I won...

OMG...I was nominated by the beautiful Sonali from "Asian Beautifier." If you can spare 5 minutes of your free time, kindly check her blog; she is uber cool darling :)

What can I say? She made my day :) Big warm hug........Sonali :)

If you wish to nominate your fellow bloggers; here is the procedure. Post the award on your blog together with the name of the person who has given you the award and her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award :)

I cannnot nominate 15 beauties coz most of my followers are not into blogging :( but I would love to nominate:

Congratulations, beauties! I thought you deserve this for being good girls :) You might have won tonnes of awards before, but still I felt you deserve one more ruby to your tiara :) I did give them some funky names, so the christening has not been done according to the personality, but their lovely nature :)

http://asianbeautifier.blogspot.com/ : The lady who nominated my blog, Sonali :) - Diva

http://delhisbeautyaddict.blogspot.com/: The lady behind, Cynthia :) - Ever smiling

http://getgawjus.blogspot.com/: The lady behind, Shifa :) - Little puppy

http://teenagerwoes.blogspot.com/: The lady behind, Palak :) - Dimple beauty

http://makeupandbeauty.com/: The lady behind, Rati :) - Yet to see her, but such a sweet darlin'

http://cheezz12345.blogspot.com/: The lady behind, Jaya. She has a channel on YT, BTW :) - Guru

http://addictedtoblush.blogspot.com/: The lady behind, Tanveer :) - Snow white

http://blog-villa.blogspot.com/: The lady behind, Zwala :) Yet to see her, but she is a sweetie

Girls, I am not sure if I did go by the rules. So, dont thrash if you dont like the awards and names :) I still have some more to nominate, but will wait until my first episode! Thanq all for the support!

Warning: All the above are injurious to wallets. You might get addicted! I warned ya' dont blame me :)

Bourjois Effet Smokey Pencil

Girlies,

On a different mission this time! Trying to find out the perfect partner for smokey eyes! On vigorous hunting, I finally landed on this...

Claims:

Double-tipped eyeliner to smudge for a perfect every day smoky look!


A smoky look available in 5 deep and intense shades achievable in 2 simple steps:

1) Outline the eye with the pencil

2) Smudge with the brush

Its soft, easy-to-blend tip glides along the lashline for an intense outline in one stroke.

Its ultra soft brush made of natural bristles perfectly smudges the formula.

- High tolerance formula.

- Tested on sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

- Enriched with natural waxes and vitamin E & C derivatives.

(Courtesy: Bourjois Intense Black #75)

My 2 cents:

I swatched the liner; it is so soft, creamy and black. When I say Black, it is jet black and not streaky at all!Pigmentation is so great, though not so sure of the staying power.

Turned the pencil for smudging; shocker! The brush, as per the claims, was super soft. So soft, I coud not smudge that! I tried this again and again, but in vain. The bristles were too soft to smudge :( I might buy this for the liner part...I wanted to like this, but alas...

I believe this is a new launch! Did you try this yet?

Wrinkles...

"Dont scrunch up your face, or it will stay that way." Over the years, our skin develops a memory for our most common facial moves, including squinting, frowning and raising your eyebrows. Anything that robs our skin of moisture, such as too much scrubbing or the overuse of astringents can lead to problems. But, the worst offender is exposure to the UV rays.

Two self-massage routines, done daily, can nourish and relax facial tissue and skin, says Monika Struna, author of Self Massage. The first, called patting, is done while you stand wtih your feet about one foot apart. Lean forward slightly at the waist for balance. Then, start patting your face as if you were gently slapping it with the bottom sides of your fingers. Your left hand should do the left side of your face and vice versa. Continue patting the cheeks and sides of your face for 15 to 20 seconds.

The second technique is called wrinkle release. Place the finger tips of your right hand on the right center of your forehead and vice versa. Apply gentle to moderate pressure, so you can feel the layer of tissue beneath the outer skin. Then move your fingers back and forth as you would if you are washing your hair. Be careful not to move the fingers too far and stretch the skin.

Do this for a few seconds, then move your fingers across the forehead to the sides of the face, down and back across the cheekbones. Continue moving your hands over your face, working your way down the left side with your left hand and vice versa. This will help relax and nourish the tissue under your skin, where wrinkles start. Continue this for 30 to 60 seconds.

(Courtesy: s3.amazonaws.com)

Book time...

I finally got hold of the most-awaited "New Choices in Natural Healing," an excellent home-take reference on alternative medicine. This is something very pratical like you could incorporate these techniques in your day-to-day life. This offers complementary healing practices from around the world. This has been designed to help seperate the time-proven therapies from the useless.

This volume includes:

Acupressure: for pinpoint pain relief.

Aromatherapy: relieve stress and tension.

Ayurveda: customized system for better health.

Flower therapy: heal the mind and the body will follow.

Food therapy: power to erase disease.

Herbal therapy: healing partnership with mother nature.

Homeopathy: medicines perhaps more powerful than prescriptions.

Hydrotherapy: bathe yourself in natural healing.

Imagery: picture yourself perfect healthy.

Juice therapy: curative essnce of fruits and vegetables.

Massage: hands on healing for yourself and your family.

Reflexology: speed restrorative energy to organs and body parts.

Relaxation and meditation: achieve a higher state of health.

Sound therapy: soothe your body with music's gentle waves.

Vitamin and mineral therapy: natural prescriptions for healing.

Yoga: stretches for better health.

It stresses on the methods on natural healing, natural remedies for 160 health problems...phew! Glad to get hold of this :)

P.S: Just a reference volume, not a medical guide. If you suspect any problem, seek medical help. Reader must take the full responsibility for all the decisions :)

(Courtesy: erowid.org)

Claire's...

Okee, I know this is not a big deal to discuss, but I will! I was in search of some hair accessories, especially a band to get hold of my stubborn hair. I had a layer cut at my local Lakme salon this August. It was something like waist-length hair to shoulder-length.

I get easily irritated by the shorties on my face, especially when I am out and I wanted a solution for that. So, I visited my local Claire's. On hunting, I finally landed on this beauty! Just a black hair band! If you know me, I am a die-hard fan of black :)

When I came across this, I felt like "OK...I must have this." It was the last one left, so I could not leave that to somebody else to come and pick right in front of me! I dont know if you would like this one in particular, but thats my taste :)

I know I sound silly, but for some reason I felt this one serves better than the regular plain bands! The spike-things can be used to comb or tease your hair! I told you I am stupid! I feel I dont need a comb with this! This retails for 2.50 pounds :)

Can you can see? It doesnt stand even which means, it is not even on my head either :) All the while, I was wondering what the problem might be coz it was kinda hard behind the ears! Now, I know the reason!

Doesnt it look like a tiara?

Oh...I found another band at Claire's, a plain wide tan brown band with dark brown polka dots on it. The material used on that was brown satin so, kinda lemming :) I was not sure to pick that the same day I bought this coz that was kinda huge on my head as I have a very small head comparitively! The brown one retails for 4 pounds, waiting for the right time to pick it up! May be, during this Christmas eve!

