Tag Archives: beauty

Curatio Fash Anti-Acne Face Wash Review, Skincare, Face wash for Acne in India

Curatio Fash Anti-Acne Face Wash Review

Curatio Fash Anti-Acne Face Wash Review

By Archana

Winters are almost getting over and sunny days have started. I can feel my skin which suffered from excessive dryness during winters is going to back to its usual oily-combination self. When it comes to face washes, I was using more of creamy cleansers during winters. But now I have to change them to a more deep-cleansing face wash which can control oil for a longer time. Thanks to Bhumika, I got to try this Fash Face Wash from Curatio at the right time. Read to know whether it is a hit or a miss.

Product Claims: Fash Face Cleanser is an innovative approach to healthy skin, which regulates the skin ecosystem. With its specially developed formulation, Fash helps remove dirt, dead cells and excessive oil without leaving skin feeling dry. Regular use of Fash cleanser helps maintain clean, youthful and radiant skin.

Ingredients:

Directions to use: Wet face with water, pour sufficient quantity of Fash face cleanser on palm, develop a rich lather, and gently massage on face for 2 minutes. Rinse off. Repeat if skin is very oily. Use 1-3 times a day.

Packaging:

The face wash comes in a sturdy plastic tube with a flip-open cap. The blue and white color graphics of the tube looks fresh and energizing. I have carried around the tube in my handbag and there has been no leakage or spillage. So packaging wise, the face wash looks good as well as convenient and travel friendly.

Texture and fragrance:

The face wash is blue colored with a mild, fresh, menthol-kind of fragrance. The texture of the face wash is one of the weirdest I have ever come across. It is gel-like and sticky.

My experience:

I have been using the face wash for the past two weeks and have been pretty satisfied with it. Except for the weird, sticky texture that I have mentioned above. When I squeeze the face wash into my hands, the gel just sticks to my hands. I have a hard time spreading it on my face as it just sticks to the skin, even though my face is wet. I need to massage well for it to work. It doesn’t create any lather as such. But on massaging for some time, the blue gel texture turns into bluish-white paste like a face pack. On the directions, it is mentioned that the face wash has to be massaged for 2 minutes. And I felt, it works well only when used that way.

Initially, I was using it in the usual quick way of applying and washing off like any other face wash and it didn’t work well. Also, owing to the sticky consistency, it becomes difficult to wash off as well and takes time to remove it completely. Even I have a hard time washing it off from my hands. While washing, if any gel accidentally drips into your wash basin, it sticks there as well and you have to scrub to get rid of it.

But for all this hard work in using a face wash, the results are very satisfactory. It deep cleanses the skin and removes all oil, dirt and gives a fresh look. Am not sure if it contains menthol or not, but it gives a nice cooling and fresh feeling just like a menthol-based face wash. It doesn’t dry out skin much and I don’t feel the need to immediately reach for a moisturiser, though that might not be the case with dry skin people. It keeps my face fresh and oil-free for around 4-5 hours which is pretty good. Also, as mentioned in the product claims, I feel that it removes dead cells too and the whiteheads which I used to get frequently are more in control now.

Pros:
* Deep cleanses skin and gets rid of all dirt and oil.
* Gives a nice cooling effect.
* Keeps face oil-free for 4-5 hours.
* Removes dead cells.
* Controls whiteheads.
* Doesn’t dry out skin.
* Mild fragrance which is not bothersome.
* Nice and travel-friendly packaging.
* Free from SLS and parabens.

Cons:
* Sticky texture.
* Difficult to wash off.

Price and quantity: Rs.190 for 100g.

Rating: 4.3/5

Verdict: Overall, Curatio Fash Face Wash is a good face wash for oily-combination skin especially in summers. It gives a nice cooling feeling, deep cleanses skin and keeps it oil-free for a long time. Only con is the sticky texture which takes a while to spread and then wash off.

Editor’s Note: Oo..this is something quite unique and interesting. I have never tried something like that, but since this is specially meant for acne prone skin and controls that, it will be a boon for acne prone people. Nice review Archana 🙂

Have you heard of Fash Face Wash from Curatio yet?

Feb 2016 ‘Love & Makeup’ Fab Bag Unboxing

Feb 2016 ‘Love & Makeup’ Fab Bag Unboxing

Hi guys,

I just got my February 2016 Fab Bag and the theme for this month’s bag is ‘Love and Makeup’ as it’s the Valentine’s month.

Read my previous Fab Bag reviews:

MRP: Rs.599/- per month (Buy HERE)

It’s a red colored textured pouch going along the ‘Love’ theme.

