I have wore this outfit many, many times... and I like it ... a lot. It is comfy... and fun.

What I am wearing...
Shirt- Sarojini Nagar
Jeans- Allen Solly. Bought it from fashionandyou.com for 1000 bucks
Blue wedges- Sarojini Nagar
I wanted to wear another pair of footwear but I had a bit of walking around to do and the blue wedges are quite comfy.

Funky cat print on the shirt... too cute. 

Make up breakdown:
- Mac primer (just trying to finish it off)
- L'Oreal true match concealer
- Clinique tinted moisturiser (love)
- Mac gel liner topped with L'Oreal mineral liner in blue (trying to finish it off)
- L'Oreal telescopic mascara
- L'Oreal pomegranate pink chubby stick on lips
- Inglot matte loose powder

I bought this make up remover 6 months back. The tub contains 125 ml of product priced at Rs 2000 and it lasted me 6 months which is pretty good. 

The tub has a silver lid and is quite huge. I never really carried it while travelling. It contains a balm which melts on application. I bought this after reading a blog where it said that it needs to be applied to the face with fingers and then removed by washing it off. That is what the Clinique SA also told me while buying. I did that but was not convinced that it removed all the make up. It seemed like a messy way to remove make up.

When I visited the store again, the SA dipped a cotton pad on the balm and then used that to remove make up. I think that is the correct way. 

It is not very convenient to use for eye make up since it gets into my eyes and I am not sure if the mascara is removed effectively. I prefer a liquid remover for eyes. I used this one for my face and neck only. If the foundation is heavy and only few hours old (2-3 hrs) I used a cotton with the balm 3 times on the same area of the face. If the foundation is light coverage or day old I used the balm only once or twice in the same area. It leaves my skin slightly oily and I need to use the face wash twice to make my face squeaky clean. I anyway have an oily skin and do not like any shine on the face. I don't think the face wash should be skipped even though the SA will recommend it. I am very careful about removing make up everyday 'coz of breakouts and wouldn't recommend taking a chance. Also, if I use a tissue paper over the face after using the balm, some traces of foundation are seen on it. So, make up removal is not 100%. Face wash after this is, therefore, a must. 

Overall, I liked this product. I generally come home from work... remove my make up with this balm... head off to the gym and then wash my face after returning. It is definitely better than a liquid remover 'coz I need to wash my face immediately after using the liquid to remove the oil. Also the fact that it lasts 6 months is a big bonus. 

Will I re-purchase? I am currently trying out a similar product from Body Shop. I will compare and then decide on which one to re-purchase. But I do prefer the balms to liquid make up removers for the face. 

I rushed to the Clinique store after work and picked these up.
- Clinique even better concealer. MRP Rs 1650. I have a Clarins under eye corrector which is not the correct shade. I picked up this one in orange color. Hope it works on my under eyes.
- Clinique even better compact: MRP Rs 2100. This is a cream based compact which turns into a powder after application. It has heavy coverage which makes it perfect for touch ups. I prefer medium to heavy coverage since my skin has a lot of problems.

Reviews will be up soon. 

I have/am going to finish so many products this month that I decided to blog about them.

1) Nivea lemon and oil body wash: MRP Rs 165 for 250 ml. I bought this for my brother when he had come to stay for a few days. I would never have tried it otherwise. After he left, I used it to finish it off. A good product. It smells of lemon (obviously) and lathers well. It also consists of small yellow beads giving it an attractive look. The bottle is travel friendly and the flip cap does not open up while travelling.
Will I re-purchase? Yes. Why not.

2) The Nature's Co Peppermint face wash: MRP Rs 325 for 125 ml. I bought this when Vellvette sent me a coupon for a spa at their store. I visited their store in R City, Ghatkopar. This was a forced purchase. Details here. Anyway, I have been using it for the past few months. The face wash is for oily skin. It is slow to lather specially if face is already oily and smells like spirit... you know, the product which doctors use to disinfect before giving an injection. Yuck!!! On applying, it tingles in a good way. After washing the skin does not feel squeaky clean... it does not feel dirty but I don't get the squeaky sound which is a test of cleanliness. This may not be a bad thing but I am so used to judging cleanliness by this that I prefer it that way. The face wash is ok. Nothing great. And the price is a hindrance for me.
Will I re-purchase? No.

