The Body Shop Black Musk EDP Review & Valentine’s Day Makeup Tutorial
Hi guys,
So The Body Shop recently launched their Black Musk Range and the theme for that is #NaughtyAndNice. It’s a combination of strong musk with the sweet vanilla and licorice notes, hence naughty and nice.
While the naughty side would be more of a smokey eye, this is the softer ‘Nice’ shade. And this soft pink makeup tutorial is also perfect for the Valentine’s Day, win win! All the Body Shop products I use in this video are mentioned at all Body Shop stores in the ‘Nice’ makeup look face chart. Similarly, if you prefer a smokey look, you can check out the ‘Naughty’ Face chart. Here is the face chart for reference or to buy the products online.
So here is the my ‘Nice’ version and this soft pink Valentine’s makeup look..
Talking about the Body Shop Black Musk Range, they have a EDP, EDT and the Perfume Oil. I have been using the EDP since the past few days and getting lots of compliments on it.
I am more of a woody, musky smell lover and I don’t like over sweet perfumes, the Black Musk is a perfect balance of the two coz the sweet vanilla and licorice notes are balanced with the more woody musk smell. At the initial sniff, you will find it very sweet but soon as it settles, you will love the mid and base notes of this.
Notes are sweet pear infused with pink pepper and bergamot on top. Intense aroma of heliotrope, which varies between marzipan and almond, is interspersed with ylang-ylang and aphrodisiac notes of licorice, in the middle. Hot black vanilla,black musk ,earthy patchouli, vetiver and chocolate at the end.
Few people have mentioned that it did not stay that long on them, fortunately on me this EDP lasted really long, also the EDP is the strongest of the three and if you wish to buy any one, I would definitely suggest getting the EDP.
Both the EDP and EDT contain Community Fair Trade Organic Alcohol crafted from sugarcane that is harvested by co-operatives in South America.
It is priced at Rs.3295/- for 50ml which is pretty decent for a 50ml bottle. I quite like the black and pink packaging too, only thing is I cannot see the exact qty through the bottle.
Overall, I would say, definitely take a whiff of this Black Musk EDP the next time you are at The Body Shop store, coz I am sure you will love it 🙂
Earrings are from Accessorize India.
Did you like the Valentine’s Day Makeup Look? Have you tried The Body Shop Black Musk Perfume yet?
I am not sure if I missed anything, I covered it all 🙂 Let me know your 2015 skin and hair favourites in the comments below. Makeup favourites coming up next.
L’Oreal Paris Moist Mat Lipstick Lincoln Rose Review, Swatches
By Ishleen
Hello there, gorgeous!
So the holiday spirit has finally seeped in, and seeped in with a BAM! With the ethereal beauty of winters and the New Year’s party knocking down the corner, it is always a great opportunity to get hold of a red lipstick, and make your pout shine in all its blooming glory! <3
So after a lot of contemplation so as to spend almost a thousand bucks for a drugstore lipstick or to add 500 bucks more and get our patent MAC, I finally succumbed to buying this gorgeously packaged lipstick from L’Oreal in Lincoln Rose! Was it worth succumbing to the temptation? Keep reading to know more!
Product Description
Name- L’Oreal Moist Mat Lipstick
Shade- Lincoln Rose
Price- INR 899
Quantity- 4.2 grams
Availability- Available across all L’Oreal counters as well as online
My experience:
Packaging– If ever there was a love at first sight moment for me, it was when I saw this gorgeous little baby at the L’Oreal counter! Those of you who know me, know what a sucker I am for classy as well as cute packaging—they just make me go weak in the knees! And if the packaging is chic as well as in a hue of rose gold with uber classy mirror-like finish—count me in baby! So now you know why people are raving about this lipstick range so much—it is love at first sight, truly! But yes, the packaging though nice on the exterior, is quite flimsy on the inside! I mean, the lipstick tube is like really feeble and prone to breakage upon the slightest pressure; so just be cautious!
