Fantasy Collection

In 2011, Beauty, makeup, trends

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 3)

Speaking ChicMarch 31, 2011Leave a comment

In part 2 of our Lakme Fantasy Collection Review, we wrote about the face products. In the third and final part, we give a roundup of the collection.

Lakme Enrich Satin Lip Colour

Colours: Mostly pinks, peaches and light purples

Price: Rs 225 each (available in 8 shades)

Review:

We tried three shades from the collection, and our favourite was No 131 (pictured above on left) which was a nude pink. I’d recommend this shade as a must-have for ALL Indian women. The lipsticks are what you expect from Lakme—last long but when they start to fade, you need to quickly touch up. All shades work well with our skin.

Verdict: 4/5

Lakme Eye Color Quartet

Colours in the quad: Dewy green, petal pink, gold pastels.

Price: Rs 425

Review:

While the green in this eye shadow palette is lovely, I don’t think so highly of the other shades. The pink reminded me a bit of last season’s purple eye shadow shade. Also, while the shadows are rich in pigment, they could go easier on the shimmer. After all, we we wouldn’t want the nudish shadow to shimmer too much at work. 🙂 Another issue I have faced with Lakme eye shadow quads: the colour “powder square” breaks after a while on its own. But if you intend to use the palette only till the next season, it won’t be a problem for you. On the upside, shadows stay in place for hours and are great for summer parties.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Lakme True Wear Nail Colour

Colours: Pinks, lilac, mauve (six shades available)

Price: Rs 90 each

Review:

I won’t write anything in this review—just show you pictures of their lovely shades. Gorgeous!

Verdict: 4.5/5

Lasting impressions of Lakme Fantasy Collection:

Lakme’s Fantasy Collection gives Indian women the versatility to try a variety of looks over the next few months, and all at an affordable price. I’m glad that Lakme has experimented with new products like the bronzer and multi-purpose eye pencils. Fortunately, most of the products in the collection deliver what they promise. Our two wishes? We would have liked to see orange in their range, as it is a hot colour this summer AND can work with Indian skin tones. Also, after last season’s Gypsy collection, we’ve seen plenty of shimmer and shine, so maybe some matte products would be good too.

Our final words: Good collection with some winning products.

Related Posts:

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 2)

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 1)

In 2011, Beauty, makeup, trends

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 2)

Speaking ChicMarch 30, 20113 Comments

In the first part of our Lakme Fantasy Collection Review, we wrote about the collection’s eye products. In part 2 of the review, we cover the face products: Cheek Artist and Gold dust shimmer bronzer.

Cheek Artist

This is a creamy blush in roll-up stick form that can give a natural blush to all skin tones.

Price: Rs 395 each (available in two shades: Kiss of a Rose and Peach Blush)

Review:

An embarrassing confession: I’ve never used cream blush before, and I’ve never used a peach blush either. So before I used the peach shade, I was a bit sceptical about the colour and application. But my fears were unfounded. I used my fingers to dab a bit of the blush on my cheek and then blended it well. Did it look natural? Yes, and gorgeous! The blush did fade away over 3-4 hours, though not completely. Some women may need to get this right by trial and error.

A makeup artist from Lakme Studio used Kiss of a Rose for me a day later, and that looked great as well. However, she touched it up with a powder blush, saying it would help the cream one stay in place for longer (liked the tip!)

This is another of the handy products from this collection, and it’s definitely easier than carrying around something that requires a brush. However, I’m a bit disappointed with the roll-and-twist mechanism as it stopped working properly after only a couple of times. Lakme can do better in the packaging department.

Verdict: 4/5

Gold Dust Shimmer Bronzer

This is a pressed bronzing powder that you can use on your face or body.

Price: Rs 450 (3 shades available in 1 compact)

Review:

Not too many Indian women have used bronzer as part of their routine or even special occasion makeup for a number of reasons (suitable products not available, aversion to “tanning”, bronzer myths). I was a bronzer virgin as well, till the Lakme Gold Dust Shimmer Bronzer came along.

So I proceeded with caution—using it first as a blush. It looked great, stayed in place and added shimmer to my cheeks, which was just perfect for my Saturday night dinner with friends. Even after several hours, the bronzer/blush stayed in place.

The next day I looked up online tutorials on the correct way to use bronzer, and followed their advice: use a large brush and sweep across forehead, temples, cheeks, nose and chin. What I noticed first was the glitter in the product, then the pigment. I did not use too much of product as bronzers need to be used to the bare minimum. If I had used more, I might have ended up looking “streaked” or too shiny. Frankly, despite checking and re-checking myself in the mirror I wasn’t sure if I looked bronzed enough, though I know the look is supposed to be subtly sun-kissed. I think the problem is that many of us Indians are already a bit sun-kissed. 😉

The subtlety did look nice, though not wow. The effect lasted 3-4 hours, not more, though some shimmer was visible even after that.

Maybe going a bit lighter on the shimmer would have worked better for the Gold Dush Shimmer Bronzer. However, as one of the firsts among Indian cosmetic brands, I give a thumbs-up to the product.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Also read:

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (part 1)

In 2011, Beauty, makeup, trends

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 1)

Speaking ChicMarch 29, 2011Leave a comment

Earlier this month, Lakme launched its new makeup range for summer 2011: the Fantasy Collection. Besides introducing new shades in existing product lines like Enrich Satin lip color (lipsticks), Eye Color quartet (eye shadow palette of four shades) and True Wear nail color (nail polish), there are plenty of new and exciting products:

Cheek Artist (cream blush)
Gold dust shimmer bronzer
All over shimmer gloss
Shadow artist shimmer stick (cream-based eyeliner-cum-shadow)
Fairy dust eye shadow (like an eyeshadow in pen/ stick form)
Fantasy shimmer liner (sparkle eye liner)

The colour palette of this collection ranges from bright tones in green, pink and blue. Gloss and shine are key elements of this product range.

In part 1 of the Lakme Fantasy Collection review, we test some of the eye products.

Shadow Artist Shimmer Stick

These are creamy pencils that you can use in a number of ways: as liner on upper or lower lashes, or you can apply and smudge/ blend, or simply use all over the lid as eye shadow. And as the name suggests, they’ve got glitter!

Price: Rs 350 each (available in four shades)

Review:

I found the pencils easy to use, and I was also able to easily blend the colour. I wore the Green to office and while my colleagues liked it, one of them wished that the green was a deeper shade. I agree with her, as it isn’t always practical to wear such a colour to work or formal events and the darker colour would go well with our skin tone.

Anyways, my thick liner stroke stayed in place from morning to evening and faded just a little. I also turned it into eye shadow, by applying a few solid lines across the lid and then blending with my ring finger. The resultant eye shadow was wonderful—just the right hint of pigment and good dose of shimmer. Of course you can add more layers of colour if you want more colour.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Fantasy Shimmer Liner

The product description claims that it gives you twinkling eyes, and you can line, layer and blend this product without smudging.

Price: Rs 275 each (available in 8 colours).

You know what? Every word in the above-mentioned product description is 100% true. Though the product is in liquid form, it’s got a quick dry formula. So apply it once, blink, and there—it’s in place. And yes, your eyes do seem to twinkle. 🙂

The shimmer liner brush was just right to apply the liner comfortably and I didn’t have a problem applying it even though my hand tends to shake.

I tried Midnight Moon (picture on left), Gold and Pink Crystal—and I loved ALL of them! The’yre great for parties, weddings, shopping and fun! This product has to be on your makeup kit this summer (or rather, this year).

PS: I’d love to try the White in this range. If it’s transparent, I’m buying it!

Verdict: 4.5/5

Coming soon: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 2)