Its November, winter is almost here. Our skin is drying and our body has started losing moisturiser already.
Apart from our skin drying we also start having chapped lips. Recently I went to a local cosmetics shop for buying lip balms for the coming winter, there I noticed apart from other well-known non herbal brands which are known for their lip balms Patanjali also has its lip balm. I bought this strawberry one, thinking why not give it a try and it also doesn’t cost much.
I am using it for a while now and let’s see how it fares..
I like to carry it around with me and apply whenever I feel my lips are drying. So today I’ll review it which you already know from the caption above. Lets start.
Packaging:
The packaging of this product is unlike the other lip balms. It is not like that of a lipstick type rather it is in a tube form with a slanted tip, from which the product comes out on squeezing. The portion from which the product comes out is not straight but rather its slanting like a new lipstick which makes it easy for applying as there is no wastage of the product. The tube has a red screw cap which means that the product wont come out if we don’t open the cap , also it doesn’t comes out on its on if we don’t squeeze the tube.
Texture and colour:
The texture of the product is perfect like it should be. It is creamy but not too thick. The colour of the product is very light pink with shimmers. On applying the product the product you’ll notice very light tint of pink on your lips , which is almost invisible.
Price: Rs 25 for 10 grams.
Ingredients: Every 10 gram contains:
Butyrospermum parkii 500mg
Olea europea 100mg
Prunus amygdalus 100mg
Triticum sativum 100mg
Symplocos racemosa 10mg
Rubia cordifolia 10mg
Cow’s milk fat 10mg
The base material: Natural waxes , vit E , sugandhit dravya.
How to use: Apply on craked lips twice a day. Also you can apply before going to bed, as I do.
Usage: Useful in dryness, roughness and rehydrates lip moisture.
My experience:
Lip balms are very essential for winters, we all know this so I use lip balms everyday. I use lip balm before applying lipstick. I also use lip balm before going to bed at night.
Now, I have been using this lip balm for a week now and I’m quite satisfied with its result. For something costing only Rs 25 honestly I wasn’t expecting too much. But it showed good results and now I have no cracked lips.
I love its fruity smell, its very mild. The portion from which the product comes out makes it very convenient for applications. After applying the lip balm on my lips, I can feel my lips becoming softer. It doesn’t have any colour which is actually good I think because it makes it the perfect lip balm to be applied before lipstick. I sleep with this lip balm on my lips and it feels like I don’t have anything on my lips at all , it is so so so light weight.
The only problem I found after using this product is that it doesn’t stays on your lips for long even if you don’t anything thing which is very disappointing. You have to reapply it again and again after like an hour.
This is because of the not so very thick consistency of the lip balm, I think so. But apart from this it is a good product for people who doesn’t want to invest more in daily use, non pigmented lip balm.
Pros:
Value for money product.
Good fruity smell.
Availability.
Easy application.
Cons:
It doesn’t stay for long
Rating: 4/5
Editor’s Note: I believe it is quite good for the price, would give it a try.
I’m back with another interesting review from herbal skincare brand Himalaya; let’s see what it has in store for us.
The harsh summer is finally here, and this is the time when I’m all charged up with my skincare routine. Perfect face wash, body wash, body oils and lotions are always on the top of my list. However, there is one thing that tends to give me nightmares and i.e. moisturizing creams. Those with oily feel, heavy texture leave my skin prone to acne and the rest is done by the hot weather.
With those thoughts in mind, few weeks ago when I was shopping at Lifestyle mall , I discovered this product at the Himalaya Counter, the word fairness enlightened my mind at once. The SA told me about its moisturizing properties and I was convinced to make the purchase.
What happened next? Read on to find out.
Product Description: Based on the miraculous properties of herbal ingredients like Aloe Vera, Naranga, Akschota and Satapatrika, Himalaya brings to you its revolutionary fairness cream that guarantees clear, even tone and fairer skin in just 4 weeks.
Direction for use: Dot the cream around your face & neck and gently blend it with the help of your finger tips; use twice a day on cleaned face for optimal results.
