Hi there, my darlings! It is unseasonably hot here in the City of Joy (Kolkata) and from what I hear, it's been unseasonably hot across the US too. Global warming much? And it's only May! Which means most of us still have at least a month before Summer truly arrives and we can escape to those beach vacations or, in my case, cooler mountain climes. That leaves an entire month or more of work for most of us! While I'm itching for the bright, bold colors of Summer, work often demands more neutral kinda shades. But neutrals don't have to be boring as Zoya Nail Polish and Treatment shows us with the beautifully chic Naturel 3 collection!


This collection consists of 6 cremes in unique neutral shades that are anything but boring! Across the board, I found the formula to be smooth and easy, which is pretty much standard for Zoya's cremes. I did find one or two of the lighter shades to be a bit streaky with the first coat, they even out quite nicely by the second coat. Unless specifically mentioned, all the swatches below show just 2 easy coats of each polish by itself on the first and pinky fingers and with 1 coat of topcoat on the middle and ring fingers, for the sake of comparison. Do you tend to paint in thicker coats? Then I bet you could get away with just one coat for most of these! In fact, read on to find out which one I used just 1 coat and was done!


Cathy is described as "a light pinky nude cream in the classic 2-coat coverage formula". This one was a little tricky for me at first, application-wise, but I'm going to blame it on the heat because application got much easier once I had the air-conditioning going! So, here's a little tip; store your polishes in a cool, dry place if possible!






Debbie is described as "a plum brown cream in the classic 2-coat coverage formula". This beauty is my favorite from this collection--I absolutely love the plummy purple tones with my skin tone!






Gina is described as "a medium brown neutral cream in the classic 2-coat coverage formula". This one needed just ONE COAT for full coverage! Who knew brown could look this good?!






Jill is described as "a lighter mauve cream nude in the classic 2-coat coverage formula". Another instant fave, I love the delicate take on mauve!






Mary is described as "a medium raisin cream in the classic 2-coat coverage formula". This one seems to be just made for deeper skin tones and is seriously flattering!






Tatum is described as "a medium light nude cream with a warm base in the classic 2-coat coverage formula". A classic neutral that would flatter most skin tones!






Along with the 6-polish set, Zoya recommends 3 of their fabulous Perfect Lipsticks: Cameron, Paisley and Maxwell. You can find swatches of these three, along with all the original shades of Perfect Lipsticks HERE.


So there you have it, my darlings! The Zoya Naturel 3 collection is available now on Zoya's website HERE for the price of $10 for a full-size, 0.5 oz bottle or $60 for the set of 6.

Don't forget to follow Zoya through the social media outlets below :

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Are you a fan of neutral shades? Which of these unique shades are YOUR faves? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!









****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****


Hi there, my darlings! As a beauty blogger of 4+ years and a makeup...ahem...collector of many, many years, it still never fails to surprise me when I discover a brand that has been around for awhile and yet I have nothing from them in my stash. It's kinda shocking, really! So, imagine my surprise when I couldn't find a single product from Jesse's Girl in my stash. Now, I know what you're thinking. With a stash like mine, maybe I just don't remember? Ah! But with the recent move, I actually went through all my makeup, de-stashed and generally just pared things down. And yet, nothing! I can't believe it! Especially since I have heard such good things about some of their products from fellow bloggers! Anyways, as the saying goes, better late than never! And I'm really glad that although late to the game, I got to try several of their products recently and I'm quite impressed with some of them! Read on to find out more about my latest discoveries!


HIGHLIGHT AND CONTOUR KIT ($12.99)

Simplify the art of sculpting, enhancing and defining your features with our Highlight and Contour Kit, designed to help you expertly emphasize your eyes, cheekbones, nose and jawline with effortless ease.

The Highlight and Contour Palette features four contour shades to help create realistic shadows to create perfectly sculpted features, and four highlight shades designed to give you a radiant glow.

These velvety-smooth, buildable powders blend effortlessly into the skin for a flawless finish that flatters every skin tone and face shape.




I'm starting off with the very first thing I reached for and fell in love with--this palette is fabulous, especially for the price range! I love that quite a wide range of shades are included in both highlight and contour categories--perfect to fit a wider range of skin tones! Furthermore, I really like the super blendable powder formulas which is perfect for the warmer months, especially if you have oily skin like mine. Now, you can contour to your heart's content without worrying about what a cream formula is going to do to your pores. And can you believe that price?!




