Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Butter

Claims - Intensive, creamy and fragrant all-over body moisturiser with luscious lemon seed oil to moisturise, hydrate and delicately scent the skin with an uplifting citrus fragrance! Absorbs into the skin easily to condition and soften! Provides moisturisation that lasts up to 24 hours!

Brazilian Capanema farmers grow soya beans by Organic farming, extract the oil that is then added to the Sweet Lemon range! Products from the Sweet Lemon range include body butter, body puree, body scrub, lip butter, shower gel and soap! Two more limited edition products launched are Sweet Lemon Bath Pom Pom, which is loofah and Sweet Lemon Sponge!

Here are my first thoughts on Sweet Lemon body butter! Indian women do not need an introduction to FEM range of products! Especially their fairness bleach and hair removal cream! Did you ever try FEM lemon flavor hair removal cream? The moment I did open the tub, I got the same lemony scent as the hair removal cream! Not to mention, the same color and consistency! Pale yellow and kind of runny! Sweet Lemon body butter consistency is comparable to the Moroccan Rose and Japanese Cherry Blossom ones!

Sweet Lemon body butter comes in a 200 ml or 6.9 US Fl Oz tub! Sweet lemon range is suitable for normal to dry skin! Comparitively, I used a little amount of body butter! Surprisingly, a little goes a long way! It is very moisturizing! No hint of grease! Leaves behind a healthy sheen! Skin says soft!

On / after application, it smells like a squeezed lemon wedge on the skin! Very mouth-watering! Not that I like, but its so sour and tangy! My observation, fragrance doesnt stay as long as the moisturizer does! Body Shop magic didnt work on me, finally! Something for my hubby to celebrate! I will definitely not invest in Sweet Lemon range, but this badly reminds me of Indian Summer!

Key ingredients - Lemon seed oil moisturises and softens the skin! Cocoa butter softens and smoothes the skin! Shea butter leaves skin soft and smooth!

Ingredients - Aqua, Butyrospermum Parkii, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cyclohexasiloxane, Citrus Medica Limonum Seed Oil, Lanolin Alcohol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Limonene, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Citral, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Caramel, CI 19140.

P.S - Fragrances are purely personal, so do not take this review for granted! Try your luck! I never buy anything related to lemon, thanks to my allergy! Nothing major, but I find that so damn nauseating! I suffer from motion sickness since childhood! I was always given a lemon, which aggravated the hatred! This is purely my opinion on Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Butter! If you dont agree, please ignore this post!

Bobbi Brown Color Strips Collection Spring 2010

Claim - A complete spring eye, lip and cheek wardrobe by Bobbi! Each palette includes five eye shadows and three Pot Rouge shades designed to work together beautifully! Each palette retails for $60!

Bobbi put together these three palettes with pops of color plus the perfect neutrals that make them work for everyone! “Don’t be afraid of color! Each palette has one bright eye shadow that really stands out! The rest of my hand-picked shades for eyes, lips and cheeks will make it wearable!”

Limited Edition Bonfire Palette - One bright eye shadow Bonfire plus four coordinating shades that make it wearable! Included eye shadow shades being Bone, Café Cream Sparkle, Bonfire Metallic, Cognac Metallic and Caviar! For lips and cheeks, there are three warm shades of Pot Rouge! Included Pot Rouge shades being Tawny, Fresh Melon and Calypso Coral!

My Choice!

Limited Edition Orchid Palette - One bright eye shadow Orchid plus four coordinating shades that make it wearable! Included eye shadow shades being White, Dusty Plum Metallic, Orchid Sparkle, Mulberry and Caviar! For lips and cheeks, there are three cool shades of Pot Rouge! Included Pot Rouge shades being Powder Pink, Pale Pink and Sand Pink!

Limited Edition Aqua Marine Palette - One bright eye shadow Aquamarine plus four coordinating shades that make it wearable! Included eye shadow shades being Ivory, Lightening Sparkle, Aquamarine Metallic, Grey Sky and Storm! For lips and cheeks, there are three cool shades of Pot Rouge! Included Pot Rouge shades being Powder Pink, Pale Pink, and Sand Pink!

Tag: 40 Beauty Questions!

1. How many times do you wash your face daily? Once! Twice if I read about pimples!

2. What's your skin type? Combination skin! Oily T-zone and dry cheeks, mostly!

3. What brand is your current face wash? Nothing consistent! But mostly, Clinique Liquid facial soap!

4. Do you exfoliate? Very irregular! Perhaps twice a week!

5. What brand is your exfoliator? Again, I dont stick to one formula! Olay and Neutrogena range!

6. What's your moisturizer? Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion!

7. Do you have freckles? Thats the only thing I need!

8. Do you use eye cream? When I am excited! Clinique's All About Eyes!

9. Do/Did you have acne-prone skin? I am genetically blessed! Touch wood!

10. Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ? What's that for?

