I love this silver black holographic kind pouch, it’s pretty.
Products I got:
Iba Halal Foot Massage Cream (Full size- Rs.95/- for 50g)
Natural Bath & Body Hair Mist (50ml – Rs.525/- for 100ml)
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil Roll On (15ml – Rs.460/- for 60ml)
City Color Be Matte Lipstick Lana- (Full size- Rs.500/-)
I quite liked the City Color Be Matte Lipstick last month, so this month too when I was given an option I chose the same lipstick in a different shade. This time I chose a red called ‘Lana‘. It’s a beautiful cool toned red. I love the formula of these City Color Be Matte Lipsticks, very similar to the Sugar Cosmetics It’s A Pout Time formula.
I have tried Iba Halal moisturizer before and it was pretty decent, so looking forward to try this foot massage cream. Perfect time to try the foot cream.
I love Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula products and do have this oil. I like this roll on packaging more, very handy and convenient.
And last but not the least, is the Natural Bath & Body Hair Mist. Smells really good, but I am not sure if the smell would stay through the day. Again a travel friendly bottle.
Total value of the products comes to round Rs.1000. Overall, I would say it’s an Ok bag. Not a must have, but if you would like to try these products including one makeup product of your choice, then you can give it a go.
I had two back to back events the other day and I wore this look and outfit. I filmed this GRWM and created my favourite glam champagne smokey eyes.
Products used:
Sephora Smoothing Primer
MUFE Ultra HD Foundation Y375 (Review HERE)
YBP Makeup Perfector
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
Colorbar Airbrush Finish Loose Powder
MAC Studio Fix Perfecting Stick in NC 45 to contour
Lakme Shimmer Brick in Coral (Review HERE)
Lakme Moon Lit Highlighter
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (Review HERE)
Givenchy Eyebrow Pencil Brunette (Review HERE)
Essence Lash Princes Mascara
Colorbar Stay The Day Finishing Mist
Elle 18 Color Pop Matte Lipstick Rose Day (Review HERE)
Outfit Details:
Dress: StalkBuyLove
Bag, Watch: Michael Kors
Shoes: Steve Madden
I hope you liked the makeup & outfit, do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
I have been planning to do this post since a long time, but I wanted to do lip swatches and that took some time. Finally I did them and then the editing, etc. Anyhoo, let’s get on to the review..
Claims:Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick Collection
You’ve got a new favorite matte lipstick! The creamy, long-lasting texture gives you pout-worthy lips in one stroke. It effortlessly glides on your lips, giving you a gorgeous soft matte finish. Pucker up and party with our delectable matte lipstick. Muah!
Plush, pigment-rich formula.
Intense colour pay-off.
Smooth texture.
One stroke application.
Luxurious, effortless glide.
Soft matte finish.
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick Collection Includes : 12 shades
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Notorious Red 01 : Exciting, enticing with little bit of mischief, our Notorious Red is all that! Red enough to let him know you are up for an adventure and bright enough to light up the whole room. Have it all with this gorgeous red hue, while you sip on your Cosmo!
Nykaa So Matte ! Lipstick- Frisky Fuschia 02 : If the sun ain’t shining bright enough, light it up with our Frisky Fuschia. This bubbly pink shade means sheer fun. So, go ahead live in the moment and shine like a million-dollar bill with this lively shade!
Nykaa So Matte ! Lipstick – Devious Pink 03 : In a world full of Cady Heron’s, be Regina George with our Devious Pink. Dramatic, foxy and fabulous, duh! With this pink shade, you’ll have anyone under your charms.
Nykaa So Matte ! Lipstick – Racy Rose 04 : Our Racy Rose is everything that you’ve dreamed of! This subtle pink will have gentlemen holding doors for you, everywhere. Cast a spell on everyone as you walk down the streets with this bashful yet alluring shade.
Nykaa So Matte ! Lipstick – Pink Brat 05 : Our Pink Brat will have your Champagne dreams and Caviar wishes coming true. Life is glamorous with this classy pink shade. Go ahead, treat yourself with all the finer things, cause you deserve nothing but the best!
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Sinful Blush 06 : Take him to other side and let the sparks fly with our Sinful Blush. Go all the way, walk down the precarious road and let this beautiful shade light up your face.
