Putting Hot Pots into a MAC Palette

This is a super simple DIY tutorial for putting Coastal Scents Hot Pots into a MAC eyeshadow palette (see review and swatches here). The reason why Hot Pots don't automatically go into a MAC palette is because of a switcharoo in magnatizing techniques. The Coastal Scents palette is magnetized, and the pans are simply metallic. MAC is the other way around. The pallete is metallic, and the pans are magnetic. So you gotta game the system, but it is very simple.

First, gather all your Hot Pots, and place them on a paper towel.

Next, buy some small magnets that have an adhesive backing. I found these square ProMAG magnets at my local Michael's for around $3. Also, have a scissor handy.

Take one magnet and one Hot Pot (this one is S09).

Cut the square in such a way so that you cover most of the backside of the Hot Pot except the part that shows the name of the hot pot. I made 2 cuts and stuck them on so that the name peeped through. Peel away the sticker backing and stick onto the pan's back, as shown below. Crafty, eh?

Use the paper backing as a template for cutting the rest of your magnets. I suggest going one by one instead of cutting all magnets at once. Place the stickers onto the Hot Pots and place them into the MAC palette. The pans will fit perfectly and the magnets should hold the pans securely in place, even if you turn the palette upside down.

Et voila! You have a head start on filling up a 15 pan MAC palette!

Because I'm a bit of a neutral queen, I don't like to buy tons of eye shadows. For that reason alone, I couldn't justify starting a 15 pan MAC palette when I would probably only use 5-6 eyeshadows from MAC. But every now and then I do get a lemming for gorgeous shades that only MAC can come up with such as Black Tied, and Smoke & Diamonds. This is a great compromise for me because I can create a palette that is half CS and half MAC. I already love the matte white (top left) as a perfect brow highlight. As for the MAC eyeshadows, I'm delighted that now I only have to pay $11 for the pan rather than $14.50 for the packaged ones. A haul may be coming up sometime this summer!

Note: Hot Pots were provided courtesy of Coastal Scents. The MAC palette and craft supplies were purchased by myself. 

A depotting rampage!

I recently got 2 lovely products from a friend. They are Origins Underwear for the Eyes. The two colors are shimmery beige and a shimmery gray and are basically shade sticks:

Lovely, neutral and wearable, but the container they came in was rubbish and the sticks were actually falling out of them! So a simple depotting was in order! Here's the How-To:

Grab 2 sample size jars, a bit of 70% isopropyl alcohol, a piece of tissue paper, and a dime:

Make sure the sample size pots are clean and dry. Wet the tissue in a bit of water, wring out, and place the dime inside it so that you create a little stamp.

Next break the shade sticks so they side inside the jars. I used the shade stick containers to initially press the sticks into the jar. Since they have a clay-like consistency, it was very easy to press them down so that there were no air bubbles (left)!

Put a few drops of alcohol on the shade stick and cover the whole surface. Use the dime in the tissue paper to gently but evenly press the shade sticks into the jars. You will actually end up with a very pretty rosette design on the colors!

That's all! Because this was super easy, I also applied the technique to a Coastal Scents contouring palette. I only use the blushers, and not the rest of the colors.

Because these pans are glued in tightly, removing the 2 pans of blushes was not possible. So, I just grabbed two more sample size jars. I scraped out the blushes with a scissor, and filled them inside the jars. I pressed in the blushes with my fingers and the plastic end of the scissor. Then, alcohol drops were placed on the blushes, I used the tissue-and coin method to press them in evenly. This time I used a quarter since the jars were bigger. Here's the final result:

I put stickers on the lids of the sample jars with a light pink heart and one dark pink heart. That corresponded to the light and dark pink blushes. This way I could tell what I was grabbing for. :)

I loved doing these projects. They were both super easy and saved me some space in my Caboodle!

How to make a MAC 188 brush

This DIY was so simple to do that I simply had to share it with my bargain-loving readers. Compared to the MAC 187 duo fiber face brush, the MAC 188 has a smaller diameter, and is great for blush since it's small enough to precisely apply it on the apples of your cheeks. Before I shelled out $34 for one, I had to see if it was worth buying, or if I could make do with what I have. The two duo fiber brushes I have are from Coastal Scents and can be found here and here. Of the two, I find the silver duo brush to be of higher quality. 

Materials needed: a duo fiber brush of your choice and a small rubber band:

Place the rubber band like so around the back end of the brush, and gently push it forward.

 

Stop pushing it forward about 1/3 way up the bristles. This location resembles the diameter of the MAC 188. It ain't that pretty to look at, but who cares? I can use that money for a certain ombre blush I've been lemming instead!

