Pucker up sweethearts its the lip balm we've been waiting for!

Girls honestly put your hands on your heart and tell me, have you ever got tired with the promise of baby lips,fruity lips, juicy lips,plumpy pouty lips,buttered up lips and what not claimed by your lip balm?
Hoping that one day after kissing so many frogs of lip balms finally somewhere, someday we would meet our Knight in shining armor?

Well about 6.5 years back I had found my dream lip balm a.k.a Blistex Dailiy conditioning treatment lip balm. Then just as suddenly as it made its entry in the Indian market, it vanished off the store shelves. I was heart broken 'coz I had fallen for this lip balm hook,line and sinker.
I searched high and lo but couldn't find it, I finally made my peace with the fact that I might have to order it off Ebay or make do with some other lip balm.
I spotted Blistex DCT finally at a Chemist store in Bandra and Oh Man! I swear to you I went crazy with excitement.(I could have done cartwheels right there in the store 'coz I also found another hot favorite of mine which has been discontinued-Ponds age miracle serum!)

Cosmedic Brightening face wash and Lumi day lotion

A while back Cosmedic sent me a few of their skincare products for review. When I read more about Cosmedic my interest was piqued by the fact it was created by a team of Doctors,specially catering to Indian skin's requirements and each product was backed by detailed information of test results.After using the products for over 2 months I thought I'll share my own experiences with the brand.

Cosmedic is the first brand that is formulated, tested and approved by dermatologists in India by a team of doctors from the US and India,
Dr. Kiran Lohia is a Columbia University graduate and a United States trained M.D. specializing in Dermatology.

 She is also American Board Certified with a further degree in Aesthetic Medicine Having additionally completed a Diploma course in Cosmetic Science through the U.K. Society of Cosmetic Scientists, Dr. Kiran Lohia has the distinction of being the one of the first physicians with both advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Chemistry knowledge.
Dr. Kiran Lohia then collaborated with doctors, chemists and scientists around the world, and sponsored research in specialized Dermatology Research Centres in France, Italy, Spain and the USA. Breakthrough advanced technologies were created to specifically solve the prevalent skin problems. Finally Cosmedic was born.

MAC Rapidblack Penultimate eyeliner the perfect soul mate of winged eyelines

If winged eyeliners are your go to makeup look and you are tired of fumbling around to get the perfect flick with your drugstore eyeliners,its time to say hello to this super sweet and s*xy liquid eyeliner from MAC called Rapidblack penultimate eyeliner.

The packaging is deceptively simple, yet if you have used drugstore liquid eyeliners like this before you'd really appreciate the engineering that has gone in this eyeliner pen. There is no clicking mechanism yet the felt tip always provides the precise amount of eyeliner without leaking or leaving any ghastly streaks.I am very happy that the consistency of eyeliner remains uniform means no uneven finish to my winged liner :) The pen shape also makes it a very travel friendly.

I love the high precision eyeliner tip,which is made with felt,its firm enough to give you control yet delivers a uniform inky eye line. The pigmentation is superb and it makes creating retro winged eyeliner looks a cake walk.

Its not water proof though its water resistant.If I don't rub my eyes then it easily wears for upwards of 8-9 hours,however when I do go rubbing my eyes like a woman possessed it does fade slightly though doesn't smudge.

Priced at Rs 1400/- for 1 gram of product it is quite a splurge.Do remember to cap it properly after use 'coz we don't want the air exposure to ruin the product, and you need to store it horizontally to prevent it drying out quickly.

swatches on NC 45 skin tone.

Overall recco- Snag it before it sells out Girlies, part of the MAC's Marilyn Monroe collection, this is a must have.

Dove Elixir-all the hoopla about real ingredients myth or reality?

So we've all seen the Dove Elixir TV commercials, the billboards, the print ads singing paeans about the benefits of overnight oiling in just 30 minutes.

