Tag Archives: Indian makeup and beauty blog

Nature's Essence Lacto Tan Clear Sun Tan Removal Review, Indian Beauty Blog, Skin care

Nature’s Essence Lacto Tan Clear Sun Tan Removal Review

Nature’s Essence Lacto Tan Clear Sun Tan Removal Review

By Archana

Hi all,

Summers are slowly starting and its already becoming very hot here in Bangalore. No matter what sunscreens and lotions we use, at times we get tanned badly when we are out in the sun for a very long time. Recently, I had been travelling to my aunt’s place where I spent a lot of time outdoors and hence got a very bad tan. I usually follow home remedies of besan, cucumber and lime to get rid of sun tan. But this time I was very busy in office with a project release and hence couldn’t spare time for it. I had read good reviews of this ‘Nature’s Essence Lacto Tan Clear Sun Tan Removal’ and decided to give it a try. Read on to know whether it is effective in removing sun tan.

Products claims: Milk proteins & honey enriched special tan cream helps remove the epidermal sun tan, thereby restoring the natural fairness of the skin & also preventing pigmentation due to harmful sun. Its matte effect is ideal for hot climates and the cream also helps enhance after facial glow.

Key Ingredients: Milk, honey and geranium oil.

Directions to use: Apply layer on the face/skin and keep it on for 10-15 min & after soft massage remove with water. Advised to be used every day to restore natural color & glow of the skin.

Packaging:
It comes in a yellow squeezable tube packaging with a flip-open cap very similar to the sunscreen from the same brand. Earlier it used to come in a tub packaging. But now they have revamped and come with this new tube packaging. Its better and convenient to be carried around easily.

Texture and fragrance:
It is a white-colored cream with a slight artificial fragrance. The texture is very smooth and looks very much like the bleach creams we get.

My experience:
For starters, this is neither a face pack nor a regular bleach which contains ammonia. It is actually very similar to the Spinz Sun Tan Remover which became quite popular last year. The creamy consistency makes it very easy to spread and apply. I leave it on for 15 minutes as mentioned. It causes a slight tingling sensation. I then wash it off. Since its very creamy and tends to stick, you need to massage slowly to remove it completely. After washing, I could see some of the tan, mostly the fresh tan, had been removed. But not completely. I kept using this alternate days and after 6-7 uses, almost 80% of the tan (even old tan which I had for a long time) had been removed and also lightened pigmentation and dark spots. Though its mentioned it can be used everyday, I thought it might be harsher and so went with alternate days. Skin does feel dry and stretchy post usage. So its necessary to follow up with a good moisturiser.

The efficacy of the product is really good but still I doubt whether just the key ingredients milk, honey and geranium oil can give this result. There must be lot of other chemicals added to give this effect. I felt the same with Spinz Sun Tan Remover. Actually that was even more powerful than this. It just needs 5 minutes of application and removes almost 80% tan in just a single use. And also makes your face so dry, stretchy and ghost-like. The unnatural effects of these creams makes me doubt whether it is safe to be used regularly. I would recommend using them only in rare occasions like before a party or after returning from a beach holiday with heavy tanning. Also, there is another variant in this ‘Nature’s Essence Lacto Bleach Tan Removal Cream‘. Am not sure what is the difference between them. When I looked at the key ingredients list, it was the same milk and honey, but instead of geranium oil, this one had lavender oil. Let me know if you would like a review on this as well.

Pros:
* Removes tan and restores natural color of skin.
* Lightens pigmentation and dark spots.
* Can be used for hands, foot or anywhere on the body.
* Convenient, travel friendly packaging.
* Affordable.

Cons:
* Dries out skin.
* Complete ingredients list missing.

Price and quantity: Rs.85 for 40g.

Rating: 4/5

Verdict: Nature’s Essence Lacto Tan Clear Sun Tan Removal is a quick, easy way to get rid of sun tan. Although, it is laden with chemicals and I would recommend to use only in rare situations when nothing else helps or you need instant results. Once you have managed to remove the tan, I would suggest to switch to home remedies or herbal face packs for regular maintenance.

