Why Liquid Lipsticks have serious Game? | Guest Post |

Hey!

Let me start by formally writing this down that there is no such thing as “too many lipsticks”. Be it a traditional black bullet of MAC lipstick or Kylie’s liquid lipsticks, we need them all! Remember those days when hunting for the perfect lipstick meant browsing the kiosks at Agha’s or D.Watson with a friend or sister? Well the scenario has completely changed, 

Enters Sephora and Super Drug products in Pakistan! *drum-roll please*

The lipstick market has diversified and spun around 180 degrees with hundreds of international brands like YSL, Stila , SMASHBOX ,Inglot, HUDA beauty, Jeffree Star at our disposal right away. A big fat THANKYOU to all the Cosmetic pages on Facebook and Instagram doing the noble deed of reducing the gap between makeup hoarders and a ton of new stuff everyday!

Last year many high end brands introduced us to a more “revolutionized” and “modern” version of lipstick, they called it a liquid lipstick. “Ease of a gloss and pigmentation of a lipstick!”, chanted every brand. All the YouTube beauty bloggers were thrilled while we had our reservations. Soon after, YouTube was overtaken by this product, I still remember each and every one of the beauty bloggers I followed on YouTube raving about it. What’s so special, after all?  I Wondered. I started noticing a huge number of price quotes being requested by masses on various social media makeup supplier pages. People have gone gaga over an over-priced celebrity makeup item again! Soon Drugstore brands like Revlon, Rimmel, Maybelline etc followed and resurfaced with affordable and better formulas that gave serious competition to their higher end competitors.

Weeks later I decided to test out the hype and got my hands on two shades of the Rimmel Provocalips 16 HR lip color and boy was I impressed! I LOVED IT! Intense color payoff in one swipe, stays put all day, totally comfortable on the lips, no feathering or turning into a melted mess in higher temperatures, survives eating and drinking and perfectly matte! BAM! I didn’t expected such genius formulas from the drugstore but boy I was wrong.

In the couple of months after I ordered a few more from the drugstore and higher end to test the theory and I had my fair share of hits and misses. Some drugstore formulas were totally comparable to their higher counterparts, some were opaque on single pigmentation but feathered after some time while others didn’t dry matte at all and kept staining coffee cups.

The very concept of a liquid lipstick had me impressed and perplexed at the same time. Impressing because it delivered long wear intense color payoff on every application and perplexed because there was no fixed definition of a liquid lipstick. Every brand came by their own names, lip lacquers, cream sheens, velvet mattes etc. Unfortunately every good product has a downside too. Here is what I gathered from my experience.

PROS

• ·         5 GOLD stars on providing intense color on your lips. The color you see in the bottle is the color you get on your lips every time in one single swipe! Now how amazing is that!? They definitely are melted lipstick in a bottle. Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks tops the list.

• ·         No need for reapplication or those frequent visits to the washroom to fix your lipstick. Most of the formulas out there ( the ones that specifically say all day wear, etc) donot budge for upto 8-9 hours straight. Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick and Rimmel Provocalips get you through the entire day.

• ·         Since it is a melted lipstick in a bottle no need to toss them in the fridge during summers. Throw them in your handbag and you’re good to go. No spills and no melted mess.

• ·         No need to wear a lip liner underneath. Try the trusted Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick.

• ·         The design of the doe-foot applicator ensures easy application. The tapered brush helps you apply the liquid lipstick easily with precision especially in the cupid’s bow and the inner corners of the lips.

• ·         Comes in Mini- versions or in value sets and gift packs during the holiday season. You can invest in either of these to try different shades and formulas at a lesser price tag. Log on to Sephora’s website to grab these goodie packs.

• ·         The matte ones set under a minute and when it does it doesn’t budge. Only a makeup remover can take it off!

CONS

• ·         Some brands have jumped onto the bandwagon without perfecting their formulas unfortunately. Look out for such “Big Claims”. Always read blogger reviews before investing your money.

