Straight from my bathroom - The Body Shop Limited Edition Blueberry Shower Gel

Hello ladies! Looking forward to the weekend? I know I am! ;)

This is the first time I’m reviewing a shower gel on my blog. I seriously don’t think these things need to be reviewed because it’s a matter of personal choice, tastes and preferences. However, I love to know about all the shower gels/creams out there because I like to try out new ones every time, so when I find a blog post about the same, I go and check out the product. The Blueberry Shower Gel is a new release all over the globe by The Body Shop. It’s supposed to be special/limited edition but its priced the same as the regular shower gels. I’ve read a lot of reviews about this one and the general consensus is that its a much loved product. But did it rock my world? Read on to know :)

I thought a picture in my bathroom was appropriate...:)

Price: Rs.425

Qty: 250ml

I’ve been through countless The Body Shop shower gels and creams: Strawberry, Raspberry, Cocoa, Chocomania, The Brazil Nut and now the Blueberry. There’s a reason I keep buying them although The Body Shop unfairly increases the price every few months- they’re good quality and sometimes, especially during winters, my skin needs some TLC and TBS has the creamiest shower stuff.

Empties #1 - A post I thought I'd never do!

Whoa! Here’s one post I never thought I’d do. I’ve barely finished any makeup product in my life. Most of the stuff I manage to finish is skin care and bath related, but only if I don’t get bored of using them before they get empty. This isn’t a planned post, I didn’t set a target to finish x products by this month, I just happened to successfully finish a lot of products around the same time. Whilst recovering from the semi-shock and awe that I actually managed to do so, I decided to do a tiny post including their mini-reviews, because I’ve never talked about them on my blog. These products were finished around the mid May actually, yes, it took me so long just to take their pictures. 

Here’s what I managed to get rid of!:

Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Scrub and Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser:

The scrub is very fine and non-abrasive. Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like a scrub. Its very good for gentle daily exfoliation for my combination skin but I’ve seen no difference on the blackheads on my nose(only ones I have). I’ve been using it since July and it got over in May which means its very good value for money. During winters I used it every alternate day but otherwise, it was used daily.

       The Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser is meant for oily skin types only. One wash with this and your face will be striped off all impurities. It can give that dry stretchy feeling sometimes when I’m not regular with my moisturizer. But its my favourite cleanser for the summer season because it leaves my face instantly fresh and dirt, sweat free.

Both of these are fragrance free and neither caused any break outs for me. I love both of them and I’ve already repurchased.

Lotus Herbal’s Vanilla Velvet Daily Body Lotion and Johnson’s Baby Milk Cream are right out of my winter skin care routine. I finished them by the start of May actually. I love both of them because they’re extremely moisturizing for my super dry skin. The baby cream was used as a hand cream, its thick but absorbs easily and leaves the skin very smooth and soft. The Vanilla Velvet lotion is quite thin and absorbs super fast into the skin. Neither of them give that greasy feeling but they’re not as thin as TBS lotions either. The baby cream is fragrance free and the lotion has a light, non-over powering vanilla scent which I like a lot! I will definitely repurchase both again during winters, unless I find better alternatives.

L’Oreal Fall Repair 3X Shampoo and Conditioner:

The shampoo is actually a go-to product for me. I don’t have hair fall problem but I use these two anyways because they suit my hair. All those that I’ve used before have damaged my hair. The shampoo is nice and cleans hair with a single use itself(I wash my hair once in 3 days) but the conditioner isn’t suitable for my dry ends. Since I use a mask every alternate wash, it isn’t such a big deal to me. I also use hair oil sometimes and serum other times to take care of my dry ends. I have repurchased both, but I’m on the lookout for a better conditioner.  They’re not fragrance free, but I  like the smell, it’s a typical ‘L’Oreal hair product’ smell.

Marks and Spencer Creamy Coconut Shower Gel:

I was super excited about this, when I got it back in January. It smells wonderful, like a coconut flavoured biscuit, I’m not a fan of coconuts so I was happy that it doesn’t smell that coconut-y. Apart from the smell, there’s nothing I like about this shower gel. It’s a gel liquid, which is not moisturizing, and makes me feel soapy even after I’ve used buckets of water. It has very high SLS content. Will not repurchase again.

So that’s it for my empties- 7 products are not so bad right? I wouldn’t expect another empties post anytime soon though :P

Is it hard for you to finish products as well? Or are you a pro at it? Comment below and let me know!

