Indian Beauty Maniac

Hello folks,

Have you regretted buying something that is not even remotely necessary to you? Well, I do not completely regret my Forever 21 eye brush set but yes it is not of much use to me. Read on to know why I have this love-hate relationship with this brush set.

Forever 21 Love & Beauty 4 piece Eye Brush Set Review

I got this brush kit just like that. I loved the classy look of it encased in that thick brown carton box with gold lettering. It was a love at first site and when I came to know that it retailed for just INR. 289/-, there was nothing in this world that could have reasoned me from buying it.

The set has four eye-makeup brushes ie., Eye Shadow Applicator, a crease brush, a liner brush and a smudger. A perfect starter set that has it all.

It comes in this gorgeous deep brown carton box with gold-lettering and the brushes are kept in a plastic holder which is nothing beyond being functional.

The brushes are made of sturdy material. Now, let me elaborate on the quality and how I found the brushes useful.

Eye Shadow Applicator:

It is not a flat brush but more of a dome shaped one with not-so-thick bristles. It does a fair job in depositing the color and feels extremely coarse against the skin. Though it looks like it can be doubled up as an emergency blender, it streaks the color on the lids making it unfit for blending.

Crease Brush:

It is perfectly sized for small eyes like mine but unfortunately feels extremely coarse and does a poor job in blending the eye shadows.

Liner Brush:

This is my favorite brush in this kit. It is a flat brush that does an excellent job in depositing the eye shadow on my lower lash line. It can also be used to line close to the upper lash line to get that thick lash effect. It feels stiff enough to pull a neat flick. I love to line my lower lash line with it. It does not feel coarse like the other two.

Smudger:

It is a basic smudger. It does a decent job in smudging the eye liner neatly. However one must be mindful of the fact that this is NOT a pencil brush. I used it couple of times to smudge my eye liner and it works fine.

These brushes did not shed but I found that after couple of uses one/two hair starts poking out and when pulled comes off.

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

3/5

Considering the price (around INR. 73/- per brush), it will not be fair to compare them with any professional brushes. But when compared with brands like elf, vega etc, I would suggest you to not buy this kit as it is nothing more than a pretty packaging and a decent liner brush.

I am eyeing couple of eye shadow curlers from them. They come in all cute colors.

Have you tried the Forever 21 brush kits? If so, how did you like them?

We all know that Maybelline has come up with color show lipsticks range. I saw it at a local health and glow store for the first time and obviously went on to swatch it all.

It has a decent shade selection but I personally found some of the shades to be pretty sheer. I am not so much into sheer shades as before. After some serious swatching I ended up buying just one shade and that’s what I am going to review today.

Maybelline Color Show Lipstick in 103 Crushed Candy

Shade Name:Crushed Candy.

Price: INR. 299/-

Packing: Maybelline color show lipsticks come in a glossy black bullet with a color-coded middle and the shade names are mentioned in the end. The packing is sturdy and travel friendly.

Texture:Though the bullet looks tough, when applied, the lipstick goes on smooth. It feels little bit buttery and clings to the dry areas and fine lines. The lipstick is not drying but it tends to emphasize the dryness and look unflattering. Hence, moisturized smooth lips are must. The lip color does not bleed.

Color: The color is a gorgeous coral pink shade. It has micro silver shimmer that aids to the watery sheen. Honestly I am not a fan of this sheen. While swatching it looked pretty. But when I tried it on my lips (my skin tone is NC 42 in MAC) the sheen does not look flattering. If I layer the lipstick beyond a point, it starts looking bit frosty.

Fragrance: The lipstick has a wonderful bubble gum fragrance.

Pigmentation: It is not great. It goes on sheer and upon layering gives moderate coverage. I don’t think it will do any justice to pigmented lips.

Staying Power: I am impressed by the staying power. The lipstick stays put for about 4 hours with mild fading of the sheen. It does stain but not in a bad way. The stain stays put for another 1 hour or so before vanishing completely.

I feel that the lipstick looks more flattering once the sheen vanishes.

I have a feeling that the bullet will have hard time surviving the Chennai summer.

Product Highlights

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

3.5/5

It is good for the price. Though i would have preferred the color sheen-less or with less sheen. This color is more of a personal choice. I would love to try out the n*de and orange shade from this range next.

Have you tried any of the color show lip sticks?

My Pink/Plum Lipsticks Collection!

