Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick Review

Heyyy Girls!!!
Its a Lipstick today! Oh how I love reviewing lipsticks... And if its from Bourjois then its just gets better :-)

Bourjois says :

"SWEET KISS LIPSTICK

HIGH INTENSITY COLOUR IN JUST ONE FLICK!

Dress your smile in intense radiant colour thanks to the unique combination of waxes and oils which coats the pigments for ultra luminosity.

Voila! A luminous satin finish in one stroke!

A new gliding formula, plus a selection of fine and infinitely light oils, offers maximum comfort on application. Argan Oil gives up to 8 hours of moisture for ultra-kissable lips."

(from left to right) 47 Rose pare and 75 Rouge Parisienne

Price : INR 650

Quantity : 3 gms.

Available at : Lifestyle, Central & Westside stores across India

(from top to bottom) Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick 75 Rouge Parisienne and  47 Rose Pare

I've been using Bourjois lipsticks on and off for 3 years now and these babies have never let me down. Smooth application, great color pigment and a nice fragrance. What else can a Girl ask for? Trendy packaging! Yes, it has a unique slide button to get the lippy out from the case. I think Bourjois needs two thumbs up for this smart and travel safe lipstick case. 

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick 47 Rose Pare is a shimmery rose pink (swatch on hand)

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick 47 Rose Pare (on lips)

Pro's of Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick :

• Value for your money 
• Kind of moisturising
• Smooth application
• Great color pigmentation
• Smells nice
• Trendy and travel safe packaging 

Con's of Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick :

• Not a long wear lipstick
• Glitter in the Rose pare lipstick feels coarse
• Rouge Parisienne lipsticks is matte and hence drying. Apply this one with a lipstick brush for perfect application.

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick 75 Rouge Parisienne is a matte red lipstick (swatch on hand)

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick 75 Rouge Parisienne (on lips) is a classic red lipstick. Make sure you wear this with a lip balm to prevent drying.

To Splurge or Not to Splurge :

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipsticks are a great alternative to expensive brands as they provide similar formula at lower prices. The color options available are wide and an absolute treat for Girls of all ethnicity's. If you are a lipstick lover like me, I would suggest you give these lipsticks a try and you just might surprise yourself ;-)

Final Verdict :
Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick gets a 4/5 from me!

Garnier Fructis Long & Strong Fortifying Shampoo

Heyyy Girls!!!
Hope all of you had a great time over the festive week and made some beautiful memories to cherish forever!

I've surprised myself by finding (yet another) shockingly good shampoo last week. It always starts with trips to the local mart to buy groceries and I find myself drawn to the self care alley. Boredom is a huge issue with me and I need a variety of products (the prettier the packaging, the better!) to just decorate my shower.
This time I found myself drawn to the Garnier Fructis Long & Strong shampoo only because I'm trying to grow my hair out. The promise of helping my "weak, split difficult to grow long hair" was just enough temptation.

Garnier says :
"Dream of having long shiny hair? Tired of split ends? Garnier Fructis long & strong shampoo strengthens the hair fibre from within smoothes the hair from root to tip.


Result : Hair is stronger from within and shinier on the outside. " 


Price : INR 199


Quantity : 400 ml.


Available at : All supermarkets & general stores


For those uninitiated Garnier is a mass market brand of the French cosmetic giant L'Oreal. Hence, you can rest assured that the quality and results of Garnier's products are bound to be similar to others from L'Oreal.
Fructis has an entire range of shampoo's and conditioner (Fall Fight, Sleek & Shiny, Shampoo + Oil, Anti- Dandruff) for most of your hair problems. They even have a kids shampoo with an effective no tears formula that I have been using for some time for my son.

The shampoo is pearl white in color with a mango-apple fragrance. The consistency is thick and creamy and lathers luxuriously.

Pro's of Garnier Furctis Long & Strong Shampoo :

• Inexpensive
• Smells nice
• Lathers well
• Leaves hair clean and moisturised
• Appearance of split ends is reduced and hair is shiny

Con's of Garnier Fructis Long & Strong Shampoo :

• Contains SLS, Parabens and Silicone
• With regular use left a nasty product build up in my hair, alternate this one with a clarifying shampoo
• Needs to be diluted well with water when lathering or you'll end up using more product than required

To Splurge or Not to Splurge :

If you are a no fuss, budget shampoo buyer who prefers to pick any available brand, you might want to reach out to the Garnier Fructis range of shampoo's next time your at the store. It's a value for money product and will definitely leave your hair looking healthier.

Final Verdict :

Garnier Fructis Long & Strong Shampoo gets a 3.5/5 from me! 