Now for the review: the smaller diameter of this brush is absolutely ideal for precise placement of blush and for those with smaller cheekbones. This brush is also ideal if you use multiple blushes at different points of your face. However, since this brush is extremely soft, you will have to build up color with multiple layers, especially when working with mineralized blushes. This brush would also work perfectly with highly-pigmented cream blushes. 

Please note: If you take off the rubber band, you will see a dent in the brush similar to when you have a dent in your hair from a scrunchie. So make sure you are okay with that before you proceed! I have 2 stippler brushes, so I keep one in its original condition, and the second one has this rubber band on it at all times.

I hope this DIY inspires you to turn your spare stipplers into a MAC 188 dupe. After I started using dense flat-top brushes for applying foundations, my poor duo fiber stippler brushes fell by the wayside, so I'm very happy that they've been given a new purpose. :)

Coconut Oil as an Eye Makeup Remover?

"Well, your wife has done it again." I bragged to my husband. I'd found a way to use the coconut oil I had lying around the house to effectively remove my eye makeup (saving money = victory dance).

I use coconut oil as a weekly treatment for my hair. Since I had recently run out of eye makeup remover, I got to thinking: if coconut oil can condition hair, keep it thick, soft, and dark, and remove excess sebum...that sounds like a great recipe for eyelashes too!

I tested my theory using Dabur Vatika Enriched coconut oil ($2.99 from the Indian store!). Besides coconut oil, it also contains herbs to further nourish your hair. For example, it contains soya extract to promote hair growth, brahmi for shine, henna for volume, lemon for removing dead skin cells, and rosemary for softening. Not to mention the smell is divine. Not bad for $2.99 right?

Here's my eye with tons of eye makeup (I used stubborn products like Fluidline, Powerpoint, UDPP, NYX JEPs and waterproof mascara. The e/s is from the Kat Von D Ludwig palette):

And here it is after using coconut oil (Woohoo! Not only was it clean, but my lids felt baby soft!):

Since coconut oil is solid at room temp and hence hard to squeeze out of a bottle, I depotted it into an empty Lush jar. This way I could easily dip my cotton balls into it and the top layer of the coconut oil was liquid:

I for one am done buying expensive makeup removers. Coconut oil removes everything quickly and thoroughly and leaves my eyelashes and lids feeling baby soft. I have a feeling we will be very happy forever.

In and Out #3

I feel un-makeup-y today. There's something about January that puts me in a contemplative mood and takes me away from the comfortable materialistic thoughts of my usual life. So let me just scratch the surface of these thoughts with an in and out post.


In:

Getting to know my country's history. As an Indian raised almost entirely in the USA, my knowledge of my origins is abysmally embarrassing. I don't know the Guptas from the Moryas (does anyone?!). So I'm lately reading tomes on my country's cultural roots. In a nutshell, there were a lotta invaders.

Getting to know my local library! How come no one goes to local libraries anymore? They've become so pimped out these days! If everyone went, places like Barnes & Nobles and NetFlix would run for cover. I just checked out a DVD of The American President. Next DVDs on the list are Marie Antoinette and Running With Scissors.

Rosewater: I have filled a travel-size spray bottle (from Target) with rosewater, and use it to spritz my super-dry face throughout the day. Take that Fix+!
(ok I still want you cuz I'm a MAC slave, but I will play hard-to-get darn it!)


Out 


Not knowing which drugstore mascara to buy: Maybe you guys can turn this Out into an In by telling me. I just finished my tube of Define-A-Lash lengthening formula. What should be next? I want volume AND length and I want it to be drugstore!

Chippy tips: Let me explain. The tips of my nails always chip off their nail color in 1 day after I've applied them with great love and care. WTF am I doing wrong? (before you ask, I do use a topcoat)


That's enough moaning for a day. I'll get off the soapbox now. Just had itchy fingers and wanted to rant to you guys. Sorry, no useful information this time. I guess this was a "Juicystar07 vlog" style post. ;)

2009's Best Face Forward

As you all know I believe that beauty starts with clear skin (hence my blog's name, Clearly Beautiful. Get it get it? ok moving on...). Ever since my first pimple at the age of 13, I've been devoted to trying out everything the skincare industry can throw at me with the promise of acne-free skin. Now that I'm in my mid-20s, I'm not only concerned with combating adult acne, but also preventing visible signs of aging. So for 2009, these were the products that delivered on their promises. Although I still suffer from breakouts, several problem zones of my face have been completely acne-free for a while (like my forehead and temples). So although the battle is only half-won, here are the VIPs of the year:

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: the active ingredient here is salicylic acid. This face wash is to be used after you've removed your makeup. I love how it has a non-foamy consistency, a refreshing cucumber smell, and a cool tingling sensation as you massage it in.

