Tag Archives: Indian makeup and beauty blog

September 2016 Lip Monthly Bag Unboxing

September 2016 Lip Monthly Bag Unboxing

September 2016 Lip Monthly Bag Unboxing

Hi guys,

I got my September Lip Monthly bag a few days ago. Let’s see what all I got..

Lip Monthly Bag is a beauty subscription bag where you get 4-5 full sized lip products every month, it can be anything related to lips from lip balm, lipstick, lip butter, lip oil, lip scrub, liquid lipstick. Sometimes they add a pigment or eyeshadow too.

What I got:

  • J.Cat Wonder Lip Paint- $4.99
  • Starlooks Lip Crayon- $19
  • NCLA Nail Stickers- $11
  • Model’s Co Lip Liner- $20

Total Value: $54.99

MRP: $12.95

They have free shipping worldwide and you can get 50% off on the first bag using the coupon code ’50OFF’. Also they have much cheaper and value for money deals on 4 months and 12 months subscription plans.

Join today using COUPON CODE:
“3FREE” to get 3 months FREE on Annual Subscriptions!
“1STFREE” to get your first month for FREE on 4 Month Subscriptions!
“50OFF” to get your first month for 50% off on Monthly Subscriptions!

Subscribe to Lip Monthly HERE

I am loving the colors, both the J.Cat Queen of Hearts Lip Paint and Starlooks lilac crayon are super unique and amazing. The Starlooks crayon shade is pretty similar to Aishwarya Rai Cannes lilac shade 😀 J.Cat is a dupe of OCC Lip tars and I can’t wait to try out this shade. It’s perfect for fall.

Even the Model’s Co. Lip liner is perfect for outlining and defining the lips.

The bag this month is a total value for money!

What did you like the most?

How To Do A Simple Face Clean-Up At Home

How To Do A Simple Face Clean-Up At Home

Hi guys,

I don’t generally go to salons for facials and clean ups, I prefer taking care of my skin at home and follow the basic skin care routine regularly. If you spend even 5-10 minutes on your skin daily and the scrub/mask routine once/twice a week, you won’t need any fancy or expensive salon facials/clean ups.

Now a clean-up is important coz sometimes the blackheads and whiteheads are not really visible but they do develop when the pores are blocked or there is dirt in the pores which is not cleaned regularly.

Here is how I do a mini clean-up at home:

1. Wash your face with a face wash. My Holy Grail is the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem face wash.

2. Cleanse your face with a milk based cleanser. Now there are quite a few options available, you can also try the Himalaya Herbals Refreshing Cleansing Milk. Massage for a minute to two and wipe it off with a damp cotton ball

3. Take steam on the face. If you don’t have a steam machine, just boil some water and bend your face over it covering with a towel. It will do the job equally well.

4. Extract comedones, either use cotton on both of your hands to press the skin and extract it or use a blackhead extractor for deep rooted blackheads. You get it for about 50-60 rupees. Just sanitise and clean it before using and even after using.

5. Scrub your face. I use the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Scrub when I am breaking out or have 1-2 acne or the Himalaya Herbals Gentle Exfoliating Walnut Scrub if my skin is a little dry or in winters. Scrub for a good 2-3 minutes concentrating more on nose, forehead, chin, sides of nose, etc. Wipe it all off with a damp cotton ball.

6. Toner. You can either use rose water or cucumber water or any alcohol free toner to close the pores. It is very important to close the pores which have opened with the steam.

7. Follow it up with a face pack. Now again I would go with either the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Pack if I have acne or the Himalaya Herbals Fairness Kesar Face Pack if I want to get rid of tan. Keep it for 10-15 minutes and also use cotton balls soaked in rose water over the eyes and just relax. Take it all off with a damp cotton ball. Wash your face with water if you feel like.

8. Moisturize your face with your regular moisturizer.

9. Apply a sunscreen/sunblock

That’s it, you are done. This whole procedure will take about 30 minutes including the face pack. You can do it once a week on a Saturday or Sunday, you can spend at least 30 minutes in a week over your skin, if not, once in two weeks is a must! Also if you do not do it regularly, the whiteheads and blackheads will not be extracted, the skin won’t be exfoliated. Dead skin cells will form a layer and the blackheads will turn to acne.

Regular skin care is important even if you have good skin, to maintain it. Do not take your skin for granted. Your skin gets regenerated every 21 days, so at least follow this simple clean-up at home once every 2 weeks i.e. 14 days.

Few points to remember:

1. Always use products according to your skin type or how your skin is behaving during that time.

2. Do not be harsh on your skin, do not scrub vigorously or over exfoliate.

3. Always end with a sun block/sunscreen even if you are not stepping out

There are a lot of products available in the market if you do not have extra time to DIY at home. I like Himalaya Herbals products and have been using them since my college days. They are affordable and easily available.

