Trials: The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil The Radiant oil for skin & hair

The Body Shop is always a favorite, and Argan oil is one of the best thinks to put on your skin? So,

what is there to not like? Well, I'm not a fan of The Body Shop Argan oil range. Somehow the fragrance doesn't work for me! So when I walked into the store to avail my birthday discount coupon I only half expected me to buy an argan oil product. But, I was in for a surprise. 

This dry oil wasn't as strongly scented as the rest of their products in the range. Also, it's light on the skin, making it a perfect summer oil. I used it right after a hot shower and it turned my skin satin. It didn't provide a heavy moisturization to my very dry skin. But, it did make my skin visually pleasing for the next few hours.

It retails for Rs.1795 for 125mL. But I could have been happier if they made the packaging a wee bit sturdier in that price. I lost the cheap plastic cap of the bottle in the first week itself. The spray bottle would have been travel-friendly with a sturdier cap.

Pros

• Perfect after-shower massage oil
• Mild fragrance
• Satin finish

Cons

• Very mild moisturisation; not for dry skin
• Flimsy packaging

I've always been a fan of face and body oils, no matter how messy they are. So this oil is right in my alley. You should give it a try if you are into oils as this Argan oil, being a dry oil, isn't even messy. So I'll be reaching out to it quite more often. Let me know how you find it.

sighned

The fashionable girl on a budget

Winter skin care routine

Winter is here and how! What wouldn't I give to cuddle in my favorite comforter with a steaming hot

cup of divine cocoa and a book.  But all that laziness the winter instills in you can have telling signs on your skin. And who wants dull, dry skin? No one! So, here's my quick winter fixes.
I have three words for you. Clean, tone, and moisturize. Yes, your regular CTM routine, but with more emphasis on moisturizing.

Dry skin care
If you have dry skin then my sympathies are with you because you suffer the most in this weather. And hence, oil is your best friend and you need to hold on to it like dear life. You will want to use heavy oils like coconut oil, olive oil, etc. Virgin coconut oil is my favorite hair and skincare product. If used sparingly it can be your moisturizer-cum-makeup remover. Cream based products are your next best friends. It helps to use cream based face-washes and shower gels. Anything with Shea butter works wonders. Vaseline is your next best friend. Here's a quick tip. To relieve your feet of cracked heels apply Vaseline jelly on your heels and slip on a pair of cotton socks overnight. You'll wake up to baby-soft heels. Trust me, this is a tried and tested trick. Thank me later!
But, not everyone has the time and patience to use oil. So here's one of my favorite face moisterisers from Kronokare Moist-Urge face cream, that I received on my MSM box, for the face and the Fizz Kiss- Cooling Explosion lip balm, that works like a dream in this chill.

Oily skin care

If your skin is oily that is no excuse to neglect it. Oil-free moisturizing is the way to go. There several water and gel based moisterisers available in the market. Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture SPF15 is one of my favorites in the market now. Vitamin E products are also great for you oily skin divas. Try The BodyShop Vitamin E range for soft, supple and hydrated skin this winter.

But if you want to go the natural way Grapeseed oil and Teatree oil are your saviours. Grapeseed oil is an excellent toner to be used in the winters. Add a few drops of Teatree oil in your bath water and you are sorted. Light-weight oils like baby oil work perfectly for your skin while Vaseline would suit those stubborn dry patches on your elbows and knees.

Irrespective of your skin type, your lips take the most beating from the chill. Brush your lips with a toothbrush with damp, soft bristles after applying Vaseline on your lips. Oil based DIY lip scrubs also help. Don't forget your regular 8-10 glasses of water to keep you hydrated. And also, don't forget your sunscreen.

These are my winter tips. What are yours? Let's rock this winter together with super soft and supple skin!

Signed

The Fashionable Budget-girl

Trials: Eye Told You So! Smudgeproof Eyeliner & Stroke of Genius Heavy-duty Kohl by Sugar Cosmetics

Eye makeup is, without doubt, any girl's go-to if she is remotely even into makeup. And, I just found my eye makeup holy grail. Presenting, the Sugar cosmetics  Stroke of Genius Heavy-duty Kohl and the Eye Told You So! Smudgeproof Eyeliner.
Let's start with the eyeliner. Trust me when I say this- that to land on the perfect eyeliner wand is

Eye Told You So! Smudgeproof Eyeliner- 01 Black Swan

nothing short of a miracle. I've juggled between Maybelline, Lakme, L'oreal and god-knows all the regular drugstore brands. I even tried The Body Shop liquid gel eyeliner, which, FYI, was godaweful!
Until Eye Told You So! happened to me ,which I first received with one of my FabBags, I'd been living off a staple of the Lakme ones. Somehow the Lakme ones are the only ones that are cheap, and manage to have the best wand to make your wings. I, personally, like the slender long wands to do my wings. Abd this one has exactly that- a long, slender applicator to make your eyes look long and winged. The only con I found in them is that they wear off quite easily, which is a bummer. But, it's a gift on those super busy days when you cant wait to get done with your eye makeup but still want it to look pretty. It retails for Rs.699 for 1.7mL.

