Category Archives: Makeup

Faces Ultime Pro Face Palette Fresh, Glow Review & Swatches

Faces Ultime Pro Face Palette Fresh, Glow Review & Swatches

Faces Ultime Pro Face Palette Fresh, Glow Review & Swatches

Hi guys,

Faces launched their new Ultime Pro Face Palettes recently. They are available in two variants, Fresh and Glow. I have both of them and have been using them since quite a few weeks and here are my thoughts..

Claims: With the bronzer, illuminator and blush all in one travel friendly pack, just add this one palette to your work bag or vanity and you are ready to go! The light shimmering color of the blush gives your cheeks a natural looking glow. Its silky smooth texture blends perfectly on your skin and feels super light, besides lasting all day long. The bronzer is the perfect blend of iridescent micronized pigments that dresses your skin in a radiant tan and a healthy looking complexion. Exalt your complexion with the Illuminator, as it sculpts adding radiance and homogeneity to the skin. With two shades to choose from, namely ‘Fresh’ and ‘Glow’, FACES Ultime Pro Face Palette complements all skin tones and flatters your skin like never before.

FACES Ultime Pro Face Palette is a light weight formulation which doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable or heavy all day long, but is rather fabulous on your skin. Not only that, it is easily blendable and gives you the most glamorous look for the day. With excellent shading properties, FACES Ultime Pro Face Palette will impart just the right dose of pretty to your look. Besides its extremely safe on the skin as it is paraben free.

MRP: Rs.899/-

Faces has already launched a bronzer and highlighter, and they have included the same two in this palette along with a blush. I absolutely loved this concept, the trio makes it very handy to carry around and travel with.

I love blush/bronzer/highlighter trios as you don’t need separate products and can do all three on the go.

It has a basic black packaging with a see through clear top. It doesn’t come with a brush or mirror. Though the palette is quite handy, I feel it has to be handled carefully or the outer cover would break, if dropped.

The bronzer and highlighter is the same in both the variants, only the centre blush is different. Fresh one has a day wear matte mauve blush, while the Glow one has a burnt orange blush with gold shimmer, appropriate for night time/heavier look.

Fresh
Glow

The palette and even the powders individually have a sandalwood scent. I personally love the scent but many don’t like any kind of scent in their makeup.

Fresh
Glow

The powders have medium pigmentation but are buildable. The bronzer is not very warm toned, so I use it as a contour too and I didn’t think the colour would show up as a contour on my skin as it’s quite light. But on building up, it did contour and define really well. Unfortunately the bronzer shade won’t show up on deep skin tones. However, the blush and highlighter would work, especially the Glow blush would look pretty on deeper skin tones.

I love using the Fresh one, as it’s very natural and gives a nice pink flush to the cheeks. The highlighter though has to be my favourite out of all three. It’s a gorgeous warm toned gold highlight and works very well with our Indian skin.

Here’s how Fresh looks on me, have used all three..

FOTD with Fresh

I absolutely loved the highlighter, it’s not OTT and neither very light/unnoticeable. It’s very pretty and again buildable if you like a blinding highlight.

This stays on for 6-7 hours in summers currently.

For fair to medium skin tones, both the palettes would work. For deeper skin tones, the bronzer won’t show up but the rest two blush and highlight would work.

At 899, getting all three products is really amazing. As individually the bronzer and highlighter are sold at 650 each, you get three products here and this is total value for money!

I absolutely love it and recommend it.

US Haul: Sephora, Kat Von D, ABH, Becca, Elf, LA Girl, Colourpop

US Haul: Sephora, Kat Von D, ABH, Becca, Elf, LA Girl, Colourpop

Hi guys,

So a few months back, my husband had gone to US for his work and obviously I had to order a few things 😀 This haul is long pending, I had to record the video and click pictures and hence the delay. I haven’t used any of this yet because I wanted to click pictures :/ Yes, I know I have too much self control!

Here’s what all I got from Sephora:

  • Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champange Pop (Becca x Jaclyn Hill collab)- $38
  • Sephora Cream Lip Stain 13 Marvelous Mauve – $14
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick Rio – $20
  • Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Lolita – $20
  • Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Lolita II – $20

Now I wanted to get the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit which had 4 highlighters and it was $40. But Champagne Pop was on my wishlist since a long time and I love Jaclyn Hill! Considering the price of Champagne Pop and Glow Kit, Glow Kit was obviously a more economical option as you get 4 different highlighters and just one here. It was a tough choice but I went with Champagne Pop 😀 I will get the Glow Kit sometime later

Kat Von D Lolita and Lolita II are her best selling shades and I see why. Both are super flattering and would work on any skin tone, be it warm or cool. In terms of formula, Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks are the most comfortable liquid lipsticks I have tried till now. They are not at all drying and super comfortable, though they don’t last as long as the drying ones.

Anastasia Liquid Lipsticks are very drying and accentuate the dryness and lines on the lips. But they are easily the most long lasting liquid lipsticks and also have some bright, fun shades. I got the shade Rio which is the brightest and most neon pink I own! I got it only for the shade! It’s such a fun, summer colour. I am totally into bold shades and liquid lipsticks right now

And lastly, I have heard so many good things about the Sephora Cream Lip Stains and again they are very comfortable and not drying. I love mauve shades and this one is a perfect, everyday wear shade. Also one of their best selling shade again.

I got the Fresh Skincare Set samples free at Sephora.

Then I ordered few things from Colourpop and Amazon.com.

