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Maldives Travel Guide: Places to Visit, Things to Do

Maldives Travel Guide: Places to Visit, Things to Do

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Maldives Travel Guide: Places to Visit, Things to Do

By Sanchita

Introduction – Maldives or the Maldive Islands (known as the ‘The Pearl Necklace’ of the Indian Ocean) is a tropical nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of 26 ring-shaped atolls and has over 1,000 coral islands. This is a tranquil haven for wanderlust lovers who crave the exotic islands, mesmerizing sea, white sands, coral reefs and a journey to remember. This one of the best tourist destinations of Asia. It is a paradise for lovers who wish to spend their honeymoon in serene and calm environment. It is dotted with incredible beauty and splendid nature. The destination is extremely enthralling and the best time to visit Maldives is during the month of December to April.

Places to see in Maldives

Utheemu Ganduvaru – Situated in the north of Maldives, this is one of the tourist attractions in Maldives. It is a historical place which is the house of the Sultan Mohammad Thankurufaan. This is indeed a great historical site known for the heroic actions of Maldivians who saved the common folk from the cruel Portuguese conquerors.

HP Reef – This is the place of stunning corals and vibrant marine life. Needless to say, this is among the top-rated tourist attractions in Maldives. The place is situated at the North Male Atoll and dotted with colorful fishes and other marine animals. The place is a protected marine site and perfect for diving. The divine blue sea and vivacity of marine life is surely going to lift your mood.

Biyadhoo Island Resort – It is situated in South Malé Atoll and has a fascinating site of Maldives. It is one of the most serene places to visit and counted among one of the best resorts all over world. It offers various activities like diving, snorkeling and many other water sports. In fact, it is often called the ‘Scuba-diving Island’. There are various luxurious hotels here but the major attraction of this place is snorkeling, scuba diving and canoe-paddling.

Hukuru Miskiiy Mosque – The Hukuru Miskiiy Mosque is also known as the Old Friday Mosque in Maldives and one of the best place to witness the Islamic culture. It is one of the oldest mosque named after the Emperor of the same name. The interior of the mosque offers outstanding architectural designs with carvings of different kinds of patterns and Arabic scripts, which is simply extraordinary. The place is extremely calm and peaceful.

Fihalhohi Island – This is the ideal place for romantic destination. It is located at the South Kaafu Atoll in Malé and offers a gorgeous place for lovers and ideal for your romantic getaway or honeymoon. The beauty and serenity of white sands, coconut palm trees and clear blue water, it is surely going to win your heart. The major attractions are Fihalhohi Island Resort, Rannalhi and Rihiveli beaches.

Things to do in Maldives –

  • Take a bike ride and explore the beauty of the city and especially, Malé which is the largest and liveliest city in Maldives. The roads are perfect for bike rides and you can explore various places as well.
  • Maldives has various local artisans in their workshops and various local arts and crafts are available. Therefore, go for shopping for the local and traditional items.
  • Since this is an island, you can also go for fishing. Take a fishing trip on a speedboat and catch fishes like tuna, sail fish, etc. There are provisions for barbecue as well.
  • There are provisions for water sports like diving, windsurfing and snorkeling, relaxation at sauna and spa, island hopping and many more.
  • The view of sea and pristine sand is serene so you can also relax on the various beaches.
  • There are provisions for spa and massages and other relaxation therapies and pampering. There is a spa at every resort in Maldives.

Cuisine

Maldives is famous for sea food for obvious reasons. Fish (tuna) is one of the important staple of the Maldivian diet. The cuisine of Maldives is a great mix of Arabic, Indian, Sri Lankan and Oriental influences. Coconuts are a key part of many dishes in Maldives. Dishes like Garudhiya, Keemia, Gulha, Mas Huni, Bajiya and Masroshi are very popular in Maldives.

Currency conversion

Currency conversion for Maldives is very easy, there are many reliable currency convertors who will convert your currency to their Maldivian rufiyaa. You can also check the rates using online currency convertor. It helps you with real time figures based on current market or bank foreign exchange rates, it would be of an excellent help while travelling.

Maldives Tourism has a lot to offer, so plan your Maldives trip soon 🙂

Try This Overnight DIY Serum For a Translucent Glow

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TRY THIS OVERNIGHT DIY SERUM FOR A TRANSLUCENT GLOW

By Ankita

With the changing environment and lifestyle, there is no escaping from skin issues. The good old CTM works, no doubt. However is it good enough? I won't agree to that. Hence, serums came into being. The usual cleansing-toning- moisturizing regime is now better replaced by cleansing-toning- TREATing-moisturizing. This is where the serums come into action. You can pretty much say in an Army of soldiers, they are the marines, employed for specific target oriented operations. Let’s have a look at them,

WHAT IS A SERUM

Face serums are lightweight moisturizers with a gel or light lotion consistency and have a higher concentration of ingredients meant to provide more effective and focused results.