11. What foundation do you use? MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation!

12. How about concealer? Too many to conceal! Nope!

13. Do you know your undertones? Warm and yellow? Pick anything from the rainbow!

14. What do you think of fake eye lashes? I think I dont know how to use! 5 stars for honesty!

15. Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months? Dont you know? I know very well, but I wont change! I cant afford Clinique mascara every three months! Not that I swear by that, but I have a bunch of those before I invest! I am notorious to make best use of anything I have!

16. What brand of mascara do you use? Did you skip question #15? Clinique High Impact Mascara!

17. Sephora or MAC? Dont you know any other stores? Let me help you once I finish this tag! Sephora is not so thoughtful to open a branch in Scotland! MAC? What?

18. Do you have a MAC Pro-card? Do you think I should, probably? Give me one reason why should I have one!

19. What makeup tools do you use in makeup application? Wanna know the truth? UK, I dont use any makeup other than MAC Studio Fix Powder/Foundation, kajal and lip stuff! My job is to buy, review and forget! India, I use everything I have!

20. Do you use make-up base or primer for the eyes? Skipped question #19? No, I dont!

21. Do you use make-up base or primer for the face? I wanna say "Yes", but the truth is "No, I dont"!

22. What is your favorite shade of eye shadow? Your technical Taupe, my favorite browns! Love Gold as well!

23. Do you use pencil or liquid eye liner? Liquid eye liner!

24. How often do you poke your eyes with an eye liner pencil? I am not so fortunate! Had I been, I wouldnt be doing this tag today!

25. What do you think of pigment eye shadow? Looks like fabric paint jar from far, but a great product!

26. Do you use mineral makeup? Some day, I will!

27. What is your favorite lipstick? I am not so mean to my makeup by picking just one from the lot!

28. What is your favorite lip gloss? Forget it! You will never get a proper answer!

29. What is your favorite blush? You tell me that you did not read my previous answers? Your punishment! Answer is same as to the question #19!

30. Do you buy your makeup on E-Bay? I like to touch and feel the product I buy! I dont think I will ever do that unless I become a busy makeup artist one day, so that my staff can do that for me!

31. Do you like drugstore makeup? In India, I never used the word "DRUG STORE!" Beginning, I was wondering what these drug stores look like! Indian drug stores are referred to as Health & Glow! Yes, I love Health & Glow! Not those nose-picking sales assistants at Health & Glow!

32. Do you go to Cosmetic Company Outlets? I knew what CCO's are just after coming to UK! Fortunately, there's none here! As far as I know! I might be wrong, as well!

33. Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? Yes, I did!

34. Are you clumsy in applying makeup? Did I tell you that? I am not! Even if I am, I dont like to confess!

35. Name a makeup crime that you hate? My perspective, makeup should be treated as just makeup and nothing superior! If you are good at makeup, go ahead! If you are not, better dont attempt! Might be irrelevant answer, but I hate to talk about celebrity makeup! Everybody has a good and bad day in their life! Celebrities are just like everybody! Why give so much attention to their makeup? Unless they do it on purpose! Like skimpy clothes and heavy looks!

36. Do you like colorful shades of makeup or neutral ones? Preferably, neutral!

37. Which celebrity always has great make up? I dont know! Everybody is great in their own ways! There are people who are famous just for their flaws! Sad part is when people try to imitate them! I am a great listener, but not a great observer!

38. If you could leave the house using just one makeup item, what would you use? If moisturizer counts, thats it! If not, lip balm! In fact, I am very confident without basics, as well!

39. Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? Thats what I have been doing since ages! I can!

40. Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? Hubby says "You are a natural beauty!" Besties say "You are a black beauty!" Whatever it is, they find me beautiful!

41. In your opinion, what is the best makeup line? Anything I like is the best!

42. What do you think of Makeup? Just makeup, nothing else! Makes or breaks the look! Hit or Miss!

P.S - Creator of this tag, please dont feel offended! Who cares about my jazz? I want this to be very funny, so people dont get typical boring answers! I did try to sound very different, but in vain! I want to see a smile on the reader's face! Not to wonder when the post ends! I never follow the rules unless necessary! We are all here for fun, after all! If you feel I dont fit in, this will be my last tag forever! Please don't tag me hereafter!

Is it a "40-question tag"? There are 42 questions, for your information! I see some creative minds did add their own questions, as well! I am not creative, so I end this tag now!

Future You Tube Sensation!

