Colors of the Wind

Farleigh's pedicure post inspired to list some of my favorite mani/pedi colors that I plan to wear this spring and summer. I believe that keeping my toes in great shape with a fun color just makes me feel so much better and happier.

Zoya in Pippa (obvi I had to get this color): I'm currently wearing this on my nails. It's warmer and more of a marigold color than the bright neon yellow in the image.

Zoya in Arizona: A little obsessed with an orange tone since Pantone released tangerine tango as the color of the year.

Zoya in Wednesday

Butter London in Disco Biscuit


Sally Hansen in Pacific Blue

Zoya in Carmen

Yes, I do have a lot of Zoya colors on here. It happens to be my current fave brand to use for nail polish. I normally keep my toes in the pinks or reds and my fingers in whatever bright color I feel like at the moment. Now that I've done this post I feel like changing up my mani and maybe pop in some Bridesmaids.

Latest Shopping Haul

I have an upcoming wedding (as a bridesmaid) in April so obviously this warranted a shopping trip. I'm fairly sure I justified my purchases because I will "need it for the wedding".

This grey pencil skirt will actually be part of our bridesmaids' outfits (yay for things I can wear again!). I bought this over the weekend from the White House Black Market, which has some pretty cute stuff. I've never stepped foot in one before, let alone purchase something. The bride wants us to pair this with a white ruffle-y or tie neck blouse. She hasn't found one yet so let me know if you find a white top that would go great with the skirt (The theme is an antique brunch. Hello eggs benedict and mimosas!).

I randomly found this conditioner in the sale bin at my local Target today. The sale sticker said it was marked down to $4 but when I checked out it was actually $2. *Insert high five* I've never tried the Burt's Bees conditioner before but I won't complain about $2.


I happened to be in the market for an exfoliator and thought I'd try this from Sephora. I plan on updating my skincare routine so I'll let you know whether or not I'm pleased with this one.

I also needed a body scrub and, lo and behold, this happened to be in the same area as my new exfoliator. I haven't tried it yet, but I will let you know what I think about it also.

I got the Mineralize Concealer in NW20. I really needed a new under-eye concealer for the wedding. It will be on a Sunday at 11 a.m. so add that to a boozy rehearsal dinner the night before and no sleep = high odds of looking like a hot mess in the a.m. (No worries, I already made plans to pack my Vita Coco). I had to choose from this, the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, and the Laura Mercia Undercover Pot, but I mainly chose Mac since it was the least expensive. When the makeup artist applied it on me I wasn't really fond of it in the beginning, thinking it looked funny but as the day wore on I liked it more. It's still on fairly well without any creasing after about 7 hours so I'm quite pleased with it.

So there's my latest shopping haul for anybody who is interested in seeing what I bought. I will update soon about my new skincare routine so *crossing fingers* that I will love my new Soap and Glory products. At the very least they smell yummy.

Revlon Lip Butter, Obvi

So I am jumping on the bandwagon and talking about how OBSESSED I am with the Revlon Lip Butter line. To be honest, I didn't care much for Revlon until they decided to make our girl Emma Stone a brand ambassador (Revlon 1, Cristina 0; their marketing worked on me). Revlon came out with this lip butter line, which has been described as a tinted lip balm. Again, I'm jumping on the bandwagon when I say it is so much more than that! It really has a great way of making your lips feel all smooth and buttery, and the color can be so much more pigmented than your basic average lip balm. If you want a good review on the different swatches, you can watch here:



I currently only have the Strawberry Shortcake. It's a lovely color but I didn't love it on me because I thought it looked a bit frosty against my tan skin. However, I used it as a base and then put a light coat of the True Blood for Tarte lip stain, and it gave the most gorgeous pink color. I was so in love with finding that combo last night that I went to bed with it still on my lips. I woke up this morning with my lips still feeling soft and with a touch of color due to the stain. I definitely plan on buying Peach Parfait and Lollipop on my next outing to the store. I definitely highly recommend these as they are incredibly lovely and great for everyday use!

Couch Approved.

UPDATE: So I just went out and bought Peach Parfait and Lollipop. Oh Em Gee! So amazeballs! Peach Parfait is a great light peach-y color that I think would look great on everybody. It looks good on Emma Stone and on me (who is considerably much darker than Emma Stone).