8 Things that Keep Me Hooked on to technology ALL.THE.TIME

Being a beauty blogger and an engineering student is hard work! Its like being two different people, at the same time. I constantly have to carry my laptop, external hard disk, phone and camera with me, wherever I go; there’s always some picture to take, some post to edit, or some blog to check out. And don’t get me started on the social media feeds I have to check out multiple times in a day. Honestly, I wish I had a tablet, then I wouldn’t have to lug my laptop, phone and camera with me to everywhere I go. I would need just one tool for all!

This is my entry for IndiBlogger’s competition for ASUS’s Transformer Book T100 (click here) to check out this tablet-laptop hybrid!

You can view contest details here, if you’re interested.

Also, this article is 100% honest and is written by me. I actually do all the things I’ve mentioned here. This is NOT a sponsored post.

Here are 8 things that keep me hooked onto technology and will keep me glued to ‘Transformer T100’ no matter where I am:

1. My blog:

Ok so this is a no-brainer. My blogger account is logged into all the time in my laptop. The Blogger ios app is pretty basic and not very helpful in terms of viewing stats and comments actually so if I want to post anything I need my laptop. Also, I’m constantly writing posts or editing pictures or figuring out designs for my blog and I can’t do that without the tools I have in my laptop, my phone is pretty useless here. I think a tablet like T100 will be ideal to help me edit my blog on the go.

2. Coursework:

All of my study material is on my laptop, which is a good thing because that means I won’t have to carry heavy course books with me all the time. I have dozens of pdfs and softwares that I need to use in an academic year. Luckily this year most of our assignments were to be submitted by soft copy, and that is so much more convenient handwritten assignments. I live and breathe Microsoft Office! T100 has a Windows 8 operating system, which means Office 2013 will be available at all times in my hand!

3. Reading ebooks:

Not every book is available in India, like the Southern Vampire Mysteries and The Lying Game Series. I’ve exclusively purchased these ebooks to read. Also, sites like Flipkart offer huge discounts on ebooks; I purchased Steve Jobs biography for 70% off from them! Reading ebooks on my phone screen however, is not good, especially for the eyes. So many times my dad has insisted, ‘Get a tablet!’ Wonder why I haven’t already? Because then I’ll have to carry laptop, camera, phone, tablet, everywhere. A laptop-tablet hybrid like T100 will definitely mitigate my problems.

4. Games:

Everyone who has a smartphone is addicted to atleast one game. My current obsession is Candy Crush Saga. Before you accuse me of being a kid, play the game first! I’ve played Where’s my Water, Plants vs Zombies-1 & 2, Jetpack Joyride, Fruit Ninja, Angry Birds, Temple Run-1&2, Unblock Me, Cordy Sky etc. and Candy Crush is as good as any of them.  Before Candy Crush, I was addicted to Subway Surfers. With softwares like Bluestacks, you can play this game on Windows OS as well,  which means that if I have T100, I don’t need my phone to play games!

5. Music:

Before I go to sleep everyday, I have to listen to music for at least half an hour! Sometimes I listen to music while studying as well. I won’t rant on this point to much because everyone is a music lover and you all know the importance of having a music player on the go. I’m not super happy with my my iPhone’s sound levels on speaker though, it could be so much better! My current favourite song is ‘Whatever You Like’ by Anya Marina (It’s a pretty old song though)

6. Movies and Serials and Youtube channels:

I’m actually addicted to Youtube makeup tutorials. Michelle Phan and Sineadycady are my favorites. I need to watch them every week, no matter where I am.  Since its vacations now, I’ve loaded up my laptop with all the movies and serials that I’ve missed! Watching movies on my laptop is my favourite pastime while travelling. Though my iPhone video quality is excellent, the sound levels are really low for movies so I don’t use it for that. This is why a tablet would make my life much simpler and I’ve heard that T100 has really good sound and movie quality!

7. Video Calls:

For 9-10 months in a year I live away from my family, in a college hostel. There are times when I can’t go home for weeks on end! Video calls really help bridge the gap. Though most of them leave me teary-eyed, I cherish each moment when I’m on a video chat with my parents. For a video call you need really strong internet connectivity and a good app. Skype is the best app for video calls! I usually have to alternate between using my phone and laptop depending on the internet connectivity. T100 seems to have superior internet connectivity and will probably be a solution to this problem!

