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Miss Claire Soft Matte Lip Creams Review, Swatches, Indian Makeup and Beauty Blog

Miss Claire Soft Matte Lip Creams Review, Swatches

Miss Claire Soft Matte Lip Creams Review, Swatches

By Devika

Hi guys,

Hope you all are doing great! So today I am going to be reviewing yet another beautiful matte and super affordable Miss Claire Soft Matte lip cream. This season happens to be the season of liquid lipsticks with Indian market overflowing with their sudden arrival ranging from high end brands like Kylie, Sleek Matte Me, Colourpop, Stila, Incolor to Chambor, Colorbar, Aerezia, NYX. Though many of these are still unavailable online, new trend of Instagram stores selling these, has solved the problem somehow .Through these stores I got to know of these Miss Claire ones and when I heard of their price, (Greedy Me), I immediately ordered 6 of them (haven’t owned these many shades of same brand ever). Ordering and delivery was completely hassle-free, thankfully!!!! Miss Claire range is a super affordable dupe for the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream.

Product details – It’s not lipstick nor is it gloss. It’s like nothing that you have experienced before. It’s lipstick that goes on smoothly but looks matte.

Price and availability: No price tag mentioned and varies from the place you are buying from…150 to 300! Depends whether you are buying from instastore or directly from shops. I got mine for 180 INR from instastore (comment below if you wanna know the name of shop).

Ingredients:

Shelf life: 12 months from date of opening

Total weight of product 6.5g

My experience

Packaging: These soft matte slip creams comes in transparent plastic tube bottle with the black screw cap with a wand applicator attached which picks up just the right amount of product and aids in even coverage on lips. The bottle is quite lightweight and easy to carry around. The shades are numbered (and not named) which is written below but one can easily identify the shades from transparent bottle. For the price they come in the packaging is quiet decent and I love it.

Shades – The Miss Claire lip creams come in many shades ranging from Nudes to Pinks to Red. There are 18 shades available. From these I own no. 05, 07, 08, 12, 16A, 17A. No names, just number coded but it isn’t an issue for me as the tubes are transparent.

In detail review of each shade:

Shade 05: This is a coral pink with a peach undertone. Perfect for summer evenings. This shade is a very flattering for fair skin tones but would look washed out on medium to dark skin.

Shade 07: It is a hot pink, bright, more like a fuchsia pink. Nude eyes with this shade is all that’s needed. Would look great across all skin tones.

Shade 08: This is my absolute favorite. It’s a shade darker than no.05 and thus will suit medium skin toned girls too! This is my go-to everyday color.

Shade 12: My 2nd favorite from these, this shade is vibrant magenta and darker variant of shade no. 07 but with purple undertone to it. This would suit all kinds of Indian skin tones. The face looks brightened up on wearing this shade. It’s suitable for both day and night wear.

Shade I6A: Again a bright summer shade, pink with orange undertone to it. Darker than 05 but lighter then 08.This shade I consider as repetitive in my Miss Claire collection though.

Shade 17A:  This is the perfect peach color that would suit fair skinned girls.

Texture / Formula – The texture is so creamy & light. It’s easy to use formula applies as a smooth cream on lips which dries to a matte finish in about 2 minutes. Once dried, it comfortably sits throughout the day. It is nontransferable, tends to fade from center of lips only after heavy oily meals; survives light meals though. These doesn’t settle into fine lines at all. Despite being matte these didn’t dry up my lips at all, but prior exfoliation and moisturizing is must. The formula & texture of these is very similar to the NYX Matt lip creams. It smells of vanilla but not at all overpowering. I love the smell!

Pigmentation- The pigmentation is opaque, medium coverage and it’s buildable. You don’t need multiple swipes to get true color, nor is it so badly pigmented that you can’t correct a mistake. In comparison to NYX ones, the NYX lip creams are a little more pigmented than these. The lighter shades of Miss Claire are less pigmented than the deeper ones, but a second swipe sorts you out & shows the color. You may also apply lip liner of similar color underneath to make the lip cream long lasting. It does not bleed at all.

Staying Power – This lipstick gives you great color for around 5- 6hrs. It sustains light meals but loses color from center of lips following a heavy oily meal. A touch up can fix that easily though. They fade away evenly without being patchy. Impressive staying power! It doesn’t stain the lips post removal and can easily be removed with oil based makeup remover.

Pros:

1) Extremely inexpensive (reason I picked up these many shades)

2) Ease of application

3) Decent sleek packaging, similar to the NYX ones

4) The color does not smudge for 3-4 hours minimum

5) Extremely light weight and travel friendly

6) Efficient applicator for precise application.

7) A variety of shades available to choose from

8) Creamy texture that settles down with a nice matte finish.

9) Doesn’t make the lips uncomfortable with dry matte texture.

10) Non-transferable and doesn’t settles into fine lines.

11) Good pigmentation with just 2 swipes.

12) Long lasting on the lips for 5-6 hours without touch ups.

13) No weird smell

14) All ingredients listed

15) Cruelty free

16) Paraben free

Cons:

1) No testers available

2) Not available online and in most cosmetics stores

3) Requires prior prepping (exfoliation plus moisturisation) of lips.

Overall, I just loved the texture, the color range and the price they come in, is like a total steal. One can never ever go wrong with these lip creams. They did a lot more than what I expected them. I totally recommend these to all as in this price range you can’t expect more!!

Rating 4.8/5

Will I Repurchase – Absolutely yes!!

Editor’s Note: Fabulous review and pictures Devika, I was eyeing these since long. I know they are available at Beauty Center, but I always get lazy to go there, I am definitely getting 12 and 17A.

Have you tried the Miss Claire Soft Matte Lip Creams yet?