You can check out Himalaya Herbals on Facebook HERE and on twitter HERE and also more from their Face Care Range HERE

How do you do a clean-up at home?

What’s in My Makeup Pouch?

What’s in My Makeup Pouch? (Makeup On The Go)

By Linda

Hi everyone,

Today I will be talking about the makeup products I carry everyday along with me. Yes every day!!!!!. As I only prefer to allot 5 mins for a simple and natural makeup. In case of parties / events or other functions obviously the products would be different and it won’t be relevant to today’s post.

As I’m always on a run , be it for work/ meeting with friends, in which case I mostly do my makeup either in my car while I’m commuting or head straight to a decent ladies common room ..yeah that kind of a crazy person I am. Rather than digging into my bag for each product or forgetting it at home I prefer carrying these few products in a pouch, where ever I go. Let’s admit one thing that makeup last for at least 4-5 hours depending on the weather conditions or your skin type. It’s always better to carry this pouch for retouches. And I don’t want load my bag with all unwanted makeup that I don’t use daily.

I did mention it’s a makeup pouch , since a pouch can carry minimal but most important things that serves our purpose. Secondly it’s light weight and travel friendly.

So let’s get to the point and find out what’s in my pouch

1. Mac Studio Fix Foundation plus Powder [Shade: NC 41]

This is a highly recommended product. Firstly it functions as a foundation plus powder. Secondly within the container it has a sponge for easy application of the product and a mirror build in (you need not carry an extra mirror).So now you can imagine how multipurpose this product is . I will be writing a detailed review of this product soon. Keep watching!!!

2. Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing powder [Shade: 02 Brune]

This is another all-time favorite product of mine. The detailed review of this product is HERE. As I mentioned in the review this a multipurpose product. It can be used as Bronzer, for contouring and highlighting ,and at times as a blush as well. Trust me these 3 shades can do wonders on your skin.

3. A Blush by Rimmel London [Shade 190 Coral]

What I like about this blush it gives you a flushed natural look, as it has tiny amount of shimmer. Also it is light weight and smaller in size.

4. Bourjois Kohl & Contour Eye Pencil (Review HERE)

A water proof and smudge proof eye pencil is all you need. And a sharpner along with it is an add on.

5. Perfume vial (Milano by PRADA)

This vial always comes handy to revive the freshness of your fragrance you already applied. All you need is to invert the vial on your finger tip and dab it behind your ears and wrist, and then you are are all set to go.

6. Lipstick /Lip balm

It’s always advisable to carry a lipstick of a neutral shade (browns) and cool toned (shades of pink and mauve) lipstick of your choice. I carry a neutral lipstick from Mac Shade Whirl which is reviewed HERE

7. Bourjois Volume Glamour MAX definition Mascara

Any look is incomplete without a mascara. The wand has fine and short bristles that coats your eyelashes giving a voluminous look.

8. Essence Eye Pencil & Eyeshadow [Shade 05 Cute Copper]

This is a neutral bronze pencil eye shadow, creamy formula, easy to apply. You don’t even need a brush. Easy to blend with your fingertips.

I carry all my products in a light and small-medium size pouch I picked from H & M.This is a zipper pouch in a metallic color. Easy to carry where ever you go and fits into any size of bags.

Believe me all these items easily fits into a small pouch only try to select items that are multipurpose, light weight and travel friendly.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post…

Editor’s Note: Ya I guess these things are enough, I would just add an eyebrow pencil and highlighter for me 😀

What’s in your makeup pouch?

First Colourpop Haul, Review, Swatches | How to Buy in India

First Colourpop Haul, Review, Swatches | How to Buy in India

Hi guys,

Finally I am sitting down to write this post, I know this took forever and I am really sorry. In fact, I bought more Colourpop after this but will include it in a separate US haul post.

For now, let’s start with this. I wanted to try Colourpop since a long time but they did not ship to India. Once they announced they are starting international shipping, I had my wishlist ready and as soon as they started it, I tried to place my order and I got the shock of my life! Shipping was $25! Yes, my order was $30 and shipping was $25 which is close to double. Obviously I didn’t want to spend that much and many people complained on social media regarding this, Colourpop replied that they have flat rate shipping of $25 so you can order more items for same shipping amount.

If in case you have to place a huge order or 2-3 friends are combining an order, then buying directly from Colourpop made sense. Since I didn’t want to place a huge order as that attracts customs and wanted to just try a few things initially, it was not very economical for me.

Enter ‘Ship Out From USA‘. Magali did an entire video on them and explained how to use it, you can watch the video HERE.

Basically what they do is, they create a virtual USA/UK address for you and you can use that address to place order on any website which does not deliver to India directly. They will receive the items, repack it well and send it across to you. Like an intermediary, and of course it has some charges.

