Aroma That Lingers!

Body by Victoria is a sensual, stunning and ultimately fresh fragrance, just perfect for summers.An ultra-feminine lush blend of water blossoms, orange flower and earthy musk the luxurious collection leaves you smelling like a sweet candy treat!

Since a while i was looking for a lotion that would smell exactly like my perfume, making it last for a longer time, and was mesmerized by the smell of Body By Victoria’s Secret, Fragrance Lotion. The intimate and airy scent literally leaves the body felling silky and fresh all day! The strong fruity floral perfect for the hot summer days when the last thing you want is a sticky lotion catching all the dirt. If you like a strong yet feminine aroma this is definitely a buy! With a special edition range of lotions, body wash, body mist, and body creams the fragrance lotion kind of  reminds me of Burberry Body. 

Like i mentioned i love flirty fresh scents so the Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Wink Wink, Flirty Blackberry & Sparkling Violet Fragrance Mist instantly caught my eye. The smell, it reminds me of grapes, blueberry jam and blackberry pie or cake.  The smell is playful, fresh and definitely my go-to summer scent.  I can manage to literally skip my Elizabeth Arden for this, just for the way it lingers around! The packaging is an add on, easy to carry around all day and I love bringing this whenever I will go on a vacation, especially during summer. 

The lotion when layered with the flirty mist lasts all day long, but since i love the smell i keep splashing some of it during the day! One of my all time favorite scents, the Victoria Secret Body is definitely a staple!

 

 

Black Magic

There are few things in life that we can’t stay without. For me it is kohl. A go-to product for instant glam guaranteed to make your eyes alive! With over a dozen different brands already tested out I went for a rather different alternative this time.. The Bourjois Khol and Contour Eyeliner Pencil. Enriched with pure pigments, this kohl allows for an intense result from the very first stroke and lasts up to 16 hours. And yes it really does!

Its soft and blendable formula is ideal to apply both on the inner and outer rims of the eye. Hypoallergenic, with natural wax and vitamin E, it is gentle on the delicate eye contour area. Available in 7 shades I picked up the Ultra Black in its special edition XL packaging. I must say it is one of the deepest and the most pigmented black kohl I have seen. It glides easily across my eye lids with minimal effort to give a smooth, precise line. It creates a flawless and subtle line of color in just one swipe. To get a more intense and dramatic effect, I need to swipe it two times.

Though the company does not claim it to be a water proof liner but the product does not budge even in contact with water. I do need to use olive oil or an eye makeup remover to wipe it off. The kohl can also be used while contouring, to apply, stretch the eyelid horizontally, draw a fine line, and then smudge it with a fine brush or simply your fingertips.

The XL packaging comes with an extra 45% product bigger than the original. Designed specifically for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers and would recommend it to those who like the soft smudgy look of black kohl. Priced at 360 Rs for 1.65 gm the Ultra Black Bourjois Khol and Contour Eyeliner Pencil is a must buy in your winter lust-list!

 

 

 

 

Shine like a diamond!

Affordable and great quality is what defines Maybelline! So when Maybelline India launched 4 out of the 6 Diamond Glow By Eyestudio  quads, I had to go get it! I decide to go with 06 Lilac Mauve and 04 Ocean blue..and trust me they made my eyesglow like sparkles!

 

The Eyestudio quads gives you an extreme pigmented color which is quite soft and smooth.  With buildable colors all you need is two strokes / swipes of colour, and it will stay on. The best part about the eyeshadow is that it gives you subtle glitter that is not chunky on the eye. It is perfect for doing that gorgeous and funky smokey eye using mauve’s, blue’s and maroon’s! If you have oily lids, then the staying power will be less as compared to dry eyelids. With fall out which is almost negligible, these quads are perfect for beginners.

The Lilac Mauve comes with four shades of light purple for the highlight color, medium colors and accent colors. The Ocean Blue quad consists of shades of blue, my personal favourite to add a little  blue tint to the usual smokey eye.The colors can be applied in gradation to gives eyes a fuller look.

