October’2014 Fab Bag

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Hey you!

My Fab Bag for October reached me on 22^nd of this month. Glad, since this arrived much earlier than I expected. This Diwali Edition Fab Bag is out in 2 colours- Blue and Silver. I think both look equally glam. If I were to decide, I don’t think I could’ve picked one. Oh well, that’s the precise concept about the surprise Fab Bag right?!?

October Fab bag 2014

 I’m loving the Silver Bag on my vanity shelf. Surely brings out the Diwali feel. I think I’m gonna keep it there till New years, ‘coz I love some shimmer around me during winter!!

Coming to the contents…

Clockwise- Nature's Co Hair Mask; Just Herbs 6 step Skin Regime; SeaSoul CC Cream

   1)  SeaSoul Dead sea Minerals & Botanicals SSpro Range HD Finish CC Cream

Quite a mouthful… I got the shade LIGHT with SPF 20. This claims everything that every CC cream in the market claims to do.

Improve Discoloration, Correct Blemishes, Minimize Oil Production, Provide Sheer Coverage, Lighten & Brighten, Hydrate &Moisturize. Paraben Free, Cruelty Free, Eco-Friendly.

However it says ‘Complete Coverage’ but also mentions ‘Provides Sheer Coverage’ on the packaging itself. Confusing or Misleading don’t you think?? Or am I missing something here? I'm curious about the HD Finish claim though.

Needless to say, I’m super excited to try this and see how this fares. Another CC cream ain’t hurting anyone ;)

PS: I’ve used this twice till now and my skin hasn’t broken out (I have super sensitive skin) and the shade LIGHT suits my skin tone….well almost. It settles in a while. The coverage is sheer.

SeaSoul CC Cream

      2) Nature’s Co. Rosemary Hibiscus Hair Mask

Not too sure about this product. None of the Nature’s Co product has ever fared well on me. Plus I’ve been suffering from a lot of hair fall recently. So kinda dicey about this one. But I shall try it nonetheless.

Nature's Co Rosemary Hibiscus Hair Mask

     3) Just Herbs – 6 Step Skin Care Regime

This came with 6 products in a paper box! It’s a skin care routine with neatly mentioned steps-

-         Step 1 (Daily): SilkSplashNeem-Bitter OrangeRehydrant Face Wash (All skin types) [35 g]

-         Step 2 (Twice a week): Apricot Sparkle Invigorating  Skin Radiance Scrub (Normal to dry Skin) [35 g]

-         Step 3 (Daily): Nourishing Massage Cream (Normal to Dry skin) [15 g]

-         Step 4 (Twice a week): Fairever Protein Fairness Pack Mulethi, Milk and Honey (All Skin types) [20 g]

-         Step 5 (Daily): Sun’nil Jojoba-Grapeseed  Sun Protection Lotion (Normal to Dry Skin) [35 g]

-         Step 6 (Every Night): Af’fair Fumittory-Liquorice Skin Lightening cream (Normal to Dry Skin) [15 g]

It’s great to support Indian brands especially Herbal, with No Parabens, No Mineral Oil. Ofcourse excited to try this.

Just Herbs 6 Step Skin Regime

All in all,  an amazing bag this month! Looking forward to using the 2 products or should I say 7!! (Just Herbs and SeaSoul CC cream).

Crossing my fingers about the Hair Mask. Well, you never know, this just might work out for me!  We shall see.

HOT/NOT: Toasty!! :D

Ohh btw did you catch Happy New year?!? I’m so in Love with SRK but my intuition says it’sgonna be a major flop L Why SRK WHY?!?!?!         

* Did you receive your FABBAG? Or have you tried any of the above products??*

Lotus Herbals Color Dew Nail Enamel - Fuschia Drop

Hello you!

Last few months I kinda developed an aversion towards pink nail polish. Not pink mind you…but pink nails. Yesterday while cleaning up my stash, I came across this. It’s been, I think, almost 1 and a half years that I bought this paint. (During a phase when all I could wear was pink and the color Fuschia was all over the place…remember?? ) 

Product: Lotus Herbals Color Dew Nail Enamel - Fuschia Drop

Price: Rs.110/- (8ml)

Claim:  Natural and Safe;  Acetone, DBP and Toluene free;  Fast drying; Flat and sturdy brush

I was very surprised that the polish hadn’t dried off first thing. Not even mucky. You know how polishes turn a bit thick and gooey after a while. Not this one. The formulation may have turned a tad bit thicker in so many months. But I’ll admit I’m not too sure since this is the only Lotus Herbals polish I own. I wonder why though, there are quite a few shades I loved…peach perfect, a nude one….ooh the lavender one!!