8. Social Media:

 Google+, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Whatsapp:

 Who isn’t on Facebook ? No one.  As students, we actually post notices on Facebook and Whatsapp, no one uses SMS for such things cause its more expensive! Social Media is also a great way to promote your blog. I spend hours in a day browsing Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feeds, it keeps me up-to-date on all the blogs I follow.  T100 seems to be a perfect integration between a laptop and a phone that will help me remain up-to-date on all my social media! 

Note: None of the images are owned by me

To Fulfill All Your Glitter Cravings - Maybelline Color Show Glitter Mania All that Glitters

Maybelline released the Color Show Glitter Mania range last week and you can read about the entire range here. I love glitter nail polishes and though summer isn’t the time when I sport them I couldn’t resist picking up a few of them. The colors are really nice and different from the other glitter nail polishes out there (at least in Mumbai) and all of them seemed to be packed with glitter! To top it off they come at a really economical price so there’s literally nothing to stop you from buying it, unless it’s not already available at your local Maybelline counter. One of the shades I purchased is ‘All that Glitters’ which is a lovely pale gold color.

Price: Rs.125
Available at Nykaa 

The Color Show Glitter Mania nail polishes have the same packaging as the plain Color Show range, except that the caps have ‘Glitter Mania’ written on one end. The wand fans out well didn’t give any problems during application. ‘All that Glitters’ is a lovely pale gold color. It is packed with gold and silver micro glitter and silver hexagonal (or circular?) glitter. All the glitter gives it a gritty texture and warrants the need of a top coat. Because it is so intensely packed with glitter, I’m confused as to whether the base color is primarily a pale shimmery gold or is just colorless with silver and gold glitter. Its not the same color as Bold Gold and will suit a wider variety of skin tones because of both silver and gold in it. Also, it doesn’t make my fingers look darker, which Bold Gold had a tendency of doing.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Swatches and Description of All Shades-Elusive, Unapologetic, Shameless, Sultry, Mischievous, Striking, Audacious, Standout

Revlon Matte Balms and Lacquer Balms released a while ago in India, and I only just got a chance to check them out. In case you’ve missed them too or they aren’t available in your locality, you can check out all the shades in this post before you think of placing an order online.

The Revlon Matte Balms come in eight shades in India which are:

• Elusive (205)
• Unapologetic (210)
• Shameless (215)
• Sultry (225)
• Mischievous (235)
• Striking (240)
• Audacious (245)
• Standout (250)

As you can see, they have naughtier names than the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains :P

(l-r) Unapologetic,Audacious,Striking,Mischievous,Standout,Elusive,Shameless,Sultry

They are priced at INR800 for 2.7gm. Its definitely on the pricier side, but then, isn’t everything in the Indian “drugstore” beauty counter overpriced?

Also these smell minty, like Wriggley's bubblegum.

Now onto the swatches:

(l-r) Unapologetic,Audacious,Striking,Mischievous,Standout,Elusive,Shameless,Sultry

Unapologetic (210) - A neon coral pink. Said to be a dupe of MAC Party Parrot & Impassioned. Looks patchy after application. It’s a very bright in-your-face kind of color. 

Audacious (245) – A creamy orange. This applied smoothly, it looks uneven in the swatch though. I think this one will suit just fair skin tones.

Spotted! A new release by Maybelline

I was out shopping yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised to find something new at the Maybelline counter. Any guesses?

You know how much I love Maybelline, they keep releasing such affordable products every month. Since last September I think, after they released the Bold Matte lipsticks (which I have reviewed ), they have consistently come up with new products which don’t  hurt my (or anybody’s) pocket. Like, the Cheeky Glow Blushes for instance, and the much loved Color Show nail enamels.  

So here’s presenting their latest release: The Color Show Glitter Mania range!!!!!!!!!

I spotted 7 shades, there are 8 in all, I think.

Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to be the same collection as the Color Show Brocades, it’s a new collection altogether.

Lets have a look at the shade names now, shall we?

(l-r) Pink Champagne, Paparazzi Purple, All that Glitters

(l-r) Paparazzi Purple, All that Glitters, Dazzling Diva, Bling On the Blue

(l-r) Bling On The Blue, Red Carpet, Matinee Mauve

I've seriously felt that there's a huge dearth of budget friendly glitter nail polishes in India, and by glitter I mean the blingy, OTT kind of glitter. Hopefully these will satisfy the cravings of people like me :)

A closer look at them:

I’ve expressed my love for glitter in this post here, so needless to say I’m so excited about this range and I did pick one color. Any guesses which one it might be? 

