Category Archives: DIY & Tutorials

My Lipstick & Lipcare Hacks.

11 Monday May 2015

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largeWhen it comes to lipsticks, I’m constantly on the look for colours and shades that compliment my dark skin. I don’t believe in having rules when it comes to makeup, but I do believe in makeup hacks that will help you find what’s best suited for you. Though wearing lipstick may seem like something that should come naturally, there are several aspects that have to be taken into consideration. Here are some of the tips & tricks I personally use when it comes to lipsticks & lip-care;

1.Picking the right shade.
The back of my hand turns into a swatch palette every time I walk into Sephora or any makeup store. This however is not an effective way of knowing exactly what works best on your face, but helps with finalizing the colours you want to try and also testing the textures of the lipstick. I have darker pigmented lips which means I need a proper high coverage lipstick to make it look good. Trying on the back on my hand helps me see what sort of coverage the lipstick can potentially give.

As an example this lipcolour when swatched on the back of my hand had very good coverage as opposed to on my lips;
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The best way to see what suits your lips, is by actually trying it on your lips. However when it comes to testers, it’s not really something most people are comfortable with trying. I carry makeup wipes, so I wipe of a layer before testing. Alternatively you can just use a tissue and wipe it clean before trying. Most makeup stores already provide tissue for you, making it easy to try on & easy to remove.

2.Exfoliate those lips.
I have a ritual of little things I need to do before I get my makeup done and exfoliating my lips before I wear lipstick is one of them. Having dry lips that crack easily, make lipstick look messy and uneven. I have two ways of exfoliating my lips:

  • I use Vaseline for about 5-10 minutes and then gently scrub it off using a baby toothbrush (because of it’s super soft bristles and small size).
  • Alternatively, I make a homemade lip scrub using a teaspoon of honey and sugar, again gently scrub.2015-05-09 23.15.06

This helps with removing the dead skin and exposes the soft lips underneath. Lip exfoliation should be done weekly to ensure your lips become moist which definitely helps with lipstick application & also to help remove lipstick stains when you want to remove it. Moisturizing your lips after brushing your teeth before bed is a great way to keep your lips healthy. I’m a sucker for the EOS lipbalm, feels good & tastes good too;2015-04-20 08.04.36EOS stands for Evolution Of Smooth, which is a perfect name for this product that does exactly that! It provides moisture to the lips without being sticky & also has a sweet after taste. I got mine from It’s All About Charity. They have a large range of flavours and the best part? All proceeds go to charity!

3.No more lipstick on teeth!
This is a common thing that happens. You get all dolled up, and then bam! Lipstick stain on your teeth when you least expect it. This can be prevented by putting a finger in your mouth, closing your lips around it and gently pulling it out (sounds so sexual, I know but this trick works!). Any residue of lipstick will stick onto your finger and all you need to do is wipe it off. No more embarrassing moments of having lipstick on your teeth!2015-05-09 23.18.21

4.Set It.
Help your lipstick have a longer life span by setting it. Once you’ve applied the lipstick on your lips, blot it, reapply and then hold a tissue over your lips and dust translucent powder over it gently. This enables the powder to gently go through the tissue and help sets your lipstick the same way it does the makeup on your face. No translucent powder? No problem, baby powder works just as well but make sure it’s an extra light coating.

5. Lipliner Lipstick. 
Sometimes my lipliners double as lipstick, and they last longer too! There are times when I fall in love with a specific lipliner colour and am unable to find a lipstick that works with it, so this is my alternative. Just use the lipliner as a base by lightly colour it in, apply a small dab of balm (to keep it smooth and not dry out), then use your fingers to smudge it to give a finishing look.  2015-05-09 23.12.42

Lip game strong,
Harmini Asokumar

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DIY: Valentine’s Day Paper Fortune Cookies.

12 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by in Deeper Than Fashion, DIY & Tutorials

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Browsing through an old craft blog I created, I stumbled upon this tutorial that I published 5 years ago. Valentine’s Day fortune cookies!

