I got my September My Envy Box just now. This month’s theme is ‘Travel’ and I absolutely love the suitcase shaped box! Definitely keeping this box 😀 It looks so cute, I love the designs each month.
Dermalogica Oil Free Matte sachet: Rs 3825 for 50ml
Kronokare City Detox Face Wash 30ml deluxe sample: Rs 395 for 100ml
TRUUTH Beauty Formula Tablets: Rs 400 for 30 pills
Ma Earth Botanicals Rose Facial Scrub 40g Deluxe Sample: Rs 875 for 125g
C.A.L Detail Me Mascara: Rs. 450 for 12ml
C.A.L. Muah Collection Lip Gloss: Rs 450 for 10ml
Unfortunately my Kronokare face wash leaked inside the box, half of the face wash smeared all over the box. I cleaned the box and let it dry, I hope it doesn’t feel soapy or sticky.
The Kronokare City Detox face wash has grapefruit oil and lavender oil. It smells really good, looking forward to try this.
Another product that impressed me is the Ma Earth Botanicals Rose Scrub, it’s in dry form with crushed rose petals in it. Smells absolutely amazing, I am most excited to try this out.
I got two full sized makeup products from C.A.L. I have never heard of this brand, so I searched a bit. CAL Cosmetics LA is a new Indian brand and have a range of face, eyes and lip products. I got the lip gloss in the shade ‘Spicy’ from their Muah Collection, not sure if it’s High Gloss or Stay On, but considering how pigmented and staining it is, I believe it is from Stay On Range. I love the bright coral colour and the staying power is pretty good for a gloss, it’s more like those Maybelline Velvet Matte Lip Colours.
Also got the CAL Detail Me Mascara. I quite like the gold packaging, the outer boxes for both the products were a little rusty. I am not sure why.
The TRUUTH Beauty Formula pack of 30 tablets is a new ‘supplements’ introduction in My Envy Box. It has Biotin, Collagen and claims to be good for hair, nails and skin. Since this has red mark, I am not sure if I will have these as I am a pure vegetarian. I wish they had included something with green mark which everyone can have, or confirmed before sending this or given an option.
And finally Dermalogica Matte Sunscreen small sachet sample, I don’t like sachets so don’t have anything much to say about this. Dermalogica always has super tiny one time use samples. If My Envy Box includes Dermalogica samples, they should include at least 4-5 of these.
Also this month My Envy Jewellery Box has Simran Chhabra designs, you can get extra 10% off using ‘SIMJB10’ and get the box at Rs.2205/-
Overall I quite like the Ma Botanicals Rose Scrub and looking forward to try both of the CAL products. In terms of value for money, this month’s box is definitely total value for money! You get 3 full sized and 2 deluxe sixed samples worth Rs.1700! Recommended
If you know I had my ‘Mumbai Bridal Diaries’ series covering my engagement and wedding and all posts related to that, see HERE. I am kick starting the Bridal Series again as the wedding season is approaching and what better than starting with mehendi designs.
Sanchita will take from here..
Hello everyone,
Bridal season is going to start soon and I am sure the would-be brides are busy planning everything. Internet, now-a- days, is flooded with every bridal need – from hair style, makeup artists to lehengas. But with so many choice it becomes very difficult to choose the one for your D-Day. Therefore, we thought of bringing you the Bridal Diaries where we would short listed the best of the best for everything a bride needs. This time we came up with the best bridal mehendi designs for hands.
No matter which part of India you belong to, mehendi is a must have thing for the brides except for few traditions. Mehendi has been a part of marriages since time immemorial and there is a reason why the bride applied mehendi or henna on her hand. Firstly, weddings are stressful and tiring and applying henna, which is a very powerful medicinal herb, helps to cure the headache.
It cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet, which house nerve endings in the body. It is also antiseptic and protect from viral diseases. Further, improves blood circulation in the body and improves general health.
It is also considered to be a sign of good luck and festive occasion. Traditionally, it says that mehendi has a rich smell that act as a powerful aphrodisiac and boosts the romance in the initial days of wedding. It is better to use the pure and herbal mehendi or henna which is derived from plants to be used on hands. Chemical ones often causes irritation and contains toxic chemicals in it. The mehendi should be dark burgundy, brown or coffee in color, especially which are natural.
Let us see the wonderful mehendi designs for hands.
1. Peacock designs are the common favorite for everyone when it comes to bridal designs. It has a very feminine and gracious look and widely used in various ways.
2. This is another full hand peacock design but the designs are extremely elaborate. It has several floral and leaf patterns in between which would look flattering for the wedding.
3. A rich floral design which is extremely easy to translate. When the mehendi stains the skin with its deep brown or coffee color, the flower seems to almost come alive in all its glory.
4. An elegant peacock mehendi design with floral patterns. The combination is beautiful.
5.Circular motifs are wonderful and has an aesthetic appeal to it. They look beautiful and well decorative. This is a wonderful design who wants simple and elegant look.
