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October 2016 3rd Anniversary My Envy Box Review

October 2016 3rd Anniversary My Envy Box Review

October 2016 3rd Anniversary My Envy Box Review

Hi guys,

So I finally got the October My Envy Box, this is their 3rd anniversary box and all the teaser emails where making me very curious, they had mentioned they have 8 products in this month’s box.

The box this month is a plain white one with black web design on it and it says ‘turns three’ below the My Envy Box logo.

MRP: Rs.850/- (Available HERE)

Products I got:

  • Ayca Body Wash Jasmine 100ml (Rs.875/- for 200ml)
  • Gulnare Seaflo Face Wash 120ml (Rs.350/-)
  • Vichy Ideal White Brightening Deep Cleansing Foam 15ml (Rs.1550/- for 100ml)
  • Forest Essentials Facial Cleansing Paste 15g (Full size: Rs. 1850/- for 30g)
  • Vert 100% Natural & Vegan Rose Petals Loose Powder (Full size: Rs.1250/- for 10g)
  • Kerastase Chronologiste Sample Vial
  • NFLM Nertia Nail Wraps- Rs.80
  • L’Occitane Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner: 6ml sachets

I got the Zebra print black and white nail wraps in Nertia. I have tried the Gulnare face wash before and it’s quite good. The Ayca Jasmine Body Wash also smells really nice.

I am not much into whitening cleansing facial foam as they make my skin super stretchy and dry. I would have liked the essence though which is another option in the box. I wish My Envy Box gave options to subscribers on what they can choose in terms of shades or products, if they have a few different ones to offer. That would be very convenient.

Love the Forest Essentials Cleansing Paste, I wanted to try this one out, glad I got this. Also this is perfect for travelling. Even the Kerastase Chronologiste vial is perfect for travel.

The Vert Loose Powder is made from all natural, dried rose petals. It has a strong pink undertone and can be used as a blush or eyeshadow. This would make a beautiful blush! But the quantity is good enough to last a few generations 😀 I would suggest splitting it to half or 1/4th and sharing it with your friends/family.

The total value of all the products in this month’s box comes to around Rs.3750/- I am quite happy with the products, 3 are full sized while 3 are super deluxe samples.

I definitely recommend this month’s box! Total value for money.

Did you get the Oct My Envy Box? What did you receive?

Top 10 PAC Cosmetics Products Available in India, Prices, Buy Online

Top 10 PAC Cosmetics Products Available in India, Prices, Buy Online

By Sanchita

PAC is brand which I first saw on this blog itself and I loved the way Bhumika reviewed the Beauty Blender sponge which looked exactly like the Original Beauty Blender sponge. Ever since that I have been following the brand on Instagram and I love the new launches they are into. Most of the time the products turned out to be an excellent ones from various bloggers and experts across India and in fact, their products are also very high in demand. I believe they have a store in Andheri, Mumbai where you can easily access all the products and apart from that, the brushes are available on Flipkart and many other products are also on Amazon India. The only thing I don’t like is that I have to pay shipping charges for each and every product and the product are of very limited availability. The quality is impeccable which is why I really think they should expand the branches and make it more easily available for us. Another thing I would like point out is that their products are very different and something which won’t get in the Indian market easily.

So, let’s get on with the list.

1. PAC Beauty Blender Sponges – Pink Sponge (485 INR) Black Combo (745 INR) Mini Blenders (285 & 385 INR) (Buy HERE & HERE)

This is one of their bestselling product and a very close dupe of the Original Beauty Blender sponge. It is red and black in color. They also have quite a variety when it comes to sizes. Firstly, the big sponges have two variants – one with the tear drop shape and the other with the RT sponge shape. Also, the mini sponges are available in two variants as well. They have soft in texture and bloat in size when you squeeze under tap water. However, Bhumika has already updated that sponges are to be dealt very carefully as too much roughness will tear it out easily. It blends smoothly without absorbing too much product and a great option if you don’t want to invest on the expensive Original Beauty Blender.

2. PAC Brushes and Master Stroke Brushes (Price varies from product to product) (Buy HERE)

Brushes are as important as good quality makeup and I absolutely adore the collection they have. Most importantly the range is huge – from eye brushes, lip and face brushes, they have it all. Most of the brushes are also a close dupe of MAC brushes (which will cost you a fortune!) and the quality is no less. They have soft bristles, properly trimmed and blends everything like a dream. Also, they have a whole collection of Master Stroke brushes, which are available as a set and also individually. These brushes are the dupe of Artis Oval brushes and the bristles are smooth and soft like a dream. Overall, the brushes of PAC are the best investment for makeup tools.

3. PAC Eyeshadows (250-350 INR) (Buy HERE)

There are very few Indian brands which has single eyeshadows and also the variety of colors are insufficient and incompetent compared to the MAC ones or Makeup Geek. However, PAC has these single eyeshadow refills (which you can easily put it in a magnet palette and make your customized eye palette) available in a very affordable price tag. These have shimmery, frosty, pigment and matte finish along with good pigmentation and smooth blending ability for a great eye makeup look. The wear time is also nice. It is great for beginners as well as professionals.