Home Remedies For Glowing Skin

HOME REMEDIES FOR GLOWING SKIN

By Rashmi

Hello peeps,

I am back with another DIY solution for your skin. Glowing skin is what everybody desires. People spend so much money by going to parlours. Though the effect of parlour treatment is almost immediate,is it long lasting? I don’t think so. I prefer using ingredients from the kitchen which are readily available.These are absolutely natural ingredients and are safe. And these things give a glow to your face like no other parlour treatment can give. And guess what? The results are permanent. When at first my mother asked me to use homemade face masks instead of going to the parlour i laughed at that but now after using all these homemade masks I am sure I am not going to the parlour for facials.

And I am sure these home remedies for glowing skin are going to work for you guys as well.

Happy reading ☺

1. Honey and lemon juice –

In a bowl take 2tbsp honey and mix in it 1tbsp lemon. Mix it well. Apply it on your face and leave it for 20 minutes.Wash it off with cold water. Lemon works as a natural bleach and honey gives instant radiance. One could also try applying just honey on the face. Honey and Lemon is perfect for removing your tan too.

2. Banana face mask-

In a bowl take half a banana(ripe),mix 1tbsp yogurt to it along with 1tbsp honey. Mix it well until the banana is mashed completely. You could add 2-3 drops of rosewater too. Now apply this face mask and leave it for 20-25 minutes before washing it off with water.Banana is best for getting glowing skin.

3. Tomato juice –

Simply mix tomato juice along with lemon and apply it on your face. Let it sit for 20minutes and then wash it off with plain water.Follow up with a good oil free moisturiser.

4. Olive oil or coconut oil-

People have this misconception that if they apply oil on their face, they will get pimples .This isn’t true. In fact either olive oil or coconut oil should be applied on the face for at least 10minutes before taking a shower. This is a really effective method to get that glow that you have always longed for.I follow this routine daily and this has worked effectively for me.

5. Potato and lemon juice-

Take the juice of half potato and mix in it about 1tbsp lemon juice. Apply this on your face daily for a week and you will be able to notice a beautiful glow on your face. Rub this mixture on your elbows too to get rid of dark elbows. This mix when used continuously for a week, will help get rid of all that stubborn tan.

6. Papaya face mask-

In a bowl take papaya and mash it well. Mix in it about 1tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp turmeric (you don’t want to be left with a yellow face instead of a glowing one) and 1tsp honey. Mix all the ingredients well and apply this on your face for 20 minutes and then wash it off. Apply rosewater on your face after that.

7. Milk and lemon-

Mix milk and lemon together. The milk should be unboiled. Apply this and you would get a radiant skin within a week. Milk helps to moisturise your skin and lemon helps in bleaching the skin naturally thus causing no side effect.

Additional tips-

1. For people with dry skin mix glycerine and rosewater and apply it on your face daily.

2. For people with oily skin mix gram flour(besan) with rosewater and apply daily. Alternatively fuller’s earth could also be used.

3. Apply aloe vera on your face daily .

4. Exfoliate your skin at least twice a week to get rid off the dead skin cells.

5. Always keep your skin hydrated and moisturised.

6. Always remove your makeup before going to sleep and apply your night cream.

7. Rub an ice cube on your face for an instant glow.

See more skincare tips/DIY HERE

Editor’s Note: These are easy and perfect everyday tips Rashmi. Glycerine and Rose water, I swear by. Even Fuller’s Earth, especially for summers.

Do you use these quick home remedies for that glowing skin? If not, do so now.

P.S: Images from Google.

Colorbar All Day Waterproof Eyeshadow Sticks, Diamond Shine Lip Gloss Review, Swatches

Colorbar All Day Waterproof Eyeshadow Sticks, Diamond Shine Lip Gloss Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

I have been trying out these two new launches from Colorbar from quite some time now. And I also did a look around these. Here are my thoughts on them.

I did this look with these new launches..

Colorbar All Day Waterproof Eyeshadow Sticks: This ultra-modern eye-shadow stick glides like velvet, has feather light application and lasts for 8 hours without creasing, flaking or fading! Applying perfect eye-shadow will no longer be a tricky job with ColorBar All Day Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick. Fall in love with this blendable and highly pigmented do-it-all eye-shadow stick, which also doubles up as eyeliner. Sharpen the tip with a detachable sharpener (attached at the back of the stick) for precise application and use it to shade, define, smoke-up and highlights. Its velvet powdery, lightweight texture is smudge proof and doesn’t non-transfer on the upper eyelid.Preservative and mineral oil free. Dermatologically and Ophthalmologically Approved

MRP: Rs.850/- for 1.4g

Ingredients:

Available in 10 shades

I have the shades Ornament and Moss in the Eyeshadow sticks and Nude Glow and Pixie Pink in Diamond Shine Lip Gloss.

The eyeshadow stick comes in a swivel up rotating packaging. Each shade has a matching base colour which makes it easier to identify. It also comes with a sharpener, so that the tip can be sharpened if it gets blunt and flat. That comes very handy, coz it is difficult to use on the upper/lower lashline with the flat tip.

It is cream finish and glides on well, but it sets almost immediately and doesn’t budge once set, you need to be super quick when you are working with this. This can be a con for newbies, as it won’t blend once set. It is super pigmented and settles to a matte finish. It is indeed smudge proof and transfer proof as claimed. But when used on lower lashline and waterline, it does smudge a bit.

It stayed put for almost the whole day on the eyes, untill removed and around 6-7 hours on the waterliner and lower lashline, before smudging a bit. It comes off easily with a makeup remover. I love the idea of eyeshadow sticks since they are easy to use and carry.