A quick recap of the shades available:
1. All that Glitters (601)
2. Dazzling Diva (602)
3. Starry Nights (603)
4. Red Carpet (604)
5. Matinee Mauve (605)
6. Paparazzi Purple (606)
7. Pink Champagne (607)
8. Bling on the Blue (608)

And my favorites are Red Carpet, Pink Champagne and All that Glitters

Price: Rs.125. 

Its still the most pocket friendly glitter nail polish out there!

And according to Nykaa’s instagram, they will be available soon online there, so keep your eyes peeled ladies ;)

Press Release: United Kingdom’s Largest Trade Exposition, Professional Beauty Returns to Mumbai

India’s leading beauty and wellness show, Professional Beauty each year brings together reputed names in the industry to inspire and educate the Indian market. To be held on 2nd and 3rd June, 2014 in Mumbai, the forum will also be seeing workshops and demonstrations by well known artists such as Marvie Ann Beck, Kryolan, Max Factor, Sally Hansen, Fat Mu, Nicka K, Samira Olfat and Joe Brands, amongst others.

Marvie Ann Beck is a name synonymous to the beauty industry. India’s Award Winning Celebrity Make-up Artist & Hair Stylist, Marvie has done make-up and hair for famous and glamorous faces such as Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Karisma Kapoor, Sushmita Sen and Malaika Arora Khan, to name a few. She is also the only Indian Makeup Artist to have worked with two Oscar Winner Actresses such as Cate Blanchett & Hilary Swank.

Fat mu is the vision of Make-up Designers Natasha Nischol and Virginia Holmes. With Mumbai as their backdrop and drawing from over ten years of experience in the U.K and India, the pair set up fat mu in 2006 offering make-up services for Film and Television, Fashion and Trends, Fringe and Theatre.

Popular makeup artist Samira Olfat is the name behind the flawless make up of various Hollywood celebrities like Eva Longoria, Nicole Scherzinger and Allison Harward, Gossip Girl’s Tinsley Mortimer and Prison Break’s Sarah Wayne Callies.

All these artists will be showcasing at Professional Beauty, 2014. 

The expo brings together the latest offering of products and services from across the worlds of beauty, cosmetics, hair, make-up, spa and wellbeing – all under the one roof.

With almost 30 years of experience in this space, located in ten cities across the world, Professional Beauty has been exhibiting in India since 2012. Having received a phenomenal response year on year, the event helps educate the Indian market about global trends, expose buyers to new innovations and brands and offers real solutions for business growth.

This year the forum will be taking place on 2nd and 3rd June at the Bombay Exhibition Centre. Participating brands and artists include reputed names such as Official Make-Up Partner Kryolan, Max Factor, Ceriotti, Ikonic, Cuccio, Marvie Ann Beck, GK Hair, Fat Mu, Nicka K and REM UK.

From the latest in make-up to organic beauty, this year’s exhibition floor is jam-packed with features. Showcasing on the Expo demo stage will be leading treatments, live in-action from some of the industry’s leading artists.

“Whether it’s the latest trends, brands or talent, we at Professional Beauty are constantly evolving. With more than 250 brands expected, visitors can anticipate seeing leading industry names that will help unearth the latest innovations, trends and techniques, coupled with non-stop inspiration with live demonstrations to make the two-day Expo a show-stopping experience,” says Vikas Vij, Managing Director Ideas Exchange and the mind behind bringing the expo to India.

So go ahead, clear your diaries and get set for this year’s beauty extravaganza!

Note: Professional Beauty is a B2B trade show and is reserved for trade & beauty professionals over the age of 16 years only.

For further queries:

Khyati Mishra

Khyati.mishra@ideas-exchange.in

+91-9769281874

This sounds like a wonderful opportunity for makeup enthusiasts!

EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Summer Fruit And My Experience

Everyone has a list of items they covet, and it’s a human tendency I think (I am no psychologist), to want the things that are hard to get. Though I am a practical person and I don’t make wish lists of things that are impossible to have, I do have my moments when I see something so perfect that I feel it just has to be mine! But that list is something to be shared on another day, if at all.