4. PAC Lip Pots – 485 INR (Buy HERE)

These are the little lip pots which comes in small tub like packaging. The packaging includes a lip brush which will help you to apply the lips colors properly and you won’t have to use your fingers. They glide on the lips very easily and the texture is smooth and creamy. It gives a satin matte finish to the lips a very comfortable to wear for dry lips. It lasts quite long on the lips. The colors don’t fade too much or feather or bleed at all. The only thing is that it transfers slightly.

5. PAC Long-Lasting Kohl Pencil – 350 INR (Buy HERE)

The Long-Lasting Kohl Pencil has a sharpenable functionality with a smudger at the end. It has a super pigmented feature, creamy texture that glides on the eyes very easily. It gives a rich pigmented layer with a couple of strokes and great for regular kohled eye or smoky look. It doesn’t smear and hardly smudges. The kohl has a very good lasting power, around 6-7 hours with minimal fading. For the price, it is surely cost effective.

6. PAC 2 Way Big Eye Mascara – 595 INR

The PAC 2 Way Big Eye Mascara is surely an innovative one at that. It is a dual ended mascara with a slimmer wand for lower lashes and bigger one for upper lashes. It gets the job does quicker, better and easier. It adds both length and volume which is surely a great one. It hold the curls well and the unique design of the bristles help the lashes a lot. It is surely one of the best mascaras in this price and great for everyday wear.

7. PAC Eye Lashes – 165 INR (Buy HERE)

PAC has an array of Eye Lashes which is surely something to look forward to. The eye lashes look very natural yet dramatic enough to perk up your eye makeup look. They are very much reusable with a little care and carefulness. The eyelashes are very affordable and the bristles are soft. Overall, these are one of the must haves.

8. PAC Intense Duo Eyeliner Pencil – 585 INR (Buy HERE)

PAC Intense Duo Eyeliner Pencil comes in an attractive silver pencil with the retractable functionality. The texture of the pencil is extremely creamy and smooth which glides on the eyes like butter. This is surely a versatile product as you can easily use this an eyeliner and kajal. The finish is satin matte and the pigmentation is surely one of the best for the price range. The black color is rich and dark for an intense look. The staying power is also impressive.

9. PAC Studio Finish Primer – 885 INR (Buy HERE)

This Studio Finish Primer is a silicon based primer which has a thin clear gel like texture. It goes on the skin very smooth with its light weight formula. The weightless texture doesn’t feel oily or sticky at all and blends wonderfully into the skin. It also blurs out the pores as well. It helps the base makeup to go on very smoothly without any creasing for a good amount of time. The primer would suit bot dry and oily skin.

10. PAC Color Lock Long Lasting Lip Liner – 385 INR (Buy HERE)

PAC Color Lock Long Lasting Lip Liner has a sharpenable functionality with a beautiful texture. It is extremely creamy which doesn’t tug or pull at all and glides well on lips. it is better to exfoliate the lips beforehand. The pigmentation of the colors are impeccable and gives a beautiful matte finish which is comfortable to wear. They are long lasting, prevents bleeding or feathering of lip color and well-priced as well. The only con is that the shade range has too many reds and no other colors.

Editor’s Note: I liked the pink blender when I first used it, but it tore in first wash which I updated in the blog post. Also when I tried YBP, I realized YBP was much better! But double the price, so in the price range of INR 500, this is surely good. I haven’t tried their duo sponge pack yet. Neither any of the eye shadows or eye lashes. Love some of their makeup brushes, really good! You missed their Eyeliner Pen, which is my absolute favourite

Have you tried PAC? What is your favourite?

Givenchy Eyebrow Pencil, Mister Brow Filler Brunette Review, Swatches, FOTD

Givenchy Eyebrow Pencil, Mister Brow Filler Brunette Review, Swatches, FOTD

Hi guys,

I have always had full eyebrows except the in between phase when you go to some other salon and the lady over threads and makes them super thin :/

I never used to fill my eyebrows but I have been doing it since almost 1-1.5 years now and I am obsessed. They completely change the way your face looks and makes your face look more polished and defined. Thick eyebrows also make one look younger 😀

I have been using these two brow products from Givenchy since about a week now and I am in love! From the very first use, I absolutely loved these!

Givenchy Eyebrow Pencil Brunette

What it is: A powdery matte-finish eyebrow pencil

What it does: This pencil offers precise and natural brow definition. Perfect application is guaranteed with an ultra-slim, gliding tip for perfectly defined brows. The formula, developed using talc and intense pigments, leaves a powdery matte finish, and the easy-to-apply texture creates immediate payoff. The pencil also features a brow brush on the opposite end for an all-in-one brow tool.

