Lakmé Clean Up Face Mask with Green Tea Extracts Review

Hey guys!

We are back with a new post and today we will be reviewing the Lakmé Clean Up Face Mask with Green Tea extracts.

It is a part of the 3 step clean up pack.

The first two steps include the Face wash and face scrub.

Following the face scrub is the Lakmé Face Mask.

Packaging

It is packed in a simple green plastic tube. It is small in size and not too heavy thus making it very travel friendly.

Price

Rs.110 for 50g

Directions

Wet your face slightly and then apply a layer of the mask on your face and neck.

Keep it for a while and once it has dried up, wash it off with some water.

The mask has a smooth texture with a slight fragrance.

It washes away all the excess oils without making your face dry. It gets rid of the dirt and gives a slight glow to your face.
It takes 7-10 minutes to dry and a little amount of the mask can be used at once, thus one tube lasts for a really long time.

Pros

Easy on the pocket

Travel friendly

Slight fragrance, which is not too strong

Smooth and light texture

Contains green tea extracts, which soothes your skin

Cons

Slight tingling sensation, which can be overlooked as it is not much.

Overall I really liked this product. It serves the purpose and is pocket friendly too.

This is all for today, we will be back with a new blogpost soon. Do check out our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/compactmatters/  to get regular updates.

Photography Credits- Sakshi Pitale

Powder Reviews 2.0

Hey guys. Hope you all are doing well. So, like we mentioned in our previous post, we have another post of powder reviews. We got such a good response for the previous post and are hoping you guys like this post as well.

Faces Ultimate Pro Mineral Loose Powder retails for Rs.699 for 7gms. It is available in 5 shades.  It comes in a black cup shaped container with a silver lid that has a sponge attached. This sponge can be removed and cleaned. It also has helps in a quick application or touch up, which is not easily possible with other loose powders. This product feels light on the skin and is a good option to set in your foundation and bake your under eyes. However on a hot summer day this loose powder may not be a good decision. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder retails for Rs.500 for 0.49oz. However this product is really hard to get your hands on especially in India and thus the price may vary from place to place and website to website. This pressed powder is the go to powder for a lot of beauty bloggers all around the world. It has been highly recommended for oily skin and has been compared to a lot of high end products. This product does not disappoint. It controls sweat and shine for 4-6 hours according to the weather. It does not feel heavy on the skin. If I have to point out a negative about the product, it would be the packaging. It comes without any applicator or mirror which forces you to carry a brush along.s

Maybelline White Superfresh 12 Hour Whitening + Perfecting Compact retails for Rs.150 for 8 gms. It is available in 3 shades. It is a sleek and light compact which can be carried in your bag easily. It has a mirror and an applicator, which makes it easy to use. The compact has a slight fragrance and is very smooth and light. It has a very silky texture, giving sheer coverage and easily blends into your skin. The compact brighten your face and makes it look healthier and fresh. This is a good option for people with an oily skin. If you're looking for a compact to brighten your face before college without any foundation, this is a good pick. This does stick by all its claims expect for staying for 12 hours. I did need to reapply my compact after 4-5  hours. The sponge is not that great and I personally prefer using a kabuki brush. The affordable price is an added bonus and I will definitely repurchase this compact.

The Body Shop All in One Base retails for Rs 1295 for 9 gms. It is available in 6 shades and has a very simple and sturdy packaging. It has a mirror and a separate compartment for the sponge. The sponge is really good and saves you from the hassle of carrying a brush everywhere. The compact can be used dry or wet, however I have only used it dry. The compact provides good coverage and gives a matte finish. It sets your makeup well and does not need a touch up for 5-6 hours. This does control shine and sweat and is a great option to set your under eyes. I have bought this compact quite a few times and would recommend it but it is a bit heavy on the pocket.

This is all today's post.

 We hope this helps you pick the compact your looking for. We will be back with a new post soon.  Do follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/compactmatters to stay updated about our posts.

Powder Reviews.

