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Sedona Lace Vortex Synthetic Professional Makeup Brush Set Review, Indian Makeup Blog

Sedona Lace Vortex Synthetic Professional Makeup Brush Set Review

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Sedona Lace Vortex Synthetic Professional Makeup Brush Set Review

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing the Sedona Lace Vortex Brush Set which I have since quite some time now, I got it around the time when I was shifting and I kept them safely somewhere. And the place was so safe that I just couldn’t find them :/ Happens with you too? Let me know in the comments below.

Anyhoo, I finally found them and have been using them since some time. I have even used them in a makeup tutorial which will be coming up soon.

What the Company claims: The Synthetic Vortex Collection exclusively designed by Renelyn Monteloyola of Makeup by Ren Ren for Sedona Lace. This pro line of brushes takes makeup application and technique to the next level. All of the brushes are multi-purpose and versatile. The pink and black colors on the bristles is a registered trade mark of Sedona Lace

MRP: $109.95

You can get the zipper belt at an additional cost of $10. So the brush set with zipper belt costs $119.95 (Buy HERE). I also have a special coupon code (without expiry i.e. lasts lifetime) for you guys where you can get $4 off on a minimum order of $15 on www.sedonalace.com , so if you want to buy just 1-2 brushes, still you can use that. The coupon code is ‘newlove’

I absolutely love the pink and black color to start with and that is a registered trademark of Sedona Lace. You get 13 brushes in total out of which one i.e. the angled brow shaper and spoolie is dual sided.

The brushes are all odd numbered from F01 to F23. Let’s start with the Face Brushes first.

FB01 is a jumbo fan brush which is the softest brush I have ever used! I just cannot stop touching it and it is perfect for dusting your powder or just cleaning your face or to apply highlighter on the high points of face, or your blush or contour.

FB03 is Tulip Contour Brush which is the perfect brush ever for contour coz it will perfectly fit in the hollow of your cheeks. Also this brush is great for diffusing your over done blush or highlighter or just give a final finish to the face.

FB05 is Dome Contour brush. It’s a multi tasking brush, apply your blush, contour or powders or powder foundation or buff in your high coverage cream/liquid foundations. This one will work with everything.

FB07 is a Flat Top Buffer Brush. Now flat top buffing brushes are perfect for foundations, be it cream/liquid/powder. Set your concealer with powder or use it on places to bake for precisely placing powders. Again multi purpose but best for foundations.

Coming to the eye brushes now,

EB09 is the Universal Blender brush which is good for applying shadows all over the lid and even blending for softer, diffused looks. Like a soft everyday brown eye makeup look or times when you just want to use one shade and sweep it across and blend the same.

EB11 is the Flat Synthetic Brush for applying metallic, glittery shadows and pigments on the lid i.e. mostly for patting shadows and not blending or sweeping them. Or even for applying your eyeshadow primer/base and concealer under the eyes. Also works to contour the sides of your nose.

EB13 is the Synthetic Blender brush. It has more dense and tapered bristles, it is absolutely perfect to blend your crease colors and create those dark smokey eyes.

EB15 is the Pointed Crease brush. It can be used for your cut crease looks or for looks where you don’t want to over blend or merge colors but just a softer edge.

EB17 is the Brow Spoolie Duo. Apply powder on the brows using the angled side and brush through with the spoolie to set it in place or diffuse the powder for a softer brow.

EB19 is the Bent Liner Brush. Now we do get it separately too in a few brands here like in Inglot and PAC Cosmetics. I had done a DIY long back with my Audrey Liner Brush by bending it a bit and the bent shape helps a lot in lining your eyes easily without getting in between the lashes.

EB21 is the Detailed Shader brush which is good for highlighting the brow bone or the inner corners or even smudging shadows on the lower lashline.

EB23 is the Angled Detailed Brush which can be used for gel liners or applying powder eyeshadows as liners on upper and lower lashline.

 

And lastly LB25 the Capped Lip Brush, it comes with a separate steel cap and can be folded and carried along. You can just remove the cap and place it below and use it like a normal lip brush. Good to carry along and precisely apply your lip colors especially the reds and deep berries which need precision.

So these were all the 13 brushes in the Vortex Synthetic Kit. I highly recommend getting the zipper belt if you are a makeup artist, coz the belt snuggly fits around your waist and you can pick up any brush you want and place it in the belt while working on a client.

