Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Collection Lipstick by Kate Moss 109: Review Swatch and LOTD

February 13, 2015, 11:25 pm

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Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Collection Lipstick by Kate Moss 109: Review Swatch and LOTD by Nisha

Uff.. Such a long name, right? I saw the Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in the shade 109 in a YouTube video for the first time. The blogger was singing praises of the color and finish of the lipstick. I knew then that I have to get it. But unfortunately it was not available in any store at Chennai or any Indian online stores. I saw that it was available in websites like Amazon but at an exorbitant price. So when my husband announced his short trip to US for work, I decided to get it for sure. I gave him the name and shade name written and he got it for me! I was so happy that day. But wait… did it fulfill my expectations? Let me tell you.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Collection Lipstick by Kate Moss 109

Claims (taken from online drugstore.com)

Intense 109 Rossetto Shade

Sumptuously Rich Matte Color with a Sublime Comfort

Ruby Powder Enriched Formula

Packing and Price

The packing is quite attractive. I don’t see many drugstore lipsticks with such a vibrant colored holder. It has a matte red outer cover and a glossy black body inside the cap. The packing is quite travel-friendly, it doesn't open by itself even if I carelessly toss it in my bag. The Rimmel emblem is shown on the top of the cap. The shade number is printed on the label at the bottom of the holder. These lipsticks do not have any names only numbers.

My husband told me that he got it from a super market in New Jersey for $7. I see different prices in different online stores. So I am not sure about the exact price. But from what I have seen it can cost you anywhere between $5 - $8 for 4g. It has a shelf life of 30 months.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Collection Lipstick by Kate Moss 109

 REVIEW

The shade of the lipstick is orangey-coral. In the YouTube video I saw it almost like a reddish coral, so I was actually a bit disappointed with the color. However, it is a nice color but very tricky at the same time. It shows well on me when I wear full face makeup but washes me out a bit when I am without any face makeup. It is not a completely matte lipstick. It has a creamy semi matte texture which glides smoothly without any tugging. It is highly pigmented and on my arm it turns opaque in one swipe. Anyhow, on my pigmented lips it is a completely different story. It shows well in the first swipe but does not apply evenly. I have to use a lip brush to get an even application or take some time and effort to apply it evenly. A good thing is that it doesn't settle into the fine lines.

It is not a hydrating lipstick so applying a lip balm before using it, is essential. Another downside of the lipstick is its staying power. If there is no meals or snacks in between it stays put for around 3-4 hours but fades. However, if I have any snacks or meals or even drinks in between it is gone! I have to reapply it. Being a drugstore lipstick maybe I should not expect more from it but I would have been happier if it applied evenly on my lips. It has a fruity fragrance which doesn't linger for a long time after application.

Key Highlights of the Product

Nice color for fair to medium skin tones

Creamy texture and applies smoothly

Packing is attractive

Pigmentation is good

Reasonable price

Doesn't settle into the fine lines

Doesn't apply evenly on pigmented lips

Staying power is less

Not fragrance free

Not easily available in India

More Images:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Collection Lipstick by Kate Moss 109 - Bullet

Swatch:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Collection Lipstick by Kate Moss 109 - Swatch

On my Lips:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Collection Lipstick by Kate Moss 109 on my Lips

I am quite disappointed with this lipstick, may be because the reviews I have read about this lipstick or the videos on YouTube were misleading. However I think it will be a nice color on fair to medium skin tones.

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

3/5

Will not repurchase it for sure.

Hope you liked my review. Waiting for your comments to see what you think about my post and the lipstick reviewed.

Love,

Nisha

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Experience #UnconditionalLove with the Zenfone

February 15, 2015, 7:30 am

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Asus Zenfone is my ideal Valentine!

I always loved the brand ASUS. They came up with such affordable and really good laptops. When I heard about the zen phone, which is a new launch by them, I was not really into it. I thought it might just be an attempt to enter into the smart phone segment to just keep up with the rest of its fellow competitors. I thought they would have launched some two handsets at ridiculous prices. In short, I never really bothered to check out what it is.

Image Source: filpkart.com

Today, I was little curious and went to flipkart to see what the whole hype is all about! God! They have not launched just one or two handsets but a whole series of them! And, the best part is, they are priced at such a comfortable and pocket friendly range (INR. 5999-16000).

In this post, I am going to regret viewing the launch by asus with a preconceived notion and write how it is an ideal valentine! #UnconditionalLove

It cares for my wallet’s health! : Asus #zenphones are priced in a very affordable manner with their basic device retailing at INR. 5999 and their Asus Zenfone 5 A501CG retailing at INR. 10,499/-. Affordable price tag does not mean less features with ASUS. The Zenphone 5 is power packed with fantastic and mind blowing features which at first was really hard to believe. Right from 2GB ram to its outer design, it is made to blow our minds!

It makes my pictures look pretty (even at night time): The Zen Phone 5 comes with a technology that ensures the perfection of your images even if taken at low-light situations. And they also come equipped with a powerful secondary camera which adds up to the happy selfie experience.

It does not complain while multi-tasking!: 1.6 GHz Intel dual core processor, PowerVR GPU and 2 GB RAM! #nuffsaid

It doesn't complain me having both work and play at the same time with dual sim and dual standby: Dual sim phones are a must have for most of us. For me personally carrying a separate devices for my professional and personal life spells disasters. Many times I have left either my office-mobile or my personal one at home, and many of the dual sim phones which I use did not give the satisfaction of using a single device. With the new zen phone, you can be assured that your professional and personal lives never clash!

It plays romantic songs with such a clarity and fidelity with its sonicmaster technology!: Listening to songs is such an important aspect of enjoying the Valentine’s day! Am sure most of you would agree on this. With its specialized new technology developed by the asus team just for their zenphone, you can be assured to get floored by the high quality music that envelopes you with the V-Day sprit.

With its 2110 mAh battery it never lets you down: Which means, no need to run around carrying spare batteries or chargers.

And, above all, with its super-hot design it’s sure to turn heads making it my ideal valentine this year! 

So don’t think twice, head on to flipkart and have a look at the new range of smartphones zenphones by ASUS now! Such launches are never to be missed!

Do check out their new #UnconditionalLove Advert below:

Post written for ASUS and Indiblogger.

Shopping Cosmetics at Jabong.com

May 23, 2015, 5:04 am

≫ Next: Macadamia Deep Repair Masque - Review

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If I spend the first half paragraph introducing you all to jabong.com it will be a complete waste of time as I am sure every single one of you would have purchased something or the other from Jabong.com

It is one of the most reliable online shopping portals in India. Be it their packing, delivery or return policy. They are always on point.

Being a beauty blogger, I always get fascinated by their stock of affordable and genuine foreign cosmetics. I don’t think there is any reliable website which sells MUA and Makeup Revolution here in India!

Once Jabong started selling them, the entire blogosphere went frenzy claiming how nice the products were. I had my own apprehension. Are the products original? Are the products well prized? So what did I do? I took the risk and ordered two makeup revolution  goodies.!

The products were ordered on 14^th April and I received the products well packed on 16^th April 2015. The products came extremely well packed in a huge plastic bubble and they were unscratched!

Shopping with Jabong

Makeup Revolution in India

The packaging of the products looked fresh and new and the products were having a decent life span! It is a great thing to have fresh foreign cosmetics as many companies think India as a dumping ground to dump their near expiry stuff.

Moreover, they have some exciting discounts on the goodies too! I saw that the MUA heaven and earth palette is priced around some 500-600! Isn’t that cool? I wanted to buy the “I heart makeup” heart shaped blushers but they were out of stock. May be next time.

I ordered two products from the Makeup Revolution line. I have read about the black eyeliner and the highlighter in many blogs and I just wanted to try them.

For now I have only tried the black eyeliner. The formulation is very good and all but the tip is extremely pointy. I feel scared and use it with caution. I don’t want to get my eyes poked with an extremely sharp tool.

I will use the highlighter and will get back to you girls with a proper review.!

The Eyeliner is priced at Rs. 475/- and the Highlighter is priced at Rs.750/- which is totally justified considering the quality! 

Makeup Revolution Goodies I got from Jabong.com

You can now check out your favourite products at jabong using their all new mobileapp!