9 PAN EYE SHADOW COMPACT in DREAM GIRL ($3.99)

Nine coordinating eye shadows in a sleek plastic case.



I tried the Dream Girl compact with nine neutral and smokey eye basics. This palette is small and light, perfect for all your Summer travels! With the range of shades in this one, you're covered for both a natural day-time look or a sultrier night-time look. The pigmentation on these are pretty good--not SUPER pigmented, all the swatches below are at least 2-3 swipes built up but they do the job. I found a couple of the lighter shades to have a bit more fall-out than the darker shades but the formulas of all of them were smooth and easily blended. Again, just look at that price point!




LIQUID EYELINER ($6.99)

BLACK: Our unique Japanese calligraphy-style brush allows for precise, super-fine application that lets you create lines as small as one millimeter thickness! Combined with a formula that dries super-quick for a smudge-proof application, our liquid eyeliner glides on smoothly without tugging or pulling. 

SNOW WHITE: By combining our “all-day” formula with our Japanese made, precise line applicator, Jesse’s Girl has created the perfect liquid eyeliner.

With the ability to create lines as fine as 1mm… our Super Fine Applicator makes it possible to apply the most precise lines for your desired looks.

AND

FLUID SHADOW ($4.99)

This lightweight, fluid shadow can be used as an all over eye shadow or along the lash line as a brilliant liner.

For eyeshadow application, apply only on the mobile eyelid for optimal drying without transfer. Keep your eyes closed for a few seconds after application. For liner application, use the brush to line the eyes with color along the lash line.





With the eyeliners, I was really impressed with the special tips, both the thin calligraphy-style tip of the Black and the felt tip of the Snow White. Both allowed for tight control and precision, which, in my book, is crucial for a flawless lined eye and wing tips. Both are now permanent additions to my make-up bag!

The fluid shadows I found quite interesting. They don't blend as well as I would like and are probably more suited for a dramatic, statement look. I would probably use them either for the trendy "halo" eye look or along the lash lines for a bright pop of color!




TWIST AND SHOUT LIP BALM in TANGERINE ($2.99)

An orange translucent, tangerine flavored balm.


Lip balms are an absolute essential for me and I love this one! The application, the hydration, and the flavor are all winners for me! Jesse's Girl has several interesting flavors like Wildberry and Bubblegum and I definitely need them all.




MATTE FINISH LIP COLOR in ANGELIC ($3.99)

This angelic caramel-nude lip color glides on velvety-smooth with a doe foot applicator, drying quickly for a long-lasting, transfer-proof, vibrant matte finish.


I'm a self-professed lipstick junkie but I tend to always reach for my go-to berry shades in mattes. So, when I first saw this shade, I thought it was pretty but just wouldn't work for my skin tone. Boy, was I wrong! And happily so! This nude wears as a dusty rose-pinky coral on me and I LOVE both the shade on me and the wearability. It's such a comfortable matte and I definitely need to try a few more of these!




So there you have it, my darlings! Jesse's Girl products are available at fine retailers and mass merchandisers nationwide, such as your local Rite Aid, across the US. To find a retailer near you, please visit Jesse's Girl's website HERE.


To discover other great products, you can follow Jesse's Girl through the outlets below :

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Have you tried Jesse's Girl before? If so, tell me about your favorite products in the comments section below!








****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****


Hi there, my darlings! If there's one thing that as bloggers we come to know about ourselves, it's our weaknesses. Personally, there are several things I have a soft spot for--floral fragrances, vivid eyeshadow palettes, bold highlighters and most importantly, lippies. In case you hadn't noticed yet (yeah, right!), I'm a self-professed lipstick junkie. But as a lipstick junkie, I know what I gravitate towards, what works for me. Sure, I'll try a shocking hot pink or a luscious coral every now and then but when it comes to tried-and-true loves, it's always the rich berries, plums and reds that I reach for. That's why although I was dying to try the new L’Oréal Infallible Lip Paints, I also knew that only certain shades would work for me and those are exactly the ones I requested to share with you. These three, out of the 14 available, I feel are among the most suited for women of my particular skin tone--take a peek and tell me if you agree!


