The Art to Picking the Right Engagement Ring for Brides and Grooms
Hi guys,
Continuing the bridal series, today we are talking about the right engagement ring for the brides an grooms. Here are a few pointers which will help you pick the right engagement ring:
Establishing the budget: Decide a budget and stick to it more or less when you go ring shopping. The jewellers will try and show you expensive ones and solitaires, if it is something that does not fit your budget, don’t even look at those!
Find the perfect size: Get your ring finger sized first and go for the closest match, but make sure it is neither too tight nor too loose. Definitely not loose, it can be slightly rolled if it is bit tighter.
Ring band: There are so many different metals used for rings these days, most common being yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, platinum, and silver. You can even go for a mix of metals.
Quality of diamonds: When choosing a diamond, you have to check the four C’s i.e. Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. Choose a diamond keeping in mind all these four characteristics.
Shape of diamond: You can go for round, oval, pear, heart, princess, there are different shapes to choose from. Shape of the diamond matters the most, even before everything else. Princess cut is the most common and something mostly people opt for.
Setting of diamonds: That is the main part again, if you opt for one big stone, you can for solitaire or Tiffany setting. If you have smaller stones, then you can cluster a shape or even mix the smaller clusters around the main, big solitaire.
Shape of ring: Keep in mind your hand shape, length of fingers and what shape of ring would look best on your fingers, before finalizing a ring.
The same rules apply when buying diamond rings for both brides and grooms, just that the shape of the diamond is not much of a concern for the groom as mostly it is the square setting and shape.
A couple can also opt for platinum bands if they prefer or even get it personalized by engraving their initials or date or place tbey met.
What do you think? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below 🙂
The Body Shop Christmas Special Frosted Cranberry Range Review
Hi guys,
The Body Shop has come up with interesting gift packs for Christmas, and one of their new launches is the Frosted Cranberry Range.
MRP: Rs.995/-
It comes in this cute red gift box with cut outs and the top handle. It has a body wash, body butter and a loofah.
These are perfect for travel and make very cute gifts for your loved ones. The range has a strong sweet smell of candies & cranberries. The packaging is all red and Christmasy.
I like the body wash, the smell is not that over powering but the body butter is very sweet for my taste. I prefer subtle and fresh, citrusy smells when it comes to body butter. But the texture of the body butter is really light and it has sesame oil and is easily absorbed into the skin without any greasiness. It also has cocoa butter, shea butter, cranberry seed oil, soybean oil and beeswax, but still it is quite light.
Body Butter Ingredients
The loofah as all Body Shop loofahs is of really good quality and easy to use. Not very abrasive and perfect for light exfoliating and works great with any body wash.
Body Wash Ingredients
I would recommend smelling the products individually first before buying the entire box. I definitely recommend the body wash, but not really a fan of the body butter smell, though I love the light texture.
Also The Body Shop is running a Water Aid campaign globally. The Body Shop and Water Aid are spreading happiness this Christmas with the gift of safe water. For every specially selected gift people will buy, The Body Shop will donate one day of safe water to a family in Ethiopia. So when you buy a gift box, you are also helping a family get clean and safe water for a day. Double joy 😀
Do check out the interesting gift packs at the nearest The Body Shop store or even online on www.thebodyshop.in
What do you think about The Body Shop Gift Packs? Do you like the Frosted Cranberry Range?
So the wedding season is here and I have some beauty must haves and handy tips for all you winter brides. Here you go:
1. Rich Moisturizer
That will be the number 1 requirement in winters. Skin will be dry and patchy which will lead to redness and unevenness on the skin, a rich moisturizer is what you must never skip. Apply it every morning on cleansed skin and maybe even reapply if your skin feels stretchy again throughout the day.
2. Sunscreen & Scarf/Umbrella
Oh the last minute shopping and rushing for the final trials & fittings, you do not want to be burned or tanned. While your sunscreen is a must to protect your skin from sun’s rays, it won’t help prevent tanning. You will have to cover your head with a nice scarf or better is to use an umbrella, no shame in protecting your skin before your big day!
