All posts by Bhumika

About Bhumika

Bhumika is a Chartered Accountant by profession but a Beauty/Fashion/Lifestyle Blogger by passion..blogging since 10 plus years, isn't that a proof enough ? :D Her love for lipsticks, accessories, shoes and all things pretty comes across in most of her posts.

Bollywood Fashion Faceoff: Who Wore it Better?, Indian Fashion Blog, Bollywood Blog

Bollywood Fashion Faceoff: Who Wore it Better?

Bollywood, Fashion, Fashion Trends, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bollywood Fashion Faceoff: Who Wore it Better?

By Nidhal

Choc-a- bloc schedules with film assignments, dubbing, movie promotions at myriad venues, advert shoots, press conferences, store launches, award ceremonies and frequent outdoor shoots… phew! It would be arduous to swaddle oneself in the trendiest of outfits and showcase one’s sense of style every time a star steps out. The struggle is all the more tedious for a Bollywood actress who is screened from top to toe for her style, while a male celeb may evade the lens of the fashion police, scot-free even after committing the most heinous of fashion faux pas.

In the midst of all this, B-town celebs, particularly the female ones end up crossing each other’s paths swathed in the same outfit! Now, that is not a blunder per se. One may have an idea of what they would wear for a particular event, but how is one supposed to have any inkling of others sartorial choices given one’s hectic schedules? So, while wearing the same attire is admissible and not at all cringe-worthy in my opinion, yet we can surely assess who wore it better – that is, who brought to the outfit their sense of style, individuality and panache? They say- Never let clothes wear you. So, let us check out who did the same. Let it out in the comments section.

1. DEEPIKA OR SONAM- ‘Great minds think alive’ so goes an adage. Certainly, in this case, when two of Bollywood’s leading ladies in the present time and ace fashionistas think alike, we get to treat our eyes to their winsome appearances. Both the ladies decided to wear the same sarees but at different events. While Deepika swaddled herself in a cut sleeve blouse and a high pony at one of the events of Chennai Express’ promotions, Sonam sported a vintage look with three-quarter- sleeved blouse and a loose bun for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag promotions.

2. YAMI, PARINEETI OR ALIA- All belonging to the new crop of Tinsel-town- Yami Gautam, Parineeti Chopra and Alia Bhatt decided to team a see-through black-n- white top with denims to keep the look easy-going and laidback. Although there may emerge a winner amongst Yami and Alia, but Parineeti underwhelmed thanks to the faux pas she suffered.

3. KAREENA OR DEEPIKA- And now that’s what you call an exact replica! The dimpled Deepika stepped out in a mesmeric houndstooth print outfit to promote Ram Leela on the sets of Kapil Sharma’s comedy show. Coincidentally, not long ago, the feisty Kareena Kapoor Khan posed for the cover of a magazine in an exact replica of the outfit.

4. SHILPA OR DEEPIKA- And here come the ladies who have the best bodies in Bollywood without any iota of doubt! Naturally, any dress would complement the two, but what if the two sultry lasses zero in on the same attire? Scroll upwards and decide for yourselves. Baffled, aren’t you? Clearly here, only the skirt of both the divas is common yet, even that is sufficient to draw parallels. While Deepika teamed up her floral print Zara skirt with a bishop sleeved top, Shilpa opted for a loose white top gathered with a belt with the same skirt.

5. DEEPIKA OR PARINEETI- Opting for a blue and red number with psychedelic prints, the statuesque Deepika Padukone and the pert Parineeti Chopra both held court at the respective events they wore it to. While Deepika wore the dress first at a Film Awards announcement conference in January 2016, Parineeti was seen wearing the dress at a photoshoot a few months later.

6. KATRINA OR SONAKSHI- Clad in a short printed dress, both Katrina Kaif and Sonakshi ‘shotgun’ Sinha looked like sisters cut from the same cloth. While Katrina wore the one-piece at the audio launch of Bang Bang, Sonakshi swaddled herself in the same raiment in one of the songs of Action Jackson.

7. KAREENA OR DEEPIKA- And it is Kareena Kapoor Khan versus Deepika Padukone again! Both the A-list actresses of Tinsel-town seem to have a similar taste in fashion, don’t they? This was the second instance when they stepped out wearing the same attire. Kareena walked the green carpet of IIFA 2014 in a black Giorgio Armani gown, a slight variation of which Deepika sported at IIFA 2016. While Kareena added a sheer to cover up her frontal bare, Deepika decided to bare it all and raising the oomph of the apparel by leaps and bounds.

Editor’s Note: 4 out of 7 are Deepika :/ I hope she has better stylists now 😀

Image Sources: 1,2,3,4,5

So, who do you think should be crowned the better dressed?

Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser Review

Body Wash, Kama Ayurveda, Reviews, Shower Gels, Skin care, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser Review

By Pallavi

Hiii Beauties,

As you all might know till now that I am a skin care junkie. I like investing in skin care products. But what you don’t know about me is that I am a bath junkie too. I love bathing and thus investing in bathing products is a must for me. And that is the major reason why I shifted to shower gels and bathing gels years ago. Till date I always buy lots of shower gels. Both from drugstore and high end or luxury brands.

And trust me many of you might think that shower gels are a bit expensive. But no they are not. A bottle of shower gel lasts for at least 2-3 months. And that way you can understand that shower gels lasts quite long and are cost effective??? So, till date I have used a number of shower gels. This time I thought of why not trying with body cleansers and thus here follows the review of Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser.

Product Claims: A wonderful shower gel with Pure Essential Oils of Lavender, Patchouli and herbal extracts. Lavender relaxes the body and Patchouli cleanses and purifies. Aloe Vera nourishes and Sugar adds glow to the skin.

Price for Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser: INR 595 for 200ml (Buy HERE)

My Views:

Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser comes in a long, slender plastic bottle which is transparent. You can easily see the amount of product which is left inside. The jar has a cap opening which is quite easy to use. The jar has the packaging quantity, claims, and ingredients written all over it which is quite informative for the customers.

The shower gel is of runny consistency. That is why it tends to spill out from the bottle so you need to take care while storing it. The shower gel is of light green colour and it smells of lavender but the smell is not very strong and disappears as soon as you spread it on your body. When you dispense the shower gel on loofah, you don’t need much water to dilute it and it foams easily on your body. The shower gel is very gentle on the skin.

Also, you require a very little amount per usage. So, a single bottle will last you easily 2-3 months.

Now, let me tell you how I use this body cleanser on my body. I take out a bit of cleanser on your loofah. Wet the loofah before the body cleanser. Now, apply the cleanser all over your body. Rinse it with normal water after some time.

Coming to the after effects of the shower gel, it is not at all drying on skin. Normal to oily skin types will not require a moisturizer after this. Even the dry skinned people can easily skip a body lotion in summers. But for winters dry skin people will need a heavy body lotion post usage of this body cleanser.

For dry skinned people like me this shower gel is a total thumbs up. I love shower gels which are gentle and not drying on skin. So, that I can easily skip my body lotions at least in summers. And this one is perfect for that.

Pros of Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser

1. Trustworthy brand

2. Travel friendly size available

3. Easy to use

4. Moisturising on skin

5. Cleanses the body thoroughly

Cons of Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser

1.  Slightly pricey

Rating: 5/5

Last Thoughts: Every skin type can use it in summers but in winters dry to combination skin types will require body moisturiser.

Editor’s Note: I love lavender and have tried almost all lavender based body wash/cleansers 😀 I am definitely trying this!

Have you tried Kama Lavender Patchouli Body Cleanser yet?

Top 10 Red Lipsticks Under Rs. 1000 in India, Buy Online

Lipsticks, Makeup, Top 10, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Red Lipsticks Under Rs. 1000 in India, Buy Online

By Pallavi

Hii NLM lovelies,

NLM has made us addicted to a number of things. Red lipsticks are one of them. Every girl has it’s first love as red lippy. But when you are a lipstick beginner you won’t like to experiment with premium or costly lippies. So, why not begin with cost effective red lipsticks which are equally efficient in terms of performance.

So, here we have prepared a list of best hot red pout lipsticks which you can try under 1000 bucks.

So, let’s begin with the list –

1. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick – Cherries in the Snow (Price – Rs. 550) (Buy HERE)

A deep red with pink undertones in it. It is moistursing on lips so you don’t need a lip balm underneath.

2. L’Oreal Paris Pure Reds Color Riche Collection Star Lipsticks – Pure Scarleto (Price – Rs.995) (Buy HERE for 865)

Such a gorgeous rich red very apt for Indian skin tones. Highly pigmented but with a slight drying texture. So, don’t forget to apply a lip balm underneath.

3. Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick Pleasure Me Red (Price – Rs. 425) (Buy HERE for 356)

A deep red shade with very strong pink undertones. The colour looks fab on cooler skin tones. Adding to which the lipstick has a gorgeous soft creamy sheen.

4. Lakme 9 to 5 Lip colour – Red Coat (Price – Rs. 400) (Buy HERE)

Such a wearable red for your office. The collection is of office range and wearing a red colour to office is not at all easy. But this is such a fab colour for the office.

5. Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Matte Lip Colour – Raving Red (Price – Rs. 650) Review HERE (Buy HERE for 520)

A gorgeous red shade with matte finish. But unlike other matte lipsticks it feels very soft and creamy on lips. Also, the colour is not very visible so you can easily pair it at day time too.

6. Colorbar Velvet Matte Hearts and Tarts (Price – Rs. 325) (Buy HERE)

Such a fab and wearable red shade. It is a perfectly balanced bright colour and makes it a perfect choice for the day time occasions.

7. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick Fatal Red (Price – 475) (Buy HERE for 400)

Such a gorgeous red for Indian Skintones. This makes it a perfect choice to brighten your complexion at the day time without going over the top.

8. Lakme Absolute Sculpt Hi Definition Matte Lipstick Red Envy (Price – Rs. 750) (Buy HERE for 600)

Another orangey red but with excessive matte formulae. Such a fab colour for the festive occasion and extremely wearable for the upcoming festive occasions.

9. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick – Love that Red (Price 550) (Buy HERE)


This lipstick is sure to brighten up your complexion And the lipstick looks fab on warmer as well as cooler skin tones too. It is such a wearable red color for the universal skin tone.

10. Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick Hot Hot Hot (price – Rs. 325) (Buy HERE)

It is an extremely pretty and hot red shade. Looks awesome and is perfect to brighten your complexion. Even it stays for extra long making it a perfect red lip choice.

So, these were some of the fab red lipsticks which you can try to enhance your pout. And they all are below 1000 bucks. Such a steal deal right.

Editor’s Note: I love the L’Oreal Paris Pure Reds Freida and Aishwarya’s Red. Freida’s Red is universally flattering a perfect red for all skin tones!

Which is your favourite red lipstick under Rs.1000? Do add in the comments below and let us know.

L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Hair Masque Review

Hair Care, Hair Mask, L'oreal Paris, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Hair Masque Review

By Monika

Hello to all the NLM readers!!!

L’Oreal is currently one of the leading brands in the market be it for hair care, makeup or skin care. Since I take care of my hair a tad bit more than my skin I was eyeing for a good hair masque after all, some extra care for your hair wouldn’t do any harm. As mentioned earlier L’Oreal is widely known for its hair care range so it only seemed fair that I bought the masque from their Total Repair 5 Range. Continue reading, to know my views on the product and how I use it.

Price and quantity: Rs 369 for 200gms (Buy HERE)

Shelf life: Best before 3 years from the date of packaging

Directions for use: Gently massage into washed and towel dried hair. Leave it on for 2 minutes for intensive treatment.

Product Claims

  • Hair is nourished, smoother, stronger.
  • Helps fight the signs of hair damage.

Ingredients: Water, cetearyl alcohol, mineral oil, dipalmitoylethyl hydroxyethylmonium, methosulfate cetyl estres, lactic acid, phenoxyethanol, tridecth-6,chlorhexidine digluconate, limonene, linalool, benzyl salicylate, amodimethicone, 2-oleamido- 1, 3-octadecanediol, fragrance, cetrimonium chloride, butyl phenyl methylpropional, hexyl cinnamal.

My views on the product

The packaging of the product is somewhat similar to other products of the total repair 5 range apart from the fact that this hair masque comes in a tub. I personally would have preferred a tube or a bottle instead of the tub since, that ensures hygienic application. Otherwise, the packaging would have scored a perfect 10 for; the red colored cap along with the white colored tub which has white and golden detailing is extremely eye catching.

The tub is quite sturdy and leak proof so that you can carry it around while travelling. If you are carrying this in your travel bag or, for that matter if you are using it at home on towel dried hair you can most definitely skip your conditioner since it does condition the hair. There is not one specific way by which I use this product but, multiple ways which include using it as a mask before washing my hair, using it as a conditioner on towel dried hair after washing it. When used as a conditioner I leave it on for a good 5 minutes and then rinse it off with water. At times when my hair is feeling especially dry I take a pea sized amount of the product and use it as a leave-in conditioner. I have an oily scalp with slightly dry ends so I use this mask only at the ends but people with dry hair can go all out and use it onto their scalp as well as the ends. All of this being said, make sure that you use this mask not more than twice a week because the alcohol present in the ingredient list can be a bit drying.

The white colored mask has a pleasant fragrance which stays on the hair for 1-2 days after the wash. The texture as well as the working action is exactly similar to a conditioner and I see no reason why someone should pay extra amount of money for something that is no different from a conditioner. I, in particular had high expectations from the mask but it did nothing extraordinary apart from the general conditioning. The brand claims to help fight 5 signs of hair damage but even with regular usage I did not find any major difference in my hair. It does nothing to improve the hair texture, strength, shine and growth. This is one of the few products that I regret buying since it doesn’t live up to the expectations and is not cost-effective.

Pros:

  • Availability
  • Conditions hair
  • Travel-friendly packaging
  • Can be used in multiple ways
  • Pleasant fragrance

Cons:

  • Doesn’t help fight the 5 signs of hair damage
  • Heavy on the pocket
  • Can a bit drying coz of alcohol

Rating: 2/5

Final word

I wouldn’t recommend this mask to anyone and for the people who really are eager to try out the product can just try the conditioner from this range and that in itself would give similar results in spite of shelling out less money.

Editor’s Note: Sounds ok. Though I feel it’s not very expensive, coz all hair masques in the market are priced around the same.

Have you tried the L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Hair Masque? What do you think?