Lotus Herbals Color Dew Nail Enamel - Fuschia Drop

So I finally felt like going for a bright pink and yes, it managed to woo me all over again. I love how long the applicator is! It just makes everything so much easier. It glides on beautifully. No streaks or bumps.

The first layer itself is opaque enough. A second coat however is required for a flawless finish.

The first coat dries in 5 mins which is considerably ok. However the second coat or a thicker coat takes quite a while to dry off completely. 

I, ofcourse, managed to overdo a layer or two and get a few bubbles ... but that’s typical me and I completely take the blame for my miserable application skills.

 I haven’t applied any base coat or top coat. See how the polish is so glossy on its own? LOVE.

Fuschia Drop - 2nd day; without base and top coat

 BUT it started chipping a bit on the tips... the next day itself :(  So that is ofcourse a major CON. But a good top coat over it should manage that issue to a certain extent.

HIT/MISS: HIT!! I need to buy that peach one and the lavender one!

 * What are your budget friendly Nail Paint faves that you think I must buy?? *

The Body Shop Haul

This is the first time I went all out and treated myself to a TBS Haul.  I have used the Vitamin E Day cream before. In spite of the raves, it did not impress me too much. I found it was too oily for me during daytime. I used it up during winters as a night cream. I have combinational skin type (face)…most of the time. During winters it is quite dry. To make things worse, I have super sensitive skin. I get rashes due to anything and everything. I want my day time moisturizer to be gentle with minimum chemicals and do it’s work i.e. moisturize  without making me an oily mess.  (Not really an ‘au natural product’ person; anything that does not irritate my skin shall do. )

I searched online and came across some good reviews about the The Body Shop’s ‘Aloe’ range. It sounded interesting and I was in a mood to splurge!  ;)

 

These are what I bought:

1)        Aloe Soothing Day Cream for Sensitive skin   (50ml ; MRP: Rs.995/- ; After Discount: Rs.746/- ; 25%OFF)

2)       Aloe Calming Toner for Sensitive Skin  ( 200ml ; MRP: Rs.795/- ; After Discount: Rs.596/- ; 25%OFF)

3)       Vitamin E Eye Cream  (15ml ; MRP: Rs.995/- After Discount: Rs.746/- ; 25%OFF)

       4)      Vanilla Bliss Lip Balm [Holiday Edition]   (6gm ; MRP: Rs.400/- After Discount: Rs.200/- ; 50%OFF)

       5)    Blueberry Body Butter [Special Edition]   (200ml ; MRP: Rs.1195/- ; After Discount: Rs.598/- ; 50%OFF)

      6)      Rainforest Balance Conditioner (250ml ; MRP: Rs.795/- ; After Discount: Rs.398/- ; 50%OFF) 

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 I wanted to get the combo Facewash-toner-cream all from the Aloe range. But didn’t find any amiable reviews on the face wash so skipped that.



The Body Shop - Aloe Soothing Day Cream



The Body Shop - Aloe Soothing Day Cream

 

The Body Shop - Aloe Soothing Day Cream

 

It’s been almost a month since I’ve been using the toner, day cream and the eye cream religiously. So far so good. My skin is noticeably behaving better. Won’t claim using this has stopped the acne or my rashes but it’s MUCH better. I can see the difference in my skin. More healthy. More moisturized.

 

After I’ve cleansed my face with my face wash, after drying I then  apply the Aloe Calming Toner with a cotton pad. It takes some time to judge the amount to be applied. Too much makes the face a bit oily. 3-4 drops work good for me (It’ll last forever!!). I let it dry a while…like for a min. Then apply the Aloe Soothing Day Cream. Again little goes a long way. It feels oily right after applying, but after a min or so it soaks in giving a healthy look.