Charges without the discount are a little high, but I have a huge 40% discount code for you all i.e. “NEWLOVE40” (code to be applied on the Ship Out From USA website, not on merchant website) This code will not have an expiry period! So you can use it anytime and to buy from any website, valid for both virtual USA and UK orders. I would definitely suggest make use of it during sale periods (Black Friday sale is coming soon) and also ‘Free Shipping within USA/UK’ above certain amount.

That way is turns out to be pretty economical. After the 40% discount and using Ship Out From USA, it was pretty decent a price to pay for Colourpop considering all sellers here have a good amount of margin and it turns out to be much cheaper than that.

Also all Colourpop products are $5 and $6, plus they are very high quality and full of pigments! From eyes to cheeks to lips, all products are full of pigments and are long staying!

So let’s see what all I got in my first haul..

T-B: November, Point Zero, Beeper, Lumiere

I have been using some of the products since quite some time now, especially the lipsticks. I got one from Lippie Stix ($5), two Ultra Satin ($6) and one Ultra Matte ($6). And I also got one eyebrow pencil ($5), one creme gel liner ($5), three Super Shock eyeshadows ($5) and one Super Shock cheek highlighter($8).

Now the eye and cheek products of Colourpop are very buttery and should be used only with hands, especially eyeshadows. You cannot get the colour pay off with brushes. Also they break easily, I got one eyeshadow slightly broken when it came but then their nature is such, that will easily break even if dropped once. And also their products dry up pretty quickly if kept open, so they mention to close the lid pretty tight!

So I got two Ultra Satin Lips in November and Point Zero from the recent KathleenLightsxColourpop collaboration and the Lippie Stix in Lumiere from her previous collaboration. I love Kathleen Lights and all the shades she created in the recent collab were pretty amazing, so I had to get these! Apart from these, I got the Ultra Matte Lip in Beeper which I wanted since a long time! That shade is gorgeous and a must have!

The Lippie Stix are like a matte chubby lip crayon but much more creamier and pigmented. They stay for about 3-4 hours and longer without eating or drinking. The Ultra Satin Lip also stays for about same time, but it is a proper liquid lipstick formula which is completely matte. But fortunately they are not drying. Ultra Matte is drying but stays the longest and is the most pigmented!

L-R: November, Point Zero, Beeper, Lumiere
L-R: November, Point Zero, Beeper, Lumiere

Lumiere is a dusty mauve pink

November is a mid tone warm peachy pink

Point Zero is a cool toned grey brown

Beeper is a warm mid tone taupe

The eyeshadows I got are So Quiche, Nillionaire and LaLa.

These swatches are just one swipe each! Also I tried hard to capture the exact colour, but the shades are gorgeous and the camera was just not picking up the exact colours or doing justice to the shadows.

The eyeshadows are so creamy and the colours are gorgeous! They are very different and unique with a beautiful combination of reflects.

So Quiche

So Quiche is ansoft olive with a highly reflective gold and pink violet glittery duo chrome metallic finish

Nillionaire

Nillionaire is warm bronze with tons of gold and multi coloured glitter in a Metallic finish.

LaLa

LaLa is a satin finish rose gold

L-R: So Quiche, Nillionaire, Lala

And I also picked the Brow Pencil in Bangin Brunette which is the perfect shade for my dark eyebrows and hair. I love the fact that it has spoolie at one end which makes it very convenient to use and you do not need extra brushes. And I wanted a nice, nude eye pencil for my waterline since a long time and my search ended at Colourpop Creme Gel Liner in Honeydude which is a perfect peachy nude for my waterline.

Highlighters are my weakness, so I had to get one highlighter! 😀 I picked Lunch Money which is a gorgeous soft light gold shade with reflective duo chrome. This is one shade which will work for a lot of skin tones from light to medium. It will be a little light for very dark/deep skin tones. It is super buttery and creamy and very pigmented, absolutely love the shade!

And the quantity is huge! I think only the highlighters are a little more than their usual $5 and $6, but even for $8 the quality and quantity is amazing!

Here is how a few shades look on me.. (First is November, then Point Zero and Beeper)

I absolutely love each and every thing in this haul and highly recommend each of these! You can just close your eyes and get these, for the price, they are amazing!

Also you can trust on my research that I would pick shades after spending hours in finding out the best shades 😀

Also Colourpop has free shipping above $50 and $4.99 below that just for 3-4 days currently, if in case you want to get something, right now is the time 😀 Or else my 40% off Ship Out From USA coupon code ‘NEWLOVE40’ is valid forever and for everything you want to buy from US/UK.

