Monthly Favorites ::: March-April-May 2020

I have been having a lot of free time during this quarantine! And I have been participating in a lot of different beauty challenges - some are just about eyeshadow swatches, some are on different makeup looks! I have not really been buying a lot of new makeup and as such I have been shopping my stash heavily and I have been loving it. Honestly, I have been loving this entire process! It is giving me an outlet for my creative energy and honestly, it is saving me from a lot of depression during this trying time!

Check my Instagram @arrru_t to check out some looks I did with these products!

Anyway, onto the favorites:

Base concoction: I never really talk about base products because I dont really get much fun out of them; not really much interest in foundation, primers or concealers. Whatever works, is good enough for me :-)! Lately though, I have been loving a glowy look! I have been mixing and matching these few products for my base! MUFE Ultra HD Foundation is my go-to foundation! The CoverFx Custom Infusion Drop adds a little bit of moisture to my foundation and the CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops (read my full review here) adds that summer-y luminous sheen to my foundation! On a simpler day when I just want a lighter coverage, I use the Becca Backlight Priming Filter (read my review here) just bare face or underneath foundation! It gives me an health glow. I use the Smashbox Primer Water as primer or as a finishing spray! 

MAC Fix+: Do I need to say anything about this iconic product? There are so many new sprays in the market, but nothing like this! Read my review here. Off late, I have been using this to create liners out of pressed eye-shadows or have been using it as a finishing spray after I am done with my makeup! It just makes the whole look tie together and makes it a little more dewy!

Stila Aqua Glow Water Color Blush in Water Lily: Yep, blast from the past! These blushes from Stila were awesome! It has consistency between liquid and cream and is a godsend for my dry skin. I used it when I first bought it (read my full review here), and I recently pulled it out from my stash! I am loving the soft look it provides. I almost finished it up it though!

Becca Mineral Blushes in Hyacinth, Songbird, Lantana (reviews linked): There was a time when I used these blushes non-stop! Then my cheeks were buried in adult acnes so I stopped using blush all-together; it made me sad! But lately, I have started to use blush again! I have been layering these over other matte blushes; they have a subtle sheen to them! I just love how they add to my glowy-dewy #motd vibe! 

Laura Mercier Highlighter Palette: Another shop-my-stash discovery! I love the undertones of these highlighters! All these colors work on my medium tan skin-tone; the darkest I can use as a bronzing sheen! These are so soft and buttery; they dont really emphasize my textured skin and yet packs a punch! Read my full review here.

On to the fun stuff ---- a.k.a Eye stuff!!!

Laura Mercier Cavier Stick in Plum: This is such a soft eye pencil. So easy to apply on the inner rim , stays put and appears less harsher than a black kajol liner. Read my review here.

Urban Decay Electric Palette and Viseart Dark Matte: Viseart Dark Matte is my jam; I will never stop raving about it (read my full review here). I love wearing colorful looks and I use this palette 7 out of 10 times to use to these shades on the crease, lash-line or on the lid to ground my looks. This palette will always remain a favorite. I am also getting a lot of use out of my Electric Palette; I bought it on sale just before it got discontinued! I am so glad that I got my hands in the palette! I love the vibrancy of these colors - they are brilliant; pigmented, soft and easy to work with! There is not one shade that is dull! I love all the shades, my personal favorites are Chaos, Savage and Slowburn. And Freak!

MUG single eyeshadows in Voltage, Pixie Dust, Lemon Drop, Whimsical, Daydreamer and Colourpop in On The Fence, Sandbar: I think these shadows restarted my love affiar with makeup and creating new looks! I was building a spring palette for a makeup challenge and loved how cute these shades were! I created quite a few looks with these - basically these colors are bringing me so much joy! Really!

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eye Liners in Emerald, Paradise Pink, Turquoise, Intense Amethyst & Cobalt : I have been a fan of these liners for a long time now! They are awesome. Waterproof and stays all day long! Lately, I have been using them to create shape and small lines here and there in my eye looks! I am loving all these colors for adding brightness and novelty to my eye-looks!

So, this was my rekindled love for makeup. What have been keeping you busy during this quarantine?

Love,

~Arrru

Pan 20 in 2020 ::: Project Pan Update #1

It has been 4+ months since I posted my intro to "#Pan20in2020" challenge (see  post here). I thought it is high time I post an update regarding my progress. 

Without much rambling, here are all the products as of April 30th, 2020 -

Pan 20 in 2020 ::: April 2020

Pan 20 in 2020 ::: January 2020

 And here is my goal with each of the products -

1A) Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water: Before social life stopped due to Covid-19, I used this quite regularly. And as you can see, there is some noticeable progress and I am happy with that. 

1B) Marc Jacobs Re(cover) Perfecting Coconut Setting Mist: FINISHED this! Woohoo! I loved using this, and I would love to repurchase it if it is available. 

2) Becca Backlight Priming Filter: I see a lot of good progress and I am sure I will be able to finish it up before the next update. 

3) Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation: Before the lockdown started this was my go-to foundation, so I am sure I have made progress, but it is difficult to figure out the progress. 

4) Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer: Not much progress. This was my everyday concealer, mainly for wear-to-work purpose. Now it has been two months that I have been working from home (and we don't do video skype), so this has not been used much.  

5) Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in "Sunlight": I still love using this but there is just no way to figure how much progress has been made.      

6) Smashbox 24 hour Photo Shadow Primer: Little bit of progress, even though I use this primer every time I wear eyeshadow.

7) Benefit POREfessional: Little bit of progress. This is such a tiny tube. And I use it on my cheeks quite regularly but it still does not end. 

8) Hourglass Ambient Powder in "Dim Light": Not much of progress, even though I use this primer every time I use under eye concealer. 

9) NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in "Himaliya": No progress. I typically wear this eyeshadow to work and it has been quite a while since I last used this eyeshadow.

10) Makeup Geek Eyeshadow "Crème Brulee" & "Cocoa Bear": YES, I have hit pan on "Creme Brulee" and I have been making good progress in using it. Cocoa Bear hasn't seen much use but I am still hopeful I can hit pan this year.  

11) RMS Beauty Living Luminizer: DONE. I have hit pan and I am making good progress in using it up.  

12) RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer: I can see the pan getting bigger and bigger as I have been using it quite consistently. I really hope I am able to use it up at the end of this year. 

13) Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eye Liner in "Indigo" & "Midnight": There are not much usage left out of these two liners. I think I can still get 4-5 usages! They all be done before the next update. 

14) NARS Eyeliner in "Via Vaneto": This eyeliner finally died on me. It got so dry that I had to de-clutter.

15) Bare Minerals Bronzer: I use it every time I use makeup but it is not showing any sign of panning. Such a discouraging product to pan.

16) Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronzer: I have not really using this much and that's ok. I am mainly trying to use up and pan the previous two.

The next few products are all lipsticks and this is where I haven't really made any significant progress. I have used a bit of Bite Verbana and Ilia Lip Conditioners but honestly nothing significant. Until the lockdown is lifted and I actually need to leave the house, I don't see any scope of making any significant progress on these lipsticks. 

17) Pat McGrath Matte Trance Lipstick in "Elson": No significant progress!

18) Bite Beauty Amuse Bouch in "Verbena": No significant progress!

19) Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Cin Cin": No significant progress!

20) Ilia Beauty Lip Conditioner in "Crimson & Clover" & "Nobody's Baby": Not significant progress!

Let me know if you are also doing any project pan challenges? I have plenty of spare time and I am all ears!

Love,
~Arrru