Texture- L’Oreal has this thing of playing with names—and so has been done with L’Oreal Moist Mat Range! I mean, the name is pretty intriguing—how can a moist lipstick be matte, and how can a matte lipstick be moist? But breaking the obnoxious monotony of dehydrating mattes, L’Oreal Paris has come up with the most amazing matte textured lipsticks which though settle into a powdery matte finish, yet is not at all dry. It glides on super smooth and does not look flaky. It indeed is a moist matte lipstick—the most wonderful texture I have used till date! Nothing like Mac retro mattes, but definitely similar to the Mac Satin finish lipsticks!
Shade- This particular shade is the most coveted of the lot and is mostly out of stock across all stores. And why should it not be—our miss universe Aishwarya Rai Bacchan had worn it for the Cannes Film Festival and flaunted the most amazing pout ever! The lipstick shade—as gorgeous as the outer packaging—is a very vibrant medium red with invariably strong pink-berry undertones which promises to flatter each and every skin tone! Perhaps it is the most stunning pink based medium red which is bold, but not at all in your face bright! A must try shade from the lot!
Pigmentation- Apart from the texture, if there is one thing that left me totally love struck; it is the super opaque pigmentation of the lipstick! I mean even the darkest of pigmentation (on lips, obviously :P) can be camouflaged easily with just two swipes of this lipstick! And if you have naturally pink lips, i.e., without any sort of pigmentation—one light stroke is all that it would take to get the colour in full bloom on the lips!
Staying power- these are drying winter months and I prefer using a lip balm underneath even the most creamiest of the lipsticks! And though, Moist Mat is matte, I can easily do even without a lip balm! Yes, it is that smooth to use! Atop a lip balm it stays for about 4+ hours and does not leave horrendously stained lips behind. But if applied sans any lip balm, the wear time can be prolonged to a good 6-7 hours, though it will stain the lips (which are not at all gross to look at; in fact, gives a nice raspberry tint upon fading)!
Pros:
-gorgeous packaging
-colour coded tabs on the lipstick tube
-very comfortable matte lipstick]
-not at all drying
-can be worn even without a lip balm
-super-opaque
-covers pigmented lips well
-lasts on the lips for a good 4-6 hours
Cons:
-price (900 bucks for a drugstore lipstick! Like, seriously?) *SIGH*
-flimsy lipstick tube which is prone to breakage
-may melt in the summer months
Final verdict: If you are on the look out of a nice pink based red, with very strong pink undertones—which is matte, comfortable to apply and wears well—go grab this beauty!
Rating: 4.7/5
Editor’s Note: Totally agree Ishleen, absolutely love the shade!
Maybelline is a drugstore brand and has taken the world of beauty by storm with their incredibly amazing products and super affordable price tag. From college goers to professionals, they cater the need of one and all and much-loved as a budget friendly option. The products are so good that sometimes they are compared to certain high end brands as well. Every season they are bringing out more and more shades and variety to the existing ranges and no wonder we lust on them! It is extremely difficult to choose handful of the products, but if at all needed, I would choose the certain top 10 products listed below.
1. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (Review HERE) (INR 600) – Contouring, highlighting and strobing is blooming in the beauty industry and there nothing better you can get than a highlighting concealer. With a special gel-based formula, it conceals the area with a sheer to medium buildable coverage with its smooth creamy texture and also highlights the same making the eyes look bright. It blends like a dream and doesn’t streak or looks cakey at all.
2. Maybelline Baby Lips(INR 165-275)– they say it right, there’s nothing called too many Baby Lips. If you have used one, chances are that you have been blown over by this lip balm and bought few more. There creamy, tinted, hydrating, soft, non-waxy and the amazing list goes on till eternity. Baby lips have many variants that have been launched under the range which are the tinted versions, Spiced Up series, Electro Pop and very recently launched – theCandy Wow.
3. Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer (INR 85-145) – a heaven for nail lovers, the Color show range has numerous shades and textured nail lacquers to jazz up your beautiful hands. They are well pigmented, decently long lasting and also comes in 40shades. The Color Show series also has the Bright Sparks range, Glitter Mania which gives an elegant frosty finish and super long lasting on nails, the Go Graffiti series with hexes and polka dots to bring out the playful little girl inside you and very recently they added the Gold Digger collection with beautiful golden variants.