Priced at 475 Rs for 2.5gm the palette comes with a double sided sponge applicator which is good for beginners. One key advantage that the product gives you is a diagram describing where each of the colors should go.  To play around with for fun and dramatic day-time as well as night-time looks, mix a matte shade to tone down the shimmer.

Coralalistic Obsession!

I had been looking around for the perfect matte coral color for my lips when I found something  that made me fall in love. I was ridiculously thrilled and bought it straight away. It was the Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Coral Queen.

The first thing that got me hooked on was the super cute packaging. Metallic purple with the Rimmel London crown imprinted on the lid, Rimmel looks very much targeted towards the girly girls, but hey I still love it! The Rimmel Moisture Renew gives you an innovative formula with 3 super moisturizers which make lips feel up to 70% more hydrated and up to 60% smoother! The formula seems to live up to its name and feels quite moisturizing on the lips, which I love. It goes on smoothly and doesn’t seem to crack and dry up lips by even by the end of the night.

The lipstick will last you for a good 4 – 5 hours after which the color does dwindle a little but doesn’t disappear completely. Priced at 500 Rs I would most definitely recommend this lipstick to anyone looking for a brighter shade for spring. It may have just started a little bright lip obsession for me…Add that little splash of color to your outfit and flaunt your queen size lips!

Absolute Perfection

Lakmé recently came up with a high performance long wear make designed by Salon experts to last upto 16 hours. The Long wear benefits enriched with skin care properties keep you looking flawless all day. When I went to try it out, first thing that attracted me to them was the metallic black packaging! I picked up three must-haves for every girls make-up bag…The Lakmé Absolute White Intense Skin Cover, The Lakmé Absolute White Intense Wet & Dry Compact and Lakmé Absolute White Intense Concealer Stick.

Lakmé Absolute White Intense Skin Cover Foundation gives your skin the soft-supple treatment. With the power of 3 in 1 the foundation is light, neither too runny nor too thick. Having picked Shade 3 the foundation blended quite easily with a similar smoothness of a mousse. The foundation is not too rich or emollient in texture so women with dry/combination skin would need to ensure that their skin is moisturized before they use this product. However for oily skin type it’s a perfect mixture. With the pump dispenser it makes the product hygienic to re-use. White Intense Skin Cover has a mild citrusy smell which frankly disappears within two minutes of application, yet it’s definitely not a turn-off. With a medium semi-matte coverage the foundation is priced at 595 Rs for 15ml and comes with an SPF 25, which is a win-win. Though it will naturally suit normal-oily skin more the foundation gives you a great formula for a really affordable price.

The Lakmé Absolute White Intense Wet & Dry Compact claims to give you a naturally fair and flawless look through the day with a soft focus effect. Its unique formula contains Hyaluronic Acid that deeply hydrates your skin restoring its natural youth and glow and Vitamin B3 that makes you look visibly fairer…Hmm well I would quite agree on that! The case looks very sleek and chic and is the size of my palm. Once opened, you get a large round mirror that comes with a thick round sponge applicator. What draws me is that I can easily pop this into my handbag or makeup pouch without worrying about damaging the packaging. The shade that I was recommended was 03 Golden Medium, which seemed a little darker on my skin first but after use the yellow undertone gave me more coverage than any of my average powders. The oil control ability is not great for oily skin types, as my skin began to get a bit shiny in about 2-3hours of application. Since I gives somewhat heavier coverage than most powders, it can look cakey if you apply too much of it over foundation. Priced at 595 Rs for 9g with SPF 17 I find the product perfect for winters but if you need an all-night finish maybe it’s best to carry the compact along.