I've also been looking for a color like Lollipop for the longest time, by which I mean about 2 days. Lollipop is a great bright berry pink color, and I have feeling I will require multiple tubes of this. I'm now a Lip Butter junkie and cannot rave enough about this stuff.

Time to Spend Some Christmas Money...

On new makeup! I need your help. I am looking for some new makeup products to buy, particularly the following: eye brow set, eyeliner, blush and a good everyday nude-ish lipstick. What are some of your favorites? I'm hoping to hit the nearest Sephora and, potentially, MAC later this week and would absolutely love some recommendations. Thanks in advance, loves!

Insert Holiday-Best-Pertaining-to-You Greeting

For me, it's Merry Christmas! You might be celebrating the Solstice or Hannukah or whatever else is out there this time of year. I decided to make this a 2-fer on my party makeup since I previously mentioned I would upload a couple of my Christmas party makeup looks.

Foundation: MUFE Face and Body #18
Eyeshadow: Sonia Kashuk Nude Instructional Palette - one of the nude brown ones (no names on the shadows), NYX Wildfire
Eyeliner: the black shadow on the Sonia Kashuk palette
Lashes: Eyelure Naturalites (either 020 or 116, I forget which ones I used), Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black
Eyebrows: A mix of the black shadow and the dark brown shadow on the Sonia Kashuk palette
Concealer: Maybelline Fit Concealer in #35
Cheeks: Victoria's Secret bronzing powder in Goddess, Cover Girl Cheekers in Pretty Peach, ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Toasted used as a highlighter on my cheeks and under my brows (Only $1 at Target!!!)
Lips: Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in Brooklyn and Mary Kay Lip Gloss in Sweet Raisin

This picture was taken post eating and dancing, and aside from some shine on my forehead, I was quite pleased with how the makeup pretty much stayed put. I went with my mom and a few family friends, and they all wanted me to do their eye makeup after seeing mine. That was very flattering but nerve-wracking at the same time because I have zero experience with applying makeup on other people!

Foundation: MUFE Face and Body #18
Eyeshadow: Revlon ColorStay 12 Priceless Metals (I used the bottom 2 shadows), NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in Champagne
Eyeliner: the black shadow on the Sonia Kashuk palette, Maybelline Unstoppables Eyeliner in Onyx (just for the bottom)
Lashes: Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black
Eyebrows: A mix of the black shadow and the dark brown shadow on the Sonia Kashuk palette
Concealer: Maybelline Fit Concealer in #35
Cheeks: Victoria's Secret bronzing powder in Goddess, ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Toasted used as a highlighter on my cheeks
Lips: L'Oreal Colour Riche Liner in Rouge, Kate Spade in The Perfect Red (sadly discontinued but I hear the KS Supercalifragilipstick is amazeballs)

Also, I would like to take a moment and bask in my Kate Middleton-esque hair from the night! It was super easy; I just used big velcro rollers (I think they were maybe 2 1/4 inch) and left them in my hair for a couple of hours while I was getting ready. I sprayed a little bit of John Frieda Frizz Ease hairspray while they were in the rollers and then again after I took them out. Seriously, amazeballs. I LOVED my hair that night and wished I could wake up every morning with my hair looking like that.

So there you have it. These were my makeup looks for a couple of the Christmas parties I attended. I'm really excited for New Year's Eve because I'm going to an event where my boyfriend's mom's big band is playing! I plan on doing it big again then. Hopefully, I'll be able to blog more about it with several pictures! Until then, enjoy your time with your friends and family! Thanks for reading!

My December Favorites

The title is pretty self-explanatory. I wanted to post some of my current favorites for this month. Hope you enjoy!

I actually just bought this sweater at Old Navy today, and it cost me all of $6. It was on sale at my Old Navy store plus I had a $5 coupon. Do the math and you get a very pleased Paco.

With the exception of warm, practical coats for Vermont, I haven't actually had a new coat since my sophomore year of high school. The picture above isn't exactly the one I got. The main difference is that mine falls a little below the hip while this one is much longer. What's the best part? I got it for free! My little sister got a job soliciting perfume samples for a day at the Macy's where my aunt works. I had to baby-sit her so I got this coat as a reward for a hard day's work.

