September Fab Bag 2015 - Review

Hi Everyone,

Today I'm here to share my views on the September 2015 Fab Bag :-) I was pleased to know that Fab Bag and I shared our birthday month & I was really looking fwd to receiving this month's bag. As usual it got slightly delayed & I wouldn't put out a review without using the products for sometime, so I apologize for the delay in this post going up.

The 3rd Anniversary Fab Bag is deep magenta & shiny all over. The quality of the bag is really good & it's something I won't use to just STORE makeup in. It's so pretty, I would actually use it as a clutch for evenings out :-). Let's get into the product reviews now.

1. Makeup Revolution London 'Focus & Fix' Liquid Concealer - I'm on the fence about this one actually. It's sheer & I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. It's sheer & hence doesn't have full coverage; also it's sheer enough to be used on a daily basis. So I guess, I will stick to using it for daily wear like I have been.

Hand Swatches
Left: MLR Focus & Fix Concealer & Right: theBalm Stainiac

2. theBalm Stainiac Lip & Cheek Stain - When I heard that this time, the team was introducing theBalm products in to the bag, I was suppper excited :-) This tiny cutie (which btw is my 2nd fav product in the bag!) packs a punch, but only for the cheeks. It gives me a rosy natural blush great for days without makeup. For my pigmented lips, I need to layer this product at least 5-6 times to stain my lips. I love this one as a blush, mostly & you will too!! :-)

3. Just Herbs Gotukola Indian Gensing Rejuvenating Beauty Elixir Facial Serum  - I'm not going to lie, this is my least fav of the whole gang :-( It's smells like someone made dough for bread & left it to ferment...lol sorry I didn't know how else to describe it. I'm also going to be honest and tell you that I have used this only once, in spite of the smell, only to review it ... but then that's it!! I couldn't get myself to use it again, thanks to the horrid scent. I'm picky like that... I ain't gonna put anything on my face that smells like that, no matter how nice & nutritious it is, for my skin. Sorry Fab Bag, this one gets a 'thumbs-down' from me!!

4. Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water - I have been absolutely loving this!! Easily my favourite product in the bag this time!! The steam distilled rose water comes in a spray bottle that I use numerous times during hot, humid days. I have also used this at times when I am taking a break from my kitchen duties; kitchens can get pretty hot, humid & suffocating at times, so when I come out to take a quick break, my lil BFF is ready to help me de-stress & calm me down. Let me also tell you, that thanks to this lovely product, I am not 'perpetually flushed' anymore. The rose water calms down the overall redness on my face and is a wonderful toner. I use it on my face, even after I step out of the shower. 

5. SKINN by TITAN : Celeste for Women & Raw for Men - I'm very bad at describing fragrances, so I'm not even going to try. However let me tell you something, I was pleasantly surprised to see not one, but TWO perfume samples in the bag this month!! That too FOR HIM & FOR HER (the Husband says Thanks!!) I actually happen to like both the fragrances & thanks to the samples, SKINN by TITAN will definitely be one of my top options, next time I'm in the market for perfumes. 

Thank you Team Fab Bag! & Happy Birthday to US..!! ;-)

Hope you liked this review! Are you subscribed to Fab Bag? What were your favs from this month? Do leave me comments below.

Until the next post, Ciao!!!

Colorbar Kiss-Proof Lipstain in 006 Mauve Dusk - Review

Hi Everyone,

My friend P calls me 'Makeup Matte-y'... she means to say 'Maatey' ;-) but that's okay; the points we lose for bad jokes, we make up for... in our Love for each other ;-) So when she uses my fav lipstick formula for the pun, you know this kid knows me from wayyy back lol. And if you follow the blog for some time now, you too might know that I prefer Matte lipsticks over creamy ones. Not that I don't like creamy formulas, but here are some simple (& obvious!) reasons why Matte formulas rock my world -

1. Mattes last longer
2. I feel I look better with Matte lipsticks.
3. Wearing a matte lipstick means being able to kiss my loved ones without having to worry about staining their faces...I love them a lot, but I don't need to 'Paint my Love' geddit? lol sorry I think only I found that funny!! P, my friend, I need a membership for LJA - Lame Jokes Anonymous.