6. A typical bride-groom design. What can be better than this for a wedding?
7. A fine art floral design with semicircular pattern. It has a very soothing touch to it.
8. A full hand floral design for the brides.
9,10,11,12 – These are all the peacock designs combined with the floral and Arabic pattern. All the designs are ideal for weddings.
13. A diamond shaped elaborative floral designs for full hand.
14, 15. The floral and leaf designs combination tiny paisleys are woven together to create a delicate design pattern, the result is a very alluring and looks amazing.
Tips to make mehendi last longer on hands –
Keep the mehendi on the hands for a minimum of 8-9hours. It is best if you can keep it for a whole night, around 12hrs of so.
Make sure the hands are dry when you are applying the henna or mehendi.
Make a juice of lemon and sugar syrup or powdered sugar. The mixture will be sticky but this will give a glorious color to the hands and shine as well.
You can also warm the hands under a light or heated box.
Use mustard oil to remove the scrubbing particles when you are going to remove it. Take few drops on the hands and rub together to remove.
Do not use water for a few hours after taking off the mehendi particles from hand. This will make the color even richer and will last longer on hands.
Editor’s Note: These are some beautiful designs Sanchita, loved the compilation! I loved the no.6 Bride Groom and last no. 15 especially.
Ever watched those orange-juice commericals wherein the model squeezes fresh ripe oranges over herself and feels refreshed out of the blue and wondered HOW? No, don’t frown, there are such adverts. If the purpose is the latter (that is, refreshing your skin and adding a desirable hue of radiance)and not the former (that is, squeezing oranges on your face which by the way, even sounds odd), then there is someone listening. Any guesses? It is none other than the natural skin and hair care brand from the Silicon Valley of India ‘Bangaluru’- Aroma Essentials 🙂
Having relied on a number of products from their eclectic range in the past, I zeroed in on their Orange Crush Mask to see how far it fares on my skin and get that instant burst of energy thanks to the zingy aroma of oranges. And if all that happens sans pumping toxins in one’s body, what better could I ask for? 🙂 On that note, let us check out how Aroma Essentials’ Orange Crush Mask fared for me.
PRICE- 300 INR for 30 gm
DIRECTIONS FOR USE– Scoop out a generous dollop, massage on your wet and clean face and neck for 5 minutes. Leave to dry and rinse with cold water when completely dry.
INGREDIENTS- Crafted using the finest natural ingredients such as- orange decoction, orange essential oil and extracts.
WHAT IT CLAIMS- Throw away all your chemical-laden face masks that harm more than they benefit. Here is Aroma Essentials’ orange crush face mask that drives away all the dirt and tiredness while brightening your complexion like never before!
MY EXPERIENCE-
Packed in a simple plastic tub with a cap on top and another layer of plastic covering inside, the packaging of Aroma Essentials Orange Crush Mask looks and is quite simple. But that does mean it is flimsy. How? The cap is sturdy per se and the additional layer of covering inside averts chances of leakage altogether. I have carried it a number of times while commuting and not once, has it spilt. On that account, I find the packaging up to the mark and definitely travel-friendly.
The mask has the consistency of crushed tomatoes (yes, visualise that peppy song of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara wherein the characters played with tomatoes during the La Tomatina festival of Spain, to get an idea)! Upon opening the lid, your nostrils are in for a pleasant surprise for the zesty aroma of this mask bewitches one. I can clearly make out that it contains orange essential oil and I am glad that the aroma is not achieved by the virtue of cheap fillers/toxins.
As instructed, I smeared a liberal amount of this mask on my drenched face and neck, massaged in circular motions for five minutes and let it undisturbed for the next ten minutes. After that, with a little water in my palms, I gently washed the mask. Not only was my face visibly brighter (yes, the results were noticeable in the first use) and softer but also squeaky-clean. Since I applied the mask when it was cool (I store it in the refrigerator as was instructed), I was relaxed all the while it stayed on my face.
It does not suck moisture off my skin which is why, I find it compatible for dry skin. Even normal skin can go for it but I doubt its efficacy for use on oily skin maybe because the texture spells qualms. On the whole, for instant freshening/brightening, it works wonders but not for eliminating blemishes/scars.
GOOD-
1. All natural-content. No toxins are added.
2. Gingers one up with its zesty fragrance
3. Brightens complexion almost instantaneously
4. Does not suck moisture
5. Compatible for normal and dry skin types the most. Oily skin can use but in my humble opinion, it would benefit the former two skin types the most
6. Made in India
7. Amazing aroma. It perks one instantly. It isn’t strong so, those with a sensitive nose need not fret.
8. Travel-friendly packaging. The provision of a plastic cap inside allays the fear of leakage/spillage
9. Cruelty-free
10. Free from artificial fragrances under the garb of which a number of noxious chemicals are added
11. Dermatologically tested
12. Chemical-free
13. Order can be placed either on their Facebook page or on WhatsApp. Hence, there is ease in placing orders. COD (Cash on Delivery), however is not available yet.
