Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Our FINAL verdict on Nivea Men Post Shave Balm as Makeup Primer

Hello Ladies how are you all doing? So I finally have a opinion on using "Nivea Men Post Shave Balm" as Makeup primer after giving it chance in different seasons. We all are aware of the shift that covered whole makeup community after NikkieTutorials discovered that any usual primer and Nivea Men PSB has the main ingredients in common. So definitely I had to try it myself too.
I have combination skin but it tends to get really oily and shiny on T-zone area after two to three hours without any primer, except for that I have dry skin on area of my cheeks, forehead and around lips.
Front
Back
Ingredients


My Experience:
I first used it in summers, like in June or July and MANNNNN it was a mess. Firstly I didn't like the feel of it, it was so wet and sticky which also doesn't seem to get absorb. It didn't last for a hour tbh and it was itchy all over my face, my foundation disappeared and what not. So, my first experience was super bad. I still kept it in my collection to see if it will work in winters.
So in the coldest days of winter this January 2017 when I initially applied it I felt so hydrating on skin and I actually liked it as it didn't make my face oily or shiny during day and I thought may be I was wrong as it IS a good primer substitute. Now this week when the temperature is increasing gradually in Lahore and I applied it with two different foundation which are my go-to foundations for work and YES!! you guessed it right, it separated my foundation and made my T-zone oily within an hour.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
It can't be used as regular primer as it doesn't fill up pores or made them blur because it doesn't have silicon in it. It does feel hydrating but only if you have super dry skin and its chilly outside. And Sana says it balls up her foundation especially Estee Lauder one. It separates the foundation within hour. For me and Sana it was basically a mess, I probably will stick to my Benefit Pore Professional for events and Flamor Primer or any other for daily use, even my Neutrogena Sun Screen holds up my foundation well than Nivea Man PSM. I don't say Nikkie's claim is wrong, may be the temperature in her country allows her to use it but if you are in Pakistan and you are planning to use it, it isn't your thing honey!! (as far we believe).

I wouldn't recommend it to ANYONE..........EVER. But if it does suit than good for you :)

Regards,
Maria Naz.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

ESSENCE Bloggers' Beauty Secret Reveal

Hello ladies how are you all doing? If you are following us on Instagram you would know we attended Essence "Bloggers' Beauty Secret" Reveal on 28th Jan, 2017. We were invited by the Dear Anam who manages Essence cosmetics in Pakistan.

There were basically four palettes by four different bloggers accompanied with a nail polish. Below are some of the swatches we took of different shades in palettes


Vintage Rose by Palmira from beautypalmira
The Glow must go on by Serena Verbon from beautylab
Touch up to go by Diana Lowen from dfashion
Shapes and Shadow by Mary Oliver from strikeapose
On the event
They were also goodie bags for the bloggers which contained the PR sample of one these palettes. Me and Sana picked up different palettes and I took "Vintage Rose Palette" and Sana was drawn to "The Glow must go on".
Inside the Goodie Bag
Your's truly  Sane and Maria on the event



We will post our detailed review on products after using them but on basis of the swatches these seem like reasonable products. 
The products are available on their Face book page 

Regards,
Makeup Beasties.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Packing Make Up for a Wedding.

Hello ladies how are you all doing. From quite few years I have been attending weddings only in Lahore and I pretty much did forget how to pack makeup essentials when going out to a distant wedding. Recently I went to wedding to a distant place (Near Azad Kashmir to be precise) and had to pack for all three days. After deciding clothes and shoes I had to decide what makeup essentials I am going to pack and DAMNNNNNN!!! how tough that was. So in today's post I will be listing down few things that I did and I skipped, to give you all a heads up on how to be ready to survive fiercely and beautifully.


1- Hair Products: First thing first pack your blow dryer, Straightner, Dry Shampoos (No you don't need to wash your hair daily in winter unless you packed them with hair firming sprays last day), Shampoos, Hair serums (I go for Argan Oil of Morocco, its a dry oil and makes your hair soft and frizz free without greasing them) and Combs and brushes you use. Hair pins and styling tools you will need.