I love ordering foreign cosmetics from Jabong.com. Do let me know what you love Jabong for in the comments section below!

Be you.!

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque - Review

June 9, 2015, 7:59 pm

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Hello Friends,

How I missed blogging all these days! Hope you are all doing well.

This summer, I decided to give my HG amway satinique hair masque a miss and picked the much raved macadamia deep repair masque instead. As you might have known by now, hair care has a special place in my heart and I love spending my money and time in maintaining my tresses.

Macadamia Deep Repair Hair Masque - Review

Today, I am going to share my experience with the macadamia deep repair masque.

Price: INR. 900/- for 100 ml. (Look our for offers online!)

Macadamia hair masque comes in two forms i.e., a tub and a tube. Since the tub is insanely priced and is not quite easy to carry I prefer the tube version. Moreover, it keeps a tab on my usage. One tube per month is what I use.

The tube is quite basic with instructions written on the back side. It has a flip-open cap which is quite dependable and sturdy.

The product is free from parabens and alcohol. 

My hair history: My hair was smoothened more than year and half ago. Since then, I am finding it difficult to get the original bounce and texture back. Apart from this, my hair is wavy and dry at the ends. It gets oily at the scalp in three days and I wash my hair two-three times a week.

I use this hair masque only once a week. 

The masque is pearlescent in texture and is mild yellow in color. It is easy to spread in wet hair and I comb it through my hair using a wide toothed plastic comb. It does not have the look and fragrance of a costly masque. It looks cheap in color and texture but thank God it works pretty well.

I leave it for around 10 minutes and rinse it off. It does not impart the immediate slippery smooth feeling like the normal masques. Instead it gives a subtle conditioning effect and once dry, my hair feels well nourished, manageable and glossy. It has the salon conditioning effect and the effect is retained till my next wash!

My hair loves this product. It is one conditioner/masque that does not weigh down my hair. It retains the bounce and does not make my hair look/feel greasy the very next day like how some masques do. It also leaves a subtle fragrance which is nothing impressive to talk about.

Application is very easy. I take a dime sized product and apply it from tips to the mid lengths. I then take a wide toothed comb and comb through to distribute the product evenly. I wait for about 10-15 mins and wash it off with water having low salinity.

I usually use this hair pack on Sundays and club my at home body spa along with this. In this way, I don’t have to waste my time waiting in the bath for the product to sink in.

Did not cause back acne or in any way irritate my scalp. 

Images:

How to use Macadamia Deep Repair Masque

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque - Ingredients List

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque's messy nozzle!

This is how the product looks: 

Macadamia Hair Masque

Key Highlights of the product

Moisturizes conditions and nourishes my hair.

Hair feels like it has been treated to a parlour conditioning treatment.

Over a period of time, my hair texture, quality and bounce has improved a lot.

No dry ends!

Easy to use.

Small quantity is required and one tube lasts for a month with 4 uses on my long hair.

The product kind of accumulates at the nozzle like how the Lotus sunscreen does and looks messy.

Pricey

Not easily available.

It does not have the looks of a costly product.

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4/5

I just Love this product! Highly recommended! You need to try it to believe it! I am already in my second tube and will definitely repurchase!

Hope you all liked my review. 

Love, 

Raji 

Avene Presents a Three Step Treatment Cleanance Range!

June 18, 2015, 10:07 am

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Have a clear day in the monsoons! Avene Presents a Three Step Treatment Cleanance Range with wonder ingredient Glyceryl Laurate AveneCleanance Gel ,  Avene TriAcneal, Avene Cleanance Deep-cleansing Purifying Mask.

For many years now, Avène has been offering a complete product line that has become the reference in the field of dermocosmetics for blemished skin. No matter what the problem – from simple hyperseborrhoea to the accompaniment of irritant medical treatment for severe acne – there is a product that exactly suits your needs.

Specifically developed for cleansing and moisturising oily skin, the line of treatment from Avene contains specific ingredients which…

* reduce sebum production

* soothe irritations

* leaves the skin feeling fresh and mattified

Avene 3-step Skin Care for Acne-prone skin

The entire range of products has been meticulously researched and developed to ensure that Avène is the optimal solution to today’s growing awareness on acne, in the Monsoons

1- Cleanse with Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser (200 ml at 1100 Rs)

2- Treat and eliminate imperfections with TriAcneal (30 ml at 1350 Rs)

3- Restore radiance with Cleanance Deep-cleansing Purifying Mask (50 ml at 1200 Rs)

Three Steps to follow:

Step 1 

Cleanse with Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser:

Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser

It cleanses and purifies your skin while respecting its pH. This very gentle paraben-free cleansing gel is perfectly suited for young, oily blemish-prone skin of the face and body. It purifies the skin and controls oil secretion without abrasion (no rebound effect). Its seboregulators and anti-bacterial key ingredients eliminate impurities and excess oil. Key ingredients like Glyceryl Laurate help regulate sebum production, while Avène Thermal Spring Water soothes the skin, leaving it clear, fresh and non-irritated. It prepares the skin for treatment. This is a very economical product, as a small quantity is enough to be effective.

FACT: This product was tested morning and evening for 21 days by 30 people with acne-prone skin, and 100% of the users noticed that their skin was clearer after 15 days!

Step 2 

Treat and eliminate imperfections with TriAcneal:

TriAcneal

Paraben-free TriAcneal helps eliminate severe imperfections while smoothing your skin. Effectiose ®, a patented innovation from PFDC Research Center (France), regulates the influx of irritating substances at the follicle level. Glycolic acid helps to peel away impurities, while Retinaldehyde regulates the formation of skin flaws and prevents residual marks. The soothing effects of Avène Thermal Spring Water provide the skin with a feeling of instant comfort in this formulation as well.

FACT: This product was tested on 47 people with skin imperfections. As early as the second week, 85% users noticed a decrease in residual marks on the face!

Step 3 

Restore radiance with Cleanance Deep-cleansing Purifying Mask:

Cleanance Deep-cleansing Purifying Mask

Have oily skin with light imperfections? This paraben-free mask, which turns into a scrub, erases, eliminates impurities and tightens pores; a three-in-one way to perfect skin! Enriched with soft clay and vegetal key ingredients, this mask absorbs excess sebum, while its micro-particles unclog your pores gently, giving your complexion clarity. Its mattifying qualities help restore your skin’s velvety texture.

FACT: This product was tested by 32 people with oily skin once or twice a week and 97% of the users felt that their skin was purified, smoother and exfoliated satisfactorily! 80% of the users said they experienced a visible no-shine result as early as one hour following application!

About Avene:

Avène brand is recommended by health professionals and preferred by consumers, by combining pharmaceutical research with cosmetic appeal. Based on the famous Avène Thermal Spring Water formulation, its products are more particularly recommended for sensitive, intolerant and allergy prone skins. The Avène products are formulated with the Avène Thermal Spring Water as key ingredient, and are covering the main skin requirements as Moisturising, Anti Ageing, Anti Acnea, and Sunprotective Products for all types of skins, from dry to oily skins. 

Avène is a French Brand of Dermo-cosmetic. Leader of the market in Europe, the products are now available in India in leading chemist stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Pune. 

Follow us on social media (Facebook / Instagram / Twitter): @AveneIndia

Find the nearest location on www.aveneindia.com

Celebrating World Yoga Day on Wheelchairs with ABILITIES UNLIMITED - Press Release

June 19, 2015, 9:11 am

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Press Release

Celebrating World Yoga Day on Wheelchairs with ABILITIES UNLIMITED

(First of its kind in the world- Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha & Special Team bring hope for the differently abled)

Bangalore, June 19, 2015:Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha, Founder of Ability Unlimited Foundation, a Non-Profit Social Service Organization for the benefit of differently abled people is showcasing YOGA ON WHEEL CHAIR performance to commemorate the World Yoga Day with his special team on Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 6:30 pm, at FICCI Auditorium, Tansen Marg, New Delhi. This Sunday, a series of Yoga Aasans on Wheel Chair by differently abled will spread awareness on the need for Yoga to all age groups, religions, nationalities and social backgrounds to experience meditativeness, expanding their perception of life from individuality to universality.

