Hey beauties,

Hope you are doing great. Pantone has selected MARSALA as the color of this year, 2015. Marsala is a gorgeous bold and deep shade. It is a lovely reddish brown shade or should I say a muted wine shade with some touch of brown in it. This shade will compliment many skin tones. I personally love this shade a lot and think its perfect for Asian skin tones. Therefore today's post is dedicated to the color of the year i.e. Marsala. The credit of this post goes to the sweetest ever Umaima of Dudettes Talk as she basically came up with this idea to do a collaborative post on "Marsala Makeup & Fashion Guide". Therefore am sharing with you this Marsala Makeup Guide today. I hope this post will help you in buying the right Marsala makeup products this year (both from drugstore & high end brands).

Marsala Makeup Guide

I have decided to keep the list short and precised. Therefore, I will be sharing with you only 2 high end and 2 drugstore Marsala products from each category. So let's get started...

Marsala For Eyes

Marsala For Eyes:
Marsala is such a lovely shade that would so compliment brown, hazel and green eyes. My high end picks of Marsala eyeshadows include Sephora Facets of Marsala Multi Finish Eye Palette ($39). This was a limited edition palette that went out of stock at Sephora so quickly but is still available at Ebay and few other websites. My second high end Marsala eyeshadow recommendation is Make Up Forever Artist Shadow in shade Morello Cherry ($21). My drugstore Marsala picks for eyes are Maybelline Color Tattoo in shade Metallic Pomegranate (£4.99) and NYX Jumboo Eye Pencil in Rust ($4.50).

Marsala For Lips

Marsala For Lips: 
This is my favorite section of all. There are so many lovely Marsala lipsticks that I have on my wish list for this year. Am sharing just a few with you. My Marsala high end lipsticks recommendations are Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Rum Raisin ($26) and YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick in Rose Infinite ($35).  MAC "Sin" is also a beautiful deep Marsala lip color. Its actually quite darker than the actual Marsala shade. If you are a budget buyer then the best drugstore options are ELF Moisturizing Lipstick in Ravishing Rose ($3) and Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry ($7.19). Another great drugstore Marsala lipstick is Essence long lasting lipstick in "On The Cat Walk". And there are plenty of lovely Marsala lip colors to share with you but to keep it short I have listed just few of my favorite shades here.

Marsala For Cheeks

Marsala For Cheeks:
Again for high end brands Sephora takes the lead here. Sephora's Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio ($28) has to be on the top. It is such a gorgeous palette with three beautiful shades. It was again a limited edition palette which is not available at Sephora now but u can still find it at Ebay for almost ($50). My second high end recommendation is Nars Blush in shade Outlaw ($30). As for budget buyers, the best Marsala blushers are ELF Studio Blush Palette in shade Dark ($6) and Sleek Blush in shade Flushed ($6.99). I love these two shades and have these on my wishlist especially the sleek blusher, it is so gorgeous.

Marsala For Nails

Marsala For Nails: 
Now time to paint your nails Marsala. The high end suggestions in this section are Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color 18 Rouge Noir (£18) and Tom Ford Nail Lacquer Bordeaux Lust ($32). Drugstore lovers should check out Essie Nail Color in shade Thigh High ($8.50) and INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Color #625 (Rs 1250/- almost $13).


That's all for my Marsala makeup guide. I hope you find this post helpful. But wait...the post hasn't ended yet. To spice up your wardrobe with Marsala, read Umaima's Marsala fashion and dressing guide on her blog here.



Like my reviews and posts...??? Don't forget to follow my blog via GFC... :)

Show your love and join "The Lipstickholic" on Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin too... !!!



Love,
Huda
The Lipstickholic

Hey beauties,


Hope you all are doing well. Today am posting my first eye makeup look which is perfect for fall or winters. This is my first makeup look that am sharing with you people. Hope you like the look that I have created :)

Subtle Purple Makeup Look for Winters

Eye Makeup:
Am not so much into eye makeup but this is something I created few weeks ago while playing with my MUA "Glamour Days" palette.

