Look What Santa Got Me!!!

I spent a really dull Christmas yesterday with nothing very exciting happening. This in contrast to childhood where we spent the entire December singing carols at school and decorating Christmas Trees (Well, we all have to grow up someday I guess) But lo behold when I reach home I find a package for me. Its my Vellvette box containing all lovely goodies and I could not wait to open it. Here is what I got.

Elizabeth Arden Visible Optimizing Skin Serum

To tell you the truth I am quite nervous about using this product thanks to my horrible experience with the Elizabeth Arden capsules. Let's see how this one fares *fingers crossed*

Bath and Body Works Cashmere Glow Body Lotion 

This is my third body lotion. I guess the Vellvette team thinks I am a huge body lotion fan. However, am not complaining love love the smell of this one

Cabotine de Gres perfume

Chotu vial that I really loved. The smell is a nice fruity, a little strong one but I just adore it. So handy for travelling also

Anna Andre Deluxe Creme Lipstick 40203

Never heard of the brand. Apparently Anna Andre is a makeup artist from Paris with her own line of cosmetics. The packaging of this lipstick reminds me of nyx jumbo lip pencil. The color is an extremely dark brown with a hint of shimmer. The formula is nice and mositurizing. I just really really wish it was any other color.

Apart from this I got some mac goodies for me as well. Finally got the Face and Body foundation (which is just amazing!!!!) and Mac Mehr (gorgeous for everyone). Here is my Mac Haul

Mac Face and Body Foundation in N7 : Don't ask me why it is N and not C but this one is a perfect match. The others are a little too yellowy on me.

Mac Mehr: A gorgeous dirty pink shade that looks yumm with smoky eyes

I also got a pink envelope clutch for myself from Lifestyle and my hubby darling got me a set of mini Dior perfumes from Dubai Duty Free while he was travelling :)

Mac Plumful Lipstick: Review and Swatches

Hmmm..with the number of lipstick reviews on my blog I think I should just change its name to About Lipsticks and Lipsticks but then can a girl ever have enough lipsticks. Not me though especially when I have the tempting Mac store around. I adore Mac lipsticks for its wide choice of colors and finish. However, there is one finish that I had never tried before and that is the lustre finish. Now for all those who are new the Mac finishes, lustre is a slightly sheer finish which adds a bit of color but does not quite hide the ugly pigmentation. This however is not the case with Mac Plumful which is a gorgeous sheer lipstick with just the right amount of color that gives you gorgeous glossy lips.

Price: INR 990. It’s a permanent Mac shade

Color and Pigmentation: Mac describes Plumful as blossoming rose plum whatever that means. Anyways Plumful is a plumy pink shade with a nice glossy finish. Lustre finishes are generally very sheer but Plumful is quite opaque not completely though but it just covers up the lip pigmentation. On me it looks like a neutral pink. On fairer skin tones it would be a darker plum. The color is buildable and after three four layers it goes completely opaque. However for a more natural look I use just two layers of the lipstick. On my lips the color lasts for around two to three hours which is fairly alright. The texture is smooth and silky. It is not moisturizing or creamy however

Plumful is a great pink for Indian skin tones especially the darker girls who have trouble finding a nice neutral pink. Although I still love Mac captive and it continues to be my favorite plumy pink, this one is equally beautiful as well. Moreover the glossy finish adds a nice touch to the lips. This is how it looks on my lips (Sorry for the ugly FOTD..camera just dint seem to pick up the color at all)

My recommendation: Get it if you are looking for a beautiful pink lipstick

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules Intensive Treatment: A Review

What is with long names? I have never understood why products have to have such long names that don’t even make sense and are so hard to remember that by the time you have read the last word you will probably forget the first word. For someone who even forgets her anniversaries long names can be a bane especially when you are trying to remember the name at the store. Anyways enough of my cribbing. Let me move on to reviewing the product (Now for the sake of convenience or sheer laziness I will refer to these capsules as just “the product”).