I paid around $51 for everything (they have $5 off for new registered members) plus the shipping through SOFU was around 2000 which came to about INR 1200 after the 40% discount. So in total around INR 4500 with shipping for everything. But I would highly suggest placing the order in the next 1-2 days if you are really planning to get something, coz of their free shipping offer 🙂

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

How to cover grey hair at home | BBLUNT Salon Secret High Shine Crème Hair Colour Review

How to cover grey hair at home | BBLUNT Salon Secret High Shine Crème Hair Colour Review

Hi guys,

As most of you know by now, BBLUNT has launched another new product in the hair-colour category and that is the BBLUNT Salon Secret High Shine Crème Hair Colour.

I was sent the hair colour to test out and since I don’t colour my hair, I tried this on my mom to see the results. Does it deliver what it claims? Read on.

Claims: BBLUNT‘s Salon Secret High Shine Crème Hair Colour, is a 3-part hair colour that gives you salon like gorgeous hair at home. Packed in this box is our salon’s secret to dazzling hair colour.

Simply mix the luxuriously creamy Colourant and Developer together in equal proportions and add the Shine Tonic. Now mix till smooth for a fragrant, non-drip blend. Apply and Voila! You’re only 30 minutes away from epic, shiny hair! This no ammonia hair colour gives 100% grey coverage that lasts upto 8 weeks long.

SHINE TONIC.  Enriched with Silk Proteins, this special tonic is what your regular hair colour had been missing for so long.

MRP: Rs.199/-

Product Features:

  • 3-part colour hair colour with a unique Shine Tonic that gives you salon like gorgeous hair at home
  • Contains no ammonia
  • The rich colour provides 100% grey coverage
  • Enriched with Silk Proteins, the colour makes your hair smooth after colouring
  • Available in 7 colour shades

o Black – NATURAL BLACK 1

o Chocolate – DARK BROWN 3

o Blueberry – BLUE BLACK 2.10

o Honey – LIGHT GOLDEN BROWN 5.32

o Wine – DEEP BURGUNDY 4.20

o Mahogany – REDDISH BROWN 4.56

o Coffee – NATURAL BROWN 4.31

Ingredients:

The product’s USP is its Shine tonic – no other brand offers additional shine like BBLUNT, it’s a 1 st in the country.

– Grey coverage + global colour
– No ammonia – minimum damage

It comes in colour co-ordinated boxes as per the shades. Contents include the colour, developer and shine tonic plus a set of gloves and an instruction leaflet.

My mom has medium length hair and I thought I would need two boxes but the quantity is pretty good and one box was more than enough for her hair. But if you have medium-long length hair, you might need to go for two boxes. We opted for Chocolate – Dark Brown for my mom.

Read the instructions manual well, follow the directions, do a patch test at first if you have sensitive skin and remove any colour from the skin immediately, if applied accidentally.

All you need to do is mix the colour, developer and shine tonic together, the entire tubes, mixing them really well. For an all over colour, empty the complete tubes. For only root touch-ups, use 25 gm of Colourant and Developer and 4 ml of Shine Tonic, conveniently marked on the tubes.

And apply the colour immediately. Make sure you cover the roots, area behind the ears and all the inaccessible areas.

Let is sit for 30 minutes for the colour to develop (45 minutes for the Burgundy shade). After the 30 minutes are done, before washing add a little water to your hair and emulsify for 5 minutes. Then rinse until the water runs clear. Shampoo and condition as usual, preferably with any set of BBLUNT shampoo and conditioner as they are all colour protectant.

Here are the Before-After pictures..

I absolutely loved how each and every strand and root was well covered. The colour was very natural looking. Hair was softer and shinier, the unique shine tonic definitely worked! My mom has very dry hair and hence it is easy to feel and notice the difference, her hair is now softer and smoother with a visible shine.

It is easy to use at home, ammonia free, comes in 7 colour shades, plus gives a very natural result covering 100% grey hair really well! The shine tonic is an added bonus. I definitely recommend BBLUNT Salon Secret High Shine Crème Hair Colour, at Rs.199/- it is very economical for the result it gives!

You can follow the brand on the following channels:

http://www.bblunt.com

https://www.facebook.com/bbluntindia

https://twitter.com/bbluntindia

https://www.instagram.com/bbluntindia/

Have you tried the BBLUNT Salon Secret High Shine Crème Hair Colour?

Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick Candy Rose Review, Swatches

Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick Candy Rose Review, Swatches

 By Pallavi

Lipsticks form a very important part of your personality. When you start applying lipsticks then you realize that you need to own not only 1 but at least 4-5 pairs of lipsticks, one for every occasion.

Confused well let me help you out. You need to have a nude lipstick as per your skin tone. This is mostly for offices or any formal occasion. Other than this on numerous occasions when you all dressed up and glammed up then you can apply a nude lipstick in order to tone down your entire look. Next comes the dark red lippy which is a must have for festive looks and special date nights. Next is a fuchsia colour which is perfect for any bright day or days when you want to perk up your mood. And finally comes the time for a light pink colour lipstick which is also perfect for most of the occasions. I believe you should have at least 2-3 pairs of light colour lipsticks so that you can alternatively try them whenever you wish.