I made these as little party favours & decided I’d share it here as well. 1Step One: Choose the colour you want your paper cookie to be. I usually use textured brown paper, to make it look more realistic but since it’s for Valentine’s Day, I opted for pink instead. 2Step Two: Draw a circle onto the paper. The bigger the circle, the bigger the cookie. I used a mini Starbucks cup to get the circle because I wanted mine small. 3Step Three: Cut it out. Fold the circle in half, make sure you do not crumple or mess up the circle. 4Step Four: Hold the paper as shown in the picture. Make sure you do not press it down.56Step Five: Bring the two end sides together. When you do that, the middle part will fold in. If you want it to look more realistic, fold it slightly the off center, so it won’t be too perfect. I did mine right in the middle be & it’ll look like this: 78Step Six: Cut a strip of paper to write your fortune/love note on (mine was along the lines of “You are so lucky you have me!”) 😛 Make sure it’s small enough to fit inside the fortune cookie & long enough to be pulled out of it.910Step Seven: Place the note inside & try bending to see how it looks like. Once satisfied, glue it down. 11Step Eight: Leave it to dry and then you are done! You can also create a little takeout box to put it in like this:12These are a great idea for a Chinese theme party, get together(s) & your options are only limited to your imagination!

Creating my own fortune,
Harmini Asokumar

DIY Thread Wrapped Jewelry

17 Saturday Jan 2015

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Reblogging an old DIY that I published 4 years ago. Having changed blogs and such, I’m finally giving my DIYs a permanent home 🙂

Also excuse the less-than-perfect pictures since my photography skills were pretty minimal 4 years ago.

This was a DIY to revamp old jewelry that you’re bored of or rusted jewelry you’d like to revive. All you need is the piece of jewelry:
1& some coloured yarn. 2All you need to do is wrap it up the whole thing & it’ll look something like this;3Easiest jewelry DIY ever!

It’s a wrap,
Harmini Asokumar

Pongal & Handpainted Pots.

15 Thursday Jan 2015

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Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festival of South India, mainly Tamil Nadu. With there being Tamils in Malaysia (me included) it’s celebrated here too. Pongal festival lasts for four days and the celebrations include drawing of Kolam & cooking of delicious Pongal (sweet rice that is boiled in a pot until it spills over).

On this occasion farmers pay their respects to the rain, sun and the farm animals, all of which are essentials in any harvest. Also, since paddy and other crops depend on the availability of good rain and Tamil Nadu does not have many perennial water sources, rain and sun gods are invoked during this auspicious occasion. Sort of a Tamil thanksgiving 🙂

(as you can probably tell, most of the information was Google’d 😉 )

Because the Pongal rice is traditionally made in clay pots and decorated, I had to try decorating one on my own. It comes in many sizes and I wanted a really small one, not for cooking purposes but for decoration 🙂
IMG_20150114_231600The clay texture allowed me to draw with Sharpies & paint with acrylic. I quite like the Sharpie effect, it’s slightly faded and vintage looking. The yellow acrylic turned out fairly bright in comparison.

How cute would these type of pots look as centerpieces at a Bollywood theme party or wedding? You can use them as vases for flowers, for candles or even with coloured rice in them. The options are endless!   IMG_20150114_232526I decided to incorporate my handmade dreamcatcher & make it a cover for the pot. I actually really like how it turned out 🙂

For all of you celebrating, Pongal Valthukal! pongal

Cheering ‘Pongalo Pongal!’,
Harmini Asokumar

DIY Coffee Coconut Scrub

10 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by in Beauty, DIY & Tutorials, Home Remedies

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I’ve been reading up on home remedies, and this particular one seems to be trending. The coffee scrub takes away scars, cellulite and stretch marks! The caffeine in the coffee increases circulation that causes skin to appear firmer. Also, I just really love the smell of coffee!

IMG_20150109_224643Things you need:
– Coffee (I used beans!)
– Coconut Oil
– Brown sugar (optional)

Coffee: I opted for beans because I had a bag left over & I like being able to pick the consistency. I wanted it more coarse for the scrub effect. You can recycle ground coffee as well. It’s completely based on preference.

Coconut Oil: Used to replenish the moisture in skin. It also helps heal dark spots and keep skin soft. I use organic coconut oil that I also use for my hair. Also, it smells amazing!