How the Company Describes the Product

“Pure, potent, intensive single dose capsules. Our innovative CLX Complex delivers the restorative power of Ceramides and essential lipids to help strengthen skin's barrier against the visible signs of time.

• Visibly improves skin tone and clarity.
• Supports skin's own natural collagen levels for a firmer, more resilient look.
• Works to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Retexturizes skin for a noticeably softer, smoother look.”

Well, you know how disappointed I was with the October box and one of the reasons for it was this product. The tiny five capsules were disappointing enough (Really it was only five) and a anti ageing product did not seem to be high on my list of skin care needs. However I was really hoping to see at least teensy weensy results regarding improvement of skin tone and clarity. I did not see anything. I mean it did nothing. Now I really did not have very high hopes considering the quantity but for the price which is a whooping 3400 bucks for sixty capsules I expected to see at least something.

To use it I broke off the top of the capsule and squeezed out the oil on my palms. The quantity is just about enough to cover the face and neck. Thankfully the oil has no weird smell. After cleansing the face, I applied the oil and slowly massaged it into the face and neck. The oil absorbed quickly into the skin leaving the face moisturized. It is non greasy and you do not have to end up with an oily face.

The problem: Well, I got tiny red bumps after that. I do not have sensitive or oily skin mind you and experiment a lot with skin care but somehow this product managed to give me those small, extremely itchy zits on my chin and neck. These remained for around four to five days after which I used it again just to make sure whether this was the product that caused the allergic reaction and lo behold I get those zits again..Aaaarghhh!!! Seriously I felt like killing someone that day.

I used three of the capsules and except for the zits I did not really notice anything. I have read great reviews for it on the net but my experience with these was not good. I guess it is meant for mature skin. Have you tried this product and how was your experience using this?

            

Mac Lipglass in Restless (Styleseeker Collection): Swatches and Review

My Mac obsession continues and recently on one of my hurried Mac visits I spotted this beautiful extremely pigmented lipglass from the Styleseeker collection. Launched in India around a month back, the Stylesseker collection has got some of the best lipglass (and blushes..do check it out Hidden Treasure..it is perfect for Indian skin) collection that I have ever seen. There is a shimmery blue based red lipglass called Ready to Roam, a gorgeous orangish lipglass called Eclectic Edge and of course my favorite out of the lot Restless which is a coppery red shade with golden shimmer in it. Now mind you I am not a fan of Mac lipglasses and had just one lipglass before I got this. Somehow the sticky texture and the low pigmentation does not quite appeal to me. However, the moment I swatched his lipglass on my hand I knew I was hooked. It is pigmented, shimmery and the perfect color for any Indian outfit

 Price: It is priced at INR 950 and is available in Mac stores as a Limited Edition product L (Plsss..plss..Mac make it permanent)

Color and Pigmentation: Mac describes the color as dark burnt bronze. It’s a gorgeous bronze red shade with minute golden shimmer. I has the classic vanilla fragrance along with excellent pigmentation and opaque coverage it totally covers my dark lips. The shimmer in the lipglasses is not gritty. It just adds a nice glossy touch to the lips. The color lasts for around three hours on my lips thanks to the sticky texture. Application is pretty easy with the doe foot applicator and the color spreads evenly on the lips. My lips extremely are chapped this winter and thankfully this lipglass does not accentuate the lines. That does not mean it is moisturizing. The sticky texture can also be a little irritating especially when you have flyaway hair sticking to it but then it is ok.

 My recommendation: This one is a must have..I am probably going to get a back up J Do check out the Styleseeker collection for the lovely lipglasses. Fluid lines and blushes

November Vellvette Box

After my disastrous October box I had decided that I did not want to get any more of these boxes. Then my sister who is more of a skin care fanatic comes home and sees the stuff that I have got and is really..really delighted. In fact the OPI nail polish and the Victoria Secret body lotion from my October box is now hers J. She convinced me to go for a three month subscription of the box and am really happy I did so. The November Vellvette box goodies are so amazing and are just made for me.

