Waterproof Mascara vs Regular Mascara!!

Monsoons are here!!

Soon you'll have those frizzy hair, oily skin, stinky odor and Raccoon Eyes!!:) Rains bring so much joy with them but at the same time brings the most embarrassing beauty problems too.

Being that you will be outdoors in your spare time or indoors, it is important to pick the most perfect and long lasting makeup for this season.

So, To make things little easier for you I have researched some basic differences between a waterproof and regular mascara to determine the better choice for the monsoons!!

Read on to find out which type of mascara is good for you!!

                                

# WATERPROOF MASCARA

Pros-

The obvious difference is that it is resistant to water and tears.(Because you never know when you will cry or get caught in rain, it is good to apply waterproof mascara ;)). It delivers a major amount of volume and length which defines eyes beautifully, It is long lasting by that I mean it gives a benefit of being able to apply only once and not having to worry about it for the rest of the day, safe to use on lenses too. The price difference between regular and waterproof mascara is minimal so that eliminates one factor when deciding which type to purchase.

Cons-

They contain stronger chemicals to make this happen. These chemicals can be harsh and drying to your lashes, causing them to become brittle and damaged,  a lot tricker to remove, which can lead to rubbing and pulling of the eyes when struggling to take it off if a makeup remover isn't used. (So, remove it with a good oil based remover only). Also, The formulation of waterproof mascara is thicker and more prone to clumping, so coat your lashes layer by layer until the mascara dries up else your eyelash will suffer.;(

# REGULAR MASCARA-

Pros-

They are so much easy to remove. Thus, healthier for lashes to not have to scrub at them ferociously to remove the product, cheaper than waterproof ones, doesn't contain chemicals which can thin down the lashes and as many coats as required can be applied throughout the day as it doesn't clump.

Cons-

Sad but true that this mascara can embarrass you by giving those raccoon eyes if comes in contact with water or tears. So, sadly not good for those pool parties. Cannot hold the eyelash curl longer and also looks pretty natural not as dramatic and intense as a waterproof mascara looks.

RECOMMENDATION-

Wear waterproof mascara when you are spending the day out like beaches and all, to avoid smudging of mascara and use a regular one when indoors (air conditioned in monsoons) like offices, etc.

So it really doesn’t matter if your mascara is from a drugstore brand (Maybelline or L’Oreal) or from a high-end one (Lancome or Dior). Just remember to use the right type of mascara!!

Do let me know if it worked for you or not!

Keep smiling

Love

Sakshi S

How to get rid of puffy eyes- 5 simple home remedies!!

Waking up with puffy eyes can be really irritating when you have a big day ahead. Puffy eyes are one of the most common beauty problems.

         Puffy eyes vs Normal eyes

                                   

Puffy eyes is nothing but an ordinary swelling and discoloration around the eyes which is caused due to excessive accumulation of fluids, called edema, that can be quite prominent because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin in the body.

This can occur due to excessive crying, excessive physical stress, hormonal changes in the body, over consumption of salt, changes in weather, dehydration, aging, bad diet, lack of sleep and some allergic reaction. Resulting in you looking ill, tired and older than your age :(

But not to worry, I have some few fixes for your beauty problem-

1. Water - Drinking water is the easiest way to get rid of puffy eyes. When we keep are body well hydrated, there is less chance of water retention as it flushes out the toxins from the body resulting in no swelling to the skin under your eyes.

Fix - Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. 
- Reduce salt intake which will automatically reduce water retention.
- Also, avoid caffeinated and carbonated beverages that can be dehydrating.

2. Cold Spoon - This remedy not only relaxes the 
blood vessels (relief from puffiness) but also tighten up the skin around your eyes. 

Fix- Take 2 metal spoons and keep/chill them in your refrigerator overnight. Place the bowls of the spoons over your eyelids for few minutes until the spoon becomes warm. The sharp cold of the metal will revive tired eyes and may boost your energy at the same time.

3. Cucumber - This remedy not only heals puffy eyes but also helps in getting rid of wrinkles and dark circles around your eyes as the astringent properties present in cucumbers helps in reducing inflammation and tighten and lighten the skin.



