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Drugstore Dupes for High End Makeup, Indian Makeup Blog, Indian Beauty Blog, Makeup Dupes India

Drugstore Dupes for High End Makeup

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Drugstore Dupes for High End Makeup

By Pallavi

Hello Girlies,

Here I am back with yet another post. With the advent of so many online shopping sites at our disposal makeup and skincare has become a rage. We are aware of the best of high end as well as drug store makeup products. Even the brands which are not available in India are on our fingertips. But many of us can’t get access to those brands. So, what to do in that situation?? Worry not here I am with some of the dupes of high end makeup products. These are the products which are not that easily available in India.

So, let’s have a look at the dupe list –

1. Dior Dioshow Mascara (INR 1500) vs L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara (INR 895) –

What’s Similar : Both of them come with a tapered brush which gives an edge to the lashes. They help in separating and elongating the lashes.

What’s Not : Dior mascara comes with a quick dry formulation which turns the lashes thick in some time.

2. Benefit High Beam (INR 2665) vs E.L.F. Essential Shimmering Facial Whip (INR 85) –

What’s Similar : Both of these highlighters have a gorgeous, pink sheen which gives a very younger looking dewy skin.

What’s Not : The E.L.F facial whip comes in a tube packaging which is very easy to use. But the finish of the E.L.F. one is very shimmery which is not perfect for day time usage.

3. Urban Decay Naked Eye Shadow Palette (INR 4900) vs MUA Undressed Palette (INR 840)

What’s Similar : Both of them have highly pigmented 10 metallic and 2 matte shades.

What’s Not : MUA shades are slightly chalky. Also, the UD brush applicator is from cruelty free collection; whereas the MUA brush looks pretty cheap.

4. MAC Prep &  Prime (INR 3200) vs Rimmel Stay Matte Primer (INR 1250)

What’s Similar : Both come in similar matte finish which helps the makeup stay longer. Also, they form a smooth base for the skin in order to prep it with the foundation after that.

What’s Not : MAC Prep & Prime stays on for much longer than the Rimmel one. But the Rimmel one is a bit more moisturising than the MAC one. MAC one is meant only for the oily skinned beauties.

5. MAC Ruby Woo (INR 1500) vs Rimmel Kate Matte lipstick in Kiss of life 111 (INR 500)

What’s Similar : Both are deep red with blue undertones in them.

What’s Not : RUBY WOO is very matte with slightly drying formula whereas Rimmel one is a bit moisturising. Also, once ruby woo sets it is impossible to smear.

6. YSL Touché Eclat (INR 2130) vs Maybelline Dreamy Touch Lumi Concealer (INR 475)

What’s Similar : Both come in the form of a pen packaging. The formula is creamy which targets to brighten the under eye area.

What’s Not : YSL has a huge shade option of 10 whereas Maybelline has only 3 shade options. Also, touché éclat has limited coverage as compared to the Maybelline one.

7. Smashbox Photofinish Primer (INR 5625) vs NYX Studio Perfect Photo Loving Primer (INR 2450)

What’s Similar : Both help in minimizing the appearance of pores and filling them. This makes the makeup look refined and smooth. Even the ingredient list of both of them are somewhat identical.

What’s Not : The Smashbox one makes face greasy after some time. Whereas the NYX one ensures that your makeup stays perfect even by the end of the day.

8.  Beautyblender (INR 1999) vs Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (INR 380)

What’s Similar : Both of them are designed in an ergonomic manner to give your foundation a much more even finish.

What’s Not : The Real Techniques one has flat end which makes the application around the eye area easier. Whereas the beautyblender blends foundation way better and quicker that the other one.

9. MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (INR 2800) vs Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (INR 195)

What’s Similar : Both of them are so finely milled that excess product also will not make your face look ashy or powdery.

What’s Not : Rimmel one is a bit drying as compared to the MAC one. In winters you cannot use the Rimmel one even with a moisturiser underneath as it will accentuate your pores and cause dry flakes on your face.

10. MoroccanOil Treatment (INR 2160) vs Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil (INR 675)

What’s Similar : Both of them have similar ingredient list and thus the formula is similar.

What’s Not : The MoroccanOil Treatment is more moisturising for dry hair. It imparts shine and lustre much more than the Organix One.

These were my list of high end makeup dupes. Let me know if you like the post in the comments down below. Also, let me know any other high end dupes you have come across in your makeup journey.

Editor’s Note: That was a very nice list Pallavi. I would like to add two more. Sleek MakeUP Blush in Rose Gold and Makeup Geek Blush in Romance are the dupes of Nars Orgasm Blush! And the Maybelline Gel Liner Black has the exact same formula at less than quarter the price of Bobbi Brown Gel liner Black Ink.

Image Source: 1,2,3,4

Do you know of more dupes to be added in the list? Mention them in the comments below.

Maybelline India Blushed Nudes Palette Review, Swatches, Tutorial

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Maybelline India Blushed Nudes Palette Review, Swatches, Tutorial

Hi guys,

I have been playing with The Blushed Nudes Palette and also created this look you see here.

What the Company claims: With all the things you’ll love about the new Blushed Nudes Palette, here are a few more:
– 12 rose-gold infused shades
– Easily blend-able
– Creates countless looks
– Compliments every skin tone

MRP: Rs.899/- for 9g

They have 13 different eye shadow combinations given behind, same like in the original Nudes, and that’s a very interesting idea. I can’t wait to try some of these looks.