BAD-
1. For the price paid, I wish the quantity were a little more. Shelling 300 INR for 30 gm sounds implausible.
2. Does not eliminate scars/blemishes
RATING- 4/5
Editor’s Note: This sounds really good, would love to try this out!
Top 10 Nude/Beige Eyeliners Available in India, Prices
By Simran
Hello everyone!
Eyeliners seem to be an essential part of every girl’s makeup routine. You can choose from a wide variety of colours and give your waterline a nice pop of colour. Black is the favourite colour to be used on the waterline by most of the Indian women. But, if you have hooded eyes or monolid or close set eyes, black can make your eyes look smaller. So, rather than buying a black eyeliner next time, go for a nude eyeliner.
Now you must be wondering, why shouldn’t you use a white eyeliner instead? It’s simple, white eyeliners leave a sheer unnatural finish. The pros of using a nude eyeliner, you ask? A flesh toned or nude eyeliner brightens your eyes and instantly makes them appear bigger. It helps you in brightening the inner corner if you have deep set eyes or you can use it as a concealer on your face or even as a brow bone highlighter!
So, I have compiled a list of the best nude eyeliners available in India.
1. Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in N*de 005 (Price: INR 345/-) (Buy HERE)
This has to be the best budget nude eyeliner available in India. The formulation is quite creamy and it glides on the waterline easily. It lasts about 5-6 hours on the waterline after which it fades away completely. Rimmel is available in Parcos stores in India.
2. Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Eye Pencil in Nudo (Price: INR 800/-) (Buy HERE)
This kajal has a glide-on texture which allows you precise control over the pencil. The colour payoff is excellent and it will last on your lids for the whole day. The pencil has to be sharpened and is not in the retractable form.
3. Sephora colourful shadow and liner in 33 Secret Boudoir (Price: $14 or approximately INR 950/-)
This jumbo pencil is multi-usage, you can use it on your waterline or apply it on your lids as an eye shadow primer. The lasting power is great and the finish of the eyeliner is matte! There is another jumbo pencil in the range in shimmer finish in the shade 05 Beige. This eye pencil by Sephora is decently priced, according to me.
4. Maybelline colour show eyeliner in Shiny Beige (Price: INR 325/-)
Another affordable option in the Indian market is the Maybelline colour show eyeliner in Shiny Beige. The finish of the eyeliner is shimmery which is perfect if you’re doing glittery eye makeup. The pencil is in the retractable form and is completely waterproof.
The next nude eyeliner comes from the newly launched brand in India, Nyx. This indeed wonderfully working multi tasking wonder pencil works as a concealer, a lip liner as well as an eyeliner. You can use it to highlight your brow bone or line your waterline to bring life back in your eyes. So, get your hands on it before it goes out of stock, again.
6. Inglot Kohl pencil in 05 (Price: INR 850/-)
The pencil is highly pigmented and formulated to gently define the eyes while leaving a velvety appearance. The active ingredients in the kohl pencil provide a moisturizing effect. The pencil is long lasting, completely waterproof and smudge proof.
This eye pencil is perfect to make your dull eyes look brighter. It is a double ended pencil with a brightening nude shade on one side and a wide array of shades to choose from for the other side. Who doesn’t love multitasking products? The formulation of the liner is creamy and it lasts on your lid for a long time.
8. MAC Technakohl Liner in Risque (Price: $17 or approximately INR 1150/-)
The eye pencil is a pale beige-nude colour in retractable pencil form. Its formula is soft and creamy with intense, rich colour. It is a smudge proof long wear eyeliner which helps in instantly brightening your eyes.
9. Colourpop HoneyDude Eyeliner (Price: $5 or approximately INR 350/-)
“Who needs a sugar daddy when you have this creamy warm nude” says the description of the eyeliner, so fancy! The eyeliner is in a smooth, creamy, long lasting finish to give your eyes the perfect dose of colour. The finish of the eyeliner is completely matte and the pencil comes in a retractable form.
10. Urban Decay 24/7 waterline eye pencil in Walk of Shame (Price: $20 or approximately INR 1350/-)
The formulation of the eye pencil is creamy and the finish is demi-matte. The multi usage pencil can be used a highlighter on your face or even as a cream concealer. The pencil is slightly high on budget but if you need a nude pencil which will (literally) last on your waterline all day then surely buy this pencil.
Editor’s Note: I recently ordered Colourpop Honeydude eyeliner, I also have a Jordana one which I really like. I would like to add the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick 24H Water Proof in Bulletproof Beige
The Body Shop Oils Of Life Sleeping Cream, Essence Lotion Review
Hi guys,
I had reviewed The Body Shop Oils of Life Revitalizing Facial Oil last year HERE. And I have often mentioned it on my Snapchat and my monthly favourites on YouTube! It is my absolute favourite!
I tried two other products from this same range including the recent addition, the ‘Sleeping Cream’. Here are my thoughts on them..