Brown sugar: I used coarse sugar, it serves the purpose as the coffee in terms of scrub. This is optional.  IMG_20150110_093729Mix it all together. I suggest starting off with the coffee, add sugar and lastly add the coconut oil. Trust your senses. The combination smells amazing but its entirely up to you how much coffee or coconut oil you want to add. I mixed it with my hands to check consistency.

You can just store the scrub in a mason jar but I opted to make cubes because it’s easier to use and less messy.
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I then put the yummy smelling mixture into a silicone mold. I like these molds because it makes it easier to pop out of the tray later on. I put them in the freezer to let them set. IMG_20150110_104901IMG_20150110_105050

Once firm, I just popped them out of the tray! Look how pretty! You can use different shapes/sizes. I used 2 for a fantastic scrub bath 🙂 Keep in mind your shower will be a complete mess but it’s so worth it! My skin looks, feels and smells great! You can use these once a week or so.

The rest were stored in an air tight container & back in the fridge. Of course with a note on top, just incase 😉IMG_20150110_104940Smelling & feeling yummy,
Harmini Asokumar

No-Bake Mojito Cheesecake Recipe.

30 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in DIY & Tutorials, Food

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I’m not much of a cook, so when a friend recommended a Mojito Cheesecake recipe she had tried & promised was super easy,I decided to give it a go. The end result was super yummy alcohol infused goodness :3  1507074_10152595995392058_1667156144729078873_n

Click on the link below for the original recipe and video instructions. This godsent recipe comes with video instructions, making it all the more easy to make:  http://www.justeatlife.com/2014/09/17/mojito-cheesecake/
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I’m reposting the ingredients & instructions just to give you tips and tricks I learnt through trial and error, as well as make it easier for you to scout the items in our local grocery stores in Kuala Lumpur 🙂
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Ingredients
  • 12 ounces softened cream cheese
  • ⅓ cup sour cream
  • 1 can condensed milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream (I used whipping cream)
  • 2 limes, zest and juice
  • ¼ cup coconut rum (I used Bacardi)
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I used digestive cookies)
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) melted salted butter
Instructions
  1. I used a pie pan for this instead of muffin tray.
  2. In a bowl, combine digestive cookie crumbs and melted butter. I broke the cookies and mashed it with my hands first, then used a wooden spoon to mash it further because I like a little chunk in the crust.
  3. Press mixture into each well to create a thin crust. Press down using cling wrap onto the pan.
  4. Let it set in freezer.
  5. In a mixer, whip whipping cream into stiff peaks. Make sure the consistency is thick and it will affect the overall result of the pie. Reserve whipped cream in a separate bowl.
  6. In the same mixer, combine condensed milk, lime juice, some chopped mint leaves, and bacardi.
  7. Once combined, add in cream cheese and sour cream.
  8. Then fold in the reserved whipped cream.
  9. Spoon or pipe the filling into the crusts and freeze for at least one hour. I just plopped it on and smoothed it out with a cake knife.

Probably the easiest cheesecake ever & super yummy too! Will be attempting this with different flavours and types of alcohol, just because. Do give it a go & let me know if it worked out on your end too 🙂

Drunk on dessert,
Harmini Asokumar

Recycled Crafty Christmas Tree

17 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Decorations, DIY & Tutorials

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After The Star interview previously, the photographer on set, Raymond Ooi called me up to ask me if I’d like to be the cover of the newspaper for a Christmas series. The catch however was that I had to create a tree completely decorated by recycled ornaments in less than 24 hours for the photoshoot. As I’m always up for a challenge to test my creativity levels, I decided to give it a go (after a panic attack, of course).

The end result was something I am so proud of;IMG_20141218_195628IMG_20141218_223910The flower ornaments were made from recycled crepe paper (from flowers I’ve gotten before) & the fan paper flowers were pages of an old book that was coming apart. IMG_20141218_231813The star was also done using paper but this time cardboard. Some weaving work was required but it was fairly simple. I may just make smaller versions of these for decorations in the future 🙂 IMG_20141218_231434IMG_20141217_230507These ornaments were made of jar lids! I had made some tinted mason jars previously, and these were leftovers from that. I just cover the area with PVA glue and stuck rhinestones in it to give it some extra sparkle. Alternatively I wanted to use cut up pieces of old CDs but didn’t have enough time to execute it. IMG_20141218_232433IMG_20141219_113229My favourite of them all, are these little sock snowmen I’ve created. Using socks and leftover craft materials, these little fellas were so easy and fun to do. I love how cute they are! IMG_20141218_234405It might just be a tradition in my household to have recycled materials turned into ornaments for a tree.

