If you follow me on Instagram, you'd know how much I love bold lips, especially reds and wines. I think red lipsticks do for me what high heels do for some women- they can be such a confidence booster! Five years back, I couldn't have imagined wearing anything that caused people to notice me. Even until I graduated, I always reached for my peaches and nudes without a second thought. There was also the fear of "will my friends laugh at me?" or "will my mom think I'm growing up too fast?" But I eventually got over all that and realised life's too short to not do everything that terrifies you.

Anyway, all I am REALLY saying is: red lips are easier to pull off than you may think. Contrary to popular belief, they are not intimidating, or loud, or attention-seeking. Being an ex-introvert, I want to tell you that if you've consciously stayed away from red lipsticks all this while--it's time to loosen up. 

If you're JUST starting out, I'd suggest you go for deeper shades instead of bright ones. I am no expert and speak purely from experience, deeper reds kind of eased me into the tricky world of rouge pouts.

Darker tones of red are definitely easier to pull off as they are more subtle and you'll be a little less self-conscious. Plus, they tend to suit most skin tones. I also prefer creamy to matte finishes instead of glossy reds for the very same reason.

I don't like to spend too much money on beauty products because:
- I know how easily I get bored of them
- I am too lazy to put on anything except eyeliner on most days
- I know they'll expire before I've used even half the quantity

So coming to my next point...here are five reliable red lipsticks that always make me feel fabulous and don't cost a bomb:

#1. Inglot Lipstick shade no. 126

This was my very first red lipstick and a lot of credit goes to this one for giving me a great start. I love its subtle finish and the sweet-but-sexy candy fragrance. Definitely try it out when you visit an Inglot store next!

Finish: Semi Matte
Price:  INR 1200 

Buy here

#2. Colorbar Take Me As I am Lip Crayon in Sensuous Red

Colorbar is one of my favourite beauty brands and I've used this particular crayon in three different shades. The formula is bang-on: it gives you a lovely matte finish without drying your lips. A single swipe gives full coverage. The only drawback: I had to sharpen it more often than I had anticipated. Nonetheless, it remains one of my go-to lipsticks to feel glamourous in a jiffy.

Price: INR 900
Buy here

#3. Revlon Ultra HD Matte in Passion

A post shared by Mahima | Sequins and Sangria (@whimsytales) on Jun 28, 2016 at 9:10pm PDT

Finish: Velvet-Matte
Price: INR 1195
Buy here

#4. Nykaa Paintstix in Rebellious Red

Count on Nykaa to launch great quality products at affordable prices almost every week! I particularly love the paintstix because it's a simple, no-fuss lipstick range that does what it promises and comes in  the most gorgeous shades.

Finish: Soft matte

Price: INR 425
Buy here

#5. Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Lip Color in Drenched Red

Simply put, this one feels like a layer of silk on the lips! It comes with the goodness of argan oil along with a long-stay, creamy velvet finish that easily survives a meal or two. I personally prefer a matte finish in all my lipsticks but this one's got a slight shimmer that I don't mind. In fact, it's quite a handy product to instantly brighten up your face and make you feel dressed up. The sticky formula makes sure that there's little-to-no smudging. Psst, I also dab it on my cheeks a little when I'm getting late and can't find my rouge...I'm just a lazy girl who's #winningAtLyf.

Finish: Sheer, glossy
Price: INR 750

Buy here

I honestly believe making red lipsticks work in your favour is mostly about three things:

- being comfortable in your skin

- finding the right shade + formula

- not caring too much. 

Hope this post helps you find the right one for yourself, because you'll {eventually} get the other two points sorted.

See you in the next post.

x

I love beauty products that make me feel like a pro at make-up. These brilliant products do all the work and I get to take all the credit for the flawless beauty looks. My latest find, Oriflame's new Giordani Gold Longwear Mineral Foundation, has found a spot on my dresser for the very same reason. Before this one, I was always very anti-foundations and assumed that they demand a lot of work and blending, and cannot work without a proper primer base. I also observed that foundations made me sweat a lot more than usual, and some just made me look terribly caked up. And so, to keep my make-up routine simple, I always preferred BB creams.

Winters can be a nightmare for the skin, especially if you have dry skin. And even though dryness isn't a concern in my case, there's a need to reapply creams throughout the day which frankly, just doesn't work for a lazy bum like me. So the entire season becomes about hit and trial of moisturisers to find one that can actually keep the skin hydrated for long and I end up with stacks of lotions and body butters on my bedside table. The latest launch from ST. D'VENCÉ however, is a BIG problem-solver in this respect. 

I have been using Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Lip Color (in Drenched Red) since a month now and simply put, it feels like a layer of silk on the lips! But that's not the only reason you should invest in it. The much talked-about range comes with the goodness of argan oil (referred to as liquid gold in the world of beauty) along with a long-stay, creamy velvet finish that easily survives a meal or two.

