Tanveer Faisal

2011 favourites - HAIRCARE

2011-12-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

These are tried and tested list of products. Even though I have tried some more hair products, these are the ones which I have been regularly using this year. These are my favourite haircare product for the year 2011.

HAIR OIL:
I do believe that oil massages are good for your hair and make it a point to go for regular hair oil massage followed by steam once in every week. If I get my hair oil massage done from a salon, I always carry my own hair oil. These are my all time favorite hair oils.

1. Dabur Sweet Almond oil (Also known as Roghan Badaam Shirin)

2. Figaro Olive oil

3. Forest Essential Sugandha Hair Oil

4. Fab India Sesame Hair Oil

HAIR CLEANSER
I was recommended Elution shampoo by my dermatologist for my sensitive scalp. I really like this shampoo as it is very light and is even good for everyday hair wash. It doesn't dry out your hair. Elution shampoo cannot be used for oil massage after wash as it is a small bottle and a lot of shampoo is needed to wash off the oil from my hair. In that case I tend to use any other shampoo like Dove or Pantene whatever I can find in my bathroom. Sometimes when I feel like I treat my hair to my Lush shampoos.
I have also been a fan of Loreal absolute repair shampoo and conditioner for a long time. These are heavy moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Good when u actually want your hair to weigh down and behave properly in a ladylike manner :)

1. Lush Curly Wurly Shampoo

2. Lush Big Shampoo

3. Loreal Absolute Repair Shampoo

4. Ducray Elution Shampoo

HAIR CONDITIONERS

My all time favorite this year has been Lush American Cream conditioner. It smells lovely and is very light on hair. Doesn't weigh it down.

1. Lush American Cream Conditioner

2. Loreal Absolute repair conditioner

HAIR SERUM

These two definitely have been my favorite. John Frieda for any styling and Livon for just smoothening my hair after a wash.

1. John frieda frizz-ease hair serum

2. Livon Hair Potion

2011 Favourites - Skincare

2011-12-02T03:42:00.000-08:00

Every girl experiments with new products to finally realize the favourite ones with which she can stick to. Shifting to Mumbai to a totally different climate lead me to look out for a new skincare range which could help me to survive the humid weather conditions. Following are the items which have been my favourite skincare products for 2011:

Face wash/cleansers:

1. Forest Essential - Multani mitti Ubtan (Review HERE)

2. Lush - Coal Face Wash (during summers and monsoon)

3. Lush - Aqua Marina Face cleanser (during winters)

Face Toner:
1. Rose water spray by Fab India

Moisturisers:
1. Body Shop - Vit E Illuminating Moisture Cream

2. Body Shop - Vit E Nourishing Night Cream

Face Scrub:
1. Aroma magicMineral Glow Scrub

2. Lotus herbal walnut scrub

I won!! Shiseido gift pack

2011-11-30T01:25:00.000-08:00

However after a long time I indulged in skincare and makeup, that too without spending money! I won a lucky draw by Shiseido at Shoppers Stop. I had just filled a form at a Shiseido promotion counter and got a call next day about the draw. Who doesn't get excited to get a gift pack full of goodies from a high end skincare range.
Shiseido is a 130 year old Japanese cosmetic and skincare company. It is the fourth largest cosmetic company in the world.

I won a bag which included the following:
1. Ultimate Cleansing Oil- full size bottle
2. Shower and Bath Gel - 30 ml travel pack
3. White Lucent Brightening Refining Softner - 30 ml travel pack
4. White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam - 7 ml sample pack
5. White Lucent Brightening Protective Lotion - 7 ml sample pack
6. Extra smooth sun protection lotion 34 spf - 7 ml sample pack
7. Perfect Rouge lipstick in shade BE208 - 2.5gm travel pack
8. The Makeup- lasting lift mascara in black noir - sample pack

I wanted to try out the White Lucent range for a long time now but I already had my skincare and didn't wanna spend on more. Though the sample sizes are small but they still enough to know if they suit me. The lipstick shade is a very pale pink. Pale shades seems to wash me out but somehow i like this shade on me. I can use it for everyday wear. Also the texture is light and creamy and not glossy. I don't like very glossy lipsticks. I was specially very happy with the transparent and the golden bag I got. I was looking out for something similar as my travel bag for my cosmetics.

I will be using these products and will soon post reviews and my feedback. Let me know if anyone has used Shiseido products and how was the experience. Do you have any favorites in Shiseido range of cosmetics and skincare.

Review - Forest Essential Multani Mitti Ubtan

2011-11-23T04:08:00.000-08:00

Its been long since I have written any post on Blogger. Blame it on my busy work schedule. Whenever I get time I feel like wasting the day and getting lazy at home :D.

