Mumbai Bridal Diaries: One Stop Destination for the Brides-to-Be
Hi guys,
If you have been following my bridal series, you would have seen a lot of posts related to my wedding. I complete one year of my wedding exactly in a week 🙂
I know exactly how a bride-to-be feels and the thousands of mixed emotions she goes through. And planning her own perfect wedding is what every bride dreams of.
I myself have gone through numerous blogs and wedding magazines, taking inspirations for hair, makeup, jewellery, different kinds of ethnic wear for trousseau,etc. Every bride wants to be different coz things get repetitive easily with styles getting very common these days.
With just weeks or months left until the wedding, a bride’s heart is filled with excitement and anxiety. With the big-date getting closer, you may find her wishful and enthusiastic one moment and then getting nervous the very next second.
I would be sharing a lot of more bridal posts on fabrics to buy, how to plan your trousseau and engagement makeup, etc. So stay tuned for more on my Mumbai Bridal Diaries 🙂
New Medimix Ayurvedic Natural Glycerine Soap With Lakshadi Oil Review
Hi guys,
Today I am reviewing something different, a soap. Medimix is one brand that we have all used at some point in our lives, and then we get different and new options and we forget the ‘natural’ and be lured by the fancy packaging and latest launches. Medimix has launched their new soap with natural glycerine and lakshadi oil. Lakshadi Tailam/Oil is an old ayurvedic recipe of a massage oil and it is made with a blend of different herbs like Laksha, Asvagandha, Katuka, etc.
They have also come up with this TVC which urges us to ‘Go Natural’ and it is so true!
What the Company claims: Medimix Ayurvedic Natural Glycerine With Lakshadi Oil contains a unique combination of the purest and finest grade vegetable glycerin and the time tested Ayurvedic formula of Lakshadi oil to effectively prevent dry skin.
MRP: Rs.45/- for 125g
Ingredients:
It is transparent green soap and has a slight herbal smell. Lakshadi Oil helps in a lot of ailments like fever, body ache, etc and is also used for massaging babies in some parts of India. Some of the ingredients also help in body acne or itches and rashes, them being anti – bacterial and anti – fungal.
Natural glycerine in the soap makes it perfect for the current winters, as it keeps the skin moisturized and skin does not feel dry or stretchy as with other regular soaps.
It foams well and cleans the skin well, one can also use a loofah on top of the soap foam for extra exfoliation or foaming. I love using it for my body and I also used it for my face. I don’t usually use soaps on my face as most of them are very drying for my skin but this one did not dry the skin at all.
It is vegan and cruelty free and does not contain any animal fat or derivative. It is priced very affordably at Rs.45/- and lasts long too, just don’t keep it in water.
Overall I would say Medimix is still the same, natural and herbal with glycerine, and does not dry out skin. Perfect for all year round. Definitely recommend trying this out!
Rating:
Quality: 4.5/5
Value for money : 4.5/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall rating: 4.25/5
Have you tried the new Medimix Natural Glycerine Soap With Lakshadi Oil?
The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil First Impressions
Hi guys,
I have been using the new Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil since a week now and here are my first impressions about it.
What the Company claims: Infused with three precious seed oils and a blend of seven essential oils, we’ve created the Oils of Life™ Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil. The lightweight and quickly absorbing texture leaves a non-sticky finish, melting onto the skin, leaving it silky and soft. Instantly, skin appears smoother, more radiant, revived, revitalized and nourished. After 4 weeks, the signs of aging appear reduced, wrinkles appear minimized, and skin feels more elastic and firm.
How to use: This dermatologically tested oil can be applied every morning and evening before applying a cream. Apply 1 to 2 drops maximum (2-3 for very dry skin) onto the face and neck and gently massage into the skin. Follow with one of our Oils of Life moisturizers.
MRP: Rs.3095/- for 30ml
Ingredients:
It comes in a sleek and nice golden yellow glass bottle with a black dropper dispensor. The packaging is very convenient to use, though I am not sure how travel friendly it would be coz of the glass.
I love using oils on my face, using oils and serums at night is something I have been following since years and it really works amazing. Oils can be used even by people with oily skin, what it does it balances the oil secretion of the skin and also has amazing properties for revitalizing, firming and hydration of the skin. Different oils have different properties and this time Body Shop has come up with a combination of three special seed oils i.e Black Cumin, Camellia and Rosehip.Cold pressed seed oils are the purest form of oils and all their properties remain preserved. It also has a lot of other oils like Olive Oil as a base, Lavender Oil, Jojoba oil , Orange Peel Oil, etc.