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Wicked Wine 07 : If you let go of our Wicked Wine, you know you’ll regret it. Mysterious and tempting, we bet you won’t be able to keep your hands of our luscious berry hue! So, go ahead and give in.
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Orange Vice 08 : You’ll be caught in a bad romance with our Orange Vice. Feisty and fiery, this bright orange shade is garage glamorous. It screams sensational and well, we don’t mind being the talk of the town.
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Pink Flirt 09 : Play the love game with our Pink Flirt. This vibrant pink is sure to ring trumpets in his head. Get him hooked to you like a love controller with this flirty shade.
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Mischievous Plum 10 : Be the ‘It girl’ of your clique with our mischievous plum. This deep juicy shade is dark enough to keep things mysterious and fun enough to make you the star girl.
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Naughty N*de 11
Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick – Taupe Thrill 12 : Our Taupe Thrill will remind of you of that one night when your love went viral! As you go on a put this nude shade on your lips, a faint taste of thrill and excitement will linger. Go bare yet coy with our alluring shade.
Why you should make it yours?
Unlike its chalky peers, this cruelty-free, and high-pigment formula is infused with Vitamin E for a soft, cushiony and flexible finish. The unique formulation ensures that your lips stay comfortable, colored up and matte-smooth all day. Another bonus: These vivid, full-coverage hues are hand-selected and named by our Inhouse Nykaa Panel, just in time for the festive season. The best part, they’re super affordable so you can go all out and buy the whole range.
First of all, I love the packaging! It’s all black rectangular packaging with a magnetic cap. For the price, the packaging is very classy!
Also you get 4.2 g product which is the maximum one gets in a lipstick, and I am glad the quantity is good too.
They are super pigmented and you will need two swipes to get even, opaque coverage on the lips. The finish is creamy matte, so they are not dry or powder matte like the MAC Matte or the Chambor Matte Lipsticks. They glide on super easily and feel very comfortable on the lips.
They are not transfer proof and will transfer on all cups, glasses, etc. But the pigment is so strong, that it doesn’t fade on transferring. It stays put for 5-6 hours and with light snacks and tea. With a full meal and oil based food, it will fade. But it does fade evenly and leaves a nice stain behind.
At first, I only liked 3 shades thinking rest of the shades are the usual and nothing different. But when I tried them on, I was like I like this too and this too and it went on 😀
I have divided them into 4 each i.e. in 3 parts for convenience of swatches. Let’s start with the first four.
01 Notorious Red is a true apple red
02 Frisky Fuchsia is a bright fuchsia pink
03 Devious Pink is neutral rosy pink
04 Racy Rose is warm coral pink
Here are the lip swatches..
Coming to next 4..
05 Pink Brat is light rosy pink, might not look on pigmented lips
11 Naughty N*de is a perfect n*de brown shade, MLBB shade for many.
12 Taupe Thrill is again a pretty taupe brown n*de, another Kylie like shade
Here are the lip swatches..
Overall, I would say these are a total value for money! In terms of price, quantity, quality, shades, formula, they score on everything. Highly recommend them!
My favourites are Frisky Fuchsia, Orange Vice, Wicked Wine, Mischievous Plum, Taupe Thrill and Naughty N*de.
Have you tried the new Nykaa So Matte Lipsticks? Your favourites?
MUFE Ultra HD Foundation, HD Second Skin Cream Blush Review, Swatches
Hi guys,
So if you saw my First Impressions video, I had used the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation and the Second Skin Cream Blush in that. Unfortunately, the lighting in that video was poor. I did test it out quite a few times later on, and of course have natural lighting better pictures. So let’s get on to the review first..
Claims: Developed specifically for the film and TV industry’s most advanced technology, Ultra HD Liquid Foundation creates a naturally flawless complexion—on and off camera. Completely invisible under the latest, super-focused 4k lens, this revolutionary foundation features uniquely-coated pigments that provide medium to buildable coverage with an even lighter weight, second-skin texture that looks just like skin. This lighter weight formula delivers the very same flawless results as before when applied with a flat foundation brush in a tap and stretch motion
Long lasting with a natural finish, Ultra HD Liquid Foundation is formulated with hyaluronic spheres to ensure comfortable wear on all skin types. Now available in an expanded range of 40 shades to match all skintones, Ultra HD is the perfect everyday foundation for a flawless complexion – and an unretouched life.