HOW TO USE

These are used after cleaning and toning then face. Pat on the serum on with the help of your finger, gently dabbing and pushing it into the skin

SO…I CAN SKIP MY MOISTURIZER RIGHT?

Absolutely not. Serums are an addition to your CTM (Cleansing-Toning- Moisturizing) and no way substitute a moisturizer. They have targeted action and address a specific skin issue such as acne, hyper-pigmentation, aging etc.

There are tons and thousands of serum available in the market, and I won’t deny they don’t work. They definitely do. But, wait for it!!!What if I told you, you can make one in a jiffy, that won’t cost you gazillion bucks and works just as fine as any other serum? Actually more than fine. Shall I say….works BRILLIANT.

Ready? Ladies and Ladies, I give you my magic potion

DIY OVERNIGHT GLOW SERUM

YOU WILL NEED:

-4 drops of Virgin Coconut Oil

-4 drops of pure rose water

-a pea sized amount of pure aloe vera gel

PROCEDURE:

1. You do not need a bowl for this as it is better to use it fresh every day. Take 4 drops of Virgin Coconut Oil on your palm.

2. Add in a pea sized amount of aloe vera gel

3. Now finally add in 4 drops of rose water and mix all the ingredients with your fingers till they become an emulsion.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Dot it all over your face and neck and massage with very light hands in upward-outward motions, till you are satisfied that the skin has completely soaked in the product.

2. Follow up with a very light weight moisturizer and have off you go to bed Sleeping Beauty.

IS IT EFFECTIVE?

1. This serum works greatly towards brightening the skin and especially fading away dark spots.

2. Gives you healthy illuminating glow.

WHY THESE INGREDIENTS??

Virgin Coconut Oil: Cold pressed Virgin Coconut is a boon for the skin as it helps to improve certain skin conditions by healing wounds and reducing rashes. Its anti-inflammatory effect works wonders for soothing skin ailments. VCO contains Lauric Acid that helps to combat acne and even is a great whitening agent.

Priced at: 350 INR for 500ml (Buy HERE)

Rose Water: With its anti-inflammatory and skin soothing properties, rose water is the life saver for irritated skin. Apart from being an excellent skin toner, it also brightens up the complexion and makes the skin more radiant and even.

Priced at: 150 INR (Buy HERE)

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that work wonders for the skin. Application of aloe vera speeds up the process of healing of burns, lightens blemishes, reduces acne and also prevents wrinkles. It even acts as a great natural moisturizer.

Priced at: 250 INR for 100ml (Buy HERE)

HOW OFTEN AND WHEN DO I USE IT

Use it once a day, before you go to bed. You have to be consistent with the use to see great results, in less than a month.

IS IT SAFE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

It is 100% safe for any skin type, however, it is always wise to go for a patch test first. In case you experience any irritation (which most probably you won’t), do not use it further.

Here is a little after picture of me. Unfortunately, I don’t have any before picture as I had never planned to write this piece. After a month of usage, it has reduced my marks and scars to a good extent.

In this image, I have washed my face with cold water, put on some lip gloss and tight-lined my upper lash line.

Why spend a portion of your kidney, if you can have it done at the comfort of your kitchen? Without a question of doubt, I honestly ask my dear readers to give this DIY serum a try and see the results for yourself.

However, you must not forget these few pointers:

1. Cut out processed food as much as possible from your diet.

2. Stay hydrated and stay away from aerated drinks

3. Nothing!!!!!can substitute a good beauty sleep of 6-7 hours.

Please come back and let me know your experience with this serum. Any suggestions, comments, and ideas are always welcome 🙂

Editor’s Note: You have amazing and flawless skin Ankita. I love DIY’s and would be surely trying this too.

Do you love trying DIY’s? Will you try this?

Gillette Venus Breeze Razor Review

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Gillette Venus Breeze Razor Review

Hi guys,

As you all know I shave and I am a huge fan of the Gillette Venus, I have covered shaving and Gillette Venus many times on the blog, review HERE.

Gillette Venus has recently launched a new razor ‘Breeze’. Most of you would be knowing about this as it’s everywhere on Instagram 😀

Claims: Now smooth skin is just a shave away! The all new Gillette Venus Breeze razor for women is the secret to a time saving shave. It is built with flexible shave gel bars and contains rich body butters for a light lather. A smooth glide that makes no need for separate shave gel or soap.

  • 3 Spring-mounted blades with telomer coating with shower storage.
  • Gives a smooth and silky shave
  • This razor is gentle on skin
  • Easy to use and convenient to carry

MRP: Rs.299/-

Pack of 2 cartridges: Rs. 350/-

It is available online on Amazon and Nykaa.