4. Maybelline White Super Fresh Compact Powder (Review HERE) (INR 150) – a great budget friendly compact option for everyone with an oily skin and disturbing T-zone. A very recent launch in India, White Super Fresh Compact Powder comes in four shades which would happily match and cater the needs to a large number of skin tones and complexions in India. With UV filters that protects the skin from sun damage, the promise of 12h freshness and presence of the mineral – Perlite, it absorbs oil and sweat effectively to make your skin look fresh and glowing throughout the day.
5. Maybelline the Colossal Kajal and Liner(Review HERE and HERE)(INR 200 & 425)– The launch of Colossal Kajal took the beauty world by storm. This was the first budget friendly option and following the footsteps, many other brands came out with their own version. Maybelline was definitely always one step ahead and launched beautiful shade variants of the colossal. The liner from this same series was an equal hit because of the price and quality which gives you the perfect cat eyes and dreamy look.
6. Maybelline Volume Express The Falsies Mascara (INR 500) – Applying falsies is definitely a dreadsome task and taking it off is another story. Fret on, Maybelline has a solution! They came out with a budget friendly option of mascara that truly gives you the fluttery falsies look for any occasion. It is enriched with Pro-Keratin formula and gives a natural boost to the lashes with the dramatic look you desire. It also comes in washable and waterproof variant according to the need of yours.
7. Maybelline Blush Studio Cheeky Glow(Review HERE)(INR 275) – these cute little pots are adorable to the core. These are the easiest applicable blush I have come across and available in three shades – Creamy Cinnamon, Fresh Coral and Peach Sweetie. They are almost weightless on skin with a silk smooth texture, blends like a dream and makes the cheeks glow like a natural touch. These are also priced very low for a good budget friendly product.
8. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner (Review HERE)(INR 499) – This gel liner has been often compared to MAC by various Bloggers across the world and truly it has its own beauty. The liner, although available in only Black, is the darkest version I have seen it. The creaminess of the liner, the rich and intense color pay off and a cute petite brush that comes with it, makes is a must-have in your vanity. The price is again very negligible compared and the liner is completely smudge proof and waterproof.
9. Maybelline Color Sensational Velvet Matte(INR 450) – Matte is the new black and every brand has come out with their version. Maybelline, with the launch of velvet matte has gained attention as well. These are Velvet Mattes are intensely creamy which settles down to a satin velvety texture without drying out the lips completely and looks fresh. The formula is hydrating and keeps lips non-sticky, non-chalky and hydrated all day long. There are available in 7 beautiful shades.
10. Maybelline The Nudes Eye Shadow Palette (INR 899) – Maybelline doesn’t have many eye shadow palettes but The Nudes is the ultimate and appropriate launch this season. With a combination of warm basic neutrals and browns, the palette is a wonderful option for everyday wear as well as parties.
Editor’s Note: I pretty much agree with the list, except for the Color Sensational Velvet Matte, I would go with the Color Sensational lipsticks. They have some amazing shades, I love the Bold Matte and Pink Alert Range too. Also the 14H Superstay Lipsticks. Maybelline Colossal Liner is my staple, can’t live without it. Also love the Colossal Volume Mascaraand the Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation, one of my favourite drugstore foundations. The new eyebrow pencil Fashion Brow is also my favourite 😀 Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eye shadows are all time favourites, and the shade ‘Bronze’is one of the best and my most loved product. I can’t wait for the Color Blur Lip Pencils to launch here soon! I think we need a top 15 or top 20 when it comes to Maybelline, it is indeed the most loved, economical and innovative brand out there.
Are your Maybelline favourites in the Top 10 list here?
What the Company claims: It is the ultimate hydrating treatment based crème with gives a semi matte flawless finish and keeps skin hydrated for long. 10 benefits * Covers Pimples spot * Hides imperfections * Gives even tone * No clogging of Pores * Covers blemishes and dark spots * Instant beautifier * Buildable coverage * Brightening primer * Moisturizes and Hydrates * SPF 25
MRP: Rs.299/- for 30g
Shades Available: 2
Royal Pearl– Fair to Medium
Bright Angel– Medium to Dark
It comes in this pink tube packaging with silver cap and has a nozzle dispensor. The packaging is quite bright and nice, convenient to use and travel friendly.