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Gel: It is actually a night cream that revitalizes the skin. I so love night creams and just can’t wait to try it. The 50 ml bottle costs INR 2850

Forest Essentials Mashoba Honey and Vanilla Bath and Shower Oil: This just smells heavenly. I have used it just once and kept smelling my hand the entire day. The beautiful scent just lingers on and on. It is got a cream consistency and moisturizes the skin really well after a hot shower. This one is a definite winner especially during the winter months. The full size 200 ml bottle costs 1175 bucks.

Nyx Ultra Pearl Mania eyeshadow in Penny Pearl: A lovely loose eyeshadow that is glittery, finely milled and extremely soft. Penny Pearl is a reddish copper shade that looks beautiful on the lids and has minimal fallout. I tried a hurried look and although it did not turn out very well you can see how pretty the eyeshadow is. I haven't used a primer in this look and I did not observe any fallout or excessive glitter

I am so so happy. The body lotion and the gel are my first products from the brand. I am really excited to try the brightening gel and the body lotion just smells heavenly. Many people did not like the Nyx sample in the box as it is not really a luxury brand but I loved it.

How I Lost my Pregnancy Weight

Recently I went to a family function (my husband has a HUGE extended family in Pune) and after a lot of bending down to touch everyone’s feet and a whole lot of gossiping and complimenting each other’s saris, the conversation moved on to our favorite family topic “how I lost all my pregnancy weight” . Someone said I was lucky, others (the snobbish elders) claimed that I just dint eat anything while one very intelligent aunty asked me if I had been to any dietitian. I just smiled.

The Astounding Weight Gain

Pregnancy was one of the happiest phases of my life. I had no morning sickness, no BP problems or swelling of hands and legs. I was simply happy, glowing and eating like a monster. That is an understatement actually. From being an underweight 50 kg I had swelled to a whopping 68 kg by the end of my pregnancy. The entire “extended, slightly overweight family” was delighted to say the least. Someone even told me how I was now in their league finally J. I didn’t care really I was so..so hungry all the time and not to mention that sweet cravings (I had five dairy milks in a day). I was pampered and spoilt silly by my mom and both my sisters. Unfortunately I had to go for a C section during delivery but I recovered fast. Within days I was back on my feet and doing everything but there was one thing which nagged me now, my weight and that huge flabby tummy.

From being a happy mom to be I now became an extremely irritable mommy. I screamed and shouted and had just no patience for anything. I have no pictures of those days simply because I just did not want to face a camera. Thankfully my mom and sisters helped me tide over that postpartum depression and recovery phase of my life. As I had a C section I could not really exercise for at least three months but I did follow some basic weight loss tricks to shed the extra kilos.

I Ate

I know for people who are trying to lose weight these two words would be very surprising but that is what it is. I ate and ate. The only difference is that from eating high fat food with nothing but grease and oil, I switched to eating healthy. By healthy I do not mean uncooked veggies and stupid salads with loads of mayonnaise. I ate normal cooked meals six times a day. Before getting pregnant I was not much of a breakfast person but after I got pregnant I was hounded by my mom to have breakfast everyday (She called me up before breakfast everyday to remind me…phew mothers what would we do without you). I continued this after having the baby as well. I ate first thing in the morning and then after every three hours. This kept my metabolism ticking and I started shedding my pregnancy weight.

Image sourced from Google Images

It is best to stick to simple food like roti, subji, rice and dal. Please do not have the diet chiwda, low fat biscuits and what not. I just cook at home and eat fresh. I ate everything even the so called “fattening foods” like rice and potatoes and still lost weight. I even had my occasional chocolates and mango cheesecake. If you are a new mom trying to lose weight then please do eat everything especially if you are breastfeeding. Your baby and your body both need the food.

I Worked Out

This was the hard part and new mothers will agree with me. When you have a wailing baby and have been up all night you cannot really exercise. I did not really push myself. In fact it was only after six months that I started light exercises and yoga again. After my baby turned one year old I started working out for fifteen minutes each day. I combined this workout with yoga and simple weight loss exercises like squats, lunges and jogging. I did around ten surya namaskars in morning and the workout later in the day. I did not lose weight initially but after some time I felt lighter and more energetic.