It doubles as lip balm/ lip moisturiser because of argan oil's natural and intense hydrating properties. I personally prefer a matte finish in my red lipsticks but this one's got a slight shimmery finish that I am not minding. In fact, it's quite a handy product to instantly brighten up your face and is perfect for evening wear. The lipstick is highly pigmented and just two swipes will give you full opaque coverage. The sticky formula makes sure that there's little to no smudging. It's got a strong, sweet, vanilla-ish scent which can be a little annoying for the first 5 minutes of application but it isn't very prominent after that.

They've got some lovely colours, 15 shades in all, and I personally like the reds and the wines. The shade Drenched Red isn't the kind of red that I usually prefer (I like deeper reds, they work better for my complexion) but this one's got a lovely coral undertone which was exciting for me to try. However, I do feel that this particular shade would be a better choice for fairer complexions. I can definitely vouch for the formula but choose the colour wisely.

If you are someone who prefers all natural {and affordable} products for your skin, Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic is your answer. I have tried quite a few products from the brand and have always had a good experience. This month, I tried three very popular products from BKAM: Reviving Oxy pack, a light, detoxifying face pack with almost water like consistency; Nourishing Hand Cream, with a non-greasy yet hydrating formula and Hair Revitalising Serum to avoid dry scalp in winters. 

Revlon launched its Ultra HD Matte Lip Color is 8 gorgeous high definition shades a while back and since then has every cosmetic junkie's attention- mainly because of its unique velvet texture and finish. Despite being a liquid (although, it's not very runny), the lip color doesn't feel sticky or heavy on the lips. I have been wearing HD Passion to work since the last two weeks and have realised that even though, it's a bold, deep red, but it isn't loud or intimidating for daily wear. It is definitely my favourite among all the available shades.

HD Passion has a sweet candy-like scent which initially felt too strong but gradually, I got accustomed to it. The best thing about the lip colour is that it is strongly pigmented- a single swipe across your lips gives full coverage and leaves no cracks at all, which brings me to the second best thing about it- the formula is super creamy, spreads easily while moisturising your lips. It lasts up to a good 5 hours without reapplication and even as it fades, it doesn't leave those annoying patches like most matte lipsticks do- it just lightens. 

Coming to the packaging, the sleek transparent bottle is fun and convenient to carry around. The soft brush applicator is easy to use and the fine tip gives you good control over the colour strokes.

All in all, it's a great product and I have been using it almost everyday. I would recommend it as a hydrating, non-glossy lip colour but it definitely didn't pass off as matte for me. Have a quick look at the pros and cons to decide if it's worth your money:

I'm still waiting for Delhi winters- the kind that makes it impossible to leave your beloved bed, the winters that make you fear the shower, when you thank god every time you see the sun. While they are pleasant and hold a special place in every Delhiite's heart, they are ruthless to the skin. So stock up your beauty bag with the winter essentials and prevent the damage.

After adding Organic Harvest's Moisturising Lotion to my daily routine, I've recently fallen in love with the new range of fruity lip balms. They come in four variants: Shea Butter, Green Apple, Pomegranate and Strawberry. I ordered the first three, I am not a fan of strawberry fragrances in general. After using them for two weeks, here's the low down:

The texture of the lip balms is the right amount of greasy without feeling to heavy on the lips. Each one comes with a special quality- the Shea Butter variant {with jojoba oil} that primarily focuses on moisturising, is undoubtedly my favourite one- owing to it's super mild fragrance. The Green Apple version comes with peppermint oil, vitamin E and antioxidants. Pomegranate has the sweetest fragrance of all and focuses on keeping the dead skin away. So you can choose as per your lips' needs.

No beeswax, all organic ingredients

Reasonable price

Long expiry- 2 years

Little need of re application

Convenient {and pretty} packaging

NONE! This is a great winter buy.

Price: Rs. 149   |   Buy here

Winter is here! This is the time of the year when I hoard moisturisers and body creams- not because I care about my skin too much, but because all these winter products smell fabulous and I like to have a choice. 

The newest addition to my beauty table is Organic Harvest's Body Lotion with Tamarind Seeds extracts. This review is based on my usage of the product regularly for the past two weeks. The weather has seen quite a bit of a transition during this time so I can tell you how well the product works in mild as well as the extreme winter conditions. Let's get started!

The body lotion has all natural moisturising agents. Tamarind seed extracts are known to improve skin elasticity, smoothness  and are increasingly being used in many skin and facial products. One of the biggest plus point of the product is definitely its all natural ingredients.

The consistency of the lotion is not super runny or too annoyingly thick. It spreads easily and evenly. I used it on the face too sometimes though it clearly says 'body lotion' and loved it, I am a rebel like that. The feel of the skin is great, it definitely leaves the skin smooth, rejuvenated and soft. Now the question is- for how long?