So, with similar thought I bought this lipstick from the house of Colorbar. Let’s see how it fared on me.

Product claims: Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick comes with the promise of lips that are eloquent and luscious. It comes with lovely rich colours and rich in moisturizing properties making lips look fuller and creamier all day long. It has sheabutter, Vitamin E and sunscreen agents at SPF 15 level which nourish and protect your lips against UV rays. It glides on effortlessly for flawless, even coverage for that perfect pout. Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick are the perfect way to pamper your lips, not only you will love the rich, lustrous colour, but the lovely creamy texture of the lip colour as well.

Price : Rs. 450 for 4.5 Grams

My Views :

Packaging wise the lipstick is classy. It comes in a medium sized bullet which can fit easily inside your pocket. It has an outer packaging of steel which looks very classy. It has the price and batch name and details inscribed. The shade name of the lipstick is mentioned at the base of the lipstick.

This lipstick from the house of Colorbar comes in crème range and thus it is very creamy and extremely moisturizing. It feels very comfortable on lips. And for dry lips like me this lipstick is a boom. I would love to try others shades from this range. But this range has a big downside. The bullet of the lipstick is more or less flimsy. If you end up twisting a bit more lipstick then there is a fear that it might break down. Also, if by mistake the lipstick falls down then there is a higher chance that the bullet will break.

Coming to the shade of this lipstick from the house of Colorbar it is Candy Rose which is very light pink. It is more of a frosty or cool toned pink colour. This colour will look fab on fairer skin tones. But duskier skin tones like me can also rock this lipstick. This is perfect for regular usage.

But there are some special application tips before you begin with this lipstick. You must clean your lips with a lip scrub or a simple baby tooth brush. Then only apply the lipstick. It is because the lipstick has a crème and slightly messy finish. So, in order to prevent flakes on your lips it’s best to begin with clean lips.

In terms of longevity the lipstick stays for a really long time. I apply it in the morning and till lunch it is very much there. Even after a heavy lunch it fades evenly. After which I re apply a bit and then it is again there till there end of the day.

The bonus with this lipstick is that after drying it never settles into lip lines which I absolutely hate. After the colour fades the lips still feel soft and moisturized.

Pros of Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick Candy Rose

1. Available online and offline

2. Affordably Priced

3. Has a crème finish

4. Universal colour

5. Stays quite long

6. Lips is soft and moisturized

7. Comes with a goodness of SPF 15

Cons of Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick Candy Rose

1. Lipstick bullet can break easily

2. Application can turn nasty

Rating :

Packaging : 4/5

Texture : 4.5/5

Longetivity : 5/5

Shade – 4.5/5

Overall rating – 4.5/5

Editor’s Note: That’s a pretty shade indeed! I hear one of their best selling in this creme touch range.

Have you tried Colobar Lipstick in Candy Rose yet?

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner Noir Black Review, Swatches

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner Noir Black Review, Swatches

By Linda

Hello ladies…

Today I will be reviewing a liquid eyeliner that I purchased around 3-4 months back from a drugstore, and it is called Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner. I was looking for an easy non messy and glossy application of winged eyeliner and the sales assistant at the counter suggested for this product. Was really impressed after testing it for the first time and decided to go ahead and purchase it. Recently I was going through Maybelline website (India) and noticed there are two products that appear to look almost similar in regards to felt tip application that is Maybelline Colossal Liner and Maybelline Eye studio Hypersharp Liner. I haven’t used either of them so won’t be able to comment on it. So let’s go ahead and find out about Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner

Maybelline Website Claims:Master flow with our exclusive ultra-thin 0.4mm brush tip applies continuous flow for smooth, even, perfected lines. No mess or excess.

Master Intensity with our ink technology that keeps pigment saturated.Long wearing, water and smudge-proof eye liner. Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested. Fragrance free. Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lenses wearers.

Ingredients:

Price: 3.5 Kuwait Dinar (KWD) / Approximately 800 INR

Shelf life of 6 months from opening

My take on this liquid eyeliner

Packaging: Lightweight, Pen shaped with a fine soft felt tip. Travel friendly. The cap fits on tightly due to which the formulation does not dry out easily.

On application this eyeliner enables you to draw precise and defined lines since it glides on smoothly over the eyelids. It is because of the fine soft tip you can achieve a neat defined line of varying thickness. I would say this product is ideal for the beginners who are trying to rock winged eyeliner.