I am seriously in love with this lip balm! I got it at Sephora on a whim mainly because I needed to reach a certain amount to use a coupon I received via email. I don't normally go for scented lip balm but this is fantastic because it's not a ridiculously strong scent and it feels so light. Plus, it makes my lips all smooth and lovely. It's perfect timing to ward away chapped lips.

I have always heard of Make Up Forever but haven't actually used any of the products. The saleswoman told me that the Face & Body one is best for in-person looks while the HD looks best for photos. Plus, this one is 1.7 oz for $2 less than the HD one at 1 oz (this one really sealed the deal). I have never been more in love with a foundation before in my life! I was using Clinique before but this is so much more amazing. I'm even more excited to try makeup looks like the one below for upcoming Christmas parties:

I'll probably do a simple red lip as I'm not going anywhere bold enough for a velvet lip look. I love this channel loads and am always looking for an excuse to try out some of their other makeup tutorials (hard to come by where I live).

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed my current December favorites. It's not really anything too fancy or exciting. I'm sure I'll have an updated list as time passes. Let me know what some of your current favorites are.

Feeling the Funk

Maybe it's the weather. I woke up today to grey skis and drops of raining hitting the roof. On the one hand, I absolutely love that sound. On the other, the weather put me in a bit of a funk. Oh well, it happens. I think I'll organize my clothes for my Atlanta trip while listening to some Adele. She's bloody fantastic to listen to whenever this mood thing hits. On a happier note, here are a couple of things I bought while I was out running errands today:

Bought this shirt at Old Navy today on a whim. Bright side: It was on sale for $9.50 and I had a $5 off coupon. Plus, it was an extra 10% off using your Gap card so I paid a total of $3.90 for this shirt. My nail polish cost more that.


I went ahead and bought Excuse Moi, one of the nail polishes from OPI's Muppet collection, after hearing Sahiti rave about it. I almost bought Rainbow Connection but then I remembered that I have 2 more nail polish bottles from Zoya heading my way!

Maybe painting my nails will also improve this funk mess that's going on right now.

What I do to my Face in the Morning

Everyone's make-up routine here sounds so sophistique. I will put on make up 98% of the time, and I don't always take it off before I go to sleep. Clearly my skin problems, which decided to crop up when I turned 22, are of my own making. As Kurt Vonnegut said: 'So it goes.'

So, after shuffling about aimlessly for five to ten minutes after getting out of bed, I'll shower and every other day, I use St. Ive's Apricot Scrub on my face. It always seems to make my skin feel wicked clean, probably because I can feel all that gross stuff on my face being vigorously rubbed off. Also, it's very satisfying to rough up your face. Weird, but true.

2 - More dillydallying, but eventually I put on L'Oréal Future E moisturizer, which I've used since I was in high school.

3 - Then, I apply NYC Cover Stick as a base on all my blemishes and dark circles, both of which have become a constant fixture. I used to have something by Maybelline, which was honestly superior, but alas, I lost it.

4 - Liquid foundation time! Basically, I buy what's on sale at the time. Currently, I use Skin Perfecting by a British company called 17. It's alright, though it is supposed to control shine and it has SPF 12. And in combination with my moisturizer, which is SPF 15, I break even.

5 - Now for the powder foundation. I'm a huge fan of CoverGirl Clean powder foundation. Naturally, being cadaverous in color, I use ivory.

5 1/2 - When I'm looking particularly icky or trying to impress someone (yes, I have no shame), I will apply some blush. Normally I eschew this step, because I blush too easily and I don't feel the need to make it even worse. However, when the moment of truth comes, I use Smooth Minerals by Avon. Don't judge, I can hear you making jokes about pink cars, but I've had this for 3 years.

6 - Eyeshadow time! Again, unless I have a specific reason to, I won't wear it. Applying eye shadow is frustrated by the fact I have very almond shaped eyes, so that when they are open, my eyelids are totally hidden. However, when I feel inclined to make an effort, I use L'Oréal Wear Infinité for green eyes.

7 - I always curl my eyelashes, even if I'm omitting mascara from my routine (yes, I don't always wear mascara). I am currently using Great Lash, Blackest Black; however, it's not waterproof, which can be a real mare in the Glasgow weather scene.