Image sourced from Google Images 

Do Not Push Yourself

Having a baby is a great experience and I love spending time with her and enjoying everything that she does. I could not take this away from myself just because I wanted to lose weight. So I just took it easy. After all I am not a Victoria Secret model who has to lose weight to walk the ramp. Pregnancy weight is hard to shed and I had to give myself time. Of course in the meantime people did try to pull me down by passing off stupid comments like “You are now in our league” and “Bacha hone ke baad koi patla nahi hota” . I would just smile. After all when I am thin again people will still comment so why waste energy listening to them. Of course I still am not as thin as I was once but I am still at it and that is what matters.

me with my lovely Aaru

Mac So Chaud is So Hot!!!!

If you know me you would know how crazy I am about orange red lippies. If you don’t then ask my hubby who will tell you of the sleepless nights I spent just because I had a nightmare that the LE lipstick Scarlet Ibis is all sold out J. Well, what can I say now I have Scarlet Ibis and also this gorgeous reddish orange lippi in my Mac pro palette called So Chaud. Its gorgeous, beautiful, hot, totally wacky orange red shade with the red being a little more subdued than the orange. Mac describes So Chaud as being an intense reddish orange which is a perfect definition of this sexy color. It suits warmer skin tones because of the slight yellow tones in it. It is from Mac’s permanent line of lipsticks and is priced at INR 990.

The surprising part and the reason I love Mac matte lippies is because of its texture. Now So Chaud is a matte lippi which unlike other matte lipsticks is smooth and not drying at all. It stays on for well a long long.. long time. I was out in he heat for around six hours and the liipi had not even faded (How cool is that!!). The only thing is that when it does fade it tends to fade a bit unevenly leaving you with little bubbles of lipstick on your lips (I just take out a tissue and wipe off the lipstick and then reapply)

 Despite the high price tag and the uneven fading I love this lipstick and somehow wonder why I haven’t bought it before. Here are the swatches and FOTD.

Here is a comparison with Mac Scarlet Ibis which is a LE edition lipstick (It was launched in the Scarlet Ibis collection and will now again be re-launched with the upcoming Marilyn Monroe collection in India) . Both are similar but Scarlet Ibis has more red than this one. Both are beautiful with amazing matte finish and gorgeous pigmentation. 

Mac Pro Lip Palette in Editorial Oranges: Mac Crosswires Lipstick

I am still swooning over my Mac pro lip palette in editorial oranges. Other than the fact that I am a hardcore Mac fan who suddenly finds her wish coming true and gets six lipsticks in a single palette (sigh…), this palette also reminds me of my orange tabby cat. Yes I am a total cat person and have a beautiful tabby named Genie who is well probably one of the most spoilt and pampered cats in the entire world. See the swirl of orange fur on that oversized cat. Does it not remind you of So Chaud and Lady Danger and the beautiful pink nose is just the perfect Mac Crosswires….okay..okay I am just rambling. I know it’s the heady feeling that comes over me every time I see that palette.

Well, to get down to business. This Mac palette available only in Mac pro stores contains five beautiful orange and bronze shades all of which are thankfully there in the permanent line as well. The total weight is around 6g so you get around 1g of product which is ok for a lipstick lover like me who has literally a hundred different lippes in her kitty. I will be reviewing each shade separately as they are well all different and special.

So Chaud: An intense reddish orange

Sandy B: A light pink frost lipstick

Look at Her: A sheen supreme metallic copper lipstick ( my first sheen supreme lippi)

Morange: An extremely loud orange shade (There is no red or hint of any other color in this one..its totally orange “love”)

Crosswires: A coral pink shade

Bronze Shimmer: Its bronzy and shimmery (totally Indian weddings kind)

My favorite shade that resembles my cat’s nose (not meant as an offense my cat is like my baby) is Mac Crosswires which is quite a popular Mac shade. It’s a gorgeous pinkish orange shade which looks more pink on my lips which are dark and pigmented. Mac describes this shade as a clean pinky orange and that’s what it is (Whoever names these Mac lippies is just so intelligent) It looks “neonish” on fairer girls but on me it is more subdued and pretty. In fact this is a shade that suits everyone whether you are dark or fair. 