Ola! Confusing title? Well! Not that she doesnt deserve an introduction, but most of my subscriber base being from India, she doesnt need an introduction! Name rings the bell! For others, Rati is the girl behind Makeup & Beauty blog! She did debut on You Tube as well! She is just two weeks and two videos old! Yeah, she is too young! So far, she managed to get 9 subscribers to her channel! Hence, the title! Who knows? She might be the most subscribed gurus from India in future!

She obliged to do this fun tag thats been going on my blog since a while! In fact, this is the second episode! First episode includes Sarah, the glossy chic behind Glossicious blog! I thank Rati for making this series more beautiful! So, what are we waiting for? Lets get started!

1. What brings you to the Beauty Blogosphere, knowing there are tonnes already? Do you fancy a career that involves makeup?

I started writing this blog because there were not many Indian blogs around. I had so much makeup and beauty stuff lying in my closet so I thought I'd rather share it with others and it might prove to be useful to a lot of Indian women around! If you ask me in today's date, no I don't see a career in makeup.

2. What role does makeup play in your daily life? Is makeup a must for your profession?

I love doing makeup but I don't want to get dependent on it. So there are days when I step out of home without any makeup on face except lip balm and still be comfortable with the way I look.

3. Whom do you find the most-inspiring? Makeup or any aspect of your life!

Goss Makeup Artist. He is just so good. I get to learn so much from him, and correct my mistakes. He is a genuine, nice guy who knows what he is doing.

4. Rati, a shopaholic or Rati, a bargain-shopper?

I think I love doing both. :) Each has its own charm.

5. Your place doesn’t stock most of the international brand! How do you update your collection?

Ummm...I am still exploring a lot of stuff around. So you might find some international brands on my blog in future. :) Regarding, updating my collection, I just pick whatever I like.

6. What is your favourite makeup brand? High-end or drug store? Are you brand-conscious?

Drugstore - Colorbar. High end - I am quite liking Mac,Inglot & Estee Lauder. I am not brand conscious. :) If I like something, I would buy irrespective of the brand and sometimes price tag.

7. What are your go-to makeup products? Anything you reach for, no matter what occasion!

Brown eyeliner, kajal, concealer, face powder and lip balm.

8. Do you have any products you cannot live without? Staples!

Facial sprays and hand creams. I am obsessed with them.

9. What is lying untouched in your vanity from day #1? Any future for that!

I bought this Fab India de-pigmentation cream because I had some pigmentation issues on my chin. I use it thrice or four times and the cream worked wonders for me. My skin was clear and even but after that I stopped using it and it's been lying untouched since then. :(

10. What’s your take on Smoky eye - nude lips?

For me, it's a case of sour grapes. I find smokey eyes and hot red lips the sexiest. The only problem is that I cannot pull off such a look myself so I end up with smokey eyes and nude lips. It's kinda boring but well!

11. Do you collect anything related to makeup?

I keep a balance of every thing in my collection. Of late, I guess I am getting addicted to blushes :)

12. What’s your take on bloggers' recommendations on products? Do you consider?

Yes, I do consider. Can't thank Cynthia enough for the Lotus Herbal Kajal she recommended :)

13. Would you like to share your best and worst experiences so far?

Worst - The first day I uploaded my youtube video and I got a hate comment. Honestly, it ruined my day and I was crying and all. :( I guess I will take it as a challenge, learn more, and do even better work :)

Best - I have met many wonderful people around here. There is so much warmth and love here that even if you are not the best, your fellow bloggers would help you out, recommend you and motivate you to keep going. It means a lot to me :)

14. Would you like to share your daily routine? Skincare or haircare?

Daily routine - I have very simple routine. Cleansing, toning, moisturizing and sunscreen for day. The same goes for night except that I replace sunscreen with an anti ageing cream. And by the way, I have an obsession with hand creams. I keep applying them the whole day.

15. Would you like to feature your hand bag here? Preferably, a picture that includes you!

I carry huge hand bags so it was not possible for me and my handbag to fit in one pic. So here's my pic with my clutch. I bought this from Archie's Gallery some time back.

I would like to thank Divija for making me part if her interview series! Wish you loads of luck and love :)

Body Shop Moringa Body Butter

Claims - An intensive and creamy all-over body moisturiser with a delicate floral fragrance! Absorbs into the skin easily to condition, soften and strengthen the skin's natural moisture barrier! Provides moisturisation that lasts up to 24 hours! Best for normal to dry skin!

Moringa Seed Oil moisturizes and protects the skin with high levels of oleic acid! Organic honey moisturizes and helps condition the skin! Cocoa butter is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature, leaving the skin feeling soft and silky smooth! Sesame oil moisturizes and helps soften the skin! Shea butter is rich in vitamins A & E! It moisturizes and helps soften the skin! Grapeseed Oil is very rich in essential fatty acids that help to repair the skin's moisture barrier, thus helping to restore smoothness and suppleness! Brazil nut oil moisturizes and helps leave skin feeling soft!