Women Vs. Acne

Heyyy Girls!!!
Today I've decided to broach a super sensitive issue with all of woman kind. Acne. I hate them with a vengeance and so do all of you. But did you know that we can make many lifestyle choices that can prevent
or even encourage acne breakouts? With this post we will bust some myths and spread awareness on how to curb acne.

This does not have to be you! Read on to know how you can get rid of acne

Acne is a skin condition that causes whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red growths (papules, pustules, and cysts) to form. These growths are commonly called pimples or "zits." 


Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged.

• Each pore is an opening to a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. These oil glands help lubricate the skin and help remove old skin cells.
• When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked. Dirt, debris, bacteria, and inflammatory cells build up. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.
• The top of the plug may be white (whitehead) or dark (blackhead).
• If the plug breaks open, the material inside causes swelling and red bumps to form.
• If the inflammation is deep in your skin, the pimples may enlarge to form firm, painful cysts.

Acne is a problem of swelling and inflammation, not a problem caused by bacteria.

How Acne Occurs

Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can happen at any age, even in an infant. Three out of four teenagers have some acne. Hormonal changes probably cause increased oil in the skin. However, people in their 30s and 40s may also have acne.

Acne tends to run in families and can be triggered by:

• Hormonal changes related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress
• Greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products
• Certain drugs (such as steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and phenytoin)
• High levels of humidity and sweating

Despite the popular belief that chocolate, nuts, and greasy foods cause acne, research does not confirm this idea. Diets high in refined sugars may be related to acne, though.

Eat healthy to get healthy skin

Now that you know what is an acne, how it occurs and what can trigger it, lets educate ourselves on how we can prevent it from starting.

1. Systematic skin regime - Whatever your daily routine may be like, you need to set out time to cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin with products that are suitable for you. Stay away from products which have Oil or Alcohol as they leave your skin feeling dry and tight. A mild cleanser with warm, not hot water is perfect for your skin. Washing your face twice a day is sufficient even if you have oily skin, as the more you wash, the more oil it will secrete. Also when washing your face remember to be gentle all the time. No scrubbing or rubbing with loofahs or exfoliating gloves. Do not use deodorant soapx which are harsh on your inflamed skin. Always wipe your face with a soft and clean towel as towels, when moist are the breeding ground of bacteria. Toner helps to close the open pores on your face and thus prevent direct entry of dirt and bacteria in to your skin. Moisturiser is equally important. Some acne treatment creams and lotion contain ingredients that may cause your skin to dry and peel while getting rid of bacteria. A gel based moisturiser is meant for oily skin, a cream or lotion for dry skin and combination skin might need both for the dry and oily areas on your face. Some acne medications are known to increase skin's sensitivity to the sun rays.Use a sunscreen with a SPF 15 or higher at least 20 minutes before you step out.  For acne prone skin there are some non-acnegenic sunscreen's available in the market. Fact is whether you have acne or no, these simple rules apply to all.
2. Hands Off - No matter how many times you might wash, wipe or sanitize your hands they are always dirty. Unless important avoid touching your face as unknowingly you may be transferring dirt and bacteria on your skin which may clog your pores and in turn cause breakouts. Those with long hair should keep them away from face as our hair constantly traps dirt and dust.
3. Wipe the sweat - Those with an active lifestyle should make sure to wipe as much sweat as possible off their face during exercising with a clean towel. After work out it is important to clean the sweat and dirt off your skin as soon as possible A gentle exfoliator should be used twice a week to remove dead skin accumulation. 
4. If its mild, its no big deal - Mild acne will clear itself in some time. Do not hit the panic button at the appearance of even a tiny one. Almost everyone at some point of time has suffered from acne. Experts believe that our emotional state is related to all aspects of our health which includes our skin. Try to keep your mind calm at all times to prevent breakouts. Stressing over a pimple is sure to cause many more.
5. Burn acne with the calories - Yes, its true! Exercise can also help prevent acne. The list of benefits you derive from working out just got longer. Exercising not only relieves anxiety and stress, it also increases blood circulation through your body which means healthy glowing skin. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and just like your muscles it derives immense benefit from your work out.
6.  Wrong Make up = Break outs - Hmm, this one's true too. Wearing the wrong kind of make up is an open invitation to acne. Those with oily skin should stick to oil free and or water based make up. Avoid wearing a whole lot of make up when you have acne as it may trigger it further. If you have to, remember to cleanse and wash you face as soon as you get back home. Sleeping with your make up on is possibly the worst thing you can do for your skin. Avoid make up which contains too many chemicals and dye if you suffer from chronic acne.  Remember to read the ingredient list on all your cosmetics before you buy them.
7. Diet to the rescue - Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, fish and poultry is the key to good healthy skin. Avoid greasy, heavy food and junk items. Though there's no proof that chocolate and chips can cause acne, avoid them as a general rule for healthy skin and a slim waist. Excessive salt intake should be stopped. Drink 7-8 glasses of water ever day to flush out toxins from within and get well hydrated clear skin.
8. Self treatment is a big NO - Please spare you skin of any further trauma. It's already sad at the bad treatment its received at you hands, putting some vinegar or garlic or tooth paste may just make matters worse. Some of these may have worked years ago or even today for someone you know but trust me, it's your face and it's certainly not worth the risk or consequences.
9. No picking, squeezing - I know you are frustrated and desperate times call for desperate measures, but squeezing or trying to manually pop your pimples will spread the bacteria further across your face. Remember to keep your hands off you face. Picking your pimples can lead to scarring your face for life. So please remember these lines next time you are about to give in to the temptation of taking matters in your hands, literally and figuratively.
10. See a Specialist -If acne has become a permanent phenomenon in your life its time to meet a Dermatologist to analyse your skin. It is better to let the experts decided why its happening and how you can fix it. Don't get tempted to buy medication and treatments over the internet or after watching a paid preview on the television. Spend your money sensibly at a dermat's clinic. They can advise you to take some zinc supplements and use benzoyl peroxide to safely beat acne.