Here’s what I got from Colourpop:

  • Colourpop Ultra Satin in Toolips
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Are & Be
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Privacy Please
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Trap
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte in Chilly Chilli (discontinued)
  • Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Bae- $5

I got all liquid lipsticks mostly, I am obsessed with Colourpop Liquid Lipsticks as they are the most economical option and you get a ton of shade options. At $6, I highly recommend Colourpop Liquid Lipsticks! If you want something long lasting, then Colourpop Ultra Matte formula and if you want something comfortable, then Colourpop Ultra Satin formula. I go by shades mostly, coz both the formulas are ok with me. If I like the shade, I order it. And I have majority Colourpop Ultra Matte in my stash.

Ultra Satin in Toolips and Frick N Frack

I placed one more order on Colourpop when one of my cousin was coming from US in December. You can order Colourpop directly from their site as they offer worldwide shipping but since Colourpop is pretty cheap, there will be customs duty levied on it. All liquid lipsticks in India, i.e. Colorbar, Chambor, etc are 900-1000, so they compare the prices and levy duty on it.

Ultra Mattes
Bae

My 2nd Colourpop order:

  • Colourpop Ultra Matte Zipper
  • Colourpop Ultra Satin Frick N Frack
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte Set in Blues Baby which has Smitten, Avenue, Notion, Play Date and Mink – $25

And finally I got a few things from Amazon:

  • LA Girl Pro HD Concealers in Orange, Creamy Beige and Toast
  • Elf Studio Baked Highlighter in Blush Gems- $7
  • Duo Lash Adhesive Eyelash Glue – $5.38
  • Maybelline Master Strobing Stick Illuminating Highlighter Light Iridescent- $7.99

I have been wanting to try the LA Girl Pro HD Concealers since a long time, though there is not much of a price difference in India, I just thought of ordering them too since they were definitely cheaper. They are $5-6 in US online and even less in some stores and here around Rs.550-600, so the difference is not huge. I got orange for color correcting dark circles, creamy beige as my concealer shade and Toast for contouring.

Elf Baked Highlighter in Blush Gems is an exact dupe of MAC Highlighter in Soft and Gentle. So obviously, I had to get it! Maybelline Highlighter stick is not yet launched in India and I wanted to try it, so I got that. Stick highlighters are cream based and very handy to carry around and travel with to.

Of course I read all reviews and ordered all items which are good and raved about. So if you want to buy anything from these, trust me it’s good and go ahead 🙂

What did you haul recently? Anything from this?

Top 10 theBalm Products Available in India, Prices, Buy Online

Top 10 theBalm Products Available in India, Prices, Buy Online

By Sanchita

A woke up one morning and the very first thing I noticed was that theBalm is launched online with decent price tags. Now, there are few products from the brand which are globally famous and we often reach out beyond our means to get our hands on that. Well, now I don’t have to worry about the classic highlighter or bronzer I have been dreaming to own. The moment I saw theBalm online, I made my top 10 list of product which I will be purchasing. I also noticed that the price tags are not unreasonably high but have a slight difference when you convert the currency. I also added the actually price tag so that you can see for yourself. The products are available both on Nykaa and Amazon India.

So, here’s the best of theBalm which you can easily purchase online.

1. theBalm Mary Lou Manizer – Price Rs. 1699/$24.00 (BUY HERE)

Mary Lou Manizer needs an introduction? Well, I don’t think so. This is one highlighter which can make you look like a glow queen of all times. Also, once you use this, you can never go back to any other thing. the brand says that it is a ‘honey-hued luminizer’ but to most of the skin tone, it is a golden champagne highlighter which has the best balance of warm and cool toned. This is why it is the perfect highlighter for every skin tone. The highlighter has small shimmer particles which catches light very well without looking glittery. The formula is smooth, easily blendable and long lasting too. in case you don’t like the color, you can also try out the The Manizer Sisters palette which has three highlighter including this one.

2. theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer – Price Rs. 1399/$20.00 (BUY HERE)

This is another bestselling product from the brand. theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer comes in a rectangular cardboard compact packaging with a quirky cover. The bronzer is an excellent medium brown color with a slight gray undertones. Again, it is a good balance or cool and warm and can be used for a perfect sun kissed look. It suits a lot of skin tones and the soft, silky texture makes it so easy to blend on the skin. The finish is natural and you can easily work on it. It also gives you a good wear time.

3. theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipsticks – Price Rs. 1199/ $17.00 (BUY HERE)

There are 12shades in the collection of Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipsticks. You can also opt for the mini set as well. These are packaged in a super cute way and if you are a fan of liquid lipsticks, you will surely love them. The formula is creamy and comfortable and gives a proper matte finish without accentuating the fine lines. It feels easy and lightweight and the lip colors are also long wearing. Additionally, these are cruelty free as well.

4. theBalm Balm Voyage Vol 2. Face Palette – Price Rs. 2799/$39.50 (BUY HERE)

This is an excellent choice of palette if you want to travel light. The Balm Voyage Vol 2. Face Palette features nine exclusive triple-milled eyeshadows which can be used wet or dry, two blushes, a bronzer, a highlighter and two versatile lip-and- cheek creams. It is literally everything you need for face, lips and eyes and for that price tag, it is a great product. The choice of eyeshadows are great which helps you to create neutral as well dramatic look. The quality is smooth, blendable and long lasting. The blush, bronzer and highlighter is also perfect for most of the Indian skin tones and therefore, investing in this palette is definitely an advantage.

5. theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette – Price Rs. 2299/ $32.00 (BUY HERE)

The theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette is another travel friendly palette for lips and cheeks. It features six shades – namely, Cider, Cobbler, Pie, Crisp, Candy, and Caramel. The shades are good as it has orange, pinks and reds in abundance. These are not drying at all on the lips and cheeks. The formula is creamy smooth and non-patchy and gives a dewy finish. The colors are also well-pigmented, blendable and last for a pretty long time. The formula is paraben-free.