I use the Body Shop Oils of Life Essence Lotion at first, followed by 2-3 drops of the Facial Oil and the Sleeping Cream at the end. I have been following this regime every night since the past month.
The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Essence Lotion
Claims: Enjoy a highly-sensorial experience, with its bi-phase (oil + water) formula, this Intensely Revitalizing Essence Lotion supremely combines the freshness of water and the nourishing feel of oil. Our Essence Lotion has a lightweight refreshing texture that glides onto skin and leaves a pleasurable soft touch finish without a greasy feel. Our Essence Lotion provides instant visible results while preparing and activating skin for the next steps of your routine.
MRP: Rs.1895 for 160ml
Ingredients:
It’s a bi-phase oil and water formula and needs to be shaken well before use. It comes in a long, sleek plastic bottle and the dispensor dispenses quite a few drops. You can use it either on a cotton pad or directly with your hands, I have tried both.
It feels just like water and the oil content cannot be felt, it is very light weight and has a refreshing smell. It gets absorbed in a few seconds and it is meant to prep and activate the skin for the next step.
I was quite excited to try this out as I have never tried a oil + water essence before, but unfortunately it was giving me small whiteheads all around and on my nose. I was using this on and off and didn’t realize it was only this product. I was still figuring out what was causing the break outs and I gave my skin a break for few days and stopped using anything. Again after few days when I started using this, I got those whiteheads.
A few days ago Shalini from Be Beautilicious reviewed this product and she mentioned that this essence lotion was giving her whiteheads and I was like OMG, it is this! I finally realized it was this product that was causing those whiteheads thanks to Shalini.
I stopped using it then and now I only use the oil and sleeping cream. Though I feel I can use this on the other parts of my face avoiding the nose, I will try to use this again.
The Body Shop Oils of Life Sleeping Cream
Claims: A night time cream, to moisturise, revitalise and nourish the skin whilst you sleep. Skin looks and feels:
– Revitalised
– More supple
– Nourished
– Visibly Rested
– Reduced appearance of ageing
MRP: Rs.2495/- for 80ml
Ingredients:
It comes in a heavy glass jar and has the same golden yellow tint outer see through packaging with the black cap. It has a white separator on the top, but I usually just slid it on top so that I don’t have to lift it each time.
The cream is light yellow in color and has the same smell as the oil, I love the smell! Though the cream is a blend of oils and has the same three blend of black cumin, rosehip and camellia (along with other oils too), it is aqua based and very light in texture. It does not feel greasy or heavy or leaves no sticky residue on the skin. It gets absorbed immediately.
I love my skin the next morning, it leaves the skin soft, supple, nourished and rested, exactly as it claims! This sleeping cream will work for all skin types as it balances the oiliness and dryness perfectly and leave the skin hydrated and moisturized from within.
How I use it: I remove my makeup and wash my face with a face wash. I use the facial oil and follow it up with the sleeping cream. I also used the essence lotion earlier before the facial oil. But since the essence was breaking me out, I only used these two.
I love it and highly recommend it! Both the facial oil and the sleeping cream, I have already recommended the facial oil to so many people and this sleeping cream is the perfect addition to it! Though it is slightly on the expensive side, it will last you for a long time! I still have 50% of my facial oil remaining and I have been using it since last year!
I would not recommend the essence lotion if you have acne prone or sensitive skin or break out easily. I will still give that a try again avoiding my T zone, but the other two products are must haves!
Have you tried the new Body Shop Oils of Life Sleeping Cream yet?
This post was in my drafts since a long time, I have been using these Oriflame blushes since a few months and here are my thoughts..
Claims: Versatile duo-shade blush lets you create perfectly contoured cheeks. Darker shade sculpts and defines while lighter, shimmering shade highlights. HaloLight Technology™ for subtle lustre. Light, silky texture and comfortable to wear.
MRP: INR 599 for 4g (On offer: INR 449)
They come in three shades and have a small, tiny square packaging. Very light weight and handy, perfect for travel. They have a mirror inside, they do not come with a brush though.
Luminous Peach: It has a satin finish deep peachy coral blush and a beige and silver highlighter
Shimmer Rose: It has a satin finish peach blush (ya it’s peach and not rose) and a peachy gold highlighter. The highlighter is beautiful, and more like blush actually since it’s peach and can be worn like a blush
Pink Glow: It has a matte coral pink blush and a beige pink highlighter. If you like matte blushes, this one is for you
The best part is you can use them individually or combined, they look good both ways.
The names are pretty confusing though coz the rose is also a peach shade and most of them are in peachy coral family. But the plus point is they work beautifully on all Indian skin tones.
You can use only the blush side for day time and combine both for night time or even use both together for day time, since the highlighter is very soft and satiny and not shimmery.
My favourite is Luminous Peach and it will look good on all skin tones from fair to dark. They are pretty pigmented and all these swatches are just one swipe, you do not need too much or do not need to go over many times with this. Staying power is decent, they stay for 4-5 hours. Only disadvantage is you need a Oriflame representative to buy these.