P.S: Please ignore if you find it stupid or silly :)

Biotique Sun Protective Lotion SPF 50

My dearest lovelies,

Sorry, but how could I forget such a thing? Biotique products have a great life expectancy, they live 5 long years after manufacturing. Not sure if it applies to every product! Mine fall under that 5-year expiry period. Somebody teach me how to speak English, please!

Products with more life are great to try coz when you are branching quite often to find a suitable, some things might be forgotten for a while. One day, they should be tossed out. But, no such issues with Biotique. Even if they lie in your dresser for a couple years, that doesnt matter :) how cool? What else do we want?

Did you ever come across a cosmetic product which smells good on you, other than your perfume? Try Biotique's sun block in Red Sandal Wood flavor! Who knows? You might fall in love, again :) If you are new to this brand and do not have super-sensitive skin, give it a try!

What the packaging claims?

Sun protective lotion with natural minerals and SPF 50. Ancient sages have used sandal wood to protect and heal the skin. It is an excellent combination of sandalwood along with saffron, wheatgerm, honey and bark of Arjun tree. It protects skin from harmful effects of the sun. You can also use this as a base for your makeup. I never tried that before, though! Let me know if you did!

TIP: The higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against UV-B, which causes the sun burn. So, wearing a sunscreen with SPF 50, your skin will not burn until it has been exposed to 50 times the amount of solar energy that would normally cause it to burn. The protection usually depends on factors like the skin type of the user, the amount applied and frequency of re-application, amount of sunscreen the skin has absorbed and activities engaged like if you are into swimming, you lose the sun block from your skin.

How to use Biotique lotion? Use every morning after moisturizing. Apply appropriate amount on the face and neck. I normally use sun screen 15 to 30 minutes before I step out.

Skin type: Suitable to all types.

The consistency is neither thick nor runny, but kinda semi-solid, I can say! This formulation includes Chandan oil, honey, Aswagandha, rakthachandan kwath and many other herbs :) as per the packaging.

Some of you might find the scent of sandalwood overpowering, might get a headache as well. So, make sure you sniff it before you buy! I have a greater tolerance level "only" for this, so I feel it gives me an identity instead, sounds silly eh? I would wanna be identified as the sandalwood girl :) sometimes. Why? You can sense this from far away! If you are a religious user of this, you will know what I am talking about!

If you use more, it gets streaky and greasy on the skin. So, dont be liberal while using this. It lasts ages as a decent amount of product is enough. For some reason, the scent of it reminds me of weddings and Indian summers, must be because of the sandalwood flavor :) I never had any problem with this product, whatsoever! This retails for 200 INR for 120 ml! It also comes in 65 ml and 225 ml.

Saffron:

Widely used in India as a beauty enhancer since ancient times! It is a natural skin cleansing agent containing active compounds to lighten blemishes and give a radiant looking health skin from within.

Wheatgerm:

The Vitamin E present in Wheat germ promotes skin cell formation. Great for nourishing and rejuvenating dry, mature, dehydrated skin and reducing scars, stretch marks, sunburns and damaged skin. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, which may be beneficial medicinally as well as in cosmetics. The high Vitamin E content in Wheat germ is a natural preservative, helps to prevent rancidity and prolongs the shelf life of cosmetic products. Good for dry and cracked skin, eczema, psoriasis, prematurely aged skin, stretch marks, dull complexion, tired and overexerted muscles, sunburn and burns, scars.

P.S: This is not a cosmetic product. It has therapeutic properties :)

(Courtesy: profumo.it, wikipedia, botanical.com & essentialoil.in)

Biotique Honey Gel

Hey lovelies,

I guess I have given these enough time to review! It cant wait any longer! So, ladies and ladies, again :) Let me present you Biotique, unique blend of 5000-year-old authentic ayurvedic formulations infused with the 21st century biotechnology. The lady behind this success, "Vinita Jain." I know many women who branched out from Shahnaz Hussain to Biotique, not to mention their succesful range of products! To be honest, I never used anything from SH range. My first herbal brand is Biotique and will remain so forever!

After the grand entry, let me tell you something about the brand. It contains no harmful chemicals. It has no synthetic fragrances or artificial preservatives. It does not conduct cruel tests on animals. All Biotique preparations are environmentally friendly and bio-degradable. Wow...now gimme a break!

Since a long time, Biotique has been synonymous to skin and hair care developed from time- tested Ayurveda. Their products range from skin care, hair care, body care, baby care, men care, supplementary food and makeup...phew! I have tried quite a few products from Biotique like Berberry Lotion face cleanser, Honey Gel foaming face cleanser, Sun protective lotion in Red Sandalwood, Papaya scrub and kajal.

I would love to talk about all the products from Biotique, but let me begin with my most favorite, their Honey Gel foaming face cleanser. As you can see, the packaging speaks for itself like "Hey, I am a herbal!" White and green synonymous to ayurveda :)

This is a 100% soap-free pure honey blended with extracts from the bark of Arjun tree, Euphorbia plant and wild Turmeric. The packaging says; it contains pure honey blended with natural cleansers. It remove microbes and pollutants from skin, making it healthy and smooth.

The consistency is neither runny nor thick; gel-based, hence the name honey gel. The product is strongly infused with floral scent, which is lingering! Can you see the color of the product? OMG...I love this to pieces!

I find it takes more than regular peanut-sized product to lather. It is not as frothy as the other cleansers and takes some effort to build up the foam. I am sucker for lather, so I use more than enough! I know I will run out of it soon, but I WANT LATHER...

Smooth over wet face and throat. Massage gently and rinse thoroughly. I use this at any time of the day and follow up with a moisturizer. Once you are done, you can find the fragrance of this product lingering all over! I dont know if you can see, but I am half way through the product. So, I guess thats more than enough to judge. Its a promise, you wont regret buying this!

Dont expect miracles to happen over night coz it is just a herbal cleanser, trying to be good on your skin! I have a combination - oily skin and normally dont break out with this. I never had any serious problems with any product from Biotique, I swear! May be, I dont have a problematic skin, bless me :)

Price: 120 ml for 135 INR :) 2 years back! Not sure of current prices, sorry about that!

Here is some information, thought it might be useful for those who need in-depth info!

Arjun tree:

Every part of this tree has medicinal properties. According to Ayurveda, it is:

Alexiteric: Amulet, remedy, a preservative against contagious & infectious diseases and the effects of poison in general.

Styptic: Substance with astringent and haemostatic properties, checks on bloog clot.

Tonic: Power of restoring normal tone to tissue.

Anthelmintic: Vermicidal or agent destructive to worms, against helminthic infections caused by parasites.

Also useful in fractures, uclers, heart diseases, biliousness, urinary discharges, asthma, tumours, leucoderma, anaemia, excessive prespiration etc.

Euphorbia: Antioxidant, curative and antiviral.

Wild Turmeric:

Ginger-like medicinal herb with strong antibiotic properties. It is believed to play a role in prevention and cure of cancer in Chinese medicine. It is often used in an effort to remove cell accumulations like tumors. It has a spicy taste like ginger. It contains aromatic volatile oils that help remove excessive lipids from the blood, reduce aggregation of platelets and reduce inflammation.

