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Favorites, Makeup, Product Review

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder (Medium) – Review

I have never been a powder person. I am talking about any type of powder here like talcum powder or setting powder or loose powder. However, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder has changed my view. It’s been a life-saver for an oily skin girl in a super humid weather. I have used the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Setting Spray previously and has been in love with it. The Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder didn’t disappoint either, in fact it surpassed my expectation.

Price

The 8 gm product retails for Rs 4300 on Nykaa website. I know it is too pricey. They also have a mini version which costs around Rs 2500. They have a refillable version too available on their brand website but I don’t think they have launched it in India yet.

Product Description

A super-finely milled powder that feels like cashmere on your skin, blurring the look of lines and imperfections for a soft focus-finish. Sweet almond oil and rose wax help to promote smoothness and moisture of the skin. Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder features nourishing ingredients to prevent excess shine and brighten the look of your complexion. It gives your skin a long-lasting, soft-focus airbrushed looking finish. You can use the powder on its own to mattify oily areas or on top of your concealer and foundation to set and perfect.

Supercharged Ingredients:- Rose Wax (Rosa multiflora flower wax): Extracted from the flowers of the Multiflora Rose, the wax helps to nourish and moisturise the skin.– Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil: A vegetable oil containing oleic acid, with softening and moisturising properties.– Light-reflecting Pearls: Pearlescent pigments diffuse light at it hits your face in such a way that it helps to luminate the complexion.

Ingredients

Talc, Mica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone, Silica, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Zinc Stearate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pei-10, Propylene Glycol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Rosa Multiflora Flower Wax, Tetrasodium Edta, Water, Dimethiconol, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract (Tilia Cordata Extract), Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, [May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499)].

How to Use

Using the Powder & Sculpt Brush, apply Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder around the nose, T-zone and any other oily areas that need to be mattified. This can be used on top of any Concealer or any Foundations to set them.

My Take on the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Powder

Packaging – This powder comes in a beautiful rose gold metallic case with a mirror and the CT logo. It is very lightweight but the downside is that it does not contain any applicator/sponge. This felt really inconvenient to me. Often I forget to carry a separate brush for the setting powder while travelling. I think for a high-end product at this price point, this is a let down. Also, I noticed the outer side of the compact is very prone to attract finger prints which makes it look very messy sometimes.

Texture – The texture of the powder is silky smooth. It is definitely very fine milled as claimed by Charlotte herself. It spreads like a dream on the face and honestly I never really feel that I applied powder on my face. It gives a matt finish but does not make the skin look dry at all. Since I have oily skin, I have noticed that after an hour or so my face looks dewy with a subtle glow and I absolutely love that. It gives my skin that healthy natural glow and also keeps my makeup underneath it totally as it is.

Does it do the job? yes and it is amazing at it. Here are the Pros of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

  • The powder blends like a dream. It is finely milled and the texture feels silky smooth.
  • It sets the makeup instantly and keeps it that way for 5-6 hours.
  • Although it mattifies the skin at the beginning but after a while it leaves a beautiful radiant glow to the face once it blends with the natural oil of our face. However, it does not look greasy or oily at all. More like a soft dewy finish with a healthy glow.
  • Hides the pores around my nose. Does not crease. Does not make my makeup appear cakey.

Are their any Cons? Unfortunately yes but still I will give this product a 8.5 out of 10 and I am definitely going to repurchase it.

  • It is quite expensive.
  • It does not have any applicator. Disappointed 😦
  • They have only 4 shades – Fair/Medium/Tan/Deep. I think for average Indian skin tone, the fair one is too fair. I purchased the medium and it is somewhat a neutral shade. I think they can introduce a few more other shades like their other product ranges.
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Product Review, Skincare

Sadhev Aloe vera and Saffron Gel Review

My recent inclination towards Natural or Ayurvedic beauty products made me discover an Indian luxury Ayurvedic brand from the majestic land of Kerala. Sadhev was launched in 2019. In their own words, all their products are “infused with precious insights from traditional Ayurveda, delicately blended with pure ingredients, sourced responsibly and carefully from Sadhev’s own 80-acre sustainably grown organic sanctuary- Sadhevana in South India.”

Sadhev offers an exciting range of Face care, Hair care and body care products. The most amazing part is that all their products are “natural, vegan, cruelty-free, plant-based, free from petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, sulphates, synthetic colours, artificial fragrances, additives and other synthetic substances.” They source most of their natural ingredients either from their own 100% organic firm or in a sustainable way from other exotic locations. Their packaging is made in a way to preserve the bio potency of the ingredients.

In this post, I will review Sadhev’s Aloe Vera and Saffron Gel with Kumkumadi Tailam.

