Time for the beauty boxes of this month. Today I am unboxing and reviewing the July My Envy Box, I have also created a video for the same, so do check that out.
Read more about My Envy Box HERE and check out all the previous reviews HERE.
Last month’s box was a bright coral, and this time we have a bright purple! I love this color again, as usual 😀
What I got in the box:
Masker Aide Weather Warrior Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask- Full size (Rs.400/- for 23g)
H2O+ Dual Action Eye Makeup Remover- 40ml
Ananda Aloe Rose & Rose Distillate Hydrating Mask- 50g (Full size- Rs.1105/- for 100g)
Catrice Cosmetics Waterproof Eye Pencil in Golden- Full size (Rs.330/-)
Roberto Cavalli Paradiso Perfume Sample Vial (Rs.3300/- for 30ml)
June’s My Envy Box was my favourite till date, but I had no idea July would beat it badly! A full sized makeup product and two super- deluxe sized samples, I mean a 40ml eye makeup remover and a 50g face mask jar is like amazing. Plus a face mask worth Rs.400/-, this month’s My Envy Box is the best till date! I would still love it anyway if the August box makes me eat my words 🙂
I hope My Envy Box continues to come up with boxes like those of June & July, pretty impressed 🙂
Buy the box HERE, also you can use the coupon code ‘NEWLOVEMAKEUP‘ during checkout to get extra 15% off, which would bring down the cost of the box to Rs.722/-! I love you too :p
I think the 5th mystery product is what everyone got a different one, I love my H2O+ Eye Makeup Remover, I hope you get it too 😀
Did you like the July My Envy Box? What is the 5th product that you got? Do let me know in the comments below.
About Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum: Using the concept of advanced dynamic hydration technology, that helps distribute & lock water in all facial zones, the serum gives an exquisite finish to the skin by reinforcing its natural hydrating system, boost internal water circulation and enhance its anti-oxidant power.
Unlike moisturizers which create an artificial barrier over the skin against the environmental stimulants, the Aqualia Thermal range works with the natural system of hydration to give you skin that glows with health and has a lasting feel of hydration through the day.
The Aqualia Thermal Serum uses the dynamic hydration system to give you plump and perfectly hydrated skin for over 48 hours, irrespective of your skin type. With an unparalleled finish, this ultra-fluid water gel delivers plenty of freshness, a ‘bare skin’finish and is quickly absorbed on application.
Ingredient Innovation
Reinvented with advanced Dynamic Hydration technology to help distribute & lock water in all facial zones, preserving the freshness of beauty. Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid and Aquabioryl™ known to replenish the hydration with water and form a protective film. Contains fortifying and soothing Vichy Thermal Spa Water. Paraben-free.
Efficacy
Our moisturizing serum goes one step further in understanding skin dehydration. Beyond replenishing water loss, the reinvented Power Serum evenly distributes water to balance dry skin, target dry patches, and plump dehydration lines. Skin appears more luminous over time, giving the complexion a healthy glow.
Texture
Ultra-refreshing, lightweight serum absorbs instantly into skin, leaving a velvety soft finish.
Tolerance
Oil-free. Non-comedogenic. Non-acnegenic. Allergy-tested. Suitable for sensitive skin. Tested under dermatological control.
How to use: Apply a pump of serum over the whole face in the morning and/or at night. Can be used alone or under Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Rich Cream for dry or very dry skin.
Clinical Research: After 1 month*:
20.5% increase in skin radiance
16.5% increase in skin plumpness
87% agree skin was hydrated all day
87% agree skin felt comfortable all day
85% agree skin appeared more fresh-looking
81% agree skin looked more radiant
*Self-assessment on 52 women after 4 weeks of twice daily use
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum comes in this long and slender aqua blue bottle with a transparent cap and a pump packaging. The pump is easy to use and dispense the product, no pressing 10 times to get the product unlike in few.
It’s a glass bottle and slightly heavy,hence not very travel friendly. Coming to the texture, it is off white in color, and gel like in texture as most serums. It feels slightly slippery but not much and gets easily absorbed into the skin, without leaving any residue or slippery feeling even though it has silicones (Dimethicone & Dimethiconol)
It is very hydrating and moisturising, my skin feels evenly hydrated and there have been no breakouts or dry patches with this. And the best part is no stickiness or greasiness at all! It is so light that you would not feel you have used any moisturizer and still have your skin completely hydrated.
It does what it claims, hydrated, plump and fresh looking skin all day. I use it once in the morning and I am sorted, I sometimes use it at night too, but currently using a different product at night time.
It does not claim much like even skin tone or anti-ageing, etc, so all it does it provide you hydration. This will work great for all skin types, be it oily or dry, since it does it’s job of hydration well and is very light in texture.