• ·         EXPENSIVE! Higher price tag doesn’t mean superior formula. Watch out! These babies can burn a hole in your pocket hence do your homework before buying one.

• ·         Since most of the formulas out there claim to be absolutely matte hence they can settle into the fine lines and make them your lips look parched. Always exfoliate your lips and moisturize them before applying your liquid lipstick.

• ·         The formulas can be unforgiving on your lips. Some products are dual ended, with liquid lipstick on one end and a clear balm on another. The balm can be applied on top of the lipstick whenever they feel dry.

• ·         Some formulas like the Vivid mattes and Ultra HD’s do not dry matte at all. They will transfer throughout the day and re-application will be required.

• ·         Some formulas stay put for upto 8 hours but can start to fade in the inner side of the lips and corners of the mouth. Some will start to bleed hence back them up with a lip liner underneath.

• ·         Some are strongly scented. 

Wet Application

After it sets to a Matte Finish.

That was quite a post but let us know which products have worked for you and which ones have been disappointed. Love to hear back!

Fatiha.

Hello Beautiful!

Fatiha is 27 and obsessed with anything and everything beauty and fashion related. She has a Masters in Project Management and work as a freelancer but writing and beauty blogging is what makes her happy! Currently she is setting up her own blog but you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

This, for sure was an interesting read! I hope ya'll find it as interesting and informative as I did. I'd love to know what are your takes on Liquid Lipsticks also which ones are your favorite? 

If you want to guest post on my Blog, feel free to contact me at thegulezehrablog@gmail.com. I'd love to have you over.

Until next time, Good Luck & Ciao!

April Favorites!

Hello Beautiful!

Oh my! Karachi needs to calm down! The temperature is rising with every passing day and hence the need to keep my face matte and shine free because I have given up on the idea of "sweat-proof/free" considering the humid and hot weather here where I live. My April Favorites consist of the products that didn't fail me in this weather and I didn't need to touch them up frequently, well not even once in some cases. Let's start with what my favorites were.

1. Bourjois - 123 Perfect Foundation - Light Beige 53.

          This has to be my best friend for the hot and humid weather. It is everything EVERYTHING I want from a foundation in this weather. It blends so smoothly with both my Real Technique Buffing Brush and Miracle Sponge, doesn't sit on top of skin, in fact blends in looking very natural. Sets completely matte and is shine free without looking Sahara Dessert dry or cakey. I absolutely love it and will be sticking to this all through Summers.

2. Makeup Revolution - Powder Blush - Treat.
          This is literally the only Blusher I used all through April! The formula is so soft and it blends seamlessly. It has a satin finish and gives the most beautiful peachy color to your cheeks. Also, it stays put for a good amount of time.I loved it enough to even travel with it.

3. e.l.f Cosmetics - Baked Highlighter - Moonlight Pearls.
          This is a re-discovered product from my stash and I fell in love with it all over again. I love to highlight the top of my cheeks, brow-bone and inner corners of my eyes with this. Read the full review here.

4. Morphe Brushes - Individual Eyeshadow - Caramelized.
          This is for my eyes what bronzer is for the face. All of you know by now how much I like to keep my makeup minimal and fresh and when I just a want a little extra for my eyes (apart from Mascara) I just blend this in my crease to warm up the eyes and for a natural contoured look. This buffed into my crease, inner corners and brow-bone highlighted with Moonlight Pearls and two coats of Mascara -and my eye look is complete.
Read the full review here.

5. Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Mascara.
          This Mascara is loveeeee the formula is neither too thin or too thick, just the right consistency and it gets better with each use. I love how just one swipe of this provides both length and volume. I have used this Mascara here.

6. Rimmel - Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer - In The Nude.

          I love to use this in my University days to eliminate the redness and for the well-rested eye look. I hardly get any sleep these days thanks to my studies and this helps me brighten up my eyes. The pencil glides smoothly on the waterline and stays put for a long time without any smudging.