Back in January, I got the chance to cross out two things from my list of coveted makeup. Yes, they are both lip balms, what can I say, I’m a lip balm junkie :P The first one was the Carmex Lip balm in Strawberry which is already reviewed and since its relatively easier to get, I’ll probably repurchase it my whole life because after trying lip balm Gods like “Carmex” and “eos”, Indian lip balms aren’t doing it for me anymore!

The second lip balm is of course the eos lip balm sphere to which this post is dedicated! I was able to acquire it through my friend who got it for me when she went on a US trip. I really think that this is the best way to get an eos lip balm in India, eBay India prices are ridiculous and all sellers charge a bomb to ship these to India, and in the end you may get an old product. Now enough with my ramblings, let the lip balm take the center stage.

Why do you covet the eos Lip balm sphere ?

What? I mean look at it! Its unique, cute as hell and everyone keeps raving on and on about it. I want to know what I’m missing. Unfortunately, it’s super hard to get in India. Also, its 100% natural, 95% organic, petroleum and paraben free. Plus it costs just $2.99, you can’t really beat that(although a lot of brands have spouted dupes now). Also, I want to know, does it ever melt or just stays like a dome all the time :P

Maybelline Colossal Kohl Turquoise -EOTD, Review, Swatches, Price in India

There’s nothing I love more than coloured eyeliners, in all colours -the more the merrier like they say. My very first liner was actually a turquoise one from Revlon, yep, I’m not a black kajal kinda gal. But since then, and this was 4 years ago, I’ve found it hard to find a good, smudge free, long lasting colour liner within budget. The Iconic Eyeliners are few of the best I’ve tried, but unfortunately, they’re not easily available. That’s why I was super-psyched when I heard about the launch of the Maybelline Colossal Turquoise Kohl. Maybelline is one of the leading drugstore beauty brands in India and their prices are always reasonable, and the same is so for the kajal here. So here’s the deets on this one, it’s been a really fun week with bright blue dancing on my eyes and I have a lot to share, so keep scrolling down!

Price: Rs.249.

Qty: 0.35g

Shelf Life: 24 months.

Buy online from Nykaa & Flipkart

Maybelline Claims/Instructions:

My Take on Maybelline Colossal Turquoise Kohl/Kajal :

Chambor Hydra Essential Day Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin - Review, Price in India

A lot of makeup brands come out with skincare ranges. A lay person may think that this is a smart idea, since they produce makeup, they must be experts at skincare as well! But the makeup-learned, or partially learned in my case, know that makeup and skincare are completely different concepts. Being good at one does not guarantee the same in case of the other. Chambor is a brand which is known for good lip products, eyeshadow palettes and their range of nail colors are also of great quality.  I didn’t plan on buying a moisturizer from them, but after the SA spread it onto my wrist it felt so lightweight and nice that I had to try it! I have a combination-oily type of skin, therefore I picked up the Hydra Essential Day Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin. I’ve been using it on and off since July and here’s what I feel about it.

Price: Rs.675.

Qty: 100ml

Shelf Life: 3 years

What Chambor says about Hydra Essential Day Moisturizer:

It replenishes the deprived skin with moisture, boosts and strengthens the skin, giving a fresh, youthful glow of wellbeing. Hydra Essential Day Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin is a luxuriously rich lotion which hydrates the skin instantly and provides it with long-lasting protection.

Hydra Essential Day Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin is a light, refreshing lotion that hydrates the skin all day long.

Why choose Essential Day Moisturizer?

• ·     The rich moisture helps skin recover from dryness and damage caused due to prolonged exposure to strong sunlight or air-conditioned environments
•       The delicate floral fragrance soothes the senses.
•       Result is well hydrated and firm, radiant skin.

My take on Chambor Hydra Essential Day Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin:

My skin type: Normal during winter, combination-oily otherwise.  I have dryness around my mouth and dry skin on and around my nose, though it gets oily too.

The packaging:

The Chambor Hydra Essential Day moisturizer is housed in a white & blue bottle and comes with a box in the same color scheme. The box specifies that 1ml is needed for the face and neck. So, this moisturizer should have lasted me for 100 days, that is, a little more than three months. But like I said, I’ve been using it on and off, on days when I use BB creams I skip moisturizer, also, in between I was trying out another moisturizer. The bottle has a pump which dispenses out the product. It took time getting used to this pump and the amount of product that my face & neck need. Unless you tilt the bottle towards your palm and press the pump the product won’t dispense out in a nice round blob.