't posted in 2 weeks. I have been a little busy with midterms and such things.
So two weeks ago, I went to our local Origins counter, to pick up some samples. I was really looking forward to change my skincare routine because I was noticing that my skin had become rough, and was peeling. So, no more black soap for me. This is because I already have dry skin. So when I use products that remove the little oil I have in my skin, the body thinks that it needs to produce more oil, hence the pimples that I have been getting. Black soap definitely works for people that have oily skin, but it just not the right product for my skin. Anyways, I went to the counter, and picked up samples for cleansers, a moisturizer, and an eye cream. I started noticing a difference with my skin texture within 3 days. So after a week, I went back and shelled out about $137 to purchase my skin care items :). I bought the Origins Make a Difference Ultra Rich Rejuvenating Moisturizer (Little goes a long way with this one. It is extremely hydrating and the smell is absolutely divine), GinZing Eye Cream (this is not an anti-aging cream and it is only used for de-puffing the eye area and helps with black circles. The smell is not overpowering, and it has some light reflecting particles that really brighten up the eye area), Clean Energy Cleansing Oil (An oil cleanser that is used to remove makeup and forms into a light liquid once water touches it-after using it, my skin is still really smooth and doesn't feel tight), A Perfect World Cleanser ( This is not soapy at all, in comparison to the classing oil, but I feel more comfortable using this one when I wear makeup, but like all the other products the scent is really nice as well), last but not the least, I purchased a concealer as well. This is the Quick, Hide concealer. This blends extremely well into my skin. It doesn't work if you try to blend it, but you have to pat the concealer on. I am extremely happy with all the products, and if money is not an issue then I highly recommend going to your Origins counter. I find that Origins is a skin care brand-specifically and the people that work there know exactly what you need. Hope you try it out :)
                                                                                                                                    -Krutika

2 Face Fashion Kits by BE

Hey Everyone!

Today I just want to review two kits that I ordered on the BareMinerals web site about three weeks ago. So the first one is the Face Fashion-Pure Happiness kit. So the kit comes with five pieces. 
1)The Happy Eyecolor-which is a light, shimmery mint color. 
2)The other eye color is Wowza. This is a rich, shimmery purple color.  3)It comes a a mini Big&Bright eyeliner called Indigo, which is a really nice purple-black color. 
4)The next piece is a mini 100% Natural Lip gloss in Funnel cake. This gloss is a really nice nude pink shade. 
5)The last piece is the Chuckle blush. This is a really nice coral colored, shimmery blush. All of these pieces are great for spring and summer. The colors are very wearable and I think would look good on just about everyone!




 

 This next kit is the Face Fashion-Pretty Wild Kit. The colors in this one are exceptionally gorgeous. They are absolutely perfect for going out in the spring during the evening or they can be transformed into dramatic makeup for the winter. The packaging makes it even more colorful. The five pieces are as follow


1) Violette Eyecolor- A matte lavender shade
2) Greenhouse Eyecolor- a matte moss color
3) Floret blush- a shimmery, sweet pink
4) Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara in Blue Black- I don't think you can tell that it is really blue if you have black lashes.
5) Pretty Amazing Lipcolor in Vivacious. This is a 
really nice lip color. It is a combination between dusted pink color. I really don't know how to describe it. lol. The good thing about this formula is that it is a lipstick/gloss. So the application is very creamy. 


Overall, both of these kits are amazing. They each come with different things so that makes it more useful. You can still buy these online at bareescentuals.com. I believe they do not carry these anymore in the stores. 


Enjoy! And as always, please leave me your comments/feedback.


                                                                                                                                       -Krutika

Lip Balm

Hey everyone!
So I have tried so many lip balms-Burt's Bee's, EOS, and who knows what but I started using one about five months ago and I am extremely satisfied with it. It is a cocoa butter lip balm by the company known as Badger. They make a variety of other lip balms but the ones with the cocoa butter are extremely creamy and last for a good 3-4 hours, no joke! The smell is a little bit like chocolate and takes a little while to get used to in some of the flavors. But, the tube is big and consistency is amazing. Each one costs about $5 but I have had mine for 5 months and am still not done with it. Since it is so creamy, it sort of has a light sheen to it which is really nice. If you are not in the mood for a gloss, this is perfect! Try it and let me know! You can buy this in Whole Foods, Ulta, Amazon, etc. 


                                                                                      




                                                                                                                                       -Krutika

HAZARDS!

Hey Friends!

Please read this!

