Review : The New L'Oreal Paris Infallible Lipsticks in Tender Berry (519) and Rambling Rose (212)

Product Claims (from website):

Infallible Lip Colour is a luxurious, comfortable and long lasting lip colour. The new range has with a broad spectrum of 15 gorgeous shades, from subdued neutrals to lively, vibrant shades. It offers 24 hours of vivid, high definition colour. Colour bond technology and combination of silicon micro spheres, captures colour on the lips for upto 10 hours for the ultimate beauty experience. Vitamin E keeps your lips moist, relaxed and hydrated. The creamy, conditioning base: Allows even application without flaking or fading.

I can't believe it has taken me this long to review this range of lipsticks I've been loving since months. When the L'Oreal Paris Infallible Lipsticks launched earlier this year, I rolled my eyes at their ridiculous price...and then I grabbed one during the sale... And one more during another sale. So much for being money minded. 

Forever 21 Love & Beauty Makeup Sponges : Beauty Blender dupes ? Are They Any Good ?

Forever 21 Love & Beauty came out with makeup sponges last year. They were in lot of interesting shapes, including the famous teardrop shape made so popular by Beauty Blender. I wasn't able to find the teardrop one at my Forever21, but eventually it was stocked. I've used 3 Love & Beauty makeup sponges from Forever 21 and all of them are quite different from each other...and 2 of them are sort of similar to the original Beauty Blender.

Collective Makeup Haul - Highend + Drugstore | MAC, Sephora, MUA, MRL etc.

Hi there ! Last month (November) I bought a lot of makeup so I wanted to do a haul post about the products I purchased that month. However, there’s one product that didn’t reach me in time so this post got delayed and also...I got lazy because there were so many pics to be clicked! Nevertheless, I hope the haul is a treat for your eyes, as it is for mine. This is probably my last makeup haul for 2015 (a girl can hope !)...uhh wait...I have to try something from the Maybelline Fit Me Range in India...

Drugstore =) :

-Nykaa Pastel Nail Enamel Mint Meringue & Hasta La Pista : Rs.150 / $2.2 each 
Nykaa's debut nail polishes, I'm happy to support them, will share my thoughts on this range soon. See Mint Meringue in action here. Buy here .

ColorBar Touch and Blush in Tint of Pink // Perfect on the go companion ?

ColorBar Touch & Blush is the cutest lil thing. Conceptually, its great for beginners and those who don’t wear a lot of makeup but just need it for special occasions. The Touch & Blush range has an in-built applicator; a soft sponge through which the blush is dispensed. Unlike most applicators that come with blushes, this one is actually useful and integral to the product. You have to pat the sponge on your cheeks to apply the blush. The best part is that you absolutely do not need a blush brush because the sponge blends the blush as you pat it on. Superb concept.

My TOP 5 Best and Disappointments from THE BODY SHOP // What you should get from the 25% off 3 + FREE Shipping Sale

The Body Shop website has had FREE SHIPPING since almost 2 months and I resisted purchases simply because I had done a big haul just before their free shipping period launched. However, I couldn't resist anymore when I saw that they still have free shipping and an additional 25% off  3 on some products. So here are my recommendations in case you also couldn't hold back =)

The Best : (I LOVE all of these !)

1. Lip n Cheek Tint in Rose Pink 01 | Rs.850

A long wearing pink cheek stain that makes you look naturally flushed. Everyone I’ve recommended it to has fallen in love with it ! A good buy for beginners as well. This shade is glitter free, it is disappointing that TBS doesn’t have more shades in this variant. Full review & swatches here.

2. Warming Mineral Face Mask | Rs.1195

This clay face mask makes the perfect winter indulgence, as you apply it on your face, you’ll notice that it warms up. This feeling is very comforting, especially in winters. It is able to detox my skin very well. Full review here. Since it is pricey, this sale is the time you must check it out!

3. Rainforest Coconut Hair Oil | Rs.695

I have this hair oil since an year. During some months I have been irregular but whenever I regularly use it, I’ve noticed that it has boosted my hair growth! Therefore I have repurchased it as well :) This is also pricey, but you get a lot of quantity!