Left: Ornament, Right: Moss

005 Ornament is a nice champagne beige with hints of gold. A perfect, everyday shade and would also work for office. You can even use it as a base and layer with more deeper or glittery shades for more intensity and a heavier look.

Top: Ornament
Bottom: Moss

004 Moss is my favourite, a bluish green shade which pops up the eyes. I love using it on the upper and lower lashline, as seen here. It’s a perfect spring color and would brighten up the eyes and face, it makes the eyes look more white.

Left: Moss, Right: Oranment

Here I have used the shade Ornament all over the lid and the shade Moss on the upper lashline and outer half of lower lashline and extended it and blended softly with an angled liner brush.

At Rs.850/- these are slightly expensive, but I am quite impressed with the quality. They do as they claim! I highly recommend these, I also like the shades Slate and Mulberry.

Colorbar Diamond Shine Lip Gloss: You’re not fully dressed until you add some Glitter! A Gorgeous high shine lip gloss that wears a feather and envelopes your lips with rich, intense Color in just one stroke, packed with Luxe shimmer. This soft highly pigmented gloss adheres perfectly and glides on flawlessly, to make your lips shine like diamonds. Enriched with Vit-E & comforting oils, it fits the lip care needs of every woman perfectly.

Features and Benefits:
High pigmented shimmer gloss
Light weight on application
Comforting oils to provide hydrate and conditioning to your lips
Smooth and creamy application
Enriched with Vit. E providing antioxidant properties
Color does not bleed on lips
Flocked paddle applicator to picks up a generous amount of gloss for a nice, even lay down of color
Preservative free

MRP: Rs.675/- for 3.8ml

Ingredients:

Available in 8 shades

Coming to the Colorbar Diamond Shine Lip Gloss, they come in a round, transparent, normal glass packaging. Since they are see through, you can easily identify the shades if you have more than one.

Now I am more into matte lipsticks and liquid lipsticks, I haven’t used a lip gloss in the longest time. But I guess once in a while, they look quite good. Of course, you get a nice, shiny pout with a lip gloss, which you can never with a matte lipstick.

These are completely non sticky, well pigmented for a gloss and the color stays well even after drinking, etc. These are quite moisturizing and light weight, and all that these claim! Mostly all lip glosses transfer a lot and don’t stay more than 1-2 hours, these ones do! They stay well for about 3-4 hours and survives light drinking, etc too.

I usually use a base color as a soft tint blended with my fingers and go over a gloss like this. The color and stain stayed put well though the evening for me.

002 Nude Glow is an everyday nude brown with silver shimmer

004 Pixie Pink is a bright neon barbie pink with silver shimmer

Left: Nude Glow, Right: Pixie Pink

Nude Glow is more universal and can be layered on any color lipstick and worn on it’s own as well. If you don’t like using lipsticks at your work place, something like Nude Glow should be perfect!

Pixie Pink can be layered but it is bright and pigmented enough to use on it’s own too.

If you are into matte and colored lip glosses sans shimmer, this is not for you. But if you like a shimmery, glossy pout, these are a must have!

I absolutely love Nude Glow, and it comes in 6 more shades. It is definitely very pricey for a lip gloss, but the quality is comparable to MAC and/or other high end glosses.

I have used the Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Tint in Pink Fantasy as a soft tint and blended with finger and the shade Nude Glow on top of it, in the first pic above, for this look.

What do you think of these new Colorbar Launches? Tried any? Your thoughts?

P.S: PR Samples. Honest Review

Chambor Extreme Wear Transfer Proof Liquid Lipstick 483 Review, Swatches

Chambor Extreme Wear Transfer Proof Liquid Lipstick 483 Review, Swatches

By Devika

Hi lovely divas! Hope you all are doing well!

I am here yet again with most awaited review of the most sought after, New Chambor extreme wear transfer proof liquid lipsticks!!
We all know how bad these new matte-liquid lipsticks formula is being raved about by all the ladies of the town and we are loving it to bits, aren’t we? Every brand is launching their own versions and amidst this when Chambor recently unveiled new wide range of 18 extreme wear liquid lipsticks, I had to get my hands on it.

After SA swatched it for me, I fell head over heels and bought one. I have so much to tell, so let’s jump on reviewing this beauty.

Available at Chambor boutiques, & Lifestyle stores across India. Online at Amazon.in and Habbana.com

PRICED at INR 845/- for 6 ml

Ingredients:

Product Description: A long-lasting, transfer proof liquid lipstick with a smooth sensorial feel and a creamy matte finish. Its extreme coverage provides a deep, intense colour in just one stroke. To remove use ‘Chambor Eye & Lip Make up Remover’

MY EXPERENCE

PACKAGING

The packaging looks simple yet classy and convincing. It comes in a black box packaging with directions and ingredients mentioned therein. The tube is flat and rectangular with silver details embossed. It’s transparent glass body helps locating the shades in case you have many, since they have not been given names, I wonder why ,as we relate better to shade names. It is number coded at bottom of the tube. Cap is glossy black with twist-up wand mechanism. It has a flat foot applicator, perfect for seamless application.

TEXTURE/FORMULA

The texture is quite smooth, saturated and light on the lips. It’s creamy in consistency and feels a lot like the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. It does not just sit on the lips like a sticky gloss neither you get that dry feeling on the lips .The lipstick turns matte after around 60 seconds after application so you have plenty of time to work with it. Once it sets, it is matte, smudge proof, transfer proof and long wearing. If you have ultra-dry lips, then please, exfoliate, moisturize, and then apply! It does not emphasize lip lines, doesn’t crack on the lips.

