Review and Swatches: Lotus Herbals Pure Colors lipstick in shade Orchid Kiss

Lotus herbals is one cosmetic brand in our Indian market that I absolutely respect for 2 reasons:
1. Range and quality of products: They have a wide variety of cosmetic products and shades and quality if also awesome for most products and prices are always affordable.
2. They dont test on animals! :)

I have 3-4 shades of their lipsticks and lip glosses and I like all of them except for this shade that I am about to review.

Lotus Pure Colors lipstick retails for around 240+ INR and the quality and the pigmentation of the lipstick is very good for the price. The packaging is sturdy and attractive and the variety of colors they offer are quite decent.

The shade Orchid Kiss is the only shade of the set that I really dont care for. Again, I have nothing against the quality of the product per se, I dislike the shade and the texture of this particular one, so please treat this as a very personal review from here.

This shade, Orchid Kiss, is kind of misleading from its name:- One imagines a purple or the normal orchid-pink colored beauty but this is a frosted brownish-magenta-ish-pinkish-shade which IMHO is not a flattering color for most skin shades.

The shimmer in this lipstick is kinda evident and I am not a fan of shimmer. The shimmer becomes less obvious on heavier application.

The one good thing with this lipstick is its highly buildable and the color looks better - a more pinkish shade, with thicker application.. Check the swatches below, the left one is with a single swipe and the one on Right is after 3-4 swipes.

On the whole, this is not a shade I would ever recommend to anyone, there are better and more flattering shades in the same range, but if you are looking for a frosted pink shade specifically this might be something you want.

As a range, I love Lotus Pure Color lipsticks and next on my list is their Pink Blush shade :)

Review and Swatches: Chambor Eye Shadow Trio in shade Bronze 16

I am not really a pro with eyeshadows but things change! Recently I was at a function where I met a friend who had transformed from Ugly Betty in high school to a highly fashionable executive[aint these ugly-duckling-to-pretty-swan very interesting] and she was telling me how she is thankful to the entire makeup industry for helping non-natural-artificial beauties like her. In fact, listening to her made me appreciate what the Beauty industry is doing- helping women like her and me who are not that naturally endowed with beauty to look good and gain confidence...

Anyways she gave me some quick tips on looking good for office everyday and told me to highlight eyes as the easiest way to look awake, bright and chic. So now I am trying out with various shades.

I got this one from Saravana Stores and I liked the set of colors. What Chambor says about the product:

Makeup is the Quickest and the Easiest way to play with your looks & what’s better than playing around with the eye shadows to get the most glorious looking eyes.

Let your eyes do the talking this season, with Chambor's set of 3 ultra smooth eye shadow colours. True to its name, the 'Trio Eye shadow' comes in 3 shades that beautifully play off each other to enhance your eyes.

Each shade set has been created keeping in mind a specific color combination which lets you experiment with various looks.

The casing is a totally unattractive black plastic one with the Chambor logo over it and no information on details like expiry date, ingredients etc! And about Chambor's claim of being heard of in Paris, Geneva and NY, I sincerely doubt and consider it as an outdated marketing trick.

I wish a brand like Chambor which is definitely at the higher end of the product price range, would really look into the packaging part. Attractive packaging is now a buzz word, look at the latest hit brands like Tarte or Sleek or Benefit.

The eyeshadows are however beautifully designed with the pretty Chambor rose logo, a nice mirror to pout at and a pretty useless brush applicator that is strictly emergency use only. The colors are very subdued and perfect for a day or office wear. From Left, the colors are a muted bronze shade, whitish silver shade and a delicate rosey-brown shade.

Shade 1: Bronzey Brown: Okay, the name is my own idea, Chambor has given no id for any of the pretty shades, this is a shimmery brown bronze shade that is a beautiful lid color. It can be applied alone for a day wear or party wear. My favorite of the lot.

Shade 2 Silver Streak: This is a brow highlighter in my opinion and can be used in the eye corners to give a bright eye effect but since the shimmer is a bit obvious, must be applied with a light hand for office wear.

Shade 3 Sandy pink:  I havent figured on how to properly use this shade without looking like I have an eye problem,this shade is too light for lid color and is mildly good as a brow color. I rather use it as a shimmer blusher and forehead highlighter.

Overall? For the price [INR 475] I guess this is a nice deal, giving 3 nice shades to try on. I would definitely like to try some other shades of the same range especially a black-smokey looking one..

Review and Swatches: Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in shade Peach Silk

I picked this lipstick from Ebay after trying out the shade “Gold Dipped Rose” from the same range. I loved the quality and the feel of the lipstick and the fact that it is one of Revlon’s classic range, also made me pick another shade “Peach Silk” from the same range.

Check my Review on Gold Dipped Rose here for details on the lipstick like price, ingredients, packaging etc..