Do not pop your pimples. It will only cause more breakouts.

Acne is not a demon that you cannot beat. It is simply a skin condition which you can easily clear with expert guidance and by making small yet significant lifestyle changes.

See a Dermatologist to seek solutions for chronic acne problems 

The Body Shop Concealer Review

Heyyy Girls!!!
Today we are reviewing The Body Shop's Concealer.

The Body Shop says :
"A range of luxuriously creamy, lightweight, wax-based concealer pencils that blends easily to effectively cover blemishes and conceal redness. Available in a variety of shades to suit most skin tones. Dermatologically tested.

Ingredients :

Marula Oil - Is a very effective moisturiser that also helps to condition the skin over time. Also provides essential fatty acids that help to repair the skin's moisture barrier, thus helping to restore moisture, smoothness and suppleness.

Beeswax - Moisturises and helps to condition the skin. Acts as a barrier that helps to seal in moisture. Helps to keep product texture consistent, when used over time.Vitamin E - Is an antioxidant that helps to soften, condition and protect the skin."

Price : INR 545
Quantity : 19 gms.
Available at : All Body Shop outlets


This is the first time I've used any make up from The Body Shop. Also, the only other concealer I have tried before this one was the Master Touch from Max Factor. Since I do not use a lot of concealers I have never really felt the need to look around at what's available in the market. I chose to buy this concealer solely due to my blind faith in all things from The Body Shop.

The concealer comes in a pencil with a plastic cap. The Body Shop recommends that you sharpen it every time you use to avoid the breeding and or spreading of bacteria on the pencil. The packaging is safe to travel with in your handbag.

Application : 
Dab onto desired area and blend using your fingers. As a general rule, choose a concealer that is slightly lighter than your foundation. If using alone, or on bare skin, pick a shade that is most close to your skin.

Before

After applying TBS Concealer

Pro's of The Body Shop's Concealer :

• Effectively covers even the darkest circles and blemishes
• Rich & Creamy texture
• No fragrance and silicones
• Did not cause acne
• Doest not crease or look patchy even after a long day's wear
• Will last a long time

Con's of The Body Shop's Concealer : 

• Over priced (like most TBS products)
• Needs to be blended well
• Application is difficult. Do not directly apply it on your delicate under eye area to avoid tugging.skin
• Needs an exclusive sharpener, sold by TBS (priced at INR 125)
• Very limited shade options
• Can be drying on mature skin

To Splurge or Not to Splurge :

The Body Shop's Concealer has been a very mixed experience for me. I love that it gives me great coverage without harmful chemicals yet it could have been much easier in terms of usage and application. However, I would suggest you get this one if you have terrible dark circles and or blemishes and puffiness and no other concealer has ever worked for you.

Final Verdict : 

The Body Shop's Concealer gets a 2.5/5 from me! 

Office Make Up Tips

Heyyy Girls!!!
This post, I'm doing on a request for a very special girl who's been a constant source of encouragement for me on this blog and also for my darling sister on every step of her life. This one's for you Sunetra!!

Make up and Office in the same sentence is enough to drive any girl up the wall. After all what looks nice in a nightclub is not suitable for your work place and what looks stunning at a wedding is way over-the-top for a work meeting and lastly what looks nice on a casual sunday brunch with friends can be just to blah for your con-call at work. So what exactly should you do? Let's break the code today!