Ingredients:

The razor comes in this purple and blue box with the body and razor head separate. You just need to attach the two and it’s ready for use.

The razor itself has a pretty purple colour and looks quite good. The body has ergonomic grip so that the razor doesn’t slide off even for in shower use.

The USP of this razor are the two soap gel bars on the top and bottom of the razor head. They have a floral freesia scent which is quite nice. You don’t need a separate shaving gel with this razor, you just need to wet the razor or the skin and directly shave. The soap gel bars produce a soft lather and they also have moisturizing butters (Olive, Avocado, Kokum) which makes the razor shave smoothly, leaving the skin moisturized. There would no dryness whatsoever.

The 3 blades are quite sharp and nice, and it gives a smooth shave. Since it is shaving gel and razor both in 1, it’s a 2 in 1 product giving One Step Smooth Skin.

I often experience itchiness after shaving if I don’t moisturize my skin well with a rich body lotion/butter. But from the time I have started using Breeze, there has been no itchiness at all. I even skipped moisturizing once and nope, no itching.

I am absolutely in love with this razor as it makes the process even quicker, skipping the shaving gel part. Also this makes it perfect for travel as you do not have to carry a shaving gel separately now.

When the soap gel bars are completely used or the lubrastrip fades, you just need to change the cartridge/razor head which you can buy separately as a pack of two. So the body will last you for a really, long time. Very economical.

Only con would be I wish it came with a plastic cover, so that it is convenient to store and travel with. As the gel bars get moist after use, they become a little sticky and you have to store the razor vertically and dry.

Other than that, it is just perfect. I would highly recommend trying the new Gillette Venus Breeze if you haven’t yet.

Have you tried the new Gillette Venus Breeze? Your thoughts?

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC42 Review, Swatches, Buy Online

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MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC42 Review, Swatches, Buy Online

By Sanchita

INTRODUCTION – I have been planning to buy this concealer for a long time and when it was available online, I immediately picked this up. I once tried this concealer at a MAC store and loved the consistency and coverage. MAC is known for their extraordinary base products with an array of shade range. Having used the product for quite some time, here’s my review on the product.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION – A lightweight fluid concealer that provides medium to full coverage with a comfortable, natural matte finish. Colour-true formula lasts up to 15 hours. Helps conceal and correct the look of under-eye circles, and discolorations. Comes in a clear glass vial with a matte black pump.

PRICE – Rs. 2100/ $22.00 for 9 ml / 0.30 US fl. oz. (Available on Nykaa)

MY REVIEW

The MAC Pro Longwear Concealer has a convenient packaging for travelling. It comes in a transparent bottle with a black opaque pump and the packaging is really sturdy. Although, it is hygienic and travel friendly, it has downside too. The pump dispenses a lot of product in a single pressure and sometimes you need end up wasting it. And honestly, you don’t want to waste a product from MAC. Therefore, the packaging fares well but nothing something I prefer.

Coming to its consistency, I would say it is medium. The texture is slightly runny but the moment you start blending, it kind of turns creamy. The best thing about the product is that it gives a medium to full coverage. Every liquid concealer I have used so far sheers out and we just end up wasting money. Therefore, I was very careful while purchasing this one. The concealer is also water proof and smudge proof. Once you have set the concealer, it is not going to smudge or spread at all.

I use this concealer mainly for under eyes and I have extreme dark circles. I simply apply a faint layer of orange corrector and apply this concealer with the help of my fingers. And using a blending sponge, blend the product. It completely hides the dark circles and gives a fresh, awake look.

Now, the shade range of MAC is outstanding and one can’t complain about it at all. I chose the shade NC42 because it matches my skin tone. I didn’t want the highlighting effect at all therefore went with something natural. For minor discolorations, pigmentation and acne cover also the concealer works like a charm.

The blending is really easy and it doesn’t cling on the dry areas of the face or eyes at all. Since, my eye area is extremely dry, I use an eye cream prior the application of product. The concealer gives a natural matte finish and would work great with oily and combination skin. It causes little to no creasing of under eyes if you set with a translucent powder. However, if you have dry skin, make sure you use the appropriate hydrating emollient to make the concealer work smoothly.

The concealer gives no flashback at all and I simply love that. It looks as natural as possible and would bring a huge difference to your look. It is surely long wearing and stayed on my eyes for about 8-9hrs with minimal fading in a moderate climate. I can also use this concealer for full face too. There are time when I mix it with sunscreen, moisturizer or any BB/CC cream to perfect a perfect natural coverage. The only downside of every MAC product is that they are unapologetically expensive. However, the quality is undeniably good and the product would last a long time.