P.S: This is not a cosmetic product. It has therapeutic properties! Hope y'all liked my review :)

(Courtesy: flowersofindia.net & Kinmatsu)

Lakme vs Nars...

Hi Tanveer,

This is the most I could do for you :) See the pics and lets judge! I kinda like the Ginger Surprise more coz it suits most of skin tones unlike the Nars' one! What wud u say?

Lakme:

Nars:

I dont understand which way are these comparable! Color, no way! Texture, yet to try...wait a minute! May be they look almost similar in real :)

(Courtesy: Lakme & Nars)

Tag: One word

Alright, here's another tag from a blogger, but not sure if its on YT! Just felt like doing it :)

1. Where's your cell phone: On the couch.

2. Your hair: Straight.

3. Your mother: My guardian angel.

4. Your father: My daddy strongest.

5. Favorite Food: Home-made.

6. Dream last night: Makeup :)

7. Favorite drink: Water.

8. What room are you in: Living room.

9. Hobby: Anything interesting becomes my hobby, otherwise blogging for now.

10. Fear: So many to describe.

11. Where were you last night: At home.

12. Something that you aren't: Dangerous.

13. Muffins: What?

14. Wish list item: Train case full of makeup.

15. Where did you grow up: Andhra, South-India.

16. What are you wearing: What do you mean :) clothes, of course!

17. Your pets: I dont have any!

18. Friends: I cant answer this question as I am not sure.

19. Something you're not wearing: So many.

20. Favorite store: Any Indian stores.

21. Favorite color: Black, black and black :) my color :)

22. Last time you laughed: Do I stop so that I could have a count :) I am ever-smiling!

23. Your best friend: Mother and hubby.

24. Bestest Place you go to over and over: Tirumala, pilgrim center in South India.

25. Person who emails you regularly: My friends, but not on a daily basis.

26. Favorite place to eat: At home.

Uiii....I am done! I tag all of you, if you wish to do this!

Tag: The Best

Alright, here is a tag! It is regarding the best of every brand we know, be it Indian or from any other part of the world! All you have to do is copy + paste the questions in your blogs and answer (if you wish)! If you have a better way, you are most welcome to do so...

Okee, here arises a situation like "Is it best according to the brand or best suitable?" Pick your choice! If you wish to answer your suitable, you can or vice-versa or possibly all :)

1. Which brand makes the best multiples; multi-purpose products?

2. Which brand makes the best range of hair products; shampoo/conditioner/styling gels/thermal protection?

3. Which brand makes the best hair straighteners; ceramic whatever?

4. Which brand makes the best kajal/eyeliner/kohl?

5. Which brand makes the best eye shadows/pigments/whatever?

6. Which brand makes the best mascara?

7. Which brand makes the best blush; creme/powder/whatever?

8. Which brand makes the best bronzer?

9. Which brand makes the best foundation; liquid/powder/whatever?

10. Which brand makes the best concealer?

11. Which brand makes the best highlighter/illuminator?

12. Which brand makes the best brushes and brush cleaners?

13. Which brand makes the best lip products; lipstick/gloss/balm/tinted balm/whatever?

14. Which brand makes the best nail colors?

15. Which brand makes the best packaging?

16. Which brand makes the best false eyelashes?

17. Which brand makes the best accessories/tools?

18. Which brand makes the best cleanser/moisturizer/toner?

19. Which brand makes the best palettes?

20. Which brand is worth-the-price/underrated, but deserves more/hyped about, but not worthy?

Guess I am done! If you think I forgot something, feel free to add that and kindly answer! If you feel this is too long, answer whatever you like! I dont know if somebody has started such tag in YT! If it exists, do let me know! If you feel this is a silly tag, you are most welcome to leave! No obligations :)

P.S: Just for entertainment. No hard feelings :)

Treat to my darlings...

Hey lovelies,

You people have been so sweet and kind enough following my boring blog! So I thought I will treat you and you girls wouldnt even have a faint hint what this is all about. I know this doesnt make any sense as this post is 200% not related to makeup! Do u wanna know what this rambling is all about? Read further...

I am a huge fan of Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette series. Are you, too? Here comes the treat, then! I hope you will cherish this! The link below takes you to a page where you get access to 16 Harlequin books. How many do you wanna get hold of? One, two, three...take all 16. They are absolutely free :) Did I hear a stampede???

http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/index.php

Will ya please let me know if you liked the treat? Hope you all love it...please dont thrash if you dont like it!

D.

Classic must-have makeup accessories...

According to the experts, these are the must-have makeup accessories:

1. A black mascara.

2. A black eyeliner.

3. An easy-to-apply concealer to help disguise tiredness.

4. A neutral transparent blush.

5. A bronzer for a sun-kissed glow all year round.

6. A shiny natural looking lip gloss.

7. A red lipstick to change depending on your mood.

8. A pale shiny nail varnish.

What are your must-haves?

(Courtesy: http://www.talkingmakeup.com/ & http://www.loreal-paris.co.uk/)

Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette

Hey my lovelies,

Has anyone tried this yet? I would love to buy this, but not sure of the customer service, shipping and stuff like that :) your views are more than welcome!

I heard people rave about this. I mean, its like everywhere on the YT. Gurus or the so-called gurus are like chanting! What I can see is this is a must-have for an aspiring professional (like me :) or to build up your collection and in more ways like the range is too much, so there is something for everybody. As per the promise, it carries all tones that would suit any skin tone. It includes matte, shimmer and the pearl ones. CS says there are 42 matte shades, the rest are shimmer and pearl.

What caught my eye; the rich earthy tones; my favorite other than Black! I can see umpteen looks emerging from the dime-sized pots!

(Courtesy: http://www.coastalscents.com/)

L'Oreal 6H Glam Shine Gloss Brillance

My reviews must be really boring coz I dont do the hot stuff, but things almost forgotten! There are people who dont even know about these things as well like my besties :) so I consider these kinda reviews target people like my besties so they know what the product was once, if its extinct now!

Here I am with 2 more glosses in my hand, ready to be reviewed! So, these are from L'Oreal Glam Shine 6H range. I have the shades #200 6H Mauve and #201 Loyal Wild Rose. I wanted to get my hands on
# 105 Hold-On-Rose which is featured in the L'Oreal commercial on Aishwarya Rai, but on swatch it was less pigmented. I thought, may be Aish had some lipstick on, hence the dark pigmentation! Whatever it is! Personally, I dont feel there is a big difference in the above 2 shades I have other than for the sparkles or may be a little more pigmentation. Did I confuse ya? I hope, not!

The packaging is too chic for a drug store product, so 5/5 for that. Decent pigmentation as well! I can guarantee it doesnt stay for 6 hours as per the promise. You know what? I dont mind reapplying a product as long as I am happy. Like, if I feel the product is really worth the tag, that should not be a problem at all! I dont expect a product to work as an all rounder, BTW! If you like the pigmentation / brand / price/ looks, just go for it! At least, thats how I choose my products!