L'Oreal Paris Moist Matte Lipstick in LINCOLN ROSE (R516)

Today I will be talking about one pesky lipstick. It comes in a gorgeous, metallic taupish-bronze tube that’s super shiny & reflective. The packaging alone can be enough to convince you to buy it in bulk. BUT there’s a deal breaker (sort of), read ahead to know what it is !

LINCOLN ROSE ~ It is a gorgeous red with pink undertones, it looks pink-red sometimes and when I’m out in the sun it looks orangey-red. Very confusing color I tell you! Obviously this shade is famous because of Aishwariya wearing it at Cannes last year(talk about a perennial fashion icon!) When I saw her lipstick, I’d never felt more attracted to a red color, I don’t gravitate towards reds for lips because I feel they can make me look more mature then I’d like, but due to Lincoln Rose’s pink undertones, I could tell it’s a fun red that anyone can carry off with ease. And it didn’t disappoint :)   

Makeup Tools in India : Zoeva Luxe Makeup Brushes 227,228,230 Review

 I purchased a few Zoeva eye brushes last year from Luxola, its one of the first purchases I madefrom that site. I haven't purchased anything more from them (except for a Beauty Blender) because the prices are now insane! When it first launched in India, Luxola was so affordable...

Zoeva 227 Luxe Soft Definer Brush

Fall-Winter Favorite : Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder 53 Light Beige / Beige Clair Review

I purchased the Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder during summers partially because everyone was raving about it and also because I’d initially planned on buying the Healthy Mix foundation, but after I saw that it’s not sealed I was very hesitant. So I walked home with just the powder, which is sealed. It claims to give 10hr Matte Finish and a Healthy Glow, I was simply hoping that it will become my go-to compact for the summers. Let’s see how it fared.

Winter Friendly Skincare and Body care Haul !

Nothing says you’re back for good like a large haul. I hope the plethora of skin and body products in this post makes up for my unplanned hiatus! These are a couple of necessities I bought recently as well as almost a month ago.  

FACES Cosmetics Ultime Pro Lip Crayon Obsession,Hot Wired,Sugar Coated, Lasting Kiss,Really Rust,Peach Me,Wrapped Up,Irresistible Pink,Smokin' Hot,Midnight Rose

FACES Cosmetics redefines smoothness with the new Ultime Pro Lip Crayon

Ladies, its that time of the year when you need to cheer! Adorn the new you as FACES Cosmetics brings the most breathtaking launch of the season, FACES Ultime Pro Lip Crayons.  Pout your way in statement shades with these creamy luxe lip crayons that adds just the right amount of zing to your look. Featuring timeless matte shades with addicting color and intense hydration, FACES Ultime Pro Lip Crayons are your perfect makeup companion.

FACES Ultime Pro lip Crayon may remind you of the crayons we grew up playing with, but this innovation of smooth lip color in crayon form helps you dress up your lips in a flash of a second even without a mirror! And guess what, the fun doubles with the latest technology in crayon format that works both as a lip pencil and a lipstick.

Another one of the many firsts from FACES is the Starry matte finish focusing on subtle glam for that extra luxe. A first in India, starry matte finish smoothly glazes your lips with a touch of glitter, and is sure to become your obsession. 

From beautiful nudes to striking reds, to shades of pinks and corals, there’s a shade for everyone. Available in two different finishes, FACES Ultime Pro Lip Crayon comes in four super hot shades of starry matte with light shimmer inspired from the runway makeup, and six sizzling shades of matte with vibrant hues inspired from the international fashion trends. These flattering lip colors that exude ultimate feminine strength are sure to turn heads.

In addition, the velvety texture of FACES Ultime Pro Lip Crayon helps the crayon glides effortlessly on the lips for a rich, creamy look in just one stroke.  This lush, long lasting lipstick also gives you complete coverage for smooth and supple lips, while being super comfortable on lips. A waterproof formulation, FACES Ultime Pro Lip Crayon is also dermatologically tested and paraben free, and hence complete safe on your lips.