Olay Regenerist daily thermal mini-peel: the powerful combination of glycolic acid, thermal action, and microscrubbers combats both acne and dull skin (which contributes to an aged appearance). I adore anything containing glycolic acid, because I really see results overnight. Love this peel.

Lush Dark Angels: Honestly, please go buy this. Yes, charcoal-based products are a pain in the a** because they make a huge mess in your sink, but your skin will thank you for the effort. I love using this on particularly oily, icky skin days. The charcoal, rhassoul mud and black sugar make for a super duper exfoliator. I feel like I've had a microderm abrasion Lush-style.

Lush Grease Lightning: I gave my benzoyl peroxide the pink slip once I started using this serum every night. It prevents new break outs and quickly dries out blemishes. Best of all, it does not dry out my face like benzoyl peroxide did. And the tea tree scent is wonderful.

Aspirin: If you have nothing else in your arsenal for acne, keep a bottle of uncoated aspirin tablets around. Whenever I get a breakout, I mix 2 dissolved aspirin tablets with a cream cleanser and spread it on my face. After 30 min, I wash off, and presto, my blemish is zapped in no time. I call this my bazooka because it definitely works, but dries me out.

Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub: Ok ok, I know I have used only a sample of this stuff, and only for 1 month. But I'm so impressed with it that it's made it on this list. This scrub not only exfoliates away dead skin cells, but brightens my complexion so I look a couple shades lighter. I absolutely love the texture and luxurious experience it delivers.

So there you have it, my favorite skincare goodies for 2009. These items will definitely be permanent pieces in my vanity. However, you may notice that I haven't raved about any moisturizers or makeup removers here, because nothing I've tried has blown me away enough to give it this recognition. Hopefully I will soon hit upon some gems.

If you have any suggestions for great moisturizers and makeup removers, please let me know!

Espresso Yourself! Coffee+Chocolate Mask

It's getting cold, and that means that I'm craving 1) hot chocolate and 2) steaming cups of joe. But did you know that chocolate, coffee and milk are an excellent combination for a DIY mask? Here's why:

1. Chocolate and coffee contain caffeine, which constricts blood vessels, therefore reducing redness from acne or rosacea.

2. Chocolate and coffee contain antioxidants, which can prevent and even repair sun damage. Fall and winter are the best times to repair sun damage from the summer months.

3. Milk contains protein, fat, and vitamins A and D. All of these ingredients calm down dry, chapped skin.

        Mix 1/2 tsp of coffee, 1/2 tsp of cocoa, and 1 tsp of milk. I used Starbucks french roast, Hershey's cocoa powder, and 2% milk (you can use any kind).You can reduce the lumpyness of the cocoa powder by putting it through a sifter, but you and I know we're too lazy to do all that. ;)

       The mixture will be granular and runny. You can add some honey to bind the mixture a bit better, but I had no problem keeping it on my face.

      Leave the mixture on for 15-20 min, then wash off. It can be a wee bit messy when washing off, so you can just do this before taking a shower. I love how I smelled yummy the whole time!

      I didn't see immediate reduction of redness from this mask, but my skin looked very bright, awake and refreshed. Also from just smelling the chocolate and caffeine, I kind of felt revived. I think this mask is a fun pampering session, especially on a cold and rainy day like it has been here all week. So take it for what its worth, and enjoy this little pick-me-up!

Hot Oil Treatment

Coconut oil is one of the best things on earth for nourishing your hair. It's used all over the Indian subcontinent for promoting hair growth, and getting thick shiny hair. In fact Indian men obsess with long hair to the point of it being a national fetish. Here, look at this ridiculous image:

Here are a couple of tips on coconut oil:

• Buy it from your local Indian store not the drugstore (see picture here). Coconut oil has only recently made a splash in the western hemisphere, so I'm pretty sure drugstore prices are far higher than the Indian store prices. I paid $2.99 for mine.
• Coconut Oil is equally beneficial for your scalp and the ends of your hair, so massage it all over!
• Oil works much better when warmed up. Your pores just invite it in. So don't apply oil straight outta the bottle. Pour it into a small bowl, and microwave until it's lukewarm.
• Look for enriched coconut oil in Indian stores. That means that the coconut oil has other awesome oils and extracts added to it. Dabur's Enriched coconut oil also contains:
• Triphala for hair growth
• Brahmi for luster
• Henna for thickening
• Neem for removing dandruff
• Lemon for exfoliating away dead cells
• Rosemary for softening
• Kapurkachri for its antiseptic and antioxidant properties
  
• and Soya Extract for increasing hair growth
  

AndreasChoice has a pretty cool tutorial on how to apply hair oil, so check that out. Happy hair days!