The Body Shop Haul

 

 

 

During Day time I usually wait a min to let the cream soak in, then apply my BB cream.

During nights, I use the Aloe day cream (maybe a few dots more) and then the Vitamin E eye cream. Dot the eye cream around my eye sockets and massage it gently with my finger.

The Body Shop - Vitamin E Eye Cream

 

 

Frankly haven’t figured out whether the eye cream is working wonders or not. I have always had terrible under eye dark circles and eye bags.  But a month back I discovered a few fine lines along my eyes, which freaked me out. So I splurged at this best selling eye cream.

The Body Shop - Vitamin E Eye Cream

 

 

My dark circles are better. But that could be because my sleeping hours have become more regular and more importantly routine. I’ll probably write an updated post on the eye cream after better usage. 
 


The Body Shop - Vanilla Bliss Lip Balm

 

I bought the Vanilla Bliss Lip balm completely on a whim. And ‘thank the whims’ that I did!


The Body Shop - Vanilla Bliss Lip Balm

 

While checking this out in the shop, I swatched it on my wrist to check the scent (The sample had lipstick marks on it from previous use I presume. Ladies pls try the samples on something less private… coz it’s just gross for the next person!!). I quite liked it and the packaging was too adorable plus it was on flat 50% discount . So ofcourse I grabbed it! Half an hour later, while sipping on my hot chocolate, I suddenly realized the shimmers on my wrist and a slight vanilla scent still lingering. Ohh the joy!! My lip balm smells of vanilla and has shimmers in it!!

With Flash

The initial scent is a little artificial toffee-ish but it settles in well. It’s quite moisturizing without being sticky and it keeps my lips moisturized a good 3-4 hrs. Even after that it does not leave my lips dry.
Coming to the shimmers, no it’s not very noticeable or chunky on the lips. It’s just transparent balm with fine shimmers which slightly reflects light a tad bit making the lips look shiny and healthy and Oh-so-Pretty!    



The Body Shop -Vanilla Bliss Lip Balm

 

 

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Me saving the Blueberry Body Butter for Winter. Smells AH-MAH-ZING. Very fruity, true blueberry scent. Am just a 'sane' breath away from licking it!!
Need to buy the Rainforest Balance Shampoo first, to go with the conditioner. Shall post on these later once used.

*Did you go crazy on The Body Shop Sale too? What are your favs?*  

Himalaya Face Packs - Summer Skincare Essentials

Can the weather go any more worse than this?? It's like she (yes, 'she') can't make up her mind!! Presently it's a cross between summers and monsoons. My skin type is usually combinational. However, due to the humidity and the heat I'm an oily mess.  

I'm totally and completely digging all the Himalaya products this season. I especially love these 2 face packs dearly! And they've been my savior this summer.

Affordable and Effective. What more can I ask for?

Himalaya Herbals purifying Neem Pack - for normal to oily skin 

What it does:

Himalaya's Purifying Neem Pack brings together the goodness of Neem, Fuller's Earth and Turmeric, which work together to regulate excess oil secretion, clean clogged pores and prevent the recurrence of pimples.

 

Key ingredients:

• Neem Oil and Neem leaves are excellent skin care ingredients. The oil relieves dry skin and soothes itchiness, redness and irritation. It also improves general skin health and immunity, combating bacterial infections such as acne, boils and ulcers.
•  
  Turmeric has been used as an antiseptic for centuries. The herb also has strong anti-inflammatory properties which soothe your skin gently. It also makes your skin soft and supple.
• Fuller's Earth is primarily used to lighten the skin. It has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties that remove deep-seated dirt and skin pollutants.

Directions:

Cleanse the face and neck. Apply Purifying Neem Pack evenly all over the face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes and mouth. Let the mask dry for 10-15 minutes and remove with a wet sponge or towel. Rinse with cool water. For optimal results, use once a week.

Best for oily and pimple-prone skin.

It has a tingling effect once applied. Nothing alarming though.

It cleanses my skin squeaky clean and does exactly what it claims.

Can't guarantee that this product completely prevents acne or pimples from recurring but it does control it to large extent. My skin feels much healthier and fresh after use.

The scent is very 'herbal-y'. Not a fan of it BUT....it's the best thing I've come across so no I'm not complaining.

