Deck and Dine

Hello everyone,

A few months ago when I was at the The Body Shop store to get my shower gel, I bumped into this while randomly going through the counters. I was really intrigued because it was a facial mist (if you don’t know, I love facial mists), it was from my favorite The Body Shop Vitamin E range (especially the TBS Vitamin E cream) and the thing that mostly attracted me was the 50% off written on the counter.

So read to know if The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist, a random buy of mine, is worth buying or not…

The Body Shop says:-
“A quick skin pick-me up and excellent for setting make-up. Spritz it on for instant refreshment, moisture, and protection. With a delicate rosewater scent.”

PRICE:-

INR 895 for 100ml. I bought it when it was on discount at The Body Shop.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist:-

PACKAGING and PRODUCT Description:-
Lets start with the packaging. It is a simple, sturdy pale pink plastic bottle with a transparent cap and spritzer. Love the fuss free packaging.

The product is itself clear liquid and 2-3 sprays are enough to cover my entire face. It has a strong rose fragrance which vanishes within a few minutes. I have a sensitive nose, but this one doesn't really bother me. The product takes about 30 minutes to fully set when used on clean skin and about a minute when used over makeup, which I don’t think is too bad.

The first impression:-
The first time I used this, it was at The Body Shop store and was a tester. It was a scorching, itchy summer day and as I sprayed this on my face, I was instantly rewarded with a very comfortable and soothing feeling and the itchy feeling I was having for a while just vanished. I bought the baby home and since then I have been using this every now and then.

When I use/ When you can you as well-

· Need a moisture boost? Spray once or twice and pat with fingers.

· Feeling tired? Spray to feel refreshed instantly.

· Use it as a primer before makeup.

· Use it to set makeup for that dewy finish.

An absolute love or was just an infatuation!
As I said before, I love face mists and that was the main reason for buying this, and that’s how I love using this the most. It feels really refreshing in the hot summer days, freshening up my whole face and makeup. Sometimes I just use it as a moisturizer after washing my face, the moisture boost it provides without making my skin look oily and sticky is incredible. It didn’t break me out or formed any closed comedones. It keeps my face soft, supple, glowy and hydrated. The dewy glow is impeccable. While sometime I use this for setting makeup as well, but I just love to use this alone. However, you can definitely use this over your makeup for that dewy finish , just keep the quantity in mind. Overdoing can melt and move your makeup. When I used to set my makeup, my makeup stays longer and looks more natural. I prefer to spray, wait for few seconds and then gently sponge for a seamless finish. I also love the fact that it is a clear liquid.

So overall, this is love J

WORDS of CAUTION: The Potential pain:-
I have normal skin that becomes a little dry in winter and a little oily in summer (if that makes sense) and this product suited me very well. But while going through reviews on Google, I found that many people were complaining of pimple attack after using this. So I would advise to use it wisely. Just don’t overuse. Keep the quantity in mind; too much can lead to pimple attacks and can also cause your makeup to melt down. So don’t use for than 2-3 sprays.
Also, don’t forget to close your eyes before spraying this on your face.

Are you the ideal person for this product?
If you need a face mist with moisturizing properties, then this is your thing. I would personally recommend this mostly topeople with normal and dry skin.Oily skinned beauties, try to get hold of 1 or 2 sample sachets first to see if it suits you. Or buy when there is a discount, that way it won’t hurt much if it doesn’t work on you. Also this wont suit your need if you are person who loves matte finish.

Lets Sum Up the PROs and CONs:-(Again? Yes, because all the ranting wasn’t enough)

What I absolutely love about The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist:-

Gives an instant moisture boost.
Refreshes skin.
Gentle on skin.
Gets absorbed fast.
Skin feels soft, supple.
Doesn’t feel greasy.
Imparts a healthy glow.
Works as a primer before makeup.
Can be used to set makeup as well.
Adds a dewy finish to your makeup.
Decent fragrance.
One bottle will last for about 3 months even if used regularly.
Nice, travel-friendly packaging.
Easily available.

What you may not like aboutThe Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist:-

It might break you out, especially if you have an oily skin.
If you are looking for a matte finish, this isn’t for you.

Closing Ceremony: MY FINAL THOUGHTS:-
A lovely, lightweight moisturizing facial mist, perfect to add a moisture boost to my skin, refresh face on the go and also to set make-up. The bottle is travel-friendly, the spray is very fine, the fragrance decent. I have used this throughout the year and it seriously fits every season. It makes my face adequately moisturized, gives a dewy finish without looking greasy. I carry this in my bag, and love it’s refreshing touch.

The spray dispenser is a beauty.

Ratings:-
4/5 J

Do you love face mists? Which is your favorite? Have you tried The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist? Let us know :)

*****************************************

You can check the review of the The Body Shop Vitamin E Cool BB cream HERE.

Best Kajal / Kohl Pencils available in India Under 500

We Indian women are known to the world for our classic beauty; long black hair teased by the wind, a bindi gracing our forehead and eyes that can pierce through toughest of souls; and kajals or kohls as they say now, play an important role in enhancing the beauty of those peeps.
It has been years since I have bonded with kajals (was probably the first ever cosmetic I used) and if you ask me to pick one makeup product I would have to spend my life with, it has to be a kajal pencil; I can hardly imagine myself without it. Actually not only me, they have become a kind of staple cosmetic for every woman around the globe, accentuating and beautifying eyes since time immemorial.

Coming back to today’s post, many people ask me about my favourite kajal pencils or kohls. This is the most common question I face. A few even said that how come being a kohl lover I don’t have a review or a post related to kohl on my blog. True that! I have never reviewed a kajal on my blog till now. Reason being, the products I use are very common, almost everyone knows about them and I don’t really experiment with different brands of kohls and repurchase only those which I am very comfortable with, and the list is very small.
Yet, your request is my command and here I am today with a list of my favourite kajals, that too in a budget of Rs 500.

So, heres to gorgeous, sultry, intense jet black eyes…

FACES LONGWEAR EYE PENCIL- Solid Black:-
MRP: 399 INR
My most favourite. I have used so many kajals from so many different brands till now, both drugstore and high end, but the love I have for this one is irreplaceable. The color is intense, the texture is beautiful and staying power is amazing beyond words. It even stays on my waterline forever. Once it sets, it will not budge or fade. It has amazing staying power on oily lids as well. Totally in love with this pencil. Black Sparkle from this range is another stunning shade.

COLORBAR JUST SMOKY EYE PENCIL- JUST BLACK:-
MRP- 520 INR
Well, not exactly within 500, but a little higher. But this is my second favorite and I had to include it. Jet black, matte finish, soft and creamy, amazingly pigmented and very very long staying. You can wear it as a eyeliner, a kajal or can also create mysterious smokey eyes by smudging it with the smudger attached on another end. This too is suited for oily lids. But again, it sets super fast, so you have to be super quick when smudging.

FACES MAGNET EYES- Black:-
MRP:- 179INR
This is a bomb in budget. Matte black, easily glides on waterline and lid, super pigmented, smudge-proof and has an pretty good staying power. This is my most favourite within 200 INR. You can hardly go wrong with this. Just one issue, it takes a little more time to set, so you have to be patient. Once it sets, you don’t have to worry for the next 5-6 hours.

LAKME EYECONIC BLACK:-
MRP: 180INR
I totally ignored this beauty until last year, when I had to buy this because the Faces Magnet Eyes was not in stock. And ohh boy! I am hooked now. This is insanely pigmented, so creamy and soft, great for creating a smudged smoky look. I wear this pretty often, especially when I need to get a smudged look, and for once it didn’t disappoint me. I just apply, smudge super quickly for that smokey effect and after that once it sets, it doesn’t move.

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK COLOSSAL KAJAL:-
This is not just a kajal, this is an emotion. Yes, I agree that it doesn’t have the intensity or staying power like the ones I mentioned above, but Maybelline Colossal Kajal is very close to my heart. It was my first ever ‘expensive’ cosmetic buy and it reminds me of those days with makeup, when I was just trying to ease out into the world of makeup, buying a decent kajal, a decent matte red lipstick, a blush, etc. I still wear this and always have a backup. They have a super black version of this as well. But to me, this works just fine.

I am done with top 5 favorites of mine, but another one I would like to add to the list and it is Plum NaturStudio Kohl, it has a beautiful gel-liner like performance, is insanely pigmented, smudge proof and long staying. But, I don't have it currently with me to show you pictures. It is priced at 495 INR currently.

Plum NaturStudio All Day Wear Kohl Kajal

Read more at Not Only Makeup
http://notonlymakeup.net/article/2016/plum-naturstudio-all-day-wear-plum-angel-eyes-kohl-kajal-review-swatches-price-and-buy

So, that’s it, the best kajal pencils that are easily available in India and are my absolute favoritete that the ones I mentioned above are my personal favourites, they work beautifully on me, but that doesn’t mean they will work equally good on you. Our skin types might be different, so the performance of the products might vary as well. I advise you to go to the store and test them at the counter before buying. That way, you won’t be disappointed at the end.

Also, don’t forget to let me know about your favourite kajal pencils. J Do our choices match?

So, how is the summer treating you so far? Super amazingly? :P

I am not a summer person, to be precise, an Indian summer person. I absolutely hate May and June in India and the last 2 weeks were terrible and intolerable beyond words. Yesterday we had a fun gathering and guess what? It was a morning event. Being an introvert and also a summer hater, I did my best to avoid attending it. But fate had something else planned and I had to go.
For the event I quickly thought up a look. I didn’t want a heavy makeup, yet wanted something that will be different, look fabulous and most importantly will go with the sultry summer.

The look came out pretty nice and I thought why not share it with you all. In any case, someone complained that I only do dramatic night looks and not an easy morning one. So everyone, here it goes...

For this look, you can do your base first and then move on to your eye makeup. I didn’t go for a heavy base and a layer of BB cream over my usual moisturizer just worked fine. However you can use foundation, concealer and everything else that you want to use.

Now lets move on to the eye makeup:

Groom your browns and apply a wash of skin colored eye shadow all over your eye lid.

Now take a coral brown eye shadow on a fluffy brush and move to and fro on your crease.
On the same fluffy brush take a warm pink eye shadow and just apply it on the socket line, concentrating more on the outer corners. Blend and merge the eye shadows well.
Now once everything is nice and blended, take a champagne satiny eye shadow and just pack it on the centre of the lid. Blend the harsh lines.
Now that your lid is done, let us move on to the lower lash line. For this I opted for a bright bluish purple eye liner pencil, you can go for any other color or just your usual black as well.

