January Favourites: Winter Bliss

January '12 was the best winter ever and my boots will attest to the fact since I wore them almost everyday [yeah best winter translates to wearing boots all the time for me since I can't wear them otherwise].So my January favourites are the best of this winter.

1. Nivea Fruity Shine Lip Balm in Strawberry

Chapped lips are one of my worst winter woes the other being dry skin, so chap sticks are a winter must.Plus my obsession with chapsticks and lip balms of all kinds ensures that I keep hoarding them like crazy.Though I really cannot fathom why I never bought this one before.It's as good as my all time favourite chapstick: Avon Strawberry.Smells great, keeps lips well hydrated and doubles up as a cheek stain.I have the pomegranate one too and love that one as much as this one.Definitely a keeper.

2. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Fatal Red

I have always been a fan of red lipsticks but never had the guts to try them out since I'm pretty fair complexioned and was afraid it might look too slutty for my taste.Fatal Red has proved me wrong.It is your regular run of the mill bright red lipstick but something in the shade just works with my complexion.It's not too blue nor too orange, just the perfect fatal red.I have been regularly trying out the Color Sensational lipsticks for the last couple of months and must say they have a fantastic wear.The colours are beautiful and the texture is long lasting despite being buttery.My other favourite shades are Hooked on Pink and My Mahogany but wore Fatal Red all through December-January, so it figures here.

3. Maybelline Colorama Nail Paint in Zarzamora

A good enough dupe for Chanel Rouge Noir, this beautiful deep burgundy is winter chic.Though the wear was pretty bad, it chipped within a couple of days.But the colour was the saving grace.Until I justify buying Rouge Noir, this one will be my goto Vampy winter shade.

4. The Body Shop Aqua Lily Body Mist

I have been obsessed with this fragrance ever since my nose first chanced on it.And lucky me always finds this range at half price.It's such a perfectly refreshing fragrance, though the body mist is not as lingering as the perfume.I'm almost finished with the bottle so it's a good thing I found the perfume in the same range at half price [yet again].Until TBS discontinues this range I'll keep coming back for more.

5. Dove Nourishing Oil Care Range

I've been meaning to review the entire range but somehow the review got sidetracked but I'm definitely going to put up a detailed review soon since it deserves a standing ovation.I'm very choosy when it comes to haircare products and I have tried a number of expensive products none of which have come close to the Oil Care Range.And the only reason I tried it was because I had got a hamper from Indiblogger.Every single product in the range is amazing specially the serum.It worked wonders on my over processed highlighted hair.And you don't have to dip into your savings to buy products in this range because they are decently priced.If you're in the mood for a haircare change then this one comes highly recommended.

6. Vega Paddle Brush

I'm not a big fan of hair brushes which is why the Vega paddle brush is featured here because I just fell in love with it.The brush is big enough to get maximum hair in one go and in 3 strokes all my tangles are free.Plus it feels great on my scalp [weird huh?].I love using it while/after using a flat iron.Don't get me wrong I'm still anti hair brush (they do more harm than good), but I'll make an exception for this one.

7. Schwarzkopf Taft Hairspray (Classic)

Lately I've been ODing on hair tutorials on You Tube and I'm hooked.Never used hair spray before but now I'm spritzing like crazy.It holds a style in place pretty good, specially back combed poofed up bouffant mess [not mess really but you get the point] and keeps flyaways off your face without making hair sticky, oily or difficult to comb out later on.

8. Bourjois Ultra Care Mascara in Noir Black

I have pretty sensitive eyes and most mascaras irritate the hell out of them.I had almost stopped using mascaras and was only relying on curlers [thanks god I have a good set lashes] so when I saw this one I was tempted to give it a try.And surprisingly it worked on my sensitive eyes.No redness, irritation nothing.And just because it's meant for sensitive eyes it does not compromise on either length or volume.Great for everyday use specially if you have sensitive eyes like me.Also it's easy to remove too unlike other waterproof mascaras.

That's it for the January edition of favourites.Let me know your favourites for January.

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How to Prep Your Toes For Sandal Weather

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Sunny days, warm weather, sundresses and flip flops… Spring is just around the corner and you know what that means – it’s time to prep your feet for sandal weather. Your toes have been comfy and cosy in your favourite thermal socks all winter but hibernation season is almost over. Refresh, revitalize and ready your feet for spring with these five beauty tips!

Scrub – Bring some life to your feet with an inexpensive and easy homemade foot scrub. All you need is a little olive oil and some granulated sugar. Mix equal parts together, add a few drops of peppermint oil for a refreshing smell and cooling sensation, and scrub away!

Smooth – Use a pumice stone to gently remove dead skin. Coat the stone with body wash or your homemade foot scrub and then gently scrape back and forth, starting with the heels and moving to the bottoms of your feet and toes. Remember not to scrub too hard though. You’re trying to remove dead skin from your feet, not all skin.