Today I am going to review the "Multani Mitti Face Ubtan" by Forest Essential. I only use hair and body massage oils from Forest Essential and don't really indulge in their skincare. The last time I visited their store I asked them for a pack for oily skin as the rains at that time had made the weather in Mumbai really humid. The SA recommended the Multani Mitti Ubtan. Another reason I picked this up without reading reviews online was the fact that this product had won the Elle Beauty award 2010. I wanted to review the Multani Mitti Face Ubtan by Forest Essential only after using it for a long time. This product has been a part of my daily skincare for the last 4 months.

Forest Essential - Multani Mitti Ubtan -~~595/-~~ 495/-

Forest Essential is an Indian company which makes natural skincare products. Forest essential products are used by Hotels like Taj and lots of Spas around India. I completely trust Forest Essential products as they are totally natural and free of any harmful chemicals. International skincare and cosmetics company Estee Lauder has bought stakes in Forest Essentials.

What Forest Essential claims about this product:
An ideal treatment for blemished and acne-prone skin, it has a high content of pure Multani Mitti which is a rich alkaline soil, Jadhikai, Sandalwood and Green Grampowder. Its alkaline content corrects imbalances and neutralizes skin tone. It is mineral-rich and anti-inflammatory, thereby being the perfect remedy for acne and blemishes. Its deep-cleansing action unclogs pores, lifts excess oil and impurities and purifies the skin, leaving it clean and fresh.

From the day I started using this product, my pimples and scars have got in control. My skin looks much more healthy. If I stop using this product even for three-four days I can see the difference. I use this every morning just for 5 minutes on my face and then rinse it off. I do not use any face wash. It removes the oil from my face and till evening my face doesn't require a face cleanser.

If you want to use this as a face pack then use it just once a week. Keep it on your face till dry and then rinse it off while slowly scrubbing it on your face. If you want to use this as a cleanser then just keep it on your face for 5 minutes and rinse it off even if its wet. Do not scrub it daily.

One container will easily last you three- four months. You can use this everyday with Forest Essential Aloe vera gel, rose water or just with plain water. You can also mix it with curd and use but this mixture didn't suit me as the curd made my face oily.
I totally love this product.

Ratings: ✰✰✰✰✰

Will I buy this again: I am already planning to buy my second jar next week. I totally love this product

Swatch - Nyx Megashine lipgloss

2011-10-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry if the pics are not that clear. Waiting to buy a new camera. Will replace the swatch pics with better ones once I get the camera

Top-Bottom : Beige, Smokey look, Dolly pink, Perfect Red, Plush Red, Garnet

Review - NYX Megashine Lip Gloss

2011-09-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

I don't like lip glosses which are very glossy and sheer. I prefer using Mac's Cremesheen gloss over their other lipglosses as cremesheen is more creamy, pigmented and not as sticky as the other lipglosses by Mac.

Recently I found a replacement for Mac's Cremesheen gloss - NYX Megashine Lipgloss. Infact I love them more than Mac ones. They have a huge color selection as compared to Mac. They come in pretty good packaging with a cute bow on top of the cap. Their applicator is way better (Doe applicator for easy application) than any other drugstore brand lipgloss. And most important of all they are just one fourth the price of Mac Lipglasses.

Price - 6$ for 15 ml / .53 oz

Pros of NYX Megashine gloss:

Huge range of color selection.
Good quantity of product. Will last for a long time.
Non sticky and moisturising.
Very pigmented. Finish is quite creamy and opaque. Its not OTT glossy.
Good staying power (4 hrs) without eating and drinking. Leaves a stain of color when it fades.
Good packaging.
Good applicator.
Fruity smell.

Cons:

Availability in India. I order my Nyx products online from HERE on ebay

L-R : Garnet, Plush Red, Perfect Red, Dolly Pink, Beige, Smokey Look

I picked up six colours ranging from light to bright and dark.

Smokey Look

This was the most natural looking color. Out of all the lipcolors I picked this is the only one which has a slight shimmer. The shimmer is not at all visible once u apply it on the lips. This is my "every day use" color.

Beige

This color ranks the last in my list. The color looks more of pale pink than beige. Though I had read lots of good reviews about this color but somehow it looks washed out on me. I have very pigmented lips so bright colors look better.

Dolly Pink

This one is a nice bright fuschia pink without shimmer. This can be toned down to a nice stained lip look or can be built up to have a nice bright fuschia color. I love pink so definately this is one of my favourites.

Perfect Red

Another one of my favourites of the lot. I love pinks, reds and orange/corals. There can be so many different shades of red and choosing the right one takes lot of experimentation. This one is true tomato red color without shimmer.

Plush Red

According to me this is one of the must have red color. It goes on very opaque and is more towards deep red / blue based red. At times I feel it gives a dark pink shade. It also leaves behind a very nice stained color.

Garnet

I just took a risk in ordering this color as this looked quite dark and scary in the tube. But it didnt dissappoint me. Though I see myself using this color less than the others but still im sure I will get a chance to wear this. It can be worn as a stain which actually has a lovely berry color.

Ratings: ✰✰✰✰ +0.5 (-0.5 for availability)

Will I buy this again: Yes, but these glosses are going to last me for a long time now.

