Budget Beauty Finds ~ Rs.300 and Under

We have a budget post after a long time! I like doing these, since majority of my readers are students, and if they're like I was, half their monthly allowance goes to canteen bread pakoras. I'd want to eat them every.single.day back then. Mmm....now I want them!

Hello, can you pout and say 'p-s-y-c-h-o-l-o-g-y' at the same time?

So here are 6 great budget products that I personally like a lot, and they all cost Rs.300 and under.

• INGLOT Eye Shadow 326 ~ A useful matte brown eye shadow. Price: Rs.300

• Colorbar Eye Shadow in Dancing Peacock ~ This is a very unique green eye shadow that I fell in love with instantly. It's in the same color family as MAC Humid eye shadow
  Price: Rs.300

• Colorbar Smokin' Eyes Smudger Brush ~ Great for smudging kohl, and applying highlight eye shadow on the inner tear duct areas. But yes, the color bleeds a little bit when washing. See more Colorbar brushes here. Price: Rs.250

• Nail Juice Nail Polish in Hibiscus ~ Swatched here. I'm just showing you the one shade I have with me, but you can check out other colors too. Price: Rs.50

• Maybelline Clear Glow BB Stick* ~ You can read about it more here. Basically, it's a foundation in stick form, evens out skin tone, and contains Salicylic Acid to control oiliness. Available in 2 shades- Fawn (dark) & radiance (light). This one is Fawn, which is too dark for me. Price: Rs.250.

• Lakmé Enrich Satin Lipstick 149 ~ A fabulous fuchsia pink lippy. I got it with the MAC Love Goddess Dupe. Price: Rs.225

Swatches: Maybelline BB Stick Fawn, Lakmé Enrich Satin Lipstick 149, Colorbar Eye Shadow 33 Dancing Peacock. Nail Juice Hibiscus swatch here. Inglot 326 is part of a palette that I'm going to show you soon.

♥ 

If you want more, you can go read another old post like this here.

Let me know if you liked this post. Do share your great budget beauty finds too, we'd all love to know.

Disclaimer: Item marked * is a press sample, but I would have bought it myself anyways especially for this post ;) 

NEW! Pond's White Beauty BB + Fairness Cream

Another BB Cream has hit the Indian market, and it seems to have all the benefits & sun protection we'd need during our scorching summers.

First of its kind Pond’s white beauty BB+Fairness Cream that instantly covers spots and lightens skin from within to give you radiant skin all day.

The evolution of BB Cream:
BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm cream, was originally formulated in the 1950s by German dermatologist, Dr. Christine Schrammek, to protect and provide natural light coverage for patients’ sensitive skin, who had just undergone laser treatments and surgery. Recently, it was introduced in South Korea and Japan and it has been named “the secret of Korean actresses” for their fair and flawless skin.

The science behind Pond’s white beauty ™ BB+fairness cream 
With the Pond’s Institute’s dual-acting sophisticated skin lightening GenWhite™ Cover Formula and SPF 30 PA++ advanced sunscreen protection, Pond’s white beauty™ BB+ fairness cream not only improves skin texture and effectively lightens skin from within but also provides Natural looking instant glow for Indian skin. Clinically proven to lighten skin tone and reduce dark spots, GenWhite™ Formula is enriched with a powerful mix of Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, Allantoin and advanced superior sunscreen protection.

• Vitamin B3 - Pond’s signature ingredient, helps to reduce and control melanin accumulation on the skin
• Vitamin E – A potent fat soluble anti-oxidant to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals which can trigger melanin production which leads to darker skin
• Allantoin – Recognized as an anti-inflammatory by US FDA found in the comfrey plant and helps to reduce processes that can lead to increased pigmentation
• Advanced Superior Sunscreen Protection SPF 30 PA++  SPF 30 PA++ - Helps to protect against skin tanning and photo ageing.

Revlon ColorStay Whipped Crème Foundation Review, Swatches

The first time I saw Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Foundation, I thought "Ooh, I want to dip & swirl my finger in it!"

The first time I used it, I was so wowed by it's decadent texture I ended using too much....and my hands were a mess!

About Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup:

A new whipped crème foundation with time-release technology that provides all day flexible wear that won’t cake or flake. The smooth, silky texture of ColorStay Whipped Crème Makeup blends right into your skin, with no heavy or cakey feeling. The formula, containing silk and botanicals, goes on silky smooth with coverage you can build to even out skin tone. Presented in a sleek glass jar, the luxurious crème makeup leaves a soft matte finish that will enhance any complexion. Skin looks flawless with up to 24 hours wear! 