The packaging of the palette is exactly like the original Nudes Palette and the pricing is also the same. It comes with a small applicator which has a sponge tip on one side and a brush on one side. The brush is pretty good for using in the inner corners or highlighting brow bone.

The palette is quite handy and small to carry along. It does not come with a mirror sadly, I would have loved a mirror.

The original Nudes Palette had all warm shades and more of browns, this palette has more pinks and grays and all cool toned shades. While the original Nudes Palette was supposed to pretty similar shades wise to the Urban Decay Naked Palette, this one the Blushed Nudes is very close shade wise to the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette.

If you follow me on Snapchat (bhumika_t), you must have seen a comparision of this palette with the same one in US and the shades are quite different, a lot of you took screenshot of that image coz the palette was quite different. I believe the US palette has more pinks and mauves and lighter shades and those shades might not show up on all Indian skintones, so they kept more of greys and darker shades in the Indian palette.

There are mostly satin finish shades, with one deep plum shade being shimmery and there are two mattes. One is a greyish taupe shade which is not that pigmented and the other is a matte white shade which is pretty decent.

Most of the shades are pretty pigmented while few are not that good and need a lot of layering for the colors to show up. But they stay on pretty good throughout the day once applied, more longer with a primer. They do not crease but the finish is not as fresh and slightly fade at the end of the day.

Here are the swatches:

TOP ROW:

The top row has all whites, peaches and pinks

BOTTOM ROW:

The bottom row has greys, taupes and purples.

I created this pink smokey eye look with this palette..

Overall I would say, this is a decent palette and worth checking out. We do not have many palette options available in India, and hardly any cool toned or pink-gray based. For the price, this is definitely pretty good. I do recommend this.

I hope you liked the look, do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Have you tried the new Maybelline Blushed Nudes Palette yet?

Garnier India Ultra Blends Range Launch #BlendedWithLove

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Garnier India Ultra Blends Range Launch #BlendedWithLove

Hi guys,

Garnier launched the new Ultra Blends Range in India and I got to attend the launch a few days ago at Asilo in St. Regis, if you follow me on twitter/Instagram/Snapchat, you must have already seen glimpses from the event.

Why is it named Ultra Blends, you ask. It is a blend of different ingredients, made for different hair types and this range has five different variants according to hair types/problems. So you can pick a shampoo and conditioner that will best work for your hair type and need not use the ‘common for all’ ranges.

Variants:

Royal Jelly & Lavender- For Hair Rebuilding (Buy HERE)

When hair is weak and fragile, it’s prone to hairfall
The Ultra Blends formula is a blend with Lavender Essence and Royal Jelly, known to be rich in amino acids, vitamins and lipids, it helps reinforce and strengthen your hair
Discover hair that is strong and resists fall from 1st wash

5 Precious Herbs- For Revitalising Hair (Buy HERE)

Modern life exposes your hair and scalp to pollution, dust and heat, making it weak and lifeless
The Ultra Blends formula is a blend with 5 precious herbs- Green tea, Eucalyptus, Aloe, Lemon and Henna – known for anti-oxidant power, anti-bacterial property, moisture, shine and conditioning respectively
Discover hair that is nourished, healthier, bouncier and more beautiful thus revitalised wash after wash
For the first time Garnier creates a powerful blend of 5 carefully chosen precious herbs that deeply yet gently cleanses hair from root to tip combining the best of nature

Soy Milk & Almonds – Intense Repair (Buy HERE)

Hair is mainly composed of proteins
When damaged, hair loses its protein content and becomes weak
The ultra blends formula, a blend with soy milk and almonds known for their rich protein content, intensely repairs and restores damaged hair
Hair feels incredibly soft with every wash
This power blend with hyper concentration of natural proteins deeply replenishes damaged hair

Mythic Olive- Deep Nourishing (Buy HERE)

Roughness, dullness, frizz are signs of under-nourished hair
The Ultra Blends formula, a blend with Virgin Olive Oil and rich in Vitamin E help nourish and protect even the driest and roughest hair
Discover hair that is intensely nourished and incredibly easy to manage
Feel the extra softness and see the brilliant shine from the very first wash

Henna & Blackberry- Nourishing Shine (Buy HERE)

If your hair is dull and lacks shine it may be lacking nourishment
The Ultra Blends formula is blended with Henna that deeply conditions hair and Blackberry that infuses life into hair with its high concentration of anti-oxidants and Vitamin C
Discover hair that is nourished, vibrant and shiny with every wash

They also had this beautiful setup created at High Street Phoenix where each range was coordinated with the main ingredients in it i.e. almonds and milk for soy milk and almond range, Olives for Mythic Oil range, so on and so forth.

Mythic Olive
5 Precious Herbs
Soy Milk & Almonds
Henna & Blackberry

I have to say this was the most beautiful setup I had seen at any event, and I have been to many! I am sure you can make that out from the pictures.

They gave floral tiaras to all the guests and even the food and drinks were as per the ingredients. The entire highlight was on the different blend of ingredients in the range.