The products in this month’s bag:

  • Just Herbs Coorgi Coffee Lip Smoothening Lip Salve (Full sized)- Rs.345/- for 8g
  • Hikari Cosmetics Blush- Sun Kissed (Full sized)- Rs.1000/- for 6g
  • Spa Ceylon White Jasmine Facial Masque (Full sized)- Rs.2150/- for 100g
  • Chamki Nail Polish in Firozi Blue (Full sized)- Rs.150/- for 11ml
  • Estee Lauder Perfect Clean Multi Action Lotion/Toner- (7ml)- Rs.4470/- for 200ml

I got the Spa Ceylon White Jasmine Facial Masque in the Dec bag and it was a month where you could select one product and I had selected this coz previously I had got the Cooling Foot Scrub in Oct and wanted to try this. Though I love this masque but I am still not done with the previous one and would have loved to try something else than the same product.

The Just Herbs Coorgi Coffee Lip balm is one of my favourites, it smells amazing (like filter coffee) and it free of chemicals, parabens and does not feel waxy. The most light weight lip balm I have ever used and I am glad I got another of my favourites.

Hikari Blush in Sun Kissed is a pretty milky brown shade, I thought it would shimmery and more like a bronzer coz of the name ‘Sun Kissed’ but it is almost matte with very subtle shimmer and it would a perfect contour shade for me. For girls who are fairer and lighter than me, this would make a nice everyday blush but I doubt this would show up on darker skin tones. It can also double up as an eye shadow and/or a transition shade for blending.

Estee Lauder Perfect Clean Multi Action Lotion/Toner is a deluxe sample and pretty good to try out for 6-7 days.

Chamki Nail Polish is again a full sized 11ml nail paint, the color is a nice, teal blue and very summery. I have never heard of this brand, looking forward to try this out.

Overall I would say I am quite happy with the full sized products and the brands in this month’s Fab Bag. The value of products are around Rs.3800-3900/- which is amazing for a bag worth Rs.600/- Definitely recommend getting this month’s Fab Bag.

Did you get your Feb Fab Bag? What products did you receive? Do let me know in the comments below.

Johara Instant Radiance Face Scrub, Amaranthus and Amazon Lily Body Lotion Review

Johara Instant Radiance Face Scrub, Amaranthus and Amazon Lily Body Lotion Review

Hi guys,

If you remember I had reviewed Johara Cosmetics before (See HERE), they have come up with two new products i.e. the Johara Instant Radiance Face Scrub and the Amaranthus and Amazon Lily Body Lotion. I have tried the Amaranthus and Amazon Lily Body Mist before and it smells absolutely amazing, so I was quite excited to try the body lotion.

Coming to the review, let me start with the face scrub first.

What the Company claims: Johara® Instant Radiance Face Scrub is formulated with natural exfoliating ultra-fine walnut grains and a blend of lemon peel extract and neem oil to gently slough off dull skin layers, remove impurities and promote natural cell exfoliation. Brighten up lackluster skin with this creamy formula enriched with Cococin™ CG , a nutrient rich extract from green tender coconut water to rejuvenate skin to leave skin feeling clean, smooth and toned for a simply radiant complexion.

Paraben, Sulphate, Formaldehyde , Synthetic dye Free

Benefits:

:: Gently exfoliates the skin

:: Nourishes, hydrates and softens the skin

:: Leaves your skin clean, refreshed and renewed

:: Moisturizes your skin better from the inside out

:: Cleanses the skin of impurities

Directions:

Step 1: Cleanse your face with Johara® PhytoBright Whitening Cleanser to remove all the dirt and pollution.

Step 2 : Take a dab of the Johara® Instant Radiance Face Scrub and massage it all over face and neck. Be careful not to rub too hard. Recommended use is twice in a week. Regular use of face scrub exfoliates dead cells, blackheads and reveal instant radiant skin.

Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lauryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Stearate & Sucrose Cococate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isopropyl Palmitate & Pentaerthrityl Tetraisostearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Stearic acid, Cetostearyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Powder, Zea Mays (corn) Starch, Niacinamide, Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Seed Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel extract, Phenoxyethanol & Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Cocos Nucifera Juice, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Amino Methyl Propanol, Pentaerthirtyl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnmate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthol, Disodium EDTA.

MRP: Rs.500/- for 100g

It comes in this bright red tube with a grey flip cap. It’s an off white creamy scrub and has a strong herbal smell.

The scrub is very very creamy and has walnut shell powder for exfoliation. The shells are grainy enough for perfect exfoliation and the cream base is so amazing that it moisturizes the skin at the same time and does not leave the skin dry at all.