What it is formulated WITHOUT: Parabens

Shades Available:
01 Brunette
02 Blonde
03 Dark Brunette

Suggested Usage:
-Brush brows to reveal their natural shape.
-Use the brow pencil to define the edges and fill in for a natural look.

MRP: Rs.1975/- for 1.1g

It is a long and sleek sharpenable eyebrow pencil with a spoolie brush on one side. It also comes with a sharpener. I love eyebrow pencils which come with a spoolie brush as they are travel friendly and very handy. You just need one pencil to carry along for your brows whenever you are travelling.

The pencil is super pigmented. I was amazed by the pigmentation, just a single, light handed stroke also gives a lot of color. So use it with light hands and make sure you soften the lines with the spoolie brush coz you can easily over fill with this and also without blending in, the color would look harsh.

It is slightly waxy and glides on very easily, it settles to a matte finish. So there is no extra creaminess and it doesn’t bleed all around the eyebrows. The texture is absolutely perfect.

The eyebrows stay in place whole day. I love how easy and quick it is to use, as with most pencils I have to go over quite a few times to fill them. With this, I am just done in one stoke and one brushing!

Since I just need one stroke and hardly use any product, I haven’t even had to sharpen it yet. This will last me really long! Even though it may seem expensive, this would last for a long time, making it very economical for the quality.

I am only using this since the time I have got it and I think I am pretty much sticking to this 😀 I can say, this is by far the best eyebrow pencil I have tried! Highly recommended!

Givenchy Mister Brow Filler Tinted Waterproof Brow Filler

What it is: A gel brow filler that dries into a natural powder finish.

What it does: For perfectly natural-looking brows, Mister Brow Filler fills in any sparse areas and flawlessly shapes the brows. Containing hybrid silicone particles, its waterproof, liquid formula instantly dries down to a powder finish on application. It naturally and evenly highlights the brows. The innovative curved brush follows the eyebrow’s natural shape for an intuitive application that anyone can master. Its waterless texture adheres uniformly to the skin.

What it is formulated WITHOUT: Parabens

Shades Available:
01 Brunette
02 Blonde
03 Granite

Suggested Usage:
-Start from the inner corner and apply following the arch, moving toward the end.

MRP: Rs.1975/- for 5.5g

Now I am more of a eyebrow pencil person and my eyebrows don’t move around a lot, so I don’t use brow fillers. But on days when you are going for a very natural, ‘no makeup’ makeup look, I would suggest using only brow filler.

Not only it brushes and combs the brows and fill them in, but it would dry and keep the hair in place all day long! Also it is water resistant, so you can wear it even during monsoons or on a humid day.

Again, even this is very pigmented and you just need to go over once on your eyebrows. I use both when I have a long day ahead with events, etc. when I want my eyebrows to look perfect and not budge at all.

The shade Brunette in both matches me absolutely well and would work for most Indian skin tones.

Here is my Before-After using both the products..

I prefer my eyebrows natural looking, so I do not outline on top and bottom and overline them and then fill in completely like those eyebrow tutorials on Instagram 😀 (mostly on Anastasia page) I find that very fake and made up. So I have filled them in naturally, mostly towards the inner part as I have more gaps there.

FOTD..

I would suggest going with the Brow Filler if your eyebrows don’t stay in place and move around a lot and/or you are not much of an eyebrow person and want just some natural looking definition.

If you are looking for a good, pigmented eyebrow pencil which is travel friendly and you have sparse eyebrows with more gaps to fill, go for the eyebrow pencil.

If you want your eyebrows to be on fleek all the times, go for both! You will be sorted, trust me 🙂

I absolutely love both, use either or both depending on the event and day. Givenchy is available at Sephora across India and also at few Shoppers Stop outlets.

Do you fill your eyebrows? Which is your favourite brow product?

P.S: PR Samples. Honest Review

How To Do A Simple Face Clean-Up At Home

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?

Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayon Review, Swatches

Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayon Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing 6 shades of the new Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayons, 10 shades are launched in total. They had launched Matte Lip Crayons late last year, read review HERE. Now they have come with the creme version in lip crayons.

Claims: A collection of 10 retractable Crème Lip Crayons that are rich, creamy and moisturizing. The high pigment of these lip crayons will provide a creamy finish that does not dry up the lips. These are long lasting, velvety soft and glides onto the lips, providing them full coverage.

From beautiful nudes to striking reds to shades of pinks and corals & warms oranges there’s a shade for everyone.

MRP: Rs.749/- for 4g

Shades Available:

  • Red Velvet 01
  • Sunset Kiss 02
  • Envy 03
  • Invincible 04
  • Mochalicious 05
  • Sun Dew 06
  • Fantasy 07
  • Cherrypop 08
  • Berry Punch 09
  • Confession 10

It comes in a retractable chubby lip crayon packaging with a transparent plastic cap. Though the pencils are colored according to shades and that makes it convenient, there is no difference between creme and matte as such packaging wise except that the matte ones required sharpening and were not retractable, so if you have used up and sharpened the matte, the difference in size is obvious.