6. theBalm Meet Matt(e) Nude and Trimony Eyeshadow Palette – Price Rs. 2999/$42.00 (BUY HERE)

theBalm Meet Matt(e) Nude and Trimony Eyeshadow Palette are extremely good one for neutral matte shades. There are 9shades each with a good balance of colors. The eye shadows are Cruelty-free and Talc-Free and therefore the pigmentation is on point. The texture is velvety smooth and it blends flawlessly. Also, both the palette has a good blend of warm and cool toned matte shades and therefore both are simply breathtaking.

7. theBalm Nude’tude and Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette – Price Rs. 2599/$36.00 (BUY HERE)

the theBalm Nude’tude and Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette has the perfect mix of light, medium and dark shades. This is another neutral palette you can opt for with a mix of matte, satin and shimmer. Every shade on both the palette have a very smooth texture and blends like a dream. The eyeshadow are triple milled, have less fallout problem and can be used as highlighter too. The color are well pigmented, shows up even without eye primer and needless to say, the packaging is the best.

8. theBalm Put A Lid On It Eyelid Primer – Price Rs. 1299/$18.00 (BUY HERE)

theBalm Put A Lid On It Eyelid Primer is a translucent like eyeshadow primer with a thicker but easy consistency. It applies smoothly and helps to bring out the best of eyeshadows and pigments. It has a squeeze-tube and the primer blends well on the eyes. It is a bit like a silicone-based and once it sets, it feels nothing. It also prevents creasing, fading and mixing of eyeshadows and helps to elongate the wear time as well. There are light reflective properties to ensure that the eye shadow stays bright all day long.

9. theBalm Highlite ‘N Con Tour Highlight & Contour Palette – Price Rs. 2599/$36.00 (BUY HERE)

If you want a superb kit for highlight and contour while travelling, this is the right pick for you. It comes in 8 striking shades which includes two shimmer highlighters, two matte highlighters, two contour powders and a bronzer and blush. The texture of the pressed powder is good with fine milled formula, easily blendable without any patchy look or clinging on to the dry patches or pores. It has a talc free formula and the pigmentation is really good as well. The colors are long lasting and suits a number of skin tones.

10. theBalm Shadow And Blush – Price Rs. 1499/$21.00 (BUY HERE)

This is one multipurpose product which can be used as an eyeshadow and blush. It comes in 3 shades – DownBoy, CabanaBoy and FratBoy. DownBoy is a soft, light-medium pink with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish, CabanaBoy is a muted raspberry pink with a subtle golden sheen and FratBoy is a peachy apricot with subtle gold micro-shimmer and a pearly sheen. The texture of the powder is very soft, blendable and doesn’t look chalky at all. It blends well, both on eyes and cheeks without a hint of patchiness and stays for about 8-9hrs.

These are my favorites from the theBalm and do let me know yours.

Editor’s Note: I absolutely love Mary Lou Manizer and Meet Matte Trimony Palette. I have also used the time balm Concealer and loved it. Recommend that too.

Have you tried any thebalm products? Would you be buying any from the above since it’s available now on Nykaa?

The Body Shop Fresh Nude Cushion Foundation, Down to Earth Eyeshadow Quad Review, Swatches

The Body Shop Fresh Nude Cushion Foundation, Down to Earth Eyeshadow Quad Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

If you have seen the previous post, I have already reviewed The Body Shop’s new Matte Lip Liquid. See HERE

I am quite impressed by those and using them daily currently, kind of obsessed with the Goa Magnolia shade.

However, did the other two launches impress me? Read on to know..

Starting with The Body Shop Fresh Nude Cushion Foundation..

Claims: Our multi-tasking Fresh Nude Cushion Foundation is packed with beneficial skin care ingredients in a portable and innovative design. Discover buildable semi-matte coverage for instantly smoother, shine-free skin and 24 hours of fresh moisture. Experience the freshness of a liquid foundation and the on-the-go practicality of a compact all with mess-free application.

Suitable for sensitive skin , Non-pore clogging, Designed with a built in mirror and pad applicator

MRP: Rs.2695/- for 12g

Shades Available:

  • 03 Malawi Beach (Medium)
  • 04 Wanaka Honey (Dark)

How to use: Apply using the pad applicator for even, lightweight, semi-matte coverage: • Press the pad applicator onto the cushion to activate • Reapply for additional coverage

All brands are coming up with cushion foundations these days. The Body Shop also jumped on the bandwagon, but but only two shades available. Just like Maybelline.

One is for medium skin tones and one is for deeper skin tones. So very fair and deep skin tones will not find their match.

They already have the Fresh Nude Liquid Foundations and that comes in a variety of impressive shades including deeper shades. I wish they would have launched more shades in Cushion Foundation too.

I like the handy, sleek packaging. The mirror is really good and sharp, comes with a sponge. I basically love Cushion Foundations for their ease of use and ease of travel. They are very handy.

It gives a soft, dewy finish which will need to be set with a powder. Coverage is light to medium, so you will definitely need concealer over this.

It stays for about 5-6 hours, you will need powder touch up in between as you will get shiny.

I would say it’s pretty good for daily use for work/college when you do not need heavy coverage. But it is definitely quite expensive.

Here is a small demo..

Price and only two shades would be the cons, other than those, it’s pretty good.

Coming to the quad..

Claims: Our Down to Earth Eyeshadow Quad Brown features 4 neutral eyshadow shades, inspired by nature:

• Oregon Sunstone
• Peru Clay
• Sienna Dust
• Idaho Jasper

Special Features:
• The individul shades all click in and out of the palette casing, so you can switch shades between palettes and quads.
• Shades come in three different finishes: true mattes, iridescent shimmers and eye-catching sparkles.