 

Hey guys, in last weeks post we spoke about powders and how much Compact Matters.  So we thought of reviewing some of the compacts we have used, pressed powders and loose powders. We will be covering some powders in today's post and few in the next one. We hope this review helps you make your final pick.

 

 

 

Maybelline Clear Glow Pressed Powder retails for Rs.275 . It is available in 5 shades out of which one is a translucent pressed powder. It comes along with a mirror and a makeup sponge. It is a lightweight compact that could even fit into a tiny clutch. It comes with SPF 26 PA++ which is an added bonus. However it claims to instantly make your fair and control shine, which is not true. If used with a foundation or BB cream, it makes your skin look healthier but does not provide "instant fairness". Like any pressed powder, immediately post application it controls shine but in order to control the shine throughout you have to touch it up every few hours. Over all, it is a travel and pocket friendly pressed powder.


L'Oreal Paris Mat Magique All-In-One Pressed Powder retails at Rs.399.  It Is available in 5 shades. It has a mirror and come along with a sponge. It has a transparent cover with a pink rim, letting you see the shade. It is not very light, but small and easy to carry. It has SPF 34 PA+++ that protects your skin and  keeps your makeup intact and fresh for 5-6 hours, not for 12 hours like it claims to. This is one of the best pressed powders I have used. This definitely gives you a matte finish and absorbs all excess oils. This keeps you makeup in tact and is a good options for special functions or outings. It makes your skin look healthier and gives an instant glow. I apply this with a powder brush, which keeps it light and does not cake up your face. The only thing I don't like is the fact that the mirror is below the compact, thus making you lift the compact layer every time you want to see the mirror. This is definitely something I love and will repurchase.


Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder retails for Rs.475 . It is available in 5 shades. It comes along with a mirror and a make up sponge. Even though the packing is nothing fancy, the quality of the sponge and the box is good and sturdy. If you have been reading Compact Matters for a while, you would know that we totally love the Fit Me foundation and concealer. However, comparatively this product is a little bit of a disappointment. It does a good job keeping your foundation in place but has to be touched up every few hours and for this price, I would expect a little more from Maybelline. I do not mind using this product but I dont think I will re-purchase it.


NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder retails at Rs. 825.  It is a white powder that can be used for all shades and contains 100% pure mineral silica which helps with oil control on the face. It comes in a small plastic box with small holes between the container and the lid to prevent dispensing off too much product. It is available in 3 shades, translucent, mint green and banana. It is really good for setting your makeup specially ender the eye. It lasts pretty long, sets your makeup well and does not need touch ups. This does a good job but I won't buy it again as it is a pinch on the pocket and has a strong chemical like smell.

 

 

 

That is all for this week. We will be back with another post next week. If you have any suggestions or requests, leave a comment below. For regular updates, follow our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/compactmatters.

Powders 101.

Hi guys! Hope you all are doing well. We are back with our Make up Basics 101 series. In today's post we will be talking about a step after applying your foundation and concealer, Powders. Powders, more commonly known as compacts, is a product that most women own. It is a common misconception that foundation is too heavy on the face for Indian weather and thus most women resort to getting a compact instead. If you are interested in knowing more about compacts, keep reading.

What are powders?
After applying our base, we definitely want it to stay for a long time and not melt in the heat. Setting it with powder is the key to this problem. The powder sets our base and also gives a matte finish.

Types of powders

The two main types of powders are pressed powder and loose powder. Both aim to do the same thing but differ in some ways.


Press powders are packed in small round cases along with a mirror and puff pad. They are easy to carry and not messy at all. However the puff pad on regular use will get dirty and cleaning it is a task. You can use it but a better option would be a kabuki brush or a big powder  brush. The puffy brush picks the right amount and lightly displaces it across your face. The brush is more preferable since it does not displace or rub your base makeup. All you need to do is take the brush with some powder are lightly brush it across the areas to want to set.

L'OREAL PARIS Mat Magique retails for Rs.399 and H&M kabuki brush.

