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.
So a few days back, I tried out The Home Salon who provide professional salon services at your doorstep. This concept of providing beauty services at home is quite in trend these days and there are a lot of competitors in the market.
About The Home Salon: We are your beauty Santa Claus! Have you ever thought of waxing and then changed your mind because the salon was so far away? Or wanted a massage because you were tired, but too tired to travel to a spa? Do you wish beauty was at your fingertips – something so effortless & regular, it almost felt part of your routine?That’s why we exist. To remind you to feel beautiful even when you you’re down! To help you look good and take away those blues. To love yourself so you can love others! To help the world’s best manager manage herself!So curl up your legs, take a break and call us home! Allow us to indulge you in the choicest of beauty & spa therapies without having to so much as raise a finger! Watch us do our magic while you simply sip on your coffee. And better still – do this at your time and convenience!
To start with, my appointment was booked for 2 pm in the afternoon and since it was the 5th day of Ganpati Visarjan, the lady got a bit late and arrived by 2.40 which she called and informed me about. I liked the fact that I was kept informed about reaching late.
I tried the Anti-tan chocolate wax for my full arms and legs. I have tried the White Chocolate Rica wax before at Lakme Salon just before my wedding and had a very good experience with that, so I was expecting similar results. Here, the attendant was using Biosoft Chocolate Wax. It comes with pre gel and post wax lemon oil, she forgot to use the pre gel and I was informed about it later when I was called for feedback. I do have sensitive skin, especially on my arms and I had informed them before as all waxes don’t work for me. The lady while booking the appointment told me a patch test would be done and then we would proceed with the complete waxing. We started with the legs first and I don’t have an issue with the legs since the skin on the legs is usually thicker and not that sensitive.
After the waxing on my arms, I got a lot of red bumps on my entire arms and the lemon oil did not help in reducing them. My mom applied lots of ice and it was a little better but the bumps stayed for around 3 days and the skin was quite itchy too. I only get my waxing done at a particular salon where I do not get any reaction or bumps as they use a lot of astringent to close the pores. I did mention this to the attendant too hoping she would use astringent but I don’t think she was carrying anything apart from the post wax lemon oil. The lemon oil only helps in reducing the stickiness from the wax but does not do anything to close the pores.
She also asked me if I had to thread my eyebrows and since I had not got my eyebrows done since a month, I was like ok. I am very finicky about my eyebrows and I only get my extras removed as I like and prefer my thick eyebrows. I mentioned that to the attendant about 4-5 times and even while she was doing the eyebrows, but still my eyebrows from one part were made a bit thinner. I was not very happy but since it was not drastically thin, it was not looking bad.
Later on I tried the anti – tan manicure and pedicure. She had brought the pedicure tub along and all the creams, scrubs and masks that come in separate sachets i.e. the entire kit. She simultaneously did both the hands and legs and it took about a little more than an hour for both. The tan had actually reduced and my feet were looking much better. I only thought the procedure could have been a little more extensive, coz I had tried similar services with another beauty service provider where two separate persons were doing the mani- pedi and it took them a total of 3 hours! They were doing it in a more detailed way taking time on each step.
Maybelline Colorshow Molten Maroon
I went with the Maybelline ColorShow Nail Paint in Molten Maroon since it was a perfect fall color, sadly the nail paint chipped in 3 days even after two coats. Also, it has stained my nails very badly and I am trying to get rid of the stain right now. It is not the attendant’s fault of course, but I would have liked if she would have used a base coat and a top coat. Since it is a deep color, base coat would have prevented staining and a top coat would have helped the nail paint stay longer.
Also the prices for manicure and pedicure are almost the same, when usually pedicure is a little more detailed and slightly higher priced.