Color payoff is excellent and one swipe gives super opaque, even color coverage to the lips. It is little glossy when applied but settles and dries down to a matte finish. It was only after I had oily food, the center lower lip lost a little shade which I mended with touch ups and it didn’t look cakey or patchy on re-application. After about 5 hours I felt a little dry which is not an issue for me however I would definitely suggest a lip balm underneath to avoid the lips getting dry. Also, it would be nice if you scrub the lips to form an even base for the color.These have a mild delicious scent to them which fades away after application.

PIGMENTATION

The lipstick is extremely pigmented and covers even the pigmented lips well. Makes them look even, that too in one swipe, so no need to put layers.

LASTING POWER

Coming to the staying power, it stayed on my lips for almost the entire day till the time I removed it myself with a makeup remover. Once set, it does not smudge. All you need is an oil-based makeup remover or olive oil to take it off, and it does not leave any stain behind. Post- meals there was slight fading of lip color as I said.

SHADES

The shade range is narrow and I so badly wish if they could include some fresh summer shades. However, this shade 483 is a quite flattering and unique shade. It’s a mauve with rust brown undertones, perfect for those Office days as it looks so muted and formal. I like the brown undertone it carries, Kylie type of a shade. This is my go-to color and I reach out for this shade every now and then. Pair up with a dark kohl and there you are! Each shade has a number instead of name which is bad, thankfully a transparent body comes to rescue.

HOW TO APPLY

Owing to the matte formulation, exfoliating and moisturizing lips with a good balm before applying is important. Apply lip balm few minutes before, but don’t forget to wipe off the excess as it might interfere in smooth application of lipstick. I used a matching lip liner to define my lips and then filled up. Hold the applicator vertical beginning from the Cupid’s bow, follow the lip line towards the corner of the lips. Then fill in the entire lips with the deep intense color for a Smooth Matt finish. It helps your lipstick last longer and also helps in easier application and covers shaky hand movements. A little practice however would fix it.

HOW TO REMOVE

It’s a task to get rid of this, as you can’t just rub off with makeup remover or wipe away with cotton. The trick is to apply Vaseline, coconut or olive all over your lips, massage well and then wipe the leftovers with clean cloth or use an oil based makeup remover. Use balm after removing any matte lipstick for that matter to regain the natural moisturization of lips.

PROS

Sleek elegant transparent packaging.
Opaque and rich pigmentation.
Little goes a long way.
Lightweight
Ultra matte look.
No disturbing smell.
Smudge proof and non-transferrable
Decently priced for quality and quantity it comes in

CONS

Shade range has not much to offer. If you love reds, nudes and rust there are quite a lot of variants for you to try.
Difficult to remove.
Lip Prepping is a must.
Could have designated a name rather than a number

Honestly speaking, there is nothing to complain about these lipsticks except they may settle into fine lines but then these are ultra-matte and one can deal this by prepping up your lips before application.

Overall ,I am glad Chambor came up with these awesomely formulated matte, opaque, highly pigmented, and long-wearing formula that doesn’t feather or bleed, quite comfortable to Carry .Most of the colors are made for Indian skin tones. However the range misses some good summery pepped up colors. Still I am totally obsessed with this lipsticks.

Though the price tag is a bit high, but you get a good amount of the product and a real long wearing formula, so the price is justified. And true to their claim, these are long lasting, liquid matte lipsticks that pack a ton of pigment and wear all day long! They are now available online, you can find them at lifestyle stores all over India as well.

Rating 4.5/5

Will I repurchase? Yes, I would love to pick more shades!

Editor’s Note: I just got the shade 402 Devika and absolutely love it, there are 2-3 shades in this range which are Kylie’s Lip Kit Dupe in India and formula wise, also quite similar. Loved the review!

Have you checked out the Chambor Extreme Wear Transfer Proof Liquid Lipstick? It’s definitely a must have!

Everyuth Naturals Neem Face Wash Review

EVERYUTH NATURALS NEEM FACE WASH REVIEW

By Nidhal

It is said that chewing a few leaves of this plant daily would help you kick acne, pimples and blemishes forever. The taste, however, cannot be vouched for. Able to guess which plant it is? Let me spill the beans. It is none other than ‘Neem’ and it has benefits in abundance for your skin. Not only does it clear acne, pimples, dark circles but also delays signs of ageing. So, why not incorporate this wonder ingredient to let our skin enjoy its bounties? In keeping with this thought, I grabbed Everyuth Naturals Neem Face Wash one day. Having used it a couple of times by now, let me give you a sneak-peek into its performance.

PRICE- Rs 40/- for 60 g+12 g (free)

DIRECTIONS FOR USE– Squeeze out a small quantity onto your palm. Work up lather and gently massage on face. Rinse with water and pat your skin dry. Use 2 or 3 times a day.

INGREDIENTS-

WHAT IT CLAIMS– Regular exposure to dust, pollution and heat leaves your skin excessively oily. This causes acne, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. Everyuth Naturals neem face wash is enriched with Neem, tea tree oil and Chamomile. It gently deep cleanses your skin, removes pimple-causing bacteria and controls excessive oil secretion.

MY EXPERIENCE-

Packed in a tube with a flip-open cap at its end, the packaging of Everyuth Naturals Neem Face Wash is quite handy, hygienic and travel-friendly. The cap is sturdy which averts leakage/spillage. Hence, scores well on account of packaging.

The product has a slimy consistency. Now, don’t picture is completely as a hideous paste that looks like algae. The texture is predominantly slimy. It borders on the liquid side. The aroma is mild but refreshing. It isn’t long-lasting however. When mixed with a little water, a fine lather is created effortlessly which when worked up on one’s skin, sadly gives a feeling of sucking up skin’s moisture. After rinsing it off, the first thing I noted was that my skin looked unnaturally white. In fact it was so white that I pictured myself hitting my face on a plate having flour! Oh yes, you guessed it right this time. It sucked moisture and how! I had to immediately apply a moisturiser for it was highly discomfiting.

