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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Fragrance, Product Review

Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne -Review

Based on a friend’s rave recommendation I recently purchased the Wood Sage and Sea Salt cologne from Jo Malone and I must say I couldn’t agree more with her. This cologne has become my absolute favourite and I also gifted one to my mom on Mother’s Day. In India, I found Jo Malone only on Nykaa. So, let’s get into my honest opinion on this cologne.

Price and Quantity:

The Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne comes in 4 sizes, 9 ml, 30 ml, 50 ml and 100 ml. They cost Rs 1750, Rs 5500, Rs 6600 and Rs 10800 respectively. I bought it from Nykaa. I did not find it on any other website or offline stores. Nykaa has a good policy for first-time buyers of this cologne so that you can try the mini version first and then go for the full-size version at a discount. I purchased the 9 ml bottle for Rs 1750 and when I bought the 100 ml bottle I got the Rs 1750 discount along with a few free sample-size vials of their other colognes.

Description:

Escape the everyday along the windswept shore. Waves breaking white, the air fresh with sea salt and spray. Alive with the mineral scent of the rugged cliffs. Mingling with the woody earthiness of sage. Lively, spirited and totally joyful.

Top Note of this cologne is Ambrette Seeds. Their textural quality wraps the fragrance with an aura of sophistication. Heart Note is Sea Salt. The crunchy nature of sea salt brings both texture and a sense of freshness. Base Note is Sage. Woody with earthy, aromatic tones that bring a natural depth.

A little background on the types of perfumes available on Market:

I think a lot of us actually do not know much about the differences between EDT and EDP or what is a cologne vs perfume.

The strength of a fragrance is dependent on the amount of perfume oil that is used. The more oil in in, the stronger the scent and the longer it will last. Understanding the difference between these strengths can help us to choose the right perfume or aftershave.

Eau De Cologne (EDC) uses only around 2-4% of essential perfume oil. So their staying power is 2-3 hours maximum. They have a very light yet fresh fragrance, perfect for summer or if you are going to a gym. Generally EDCs are unisex. The Eau de toilette (EDT) is more concentrated, containing around 5-15% essential perfume oil. Fragrances labelled as EDT will usually last around 3-6 hours but of course it depends on the quantity of perfume sprayed. On the other hand, Eau De Parfum(EDP) usually has around 10-20% perfume oil and so they can last up to 8 hours. EDPs are perfect for office wear. Finally, the ‘perfume’ is the most powerful amongst all with highest level of concentration and usually they are the most expensive ones. These are suitable for the most precious moments.

My take on the Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne:

Jo Malone is a luxury British brand known for their colognes, candles and bath and body products. Interestingly all their fragrances are actually colognes. They do not sell EDTs or EDPS. I read that although their products are all Eau de Colognes, the percentage of perfume oil is somewhere in between EDT and EDPs. However, after using it I beg to disagree with this information. More on this later. I got a some sample vials of their other EDCs too and I felt their fragrance profile is very unique and delicate. Something which is very fresh and airy and uplifts your mood instantly. They have the potential to be your signature scent. They have body-creams, body and handwashes based on each of their fragrance profiles so that we can layer them up to have a long lasting impact.

Their packaging is very classy and minimalistic. All the EDCs have silver metallic cap with a transparent glass body. Only the ‘intense’ variation of their colognes come in a black or dark chocolate bottles. The outer packaging has their signature cream and black box, tied with a black luxurious ribbon.

Now coming to the Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne, the fragrance will instantly make you feel that you have entered a five-star hotel or a luxurious spa. It is probably the most unique, distinctively refreshing and airy cologne among all other colognes by Jo Malone. It is sexy yet not overpowering, delicate yet not too floral. If you find musky scents too masculine and floral scents to be too feminine, then this Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne has got the perfect balance. This makes it a perfect unisex cologne. I can wear it anywhere both at the daytime or at night. It is perfect for office wear as well as for a date night.

Now coming to the main problem with this cologne is that it does not stay for more than an hour or two. That’s really embarrassing. Before buying the 100 ml version, I bought the mini version and I was so mesmerized with the scent, I totally ignored its absolutely ridiculous staying power. After spending almost 10K(INR) on it, I definitely felt I didn’t get bang for my buck. So, basically I need to reapply it when I am out. One advice I got that if I layer the cologne with shower gel or moisturizer from similar fragrance profile, it will hold the scent longer. Now, Jo Malone’s body wash and body creams again are very pricey. So, I try to use sea salt based moisturizer from other pocket friendly brands.

Still, I would say I really loved this scent. This subtle marine vibe to the scent totally frees my spirit and instantly gives me a mood boost. I would be absolutely thrilled if Jo Malone comes up with EDTs or EDPs with better staying power.

If you have tried this cologne, please let me know your views.

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