And if you are just a beginner, you can go for this set without the belt. These brushes are all you will ever need for any makeup look. If you have these, you are pretty much sorted. I highly recommend these brushes and the quality is fabulous too. Super soft and the bristles hardly shed hair, majority of the brushes which I own as part of brush sets shed hair crazily!

Thumbs up from me, also if you can wait, they keep having offers on Black Friday, etc., where they sell these sets at half the price!! All the brushes from the set are pretty useful and it is total value for money. I did not have to pay customs on this. Shipping cost varies on distance and weight but they usually use USPS.

I personally love these and have been reaching out for these brushes quite often. I have 2-3 brush sets and none matches the Sedona Lace quality wise. It is very essential to have one good quality makeup brush set in your stash coz good quality brushes will make or break your entire makeup look. And if you invest in expensive makeup and the tools you use do not justify that, then the end result would not be good, trust me.

Let me know your thoughts on the Sedona Lace Vortex Synthetic Brush Set in the comments below.

P.S: PR Sample. Honest Review

Coloressence Mesmerizing Lip Color Moods in Maroon Review, Swatches

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Coloressence Mesmerizing Lip Color Moods in Maroon Review, Swatches

By Sanchita

INTRODUCTION – Hello everyone! No matter how many lip colors you have in your kitty, you are always looking for an exceptional shade which will give us the desired oomph factor. The same applies for me too! There is one particular shade I have been eyeing on is the MAC Diva which is an exquisite shade for Indian skin tone. However, with MAC hiking the price tag I was little skeptical to buy a lipstick which I will be wearing once in a blue moon! Surprisingly, I stumbled into a very close shade of MAC Diva with a price tag less than 200bucks! The color looks stunning and a great option if you are looking for a close dupe. Let’s see the product in detail.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION – This moisture rich lip color nourishes and protects your lips from dryness. The unique coriander and basil extract with SPF-15 gives you a full coverage look with satin, smooth finish, and long wear texture. It is available in 29 shades.

PRICE – 175 INR for 4g

MY REVIEW

Packaging – The Coloressence Mesmerizing Lip Colors comes in a sleek matte black bullet packaging with an opaque body. There is a nice silver ring around the body and the brand name is engraved in silver while the shade name is written at the bottom. The packaging overall is simple, neat and sturdy. It doesn’t look anything like low-priced or inefficient and also compact enough to carry in your bag or purse while travelling.

Shade – it is a beautiful deep wine red with a subtle plum undertone to it. It also has fine golden shimmer but it is close to indistinguishable while application on the lips or even in the swatches. The color is no doubt a bold and intense color for the fall season and looks gorgeous on any Indian skin tone or complexion. If you are slightly unconvinced with the ox blood lips yet wants to have an attempt at it, try this color. Also, it will be an excellent choice for brides as well.

Texture – the texture of the lip color is satin which is neither completely matte nor glossy. The presence of almond oil and vitamin E ensure the smooth gliding of the color onto the lips and it doesn’t tug or pull at all. The texture has the tendency to dry out (not like patchy lips) and hence be sure to apply lip balm underneath. It has a slight smell to it but it fades off within 5-6mins of the application. However, since it is a bold lip color it is strongly advisable to exfoliate the lips well before applying.

Finish – the finish is satin moist which goes on to comfortable matte look with the passage of hours. It also has a nice sheen to it due to the presence of gold flickers which is only visible after it wears of or while you are trying to remove it. The color looks striking despite the presence of and the hardly accentuates to fine lines. It does transfer a lot to cups and spoons in case you have not worn it like matte. To make it matte, simply blot with a tissue and dust some translucent powder on top. The lip color has SPF 15 which protects the lips from sun rays during daytime.

Pigmentation – the pigmentation is unbelievingly great! Single swipe give you the best desired color on the lips and I use 2 swipes to give a neat and presentable look to the lips. It is capable to hide any kind of pigmented layer on the lips and concealing them prior application with a concealer isn’t required at all. It applies without any patchy or uneven way and doesn’t bleed at all. Even then, I use a lip liner because it is such a bold color that a single stray line would be very noticeable.