I hate the weird fragrance of the 6H range, particularly! So, 0/5 for that! It doesnt leave my lips when I wipe off the gloss, even! It dries up the lips, if you are not cautious enough! I always had some problem or the other with these glosses, especially when I forget using a lip balm.

6H range is more sticky and transfers to the lips fast, so I dont reach for these mostly! I love the other range of Glam Shine, the fat short tubes. They dont stick to the lips and are not as sticky as 6H range! Did you feel the same?

Pigmentation is pretty good, but doesnt stay as long! It makes your lips look luscious and plumpy, whateva! Your lips look plumpy as long as you have a great amount of gloss on! So, the logic lies in applying and reapplying!

The price is almost 7 pounds, which is kinda expensive for a drug store gloss. But, I got mine in promotions like the Mauve one was 2 pounds off during launch and Loyal Wild Rose was from Buy Two Get One Free (BTGOF) offer!

Coming to #200 Mauve, its infused with silver somewhere! I feel so or am I too conscious? I can see the silver for sure! If not on the lips, at least in the tube! I like this color for the day, in particular! Try this yourself! Loyal Wild Rose is like a dark plum with sparkles!

The wand is unique and big enough, so you get the complete color in one sweep! The only thing I like in L'Oreal has to be this heart-shaped wand!

Repurchase, I dont think so! May be YAY for the shades, but definitely NAY for the strong smell!

The top one is Loyal Wild Rose (multi-color sparkles) and the bottom one is Mauve (can u see the silver infused in that?)

Ok, I thought the first pic had labels so u might not be able to see the colors. Here is the pic without labels!

Ignore my stupid swatches! My cam is really stubborn :) The top one if you can make out is Loyal Wild Rose and the bottom one, Mauve. LWR is kinda fuschia-undertone with sparkles whereas the Mauve one is just a creamy sheer color! Love Mauve!

D.

Maybelline Watershine Liquid Gloss

I am not sure from what collection this color comes from, but I found this in a Brazilian site. Does somebody have this? I tried to find reviews over the net, but in vain. I bought this at Maybelline counter in Bangalore Central, India. Hope somebody has this...

Okay, I dont know how to describe this color. Its rather tricky. The perfect nude gloss, but doesnt wash out. Nude with pink undertones? Wait, lemme post the pics so that you decide for yourselves what shade category this comes under! As mentioned earlier, this is from Maybelline's Watershine range in #521 Naked Brown.

The packaging is typical with silver cap and silvery band kinda thing on the tube; 3ml container. This looks smaller compared to my other Maybelline glosses. This surely has a fragrance...wait! This sure smells like my cough syrup, at least that is the first thing that strikes my mind. Some kinda sweet notes in the background...The applicator looks like doe foot, but different in some way. May be long and a bit wide at the end, I feel. It really helps in easy application like I hardly need to apply many times for a full coverage whateva!

The texture is fine and creamy, hence moisturizing. The formulation is not so sticky or not at all sticky, I can say! I dont get the feel of stickiness, at least! There are no sparkles, so good for day time. I can 200% recommend this for work place, in case they still do this color. If you know me, I use lip balm before using any lip products. So is the case here and it slides on smooth and stays for a decent amount of time. Stays more without food and drinks.... It fades off evenly; leaving the lips moisturizing and soft. If I have to pick a gloss for day, this would be my pick!

Pigmentation is good, but does not stay long! I mean, not the staying power of the gloss, but the pigmentation of the gloss. My lips are kinda flesh-toned, so this the perfect MLBB color, for me!

Uiii....I found a perfect partner for this gloss, L'Oreal #708 Aishwarya Beige. They both perform well, together! Match made in heaven? If I use both, may be lips look more pigmented than when you use the gloss, alone!

I bought this long back like 2 years, so not even sure of the price. Must be somewhere around 150 INR. If you find this anywhere, do let me know! This is the color to have a back up, for me! I cannot tell ya more than this, so I post you a couple of pics. See for yourself how tricky this shade can get!

Here is the swatch of #521 Naked Brown in day light! See, there are no sparkles or anything, but sheer creamy color. Can you see the pink/mauve tones? Does it look like a brown? May be mashed brown, pink and mauve!

The best I could get! Can you see the applicator? Dont ya think its someway different from the regular one? Its angled and longer, to some extent!

This is how it looked like when I left it on a kinda-sunny window sill! See the size, looks like a lilliput's gloss, right? Here, it kinda looks dark. Now, wait for the shocker!

Here, it looks creamy pink gloss. FYI, this was taken in the same light as the previous ones! So, this surely has some pink undertone! Confirm!

See this! Do you call this pink or brown? Another swatch to confirm?

Are you convinced by now? I confirm this as a brown gloss (shade says so) with pink/mauvy undertones. If you can categorize this shade, you are more than welcome. That would be really appreciated! This is my best gloss eva!

Uiii...my bad! The packaging says en Brasil!

D.

Estee Lauder Block Buster 2009

Hello lovelies,

Hope you all had fun reading the tags, of course I understand your pain reading! Thanq so much for taking the pain!

Anyways, here comes the Block buster from Estee Lauder; otherwise called The Professional Make-up Artist Color Collection...that was mouthful! Every Christmas, you have such collection from EL! Of course, most of you must be knowing this. Still, this post is especially for those who are not aware of the best makeup deals for Christmas. I say, this is like a jack pot or the lovely lot for anybody who loves makeup, just like me!

This is how the most awaited looks like:

If you look at the official website or EL counter in your mall, this gift set is worth 312.69 pounds, but its all yours for just 49 pounds....I was shocked when I saw this for myself last Christmas. But, could not make it up for some reason. This time, I decided to buy at any cost!

I went to the counter with full energy; but returned almost lifeless. The offer was like if you buy a fragrance from EL (obviously), you will be qualified to buy this gift set for 49 pounds. Phew...I dont complain, but this must be surely worth it! My Christmas gift for this year is the most wanted GHD IV styler :) So, may be next time...

As you can see, you get a train case full of makeup. You have 2 options like Red & Gold or Ivory & Gold. I always wanted the Ivory one. Red is too bright for my taste. My eyes cant stand that red, for some reasons :) Moreover, Ivory is the classic color, at least for me. You can make a statement only with Ivory & Gold combination. I have always been a die-hard huge fan of that color combo. Wat say?

Here it is:

Dont ya think its classic? So, the case has these gold detailing like the zipper and at the handles. Now, the companion cases (li'l cosmetic bag) is a gold/ivory mock crocodile pouch that goes perfect with the train case.