Editor’s Note: I have used this and it works so well! It was the only product then that removed tan so quickly. Now we even have the Spinz Sun Tan Remover which does the job well, but still if you want a more natural version, then Nature’s Essence on is your best bet. Well reviewed Archana.

Top 10 Neutral Eye Shadow Palettes in India, Prices, Buy Online

Top 10 Neutral Eye Shadow Palettes in India, Prices, Buy Online

By Sanchita

Neutral eye makeup are the ‘in’ thing now and no matter it is daytime makeup look or night one, neutral eye always turns out to be the glamorous one. Improvising with neutral look is the safest choice if you are unable to decide the look you want. On Indian skin, the neutral look suits the best with pale browns, taupe, soft copper and bronze. Just add a dash of winged liner and a rocking lip color, which would give you a simple yet stunning look. These kind of looks can hardly be creates with one of two colors and you need a proper palette at your disposal. Hence, I thought of doing an affordable list of best Neutral Eye Shadow Palette in India. These brands are readily available in various e-commerce sites or retailed easily in the market. So, let’s take a look at the list.

1. Maybelline The Nudes – 899 INR (BUY HERE)

No matter what makeup it is, Maybelline will always top the list for me. The Nudes palette is has 12shades of various neutrals like browns, grey, bronze, and taupe with few matte and shimmery highlighters for various looks. It is perfect for both warm and cool skin tones and a number of looks can be created with this one. The texture is soft and the pigmentation is also good for daily wear. This is surely a great neutral palette for the price tag.

2. Urban Decay Naked – (Approx. 5000 INR)

The ultimate madness for neutrals started with the UD palettes and honestly, I can never decide which one to choose between the three. UD Naked palettes are legendary! Each of them is gorgeous to the core and undeniably amazing. Each palettes consists 12 colors and best for creating any neutral or soft smoky look. The texture is just like butter and highly pigmented. It is very easy to blend and layer and known for its outstanding quality. The staying power and finish is also commendable. Although the price is high but totally worth it.

3. Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 Palette – 1050 INR (BUY HERE for 790)

The Iconic range of Makeup Revolution is the dupe of UD palettes and are easily available in India as well. UD costs a bomb and hence when we want an affordable dupe, Makeup Revolution is the best deal we can get. Among all the Iconic and Iconic Pro, my favorite for neutrals will be the Iconic 2 which is the dupe of UD Naked 2. The combination of colors are very pretty with bronze, soft browns, grey, black and shimmery highlighters. It is a perfect daytime palettes and readily available on discounts as well.

4. MUA Heaven and Earth Palette – 1050 INR

One of the best neutral brown palettes I have used so far! Though most of the shades are shimmery finish but they look exceptionally natural on the eyelids. Most of the colors are warm toned and especially suit the Indian skin tones. The texture is very soft and pretty blend-able. The pigmentation is also good and you can layer it very nicely if you want that intense look. MUA also has the palette “Undress Me Too” (Review & Swatches HERE) which is another great palette for cool toned and grey colors. P.S: While Heaven and Earth is Urban Decay Naked Dupe, the Undress Me Too is Urban Decay Naked 2 Dupe

5. L’Oreal Paris Color Riche La Palette – 1399 INR (BUY HERE for 1119)

The Color Riche La Palette from L’Oreal Paris comes in a sturdy black casing with a double tip sponge applicator and an in-built mirror. It is a very recent launch in India and is available in 2 shades – Beige and Rose. The colors are very similar but has slight changes in them. The Beige one is lighter than the Rose. In my opinion, the Rose will be a perfect choice for the Indian skin tones with a handful of deep colors and various neutrals to choose from.