Pros

• Slender, manageable applicator
• Matte finish
• Paraben and Folmaldehyde free

Cons

• Wears off soon
• Easy to remove
• Expensive for the quantity available

Moving on to Stroke of Genius Heavy-duty Kohl. Let me start by saying this is by far the softest kajal I've used in all these years. Now, after using this kohl pencil I may never use another kohl pencil after this. It just glides over my waterline and tight-lining my upper eyelid has become very easy. I have even started using this kohl pencil to line my upper eyelash instead of a liquid or gel eyeliner. Using the sharpener provided with the kohl pencil making a fairly thin line is pretty simple. And this is the first kohl pencil I've successfully used to replace my eyeliner; and I'm not an expert makeup artist! This one is truly a stroke of genius, but, it isn't exactly smudge-proof for the Indian tropical weather. On all those hot summer days I find the kohl smudge to highlight my under-eye circle, which is not exactly how I like it! But that doesn't mean you have to touch up every now and then. Quite the contrary, actually. I have, not once had to touch up the kohl. It lasts a good 10 hours without any touch up. The kohl is also free of mineral oil and paraffin. It retails at Rs.499 for 1.2gms.

Pros

• Highly pigmented
• Soft texture
• Free of mineral oils and paraffin;vegan product
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Light smudging

Sugar Cosmetics have increasingly grown to be one of my favorite brands. So, I am definitely going to be a fan of the Stroke of Genius Heavy-duty Kohl. I will repurchase it without doubt. If you plan to by the same I would suggest you buy it online from their website https://in.sugarcosmetics.com/. They have a reward plan which benefits returning customers. (They also have some really good lip products which I can review for you if you so want.)

Let me know how you liked it. Don't forget to let me know of what else you'd like me to write about.

Signed

The Fashionable Budget-girl

Trials: Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser

My idea of makeup has always been 'less is more.' And yet, I've been struggling to find a make-up cleanser which is rough on the make-up, but does not over-dry my skin. And then, I walked into the Body Shop store to find the Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser on a 50% discount. Without the discount the product is priced at Rs.795 for 200mL, which is a little steep for a cleanser. But with the discount I'm a happy girl. So, let dive right into my experience with it.

First and foremost, Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser is not a facewash, but a cleansing lotion. Meaning, it does not have to be rinsed off with water, but is to be spread over the face and wiped off with a cotton pad or cloth. I needed to clarify this as I've read a number of online reviews of the product where the product is mistaken for a facewash inspite of the clear instructions on the label.
There are a couple of aspects, on the basis of which this product is being reviewed.
Texture: The cleanser has an oil-free, light and serum-like texture which smoothly and evenly spreads across the face.
Effectiveness: The Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser is targeted at folks with oily or combination skin. You know, the neither here nor there girls like us, whose skin can't decide if it is oily or dry because it wants to be both! Does this do much to balance the oil our skin secretes?
Odour: The Body Shop is generally known for its strong scented body butters, lip balms and moisturizers. Though i've not been a fan of strong scenets, I've liked their Cocoa butter, Satsuma and Japanese Cherry blossom fragrances in body butters and the rest. The Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser on the other hand, is crafted for people who aren't great fans of strong scents. It has a pleasantly mild, yet refreshing fragrance with a marine undertone.

Pros

• Velvety soft and light texture
• Does not over-dry face.
• Mild odour

Cons

• Pricey for a cleanser.
• Needs repeated use to remove eye and lip makeup.

The Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser from The Body Shop is definitely going to be the facial cleanser I use after a long day at work, especially if I've worn somewhat heavy makeup on my eyes and lips. It's also going to be my go-to cleanser if I'm too lazy to wash my face with a facewash, because it leaves my face feeling fresh and yet does not need water to make me feel that way.  Do let me know how fare with this or other lip-care products. Don't forget to let me know of what else you'd like me to write about.

Signed

The Fashionable Budget-girl

Trials: NIVEA Lip Butter Cocoa Cacao

For sheer love for their thrust on quality, I've loved Nivea products for quite a while. What I love most about them that their products are mostly effective, simplistic and subtle on the fragrance and tint area. so when i found a range of new Nivea products on the shelves, I decided to indulge. Hence, presenting first of my Nivea haul, the Nivea lip butter. I've tried the Cocoa Cacao option here.
The lip butter comes at Rs.200 a tin which though is a bit steep for a lip butter without tint. But, I had been on the lookout for a night-care regime for my lips that did not involve any colour or tint. What impressed me almost instantaneously was that the butter came in a easy to open, travel-friendly tin; for now which sits comfortably on my night-stand. The tin hold the lip butter, which like the name suggests, is very creamy in texture and unlike any lip balms I've used. I feared the butter would be sticky,something like petroleum jelly, or hard as some lip balms tend to be. But, gladly it's neither of the case.