Making my Christmas a crafty one,
Harmini Asokumar 

DIY Tinted Mason Jars

07 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Decorations, DIY & Tutorials

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I’ve being attempting several DIYs for Christmas using recycle-able materials & one that I’ve always found really gorgeous are tinted mason jars. Being an avid Pinterest addict, I’ve read several do-it-yourself guides & decided to give it a shot after scouting for the materials myself. IMG_20141217_200923

Materials you need:
– Mason jars (empty glass bottles)
– Mod Podge glue (from ArtFriend)
– Food colouring of choice.
Step One: Mix mod podge and two drops of food colouring into clean, empty jar. The amount of mod podge is based on jar size, however you can plan according to how much you deem fitting for full coverage of the bottle.IMG_20141217_201003
Step two: Slowly rotate the glass jar so the mixture covers all surfaces of the glass. Make sure you do it slowly and gently to avoid leaving spots. The key is to not use too much paint because it drips and also don’t attempt to fix it or repaint if messed up as it’ll leave streaks. To avoid this, ensure the mouth of the jar is facing the bottom.
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Step Three: Leave it to dry for 24 hours. I usually use wax paper or just leave it in my sink. Once dried, it gets transparent, like a glue with colour. IMG_20141217_201228
Step Four: Turn it over and leave it out in the sun for extra measures. You can never be too careful! Or if you are unhappy with the earlier result, just throw it in some warm soap water and you can wash it out. IMG_20141217_201459
Step Five: You are done! You can now use it for your fairy lights, or even as a candle holder. It is also durable to heat, so you can place the candle in the jar and it’ll stay exactly as it dried. This is however not water soluble, so do not attempt to use water in it.  IMG_20141217_201539IMG_20141217_201635Alternatively, here are more mason jar ideas that are so lovely I had to share! Do click on the picture to redirect to the original links;
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Looking at the world through rainbow tinted jars,
Harmini Asokumar

DIY Christmas Statement Necklace

02 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Accessories, Deeper Than Fashion, DIY & Tutorials

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November is usually a busy month as I prepare for my Deeper Than Fashion Christmas collection & this year is no different. I’ve been preparing my usual packaging of DIY Rudolph paper bags and also decided I had to work on a do-it-yourself for Christmas inspired statement jewelry.

And here’s what I came up with:  1Things you’ll need:

– Scissors
– A pack of decorative ornament balls (Daiso at RM5)
– Recycled string (Daiso at RM5)
– Elepant glue (optional)

Step One: Cut up the string in 6 pieces. I didn’t exactly measure it. Basically what I did was stretch my hands with the string in it to get similar lengths. Remember, these 6 strings will be tied in half!

Step Two: Loop it and tie a knot at the end (as shown in picture). Ensure that one of your ornaments can go through it.
3Step Three: You’ll need to start braiding the string. Make sure you have a proper place to loop the string as it’ll make the braiding process so much easier! I used my computer table;

4Step Four: Start braiding! In this example, I’ve only used two strings (easier to follow), however I used 6 for the final result, so please use 6 as well. 5Step Five: Measure the string around your neck to see where you’d like to start adding the ornaments. You can do a full ornament necklace, side one or a middle one like I did.

Once you’ve done that, start stringing in your ornaments as you braid. Remember: String ornament, overlap with two brands & then next ornament. This will ensure proper spacing (like mine!). You can however leave it to your creativity 🙂   6Step Six: Once you are done and satisfied with how it looks, finish it off with an ornament & this time tie several knots to ensure it is really, really secure!

Add some glue to the knots for extra security!7Step Seven: Cut off excess string and you are completely done!910There you have it! A little something handmade to wear on Christmas that’s completely your own! You can add other ornaments like stars, beads, pearls and such. Let your creativity flow 🙂

I had additional ornaments left, so I decided to tie them to my hair tie; 11How cute are these?! I’m pretty sure they’ll look amazing with a snowflake or mistletoe as well 🙂

Can’t wait to wear these for Christmas! 🙂