Celebrating World Yoga Day

Celebrating World Yoga Day

The performance of 90 minutes will showcase the most difficult Aasanas (postures) of ancient Yoga performed by challenged and hearing impaired boys and girls. Yoga on Wheelchair has been therapeutic and has opened up mental and physical blockages healed and helped them overcome their disabilities and become achievers by discovering a positive world.

The message for the World Yoga day by Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha, “Yoga is for all without discrimination of abled and disabled.....equality unites the Society”.

National award-winner Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha, a Guinness World Records holder dedicated 30 years of his life for the well being of the persons with disabilities by innovating and creating Yoga on the wheelchairs. He dedicates “Yoga on Wheelchairs” for the people with Disabilities who can benefit, adopt and practice the ancient yoga using the wheelchairs and crutches, which is first of its kind in the world. He has achieved this by teaching them to unite the body, mind, soul and seek inner peace while improving self-confidence.

Wheelchair Yoga is a practice from India which embraces each individual as unique and beautiful.  Consequently, each exercise (called a Yoga pose) is an expression of the individual.  Therefore, just as no two people are the same, no two poses are the same.  When performing Yoga in a wheelchair, each individual should work toward expressing the pose to his or her fullest capability while honouring his or her limitations.

About Ability Unlimited Foundation (AUF): AUF is a brain child of Guruji Syed Sallauddin Pasha, over three decades he has effectively used dance & music therapy to heal differently abled and tsunami effected people. He is a national award recipient by the President of India. His pioneering work has created socio-cultural equality & excellence in art & culture for the differently abled, which is first of its kind in the world. Guru Pasha’s contribution is considered a revolution in the history of differently-abled and Indian classical dance.

L'Oreal Cannes Collection 2015 - L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Coral encore, Color Riche Moist Matte Lipstick in Arabian Nights and Super Liner Gel intenza in Sapphire Blue - Review

June 20, 2015, 8:50 pm

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Every year during the Cannes season, L’Oreal Cannes Collection of makeup products are something to look forward to. Last year, I adored their collection. Like so, they have launched few makeup products that will leave all us makeup-junkies drooling!

L'Oreal Cannes Collection 2015

L'Oreal Cannes Collection 2015

This year, in a successful attempt to make us all go weak in the knee, the theme was Gloss Vs Matte. The team glamorous gloss was led by one of their brand ambassadors Katrina Kaif and the team Marvelous Matte was led by none other than our own fashion diva Sonam Kapoor.

As a part of their promotions I got to try their gel eyeliner, a liquid lipstick and a matte lipstick. I have to admit that though I got it quite some time back, i took my own sweet time to test each of them.

REVIEW

The packing of all these products look amazing and classy. They went slightly overboard on their lipstick packing and got it all studded with swarowski crystals. Honestly, I am not a fan of it. These look (at least for me) like those rhinestones which we use in blingy nail arts.

Apart from that I completely adored the packing. The velvet case for the lippie is indeed a cherry on the cake!

L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Coral Encore:

L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Coral Encore

Price: Rs. 950/-

Let me start with my mini review with my favourite product i.e., the lip gloss! The concept is somewhat similar to the Maybelline lip polishes. I got the shade coral encore which is a dream come true for neutral lipstick lovers. I never thought that a glossy shade could look this good on me. (I hate glossy lips). True to its name, it is a gorgeous coral shade with teeny tiny purple & silver shimmers. Despite the shimmers, it does not look tacky at all.

It stays put for around 2 hours on my lips after which the glossiness starts to fade and I am left with a pretty coral tint and an extremely unflattering residue of shimmers! Though the shimmers do not look THAT obvious for people to point out, I am not comfortable with it. So once it starts to fade, I wipe it off completely! That is much better.

L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Coral Encore

L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Coral Encore

L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Coral Encore

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Limited Edition Lipstick in Arabian Nights:

Price: Rs. 1,099/-

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Limited Edition Lipstick in Arabian Nights

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Limited Edition Lipstick in Arabian Nights

The shade I got is a very vampy deep plum lipstick which leans more to the purple side. When I saw it first I thought it to be similar to the shade pure garnet from their star collection. But unlike pure garnet which is a true deep vampy plum, this shade is a very deep sober purple. Both of the shades are however completely matte and looks amazing. It brings out the diva in you without much effort on the makeup side. A true Sonam Shade! But as you all might have known by now, I am not a fan of such attention grabbing shade. After years of blogging, I just recently got Ruby Woo! This shade easily stays put for 5 hours with mild snacking in between and leaves a strong stain behind. It is not particularly drying but it is always good to slather lip balms during the course of the wear time.

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Limited Edition Lipstick in Arabian Nights

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Limited Edition Lipstick in Arabian Nights

L’Oreal Paris Super liner Gel intenza in Sapphire Blue

Price: Rs. 875/-

L’Oreal Paris Super liner Gel intenza in Sapphire Blue

I love L'Oreal’s gel liners but I have not tried any other shade apart from black. When I saw this name, I was quite sceptical. Sporting bright blue eyeliners are not my forte. But when I swatched it, I realized that this is such a beauty. It is a dark navy blue Though it is a completely matte crème, it also has that small silver specs suspended here and there. I don’t understand the reason behind the shimmer as it does not look obvious at all. It does not look OTT and is a refreshing yet subtle change from the everyday black eyeliners. The texture is buttery smooth and is a dream to work with. Be it winged or thin, it is super easy with this liner. The brush that comes with this eyeliner is the typical small flat brush that accompanies the L’Oreal and Maybelline liners.

Due to the smooth texture, this takes a lil bit more time to set and once set, it stays pretty much the whole day!

L’Oreal Paris Super liner Gel intenza in Sapphire Blue

L’Oreal Paris Super liner Gel intenza in Sapphire Blue

L’Oreal Paris Super liner Gel intenza in Sapphire Blue

I love this year’s collection from L’Oreal though I find their liquid lipstick and lipstick little over priced for a drug store brand.

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4/5

Did you guys pick up anything from their this year’s collection? Do let me know of your favorites in the comment section !

It's a HAUL!

March 5, 2015, 7:37 am

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I know! I have been absent from my blog for a long time. Lot of things happened on the professional front and it ended up exhausting me completely. Let me see how it turns out finally.

It's a Haul

But leaving that aside, i am here today with a “haul” post. I am not someone who does “haul” posts but this month, I got some really nice stuff’s which I could not resist sharing with you. 

I don’t think I will be purchasing any more cosmetics this month and even if I did, it will only be the routine boring khol’s and lip balms.

So this is what I got this month!

Lorac Skinny Palette in Navy - $15

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer - $14.65

MAC satin lipstick in spirit – INR. 1450/-

Loreal le gloss in the shade really rose – around INR 450/-

TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Hi def curl spray – INR. 799/-

And,

I got myself a new camera! I got the Canon Power shot sx500 IS model. I tried using a dslr which belonged to my friend once and I did not like it. It felt bulky and too technical for my brain.

The Mary-Lou Manizer and the Lorac skinnywere purchased from amazon.com and my dear friend revathy of health and beauty (click here to check out her blog!) picked them for me from her US trip. Thank you girl!

I am yet to swatch the lou Manizer and lorac as I am yet to get over the “OMG! its finally mine” feel. Once that fades away, I will use it and see how it fares for me.

As for the MAC lipstick, I am so happy to say that I have found my perfect nude! I wonder why it took so long to get this shade!

The L'Oreal gloss also falls in the “nude/neutral” category. I saw this shade on a blogger and immediately fell in love with it.!

I wanted to try some curls for a change and I have finally learnt the art of curling hair using a straightener. So technically, I earned this!

Some more images:

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

LORAC Skinny Palette in Navy

Hope you all liked this post.  

Love,

Raji.

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Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Review

July 1, 2015, 8:51 pm

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Hey there!

                                   

My new job has made my life hectic. Long hours at work and irregular weekends. But somehow I feel contented that I am finally doing something which I spent learning around 4 years of my life.

Switching on to the blogger mode, I have become quite experimental with my skin care these days. I have decided not to splurge on makeup and concentrate on finding my perfect skin care regime.

After lots of trial and errors, I have come to learn that not all products meant for dry-combi skin suit me. I still get my pimples now and then if I don’t care enough.  But again, not all products meant for pimples suit me. For ex: salicylic acid based face washes tend to irritate my skin. Same with multani mitti! So I need to find a balance and stick to it for good.

