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 don't do posts on looks, make up etc because I am a normal, working person. This blog is a hobby. It has taken me years and hours of practice just to get a basic make up look perfect. I don't apply elaborate eye shadows on normal days (who does???). Only beauty bloggers or celebs do that. Also, I don't have the time. I have a full time job, gym sessions, hubby, house etc. So, yes.... make up posts are far and few between. Plus, I don't own a DSLR. I have a normal digicam which works well and my phone has an awesome cam (Nokia Lumia 820). I managed to click a good pic of my blush yesterday and decided to post a review.

Mac lip and cheek tint- Evening Stroll. This was part of a limited collection launched last year. I liked how easy to wear it seemed and picked it up.
It is a nice pink- dark pink... rani pink (if you know what I mean).
I think I bought this for Rs 1300 for 13 ml.

Without Flash. Looks a little dull here.

With Flash. This is the actual color.

The blush can also be used as a lip tint but I don't really use it that way. The product is smooth and easily comes on the fingers when swiped. It does not feel sticky or hard. 

Below is a swatch- without flash. On top is unblended and bottom is blended.

With flash.

You need to apply it with fingers and then blend it out. I generally use a brush since that gives me more control.

On the face it does not look very pigmented since it blends out. That is why it is a cheek tint and not a normal blush. It gives a nice glow and color to the face. I have applied a few layers below and yet it seems sheer.

The tint lasts for 4-5 hours which is good because all blushes last that much on me since I have a very oily skin. The tint works very well in winters but in summer it is another story. It makes my face looks greasy and makes the imperfections stand out.
As a winter product, this works well for all skin types but for summer, oily skin people avoid.

Will I re-purchase? Sure. Finishing this one itself will be a task. 

I just received my Vellvette box and am very happy with their delivery timeline this month.

It is a navy blue bag this time which contains the following:
- Full size products of Vantiv lemon shower gel- MRP Rs 214 for 180 ml
- Full size Vantiv moisturising shampoo- MRP Rs 187 for 250 ml
- Florelle wet and dry blush - MRP Rs 750
- Origins make a difference rejuvenating treatment lotion - MRP Rs 2000 for 150 ml

I have mixed feelings about the bag. I like the navy blue bag which will come handy. The shampoo and body lotion are manufactured by some company in Dehradun. Isn't the bag supposed to contain only 'premium' products?
I could not find any reviews for the Florelle blush online.
Thankfully, for Origins I did find reviews but the it is just a sample size. Don't know how long it will last.

I am wondering if the bag is worth the 500 bucks I am paying.

I don't understand how other bloggers can rave and appreciate these products. It has become a fad without actually evaluating anything.

Where have the Clarins, Clinique, Dior products gone? 

I received my Vellevette box today. It is a cute box with a heart shaped fridge magnet. There is 1 make up product and 2 skin care products which is awesome. And... 2 of them are full size.











In the box:

• Ofra Toner: 50 ml, MRP of full size 240 ml- Rs 1195. MRP of 50 ml- Rs 250


• Figs and Rouge lips, face, body balm: 17 ml, MRP Rs 695


• Purely Pure blush- Cheeky: 3.7 gm, Rs 1650

These are all products not available in India (haven't seen them in the market). Maybe they want to enter Indian market or maybe Vellvette box have included them for some variety and excitement. In case anyone wants to purchase them, they will be available on the website. Anyway, since I have never heard of them I did some research.



- Figs and Rouge balm: Aloe vera and mint balm. Figs and Rouge balm is quite famous online and has only good reviews. I am so glad a lip balm is part of the box. In the last 1 year my lips have become very dry and I need a lip balm at all times no matter the weather. I carry 2 lip balms in my purse, 1 is in the living room and another 1 in the bedroom. I cannot survive without one. I hate the feeling when lips are dry and start hurting. A new lip balm is most needed. This balm can also be used on dry areas of body, face, feet. Quite a multi tasker. According to reviews, the balm is available in many flavors- coconut, vanilla, pomegranate etc. Aloe Vera and Mint is not the best variant among these.... since it does not have a flavor or smell as good as others. In its own way it is good but if I had to buy one my first choice would be some other flavor.