Pink and plum lipsticks for Indian Skin tone

I love the color pink. I think it is the most versatile color in makeup since we get different shades which are all pink – nude pink, bubblegum pink, warm pink, cool pink, blue based, brown based and so on. I have many lipsticks which are pink with different under tones. I thought I will show you my collection.

L’oreal Color Riche Lipstick in Velvet Rose:

Price: Rs. 825

This is a very pale pink that goes sheer on my lips. It is very creamy and hydrating but it cannot hide the pigmentation on my lips. I think it will suit only pale skin tones. Due to its creamy texture, it doesn’t stay on my lips for much time. It stays hardly 1-2 hours on my lips and then fades away. It has a tendency to melt and break inside the holder.

L’oreal Color Riche Lipstick in Velvet Rose

MAC Lipstick Mehr:

Price: Rs. 1190

My first ever lipstick from MAC! MAC describes Mehr as a ‘dirty blue pink’. It washes me out unless I am wearing full makeup since it goes very pale on my lips. It is matte in texture and has very good pigmentation. A single swipe is enough to cover the pigmentation on my lips. The staying power is pretty good. It stays on for 4-5 hours without any meals in between.

MAC lipstick Twig:

Price: Rs. 1190

I always think “why good things come so late to me?”. This is my latest purchase from MAC. It is the ideal neutral pink for me. MAC describes it as a ‘soft muted brownish pink’ and that is exactly what it is. It is a very beautiful pink which is suitable for most of the Indian skin tones. The finish is satin and it stays for around 4 hours on my lips without any meals in between. Pigmentation is awesome and it camouflages pigmentation on my lips and still keep them look naturally pink.

Lakme 9 to 5 lip color Red Chaos:

Price: Rs. 400

Red Chaos had the most incorrect name that a lipstick can have in comparison to its shade. It doesn’t look anywhere red to me. I feel it is a brown based pink which has more brown than MAC Twig. It has very good pigmentation and is matte in texture. But it has less staying power compared to MAC lipsticks. If worn continuously it may dry out the lips. It is an ideal every day color for Indian skin tones just like Twig.

Faces Ultimate Prolong wear lipstick Flirty pink:

Price: Rs. 599/-

It is a bubblegum pink and is very flattering for Indian skin tones. It is not neonish but has just the right amount of brightness that will brighten up your face. It is a bit drying in nature and will get into the fine lines if the lips are not moisturized. It is very creamy and fragile that the bullet tends to break if applied with pressure. The pigmentation is great and it camouflages pigmentation on my lips.

Faces Ultimate Prolong wear lipstick Flirty pink

MAC Lipstick In Craving:

Price: Rs. 1190/-

This is a beautiful plum shade which is of Amplified Crème finish. MAC describes it as ‘Burst of plum’. It is highly pigmented and very creamy. It doesn’t dry out the lips and stays put for 4-5 hours without any meals in between. I think this is very flattering on medium to dusky skin tones and thus very suitable for Indian skin tones.

MAC Prolong Wear Lip creme in Love Forever:

Price: Rs. 1500/-

This is the only hot pink in my collection. It is really bright and highly pigmented. This stays on and on till you remove it from your lips. MAC describes it as Blue pink and it is very appropriately named. It is a bright blue based pink lipstick. It is drying in nature due to its matte texture and stains. It requires a makeup remover to be taken off. I don’t think it is suitable for office/formal wear. You can read my complete review of LoveForever here.

MAC Prolong Wear Lip creme in Love Forever

Revlon Color Burst matte balm Sultry:

Price: Rs. 800/-

This is the only lip product I liked so far from Revlon among the ones which I have tried. I have seen many people comparing it with Twig but it is more intensely pigmented than twig. It is comparable to Craving and I feel it’s a drier version of Craving. I am fond of the color, finish and packing. But I am not very fond of the mint flavor it has. It stays put for 4-5 hours on my lips. You can read my complete review of Sultry here.

Now the swatches:

I hope you liked my post. Do you have any shades from my collection? Which is your favorite pink lipstick? Do let me know your opinion and views in the comments.

PS: I forgot to tell you, my most favorite pink from my collection is of course , TWIG!

Thanks,

Nisha

About Nisha: Nisha is a software professional who loves makeup. She is a lipstick hoarder and she is currently involved in the project of hoarding mac lipsticks. :D

Hello friends,

Nisha inspired me to do this post. My love for nude and neutral lipstick is quite well known among my friend’s circle. My work environment is completely formal and I am the only female working in my department. Hence, I prefer to wear only n*des and neutrals to work.

Due to this, I tend to buy more such shades than bright ones. In today’s post, I am going to share my favorite office wear lipsticks.