Purple Eye Makeup

Purple Eye Makeup

Purple Eye Makeup

Lips:
I have paired this subtle eye look with bold lips. For this look, I have used my new Makeup Revolution Lipstick in "Rebel with Cause". Mine Mine....this is such a perfect shade for fall/winters and am so loving it. Will be reviewing this shade soon <3

Makeup Revolution Lipstick in Rebel with Cause

Products Used:

• Catrice Photo Finish Foundation in shade "010 Sand Beige"
• L.A Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer in shade "Creamy Beige"
• Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in shade "Fair"
• Purple shade from MUA Glamor Days Palette (all over lid and outside lower lash line)
• Bronze shade from Makeup Revolution Awesome Eyeshadow and Eyebrow Palette (In crease)
• Ivory Shade from Makeup Revolution Awesome Eyeshadow and Eyebrow Palette (on brow bone and inner corner of eyes)
• Darker Brow Shade from Makeup Revolution Awesome Eyeshadow and Eyebrow Palette (to groom brows)
• Palladio Herbal Liquid Eyeliner in Black
• Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
• Makeup Revolution Lipstick in "Rebel with Cause"

 Here, take a look at the complete subtle purple look :)

Subtle Purple Makeup Look for Winters

That's all for now. Hope your like the look that I have created. Don't forget to leave your comments.



Like my reviews and posts...??? Don't forget to follow my blog via GFC... :)

Show your love and join "The Lipstickholic" on Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin too... !!!



Love,
The Lipstickholic

Hey Lovelies,


For the past few months, I have been focusing more on reviews, hauls and weekly asks on the blog. So today, am gonna post my favorite skin care products or you can say its my current skin care regimen too. I don't usually use a lot of skincare products, but just have a basic skin care routine. If you want to follow a basic skin care routine too then this post will be helpful for you. I wont be mentioning any fancy products or serums in this post but just simple products I use regularly that area easily available in market. Let's take a look at my skincare essentials.

Summer Skin Care Favorites

Clean and Clear Morning Energy Daily Facial Scrub

Clean and Clear Morning Energy Daily Facial Scrub:
I love clean and clear morning burst range and this is my favorite morning face wash. I am habitual of using a good face wash in the morning and also before applying makeup. I prefer using an exfoliating one, usually the one with some gentle beads or granules. I have tried other daily face washes/scrubs too but love this one. I use it in morning and glad this is not too harsh on the skin. It gently exfoliates the skin and leaves the skin feeling fresh for a perfect start of day. For summers, I use this green one, as it controls oil and shine. In winters, I usually switch to the orange version of this facial scrub or the blue clean and clear exfoliating daily wash. This feels a bit drying in winter though, but you can always apply a toner and moisturizer after using ur face wash. Another good thing about this is, it is affordable too and is easily available in market.

Ponds Pure White Deep Cleansing Facial Foam

Ponds Pure White Deep Cleansing Facial Foam: 
My second favorite skincare product is this deep cleansing facial foam by Ponds. I use it through out the year. However it's a bit drying on my skin, therefore I don't use it daily and make sure to use a moisturizer afterwards. I use this one when I want to cleanse my face properly, usually for removing my makeup, dirt and oil from my face. Its either this or the pink and white (Flawless white) facial foam that I love using for this purpose. Both work great for me. This facial foam has creamy consistency and deeply cleanses the skin. Skin really feels clean after using this face wash.

St.Ives Apricot Scrub

St.Ives Apricot Invigorating Scrub:
Okay now this is my favorite facial scrub of all time. I liked the formula and feel of the older version more. But this new one seems to work well too. I don't use it regularly, as I use an exfoliating face wash on daily basis. So I use this one when am having a home facial or sometimes use it as a body scrub too. I wanna try the gentle version of this scrub next time to see how that works on my skin. Overall, this is a scrub you can trust for sure. You can get it easily from any good cosmetics/ drugstore.

St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer

St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer:
Another product by St.Ives. Tried this moisturizer recently and am glad I did. It absorbs into the skin so easily and doesn't feel greasy at all. A small amount of this moisturizer is enough to moisturize the skin. I love it's smell and love the way it makes my skin so soft. I cant really comment on its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles but my skin feels much fresher after I started using it. If you have super dry skin then this might be lighter for you. But for my dry/combo skin this works very well. I use it as a night time moisturizer and also before applying makeup.