Product Quantity and Price: MRP Rs: 65/- for 50g
Shelf Life: 2 years!
Key Ingredients: It is packed with inactive ingredients like Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Bronopol, Aloe Vera 50mg, Akschota (Juglans regia) 20mg, Satapatrika (Rosa centifolia) 20mg and Naranga (Citrus reticulate) 20mg.
Packaging: It comes in a simple tube package which is quite easy to handle and avoids spillage too.
Texture: The texture of the product is a bit on the creamy side that does take time to blend with the skin.
My Thoughts on Himalaya Herbals Fairness Cream
It’s been over two weeks (15 days) that I’m using this cream and till today I haven’t witnessed any dramatic results. It is a decent moisturizing cream that works just like any usual cream would, but fairness- well that hasn’t happened till date. Even though I was happy about having a herbal cream in my summer skincare list, but all my hopes were shattered when I saw Parabens in its list of ingredients. Despite of being a nature based product it contains parabens that can be extremely harmful for those who are allergic towards it.
Therefore, my thoughts on it are pretty clear and loud- “Though it’s a subtle moisturizer but there is nothing unique that will make you fall in love with it”.
Pros:
It is quite affordable
It does not lead to breakouts or any sort of side-effects
Best for moisturizing oily skin beauties during winter, as it does not leave a greasy touch
Cons:
Long list of chemicals that includes, parabens, parabens, & parabens
No SPF (Sun Protection Factor)
Rating: 2/5
Do I recommend Himalaya Herbals Fairness Cream for you? So, parabens and no results have made it a big no for me.
Editor’s Note: Oh God, such a dud! I anyway hate fairness product, Himalaya Herbals is one brand which I really like, so didn’t expect this :/
What do you think about the Himalaya Herbals Fairness Cream or Fairness Creams in General?
If you remember I reviewed the OPPO F1 phone before, see HERE. They had announced the launch of F1 Plus at the same event, but the official launch happened on 6th April at Hotel Lalit in Delhi. I had gone to Delhi for the event for a day. See the entire vlog and event details in my vlog below, Yuvraj Singh was also present at the event 😀 He came even with his ankle injury!
Anyhoo, coming back to the phone, OPPO F1 Plus. I am obviously no tech expert, so would not be reviewing from that point of view, though I am a tech and gadget freak! Also being a blogger, I am present on every social media channel on earth and use my phone 24/7 for everything from clicking pictures to updating you guys on social channels, replying to mails, etc. The best part of this phone is obviously the front camera, as the name goes ‘Selfie Expert’. The front cam is 16MP,f/2.0 which allows four times more light compared to other smartphones.
Price: INR 26,990/-
Colors Available: Gold and Rose Gold
I have been using the phone ever since the event and it’s been quite some time now, so it’s the perfect time to review it. To start with, it’s very light weight (only 145g) though standard 5.5 inches, you do not feel this phone at all even in your pocket.
I have the Color Gold which I like a little more than Rose Gold, coz of the deep matte gold finish. Also it is super comfortable to hold and ergonomically designed to fit in your hands.
The thick Corning Gorilla Glass 4 does not need a scratch guard. I bought one and when I was just about to place it, I realized this phone doesn’t need one. The glass is super thick and scratch resistant, I did not feel adding another layer was required.
It has it’s own Operating System Color OS 3.0 and the Lollipop version of Android, it is pretty smooth and fast untill now, quite impressed with the OS. I have always been on Android and can safely say, this OS is quite good.
It has 64GB internal memory which is expandable externally upto 128GB, there are very few phones in the market offering that! The 4GB RAM is sufficient and the phone never lagged even once, though I am not a gaming person, so did not try that. For me, I have 10-15 apps working all the time, and none stopped responding at any time.
I have always been using a dual sim phone and that is my priority when I have to select a phone for myself. I am so glad this is dual sim with both being 4G enabled.
Specs
Other notable features are fingerprint scanner, WiFi Direct, fast battery VOOC Flash charging, etc.