FEATURES & BENEFITS:

• Time release technology balances skin for a continuously flawless look. 
• This next-generation patent-pending whipped crème formula feels lightweight and comfortable, so makeup looks flawless all day, without rubbing off
• Bouncy, whipped formula feels ultra light and silky smooth 
• Soft Matte finish
• Buildable to full coverage
• Wears up to 24hrs
• Fragrance Free
• Oil Free

How To Buy The Right Foundation

I know foundation shopping is a tough chore. It's become easier these days with beauty blogs that give you a pretty good idea if a particular foundation is what you're looking for. BUT picking the right shade is still a challenge for a lot of people. I've lost count of the number of foundations I've used, but I'm still not a 100% confident when it comes to picking the right shade.

Once, when I was buying Revlon Colorstay Foundation at a Watsons in Kuala Lumpur, I almost went mad! Mr.CZ had left me alone to do my makeup shopping, and when he came back after an hour, I had not moved an inch from the Revlon shelf. My hands & arms were dirty with swatches, I was so exhausted, and I think I wanted to cry a little bit. Really. I wanted to sit on the floor like a child, raise my arms & cry out: "HELP ME! WARM GOLDEN OR THIS BEIGE-SOMETHING??? SOMEBODY! WHY ARE YOU ALL STARING AT ME?!!!" I told you I almost went mad.

It has gotten easier since then. Buying my most recent foundation (Rimmel Wake Me Up) took only a minute or two. I thought it would be kind of helpful if I shared a few tips and things like that. 

What I do: 

• Set a day for foundation shopping, and I don't wear much makeup on my face that day.

• Take along a bottle of my favorite foundation shade for comparison*. I swatch it on my hand & swatch the others alongside it to find the closest matching shade. For me, it's Make Up For Ever HD Foundation #120. You'll see why below.

• *Don't use up all of your favorite foundation or throw away the bottle, so you can use it as a guide to buy your next foundation. Unless you're buying the exact same one.

• If I didn't carry my "guiding foundation", I'll pick shades like Nude, Beige, Sand.... basically, shades that look more yellow & I'd swatch them all on my arm in an orderly fashion (smallest number first), so I don't forget which is which if they look very similar.

• Then I'll take the foundations from the swatches on my arm with my fingers & apply them on my jawline or neck side-by-side.

• I'll pick the shade that blends into my jawline & neck perfectly.

• I take a pack of Wet Wipes & tissues. They make swatching many shades at the same time so much easier. In India, they may not be as important, because most stores have SA's who are always ready with cotton balls & cleansing milk. But in drugstores, there's no such service, you're on your own. 

• Having a handbag mirror which has a magnifying mirror on one side can be super helpful when buying foundation.

Indian Women Reveal Their Make-up Habits & Secrets

This is an infographic that Revlon India sent over after they got the results from polls they conducted in their Facebook page in an attempt to understand Indian women’s habits on cosmetics. More than 70,000 women participated in these polls. All this was part of the launch of the revolutionary Revlon ColorStay Whipped Crème. 

♥

Let's see what my habits & secrets (if that) are:

I am BUGGED most by foundation that.... is too dry to blend effortlessly & end up looking cakey.

I normally apply foundation using..... brush. Sometimes with fingers. If you want to avoid the unnatural look, get a synthetic buffing brush like the Sigma F80

How often do you apply foundation? It's part of my daily makeup routine. It makes everything else look better.... look complete.  

How much time do you spend applying makeup? 15-30 mins. 

Which compliment would you feel happier to receive? "WOW! Your skin looks flawless! It's glowing! It doesn't look like you have makeup on!"  =D

How many times do you touch up your makeup in a day? Powder- once or twice, depending on the weather. Lipstick- more than 3 times for sure.

What's your skin type? Oily/Combination. Verging on Normal in winters.

[Err... what about "How much are you willing to spend on a foundation?" 

I'll answer it anyways: No more than ( Rs.1000 ) Rs.900 if it's a drugstore brand.] 

Good news:  Revlon ColorStay Whipped Crème retails for Rs.800. I will be reviewing it soon-ish.