MRP: INR 3400 for 30ml
Availability: Sephora stores
Shades Available in India: 15
How to apply: Apply two pumps of Ultra HD Liquid Foundation in thin layers, starting in the center of the face and stretching outward.
• Buildable Coverage: For best results, apply with a flat foundation brush or sponge
• Light Coverage: Buffing brush
After the Make Up Forever HD foundation’s massive success, they launched the Ultra HD which is even better and meant for super high definition pictures and videos i.e. for 4K lens.
It comes in a similar packaging with a pump as the HD foundation, only the HD is completely black while the Ultra HD is silver at the center body.
It is very runny and light weight in texture, it has 80% water content, so you don’t feel like you have foundation on even with multiple layers.
It has medium coverage which is buildable, but you won’t get a complete coverage with this, you will need a separate concealer for blemishes. You can build up the coverage in thin layers, and still it will never look cakey or heavy. It will give you a natural skin-like finish and it will be hard for anyone to say you have foundation on.
I have the shade Y375 Golden Sand. Y is for yellow undertones and R is for red undertones, I guess.
I love love how natural it looks, it blends into the skin seamlessly and looks skin like. I have never come across such a natural foundation. It photographs really well. If you prefer matte finish, you can use a powder to mattify it, it will not look powdery or cakey whatsoever.
It stays put through the day and does not wear off or settle into lines or crease, even on the edges of the nose or the laugh lines.
I agree it is pricey, but I definitely recommend it for days when you are going to be photographed or have a special occasion. This is meant to be used for high definition photography and does that job amazingly well. It is invisible even on 4K camera and looks like skin!
HD Second Skin Cream Blush
Claims: Products in the HD range come from a generation of formulas designed to create makeup that is flawless, natural and invisible to both high definition cameras and the naked eye.
Unlike any other cream or powder blush*, this unique formula melts on the skin for an extremely natural flush of color with a long lasting result. Its blendable, second skin texture allows for easy, controlled application.
Formulated with the perfect balance of silica powder and synthetic mica, HD Blush has a soft focus effect that diffuses light for a radiant finish. Its blend of waxes and oils creates a lightweight texture that easily glides on the skin for a flawless result.
Studio-tested with HD camera.
Dermatologist tested. For all skin types.
MRP: INR 2600 for 2.8g
How to apply: Remove a small amount of HD Blush and apply it with a brush, HD Sponge, or the fingertips, depending on the desired result.
Shades Available: 16
I have the shade 320 English Rose, it’s a beautiful muted rosy pink shade. I love the texture of it, it has a cream to powder finish. So once you blend it in, it settles in just to give a soft flush of color. There is no slip or greasiness and the color won’t slide off.
Blended, Unblended
The best part about this HD blush is, even though it is quite pigmented, it does not look OTT on the face. It just gives a soft flush of color and is very easily buildable and blendable.
I love the natural flush of color it gives to the cheeks. Also loved the shade 330 Rosy Plum, both the shades 320 and 330 are perfect for everyday wear and would work on warm Indian fair to medium skin tones. 330 one would work on Medium to Dark too.
Again being HD, it photographs really well.
I have used both here..
and here..
Overall, I would say, HD products are a must have for someone who gets photographed often. If you are a bride to be, I would definitely suggest the Ultra HD Foundation and the HD Blush. They have HD Concealers and Powders too.
Have you tried the MUFE HD/Ultra HD Foundation? Or the HD Blush? Your thoughts?
Best Face Tightening Exercises | Get Rid of Double Chin
By Nidhal
Look around yourself. How do people in your ambit look? Do not get deceived by the heady cocktail of chemicals on their face, camouflaging the dullness, tiredness and stress writ on them. No matter what your profession or field you are in, you do not get a license that enables you to turn a blind eye to the natural lustre of your face. Makeup is fun and creative, I agree but if the base (read: your face’s natural texture) is not well-maintained, no amount of makeup will elicit spectacular results.
With improper, insalubrious and untimely eating habits, we are aggravating the situation. How? You are what you eat! It’s time to take back a few steps and incorporate some easy-to- do exercises in your fitness regimen to allay premature aging and drive away dullness.