Now taking a smudger brush, smudge the stroke of liner a little. My brush had some residue of black kohl, and thus it added little of the it which gave a nice gradient look. So you can try that as well.

Finally add loads of mascara/ natural looking falsies to round off the look.

CHEEKS and LIPS:-
A swirl of a peachy coral blush on each cheek. Again, highlighter is optional. For lips I went for a peach colored lipstick.

And that is it, my look is done and that too in minutes.

At the end of the day I just added some black kohl on the lower lash line, over the blue and on the outer corner of my lids and smudged well with my finger. This instantly transformed the look from a soft glam morning look to a glam night look.

PRODUCTS USED :-

The eyeshadows are from Coastal Scents 252 eye shadow palette. The liner is bought from a local market in South Korea. The name and shade number is hard to read. The mascara is Loreal Volume Million Lashes. The kohl I used on my waterline for the night look is a mix of Lakme Eyeconic and Faces Longwear Eye pencil. The BB cream was by Sugar Cosmetics and the blush is Coral by Ben Nye. The lipstick is Little Bo Peach by Sugar Cosmetics again.

Detect Fake Cosmetics

Using makeup has become an everyday thing to us. Be it a full face glam or a subtle kohl and lipstick look, imagining life without a touch of makeup is next to impossible. Not only makeup, we nowadays heavily rely on skin and hair care products as well. Now imagine using a fake product, loaded with harmful chemicals going into our skin, no matter how little we use. Even a stroke of fake kajal or a swipe of fake lipstick or a spritz of a fake perfume can prove to be very harmful.

The number of people falling prey to fake cosmetics, masquerading as original, are increasing day by day. Being in India, we don’t have much access to International brands and so we end up relying on various websites and Instagram sellers and other ‘importers’ to get our makeup fix. We trust them with our money, hoping to receive all genuine products. And that’s where the sellers play their hand and you knowingly or unknowingly fall into their clutches and get just knockoffs in the name of ‘100% genuine and authentic products’.

I get so many messages where people attach a picture of a product from a random seller or page and ask me about the authenticity of it. So today I'll taking about ways to detect a fake beauty product. This is a much requested post and I hope you all find it helpful.

PRICE:-
Most of the time, a fake product will be a lot cheaper than their original counterpart. For example, a genuine HUDA Beauty Rose Gold Eye Shadow Palettewill cost you almost 5000 INR, while you can get a fake HUDA Beauty Rose Gold palette for as low as 500. Huda Beauty Liquid mattes are available for 750/-, that too a set of 4, where an original one costs 1650 INR. Don’t succumb to the desire of getting a cheap copy. Buy the genuine products to get the best results.

COPIES:-

There are many variations of fake products. Some are ‘A copy’, some are ‘A+’, some are first copies, few are second and some are even “true” copies. Such an oxymoron!! Some ‘genuine’ fake sellers actually have the decency to mention that on their posts. Remember, copy is just a polished word for fake here; and no matter how negligible the difference is, a fake will always remain a fake. So whenever you see ‘copy’, just run.

PACKAGING:-
Look out for a difference in packaging. Counterfeit products will look and feel fake from every angle. Mostly fake ones will have uneven fonts, inconsistent or different patterns, misspelled words and incorrect shade names. Some powder products even have sponge applicators instead of brushes. Please compare them with pictures on the official website or on blogs where the products are reviewed. Some of the fakes are packed in a way that it would fool even the most experienced of eyes. Moreover, most of the sellers use pictures of the original products, either taken from official websites or stolen from blogs. So ask for current pictures. I even went to the extent of asking them to click original photos using a particular background or with a prop. That way I would know that the pictures were clicked on my request and then I can ‘judge’.
When you are buying something from a store, it becomes easier to spot a fake. They are housed in low-quality plastic or metal casings, often paired with ill-fitting mirrors and sponge-tipped applicators, instead of brushes. Pay attention to the logos and fonts.
In any case if you didn’t understand before and have realized it after buying them, then just do yourself a favor and don’t use them.

left ones are fake and right one is original

Just look at the quality. This screams fake.

CROSS-CHECK ON OFFICIAL WEBSITE:-
Before purchasing, check on official brand websites to see if that particular product is actually manufactured by the brand. Look out for genuine reviews on the web. See the pictures below, neither MAC nor HUDA Beauty have a volt like that. MAC Cosmetics has the largest fake market in the world. (You click HERE to see how to spot MAC products easily. )

MAC doesn't have such product.


Dior doesn't have such product.

SWATCH BEFORE BUYING:-
Like packaging, the quality of fake products are poor as well. Swatch them before buying. Fake eye shadows, blushes, lipsticks have drier, chalkier consistency than their original ones. For example, a Lime Crime Velvetine liquid matte lipstick has an amazing texture and a fake one which I received once had a very dry, flaky texture. So do your research well before using a product.

Swatch of fake LIME CRIME Velvitine

SHOP WISELY:-
Last but not the least, be mindful where you are shopping. Don’t buy products, from any random stores. I would suggest not even to buy from your local neighborhood shop. They might not know that they are selling fake. Go to departmental stores instead, from the official counters or buy from MYNTRA or NYKAA or from the brand’s official website. There are a few trusted instagram stores / sellers through whom you can order.

Counterfeited products are more dangerous than you can ever imagine. There are thousands of instances where people were even been hospitalized after being affected by the harmful chemicals present in the fake products.
I have even faced statements that, “Oww, I am using this for quite a while now. Nothing has happened.” It didn’t happen today, doesn’t mean you wont be affected in the long run. Show some mercy to yourself; just to save a few bucks you are risking your own health.

Colorbar Just Smoky Eye Pencil - Just Black Review, Swatches and EOTD

The best kohl pencil in India?

Hello everyone,

We all know how a good kajal or kohl pencil can change our life for better. Isn’t? Being a crazy kajal lover, being a person who can never imagine her life without kajals, I am always in a lookout for best kajals to accentuate my eyes. Due to work I mostly have to stay out in the sun and find myself looking like a raccoon at the end of the day if the kajal or kohl pencil melts even a bit. So, when buying it, the first thing I have to keep in mind is that it has to be smudge proof.

I bumped into the COLORBAR JUST SMOKEY- JUST BLACK KAJAL when I was searching for a good smudge proof kajal. So could it sort out that smudge? Lets get into the details J

PRICE AND QUANTITY:

INR 650 for 1.2g. But they are always on discount and can be easily purchased online for around INR 520.

SHELF LIFE:

Best before 3 years from the date of packaging.

PACKAGING:-
The kajal comes housed in Colorbar’s signature grayish silver box, which is a color coded on one side.

The kohl pencil itself has a very classy look and feel to it. It is a dual ended sharpen-able pencil which is capped on both the ends, one to protect the kohl and another for the foam smudger. I am not too fond of foam or sponge smudgers, but this one is pretty decent. Brand name, shade name and other details are inscribed on the body in silver fonts. The good thing is the MFD and best before dates are mentioned on the pencil as well, so even if you lose the outer box, it won’t be a problem.

Subtle, classy and no fuss packaging.

The SHADE and TEXTURE:-
The kohl is one of the most intense black kohls I have used. Velvety rich matte black color is what Colorbar claims and actually delivers.

The texture is soft, creamy and goes smoothly without tugging and pulling. I have used many kohl pencils which over time become dry, crumbly and start to break. But this one from the starting day to the day you can last use it, it maintains the same texture. The kajal sets pretty quickly and once it sets, it won’t move. Also, I have noticed that when you smudge a kohl, some feel to waxy and greasy, even few high end brands have such issues (Yes MAC Feline Kohl Power, I am looking at you). But this one feels like velvet and settles into gorgeous matte in no time.
NOTE:- When you are smudging it, you have to be really fast, because it sets quickly and you won’t get the perfect finish if it sets midway. The smudger works pretty nice smudging the kohl.

COLOR PAYOFF and STAYING POWER:-

Velvety rich black color, that too in one swipe. I hardly ever need a second coat. The color is buildable, so if you want a richer color, you can always pack it up. Staying power is pretty amazing all. It wears quite through the day. I use it both on my waterline and lower lash line and it stays for a good 10-12 hours without smudging or fading. Note that I don’t really have an oily lid, but even if you have so, it won’t disappoint you.

HOW I USE:-

Just to line waterline.
To line water line and lower lash line
To tightline.
Line upper lash line.
Apply on upper and lower lash line and then smudge to get a smokey look
All of the above :P

HOW TO REMOVE:-

I love how it doesn’t budge even on rubbing, but again comes off easily with a makeup remover. No pain at all…

DISAPOINTMENTS?
This comes in a pencil form and hence you have to sharpen it, which leads to wastage of products. But one thing I have noticed that as the pencil is not excessively creamy, it needs less sharpening and thus lesser wastage of product compared to other pencil form kohls.

FINAL THOUGHTS? WOULD I REPURCHASE AND RECOMMEND THIS TO OTHERS?
Absolutely. This is an amazing product and if you are kohl pencil / kajal love like me, you will fall in love with it in first swipe. The color is so intense and accentuates eyes beautifully. Wear it just like a liner or smudge it for a smokey effect, the result will be equally great. Though it seems a little expensive for an everyday kajal, but I don’t really mind paying for a product that actually works. It is worth every penny. I am loving this and see myself repurchasing it as soon as I finish this one.

RATING:-
5/5 J

10 Best / My Favorite Mascaras available in India

They say, “Inner beauty is great, but a little mascara never hurts” and I can never agree more. I just love how a good mascara can change the whole look. To me, it is very essential and helps me feel put together. When I am in a hurry, I’ll just put on mascara and black kohl all the way around the inner rim, a totally sexy eye makeup in a minute. Actually, even on days where I really don't feel like wearing any makeup at all, not even kohl, it's the one thing I'll wear. Masacara completes me.

So are you a fan of voluminous and elongated lashes like me? Then you have come to the right place. In today’s post I have compiled a list of best mascaras, my absolute favorites. Hope you all, especially girls who have been asking me about my favorite mascaras, will find this helpful.

L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara:-
Price: Rs 950. Currently available at 750 on Nykaa.

I am on my nth number of tube and that says it all. Best part is the brush. The millionizing brush evenly thickens lashes from root to tip. Plus it is jet black with a perfect ‘not too dry, not too wet’ consistency. The result? My lashes look so longer and multiplied. I see myself repurchasing this again and again.