If you want to maximize the benefits, try Moringa bath and body range in a layering regime! It helps the fragrance stay longer! You can choose from Moringa milk body lotion, shower gel, soap, body scrub and the new Wise Woman luxury cleanser!

First thoughts! Remember, just first impression! Might change in the future! What is Moringa Body Butter? Moringa is drumstick, technically Moringa Oleifera! I never knew people can make use of drumstick flowers in such a diplomatic way! Looks like nothing is undeserving for Body Shop Body Butter!

I grew up among drumstick trees, literally! India, drumstick is default veggie! Widely cultivated! Widely used in preparing dishes! I never dreamt that one day I have to struggle so hard just to describe the fragrance of drumstick flower! I dont remember that fragrance, to be honest!

Moringa body butter smells like Ittar/Attar! Lighter version of Ittar, of course! Ittar is the Arabic version of fragrance or perfume! Attar is the natural perfume extracted from herbs, barks, spices, flowers like jasmine, rose and sandal wood! Fragrances are personal, so you might sense something different!

Moringa body butter reminds me of jasmine scent! If you are into strong floral scents like Jasmine, you might like this! If you find Jasmine nauseating like myself, stay away! Still, I wanna buy Moringa Body Butter! At least, the small tub! Staying power is phenomenal! Stays 12 hours for sure! Very hydrating! Product is pale  yellow in color! Consistency is very thick! Not runny at all! No greasy residue on the skin! Retails for 12.50 pounds for the 200 ml tub! Smaller tub is available for 5 pounds, so try your luck!

Moringa is claimed as Body Shop's first floral Body Butter! What about Moroccan Rose and Japanese Cherry Blossom? Moringa was launched earlier to Moroccan Rose and Japanese Cherry Blossom body butters! Moringa Butter brims with skin-softening Community Trade ingredients! It contains the magical moisturizing benefits of pure moringa seed oil! It has high levels of oleic acid, a fatty acid that helps to restore skin's moisture levels and protect against dryness! To ensure the highest quality moringa seed oil, the seeds are harvested by hand and hand-prepared for cold pressing!

Ingredients - Aqua, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Lanolin Alcohol, Moringa Pterygosperma Oil, Sesamum Indicum Oil, Mel, Bertholletia Excelsa Nut Oil, Theobroma Cacao Butter, Parfum, Myristamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Linalool, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Hydroxide, Isoeugenol, Caramel.

P.S - I am yet to buy this, but I have done a complete review! I know! Something should be done about my addiction! I wish Body Shop notices my zeal and sponsors one day! This review is purely my perspective! If you dont agree, please feel free to ignore! I believe I can talk miles about the Body Shop Body Butter by now, even asleep!

Are you interested?

Finally, time to get rid of makeup! No! I didnt mean that! I would like to sell some of my makeup! What brands? Body Shop and Playboy, for time being! Why? I was tricked by the names on the Playboy packaging! Different names outside, but same color inside! I dont think I need 6 lipsticks of the same color family, but different in some way!

Many find Playboy cosmetics yuck, but I know people who swear by that brand! I am not sure if Playboy cosmetics are available elsewhere, but each lipstick retails for 14 dollars in US! Red Carpet lipstick retails for some 9 to 10 pounds in UK! Of course, that was some time ago! Correct me if I am wrong! I dont wanna talk about the Playboy packaging, but I like the shades! No that you cannot find a dupe, but they are affordable! Especially, beginners can give it a try!

Mail me!

If you are interested, let me know! I can send you some pictures, so that you can decide! If you are NOT interested, let me know! If nobody is interested, I know what to do with those! I have some fun ideas! I will make my own patent-pending product! I am interested in swap, as well! Any ideas?

P.S - I am not a consultant trying to sell Body Shop or Playboy Cosmetics! Just creating an awareness, if you are new!

(Courtesy : Favourite Vintage Finds)

I Am Addicted!!!

Can things get any worse? Hubby told the Body Shop staff, "Please dont let her in! Do not inform her about latest promotions whateva! Do not hand over any coupons to her! No matter whatever the discount is!" The staff told him, "Now that the coupons are over, you dont worry! We will definitely remember what you said!"

Officially, I declare my love for Body Shop! Coming weeks, you will find nothing but reviews of Body Shop products! If you find it boring, please ignore my blog for some time! Quite some time! I dont wanna trouble you, girls! Hence, the warning!

Courtesy: Property Week

Lately, I am having a hard time dealing with my addictions! Whats the other one? Farmville on Face Book! I play 5 farms in total! Oh yeah! Believe or not! May be, one day hubby is gonna write to Face Book as well!