The only silver lining was that it cleansed my skin but nothing apart from that cheered me up. A look at its ingredients’ list and you’ll hit your head on the wall for investing in something that contains hordes of chemicals ranging from SLES to PEG, cocamidopropyl to parabens and so on and so forth. This one doesn’t work on pimples. How can it? Pimples are not determined by only one factor which can be taken care of by use of just one product. Even if you follow the procedure of applying mashed Neem leaves religiously, you need to watch over your diet and overall skin care regimen, right? So, relying on a product exclusively to combat so many skin woes would be naïve and far-fetched. This product is a debacle in a nutshell. It falls flat on its claims.

GOOD-

  • Readily available
  • Economical price
  • Mild and refreshing aroma
  • Imparts a clean look
  • Packed well

BAD-

  • Contains SLES, Cocamidopropyl, PEG, Fragrance (under the garb of which a number of chemicals are added), EDTA and parabens. Woah! That’s way too many chemicals. All of them are toxic.
  • Too drying for dry/extremely dry skin. Hence, not suitable for this skin type at all. Sucks moisture out of your skin.
  • Does not work on pimples and acne. Such problems aren’t combatted by mere use of one or two products. A lot of things including one’s diet and skin care regimen need to be watched out.
  • Does not impart radiance. What we get to see after washing it off is merely a clean face which is the case with every ABC face pack. Nothing to boost about.

RATING- 0/5

Editor’s Note: Sounds horrible! Have you tried the Himalaya Neem Face Wash? That actually works, and I love how mild, gentle yet refreshing it is. My Holy Grail since years!

Have you tried the Everyuth Neem Face Wash? If no, then don’t!

Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator Review, Swatches

Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator Review, Swatches

By Devika

Voila beauties!

Hope you all lovely ladies are doing good busy stashing up your makeup stuff. As I was going through mine, I found one thing missing and that’s a HIGHLIGHTER which is like the talk of the town now .Everybody is talking about it, it’s on everyone’s face, every brand seems to be endorsing them in creams, powders, liquid forms or in the form of strobe creams as they are calling them to be and they are like crazily being eyed upon. However, playing it safe I picked for me this Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bare Light which I would be reviewing for you guys.

Well, very few drugstore brands give you color options for highlighters to choose from and one is forced to look up to high end ones but Revlon has reintroduced these highlighters and it comes in 3 shades in Peach, Bare and Pink lights. So let’s get started

Price is 950 INR for 30ml of product

Shelf life is 3 years

Shades available: Peach, Bare and Pink lights

Product claims: Banish dullness and even out skin with light capturing crystals and photochromatic pigments for a lit-from-within look. Wear alone to highlight and brighten. Mix with or wear over foundation to banish dullness and even out skin tone.

My experience

Packaging-It comes in a slim tube which is quiet sturdy and looks simple yet elegant, the color of which corresponds to the shade it is, with a black glossy rectangular screw cap. The product is dispensed through a nozzle and since it’s runny in CONSISTENCY so nozzle has no control over the flow of the product, so it has to be held in an upright position every time you apply it. You just need to tilt the bottle to let the product flow out without actually pressing the bottle else it would lead to product wastage and then there is no option to put the product back.In all it’s easy to carry around and spill free.

How to use- It’s important to carefully let off the product from the tube as I said. Just tilt the bottle a little and dispense on your finger a drop or two and dab on the high ends of your face like cheek bones, bridge of the nose, cupids bow, under the eyebrow and blend into the skin. You can use fingers or damp sponge to spread but I found fingers worked best for me (the heat and pressure of fingers helps the product to spread easily). As it has lotion like consistency it gets easily absorbed into the skin and settles into a semi matte finish-It doesn’t look cakey either. Its buildable product so one can always add more although a small amount goes a long way! However it is not to be used on damaged or broken skin.

The TEXTURE is runny, lotion like, with very subtle glitters present and this gives the very natural highlighting finish on the skin. It suits all skin types. Even the oily skin ones can carry this formula easily as it is light weight and non-greasy. The SMELL is a light chemical pertained but not overpowering and fades off in a few seconds after application. This particular shade in Bare Lights has a champagne color with shimmers and would suit fair to medium skin tones but look loud on dark complexion. The skin shows healthy glow when it catches any form of light without being over the top, so it’s best for those who are new to highlighters as its sheer and subtle effect won’t let one overdo it. One can use it for everyday wear . I also tried mixing a drop or two into my foundation for that overall glistening look. But using it below the foundation didn’t show the product at all. I Have acne prone skin, I am glad it hasn’t broken me out. Also, it can easily be removed off with makeup remover.

Top- Blended
Bottom- Unblended/Swatch

Staying power- It fades away in 5 to 6 hours and those with oily skin would need touch-ups too. As summers are advancing, on hot sweaty days it might wither away further, so don’t forget to apply a layer of good SPF underneath to make it last longer.
Well, as compared to other high end brands, Payoff isn’t that great but compared to the price it comes in, it isn’t a bad deal either!!!