3) Baby Lips Coral Crush: MRP Rs 125. The Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms do stand out in the market. I have bought one in every shade. Finally, I finished 1 lip balm and can now open a new pack. They make my lips smooth and keep them moisturized. They did not work when my lips became very dry and damaged but I think that was an extreme reaction to some lipstick. For regular usage, they are good but if you are looking for specific care/concern this may not be the ideal product.
Will I re-purchase? Of course.

4) Clinique Clarifying Lotion : MRP Rs 1400 for 200 ml. This toner has lasted me for around 2 months. The brand does have a bigger bottle which is cheaper but would be difficult to carry while travelling. This bottle is sturdy and travel friendly. I wish they had 100 ml bottles to carry while travelling. The SA at the store told me it is a clarifying lotion. It tones but also removes dead skin cells. I wish I could see the effect on my skin. Earlier, I used Vichy Normaderm toner. I don't think Clinique lotion has made any significant difference to my skin. It did not stop breakouts (I get 1 pimple every month). I soak a cotton with the lotion and dab onto my face. The product tingles a little and may burn if there is a cut on skin. Also, it has a lot of alcohol and smells like it. I am so confused... the SA at Clinique tells me that alcohol is good for skin while the one at Keihl's tells me that it is not good for sensitive skin. Arrgh!!! I am still trying to figure it out.
Will I re-purchase? No. I will be trying Keihls caldula toner next.

5) Garnier deo Absolute Dry: This is my favorite antiperspirant. MRP Rs 150 for 150 ml. It is a little expensive compared to other deos in the market but I love it. Earlier, my underarms would smell and the deodorant (Fa, Charlie, Reebok) would add to the smell and make it worse. Plus, they started making my underarms dark. Oh, how I hated those days. Then, I discovered Garnier deos. I do not smell at all now. The deos does not smell too great but it is not bad. The point is that it does its job well. It does not darken my underarms and I am so glad.
Will I re-purchase? Yes. I have been using this for years and have not even tried any other deo.

6) Bourjois magic nail polish remover: MRP Rs 400 (I think, it has been months since I bought this). This nail polish remover reduced my nail care time drastically. No more turning off the fan... soaking cotton... closing the lid fast so that the remover does not disappear... rubbing.. rubbing... and then repeating for each nail. You just have to dip your nail and turn 1-2 times and ta da... nail polish gone. It has a very sweet fragrance which gets on my nails. I don't always like the fragrance. The liquid is non sticky. I have been using it for months and it got ruined when I used it to remove glitter nail paints. Now, I am using it to remove only glitter nail paints and Colorbar ultimate nail polish remover (similar one minus the smell) for regular nail paints.
Will I re-purchase? Maybe not. I think the Colorbar one is better ... it does not have the fragrance.

7) The Body Shop Satsuma Body Mist: MRP Rs 745 for 100 ml. It smells just the way I like it... like fruits. I prefer fruity fragrance to anything else. It has lasted me months. I apply it on my body after a bath and it smells good. On the downside, it is a mist so cannot be applied on clothes. Plus the lasting power is low. You can smell it as soon as I apply it but not later.
Will I re-purchase? I don't know. I am using the Victoria's Secret body mist and it lasts slightly longer.

8) Sally Hansen Insta Brite: Rs 775 for 13.3 ml. Yep, it is damn expensive. I bought it 'coz my nails were yellowing due to excessive use of nail polish. I thought this would help. But nope. It is the biggest disappointment. I apply it before nail polish but it is transparent and does not whiten the nails or cover up the yellowing at all. Hate it. Have used it as base coat to finish it off.
Will I re-purchase? No. I am trying out Inglot nail whitener.

9) Colorbar nail polish remover. MRP Rs 125 for 110 ml. I am a fan of this product and this brand. This is the best nail polish remover I have used. It beats Lakme also. It removes nail paints quickly. The bottle is plastic and travel friendly. It is also acetone free.
Will I re-purchase? Yes. Have started using the next bottle.

10) Kerastase Elixir Ultime: MRP Rs 2300 for 125 ml. It is very expensive but I bought it at a discount. Love this product. It smells of coconut which I do not like but the fragrance does not linger. 2 pumps are required to cover the entire hair. It gives a healthy shine and reduces frizz. I use it on towel dried hair and apply more on the ends than on roots. If used too much, it may make the hair look oily but does not feel sticky at all. If there is one product you can splurge on, this should be it.
Will I re-purchase? Yes. I already have a back up bottle.

11) Chanel Inimitable Intense mascara: My sister sent me this sample along with other goodies from USA. It has lasted me months. I love it. It gives volume and length to lashes. I would love to buy the full product if I already didn't have so many mascaras. Someday... when I finish off my current stash.

