My recent trek to Bhrigu Lake in Manali got me introduced to a lot of really good quality natural products and I also got to know about this brand called ‘Pahadi Local’ that offers a range of products directly sourced from the Himalayas, consisting of body oil, face oil, face masks etc. They are a brand based out of Himachal Pradesh but their products are available on their website, Nykaa and even on Amazon. I really wanted to try as many products as possible to test the luxurious natural goodness infused in all of their products and hence, picked up a few. In this post, I am going to do a review of their Rose oil which I absolutely loved.
Ayu X Pahadi Local Rose Oil
Price and Quantity: You can say that Pahadi Local’s products fall in the semi-luxury range. It is not too out of budget but not exactly pocket friendly as well. The rose oil comes in a 10ml roll-on variant and it retails for INR 575.
Packaging: The rose oil comes in a glass roll-on bottle which is very travel friendly. I can throw it in my purse or just slide it inside my pocket. When I first received the product, there was a little bit of leakage. I think the bottle cap was not appropriately locked but now it works fine.
Product Description ( as mentioned on the website): The pure goodness of damask roses is distilled into a bottle as a tribute to this fabled bloom. Traditionally associated with mystical qualities that nurture the heart, offering protection and infinite love, Ayu x Pahadi Local Rose Oil can be a very calming and beautiful ritual to end your beauty routine, both am and pm.
Features:
Fragrant rose oil that feels calming to the senses
Enriched with the goodness of rose oil
Can be used during day or night
Suitable for all skin types
My take on the Ayu x Pahadi Local Rose Oil:
This rose oil smells amazing. The fragrance is quite long-lasting; some may feel it is a bit strong. Whenever I wore it, people around me could smell it. Now for some people who are really sensitive, I would recommend trying it first. Unfortunately, they do not have a trial version. So, it can be tricky if you spend the money and do not like the product.
I personally feel that it has a very calming effect on my nerves. I apply it behind my ears in the evening and go for a walk and I feel very relaxed. Be mindful of the quantity you are using because the entire house starts smelling like rose instantly 😀
Price wise I find it reasonable because one bottle will go a long way but I only wish they release some sort of a tester which will allow people to test the strength of smell and then purchase it.
Please let me know if you have tried this rose oil and your take on this in the comments section. Have a nice day 🙂
I recently stumbled upon a new lip product from Laneige which I believe is a recent launch to the Indian market (not sure though :p). It is their glowy lip balm range which has 4 shades or types. After my great experience with their lip sleeping mask (which I still use), I did not give a second thought while purchasing one of these lip balms. Let me share my honest review here with you guys.
Price and Quantity: 10 ml cute little tube comes at a price of INR 690. It is available in Nykaa. They come in four variants – grapefruit (coral), berry (pink), peach (light yellow/orange) and pear (green).
Product Description (According to the brand):
Lip balm that coats the lips with a layer of moisture and makes them look supple and glossy.
Benefits:
– Daily moisturizing: It instantly removes flakes and makes the lips look hydrated as though the lips are coated with a breathable layer of moisture. – Texture that’s smoothly wrapping the lips: It applies as though it’s wrapping the lips with colorless thin layers, so the lips feel light, while still not damaging the color of the lipstick. – For a healthy voluptuous look of the lips: It adds a natural healthy color to make the lips look full, voluptuous.
Texture:Â A tube type lip balm that fits the sticky form as if to coat it thinly.
Recommended for:
– Concerned about dry lips – Concerned about dead skin cells when wearing a matte-finish lipstick – To create a glossy and supple look of the lips
Let’s first talk about the packaging. The lip balm comes in a very cute and sleek pink tube. Laneige has customised the colour of the tube based on the variant. You simply need to squeeze a bit of the product from the tube and directly apply on the lips. The berry variant comes in this pink tube whereas grapefruit comes in a coral, pear comes in green and peach comes in a somewhat yellowish-coloured tube. The pink colour of the berry variant will remind you of their bestseller lip sleeping mask. The packaging looks and feels premium. No complaints about that.