In my hunt of finding my perfect skin care, I got to try a mild everyday exfoliator called the daily microfoliant from dermatologica. I found this during my search for a treatment peel from a brand called amore pacific. I tried it in one of the beauty boxes and it suited my skin so much! But unfortunately it is not available easily in India. Now off to the review.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Review

 REVIEW OF DERMALOGICA MICROFOLIANT

My Skin Type:

Acne Prone and tends to get dry and flaky around my nose and mouth.

Extremely sensitive. Salicylic acid tends to aggravate the sensitivity more.

About the Product: Gentle, daily use exfoliating powder for all skin conditions. Unique Rice-based powder formula activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes that micro-exfoliate dead cells, instantly leaving skin smoother and brighter. Our unique Skin Brightening Complex helps to balance uneven skin pigmentation while a super-soothing blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo and Colloidal Oatmeal helps to calm the skin, leaving it extraordinarily clear and refreshed. Gentle enough to use on a daily basis. Not recommended for users of medically-prescribed exfoliation products. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.

Source: Dermalogica website 

Price: Rs. 975/- for 13g from flipkart.

The product comes in a small teeny tiny plastic bottle. The product is a finely milled white colored powder which kind of diffuses into mild lathering white liquid on contact with water. 

I am not a big fan of the packing. Though a small bottle will last long, since the dispenser is wide mouthed, a lot of product falls out when I use it without caution and once the product gets even mildly wet, there is no putting it back!  

This product is to be used daily on cleansed skin. When I used it for the first time, apart from smooth and sqeaky clean feeling, I did not feel anything great. But as we all know, one should never judge a skin care product in one use (unless you are allergic to it). I used it with my morning routine. Even after a week’s usage I was not pretty impressed by it. So I decided to try using it with my night time routine. I was my face every night with my trusted Himalaya neem face wash and after rinsing it off, I will use this product and massage it for about a minute.

Somehow this product which was latent till then started to work for me instantly! In just three days, my skin looked brighter and the scars left by my acne started fading away. In a week, the pigmentation around the corners of my mouth and chin started lightening. And the best part is, my face did not feel dry at all. Usually when I was my face at night, I get that stretchy feeling around my mouth. But after including this in my routine, my face felt fantastic. Every morning I wake up to see my face getting better and better. No irritation and no huge breakouts.

During the two months of usage, I never felt the need to go and get my otherwise regular salon clean up.  This product is a must have for girls suffering from pigmentation related issues and problematic skin.

Yes it is pricey but it works! And this tiny bottle still has some product left after using it almost every day for around two months.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Ingredients list

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Packing

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Swatch

Key Highlights of the Product

Great product for pigmentation, spots and acne scars

Does not dry out the skin. Great for dry flaky skin!

Extremely mild and can be used every day even for my sensitive skin.

The smoothened and brightened effect is instantaneous – just after one use!

Visible difference in just a week’s time.

Did not flare up my acne. In fact I realized that I am not having any breakouts when I use this but I cannot attribute that to the effectiveness of this product.

You don’t have to visit the parlors to get a clean up. It is life changing!

Pricey.

I am not a fan of the nozzle.

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

5/5

It is so much more than an everyday exfoliator. You should try it to feel the goodness! I have already purchased my second bottle. Highly recommended. 

Have you tried Dermalogica products? Tell me about it!

Star Cosmetics Lip-liner in Nude Rose

July 5, 2015, 8:25 pm

≫ Next: A Simple and Happy Weekend!

≪ Previous: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Review

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Hello friends,

This weekend I stayed at home and took a much needed hot oil champi. Hot oil for my hair and scalp + hot oil mixed with turmeric for my body and face. Nothing makes my skin glow like this treatment. I have also started to try out Mridul face cleanser from Kama Ayurveda. Right now all I can say is, it feels so much like that green gram flour which our grandmas used on little babies.

Anyways today’s post is not about green grams or turmeric. It is about an affordable lip liner pencil which impressed me so much that I just had to share!

I got introduced to this brand by a lovely instagrammer called makeup by masson. She is a gorgeous looking makeup artist and shares some awesome looks on her page. She was wearing this awesome shade and she told it is a lip liner from a brand called star cosmetics.

Star Cosmetics Lipliner in Nude Rose Review & Swatch

Star Cosmetics Lipliner in Nude Rose

REVIEW

Star Cosmetics is a local Indian Brand found predominantly in online stores like Jabong, amazon etc. They have a full line of cosmetics right from concealer palettes to lip liners.

This lip liner is aptly named nude rose. It is an understated dusty rose shade with no hint of shimmer or frost. It is a completely matte color and the shade reminds me of the Bourjois Rogue Edition Velvet Lipstick in the shade Nudeist.

The lip liner is priced at Rs. 200/- and comes in a no-nonsense pencil type. I have sharpened it once and the wood is of decent quality.

The lip liner is not very moisturizing but when compared to all the other drug store liners, it is on par with the colorbar and loreal ones. It feels creamy and is not woody like the cheap ones. It applies evenly and does not tug my lips while applying.

It can very well be worn on its own considering the gorgeous color, but of course you need to moisturize your lips first. In the swatches, I have worn it without moisturizing my lips and you can see that it does emphasize some dry patches on my lower lip. I have also worn this lipliner without any base on my face so that you can understand how this shade looks without the influence of base makeup. 

The lip liner, when used beneath a lipstick does what a good lip liner is meant to do. It prevents the lipstick from feathering and gives a nice base for the color to stick on. On its own, it wears for around 5 hours. It is transfer resistant to an extent but comes off when we rub it with a tissue.

It does improve the wear time of a lipstick considerably but I really don’t prefer wearing it with a lipstick. I love wearing it all over my lips with the "colorbar take me as I am lipcolor in bare dare pink" slightly blotted in the center of my lips. It gives that amazing ombre effect to an otherwise neutral everyday lip color.

More Pictures of Star Cosmetics Lipliner in Nude Rose:

Star Cosmetics lipliner in Nude Rose - Close up

Under artificial Light: 

Star Cosmetics Lipliner in Nude Rose under artificial light

Under Direct Sunlight:

Star Cosmetics lipliner in Nude Rose under Sunlight

Key Highlights of the Product:

1. Affordable

2. Easily available online

3. Gorgeous flattering shade

4. Creamy and easy to apply

5. does not feel cheap or flimsy

6. Does the job of lining my lips perfectly well.

7.Decent staying power

8. Not very drying or woody.

9. Not easily available offline and in stores

10. At times, additional shipping charges are levied making the price more by another 50rs or so. But i really don't mind. 

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4.5/5

I cannot spend 1000s on a lipliner. I am quite happy with the drug store ones like colorbar, loreal etc. This one, priced at just Rs. 200/- completely bowled me over.! It is 200% value for money!

Star cosmetics is a must try for all makeup maniacs. I am going to order all the other shades now. This liner is fab! 

A Simple and Happy Weekend!

July 12, 2015, 9:49 am

≫ Next: Top 5 Websites to Buy Fragrances Online in Singapore

≪ Previous: Star Cosmetics Lip-liner in Nude Rose

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Don’t we all treasure the moment when we happen to chance upon something with no expectations and it turns out to be the best? Today was one such day where I chanced upon this great movie, a pleasant restaurant and some really cute stuffs. 

A Happy Weekend Story

I went to this restaurant by Isha Foundation in Mylapore called Shambhavi. It was a calm place tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city while staying in a great and easily accessible location! They had lots of healthy options in their menu like wheat thali, koozh (an extremely nutritious porridge) etc and I am sure it will be a heaven for people who love to tingle their taste buds whilst keeping their options healthy!

The restaurant also houses some lifestyle goods from the Isha Foundation. From Kurthas to curios, they had some really interesting products for sale. I had already picked up this cute pocket note book and these interesting pencil set before mentally restraining me from splurging too much!

Goodies i got this weekend

Isn't this note super cute?

Today i also tried this super khol from chambor! It stayed put throughout the day and I wonder why not many people have spoken about it. It is extremely creamy and well pigmented. I guess I found an alternative to the Lakme Absolute Khol! Detailed review will be up soon.

The Lunch:

The Lunch Thali at Shambhavi restaurant

Buttermilk!