Staying Power – the staying power is again commendable. It stayed on the lips for a good 4-5hours with very minimal fading because I munched on some snacks. It cannot survive heavy meals and you definitely require a nice layering or touch ups after that. It takes a long time to fade off completely but I have never experienced any patchy residual layer with this lip color. The color also does not stain the lips and all you need is a good makeup remover or coconut oil to take off the color at the end of the day.
Dupe – I found MAC Diva and L’Oréal Collections Star Pure Reds Lipstick in Pure Garnet is the closest dupe for this color. While Diva and Pure Garnet has very strong reddish or maroon undertones, completely matte and devoid of any shimmer, this lip color from Coloressence has a slight plum undertones, satin finish and very fine golden sheen to it.

OVERALL – With such a bold color, satin finish texture and a popular dupe of MAC Diva and Pure Garnet, I would opine that the economical price tag makes it a winner from every perspective.

WHAT I LIKED

Neat, simple and sturdy packaging.
Moods in Maroon is a bold deep wine red with a subtle plum undertone to it. It also has fine golden shimmers but they are totally undetectable.
A great bold red for Indian skin tones and especially for brides.
The color payoff is excellent with a single swipe itself.
It doesn’t look cakey at all.
The presence of almond oil and vitamin E ensure the smooth gliding of the color onto the lips
The finish is satin moist.
It neither accentuates on fine lines nor bleeds without liner.
The lip color has SPF 15.
The staying power is around 4-5hours.
Economical price tag.
A very close (not complete) dupe of MAC Diva and L’Oréal Collections Star Pure Reds Lipstick in Pure Garnet.

WHAT I DISLIKED

May dry out lips if not exfoliated well and moisturized.
Shimmers are unnecessary.
Transfers a lot if not worn matte.

RATING – 4.7/5

RECOMMENDATION – this is definitely a highly suggested color because the quality as well as the color is a stand out surprise for me! Given the fact that it is such a great and economical dupe of two famous lips colors, surely give this a try.

Editor’s Note: I absolutely love how it looks on you! I would check out the other 28 shades too.

Have you tried the Coloressence Mesmerizing Lip Color yet?

DIY Anti-Tan Face Pack For Oily Skin

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DIY Anti-Tan Face Pack For Oily Skin

By Sanchita

Hello everyone. I am back with a DIY this time which, I am sure, would be very useful to all the oily skin types in the upcoming scorch summer. The thing is, when we go out in the sun, our skin produces extra melanin to protect the internal layers of the skin and thus we end up with deeper complexions i.e. tan. The tan is unescapable and no matter what product we apply or the protection we take – we always end up with a discolored complexion after a day’s turmoil. With sun tan comes the pigmentation and early signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles that contributes to the dullness of our whole outlook. Due to my acne prone oily skin, I always stay away from chemical laden face pack and instead make my own with the help of certain ingredients easily available anywhere. This face pack has helped to restore my skin’s complexion and texture for all these years and I cannot simply live without it. So, here’s the ingredients and steps listed below to make the Anti-Tan face pack for oily skin.

INGREDIENTS

Besan (Bengal Gram)
Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti) (BUY HERE)
Sandalwood Powder (even sandalwood paste would work) (BUY HERE)
Rose Water
Clean bowl and spoon.

STEPS

1. In a clean bowl, add 1tbsp. of Besan.

2. Add, 1tbsp. of Multani Mitti to the mixture.

3. Next, add ½ tbsp. of sandalwood powder (or 1tbsp. of sandalwood paste).

4. With the help of a spoon, add all these dry ingredients thoroughly.

5. Pour the rose water, 1tbsp. at a time to get the medium consistency of a face pack.

6. Leave the face pack for about 30-40mins and rinse with cold water. Pat the skin dry.

BENEFITS

Besan (Bengal Gram) – A common household ingredient that contributes to the healthy texture of the skin. It has the ability to naturally cleanse the skin and remove every layer of impurities from the pores and also tightening them to a large extent. It is also a very gentle exfoliator for oily skin which can’t resist harsh scrubs. Most importantly, it helps is removing the tan, brightening the skin and also helps in eliminating acne and sudden breakouts.

Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti) – This is the Holy Grail for every girl with oily skin. Apply any face pack with multani mitti will not only make your skin oil free but also prevents the acne as well. It diminishes every layer of discolorations, pigmentation, scars and blemishes on the face with regular usage. It is further known to improve the elasticity of the skin, thereby reducing the signs like fine lines, wrinkles, etc.