The matte ones were required sharpening and hence came with it’s own sharpener and also the qty was only 2.6g where as these are retractable, so much more convenient plus the qty is 4g

I have the shades 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch. They are easy to use and travel friendly, as they are retractable.

L-R: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Pigmentation wise, these are pretty pigmented for creme lip crayons. Usually for creme ones, I need 2-3 swipes for opaque coverage. All the swatches here are just 1-2 swipes, mostly 1 for darker shades. These are pretty pigmented for creme lip crayons!

Clockwise: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Texture is waxy and not gel like, these are a little thick and feel like lip balm on the lips, also very moisturizing. These are pretty easy to wear even if you have dry, chapped lips like me. As they are very forgiving and do not accentuate dry patches or lines on the lips.

They stay for 2-3 hours and the finish is glossy initially and turns matte later on, with the color also getting a little muted. It won’t survive full meal and is also not transfer proof, you will have to reapply after eating/drinking. But without eating/drinking, it does leave behind a nice stain which stays on for about 3-4 hours.

Coming to the shades..

Sunlight
Indoors

Sunset Kiss is a warm orange shade

Envy is a medium coral

Sun Dew is a light orangey coral

Fantasy is a medium nude pink

Cherrypop is a medium berry pink, the most pigmented of these 6

Berry Punch is a light berry wine

And here are the lip swatches..

Clockwise: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Please excuse my dry lips as my lips are going through a bad, dry phase right now.

My favourites are Fantasy, Cherrypop and Berry Punch. Also Mochalicious is a beautiful shade to check out!

Overall I quite love how comfortable and moisturizing these are. Pretty pigmented too, only thing is these being creme and not matte, are not long staying and need reapplication. I would love more shades in these, more of nudes and pinks.

Have you tried the new Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayons yet? Which is your favourite?

Oriflame The One Illuskin Blush Review, Swatches

Oriflame The One Illuskin Blush Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

This post was in my drafts since a long time, I have been using these Oriflame blushes since a few months and here are my thoughts..

Claims: Versatile duo-shade blush lets you create perfectly contoured cheeks. Darker shade sculpts and defines while lighter, shimmering shade highlights. HaloLight Technology™ for subtle lustre. Light, silky texture and comfortable to wear.

MRP: INR 599 for 4g (On offer: INR 449)

They come in three shades and have a small, tiny square packaging. Very light weight and handy, perfect for travel. They have a mirror inside, they do not come with a brush though.

Luminous Peach: It has a satin finish deep peachy coral blush and a beige and silver highlighter

Shimmer Rose: It has a satin finish peach blush (ya it’s peach and not rose) and a peachy gold highlighter. The highlighter is beautiful, and more like blush actually since it’s peach and can be worn like a blush

Pink Glow: It has a matte coral pink blush and a beige pink highlighter. If you like matte blushes, this one is for you

The best part is you can use them individually or combined, they look good both ways.

L-R: Pink Glow, Shimmer Rose, Luminous Peach
L-R: Pink Glow, Shimmer Rose, Luminous Peach

The names are pretty confusing though coz the rose is also a peach shade and most of them are in peachy coral family. But the plus point is they work beautifully on all Indian skin tones.

You can use only the blush side for day time and combine both for night time or even use both together for day time, since the highlighter is very soft and satiny and not shimmery.

My favourite is Luminous Peach and it will look good on all skin tones from fair to dark. They are pretty pigmented and all these swatches are just one swipe, you do not need too much or do not need to go over many times with this. Staying power is decent, they stay for 4-5 hours. Only disadvantage is you need a Oriflame representative to buy these.

For the price point, they are quite good and I would say definitely buy one of these during their offers. Recommended.

Have you tried the Oriflame The One Illuskin Blushes?

Elizabeth Arden Ultra Ceramide Lipstick Brick Review, Swatches

Elizabeth Arden Ultra Ceramide Lipstick Brick Review, Swatches

By Simran

“Show off your lips, show off your lipstick”

Hello everyone!

Don’t we all enjoy an amazing red lipstick? A red lipstick is something which instantly makes you look glorious even if you are only wearing the lipstick alone. A red lipstick has its own pros; it makes you look younger, feel confident, it is perfect for every occasion and you can wear any outfit with it. Every girl probably needs to own a luxurious red lipstick in their vanity.

So, I will be reviewing one of my favourite luxury red lipstick from Elizabeth Arden, The Elizabeth Arden Ultra Ceramide lipstick in Brick.

Claims: This lustrous, colour-saturated lipstick is infused with Volulip and delivers brilliant, moisturizing, colour-lasting comfort shine, for plumper, fuller-looking lips. Lips look fuller, more defined … and feel youthfully smooth, soft and nourished. Ceramide Triple Complex helps strengthen and re-texturize skin’s appearance, holding in vital skin-plumping moisture. Lips look fuller and younger. Contours seem more defined.