 

♥

If you feel like it, do copy the questions and jot down your own answers in the comments below =)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

THANK YOU Maybelline UK

One night, I was browsing the Maybelline UK website & my eyes chanced upon this section. Something about FREE Fit Me Foundation Samples. I signed up- just email, name & address. I didn't take it seriously. I thought "Eh, whatever happens." I think it was about 2-3 weeks ago, I'm not sure.

Today morning noon, Mr.CZ came to wake me up:

Mr.CZ: "It's 12 o'clock. Time to get up."

Me: "Hmmm...." *didn't open eyes*

Mr.CZ: "Something came for you.... from Maybelline!"

Me: "REALLY???!!!" *wide-eyed...took package & inspected it*

Mr.CZ: "Oh my God, look how she's fully awake for that."

November Makeup & Beauty Haul ~ Rimmel, Maybelline, L'oreal, Collection, MUA, Etc

These are most of the makeup & beauty products that I got this month, apart from the  MAC Collection & some little things that I forgot to put in these photos. Loving some of them, hating some of them.....I've included mini thoughts on a few of them here, in case they are in your wishlist.

Last Minute Diwali Makeup Shopping Guide

Need a guide for your last minute Diwali makeup Shopping? Here, I've selected some products that you might like. All my favorites, all affordable, all available in India.

Face:

• Foundation: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation - For almost flawless looking skin.
• Concealer: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer. To brighten up your under eye areas, and somewhat conceal any blemishes.
• Powder: The Body Shop Loose Powder. A more affordable option is Maybelline Dream Matte Powder]

LOTD ~ Modern Cleopatra

[Letter body taken from TV series 'ROME'. Antony was so devastated, he killed himself after reading it. Truth was, Cleopatra was lying in the letter.]

Some believe that Cleopatra was the original Samantha Jones (Sex And The City). A while back, I took a Facebook quiz- 'Which Shakespearean woman/character are you?' - and I got Cleopatra (hoped for Juliet or Portia, dreaded the Lady Macbeth). That's how I know that. My old favorite tv series 'Rome' portrayed her as an insatiable pharaoh. She had short cropped hair & was addicted to opium. So, I guess the Facebook quiz was right. I'm kidding! My guilty pleasures are way too..... modern.

I guess you know what she used to kill herself? Ya, we won't go there *shudders*

My Shopping List: Hello Kitty Makeup, Lashes, Caviar Nails, Etc

We won't call it the wishlist anymore, okay? We'll call it The Shopping List. You know the overwhelming feeling we feel when shopping? I figured if I note down exactly what I want, I will feel calmer when my brain is hit with temptations all at once.

So here the products I've been eyeing this week and I'm going out to get them today.

Hello Kitty Makeup at Superdrug! I couldn't stop thinking about them ever since I saw them on British Beauty Blog. Oh my bows. Nail polishes, lipsticks, etc. Look at ze lipstick....

Bourjois Faux & Fabulous False Lashes ~ Lady In Black!

The Body Shop All-In-One BB Cream 01 Review [Edited]

Sorry for posting so late! It's almost quarter past 5 pm over here, and I was hesitating to post this. But.....

Since so many of you were waiting eagerly for this review, I put it it at the top of my to-do list. Also, I want you to read it asap, coz I guess most if you ladies must have just gotten your paychecks a few days back & all ready to pounce on all the new beauties on the block ;)

What it is: A white BB Cream that changes color once it touches your skin, and adapts to your skin tone. A little flag next to it in the stores read "No.1 Selling Product in Indonesia". They mean in The Body Shop store, I'm assuming. 

* BB stands for Blemish/Beauty Balm. Please read more about the purpose of BB Creams here

Shade: I am using 01. I picked 02 the first time, coz in my hurry to buy it I just saw 02 & 03, not knowing there's also a shade #01! I reached home, and googled. Found swatches, and saw 02 looked pinker than 01, so I decided to go exchange it while it's still sealed. Unfortunately, 01 wasn't in stock for weeks (even on the day I bought it), so I got my cash back & returned the BB Cream. Long story short: 01 was finally in stock and....and.... I got it for a little bit cheaper than the first time coz  of some discount. Woohoo! 

*All 3 shades are on the pinker side. No yellow undertones, which I prefer. 