Sandalwood Powder – This is one gorgeous ingredient that contributes to skin lightening by removing every ounce of impurities from the skin. I am not saying it will make you ‘fairer’ (because that never happens) but it will make you fall in love with your complexion. It enhances the skin’s texture to a large extent. The ant-tan properties soothes sun burns and removes it and also the antibacterial properties works on acne prone skin like a miracle. It tightens the drooping skin tissues with the intention of providing a youthful appearance to the skin.

Rose Water – when nothing works on your skin, rose water is the best astringent to go for. The product revitalizes aging skin and keeps fine lines and wrinkles at bay. Maintaining the skin’s pH balance, it hydrates, refreshes and moisturizes the skin, thereby making it smooth. The antioxidant properties of rose water help to strengthen skin cells and restore skin tissues.
So, definitely try this out and let me know how this worked for your stubborn acne prone oily skin.

Editor’s Note: I absolutely swear by multani mitti and sandalwood powder, loved this DIY Sanchita.

Have you tried this at home DIY to remove your tan yet?

Parachute Advansed #KhulkekheloHoli Contest – 5 winners

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Parachute Advansed #KhulkekheloHoli Contest – 5 winners

Hi guys,

Holi is coming up and I have so many good childhood memories attached with this festival. From prepping up previous day with balloons and pichkaris and finding all amazing colors to waking up early at 6-7 am and enjoying it with friends and family untill afternoon. It was so much fun! While the previous two years, I had my friends come over and we did have some fun with colours. But nothing beats the childhood fun, right.

This video totally refreshed my Holi memories.

#KhulkeKheloHoliYe Rang Hai Gaadhe Rishton Ke,
Inhe Pheeka mat padne do.

Iss baar, Holi Khul Ke Khelo.
#KhulKeKheloHoli

Posted by Parachute Advansed on Monday, 14 March 2016

Holi is all about love, joy, family time, togetherness and applying colours. Khul ke khelo Holi doesn’t mean we waste water, water conservation is an important issue currently and we should always try our best to not waste water. Holi can be played with colors and is equally fun!

I have a contest for Holi for you guys 🙂 I have teamed up with Parachute Advansed Hair Oil where we will be giving away 5 Holi hampers to 5 of you.

All you have to do it share the above video on facebook, link HERE and tell us about your favourite childhood Holi memory in the comments below. That’s it. Just make sure to tag my page when you share the video on facebook so that I can verify the entry.

The contest starts right now and ends on Sunday 20th March, the winners will be announced on 20th itself, so that the winners can receive the hampers before Holi. It is only open to residents of India.

Good Luck guys and Happy Holi 🙂

Update: The winners are:

Shilpa Bindlish

Neha Thagela

Mansi Tokla

Shweta

Divya Gattani

Also hubby has picked winners this time for an unbiased third person view 🙂 Congrats winners! Please mail me at bhumika_thakkar (@)yahoo.co.uk with your complete mailing address and number soon, will have to send it ahead tom afternoon so that the hampers reach before Holi. If I do not get the details by 1pm tom, I will need to pick another winner.

Thanks a lot for the participation 🙂

Lakme 9 to 5 Lip Color Pink Bureau Review, Swatches

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Lakme 9 to 5 Lip Color Pink Bureau Review, Swatches

By Sanchita

INTRODUCTION

It is all about matte now-a-days. Although I am a big fan of chubby lip colors and the ultra-matte liquid lipsticks, I always find my way back to lipstick bullets when I am heading out to college. For daytime, I always stick to the mundane soft pink lip colors and Lakme 9 to 5 is the apt range for this. They have around 38 shades of various browns, reds and pinks to offer. I have used 2-3colors from this range few years back and was pretty impressed. This year I picked a beautiful pink color for daytime called Pink Bureau. Here’s my review on the product.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION – Lakmé Nine to Five brings you a range of 38 shades that sit on your lips all day long. Enriched with Vitamin E; it conditions your lips & softens them with wheat germ oil. So, perk those soft, smooth lips with a touch of matte.