It is a bit on the expensive side, but this lasts really long as you need just one single pump for your entire face and neck. It is available online and also on www.vichy.in
Overall, I would say it is not something which makes tall claims about giving you flawless skin, but it does what it claims. So if you are looking for a good moisturiser for your dry skin or have dry patches on the skin, then this will definitely work for you. Recommended.
Rating:
Quality: 4/5
Value for money : 4/5
Availability: 3.5/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Have you tried any Vichy Serum before? Or anything from the Aqualia Range?
Haircut at Juice Salon: I went Short! #GetTheLookWithJUICE
Hi guys,
I had not got a haircut since December i.e. last I had got it done just before my wedding. So, it had been a good 6-7 months and my hair desperately needed a cut. Last week I went to the Juice Salon at Inorbit Mall, Vashi to try out their new monsoon haircut + style. Ronnie, a super talented and an amazing hairstylist came down all the way to Vashi for me.
You must have seen this pic on my Instagram.
Juice has come up with 3 new hairstyles for the monsoons, 2 for women and 1 for men. I tried out one according to my face shape and hair texture. Ronnie started with washing my hair and then applying a serum which also works as a heat protectant for the blow drying later.
She chopped off 4-5 inches from the ends. Now this is the first time I have gone this short at a time 😀 I have always had long hair and hardly go short,so this is a refreshing change.
She layered on the top section to give the hair volume on the crown. And side swept bangs to frame the face which I am completely loving. She made sure she gives a haircut which is just was-and-go on regular days. And it indeed is, I am completely loving it.
Ronnie wanted soft,wavy curls at the ends but not those tong ones, a much softer version. She curled the ends with a hair straightener and then blow dried the crown section to give volume.
She gave me a lot of hair tips about serums,shampoos and hair styling products in general,it was so good chatting with her. She used a hair spray on her palm and gently used it on the top for the bangs to stay in place.
Here is my ‘Before’ and ‘After’
Me and Ronnie..
This is how my hair looked from behind.
Time for the surprise! One of you gets a chance to get this haircut. All you have to do is:
L’Oreal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation Review,Swatches,Demo
What the Company claims: The Infallible Reno Stay Fresh 24H Liquid Foundation by L’Oréal Paris is a zero compromise foundation with 24hour stay and maximum coverage. It is totally touch proof,resists extreme humidity and erases imperfections without drying out skin.This foundation’s texture is perfect for brush application.It glides over the skin, sets effortlessly and delivers ultimate coverage without a ‘layered’ effect. The Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation contains Hydrating Hyaluron that provides continuous hydration for an all-day luxury sensation and extreme hold pigments for the ultimate coverage and the most perfect professional complexion.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid & Powder Foundation give you:
So go ahead, get your perfect make‐up partner with the 11 shades of L’Oréal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation and 4 shades of Powder Foundation.The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation is priced at Rs.1325 and L’Oréal Paris Infallible Reno Powder Foundation is available at Rs.1250.
I was trying and testing out the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation for you guys since quite some time now. So let’s get on to the review.
It comes in a glass bottle with a transparent red cap which has shade numbers on the top. The bottle is a bit heavy, but not too heavy. It comes in a square packaging and has a black pump inside.
It is liquidy and runny but thick enough and not water like. It is easy to blend using both brush and fingers.
How I use it is, I take some foundation on the back of my hand and dot my face all over with the foundation and blend it either using fingers or a brush. If you are using a brush, make sure it is a bit damp which will help you blend it more easily since this foundation is on the dry and matte side.
The foundation feels completely matte on the skin, there is no shininess or dewiness with it. If you have dry skin, I recommend using a moisturiser beneath, but even if you don’t, this won’t feel stretchy on the skin, though the finish might be better with a moisturiser and it may not accentuate dry patches.
For people with oily skin, this is a boon. It stays matte for a good 4-5 hours for someone with dry/normal skin and then you need to blot some oil or shine on your face with a powder. For oily skin, you will need to blot it in 2-3 hours maybe, but once blotted, you will get the matte effect back.
It stays for almost the whole day, though the finish would look slightly dull at the end of the day i.e after 9-10 hours. It is almost transfer proof, though if you are sweating or have some shine on the face, it would transfer a bit on the tissue.
I am glad that it comes in 11 shades and has shades for both yellow and pink undertones. Though the darker shades are not much, and I found 3-4 shades very, very close to each other with not much difference.
