Beauty at Butala Emporium

For those of you who have followed my beauty rants and raves, you know that I occasionally talk about many of the random Indian beauty tricks, remedies, and products that I indulge in. Some of you have asked where to find certain products like eyeliner and hair oils. I usually don't have an answer since it's hard to find certain products in the U.S. But now I do! I recently discovered that one of my favorite stores in Little India, Butala Emporium, has significantly expanded its selection of hard-to-find Indian skincare and beauty products.

Butala Emporium is a huge, treasure chest of a store on the corner of 28th Street and Park avenue. It's one of those wonderful places where you can stroll for a long while before you realize you need absolutely nothing from there. It carries imported Indian goods including furniture/home decor, religious items, magazines/books, music, and other randomly fun stuff that you can't find anywhere else.

But Butala's greatest strength turns out to be its selection of skincare and beauty products. This includes: a wide variety of hair oils, body/facial oils (including rose and almond), soaps (like sandalwood and lavendar), ayurvedic skincare products (from the Himalaya Herbals and Biotique lines), and makeup (including popular eyeliners) from Shanaz Husain and Lakme.

I recently picked up a plastic bottle of rosewater for cosmetic use (I use it in face masks and occasionally as a toner) and an herbal facial moisturizer from Himalaya Herbals. Prices vary from the drugstore range to more expensive depending on the type of product.

If you're into these kinds of things or just want to try something different that you can't find at Sephora or Duane REade, you'll find a lot to choose from at Butala. Butala Emporium, 108 E 28th St., (between Lexington Ave & S Park Ave), New York, NY 10016; (212) 684-4447

Back in Business

With a vengeance! After spending the last few weeks listening to environmental health science lectures on my IPod and genuinely trying to do some good work at the office, I kicked off the impending New Year with Essie nailpolishes on sale for $2.00 at Duane Reade. Got them in Decadent Diva, a wonderfully deep, metallic purple and Alligator Purse, a crisp red-orange.

Other than the ridiculous great price for otherwise $7.95 nail polishes, I picked these two up because I may have finally understood the value of good nail polish. After the NYC version of Decadent Diva ($0.99) chipped within 24 hours, I was also starting to reconsider my various Brucci buys as well ($1.29). Brucci is cheap and reliable with a decent top coat, but I missed some of the scrumptious colors and finishes of past manicures. I was especially craving Alligator Purse.

So it was fate that it happened to be one of the colors on sale, and I had to go for it. I feel good for having bought a few higher quality nail polishes so cheap, and if I notice enough of a difference in how long they last, I may consider investing in better ones in the future.

I know I sound like I'm 12 and trying to figure out how best to spend my allowance money. It's still something like that, sadly, but in many ways, I like the challenge! Hopefully I'll have more cheap thrills to share soon.

Hair Attachments

I recently discovered one of the greatest inventions ever. My hair dryer's nozzle attachment. Seriously. I don't know when and how I fell so behind on such things but I really can't live without this baby. If you have thick, frizzy hair like mine, try blowing your hair with and without one to see the difference.

Hair is naturally easier to handle during the colder months and I practically want to kiss mine every winter. It does what I want it to, and then some, often all on its own. I generally don't have to worry too much about it after one or two good blow-outs for the week. But the nozzle gives the ends a special something that I can't achieve with just the hair dryer alone. And my hair genuinely dries much faster - even in the tropical conditions of my studio!

I know I'm obsessed with something when I go back to my parents' place for 2 nights and feel the need to take it with me. I did this over the Thanksgiving weekend only to have my worst fear confirmed - the nozzle didn't fit my old hair dryer. Luckily, I had my Solano Sapphire straightener to smooth out with the plain old dryer couldn't, but I generally don't like that stick straight look so I kept its use to a minimum.

It's a miracle I don't talk more about my hair since I guess it is one of my better features. I wish I had more to share on what I do with it, but I don't. If you want to know the secret to having good hair, it's doing nada. I barely wash it, brush it, or condition. I don't even oil it much lately. And I'm forced to blow dry it more because of the weather.

I do, however, spent excruciating minutes plucking out the gray hairs starting to form a halo around the back of my head.

If anyone has a cure for that, do tell.

Sick of Shiny Lips

No, this is not a product review. It's been a good few months since I actually complained about something or expressed general confusion/frustration/indecisiveness about my face and how it looks with product on it. But this week, I couldn't help but decide that I'm sick of shiny lips. Even slightly shiny ones. So I stopped applying the oh-so wonderful Cover Girl lipstick I last wrote about. I was starting to feel like I had just sampled the grill section of the hospital cafeteria, polished off by a chicken wing and fries. I was also starting to feel that the slightly shiny effect was kind of jarring under fluorescent lighting and on mygenerally sleepy-eyed face.

