Friday 30 March 2012

Ignorance really is Bliss!

I wanted to post this article over the weekend when the readership is higher. Reason? It affects all of us.
As beauty enthusiasts and budding fashion experts we spend not only money, but also time and  effort combing the market for goods and solutions to beauty problems, conducting research (most often on our own skin) and posting the findings so everyone can benefit from them.
But is it being reciprocated? I am talking of the big brands that love to approach us and offer benefits in the form of patronage and fame.I recently read an article quoting the harmful metals found in beauty products like eyeshadows, foundations and most importantly lipstick which is ingested directly into our systems. This was further supported by data FDA which found Lead in over 400 brands of lipstick.

The Safest and the Most Dangerous Lipsticks!

The FDA found the highest levels in lipsticks made by Procter & Gamble (Cover Girl brand), L'Oreal (L'Oreal and Maybelline brands), and Revlon. The lipsticks containing the most lead

(measured in parts per million) are:
  1. Maybelline Color Sensational, Pink Petal (7.9 ppm)
  2. L'Oreal Colour Riche, Volcanic, (7.0 ppm)
  3. NARS Semi-Matte, Red Lizard (4.93 ppm)
  4. Cover Girl Queen Collection, Ruby Remix, (4.92 ppm)
  5. NARS Semi-Matte, Funny Face (4.89 ppm)
  6. L'Oreal Colour Riche, Tickled Pink (4.45 ppm)
  7. L'Oreal Intensely Moisturizing Lipcolor, Heroic (4.41 ppm)
  8. Cover Girl Continuous Color, Warm Brick (4.28 ppm)
  9. Maybelline Color Sensational, Mauve Me (4.23 ppm)
  10. Stargazer Lipstick, #103 (4.12 ppm)

 Safest Lead-free Lipsticks were found to be:
  1. Avon Ultra Color Rich Cherry Jubilee
  2. The Body Shop Lip Color Garnet
  3. Clinique Long Last Lipstick Merlot
  4. Dior Replenishing Lip Color Red Premiere
  5. Estee Lauder Maraschino
  6. MAC Matte Lipstick Viva Glam 1
  7. Revlon Superlustrous Love That Red
  8. Revlon Superlustrous Bed of Roses
  9. Revlon Colorstay Lipcolor Red Velvet
  10. Tarte Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick
  11. Wet n Wild Mega Colors Cherry Blossom

 And yet we all treat Avon and Wet n Wild like stepchildren.Sigh!!


UD Palette Giveaway here!!

Unnatural Beauty: A humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog is giving away an Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 to one lucky winner! So get going and try your luck!
Contest ends on April 18th :)
Click HERE to enter.....

Thursday 29 March 2012

Friday Review - The Body Shop Facial Buffer


One item that has a permanent space on my bathroom shelf is the facial buffer from The Body Shop. When cleaning my face (specially after the long commute from office and the Delhi pollution has settled into my pores like bees on honey :/) I really need my face to feel squeaky clean again. It works with any cleanser and just adds a bit of extra exfoliating "oomph" to my daily cleansing routine.  


Surprise!! - Wet 'n' Wild (Pic Heavy)

Came home after a loooong day yesterday to find a small package waiting for me. Ripped it to find a few goodies from my aunt who loves to send me little things until I get there and shop on my own (she lives in NYC). Once in a while I ask her to send me particular stuff too.
So fast-forward ahead.....What was in the box? Go ahead and check it out.

Yep she knows I love make-up :) so she sent me :

Monday 26 March 2012

Style Fashion Etc & Kiehl's Huge Giveaway!

Kiehl's is one of those brands that combines good health with great looks, and they are sponsoring an awesome giveaway hosted by Style Fashion Etc. 