I love the finish of this foundation. It provides medium to heavy coverage with layering. It covers dark spots, redness and also some of dark circles. You can skip a concealer unless you want a flawless finish. I usually don’t use a powder on top and it stays matte and let’s the skin breathe too. I have received quite some compliments with this foundation and even Cory Walia mentioned that I was glowing 😀 I did not reveal this secret though.
Even though it has an SPF of 18, it does not give a white cast and photographs well. Also, the shades are so close to each other, that you can make them work for you, if you choose any of these mid shades, a lot of options for us, wheatish skin tone.
I have the shades 200 Golden Sand, 140 Golden Beige and 220 Sand, all three of which are yellow toned and warm.
I have worn all three shades outside and none looked too light or dark, all three worked decently. If I have to choose, I would say 140 is the match closest to my skin,followed by 200 and 220 is slightly dark.
Without-With FoundationWithout-With FoundationWithout-With FoundationMakeup with shade 140 Golden BeigeMakeup with shade 220 Sand
Overall, these are amazing quality wise and would last you quite long as you don’t need too much product. They give a nice, matte finish and stay put whole day. Perfect for oily skin and would work well for dry skin with a moisturiser underneath. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Quality: 4.25/5
Value for money : 4/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Have you tried the new L’Oreal Paris Infallible Reno 24H Stay Fresh Liquid Foundation? What are your thoughts on it?
I am back with a Fab Bag review. This May, the theme was Beach- Sun,Sand and S*xy. The bag is a super cute, blue and white striped one. I love stripes and nautical, and this is by far, my favourite bag 🙂
MRP: Rs.599/- per month (Offers on 6 months and 12 months subscription. Go HERE)
Read my previous March Fab Bag Review HERE and April one HERE
Also, we have 2 full sized products in the bag and an amazing bonus item this month.
Let’s take a look at the products..
Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow Quad in Madrid (Full size- Rs.1200/-)
Vana Vidhi Oriental Rice Paddy Face & Body Scrub (Full size,70g- Rs.1599/-)
Vichy Ideal White Cleanser & Essence (small sample)
Bonus: Bling Scarf (Rs.500/-)
I absolutely love the eyeshadow quad and I am glad I got warm,neutral colors and not the bright oranges and blues which I don’t like much. Madrid is just perfect with golds and browns, I did this makeup look with it.. (See more pics HERE)
The Vana Vidhi rice scrub is nice, gritty but not harsh and moisturising with the blend of essential oils, which does not leave the skin dry. I quite liked it.
A scarf as a bonus is just perfect, they also have 3 different ways to wear a scarf in the Fab Post. Also, every person has got a different scarf, I believe, which is even more cooler.
My least favourite is the Vichy Ideal White, I am not a fan of whitening products, and not really a fan of sample sized skin care too, which does not let you judge much anyway.
But overall, I am so so happy with this month’s Fab Bag, from the bag to the 3 full products, it’s a total paisa vasool bag. Absolutely recommend subscribing to Fab Bag, coz I believe they are only doing better month by month.
Have you tried the Fab Bag yet? What did you get in your May Fab Bag?
Some people are plagued with bad skin their entire lives. For most of these, genetics and environmental factors play big roles. But so to lifestyle and controllable behaviors. Speaking as someone who grew up with bad skin, I’ve had to learn a lot of these lessons the hard way. Now as an adult, I’m finally enjoying the skin I wish I always had. If I had learned these lessons earlier, my acne-covered teenage years and eczema-ridden 20’s might have been much, much happier. Because these techniques have worked out so well for me, I’m going to share them with you here.
1) Use Coconut Oil.
Coconut oil has enjoyed a tremendous amount of press in the past few years. But it has earned every bit of it. I use coconut oil for a lot of stuff. It’s a great replacement for butter or other oils when baking or frying. It can be used as a condiment. It is possible to clean with it (or so I’m told). People will tout the excellence of coconut butter in a million ways. But my favorite way to use coconut oil is as an acne mask. It has many of the skin benefits of petroleum jelly, without being made of petroleum. In fact, coconut oil is so natural a product that your skin just soaks it up. It’ll stay on the surface for awhile, acting as a shield against your skin when out in cold, dry air, and the other factors that damage your skin on a daily basis. But as it soaks in, the nutritious elements inherent to the fruit will soak into your skin, and you’ll start to derive a lot of benefit from them.
I found that there’s nothing like light, fresh air, and exercise for acne. There’s just something about being active that seems to regulate the forces that make for healthy skin on my body. And it doesn’t take a long time. We’re talking about 15 minutes of focused activity each day. With that little time and effort commitment, I have been able to see measurable results. For days when it isn’t sunny, or at night when the sun is out, I like to use this mask product available from Modern Bathroom. Combined with the regimen mentioned above, you’ll get better skin with just a little bit of work.