MRP: Rs.1995/- for 8.8g

How to use: Apply your favorite shades wet or dry directly onto the eyelid. • Start with lighter colors and build up darker colors towards the outer corner of the eye. • To apply the product wet, dampen the bristles of the Down to Earth Multi-Tasker Eyeshadow Brush with a damp tissue.

Shades Available:

  • Brown
  • Plum
  • Black

I have the brown quad. I like the mirror finish packaging of the quad and the fact that the shades could be removed and inter changed. However, I did not see additional shades or that option available at the store yet. Not sure of that.

It comes with a mirror, which is again quite good. Each quad a mix of matte, shimmer and satin finish.

This brown quad has a shimmer peach, matte taupe, shimmer light golden and satin finish deep chocolate brown.

Now I swatched all three at the store and then picked this, out of the Brown and Plum as the shades in Plum did not swatch well on my hand. This one all four shades swatched well. And were creamy and pigmented.

When I tried using it on my eyes, the colours just won’t show up on the lids. I had to go over each shade 2-3 times and this is the result I got finally.

I wouldn’t say it’s bad but it requires a lot of efforts and the result is not that good. I wouldn’t recommend this particular quad, I am not sure how the other two show up on the eyes. The black/grey one looked the most pigmented though.

Overall, I would recommend only the cushion foundation and matte lip liquid from this range, especially the matte liq liquid lipsticks 🙂

Have you tried the new launches from The Body Shop?

All 12 The Body Shop India Matte Lip Liquid Review, Swatches

All 12 The Body Shop India Matte Lip Liquid Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

The Body Shop launched their new makeup line, called Jacqueline’s signature line. It has cushion foundation (2 shades), 3 eyeshadow palettes and 12 matte lip liquid i.e. liquid lipsticks.

I swatched all of them for you guys..

Claims: Introducing this season’s hottest lip-color trend, Matte Lip Liquid. Our creamy Matte Lip Liquid provides intense color and a soft matte finish. The non-drying formula provides the perfect way to comfortably wear a bold matte lip this holiday season. Specially formulated to glide on effortlessly like a gloss and set with the rich creamy color and velvety touch of matte lipstick. Our liquid lipstick is long-lasting, lightweight and lusciously soft. And like all our cruelty-free makeup

MRP: Rs.695/- for 8ml

Shades Available: 12

  • Crete Carnation
  • Windsor Rose
  • Taipai Orchid
  • Nairobi Camellia
  • Paris Peony
  • Tokyo Lotus
  • Cali Gerbera
  • Goa Magnolia
  • Tahiti Hibiscus
  • Sydney Amaryllis
  • Sicily Iris
  • Mauritius Dahlia

It comes in the matching shade outer packaging, so the colors are easy to identify. It has a slanted tip applicator and easy to apply.

They have shade names of cities + flowers which is quite interesting. And they have tried to match a few shades with flowers like Orchid.

I love the fruity smell and it feels super light weight on the lips. It settles to a matte finish and is very, very comfortable. I would say this is the most comfortable liquid lipstick I have tried.

The formula reminds me of Miss Claire/NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams but these are lighter than that too. Pigmentation is good, and you need just one swipe of the deeper colors to get opaque coverage.

It doesn’t stay very long though and does not survive a complete meal. It is not completely transfer proof too. Without eating or drinking, it would stay 4-5 hours and would go away completely with food. It doesn’t leave any tint or stain behind, it goes away completely but it very easy to reapply.

But it doesn’t accentuate any dryness or lines on lips. If you love matte lipsticks but want something comfortable and non-drying, these are made for you!

I love that they have different range of shades from pinks to nudes to even berry. I would have liked more browns and berries though, I wish they add more shades in this range soon.

I picked Goa Magnolia and Tahiti Hibiscus. Also liked Mauritius Dahlia and Nairobi Camellia.

I like the price point of 695 and also the quantity is 8ml, which is more than the usual 5-6 ml in liquid lipsticks. I do recommend these!

Have you tried the new Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid?

5 Make-up Must Haves For The ‘Summer Goddess’ Look

5 Make-up Must Haves For The ‘Summer Goddess’ Look

By Ankita

Hello everyone,

I was watching Gods of Egypt a couple of months back and it did not take me long before I got totally obsessed with Élodie Yung’s ‘Hathor’ look in the movie. Sporting slight tan-ish bronze look, she looked absolutely stunning! So, I began my own little research ‘how to get that bronze goddess glow’, but, to be frank, it was a little over the top in real life.

It wasn’t until a few days back, that I hit the gold! So here I am with 5 makeup absolutes to get the bronze gold, goddess of the sands look with affordable drugstore products.

For the convenience of my readers, I have made a few product suggestions that are quite easily available and are a perfect dupe for high-end drugstore items, with a few application tips to nail it.

Want to get that sun-kissed look without actually getting out in the sun? Stay tuned till the end 🙂

Face It!!

1. Liquid Illuminators

Liquid Illuminators are a rage this season. They give you that bronzy-under the skin glow that looks almost effortless.

Application Tip: Take a pea-sized amount on your stippling brush and stipple it all over your face with light hands.

What I recommend

Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in the shade Bare Lights is perfect for this look. It imparts a decent glow to the face without going overboard.

Priced at: 995 INR

2. Flesh toned Concealer

Remember girls, the focus of this look is on bringing your natural facial highlights and features. So it is better to stay away from concealers that are way too lighter than your skin tone. The idea here is to get a flawless base.