Key ingredient: Volulip ceramide triple complex.

Price: $24 or approximately INR 1650.

Packaging: The lipstick tube is black in colour with trails of golden near the cap. I bought the lipstick last year from duty-free but now the company has changed the packaging which is embossed with a design inspired by the iconic Elizabeth Arden Red Door and textured golden in colour. Despite the change in packaging, the texture and colour remained the same.

Texture & Colour: The lipstick is not exactly a glossy lipstick, it leaves a sheen on your lips; it is more of a demi-matte or moisture-matte in finish. The texture is buttery smooth and it glides on your lips like a dream and gives you a rich feel. It is very comfortable on the lips to wear. The lipstick does transfer a lot if you do not set it with powder.

Coming to the colour, the hue of the lipstick is a cool toned red or brick red. It is very pleasing to the eyes and can be worn daily to your work place.

My take on the product: The lipstick being a moisture matte lipstick is one of my favourite go-to red lipsticks. The brick red colour will ideally suit Indian skin tones. I like to turn down the lipstick to a complete matte by patting some translucent powder over it.

The staying power of the lipstick is a good 7-8 hours after which it will start fading from the centre of the lips; the lipstick can survive a good 4 course meal. It does not bleed or settle in to fine lines.

The Volulip ceramide triple complex does help in giving the illusion of plump lips and the lips appear more fuller. The company claims that the lipstick lasts a good 20 hours, which I highly disagree with.

Overall, the pigmentation of the lipstick is great and it offers an amazing colour pay off in just one swipe.

Though the lipstick is not transfer proof. I recommend using the Elizabeth Arden Beautiful colour smooth line lip pencil in the shade Crimson along with the lipstick as a lip liner underneath.

Pros:

  • Appreciable Lasting power
  • Great pigmentation
  • Will suit Indian skin tones
  • Plumps lips and gives a fuller look
  • Does not settle into fine lines
  • Gives a luxurious feel
  • Does not bleed upon application

Cons:

None I can think of.

Rating: 4.5/5

I recommend this lipstick to anyone looking for a great cool toned red lipstick for everyday use; this is one of the best options to try out in the luxury section.

Editor’s Note: That’s a pretty red!

Have you tried any Elizabeth Arden Lipsticks yet?

Top 10 L.A. Girl Products Available in India, Prices

Top 10 L.A. Girl Products Available in India, Prices

By Sanchita

Hello everyone. I was jumping with excitement when I spotted L.A. Girl on Nykaa. Finally, a well-priced amazing quality product launched in India! I placed a huge order immediately and to my surprise, every product turned out to be a blockbuster for me. L.A. Girl is one of the most raved budgeted brands in abroad and if you follow beauty bloggers on YouTube you would know that some of the product are like Holy Grail. Although all the products are not launched in India for now and I really hope they do that in future. For now, let’s get on with the best L.A. Girl products that we can easily access without paying heavy duty charges.

1. L.A. Girl PRO Conceal HD High Definition Concealer – 535 INR

I had start off the list with this one. There had been million times I wished I could have them and finally when I saw them online (with reasonable price tag) I bought it. The High Definition Concealers are one of the bestsellers from the brand. They come in a small light weight tube with a synthetic brush attached to apply the product. It has a creamy light texture, the coverage is medium to buildable and blends on the skin like a dream. It helps to banish the appearance of all imperfections and blemishes, ensuring that the skin emits nothing but purity, clarity and decadence whilst simultaneously maintaining a natural finish. It comes in around 20 shades and 3 color correctors so you will surely find a match. The product is so versatile that it will conceal, corrector, contour and highlight for you when you go for the right shade. This is a must have product for everyone.

2. L.A. Girl Glide Gel Liner – 450 INR

A gel liner in a pencil form? Absolutely yes. The Glide Gel Liners are available in 19 shades and comes in a slender pencil form and has to be sharpened for usage. The texture is creamy smooth and feels literally nothing when you apply. The formula glides on the eyelids and waterline equally smooth, imparts a richly pigmented color that is guaranteed to make a statement. Thus, you wear it as a kajal, eyeliner and even provide a base for smoky eyes. The formula is Cruelty-free, waterproof and smudge proof. It is a closer match of the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.

3. L.A. Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss – 575 INR

The L.A. Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss is available in 15 beautiful shades. The packaging is of a plastic cylindrical one with a doe footed applicator. The texture is creamy-liquid and spreads on the lips well. Although it says gloss, the liquid dries up on the lips giving a flat matte finish and deep rich saturation of color. The color doesn’t bleed or stains at all but has a slight drying touch so exfoliation of lips is a must! The smell is a slight put off but I love the matte formula it gives and lasts the whole day on the lips. (Warning: The lighter shades are beautiful, the darker ones are a little patchy!)

