Forevermark Diamond Masterclass – All About Diamonds
Hi guys,
I attended the Forevermark Diamond Masterclass the other day. It was so informative, I came to know quite a lot of things about diamonds in general and Forevermark in particular.
Did you know?
The Greeks believed diamonds were tears of God
Some diamonds are 3000 million years old!
Diamonds are found 90-240 miles below the earth
Not all diamonds are meant for jewellery, they are also used in industries. For e.g. the airplane window corners have diamond powder.
Diamonds are at a pressure equivalent to putting the point of the Eiffel Tower upside down on your hand.
Every diamond in the world ever cut and polished would fit in a London double decker bus with room to spare
Diamonds being so rare, it goes through further quality checks and rigorous processes to be qualified as a Forevermark diamond.
First piloted in Hong Kong in 2004, Forevermark was launched as a wholly-owned subsidiary by The De Beers Group of Companies in 2008, leveraging over 125 years of diamond expertise.
Each Forevermark diamond undergoes a journey of rigorous selection. Less than one per cent of the world’s diamonds are worthy of the Forevermark inscription. The unique inscription is an assurance that every Forevermark diamond is beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced. The miniscule inscription found on Forevermark diamonds is only 1/5000th of a human hair. It can only be seen using a special Forevermark viewer available at Authorised Forevermark Jewellers.
Forevermark is distributed in more than 1,700 doors worldwide and continues to grow with the addition of new licensee markets and the expansion across existing core markets.
Selection process
Rough diamonds that have large inclusions are rejected as there must be no significant inclusions that may affect refraction of light. Those with a cloudy, milky or hazy appearance are also rejected as the diamond’s brilliance is diminished. Some other features can only be seen once the diamond has been cut and polished. Those with a muddy appearance, internal graining and fluorescence are rejected as they all impact on the diamond’s beauty.
Quality of the polish
Forevermark rejects diamonds that have been forced on the polishing wheel against their natural direction. It will burn the diamond, affecting its transparency and ability to reflect light.
Durability
Diamonds that have been cut with a thin girdle, shallow crown, or steep pavilion are rejected as it makes the diamonds vulnerable to abrasions, chipping and breakage. Diamonds with a girdle too thick are rejected as they carry too much weight, affecting its proportions and diminishing its beauty.
Exceptional Rarity
Forevermark are the world’s most carefully selected diamonds. Only truly beautiful diamonds are eligible to be inscribed with the Forevermark unique inscription. Less than 1% of the world’s diamond are worthy of the Forevermark inscription.
Forevermark Diamond Grading Report
Authorised Forevermark Jewellers are able to supply a Forevermark Diamond Grading Report to their customers which provides an accurate blueprint of the qualities – cut, colour, clarity and caratage of each Forevermark diamond.
In the presentation, I learned how diamonds are cut manually with diamond powder and diamond polish and every smallest cut is to be done with precision as the diamonds keep rotating on a wheel. All Forevermark diamonds are transparent without any inclusions and the colours range only from D-L.
In terms of shapes and sizes, all Forevermark diamonds will have a clear table for the inscription and hence a ball, drop and rose shape can never be a Forevermark diamond.
10 carat Diamond
We also saw a 10 carat diamond and how it reflected light! It was the most beautiful diamond I had ever seen!
The display of Forevermark diamond jewellery was mesmerizing. I also tried a pair of earrings and a beautiful cocktail ring.
I am so glad to have attended his masterclass and learnt a lot of new things about diamonds! I hope you learnt some things too, if you guys have any doubts related to diamonds, comment here or mail me and I will try to get it resolved 🙂
10 Ways To Get Soft, Pink Lips Naturally | Lighten Dark Lips
Guest Post by Disha
Who doesn’t want soft, supple, pink lips? We all do! But instead most of us have to suffer with their dryness and pigmentation. This happens because we fail to take care of them. When your lips are dark and dry, they get itchy and you cannot even apply lipstick properly! No one is a fan of that I am sure. To get naturally pink lips one needs to take care of their lips and there are a lot of ways to that. And believe me they are all very easy and can blend into your skin care regime effortlessly. Apart from being doable they are so effective that you wouldn’t even need to use your MAC lipstick in the shade Please Me to give you the appearance of naturally soft and pink lips. So, here are 10 ways in which you can do so.
1. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the key ladies! It helps get rid of dead skin and dirt. All you need is a toothbrush. Yes a toothbrush has more uses than just brushing your teeth. Just be careful that the one you choose has soft brittles so that it doesn’t hurt your lips. So wet your toothbrush a little and then gently rub it on your lips in circular motions.
2. Choose Lip Balm With SPF
As we all know the UV rays from the sun do harm our skin and for that we apply a sunscreen lotion but do we do something for our lips? No we don’t. Hence, always choose a lip balm that has a decent amount of SPF in it. This way your lips will be hydrated and at the same time protected.
3. Drink Water
I feel drinking water can solve most of your health problems. You need to keep your body hydrated. So drinking 6-8 glasses of water everyday is beneficial for your whole body. But when it comes to your lips, keeping yourself hydrated will moisturize them and make them supple.
4. Milk and Pomegranate
You know how pomegranates have a lot of pigment in them. So why not use them for your lips? This following method with lighten dark lips and give them a natural pink tone. Crush pomegranate seeds and add some cold milk in such a way that when mixed together, a paste like consistency is achieved. Then apply it to your lips. Let it stay and after around 10-15 minutes wash it off.
5. Removing Makeup
Yes we have all heard that never sleep with makeup on but how many of us really follow it? Before going to bed make sure that you have completely taken off the lip liner and lipstick and applied a lip balm. This will hydrate your lips throughout the night. Whereas keeping on lipstick all night long can darken your lips.
6. Lemon and Sugar
This one acts as a scrub as well lip-lightening agent. Take a lemon slice and put sugar on it. Then gently rub this on your lips. Lemon is a good bleaching agent hence it will lighten your lips whereas sugar will exfoliate it. So this combination is enough to make your lips pink.
7. Cucumber Slice
We all know cucumber is very cooling and has a soothing effect. So rub a cucumber slice on your lips which will instantly refresh them and make them pink on doing this frequently.
8. Aloe Vera Gel
This can act as a great lip balm. Take some aloe vera gel and store it in the refrigerator. It helps in soothing your lips, generating new cells and protects from harmful rays of the sun. You can just directly use it as a lip balm everyday.
9. Glycerin and Lemon Juice
Take 2-3 drops of lemon juice and glycerin and mix them together. Use this mixture as an overnight lip mask. While glycerin will hydrate your lips, lemon will lighten it.
10. Coriander Leaves
Take a few coriander leaves and crush them. You can also put in little water/milk if you like. Then apply it on your lips and let it stay for a while. After about 20-30 minutes, wash it off. Coriander leaves help in lightening your lips.
I told you all of them were easy ways! Weren’t they? They are very doable. Choose any method or methods and stick to them. Make sure whichever ones you choose, you follow them regularly for best results. Voila! You got yourself soft and pink lips.
Author Bio: Disha is a passionate health, fashion & beauty enthusiast. She is the founder and editor- in-chief of DivasWorld. Her blog, DivasWorld covers beauty, makeup, fashion and lots more!
Top Natural Skin, Hair and Body Care Brands in India
By Nidhal
Tossing away all those chemical-laden cocktails into the trash seems a herculean task given the paucity of alternatives at hand at present, isn’t it? Not anymore. You do not have to repine anymore for there are some niche brands that are not just environment-friendly in their approach but also cent per cent transparent about the ingredients’ list of each and every product of theirs. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?
No need to glower at your high-end chemical-laden product anymore for burning a hole in your pocket and not throwing any commendable results for here you go with a list of Indian brands- all of which sell via Amazon India, that are not just safe for topical application but also budget-friendly.
1. MAHAGRO – A small but incredulously devoted team based out of Hyderabad, MahaGro may have entered the natural skin, hair and body care market recently (2012) but earns a thumbs up from one and all thanks to their nourishing all-natural, chemical-free, preservative-free, artificial-fragrance- free and cruelty-free products.
Offering not just beauty products (like- herbal bath powder, pimple pack, face pack, hair wash powder, etc.) but also ingredients that can be used to whip one’s own recipes (like orange peel powder, tulsi powder, etc.), their products don’t cost an arm and a leg if you’re contemplating adding the same to your shopping carts. Owned by the obliging Krishna Karthik, they are about to launch herbal soaps and shampoos soon in addition to shipping products PAN India.
My vote of approval goes to the following products-
(a) Herbal bath powder- Enriched with the benefits of myriad herbs in dried form with a lingering aroma of camphor predominantly, Mahagro’s herbal bath powder makes for an efficacious face pack too in addition to being a bath powder. Ideal for use in summers when the mercury rises to unprecedented levels, it cools one’s skin instantly, thereby soothing it.