Prices:
De-tan full arms waxing: Rs.469
De- tan full Legs waxing: Rs.563
Anti tan Manicure: Rs.625
Anti tan Pedicure: Rs. 688
Overall I would say The Home Salon is very economically priced and offers all the beauty services at your door step, I do recommend checking them out. Only if you have sensitive skin, inform them about it and that you would need a lot of astringent. You can skip the eyebrows though if you are not comfortable. The manicure and pedicure were pretty decent too for the price, only if you need something much more detailed, then this is not for you.
Check out their services or book an appointment at www.thehomesalon.in, they are also available on apps on your Play Store.
Have you tried The Home Salon or something similar yet?
P.S: Services were offered in exchange for a honest review.
I know this is off topic but Diwali is coming soon and I realized that Diwali for us somehow has lost its charm, especially for me. It is not the same as before, the fun we had when we were kids.
My memories of Diwali have been buying different colors for rangoli, a stencil, selecting a design from the book and all the preparation of making a brown base and then making a rangoli which took 2-3 hours. Decorating the whole house with lights and diyas, spending those 3-4 days with the entire family, the Diwali Pooja, dadi teaching us how to make kajal using ghee and an earthen pot on Kaali Chaudas, the lunch I had with my brother on Bhai Dooj, the Laxmi Pooja on Diwali and lighting some phooljadis for shagan (I had stopped using the loud crackers long back after seeing the pollution and the streets filled with remnants and how scared the dogs would be)
And then finally on the last day of ‘New Year’, going to every friend and family member’s place to wish them Happy New Year and they coming at our place.
But now, things have changed so drastically, people look forward to relaxing those 3 days of holidays. Forget going to each other’s place to wish New Year, there are no phone calls too and we end up wishing everyone on Whatsapp. There is no time for rangolis, we hardly spend time with families and lights are just for name sake to show Diwali.
I saw this video recently where this old grandfather was missing his grandchild and how he used to spend Diwali with her. And guess what, the dadu gets the best surprise of his life. What do you think the surprise is? Yes, she probably is coming to meet him this Diwali!
Perfectly timed, Lufthansa has unveiled its #DiwaliSurprise campaign which gives you an opportunity to fly to the one you love! It also gives you an opportunity to help brighten a child’s life by just registering your wish – so awesome! 😀
Fly away to be with the one you love – your friend and you could both win a ticket with your Diwali wish and also your wish will add Diwali lights to illuminate a Lufthansa plane – a digital marvel to behold on the Festival of Lights!
So click HERE and send your wishes quickly to your loved ones this Diwali 🙂
Colorbar Kiss Proof Lip Stain Mauve Dusk Review, Swatches, FOTD
What the Company claims: Revolutionary unique No-Transfer Lip stain formula glides on flawlessly and delivers impressively long-lasting, velvety color that will not transfer and stay all day long.
The weightlessness of the formula will provide you with all-day comfort – wear lip makeup and a flawless look.
Features and Benefits:
No -Transfer liquid lip stain
Weightless on application
Long Lasting
Matte finish with creamy application
Enriched with Vitamin E providing antioxidant properties
Color does not bleed on lips
Preservative free
Shades Available: 8
Ingredients:
MRP: Rs.900/- for 6.5ml
To start with the packaging, I love the silver steel gloss like tube but it is see through in the middle where brand name goes and you can see the shade from the see through.
The doe foot applicator is perfect for application, even on the sharp edges and for defining the cupid’s bow. It is thick, pigmented cream in texture but settles within a minute to smudge proof, matte color.
I love the fact that it is comfortable on the lips and not at all drying. I have dry lips and I have a tough time with matte lipsticks usually, but this by far has been the most comfortable matte lip stain for me.
The pigmentation is so amazing that I just need to take the product out once to cover the lips completely. I never have dipped the applicator again for more product and I feel this 6.5 ml tube would last me really, really long.
Coming to the main part for me, the staying power. It stays whole day and survives meals, tea, coffee, everything. It fades a bit by the end of the day but doesn’t budge. Also it comes off easily with a makeup remover.
