The Lipstick I’ll Wear Till 60

There is no telling how long I’ll live but I can confirm right away that my love for lipsticks ain’t going anywhere anytime soon! I can probably go on and on about how much I love lipsticks and Chanel lipsticks in particular but I think I’ll keep it for another post and only sing praises for this one here!

I am currently obsessing over Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Scenario #83 which first came out a couple of years ago (as part of a collection) and now sits among others in Chanel’s permanent line of lipsticks (much to my joy!).

As it always happens between me and good things, I wasn’t taken with this initially and almost dismissed it as too dark after a peek at the bullet. How wrong! First, the Rouge Coco Shines are a sheer formula so more often than not, what you see is not what you get (pigment and color payoff wise), which is a good thing if like me you love your sheers! Second, this is the perfect winter-beaten, berry-kissed or otherwise known as a sexy pout lipstick for my complexion and that can only mean that I am all over it!

It is a gorgeous reddish plum which looks even better when a few hours have passed and it leaves the prettiest natural berry stain. I love it so much and have so little patience for those “couple of hours” that I now apply it and immediately dab and press on it till I get that stained effect.

It applies sheer but can be built up for a more intense color which is not something you can do with most of the other Rouge Coco Shines. Its hydrating enough that its not drying but not too creamy or gloopy which if you ask is very rare to find in a moisturising lipstick. The exception being the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks are creamier and more moisturising than the Chanel ones and much more pigmented for a sheer lipstick. (big fan!)

While in my twenties I love a flirty pink and a summery coral, I do think that as I age I am going to gravitate more towards sophisticated (and sexy) deeper reds and plums (much like my Mum!). This falls somewhere in that spectrum without taking away the innocence. Its a kind of nude which melts on the lips and stands out just enough to be attractive and noticeable. This swatch in direct sunlight is the closest to how it looks on the lips and as you can tell its nowhere close to what the bullet looks like.

Also, pulling out a Chanel from my bag (wishfully Chanel) shall never lose its charm even when I am a Gradma!

Enough about me! Tell me if you’ve found your “till 60 and beyond” lipstick yet?

Veet Naturals Hair Removal Cream with Papaya Extract Review

Veet recently launched a new 'Naturals' hair removal cream range. The new range is made from 100% natural extracts and formulated with mild and refreshing, nature inspired fragrances. It is available in two variants - with papaya extracts for normal-dry skin and with camellia seed oil extracts for sensitive skin. So here is my review on the Veet Naturals Hair Removal Cream with Papaya Extract.

The best part of this cream is that it smells quite good and does not have the typical hair removal cream smell. This is a big plus point as I hate such creams which smell really bad. If you are one of those who have a sensitive nose then you will definitely like this cream.

This cream effectively removes all unwanted hair in around 3 minutes. I do not keep it on for more than 5 minutes. I haven't experienced any side effects. It did not irritate my skin in any way nor did I notice any skin darkening. I purchased this cream online but it is yet to hit most of the major online shopping sites.

I will definitely purchase this product again.

Pros:

1. Quick alternative for hair removal

2. Available in two variants

3. Cost effective

4. Hygienic tube packaging

5. No skin irritation

6. Spatula provided for easy removal

7. Non irritating fragrance

8. Claims to contain 100% natural extract

Cons:

1. Not yet available in major outlets or online shopping sites

Etude House Bebe Foot Mask Review

Back in the summer, I've been telling a relative of mine about the annoying problem I have with my feet. My skin is generally quite dry all over my body, and my feet are no exception. I scrubbed them all the time and put on tons of different lotions, but the problem remained and I refused to go to get a pedicure, because I hate my feet being touched or looked at, for that matter. Luckily, she had a solution for me. She recommended me to try out some slipper looking foot masks that make your skin baby soft. I have to admit, I was very sceptical towards them at first, but now, we are officially best friends.