To sum it up

Pros

- Organic, all natural ingredients
- Leaves the skin soft and supple
- Fresh fragrance
- Sensible packaging
- Make up friendly
- Moisuturises without leaving the skin greasy

Cons

- Price is a wee bit high
- Not too effective in extreme winters or for very dry skin

Price: Rs. 695 for 100ml | Buy here

What would you like to tell your teenage self, if you could? Those six years were a roller coaster and I've come a long way since then. There were more lows than there were highs, there were too many {unimportant} things to care about. Insecurities had just begun to settle in and the littlest of blows would make me question myself. If I could, I would tell my teenage self that she is beautiful. Clean and Clear is here with a campaign to let teenagers know just that.

Ready Face by Clean and Clear

Clean and Clear is here with a campaign to empower girls and help them fight the teenage skin problems with the Ready Face ritual and carry own with their daily activities with more confidence. Teenage is such a confusing time, your own emotions tend to take a toll on you. Your physical appearance suddenly takes the center stage and people around you don't seem to see beyond that- because well, they are teenagers too. What absolutely does NOT help are the uninvited pimples. In my experience, pimples appear at the most godforsaken times- first dates, family weddings, school trips, vacations and other HIGHLY important events in teenage life. I have an extremely oily skin, which was of course even worse back in my teens. The Ready Face campaign by Clean and clear aims at removing any trace of self-doubt or anxiety related to physical appearance in teenagers.

I think it's an excellent step- teenagers can use all the motivation that they can get. What the campaign is trying to do is encourage and help teenagers take better care of their skin by developing a personal regime and sticking to it. The only product you'll need for the regime is the new foaming face wash. The campaign is all about getting your face ready to face the world with more confidence, while feeling good about yourself. Since teenagers are already dealing with so much {yes, heartbreaks included}, Clean and Clear promises to take care of the pimples and the oiliness- that's one less problem to deal with! I am supporting the campaign and consider this my way of telling it to you guys. Read on as I have a few things to say about the product as well.

Product Review:

One thing I don't like about face washes is how dry they leave your face initially. That's however not the case with Clean and Clear foaming facewash! It doesn't take away the natural moisture of the skin. It actually keeps the oil away for a good 8 hours! Another great thing about the face wash is that it’s very make up –friendly- it helps retaining the make up for a longer period of time. The simple logic being- it keeps the oil away and keeps the make-up from smudging.

Two of my friends have also been using it, here's what they have to say:

Vrinda:

"I have been using the facewash since the last 3 weeks and I am quite happy with it. My routine is super hectic and I am out and about in the pollution all day. I use it twice a day, it helps keep the oil in control and the outbreak of pimples has also reduced!"

"I have always had a very sensitive skin and have to be extremely careful about what facial products I use. Clean and Clear foaming face wash is very gentle to the skin and it reflects in the soft feel."

Price: Rs. 99 for 100ml

Buy here.

I am probably the laziest person when it comes to following beauty regimes! While it's exciting to try new products, I find it really hard to stick to a routine. But the CTM box sent over by Ananda was an exception! The cleanser, toner and moisturiser have a pleasant herbal aroma that takes me to a mountain forest every time I open the lids. I have been using the products for the last two weeks and I am loving the change on my face! The products soothe and calm the skin tissues within minutes of application, which results in a more radiant skin. The entire routine takes less than 5 minutes- I follow it either in the morning or at night, as per my own convenience.

Ananda Spa in The Himalayas, a well-loved spa destination near Rishikesh believes in the power of Ayurveda and swears by natural healing techniques. The best organic herbs are picked to create the products which leave the skin happy and hydrated. I have an extremely oily skin and these three products are tailor-made to suit my skin:

-Nourishes and protects. 

-Removes pollutant build up. 

-Removes blemish-causing bacteria. 

-Stimulates regeneration of skin cells.

Calming Toner {wild rose}

Light Moisturiser {juniper & holy basil}

Price: Rs. 1350 | Buy here

I stay away from cream-based formulas for the skin because of it's extremely oily nature. No matter what I use, creams and moisturisers always seem to trigger an oily layer on my face that is not pleasant at all. What I loved about Ananda's Light moisturiser is that it is absorbed by the skin so quickly that there is no scope for an oil build up. It is deeply hydrating yet the skin feels normally dry on the surface after application. Finally got my hands on a non-greasy moisturiser- what a win!

My fascination with makeup is pretty new and right now, I only splurge on lipsticks! But all that is going to change- London based beauty brand Makeup Revolution is now available on Jabong. Think good quality make up products that is not too harsh on the pocket and spoils you for choices. I attended a recent meet at Jabong's Gurgaon office that helped me get a fair amount of idea behind the formulation, pricing and quality of the products. 

The palettes are customized for Indian skin tones and preferences. While the brand has always kept the colours subtle and the tones super-earthy in the products, they've acknowledged that we Indians love to play with colours. Neon eyeshadows, anyone? You can check out and/or buy the products here.

Price: Body Sorbet, INR 795 for 200ml ; Vitamin E Aqua boost, INR 1195 for 50ml