Courtesy: Riv Media

I am not able to view Blog Villa, blog by Zwala! It says access denied! If you have access, please let her know I really like her blog! I hope I did not trouble her, so she had to deny the access! Bellepedia, another blogger is also inactive from so many days! Any news about her? Cheezz12345, the YT guru is not active since a week! Shout-out to Jaya! Hope you are doing fine, dear! Missin' you already! Come back with a big bang!

I have gained quite some subscribers lately, but I am not following their blogs! No technical issues, at all! Most of the subscriber base is like "I follow you - You follow me!" I hardly know my followers! I comment on their blogs most of the time, but still waiting for the response! May be, they think the same about me! Like "This girl is full of attitude! She doesnt follow our blog!" Following is not a big deal! You  have to stay in touch! I dont follow many bloggers, but I make sure I communicate with them on a regular basis! Why all this jazz? I might unsubscribe from some blogs coz I dont wanna sit like some antique piece on their blog!

Especially, when you follow a considerable amount of blogs it becomes tough to comment on a regular basis! Dont assume I follow some tonnes of blogs! I dont follow anybody from YT except the UK-based guru! Oh! I am not geographically partial! I dont mind even if I lose my 60 followers one day! I will still blog just to satisfy my ego! I am not the one who survives on sweet lies! I prefer bitter truth, rather!

P.S - All the bloggers I came across so far were very polite, but it was really hard getting hold of each and every girl! Official apology if you are one of the bloggers I unsubscribe! Thanq very much for not disturbing me all this while! Hope I didnt trouble you! I just dont deserve your friendship! Its totally my fault, not yours! I love you, all! No hard feelings! Boo-hoo...

Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter

Claims - Wrap your skin in a rich, indulgent chocolate-scented cream that moisturizes and softens for up to 24 hours! Doubly rich for extra dry skin with a yummy chocolate-and-vanilla scent! Cocoa butter, an excellent moisturizer melts at body temperature and is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants! Shea butter moisturizes and softens skin! Organic soy oil is very rich in essential fatty acids that help repair skin's moisture barrier, so skin is smooth and supple! Suitable for very dry skin! Helps prevent stretch marks, especially during pregnancy!

Body butter is an intense moisturizer that can be used on entire body! They are specially formulated to maximize skin hydration! They are likely to be used during dry times of the year or when the skin suffers from severe lack of moisture! The ingredients contained in body butter often offer the skin both hydration and protection!

Cocoa Butter body butter comes in a 200 ml or 196 g or 6.9 OZ tub! Originally retails for 12.50 pounds, which is expensive! Body Butter tubs usually carry a color theme that coordinates with the fragrance! Cream colored tub with a picture of cocoa seeds on the lid! The product is cream-colored! Consistency is creamy and not so thick!

Fragrance? Actually rushing here and there! Where to begin? Sweet! Yummy! Vanilla-flavored! Not at all nauseating! Caramel is one of the ingredients, but I cant compare Cocoa Butter to caramel scent! I wish I have the strength so that I dont end up eating this one day!

Fragrance reminds me of some Indian festival! Very rich! Very pure! Very happy! Not overwhelming! It cannot be, in fact! Smells exactly like home-made Vanilla ice cream! May be you dont like that! Me likey! I love using this along with any other scented product! No fear of fragrance mishap! I will definitely repurchase Cocoa Butter! Provided, Body Shop doesnt launch any new fragrances which I might fall for!

Sinks in easy! Doesnt leave any greasy residue on the skin! Very very hydrating! The tub lasts longer, but depends on how frequent you get to use this! Inspite of frequent hand wash, the fragrance seems to linger! Skin is visibly soft post-washing! I can feel the body butter on! On test drive, the staying power was more than 8 hours! What about the 24-hour claim? I cant stay so long without a bath, please! If you are so generous, try and do let me know! As for the stretch marks jazz, I think its too early to comment!

Apply the moisturizer on damp skin! It helps lock the moisturizer better! The staying power is phenomenal! Oh yeah! I scoop out the product with my fingers! In my opinion, Cocoa Butter is not perfumey just like the Japanese Cherry Blossom, Moroccan Rose and Nutmeg & Vanilla body butters! You smell incredible with Cocoa butter! If you dont like to invest in Cocoa Butter, at least try to smell that once! Who knows? That might become your staple!

Ingredients - Aqua, Glycine soja (Soybean Oil) (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Theobroma cacao (Cocoa Butter) (Emollient), Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) (Emollient), Glycerin (Humectant), Cyclomethicone (Emollient), Glyceryl Stearate, (Emulsifier), PEG-100 Stearate (Surfactant), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Lanolin Alcohol (Stabiliser/Emollient), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Parfum (Fragrance), Methylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Cinnamyl Alcohol (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Caramel (Colour)!