3) Drinking a Lot of Water.
For much of my life, I was dehydrated and didn’t even know it. It makes sense. I drink a lot of coffee, and some days I’ll have a drink or two with my friends. These habits, combined with an active lifestyle and…well…just breathing, causes you to lose a lot of moisture into the air. This process of dehydration is very damaging to your skin, which relies on water to be healthy and robust.
4) Sun Protection.
Other than my 15 minutes of exercise and sunshine, I avoid direct sun exposure. It’s pretty easy for me, because I work inside. But for other people who are outside a lot, it is imperative that you practice sun protection all the time. It is as simple as getting a high quality sun lotion and applying it every morning before you head outdoors. If you are out for more than 4 hours, take your tube along and reapply. If you do this every day, not only will your skin be more healthy, but you’ll also have a lot lower chance of developing skin cancer later in life.
With just these techniques, you’ll quickly see a change in your skin for the better. Many of us grew up with bad skin, but the skin we have in the future is, at least in part, our choice. Do the work today by being smart about sun exposure and using an acne mask, and your skin and future self, will thank you.
I am back with a contest! First of all, how many of you feel our moms were always right and we should have listened to them more often 😀 :raises hand slowly: I think majority 😉
Let me share a few things today which my mom always told me to do, and I never did :p And now I feel, she was so right, I wish I had listened to her before.
Don’t binge on junk food
Well, I would not have to exercise later on, if I had listened to her.
Oil your hair more often,not only for the hair health but also to de-stress
Mom used to regularly oil my hair when I was in school and I had the best hair then, well like all, I reduced the frequency of oiling my hair once I entered college and then slowly it went down and down to nil. I should start oiling my hair again, miss my old awesome hair. Also the head massage my mom gave while oiling my hair was so so de-stressing.
Use natural stuff like curd,honey,besan,etc., for your skin
We all run after these face packs,face scrubs,face washes and what not and after using them for years, we suddenly realise that natural products are actually the safest and best. We should have listened to our moms before,right.
Early to bed,early to rise
Those late nights throughout our teens have changed our sleeping pattern and the weekends too, so getting up on weekdays for office has been such a pain for most of us :p
A penny saved is penny earned
Oh ya, the savings! Let’s not even talk about it, right :p Mom was always so right on saving and not spending like crazy.
I want to know your #MomWasAlwaysRight moments in the comments below and 2 winners will win special Parachute Advansed Aromatherapy gift packs.
The contest starts today and ends after 2 days on 11th May evening. Share this post on your social media tagging me and use #MomWasAlwaysRight for brownie points.
Also, when you win the contest, you can try this Art of Oiling on your mom 🙂 She will be very happy..watch the video to know how.
Good Luck 🙂
P.S: I am extending the contest till 12th May evening.
P.S: Image from Google.
Update: Time to announce the winners. I loved all the entries, it was so difficult to choose two, so I selected three 🙂 Yes, we have 3 winners- Rituka Gupta, Divya Asha and Prachi Aggarwal
Congrats girls. Please mail me your complete details soon.
This month’s Fab Bag is a nice nine to 9 office from day to night look kind of concept. Something which you can keep in your office bag or drawer. Its a leopard print black and white bag.
MRP: Rs.599/- per month (Offers on 6 months and 12 months subscription. Go HERE)
Malavara Shower Gel (Rs.300) and Body Lotion (Rs.390/-) in Lime Vetiver- 60ml each
City Color Blush Quad in the Shade Coral (Full size)- Rs.500/-
Denman Hair Brush – Rs.475/-
Chambor Body Mist in Tender Tuberose (10ml)- Rs.595/- for 200ml
My most favourite product out of all these was the Blush Quad in Coral which is a gorgeous mix of peach,pink and beige. How pretty does it look!
I also loved the Denman brush, I thought it might not be that good since it does not have cushion or padding at the base, but it is pretty decent. I would have loved it if it would have been foldable.
The Lime-Vetiver Shower Gel and Body Lotion Duo by Malvara smells really good and is perfect for carrying in your office bag or while you are travelling.
Coming to the Chambor Body Mist, it had all leaked when I got it, so I remain with just 2-3 ml of the product. It smells good and thankfully it was in bubble wrap, so has not leaked out in the bag or mixed with other products.
Overall I would say this month’s bag is totally worth it! The blush quad and hair brush are total value for money. Can’t wait for the May Fab Bag already 😀 These guys are getting better and better each day with the concepts, bags and kind of products. Its a pleasure to receive a bag and unveil it every month and then finding such useful and value for money products worth every penny of the bag!