Anni-wayyy...read on to know why the Colorbar Kiss-Proof Lipstain intrigued me :-)

Price: Rs.900/- This was a serious ouchie! but I saved up & got myself this one. Being a budget product junkie, this is one of the more expensive lipsticks I own!!

Shade: 'Mauve Dusk'...I love how this product is named. Not a bright Mauve but a dusky one. True to its name, its a beautiful, deeper mauve that brightens up your face, without screaming for attention. This is a very pretty shade that can be sported by all skin tones :-)

Hand swatches:

Swatch freshly applied 

Swatch after drying for around 2mins

Texture & Formula: This is a lipstain, but works like a liquid lipstick. It has a very creamy, easy-to-work with' texture & glides on smoothly on the lips. You will see some shine in the beginning & will definitely need to give it about a minute or two, to dry out & set to a matte finish. This isn't an 'on-the-go' lipstick than one can quickly slap on without a mirror; while working with a liquid lipstick, you must be willing to spend a few moments on precision :-)

Once this baby sets to matte finish, there's no way this would budge. After drying to a matte finish, the lipstick is extremely & I mean extremely comfortable to wear. I'd say it's almost 95% transfer-proof (or 'Kiss-proof, like they'd like to call it!), with only the slightest bit of transfer; otherwise, this doesn't leave your side like a true BFF!!

Pigmentation: The formula is deeply pigmented. One swipe deposits true colour on to your lips, however I like to wait for the first coat to dry (around 2 mins) & then wear a 2nd coat to extend the wear-time further.

Wear-time: The Colorbar Kiss-Proof Lipstain stays on my lips for about 4-5 hrs straight with 1 coat & 2 coats last on me for about 5-6hrs, which I'm very impressed with!! Meals & drinks might result in slight fading, but that's the case with any liquid lipstick, as they tend to fade/transfer when they come into contact with any beverage & food.

Overall experience: I'm really impressed with this 'lipstain' as it tends to give me a great 'matte finish' without drying out the lips. I also like the flexible doe-foot applicator on this one, as it makes going over the borders of the lips so easy! The applicator is designed well as it tends to pick up the correct amount of product required for one full application. The packaging is totally travel-friendly which makes this one a staple in my handbag.

I like to usually pair this up with any Purple-toned Kurti or simply make it stand out with a 'one-toned' outfit. In the pics, I have paired it with a deep-green kurta :-) I like to keep the overall makeup simple when I want to let this lipstain take center-stage. So let's recap -

Pros:

• Beautiful matte finish 
• Extremely comfortable on the lips
• Gorgeous mauve shade
• Long-wearing formula
• VVIPoint - The lipstick totally rocked the 'Kiss-Proof' test .. it absolutely DID NOT BUDGE! Lol before you get any ideas, I'm talking about my lil baby boy. And don't worry I didnt just 'TEST' it out on my baby, I happen to be a very 'constant pecks on forehead' kinda Mommy anyway.

Cons:

• Price :-( 900/- is slightly expensive & I'm glad I got the shade I liked; no scope for experimenting with other colours.

Hope you liked this review! Have your tried any Colorbar Kiss-Proof Lipstains? Colorbar also has Velvet Matte Lipsticks, have you tried out those? Which is your current favourite lipstick & always travels in your handbag? Let me know in the comments section below :-)

Until the next post, Ciao!!!

Lakme Enrich Satin Lipstick P165 - Review

Hi Everyone,

I feel like it's been ages I reviewed a lipstick. So here I am today, reviewing this recent purchase. I first saw the swatches on a blog that I follow & ever since wanted to have this in my kitty. Let's see what I thought about this one & if it was worth the hype around it.

Price: Rs.260/- Extremely budget-friendly :-)

Shade: It's a bright coral pink, with slightly orange-ish undertones, when compared to the rest of the shades in the range.

Left - One swipe; Right - Multiple swipes

Texture & Formula: The texture is nice & creamy. Its comfortable on the lips though I'd strongly suggest exfoliating your lips before using this lipstick. The creamy formula can get into fine lines & also cling on to the dry, flaky bits of your lips. 

Pigmentation: The pigmentation is really good; just one swipe gives you full, opaque colour! 

