Makeup Haul

I've never really done a haul post before mainly because I've been trying to finish the shit I already have. But its been close to 2 years since I bought any new makeup & frankly, the stuff's been calling out to me. The only difference is in the way I shop- I've reasoned & researched before every single purchase, whittling away at my wishlist until it was just what I needed. Also I've stopped being such a brand snob- no point spending big bucks if the quality is same & you are anyway going to junk it in 2 years with 3/4th of the product unused. Sigh! Girl problems

Castillo Eyeliner in Black, Grey, Taupe, Teal, Golden, Chocolate Brown

INR 325 for 3 gm each

I've never heard of this brand before but it had glowing reviews + it claims to be made in Germany. All the eyeliners I've used before which were manufactured in Germany have been stellar. Also, I simply couldn't pass up an opportunity to have so many colours. The eyeliners are well pigmented, smooth & an absolute breeze to apply. They last for 6+ hours after which there is a bit of fading but it does not migrate anywhere else. While I love all the other colours, the grey and taupe ones make me look ill. Nevertheless, good purchase.

Coloressence Intense Long Wear Liquid Lip Colour in Rose Petal

INR 350 for 8 ml

After watching the swatch video on YouTube countless times, I zeroed in on Antique Ruby & Rose Petal. Somehow, at the last minute I felt Rose Petal would be more wearable & ended up buying it. And thank heavens for that- the lip colour is super vivid & does not budge. At all. It is a wee bit drying on my lips but nothing horrendous. It dries to a matte finish & I'm madly in love with this colour.

Arezia Matte Me Lipstick in Skin Kiss

INR 250 for 6 ml

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that matte lips have been in for a while. I initially wanted to buy the Chambor one but the price tag put me off. Am glad I bought this - it's the perfect nude shade for me. It is drying like all other matte lip products. Nothing unmanageable though.

Me Now Kajal in Black, Emerald Green, Brown, Sky Blue, Sapphire Blue, Caterpillar Green

INR 300 for 4.2 gm each

Another unheard of brand though there are a fair bit of reviews on YouTube. Simply love these kajals. They stay put for about 4+ hours after which they fade a bit but there is hardly any smudging. The sapphire blue is my favorite of the lot.

Maybelline White Superfresh Compact in Coral

INR 150 for 8 gm

I'm not running out of compacts anytime soon but I couldn't resist it at just 100 bucks. Not used yet & will not be opening this until my existing compacts finish.

Elle 18 Glow Compact in Marble

INR 150 for 8 gm

Another 100 INR purchase. Like I said before, I like a good bargain.

I also bought 6 ADS lipsticks (there are no half measures with me) but seem to have misplaced them somewhere. Will post them separately. Have you bought anything lately?

Project Pan

I've always liked the idea of starting a Project Pan. The deal is to finish products that I've hit pan on & thus finish more stuff. While it sounded good on paper, I was super apprehensive to actually start it. What if, like always I wouldn't manage to finish anything?

Nevertheless, I really want to finish using my makeup. After I gathered all my half empty products, I realized they all belonged to the same family- base makeup. Let's not get totally crazy & try to finish lipstick. That'll take an eternity.

Lakme Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Compact in Golden Medium 3

INR 200 for 8 gm

I've hit pan on this in December 2015 but it's showing no signs of dying. How much stuff is in this thing! 8gm doesn't sound like a lot but it's taking freaking forever to finish. One of the reasons I took such a long time to hit pan was because I absolutely hated the finish of this product. Halfway through, I realized the problem was the applicator- what a terrible puff! I've since switched to a brush & am galloping away towards the finish line. Hope to include this in the next empties post.

Streetwear Color Rich Perfection Compact in Neutral

INR 275 for 7 gm

I love everything about this compact - the colour matches to a T, the puff is decent & the packaging is cute. I hit pan about a month back. I keep this in my bag & use only for touch-ups or when I'm travelling. Gonna take significantly longer to finish this.

Garnier BB Cream

INR 99 for 18 gm

I don't really like this too much which is why it's taking so long to finish. It gives a dewy finish to my face which I have to set with powder. Too many steps for something that gives little to no coverage. It fares better in the colder months though. Hoping to finish it this winter.

L'oreal Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer

INR 995 for 15 ml

The first & only primer I've ever used. It smoothes skin & makes my makeup last much longer. I've almost hit bottom-I can see the base but not quite.

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse in Pure Beige Medium 2

INR 650 for 30 ml

I LOVE this stuff. The colour matches to a T & photographs well. I've finished about half of this & I thought it would be a great idea to buy a backup. So now, I have one & half bottles of this foundation. Chipping away steadily- let's see how long it takes.

