Maybelline Velvet Matte - Pictures and Swatches

I was sooper dooper excited when I first came across the advertisements of these 'Velvet Matte' lip colors from Maybelline India. These seem to be the 'Matte'... err sorry the 'Velvet Matte' versions of the lip polish previously launched by Maybelline.

I am always eager to try out any new launch in the market which is matte or even remotely matte and then one  has really high hopes, as one should, when a company names it's baby as 'Velvet Matte'!
To me velvet matte brings to my mind a lip color which has an extremely matte formula, that hugs your lips (and eventually flakes lol) without any creamyness or shine!  So basically I had really high hopes! Read on to know what happened to my hopes :D

On the Left is Matte 1 and on the right is Matte 10!

My expectations and excitement got me running to the nearest Maybelline counter on a crazy hot Saturday afternoon (I usually nap on my Saturday afternoons but then I was losing my sleep over this 'Velvet Matte' thing you know:D)

Apparently this Product had  not been launched widely until last week and honestly I wasn't expecting to find these  myself, but gladly it was available both at Lifestyle and Shoppers Stop at the mall near my house . I picked mine from the Lifestyle counter.

I picked up two shades from this Range. Lifestyles store did not have the testers and hence I had to select the shades without having the luxury of swatching them on my hand or trying on my lips (which I usually avoid, I wish like MAC, drugstore brands too sanitized their lipsticks before customers tried it. OK high Hopes, I know!). Anyways I picked MAT 1 and MAT 10 (And why do you refrain from naming these lip colors Maybelline?) 

The Product is priced at INR 475. You get a quantity of 5 ml in the tube. Not bad I'd say, especially in the times when its difficult to find anything worth buying below INR 500!

 The packaging of the Product is just like its predecessor (Maybelline Lip Polish) that was launched some time ago, except that the cap of this Product is matte black (I think this cap is the 'Matte'est thing about this product...LOL). Overall, the packaging is good looking and sturdy. It comes with a heart shaped sponge applicator which makes the application very comfortable. The product therefore is easy to carry around and simple to use. 

As far as fragrance is concerned Maybelline products have never smelt overpowering or unpleasant to me and this Product is fragrance free. Sensitive Noses, Rejoice!

Coming to the shades available in the Product Range, you have a choice of six colors (I was shown six,  don't know if there are more colors) All the colors in the range are pops of reds,pinks, oranges and corals. Not a single muted pink,brown or a n*de shade to choose from! (Is it because this launch is around the festive season or am I the only one who wants muted colors?). From the shades that I chose, I'm absolutely loving MAT 1. Its a gorgeous purplish pink color (similar to MAC Flat out Fabulous, No?).  It is very apt for the festive season IMO.

Now coming to the texture, IT IS NOT VELVET MATTE (it is not even 'Matte' , Maybelline! let alone 'Velvet Matte') As i stated above,  I expected a lot from this Product . Basically my hopes crashed!

The Product is a smooth, liquid lip color. The texture is extremely creamy and pigmented and conceals all the pigmentation on my upper lip. It also makes my lips look a little more plump, though my lips are big and I don't seek for lip plumping products, those who want this plump effect wll be very pleased with the formula. The lip color stays on for a while (around 2 hours, without snacking) after which it begins to evenly fade away. It leaves behind a very pretty stain on my lips which I adore! You can use these as lip stains too. The texture of the product doesn't feel heavy or goo-ey on the lips. Since these are very creamy they are quite forgiving on my perennially chapped lips. You don't have to do any preparation to wear these.

However, the Product  transfers a lot, leaving behind lip imprints on everything that your lips touch (I'm talking only about cups and glasses here ;D). Be careful with the quantity of the Product that you pick up with the wand as excess application may make your lips feel goo-ey. Overall the formula of the Product is quite simple to work with. 

Summing up my thoughts on the Product, unless you have had really high expectation (like moi) from this Product, you will find this Product to be quite decent. It is definitely not a must have, but its a decent option in the 'below 500' price segment. In fact I feel  ladies who aren't really fussy about the whole 'Matte' thing or those who want something that is moisturizing, hydrating with a decent lasting power can definitely give this Product a shot!

I'd rate this Product 3/5 (I'm deducting points obviously for the misleading claims of Velvet Matte! But I'm giving the rating of three because if we overlook the velvet matte claim, which I know is very difficult to do, the product is quite decent otherwise)


P.S: No lip swatches today only hand swatch cuz I've been unwell for a while and I'm looking quite pale and unappealing and I did not want to scare you guys away LOL! 