I was disappointed with the April Vellvette box and did not post the details here. Everytime they send me a lipstick it is this odd colour. I love bright colours and here they were, sending me boring silver (who wears silver?)... shimmery pink ... etc.

I love May'13 box... it is my favourite.

This month's theme is "organic".
The products:
- Clinique foundation
- Flormar lipstick
- Brocato shampoo
-Brocato treatment

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Foundation
It has 4 sachets of the foundation which is awesome. I will be able to use it 4 times atleast. I have received shade 3 which should match well.
The foundation has SPF 15, fights sun damage and repairs it from within.
I am going to try this tomorrow itself.

Flormar lipstick:
This is a full size product priced at Rs 700. I am so happy with the colour. Finally... something bright. It is very moisturizing and glossy. It feels like butter... and is softer than the Revlon lip butter. I may need to store it in the fridge.

Brocato Shampoo and treatment:
The shampoo and treatment are priced at Rs 375 (sample size) each.
They are sulphates and parabens free.
I am looking forward to trying this tomorrow itself.

Also, I have received a coupon for 15% discount at Nature's Co and and a complimentary spa. I am going to redeem it over the weekend.

I have taken Saturday off and will not be in office from Wednesday to Sunday. I was hoping that the Vellvette box would arrive before then 'coz I didn't want to wait till April'13 for it.

And it arrived. Anyone who has subscribed for 3/6/12 months gets an extra product. I subscribed to 3 months.. wanted to go for 6 months but forgot.

Anyway-



It contains:

- Clinique face wash

- Nyassa dry fruit soap

- NYX lip gloss

- Bonus products: Ofra acne treatment mask

Meji amino collagen

Meji amino collagen. Priced at Rs 1000 (approx), it has 7 sachets (one for each day of the week). They have to be added to any food/beverage and taken everyday. It will build collagen which help skin rejuvenate and glow. I will try it this week. If it works, I will review it. I checked reviews online and apparently it works... it is a huge deal in Japan... also, it was featured on Oprah. But it tastes yuck.







Nyassa vanilla dry fruit soap: Full size priced at Rs 400. It smells amazing. Will try it today.







Clinique foaming cleanser: Full size priced at Rs 1200. It is creamy.. a little goes a long way. It also removes make up. Last night I applied make up and removed it with this face wash... all of it was washed off conveniently. Excellent.







NYX lip gloss: I think it is a full sized pack. It is candy pink... it looks a little gaudy in the bottle (even for me) but it looks good when applied. I am happy to receive a make up product.







Ofra acne treatment mask: Another product from Ofra... last time it was a toner. All toners feel the same to me. Now, a mask can definitely be reviewed. I tried it on last night... it is very, very thick and smells of Vicks vaporub. Hate the smell. It feels heavy on my skin. A thumbs down.







On ok box, overall.... Someone received a Lush product. Why don't I get Lush ever??? When I met the Vellvette box team my suggestion was that the brands should be the same for everyone... the products can change. Someone else received a Mary Kay foundation.

I like the NXY gloss and Clinique face wash.

So, its a rage even in India right now. And I have many of them. Traditionally, BB creams were invented as treatment for acne scars/surgery. They basically treat skin as well as give coverage.

Indian BB creams only give coverage and some other benefits but they do not treat skin issues or repair skin over time. They are mostly tinted moisturizers. Thats why I have included Clinique tinted moisturizer also.

Left to Right- Face It BB cream, Maybelline BB stick, Maybelline BB cream, Garnier BB cream, Clinique tinted moisturizer.



Swatches- Right to left- Face It BB cream, BB Stick, Maybelline BB cream, Garnier BB cream, Clinique moisturizer.

The clinique moisturizer is slightly darker for my skin tone while all the others are much lighter. Thats one major issue with BB creams- the shades don't match and are very, very light for Indian skin tones.



Face It BB cream- I bought this from Sephora for around 1300 bucks (don't remember the exact price) when it first opened. It is quite pricey but I wanted to try it out. It is described as- with 70% moisture content, including deep sea water, a light application provides a sense of coolness and freshness the moment it touches the skin.

It has a lot of moisture content and is hydrating. It has a very light texture and spreads easily. The color is very light but since coverage is not high it doesn't matter. It mattifies the face for a few hours. I like it but will not re-purchase.