I have also been asked to post swatches of the lip colors I own. I will soon post swatches of these NYX megashine glosses followed by the others.

Update : You can check out the gloss swatches HERE

Fashion Trend - Statement Neckpieces!!

2011-08-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

My new obessesion - Statement neckpieces!!

Topshop uk gives free shipping to India for orders above 75 pounds. Newlook uk gives free shipping to India for orders above 45 pounds. And forever 21 has opened in Delhi. Mumbai Forever 21 will be opening soon hopefully by end of this year.

Below I have featured some of the styles from the above mentioned brands that I like and would love to own. Hope u share the same choice of style as mine!

Chain and Tassle Collar - 25 pound (TOPSHOP)

Fish Collar Necklace - 16.5 pounds (TOPSHOP)

Metal beaten collar necklace - 25 pound (TOPSHOP)

Plastic Torque - 16.5 pound - (TOPSHOP)

WANT THIS!! Python Necklace - 20 pound - (TOPSHOP)

Textured disc collar necklace - 20 pound - (TOPSHOP)

MY FAV OF ALL - Vintage style bead collar necklace - 25 pound - (TOPSHOP)

Crescent choker - 6.80 $ - (FOREVER 21)

Hammered bib necklace - 10.80 $ (FOREVER 21)

Laquered boomerang necklace - 5.80 $ - (FOREVER 21)

Review - Lush Rehab Shampoo

2011-07-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Lush describes this shampoo as :

"Olive and jojoba oil shampoo to restore strength and flexibility to abused hair. Rehab is shampoo for hair which had been abused and needs some rest and relaxation. It doesn't take long for this shampoo to restore your hair to youth and vitality. Enzymic papaya cleanses, while almond oil softens the follicles. Once your badly conditioned hair has been put into Rehab, you will never look back."

Price : 100 gms - 680/-, 250 gms - 1340/-, 500 gms - 2100/-

I had read great reviews about this shampoo so decided to try this out. I am soo glad i bought the 100 gms bottle as this is the first Lush product I have got dissappointed with.

As it promises I had not expected it to magically transform my dry hair into silky and glossy hair but it didnt do anything mediocre also. I admit like any other Lush product this smells great, works up to a lather nicely and leaves hair feeling squeeky clean. But it dries out my hair badly and even after using Lush conditioner i dont like the end result. I prefer using the Big shampoo and Curly Wurly from Lush along with american cream conditioer as they make my hair really soft.

This product might work for people with oily hair but its a strict no no for dry hair.

Ratings: ✰✰ - 2/5

Will I buy this again: No

Review - Lush - It started with a kiss Lip Tint

2011-07-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

I like the idea of lip stains and lip tints as they are long lasting and give a beautiful natural " I'm born with it " pretty pink/red lips. But the only downside is that they are very drying on your lips. I love the Body shop lip and cheek stain but I use it only as a cheek stain.

Recently Lush released their first lip tints here in India. Apparantly there are three shades in UK whereas just two of those have been released here in India.

These two shades are

Left to Right : Double Choc and It started with a kiss

Double Choc - A brown chocolate colored lip tint - 710/ for 10 gms.
Hazelnut and brazil nut oils moisturise and protect the lips, while icing sugar and black treacle give it a sweet, creamy texture. This balm has a little colour, too, to tint your lips with creamy chocolate.

It started with a kiss - A reddish pink colored lip tint - 710/- for 10 gms.
It Started With a Kiss lip tint is a tinted balm that makes your lips an enticing crimson red, sure to lure your prince (or princess) charming from the path they had mistakenly wandered off on! Our red apple, cinnamon and white chocolate flavour is delicious. It's a perfect blend of spice and sweetness, and it makes you think of candy apples.

As soon as I tried their liptints, I fell in love with "It started with a kiss". It looks quite scary red color in the pan but it is quite true to its function of a lip tint. It goes on matte on your lips and adds a reddish pink tint to it. Though its bit brighter than the natural pink color that your lips should be, it does tend to get light as soon as it settles. It is also not as drying as the other lip stains or tints due to the presence of coconut oil and shea butter in it but it is also not as moisturising as a lip balm or a lip treatment. Still it ranks way above in my list of lip tints.

Its my favourite product to use during monsoons and when the weather is really humid ( Monsoons were never so much issue in Delhi but in Mumbai you have to completely change your skincare and lipcare routine during monsoon ). If your lips are dry and flaky then I would recommend scrubbing your lips before using this product as it might enhance imperfections. I use Lush Mint Juleps (A lip scrub) for my lips before using the liptint. and sometimes use a light gloss or a lipbalm to add a sheen and moisturise the lips.

Pros of Lush lip tints:

Lip tint containing Coconut oil and shea butter which doesnt dry out the lips.
Stays on for a long time 4-5 hours though I still prefer to re-apply as i love the bright color it initially leaves on ur lips.
It smells quite delicious (Cinnamon-apple fragrance) I love the fragrance of all Lush products.
Can be used under lipsticks or gloss to make the lipcolor stay longer.
Easy to carry around.
Can be used as a cheek tint as well.
A little goes a long way. Just a small amount of product needed as it is quite pigmented.