Oriflame Studio Artist in Pink N*de:

Price: Rs. 399/-.

It is a great MLBB color for my NC 42 skin tone and I love the fact that it is not completely brown based. It is bit milky to wear when my skin is really tanned. You can read the review here.

MAC Lustre Touch:

Price: Rs. 1,190/-

This is my first lipstick from MAC. MAC defines the color as peachy cinnamon. It is a gorgeous color that comes out as N*de brown on my lips. It is not exactly n*de, but the lustre finish and the color makes a nice combination and is extremely flattering. It is my first choice for meetings and other formal events at work. Read the complete review here.

Faces Cosmetics Ultimate Pro long wear matte lipstick in Peach Blush:

Price: Rs. 599/-

Another peach based lipstick but with a matte finish. I have reviewed it here. It is a gorgeous color but makes my face look bit matured due to the lack of glossiness.

Colorbar Velvet Matte lipstick in Bare:

Price: Rs. 275/-

This is one of my most used lipsticks. I love the color. But for the hot pink stain, I would recommend it to everyone. Reviewed here.

MAC Mehr:

Price: Rs. 1,190/-

A dirty blue pink as described by MAC. As Nisha said, it is not an everyday shade for my complexion. It looks pretty only when I wear decent makeup on. It is a Friday color in my opinion.

MAC Mocha:

Price: Rs. 1,190/-

Again a peach based lipstick. MAC defines it as Peachy-brown. Though it looks little darker than my ideal n*de shade, it looks flattering and sober enough for work. I love wearing it a lot these days.

Amway Attitude Lipstick in Sassy Pink:

Price: Rs. 259/-

It is a brighter shade when compared to the rest. Though it is not a hot pink, it has a little blue in it to make the color pop in a subtle way. Again a Friday lipstick, I wear it whenever I feel dull and bored :D

Lakme 9 to 5 Lipstick in Tea Break:

Price: Rs. 400/-

Perfect nude. Though I am not a fan of the formula which tends to glide off when layered, it holds a special place in my heart because it is the favorite lipstick of my loved one. Every time I wear it, I get a special compliment. Reviewed here.

Kryolan Lip & cheek stain in Hibiscus:

Price: Rs.500/-

I got it just yesterday and I know, it is too early to include it here. It is a gorgeous color that gives the right amount of healthy flush to my lips. It is long staying and looks extremely flattering. It is a stain, so I don’t like to layer it. Of course, you need to moisturize.

Sorry for the lack of LOTD's. Kindly refer the links provided.

Swatches:

Hope you liked my post. Do share your favorite office wear lipsticks with me.

I have combination-dry skin and when it comes to primers, I always have a hard time getting the perfect one. I was using the flower perfection primer from Bourjois for a long time. After using it up, I decided to go and buy the same one but as it was not in stock, I decided to buy the happy lights matte primer. :D

Bourjois Paris Happy Light Matte Serum Primer review

Packing: It comes in a glass bottle with a pump dispenser. They could have made it out of a plastic bottle like the healthy mix foundation or atleast in a plastic tub. Glass bottles are such a pain during travel. The dispenser however is handy and it dispenses the right amount of product.

Price:I am not sure but definitely more than INR. 1000 but less than INR.1200 :D

What Bourjois claims:

Happy Light Matt Serum Primer mattifies complexion in any light whilst maintaining skins natural radiance. Its airbrush action hides pores and blemishes for a soft, velvety result.

Its lightweight, non-drying serum texture melts onto the skin, for all day comfort.

The result: mattified complexion and velvety skin with a non-masking effect.

And it's good for my skin:
Non-pore blocking, non comedogenic formula
Non drying
Dermatologically tested

Bourjois Paris Happy Light Matte Serum Primer

Ingredients:

Review:

I have tried various primers which all ended up making my face dry. The flower perfection one suited me better in the winter months. The airbrush tag lured me into buying this one.

It makes my skin look even and flawless. It smoothened out my pores and perfected my skin in all ways possible. :D I am not exaggerating. I love using the Bourjois healthy mix foundation and inglot concealer along with it.

I use my fingers and sponge to blend the foundation into my skin. It is so much better than the flower perfection one which in my opinion has slightly lesser oil controlling properties than this one.

It makes my makeup stay fresh for a decent amount of time. I was surprised to see my face looking all glowing and pretty even by the evening. My T-zone does get slightly shiny after 5-6 hours but I am ready to overlook it. It is does not clog pores so I did not have any acne issues due to this.