I love creamy scrubs and this is one perfect face scrub, but do not use it for more than twice a week. I prefer using it once a week as I do not exfoliate the skin much.

It’s definitely slightly on the expensive side but the 100g quantity is huge and if one has to use it 1-2 times a week, this would last pretty good. You can buy it directly from the Samidirect website or from Flipkart, Shopclues, Snapdeal, etc.

Now coming to the body lotion,

What the Company claims: Johara® Amaranthus and Amazon Lily Body Lotion is enriched with the goodness of Amaranthus oil which deeply hydrates and helps the skin to maintain moisture. A fast absorbing body lotion that moisturizes and softens the skin. Enriched with Cococin™ CG, a nutrient rich extract from green tender coconut water that rejuvenate and leaves skin feeling smooth and nourished.

Paraben, Sulphate, Formaldehyde, Synthetic dye Free

Benefits:

:: Luxurious blend to pamper and nourish your skin

:: Optimum moisture balance with natural skin protection barriers

:: Restorative nutrients to afford soft and smooth skin

Directions: Apply onto body and gently massage.

Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate & Sucrose Cocoate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cyclotetrasiloxane (and) Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethicone (and)Trisiloxane (and) Phenyltrimethicone (and) Isoparaffinic hydrocarbon, Cetyl Alcohol, Methyl Gluceth – 20, Carpylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate & Pentaerthrityl Tetraisostearate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Amaranthus Caudatus Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol & Methylisothiazolinone, Pentaerthirtyl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Carbomer, Amino Methyl Propanol, Cocos Nucifera Juice, Mica & CI 77891, Disodium EDTA.

MRP: Rs.550/- for 200ml

It’s a body lotion but it comes in this green and white flip cap tube form. It is white in color and has quite a runny consistency, not as fluid as liquid but it is water based.

It smells absolutely amazing, the combination of Amaranthus and Amazon Lily is amazing, I am not a fan of floral smell but this is something very unique and nice. It is not that sweet kind of fruity floral.

The base in the lotion seems almost the same as that in the body mist of this range, coz it feels watery and dries off immediately after applying on the skin, just like the mist. It is super super light, perfects the lightest body lotion I have ever tried. It is not hydrating enough for winters and definitely needs reapplication but it is perfect for summers or humid climate.

I am going to use this more often in summers as I prefer richer lotions for winters.

Currently both the scrub and body lotion  come with a smaller pack free which is perfect for travel. Again it is slightly on the expensive side for a body lotion, but if you prefer natural and sulphate, paraben free products, then very few brands have good options and this is definitely one of the best.

Highly recommend the face scrub and the body lotion is good for summers.

Rating: Scrub

Quality: 4/5
Value for money : 4/5
Availability: 3.5/5

Overall rating: 3.75/5

Rating: Body Lotion

Quality: 3.5/5
Value for money : 3.5/5
Availability: 3.5/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Do you like Amazon Lily & Amaranthus combination? Have you tried Johara products?

Beauty Hack: DIY SCRUB BAR

Beauty Hack: DIY SCRUB BAR

By Sanchita

Scrubbing is extremely essential in winters as the development of dry skin needs to exfoliate to preserve then natural radiance of the skin itself. Honestly speaking, I prefer my winters with oversized sweatshirt, hot chocolate, a warm bed to snuggle in and reading a soul touching book. Yes, I am one of those lazy girls who like to keep the skin well-scrubbed of dead cells and yet do nothing about it. This is when a dear friend of mine told me to make a ‘scrub bar’ that would clean and exfoliate at the same time. My heart leaped with just with the thought of such multipurpose body care product and I immediately thought of making it. So it’s time, my dear readers of NLM, to let you know how to DIY this amazing thing!

Things you need:

  • Crushed soap bar. (a gel based one works better and easier to deal with)
  • Olive oil.
  • Glycerin.
  • Ground coffee. (not the instant one which blends in but the grounded beans for filter)
  • Empty container.

Steps:

Step 1

1. In a double boiler or on top of a boiling water, place the cut out pieces of the soap. Do not put it directly under the flames which would lead to burning.

Step 2

2. Once the soap melts in heat, simmer it down and add 2 tbsp. of olive oil and glycerin each. Then, mix it well with the liquid soap.

Step 3

3. Now add the coffee in it and again use a spoon to mix it well.

Step 4

4. Remove the mixture from the heat and pour in it the container. Now, this has to be done very quickly as the soap has the tendency to get sticky.

Step 5

5. Keep it in the refrigerator for 1-2hours. It also depends upon the soap on how much time it requires to solidify. Mine was done in 1hour.