I opted for an interesting mix of Clinique Soft Shine Lipstick (discontinued, I believe) in Glow Bronze and my trusty Maybelline Moisture Extreme in Plum Sable. I just can't stick to any one thing it seems - I always have to mix things up. Not surprisingly, this was a nice, sophisiticated, and muted look without achieving the dreaded "nude" lip - remember, I don't want to look dead. Try something similar - it's purdy.

Fall/Winter Makeup Update

Wow, is it almost December already? Scary thought. I can't believe my evolution is - still evolving. The time is flying so fast, I really do forget how many days go by without detailing my current makeup trials and tribulations.

Given that I was still somewhat of a newbie when I first started blogging about them and the current fall/winter season, I thought it was time to update you on what has become near and dear to me.

On a daily basis, I've been using my L'Oreal liquid eyeliner in Defined by Plum, Cover Girl TruShine Lipcolor in Chocolate Shine, and the love of my life, Almay's Amazing Eye Liner in Black Brown. Blush enters in somewhat of a variety show, but big stars have been NYX Blush in Pecan and L'Oreal's TruBlend Blush in Subtle Sable.

Other products I continue to use regularly and which serve me well (both makeup and skincare):

Clinique Almost Powder (SPF 15) in Deep
Clinique Line-Smoothing Concealer in Deep Honey
NYX Eye Shadow Trio - Guru
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blemish Stick (a real life-saver)
Burt's Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream
Phisoderm Gel Clarifying Moisturizer
Nivea Lip Care
MAC Lipstick in Polished Up combined w/ Milani Lip Gloss in Taboo

The cooler weather and much clearer skin (thank you, Tretinoin) have been helping things along quite a bit, and I'm grateful. Fall/winter are definitely favorable makeup evolution seasons - too bad I started this over the summer. You live, you learn.

Drugstore Lipstick - Cover Girl TruShine in Chocolate Shine

Ever since I saw Ugly Betty's Wilhemina Slater switch to a rich, velevety, 90s-esque shade of brown lipstick, I have been yearning for the same look. Unfortunately, I am not Vanessa Williams playing a fashionable but evil magazine editor out to rule the world. I am short and have a small face - such a lipstick might be overwhelmingly outdated and semi-vampy.

I sampled some deep shades at MAC and was not impressed. My friend K vetoed all the potential candidates with a quick shake of her head and a long "No," but I could see it in her eyes - I looked like a baby-faced Indian aunty. Not attractive.

Enter Cover Girl's TruShine Lipcolor in Chocolate Shine. Since I decided that creamy, matte formulas in a deep shade just wouldn't work for me, I combed My Favorite Place On Earth, Duane Reade, for a sheer formula in a crisp, autumnal color. This lipstick is exactly that.

Don't be fooled by the almost-holographic casing and the richness of the color in the tube - this is on par with other sheer lipsticks like Clinique's Bare Brilliance lipstick in Chocolate Ice (which I was very into this summer). TruShine is as moisturizing as a balm, has buildable color, and works for both day and night. I'm already halfway done with the tube. Better yet, it has a soft shine without the bronzey sparkles that Chocolate Ice had. The only downside is that because the formula is so sheer, it takes a few layers for a richer look, and needs reapplication throughout the day. But for the ease of use and versatile shade, it's worth it.

Very surprised by this lipstick, and also very happy. I intend to try it in Mauve and a few other shades as well. Again, at about $6.00 a pop. you really can't go wrong.

Nails and the Art of Zen

I know, I know - I've been silent for quite some time. Since the summer, in fact. And we now find ourselves in the thick of autumn.

Let me set the scene: last we saw of Sania, she was lamenting her departure from the land of milk & honey -- New York City -- and ready to move off into the great wild nothingness of the semi-South.

And now that she's here? Well, there is definitely a lot of nothingness. The (semi) South has a different dynamic that's interesting and infuriating at times, while still managing to be somewhat charming.

It doesn't help that I'm in one of the most intense graduate programs that I could have ever imagined. There's not a lot of time for grooming and feeling pretty. Women here also tend to prefer a classic look, which I can appreciate, but sometimes I just want to go for the trendy. I still do it, because that's my personality, but I definitely stick out in the crowd.