6. Sleek MakeUP I-Divine Makeup Au Naturel Palette – 1500 INR

This is a brand I surely want to be officially available in India! Their quality is impeccable and the price is comparatively affordable even after shipping and taxes. The texture is soft and creamy powdery and has very less fall out issues. The pigmentation is as gorgeous as it can get with single swipe itself! Their i-divine palettes are incredibly good and when it comes to neutrals, there are two best of the best – Au Naturel and Oh So Special. Au Naturel has beautiful peaches and deep browns and a jet matte black for night time look. Overall, it is a highly recommended one. (All Sleek MakeUP Review and Swatches HERE)

7. Makeup Revolution I Heart Chocolate – 1550 INR (Available on Nykaa)

The ‘Chocolate’ series of Makeup Revolution is worth all the attention is has. These are the dupes of the high end Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette. Of course, Too Faced is high priced and often out of stock. However, the Makeup Revolution one is available and the quality is definite worth talking about. The blend of browns, burgundy, deep chocolate, beige and pearly highlighters is just as craving as a chocolate bar. The pigmentation is very good and a lot of day and night time looks can be easily created with this. P.S: I have the Too Faced Palette and I know how exactly similar this is, at 1/4th the price, this is definitely a must have!

8. Freedom Pro 12 Stunning Smokes – 1200 INR (Available on Nykaa)

Freedom is another London Based makeup brand and becoming very prominent in the beauty market in India. Their Pro 12 palettes are excessively popular with various mattes, nudes, shimmery and deep colors. The best neutral palette is the Stunning Smokes which has 12 gorgeous mixture of mattes and shimmery colors. The colors are so pigmented that even the lighter ones shows up pretty well on the lids and the texture is also a total winner.

9. FACES Glam On Color Perfect Eyeshadow Smokey – 599 INR

A quad of 4 shimmery beautiful colors – bronze, plum, taupe and a pearly highlighter with an affordable price tag is surely worth trying. The packaging is sturdy and compact which comes with a mirror and an applicator. The texture is soft with a decent saturation of color. It works well even without primers and will suit the cool and neutral skin tones very well.

10. Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette – 2300 INR

This is the closest dupe of the renowned Urban Decay Naked 2 and Naked 3. There are 20 colors in this palettes, consisting of various shimmery and matte peach, browns, burgundy and taupe. The texture is very soft and blends profusely on the lids. The pigmentation is also good and helps you the layer the deeper color easily. It has a very good staying power of 5-6hours without primer and the palette, overall, is a great value for money.

Editor’s Note: I love the Sleek MakeUP Oh So Special palette, it’s my favourite. And also the Too Faced Chocolate bar Palette, the Makeup Revolution I Heart Chocolate is an exact dupe shade to shade, another must have! I want to try the Coastal Scents Revealed 2. This is a very useful compilation Sanchita.

Tell us your favourite neutral eyeshadow palette in India, in the comments below.

Lakme 9 to 5 Lip Color Pink Bureau Review, Swatches

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.

How To Unclog Facial Pores Naturally

How To Unclog Facial Pores Naturally

By Somreeta

If you wish to keep pimples, blackheads and acne at bay, it is important for you to clear the clogged pores in your skin. Deep cleansing and exfoliation at regular intervals help in doing away with the dead skin cells, oil, dirt and impurities that clog the pores. Keep reading for the best tips and tricks to unclog facial skin pores naturally.

How To Unclog Facial Pores Naturally: Top 3 Tips

1. STEAMING: Steaming is one of the cheapest yet most effective natural treatments that help remove the dirt and grease that have accumulated in the pores of the skin. Heat water in a pot and cover it with a lid. As soon as the water starts producing steam, remove it from the source of heat and lean over the pot of steaming water, while covering your head with a towel. Make sure that the steam touches your face. For added benefits, add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to the water. Steam your face for about 5 to 7 minutes. Whenever you feel that the steam is too hot for you to put up with, take a short break. After you are done with steaming your face, pat your skin dry and follow up with a toner and a mild non-comedogenic moisturizer. Steaming your face once a week is indeed a great practice.

2. EXFOLIATION: Exfoliate your skin to chuck out the impurities off the pores of your facial skin. Mix baking soda (2 tablespoons) with cinnamon powder (1 tablespoon) and honey (4 tablespoons). Add the juice of half-a-lemon to the mixture and apply the concoction on your face. Rinse with water after 5 minutes. Baking soda is an excellent exfoliating agent that is gentle on the skin and helps unplug clogged pores. If you are not comfortable using baking soda and lemon juice on skin, you can try out the honey-sugar scrub recipe. Mix 4 tablespoons of green tea with honey and sugar, a tablespoon each. Scrub your face with this homemade scrub and wash off with water. Follow up with a mild moisturizer.