(b) Herbal hair wash powder- To those who are fond of giving a wide berth to chemical-laden hair masks/packs, Mahagro’s herbal wash powder is of use. Composed of only dried herbs and leaves sans any chemical preservatives, teaming it with one’s base ingredient of choice say- coconut milk, would work wonders for one’s mane. Regular use will obviously throw much more flattering results vis-à- vis a single use.
2. TARIKA AYURLABS- The picture-postcard Pondicherry (called Pondy by the locals) gives one’s eyes not just sights to behold but also one’s skin and hair, oodles of unadulterated nourishment through a brand that targets beauty woes through the ancient Indian science- Ayurveda. Not even 1% of the composition of any of their 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free and chemical-free products contain any nasties that’d compel you to grimace.
Crafting a wholesome combo of products, ranging from hair oils, face serums, face masks to face scrubs, each product impresses with its unique composition. From offering products that seek to address the woes of aging, pimples/spots, foul body odour, excess hair fall to having lacklustre skin, they offer beauty combos that work wonders in allaying the same with regular use.
I would recommend Tarika’s daily facial sandal face mask as well as night oil for face (saffron) to all those whose skin loses its lustre and glow thanks to the barrage of chemical-laden cocktails we pour on ourselves daily in a bid to get the same. A little goes a long way that’s what I realised after using both the gems! Versatile enough to be blended with raw milk and neem decoction, the mask suits every skin type, leaving your skin inherently cleansed and nourished NATURALLY.
The cherry on the cake is Tarika Night oil for face (saffron). The aroma is ethereal, heavenly…a sort of aphrodisiac, taking your olfactory senses to a ride. Upon applying, with a little massage, it blends in with one’s skin easily. Sleep with it for within a few days, you will wake up with skin that looks restored to life. Let’s be rational- one or two uses won’t throw wondrous results. Given the kind of environs we inhabit, we need to be persistent in application. And if we are, the beauty combo from Tarika Ayurlabs leaves you chuffed.
PRICE-
Daily Sandale Beauty Mask: INR 480 for 50g (Buy HERE)
Night Oil for Face Saffron: INR 695 for 30ml (Buy HERE)
3. ISHAAN ENTERPRISES: RAYAAN HERBALS- Based out of Hyderabad, this all-natural venture helmed by Mrs. Reshma Thakur believes in giving a wide berth to chemical preservatives. Incepted in 2013 with a vision to craft exquisite skin, hair and body care products sans any hogwash (read: chemicals), Rayaan Herbals (the brand) that comes under Ishaan Enterprises (the company) came to the rescue of all those fraught with seeing chemical-laden products inundate markets! With an expanding range that seeks to cater to varying needs of its customers, if you are at the sea, don’t repine for you can touch base with them (Facebook) and get products tailor-made to suit your needs. Another feather in their cap is that they manufacture the products themselves so every facet is scrutinised to the backbone.
Coming from raw parts of a plant say- stems, flowers, roots, leaves, etc. their herbal products are intricate mixes of herbs. In my humble opinion, one should give a shot to their Hair shining pack. A natural fix for those whose locks look lustreless and drained off gloss, mixing it with the base ingredient that’s most compatible with one’s locks will ensure that it packs a punch at other hair woes too like- lack of softness, brittleness, etc. Dedicated use overtime will surely leave one with more thunderous results than single/two-time uses. It performs to a great extent on what it claims, however, do not get dispirited within a few uses for everyone’s hair condition differs and depending on how damaged one’s locks are, it will work.
4. IRAYA- ‘From the earth’ as is meant by its name in Sanskrit, Iraya- based out of Ahmedabad brings forth to our notice, the bountifulness of nature, which when harnessed ethically nourishes us to the backbone. Without elaborating much on what all the brand offers (Because we all know that! Iraya is a established name. One needs to be living under the rock to be unaware of it), what the USP of Iraya is to me, is that they not just ferret out the most esoteric herbs and blend them to concoct nourishing skin treats but also name their products in a way that is strongly reminiscent of the days when people relied on Ayurveda and natural remedies to tend to her beauty woes instead of store-bought products.
