Fashion Panache

Written by Bhushavali

I'm someone who could skip makeup completely except Kajal, Eyeliner and Lipbalm. More often than not, while just barging out of the house to run some chores or to go to the nearby shop (or even a far away shop), obviously I wouldn't bother to wear any makeup at all. I mean, think of it, in Chennai's sweltry heat at 40°C, while setting out at 11AM - 3PM, its just painful, even if its in an A/C car and any makeup is completely useless, as your blood is boiling and skin itself is melting!!!

Well, all I do is apply loads of sunscreen, kajal, eyeliner and lipbalm. Even if I don't bother to wear makeup I cannot skip my eyeliner and kajal. They are like the as necessary as moisturizer or sunscreen. For me, they aren't even makeup, they're essentials!

Once somebody asked me, if I use a liquid liner or gel liner? No, neither, ever since the eyeliners started coming in these twisty sticks, I've switched to those! Its the most convenient, spill proof, least messy and quick! I've tried several brands of these and a recent addition to this list is the New Maybelline Colossal 24 hrs Smudge Proof Deep Black Kajal!

The packaging is exactly the same like before with plastic outer case in yellow, perfectly travel friendly. This time its boosted with Aloe Vera, Vitamin C & E. This time its claims to have a Intense Black Fix Formula with deep mineral color which makes it stay smudge proof and water proof all day long.

So, did it live up to the expectation? If you've been following my Travel Blog, you might know that I was at Kabini for my birthday and there I went into Nagarhole National Park. Later on, I'm surviving the heat waves and sweltering weather of Chennai. I've been wearing this Kajal in both instances. In the dust and sweat of the jungle safari, and my constant rubbing of my eyes, it survived exceptionally well for atleast 10 hrs post which I washed off my face. Here, in Chennai's heat wave condition without A/C, the kajal stayed good for atleast 8 hrs without smudging (in the 2 sets of pictures above, each are in 8 hrs difference)! That's just unbelievable!!!

P.S: The product was gifted by the company for reviewing purpose, however the opinions are of my own experience and are this post does not to advertise the product.

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Written by Bhushavali

Last time (and only time) I put up selfies for OOTD in this blog was here. Whenever I'm alone without my guy or mom or friends to click decent pics of the outfits, I try my best by asking someone to click with my cam or by setting timer. Somehow this particular trip, I was out of luck in either ways. I couldn't take camera in hand when I visited this place and the place turned out to be a incredible heaven!!! All pics are with my dear old Oneplus One clicked by random strangers or selfies!!!!

The best part - this peacock chose to dance for his lady when I there!!!! Visual treat at its best. I was lucky to have been there at that point of time. I didn't want to disturb the romantic couple and tried to pose from a park bench nearby and gave the phone to a random stranger to click this shot! Then this was another peacock who was trying get food from kids, again shot by a random stranger! Whoever you guys are, if you're reading this, thanks fellas!!!!

Denim Tunic: Oxolloxo

Burgundy Faux Leather Trousers: Bonprix

Floral print Sneakers: New chic

Sunglasses: Received as gift

Terracotta Necklace & Earrings: c/o Sareez.com

As luck would continue, this Grey Heron also decided to pose perfectly for me. More about this place, Holland Park in Kensington, London coming up soon in My Travelogue. The place was ofcourse filled with tulips, as are all of the gardens here in London, in this gorgeous Spring season!

Base: My own concoction (post coming up soon)

Sunscreen: Biotique Red Sandalwood Sunscreen Lotion

Foundation: Mineral Hygienics in Medium Golden (review here)

Blush: Lakme Pure Blushes in Peach Affair

Eyeshadow: Coastal Scents 252 Ultimate Palette

Eyeliner: Mineral Hygienics in Raven (review here)

Eyebrows: Billion Dollar Brows (review here)

Lipstick: Lakme Aquashine Lipcolor in Wine (discontinued now!)

Btw, guess what, super good news!!! I've been selected in the weekly picks of Independent Fashion Bloggers and I'm incredibly happy!!!!!! Here's the list of picks.