2- Face Wash: Take the face wash you use on daily base and don't expect your host will have any, because even if they have chances are they might not suit you or they don't have any altogether (who knows). I did take a mild one but I now think that I should have taken the one with smalls beads tp clean pores and for soft scrubbing to remove any dryness.


3- Moisturizer: Pack your body lotion as you don't want to have itchy and flaky legs/arms right? And a non greasy/oily face moisturizer. It is also recommended to take a night cream (if you aren't afraid of heavy bags) to make your face hydrated for night so you can have soft skin in the morning, I didn't take any btw and I think I should have because my skin was so dry when I wasn't wearing makeup and not to mention I got dry patches too due to extreme cold weather there :(


4- Brushes and Primers: Start packing in the sequence in which you put your makeup. Pack the brushes first for all face and eyes need. Pack face primer and eyelid primer too to make that makeup last longer.


5- Foundations and Concealers: Now pack foundations and concealers according to your need. I will suggest you to not try a new thing on the main event, if you have purchased anything new for wedding, try using it week before for a day or two to see if it really works for you. I didn't take any color correcting palette but I will recommend taking one as pimples and rashes only appear on days you don't want them too (Duh!!)




6- Setting powders, Contouring palettes, Blush and Highlighter: You need to fix that foundation with a setting powder, then you need a contour palette and bronzer. Maximum two blush colors are enough to three days events. And one or two highlighter. I will suggest you to go for palettes that have two pans, either blush/bronzer or blush/highlighter, it not only saves space in bag but also the time to open separate products individually. I took everything separately btw.



7-Eyes and Lips: That was the most complex part for me honestly as I didn't know what to take and what looks I will be doing that day. I took Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye contour palette for matte shades and NAKED 2 for subtle shimmer shades, and 2 Colorpop single eye shadows for pop of golden or copper shadow. What I missed was colors, I forgot to take any colorful eye shadows (how dumb, right?) I will suggest you to take single shadows and put them in Z-palette, or any palette which has ALL the mattes, foiled, colors and transition shades.
Pack basic lip liners, one or two (dark pink/red and a natural pink). Lipsticks that will work with the look you are planning. I took Colorpop Lyin King, Love Life and a dark pink Medora lipstick, I missed nude/ browns or any lighter shade which I regretted later as my lip colors were kind of same three days.
Don't forget to pack your lip balm, eyeliner, mascara, eyelash curler, fake lashes (& glue) and eyebrow essentials (which ever you use).


8- Setting Sprays, Wet wipes and Perfumes: Set your makeup with makeup setting spray to make it last longer and don't forget to take your perfume. Keep wet wipes handy too to fix any makeup mishap that may happen and to take off makeup at day end.

9-Nail Polishes and Jewellery: If you are getting ready at home its ok, but if you have to travel I will suggest you to take one nail color that suits with all your dresses, I used a glittery Golden/ Dull golden nail polish and it worked out well with all my three events. Pack your jewellery keeping dresses in mind and keep it closer to your makeup bag so you don't forget putting it on (I did forget to, lol).


10- Miscellaneous: If it is a winter wedding don't forget to pack your inner garments, sweaters, shawls and socks for time you will spend at home.

So guys that how you will have a big bag ready for the wedding in the land far far away :p. Make sure to start getting ready atleast 2 hours before the specified time to save your self from frustration and hurry( which means more blunders). Keep the lipstick you applied and compressed setting powder in your clutch for touch ups after wedding food.


Have fun at the wedding and keep yourself hydrated and happy. :)

Disclaimer:
1-All images are from google.
2-I may or may not have missed something which you do in your routine so please forgive me.


With Love,
Maria

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

How To Tackle "Blackheads" Issue?

Hello Ladies how are you all? Does this ever happen to you that you open YouTube to listen to a song and two hours later you are watch Dr Pimple Popper and feeling disgusted and satisfied at the same time? :p Well this did happen with me all the time, the little part of me feel so satisfied to see all the gunk removed from its core. From last week I was planning to write something relating that as I also do have this issue and wish to find a magical potion to clear my black heads and clogged pores (who doesn't? Duh!!!).