For the price point, they are quite good and I would say definitely buy one of these during their offers. Recommended.
Have you tried the Oriflame The One Illuskin Blushes?
Elizabeth Arden Ultra Ceramide Lipstick Brick Review, Swatches
By Simran
“Show off your lips, show off your lipstick”
Hello everyone!
Don’t we all enjoy an amazing red lipstick? A red lipstick is something which instantly makes you look glorious even if you are only wearing the lipstick alone. A red lipstick has its own pros; it makes you look younger, feel confident, it is perfect for every occasion and you can wear any outfit with it. Every girl probably needs to own a luxurious red lipstick in their vanity.
So, I will be reviewing one of my favourite luxury red lipstick from Elizabeth Arden, The Elizabeth Arden Ultra Ceramide lipstick in Brick.
Claims: This lustrous, colour-saturated lipstick is infused with Volulip and delivers brilliant, moisturizing, colour-lasting comfort shine, for plumper, fuller-looking lips. Lips look fuller, more defined … and feel youthfully smooth, soft and nourished. Ceramide Triple Complex helps strengthen and re-texturize skin’s appearance, holding in vital skin-plumping moisture. Lips look fuller and younger. Contours seem more defined.
Key ingredient: Volulip ceramide triple complex.
Price: $24 or approximately INR 1650.
Packaging: The lipstick tube is black in colour with trails of golden near the cap. I bought the lipstick last year from duty-free but now the company has changed the packaging which is embossed with a design inspired by the iconic Elizabeth Arden Red Door and textured golden in colour. Despite the change in packaging, the texture and colour remained the same.
Texture & Colour: The lipstick is not exactly a glossy lipstick, it leaves a sheen on your lips; it is more of a demi-matte or moisture-matte in finish. The texture is buttery smooth and it glides on your lips like a dream and gives you a rich feel. It is very comfortable on the lips to wear. The lipstick does transfer a lot if you do not set it with powder.
Coming to the colour, the hue of the lipstick is a cool toned red or brick red. It is very pleasing to the eyes and can be worn daily to your work place.
My take on the product: The lipstick being a moisture matte lipstick is one of my favourite go-to red lipsticks. The brick red colour will ideally suit Indian skin tones. I like to turn down the lipstick to a complete matte by patting some translucent powder over it.
The staying power of the lipstick is a good 7-8 hours after which it will start fading from the centre of the lips; the lipstick can survive a good 4 course meal. It does not bleed or settle in to fine lines.
The Volulip ceramide triple complex does help in giving the illusion of plump lips and the lips appear more fuller. The company claims that the lipstick lasts a good 20 hours, which I highly disagree with.
Overall, the pigmentation of the lipstick is great and it offers an amazing colour pay off in just one swipe.
Though the lipstick is not transfer proof. I recommend using the Elizabeth Arden Beautiful colour smooth line lip pencil in the shade Crimson along with the lipstick as a lip liner underneath.
Pros:
Appreciable Lasting power
Great pigmentation
Will suit Indian skin tones
Plumps lips and gives a fuller look
Does not settle into fine lines
Gives a luxurious feel
Does not bleed upon application
Cons:
None I can think of.
Rating: 4.5/5
I recommend this lipstick to anyone looking for a great cool toned red lipstick for everyday use; this is one of the best options to try out in the luxury section.
Top 10 L.A. Girl Products Available in India, Prices
By Sanchita
Hello everyone. I was jumping with excitement when I spotted L.A. Girl on Nykaa. Finally, a well-priced amazing quality product launched in India! I placed a huge order immediately and to my surprise, every product turned out to be a blockbuster for me. L.A. Girl is one of the most raved budgeted brands in abroad and if you follow beauty bloggers on YouTube you would know that some of the product are like Holy Grail. Although all the products are not launched in India for now and I really hope they do that in future. For now, let’s get on with the best L.A. Girl products that we can easily access without paying heavy duty charges.
1. L.A. Girl PRO Conceal HD High Definition Concealer – 535 INR
I had start off the list with this one. There had been million times I wished I could have them and finally when I saw them online (with reasonable price tag) I bought it. The High Definition Concealers are one of the bestsellers from the brand. They come in a small light weight tube with a synthetic brush attached to apply the product. It has a creamy light texture, the coverage is medium to buildable and blends on the skin like a dream. It helps to banish the appearance of all imperfections and blemishes, ensuring that the skin emits nothing but purity, clarity and decadence whilst simultaneously maintaining a natural finish. It comes in around 20 shades and 3 color correctors so you will surely find a match. The product is so versatile that it will conceal, corrector, contour and highlight for you when you go for the right shade. This is a must have product for everyone.
