cosmetics

In 2012, Accessories, Fashion

Chic Guide: Top 5 things to do this week

Speaking ChicJuly 23, 2012July 23, 2012Leave a comment

Buy: Lush Color Cosmetics

I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics’ brand-new Emotional Brilliance colour range. This range consists of lip colours, eyeliners and eye shadows, along with skin tints and a translucent powder. The pigments are named after emotions/ feelings like Independent, Fantasy, Passion etc. I tried the lip colours (they come in cute glass bottles which can recycled) and I love the way they don’t “feel” like a typical lipstick or lip gloss, they last long too. I also loved the Feeling Younger skin tint which brightens skin and can be used as an under eye concealer. I usually mix it with my moisturizer and spread evenly over my face and neck.

Available at Lush stores worldwide.

Pre-order: Powder Room

I discovered Powder Room: The Untold Story of Indian Fashion by Shefalee Vasudev on Flipkart recently, and was fascinated by the summary. Written by a former fashion editor, it offers an inside view of Indian fashion through interviews with leading names in the industry, and “… [the book] mirrors how and why India does fashion.” I’ve booked my copy already.

Available for pre-order on Flipkart.com for Rs 399.

Talk about: Olympics fashion

Now that everyone’s talking about Olympics 2012, it’s time to brush up on Olympics fashion. So here goes: Stella McCartney did the British uniforms, while the Italian kits were designed by Emporio Armani (though Prada’s done the sailing team’s outfits).

And there was a very unsportsman-like controversy about Ralph Lauren’s uniforms for the American contingent- they were apparently made in China which caused quite a furore in the US of A. And a US senator wanted the uniforms to be burned! The official statement from Ralph Lauren doesn’t completely deny that the uniforms are not made in China or elsewhere. Outsourcing (in fashion and other industries) is a stark reality in the 21^st century, so why this pretense of patriotic outrage?

BTW, no one seems to know who’s created the Indian uniforms. Fingers crossed.

Retro eyes: Catty glares, luxury glasses

From affordable to luxury, there’s options for everyone looking to accessorise their eyes. Get catty with Fastrack’s new Cat Eye sunglasses that are easy on the pocket. Or kiss your boring dailywear chashma goodbye, and get your hands on Chrome Hearts black and white rimmed eyewear. Their latest model comes with a .925 sterling silver Chrome Hearts “plus” motif. Never mind the price. It’s Rs 63,450.

Below: Fastrack Cat Eye sunglasses

Below: Chrome Hearts sight eyewear

Fastrack is available at leading Fastrack stores across India (Cat Eye sunglasses from Rs 1695 to 2095).

Chrome Hearts eyewear is available at leading opticians in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore.

Shop: For your kids

Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, if your kids aren’t spoilt for choice yet, they will be now! Kidology’s new collection is in stores, Tommy Hilfiger Childrenswear stores are opening all over, and Nee & Oink are now available at Atosa, Chamomile and Mal. So step into any shopping neighbourhood in Mumbai, open your wallet and watch your kids turn into fashionistas. 😉

Below: Nee & Oink

In Beauty, Fashion, makeup, trends

Chic Party Makeup: New Year 2011 guide (part 1)

Speaking ChicDecember 28, 20104 Comments

Be the quintessential party animal on New Year’s Eve with makeup to usher in 2011 looking your chic-est. Speaking Chic illuminates some top makeup trends.

Smokey eyes
Classic look, but not an easy one to try at home. Too much eyeshadow and you look like a witch. Too little, and it doesn’t make an impact. Give your smokey eyes the 2011 twist by ditching the black eye shadow in favour of grey, silver, teal, taupe or dark blue. Add some sparkle or glitter on your eyelids or corners of your eyes to get the perfect party look. Smokin’ hot!

Speaking Chic tip: Get your smokey eyes right with the help of this video.

Dewy skin
If you’ve got the confidence to carry off a clean makeup look, the dewy skin look is just right for you. The best way to look nude yet glowing is to apply a foundation that gives your skin the right amount of sheen. I use MAC’s Mineralize Satin Finish Foundation for this.

Speaking Chic tip: Apply some loose powder after the foundation. This might take away some of your dewiness initially, but as your skin gets oilier during the party, the glow comes right back.

Which trend will you party with?

In Beauty, makeup, Review

Makeup Review: Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation

Speaking ChicDecember 24, 20102 Comments

My mom doesn’t like makeup. Her idea of makeup is lipstick and maybe a compact. She’s never applied foundation. So convincing her to try Lancome’s Teint Miracle Foundation was the tough part.

Lancome’s Teint Miracle Foundation is the latest from the stable of the brand’s scientific research-based products. The foundation uses Aura Inside Technology—a natural light creator—to recreate skin’s inner light. Teint Miracle Foundation uses the right combination of new pink bioptic pigment and blue bioptic pigment to make your complexion appear lit-from-within.

The foundation’s main draws: it boosts radiance and you appear flawless.

Mom and I put these claims to test just before she headed out to lunch with her friends.

We were both impressed with the rich-feel product packaging. As I helped my mom apply the foundation, I discovered it blended quite easily. (The Lancome makeup artist had told me earlier that the foundation was light, so if you’re looking for heavy coverage, this is not the right product for you.)