7. Wet n Wild - Megalast Lipstick - Bare It All.
          The first time I got it I wasn't really impressed because I was use to Maybelline Coffee Craze which is a neutral toned brown where as Bare It All is a warm toned brown but with time it grew on me and I gravitated towards it the most all through April, so much so that with the beginning of May I had to remind myself to put this down and use something else. It is a beautiful warm nude shade nonetheless.

I make it a point to switch up and change the products I use every month so that I can share my favorites with you. April was all about keeping my makeup fresh, shine free and long lasting in this humid weather.

What were your favorite products to use in April? How do you keep your makeup shine-free and long lasting? I plan to do my makeup routine for

April with April Favorites, would you like that? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time. Good Luck and Ciao!

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January Favorites!

Hello Beautiful!

I decided to share my January Favorites after a whole week of February passed! Why, you ask? Because I was posting about my Beauty Favorites of 2015 through out January :D You must check them out here!

These have been my absolute favorites to use in the month of January!

1) Real Techniques - Buffing Brush from "Core Collection".
          This has been my go to brush for buffing in my foundation. This gives a smooth and streak-less finish! I love how dense enough it is to blend the foundation flawlessly. I also use it to set my T zone with pressed powder by pressing and then buffing it in in circular motions and for blending under eye concealers. It is also great to blend in cream contours. This is such a multi-tasking brush!

2) Luscious Cosmetics - Super Moisturizing Lipstick - Daisy Pink.
          This is the only Lipstick I wore all through January for a Nudey Pink pout! The formula is so pigmented and creamy and it just glides right on without any tugging. Also it lasts for a good amount of time without feathering out the lip line. I have got to grab more colors in this range! I also used it in most of the tutorials I did in January which you can see here.

3) Maybelline - Color Drama Lipstick - Berry Much.
          For some more color and boldness on my lips, I loved using Berry Much throughout January. It is such a gorgeous berry color. I paired Berry Much with minimum makeup looks where I just used a mascara and blush. It is also one of my Top Favorite Winter Lipstick. You can see swatches and read more details here!!

4) Rosebud Perfume Co. - Smith's Rosebud Salve.
          This has been such a staple this winter and I have used nothing but this on my lips to prep them before going in with any lipstick or to keep them hydrated and moisturized. I apply it generously at night and wake up with all the dry skin peeling right off leaving behind soft and supple lips! I love it so so much!

5) Rimmel - Exaggerate Eye Definer - In The Nude:
          I am suffering from Insomnia for the longest time now (every time I use the word 'insomnia' I can't help but sing Craig David's Insomnia -such an amazing song!) and so this has been an absolute favorite to put in y waterline to cancel out any redness and make the eyes look bright and well rested. Since I am all about minimum makeup looks for my everyday life, I love using this in my waterline.

6) Forever 21 - Assorted Ear Studs.
          For the many events, lunches, meetings and get-togethers through out December and January, I have been reaching out for this more than I usually do. I love the assortment of ear studs here. These are perfect for when you wanna keep your jewelry and accessories  to the minimum without skipping them altogether. I have worn each of them and intend to pick more of these with different styles. 

So these were my most used and loved products of January. I make sure to use something different from my collection each month than the previous. 

What were your favorites for the month of January? Let me know! xo

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!

My Beauty Favorites of 2015! | LIPS |

Hello Beautiful !

Finally the last part in My Beauty Favorites of 2015 post! Here I'll share all the lipsticks and lip liners that I have loved using through out 2015. Read on to find out why exactly I love each one of them.

1) Maybelline - Color Sensational Lipstick - Lady Red:
          It is such a beautiful  beautiful bright Red, it's somewhere between warm and cool tone. Also the Lipstick has a satin finish and has a very creamy formula that glides on so smoothly on the lips. I love how comfortable it is to wear and it doesn't feather or bleed. I'm wearing this here.