Pros

  • It is very soft and smooth, blends easily to form a natural glow on your face.
  • It is non-greasy or make your skin oily.
  • It has a fair staying power, stays around 5 to 6 hours over foundation.
  • The consistency helps in proper application of the product without overdoing it.
  • Product is buildable
  • It highlights face without giving an ‘on the top’ shimmery look.
  • The packing is sturdy and slim and travel friendly
  • A little will go a long way
  • Great for everyday look

Cons

  • The nozzle does not control the product flow, making it messy
  • It is not for those who really love shimmer highlighters on their face
  • Not suitable for dusky/dark skin tones
  • Oily skin people need touch ups
  • Little overpriced for a drugstore brand

SUMMARY

PACKAGING – sleek body, color coded, travel friendly, difficult dispensing
SHADE – a natural champagne gold with subtle shimmers
TEXTURE – lotion like runny, easily absorbed
PIGMENTATION – Natural, subtle and sheer pigmentation with not so dominant shimmer
STAYING POWER – 5 hours which require touch ups

Rating 4/5 (minus 1 for messy dispensing and frequent touch ups required)\

Final verdict: A promising, sleekly designed, light-weight highlighting liquid, which is not at all shimmery and gives a soft natural, glow to your face. I would recommend this highlighter for all those, who have just started their journey with highlighting and for those, who do not like over the top-shimmery look on their face.

So all those newbies, go get your hands on these beauties and get highlighted!!!!

Stay beautiful, Stay illuminated

Editor’s Note: I have swatched it before and wanted to try this, but have loads of highlighters to finish first 😀 I love how it is subtle and not too shimmery, same as their Highlighting Powder.

Have you tried the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Illuminator?

Studiowest Pure Passion Long Lasting Lipstick 621 Honey Glaze Review, Swatches

Studiowest Pure Passion Long Lasting Lipstick 621 Honey Glaze Review, Swatches

By Simran Bandwar

“If at first you don’t succeed, apply more lipstick!”

Hi everyone!
This is indeed going to be my very first post on New Love-Makeup and i am feeling great to be a part of this little community we got here.

So, i discovered Studiowest products about last year when i was casually walking through a Westside store and i am so glad i found a range which is so affordable and amazing at the same time.

Who doesn’t like makeup which looks good without burning a hole in your pocket?

On my recent web search, i discovered not a lot of reviews are being done on Studiowest products, so i thought why not give the brand the limelight it deserves?

The Studiowest cosmetics are divided into two ranges, Pure Passion and Maya

The Pure Passion range consists of beautiful corals, nudes and warm tone shades whereas the Maya range consists of glitter, dark tones and everything loud.

Pure Passion range can be considered as a range which consists of products which can be used on an everyday basis whereas the Maya range consists of products which can be used during parties or festivals or anytime you are going for that glam doll look.

Packaging: The product is packaged in a matte sleek black tube which is quite appeasing to the eyes. The lipstick bullet is encased in a golden metallic tube which is in perfect combination with the black. The cap is sturdy and travel friendly, you can slip the lipstick in your clutch and you’re ready to take over the world.

Claims: Indulge your lips with this long lasting lipstick. Comfortable and lightweight, it stays on for hours without drying out.

Price: Rs. 450/- for 3.5 gms

My take on Studiowest Pure Passion Long Lasting Lipstick in 621-Honey Glaze:

So, initially i got the lipstick in this shade for my mother because she only wears nude pinks and she wanted a new long lasting lipstick.

The lipstick is in a gorgeous nude mauve pink which can be worn every day. Anyone from fair to medium skin tone can wear this shade, it wouldn’t flatter darker skin tones though. The product sticks to its claim of longetivity since it stays for upto 6-7 hours even after a 3 course meal.  It doesn’t dry out the lips and i love how moisturizing it is.

The product isn’t completely matte, it is more of a moisturising matte or demi matte but i always pat translucent powder on top to turn the lipstick completely matte. I especially love how the lipstick smells, it is just so soothing. Even my mother loves the shade and the lasting power of the lipstick.

Pros of Studiowest Pure Passion Long Lasting Lipstick in 621- Honey Glaze:

Lasting power of the lipstick
Does not dry out the lips
Array of shades available
Moisturises the lips
Value for the money

Cons of Studiowest Pure Passion Long Lasting Lipstick in 621- Honey Glaze:

Only available in Westside stores across the country.

Rating: 4.5/5

Editor’s Note: I agree Simran, some of the shades in the Studiowest Pure Passion Range are really good. I have a few products from Studiowest and some are really good including the Pure Passion Lipstick. This shade is exactly like MAC Cosmo, an affordable dupe!

Have you tried Studiowest Makeup and/or lipsticks?

Whitetone Face Powder Review

WHITETONE FACE POWDER REVIEW

By Nidhal

Finishing touches… Just like a sculptor’s finishing touch to his oeuvre makes it a masterpiece, a dancer’s perfect pirouette evokes a sigh of admiration from his/her audience and a writer’s final words strike a chord, in the similar way, finishing touches to one’s skin simply prep one’s appearance up, don’t they? A little powder dabbed carefully on one’s skin not only controls excess sweating but also sorts out uneven complexion. In line with this thought, I zeroed in on WHITETONE FACE POWDER one fine day.

Let me clarify my stand on an issue before proceeding. I have no fascination for fair/white/pale skin. I never have and never will. I didn’t grab it because the word “White-tone’’ was embossed on its package. It’s funny in fact bordering on hilarious how a mere powder can leave one with fair skin. If smeared in excess, it will cast a very unnatural white tone which I am sure looks very hideous to most. My purpose of buying it was to see if it adds that finishing touch my appearance which I just talked about above. Well, then it is time to see its report card, right?

PRICE- Rs 100/- for 70g

DIRECTIONS FOR USE- Apply on face and neck in required amounts.

INGREDEINTS-

WHAT IT CLAIMS- Nothing

MY EXPERIENCE-

Packed in a plastic bottle with a flip-top cap, the packaging of Whitetone face powder is sturdy, hygienic and travel-friendly according to me. Of course, if not shut properly, the powder will obviously spill put but then, the cap provided is sturdy enough to avert such a situation. In a nutshell, even though it is nowhere eye-catching or fancy, yet it is fine for me.