Final

6. And you homemade scrub bar is ready to use!

P.S: You can also add big granules of sugar to exfoliate. Sugar is slightly coarser when solidified and hence I generally feel it is too rough for my normal skin but if you have dry skin, you can incorporate that. Also, you can make a separate scrub bar with sugar and walnut particles for feet as well.

As we all know, soaps are excellent in washing the dirt and therefore I added it to cleanse the skin. Olive oil and glycerin is extremely hydrating and hence, while scrubbing you will get the desired moisture to be restored. Lastly, the coffee particles are coarse and semi-fine milled which helps in exfoliation- gently and effectively. It stimulates the blood flow while scrubbing and tighten the skin thereby reduces cellulite and great for anti-ageing.

Overall, this has been a lifesaver for me. I imply invest less time for skin care yet get the best of it. Do let me how you liked my DIY.

Editor’s Note: This sounds amazing Sanchita and I love the coffee smell, definitely trying it out.

Have you tried making something like before? A DIY Scrub Bar? Will you try this? It’s easy peasy.

MAC Sheertone Blush Pink Swoon Review, Swatches, FOTD

MAC Sheertone Blush Pink Swoon Review, Swatches, FOTD

By Ishleen

Hello gorgeous ladies!

How are the winters going for you? Delhi has started to turn out cold—like really cold! And with cold weather, my skincare regimen goes off the drain—quite literally! No, not because I want to, but because I become too lazy to wake up early in the morning, or take my lazy bum out of the warm blankets at night to undergo a proper cleansing-toning-moisturising routine! And water intake you may ask? Yes, that pretty much is negligible too! Yes, I am that kind of lazy!

But looking at all those wintery-flushed rosy-posy cheeks, I so envy girls with naturally pink looking skins! And this is when the dire need to get some really cheeky-naturally-enamouring blushes comes to play! So if you are anything like me, and you want a pure matte blush which gives your cheeks the look that you would expect to have right after a run in the winter morning, girl, you need Mac Sheertone blush in pink swoon in your life! No kidding here!

The deal with the blush is that I am straight heads over heels in love with this little tub of pink goodness and have no cons to state whatsoever! So I am starting with what I like about the blush and will be explaining each aspect of it on the way! Let us dig in then!

Price: Rs.1450/- for 6g

Packaging and Price: Okay, like all mac powder blushes, this one too comes in a matte black tub with a see through lid and all the details on the back side of the tub! What I personally love about my mac blushes is the way all of them come in this really chic outer cardboard packaging which makes me feel so good about my vanity! Hmm, height of my vanity, I know! But I did spend 1450 bucks for this little tub—a classy packaging is the least I could have wished for! 😉

Shade: How can I even begin expressing the major drool attack I had when I saw this blush at the mac store about 3 months back—but me being the miser me, I needed double-trouble-quadruple assurances about the supposedly pale, cool toned looking blue based pink blush to be suitable for us warm Indian skins! And when I could not find a suitable answer to my anxieties, I had to go on and take the lunge and was I taken for a surprise? Although the blush is undeniably cool toned, blue based candy pink it looks so darn natural on the cheeks that it is hard to believe that I actually have worn a blush, or if I just heard Diljit Dosanjh say my name (fan crush, sorry :p)! Yes, it looks that natural and gives a nice flushed look to your cheeks—especially in these winters! Yum!

Pigmentation and Coverage: Coming from the sheertone range, this is indeed a very sheer-tone blush and if you swipe your finger across the blush pan, you will not find much product upon your fingers! Which trust me girls is the perfect thing for a daily wear blush like this one! It is so sheerly pigmented that there is no chance you can go overboard with this baby! Plus, if you are a newbie who struggles with the clown-cheek look every time you play with your makeup, Pink Swoon is here to stay! And the good part is that it is totally buildable and can be layered up as per your needs and taste!

Texture and Finish: The blush is such a classic example of a matte baby pink blush man, I cannot even tell! Not an ounce of sheen to be seen—just a daily wear mate pink, so undoubtedly it gives a very natural finish to the cheeks! The texture of Pink Swoon like all mac powder blushes is utterly smooth and not at all chalky or excessively powdery! But what I personally love about Pink Swoon is that despite being devoid of any shimmer or glittery sheen, it catches light at all the high points of your face and gives the face a luminosity—a natural radiance, if you know what I mean!