Okay so these were my favorite skin care products for summers and this is the simple skin care routine that I follow. Other than that, I also use clean and clear toner, Ponds white beauty cleaner and may be few other products occasionally. Now am planning to add an eye cream and serum to my skin care regimen too. And yes a good face polisher too.


Do u have a particular skin care regimen that you follow..?? Do you like the products I have mentioned in my post..??? Don't forget to mention in your comments... :)


Like my reviews and posts...??? Don't forget to follow my blog via GFC... :)

Show your love and join "The Lipstickholic" on Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin too... !!!



Love,
Lipstickholic

Hello Beauties,

After reading a lot of good things about rose water, I decided to buy one to see how it works on my skin. I have been using it regularly for over 2 weeks now and now is the perfect time to share my thoughts on this with you. So today's post will highlight a few benefits of Rose Water (especially for skin) along with a precise review on "Saeed Ghani Rose Water Spray" that I included in my skin care regime last month.

Benefits of Rose Water

Benefits of Rose Water

Benefits Of Rose Water:

Since ancient times, roses and it's extracts have been used for medical, nutritional and many other purposes. Apart from it's medical and nutritional uses, it was used in various cosmetics recipes because of its beautifying effects. Ancient queens used rose water and milk for bath. Even today, people are using rosewater not only in different stress relieving therapies, but also in different cosmetic recipes, cuisines and for making different medicines too. Following are a few important benefits of Rose Water that I have read and heard through different reliable sources:

• Rose water is a great stress reliever. It's is used in aroma therapies for relaxation. Nothing is more calming and soothing than the aroma of rose oils or fragrance of fresh delicate rose petals
• Rose water is said to have anti-inflammatory properties which helps in reducing redness or swelling of skin and healing sunburns too.
• Massaging rose water on hair promotes hair growth and leaves a light natural fresh rosy smell in your hair
• Rose water provides relief from eye strain. Pouring a few drops of rose ware in each eye provides relaxation and reduces swelling and irritation of the eyes.
• Rose water is mixed with glycerin to use as a makeup setting spray. 
• Rose water can be used as a toner to clean the skin and it helps maintain the PH balance of skin.
• It hydrates dry skin
• It provides relief from headache and is said to have mild antidepressant properties.

Saeed Ghani Rose Water:

Now coming to my thoughts on this rose water spray bottle. I bought this last month and started using it from the start of this month. I spray this rose water directly on my hands and face in the morning and also after applying my makeup before going out. I don't mix it with glycerin or anything and I have been using it for over 2 weeks now.

Saeed Ghani Rose Water

Now let me tell again that I have dry/combo skin and this rose water works great on my skin. I was amazed to see that it actually hydrates the skin and helps in maintaining the PH balance of skin. It works great as a toner and makes the skin feel clean and fresh. It absorbs quickly into the skin. I love it's mild rosy fragrance which really lifts and enhances my mood. Though it doesn't smell exactly like roses and the smell disappear really soon but still it is pleasant.

I also use it after applying my makeup as a setting spray. It gives my skin a nice dewy finish. However, It doesn't work as a makeup fixer or make the makeup last longer but am okay with it. It instantly calms the skin and I love it's soothing properties. Overall, this spray feels really refreshing :)

I am glad I tried this product and am definitely going to use this in other beauty recipes. Am glad it comes in a spray bottle which makes it more convenient to use. I love using it daily now and am definitely gonna use this more in summers.


Price & Availability: This is available at leading cosmetic stores in Pakistan. You can find it at the Saeed Ghani display section at "The Centaurus" Islamabad too. Also available online at Just4girls.pk. I bought mine from a local mart for PKR 65 only/- (100ml).



Do you have rose water in your skin care routine..??? Tell me how you use it and what you like or dislike about it.... :)


Like my reviews...??? Don't forget to follow my blog via GFC...^_^

Show your love and join "The Lipstickholic" on Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin too... !!!



Love,
Lipstickholic

Hey there beauties...