Loose powder is packed in round plastic cases. These are light but really messy, so carrying it in your handbag may not be the bet option.  Loose powder cases generally have a thin plastic layer in the middle with holes, which lets you take the right amount of powder.  There are very few brands which give a puff pad along with it. But there's nothing to worry about since the powder brush is your best friend in this case.Loose powder consists of small particles with a light consistency and the powder brush easily applies it on your face. It is easy to blend and also has less chances of looking caked up.Loose powder, along with setting the base makeup,can also be used for baking.

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder retails for Rs.825 and PAC Powder Brush 282

Types of Loose Powders

 The translucent powder works great on all when blended well. It sets your makeup and disappears into your skin without looking too much.

Tinted powders give slight coverage and are a good option for everyday use. It gives colour to your face and if applied again and again can look caked up.
So tinted may be a good option for everyday day use it to add some colour along with your primer but if you are looking for something to just set your base, translucent powder is your answer.


How to apply it?
Applying any kind of powder involve the same steps. You start by dabbing your brush or puff into the powder, tap off the extra and then gently brush it across your face. Remember to set the areas you concealed as you want your concealer to stay for a long time. Also do not apply too many layers as your face may look white and caked up.After setting your base you are good to continue with your blush and bronzer.


If you need to touch up your compact, carry your compact along with a kabuki brush. They are not messy and will easily fit into your bag.

That's all for this post, we will be back with a new post soon. 

Photography Credits- Shivam Bhatt.  

Beauty Formulas - Charcoal Face wash and Mask review.

Hey guys, hope you all are fine. We have got such an amazing response to the blog and are really thankful for your support.

 Now coming back to today's post, I will be reviewing two charcoal products from the brand Beauty Formulas. So charcoal products have been the new sensation and have been talked about by people all over. I wanted to know what the fuss was about and was looking for a good charcoal product in India. Honestly I had not heard of this brand and came across the product in Mangalore in May. However I later found it on amazon.in and saw the different kinds of products they have. Out of the many products they have, today I will be reviewing the Detox Cleanser with activated Charcoal and  Clay Mask with activated Charcoal. 

 

 

DETOX CLEANSER with activated Charcoal retails at Rs. 250 for 150ml. I have used this product regularly for about Two months and it surely did not disappoint. It claims to remove impurities, excess oils, makeup and leave your skin feeling cleansed and refreshed. It does live up to its claims, as it washes off any dirt or oils on your face. It is really great for days when you have applied heavy makeup, as it washes away any makeup left on your skin. The product leaves you feeling fresh and adds a slight glow too. The face wash has a very runny consistency, is black in colour and does not have a strong smell. This is really good for oily skin and can be used for normal skin too. The quantity is really good and is packed in a big plastic tube. It is worth the money you pay and definitely something I recommend.  
 

 

 

You can buy it here-

CLAY MASK with activated Charcoal retails at Rs. 230 for 100ml. This mask claims to absorb excess oils, draw out deep rooted dirt and cleanse the skin. This mask like the face wash washes off excess oils and gives you a clean and fresh face. I don't have sensitive skin but it still made my skin burn a bit. So, people with sensitive skin should be careful and try it on a small patch first. It is a thick grey coloured mask, which needs to be applied for about 10-15 minutes and then washed off. It is packed in a similar plastic tube but is smaller in size.
 

You can buy it here -

The mask and face wash are kind of similar, so if you don't want something for everyday use, you can just use the mask once a week. Both these products are really good and something I recommend.

That's all for this post, we will be back with a new post next week. Let us know if you have any feedback. You can also like and share our facebook page - www.facebook.com/compactmatters. 
We really appreciate the support.
 

NYX is coming to India!

NYX Cosmetics is coming to India!! We absolutely love NYX and are extremely excited about the launch.  NYX is a reasonable drugstore cosmetic brand with an amazing range of products. You may have seen NYX if you have a Sephora in your city but trust me that small shelf is not the real deal. NYX is launching 550 products in India, which will be available on Nykaa.com by 8th July and a month later there will be an official store launch. We will soon have access to these amazing cosmetics, all thanks to L'Oreal.