BENEFIT COSMETICS They're Real! Mascara:-
Price:- Around Rs. 2000

Jet black, beautiful formula and gives amazing volume, length, curl, anything you could want in your mascara. Just you have to be a little cautious when applying the second coat. And if you wear it properly, you will love the drama, absolutely breathtaking. My second most favourite and I always have a back up of this. Whenever I want dramatic lashes, nothing can beat the beauty of this.

Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Mascara:-
Price:- Rs. 500

This is one of the best budget mascaras available in Indian market. There are two variants, a waterproof and a non-waterproof version. Light-weight, the texture is on the wetter side making it easy to apply. It coats the lashes well and doesn’t make them clump. The applicator it has is something incredible; it has upper Lash and lower lash applicator distinguished so that u won't end messing up your eye shadow in upper Lash and concealer in lower.

Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara:-
Price:- Rs 550

Maybelline seems to have quite a few good mascaras, best thing is most of them are under or around 500. This one is a beauty. Available in washable and waterproof formula. Staying true to the name it definitely adds a ‘falsie’ effect to your lashes. The effect stays pretty long too. Drama, that what it delivers.

Maybelline Hyper curl Mascara:-
Price- Rs 300

I started my journey of Maybelline mascara with this one. This is another ‘old, but gold’ product from Maybelline. Black, gives amazing volume and curl and also stays put for long. At such a price tag, what else can I want?

Essence Get Big! Lashes Volume Curl Mascara:-
Price:- Rs. 299

One of the best mascaras at such a low price tag. The mascara adds black, long lash effect in just one stroke. More strokes can accentuate the effect. Absolute bomb! Love the quirky packaging as well.

L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
Price:- Rs 799

The international best seller has finally launched in India. It delivers voluptuous volume and intense length in just one coat.This is said to be the closet dupe of the cult favorite Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara, which is again my absolute favorite. I would have listed that too, but unfortunately, it is not easily available in India.

L'oreal Paris Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara in Blackest Black
PRICE:- Rs. 1200

Though available only online and is on the expensive side in India, but I love how this mascara lifts, curls while adding amazing volume and length in just a few swipes. I wore this for 14 hours at a stretch, and I didn’t face any smudging or flaking problems, it held the curl pretty well too. The formula is semi-waterproof, so it washes off easily with the help of regular face wash/cleansers. But just be a little careful when layering, otherwise lashes might stick together will become too hard to separate.

LAKME EyeConic Lash Curling Mascara:-
PRICE:- Rs 338

Looking for a mascara that will accentuate your eyes without adding too much drama? Get this one. It is perfect for a natural everyday look. The consistency is good and the brush is curved at the right angel, adding soft curl, volume and length to your lashes.

Revlon Water Tight Mascara – Black
Price: Rs. 510
A good mascara from the good old brand. The consistency is great, doesn’t clump, doesn’t flake and is water-resistant, long wearing.

Note that these are my personal favorites, yours can vary according to your choice and preferences. If you buy any of these, I would advise you to go to the store and test them at the counter before buying. That way, you won’t be disappointed at the end.

Also, don’t forget to let me know about your favorite mascara. Do our choices match?

So, how is the summer treating you so far? Super amazingly? :P
I am not a summer person, to be precise, an Indian summer person. I absolutely hate May and June in India and the last 2 weeks were terrible and intolerable beyond words. Yesterday we had a fun gathering and guess what? It was a morning event. Being an introvert and also a summer hater, I did my best to avoid attending it. But fate had something else planned and I had to go.
For the event I quickly thought up a look. I didn’t want a heavy makeup, yet wanted something that will be different, look fabulous and most importantly will go with the sultry summer.

Now lets move on to the eye makeup:

Groom your browns and apply a wash of skin colored eye shadow all over your eye lid.

Now take a coral brown eye shadow on a fluffy brush and move to and fro on your crease.
On the same fluffy brush take a warm pink eye shadow and just apply it on the socket line, concentrating more on the outer corners. Blend and merge the eye shadows well.
Now once everything is nice and blended, take a champagne satiny eye shadow and just pack it on the centre of the lid. Blend the harsh lines.
Now that your lid is done, let us move on to the lower lash line. For this I opted for a bright blue eye liner pencil, you can go for any other color or just your usual black as well.

Finally add loads of mascara/ natural looking falsies to round off the look.

Good fragrances are like fresh condiments, they add their very own flavor to your mood. I am a fragrance fanatic and love to collect as many as I possibly can or my pocket would allow, be it a perfume or a body mist. Today I’ll be reviewing one of the recent additions to my body mist collection, the “The Body Shop Strawberry Body Mist”. Subtle fruity fragrances are my absolute favorites and they have this immense power to enliven my mood even when I am at my lowest. And no, this is no exaggeration.

So without blabbering any further let us get into the review…

The Packaging:-
A simple glass bottle with a spray pump dispenser and a silver cap. As it is a glass bottle, it feels heavy and you have to be really careful carrying and handling this; one slip and its gone. The labeling is simple and pretty.

Price:-
Rs. 695.00for 100 ml. I got it at 50% off during sale.

MY Experience with The Body Shop Strawberry Body Mist:-
When it comes to choosing fragrances, I am very skeptical. I have a sensitive nose and strong fragrances make my head spin..
This is one of the most subtle body mists I have ever used. The strawberry fragrance feels so sweet, very feminine, light and refreshing. It has no second notes, just true strawberry. It will begin by smelling strawberry and will end by smelling strawberry. Don’t worry, its not overpowering and you won’t smell like a house of strawberry gourmet. The longevity of the mist depends on the weather, your activity level and also how much you sweat. I don’t sweat much. But I generally have to spend the day out in the sun for work and the fragrance lingers for a good 3-4 hours after which it needs layering. When I stay indoors it definitely lasts longer. I love spraying it on my neck, behind ears, on my wrist and a little on my clothes as well. I love how my clothes smell at the end of the day. It doesn’t stain the fabric. The spray dispenser allows only minimum product dispense and it spritz very uniformly.

Summing Up The LIKES And DISLIKES:-

What I LIKE About Body Shop Strawberry Body Mist:-

Iconic TBS strawberry smell
Delightful, sweet and feminine
Subtle and refreshing
Ultra-fine mist
Has a decent staying power
Gentle on skin
No staining clothes
Decently priced
Easily available

What I Don’t Like About Body Shop Strawberry Body Mist:-

Glass bottle. You have no idea how frightening it is for me.
Not very travel friendly.

Final Thoughts:-
This, though was an impulse buy, has made a permanent place in my heart. It is mild and mood enhancing and a perfect 'pick-me-up' when I want to smell nice, but not too noticeably. This doesn’t feel or smell artificial or give me headaches, but is very pleasant and welcoming. It also prolongs the smell of the body wash, body sorbet and body butter of the same strawberry range products when used together. I just wish it came it plastic bottles, the glass one scares me.
So if you are a fan of Strawberry fragrances and are pro at carrying glass bottles, you can definitely give this a try.

Rating:-
4/5 :)

Which is your favorite body mist? Have you tried any of The Body Shop's mists? Let us know :)

When I was small and papa used to bring me new brushes, the 'new brush fever' would last for days. I would play with them whole day, dipping in colours, splashing on the canvas. All grown up now, things haven't changed much. I still become a 3 year old kid whenever a new brush arrives.

Few days back, I received a“CHEEK CONTOUR AND POWDER” BRUSH from Anamika, which is a new launch by WISESHE. Anamika, the women behind Wiseshe, one of India’s top beauty blogs, launched her own line of makeup tools with a set of oval brushes last year, which were loved and became widely popular and now it is time for the Cheek Contour and Powder brush.

As many of you know, I started my career in blogging as a writer with WISESHE. It was on my birthday in June 2013 that my first article got published and since then there was no looking back. Anamika and Wiseshe members have stood by me through my thick and thin. So this brush and the post, both are very close to my heart.

Bear with me as it is a long one and with plenty of pictures.

First, lets see what Anamika has to say about her baby:-

“WISESHE CHEEK, CONTOUR & POWDER BRUSH is made of synthetic bristles. Great for natural look, light medium coverage & more precise application. The brush is designed in a way, it can be used for both cream and powder products.”

My Experience with WISESHE CHEEK CONTOUR AND POWDER BRUSH:-

HE LOOK AND THE FEEL:-

The brush comes in a chic, slender box which itself is very sturdy and protects the brush from any outside damages and dust. The velvet cushion which is inside the box, besides looking sophisticated and sexy, provides more protection to the brush and makes sure that the bristles don’t take any hit even while travelling.

Coming to the brush, the brush looks and feels ‘oh so amazing’. It is designed ergonomically, is light weight, handy and the spherically wound down handle is perfect, making it easy to work with even in a hurry.

But you know what the best part is? It is the feel of the brush on my cheeks, just like a gentle caress of the cool wind on a hot sultry day, like the first rays of sun tickling you on a lovely spring morning. Wow...I am quite a poet today.

Anyway, coming back to the real world, the brush is so luxuriously soft; I wonder if I have ever used a brush which feels as soft as this. The bristles are made of synthetic hair, are really fine and densely packed. The problem I have faced before with synthetic brushes is that they have this weird, nylon’y kind of feel to them and tend to become hard, scratchy and pokey after a while. But, this feels so beautiful. I just can’t stop swirling this on my cheeks. Also, I love how the tapered edges help me to go into the nooks and creases of my face and also aid in precise color application.

USAGE:-

This brush can supposedly work with both powder and cream products.

Powder based products:-Being a big fluffy brush, it does its job as a powder brush amazingly well. The tapered shape of the bristles makes it easy for me to apply powder under my eyes and at the same time the fluffy part helps to dust the powder all over my face, set the base and even out the look. I find this absolutely perfect to apply blush, to do contouring and sweeping highlight along the cheekbones and on other high points of the face as well.

Cream Based Products:- Fluffy brushes to blend cream based makeup? I was apprehensive. But oh boy, I was super impressed. Yes, it needed a little effort, but the finish it gave was absolutely brilliant. I used a heavy cream foundation. At first it felt streaky but I continued to blend and soon the products melted well into my skin. The soft, fluffy bristles buffed away everything to give way to a smooth, even canvas. My base looked more natural and had a lovely ‘airbrush’ finish.