Staying Power: Although the shade is quite light and I use a couple swipes on my NC 39-40 skin for it to show up as a natural swipe—it stays put for quite some time! I mean I have never worn my makeup for more than 7 hours at a stretch and except for a slight fading at the hairline this blush despite being so light stayed for a good 6 hours in direct sunlight! And mind you, I do not wear primer under my makeup generally, so I can just guess how long it would stay if I had a primer on!

So this is pretty much it for the review of this glorious little pinky tub which is a new cult-favourite in my stash and is my daily wear blush! The only thing which I think can be a downer for some that it is not going to show up on skin tones above NC45 or so! But if you can manage to make it work, go grab it ASAP!

Rating- 5/5

Love it!! <3

Editor’s Note: It indeed looks gorgeous Ishleen, especially on you! Loved it.

Have you tried the MAC Pink Swoon Blush Yet? Your favourite blush from MAC? Mine is Bite of an Apple which was a LE

Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon Peach me Review, Swatches, FOTD

Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon Peach me Review, Swatches, FOTD

By Pallavi

Hello Beauties,

I had some earlier lipstick collection. But they all had been quite boring for me. So, decided to dump my earlier lipstick stash and buy some new recent launches. I divided my current lipstick collection in 2-3 broad categories – nudes, everyday pinks, hot pinks and everyday reds. And with this intention in my mind I went for shopping. I had no plans of purchasing anything from faces but while I was passing through the faces store, I saw their recent launches. Any I thought why not update my lipstick collection with some recent launches. And thus, I jumped to the store. The SA was well informed and gave me time to try all the lipsticks which ever I liked. And finally I bought this new beauty.

So, here comes Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon – Peach me 08 for all you beauties. Read along to know if the product is worth purchase or not.

Price : Rs. 799 for 2.8 grams

Shelf life : 36 months from the date of packaging

Directions to use: Scrub your lips with either baby brush or sugar crumbs. Now, apply a lip balm underneath. Take the lip crayon and sharpen it to get the perfect crayon tip. Re-apply to get that perfect opaque finish.

Colour: Muted peachy pink

What Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon – Peach me 08 claims: A collection of lip crayons featuring timeless matte shades with superior color pigment & hydration.

From beautiful nudes to striking reds to shades of pinks and corals there’s a shade for everyone. Dresses up lips in statement shades in matte finish with rich, color-bright pigments, while being super comfortable on lips. Four super hot matte shades with light shimmer inspired from the backstage makeup.

My experience with Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon – Peach me 08

This lip crayon from the house of faces comes in very attractive packaging. It is a thick crayon with product name, shade and other details mentioned on the crayon itself. The body of the crayon is in the shade of the lipstick. The cap is transparent so that you can see the tip of the crayon. It comes with a sharpener which can be used to sharpen the lipstick.

This lip crayon from faces comes in the pro matte range. The shade is peach me 08 which is perfect everyday peach. It is perfect for office wear as well as day outings. It will suit a number of skin tones and can serve as an MLBB shade for many girls. The lip crayon is matte but even then it is moisturizing. It does not settle into lip lines even after many hours of application. It stays evenly on lips. It easily survives lighter meals but fades away with heavier meals. It can stay with lighter meals and drinks. Anyways the shade lasts easily for 6-8 hours. The crayon is thick and it needs to be sharpened with daily usage. Now, this is the bad part. At least you need to sharp the product on every alternate day. I feel it’s too much of product wastage. Pigmentation wise the shade is pretty fine. Single swipe gives good amount of colour. But anyways you can re-apply the colour to build up the finish.

Conclusion – I am loving this shade and range both. This has become my everyday colour to office. Looking forward to trying more colours from this range.

Good about Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon – Peach me 08

  • Trustworthy brand
  • Available – online and offline
  • Attractive packaging
  • No bothersome smell
  • MLBB shade
  • Will suit a number of skin tones
  • Lasts pretty well
  • Pigmentation too good

Bad about Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon – Peach me 08

  • Product needs to be sharpened
  • Some may find it pricey

Rating:

Quality – 4/5
Value for money – 4/5
Availability – 5/5

Overall rating – 4.5/5

Editor’s Note: That was a nice review Pallavi, Peach Me is a fabulous shade indeed. I have these in Midnight Rose & Sugar Coated, love Midnight Rose.

Have you tried any shade from the new Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayons? Which is your favourite shade?

Acetone v/s Non-Acetone Nail Polish Removers

Acetone v/s Non-Acetone Nail Polish Removers

By Ishleen

Why are acetone nail polish removers so much better for you!

Acetone or Non-acetone—that is the question?

We have been asked times innumerable about the safest way to remove nail polishes, are acetone based removers safe and whether or not non-acetone removers are better for the nails? So here we have a short post which hopefully will appease your queries.