L- Just Applied, R- Matte within a minute
I have the shade ‘Mauve Dusk’ which is a beautiful mauve dusky rose pink, it looks more pinker in sunlight and more mauve indoors/dim light as you can see in both the pics below. I absolutely adore this shade and have been wearing this quite often since the time I got this.
Here it is on me..
It is definitely on the expensive side, but I would say the quantity is 6.5ml which is more than the usual 4ml in such matte lip creams/tints. I would have preferred less quantity and less price, which would have made it more economical.
But quality wise, it is just amazing! I highly recommend it!
I just wanted to add something here, I have seen mixed reviews of this lip stain and 2-3 bloggers found it very drying. I am not sure if the formulation is different for different shades, but try it before buying coz Rs.900/- is a lot to invest before trying.
Rating:
Quality: 5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Would I buy it again: Yes!
Have you tried the new Colorbar Kiss Proof Lip Stain yet?
Gorgeous hair is best maintained by the age-old wondrous coconut oil. However, no matter what your hair type, texture, colour or length, you may fall prey to hair problems, at some point in their life. Are you battling hair fall, dandruff, split ends and more? Pollution, stress levels, sun, erratic lifestyles, inadequate diets, etc., could be playing havoc on your hair. While you can’t change what has been done, maybe it’s time to sit, up, take notice and use something extra. Make repairs with Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut + + Hair Oil and make hair damage a thing of the past!
Dabur Vatika Coconut Oil Key Ingredients: Say goodbye to all your hair problems. Switch to Vatika!
3 hair problems, 1 solution. With the triple power of Amla, Henna and lemon, Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil, saves your hair from problems like dandruff, split ends and hair fall, thereby giving it volume and shine that make your tresses gorgeous!
MRP: Rs.84/- for 180ml (150ml + 20% extra free)
Benefits of Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil:
It helps in deep conditioning your scalp
Amla promotes hair growth
Coconut is very nourishing and hydrates and nourishes even the hair follicles
Amla helps prevent hair greying
Lemon is very good to keep dandruff at bay
Coconut oil being rich and hydrating, also helps get rid of split ends
Coconut helps retain moisture in the hair & also works on repairing damaged hair
Coconut oil is a natural detangler for hair
Henna also helps retain hair colour and keep it rich and dark
And there are numerous other benefits of Coconut alone, much more of Henna, Amla and Lemon infused together. In monsoons, if I get wet in the rains, the first thing that gets affected is my hair. If I do not immediately oil my hair and wash them, the texture changes and I even face dandruff issues coz of the rain water. In winters, dandruff is the main issue always. I am glad the Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair oil has lemon which is what I mostly use for my dandruff, this is helping me keep dandruff at bay.
How I use it: I either keep oil in my hair overnight or do use it an hour before shampooing, and it makes a huge difference. Whenever I have oiled my hair before shampooing, the hair is super smooth and more softer with less frizz than just alone shampooing. Overnight oiling is more beneficial, but if forgot or do not like the oil on your hair overnight, at least try and use it an hour before shampooing.
It takes an extra wash to remove the oil, but then it’s so worth it. Fortunately, Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Oil is not that sticky and very light in texture, it would not make your look like an oil slick or give you that sticky feeling when you touch your hair.
I would say it is one stop for all your hair problems from hair breakage, split ends, greying , dandruff, etc. Use this twice a week on a continuous basis and you will definitely see a lot of improvement in your hair.
It is very economical price wise too, plus I got 20% extra 😀 I love the light smell too, it is not over powering or bothering.
Read more about Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil HERE or try a sample by clicking on ‘Request your own sample’.
This is my current favourite hair oil. I definitely recommend trying it out.
Have you tried the Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil yet?
L’Oreal Paris White Perfect Magic White Double Whitening Day Cream, Eye Cream Review
Whoa, that’s quite a mouthful! I have been using this day cream and eye cream from the L’Oreal Paris White Perfect Range from quite some time, day cream being on and off, read below to know why.
What the Company claims: GET INSTANT PERFECTION AND DAY AFTER DAY SKIN WHITENING FROM WITHIN WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY WHITE PERFECT MAGIC WHITE DOUBLE WHITENING CREAM.