Application Tip: Take your concealer and dot it on areas that need a bit of touch-up. Say for example, under the eyes, around the mouth and any other blemished area. Lightly dab it with your ring finger first and then blend it with a beauty blender.

What I recommend

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD is my absolute favourite when it comes to concealing. It doesn’t crease at all and blends like a dream. The brush tip applicator lets you control the amount of product coming out of the tube. Best thing, they have a shade for every skin tone, but medium beige works just fine for me.

Priced at: 535 INR

3. Highlight

Now comes the most important part of this look, ‘The Highlight’. A champagne gold colour highlighter would give you that goddess glow without making it too dramatic.

Application Tip: Take a small amount of highlighter and brush it with the lightest hands on all high points of your face including cheekbones, forehead, bridge of the nose, cupids bow, inner corners of eyes and a little on your collar bone.

What I recommend

Makeup Revolution Pro Highlighter – Illuminate has just the right amount of light reflecting particles to light up your face, never making it look like a disco ball. It has beautiful gold champagne colour and is sure to make some heads turn when you put it on.

Priced at: 725 INR

4. The eyes have it all

Application: Keep the eyes neat and clean with a rose-gold eye shadow all over the lid and a dark brown kohl on the upper lash line, lightly smudged and slightly winged to give that doe-y eyed appearance.

What I recommend

– Eye Shadow: Faces Glam on Color Perfect eye shadow Quad Captive

This palette has the four most beautiful colours with rosy gold and bronze undertones and is a must for all those looking for a subtly shimmer based eye shadow palate. The colour payoff is excellent, with least fall out.

Priced at : 599 INR

– Kohl: Lakme Eyeconic Brown Kajal

A dark brown kohl pencil would definitely compliment the entire look instead a black one. Lakme Iconic Brown Kajal glides on smoothly to give you that intense sensual gaze that is sure to steal many hearts.

Priced at: 275 INR

Now pucker up

5. Lip Gloss

Application: Nothing more sensual than a nude lip. Dab your beauty blender with a little bit of concealer/foundation on your lips and top it off with a nude pink lip gloss just on the centre of your lips.

What I recommend

Colorbar True Gloss Lip-gloss Natural Tan ( 550 INR)

This look is very much wearable and would suit almost all skin tones. As Indians, we are blessed with a beautiful yellow-olive undertone. So why not flaunt it. Try this look and do let me know your thoughts and experience.

Editor’s Note: These are the perfect products for the ‘glow’ in summers 😀 Nice compilation Ankita, welcome to NLM

Do you like the summer goddess glowy look?

All Nykaa PaintStix Review, Swatches

All Nykaa PaintStix Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

So I had all 12 of the new Nykaa Paint Stix and hence, did decided to do this review + swatches.

Claims:  Nykaa Paintstix Collection

Go big on color and big on glamour! Nykaa’s Paintstix boasts a remarkable formula that pushes the boundaries of color intensity with its rich and intense pigment. This supreme formula glides on your lips effortlessly, providing you with, undeniable saturated color in one stroke. It s time to go bold with Nykaa!

  • Extreme color intensity
  • Soft matte finish
  • One stroke application
  • Long-wearing
  • Consists Vitamin E and nutrient-infused butter
  • Glides on effortlessly
  • Bold range of shades

Nykaa Paintstix Collection Includes :

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Nude Spice :Let the crowd follow your lead with Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Nude Spice. This warm nude shade is just enough to keep things spicy! Swipe it on and let the fun begin.

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Cool Girl Nude : Bring out the cool gal in you with Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Cool Girl Nude! This cool-toned nude is all you need to do the job. Not out-there, not flashy, this nude shade is just chill and classy!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – No Chill Orange : Don t keep calm, go ahead freak out with the Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in No Chill Orange. This bright, orange shade has the capability to pick you up on the gloomiest day! Go ahead, swipe it on and conquer the world, girl!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Peaches n Cream : Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Peaches n Cream is the sugar rush to your sweet tooth! This perky, peachy shade can never go wrong. Whether it is your usual Monday look and your chill Friyay look, this hue is sure to make you look all peachy and fabulous!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Tender Rose : Play the game and wait no more with the Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Tender Rose. It doesn’t get more girly and pretty than this lovely pinkish mauve shade. Look sweet like a candy in this gorgeous shade!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Chick Flick Pink : Put on your cutest jammies and call in your girlfriends for the best sleepover ever! Pink doesn’t get more fetch than our vibrant Chick Flick Pink! Go ahead, whisper all your dirty secrets sipping dirty martinis!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Rock n Roll Pink : Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to tap your feet to the 90’s beats with the Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Rock n Roll Pink. This purple-toned pink is nothing like you’ve seen! Swipe this fierce hue on and don t be afraid to show your sassy self!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Purple Monster : This bright purple hue is not for faint-hearted! Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Purple Monster is sure to bring the spotlight on you wherever you go! Dare to go purple, dare to be party monster with this audacious shade!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Bombshell Berry : Push and pull like magnets do, and let him stay amazed while you sway on the rhythm. This deep berry hue is all you need to keep things interesting. Put it on girl, Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Bombshell Berry is handmade for a hottie like you!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Rebellious Red : Don t let anyone bring you down, be a rebel that nobody can ignore with Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Rebellious Red. When you need a pick me up, this bright red hue is enough to make you feel invincible. Step out and take on the world, nothing is stopping you!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Hearts n Kisses : Let the love reign, and let your lips give the sweetest kisses with Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Hearts n Kisses. This red with pink undertones is the prettiest red that you ll ever wear. Go ahead, pucker and pout!

Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick – Grunge Brown : Back up and wind it with the Nykaa Paintstix! Lipstick in Grunge Brown. This deep brown shade is sure to give you that trendy, 90 s grunge look! C mon turn the stereo on and swing to the finest 90’s tracks with this delicious, irresistible shade.