I have slightly visible pores which this primer smoothens out impressively. It does not dry my skin out. Though it is labeled to be matte, it does not impart that plastic dry matte look. Skin looks nourished and healthy.

During those lazy days, I just add my Revlon compact over this and I am good to go.

Though many have complained that this primer pills, I never faced any such issues with this primer. May be because i have combination-dry skin?

What I like:

Pump dispenser.
Imparts velvety smoothness to the skin.
Minimizes the appearance of pores to a great extent.
Light weight and non-drying.
Keeps my makeup looking fresh for a decent amount of time.
Non-comedogenic. Did not cause any acne breakouts.
Does not make my skin look super-matte and artificial like other primers.
Nice fragrance.
It spreads on the skin like a serum. So a little goes a long way.

What I don’t Like:

Glass bottle!
And yes, the price. L

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4/5

I absolutely adore this primer. Though I am not sure about its mattifying properties on an oily skin, I Highly recommend it for combination skinned ladies. It is like a mini-Photoshop in a bottle!

Have you tried this primer? If so, how did you like it?

Latest Update: I wrote this review couple of weeks ago and now I have another reason to hate glass bottles. This primer fell down from my table and the bottle shattered. I did not even finish half of it. :’(

Hello girls,

These days I just want to crawl back to my bed and sleep. I feel so tired (read: lazy). I read three novels in a span of two weeks which is quite impressive considering the time I used to spend online.

Anyway, I am back with a Nail polish review after ages. I have chopped my nails off recently. So this is my feel good post in a way.

The polish which I am going to talk about is the Chambor Intense Nail Color in the shade 471. It is a gorgeous rose color with a hint of coral in it. It is my perfect “summer” shade. It looks a little more rose than it is in the pictures.

This is my first chambor nail polish purchase. The formula is very good. I wonder why I did not pick them up before. It is rich, creamy and the finish is gorgeous. Not too glossy and not too matte either.

It compliments my skin tone well and makes my fingers look neatly groomed. It has a quick drying time and stays put for a week easily with mild fading in the edge. The picture was taken after 3 days of wear time.

Though the color covers the nail in a single coat, I prefer two for its richness.

It comes in a black sturdy carton box. I love it when cosmetics come packed in carton boxes.

Ingredients:

It costs INR. 299/-. I would have given it a 5/5 rating if it was priced around INR. 200-250. J

Some more images:

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4/5

It is a perfect nail polish for those who love glossy every day shades.

Highly recommended.!

Marks and Spencer Floral Collection Lavender Moisturizing hand and nail Cream - Review

I am after hand creams these days. After using couple of creams by Natures Co and The body shop, I got hooked to hand creams. Now I carry a hand cream with in my makeup bag. I love using them after washing my hands.

After my Body Shop vanilla bliss got over, I picked up this one along with a shower gel from Marks and Spencer.

I picked this up mainly to use it before bed as I love using lavender scented products in my night time bath and skin care routine. I love how the fragrance is so warm, cozy and sleep inducing.

The hand cream comes in a simple and functional tube packing with a gorgeous floral pattern printed on it. It looks classy and sits prettily in my dressing table. Though I would have preferred a transparent tube, due to the prettiness of this, I really don’t mind. The packing is convenient for travel. But I really wish they came up with 50 ml tubes.

Claims:

It is a thick pearly white cream with a wonderful and soothing lavender fragrance. The fragrance is mild enough not to irritate anyone’s nose. J The cream spreads easily but takes a minute or so to get completely absorbed. It is not a very light cream for my normal skin (in hands). If you have very dry skin then it would be perfect. Once absorbed, there is no greasiness.

I love using it before bed and I wake up to smooth, soft and nourished hands every morning.

The fragrance does not last long but my hands do smell faintly of lavenders when I bring them close to my face.

Due to an allergic reaction, the skin of my palm started peeling off. I would not claim that this hand cream cured me of my allergy but yes, using this hand cream did not aggravate my allergy which is quite good and my allergy went off taking the time it usually takes.

It keeps my cuticles looking healthy and moisturized. As I do not have brittle nails to begin with, I am not sure about its “strengthening nails” claim. I did not buy this hand cream for strengthening my nails anyway. Considering its affordable price tag, I would have been happier with just decent moisturization.

Since I need only two pea sized dollop for every use, this 100 ml tube will last long.

Ingredients:

It is priced at INR. 199/- for a 100 ml in India and $2 in their international website.

