7 Classic Beauty Looks to try This New Year's Eve

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   As the season shifts into high gear, so begins the prime time of year for family dinners & themed parties. With so many events to attend, now is the perfect time to try out a bold (but classic) new beauty look that'll be sure to turn heads.

   Even though these looks require a little extra effort, I know all my readers can pull off these bold beauty moves with ease. Read on for 7 gorgeous beauty looks to try this season.

7 Handbag Essentials to Combat Winter Beauty Woes

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   The transition from November to December has been a chilly one. I had to break out my sweater & scarf this week & I'll probably wear them daily for the next few weeks.

   Along with my wardrobe transition, I decided to update the contents of my handbag. My skin isn't taking the cool weather transition well, so I stocked up on products that'll keep my skin hydrated. And then I thought, why not share my winter handbag essentials to combat dry skin with all of you? Who says you can't have glowing skin in December???

   1. Hand Cream

   My hands are my everything because they display my favorite accessory, my manicure. Dry hands don't look good on anyone & can be especially bad if you're trying to grow your nails. Dry hands tend to crack & can make it easier for you to pick up germs which you can easily transfer to eyes, nose & mouth. Perpetually dry skin can also lead to premature aging. I ♥ Kama Ayurveda Hand Cream: it's a non-greasy cream that's enriched with buffered alpha hydroxy to gently exfoliate while it moisturizes. Use it every time you wash or sanitize your hands & be sure to massage the cream into your cuticles & between your fingers.

   2. Lip Balm

   The only thing you want less than dry hands is chapped lips. Talk about a cramp in your style!! Besides, chapped lips make it hard to get a great application of that deep berry or wine lipstick you'll probably be wearing all season. Keep lips moisturized & kissable soft by using Maybelline New York Baby Lips Lip Balm with SPF 20. It smells heavenly & is antioxidant rich to hydrate & condition your pout to perfection.

   3. Hand Sanitizer

   It's flu/cold season & while I hate to point it out, some people are kind of gross. They sneeze & cough in open air, don't wash their hands after using the bathroom & a myriad of other disgusting things. Be sure to sanitize your hands every time you touch a public surface & after sneezing & coughing or any other activity that may cause your hands to get germy. Always wash or sanitize your hands right before eating or touching your eyes/face. I like Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer because it kills 99.9% of germs & nourishes hands.

   4. Facial Tissues

   Carry a small packet of tissues & hand a sheet to that stranger who's about to sneeze in their open hand then grab that train railing. Gross!!! You can also use a piece then toss it if  you need to touch germy surfaces. I don't know about you but my eyes water when it gets cold & a tissue is just the ticket for that occasion as well. You also never know when the chill in the air might spark a runny nose episode or a random sneeze. Be prepared!!

   5. Facial Mist

   If the cold has started coming on in your area it won't be long before your skin starts to feel a little dry. I've combination skin & this is a real problem for me, so, I can only  image what it might be like for someone with dry skin. Keep a skin hydrating facial mist  handy & spritz your face every few hours. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist is formulated with vitamin e to moisturize & nourish skin. A light misting works over makeup so don't worry too much about ruining your mascara or streaking your foundation.

   6. Gloves

   Brr! As soon as you scurry into your car, you're likely greeted with an icy cold steering wheel: eek! Having a pair of gloves or mittens in your bag is just what you need to comfortably get from one place to the next.

   7. Hair Elastics

   Wind & static have you wishing for less hair?? It's always a good idea to have hair ties & bobby pins on hand to pull it away from your face. Winter-induced crisis averted!!

   What're your handbag essentials for winter??? If you live in the warmer states, how're you getting ready for winter?! What are your favorite lip balms & hand creams??? Let me know in the comment below!!

Buy This, not That: Top 7 High-end Makeup Substitutes

   Let's be real: as girls on budgets, it's hard to justify paying for high-end makeup when we should be saving our money for essentials like food, clothes & rent. But if you're a beauty junkie like me, then you know how to stretch the meaning of 'essential' to include cosmetics.

   As a beauty addict, I've tried products on both ends of the spectrum, from low-end to high-end & have finally figured out which budget products are the best alternatives to similar expensive products.

   If you've been searching for an inexpensive alternative for one of your favorite, but pricey beauty products, read on for my top 7 high-end makeup substitutes.

Product Review: Essence of Beauty Brush Cleaner

   Cleaning your brushes after every use is very important. Dirty brushes can harbour bacteria & cause breakouts. In addition, if the brush is already dirty & has residue of another shade, that'll get mixed up with the next color you'll apply & the result won't be very pretty. But washing brushes with water & soap & waiting for them to dry can take hours so it's not always feasible. The solution??? Deep clean your brushes with soap once a week & spot clean with a good brush cleanser, like Essence of Beauty Brush Cleaner, after every use.

   Essence of Beauty Brush Cleaner is packaged in a slim see-through bottle which allows you to see how much product is still left in it. It removes makeup residue well from the brushes & leaves the bristles soft. All you've to do is spritz the bristles of your brushes & then wipe them on a tissue. A spritz is enough to remove all makeup residue from eyeshadows brushes. For face brushes, which are bigger, you need at least 2. Of course, the dirtier your brushes are, the more product it'll take to remove everything so using this brush cleanser after every use will give you the best results.

