Review - The Body Shop EDT's!!

The day I tried The Body Shop British Rose shower gel at my sister place, its EDT soon got added to my wishlist, though I am not a huge fan of floral fragrances.

I just couldn't get enough of its heavenly fragrance, so I finally decided to gift myself this one. But, confused at their store between The British Rose and The English Dawn Gardenia, I ended up adding both of them to my mist collection.

About the product:

• These mist come in a transparent sleek bottle packaging with a sturdy cap that makes it hassle free during travelling, which is the best part of these EDT's.

• Light pink perfume inside the bottle has a typical rose fragrance yet very classy and unique in its own way whereas the other one has a fresh floral gardenia scent that smells like the morning dew. It's a perfect morning scent and a good after shower or bath scent to perk you up.

• The fragrances of both of these, is so fresh & refreshing that it rejuvenates you from the very first spritz. These mists can instantly revitalize your body and lighten up your mood. The more you use, the more you get addicted to them.

All I can say is that The Body Shop, always surprises us with their new products and lately these mists have become my most favourite ones. 

Overall a great product that every woman should have. Thumbs up!!

Review - Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser!!

Today's post is going to be a review post on the Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer.  

I'd been on the hunt for this Maybelline concealer for months; until Feb'14, when my sister ordered this beauty from her UK friend for me. I just couldn't wait a second to get my hands on it. 

Here are my first impressions...

Product Description:

This product comes with a micro corrector applicator, infused with Goji Berry & Haloxyl to help erase dark circles, fine lines and puffiness instantly. Talking about its packaging; the plastic tube/ bottle has a cushion like sponge & a plastic cap to it at the end which when twisted helps to get the concealer out. You then, just have to glide it across your eye area to cover and conceal your imperfections. This tube/ bottle is made of good quality and is non-breakable. It is a very thin and a tiny bottle which makes it travel friendly. 

This concealer is by far one of the best, as it is very light weight, non sticky and blends beautifully in your skin in just no time. Coverage is medium-high and it comes in 6 shades like brightener, fair, light, medium, nude & neutralizer. Neutralizer being for extreme dark circles. The one I have is in nude shade. 

Pros:

1. Sturdy packaging
2. Extremely light weight, not sticky and non greasy
3. Blends very easily 
4. Covers imperfections very well
5. Smooth texture

Cons:

1. Not easily available in India
2. Little expensive (Priced at Rs. 1399 on amazon.in)
3. The applicator sponge is fixed and cannot be washed before reusing it again.

Maybelline concealers have always been my favourites be it Dream Lumi Touch, Fit Me or this.

All I could say is, this product has bowled me over with its performance & it will certainly not disappoint you, so it's a must buy from me!

Review - Estee Lauder products!!

Estee rightly says " Every woman can be beautiful"!!

To enhance my beauty, I have pampered myself with some of my favourite products which I always dreamt of. Keep reading to know what are these & why they are my favourites...

Pic taken from my Instagram post

1. Nail Lacquer - Viper is the name and it is a part of Estee Lauder's new pure colour nail lacquer collection. It is such a unique colour, when applied on nails, it looks grey but with a hint of blue and this lasted for a pretty long time, around 5 days on me. 

(Price - Rs. 3487/- @ amazon.in)

2. Lip gloss - Next on my favourite list is their pure colour high gloss shade : 02 Pink Cloud. This is just a perfect pinky nude lip gloss with a  golden sheen that can flatter a lot of Indian skin tones. It is a very nice shade for summers and good to wear on it's own but I like to wear it with a nude lipstick, And as you all know, Nude is the flavour of the season.

(Price - Rs. 8326/- @ amazon.in )

3. Advanced Night Repair Concentrate:Recovery Boosting Treatment - It is a 21 day treatment from Estee Lauder that claims to " to take the weight of the world off your skin" and it has delivered what it promises. I used this mainly on my clean skin before going to bed in December for 21 days and I simply loved the glow that it brought to my skin when I woke up. And if your skin is getting dull then this is exactly what you need to grab. 

