Treating chemical burns naturally and Review: La Roche Posay Cicaplast Gel for Skin Repair

This is one of those products which I bought, without really thinking how its going to be useful for me & then suddenly one fine day, I was give the opportunity to discover how it works [which was not a fun event for me!]

La Roche Posay claims that Cicaplast is -

"Pro-recovery skincare. Anti-bacterial texture. Fragrance-free. Paraben-free. Accelerates the reconstruction of irritated and chapped skin or after minor dermatological procedures.
Invisible and non sticky, with easy spreading. This soothing, moisturizing treatment relieves itchiness and tight sensations.

Image courtesy: La Roche Posay website

Please excuse the lack of original images - I actually took some pics, then threw out the used bottles & then found out that some how the pics were missing :( sorry!

I didn't really use this much when I was in India since my skin was more normal to oily then. When I came here to Toronto and experienced a true winter in all its glory, my skin turned dry and I started applying this occasionally when there was a more than usual dry patch on my face.

But the true use for this product came when I had some major chemical burns on my face from using a facial hair remover from Sally Hansen. My skin looked very scalded and was very sensitive. I had to travel extensively in that period and I couldn't apply a sun screen directly to my face as it hurt like crazy. Then I began to use this as a layer before applying the sunscreen as it prevented the pain. In those days, this and aloe-Vera gel were the only 2 items I could use.

Then I began to notice how faster my skin was healing even though I didn't apply any topical creams to the wounds. This product really helped me out in those days - and  if La Roche Posay didn't do animal testing, I would have kept buying this. But they do testing on animals and I can't buy this anymore, so now I rely on aloe-Vera gel and my essential oils to help me out during such skin troubles. When I bought, I didn't know that they did Animal testing :(

Would I recommend this product -definitely as a skin care product but never as an animal lover and for me, nothing justifies giving pain to another harmless creature in the name of beauty!

Treating chemical burns
----------------------
This is something I devised as an alternative after finding out about La Roche Posay's animal testing background. To heal facial wounds from chemical burns, here is something you can do:

1. Always apply any treatment products at night, never at day as day time application can increase sensitivity.

2. If you are traveling or going out, apply sun screen always. If it hurts, apply a layer of beeswax [or your favorite un-tinted lip balm] in the area it hurts and then apply sunscreen. Try covering your face to avoid dust or dirt. Also keep your hair away from your face as there is a chance that your hair may transfer a lot more dirt to your face.

3.Evening or back at home after outing: apply Aloe Vera gel after washing your face. Avoid soap when washing your face. Instead try using gentle face wipes or baby wipes and clean using soft motions.

4. 30mins before sleeping: Apply a mix of olive/coconut oil plus basil oil or basil leaves juice or tea tree oil. Softly massage in to promote blood flow and faster healing.

5. Avoid any harsh chemicals or makeup if possible. If you are using makeup, stick with mineral makeup as much as possible.

6. Moisturizing your face: Mix some milk or cream and add some honey to it. Keep this in fridge for at least 15-20mins. Dip a soft cotton ball in the mix and slowly pat over your face, like you would use a powder puff. Once done, use a soft paper napkin to absorb any excess product or oil.

7. Healing mask: Make a puree out of - Goose berry, Spinach leaves, basil leaves, ginger and Sea Weeds. You can get sea weeds by soaking dried weeds in water. Mix some Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt. Add some Aloe Vera Gel and Honey to the mix and apply on your face for 15-20 mins.
At the very least, the ingredients of the mask should be - gooseberry, spinach leaves and Basil leaves.

8. Last but the most important step - Drink lots of water, intake some really skin-pampering Vitamins and minerals & most imp of all - SLEEP WELL. Sleep is the best regenerative treatment for skin.

Announcing New Giveaway - Win the perfect Take-to-Beach Stila Wonderful in Waikiki Palette

Yep, I have another one......

