Reader Request: Suggestions For Long Wear Foundations For Office

Navya says,

Hi Samyukta,
Your blog is very nice and has given me inspiration to take make up seriously. I really wish that you should have been in my office so that i would have been able to learn each and every thing from you face to face :). I really like your "Office Look" series. The only thing i want is that please let me know the foundation you use for every day wear in office (basically for long hours which one is good). Haan and one post on night creams which are available in market and their pros and cons.
I really would appreciate your help/suggestions. Thanks for the help in advance.
Thanks
Navya 


Hi Navya... First off thank you so much for all your kind words :) Am so glad that you like my "Office Look" series :) All thanks goes to Pranali for motivating me to do it...


Regarding a long wear foundation suitable for office, I do not use any but I could surely suggest a few... Do note that I am listing out "light coverage" foundations as heavier coverage ones might end up looking cakey in the bright and harsh office lights :) So here goes a list...
1. The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation
This is a light to medium coverage foundation that blends easily and comes with a foundation brush. It will not give you a matte look btw. Read the full review here

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation
I haven't really used this but the Indian Beauty Blogosphere simply loves it! I haven't heard a single negative review about this product.

3. MAC Mineralize SPF15 Foundation In Compact Form
I haven't yet reviewed this but this is an AWESOME product. A bit on the pricier side but worth every cent! This too comes in a cream compact form and provides light to medium coverage.

4. Colorbar Full Cover MakeUp Stick With SPF30
This is a new discovery of mine and I bought it in my last trip to Mumbai's Beauty Center. It is a superb foundation and though I have used it only thrice, I am already in love with it. I shall be reviewing it soon. Btw this doubles up as a light coverage concealer too...


Hope this helps :)
I shall  be doing different post about Night Creams :)


If anyone would like to add to list then please put it in the comments section :)

READER QUERY: Tips For Natural Looking Makeup

Hi Samyukta,

Thankyou for your response !

I am a make-up fan, however, don’t like patchy/loud makeup..After seeing your nude make-up, I’ve fallen in love with it and would be keen to learn the techniques…Also, would like an advice on whether it will suit me & what best colours could go with my complexion...I would appreciate if I could be one of the selective few to understand this style from you J

Regards

Reshma Suri

Thank you Reshma for your kind words :) I am so glad you liked my nude/natural makeup look and would like to try it out for yourself too :) I feel honored...

Here are a few looks of mine in neutral/nude makeup...

If you observe all these looks closely, you'll notice a pattern... Glowing skin, defined lips and healthy glossy lips. So we're gonna see how we can achieve that today...

Now before I start with various techniques and pointers to achieve a flawless natural lool here is a list of tools and products that we shall be needing:

1. A blending brush 

    I recommend either Faces 106 or MAC 227 brush

2. A neutral eye shadow or an eye shadow palette

    I recommend either Maybelline Diamond Shine eye shadow quad in Copper 

    Brown or MUFE Star Powder in Shade 940 or actually any neutral shade that 

    you have would do :)

3. A nice highlighter and bronzer

    I love using the Lakme Absolute Moonlit Highlighter Duo.

4. A Nude Lipstick (Matte preferable)

    This should be any lipstick that looks nude on you. I recommend either 

    Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick in Bare or any of the nude MAC lippies... I 

    personally prefer MAC Taupe :)

5. A Clear Lipgloss

    I love using Body Shop's Lip Treatment Gloss in Beige Sparkle. You could use 

    any of your favorite clear glosses :)

6. A light to medium coverage foundation which gives a dewy finish 

    rather than a matte look.

    I have dry skin and I swear by these three foundations: Maxfactor's Second 

    Skin Foundation, TBS Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation and   

    MAC Mineralize Compact Foundation with SPF15. 

7. A Concealer

    If you don't have a dark circles problem you can easily get away with 

    Colorbar's Stick Concealer. I use it and love it! If your dark circles' problme is 

    more persistent I would suggest MAC Select CoverUp concealer. 

Now for the basics... When doing a nude/natural makeup there are the basic steps,

1. Since we shall be using only nude/neutral colors, it is important to give your maximum efforts to your skin. We need the skin to look flawless and polished. Avoid going for a matte look as it tends to look severe. Rather aim at making your look glowy and dewy :) It automatically takes years of your face and makes one look fresh and attractive.

2.  Try to use a light coverage foundation if you already have good skin... Go for medium coverage if there are a few areas that you want to cover up. DO NOT use a heavy coverage foundation. It ends up looking all "made up" and hence defeats the purpose of a natural looking makeup :)

3. Use concealer on the under-eye region. Yes using a concealer is a must. You can skip other regions, but under eye concealing should not be skipped. It can make or break your whole look in a second!

4. Use the concealer under your foundation!

5. If you wish you could finish off the base makeup with a finishing powder especially if you are worried about oiliness. I generally do not use a finishing powder cause not using one works for me better than using one :)

If you are using a finishing powder be sure to use one without any glitter or reflecting particles!

6. Once you are done with your base, apply your eye primer and then your neutral eye shadow on your lid with a flat eye shadow brush in a "pat-pat" motion. Do not rub or swipe the shadow but "pat" it to apply for better pigmentation.

7. Next taking a blending brush, blend the edge of the eye shadow in the crease area in a wiper motion. This basically blends out the harsh edges of the eye shadow and gives a more "natural" look to your eyes :)

8. Next apply a brown liner on your LOWER lashline. And apply a thin black line of liner on your upper lashline. The key is to have a lighter liner on your lower lashline and a darker shade on the upper lashline. This makes the eye pop up and not look tired!

9. Then apply some highlighter shade to your browbone area. I strongly recommend MAC Ricepaper for skintones NC36 to NC45.

10. Finish off the eye makeup with a lavish coat of volumizing mascara :)

11. Next apply a neutral looking cream blush patting it with your fingers... Then apply a matte powder blush of your choice on top of it very lightly.

12. Apply your favorite nude lippy and top it off with a hint of clear gloss only in the middle of your upper and lower lip.

13. Finally finish off with a sweep of highlighter on your cheekbones, bridge of your nose and the center of your forehead. 

Optional 

Now, these optional tips are to be followed according to season and occasion.

1. If it's Summer, instead of the cream and powder blush combo, you could use a bronzer on your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose and bit on your chin. This gives a sun-kissed look.

2. If it's the rainy season, be sure to go for water-proof makeup and instead of a nude lippy go for a bright shade like Coral/Pink. 

3. If it is the Winter season, you can go for a richer shade of lipstick like Berry, Plum or Fuschia Pink or my favorite Red :)

4. If the occasion asks for a "dressy" look, instead of a neutral eye shadow go for a golden eye shadow and instead of nude lips go for a brighter shade.

5. If you are getting ready for office, you can altogether skip the highlighter.

6. Finally, if you just want a change from the routine natural looking makeup, use a pink eye shadow on your lids and define your lower lashline with kohl instead of a brown liner :) But remember to line your upper lash line with a black liner.

OR

Line your upper lashline with a fun, colored liner like Metallic Blue, Silver Grey or even Green :)

I hope this post helps you Reshma and even anyone wants to add anything else then please do so through the comments section :D