Coming to the main part and my favourite, the camera! It has 13MP rear camera with f/2.2 with auto focus, face detection and even Beauty and Panaroma features. The Beautify 4.0 brightens the skin and removes all blemishes, so without makeup, it gives a made up look 😀 I love the Ultra HD mode which gives super crisp and bright pictures and the GIF creator which is super fun! GIF creator option is also available for the front camera. It also has a range of inbuilt filters which lets you select a filter even before clicking a picture! My favourites are ‘Elegant’ and ‘British’. The rear camera also has an ‘Expert Mode‘ which lets you control the ISO and exposure, so even if you are a pro photographer, this will give you the freedom to work your way.
Beautify 4.0
The 16MP front camera has wide f/2.0 lens which allows more light in pictures coz of it’s unique sensor technology, so now you get bright selfies even in low light and during night time. And now fit in all your friends in a selfie with the amazing ‘Selfie Panaroma’ feature 😀 The ISOCELL technology reduces the noise in selfies, giving you super clear and sharp selfies. My favourite feature though is ‘Double Exposure‘ which helps you click two pictures in motion and combines them into one. I haven’t found a subject yet to use that, but I will be using it soon and would be posting it on my Instagram, so follow me there 😀
It also captures videos at 1080p@30fps, I would be using it for my vlogs too. Also love the ‘Time Lapse‘ feature! I am clearly bowled by the camera features.
I also compared it to Samsung Galaxy A7. It looks quite similar, weighs almost the same and the specifications and features too are similar. The Samsung A7 Operating System is so slow and it was a pain to use comparatively. It runs on Kitkat which is upgradable to Lollipop. I am not sure what exactly is the problem, but you need real patience to use Samsung A7.
Rear Camera L- Clicked with OPPO R- Clicked with SamsungFront Cam L- OPPO R- Samsung
I have also compared the selfies and pics taken with both the phones. Samsung camera is pretty sharp too and love the clear pictures, but in terms of catching the true colours, OPPO F1 Plus is the clear winner.
OPPO F1 Plus has all the features and specifications that of iPhone6, some even better and at half the price! I totally recommend checking out OPPO F1 Plus, see more HERE
What do you think of the new OPPO F1 Plus Selfie Expert Phone?
Hi guys, I had this Moisture Repair Range since a long time but never really got to use it. Since this range is meant for dry and damaged hair, I thought the winters would be the perfect time to use it.
MoroccanOil products are sulphate, phosphate and paraben free and Color Safe.
What the Company claims: Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner are for hair that has been weakened or damaged by color, chemical processing or heat styling. They restore hair by bathing it in a highly concentrated formula rich in antioxidant argan oil, reconstructive keratin and fatty acids. Both products restore elasticity, moisture and manageability. The formulas are free of sulfates, phosphates and parabens, so they’re safer for the environment and won’t dry, fade or strip color-treated hair.
Directions:
To Use the Shampoo: Because Moisture Repair Shampoo uses a highly concentrated, water-loving formula, begin by using plenty of water to activate the shampoo into a rich, luxurious lather. Add more water if necessary. Massage through hair and scalp. Rinse and follow with Moisture Repair Conditioner.
To Use the Conditioner: Gently squeeze excess water from hair and apply a small amount of the highly concentrated conditioner from roots to ends. Leave in for 1–2 minutes. Rinse well.
To start with, I love the blue and white round packaging, the color is quite bright. It has a flip cap and the shampoo being blue and conditioner being white, it’s easy to distinguish.
It has an off white tint and is quite runny. It foams and cleanses the hair well, but if you have oiled your hair, you will need to shampoo twice. Also as they have mentioned in the directions above, it does need a wet base and lot of water to foam up. Since I wash my hair twice a week, I do need to shampoo twice to cleanse my hair well.
The conditioner is thick and creamy and off white in color. It is quite rich in texture, it does hydrate the lower half and ends where it is applied, really well. Also it is easy to wash off.
Hair is soft, smooth and frizz free. No trace of dryness at all.