I use 2-3 drops of it every night and massage it well on the skin, it has a complete dance routine massage video on their youtube channel. The smell is not unpleasing, it is nice, I do smell a hint of lavender and I really like lavender oil.
The oil is super light in texture and absorbs in a jiffy. Skin next day is super moisturised and plump, there is no redness or dryness. My skin was feeling very dry and stretchy as the winters had started, especially in the mornings, also coz of the AC at night. But since the time I have been using this, there are no dry patches and no stretchiness.
It also claims to have firming and anti-ageing properties, I cannot comment on it right now and would do a full review on it, post using it for a month.
It is slightly on the expensive side but all oils and serums in this category are almost in the same range. And since you need just 2-3 drops per use, this will easily last months
Overall I would say, I definitely recommend trying this out, especially if you love serums and oils. This is just a perfect blend of all the goodness of oils.
Rating:
Quality: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Would I buy it again: Yes
Have you checked out or tried the The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil yet?
What the Company claims: If excellent coverage and high colour pay-off is what gets you going, you will absolutely love our new Matte As Hell Lip Crayon that is available in 4 gorgeous shades to suit your taste & your ever-changing mood! Super long-lasting and highly pigmented so you don’t have to worry about constant re-application, this must-have lip crayon has a soft texture with a silky matte finish.
Shades Available:
Feeling confident & sexy? Flaunt a classic red pout with the Scarlett O’ Hara shade – that’s guaranteed to make heads turn.
Want to go bare-faced with a pop of color? Say hello to Mary Poppins! It is an eye-catching Fuchsia shade that can never go unnoticed
A classic shade that can instantly add a touch of mystery to your entire look, Poison Ivy (wine) is hot on the runway and a must-try shade for those who love to experiment
Want to pull off dramatic eyes and come out as a winner? Holly Golightly (Nude) is the way to go! This peachy shade goes well with elaborate eye make-up & can also be used every day for a natural look
How to Apply: Exfoliate your lips & apply the Lip Crayon just the way you would with any other lipstick. Blot & reapply.
Benefits: The Sugar Matte As Hell Lip Crayon has a creamy consistency that eventually settles in to a matte finish. With stunning shades that don’t fail to impress, it provides maximum coverage with the right amount of color. This power product is dermatologically tested & approved and 100% safe for your skin..
Additional Details: Its wax-based formulation does not contain mineral oil, parabens, paraffin, phenoxyethanols, volatile cyclomethicones (D4, D5, D6) and animal derived ingredients.
Ingredients:
Made in Germany.
Size: 2.8 gm.
MRP: Rs.799/-
So I received this Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon last week, I have tried their Eye Told You So Eyeliner before which was a part of Fab Bag and quite liked it. Matte Lip Crayons are all the rage right now and I am glad they have come up with these and some interesting 4 shades. I have a lot of reds and pinks in Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Tint and Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balms, so I wanted to go for either nude or wine. Since it is fall/winter already which is perfect for deep burgundy/wine/berry shades, I went with Poison Ivy which is a beautiful berry wine shade.
It comes in this black fat crayon packaging with the base matching the shade. Sadly it is not retractable and one has has to sharpen it which leads to quite a lot of product wastage. Other than that, it is quite travel friendly.
Coming to the texture, it is very, very creamy and buttery. It glides on easily on the lips but that also means it does bleed and go out of the lines easily, so one has to be careful while applying. It is very pigmented and covers the entire lip well in 2 swipes.
It is on the creamier side and not completely matte, even after some time, you won’t see or feel a complete matte finish. It is not transfer proof and transfers a lot on cups, bottles, etc.
Staying power is ok, it stays for 4-5 hours without eating or drinking, but just 2-3 hours if you eat or drink and will fade and transfer while eating or drinking.
It does feel very light and comfortable on the lips. It is quite moisturising and will work on dry lips too, quite forgiving.
Poison Ivy is a beautiful wine/berry shade and perfect for this season, definitely a unique shade and not that other brands have in this category.
Price wise it is definitely priced higher. At 800, it is more expensive than Lakme too which is priced at 650 and offers 3.5g. I have not sharpened it yet, so not sure how long this would last, the qty is reasonable.
Overall I would say I am not very happy with the staying power and transferring, though these are moisturising and light. Also these are priced higher than other brands in this category and the qty too is lesser than them. But what Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon has, are two shades nude and wine i.e.Holly Golightly and Poison Ivy which other brands do not. So if you want a matte nude and/or wine lip crayon, I would suggest checking this out. For reds or pinks, I would suggest other brands. But if you have dry lips and are looking for matte yet creamy and moisturising lip crayon, then go for this.