4. L.A. Girl Matte Flat Velvet Lipstick – 550 INR

If flat matte isn’t your cup of tea, go for this one. The L.A. Girl Matte Flat Velvet Lipsticks are available in 26 shades, ranging from nudes, reds, browns, pinks, mauves and even blue and black. The lipstick has the traditional bullet packaging with a creamy soft formula that not only imparts high-opacity color to the lips, but also deeply conditions and nourishes at a cellular level, resulting in a soft, supple and hydrated finish. It has a satin matte finish and lasts long on the lips.

5. L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Sticks – 750-800 INR

The L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Sticks are divided into three categories – blush, bronzer and highlighter. The product has a fat and chubby packaging with retractable function. It glides on the skin very smoothly, deposits rich amount of color and blends very easily without any patchiness. It is infuses Jojoba See Oil and Shea Butter to deeply nourish and condition the skin even at its deepest layers but doesn’t make the skin oily. The variety of color, easy to apply method with Paraben and Cruelty-free formula and long lasting nature makes it worth the steal.

6. L.A. Girl HD Pro BB Cream – 650 INR

L.A. Girl HD Pro BB Cream comes in 8 shades which is excellent because Indian skin tones vary a lot and a mere 2-3 shades are surely not sufficient. It has a light creamy texture that comes in a tube form. The BB cream gives a medium to buildable coverage and a perfect choice for every day wear and you can easily skip the foundation. It is enriched with the goodness of Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, doesn’t breakout cruelty-free product and also paraben and fragrance free. The finish is somewhere between dewy and matte and also long lasting on skin. it never broke me out despite having acne prone skin.

7. L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint Gloss – 650 INR

This is a close dupe of the Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipstick. The L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint Gloss comes in a tube applicator and has a texture of a gloss with the color-payoff of a liquid lipstick. It gives a nice coverage on the lips and feels very hydrating all day long. It is infused with the skin nourishing Vitamin E and the ultra-cooling Peppermint Oil that deeply nourishes the lips at a cellular level. The only con is that it is transfers a lot.

8. L.A. Girl Beauty Brick Blush – 999 INR

The Beauty Brick Blush is available in 4 variety of shades and would suit every complexion. Each palette has 4 shade – 2blushes, 1 bronzer/contour powder and 1highlighter. It has a pressed powder formulation with matte and shimmery finishes for multidimensional color. The colors are nice pigmented, cruelty and paraben free and extremely great when you are travelling as you won’t have to carry too many products. They blend seamlessly and lasts fairly long on the skin. For the price, it is a steal.

9. L.A. Girl Pro Prep HD Smoothing Face Primer – 850 INR

Primer is very essential to make the makeup last long and the Pro Prep HD Smoothing Face Primer is a star product. It gives a smooth appearance by filling in fines line and pores while providing the perfect surface for foundation. It is formulated with light diffusing particles and skin nourishing Vitamin E giving you a flawless finish on or off camera. It is best suited for oily to combination skin and is completely paraben and fragrance free. It helps the makeup stay on longer in humid weather too.

10. L.A. Girl Pro HD Setting Powder – 1000 INR

Baking is the trend of the season and the L.A. Girl Pro HD Setting Powder makes the job very easy for us. It has super fine milled texture and the powder is translucent in color which is why it won’t provide any coverage but set the makeup seamlessly. It doesn’t reflect any whitish cast and photographs extremely well. It has been formulated it 100% Mineral Silica that provide a super luxurious finish, setting the makeup perfectly. The product will last long and is also cruelty-free product paraben and fragrance free.

Editor’s Note: Already ordered the Pro HD Concealers and highly recommend them, also the orange corrector for correcting Indian dark circles. The BB Cream and Contour Sticks are next on the list. Matte Pigment Gloss I would love to try the lighter shades, the darker ones are very crumbly and patchy, so check the review of each shade before ordering.

So which is your favorite L.A. Girl product?

Top 15 NYX Products Available in India, Prices

Top 15 NYX Products Available in India, Prices

By Sanchita

Hello everyone. It’s been a long time I did a top10/12/15 post for a particular brand and this time I am going to do a top 15 for NYX. As we all know that NYX has been officially launched in India and they had a grand opening of  their first store at Shoppers Stop in Bandra, recently in Mumbai. Also, the products are available online on Nykaa and majority of the time, the products are sold off. This is because the brand is immensely popular and the products are worth stealing! In fact, they also have dupes of many high end brands.

Since it is officially available in India so it is the best time to give you all a compilation of the best products. Initially I thought of doing only 10 but I figured out it is literally impossible and thus I ended up with top 15 products. Read on to know more about them.

1. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – 600 INR

This is one of the best sellers of NYX and every shade is a matte lover’s dream lip color. As the name suggests, it is a lip cream with doe footed applicator that dries off flat matte without stretching the lips or making you feel uncomfortable. These lip creams have a velvet smooth touch and has a sweet vanilla kind of fragrance. The pigmentation is top notch and lasts long on the lips. You can also layer a gloss or lip balm underneath to make it more hydrating.

2. NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick – 850 INR

Matte lipsticks are a rage right now and every brand is coming up with something. Apart from the Soft Matte Lip Cream, they have the Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick as well. The texture is slightly richer than that of the previous one and the pigmentation is commendable with single swipe as they don’t apply patchy at all. This waterproof product is infused with avocado oil and Vitamin E and thus doesn’t accentuate on fine lines. There some quirky colors like bright purple, black, dark navy colors are there in the collection. They look opaque and dries to matte. Also, the colors are waterproof and long lasting on lips.

3. NYX Intense Butter Gloss – 575 INR

Not everyone loves matte and so NYX has the Intense Butter Gloss which shall be the dream of gloss lovers. The packaging is similar to the Soft Matte Lip Cream. The texture of the product is something between gloss and liquid lipstick and it glides on the lips easily and gives an even finish. The pigmentation ranges from medium to full and it is great when layered on top of a lip liner. It gives a gorgeous shine to the lips and hydrates it for long. The only con is that it transfer, just like any other gloss lip color.

4. NYX Slim Lip Pencil (450 INR) and NYX Slide-On Lip Pencils – 800 INR

NYX has two lip pencils – the slim ones and the Slide-On. The Slim Lip Pencil are insanely famous for the color collection and affordable quality. It glides on the lips like a dream and gives a nice base for lip colors. The Slide-On Lip Pencils are much richer in texture and extremely long lasting on the lips. The pigmentation is also great and helps the lip colors to pop up easily. The colors are slightly restricted in India and I hope they launch all the colors soon.

5. NYX Wonder Pencil – 600 INR

As the name suggests, it is surely a wonder one. The pencil is versatile and can be used in various ways. It is sharpenable and has a smooth texture. You can apply on the water line to make the eyes look bright or to apply in the inner corners and brow bone, use the pencil around the lips to prevent the lip color from bleeding and also to make the lips look fuller. The pencil can also be used to hide minor imperfections on the skin and thus it is surely a must have product for every makeup lover. You can also use it as an eye shadow base as well.

6. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – 550 INR

This is another bestseller from the house of NYX. Eyeshadow crayons are becoming a cult product day by day and we couldn’t be gladder when NYX launched this in India. These shadow crayons are soft and smooth in texture and thus glides on the eyes like a dream and also blends very easily. These can be used as eye shadow base or even as eye shadow as well. However, there are only few colors launched in India. The color black bean and milk are the must-have ones in the collection.

7. NYX Tinted Brow Mascara – 600 INR

Brow pencils and brow pomade are fine but what happens when you hardly have the time to shape the brows? You need a brow mascara to swipe over the brow to give a naturally fuller look and also less time consuming. This is available in 4 shades and will definitely suit the Indian skin tones. It is nicely pigmented and fills the gaps well and also tames the brow hair as well. The wand is an excellent one and this is another must have product from the collection. I have been using it for some time and I absolutely love the application.

8. NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette – 1725 INR

An eye shadow palette is a must have product and it feels so good to have all the colors inside a single palette which would save a lot of time and money for us. The Ultimate Shadow Palette comes in 16 shades and has been introduced in 3 variants for your choice. From neutral to smoky and vivid bright color – it has everything to look for. The texture is velvety-rich, nicely pigmented and the finishes is from mattes and satins to shimmers and metallic. Overall, you would love the palette if you are an eye makeup lover.

9. NYX Micro Brow Pencil – 875 INR

This little beauty is the dupe of the much raved Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. This one has spoolie on one end and the brow pencil on the other end. It can draw the thinnest possible lines and will give you a very precise application. It coats even the finest hairs with color for a natural-looking finish and works great. The shades are good and will suit the Indian skin tones well. The texture is neither too creamy nor pigmented to make you look crazy or very light – but has the right formula. It glides easily and stays long well. The only con is that it is slightly pricey.

10. NYX Vivid Brights Eyeliner – 700 INR

Graphic eyeliners are becoming a statement and what can be better than a vivid bright eyeliner? We are surely done with black and brown for the time being and it’s time to try out the quirky bright eyeliner from NYX. It comes in a slender packaging with only 3 colors that are launched in India for now. The texture is nice and applies evenly with the precise applicator brush. The pigmentation is great, the finish is matte and it also dries down quickly. It is also water proof and extremely long lasting.

11. NYX Slide On Eye Pencil – 825 INR

The NYX Slide On Eye Pencil has a sharpenable body with soft and creamy texture that glides on the eyes like a dream, without tugging and pulling. The formula is great to work with and doesn’t smear or smudge and delivers powerful, saturated color. The finish is satin-matte and also very long lasting on the eyes. It will not irritate the eyes and also remain water proof and smudge proof.