The product I recommend is the Kantivardhak Lepa which does justice to its name- imparts a winsome glow (Kanti) to my face and neck within a few applications without stinging it. Versatile enough to be blended with as many base ingredients (such as- curd, buttermilk, rose water, etc.) as you can come up with, it gets my vote of approval. I find it apt for use by all skin types. Slough it gently while removing to aid the process of scrubbing. Wouldn’t that be equivalent to saying that we are getting the best of both worlds- scrubbing as well as getting a glow? Yes, it surely would be.
5. RAW RITUALS- Handcrafting taken seriously- that’s how I delineate Raw Rituals. Based out of Ahmedabad, this organic skin and hair care venture is helmed by the warm and welcoming Mrs. Lovina Aggarwal and makes no about doing everything manually be it- boiling, whipping, blending, packaging, or designing. If that’s insufficient then, they have all the feathers in their cap to sweep you off your feet- cruelty-free, organic, preservative-free and cent per cent transparent about the ingredients added.
Offering lip balms, face packs, face scrubs, hair oils, body massage oils, face serums and cold-pressed soap- all free from chemicals, there is no reason why Raw Rituals doesn’t deserve a place on our list. I would recommend Raw Rituals’ peppermint and orange lip butter to all those looking to soothe their perennially dry lips that yearn for all the more moisturisation as the mercury goes down. The USP is that it is colourless, thus apt for use by men/boys too. The subtle aroma is capable of sending you into a tizzy thanks to peppermint essential oil which it is replete with.
Read the reviews of the orange lip butter HEREand their Ethereal Face Serum HERE
Come Black Friday and Shopbop‘s most amazing sale is here! This time we have 15% off on orders of $200 and above, 20% off on orders of $500 and above and 25% on orders of $500 and above! And the coupon codes are valid on Sale items too 😀
You have to use the coupon code ‘GOBIG16‘ during checkout to avail the discount
Plus they have hundreds of new markdowns including on Designer Boutique, so don’t forget to check the ‘Sale’ category!
The majority of the new markdowns were taken to the 40% off section. 25% off of an item that was moved to 40% off plus the ‘coupon code’ equates to a 55% discount.
The Sale period: Begins: 6:30AM EST (New York Time) Tuesday, 11/22 (i.e. started at 5:00 PM IST right now) Ends: 11:59PM PST (Los Angeles Time) Tuesday, 11/29
Brands excluded from this sale: B&O Play, Marshall, Pryma, Master & Dynamic, Larson and Jennings, Shinola, What Goes Around Comes Around, Canada Goose, Ray-Ban, La Vie by Rebecca Taylor, Tumi, Kate Spade New York, Acne Studios, Gentle Monster, Hanky Panky, Sydney Evan, Calvin Klein Underwear.
Brands with some items excluded from this sale: DVF, Wolverine, Birkenstock, To Boot New York, Converse, APC, APC, Frye, Stuart Weitzman, Karen Walker, Beyond Yoga, Free People, Veronica Beard, Herve Leger, Tory Burch.
Some holiday look inspirations:
I have placed my order already, got boots from Splendid, white lace dress and blush pink cork Schutz sandals 😀 What are you waiting for? Don’t miss this sale!
Hope you had an amazing Diwali with your loved ones. Today’s review is about a lovely fragrance called Si by Giorgio Armani. A sale assistant at the counter in the Mumbai international airport (Duty Free Shopping) allowed me to try on this perfume and assured me that once sprayed on to your clothes, this perfume will last for at least 3 days. Yes!! You heard me right 3 days, so I went ahead to try it. I’m very particular in terms of perfumes since I dislike strong fragrances or perfumes that are too sweet and fruity. Strong perfumes tend to give a headache secondly I cannot spray perfume on my skin since it irritates easily. Fragrances that are subtle and yet lasts for long is what I like and look for. As I tried on this perfume, it was easy for me to decide as I instantly fell in love with this classy fragrance. There were other various collections in Si range. But this was the best high end perfume I found for myself. I was offered this perfume on a discounted price since I purchased various other things in Duty Free. So let’s find out more about this awesome fragrance.
Product description: An Aromatic rose scented fragrance. At once chic, voluptuous, intense and soft. Si eau de parfum lingers on the skin and enchants the sense. The distinguish and elegant fragrance allows women to express their every emotion.
Si has a top note of blackcurrant nectar, a heart of freesia and Rose of Mai, with a musky blond wood base. This fragrance was created for the modern women who’s strong yet feminie, sophisticated yet charismatic. She embodies the very essence of chic Italian elegance and style.
Price: Approx 7000 INR for 50 ml.
