MAC has launched a new collection this week. This is the mailer I received from the company few days back. Generally, the mailer comes in a week earlier and so I had expected the collection to be launched in stores next week. MAC launches new products on a Thursday and everytime I go on a Monday to check them out, they are already stocked out... or all the products are not launched in stores. Which is quite a bummer. Makes me think they launch like 5 pcs of each product.

Here it is... it has:
- bright lipsticks in matte and glossy
- cream blushes in pop colours
- liners in super pop colours like blue, orange, pink. I loved these but didn't want to spend on something I will wear rarely
- lipglosses
- eye pigments

Do check it out.

I hauled the new launches from L'Oreal and Maybelline recently.

 L'Oreal shine caresse lipstick and Maybelline lip polish gloss.

I bought the L'Oreal shine caresse listick in Juliette from nykaa.com. I love these lipstick/glosses. They need a little effort in the beginning but the texture is amazing.
This is a lip stain and not a lipstick/gloss. The colour depends on the colour of your lips... a lighter colour may not show up on pigmented lips. A darker colour may show up differently on different coloured lips.

Juliette is a red coloured stain. I need to apply 2-3 times for it to apply evenly. It stays on all day and looks glossy throughout. Unlike other stains it does not become matte... I really like that. It comes off a little on eating a heavy meal and needs to be re-touched.
Overall, I love the lip stains and have already purchased more shades. Priced at Rs 499 they are quite cheap (considering it is L'Oreal).

Another product I really love is Maybelline lip polish. This shade is glam 6 and priced at Rs Rs 450. It is a dark berry colour in the tube but comes on berry pink on the lips.

The gloss stays on for 4-5 hours... and leaves a pink stain. I love it. I am planning to purchase another 2-3 shades. 

I have been gone a long time but it has been busy... with my gym/jogging/dance sessions, work and family, I rarely get time. There are a few empties I have been saving up for reviews and finally I am going to blog about them.
I have stopped buying the Vellvette/Fab bag. Instead, I read reviews of the bags and then decide if I want to buy one.
Last month I received a mail from fab bag team with an offer- I could pick a shade of nail paint of LA Splash in the bag. There were some nice glitter shades and I decided to buy the bag. I ordered for sparkling rose which is a pink glitter shade. The bag arrived with another shade altogether... and I was pissed. The only reason I ordered the bag was the nail paint. On complaining the correct shade was sent but it took its own sweet time and the response from the team was not serious. I am surprised that IIM grads can screw so bad. The quality of service has definitely fallen.
Anyway, here is the bag and the products:

A lot of bloggers have liked this bag. I don't know why... the quality is bag. The previous bags were of a softer material while this one is very rough.

And this is what the bag contained. I received the glitter nail paint later ...

Kama Ayurveda Lavender hair conditioner: I have been using this for the last 2 weeks and I like it. It does its job... and smells quite nice.

Anna Andre nail polish remover: This was the bonus product in my bag. It is ok... nothing great. The Colorbar nail polish remover is so much better. Why is the team sending products worth Rs 79 is beyond me. They might as well send across Lakme nail polish remover.

LA Splash nail paint Blowfish Violet and Sparkling Rose: The nail paints are ok kinds. They take a lot of time to dry and chip within 2-3 days.

MUA lipstick and gloss: I have not yet opened this.

I am not too happy with the bag and its contents. I am not sure it is worth the 500 bucks I spent. 

I cleaned out my make up drawer... I generally do that every few months. I took the hard decision to throw away some products. I don't know the expiry so thats not the reason for throwing them out.

Here goes-

1) Body Shop Oil Free Balancing Foundation SPF 15: I was looking for the minerals foundation since I read good reviews about it but I bought this one instead. The shade does not match... but worse is that it is not waterproof. Even if I drink water and it drips on my chin... the foundation comes off. AND you can see the foundation... its horrible.

2) L'Oreal True Match Minerals Foundation: Shade is very light and I get boils/acne on my face when I apply it... so much for using minerals make up. Horrible

3) Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation: I bought this from the Parcos at the Delhi airport... I have an oily skin and like to pick up anything "matte". Very low coverage... comes off in a few hours... looks horrible

4) L'Oreal Matte Morphose: Another bad foundation from L'Oreal... such a waste of money. It makes me look white... it was so embarrassing when my colleague remarked that I am looking very "fair"... high time I threw it away



5) Calvin Klein lipstick/gloss: Ordered it from strawberrynet.com. Of course, the shade does not match... remember to check swatches online before purchasing next time. The shade is completely unwearable and I do wear bold as well as subtle shades

6) Inglot gel liner grey: This was my first grey liner... It has dried up... been less than 2 years. Strange since my L'Oreal and MAC gel liner are going strong. I have been adding duraline to use it for months now. Decided to throw it away finally.



6) Maybelline vivid and smooth pencil liners: Bought them long back... smudge like crazy... too soft... too light... don't last. Have not used them in years



7) Lord and Berry gloss in silver: Do not use silver...

8) Anna Andre lipstick: Received it in Vellvette box... horrible shade... too sheer

9) Chanel gloss: Sample pack: Transparent and weird

10) Maybelline water shine diamonds lip gloss: Not a fan of sparkly glosses

11) Maybelline lumi touch highlighting concealer: Too light for a concealer... do not need a highlighter... its too light

12) L'Oreal glam shine gloss: Another sparkly gloss... in the binC

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.