It also contains parabens. So a loud shout to those who care for it.

 

Price: Rs.130/- for 100gms

 

 

Himalaya Herbals Oil Clear Mud Face Pack - for combination to oily skin

 

What it does:

Himalaya's Clarifying Mud Pack is a unique formulation of natural ingredients that refreshes and rejuvenates facial skin by absorbing excess oil and removing impurities. It is enriched with Walnut, which removes blackheads and dead cells, Fuller's Earth, which removes deep-seated impurities. Mineral Clay improves circulation and makes skin soft and tender.

 

Key ingredients:

• Walnut removes dirt, blackheads and dead cells. 
• Khus-Khus cleans and tones the facial skin.
• Mineral Clay heals, improves circulation and keeps the skin fresh and soft.
• Fuller's Earth has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties that removes deep-seated dirt and pollutants.

Directions for use:

Cleanse face and neck. Apply Clarifying Mud Pack evenly all over face and neck, avoiding area around eyes and mouth. Let it dry for 10-15 minutes and remove with wet sponge/towel. Rinse with cool water. For best results use twice a week.

 

 

 Again does what it claims. However, I'd rather skip this pack during winters since it makes my skin pretty dry. But for summers it is god sent!!

 

Those who have dry skin, this may not be ideal for you, but for combinational and oily skins, this is a must try!

Price: Rs.130/- for 100gm

 

 

HOT/NOT: Definitely Hot!!

 

 

*What's your Summer skincare Essential- budget or not!*

Givenchy waterproof lip liner pencil #5 Lip Rouge

I must confess i'm not really a red lip person . More of an orange really. But i wanted some good red lippies for my wedding. Coz i was adamant about wearing red every waking hour of my wedding week. I was getting married!!! Isn't that reason enough? 

Sooo when i came across this on medplusbeauty.com, i obviously pounced on it! With a discount of Flat 50% Off on Givenchy products i did splurge on some (Details here)

Company claim:

Helps define lip contours. Makes lipstick stay on better. Waterproof for long lasting effect. Enriched with vitamin E to combat aging. Comes with a sharpener in the pack.

The colour is a true red (with no orange under tones). It is a cool toned, blue based red. 

Blue based/Cool tones reflect the white off your teeth enhancing them in the process, creating the illusion of whiter teeth.

But i think a warmer red suits me better. However warm toned reds tend to reflect the yellow off your teeth hence can make your teeth look yellow. 

My trick: Apply a cool toned lip liner. If the blue based red does not suit your skin tone, dab a warm toned red lipstick over it. Avoid applying the lipstick too heavily. Preferably dab your choice of colour mostly at the centre of your lips and smack! The colour shall not feather and your teeth will be just fine.  Ladies try it and let me know if it works for you.  

 The texture is not dry so it wont tug while applying and not too creamy hence it wont feather easily. The texture is just creamy enough. For comparison sake, i find the texture quite similar to Bourjois Levres Contour Lip Pencil (love those!) But Givenchy lasts on the lips way longer.

As the company claims, it is waterproof enough. You can wear it on a rainy day without a second thought or splash water on your face. It shall stay put. It does spread if messed around with too much and transfers a little (half hearted lipstick marks on paper cups). But once set and if not messed with too violently , it stays for a pretty long time. Kiss proof for sure ;)

I love wearing these alone...wears like a matte lipstick. After a while, if it gets too dry, dab on some lip balm. It fades evenly. Hence looks like a stain after a few hours. The look of which i love. Especially during summers.  

Ooh and every pencil comes with a sharpener!! Added bonus.

Price:  Givenchy waterproof lip liner pencil with sharpener – MRP Rs. 1100/- 

(Rs. 550/- after discount)

HOT/NOT: Smokin' Hot! But repurchase only on discounts.  

*Any red lip tricks to share?*

Thank you for visiting...

GIVENCHY Rouge Interdit Satin lipstick 13 Tempting Coral

Last November Medplusbeauty.com offered an introductory discount of Flat 50% Off on Givenchy products to the first 10 customers. I obviously jumped at it! I treated myself to an early birthday gift. (True to myself I did not buy me anything else. Not even Body Shop products at huge discounts #proud #sigh #regret).

