PAC Cosmetics Beauty Blender First Impressions, Demo, Buy Online
Hi guys,
So I got a few products from PAC Cosmetics including this beauty blender. While I am trying out the other products and would review them soon, this beauty blender got me really intrigued and I did the first impressions/demo video with it.
Claims: The unique shape & exclusive material which is edgeless sponge a high definition cosmetics sponge applicator. This sponge will allow the product to sit on the top of the sponge rather then being absorbed. Allowing you to complete your make-up application with less products & less time. When beauty blender is wet it would double in size & become even softer. It would returned to its own size after its dries Top Tip: Use this unique sponge for your cream, liquid or powder foundation. It can also be used contouring, highlighting with cream or powder products.
It looks and feels exactly like the original beauty blender and PAC Cosmetics also has a set of two or three tiny beauty blenders for concealers,etc just like the original brand.
There are a lot of beauty blender dupes and brands having similar sponges like from Forever 21 and many, many others. Real Techniques also has a mustard colored Miracle Complexion Sponge which is flat from one end though. That also makes it easier to blend on cheeks or apply powder.
While I have two Sigma F80 brushes and always use the F80 only for blending, this is the first time I am using a sponge/beauty blender. If you see the video, I was subconsciously rubbing and buffing the product like with a brush :/ Err, yes I am that used to a brush. I saw Kandee Johnson’ video on how you have to ‘Push and Roll’ when you use a beauty blender which looks like bouncing when done quickly. I ended up buffing but still it was super easy to blend the foundation with it, I am surely trying to correct method again and it should show even better results.
But I am blown away by how super soft and squishy this is and makes blending foundation super easy, I blended it within 1 minute and some seconds, this was super quick and it does not go streaky or patchy at all. Also the tapered end is perfect for under eyes and the corners of the nose.
While the Real Techniques one is around the same price, from the few reviews I have read, the Real Techniques one is a little harder and not as soft as this one. For the price of Rs.485/- I am loving it and definitely recommend it, it will make your foundation/base routine change forever. You can use it daily with your BB creams/Tinted moisturizers and it will work just as well. Also saves your time in the morning.
I love it and recommend it, if you try it, do let me know how you find it.
PAC is a professional makeup line, often used by makeup artists and now since the products are easily available online, we all can take advantage of it and buy the professional makeup brushes which perform as good as the MAC ones at half the price. The brushes range from Rs.300 to Rs.800, I have one more brush from them which I will review soon.
Update: My beauty blender tore a bit from two sides in the first wash :/ Not really happy about that, and I didn’t even wash it vigorously. If you follow me on Snapchat (@bhumika_t), you would have seen the pics and video. I will try and update you guys after more uses.
Do let me know your thoughts on the PAC Cosmetics Beauty Blender.
Top 10 Neutral Eye Shadow Palettes in India, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
Neutral eye makeup are the ‘in’ thing now and no matter it is daytime makeup look or night one, neutral eye always turns out to be the glamorous one. Improvising with neutral look is the safest choice if you are unable to decide the look you want. On Indian skin, the neutral look suits the best with pale browns, taupe, soft copper and bronze. Just add a dash of winged liner and a rocking lip color, which would give you a simple yet stunning look. These kind of looks can hardly be creates with one of two colors and you need a proper palette at your disposal. Hence, I thought of doing an affordable list of best Neutral Eye Shadow Palette in India. These brands are readily available in various e-commerce sites or retailed easily in the market. So, let’s take a look at the list.
No matter what makeup it is, Maybelline will always top the list for me. The Nudes palette is has 12shades of various neutrals like browns, grey, bronze, and taupe with few matte and shimmery highlighters for various looks. It is perfect for both warm and cool skin tones and a number of looks can be created with this one. The texture is soft and the pigmentation is also good for daily wear. This is surely a great neutral palette for the price tag.
2. Urban Decay Naked – (Approx. 5000 INR)
The ultimate madness for neutrals started with the UD palettes and honestly, I can never decide which one to choose between the three. UD Naked palettes are legendary! Each of them is gorgeous to the core and undeniably amazing. Each palettes consists 12 colors and best for creating any neutral or soft smoky look. The texture is just like butter and highly pigmented. It is very easy to blend and layer and known for its outstanding quality. The staying power and finish is also commendable. Although the price is high but totally worth it.
3. Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 Palette – 1050 INR (BUY HERE for 790)
The Iconic range of Makeup Revolution is the dupe of UD palettes and are easily available in India as well. UD costs a bomb and hence when we want an affordable dupe, Makeup Revolution is the best deal we can get. Among all the Iconic and Iconic Pro, my favorite for neutrals will be the Iconic 2 which is the dupe of UD Naked 2. The combination of colors are very pretty with bronze, soft browns, grey, black and shimmery highlighters. It is a perfect daytime palettes and readily available on discounts as well.