There is a sweet bubblegum kind of smell to this lip balm. Not sure if they customised the fragrance based on the variants. I really wish they got rid of it especially since it is a lip product. I know a lot of people like this type of smell on their lip balm but it is simply not needed and we may not see the impact immediately but fragrance may cause problems in the long run. The good thing is that the balm does not have any taste if you accidentally lick it.
There is a slight sheen to this lip balm. I spotted mica in the ingredients list. So, maybe it was added to give this effect. When I applied matte lipstick after using this lip balm, that shimmery finish was still there and I did not like it. So, I try to use a very minimum product or take a tissue to remove the excess balm before applying a matte lipstick. But, on the other hand, if you want to use it as a lip gloss, it will work pretty well. Just use it on top of your usual lipstick and it will give you a glossy and moisturized finish. Although it has a pink tint when I took out the product on the back of my hand but the colour gets neutralized when you spread it on your lips. So, if you are wearing it on top of any shades of lipstick, chances are this balm will not change the shade at all. It doesn’t look like a tinted lip balm but I have pigmented lips. So, maybe for others, it may give a slight pinkish tint but my guess would be that the colour payoff is almost ignorable. If you are looking for a tinted lip balm then this is not the product you should buy.
Coming to the texture, it is a bit thick but not sticky like the Laneige lip sleeping mask. It softens my chapped lips almost instantly and keeps them that way. I have used a lot of balms which either take time to soften my lips or the dryness comes back rather quickly in a few hours. This is not the case with the Laneige glowy lip balm. It keeps my lips hydrated and soft for the entire day even after having a full-course meal.
Let me quickly list down the pros and cons of these lip balms
Pros:
Keeps the lips super moisturized for the entire day
Instant relief for chapped lips
Non-sticky, non-greasy, tasteless
Travel friendly and I am actually using it as an alternative to the OG lip sleeping mask just because of the ease of application 😀
Cons:
Contains fragrance
Not tinted (that’s not exactly a problem but the four different variants with different coloured packaging may confuse people that these are tinted)
Hope you found this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂
If you are an oily/ combination skin person, chances are that you are really choosy like me about the foundations you apply. For many years, I have avoided wearing any foundation because it simply made my skin look horrible after 2 hours or so in humid weather like in India. Also, it was difficult to buy and try high-end products on a student budget. I was simply happy with a bb cream or a compact powder. Now, after so many years, in my thirties, I have started understanding my skin so much better and what products work for me. I recently purchased the Bobbi Brown skin long-wear fluid powder foundation with SPF 20. Bobbi Brown products never really disappointed me. I like their products because of their natural finish which makes me look like me just in a better way. So, let’s give you my honest opinion about the Bobbi Brown Fluid Powder Foundation.
Price and Quantity: I bought this foundation from Nykaa at INR 3700 for a 40ml tube. This is also available at Bobbi Brown stores and in Sephora stores and on their websites too. I know it is pricey but they have 36 months of shelf life and this particular foundation works really well for oily/combination skin which you will get to know more about in this review. I felt this is a good investment.
Product Description(As per the packaging): Bobbi Brown’s first-ever liquid-to-powder foundation that self-sets into a comfortable, soft-matte finish. Formulated with a Power Protein Complex to help skin look smooth and healthy, this lightweight, sweat-resistant formula controls oil and stays color true all day. Plus, it keeps skin protected on the go with environmental, blue light and UV filters.
Ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Ensulizole, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide.
My take on the Bobbi Brown Skin Long-wear Fluid Power Foundation:
Packaging: The foundation comes in a stylish dark black tube packaging which I absolutely loved. It is so much easier to take out the exact amount of product that I need from a tube than from a usual glass bottle. There is no need to worry about spillage. Also, it is so much easier to carry when you are travelling. I really like the fact that Bobbi Brown tries to make the packaging of each of their products very travel-friendly. Check out my review on their skin concealer stick. It was also designed to be used on the go.