3. Body Butter
Taking care of your body is equally essential because you don’t want dry patches or flaky skin. A good, rich body butter will keep your skin protected from the harsh winters & dryness
4. Exfoliator
Exfoliating is very essential to get rid of dead skin cells. Skin layer renews every 21 days and if the old and dead skin cells are not exfoliated, the new skin will come over the dead skin cells forming oil clogs, etc. So exfoliating your face once a week with a mild Exfoliator is a must for the bride-to-be. In the same way, body needs exfoliation too and the body Exfoliator can be a little rougher. Do not forget areas like the elbows and the knees
5. Night cream/Serum/Oil
Skin renews faster and absorbs products the quickest during night time. A rich night cream will give you soft, supple skin the next morning. These days you also get serums for targeted issues or a blend of essential oils which are natural and organic and yet work deep within your skin.
6. Lip Balm
Lips gets very dry and chapped in winters and if your lips are chapped, no lipstick or makeup would look good. So use a lip balm everyday & gently exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush in the morning while brushing your teeth. This will keep your lips soft & supple.
7. Deep conditioning hair mask
Hair is often ignored and taken for granted by brides-to-be. The main hair concern in winters is usually frizziness & dandruff. While dandruff can be taken care of by oiling or using an anti-dandruff shampoo, your hair will need moisture & hydration which only deep conditioning can give. So use a deep conditioning hair mask to nourish the hair and keep frizz at bay
8. Deep lipstick shades
Every bride-to-be should have a red lipstick in her stash. (MAC Ruby Woo is your best bet). But for winter weddings, deep plum and wine shades are IN this season. Check out L’Oreal Paris Pure Red Lipstick in Pure Garnet.
9. Neutral eyeshadow Palette
A neutral palette with golds, plums and browns is all you need when it comes to eyeshadows. If you are confused, go for Urban Decay Naked Palette.
10. Blush/Highlighter
A rosy pink blush to accentuate your cheeks and a good highlighter to enhance that bridal glow.
That’s it. What do you think are the beauty must haves for the winter bride?
Lotus Herbals EcoStay Long Lasting Lip Colour Review, Swatches
Hi guys,
Today I am reviewing four shades out of the 10 new shades launches in the Lotus Herbals Ecostay Long Lasting Lip Colour Range.
What the Company claims: Lip colour is a preservative free, natural, long lasting and hydrating lip colour. One swip and your lips are ready for a healthier shine all day long without any loss of moisture, ensuring a flawless finish. SPF 20 gives UV Protection
How to use : Outline your lips with the lipliner.Hold the tube of lipstick to your lips and carefully apply it within the lines you drew with your lipliner. Start from the center of your lips and brush the lipstick outward, filling in all the gaps. ﾕFor a more precise application, use a lipstick brush. ﾕIf you go outside the lines of your lipliner, wipe the excess lipstick away with a tissue. ﾕLook in the mirror to make sure that you’re filling in the lines correctly. Applying lipstick without a mirror can lead to silly consequences.
MRP: Rs.545/- for 4.2g
These lipsticks come in a beautiful and sleek metallic pink packaging, which looks rose gold in sunlight. I absolutely love the packaging, also the lipstick click shut and are travel friendly.
They have this round bullet as in long, slender packaging lipsticks and the Lotus Herbals logo on top of the lipstick.
I am reviewing the shades Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop.
They are a little dry in formulation and not the creamy kinds, also you need to go over the lips 2-3 times for a proper, opaque coverage. But once set, they do not budge for hours. They have a matte finish and stay for about 6-7 hours, they are not completely transfer proof but do not transfer much. They do fade a bit from the center post a complete meal though.
L-R: Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop
They do not feel heavy on the lips and also lips do not feel dry or uncomfortable. Lighter colors are less pigmented and also go a bit patchy and accentuates dry lips. When I swatched all 5-6 lipsticks together, lips were a little dry and the lighter colors accentuated that. As you can see in the lip swatches below, Orange Lush and Flirty Pink are lighter and look a little patchy and accentuates the dryness on lips.