Cons of Lush lip tints:

I dont like the concept of a lipbalm or a lip color in a pot. I find it quite unhygienic to use and leads to waste of product. Also as it is a tint, it leaves the tip of the fingers stained with the product.

Ratings: ✰✰✰✰ (would have given a five star if it was in a stick form)

Review - Mac Tinted Moisturiser

2011-06-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

As I was never fond of using a foundation, I had to find an alternative for my wedding makeup which would be light on my skin. Therefore when I asked the Mac SA for something light she recommended Mac Studio Moisture Tint.

What Mac Says about the product:
"A light, tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 and other skin-nourishing ingredients. An easy one one-step finish specially suited for the season, this sheer tint provides just enough coverage to even out the skintone while creating a flawless protected, softly moisturized finish. Suitable for all skintones"

I really like this product as it is quite sheer and evens out my skin tone. It gives a very natural look. It also has spf 15 in it and this makes it a perfect product to use during day/afternoon. I have a combination skin type therefore with most of the products my skin tends to get oily. But Mac studio Tint gives my skin a dewy look without making it oily. It has the most matte finish out of all the tinted moisturisers I have used. It ranks number one in my choice of tinted moisturisers.

Price - 1650/- INR or $29.50 for 40ml

There are total 5 shades available in Mac Studio Tint:

Light, Medium, Medium Dark, Dark, Deep Dark

Pros of Mac Studio tint:

It is not too heavy
It is sheer and gives a natural dewy look
Is quite light and doesnt give a cakey look like a foundation.
Does not make skin oily
Doesnt clog the pores of the skin
even though there are 5 shades but they match with most of the skin tones.

Cons of Mac Studio tint:

Cant think of any except that some people may find it expensive. But as I use it only for some special occassion it will last me for more than a year.

Ratings: ✰✰✰✰✰

Will I buy this again: Yes as it is my HG product now!

Color of 2011 - ORANGE

2011-05-31T05:35:00.000-07:00

Sport the hottest color of 2011Spring - ORANGE!!

We girls usually tend to wear pinks and reds if we feel like wearing something bright. Its time to break out from our regular color trends and sport one of the bright colors which can take you away from your gloomy mood to your happy sunny side. I personally love the dark and bright orange shade which has been a big trend in fashion weeks this year. Specially with color blocking being a huge success this season, orange has been the favourite pick among all the colors.

Another thing in my wishlist is the Orange blazer. It can be teamed up with a dress, a trouser or even with tights and looks fab...

Orange accessories can add up a touch of colour to a nude outfit or an outfit with basic colors.

Orange handbag:

If you think you are not bold enough to sport an orange colored outfit then you can always play it safe by accessorising it with an orange handbag.

Orange is the new Red in the makeup section. Orange nails and orange lips are the boldest trend of 2011 spring makeup.

An orange colored lips can brighten up a nude face. Do keep in mind to keep rest of your makeup minimal with the orange lip color.

MAC Morange - My fav orange lipstick which is always out of stock!

What are Tinted Moisturisers?

2011-05-21T04:51:00.000-07:00

I am not at all a foundation lover. Though I do keep one in my closet, I prefer using a tinted moisturiser. In Indian market after a lot of search I have found tinted moisturiser are only available with Oriflame, Ponds and Biotique (will be doing a review on each of these soon). Every drugstore makeup counter I have been to and asked the sales assistant for a tinted moisturiser, they were clueless. This lack of availability of tinted moisturisers as a product with Drugstore brands in India is the main cause of most of the girls being unaware of something known as "tinted moisturiser".

What is a tinted Moisturiser?
A tinted moisturiser is a combination of skincare moisturiser with a light foundation. It gives a very natural, lumnious complexion. It does not give a heavy cakey look, instead it just adds a slight tint to the skintone which gives a very natural, glowy look. It is the best product for daylight makeup.

Pros of Tinted moisturisers:

Combination of moisturiser and makeup in one
Provides light coverage and does not look cakey
Most of Tinted moisturisers contains spf which is not found in most of the foundations.
Less expensive as compared to applying moisturiser, sunblock and foundation seperately.
Its very easy and quick application unlike that of a foundation
Different shades to match your skintone.
More long lasting.

Cons of tinted moisturiser:

The only con is for women who want more coverage and are used to using foundation for their skin. This product will turn out to be light for their use.

Tinted moisturisers that I have tried and will be reviewing (in order of most favourites to the least) in my next post :

1. Mac - Studio tint with spf 15

Read the review of this product HERE

2. Oriflame peach me perfect cream

3. Pond's antiageing tinted moisturiser with spf 15

4. Biotique tinted moisturiser.

Tinted moisturisers can be found in high end brands like chanel, clarins, estee lauder etc. Most of these are available at shoppers stop in India and at Chanel boutique stores for Chanel products.