There are to be a total of 21 winners, 18 from the cities of Delhi and Mumbai and 3 from places other than these 2 metros. 
Winners will walk away with:

18 Winners (Delhi/Mumbai residents) :-
3 Winners will get 1 Kiehl's Voucher + Premium Skin Consultation + CCC Delux sample
15 Winners will get 1 Kiehl's Voucher + Regular Skin Consultation + CCC Delux sample
3 Winners (Non-Delhi/Mumbai residents) :-
Kiehl's #1 Lip Balm 


Click HERE to enter!

Workouts causing Acne? Simple tips to keep that skin beautiful!!


We all know exercise is good for us (never mind that we never make it to the gym 3 days in a row :P) It helps you maintain a healthy body and manage your stress levels, too. Moderate exercise is actually good for your skin too, but did you know that a large number of people suffer from workout related acne?
Yep you heard right! Exercise can aggravate your acne and if you find that is the case with your regular workout, then you may want to examine your routine.
What do you wear? Where do you go? How hard do you work?
Exercise-related acne is usually caused by something you put on your body rather something you do with it. Remove these outside factors, and you may put an end to your workout breakouts. Here are just a few things to watch for:

Saturday 24 March 2012

Blisscovered March Box and a not so happy me!

I received my Blisscovered Box for March yesterday and was so excited to see what they had sent me for this month.After a really bad day and worse commute, I reached home to see the white courier box lying on my table and jumped for joy. Drumroll please..............


 Da dun....da dun (cue music)
dun dun dun.........(faster) TA DAAAAA

Friday 23 March 2012

Lakme Cheek Artist- Kiss of a Rose - Review and Swatches

Hola! Sorry I have missing in action for a while.Exams, and job have been keeping me busy, not to mention that stomach bug last week...blah.No matter on ward to the review.....
Product: Lakme Cheek Artist  |Shade : Kiss Of A Rose  |Price : INR 395 
    
Shelf Life: 3 yrs  |Weight: 6 g  

Monday 19 March 2012

'Love your Lips' Giveaway by Corallista!!

Super loving giveaway for your lips!


One lucky winner takes Corallista aka Ankita's favorite lip products and they are......

  • L’oreal Paris Color Riche Creme lipstick : Beige Creme
  • Maybelline Colorsensational lip gloss : Plumtastic
  • Kiehls #1 Lip balm
  • The Body Shop Born Lippy Raspberry lip balm

This giveaway is open internationally so get in on it!!

Click HERE to enter!

Thursday 15 March 2012

SUPER cute mirror by the Spotlight Mirrors

What is a fashionista without her mirror? Its the one thing that every girl needs in her bag, first thing in the morning with her toothbrush and the last thing at night after cleaning make up! So whats she to do? Enter the giveaway for the cutest mirror ever .....thats what!!
Carry this little cutie where ever you go! Personally crafted by the creator....

Click HERE to enter.Ends on 17th March! HURRY!!!

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Elle's One year of blogging giveaway!

Urban Decay's Naked Palette 2 is the hottest thing in the fashion world right now and Elle is giving it away to one lucky winner!!!
Click HERE to enter. 

Acne: type, causes and what NOT to do

The best beauty starts with good skin and acne is a real obstacle to achieving that flawless look. So what exactly is acne?
Acne that is Acne vulgaris is better known as common acne is a skin condition that causes pimples or "zits." This includes whiteheads, blackheads, and red, inflammed patches of skin (such as cysts).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin become clogged. These holes are called pores.
Each pore opens to a follicle. A follicle contains a hair and an oil gland. The oil released by the gland helps remove old skin cells and keeps your skin soft.
When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked. Dirt, bacteria, and cells build up. The blockage is called a plug or comedone (that’s why non-comedogenic = does not create a comedone)

· If the top of the plug is white, it is called a whitehead.
· If the top of the plug is dark, it is called a blackhead.
· If the plug breaks open, swelling and red bumps occur.
· Acne that is deep in your skin can cause hard, painful cysts. This is called cystic acne.
Acne is most common in teenagers, but anyone can get acne, even babies. Three out of four teenagers have some acne. Hormonal changes may cause the skin to be more oily.