* you can also read a detailed post on this product on my blog.*

(Price - Rs. 4500 for 30 ml @ amazon.in)

4. Double Wear Foundation - I had to include this in my favourites, as I just cant get enough of this. I have been practically wearing this double wear stay-in-place foundation throughout the wedding season last December. It is a full coverage matte foundation but yet light, does not make your skin feel like you are wearing one also makes your skin look very healthy and glowy. It has a wide shade range which can perfectly match any skin tone and I am in the shade 2C1 pure beige. This is just a perfect one if you're a combination/ oily skin person and a fan of light weight but yet full coverage finish.

(Price - Rs.3300/- @ Nykaa.com)

5. Sumptuous Two Tone Eye Opening Mascara - This one is my most favourite from the bunch and a very unique mascara I have ever used. One end of the tube has a very large brush in deep black to define and thicken the top lashes and other end has a smaller  brush and a more subtle brown shade for the lower lash line. This contrast colour mascara works together to give a great definition to your eyes and also to open your eyes. I also at times, use the brown side to set my brows on those lazy days when I don't feel like doing my brows. It is 100% value for money, so it definitely gets a two thumbs up from me!!

(Price - Rs. 3800/-  @ amazon.in)

Let me know what you all have been loving in the comments below and also if you have tried any of these products.

Woman essentials!!

This post is going to be on all essential products which I feel a woman should have and use..

Essentials are divided in three categories - 

Face & Body essentials, Makeup essentials & Hygiene essentials. 

So if your are curious to know what are these, then go grab a cup of tea/ coffee or your favourite drink before you start reading any further....

Face & Body Essentials..

1. Oil: Using a simple coconut oil or olive oil or almond oil is a natural way to nourish your scalp. Oil helps your hair grow longer, thicker and faster and this maintains PH levels of your scalp thereby reducing hairfall.

# I like to use a Parachute coconut hair oil which I prefer to warm a little and gently massage it into my scalp using my fingertips. I do this every sunday and I leave it for half hour before I wash it off with a good shampoo and a conditioner. 

2. Cleanser: Cleansers help to get away with all the dirt, dust, impurities and oil from your face. It helps your face look fresh, clean and glowing. I would advice you to refrain from over washing your face if you're an oily skin person, as it only produces more oil which is bad for your skin.

# Currently I am in love with The Body Shop tea tree cleanser & Ponds flawless white deep cleansing foam. You can use any cleanser or a face wash that matches your skin-type.

  

3. Scrub: Scrubbing or exfoliating is nothing but rubbing or washing your face with a granular substance to remove all the dead skin cells & blackheads from your face to make your skin feel beautiful, youthful, soft and glowing. It is important to exfoliate atleast twice a week. Without a regular exfoliation, you can end up with clogged pores, which can block moisture from getting into deeper layers which ultimately creates an unattractive exterior.

# My current favourites are The Bath & Body Works sugar scrub & St. Ives green tea scrub.

4. Toner: Your pores open once you exfoliate your skin and a toner helps to tighten those pores and get rid of any excess oil. Dry skin people can skip this step.You can use a toner by spraying it directly on your face or taking it on a cotton pad and swiping it across your face. Most common and easily available is Dabur Rose Water or Gulabjal.

# My all time favourite toners are Kama Ayurveda's pure rose water.

5. Moisturizer: A moisturizer not only hydrates your dull skin but also helps makeup glide easily. Again, a moisturizer should be chosen depending on your skin type. Dry skin people usually require a heavy moisturizer whereas an oily or a combination skin people require a water based moisturizer.

# Some of my favourite moisturizers which I have used and loved except Kiehl's ultra facial moisturizers are Cetaphil, Lotus Alpha Hydroxy, Garnier daily care, Lacto Calamine, Neutrogena and The Body Shop vitamin E.

6. Sunblock: Sunscreen lotion is the most essential of all others, as this product helps to block those UV rays from penetrating your skin. So, if you don't want to get sunburn or tanned in a tropical country like India..you need to use a sunscreen lotion 15 mins prior to leaving your house.

# Neutrogena ultra sheer dry touch sunblock spf 50+ has been my all time favourite.

7. Body Lotion: Along with your face even your body needs some moisture. You can use any body lotion or a body cream or a body butter depending on your taste and skin type.