Price

Sadhev Aloe Vera and Saffron gel with Kumkumadi Tailam comes in 3 sizes. The 15 gm tub costs Rs 375, the 50gm tub costs Rs 1100 and the 100 gm one costs Rs 1950. I bought the trial version of 15gm at first. The pricing of course put the product in a luxury brand category for the Indian market but if you really want great quality chemical-free products for your skin, then this price makes sense. Also, they are sometimes on a 5-10% discount on the Nykaa website. So, you can buy it from there as well. Another option is to buy a refill pack of 100gm which costs Rs 1650. This is again a thoughtful attempt towards sustainability.

Description

I got to know from Sadhev’s website that they came up with the aloe vera and saffron gel after getting inspired by Mughal empress Nur Jahan’s secret rich beauty ingredients like Saffron and the Green Aloe Vera that grew in her royal gardens.

My Take on the Sadhev Aloe Vera and Saffron Gel

Ingredients

I love using aloe vera gel all year round. One of my favourite Aloe Vera gel is from Tony Moly. Primarily in summer I sometimes use only aloe vera gel as a moisturizer and don’t put anything else on my face. It contains vitamins C and E and is known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It works for all skin types. Sadhev’s product has added a nice twist to the otherwise popular aloe gel by adding saffron sourced from the valley of Kashmir. Saffron contains an active compound known as Crocin which has antioxidant properties. It protects against UVA rays and fights inflammation/redness of the skin. The most amazing thing is that I could actually see the saffron strings in this product.

They have added ‘Kumkumadi Tailam’ which is basically saffron oil. It used to be this miraculous elixir in the Indian mythological scripts describing the skincare routines of the queens. This is known for healing wounds. However, as per recent studies, for oily/combination/sensitive skin people, this oil may cause acne. They use 50mg of Kumkumadi Tailam in each 10 gm of their product. In my personal experience, I did not find this product to be greasy at all and it did not cause me any breakout.

This product use preservatives like undecylenoyl glycine, capryloyl glycine and benzoic acid. It also contains perfum and natural oil in their base.

Texture

It has a light and airy formulation. You can compare the texture to widely popular gel-based moisturizers like Clinique Moisture Surge or Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel. I can easily use it in hot and humid weather. It does not make my skin oily but I don’t go all out as I do for my other aloe vera gels. I treat it like a face moisturizer and just put 4 dots around my face, partly because it is quite expensive and partly because it contains saffron oil.

Did I notice any benefits?

Yes I did. The texture of my skin became super smooth and soft after using this. Also, it gave my skin a very radiant glow which I usually notice only when I use Niacinamide based serums. I do not have any acne at the moment. So I can’t comment anything on its acne healing properties but it definitely did not cause me any breakout. So far I have only used it in summer and it kept my skin hydrated throughout the day. I usually spray the Kama Ayurveda Rose toner on top of it and it keeps the moisture locked.

What I did not Like

One thing that bothered me was that they use perfum/fragrance. Saffron already has a very distinctive smell, so, I don’t understand the need for using additional fragrance even if it is natural fragrance derived from essential oils. The perfum did bother my sensitive nose. This is why I don’t use it before bed because strong scent troubles my sleep. Also, both artificial and natural fragrance can be drying for skin and may cause irritation in the long run.

Overall I liked the Sadhev Aloe Vera and Saffron Gel for its efficacy but I did not like the fact that they use ‘perfum’ in their natural base.

Hope you found this review helpful. If you have used this product, please let me know what you liked or disliked in the comments section.

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Makeup, Product Review, Skincare

Laneige Glowy Lip Balm (Berry) -Review

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: 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

Full Ingredients list: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Diisostearyl Malate, Polybutene, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Microcrystalline Wax / Cera Microcristallina / Cire Microcristalline, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Synthetic Wax, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Mica, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla)Wax / Candelilla Cera Hydrocarbons / Cire De Candelilla, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Fragrance / Parfum, Candelilla Wax Esters, Dimethicone, Dehydroacetic Acid, Methicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba)Wax / Copernicia Cerifera Cera /Cire De Carnauba, Silica, Yellow 10 Lake(Ci 47005), Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Blue 1 (Ci 42090), Water / Aqua / Eau, Propanediol, Bht, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli)Extract

My take on the Laneige Glowy Lip Balm ( Berry):

  • 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 🙂

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Favorites, Makeup, Product Review

Bobbi Brown Fluid Powder Foundation (Shade – Natural) – Review

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.

Inactive Ingredients: Water\\Aqua\\Eau, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isopentyldiol, Hdi/Ppg/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hydrated Silica, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Whey Protein\\Lactis Protein\\Proteine Du Petit-Lait, Isononyl Isononanoate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Trisiloxane, Arginine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Proline, Triethyl Citrate, Valine, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Dimyristate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tromethamine, Sodium Chloride, Glycine, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499)] .