The contents:

Deluxe Eyeshadow Compact with 15 coordinating shades (Sugar Cube, Ivory Box, Honey Drop, Lavender, Chocolate, Tea Biscuit, Copper Penny, Petal, Mulberry, Pale Moon, Cinnamon, Apricot and Mocha Cup in Pure Color EyeShadow, Sage Duo in Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow)

Deluxe Face Compact (Estée Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Rosewood and Nude Rose and Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer)

Four full-size Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks (Candy, Rose Tea, Fig and Tiger Eye)

Three Artist's Eye Pencils (great for smoky eyes; Soft Smudge Black, Soft Smudge Brown and Slate Writer)

Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara (10-day supply in Black)

Lash Primer Plus (10-day supply

Full-size Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

Four Deluxe Makeup Brushes (Powder, Blush, Lip and Eye)

The main feautures:

Look Book/Guide with tips on creating 4 fabulous looks

Golden Stand-Up Mirror

Cosmetic Traveler Case

Companion Makeup Case

All Estee Lauder fans; this is a must-have. Makeup junkies; build your collection. Perfect gift for Christmas. This is available online or your local Debenhams! What are we waiting for?

(Courtesy: Handbag.com & Debenhams)

D.

Tag: 50 questions - part 5

Continued...

41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over? Never!

42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw? Nope!

43. What does your last text message say? From the Mobile TOP UP regarding talk time!

44. Do you like hot sauce? No!

45. Last time you took shower? Last night!

46. Do you need to do laundry? Yup!

47. What is your heritage? All I know is I am a South-Indian!

48. Are you someone's best friend? Hopefully, Yes!

49. Are you rich? I wish I was!

50. What were you doing at 12 AM last night? Bath!

God! Who finds time to prepare all these questions? Please have something practical or something so that you could know the other person better? Likes and dislikes...

Uiii........I tag everybody. You are most welcome to do this tag!

D.

Tag: 50 questions - Part 4

Continued...

31. Were you an honor roll student in school? Yay or nay...dont know!

32. What do you wanna know about the future? Future luks beautiful if you know nothin' about it, "Will I be famous? How many kids will I have? Boy or girl baby?"Uh...everything I could know possibly :)

33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne? Davidoff Cool water.

34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit? Nope...

35. Where is your best friend? Well...here comes the most disgusting question. I found real friends at a very late stage of my life. I have a couple of them, but all are important to me. But, tag sake I pick one. She is in London. The other 2 are my besties, but I feel they are more comfortable without me. She is the one who needs me most, so she is my #1...I know this would definitely create a storm :)

36. How is your best friend? In what way? She is very much fine, thnq!

37. Do you have a tan? Fake? I dont need a fake tan, I have a real one.

38. What are you listening to right now? Music? Nothing. Otherwise, I am on phone speaking to my bestie...

39. Do you collect anything? As a matter of fact, many! Makeup, bags, books...

40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know? I care a fig abt those, so I dont need to know who is the best!

P.S: Final part on its way...

D.

Tag: 50 questions - Part 2

Continued...

11. What was the last thing you had to drink? Life saver, water!

12. What are you wearing right now? 3/4 from Tesco and full sleeve top from Straps, India.

13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it? I told you I dont have one.

14. Last food you ate? Butter salt popcorn from Morrisons.

15. Where were you last week at this time? Same place where I am right now, my home!

16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week? I dont think so!

17. When is the last time you ran? I dont do that!

18. Whats the last sporting event you watched? I dont watch sports!

19. Whats your favorite animal? I kinda have 3 in my mind. I like Lion; rabbit and squirrel. So, cannot choose among them. We had a kitty long back which was my favorite animal in the whole world, but its been missing since 3 years...miss u kitty! Hope you are safe!

20. Your dream vacation? My home town if I am somewhere abroad. If I was/am in India, that would be Tirumala!

P.S: Part 3 on its way!

D.

Tag: 50 questions - Part 3

Continued...

21. Last person's house you were in? My own! I have no friends here! Everybody I talk to has to be through the net.

22. Worst injury you have ever had? So many to remember, but I guess the one when I fell off my two wheeler, had a bad bruise on my knee. That was 10 years back....long long ago, so long ago!

23. Have you been in love? I dont think so. May be a crush!

24. Do you miss anyone right now? Oh yeah... my lovely family! I miss my home :)

25. Last play you saw? I dont watch any plays, but the last movie on YT was Barbie & The Three Musketeers.

26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex? DH.....where r u? Could u help me answer this? I probably should find that out from the OS!

27. What are your plans for tonight? Nothing other than having a peaceful sleep!

28. Who is the last person you sent a My Space message or comment? I dont have a My Space account.

29. Next trip you are going to take? Long? Must be India :) When? Not sure!

30. Ever go to camp? Never!

P.S: Part 4 on its way...

D.

Tag: 50 questions - Part 1

Alright! This is too big for one frame. What I do is I would rather break it up in to 5 parts so that would be much easier! If theres something too personal, I might not answer that. Sorry about that! Here we go...the first set of 10!

1. Where were you 3 hours ago? I volunteer at Cancer Research UK, so I was obviously there. I had an appointment for GHD demo at the salon :), so had to rush. Got back to work as soon as I was bak from salon. Today was a hectic day......phew like morning 10 am to 5 pm :) enjoy my work to death!

2. Who are you in love with? I am married, so guess it has to be my DH? I love my family more than anything else, FYI.

3. Have you ever eaten a crayon? As far as I can remember, no! I might double check with my parents, to confirm.

4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you? I have 2 pink lip glosses near me :) Aah...I have a Mills & Boon novel which has a pink on one side. FYI, thats "The Boss And His Secretary" by Jessica Steele. So romantic :) I finished reading that!

5. When is the last time you went to the mall? Mall is on the parallel road for me, so I get to visit the mall whenever I please. The last time was yesterday to buy my GHD.

6. Are you wearing socks right now? No.

7. Does your family have a car worth over $2000? So, this is for the US citizens? My answer is "No."

8. When was the last time you drove out of town? June 2009 for my brother's wedding in India. I normally dont go out of the town. Busy DH :(

9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days? I hate watching movies at the theater coz I cant stand the sound effect. Otherwise, I watch movies in YT.

10. Are you hot? Temperature-wise? Not hot exactly, but kinda warm with heaters on full time.

P.S: Part 2 on its way...

D.

Tag: 20-question tag

Uh...finally something different! You are given some 20 random questions and all u have to do is to answer them. As simple as that! Waiting for something? Ok, I post the question and answer together so that would be easier.

1. Thing you cannot leave the house without? Your answer might be keys, but my DH takes care of such things, so I dont have to bother. So sweet of him :) I cant leave without my jacket; summer/winter. Summer, it would be a denim jacket from Levis and winter, it would be my hooded jacket from NEXT. I dont know if I could answer something related to clothing, but I already did that. C'mon...nobody is gonna punish you for that...

Again, if I was in India, that would have to be my handbag as it has many things I cant leave the home without :)

2. Favorite brand of makeup? Hmmm....quite tricky! I am not brand loyal, if you know me! I use everything ranging from Clinique, MAC (only one product), Max Factor, L'Oreal, Bourjois, Revlon, Maybelline, Lakme', Color Bar. Okay, lemme pick one for the tag sake. I would say Clinique :)

3. Favorite flowers? For braid or in general? For braid, none! In general, every flower is special on its own way and deserves a special mention! But, I have always been partial to tulips for some reason. They make me happy. If at all I have a home of my own, I would definitely have a tulip garden...full or rainbow colors...vibrant...lively whoaaaaaaa :)

4. Favorite clothing stores? Girls, I am in UK for the past 1-1/2 years. Ok, lemme categorize. In India, Westside for salwars and Varsidhi for sarees. In UK, it has to be Primark.