You can buy it from their own website HERE or on the Fab Bag website HERE.
Rating:
Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money : 3.5/5
Availability: 3/5
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Are you looking forward to try the new Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon? Which shade?
What the Company claims: 100% smudge-proof. 100% preservative-free
For the first time in India, an ophthalmologically approved kajal pencil with a gel-liner like performance. 100% smudge-proof, water-proof single-swipe brilliant black kohl-cum-liner that’s also gentle on your eyes.
Welcome to NaturStudio. Where it’s all about the glam, minus the harm. Get the look of a gel liner in a simple pencil format. Easy to use, studio finish & filled with goodness.
♥ Soft, creamy, gel-based single-swipe darkest black.
♥ 100% smudge-proof and water-proof
♥ Brilliant black that looks “just applied” even after 12 hours.
♥ Preservative-free, paraben-free, mineral oil-free, paraffin-free
♥ Dermatologically and ophthalmologically tested & approved
♥ Rich in Vitamin E for care and protection
♥ 100% vegan formula, not tested on animals
♥ Full-size 1.2g pencil – 4 times the kajal found in twister kajals (which contain 0.31g). Lasts at least twice as long.
♥ Made in Germany
Ingredients: Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rice Bran Wax, Natural Vitamin E
This requires the use of a high-quality cosmetic pencil sharpener to sharpen properly. Using poor quality sharpeners or stationery pencil sharpeners will damage the tip and the pencil.
Plum is always free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, SLS, DEA and PABA
MRP: Rs.425/- for 1.2g
It is recommended to buy with a dual sharpener they stock which is priced at Rs.125/- They also have Angel Eyes Kohl Kajal which is priced the same but meant for very sensitive eyes, so those who have super sensitive eyes should go for the latter.
The sharpener is also purple but has neon green cap which is hygienic and safe from dust, etc. It sharpens the kajal perfectly and can also be used for other eye pencils and lip crayons.
It comes in this purple and black packaging and in sharpenable form. It is super jet black, very pigmented and gives a good colour in one swipe, it does smudge if you smudge it immediately but within 1-2 minutes it sets and doesn’t budge at all.
It is waterproof and requires a very good makeup remover to take it off completely. I have used it on my upper lash line here, it stays for about 8-9 hours on my upper lash line and even longer, it just fades a bit post that but still does not smudge untill I take it off with a makeup remover.
Here I have used it on the waterline, it does smudge a bit on the waterline but stays intense for 4-5 hours after which it fades a bit but doesn’t go away completely which is amazing for my super watery eyes, coz no kajal stays more than 2-3 hours before fading on my waterline.
I have loved the Lakme Absolute Kohl Ultimate the most and found it the most water proof, long staying and smudge resistant amongst all kajals in the market, I would give this the 2nd place coz it comes super close in many aspects but price wise, this definitely is a winner. Also both are manufactured by Schwan-StabiloCosmetics in Germany which makes the best eye pencils. Even Kryolan Ikonic and Sugar Cosmetics Kajal are manufactured by the same company, I believe even Faces Cosmetics Eye Pencils.
At 425, it is very economical and you can sharpen and use it many times. I don’t prefer wearing it on upper lash line often as it gives a thicker line and gets blunt and round when used even once on the upper lash line but for waterline, it is perfect and can be used a couple of times before sharpening. Sharpening does lead to wastage as in all sharpenable pencils but is good for hygienic reasons. Also I do agree on it having more quantity than twist up kajals as they are mostly 0.31g, but here some product also goes waste in sharpening, still you get more qty than twist up ones.
Overall I would say, it is one of the best kajals in India currently and I highly recommend trying this out. If no kajal stays long on you and you have watery eyes like me, this will. I only wish the sharpener came along with the kajal and one wouldn’t have to buy it separately shelling 125 bucks extra.
Rating:
Quality: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Would I buy it again: Yes
Have you checked out or tried the Plum Goodness NaturStudio All-Day-Wear Kohl Kajal yet?
Makeup Tutorial: Fall/Winter Smokey Eyes | Indian Skin Tone
Hi guys,
I created this deep green/burgundy matte smokey eyes which is fall appropriate using the Starlooks September Revival Kit. Though it has matte bright pink lipstick, I would pair this smokey eyes with a deep wine/burgundy fall/winter lip color 🙂
Here is the video..