My experience with Revlon Moon Drops Peach Silk

I will start by saying the plus points. This is a very beautiful bright color which is a nice mix of coral-pink-orange shades. I cannot do justice to the color in photos but it is much lovelier in the bright natural sun light. The lipstick is creamy as opposed to the frosted Gold Dipped Rose shade and glides on easily over lips. One swipe is enough to get a good layer of color as this is much pigmented.  Though it’s creamy, it doesn’t melt off like my NYX ones and it doesn’t settle in fine lines also.

Now the bad part and this is quite personal opinion. IMHO, this is too bright a shade for Indian skin tones and needs to be toned down with a lighter shade lip gloss to be wearable. I am medium fair wheatish skin toned with un-even skin pigmentation thanks to Chennai sun, so I have to be very careful in my makeup.

Even with 1 swipe, I can easily enter a contest for “Today’s Neon Lips Look” and probably win it as well! On lips, the pinkish shade becomes less prominent and orange takes over [I dono how this happens, How to guess when buying!].

This color, if worn alone highlights my darker skin tone, all the imperfections on my face and the only noticeable feature becomes the lips! So as you can guess, if you are wearing this shade, it has to be on a perfect makeup day and with strong but not loud eye makeup to divide the attention. I pair this with a beige lip gloss, brownish smoky eyes & peach-toned blush for a day wear and with jewel-colored eyes & shimmer blush for night wear, but the day wear look is much better.

Will I buy this again? Unless my skin turns at least 2 tones fair, I don’t think I will be able to use this regular but I love the range and I will try some other shades if I get a chance.

I found this interesting poster on Revlon ad from 1970. J

Review and Swatches: Mumtaz Delux Kajal Cold

What is the one makeup item you wouldnt ever miss from your bag, the one item that ou would hold to your heart when your husband threatens to throw the rest out of the flight luggage, the one knight-in-shining-armour you turn to when you need an instant pick-me-up? For me , there is no this and that answer for the qn - My one and only kajal!

And my search for the perfect kajal came to an end with finding this beauty. I got this from http://www.drugneed.com/ while searching for Hashmi Kajal, which my friend from Delhi was raving about.

The kajal is a deep matte jet black shade in a creamy-powder mix form that can be easily applied with a stick. This gives a nice cooling sensation on application and instantly gives that kohl-eyed look.

Khojati says that their product is made is pure ghee and bhimseni kapur. I have always wanted a nicely herbal product for my daily kajal usage and this fits so nicely.

It is a compact tube that can be easily carried along and since the application is through the wand, there is no fear of human touch contamination. The quantity is also fairly good and lasts for 2months easily with daily application of 3-4 times a day.

Overall, I love this and this will remain a constant member of my makeup kit for a long long time.

Review and Swatches: Bourjois So Delicate Lip Cream in shade Fuchsia Delicat

I have some products from Bourjois and I love them all, especially their eye pencils. I read somewhere that Bourjois is owned by Chanel and it is no surprise considering the chic packaging of the products.

When I read the reviews about this lip cream in IMBB and checked it out once at LifeStyle store, I knew I had to get my hands on these beauties. I got 2 shades from Ebay UK and both are lovely shades. This is the bolder shade and is a color that suits almost all skin shades.

About The product:
• So Delicate lipcream is a delicate veil of colour for your lips.
• So Delicate offers a first, combining a powder finish with infinite comfort and hydration.
• Enriched with microspheres of colour powder, So Delicate offers a softened colour finish that is terribly sophisticated.
• The innovative new formula transforms into a powder upon contact with the lips, and provides 8 hours of non-stop hydration.
Price:
Approx 600 INR for 6 ml with shelf life of three years.

The color is a bright blue-toned pinkish purple-ish shade that goes bright pink on lips after 1-2 hours of application. Since it is a cream, it lasts longer than lipstick but might be a bit drying. This is more like a lip tint in its effect than lipstick.

The color lasts a longer amount of time, around 4-5 hours, and leaves a nice tint even with food and drinks. The cream with its wand applicator makes it very easy and gives an even color effect.

The quantity for each application is very less and should last a long time, and I am happy about it.. :) I love the shade and the product and is planning to try out new and nice shades.

The good part being over, the one complaint I have is regarding the almost cloying smell. I would have expected a better scented product from a company whose sister brand produces some of the most renown fragrances in the world.

Overall this is a good buy and recommend this to one and all.. :)
This is available from medplusbeauty.com at a discounted price.

Review and swatches: Himalaya Anti-Dandruff Hair Cream

This is my latest love in hair care - An antidandruff cream that reduces dandruff considerably and also makes my hair soft and tangle-free :) That this is equally useful for me and my husband is a nice boon.

Anti-Dandruff Hair Cream

Action:

Contains Tea Tree Oil and Rosemary , which provide effective anti-dandruff action.