5. Favorite perfume? It was Davidoff Cool water, but now Calvin Klein Euphoria.

6. Heels or flats? Dont ya think 5 ft 6 in is too tall for heels. Definitely flats or flip flops!

7. Do you make good grades? I made good grades at school. I flunked a couple of times at college in Chemistry, though. So, I always consider myself average at academics, honest :)

8. Favorite colors? Only favorite color was/is/will be Blackest black which means jet black...today, tomorrow, foreva!!! No changes since my childhood! Black is beautiful, so am I! Now you know why I adore black?

9. Do you drink energy drinks? Nah...I drink Sprite and Coke, FYI. I dont know if you call these ED.

10. Do you drink juice? Yup...Tropicana orange juice, but not on a daily basis. I find it too tangy, so I reserve that for summers :)

11. Do you like swimming? Pool or Beach? I like the pool, but I dont know how to swim. All I can do is just move my extremities in the water...

12. Do you eat fries with a fork? Do you? People might say that depends on the place, but I would rather prefer to avoid that place.

13. Whats your favorite moisturizer? For face, Clinique Dramatically Different and for body, Nivea.

14. Do you wanna get married later on in life? Hmmm...that would be 3 of us, a bit crowdy. So, I prefer not :) I am married for God's sake...

15. Do you get mad easily? As much as I can...

16. Are you into ghost hunting? Why would anybody do that? I wouldn't do! The name itself scares the **** out of me. Pls.....I get scared easily. Ooooo...did I say that?

17. Any phobias? As many as possible...claustrophobia, the most and one more, achluophobia, fear of darkness or night! I am scared of anything and everything around. Lightest breeze is more than enough to scare me...

18. Do you bite your nails? Never! Did you get that?

19. Have you ever had a near death experience? Twice this July. I dont wanna share this, though!

20. Do you drink coffee? Never!

Uiii........I tag everybody! Hope you had fun!

D.

Tag: Top 6 lip products

Time for another tag, girls! Alright, the title is self-explanatory! You will have to pick 6 favorite lip products; be it a plain/tinted balm, lip treatment, lip liner, lipstick, lip gloss phew....

I normally dont use lip liners though I have a couple of them like Burgundy from Revlon and another plum shade from Maybelline...I never used these. If I would, I would slather balm and then use liner as a lip color. I am not a perfectionist when it comes to lippies. I am a happy-go person, so I would always prefer it simple. So, one thing is eliminated already :) So, wat r we waiting for? Lets get started. I dont rank them in order, just random.

If you know me, my favorite lip balm/s would be Carmex Cherry flavored with SPF 15 and Vaseline Rosy Lips (VRL). If I have to pick one, I would go for VRL. It protects the lips and tints as well!

My favorite lip treatment has to be Clinique superbalm moisturizing gloss. Yeah......I know! This is a gloss, but I consider this a balm! Why? It has no color, at least on my lips. I slather it on my lips along with Carmex and I am fine. Its so thick in consistency and stays long, decent amount of time. So far so good.

You dont have to categorize lip balm and treatment seperately. If you have, that would be more exciting. Otherwise, you are fine...

My favorite lipstick has to be Cocoa Creme from Elle 18, a mauvy pink. Its creme finish, so works better with a balm underneath. I am not sure if they still do this, but if they do I would love to try all the possible colors.

I like the Bourjois 3D Effet range. In fact, I love all the three colors I have. So, consider this as one product. No cheating, hah!

How many more? Yeah...we have 2 more left!

Fifth would be #521 Naked Brown from Maybelline Watershine liquid gloss. I am about to do a review on this in a couple of days, at the earliest possible...

Finally, L'Oreal Glam Shine #155 Plum Blush.

:) I have one more left out, waiting for attention. Thats my mini Bourjois Tinted lip balm in #01. I love the vanilla scent of that...

Oooo......I had no place for Revlon Cherries in the Glow and Clinique Black Honey in this tag :(

Guess thats pretty much everything! Uiiiiiiii.....I tag everybody who wanna do this! Do let me know your favorite 6 lip products. Priorities keep changing, so if you find yourself using another set of products, update ur tag as well! That would be more exciting! So, you would be doing justice to everything in ur collection. Wat say?

D.

Tag: 6 products I can't live without?

For those who dont know whats happening around, there is something goin' on in YT like tag-thing. You will be given some set of questions like a questionnaire. Dont ask me who prepares those! There are umpteen tags so there is something for everybody. Suppose, I do a tag/questionnaire, I can tag as many people...that goes on. Sorry, this is the best I could explain. I tell you, its so much fun. If you wanna do one, I tag you too.........jump in! You might get addicted once you are in. Remember, I warned you!

Why am I doing these tags now? I dont have a channel in YT and neither want to have one! So, I thought why not I do them in my blog? I know many people are not comfortable in having YT channels and invite negativity, troubles whatsoever. If at all the tag I do includes pictures, I might post them as well. Kindly bear with me, I might be a bit lazy in taking pictures and posting them along :)

Here we go...so I was trying to do this since a long time, but in vain. Now, I finally jumped in. This would be my first tag i.e. "6 products I can't live without?" Pretty easy and interesting! The tag is a set of 6 questions; you have to pick 6 beauty products you cant live without that includes skin care, hair care and makeup. I might mention some multi-functional products in my tag!

1. Tooth brush/paste. Sorry, I consider these as beauty products as well. I use Colgate paste/Oral B brush.

2. Shampoo, I use L'Oreal Elvive range and Tresemme' Conditioner, the one with a green label.

3. Moisturizer. I cant stand patchy and scaly skin. It hurts. I normally use Dove for bath, so I dont have to use moisturizer. Still, I use either Nivea or Organic Surge range (Citrus ginger fragrance) from NEXT, UK.

4. Perfume/deo. On a daily basis, I use French Lavender Relaxing/ Damask Rose Sensual body mist from Boots, UK. Perfume wise, I was very loyal to my Davidoff Cool water since 3 years, but now I branched out to Calvin Klein Euphoria. Just a sample, planning to buy a full size one.

5. I am bitchy when it comes to makeup (eyes/lips). I cant choose a proper category from color cosmetics like a nail polish, lipstick, gloss, balm etc. Its kinda cheating. I dont say I cant live, but I cant imagine my makeup done without eye stuff. So, I choose one lipstick, one gloss, one lip balm, eyeliner, mascara and finally eyelash curler. My favorite lipstick would be Elle 18 Cocoa Creme (mauvy pink). Favorite gloss would be from the Bourjois 3D Effet range (who doesnt know?). Favorite lip balm would be Vaseline Rosy Lips (sorry Carmex, but u dont tint my lips. Do ya?).