There are some flaws even the cleverest of the products can’t hide but Lakmé solves all the problems with their Absolute White Intense Concealer Stick. Easy to handle and absolutely non-messy, Lakmé Concealer Stick bids adieu to those zits, dark circles and any signs of fatigue or hangover! Very easy to apply and spread the concealer looks exceptionally natural on the skin if applied properly, without causing any breakouts. For someone like me who has oily skin and oilier eye lids, the product will not melt, which is quite impressive I think! It can be easily used as an eye shadow primer too as it won’t give you any creases. Priced at 450 Rs for 3.6 ml I chose the shade light to medium. With a lipstick like package the concealer can even be carried around in your dress pockets during a girls night out!

Nail Stylist

Gel nail paints are the huge rage abroad right now, used with the help of a UV+LED Gel Nail Lamp – these gel lamps offer much finer and long lasting finish to your nails which does not chip. When Lakmé launched these nail paints with Kareena Kapoor flashing the amazing shades, I was curious if they would give out tiny gel lamps like the Sally Hansen Gel Nail kit or the ones you find on ebay for cheap.

But the Lakmé Absolute Gel Stylist range packs the performance of a gel manicure in a bottle to ensure glossy and plump nails in a single stroke. The Gel Stylist surprisingly gives your nails an unmatchable shine and the most perfectly styled nails. First of its kind in India the Gel Stylist brush is on the larger side which can be a little tricky to use if you are not used to it. As the brush picks up lots product it is essential you remove the excess product. What I like about it is the slightly thick texture of the nailpaint which lasted for almost a week inspite of not using a base coat! What your left with is super glossy and creamy textured nails. When you move finger on coated nails you can actually feel the difference in the touch as compared to your normal nailcolor .

Nails after 7 Days

Priced at 400 Rs for 3.6 g the nailpaint finish does become dull in 3-4 days, but hey atleast it doesn’t chip! Available in 8 shades I tried out the Scarlet Red, as I wanted to test it on a darker color and for a scratch and chip proof it is a bargain for that price! For professional finish gel nails ditch your salons and try out Gel Stylist recommended by Lakmé makeup experts.

Ohhh la la!

Lashes.. Something we girls have been obsessed over for ages! From batting our eyelashes to winking on girls nightouts…we need the length and the volume! I am a hardcore mascara fan. My theory is -if a simple wand can transform your eyes why not spread its charm. So today I have a comparison on two of my most used mascaras, and both are from Maybelline.. The Colossal Volume Express Waterproof and the Maybelline The Falsies Mascara!

Maybelline the Colossal Volume Express Mascara comes in a big fat yellow tube. I find the packaging eye-catching and the bright yellow makes it easy to spot the tube even in a whole bunch of my makeup items. It’s been around for a long time and quite rightly so. It’s one of the best budget mascara’s you will find in the market. The mascara gives you a splash of volume which even some high end mascara’s fail to give. The wand is just right with its fat handle making it easier to hold and apply. The mascara does not clump on your eyes easily and won’t give you those annoying mascara deposits. Though I must say the waterproof variant is extremely hard to get off! A makeup remover or olive oil would definitely make your job easier. A fair bit of length and added intense color for dramatic eyes, the Maybelline the Colossal Volume Express Mascara is a great buy for the monsoons. Priced at 330 Rs for 10.7ml is ideal for plumping those lashes one by one.

The Falsies Mascara asserts to deliver a false lash look; giving you a full set of voluminous, bold, fanned out lashes. With a unique flexible wand the mascara claims to helps lift and separate lashes to provide the look of 300% more visible, fuller lashes with no gaps from any angle. I personally disagree!!! The Falsies tends to leave a lot of product on the wand due to its patented spoon brush, leaving your lashes with clumps and smudging lids. To add to it the mascara later in the day starts irritating my eyes, making the lashes heavy! I wouldn’t say it gives you fake looking lashes, as all its done for me is make my eyes sore. Priced at 425 Rs for 7.5 ml I would definitely recommend the Maybelline Colossal Volume Express and HyperCurl Mascara over this one.

Just Bitten!

Ola divas! Over a conversation with my girlfriends on a rainy eve I came across a product on my friends lips which made me fall in love immediately, a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, a softer, smoother  version of a lipstick with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour, just the product I was looking for!