Why Should You Make It Yours :

These cute, lipsticks are all you need to make your look little more fun, little more glamorous! This cruelty-free, and high-pigment formula gives you a soft, cushiony matte finish. The unique formulation ensures that your lips stay comfortable, colored up and matte-smooth all day long. Another bonus: These vivid, full-coverage hues are hand-selected and named by our In-house Nykaa Panel, just in time for the most-trendiest season. The best part, these fun hues won t break the bank! Go ahead, stock em all!

MRP: Rs.425/- (Buy HERE)

To start with the packaging, it has color coded matching outer cover and black body. The packaging is similar to the MAC Liptensity lipsticks and looks very classy from the outside. The inner part however is flimsy and plasticky, it’s not very sturdy and the body shakes a bit. Also the bullets are not very sturdy, one of my lipstick bullet came off on it’s own. I had not even started swatching them or using them, just opening and twisting, maybe one was already broken.

But if you drop them once, the lipstick bullet will break and come off. I like the So Matte magnetic packaging more as it was sturdier comparatively. You have to be very careful with this one.

Also the shape of the lipstick bullet is flat and I hate applying lipsticks which are flat on top as application on the edges of the lips is very difficult and the lipstick goes everywhere :/ You have to use the tip on the edges, but the flat shape often goes outside.

Formula though is pretty good! These are super pigmented, all these hand swatches are 1.5-2 swipes each like I didn’t even need to go two full times over them. Same for my lips, in two swipes you get complete, opaque coverage. See in the swatches video, I wanted to show that specifically.

These have a semi matte finish again, but are more pigmented and rich in colour compared to So Matte. These stay for 4-5 hours, and even longer without eating or drinking. With eating, it will fade from the center but leaves a strong tint behind which stays on throughout. I like the staying power

These are very moisturising nad comfortable on the lips. I love the shade selection they have, everything from nudes and pinks to deep purples and browns. A perfect shade range, also the affordable price tag!

I have divided them into six each, 1 to 6 and 7 to 12 for convenience.

01 Nude Spice is a cool toned nude

02 Cool Girl Nude is a more deeper nude brown, again cool toned

03 No Chill Orange is a bright, warm orange

04 Peaches N Cream is a beautiful peachy pink mix

05 Tender Rose is a cool toned bright rosy pink

06 Chick Flick Pink is a deep pinky brown

07 Rock N Roll Pink is a bright fuchsia pink

08 Purple Monster is a bluish purple

09 Bombshell Berry is a deep berry

10 Rebellious Red is a bright cool toned red, reminds me a little of MAC Ruby Woo. Of course formula wise, completely different

11 Hearts N Kisses is a warmer red

12 Grunge Brown is a deep, dark chocolate brown

Here are all the swatches on me..

Also another con would be the shade name is only mentioned on the outer box, I had to remove those stickers and stick them on the lipstick, as the actual lipsticks only have numbers.

My favourite shades are Cool Girl Nude, Peaches N Cream, Tender Rose, Chick Flick Pink, Rock N Roll Pink, Rebellious Red and Grunge Brown. I know I have many favourites 😀 Even like the first Nude Spice, perfect everyday shade. Even Peaches N Cream and Tender Rose are good everyday wear shades.

Let me know your favourites in the comments below 🙂

Lakmé Absolute White Intense Skin Cover Foundation Review

Lakmé Absolute White Intense Skin Cover Foundation Review

By Sanchita

INTRODUCTION – I have been hunting for a good drugstore foundation for a long time. A friend of mine suggested me this range and I immediately took the plunge. I was little confused whether to go for this or the illuminating range, but finally settled for this one. I have been using this foundation for the past 3-4months and I am quite happy about it. Read on to know more about the product.

 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION – A flawless face is now your everyday gift with this one of a kind Lakmé Absolute White Intense Skin Cover Foundation. An ultra-light, water-based, oil-free foundation with Vitamin B3 & SPF 25 guards the skin against harmful rays leaving it visibly fairer, polished & vibrant with 16 hours of complete skin coverage. Say hello to flawless skin –all day, every day!

PRICE – Rs. 700 for 15ml

MY REVIEW

Packaging – Lakme Absolute White Intense Skin Cover Foundation comes in a pump bottle which is dark steel gray in color and with a click shut cap. The foundation has to be taken out through the pump and for travelling, this is one of the most convenient packaging I have seen so far. It is sturdy, light weight and very easy to travel with. However, from the opaque packaging you can’t exactly tell how much product is left behind. Except for this, the packaging feels quite good to me.

Shade – The shade range is slightly disappointing as it has only 6 shades and most of them are suitable to fair to fair-medium. I picked up the shade 03 Golden Medium which was the closest match to my skin tone (I am NC41) and under tone but slightly lighter. I generally mix a darker foundation to make this work for me. I feel the shade range should have more yellow undertone than pinkish or neutral ones.

Texture – The texture of the foundation is medium – neither too runny nor too thick. It feels light weight unlike any other medium consistency foundation. Having said that, the foundation isn’t very hydrating and thus it will work better for oily to combination skin type. You have to make sure that the skin is well prepped and hydrated for the foundation to work better. If you have dry or dead skin, it has the tendency to accumulate and look patchy. The texture makes it slightly time consuming to blend in winters. However, if you are using a moisturizer and primer, the job becomes easier. It has SPF 25. Further, it is enriched with the goodness of Vitamin B3.

