Nykaa's The Beauty Lab.

Hi guys! Hope you all are doing great.

In this week’s post, I will be unboxing Nykaa’s The Beauty Lab. 

Recently Nykaa came up with their beauty bag which had 7 products from skincare, haircare and makeup for an amazing price.This is one of India’s first beauty bags. This concept is relatively popular in the west.In today’s post, I will give you my views on The Beauty Lab and help you decide if it is worth your money.

Price

The Beauty Lab contains products worth Rs.1600 for Rs.800 which seems like a tempting deal.

Packaging

The products come in a transparent pouch with Beauty Lab and Nykaa logo.

Products 

Island Kiss Alma Vanilla and Inges Lavender Lip Moisturiser is the product I was excited about.I received this product in full size. I have been using it for a week and totally loving it.It is a great option use under your drying matte lipsticks.It retails for Rs.400 and is 100% organic.

Kronokare All Is Well Shower Gel in Provencal Lavender is a product that really surprised me.I personally hate floral smells but I can not get enough of this product. It contains thyme oil which has an amazing smell and is paraben and mineral oil free.However the size of the product is little disappointing. Once I am done with this bottle, I might consider re-purchasing a bigger size.

Wella Professionals Oil Reflections is a product for all smoothening of all hair types. I feel it is too soon to comment if this product works for me.However the size of the product is good and has a mild fragrance.

Kama Ayurveda Rejuvenating &  Brightening Ayurvedic Night Cream contains coconut milk, goat’s milk, saffron,cardamom and sesame oil. It works for dry and combination skin. It comes in a tiny tester tube.However if I feel the product works for me, I can call for a full size of the product.

Nykaa Nail Enamel in Lychee Delight is a grey nail paint. I love this range and have a massive collection already. Nykaa Nail Enamels have one of the best formulas I have tried and I only wear their nail paints. Comment below and let me know if you are interested in a review of their range. The day after I ordered my The Beauty Lab bag, Nykaa changed the shade from Lychee Delight to Rose Sherbet which is a beautiful pink.

Bharat & Dorris Mini Lip Gloss in 05 is the most disappointing product of The Beauty Lab bag.I am not a fan of lip glosses in general and this shade it too light for my skin tone. I will probably use this over a bright red lipstick because the texture is smooth.

All Good Scents Love and Joy EDP for Women comes in a tiny vial without a cap. Thus it can not be carried along easily. Also like I mentioned I am not a fan of floral smells. I feel they could have just kept this product out of the bag and it would not make a difference.

My Verdict

Overall I feel this bag was worth the money. I tried quite a few products that I would not have purchased otherwise and I am probably going re-purchase a few products like Island Kiss Alma Vanilla and Inges Lavender Lip Moisturiser and Kronokare All Is Well Shower Gel in Provencal Lavender. I hope Nykaa makes this a regular or monthly thing and they add more make up products in it.

That is all for this post. Hope you liked it. We would really appreciate your feedback. For regular updates, follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/compactmatters/

Photography Credits: Brinda Khatri.

Miss Claire Artist Pen Eyeliner Review

Hey guys, hope you guys are doing well.

  

Miss Claire has been in the market for years but I started using the products only a year back.

Miss Claire is  known for its soft matte lip creams which are dupes for the NYX lip creams.  Apart from these, they have a variety of products ranging from primers to eyeliners and today I will be reviewing the Artist Pen Eyeliner.

Name

 Miss Claire Artist Pen Eyeliner Silky Tip for thin and thick lines

  

Price

  200 Rs. For 1 ml

Colour

Black

Packaging

It is packed in a bluish silver pen like case.

It contains some details like the name, colour and some manufacturing details.

Fragrance

 It does not have any fragrance.

Longevity

Once applied, the product stays dark and intense for a good 6-7 hours. It dries up pretty soon and does not smudge. However, after a few hours it does get rubbed off easily and is not waterproof.

 Pros

The colour intensity is good

You can make thin lines as well as thick lines, and the fine tip helps you ace the wing

 It is really light and sleek, thus making it travel friendly

Budget friendly

Cons

It is not completely waterproof and gets rubbed off easily after a few hours

The expiry date is not mentioned

Overall it is a nice liner, it applies pretty smoothly and is dark and intense. It is a good option for a casual day out or to college. However, I would not pick this for a special occasion or important function.

This is all for todays post.
 Do let us know if you would like us to review any particular products.
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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

Chambor’s Xtreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipstick Review

Hi everyone! Hope you all are doing well.

In this week’s post, I will be reviewing Chambor’s Xtreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipstick.

Liquid lipstick have been quite a fad for a while now. We too love liquid lipsticks because they give a flawless finish and look amazing. Every brand in the market has come up with their own liquid matte lipsticks. Chambor’s Xtreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipstick was launched in India a few months ago and I have been using it for over a month now.