Fix- Cut a few slices of cold cucumber (refrigerated one!), lie down, and put a slice over each eye for 30 minutes. Once you’re up, your eyes will be brighter and your body refreshed.

4. Tea Bags - Tea bag remedy is the long used method by grandmothers and runaway models for reducing eye puffiness. Be it green tea or black tea bags, both helps in soothing the irritated eyes as the caffeine present in them contains natural tannins which helps in reducing the swelling around eyes. 

Fix- Soak 2 tea bags in warm water and then chill them in refrigerator for like 30 minutes, then lie down and place them over your eyelids. Leave them for around 15 minutes and repeat. And, here you go amazingly fresh!!

                                                   

5. Potatoes - Just like cucumbers, potatoes are also effective in getting rid of puffy eyes and lighten the dark circles. Basically, the starch present in potatoes has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce under-eye bags. 

Fix - Wash and dry a potato, then slice it down in circular shape. Now, place this sliced potato directly over your eyelids for a few minutes and repeat until you shoo away your puffiness ;)

So, Now you know how you can get those flawless looking eyes in zero investment yet permanently.

Try out and see the difference!!

Keep smiling

Love

Sakshi S

xoxo :)

Let´s talk about- Gel Nails / Permanent Nail Art

It was my engagement, I thought I’d put in a bit more effort to look my best. So, I decided to go for some arty nails, I went to a nail art salon just near my place to get it done.

Since I have never done anything like this before (both nail art and gel nails, in fact I have never grown my nails properly) lol!! but I decided to give it a go this time. I was so satisfied and happy with them that I thanked the guy (who did the nail art) like 100 times;)

My gel nails!

But the sad part was that they did not tell me any of the disadvantages, until I found out myself!

Firstly, I want to start this post by saying I personally haven´t conducted any scientific research on this subject. I´ve simply tried to examine the facts and help you know about it in details on what I´ve found.

Here, I go-

What are the benefits?

• Last a lot longer- Soak-off Gel lasts from 2-3 weeks with no chipping.
• Dry instantly- The UV light dries the polish within minutes which means no wait, no smudging, no dents. 
• Easy to design absolutely anything- You can create some fabulous nail designs.
• Works on natural nails- It works well on short nails too while you can add extensions to it.
• You can layer polish on top – If you want to change your color mid-manicure, you can. Paint right over Soak-Off Gel with regular nail polish and remove it with non-acetone remover... whooaaaa!! 
• No filing required- No need to file nails for three weeks or more...yay!! 

What are the negatives?

• High cost – Permanent nail art service is more costly than a traditional manicure as it can only be applied by a professional.
• Nail growth shows – If you choose a dark, solid color, by week two, growth will be very apparent. But if you opt for a transparent one like mine you can free yourself from this.
• Time – Getting a permanent nail art manicure can take much longer than a traditional one. Especially if you are using a dark color. In the case of dark colors, I’ve heard you need quite a few coats to get it the right color.
• Removal – Removing is kind of difficult as you need to visit the salon again for removing it in the mid way.
• Weak nail beds- The scraping from the nails tends to weaken the nail beds, which can lead to breakage (which is apparently more painful):(

        So to avoid it we need to follow some precautions (listed below).

What precautions needs to be taken?

In this procedure, nails are actually dead to begin with, so they don't need to breathe! 

Thus, we need to be little careful and easy on them during this phase -

• Base coat- Always apply a base coat before a nail paint on them.
• Avoid stains- If you are into kitchen work and more likely to have stains like turmeric, etc (especially for Indian girlies, like me) , clean it with a non- acetone remover first and then with water otherwise chances are that stains also becomes permanent like the art!! :)
• During pregnancy- It is safe to wear gel nails while you are pregnant, as long as you take precautions when having them applied and removed as the gel contains some chemicals which can cause allergies.

Nail art is a big topic to discuss but I guess this much information is enough for any girl to decide on it. 