If you haven't come across the Infallible Lip Paints yet, here's a little excerpt:

High color impact lip paint. Saturated with pigments. Designer applicator.

Lacquer up lips for a bold color statement with L'Oréal Paris Infallible® Paints/Lip. In one stroke, the designer applicator precisely diffuses vibrant, full-coverage color to lips for comfortable wear. Available in 14 high-impact liquid lipstick colors, from nude to bold.





Now, when I came across these on social media, I was immediately taken with how bold, how pigmented the colors looked. And in my mind, I immediately assumed they would be mattes. Because you can really get THAT kind of pigmentation with mattes, right?! WRONG! As I found, much to my disbelief, these are NOT mattes. Yet, they are still incredibly pigmented! What magic is this?

The three I tested were buttery smooth cremes...although cremes don't quite accurately describe them. I really think paints, as they have dubbed them, is the most accurate representation--they have the impact and pigmentation of a good matte but the comfort, hydration and easy wearability of a great creme. It's a fabulous departure from the ordinary, if you're used to wearing mattes all the time, like me.

If there was anything I wasn't thrilled about, it would have to be the applicator, Billed as "designer", they didn't quite do it for me. I found them a little too...feathery, if that makes sense. The tip wasn't as defined, as firm as I like it which made applying evenly to the lipline a challenged. I would definitely recommend using a lipliner and then filled in the color.

Overall though, I LOVE all three of these shades and I really enjoy the feel of these. Shown below, from left to right, Infallible Lip Paints in Bewitching Bordeaux, DIY Red and Sultry Sangria.

 FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: L’Oréal Infallible Lip Paints in Bewitching Bordeaux, DIY Red and Sultry Sangria

So there you have it, my darlings! L’Oréal products are available at fine retailers and mass merchandisers nationwide, such as Rite Aid and CVS, across the US as well as your local Ulta. To find a retailer near you, please visit L’Oréal's website HERE.

L’Oréal is a truly global brand and can be found at favorite retailers across the globe. While the Infallible Lip Paints are currently only available on Amazon India, I'm keeping my eye out for their launch here!

To discover other great products, you can follow L’Oréal through the outlets below :

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What lippie shades do you gravitate towards? Which of these gorgeous shades caught your eye? Do you plan to pick anyone of them up? Tell me which one in the comments section below!








****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****


Hi there, my darlings! Living in the US, you don't quite realize just how many everyday things you take for granted. Hand lotion, good pizza, roll-on deodorants (don't even let me get started on that)...and yes, indie polishes and handmade products! Yes, there are a few brands here in India that make handmade bath and body but they are few and far between. As for indie polish...virtually non-existent. It's so sad! So, when I landed up here, I knew I HAD to curate a list of all the indies that shipped globally, not only for my own sanity but for the sake of all my international ladies who are looking for a little something more special than what's available in the local pharmacy/drugstore/supermarket. Worry not, my international darlings! All the brands have got you covered! Enjoy! 😊💖


  • ALTER EGO BODY CARE PRODUCTS
Not just pretty polishes, Cynthia has recently expanded to create a line of handmade soaps. I have known her since the wee dawn of ColorSutraa and I have had the pleasure of running a couple of fun little giveaways with her!


You can find Cynthia of Alter Ego through the social media outlets below :

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Instagram
Website



  • BARONESS X
I discovered Baroness X last year when I saw rave reviews of her Matte Balm all over social media. So, I had to go get one for myself and boy! Does it work! Read my rave review HERE. I brought that balm with me all the way over here and I STILL have a lot of it left. But, I'm really glad she ships internationally because I'm definitely going to need back-ups!


You can find Demetria of Baroness X through the social media outlets below :

Facebook
Instagram
Website




  • BOHEMIAN POLISH
I got a little sneak preview of Jennifer's creations when I had put together my big Maker's Faves of 2015 giveaway--you can take a peek at that pretty polish HERE.


You can find Jennifer of Bohemian Polish through the social media outlets below :

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Instagram
Website




  • CAMEO COLOURS LACQUER
Cameo is my girl and I ADORE her! I worked with her since we were both just fledglings and we have become friends ever since. You can find one of my favorites from her recent collections HERE.