MRP: Shampoo- Rs.120 for 175ml, Rs.55 for 75ml Conditioner- Rs.170 for 175ml. Rs.75 for 75ml for all ranges 

I loved the color coordinated packaging as per the ingredients and the cute ‘leaf’ symbol on the caps. Also they smell amazing, Royal Jelly and Lavender is my favourite!

Royal Jelly & Lavender

They are quite rich and moisturizing, and foam well too. I have used the Royal Jelly and Lavender one till now and absolutely love it, though I haven’t tried the conditioner and looking forward to buy the conditioner and use it with the shampoo. I would recommend trying both the shampoo and conditioner together as either one would not give the result which the combination of both would.

It have noticed my hair being more softer and smoother. I don’t have very dry hair, but people with dry hair would see remarkable difference. I can’t wait to try the other ranges now!

A lot of you keep asking me about paraben free hair care, this entire range i.e. all five variants are paraben free.

USP’s:

  • Very economical- Being priced at Rs.55/-, this is one of the most budget friendly range of shampoos in the India currently.
  • Different range for different hair types- So you can choose one according to your hair type or hair problem.
  • Paraben free
  • Smells amazing- Each of the range smells really good.
  • Easily available- You can buy them easily at any store or even online.

I do recommend trying out the new Garnier Ultra Blends Range. Do let me know how you like it. Follow Garnier India on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more updates.

Pics clicked by: 25.Harshad

10 Bollywood Celebrities Who Turned Vegetarian

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10 Bollywood Celebrities Who Turned Vegetarian

By Pallavi

Hiii Dearies,

Gradually world is becoming a healthier place to leave in. More and more people are cutting down and leaving Non Veg food permanently to switch over vegetarian food and lead a vegan lifestyle. The idea behind this is that health issues are increasing day by day. And people are looking to lead a healthier life and gradually increase their life expectancy.

Well, in India we Indians are believed to be star struck. So, whatever the celebrities do many of us blindly follow. And today we are presenting with you a list of celebrities who ditched non vegetarian food to adopt a completely vegan lifestyle –

1. Kangana Ranaut – The queen actress turned vegan as soon as she landed into Mumbai. She said that it has brought a lot of positivity in her life.

2. Shahid Kapoor – He got inspired by the book “Life is fair” by Brian Hines. He said in an interview that this book was gifted to him by his father Mr. Pankaj Kapoor. This actor is believed to have inspired a lot of celebs to turn vegetarian

3. Kareena Kapoor – Being from a healthy Punjabi family eating non veg was part of her lifestyle. But she gave up non veg food owing to healthy influence by her ex beau Shahid Kapoor. Even after their love saga ended she continues to remain vegan till date.

4. Aamir Khan – The perfectionist of bollywood is perfectionist here too. Once his present wife Kiran Rao showed her a video of 15 most common diseases which costs life and how they can be prevented after which he got hooked to vegan eating and never turned back.

5. Vidya Balan – She has been following a vegan diet and lifestyle since her birth. Few years ago her dietitian suggested her to have eggs but after some time she left eggs again and turned into a full vegetarian again.

6. Amitabh Bachchan – The mega star of bollywood has been vegetarian since a no. of years. And he has also been nominated by the PETA three times for being the hottest vegan celebrity.

7. Vidyut Jamval – This hot bodied actor has been vegan since he was  14 years old. He even mentioned once how his concentration has improved since he turned vegan

8. Neha Dhupia – The actress was going through health troubles some years ago. Her doctors suggested her to turn vegetarian and she did. She turned a complete vegetarian and was also named by PETA for the Asia Pacific sexiest vegetarian woman 2011.

9. Celina Jatley – In 2013 there was a 21 day vegan kickstart program which she joined with other celebrities. After which she turned vegetarian

10. Alia Bhatt – It seems that her real life inspiration Kareena Kapoor was the one who inspired her to become vegetarian. And looks like the youngest Bhatt daughter is not going back anytime soon.

So, these were some of the celebrities who ditched non veg food and became all vegetarian. Let me know if any of the other celebrities have also done the same in the comments down below.

Image Source: 1,2,3,4,5

Studiowest Maaya Crystal Eyeshadow Trio Goldmine Review, Swatches

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Studiowest Maaya Crystal Eyeshadow Trio Goldmine Review, Swatches

By Devika

Hola loves!

We all love buying makeup, don’t we? Even those “random” visits and strolls through makeup boutique and counter aisles end up with us eventually buying the stuff we fancy lying at the counters! We can’t help 😀

During such one random visit to Westside I discovered that they actually have a huge makeup and skincare studio, STUDIOWEST. I drove straight into it and the product that fascinated me the most was their eye shadow trio as I was on a hunt to get travel friendly palette to carry along for weddings!

They actually have their range sorted into two lines: (Read more HERE)

The Pure Passion line which is a more wearable, lightweight ranging from nudes to pinks for the woman at work

The Maaya line which is more edgy, has shimmery and bold dazzling shades for festivities, weddings and women who want to look more glamorous.

They have a great range of colors which are designed specifically to flatter the Indian skin tones.

Pure passion has daytime neutrals and black Smokey eye shadow trio. While Maaya has stark shades in Bombay jewels and goldmine trio.

I chose the goldmine for its vibrant color combination. It’s a mix of plum, gold and brown. I tried it at the counter and gosh it blew me off with the pigmentation. I had to pick it up!