PRICE – 400 INR

MY REVIEW

Packaging – The first and foremost reason I am attracted to this range of lip colors is their gorgeous packaging. The rose gold colored lipstick bullets is something like a beautiful possession in my handbag. Kudos to Lakme for blending two beautiful things women adore – rose and gold. The lipstick comes in a light weight rose gold body with the twist open function. It shuts really tight and hence easy to travel with. The lipstick is further encased in a cardboard box of tea rose color.

Shade – The shade is a soft rose pink with micro golden shimmer particles. The color has a natural warmth to it and is specifically tailored to suit each and every complexion. For fair skin tones, it will comes out as a lively pink (not loud though), for medium to dusky skin it will appear as nice soft coral pink while for deeper complexions, it will be an MLBB pink. The gold shimmers are not very visible but their presence gives a duo chrome touch to the lips under sunlight.

Pigmentation – The pigmentation is really great. With single swipe you can get an opaque layer. It successfully hides and conceal every blemishes and discolorations on lips and you won’t even need a lip concealer underneath. It applies evenly on the lips and there isn’t any patchy layer at all. The color doesn’t bleed at all and you won’t even require a lip liner underneath to bring out the dynamism of the lipstick.

Texture – Texture wise, I would call it powdery matte. The texture reminds me so much of the beloved Chambor Powder Matte I have used before and glides on the lips with a velvet touch. Although there are shimmers but it doesn’t feel even tad bit abrasive at all. Now, the downside is it feels dry. It isn’t very forgiving at all if you have dry lips. So make sure you have exfoliated and well-nourished the lips with a nice and hydrated lip balm underneath. Also, the texture is smooth but if you try to go more than two coats, you will realize that lipsticks can look super cakey.

Finish – the finish is soft matte from the very beginning. I wouldn’t call it as dry as lip creams but the enriching presence of Vitamin E gives a nourished look. However, do not expect it to hydrate your lips at all. The gold shimmers starts being prominent once the color loses it vivacity with the passage of time. It won’t look gaudy but slightly shiny. The lipstick also transfer a lot to cups and spoons while eating.

Staying Power – the staying is definite not 9 to 5 as claims but it does survives around 4-5hours easily. It can subsist even after small snacks or brunch but definitely not a full course meal. After meal, you would need a slight retouch by dabbing the color onto the lips. It fades off leaving a trail of pinkish golden hue to the lips and I realized there isn’t any patchiness even though the lip color felt dry. For the price, I think they have beautiful texture and staying power.

OVERALL – the Lakme 9 to 5 Lipstick Pink Bureau is a gorgeous and muted pink to worn at any time and it gives a soft touch of pink during daytime. It has a wonderful powder matte texture with amazing pigmentation and fairly long staying power.

WHAT I LIKED

  • Gorgeous rose gold packaging.
  • Lakme 9 to 5 Lipstick Pink Bureau is a soft rose pink with micro golden shimmer particles.
  • It will suit each and every complexions.
  • A single swipe of the lipstick gives a proper saturated color.
  • It has powdery matte texture.
  • The color doesn’t bleed at all.
  • Soft matte finish for a daytime lip color.
  • It does survives around 4-5hours easily.
  • It fades off with an even pink hue to the lips.
  • Reasonably priced.

WHAT I DISLIKED

  • Formula is drying and unforgiving for dry lips.
  • It may look cakey if too many layers are applied.
  • The shimmer becomes prominent once the color starts fading.

RATING – 4/5

RECOMMENDATION – with 38 shades to choose from, the Lakme 9 to 5 range of Lipsticks surely deserves recommendation. The price are perfect and often on discounts. The colors are soft and perfect for daytime and the texture and finish are on point. I would highly recommend this color as well as the range for the versatility of soft daytime shades.

Editor’s Note: Totally agree on the gorgeous packaging, I have no idea why they have added gold shimmer to the beautiful matte pinks. I have the shade Peony Goal which is again a beautiful nude pink but even that has shimmer, I do not like shimmer in my lipsticks.

My Current Makeup Wishlist

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My Current Makeup Wishlist

Hi guys,

I do have a secret makeup wishlist like all girls, obvious no. So I thought of sharing my makeup wishlist with you all today. Of course these items are not ‘need’ coz I have so many other alternatives in my stash already, but ‘want’ 😀

1. theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

Now this is on my wishlist since a long time, but it it so expensive here in India, it’s more than double the rate. Definitely getting this when I or someone close flies outside. It is supposed to be the best highlighter ever! And I love highlighters

2. Lorac Pro Palette

I have heard so much about this and it looks beautiful with all the super pigmented warm colors, but I have already own lots of palettes, like way too many! Umm..confused about this, but wouldn’t mind if someone gifts me this 😉

3. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

I don’t anything from Nars yet and this concealer is raved about by all the YouTubers, definitely would love to try this.

4. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

Matte, long lasting, comes in 28 shades, comfortable, 100% cruelty free, what’s not to love!

5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick

Same as above but comes in 22 shades. Liquid lipsticks are all the rage and Kat Von D and Anastasia ones are I believe the most famous and raved ones. I would love to try them and experience for myself.

6. Colourpop Lippie Stix/Ultra Satin/Ultra Matte

Colourpop is one brand that is creating a stir in the makeup/beauty world since the past 1-1.5 years. I want to try their Ultra Satin, Ultra Matte Lip colors especially the Kathleen Lights shade and the Lippie Stix too.

7. Makeup Geek Eyeshadows/Blushes

Not that I don’t have eyeshadows, I have gazillion, but the Makeup Geek ones look really nice. Again a case of ‘want’ and not ‘need’, so stopping myself from splurging.

Ya I think that is pretty much it for now 😀 I will add things or make a new wishlist if I have enough things in my wishlist, haha.

What is on your wishlist? Let me know in the comments below.

Trending Beauty Hacks That All Lazy Girls Should Know

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Trending Beauty Hacks That All Lazy Girls Should Know

Sadly girls today don’t find much time to indulge in relaxed beauty services at home due to demanding work-life balance. With these simple yet quick beauty hacks, it’s possible to look your best without feeling guilty and out-of-date.

So here you go lazy girls, incorporate these effective beauty hacks, without all the time and effort in the world!

Brighten up your tired eyes

A little bottle of mascara cab does the trick. If you are suffering from puffy/swollen or sleepy eyes? Mascara application can immediately brighten your face.

Define your bushy eyebrows

If your busy schedule as well laziness has resulted in bushy and unkempt eyebrows than simply swipe two coats of clear mascara. It will automatically hold and define your eyebrows.

Facial Bliss

If you are suffering from tired and dull skin and have no time for facials than simply get facial sheets. It’s easily available in the market, are super effective as well as easy to use. However, if you have time over the weekends and are looking for a relaxed and professional service, try UrbanClap app for salon services at home. It is a one-stop destination for all urban lifestyle services.

Dry and rough toes

No time for pedicure? While taking a shower simply use pumice stone and say goodbye to dry and uneven skin. Do it regularly for a prolonged effect.

Fight disobedient hair

When your hair seems super messy and as usual you are running late for office, then making a top knot is the safest bet.

Perfume that stays effective for long

If you want your perfume to last longer, simply rub Vaseline on your pulse points before applying the perfume i.e. behind the ears, on the wrists and behind the knees. It will save you from having to re-apply.

Say no to dry hands and feet

Dry hands and feet can leave you embarrassed. Keep your moisturizer next to your bed and religiously apply it before bedtime. Every morning you will wake up to soft and supple skin.

For effortless waves

If you have washed your hair but have no time for a blow dry then simply tie up your hair into a bun and let it stay like that. Once it’s dry just shake it and voila you achieve soft curls instantly.

Quickly dry nails

Painted nails can instantly make your hands look beautiful. However, on the other hand messy nail paint can be a big turn-off. To quickly dry nail paint, dip your freshly painted nails into ice-cold water.

Use in a shower gel combined with moisturizer

Applying body lotion can take a lot of time. In order to save on time, purchase a shower gel with moisturizer.

Fast and easy blow dry session

Blow dry your hair upside down, not only it saves time but also adds volume to your hair.

Cover those roots

In order to get thicker mane as well to hide those incoming roots, it’s best to brush a little black eye-shadow onto your parting.

Concealer for dark under eye circles

Nothing looks worse on your face as compared to deep and dark under eye circles. A concealer can come handy to quickly achieve a flawless look.

Credit card usage

Applying eye-liner or mascara can easily turn into a messy affair especially when you are running late. Worry not, simply hold your credit card underneath your lashes, excess of product will stick to the card instead of your face and within no time you will get bright and beautiful eyes.