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Moisturize – Treat your feet to a little massage and extra moisture. With a quarter-sized amount of moisturizer, work the cream into your feet, ankles, and calves using a circular motion.

Soften–For extra soft skin, apply lotion to your feet before bed, put on your favourite pair of socks and wake up to noticeably softer feet.

Beautify – Spring is a time for vibrant colours so pick a nail polish shade that pops. When applying polish, remember to start in the centre of the nail and finish with a stroke on either side.

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Guest Post By Beth Smedinghoff.
Beth writes for the Socks4Life/Heel to Toe Guide , a comprehensive guide to foot care, fashion and beauty. When she’s not blogging about the latest trends in socks, she enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen and curling up with a good book.

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GlossyBox - The Big Daddy Of Beauty Boxes Comes To India

Beauty Boxes have been flooding the Indian beauty space like crazy but when the baap of all beauty boxes aka GlossyBox comes to India you have to stop, take a breath and thank the heavens.And in case you are wondering why then read on.

GlossyBox is a leading international e‐commerce service aimed at introducing discerning users to new and highly sought after beauty and cosmetic products.They are well versed with the concept of beauty boxes, being present in 14 countries (including UK where it was first started) on 6 continents.

 The GlossyBox Concept

• GlossyBox is a beautifully wrapped box containing a mix of five travel and full sized products, carefully curated by beauty experts.In addition to 5 luxury samples (plus, a surprise additional item could show up at any time!), the box contains product information, application notes, tips and tricks about beauty and style.

How GlossyBox Works

• Each month, hundreds of thousands of women around the world eagerly await the delivery of their GlossyBox, to find out just what luxurious products the box contains for them to try in the comfort of their home, away from the cramped, rushed environment of a cosmetics counter at a department store.
• GlossyBox partners not only with the world’s most admired and respected beauty and cosmetic houses, but also with luxurious Indian brands ensuring that you’re receiving some of the best and most innovative beauty and cosmetic products around.

GlossyBox Flaunts Some Top Notch Brands

• Users can earn GlossyDots by providing product feedback, which enables GlossyBox to improve and adjust the content of future boxes to better suit consumer needs.And for every completed individual product survey, users will receive 20 GlossyDots, and with 1000 GlossyDots can receive their next box for free.

You can share and discuss your GlossyBox experience on their blog or on the GlossyBox India Facebook and Twitter pages – all great ways to discover and discuss new and exciting beauty and cosmetic products, tips, and experiences.

The first GlossyBoxes will go out in March and are priced at Rs 700 for a monthly subscription.And judging from the plethora of good reviews GlossyBox has garnered over the blogosphere, March just cannot come soon enough!

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My Take: Liz UV Protection Color Veil

What It Claims

• Keeps skin young! SPF 50+, PA+++ Protects the skin from UV A & B while giving Anti-Oxidant benefits of Vitamin C & E leaving you with smoother skin.
• Multipurpose! LIZ Color Veil also functions as a foundation cream just with a small amount of usage, removing wrinkles, covering blemishes, providing whitening effect, leaving the skin perfectly flawless.
• Various colours! Four different types of colours to choose from, depending on different skin tones, and a Homme version.

How To Apply
Apply LIZ Color Veil on the T zone with small amounts, followed by the rest of the areas where you want to be covered, leaving you with a clear and glowing skin. And please finish with Serum 3-in-1.







Price
$35.99 for 35ml
Available at WishTrend.com

The Good

• Although it's marketed as a tinted sunscreen it's more in the league of a BB Cream.
• Has an amazing mattifying texture which works really well if you have oily skin.Plus it does not leave face greasy unlike other high SPF sunscreens.
• Super duper pigmented just like the Ciracle BB Cream.
• Gives a good enough coverage for a BB cream.Covers up redness and blotchiness and works well to even out skin.
• Blends to almost nothing and feels like almost nothing on the skin.
• SPF 50 is a blessing specially when summers are round the corner.
• The shade selection for most BB creams is pretty limited but the LIZ Color Veil comes in  a variety of four shades plus a colourless version.
• Really long lasting.Most sunscreens need to be applied every couple of hours but this one stays put for a good 5-6 hours and since it has a mattifying texture I'm sure it'll work just as good in the summers.
• Doubles up as a primer because of it's texture and the fact that it is long lasting.
• Nozzle tip tube packaging is hygienic and easy to use(plus it means I can squeeze the last bit of product out)

The Bad

• Hard to blend if you have dry skin.It kind of adheres to dry skin and leaves behind flakes.
• Since it's a high SPF sunscreen, if applied liberally it makes the face look white and pasty.Though it does go away after a couple of minutes.
• On the expensive side.
• Only available online.