Wear-time: It's not really a long wear lipstick & lasts for about 2-3hrs before it starts fading. Its not a non-transferable formula and hence will transfer & start fading once you have had something to eat or had a sip of water. It fades from the inner part of the lips and fades evenly. But Oh.My.Gawd. (Yes yes, like Janice from Friends!!)...the staining power of this lil lippie amazes me. It fades to leave behind a stain, almost as bright as the lipstick itself. This means lesser touch-ups (I'm kidding, I'm so lazy I don't believe in touch-ups ;-) lol) for working girls & busy moms!!. Well, honestly, I see myself using this lipstick as a stain more than a full-on application!!

Overall experience: It's a beautiful day-time shade. I have heard it's a dupe for MAC Impassioned, but since I don't own Impassioned, don't take my word for it :-) What do you think?  Leave me a comment about it. The shade is quite bright & is best suited for fair to medium skin tones. Rich, chocolate skin tones wouldn't like this shade much. 

As for me, I realized that the bright coral properties that the shade has, tends to stand out and as a result the mouth & chin area look a bit dull. So if you have pigmentation around your lips and mouth area, I suggest using a concealer to cover up the pigmentation first before applying this lipstick. I did that too. Yes, it does take some work but the shade is very pretty & if you're willing to put in an extra min or two...do get this shade!! 

The only thing that I don't seem to like about this lipstick is the 'Old Lakme Lipstick' fragrance that it has. I feel like I'm trying on my Mom's old lipstick lol, which reminds me of the time when I used her lipsticks for special occasions. It makes me nostalgic, but not in a nice way...hahaha difficult to explain here. I just wish they'd done something about the fragrance of the product as well, along with re-packaging it. The good part is that the fragrance fades away after around 5 mins of application, so I'm happy about that. Anyway, to sum it up - 

Pros - 

• Beautiful day time shade
• Budget-friendly
• Great pigmentation
• Awesome staining power

Cons - 

• Strong coral undertones can make it very bright
• Can bring out the pigmentation on mouth and lip area
• Formula is very creamy & can be unforgiving to dry lips & fine lines
• Has the typical Lakme fragrance which can be quite a turn-off

Hope you liked this review. Have you tried out the new Lakme Enrich Satin Lipsticks? Which ones do you like? Leave me comments to let me know your thoughts.

Until the next post, Ciao!!

Teal Smokey Eyes (Party Makeup look)

Hi Everyone,

Today I'm here to share a 'Teal Smokey Eyes' look that I created recently. I have worked with Blue before, in eyemakeup looks & you can read about one HERE. Since that one was done with pigments & some of you gave me feedback that it was slightly difficult to re-create, I thought why not try something similar with eye shadow. This can be a great look for a party or for a special occasion where your outfit is all black. Your eyes will surely stand out :-)

Here's how I created this look -

1. For the base, I used my all time favourite, Lakme CC Cream in Bronze. To set this, I used the Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder in 005 Sily Beige (read review HERE). Along with the CC cream, the powder too, has become a staple in my kit.

2. Using any black kajal pencil, make a thick line on your upper eyelid (make this where you'd place your liquid eyeliner). Some good kajal options available are the Lakme Eyeconic Kajal in Black, Maybelline Colossal Kajal, Loreal Paris Kajal Magique or the Lotus Herbals ColorKick Kajal (read review HERE). Blend this with your ring finger across the moving part of your eyelid. The ring finger has the least amount of pressure and wont harm the eyes or skin. You can also use a small blending brush if you wish to. This is now the 'base' for the smokey eyes.

Vov black eye shadow, Revlon Shadowlink in Khaki,
Blue shade from BoraBora quad & Lotus Herbals Colorkick Kajal

3. Apply a small amount of green/khaki eyeshadow on inner 2/3rds of your eyelid. Top this off with some blue eye shadow to get a good mix. Since I was aiming for Teal, I mixed these two shadows - Revlon eyeshadow link in Khaki & a Blue eye shadow from the BoraBora quad that I received in my Fabbag (See another look with it HERE). If you wish to keep this all one colour then, apply whichever shade that you want.

4. On the outer 1/3rd of the eyelid, apply a matte black eye shadow. I used my trusty VOV matte eyeshadow in Black. Blend this color inwards, towards the blue shade, till they appear to blend together, dont mix them ;-) just make them look like they come together to blend at one point. Using whatever little black is left on the brush / finger, use this in the crease of your eyelids.