It is packaged in a tin which looks classy. When I was in the boarding there were many kids from abroad. They would have such cute lip balms in tins which I would be using Vaseline. I love this. The product is white... when applied on the lips it has a tingling effect 'coz of mint. It makes the lips soft and smooth. But I need to keep re-applying it... like any other lip balm.



- Purely Pure blush: This is a brand available online. I could not find too much online. The reviews I came across (very few) were all positive. They maybe paid reviews. I don't mind. It is after all a blush in a very neutral shade- brownish peach matte. I will definitely use it. It is very similar to my Mac blush. I will try and compare this week.







- Ofra Toner: According to the Vellvette box, Eva Longoria, Denise Richards use Ofra cosmetics. Strange!!! I found least about this brand online and nothing about the toner. It is a South African brand.











Price I paid: Rs 399

Price of products in box: Rs 2585

Awesome. Next time I am going to pay for 3 months subscription.

This is a review for the recently purchased Mac lip and cheek tint in the shade Casual Colour. I was basically looking for a cheek tint rather than a lip tint. I prefer Clinique's chubby sticks as tints. Anyway, I wanted a light colour, I do have bright blushes but cannot wear them on a daily basis.

I picked the 2nd lightest colour- the lightest one was quite sheer. This is a peachish shade and looks like a mild flush on the skin. 



Pic 1, 2: Of the packaging. I managed to get some dust particles onto it and had to clean it out.

Pic 3,4: Swatches. In pic 4, at the bottom it is blended and on the top it is un-blended. It gives a sheer effect with some peachish tones. It can be built up.

Pic 5: As a lip tint. If I was looking for a lip tint, I would have bought one of the pinkish lavender shades but I just wanted a cheek tint

I find using this tint very easy and blending it is quite simple. I am a novice at applying blush and tend to get too much on sometimes. This is avoided with the tint. Also, my skin is very oily. Most of the blushes melt off (powder, cream- you name it). This lasted from 8.30 am- 5 pm which is the longest ever. I have found my preferred blush.

Will I re-purchase: This shade? No. It is going to last a long, long time. I will probably buy other shades.

MRP: Rs 1300

Weight: 13 gm

Hiya. I was in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj and as is my regular habit I strolled into MAC. I didn't expect to find or like anything there. I am familiar with their regular products and have loads of them. None of their recent new collections have excited me. Also, I had visited the Gurgaon store over the weekend and they had the same old stuff. I was surprised to see 3 new collections. I don't know the names or inspiration for the collection- not that it matters.

Collection 1: Mineral make up: a selection of mineral eye shadows and blushes. I am not into mineral make up, yet. I am yet to understand what the whole deal is.

Collection2: Coloured mascaras... drool. I have Max Factor's blue mascara but the colour does not show on my lashes. I wondered if MAC would be the same. There are mascaras in purple, burgundy, darker purple and black. I bought purple and I could see the colour in light. In low light, it will not be visible. MRP- Rs 1000. There are also 4 shades of pro longwear lipsticks, nail paints and a really cute blush with polka dots. I wanted to buy the blush but I don't apply so much blush to justify its purchase.

Collection 3: Lip and cheek stains. I liked this... there are 8 shades of stains. I bought "Keep it loose" which is very light and natural. I am not a fan of pink blushes. MRP- Rs 1300.

Then I went to Select Citywalk Mall. They have the entire collection while in Ambience some products are stocked out. As a habit, I strolled into Inglot and asked them about any new launches. Guess what, they also have new coloured mascaras- brown, bright blue, dark blue, purple and green. I bought dark blue 'coz I don't want 2 funky mascaras. One is enough. MRP- Rs 600. It cost me around 500 bucks after the 15% discount since I hold the Inglot member card. I wanted to kick myself for buying from MAC. As a general rule, I buy make up from Inglot and if I cannot find something there, I go to MAC. Inglot has similar or better products at lower prices.

My next stop was Lush. I have read soooo much about it and wanted to try out something... anything... but didn't want to pinch my wallet for it. I mean, 700 bucks for 100 gm of scrub or face wash? Really? Are they kidding me? I bought a shower jelly for 370 bucks (100 gm). I need a shower cream anyway.