 I had ordered 3 products:

1)      Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin lipstick 13 Tempting Coral – MRP Rs.1700/- 

(Rs. 850/- after discount)

2)      Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin lipstick 02 Enchanting Beige – MRP  Rs.1700/- 

(Rs. 850/- after discount)

3)      Givenchy waterproof lip liner pencil with sharpener – MRP Rs. 1100/- 

(Rs. 550/- after discount)

However I was later informed  #02 Enchanting Beige was unavailable. I (thankfully) had opted for Cash on Delivery, so no hassles with refund and stuff.

I mean, can we just stop a moment and admire the Babe ‘Lady’ here (Yes. I personify certain things which are worth it).

Classy. Elegant. Beautiful. I could just stare at the packaging for hours. It is very sturdy. No flimsy caps here. (Well, it better be. Considering the price).

Tempting Coral is exactly what it’s called. A true coral with orange base tones. Not too orange not too peach. The perfect mix.

As it claims, it has a satin finish. The lipstick applies sheer and requires a few more applications for an opaque finish. It’s lets you build up the colour.

L: Natural light     R: With Flash

I love the colour! Perfect for summer-spring! An everyday colour even. Not too bright per se but immediately brightens up the face.   

On me, this lipstick lasts for 2-3 hours max. However, I have this irritating habit of biting, smacking, licking (I know I know how that sounds!)… basically everything I shouldn’t be doing to my lips. Even then, I wish the lipstick stayed longer. This was a major disappointment for me.  

The texture is creamy and quite moisturizing. However it does not bleed or spread or stain. Does not settle in fine lines.

It fades out evenly. Calls for a re-apply after 2.5 hrs, but it leaves a balmy effect.      

 So light in texture that you’ll hardly notice you have it on.

HOT/NOT: Sadly, Not for me. I really wanted to fall head over heels. But One is enough. I’ll treasure the lipstick in my collection just for the brand and packaging. However, if I’m to shed Rs.1700/- on a lipstick, I expect waaayy more than just good packaging.

Which high end product did you indulge in out of lust? Was it worth it? 

Thank you for Visiting...

Random Favourites - II

Beauty and Body Favourites:

 

1) Original Source Lime Body wash: I’ll be very honest here. I was sold at the packaging and the look of it. I really didn’t care how it fared. I mean it glows in the sun light!!! So coming back to the actual content of it, this isn’t my HG body wash for sure. However it is good for summers. Does not lather too much. Does not leave my skin oily or dry. It smells of lemons with a pinch of Dettol, maybe. I feel refreshed and squeaky clean after using this. I feel it helps to keep the body odour at bay. (Hey! Don’t judge me. That’s an essential for Kolkata’s humid pathetic summers!). And yes, just the scent is enough to refresh me whether it’s early in the morning or the end of a tired sticky day at work.

2)      Ponds BB cream: Finally a BB cream that works for me. Enough raved about it already. I’ll save the pain.

3)      Mango Your Jeans perfume: On my 3^rd bottle.  (I should just stop here)

ALWAYS receive a compliment on this one. This has ME written all over it. It was made for ME, keeping ME in mind. I’m sure you get the drift.

4)      Care & Essentialz: I am loving their products. I have extremely sensitive skin. Their cotton balls and wet wipes are my HG products. They have the softest, lightest cotton there can be!! The wet wipes have such a refreshing and clean effect on me. The scent is not overwhelming and it does not leave a sticky feel afterwards. I purchase them from Spencers.

5)      Pastel polishes: I am obsessed with them this summer. Who isn’t right?

Left: Colorama Absinto; Right: Maybelline ColorShow Cotton Candy

6)      Nail polish wipes: These are oil based polish wipes. A single sheet is enough to wipe polish from all 10 fingers. However if it’s a deep colour, I prefer to use 2 sheets. It does not leave my nails dry. It’s real convenient to carry just in case of emergencies. Since it’s an oil based remover, it does not evaporate easily. However if the lid’s kept open for long, it does dry out. These smell lovely. The scents are respective to the pictures on the lid. Love the rose scent. It’s always cool to have your nails smell of roses after a nice cleanup.

 

That's all for now...

What are your current favourites?

Thank you for Visiting...