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)