Application – I am not very good with brushes and I stick to my YBP Makeup Sponge for foundations. I generally use my fingers to apply the product all over the face and blend everything out with the sponge. I feel the brushes doesn’t give the exact finish I want. Also, use a buffing motion every time with this foundation as dragging the sponge will give you an uneven finish. Also, work quickly as the foundation sets very fast.

Coverage – The coverage of the foundation is medium to buildable. If you try to build up to full coverage, it looks cakey. The coverage is good for a drugstore foundation and evens out the skin really good. It does cover pigmentation and faded marks but for heavy acne scars, it may require color corrector. For events and parties, the coverage is pretty good. If you apply and blend the foundation well, it adds a bright layer to the skin.

Finish – The foundation gives a natural matte finish. It does not make a huge difference if you have open pores but does good job in concealing and smoothing out the skin. I like the fact that this foundation does not settle into lines or pores of the skin. The foundation doesn’t clog the pores or break you out.

Photography and Oxidation – The foundation flashes back and I would not recommend this for photography at all. It great for daytime and normal events but when you are going to be photographed, especially flash photography, I would advised against using this foundation. The foundation never oxidizes on me, which is a good thing.

Staying power – The foundation is long wearing but not exactly 16 hrs, as claimed. It stayed on me for around 6-7 hrs and after that I noticed fading and also the T-zone looked oily. You need touch ups every 5-6 hrs to make the foundation long lasting on the face. The price justified for a drugstore foundation and also it is on discount on most of the sites.

WHAT I LIKED

1. Well designed, sturdy pump packaging.

2. Medium consistency and blends well.

3. Easy to work with texture.

4. Medium to buildable coverage.

5. Even and flawless look.

6. Matte finish.

7. Enriched with Vitamin B3 and has SPF 25.

8. Does not settle into lines or pores of the skin.

9. Doesn’t oxidize.

10. Long wearing, around 6-7hrs.

11. Well priced.

WHAT I DISLIKED

1. Shade range can be better.

2. Flashes back in photographs.

3. Not suitable for dry to very dry skin.

4. Missing ingredient list.

RATING – 4/5

OVERALL – Lakmé Absolute White Intense Skin Cover Foundation is a medium coverage foundation with a soft matte finish, medium consistency and easy to blend. It gives an even, flawless skin and best suitable for normal-oily skin. it doesn’t break out, enriched with SPF 25 and is decently long wearing foundation. However, this doesn’t photograph well.

Have you tried the Lakmé Absolute White Intense Skin Cover Foundation?

All Nykaa So Matte Nudes Collection Lipsticks Review, Swatches

All Nykaa So Matte Nudes Collection Lipsticks Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

So many of you wanted the new Nykaa Nude Collection Review, so here it is..

Claims: Meet your new favorite nude lipstick! The creamy, long-lasting texture gives you pout-worthy lips in one stroke. It effortlessly glides on your lips, giving you a gorgeous soft matte finish. Nykaa brings you a collection that offers you eight stunning nude shades that you won’t be able to keep your hands off! Pucker up and party with our delectable nude mattes!

Plush, pigment-rich formula.
Intense colour pay-off.
Smooth texture.
One stroke application.
Luxurious, effortless glide.
Soft matte finish.

Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick Nudes Collection Includes :

Nykaa So Matte Nude Lipstick- Caramel Mocha 21M : Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Caramel Mocha is all you need to start your day right! This delicious light nude hue is as delicious as its name. Swipe it on and conquer the day girl!

Nykaa So Matte Nude Lipstick- Royal Honey 22M : All you’ll do win, no matter what with the Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick- Royal Honey. This warm toned nude shade is as majestic as it gets! We promise you won’t be able to get enough of this lovely light nude!

Nykaa So Matte Nude Lipstick- Hot Cocoa 23M : Girl, all we are saying is that simple is better! Show off your true self with the Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Hot Cocao. This pinkish toned nude shade will ensure you are summer-time fine even in December!

Nykaa So Matte! Lipstick- Praline Cookie 24M : Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Praline Cookie is the sugar rush to your sweet tooth! Go, ahead and give in to this beautiful brown toned shade. Let your lips look absolutely delish in this stunning hue. If this shade doesn’t excite you, we don’t know what will

Nykaa So Matte Nude Lipstick- Haute Fudge 25M : Baby, you are the It girl with the Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Haute Fudge. Rock it all night and all day with this brown hue. We promise, this shade is sure to put you in the middle of spotlight! Who’s complaining about that, right?!

Nykaa So Matte Nude Lipstick- Bon Bon 26M : Leave your lipstick stains of the passport and conquer the whole world with the Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Bon Bon. This rich, chocolate brown shade is sure to make you look like an international diva!

Nykaa So Matte Nude Lipstick- Coffee Mousse 27M : Coffee plus dessert, who can say no to that! Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Coffee Mousse is what dreams are made of! This light brown-toned nude hue is sure to fashionably kick-start your day! Go ahead, swipe this baby on, we know you can’t resist it!

Nykaa So Matte Nude Lipstick – Chocolate Truffle 28M : Disturb the peace and run your hands all over him, take him to the other side with the irresistible Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Chocolate Truffle. This rich, dark brown hue is as fun as it gets! So, what are you waiting for? Take the wheel in your hands!

MRP: Rs.399 /- (Buy HERE)

The packaging is same as all other Nykaa lipsticks, black and magnetic with the matching shade name cover on the bottom.

The formula, staying power all being same, let me quickly talk about the shades.

They have numbers 21 to 28 from lighter to darkest nudes. 21 to 24 will work for lighter skin tones and 25 to 28 for deeper skin tones. Though the shades 25 to 28 work well on medium to fair skin tones giving it a deep lip look and not a nude lip colour look.