My make up stash recommended for office wear 

1. Foundation is the most important part of your make up. It can entirely make or break your look. If you will be wearing a foundation every day to work, please make sure that it suits your skin (oil free or water based foundation for oily skin and a creamy, dewy foundation for dry skin). When choosing a foundation to wear at work, I would suggest you pick one with a natural warm to golden undertone. Stay away from those with a pinkish undertone or you'll end up with a orange colored face and neck under the harsh, bright lights at work.

(clockwise from top left) L'Oreal Mineral Foundation in N6 Honey Glow, MAC Select Sheer Pressed in NC 20 & L'Oreal Matte Morphose soffle foundation in 200

2. For your blush, again stick to warm and deep colors which don't leave you looking like your part of a circus. Apricot, Peach or Rose blushers are good choices to wear at work.

(from left to right ) Lakme Face Sheer in Earth Blaze, Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in 20 Peach Satin , Bourjois Blush in 95 Rose De Jaspe & Maybelline Expert Wear Blush in Apricot Flush

3. Nude lips are not mandatory at work. I'm saddened to see that most girl's are petrified to wear any hint of color on their lips to work. Nude or brown shades make you look old and sickly under bright lights. For those who choose to flaunt natural lips at work a peach lipstick or gloss is recommended. And the rest of you can wear any lipcolor barring black, plum, taupe and beige ones

(from left to right) Max Factor Silk Gloss in 345 Peach Glow, MAC Lipglass in A59 Lychee Luxe, Bourjois Effect 3D Lip gloss in 07 Rose or epic,  Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in CB41 Coral Pink & L'Oreal Color Riche Star Secret Lipstick in 725 Aishwarya Rai

4. For your eye shadow, stick to rose, peach and golden tones to avoid looking washed out under indoor lights. Colors to avoid are very dark shades and colder tones like ice blue or steel grey. Leave them for when you go clubbing

(from left to right) Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Copper Coast & Maybelline Diamond Glow Eye Shadow in 01 Copper Brown

5. Finally, your eye make up. Most Indian girls wear liner every where they go. At your work place and especially under white and bright lights every detail of your eye make up is emphasised and so are the flaws. So going natural is your best bet. Some kohl applied neatly on your lower water line is recommended. If you want to wear liner or mascara try the brown shades. Remember extra black eye liner and mascara looks very fake and unnatural in indoor lighting.

(from left to right) L'Oreal Double Extension Mascara in Black, Max Factor Kohl Pencil in 030 Brown & Revlon  Eyeliner Pencil in 12 Toast

So there you have it! Sticking to warm natural colors is the key to the office make up code. In case you work in a more casual set up, you could obviously experiment a lot more with your make up. Remember you have to look well groomed and approachable at your work place and not like some beauty pageant contestant or a vamp from the soap opera.  

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick Haul

Heyyy Girls!!!

Picked up a couple of pretty lipsticks from Maybelline recently. So wanted to share them with all you beauties!!

Pink Petal :

A pretty pink with red undertones and very little shimmer. Good choice for day wear.

Iced Orchid :

A vibrant orchid with purple undertones and some shimmer. Great for a dramatic lip look.

Coral Pink :

A soft coral pink with no shimmer. Recommended for a lunch date or when shopping with friends.

Bronze Orange :

An orange to almost brown lip color with no shimmer. The color to take you from day to night.

Velvety Plum :

A deep plum color with no shimmer. This one’s for when you want all eyes on you.

All these lipsticks are a part of the Moisture Extreme Lipcolor line from Maybelline and have creamy texture and rich color pigments. These are not long wear lipsticks and need to be touched up every couple of hours.  A quick look at what Maybelline has to say about these lipsticks.

Maybelline says :

"Take lip color to the max with Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipcolor. The anti-feathering, anti-bleeding formula smothers your lips in Extremely bold color that is bound to get you noticed. Moisture Extreme Lipstick is one you wont want to miss.

Active power of a lip balm provides deep moisturization for voluptuous lips drenched in color. 

Non-feathering and non-bleeding

SPF 15 protection." 

Price : INR 220

Quantity : 4gms.

Available at : All Maybelline counters across the country

So which one of these colors did you like?? Would you like to see more such ‘Haul Reviews’?? Feel free to subscribe to this blog and share some comments!

Ponds Flawless White Face Wash & Ponds White Beauty Lightening Toner Review

Heyyy Girls!!!

Want to know which face wash and toner I've been using first thing in the morning and last thing before I head to bed each night? Yes it’s from good ol’ Ponds!