I have the shade Bright Angel which is the one for medium skin tones. It is nothing but a tinted moisturizer i.e. the blend of skincare plus some makeup. And has SPF25 too.
It is quite rich and needs to be set with a compact powder. Skin gets oily within an hour or so, I would not recommend it for oily skin or for use in summers.
Coverage is ok, it only evens out the skin tone and reduces the redness. It does brighten the skin a but, but does not cover dark circles or any acne spots. It stays for a good 5-6 hours but does need touch up with a compact powder. But it sure is quite moisturizing and skin doesn’t feel tight even in winters for a good few hours.
As you can see in my ‘Before-After’ pic here, it only evened out the skin and brightened it a bit, did not cover any marks or dark circles. This is just using the cream and I haven’t use any compact or anything else here.
Before – After
Only 2 shades are available in this, but thankfully both are warm and yellow and will work for majority skin tones. It does oxidize a bit on the face after 2-3 hours, that might be coz of the sunscreen.
It has licorice and aloe vera extracts. Licorice is anti-inflammatory, helps in reducing redness of the skin, helps absorb ingredients better and also helps in lightening the skin. Aloe vera of course has numerous benefits, key being hydrating, moisturizing, anti-bacterial. Not a fan of licorice coz of it lightening the skin.
Pricing is ok, it’s the same as other BB/CC creams in the market and almost the same qty. Only active ingredients are mentioned on the pack, they should have mentioned a list of all ingredients for people to know what exact skincare benefit they are getting. Except licorice and aloe vera, nothing has been mentioned.
Overall I would say, if you do not have problematic skin and only need something for daily use which can provide sun protection and even out skin tone, you can try this out.
Rating:
Quality: 3.25/5
Value for money : 3.5/5
Availability: 3/5
Overall rating: 3.25/5
Have you checked out the new Lotus Herbals Xpress Glow 10 in 1 Daily Beauty Creme SPF 25 yet?
I wanted to do a video for Karwachauth look but couldn’t coz of time, but I am right on time for the Diwali makeup look. I am wearing this bright orange and pink anarkali with dull gold zari work on it. I wanted to keep my eyes neutral and hence went with dull gold for the eyes and bright fuchsia lips.
I paired the look with gold and pearl dangling earrings and this orange bindi. I quite like how the look turned out, totally me.
If you like this look, please give the video a thumbs up and also subscribe to my Youtube channel HERE.
This Diwali look is brought to you in association with Indian Gifts Portal (IGP.com) , India’s leading Online Gift Store that delivers in 100+ countries. Check out their exclusive Diwali gifts range and bhai dooj tikka hampers.
Also I have a giveaway coming up on twitter in collaboration with Indian Gifts Portal on 5th November i.e. tomorrow, so follow me @bhumika_t and @indiangiftport for more updates 🙂
I hope you liked the look, do let me know in the comments below 🙂
Starlooks Looksbook Mini August Resort Edition: Unboxing & Makeup Look
Hi guys,
So I received the August Looksbook Mini box a few days ago coz of the Indian post, but anyhoo I came up with this look with the box.
Let me start with telling you a bit about Starlooks Looksbook..
WHAT IS A LOOKSBOOK® MEMBERSHIP?
Join thousands of makeup lovers across the globe in this revolutionary beauty movement! Today marks the end of spending hundreds of dollars for expensive cosmetics that clutter your purse & makeup drawer – and usually expire before you can finish them!
THE SOLUTION: Each LooksBook® contains fashion-forecasted, PRO Quality, HD, photo-compatible Starlooks color cosmetics, tucked into a convenient and educational “Book”, and is carefully curated to provide a complete “Look”. Let Starlooks be your monthly beauty stylist!
Our LooksBooks, unlike beauty subscription boxes, are NOT comprised of random selections of product. Our Creative Team (a wonderful group of highly trained professionals from the beauty and fashion industry) carefully plans each month based on professional beauty and fashion forecasts, and products are specifically chosen to guarantee that each book’s look is not only fashion forward, but also current in the fashion and beauty industry
MRP: $12
In the Resort Edition, there is a cream water colour eyeshadow, an gold-orange blush and a gold highlighter duo and a pale peach mini lipstick.