3. APPLICATION OF CLAY MASKS: Clay masks are known to draw out the oil and grease from the skin pores efficiently. Mix bentonite clay, oatmeal powder and water, one tablespoon each. Apply this clay mask on your face. Once it dries up, rinse thoroughly with water. Follow up with a good quality moisturizer to prevent dryness.

A weekly skincare regimen, consisting of steaming, cleansing, scrubbing, toning and moisturizing could go a long way in preventing clogged pores. Unclog your facial pores naturally and keep your skin smooth and glowing, always!

Editor’s Note: Totally believe in all three, while steaming doesn’t happen always. Even a warm muslin cloth works at times. And clay masks are so amazing to pull out the dirt and perfect for oily skin to keep oil at bay.

Do you follow these tips regularly?

Image Source: 1,2,3

My Current Makeup Wishlist

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.

March 2016 ‘More Power To You’ Fab Bag Unboxing & Review

March 2016 ‘More Power To You’ Fab Bag Unboxing & Review

Hi guys,

I just now got the March Fab Bag, it’s the ‘More Power To You’ Women’s Day/Month theme.

Read my previous Fab Bag reviews:

MRP: Rs.599/- per month (Buy HERE)

It’s a metallic silver textured bag and I knew the Sugar Cosmetics Matte Lipstick is a part of the bag coz I saw it on their Instagram page and assumed it would be this brand.

Let’s see what all I got:

  • Sugar Cosmetics ‘It’s A Pout Time’ Matte Vivid Lipstick in 03 Mad Magenta (Full sized)- Rs.599/-
  • Wella Professionals Elements Shampoo (30ml)- Rs.175/-
  • Wella Professionals Elements Conditioner (30ml)- Rs.200/-
  • Nykaa Strawberries & Cream Nail Enamel (5ml)- Rs.149/- for 10ml
  • Nyassa Tiramisu Body Scrub (30g)- Rs.900/- for 200g

I really like the Wella Pro Elements Range, read my review HERE. It is SLS and paraben free and perfect for colored/treated hair, this deluxe sample size is perfect to try out and/or for travel.

I am loving the Sugar Matte Lipstick, love their Matte Crayon too, so was looking forward to the lipstick. Quite excited to try that out. It comes in this magenta pink shade, a muted berry, a nude and a coral.

I have 3-4 of Nykaa nail paints and they are quite decent, I love this summery shade and would definitely be wearing it.

The Nyassa Tiramisu Body Scrub smells amazing, but since it’s a body scrub, this 30g sample would only work once.

Overall, I would say it’s a mixed bag, not a must have but pretty decent if you are into matte lipsticks and wanted to try the Wella Pro Elements Range, a nail paint and bag are added bonus 😀

The value of the products come to around Rs.1200/- which is still not bad and the deluxe sizes are decent too.

What did you get in your March Fab Bag? Do let me know in the comments below.

Coloressence Mesmerizing Lip Colour Poetry Pink Review, Swatches

Coloressence Mesmerizing Lip Colour Poetry Pink Review, Swatches

By Ishleen

Hello munchkins!

I know its been quite some time since I spoke to you darlings, and I am so sorry for the long disappearance! But today I am here to make up for my absence with this gorgeous review of one of my first and my most favourite matte deep pink lipsticks! I mean this was the first ever deep pink lipstick I ever owned, and I do not know why I had stopped using it as of late! But with the responsibility of reviewing it, I finally got a chance to use it again, and fall in love, all over again!

What Coloressence says?

Mesmerising Lip Colour, a unique combination of coriander and basil extract. This lip colour nourishes, protects, moisturizes and is hypoallergenic. Volumises the lips.

Ingredients:

Although the full ingredient list was not mentioned but the active ingredients are mentioned here!
Almond Oil, Vitamin E. 100% Vegetarian. No animal ingredients used!

Price and Quantity: 175 INR for 4 grams of product (pretty cool, huh?)

Packaging

Packaging wise, coloressence lipsticks have never impressed me much but this lipstick still looks pretty classy for the price it comes at! It comes in a very sturdy m ate black packaging with silver detailing and a functional silver bullet! The packaging is all in all really sturdy, and elegant, so thumbs up for that!