I personally love using this with powder products, like to set my makeup, add warmth to my face, and blend out any harsh edges as it gives a sheerer, diffused application that isn’t heavy or appears cakey. I find that this combination of tapping and buffing motions work well in achieving a super flawless base.

CLEANING:-
The brush doesn't hold products if buffed well, so it is basically very easy to wash. Just pour some brush cleaner (I use my homemade one) on your palm or brush cleaning pad, and swirl your brush on it. I haven’t experienced any shedding while running my hands through it, nor while or after washing it. It didn't lose the shape either.

FINAL THOUGHTS:-
Finding a good brush in India is a task. I longed for a good powder brush and thank god I waited for the best and got this beauty. The brush looks so stylish, love the shape , size and the texture of it. You can use it to set makeup by buffing away loose powder and works amazingly well as a blush and contour brush too. Be it powder or cream based products, it picks up the right amount of pigments and blends them beautifully. It doesn't absorb much product, but rather allow you to lay downas much product as you picked up, leading to no unnecessary wastage, which i feel is amazing. It doesn't shed as well after washing. I'm so impressed.

At a glance:-

Brand Name and The Woman Behind:-Wiseshe, Anamika Sureka.
Product Name:- WISESHE CHEEK CONTOUR AND POWDER BRUSH
Price:- Rs. 700/-. You can buy on Amazon at Rs. 550/-
From Where to buy:Amazon
Things to love: A high quality makeup brush that works amazingly well and is reasonably priced too.
Things to not love: We were made to wait too long for this beauty :P

Would I recommend this brush to others?
Yes, I would definitely recommend this to everyone, especially who are new to the whole makeup scenario and don’t want to shell out large amount of money in buying different brushes. This could definitely be your one brush solution for your base.

RATING:-

5/5. This is a winner.. :)

So have you used this or any other Wiseshe brushes? Let us know in the comments J

P.S. I know I was approached by the brand for reviewing this product, I know I love Wiseshe and Anamika, but this review is 100% genuine and unbiased. Give the brush a try, you will understand.

We all dream of fluttery, bambi-level eye lashes. Don’t we? And to fulfill our dreams, the market is filled with varieties of false lashes, from wispy to full-on-drama, from synthetic to mink lashes, you name it and you could have it. Recently, mink lashes have taken the beauty world with their ‘more-realistic’ and ‘more-comfortable’ approaches. Yes, they are supposed to be more comfortable, lighter, fluffier, realistic, natural looking and yes, a lot expensive than regular synthetic lashes.

So when I saw an Indie brand making their own mink lashes that too at a really affordable price tag, I couldn't stop myself from ordering a few.

And today after using them for quite a few times, I am finally here with the review. So presenting TS COSMETICS 3D MINK LASHES… J

About the BRAND:-
TS Cosmetics is a Lucknow, India based brand founded by Miss Tabassum Saher. The brand provides amazing quality products at affordable price tags.

WHAT the BRAND says about their
100% mink eyelashes. 100% cruelty free
People will stare make it worth their while
3d intense fluff eyelashes

PRICE:-
INR 1,050.00. I got them for INR 330 when they were first launched in August end last year.

Where to Buy From?

From TS Cosmetics Instagram Page and Website.

PACKAGING:-
Each pair of lashes comes housed in a round plastic case with a transparent lid. The brand and shade names are mentioned on a card kept inside the case. The case though looks and feels very sturdy, is actually quite fragile and the lid of 2 cases already off when they were sent to me.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH TS Cosmetics Mink Eyelashes:-

Fortunately I am blessed with naturally long, curled lashes and I don’t really need falsies that much. I just wear them during shoots for that extra drama or in weddings or events where I wear them just because I want to wear them. Yet, I have tons of them and keep buying even more. Also, being a professional makeup artist, I have to buy lashes for my clients and thus I keep looking for and experimenting with different varieties from different brands.

Talking about these, ohh my God, these are the most dramatic eye lashes I have ever used on myself or anybody else. They are incredibly long, voluminous and fluttery. All of the four lashes are so glamorous, full and dramatic and definitely not for the faint-hearted people. The lashes always hog the limelight and become the centre of attention, because they're stunning and dramatic.

But, you need a strong lash adhesive for this one. They have really thick bands, which if not properly glued, keeps lifting up from the corners. Being thick bands, sometimes it becomes really hard to maneuver the lash band into precisely where you want it. You have to apply a thick layer of glue, wait for a while and then keep it pressed on the lash line till the glue dries up fully. A little here and there and they will just fall right off.
Being so full and long, these feel a little uncomfortable for the first few minutes. But once you get the hang of it, it won’t matter much.

The ones I got are Lash Me, Isabis, Blinkex and Adebel. The one I love the most is ‘Lash Me’, the most wearable of the lot.

HOW I CLEAN THEM:-

I just use tweezers or fingers to peel off the left over dried glue. I don’t use water to clean. If I feel that my falsies have become loaded with mascara and glue and it is no longer possible to just peel them off, I soak a cotton ball in micellar water and keep it on the lash for a few seconds. The micellar water loosens the mascara and glue. Then I slowly wipe the lashes off any residue. I dab with a tissue to soak excess and let them dry naturally.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THEM and Why you should not!
These are extremely long, fluttery and ultra voluminous and thus, if you are looking for a show-stopping look and are comfortable with full on , heavy lashes, then you can definitely try these. But, if you are a first timer, someone who is trying to ease out in the world of lashes or someone who is fan of natural looking falsies, then these are not for you.

My Final Thoughts!
These are super glamorous, fluttery, full and way beyond my comfort level. No, by this I don’t mean that they feel extremely uncomfortable; just that they are huge and just look too big on my eyes. I don’t have much space between my eyes and brows and I feel these don’t really look good on me. I generally use them for professional shoots. Fashion shoots often call for extra drama and these scream ‘drama’. But again, seeing the current price, I doubt if I will ever buy anymore from the brand. HUDA Beauty lashes are available almost at similar prices, Kingdom of Lashes and Glowmiere Lashes are available at much lesser rates and quality wise these 3 brands are way better, so I would naturally incline towards those. These are no wonder good, but not worth Rs. 1050. The price hike is unbelievable. Had it been somewhere between INR 500-700, it would still have seemed fine.

I can stare at these forever... :D

Do you wear false lashes? Which one is your favorite brand of falsies? Have you used TS Cosmetics 3D Mink Lashes? Let us know :)

Hello my gorgeous people,

We all know how difficult it is to find good glitter eye shadows in India. The imported ones are way too costly and moreover are easily not available. Few cheaper ones which we get on Amazon or Flipkart are duds. I am not very fond of glitters, but there are phases in my life where I just want it to rain glitters. During one such phase, in my quest to find the perfect glitter eye shadow in India, I bumped into an Instagram store, TS Cosmetics, who sell pressed glitters at an amazingly low price. I saw many fellow beauty bloggers raving and thus felt intrigued and ordered 8 of them. Later 4 were added as I received them as freebies with my second order and thus I’ll be reviewing 12 of them today.

Lets get into the nitty-gritty details…

About the brand:-
TS Cosmetics is a Lucknow, India based brand founded by Miss Tabassum Saher. The brand provides amazing quality products at affordable price tags.

What she says about her Pressed glitters:-
Requires no glue and have the special formula ‘no mess no fall’. Just use your finger or brush to dip into the product and then illuminate your eye look by tapping or sliding the product to your lid.

PRICE and Quantity:
Rs 300 for 8gms in each pot. It was Rs. 110 each when I first bought them.

INGREDIENTS
ROSEHIP OIL, carnauba wax, Dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, vitamin e, isopropyl alcohol, properly glycol, polysorbate 80, amaze xt, glitter.

PACKAGING:-
The glitters come in a transparent plastic pot with a white stopper and a black lid. The pot further comes housed inside a black box which has all the details mentioned. Considering the price, I feel the packaging is quite good.

SHADES:-
She has innumerable number of glitter shades under her wings. You name it, she has it or she can make it. Yes, she even can custom make for you. She did for me. The shades I got are:-

ROSEGOLD
AQUA
ROSEY
CAPUCCHINO
BLACK SEA
WHITE GOLD
BLUELAND
PLUM
GRANITE
DIAMOMD
3D GOLD
A CUSTOM MADE BLACK-RED-GOLD

TEXTURE, FINISH and LONGEVITY:-
The glitters are very fine and come in a gel base. The consistency is neither too wet, nor too dry. They are oh so incredibly packed with glitters and one swipe gives the absolute perfect coverage. Like all pressed glitters, this too can crumble down when touching your eyelids so you have to be really cautious when playing around with them. Now, the not so good part, it takes like forever to set on my eyes. Not that I have oily lids or so, but it does take time. If you don’t give them their much needed time to set or start packing them more than needed, the glitters will move all over your eye lid, crease, brow bone and eventually to your entire face wreaking havoc. Your face will end up looking like a disco ball. So be patient if you want to have best out of it.

I wear them and just lay on bed keeping my eyes closed for a few minutes. That’s how it works on me. You don’t really need any product to make the glitters stick, but I have tried over glitter glue and with that they obviously don’t crumble down or move.

HOW I USE and REMOVE:-
These pressed glitters are really easy to use. Acoording to me, it works best when you tap the glitter on your lids with your finger. You can apply with brushes as well, but works better with fingers. With brushes they also have a tendency to crumble down.
Removing them is as much a pain as every freaking glitter on the planet. You can remove most of it with your normal cleanser. But little specks will still remain stuck here and there which are notoriously tough to get rid of and which time can only remove.

WORDS of CAUTION:-
One has to be really careful when using glitters on face, especially on eyes. One speck inside your eye is enough to blind you for life. No, I am not scaring you, but just asking you to be extra cautious. By chance if it gets inside your eye, remove every trace of eye makeup immediately and splash water on your eyes repeatedly. Visit doctor if irritation persists.

FINAL THOUGHTS:-
Keeping the mess aside, which is quite obvious with any pressed glitters (even cult-favorite glitter injections sometimes are such pain), I like them pretty much. The glitters are not chunky, not gritty and very feel comfortable on lids. Jam packed with glitters, just a light dip of finger tip into it picks up enough products to cover the entire lid. Just pay attention to the amount you using and also give time to set. That way you won’t be left disappointed.

