Chic Reviews: Beauty buys of the season

Chic Reviews: Beauty buys of the season

This summer I tried on several new skin care products. Liked some, didn’t think much of some, and fell in love with a couple of them. Here is my take on the products I tried. Would love to know what you think of them.

Sun care

Nivea Sun Light_Feeling_Face_Fluid
Nivea Sun Light Feeling Fluid SPF 50+
This sun screen fluid is Nivea’s attempt to stand out from other sun care products. For one, it’s really a fluid- the milky texture surprised me, and so did the saffrony tinge. The flowy liquid is easy to apply, and performs its job well (sun protection), though I found it a bit greasy initially. Also the price (Rs 449 for just 50 ml) is a bit steep.

Chic Score: 3.5/5

neutrogena-ultra-sheer-dry-touch-sunblock-spf-50-88-ml

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+
What can I say about Neutrogena?  The brand almost never disappoints, and this product lived up to its promise as well. The light fragrance and the equally light feel is just what I needed for summer. It has now replaced my Kiehl’s sun screen, which was four times the price! I use it on my face and rest of the body as well when I step out or go swimming.

Chic Score: 4/5

Face care

Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion

Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion
I asked my friend to buy me this cream from the Sephora store in Delhi on a whim. All I had heard about Burt’s Bees was that the products were derived from natural ingredients. This cream is an excellent facial moisturiser for my dry skin, and I love the non-sticky feel. This cream has quickly made it to my top favourites list.

Chic Score: 4.5/5

NIVEA-Pure Effect-Total Face Clean Up

Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Cleanup
Despite the product packaging clearly stating that it’s meant for normal to oily skin, I was intrigued by the multiple uses (cleanser, scrub, pack) and the #just5mins claim. I’ve tried the face wash all three ways, and the product delivers on all its claims, from blackhead remover to visibly clearer skin. Despite my skin type, I just can’t stop using this “face wash”. If only they had a variant for dry skin, I would make it part of my daily routine immediately. (Anyone from Nivea reading this?)

Chic Score: 4/5

Body care

Forest Essentials Cream Vitamin_E
Forest Essentials Velvet Silk Body Cream (Vitamin E)
From the whole bunch of products I bought using a Forest Essentials gift voucher, this is my favourite! I have extremely dry skin, and this lightly aromatic cream is an absolutely rocking moisturiser. I loved the Vitamin E fragrance that lingered on my skin for hours, and the cream kept my body moisturised all day long. Unlike heavy creams, it was easy to glide over my skin. I’ve finished the 200 gram container already and I am very tempted to buy my next one, despite the price. The cream is worth every rupee of Rs 1,175 (MRP)!

Chic Score: 5/5

Makeup

Avon VitaLuscious lipstick

Avon VitaLuscious Lipstick

This affordable lipstick is deeply pigmented, has long-lasting colour (colour stays on even after lunch), and it really does soften my lips. I’m trying the Reviving Red shade, and it’s a lovely maroonish red—perfect for Indian skin tones! The best thing is of course, the price—Rs 329 wonly!

 

Which new skin products have you liked this summer?

Chic Beauty List: Products that took me through winter (from Kiehl’s, Lakme and Nivea)

Chic Beauty List: Products that took me through winter (from Kiehl’s, Lakme and Nivea)

I don’t usually blog about skin care/ beauty products, so this post means I’ve got something substantial and special to write about. 🙂 This winter has been a harsh one for my skin. Mid-December I travelled through some of the coldest places in north India—Delhi, Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Haridwar. Then I came back to Mumbai where it got quite cold and stayed that cold for about a month.

My skin is already on the drier side, so this winter I was geared up for the worst. I tried a number of products and luckily found the right skin care mix for myself pretty quickly. Here goes my list.

Face: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

The product literature dubs this product an “elixir”, and it claims to give you a smoother, more radiant complexion the next morning. Well, that didn’t really happen the next morning, but it did happen couple days later. The colourless serum with a hint of lavender moisturised my skin well, and did a superb job of giving me softer and supple skin. In short, I absolutely LOVED this Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate! I will continue to use it even in summer (it doesn’t make the skin oily).