Read more about Starlooks in my previous post HERE. I love the idea of Starlooks having small, travel-sized products coz no one can finish their entire eye shadows and blushes, I can’t even finish lipsticks with the number I have! I absolutely loved the matte shadows and the matte lipstick. The eye shadow duo is perfect for fall and hence I created this fall, smokey look. Though the pigmentation is slightly low and you have to go over with the eye shadow 2-3 times. And it has deep teal green mini mascara which looks almost black though.
Starlooks Revival September 2015 Looksbook Mini Kit contains:
* Rawr Lipstick : A bold matte hot pink shade. But it might need a dash of lip balm beneath else it may end up looking a bit dry. My favourite in the palette, love this. Decently pigmented and completely matte
* Agave Eye Shadow duo: A mini matte eyeshadow duo, it features a red agave & green agave shade. Both are earthy shades, leaning towards an olive green and a burgundy. Since these are matte, they are not very pigmented and required me layer and go over my shadows 2-3 times, but they definitely gave a nice matte smokey look
* Flora Mascara: A deep teal mascara which looks almost black, love the brush, it gave nice volume to the lashes and did not clump much.
The eye shadow duo is very fall appropriate, I would have loved if the lipstick would have been a deep matte plum, the kit would be a perfect fall kit then. Though I love the lipstick, plum shade would have worked very well this eyeshadow duo.
MRP: $12 for membership, $29 for separate monthly boxes
Revlon Nearly Naked Powder in Medium Deep to contour
MAC Bite of an Apple Blush
Starlooks Lipstick
Colorbar Stay The Day Finishing Mist
I hope you liked this look, do let me know in the comments below.
You can subscribe HERE, they ship using USPS First Class Mail. Currently they don’t have the ‘India’ option but you can mail them at info@starlooks.com and they will figure out the shipping for you.
Do you like the Starlooks Looksbook concept? What do you think of it?
I created this matte ombre orange and pink lip which is bright, fun and can be worn with everything from casual to ethnic. I have paired it with taupe eyes and green eyeliner for a more casual look. If you go gold or bronze on the eyes with the same green for an ethnic look, it would look amazing.
I hope you liked this look, if you did please give it a thumbs up and also subscribe to my Youtube channel for more such videos. I have another smokey eye coming soon and I am planning to do a festive Diwali look too 🙂
Maybelline White Super Fresh Compact Powder Shell Review, FOTD
Hi guys,
I have been using this Maybelline White Super Fresh with Pure Perlite 12 Hour Whitening + Perfecting Compact Powder (wow, that’s quite a mouthful) since the past 2-3 days and here is my review..
What the Company claims: How does White Super Fresh stand out compared to all you other compact powders?
– It lasts up to 12 hours.
– No dabbing, washing or touch-ups necessary.
– Keeps you fresh and fair throughout the day.
– Absorbs sweat and doesn’t let your skin get patchy. – Available in 3 shades for your skin tone: Pearl (Light to Medium), Shell (Medium) & Coral (Medium to Dark). – Priced at Rs.150.
– Has Pure Perlite and UV Filters
– Dermatologist tested and suitable for everyday use
Here is my review on Youtube too..
It comes in this white compact packaging with a mirror and a sponge. The sponge has a rubber finish on one side, so it can only be used through the one cotton side.
I have the shade Shell which is meant for medium skin tones. I am glad that it has yellow undertones, by the name ‘White’ going on the compact I was not very sure. But thankfully it matches me perfectly and does not give a whitish cast.
It has a soft floral smell which is quite pleasing. The packaging is sturdy enough and the mirror and sponge make it very travel friendly. It gives light to medium coverage which is buildable i.e one swipe will give you light coverage and going over 2-3 times will give you medium coverage. But it won’t hide your acne scars or dark circles which means you will need a separate concealer for that.
And even though I use a rich moisturiser, it does accentuate my dry patches. The powder is very finely milled and smooth but it not very creamy, though it it not very dry and powdery kinds too, somewhere in between.
Coming to the staying power and no touch up claim, it does stay put thoughout the day but I need to touch up my oily T-zone once after 5-6 hours as it gets slightly shiny. One slight touch up and I am good to go through the day. If you have dry skin, you won’t need any touch ups and if you have oily skin, one touch up and you will be sorted. It does the mattifying job amazingly well and oil does stay away from your skin through the day.
It blends seamlessly and merges with your skin tone and it actually keeps the skin looking fresh throughout the day.
The only con I would say is it doesn’t have sunscreen protection, but then we don’t rely on compact powders for sunscreen protection anyway. Also I am not sure how the other two shades are and if the darkest shade Coral is a match enough for all skin tones, but I believe 4-5 shades could have been better. I am not very pleased with the ‘Whitening’ claim too.