I set the foundation with some loose powder and waited a few minutes to check the foundation’s magic. Five minutes later, her skin seemed to glow, like she’d just done an expensive facial. And while mom doesn’t have any blemishes or pigmentation, her skin tone and texture seemed even, and mom looked radiant! Really.

As she headed off for lunch, I was afraid the foundation would get smudged or wiped off, or that people would know she’d done something to her face. But when she returned, she was still glowing, and beaming from the compliments she’d got from her friends. 🙂

Other reasons why we liked the foundation: it’s non-comedogenic (my mom’s skin didn’t break out), has SPF 15, is oil-free and stays on for a long time.

One reason I didn’t like the foundation: When I tried the foundation on myself (in the correct shade), it didn’t seem to do the same wonders it did for my mom.

Verdict: My mom loved the foundation, and will use Lancome’s Teint Miracle for special occasions. That’s a big thumbs-up!

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Rs 2700

Disclosure: Speaking Chic received this product for review from Lancome.

In Beauty, makeup

Lakme’s new launches: Perfect Radiance Compact and Fruit Blast face washes

Speaking ChicDecember 23, 20101 Comment

In the recent past, Lakmé has launched several makeup products, such as the popular Gypsy makeup collection and Lakmé Day Perfect Lip Color.

This month, Lakmé launched two new products (technically one product and one product range): Lakmé Perfect Radiance Multi Mineral Skin Lightening Compact and Lakmé Fruit Blast face cleansers (or face washes).

Lakmé Perfect Radiance Multi Mineral Skin Lightening Compact

Radiance is the new buzzword in makeup. Women today want makeup to give them a healthy glow rather than a matte look. And Lakmé’s Perfect Radiance Multi Mineral Skin Lightening Compact promises to give women just that. A recent addition to the Perfect Radiance range (which already includes foundation, cream and facewash), the compact is available in six shades. The shades have been especially developed for Indian skin tones by leading makeup expert Cory Walia.

The compact contains Vitamin B3 to lighten skin tone and reduce intensity of blemishes. What’s more, it has SPF 20 to protect skin from UVA and UVB rays.

Price: Rs 150

Lakmé Fruit Blast Face Cleansers

Strawberries, watermelons, mandarins, raspberries… yum! Much as I’d be tempted to eat these, the new Lakmé face cleansers are not meant to be eaten, but applied, lathered, and washed away. The face washes contain anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids (found in berries) and AHAs (found in citrus fruits).

The face cleansers are for a range of purposes, based on their ingredients. So the Lakmé Melon Melt Fruit Quench face wash with watermelon and muskmelon will deep cleanse, refresh and rehydrate your skin; while the Lakmé Berry Lush Fruit Energizing face wash with strawberries and raspberries will exfoliate and keep your skin soft and smooth.

Price: Rs 70 onwards for 50 gm tubes.

In Beauty

Chic wedding makeup: Mesmerising Metallic

Speaking ChicNovember 20, 20101 Comment

If you’re going to a wedding this winter, your sari, lehenga or kurta-churidar is most likely to be embroidered in gold. After all, zardosi, gota embroideries and everything gold is in vogue this season.

And the best makeup to complement Indian wear this season is to metallic. We show you how in Speaking Chic’s Mesmerising Metallic makeup guide:

Face

If you can carry off a bronzer on your skin, then bring it on. Or stay safe with your oft-used blush.

Eyes

Play up the metallic tones with the right eye makeup. Here’s how:

Sweep metallic eye shadow over your eyelid. (Check out Lancome’s Sensational Effects Eye Shadow in Pose).
Or, if you want to add more colour, cover your upper eyelid in a colour that matches your outfit (pink, purple or green). Then add a dot of golden/ metallic eye shadow/ shimmer on the inner corners of your eyes.

Lips

Avoid pinks and purples; instead use an earthy lip colour and add a touch of gold (lip gloss or shimmer) only to the centre of your lips. (Try Avon lipsticks in metallic shades.)

Hair

Moms are bound to have lovely hair ornaments (like maang tikkas) they hardly wore. Borrow a gold-themed one for the wedding, while minimising other accessories (you don’t want to overdo the bling, right?).

Check your makeup in the mirror once, smile, and you’re set for the wedding. 🙂

Are you ready to go metallic for the next wedding?

In Beauty

Fashion News: Elle 18 is back with Color Bombs!

Speaking ChicNovember 17, 2010Leave a comment

Remember Elle 18? The cool makeup brand with funky ads and great colours we bought years ago after a boring college lecture? The brand disappeared a while ago, but they’re back now with new explosive colours (and names) for eyes, lips and nails.

Their makeup products:

No. 14 Nail Pop (nail polish); Color Burst (lipstick) in Baked Peach; Lip Smoothie (lip gloss) in Melon Flame

Kajal; Purple Pataka Eye Sparkler (eye crayon); Black Out! Liner

The products come with very affordable price tags, ideal for cash-strapped college students (nail pops for Rs 45, lip smoothies for Rs 85). And any makeup junkie would love to have fun with the colours. I have my eye on some nail pops (No. 16 and 24) and eye sparklers (Grey Gun Powder).

Have you tried Elle 18 makeup? Share your reviews!