My favorite  nail polish for ever would be #065 Cozy Rosy from Color Bar. I dont know if they still do this color. If they do, I might go for a back up. I love this color to death, I swear. BTW, its a pinky mauve with silver sparkles. Might not sound useful for day time, but it looks perfect...I like it! I will surely post the pic within 24 hrs :)

Eyeliner; I had a couple of them from Indian brand Lakme'. I had both felt tip one and the brush one. I liked the brush one better. I came to know this recently because the felt tip somehow gets hard on the lids and makes the skin tight. Now, I am not using liner for the past 2 years, but would love to try Revlon Colorstay in Blackest Black or L'Oreal Intense in Carbon Black. Uiiiiiii.........almost forgot. I wanted to buy Clinique liner and the reviews were not so convincing, I changed my mind.

Mascara, you know I use Clinique High Impact. I am happy with that and no issues whatsoeva! I love using kajal aka kohl on my lash line. I use Biotique herbal kohl (reputed Indian brand). I use a regular drug store eye lash curler from Vega (Indian brand, especially known for beauty tools).

6. Latest member of my family, GHD IV styler. I hardly used it as I bought it yesterday, but I can surely say I would not be able to live without it. Not that I would use it religiously, but for the price tag. I dont know how to make the best use of it, but trying hard.

Again, I am tagging all of you who wish to do this. Do let me know your Favorite-6 for sure! Will ya?

P.S: I guess almost every product is mentioned in my blog except one or two, so you would not need photos in this particular post.

C'ya...

Clinique Rinse off foaming cleanser

Hello lovelies,

This is a review on Clinique's foaming cleanser...a typical boring intro! This was a freebie from last year's promotion.

This product is meant for dry, combination to normal skin types. It is supposed to remove makeup effectively.

It has chamomile, which is multi-functional. It helps in healing the skin from burns and allergies. The active ingredients in Chamomile are volatile oils or essential oils and flavonoids. Essential oils help soothe irritated skin or tissue and help in acne treatment. Flavonoids are anti-oxidant and assist in healing. So, if you are looking for some product with Chamomile, go for the highest concentration or it might be useless.

(Courtesy: health.learninginfo.org)

This product smells heavenly. To be honest, I am an anti-cardamom person like I literally avoid anything associated with that, but I love the fragrance of this. It has that mild scent of cardamom, not so over-powering! The consistency is like your regular cold cream.

People might find this so dry on their skin, but I never had that feeling watsoeva! I like the way it lathers up and makes my skin feel super soft. I have kinda combination skin, but not so sensitive to break out at the slightest provocation.

Might sound silly, but I normally do not follow any regular face routines. So, I use this whenever I please like in the morning, noon, evenings or nights which means anytime of the day. BTW, I am currently on a treatment kinda thing from Clinique's Even Better range. I use the tone corrector from CEB range (hip term for Clinique Even Better).

In the process, I am religiously using this cleanser since 3 weeks, though had it from so long. I like the feel of my skin like I feel it cleanses my skin to perfect as it rinses off well. Literally you can hear the squeaky sounds when you play with your skin.

I would definitely repurchase this, but I took an oath to complete my other 3 cleansers before I treat myself with a new one. I am so interested trying the Neutrogena range of cleansers since long, so I am using my old ones as much as I can.

Coming to the cleanser, I use the Clinique High Impact mascara and I find it difficult to get rid off wid the other cleansers. This one foams up like anything and takes away the last traces of my mascara. God...this is so frothy! The best part is all you need is not even a pea-sized product. I can say, it makes my skin feel kinda silky so this is my most luxurious cleanser ever. This retails for about 14 pounds for 150ml, which is quite expensive for me...

Alright, I know...its pretty messy, but that shows how much I use this :) BTW, this is a 50 ml easy - squeezy!

D.

GHD IV Styler

Yesterday has been the best day of the year ever! Why? I got my GHD IV ceramic straightener! Whoaaaaaaaa...somebody is interested in knowing about GHD? No...no problem, pal! I would still love to talk about it!

This is GHD's core styler, the most advanced yet. This one in particular is suitable for long hair. This is all you will ever need to create perfect curls, movement volume and straight thanks to its advanced technology and smart features.

The features include:

1. Advanced ceramic heaters provide the ultimate surface for static-free shine.

2. New rounder barrel for perfect curls, waves or flicks as well as the perfect straight.

3. New sleep mode, safely turns the heaters off if left unattended for 30 minutes.

4. Universal voltage, for optimum performance wherever you travel.

5. Unique digital technology, improved temperature control for even better styling.

6. Hologram, be confident you have purchased a genuine GHD.

7. On/Off conveniently allows you to turn off your styler without unplugging.

8. Swivel cord attachment, helps stop the cord from becoming twisted.

9. Floating plates, ensures even pressure distribution.

10. Shiver mode - if the styler temperature falls below 8 degrees celsius, a warbling sound will be heard and the styler will not operate. So, u have to wait until the room temperature reaches 8 degrees celsius.

Have you ever had any straightener? I was trying to convince my hubby for the past one year like since last Christmas. Finally, I succeeded! I was actually suggested..

which is more useful for longer, thicker hair like Afro-Caribbean...I was not sure if it gives curls, so I went for the GHD IV version. My DH made my day, thanks to him :)

Uiiiiiii...almost forgot. Currently, there is an offer till end of November like you buy a styler and you get compliments worth 32.45 pounds which includes a styler pouch, thermal protector spray and creation spray! Dont you wanna know the price? 128 pounds...

(Courtesy: ghdhair.com)

Revlon Super Lustrous Pearl Plum

I dont know if I could call it a sensational shade like Cherries in the glow, my personal favorite. This color in particular has a tendency to subside like the pigmentation fades evenly and looks great on the lips. Might look too much on first application, but dont have to worry. It takes its own course...

This was my first purchase and first gloss from Revlon i.e. Super Lustrous Lip gloss in #18 Pearl Plum (also #090). The consistency is good and not-so-heavy.  I find this sticky, but not troubling. Its a buildable color and intensifies on application. I bought this for 275 INR at a departmental "Angels" in Anna Nagar, Chennai.

If you know me, I am more plum kinda person, so it looked great on my skin tone. Staying power was decent. I would rather prefer wearing this colour alone. I would definitely recommend this colour if you are also a plum person like me. Many people might find it hard for the day time, so if you are on a hunt for night colors give this a try. I am not even sure if Revlon still has this. If it still does this, try for this winter.

Repurchase, I dont think so! Not that I dont like this color, but I would rather have a back up for my Cherries in the Glow.

Here comes the duo, the first sparkly one Pearl Plum and the second, Cherries in the Glow. Just trying to compare both the shades in day light :) If you read my previous post on Cherries in the Glow, you might see a different shade. That was also taken during the day, but I guess this color is kinda tricky. Wat say?

This was the best I could manage to get these 2 shades in to a single frame! Kindly ignore the background :)

D.