It is finely powdered with a visible white colour and a very mild aroma. The aroma is temporary. It will vanish within seconds of application but sadly the colour is a major put-off. No one is as white as a whitewashed wall! Indians are predominantly dusky and making a powder that complements the warm Indian skin shades is what is expected and appreciable.

When applied on one’s skin, it gives a very unnatural white appearance. In fact, one looks as if a bag of flour has been dropped on them! During sweltering summers when we sweat, the distinction between our natural complexion and this white colour becomes all the more obvious. For this very reason, I do not find it useful at all. Moreover, it wouldn’t be of much use to those with dry/extremely dry skin since their skin is already sapped off moisture. Using a powder which works to seal the pores (which is how, powders ‘control sweating’) will worsen the condition.

The final nail in the coffin comes in the form of its ingredients’ list which has nothing natural. The worst part being it has silicones (dimethicone) and artificial fragrance (under the garb of which toxic chemicals are added).

GOOD-

  • Readily available
  • Economical pricing
  • Fine packaging

BAD-

  • Casts an unnatural white complexion which shows on Indian skin shades.
  • Unsuitable for dry and extremely dry skin
  • Instills a sense of inferiority in the minds of an average Indian who anyway is way too obsessed with fairness, by selling something under the name of “Whitetone”.
  • Contains silicones and artificial fragrance.

RATING- 0.5/5

Editor’s Note: Oh God, such a dud! Knew from the name, and the fancy advertisement they do on TV :/ Nice review Nidhal 🙂

Have you tried the Whitetone Face Powder? Please don’t if you haven’t :p

Lakme Absolute Illuminate & Shine Range Preview, Swatches, Prices, Buy Online

Lakme Absolute Illuminate & Shine Range Preview, Swatches, Prices, Buy Online

Hi guys,

I have been playing with the new Lakme Absolute Illuminate and Shine Range since the past one week.

The range has 3 new eyeliners called Lakme Absolute Precision Eye Artist, 15 shades of lipsticks called the Lakme Absolute Illuminating Lip Shimmer, 2 eyeshadow Palettes with 6 eyeshadows each in Gold and Silver i.e one with warm and daytime colors and one with cool and night time/smokey colors. And finally 10 gorgeous glitter nail paints which I believe are not out yet.

As you can notice, the whole range is about shimmer and glitter. I have 3 lipsticks and all 3 eyeliners with me, and the Gold Palette. These are already available online, so I thought of swatching them, in case you would like to buy them online, coz they are on discount on Amazon.

Lakme Absolute Precision Eye Artist – Rs.850/- for 0.35g (BUY HERE)

Unique twist up retractable liner with precision grip
Liner comes in 3 metallic shades
Intense color in just one stroke

Lakme Absolute Illuminating Lip Shimmer- Rs.700/- for 5g (BUY HERE for 630)

High color pay off with a creme texture
Reflective shimmer finish
Contemporary shades from Lakme absolute, recommended by backstage experts

Lakme Absolute Illuminating Eyeshadow Palette- Rs.995/- (BUY HERE for 896)

A versatile palette with 6 unique shades developed to suit Indian skin tones
Complimentary shades blend effortlessly to create different looks
Ideal for all special occasions

Here are the swatches..

L-R: Emerald Green, Blue Sapphire, Burnished Brown
L-R: Tropical Shine, Crimson Blink, Pink Flash
L-R: Tropical Shine, Crimson Blink, Pink Flash
Illuminating Eyeshadow Palette in Gold
Illuminating Eyeshadow Palette in Gold

The eyeliner comes in this long, slender retractable packaging with a rubber grip to hold it well. It is super pigmented and with one swipe, you get the perfect, opaque color. The three shades available are Burnished Brown, Blue Sapphire and Emerald Green.

All three shades are true to its name and gorgeous. If you are not a color person, definitely get Burnished Brown!

The lipsticks I have are Tropical Shine, Pink Flash and Crimson Blink. All the shades have shimmer in them, but are super pigmented and give opaque coverage. Pink Flash doesn’t have gold or silver shimmer but self pink shimmer, hence it is not reflective.

And the palette in Gold has neutral shades from brown, nudes, taupes to olives.

This range is definitely expensive and I was not expecting such high prices :/ I absolutely love the Precision Eye Artist, they are super creamy, pigmented and amazing to work with. Definitely recommend those. In Lip Shimmers, shades like Tropical Shine, Rose Gold are very unique and pretty and perfect for weddings/brides.

I will do a detailed review on this range soon.

I hope you liked the preview and swatches, do share your favourites in the comments below.

Decoding Kim Kardashian Hair and Makeup Secrets

Decoding Kim Kardashian Hair and Makeup Secrets

By Sanchita

I had real fun decoding the Kylie Jenner Makeup Tips, so after going through several teaching sessions, YouTube tutorials, interviews and Instagram posts of Mario Dedivanovic (Kim Kadarshian’s favorite makeup artist) I was so determined to do this post on Decoding Kim Kardashian Hair and Makeup Secrets.

Kim Kardarshian is famous for her contour, nude lips, smokey eyes and the list go on and on. No doubt we love every bit of her makeup and her luscious hair styles. So, want to know the secret tips behind her flawless outlook. I am sure the tips and tricks will simply amaze you. So let’s explore the details.

Makeup before hair – Yes, do you makeup first and then the hair. This is because the hair spray might leave behind its residue on the face which will make the application of the foundation slight difficult. Also, if you are going for a bouncy curly look, you have to back comb and tug it so that it stays away from the face while applying makeup. All in all, do your makeup first and then go for the hairstyle.