The soft textured formulation gives jet black pigmentation with a glossy finish. On my oily eyelids it did last for 6-7 hours and it definitely did not smudge. For non oily eyelids, trust me it will last even longer. This product is not water proof as it claims; with one splash of water you will end up looking like one melting panda. So due to its fine tip and being non-water proof, it isn’t ideal for your water line.

I always apply this eyeliner over the eyelids and it does not irritate at all.

If you are looking for a quick easy application then definitely go for this product. But if you are looking for something that is really long lasting ,for waterline application and for super oily eyelids then definitely this is not the product you need

Pros:

  • Travel friendly
  • Ideal for beginners
  • A sophisticated look can be easily achieved
  • Reasonable price
  • Did not cause any irritation

Cons:

  • Non water proof
  • Requires multiple swipes
  • Few seconds are required for the formulation to dry after application

Rating: 3.5/5

Would I recommend Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner? Yes for beginners .But for experts there are many other better options available in the market.

Editor’s Note: Sounds ok. My favourite here is the Maybelline Colossal Liner, but I will give this a try if it launches here.

Have you tried the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner yet?

Top 10 Handmade Lip Balms/Lip Butters in India, Price, Buy Online

Top 10 Handmade Lip Balms/Lip Butters in India, Price, Buy Online

By Nidhal

Chances are a great many of you who’d be reading this may be addicts and I mean that cent per cent when I say it. But addicted to…? Ah, no need to strain your brain. You may not be addicted to something you’d NOT receive a lashing from your parents from (Desi kids remain kids after all, no matter their age and size). It is none other than the little delectable pots/tubes of sinful indulgence- LIP BALMS/LIP BUTTERS!

It needs no elaboration that markets are flooded with a wide variety of lip balms/butters today, however, there is something about a hand-crafted lip balm that strikes a chord. The fact that someone invested his/her time, effort and care along with manual dexterity, catches my attention.

So, here is a brief rundown on the Top 10 Handmade Lip Balms/Butters in India. Let’s rouse the lip-balm addict in ourselves.

1. AROMA ESSENTIALS- Ensconced in the Electronic City of India- Bangalore, Aroma Essentials strives to replace very chemical-laden cocktail off your shelf with its all-natural, preservative and chemical-free products that are handcrafted by trained and skilled individuals. Spearheaded by Mrs. Madhurima Ramakrishna, they offer both lip butters and chapsticks (tube packaged balms) in a wide variety of flavours and fragrances (which are achieved by the virtue of addition of essential oils and NO artificial fragrance). Glance over their lip- smacking lip butters and you’ll find yourself slobbering uncontrollably. The aroma of their lip products is hands down, the BEST I have come across. Many a time, I can make out which essential oil has been added to a product of theirs.

PRICE- 175/- INR for a lip butter, 250/- INR for a ChapStick

AVAILABILITY- Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp Madhurima(+91 7760988272)

2. GREENVIV-A new kid on the block which crafts products to perfection, Greenviv’s lip balms are a treat for sore, chapped lips seeking a quick-fix solution. Not only are they ideal for wearing to school (where usually rules and regulations restrict one from experimenting much with their looks) but also easy on the pocket. Based out of New Delhi, they ship all over India. Their handmade lip butters bear a mild aroma (again, no nasties here) and last for a good 2-3 months which is worth the investment.

PRICE- 169/- INR for each pot/tub (regardless of the flavour) for lip balm, 199/- INR for lip scrub

AVAILABILITY- Amazon India and Facebook

3. BIO ORGANIC AND NATURAL (BON ORGANICS)- Drumrolls please for India’s most eclectic and prolific organic skin care brand that has a USDA Organic certification to boast off, is here on our list. Bio Organic and Natural, BON Organics for short is ensconced in the quaint Auroville, Tamil Nadu. A brainchild of Mr. Ganesh Chandrasekaran, it is helmed by Ms.Nishantainidevi Chandrasekaran now and the lady is leaving no stone unturned to establish it as a leading organic skin care brand in India. Their lip stains, as they call it are handmade with certified organic ingredients and oodles of care by trained women in Auroville. Shipped worldwide and for free in India (perks of being an Indian!), one needs to give their lip stains a shot. Who knows your exorbitant chemical-laden lip-stick may go down the drain after it?

PRICE- 400/- INR for each pot/tub

AVAILABILITY- www.bonorganics.com, Facebook and Instagram

4. STAY WILD CHILD- Handcrafting products sans adulteration, nasty chemicals and preservatives, Stay Wild Child’s policy is simple- Add what can be eaten. Their Shea butter and olive oil enriched lip balm nourishes lips, heels cracks and makes them supple in no time. The USP is that it won’t pinch your pockets too!

PRICE- 60/- INR for each pot/tub

AVAILABILITY- www.staywildchild.com, Amazon and Facebook

5. LAST FOREST- Last Forest takes simplicity to a new high. With not just skin care products to your disposal, you have organic food supplements and health food too as you surf their eye-pleasing website. Their pure beeswax lip balm with soothing and medicinal honey helps to keep one’s lips smooth naturally.