PS. A HUGE bear hug to all my awesome followers! I feel so welcomed into the blogging community! If you ever want to request a post, or just want to tell me that I'm boring you to death, holler at your girl. I LOVE hearing from you all!

Lemon Peel and Rose Water Mask

This is the 2nd in my series of DIY treatments using ingredients from your local Indian store. The Lemon Peel Rosewater mask can be used for reducing redness from acne, lightening acne scars, evening out skin tone, softening freckles, and reducing oilyness. Click here for my post on where to get lemon peel and rosewater.

How does it work?
The acid in a lemon peel eliminates excess oil on the skin. It also dissolves dead skin cells which promotes new cell turnover. Rosewater is a mild astringent so it's basically an all-natural gentle toner. Rosewater also diminishes redness by acting on capillaries just below the skin surface.


Recipe:
Mix about 1/2 tsp of lemon peel powder with 2-3 tsps of rosewater. Mix with your hands until you get a thin paste. Here's before and after mixing:

Apply only on areas you want to lighten. I put it on my forehead and cheeks where I tend to break out or have acne scars. Leave on for 20 min then wash off using a washcloth or a facial cleanser brush. Pat dry and moisturize. I would recommend using this mask 2x a week. The results are wonderful and your face smells like roses!

PS. Now that you have a bottle of rosewater on hand, use it to set your makeup. Just fill up a travel-sized spray bottle with rosewater and you have a great Fix+ substitute!

Easy DIY Complexion Mask Using Gram Flour

This mask is ideal for reducing acne, sorting out uneven complexion, and even buffing away sunless tanners. Its gentle and safe enough to use everyday. Gram flour pastes have been traditionally used in India to brighten up a bride-to-be's complexion a couple of days before her wedding. Gram flour can reduce redness and puffiness, which ends up giving your skin a bright and even complexion.

Ok on to the recipe: Mix ~2 tsp of gram flour (see pictures in my previous post) with 2-3 tsps of water. With your fingers, mix the two ingredients into a thin but non-runny paste. Adjust the amounts of water and gram flour until you get the desired consistency. Here's the unmixed and mixed forms:

Apply all over your face while avoiding the eye area. Here's what the consistency should look like on the skin:

When the mask is dry, you shouldn't be able to move your skin. Also the mask will turn almost transparent. This took me about 20 min. To remove the mask, first splash some water on  your face. Then, use a wet washcloth or face brush to gently loosen the mask. I suggest Coastal Scent's face brush.

There are many other variations on this mask, but this is the simplest and fastest. If you're in a pampering mood, mix gram flour with honey and yogurt, or with rose water instead of plain water. Enjoy!

Indian Store Haul: Masks, Hair Treatments, and more!

Visit your local Indian store and you will discover a treasure trove of ancient Indian secrets to good skin and hair. I just bought enough supplies from my local Asia Grocers to make 2 homemade masks, a weekly hair conditioning treatment, and a daily supplement to combat acne and brighten my complexion. And the whole haul costed me $11.95. I kid you not.

All of these products are known to be very effective as they are all based on Ayurveda, an ancient Indian text on medicine.

Below are photos of all the stuff I bought. This is to help you navigate through the store. Be on the lookout in the days to come for recipes and explanations of how these products work.

1. Laxmi ground chickpea flour, or besan (pronounced bay-sun) $2.99 

2. Dabur Vatika enriched coconut oil $2.99

3. Dabur rose water $1.99

4. Lemon peel powder $1.99

5. Triphala Churna $1.99

I'm super stoked about sharing all these recipes with you guys in the days to come, so definitely tune in for that!

EnKore's Homemade Brush Cleaner

Try to clean your brushes at least once a week. It's going to prevent breakouts and prolong the life of these indispensable tools. EnKore has a great video on a how to make your own brush cleanser using things you probably already have at home. All you need is a measuring cup, a tablespoon, a mixing container, and a bottle to store the cleanser.

Mix the following ingredients together in a large container:
-1 cup of distilled/purified water
- 1/4 cup of 70% isopropyl alcohol
- 1/2 tbsp dish soap (I used Dawn)
- 1/2 tbsp gentle shampoo (I used Organix Mandarin Olive Oil)
- 1 tbsp of leave-in conditioner (I used Tresemee)
Gently stir to prevent suds from forming. 