Ombre lips are very eye-catching and attractive. I like creating different lip looks. Therefore, I decided to do a tutorial today on a subtle red ombre lip. Intense ombre lips are not wearable so am going to use a deep red and a coral/orange lip color to create a subtle ombre lip. So let's begin....

Subtle Red & Orange Ombre Lips

All You need for this look is:

• A red lip liner (am using essence lip liner in femme fatale)
• Your favorite red lipstick (am using diana surprise lipstick in red rose)
• One coral/orange lipstick (am using NYX round lipstick in femme)
• A lip brush (optional)

Now here is the step by step tutorial:

1.  Outline your lips using the red lip liner. The line does not necessarily has to be precise. 

Outline the lips

2. Now fill in the edges of the lips with the same lip pencil. Focus only on the outer part and leave the mid part.

Fill the corners with the same liner

3. Now using a lip brush apply the red lipstick on the outer part of the lips over the red liner. Again, leave the center of the lips bare.

Apply red lipstick above the liner

4. Now dab some orange/coral lipstick in the center and you are done. Blend any harsh lines and top with a lip gloss for added glamor and shine. Here is the final look:

Red & Orange Ombre Lips

Red & Orange Ombre Lips

I have tried to keep the look subtle and wearable. You can make it as intense and dramatic as you like. Use different monochromatic colors and create different looks. You can try different combinations such as red with plum, pink and gold lip color.


That's all for now. Hope you like this look. Don't forget to leave your comments.

To stay connected, follow this blog via GFC widget on the right, Bloglovin, Instagram and Facebook.


Love,
Lipstickholic

Hey everyone,

I love to apply lipstick in different ways and love mixing lip colors to create different new shades. Today am going to show you a quick and really simple tutorial on petal lips that can be worn any day. It's a very soft-focus lip tutorial with no harsh lip liners or something.


If we talk about the lip trend this season (winters 2013/2014), its all about wine,berry, dark plums and pinks that are more towards fuchsia. A more smudged and less perfect lip look is preferred this season. I noticed many international makeup artists used the petal-stained lip look at different fashion shows. Dark wine and berry colors are more noticeable this season, but for a more soft and feminine look different shades of pink are also used.


This season petal-stained and wine stained lips were popular on the ramp. Different makeup artists used wine, pink or crimson lipsticks with the darker color dabbed in the middle which was diffused towards the outer sides of lips. That kind of lip look makes me look washed out and very pale. Such lip colors give more like a vampy look to me. lol..!!! So I created a much simpler petal lips look that is decent, simple and very quick. I used only two lip colors to create this. One is "Revlon matte lipstick in mauve it over" and other is "ELF essential lipstick in Gypsy"

Lets start:
1.Start with well exfoliated lips. You can use any lip scrub, any soft tooth brush, or wet towel to exfoliate the lips and then apply your regular lip balm.

2. Now apply the Revlon matte lipstick in "mauve it over" all over your lips. You can use any nude color which you like. You can see that I didn't apply the lipstick properly in the mid of the lips. It's not important. Just focus more on the corners. Here is how the lips will look.

Revlon mauve it over applied on lips

3. Now apply the ELF essential lipstick in gypsy in the center. You can use any dark pink shade which is your favorite. I want the look to be more natural so am using this ELF lipstick. Use your fingers/lip brush to blend the lip color from the center toward the outline of lips to make it look natural and equal.

ELF gypsy applied in the center of lips and blended

4. Now for the finishing touch, use your foundation on the outline of the lips and blend into your skin for a soft smudged edge effect. This will also make the middle color pop out a bit more.

Foundation applied on the outline of lips

There you have your soft-focus petal lips:

Petal lips

It's really easy and quick. You can use different colors of your choice. All you need is one nude and one pink lip color. This tutorial actually requires to apply foundation/concealer all over the lips as a base. I used a nude lip color instead because i feel foundation or concealer makes my lips very dry. If you  think the concealer/foundation works better for you, you can try that. You can also use a lip stain or tint in the middle part. Try everything new as makeup and fashion is all about experimenting.


This is my first lip tutorial on the blog. Don't forget to leave your comments and subscribe to my blog.