2. L.A. Girl Glide Gel Liner – 450 INR
A gel liner in a pencil form? Absolutely yes. The Glide Gel Liners are available in 19 shades and comes in a slender pencil form and has to be sharpened for usage. The texture is creamy smooth and feels literally nothing when you apply. The formula glides on the eyelids and waterline equally smooth, imparts a richly pigmented color that is guaranteed to make a statement. Thus, you wear it as a kajal, eyeliner and even provide a base for smoky eyes. The formula is Cruelty-free, waterproof and smudge proof. It is a closer match of the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.
The L.A. Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss is available in 15 beautiful shades. The packaging is of a plastic cylindrical one with a doe footed applicator. The texture is creamy-liquid and spreads on the lips well. Although it says gloss, the liquid dries up on the lips giving a flat matte finish and deep rich saturation of color. The color doesn’t bleed or stains at all but has a slight drying touch so exfoliation of lips is a must! The smell is a slight put off but I love the matte formula it gives and lasts the whole day on the lips. (Warning: The lighter shades are beautiful, the darker ones are a little patchy!)
4. L.A. Girl Matte Flat Velvet Lipstick – 550 INR
If flat matte isn’t your cup of tea, go for this one. The L.A. Girl Matte Flat Velvet Lipsticks are available in 26 shades, ranging from nudes, reds, browns, pinks, mauves and even blue and black. The lipstick has the traditional bullet packaging with a creamy soft formula that not only imparts high-opacity color to the lips, but also deeply conditions and nourishes at a cellular level, resulting in a soft, supple and hydrated finish. It has a satin matte finish and lasts long on the lips.
5. L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Sticks – 750-800 INR
The L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Sticks are divided into three categories – blush, bronzer and highlighter. The product has a fat and chubby packaging with retractable function. It glides on the skin very smoothly, deposits rich amount of color and blends very easily without any patchiness. It is infuses Jojoba See Oil and Shea Butter to deeply nourish and condition the skin even at its deepest layers but doesn’t make the skin oily. The variety of color, easy to apply method with Paraben and Cruelty-free formula and long lasting nature makes it worth the steal.
6. L.A. Girl HD Pro BB Cream – 650 INR
L.A. Girl HD Pro BB Cream comes in 8 shades which is excellent because Indian skin tones vary a lot and a mere 2-3 shades are surely not sufficient. It has a light creamy texture that comes in a tube form. The BB cream gives a medium to buildable coverage and a perfect choice for every day wear and you can easily skip the foundation. It is enriched with the goodness of Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, doesn’t breakout cruelty-free product and also paraben and fragrance free. The finish is somewhere between dewy and matte and also long lasting on skin. it never broke me out despite having acne prone skin.
7. L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint Gloss – 650 INR
This is a close dupe of the Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipstick. The L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint Gloss comes in a tube applicator and has a texture of a gloss with the color-payoff of a liquid lipstick. It gives a nice coverage on the lips and feels very hydrating all day long. It is infused with the skin nourishing Vitamin E and the ultra-cooling Peppermint Oil that deeply nourishes the lips at a cellular level. The only con is that it is transfers a lot.
8. L.A. Girl Beauty Brick Blush – 999 INR
The Beauty Brick Blush is available in 4 variety of shades and would suit every complexion. Each palette has 4 shade – 2blushes, 1 bronzer/contour powder and 1highlighter. It has a pressed powder formulation with matte and shimmery finishes for multidimensional color. The colors are nice pigmented, cruelty and paraben free and extremely great when you are travelling as you won’t have to carry too many products. They blend seamlessly and lasts fairly long on the skin. For the price, it is a steal.
9. L.A. Girl Pro Prep HD Smoothing Face Primer – 850 INR
Primer is very essential to make the makeup last long and the Pro Prep HD Smoothing Face Primer is a star product. It gives a smooth appearance by filling in fines line and pores while providing the perfect surface for foundation. It is formulated with light diffusing particles and skin nourishing Vitamin E giving you a flawless finish on or off camera. It is best suited for oily to combination skin and is completely paraben and fragrance free. It helps the makeup stay on longer in humid weather too.
10. L.A. Girl Pro HD Setting Powder – 1000 INR
Baking is the trend of the season and the L.A. Girl Pro HD Setting Powder makes the job very easy for us. It has super fine milled texture and the powder is translucent in color which is why it won’t provide any coverage but set the makeup seamlessly. It doesn’t reflect any whitish cast and photographs extremely well. It has been formulated it 100% Mineral Silica that provide a super luxurious finish, setting the makeup perfectly. The product will last long and is also cruelty-free product paraben and fragrance free.
Editor’s Note: Already ordered the Pro HD Concealers and highly recommend them, also the orange corrector for correcting Indian dark circles. The BB Cream and Contour Sticks are next on the list. Matte Pigment Gloss I would love to try the lighter shades, the darker ones are very crumbly and patchy, so check the review of each shade before ordering.