Its pretty simple and everything is in the Giveaways page so not boring you with details.. Just click on the GIVEAWAY tab above or here

Lazy Beauty Guide: How to dress for work when you are sick

There is nothing I like worse than attending an important meeting when I am not well - it just adds to the whole burden. Not only is work involved, but I can't be lazy with makeup as I normally do when I am not well.

So here are a few tips to dress when you are sick and don't want to work hard to look good:

1. Cover that hair -
Your hair usually reflects your health and when you're sick, hair can easily look dull and lank, especially if you've straight fine hair like me.
Best solution is to use a pretty barrette or  hair clip to keep your hair pinned so your hair doesn't make you look even more tired.

Image Courtesy: Pixaby.com

 
2.Keep your wet wipes handy
A stash of wet wipes can easily clean your face without too much hassle and can soothe your skin. I recommend something like the Yes to Cucumbers facial towelettes.

Courtesy: http://www.canadianliving.com/blogs/style/2011/04/21/a-lazy-green-girls-best-friend-facial-wipes/

 If you have tired eyes, damp your wet wipe under very cold water; close your eyes and slightly press against your eyeballs and keep for a min or two. Wet it again and press the cloth slightly against your under eye area with downward pressure.




3. Go for a 3 Step makeup:

You just need 3 items to look good for your meeting:

1. Powder foundation or BB cream/ tinted moisturizer -  If you have a dry skin, use a nice BB cream to hydrate your face. If you have a normal to oily face, use a powder foundation to look clean and dandy

2. Emphasize your eyes - use a darker kajal or kohl or add another layer of mascara or your eyeliner to emphasize your eyes; if your face looks dull during fever, this helps in taking attention away from that.

Image courtesy of Praisaeng, FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

 3. Use a darker lip shade -  A darker lip shade is usually an instant face brightener. Know your color before hand; for me, its darker shades of red or purple.

Usually you can double up your lip color as your blush as well unless you are using a shimmer shade.
Avoid using any shimmer lip gloss or pale colors as they add more fragility to your overall look.

4. Dab some orange or lavender oil on your temples and your pressure points to relieve your stress and bring a smile to your cheeks.. :)

My Current Favorite: Andalou Naturals Brightening Clementine + C Illuminating Toner

Let me introduce you to my favorite toner -Andalou Naturals Brightening Clementine + C Illuminating Tone. I am kinda impressed by this product which I just got on a whim, that I am now planning to buy some more Andalou stuff.

What Andalou says about their toner [from their website]: Normal & Combination Skin

Andalou Naturals Fruit Stem Cell Science renews skin at the cellular level, blending nature and knowledge for visible Brightening results.
Fruit Stem Cell Complex, superfruit antioxidants, and Vitamin C, work as powerful cell energizers to target hyperpigmentation and UV damage, improving skin tone and texture. Aloe vera effectively hydrates and oxygenates, balancing pH, and stimulating circulation for healthy luminosity. 

To Use: Shake well. After cleansing, close eyes, and gently mist face and neck to balance pH and prepare skin for maximum moisturizing. For instant refreshment day and night, mist lightly, with or without make-up.

Results: Brightening

My Experience: 

I am a bit skeptical when it comes to products that claim to be 'Brightening' - not that it stops me from grabbing it in the hope that it might give me that 'Glow' all the airbrushed models in glossy magazines have. So, when I picked up this product, all I expected was a decent toner that would freshen up my face in the morning - cos frankly, I am not a morning bird, I am more of a morning zombie. 

How I use this: 

 I use this mostly in the morning or whenever I feel my skin looks super dull or tired. I follow the directions of use and spray it on my face after closing my eyes, cos you don't want a citrusy product in your eyes. Don't open your eyes immediately if you have sprayed this over your eyelids - it can sting a bit. Wait for a min or so. Keep a napkin handy, so that after 2-3 mins you can use the napkin to lightly pat over your face to remove excess moisture. After that, slowly pat your face to get the blood supply going to really boost your skin. And you're done! :)  

Why I like this: 

To start with, I just love the packaging - it screams organic & herbal with its green & yellow design. Love it. Also the spray nozzle is very nice and functional. I am not a big fan of toners that you cant spray on face. 

