LEATHER & LACE

anjanana:

Kimmy K.’s #metgala dress inspired soap set. 🌹🌹🌹

What I wore to my brother’s IB graduation.

SKINCARE ESSENTIALS

Shivangi, from neepodhume, requested that I post more beauty posts starting with my skincare regimen. 

First of all, skincare is tricky and what works for you depends on what skin type you have and if you have any skin issues that you want to combat. I have combination skin that gets very dry in the winter months and oily everytime else. My biggest skin issue is acne marks.

Skincare basics are like the white shirt/dark demin jeans of your skincare routine. The brands don’t matter as much. If you already have a brand that you like, then they probably make similar products to what I’m about to describe in their line. The products I use, I’ve bought at least 5 times, so you know I’m 100% behind these products.

*x - I’ve linked the products I use. 

What you need:

• Exfoliation Brush (x)
  These come in many price ranges from $15 - $140. It’s up to you how much you want to spend. I use this in the shower. I let the steam and warm water from the shower soften the bristles and my skin as well. You want this to be a smoothing, exfoliating process, you don’t want to scar or tear the skin.
• Gentle Cleanser (x)
  I like a non-foaming cleanser because the foaming ones stripped the moisture from my skin. This cleanser also works really well with the exfoliation brush. 
• Non-Alcoholic Toner (x)
  I think there’s some debate about whether toning is good or not. For me, it really helps. It helps balance the ph of your skin. The skin does it automatically after it’s been washed, but that requires more effort thus more heat thus more oil. The toner kinda eliminates that extra step. It’s also like the final swipe of clean.
• Heavy moisturizing cream (x)
  This is like a “night cream”. I use it before I go to bed. During sleep, your skin can get pretty dehydrated. For winter months I’ll use the heavy cream for mornings too.
• Light moisturizing lotion (x)
  Make sure this one is more water/gel based. This is the one you wanna wear in the morning before makeup. It’ll help the makeup stay better. And it’s moisturizing but not greasy. 
• Scrub (x)
  This and the exfoliation brush do the same thing, but this you can have more control how much exfoliating you do and you don’t have to make sure you’re in the shower or anything. Speedy Exfoliation.
• Vitamin E Oil (not pictured) (x)
  Not the tablets, but actual oil. This is the only anti-aging thing I do as of now. It’s completely natural. It can be purchased at walmart and other grocery stores. I have mine in a dropper bottle. I just add a few drops to my heavy moisturizing cream at night. 

I guess I’ll start doing more beauty posts. 

Love, Anj

Recent make up purchases:

• Beauty Blender
  I bought it on ebay for barely 10% of the price. It’s fun to use because it’s so bouncy. I soak it and squeeze out the excess water. It does what it claims which is to give a nice finish.
• Buxom Divine Goddess Luminizer
  This is like a multipurpose illuminator/highlighter. You can use it for your body and face. I just use it as a highlighter. It’s not glittery which I like. I got it as the gift package for 500 points from Sephora.
• NYX Blush in Pinched
  I wanted to get a peachy glittery blush. I’ve been a fan of NYX blushes. Pleased as usual.
• E.L.F. High Definition Powder
  This is suppose to be a dupe to the MUFE HD powder and they’re both made with essentially the same ingredients so I got this one I like it. The packaging is nice but it can be a bit messy.
• Sephora Collection Jumbo Liner in Purple
  Recently I’ve just been into plum shadow and this crayon type shadow is the best tool for the lazy soul. It lasts a very long time and water proof. I kinda want all the colors.
• L’Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer in 864 Medium
  Psssstt, lemme let you in a little a secret. L’Oreal is owned by YSL and there’s a lot of technology sharing that happens, naturally. So when YSL came out with the ~*Touche Eclat*~, a little while later L’Oreal came out with the Magic Lumi Concealer. Yes, the latter’s name isn’t as fancy, but both do same thing, and the L’Oreal one for $12 compared to the YSL’s $40.
• Make Up Forever HD Foundation in 153
  I was attracted to MUFE because of their color ranges and I’ve heard a lot about how women of color are pleased with this foundation. I’ve noticed with the numbering that shades that end with a -3 tend to be warm tones and the ones that end in -0 tend to be cool/neutral shades. I like the medium coverage and finish of this foundation. The color is the most I’ve been pleased with thus far out of all the foundations I’ve tried.
• NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep Tan
  I had a shimmery bronzers before and I just didn’t like them for contouring, so I picked this up at Ulta. I like the color and the pigment. Pleased as usual with NYX.

Sorry I couldn’t hyperlink any of the products. Tumblr is giving me some technical difficulties with that one. Google is your best friend.

**all of the products were purchased at my own will.

-Anj

Behind the scenes photos from the shoot from the previous post.

Photos by George Keomany

On Christmas eve, I received a package in the mail; it was this lehenga style saree in all its glory. Maybe you’ve recognized that it has an uncanny resemblance to a Sabyasachi piece. You’re not mistaken. However, I am not lucky enough for it to be a true Sabya, but to me it is my Sabyasachi (for the time being).

I immediately knew this had to be a special post on Leather & Lace deserving of more than one or two photos. This shoot ended up being much more of a grandiose event that I ever imagined. Yes, these are photos of me, but they are a collective work of some of my very talented friends.

With love, Anj.

Photos by George Keomany

Make up & Hair by Kenney Duy

Photos taken at the Wichita Art Museum

DIY clear clutch