2) Maybelline - Color Sensational Stripped Nudes - Coffee Craze:
          Coffee Craze is a color of a creamy coffee with extra creme. It is neutral toned  and compliments my skin tone so much. It is my all time favorite nude lipstick. Read all about it in the review here.

3) Maybelline - Color Sensational Lipstick - Coral Tonic:
          This was my first lipstick from Maybelline and I'm in loveeeee with the color!! It is a beautiful citrus-y Coral color that is perfect for Spring and Summer and I wore it all through that. Again, the formula is creamy, pigmented and has a satin finish. 

4) Rimmel - Lasting Finish by Kate Moss - 106:
          I wish it had a name rather than a number. The color is a beautiful bright Pink with a creamy matte formula that glides on without tugging and is so incredibly pigmented. I wore it through Spring and Summer. 

5) Rimmel - Lasting Finish Lipstick - Heart Breaker:
          A beautiful Raspberry color with a satin finish -perfect for transitioning from Summer to Fall. I really love the creamy and highly pigmented formula which is comfortable on the lips. I love to just wear a sheer coat of it for casual days and the full blown color for events.

6) Luscious Cosmetics - Super Moisturizing Lipstick - Daisy Pink:
          This became my favorite very quickly! For everyday (I went out) use I was using Coffee Craze but ever since I started using Daisy Pink I loved how it was the perfect pink for me! Also the lipstick is so creamy and pigmented, glides on so smoothly! Now it's my favorite everyday pink!

7) Luscious Cosmetics - Ultra Smooth Lip Liner - Chai Latte:
          This has been my Go To lip liner to line and fill my lips with under all the nude colors. The color has a peach tone to it and compliments brown-y, peach-y and pink-y nude colors.
It glides on smoothly without any tug.

8) Luscious Cosmetics - Ultra Smooth Lip Liner - Ruby:
          This is such a beautiful color to even wear on its own! Ruby is a beautiful Red that compliments all the Red lipsticks I have. It is more of a neutral toned Red if not cool. I love how soft it is to just glide on the lips without any tugging.

It was hard narrowing down my picks more since I used and loved a lot of products in 2015! Make sure you are following me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for swatches of these lipsticks. Let me know if you want a full review on any of the mentioned lipsticks. Also what were your favorite lipsticks from 2015?

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!

My Beauty Favorites of 2015! | FACE |

Hello Beautiful!

So if you read my last post on the collective favourites of 2015, you'd remember how long the list was thanks to each category and if I had mentioned my thoughts on every product, it would've been an enormous post! Hence, I listed all my favorites of 2015 in each category of Face, Eyes and Lips and now I'll do separate posts on each category with details on the products and why they were my favorites.

Therefore, in this post I'm sharing my Favorites for the Year 2015 in the 'Face' category.

Face:

1) Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation:

          Haven't I raved this foundation enough already? I guess not, because this deserves all the love from me! I have a combination skin and in Winter when my skin leans more towards dry, this foundation has been absolute treat. Blends smoothly and has the perfect satin finish making the skin look hydrated and moisturized.

2) Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation:

          This has been my first ever foundation and I love it so much! It's perfect for my skin in Summers as it gives the perfect matte finish to my combination skin without being dry at all! It blends smoothly and stays put even without a primer, for a long time.

3) Skindinavia - Makeup Finishing Spray - Oil Control:

           With all the weddings in the last year, I wanted something extra to keep my makeup intact for a long time and so I decided to finally get myself a Makeup Setting Spray and I'm so glad I chose this among the vast options available in the market. Just 2 to 3 spritz of this all over my face and my makeup last a long long time without having to re-touch at all -except for my lipstick!!

4) The Balm - Hot Mama:

          Hot Mama is such a beautiful blusher and I love love it for the healthy glow and color it gives to my cheeks. I'm looking forward to use it in Spring and Summer 2016 although I used it all through the end of 2015.