Love,
Lipstickholic

Hey there beauties,

So finally it's November and winter is here and I hope you all must b enjoying this winter and the cold weather. Today I decided to write my first beauty guide/tips post and it is going to be about winters and skin care.

Combating the dry skin is mostly a problem for everyone in winters. People with oily skin face skin problems in summers but for girls like me who have dry/combination skin, winters bring a lot of skin issues. Dry skin makes your skin look dull. Here are a few tips that can help you in keeping your skin fresh and lively in winters.

Few of my winters skin care products

Change your skin care routine

The first thing you need to do is to completely change your skin care routine. As you change your wardrobe in winters similarly you need to change your whole skin care routine. It is important especially for those with very dry skin. Skip, the regular moisturizers that you use through out the year and get a new one specially for winters. Change your exfoliating routine and also choose a different daily facial wash/cleanser in winters. Choose the one's that are soap free and use cream cleansers. Use a hydrating toner. It is important to do this because in summers your skin is more greasy/oily, not that dry and needs different kind of products but in winters it needs more hydrating and moisturizing products.

Moisturize, moisturize and  moisturize.....

Moisturizing your skin is important through out the year. I always like to use a moisturizer before applying makeup no matter it's winter or summer. But yes when talking about winters using a moisturizer is a MUST. In winters it is very important to use a good moisturizer not only before applying makeup or washing/cleansing your face and body, but also use a good night time moisturizer. Our skin repairs itself at night when we are asleep. Therefore, using a moisturizer before going to bed helps the skin stay hydrated and healthy. I normally don't like using creams rather I prefer using lotions. However, I like the "Garnier skin naturals light cream with SPF 15" but I feel it does not provide enough moisture for winters. "Vaseline total moisture" is my favorite to use in winters.  You can choose any cream/lotion which suits you well.

Exfoliate Well 

In winters when the skin is dry and patchy you need to exfoliate the skin regularly so that the dead skin is removed. Exfoliating not only unclog your pores but also removes the dead skin cells from your skin. But remember over exfoliation can make your skin worse and more dry.  If you have sensitive skin it's better to use a mild exfoliator with micro-beads that is not harsh on your skin. Use your finger tips to gently rub the exfoliator on skin. Apply your favorite moisturizer right after exfoliating the skin to prevent dryness. I love the St Ives range of scrubs. I suggest trying their "apricot scrub" or you may use the "St Ives gentle scrub" if you have sensitive skin.

Don't forget the lip balms

Using the lip balm is one most important thing. In winters the lips become more dry and chapped so use a lip balm and keep one in your bag so that you can reapply whenever you need to.  Also don't forget to use any lip exfoliator to get rid of dead lip cells. After scrubbing your lips apply any lip balm that you like. You can try "EOS lip balms" in any flavor you like or you may choose the "labello lip balms" as they are budget friendly and easy to carry around.

Makeup for dry skin

Apart from taking care of your skin in winters you can use makeup to look fresh. But it is important to use the right type of products. Use a hydrating primer before applying the foundation. In winters it is better to use a liquid foundation with satin/glowy finish or use a cream foundation. If you have dry skin don't use mattifying foundations in winter and skip the powders. I suggest trying "Revlon photoready foundation" or you may also try the "color studio pro luminous foundation" for a lighter coverage. If you have dry skin cream blush is going to work the best for you. At the end use a good moisturizing lipstick. There are number of moisturizing lip tints and balms available now a days. Try them.

 Drink plenty of water

And last but not the least drinking plenty of water is very important. In winters increase your amount of fluids intake to prevent dryness and have glowing skin. I usually reduce my water intake in winters which is bad i know. But, it's true that drinking plenty of water helps helps your skin stay hydrated and fresh. Also, eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits. Oranges or citrus fruits are great source of Vitamin C and they help keeping your skin stay fresh. So eat loads of oranges this winter.


I hope these tips will be helpful for all of you. If you have any other tips that are beneficial for skin care in winters feel free to share them in your comments. Here is a cup of coffee along with my favorite chocolate that i was enjoying. This is what i love in winters.... :)





Love,
Lipstickholic