The eyeshadow is creamy and blends easily with eyes but it sets super quick and it was a little difficult to blend it quickly, but once set, it doesn’t budge. It’s a light moss green shade with loads of glitter, it shows up like a hint of green with just lots of shimmer. It’s a perfect shade for highlighting the inner corners.
The blush and the highlighter duo are my favourites, love the golden orange blush and it looks beautiful on warmer skin tones like ours, also the gold highlighter is very pretty and perfect for Indian weddings or a night time look.
The lipstick is very light and washes me out completely, it will only work on paler skin tones. I had to use a warmer, brighter orange to balance the color.
This is the look I came up with..
I have also done a video on this on my Youtube..
I think it’s a nice concept of having travel sized or mini makeup products in a kit, I totally agree on not being able to finish up makeup products. This blush-highlighter duo will definitely be a part of my travel kit now onwards. And at $12 monthly, it is pretty reasonable for 3 products.
You can subscribe HERE, they ship using USPS First Class Mail. Currently they don’t have the ‘India’ option but you can mail them at info@starlooks.com and they will figure out the shipping for you.
Do you like the Starlooks Looksbook concept? What do you think of it?
I got some stuff from Nykaa and Amazon, it’s been a few months though that I recorded this video. I was waiting since a long time to upload it coz it was something or the other coming up in between.
Sorry I forgot to use the mic in the first half, so the focus noise 🙁
Let’s see what all I picked from Nykaa.com
Whisper Sanitary Pad Ultra Clean XL Wings (30S) – Rs. 310 La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Corrective Unclogging Anti Imperfection Care (40ml) – Rs. 1300 Free La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Maybelline Color Sensational Pink Alert in POW4 3.9gm – Rs. 425 L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Lipstick in Spring Rossette 4.2gm – Rs. 740 (On discount :p) Colorbar Definer Lip Liner in Berry Rose 1.45gm – Rs. 599 Tangle Teezer Compact Styler Detangling Brush- Purple/Black – Rs. 1099 (It’s expensive :o) Hill Fresh Grapefruit Rush Body Wash 200ml – Rs. 199 Oisis Make Me Happy Bath & Shower Gel 300ml – Rs. 249 2 of Bare Essentials Nail Polish Remover Pads – Rs. 198 (99 each) Lux Velvet Touch Moisturizing Body Wash 100ml – Rs. 120 Vega Premium Eyelash Curler – Rs. 99 Fair & Lovely BB Cream 9gm – Rs. 49 Basicare Self Holding Rollers Large (Pack Of 4) – Rs. 200 Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser – Rs. 95 Aroma Magic Turmeric Cleanser – Rs. 135 Christine Valmy Val Clean II 50ml – Rs. 195
And coming to Amazon.in, if you have noticed Amazon started with their luxury beauty department where they stock all high end brands. I got a chance to try out the luxury beauty department and this is what I got:
Kama Ayurveda Mridual Soap-Free Facial Cleanser 40g- Rs.295/- Forest Essentials Kashmiri Saffron and Neem Delicate Facial Cleanser 200ml – Rs. 975
I wanted to try these both since a long time but never really went to the store for just 1 product and you know how it is with Forest Essentials, once you go into the store, you want everything and get confused most of the times 😀 I am glad we can buy these Luxury Beauty brands including a few which are not available in India, on Amazon.in now 🙂
I hope you liked my haul, do let me know if you want any specific review first. I will try and use them before, coz there are still a few reviews in line already :/
What is your favourite product? What did you shop recently?
About Skin18: SKIN18 believes in skincare instead of makeup. Skincare products feed natural ingredients and nutrition to your skin while makeup is considered as a coverage. A lady may not have perfect features but still look charming with beautiful skin, imagine a young girl with smaller eyes and big nose will still look good at the age of 18. Founder of Skin18 concerns about her skin the most, and our mission here is to bring you products that will makes you look forever 18. It is the best to start your skincare as early as possible but there is never too late just like having exercise for a healthy body.