The next thing I like is the scent - it is super freshening, especially in the morning. I occasionally dab some orange oil on my temples to get a move on stuff cos I can be pretty sluggish till around 3-4pm. This gives the same effect.

Lastly, after applying this, I can see some brightening. Not whitening - let me make that clear. It makes my skin looks healthy and alive - am I making sense? I don't know if it helps with pores and since the brand doesn't claim it does, I didn't test it for that.The brightening effect lasts for at least 5-6 hours, which is very impressive.

Overall: This is a really great product- it doesn't perform wonders or give any long lasting effect. But it does what it says, and that is all I expect from a product :)

Spring Colors: NYC Ultra Last Lipstick in shade Smooch 407

I got this NYC Ultra Last Lipstick during some sale in Walmart and after an initial excitement, forgot all about it.

Then one day, I was searching for a nice pink shade for a day wear and saw this shade and thought - Why not? And that was a good decision cos I discovered how much I like this drugstore beauty.

This is a beautiful blue-toned bright shade of pink that immediately perks up your face. I think this color will suit most skin tones. The only downside of this shade is the silver-gold shimmer that makes this unsuitable for an office wear [wouldn't probably wear this strong pink to office anyway!]

The color goes full on in a single swipe and stays easily for 3-4 hours; when it fades, it does leave a sheer layer of color behind. It doesn't dry out my lips; it aint that moisturising also, so dont skip on the lip balm. There is no strong scent or taste.

Overall, for $1-$2 [approx] this is a great lipstick and this shade is a pretty spring wear for a day out. Don't trust the cap to stay on if you are taking this for a trip to beach!

Lazy Beauty Guide: A lazy gal's way to get ready for work

Okay, so here is how I get ready for work after sleeping late

1. After getting up, wash face immediately with coldest water possible. This refreshes the face and makes it easier for your eyes to adjust to sun light. Time Taken - 1-2mins

2. Use a baby wipe or your favorite cleansing wipe to clean up all those dead cells and get your face ready for action. To make it better, after 1st wipe over face, spray a coat of Rose Water or any good toner and then wipe again.  Time Taken 1-2mins.

3. Put your sunscreen/moisturizer with SPF and massage it in. Dont bother to do it till its is completely absorbed. We have time left. Time taken : 1-2mins

4. Now lets brush our teeth and rinse it well. No fast-tracking time here. :(
Time taken: 4-5mins

5. By now our sunscreen would have absorbed. Now apply your BB cream/ Foundation/Powder. I apply either my light coverage BB cream or my Face powder as getting foundation right is hard when you are pressed for time.  Time taken: 2-3mins

6. While waiting for it to set on face, drink your morning energizer. For me its water :) Ideally it should be warm water, but I like cold water better. It feels good once and it helps to remove toxins generate in the body at night . Time taken: 1min

7. Now sit down and read something funny [your fave comic book] or see a funny video in youtube or hear your favorite song that always perks up your mood. Trust me, it helps hugely to set the tone for the day. By the same principle, avoid reading Obituaries, videos on violence etc -a lot of bad things happen in the world, true, but should you see it 1st thing in the morning?
Time taken: 3-4mins [Well, I didnt say -read the whole book! just a strip may be!]

8. Now Makeup...yippeee.. Ok, here are my quick tips.
- Eyes:
 I use a dark matte brown eyeshadow at the corner [dab it on the corner with fingers] and then use the blending brush dipped in black eyeshadow to fan it out gently towards crease in a > shape, with the corner ending just below the crease eyebrow. This is best done with eyes open. Contour your eyeshape using this eyeshadow.  Now, if all this takes too much time, avoid 2 eyeshadows and just use a soft brown or soft cream color, which ever brightens your eyes better. Dont try shimmer powders for work but satin finish used lightly does look good. Now line your eyes with a pencil. If this is hard for you, just stick to lining your corners, both upper lid and on waterline.
Now add a coat or 2 of your fav mascara. Dont have time to curl your lashes? Here is a quick tip: keep your steel spoon under hot water for a 30secs and then press your eyelashes between your index finger and the back of the spoon. Do it 1-2 times and you can see the curl.

