Saturday, March 14, 2015

What Not To Buy: 2 Disappointing Lip products from Lise Watier

Its totally understandable that cosmetic companies cannot come up with hits all the time. But the problem is - nobody minds a dud when you pay small bucks but when your wallet is hit to buy a lipstick, you expect your money's worth in gold. At least I do!

That is where these 2 products from Lise Watier fail for me. 
If they were like $5 , I wouldn't mind that they suck. But they weren't. I don't remember the exact cost, but it was definitely not so sweet on pocket.

In 2 words, the reason why these 2 items suck is - POOR PIGMENTATION.
If I buy a lip product, I expect it to have some depth of pigmentation, or some other redeeming quality. This one has no positive attributes except for pretty packaging. 

This has kinda put me off the brand. Have you used any Lise Watier products? If so what are your experiences?

That's all from me- Cheerio!


All that Glitters aint Gold - so true! Look at that pretty floral packaging.
Tender Pink is the shade name for the lip crayon.

Stunning design on the gloss!

A vanity piece - no doubt!

This gloss has everything except - color!

 

Power gloss? Really???? Swatching against white paper was the only way to see the shade!

If only they paid as much attention to actual product as for packaging!

Of course - low pigmentation, too much creaminess = breaking off while you struggle to get some depth

Tender Pink - after so much swiping and layering...whew!!!





Monday, March 09, 2015

Mano A Mano: Essence Extra Long Lasting Eyeliner Pen Vs Gosh Intense Eyeliner Pen


We Indians have traditionally got one element of makeup right - eyeliner/kajal/kohl. Two generation back, ladies made their own kohl from blackened oil/ghee and herbs. I will make a video sometimes on that, cos that is just awesome and if I'd enough time, I'd go for it any day over anything bought from store.

Anyways, this is just straight up fight between 1 drugstore and 1 slightly more expensive one.
I'd mentioned in my previous  post that I am going to cut down the "blah blah"s in my post.
Keepin it short & sweet....

And the winner is: _____________
Neither!


Essence eyeliner is: Cheap, easy to use but black is not really blacky black and the tip is weirdly wobbly making precision a tough thing. Best used - with darker smoky eyes, when you can get away with a less precise line


Gosh eyeliner is: More expensive and slightly more difficult to find, easier to draw a thinner line, more intense black than Essence, but somehow it is hard to get that precise application.

For all I know, it may be that I'm handicapped in drawing precise lines with felt tip liners. But I do get nice lines with some liquid liners, so I like to think this is not my fault! :)



Notice the thick tip - it is not firm but wobbly in a weird way. Not the blackest black either.






Getting a precise line with this one - so far no luck!



Sunday, March 01, 2015

New In Town: NYC SMOOCH PROOF LIQUID LIP STAINS in Unforgettable Fuchsia and On Everyone's Lips

I've decided to keep my reviews short and sweet.
Cos after all who has the time to read all the stories????

It also makes my life as a blogger easier :)

So here we go.

My review on this new product from NYC is.....

........
............
................

Okay, here we go...

SKIP THIS ONE.

Dear NYC - Love you for being cruelty free and many other awesome products, but this one is nah..

Unforgettable Fuchsia on Left, On Everyone's Lips on Right

Unforgettable Fuchsia on Left, On Everyone's Lips on Right

Unforgettable Fuchsia on Left, On Everyone's Lips on Right

My bare pigmented dull weirdly shaped lips

On Everyone's Lips on my weirdly shaped lips

Explanation:

In the swatch pic above  - you can see the gel like consistency of the lip stain. On lips, this translates to a thin sheer-medium weirdly tinted shade.  I'd expected the nudeish On Everyone's Lips to be a more peachy brownish mauve-ish shade, but it came across as a straight up pinkish mauve shade on my lips. To get the color in the pic above, I applied 3-4 coats.

It applies patchy, gives a slightly unpleasant tingling sensation and doesn't really last that long.

Of the 2, I'd recommend Fuchsia which is much more pigmented and has less of a patchy effect.

Buy this if you like:
- lightweight comfortable lip products

 I'd recommend:
- buying Revlon's new moisture stay lip stains over this, though a bit more pricier. 

Monday, February 02, 2015

January 2015 Favorites and updates on the giveaway!

I usually don't have monthly favorites, just because I am too lazy to track them.
But I'm now in the process of re-organizing my beauty stuff and so decided to track how each stuff works.

So without much ado, presenting you - my January [and possibly February :)] favorites.



My apologies for the blurred pics - I didnt notice till I checked the pics before blogging and by then, I was again bitten by the lazy bug to actually try and get better ones.

In no particular order, my favorites are:



As the name says, it is a sheer tint. In fact, its is that almost skin-like finish-tint.
Once you apply this, it is like a slight PhotoShop effect on your skin - brighter, glowing and a mild blurring of your imperfections. 



This is not something you wanna wear for coverage. 
It could be a good base for your foundation - in fact I use this occasionally as a primer.
I use this on days, when all I am in the mood for is a BB sunscreen and some powder to finish it off. 

This gives a glow-y look to skin, without in anyways adding to oiliness. 
In fact, I'd say this has a satin finish - between matte and glow-y look.

SPF30 is the cherry on icing and makes this a great daily office-wear product.



This best selling cleanser from Lush is best used weekly, unless you wanna end up getting serious complaints from your skin.
And this is me saying that- someone with a pretty tough and not so sensitive skin. 

Reason - they are not kidding when they say Salt - they mean it. It is Salt. All Salt.
Rubbing that on your face gives you squeaky clean, bright complexion. 
But your skin can only take so much at a time - so I suggest you use this weekly.