What I like:

Cute floral packing.
Moisturizes my hands and cuticles well.
Wonderful and soothing lavender fragrance.
Non-greasy.
Did not aggravate my allergy.
Affordable.

What I don’t like:

For my normal skin, (in summer) this cream felt a little heavy to be used during the day.
Not sure about the strengthening of nail claim.

This product is available in all Marks and Spencer outlet. They have some nice collection of bath and body products. Do check it out.

Highly recommended!

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4/5

Have you tried any other variant? If so tell me about it. :)

Hello friends,

You might have read my first impressions post on Michael Todd True Organics Milk and Honey firming Maskhere. This will be the complete review of the same.

What the brand has to say about the product:

Are you ready to hear those wonderful words: "Your skin looks so fresh and young. What did you do to get that glow?"

Milk and honey are known to be wholesome and healthy foods. So it makes perfect sense to add the two together for the perfect facial mask. The reason they work so perfectly together is the complimentary benefits they provide for the skin. The milk exfoliates and loosens dead skin cells and dryness from the lactic acid it contains. Honey on the other hand acts as one of the best natural moisturizers there is along with our patent-pending Aloemax juice and other nourishing ingredients like mango and shea butters.

You will see a noticeable difference in smoothness, texture and a glow that may have dulled over time and you didn’t think you could get back. Are you ready to give it a try?

Formulated for all skin types and especially for sensitive skin. 100ml / 3.4 fl oz100 ml / 3.4 fl oz

As the story goes, Cleopatra and many other women in history often bathed in milk due to its exfoliating properties and its amazing ability to renew skin cells. Our Milk and Honey firming mask does just that. It is a luxuriously nourishing mask formulated with milk protein and malic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells gently, along with our patented aloemax juice and nourishing ingredients like mango butter, shea butter to soothe and moisturize skin.

Kaolin Clay firms and tones the skin, while honey clarifies, brightens and leaves your toned and refreshed. Sensitive skin types, this is the mask you’ve been waiting for. Not only is it effective, but extremely gentle.

What the product claims:

Going by the description, we can understand that this product is aimed at mature and dull skin. It claims to make the skin smooth and improve the texture and glow.

Price: $31.99/- for 100 ml. (approx: INR. 1,900/-)

Review:

The very first thing that I noticed with this face mask is its functional packing. It comes with a pump-dispenser. Initially I made the mistake of pressing the pump thrice as I thought two pumps will not be sufficient for my face. But the product surprisingly spreads well and two pumps are what I require to cover my face.

I am using this product for around a month now. I use it once in two-three days. The texture of the product is smooth and it is such a pleasure to spread on the skin. Though I use it once more than once in a week, I never felt my skin to be dry. It felt highly nourished and smooth.

The mask takes 15-20 minutes to dry completely and I did not feel any stretchy feeling as it dried on my skin like the conventional clay based masks. I would not call this a “deep cleansing” mask because I find it little too mild for my preferences.

Firming of Skin and Visibility of pores:

Coming to the firming claim, the mask does impart a nice firm feel to the skin without making it feel too dried out the way multani mitti does. It shrinks pores and imparts a visible difference. I would not say that it erased my pores. But yes. I noticed visible difference. This is the immediate effect the mask had on my skin.

Exfoliation:

It washes off easily and it does not provide any physical exfoliation as you remove due to its texture. It will be little disappointing to those who wish to use their face mask removing sessions to exfoliate their skin.

Tan and pigmentation:

After couple of uses, I noticed that my skin felt smooth and looked radiant. Everyone remarked that I looked healthy and happy. It also did a great job in removing the tans and some mild to moderate acne scars and pigmentations.

I have pimple prone combination skin that gets dry in winters and little oily in summers. I am 25. So I cannot really classify my skin as “mature” yet. Of late my skin had lost its glow due to the change of seasons and hectic work schedule and this product came as a savior in restoring my skin’s health.

Effect on Whiteheads:

Coming to the downside, thismask had little effect on whiteheads. As I said before, it is not a deep cleansing mask.

Effect on Pimples:

As for the pimples, though this mask did not have any effect on active acne, I felt that pimples were not as frequent as they used to be.

Another thing is that, my skin has become noticeably oily these days. I have combination skin that required no special primers. Makeup stayed quite well. But these days despite using good primers like L’Oreal and bourjois, I find my face looking oily by 2-3 PM. It is early monsoon here but I remember well that last year my skin was not this oily during the summer-monsoon days. I don’t know if I can attribute this occurrence to the mask.

According to me, the mask may not be suitable for oily skinned women.