Price: Rs 845 for 6ml.

Shade

There are 18 shades available in the market; all of which go well with the Indian skin tone. I have 401 which is an everyday nude pink colour.

Packaging

Each liquid lipstick comes in a black box with the logo and the name of the product on the box. The liquid lipstick comes in a transparent glass tube and a long wand with a black cap. The packaging is really classy and makes the product feel worth that money.

Fragrance

The liquid lipstick has a mild mint fragrance that does not go away.

Application

The liquid lipsticks have a matte finish and dry up within 5 minutes of application.  It stays for 8-10 hours which is quite a lot. While eating or drinking, the lipstick does lose a little bit of its colour intensity. However it does not disappear. These lipsticks are highly pigmented and thus one should be careful while applying them. One coat of application is more than enough. I personally feel it does not dry up completely matte if there is more than 2 coats of liquid lipstick.

Pros

The wand makes application extremely easy.

The liquid lipstick is long lasting and does not need a touch up every few hours.

The range of Chambor’s Xtreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipsticks has a variety of shades that complement Indian skin tone.

The liquid lipsticks have a completely matte finish.

Cons

Not pocket friendly

Some people might find it too drying for their lips.

That is all for this post. Hope you liked it. We would really appreciate your feedback. For regular updates, follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/compactmatters/.

Photography Credits: Brinda Khatri.

Plum Green Tea Face Mask and Toner Review.

Hi guys! Hope you all are doing well.

In this week’s post, I will be reviewing Plum Green Tea Toner and Clear Face Mask.

If you have read through our

  Fabindia Skincare Product Reviews
 (http://compactmatters.blogspot.com/2016/06/fabindia-skincare-product-reviews.html )
 and

 The Body Shop Tea Tree Product Reviews
(http://compactmatters.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-body-shop-tea-tree-product-reviews.html),
 you would know how much we love natural skincare products. 

Plum is a recently launched Indian skincare brand that is available is on websites like Nykaa, Amazon and Flipkart. It is India’s first beauty brand that is 100% vegan.  Their products are paraben free and they do not test their products on animals. They have products for every skin type. They are an environment friendly brand as they avoid using non recyclable plastic in packaging and give 1% of their sales to environmental non profits. They have a fabulous website which sells all their products and has some amazing combo deals. The website also explains the purpose of every ingredient used in their products and has a total of amazing posts on skincare related questions. I personally suggest you should check out their website and let us know if you would like to see any other product reviews from Plum.

 

The Plum Green Tea Clear Mask

 

Price

Rs.475 for 60g

Packaging 

The face mask comes in a box within which there is cylindrical glass box with a white cap. There is a small piece of paper which has the instructions on how to apply the mask. Since it is made of glass, it is heavier than most of my face masks that come in plastic containers.

Fragrance

The face mask smells fresh and has been synthetically derived.

Application

The face mask is relatively thick. You can apply it in a thin layer all over your face and neck with your fingers.You must keep it on for 30 minutes or whatever time it takes to dry. In the initial few minutes of application, you might feel a tingling sensation which is said to be normal on the paper with instructions. I felt this sensation the first 2 times while using this mask after which it disappeared. This mask should not be used more than once a week.

Pros

Pocket friendly

Clears dead cells and grime from your face

Has anti-oxidant properties

Helps control acne

Keeps skin looking younger and fresher

Cons

The paper with the instructions can be lost easily and there are no instructions of the glass bottle itself.

The mask is not travel friendly.

The mask usually takes more than 30 minutes to completely dry off.

 

The Plum Green Tea Alcohol Free Toner

 

Price 

Rs 380 for 200ml

Packaging 

The toner comes in a white plastic bottle. It has a nob which must be pressed to use the product. After using, the nob must be pressed again and it shuts comfortably. Spilling off the product seems highly unlikely.

Fragrance

The toner smells just like the face mask.

Application

A small amount of the toner can be taken on a cotton pad which is enough for a swipe across the face as well as the neck. You must let it air dry before applying any moisturiser.

Pros

Pocket friendly

Travel friendly 

Cleans and minimises pores

Recommended for oily and acne prone skin

Honestly I have nothing bad to say about this product. This is by far one of my favourite toners. The Plum Green Tea Toner and Clear Face Mask is a more reasonable alternative to The Body Shop Tea Tree Toner and Clay Mask. The ingredients of both the ranges have similar benefits and work really well. If you are on a budget, you should give the Plum Green Tea Range a try.

That is all for this post. Hope you liked it. For regular updates, follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/compactmatters/

Photography Credits: Shivam Bhatt.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate Review.

Hi everyone! Hope you all are doing well.

In today’s post I will be reviewing one of the most popular skin care product all over the world, Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Kiehl’s has a collection of some of the best skin care products and this product has been a best seller for a while.This product has won 22 international skin care awards and has made its place in the night skincare routine of some of the most established bloggers and celebrities.