So let’s get into reviewing the STUDIOWEST MAAYA CRYSTAL EYESHADOW IN M03 GOLDMINE

PRODUCT CLAIMS: “Hi intensity color, for dramatic eyes. Blends effortlessly to create a complete look”

PRICE: INR 425 for 4.2 g

SHELF LIFE Is approx. 2 years

TO USE: “Combine three shades to experiment with your look! Using the applicator, apply the dark shade to line the eyelid. Next, blend in the medium shade along the crease & highlight under the eyebrow for a stunning result”

AVAILABILITY: The Studio West range is available across most Westside stores in India and is an awesome stop for high quality, reasonable products. How I wish it could be available online too!

MY EXPERIENCE

PACKAGING

Studio West Maaya crystal eye shadow comes enclosed in a black paper box with small cutout window which shows off the product. Inside is a compact plastic case with no mirror attached. Well that doesn’t bother me at least. It has a transparent lid making it easier to see through the shades.

The details are written on the base. Inside the case rests three eye shadow colors in square cases. The double sided sponge applicator it comes with, is of no use and I use my own set of brushes to apply the shadows.

The packaging is simple, nothing fancy or great but not cheap looking either. It is breakable and not sturdy so one needs to be careful while handling it or while travelling.

TEXTURE

The texture is to die for!! Truly speaking I didn’t expect this kind of texture from this palette, since most drugstore brands have those powdery finish with loads of fallout. All three eye shadows are so creamy and satin soft and glide on like a dream!! Application and blending is super easy and seamless. The shimmer present in the formula is very subtle, not like big crystals but are finely milled and I didn’t observe any fall out during application, however I always prefer doing my eye makeup first and base later.

PIGMENTATION

This Goldmine trio is a beautiful palette containing great festive shades: a plum, antique gold and a copper brown. Great color selection and would suit most of our heavy attires.

I can’t really stress enough on how pigmented these eye shadows are. Just have a look at the swatches and this is without a primer (just swatched once). All the three shades are super pigmented and have a reflective, subtle shimmery finish which doesn’t look over the top. The colors blend well without a hassle.

SHADES

The color pay off in a single swipe is exceptional (see swatches). The first shade from the left is so unique. It is a plumy-burgundy shade and looks gorgeous. The middle one is shimmery golden with warm bronze undertone to it. The third one is a gorgeous copper-brown shade. Perfect blend for Indian skin tone.

STAYING POWER

They stayed quite well on my eyes for over 6 hours without any creasing or fading that too without a primer (do prime in case you have oily lids). However with a good base and primer, longevity increases by up to 2 hours. No fallouts whatsoever after application. It can easily be removed with any makeup remover for that matter. Impressive staying power!

PROS

  • Very affordable
  • Gorgeous shade selection
  • Very few fall outs
  • Blends easily
  • Staying power & pigmentation is brilliant
  • Soft creamy texture
  • Super Affordable (3 shades for 425)
  • Primer not required to intensify the colors
  • Works really well with all Indian skin tones
  • Compact and easy to carry around
  • The quantity is good enough for the price

CONS

  • Availability
  • Have a little Fallout (only during application)
  • The Brush is merely useless
  • Packaging could have been sturdier
  • Oily lids need a primer to make it last long
  • No mirror provided

RATING 4.5/5 (-0.5 for not so sturdy packing and a bad applicator)

RECOMMENDATION

Yes! I absolutely recommend this particular trio if you are looking for a palette which would be perfect for festival/ wedding season as it would team perfectly with all your ethnic attires. You can’t ask for better quality at this price. I loved the color selection on the whole, shades are sorted out to work on Indian skin. The formula and shades are absolutely fantastic and it’s very reasonably priced too. If at all you have to pick any one product from this range, this must be it!!!!

Will I repurchase?

Yes I am planning to give Daytime neutrals eye shadow a try!

Editor’s Note: I have the basic daytime neutrals one. These are a total value for money. The centre gold shade is to die for!

Have you tried the Studiowest Goldmine Eyeshadow Trio?

Summer Skin Care Tips & Home Remedies

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Summer Skin Care Tips & Home Remedies

By Rashmi

Hello lovelies,

Summers are back and with a bang. Nobody likes summers as they bring with them innumerable skin woes. But don’t you people worry. I have got it all covered for you people with easy solutions to keep your skin fresh and glowing. Thank me later

1. SUNSCREEN –

Use sunscreen whenever you are going out and make sure it is at least SPF 30 or choose from what suits you. Sunscreens protect your skin from harmful UV rays and prevent it from getting damaged.

2. CLEANSER –

The cleanser helps to unclog pores and it should be used as a part of a skincare regimen. During summers it becomes even more important to use a cleanser as the skin becomes lifeless and the pores get clogged. Make your own cleanser by mixing yogurt and honey. Apply it on your face and let it stay for 20 minutes and then wash it off to get clear skin.

3. EXFOLIATE –

Exfoliation is a must for the skin. Dead skin needs to be removed as they make the face look dull. Make your own exfoliator by mixing oatmeal, honey, and milk. Apply it on the face and let it sit for 10 mins then start scrubbing the face gently with wet hands. Scrub slowly for 5 minutes and then wash it off with water.