At the Shop:

At the Shambhavi restaurant - Loved these storage boxes!

Before the lunch expedition, I watched the most talked about movie - Bahubali! I asked my friends for their views before watching the movie. There were mixed opinions so I got confused and decided to risk my time and check it out myself. I personally found the movie to be fabulous. It was an out of the world experience. The captivating grandeur of the past never fails to interest me.

I am not going into the details here (sorry no spoilers!) but I found the casting to be perfect. Not one person looked out of place. The one played by Sathyaraj ji was too good. I have seen lot of Sathyaraj ji’s performances in the past and his performance in this movie will be something worth remembering. All the actors have put in commendable effort.

It was a great change from watching the routine rowdy guy trying to woo a rich girl types.

                                                                  

Yes I did find certain scenes to be not-so-relevant. But at the end of the day, it is an Indian movie and certain event like an item number, for example, is a necessary evil. :D

Graphics at certain areas looked obvious but for me, it was not a big deal. If you love watching period movies and experience that out of the world feel that comes with it, this movie is a must watch. But if you are someone who keeps murmuring “how can a guy jump from here to there/how can Rana stop a wild bull” etc pleaseeeeee… don’t watch this movie. It is not meant for (extremely) realistic people who love to ruin the bliss of believing in fantasies. 

My weekend was fulfilling and fabulous. Hope you girls had a great weekend too. Did you watch Bahubali? How did you find the movie? Let me know in the comments below! :D

Love,
Raji

Top 5 Websites to Buy Fragrances Online in Singapore

July 16, 2015, 9:36 am

≫ Next: Kama Ayurveda Pure Rosewater - Review

≪ Previous: A Simple and Happy Weekend!

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Working all day, moving in and out in sunlight and much other stuff that makes you dull and sweaty whole day. You begin smelling foul and bad when sweat is generated into the body. Moreover, you cannot keep yourself fresh, especially in summers. One thing that can help you in keeping away bad odor from the body, despite of all day activity is a Deodorant and Perfume.   People are quite fond of spending huge sum of money on all these regularly used products. There are thousands of brands that are available in market for with their exclusive products. These brands are available at all the top sites in Singapore and to be more beneficial, you can buy coupons from CouponzGuru.sg and make these products more affordable. 

Below mentioned are the sites that feature Fragrances online in Singapore:

1. Luxola: At Singapore, if you wish to buy best products in Fragrance, Luxola is the best site to refer. There is a huge assortment of products listed at the site. Categories that you can find at site are Nina Ricci, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, Philosophy, Wild Products, Sachajaun, Yves Rochar, etc. You can get lucky as Luxola is available at CG with its best discount coupons. You can use these coupons and deduct extra cost.
2. Lazada: Lazada is a huge portal and it lists beauty productsat the site as well. Here at Lazada, you can explore brands such as Avaha, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Café Café, Carla Fracci, Dior, Diesel, etc. It is a huge marketplace where you can buy products such as Men perfumes, Women perfumes, gift sets, etc. For all those that are looking for great variety in products, Lazada is a site to visit.
3. Perfume Store: Perfume Store is a dedicated site to visit for buying fragrances onlinein Singapore. Beside fragrances, this site houses all kind of beauty products as well. You can find best of the perfumes for men and for women. All top brands that are available in market list their products here at the site. It is a brilliant portal to buy fragrances.
4. The Perfume Paradise: It is another dedicated site to buy perfumes online in Singapore. The Perfume Paradise has got best collection in fragrances and also you can find great discount deals on all these products. There is a separate section of discount perfumes where you will find all the discounted deals. There are perfumes for Men, Women and for unisex. You can also find combos and awesome discounts on gifting products.
5. Fragrance House: Last in today’s list is Fragrance House. They have featured products that enjoy maximum sales and most appreciated products from customers. You can discover new arrivals at the site as it is the first one to launch all new variants arriving in market. Products are divided into two main categories such as: Men and Women.

Here we go, these are the best sites from where you can find top perfumes and deodorants at Singapore.

 Post by CouponzGuru.com

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rosewater - Review

July 30, 2015, 12:34 am

≫ Next: A small Lakme haul from Jabong.com!

≪ Previous: Top 5 Websites to Buy Fragrances Online in Singapore

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While I was at the KAMA Ayurveda Store repurchasing their Kumkumadi Oil, I was told by their SA that the Kumkumadi oil works even better when used after spritzing the face with their Rose Water. Since I have two huge bottles of rose water from Khadi lying unused in my refrigerator, I picked up their travel version so see how it fares.

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rosewater - Review

Price: INR. 185/- for 50 ml.

Click here to read what Kama Ayurveda says about their product.

Almost all Kama Ayurveda products have an exotic feel to them and this rose water is no exception. This rose water comes in a small plastic bottle with a practical and user friendly dispenser. You need not pour it out to use it. A small spritz will do. The rose water is a color less water-like liquid with a nice relaxing and mild fragrance.  

I use this every night before I apply my Kumkumadi oil. For those who are new to the Kumkumadi oil, check out my review here.

It dilutes the thick oil and makes it easier for me to work the oil into my skin. 

Though it is just a rose water with no other added ingredients, I feel this one by KAMA is more pure and soothing than any other brands that I have tried. My skin absorbs it in a jiffy and the fragrance is very natural and not too heavy.

I have dry skin that looks horrible even after applying a mild toner. I was quite surprised to see my skin look bouncy after using this product. No dryness and no stretchy feeling.

I find Khadi’s rose water little harsher after using the KAMA one. In fact, I find almost all the other brand ones little drier after using this.  If you have some money to spare, do check it out. I am sure you will fall in love with it!

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rosewater

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rosewater and Kumkumadi Miraculous Beauty Fluid - A Perfect Combo!

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

5/5

According to me, it is a must buy for dry skinned ladies! 

A small Lakme haul from Jabong.com!

August 3, 2015, 8:36 am

≫ Next: The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York - Review & Swatches

≪ Previous: Kama Ayurveda Pure Rosewater - Review

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The sale season is almost over!

Unlike the norm where I will be completely broke during the sale season, this time, I shopped sensibly and bagged some really cool offers. I got some lingerie from Enamour at half their price! Got a bag and pair of sandals too!

The offers with makeup and beauty related products were comparatively disappointing and it was then I saw this offer with respect to lakme goodies at JABONG! The much coveted Lakme absolute Drama Stylist eye shadow crayon, which were originally priced at Rs. 750/- was on sale for Rs. 525/-!

Goodie Bag from Jabong.com

I have such read rave reviews but never had the heart to shell out 700 bucks on this one. I love their absolute kohl (and have repurchased it so many times) but i just did not feel this particular pricing right to make me buy at their full price. 

So when I saw this on sale, I took the opportunity to grab two of their gorgeous shades i.e., Pink and Bronze!

Lakme Absolute Drama Stylist Eye Shadow Crayon in Bronze and Pink

Lakme Absolute Drama Stylist Eye Shadow Crayon from Jabong.com

The Pink crayon is such a mesmerizing glittery champagne pink with an overdose of glitter. I loved the color but did not like the “glitter” part. It has the ability to look too much if layered.

The bronze is my favorite! It looks so pretty on our Indian complexions and makes the eyes look intense and exotic. I will come up with a detailed review of these two products soon.

Now, coming back to Jabong, i can proudly say that it is one shopping site that has never let me down. I have placed countless orders and all of them were delivered on time and I did not face a single issue with their quality. Unlike some other sites, their offers are genuine. I have not received even a single near-expiry or expired products which were on sale!

I placed this order on 30^th July 2015 and it got delivered on 2^ndAugust 2015. The shipping was free. The products were well packed and they came with the Lakme’s trademark wrap seal and looked fresh!

The email updates were sensible and well timed. They did not send a “your item has been shipped” alert after I have received the products in hand. 

Overall, my shopping experience with Jabong has never been bad and this website is highly recommended for girls looking for cool offers!

Do read my Makeup revolution shopping experience here.  

Have you shopped from Jabong this sale season? Do let me know about your steals in the comment box below!

Love, 

Raji

***Have you checked out their mobile shopping app? If not, do check it out here - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jabong.android&hl=en

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York - Review & Swatches

August 9, 2015, 3:53 am

≫ Next: My take on MAC Retro Matte Ruby Woo

≪ Previous: A small Lakme haul from Jabong.com!