Skip the primer – When possible makeup brand came out with their version of primer and beauty bloggers vouching for the primer which ‘apparently’ helps smoothening the foundation and keeps it in place, Kim’s MUA Mario Dedivanovic says primer is totally optional and there is no harm at all in skipping it. He says so because loading too many products one after another will only make you oily, especially in humid weather. So next time you decide to splurge of the expensive primer, just don’t.

Emollient moisturizer – An emollient moisturizer is one which hydrates your skin, smoothens out your pores and provides a nice base to your foundation. This is why you don’t need a primer separately. Too many products will do more harm than any good and therefore to minimize the buildup of products between the skin and foundation, simply use a moisturizer. Kim Kardashian’s favorite moisturizer is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream which acts both as primer and moisturizer. Therefore, invest in a good moisturizer instead of too many products.

Beauty blender – From Kim Kardashian, Mario Dedivanovic, Kylie Jenner and all the possible celebrities and their MUAs have vouched for the goodness of Beauty Blender. Well, sadly Beauty Blender isn’t easily available in India (there’s also a lot of speculations about fake Beauty Blender sold online) and even if you badly want to have it, you have to pay a huge amount for a sponge. Therefore, the cheapest solution was given by Bhumika, the PAC’s Beauty Blender (a very similar one) which is efficient as well.

Master handling the puff – Kim’s MUA Mario Dedivanovic states that it is important to hold the powder puff while application. Put two fingers into the loop on the outer side and slightly press over the desired area. In general we always use the powder brush for baking and applying translucent powder, but Mario states that puffs are lot better in efficiency. It helps the powder to adhere well to the makeup, blurs out the pores and prevents the cakey application to a large extent.

Strong brow game – Brow game is something we all agree with. It defines the eye makeup and gives a neat and clean appearance to the makeup look. Well, to make this game stronger, Mario uses two colors to define the eye brows. Use a lighter color in the inner corners while a darker one on the outer portions. This will create a pretty strong ombre effect and brings out an appealing look.

There’s nothing called too many eyeliners – Mario applies more than four layers of eyeliners on Kim. He states that it will give your eyes a “beautiful definition and look more expensive”. Well, we got the trick. He first applies an eye pencil as the base, then another eyeliner, followed by the liquid liner and finishes off with gel or crème liner! Phew! That’s a lot. I once tried that at home and I was really astonished to see the beautiful effect it creates. If you are a deep kohled or dark eyes lover, you have to try this out.

Bake the dark circles – Baking is easy-peasy and all you have to do is apply concealer/color corrector/foundation and simply dab powder and let it sit for around 10 mins or so to let the natural heat from your body set the powder. After that simply dust off the excess. Baking is generally done on the areas we highlight i.e. under the eyes, chin, forehead, etc. Mario uses the baking technique mainly for covering the dark circles. This works excellent and does a double duty of highlighting as well as concealing.

Contouring isn’t everything – When I first read this one from Mario, I was like ‘What!’ This particular statement coming from Kim’s MUA whose middle name is ‘contour’ is surely a big deal. Well, he believes that contouring isn’t everything and you can still look equally photogenic without it. The extreme contouring videos we see from YouTube and Instagram aren’t essential for makeup. Nevertheless, if you want do this, there is no harm in making the features sharp.

Double highlighter – Mario stresses on the fact that to have that flawless look, highlighter is the key. Yes, of course blush, contour and everything else is there but highlighter is something that gives you the neat look. He applies double layer of highlighter on Kim. Firstly, he applies a brightening yellow powder like Ben Nye Banana and then some shimmery or frosty powder ones to add that ultra-strobing effect. And then finishes off with golden for that warm glow.

Stunning eye lashes – Kim uses a nice voluminous mascara on the natural eyelashes first after curling them. Then she uses individual falsies (longer on the outer portion, shorter on the inner one) and finishes of with another coat of mascara to adhere the falsies to the natural lashes. God! No wonder her smoky eye is so flawless.

Makeup removal – This is a very common tip vouched every now and then and Kim also swears by it religiously. It is so important to remove every trace of makeup when you are going to hit the bed. Residual makeup has some nasty side effects like pimples, infection, allergies, discoloration, pigmentation and the list is totally endless. Use a good cleanser or baby oil to wipe off every layer of makeup from face, eyes and also lips and wash off with a mild face wash or whatever suits you best.

Stop shampooing everyday – While you have heard it that to keep our hair clean you have shampoo every day, Kim says don’t. Regular shampooing will ruin the hair and strip off the natural oils. She prefers a blowout on the first day while on day two she goes for messy buns, curls and waves. On day three, when the hair starts to get flat due to the natural oil of the scalp, she straightens the hair and tries out sleek hair styles. In this way, the straightening doesn’t damage the hair as well. On day four it is ok to wash the hair. Kim uses Moroccanoil and Carol’s Daughter Monoi Hair Mask to make the hair soft.

Skincare – According to her, skin care is the primary step where you actually have to work hard. No amount of cosmetics will save you if your skin behaves badly. This is why regular skin care routines, clean up, healthy diet and lots of water is required.

Makeup brushes – the last tip from her MUA is the cleaning of makeup brushes, which is another important hygienic requirement for makeup. Mario uses Tea Tree oil to soak the brushes and then washes in a concoction of water and baby shampoo. Baby shampoos are gentle and hence doesn’t make the bristles rough while tea tree oil ensures that every layer of residual makeup is removed and also it is anti-bacterial.

Editor’s Note: Those were some very nice tips Sanchita. I skip primer majority of the days and shampoo every 2-3 days, so following some here 😀 And beauty blender indeed gives a beautiful effect. I am definitely trying layering the eyeliner and light and dark shade for eyebrows.

Did you like Kim Kardashian’s makeup secrets? Do you follow these? Know of any, you would like to add? Do let us know in the comments below.

P.S: Images from Google.