I have swatched them in 2 parts, 21 to 24 and 25 to 28

L-R: Caramel Mocha, Royal Honey, Hot Cocoa,
Praline Cookie
L-R: Caramel Mocha, Royal Honey, Hot Cocoa,
Praline Cookie
L-R: Caramel Mocha, Royal Honey, Hot Cocoa,
Praline Cookie

Caramel Mocha is a light nude brown

Royal Honey is warmer than Caramel Mocha and has more brown

Hot Cocoa is a nude mauve

Praline Cookie is the darkest from first four, this is where the darker shades start, as the first three are lighter nudes. It is a nude warm brown, deeper than Caramel Mocha and Royal Honey.

L-R: Haute Fudge, Bon Bon, Coffee Mousse,
Chocolate Truffle
L-R: Haute Fudge, Bon Bon, Coffee Mousse,
Chocolate Truffle
L-R: Haute Fudge, Bon Bon, Coffee Mousse,
Chocolate Truffle

Haute Fudge is a light chocolate brown

Bon Bon is a perfect pink brown mix

Coffee Mousse is a brick brown, with a slight reddish tint

Chocolate Truffle is a deep, dark cool toned chocolate brown

Here are all the swatches on me..

The first three lighter shades last a little less than rest of the deeper shades.

I absolutely love Hot Cocoa, Haute Fudge, Coffee Mousse and Chocolate Truffle.

See the Nykaa Lipsticks detailed review and the first 12 shades swatched HERE, the Fall/Winter Collection swatched HERE

Which are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below.

Make Up For Ever Star Powder, Diamond Powder Review, Swatches

Make Up For Ever Star Powder, Diamond Powder Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

I have the Make Up For Ever Star Powder and Diamond Powder with me, I have heard so much about them, especially the Diamond Powder. Read on to know more..

Star Powder

Claims: The Star Powder is a silky powder that catches the light and gives the skin an intense sparkle and unparalleled shine. Its extremely fine, yet dense texture makes it easy to apply. Only a small amount is needed for visible results. The Star Powders can be used alone or blended together, applied over eyeshadow or mixed with any texture to highlight areas of the face.

How to use: Apply with a brush or sponge applicator. Moisten the brush slightly for enhanced shine and hold. For a pearly yet light makeup, apply the Star Powder to your face using a large powder brush. To highlight areas of the face and add a twinkle to your eyes, lips or cheeks, apply small hints of Star Powder.

Pro tip: use a damp brush to increase shine and hold. Use a damp brush to increase shine and hold. To highlight areas of the face or the decolletage, mix foundation with the Star Powder for added shimmers. For longer lasting results and more sparkles on the eyelids, apply a small amount of primer first. For a personalized and intense look, layer several Star Powders, dry or moistened, using a sponge applicator. Bring harmony and shimmers to your look by using the same shade of Star Powder on the eyelids, blended with lipstick, and added to nail varnish.

Shades Available: 35

MRP: Rs.1900/- for 2.8g

It comes in a small jar with punched holes to dispense the product. It’s a standard pigment packaging and quantity.

The shade range is  gorgeous, they have everything from Black Gold to Iridescent Pale Peach and Metallic Rosewood, Yellow Gold, etc.

The shade I have here is called 955 Plum with Blue Highlights. It’s a gorgeous duochrome shade, with hint of blue, brown and plum, reminds me a lot of MAC Blue Brown pigment which I own and is one of my favourites.

Some of the shades like gold, silver, rosewood, etc. would be ideal for Indian brides.

Diamond Powder

Claims: An ultra-fine mineral powder with an intense sparkling effect. Diamond Powder combines the pearly iridescence of Star Powder with the brilliance of glitter. It is composed almost entirely of pure synthetic mother-of-pearl with particles that are finer and literally radiate extreme brilliance as soon as they are applied. It can be used wet or dry on the face or body.

How to use: Diamond Powder can be applied to the eyes, cheeks, lips or body. Diamond Powder can be mixed with any liquid or powdery texture, including foundations, make up bases and lipsticks. For longer lasting results, mix with Aqua Seal or Mist & Fix then apply.

Shades Available: 10

MRP: Rs.2460/- for 2g

It has the same small jar packaging, except the jar is slightly diamond shaped with the edges. I have seen so many makeup artists especially bridal makeup artists use the MUFE Diamond Powder. Even Cory Walia had used it on me on my wedding day.

Diamond Powder Blanc Mauve, Star Powder Plum with Blue Highlights

You can use this on it’s own or top it for added shine at the end of your eye makeup. Every makeup artist has 2-3 shades of MUFE Diamond Powder in their collection. It is one of the finest shimmer available in the market. Even if you hate shimmer/glitter, you cannot stop falling in love with the Diamond Powder.

It gives that iridescent glow without the chunky glitter look. The pearl base is extremely fine and the pink shimmer is only what reflects on the skin on movement. If you use just a tiny bit on the centre of your eyelids, it gleams in sunlight.

I have the shade Blanc Mauve which is fine white mother of pearl pigment with pink-mauve shimmer.

Here is Star Powder on my eyes..

I like the fact that they come in smaller sizes because with pigments, you just need to touch your brush in them and even after using them well, they will last you a lifetime.

The camera did not catch the duochrome effect of the Star Powder and the pink shimmer of the Diamond Powder, it is something you can see under the sun or in light with movement. It’s beautiful!

Pigmentation is amazing, shade range is amazing. Plus they are multi use and work wet and dry for face/body/nails/hair.

They also have Star Lit Power and Metal Powder. If you are looking for a good quality pigment something like Diamond Powder which can be used for a multiple things, I highly recommend checking out Make Up For Ever pigments.

Have you tried the MUFE Star and Diamond Powder?