- Blush and lips:
I use the same color for blush and lipstick even if its a dark red shade I am using as lipstick. Just sheer it out with your finger and dab on it with a tissue till you get the color right.

- To add a dewy look, spray on a face energizer or makeup setting spray lightly. If you have neither, pour some water into a spray bottle [if you can get some rose water, its excellent] and spray lightly. After 30 sec, just press a soft tissue lightly onto face. Do not rub.

Total Time taken: Eyes [4-5mins]; Face and Lips [2-3mins]

9. Now have that healthy breakfast bar or cereals or in my case 2-3 apples to go and dress and run!
Time taken to dress and to put apples into bag: 3-4mins

Total time: Approx 30mins!

Now what should be in a lazy girl's bag:
1. Easy to eat granola bars or biscuits. Keep easy to eat fruits like Apples or baby carrots[in a pack] always ready to grab and go

2. Mini Makeup kit: Face powder, Matte Bronzer [use as eyeshadow as well], Black eye pencil, Lip balm, your favorite lip product [use as blush as well], Facial cleanser, Facial Wipe and Mascara


3. Other stuff: Vitamin C chewable stuff [for instant energy pickups], Mouth freshener or chewing gum and a small perfume or deo spray.

Hope you like it.. :)

Note: All Images are courtesy of Pixabay.com

Something for Office? Revlon Matte Lipstick in shade Wine Not

Revlon's Matte Lipstick range is something that I have always wanted to try as I have read some great reviews about it. There aren't many colors though [around 11 shades] and the price is around $7-$8 , varies with place and sales. I am not a fan of light shades in matte as I think it can be very unflattering to skin.

I picked up this gorgeous wine shade when I was searching for my perfect winter color.  This is a dark wine red color that goes very well with this season. I love this shade as it is a very universal shade - can easily suit most skin colors. You can build the intensity very easily and wear it as a very sheer berry shade or a full color dark gothic wine red shade. There is no scent, no taste or any kind of irritation in using this product. I am not a big fan of Revlon's lipstick packaging - look at all the fun packaging the Korean brands have!!!

 

One issue I have is that unlike the Super lustrous creme range, which is super easy to apply, this matte lipstick is not something you can easily apply directly. The application can be patchy and not very smooth in the overall effect. Don't expect a super matte effect - its more like a slightly waxy matte finish. To get a purely matte effect , use the below technique.

I would suggest using a lip brush or even a q-tip to apply this the way you want, especially if you are sheering it out. This normally lasts around 3-4 hours on average, but you can increase the wear time following the steps below:
1. Apply a layer of light weight lip balm to ensure your lips dont dry out
2. Use a lip liner [either a nude shade, same shade or black for gothic lips] to edge the lip contours.
3.Use a lip brush to apply the color along your contours 1st and then fill in the lips. Blot this with a napkin.

4. Tap lightly along the lips and then apply the color once again over your lips with the lip brush. If you find the application too dry, mix the color with a tinge of lip balm or any face serum or a similar shade of creamy lip color.
5. Blot again and tap lightly over your lips. You can continue till you get the color you want.

Overall I like this lipstick and it is one of my favorite colors for winter and it makes for a good lip color for Office :)

Something for Office: Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Twig

Avon’s Ultra Color rich lipsticks are much loved for their quality; when I was in India, I got interested in this range and got 2 shades from my friend who is an Avon consultant.

She recommended 2 colors – Mocha and Twig; since I was on a nude-color kick I was interested in these 2 shades.

I don’t feel justified in reviewing a range of lippies unless I try at least 3-4 lipsticks from that range.

So I am reviewing just this one shade in terms of its quality and its look.

When I ordered this, I was under the impression that Twig is a pinkish brown nude shade.

I checked some reviews online and was expecting an MLBB shade.

But the shade I received is a peachy brown shade with not much hint of pink in it.