Fashion Trend - Color Blocking

2011-05-10T01:04:00.000-07:00

One of the hottest trend seen this year at the fashion shows is the color blocking which includes combining different colours of bright hues together. Color blocking can be done with your outfit, accessories, or makeup. It is very easy to go wrong with color blocking. The best practical way to sport a color blocking is to combine one bright colour with neutral colors. The dash of bright colour can be in your shoes, pant/denims/tights with a neutral colored top. and if u confident enough then another colour can be added in the form of accesories either with a bright colored bag, a scarf, headband or a bright colored lipcolor or eyeshadow. But only one of these. Do not go overboard with adding colors.

The best color blocking can be seeen in Jil sander and Gucci design. Color blocking is all about choosing the right color combinations. An orange with pink or a denim blue, red with pink, orange or cobalt blue, pink with purple are some of the options.

From Left to Right : Marc Jacobs, Gucci, MaxMara, Jil Sander, Loewe, Etro

A Gucci Outfit

One of the easiest and fun option to go for is to team a bright coloured pants/denims with a neutral colored top.

Gucci 2011

Im sure everyone will love Gucci's colorblocking but the key to this is selecting the right colors together. It is very easy to go wrong here when there are more than two colors involved.

Jil Sanders

Bright accessories (bags, bangles, hair accessories), bright colored tights/ jeans can help you get the look.

Katy Perry for ELLE in a Gucci outfit

Are you bold enough to sport colorblocking this summer!! :D

Review - Lush Retread Conditioner

2011-05-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

I love Lush products for two reasons:

They contain natural ingredients (fruits, yoghurt, natural oils etc). They are not harmful for your hair as compared to other commercial hair products. ( Do check out the ingredients on your shampoo bottle or conditioner - it is filled with harmful chemicals)
All Lush products smells amazingg! Be it their shampoos, Conditioners or soaps.

Price : INR 1230/- for 245 gms.

As per Lush Website:

Triple strength conditioner for extra softness. As with so many Lush products, Retread appears, on first contact, to resemble a cholesterol-laden pudding. It is scented with violets and oranges with a hint of sensual musk. You can use a spoon, if you like, but we prefer to dip our hands in and plaster the super-smoothing cream all over our hair for the seaweed, yoghurt, cantaloupe melon and jojoba oil to give seriously sad hair its shine back. Do not use it if your hair is lifeless and limp, Retread would squash it flat. Use it when your hair is feeling rough, harsh and wrecked. Retread will restore its sanity.

Is recommended for use with Rehab Shampoo but i use it with Big shampoo.

Pros :

Does not contain silicones (Silicones aggaravate hair problems)
Contains natural ingredients.
Does not weigh down your hair.
Makes hair soft.
Smells wonderful!

Cons:

Contains Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Does not work on the frizz in your hair effectively.
Pricey

Ratings: ✰✰✰ +0.5

Will I buy this again: Yes i.e. if i dont find anything better than this. Even though its not a heavy conditioner, i find it safe for everyday use. Also i am addicted to the fragrance.

Review - Mac Kissable lipcolor

2011-04-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

So I finally bought something from the peacocky collection that I liked. The texture of these lip colors is amazing. It is exactly like a gloss without the sticky feeling of a gloss. Though its not as shiny as a gloss, the application is exactly the same and the color payoff is wonderful. Also its stays on longer as compared to mac lipglasses and cremesheen gloss. You do have to reapply after two hours or so (atleast for me coz I tend to bite my lips) but it feels really light on the lips as if you havnt applied anything. The color becomes lighter after sometime so do not worry if it looks bright in the tube. I have bought the color Exx-Hibitionist. It is the prettiest coral lipcolor I own as of now. I even wanted Scan-de-licious which is a hot pink color. But as the collection was launched one week back here in India, half of the colors were already out of stock.

Below are the 12 Lip colors in this Collection:

Enchantée: A Pink with blue undertone
Exxxhibitionist: A coral color
Temper Tantra: A Brown with Red undertone
Love Peck: A Dark Red Color
Peacocky: A Blue color (I wonder why this color)
Flaunting It: A dark mauve Color

So Vain: A light coral color with Pink undertone
Scandelicious: A Fushia pink with Red undertone
Super: A Brown Nude color
Strut Your Stuff: A true Red color
Vanity Fair: A Pink color with Blue undertone
Woo Me: A Pink Nude color

Price : 1150/- INR

Pros:

Pigmented colors
Light texture
More staying power than a gloss
Does not bleed/feather
Is not sticky like a gloss

Cons:

Limited edition.
Pricy compared to Mac lipglass and Mac Cremesheen

Review - Lush Les Cacas

2011-04-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Caca, is a product of Lush which is simply an enhanced version of henna. Henna in India is used for mehendi tattoo as well as a conditioner and a color for hair. All these years I have been using henna on and off for my hair. My natural hair color is dark brown but whenever I have used henna they have given a red highlight to my hair which is more visible in the sun.