You can find Cameo of Cameo Colours Lacquers through the social media outlets below :

Facebook
Instagram
Website





  • CELESTIAL COSMETICS
Aussie indies have access to unicorns and fairy dust, I'm convinced! Their holos are nothing short of magical! And Nicki's creations, which I have loved for a very long time, are truly special. You can see for yourself HERE. She ships all over the world, either through her Australian home store or through her US warehouse!


You can find Nicki of Celestial Cosmetics through the social media outlets below :

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Instagram
Twitter
Website




  • COLORS BY LLAROWE
Originally a stockist of all things indie, Llarowe created a frenzy when she announced her own line of polishes. With absolutely blinding holographic polishes, her line does not disappoint! My personal stash is FULL of them!


You can find Leah Ann of Color by Llarowe through the social media outlets below :

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  • CONTRARY POLISH
I haven't had a chance to work with Carrie of Contrary but I do own a few of her older shimmers which are truly beautiful!


You can find Carrie of Contrary Polish through the social media outlets below :

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Twitter
Website




  • CUPCAKE POLISH
The home of absolutely stunning holographic polishes! Personally, I'm a little obsessed with my Cupcake babies and made sure to bring almost my entire stash with me across the seven seas. You can read my reviews of her brand pretty much all over my blog but HERE is one of my favorite collections.


You can find Sara of Cupcake Polish through the social media outlets below :

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Instagram
Twitter
Website




  • DELUSH POLISH
Another indie I haven't had a chance to work with...gasp! But Adrianna of Delush makes a gamut of pretty polishes as well as nail care and nail art products.


You can find Adrianna of Delush Polish through the social media outlets below :

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Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter
Website


  • DIFFERENT dimension
When I first got into indies, Missi's beautiful polishes were one of the very first that caught my eye! She creates some of the most beautiful polishes that I have seen til date, that too in a variety of finishes that cater to all kinds of tastes. You can take a peek at one of my favorites from her recent collections HERE


You can find Missi of DIFFERENT dimension through the social media outlets below :

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  • DREAMLAND LACQUER
I had worked with Noelie since she was Smitten Polish and she never failed to impress me with the quality and beauty of her polishes. Just see for yourself HERE


You can find Noelie of Dreamland Lacquer through the social media outlets below :

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  • ellagee
I LOVE Laura of ellagee and have worked with her for years, so much so that she's also created a couple of gorgeous customs for me--check out one of my fave customs HERE. With ellagee, you can not only expect beautiful products but that extra special touch that only a truly wonderful indie can bring to the table.


You can find Laura of ellagee through the social media outlets below :

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Twitter
Website




  • ENCHANTED POLISH
What can I say about Enchanted Polish without hyperventilating a little?? Let's just say I'm a true fan-girl! Over the years, the most amazing thing happened--Chelsea took a special interest in my little blog, even when I was a total newb. She never failed to answer emails, join my giveaways when she could or follow what I was up to, so much so that my recent email to her was answered with warmth and queries of my well-being after the move. I have even had the immense pleasure of working with her HERE--as for her polishes, they will always hold a special place in my heart and my stash!


You can find Chelsea of Enchanted Polish through the social media outlets below :

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Twitter
Website





  • EVER AFTER POLISH
Run by two BFFs, Ever After Polish is not just about polish! While Rachel's polish creations are undoubtedly super pretty, my heart belongs to Miranda's amazing hand and cuticle crelly concoctions. With luscious scents that change seasonally, you can read all about my obsession with them HERE.


You can find Miranda and Rachel of Ever After Polish through the social media outlets below :

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Website





  • FAIR MAIDEN POLISH
Adrienne and Sarah of Fair Maiden make polishes that are not only gorgeous and eye-catching but I have been impressed time and again with the formula of their creations. It's been a pleasure working with them and you can read about one of my favorite collections HERE.


You can find Adrienne and Sarah of Fair Maiden Polish through the social media outlets below :

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  • GIRLY BITS
Girly Bits is another brand that caught my fancy way back in the day--the name was whimsical and her polishes so pretty! My stash still has a couple of OG GB hidden here and there.