Achieve squeaky clean scalp

Baking soda has multiple uses. Apart from being used in kitchen, baking soda can also help you get rid of hair buildup. Just sprinkle a little amount into your shampoo and get light, clean and fresh strands.

Have fun while using these simple yet effective beauty hacks!

OOTD: 3 Casual Outfits/Feb Lookbook

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OOTD: 3 Casual Outfits/Feb Lookbook

Hi guys,

I know it’s been ages since I did any OOTD post here, but I did manage to click pics and a short video when I dressed up. I did not attend many events this month, also was working very hard on the blog and currently happy with the way the numbers are going 🙂 Thanks to my writers and your love and support throughout.

Coming to the outfits, if you saw my previous haul video, I showed you guys the Anita Dongre maxi dress which I got during their sale, the first outfit is that 🙂

Outfit 1:

I am loving maxi dresses and I picked this Anita Dongre maxi dress during their sale. It’s a black, white and orange printed maxi dress which cinches at the waist and flares after the waistline. It also has cutout at the shoulders. Whenever I can’t decide what to wear, I will just pick this up. I paired it with my navy blue Michael Kors sling and watch, in all the three outfits you will see the same bag and watch coz I have only been using this in the month of Feb. And of course my favourite black block heels with gold ankle strap.

Dress: AND
Bag, Watch: Michael Kors
Ring: Zotiqq
Shoes: Shown HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE

On lips: Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick in R08 Firework

Outfit 2:

This is an old dress, mint and flared. It’s perfect for summers and Mumbai is already super hot and humid, yesterday night was scorching! I paired it with the same shoes, bag and watch as above. You must have seen me wearing this before too.

Dress: Romwe
Bag, Watch: Michael Kors
Earrings: Accessorize
Shoes: Same as above

On lips: Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Tint in Pink Fantasy

Outfit 3:

This is my latest buy, a super comfortable denim shift shirt dress. Again something I can wear anytime and anywhere, since it’s a shift dress, it is easy to wear, walk around, do anything. Just throw it on and not worry about anything.

Dress: StalkBuyLove
Bag, Watch: Michael Kors
Shoes: Zaful

On Lips: MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick Recollection

I hope you liked the looks, do let me know your favourite in the comments below.

DIY Facial Serum for Night

Anti Acne, DIY, Home Remedies, How To, Serums, Skin care, Tips, Tips and Tricks, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DIY Facial Serum for Night

By Sanchita

To begin with, I have extremely sensitive, acne prone, oily skin that is always on the verge of breakouts. Due to this reason, I avoid moisturizers (except for aloe vera gel) all my life. However, as I am approaching towards late 20s, I have been noticing that the texture of the skin looks very unhealthy and that natural glow is missing somewhere. Hence, I wanted something to rejuvenate and nourish the skin. After searching high and low for all the ingredients that works on acne prone skin without giving much trouble, I made this night serum for myself and to my surprise, I did work! I have been using it past a month and thankfully I observed some good changes in my skin. Firstly, it never broke me out and also nourished the skin. Secondly, it hydrates the skin throughout the night with getting oily or greasy. So, here goes the night elixir for acne prone skin.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Aloe Vera Gel – you can either take it directly from the plants and blend it smooth to have the gel consistency or simple buy one!
  • Jojoba Oil – Works wonder for oily acne prone skin. You can also substitute it for Avocado OR Almond Oil for preference.
  • Rose Water – either homemade or store-bought will work.
  • Vitamin E Capsule – easily available across the counter otherwise you can also opt for Vitamin E oil.
  • Sanitized Bowl – since it is a face product, it is better to have a sanitized place to start with and then transfer it to a dropper bottle or any container.

STEPS

Step 1
  • Add 1 tbsp. of rose water in the bowl.
Step 2
  • Next, add 2 tbsp. of aloe vera gel. Mix it thoroughly as both the ingredients have different consistencies and takes effort to blend well. You can also add 1 tbsp. if you want a runny consistency but I wanted sort of a slightly thicker one, so I added 2 tbsp.
Step 3
  • Add 2-3 drops of Jojoba Oil and again blend it in.
Step 4
  • Lastly, take out 1-2 Vitamin E Capsules and poke them to take out the oil. Add the mixture very comprehensively unless you see a uniform consistency without any lumps.
Final outcome
  • And Voila! You night serum is ready!