 Avon promises that these lippies are ‘Formulated with Vitamin E and Jojoba to hydrate lips and seal in moisture, so lips stay smooth. Non-bleeding / non-feathering color defines and shapes lips even without a lip liner. Instantly releases rich color with creamy/sequined/shimmery texture’

I don’t know about the Vit E or Jojoba part and I didn’t see hydration per se. But this lipstick does feel very smooth on lips. The color applies beautifully, it almost glides over lips.

In fact, this is so creamy that when I was in India I had to save this in my Fridge to avoid melting.

That was one reason why I couldn’t get to use this lipsticks much, cos I couldn’t take them out with me L

Staying power is not  very great but then I don’t expect much from such a creamy lipstick.

There is no taste, but the scent is a bit weird. I don’t know how to put it, it doesn’t offend me but I prefer my lipsticks to have a very natural scent like flowers or fruits.

Regarding the claim of non-feathering, I didn’t experience any but then to actually put that to test I would have to try a darker shade like a Red.

How I wear this color: As with all nudes, I prefer to try the  ‘Apply –Blot – Apply – Blot-Apply thin’ and lip gloss formula with this one as well.

I find that it makes the color more wearable and lasting.

This is definitely an office wear or a day wear color. The peach tones makes it suitable for many skin shades but as with all such nude shades, make sure your makeup is perfect.

Tip of the Day: Avoiding post bath dryness in Winter

Here is a winter care tip for you for post-bath dryness...

Add a mix of dried rosemary leaves, basil leaves and salt from your kitchen shelf to a pot of boiling water.

Keep it on for 5-10mins.

 Once it cools down, filter it and add 1-2 drops of lavender oil and 4-5 drops of olive oil.

 

Use this water as the last wash during your bath - pour slowly giving time for the good stuff to absorb [only on skin, don't use on hair.]

Lazy Beauty Guide: Saving time on Makeup.. :)

Okay, dont get me wrong - I love make up, I love getting ready but there are just some times when I am too tired and still have to get ready, so I skip something at times.... And whats a lazy gal to do!

And these are my tried and tested tips for these kinda situations.. :)

Formal Wear:  

I make sure my face [skin] is looking good, the foundation is applied well without looking too made up. I usually powder my face, neck and behind ears for a quick-matte-clean effect instead of a liquid foundation. 

I skip on blusher/bronzer/highlighter etc.

Instead, I concentrate on highlighting my eyes - using white color in corner of eyes for that 'awake' look and a thin-but-intense layer of kajal/kohl in either black/brown shades on the upper lash line. The key is not to draw attention to eyes without using any strong or bright colors like blue, green etc.

Courtesy: Pixabay.com

Use a brown/peachy nude shade on lips with a thin layer of gloss. If your lip color is good, you can usually get away with a lightly tinted balm.

Casual Wear:

Here again, I keep my facial makeup clean and light. If I have to do heavy duty makeup, I use BB Cream + Powder combo.

I use a peachy shimmer blush with a light hand from temple to cheek to give an instant fresh outing-kinda look. I try to avoid pink as its a risky color- if not careful you're the local clown!

I concentrate on high-lighting my eyes again: this time with a bold colored eye-shadow like a Khaki green or a basic deep black smokey eye with some light shimmer effect. I use a single color on lid and crease and use the blush color on the area immediately beneath the brow for highlight.

For lips, I keep a shimmer or a heavy duty gloss to top any lipstick I am wearing.

Party Wear

Okay, please keep in mind  - I am talking of parties where I have to put in a presence and I am too tired to be very enthusiastic about it.

Face: I mix some highlighter or shimmer with my BB cream and apply it before using the powder for final setting. Make sure this is done with a light hand

Cheeks: Peachy pink or peach shimmer blush. Apply it in 2 layers for longer stay.

Eyes: I mix 2 shades - a basic black or brown with either Gold/Copper/Bronze/Khaki with shimmer. Another instant party trick is to use your mascara brush to coat with 1-2 layers from a glitter eyeliner and use it to coat the lashes from mid-lash to the top.Do not apply glitter at the base of lashes and do this after a layer of mascara is applied.