8. Deo-rollon/ Deodorant/ Body Mist: You don't want to stink, do you?? Always remember to use an underarm deo rollon. This has been my savior since ages now. You may also use a deodorant or a body mist after using a deo rollon.

# Rexona has been my all time favourite and The Body Shop British Rose EDT has been my favourite since 2016.

Basic makeup essentials:

1. Face makeup

• Foundation: To have a flawless makeup, a right base is very important. A good foundation that matches your face shade can bring instant brightness. I highly recommend # Maybelline Fit Me (my shade-230 Natural Buff) which is a very inexpensive product currently in the market. 
• A concealer helps to hide all the imperfections & helps your base look even. My recommendation is again going to be # Maybelline Fit Me concealer (my shade-medium).
• A pressed powder or a loose setting powder is a must to set and lock that foundation in place. If your T zone gets oily then you may use a loose translucent powder below your eyes to set your concealer, this process is called baking. This helps your concealer to stay for a longer time without creasing. 

# I love to use a MAC studio fix but since it is a very expensive product I like to use a Maybelline clear glow/ Loreal mat magique/ Faces Iltimate Pro on a daily basis. For baking, I like to use PAC loose powder TLC 3.

2. Eyeliner/ Eye Pencil/ Kohl Pencil & Mascara: Eyeliners and Mascaras are used to enhance the appearance of your eyes & to emphasize your eye beauty. 

# Loreal kajal magique, Maybelline hyper matte liquid liner, Lotus botanical eye liner; Elle 18 and Maybelline gel liner, Maybelline hyper curl, Clinique and Estee Lauder sumptuous two tone mascara  are some I prefer to use.

3. Lipbalm: Lipbalm helps hydrate your lips and thereby keeping them soft and supple.

# I am obsessed with MAC lip conditioner.

4. Lipstick/ Lipgloss: Lipsticks add colour or texture to your lips and help to achieve your preferred look. I recommend you all to have atleast 3 shades - Pink, Red & Nude. You can also mix & match to discover a new shade to match your costume on any occasion.

# My top favourites are from Estee Lauder, MAC, Chambor, Colourpop, Colourbar, L'oreal, Lakme, Revlon & Maybelline. My all time favourite is MAC Mehr. 

5. Nail Enamel: You can definitely not ignore your nail. A nail paint or nail lacquer or a nail enamel is a must to complete your look.

# These days Nykaa's matte nail shades is all I love using.

6. Makeup Remover: Its always exciting to get ready but equally boring to remove all that off. But this is something very crucial if you love having those tons of products on your face everyday, unless you don't want your skin to get damaged. Use a makeup remover or a micellar water, a cleansing milk or a baby oil to get rid of all that your face has been carrying throughout the day.

Hygiene essentials:

1. Razor & a Shaving Foam: You never know when you would need to remove those extra unwanted body hair. A shaving foam facilitates the removal of your body hair so it's a must if you dont like waxing. 

# Gillette razor & Gillette satin care foam are my go-to products under this category.

2. Hygiene Wash: Your delicate & sensitive intimate area needs more pampering and protection that other areas of your body. Using a ordinary soap may destroy its natural acidic protective layer. A hygiene wash or wipes like V Wash, Lactacyd or Clean & Clear strengthens the natural protection of your intimate area, so that you're free from itching, irritation and bad odor & you can feel fresh, clean and confident all day long.

3. Sanitizer: Stay germ free; use a sanitizer.

4. Sunglasses: Last but not the lease, don't forget to protect your eyes by using a good pair of sunglasses. 

# I just cant get enough of Ray-Bans. 

* The green organizer used to hold these products in this picture is a eco friendly box made from newspaper & is waterproof, customized from v r enchanted*. Click here to know more about them: http://vrenchanted.blogspot.in/

Thank you for reading my post, hope you found it helpful!!

Please feel free to ask anything by leaving comments down below, I will definitely get back!

Makeup for beginners!!!

Want a flawless everyday makeup look, that too using 6 basic products then please keep reading... 

Prepping your skin is the foremost and the most crucial step to get a clean and a clear skin, before starting with your regime. You can follow 3 simple steps under this process (Cleansing, Exfoliating and Toning) # To know more about these steps read my separate blog post on how to prep your skin. 