Now listing down the likes and dislikes before moving on to the rating.

What I Liked:

Comfortable packing.
Smooth texture of the mask.
Feels soothing and gentle against the skin.
Imparts a healthy glow and does what it claims.
Keeps skin looking clear though it does not help with active acne.
Can be used 2-3 times a week. Does not dry out the skin.
Shrinks pores.
Removes tan and pigmentation.
Nice fragrance.
70% Organic.
Suitable for sensitive skin.

What I don’t like:

Cannot be doubled up as an exfoliator.
Costly.

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

3/5 (-1 for its non-availability in India and -1 for the price)

I love this product. The best face mask I have ever tried for tans and pigmentation. It made my skin look radiant and healthy. It is organic and great for detoxing your skin. But yes.. I am not some one who shells out around 2000 rupees on a face mask. Not that it is not worth the money. It does wonders on my skin. But 2000 rs face mask is an indulgence. Since I don't have mature skin, I am not able to comment on its effect on minor wrinkles etc.

You can buy the product here.

Highly recommended if you don't mind the price!

Hope you girls found my review useful.

*Product sent by brand for review. But it has not influenced my opinions and thoughts. Read the complete disclaimer policy here

Maybelline New York New Clean Express Total Clean Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

Hello friends,

I prefer ready-made eye-makeup removers over oils as they are hassle free and less messy. After my Lakme Bi-Phase one got over, I picked this new fellow from Maybelline.

Maybelline New York New Clean Express Total Clean Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

It is designed to be used for removing makeup from our eyes and lips. The formula is similar to the lakme bi-phase one with two liquids of different densities. The oily one settles in the bottom and we need to shake the bottle before you.

It comes in a transparent plastic packing with a nozzle. It is convenient for travel and does not spill.

The texture of the remover is runny and it is a blue tinted transparent liquid. I have sensitive eyes and I felt mild irritation when I used this for the first time. Now I use it to clean the eyeshadow and loosen up the mascara. I am very careful in not letting the remover get inside my eye.

It is supposed to be non-greasy. It leaves an oily residue immediately after usage but in seconds, it vanishes in no time leaving my skin (extremely) dry.

It has no bothering fragrance.

Coming to the makeup removing part, more than two swipes are required to clean the water-proof and long stay eyeliners. In the images below, you can see how it has little or no effect over a long last liner from amway’s attitude range.

Though it is safe to be used on eyes, as I have mentioned earlier, I feel slight irritation which discourages me to use this remover more than to loosen up the makeup. But what I really like about this is, it removes even the faintest of stains my lipstick leaves. It comes in handy when I use lipsticks like colorbar which stains like there is no tomorrow.

Another thing which I love about this is, it does not have any annoying smell.

Test:

Let me list down what I like and dislike about this product before moving on to the rating:

What I like:

Nice transparent packing.
Skin does not feel oily.
No bothering fragrance.
Safe to be used on eyes and lips.
Removes lip-stick stains well.
Affordable.
Easily available.
Dermatologist and Allergy tested!

What I dislike:

Irritates my eye.
Does not remove stubborn makeup. Requires multiple swipes.

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

3/5

Though the pros are many, for me, it fails to serve the basic purpose i.e., removing smudge-free makeup with little effort. It is a good remover for those who use light kohl. It also stings my eyes. They could have made the formula more suited for eyes like mine.

I will not repurchase.

Hope you girls found my review useful.

PS: I am following a new fitness regime. Will keep you all posted on what it is and how it fares for me soon!

Hello Friends,

After a really long time, I am doing a website review. The website about which this post is going to be is the all new Zoutons.com.

Who doesn’t love to grab a nice deal?? Fetching coupons before purchasing online is so much fun and saves a great deal of money.

Zoutons.com is a newly launched website which deals with coupons and offers. Their tag line “the loot is on” is very apt.

The home page is nice and extremely user friendly. The popular coupons and latest coupons/offers from the famous e-commerce sites are listed out in the home page.

Zoutons.com Home Page

Signing up (via facebook or by your email) and searching for your favorite e-commerce store is hassle free. There is a search bar provided in the home screen wherein you can just type out the shopping site’s name and viola you are done!

Zoutons has a very good merchant database and almost all the famous websites are covered!

It has jabong.com, trendin, amazon, ebay to name a few!

Zoutons.com - Popular Merchants

It also has deals from banks! How cool is that? Now you can also find the current deals on your cards too :D

And, people who are looking for a particular brand like HTC etc can easily fetch coupons right in the Zoutons.com’s homepage.