My experience with LUSH caca has been great. This is like any traditional henna which gives your hair a color highlight. But the best part about this henna is that you have a choice of four colors which I havnt see in traditional henna available in the market (atleast I havnt found any). Plus this has been mixed with cocoa butter for extra conditioning as even though henna is good for your hair, it does tend to leave your hair texture dry and coarse. The cocoa butter in the LUSH caca leaves it soft and smooth. There are also loads of different natural ingredients mixed along with cocoa butter which conditions your hair. These ingredients are mixed with henna and then pressed in the form of blocks.

The four hennas have different effects on different types of hair as far as the color is concerned. Light color hair will get brighter colors as compared to dark hair.
I tried the coco brun which is supposed to give your hair a brown highlight. This henna didn't change my hair color as my base is naturally brown. If this henna is used on blonde hair, it will turn the hair brown. Therefore as i have a dark base, next time i will use a color like rouge mixed with brun or maroon.

Price : INR 910 for one Bar (Each bar as 6 small blocks)

The four different henna colors available at Lush are:

(Description from Lush India website)

"Pure Persian henna mixed with Indian indigo for blue-black tints. It is an ancient Indian tradition to mix red henna with powder from the dried, fermented indigo root, to give dark hair deep blue glints. Indigo is not cheap, so there are some synthetic 'black hennas' around, but we want you to stay away from those! Lush Caca Noir is red henna with indigo powder, clove oil scent and Irish moss seaweed for softness. Cover it with Clingfilm and keep it damp for a redder colour, or let it air dry for a black/blue tint. Pick up any bits which fall on the floor or it'll dye the rugs, too."

"The subtle coffee-coloured one. Caca Brun is made with black and red hennas, plus ground coffee for a deep brown shade. It makes your hair smell like a fresh espresso for a few days. Clove bud oil adds to its spicy scent and we use powdered nettle and seaweed for extra shine and softness. Caca Brun gives your hair a magnificent shine. We recommend it for people with a mousy, undecided hair colour. It's time to make your mind up and come out really shiny brown!"

"Dark red-brown like fresh conkers and as shiny as a new penny. Caca Marron gives a dark red, rich chestnut brown which causes people to comment on its beauty. Really! The coffee gives a strong, deep brown and red henna gives it a glossy, dark red colour to grab the attention. The wild herby, coffee and clove scent is wonderfully natural. Visit a shop and ask the staff which of them use Marron and you'll buy a block."

"The really red one for hair like sunsets. It's red and no mistake. This is the finest Persian red henna with cocoa butter to make it adhere better to the hair and give even more colour, lemon juice for extra shine, rosemary for additional extra shine and clove bud oil because it smells good and warms and stimulates your scalp. You should only use this if you want really red hair."

How to use Lush Cacas:

As these are in the form of blocks the best way is to grate as much Henna as you need. One whole bar has six blocks in it. For hair as long as mine (till the waist) i use four blocks. So with anyone having shorter hair, one bar can last for 2-3 applications. Add some boiling water to the Henna, wait for 5 minutes and then mix it well to make a paste. Be careful of the mixture getting too thin otherwise it will be dripping from your hair. In a big pan put water to boil. Place the bowl containing the water in the pan while the water is boiling. This will indirectly heat the henna. Heat it till it is hot to touch, something which u can manage on your hair for application (this henna has to be applied hot as per Lush, I guess that way the cocoa butter melts better) Apply all over your head and then cover up with a shower cap for a brighter color or leave to air dry for a deeper darker color. Leave it for as much as 4-6 hours and then wash out. Washing out the henna might be trickier than the regular henna because of the cocoa butter in it. The result is soft, shiny hair with a beautiful tinge of color!!
Another thing i liked about this product was that i loathed the way my hair smelled for a week after applying regular henna. But after using Lush caca i really liked the way my hair smelled.

I know it is a very messy and a long process and you need one whole day to do this. But in the end its all worth it!! Will update you guys with the result once i try out Rouge and Maroon.

Ratings: ✰✰✰✰ + 0.5
Will I buy this again: Yes

Let me know your views if u try or have already tried Lush cacas.

Fashion Trends - Jumpsuits

2011-04-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

I am completely in love with jumpsuits. It has been one of the hottest trends since 2009. But in India as everything seems to catch up late, I'm still struggling to find really nice jumpsuits. I find them the most comfortable and stylish piece of clothing.

The trend of jumpsuit was seen in the 70's when these were known as flying suits. They were considered a bit boyish as the style seemed to resemble a mechanic suit. Back then it didnt have different avatars that can be seen on the ramp, these days.

But now these jumpsuits can be found in myriad fits and styles from loose to fitted, casual to formal. A simple jumsuit can be accessorised with nice jewellery, clutch and heels or for a casual look, team it up with flat pumps, a jacket and a cross sling bag!

Below are few of the different styles of jumpsuits-

Armani
This is my favourite style - formal and classy- can someone please let me know if you find a dupe for this!!