And I absolutely agree, for me it always good skin that is important than layering and hiding it with makeup. If you have good skin, you always look good with or without makeup.
Taking care of the skin is of utmost importance for me, and I would always recommend skin care first than makeup. Korean skin care products are known from years and years. I have tried a lot of them before too from Memebox, BB Cream Shop, Cosmetic- love and brands like Skin79, Lioele, Innisfree, b.liv, etc.
This time, it’s a new site called Skin18.com and it is all about face masks. Face masks are a very important step in Korean skin care and the serums and essence the mask comes soaked in benefit the skin a lot. All you need is some 10-15 minutes to soak your skin in the amazing essences of the masks at least once a week and your skin will thank you for that 😀
I got some 15-16 masks from them including the 3 step masks and also 2 ampoules from them. I have been trying this out one by one every week. I am loving the masks untill now and I think I will love each and every one of these :p
I love their site, it is easy to navigate and shop and I got my stuff in 10 days without any customs issues! I am definitely planning a haul from them, a few things on my wishlist already.
I have something for you guys as well! This time, it’s an international giveaway, I have done this one after a long time. Also I am announcing the previous giveaway winners by tom, I am really sorry for the whole delay coz of the accident, etc.
We will have 3 winners! 3 of you can win this set below..
It is a Rafflecopter giveaway after a long time, all the rules are mentioned in the widget, just enter your details in it.
Check out the review,swatches and demo of the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Reno Liquid Foundation HERE
Today I am reviewing the shades 160 Sand Beige and 225 Beige of the Infalible Reno Powder Foundation. I am not sure why it is ‘Infalible’ instead of ‘Infallible’
To start with the packaging, the upper part is plastic and quite light. It comes in transparent crimson packaging with a see through cap. The lower part has a sponge and mirror which is something quite nice, as the sponge is in a separate compartment so it does not get mixed with the powder even if you use it wet and the mirror is so handy while travelling and for touch ups. Though I wish the packaging was a bit sturdier coz this might break,even if it falls down once.
The texture is very fine, though it is not the smoothest. It can be used wet or dry. I prefer using a brush when I am using it dry and the sponge it comes with when using it wet.
Left: 160 Sand Beige, Right- 225 Beige
It gives light coverage when used dry and a little more medium coverage when used wet. It is completely matte and there would be no trace of shine on your skin when you use this. This will be a boon for people with oily skin.
Left: 160 Sand Beige, Right- 225 Beige
Since I prefer dewy finish and I am not a fan of matte, I do not use powders often except for my T-zone. Also you will need to moisturise really well before using this, as it accentuates dry patches.
The main con for me is the white cast! 🙁 It gives a strong white cast,especially in photographs.
160 Sand Beige is supposed to be lighter than 225 Beige,as shown in the Shade Options available online. But somehow Sand Beige is a better match for me and 225 Beige appears lighter on me. Even in the swatches, Sand Beige is a little more yellow and that matches well with my skin tone.
Here I have used both 160 Sand Beige and 225 Beige wet with the sponge.
160 Sand Beige (Left- With Foundation, Right- Without Foundation)Makeup with 160 Sand Beige as a base225 Beige (Left- With Foundation, Right- Without Foundation)Makeup with 225 Beige as a base
225 Beige is lighter and looks even more light with the whitish cast, as you can see.
I am not generally a fan of using powder foundations wet, unless you are out and don’t have any liquid foundation and are heading to a party or a function and need some coverage. I generally prefer using powders on them when for daily basis or as a setting powder.
It works well on its own and amazing as a setting powder, only when used wet, it gives a whitish cast which I don’t like. I would recommend the shade 160 Sand Beige for mostly all of us with medium skin tone and yellow undertone.
Overall, I would say it’s a nice powder foundation which is perfect for travelling and a boon for oily skin. It works really well as a setting powder too and also amazing for touch-ups. I would not recommend it for dry skin or if you want to use it wet.
Rating:
Quality: 3.5/5
Value for money : 3.25/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Have you tried the new L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24H Powder Foundation?