These exercises will help you tighten your facial muscles and also get rid of that nasty double chin..
1. THE BALLOON FACE- One of the popular selfie poses, the balloon face targets the muscles in your cheeks. All you need to do is inhale deeply through your mouth. Before exhaling, fill your cheeks with air. Your cheeks should resemble a balloon. Hold for a few seconds and release the breath.
2. THE FISH FACE- Another famed selfie pose is here! You do not need any tutorial on how to ace this, do you Ms. Selfie Queen? However, to those who aren’t fond of clicking selfies, here’s how you need to ace this- Suck in your cheeks and purse your lips. Hold for 30 seconds and then relax.
3. THE HULK- Unleash in the inherent Hulk in you by performing the “Hulk Exercise”. This exercise targets the loose skin drooping from one’s neck. To perform it, tilt your head backwards, purse your lips out and place your fingers at the bottom of your neck. Hold for 30 seconds and then revert to your former position. Continue for 5 minutes.
4. THE ‘SMOOTH THE FOREHEAD’ EXERCISE- To target the fine lines that develop on one’s forehead with time, the ‘smooth the forehead’ exercise proves to be fruitful. Place your fingers on the forehead, both facing each other. Spread the remaining fingers likewise and gently swipe the forehead while applying a light pressure to ‘smoothen’ the lines. Continue for 5 minutes.
5. THE ‘TONGUE OUT’ EXERCISE- This exercise may look as if you are teasing someone. So if you intend to and are confronted by them, tell them that it’s a face tightening exercise and walk away slyly! To perform this exercise, raise your eyebrows as high as you can and open your eyes as wide as possible. Hold them for five seconds. Stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold for a few seconds.
6. MASSAGING THE PHILTRUM- The grove between your nose and upper portion of the lip is called the philtrum. Massaging it will sort out smoker’s lines. Doing so is easy too. All you need to do is make inward circular movements using your index finger for 5 minutes. That’s all, you’re done. Incorporate it in your “daily” regimen. It doesn’t need any sophisticated equipment or state of body too.
7. KAPAALBHAATI PRANAYAAM- Kapaal stands for “skull” while bhaati means “shine”. Translated literally, Kapaalbhaati Pranayaam means the “skull shining” exercise. Regular practice will impart an enviable lustre to your face. Doing it is also cushy. Simply sit in a cross-legged position. Let your left hand rest on your left thigh and knee. Now, close the right opening of your nose using your right hand. Inhale deeply. Hold for 15 seconds. Close the left opening of your nose and exhale slowly. That’s Kapaalbhaati Pranayaam andyou have aced it! Do it at least 15 times a day and increase the frequency as you get accustomed to it.
Editor’s Note: These are some interesting exercises, much needed. Will definitely be trying.
Have you tried any of these exercises for tightening your face?
In this blog post I will be showing you guys how to achieve some hairstyles made unforgettable by our Bollywood beauties. Fret not, they’re easier to recreate than they look, many thanks to BBLUNT products which make styling at home easier than ever!
When I thought of unforgettable Bollywood hairstyles, the first one I could think of was the vintage bouffant messy bun. It has been around since forever, especially in Bollywood.
Here is how you can achieve it..
I started with spraying the BBLUNT Dry Shampoo into my roots to soak up the excess oil and also give the hair some texture.
I took the front crown section and teased/back combed it.
Then I used a bumpit to give some extra volume at the crown area.
And rolled the rest of the hair behind in a messy bun
Finished with the BBLUNT Spotlight Hair Polish for that added shine
And we are done, easy peasy.
2nd hairstyle is even easier. It’s a variation of the 1st hairstyle. I see Deepika Padukone often in this high ponytail.
For this, I unrolled the bun and kept the front bumpit section as it is. If you are doing only this hairstyle, follow Step 1 to 3 above from the first hairstyle.
Take all of the hair behind in a high ponytail.
Take one section of the hair from the pony and roll it over the rubber band, so that the band is not visible.
Once again, finish with the BBLUNT Spotlight Hair Polish to make the pony stay in place all day long!
And finally, the 3rd hairstyle which is my personal favourite. When you think of Madhuri Dixit, the first thing you will think of are her beautiful eyes and her gorgeous locks.. The messy, voluminous waves, she has been carrying those since forever and looks beautiful every single time.