Maybelline New York Dream Cluster Review, Photos & Swatches

"Look Like A Dream"

I want that. You want that. The dream being: flawless, glowy, goddess skin. The Maybelline New York Dream range of 5 products promise to help you achieve somewhat close to that by making your skin look matte, airbrushed, poreless & gorgeously luminous skin!

For real, or is it just another dream? Let's have a look! 

• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
• Maybelline DreamLumi Touch Concealer
• Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Airbrush Foundation ~ I have been using & loving shade 4 & have reviewed it here
•  Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation
• Maybelline Dream Touch Blush 05 

NEW Product Launches ~ Lakmé, Pond's, Maybelline New York, L'Oreal Paris

Don't we all just love it when new beauty products enter our Indian market? That's because it's so.....rare.

Below are some recently launched products by 4 of my favorite affordable brands. 2 skincare products, 2 make-up products. Only 3 really appeal to me.

Lakmé Absolute™ Bi-phased Make-up Remover ~ It is enriched with the goodness of various antioxidants. The product is designed to break down and rinse off the chemicals in make-up that ordinary soaps and face-washes can't. Hello, it comes with a pump! Me likes it already! Price - Rs.210 for 60 ml.

Pond’s Age Miracle Cell ReGENFacial Foam ~ Pond's announces the extension of its range with the new Pond’s age miracle™ Cell ReGEN™ Facial Foam, that’ll counter dullness and enhance your skin’s radiance! The new Pond’s age miracle™ Cell ReGEN™ Facial Foam is a unique combination of Intelligent Pro-Cell Complex™, a system of vital Bio-Actives:  CLA, Retinol, Two Retinol Boosters, Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and Glycerin with gentle micro beads that come together to deeply cleanse skin and help remove the dead cells and impurities to reveal visibly youthful skin! With the success of of that Regenerist range by that other brand, I'm glad to see a cheaper ReGEN face wash! Price - Rs.215 for 100 ml

Reader In DISTRESS! Make-up & Skincare For Hyperpigmentation/Melasma

Some days back, I got this email from a reader:

"CZ!!! i need your help please!!! Rote in to u soo many times but i just havent heard from you!!!! wats a gurl gotta do to get your attention huh????!!!! :P ;) Its summertime and that = lots of sweating and melted off makeup on the face!!! :@ I desperately need you to recommend a good waterproof long lasting liquid foundation for me!! Ive heard liquid foundations are good for heavy coverage ie cover pigmentation, melasma?? :S I suffer from pigmentation of the upperlip and i generally wear foundation on tat part and spread it out a bit to lighten the pigmentation but coz of the summers it melts all over!!! :\'( im desperately in need of help CZ & only U can help me!!! I dont trust salesladies at makeup counters to give a honest enough opinion!! I had written to you on your lakme mousse review page to but still no reply!!! Please please pleaseeee help!!!! Or ill stop recommending your name to my friends!!!! *muahahha* :P ;) ok maybe that was being a bit too dramatic but wats a gurl without some drama huh?? ;) PLEASE REPLY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!! :)
Hugs,
Ri!! :) "

Firstly, I'd like to say to all those whose distressful queries/comments I have not replied to, most times I simply forget! Sometimes I go back to an old blog post, see a comment I think I should have replied to but completely FORGOT, and I feel very bad. Very bad. Same with emails. So, my sincere aplologies if I missed replying to your queries. I advise you to resend sometimes so it pokes me "Reply....reply, woman!" Believe me, I forget to reply to emails from people who want to give me free stuff & money, too. This head, I tell you. 

Secondly, hahaha....!!! I read this email one morning & it totally woke me up =D

Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation & Loose Powder Review

I'm feeling nervous about this review. Because, I have mixed feelings about both the products. I don't believe in mixed feelings & in-between. Especially in relationships- "I don't know whether I like him or not." Wth is that?! Either you like, or you don't like. But ya, not everything is that black and white, is it? I still don't know whether I like that Virat Kohli (Indian cricketer) or not.

Bourjois Flower Perfection Youth Extension Foundation: With Wild Azalea & SPF 15. Promises velvety smooth finish for up to 16 hours.

Coverage- Medium to heavy.

Finish- Very Matte. 