Shade

As I said, the shade is love at first sight! Such a pretty wearable deep pink which isn’t bright but still adds warmth to your skin! The shade is precisely a deep red-toned pink which does not look OTT even during day time and is pretty wearable for Indian skin tones! A perfect deep pink for beginners.

Texture

Texture wise this lipstick is a dud! Excessively dry, tugs on the lips, settles into fine lines and application is a nightmare! I mean it is so dry that I have to pull it across my lips in order to cover the entire lip line! Settles into a completely matte finish but makes the lips look parched! I mean looking at the shade, this rough texture is really sad to work with!

Pigmentation and Coverage

Despite being excessively dry and all that shizz, this pretty baby is bang on pigmentation! Loade don colored pigments which impart a full blown colour in just two tugging swipes! And is fully capable of covering up any pigmentations in 3 swipes max!

Staying Power

As this lipstick has a matte finish, it is relatively long staying! Though I wouldn’t say that it does not transfer, because it does, but that is unnoticeable! Thus giving a wear time of a good 5 hours before smudging off the edges and leaving behind stained lip look!

Pros

Lovely colour
Sturdy, elegant packaging
Full on pigmented
Covers lip pigmentation
Stays put for 4-5 hours straight

Cons

Excessively dry texture
Settles into lip lines
Makes the lip look parched
Does not apply well

Final Recommendation

If you are a hardcore matte lover and do not mind your lipsticks to be drying and shizz, you are going to love this gorgeous little deep pink matte lipstick!

Rating: 3.7/5

Editor’s Note: That’s such a pretty shade, would work on all skin tones from fair to dusky. It’s a perfect Priyanka Chopra kind of shade, she wears such brick reds and deep reddish pinks.

Have you tried Coloressence Lipsticks? Which is your favourite shade?

Trending Beauty Hacks That All Lazy Girls Should Know

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!

Top 12 Best & Affordable Eye Shadows in India

Top 12 Best & Affordable Eye Shadows in India

By Sanchita

Hello everyone! I am a complete eye shadow junkie. Palettes are my favorites and I swear by Rimmel and Sleek Makeup for eye shadows. Now-a-days eye makeup looks are the biggest ‘in’ thing and we love to add the dash of eye to brighten up the entire makeup look. The whole aura of any eye makeup look – be it a smoky and sultry or simple neutral eye makeup, you need some really good pigmented eye shadows. In my opinion, the Indian market really lacks budget friendly pigmented eye shadows. Be it palette or mono pans, whichever decent product is there, it is priced very high. There is another thing I noticed is that the shades are very repetitive and mattes are almost missing. Nevertheless, today I have compiled the top 12 eye shadows available in India (online and retail) which are pretty economical.

1. Rimmel London ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick – 415 INR

These are my favorite eye shadow sticks and I love the kind of colors they. From matte browns to beige and deep blues and greens – they have it all. It comes in a chubby fat sharpenable pencils. The texture is so smooth that it glides like a dream and blends very easily. Pigmentation is top notch and single swipe gives you the saturated color. It gives you enough time to smudge and set the color and then doesn’t budge at all. It is thoroughly water proof and smudge proof as well. The colors, when set properly, hardly creases (after 9-10hours) and can also be used a base for powder eye shadow. For the price, they are a steal. (P.S: Bronze is my Favourite!)

2. Makeup Revolution Single Eyeshadow – 295 INR (BUY HERE for 234)

Makeup Revolution has been one phenomenal budget friendly brand and has got popular among various bloggers. A lot of e-commerce sites have been stocking their mono eyeshadows and palettes and we love the variety they have. The mono eye shadows and pigments in particular are very convenient to use. They are richly pigmented, blends really well and doesn’t crease much on the lids. These are appropriate for creating various makeup looks and lasts longer on the lids without fading off.