Bdw, I got this done From - Galleria, Gurgaon.
                                    In - Rs 2800/-
                                   Lasted - 4 weeks
                                    Took - 3 Hrs

I was pretty happy with the results and I'am even more happy now with my nails because I have grown them back with so much love and care...;) There they are-

Meanwhile I would like to hear from you. Who had gel nails before and what has been your experience with them? Would you ever consider getting them? 

 Love 

Sakshi S

5 Easy Office Makeup Tips

Hello Beautiful!

When you have hundreds of tasks in the morning, like dressing up your kids for school, preparing breakfast for them, milkman knocking at the door, maids fighting and so on (never ending list), and you are madly rushing here and there, breaking things on your way. In such situations, how can one expect to get that perfect presentable look. To save you from waking up early for the makeup, here are few quick tips that can make you look beautiful and perfect everyday at office, that too without sucking much time. Yes, all you need is just 10 minutes and Woohoo….you are done!!

Getting a presentable look for office can be tricky if few things are not taken care of. It should be natural, understated yet classy.

So here you go with 5 quick and easy office makeup tips:

1. Keep the base natural -

A natural look is always in fashion and perhaps one of the most obvious ways to look real. Choose a good multi purpose base for your skin which conceals, hydrates & lightens at once (saves a lot of time) like our very own BB creams, tinted moisturizers or light concealers. It does not only give a flawless base but also a well polished look. Stop using foundations if they are in your daily routine as they are highly pigmented and they clog the pores of skin completely, depriving it from breathing. For Ex: If you’re wearing a skin mask, it eventually results in breakouts. Treat your skin well and your skin will never embarrass you.

Try such heavy products very occasionally!!

Also read, How to get flawless skin

2. Pamper your eyes in the right manner -

“Eyes speak a lot”. Your eyes speak more than your lips. So, wearing eye makeup should be upto the mark i.e. it should neither be too lazy nor too distracting.

An office look demands a clean and crisp eyeliner/ kohl look (no smokey eyes, please). Use a thin/ thick stroke of kajal or eyeliner with neutral Matte eyeshadows (only if you want) but no glitters at all.  Honestly, I am not a fan of using eyeshadows on a daily basis. Complete the look with mascara and Yay! your eyes look popped up and fresh.

3. Make your lips look decent -

Lips play an important role in giving you the complete look. Choose nude shades or soft pink/orange tints (as your complexion and attire demands) and you rock! You can also try some serious colours but keep the peppy experiments for your evening bash only as you don’t want to disturb the whole look. Right??

4. Blush your cheeks rosy -

“You make me blush”, Doesn’t that happen to you? Ofcourse yes!

Anything which pleases us or makes us smile gives this rosy effect naturally. Wow, so beautiful.

Similarly, the blusher is, an artificial way of blushing the cheeks as you look pale otherwise. Apply a few gentle strokes of peach/ pink blusher for a warm look. Avoid using dark shades for the day look.

Also read, 10 makeup mistakes with the fixes

5. Brush your hair neatly -

A complete blended look requires right amount of makeup, minimum accessories, correct colours, comfortable classy shoes and Neat Hair.

I am emphasizing on hair more because hair plays an important role for a well groomed look. Trust me, I am not talking about those fancy braids, buns or curls but a simple clean and straight brushing through the hair.. and you are ready.  Enjoy your power look in the meetings, VCs, presentations or lunches with confidence and smile.

Hope these tips bring a big time change in your life at office and home together.

Stay happy and Stay Beautiful :)

Cheers!!

Sakshi Sharma

(makeupbysakshi)

10 Makeup Mistakes You Don't Realize You're Making!!

There are times in your life when you look back over your Facebook photos and cringe at the sight of your face. I know this because I’ve done it many times. And then a thought immediately attacks, “What was I thinking going out in that overloaded makeup/blush that took over my whole cheek or wearing that over tanned foundation?”

We all make mistakes when we are learning and that’s okay. Either you improved upon those mistakes immediately (that’s great) or you are still committing them everyday without even realizing it.

Here are 10 of them- with the fixes, I promise.