Price of Flawless White face wash : INR 175 for 100 gms.
Price of White Beauty Toner : INR 175 for 150 ml. 


I’ve been consistently using the Flawless White face wash in my daily Cleansing routine since 2009. While the toner is a new addition, I’ve found that these two products work with great harmony to keep my skin clean, fresh and radiant looking.

Flawless White face wash comes in a tube with a pretty pink plastic top. This is possibly the prettiest looking face wash packaging in its price range and is travel friendly too. White Beauty Toner comes in a plastic bottle with a flip top opening. This one, though pretty to look at too, is not recommended in your luggage on a vacation. The fragrance is very nice and pretty much Ponds. You know the cream in a tub you used as a kid? Yeah, exactly that!

Application :

I first start cleansing my face with Flawless White Face Wash. Sprinkle some water on your face. Dot some face wash all over and gently massage it in circular motion. Rinse off with cool water. Pat dry, with a soft towel. Next, I use the White Beauty Toner. Take some Toner on a soft cotton ball or cloth face wipe (I use either depending on which is handy) Gently, wipe your face with the same, concentrating on your T zone (forehead, nose and sides of the nose) and chin. You can follow this up with a moisturiser of your choice to complete your Cleansing, Toning and Moisturising routine.

Pro’s of Ponds Flawless White Face Wash and White Beauty Toner :

•          Great value for very little money
•          Lovely fragrance
•          Both have never made me break out
•       Leave Skin fresh and radiant looking
•          Gentle enough to use twice, every day

Con’s of Ponds Flawless White Face Wash and White Beauty Toner :

•         Face wash cannot thoroughly remove make up. You need to use a cleanser before using it.
•        Toner bottle is not travel friendly
•         Both the products might not be suitable for very dry skin during winters

To Splurge or Not to Splurge :

Both these products, according to me are great buy’s and a must have if all you want is a clear, radiant complexion.  These two have made the C T M regime a pleasure, I look forward to twice a day.

A picture taken immediately post using both Ponds Flawless White Face Wash & Ponds White Beauty Lightening Toner

Final Verdict :

Ponds Flawless White Face wash gets a 4/5 from me!

Ponds White Beauty Toner gets a 3.5/5 from me!

Dove Intense Repair Overnight Treatment Review

Heyyy Girls!!!
No time for oiling your hair? Or do not like the idea of adding even more grease on your oily/combination scalp? Give a shot to the new overnight treatments floating in the market! I have tried two of these and found some good results. Read on to find which one I'm talking about today....

Dove says :

"Night time provides the perfect opportunity to intensely revive your hair from within while you sleep. 

- Contains Fibre Actives to deeply penetrates damaged hair throughout the night, and actively replenishes proteins and restores strength.*

- Features a Micro Moisture Serum to nourish and seal each hair strand from root to tip."

Price : INR 250

Quantity : 120 ml.

Available at : All general stores, departmental stores across the country

I bought this overnight treatment only to replace my night time oiling ritual. I strongly believe that oiling more than once a week does more harm than good. At least on chemically treated hair (who doesn't have chemicals in their scalp these days?). When undergoing hair dye, straightening, perming and other such technical processes, sometimes you might have to face unexpected hair fall, split ends, dandruff and other such problems. I know of someone who after straightening their hair found that their dry to normal scalp had suddenly turned oily and even greasy making it impossible for them not to wash their hair everyday. Oil massage or 'champis' do not help people with such issues. You need to treat and care for your chemically treated hair with salon exclusive products.

Dove Intense Repair Overnight Treatment comes in a plastic bottle with a pump dispenser. It's easy to travel with and smells like most other products in the Intense Repair line. The overnight treatment is a gel cream which is not greasy or oily once applied on your hair and hence makes it a great option over the conventional hair oil.

Application : 

I use this treatment cream on wet hair for even application and comb through to facilitate even distribution. You must leave this cream on your hair overnight. Next morning you can either wash and condition hair as usual or even just step out with a water rinse.

Hair after applying Dove Intense Repair Overnight Treatment

Pro's of Dove Intense Repair Overnight Treatment : 

• Inexpensive
• Non-greasy texture
• Smells nice
• More conditioning than oil
• Contains Keratin and Wheat Protein
• After wash, hair is soft and manageable

Con's of Dove Intense Repair Overnight Treatment :

• On dry hair or damp fine hair, it is not entirely non-greasy
• Does not 'repair' hair overnight

To Splurge or Not to Splurge :

It's not miraculous on your damaged locks but if you are totally into overnight treatments and dislike oiling your hair, you could try this one.

Final Verdict :

Dove Intense Repair Overnight Treatment gets a 2.5/5 from me!