Mac Peacocky Collection

2011-04-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Mac is finally launching the Peacocky collection next week in India. This collection has already been launched in the U.S. in Jan,2011. As the name suggests this collection has been inspired by the colors of Peacock.

It has a new range of lip color known as kissable lip colors. These lipcolors combine the creamy texture of a lipstick with the application of a gloss. Unlike Mac lipglass which are very sheer in texture these are more pigmented in color.

This collection has 12 Kissable lip colors and 15 Mega metallic eyeshadows
The eyeshadows are bigger than the permanent range of eyeshadows available at Mac (.11 oz as compared to .05 oz) and are also more expensive than the regular range. The lipcolors are nearly the same size as the lipglass but still more expensive.

Price in US $
Kissable Lipcolor - 18.50$
Mega metallic eyeshadows - 19.50$

Will update the prices in Indian rupee once it is launched next week and also the product review if I buy anything!

UPDATE : Kindly find the price and review of Mac Kissable Lip color here

Review - Lush BIG Shampoo

2011-03-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

As a result of my latest obesession with LUSH i had to review my favourite shampoo BIG. The BIG shampoo by Lush is unlike any other shampoo i have ever used. It contains 50% coarse sea salt. It leaves hair squeeky clean and smells heavenly! As the name suggests it also leaves your hair with more volume along with added shine and softness.

Lush Cosmetics are handmade cosmetics with natural ingredients. Lush describes this shampoo as :

"Sea salt shampoo for shine, softness and big endowments. This pot of oceanic goodness is 50% sea salt to give limp hair the volume it deserves, with seaweed infusion to soften hair and citrus juices for shine. After using Big, your hair will be bouncing back to life"

Price : 330 gm - 1550/-

It might seem a bit wierd during the first use because of its texture. But you only need a small amount of shampoo and surprisingly it lathers up well. On massaging, the salts vanishes on its own. It exfoliates your scalp really nicely leaving it absolutely clean especially because of the presence of sea salts in it. But this can also be a slightly negative point in this shampoo. Even though sea salt cleans your scalp thoroughly, it can end up drying your hair a bit. Therefore BIG is not a daily use shampoo. It is only recommended for once a week use. But the "once a week" use leaves a big impact on your hair along with a fragrance which lingers on till your next wash. The salt in the shampoo gives your hair more volume, the lemon and lime juices add shine, and the coconut oil leaves the hair soft. A little goes a long way and if used once a week, this tub will be good enough for 3-4 months.

PROs :

Lathers up well
Cleans thoroughly
Adds Volume
Adds shine
Makes hair soft
Smells great

CONs:

Not a daily Shampoo
Can be a bit drying
A bit on expensive side

Lush store in Mumbai also delivers at your place with an extra delivery charge of 50/- to 100/-
Lush products can be ordered online at http://lushindia.com/

Ratings: ✰✰✰✰✰ - 5/5
Will I buy this again: Definately!!

Kindly give your vote for your favourite shampoo. Incase you want me to add some other brand which is not mentioned below please leave me a comment.

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Back to Mac

2011-03-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

This post is for all those girls who are Mac addict. Most of you might not know about Mac's "Back to Mac" scheme. Its a recycle program by Mac. Do not throw away your old and empty or expired Mac product containers. Mac cosmetic accepts the old containers and for every 6 empty containers you can take a mac lipstick of your choice for free. I have already reached the count of 5 expired products from mac. Last one to go!

My First Ebay Purchase- Nyx

2011-02-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

I have always bought my makeup, skincare and haircare products after going through a bunch of online reviews.

I have never seen Nyx brand anywhere in Delhi. It was only when I came to Mumbai that I found a Nyx (a U.S. cosmetic brand) stall at Hypercity. Most of its products are good but their cream blushes are my favourite. To my dismay, I found that most of their products are not available in India. However last month while going through one of the blogs, I found a link to an ebay seller who ships nyx products to India. I was surprised to see the price in US dollars. Apparently it is sold at a higher price in India than in the U.S. I couldn't resist so I eventually placed an order and it cost me much lesser (shipping included) than if I had bought it from Hypercity. The sellers name on ebay is Joy and she has all the Nyx products and every shade available. I ordered my stuff on the 3rd of Feb and I recieved the Package on the 17 of Feb. So if you place your order from India, it should take about two weeks to reach you from Calif., US.

I loved the way Joy had packed the products. They were wrapped in a bubble packing with her store logo sticker on each pack. Her store logo is a very cute cartoon character applying a lipstick. She sent me an Invoice with a sweet message at the end and also gave me 2$ discount on shipping.

I ordered for two cream blushes in Hot pink and Glow, two jumbo eye pencils which are like eyshadows in Pure Gold and Pots and Pans and one Jumbo lip pencil in Deep red.