Kara Facial Wipes Review

Facial Wipes, Kara, Makeup Remover, New Launches, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kara Facial Wipes Review

Hi guys,

If you remember last week I reviewed the new Kara Nail Polish Remover wipes, see HERE. Today I am reviewing all of their facial wipes.

About Kara: Kara is a quality product brought to you by Future Consumer Enterprise Limited. Each Kara wipe is made from Viscose fibres, a 100% natural bio-degradable fibre. It is pure, soft and has high moisture absorption capacity.

Kara wipes are dermatologically tested. They are hygienic, skin-friendly and do not leave lint on the skin. Each formulation is a selective blend of aqua, skin-friendly ingredients and herbal actives with a precise functionality that results in a distinctly superior product experience on application. These are free from harsh chemicals like alcohol.

Enliven and revitalize your face with Kara Refreshing Facial wipes.

Made from 100% viscose, these refreshing wipes won’t leave behind residues of lint. These bio-degradable wipes from Kara are eco-friendly and perfect for boosting freshness.

You can use these alcohol-free wipes for cleaning excess dirt and oil from face and neck.

The wipes are packed in a resealable label making it easy for you to pull a wipe and later reseal the pack.

The unique packing system of Kara Refreshing Facial Wipes help in locking the moisture of the wipes for a long time, thus avoiding dry-up till the pack lasts.

Variants & Price:

  • Refreshing with Mint Oil & Aloe Vera (Rs.40 for 10, Rs.75 for 20, Rs.95 for 30)
  • Refreshing with Cucumber & Aloe Vera (Rs.40 for 10, Rs.75 for 20, Rs.95 for 30)
  • Moisturizing with Honey & Almond (Rs.75 for 10)
  • Deep Pore Cleansing with Jojoba & Avocado (Rs.75 for 10)
  • Sunscreen with Plum & Aloe Vera (Rs.175 for 25)
  • Makeup Removal with Seaweed & Lavender (Rs.75 for 10)
  • Toning with Rose & Thyme (Rs.75 for 10)
  • Cleansing & Refreshing with Neem & Tea Tree (Rs.75 for 10)

Availability: Available online on Nykaa.com and offline at Big Bazaar, Health & Glow, Star Bazaar, Hypercity, Beauty stores, etc.

First of all I absolutely love the fact that they come in a pack of 1,5,10,20 and 30 so that one can buy according to their needs at a particular time. We all buy the big bulk wipes pack and then most of them dry quickly and not work as well.

You can carry the 1 and 5 pack ones for everyday use or when you are travelling for a few days and keep the 30 pack for use at home. Though I am highly impressed that they did not dry as much as other wipes and still worked well even after 7-8 days of opening the pack.

Each wipe is meant for different use and has different ingredients and properties. Here are the main ingredients and their benefits in each wipe:

Deep Pore Cleansing: Enriched with goodness of Avocado extracts, these tissues are known to be rich in essential nutrients that soothe and moisturize the skin.Infused with jojoba, it unclogs pores, detoxes, and thoroughly exfoliates the dead skin cells.

Refreshing: Kara Refreshing Facial wipes are enriched with the goodness of Aloevera and Mint, Aloevera & Cucumber. Aloe Vera is a natural leaf juice of Aloe Vera plant that keeps skin hydrated and nourished. Cucumber is known to soothe and soften the skin which can get you relaxed in no time. Mint is known for strengthening the skin tissue and helps reduce oily skin.

Toning: Thyme is a great herb for treating acne prone skin and has astringent properties, whereas Rose imparts a fresh and nourishing feel.

Moisturizing: Loaded with goodness of honey, these moisturizing tissues protect and soften your skin. Almond enrichments are great for reducing signs of ageing like wrinkles and fine lines.

Sunscreen: The sunscreen face tissue comes with SPF 20 that protects your skin from harmful UVB rays 20 times more than the usual.Enriched with Aloe Vera, Kara Sunscreen Face Tissue protects your skin from sunburns and rashes and keeps it hydrated.Infused with goodness of plum and Vitamin E, these wipes are known to clear lifeless pores, dead skin cells and slow down skin ageing.

Makeup Removal: The facial wipes from Kara contain Lavender and Seaweed extracts that exfoliates the skin in a gentle manner and helps in keeping your skin youthful.

Although these are thin and long and cover the face well, the quality is really good and these don’t tear apart easily unlike a few cheaper brands. Each variant smells really good!

The refreshing ones are perfect to carry in your bag in a humid city like Mumbai where you sweat all the time, this will instantly refresh you, take care of all the sweat and also cleanse your face by getting rid of the top layer of dust and grime.

If you travel a lot whole day, use the Deep Pore Cleansing wipe at the end of the day and you will be astonished by all the dirt and grime that comes out. I really love the Deep Pore Cleansing one, it does it job of cleaning the pores from deep within.