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Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Tint - Swatches and Pictures

The concept of lip color  as a crayon is so...  so endearing to me ! Endearing , because it reminds me of my childhood, when I'd  take a red colored Camlin crayon and pretend like I was applying a lipstick ! That was the only way I could get the 'feel' of having applied make-up when I was barred from even touching it. My mother had almost convinced me that using a lipstick would turn my lips 'black' LOL  :D 

OF MAKEUP AND CRAYONS.....

Clinique was the first brand to come up with a lip crayon, they called it 'chubby stick'.... A lot of drugstore brands followed suit and did a favor on us by coming up with  affordable versions of chubby sticks. In the drugstore category, Revlon's Colorburst Matte Balms were the most popular and raved about (they were worth all the hype minus the price point). Currently you have a lot of variety to choose from in the lip crayon category and now there's one more option, the Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Tints!

LAKME ABSOLUTE MATTE LIP TINTS 

These were launched by Lakme a few days ago as a part of their Lakme fashion week. I could see advertisements with Kareena Kapoor Khan's famous dual colored pout all over! Though I wouldn't dare to wear two different colors on my each lip, the advertisement was catchy enough to grab my attention and make me run to the nearest Lakme counter :D 

Lakme describes these to be a chubby lip color that gives you a luscious color and comfortable matte finish. Well all the claims made by Lakme except one are true! Read on to know which one isn't really true.

The packaging of the product is simple but nice.These come packaged in a glossy black card board box.The body of the stick is matte and corresponds to the shade of the lip tint. The cap however is silver and further enhances the prettiness of the crayon.  

You get a quantity of 3.5 gm for INR 650. Well done Lakme, we are glad to get a quality product at a  reasonable and affordable price tag.This is where the scales tip in Lakme's favor considering how berserk some of its competitors are going with their pricing (I'm looking at you Revlon!) 

Coming to the shade selection in this range, you get to choose from six colors all of which are bright hues. You have shades of fuschia, magenta, orange, red and corals. There isn't a single nude or subtle color in the range. Lakme, in my opinion has received a lot of flak in the past for coming up with only browns and dull shades and not launching enough brights. They tried to change that a few months ago by revamping their classic enrich satin lipstick and introducing some amazing pinks and corals! The shade selection in the category of these matte tints seems to be a part of the same strategy.However, I wouldn't mind some subtle, nude shades for everyday wear as a part of the selection.

The shade I bought is named Victorian Rose! What a lovely name and indeed a beautiful color! It is a reddish coral shade and would compliment yellowish fair skin tones beautifully. This shade instantly brightens up my face. It is not the kindda red that would make your complexion look drab or sallow!

 The Product has a slight vanilla fragrance to it. It doesn't linger and disappears very quickly! Thank You Lakme for saving us from the ridiculous scents like those of the Enrich Satin Lipsticks :D So basically sensitive noses may not worry...

The texture of the Product is really very matte. Is it comfortable matte as Lakme claims? My answer would be no, if your lips are not moisturized or if they are perennially chapped and dehydrated. This is the only claim made by Lakme that the Product does not fulfill. This can be a con for some, but if you are someone like me who seeks for hard, matte textures you would LOVE these(I love hard mattes even if they make me slightly uncomfortable LOL). The texture also does justice to the shade that I chose. It easily lasts on me for five hours (Oh, Yes! It does) inspite of all the eating and drinking. It fades evenly, leaving behind an even stain. I usually do not prefer the formulae that stain but this one is an exception.

However if you try to layer it, you may experience some flakiness. But in my opinion, since the colors in the Product range are so bright, I don't think one would really need to layer it on.

Summing it up, this Product is not really a must have, but you can definitely give it a try, especially if you love matte textures. The matte texture can be both a pro or a con, depending on the suitability for each person. The Price point is a major plus and so is the awesome staying power!

I'd rate this product 3.5/5!

A makeup line from Westside!! - I'm Loving It!

Our very own chain of stores, 'Westside' (I call it our very own, because its a local brand, loved by many!) has launched their in house brand of makeup and cosmetics! They call it 'Studiowest'!! Exciting, isn't it!? Though Studiowest  has launched a wide variety of products including makeup,  skin care and fragrances, I'm going to talk only about makeup in this post.

Westside has been one of my favorite shopping outlets. I have always come across quality stuff which is fashionable and very reasonably priced at their stores! Basically good stuff at good prices is their Motto. They seem to have extended the same philosophy to Studiowest. The products seemed very promising ever since I came across them the first time. Currently they have launched two range of products namely 'Maaya' and 'Pure Passion'. Maaya is the slightly higher end one, however the quality of Pure Passion in my opinion is equally good. 

