Reader's Request ~ Some Mac Lipstick Swatches

Natural Lips

Mac Hug Me (Lustre)

Mac Sweetie (Lustre)

Mac See Sheer (Lustre)

Mac Lustering (Lustre)

*I like Mac Lustre finish a lot but I do notice that they tend do dry out my lips if I don't reapply when they wear off, asap.

Mac Myth (Satin)

*I do not like Mac Myth at all. See how weird it looks! >.<  . Plus I am not a fan of their Satin finish.

Mac Profusion (Amplified)

* Not a fan of Amplified finish either. There's only one shade (Show Orchid) available in the Mac website, so I guess they'll discontinue it soon (?)

Mac Lickable (Amplified Cremesheen)

It was tricky to capture the actual color of Mac Lickable on camera. Mac describes it as 'Bright Clean Blue Pink' but I beg to differ. I think it has more of a reddish tone to it.

Review here

I hope you'll find these swatches helpful.

Have a great week! 

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Himalaya Under Eye Cream & Lotus Herbals Under Eye Gel ~ Early Thoughts

Himalaya Under Eye Cream

Description:

Contains proven and safe blend of herbs specially created to care for the delicate area around your eyes.

Cipadessa Baccifera ~ Moisturizes the skin under eyes

Bergenia Ligulata ~  Lightens the skin under eyes

Triticum Vulgare ~ Nourishes the skin under eyes

Suitable for contact lenses wearers

Dermatologically and Ophthalmologically tested.

Visible Results (According to Himalaya):

80% reduction in dark circles in just 4 weeks

28% reduction in under-eye wrinkles and fine lines in just 4 weeks

Brighter and smoother eye contour

My early thoughts:

It's been more than 2 weeks since I started using Himalaya Under-eye cream. It is indeed very moisturizing and relaxes my eyes. I really like the consistency of the cream- neither too heavy nor too light. Not really seen much of a difference in my fine lines or color of my under-eye areas so far, but somehow the light beige color gives me hope. It does feel very gentle on my eyes and does NOT sting. It is fragrance-free too, so definitely a plus for an eye cream.

Price ~ Rs.150. Lob it! 5 stars just for that.

Lotus NutraEye Rejuvenating & Correcting Eye Gel

Contains:

Hydrolised wheat protein ~ Diminishes under-eye lines and crow's feet

Soy Bio Peptides ~ Diminishes undereye dark circles

Rice Bran extract and Vitamin A&E ~ Rejuvenates and hydrates skin around eyes.

My early thoughts:

I was very excited to get this particular eye gel because of the ingredients that looked so promising, particularly the Rice Bran extract. Been using it for a little more than a week. So far, so not good! Because of the gel texture, this product makes my under-eye areas feel very taut, like when you apply egg white on your face. This texture just does not work for me. I can't go to bed or prep my eyes before applying make-up with taut under-eyes. I need something that fills up fine lines and makes my eyes soft and moisturized. But I'll still continue to use it. Maybe.....

Oh, and yes it is fragrance-free too.

Price ~ Rs.325. Bah! Maybe half of that is just for the packaging, which I have to admit is quite fancy. The white box which holds the tube has gold glitters on it =)

So, in conclusion, I am liking the Himalaya under-eye cream more right now.

I will give them a month or two to really impress me. Let's see how they fair then. 

Later, I'll be comparing and reviewing all the eye creams (mostly Indian brands) I've used altogether.

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

L'Oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss Review & EOTD

I've never been a fan of liquid eyeliners with those thin flimsy brush applicators. Which is why I love this one because of the sponge-tipped pen applicator that is so easy to line my eyes with. The color is glossy black and very pigmented. It's not like one of those sheer black liquid eyeliners you have to  pile on to get the black-black. It is not waterproof, which I like in a liquid liner. The waterproof ones tend to crack!

It is Ophthalmologically tested, which I guess is gonna be good for my sensitive eyes.