Special Mention:-
Tabassum Saher, the girl behind all the amazing products, is such a sweetheart. After I finalized my order I asked her bank details and also messaged her my address (the way Instagram shopping works). I was supposed to make the payment the next day which I totally forgot and remembered only after I received the parcel. Yes, she sent the parcel without even receiving the payment. She didn’t know me, it was my first ever order, yet she trusted and sent them to me. No one really does that in today’s world. I will remember this forever. She is very responsive and friendly. Just ping her with any query and she will be there to help. :)

Now, time for a few eye and lip makeups I created using TS COSMETICS Pressed Glitters ;)

Do you love using glitter eye shadows? Which ones are your favorites? Have you used TS Cosmetics glitter eye shadows? Let us know :)

We all love to use organic, chemical free products. Don’t we? For me, I didn't really pay much attention to the ingredients in my skin care and makeup, even until 1 year ago. But recently I have become more aware and cautious about the ingredient lists, especially when it comes to skin and hair care.

Today, I am here with a review on a newly launched product from the house of Satthwa. Satthwa is a brand which is known for products that are made from Grade A pure ingredients without the use of harmful chemicals and parabens. They have recently come up with this “Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo"

So without wasting any time further, lets get into the nitty-gritty details..

Satthwa claims:-
“We took 6 months to research this shampoo as we wanted this to be the best shampoo you will ever use. We have included Argan oil, Jojoba oil, Avocado oil, Almond oil, Coconut oil and Botanical Keratin in this shampoo. Together all these oils nourish your scalp and hair. Our shampoo also contains neem extracts, which is known to reduce dandruff naturally. We also wanted to make this shampoo SLS / Paraben free so that it does not irritate the skin and also does not cause damage to scalp and hair in the long run. Made for all hair types! Recommended for both men and women. Sulfate / Alcohol Free!”

Price:
Rs 499 for 200ml

Can be purchased from:-
Satthwa’s official Website, Amazon and Flipkart

The Packaging:-
Unlike most of the shampoos available in the Indian market that come in bottles, Satthwa Argan Oil Shampoo comes in a squeeze tube packaging with a flip-top cap. The tube is huge, sturdy and the cap is leakage-proof making it ideal for traveling.

How does the shampoo look and smell like?
The shampoo is thicker and creamier than your usual shampoos, but that doesn’t make it any less effective in evenly distributing and spreading across your scalp, hair. It smells amazing. I have a sensitive nose and detest strong fragrances, but this one is so divine, so refreshing and lingers even after a day or two of hair wash.

How does the shampoo actually work? Our personal experiences:-
My sister-in-law and I, we both have been using this shampoo for the past two weeks. She has soft, silky, straight hair, whereas I have dry, frizzy, wavy hair.
We have used this without using anything pre or post wash, wit oiling our hair before and also without oiling our hair, without using conditioner after wash and also with using conditioner post wash…and here is our experiences…

My experience:-
As I have already said that I have dry and frizzy hair and herbal, ‘au-naturel’ shampoos make my hair drier. An oil massage and conditioning is must for me. But I first started using this shampoo without using anything pre or post of it, just to know how the shampoo actually performs without any other help.
As it is SLS free, I didn’t expect it to lather much and yes, it doesn’t lather much the first time, but it does its job pretty well. Lather doesn’t always mean that the shampoo is cleaning better you know. If you are not satisfied, you can go for a second wash; it lathers pretty well during the second wash and that too using a tiny amount. I have to shampoo my hair pretty often, sometimes even daily, thus a tiny coin-sized amount and a single wash is enough for me. It cleanses my scalp well, despite not lathering gallon. But if your hair is dirty or oily, you might need more product and more washes.
Without conditioner my hair becomes very dry and surprisingly it was less dry with this, thanks to the nourishing agents. The oils in the shampoo made all the difference I guess.

Later I started oiling my hair prior or using conditioner post washing my hair with this shampoo and my hair felt extraordinarily soft, bouncy and manageable. With continuous use I am even noticing less hair fall during wash and also my scalp doesn’t flake as much as it used to. The shampoo washes off pretty easily, without leaving any residue.

SIL’s experience:-
She has normal hair and she was even more impressed with this. She didn’t need any oiling or conditioning pre/post usage and her hair felt so beautiful. I just couldn’t stop touching her hair. She loves oiling her hair before shampooing and that made her hair feel even more luxurious. She totally loves this shampoo.

Some quick Q&A:-

Does it contain SLS, paraben, silicones, artificial color and fragrances?
No, it does not contain any harmful chemicals, just all natural products and thus making it totally safe for the skin and hair. The fragrance used is natural and is very mild.

Is it compulsory to apply Satthwa premium oil before shampoo?
No, absolutely not! But for best results, the brand recommends to use the hair oil prior the shampoo.

Is it helpful in dandruff?
Yes, the shampoo contains Neem Extracts which are anti-bacterial and also fight dandruff. But you have to give it time to show results.

Is it helpful in stopping hair fall?
Well, I believe no shampoo can totally stop hair fall, but yes, they can control hair fall to some extent. I personally have noticed less hair fall and breakage while using this shampoo.

After shampooing with this shampoo is conditioner necessary?
This totally depends on your personal preference. This shampoo contains ingredients which do condition the hair as well, so you can skip conditioner. But I personally would suggest you to condition your hair after using this.

FINAL THOUGHTS:-
I always look out for moisture and nourishment in my hair care products and this shampoo definitely adds moisture and provides nourishment to both my hair and scalp. It clears all the junk out of my hair without making my hair over dry, frizzy. I love that it is SLS, preservative and alcohol free. Yes, I agree that it is expensive, but I don’t mind paying more for a product that actually works. I never really experimented with hair care products, but I am glad that I decided to give this a try.
So, in a nutshell, we are loving it and if you too are looking for a good SLS free shampoo, then you can give this a try :)

Which is your current favorite shampoo? Why do you love it so much? Let us know :)

* PR Sample. But review is honest as always.

People say it is impossible to please anyone, but there are products in the market which definitely pleases everyone, earning a ‘cult-favorite’ tag. Those products have a dedicated, passionate fan base that purchase and keep on repurchasing the product and also recommend those to others, thus spreading the ‘good name’. Most of the time those ‘cult-favorite’ products are actually so brilliantly made and skillfully tackle the problems that the hype around those seems real and well deserved.

Today, I am here with the review of such a cult-favorite product from the house of Innisfree, a product that have gained a loyal fan base over the years, Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum. So lets see if this ‘cult-favorite’ product could become my favorite or not…

Product Description, Ingredients, Price and Quantity:-

Also available in Rs. 1950 for 80ml.

Where to Buy:-
Nykaa or Innisfree Official Website and Brand Stores across the globe.

Packaging:-
The serum comes in a green translucent bottle with a pump dispenser and a cap. The bottle further comes housed in a green cardboard box where all the details are mentioned. The box is sturdy and travel-friendly.

My Experience with Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum:-

I have used quite a few products from Innisfree before and most of them were really good (you can read the review of Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cleansing Oil HERE).. Moreover, this is my first ever serum, so I was naturally very excited to try this.
The serum is pale milky white with a thin, runny, slippery consistency. It smells decent, nothing that my sensitive nose doesn’t like. A little is needed and the thin watery texture helps in easy blending. But you have to be really cautious about the quantity, otherwise you will be left with sticky skin. I have normal skin and just a single pump in enough for my entire face and neck. Innisfree recommends using a heavier product just after using the serum, like a thick lotion or cream to prevent the water from evaporating.

This serum has a dual moisturising and hydrating technology, which means that it is meant to provide immense hydration and moisturisation to your skin. And yes, true to the claims the hydration it provides is good enough. Being said that, I haven’t seen any long-term result other than temporary hydration. Also, it takes time to get absorbed. It kind of sits on my skin, rather than penetrating deep down the layers. I have to work hard patting it in. I have been using it for the past 5 months now and I don’t really feel that it has made any difference to my skin. Definitely my skin feels hydrated, softer and smoother when I apply this, but for just a few hours. Once I wash my face, even with just water, I can literally feel the serum melting down my skin.
But the good thing is, it didn’t break me out or caused any irritation/ allergy.

Final Thoughts:-
Overall, it is an average product for me. Nor do I love it, nor do I hate it. It hasn’t really made my skin any better or worse. I have tried using this alone and under my moisturiser (as Innisfree recommended), I have used this during day and at night, but nothing could make it work. I can do without this product completely. I am almost half way through my bottle, and I am wondering what to do with the rest. It didn’t really wow me enough to keep it around. It is not at all as soothing as I hoped, sits on my face and worst thing is it contains alcohol, which I realised while writing the review. I should really research well before buying stuff. I spend a bomb buying this and I’m truly underwhelmed.

Will I repurchase?Will I recommend Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum to others?

Of course not! My expectations were so high for this hyped-up product, but it completely failed to wow me. Not my kind of product. With the price paid, I just wish it had stronger actives that pack a larger punch other than just providing temporary hydration.
So if you are just looking for a decent hydrator, you can give it a try. But, if you are looking for anything beyond hydration, this won’t work for you.

Rating:-
2/5

Have you used Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum? Or anything from the range? Have you used anything from the house of Innisfree? Do you have your favourites? Let us know J

As we are becoming busier in our everyday life, things that give us convenience on the go are taking up a very prominent place. When we were infants our mothers used wet clothes to clean us, but with time and technological advancements, better and more hygienic wet wipes have become the obvious choice. Baby wipes are probably the most important thing in a mama’s bag. From all the all the food and drinks our babies literally litter all over themselves, to quick nappy changes, wet wipes are every mum’s weapon. Not only for the baby, baby wipes are so important for us grownup as wells. I am a makeup artist and a beauty blogger and I can never imagine my life without wet wipes.

But finding the best wet wipe for your kid or even for yourself is not as simple as it may sound. I have seen how my sister in law is always under pressure; researching and investigating popular baby wipe brands to find the best for the little one in our family. I myself have spent hours to decide on which baby wipe to buy and which to ignore.

Just when we were deciding on which wet wipe to get for the baby in the house, Mother Sparshsent us a huge pack of their new formulated water wipes. We were already in love with Mother Sparsh products. So read on to see if these wet wipes, or water wipes as they call them, are good for your baby or not...

WHAT MOTHER SPARSH SAYS:-

Mother Sparsh Water Wipes are formulated specifically for super soft and delicate skin of your baby. The presence of 98% pure water & natural plant fabric makes Mother Sparsh baby wipes as good as cotton & water. The skin-friendly natural fabric is velvet soft, cleans well and provides very safe and effective cleansing. These wipes are dermatologically tested which makes them very effective in preventing allergy, redness & rashes in little ones. Mother Sparsh Water Wipes are 100% biodegradable which makes them environment-friendly too. Click HERE for more details.