If you have acne prone skin and do not like to use a toner, the Toning ones will do the job of toning plus are really handy to use. Moisturizing ones are good for dry skin. Cleansing & Refreshing with Neem & Tea Tree are perfect for oily skin. I am not personally a fan of Sunscreen wipes as I feel it can never compensate the use of sunscreen, but if in case you have forgotten to use a sunscreen and have these, you can use them.

Makeup Removal ones are an absolute must have if you wear makeup on a daily basis or for a makeup artist/makeup professional. These are so moisturizing and remove every bit of your makeup without irritating your skin or eyes or stripping off any moisture from your skin.

My favourites are the Deep Pore Cleansing ones and Makeup Removal ones for night, the Refreshing ones and Cleansing & Refreshing one for travel and day time.

Have you tried the Kara Facial Wipes?

P.S: PR Samples. Honest Review

September 2016 Lip Monthly Bag Unboxing

Beauty Box, Lip Crayons, Lip Liner, Lip Monthly, Lip Pencils, Lip Stains, Makeup, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September 2016 Lip Monthly Bag Unboxing

Hi guys,

I got my September Lip Monthly bag a few days ago. Let’s see what all I got..

Lip Monthly Bag is a beauty subscription bag where you get 4-5 full sized lip products every month, it can be anything related to lips from lip balm, lipstick, lip butter, lip oil, lip scrub, liquid lipstick. Sometimes they add a pigment or eyeshadow too.

What I got:

  • J.Cat Wonder Lip Paint- $4.99
  • Starlooks Lip Crayon- $19
  • NCLA Nail Stickers- $11
  • Model’s Co Lip Liner- $20

Total Value: $54.99

MRP: $12.95

They have free shipping worldwide and you can get 50% off on the first bag using the coupon code ’50OFF’. Also they have much cheaper and value for money deals on 4 months and 12 months subscription plans.

Join today using COUPON CODE:
“3FREE” to get 3 months FREE on Annual Subscriptions!
“1STFREE” to get your first month for FREE on 4 Month Subscriptions!
“50OFF” to get your first month for 50% off on Monthly Subscriptions!

Subscribe to Lip Monthly HERE

I am loving the colors, both the J.Cat Queen of Hearts Lip Paint and Starlooks lilac crayon are super unique and amazing. The Starlooks crayon shade is pretty similar to Aishwarya Rai Cannes lilac shade 😀 J.Cat is a dupe of OCC Lip tars and I can’t wait to try out this shade. It’s perfect for fall.

Even the Model’s Co. Lip liner is perfect for outlining and defining the lips.

The bag this month is a total value for money!

What did you like the most?

How To Do A Simple Face Clean-Up At Home

Himalaya Herbals, How To, Skin care, Tips, Tips and Tricks, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Do A Simple Face Clean-Up At Home

Hi guys,

I don’t generally go to salons for facials and clean ups, I prefer taking care of my skin at home and follow the basic skin care routine regularly. If you spend even 5-10 minutes on your skin daily and the scrub/mask routine once/twice a week, you won’t need any fancy or expensive salon facials/clean ups.

Now a clean-up is important coz sometimes the blackheads and whiteheads are not really visible but they do develop when the pores are blocked or there is dirt in the pores which is not cleaned regularly.

Here is how I do a mini clean-up at home:

1. Wash your face with a face wash. My Holy Grail is the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem face wash.

2. Cleanse your face with a milk based cleanser. Now there are quite a few options available, you can also try the Himalaya Herbals Refreshing Cleansing Milk. Massage for a minute to two and wipe it off with a damp cotton ball

3. Take steam on the face. If you don’t have a steam machine, just boil some water and bend your face over it covering with a towel. It will do the job equally well.

4. Extract comedones, either use cotton on both of your hands to press the skin and extract it or use a blackhead extractor for deep rooted blackheads. You get it for about 50-60 rupees. Just sanitise and clean it before using and even after using.

5. Scrub your face. I use the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Scrub when I am breaking out or have 1-2 acne or the Himalaya Herbals Gentle Exfoliating Walnut Scrub if my skin is a little dry or in winters. Scrub for a good 2-3 minutes concentrating more on nose, forehead, chin, sides of nose, etc. Wipe it all off with a damp cotton ball.

6. Toner. You can either use rose water or cucumber water or any alcohol free toner to close the pores. It is very important to close the pores which have opened with the steam.

7. Follow it up with a face pack. Now again I would go with either the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Pack if I have acne or the Himalaya Herbals Fairness Kesar Face Pack if I want to get rid of tan. Keep it for 10-15 minutes and also use cotton balls soaked in rose water over the eyes and just relax. Take it all off with a damp cotton ball. Wash your face with water if you feel like.