What's more is that its long lasting stay ensures you do not have to do multiple touch-ups! 

Go bold as the irresistible FACES Ultime Pro lip Crayons is now here! What’s better is that we give you your very own sharpner worth Rs.125 absolutely free. 

So, glam your way and redefine smoothness – of course we are talking about your lips!

Price: Rs. 799

Available in 10 shades:

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Obsession

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Hot Wired

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Sugar Coated

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Lasting Kiss

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Really Rust

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Peach Me

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Wrapped Up

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Irresistible Pink

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Smokin' Hot

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Midnight Rose

I'm excited about this collection, the Starry Matte range doesn't sound appealing to me, but Pro Matte range seems perfect and the color range is awesome!

The perfect finishing makeup tools : Real Techniques by Sam n Nic Chapman Blush Brush and Setting Brush

Today I’m going to talk about two brushes that I’ve loved from first use. The Real Techniques Blush Brush & Setting Brush are two favorites that I always carry around with me. I can tell you now with surety that ‘love at first use IS a thing!’ :P 

Real Techniques Claims :
Blush Brush : Contour and define cheeks for flawlessly blended, high-definition results
Setting Brush : The key to completing any look with a controlled dusting of powder or highlighter

  -look pixel-perfect even in harsh light ultra-plush, 

  -synthetic bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free 
  -self-standing for easy storage (blush brush)
  -extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use

Let's talk about how these brushes perform : 

Real Techniques BLUSH BRUSH ~ 

The blush brush has a large brush head, the bristles are slightly tapered. The tapered brush head is helpful for precise application. In case you're wondering, yes the brush head is larger than that of a traditional blush brush. However, I find that I’m more precise with larger brushes so I can conveniently work with the Real Techniques Blush Brush. You need to get the product only on the tip of the brush and then dab and swipe the brush (as needed) across your cheek. 

The Blush Brush actually shed a couple of times while washing. However it completely stopped after the 3^rd wash. The amazing thing about the blush brush is that inspite of being so large in size, it dries up in minutes, literally. I even raved about this on instagram. After washing, I squeeze the bristles gently in my towel, just to let the towel soak in the water. Then I rub it a few times against a dry patch of a towel so water on the inner bristles are also soaked up and viola, the brush is DRY. I find the brush easy to clean, I can get rid of the blush color completely, I’ll share my brush cleansing routine soon. 

The blush brush is actually a multipurpose makeup tool and it can be used for dusting your setting powder and also for bronzing your face. Since I’m already medium-to-tan skin toned, I don’t bother with bronzing, but I have used this brush for powder application a couple of times. I’ve been using The Body Shop powder brush, which is a dense, flat, tapered brush for powder since 2 years so its hard for me to get used to a fluffy brush like The RT Blush brush for powder. Nevertheless, I absolutely love it for blush application. This brush is slightly heavier than other RT brushes, but not insanely so.

Real Techniques blush brush 

The blush brush is actually a larger version of the RT Contour Brush, both brushes have the same shape. Here's a size comparison, incase you have the contour brush, you can get an idea of the size of the RT blush brush

Real Techniques SETTING BRUSH ~

The Setting Brush is a flat, tapered brush that fits the under eye perfectly. It is slightly fluffy and not completely flat like the pointed foundation brush by the same brand.  I never thought I’d need a special brush just for setting my under eye concealer with the right amount of powder, but once you start using this, you can’t stop! I also like to use it for powder highlighting. RT claims that their setting brush gives you a controlled application of powder and I agree, its size is perfect and ensures that you don’t go overboard. The brush is very lightweight, you can slip it into your purse if you feel the need to touch up.  This brush has never shed during a wash and is very easy to clean. As it is not very dense it dries up in a jiffy too!

Just like the other Real Techniques brushes I’ve used, both of these brushes are soft, but not silky like The Body Shop brushes. Both of these brushes are from the 'Your finish/perfected' range and hence have pink ferrules. The packaging is nice and the brushes are labelled. I hope the label doesn't wear off for at least an year.  