PRICE- 90/- INR for each tub/pot

AVAILABILITY- HERE

6. JUICY CHEMISTRY- Operating from Chennai and spearheaded by Megha and Pritesh Asher, Juicy Chemistry will compel you to ditch those nasty chemical-laden products off your shelf. Not even 0.1% of their products contain any chemicals or preservatives. They furnish all the relevant details on how to use their products which is the need of the hour given how insouciant we are in using skin care products more so organic products. As of now they offered lip ‘butters’ but they are soon going to treat your pucker to soothing lip butters in the form of a stick/tube. Didn’t that get you all agog?

PRICE- 200/- INR for each

AVAILABILITY- www.juicychemistry.com, Facebook and Instagram

7. GIA BATH AND BODY WORKS- Operating from the City of Dreams- Mumbai, Gia Bath & Body Works is helmed by Mrs. Gayatri Acharya Brown and named after her vivacious daughter-Gerogia, Gia for short. The more we say about her all-natural brand, the less it seems because offers nearly everything and packs it to perfection. Her organic cocoa butter lip balms are a treat to the driest of lips.

PRICE- 350/- INR

AVAILABILITY- www.giabathandbodyworks.in, Facebook and Instagram

8. ORGANICMILL- Taking their “no preservatives and chemicals added” mantra to an altogether different high, OrganicMill- the brainchild of Mrs. Dishi Kumar Jain and based out of Noida. With lip balms/butters available in mouth-watering flavours such as- rose, orange, peppermint, lemon and strawberry, you wouldn’t want your lips to miss a chance of wholesome pampering. That their range encapsulates other products catering to one’s beauty needs is a cherry on the cake.

PRICE- 250/- INR for each pot/tub

AVAILABILITY- Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp (+91 9971648091)

9. ISLAND KISS- Mark my words- this brands awakens the hedonist in you! The moment you grab an Island Kiss Lip Moisturiser, all what plays in your mind is you sauntering on a tranquil beach with waves and breeze caressing your feet and hair respectively. And in the midst of all this, you unleash your inherent diva by gliding a decadent Island Kiss Lip Moisturiser.

Currently available in 3 flavours, Island Kiss helmed by Shaili and Siddharth, is about to launch 2 more enticing flavours soon that will spoil you for choice. And not to forget, their lip moisturisers besides being handmade are crafted with certified organic ingredients.

PRICE- 399/- to 499/- (varies as per the flavour)

AVAILABILITY- HERE

10. COSMETIC JUNCTION- Based out of Salem in Tamil Nadu, Cosmetic Junction’s mouth-watering range (yes, mouth-watering because at times you’d forget that you are looking at skin products!) encapsulates cold-processed soaps, lip balms, serums, face packs, scrubs and face scrubs. Spearheaded by Ms. Anshutha Maheshwari, their lip balms (available in stick/tube form too) is hand-crafted with the finest of natural ingredients sourced from far and wide.

PRICE- 100/- for each tube

AVAILABILITY- Facebook and Instagram

Editor’s Note: That’s a well compiled list Nidhal

Have you tried any of these? Or planning to next?

Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayon Review, Swatches

Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayon Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing 6 shades of the new Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayons, 10 shades are launched in total. They had launched Matte Lip Crayons late last year, read review HERE. Now they have come with the creme version in lip crayons.

Claims: A collection of 10 retractable Crème Lip Crayons that are rich, creamy and moisturizing. The high pigment of these lip crayons will provide a creamy finish that does not dry up the lips. These are long lasting, velvety soft and glides onto the lips, providing them full coverage.

From beautiful nudes to striking reds to shades of pinks and corals & warms oranges there’s a shade for everyone.

MRP: Rs.749/- for 4g

Shades Available:

  • Red Velvet 01
  • Sunset Kiss 02
  • Envy 03
  • Invincible 04
  • Mochalicious 05
  • Sun Dew 06
  • Fantasy 07
  • Cherrypop 08
  • Berry Punch 09
  • Confession 10

It comes in a retractable chubby lip crayon packaging with a transparent plastic cap. Though the pencils are colored according to shades and that makes it convenient, there is no difference between creme and matte as such packaging wise except that the matte ones required sharpening and were not retractable, so if you have used up and sharpened the matte, the difference in size is obvious.

The matte ones were required sharpening and hence came with it’s own sharpener and also the qty was only 2.6g where as these are retractable, so much more convenient plus the qty is 4g

I have the shades 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch. They are easy to use and travel friendly, as they are retractable.

L-R: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Pigmentation wise, these are pretty pigmented for creme lip crayons. Usually for creme ones, I need 2-3 swipes for opaque coverage. All the swatches here are just 1-2 swipes, mostly 1 for darker shades. These are pretty pigmented for creme lip crayons!