5. Use Kajal again on your lower lashline & smudge this out with the blue to complete the look. To finish off the look, I applied the Calvin Klein Mascara on the lower and upper lashes. Wait, before you judge me, let me clarify that I'm a budget-product junkie & this CK Mascara came to me in a makeup swap lol :-P Moving on...I chose to skip liquid eyeliner that day as I wanted to keep the look undefined, but you can line your eyes if you wish to.

Maybelline Colorsensational lipstick in 405 Yummy Plummy
Sorry, I couldnt seem to find the blush while clicking pics, but you can see it HERE.

6. For blush, I used my current favourite, the Lakme 9 to 5 Blush in Peach Affair. This is a beautiful, peachy blush for fair to medium skin tones & goes with mostly any kind of look. For the lips, I wanted a subtle shade so I used the Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in 405 - Yummy Plummy.

Hope you liked this look & will try it out some time :-) I have been playing around with a lot of colours while creating different looks but somehow didn't find the time to share a 'step-by-step' post with you all. I will try to be more regular in doing these kind of posts...pinky promise! Sorry, I have been watching way too much Disney Junior!! ;-)

Until the next post, Ciao!!!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ (Review)

Hi Everyone,

Sometimes accidental finds at the super-market become your favourite products. The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ was one such 'find' ;-) Read on to know my experience with this product.

Having used mostly Lotus sunscreens, I wasn't really looking to try a new brand. I happened to see this one on the Neutrogena display and picked it up on a whim as my Lotus Sunscreen was on its last leg. We all know about sunscreens already and have out favourites picked out. Some of us hardly even change brands when it comes to sunscreens because we trust the ones we like, so much. So I'm going to try and make this post a short one & share my experience on this one.

Swatch of the sunblock

Blended into the skin
PS - skin may look different due to lighting issues; no white cast at all.

Thumbs up - 

• A BIIIG thumbs-up for not leaving a white cast on my face. No, No, it isn't because I'm already pale as a vampire...most sunscreens do leave a whitish cast on my face anyway...but this one DID NOT!! I don't know what's it got, but I can wear it on its own or underneath foundation, without worrying about the typical SPF cast showing on my skin.
• Moisturizes my skin without making it oily. I save time since I don't need to wear a separate moisturizer under this sunblock. With an oily T-zone like mine, the lesser products I layer on, the better ;-)
• Isn't sticky!! Well, I'm damn impressed because the packaging says its 'Ultra Light, Clean Feel' & it actually is!!
• I sweat a lot...a LOT, on my face & it still stays put :-) Yay for being Sweatproof & Waterproof!
• SPF 50+ along with PA+++. While SPF 50+ (Sun Protection Factor) safegaurds the skin from harmful UV-B rays; the PA+++ means higher level of UV-A protection)
• For Rs.175/- for 30ml, its a definite steal..!!

Thumbs down -  ??? I'm sorry, I don't have anything negative to say about this product. I really, really like it!! And no, before you ask me, no I wasn't sponsored or anything...I just like to share with you the products I have really liked. :-)

Hope you liked this short, quick post on my experience with the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+. Have you tried out this product? If not, what has been your favourite sunscreen? What's your experience with it? Leave your comments below, I'd love to know your thoughts.

Until the next post, Ciao!!

Skincare Empties - August 2015

Hi Everyone,

I'm back with an 'Empties post' for the month of August. These are the products that I finished off (lol I sound like I killed the damn things!!) last month :-)

Let's begin by checking out each of the products and my thoughts on them. If you have used the same or similar products, let me know what you thought about them, in the comments section below :-)

1. Colorbar Acetone Free Nail Enamel Remover - Hehehe, technically NOT a skincare product, but I'm sneaking this one in. This product is really good to remove normal as well as glitter nail colours. If you have followed me on Instagram long enough, you know how much I love Maybelline Glittermania's Pink Champagne. This nail polish remover makes taking it off, a breeze. Same for any other glitter nail colours I wear. LOL random thought - I'm mommy to a 3yr old... are Glitter nail colours age-appropriate? ;-) dont answer that btw!!