Another thing to note is that the saltiness can hurt the edges of your lips.
Mine became swollen the 1st time I tried it, cos of the mix of salt and lemon in this. 
I suggest applying some oil - coconut or olive - to protect your skin before applying the cleanser. 

This is not a cleanser/scrub you wanna try with your hand as you can actually end up applying more pressure than necessary. 
I use a cleansing device like Olay's Micoderma brush or a simple sponge to use with this.

If you've really sensitive skin - you can reduce the abrasive effect by mixing some yoghurt with this before application. 
 
 St. Ives Daily Microdermabrasion
 

This is a gentle daily scrub. 
Easy on the pocket and does a pretty neat job.

  
Yves Rocher Beauty Elixir
 
I didn't really read the text much when I got this. 
So it was a surprise to me when I found this was a light oil. 

However - muy impresso [ if that is even a word].

This is a lightweight lightly-fragranced blended oil that absorbs very easily to the skin.
It just makes the skin come off AWESOME!
My skin looked so much better - hydrated, younger and more glowing.
It didnt do anything for pigmentation - that's okay cos of all the other great stuff it did.

This oil works beautiful as a skin primer. 
Apply it 5 mins before your makeup and it just makes makeup application smooth.

And the cherry on top - look at that cute vintage style dropper packaging. 
Doesn't that make a great vanity piece?


[Don't have an image - sorry :(]

This is a great every-day lightweight leave in conditioner.
I don't usually use a hair spray or a leave in conditioner as most of them triggers my migraine.
Something in this one, doesnt - so I am assuming it is pretty safe, natural and good to use :)


UPDATES on Giveaway

Finally, its that time. Announcing the winners.
I've announced the winner through the widget. 
As mentioned in my previous mail, the selection was based on the highest point incurred.

However, there are 2 close finishes - people who put in lot of efforts and just marginally missed the prize. 
To these 2 beautiful people, I am sending a special email with some bonus they can use in the next giveaway. 

Thanks to everyone who entered my Winter/New Year giveaway. 
Keep your eyes peeled for the next one :)

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

4-in-1 review: Essence Lip Liners in Red Blush, Hot Chocolate, Honey Bun and Cute Pink

Despite the fact that I like wearing lip liners and as a makeup artist, I am all for the contour & definition that liners give, I somehow don't use them much in my daily routines. 
With Kendall/Kylie Jenners making waves in full-lip-routine across the web, lip liners are now all the crack and I really really should show them more love.


Essence Cosmetics is a favorite brand of mine - especially when it comes to fun packaging, decent quality and superb prices. Essence kinda makes up for the fact that we don't get E.L.F or NYX or Milani or Jordana or one of the other many drugstore brands so freely available with Canada's neighbour.[Not quite, but gotta take what we've! sigh]


I've 4 shades - which pretty much covered almost all shade ranges of lippies I use except for the darker berry or purple shades.

Red Blush is a much loved Cherry red shade.


Honey Bun - my most used pink-brown nude shade; perfect for creating that nude contoured outlined with many shades of lippies. Love it.


Hot Chocolate is a beige-y nude shade. Not something I wear for definition, but as a base with other lip shades. The name is misleading as this is more of a brown-based nude than a chocolate shade.


Cute Pink is your average common pink. Good for a fresh lip color. Again not something I wear much.
 
Top to Bottom - Honey Bun, Cute Pink, Hot Choc, Red Blush

OVERALL: These liners are decently creamy, soft to apply and has great pigmentation. Add the extremely friendly price and you've a winner :) However, dont look at these fellas for staying power [max 2 hours]

Left to Right - Red Blush, Hot Chocolate, Cute Pink and Honey Bun

Sorry for the crazy lip swatches.. I was in this weird mood.. ah well... 

Crazy huh! Top Left - Cute Pink, Top Right -Red Blush, Bottom Left - Hot Choc and Bottom Right - Honey Bun


Monday, January 26, 2015

The Lip Bar lipstick in Purple Rain - for that Neon Flash you need


I'd a vague idea that I'd posted about this beautiful lipstick some time back. But recently when I checked the list, it was not there. I cant believe I didn't post earlier about this awesome lipstick.



Anyways its not too late to do this as this is not LE. You can find The Lip Bar lipsticks at Urbanoutfitters [Link]
 
 
The outer packaging is a bit so-so. 
 

However the lipstick bullet casing is beautiful. Just peep at the almost-floral-vine-like design.

 
The casing itself really makes the $20 price tag worth the $. 


And the cherry on top, is of course the beautifully pigmented satin finish lipstick. 
Purple Rain is a cool-toned lilac-y medium purple shade, that comes off as a Neon color on my lips [and i guess most lips]

The shade reminded me a bit of OCC's Roller Girl. This is a favorite shade of mine now.

The shade reminds me of spring..violets blooming... that fresh air, scent of wet earth and grass... almost a torture to remember all that in the middle of winter!

Revlon Shameless on top, Purple Rain at the bottom
This is one of those shades that is so rarely available in Drugstore.I tried comparing this against a drugstore shade - Revlon's Matte Balm in Shameless, but as you can see, Shameless is more darker purple than the brighter Purple Rain. 




The pics dont do justice to the shade. It is surprisingly wearable. If you're wary of the bright shade but still want to sport a lilac on your lips, then I suggest adding a nude beige or darker berry shade gloss on your lips to mute the neon effect a bit. 

Other factors: Staying power is average - 2-3 hours at the max. No staining or feathering. The lipstick wins my heart by the smooth application, the comfortably light feel on the lips and of course the shade.

It doesn't have any strong scent or taste either.

OVERALL: A beautiful purple-lilac shade for those who love their Lavenders for Spring. The quality is unmistakable.

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