The pondering over the question in regards to the safety of acetone removers is as intense as the heated debate on the health benefits of chocolate. But you do not need to drown in the frenzy of arguments, as we have planned to bring forward some logical set of reasonings.

What exactly is acetone?

Acetone is the second safest solvent in the nail industry, after water. And clearly, we cannot use water to remove nail polishes, because if we could, the nail industries would have never established. Ok, enough on that. Undoubtedly there are many other solvents in the world, but none are as safe as compared to acetone.

Does acetone have any health hazards?

Health hazards? No, not any that we have heard of. Some people tend to believe that acetone has the potency to aggravate carcinogens and thereby cause cancer. This is NOT THE TRUTH. No scientific institution or research has ever proved this.

Secondly, the market hype about non-acetone nail polish removers has made people believe that acetone can get absorbed by your skin and in the process can get mixed with your blood stream. Girls, acetone CAN NOT pass through the dermis level of your nail bed. Acetone gets evaporated a bit too fast to get absorbed into your nail plate. So, it’s safe.

Why should you choose acetone removers over non-acetone polish removers?

Markets today have very strategically created the image of non-acetone removers to be the better version of acetone removers. In reality this is not true. Acetone based nail polish removers are slightly safer than non acetone removers, which basically constitute methyl ethyl ketone and ethyl acetate. Both of which are harmful for the healthy growth of nails. Surprised much?

Coming to the argument that acetone removers are drying, we could not contest it. But so are non- acetone removers, undoubtedly. In fact non-acetone removers are much more drying than acetone removers as they are not as effective as acetone removers when it comes to removing nail polishes.

Non-acetone removers were made to work basically with acrylic nails, as they used to get dissolved when tampered with acetone removers. Thus they are less effective than acetone removers, there by leaving us with no other choice than to let it be in contact with the nail and nearby skin for longer periods of time. This causes much more dryness than any ordinary acetone remover.

What to do in order to avoid dryness caused by acetone based removers?

The basic question is why do your nails feel dry after setting in contact with acetone removers? Remember when I told you that acetone was a good solvent and it dissolves all the polish very effectively. Similarly, acetone being a solvent also dissolves the natural oil and moisture from the skin surrounding your nail bed. Simple enough, eh?

Talking about the solution, it is a complete no brainer. Feed the skin with what the acetone could rip it off of. Oil! I mean if the acetone tends to strip off natural oils from your skin, slather some olive or almond oil on to the skin (not the nails, just the surrounding skin) which will be getting affected by oil.

By doing this one simple step, the acetone will be dissolving the oils applied externally, safeguarding most of your natural oils and moisture in the skin. Easy peasy!

Ok, so I am in a good mood today. Let me just throw in a bonus trick for you gorgeous girls to enjoy.

BONUS TRICK: Gel nails are beautiful and they are all the rage in the nail industry nowadays. But let us accept it, they can be expensive; and the additional expense to get them removed at the salon can be too overwhelming for some. Now, that we know that acetone is far better than non-acetone removers, let us try a simple trick here. Dab some oil on to the skin surrounding your nails. Taking a cotton swab completely doused in acetone nail polish remover place it onto the nail and cover the nail with a foil paper (the one sitting handy in your kitchen) and let it be for about 3-5 minutes. Do not unwrap the foil; just pull it straight off the tip along with the cotton.

The same trick can be used to remove chunky glitter polishes, but the acetone dipped cotton covered with foil should not be left on the fingernails for more than 3-5 minutes. It can damage your natural nail bed.

After all the heated debates and settled arguments, I have finally come to the conclusion that acetone removers are all the much better than non-acetone nail polish removers for your skin.

The only problem that acetone can cause is drying and to avoid the unquenchable-nail feeling, you can try the following acetone based DIY recipe for gorgeously nourished nails. Just take:

1. Ten parts acetone (any kind of pure acetone will do)

2. Two parts of water (normal or tap water)

3. 10-15 drops of any oil of your choice (I personally prefer using olive oil)

4. 5-8 drops of vitamin E (you can even use one or two vitamin E capsules for this purpose)

Just add these four simple ingredients into any old nail polish remover bottle and voila! You have a customized acetone based nail lacquer remover which will remove the most stubborn of nail polishes without ever drying your nails. I swear your friends will be jealous of your beautiful nails 🙂

Editor’s Note: That’s quite an interesting post Ishleen, also loved the last DIY recipe and would be trying that out. I have tried acetone free ones thinking they are all good, but the nail paint just won’t come off :/ I usually love using this oil based nail polish remover pads. This DIY thing sounds quite good and economical.