With a feel good tune of  "Naani teri morni ko more le gaye..." and a Gradma lovingly giving her grand child a Dove elixir hair oil massage.
The ad is snazzily executed, it talks about Dove elixir precious Hair oils with real ingredients,hitting all the right notes and instantly makes you want to go out and grab this little hair potion right away. 
Well at least it did make me go out and buy it right away (this was sometime in the third week of December).
The Dove elixir wasn't available in most stores and after hunting high and low I finally spotted the 'Nourished shine' variant containing Hibiscus and Argan oil,I so craved this bottle 'coz I had read tons about the benefit of Argan oil.One look at the bottle & I was ecstatic at the sight of beautiful rose petals floating in the oil!
I said a little prayer and thanked Dove for launching something so pretty in the Indian market and I walked back with a spring in my steps,mighty thrilled with my purchase.

I couldn't peel my  eyes off this pretty bottle.Dove got the packaging spot on with the beautiful rose petals suspended in the hair elixir, it gives the bottle a ethereal look, not like mundane bottle of hair oil but an object of desire.

As soon as I came back home, like an enthu bunny Id gave myself a head massage with this "Hair elixir"Right off the heavy perfumed scent almost gave me nausea, its really strong sickly sweet smell, the gagging feeling was really strong and I could barely keep it on for 30 mins..
I was perplexed, I knew some oils smell funky but such strong fragrance is unusual..I decided to read the ingredient list carefully... surprise surprise here's what I found.... it contains 78% Mineral Oil, 16% vegetable oil and approx 6% of other stuff.. Hmm...I did a double take, wasn't I promised goodness of hibiscus,Argan oil?? Is the infinitesimally small quantity of beneficial oils added to this hair elixir just as a motivational ingredient?

I decided to read up more on the ingredients and check with Wiki (yeah I know its not Gospel truth,but has some very relevant information)

I quote from Wikipedia "Mineral oil is a liquid by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum-based products from crude oil. Mineral oil is a substance of relatively low value, and it is produced in very large quantities.The World Health Organization classifies untreated or mildly treated mineral oils as Group 1 carcinogens to humans; highly refined oils are classified as Group 3, meaning they are not suspected to be carcinogenic but available information is not sufficient to classify them as harmless.^[4]"

Well mineral oil on its own isn't really harmful,many companies use it to make non sticky hair oil variant,but when a brand touts its product as 'precious hair oils with real ingredients' and mentions Hibiscus and Argan oil as the primary ingredient the last thing one would expect is to be doused with mineral oil instead!

The second ingredient that bothered me was BHT which is a suspected Carcinogen. Again from Wiki here's what I found out "Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), also known as butylhydroxytoluene, is a lipophilic (fat-soluble) organic compound, chemically a derivative of phenol, that is useful for its antioxidant properties. European and U.S. regulations allow small percentages to be used as a food additive, but that is with controversy as there are claimed links to child hyperactivity as well as to cancer"

OMFG!! All I wanted was shiny silky locks, no suspected carcinogens in my hair!!

I quickly decided to wash my hair,after two rounds of shampooing to get the oil off my hair,my naturally fine,silky hair, looked frizzy and dull,quite the contrary turnout from the "Nourished shine" I was promised :(

I'm seriously miffed with Dove & Unilever for peddling El-Cheapo mineral oil as some miraculous hair elixir.Priced at Rs 185/- for 90 ml for me this was good money down the drain.It just doesn't live up to the high standards I expect from Dove and the misleading advertising is seriously annoying.

This bottle of hair potion has only ornamental value on your dresser, apart from that don't expect "real ingredients" or "nourished shine" and you'll be fine.
Short story shorter,as for me I'd rather buy sweet almond oil for my hair massages, thankyouverymuch.

Have you tried Dove Hair Elixir? Comment and share your experience.

ESTÉE LAUDER INTRODUCES VIOLET UNDERGROUND

ESTÉE LAUDER INTRODUCES

VIOLET UNDERGROUND

BY TOM PECHEUX, CREATIVE MAKEUP DIRECTOR, ESTÉE LAUDER

“We created a dramatic fashion look with a touch of fantasy. Inspired by glam rock, women can play dress up with color and become a character that encompasses mystery, opulence, sex and confidence.

It can transform her world.”

Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director, Estée Lauder

Introducing a new multi-dimensional, limited edition trend collection, Estée Lauder Pure Color Violet Underground.  Inspired by multiple cultures, styles and textures, this collection is the ultimate fusion of high style and street chic.  The makeup in Pure Color Violet Underground takes glam rock to a new dimension with a fantastical aesthetic revolution of deep, vibrant violet and fuchsia tones.