To clean my brushes, I poured a bit of the cleanser into another container, dipped my brush in it, and then wiped the brush on a thick paper towel. Overall, I think this worked quite well on my small eye brushes.However, it didn't get my face brushes clean at all, so I had to resort to hand soap and running water.Overall, I think this is a good cleanser for your eye brushes, since it quickly removes the color with minimal mess. However, its doesn't really deep clean face brushes.


This is just the nature of DIY projects I guess. When it goes right, it's like"Take that, retail!". But when it goes wrong, it's like "Grr, should've left it up to the pros." I think this cleanser has left me with a little bit of both feelings. 

I'd love to know your opinions on how to clean brushes, so please comment below. :)

Milk and Nutmeg Mask

Did you know that milk and nutmeg are a great combination for zapping pimples? I gave this super-easy mask a try today because my trusty aspirin mask was drying me out in this cooler weather. All you need is milk and ground nutmeg!

In a small container, mix a ~1 tbsp of ground nutmeg with ~1/2 tsp of milk. Adjust the amount of milk and nutmeg until you get a paste-like consistency. Here's a closeup (hehe it looks like poo):

Put it all over your face and leave on for ~20 min. The mixture will tingle and slightly burn as it dries. Wash off with lukewarm water. Exfoliate your skin as you wash. Pat dry, then moisturize.

My skin was visibly brighter, super clean, and smelling yummy from the nutmeg! Also, it's not drying me out, so I think this will be a good winter-time substitute for the aspirin mask.

Tag: Top 10 Drugstore Products

Fafinettex3 did her top 10 drugstore products the other day on YouTube, so I thought I'd chime in with my two cents.It's probably useful to first explain my skin. I'm an NC45 with a South Asian background. I have combination skin. I get oily on my forehead and cheeks, but always dry on my nose and chin.

1.Maybelline Define-A-Lash: this product does exactly what it claims. It defines and lengthens every single lash without clumping. It does not volumize though, so if you're happy with your lash length, go for this one. I also love the waterproof formula and how it holds a curl all day long.

2.Soft Lips: This works so wonderfully well. The consistency and non-greasy moisture is way better than Chapstick.

3. Tresemee Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray: I have to either blowdry or straighten my hair every day, so I know I'm protecting it by using this before doing all that stuff. Ooh and it smells good too.

4. Goody StayPut Elastics and Hairbands: These elastic scrunchies and hair bands are amazing. They are nonslip, grip really well, and don't pull out my hair when I take em off. I use the headband when I workout or play tennis--not one hair outta place.

5. Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: I've bought this for the 2nd time now and love it even more. I've written about it in an older post.

6. Oil of Olay Refreshing Toner: Wonderful smelling stuff, and it contains witch hazel. You're better off buying this over the expensive department store toners. Again, blogged about this before. 

7. Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion: This is so much to love here. It's gentle, quick absorbing, nice smelling, super moisturizing and non-greasy. It's good in the winter and summer times. Not to mention the price! Seriously, I used to buy stuff from Bath and Body works, but its so greasy, over-perfumed and hard to absorb, that I am just gonna stick to this forever.

8. Uncoated Aspirin: This stuff is the cheapest and most effective exfoliator/face brightening mask. I mix it with honey, yogurt, random cream cleansers or masks, and I have a great weekend treatment.

9. OPI nailpolishes: sigh how can you not love these beauties? Their color selection and staying power are BEST, I just wish that I could find these somewhere for a better price!

10. Random brand Eyelash Curler from Target: I haven't tried any other eyelash curlers, but this one works great for me.

What are your top 10 drugstore products?

Aspirin Mask: a Mighty Multitasker

I first came across the aspirin mask tip when I was trying to battle an acne breakout the week before my wedding (!). Michelle Phan's video on how to make your own aspirin mask literally saved the day. Here is my twist on it.

1. Take 2 uncoated aspirin tablets in one hand. The bottle and tablet should look something like this:

2. Put only a few drops of water on it with your hands. The tablets should start melting right away, and you should be able to crush them easily after 10 sec.

3. Mix in your favorite facial cleanser. I love using Clean n Clear's Deep Action Cream Cleanser because it tingles my skin the whole time. The cream cleanser also helps keep the aspirin on your face. If you have breakouts, pile on little mounds of the mixture onto those areas.

4. Leave on for 30 min, then wash off.

I just love this mask. It's cheap, easy, and delivers instant gratification.