Awesome packaging! Has a built-in smoothing sponge applicator that, I feel, would have been more user-friendly if it there's a tiny handle at the back (like a door). Especially if you keep long nails, it's difficult to hold it and apply without scratching your face.It smells nice & flowery. Although this is shade 53, which is the same as my Healthy Mix Foundation, it turns out out lighter (whitish) on me. It does not photograph well. I wore it in a recent look & my skin looked so patchy, I had to adjust the lighting a lot. Skin doesn't look naturally flawless, it emphasizes the tiny bumps on my nose and under eye areas, it looks like it sits on my face mocking its flaws. Keep in mind that I have oily skin, and this still made it look flaky in some areas. Having said all that, I could still use it....hopefully. 

Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation Beige Claire #53

Brand Of The Month ~ Bourjois

You know I love Bourjois. My good friend even jokes about my obsession with it. I think I've said "It's a brand that rarely disappoints me" before? Okay, maybe I'm making that up, coz déjà vu happens to me a lot! That feeling that I'd already done/said stuff before happens so frequently, it freaks me out sometimes (like MPD does). Anyways, I am putting Bourjois in the spotlight as:

'Brand Of The Month' 

Simply because I'm loving so many products from the brand these days. Below are some of them:

Bourjois Effet Smoky Eyeliner Pencils in Sparkling Mocha & Sparkling Emerald. Price- Rs.385 each

Sparkling Mocha, Sparkling Emerald (Aren't they gorgeous?!!) If you aren't familiar with these- they are soft pencils which can be smudged easily. I've done a review a long time back here

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Airbrush Finish Foundation ~ Product of The Week

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation is 'Product Of The Week'. You'll see why in a bit. I got Nude Light 4, which is a tad lighter than my skin tone, but it settles down after blending & mimics my skin tone. I was confused between Light 4 & Light 3.5 (slightly darker shade), but I was afraid 3.5 would look a little too orange. I have to take another look at it to know for sure though, please don't quote me yet.

Ingredients

New Launches India ~ Maybelline & Bourjois

Just a quick post to let you know that some new temptations are in the Indian market now:

Maybelline Color Sensational Color Sensational High Shine Lipsticks ~ Just 4-5 shades were there at the store- mostly plummy-browny shades, but there's one pretty & summery & juicy coral shade- Coral Lustre, which I got. Price- Rs.399. Pic below but it looks prettier  here in my hand =)

Coral Lustre #840

Lotus Herbals Gorgeous Natural Diva Kit Review, Swatches & Look

'Diva' can mean 2 different things- one good, one bad. Good: a woman who's glamorous/a good singer. Bad: a woman who's a 'prima donna'- a spoiled, high maintenance, temperamental, and demanding woman who throws a fit if she doesn't get her way. Mariah Carey, for one, is known for her outrageous 'diva' demands. I read an article in a magazine a long time ago, but forgotten what demands exactly. Here's what I found on the net:

 "Mariah Carey is known for her diva behavior. Her diva demands include having a huge entourage, having special people to help her sit if her dress is so gorgeous she doesn't want it to get crushed. Mariah even brings her own toilet roll!

At a Christmas lighting event in London in 2008 Mariah insisted on being surrounded by 20 white kittens and 100 white doves for her appearance with butterfly shaped confetti to be showered on her by the end of her performance."

She also keeps an attendant in her dressing room.....to hand her towels! Then I guess she's both. She earned it, so.....why not, eh?

No white kittens, doves, and towel-handlers, for us lesser mortals. We don't want them, anyway... chi! Says the fox-y lady. Okay, now on to topic of the day- Lotus Herbals Gorgeous Natural Diva kit (Are you also thinking why the 'Natural'?)

The kit contains a base stick, a lipstick & a red nail polish- all for only Rs.499. Here I'm wearing all the products from the kit. 

Eyes: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette & demi (half) lashes.

Concealer, Blush & Bronzer: MAC Studio Finish Concealer & Chromagraphic Pencil, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot, MAC Fleur Power, The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder.

Lakmé Absolute Mattreal Skin Natural Mousse Foundation: Awesome, BUT....

It kinda looks like Magic 8 Ball, no? Okay, let's pretend it is. "Will the foundation inside make my skin flawless?"

*Shakes ball* [Answer at the end of the post]

What it is:

Lakmé Absolute Mattreal Skin Natural Mousse is a feather light foundation with a mousse to powder finish. It claims to last upto 16 hours & has SPF 8.

Available in 2 shades: Ivory Fair & Beige Honey.

I got Ivory Fair , which pretty much suits my MAC NC 25 skin tone.