12. NYX Conceal, Correct, Contour Palette – 1325 INR

The NYX Conceal, Correct, Contour Palette is the ultimate one to make you base makeup on point. It is available in various shades and a close dupe of MAC Pro Conceal and Correct Palette. It has 6 shades each in a palette and the palettes ranges from light to deep with a colored corrector one as well. They are light weight and creamy and blends on the skin easily. You can use it in a number of ways and does not cake up on the skin at all. The price is also very economical for 6shades.

13. NYX Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator – 850 INR

The Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator is another amazing product from NYX and it gives such a radiant touch to the skin. it is available in 4 shades and has a tube packaging. The formula is light weight, almost like gel cream and glides and blends with fingers as well. They do not accentuates to dry skin and provides a detailed illuminate look for every occasion. It also acts as a primer and lasts long on the skin without feeling greasy at all. It is a nice dupe for many strobe creams in the market.

14. NYX HD Finishing Powder – 825 INR

A translucent finishing powder can transform your whole look and NYX HD Finishing Powder is the perfect dupe. The formula is fine milled and it helps to soften the appearance of fine lines and pores. The silky powder gives a light weight feel and it is great for baking the concealer as well. It doesn’t leave behind whitish cast and an excellent one for photographs. It sets the makeup very well and never accentuates the fine lines. Also, the little jar will last you a long time.

15. NYX Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray Matte Finish – 825 INR

A finishing spray ensures that your makeup will last the whole day and just won’t melt down. It forms a protective film on the makeup, great for oily skin and sets the makeup to matte without being cakey or dry at all. it is a great product for waterproof or mineral based makeup on skin and the effect lasts for about 6-7 hours easily.

Editor’s Note: I absolutely love the Soft Matte Lip Creams and Liquid Suede Lipsticks. The Wonder Pencil and Brow Mascara are on my wishlist too.

So, which is your favorite NYX product?

MAC Matte Lipstick Whirl Review, Swatches & Dupe

MAC Matte Lipstick Whirl Review, Swatches & Dupe

By Linda

Hello Ladies,

While I go shopping I make it a point to try various lipsticks but somehow don’t know why I end up purchasing a MAC lipstick only, maybe it’s because of the variety of shades suiting most of the skin tones.

So this review is about another MAC lipstick, from the Matte Lip collection in the shade WHIRL. There is a lip liner also available in the same shade. I found the lip liner to be too dry on my lips as compared to the lipstick. So let’s go ahead with the review.

What MAC Claims and Packaging: Dirty Rose with Matte finish. The lipstick is packed in a Classic MAC matte black and silver lipstick container with the shade mentioned at the bottom.

Price: Rs 1450/- for 3g (I believe it is increased to Rs.1950 now :/)

My take on MAC Whirl Lipstick

MAC claims the shade as dirty rose but in simple words I can say this is a mauve brown neutral shade. The content of brown is little on the higher side so it can tend to look darker under natural light. The texture is creamy on application, glides smoothly to give a matte finish on the lips. This shade would go well on medium skin tones to fair skin tones but I’m really not sure how it would go on dusky to dark skin tones. If you are confused on which lipstick shade to wear, be safe and wear a neutral shade, in such cases I definitely would recommend MAC Whirl.

I’m not happy with the stay power, as after meals, the lipstick completely vanished from my lips. May be prior prepping and a whirl lip liner would help the product to last longer or you got to retouch your lipstick after every meal. You can wear this shade at your work place as well as on any other occasion. It does accentuate the lines on my dry lips.The coverage is good and I mostly wear it without the lip liner as it doesn’t bleed.

TIP: Trying using this shade along with MAC Mehr or MAC Brave, or any lip liner close to old rose shade. I bet the mixtures of colors will give an awesome result.

Definitely there is something about MAC Whirl, as when this shade was launched it was sold out in no time.I got my hands on this almost after a year.

Pros:

  • Best for work place
  • Good coverage
  • Creamy texture
  • Suits most of the skin tones.
  • Glides on smoothly
  • Looks best along with an old rose lip liner or lipstick.

Cons:

  • Poor Staying power
  • A little heavy on the pockets (as many neutral shades are easily available)
  • Might accentuate the lines on the lip (mostly on dry lips)

Rating: 3.5/5

Would I repurchase WHIRL Mac Lipstick? Not so sure, as there are many shades of neutrals in MAC, would like to try those.

Dupe Alert: Rimmel London Kate Nude Lipstick in 48 is an exact dupe of MAC Whirl! Maybelline Matte Lipstick in Nude Nuance is also a close dupe

Editor’s Note: I quite like the shade, this is really pretty and perfect for all skin tones! MAC Whirl Lip Liner is what Kylie Jenner loves and uses a lot, so it’s always sold out most of the times 😀

Have you tried MAC Whirl Lipstick?