L-R: Orange Lush, Rose RushL-R: Flirty Pink and Pink Pop
Orange Lush is a true warm orange shade.
Rose Rush is a pink based red.
Flirty Pink is a peachy pink shade.
Pink Pop is a rosy pink, my most favourite shade of the lot.
L-R: Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop
The SPF of 20 is an added benefit. They are natural and organic and without any parabens or preservatives. The pricing is also decent for the quantity of 4.2g and the packaging.
Clockwise left to right: Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop
Overall I would say, I like the packaging, price point, staying power, for the desired pigmentation you do need to go over with a few swipes. Lighter colors are less pigmented and go a bit patchy, but the darker shades i.e. Rose Rush and Pink Pop went smoother. I recommend the darker shades in this range, Pink Pop is a must try.
Rating:
Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money : 3.75/5
Availability: 3.5/5
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Have you checked out the new shades of Lotus Herbals EcoStay Long Lasting Lip Colours yet?
Lately, I was on the search for a good serum. I have never used serums before, but after reading a lot about the importance of a serum, I decided to get one. Since I was using mostly Lotus Herbals products in my routine, I thought of getting the serum too from the same brand. I have used the Whiteglow range night cream before and loved it. Not for the skin whitening claims but because it suited my combination skin well and didn’t cause any breakouts. So, I ended up with this Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow Intensive Skin Whitening &Brightening Serum + Moisturiser finally. Read on to how it fares.
Products claims: WhiteGlow Intensive Skin Whitening & Brightening Serum + Moisturiser is a breakthrough formulation from Lotus Herbals that lightens, whitens & brightens your skin tone.
* Lightens: It lightens skin’s tone by reducing uneven pigmentation.
* Whitens: It unveils visibly fairer skin by reducing dark spots.
* Brightens: It enhances skin’s radiance naturally.
Why Serum: WhiteGlow Intensive Skin Whitening & Brightening Serum + Moisturiser is a proprietary formula which has 2x* more skin whitening and brightening power than a day creme. It comes with excellent carrier properties, penetrates deep into the skin & distributes the potent blend of all natural ingredients.
How it works: Clinical trials show that the following plant extracts lighten, whiten and brighten the skin with 7 days of regular use:
* Grape Extract (Vitis Vinifera): Exfoliator – helps active ingredients penetrate into the skin.
Why WhiteGlow? WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening range is a breakthrough formula from Lotus Herbals. It comes with an advance formula that has triple action on skin – lightening, whitening & brightening. It is enriched with rare fruit and potent plant extracts that penetrate deep into the skin to provide enduring action. The result, your skin looks fairer, flawless and radiant. It is free from harsh chemicals, that generally have side effects.
Ingredients:
Directions to use: Use every day in the morning & evening all over face & neck after cleansing thoroughly. For best results, use before Whiteglow Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme.
Packaging:
The serum comes in a translucent, frosty, glass bottle with a pump. The pump has a small plastic cap to cover it. Lotus Herbals surely make all their packagings convenient as well as giving a luxurious feel. Since its a glassy bottle, one has to be careful while handling it. The bottle is housed inside a white carton box which has all the details of the product.
Texture and fragrance:
The serum is between a gel and cream, its translucent. The consistency is perfect, not runny, not thick to spread, just the right texture for a serum. It has a light fruity fragrance, similar to other products in the Whiteglow range.
My experience:
I have been using this serum in conjuction with the Whiteglow Day Cream. The serum is easy to spread and blends easily, without any whitish cast like other whitening creams. It takes a bit of time to get fully absorbed and till then there is a sticky feeling. It moisturizes skin very well and I don’t feel the need to apply a separate moisturiser. Though, dry skin people will need to follow up with a moisturizer. The finish is more dewy and my face looks little brighter and radiant. It doesn’t make my face oily or greasy even for a long time. My skin tone is more evened out and the pores on my face look visibly smaller. It also acts as a good base for makeup.