Texture: The texture of this powder foundation felt very smooth and soft when I first took out a small amount on my palm. Also, I quickly realized it is extremely lightweight compared to any other foundation I have tried so far. It looks and feels like a tinted moisturizer but the surprising thing is that it sets very quickly. That is why they call it a powder foundation. So, it is important that we blend it very quickly while applying it on the face otherwise it will be really difficult to blend it due to its powder finish. What I do is, I simply put 2-3 dots on one side of my face and then dab it with a damp beauty blender and after that, I start working on the other side of my face.
Finish: This powder foundation gives medium coverage and a natural finish. It makes my skin even-toned and fades the dark spots. Although it gives a powder finish, it never made my skin look too dry. It says it is suitable for all skin types, but based on my experience this is actually a great foundation for oily or combination skin. Dry-skin people need to use a moisturizer before applying this powder foundation. If you are looking for a full coverage foundation then probably it is not the right product for you. I believe this powder foundation was designed specifically targeting people who love fuss-free make-up and probably don’t spend too much time layering up products.
Staying Power: I have worn this foundation for a good 8-9 hours and believe me or not, it kept my skin completely oil-free even at 35-36 degree celsius. I did not use any setting spray or any compact on top of it. I was blown away by its staying power. This is the perfect foundation for office make-up as I can guarantee you will not need to touch-up. Your face will look the exact same the whole day as it was when you entered the office. It also has SPF 20 which makes it suitable for day use.
Shades: Another good thing is that they have multiple shades available suitable for brown skin. On the Nykaa website, they have at least 12 shades. I would recommend going to a store and picking the one matching your skin tone. I bought it online and went for the shade ‘N052-Natural’ which worked for me perfectly. It does not make me too white or too dark. This powder foundation gives me a very natural finish yet makes my skin look even-toned and bright.
In this pic below, I have not used any primer or moisturizer or concealer and applied only 2-3 drops of the foundation on my skin for a light coverage.
Let me quickly list down the pros and cons of the Bobbi Brown Fluid Powder Foundation
Pros:
Keeps your skin oil-free and even-toned the whole day
Buildable, light-weight formula
Gives a very natural finish, fades dark spots
SPF 20
Travel Friendly
Cons:
Expensive
May not be suitable for dry skin
Hope you found this review helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. Have a nice day 🙂
BeMinimalist is a rapidly growing home-grown Indian brand which is fiercely competing with some of the biggies in the skincare/haircare industry. I have tried a couple of serums from this brand and I was pretty impressed with their effective solution targeting very specific skin concerns and that too in pocket-friendly pricing. I have never tried a lot of products for my hair. It is mostly just shampoo, conditioner and coconut hair oil. Recently, I have been noticing a lot of hair fall. This can be because I started working from home at the beginning of the pandemic and somehow this has increased my anxiety level significantly. I have tried some home-based remedies but they did not really improve the condition. While I cannot really control my stress level even if I try really hard, I tried to look for some anti-hair fall serums and stumbled upon the Minimalist 18% Hair Growth Actives Hair Serum For Reducing Hairfall & Growth.
There is a kind of similar product by the Ordinary as well. Basically, you will find a lot of similar serums targeting the same concerns by both the ordinary and Minimalist. Minimalist products are usually cheaper than the Ordinary. I cannot really compare the hair serum by the Ordinary with the Minimalist one at the moment. I am sure that one is also very good but I am pretty much impressed with the Minimalist Hair Growth Actives Hair serum.
Price and Quantity: The Minimalist Hair Growth Actives Hair Serum is priced at INR 799 for a 30ml bottle.
Product Description: The product description mentioned here is based on the information available on the packaging.
What it is: A powerful hair growth serum with a blend of 5 proven ingredients (capixyl, redensyl, procapil, anagain, and baicapil) in a high concentration of 18%. A potent combination of peptides and extracts for fuller, thicker hair.
Features:
Hair growth formula: A super potent, multi-functional hair growth serum containing 5 proven ingredients. Capixyl 5% + redensyl 3% + procapil 3% + anagain 3% + baicapil 4%. Starts to show reduction in hair fall by 4th week and new hair growth by 8th week.
Safe and powerful: A completely safe, yet powerful serum for both men and women, that can be used everyday without any side-effects that are generally associated with other treatments.