Lakme Perfecting Liquid Foundation

INR 125 for 27 ml

The colour is a tad too pale for my skin & way too yellow. I use this only when I'm practicing looks. About halfway through this.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer in Honey Miel

INR 600 for 1.5 ml

I hopped onto the concealer bandwagon really late but I'm blown away by what a difference it makes. I absolutely love it & I'm about halfway through this one as well.

No Name Concealer Palette

I bought this off ebay for just 4 $. There are a wide variety of colours along with 3 corrector shades. The texture is buttery smooth & blends well. I don't know how long it will take to finish this- too much product. I've not really hit pan on this but it's been a while since I bought it & I just want to use it.

Have any of you tried doing a Project Pan? Did it help? Comment below.

September & October Empties

Hello all, Sorry for disappearing yet again. Last time I did a combined empties post for 2 months due to time constraints. Turns out I want to continue doing just that. For starters, there are more number of empties generated. Plus it feels good to see so many finished products together. I get a psychological high from that. Honestly, I was getting a serious complex seeing other bloggers' empties. How in hell do they finish so many products? Anyhow, this whole empties post once in 2 months is going to be the new normal. Let's start

KPN Neelibhringadi Coconut Oil

INR 85 for 100 ml

I need to use coconut oil for my super dry hair or else I develop dandruff quite easily. I was on the lookout for a coconut based hair oil that contained Bhringaraj. I've used the Baidyanath Bhringaraj Hair Oil earlier with stellar results except for 1 tiny problem. It has a castor oil base which does nothing for my dandruff prone scalp. This one ticks all the boxes. While I'm not able to discern anything noticeable as far as my hair health is concerned, it has taken care of my dandruff like a boss. Have already repurchased another bottle.

Chik Hairfall Prevent Shampoo Sachets x 3

INR 1 for 6 ml

Just bought a few sachets to try out this shampoo. I'm trying to use more products from Indian companies & hence this experiment. Good enough but not great. Might not repurchase.

Sunsilk Jasmine Black Shampoo Sachet

INR 1 for 5.5 ml

My HG shampoo. Still have a few more sachets. I prefer buying many sachets instead of a giant bottle. Its easier to chip away at & comes in handy while travelling.

Clean & Clear Pimple Clearing Face Wash

INR 55 for 40 ml

Leaves my skin feeling overdry & tight though it does seem to help with pimples. No repurchase.

Vaadi Herbals Mint Lip Balm

INR 25 for 6gm

I'm so glad I bought this. Its become my new HG lip balm. It moisturises well & smells amazing. Infact, I seem to reach for my lip balm less often while using this- one of the reasons it took forever to finish. Also it doesn't leave an oily film in your drink when you sip something- another of my pet peeves. All in all, superstar. I have 2 more variants of the same.

Streax Perfumed Body Mist in Refreshing Lily Vanilla

INR 120 for 100 ml

Decent body mist but definitely something you can give a miss if you are a regular perfume user like me. Will be repurposing this spray bottle to store my toner. I had bought a set of 3 -1 more to go.

Lacto Calamine Lotion

INR 160 for 120 ml

My lifeline. I don't even know how I will function without this. Will repurchase forever.

Astaberry Wine Facial Kit

INR 200

My new favorite facial kit. I like the fact that all tubes except for the cleanser finished at the same time. Will be buying the bigger size next time.

Nature's Essence Diamond Face Cleanser Oxygel

40 gm (Full set costs INR 700)

Part of the facial kit. After the face pack, this is the second product to finish from the set. Decent enough but no repurchase. I'm bored of the scent.

VOV Perfume Polish Cleanser

100 ml (Don't remember the price)

Love this. It can handle the most vivid colours & even glitter with consummate ease. Have bought a different variant.

Discarding a few products this month

Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick in All Fired Up

Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick in Addictive Magenta

Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick in Brick- o- la

Love all of these colours but they have gotten really hard over time, almost like crayons. It's difficult to apply smoothly even after applying lip balm. Does anyone know how to make them soft again? I really love the colours & the staying power and definitely don't want to throw them away. If wishes were horses eh?

V color Nail Polish Remover Pads

INR 45 for 40 wipes

These are terrible. More than half the wipes dried up completely & became useless. Still have one more of this.

So that's that. How many products have you finished lately?

August Empties

Hello, Running late again. Ah well, let's get on with it.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub

INR 240 for 100 gm

Even though it's marketed as a face scrub, it lathers extremely well & so I used it as a face wash. I LOVE it. I don't have to do anything else to tackle my pesky blackheads while using this. The only bummer is the rather medicinal smell. Nevertheless repurchase worthy.

Vaadi Herbals Olive Facial Bar

INR 34 for 25 gm

Hallelujah! The last one from my bulk buying spree a while back. Never buying ever again.

Aloe Veda Chocolate Vanilla Luxury Shower Gel

INR 180 for 300 ml

Mixed feelings about this one. It cleans well, doesn't overdry but the smell is a bit of a downer. It doesn't smell like true chocolate. I have 2 more variants of this shower gel.