3. NYX Single Eyeshadow – (300-400 INR)

They have a variety of matte, pearl, shimmers and duo chrome eye shadows to choose from. There are numerous colors and quite some popular ones as well. The packaging is sturdy and great for travelling. The texture is good and gives a nice color pay off. From shimmers to matte and neon, you will get every possible color. These are ideal for beginners and they perform wonderfully. You can also try the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils (Review HERE) which are equally raved among beauty bloggers. (P.S: Absolutely love ‘Yogurt’, works amazing to highlight inner corners and brow bone. The shade ‘Milk’ acts as a perfect eyeshadow base for lighter shadows)

4. Inglot Single Eye shadow single – 550 INR (They have raised the price to 550 INR, also they discontinued the round refills which were a bit cheaper. Now they only have square ones) (Some available on Nykaa & on MajorBrands HERE)

When Inglot was available online, I couldn’t be happier about it. The only reason was to shop eyeshadows. They have an amazing collection of eyeshadow pans and most of them are great dupes for MAC (MAC eyeshadows costs a bomb!). The Inglot Freedom System palette is also available which enables you to choose the perfect color combination palette you want in your life. They have pearl, shimmery as well as matte finish and more than 400 shades to choose from. The texture is wonderful to blend in and pigmentation is top notch. They hardly crease and stay put the whole day. You can also try their rainbow pans (consisting of three hues of a same color)

5. Coloressence Single Eye Shadow – 170 to 200 INR (BUY HERE)

Coloressence is quite a well-known brand in the market and they have some really good products. One of them is the mono eyeshadow collection which comes in a durable black casing. The numbers of colors in this range is slightly low comparatively but the quality is surely great to work with. They have pearly and satin matte collection and some of the very famous are the gold, burgundy, blue, black and brown. These are soft in texture and I found pigmentation is superb with one swipe.

6. Colorbar Emphaseyes Eyeshadows (Available in 27 shades and priced at Rs.550/-) and Emphaseyes Baked Eyeshadows (Available in 10 shades and priced at Rs.599/-)

Versatility of Colorbar is surely enthralling. All the finishes from matte to pearly to high shimmer available in both the ranges and hence you can create a lot eye makeup looks with these. With a proper blend of ingredients, the texture is satin smooth and a commendable pay off for your eyes. The baked eyeshadow can also be applied wet which gives an insane color pay off and rich effect to the eyes. The fall out issues are minimal and the long lasting formula makes these totally a winner.

7. Revlon Colorstay Shadow Links Eye Shadow- INR 195 (BUY HERE for 165) (Review & Swatches HERE)

If you are a beginner or want to create your own customized palette without bankrupting, this is the one for you. You can buy any desirable shade from the collection of 15 available shades and attached with one another to create the exact palette you want. The texture is smooth and really workable. Again some of them are super pigmented and nice, plus pretty economical. Definitely check out the shades Bhumika has swatched and the Copper and Gold shade is what she swears by!

8. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Mono Eyeshadows – INR 525 (Review & Swatches HERE and HERE)

With a small tub packaging, these mono eyeshadows from L’Oréal are incredibly good. It has the velvet powdery texture and soft and silky formula which glide on the lids like a dream. The pigmentation is very good and it gives a rich satin look to the eyelids. The staying power of 8-9hrs is truly praiseworthy and hardly creases even without primer. Most of the shades have metallic effect and the sheen is gorgeous for very occasion. This is one of the best quality eyeshadow available in India with such reasonable price tag. Bhumika has already reviewed the Endless Chocolate which is a stunning brown for warm skin tones. (P.S: Also love All Night Blue which is the most gorgeous blue eyeshadow in my stash)

9. MUA Makeup Academy Single Eyeshadow – 431 INR

MUA makes some really eyeshadows and be the palette or singles, each of them were great. The single eyeshadows, available in 34 amazing shades with a wide range of mattes and pearly touches, helps you creating a variety of looks for both day and night. The texture is extremely soft and super blendable and the color payoff is pretty impressive. The matte black (20) is greatly pigmented rich matte black for the smoky looks while the brown (19) can be used for neutrals and crease effect.

10. Freedom Makeup London Mono Eyeshadow – 350 INR

Very recently I bought few shades from their collection and I have to agree, they are great value for money. Comes in small round packaging, there are available in mattes, pearly (glided collection) and also certain base shades. The base shades are perfect for creating an even canvas or simple winged liner look. All the shades are well pigmented with soft textures, smooth and easy to apply for an everyday look.