PRODUCT BENEFITS: Upon application, thousands of MAGIC BEADS melt on skin to instantly and magically brighten and even skin tone right from the 1st touch, with no BB cream effect. Apply on cleansed skin every day.
INNOVATIONS & INGREDIENTS: High concentration of MELANIN-VANISH accelerates the skin regeneration process to unload excess melanin deep in skin layers and reduce dullness and dark spots.
WHITE PERFECT MAGIC WHITE EYE CREAM
WHITE PERFECT MAGIC WHITE DOUBLE WHITENING EYE CREAM GIVES INSTANT BLUR EFFECT.
PRODUCT BENEFITS: In 5 seconds, instant blur effect, anti-dark circles, lines and bags.
Apply around the eye contour.
INNOVATIONS & INGREDIENTS: In 4 weeks, eye contour brightening with Vitamin CG and Caffeine.
MRP: Rs.599/- for 15g
Ingredients:
Both the day cream and eye cream come in this white and blue packaging, the day cream being a flat tube with a nozzle front and the eye cream being slim and round with a thin nozzle tip.
The day cream is white in color and thin and runny in texture, it spreads easily on the skin but it needs some blending as it leaves a whitish cast which looks too obvious if not blended well. The smell is not so pleasant too.
You definitely see visible brightness on the skin as soon as you apply it, but it not something permanent or that stays forever. If you read the ingredients in the image above, you see a lot of different silicones in it. Now my skin is not very sensitive and does not react easily to products but with this one, I broke out and got a lot of white heads, I had to stop using it for a few days. Then I started using it again and I broke out again 🙁 Now I have 2-3 acne scars to deal with. I am not really sure what particularly from the ingredients was triggering break outs. Coz I have used products with silicones before, maybe the combination of silicones or a particular silicone was doing it.
Till the time I used it, I can say that it does give the skin a brighter look and feel though not permanently. It is moisturising enough and there were no dry patches on the skin. I wouldn’t recommend it to sensitive skin though, for others, do give it a try if you want brighter, firmer looking skin but don’t expect permanent or long term results. You will notice a difference till the time you use it. Also, it has SPF19.
Coming to the eye cream, I love the convenient packaging and the nozzle only dispenses the required quantity. It is light yellow in color and slightly thick but easily blendable.
I target my under eye area at first, and then with some product left on the ring fingers I go over the entire eye lightly. I definitely noticed a difference in my under eye area from the time I am using it. The eye area is more moisturised, dark circles less visible and eye area is brighter. Caffeine also helps in reducing the under eye bags.
L- Eye cream, R- Day Cream
I love the eye cream and definitely recommend it, if you have dry skin and are anywhere in your late 20’s and early 30’s, it is time you start using an eye cream and invest in a good one. Even though this sounds expensive, 15g tube would last long as you need quite a tiny amount.
Overall, I would say the day cream did not work for me coz it broke me out but the eye cream is definitely worth a try!
Day Cream Rating:
Quality: 3/5 (For my skin, 2/5)
Value for money: 3/5
Availability: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 2/5
Eye cream Rating:
Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money: 3.75/5
Availability: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Would I buy it again: The eye cream
Have you checked out the new L’Oreal Paris White Perfect Magic White Range yet?
Remember the accessories I showed you last time from Confusion Fashion Accessories, see HERE. Read all about them in the previous post or at confusionfa.com
This time, I got a few more pieces to show you guys.
If you have seen the previous haath phool and how I was obsessed with it, you have to see this one. I absolutely love this haath phool/hand harness and have been wearing this a lot! This is slightly different coz it has a mesh and pearl kada on one side and then connects with the ring, unlike the usual bracelet.
These cute pearl drop earrings which I wore in my youtube video HERE, I love how small and light they are yet look pretty, they are kind of ‘jhumkas’ which you can wear with not only your Indian outfits but also fusion Indo-western wear. I have worn them with my maxi dress.