P.S - Fragrances are very personal! Try them before you invest! Wait for the sale or promotions, girls! If you are a Body Shop geek like me, I know how it feels to wait! Go ahead! Japanese Cherry Blossom and Moroccan Rose body butters are highly recommended!

Maybelline Shine Seduction Liquid Lip Color #310 Bitten Plum

Today's product of review is Maybelline Shine Seduction Liquid Lip Color #310 Bitten Plum! Maybelline seems to have discontinued the Shine Seduction range in UK and US! That might not be the case with the Indian market, though!

Claims - Captivating colour and concentrated shine! No tacky, sticky feel! Precision-perfect sculpting tip! Base clicks for easy-to-control application! Aqua-botanicals and Vitamin E keep lips kissably soft and smooth! Dermatologist and allergy tested! In 13 luscious creams and shimmers!

It was an impulse purchase! The moment I saw this gloss, I had to have it! Not only for the color, but for the packaging! I like collecting glosses with different packaging! Please do not assume that I have the wide range of glosses you can ever find!

Packaging is a sleek shiny silver click-through pen almost 5 inches in size! How to get the product out? Turn the base clockwise! Keep turning till you get the right amount of gloss! As simple as that! Once you open the cap, you find slant tip with six average-sized pores! The slantly sculpted tip is very precise for application! Preferably, I like the slant tip compared to the round ones like the Lancome Juicy Tubes! Bottom of the pen, you find the number of the gloss on the same color sticker as the gloss! It doesnt say Bittem Plum anywhere on the pen!

I dont know if you consider this a downside, but I do! Once you are done applying, the product still keeps oozing! Not so much so that you should run to fetch a bucket, but still its not a great scene! Consequence? Inside part of the cap gets messy! Just the same way a leaky refill does to the cap!

There are quite good shades ranging from nude to reds, both cream and shimmer finish in Maybelline Shine Seduction range! I am not comparing this to any other shade from this range because I didnt get to try the other shades! So, lets get to know more about #310 Bitten Plum! If you find this sheer, its wise not to expect pigmentation from sheer glosses!

#310 Bitten Plum is a cream finish with NO shimmer! Plum - nude - mauvey! Buildable if you want plum-colored lips! Please do not expect the pigmentation to be the same as a wall paint! Works wonders on pigmented lips like mine! You can be simple with just a swipe or two! You can layer on, so the true pigment shows on your lips! I prefer the simple look, rather! Matches my lips perfect! I cant exaggerate more! My-Lips-But-Better color in blogger terminology! For me, its the same tone as my lips! Looks like I have Vaseline Rosy Lips on!

Single swipe of #310! Twist if you want the real color!

To be honest, I never look for plumping effect in a gloss! I believe thats purely a marketing gimmick! My lips are average-sized, so I dont think I ever need a plumper whateva! My lips appear to kinda grow in size just because of the shiny gloss! Whenever I hear people say that plumpers sting and hurt sometimes, I am like "Why should I get pain as a bonus for spending my money?" Well, thats my perspective!

Twist clockwise to get the gloss out!

The formula is not sticky at all! I am very much relieved by that sound! If you layer on, it might feel heavy! Doesnt feel heavy on lips, otherwise! Very moisturizing! As if your lips are inside a moisture bubble! Thanks to the Aqua-botanicals and Vitamin E! God knows what aqua-botanicals mean! Staying power is average if you are on a hunger strike!

Stats - 0.08 Fl Oz or 2.4 ml gloss retails for 325 INR, Indian Rupees! I am not sure of the current price tag, though!

Body Shop Merry Cranberry Lip Balm

Ola! I proudly present to you the Body Shop's Merry Cranberry Lip Balm! Oh yeah! Name rings the bell! I can't tell you how hard I tried just to get hold of this! Long story, shortly put! Merry Cranberry lip balm was sold out in a couple of weeks immediately after the launch! People are really bad! Why cant they leave some for beauty bloggers?

We all love Merry Cranberry!

Claims - Get mistletoe-ready using a moisturizing, glossy lip balm that leaves your lips soft and shimmering with a festive and fruity cranberry scent! The Cranberry seed oil moisturizes skin! Community Trade organic beeswax conditions skin and helps to lock in moisture! Antioxidant vitamin E nourishes and protects the delicate skin on the lips!

Whenever I see this, I feel bad that I could not get a backup! Anyway, a bird in hand is worth 2 in bush! Look at the tin tub! The lid has some pattern, but the tin is plain! Big bulky tin! Lasts long if you are not religious!