I had my eye on this product for quite a while and finally decided to spurlge 6 months ago in Amsterdam. I picked up the 50 ml bottle because my mom and me decided to share it. Hence the review contains collective observations by my mother and me.

Price: Rs3800 for 30ml. This is most definitely a splurge product.

Packaging: It comes in a royal blue tinted glass bottle along with a dropper as a cap. The dropper helps dispense only as much product as needed and thus is helpful and needed especially since the product is rather pricey for a small quantity.

Ingredients: It contains Distilled Botanicals like Squalane which has a similar molecular structure to natural skin lipids. It is rich in Omega 6 and essential oils like Lavender, Jojoba Seed and Rosemary Leaf. It is paraben free and mineral oil free.

Fragrance: The product claims to be fragrance free. However it has an earthy smell which disappears a few minutes after application.

Application: A few drop of the product can be massaged onto your face after cleaning it with a face wash or scrub. This can be followed by a light moisturiser. However I tend to avoid it.

Usage: This product restores the health of your skin and undos all the damage your skin has gone through throughout the day. It can be used by both men and women. It can also be used by people having different skin types. It helps you sleep better at night. It also acts as mild toner.

Advantage: A small quantity of 2-3 drops in enough for your face and neck. Athough it contains a lot of oils, it dissolves even into oily skin without any issue. You can share it with family members since it works on all genders and skin types.

Disadvantage: The price is obviously not affordable for everyone and limits the users of the product.

If you are looking to invest in a good skin care product to add a natural glow to your skin, this is a product I would highly reccommend.

Hope you liked this post. We would appreciate your feedback. For regular updates, follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/compactmatters/

Photography Credits: Shivam Bhatt.

VLCC Gold Facial Kit Review.

Hi everyone! Hope you all are doing well.

In this week’s post, I will be doing a first impressions cum review of VLCC’s Gold Kit. The festive season is nearing and I have never done a facial before so I thought it is the perfect time to give it a try. 

The VLCC Gold Facial Kit retails for Rs.250 for 6 products of 10g each. These must be used in a sequence for best results. They are as follows:

The first step is a cleanser cum toner. It is a pre-facial product with aloe vera.

 It is comes in form of a cream which must be massaged into your face and neck for 3 minutes and gently wipe it off with a moist cotton pad.

The purpose of this step is to cleanse my skin and minimise my pores.

The second step is a scrub with turmeric and gold leaf. 

It comes in form of a gel which must be massaged into your face and neck for 5 minutes after which it must be washed with water and dabbed dry with a towel. 

The purpose of this step is to exfoliate my skin and remove blackheads.

The third step is a gel with galnut and gold leaf.

It obviously comes in form of a gel which must be massaged into your face and neck until it is completely absorbed. In my case, this took about 2 minutes.

The purpose of this step is to provide nourishment to my skin.

The fourth step is a cream with wheatgerm and gold oxide. It is rich in Vitamin C and E and contains sandalwood.

It obviously comes in form of a gel which must be massaged into your face and neck until it is completely absorbed. In my case, this took about 5 minutes.

The purpose of this step is to reduce skin pigmentation and polish my skin.

The fifth step is a peel off mask with lemon peel and gold oxide.

It comes in form of a thin gel which must be applied in a thin layer with one’s finger tips all over the neck and face. After it dries, it must be peeled off gently. In my case, this took about 30 minutes.

The purpose of the step is to maintain the pH level of the skin and pull out pollutants.

The sixth and final step is moisturiser. It is a post facial product with aloe vera. It contains SPF 15 and PA+.

It comes in form of a clear gel which must be applied all over your face and neck evenly.

The purpose of this step is to moisturise the skin and protect it from sun damage.

The Steps

At the end of the first step, my skin felt sticky. However I felt my pores minimise.
After the second step, I felt that the scrub was too gentle to see any actual exfoliation. However it did clean up my skin well.
The third step is probably my favourite one. It gave my face a natural healthy glow.
The fourth step was a little unnecessary. The cream was really thick and it made my skin look oily.
The fifth step needed some patience but it did a good job clearing my skin. Initially there is a slight tingling sensation which settles in no time.
The sixth step is pretty straight and simple. It settles right into the skin without any problem.

Pros

None of the products have a strong fragrance.

There is more than enough product for one time use.

It provides a beautiful natural glow.

It is pocket friendly.

It does not require any application tools or brushes.

Cons

The individual packaging of the Gold Facial Kit is a little messy while using.

As a whole process, it requires about an hour which is a little time consuming.

Over all this product does what it promises to do. You can use this once in a month when you have an event coming up and have some time on your hand. The VLCC facial kit has other variants as well. Comment below if you would like to know more about them.

Hope you liked this post. We would really appreciate your feedback. For regular updates, follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/compactmatters/

Photography Credit: Shivam Bhatt.