Coming to the claims of whitening and brightening in 7 days, it is true to an extent. But don’t expect any miraculous changes. It helped to lighten some acne scars and brown spots on my face. But I think it will take a long time and continuous use to fade them completely, unlike other specific spot treatment creams which work quicker. Also, it removed some tan and my face overall looked more healthy, supple and radiant. My only concern is, once I stopped it using for a week, just to check its efficacy, and my skin went back to normal state. So, to retain the effects, the product needs to be used completely.
But I feel, if you really need a whitening/brightening effect, instead of going for those Fair & Lovely, Fairever, etc, creams in the market, this is a relatively better option as it doesn’t just focus on fairness, more on brightening, tan removal and healthy skin and Lotus Herbals is also a trusted brand. Though their products contain parabens (which is the only thing I don’t like about them), they are mostly suitable for all skin types and none of their products have ever caused me breakouts including this serum. Also, I think, to get really good results, you need to use this serum along with the day cream and night cream from the same range.
Pros:
* Nice consistency and blends easily.
* Moisturizes and hydrates the skin.
* Pores look visibly smaller.
* Evens out skin tone.
* Makes skin healthy, supple and radiant.
* Brightens skin and lightens scars and spots.
* Doesn’t leave any whitish cast.
* Doesn’t cause breakouts.
* Affordable price for a serum.
* Attractive luxurious packaging.
Cons:
* Parabens
* Takes a long time for the scars and spots to fade completely.
* Need to be continuously used to retain the effects.
Price and quantity: Rs.375 for 30ml.
Rating: 4.4/5
Verdict: Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow Intensive Skin Whitening & Brightening Serum + Moisturiser is one of the most affordable serums available and from a trusted brand. Though it doesn’t give any miraculous results, it does make skin more healthy, brighter and radiant and also lightens scars and spots slowly with regular use. Unlike other fairness creams, this is not overloaded with harsh chemicals. If you are looking to add a good affordable brightening serum in your routine, you can try this.
Editor’s Note: I always wanted to try this Archana, nice review. The product sounds really nice.
Have you tried the Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow Intensive Skin Whitening & Brightening Serum + Moisturiser?
Your beauty, fashion & jewellery needs are sorted. Let me help you for all your bridal needs. If you are from Mumbai, I have posts on where to buy your outfits from. I will do more on the best makeup artists, photographers, etc.
Together we will make your ‘perfect wedding’ a dream come true. Your ‘special day’ will be all the more special. So what are you waiting for?
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Faces Ultime Pro Eyeshadow Crayon Review, Swatches
Hi guys,
This review has been long pending, I am reviewing the Faces Cosmetics Ultime Pro Eyeshadow crayon today.
What the Company claims: Back to the glamourous Hollywood days in 70’s-80’s, these beautiful eyeshadow crayons will make you feel like a moviestaron the red carpet.Describing these eyeshadow collection as elegant will be an understatement, these are truly super chic!
Additional Features:
Extremely gliding and soft
Even and excellent colour pay-off
Easy to blend shortly after application
Creamy-light
Waterproof formula
Last about 11 hours
Quick drying
Non-sticky
Dermatologically & ophthalmologically tested
Shades Available: 6
Dancing Queen 01 : Add some drama…Create smokey eyes or sultry look with FACES DANCING QUEEN. You will be blinking bling.
Night Fever 02 : Add some glamour to your looks, this Gold shade is a must have for everyone!!!