Packaging: The Perfume is packed in a glass transparent bottle with a black cap giving a sophisticated yet a feminine look with the brand names printed. It comes in a well packed carton box. The shape of the bottle is convenient to grip and comfortably hold on to the nozzle to pump required amount of fragrance. The ingredients of the perfume are mentioned on the back of the carton box. I always keep it in the carton and carry along with me while I’m travelling overseas.
My take on Giorgio Armani Sì Perfume
In simple words this fragrance has a subtle yet unique note that I never came across .It does not even irritate the skin or give any sorts of headache once spraying onto yourself or your clothes. It smells feminine and sophisticated. I had many of them asking me as in which perfume I’m wearing. The smell remains on all day long. You need not carry the bottle along with you all day since the fragrance just remains throughout once sprayed. And as the sales assistant assured me it definitely remains on your clothes for days.
I haven’t sprayed this perfume on a sunny and humid day. Mostly sprayed it during an indoor event in cool temperatures.
I do not use it on daily basis since I don’t want finish the bottle soon 🙂 It’s perfect for important events like high end parties, job interview, meetings or even a date, where you can get easily noticed for this classic perfume and a few raised eyebrows here and there. Believe me it’s hard to explain in words how the perfume exactly smells but handsdown it will be totally worth it. I’m definitely buying this perfume again hope it remains on the permanent collections. A Must buy!!.
Pros:
Unique Fragrance
Lasts really long (Clothes and skin)
Does not irritate the skin
Does not given any headaches (atleast for me)
Smells simply awesome
Suitable for any event(wearable perfume)
Cons:
None
Rating: 5/5
Would I recommend Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Spray? Definitely Yes!!! , I’m confident you will love this perfume.
Editor’s Note: This sounds absolutely amazing, I will definitely try this at the duty free next.
Have you tried the Giorgio Armani Sì EDP? Which is your favourite perfume?
The list of hair woes is endless. However, there is one wonder ingredient in your pantry that can rescue your mane from all the trouble. It’s none other than the good Ol’ onion. Don’t believe? Have a look at its benefits for your mane. Jot down these benefits of onion for hair so that the next time you suffer from any hair woe that can be combated by use of onion juice, you have something to refer to which will bring you back to me, hopefully thanking me.
1. ARRESTS HAIR FALL- Tried every possible product and home remedy to somehow arrest your crowning glory’s strands fall like wilted leaves off your head? Dissatisfied still? Give a shot to onion juice. Onion is a rich source of sulphur, which is extremely beneficial for healthy hair growth. It prevents hair breakage and accelerates regrowth of hair.
PROCEDURE- Gently massaging the fresh juice of an onion or two onto the scalp helps increase blood circulation, thereby strengthening the hair follicles. Be patient and persistent as I always say. I understand that saying this is a cakewalk and being in the shoes of the person suffering is a Herculean task but stressing will aggravate the situation all the more. Follow the regimen for at least two months twitch a week.
2. BID ADIEU TO PREMATURE GREYING OF HAIR- Does your face pucker on seeing those hideous white strands making a peak-a- boo out of nowhere from your scalp as you stroke your mane with your fingers or spruce it up? Head to the pantry and raid it for an onion. Premature greying of hair is caused as a natural antioxidant- catalase reduces. Onion helps control this problem by increasing catalase. Simply chop an onion (Devdas alert!)
PROCEDURE- Strain it well to remove all the chunks and using a cotton ball dipped wholly into the juice of the onion, slather it generously all over your scalp focussing a little more on the area where you have white hair strands. Wash off your hair after half an hour and shampoo as usual. Since onion juice is entirely liquid, it will be a messy affair. Repeat twice a week for two months and anticipate positive results with bated breath.
3. BID FAREWELL TO SCALP INFECTIONS AND PARASITES- Remember class 8 th science which introduced you to the world of parasites and hosts? Let me save you the hassle of recalling it. Parasites are creatures that ‘live off’ hosts. They derive everything from shelter to nutrition from the host without giving anything positive in return. In other words, the parasite gets to be a free-loader! And we do not entertain such creatures especially if they are on our scalp. To do away with such parasites inhabiting our scalp, this time we will rely upon ‘onions’.
PROCEDURE- Simply grind and sieve them to extract their juice. Mix it with amla powder (which has a rich content of Vitamin C). Apply using a cotton swab and then, wash your hair with plenty water. Onions have anti-bacterial properties which is useful in getting rid of scalp infections and parasites while amla will strengthen the locks.