PRICE and QUANTITY:-

Rs. 175 for pack of 80 wipes

WHERE TO BUY:-Amazon and First Cry.

KEY INGREDIENTS
Purified Water, Aloe Vera extract & Jojoba oil

PACKAGING:-
The wet wipes come in usual plastic packages with peel off reusable stickers. You have to peel off the sticker, take out a wipe and again carefully stick it back.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:-

They are the 15 x 20 cm wipes and are not overly thin or excessively thick. Being made out of 100% pure cotton, they feel a bit textured which helps in picking and cleaning up mess better. The wipes feel very natural, very soft and have mild fragrance. Though this one smells very refreshing and nothing that my sensitive nose detest, yet when it comes to baby products, I prefer non-fragrant ones.

OUR EXPERIENCE WITH MOTHER SPARSH BABY WATER WIPES:-

Baby care:-
As I said earlier, we are very sceptical about using new products on our baby. But as soon as I peeled off the sticker and took out a wipe, it felt so different and had an amazing ‘I am better’ feel to it. I don’t know if I could make you all understand, but that’s how it felt. It felt way better than the usual wet wipes we buy while walking through the baby aisle at stores.
They say 98% water and the wipes do feel watery. Other wet wipes in the market are lotion based, but these being water based, are as effective as our good old ‘cloth/cotton wet in water’, but just better and more hygienic.
They not only cleaned well but also moisturised baby’s gentle skin perfectly. The wipes didn’t cause any redness, allergy or any kind of irritation to the baby. Moreover, we have noticed a considerable reduction in the redness that was there already on her bum. So, yes, it sooths skin as well.

Mum and Aunt’s care:-
I have been sneakily stealing these wipes from my SIL’s baby bag to remove my makeup. They feel so good that I can’t help taking out one once in a while. These work great in removing my daily makeup. My skin feels clean, moisturised and refreshed. Thanks to the wonderful ingredients. But if you are a fan of stubborn water-proof makeup, you will need additional support. I also use it to just freshen up myself on the go.

Environment care:-
Wet wipes are wreaking havoc on the environment. Research shows that wet wipes take up a lot of space in landfills. But this is not the case with Mother Sparsh baby wipes. They are 100% biodegradable, thus having both economic and environmental benefits.

KEY FEATURES FOR WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE MOTHER SPARSH BABY WATER WIPES

98% Water Wipes
Prevents nappy rashes and infections.
Velvety soft and can be used on new born babies as well.
Infused with the goodness of Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil.
Plant based fabric with no polyester and thus 100% Biodegradable
No Parabens, No Alcohol, No artificial fragrances
Ph-balanced and Hypoallergenic.
Great for sensitive skin as well.
Easy to use.
Easily available on different e-commerce websites.
Very reasonable.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS:-
Though the reusable stickers are of good quality, but I just feel that a plastic lock would have made it a little better, especially for the large packages.

FINAL THOUGHTS:-
Made from 98% water and a touch of baby lotion, these wipes are designed to protect baby’s delicate skin from germs, nappy rashes and other infections. They’re hypoallergenic and ph-balanced, too.

Overall, Mother Sparsh Baby Water Wipes are amazing for kids, mothers and aunts of any age… ;) These are absolutely safe, delicate and you can use them on your babies without any worries. We are absolutely loving these. Moreover, they neither pose any threat to the environment, nor to your pocket; so super affordable they are. I have already ordered a few packs for myself and my niece. You have to use it to feel the difference.
So heres to clean and fresh skin anytime, anywhere..

Have you used Mother Sparsh Baby Water Wipes?

* PR Sample. But review is honest as always.

Hello everyone,

Today I am here with a review of a cult favorite product from one of Korea’s leading brands, J One’s Black Jelly Pack. This product has been immensely loved and raved by people worldwide. It is said to harness the power of 7 midnight-hued antioxidant rich ingredients which hydrates and makes skin appear smooth and supple.

Most of the so called ‘cult-favorite’ skincare products fail to impress me and so I was skeptical about trying this. Moreover, it wasn’t easily available in India and ordering through Instagram sellers meant extra charges. So after a lot clash between the heart and mind deciding on ‘should I go for it or should I stick to my regulars’, my mind gave up and as usual the heart won.

I have been using this for almost six months now and it’s time for the review… Lets jump into it J

What JoneCosmetics/J. ONE claims:-
Overnight rescue mask for nourished, glowing skin by morning.

Price:
Actually 35,000 South Korean Won. $44 at Sephora USA or Glowrecipe and around Rs. 1800-2000 if bought from Indian Instagram Sellers.

Where to Buy:
From J.One officialWebsite,Sephora, Glow Recipe, Cult Beauty UK or through Instagram Sellers. I bought from Stalking Makeup.

Packaging:-
The serum comes in a black colored bottle with a pump dispenser. The black bottle further comes housed in a white cardboard box. However, I guess the recent batch has black cardboard packaging. The details are mentioned on the bottle and as well as on the box, but unfortunately 99% are in Korean.

How I Use:-
You just need a tiny amount of the product. I have normal skin and just a single pump in enough for my entire face and neck. I apply the product and pat gently for faster and better absorption. Currently I am using only this after washing my skin, but you can use this as the last step of your skin care regime after all the toner, serum and essence.

Product details and My Experience with J. ONE Black Jelly Pack :-
This is my first ever jelly mask and also my first ever sleeping mask and hence I was pretty much excited.
The serum has a bouncy gel like consistency and it contains extracts of black cumin seed, truffle, black currant, blackberry, black bee propolis, and black pearl. The beautiful hue is naturally derived and is free from synthetic dyes. The smell is fruity, very subtle and fades away in seconds.

The gel feels light, spreads beautifully on skin and gets absorbed super quickly without leaving any sticky or tacky feel behind. It doesn’t leave my skin oiled up, excessively moisturised or any trace of it to be precise. It adds an instant smoothness to my skin which made me think if the gel contains silicon. But thank God, it doesn’t. As it didn’t leave a ‘rich cream feel’ behind, I was kind of disheartened after my first application. “Will it be able to at all hydrate and moisture my skin” “Where did the product go? Will it be able to nourish my skin” “It doesn’t seem to have any rich moisture residue/feel to it. Do I need to top it up with a heavy duty cream or so?” … And all my questions were answered the next morning. My skin felt like butter, so soft and smooth, adequately hydrated and moisturized. My skin looked pillowy, brightened and had a beautiful, healthy glow from within. The freshness and softness stay with me throughout the day as well. Just love my skin.

WHAT my ‘GUINEA PIGS’ say:-

If you don’t know, my mother –in-law and my ‘sister-in-law’ are my ‘guinea pigs’ when it comes to experimenting with products. I use the products on myself and if required on them too, just to know how the products work on different skin type and skin tones.

My mother-in-law, who is in her mid forties and has super dry skin, is using this as well and she loves it too. She was having these mild signs of ageing around her lips and corners of eyes, which seems to have faded after she started using this. She is super happy and says that she will never go back to her previous night creams.

This product claims to suits every skin type and to see how it fared on oily skin, I asked my sister-in-law to use this as well. She too was impressed with the results. This didn’t make her skin oily like her usual ‘oil-free’ moisturisers. It didn’t break her out or caused any irritation. She is happy with the finish and says nothing has worked so well on her before. (Now, I have to get one for her one before she finishes mine :P )

I was actually astonished to see how a single product worked so beautifully on 3 different skin types, on my normal skin, on my mom’s dry skin and my sister’s oily skin. Truly an amazing product.

So, lets quickly go through the PROs and CONs:-

PROs:

Amazing texture, gets absorbed super quickly.
Doesn’t feel sticky or tacky.
Free ofParabens, Synthetic Dyes & Fragrances, Mineral Oils.
Subtle fragrance.
Hydrates skin so beautifully.
Makes skin pillowy soft and supple.
Increases the efficiency of other skin care products.
Firms skin.
Suits every skin type.
Didn’t break us out or clogged pores.
I would say that it is decently priced. I don’t mind paying for products that work well. Moreover you need just a tiny amount and thus it would last you really long.

CONs:-

Not easily available in India. (Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy? )

FINAL THOUGHTS:-
I have been using this for almost 6 months now and loving this mysterious looking blackish blue jelly pack to the core. Like other moisturizers or sleeping masks, it doesn’t look or feel so moisturizing and rich in texture at the first sight, but trust me, it does its job fantastically. There is something about the product that keeps me reaching to it every night; kind of slipping into your favourite silky slip before hitting the sack. I am hooked!

Have you tried anything from JoneCosmetics/ JONE Cosmetics? I have heard really good reviews about their normal Jelly Pack as well. Planning to give it a try. What do you think? Have you tried this? Would you try this? Let us know :)

Masking, I have always been a fan of it; be it using products stealing from mom’s kitchen or with ready to use masks available in the market. They not only help me treat my skin issues, but also improve the overall condition of my skin.
Few months back, my K-Beauty guru Clara introduced me to the world of Korean Skincare and one thing she swears by is Fiddy’s Deep Pore Shrinking and Grit Cleansing Method, the method which is making the internet and beauty frenzy people go crazy. This method claims to shrink the pores and also helps you get rid of grits and blackheads. I felt very intrigued, because anything that says ‘remove blackheads’ intrigues me. As a girl with nasty blackheads I have tried many blackhead removing masks and hacks till now, and thus I thought of putting my grits / blackheads to this test as well.

So does the method actually work? Lets find out

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START WITH:-

TIME:-
You need to have plenty of time, at least an hour. You can’t really rush the process if you truly want to see results.

PATCH TEST:-
The process includes the use of BHA. If you are using it for the first time, I would recommend you to go for a patch test first. BHA might cause a tingling sensation and can also purge your skin. That’s normal. But if you feel burning sensation, something which is beyond normal, wash your skin ASAP and consult a doctor if needed.

PATIENCE:-
This method, if properly done, should show you the result from the very first day. If not, don’t lose hope. Be patient and try again after a few days.

BUSTING the MYTH:-
Pores on our skin don’t really shrink, open or close. You can temporarily reduce the appearance of pores and that’s it. You can’t really physically shrink the sizes or open and close pores as the myth goes.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:-

A product containing 2% BHA.BHA or Beta Hydroxy Acid is effective in penetrating deep inside the layers, cleaning dead skin, excess oil and impurities and thus helps in getting rid of clogged pores. I use Cosrx BHA Power Liquid.