8. Moisturize your face with your regular moisturizer.

9. Apply a sunscreen/sunblock

That’s it, you are done. This whole procedure will take about 30 minutes including the face pack. You can do it once a week on a Saturday or Sunday, you can spend at least 30 minutes in a week over your skin, if not, once in two weeks is a must! Also if you do not do it regularly, the whiteheads and blackheads will not be extracted, the skin won’t be exfoliated. Dead skin cells will form a layer and the blackheads will turn to acne.

Regular skin care is important even if you have good skin, to maintain it. Do not take your skin for granted. Your skin gets regenerated every 21 days, so at least follow this simple clean-up at home once every 2 weeks i.e. 14 days.

Few points to remember:

1. Always use products according to your skin type or how your skin is behaving during that time.

2. Do not be harsh on your skin, do not scrub vigorously or over exfoliate.

3. Always end with a sun block/sunscreen even if you are not stepping out

There are a lot of products available in the market if you do not have extra time to DIY at home. I like Himalaya Herbals products and have been using them since my college days. They are affordable and easily available.

You can check out Himalaya Herbals on Facebook HERE and on twitter HERE and also more from their Face Care Range HERE

How do you do a clean-up at home?

What’s in My Makeup Pouch?

Makeup, Women, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What’s in My Makeup Pouch? (Makeup On The Go)

By Linda

Hi everyone,

Today I will be talking about the makeup products I carry everyday along with me. Yes every day!!!!!. As I only prefer to allot 5 mins for a simple and natural makeup. In case of parties / events or other functions obviously the products would be different and it won’t be relevant to today’s post.

As I’m always on a run , be it for work/ meeting with friends, in which case I mostly do my makeup either in my car while I’m commuting or head straight to a decent ladies common room ..yeah that kind of a crazy person I am. Rather than digging into my bag for each product or forgetting it at home I prefer carrying these few products in a pouch, where ever I go. Let’s admit one thing that makeup last for at least 4-5 hours depending on the weather conditions or your skin type. It’s always better to carry this pouch for retouches. And I don’t want load my bag with all unwanted makeup that I don’t use daily.

I did mention it’s a makeup pouch , since a pouch can carry minimal but most important things that serves our purpose. Secondly it’s light weight and travel friendly.

So let’s get to the point and find out what’s in my pouch

1. Mac Studio Fix Foundation plus Powder [Shade: NC 41]

This is a highly recommended product. Firstly it functions as a foundation plus powder. Secondly within the container it has a sponge for easy application of the product and a mirror build in (you need not carry an extra mirror).So now you can imagine how multipurpose this product is . I will be writing a detailed review of this product soon. Keep watching!!!

2. Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing powder [Shade: 02 Brune]

This is another all-time favorite product of mine. The detailed review of this product is HERE. As I mentioned in the review this a multipurpose product. It can be used as Bronzer, for contouring and highlighting ,and at times as a blush as well. Trust me these 3 shades can do wonders on your skin.

3. A Blush by Rimmel London [Shade 190 Coral]

What I like about this blush it gives you a flushed natural look, as it has tiny amount of shimmer. Also it is light weight and smaller in size.

4. Bourjois Kohl & Contour Eye Pencil (Review HERE)

A water proof and smudge proof eye pencil is all you need. And a sharpner along with it is an add on.

5. Perfume vial (Milano by PRADA)

This vial always comes handy to revive the freshness of your fragrance you already applied. All you need is to invert the vial on your finger tip and dab it behind your ears and wrist, and then you are are all set to go.

6. Lipstick /Lip balm

It’s always advisable to carry a lipstick of a neutral shade (browns) and cool toned (shades of pink and mauve) lipstick of your choice. I carry a neutral lipstick from Mac Shade Whirl which is reviewed HERE

7. Bourjois Volume Glamour MAX definition Mascara

Any look is incomplete without a mascara. The wand has fine and short bristles that coats your eyelashes giving a voluminous look.

8. Essence Eye Pencil & Eyeshadow [Shade 05 Cute Copper]

This is a neutral bronze pencil eye shadow, creamy formula, easy to apply. You don’t even need a brush. Easy to blend with your fingertips.

I carry all my products in a light and small-medium size pouch I picked from H & M.This is a zipper pouch in a metallic color. Easy to carry where ever you go and fits into any size of bags.

Believe me all these items easily fits into a small pouch only try to select items that are multipurpose, light weight and travel friendly.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post…

Editor’s Note: Ya I guess these things are enough, I would just add an eyebrow pencil and highlighter for me 😀

What’s in your makeup pouch?

Benefits of Using a Wooden Comb & Joy by Nature Neem Wooden Comb Review

Hair Care, Joybynature, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Benefits of Using a Wooden Comb & Joy by Nature Neem Wooden Comb Review

By Nidhal

For some strange reason I always had a fixation for lustrous hair that is, hair that flows as the wind caresses it, remains tangle-free and adorns one’s curves like an ornament! Stroking one’s fingers down such locks is a ‘thing of beauty’ to borrow Joh Keats. While we have countless weapons at hand to get such gorgeous locks, yet one weapon that I was long oblivious of was a ‘wooden comb’.

