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Sunday, April 20, 2014

Mini Haul: Sephora and Outlet Mall featuring Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and Ole Henriksen


So a few weekends ago, I did some shopping and wanted to share some of my new finds. I'll be reviewing them individually later on this month so keep an eye out for those posts!

1. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Warm Honey. I have wanted this product for a while after seeing SamRam1214 talk about Bobbi Brown products for covering dark eye circles. This one is not particularly for eyes, but I plan on using it for my eyes and just all over my face. The best part was that I paid only $17 for it instead of the regular $24 since I found it at a cosmetic overstock store while visiting the outlets.

2. Laura Mercier Oil Free SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer in Walnut ($44). I have wanted this FOR EVER!!! I've heard Ingrid Nilsen and Elle Fowler rave about it on Youtube so I finally caved and decided to give it a chance since I have very oily skin right now.

3. Ole La La Glow From Head to Toe ($59 at Sephora stores). I actually wanted the Seven Wonders Kit($59) (idk if this is the correct name but it has 7 products in it) from Ole Henriksen that is online on Sephora after hearing many good reviews of this product. I didn't realize the Seven Wonders was an online-only product so when I walked into my local Sephora I wound up getting this left over set from Christmas. I'm not complaining however since I paid the same as I would have for the Seven Wonders and walked away with more stuff at a STEAL. Apparently this product retailed for a lot more around Christmas time ($70-$130). There are a few product differences from the Seven Wonders (no Walnut Scrub), but I am eager to test this kit out. I will definitely let ya'll know the results :).

What have you guys bought lately? Anything that you haven't bought that you are itching to buy? I've also been on a Bobbi Brown kick lately since I own none of her products so if you have a recommendation please let me know in the comments or on Twitter @makeupandmasala !!!
Friday, April 18, 2014

NOTD: OPI Samoan Sand


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Artsy Wednesday: Easter

This week's theme was an Easter inspired mani. I wanted to do a moon manicure with gold glitter so my nails looked like Easter eggs. Here is the result. Unfortunately, Butter London's West End Wonderland is more of a glitter topcoat and not solid enough to create a nice moon shape :(. I really need to find a good gold polish for cheap that is similar to West End Wonderland that I can manipulate to my desire for stamping and manicures such as this one. Recommendations are welcome!


Be sure to check out the other girls' Easter inspired manis:

Thursday, April 10, 2014

NOTD: Pastel Argyle


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

NOTD: Gel Nails

These are some gel nails I had done over the holidays. I posted a pic on Twitter, but decided to add it here as well since I thought you guys could maybe draw some inspiration from them.



Sunday, April 6, 2014

NOTD: Neutral Leopard Print

So I haven't been stamping for a while, and I've been dying to try the leopard print stamp from Cheeky. I also bought a few new neutral nail colors for this spring while visit family in Los Angeles. I used OPI's Samoan Sand for the base coat and Nicole by OPI's Hard-Kourt Fashionista for the stamping. I don't know what is up with my camera these days, and I do apologize for the blurriness of the photo.  While the stamping may seem a bit imperfect, when on the nails people only notice how pretty my nails are! :)


What are your favorite nail trends for spring? Any colors/nail looks you are dying to try out? Let me know in the comments!
Friday, April 4, 2014

Friday Finds: Victoria's Secret, Naturally Pretty Palette, a la mode Eyes, and More!


1. Victoria Secret's Island Rush Line. OMG, you have to smell this! It smells exactly like a tropical vacation. I am absolutely in love.  The notes are pomelo fruit and coconut which gives the scent a balance of warmth and citrus. It's the prefect combo of the two types of scents I gravitate towards so yay! Also, if you were like me and did some shopping last month here, make sure to redeem the Secret Reward card during the month of April!
2. It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol 1 Matte Luxe Palette. Whew! That's a mouthful. This is It Cosmetics answer to the " rosy nude" palette looks that have become popular based on the Naked 3's popularity. The advantage of this palette over all the others is that this one is all matte plus a 'transforming white" shadow that can blend with any of the other shades if you have the itch for some shimmer in your shadow. It gets an A+ for versatility and creativity in my book.
3. Too Faced's a la mode Eyes Palette. I saw this at my local Ulta, and cannot stop drooling over it. It seems like the perfect palette for tanned skin girls and WOC since it has lots of nice brown/pinks. The dark pink and navy add a nice pop of color. I would already have purchased this by now except I have too many palettes right now (we'll see how long I believe that), and I bought several Too Faced palettes last summer so I feel I need to explore other brands a bit.
4. Jane Cosmetics. The 90's brand has come back. I was not familiar with it in the 90's since I preferred a natural, no makeup look. I recently bought one of their bronzers since they have a very large color range and meet the needs of WOC quite well in terms of bronzer.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

