My Go-To Smokey Eye feat. Naked 1

I have always found it hard to achieve a smokey eye without making it look like I have a black eye (admit we have ALL been there), but after a bit of youtubing and a bit of practice I think I have the hang of it? I am not saying I am amazing, because I really am not, but I hope my post on how I do my smokey eye helps some of you! Just a heads up, these pictures are not great because I took them in the evening, and excuse my 'model' (my sister)'s face; initially I was just intending on cropping her eyes but it made the photos fuzzy. Anyway, long intro done, I hope you found this helpful!

There is  a reason I promise you. I use these index post its mainly when I am doing makeup on other people so that the makeup looks neater and also so that the eyeliner is more identical. I think it makes so much difference and it stops your eye makeup from looking messy and less blackeye-esque. 

Secondly I took the shade buck from the Naked palette all over the lid, putting a bit more in the crease. I used it as a base shade so the whole eyelid starts off as the same colour. 

Thirdly I took the shade half baked all over the lid but putting more on the inner part than the outer. I know the picture really isn't clear but I hope you get the jist.

Fourthly, I took my gel eyeliner- Maybelline waterproof gel eyeliner in black and made a sideways v on the outer corner. Now times like these those sticky notes com in handy, you make one half of the v in line with the sticky note and then the other half in the crease. I hope this all makes sense. Then I took my Quo crease blender brush and blended the gel eyeliner out until you couldn't see the harsh lines. 

Some may choose to just leave the eyeshadow at this, if going for a subtle smokey eye, but I decided to go all out, because why not? So I took the creep in the naked palette, by the way this stuff SUPER pigmented, and a little can go a long way, so be cautious with how much you put on your brush. I would say start with a little bit and build up. Anyway, I took this shade and blended it from the outer corner through to mid- crease, making sure everything was evenly blended, as shown below. If you feel like it looks too dark, just add a little bit of half baked to brighten up a bit more.

Now it's just the usual eyeliner/mascara shenanigans. I did a simple winged eyeliner using Lakme's insta-liner, I actually purchased this in India for dance makeup but now I use it on a regular basis, I think it's so easy to use you can basically create a winged liner in three strokes. The brush is also really fine, so you can really build it up, this is probably one of my favourites along with the L'oreal superliner. I also lined the bottom waterline with Saffron's Kajal liner, it's in stick form so it's soo easy to use, I purchased this from amazon. For mascara I first curled the lashes then, I used Maybelline's lash sensational, this mascara just does the job to be honest, it doesn't clump on me or anything and it makes your lashes look fuller. And voila, that's it, here are a few photos of the finished look! 

I hope this post was somewhat helpful, and I am really really sorry that the pictures aren't that great at all, but hopefuly my explanations were good enough! If anyone does try this, let me know how it goes in the comments, I'd love to know if it works for you :)

Thank you so much for taking the time to read!

Kasthuri xxxx

A Little Bit About Me

This probably should have been the title of my first post, but I'm not one to follow suit (there's one little thing about me). I didn't exactly want to write my autobiography for you to get to know me, so I decided to do the 32 random questions tag. 

1.) Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed!
2.) Do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? Depends on the shampoo and conditioner. 
3.) Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Tucked in.
4.) Have you ever stolen a street sign? Nope.
5.) Do you cut out coupons and then never use them? All the time.
6.) Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? Neither tbh, but if I had to choose, probably a swarm of bees. 
7.)Do you always smile for pictures? Yeah, I can't really pout tbh
8.) Do you ever count your steps when you walk? If I'm REALLY bored.
9.) Have you ever peed in the woods? Desperate times call for desperate measures (especially in Sri Lanka and India) ;)
10.) Do you still watch cartoons? Yes, no shame!
11.) Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? It wouldn't be hidden if I wrote it on the internet?
12.) What do you drink with dinner? Water
13.) What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Tomato ketchup but idm not dipping it anything
14.) What movies could you watch over and over and still love? Princess Diaries, Matilda, Annie
15.) Were you ever a girl scout? Nope
16.) Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? Nope
17.) Can you change the oil on your car? Nope
18.) Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket? Nope
19.) Afraid of heights? Nope
20.) Do you sing in the car? Anyone who answers no to this is probably lying
21.) Is Christmas stressful? A little but I freaking love it!
22.) Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? A teacher
23.) Do you believe in ghosts? A little, I've heard stories from family members who have had encounters with them, but I won't completely believe it until I do so myself.
24.) The first concert you ever went to? Beyonce this July!
25.) Walmart, Target, or Kmart? Well I live in the UK so...
26.) Nike or Adidas? Nike
27.) Can you curl your tongue? Nope
28.) Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Probably, I can't even remember tbh
29.) The last concert you saw? Refer to 24
30.) Can you swim well? Yup
31.) Can you knit of crochet? Nope
32.) Are you a dog person or a cat person? Neither, I am actually scared of both!