Hello everyone. It’s been a long time I did a top10/12/15 post for a particular brand and this time I am going to do a top 15 for NYX. As we all know that NYX has been officially launched in India and they had a grand opening of their first store at Shoppers Stop in Bandra, recently in Mumbai. Also, the products are available online on Nykaa and majority of the time, the products are sold off. This is because the brand is immensely popular and the products are worth stealing! In fact, they also have dupes of many high end brands.
Since it is officially available in India so it is the best time to give you all a compilation of the best products. Initially I thought of doing only 10 but I figured out it is literally impossible and thus I ended up with top 15 products. Read on to know more about them.
1. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – 600 INR
This is one of the best sellers of NYX and every shade is a matte lover’s dream lip color. As the name suggests, it is a lip cream with doe footed applicator that dries off flat matte without stretching the lips or making you feel uncomfortable. These lip creams have a velvet smooth touch and has a sweet vanilla kind of fragrance. The pigmentation is top notch and lasts long on the lips. You can also layer a gloss or lip balm underneath to make it more hydrating.
2. NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick – 850 INR
Matte lipsticks are a rage right now and every brand is coming up with something. Apart from the Soft Matte Lip Cream, they have the Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick as well. The texture is slightly richer than that of the previous one and the pigmentation is commendable with single swipe as they don’t apply patchy at all. This waterproof product is infused with avocado oil and Vitamin E and thus doesn’t accentuate on fine lines. There some quirky colors like bright purple, black, dark navy colors are there in the collection. They look opaque and dries to matte. Also, the colors are waterproof and long lasting on lips.
3. NYX Intense Butter Gloss – 575 INR
Not everyone loves matte and so NYX has the Intense Butter Gloss which shall be the dream of gloss lovers. The packaging is similar to the Soft Matte Lip Cream. The texture of the product is something between gloss and liquid lipstick and it glides on the lips easily and gives an even finish. The pigmentation ranges from medium to full and it is great when layered on top of a lip liner. It gives a gorgeous shine to the lips and hydrates it for long. The only con is that it transfer, just like any other gloss lip color.
NYX has two lip pencils – the slim ones and the Slide-On. The Slim Lip Pencil are insanely famous for the color collection and affordable quality. It glides on the lips like a dream and gives a nice base for lip colors. The Slide-On Lip Pencils are much richer in texture and extremely long lasting on the lips. The pigmentation is also great and helps the lip colors to pop up easily. The colors are slightly restricted in India and I hope they launch all the colors soon.
5. NYX Wonder Pencil – 600 INR
As the name suggests, it is surely a wonder one. The pencil is versatile and can be used in various ways. It is sharpenable and has a smooth texture. You can apply on the water line to make the eyes look bright or to apply in the inner corners and brow bone, use the pencil around the lips to prevent the lip color from bleeding and also to make the lips look fuller. The pencil can also be used to hide minor imperfections on the skin and thus it is surely a must have product for every makeup lover. You can also use it as an eye shadow base as well.
6. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – 550 INR
This is another bestseller from the house of NYX. Eyeshadow crayons are becoming a cult product day by day and we couldn’t be gladder when NYX launched this in India. These shadow crayons are soft and smooth in texture and thus glides on the eyes like a dream and also blends very easily. These can be used as eye shadow base or even as eye shadow as well. However, there are only few colors launched in India. The color black bean and milk are the must-have ones in the collection.
7. NYX Tinted Brow Mascara – 600 INR
Brow pencils and brow pomade are fine but what happens when you hardly have the time to shape the brows? You need a brow mascara to swipe over the brow to give a naturally fuller look and also less time consuming. This is available in 4 shades and will definitely suit the Indian skin tones. It is nicely pigmented and fills the gaps well and also tames the brow hair as well. The wand is an excellent one and this is another must have product from the collection. I have been using it for some time and I absolutely love the application.
8. NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette – 1725 INR
An eye shadow palette is a must have product and it feels so good to have all the colors inside a single palette which would save a lot of time and money for us. The Ultimate Shadow Palette comes in 16 shades and has been introduced in 3 variants for your choice. From neutral to smoky and vivid bright color – it has everything to look for. The texture is velvety-rich, nicely pigmented and the finishes is from mattes and satins to shimmers and metallic. Overall, you would love the palette if you are an eye makeup lover.
9. NYX Micro Brow Pencil – 875 INR
This little beauty is the dupe of the much raved Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. This one has spoolie on one end and the brow pencil on the other end. It can draw the thinnest possible lines and will give you a very precise application. It coats even the finest hairs with color for a natural-looking finish and works great. The shades are good and will suit the Indian skin tones well. The texture is neither too creamy nor pigmented to make you look crazy or very light – but has the right formula. It glides easily and stays long well. The only con is that it is slightly pricey.
10. NYX Vivid Brights Eyeliner – 700 INR
Graphic eyeliners are becoming a statement and what can be better than a vivid bright eyeliner? We are surely done with black and brown for the time being and it’s time to try out the quirky bright eyeliner from NYX. It comes in a slender packaging with only 3 colors that are launched in India for now. The texture is nice and applies evenly with the precise applicator brush. The pigmentation is great, the finish is matte and it also dries down quickly. It is also water proof and extremely long lasting.