A clay mask. I am currently loving Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque from the house of Kiehl’s. You can use any other clay mask. I have tried using my regular Fuller’s Earth. It works pretty well as well.

An oil cleanser. It can be an emulsifying oil cleanser or any carrier oil. I use Innisfree Green TeaBalancing Cleansing Oil.

THE STEPS:

This viral hack is basically comprised of 3 easy Steps and is perfect for a lazy person like me.

STEP 1:
Apply the BHA liquid evenly on your clean face and neck. Pat gently for faster and better absorption. Now let it work its magic for about 20-25 minutes. Don’t touch your face, no matter how much you feel like touching.

STEP 2:
Now after you let that BHA sit on your skin for 20-30 minutes, without removing it, apply a generous layer of the mud mask. You might feel a tingling sensation while applying it. Wait till the mask gets dry. And then wash it off with lukewarm water. Make sure the water is just lukewarm and not hot. Pat dry.

STEP 3:-
Slather some cleansing oil on your face and wait for around 10-15 minutes. Now start massaging your face gently using circular motion. Make sure to be super gentle on skin and don’t extend the massage time past 2-3 minutes. While massaging you will feel and see tiny grain like substances on your skin. Those are actually the gunk and grits that have come out of your pores. This is immensely satisfying. Emulsify your oil cleanser, massage for a few seconds and then wash off. I love to follow it up with a mild foam cleanser, but that’s optional and depends totally on you.
Note that even if you don’t feel any grains, don’t lose hope, probably your skin didn’t have enough gunks to create grits. Just relax; your pores are still being thoroughly cleansed.

THE EFFECT AND MY EXPERIENCE:-
My skin felt immensely soft, smooth, supple and most importantly thoroughly cleaned. My skin feels so beautiful. I don’t really have visible pores, so I can’t comment on that; but I have read articles where people do mention a considerable reduction in the appearance of the pores.
I try to follow this once a week. My skin reacts badly whenever I use BHA, it purges like there is no tomorrow. But using BHA when following this method, the purging is lesser. I am looking for an alternate of this. Will update if I find any.

In a nutshell, I so love this method of pore cleansing. You can literally feel your pores getting all de-gunked. Absolutely blissful. But remember that your pores are bound to fill up soon again with sebum, dirt, makeup and all, so make sure you follow this routine at least once a week. Once you get accustomed to BHA, you can increase it to twice a week. But I feel once a week is enough.

So what are you waiting for? Get hold of the products and try this magical method and bid goodbye to those nasty grits forever.
Heres to clean, beautiful skin .. Cheers!

You know the worst thing about living far from family? Obviously it is staying away from our loved ones, the uniqueness of day to day life with them, but more than everything it is the food. A plain dal-bhat prepared by Maa is much tastier and fills our heart and hunger in a better way than the best of restaurant dishes (lets just not talk about hostel food). Nothing comes on a par with Maa’er haath er ranna. Isn’t?

I crave for her cooking, no doubt. But it becomes intolerable during monsoons. No point for guessing why. Yes, it is the season of Ilish ( Hilsa) and like every freaking Bengali fish lover, I can walk, talk, laugh, run, sleep, snore Ilish. So as I am home now for a few days, the glory of the inner cat has risen upon me and I just have to have fish every day. I am starting a series, where I’ll try to bring to you delicious vintage recipes from Bengal, which due to our lack of time and also sometimes due to our lack of knowledge, has almost been forgotten. Lets preserve the precious memories and moments...

The first on the series is my favorite Dudhman Kochu pata diye Ilish Bhapa (Hilsa Steamed in Colossia Leaves). The name itself makes my mouth water. This is what homecoming means…

Kochu is something I absolutely love, in any form, and the Kochu pata – Hilsa Fish is a marriage made in Heaven. There are varieties of kochu pata available in the market or in the neighbourhood. They tend to give you an itchy throat, so be careful while choosing them (don’t just go into any random places picking random colocasia leaves). I went for Doodhman Kochu Pata, they are known for their sweetness and non-itchiness. This recipe is super easy to cook, but is utterly butterly delicious. You wouldn’t be able to stop licking your fingers. I promise …

So without wasting any time further, lets start with it…

INGREDIENTS:-

Whole Doodhman kochu pata/ Colocasia leaves (Washed and patted dry)
1-2 Doodhman kochu pata/ Colocasia leaves finely chopped.
Ilish Mach / Hilsa Fish (washed delicately

Mustard paste (We love to grind the seeds the traditional way, you can use powdered mustard and then mixed with water to make a paste. But this method lacks the ‘love’ and emotion)
Green chilli paste
Whole Green chilies.
Mustard oil
Turmeric Powder
Salt

PROCEDURE:-

Start by marinating the fish. Add mustard-green chilli paste, salt and turmeric to the fish. Now pour in generous quantity of mustard oil and add the chopped colocasia leaves and whole green chillies. Coat the fishes well.

Now take one whole colocasia leaf, rub mustard oil to the inner surface and place a piece of fish along with some marinade.

Fold the leaf from each side and make it a parcel and tie with thread so that the parcel does not open while cooking. I just pinned a toothpick. That works as well.

Now place the parcels in a Tiffin box, close the lid and put the box inside a pressure cooker. Pour water into the cooker, close the lid and let it cook for about 10 minutes in simmer.
(You can place the Tiffin box inside any heavy bottomed pot, place an O-ring and place the container over it. Pour water in the pan and then close with a lid.) While pouring water on the pan or cooker, just make sure that the water level is at least an inch below the neck of the Tiffin box.

Turn off the gas after 10 minutes and let it stand for another 10 minutes (if you can resist opening it). Take out the box, open it while it is still hot and then ……… Ahh!! I am busy

Hope you all liked the recipe. Do try and let me know. Also let us know about your favorite fish recipes, something that reminds you of your Maa, your home...

Blackheads, I have been fighting these tiny brats since time immemorial. My nose looks like pepper sprinkled on custard (if that makes sense). My friends laugh when I say this, but I know how disgusting they look and how difficult it is actually to remove them.

Just when I was struggling so hard to remove blackheads, Clara, a friend and a fellow beauty blogger suggested me to switch to chemical exfoliators. “Chemical exfoliators? I haven’t used any. And the words chemical and acid in skincare products really scare the shit out of me”. That’s exactly what I said, but she assured me and recommended Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. When it comes to skin and hair care products, I go slowly and just don’t blindly grab new stuff. So, I started researching about the product and after going through all the raved reviews and 10/10 ratings, I thought of giving this ‘miracle product’ a try.

So without wasting anytime further, lets get into the details.

Description, Ingredients, Facts, Price and Availability:-

Price is about Rs. 1350. I bought from an Instgram store called Tuan Cosmetics. You can also buy from Cosrx official website, Sokoglam or Ulta.

Packaging:-A sturdy plastic bottle with a pump dispenser and a transparent cap. The bottle comes further housed inside a white box and every detail is mentioned on it.

The pump dispenser is of good quality, doesn't leak and dispenses right quantity of product.

Before the review, lets talk about BHA first, what exactly it is:-

BHA is basically Beta Hydroxy Acid. Sounds scary, right? Even I was afraid of using it at first, but I researched well and found that BHA is actually quite good for skin and is effective in penetrating deep inside the layers, cleaning dead skin, excess oil and impurities. BHA is oil soluble so it penetrates even through oil base, dissolving and cleaning clogged pores. It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help in curing acne.

Things to keep in mind before using this:-

Purging. Yes, your skin can throw tantrums after you start using chemical exfoliants. Purging is characterized by angry looking pimples or whiteheads, and will generally occur in your problem areas; cheeks in my case. Purging will last for a week or two maximum.

Tingling. You might feel a tingling sensation when you will start using this. It is normal. But if you feel an intolerable burning sensation, wash it off asap. If your skin still feels inflamed or is burning, visit doctor without wasting anytime further.

Sensitivity.Your ‘new’ skin becomes extra sensitive post the use of chemical exfoliants. So a sunscreen with high SPF is a must if you have to go out. Otherwise you will not just get tanned, but will get burned and roasted. Apply before bedtime and if possible stay indoors the next day. That’s why I apply it on Saturday night, so that I can stay indoors the next morning.

No Twining. Avoid using this with other similar products or products with other active ingredients like AHA, Retinol, Vitamin C.

Appearance and Application, Feel and Fragrance:-
The product feels like silky water, I mean just water like, but a little slippery. The consistency is runny and spreads very easily on skin. It feels beautiful on skin, gets absorbed with light patting and doesn’t leave any sticky or tacky feel behind. The fragrance is decent and doesn’t irritate my sensitive nose.

How and When to Use:-

Chemical exfoliants clear the way for other skin care ingredients to penetrate down the layers, so it should be applied on cleansed skin before the use of any other skin care products. I prefer using it the following ways:

Method 1:-
After cleaning my face, I dispense 1-2 pumps of the product and apply evenly on face and neck. I pat gently for faster and better absorption. I wait for around 20 minutes before applying the next skincare product.

Method 2:-
As a part of Frida’s pore Shrinking method. I apply the liquid on cleansed skin, wait for 20 minutes before layering it up with a clay mask. Once the clay mask dries up, I rinse with water and then follow up with an oil cleanser.

My Skin Type and Issues:-
I have a normal skin with no such issues other than super nagging blackheads on my nose and a few closed comedones on my forehead. I never had any pimple/acne problem, other than one or two once or twice a year. I am blessed with a naturally flawless skin. *Touchwood*

Performance: How the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid worked on me:-

This was my first ever chemical exfoliant and thus I was naturally very excited and apprehensive at the same time. I was scared and thrilled.

Being a first timer, I decided to use this once a week and then increase to twice.

It has been 6 months since the day I have used this for the first time. I cleansed my skin, applied this, waited for 20minutes, applied my night cream and hit the sack. I was super impressed with the feel of the product on my skin. Though I faced mild sensation, but it wasn’t something very severe and vanished within 10 minutes. With high hopes and expectations, I went to sleep. The next day I woke up to a super soft, smooth and supple skin. I looked so fresh, skin imparted a healthy glow and I just couldn’t stop myself from touching my skin. It felt so soft and smooth. I became super happy. The blackheads on my nose kind of loosened up and I could easily remove most of them with the blackhead removing tool.

I had a day off and throughout the day I didn’t apply anything else, simply because I didn’t feel the need to, my skin was looking and feeling gorgeous. The effect stayed almost throughout the week.