Since my hair is super straight, it was a little difficult to get the exact same results, but I tried this and it worked wonderfully.
First I dampened my hair and took a coin sized amount of the BBLUNT High Definition Curl Leave-in Cream
Applied it over the mid-lengths to ends scrunched a little. This cream gives you long lasting, well-defined curls
After waiting for 10 minutes, I blow dried my hair
That gave me messy, voluminous waves as you can see here.
I used a hair curler on some big and small random sections of hair for more defined curls
Finished with the BBLUNT Spotlight Hair Polish
And we are done! I love voluminous curls on me, as my hair is naturally straight and flat.
I hope you liked these hairstyles, let me know your favourite in the comments below.
Winter Skincare Routine | The Body Shop Vitamin E Range Review + Giveaway
Hi guys,
I have been using this Vitamin E range for more than 2 weeks now and here are my thoughts..
Vitamin E Cream Cleanser
This light cream cleanser gently lifts away dirt, make-up and impurities.
• Gently but effectively cleanses
• Softens and conditions
• Leaves skin feeling smooth and supple
How to use: Apply to the face and neck with fingertips. Wipe away with a cotton pad or muslin cloth.
MRP: Rs.795/- for 200ml
It comes in a long slender bottle with a flip cap. It’s a little thicker lotion and you need to squeeze the bottle to dispense the product. It takes off the daily dirt and grime from the pores and some basic makeup like a tinted moisturizer/BB Cream, etc. It leaves the skin super soft and moisturized. This won’t work on water proof makeup, so for your heavy duty eye makeup, you will need to use a separate remover.
Vitamin E Moisture Serum
This pre-moisturiser provides intensive, continuous hydration and protection.
• Pre-moisturiser
• Gives extra hydration
• Immediately smoothes skin
How to use: Apply to face and neck using fingertips before moisturising.
MRP: Rs.1295/- for 30ml
It’s a pre moisturizer treatment and also has rice bran oil apart from the basic wheat germ oil this entire Vitamin E Range has. It is very light weight and gel like in texture. You just need half a pump for each use and it does make the moisture locked in the skin for a longer time.
Vitamin E Moisture Protect Emulsion/Day Lotion with SPF
A lightweight, milky formula to moisturise and protect your skin against UVA and UVB damage.
– Locks in moisture for 48 hours of hydration, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth
– Antioxidant properties protects against free radicals
– Powered with Biofermented Hyaluronic Acid
How to use: Apply a pea-sized amount onto fingertips and massage onto the face and neck in an upward motion after your serum. Best applied as part of your morning regime and/or before being exposed to the sun.
MRP: Rs.1495/- for 50ml
This is the new launch in the Vitamin E Range. It comes in a very handy and travel friendly, sleek bottle with black cap and pump packaging. It is very runny, so make sure you pump carefully. I need 1.5 pumps per use and it covers whole face and neck well.
I am glad this has SPF 30 PA+++ protection and works as both moisturizer + sunscreen. I don’t use a separate sunscreen and the biofermented hyaluronic acid keeps the moisture locked in the skin. Even after 5-6 hours my skin is soft and hydrated, and does not feel dry or stretchy even once.
Vitamin E Night Cream
This rich night cream replenishes moisture levels while you sleep.
• Intensively hydrates
• Works when skin is at its most receptive
• Leaves skin soft and smooth
How to use: Apply to face and neck just before bed, after cleansing and toning.
MRP: Rs.1195/- for 50ml
This is the only product out of the 4 I am using hat is slightly rich. It has Cocoa butter as one of the ingredients and that makes it intensely moisturizing. You just need a pea sized amount and you are good. I prefer a little heavy moisturizer during night time and this is just perfect. My skin is all soft and hydrated even the next morning.
Usually by end of Nov and start of Dec, my skin starts feeling dry and stretchy. I am glad I started using this range early Nov and my skin has not been dry at all this time. No dry spots or flaky skin, it is all plump and hydrated.
I definitely recommend the Vitamin E range, especially for winters. Dry skin definitely can use it throughout the year, but specifically for winters, this range is amazing.
I am giving away two of the products i.e. the cream cleanser and the new day lotion/emulsion to 3 winners on my YouTube, so make sure you participate 🙂
Do let me know your thoughts about this range in the comments below, have you tried it?