Links à la Mode, May 26

Aaveplaneetta: A Make Up Hack for Pale Girls
Aesthetic Distance: Purple Majesty | My Tribute to Prince
A Glamorous Revelation: What Happens When Your Favorite Blogger Takes a Break
Anti.Muse Fashionriot: What Would Your Muse be?
Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: {Fashion Folio} Free Spirit
Elements of Ellis: White on White on White
Everest Says: The Bomber Jacket
The Fashionista Momma: White Jeans and Stripes
Fashion Panache: Travel Style | Vintage Shrug & Crystal Jewelry
Happy.Pretty.Sweet: 4 Ways to Style a Chambray Shirt
Have Clothes, Will Travel: Outfit Remix | 1 Midi Skirt Styled 4 Ways
Life in the Fash Lane: Summer Print Series | Tropical
Lucy Van Dean: Is It Summer Already?
Megan-Rose: Dr. Martens | The Pastel Collection
Ms. FABulous: Parsons Fashion Show 2016 | The Dreamers
MySelf Expressed: Chambray Palazzo Pants
Prime Butterfly: Iconic Men’s Fashion in Music
Quaintrelle Georgiana: Fashion Forecasting
Tales of Two: Autumn Day Trip | Mt. Wilson
Vanity and Me: Project Sister Act

SPONSOR for IFB weekly picks: Amazon's Shopbop L*Space, KENDALL + KYLIE Dresses, Vince Shoes, Loup Charmant, Anna K, Guanabana, Striped Tops, Chambray Dresses, White Skirts, Men's McQ - Alexander McQueen

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visit my online store at www.bhushavali.com

Written by Bhushavali

I recently got some M.A.C cosmetics from House of Fraser. Here's a little review and FOTD of the same! Btw, there is no M.A.C Counter at all House of Fraser outlets, but if you know your shade, its available online with some good offers!

The first one is the MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer. It comes in a little pot with transparent top. It has a creamy consistency which I think is best applied with fingers than a brush. I prefer a twister stick packaging more because of its more hygienic and less messy. In this case, I prefer to pick up and apply the product with a brush, but blend it with fingers. I do this because, with the warmth of fingers, the products melts and blends very very well.
I prefer my concealer to be a shade lighter than my foundation color. So I opted for a NC35. It works well both on undereyes as well as spots. And its consistency is so so so creamy and perfect that it blends really really well. Again when its too creamy going a bit heavy, will make it look cake-y! It has a SPF 35, but I don't think it makes sense. I mean, a concealer is not applied all over the face, but sun protection is needed all over the face.

The second product is the MAC Studio Fix Liquid Foundation. My shade in Chennai was NC42. Coming here to London, when the sun hardly comes out, I've become NC41. Its a thick liquid. The coverage is beyond thinkable! Its just splendid. A teeny weeny bit is enough to give a complete coverage. And on photos the face looks flawless and almost porcelain! This is not the foundation if you want light coverage! This is a really heavy coverage foundation!! Here the 1st pic is my bare face with just my moisturizer. Yup, that is my face with no makeup at all!!! 2nd pic is with just the concealer around the eyes, and covering those spots and the 3rd pic with concealer and foundation.

However there are 2 negative points. One, its smell, just reminds me of hospital! Its a very medical smell that you get when you open to bottle. However after applying it doesn't smell. Perhaps all of its preservatives! Two, its dispenser. The pump dispenser meant for it is sold separately. So if you won't pay for it, you literally have tilt the bottle a bit to dispense a tiny bit on your hand! But I guess with the flawless look that it gives, these points can be looked upon!
That said, how much do these differ my tried and tested and loving Revlon Photoready??? Honestly, not too much!!!

Moisturizer: My own concoction! Will share a post on that soon.

Concealer: M.A.C Studio Finish SPF 35 in NC35 c/o House of Fraser

Foundation: M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NC41 c/o House of Fraser
Lipstick: Lakme Aquashine in Wine
Blush: Lakme Rouge in Peach Affair
Eyeshadow: Coastal Scents 252 Ultimate Palette
Eyeliner: Mineral Hygienics in Raven (reviewed here)
Eyebrows: Billion Dollar Brows (reviewed here)
Necklace: c/o Nadia Minkoff
Outfit Post on this coming up soon!