So, how you use this Baby Foot Mask you ask? Well, you basically put on the slippers you get in the package on your clean feet and pour in the liquid solution. Then you have to sit still and wait for about an hour and a half for the liquid to absorb into skin, and then you can remove the whole thing and wash off the remaining solution. Your feet will be looking the same for about a week, and then the changes start happening. Basically, the skin on your feet starts peeling off and about two weeks later, your feet are dry skin free and super soft. Magic, right? (Un)fortunatelly, I don't have any photos to show you because I hate feet and probably a lot of you do too, so I don't want to make anyone sick, haha. But basically, your feet will be looking a bit gross during the peeling stage. Imagine how your skin starts peeling after you get a sun burn. It looks pretty much the same. That's why I think I'll only use this product during the colder months, when my feet are not out there in the open, but since you only have to use the sheets once every few months or not even that, I think that shouldn't be a problem. All in all, I'm really impressed with these and I'm glad that they were recommended to me, because I've never heard of such a cool thing before. After falling in love with them and seeing that a bunch of you were interested in them when I posted a photo on Instagram, I also decided to order some for my online store. In case you want to try them out for yourself, you can get them here.

L’Oreal Paris White Perfect Transparent Rosy Whitening Cream Review

Earlier, I reviewed the night cream from the same range of L’Oreal and now it’s time to share my reviews about the day cream version since I have used it pretty enough to build an opinion. This was also bought by my hubby when I asked him to select me a cream for uneven skin tone and tan due to scorching heat of summer.

Product Features:

• Barrier protection against UV and skin darkening.
• Intensive action against brown spots.
• Immediate radiance action at the surface of the skin.
• Switch the light on a picture-perfect, radiant and even skin.
• With SPF 17.

Price:

Around $ 8.5 for 50 gm.

Packaging:

The product comes in a cardbox. The glass jar is transparent, a bit heavy but pretty enough to keep. The cap closes tightly and the inner lid protects from the spilling and messing of the cream. It is travel friendly as well.

My Take on L’Oreal Paris White Perfect Transparent Rosy Whitening Cream:

It is milky white with very creamy texture and perfect consistency; thick but to such a precise extent that it blends like a dream. It has very subtle pleasant fragrance. When applied, absorbs easily with thin moisture film on skin, but it feels light and leaves behind an instant whitish glow on face. I am not sure but I have a feeling that if not absorbed properly, this instant glow might look like a white cast for darker skin tones. My complexion is medium fair with combination skin type.

I actually bought it back in July, but soon, I realized this is not a summer product. It turned out to be quite greasy and my t-zone turned into an oil can within a few hours. So, it had to go underground till October. Now for winters, it is a very good moisturizer. It makes my skin supple and takes away dryness, softens patches around my mouth and is very lightweight with no oil buildup after all day long. A pea-size amount is ample regardless of whichever season you choose to apply it.

It has SPF 17, so it acts dual; as a moisturizer and sunscreen. After 10 weeks of regular use, it has somewhat reduced my brown spots and blemishes, the even skin tone has just started to appear, but I don’t notice any transparent whitening complexion as per claim. Even the skin tone and blemishes took time to get better; so I don’t say it is a miracle cream, but it shows results with regular use. Just don’t expect to be a Snow White overnight!! 

Pros of L’Oreal Paris White Perfect Transparent Rosy Whitening Cream:

• Contains SPF 17 to act as sunscreen.
• Perfect consistency, blends very easily.
• Very creamy and good moisturizer.
• Lightens skin spots and evens skin tone.
• Lightweight when applied.
• Provides instant glow to face.
• Subtle fragrance.
• Doesn’t break out.
• Pea-size amount required for one application, so will last long.

Cons of L’Oreal Paris White Perfect Transparent Rosy Whitening Cream:

• Rosy whitening claim is false.
• Makes skin greasy and t-zone very oily in summer.

Smile Brilliant - LED Teeth Whitening System Review

Many people say that the first physical feature they notice about someone is their smile. Who doesn’t want a whiter and brighter smile? I know I do! Over the years I have tried several different teeth whitening strips, trays, molds and even more things I am sure my dentist wouldn’t be happy hearing about in my attempts to have a bright and beautiful smile. The strips would slip, the gel tubes would leak and I would get frustrated. Two things that every method I have tried had in common were that they were messy and expensive!