8 - Lipcrack, as I like to call it, or chappy. Daily I vacillate between Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm and Bert's Bees Original. If I'm feeling particularly classy, I use Kate Spade's Supercalifragilipstick! (Adventurous Red) WHICH IS AMAZING. It's very subtle and goes from day to night with ease.

There you have it. I am the bottom of the rung when it comes to make-up routines.

Makeup Galore Paco Style

I started this makeup routine recently after watching the Pixiwoo videos that I've posted before on this blog. Seriously, I love these sisters. They're so charming and I love watching how they transform their faces using both bold and neutral colors (not necessarily at the same time).

Moisturizer: I've recently been using Aveeno Simply Radiant moisturizer with SPF 15. I also have a Clinique moisturizer but it's currently used for my regular nighttime routine.

Foundation: I use Clinique Perfectly Real makeup applied with a Real Techniques foundation brush.

Eyes: I've recently discovered Urban Decay Primer Potion for eyes in order to keep my eyeshadow in place all day. Seriously, I've put on my eyeshadow in the morning and have noticed that it stayed until later that evening before washing my face. For a casual day look, I've been using Sonia Kashuk's Eye on Neutral Instructional Eye Shadow Palette, which is filled with great neutral matte colors.

Eyeliner: I've started using the black eye shadow in my Sonia Kashuk eye shadow palette using an EcoTools angled eye shadow brush. I haven't tried wetting the brush but I think I might experiment with that tomorrow and see how it works with a Real Techniques eye liner brush.

Mascara: For regular day lashes I use Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black. Sometimes I'll build up more using the Maybelline Falsies Volume Express mascara, just like Stumpz.

Face: I'll then add a Maybelline concealer to cover up the dark circles under my eyes using an EcoTools concealer brush. Then I finish off with the Clinique Perfectly Real powder using an EcoTools powder brush.

Lips: The color depends on my mood, day vs. night, and eye makeup. For a casual look I really like the Buxom Big and Healthy lipstick in Brooklyn or the Mary Kay Nourishine Lip Gloss in Sweet Raisin. If I don't do a casual lip, then I LOVE experimenting with reds such as the Kate Spade Lipstick in The Perfect Red (which I think might be discontinued...boo) and the Tarte for True Blood Lip Stain.

There you have it. I feel a little like Stumpz in that this sounds super high maintenance but it really isn't. It takes me 5-10 minutes tops. It's funny because this whole makeup thing is a recent development, all thanks to my new-found love of watching YouTube makeup tutorials. My boyfriend is not so fond of the makeup thing and is constantly saying, "You make the makeup look good." Silly boyfriend. I tell him it's just like painting in art class. Can't wait to hear what everybody else does!

My Make-up Routine

Moisturizer: I use Clinique Moisture Surge. It's super light and absorbs quickly...which is good because heavy creams on my face gross me out for some weird reason

Foundation: Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ applied with a Beauty Blender sponge

Highlighter: Moonbeam by Benefit on my eyelids, cheekbones, and cupid's bow

Blush: Berry Delight by Clinique

Eyeliner: Dior crayon khol pencil 

Mascara: Benefit BADgal Plum

Lips: any of the Tarte LipSurgence sticks or Clinique Black Honey almost lipstick

if my make up needs to last the night, then I use Urban Decay All Nighter Spray (as previously discussed)

this is a highly researched and well put together collection...it took years to get to this perfect balance

Things that I've Noticed Re: Makeup

1. Wearing eye shadow makes me look weird...just plain weird. Unfortunate because eye shadow is so pretty!!

2. I may be the only Indian girl who has to wear make-up with pink undertones.  Olive undertones are in most darker shade foundations, which makes it very hard for me to find foundation that works

3. I must wear lots of eye-liner at all times

4. I need to just say no when other people offer to do my make-up...they tend to violate all the rules above

Urban Decay All Nighter Spray

By the end of the night my makeup has always worn off and I hate it.  So I bought this and decided to try it last night for the 11/11/11 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley.  It is amazeballs.  My makeup looked the same at midnight as it did at 6pm when I applied it...except for my eyeliner.  I recommend applying eyeliner after spraying this on...and don't use too much. I sprayed my face 4 times but I think 2 or 3 will do the trick.  So I highly recommend!