   However, Essence of Beauty Brush Cleaner doesn't work too well on eyeliner & lip brushes. That's because these products contain waxes which are harder to melt & remove. The best way to clean these brushes is by wiping them on a tissue soaked with olive oil & then washing them with soap & water. If for whatever reason you can't wash these brushes after every use, then the Brush Cleaner would be the next best thing but keep in mind that it'll only remove some of the product. I'm not disappointed about this though, as I know how hard it's to remove waxes & didn't expect the Brush Cleaner to get rid of them completely.

   Weight: 115 ml

   Price: $6.3 (~Rs.393)

   Pros

   1. Removes makeup residue from brushes well

   2. Gentle, leaves bristles soft

   3. The packaging

   Cons

   1. Doesn't remove all makeup residue from eyeliner & lip brushes

   My Overall Rating

   I give Essence of Beauty Brush Cleaner a 4.5/5. It's a gentle but effective brush cleanser that removes traces of makeup from brushes while leaving the bristles soft. Eye brushes need only a small spritz while bigger face brushes require at least 2. However, it doesn't remove all traces of products that contain waxes, such as lipsticks & eyeliners, but then I didn't expect it to.

Fabulous Find of the Month: Mango Denim Skirt

   Remember back in school when the coolest thing you could possibly wear was a denim miniskirt?? Well, while *those* denim miniskirts now make most of us cringe, denim will forever have a place in our wardrobes: especially this winter, when the fabric is hotter than ever. Denim vests, chambray skirts & dresses: you name it, it's on for winter. So, naturally, this month's Fabulous Find is right on trend!!

   This adorable chain denim skirt from Mango is not only in a shape that's flattering on everyone, but it's also the perfect staple to take from winter well into spring, summer & monsoon!!! Oh & by the way, it's only Rs.2800. Beat that!!

   The Skirt

   Outfit Inspiration

   As we all know, denim never goes out of style, so check out these 2 outfits to see a few possible ways to wear this adorable skirt.

   1. Bohemian Casual

   This outfit is something you could definitely wear to class. The basic combination of a denim skirt & plain black tee gets an extra punch of style with just a few key accessories – some cool rings, a bold statement necklace & a thick belt. Top it all off with a cute pair of vintage sunglasses & you're good to go for a nice winter day of classes!!

   2. Polished Feminine

   This look is more feminine than the last & has an easy, polished feel to it. Here, I paired the skirt with an oversized pullover. For accessories, I chose a belt, a shark tooth necklace, a pair of oxfords & some adorable ankle socks. This sweet, girly outfit would work for lunch with the girls, a coffee date or a meeting with one of your teachers: it's classic & sweet, but definitely right on trend!!!

   So there you have it: 2 easy ways to style this wardrobe staple. If you don't have at least one denim piece already, go get one! You'll always be able to re-wear it & work it into your wardrobe during any season. And why not start with this amazing skirt for only Rs.2800?!

   So what did you guys think?? Would you wear this skirt?? Which look is your favorite??? Let me know by leaving a comment!!

Product Review: Faces Go Chic Lipstick in Black Cherry

   From Faces' website:

   '"Where were you all this while?!": was our customers' reaction to this winner. Awesome shades, perfect application, light, easy & pocket-friendly: there's something for everyone here.'

   As y'all know, Faces is one of my favourite makeup brands. Their products are pigmented, come in practically every colour under the sun & are so inexpensive.

   The Go Chic Lipsticks are available in more than 10 shades & because I ♥ berries but hardly have any berry lipsticks, I went with #414 Black Cherry & while I ♥ the lipstick, I'm not too fond of the shade. Black Cherry is a pinkish berry shade with strong brown undertones. While the shade itself is beautiful, I'm not too keen on it cos I don't think it looks good on me.

   But just because I picked the wrong shade for me, it doesn't make me like this lipstick any less & I look forward to trying other colors. What I ♥ about these lipsticks is that they're very pigmented & just one swipe is enough to get great & opaque color payoff. Also, Black Cherry is a soft shade which makes it very wearable for daytime & the office.

   The Go Chic Lipsticks, which are packaged in a sleek & beautiful black tube, have a lovely texture: it's creamy & the lipstick glides on easily on the lips, making them soft & pretty. I also find the texture quite moisturizing. Not as much as my beloved L'Occitane lipsticks or those of other high-end brands, but still pretty good for a budget product. That is thanks to Castor Oil, which is used to make lips soft & bind moisture in.

   Castor Oil can have a slightly sticky feeling when applied sometimes, but I find that this isn't the case with this lippie. Other ingredients include waxes to give form & structure to the lipstick.

   However, like all things in life, this lipstick isn't perfect. For me, its only con is its short staying power. Well, to be fair, it may not last long on the lips, but not less than most lip products out there. I've to reapply every now & then & even though I wish it lasted a lot longer, I don't really mind too much. Oh & did I mention this has a scent? I actually prefer slightly fragranced products so this is a plus for me.

   Weight: 4.5g

   Price: Rs.249

   Pros

   1. Lots of beautiful colors to choose from

   2. Pigmented

   3. Creamy texture

   4. Glides on easily

   5. Has a scent

   6. Sleek packaging

   Cons

   1. Not very longlasting

   My Overall Rating

   I give Faces Go Chic Lipstick in Black Cherry a 4.5/5. Overall, I ♥ it. Although the color isn't very flattering on me, it's pigmented, creamy & doesn't dry out lips. Scented & inexpensive, it comes packaged in a classy black tube, but the staying power is only average.