WHAT I LIKED

1. Hygienic and travel friendly packaging.

2. Perfect shade range.

3. Medium consistency with slight runny texture.

4. Very easy to blend.

5. Medium to full coverage.

6. No flash back in photos.

7. Can be used with tinted moisturizer or any BB/CC cream.

8. Natural matte finish.

9. Water proof and smudge proof.

10. Long wearing.

WHAT I DISLIKED

1. Pump dispenses a lot of product.

2. May be little dry for dry skin.

3. Expensive.

RATING – 4.5/5

OVERALL – The MAC Pro Longwear Concealer is a medium to full coverage concealer with an extensive shade range. It has a liquid based formula, slightly runny and sets in easily to give a natural matte finish. It is easy to work with and if you have been looking for a full coverage liquid-cream concealer, this excels in its wonderful quality. I am really happy with the product.

Editor’s Note: This sounds really good! I wanted to try this, but right now I have the MAC Pro Conceal and Correct Palette and quite happy with it. As you can mix and match with the correctors and create your custom shade

Have you tried MAC Concealers? Which is your favourite?

Strands of Gold: 72 Hours Frizz-Free Hair with Wella Professionals Oil Reflections

Hair Care, Hair Mask, New Launches, Reviews, Shampoos, Wella, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Strands of Gold: 72 Hours Frizz-Free Hair with Wella Professionals Oil Reflections

Hi guys,

I got to experience the new Wella Oil Reflections range. The launch was at The Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba followed with the experiential of the same treatment at The Taj Salon.

We were briefed about this new Wella Oil Reflections Range. It has a shampoo, conditioner and mask for home use and an elixir for in salon use and I’m here to share what I learned at the event.

Our hair is made up of keratin and lipids. While every company tends to concentrate on keratin, Wella Professionals Oil Reflections range works on lipids. Lipids work like cement in binding the hair, and even though hair has just 4% lipids, it is very essential as they are the main binding factor.

This range works on dry and frizzy hair and gives an instant moisture boost to the hair. The conditioner from this range works in 30 seconds, so you don’t need to keep it for 2-3 minutes.

There is a mask which can be used once a week for deep conditioning and to add even more moisture.

Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Range can give you 72 hours of Frizz Free hair and instant luminosity. The range has great ingredients such Camellia oil and White tea extract; while the versatile Oil has macadamia oil, avocado oil and Vitamin E.

To experience the range at The Taj Salon, they started with washing the hair with the shampoo, following it up with the elixir which was directly applied on the wet hair. And finally the mask was applied, which was then kept for 5 minutes before washing off.

My hair felt super smooth and soft and more importantly was frizz-free, as you can see in this video.

I got the treatment done on 14th and it claims to keep the hair frizz free for 72 hours i.e. 3 days and I must say, it does what it claims! My hair felt super soft for all three days and I couldn’t stop touching my hair.

I have the shampoo and the hair mask from this range and used it again at home. I used this range quite a few times after that and I am absolutely loving it!

Here’s what you need to know:

Luminous Reveal Shampoo: FOR ALL HAIR TYPES
Light moisturizing shampoo leaves the hair deeply cleansed and luminous.

MRP: Rs.975/- for 250ml

Luminous Reboost Mask: FOR ALL HAIR TYPES
Mask that nourishes and replenishes the hair structure leaving the hair smooth and luminous

MRP: Rs.1075/- for 150ml

Luminous Instant Conditioner

It acts in just 30 seconds!

MRP: Rs. 975/- for  250ml

The shampoo is clear and very light in texture, so even if you have an oily scalp, this will work for you and your scalp will be oil free next two days. Mask is thick and white and very rich. It conditions the ends really well and keeps them frizz free as the hair gets enough moisture. I absolutely love the fresh scent of this range.

Wella Professionals Pro Elements range was my absolute favourite untill now, and I recommended that to everyone. I am so glad Wella Professionals has launched this new Oil Reflections range, I see my new favourite in this.

While Wella Professionals Pro Elements is SLS and Paraben free, Wella Professionals Oil Reflections is not completely SLS free but it does not dry out or damage the hair, in fact it is all the more moisturising because of the Camellia Oil.

Wella Professionals Oil Reflections is meant for all hair types. I definitely recommend trying out the new Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Range. You can buy the range at at a salon near you, find here https://www.wella.com/professional/en-EN/salon-finder or online on Nykaa.

Have you tried any Wella Professionals Hair Range before?

April 2017 Fab Bag Review & Unboxing, 10% Off Discount Code

Ayorma, Compact, Fab Bag, Face Scrubs, Hedonista, New Launches, Pressed Powder, Reviews, Subscription Boxes, Sugar Cosmetics, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

April 2017 Fab Bag Review & Unboxing, 10% Off Discount Code

Hi guys,

I got my April Fab Bag today, the theme for this month is Spring Fling.

