Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush In Fresh Coral: Review

I am gonna review Maybelline’s cheeky glow blush in the shade ‘Fresh Coral’. While  ”Creamy cinnamon ” has been reviewed here previously, this one is all about a peppy, fresh color that instantly adds brightness. When Maybelline launched these cheeky glow blushes here in India at the affordable price tag of rs 250, I was really excited and started searching for them so when I found these at a Maybelline counter,I immediately bought 2 from this range !  A blush from Maybelline that too at just rs 250 is a great bargain considering how there are almost no budget blushes available in India at the time.

Packaging: First thing that I liked about it is the packaging. It is just so adorable- small,compact and handy and yet contains 7g of product! Really like the white plastic packaging, so barbie-like 

Shade: The shade ‘Fresh Coral’ is a very pretty pink with coral hints. Its a bit like a bubblegum pink and though it looks like one of those blushes that only suit super pale girls but trust me,once applied and blended, it turns into one of those beautiful universally flattering pinkish corals that suit almost everyone. Initially it does look dark on my medium skintone but after blending,it does not look OTT at all. Just a very natural and beautiful flush of pink!

Pigmentation,Staying power : This Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush is extremely pigmented! Just one swipe with a brush cross the pan is enough for both cheeks!  This particular color , is actually much more pigmented than Creamy Cinnamon.

Staying power is average,around 4 hours maximum after which it fades. I Don’t think that’s a huge problem considering the price and otherwise great quality of the product.

Meiji Amino Collagen Review

I have been using Amino Collagen since about a month now. I must say was quite apprehensive about trying out the product, since my skin is dry and sensitive. But I am very happy that I gave it a try, because the results are for me, and everyone else to see! The powder claims to provide a salvaging effect on the skin, revitalizing it and providing it with collagen that is a crucial element of skin. Our skin feels soft and supple throughout adolescence and in the 20s, because of the presence of collagen, which soon starts reducing in amount. The less production, as I read in the product description, leads to sagging, fine lines and wrinkles. In my case, which is excessively dry skin, these lines started appearing right at the onset of my twenties, and that worried me a lot. After a number of unsuccessful attempts and experiments with different products, I decided to use Amino Collagen, although quite gingerly. The bottle and packaging is without any gimmicks. The powder can be added to all types of food, irrespective of the form. I chose to consume it via liquids like juices and beverages like tea. And within a week, I could see subtle changes. My skin started improving – the lines on my forehead seemed to decrease. I did think I was imagining it and decided to wait for a few weeks more, curbing my excitement. But the product kept working its magic, and I found fine lines disappearing! My facial skin seemed supple and after about four weeks, I can definitely say there is a youthful glow to my skin! I highly recommend it for all ladies.

Pros : affordable, easy to use, quick action on the skin, eases wrinkles swiftly

Cons : none so far

SMASHBOX PHOTO FINISH PRIMER

A lot of people say a primer is not necessary and it doesn’t really do anything, but I think it all depends on your skin type. I have an oily/combination skin and this primer works well for me. It is the first ever primer I’ve used. And I wont say it made a lot of different but it made a little.

Smashbox cosmetics is a huge brand in the US. The have primers for all skin type. I got the oily free one. What a primer is does is, it makes your skin appear smooth, reduce any fine lines, and fill in pores. It gives an even platform for the foundation or any make up you apply on top. It makes your makeup last longer. This one comes in an opaque gel form. It leaves a smooth matte finish on your skin. It doesn’t have any smell to it at all. You can hardly feel it on your skin.

I won’t say it makes my makeup last a very long time but it does make it last more than usual, for about 6 hours at least. Smashbox also makes a green and lavender colored primer for skin with redness and blemishes. 3/5.

If you find any other primer which is good, lemme know! 

All natural beauty secrets from Hollywood!

Hollywood is the Mecca of the beautiful and glamorous and the women of Hollywood will do anything to remain in the spotlight. We’ve all heard rumors of Botox and surgery, but there are certain things the stars do that we can also emulate.

 Catherine Zeta Jones reveals that she uses a scrub made of salt and honey to exfoliate and moisturize to get that beautiful glowing skin. She also advises to eat an apple after every meal to give your teeth that polished look. And brushing your teeth with strawberries gets rid of those pesky stains! And to top it off she recommends conditioning your hair with beer and honey. Who knew all Catherine needs to do for her skin care is run to her kitchen!

 Julia Roberts swears by dipping her nails in Olive Oil once a week to maintain their shine and keep them strong. While Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives fame pours two glasses of red wine in her bath water to keep her skin baby soft. Jessica Biel turns her regular cleanser into a scrub by ingeniously mixing two teaspoons of sugar in it.

 The ladies of Hollywood may have the best treatments and products available, but even they know that going natural can sometimes be the best thing they can do for their skin.