They have covered every category including eye makeup, lip products, nail polishes and base makeup. The selection across the makeup line is quite impressive for each category. You have plenty to choose,  from both Maaya and Pure Passion. 

These were the best possible pictures I could get amidst a crowded store! 

Coming to the stuff I chose! I bought a blush, a lipstick and two products in eye makeup category. I'm going to talk about only about the Blush and Lipstick today. I plan to do two separate posts to cover the eye make up and the base makeup, instead of cramming everything in a single post.

The Lipstick! - Pure Passion Long Lasting Lipstick 

This lippie that I picked up is a long lasting one from the Pure Passion Range. I chose the shade "621 Honey Glaze". The shade selection for these lipsticks is fairly ample. The shades range from bold pinks  to muted  browns for everyday wear. This shade, particularly was love at first swatch for me! I couldn't have not picked this up. This shade however is not as deep as it appears to be in the bullet...it is a muted mauvish pink. LOVE it!

The lipstick is intensely pigmented, extremely moisturizing and very long lasting. Studiowest has claimed it to be so and yes, the Lipstick really fulfills all the claims. It takes care of my perennially chapped lips and stays put for five to six hours without touch ups, even if I eat a full meal. The packaging is simple but elegant. It is encased in a black tube and packaged in a black cardboard box! You get a quantity of 3.5 gms of the product in the tube. 

The most commendable thing about this lipstick is the price point.  You get all this awesomeness for a lucrative price point of INR 450! I'm thoroughly impressed, Westside! Well Done!

 In my opinion, these are the best lipsticks currently available in the market!

 The only con (if I have to find one) is that, it is transferable. But I can deal with that issue by blotting it slightly.

Isn't the pigmentation just awesome!?

I'd rate the lipstick 5/5 ( I won't deduct any points for something  trivial )

I'm wearing both, the blush and the lipstick in the Picture!

The Blush! - Pure Passion, Radiance Blush!

I was eyeing this Blush ever since I came across this range for the  first time. Its a muted, dusty pink color. The name of the shade is Dusty Rose. Quite an apt name ! The color looks extremely gorgeous in the pan! However when applied on the cheeks it veers towards coral/orange. I find it pretty nonetheless.

What a lovely shade, No?

Like the Lipstick, the Blush pan is held in a black plastic case. Overall, I am quite happy with the packaging of this Range. The plastic seems to be of good quality and doesn't seem fragile. (In my opinion it should pass my Mumbai local commute test :p).

You get a quantity of 5 g of the product in the pan. 


 The Blush is decently pigmented. However, unlike the Lipstick, the pigmentation of the Blush is not outstanding! It could have been more pigmented. Also, once applied I noticed that it contains more shimmer than what it appears to have in the pan. This is slightly putting off for me.

The staying power of the Blush is good which is surprising considering the fact that it is not very pigmented to begin with! I had expected this one to fade away in no time but to my surprise it did not fade on me for four to five hours!  The blush comes at a price point of INR 395. Not Bad, again! However, the shade selection for blushes across this makeup line very is limited. You have only two shades to choose from in each range. In the  Pure Passion range the one besides this is a cool toned pink color. As my skin tone is warm, I do not even try cool toned shades most of the times, hence I have no idea how it would perform.

Put this picture to focus mainly on how the blush looks!

Overall, I am quite happy with the Blush and I would rate is 4/5 (I would deduct a point as the pigmentation is not as intense as I'd expected)

Summing it up, I'm quite impressed with this latest entrant in the makeup market from the house of Westside. Honestly, so far in terms of quality it has exceeded my expectations. Also, I'm immensely happy with the price point. If you are on a budget and looking for quality stuff, definitely give Studiowest a Try!

I will come back soon with my thoughts on Studio West's eye makeup and base make up.

Till Then, Ciao! Have a nice Sunday :)

L'Oreal Hydrafresh Night Mask In Jelly - Fanciness in a Jar!

L'Oreal launched  a very unique product Hydrafresh Night Mask in Jelly some days back! "Night Mask in Jelly" sounds fancy doesn't it? Not  only does the concept sound fancy but this product is very visually appealing too!To say that it looks edible is an understatement.... it looks delectable!  You want to scoop out a spoonful and put it in your mouth... Ok I'll stop now! I didn't put it in my mouth but it looks yummy, just like jelly!