Over all, a great liner. I think when the black liquid finishes or dries up, I'll keep this applicator to use with my gel liners =)

Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥

Available in all L'Oreal counters and priced at Rs.570. A little overpriced for a liner, in my opinion. Looks like it should cost no more than Rs.500 to me.

Used the liner for the first time today....

For this EOTD I used:

• Applied shimmery white eyeshadow on the brow bone and tear ducts.
• A lime green shimmery eyeshadow on the lids and inner half of bottom lash line
• A chocolate brown eyeshadow on the  outer V and blended it into the inner half of the crease
• Lined my eyes with Loreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss
• Lined the waterline with Black Maybelline Unstoppable liner and smudged the outer corners with the same chocolate brown eyeshadow.
• 3 coats of Max Factor false Lash Effect Mascara in Black

Have you all tried this liner?

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Inglot & Mac Haul ~ Reviews & Swatches

Inglot Lip Duo Lip Gloss Lip Paint #23 (Rs.720)

Since I loved the AMC Lip Paint so much (Review here), I wanted to try this too. Love it! Want MORE! I'm so in lurrve with the packaging! It's like a little chunky cube... oh-so-cute!!!

Inglot Lipstick #106 (Rs.800)

This lipstick is made of Vitamin E and apricot kernel oil, and is paraben free. I had trouble bringing out the actual color on camera. It is a peachy-coral shade. Actual shade is not at all like the photo on the right and it's a bit more peach than the picture on the left. I did swatch on my lips but the color just didn't come out right! The finish is quite like Mac's Amplified.

♥♥ Yellow Lovin' ♥♥

Inglot Nail Enamel #721 (Rs.590)

Yellow is my favorite favorite color after pink. This is my first ever yellow nail paint and I've yet to wear it properly. Will do a separate "Yellow" post soon. It has a matte finish and does not contain: toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, camphor. The exact shade is like the one the right, not at all like the one I clicked >.< .

Did I say I'm bored of Mac? =)

Mac Warm & Cozy Tinted Lip Conditioner ~ Feelin' Good (Rs.870)

When I was told it was the last one left at the store, I had to get it! Call it the thrill of getting the 'Last One' Taking a break from pink-toned Mac Tinted Lip Conditioners for a change. This comes out nude on my lips. Great to prep my lips with before applying another lipstick shade.

Mac Studio Finish Concealer NC 35 (Rs.920)

Old news, but necessary. Covers spots and blemishes quite well, but I find it too thick and cakey for the undereye areas. The shade NC 35 is closest to my skin tone.

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Bourjois ~ New Launches

I'm guessing Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipsticks (Reviews here and here ) are a big hit because they've now launched two distinctive clones of it.

Sweet Kiss lipsticks are my favorites so....Woohoo!!!

Sweet Kiss Reds

What they are :

Red is at the heart of a new collection Sweet Kiss ultra-fashionable!

Red fashion, timeless, custom-made or casual. All the reds in this collection are indispensable and easy to wear.

And always a formula to make one pass in an intense color in an ultra-light finish. Enriched with natural argan oil and vitamins E and C, the lips are soft and durably hydrated.

Sweet Kiss Shine

What it is:

A nourishing formula enriched with Monoi oil to moisturize. 

A light texture containing marine collagen to smooth lips.

Ultra-bright colors performed transparently.

Result: A smile sublimed with immediate comfort and hydration for 8 hours.

Delicious wet shine in 8 glossy shades. Greedy much?!

Beige Lumineux 58, Rose Etincelant 59, Framboise Petillant 70, Prune Eblouissant 72, Rose Scintillant 73, Juicy Tangerine 74

I scream.

You scream.

Okay, now let's calm down and wait for them.

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

New Launches ~ India ~ Maybelline & Loreal

~ Launched Products ~

Maybelline Eyestudio Vivid & Smooth Liners (Rs.200 each)

These are so nice! They come in many shades from sea green to pink but I just got 2 shades~ White and Grey. Swatches coming up.

Loreal Extra Volume Colagene Mascara (Rs.525)

~ Launching Next Month ~

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liners

Comparison of this and Mac Fluidline ~ here

Loreal True Match Roll-on Foundation

Aren't we all excited?! =)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Fingernail & Toenail Colors ~ Should they match?