MRP: Rs.599/- per month (Buy HERE)

It’s a pretty floral print bag and quite thick and sturdy. Goes perfect with the Spring Theme

Products I got:

  • Sugar As Nude As It Gets SPF 15 Compact- Rs.699/-
  • Ayorma Radiance Glow Deep Exfoliator 10g
  • Hedonista Fresh Face Scrub 25ml
  • Sand For Soapaholics Heavenly Dew Bathing Bar- Rs.275/- for 100g

Sugar’s new launch, the Compact Powder is a part of this month’s bag and you get the full sized compact. It comes in 3 shades and I chose the mid shade 02 Cappuccino. I like the matte black packaging, it’s quite sturdy. It comes with a sponge and a mirror.

Ayorma Exfoliating Scrub looks a little abrasive, I won’t use it for my face. But if you use walnut based scrubs, you will like it.

I loved the Hedonista Fresh Face Scrub with Strawberry and Coconut extracts. Smells refreshing and nice, this one is mild enough to be used on the face.

Sand for Soapaholics soap looks really pretty and again coconut based. Spring theme has all coconut based products, so apt.

Total value of all the products in this month’s bag comes to around Rs.1300/- I would have liked one more product in the bag ideally.

If you want to try the new Sugar Compact, then you can go for this month’s bag.

I have a 10% off discount code for you all. You can use ‘NLM10‘ during checkout to get 10% off on 3, 6 and 12 months’ subscription. It’s valid till 30th April.

What did you get in your April Fab Bag?

Top 6 Matte Pink Lipsticks under Rs.500 in India | Swatches | Giveaway

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Top 6 Matte Pink Lipsticks under Rs.500 in India | Swatches | Giveaway

Hi guys,

I love pink lipsticks and I love matte lipsticks, so it was only fair that I do the Top 6. Now I didn’t feature Colourpop and all those brands that are not easily available and not within the budget of Rs.500.

From my favourites, I managed to pick not 5 but 6 beautiful matte pink shades, all under 500. So here goes..

1. Maybelline Vivid Matte Lipstick Vivid 2 – Rs.475/- (Buy HERE)

It’s a bright neon candy pink shade, would work for fair to medium skin tones. Keep the rest of the makeup minimal with just a winged liner when you wear such a bright pink shade

2. Lakme Enrich Matte Lipstick PM 11- Rs.295/- (Buy HERE)

PM 11 is one of my favourites, this range has some pretty good shades and very affordable at Rs.295. It’s a neutral pink that will work for all skin tones, especially fair to medium

3. Elle 18 Colour Pop Matte Lipstick Rose Day- Rs.100/- (Buy HERE)

Again a neutral pink that will work for all skin tones, especially fair to medium. Very affordable and 20 shades to choose from, one of my go-to pinks. This has a soft matte finish and stays for a pretty decent time.

4. Miss Claire Soft Matte Lip Cream No. 12- Rs.160 to 180 (Buy HERE)

Comfortable soft matte liquid lipstick, No. 12 is my most favourite shade in the Miss Claire Range. A mid tone pink, not very bright, but easy to pair with everything. This will work on all skin tones.

5. Nykaa So Matte Lipstick 02 Frisky Fuchsia- Rs.399/-

Nykaa has a lot of pinks, I like 2-3 of them but Frisky Fuchsia is my favourite pink out of them. It’s a slightly warm rosy fuchsia pink. Everyday wearable shade and would look good on fair to medium skin tones.

6. Sugar Smudge Me Not Liquid Lipstick 02 Brink of Pink- Rs.499/- (Buy HERE)

This is a recent addition to the list, a deep bright pink. These are very drying but very long lasting. Brink of Pink would work on all skin tones, especially deeper skin tones.

If you want to see all the swatches on me, here is the video..

These are my favourite matte pink lipsticks, I hope you like this list.

I am giving away Maybelline Vivid Matte Lipstick in Vivid 2 to one of you, it’s only for YouTube subscribers, so all you have to do is like the video, subscribe and comment with your favourite shade.

I will announce the winner after 2 weeks in the info bar of same video, ends 17th April

Good Luck 🙂

Faces Ultime Pro Face Palette Fresh, Glow Review & Swatches

Blush, Bronzers, Faces Cosmetics, Highlighters, Makeup, New Launches, Reviews, Swatches, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Faces Ultime Pro Face Palette Fresh, Glow Review & Swatches

Hi guys,

Faces launched their new Ultime Pro Face Palettes recently. They are available in two variants, Fresh and Glow. I have both of them and have been using them since quite a few weeks and here are my thoughts..