Rating: 4.5/5

Body: Lakme Fruit Moisture Honey & Avocado Winter Care Lotion

Lakme Honey & Avocado winter care lotion

Unlike other Lakme skin care products, the fragrance is strong but not overpowering. The Honey and Avocado lotion did a great job of keeping my skin moisturised throughout the day, though on some days I needed a re-application by night. Even so, I enjoyed using this lotion and the proof lies in the almost-empty bottle. 🙂

Rating: 3.5/5

Body: Nivea Happy Time Body Lotion

Nivea Happy Time Body Lotion

The trusted Nivea’s relatively new product “repairs dryness” and gives a “feel-good sensation”. Does it live up to its two major claims? Yep. Besides, the mild orange flower fragrance is lovely and I find my skin soft and moisturised even 12 hours after application. I could have done with a larger bottle of the product!

Rating: 4/5

Note: These products were provided by the brands’ PR agencies for consideration. But this post is based entirely on my experience with the products.

Chic Beauty Launches: Lancôme Rénergie Yeux, Nivea pure & natural lip care, Dermalogica booster

Speaking Chic’s guide to the latest beauty products for specific skin care concerns

For aging and dull under eye area

Lancôme Rénergie Yeux

Lancome Renergie Yeux

This double-formula eye care solution promises to minimise and prevent wrinkles around the eyes and promote firmer skin tone. The cream reduces fine lines and wrinkles, firms the eye contour, lifts the eye lids and helps fade dark circles. The volumetric lifting cream (to be applied second) provides illuminating protective care.

Price: Rs 4,200

We recommend: For our hardworking moms and aunts!

For chapped and sensitive lips

Nivea pure & natural

Nivea pure & natural lip care Camomile & Calendula Nivea pure & natural lip care Olive_Lemon

Nivea’s new pure & natural lip care products are preservative-free and contain certified organic shea butter and jojoba oil that moisturise lips. Available in two variants, the products contain natural ingredients like olive oil, calendula and camomile. Nivea Olive & Lemon protects dry lips, while Nivea Camomile & Calendula soothe sensitive lips.

Price: Rs 159 each

We recommend: For those who want luscious lips the natural way (that’s all of us, right?).

For dull, uneven skin

Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster

Dermalogica skin renewal booster

This product adds oomph to your skin care routine with its blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids in soothing hibiscus flower extract. The booster exfoliates dead skin cells, enhances cell renewal and improves texture. You can use the booster by itself or mix it with your moisturiser.

We recommend: For dull, dry, aging, pigmented and acne-prone skin

Which of these products makes it to your wishlist?

Chic Beauty Launches: Lancôme Rénergie Yeux, Nivea pure & natural lip care, Dermalogica booster

Speaking Chic’s guide to the latest beauty products for specific skin care concerns

For aging and dull under eye area

Lancôme Rénergie Yeux

Lancome Renergie Yeux

This double-formula eye care solution promises to minimise and prevent wrinkles around the eyes and promote firmer skin tone. The cream reduces fine lines and wrinkles, firms the eye contour, lifts the eye lids and helps fade dark circles. The volumetric lifting cream (to be applied second) provides illuminating protective care.

Price: Rs 4,200

We recommend: For our hardworking moms and aunts!

For chapped and sensitive lips

Nivea pure & natural

Nivea pure & natural lip care Camomile & Calendula Nivea pure & natural lip care Olive_Lemon

Nivea’s new pure & natural lip care products are preservative-free and contain certified organic shea butter and jojoba oil that moisturise lips. Available in two variants, the products contain natural ingredients like olive oil, calendula and camomile. Nivea Olive & Lemon protects dry lips, while Nivea Camomile & Calendula soothe sensitive lips.

Price: Rs 159 each

We recommend: For those who want luscious lips the natural way (that’s all of us, right?).

For dull, uneven skin

Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster

Dermalogica skin renewal booster

This product adds oomph to your skin care routine with its blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids in soothing hibiscus flower extract. The booster exfoliates dead skin cells, enhances cell renewal and improves texture. You can use the booster by itself or mix it with your moisturiser.

We recommend: For dull, dry, aging, pigmented and acne-prone skin

Which of these products makes it to your wishlist?