Potent ingredients: Infused with saw palmetto extract and sanguisorba officinalis (SO) root extract to further boost the performance of the serum.
High quality ingredients: All ingredients are sourced from leading suppliers – capixyl (Lucas Meyer, Canada), redensyl (Givaudan, Switzerland), procapil (Sederma, UK), AnaGain (Mibelle AG, Switzerland), baicapil (Provital, Spain)
Clean and transparent formulations: This formula has a pH value of 5.0- to 6.0 and is fragrance free and silicone free.
My take on the Minimalist 18% Hair Growth Actives Serum:
I have never used a hair serum before and did not have much idea how this is going to be. So, when I first took out a few drops on my palm it looked and felt a lot like a yellowish hair oil. I put the serum on my scalp directly and just gently rubbed it. I tested for 2-3 days with a small amount just to see if it gives me any allergic reaction. Thank god, it did not cause me any irritation.
The texture of this serum is definitely oily but it did not make my scalp excessively oily. I applied it 3-4 times a week at night before going to bed and washed it off with a mild shampoo the next day. Now, this can be a challenge to wash your hair 3-4 times with shampoo if you are used to doing hair-wash only once or twice a week. I cannot get away without a hair wash because on the second day of application, it definitely made my scalp very oily and it gave me difficulty sleeping with that oily scalp. I know it is probably a weird problem but I simply cannot sleep with an oily scalp.
Now coming to the result part, I have been using it almost for one and a half months. I did not notice any significant hair growth but my hair fall problem is significantly reduced. Earlier, I was seeing a lot of hair on my pillow cover, in my entire bedroom and in the bathroom but going by that I can for sure say that this serum worked for me to reduce my hair fall quite a lot.
I read a couple of reviews where people mentioned that they had acne after using this product on their forehead. I did not experience it. I kept the application part limited to a maximum of 4 days a week and also washed it off with shampoo the next day. Another problem people mentioned is that after discontinuing they have noticed that their hair fall has increased. I am still using this serum and plan to use it for another month or so. I will update this post after I discontinue using this product.
From the ingredients list, I could see that there are a lot of actives in this formula. So, it is better to use a very small amount and check if it suits you or not and then decide how much amount you want to use on a weekly basis. If you have any doubts or face any issues, immediately consult with your dermat.
Hope you found this review useful. Have a nice day 🙂
Update
As promised here is the update after I stopped using the hair serum. My hair fall has definitely increased but not at an alarming level like it was happening before I started using this product. I also spotted a lot of baby hair growth recently. So, the hair growth happened but not immediately after I started using this product. I would say, after 3 months or so I could actually see some new hair and feel some volume when I touch the back part of my head.
Recently after using the Super Serums by Olay, I was intrigued to try a few more of their products. I have heard rave reviews of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream by skincare influencers and also, not gonna lie, the phrase ‘Micro-Sculpting’ pushed me to buy this cream 😀
I am not a ‘cream’ person due to my oily skin. I always look for oil-free moisturizers or gel moisturizers. Most of the time, especially during summer in India I only apply serums and sunscreen. But, in winter, from November to February, I need something more moisturizing. Hence, the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream was a perfect pick for winter. I have tried it for slightly more than a month and it is safe to say that I am eligible for writing a review on this.
Price and Quantity: The original price of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is INR 1699 for a 50 gm glass jar. The good news is Olay products are almost always available at a discount in Nykaa. So, it is quite likely that you will get them at 30-40% discount easily. Also, a very important point to note is that there is a fragrance-free version of this cream available too. Please look for the ingredients while buying. These creams are easily available in stores too. As I bought them online, I missed this point and later found that my version has fragrance.
Product Description:
New Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with 20% more anti-ageing ingredients that reduce the appearance of 4 years of lines and wrinkles in just 4 weeks.
Firm skin’s appearance in the areas most prone to sagging—even the jawline—with a high concentration of our signature amino-peptide complex.
Hydrates on an intracellular level to help firm and micro-sculpt.