Not sure about a particular deal? No worries! They have a voting system by which people can vote against a particular deal, helping in letting the future shopper know if the deal is good or not!

They also have a help menu by which you can easily learn how to use a coupon if you are new in using them.

One of my favorite online shopping site is jabong.com. So, for fetching out Jabong Coupons, all I have to do is go to zoutons.com and type jabong in their search bar. All the offers and codes associated with Jabong get listed in a new page. The entire process of searching for a coupon/offer is so much simplified with zoutons.com!

I have given a pictorial on how to search for coupons/offers from Jabong below:

Zoutons.com - Searching for Jabong coupons

Zoutons.com Jabong Coupons

The website is still under the process of updation and hence few links like FAQ’s etc are yet to be updated. But don’t worry, if you have a query, you can shoot them an email.

Overall, zoutons is a cool new website that is refreshing and hassle free when compared to the others. Do check it out before you shop online.

Hello friends,

It has been a while since I wrote such posts. Work has been heavy and hence no time for other activities. Anyways, I am back now and will try to be as regular as possible.

Today’s post is going to be about how to live with using an epilator. Yup you read it right.!

I hate waxing or visiting salons. Almost 90% of the waxing sessions i tried ended up causing so much pain, redness etc. Some how the universally raved method of hair removal did not suit me.

Whenever I tell my friends that my preferred method of hair removal is epilating, the most common question is “how can you withstand the pain”. As the quantum of such questions increased, I decided to share some tips which I follow to make the whole process of epilating a smooth and happy journey!

First and foremost tip is, do not epilate if you hair is lengthy. Waxing requires certain amount of hair growth in terms of length whereas, epilating does not! Epilating works well in short hair and stubble. Long hair will result in pain as the process of epilating is nothing but tweezing. So, if the hair growth is lengthy enough for a successful waxing session, it is better to razor it off first and epilate after two days. Once you have epilated, it takes around four weeks for re-growth and now you know when to epilate. :D
Make sure your skin is dry: This tip is only for those who use dry epilators like me. Make sure your skin is devoid of any moisturizers, creams and dampness. Any such product will make the hair removal painful. Wipe your skin well with a towel. If you plan to epilate in the middle of the day, use dry tissues to remove any oiliness or moisture and powder your skin adequately.
Next tip is, make sure your epilator comes with a “skin guard”. If not, do not press the head of the epilator into your skin. Epilator head has no business coming into contact with your skin. It needs to be bought close enough to catch the base of the hair. Pressing or rubbing it against the skin will result in your skin getting caught in the tweezers. Ouch! Make it float gently on the skin leaving a tiny little gap enough for the hair to get caught and to avoid tugging of the skin. This will take more practice but once you get the hang of it, you will realize that it makes the process much simpler.
Once you have epilated, there will be some amount of redness in your skin. So, be prepared for it. Epilate a day before if you wish to flaunt your skin today. And, epilate in the late evenings so that the amount of irritation your freshly epilated skin undergoes, will be less.
Do not scrub your legs immediately before epilation. Scrubbing will make skin susceptible to pain and redness more. Instead, include scrubbing in your regular beauty routine. Scrub once in two days or as per your skin type and convenience. It helps keeping the skin looking smoother, shinier and prevents in-grown hair.
Do not wash your skin with hot water immediately after epilating. Hot water strips the moisture. When the skin is already irritated, I am not sure if it is a great idea. Use an aloe-vera gel or some similarly soothing cream instead.
Never use a razor immediately after epilating no matter how tempted you are. If you find out that you have left a hair or two by mistake, wait until the redness subsides before using a razor on it. I have done this mistake before and trust me I have regretted doing it big time.
Make sure you have ample timebefore sitting down for your epilating session.
Epilating hurts. If your hair is not long, it hurts mildly. For that matter even waxing hurts. IMO, any pain about which we have no idea about hurts the most. You can always wrap few ice cubes in a towel and use it on the skin to reduce redness and pain.
Last but not the least; make sure your instrument is clean. Never share the instrument. Use the brush that comes along with the epilator to remove the hair struck and make sure to soak the head in some antiseptic solution. You don’t want any infection to spread right ??

Hope you girls loved this post. Do share with me if you have any other tips.. Happy Epilating…!!

In case you wish to buy epilators online, do check this out!

Hello friends,

Since last month, work has been pretty hectic giving little or no time for my other interests. Results: Dark circles and tired looking eyes.

I normally don’t suffer from under eye darkness. So the advent of a new skin problem made me lose sleep. My friends and family noticed it and started suggesting remedies which only made matters worse.