Nature's Essence Bridal Foot Care

INR 175 for 100 gm

This was part of Nature's Essence Manicure & Pedicure Kit. I love using it as a hand cream for my super dry hands. Might buy again.

Bioline White Petroleum Jelly

INR 50 for 100 gm

This is the real deal- WAY better than regular Vaseline & the only thing that works on my rough heels. Have already bought a humongous jar of the same.

Head & Shoulders Conditioner

INR 4 for 7.5 ml

Got it as a free gift with some shampoo. Since I don't use conditioner regularly, it's quite a task to finish these.

Sunsilk Jasmine Black Shampoo X2

INR 1 for 5.5 ml

My HG shampoo. Will repurchase forever.

Discarding this month

Lakme Clean Up Face Mask Fresh Fairness

INR 110 for 50 gm

Oh sweet Lord! This thing expired a whole year back. Into the bin.

Streetwear Color Rich MegaShine Lip Gloss in Party Melon

Bought this one purely for nostalgic reasons- I used quite a few of their products back when I was in college. But I'm SO over glosses right now. Plus the tube cracked.

Chambor Glitzy Gloss in 615 Intense

Loved this colour & the coconutty fragrance. Discarding for the same reason as above. Simply not digging glosses anymore.

Maybelline Pink Alert POW4

I like this colour but the lipstick's become kinda squishy. Not sure how much more time the bullet will remain intact. Also I have a near dupe of this colour in Maybelline MAT 1 lipstick.

I seem to only discard makeup & not finish any of it. Well, at least my vanity box is not groaning anymore with the weight of unwanted makeup. Cheers.

Astaberry Wine Facial Kit Review

Hello people, I have spoken before about my love for facial kits. It has only grown in the year since I've started using them. The latest one in my vanity is Astaberry Wine Facial Kit. Wine facials were all the rage a while back & I'm thrilled that I can indulge in the same in the comfort of my home.

INR 200 for 52 gm

Astaberry Wine Facial Kit is packaged in a wine coloured cardboard box with all the necessary details on it like contents, expiry date etc. The individual tubes are nestled in a plastic tray inside along with the free gift. I got a Fruit Face wash free with this pack. Judging by the size, I think I can do about 4 facials with this. Cost effective, right? The facial kit consists of 4 steps

1. Wine Cleanse  12 gm

This tube actually had a metallic seal like most medicines. It is a transparent, runny gel which lathers well & cleans the face without over drying. It has a pleasant, fruity fragrance which I loved. This is the only tube with a seal - probably due to the runny nature of the gel.

2. Wine Scrub  12 gm

This is a super creamy scrub with mild granules. It is very gentle on the skin. Unlike other creamy scrubs, this one does not linger forever on the skin & washes away easily. My skin looks brighter immediately after using this.

3. Wine Creme  12 gm

The wine cream is really thick & it's quite difficult to spread it evenly on the face. I recommend not drying your face after washing away the scrub or using some rose water. I experienced mild tingling around my nose (this happens with most products with me). The cream did not sink into my skin after about 10 minutes of massaging.

4. Wine Pack  16 gm

This step consists of a clay-based mask which is again really difficult to spread. I mixed it with a little rose water for convenience. I let it dry & then rinsed off the mask. I could notice a glow immediately.

I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the result of this facial kit. I had never heard of this brand before & only had positive reviews on shopping websites to go by.

Yays

Smells pleasant

Difference is noticeable immediately after facial- pores are smaller, skin is smoother & there's a subtle glow. Skin looks better when used regularly.

The tubes are actually numbered in the sequence they are supposed to be used in.

Not tested on animals.

Nays

The outer carton is HUGE. Comparatively the amount of product you get appears less.

Other than Nature's Essence facial kits, this is the only other brand that has shown promising results. Will be buying the bigger pack next time.

Are home facials a part of your skincare routine?

June &July Empties

Hi all, life's been crazy busy & I simply couldn't do an empties post for June. So I'm doing a combined empties post for both June & July. Let's begin

Indulekha Coconut Milk Shampoo

INR 135 for 100 ml

Ho-hum shampoo, does nothing for my hair. But the real culprit is the smell. Who uses the scent of lime on a supposedly coconut milk shampoo? No repurchase.

Sunsilk Jasmine Black Shampoo Sachet

INR 1 for 5.5 ml

Love this. Will repurchase forever.

Head & Shoulders Conditioner

INR 4 for 7.5 ml

I generally don't use conditioner but I've a bunch of these sachets I got free with something. Trying to use up. Still have several more to finish.