11. NYX Slide On Eye Pencil – 825 INR
The NYX Slide On Eye Pencil has a sharpenable body with soft and creamy texture that glides on the eyes like a dream, without tugging and pulling. The formula is great to work with and doesn’t smear or smudge and delivers powerful, saturated color. The finish is satin-matte and also very long lasting on the eyes. It will not irritate the eyes and also remain water proof and smudge proof.
The NYX Conceal, Correct, Contour Palette is the ultimate one to make you base makeup on point. It is available in various shades and a close dupe of MAC Pro Conceal and Correct Palette. It has 6 shades each in a palette and the palettes ranges from light to deep with a colored corrector one as well. They are light weight and creamy and blends on the skin easily. You can use it in a number of ways and does not cake up on the skin at all. The price is also very economical for 6shades.
13. NYX Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator – 850 INR
The Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator is another amazing product from NYX and it gives such a radiant touch to the skin. it is available in 4 shades and has a tube packaging. The formula is light weight, almost like gel cream and glides and blends with fingers as well. They do not accentuates to dry skin and provides a detailed illuminate look for every occasion. It also acts as a primer and lasts long on the skin without feeling greasy at all. It is a nice dupe for many strobe creams in the market.
14. NYX HD Finishing Powder – 825 INR
A translucent finishing powder can transform your whole look and NYX HD Finishing Powder is the perfect dupe. The formula is fine milled and it helps to soften the appearance of fine lines and pores. The silky powder gives a light weight feel and it is great for baking the concealer as well. It doesn’t leave behind whitish cast and an excellent one for photographs. It sets the makeup very well and never accentuates the fine lines. Also, the little jar will last you a long time.
A finishing spray ensures that your makeup will last the whole day and just won’t melt down. It forms a protective film on the makeup, great for oily skin and sets the makeup to matte without being cakey or dry at all. it is a great product for waterproof or mineral based makeup on skin and the effect lasts for about 6-7 hours easily.
Editor’s Note: I absolutely love the Soft Matte Lip Creams and Liquid Suede Lipsticks. The Wonder Pencil and Brow Mascara are on my wishlist too.
While I go shopping I make it a point to try various lipsticks but somehow don’t know why I end up purchasing a MAC lipstick only, maybe it’s because of the variety of shades suiting most of the skin tones.
So this review is about another MAC lipstick, from the Matte Lip collection in the shade WHIRL. There is a lip liner also available in the same shade. I found the lip liner to be too dry on my lips as compared to the lipstick. So let’s go ahead with the review.
What MAC Claims and Packaging: Dirty Rose with Matte finish. The lipstick is packed in a Classic MAC matte black and silver lipstick container with the shade mentioned at the bottom.
Price: Rs 1450/- for 3g (I believe it is increased to Rs.1950 now :/)
My take on MAC Whirl Lipstick
MAC claims the shade as dirty rose but in simple words I can say this is a mauve brown neutral shade. The content of brown is little on the higher side so it can tend to look darker under natural light. The texture is creamy on application, glides smoothly to give a matte finish on the lips. This shade would go well on medium skin tones to fair skin tones but I’m really not sure how it would go on dusky to dark skin tones. If you are confused on which lipstick shade to wear, be safe and wear a neutral shade, in such cases I definitely would recommend MAC Whirl.
I’m not happy with the stay power, as after meals, the lipstick completely vanished from my lips. May be prior prepping and a whirl lip liner would help the product to last longer or you got to retouch your lipstick after every meal. You can wear this shade at your work place as well as on any other occasion. It does accentuate the lines on my dry lips.The coverage is good and I mostly wear it without the lip liner as it doesn’t bleed.
TIP: Trying using this shade along with MAC Mehr or MAC Brave, or any lip liner close to old rose shade. I bet the mixtures of colors will give an awesome result.
Definitely there is something about MAC Whirl, as when this shade was launched it was sold out in no time.I got my hands on this almost after a year.
Pros:
Best for work place
Good coverage
Creamy texture
Suits most of the skin tones.
Glides on smoothly
Looks best along with an old rose lip liner or lipstick.
Cons:
Poor Staying power
A little heavy on the pockets (as many neutral shades are easily available)
Might accentuate the lines on the lip (mostly on dry lips)
Rating: 3.5/5
Would I repurchase WHIRL Mac Lipstick? Not so sure, as there are many shades of neutrals in MAC, would like to try those.
Dupe Alert: Rimmel London Kate Nude Lipstick in 48 is an exact dupe of MAC Whirl! Maybelline Matte Lipstick in Nude Nuance is also a close dupe
Editor’s Note: I quite like the shade, this is really pretty and perfect for all skin tones! MAC Whirl Lip Liner is what Kylie Jenner loves and uses a lot, so it’s always sold out most of the times 😀