10 Ways To Get Soft, Pink Lips Naturally | Lighten Dark Lips
Guest Post by Disha
Who doesn’t want soft, supple, pink lips? We all do! But instead most of us have to suffer with their dryness and pigmentation. This happens because we fail to take care of them. When your lips are dark and dry, they get itchy and you cannot even apply lipstick properly! No one is a fan of that I am sure. To get naturally pink lips one needs to take care of their lips and there are a lot of ways to that. And believe me they are all very easy and can blend into your skin care regime effortlessly. Apart from being doable they are so effective that you wouldn’t even need to use your MAC lipstick in the shade Please Me to give you the appearance of naturally soft and pink lips. So, here are 10 ways in which you can do so.
1. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the key ladies! It helps get rid of dead skin and dirt. All you need is a toothbrush. Yes a toothbrush has more uses than just brushing your teeth. Just be careful that the one you choose has soft brittles so that it doesn’t hurt your lips. So wet your toothbrush a little and then gently rub it on your lips in circular motions.
2. Choose Lip Balm With SPF
As we all know the UV rays from the sun do harm our skin and for that we apply a sunscreen lotion but do we do something for our lips? No we don’t. Hence, always choose a lip balm that has a decent amount of SPF in it. This way your lips will be hydrated and at the same time protected.
3. Drink Water
I feel drinking water can solve most of your health problems. You need to keep your body hydrated. So drinking 6-8 glasses of water everyday is beneficial for your whole body. But when it comes to your lips, keeping yourself hydrated will moisturize them and make them supple.
4. Milk and Pomegranate
You know how pomegranates have a lot of pigment in them. So why not use them for your lips? This following method with lighten dark lips and give them a natural pink tone. Crush pomegranate seeds and add some cold milk in such a way that when mixed together, a paste like consistency is achieved. Then apply it to your lips. Let it stay and after around 10-15 minutes wash it off.
5. Removing Makeup
Yes we have all heard that never sleep with makeup on but how many of us really follow it? Before going to bed make sure that you have completely taken off the lip liner and lipstick and applied a lip balm. This will hydrate your lips throughout the night. Whereas keeping on lipstick all night long can darken your lips.
6. Lemon and Sugar
This one acts as a scrub as well lip-lightening agent. Take a lemon slice and put sugar on it. Then gently rub this on your lips. Lemon is a good bleaching agent hence it will lighten your lips whereas sugar will exfoliate it. So this combination is enough to make your lips pink.
7. Cucumber Slice
We all know cucumber is very cooling and has a soothing effect. So rub a cucumber slice on your lips which will instantly refresh them and make them pink on doing this frequently.
8. Aloe Vera Gel
This can act as a great lip balm. Take some aloe vera gel and store it in the refrigerator. It helps in soothing your lips, generating new cells and protects from harmful rays of the sun. You can just directly use it as a lip balm everyday.
9. Glycerin and Lemon Juice
Take 2-3 drops of lemon juice and glycerin and mix them together. Use this mixture as an overnight lip mask. While glycerin will hydrate your lips, lemon will lighten it.
10. Coriander Leaves
Take a few coriander leaves and crush them. You can also put in little water/milk if you like. Then apply it on your lips and let it stay for a while. After about 20-30 minutes, wash it off. Coriander leaves help in lightening your lips.
I told you all of them were easy ways! Weren’t they? They are very doable. Choose any method or methods and stick to them. Make sure whichever ones you choose, you follow them regularly for best results. Voila! You got yourself soft and pink lips.
Author Bio: Disha is a passionate health, fashion & beauty enthusiast. She is the founder and editor- in-chief of DivasWorld. Her blog, DivasWorld covers beauty, makeup, fashion and lots more!
Top Natural Skin, Hair and Body Care Brands in India
By Nidhal
Tossing away all those chemical-laden cocktails into the trash seems a herculean task given the paucity of alternatives at hand at present, isn’t it? Not anymore. You do not have to repine anymore for there are some niche brands that are not just environment-friendly in their approach but also cent per cent transparent about the ingredients’ list of each and every product of theirs. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?
No need to glower at your high-end chemical-laden product anymore for burning a hole in your pocket and not throwing any commendable results for here you go with a list of Indian brands- all of which sell via Amazon India, that are not just safe for topical application but also budget-friendly.