Lips: A peachy or coral shade with a nice gloss. For parties, its best to keep your lips nicely exfoliated and clean and keep a tinted lip balm handy. I usually use a lip-scrub for 3-4 mins using sugar+honey mix to give it a natural sheen and top it with a tinted lip balm.

Worth the Hype? Lime Crime Velvetines Liquid - Red Velvet

I don't know exactly when I started hearing about Lime Crime - I think may be sometime in 2012. I have always wanted to try their lipsticks, but I couldn't find it online for sometime [I prefer not to shop from online stores when the shipping cost exceeds product cost!]. 

I kept seeing all these reviews and videos that claimed this was THE ONE lip product; some blogger even claimed she's found her HG & is never going to use anything again [Humpphh...really?]. So I was really trying to find this lippie, at least to check f the hype is worth it.

So when I discovered that nailpolishcanada.com -they ship free within Canada, awesome right? - had this Lime Crime Velvetines back in stock, I didn't wait much before I jumped in and got my shade. 

From Lime Crime's website: "Ground breaking formula that goes on liquid and dries completely matte. Touch proof, transfer proof, long wearing and utterly addictive"

Price: $20 USD, Vegan & Cruelty Free [YAY!!] 

And what I think..

Lets take a moment to admire the gorgeous red packaging. Just look at it. The rose print, the frosted translucent casing with a red cap with the unicorn design- how pretty everything is! This is one of those lippies that you would love to pull out at a swanky mall restroom for touch-ups :)

I can't say if it is a ground breaking or heaven-smashing or whatever formula. But I do agree with everything Lime Crime says - it applies liquid, it dries to a super matte finish, it is almost [not quite] touch proof, pretty well transfer proof, long wearing [full color intensity on for at least 3-4 hours with food & drinks] and addictive [hmmm, okay, whatever!]

Red Velvet is a beautiful Hollywood Red - the glamorous vintage everlasting ever-so-chic Red and so I love it. Well who doesn't love a great red lippie!

The color applies full on with a single swipe. If you are not a fan of bold lips then stay away - cos this is not a lippie you can apply sheer; trust me, I tried, it didn't work very well!Once the color starts fading, there is some patchiness but the stain remains for a long time.

Now here is the thing - no disagreements on the awesomeness of the lippie, so if you love this and wont hear a word against it, I am sorry with what I am about to add below, don't eat me. But these are some features I didn't care for in this lip color:

- Hard to remove - I tried with oil, with wet wipes, with makeup removers and after making my lips almost blue, I got the color completely out. So, I highly doubt if I will be using this daily!

With 1 and 1/2 swipe over the lips - look at the awesome pigmentation!

- A bit too matte? - I may be alone in this complaint, but its a bit too matte, even for my normally hydrated lips. It highlights all the lines and I keep feeling like any time, my lips are going to crack open. I can only imagine how bad this may be on a dry lip!

- Borrringgg shades- I love this shade, I really do. But I do feel that for a brand that takes pride in uniqueness and out of the way lip colors, the shade range for this product is pretty much Meh! 

-I am Nitpicking now - slightly weird texture - Again, it may be just me. But the texture of this is a bit uncomfortable for me cos it feels  like a paint or something pretty chemically. I am someone who loves lip colors that feel comfortable & light weight. This is light weight, but well not so comfortable for me.

Medusa's Makeup Lip Gloss in Bite Me over the Velvetine

Other than that - no harsh scent, no irritation and no particular taste. 

Overall: I am going to keep this aside for parties, functions, long trips etc, cos this ain't something I am going to wear every day. But I do so love the color and the product [to an extent]. I am planning to check the Carousel glosses next as I have heard nice things about it :)

A Weird product: E.L.F Cosmetics Studio Body Shimmer in shade Mystic Moonlight

Have you ever used a product and wondered if the company really thought things through? Like how the user is supposed -well- use it? I feel that frustration when I use shampoos with squeeze nozzles like hand soaps [I don't know about others, but when I shampoo I need some goodish amounts and I don't wanna keep squeezing] or when you see palettes with powder & cream products just side by side - how yucky is a lip color with black eyeshadow powder in it!