My take on the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream:
First of all, one thing to note is that there are multiple versions of the same cream with the almost same packaging. There is one fragrance-free version and one with a fragrance option. Although the fragrance did not bother me, I would recommend buying the fragrance-free version. Also, there is a day version with SPF and a night version too. If you use sunscreen then it makes sense to buy the one without SPF for both day and night usage.
Coming to the texture of the cream, I was worried that it will be too thick for my oily skin. Surprisingly, it feels a little thick in my fingers but while applying it on my face, it blended so easily and smoothly. It did not make my skin greasy or excessively oily. It got absorbed into my skin like a dream. I was honestly very surprised by that. In fact, after half an hour or so of the application, my skin felt slightly dry in winter. Later I found out that it is primarily because of the presence of the fragrance in my version of the cream.
Also, I noticed a bit of pilling while massaging this cream into my skin which felt weird but later I got to know this can happen if you have used any other serum underneath this cream and have started massaging the cream even before the serum got absorbed into the skin. This is true for sunscreens too. You will always have to give enough time to serums to get absorbed and apply the next layer.
Initially, in the first week, it gave me one or two zits but now, my skin has been used to it and the cream does not cause any irritation at all.
It contains some of my favourite ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Both of them are great for giving us bright, plump and smooth skin. It is also sulphate, phthalates etc. free but it is not paraben free.
Now coming to the results, this cream gave my skin definitely a tighter, plump and healthy glow. I do not have a lot of lines or wrinkles. I used it around my under-eye areas where I am seeing some very fine lines which are still not permanent. I did not see any noticeable difference in those lines after using this product.
Now, let’s quickly list down the pros and cons of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.
Pros:
Easily available online and offline
Gets easily absorbed into skin
Gives a firm and smooth, glowy skin
Oily/Combination skin friendly
Can use it all year round
Cons :
A little expensive
If you are using the product alone then you may not see the desired results. You will have to use it as an intermediary product in your skincare routine along with some other good products too.
Hope you will find this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂
A very new addition to my makeup bag is a setting spray. I recently purchased Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray and I am definitely loving it. Charlotte Tilbury’s make up range is available in Nykaa. Setting sprays are very essential part of any makeup artist’s kit. They act as a good primer and when applied on top of makeup, they keep the makeup intact for the whole day and also leaves a dewy finish to the skin.
Price and Quantity: The travel-size 34ml spray bottle comes at a price of INR 1750. The 100ml bottle comes at a price of INR 3000. I think it makes sense to purchase the 100ml bottle because it will go long way and it is simply travel friendly. Even if you are outdoors or at the office restroom, you can just quickly spray it off for instant hydration.
Product Description:
Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray weightlessly primes and sets for up to 16 hours* for the perfect looking makeup day, every day. Instantly lock in your look with Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray for makeup magic that looks just applied! This delicately scented, long-lasting, next generation setting spray is a magical beauty amplifier inspired by the smoothing, pore blurring effects of Charlotte’s world-famous airbrush makeup family. The high – performance formula works in harmony with your complexion-enhancing foundation, concealer, bronzer and powder to create a weightless veil of hydrating goodness and a flawless – looking finish! No melting, no fading, no creasing!
My take on the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray:
Comes in a transparent glass spray bottle with a rose gold lid. It is a familiar Charlotte Tilbury branding and packaging. The product has a slight floral scent. Not too bad for my taste but I wish they could avoid the fragrance.
The formula is very light, doesn’t make my skin oily or greasy yet gives my skin a hydrated dewy look. The product claims that it locks in makeup for up to 16 hours, with no melting, fading, or creasing. I have not tested it for 16 hours but I can say I have seen that it kept my skin oil-free, my concealer did not crease under my eyes, nor did my eye shadow got smudged.
I hold this setting spray at my arm’s length and spray 2-3 times max and that does the job. Also, make sure to shake the product before use so that you get a fine mist spread evenly over the face.
I sometimes use it also as a primer. This helps to blend the powder foundation or concealer really well into the damp skin. Also, it definitely increases the staying power of the makeup. Even you can quickly spritz it after few hours of the initial application of the makeup to get the fresh dewy look instantly.