Very rich! Very vintagey! Very Christmassy! Very holidayish! Ego-satisfying! Pardon me if these words dont exist in your dictionary! The most adorable packaging! The lid has no threads or doesnt pop up just like that! Meaning, its travel-safe! Bingo! Turn the lid a full circle and open!

Can you see the gold shimmer?

Merry Cranberry is a sheer wash of berry with a hint of gold shimmer! This shimmer makes the balm most adorable and your lips very desirable! Glides easy on the lips! No heavy formula! Leaves the lips so damn glossy, they look plumpy! The shimmer is definitely not chunky! Its so rich in look and feel! To be honest, the shimmer doesnt show up! Not so specific on the lips! Goes very sheer! Still, if shimmer is a big NO - NO, better stay away!

Its sweet in taste, but no so sweet as chocolate! The staying power is not phenomenal, but above average! Stays put for a couple of hours sans food and drink! Looks pigmented in the tin, but gives a berry - plumy sheer wash! I dont know what cranberry tastes or looks like! Might be a red berry, so I cant describe the scent! Just fruity! Not nauseating! Bingo for people like me!

Ingredients - Ricinus Communis Oil, Lanolin, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Aroma, Cera Alba, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Mica, Tocopherol, Linalool!

Stats - 15 ml or 0.45 oz or 13 g tin tub originally retails for 4.50 pounds! Correct me if I am wrong! Later on, marked down to 2 pounds! Life expectancy is only 12 months! Who cares?

Playboy Red Carpet Lipstick # 72 Paparazzi

Claims - True long wearing lipstick that is non-drying! The specially formulated creamy texture is packed with pigment for a true-color application! The formula is infused with a lip plumping complex to increase the blood flow to create fuller, rounder lips! Create lush lips with long-wearing “stay-the-night” formula! Satin-matte texture! No animal testing!

Playboy cosmetics were taken off the shelves recently! The deal being on multiple buy, you get discount like 50 pence or a pound! Morning, the basket was full! Afternoon, half full! Evening, everything was gone! Only thing left was the damaged stuff! I managed to get their blushes, eye shadow duos and a couple of lipsticks!

Find the peacock!

Playboy lipsticks come in different ranges like Liquid Luxe Lipstick, Stiletto Lip Shine, Calender Girl Lipstick and Red Carpet Lipstick! The Calender Girl range has lipsticks named after calender months! As mentioned above, we have a lipstick in #72 Paparazzi! There was no number on the lipstick or packaging, but I found this from random browsing! Correct me if I am wrong!

The packaging is very Bunny! The pink lid is same as Maybelline Color Sensational range one! Might not be the exact rip off, but more or less similar! Open the pink lid, all you can see is gold! Gold packaging LOL! Gold Bunny on the top! Very cute!

Outer case of packaging!

I am very bad at describing colors! I find this lipstick brown - red - plum! See, I told you! I am crap! I so love this color, I have a backup! Double deal! Dont get scared at the swatch, just in case! Its matte only on hands! Might be the same on lips without lip balm! If I am allowed to choose one lipstick from Playboy again, it will definitely be Paparazzi! No doubt!

Color Color! What color am I?

First, I apply a layer of lip balm! Then, I layer Paparazzi one coat! Guess what? It goes kinda berry, kinda sheer! Thanks to the lip balm! I am a die-hard fan of sheer berry shades! I dont know if MAC Capricious falls under the same category, but that is my next purchase! Definitely not at House of Frasers, Glasgow! Once I go back to India, I will make it a point to give MAC Capricious lipstick a try! Check this if you are into plum - berry kinda shades! I might be wrong in describing as well! So, dont take my words for granted! Remember, I warned you! No blame game!

I dont need you, Paparazzi! You are not pink!

Please exfoliate your lips as much as you can! Not until they bleed, but do as often as possible! That helps, really! Your lips look their best when exfoliated! Paparazzi has a consistency of lip liner, very matte and powdery! But not powdery in reality! Slather lip balm generously to get that sheer wash of color! This recommendation is just for those who like this color! Worried if this works for you? It does!

Truly flattering shade, according to me! You might not find this berry on swatch, but on lips this color is very universal! Does it make any sense? If you are comfortable with matte, feel free to use Paparazzi alone! Me? No, thank you! I might look like I am from MARS with matte lipsticks! This fades okay, but leaves your lips kinda pigmented! Tinted, I can say! You dont have to buy this just because it fades diplomatic! Staying power is average!

I LOVE PAPARAZZI!

Here comes the shocker! At least for some of you! Did you ever taste slate pencil? This lipstick kinda reminds me of slate pencil! Same chalky feel! Powdery scent, like your talcum powder! Blame the ingredient, Talc! Most of you might not like this! It has that classic lipstick scent you cant forget how hard you try! Age old formulation! Like granny's lipstick! But, my poor granny doesnt use makeup!