So there's a little bit about me, I know these questions were really random but hopefully I'll do one in the future with non random questions!

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Kasthuri xxxx

My First Blog Post: Cocoa Blend

I've probably pressed backspace about 10 times now, not knowing how to start my first blog post. It feels surreal that I'm actually doing it in the first place. I've been reading blogs for a couple of years now, and it has taken a while (to say the least) to actually start my own. So, without any further ado, here is my first blog post on the amazing Zoeva Cocoa Blends palette!

I first found out about this palette through Anna- 'Vivannadoesmakeup', who wrote a blogpost about it and also mentioned it in one of her videos. I would say it took about 30 seconds (or less) for me to decide that I needed it in my life, and it's safe to say I have never looked back; sounds like I was making a very important life decision, but every makeup addict would agree, right? I purchased the palette from beautybay- here, for £15.50. Completely worth the money for such amazing quality eyeshadows (it works out as £1.55/ eyeshadow)- erm BARGAIN!?

Now, let me get into the good stuff, the stuff you're really here for. Below are photos of the eyeshadows in natural lighting, along with swatches on my arm. 

 Above are the swatches for the top row of eyeshadow, in the order they are in on the palette. The first eyeshadow- bittersweet, is a great base colour which would counteract any veins or discoloration on your eyes. The second eyeshadow- sweeter end, this eyeshadow looks different to me in every angle, sometimes it looks like a champagne highlight shade and others a very light rose gold shade, nevertheless it's beautiful each time. Thirdly- warm notes, probably my most favorite of the palette, this is such a lovely deep berry colour, whether you just want a light wash of it or an intense berry colour it can do both and in my opinion (as cliche as it sounds) the picture honestly does no justice. Fourthly- subtle blend,  this is a great everyday shimmery brown and what I would personally wear if I just cannot be bothered or don't have the time, this shade will look great on eye colours and skin tones. Lastly for the top row- beans are white, this is a dark matte brown, which can be used to create a smokey eye, it can be built up depending on how smokey you want your eyes to look.

Now on to the second row,  firstly there is- 'pure ganache' which literally glistens in sunlight, it's basically your perfect gold, it's probably my go to colour for an Asian outfit! Secondly, is substitute for love, which is a matte light brown shade, this would be a great crease shadow for those of lighter complexions, which then brings me onto the next shade- freshly toasted which is a great crease shade for those who are a bit darker, I use freshly toasted as a crease shade; and I am a NC45 in MAC's studio fix. The penultimate shade (I know, it's nearly the end!) is- infusion this colour is a bit confusing too and a bit hard to describe. But to put it in simple terms it's a matte brown with specs of gold within. Lastly, is delicate acidity it is almost a mix of taupe and a plum colour, this is again one of those colours which would look great on anyone.

Finally (if you even made it this far), this palette is incredible! I love it, and I think it's one of those palettes which would honestly suit anyone(how many times have I said that), no matter what eye colour or skin tone you have. I also got this palette as a secret santa present last Christmas, for my cousin, and she loved it too- it makes me so happy when people love the makeup I bought them/ recommended to them. So, to conclude, I hope you liked reading my first blog past it's probably a bit all over the place right now, but hopefully that would all improve with time; and I hope I have given you some depth into this amazing palette!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read! 

Kasthuri :) xxxx