There is one habit that I have held onto, though. And that's doing my nails. In the midst of all the craziness of schoolwoork, homework, and all the other kinds of work, sitting down to paint my nails has almost a zen-like calming effect on me.

Maybe it's because it involves sitting down, with no distractions, putting my hands on the table, painting each nail meticulously and waiting for everything to dry. And that's ten minutes that I'm not forced to think about anyone or anything else, worry about what I have left to do, or when I'm going to sleep.

And looking down at my brightly painted nails can get me through any dragging day, because color? It makes everything better.

The Bomb of an Eye Shadow Palette

In an effort to ease my eye shadow experimentation, I've been trying to find a great palette instead of collecting singles. Usually, I either don't like all of the coordinated colors or not all of them actually suit me. The only one I love so far is NYX Trio in Guru. A few weeks ago, I finally found a high-end palette that does the trick - TheBalm's Shady Lady Eye Shadow Palette (limited edition).

This amazing palette has NINE eyeshadows/shadow liners (including 3 new ones) in an assortment of shades and formulas suited for almost any occasion or makeup mood. They are:

Caught in the Act Courtney (rich brown with gold sparkle)
Shameless Shana (tahitian bronze)
Luscious Lani (icy pink champagne)
Jealous Jordana (rich shimmering green)
Risque Renne (dark navy blue sheen)
Curvy Camy (plum shimmer with gold flecks)
Jet-Setting Jennifer (pale gold shimmer)
All About Alex (olive shimmer)
Easy Wheezie (gunmetal gray shimmer)

You see that there is a nice mix of deep jewel tones that double as eye liners, neutral shades, and metallics. And, of course, there is my requisite plum. All these shades work together in a number of different combinations, or can be used alone.

Best of all, I actually really like the quality of TheBalm's eye shadows (see experience with Mysterious Marissa). While clearly you have to be a bit more careful with the shimmer/sparkle and darker shadows, the lighter ones are a breeze to use. My favorite ones are Jet-Setting Jennifer, Easy Wheezie, and All About Alex. They work on just about everybody and are so easy to use, no experience is necessary.

The only "eh" factor with this palette - the leopard print cardboard packaging. Not exactly discreet or sophisticated. Like other TheBalm shadows, this is a large cardboard flip-top with a magnetized lid to for secure closure. Just to be on the safe side, I wish they had changed the packing for this product (and taken down the ugly factor a few notches).

As important as the versatility of this palette - the price. At $15 each, nine TheBalm shadows would normally cost you about $135. This palette is $38.00 and in my opinion, actually worth every cent. Limited Edition @ Sephora

Mad Purple Disease Continues

Ah, I appear to be slowing down with my makeup evolution, huh? No worries - I'm always trying new things, they have just been a bit redundant lately. Lots of different purple and plum eye shadows, nail polishes, and a new lipstick find. I haven't had as much time to browse of late in Sephora so drugstore thrills have been the way to go. Then again, I am slightly obsessed with drugstores anyway so this really isn't out of the ordinary. Moving on....

Purple, purple everywhere! 2 shadows to try:
Maybelline Expert Eye Shadow Single in Amethyst (High Pearl finish) - This is a gorgeous new shade from Maybelline. It is a bright, blue-based purple with a slightly gauzy, neon pearl finish. I know that sounds weird, but I don't know how else to describe it. This shade would be a lot more in-your-face and pigmented if it were a high-end brand. But I found that I can wear this shade rather easily with just a few swipes over the lid. It applies smoothly and is sheer enough to layer as you like. I promise you that this can be work/day appropriate. It's a unique color that avoids giving you a blackeye but also isn't too disco-queen. Hoping to experiment more with this as a crease shade and with smudged kohl eye liner instead of the liquid I'm currently using.


L'Oreal HiP Concentrated Eye Shadow Duo in Charisma - This cute little pot features two complementary pink and purple shades. The pink is somewhat lilac/silver toned, and the royal purple has some hints of shimmer. While this seems like a very versatile combo, the shadow itself is a bit hard to apply and blend. Additionally, I find this kind of purple can quickly give way to a fake blackeye. It's definitely more of traditional crease shade for a smoky eye (which I have yet to master) so I don't find it as easy-to-use (or fun) as Maybelline's Amethyst. But worth a try if you're experimenting.

Maybelline Expert Wear Single Eye Shadow, $3.79 & L'Oreal HiP Concentrated Eye Shadow Duo, $7.00, both @ Drugstores

L'Oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Eye Liner - Defined by Plum

Finally, a purple/plum liner that lives up to its name. While this limited edition liquid eye liner from L'Oreal isn't perfect, it has temporarily satisfied my purple obsession.