Left : Hot Pink, Right : Glow

Left to Right, Jumbo Lip Pencil In Deep Red,
Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pure Gold,
Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pots and Pans

These blushes are the best dupes for Mac cream blushes. The shade Glow is the closest match to Mac cream blush in Posey, though Glow is brighter in color than posey. Hot pink is a bright fushia pink /neon pink blush. This is the brightest color of pink i have ever seen in a blush. Though they look scary in pan because of the bright color but when applied properly it turns into a soft pink flush. You have to be very careful while applying specially with Hot pink and have to use a light hand otherwise one can end up looking like a clown :P

Jumbo Lip Pencil is not a lipliner but its a lipstick in a pencil form. It is very soft and creamy. I intend to gift this particular one to my mom as I am not too keen on experimenting with these shades. Nonetheless, I really like this product and I am considering ordering a lighter shade in it next time

The Jumbo eye pencil is a good option for someone like me who is not used to wearing eyeshadows. I am hardly an expert in applying and blending powder eye shadows. These are creamy eyeshadows which are easy to swipe. They are available in a wide range of colors. I ordered for a gold and a silver shade as these are the only two shades which I feel I will use.

Jumbo Eye Pencil Swatch Top to Bottom:
Pots and pans , Pure Gold

Joy also sent me some loose glitters in Pink as a gift which I am not sure how to use. I have seen it on her ebay store in the products list. Anyway it was very thoughtful of her to add something extra to my package.

You can buy Nyx products from stores.ebay.com/joyscosmetics

Indian Fashion Designers- Part 1

2011-02-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

As I recently got married I had three months before marriage dedicated to my wedding trousseau shopping. I did so much of research and even though I had a big list of favorite designers, it wasn’t financially viable for me to buy from these topnotch designers. So finally I designed and prepared my whole trousseau except for the Baraat and Reception lehenga.

Especially after my marriage my liking for Indian embroidery and material has grown many folds. I thought why not start a post, sharing some information about Indian clothing.

I feel the Indian designers and the Indian attire outshine the top western designers and their designs. I have noticed that a lot of people are not aware about the Indian fashion industry and have met a number of girls who don’t even know the most well known Indian designers. So this first post is going to be a little introduction to some of my favorite Contemporary Designers.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

He is my favorite Designer. His clothes make a girl look sooo elegant and dignified. When most of the designers have been taking inspiration from the west, he has been the only designer whose work originates from the Indian traditional culture and clothing. He combines the richest materials available in India like silk, khadi, brocade, velvet etc with beautiful intricate embroidery, patchwork in vibrant colors and block printing. The Victorian London, old streets of Calcutta, West Bengal and Orissa inspire his designs and work. It is very easy to spot a Sabyasachi creation as he has a very unique style. I am always short of words in praise of this wonderful designer. His collections remind me of vintage designs which never goes out of style.

Sabyasachi designs are available at Aza Fashion & Ensemble, Mumbai, @ Carma, Ogaan and Aza, New Delhi @ Espee & Intrigue, Kolkata, @ Origins and Oorja, Hyderabad, @ Evoluzione, Chennai & Banglore, @ Elan, Hyderabad.

Sabyasachi can also be shopped from International stores in Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. Hongkong Shanghai, Italy, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Switzerland, Kuwait and London.

Website: www.sabyasachi.com

Ritu Kumar

She is one of the oldest designers in fashion industry who hails from the late 60’s era of designers. She was also the first woman to start the boutique culture in India. Ritu kumar lehenga’s are the prettiest lehengas that I have seen with work so intricate and delicate that its perfect for the ‘brides to be’ for their big day. Usually I have seen reds and pinks more widely used in her bridal wear collections. I feel that her most beautiful creations are the ones with Zari embroidery. I remember one of my friends wore a stunning Ritu Kumar Lehenga on her Wedding Reception. It was a beautiful lehenga in red and gold which made her look really elegant.

Ritu Kumar collection is available in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Chenna, Banglore, Hyderabad, Kolkatta, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Goa, Pune, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Indore. For specific address of the store you can check out her website.

Website: www.ritukumar.com

Manish Malhotra

He is the man who became big in fashion industry without any formal education in fashion design. So he is my biggest inspiration. He has been known to dress up bollywoods most beautiful women and is quite popular among them especially for his saris. He started his career as a model while studying in a college in Mumbai after which he joined a boutique in Mumbai called the Equinox. This is exactly where he realized his passion for fashion and costumes and decided that bollywood was his forte as he was a die-hard fan of Bollywood. He started up designing clothes for actresses in the late 80’s era like Juhi chawal and Urmila Matondkar. Even now I see Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Kajol wearing Manish Malhotra designs most of the time.

Manish Malhotra’s collection can be checked out at his main store in Mumbai located at link road, Khar. Besides this his designs are available at every outlet of Aza, Kimaya, Samsara, Evoluzione, Carma and The collective, located all over India.

Internationally, Studio 8 in Dubai also stocks up his collection.

Website: www.manishmalhotra.in

I will soon be writing another blog with pictures of these designers’ collections, which will help to distinguish between their work and style.