Acne tends to run in families. It may be triggered by:


  • Hormonal changes related to puberty, menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress
  • Greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products
  • Certain drugs (such as steroids, testosterone, oestrogen)
  • High levels of humidity and sweating
  • Research does not show that chocolate, nuts, and greasy foods cause acne. However, diets high in refined sugars may be related to acne.
What NOT to do:
  • Try not to squeeze, scratch, pick, or rub the pimples. Although it might be tempting to do this, it can lead to skin infections and scarring.
  • Avoid wearing tight headbands, baseball caps, and other hats
  • Avoid touching your face with your hands or fingers.
  • Avoid greasy cosmetics or creams. Take off make-up at night. Look for water-based or "noncomedogenic" formulas. Noncomedogenic products have been tested and proven not to clog pores and cause acne


    Home Remedies:


One major cause of acne is oily skin and this can be taken care of with some ingredients right in our kitchen! Easy and natural.
1. Apply lemon juice to the face before going to bed
2. Make a paste of oatmeal and apply it on your face and leave it for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water
3. Apply tomato purée on the face and leave it for 10-15minutes then wash with water. This also prevents the outburst pimples
4.Mix an apple with four tablespoon of honey. Leave the paste on the skin for 15 minutes.Rinse with warm water.
5. Using Fuller’s earth (multani mitti) mixed with rose water or plain water as a face pack. Fuller’s earth contains clay, Bentonite clay to be exact. Bentonite is clay that is is rich in minerals and it comes from volcanic ash. After a Volcano erupts, the ash settles onto the ground, cools down and becomes the clay that we use in many products. This mask detoxifies your skin from impurities and toxins.
6.To heal a pimple quickly, apply 100% tea tree oil with a (NEW) cotton swab on the pimple every few hours. Do NOT use the same one.

7.Keep an eye drop handy for spots and pimples. It reduces pain, swelling and redness

Monday 12 March 2012

MAC Relaunches - By Request

Remember that morning you woke up, somehow made your way over to the vanity and picked up that HG tube of lipstick................and your eyes opened wide in shock??Yep its happened to all of us sooner or later when our favorite brands discontinue a product (Bourjois better be listening!!).
Well MAC grew tired of all our requests (Read: whining) and decided to bring back some of the cult favorites.
MAC Collection—By Request, Voting will start on March 12th and end on March 30th, via the MAC Facebook page.The top 3 colors in each category will be re-introduced as online exclusives.

MAC and the Dupes - Part II- Eyeshadows


Okay so we are all crazzzzzzy about these little pots of glamour and we wish we could buy a gazillion of them BUT the prices are such an obstacle.Though the Refill pans are way more affordable. *Are you listening MAC*
One way to look super good without torturing your bank cards is to buy only your absolute favorite eyeshadows in the brand and the ones you don't use often in GOOD drugstore brands.So here is your guide to what goes instead so you have the look at half the price!!

MAC and the Dupes - Part I - Lipsticks

Okay so who is a fan of MAC?? *ForeheadTable* Lemme ask again: Who is NOT a fan of MAC?? All of us love the matt black look of their products and a single new tube of lipstick is enough to brighten up our week.


However this brand is expensive! and for those of us who like a good variety of shades on our vanity table, a little impractical.So what to do?We still wanna look good without breaking the bank!


Sunday 11 March 2012

MAC and FabIndia Haul!

A few days back I had visited Saket on a whim.It was Saturday, no office and my brother wanted a day out.......ergo we go!
Turned to be a great thing since I ended up at my favourite place, yep the MAC store and not only did I get inside info on their latest Matchmaster foundation series (Read about it HERE) but I also ended up Shopping...yeah yeah I know nothing surprising about it :P

So go ahead and check out what I bought:

Saturday 10 March 2012

Pink Clouds Tints and Highlights Giveaway!

Say goodbye to tired arms when you apply hair oil or even hair color!! Awesome International giveaway for a really cute applicator comb happening HERE!