First, what I like - the color. This is a deep, deep eggplant shade that is almost black - almost a liquid version of Laura Mercier's Black Violet kohl pencil. On the eyes, this gives the definition of a black liner without looking too stark against the skin. At the same time, it doesn't have the muddiness of dark brown liners. Overall, a great liner shade for olive/tan complexions.

What I don't like - the ridiculously long wand. It's literally like 4-5 inches long. I don't know when cosmetics companies will understand that this does not make application easier.

What I'm neutral on - the felt tip. It's kind of funny - very easy to use and gives a surprisingly fine line. However, it's not tapered to give that pen-like form. Just kind of strange. But hey, it works, so I'm not complaining.

This is one of the few purchases in recent makeup history that I have not returned - give it a try! $7.99 @ Drugstores

Purple Is The New Black

So proclaimed an ad in Sephora, and I wholeheartedly agree. Purple makeup is everywhere and I'm loving it. From smoky eggplants to neon purples, there are simply too many variations to resist, no matter what your personal preferences. Plus, they look good on most skin tones. If you're not into purple makeup, it's showing up in everything from shoes to bags.

Purple can be a hard tricky color to work with, no matter what the shade - after all, you don't want to look like someone just punched you in the face. An Indian's Makeup Blog has some great tutorials on purple makeup. My personal recommendation is to go easy and start with what makes you most comfortable. This week, I'll be experimenting with L'Oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Eye Liner in Defined By Plum and a light dusting of deep lavender and bronze shadows.

Below is a list of some high/low end purple makeup to try. Happy purple!

Drugstore

• NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Eye Powder - Purple Rain
• Prestige Eye Shadow - Velvet, Blossom, Bisou, Bacchus, & Royale
• Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow - Amethyst
• Milani Eye Shadow - Shock (Powder), Royalty (Runway Eyes), & Couture in Purples (Runway Eyes Fashion)
• L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eye Shadow - Plum Royale
• L'Oreal HiP Eye Shadow Duo - Sculpted & Charisma
• NYX Eye Shadow Trio - TS6 (Purple, Deep Purple, Prune) & TS3 Lake Moss
• NYX Single Eye Shadow - Violet, Eggplant, Red Bean Pie, & Burgundy Pearl
• Jordana Eye Shadow - Sweet Plum
• Jordana Eye Liners - Purple Fusion, Parisian Plum, & Eggplant
• L'Oreal Limited Edition Plum Collection products: Lineur Intense Liquid Eye Liner - Defined By Plum, Wear Infinite Eye Shadow Quad - Purple Mosaic
  

Sephora/Department Store

• Calvin Klein Eye Shadow Quad - Purple Variation
• Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow - Velvet Plum
• Laura Mercier Eye Shadow - Black Plum, Kir Royale, & Plum Smoke
• Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Liner - Black Violet
• Urban Decay Eye Shadow - Flash, Crash, & Purple Haze
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil - 1999, Rockstar, & Lust
• Urban Decay Lipstick - Apocalypse
• Clinique Creme Shaper for Eyes - Starry Plum
• Clinique Kohl Shaper for Eyes - Black Amethyst
• Make Up For Ever Eye Shadow - Deep Plum Shimmer Iridescent 79, Matte Dark Purple 160, & Purple 92
• The Balm Shady Lady Eye Shadow - Curvy Cami & Just This Once
• MAC Eye Shadow - Purple Haze
• Rock 'n' Ruin Pressed Eye Shadow - Purple
• Stila Eye Shadow - Batura
• Stila Eye Shadow Duo - Orchid & Vieux Carre
• Cargo Eye Shadow - Cyprus
• LORAC Eye Shadow -After Party & Rhapsody
• LORAC Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio - Starlet
• Sephora Brand Enchanted Eye Palette - Plum

More Nail Time

It seems that the color has been migrating from my face to my finger nails. I'm officially "into" nail polish more than I ever have been. Maybe it's because I love rich colors, and the fall actually allows you to experiment more with them than any other season.

My current pick - Sephora's Pure Plum nail polish. It is a deep, wine-eggplant color. And I mean eggplant. If you layer on enough coats, it can almost look black. I do wish it had a tad bit more purple to it because it borders on burgundy.

Next purple to try - OPI's We'll Always Have Paris (coffee-purple), Louvre Me Louvre Me Not (royal purple), and Yes...I Can Can (jewel eggplant) from the amazing Fall/Winter French Collection (San like some grey polishes from it - read here).