It works well for both dry and oily skin. If you have dry skin, it will give you the much-needed hydration and definitely prevent making your skin look cakey and tired. If you have oily skin, it will take the extra shine off your skin. You don’t need to use a setting powder if you are using this setting spray. This spray is just a fine mist and does not make the skin too wet. It gets absorbed instantly into the skin with a few gentle pats.
Let me quickly list dows the pros and cons of this product.
Pros:
Works well for both oily and dry skin
Set the makeup for quite long hours without a retouch
Fine mist, easy to get absorbed
leaves a dewy finish
Cons:
Expensive for the Indian market but one bottle will go a long way.
Hope you will find this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂
During the Nykaa Pink Friday sale, I picked up the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Capsule in Serum. This serum is basically hyaluronic acid along with antioxidants. I think by the grace of thousands of influencers and skin experts, most of us are quite aware of hyaluronic acid and its impact on maintaining moisture levels, providing hydration and keeping our skin smooth and wrinkle-free.
Is this hydro boost capsule in serum any different than the other hyaluronic acid serums available in the market? Well, let’s find out. I have almost emptied the bottle and I am ready to write my honest review about this serum.
Price and Quantity: This serum comes in a 30 ml bottle and is priced at INR999. Compared to other popular hyaluronic acid serums available in the market, this one is costlier. A 30 ml bottle will last you 1-2 months based on your usage level.
Product Description: Dermatologist tested, this highly effective daily serum instantly quenches dry skin, that helps to repair the skin’s moisture barrier and protects against recurring dryness.
Purified Hyaluronic Acid – Naturally found in skin, hyaluronic acid acts as a sponge for dry skin, moisturizing up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
Antioxidant – Helps to fortify the skin barrier and protect against dryness.
In Serum – With improved moisture sensor complex, it replenishes moisture when you need it most while repairing and rebuilding skin barrier to lock that moisture in.
In Capsule – It releases anti-oxidant that fortifies the skin barrier and protects against recurring dryness.
My take on the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Capsule in Serum:
The packaging is pretty interesting. I mean the serum in white capsules in a transparent glass bottle looks straight out of a fancy science experiment. It comes in a pump bottle with a lid. Pretty easy to pump a pea-sized amount on your palm and spread it on my face.
There is no mention of the percentage of hyaluronic acid in this serum. Given that all the hyaluronic acid serums in the market provide the percentages, I will consider this as a minus point. From the ingredients list, I could only figure out that it contains hyaluronic acid in the form of sodium hyaluronate but the weird thing is it comes quite late in the order of the ingredient list. It also contains Niacinamide which is the 5th ingredient on the list and which means this serum contains more niacinamide than hyaluronic acid. I found this to be a bit strange given that in the product description, they only stressed the hyaluronic acid part. Sadly, it also contains perfume/fragrance. The good thing is it contains vitamin E but again, no mention of the percentage. It is a non-comedogenic product, which means it does not clog pores.
Now coming to the texture part, it is a bit thicker serum with a silky consistency. It has mica in it. So, that is why you will find the serum leaves a subtle shine on your face. It blends very smoothly on my skin. I almost loved massaging my face with it or doing a little bit of guasha with this serum because of its thicker and silkier consistency compared to other hyaluronic acid serums available in the market. But, did it make my skin look super plump and hydrated? No, it did not. The bottle looks fancy. It feels good to put it on my skin but after using it for more than a month now, I did not see that my undereye area looks plumper or my skin looks tighter and well hydrated which basically any other hyaluronic acid based serums do.
Do I want to repurchase it? No, I will not. I am super sure the actual hyaluronic acid concentration in this serum is lower compared to other serums widely available in the market and maybe at a better price point. I loved the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel from the same range but not this one. You can check my review here.
Hope you found this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂
I was looking to buy a cleansing balm for removing my makeup easily. I found the one by Clinique which has great reviews but is quite expensive. The entire cleansing balm concept is still pretty new to me. So, I wanted to try a budget-friendly cleansing balm first and came across the Plum E-Luminence Simply Supple Cleansing Balm recently. Although this product has been on the market for quite some time, I did not get a chance to try it till now. So, here is my honest review on the Plum cleansing balm.