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The Nudes by Maybelline New York Review

Hello Folks!

Today, I will be reviewing the newly launched (in India) The Nudes Eye Shadow Palette from Maybelline!

It is priced at INR. 899 and has twelve shades belonging to the nude/neutral category. It comes in a neat, sturdy and travel friendly plastic box. 

The Nudes by Maybelline Newyork

The Nudes by Maybelline Newyork - Eyeshadow arrangement

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York

The shades are a mixture of mattes, shimmery ones and satin finishes.

On the top row, (from left to right), the first shade is a shimmery cream colorand would make a gorgeous brow bone highlighter for fair – medium skin tones. It has iridescent glitter and according to me, this shade is suitably pigmented. If the pigmentation was more intense, it would have looked chalky on my fair – medium skin tone.

The second shade is a satin finish taupe. It has average pigmentation but it is easy to apply and extremely blendable. It would make a great over all lid color for medium skin toned people. Due to its bendability and satiny finish, I also love it as a transition color and to blend darker eye shadows.

                                                             

The third shade is a matte light peachy brown shade. It would make a gorgeous day time highlighter and despite being matte it is not chalky. It does not have any fallout and has average pigmentation.

The Fourth shade is a gorgeous bronze color in satin finish. It has decent pigmentation and looks gorgeous on our Indian skin tones. It does not have any obvious fallout and is easily blendable.

The next shade is my favourite. It is a gorgeous matte taupe brown color. It is extremely versatile and I love to use it as an overall lid color during the day time.

The last shade in the top row is a matte dark brown that leans more towards grey when blended. I am not a fan of this shade as it is poorly pigmented for such an intense color. It does not have any fallout and is easily blendable.

Coming to the second row, the first shade is a metallic light brown color. It tends to emphasize the appearance of dark circles in my skin tone. Texture is not chalky and is easily blendable. It would look pretty on a Caucasian or extremely fair skin tone but on me, it is a NO!

The next color is a matte brown color which is does not look as intense as it looks in the pan. I was totally disappointed with this shade. It has poor pigmentation and I was not even interested to see how it blends.

The next one is a gorgeous metallic gold. Though it feels creamy while swatching, on application I did notice some fallouts. This shade looks gorgeous as an inner corner highlighter as I have slightly pigmented tear duct area and matte shades tend to look stark against it. Pigmentation is surprisingly good.

The fourth shade is a purplish metallic brown color that looks stunning on my eyes. It has more brown in it than purple and makes a wonderful choice for the easy smokey eye looks.

The next shade is a shimmery champagne color. It looks pretty in the pan but on my eye lids, it looks chalky and too much white than champagne.

The last shade is a very dark grey. It reminds me of one eye shadow I had from LA girls. It is not black but black. I love the way it makes my eyes look when i run it over my lower lash line after lining my waterline with dark kohl. 

Some more images:

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York - Close up of the first quad

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York - Close up of the last quad!

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York - Swatches of the first row

The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York - Swatches of the second row

I have mixed opinions about this palette. The top row did not impress me much. They could have done better in the pigmentation part.

I wore a simple eye look from this eye shadow palette today with a primer underneath on a shopping trip. I dont normally wear multiple colors on my lids as i am quite bad at blending them patiently. But as i wanted to try this out, i went ahead and applied multiple colors. So if you find the blending to be bad, blame me! 

The shades did not crease or fade even after 5 hours of shopping but I am not sure if I would get the same effect without a primer.  

Overall, it is a decent palette to start with for makeup amateurs but If you have used the likes of MACs and Kryolan, you will be disappointed! For me, i am not crying over the money spent as i can still make use of this palette with my Kryolan eye shadow primer. I like this but i am not crazily impressed by it. 

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

3.5/5

It is definitely worth a try if you are a makeup newbie and are looking for affordable neutral eye shadows to start with.

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My take on MAC Retro Matte Ruby Woo

August 16, 2015, 7:41 am

≫ Next: MAC SATIN LIPSTICK SPIRIT - REVIEW, SWATCH AND LOTD

≪ Previous: The Nudes Palette from Maybelline New York - Review & Swatches

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MAC Retro Matte Ruby Woo

Hello friends,

This week I am here with my take on the famous MAC lipstick – Retro Matte Ruby Woo.

I am sure Ruby Woo does not need any introduction. It is the perfect red for all skin tones and for every occasion. 

After buying it, I was so nervous to wear it. As I am not used to wearing dark shades on lips, it took me forever to get used to Ruby Woo.

MAC describes Ruby Woo as a very matte vivid blue-red.

Price: I got it when it was priced at INR. 1,450/- and now the prices have increased! 

MAC Retro Matte Ruby Woo

MAC Retro Matte Ruby Woo Bullet Closeup

Review

I was told that the perfect red always makes your teeth look whiter. This one not only makes my teeth look whiter, but also adds that brightness to my skin.

And, i have also noticed that Ruby Woo looks unique on everyone. Lady danger looks slightly orange on me but Ruby woo is just pure matte red with no obvious undertones. 

The texture is very matte and if you aren’t a fan of matte lipsticks, ruby woo, however iconic it may be is definitely not for you!

Initially I had difficulty in applying the lipstick, spreading it etc. But then, once I started using it with a lip brush the bullet softened a bit and now I am able to apply it directly from the bullet.

The red is super intense. And on my lips, it stays put for over 5-6 hours. It does fade a little with a full meal.

The fragrance is the traditional MAC vanilla and despite the texture, this does transfer a bit.

It does not bleed. But as it is a very vibrant color, even a tiny smear looks extremely obvious and wiping the smear off with your fingers only adds to the agony as it leaves a stain.

Being a matte shade, prepping the lips before application is a must. I always use my Elizabeth Arden lip fix and MAC prep+prime before applying this lipstick. Or else, it emphasizes the lines on the lips and it does not look cool.

Apart from the dry texture and their ever increasing price, I don't see any other cons with this one.

Swatch:

This is how it looks on my skin. I use MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC 40. 

MAC Ruby Woo on my NC 40 Skin tone

MAC Retro Matte Ruby Woo Swatch

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4.5/5

It is little over whelming on me to use on a every day basis. If you are used to wearing bold lip colors, then Ruby Woo is a must have.

MAC is very pricey these days but if the Lipstick has won awards like the best red ever, I am sure its okay to splurge!

Do leave your opinion in the Comment section below. 

MAC SATIN LIPSTICK SPIRIT - REVIEW, SWATCH AND LOTD

March 16, 2015, 7:35 pm

≫ Next: Get your skin summer ready with Luxola.com!

≪ Previous: My take on MAC Retro Matte Ruby Woo

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MAC SATIN LIPSTICK IN SPIRIT

I happened to chance upon this gorgeous lipstick during one of my perfect-nude lipstick hunt. I tried many lipsticks falling into the nude/neutral category but none gave me the happiness which this lipstick gave. With this note, let me move on to the review.

MAC Satin Lipstick - Spirit

 REVIEW

The finish of this lipstick is my all-time favorite – satin. They are pigmented, smooth and impart semi-matte finish perfect for every day wear.

This lipstick comes in standard MAC packing and MAC describes the color as Muted pinky-beige brown. 

On me, it is the perfect nude leaning more towards muted pink and a gorgeous MLBB shade. It covers the pigmentation's on my lips well and looks polished.

MAC Satin Lipstick - Spirit

One swipe is sufficient to impart color. But I personally like to go over one more time on the outer corners to get perfectly concealed lips.

It easily stays put for 5 hours on my lips and starts to fade slightly beyond that time. Though it survives mild snacking during the 5 hr period, due to the color and finish, it does not survive a full blown meal.

Using a lip liner underneath improves its longevity by an hour or so. But again, it does not provide any resistance to survive a full meal. It did not feel very drying like the retro matte ones but using a lip balm is advised as always. 

It transfers like almost all the satin finish lipsticks and does not bleed. As it looks perfect on my NC40 skin, I feel it may wash out darker skin tones and may look deeper on fairer skin tones.