Both the shampoo and conditioner have a slight argan oil kind of smell, not very pleasant but kind of ok. It’s quite a rich range and even though I used it for winters, it is still rich for me. I have normal hair which are straight to wavy, they are not very dry or voluminous and neither damaged. I do not use heat, color, chemicals on my hair, so my hair is quite healthy and for my hair, this range was over rich. It weighed down my hair and also my hair looked oily 2 days post washing, which does not usually happen. My hair stays well behaved for 3 days post washing, sometimes even 4. (Perhaps I should also try the ‘Reverse Shampoo’ technique with this, do you guys know about it? Would you like a blog post?)
I loved the ingredients, it has argan oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, chamomile leaf extract, lavender extract, rosemary oil, castor oil, glycerine and even panthenol and hydrolyzed keratin. It has all the ‘good things’ needed for the hair. It is the best thing for dry and damaged hair coz the keratin and panthenol along with all the oils will deeply repair the damage and also control the volume and frizz.
For me since I do not have dry or damaged hair, I would skip this, maybe I would use this once a month or so or when I have travelled a lot or my hair has gone through some heat. I would love to try their other Hydrating Range. For now, I have switched back to Wella Pro Elements Range.
Moroccanoil is pricey and also available at selected salons, but now you can get it online on Amazon too. But being all chemical and sulphate free, it is perfect for cysteine, rebonded, colored hair or that has gone through any chemical procedure. And while being color and treatment safe, it will also repair, nourish and hydrate at the same time. Definitely recommend this range for dry, damaged and treated hair.
Rating:
Quality: 3.5/5
Value for money: 3.5/5
Availability: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Would I buy it again: No, not this range. Maybe the other Hydrating one.
Have you tried MoroccanOil Shampoo and Conditioner before?
Aloe Veda Distil Cold Pressed Hexane Free Castor Oil Review
By Pallavi
Hello Beauties,
Here i am with yet another one of my cult products. I like products which you can use in multiple ways. And some time back the concepts of oils have been quite a hit. You can use them in numerous ways be it on your hairs, skin or anywhere. Castor oil is one such significant oil. Since time immemorial people have been raving about this oil.
Actually, this oil is very thick and extremely sticky. And i have absolutely thin fine hairs. So, i thought that this oil will further weigh my hair down and i will have completely flat hair. But after researching a lot i thought that if i use this oil properly then, i will definitely get immense benefits out of this.
So, my first experience with this oil began with Aloe Veda Cold Pressed Hexane Free castor oil. Read on to know how this fared on me and the multiple uses of this oil.
What the Company claims: Distil’s Castor Oil has many medicinal and curative uses. Contains ricinoleic acid that inhibits many viruses and bacteria, and as castor oil is able to penetrate skin tissue deeply, this makes it an effective treatment for acne. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungicidal properties of ricinoleic acid protects the scalp and hair from infections that can cause hair loss. The omega-9 fatty acids in castor oil nourish the hair and prevent the scalp from drying. Rubbing castor oil on your scalp and the roots of your hair will regenerate new hair growth and also thicken thinning hair within months. Rub in a small amount around your eyes and face before bed, washing it off the next morning. Castor Oil breaks up external and internal scar tissue and prevents new scars from forming. It softens rough or thickened skin, including calluses and corns and cures skin infections like athletes foot and ringworm. Rub a small amount of castor oil over your stomach and thighs daily to prevent stretchmarks during pregnancy or periods of weight gain.
Product description:
Effective Treatment for Acne
Promotes Hair Growth
Medicinal and Curative Uses
Penetrate Skin Tissue Deeply
Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungicidal
Prevents Hair Loss
Nourishes Hair
Prevent Scalp Dryness
Anti Scars
Anti Stretch Marks
Price: 225 INR for 200 ml.
Shelf life: 24 months from the date of packaging
My experience with Aloe Veda Cold Pressed Hexane Free castor oil
Castor oil is one of the most famous oils available in market at present times. But people say that the best version of castor oil is cold pressed castor oil. This is believed to be the purest form of castor oil. Castor oil is thick in nature. So, actually you should buy it in the smallest bottle size, but i mistakenly bought the biggest one and it is lasting me since ages.