 Very important!

http://shine.yahoo.com/green/heavy-metals-found-many-cosmetics-not-listed-labels-194900866.html

Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion

Hey Friends!
So lately the sun has been out for a longer time and I feel like spring is going to be here sooner than expected. When the sun comes out a lot of people love to wear shimmer tan lotions, that just give them that glow when they step out into the sun. Well, I was on the look out for a product like that expect I didn't want the color pigments in the lotion as I am naturally tan already ;). I went to Ulta one day and I bought the Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion with royal jelly. It is a sheer lotion that is shimmery and is reflected when you step out into the sun. I love this! It makes your skin look dewy and altogether very nice! It has a slight smell to it, which isn't bad, but some might take a while to get used to it. For some reason, you cannot find this product wherever a store sells Burt's Bees stuff. I would recommend Whole Foods, Ulta, Sprouts, online,etc. It is around $8, so very affordable and it comes in a pretty big tube!


http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-moisturizers/radiance-body-lotion.html


As always, please let me know how you find it and if you have other products that you would like to be seen reviewed!  


                                                                                                                               -Krutika

Origins VitaZing Moisturizer

Hey Friends!
So yesterday I had to the opportunity to meet the creator of Bare Minerals, Leslie Blodgett. For a second I thought I was literally going to cry, but thankfully it didn't happen. She is someone that I really look up to as an individual who has made a difference and still continues to make one! 


Today I just wanted to talk about a moisturizer that I picked up previously. I had mentioned in my post about foundations, so I just shelled out and bought the Origins VitaZing moisturizer. It is basically like a sheer tinted moisturizer. It has an spf of 20. I really like the scent, which is very subtle and kind of flowery. This is perfect for those who do not want a lot of coverage but are only looking out to kind of add that oomph to their skin. It gives a dewy glow and overall just boosts your skin. It is perfect for those who have oily skin as well, since it is an oil-free moisturizer. It is a little pricey. It retails around $35 for a 50 ml tube. But as far as I know, origins products last a long time, but it also depends on how often or how much one would use. You only need a tiny amount to even out your skin tone! But for now, I am just using this with a bit of blush and finishing powder and the overall effect is very pleasing! Please leave comments or requests, as that would help on how to improve or what other products I can review. Also, there are links for products on my sidebar for the ones I have reviewed. Take a look, and you might find some good deals! Check it out and see if you like it.




http://www.origins.com/product/3858/13004/Skincare/Daily-Essentials/Moisturizers/VitaZing/SPF-15-Energy-boosting-moisturizer/index.tmpl
      
                                                                                                                                   -Krutika

Curly Hair Care

Hey Everyone!
So if you have curly hair like me, you probably have gone through hell trying to figure out how to manage it in the proper way. I straightened my hair all the time in the ninth grade and stopped in the tenth. I didn't like the way it looked and instead decided to embrace my curls. I first tried out Giovanni's styling gel that did a pretty good job but still gave me a little frizz. The thing I liked about this product though is that it gave me a lot of volume, which some of you may not like. I think that this retails for about $8-$9. A little later I came across something called Kinky Curly Curling Custard. I know, the name is a little funny ;). This product is seriously the best! You put it on wet hair and then leave it to air dry or use a diffuser. And voila, you have perfect curls. This product is $17. You can get it at Whole Foods, Amazon, and if you are concerned about the price, this tub lasts for over 6 months. The one drawback i have with this is that when you put it on and even after you have diffused it, it still stays a little damp looking. One tip is tie up your hair after it is dry and after taking it down the curls become completely dry. Also, if you are looking for like immense amounts of volume then you have to use some sort of hairspray along with this. But overall, I really like the curling custard and it keeps the frizz down immensely. Along with the curling custard I also bought like a styling mist from the same brand. You cannot spray it on, as the consistency is a little thinner than the curling custard. But, you basically take some in your hand and put it on the second day curls which need a little help. This bottle is about $12. I bought mine in 2010 and still have not finished it. I like to have my curly hair look voluminous. So right now I am on the look out for a good hairspray. As soon as I find one, I will let you guys know. Right now I am trying out Aveda's Air control hairspray.
If you have a Whole Foods near you, all of these products are available there!


Take a  look at it and let me know how it works! 

Electronic Exfoliators

Hey Everyone!

Today I wanted to talk about some advanced cleansing systems and foundations. I was talking to a cousin of mine and she said she is using the new Clarisonic Mia. Basically this is an electronic exfoliating system that really gets rid of dirt, residue, etc. on your face. This one is a bit expensive and retails for about $120. She also told me of another alternative called the Olay Pro-X cleansing system. This basically does the same thing but instead of $120 it is $30. It is smaller than the Clarisonic and has less functions, but it does the job. The one thing I like about this is that the brush rotates in a circular motion instead of just vibrating. I have been using it with my black soap every time I wear makeup and it completely removes everything. I think a Clarisonic is a good option if you are 20 years or older, but for right now I am completely happy with the Olay. You can purchase the Clarisonic online, Sephora, Ulta,etc. The Olay can be bought anywhere. Both of them are really good buys and leave your skin tight and fresh looking!