Here is the shade ‘Shell’ on me, I only have this compact ON and no other base..
The best part is the price and quantity, at Rs.150/- and 8g of product, it is by far one of the most economical compact powders right now.
Overall, I would say it’s a very nice budget compact and perfect for oily to combination skin. It does it’s job of keeping oil at bay very well. If you have dry skin, you will need a rich moisturiser with this. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Quality: 4/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Would I buy it again: Yes
Have you checked out or tried the new Maybelline White Super Fresh Compact Powder yet?
Bluestone.com has launched their New Blue Book. You ask what is it about. It’s a theme based jewellery lookbook/style guide which consists of different lines of Bluestone.com jewellery along with pictures, styling and all other details. The Blue Book is based on 3 themes – WEDDING BELLS, COSMO CULTURE and LOVELORE.
About BlueStone: BlueStone is India’s leading online jewellery brand that houses high quality fine jewellery in exquisite designs. With a user-friendly shopping experience, BlueStone is a one stop destination for everything jewellery, given any occasion. Established in 2011, BlueStone has built a large family of loyal consumers both in India and abroad. Some of the investors being Ratan Tata, Kalaari Capital and Accel Partners. A vertically integrated firm, BlueStone prides itself on an excellent customer service and distinctive craftsmanship.
BlueStone houses more than 3000 unique designs for an individual to choose from. These designs are crafted to perfection with utmost care for our customers who also have the flexibility to customize the product’s gold colour or diamond clarity to suit their needs.
With an in-house award-winning design team that pays great attention to detail, each piece is a symbol of perfection. Also, with its cutting edge innovation and latest technology usage, BlueStone makes sure the brilliance is well reflected in all its jewellery. The company offers some of the industry first options to its customers like the 30 Day Money Back Policy, Lifetime Exchange on all its products, BlueFew Loyalty Programme and Free Home Try On.
The brand BlueStone stands for “Pure Jewellery For Real Love” – a wide range of contemporary jewellery to trigger spontaneous expressions of love appropriate to every moment in a real relationship. We believe that the need for jewellery is a cry for romance, and jewellery is best bought in a close huddle with your loved one.
About The Peacock Collection: (Check on their site HERE)
Name: Blue Feather Collection
Tag Line: From the Royal Gardens
Inspiration: “Since we are all royal, in our own special ways.”
About ‘The Blue Book’: BlueStone celebrates the launch of Blue Book, a contemporary, stylish and a gorgeous Look Book that aims to showcase how the jewellery can be worn in the trendiest manner. The Blue Book, as we love to call it is a one of a kind jewellery style guide that will make sure you look a stunner from dawn to dusk! After seeing this, you may want to change your outfit “but not our jewellery”! This Blue Book captures the essential jewellery style guides for three occasions… Festive, Romance and Work Wear.
I received this super cute hamper from Blue Stone. It has adorable love notes, two packs of King and Queen cards, joint coaster, diary, The Blue Book and this pendant and earrings from the new Peacock collection.
I loved the designs, presentation, styling of The Blue Book, one of my favourite looks is this one..
And how adorable are these pendant and earrings from the peacock collection..
Here is how I styled the jewellery..
You can check out The Blue Book online here or follow them on their social media to know more about The Blue Book and the new collections.
I went to attend the Swatch Fall Winter 2015 Collection Preview at Out of The Blue last week. This is what I wore to the event.
It’s a simple blue denim shirt dress. I love the fact that it is so easy to wear and you can just throw that on whenever and wherever without thinking much or when you are confused on what to wear, coz A) Denim always works B) Shirt dresses are quite IN C) It is very comfortable D) The drawstring at the waist defines your waist and body E) It has pockets! (Duh..you need any more reasons? :p)
I had initially thought of pairing them with my white Vans canvas shoes, but then I couldn’t find them in a hurry and went for my current favourites, these super cute adorable animal ballet flats. It has a kitten on one shoe and a puppy on the other, the contrast makes it all the more cuter 😀 And since these are black and white, they would work with a lot of outfits. The fact that they cost less than $4 makes it all the more good :p Though shipping cost would be added, I have mentioned the links below. But white canvas shoes would definitely look great too, coz white always works with denims.
When I posted this pic on Instagram, most of you asked me about my shoes, so here you go 🙂
I paired it with my orange bucket bag, though it is not seen in the pictures here. And wore this gold watch from the new Swatch F/W 2015 collection.