Ends in 15 days :)

Sorry about the blurred pic.

Thursday 8 March 2012

Happy Holi to each and every one of you!

I hope this Holi brings all the colors of the rainbow into your life :)

Here is what Wikipedia has to say:
Holi  is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of ColoursEvery year, thousands of Hindus participate in the festival Holi. The festival has many purposes. First and foremost, it celebrates the beginning of the new season, spring. It also has a religious purpose, commemorating many events that are present in Hindu mythology. Although it is the least religious holiday, it is probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. During this event, participants hold a bonfire, throw colored powder at each other, and celebrate wildly.


Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. In addition to celebrating the coming of spring, Holi has even greater purposes. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colors and saying farewell to winter. 


HAPPY HOLI!!


Image source:google

Awesome 16 brush+ roll up holder Giveaway!

Hey chicas, I know how difficult it is to get decent make-up brushes in India, specially when you don't want to shell out a couple of grand for MAC ones. Trust me I've done my share of trolling for QVS brushes in Delhi!
So here is an opportunity from Sweet and Bitter for you to win an Ahhhmazing prize......
16 Makeup brushes made with goat hair in a Protective Roll-up Holder Bag


Aint that sweet of her?? Definitely no bitter in this gal!
The giveaway ends March 15th 2012.
Click HERE to enter!

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Surajkund Fair - Mini Haul

Hey everyone!

Today I wanted to do a slightly different post, a little about accessories than make-up.A month back I went to the annual craft fair called Surajkund.Its a vibrant fair with lots to see, indeed it cannot be covered in 2 even 3 days!
Check out my post on it HERE.

When it comes to handicrafts, I always love not only shopping but also chatting up the craftsman! Getting to know them and their work adds a little history to my visit whether I buy goodies or not. Plus its good for increasing knowledge base (Yeah my inner geek shines through :P)

Anyway I ended up buying a few items, not handicrafts precisely but I loved em!

The Vibrant Colors of Surajkund (Pic Heavy) -Part II

Continuing on with the pictures:
Thailand mask still in progress of hand painting.Check out the details!!

The Vibrant Colors of Surajkund (Pic Heavy) -Part I


A few weeks back I visited India's annual handicrafts fair.Held in the mildly chilly weather of February every year, this fair is meant to showcase the different crafts of India's heritage.

This is what the government site has to say about it:
Surajkund is the annual fair that showcases the finest handlooms, handicrafts, authentic fragrances & flavours of rich Indian cuisines. As winter turns briefly into spring, a caravan of more than 400 National and State awardee craftpersons from every corner of India wind their way to Surajkund. The craftpersons from SAARC Nations are also participating in the Surajkund Crafts Mela. At Surajkund Mela, the artisans' delicate hands create the most beautiful pieces which have fascinated many through ages !

Sunday 4 March 2012

MAC, Bourjois and NYX – 300 Followers International Giveaway!

Rekha is organizing a giveaway to celebrate 300 Followers on her blog - Glitter & Gorgeous !! This is an international giveaway, i'm entering it, make sure you do also, check the details here.ends April 30th.


3 winners!

MAC, Bourjois and NYX!! Get in on it!! 

Saturday 3 March 2012

OMG I Won!!


I won my first giveaway! And I still can’t believe it :D
Check out the declerationg of winners HERE

This giveaway was held by Rimmel of London in association with Sadee of http://www.sadeestyle.net/

Check out what I've won:

Blue Tastes The Best GIVEAWAY!!!



Jenna from "I'm Still Thinking" has a Giveaway.The winner gets:





Three blue polishes from the Wet-N-Wild Spoiled line 
A soft pale blue scarf made by Jenna herself!

Friday 2 March 2012

Miss Holly has a MAC giveaway!




1500 follower MAC giveaway


One lucky winner will win
MAC lipstick, eyeshadow & blusher of their choice.

Giveaway is open internationally! Closing date is 31st March 2012

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