NYX may not yet be available in India but we were lucky enough to get our hands on some NYX products. We are sharing few of our favourite products with you so you know what to buy once it's here.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams retails at Rs. 600. If I could buy only one product from NYX, I would pick up their soft matte lip cream without a doubt. You might have seen and used multiple dupes for this product but trust me nothing can compete with the original NYX soft matte lip creams. They are the most comfortable matte lipsticks and do not dry your lips at all. The colour variety in this range is insane. I also love how each lip cream has its name based on a city.
I have these lip creams in Stockholm, Morocco & Copenhagen.  

Stockholm, Morocco & Copenhagen.

NYX also has some liquid lipsticks in different textures like butter gloss and suede matte. We have not yet had the chance to try those, but thanks to L'Oreal we will be doing that soon.



NYX Matte Lipstick retails at Rs. 625. If you are not a big fan of liquid lipsticks but love how the soft matte lip creams look , you can find a great alternative in NYX Matte Lipsticks. Just like the lip creams, they do not dry the lips and do not transfer easily. Their range has multiple shades with simple black packaging with a transparent patch in the center.

I have the matte lipstick in Angel.



NYX Extra Creamy  Round Lipstick retails at Rs. 475. These lipsticks are definitely a good buy for anyone who likes creamy lipsticks or does not like matte lipsticks. I was really impressed by these. It is super pigmented and lasts for a long time. It glides on to the lips very smoothly and gets the colour on in the first glide. You don't need to put two three layers. It is really light, comfortable to wear and has a slight shine too. This lasts for about 4-5 hours and then may need a touch up. After a meal, some of it is wiped off but your lips will still have the colour. It does transfer a bit but its still a good buy. It is packed in a black plastic case, with the colour shown at the bottom.

I have these lipsticks in Fire Incendie & Electra.

Angel, Fire Incendie & Electra.

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder retails at Rs. 825. If you think baking only happens in the kitchen, let us tell you more. It works really well for setting the base make up, especially the concealer. If you want to know more about baking with loose powder, comment below and we will soon put up a post on it. For those who are into baking, this product is a must have for you. It is a white powder that can be used for all shades and contains 100% pure mineral silica which helps with oil control on the face. It comes in a small plastic box with small holes between the container and the lid to prevent dispensing off too much product.



NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette retails at Rs. 2000. This palette is one of the most talked about NYX products by beauty bloggers all over the world. It is available in 8 shades and each palette has 8 different powders.  There are four contour shades which are highly pigmented and can help you slay your contour. It has two highlighting powders, one matte and the other shimmery. It has a banana powder and a setting powder that add a touch of glow to your base make up without being too over powering. It is not heavy and is a good buy for anyone looking out for a contour cum highlighting palette.


NYX Wonderstick retails at Rs. 835. This stick has a cream based contour shade on one end and a nude  highlighter on the other. It is available in 4 shades. It is highly pigmented and must be applied with a light hand. The creamy formula makes it easy to blend. It is light and portable. It is a good option for people who like to do their make up on the go and are not ready to compromise on their glow and contour for it.



NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator retails at Rs. 850. This highlighter is my go to product when I want to add some glow to my base make up without going over the top. It does not have any flecks of shimmer, just a natural glow. It is available in four shades and comes in a plastic tube with a nozzle. A small amount of the product goes a long way.



NYX HD Concealer: If you have read our last post, you would know how much we love this concealer. With a cream like texture, it covers all the blemishes. To know more about this concealer, have a look at our previous post.



We hope you this post helps you finalise some products for your first NYX buy in India. Let us know if you have any feedback. We will be back with a new post soon.

Photography Credits: Shivam Bhatt.

Concealer Reviews.