Anyways coming to this bottle it comes in thick plastic bottle which doesn’t breaks or spills oil even if thrown accidentally from a good height. The bottle has a little hole at the between which ensures little oil dispersion only. I use it on my hair. But i advise strongly not to use it directly, as it will make your hair too sticky and you will not be able to wash it off. So, i use these oils by blending it with other oils. This makes a very powerful connotation. This oil is believed to be hair growth stimulator. So, i have used it regularly on my eyebrow and you won’t believe i gained average amount of hair within a month or two. Many people use castor oil in their eyebrows every night.
Coming to the economy of this bottle single bottle will last you long enough. So, invest in the smaller one.
Good about Aloe Veda Cold Pressed Hexane Free castor oil
Natural brand
Cold pressed form
Huge quantity
Affordable price
Multipurpose use
Doesn’t smell bad
Bad about Aloe Veda Cold Pressed Hexane Free castor oil
None for me
Rating:
Availability : 4/5
Performance : 5/5
Overall rating : 4.5/5
Editor’s Note: Yes, many use castor oil every night on eyebrows and eye lashes, definitely recommend trying this you are looking to grow your eyebrows or want thicker eye lashes. Also as mentioned by you, mixing it with other oils for your hair. And the mix also works well on stretch marks. Nice review Pallavi 🙂 Also would like to mention I love some of the Aloe Veda products, their French Lavender Body Wash is my all time favourite!
Do you use castor oil? How do you use it and which one?
Top 10 Matte Red Lipsticks for Indian Skin, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
I am sure all of us are aware of the saying that, red lipstick is to women what sports cars are for men. Definition of red lipstick is different to every woman. To me, it symbolizes power. Every woman (must) have a red lipstick in her stash. It has the power to glam up any look and instantly brightens up the face like anything. It adds a sophisticated touch to every look and the beauty of it is undeniable. It has the panache and classiness of a confident woman, playfulness of carefree little girl inside every one of us and bold and fierceness to rule the world. From Hollywood to Bollywood, we have seen and admired the Divas sporting the dashing and gorgeous red lips all you have to do is choose the right kind of ‘red’ and see how it rocks your world.
So, to lessen down the burden of hunting the best ‘red’ for those sexy pouts, here’s the list of top 10 red lipstick for Indian skin tones.
Mostly all shades are matte and long staying, click on the links to read reviews or see swatches or click on ‘Buy here’ to buy it online and some at amazing deals.
1. MAC RUBY WOO – 1450 INR
This is, by far, the best of the best red you can choose with your eyes closed. The mystery behind this one is still undiscovered that how a single shade of red can look ‘drop-dead’ gorgeous irrespective of every skin tone and complexion. When in doubt, choose Ruby Woo because it can never disappoint you, like ever! It has a rich and intense matte texture but glides on the lips like velvet. The price might haunt you for some time but once you wear it, you can never go back to another red.
2. SUGAR MATTE AS HELL SCARLET O’HARA – 799 INR(BUY HERE) (Read Review of the Range HERE)
The brand brought forward four signature matte lip crayons and trust me, it was a heart wrenching condition to choose one. The Scarlet O’Hara is the ‘on-the-face’ bright shade of red, perfect to make you look like a diva! The shade is like a rockstar which has all the ability to take all the limelight alone. When you’re wearing this, make sure to keep the other makeup minimal. The staying power is phenomenal and an excellent choice for the brides.
3. FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP PENCIL MIDNIGHT ROSE – 799 INR(BUY HERE) (Review and Swatches HERE)
They are reds that make you look like stunning and there are the ones which are bright and eventful. Well, the Midnight Rose is something which gives you the power and confidence like no other. It slightly a darkened maroon red lip color, with gorgeous color pay off and simply an epitome of awesomeness. The texture is creamy smooth with a velvet matte finish. It doesn’t budge a bit and stay put literally the whole day. It is a must-have and highly recommend color of 2015!