Clockwise: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Texture is waxy and not gel like, these are a little thick and feel like lip balm on the lips, also very moisturizing. These are pretty easy to wear even if you have dry, chapped lips like me. As they are very forgiving and do not accentuate dry patches or lines on the lips.

They stay for 2-3 hours and the finish is glossy initially and turns matte later on, with the color also getting a little muted. It won’t survive full meal and is also not transfer proof, you will have to reapply after eating/drinking. But without eating/drinking, it does leave behind a nice stain which stays on for about 3-4 hours.

Coming to the shades..

Sunlight
Indoors

Sunset Kiss is a warm orange shade

Envy is a medium coral

Sun Dew is a light orangey coral

Fantasy is a medium nude pink

Cherrypop is a medium berry pink, the most pigmented of these 6

Berry Punch is a light berry wine

And here are the lip swatches..

Clockwise: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Please excuse my dry lips as my lips are going through a bad, dry phase right now.

My favourites are Fantasy, Cherrypop and Berry Punch. Also Mochalicious is a beautiful shade to check out!

Overall I quite love how comfortable and moisturizing these are. Pretty pigmented too, only thing is these being creme and not matte, are not long staying and need reapplication. I would love more shades in these, more of nudes and pinks.

Have you tried the new Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayons yet? Which is your favourite?

Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hr. Wear Waterproof My Boyfriend’s Jeans Review, Swatches

Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hr. Wear Waterproof My Boyfriend’s Jeans Review, Swatches

By Pallavi

Hii Girlies,

When any of the international clothing or makeup brand gets launched in India, it becomes a gala time for all of us makeup and fashion lovers. So, you can imagine the level of excitement when Sephora launched it’s first store in Delhi. I heard someone referring that it was like a “Sabzi Mandi” for makeup enthusiasts. Yes, the crowd was crazy and the excitement knew no bounds. I was also very thrilled by the opening of Sephora but I anyhow controlled myself and decided to check the place some days later or may be some weeks later. So, after 2 weeks I visited the place and I couldn’t stop myself. It was really fun to see brands like NYX, Burt Bees and many more there. I was really tempted for some of them but 1 product out of the entire lot there was really special for me. I couldn’t wait to lay my hands on the Sephora eye pencils. I have heard a lot of praises about them and I was dying to try them. So, I bought the and here follows the review of the same.

Product Claims : A Contouring eye pencil for a big, beautiful look that lasts up to 12 hours. Enhance and enliven your eyes with bold, long – wearing color of these eye pencils. The silky formula is resistant to water, heat and humidity up to 12 hours of smudge less wear.

Price : Rs. 890

My Experience:

Packaging wise most of the Kajal pencils are just same. They come in pencil shape which is really sleek and slim. It has black body with the electric blue cap at the top. There are some details enclosed on the body of the pencil which I really appreciate. The pencil can be easily fit inside your pocket and thus extremely travel friendly. You need to sharpen the pencil every now and then which of course leads to product wastage.

Coming to the formula of this Kajal is has a very smooth tip. It glides on the eyes also very easily and smoothly. It is very soft on eyes and even sensitive eyes would not feel any irritation. I wear lens on regular basis but I didn’t feel nay irritation or burning sensation in my eyes. It is extremely comfortable.

Coming to the shade which is aptly named as “My Boyfriend’s Jeans Electric Blue” of this Kajal and it is true to it’s name. It is more of a neon blue which is a fun and peppy shade. It is a perfect summer shade and will add glamour and style to your look and entire personality. It is bright and thus is a perfect day time color. But if you want to wear it in night then it will look Fab with monochrome or black outfits.

I apply this eyeliner on both of my upper and lower lash lines. I begin by sharpening the kajal at the tip and then apply it both the upper and lower or water line. After applying it, I let it set for about 5 minutes or so and then I am good to go.

Coming to the staying power of this Kajal is stays on me entire day long. I apply it in the morning at around 9 A.M. and till 7 P.M. it is very much visible and intact. The Kajal does not smudge or fades on the upper line.

But the story is entirely different on the lower lash line. It smudges on the sides and even fades a bit. So, I stick to applying the Kajal only on the upper line at present.

Pros of Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hr. Wear Waterproof – My Boyfriend’s Jeans

1. Terrific shade

2. Long staying power

3. Does not irritate eyes

4. Smooth texture

5. Easy in removing

Cons of Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hr. Wear Waterproof – My Boyfriend’s Jeans

1. Does not stay that long on the water line

2. Not easily available in India other than Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore

Rating – 4/5

Editor’s Note: That’s a pretty shade of blue.

Have you tried the Sephora Contour 12 Hr Waterproof Eye Pencil yet?