Swatch:

MAC Satin Lipstick - Spirit Swatches

On my Lips:

Left: my natural lips. Right: With MAC Spirit

Key Highlights of the Product

Gorgeous MLBB Lipstick on my NC40 skin

Does not wash me out even when worn without any facial makeup/base

Semi-matte finish

Decent and opaque pigmentation

Devoid of shimmer

Decent Staying power

Does not bleed

Transfers a bit

Pricey (INR. 1,450/-) 

More Images:

MAC Satin Lipstick - Spirit  Ingredients List

MAC Satin Lipstick - Spirit

Indian beauty Maniac’s Rating

4/5

Though it belongs to the nude/neutral category, it is not a boring color. It looks classy and I am using this lipstick almost every day now. If this lipstick gets over, i will look for such shades in Chanel, EL or other high-end brands and only if i don't find any, i will repurchase this.

Dupe Alert: Lakme 9 to 5 lipstick in tea break happens to be a similar shade. I have it but I did not like its finish.

Get your skin summer ready with Luxola.com!

March 20, 2015, 9:53 pm

≫ Next: Our Nude lipstick collection - Suitable for NC 40-42 skin tones

≪ Previous: MAC SATIN LIPSTICK SPIRIT - REVIEW, SWATCH AND LOTD

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Summer is here! For those who live in places where cute little blossoms decorate the foot path and have Narnia type spring-summer transitions, this season will be a pleasurable one. But for me, summers always meant disaster. The only happiness I experience in summer months is the new season of Game of Thrones. Have you checked out the trailers? I am so excited!

So, onset of summers always meant severe tanning-burning, sun strokes and sweat! My summers always start with the seasonal influenza. This time, I decided to play smart and get my seasonal influenza vaccines even before the on-set. But guess what? Just as I was about to visit my doc, I started getting these never-ending series of sneezes and Poof! I have flu! You can never mess with mother nature or a flu for that matter.

Anyways, leaving my rants aside, today, in this post, I have decided to write about couple of sunscreens which I got from Luxola.com to get me summer-ready!

Get your skin summer ready with Luxola.com!

Since I use Retino-A almost twice or thrice a week, sun protection is very crucial. (I will do a separate post on it later).

I get direct exposure only when I travel for about half an hour to my work place and when I return, it’s already very dark. But many skin specialists say we need protection from UV rays even when the weather is not so sunny. But I will get back to that later in some other post.

For me, the main concern is tanning. Not that I am fairness-obsessed. Uneven tan lines tend to look very ugly in my opinion. My favorite sunblocks/sunscreens available in India are from Lotus Herbals and Neutrogena. But these products were very good when I was not that much in to every makeup application. Now, I use a foundation, concealer, powder, mild highlighter and a blush on daily basis. 

With a heavy sunscreen underneath, these tends to look slightly cakey. And, as I have a combination skin, skipping my moisturizer or serum is not a good thing.

Keeping all that in mind, I have picked up three sunscreens from luxola to cater my specific skin needs.

They are,

1) Supergoop Play Everyday Sunscreen with PA+++ SPF 30 (Broad Spectrum) Water resistant for 80 minutes (INR. 1222 for 71 ml)

Supergoop Play Everyday Sunscreen PA +++ SPF 30 & Water Resistant

This one is perfect for a day at the pool or if you plan to do exerting outdoor activity like playing or exercising.! I got it mainly to use it on my feet and arms. It is non-comedogenic, non-irritating, allergy free and to top it all it is also cruelty free!

I tan very easily. If I miss my sunscreen even a single day, I come home in the evening to see tan lines yelling at me for wearing a strappy sandal.

I am using it on my arms and feet for around a week now and I haven’t noticed any tan lines. The texture is very good. It is light-weight and gets absorbed in a jiffy with no greasiness or un-flattering chemical smell. It does not dry out my skin like some matte sunblock’s do. Read more about the product here.

2)  Astalift UV Protection essence with SPF 35 PA+++ (INR. 3078): 

Astalift UV Protector SPF 35 PA +++

    I am using this on my face and neck. The best thing about this sunscreen is, it doubles up as amakeup base! I use a moisturizer followed by this product and my regular makeup. The makeup stays on as if I had used a professional makeup base. The sunscreen does not interfere with the color of my skin tone in any way! It feels light and I use my fingers or a buffing brush to apply the product. It gets absorbed in a jiffy and imparts a mild brightening effect. It does not feel greasy or smell bad. I think it also has a SPF 50 variant which I would love to try. As for the firmness claim, I think I need to use for some more time to experience that. But in a week long usage I haven’t noticed anything bad with this product! Read more about the product here

3)  Astalift Lunamer UV Protector SPF 40 PA++ (INR. 1901): 

Astalift Lunamer UV Protector SPF 40 PA++

    Again from Astalift, this one claims to protect the skin from dryness besides its sunscreen benefits. I tried it on just once before applying my makeup but did not feel very impressed. I noticed mild dry patches around my mouth which was not the case with the earlier one. Anyways I haven’t used it much beyond that day to comment on how it is. Read more about the product here

I will use all these sunscreens for some more time and will do detailed post on how it fared in the longer run. Out of the three, right now, I am impressed by the first two. I made a mental note to repurchase them if I do not notice any negative effects during the course of usage. They are a class apart from the ones I have used till now!

You can check out more variants of such suncreens catering to your specific skin needs here at Luxola.com and do not forget to use the code BLX-RAJIto get 15% off on all your first purchases with Luxola.

PS: did you know that all the purchases made from luxola do not come with the pesky import duties?? J

Hope you all loved my post. Will get back on how these guys fared. Until then Happy Summers! 

Our Nude lipstick collection - Suitable for NC 40-42 skin tones

March 23, 2015, 11:30 am

≫ Next: KAMA Ayurveda Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub Review

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Hi lovely ladies,

We have a crazy love for nude lipsticks. We can’t have enough of nude lipsticks. In this post, we are swatching the nude lipsticks which we have. The motive of this post is to help you girls get an idea about couple of good shades that are available here in India. This will be a picture heavy post! 

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick Undressed (Rs. 250/-)

I did not try this lipstick before buying. I got it as a free gift when I bought two other shades from the health and glow counter. It is not a flattering nude on my skin tone. It is a beige lipstick which acts as a concealer on my lips. It gives me a zombie look. It glides smoothly and covers the pigmentation well with two swipes. Not highly pigmented but not bad also. However I sometimes use it to tone down other bright lipsticks. Wear time is around 2-3 hours without any meals in between. 

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick Airy Fairy (Rs. 250/-)

Another miss from my Rimmel lipstick haul, the color resembles Velvet Rose but it is frosty. It glides smoothly and covers the pigmentation but there is a silver tone in it which makes it a not so flattering nude pink on my skin tone.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick Nude Delight (Rs. 250/-)

Nude Delight is the perfect nude if you go by what the word nude means. It matches my lip color with my skin color. I was shocked to see how it covered my lips. It does not have any shimmer or metallic tones to it. It is the Kim Kardashian nude. With super dark sultry eyes, this one is bound to be a hit. But with my regular no-makeup makeup, it will surely wash me out. If you have the personality to sport this shade then go for it. 

Kryolan Lipstick in LC 146 (Rs. 250/-) (Swatched at the end of the post)

A gorgeous nude from the house of Kryolan. This slightly milky but does not wash me out even when I wear it with no other makeup in my face. It sets to a semi-matte finish. It is priced at just Rs. 250/- making it ideal for someone who is experimenting with shades. But don’t get misguided by its price point, the quality is very good when compared to drug store brands. So I love it! It easily stays put for about 4 hours with some mild snacks in between. It does not survive a full meal.

Oriflame Studio Artist Lipstick in Pink Nude (Rs. 399/-) Swatched at the end of the post

It is a great MLBB color for my NC 40 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 complete review here. 

Lakme 9 to 5 matte lip color Red Chaos (Rs. 400/-)

Lakme 9 to 5 ranges was very popular among the Indian ladies. They have a wide range of neutral/nude lip colors and all are so beautiful. The name doesn’t match the color since there is no hint of red in this shade. It is nude brownish pink lipstick. It is a pure matte lipstick which suits Indian skin tones but I don’t actually like the texture of these. Also with poor wear time and cheap packaging it is not one of my favorites.