Have you tried the Fab Bag yet? What did you get in your April Fab Bag?
Fame had started with Lakme School of Style in October 2014, India’s first fashion video magazine. Lakmé School of Style is a first of its kind show that will not only bring the newest trends and happenings from the fashion world but in the process will also create new age fashionistas and idols. A fashion brigade led by Editor-in-Chief, Karan Johar himself will bring the fashion news, views and events from all over the world to the internet screen.
It has been quite a hit since the time it launched. And Karan Johar has himself selected a few bloggers to be a part of his Fashion Brigade. Nilu, Riaan, Sukhneet, Sahibba and Sanjana to name a few.
One of my favourite videos from Lakme School of Style is ‘How To Incorporate Last Year’s Summer Trends In Your 2015 Wardobe’ where Nilu Thapa talks about styling your old 2014 Spring-Summer collections and give them an all new fashionable look this year. You are simply gonna love her ideas!
1. Black and White/Monochrome
While last year she paired her white shirts with skinny denims folded at the bottom, this year she intends to wear them with pencil skirts and high slit skirts
2. Midi skirts
Last year, Nilu wore midi skirts extensively and with structured tops mostly. This time, she would be wearing midi skirts again but with shirts and spaghetti tops and toning down the accessories.
3. Jumpsuits
Last year she wore jumpsuits with chunky neckpieces and this year she pairs them with blazers and kimonos
4. Peasant tops
Nilu wore peasant tops with faded denims and ankle boots last year, this time she will pair them with denim shorts
5. Chiffon Dress
Chiffon dresses are always in style and last year they were the trend was pairing them with chunky neckpieces and satchels. This year around, being low on accessories and just a mini cross body sling is perfect.
I think its a perfect list, and these things are definitely still in trend, so just mix and match and you have your spring summer 2015 wardrobe ready!
Every month #LakmeSchoolOfStyle comes up with a theme and uploads videos related to it..this month the theme is ‘Wedding’, so yes you would see Sabyasachi and all the jazz 🙂 Stay glued and subscribe to LakmeSchoolOfStyle HERE to stay updated with their videos.
Have you checked out Fame’s Lakme School of Style yet? Which video is your favourite?
About MSMBox (My Style Mile Box): MSMbox.com was finally launched in Oct 2014.
Simply put, MSMbox.com is a discovery e-commerce platform that offers consumers the opportunity to buy, try and enjoy beauty brands in the market.
For a nominal subscription of either Rs 495/- for the MSM Express Box or Rs 995/- for the MSM Select Box, every month, you get a surprise goodie box containing beauty, grooming and lifestyle products from new and established beauty brands, and then some!
Our motto – ‘a lot in a little’- sets us apart from any other beauty box currently in the market.
For starters, the box contains full size products along with carefully curated samples. Besides that, to really delight the consumer, we don’t just take care of your beauty and grooming needs. We go the extra mile and offer something more through our collaborations and associations with leading salons/spas, cafe’s and shopping.
Msmbox.com brings it all together, on an exciting online platform of rich content on trends, updates on the beauty world, and weekly blogs from our in-house team, and of course feedback and participation from our consumers.
So there are basically two options in MSM Box, ‘Express’ for all normal drugstore brands and ‘Select’ for premium brands like The Body Shop,Soap and Glory,Innisfree,etc.. Also both boxes every month include 1-2 surprise goodies/samples from new brands that are just IN, in the market.
Express box is pink in colour while the Select box is mango yellow in colour
I got MSM Express Box which retails at Rs.495/-. Even though its a March box, I somehow couldn’t review it then, sorry for the delay. It looks like a small compact box but is very very heavy with a lot of stuff inside.
Let’s unravel the mystery of what’s inside the box..
I received 5 products, 2 from Kronokare, 2 from Biotique and 1 from Just Herbs.
Kronokare Provencial Lavender Glycerine Soap
Kronokare Provencial Lavender Body Lotion (Deluxe Sample)
Biotique Bio AloeVera SPF30+ Suncreen
Biotique Bio Kajal
Just Herbs SilkSplash Neem-Bitter Orange Rehydrant Face Wash
Except the Body Lotion, I got rest 4 full sized samples which is quite a good deal for a box priced at Rs.495/-! But I would have liked all 5 different brands rather than 2 products from the same brand. Also I have tried Kronokare before and I am not really a fan of the Body Lotion, its not moisturizing enough.
Looking forward to try the Biotique and Just Herbs products.
Overall I would say, price wise, it is one of the best subscription box out there which actually offers a good value for money. I only hope they can maintain the price and number of products offered in the same way in future too. I would love to try the ‘Select’ Box next.