Maybelline BB stick- This is a recent launch by Maybelline. It is BB cream in a stick form. The price is Rs 250 for 10 gm. It is available in only 2 shades- Radiance and Fawn. The first is very light and the latter very dark. There needs to be an in-between. It has SPF as well as PA+++. It can easily replace a suncreen.

Since the shade is light I blend it well. It blends into the skin. The texture becomes powdery from cream on application. It mattifies skin and there is no need for compact. Unfortunately, it does not last more than 2-3 hours. I will use it only when I have to go out for 2-3 hours.

Overall, a good product and one I will surely re-purchase.







Maybelline BB cream- This is the first BB cream launched in India. It comes in 3 shades- all of them extremely light. It is priced at Rs 199 for 18 ml. The texture is slightly thicker than Face It BB cream. It is creamy and slightly difficult to blend. It does not moisturize. It does mattify and give the skin a slight glow but for a short time only. I use it as a make up base. Coverage is also low.

It is my least favorite product out of all of these.



Garnier BB cream- This is a recent launch. It is priced at Rs 99 for 18 gm. It is creamier and thicker than Maybelline BB cream and more moisturizing. I wear it as a make up base since it provides sun protection. Since coverage is low the lighter shade does not impact much.

Will I re-purchase? Yes... I find it easier to blend and wear it when going grocery shopping or something. It can replace sun screen as well.



Clinique tinted moisturizer- I read online that this product has the highest coverage among all the others. I bought it from strawberrynet.com (it is available at Clinique stores) months back. I love it. The coverage is awesome... the best. It is not foundation and yet gives good coverage. It cannot be used as a moisturizer.  The price is Rs 1600 for 30 ml but the product has lasted me almost a year. I use it atleast 3-4 times in a month.

Will I re-purchase? Yes... it is pricey but I think the coverage is awesome. There are times when I don't want to apply foundation or a BB cream... I need something in between. This product is perfect for those days.





I have not been posting about make up... 'coz I am lazy. I need to take swatches and ensure the correct shade shows up in pics. I will try and make the effort to review more make up products.

Upcoming posts

- Estee Lauder Kajal

- Revlon lip stain+Balm

I read about the arrival for Vellvette box and ordered it in October. I received the box today and below are the contents.



The packaging is nice and sturdy. There was a ribbon tied around it. Very cute.



And the contents are:

1) Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction Body Lotion

2) Clinic High Impact Mascara

3) Shiseido spot targeting serum

4) OPI nail color: Lincoln Park After Dark

I was sent an extra product since I was among the first 100 to order the box. Nice!!!



Shiseido spot targeting serum: I am surprised at receiving this product. I do not have brown spots and did not mention anything like that in the survey. Well, I will try it anyway. The MRP of full size product is Rs 4400 for 50 ml. The sample has 9 ml which comes to around 800 bucks.



OPI Nail color: Lincoln Park after dark: I was least excited by this product. The shade is a dark purple which looks almost black. I already have this shade and the bottle is very, very tiny. Some boxes received a full size of this product. MRP of full size is Rs 520 for 15 ml. The price of 3.25 ml comes to around 12 bucks. Need a better shade next time.



Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction body lotion: The note inside said that this product was sent as an extra for being among the first 100 to buy the box... but... all boxes have received the body lotion. Weird!!! No issues. A body lotion is more than welcome. MRP of 250 ml is Rs 810. The sample has 60 ml... price is around 200 bucks.



Clinique High Impact Mascara: I am most excited about this product. Anything from Clinique is most welcome and I love mascaras. Also, I have never purchased a mascara from this brand. Would love to try it and maybe buy one. MRP of 7 ml is Rs 1350. Sample is 3.5 ml... price around Rs 675.



I loved the notes along with each product describing it and its usage. Very well done.



Also, there are discount coupons for the full size product which can be purchased from the website. Very nice. I wonder how many conversions they have. The validity is till 30th Nov'12.



I paid 700 bucks for the box and received products worth 1700 bucks. Cool, na? I think its a great business model. The brands have received so much publicity. Everyone is writing about their box... plus customer trials AND conversions. For us, it is value for money.

I checked out other's boxes and other things received are:

1. Lush body scrub: I WANT


2. Clinique make up kit with eye shadow and blush: WANT IT SO BAD


3. Shiseido day or night cream: Better than the targeting serum


4. L'Occitane EDT: Yes!!!

Edited to add: The Clinique mascara is actually the extra and not the body lotion. Sorry for the mistake. And that makes me think- Would I have received only OPI, Shiseido and Victoria's Secret if I had not ordered early???