What are "black heads" and why this sorcery happens to us ?


A blackhead is a pore clogged with a mixture of dead skin cells. face oils and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acne). Unlike a white head (a closed comedo),a blackhead is open at the skin's surface and exposure to air cause this pile of gunk to oxidise and turn black, which makes it really tempting to mess with.

I will be listing down few methods by which you can avoid or reduce them:

Make Salicylic Acid your best buddy:
For blackheads removel make salicylic acid your best friend. It is commonly found in some easily available acne treatment product, the ingredients of which gently helps skin-cell turnover which means dead skin removal which unclog the pores. Layer in once or twice a day with products with the concentration of salicylic acid between .5 to 2% in them on your blackhead area. Face washes are most convenient products that can be used twice daily like Neutrogena's Oil- Free Acne Wash or Olay Fresh Effects Acne Control Face Wash. Then apply a spot treatment like Clean and Clear Advantage Acne spot treatment or medicated tinted moisturizer like Aveeno clear Complexion BB cream. The longer it stays the better it works but make sure not to over-do it  if your skin is sensitive. If it causes dryness, tightness or patchiness on your skin, reduce the concentration of Salicyclic acid. You need to do this twice a week minimum and 4 times a week maximum for full benefit.


Lower use of Benzyl Peroxide:
Benzyl Peroxide is used to treat moderate to mild acne, when applied to skin it reduce acne causing bacteria and peel the skin after drying. If you are thinking to use it to treat blackheads just don't. Blackheads are open on the surface and Benzyl peroxide will not be effective on them infact it will dry out the skin and over usage of it actually is toxic to collagen in skin cells. Some of the Benzyl Peroxide containing Products are


Exfoliate Exfoliate:
Exfoliating regularly is key to keeping blackheads in check, since it removes dead skin cells that could clog pores, A gentle face scrub or gentle peel off masks once or twice a week for extra exfoliation (Freeman has some really good peel off masks, i will review some soon).


Let the brush do the work:
If you always wanted to try on Clarisonic, this is your chance. Washing your face with a mechanical skin brush not only help fight against blackheads but also deep cleanse and penetrate active ingredients into your skin of any of your favourite scrub. Some of the best options provided by experts are Clarisonic and Olay ProX Microdermabrasion kit. Make sure you clear your brush heads clean often.

Take off your makeup for heaven's sake:
While sleeping in with your makeup on may sound convenient but you are basically inviting blackheads to invade on your skin. The makeup mix up with oils on your face and cause gunked-up pores. If possible do wash your face as soon you step in house if not use makeup wipes to remove every residue of makeup. Also stop touching your face all the time, the more you touch it the more you are pushing the oils and dirt into your skin and you guess it, more blackheads and blocked pores.

Never stop Moisturizing:
Who wants dry flaky skin? I know, no one. Never forget to moisturize, but look out for formulas which are not oil based but have Aqua in ingredients and those who doesn't clog pores. Avoid super greasy products like petroleum jelly or any silicone based product which creates a film on your skin, it traps moisturizer as well as dead skin cells, oil and bacteria.


Anti Wrinkle Creams are savior:
Retinol products are usually associate with anti-aging benefits but they could be recognized for their black head busting properties. These products keep turning over your skin efficiently but you need to be persistent and patient to see the results.


Pore strips phenomena:
With no doubt every one wants to use pore strips atleast once especially after seeing so many videos on your facebook timeline. Well they don't necessarily prevent blackheads but they magically pull out all the crap in your pores which is SO satisfying. But limit its usage to once a week maximum as it leaves the pores open unless you do something to close it. But use it as per described on box and dont use it if you have sensitive, flaky or bruised skin.

Consult someone who knows:
Sometime you have to rely on people who know more instead of relying on DIYs. If you have any skin condition or your skin is reactive to little changes, do consult a dermatologist for prescribing you treatment method according to your skin type and need. Get facials, steams and treat yourself with the best you deserve.

Disclaimers:
1) All images are from google
2) I by no means am suggesting you specified products, make sure to do your own research before using.
3) Every skin has it sensitivity level, make sure to know yours before testing anything.

Regards,
Maria.