4. TONER-

Toners make you feel refreshed instantly. Make a refreshing toner by simply mixing cucumber juice with rosewater. Store it in the refrigerator to give it a longer life. Though use it only for a week and then make a new one. Carry it with yourself when going out. Spray it on your face to give your face instant relaxation.

5. MOISTURISE –

This step is what many people avoid during summers. Change your moisturiser to an oil-free one. Moisturisers are required by the skin in every season. It becomes even more important to use a moisturiser after exfoliation to lock the nourishment back into the skin. Mix your night serum with your moisturiser and apply it to your face to give the skin all the goodness that it needs.

6. KEEP YOURSELF HYDRATED –

Drink as much water as you can. During summers this is certainly the most important thing. Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. And do not wait for your mouth to get dry. Try drinking refreshing juices like watermelon juice or lemon water.

RANDOM SKIN CARE TIPS-

1. Rub ice all over your face to instantly soothe your skin. But make sure you cover it with a muslin cloth, never apply ice directly to your skin.

2. Apply calamine lotion to soothe skin rashes.

3. If you are out of toner, simply apply cold rosewater on your face to calm and soothe the skin.

4. Avoid oily and fried food. Include lots of fruits and veggies in your diet.

Editor’s Note: These are such basic things Rashmi, but we always tend to take them for granted. Articles like these remind me to follow things sincerely. One thing I would like to add and which I also follow is carrying a thermal spring water and spritzing it time and again, be it Avene, Vichy, La Roche Posay,etc.

Image Source: 1,2,Getty

Do you follow all these summer skin care tips?

Step By Step Description of How to Do Hair Spa At Home

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Step By Step Description of How to Do Hair Spa At Home

By Sanchita

The idea behind the hair spa is to rejuvenate and protect the hair. Yes, the good old warm oil massage and mild shampoo followed by conditioner is the regular or weekly routine carried on by us to protect and condition the hair. But, apart from that the hair needs specific care and rejuvenation by the process of hair spa. Now, hair spa is not necessarily done in parlors or hair care institutions and can be easily carried on at home with specific and easy available ingredients at your own volition. So you need not spend valuable money or time at the spa session every time. Let us see the step by step description of how to do hair spa at home.

1. Hair Oil

When you are going to devote yourself to the self-spa session, avoid using the readymade oils from the market which are nothing but merely mineral oils. So it will do no good to the hair. Use a concoction of hair oils like coconut oil, castor oil, almond oil and olive oil. The mixture should be 4parts coconut oil, 1 part castor oil, 2 parts almond oil and 3 parts olive oil. You can add other essential oils like argan, rose, ylang ylang or lavender as per your choice. Warm up the oil in a double boiler (no direct heat) and you can also add various herbs as well. For e.g. dried amla, methi seeds, neem leaves, hibiscus leaves paste, etc. can also be added in the warm oil which will further strengthen the hair. The hair oil is the vital step and best if it is done for.

2. Through massage

While the oil is the most important ingredient, the massage is the process which completes the procedure partly. Simply applying the oil won’t do so make sure you dedicate a good amount of time to massage the scalp well. Do not vigorously rub the scalp but merely run the fingers in a circular motion covering the whole area of the scalp. Massaging is essential as it improves blood circulation in your scalp area. You should massage your hair for 10 to 15 minutes. It helps relax the scalp and increase softness. It further aids in strengthening the roots of the hair and nourishes the hair-shafts, promoting new hair growth and strengthening current hair.

3. Warm Towel

If you have applied the oil a night before, then apply the warm towel in the morning and if you have applied the hair oil in the morning, do this at least an hour or two post oil massage. Dip a towel in warm water (just make sure not to burn the hand) and wrap it around the hair. In general, salons use a stream machine but the warm towel will surely do the trick. Warmth open up the pores on the scalp and thus it gets all the benefits of the oil. Also, it cleanses the scalp thoroughly, thereby promoting healthy hair growth.

4. Henna Mask

There are several hair masks available for hair and you can include the ingredients like ripe banana, eggs, curd, mayonnaise, etc. but I would suggest henna. Personally I have benefited a lot from the henna hair packs and it works like wonder. Henna is an age old method widely used in Ayurveda for treating hair and scalp problems. It is one of the best natural remedies for hair growth, helps to prevent dandruff and scalp itching. It acts as a good conditioner for your hair and helps to grow your hair. Mix the henna powder in the form of a paste with the help of curd or lemon and simply apply on the hair.

5. Shampoo

Once the hair mask is dried or after 40-50mins, wash off the mask with plain water. The rinsing will be easy as the hair as already well-nourished with oils. Next, move on to the main process of shampooing the hair. Try and use a SLS and PARABEN free shampoo which is mild and easy on the hair. Using a harsh chemically enriched shampoo means whatever effort you gave would go down the drain and the hair will be frizzy, rough and unmanageable. Shampoo will cleanses off every layer of dirt, grime, dandruff or any other residual substances on the hair, including the hair oil and hair pack. Although, the hair would retain the benefits for sure. One of the most important thing is that, rinsing off the shampoo is very important. A lot of people do apply it correctly and massage onto the scalp but forgets to rinse it out.

6. Conditioner

After the shampoo, apply the conditioner to the length of hair and keep it for around 2-3mins and no longer than that. Make sure the conditioner doesn’t slips onto the scalp and gets rinsed out properly after the shampoo.