4. MUA Heaven and Earth Palette – 1050 INR
One of the best neutral brown palettes I have used so far! Though most of the shades are shimmery finish but they look exceptionally natural on the eyelids. Most of the colors are warm toned and especially suit the Indian skin tones. The texture is very soft and pretty blend-able. The pigmentation is also good and you can layer it very nicely if you want that intense look. MUA also has the palette “Undress Me Too” (Review & Swatches HERE) which is another great palette for cool toned and grey colors. P.S: While Heaven and Earth is Urban Decay Naked Dupe, the Undress Me Too is Urban Decay Naked 2 Dupe
5. L’Oreal Paris Color Riche La Palette – 1399 INR (BUY HERE for 1119)
The Color Riche La Palette from L’Oreal Paris comes in a sturdy black casing with a double tip sponge applicator and an in-built mirror. It is a very recent launch in India and is available in 2 shades – Beige and Rose. The colors are very similar but has slight changes in them. The Beige one is lighter than the Rose. In my opinion, the Rose will be a perfect choice for the Indian skin tones with a handful of deep colors and various neutrals to choose from.
This is a brand I surely want to be officially available in India! Their quality is impeccable and the price is comparatively affordable even after shipping and taxes. The texture is soft and creamy powdery and has very less fall out issues. The pigmentation is as gorgeous as it can get with single swipe itself! Their i-divine palettes are incredibly good and when it comes to neutrals, there are two best of the best – Au Naturel and Oh So Special. Au Naturel has beautiful peaches and deep browns and a jet matte black for night time look. Overall, it is a highly recommended one. (All Sleek MakeUP Review and Swatches HERE)
7. Makeup Revolution I Heart Chocolate – 1550 INR (Available on Nykaa)
The ‘Chocolate’ series of Makeup Revolution is worth all the attention is has. These are the dupes of the high end Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette. Of course, Too Faced is high priced and often out of stock. However, the Makeup Revolution one is available and the quality is definite worth talking about. The blend of browns, burgundy, deep chocolate, beige and pearly highlighters is just as craving as a chocolate bar. The pigmentation is very good and a lot of day and night time looks can be easily created with this. P.S: I have the Too Faced Palette and I know how exactly similar this is, at 1/4th the price, this is definitely a must have!
8. Freedom Pro 12 Stunning Smokes – 1200 INR (Available on Nykaa)
Freedom is another London Based makeup brand and becoming very prominent in the beauty market in India. Their Pro 12 palettes are excessively popular with various mattes, nudes, shimmery and deep colors. The best neutral palette is the Stunning Smokes which has 12 gorgeous mixture of mattes and shimmery colors. The colors are so pigmented that even the lighter ones shows up pretty well on the lids and the texture is also a total winner.
9. FACES Glam On Color Perfect Eyeshadow Smokey – 599 INR
A quad of 4 shimmery beautiful colors – bronze, plum, taupe and a pearly highlighter with an affordable price tag is surely worth trying. The packaging is sturdy and compact which comes with a mirror and an applicator. The texture is soft with a decent saturation of color. It works well even without primers and will suit the cool and neutral skin tones very well.
10. Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette – 2300 INR
This is the closest dupe of the renowned Urban Decay Naked 2 and Naked 3. There are 20 colors in this palettes, consisting of various shimmery and matte peach, browns, burgundy and taupe. The texture is very soft and blends profusely on the lids. The pigmentation is also good and helps you the layer the deeper color easily. It has a very good staying power of 5-6hours without primer and the palette, overall, is a great value for money.
Editor’s Note: I love the Sleek MakeUP Oh So Special palette, it’s my favourite. And also the Too Faced Chocolate bar Palette, the Makeup Revolution I Heart Chocolate is an exact dupe shade to shade, another must have! I want to try the Coastal Scents Revealed 2. This is a very useful compilation Sanchita.
Tell us your favourite neutral eyeshadow palette in India, in the comments below.
Top 10 Foundations for Oily Skin in India, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
Summer is almost here and it is just a matter of a month now. With summer, comes back the oiliness, greasy feel and of course, the infamous breakouts. Therefore, the oily skinned beauties are always in hunt of oil-free foundation that would not only keep the oiliness at bay but also stay long. The oil secretion increases with the passage of time and the foundation along with the blush and bronzers also starts melting down, creating a big mess. Hence, choose the foundation very cautiously. With so new launched every month and the discontinuity of several products, it is very difficult to choose one product. Therefore, I have compiled the 10 best foundations for oil free look with various coverage. Let’s take a look at it.
1. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation – 525 INR (BUY HERE for 417) (Review coming soon)
The newest baby from the Maybelline. The brand is exceptional well in bringing out great products at a very budget friendly price tag. The foundation comes in 6 shades and most of them are warm toned, will specifically suit the Indian skin tones. They provide a medium to buildable coverage (bit not heavy) and gives a satin-matte finish. It makes the pores look slightly blurry and soft and has a very good oil control factor. For the price, it is wonderful choice for oil skin.
Another great foundation for oily skin from the very own desi brand Lakme. It is has the light whipped mousse texture, as the name suggest and blends on the skin like anything. The texture is so good that even a beginner would have no issues with the product. The coverage is sheer to medium with a soft matte finish and the presence of silicones aids in smoothening the pores. It looks just like your skin and great for everyday use.
3. MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 – (APPROX. 1800 INR)
One of the popular and remarkable foundation of all times, is the MAC Studio Fix Fluid. MAC can provide you the best shade card and seldom people go wrong with the shades. The foundation has light weight silky texture, blends really smoothly and has a very good coverage. It also has certain special skin-conditioning ingredients yet looks completely matte. It absorbs and disperse oil and gives an airbrushes look to the skin. The wear time long and considered the best foundation for brides.
4. L’Oreal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation- 1325 INR (BUY HERE for 1126) (Review and Swatches HERE)
Bhumika has already tried, tested and reviewed the foundation and she believes it is a great foundation for oily skin. It has 11 shades with adequate warm and cool tones. The texture is nice to work and it is advisable by her to blend in with a damp brush or sponge. It feels completely matte on the skin, there is no shininess or dewiness with it. It gives a nice medium to heavy coverage without blocking the pores at all. It has SPF 18 but it doesn’t gives any whitish cast and also photographs well.
5. Bourjois Happy Light foundation – (APPROX. 1600 INR)
A light foundation tailored for the oily skin. It blends into the skin just like a natural coating with an airbrushed touch to it. It feels extremely light to wear it and doesn’t suffocate the pores at all. There isn’t any issue of breakouts and the foundation has several warm shades for the Indian skin. It gives a moderate to buildable coverage but won’t work much on stubborn acne marks. It has a soft dewy finish but not oily at all. It has an excellent wear time of 8-9hours.
6. L’Oréal Paris Nude Magic Liquid Powder Foundation – 899 INR (BUY HERE for 872)
A great liquid powder foundation for oily skin that works perfect for regular usage. It has a light and runny consistency that blends into the skin within no time, even with fingers! It gives a soft matte yet not a dull finish to the skin and spears very lightweight. It has sheer to buildable coverage and wont accentuates to fine lines and dry patches. It doesn’t oxidizes underneath a sunscreen and has a staying power of 5-6 hours.
7. Chambor Sheer Delight Ultra Matt Oil Free Foundation – 845 INR (BUY HERE)
This is something you won’t ever regret of buying. Considered one of the best foundations for oily skin, this one gives a sheer to medium coverage and looks ultra-smooth. Although the finish is matte, it provides a kind of healthy glow to the skin in no time. It is heat and sweat proof for a certain period of time and doesn’t oxidize. It is an ideal foundation for office wear and has a very good wear time of around 8-9 hours with minimal blotting.
Every product of Clinique is tailored for specific skin type and this matte foundation works incredibly well on oily skin. It has a gel-cream texture and available in 13 shades, from where you’re to get your match. The product blends in as easily as possible without any cakey or uneven finish. It is matte and also aids in controlling oil and shine on the face. It suits sensitive skin and there isn’t any issues about breakouts. The product also photographs very well in flash.
Many bloggers consider it their HG foundation and surely it has too many reason for it. it comes in 30 shades and has a petite packaging. It has a medium consistency liquid texture that blends generously and then sets into a matte finish. Despite having an SPF it photographs really well and hence, will work great for brides. It stays on the face for around 8-9hours without melting down or oxidizing. It gives a medium to buildable coverage and feels almost weightless. Although the price is slightly high, but you won’t mind splurging on this at all.
10. Revlon Colorstay Makeup 24 Hour Combination/Oily Skin Foundation – 974 INR (BUY HERE for 895)
Revlon has some very good range of foundations and Colorstay is one of them. It has a light and water proof texture that blends seamlessly with damp brush or sponge and gives a soft matte finish to the skin. This foundation has two variants – one for dry skin while the other for Combination/Oily Skin. This is another great choice for problematic skin and gives a medium to heavy coverage. It photographs exceptionally well and doesn’t oxidize. It is available in shades and perfect for Indian skin tones.
Editor’s Note: Again a super helpful and nice compilation Sanchita. I have combination skin and love the L’Oreal Infallible. Currently trying the Maybelline Fit Me one which is also the cheapest in this list, super economical!
P.S: I just realized this is our 2000th post 😀
Which is your favourite foundation? Your suggestion for foundation for oily skin? Leave them in the comments below.
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?