1. Using a SPF based foundation for flash photography

Do you know SPF based products have the tendency to reflect light off of your face (to protect you from harsh sun) and thus, you get that ghost like picture when you get yourself photographed in flash.

Fix- Never wear SPF based products (creamy, liquid or powdery) in the night or for photography for those classy pictures..:)

                                       

2. Pulling mascara straight through the lashes

One wrong practice of applying eye makeup is pulling mascara straight through the lashes. This neither gives a good coat nor curl to them.

Fix- You need to give them the deserving volume and length by wiggling the wand horizontally through the upper lashes as you pull it up in small strokes (making little “Z” shapes) and vertically through lower lashes (moving in and out:))  
 

3. Wearing too much glittery and shimmery products

I understand shimmery eyeshadows attract more than matte eyeshadows, but putting them all over the eyelids can be overwhelming, especially if you have oily skin. Too much shine!! Eeeks :(

Fix- Save the glitters for the inner corners of your eyes and apply a matte eyeshadow for the rest. You can also use a light highlighter for the brow bone to make the eyebrows look higher and eyes popped up.

                     

4. Applying Makeup In the wrong light

Most of us use the unnatural light of our washroom/bedroom mirrors for makeup every morning.  It’s not wrong. But if you haven’t taken a look at your makeup anywhere else other than your very own trusted washroom mirror, you might end up surprised looking at your lipstick, eyeshadow, foundation as they won’t appear as flattering as you hoped.

Fix-  Use correct light in mornings and nights accordingly, preferably natural light.

5. Over- washing your face

Beauty starts with great skin, and to achieve that we sometimes overdo certain things like washing our face plenty of times during the day. Over washing your face can turn the skin dry and flaky as you are robbing your skin’s natural oil. Dryness results in uneven foundation finish.

Fix- Instead of using face washes, foams or cleansers many times, simply wash your face with plain water (even if you want 100 times ;))

     

Also, Read Basic routine for a flawless skin for gorgeous skin.

6. Not doing the eyebrows

Not filling those eyebrows after a well learnt makeup can turn you down. Eyebrows play an important feature for enhancing the overall look and structure of the face. Not doing it can make you look hilarious (see in picture) as foundation tends to lighten the eyebrow hairs which eventually looks like no eyebrow face. OMG!! (I’m sure nobody wants that)

Fix- Never step out without doing your eyebrows (with colour matching your hair) after doing the makeup.

   

7.  Pulling your eye back while applying an eyeliner

Another wrong habit practiced by lot of women is pulling their eyes back while applying an (winged) eyeliner. It not only breaks down the sensitive skin and elasticity around the eyes but also result in a horribly uneven kohl line when the skin is released.

Fix- Leave your skin loose and relaxed or stretch your eyebrows from the top for the application.
Practice is the key:)

 

8.  Using loose powder on whole face

Powders are meant to seal the shiny look on the face but if used in excess on complete face can make you look patchy and dry with the wrinkle lines shining (You aren’t that old! right?)

Fix- Use a thin layer of loose powder on the T- Zone (See the pic) of your face (or places which shine a lot) for oily skin and pat a thin layer of pressed powder for dry skin.

9. Blush applied in “To and Fro” motion

Nobody chooses to look like a clown but few mistakes can make us look like one. One such mistake is applying blush in  “To and fro“ motion that can give your cheeks that extra redness (so loud ;-)).

Fix- Apply it in a circular motion to the apples of your cheeks (the lifted round zones that are created when you smile) and blend it outward towards your hairline for a natural look :)

10. Using dark colors on lips and eyes at same time

“ Oh! Your makeup looks so loud.”, do you get such kind of comments? Then, my dear you really need to know the truth that even though you might not be overloading your face with makeup but you might be coloring your eyes and lips with dark colors at the same time which makes you look loud and flooded with products.

Fix- So, girlies! Never-to-forget that flaunting one feature at a time (lips/eyes) and going with neutral colors for the other (until and unless your occasion demands those dark tints) looks pretty amazing.

I hope you start putting these tips to use soon for a stunning look.

Cheers
Sakshi Sharma