Real Techniques setting brush 

Product vs Price :

Price : Rs. 999-1199 / $8-9 

Availability : Nykaa | Amazon | Flipkart 

I recommend purchasing Real Technqiues brushes from Indian online store during discounts, otherwise, you can also purchase them from Real Techniques Website which ships to India for a small fee. Real Techniques has some of the best budget friendly options for makeup tools.

Overall Recommendation : 5/5

The Real Techniques Blush Brush and Setting Brush are excellent brushes for their intended purposes while also being good for multiple tasks. Depending on your needs, I’d recommend  you to try at least one of these, you won’t be disappointed! 

Detangling my hair knots with the Tangle Teezer Salon Elite and Compact Styler Hair Brushes

Now I never thought I’d be reviewing a hair brush on my blog, but when the darn thing costs you a bomb, you do it. Also, this product seems to be really coveted, so I thought I’ll just put in my experience and maybe if you’re really interested in buying it, you can read a well rounded review before spending your $$$.

About the brushes:

Tangle Teezer Salon Elite is a professional detangling brush which will effortlessly banish tangles and knots from all hair types. Featuring patented, uniquely designed teeth which flex and flick as they glide through the hair, Tangle Teezer Salon Elite eliminates tangles and knots on contact and minimises breakage, damage and splitting often caused by tugging and pulling on the hair shaft

Tangle Teezer Compact Styler Detangling Brush is an innovative hairbrush that is just too fabulous! Extremely cute in size and high on style, it can be tucked into your bag and pulled out in lesser than a minute to recharge hair in seconds. 

Here’s the creator, Shaun

My Experience Tangle Teezer Salon Elite & Compact Styler Detangling Brush:

Pouting with the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Mad About Mauve : Musings & Swatches

Company Claims ~

For seven decades, women everywhere have indulged in the bold, luxurious shades of our most iconic lipstick. Super Lustrous™ creates unforgettably seductive lip color in four finishes — crème, matte, pearl, and shine.

My experience with Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Mad About Mauve

Multipurpose Drugstore Gems : Maybelline Clear Glow BB Stick in Radiance and Fawn

Maybelline Clearglow BB Stick was one of my goto base products for summer, when I needed full coverage I opted for the Lakme White Intense Foundation & when I was lazy I just used the Kryolan concealers to fake the appearance of perfect skin. Anytime in between, I relied on these Maybelline BB Sticks. I loved using them A LOT because :

-They have medium coverage

-They are very lightweight

-Blend in to the skin easily

-Matte finish

-Long wear time

-Easy to take off

-Has SPF 21 and PA+++ which means it has broad spectrum protection. Read more in my sunscreen post. So its perfect for giving you extra protection in hotter months.

However it has one very big con – Maybelline Clearglow BB Sticks are available in only two shades. JUST TWO.

Packaging : the Maybelline Clearglow BB Sticks come in a foundation stick kind of packaging, you can use a brush to take a product from the tip of just glide it across your face. Either way, it’s a bit unsanitary so I make sure to sanitize them regularly. I like this style though; its pretty convenient to use and see how much is left, and you can finish up the product completely. 

Shades : Radiance is a light color that will suit fair skin tones. Fawn is a darker color that will suit medium to deep skintones. Both shades seem to have pink undertones. I’m NC42 in MAC and Radiance is 2-3 shades lighter than my skintone and Fawn is 1.5 shades darker. 

Texture : They start out creamy but once blended, they settle into a matte finish. I set my face with a powder afterwards. These are not meant for dry skin (there’s a liquid variant). They are very lightweight. I use it by gliding the product directly from the tube on my face. Both Radiance & Fawn are easy to blend. I don't think they gave my skin any sort of glow.

Coverage : The coverage is medium imo, its definitely higher than what the Garnier BB cream offers. I find that I can cover small spots and blemishes with the Maybelline BB Sticks. I do not have many imperfections on my skin except for some pigmentation around my mouth and dark circles which require the use of corrector & concealer separately. I do not have large open pores or acne scars so I cannot comment how this product will affect them.