4. LOREAL LINCOLN ROSE – 925 INR (BUY HERE for 799) (Review and Swatches HERE)
The shade was an instant hit when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore it to Cannes. The packaging is gorgeous and so is the shade. It is pink based red which is moderately bright and perfect for both day and night time. The texture is comfortably creamy and settles into a matte finish and wears a long time. It is leaves behind a sweet trail red on the lips after being faded. The color is extremely sweet and feminine and if you are not comfortable with ultra-bright and hot reds, you can go for this.
5. REVLON MATTE REALLY RED – 599 INR
The Matte range of Revlon has some seriously gorgeous reds that have been continuing till today since 1951. The Really Red is a blue based bright tomato red that has the hint of rich and intense color. It is one of the rarest blue-based red that look flattering of warm Indian skin tones and another bridal red. The texture is like a creamy comfortable matte and extremely easy on dry and parched lips. A classy shade of red with a great wear time.
6. LAKME 9 TO 5 MATTE LIP COLOR -RED COAT – 450 INR (BUY HEREfor 365)
This red lipstick from the 9 to 5 range of Lakme is a pretty semi-bright deep blue-based red. It has no shimmers or glitter speckles and tailored for an alluring matte finish. It is, again, a pretty bridal red for matte lovers and looks pretty good on fair to dusky skin tones. However, the darker complexions with warm undertones might not be able to pull it off very well. This is like a classic red lipstick from the 90s and still beautiful.
Deborah Milano Rosetto Atomic Red Mat 05 is a deep cherry red that gives a powder matte finish, very close to the Chambor Powder Matte range. The color has a neutral undertone and a gorgeous choice for any occasion. It is very close color to the reputable MAC Ruby Woo (not a dupe!). It doesn’t feel uncomfortable on lips or accentuates to fine lines as well. The color fades off leaving a reddish tint on the lips.
8. COLORBAR VELVET MATTE LIPSTICK, HOT HOT HOT – 325 INR (BUY HERE)
This is best budget friendly red you can have in your life. It is bright and bold true red with no undertones at all. It has a creamy-matte finish and elusive silver packaging. In fact, this is one of the hot selling Reds of the brands and you can also try out the Hearts and Tarts as well. The versatility of the color is that it is tailored for every complexion and very easy to pull off even though it is bright and audacious.
This is an all-time-favorite red with neutral undertones. In fact, I would go on call it a classic red as this is a sort of color a girl would love to wear endlessly. The texture is a winner with its powder matte finish and a single swipe or two of the color will give some gorgeous pout you have to waiting for. If there’s any no.2 red lipstick in my collection after Ruby Woo, it will be Rubis Rouge.
The color is a vibrant red with slightly blue undertones. However, the color is so stunning that will flatter no matter what skin tone or complexion you have. The magnificent semi-glossy texture with a promising wear time of 8hrs, the color is a stunner in its own way. It is extremely lightweight and doesn’t bleed at all. Hence, you does need a primer or lip liner underneath. It is rich and pigmented and has absolutely nothing to complain about.
Bonus 11: L’Oreal Paris Pure Red Lipstick in Freida’s Pure Rouge – INR 995 (BUY HERE for 746) (Review & Swatches HERE)
Again a beautiful, universally flattering red which will work on majority skin tones. It instantly brightens up your face while Aishwarya’s Pure Brick is more of a warm brick brown, Pure Rouge is the only shade from the entire Pure Reds Range that is a true, deep, pure red!
Editor’s Note: Wow, that was quite a list!! Loving every shade here. I only own Ruby Woo, Pure Rouge and Midnight Rose from the above :/ But absolutely love Ruby Woo and suggest each and everyone to own that shade! Revlon Really Red has been on my wishlist since years, always forget or it’s OOS. Few I would like to add to this list are L’Oreal Paris Infallible Lipsticks in Ravishing Red and Refined Ruby (Not Matte but long staying), Maybelline 14H SuperStay Lipstick in Non Stop Red (INR 575- BUY HERE for 460) and Diana of London 2000 Kisses Lipstick in Red Nature.
Which is your favourite red lipstick? Is it from this list?