2. Ponds Pure White Deep Cleansing Facial Foam - I made it national news (..almost!) when I discovered my love for Baby oil as a makeup remover (Read HERE). This face-wash removes all traces of residue baby oil & makeup. Also handy on days that I'm out of makeup remover & baby oil...yes, yes...guilty as charged! On such days, I wash my face with only this face-wash and sleep peacefully knowing my skin is clean.

3. Sand for Soapaholics After Glow Face Cleanser - This is a product I received in my May Fab Bag (Read HERE). It's nice but nothing great to write home about. This product actually got me curious about the brand & I bought their Mint Pedi Butter to try out as well. While that one's really great, this almond cleanser didnt make that great an impression on me.

4. Himalaya Purifying Neem Foaming Face Wash - It's not a surprise that we, as a family, love Himalaya products. We use their face washes, baby baths, face packs, etc. (lol, no we aren't sponsored, we just happen to like them a lot!). This was one of the many products that I really liked. Backup has already been bought ;-)

5. Johnson's Baby Shampoo - Read all about this multi-tasker HERE. I really like this shampoo to clean my makeup brushes, Tangle Teezer, etc....well ahem! apart from my boy's hair. It's just as gentle on everything else as it is on a baby's hair.

6. Himalaya Power Glow Licorice Face Wash - This one's hubby's fav. Unlike me, who loves to experiment, if he likes a product he will not even try anything else. Not so much into the fairness claim, he likes it for the oil-control properties that work well, without drying the skin, unlike the Lemon variant. Backup for this product is already in place ;-)

Have you 'finished off' (lol here I go again!) any products in August? What are your thoughts on them? Let me know in the comments section below. Hope you like these smaller, more concise 'Empties posts'.

Until the next post, Ciao!!!

Garnier Fructis Oil-In-Cream - Review

Hi Everyone,

Today I’m here to review the Garnier Fructis Oil-In-Cream. Many of you reading this might have already read reviews about this online or used it already, so I’m going to make this short ‘n’ sweet, while sharing my views.

Price – Rs.100/- for 200gms

Texture & Formula – The texture is basically between a cream & a gel. It looks like a cream but isn’t thick or sticky like one. It’s texture Is light like a gel, but the product isn’t transparent like one. It melts quickly in the palm of your hand when you rub your hands together. If you’re someone who wishes to avoid a mess, you can also apply this directly from the tube on to your scalp. I prefer to take out some of the product into my palms & rub them together to melt the product so that it spreads better on the scalp and hair.

My experience with the product – I really like this product when I don’t have time for an elaborate oil-massage. With a 3yr old lil hurricane in the house, I cannot sit down with a bottle of oil & spend 20mins in an oil-ritual; this would spell doom for the floor, home furnishings & little bones as well!! I like this product for its simplicity, ease of use and price.

Product swatched

Product blended (melts)

The fragrance is a lovely (& healthy!!) mix of Coconut, Olive & Almond Oils & I really like it!!  The packaging mentions that it can be used in 3 ways and here’s what I think of them –

1. Before wash – I have tried applying it this way, about 20-30mins before the washing my hair. It does make my hair soft to an extent, after a hair-wash.
2. After wash – Honestly, I haven’t tried it out this way. I don’t like the idea of anything but a serum on my towel-dried hair. If you have tried it out this way, do leave me comments telling me your experience.
3. Overnight – I LOVE using it this way! I was brought up with the idea of leaving oil in my hair, overnight & that’s how I love using this product too. And believe me, it DOES make a difference. It allows the hair to soak in all the goodness that the cream has to offer, making it so much more soft & manageable after a wash, the next day.

Pros-

• Non-sticky & light texture
• Can be applied quickly (watching ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’....in my case!)
• Non-messy since it comes in a tube
• Best on days before a big event when you’re pressed for time

Cons –

• Not a substitute for OIL (I mean come on! Would you really give up on a good ol’ Champi / Tel Maalish – with real ‘tel’?). Well, that’s the only so-called CON I can point out. I would never give up the ‘real deal’ for this product.

The Garnier Fructis Oil-In-Cream, for me, is an easier alternative on days that I don’t have the time, space or patience to apply oil. For 100 bucks (a smaller tube is available for Rs.60/-) I think you should definitely give this a try!!

Hope you liked this quick review. If you have used the Garnier Fructis Oil-In-Cream, do leave me your thoughts on the product, in the comments section below. I’d love to hear from you.

Until the next post, Ciao!!