For an embarrassingly long period of time, I thought Fawn is a perfect match for me & I wore it on my whole face. In my defense, it looked perfect in the mirror !! After I had my picture clicked couple of times, when I hung out with friends & so on, I saw that my skin looked 2 shades darker and I was really surprised and I wondered why that’s happening… my skin looked right in the mirror dammit. Either the color oxidizes or its darker for me, right ? I realized that it is indeed darker than my skintone and it oxidizes a bit too. This was a huge bummer, Maybelline Clearglow BB Stick was one of my goto products & I couldn’t use it anymore :/

Because I really liked the Maybelline Clearglow BB Stick , I decided to purchase the lighter shade – Radiance. I mixed these two to get a match for my skintone. However, since summer has ended, I’m using these two in a new way – for highlighting and contouring. Fawn doesn’t have a warm undertone, my contour doesn’t look muddy. Since the Maybelline Clearglow BB Sticks have medium coverage, the effect is very natural and I like it that way. If I want to take it a step further, I set them with the highlight & contour shades from the Sleek Face Form Kit. If you are very fair, Fawn can give you chiselled cheekbones.

Weartime : these are the longest wearing amongst the BB creams I’ve tried. I found that it was still there on my skin 7 hours after I first applied it. It did fade overtime, but not completely. I feel like they do oxidise a bit overtime. I needed a makeup remover wipe to get it completely off. In contrast, the Garnier and Deborah Milano BB Creams fade away in 5 hrs and a facewash is enough for getting rid of them completely. I have a normal skintype, though it was normal-combination in summers.

Product vs Price :

Price : Rs. 250 / $3.8

Qty : 10g / 0.35
Availability : Nykaa 

I think that for the product, the price is right!

Overall Verdict : 4.2/5

The Maybelline Clearglow BB Stick is a great buy, especially if you are on a budget. It provides a medium coverage which is great for everyday wear, brunches and errands. Unfortunately they are available in just 2 colors so you might have to buy both to find the right match for your skin. They can also be used for giving your skin a natural looking highlight and contour, which again is perfect for everyday!

FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon - All Shades and Price Info : Dancing Queen, Last Christmas, Night Fever, She’s Got D Looks, Staying Alive, Uptown Girl

Style your eyes with the new FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon

Get gleaming eyes with the launch of the all-new Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon from FACES Cosmetics that will light up your eyes in an instant.  This new age multi-tasking eye shadow crayon in a pencil format doubles up both as an eye liner and an eye shadow, promises to be your go to makeup item to glam you up any time of the day! Easy to apply and even easier to carry it in your bag, FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon makes for a hassle-free travel makeup.

Available in vibrant hues, these soft and creamy eye crayons glide on effortlessly to create mesmerizing eye looks for any occasion. From soft shiny to metallic, FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon gives a flattering finish, is waterproof with a long-stay formula that feels comfortable on your lids, all day long. It is easy to blend and non-sticky, besides being perfectly suitable for use as an eye liner/ pencil.

Being dermatologically and ophthalmologically tested, FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayons are completely safe to use. Made with a wax-based formula, these alluring crayons are free of paraffin and preservatives too.

So create those bold eye looks you crave for with the versatile FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon!

Price: Rs. 599

Available in 6 shades:

FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon- Dancing Queen 

FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon- Last Christmas

FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon- Night Fever

FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon- She’s Got D Looks 

FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon- Staying Alive

FACES Ultime Pro Eye Shadow Crayon- Uptown Girl

This is a pretty exciting release from FACES cosmetics, who doesn't love the convenience of crayon eye shadows ?

Dancing Queen seems like a cool dark brown

Last Christmas seems like a lovely turquoise shade

Night Fever seems like a gorgeous warm gold shade

She’s Got D Looks seems like a metallic deep blue, perfect for smokey eye makeup

Staying Alive seems like a cranberry shade but I hope its aubergine! 

Uptown Girl is a mystery - is it red ? pink ? coral ? 

I wish they launched a beige shade too, it would make a perfect base color!