Hey guys! In our last post we wrote about concealers and how you can use it to conceal all your blemishes. However, picking the right concealer may get difficult as there are various brands with different concealers having diverse claims. Don't worry, we are here to help you find some of the best concealers available. Keep reading to know more.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer retails at Rs.500 for 6.8ml. It is a liquid concealer with a creamy texture, which can be used to conceal blemishes and highlight the high points of one’s face. It does not need regular touch ups but needs to be set with powder to avoid creases and transferring. It may be a little difficult to find the right shade as it has only 3 shades in the Indian market. However, if you have the wrong shade you can always use it for some other purpose. Light concealers can be used for highlighting and dark ones for contouring.  This is a really good option for people with bad dark circles. It is packed in a long plastic tube with a long applicator, making the application very easy.   
 

L’Oreal True Match Concealer retails at Rs.950 for 02oz.* It is available in 3 shades in the Indian market which may give you a limited choice. It is more liquid-y in texture and easy to blend compared to the Maybelline Fit Me. It does tend to wear off and crease after about 4 hours and thus must be set with powder for best results. This covers up blemishes well but does not highlight the high points of one’s face. It comes in a cylindrical plastic tube with a short applicator.

SEPHORA SMOOTHING&BRIGHTENING Concealer retails at Rs.950 for 12ml. This is a good concealer for a beginner since it provides sheer coverage, making blemishes less prominent while still providing a natural look. This works well as a highlighter by a providing one with a natural glow. It does not crease too much since it has a light texture and may or may not need to be set with powder. It comes in the shape of a pen with a brush as its nib. As you twist the pen, the product comes out through the brush with which it can be applied. The brush applicator helps to spread the product evenly. A reasonable alternative for this concealer is Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer which retails at Rs.500 for 1.5ml.  

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind retails at Rs.800 for 20ml. This comes in a plastic tube with a round sponge on top of it. Once you twist the knob, the  product comes through the sponge. Cleaning the sponge is not possible which gets me a little worried about the hygiene. However, this is the best concealer I have tried till date. I can totally skip the colour correcting under my eyes. It conceals blemishes really well and stays for long hours. It is also a good highlighting concealer. It is available on various websites and instagram stores. If you have bad dark circles and are in search of a good concealer, I highly recommend this concealer.

NYX HD Concealer retails at Rs.400 for 3g. I have the shade  CW12 which is a colour correcting concealer. It is a dupe for the NARS radiant creamy concealer. It has a creamy texture and blends easily. A small amount is sufficient to hide acne scars and blemishes. It comes in a glass tube with a long wand. It is light weight and affordable. This concealer may not be available in India right now but NYX is coming to India very soon! Stay tuned to our blog to know more about it.

   

We hope this post helps you finalise your buy. We will be back with a new post soon.

Concealers 101.

The foundation sets the base for rest of your makeup, but does not highlight your features or conceal any blemishes. It is the concealer that does this trick. To know more about concealers, keep reading.

What is a Concealer?

 A concealer is that product which helps to conceal your dark circles, spots and blemishes. It can also be used highlight the high points of your face and add a glow to your base. It is applied after the foundation and is followed by powder.

Types of Concealer:

Liquid Concealer is the most common kind of concealer used as it is easy to apply and blend. This helps you hide your dark circles and blemishes easily.

Stick Concealer is in the form of a crayon and may need to be sharpened from time to time. These are not very easy to blend but still do its work. This works best on spots, acne marks or blemishes.

Colour Correcting Concealer is a type of concealer that uses the properties of colour correctors to conceal discolouration. It is available in various colours like salmon, green, lavender and yellow. Each colour is used to get rid of a certain kind of discolouration. These are mostly available in cream or liquid form.

Picking the right concealer:

Picking the right shade of concealer is very important. Your concealer should be one or two shades lighter than your foundation. You must avoid picking a shade that's too light as it may highlight your problem areas and may end up looking like white patches on your face. Before making your final choice have a look and test out the various options available. While testing a concealer, apply a small amount of the product on your wrist, blend it out and see if it covers up your veins. Once you find a shade that conceals and brightens your face while not being too light for the rest of your face, you have a winner.

How to apply concealer?

Applying any kind of concealer involves the same steps. Once you have applied your foundation you are ready to conceal. To cover up your dark circles you can start by making an inverted triangle under your eye. Starting from the inner corner, dragging it down and then extending it above your check bone. After making your outline, fill it up with the product but do not put too much or it may look caked up.