TIP: Do not make it in a large quantity because it is handmade and hence, the preservatives are missing. Make it enough for a week or two at the most.

FOR DRY SKIN – Since dry skin or mature skin needs more than just aloe vera gel, they can use shea butter or cocoa butter instead of aloe vera gel. They can also incorporate the essential oils like Almond, Rosehip, Grapeseed, etc. as per their own preference.

BENEFITS OF THE INGREDIENTS –

  • Vitamin E – Vitamin E is the main ingredient I would vouch for. It has excellent properties to revive and renew the skin cells at night. It treats the scars and marks on the skin due to ageing or acne. Being a great moisturizer, it nourishes the skin well without making it greasy or clog the pores when applied. It soothes and treats the sun burns and regular tanning of the skin. Most prominently, it make collagen that decreases the rate of aging signs like wrinkles, fine lines, etc.
  • Aloe Vera Gel – this is the HG for every oily skin. Seldom moisturizers suit us and we always find our way back to this. Aloe Vera, known as “plant of immortality”, it has numerous benefits for skin. It moisturizes the skin, heals the scars and soothes the skin from acne and nourishes without any greasy layer which gets absorbed in a jiffy. It also lightens skin pigmentation and slows down the ageing sign.
  • Jojoba Oil – it is known to fight wrinkles, stretch marks and cellulite. With high amount of ceramides which cover skin cells, it hydrates and nourishes the skin like no other. Oily skin doesn’t go well with other oils but this is an exception. It is so light weight and gets blended very easily. It also has anti-bacterial properties that treats acne and allergies.
  • Rose Water – the beauty of rose water in indefinite. From toner to face packs, makeup setting spray to hydration – it can do everything. It treats acne, soothes the skin from sun burns, refreshes and invigorates and has many anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties for sensitive skin.

Do let me know how you liked the DIY.

Editor’s Note: I swear by Vitamin E capsules, but they are so sticky and messy while applying. I guess the mix of rose water and aloe vera gel will make applying Vitamin E easier. Also I am all for essential oils, I love using them. Definitely trying this Sanchita.

Lotus Herbals YOUTHRx Youth Activating Serum + Crème Review

Anti Ageing, Lotus Herbals, Reviews, Serums, Skin care, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lotus Herbals YOUTHRx Youth Activating Serum + Crème Review

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing one of my favourite products from the Lotus Herbals YouthRx Range, the Serum + Creme.

It contains the highest concentration of the revolutionary ‘Gineplex Youth Compound’ which gives it 10 times the anti-ageing power of a day crème. It’s a 2-in-1 formula of Serum + Crème –

1. Serum penetrates the skin quickly and delivers 10X* more ‘GINEPLEX YOUTH COMPOUND’ to the dermal layer, boosting collagen production.

2. Crème nourishes, hydrates and restores skin moisture.

MRP: Rs.695/- for 30ml

Directions:

Ingredients:

One of my most favourite product from this range. It comes in a very thick glass bottle with a cap and a pump dispensor. Again a mix of gel+cream consistency. It is very light and gets absorbed into the skin in a jiffy. I just need one pump and it hydrates and nourishes the skin. I can even skip a cream post using this, coz it hydrates wonderfully even in these winters. Skin feels soft and smooth instantly.

It smells really nice and the packaging is quite good. The bottle is sturdy and perfect for travel too. I only carry this when I am going to my parents’ place for 1-2 days as it solves the purpose of both a serum and a moisturizer.

Skin feels soft and supple immediately, it hydrates the skin but does not leave a heavy, greasy feeling. You can use only this in summers, for winters, I would suggest following up with the Day Cream from the same range.

I love the Ginseng, Ginger, Milk Peptide i.e. GinePlex ingredients, you can feel it working on the skin. It is definitely soothing, I can’t really comment on lifting but skin does feel firmer with regular usage.

It is not just meant for 30+ or anti-ageing, I would recommend it to everyone in mid 20’s too, I am in my late 20’s and definitely loving it.

Even though it is slightly on the expensive side, but the ingredients are impressive and it definitely works. Also a little goes a long way.

Rating:

Quality: 4/5
Value for money : 3.75/5
Availability: 3.5/5

Overall rating: 3.75/5

Have you tried the new Lotus Herbals YOUTHRx Youth Activating Serum + Crème?

P.S: PR Sample. Honest Review