My take on the Lakme 9-5 Matte Lipstick

I love the metallic rose gold and golden packaging of these lipsticks. These look so classy and elegant! I had some complaints about the last launch from Lakme – the Lip tints (found the packaging a little drab!) but these look absolutely beautiful! If I’m being picky, I would have liked the labels at the bottom to be colored so that I could locate shades more easily (since I’m storing lipsticks vertically now).

I was pleasantly surprised by how soft and smooth these were in texture. Most long wear lipsticks do not feel very slick in application. These are not creamy but rather powdery in texture which is why they apply with a matte finish right from the start. Some long stay lipsticks apply a little creamier and then settle into a matte finish but these are not like that. In that way, they reminded me of the Chambor Powder matte lipsticks. In addition to being smooth in texture, they are amazingly pigmented. Single swipe gives full saturated color. I did not find them very drying on my lips. They are definitely not moisturizing but only mildly drying. They do emphasize lines slightly just like any other matte lipstick so if you’re someone prone to dryness/chapped lips, I wouldn’t recommend these.

 

As far as wear time is concerned, the 2 deeper shades I tested wore for the full 8 hours I wore them with barely any fading. The color in fact deepens as it stains the lips pretty heavily. I’d give it full points as far as wear time is concerned. The best part though is that it the color doesn’t get patchy or cling to dry areas over time. It stays quite even and you actually don’t need touch ups with these. Because they have a powdery matte texture and no creaminess, they don’t transfer a lot onto cups etc. The only minor issue I had with these was that the color feathered a little bit around the edges of my lips – not in a very noticeable way but it did *slightly*. I don’t think its a big issue but I’m mentioning it because I did notice that.

Some of the shades have shimmer but its quite a fine shimmer and not dense to the point of being frosty. It doesn’t settle into lines. I’m generally bothered by shimmer and have not liked shimmer in Lakme products generally (too chunky) but this time they’ve done it right. I still feel one could do without it but it doesn’t bother me. The lipstick has a faint scent, I think its lemongrass but I’m not sure. Its not unpleasant and is not strong so shouldn’t be bothersome.

 

Overall, I think these are fabulous long wearing matte lipsticks. These are nowhere as dry as I’d imagined them to be and much much better than the last 2 long wear formulas I’ve tried – Maybelline Superstay and Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede. They can be mildly drying and would be unflattering on very dry/chapped lips but they do wear incredibly well through the day. No flaking, no chapped lips, no need for touch ups!

DIY Manicure and Pedicure

A little cash crunched this season? Or having a fun mani-pedi sleepover with your besties? Read on to know all the essentials you need for the perfect at home manicure and pedicure.

First gather all the tools you need. These include

• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Nail polish remover
• Cotton balls
• Cuticle trimmer
• Hand lotion
• A tub and a bowl with warm water and a few drops of soap.
• Base coat
• Top coat
• Nail paint of your choice.

Once you are ready with your supplies and have found the perfect spot to set up, let the nail care begin!”

The first step is to remove your old nail polish and then cut and file your nails. Once you get the length and shape you desire, smooth the surface of your nails with a buffer. Then soak your nails in warm water mixed with a few drops of soap. After a few minutes, remove your hands and feet from the water and let them dry. Now start work on your cuticles with the cuticle trimmer. Push your cuticles back gently, never apply too much pressure or cut your cuticles. Once this is done, apply some hand cream or lotion to your hands and feet.

Now we are ready to paint! Apply one layer of the base coat and wait for your nails to dry. Then apply 2-3 layers of your nail paint till you get the color you desire. Once dry, finish off your perfect nails with the top coat. Let it dry completely before you show off your nails to the world!

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara Review

If you have skinny lashes, then the Revlon Photoready 3D Volume is like chocolate on a strict diet. Its going to fatten em up and give them a whole lot of volume! It doesn’t necessarily add to length, but then with two coats it really does go va-va-voom on your lashes in terms of volume. I also really like the brush- its nice and chubby with short bristles so you really seperate your lashes and coat them evenly.

However, you need to be quick quick with this mascara. Its dries quickly, and if you aren’t like speedracer between two coats you can get spidery lashes. I do love that it doesnt leave my lashes crunchy, but keeps them soft and natural looking, without being ultra heavy or weighing them down. I dont think you should do more than 2 coats on this- with 3 i think it becomes a little strange and clumpy. But definitely worth a shot according to me!

Pros of Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara:

• Gives great Volume
• Seperates lashes because of the great brush
• Looks natural and doesn’t weigh down the lashes
• Does not clump and doesnt make lashes crunchy

Cons

• Does not add much length.
• Dries quickly so you have to be very quick between coats. Also too many coats can ruin this look