Anyways, this body shimmer by ELF is one weirdly designed product.

Here is what ELF has to say about the product in their website :

Create sexy, soft shimmer for a healthy looking glow that is lightweight and comfortable. Great for using on cheeks, lips, eyes, and decollete. The convenient twist-up design is easy to use for quick application. Simply glide on this chic shimmer for a sunless, gorgeous glow. 

Price: $3 USD for 0.35 oz

And what I have to say:  

"Nauthannen i ned ôl reniannen" -  Do you feel a thrill when you listen to this? I loved watching LOTR and Galadriel & Arwen kinda defined the word 'ethereal' for me. And why I said this whole story is - if you have the same ethereal complexion like Galadriel and have always wanted that elvish fairy sparkly look, this would be a great highlighter for you.

Mystic Moonlight - is a very frosty shimmery cool-toned silvery shade that leaves some serious shimmer behind on your skin. The shape is good for applying the product on the cheek directly - if it were a subtle highlighter, which this is not. Also, who wants to apply super frosty highlighter in such a wide swipe? The shimmer bar is pretty wide and a lot of product applies if you use this directly on cheeks. The product applies smoothly and is kinda okay to blend it out.

The super frostiness of this product makes it pretty hard to apply as a highlighter for any day wear, cos frankly I don't care to be a disco ball. The sparkly silver shade kinda makes it hard to use it at night also, cos the silvery shade grabs some prominence unless I really blend it in, in which case, all that shows up is the shimmer - which again turns me to a disco ball!

And using it on decollete - did you see the shape of it? How easy did ELF guys think it would be to swipe this across the decollete? It feels weird & applies weird! Also, the shimmer grabs on to hair, clothes and that turns super messy!

The only 2 ways I could use it is on eyes & lips as a highlighting shade. Now, for eyes, I like it. It looks pretty nice if I use it near the corners, beneath the brow bone and under the lower lash line. But, the point is - why would I buy this to be used as an eyeshadow, when I can buy - well,actual eyeshadows.

But on lips, well.. Meh! Its okay enough to apply on the cupids bow, but after some time, all that remains is shimmer. I tried using it in the center of my lower lips once, but I didnt really care for the texture and I am not a big face of using cheek products on lips [I don't mind the vice versa]. 

 Overall: This may be a good fit, if you are the super fair shade of skin color. If you like it, good for you. But me, I wouldn't really recommend this shade. I have a bronze-y shade that I am planning to try during summer. So lets see!

Spring Colors: Barry M Lip Paint in 145 Punky Pink

I got this Barry M lip paint from Asos, some time back and since then, I was more into nude MLBB lip trend and then later the whole 'coral' lips fiasco, I got distracted & didn't use it for a long time. Last month, I was digging up all my bright lip colors for Spring & Summer and I came across this one and went WOW as soon as I swatched it.

Since I was looking for a great fuschia-toned pink that can be a poww-wow color for Spring & Summer, the shock of finding exactly that amongst my stash made me think - may be I should shop in my wardrobe once a month! 

About Barry M Lip Paint [from Barry M Website] There is a shade to suit every occasion from soft, shimmering pastels to bold, vibrant colours. All Lip Paint's have a soft, smooth texture that is packed full of natural moisturisers to help them glide on and stay comfortable to wear for hours

In Canada, this is available from Nailpolishcanada.com for approx $7.50 CAD.

My Experience:

There are very few products that are pocket-friendly yet almost perfect in how they meet the purpose - this lipstick from Barry M is one of them. The shade Punky Pink is a beautiful bright blue-toned fushcia-ish pink that may look scary in tube but applies beautifully on lips.