The product is contained in a very beautiful glass jar. the jar is Pink in color and the lid of the jar is glossy metallic pink , further enhancing the packaging of the Product. Overall, I'd say this is the fanciest packaging I've come across till date for a beauty product! It calls out to you the moment you look at it! However, it is heavy and not very convenient  to carry while traveling....

Now, moving over to the ingredients and performance of the Product, the Product boasts of exotic ingredients like French Grape Polyphenols and  French Vosges Spa water among the other ingredients written in fine print! These exotic ingredients claim to be powerhouses of anti oxidants and minerals which  are supposed to do much good to your skin!

As claimed by L'Oreal this Product is non oily and non sticky! LOVE this about the product. The texture is like jelly and spreads easily , ergo  you need a very little amount to cover your whole face! 
Also, the Product appeases your olfactory senses! It has a mild aqua scent . Very soothing, especially for someone like me with a very sensitive nose!  

The product claims to quench your skin, make it smooth and supple, day after day upon usage.  Also it claims to give your skin a bouncy feeling over the period of usage. I use this product very often, though not every night. In the morning my skin feels hydrated and bouncy. It does have a subtle glow.  It looks less tired. The difference is noticeable but not very obvious! It doesn't dramatically improve anything about your skin. Overall it's a nice product to use once in a while but it certainly is not Holy Grail atleast not for me!

  
You get 50 ml of the product for INR 599. Though 599, is no less amount but I feel it is affordable. 

Overall, this product is a fancy indulgence, you 'FEEL' good having it on your vanity table and applying it in your face. The concept is unique and if  you fancy  pretty  packaging  - you will be very happy to possess this one!

My Rating :3.5/5 

Weekend Special: L'oreal Paris Mat Magique Powder

Hello Everyone! 

L'Oreal Paris has recently launched the Mat Magique transforming powder in India. By transforming powder they mean  our regular 'Compact'! 

This Compact comes in five shades. My shade is N2 , Nude Vanilla. Five shades is a good choice in my opinion when it comes to a Compact from a drugstore brand! Yes, there are exceptions like the 'L'Oreal true Match' range wherein you can choose a shade depending on whether you are 'cool' or 'warm' toned to begin with.  Usually most of the drug store brands limit the number of shades to three or four when it comes to base products and it is very tricky to choose from whatever is available.

Now, coming to the price point, these Compacts have been priced very reasonably by L'Oreal. The price of the Compact is INR 399! The website of L'Oreal India claims the price point of these to be 'special'! L'Oreal forayed in this price segment a few months ago by launching their skin care range 'skin perfect' which was very affordably priced! The SA at the counter told me that these have been specially priced to entice customers who do not even bother trying L'Oreal products because of their high pricing pattern. Smart move L'Oreal! 

What a cute product isn't it? Kudos L'Oreal! Hope you keep up the good work  (especially the price point) with all your products ;)

The packaging of the product as you can see in the picture is very catchy! It comes in a bright  pink cardboard box and the the case of the compact is bright pink at the rim. The packaging looks very classy and the bright pink does not look over done or tacky! It would look absolutely fancy sitting atop the vanity table or while carrying it in the makeup pouch when travelling! It doesn't look flimsy either. I would be carrying it to work with me in my bag everyday and I hope it is sturdy enough to withstand my crazy commute in the Mumbai local trains!

The Compact contains a regular round sponge for application. There's nothing unique about it. It helps you apply the powder evenly on to your face.As you can see in the picture beneath, it contains a sturdy, round mirror. I'm very satisfied with the size of the mirror, it serves the purpose well unlike the mirrors that come with some other products!

The Compact  gives a decent coverage. Also it blends and sets very easily. The face looks even upon applying the powder and giving it a subtle radiance. It does minimize my pore and hide some light pigmentation under my eyes and around my chin. However, since I do not have  prominent blemishes I do not know how it would fare in hiding the deeper marks on the skin. 

This Compact gets some brownie points for the SPF it contains! SPF 34 +++ is so far the highest sun protection I have come across in a powder. This is certainly an attraction quotient for those who want to be protected by good SPF but without the 'chip chip' of too much sunscreen.

Now coming to the tall claim of oil control, it claims to keep your face shine free for 12 hours! How I wish it could! Nope, it doesn't  keep my face oil free beyond three to four hours without touch ups, which I feel is not bad either. The twelve hours claim is not real L'Oreal! 

As you can see this shade matched my skin tone perfectly! Though my face is tiny bit darker than my hand, it brightens my face and doesn't look mismatched!

Overall, this is a great product from the house of L'Oreal. Do give it a try, you will not be disappointed!

My Rating : 4/5 ( I have deducted one point for the unreal claims)

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