4. IMPARTS SHINE TO YOUR TRESSES- I tried it once and was thrilled to see how lustrous my locks looked after washing off the juice. The first use itself threw results, however, this point is subjective but there is no denying that onion juice imparts a winsome glow to your mane. Onion belongs to the Allium family and is enriched with sulphur-containing compounds that are responsible for its pungent taste and odour.
PROCEDURE- Simply mix adequate onion juice with reetha powder and curd. Keep it on your hair for about half an hour and then wash off using a mild shampoo and conditioner. Repeat twice a week to acclimatize your hair and scalp to these ingredients. If you wish to add/subtract any ingredient that you think suits your hair, you are welcome to do so.
5. STRENGTHENS YOU MANE- Onion juice is very rich in Sulphur content. Application of the juice to the scalp stimulates and improves blood circulation. Hair grows from the follicles in the scalp. The next time you feel your hair is losing its strength, head no further than your very own pantry.
PROCEDURE- To use, simply chop and strain the juice of an onion. Mix with shikakai powder. Apply on your scalp and rinse thoroughly after half an hour. Shampoo and condition as usual. Repeat twice a week for at least two months.
Editor’s Note: These are some interesting DIY’s Nidhal, I will surely try
Burgundy Brown Fall Smokey Eyes Tutorial using Lakme French Rose Palettee
Hi guys,
So as promised I did this easy fall smokey eyes look using the new Lakme French Rose Palette. See the review and swatches of both the new Illuminating Palettes HERE
I used the light brown in the crease and added a little burnt orange for more warmth in the crease. Finally I took the main burgundy brown shade and used it all over the lid. Since this shade was a little less pigmented than rest of the shades in the palette, it needed a little layering.
So as you can see here, I went over it a few times to get the desired intensity. I used the coppery orange shade in the inner corners and since there was no creamy highlight shade in French Rose, I took the one from the Royal Persia palette to highlight my brow bone.
I used the same light brown and burgundy brown to smoke out my lower lashline. I used falsies but removed them later on as I was not happy with how they looked. I used the Lakme Eyeconic 22Hr Kajal on my upper lashline and smudged it a bit.
Finally I took the Colourpop Honeydude n*de eyeliner and used on my waterline to make my eyes look a little bigger. And used the Essence Lash Princess Mascara on both my upper and lower lashes.
I loved how the look turned up as I was not sure since I was using this palette the first time. Also there are so many different combinations I can think of with this palette. It’s very versatile and the shades are perfect for office wear to weddings.
Honestly I would have liked 2 more shades for the price of 995, 8 shadows would have been perfect including one black and one highlight shade.
Many of you have mentioned the price being a little high, usually Amazon has discounts later on, but since this is Limited Edition, I am not sure till when it will be sold.
If you buy from Beauty Centres and are getting discount on this or there are some nice offers and GWP going on, then definitely grab this French Rose Palette.
Did you like this look? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Sugar Cosmetics It’s A-Pout Time Vivid Lipstick The Big Bang Berry Review, Swatches
By Sanchita
INTRODUCTION – Winter is almost here and it is that time of the year when we are going to sport the deepest, darkest bold lip colors all day long. Warm Indian skin tones and bold lip colors are the best combination and thus for this winter I wanted to add a plum/berry kind of lip color. While I have tried every other brand in the market, I was yet to try the Sugar Cosmetics. I have heard so many praises for their collection that this time I decided to purchase this pretty wine color for winter. Read on to know my review on it.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION – Creamy and moisturizing, SUGAR It’s A-Pout Time! Vivid Lipstick combines the look of a classic matte lip with the benefit of incredible comfort. Enriched with micronized pigments and silica micro-beads, this matte lipstick glides on easily and settles to a gorgeous matte finish. FDA approved, this lipstick is free of mineral oil and parabens.
Packaging – The Sugar Cosmetics It's Pout Time Lipsticks are encased inside a cardboard box. It comes in a slender rectangular matte black body with the brand name and shade name written on the lower portion. The packaging is extremely classy and easy to carry around. It has the usual twist up packaging, shuts with a click and relatively light weight yet sturdy. Overall, the casing is worth the product.