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 🙂

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Skincare, Product Review

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream -Review

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.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium Peg-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Fruit Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyethylene, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Dimethiconol, Polyacrylamide, Fragrance, Peg-100 Stearate, Propylparaben, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, C12-13 Pareth-3, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica.

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 🙂

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Makeup, Product Review

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray – Review

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!

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Pvp, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder, Parfum (Fragrance), Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenethyl Alcohol

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 🙂

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Makeup, Product Review, Skincare

Plum E-Luminence Simply Supple Cleansing Balm – Review

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: Shea is extremely hydrating, and at the same time, conditioning and non-sticky.

Full Ingredient List: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Aqua, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, C15-23 Alkanes, Glyceryl Monostearate, Silica, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Synthetic Wax,Tocopheryl Acetate, Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Coco Glucoside, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 26100, Argania Spinosa(Argan) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance

My take on the Plum Cleansing Balm:

  • 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 🙂

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Makeup, Product Review

Lakme Absolute Undercover Gel Face Primer – Review

Hello!

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 🙂

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Makeup

Sugar Cosmetics Face Fwd Blush Stick Pink Prime – Review

After their super popular contour de force blush range Sugar Cosmetics also launched a range of blush sticks in 3 different shades – Coral climax,Pink Prime and Mauve Marvel.For my love of pink I picked up the shade ‘pink prime’ which is a beautiful peachy pink one.

Description: Presenting, the SUGAR Face FWD Blush Stick range in 3 gorgeous shades to give your face just the right pop of color when you need it! Just a few dabs go a long way, and the colors are buildable to get the desired intensity with a flawless matte finish.

  • Buildable formula
  • Gives a matte finish
  • Super pigmented
  • Travel-friendly
  • This product is vegan

Ingredients: You will find the detailed ingredient list in the outer package of the stick.The product is made in Korea.

Quantity: 7 g

Price: INR 799

My take on the product:

  • It comes in a sturdy retractable stick which I find very useful as you don’t necessarily need to use your finger to put on the product.The packaging is very travel friendly.You can just throw it inside your bag and you are good to go.
  • The product is highly pigmented and blends nicely into my skin.You can use either your fingers or a sponge to quickly blend it to get a nice flushed skin.
  • As I have a slightly oily skin I have noticed that color tends to blend naturally over time with the natural oil of my skin and hence it gives a very natural yet brighter finish.
  • The formula is not too creamy either.The other cream blushes available in the market are quite pricey as compared to this one.Also, you get a quite good amount of product at this price point.This should serve your cheeks for quite a lot of time.

Overall, a big thumbs up from my side.I really liked this blush stick and particularly this shade.Hoping to try the other ones from this range soon.

Hope you liked this review.Stay healthy 🙂

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Makeup

Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing Brightening concealer -Review

I am someone who always struggles to use concealer.Thank God I don’t have that much of dark circle problems .However when I came across the Boi-ing Brightening concealer from Benefit Cosmetics I wanted to give it a try as I am a total fan girl for their other products.They have a wide range of concealers with pretty much good range of shades.Now the one I have chosen is a brightening concealer in shade ’02’ which is for light/medium skin tones.

Shades offered: This particular range of brightening concealers come in 6 different shades.

  • 01 -Light
  • 02 -Light/Medium
  • 03 -Medium
  • 04 – Medium -Tan warm
  • 05 – Tan/Warm
  • 06 – Deep/Warm

Description : Say goodbye to dull, tired eyes, dark circles and discolouration with boi-ing brightening concealer. This full coverage, creamy concealer contains brightening melon undertones to colour-correct under-eye circles & imperfections.

Net Weight : 4.4 g

Price : INR 2110

Claims: Full coverage concealer, color-correcting concealer
– Creamy, blendable formula
– Hides dark circles and brightens eye area
– Conceals imperfections and gives a radiant finish
– Brightening Melon undertones
– Same formula & shades as erase paste!

My experience with it: Before starting the review I need to tell you about my skin type.I have oily skin with fair complexion.

  • This comes in a tub which is a disappointment as everytime I need to dip my fingers and a little product gets stuck under my nails. Ahh gross I know 😦
  • This concealer has a thick texture.I haven’t used their erase paste formula earlier but I can guess why they are calling this one as its substitute.For blending I will suggest you to use a brush instead of your fingers; otherwise you will end up with wasting a lot of product.
  • A very minimum product gives a good coverage along with a radiant look.Especially because I have oily skin, it blends really well and gives a glowing skin for the entire day I spend at my office without making it look cakey or even too oily.Although I will suggest you to apply a makeup setting spray after 15 mins of applying this product.Remember to use a primer as well for the perfect blending.

Overall I am really happy with this product as it suits my skin really well and also it offers a good range of shades.Remember to blend really well to have the perfect finish. I will give it a score of 3.5 out of 5.

Hope you find this review helpful. Keep smiling 🙂

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