I love maang tikkas, they make you look pretty instantly and you don’t need any additional accessories when you are wearing a maang tikka. This one has kundan which makes it look all the more pretty and it has maroon enameled stone which makes it perfect for most of the Indian wear and wedding sarees.
And, last but not the least, a kundan saree keyring. I was in search of a good kundan keyring which is not very heavy since a long time and this is just perfect! It can make any saree look much more pretty and well accessorized. Key rings complement sarees beautifully.
I love all the four pieces here, if I have to choose, the haath phool is of course my favourite, followed by the earrings and maang tikka. And if I am wearing a saree, the key ring.
I really love Confusion Fashion Accessories’ collection and also the fact that they keep adding on new stuff every month. I see new collection and different, unique pieces every time I check their site.
If you are looking for some accessories for your Indian wear, definitely check out Confusion Fashion Accessories. They also have some nice house decor items. cuff links and brooch for men, etc.
What is your favourite piece? Do let me know in the comments below.
About PepperTap: PepperTap is changing the way people buy groceries. We are replacing your visits to the super market with a few taps on phone. We started our operations in November 2014 serving a limited area in Gurgaon. Focussed on accurate and on time deliveries, we are now available throughout the city. Simplicity and effectiveness are the key drivers of our products and service. We believe buying groceries online should not be just for early adopters and We strive to make our service more accessible so anyone can free up their time to do what they love.
There have been so many apps to shop groceries out now in the market. But I think Peppertap’s claim to deliver in 2 hours in unbeatable!
You get 20% off on your first order using ‘TAP20’ maximum upto Rs.200/- I am glad that one can see this message and use the 20% off discount, because majority of the times the coupon code is available online or on their social media and one has to search. If you are not very social media friendly, you could miss out on the coupon code but Peppertap displays it on your login.
I tried to shop from Peppertap and it was a breeze. The interface and layout is amazing. I have tried 1-2 other grocery apps and for buying stuff worth Rs.1000 took me 3 hours! I was so surprised and happy to see the amazing layout and easy navigation of the Peppertap app.
As you can see above, there are categories like Popular (most sold), Food & Drink, Staples & Spices, Fruits & Vegetables, Breakfast & Dairy, Bath & Body, etc. And then there are sub categories like Flour, Oil & Ghee, Rice, Salt & Sugar, etc. within Staples & Spices.
They list all brands and types of flour available with the price, quantity, discount, etc for each item. This was so convenient coz I have spent a lot of time on other apps using the ‘Search’ option as it was not bifurcated that well.
They have some items like broccoli, babycorn, mushrooms, etc. but still don’t stock red cabbage, olives, etc. I hope they add more products to their kitty.
They have free shipping above Rs.250/-, below which they have shipping charges of Rs.50/-
On checkout, you get two options for Delivery Time and Payment Type. If you want the order to be delivered ‘NOW’ i.e. in 2 hours or a later time where you select a time slot. And Payment Type, whether Cash on Delivery or Paying Online.
Peppertap App is available both on Android and iOS.
I definitely suggest you guys try the Peppertap app. And you get your order delivered in just 2 hours which is the best part, because even when you go out to buy stuff, picking up stuff, standing in queue to pay and returning back carrying all those heavy bags will take you 2 hours or perhaps more!
Save your time and efforts and your weekend, if you are working by ordering all your groceries on your phone at the comfort of your home or even while you are travelling.
Peppertap definitely gets a big thumbs up from my side and I will be ordering from them more often, what about you? What do you guys think of the Peppertap app?
What the Company claims: Colour intense, sophisticated burnished red lipstick enriched with moisturising Vitamin E. Lipstick in Kin provides a long-lasting satin finish in a smooth, hydrating formula that glides onto lips without compromising on colour pay off.
I have tried a few lipsticks from Illamasqua before, also the Glamore ones, see HERE and HERE. This shade ‘Kin’ is from the new Illamasqua Earth Collection.