Crosswires is a Creemsheen finish which are quite nice not overtly drying and stay on for a nice three to four hours. They are pigmented and provide nice opaque coverage. Its like the perfect summer lipstick. In the swatches it lookes pinky but it does have hint of orange which my camera is unable to capture.

The lipstick is available in Mac stores in India for INR 990. It’s a great buy and if you are looking for the perfect coral lipstick then do give this a try.

NOTD: OPI Nailpolish in Strawberry Margarita

In my recent Vellvette box I got a mini OPI nailpolish of around 3.75ml. The full bottle is available at Vellvette site for around 520 bucks. Strawberry Margarita is a fun peppy bright pink color that is sure to lift your spirits on a gloomy day. Despite my lack of interest for nail polishes, I adore this one. Its opaque in about two coats and does not chip easily. the formula is good, not streaky and its easy to layer it on. Moreover, the beautiful watermelon pink reminds me of my favorite Mac Impassioned lipglass. It looks just like a nail polish version of that :)

5 Reasons Why You Should Grab the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Raspberry Pie

Recently I showed you the pics of the things that my hubby hauled for me from US. Well, among the things that he did not get me from my way to loooooong list of makeup stuff were the Revlon Colorburst lip butters and let me tell you I was pretty sad about that
(Yes…yes I know what you are thinking about how this girl is getting so greedy n all but what can I say its makeup after all). So when I got to know that they were launched in India I let out a whooping sound of glee (I was in a crowded restaurant, logged onto my facebook account, screaming like a maniac and people around just thought I had gone bonkers J). So the next time my hubby lets me loose around the makeup counters I rush to the Revlon counter, swatch all the lip butters and get this one (all in 5 minutes..we girls are just so talented). Let me tell you these lip butters are worth all the wait, hype, drama and even the crazy looks. Here are five reasons why you should grab or even make a run for Revlon Colorburst lip butter in Raspberry Pie.

1)      Lovin the Color: Raspberry pie is a dark raspberry pink shade. It is more like a fuchsia pink than reddish pink on my lips (The swatch may look different but check out my FOTD to see how it looks on my lips). I believe it is one color that looks absolutely stunning on any complexion. Unlike some other shades in this range the color coverage of this one is completely opaque and in one swipe you can hide all your lip pigmentation. It also has a nice sheen to it thanks to the creamy texture but there is no obvious shimmer in it.

2)      Out of the world texture: The texture of this lipstick is to die for. I love my Revlon Colorburst lipsticks but the lip butters especially Raspberry pie takes the lip balm plus lipstick concept to a whole new level. It is smooth, creamy and yet does not transfer or bleed. These are not lip balms, in fact they are more like creamy, sheer lipsticks. You do not need a lip balm with this one as its adequately moisturizing on its own

3)      Ooohh…don’t we love pretty packaging: As I have said again and again I am a sucker for nicely packaged makeup goodies and the lip butters have definitely not disappointed me. The colored quilted lipstick covers is cute and handy especially when you are trying to locate a lippi. The top shuts nicely and I have no problems carrying it in my bag that is often stuffed with baby food and diapers.

4)      It lingers on: It stays on for a nice four to five hours on my lips often leaving it moisturized even after that. Its not much but really with the balmy texture I wasn’t expecting the good staying power

5)      Its finally here!!!: Umm I know its no reason to try a product but if you are a makeup lover then you should try these delicious lip butters. They are so worth it. Here is an FOTD with Revlon Colorburst lip butter Raspberry Pie

The only downside is that it is a bit expensive in India. So you will need to shell out a good 600 bucks for it and let me tell you it hurts especially if you are reapplying it often. However, on the whole I think its worth everything even the price tag. I am going to collect a “few” (read all)  too ;)