Have you tried non-acetone nail polish removers? Don’t you find them drying plus they do not take off the nail paint at all! Will you try this DIY recipe?

P.S: Images from Google

Maybelline Colorsensational Lip Gradation Mauve 1 Review, Swatches, FOTD

Maybelline Colorsensational Lip Gradation Mauve 1 Review, Swatches, FOTD

Hi guys,

So if you saw my post on the Maybelline Colorsensational Lip Gradation Swatches, you must have read that I picked the shade Mauve 1.

What the Company claims: Go Bold Or Graded And Sexy On Your Lips With The New Color Sensational Lip Gradation. It’s time to experiment with your lip makeup. For the sexy, bold and adventurous woman, Maybelline New York brings international trends with the newest Lip Gradation. Available in 8 bright, matte shades, this double-sided lip product will inspire you to experiment with your looks and bring out your unique style and personality. The color stick at one end will give a gorgeous pop of color while the cushion blender tool at the other end will give a sexy, graded look. For a complete trend-on look, apply color on the centre of your upper lip and use the sponge smudger to extend the color to the outer edges till the contours of your lips or use it as a matte lip color or a lip liner.

Here’s why you will love it:

  • 8 bright, matte shades
  • Easy to apply
  • Fun, flirty, versatile way to color your lips
  • Innovative product with cutting edge technology

For Best Results: Apply Lip Gradation in the center of lips and blend outwards using the cushion blender.

Shades Available: 8

  • Red 1
  • Red 2
  • Pink 1
  • Pink 2
  • Fuchsia 1
  • Mauve 1
  • Orange 1
  • Coral 1

MRP: Rs.500/- for 1.25g

It comes in shaded twist up crayon form with the crayon on one side and the white sponge on the other side for blending or creating a color gradation or ombre. The pencils match to the shades and hence easily identifiable.

Pigmentation wise, these are quite pigmented and cover even the most pigmented lips in max 2 swipes. It has a super creamy and buttery formula and glides and blends easily.

The finish is matte but it is very moisturizing and not at all drying. It also feels super light on the lips, you won’t feel you have lipstick on. Staying power is ok, it stays for 4-5 hours without eating or drinking, but with whole meal it goes away from the centre and needs to be reapplied.

The full size & the shade Mauve 1

The shade Mauve 1 is not mauve but a rosy brown, more on the brown side with a hint of mauve.

Here is how it looks on me..

Overall I would say I am quite happy with this, but would have preferred a price of Rs.400/- and also the launch of more shades and the wines and burgundies too. I would recommend checking out this Mauve shade and the Coral and Orange.

Also this particular shade Mauve 1 is one of the perfect Kylie Jenner shades available in India.

Rating:

Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money : 3.75/5
Availability: 4/5

Overall rating: 3.75/5

Have you checked out the new Maybelline Colorsensational Lip Gradation Pencils yet? Your favourite shade?

Colorbar Perfect Match Foundation Review, Swatches

Colorbar Perfect Match Foundation Review, Swatches

By Pallavi

Hello Girlies,

I was in hunt of everyday foundation. But i wanted something lighter not those heavier cakey foundations. Those heavier cakey foundations are meant for parties and night outs, not for daily wear especially in mornings. Now, most of you will recommend BB and CC creams for this. But sadly i have used a number of BB and CC creams but none stood as per my expectations. So, i resorted to foundations. But i was looking for foundations which could serve as a daily wear.

Thus, i went to my nearest store and the SA there recommends me this foundation from the house of Colorbar. The SA swatched this one on my hand and i liked it’s finish. Thus, without further adieu i bought this.

So, here is the Colorbar Perfect Match Foundation with UV Filters for all you ladies. Read along to know if it’s worth your skin or not.

Company Claims:

  • A fluid foundation that adapts itself to the color of the skin.
  • Moisturizing and filling benefits
  • UV filters for sun protection
  • Lightweight, Oil Free
  • Dermatologically tested
  • Available in 3 shades

Shades Available:

  • Classic Ivory
  • Nude Beige
  • Warm Beige

Price: Rs.725 for 30ml

Ingredients:

My experience with Colorbar Perfect Match Foundation with UV Filters

This foundation comes in a rectangular medium sized silver carton box. The packaging looks very chic and shining. It has entire product details inscribed on it.

Inside the silver box there is a sleek skin colour tube. The tube has a very unique and appealing shape. The bottom of the tube which is the cap is silver in colour. The cap is screw cap which needs to be twisted to bring out the product. Inside the tube there is a thin nozzle out of which the product comes out. Once when you have twisted the cap you need to press the tube slightly to bring the product out. A very little product comes out.