How To End Split Ends FOREVER

Miraculously, I have finally figured out how to rid myself of split ends (as least for a long time). Woohoo!!!


I did simplify my routine a bit. Usually I alternate shampooing with a Lush bar and regular Herbal Essences shampoo. Also, I would like to stress the importance of a healthy diet to grow long, healthy hair ( plenty of fish and nuts) and the importance of limiting how much you style/apply heat to your hair.

What is your hair care routine? Any favorite products I should know about? Let me know in the comments below!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Artsy Wednesday: April Fool's/Joke Mani

I'm actually very proud of this mani and the thought that went into it. I didn't really know what to do for a "joke" mani. Then it hit me out of the blue one day. My mani is basically the embodiment of the quote "All that glitters is not gold." The bronze/gold represents fool's gold to go along with the April Fool's theme while the brown symbolizes the "dirt." Hope you guys think it's cool! I apologize for the fuzziness of the picture but my camera never seems to pick up glitter polish very well.


I used OPI's Pros and Bronze for the stripes and Nicole By OPI's Hard-Kourt Fashionista.

Be sure to check out the other girls' April Fool's manis:

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

March Favorites: Walking Dead, Tea, Nicole by OPI, and More!

Hi guys! Long time no blog, right? My apologies. I have been going through some health issues, one of which includes carpel tunnel. Blogging has been out of the question for some time as it hurts me to even grip a pencil or feed myself with my hands. But that's enough Debbie Downer talk...on to my favorites for the month!


1. Celestial Sleepytime Herbal Tea. The nights have still been kind of chill where I live so I love making myself a cup of tea. I am an insomniac as well so the Sleepytime tea is perfect for winding down before bedtime. I make my cup with some ginger crystals and a bit of honey. The combo also does wonders for a sore throat! 
2. Nude Tude Palette. This palette made my September favorites back in 2013 and then I just let it sit for awhile when I got my Naked 3. However, this month I cannot get enough of this palette! The red shade and the browns are my favorite. I've posted one of my looks using the palette here.  
3. Pinterest. Late at night when I can't fall asleep, I kill time by browsing Pinterest. I get a lot of inspiration for my lifestyle from Pinterest. You can check out my page here and if you like what you see follow me at MakeupandMasala (shameless plug I know)!
4. On What Grounds? By Nicole by OPI. I got this polish in an Ipsy bag for the month of March and I have fallen in love. While I'm not a big fan of the rough texture of this polish (it has a sandpaper texture), I like how long my mani lasts and the color is perfect for a bright bold spring look. You can check out an extended review here
5. Amy's Indian Mattar Paneer. Since my hand has been messed up, I try not to cook since chopping anything aggravates my hand. As a result, I've been exploring the frozen food aisle a bit. I like Amy's products since they are a healthy alternative to most frozen food. Depending on the product, you can find gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and low sodium meals.  I also like that they package the meal on a paper container so you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals leeching into your food when you heat the product up in the microwave. Also Amy's Indian cuisine is the most authentic I have had coming from a box (and I'm South Asian so I have a pretty good idea of what "good" Indian food is).
6. AMC's The Walking Dead. I LOVE this show. I'm only on Season 3 so NO SPOILERS, people! It's the most realistic portrayal of an end-of-the-world situation I have ever seen (minus the zombies). If you want to watch the show from the beginning, Netflix has the first 3 seasons online.

What have you guys been loving this month? I'm excited to try your recommendations!