Claims: With the bronzer, illuminator and blush all in one travel friendly pack, just add this one palette to your work bag or vanity and you are ready to go! The light shimmering color of the blush gives your cheeks a natural looking glow. Its silky smooth texture blends perfectly on your skin and feels super light, besides lasting all day long. The bronzer is the perfect blend of iridescent micronized pigments that dresses your skin in a radiant tan and a healthy looking complexion. Exalt your complexion with the Illuminator, as it sculpts adding radiance and homogeneity to the skin. With two shades to choose from, namely ‘Fresh’ and ‘Glow’, FACES Ultime Pro Face Palette complements all skin tones and flatters your skin like never before.

FACES Ultime Pro Face Palette is a light weight formulation which doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable or heavy all day long, but is rather fabulous on your skin. Not only that, it is easily blendable and gives you the most glamorous look for the day. With excellent shading properties, FACES Ultime Pro Face Palette will impart just the right dose of pretty to your look. Besides its extremely safe on the skin as it is paraben free.

MRP: Rs.899/-

Faces has already launched a bronzer and highlighter, and they have included the same two in this palette along with a blush. I absolutely loved this concept, the trio makes it very handy to carry around and travel with.

I love blush/bronzer/highlighter trios as you don’t need separate products and can do all three on the go.

It has a basic black packaging with a see through clear top. It doesn’t come with a brush or mirror. Though the palette is quite handy, I feel it has to be handled carefully or the outer cover would break, if dropped.

The bronzer and highlighter is the same in both the variants, only the centre blush is different. Fresh one has a day wear matte mauve blush, while the Glow one has a burnt orange blush with gold shimmer, appropriate for night time/heavier look.

Fresh
Glow

The palette and even the powders individually have a sandalwood scent. I personally love the scent but many don’t like any kind of scent in their makeup.

Fresh
Glow

The powders have medium pigmentation but are buildable. The bronzer is not very warm toned, so I use it as a contour too and I didn’t think the colour would show up as a contour on my skin as it’s quite light. But on building up, it did contour and define really well. Unfortunately the bronzer shade won’t show up on deep skin tones. However, the blush and highlighter would work, especially the Glow blush would look pretty on deeper skin tones.

I love using the Fresh one, as it’s very natural and gives a nice pink flush to the cheeks. The highlighter though has to be my favourite out of all three. It’s a gorgeous warm toned gold highlight and works very well with our Indian skin.

Here’s how Fresh looks on me, have used all three..

FOTD with Fresh

I absolutely loved the highlighter, it’s not OTT and neither very light/unnoticeable. It’s very pretty and again buildable if you like a blinding highlight.

This stays on for 6-7 hours in summers currently.

For fair to medium skin tones, both the palettes would work. For deeper skin tones, the bronzer won’t show up but the rest two blush and highlight would work.

At 899, getting all three products is really amazing. As individually the bronzer and highlighter are sold at 650 each, you get three products here and this is total value for money!

I absolutely love it and recommend it.

US Haul: Sephora, Kat Von D, ABH, Becca, Elf, LA Girl, Colourpop

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US Haul: Sephora, Kat Von D, ABH, Becca, Elf, LA Girl, Colourpop

Hi guys,

So a few months back, my husband had gone to US for his work and obviously I had to order a few things 😀 This haul is long pending, I had to record the video and click pictures and hence the delay. I haven’t used any of this yet because I wanted to click pictures :/ Yes, I know I have too much self control!

Here’s what all I got from Sephora:

  • Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champange Pop (Becca x Jaclyn Hill collab)- $38
  • Sephora Cream Lip Stain 13 Marvelous Mauve – $14
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick Rio – $20
  • Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Lolita – $20
  • Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Lolita II – $20

Now I wanted to get the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit which had 4 highlighters and it was $40. But Champagne Pop was on my wishlist since a long time and I love Jaclyn Hill! Considering the price of Champagne Pop and Glow Kit, Glow Kit was obviously a more economical option as you get 4 different highlighters and just one here. It was a tough choice but I went with Champagne Pop 😀 I will get the Glow Kit sometime later

Kat Von D Lolita and Lolita II are her best selling shades and I see why. Both are super flattering and would work on any skin tone, be it warm or cool. In terms of formula, Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks are the most comfortable liquid lipsticks I have tried till now. They are not at all drying and super comfortable, though they don’t last as long as the drying ones.

Anastasia Liquid Lipsticks are very drying and accentuate the dryness and lines on the lips. But they are easily the most long lasting liquid lipsticks and also have some bright, fun shades. I got the shade Rio which is the brightest and most neon pink I own! I got it only for the shade! It’s such a fun, summer colour. I am totally into bold shades and liquid lipsticks right now

And lastly, I have heard so many good things about the Sephora Cream Lip Stains and again they are very comfortable and not drying. I love mauve shades and this one is a perfect, everyday wear shade. Also one of their best selling shade again.