7. Leave in Serum

This is the last step but I would call it optional. Since I have curly and dry hair, I always apply a leave in serum to make it manageable and frizz free but it is completely up to you. Also, I would not advise this step if you have thin and flat hair because it may weigh the hair down as the hair has already been conditioned since step 1.

These are the ways you can easily carry on the hair spa at home without shelling big bucks and also at our own convenience.

Editor’s Note: Absolutely loved this post Sanchita. This is the ideal procedure, wish I was not that lazy and time crunched :/ But even once a week or once in 2 weeks, following this routine would be amazing.

Image Sources: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Do you do hair spa at home?

Sun Pharma’s #SuncrosSunscreen Review

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Sun Pharma’s #SuncrosSunscreen Review

Hi guys,

So I attended this very interesting launch last week of the all new Suncros Sunscreen. If you have ever been to a dermatologist and he prescribed you Suncros sunscreen, you already know about this brand and are wondering it is not new.

Yes, Suncros is already sold at pharmacies since 2005 and is also the most recommended sunscreen by dermatologists in India. It is available both OTC and on prescription, but since majority didn’t know about the brand, it is majorly sold on prescription. But now they have launched it commercially with the all new packaging.

Suncros is promoted by Sun Pharma’s branded prescription business and will now be co-promoted by the Global Consumer Healthcare business. It is the first sunscreen in India to be co-promoted and sold both OTC and on prescription.

And Dia Mirza is on board as Suncros’ Brand Ambassador. On the launch, we had a panel of dermatologists who busted quite some myths about sunscreen, I will share a few crucial ones:

  • Indian skin doesn’t need high SPF coz it already has enough melanin and needs UVA and UVB protection. So it is more important to check that in a sunscreen rather than SPF
  • Men needs to apply sunscreen too, they usually ignore and very less percentage of men in India use sunscreen
  • You need to reapply sunscreen even if you are wearing makeup, by dabbing the base lightly, reapplying sunscreen and then doing your touch ups.
  • Vitamin D deficiency has no link to using sunscreen. And even people with Vitamin D deficiency need to use sunscreen
  • You need sunscreen even if you stay indoors whole day or travel in AC car.

I personally came to know a lot of new things, I never used to reapply sunscreen when I had makeup on. Also sometimes skipped when in the house whole day. The most important thing I learned is Indian skin needs to check UVA and UVB and not SPF.

Suncros will be available in three differentiated variants that provide broad spectrum protection –

  • Suncros Aqualotion with SPF 50 for sensitive skin- Rs.395/- for 60ml
  • Suncros Aquagel with SPF 26 for oily skin- Rs.345/- for 100g
  • Suncros Soft with SPF 50+ PA+++ in matte finish for all ages that provides 8 hour substantivity- Rs.545/- for 30g

The scientific and technologically advanced formulations of Suncros provides broad spectrum sun protection from harmful UV rays as they penetrate deep within the skin through the nanonized and micronized zinc oxide. For women who know the merit of a sound skin care regime, Suncros is going to make its presence felt in their daily lives while offering the am to pm sun protection they always needed. Suncros protects skin from the harmful effects of UV rays that causes pigmentation, skin tanning and premature aging that concerns most women across regions and age-groups. Not to forget the protection from the ultimate risk of skin cancer.

Ingredients:

We got the Suncros Soft with SPF50+ PA+++ in matte finish and I have been using it since the past few days. Here are my thoughts on it..

It comes in a tube form and doesn’t have any sort of smell. The product is thick and creamy and has a light yellow tint.

It is water resistant and has UVA/UVB protection. It is safe for all ages and for anyone to use from babies (6 months+) to adults.

It is silicony which makes it stay for 8 hours and also acts as a nice primer for your everyday makeup. It has completely matte finish and does not feel greasy or rich at all. Some sunscreens tend to sweat me out but this one definitely doesn’t. Also it is water resistant so the sweat won’t wipe off the sunscreen.

It is free from chemical sunscreen agents, some people react to a few chemical ingredients in suncreen and this would be perfect for them. The micronized zinc oxide is Suncros’ USP which penetrates through the skin and protects the skin from UV rays.

I think this will become my Holy Grail soon, I would anyday prefer chemical agents free sunscreen and which is no.1 Dermatologists’ Recommended product rather than cosmetic OTC ones.

I definitely recommend Suncros, it even comes in lotion and gel form if you have very oily skin or need it for body. And the fact that is  easily available at any pharmacy store, makes it even better! Must try!

Have you tried Suncros Sunscreen before?

Colorbar Perfect Match BB Beauty Balm Review, Swatches

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Colorbar Perfect Match BB Beauty Balm Review, Swatches

By Devika

Hi beautyholics!!!

Hope you all are doing well. Summers are here in full swing and carrying a full coverage makeup base such as a foundation and concealer becomes a task especially for everyday go to looks. One just can’t stand by putting on thick layers of base. But we can’t skip it as we do need a sheer flawless look too. As I was facing hard time in sweaty summer days I decided to give a BB cream a shot and I chose COLORBAR PERFECT MATCH BB BEAUTY BALM (vanilla crème)WITH SPF 20 and how it fared for me let’s find out!!