Lakme 9 to 5 Lip stick in Tea Break (Rs. 400/-) Swatched at the end of the post

Very flattering shade with a highly unflattering finish. The lipstick applies unevenly and slips when we try to layer it. It is a gorgeous nude shade but yes some people may not feel comfortable to sport such shade in a matte finish. I wore it on many occasions with much difficulty to make it work and have received compliments. Read the complete review here. 

Faces Cosmetics Ultimate Pro long wear matte lipstick in 05 Peach Blush (Rs. 599/-)

Peach blush is a pretty brownish peach color. It has more brown than peach in it. It looks extremely flattering on medium skin tones. On me, it is a gorgeous MLBB shade. The texture of these lipsticks is creamy and little waxy. First swipe seems to go on little harder and rubbery. The lipstick warms up and the next swipe is more comfortable.

Pigmentation is not great. This shade required two-three swipes to reach 100% opacity. It sets to a pure matte finish. Read the Complete review here.

Chambor Rouge Plump lipstick 772 (Rs. 745/-)

Chambor makes one of the best lipsticks in drugstore brands. They are extremely comfortable to wear great pigmentation and better wear time compared to most of the other drugstore lipsticks. With one swipe it covers all the pigmentation. It is a peachy brown color which is slightly deeper than Silky toffee. It has plumping property. Due to its creamy texture, it tends to make the holder messy if not taken care of. It wears for around 3-4 hours without fading and does not survive any meals.

L’oreal Color Lipstick Riche Velvet Rose (Rs. 845/-)

L’oreal Color Riche lipsticks have creamy formula. They look good on the lips and don’t dry out the lips. However, the pigmentation and wear time are not that great. Velvet Rose is a nude pastel pink which does not provide full coverage but I can layer it and hide the pigmentation to some extent. I like it for its creamy formula but it tends to melt in hot summers. It doesn’t have a long wear time. Within 2 hours of application it tends to fade.

L’oreal Color Riche Lipstick Silky Toffee (Rs. 845/-)

This lipstick is beige brown which transforms in to a true peachy brown nude for my skin tone. It is again very creamy but not highly pigmented. It doesn't dry out the lips but the wear time is not good. It has a tendency to melt in summers but the color is a flattering nude on my medium skin tone. Like Velvet Rose it has poor wear time.

MAC Satin Lipstick Mocha (Rs. 1450/-)

This is another peachy brown in my collection of nude lipsticks. On lighter skin tones, it appears as a neutral brown but for me it’s a perfect peachy nude brown lipstick. MAC describes it as Peachy yellow brown. It has satin finish which is my favorite. It is not as creamy as the L’Oréal and Rimmel lipsticks I have mentioned before. However, it is very comfortable and looks flattering on people with NC 42 or lighter skin tones. It wears for around 4-5 hours without any meals in between.

MAC matte lipstick Mehr (Rs. 1450/-)

For many people Mehr is a neutral pink but on me it’s a nude pink. It has matte finish but not too drying like the Lakme lipstick. This is my first MAC lipstick and I have already used up almost half of it. It is a dirty blue pink lipstick which is specially made for Indian women. It looks really flattering when I wear full face makeup and washes me out if I don’t wear base makeup. It acts differently on different occasions. For people who find Mehr unflattering I think Twig will be an option. Like Mocha it wears for around 4-5 hours without meals in between.

Matte lipstick Velvet Teddy (Rs.1450/-)

It is matte in finish and very comfortable to wear. I love the way it looks on me. Mac describes as deep tone beige. I feel it’s a mixture of beige and brown and pink and all the beautiful things. It is extremely flattering on Indian skin tones and looks like a perfect nude on me. It doesn't wash me out. It wears for 4-5 hours without any meals in between.

MAC Luster Lipstick in Touch (Rs. 1450/-)

MAC describes the color as “peachy cinnamon”. On me, it is more of a peachy brown and very flattering. It suits my lip’s natural pigmentation very well and imparts a gorgeous semi-glossy color. The lustre finish is the icing on the cake! I would not have liked this color if it was in matte or satin finish. If you are fond of brown-based nudes, it is a must try! It looks slightly darker than my regular nudes but happens to be one of my favorites! Read the complete review here.  

MAC Satin Lipstick in Spirit (Rs. 1450/-)

MAC describes the color as muted pinky-beige brown. On me, it is the perfect nude leaning more towards muted pink and a gorgeous MLBB shade. It covers the pigmentation's on my lips well. Must try if you are looking for an everyday nude! Read the complete review here. 

Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating lip color Mademoiselle (Rs. 2500/-)

When I visited the Chanel store this is the only shade I could find as a flattering nude. It is long wearing and very hydrating. It has a lustre finish but it doesn't look overboard like the Airy Fairy. It feels light and looks natural. It is a pinkish brown and is very flattering on my skin tone. It survives meals and drinks and stays throughout the day. Read the complete review here. 

Swatches of Kryolan LC 146, Lakme 9 to 5 Lipstick in Tea Break, Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight, Oriflame Studio Artist Lipstick in Pink Nude and MAC lustre lipstick Touch: 

Hope you all liked our post. Tell us which is your favorite nude lipstick?

Thanks,

Nisha&Raji

KAMA Ayurveda Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub Review

August 22, 2015, 7:51 am

≫ Next: Oriflame The One 5 in 1 Color Stylist Lipstick in Sweet Tangerine and London Red

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KAMA Ayurveda Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub Review

During my Kama Ayurveda’s Rose water purchase, i had also picked up this one. This scrub comes in a classy and gorgeous glass tub. They have also provided a wooden spatula to scoop the product out in a hygienic way. Though the packing is not travel friendly, I do like the way it looks on my table.

KAMA Ayurveda Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub in a Classy Jar!

KAMA Ayurveda Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub

About the product:

Kumkumadi face scrub is specially formulated with pure Ayurvedic kumkumadi oil, A miraculous beauty fluid which is made with 12 precious and rare ingredients to help smooth fine lines, illuminate skin color and promote new cell growth. Our Ayurveda based formula is blended with finest Saffron from Kashmir to brighten your skin, reduce dark circles and pigmentation. Finely ground Sweet Almond rich in Vitamin E & D nourishes and nurtures while exfoliating pollutants and impurities for a glowing complexion.

Benefits:

Illuminates skin colour

Reduces dark circles

Reduces pigmentation

Reduces fine lines

Price: INR. 795/- for 50 g

I have acne prone combination skin and nowadays with strict regime my breakouts are in control. Since I don’t want to irritate my skin, I scrub only once in a week. I got this product after reading its benefits list which seemed pretty impressive.

For my first use, I washed my face with Luke warm water and applied a small quantity of this scrub and started massaging. The scrub felt very mild and the creamy base was so good and fragrant. It was a very soothing experience. The particles are not at all abrasive and after the process, when I cleaned my face, I noticed how soft and radiant it looked. It looked as if I had just had an expensive facial.

My skin felt radiant, super smooth and well moisturized. For me, the rule is, whichever product moisturizes my skin without making it look greasy will always turn out to be a winner. And, this scrub happens to be the only scrub which left my skin without feeling dry, stretchy or irritated.

Now after around a month of usage, I feel that the texture of my skin has improved a lot and my facial skin feels radiant devoid of any tan or dullness. It did not irritate my skin or aggravate the acne. Majority of my acne scars are gone now and the patchy pigmentation I had now looks clarified. It helps in keeping the formation of white heads at bay. But if you are oily skinned with huge black head and white head situation, it is better to get a salon clean up before using this product.

This scrub is a must have for combination skinned beauties. For oily skin I am not quite sure because of its mildness and moisturizing factor.

Coming to their removes dark circle claim, i have really not tried this scrub on my under eye area so I can’t comment on its efficacy as a dark circle treatment.

Some people may find it highly priced for a scrub. I want to tell that, it is quite affordable and cheap considering the quantity you get and the amount required for each use.

Usage Directions and Ingredients

KAMA Ayurveda Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub swatch

Key Highlights of the product Classy gorgeous packing Soothing mild fragrance Very mild yet effective scrub Did not irritate or aggravate my acne Helps in removing facial tan Brightens my face and improves texture of the skin. Helps with acne marks and pigmentation as well. Does not dry out the skin

Indian Beauty Maniac’s Rating

4.5/5

My favorite product. I will definitely repurchase this. Makes my dry-combination skin very happy!