Love It Or Chuck It
 

Liz Color Veil And Me-One Crazy Rushed Morning

Currently I'm obsessed with multitasking makeup and the LIZ Color Veil is right up the alley of a fantastic multitasker.Products like this come in really handy when you are rushing in the morning or on the run.It is a little hard to use if you have dry skin but works like a charm on oily skin.Love It.

Disclaimer: Product sent by PR for review.Read Review Policy for more information.

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Romantic Beauty Looks for Valentine's Day

If you are planning to do something special for Valentine's Day, don't forget to plan a beauty look that is romantic enough to match the occasion. Even if you don't normally get dressed up or bother with makeup, this is one day you should put forth a little extra effort. Romantic looks can be either daring and seductive or subtle and whimsical. Here's how to get both of these popular romantic looks.

Soft and Sweet

Leighton Meester

If you're the girl-next-door type, you probably want to look romantic without going over the top. Valentines Day is an occasion for a few subtly romantic touches.

Makeup
If you're going for the soft and sweet look, you want your makeup to look polished but not overdone. A soft, smoky grey shadow is perfect for the crease of your eyelids. Be sure to blend it outward so it looks natural. You can line your eyes with the same shade using a wet eyeliner brush. A coat of glossy mascara completes the soft eye look. A sweep of pink or peach blush is a great way to get flushed cheeks. You might also want to use a pearly highlighter for a romantic glow. For kissable lips, choose a soft berry gloss or stain.

Hair 
Wavy hair is the top choice for a soft romantic look. If your hair is naturally straight, try spritzing some sea salt into your hair to make it look more tousled. You could also create soft waves with big rollers or a large-barreled curling iron. If your hair is thick, pin up some of it on top of your head using a whimsical barrette. This gives you the look of beautiful, flowing hair while conveniently keeping your hair out of your face in case something romantic should transpire.

Bold and Sexy

Penelope Cruz

If you're not afraid to make a statement, this is the day to go bold and daring with your makeup. Have some fun and go for a classically glamorous look.

Makeup 
The quintessential ingredient for a sexy look is red lipstick. Even if you think you can't normally pull it off, on Valentine's Day you have the perfect excuse to try. Go for a brick red if you have warm undertones. If your skin is pale or cool-toned, pick up a blue-based red. Make sure your lips are well-hydrated because bold reds can accentuate flakes. Line your lips first so your color will stay in place. You can also be a bit adventurous with your eyes. A thick, dramatic layer of matte black eyeliner on the top lid topped with a few coats of waterproof black mascara looks great with sexy red lips. If you want to go the extra mile, false lashes round out this look. Choose a neutral blush that will enhance your natural cheekbones without competing with your lips and eyes for attention.

Hair
There are a few directions you can take when you’re going for a classic sexy hair look. Straight hair is never out of place with this look. Use a hair straightener and glossing serum to make sure it stays sleek all night. Big hair also complements bold makeup. Big curls or waves work well. You could even tease your hair up a bit if it's normally fine or limp to give your hair a little extra lift.

Valentine's Day offers a great opportunity to use your look to create a mood. Ditch your usual boring makeup and try something soft and sweet or bold and sexy. Switch it up and surprise someone special!

Guest Post By Cindi Lewis.
Cindi writes for GLOSSY a skin care brands and beauty products online retailer.

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Launch Pad: Rouge Bunny Rouge New Eye Shadow Shades

           

Recently Rouge Bunny Rouge launched When Birds Are Singing long lasting eye shadows in 8 beautiful shades.And these eye shadows come bundled up with a very interesting write up:

"The firefly festival is eagerly awaited all year in the Enchanted Garden. For then on this very special day, the best voices of the bird-world feed on tiny fireworks to embellish their voices and then gather to perform a single concert together. Their jubilant musical notes are inscribed in a syrup of figs and milk and preserved in tiny pots to be enjoyed all year round. Like this golden froth of musical syrup, WHEN BIRDS ARE SINGING... eye shadows are a time defying exotic enigma. This is plumage to adorn you in shades as deliciously mellow as soft silence that flows, or as brilliantly potent as jewelled notes. So addictive are these morsels that you’ll be causing your own kaleidoscopic ripples every time you wear them."

These powder eye shadow have an astonishing lightweight, creamy touch and unprecedented adherence.The formula creates pure dynamic iridescence while it maintains second skin effect and gives an extended 8-hour wear that will stay perfect and look freshly applied all day.Contains Orange-derived Flavonoid which improves blood microcirculation, enhances luminosity and serves as free radicals scavenger.

And now they have added two more beautiful shades:

• Sweet Dust Seriema (Semi-opaque cool dusty mauve taupe)
• Bashful Flamingo (Semi-opaque pale powder-pink, looking ultra natural and fresh on the eye)

Check out these beautiful shades and an array of other gorgeous sounding(and hopefully looking too) makeup at the Rouge Bunny Rouge website

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