I have used couple of brightening and moisturizing eye creams in the past but they were not so strong enough for my dark circles. I picked this one up without any thoughts when I went mall hopping with Nisha. As it was priced at a modest Rs. 250/- for 15 g tube, I did not have much expectations over it.

Read on to know if it fared well on me or not. J

Packing: It comes packed in a pearl finish white squeeze tube with a metallic silver grey cap.The tube comes encased in a carton box which has a detailed ingredient list printed on it. I threw the carton box away so no pictures (I told you that I had no expectations on this one :P)

Texture and color: The cream is pearl white in color and has a creamy consistency. But when spread, it gets little gel like and gets absorbed into the skin in a jiffy.

Fragrance: It does not have any bothering or noticeable fragrance.

My Experience:

I do not have any history of dark circles. This year had been particularly hectic on both professional and personal front.

After the first use, I noticed that my under eyes were looking refreshed, less puffy and normal. The darkness was still there and I did not expect any change soon. But after around a week of usage, I noticed that the darkness was not as prominent as it used to be. Encouraged by that, I started using this twice a day i.e., before my morning makeup and after I wash my face before going to sleep.

After a month of usage, my under-eye area is now as bright as it used to be. I have a friend whose dark circles are a little bit stronger than mine. I suggested it to her and viola! She says she is able to see some positive change.

I need only a very small amount of product for each useso this tube will easily last me for 2 months. It wears well under makeup and does not make it look greasy. My primer also wears well over it and does not pill.

Let me list down my likes and dislikes for you all before moving on to the rating.

What I like:

Affordable.
Comfortable and hygienic packing
Works on dark circles and puffiness.
Offers decent moisturization to the under eye area.
Does not feel greasy and gets absorbed into the skin well.
Only a very small amount is required for each use.
Wears well under makeup.
Easily available.

What I don’t like:

Huge list of ingredients including all types of parabens and stuffs.
I am not able to find this product in their international website. Is it available only in India? Or does it have anything to do with the "fairness" tag?

Swatch:

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

3.5/5

I am not sure about its effect on wrinkles and lines. But if you are someone with not so matured skin, you can surely give this a try.

Recommended if you can look past the "fairness" tag and a huge list of chemical ingredients. :D

NATIO introduces Ageless Organic Rosehip Oil

Reduce fine lines, naturally!

NATIO introduces Ageless Organic Rosehip Oil

The leading Australian natural Cosmetics and Skin Care brand, NATIO, has introduced Ageless Organic Rosehip Oil. The innovative Organic Rosehip Oil nurtures your complexion and helps fight the visible signs of ageing. A powerful source of Vitamin C, this cold-pressed organically certified oil delivers antioxidant support to help ward off free radical damage for smooth, healthy skin.

A multivitamin for the skin, NATIO’s Ageless Organic Rosehip Oil contains a powerhouse of rich nutrients and essential fatty acids that help repair, moisturize and aid the regeneration of skin cells. Apply this luxuriously restorative rosehip oil regularly to help diminish the appearance of fine lines, pigmentation and sun damage to the skin. For extra hydration, use in conjunction with your daily Natio skincare routine under your favourite Natio moisturiser.

Suitable for all skin types, NATIO’s Ageless Organic Rosehip Oil is priced at Rs 1,190 and is available at NATIO Exclusive Brand Outlets across the country.

Exclusive Brand Outlets:

New Delhi

Shop No. 54, Aurobindo Market, New Delhi - 110016, Ph:011-41745033

Mumbai

G-52, Inorbit Mall, Ground Floor, Malad West, Mumbai - 400104, Ph: 022-66714934

Bangalore

F07, First Floor, Phoenix Market City,Whitefield Road, Mahadevpura, Bangalore – 560048. Ph: 080-67266319

Pune

GF 45a, Koregaon Park Plaza, Koregaon Park, Pune – 411001, Ph: 020-67040243

Dehradun

LGF - 1, Pacific Mall, Mauja Jakhan, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand - 248001, 91-135-2733784

Hello friends,

I got a chance to review the e-commerce site known as safetykart.com. I was intrigued by the name and browsed it only to find that it is quite different from the regular e-commerce sites. Read on to know what makes this site different.

About:

We believe that safety is a necessity, not an option.

Safetykart.com is an online destination that brings all your safety needs to one singular place. With an unwavering dedication to damage prevention and control. We created this platform with a vision to provide easy access to world class safety products that can be delivered to you with just a click.