Can you see me in the background? Royal D!

If you know me (as if I am a big deal!), I dont apply any lipstick without lip balm! That includes MAC as well! Time for revenge! Only lipsticks I can blindly apply alone will be Moroccan Rose range from Body Shop! They are so damn soft and very very buttery! The softest formulation you ever get to see! Why cant they bring them back with new shades? See, this review has nothing to do with Body Shop! But, looks like I cant stay without a mention! TBS springs up from nowhere! How I wish they notice my love for their brand and make me their brand ambassador! Sigh!

Ingredients - Ricinus Communis seed (Castor) oil, Kaolin, Isopropyl lanolate, Isopropyl palmitate, Ceresin, Talc, Paraffin, Cera microcristallina, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Lactate, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Silica, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ascorbyl palmitate, Parfum. May contain Mica, Titamium Dioxide, Iron oxides, Manganese Violet, Carmine.

Stats - 0.12 oz or 3.4 g originally retails for 14 pounds! Correct me if I am wrong! I got these for almost more than 75% off, which is a great deal! I am not sure if drug stores still stock Playboy range! If yes, try Paparazzi for sure! Highly recommendable!

Body Shop Nature's Minerals Eye Colour

Well! Not a body butter! Not a lipstick! Something different at least! Today, we have Body Shop's Nature's Minerals Eye Colors in #02 Radiant Graphite and #04 Pink Opal!

Body Shop Nature's Minerals Make Up range contains some of nature's finest materials! Preservative-free, fragrance-free and oil-free! The packaging is fully recyclable, the lids include recycled material!

Claims - Accentuate your eyes with crease-resistant, blendable color that's made from Earth's purest minerals! Premium, up-to-the-minute loose powder formulation for the eyes! Made from minerals clinically proven to be suitable for sensitive skin types! Long-lasting, blendable and crease-resistant!

This stunning shimmering powder palette applies evenly and blends easily to provide adjustable coverage! Dermatologist-tested with no added fillers, preservatives or fragrances! Ophthalmologically tested! Suitable for contact lens wearers! Suitable for all skin types! Availale in six pearlescent shades!

Key Ingredients - Mediterranean clay, Mica, Illite, Titanium dioxide and Iron oxide.

Mediterranean clay - Absorbent mineral that helps to bind the make-up to the skin for long-lasting coverage.

Mica - In selected shades - adds lustre and has light diffusing properties to help disguise fine lines.

Titanium dioxide and iron oxide - In selected shades - provides a natural-looking colour palette.

The packaging is damn cute, a little plastic tube with a sifter! I always appreciate sifters, especially the net ones! I prefer net sifter compared to the hole ones, but they are difficult to find! Powder makeup for eye/face whatever with sifters are God-sent! You can control the product!

I dont like opaque packaging coz you never know what's happening inside! Its easy to choose the colors as well! You get to see the real color! What are testers for, Divija? I dont know! I like it that way! The lid is granite black! Sparkly black!

These are not so pigmented! Especially, the colors we have here! Is it wise to expect pigmentation from pale pink and grey? May be not! #02 Radiant Graphite is kinda slate grey with gold sparkles! #04 Pink Opal is pink with silver undertones! I find Radiant Graphite too sparkly for my liking! Glitter might appear chunky in Radiant Graphinte, but thats not the case in reality!

Colorwise, I like slate grey but the sparkle is too much! It travels everywhere! I end up looking very sparkly! Not recommendable for office use! Whereas the Pink Opal is a mauvy pink, which you are try for both day and night looks! Depends on your liking! Pink Opal is pearlescent finish, but I am not sure about Radiant Graphite!

What color do I prefer? I love Radiant Graphite if not for the sparkle! I tried taking a picture, but in vain! But, Pink Opal looks ravishing in the tub! I use Pink Opal on my lips for that "oomph"! Works wonders with gloss and lipstick as well!

For eyes, I love mixing both coz Pink and Grey blend well! I am a die-hard fan of Pink & Grey! It looks innocent and flattering at the same time! I love to try Pink Opal as "over all" lid color and Radiant Graphite for the outer corner!

Stats - 1 g or 0.03 OZ tub retails for 9 pounds! Stays fresh for 36 months, but I dont mind using this after that as well! I use powder products even after expiry! Sounds gross, eh? Well! That's me!

P.S - I recommend you wait for the Body Shop sale, which is somewhere around July 2010! Eye makeup enthusiasts, this recommendation is not for you! By all means, you are free to try these at anytime of the year! God bless your wallet!