One day, I stumbled upon the virtues of using a wooden comb and thrilled by the same, I placed an order for one on Amazon. It was none other than Joy by Nature Neem Wooden Comb for Women. Needless to say, here is my review of the same.

PRICE- 125/- INR for each comb (Rs.85 on Amazon HERE)

DIRECTIONS FOR USE- Use like a normal comb except when your hair is wet/semi-dry. NEVER use a wooden comb on hair drenched in water.

INGREDIENTS- Made up of wood

WHAT IT CLAIMS- Joybynature wooden pocket combs are made from natural neem wood that has been used since olden days in hair care. Neem bark, leaves, fruits, twigs, flowers are all used in medicinal preparation and are also part of new age products including combs, hair oils, tooth paste, moth balls, disinfectant and skin ointments. It is rightly given the name in Sanskrit as ‘Sarva Roga Nivarani’ in other words ‘Cure for all ailments’.The Joybynature wooden pocket combs are made from this powerful neem wood and designed aesthetically to suit the requirements of today’s generation while matching with the requirements for proper hair care.

Joybynature.com delivers goodness and joy from nature to your home. With over 10,000 Authentic Certified Natural/Organic products, Joybynature.com is the global hub of nature-led well-being.

MY EXPERIENCE-

Packed in a simple (and highly flimsy) plastic pack, this wooden comb screams for a better packaging! Once taken out from the package, you need to find a place/case for the comb to be stored. That aside, I have been using this comb for over two months and it’s worth mentioning that it works wonders to tame frizz and impart softness.

Wooden combs are supposed to have rounded teeth (as compared to regular plastic combs with pointed teeth) that avert hair from developing frizz. Since frizz is taken care of, expecting hair to be softened is natural and that’s what happens.

My hair is dry and within a period of two months of usage, I can assert that it has managed to soften my locks very well. On the downside, the comb is prone to breakage. The dark brown part that you see in the picture has been stuck to the main comb and it is prone to separation. In fact, it would be surprising if it lasts for even two months. Cleaning the comb is another cumbersome affair as you cannot use water on it (it’s wooden after all). So, I clean it by using a cotton swab soused in coconut oil. Moreover, I clean it once in every 3-4 days.

In a nutshell, it benefits your mane only if used regularly and cautiously. It comes with its fair share of “dos and don’ts” when it comes to usage so, weigh them beforehand.

Here are some of the benefits of using wooden comb over plastic combs-

1. Controls and prevents frizz

2. Adds shine and softness

3. Stimulates the scalp thus, accelerating hair growth

4. Boosts blood circulation of the scalp

5. Spreads the natural oils in our tresses uniformly

GOOD-

1. Rounded teeth of the comb ensure that my scalp as well as hair’s follicles aren’t roughened

2. Tames frizz overtime

3. Price is reasonable

4. Readily available (I bought it on Amazon India)

5. Made up of wood

6. Softens hair overtime (personal experience corroborates it)

BAD-

1. Packaging needs improvement. By parting with 125/- INR, a simple flimsy plastic package is what the comb comes packed in.

2. The comb is prone to breakage

3. Cleaning the comb is an arduous affair.

4. Size is small (it’s a pocket comb)

RATING- 3/5

Editor’s Note: This definitely does sound like worth trying, or maybe I will try to find more options. But looking forward to trying a wooden comb

Do you use a wooden comb?

First Colourpop Haul, Review, Swatches | How to Buy in India

Colourpop, Eye Brow Pencil, Eye Liners, Eye Makeup, Eyeshadows, Hauls, Highlighters, Lip Pencils, Lipsticks, Liquid Lipsticks, Makeup, Reviews, Shopping, Site Reviews, Swatches, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

First Colourpop Haul, Review, Swatches | How to Buy in India

Hi guys,

Finally I am sitting down to write this post, I know this took forever and I am really sorry. In fact, I bought more Colourpop after this but will include it in a separate US haul post.

For now, let’s start with this. I wanted to try Colourpop since a long time but they did not ship to India. Once they announced they are starting international shipping, I had my wishlist ready and as soon as they started it, I tried to place my order and I got the shock of my life! Shipping was $25! Yes, my order was $30 and shipping was $25 which is close to double. Obviously I didn’t want to spend that much and many people complained on social media regarding this, Colourpop replied that they have flat rate shipping of $25 so you can order more items for same shipping amount.

If in case you have to place a huge order or 2-3 friends are combining an order, then buying directly from Colourpop made sense. Since I didn’t want to place a huge order as that attracts customs and wanted to just try a few things initially, it was not very economical for me.

Enter ‘Ship Out From USA‘. Magali did an entire video on them and explained how to use it, you can watch the video HERE.

Basically what they do is, they create a virtual USA/UK address for you and you can use that address to place order on any website which does not deliver to India directly. They will receive the items, repack it well and send it across to you. Like an intermediary, and of course it has some charges.