For me wearing a bold dark lipstick on an everyday basis, specially during the daytime, is kind of a task! I normally prefer carrying around a tinted balm with a flush of color just about right for the day look. The Revlon Balm Stains are different and go on the lips with a glossy look and feel, but when you wipe it away or it fades over time you are left with a beautiful soft, stained effect on the lips. With a highly pigmented formula what I like about these is that the balm comes in a crayon like form that is retractable. This makes it easier for use without worrying about sharpening the sticks. My friend had been wearing it for a long time and after our hour long conversation, chocolate mousse cake break the stain was untouched!

If you want a flattering wear and finish from this product, I would personally suggest making sure your lips are moisturized and exfoliated before application. Since it contains staining pigments, it gets into the lip lines/cracks of the chapped lips and is a visual disaster. Priced at 600 Rs I tried out Rendezvous, which is a pretty coral color and ideal to wear for the Summers. The gel formula comes in 10 vibrant shades that match any look or mood, my personal favorite are Rendezvous and Cherish Devotion. It is convenient because the retractable bottom makes it effortless to apply without a mirror. With Revlon being at the top of my lip products the Kissable Balm Stain is just another feather added to their cap! Go vivid with these cute crayons for a perfect day to night look!

Go Bare Foot!

My heels are in a constant state of dryness so I’m always up for trying new, affordable products that are targeted toward the heel area- especially now that we’re in full-blown October Heat Season. Let’s face it, it’s kind of a nightmare to look down at your heels while you’re wearing flip-flops, flats and see that they’re dry or cracked, am I right? The invigorating Freeman Peppermint + Plum Foot Lotion is the perfect alternative to soaking and scrubbing while stepping out of the shower!

The shape of the tube itself had me interested. Designed like feet  the lotion  has plum extract, peppermint and tea tree oil to soothe tired feet. The lotion is thick, and soaks into the skin pretty easily. Using the ingredients Tea Tree Oil and Peppermint Oil with the addition of Pumice, act as an exfoliator to help remove those rough, dead skin cells, along with Plum Extract, which not only exfoliates, but helps tighten skin as well. With a minty sweet aroma I usually apply this right after a shower and also just before I go to bed underneath my socks. Unless there’s dust or other factors, my feet stay soft and moisturized, and smell great too!

Priced at 250 Rs for 150 Ml this lotion is very soothing for tired achy feet. I personally find one glitch in the lotion being it takes a longer time to show results, so it’s advisable to use it regularly for faster outcome. I would highly recommend it to anyone with dry skin or rough calluses on their feet. It is great to use in combination with the Freeman foot scrub.

With a wide range of Scrubs, Lotions, Cream, Soaks and Balms Bare Foot range is perfect for at home foot spa!

Floral Touch

With the sudden weather change and putting my nails through a harsh chemical treatment I decided to switch my old hand and nail cream, Boots Lavender and Lilac, a switch! 

I had heard beauty gurus raving about the Floral Collection by Marks and Spencer and decided to give their Rosa Centifolia , hand and body lotion a tryout. With the fragrance of timeless English rose, this carefully formulated pH balanced lotion with added panthenol softens, conditions and nourishes hands vis-a-vis strengthens nails. Enriched with shea butter to condition and nourish the lotion is easy to apply, even around your nails. 

The packaging is travel friendly and sleek with a pump dispenser that you can easily close while carrying it in your handbag…superb for summers! The cream has a nice consistency letting it absorb easily, as opposed to other hand creams in the market. Now talking about the fragrance, the fragrance is literally rose like which lingers on for quite sometime (reminds me of the Tea Rose perfume my granny used) and very fresh….though its strong floral scent can be a turnoff for people with a sensitive nose. It’s ideal for oily to combination skin type, but I wouldn’t recommend it for use on face.

Priced at 299 Rs for 250ml its reasonably a bargain. Personally I would still prefer my Boots Hand and Nail Cream as it’s magical on my cuticles but for girls who are not in for results overnight this is a great product with an enchanting smell!