Of course, I'm also a cheapie, and found a bunch of similar shades from Brucci for about $1 (including some cool jewel greens/blues).

Fall Nail Polish

So, nail polish is something I'm not very into. There are a few shades I've mentioned here before, including Essie's Alligator Purse, which is great for fall. But after some beauty magazine page-turning and Sania's review of nail shades that are tres Grey Chic, I was intrigued.

Being drugstore queen, I've find my own cheaper version that incorporates my latest current color mania - purple. Brucci Nail Hardener in Daniella's Curve, #413 (who knew Brucci was a South African company??) is a muted, deep lavender with no muddy taupe/brown undertones and a creme finish. I like to think of it as "Calvin Klein purple" - sophisticated and yet sharp.

There are definitely more colors like this out there, but usually harder to find unless you buy them at salons. I also found that this one had just a few more drops of purple in it than usual, which I prefer.

Perfect ease-into-fall shade, and totally work appropriate. It's also the cheaper alternative to Sephora by OPI's On Stage (grey plum) & Call Your Mother (lavender putty) shades.

~$2.00 @ Drugstores

More Posh Brushes

So...my eye shadow playdates hadn't been goin' so well, why? Because I'm hyper-impatient and was experimenting through a combination of finger/mini-sponge. That's right. I had not invested in any good eye makeup brushes and shadow upon shadow was resulting in major disappointment. I had just one which was too big to use for shading and blending of different colors.

A few weeks ago, I made myself by the Posh 4 Piece Duo Eye Brush Travel Kit. Yes, I actually had to make myself spend money on beauty tools. I kept telling myself that I'd rather save it for a bigger, better purchase, which never came, largely because I wasn't equipped to use the bigger, better purchases.

Like the other Posh brushes I've had good experiences with (the retractable kabuku and blush brush), these have also been a pleasant revelation. The brushes are soft and non-irritating, and shed little. Plus, the little zipper case is very cute and easy to integrate into my amazingly busy and exciting life.

Drugstore brand Apt. 5 has exact replicas of all the Posh brushes at half the price (or less). Mine is a Posh original from KMart. Definitely an investment for those who are working with their makeup looks but don't want to spend too much on beauty tools they won't use too often. $9.99 @ KMart or Use code UA123 or CC123 for 50% off @ Poshbrushes.com

As a fellow blogger just pointed out, yes, with 4 dual-ended brushes, it's like getting 8 brushes! Thanks :)

Much Ado About MAC

Of late, I must admit that I have been contemplating returning to MAC liners for my eye-defining needs. I have found 2 drugstore liners (pencils & liquid) that have been satisfactory, but only in certain colors - black and black/brown. For more interesting colors/formulas, I've been reflecting on my past MAC experiences and think that it's time to revisit.

Which is why I'm excited about a couple of new liners from the company's limited edition (of course) collections. Pearlglide, from the Suite Array collection is described as a "creamy kohl-like eye liner with a sparkly, reflective finish...Highly pigmented: stands out for its rich, luxurious colors and pearl-metal look." This is a look/finish/formula that I've been very eager to work with, but have found that other brands (drugstore and not) didn't have the color payoff I need for my skin. Knowing MAC and from this description, these might be the more pigmented formulas that I need.

The 8 available colors are - Black Russian (black with navy blue glitter), Molasses (dirty brown with midtone brown glitter), Bankroll (rich green with bright green sparkle), Fly-by-Blu (light blue with blue glitter), Wolf (deep gray with gold glitter), Rave (deep purple with purple glitter), Miss Fortune (eggplant with light pink glitter), and Spare Change (midtone brown with copper glitter). Miss Fortune could hopefully fulfill my BIV (blue, indigo, violet - purple shades) quest.

I thought Pearglide might be similar to this summer's Starflash series in a wider (and better) range of colors, but from the descriptions, I'm not so sure. The swatches for these liners are lighter than expected, and I'm hesitant about the "glitter" and "sparkle" content.

Next, the Dual Edge Eye Pencil (limited edition), which has a regular liner on one end and a glitter-based one on the other. Again, I'm not sure how I feel about the glitter-end, but the pencil reminds me of a similar one from Vincent Longo that I've admired for months.


When it comes to shadow, also eye'ing the Eye Shadow Suite in Team Violets. The Rose duo is picture here - so pretty, and it's nice to see duos from MAC.

If all of the above fail to impress, I'm going to go stick with a Powerpoint or two for a while and see if a few months of experimentation has changed my view on them. I will test and report back soon.