Price and Quantity: The cost of a 90 gm tub is INR 545 but you will find it at a good discount along with a few freebies from Plum either on Nykaa or at the Plum website 🙂
Key Ingredients:
Kokum Butter: A solid emollient brimming with micro-nutrients that not only prevent drying of skin but also reduce degeneration of skin cells thereby keeping your skin supple and deliciously healthy (Kokum isn’t just good for juice, you know)
Sunflower Seed Oil: Aside from being a rich source of vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, with its anti-inflammatory and calming properties helps soothe the skin and improves its moisture retention capacity to give soft, supple, hydrated skin.
Shea Butter:Â Shea is extremely hydrating, and at the same time, conditioning and non-sticky.
The cleansing balm comes in a plastic tub with a lid. There is a small plastic spatula that comes with this to help scrap the product of the tab. This makes the process of taking out the product quite easy and hygienic.
The product has a thick waxy texture. In the beginning, I was quite disappointed with the texture because it appeared to be too thick and a bit grainy. It felt too harsh to put on my face and then massage it to spread out evenly. There were small granules getting stuck on my face. I expected this cleansing balm to be softer. However, later I realized that I am using it all wrong. I am supposed to scoop out a little product on my palm and it will soften up with my body temperature. Then I should apply it to my face. I have never used a cleansing balm before and so it took me a while to figure out the best way of using this product. However, I still noticed that a few small granules of the balm are very hard to melt and they get stuck to my face.
The product has a baby pink colour and a subtle fragrance. I wish they got rid of the fragrance. There are a lot of oils and butter in it to help melt all the makeup easily. Once I massage it evenly on my face, I let it sit for a while and then wash it off with water. Even after washing it leaves my skin very oily. If you just wash with water or remove the balm with a wet cotton pad, you will not feel very refreshed and the skin may feel sticky due to the excessive oil. So, I double-cleanse my face with face wash. I have noticed it removes all the lipstick stains with long hours stay claims, cleans my pores, and removes eyeliner and waterproof mascara pretty well. But, make sure to wash your eyes thoroughly with clean water. Otherwise, this oily cleansing balm will give you blurry vision for at least half an hour. This cleansing balm did not give me any allergic reaction or break-outs. Overall, I was not super impressed with the product but did not hate it as well. In future, I will try the cleansing balms from other brands as well.
Let’s list down all the pros and cons.
Pros:
Pocket friendly
Cleanse all the makeup residue pretty easily
Does not dry out the skin.
Cons:
Contains fragrance
I have not tried other cleansing balms, so cannot compare but I felt the texture is very thick and grainy and that is why it takes quite a lot of time to melt completely.
Hope you found this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂
Since the pandemic hit us and most of us started working from home, I think we all can agree that our time spent looking at laptops, mobiles, and tablets has increased significantly. Although I never really had dark circles, I have been noticing the slightly discoloured undereye area for the last year or so. It can be due to ageing or due to my late-night Netflix binge. Anyway, I wanted to invest in a good fuss-free concealer and picked up the Bobbi Brown skin concealer stick in the shade ‘Natural’. I have used Bobbi Brown lipsticks previously and I loved them. So, obviously had high expectations from this concealer stick and am happy to report that I am not disappointed at all.
Price and Quantity: I bought the Bobbi Brown concealer stick from Nykaa. You can find it across multiple stores of Bobbi Brown in India. It costs INR 2850 for 3g. As per the outer packaging it is made in Belgium and has a 36 months validity from the date of manufacturing.
Product Description: Bobbi Brown’s first-of-its-kind transformative stick makes great-looking skin look easy. This hydrating concealer is natural at instantly camouflaging the look of dark circles, discolouration, and imperfections for a skin-fresh look that stays the day. Coffee seeds and vitamin E help nourish skin and provide a creamy, weightless wear that melts into the skin.
Skin concealer stick softens and blends on contact for transformative concealing that looks like skin. The creamy, comfortable formula glides on sheer-to-full buildable coverage that layers seamlessly under or over foundation and delivers 12 hours of non-creasing, colour-true wear that’s waterproof and sweat- and humidity-resistant.