As I've mentioned, I've been using the Cocoa cacao variant. And let me put it across straight- you'll love it as much as you love dark chocolate and I happen to absolutely love dark chocolate. I've been using the lip butter daily for more than a week now. I dab it on my lips just before bed. With the consuming sweet smell the butter spreads, it almost feels like my midnight chocolate indulgence and gives me a heady happy high. That is how much I love the fragrance! Now, getting to the moisturizing part. Day 1 had me pleasantly surprised with softer and smoother lips. By days 3 and 4
I found my lips not just soft but full too. The hydrated and soft lips have now encouraged me to scrub them once a week, also using a chocolate scrub. The one I use is an Exotic chocolate lip scrub from Tattva by Shabia Walia, a little something I got from my FabBag (a li'l shout out to the FabBag folks!).

Nivea seems to have come out with 5 different variants of lip butter, out of which hardly 3 or 4 are available in India, through retail and online stores. Having said that, I would have chosen the cocoa variant over the others any day.
Now, let's give a final look at the pretty Nivea Lip Butter Cocoa cacao.



Pros:

• Deep moisture
• Doesn't need re-applying; stays on for over 6 hours
• Rich fragrance
• Handy, travel-friendly pack

Cons:

• Pricey
• No gloss (idea for night care)
• All variants are not easily available in India.

So, that's all I have for you about the Nivea lip butter, right now. Do let me know how fare with this or other lip-care products. Don't forget to let me know of what else you'd like me to write about.

Signed

The Fashionable Budget-girl

Trials: MAYBELLINE Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

An eye well done is a face half done- that's the makeup manthra I go by. That's why, long, long ago

when my friend Remya, who FYI is on her way to makeup "Jedi-hood", told me that she landed an fantastic eye-liner which doesn't wash off and that has "amazing" finish, I wanted to try it. This professed eye-liner has stuck to her eyes like glue even after a good dip under a waterfall. Boy, I wanted one of those! I was ready to look over the fact that it came in a pot and needed a steady hand to apply. God has blessed me with an adequately steady hand, unless I'm lending someone money. But then she said those words that froze my feet to the ground -"It cost me a bomb."

I'm a modern, fashion-conscious girl, on a budget. So all my fashion choices are extremely budget based. So, I put my plans to buy the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama gel eyeliner on the back burner. And yet, fast forward to present day and I have one. Ask me why? Swinging by the television and movie industries I found that all the professional makeup artists swore by the gel eyeliner; and hence I had to find what the rage was about.

Let me begin by stating on record that the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama gel eyeliner is not for the shaky handed folks on a budget. It needs some getting used to. And, you'll get used to it faster if you ditch the awfully fat brush they hand you in that beautiful packing. Oh yes, the packing is really pretty. I even loved the cap for the brush-very neat and hygienic. But the brush itself is quite hindering. I like to make thin lines on my lash-line for an everyday look. I find it that the winged look also comes out well with thin brushes, especially the tip of the wings. But the given brush wasn't helping me in either. All it gave me was the thick, dramatic lines on the lash-line and crooked lines on my water-line. So, I invested another Rs.60 on a pretty looking, thin bristled brush to add that luster to my 'apple-of-my-eye' eyeliner. The matte finish the eyeliner gives you makes sure that you get used to the creamy gel texture and the solid colour. But the down side of getting addicted to it is that you start keeping aside some eye-makeup time in your morning routine. With my adequately steady hands I take close to 5 mins everyday to get the look right, and I still almost always go for the natural-winged-everyday look. Next, you should essentially also invest in a good makeup removing product. Maintaining the brush involves a serious cleaning routine, else lumps form on the brush totally spoiling the results for you. And, it goes without saying that you ABSOLUTELY MUST remove the product from your eyes thoroughly before you hit the bed. I bought the eyeliner from a Maybelline counter of a beauty shop and the lady there suggested I buy the Maybelline Total Clean Express Make-up remover, with which I wasn't disappointed one bit.

So, for one last time, here's listing the pros and cons of the eyeliner that costed me Rs. 475/-.

Pros:

• Good matte finish
• Solid colour
• Lasting stay on lash-line; moderate stay on water-line

Cons:

• Pricey
• Brush could have been better
• Needs a cleaning routine that should be followed religiously after every use

I'm totally in love with the eyeliner and wear it every single day; all day long or even if it's for a brief outing with friends. So, if you are big on eye makeup and like to experiment around, give it a shot. Also, let me know what you think about it. Don't forget to let me know of what else you'd like me to write about.

Signed

The Fashionable Budget-girl