Btw, when it comes to the effectiveness of a product to make the skin look flawless, how else can it be tested than over a tattoo! That's my tattoo as it is and with the concealer & foundation over it! It has become very very light though not completely vanished, but hey, come on that's a black tattoo. Final word - love the products!

P.S: The product was gifted by the company for reviewing purpose, however the opinions are of my own experience and are this post does not to advertise the product.

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visit my online store at www.bhushavali.com

Written by Bhushavali

One thing that has always scared me in international travel is currency conversions. Its so disheartening for Asians! For just 1 Euro or GBP, equivalent Asian currency is pretty high with which a lot can be bought!!! The opposite is painful - for Asians to tour in Europe or America its way too costly!

Simple thing - in India, in some good beauty parlors (like Green Trends or Naturals), the cost of eyebrow and upper lip threading comes to about Rs.50. Waxing full arms & legs costs about Rs.700. That's about GBP 7, Euro 9, USD 10. Here in London, a good quality parlor charges about GBP 10 for just eyebrow threading!!!!!!!! So yeah, moving to London, for the first time in life, I've started to shape my own eyebrows.............

Somehow, thanks to youtubers, I watched a few before actually holding the tweezers against my eyebrows and I think I do a decent job. Anyways, my eyebrows are a bit along the midpoint in density. Half of the brow is dense (thanks to dad), and second half is light (thanks to mom). Esp., after wearing concealer & foundation, the second half of eyebrow pretty much becomes toooo light which calls for a decent eyebrow makeup as well. The Billion Dollar Brows is a very special brand of cosmetics that specializes in products just for eyebrows. I got to review 2 of their kits, and here's the review.

The 60 Seconds to Beautiful Brows Kit is definitely an essential for me. The kit is basic - dual ended brow brush and eyebrow powder. The color of the powder is Taupe which suits almost all skintones and hair colors. It has a chic packaging like MAC eyeshadow. The powder is very very fine making the application easy and flawless. There is no fall-off. The dual ended brush has one typical brush end to apply the powder and another mascara wand end to comb the brows. As the name suggests, this is perfect for OTG, everyday makeup.

The Best Sellers Kit, on the other hand is a more extensive range of products that is necessary for that flawless look. The kit consists of 4 products - Universal Brow Pencil, Brow Duo Pencil, Brow Gel & Smudge Brush.

The Universal Brow Pencil is very similar to the brow powder, but in a pencil form. It is dual ended with an automatic twister pencil which is personally my favourite in packaging any cosmetics, on one end and a mascara wand on another end to comb the brows. Its also the taupe color. The best factor here is that you can draw hair-like strokes to fill the eyebrows unlike the powder. The above images are untreated combed eyebrows and with strokes using brow pencil.

The Brow Duo Pencil has 2 very creamy formulas of a concealer & highlighter in a pencil form. After making the eyebrows bold, the next task is to make it stand out and that's where this comes into the scene. Applying the Highlighter on the brow bone and blending it with the smudge brush would define the shape of the eyebrows perfectly. However my only disadvantage was, no matter how much I smudged, the color of the highlighter was way too light for my skintone and did leave a white cast. However it does serve as a good primer for my eyeshadows. Above are further enhanced brows with brow powder and un-blended highlighter.

Here's after blending the highlighter and the final look after applying the gel. The final product was the Brow Gel, which is almost like a transparent mascara with the mascara wand! It is to fix everything in place and it does its job pretty well and the brow stays put for an entire day!

And that's the first & last look of my eyebrows and Billion Dollar Brows definitely does a good job! On my skin are Revlon Photo Ready Concealer, Revlon Photo Ready Foundation and Mineral Hygienics Foundation.
Btw, now that you know this product is awesome, here is a chance to get in for free if you win this giveaway!

P.S: The product was gifted by the company and the review is sponsored, however the opinions are of my own experience and are this post does not to advertise the product.

Follow me on Google Plus, Bloglovin', Networked Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest!!!

visit my online store at www.bhushavali.com

Written by Bhushavali