My take on the Bobbi Brown Concealer Stick (shade – Natural):
First of all, let’s start with the packaging. Bobbi Brown has a very classy style of packaging for all of its products and this one is no exception. It comes in a glossy black twist-up stick with a magnetic lock. This type of concealer stick is very easy to apply and you can simply drop it in your bag and travel wherever you want to.
It comes in a lot of shades. At Nykaa I saw that they had 8 shades to offer. I purchased it online and so found it a little difficult to differentiate some of the shades. It is best to buy it from a store if you want to be 100% sure of your shade. I picked up the shade natural and it indeed leaves a very natural finish.
Now, coming to the consistency, the formula of this concealer is very creamy and easy to blend. It may not give full coverage but it gives me the most natural-looking finish with a brighter undereye and softens the dark-pigmented areas on my face. If you have a really dark under-eye then it may not be the best option for you or you will have to use a colour corrector first before applying this concealer. However, if you are someone like me who is just looking to make her under-eye area appear less hollow and brighter than usual, then it is the perfect concealer stick for you. Also, I am not someone who needs to or wants to wear layers of makeup and most of the time I am just looking for a quick yet the most effective solution and I feel this concealer stick does the right job for that. You can use your fingers or a beauty blender to blend this concealer. It does not look cakey or crease under my eyes.
Let’s list down the pros and cons for the Bobbi Brown Concealer stick.
Pros:
Creamy Blendable formula
Does not crease
Great user-friendly packaging
Leaves a naturally fresh finish
Cons:
A bit expensive for the Indian market
Medium coverage, may not be ideal for people with dark undereye
Hope you will find this review helpful. Have a nice day and happy new year 🙂
I wanted to post a quick review of a few of my makeup favourites recently and so I wanted to start with a primer. I actually have been using the Lakme absolute undercover gel face primer for almost a year now and never really wrote a full review on this amazing primer. I picked it up while travelling from a store but it turned out to be a great purchase. A good primer prepares our faces as a perfect canvas to put on additional layers of makeup like foundation or a concealer. It simply creates a smooth base.
Price and Quantity: A 30gm tube costs INR 800 but there is a mini-trial version available too. One tube will go a long way because you will need a pea-sized amount for your entire face.
Product Description:
Smooth Gel Texture – create a smooth base for easy makeup application.
Enriched with Vitamin E – a Unique formula that nourishes skin for an added glow.
Lasting Makeup effect – ensures that your makeup stays on for long hours.
My take on the Lakme undercover gel primer:
Let’s start with the packaging first. The primer comes in a sleek black tube with a metallic twist cap. It is travel-friendly packaging and there is no need to worry about the product packaging.
The texture of this undercover primer is simply like a translucent soft gel. It has a slightly creamy texture to it which is really easy to blend into the skin. It blends instantly into the skin and with just a pea-sized amount you will be able to cover your entire face. I have seen for a couple of other primers that they have a slightly grainy texture and while blending into the face they kind of get dried up. That is surely not the case with Lakme absolute undercover gel primer. It does not make my skin dry. In fact, it leaves a silky velvety finish on my skin which makes it really easy to layer up with a foundation later.
Now let’s talk about its function. This primer makes my skin look very smooth with an even complexion. You can say that it almost does a double job of a concealer. It blurs the dark spots on my face. Lakme also has another primer called the blur perfect makeup primer with the same packaging and at the same price point. I am not sure what is the differentiating point between these two because the undercover gel primer also creates that blurry impact on my skin. Specifically, I love the fact that it blurs the open pores around my nose.
I have oily skin and this primer instantly covers my oily T zone and yet it does not make my skin dry. This gel primer simply gives a very matte look. I will advise using a normal moisturizer before applying this primer for people with dry skin.
Let’s list down all the pros and cons of the Lakme undercover gel primer
Pros:
Provides a very smooth finish
Blurs dark spots and open pores
Blends very easily
Controls excess oil
Reasonable price
Cons:
It may make the skin appear very dry for people with a dry skin
Hope you found this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂
The Peach Diary 