Shade – The shade 01 The Big Bang Berry has been named after the TV Series The Big Bang Theory. In fact, every shade of this series is named very interestingly as well. Coming back, the shade has been described as ‘wine matte’ color as per the website. Taking a close look at it, the shade The Big Bang Berry is a deep plum berry with wine undertones. It has no shimmer or frost at all and can be described as the perfect deep plum fall shade. The color is a great option for night wear and compliments the warm skin tones really well. For dusky to deeper skin tones, it can be a great everyday deep color.
Pigmentation – The pigmentation is a bang on! It goes on giving a wonderful saturation of color to the lips with a single swipe and with another layer, the full saturation of color is seen and gives a neat look as well. You won’t need any lip liner or concealer to bring out the best of the color. Therefore, I am thoroughly impressed with the pigmentation.
Texture and finish – The texture is the lipstick is smooth, creamy and glides like a dream. The texture leans towards the gel-matte kind of lipstick and feels light and comfortable. No matter how many layer you go for, the lipsticks wont bleed or feather at all. It doesn’t accentuates on fine lines of the lips and neither dries out. It is surely the most comfortable matte formula I have worn till now. To summarize, I would say the texture is something between satin-matte and dry-matte.
Formula – The lipstick is formulated with silicones and that is why it doesn’t have the glossy creamy touch but feel super smooth against the lips. It is better to exfoliate the lips to get a neat and proper look. You don’t need lip balm on top or underneath as the lipstick is hydrating enough. In fact, the lipstick is free of mineral oil and parabens as well. However, the lipsticks transfer a little.
Staying power – The lipstick is surely long lasting and lasted on my lips for around 6-6.5hrs. After meals, it will fade off and get removed from the centre easily. That is why you need proper retouch after food intake. The lipstick does stain the lips slightly.
WHAT I LIKED
1. Classy matte black and sturdy packaging.
2. The shade The Big Bang Berry is a deep plum berry with wine undertones.
3. Perfect shade for fall/ winter.
4. Good pigmentation.
5. Creamy soft texture and light weight.
6. Hydrated yet matte.
7. Doesn’t accentuates fine lines, dry patches.
8. Neither bleeds nor feathers.
9. Semi-matte comfortable finish.
10. Formulated without mineral oil and parabens.
11. Staying power is around 6-6.5hrs.
WHAT I DISLIKED
1. Transfers a little.
2. Stains the lips slightly after a whole day.
RATING – 4.3/5
OVERALL and RECOMMENDATION – The Sugar Cosmetics It’s A-Pout Time Lipstick The Big Bang Berry is a beautiful plum berry-wine color with comfortable gel-matte texture, good pigmentation, semi-matte finish and paraben free formula. The lipstick is also long wearing and a perfect shade for the fall/winter. I would highly recommend the shade for every skin tone.
See Top 10 Berry Lipsticks Perfect for Fall/Winter Available in India HERE
New Lakme Absolute Illuminating Eyeshadow Palettes Royal Persia, French Rose Review, Swatches
Hi guys,
In my previous post on the Lakme Absolute x Sabyasachi’s ‘Illuminate & Shine’ Collection, I reviewed the new bronzer, highlighter and shimmer brick. (See HERE)
These two eye shadow palettes are also a part of the Limited Edition Sabyasachi Collection.
Lakme already has the day Gold and night Silver palette in this Illuminating Palette range, see the swatches of the Day Palette HERE.
Claims: They say it’s the eyes that gives you that extra sparkle. So as you prep for your festive looks this year try the new Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eyeshadow palettes to add to the glam quotient. These limited edition eyeshadows by Sabysachi Mukherjee have 6 versatile colours to play with and create stunning looks that are bound to turn heads.
Whether it’s the lovely plum tones of the Royal Persia palette or the warm earthy shades of the French Rosé palette, these unique shades are absolute must-haves.
Limited edition eye shadow palettes designed by fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee
High intensity powders
6 versatile shades that blend beautifully
Suited for most Indian skin tones
MRP: Rs.995/- each for 7.5g (Buy Royal Persia HERE and French Rose HERE)
Royal Persia has more purple/pink tone shades and French Rose has more warm browns/coppers. From the first look of it, I absolutely love French Rose! The shades are stunning and so apt for the fall/winter/wedding season currently. I can think of 9-10 different eye looks immediately looking at the palette.
French Rose is definitely very versatile and very flattering on Indian skin tones.
Both palettes have the usual packaging with a mirror and a double ended sponge tip applicator.
Honestly except for 1-2 shades, I was not so impressed with the pigmentation of the shadows in the previous day palette. This time I am blown away and how!