Last Christmas 03 : A rich teal shade look gorgeous worn as an eyeliner or apply onto the contour of your eyes for a bolder look
Uptown Girl 04 : Uptown girl…she’s been living in her uptown world….Create this uptown girl look with this captivating FACES Pink eyeshadow crayon… it just spills the sparkles all around
Staying Alive 05 : Smudged violet eyes are gorgeous on any day
She’s Got D Look 06 : Shimmery princess in the day to the bold queen in the night, this grey blue shade will help create mesmerizing look
How to use product: Apply the shadow directly with the pencil tip onto the eye lid. Smudge the color quickly on the eye lids. Can also be used as a liner for most crease proof, stay on color
MRP: Rs.599/- for 1.6g (Available on discount at Rs.479/- on Nykaa)
I am reviewing the shade ‘Staying Alive’ which is a gorgeous deep blackened purple shade with very fine blue shimmer. It comes in sharpenable crayon form. Both the eyeshadow and lip crayons have the same packaging with the transparent cap. I like the fact that the crayons are colored as per the shades making it easy to identify the shade. It doesn’t come with a sharpener and you need to either buy or have one of your sharpener for the thick eye crayons.
The texture is super creamy and these are very pigmented, you just need one swipe over your eyes and smudge it softly with a blending brush for the perfect 2 minute smokey eyes.
The shades Dancing Queen, Shes Got D Looks & Staying Alive are perfect for smokey eyes, either keep it soft for daytime smokey eyes by just lining thickly & smudging it with a pencil brush or go all out for night time smokey eyes by covering the lid and blending towards the crease softly with a blending brush.
It needs 1-2 minutes to set and complete your blending by then, once set, it stays put for quite a few hours. I won’t say it is completely smudge free, if you smudge your eyes a lot, it will spread a bit. But when undisturbed and eye has a primer base, it stays for a good 7-8 hours with very light fading.
The qty is half as that of lip crayons but then the qty you use for a lip product on every use is a lot more. This would stay a long time, though I don’t like the fact that a lot of product goes waste in sharpening and I prefer retractable option.
It is manufactured by Schwan Stabilo Cosmetics in Germany who make the best eye and lip products and most of the brands here get their products manufactured there.
Overall, I really like this and these are quite value for money, easy to use, convenient, travel friendly and economical. Highly recommend this. I would love if it was available in more colors though, Faces should launch more options in this.
Rating:
Quality: 4.25/5
Value for money : 4/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Have you checked out the new Faces Ultime Pro Eyeshadow Crayons yet?
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 🙂
Shopbop.com has sale on sale again, this time you get extra 25% off on all sale items, which means upto 77% off on a few items! That is one amazing deal you surely don’t want to miss. I am really happy with all the stuff I got last time, I got a super deal, see HERE
I can’t wait to find some amazing deals today too. This is a 3 Day sale begins Tuesday December 15 at 7:30AM Eastern Time (New York) i.e. at 6pm today as per IST and ON for 3 days. You have to use the coupon code ‘BONUS25’ at checkout.
Maybelline is a drugstore brand and has taken the world of beauty by storm with their incredibly amazing products and super affordable price tag. From college goers to professionals, they cater the need of one and all and much-loved as a budget friendly option. The products are so good that sometimes they are compared to certain high end brands as well. Every season they are bringing out more and more shades and variety to the existing ranges and no wonder we lust on them! It is extremely difficult to choose handful of the products, but if at all needed, I would choose the certain top 10 products listed below.
1. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (Review HERE) (INR 600) – Contouring, highlighting and strobing is blooming in the beauty industry and there nothing better you can get than a highlighting concealer. With a special gel-based formula, it conceals the area with a sheer to medium buildable coverage with its smooth creamy texture and also highlights the same making the eyes look bright. It blends like a dream and doesn’t streak or looks cakey at all.
2. Maybelline Baby Lips(INR 165-275)– they say it right, there’s nothing called too many Baby Lips. If you have used one, chances are that you have been blown over by this lip balm and bought few more. There creamy, tinted, hydrating, soft, non-waxy and the amazing list goes on till eternity. Baby lips have many variants that have been launched under the range which are the tinted versions, Spiced Up series, Electro Pop and very recently launched – theCandy Wow.
3. Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer (INR 85-145) – a heaven for nail lovers, the Color show range has numerous shades and textured nail lacquers to jazz up your beautiful hands. They are well pigmented, decently long lasting and also comes in 40shades. The Color Show series also has the Bright Sparks range, Glitter Mania which gives an elegant frosty finish and super long lasting on nails, the Go Graffiti series with hexes and polka dots to bring out the playful little girl inside you and very recently they added the Gold Digger collection with beautiful golden variants.
4. Maybelline White Super Fresh Compact Powder (Review HERE) (INR 150) – a great budget friendly compact option for everyone with an oily skin and disturbing T-zone. A very recent launch in India, White Super Fresh Compact Powder comes in four shades which would happily match and cater the needs to a large number of skin tones and complexions in India. With UV filters that protects the skin from sun damage, the promise of 12h freshness and presence of the mineral – Perlite, it absorbs oil and sweat effectively to make your skin look fresh and glowing throughout the day.
5. Maybelline the Colossal Kajal and Liner(Review HERE and HERE)(INR 200 & 425)– The launch of Colossal Kajal took the beauty world by storm. This was the first budget friendly option and following the footsteps, many other brands came out with their own version. Maybelline was definitely always one step ahead and launched beautiful shade variants of the colossal. The liner from this same series was an equal hit because of the price and quality which gives you the perfect cat eyes and dreamy look.
6. Maybelline Volume Express The Falsies Mascara (INR 500) – Applying falsies is definitely a dreadsome task and taking it off is another story. Fret on, Maybelline has a solution! They came out with a budget friendly option of mascara that truly gives you the fluttery falsies look for any occasion. It is enriched with Pro-Keratin formula and gives a natural boost to the lashes with the dramatic look you desire. It also comes in washable and waterproof variant according to the need of yours.
7. Maybelline Blush Studio Cheeky Glow(Review HERE)(INR 275) – these cute little pots are adorable to the core. These are the easiest applicable blush I have come across and available in three shades – Creamy Cinnamon, Fresh Coral and Peach Sweetie. They are almost weightless on skin with a silk smooth texture, blends like a dream and makes the cheeks glow like a natural touch. These are also priced very low for a good budget friendly product.
8. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner (Review HERE)(INR 499) – This gel liner has been often compared to MAC by various Bloggers across the world and truly it has its own beauty. The liner, although available in only Black, is the darkest version I have seen it. The creaminess of the liner, the rich and intense color pay off and a cute petite brush that comes with it, makes is a must-have in your vanity. The price is again very negligible compared and the liner is completely smudge proof and waterproof.
9. Maybelline Color Sensational Velvet Matte(INR 450) – Matte is the new black and every brand has come out with their version. Maybelline, with the launch of velvet matte has gained attention as well. These are Velvet Mattes are intensely creamy which settles down to a satin velvety texture without drying out the lips completely and looks fresh. The formula is hydrating and keeps lips non-sticky, non-chalky and hydrated all day long. There are available in 7 beautiful shades.
10. Maybelline The Nudes Eye Shadow Palette (INR 899) – Maybelline doesn’t have many eye shadow palettes but The Nudes is the ultimate and appropriate launch this season. With a combination of warm basic neutrals and browns, the palette is a wonderful option for everyday wear as well as parties.
Editor’s Note: I pretty much agree with the list, except for the Color Sensational Velvet Matte, I would go with the Color Sensational lipsticks. They have some amazing shades, I love the Bold Matte and Pink Alert Range too. Also the 14H Superstay Lipsticks. Maybelline Colossal Liner is my staple, can’t live without it. Also love the Colossal Volume Mascaraand the Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation, one of my favourite drugstore foundations. The new eyebrow pencil Fashion Brow is also my favourite 😀 Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eye shadows are all time favourites, and the shade ‘Bronze’is one of the best and my most loved product. I can’t wait for the Color Blur Lip Pencils to launch here soon! I think we need a top 15 or top 20 when it comes to Maybelline, it is indeed the most loved, economical and innovative brand out there.
Are your Maybelline favourites in the Top 10 list here?