So, do you apply the same nail polish color to your fingernails and toenails? 

I personally don't like to match them. I find it boring to use just one color on all fours every time. But I try to pick colors from the same color family. For instance, right now I have a lilac color on my fingernails and picked a darker lavender-toned nail polish for my toenails. 

What's your preference?

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Jessica Simpson Doesn't Brush Her Teeth ~ Dental Care

Okay, I read in the paper that Jessica Simpson doesn't brush her teeth. Yeah. I found it hard to believe! But then I found this video to prove it.

So, let's talk about dental care for a change.

Brushing ~ Teeth have to be brushed at least once a day, no matter what (WTH Jessica!) Normally, twice a day is recommended but if you're sometimes lazy about brushing at night time, a mouthwash will suffice. I like the AM PM mouthwash. It comes in two type ~ blue minty and red herbal. I prefer the blue one.

Whitening ~ Many things like caffeine and tobacco can stain your teeth. I drink lots of tea everyday and my teeth are never white-white. Only professional bleaching procedure can make your teeth white-white. That would cost from Rs.4000-10,000, depending on the type of procedure. If you want the cosmetic kinds like the ones you see on celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Kajol, etc, it'll cost you A LOT more. Yup, my dentist showed me the type. For now, I am really liking Pearl Drops Daily Shine Toothpolish. It does remove tea stains to some extent. There are some other similar products from Pearl Drops in the markets right now like one for smokers too. There are not many whitening products in India at the moment, so these will have to do for now.

Flossing ~ Honestly, I find flossing very tedious, but I try to floss at least twice a week. I like to use use the Oral-B Hummingbird because it's fun to use it (To see how it works click here )

Natural Products ~ Strawberries: I just love strawberries. I cut them into fours and sprinkle a bit of Originale Quick Dissolve sugar. I notice that my teeth look brighter and feel cleaner and very smooth. Baking Powder: Twice or thrice a week, I sprinkle a pinch of baking powder on top of my toothpaste and brush. It feels like an exfoliator for my teeth. Love! Crushed Charcoal~ This is an age-old method of whitening teeth. Just thought it's worth a mention. And yes, I have tried it a long long time ago =)

Uneven teeth ~ If you're too old for braces, go for veneers. I recommend them 100%. Worked for me and I've had them for almost 5 years and faced no problems till now (touch wood)

You got any more tips? Spill! 

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Vaseline Hand & Nail Conditioning Hand Lotion ~ Review

Vaseline Hand & Nail Conditioning hand lotion with Keratin and Vitamin E is a fairly nice hand cream, but not something repurchase-worthy. I'm not sure if it made my nails stronger or any different than they used to be. As for the hands, they somehow feel plumper with this on, or maybe it's just the heat. Please excuse my ambivalence. I do think it's not moisturizing enough for a hand cream.

Bottom line is I wouldn't repurchase it and I wouldn't gladly recommend it to anybody, but I'll still use it up. Who knows? Maybe something miraculous will...uhm....or whatever.

I was very disappointed with this packaging too. I think it was imported from Dubai or somewhere. I find it very ugly!

Price ~ Rs.50 for 75ml.

Product rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 

Packaging ~ 1.5/5 ( I feel like transferring the contents to another container.)

The original packaging looks like this.........

Isn't it cuter?! I might repurchase it if it comes in that.

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Beauty Books Reviews: Kevyn Aucoin, Bobbi Brown, Nars, Makeup For Asian Women

The first two books are (L) Kevyn Aucoin's. I never knew or heard about him until I searched the net for beauty books. And when I explored the books, I was floored by his incomparable talent and creativity. His books are very inspiring, and if possible, made me love make-up even more.

Kevyn Aucoin Making Faces

Inside Making Faces 

Sun-kissed Look & 40+4 Beauty Questions

To see what products I used to achieve this look and read my 40+4 beauty answers....

Read more.........