I had huge expectations from the palettes as the shades looked really pretty. And I am so glad Lakme has worked on the pigmentation this time, all the shadows are super creamy and buttery and these swatches are just one swipe each!
Top Row:
A coppery bronze, close to MAC’s Amber Lights (Amber Lights is slightly more gold)
A matte plum brown, this was the only shade with little less pigmentation compared to the other 5, but is easily buildable
A satin finish pinky red
Bottom Row:
A matte dark chocolate brown
A satin finish peachy pink, close to MAC’s Expensive Pink (Expensive Pink is a little more pinker)
A matte burnt orange with some gold shimmer
Each and every shade is super pigmented! This palette is a must have for all brides to be, it’s a perfect addition to your trousseau. I will be creating a look with this palette super soon.
Coming to Royal Persia,
Top Row:
A satin finish aqua blue
A matte purple, again the only shade in the palette which is not that pigmented
A matte slate blue
Bottom Row:
A satin finish plum
A satin finish light pink
A satin creamy beige with gold shimmer, very creamy.
This palette has more cool toned and grey based shades, and more on blue and pink lines.
All the shades in both the palettes are very creamy and buildable, except for one shade in both, all are pigmented and blend well into each other.
If you like warm shades, you can go for French Rose and if you like cooler shades, you can pick Royal Persia.
For me personally, I absolutely love French Rose and if I have to recommend one, I would say French Rose 🙂
I hope you liked the review, let me know your favourite in the comments below.
So as you all already know, Lakme launched these new products in their ‘Illuminate and Shine‘ collection during the last fashion week. This is a Limited Edition range brought in collaboration with Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
This range also has Illuminating Foundation and Shine Line liquid eye liners which I guess are permanent, only the bronzers and highlighters are LE.
There is one bronzer, one highlighter and two shades in the Illuminating Shimmer Brick i.e. Pink and Coral.
Lakme had this bronzer and highlighter earlier too and it was LE at that time too, so those two are like a relaunch. But I love the new addition of the Shimmer Brick.
All three come in same packaging, a flat round pan with a clear plastic cap. There is no brush, no mirror, no other compartment. The product is stand alone.
Sun kissed Bronzer
Claims:
Limited edition makeup bronzer designed by fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee
The bronzer is half and half with one part being lighter and one darker. It is very smooth in texture and though shimmery, the shimmers are not gritty or chunky. I found it slightly orange though, I wish it was a little more brown based. Also if one part could have been matte, that would make it ideal for contouring + bronzing
Moon Lit Highlighter
Claims:
A limited edition highlighter designed by fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Ideal for strobing
Reflective shimmer finish
Contains fine velvet pearls to give your skin a stunning glow
Coming to the Moon Lit Highlighter, one part is a white based lighter highlighter and one is a dark brown based highlighter for deeper skin tones, which is exactly the same shade as the bronzer. So this is actually be a bronzer-highlighter duo.
Bronzer part feels exactly the same as in the Sun Kissed Bronzer, I love the lighter highlight part. It gives the most stunning soft, natural highlight. You can use this on an everyday basis and no one would know that you have highlighted! But if you prefer stronger highlights like me, layer this twice over a creamy highlighter and this will stay in place whole day, giving the most blinding highlight ever 😀 See it in action in my video HERE
Illuminating Shimmer Brick
Claims:
A limited edition blush palette designed by fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee
My most favourite out of the three is the Illuminating Shimmer Brick. I have the shade Coral. Both the shades Coral and Pink are beautiful! Both would work for all skin tones, but if I have to suggest one, I would say Pink for fair and medium skin tones and Coral for deeper skin tones.
It has 5 strips of color, with the top ones being more highlighter like and the bottom ones being more blush like. So you can either use them individually or just swirl the brush all over and use on both blush and highlight part for an all over glow! The peachy coral tones work really well the gold based highlight colors and together combined, they give the most amazing peachy gold glow. This product is perfect for brides too!
All blended together
The best part about all three is that they double up as eye shadows and look really good on the eyes. As the colors are bronzer and warm toned, they make nice lid colors and highlight for inner corner and brow bone or just a wash all over the eyes.
Overall, in my honest opinion, I would say go for the illuminating shimmer brick and the moon lit highlighter. You can skip the bronzer as the darker part in the moon lit highlighter is exactly the same. But if you are deeper skin tone and prefer deep highlighters only, go for the bronzer and skip the highlighter 🙂
I hope you liked the review, do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