Price 550 INR for 29 gm (BUY HERE)

Shelf life is of 30 months

Availability: Across all colorbar counters and also online at amazon , flipkart ,nykaa, jabong

Ingredients:

Colorbar Claims: Makeup and skincare come together to create a perfect match! This multi-benefit beauty balm hydrates, smoothes , protects, and corrects skin with sheer coverage in one effortless step. Enhanced with a blend of potent botanicals and antioxidants, the fresh and airy formula boosts luminosity, diminishes the signs of aging and repairs uneven skin tone while protecting it with broad-spectrum sun protection.

Description: Created using ‘Perfect Match’ technology which makes the BB cream adapt to your skin tone and blend perfectly. It provides sheer coverage with radiant glow.

  •  Paraben free, safe for all skin type
  • Contains Apple Extract and Aloe Vera for nourshing, protecting and moisturising skin
  • Contains SPF20 with UVA/UVB filters for broad spectrum sun protection
  • Actives from USA

Packaging is quite simple. It comes in a broad, rectangular, flattened, opaque skin colored, squeeze tube packaging (with product claim printed) with a silver colored rectangular twist off lid with shade name and number labelled. It is enclosed in the typical colorbar silver rectangular cardboard packaging with product claims and ingredients written. It is travel friendly and perfect for carrying to work. Packaging definitely is quite big for the small quantity it carries. The nozzle of the tube and the tube itself becomes dirty and looks gross just in a few days of usage

Shades – Colorbar Perfect Match BB Cream comes in 3 shades Vanilla Creme, Honey Glaze & Cinnamon Swirl. The shade which I own is 001- Vanilla Crème and it is perfect for my medium to fair skin tone. As far as the color is concerned, the shade looks warm when swatched but once applied, it sets into my perfect shade without giving a white cast.

Texture: The formula is creamy, whippy and a pea sized drop is enough for your entire face and goes on smoothly without settling into fine lines. Blends quite well into the skin without leaving white cast behind and gives a beautiful matte finish. The product is enriched with antioxidants and SPF 20 so it is great for everyday use without having to worry about daily use of foundations and concealers. It gives you near flawless coverage. It does not make the skin appear cakey or blotchy; however it dries quickly so you have to be quick with blending. I use my fingers to push the product into the skin. Formula is non greasy, matte and feels comfortable on my oily to combination acne prone skin but for my dry skin ladies I would suggest to use a good moisturizer beneath. I have been using it for quite a long time now and I haven’t faced any breakouts with it.

Pigmentation and coverage: The coverage is more towards the sheer side, perfect for daily usage. It won’t cover up imperfections, but blur them to a certain degree giving a natural look. Those having dark circles might need to use a concealer but I skip it usually. It gives a very natural, glowing look to my face and feels very light on the face. It doesn’t melt with sweat. Well, this cream claims to repair the skin as well, but I didn’t notice any such change in my skin but yes my acne prone skin hasn’t broken out yet. Though it has a SPF of 20 but I do apply a layer of sunscreen as the sun rays are way too sharp these days. It has a fresh fragrance which faints after a while.

Staying power: It lasts on me for good 5 hours, with the T zone getting shiny after about 3 hours so it slides away from there faster, but I top the BB cream with compact on most days, and then I am set for the whole day. On rest of the face it stays on for good 5+ hours

Pros:

  • Easy, convenient packaging
  • Keeps my face oil free for 5-6 hours.
  • Blends effortlessly
  • No parabens.
  • Doesn’t settle in fine lines or pores.
  • Didn’t break me out.
  • Light texture
  • Hides minor imperfections
  • Enriched with SPF 20 and antioxidants.
  • 3 Shades to choose from
  • Easily available.

Cons

  • Won’t conceal acne, blemishes or under eye circles.
  • Dry skinned ladies need to apply a moisturizer beneath it
  • Didn’t repair my skin, unlike its claims.
  • Packaging acquires an old look very quickly
  • Priced on the higher side
  • SPF should have been more than 20
  • Dries quickly so you have to be careful not to take too long for application of the cream.

Overall

I absolutely love the way this Colorbar Perfect Match BB Cream evens out my oily skin and makes it look so matte. This product is suitable for those who doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of putting layers of concealers and foundations every day for causal purposes. Just grab it, dab it and rush to work!!SPF 20 is an added advantage and no breakouts with this one so a big thumbs up. Though Price is the only downside as we know how affordable other BB creams are in market.

Will I buy it again? The coverage of this particular BB Cream for daily wear is beautiful and I really like this product so yes, I will definitely pick this one up again. Give it a try and you will not be disappointed.

Rating: 4/5

Editor’s Note: That’s a very nice and detailed review Devika. This sounds quite good.

Have you tried the Colorbar BB Cream yet?

Top 10 Kama Ayurveda Products, Prices, Buy Online

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Top 10 Kama Ayurveda Products, Prices, Buy Online

By Archana

Today am here with one more ayuvedic brand – Kama Ayurveda. Most beauty enthusiasts would already be aware of it. But when I was talking about this to one of my office teammates, they were joking about the name of the brand. So just to clarify for new people, Kama means desire. Kama Ayurveda – the brand emphasizes the desire for harmony between the physical, mental and spirtitual realms. Only when the mind and the body are connected, one can achieve perfect health. And perfect health gives perfect skin! So desire perfect health! Desire perfect skin! That is why Ayurveda is more powerful than English medicines and chemical products, which focus on curing a particular symptom.