1. MAHAGRO – A small but incredulously devoted team based out of Hyderabad, MahaGro may have entered the natural skin, hair and body care market recently (2012) but earns a thumbs up from one and all thanks to their nourishing all-natural, chemical-free, preservative-free, artificial-fragrance- free and cruelty-free products.
Offering not just beauty products (like- herbal bath powder, pimple pack, face pack, hair wash powder, etc.) but also ingredients that can be used to whip one’s own recipes (like orange peel powder, tulsi powder, etc.), their products don’t cost an arm and a leg if you’re contemplating adding the same to your shopping carts. Owned by the obliging Krishna Karthik, they are about to launch herbal soaps and shampoos soon in addition to shipping products PAN India.
My vote of approval goes to the following products-
(a) Herbal bath powder- Enriched with the benefits of myriad herbs in dried form with a lingering aroma of camphor predominantly, Mahagro’s herbal bath powder makes for an efficacious face pack too in addition to being a bath powder. Ideal for use in summers when the mercury rises to unprecedented levels, it cools one’s skin instantly, thereby soothing it.
(b) Herbal hair wash powder- To those who are fond of giving a wide berth to chemical-laden hair masks/packs, Mahagro’s herbal wash powder is of use. Composed of only dried herbs and leaves sans any chemical preservatives, teaming it with one’s base ingredient of choice say- coconut milk, would work wonders for one’s mane. Regular use will obviously throw much more flattering results vis-à- vis a single use.
2. TARIKA AYURLABS- The picture-postcard Pondicherry (called Pondy by the locals) gives one’s eyes not just sights to behold but also one’s skin and hair, oodles of unadulterated nourishment through a brand that targets beauty woes through the ancient Indian science- Ayurveda. Not even 1% of the composition of any of their 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free and chemical-free products contain any nasties that’d compel you to grimace.
Crafting a wholesome combo of products, ranging from hair oils, face serums, face masks to face scrubs, each product impresses with its unique composition. From offering products that seek to address the woes of aging, pimples/spots, foul body odour, excess hair fall to having lacklustre skin, they offer beauty combos that work wonders in allaying the same with regular use.
I would recommend Tarika’s daily facial sandal face mask as well as night oil for face (saffron) to all those whose skin loses its lustre and glow thanks to the barrage of chemical-laden cocktails we pour on ourselves daily in a bid to get the same. A little goes a long way that’s what I realised after using both the gems! Versatile enough to be blended with raw milk and neem decoction, the mask suits every skin type, leaving your skin inherently cleansed and nourished NATURALLY.
The cherry on the cake is Tarika Night oil for face (saffron). The aroma is ethereal, heavenly…a sort of aphrodisiac, taking your olfactory senses to a ride. Upon applying, with a little massage, it blends in with one’s skin easily. Sleep with it for within a few days, you will wake up with skin that looks restored to life. Let’s be rational- one or two uses won’t throw wondrous results. Given the kind of environs we inhabit, we need to be persistent in application. And if we are, the beauty combo from Tarika Ayurlabs leaves you chuffed.
PRICE-
Daily Sandale Beauty Mask: INR 480 for 50g (Buy HERE)
Night Oil for Face Saffron: INR 695 for 30ml (Buy HERE)
3. ISHAAN ENTERPRISES: RAYAAN HERBALS- Based out of Hyderabad, this all-natural venture helmed by Mrs. Reshma Thakur believes in giving a wide berth to chemical preservatives. Incepted in 2013 with a vision to craft exquisite skin, hair and body care products sans any hogwash (read: chemicals), Rayaan Herbals (the brand) that comes under Ishaan Enterprises (the company) came to the rescue of all those fraught with seeing chemical-laden products inundate markets! With an expanding range that seeks to cater to varying needs of its customers, if you are at the sea, don’t repine for you can touch base with them (Facebook) and get products tailor-made to suit your needs. Another feather in their cap is that they manufacture the products themselves so every facet is scrutinised to the backbone.