Clinique Chubby sticks-Have a kiss of color!

Have a Kiss of Colour!

Make lips the main attraction for Valentine’s Day by layering textures, adding dimension and a gentle iridescence. Get lips all dressed up and ready to shine for Valentine’s Day with luscious shades of Pink and Red.

Clinique’s Global Colour Artist Jenna Menard explains how.

Shehla Khan Presents Sonam Kapoor in her latest cocktail line Dark Romance

Shehla Khan Presents Dark Romance

2013 Cocktail Line 

Her new western wear collection for Valentine's Day.

Shehla Khan has redefined the term sexy for Valentine's Day. With her new collection Dark Romance, Shehla has veered from the pastel shades of the summer collection and has now opted for darker, bolder colours yet laying emphasis to the skin with skin tones.  Boudoir, being the mood of the collection, Shehla has used sheer and lace to give her pieces the rich appeal at the same time creating an alluring, come-hither look. 

This Valentine’s Day Myrah celebrates the spirit of Love and Relationships

When it comes to presenting your love with the most romantic and special gift ever on Valentine's Day what better than valentine spa gifts? The idea is to treat your love to ultimate romanticism and pamper him/her to the highest extent on Valentine's Day. You can also opt to present your love with Valentine spa gift certificates

This Valentine's Day try luxury services at Myrah which include the Romantic Rose Experience, Valentine Vinotherapy-enjoy the anti oxidant effects of wine,  you can  also relax and enjoy chocolate without consuming on a single calorie with the Choco Affair Chocolate Massage.

So at Myrah all of February celebrates love, care and sharing by offering these special Journeys. Go ahead and gift special people in your life this gift of love!!

GEHNA JEWELLERS PRESENTS VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL

Over the centuries, February 14th, Valentine’s Day has become firmly associated with love, romance and sweethearts everywhere. Whether pursuing new love or rekindling existing loves, Jewellery is a perfect choice as a symbol of love for Valentine’s Day. Ladies find this a most romantic gift. Jewellery & special moments go together on Valentine’s Day. Say `I love you' with a precious, beautiful and lasting gift this Valentines. Designer Jewellery is always a superb choice. 

MAC Marilyn limited edition lipstick Charmed I'm sure

Imagine if the ultimate retro siren -Marilyn were to be a lipstick what would she look like?
Hmmm... no need to rack your brain my lovelies, MAC did all the intellectual heavy lifting for us.
Charmed I'm sure a matte true red is the essence of a DIVA!

I waited for the Marilyn collection launch for months and when I finally spotted the range,I couldn't take my eyes of Charmed I'm sure. Its the perfect demi matte texture, creamier than MAC Ruby Woo.Its a true red which stuck the perfect balance of yellow and blue. Its got a hint of blue which gives it a slightly cooler look.Its a surprisingly versatile color which works well on a range of complexions.

MAC Marilyn collection lippies come in a glossy black tube with Marilyn's monochromatic image and red signature emblazoned on the lipstick cap.The outer sleeve of the lipstick case also has the same Marilyn image and the glam packaging was a major draw for me.

A little MAC Marilyn sneak peak & some more MAC;)

The newest kids in my Vanity care which are giving a nervous to my other occupants of my vanity case are these babies from MAC :)
Two pieces from MAC Marilyn collection are the Pièce de résistance of my vanity, I cant stop gushing over Charmed I'm sure,I'm so charmed by this little vixen o f a shade, I think I'll even wear it to bed ;)
The MAC Rapidblack penultimate eye liner is what the perfect winged eyeliners are made of  and creates the inkiest slinkiest black lines.

MAC Marilyn collection-Charmed I'm sure- droool isn't she a beauty :)

MAC & Carine Roitfeld Collection in Indian Stores Now!

Edgy and provocative, image-maker, editor and stylist, Carine Roitfeld edits her signature look into a collection of chic colours and tools inspired by her aesthetic, featuring limited-edition shades and two new seductive Eye and Cheek compacts.

This collection is a part of Fall 2012 range,so you can expect lots of neutral tones here.If you are looking for some everyday sober yet sophisticate matte look then this collection is for you.