I am very happy to tell you that I found the perfect solution and that solution is Smile Brilliant. I have heard a lot of hype about LED teeth whitening so I had high expectations and Smile Brilliant absolutely exceeded them! In their LED Teeth Whitening System you will receive a high intensity Ultra-Blue LED activating light, protective top & bottom trays, 4ml professional whitening gel pen and an extra little brush just in case you need to even out the gel. They recommend treatments daily for as little as 20 minutes. It really is as easy as 1,2,3,4..

I have used other Whitening products that made my teeth hurt, painful does not even come close to describing it! So when I decided to try smile brilliant led teeth whitening kit I started slowly, 20 minutes everyday and did not have an issue at all-NO SENSITIVE TEETH! But I do have a brighter, whiter smile! The instructions are easy to follow in a step by step manner. The instructions say that you can have a session last from 20 minutes to 3 hours, depending on your comfort levels. There is no awful taste, no burning and no discomfort while using the tray and LED light. It was also easy to clean the trays, just rinse and store.

Brush your teeth. You want to have everything cleaned off so that the gel can get directly in contact with your teeth. It also helps the whitening be more even over the entire surface of the tooth.

Brush the gel on your teeth. This is one of my favorite parts. You just need to twist the end of the whitening pen until the gel comes out and onto the brush. Don’t get upset if it takes a few twists especially the first time the gel is very thick which keeps it on your teeth. I absolutely love that this is mess free! My hands don’t get the gel on them like they have with some other products I have tried.

Put on the mouth guard. The gel has a hydrogen peroxide base so you want to use the trays to keep it from contacting and irritating the other surfaces in your mouth.

Put the LED light into your mouth and turn it on. This is as easy as it sounds. You simply put it in your mouth against your teeth and wrap your lips around it to keep it in place. If you use the light they recommend 20-45 minutes. If you decide not to use the light you will still have the same level of whiteness, it will just take a longer session. They recommend 30-2 hours without the light. I have to say, I loved the light! It made such a difference and really did accelerate the process.

So easy and the first time I used it it kind of scared me and now I love it! I highly recommend using Smile Brilliant Led Teeth Whitening System!

Skincare Basics: Benefits of a Serum

A serum is a great way to improve the overall texture and tone of your skin and if your moisturiser is just not cutting it, chances are a serum will do the trick. 

I’m a big fan of facial oils but I also love a good serum. You don’t have to use one or the other just put the two together and you’ve got a supercharged skincare routine. 

Whilst there is no such thing as a universal serum, they are generally designed to improve the hydration, texture and tone of the skin. They can also be especially great for preventing and reducing the signs of aging. 

There are different serums for different skin concerns from aging, to hydration and oil control and each one has different benefits for the skin.

Serums are a lot thinner than moisturisers and have smaller molecules meaning they are able to penetrate the skin easily and effectively, they are also much more concentrated so there is no need to use large amounts of product. For best results, serums should be applied after cleansing and toning, but before moisturising using a pressing or patting motion (try and allow the serum to absorb for 5-6 minutes before applying moisturiser) Serums can be used both in the morning and evening. Should your serum contain photosensitive ingredients like BHA’s or AHA’s use it only in the evening.

ELF Studio Blush Palette Review

The ELF Studio Blush Palettes contain 4 shades in each palette and a full size mirror. There are two palettes available specifically targeted towards those with light skin and those with dark skin.  Although these blushes are from the Studio range the formula is different than the original, single studio blush formulas. The formula of these blushes is a lot softer, pigmented and blendable in comparison to the original single blushes. As these blushes are VERY pigmented it is important to use a light hand or to apply them with a stippling brush.

ELF Studio Blush Palette Light Swatches from left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

Shade 1 is a soft, cool toned pink shade with no shimmer.

Shade 2 is a warm, apricot bronze shade with no shimmer, in my opinion it is too warm for contouring (I prefer something cool toned) but could be used as a bronzer.

Shade 3 is a medium mauve pink shade with no shimmer

Shade 4 is a coral pink shade with sheer golden shimmer.

Elf Studio Blush Palette Dark Swatches from left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

Shade 1 is a dark reddish peach shade with no shimmer

Shade 2 is a deep raspberry rose shade with no shimmer

Shade 3 is a shimmery deep strawberry shade with a sheer golden shimmer

Shade 4 is a medium deep reddish plum shade with no shimmer