I got the Fresh Skincare Set samples free at Sephora.

Then I ordered few things from Colourpop and Amazon.com.

Here’s what I got from Colourpop:

  • Colourpop Ultra Satin in Toolips
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Are & Be
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Privacy Please
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Trap
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Chilly Chilli (discontinued)
  • Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Bae- $5

I got all liquid lipsticks mostly, I am obsessed with Colourpop Liquid Lipsticks as they are the most economical option and you get a ton of shade options. At $6, I highly recommend Colourpop Liquid Lipsticks! If you want something long lasting, then Colourpop Ultra Matte formula and if you want something comfortable, then Colourpop Ultra Satin formula. I go by shades mostly, coz both the formulas are ok with me. If I like the shade, I order it. And I have majority Colourpop Ultra Matte in my stash.

Ultra Satin in Toolips and Frick N Frack

I placed one more order on Colourpop when one of my cousin was coming from US in December. You can order Colourpop directly from their site as they offer worldwide shipping but since Colourpop is pretty cheap, there will be customs duty levied on it. All liquid lipsticks in India, i.e. Colorbar, Chambor, etc are 900-1000, so they compare the prices and levy duty on it.

Ultra Mattes
Bae

My 2nd Colourpop order:

  • Colourpop Ultra Matte Zipper
  • Colourpop Ultra Satin Frick N Frack
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte Set in Blues Baby which has Smitten, Avenue, Notion, Play Date and Mink – $25

And finally I got a few things from Amazon:

  • LA Girl Pro HD Concealers in Orange, Creamy Beige and Toast
  • Elf Studio Baked Highlighter in Blush Gems- $7
  • Duo Lash Adhesive Eyelash Glue – $5.38
  • Maybelline Master Strobing Stick Illuminating Highlighter Light Iridescent- $7.99

I have been wanting to try the LA Girl Pro HD Concealers since a long time, though there is not much of a price difference in India, I just thought of ordering them too since they were definitely cheaper. They are $5-6 in US online and even less in some stores and here around Rs.550-600, so the difference is not huge. I got orange for color correcting dark circles, creamy beige as my concealer shade and Toast for contouring.

Elf Baked Highlighter in Blush Gems is an exact dupe of MAC Highlighter in Soft and Gentle. So obviously, I had to get it! Maybelline Highlighter stick is not yet launched in India and I wanted to try it, so I got that. Stick highlighters are cream based and very handy to carry around and travel with to.

Of course I read all reviews and ordered all items which are good and raved about. So if you want to buy anything from these, trust me it’s good and go ahead 🙂

What did you haul recently? Anything from this?

Top 10 theBalm Products Available in India, Prices, Buy Online

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Top 10 theBalm Products Available in India, Prices, Buy Online

By Sanchita

A woke up one morning and the very first thing I noticed was that theBalm is launched online with decent price tags. Now, there are few products from the brand which are globally famous and we often reach out beyond our means to get our hands on that. Well, now I don’t have to worry about the classic highlighter or bronzer I have been dreaming to own. The moment I saw theBalm online, I made my top 10 list of product which I will be purchasing. I also noticed that the price tags are not unreasonably high but have a slight difference when you convert the currency. I also added the actually price tag so that you can see for yourself. The products are available both on Nykaa and Amazon India.

So, here’s the best of theBalm which you can easily purchase online.

1. theBalm Mary Lou Manizer – Price Rs. 1699/$24.00 (BUY HERE)

Mary Lou Manizer needs an introduction? Well, I don’t think so. This is one highlighter which can make you look like a glow queen of all times. Also, once you use this, you can never go back to any other thing. the brand says that it is a ‘honey-hued luminizer’ but to most of the skin tone, it is a golden champagne highlighter which has the best balance of warm and cool toned. This is why it is the perfect highlighter for every skin tone. The highlighter has small shimmer particles which catches light very well without looking glittery. The formula is smooth, easily blendable and long lasting too. in case you don’t like the color, you can also try out the The Manizer Sisters palette which has three highlighter including this one.

2. theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer – Price Rs. 1399/$20.00 (BUY HERE)

This is another bestselling product from the brand. theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer comes in a rectangular cardboard compact packaging with a quirky cover. The bronzer is an excellent medium brown color with a slight gray undertones. Again, it is a good balance or cool and warm and can be used for a perfect sun kissed look. It suits a lot of skin tones and the soft, silky texture makes it so easy to blend on the skin. The finish is natural and you can easily work on it. It also gives you a good wear time.

3. theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipsticks – Price Rs. 1199/ $17.00 (BUY HERE)

There are 12shades in the collection of Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipsticks. You can also opt for the mini set as well. These are packaged in a super cute way and if you are a fan of liquid lipsticks, you will surely love them. The formula is creamy and comfortable and gives a proper matte finish without accentuating the fine lines. It feels easy and lightweight and the lip colors are also long wearing. Additionally, these are cruelty free as well.

4. theBalm Balm Voyage Vol 2. Face Palette – Price Rs. 2799/$39.50 (BUY HERE)

This is an excellent choice of palette if you want to travel light. The Balm Voyage Vol 2. Face Palette features nine exclusive triple-milled eyeshadows which can be used wet or dry, two blushes, a bronzer, a highlighter and two versatile lip-and- cheek creams. It is literally everything you need for face, lips and eyes and for that price tag, it is a great product. The choice of eyeshadows are great which helps you to create neutral as well dramatic look. The quality is smooth, blendable and long lasting. The blush, bronzer and highlighter is also perfect for most of the Indian skin tones and therefore, investing in this palette is definitely an advantage.

5. theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette – Price Rs. 2299/ $32.00 (BUY HERE)

The theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette is another travel friendly palette for lips and cheeks. It features six shades – namely, Cider, Cobbler, Pie, Crisp, Candy, and Caramel. The shades are good as it has orange, pinks and reds in abundance. These are not drying at all on the lips and cheeks. The formula is creamy smooth and non-patchy and gives a dewy finish. The colors are also well-pigmented, blendable and last for a pretty long time. The formula is paraben-free.

6. theBalm Meet Matt(e) Nude and Trimony Eyeshadow Palette – Price Rs. 2999/$42.00 (BUY HERE)

theBalm Meet Matt(e) Nude and Trimony Eyeshadow Palette are extremely good one for neutral matte shades. There are 9shades each with a good balance of colors. The eye shadows are Cruelty-free and Talc-Free and therefore the pigmentation is on point. The texture is velvety smooth and it blends flawlessly. Also, both the palette has a good blend of warm and cool toned matte shades and therefore both are simply breathtaking.

7. theBalm Nude’tude and Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette – Price Rs. 2599/$36.00 (BUY HERE)

the theBalm Nude’tude and Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette has the perfect mix of light, medium and dark shades. This is another neutral palette you can opt for with a mix of matte, satin and shimmer. Every shade on both the palette have a very smooth texture and blends like a dream. The eyeshadow are triple milled, have less fallout problem and can be used as highlighter too. The color are well pigmented, shows up even without eye primer and needless to say, the packaging is the best.

8. theBalm Put A Lid On It Eyelid Primer – Price Rs. 1299/$18.00 (BUY HERE)

theBalm Put A Lid On It Eyelid Primer is a translucent like eyeshadow primer with a thicker but easy consistency. It applies smoothly and helps to bring out the best of eyeshadows and pigments. It has a squeeze-tube and the primer blends well on the eyes. It is a bit like a silicone-based and once it sets, it feels nothing. It also prevents creasing, fading and mixing of eyeshadows and helps to elongate the wear time as well. There are light reflective properties to ensure that the eye shadow stays bright all day long.

9. theBalm Highlite ‘N Con Tour Highlight & Contour Palette – Price Rs. 2599/$36.00 (BUY HERE)

If you want a superb kit for highlight and contour while travelling, this is the right pick for you. It comes in 8 striking shades which includes two shimmer highlighters, two matte highlighters, two contour powders and a bronzer and blush. The texture of the pressed powder is good with fine milled formula, easily blendable without any patchy look or clinging on to the dry patches or pores. It has a talc free formula and the pigmentation is really good as well. The colors are long lasting and suits a number of skin tones.

10. theBalm Shadow And Blush – Price Rs. 1499/$21.00 (BUY HERE)

This is one multipurpose product which can be used as an eyeshadow and blush. It comes in 3 shades – DownBoy, CabanaBoy and FratBoy. DownBoy is a soft, light-medium pink with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish, CabanaBoy is a muted raspberry pink with a subtle golden sheen and FratBoy is a peachy apricot with subtle gold micro-shimmer and a pearly sheen. The texture of the powder is very soft, blendable and doesn’t look chalky at all. It blends well, both on eyes and cheeks without a hint of patchiness and stays for about 8-9hrs.

These are my favorites from the theBalm and do let me know yours.

Editor’s Note: I absolutely love Mary Lou Manizer and Meet Matte Trimony Palette. I have also used the time balm Concealer and loved it. Recommend that too.

Have you tried any thebalm products? Would you be buying any from the above since it’s available now on Nykaa?