Color Bar Star Shine Lip Gloss

Color Bar Star Shine gloss is a sheer gloss with glitter that gives the lips a sheen and look of liquid diamonds. It makes the lips look fuller and more enhanced. The Star Shine Lip Gloss is ideal for night and party wear and can be used alone or over a lipstick. It comes in 12 starry shades and is further accentuated with a matching lipstick or lip liner - colorbarcosmetics.com

I got mine for about 125 INR at sale, though not sure. Its been a while, so cant remember. I believe now it retails for about 200 INR. I have 2 gorgeous shades #001 Bare Truth and #012 Pink Kiss. Pink Kiss somewhat looks like Barbie pink for me for some reason.

The packaging is quite okay for the price, so cant complain on that issue. This surely has a great fragrance like cookies? something that reminds me of a bakery...so sweet and lingering. At times, I can sense the smell of tonic, but not a bitter one for sure.

Colorwise, they are nicely pigmented and fade evenly. As per the name, it has multi-colored sparkles, which get quite chunky on my lips after a while. May be, I am too conscious. Staying power is decent. Comes with the regular doe foot applicator. Apply this gloss...your lips look super sexy....juicy.... I can tell that it has some plumping factor in it sans tingling. My lips are average-sized, so I care a fig about plumping. It has a good fragrance while applying and after application, too. Its not sticky YAY!!!!

Here comes the shocker. After a while, the glitter somehow sticks on to your lips. Must be the formula. It is so stubborn...even you wipe off hard, the glitter still seems to stay on. So, I have to use some oil based wipe or some such thing to get rid of the glitter. So, its always recommendable to use a good lip balm under this gloss. At least, you can get rid of the glitter to some extent with the first wipe. I learnt my lesson!

Repurchase, not so sure because the glitters give me jitters! Star Shine range as per the promise is definitely for night times. Glitter is surely glamorous, but not for me. I am not at all comfortable with glitter all over me! I might be able to carry these at nights, but day time? I should reconsider.

I am planning to give away one of these to my li'l sister. She is another lip gloss freak like me. I actually thought of giving away both the colors, but I am reconsidering that. Poor li'l thing! I am bitchy sometimes. Sorry my dear sis', but may be I should give the gloss some time...

For me, the only downside is the sticky glitter. Otherwise, it is a great gloss for that price! Great going CB!!!

As you can see, they are almost near, but different! Can you see the sparkles? The glosses are Bare Truth on the top and Pink Kiss at the Bottom. Swatch wise, Pink Kiss is the first and Bare Truth takes the bottom row. Pink Kiss looks ravishing in day light. How do I know? I tried once :)

Kindly excuse the blurred images, my cam kissed my floor :(

D.

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss

Here is Clinique gloss in #10 Grape fruit. If you are new to Clinique, their products are normally allergy-tested and 100% fragrance-free. Mine is a freebie from Clinique's autumn promotion. I got 7ml, which I find is more than enough to judge.

Speaking of the packaging, I like the silver cap and the slant-tip applicator. The shade Grape fruit in particular is very sheer and light on my lips. I can see just a water-like shine on my lips. May be this is how it shows up on a brown skin tone. I would love to see how this comes out on fair/light skin.

The consistency is very thick and kinda heavy on "my" lips, but not so heavy to carry on! The swatch in the official site of Clinique looks more or less like a lighter version of lilac, but not definitely the same on my lips.

This product comes in full size pack of 15ml and it retails for 12 pounds. So, I guess I was lucky enough to get almost half of the product. Repurchase, I dont think so. Clear gloss for me is not fun. Why would I waste my money on something which doesnt bother to show up inspite of my struggling?

As mentioned already, its fragrance-free. Its kinda sticky, but I dont care much when it performs its best as a great moisturizer. If you suffer from chapped lips, this thing helps for sure. Great nourishment! I do have that case right now and I am simply slathering my Carmex along with this balm. This is supposed to instantly relieve dryness and protect with antioxidants. You can use this on your bare lips or on your favorite lip product.

Its a gloss and balm together like 2 in 1, so make sure you choose the right shade. You can carry the looks like from day to night. Staying power is also decent, so thats a big "YAY" for many who hate to reapply their gloss.

I would definitely recommend this product. As it is winter already, it is a must-have in our vanity bags. This one works best with smokey eye where you dont need statement lips. May be, I prefer that way.

D.

L'Oreal Glam Shine Lip Gloss

Wow...that was mouthful! Definitely not the latest launch, but I felt they deserve a special mention/review.

L'Oreal's Glam Shine Blush lipglosses promise to stay on no matter what you eat, drink or who you kiss. The secret behind the gloss - sold every four minutes in the UK - is in the hydrating properties that make lips shimmer and shine. The non-sticky texture means lips will also look smooth - Vogue.co.uk

So, here I am talking about L'Oreal Glam Shine lip glosses from their Blush and Natural Glow ranges. I have #155 in Plum Blush and #409 in Crystal Bronze Glow. Normally, I am not a person who seriously follows the latest releases online and rush to the stores to stock them up. If I get to see them on my weekend visits, I like the quality, price and shades in particular, I end up buying. I have 4 glosses from L'Oreal; 2 from Glam Shine 6H Gloss Brillance and 2 from Glam Shine!

This post is purely about the 2 shades from Glam Shine i.e. Plum Blush and Crystal Bronze Glow. As you can see, the packaging is chic like hour-glass. These retail for 6.99 pounds. I got the Plum Blush in 3 for 2 offer. I got the Crystal bronze glow for 1 or 2 pounds in a sale. Lucky me!

The consistency is not so thick, particularly. It has multi-colored sparkles for that dazzling shine. Its also meant for volumizing/plumping the lips. I dont find this particularly an issue because I am not much into plumpers whateva! I like the color, thats it. End of the story!

This gloss is not sticky, as per the promise. I am finally glad I found something from L'Oreal thats non-sticky. I hate it when gloss transfers to my teeth. The other day at my brother's wedding, I had 6H gloss on my lips and after a while, my brother came to me and he was like "What's that on ur teeth? Teethstick?" I immediately had to cover up and I was like "That's my gloss." If at all I happen to use those 2 shades from 6H range, I would be very cautious. Remember, I warned you already!

I consider these glosses really glamorous for the shine. Staying power, not so sure. I dont mind reapplying as long as I am comfortable with other aspects like the fragrance and shade. I dont think they stay long. I find the glitter get chunky on my lips for some reason, but not so bothering. Pretty manageable! The glitter somehow disappears after a while and I like the way it fades evenly. It doesnt leave my lips patchy. The best tip to make your lip products work well is apply a good lip balm first. You can see the wonders for yourself.

Fragrance of L'Oreal glosses is not-so-good. I would not repurchase if its not for the pretty shades and price range. I can carry these colors both for day and night as well, but depends on the outfit mostly!

The applicator is angled and helps in easy application. They call this applicator heart-shaped, but I prefer to call it pear-shaped. What would you prefer? More product with this applicator, for sure! Did I forget something?

The top most color is Crystal Bronze Glow and the bottom one, Plum Blush :) Crystal bronze might work as a highlighter and eye shadow as well!

D.