You can find Pam of Girly Bits through the social media outlets below :

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  • GLISTEN & GLOW
Ah...Jill! Affectionately dubbed Beanses, she was my very first polish BFF. We bonded over her HK Girl Topcoat, which will forever be my go-to topcoat, and became so much more than just polish friends. When she started making nail polishes, I couldn't have been prouder! Now this is a hard one to pick a favorite collection because I love her and her brand so much but HERE is top candidate.


You can find Jill of Glisten & Glow through the social media outlets below :

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  • HEATHER'S HUES
Heather and I first worked together when she was just starting out, as part of my new indie features. She has come a long way since then and I couldn't be happier for this sweet lady. HERE is my review of some of her very first creations.


You can find Heather of Heather's Hues through the social media outlets below :

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  • LEESHA'S LACQUER
I was introduced to the super sweet Leesha when I had the pleasure of featuring her on my new indie series. She's not only super fun to work with but she's a lovely human being with the knack for making beautiful polishes. Take a peek at some of my faves from her HERE.


You can find Leesha of Leesha's Lacquer through the social media outlets below :

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Twitter
Website




  • LILLY ANNE'S GARDEN
Misty is a nail blogger so you know she knows her stuff! I haven't had a chance to try her products yet but I love that she expanded into this venture!


You can find Misty of Lilly Anne's Garden through the social media outlets below :

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  • LOLLIPOP POSSE LACQUER
Karen and I were introduced during my big Maker's faves of 2015 giveaway...that giveaway really was amazing! Not only is the brand name super fun but so are her polishes, as you can see HERE!


You can find Karen of Lollipop Posse Lacquer through the social media outlets below :

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Website




  • LEESHA'S LACQUER
While I haven't had the chance to work with Shannon of Pahlish, I have added quite a few of her creations to my personal stash over the years. Her reds always seemed to catch my eye!


You can find Shannon of Pahlish through the social media outlets below :

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  • RICA NAIL POLISH
Although I haven't had a chance to try her polishes, I hear good things about her stamping line!


You can find Rica of Rica Polish through the social media outlets below :

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Website




  • SASSY PANTS POLISH
I came to know Angie through my beloved new indie feature series and I remember her being super organized and generally really great to work with. And her polishes are lovely, as you can see HERE!


You can find Karen of Lollipop Posse Lacquer through the social media outlets below :

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Instagram
Website


AND
  • HANDMADE NATURAL BEAUTY
Angie also makes a line of handmade bath and body products which she also ships internationally!


You can find Angie of Handmade Natural Beauty through the social media outlets below :

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  • SMOKEY MOUNTAIN LACQUER
Kim sought me out a few years ago because she was specifically looking to add a WOC blogger to her team. For that, she will forever have my love and respect! From there, we hit it off and I became her main blogger until I moved. There are SO many polishes of hers that I adore but if I HAD to pick a favorite, it would be this one HERE! If you don't see your location listed on the website, drop Kim an email and she will take care of you!


You can find Kim of Smokey Mountain Lacquers through the social media outlets below :

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  • THE HOWLING BOUTIQUE'S SUPERMOON LACQUER
Mardi and I haven't had the chance to work together but I stalked her a bit online before this post and I LIKE what I see! She currently ships to 10 countries worldwide but is willing to expand shortly!


You can find Mardi of Super Moon Lacquers through the social media outlets below :

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Website





  • TURTLE TOOTSIE POLISHES
Chrissy and I recently started working together as of 2015...and then I moved away! She's such a sweetheart so, I'm really glad she ships internationally! Take a look at one of my fave collections from her HERE.


You can find Chrissy of Turtle Tootsie Polishes through the social media outlets below :

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Instagram
Website




  • VIBRANT VINYLS
You would be shocked at how hard it is to find good vinyls here in India! I know I was! Amazon and AliExpress were my only options...until now! Yay for not only vinyls but a whole range of nail care that ships internationally!


You can find April of Vibrant Vinyls through the social media outlets below :

Facebook
Instagram
Website




  • whimsical nail polish by pam
Another OG indie in the house, Pam makes the most interesting glitters! I definitely still have some of her adorable little bottles in my stash somewhere!


You can find Pam of whimsical nail polish through the social media outlets below :

Facebook
Instagram
Orders through email at pea422000@yahoo.com




So there you have it, all my international darlings! HAPPY SHOPPING!!!



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