The next step it blending your concealer, this can be done using a buffing brush or a damp beauty bender. Remember to use dabbing motions in order to prevent your concealer from shifting. This step may take a while but it is important.

Once you have covered your dark circles you can use the concealer to cover any spots or acne marks. You may use a shade lighter shade for your dark circles, but to conceal marks and spots, use a shade that matches your foundation. Spot concealing can be done by taking some product on the brush and then applying it directly on the mark. Once you blend it, your good to go. This can be done with the stick concealer as well.

 Since the concealer used on your dark circles is one or two shades lighter than the foundation, it can be used to highlight your cheek bones, cupids bow, chin, brow bone and fore head. 

Once you have concealed all areas, it needs to be set with some powder. You need to take some powder on a powder brush and dab it on the concealed areas. This will help to set the concealer and prevent any kinds of creases and cracks.

With colour corrector and foundation, Application of concealer, With colour corrector, foundation and concealer.

With foundation,  Application of concealer, With foundation and concealer.

Photography by Shivam Bhatt and Ananya Khatri.

 

 We hope you found this post helpful. We will be back with a new post next week. 

 

Fabindia Skincare Product Reviews.

For most of us Indians, Fabindia is a company that has been there forever. We generally associate it with ethnic wear in some beautiful  earthy colours. So it might sound a little surprising to some of you that today we are here to review some skincare products from Fabindia. Fabindia has a range of skin care products which include body washes, creams, soaps, face packs and a lot of other products. What I love about their range is that  it is very affordable and most  ingredients are natural. Most product are under Rs. 550 and are easily available in their stores and on their website.

Fabindia under eye gel aloe vera retails for Rs.240 for 24gms. This was the first product I used from their range and has been a regular item in my night routine for almost 9 months now. It has a gel like consistency and smells like fresh aloe vera. It comes in a small circular box and is really light. You can apply it by taking a small amount of it on your fingers and dab it under your eyes. It really helps to reduce the puffiness under your eyes and gives the illusion of a goodnight’s sleep. With regular use, it has a lasting effect on your dark circles as well. This is one product I highly recommend.

Fabindia tea tree face wash retails for Rs.240 for 120ml. Tea tree products are a good option for people prone to acne and breakouts , but since we deal with so much dust and sweat using tea tree products are a good idea for everybody.The face wash comes in a plastic tube like most face face washes and is easy to carry. You apply a small amount of it on your wet face, massage it for a minute and then wash it off. The face wash contains citric acid along with tea tree oil which gives it a beautiful fresh smell that is enough to wake your skin. With regular use, it reduces break outs.

Fabindia charcoal face pack retails for Rs.350 for 100ml. Recently there have been a lot of charcoal products in the market since charcoal absorbs impurities. This pack uses multani mitti or muller’s earth as its base to which the charcoal is added. It also contains lemongrass oil which gives it a pleasant  fragrance. It comes in a circular box which is slightly heavy. You can apply it with a face pack brush or with your fingers. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse it off. While washing it off, it may drip and mess up your clothes so be careful about what you wear. In my opinion, this mask can be used once in 2 weeks to mix up your skincare routine or to pamper yourself on the weekend.

Fabindia make up remover panch pushup retails for Rs.295 for 100ml. It is a liquid that comes in a plastic bottle with a dispenser and a cap. When taken on a cotton pad, the consistency is foam like. However it is soap free. It is made up of extracts of rose, jasmine, lavender, chamomile, and geranium. I am not a big fan of floral smells, but this is  relatively mild in nature. A little product on a cotton pad can remove a full face of make up. For my satisfaction, I like to go over it with a fresh piece of cotton once I am done with it with for the first time. I recommend this product when you want to remove your entire make up and not just wipe of the winged liner or re-do your lipstick.

 You can buy these products on http://www.fabindia.com

We hope you found this post helpful. We will be back with a new post next week.

Photography Credits:Shivam Bhatt.