Coming from raw parts of a plant say- stems, flowers, roots, leaves, etc. their herbal products are intricate mixes of herbs. In my humble opinion, one should give a shot to their Hair shining pack. A natural fix for those whose locks look lustreless and drained off gloss, mixing it with the base ingredient that’s most compatible with one’s locks will ensure that it packs a punch at other hair woes too like- lack of softness, brittleness, etc. Dedicated use overtime will surely leave one with more thunderous results than single/two-time uses. It performs to a great extent on what it claims, however, do not get dispirited within a few uses for everyone’s hair condition differs and depending on how damaged one’s locks are, it will work.
4. IRAYA- ‘From the earth’ as is meant by its name in Sanskrit, Iraya- based out of Ahmedabad brings forth to our notice, the bountifulness of nature, which when harnessed ethically nourishes us to the backbone. Without elaborating much on what all the brand offers (Because we all know that! Iraya is a established name. One needs to be living under the rock to be unaware of it), what the USP of Iraya is to me, is that they not just ferret out the most esoteric herbs and blend them to concoct nourishing skin treats but also name their products in a way that is strongly reminiscent of the days when people relied on Ayurveda and natural remedies to tend to her beauty woes instead of store-bought products.
The product I recommend is the Kantivardhak Lepa which does justice to its name- imparts a winsome glow (Kanti) to my face and neck within a few applications without stinging it. Versatile enough to be blended with as many base ingredients (such as- curd, buttermilk, rose water, etc.) as you can come up with, it gets my vote of approval. I find it apt for use by all skin types. Slough it gently while removing to aid the process of scrubbing. Wouldn’t that be equivalent to saying that we are getting the best of both worlds- scrubbing as well as getting a glow? Yes, it surely would be.
5. RAW RITUALS- Handcrafting taken seriously- that’s how I delineate Raw Rituals. Based out of Ahmedabad, this organic skin and hair care venture is helmed by the warm and welcoming Mrs. Lovina Aggarwal and makes no about doing everything manually be it- boiling, whipping, blending, packaging, or designing. If that’s insufficient then, they have all the feathers in their cap to sweep you off your feet- cruelty-free, organic, preservative-free and cent per cent transparent about the ingredients added.
Offering lip balms, face packs, face scrubs, hair oils, body massage oils, face serums and cold-pressed soap- all free from chemicals, there is no reason why Raw Rituals doesn’t deserve a place on our list. I would recommend Raw Rituals’ peppermint and orange lip butter to all those looking to soothe their perennially dry lips that yearn for all the more moisturisation as the mercury goes down. The USP is that it is colourless, thus apt for use by men/boys too. The subtle aroma is capable of sending you into a tizzy thanks to peppermint essential oil which it is replete with.
Read the reviews of the orange lip butter HEREand their Ethereal Face Serum HERE
Burgundy Brown Fall Smokey Eyes Tutorial using Lakme French Rose Palettee
Hi guys,
So as promised I did this easy fall smokey eyes look using the new Lakme French Rose Palette. See the review and swatches of both the new Illuminating Palettes HERE
I used the light brown in the crease and added a little burnt orange for more warmth in the crease. Finally I took the main burgundy brown shade and used it all over the lid. Since this shade was a little less pigmented than rest of the shades in the palette, it needed a little layering.
So as you can see here, I went over it a few times to get the desired intensity. I used the coppery orange shade in the inner corners and since there was no creamy highlight shade in French Rose, I took the one from the Royal Persia palette to highlight my brow bone.
I used the same light brown and burgundy brown to smoke out my lower lashline. I used falsies but removed them later on as I was not happy with how they looked. I used the Lakme Eyeconic 22Hr Kajal on my upper lashline and smudged it a bit.
Finally I took the Colourpop Honeydude n*de eyeliner and used on my waterline to make my eyes look a little bigger. And used the Essence Lash Princess Mascara on both my upper and lower lashes.
I loved how the look turned up as I was not sure since I was using this palette the first time. Also there are so many different combinations I can think of with this palette. It’s very versatile and the shades are perfect for office wear to weddings.
Honestly I would have liked 2 more shades for the price of 995, 8 shadows would have been perfect including one black and one highlight shade.
Many of you have mentioned the price being a little high, usually Amazon has discounts later on, but since this is Limited Edition, I am not sure till when it will be sold.
If you buy from Beauty Centres and are getting discount on this or there are some nice offers and GWP going on, then definitely grab this French Rose Palette.
Did you like this look? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