Indications:

Dandruff and hair fall.

 Ingredients Include:

• Melaleuca leucadendron (Tea Tree, Kayaputi)
• Coriandrum sativum (Dhanyaka)
• Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary, Rusmari)

Use Directions:
Massage gently on scalp in circular motion. Use regularly before and after shampooing for dandruff-free, soft and shiny hair.
Suitable for all hair types. Safe to use on artificially colored or permed hair.
Recommended with Himalaya Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for best results.
Price: INR 100 for 175gms

The cream is a whitish cream that has a very herbally medicinal smell and spreads very easily over the scalp. It feels very refreshing on scalp too.

I apply this after my night bath and shampooing, leave it over night and wash away next day. It doesnt leave any residue on hair and absorbs instantly.

Overall, I love this cream and since my husband also loves it, this is sure to a fixture in our combined cosmetic stash for a long time :)

Review and Swatches: Streetwear Color Rich lipstick in shade Creamy Brown

Streetwear is Revlon's answer to Loreal's Maybelline and Lakme's Elle 18. The lipsticks, especially the Color Rich range, is affordable for 140 INR & easily available, and in my opinion, a good way to try out what shades suit you best.

I got this one as I didnt have much browns in my stash and wanted to see how shades of brown looks on my complexion. Not many shades flatter me as some shades manage to make me look very sallow. However, this was a good buy for me even though I got this online without trying it out before.

I had already reviewed Streetwear's range in shade Cherry Slush here: http://makeup-n-beauty-n-me.blogspot.in/2012/03/reviews-and-swatches-streetwear-color.html

This is a very creamy variety and glides on very easily. I like the nude brownish shade that is very good for daily/office wears. This is a nice shade that IMHO should suit most skin tones.

The only fault I could find with this special shade is that being too creamy, it melts like crazy!

Review and Swatches: Oriflame Very Me Lipmania lipstick in shade Vibrant Peach

Oriflame was one of the 1st international makeup brands that was available in my place when I was growing up and I always had a fondness for the brand :)

I got this lipstick recently through a friend I met through IMBB, I was looking for coral lipsticks and she suggested this one to suit my darker coloring.

About the lipstick:

Go head over heels for colour! This must-have lipstick comes in ten intense shades that give your lips sheer, high-gloss coverage. Specially designed packaging for every facet of you.

Ingredient List: OCTYLDODECANOL, RICINUS COMMUNIS OIL, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-1, POLYBUTENE, MICA, POLYETHYLENE, CERA CARNAUBA, CANDELILLA CERA, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, SILICA, PARFUM, PROPYLPARABEN, BHT, TIN OXIDE, TOCOPHEROL

I like this one for 2 things: 1. Cheap and good quality, the price is 198INR, but you can get this on offer for less 2. It is a nice flattering shade that can be nude MLBB shade if worn on single layer or can be a bright rosey coral shade if worn to full intensity.

The formula is a creamy matte shade with no shimmers and is a nice daily wear shade. It doesnt score much on staying power but is nicely pigmented and no strong scent .

I wouldnt say this is a must-buy lipstick, but it is a fun-try and it fits your pocket. Only problem is finding a nice Oriflame consultant to send your fav picks.

I like the transparent bullet casing of the lipstick that helps in easy color selection.



Review and Swatches: Maybelline Whitestay UV base in shade White with Meroxyl SX+XL and SPF 35

I was searching for a face primer for my wedding makeup stash and before I could go to a MAC store and get the primer I want, I had to return to my home and there was no MAC store in the 300Km vicinity. So I asked my friend in Chennai to get a makeup base and this is what she got for me.

About Maybelline Whitestay UV base in shade White:

Product Benefits

• A pre-makeup base with skin tone correcting pearls for visible glowing fairness.
• Advanced protection technology with SPF 35 prevents skin darkening.
• Skin is visibly luminous!

Number of Shades: 3

• White: makes skin lighter and brighter
• Pink: Gives a glow/ healthy appearance.
• Purple: Corrects yellow skin tone

I will start by confessing that I had not much idea on what I was expecting since I had never used a base before, I always used my face cream as one. And after using this, I couldnt see much difference either!

May be I selected the wrong shade, so I am not blaming the product or the shade. All I am saying is if you are normal to oily skinned like me, medium wheatish fair and stays in a humid climate like Chennai or Kerala, better think 3 times before you use this.

The cream is a whitish emulsion like consistency and has a chemically scent. It takes around 5mins to absorb on my skin but I guess for dry skin beauties it shouldnt be a problem. I could see a shiny effect on my face, but I can get that with a sunscreen. I couldnt see any lightening and brightening effect, may be it is just a wrong selection for me.

And I have no idea what Meroxyl thing is :-) Overall, I think this is a very personal selection item,  before you buy, try and see if it works!