This is the medium shade ‘Nude Beige’. The foundation is light cream in colour. It has a thick consistency. You need to take the product in a little quantity because after blending too the product has a yellowish cast. You need to further blend the product to minimize the yellowish cast. So, words of caution take a little product only. This will make your swatch easier.

Now, i apply the foundation in dots on face. You need to move the fingers to blend the product completely. The product has UV filters which will protect you from sun exposure. The finish is very natural. It does not feel heavier on skin. It has slight illuminating particles. The product is perfect for daily wear foundation and gives medium coverage.

Pros of Colorbar Perfect Match Foundation with UV Filters:

  • Trustworthy brand
  • Widely available
  • Lasts pretty long
  • Little product goes a long way
  • Very natural finish
  • Has UV filters
  • Does not feel heavy on skin
  • Survives entire day

Cons of Colorbar Perfect Match Foundation with UV Filters:

  • Only 3 shades available
  • Needs a lot of blending

Rating :

Quality : 4/5
Value or money : 3/5
Availability : 4.5/5

Overall Rating : 4/5

Editor’s Note: I think it’s a nice everyday option, especially for office wear, also the fact that the shade adapts to your skin is good. But minimum 5-6 shades would have been a much better option. Nice review Pallavi 🙂

Have you tried the Colorbar Perfect Match Foundation yet?

L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Ritual Experiental & Vlog

L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Ritual Experiental & Vlog

Hi guys,

So a few days ago I went to the L’Oreal Academy for the L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Ritual Experiental. Let me tell you a little more about the Mythic Oil Range and the service.

Mythic Oil Range: A unique range infused with 4 precious oils to unlock the secret to that legendary hair you’ve always wanted!

Argan Oil, a deeply hydrating oil known to restore smoothness and shine

Cotton Seed Oil, an oil that helps in regeneration

Rice Bran Oil, deeply nourishes each hair strand to leave hair smooth and soft

Cranberry Oil, A precious oil with illuminating properties to enhance the radiance

Your Mythical Must-Have: Mythic Oil Rich Oil

The Mythic Oil Rich Oil is a versatile oil like no other! Try it before you shampoo, to give you that deep nourishment! Use it as a styling product for that legendary look with a magical shine or overnight for intensive nourishment.

Rich Oil is a perfect blend of the most potent oils in nature; Argan oil from the magical argan tree or “tree of life” and rice bran oil. This versatile oil is immediately absorbed for a light weight feel, leaving the hair looking deeply illuminated and magical nourishment. This Oil is sure to be your mane-favourite!

It has 8 different types of rituals which depend on the condition of your hair. Since I had travelled to Jaipur and the hard water and climate there made my hair quite dry, we went with the ‘Mythic Repair Magic‘.

Mythic Repair Magic, a deeply nourishing ritual, specially designed for repairing extremely dry and damaged hair. It gently treats the scalp and helps protect hair against frizz and also illuminates it.

Here is a small vlog of the procedure:

Coming to the procedure:

1. Usually the ritual starts with application of a mix of ‘Rich Oil’ and ‘Oil Bar’ concentrate. But since my hair was not washed 2-3 days prior, the expert first washed my hair and blow dried it, for the ritual to work better.

2. And then a mix of oils is applied on every section of the hair and the scalp.

3. Scalp is massaged for about 5 minutes.

4. Hair is washed again with the Mythic Oil Shampoo.

5. Then the mask is applied on each section of hair, which has a few drops of the ‘Rich Oil’ mixed in it.

6. It is kept for about 10-15 minutes

7. Hair is washed again but only with plain water this time.

8. Blow dried and the Rich Oil is applied towards the lower half and ends.

I absolutely loved how my hair felt post the treatment. As mentioned above due to travelling and change in climate, my hair was in the worst condition possible and very dry, it was back to normal and more softer and smoother.

Duration: Around 1-1.5 hours

Price: Rs.1000 to 1500/- depending on the salon from where you get it done.

L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Ritual is available at all major salons all over India.

Here are the ‘Before-After’ pics, ignore the half hair behind :/

The ritual is pretty economical and any salon nearby you would be doing it for about 1000 bucks, I definitely recommend getting it done once in 2 months, if you don’t have the time to get it done once in a month. It makes a huge difference to the hair.

I also got the Mythic Oil range for personal use and would review the range too after using it for about a month or so.

Have you tried the L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Range yet? Will you try this experiental?

P.S: Services were offered by the brand in exchange of review but that has not affected my opinion.