\

Step 1:  Hydrate your skin

If you do nothing else from what i have mentioned above, then atleast moisturize your skin before makeup. Please use a good moisturizer that matches tour skin-type to hydrate you skin. This leaves your skin soft and supple making it ready for the makeup.

Tip: Dry skin people should use a heavy moisturizer as your skin needs that extra moisture. Oily or combination skin people should try to use water base moisturizer or a light moisturizer. I have used a Nivea light moisturizer as its a not a very expensive product and also easily available.

#Some of the best moisturizers which I have used  except Kiehl's ultra facial moisturizer are Cetaphil moisturising lotion, Clinique moisture surge, The Body Shop vitamin E, Neutrogena, Lacto Calamine oil control lotion, Lotus Alpha Hydroxy oil free moisturiser, Ganier daily care moisturizer.

Step 2: Block your face

This is the most essential step whether you use make-up daily or not. Using a sunscreen lotion/ cream blocks all the harmful UV rays penetrating your skin and thus helps your skin getting tanned. And if you live in a tropical country like India, this is something which you should not afford to skip any day. 

Tip: Do not use sunscreen when you are about to wear your footwear. It has to be used 15 minutes prior to leaving your house. You can use it now or also blend it along with the foundation/ BB/ CC cream in the next step. 

#I like to use  a Neutrogena ultra sheer dry touch spf 50+.

Step 3: Add a base

Foundation acts as a base to your makeup. It helps to create an even, uniform colour to your complexion and adds that required brightness to your face. If you don't like full coverage every day, then you can avoid using a foundation everyday which is totally optional and rather use a BB/CC cream. You can apply foundation/ BB/ CC cream using a stippling or a flat foundation brush, a beauty blender, makeup sponge or simply by using your fingertips if you don’t have any.

Tip: Make sure you buy the foundation that matches exactly to your skin colour. You can always visit stores and seek help from make-up advisors. Best way is to put thin strips of the foundation in a vertical line on your face and check then in natural light. The colour that looks very similar to your face is your right match. A key to a flawless base is good blending. 

#I like to use Faces CC cream or a Ponds BB cream for a everyday look. If you like to use a foundation on a daily basis I would recommend Maybelline Fit Me - shade 230 Natural Buff if you have a skin-tone  like me.

Step 4: Set your base

After you have done your base, next step is to set or lock your foundation and make your base look flawless by using a pressed/ compact powder or a translucent setting powder. Pressed powder helps to soak up any excess oil that your skin produces. You may use this with the help of a brush or a sponge pad that comes along with the product.

Tip: Make sure to blend it well in your t-zone area and around your eyes to avoid any cakey build-up. 

#Maybelline clear glow and Loreal mat magique are my everyday go-to pressed powders in shade 02 nude beige and N6 nude honey respectively.

Step 5: Enhance your eyes 

Under this step, you can use a eyeliner or a kajal pencil or a kohl pencil to define your eyes and a mascara to enhance your eyes lashes. This adds a little drama to your eyes. I don't like using a mascara every day so I have skipped that product in this look.

#Some of my favourites are Loreal magique black, Maybelline hyper matte liquid liner and Maybelline gel liner.

Step 6 : Stain your lips

This is the final step to get that go-to makeup look. Add some colour to your lips to complete your makeup look.You may use a lipstick, lip-gloss, liquid lipstick or a tinted lipbalm, watever you are comfortable with.

Tip: For a bold and heavy lips, use lipstick and for a light, shiny look use lip gloss. Nude and Matte are the new trends now. There are various colours and various brands which you may stack with, but i recommend to have atleast three basic shades like pink, red and nude or brown in your kitty. You may also use a lip-liner to get perfect defined lips (optional).

# I have used a Lakme 9-5 lip & cheek mat mousse in the shade Blush Velvet and I am in love with this product. In my video tutorial I have show how this product can be used as a busher, if you would like to have some colour stain on your cheeks as well.

Full Video: How to get this look, click below. (coming soon!)

Hope you enjoyed reading this. If you have anything to ask for please leave a comment and I will definitely get back to you.