5) Color Studio Professional - Blush - Audacious Orange:

          This has been my absolute love through out Spring and Summer 2015. Although it's a little scary in the pan with the bright orange color, it's gorgeous on the face with a light hand, it gives a beautiful healthy color to the cheeks.

6) Sleek Contour Palette - Light:

          Contouring has been all the rage in 2015 with simple to heavy to clown contouring. My favorite has been this palette from Sleek. It goes on smoothly and blends effortlessly on the skin without making it look dirt or muddy, also the highlight shade is beautiful without being a glitter mess.

7) Makeup Revolution - Powder Blusher- Sugar:

          For the price, Makeup  Revolution's Powder Blushers are definitely a steal. Out of all the shade in this line, I love Sugar and used it the most. It's a pretty peachy blush which has a matte finish. The powder is so smooth and goes on smoothly and blends like a dream!

8) Masarrat Misbah Makeup - Stay On Blusher - Shell Bronze:

          My HOLY GRAIL blusher!! I am absolutely sold on this product!! It is the perfect color for every day use and can be intensified for Night Time Looks. Also it is the perfect color to pair up with ANY eye makeup. The blusher in the pan has teeny tiny flecks of glitter that aren't noticeable on the skin, instead it gives more of a sheen. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!

9) e.l.f Cosmetics - Baked Highlighter - Blush Gems:

          This highlighter is known to be a dupe for MAC Soft and Gentle, I don't own the latter so can't really say but the highlighter itself is gorgeous!! In the pan it looks full of glitter but on the skin it gives a beautiful sheen with a subtle sparkle without emphasizing the pores. Now I don't have any pore issue but it even looks beautiful on my mom's skin. It's compact and sturdy.

10) Rimmel - Stay Matte Pressed Powder - Peach Glow:

          I haven't used anything else to set my face and my under-eyes since I started using this. This is definitely the only used pressed powder of 2015 for me and I love it mattifies (if that's even a word) my face without making it look powdery or cakey.

11) L'oreal Paris - Hydra Total 5 - Moisturizer:

          The only moisturizer that has been my favorite for 2 years now!! I hate the greasy feeling on my skin and this moisturizer just absorbs into the skin without leave any tackiness or geasy feeling behind. I use it religiously under my foundation.

12) Wet n Wild - Shimmer Palette - Hollywood Boulevard:

          Discovered it almost at the end of 2015 but this became a favorite immediately! I love the gorgeous sheen it gives which can be built up. Sometimes I just feel like rubbing it all over my face lol! Wet n Wild has done an amazing amazing job at this highlighter! The amount of products can last you a lifetime!

1) Real Techniques - Blush Brush:

          I had been on a hunt for a good blush brush since 2014 and I finally found my absolute favorite in 2015 and since then I have only reached out for this for applying any Blush. It disperses and blends the blushers so flawlessly.

2) e.l.f Cosmetics - Studio Blush Brush:

          The only brush I loved and used to apply all my highlighters. I have only used powder highlighters and I don;t think it'll perform well with cream highlighters but for powder highlighters, it is the best brush I've ever used!!

3) Real Techniques - Miracle Complexion Sponge:

          2015 again has been an year for makeup sponges and this has been my favorite sponge to apply foundation and concealers. It blends foundation on my skin flawlessly for the air brush finish without a worry about any streaks.

4)  e.l.f Cosmetics - Kabuki Face Brush:

          I had this for a long time before I finally opened it up and started using it and fell in love with it! This Kabuki brush is perfect for setting/powdering the face and that is what I use it for, all over my face. It also is great for bronzing the face. The bristles are incredibly soft! Like a bunny's tail!