11. Oriflame The One Cream Eyeshadow – 449 INR (Review & Swatches HERE)

Cream eye shadows are so beautiful and easy to work with that you won’t know until you use one! The Oriflame The One Cream Eyeshadows are available with a very reasonable price tag and definitely check out the swatches done by Bhumika. The color payoff is extremely rich, intense and creamy and the texture is so forgiving that anyone will find it easy to work with. Bhumika feels that these are just perfect to use when you are in a hurry, just blend, layer and set and you are good to go for the day.

12. Deborah Milano 24Ore Velvet Eye Shadow – 395 INR

Deborah Milano has some pretty beautiful shadows available in singles, duos and quad. Thse eyeshadows have a satin soft texture and gives a beautiful finish to the eye makeup looks. The pigmentation is worth talking about and when you use the eyeshadows in the wet form, you would notice the thrilling intensity of it. All the shades are so beautifully matches with the Indian skin tones is that, one wouldn’t be enough for you at all. It stays fairly long even without primer and dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested.

Editor’s Note: I love this list, have quite a few from the above. Absolutely love the Oriflame Cream one and the L’Oreal Infallible Monos. I used to love the Maybelline Color Tattoo, sadly they are discontinued now but I still have and love the Bad to the Bronze and Pomegranate Punk.

Which is your favourite eyeshadow? From this list?

L’Oreal Paris India La Vie En Rose Collection – Review & FOTD

L’Oreal Paris India La Vie En Rose Collection – Review & FOTD

Hi guys,

If you have not seen the L’Oreal Paris La Vie En Rose Collection Swatches yet, go HERE.

Today I would be reviewing these lipsticks and the L’Extrordinaire Mat Lip Colours.

L’Oreal Paris La Vie En Rose Collection Star Moist Mat Lipstick – Rs.990/-

L’Oreal Paris La Vie En Rose Collection Star L’Extraordinaire Mat Lip Colors – Rs 950/-

To start with the packaging, the Moist Mat lipsticks come in a regular matte black packaging with the gold band at the center. The texture as the name suggests is moist mat, they are velvet matte in texture. The shades in this range need a bit of layering, with 2-3 swipes you get the perfect opaque coverage but for pigmented lips, you will need to layer more. Also the lighter shades in this range are slightly less pigmented than the darker ones and would work for fair skin tones only, they will wash out the medium/wheatish skin tone. The lipsticks also deepen on the lips and get a bit darker after 5-10 minutes of application.

The lipsticks are neither drying nor moisturizing, you will need to exfoliate your lips and apply a lip balm and blot it before using these otherwise it would accentuate dry patches and fine lines on the lips. These do not transfer much and surprisingly stay well. The lipsticks stay for 3-4 hours on me and leave behind a deep stain which again stays for 1-2 hours.

L- Liya, R- J. Lo
L- Sonam, R- Julianne

Coming to the L’Extraordinare Mat Lip Colours, they come in the square packaging with the color peeping through the centre. The doe shaped wand applicator picks the right amount of product and is flexible to spread the product evenly on the lips in one coat. These are quite pigmented and feel moisturizing and buttery. The finish comes out glossy and it needs some time to settle down to a matte finish, about 20-25 minutes. Only one swipe gives a full opaque coverage, I did not have to dip the wand in the gloss again. The finish is not completely matte but semi-matte, these stay for about 2 hours and again leave behind a nice stain, especially the deeper color Julianne.

I like all the dark shades from this collection, they compliment medium skin tones really well. I would recommend the shades Liya, Eva, J. Lo and Julianne for mostly all skin tones. Sonam, Katrina and Aishwarya for slightly fairer skin tones.

Here are all the looks..

Liya
Julianne
J.Lo
Sonam
Katrina

Overall I would say some of these lipsticks are an absolute must have, try it at the counters, I am sure you will end up buying 1-2 shades. Though the price is slightly on the higher side, the qty is quite good with the lipsticks being 4.2g and the lip colours being 5.5ml.

Rating: (Lipsticks)

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

Overall rating: 3.75/5

Rating: (Mat Lip Colours)

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

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Which shade did you like the most? Do let me know in the comments below.