Charges without the discount are a little high, but I have a huge 40% discount code for you all i.e. “NEWLOVE40” (code to be applied on the Ship Out From USA website, not on merchant website) This code will not have an expiry period! So you can use it anytime and to buy from any website, valid for both virtual USA and UK orders. I would definitely suggest make use of it during sale periods (Black Friday sale is coming soon) and also ‘Free Shipping within USA/UK’ above certain amount.

That way is turns out to be pretty economical. After the 40% discount and using Ship Out From USA, it was pretty decent a price to pay for Colourpop considering all sellers here have a good amount of margin and it turns out to be much cheaper than that.

Also all Colourpop products are $5 and $6, plus they are very high quality and full of pigments! From eyes to cheeks to lips, all products are full of pigments and are long staying!

So let’s see what all I got in my first haul..

T-B: November, Point Zero, Beeper, Lumiere

I have been using some of the products since quite some time now, especially the lipsticks. I got one from Lippie Stix ($5), two Ultra Satin ($6) and one Ultra Matte ($6). And I also got one eyebrow pencil ($5), one creme gel liner ($5), three Super Shock eyeshadows ($5) and one Super Shock cheek highlighter($8).

Now the eye and cheek products of Colourpop are very buttery and should be used only with hands, especially eyeshadows. You cannot get the colour pay off with brushes. Also they break easily, I got one eyeshadow slightly broken when it came but then their nature is such, that will easily break even if dropped once. And also their products dry up pretty quickly if kept open, so they mention to close the lid pretty tight!

So I got two Ultra Satin Lips in November and Point Zero from the recent KathleenLightsxColourpop collaboration and the Lippie Stix in Lumiere from her previous collaboration. I love Kathleen Lights and all the shades she created in the recent collab were pretty amazing, so I had to get these! Apart from these, I got the Ultra Matte Lip in Beeper which I wanted since a long time! That shade is gorgeous and a must have!

The Lippie Stix are like a matte chubby lip crayon but much more creamier and pigmented. They stay for about 3-4 hours and longer without eating or drinking. The Ultra Satin Lip also stays for about same time, but it is a proper liquid lipstick formula which is completely matte. But fortunately they are not drying. Ultra Matte is drying but stays the longest and is the most pigmented!

L-R: November, Point Zero, Beeper, Lumiere
L-R: November, Point Zero, Beeper, Lumiere

Lumiere is a dusty mauve pink

November is a mid tone warm peachy pink

Point Zero is a cool toned grey brown

Beeper is a warm mid tone taupe

The eyeshadows I got are So Quiche, Nillionaire and LaLa.

These swatches are just one swipe each! Also I tried hard to capture the exact colour, but the shades are gorgeous and the camera was just not picking up the exact colours or doing justice to the shadows.

The eyeshadows are so creamy and the colours are gorgeous! They are very different and unique with a beautiful combination of reflects.

So Quiche

So Quiche is ansoft olive with a highly reflective gold and pink violet glittery duo chrome metallic finish

Nillionaire

Nillionaire is warm bronze with tons of gold and multi coloured glitter in a Metallic finish.

LaLa

LaLa is a satin finish rose gold

L-R: So Quiche, Nillionaire, Lala

And I also picked the Brow Pencil in Bangin Brunette which is the perfect shade for my dark eyebrows and hair. I love the fact that it has spoolie at one end which makes it very convenient to use and you do not need extra brushes. And I wanted a nice, nude eye pencil for my waterline since a long time and my search ended at Colourpop Creme Gel Liner in Honeydude which is a perfect peachy nude for my waterline.

Highlighters are my weakness, so I had to get one highlighter! 😀 I picked Lunch Money which is a gorgeous soft light gold shade with reflective duo chrome. This is one shade which will work for a lot of skin tones from light to medium. It will be a little light for very dark/deep skin tones. It is super buttery and creamy and very pigmented, absolutely love the shade!

And the quantity is huge! I think only the highlighters are a little more than their usual $5 and $6, but even for $8 the quality and quantity is amazing!

Here is how a few shades look on me.. (First is November, then Point Zero and Beeper)

I absolutely love each and every thing in this haul and highly recommend each of these! You can just close your eyes and get these, for the price, they are amazing!

Also you can trust on my research that I would pick shades after spending hours in finding out the best shades 😀

Also Colourpop has free shipping above $50 and $4.99 below that just for 3-4 days currently, if in case you want to get something, right now is the time 😀 Or else my 40% off Ship Out From USA coupon code ‘NEWLOVE40’ is valid forever and for everything you want to buy from US/UK.

I paid around $51 for everything (they have $5 off for new registered members) plus the shipping through SOFU was around 2000 which came to about INR 1200 after the 40% discount. So in total around INR 4500 with shipping for everything. But I would highly suggest placing the order in the next 1-2 days if you are really planning to get something, coz of their free shipping offer 🙂

What is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.