Let’s see the top 10 Kama Ayurveda products you need to try.

1. Kumkumadi Miraculous Beauty Ayurvedic Night Serum (Price: Rs.1890 for 12ml) (BUY HERE)

By far, this is the brand’s best selling product. It is an anti-ageing serum and suitable for those above 25+ years who are looking to start an anti-ageing routine. Though its an oil based serum, it can be used even by oily skin people. From the various beauty blogger reviews I have checked, it doesn’t cause any whiteheads or acne. The main ingredient is saffron blended along with vetiver, sandalwood, lotus and licorice. It works on reducing fine lines, fades dark spots and gives a soft glowing skin. One thing though, the brand has hiked the price too high and its just 12ml!

2. Nalpamaradi Thailam Skin Brightening Treatment (Price: Rs.595 for 100ml) (BUY HERE)

This is a more cost effective version of the above Kumkumadi. If you do not wish to spend too much on Kumkumadi, you can go for this. It is a skin-lightening and de-tanning oil for both face and body. But if you have acne-prone skin, better not use this for face. Its not as miraculous as the above one, but works well in lightening and removing tan while giving glowing skin. You can use it on hands and legs as well.

3. Rose Jasmine Face Cleanser (Price: Rs.375 for 50ml and Rs.675 for 100ml) (BUY HERE)

Just as the name suggests, its a lovely, gentle cleanser suitable for all skin types. The calming and relaxing scent makes the otherwise routine face washing experience, a pleasant one, which you will look forward to (from personal experience 🙂 ). It cleanses skin well giving a refreshed feeling while the mild salicylic acid content in it helps to control breakouts.

4. Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub (Price: Rs.995 for 50g) (BUY HERE)

This is a pure luxury scrub formulated with kumkumadi oil and finely ground sweet almond along with liquorice, vetiver and wild himalayan cherries. It exfoliates away the dead cells and gives smooth, soft and brighter skin. Also helps to lighten pigmentation and scars. You can notice a glowing complexion with continuous usage.

5. Kama Ayurveda Pure Vetiver Water (Price:Rs.175 for 50ml and Rs.645 for 200ml)

For those who love a cool, refreshing mist, this is a perfect option. It instantly hydrates and balances the pH of the skin and relaxes the mind with its calming, earthy scent. For those who prefer the floral jasmine fragrance, they can go for the Pure Mogra Water.

6. Mridul Soap-Free Cleanser (Price: Rs.425 for 40g) (BUY HERE)

This is a natural powder-based cleanser made of a traditional Ayurvedic combination of oatmeal, green gram, almond, neem, sandalwood, turmeric, rose and fennel. Just imagine all the goodness going directly into your skin! Its really food for skin.. It gives a fresh and radiant face. Also acts as a mild exfoliator.

7. Lavanya Natural Plant Mask (Price: Rs.395 for 25g)

This is an ayurvedic mask for pigmentation, acne scars and blemishes. It purifies the skin and deep cleanses. If you are suffering from oily, blemished and acne-prone skin, you should definitely give this one a try. Unlike clay masks, this is like a powdered-leaves based pack. It is gentle enough to be used even daily.

8. Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment Oil (Price: Rs.515 for 100ml and Rs.995 for 200ml) (BUY HERE)

It is a herbal hair oil which helps to treat hair loss, dandruff and premature greying. It contains a blend of amla and liquorice in a base of pure sesame oil and milk. After washing your hair, you can feel it soft, smooth, shiny and naturally conditioned. With regular use, it also promotes hair growth.

9. Organic Cold-Pressed Aloe Vera Juice (Price: Rs.500 for 100ml)

The reason I mentioned aloe vera juice in the list is because not many brands sell it. And making aloe vera juice at home is a painful process. Kama Ayurveda has 100% organic cold pressed aloe vera juice. Just use it regularly and see how your face glows and you get a clear complexion. It also helps in treating sunburn, rashes, blemishes and acne. Also, you can use it to mix your herbal hair packs.

10. Rose Jasmine Hand Cleanser and Hand Lotion (Price: Rs.895 for 200ml) (BUY HERE)

Our hands and foot deserve the ultimate care, yet we ignore them the most. Hands show signs of ageing very soon as we subject it to harsh soaps often. Show some TLC to your hands with Kama Ayurveda’s gentle hand cleanser and hand lotion. It has a nice, delicate floral fragrance and makes your hands soft and moisturized.

Apart from these, their sulphate-free shampoos and silicone-free conditioners are definitely recommened. Also, I have tried couple of their massage oils – meditate & energize variants and found them a good relaxing experience for winters. And if you wish to buy essential oils/virgin cold-pressed carrier oils, Kama Ayurveda ones, even if slightly expensive, are worth it, as they are in purest form.

So which Kama Ayurveda products you have tried? Share your experiences with them below.

Editor’s Note: Loved the post Archana, I have used the Kumkumadi Tailam before my wedding, used it every night, and absolutely loved it. I still have some left and would start using it again soon. Apart from that, I love the Rose, Lavender and Vetiver Water. I have the Mridul Cleanser and have to start using it, also the Bringadi Oil.

Which are your favourite Kama Ayurveda products?