The lipstick casing is okay - small and handy, which I like. I just wish they would have been a bit more creative with the design, like may be give the color in the casing, cos its hard to know the color by just looking at it. Also, the shade name is not listed on the tube. I am sure I'd prefer to see the label PUNKY PINK as opposed to 145!

As I have learned with lipsticks, the brighter the shade, usually the better the pigmentation and staying power. Another benefit of wearing a brighter shade is it usually brightens your face & pulls your look together. With nude or MLBB shades, your makeup has to be perfect to get the best finish for the entire look. With a brighter shade, you can go minimalistic in your eyes or cheeks and yet look very chic.

The name Lip Paint is frankly a bit scary - I imagined something that will be a bit sticky and long wearing with a very nasty chemical scent. However, this aint like that - it applies very a slightly creamy satin finish. Its somewhere between cream, satin and matte - I love the look that it gives.

With 2 swipes over my lips

One swipe gives a good amount of pigmentation and with 2-3 swipes you get the full color. It is decently moisturizing but not overly so. So, if you have dry lips, you may want to apply this over a thin balm. 

Other than that - no irritation, no taste, no harsh scent. Staying power is around 4-5 hours though the color still remains even when it starts to fade. 

Just a note - here is a blog post where this lipstick is touted as a good dupe for MAC Girl About Town - since I don't own MAC, I can vouch for the review, but it looks pretty accurate :)

 Overall: For the price and quality, this is one great lipstick and I love the color.

Drugstore Beauty: Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Black Fever

Essence is one of my favorite drugstore brand here in Toronto cos they combine super affordable price with great quality and awesome packaging. Notice the use of too many adjectives - but what to do, it is true [now I've started Rhyming]!


Most of their products are around $2-$3 and I think they are a great alternative to E.L.F cosmetics which is anyways not sold in Toronto. The best part for me is how often they release pretty Limited Edition products with cute themes. The last one I got was named 'Blossom Me Up' and 'Kalinka' something. Overall, a great brand and thank you Essence for coming to enrich our lives in Toronto :) :)

About this eye pencil [from Essence website]: " long-lasting and color-intense: the long-lasting eye pencil is super-easy to apply accurately thanks to its innovative twist-mechanism and guarantees long-lasting color results."

Price: $2.49 CAD approx for 0.34gm

Now, don't confuse this one with its Evil Twin - Essence 24 Hr Stay no matter what Eye pencil [I hope I got the long name correctly] - I tried it and didn't like it at all, but that's another review.

My Experience: 

1st of all, lets take a minute to admire the sleek black shiny packaging - other than NYX, how many other drugstore brands can boast of such superb packaging? [Yeah, I'm looking at you NYC, Revlon & others] Its always a pleasure to buy Essence products sometimes just because of the packaging - the latest Kalinka collection is something I am planning to check out soon, cos it features a cute Matryoshka doll design. 

Black fever is a moderately creamy somewhat intensely black eye pencil that applies pretty nicely on your lids with minimum tugging. f

What I don't like about this pencil is - the rounded tip makes it hard to get precise lines, which is okay by me cos I like thick eye lines but if you want those sleek cat eyes, this aint the pencil for you. 

What I like-  The color, the staying power [easily around 6-7 hours], the slight smudge-ability making it a great pencil for lightly smoky eyes and the fact that I don't have to sharpen this pencil! :)

Overall: I think if you can ignore Essence's claim of accurate application, this is a nice everyday pencil. If you want thinner lines, I suggest using  - 

 - a cigar lighter to lightly heat the tip to make it super creamy & then apply a liner brush to get super long stay eye liner.

 - a coffee stirrer to lightly taper of the ends to make it sleek & pointy

For the price, I don't think there are many other eye pencils that can beat this! Just as a comparison:

Too Faced Perfect Eyes pencil [I like this -much more creamier, less smudgy, almost similar staying power]  is $23 CAD for 1.1.4 gms i.e. approx $20.20 for 1 gm

Essence pencil - which works almost as good  but not as intensely pigmented- is $7.35 for 1gm. Thats $13 CAD in savings for a daily use pencil, my dears!!