5) e.l.f Cosmetics - Powder Brush:

          I got this in a set from e.l.f and has been using it to powder my face until I switched to the Kabuki Brush. So for half of the year this has been my favorite to use with pressed powder. Now I use it to lightly blend in the highlight, blush and contour so there are no harsh lines and everything looks well blended. The bristles on it are a little harsh when I touch i to my face but while using it or swiping it across my face, I don't really notice the harshness much.

6. Bobbi Brown - Angled Face Brush - REPLICA:

          I got this brush along wih others in a set, although I'm sure they are not similar to Bobbi Brown at all, just some replica. Nonetheless the quality of these are really good! The bristles are so soft and picks up just the right amount of products and disperses it well on the skin, I love to use it for contouring as it blends the contour smoothly.

I tried my best to keep this short and sweet and not get carried away describing how much I loved using all these in 2015. Let me know what were your favorites for the year of 2015 and if you want a detailed review on any of these, let me know in the comments and I'd love to oblige!

This brings me to the end of this post. A detailed post on my Beauty Favorites of 2015 for Eyes coming up next!

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!

My Favorite Lipsticks For Winter !

Hello Beautiful!

As much as I love wearing my Nude Lipsticks, Winter is the time when I get out of my comfort zone and rock some bold lip colors! After all, bold deep shades are the statement every Winter with fresh minimal makeup. So I decided to share my top favorite Lipstick shades for this Winter! In no particular order, let's start.

a) Maybelline Color Sensational Stripped Nudes - Coffee Craze:

          This is absolutely my favorite color for all year round but for Winter it's love for the neutral tone it has. It's the perfect light and creamy coffee brown nude color that is neither warm nor cool toned. I have a complete review on this which you can read here. It looks perfect on my NC/NW 25 (MAC reference) skin tone. 

b) Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick - Heart Breaker (016):

          This is such a gorgeous raspberry color that is the perfect near-to-pink shade for Winters! I wear this when I want a fun, cheerful color. The lipstick glides on smoothly on the lips without emphasizing any dry patches as the formula is creamy and has a satin finish -which is specially comfortable on my dry lips in Winter.

c) Color Studio Professional - Pure Matte Lipstick - Raven:

          Raven is a beautiful burnt Orange-Red color on my NC/NW 25 skin-tone and looks a beautiful warm Red color. Looks absolutely gorgeous in this Winter and is the perfect toned Red to wear in this chilly season. This has a matte finish which is very comfortable on my somewhat dry lips (thanks to the Winters) but I feel it doesn't emphasize the dryness.

d) Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil - Berry Much:

          A true Berry color that is quite dark on my lips but beautiful nonetheless! I am a sucker for berry and burgundy shades for Fall and Winter where I want EVERYTHING in berry and burgundy tones and I'm also VERY particular about these shades. Berry Much was love at first sight, one swatch and I was like YES!! I need this in my life!!

The lipstick itself is not COMPLETELY matte but it has a creamy and comfortable matte finish although, as you can see in the picture, it's not that forgiving on the dry areas and so I exfoliate and moisturize my lips before using this on my lips.

e) M.A.C Cosmetics Lipstick - Diva:

          This was a recent purchase but I haven't been able to stop wearing this beautiful rich warm deep Reddish-Burgundy shade! It is such a gorgeous gorgeous shade! This became my favorite on the first application, as I mentioned I'm all about Burgundy color in Winters! On my lips it looks quite dark although in pictures it comes off a little lighter. The formula is semi-matte and comfortable which doesn't tug on the lips while applying. I recommend exfoliating and moisturizing the lips beforehand. 

Had to do my signature parrot beak after all these swatches! Haha. All the kids I've ever met  will remember this as they give such amused and amazed expressions whenever I do it and then do their own versions!

Here are some more swatches:

In case you wonder if these leave behind a stain:

I wiped, with a makeup removing wipe, twice.

So these are my favorite Lipstick shades for the Winter season. Don't forget to share your favorites with me and also if you want an in-depth review on any of these, please let me know, I'd gladly oblige.

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!

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