Now, lets jump to the next application day, I applied before hitting the sack as usual and next day woke up to a beautiful morning with an even more beautiful skin. Just when I was thinking that I have finally found my holy grail product, I kind of felt a bump on my right cheek and within an hour I could see a huge pimple staring right back at me. “Fine, my skin is purging. I know this would happen. I have researched. This phase shall pass”. That’s what I told myself. In the evening another pimple cropped up, as if one wasn’t enough. Keeping aside the two horrendous looking pimples right on my cheeks, my skin felt soft and glowy.

Third week, my pimples were still there and I could see a few other tiny bumps on my cheeks as well. Those were not pimples, but just hard bumps. I don’t know how else to describe them. I applied the BHA Power Liquid and the next day I woke up with a new pimple and a few other bumps. I received an urgent work call, so my plan of staying indoors failed and I had to go out. I applied a heavy duty sunscreen before going out, but when I reached office, what I saw completely shook me. I had turned red, totally red. Like a roasted chicken. I have no clue why it happened in spite of using an amazing sunscreen which works so beautifully otherwise.

Throughout the week, the condition of my skin worsened. My cheeks and chin filled with pimples and bumps, which I later realized are actually blackheads. Can you imagine? Blackheads on cheeks? As if a nose filled with blackheads wasn’t enough of a sight. Everybody in my family and friend circle started telling me how my skin condition has stared deteriorating.

This is supposed to work on acne prone skin and thus I applied it on the fourth week again, in a hope to see some changes. Yes, the only thing that changed was, the pimple outbreak moved from cheek and chin to forehead. I had a full face of pimples.The kind of breakout I had never experienced before.

But the thing that was worrying me wasn’t the pimple, cause I knew it will go someday or the other. The thing that was freaking the shit out of me was the blackheads on cheeks. I couldn’t even fight back the ones on my nose, how come will I remove them from my cheek now?

I know the concept of purging the skin that is why I kept at it to make sure. But alas! This failed me. I have tried adding it back into my routine four times now with a week or two, or a month break in between and each and every time after I use this I always get big zits on my face and I see more blackheads around my nose, chin and cheeks. I have no clue why a product that is meant to treat a skin issue is actually exaggerating it. The last time I used this was probably in June. My skin still hasn’t recovered. I still get pimple attacks and my cheeks are filled with blackheads and whiteheads. My skin has become oilier and it never felt worse. The product has ruined my face. I am currently under medication. The below picture might look gross. But this was the condition of my skin 2 weeks back and it was worse 2 months back. I just hope I get back the skin which I was blessed with until I decided to mess it up.

I wonder how people can love this product so much. Even my mother, she likes it pretty much. Her skin purged as well, but just during the second week. Though there is no such noticeable change in the texture of her skin, but she says she loves the feel post the usage of the power liquid. So I guess this product has both its fans and haters. It didn’t suit me, but can work on you beautifully. The way it worsened my skin conditions and ruined my face, I wouldn’t recommend you to try it. I just can’t take that risk. So if you want to use it, use at your own risk...

Sheet masking, this is probably the best thing that has ever been invented in the beauty world. Not because it relives the tired skin and soul instantly after a long day, but also because it is a super easy process; a boon for the lazy people like us, who don’t really feel doing anything no matter how much time they have. Just tear the pack open, apply it on your face and forget everything. No need to wash off also, which is the worst part of masking.

Anyway, coming back to today’s post, recently I got a package from Elizavecca, one of the best Korean skincare brands, which is famous for their cute and funky products with amazing quality. I received a few sheet masks along with some other Elizavecca products which I will be reviewingeventually. Being a sheet mask lover, I had to try one of the sheet masks first and as I am suffering from acne and pimples, hence I thought of putting the Elizavecca Tea Tree Deep Power Ringer Mask first on the review table.

So lets begin…

PRODUCT NAME: Elizavecca Tea Tree Deep Power Ringer Mask

PRICE:- $2. But around Rs. 200-250 in India. A pack of 10 sheet masks is available for around Rs. 2000.

WHERE TO BUY:AmazonIndia, Shopclues, YesStyle, Style Korean, Beauty Box Korea, Althea KR, BeautyJoint,

CLAIMS AND INGREDIENTS:-

Unfortunately everything is written in Korean. I surfed the internet, but didn’t find any details as such. But as it says “tea tree” I guess it might contain tea tree extracts and have anti-inflammatory properties which would sooth and refresh tired and irritated skin.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION, TEXTURE AND FIT:-

The sheet mask had the correct thickness. Not too thin that it would dry off within minutes after application and not too thick that it won’t stay on your face or feel heavy. It is adequately soaked with essence and there is a lot left on the packet which you can pat on neck, arms and even on face after taking the mask off. Coming to the fit, this feels pretty big for my face. The eye hole and the mouth hole, there are huge. This leads to unnecessary wrinkling of the mask.

HOW TO USE:-
Like any other face masks.
Wash your face. Remove every trace of makeup if you have any.
Tear open the pack and take out the sheet mask.
Carefully unfold and align the holes of the mask with eyes, nose and mouth.
Now press gently and make sure you don’t have any air bubbles or wrinkles on it.
Now relax.
After 15-20 minutes, peel the mask off, apply the extra essence on your face, neck, arms and pat gently.

Ignore the expressions .. ;)

MY EXPERIENCE WITH ELIZAVECCA TEA TREE DEEP POWER RINGER MASK:-

As I said I love sheet masking and keep on experimenting with different brands. I have heard so much about Elizavecca and hence was pretty excited to try these.
The mask was adequately soaked in essence and had a mild fragrance which didn’t bother my sensitive nose. I kept it on for 15 minutes (that’s the maximum I keep a sheet mask on) and it was still wet with essence when I pulled it off. I applied the extra serum on my face, neck and arms. It did feel a little sticky initially, but the tackiness vanished with slight patting and massaging. I applied this before hitting the sack and didn’t apply anything else after it just to see how it works alone. I woke up to a super soft, supple and immensely hydrated skin. It imparted a healthy, dewy glow and I really loved the feel. It didn’t break me out or cause any irritation. Also, applying makeup became a breeze that day.
I just have two issues with this mask. First, every detail about it is written in Korean. I know Elizavecca is a Korean brand, but when you are part of an international market, you should have a language besides Korean, a language that is understood by all. English to be precise. Secondly, the fit. I tried really hard to make this fit my face, but it was way too big. Wrinkling and air bubbles inside a sheet mask lessens its efficiency and that’s what was happening with this one. I had to run my fingers on it every minute to even it out. Touching my face during masking is something I don’t like. Other than these two, the performance and the result it absolutely great.

FINAL THOUGHTS:-
Overall, I pretty much like the sheet mask and would definitely want to purchase multiples of this. I would also like to try the “Collagen Deep” variant from this range as well. Reasonably priced and also pretty effective; feels truly amazing at the end of a long tiring day and skin feels super hydrated and soft the next morning. I would recommend these to all the people who love sheet masking. There are many other variants containing different active ingredients tackling different kinds of skincare concerns. So you can pick up accordingly. Do give the brand a try :)

Ilish is special to any Bengali. During the Ilish season we hardly give importance to any other fish. Of all the two-three months of its availability, it becomes a staple in every Bengali household.

When cooking Ilish or Hilsa, there are a great variety of preparations that are equally loved by us. From mustard and curd to brinjal and raw banana, the options are innumerable. But another thing, which goes amazingly well with Ilish mach, but is on the verge of extinction (thanks to its unavailability and the incapability and lack of knowledge of our generation) is Kochu Shak.

Today’s recipe "Ilish MAcher Matha Diye Kochu Shak" is basically Hilsa head cooked with taro stems or kochu shaak as we call them. A ‘very’ favorite of mine, this dish takes me back to my childhood days. So when mom-in-law decided to satisfy my hungry soul with this delicious recipe, I thought of including it in the “Phire Khawa” series. If you don’t know already, I have started a series on the blog where I upload vintage recipes which sometimes due to our lack of time and sometimes due to our lack of knowledge, are slowly being forgotten. It is high time we preserve these precious recipes and the memories attached to them...

INGREDIENTS:-
Kochu Shak / Taro Stems
Hilsa Fish heads (Cleaned, washed well and marinated with salt)
Kalonji Seeds
Salt to taste
Turmeric
Sugar to taste
Green chilies
Mustard Oil

STEPS:-
Peel the stem of the Taro stem and cut the them into pieces. Sprinkle salt and then boil till they become soft. Drain the excess water and keep aside.

In a pan heat mustard oil and add kalonji seeds, salt, turmeric, sugar and the green chilies.
Saute a little and dunk in the fish head. Fry the them well.
Once done, add in the boiled taro stem and mix everything well together. Cook on medium flame till oil separates.

That’s it. So simple, but simple delicious. Try and let me know.
Do you have any recipe that reminds you of the good old days? Comment down below …

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist Review

5 Best Kajal / Kohl Pencils available in India Under 500

Easy and Quick Glam Summer Makeup Tutorial

How To Spot The Difference Between Real and Fake Makeup and Beauty Products

Colorbar Just Smoky Eye Pencil - Just Black Review, Swatches and EOTD

10 Best / My Favorite Mascaras available in India

Easy and Quick Glam Summer Makeup Tutorial

The Body Shop Strawberry Body Mist Review

WISESHE by Anamika CHEEK CONTOUR AND POWDER BRUSH Review

TS Cosmetics 3D Mink Eyelashes Adebel, Blinkex, Lash Me and Isabis Review

TS Cosmetics Pressed Glitters Review, Swatches and EOTD

Satthwa Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo Review: India's best SLS free Shampoo?

Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum Review

Review: Mother Sparsh Baby Water Wipes- As Good as Cotton and Water

J ONE Black Jelly Pack Review, Price and Where to Buy

Fiddy’s Deep Pore Shrinking and Grit / Blackhead and Whiteheads Cleansing Method: Does it work?

Dudhman Kochu pata diye Ilish Bhapa (Hilsa Fish Steam Cooked in Colossia / Taro Leaves): Recipe with Step by Step Pictures

Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid Review, Price, How to Use and Where to buy in India

Elizavecca Tea Tree Deep Power Ringer Mask Pack Review, Price and Where To Buy

Ilish Macher Matha diye Kochu Shak / Taro Stem cooked with Hilsa fish head: Recipe with Step by Step Pictures