Now.. foundations!

Foundations are worn just to even out skin tones, and give a bit of coverage. I have started using Bare Minerals Matte foundation a while ago and have been completely happy with it. Its very sheer, natural looking, and doesn't feel cakey at all. The one drawback I found was that it wasn't covering some of the scars that I have. I thought about buying their concealer but, the shades didn't match my skin tone. I went looking for a concealer couple weeks ago and ended up going to the Origins counter in Macy's- always natural :). I picked out the Stay Tuned foundation and am using it as a concealer. It is very light, and has a slight smell to it that's very pleasant. I was looking for more of a dewy finish and this has been great. Another product I saw at the counter was something called Origins VitaZing Moisturizer. Basically it is white in color but when dabbed onto the skin it changes to suit your skin color. So it is like a sheer tinted moisturizer. I really wanted to purchase it but it is $35 :(. Will wait for a while to get it. Overall, Bare Escentuals and Origins are two companies that I strongly recommend. You can never go wrong with them. Just make sure you have someone put in on you and remember to match the foundation to the color of your neck so when you put in on your face, it blends seamlessly into your neck. 

http://www.origins.com/index.tmpl

https://www.bareescentuals.com/

Also, please leave me comments and suggestions as to what you would want to see me review!

                                                                                                                              -Krutika

Soaps/Cleansers

Good Morning!

Topic for today? Cleansers/soaps. I have tried every soap-free cleanser for my face and some of them have worked and others haven't. Two years ago when I went to India I started to develop little bumps on my forehead. I was kind of bummed because before that I would never get  pimples. But, I had to deal with it. My mother came across something called African Black soap and told me about it. I kid you not I have never looked back after using it. This basically dries out all of your pimples and ever erases your black scars. My sister started using it before I did and her skin has cleared up tremendously. One drawback with this is that it dries out your skin a little bit. But, if used with Shea butter it leaves your skin impeccably smooth. You might ask what Shea butter is. It is basically the fat extracted from the nut that comes from the Shea tree in Africa. I use it instead of a lotion and it leaves my dry skin hydrated for the entire day. It is a little thicker than normal creams and lotions but at least it is all 100% natural so no side effects what so ever! Feeling good about yourself is always important and I think girls always feel better when they have perfect skin. You can buy both of these products easily on Amazon. Just type in raw African Black Soap and Raw African Shea butter. You can buy the Grape seed oil and the Jojoba oil on Amazon or in Whole Foods. I recommend either the brand Now Foods or Heather Lorraine.So try it out and see how you like it. 

                                                                                                                                                 -Krutika

Fruit pack

Alrighty.. let's get started. I have combination skin, which is to say dry in some areas and oily in others. Skin, basically is our body's biggest organ. Keeping the face blemish less and smooth really is a challenge. A number of factors can affect this such as not eating the right food, too much stress, not using the right products,etc. I am a huge fan of Ayurvedic face packs as they are all natural and can be easily made at home. One that I tried out is with bananas, turmeric, oatmeal, honey, and a bit of lemon. I added the lemon to the mixture as lemon is a little acidic and it will help with pimples. The turmeric lightens hair on the face and gives it a nice glow.Basically mix all of them together and leave it on your face for about 15 minutes then wash it off. For a moisturizer I use grape seed oil mixed with a little bit of jojoba oil. Both of these are extremely light weight and penetrate easily into the skin. It does not feel like you have a layer on top of your skin as it completely absorbs it. I have been using these oils to moisturize my face daily for the last 5 months and they have been working wonders. I would probably not want to go back to any creams of that sort. Adding this fruit pack really gives your skin a light boost and a soft texture to it. Enjoy and let me know how it works!

                                                                                                                              -  Krutika

Hello Everyone,

So the reason for starting this blog.... I have suffered from eczema from the age of 5 years old. I have done numerous amounts of research and still continue to do so about what natural and organic products there are in the market that are suitable for me. I just could not contain all the info that I have collected so far and hence the reason for sharing this with you! I truly believe that your body is like a temple. Treat it with utmost care and and you will not be disappointed. I will try to be truly honest with my reviews about my skin care products/makeup. Please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion and does not mean that you have to follow my advice. I hope you enjoy the tips and reviews and your support  is kindly appreciated. 

                                                                                    love,

                                                                                        Krutika