It has the classic black Illamasqua packaging. The finish is creamy and it is quite pigmented like all other Illamasqua lipsticks, you just need one swipe with this.
The shade Kin is described as burnished red, it is like a light muted wearable berry brown shade. It instantly glams up your face and perfect for night too.
The only thing I did not like much about this lipstick in particular is the staying power, it stayed just 3-4 hours on me and that too without eating or drinking. All other Illamasqua lipsticks have always stayed longer, not sure if it is something with this particular lipstick.
It fades away evenly and easy to carry along and apply. Here it is on me..
The only con I would say is the availability and also Illamasqua lipsticks are a bit pricey. But they have such amazing pigmentation and quality, have always loved all Illamasqua lipsticks, I only wish this one stayed longer though.
Overall, I quite like this shade and the Earth collection is all about ‘Fall’ shades and browns, berries, etc. This shade ‘Kin’ is also fall appropriate. If you are looking for a wearable berry shade which is not too bright or vampy, then this would be perfect. It will work with majority skin tones.
Rating:
Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money: 3.75/5
Availability: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Would I buy it again: Not this shade, but would love more of Glamore Lipsticks
Have you tried Illamasqua Glamore Collection Lipsticks? Which is your favorite ?
I am so glad that brands in India are coming up with something for eyebrows which was forever ignored until now. I know so many women who make do with either black/brown eye pencil for eye brows. But now no more! We got the Fashion Brow Duo Shaper pencil by none other than Maybelline India.
What the Company claims: The Fashion Brow is the ultimate duo shaper with a natural mineral powder finish on one end and a 0.2mm micro lead tip pencil on the other to give you an ultra-soft precision for perfectly defined eyebrows up to 12 hours. It fixes gaps and blends seamlessly for smooth, stunning brows. If you’re not born with brows that are naturally full and shaped to perfection, Fashion Brow will guarantee you to get the best look for them.
Here’s why you will love it:
– Available in two variants, Brown and Grey.
– Duo shaper with a natural mineral powder finish.
– 0.2mm micro lead tip pencil.
– Double ended eyebrow pencil.
– Perfectly defined eyebrows up to 12 hours.
– Priced at Rs. 245 for 0.61g
I also love the fact that it is everything dual from two shade options i.e. Brown and Grey coz not every woman’s facial hair is of the same color. Brown is what usually works for everyone, but many a times brown looks stark and grey looks more natural. Try out both and what works best for you.
Powder on one side and Pencil on one
Also it has both powder and pencil in one, i.e. one side id mineral powder with a sponge tip applicator and one side is a very fine tip retractable pencil.
Now I have the ‘Brown’ one and the pencil part still looks a bit grey and is not completely brown. The pencil is a bit hard and you have to go with multiple soft strokes to define the shape. I am glad it is not creamier or too pigmented coz then it either melts off if creamy and one goes overboard if too pigmented.
L- Pencil, R- Powder
There is a very thin line between defined brows and artificial looking too much filled bushy brows! It is very easy to make out and the over-filled ones look very bad, trust me! The pencil is quite thin and perfect for defining the shape and adding just the required color. I use the pencil at the front and define the shape and then fill the outer half and the gaps with the powder side.
It stayed on me whole day with minimal fading! I quite like the Fashion Brow Pencil and also it is priced very economically, but the quantity is too less. You will finish the pencil part soon and the powder you just cannot see how much is used/left.
L- Powder, R- Pencil
I am not someone who fills eyebrows everyday or regularly. I have thick brows and I usually skip doing brows, though there are certain gaps I need to fill, but I am usually too lazy. I am glad I can now by carrying just a pencil, since it is very travel friendly too, now you can do your brows anywhere without carrying brow powder/brush, etc.
Here is my Before- After
Before – After
Absolutely love it and recommend it!
Rating:
Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money : 3.75/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall rating: 3.85/5
Have you tried the New Maybelline Fashion Brow Duo Shaper yet?