Khadi Herbals Aloe Vera, Neem & Basil Facial Massage Gel

INR 180 for 100 gm

I'm in two minds about this gel. While I love the smell & texture of this, it somehow imparts a very sticky, shiny look to my face. Mind you, it only looks shiny - it's dry to the touch. Maybe it will look glowy on people with dry skin. Anyhow, I used it up by mixing with an equal quantity of Lacto Calamine & surprise, surprise! The concoction works amazingly well on lines. The lines on my neck were less visible & altogether disappeared on continuous use. I might repurchase after I finish the gels in my stash. I still have a few more to work through.

Vaadi Herbals Olive Facial Bar x2

INR 34 for 25 gm

No good as a facial bar so I'm simply using it as soap. 2 down, just 1 more to go. Hallelujah!

Khadi Herbals Sandalwood Massage Oil

INR 150 for 210 ml

Love the scent of this - very subtle sandalwood. The oil though, I'm not impressed with. It's just mineral oil & doesn't moisturize effectively. No repurchase.

Khadi Herbals Lavender & Ylang Ylang Body Wash

INR 130 for 210 ml

Got this on a BOGO offer. Love the scent, the brilliant colour & the way it cleans without drying but after using 2 bottles, I'm looking for a change. No repurchase in the near future.

Fiama Di Wills Gel Bar Mild Dew (Peach & Avocado)

INR 60 for 125 gm

Love this. I feel like I'm using a luxurious product. Whoever came up with the name Mild Dew, I read it as mildew. Every. Single. Time.

Vaadi Herbals Lemongrass & Lily Body Oil

INR 65 for 50 ml

This is especially useful on days you want to wake up instantly. Love the zingy scent & it moisturizes better than the Lavender variant- probably due to the olive oil it contains. Will be buying the bigger bottle next time.

Biocare Foot Scrub with Apricot,  Jojoba & Organic Rosemary

INR 180 for 500 ml

Biocare products are total value for money. The products work decently & given the price & quantity, you simply can't complain. It has a subtle scent & is super effective at scrubbing away dead cells. I also used it as a body scrub because let's face it - there was no way in hell I was going to finish it by using only on my feet. Love this. Will buy a different variant next time.

Moving on to the decluttering. Getting rid of some makeup this time

Maybelline Expert Wear Blush in Berry Sorbet

Don't remember the price, it's ancient

My very first blush -a dusty pink colour that looked natural on me. I've moved on to newer loves & this one was lying forgotten in the very depths  of my vanity. Time to bid adieu.

MAC Cream Color Base in Hush

INR 1150 for 3.2 gm

My most expensive makeup purchase. Also my most expensive makeup mistake. I went to MAC looking for their legendary paint pots. As always it was OOS. The SA convinced me that the CCB worked the same way as the paint pots. Total fail! It creases like crazy on my lids. And since I have oily skin, my skin produces its own highlighter. I have no use of this product & after staring at it morosely for 5 odd years, I've finally gathered the courage to get rid of it.

Nivea Fruity Shine Lip Balm in Pink Guava

INR 149 for 4.8 gm

Aargh! The only thing I hate more than glitter in lipstick is glitter in lip balms. These Nivea lip balms never cut it for me anyway- with or without glitter.

So many products, so little time. Still have about half of my stash to empty. Cheers.

Books This Week 18

Endless rains in my city & I'm cozying up with more than my fair share of books. Let's begin

The Girl in The Spider's Web- David Lagercrantz

I absolutely love the Millennium series & it's one of my all time favorite books. It was with more than trepidation that I picked up this sequel written by someone else. Considering the author is dead, I suppose this was inevitable. Oh! How I wish I hadn't. The characters are a watered down version of themselves & story is nothing to write home about. Mikael Blomkvist & Lisbeth Salander are 2 of my favorite literary characters & I simply can't stand to see them so helpless. If you enjoyed Steig Larsson's series, stay away from this one.

Pretty in Plaid- Jen Lancaster

What a funny book! The book's made up of stories of the author's life & what she was wearing when something poignant happened. There are also wardrobe lessons like not wearing coloured undies under white pants etc. The ending is a bit hurried though. Suddenly she goes from First Job to several years later as a married woman who has put on a lot of weight & written a few books. One time read.

Timeless Beauty- Christie Brinkley

Nice book with a lot of skincare advice thrown in & generously sprinkled with the author's perfect pictures. At 60+, she is a gorgeous woman. But she does admit to having some work done, so take the advice with a pinch of salt.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party- Alexander McCall Smith

My weekly ration of this series. I NEED a new series as good as this one. This book describes the events leading up to Mma Matsuki's wedding & is as good as every book in this series. Just 2 more to go. Sob, sob.

Fierce Style- Christian Siriano

I remember Christian Siriano from Project Runway a few years back. He was super flamboyant & very hard working. The book though is nothing great. Amidst all the fashion advice is a healthy sprinkling of "fierce" & other slang favored by the author. To be fair, I think these slang words sound better when said out the loud with appropriate gestures & tone. In print, though, fail.

What have you been reading?