Maybelline Clear Glow BB Stick Review


BB creams are quite a rage in India at the moment. After my tryst with Maybelline BB Cream Review, I was quite excited to try out the new BB stick from their range. Read on my review to know if I liked it better than the cream version or not.




PRICE: Rs. 250

QUANTITY: 10g

INGREDIENTS:



WHAT IT CLAIMS: 
  • Mineral clay formula guarantees 12hr shine control.
  • Contains Salicylic acid to manage combination & oily skin.
  • Provides a soft, matte and radiant finish.
  • Sweat-resistant and sebum - resistant formula leaves skin fresh all day.
  • Hides appearance of pores & imperfection.
  • Contains SPF 21/PA+++ that protects skin from sun damage.
  • Instantly evens skin tone.
  • Provides a power-light feel on skin.

SWATCH: 


MY EXPERIENCE: Maybelline Clear Glow BB Stick comes in a compact twist stick packaging. The stick seems dry, but on application there isn't any kind of dryness and it feels like wet compact powder, that settles to give a powdery finish (the light feel, matte finish as per the claims ;) ). 

I got the shade Fawn, which is a little darker for my skintone and looks muddy on my face and makes me look sick if I layer it up on its own. Hence, I start with my moisturiser with SPF that gives me a whitish cast and then apply a single layer of the BB stick which balances and evens out my skintone.

On my face (Ok get ready for some grossness, :P)

Left: Bare face                                                    Right: 1-2 layers of BB Stick

It covers redness, as seen in the pic above.  And works great to even out the slight dark circles I have. But it doesn't give much coverage on spots/acne and layering it up makes my face look ashy. It doesn't melt off easily, however it does come off a little with sweat. The price tag is okay considering the quantity, only if they launch some shades between the two available (Radiance 02 and Fawn 04, how about the 03 one??). 

WHAT I LIKED:
  • Light feel, easily blendable consistency.
  • Gives a semi matte, powdery finish.
  • Evens out redness and dark circles very well.
  • Keeps face shine free for 3-4 hours easily even in this hot weather.
  • I quite like the stick packaging.  
  • Priced reasonably for the quantity. 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
  • Limited shades selection. 
  • Doesn't cover blemishes/spots.
  • This particular shade looks dark and ashy on my skintone if I layer it up.

VERDICT: I think this definitely works better than the cream version, only if they come with more shade options, I would definitely like to re-buy. Have you tried the Maybelline Clear Glow BB Stick? Share your views.

RATINGS:  4 out of 5

**Product sent by PR for consideration but it doesn't influence my honest opinion! Read my disclaimer.

PR Info: NIVEA launches Two New Shower Gels WaterLily and PowerFruit



NIVEA India Pvt. Ltd, an affiliate of Beiersdorf AG and the world’s Number 1 Skin care brand introduces two new variants of shower gels to their existing range. The two new variants – ‘Water Lily & Oil’ and ‘Power Fruit Relax’ are enriched with Hydra IQ, which leaves your skin soft and silky. Just in time for the summers, these shower gels not only helps you indulge in your skin needs but also leaves a lasting fragrance.



The 2 new NIVEA Shower Gels for women contains exotic pampering ingredients that leaves skin smooth and   moisturized.   The gel-based   formulas also include stimulating   sophisticated scents, which gently envelop you and arouse your senses.
NIVEA Water Lily and Oil is a silky fresh gel with water lily & caring oil pearls that melt giving out a stimulating   fragrance.   This   sensuous   shower   gel   helps   you rejuvenate   after   every   shower  you take. The unique combination of its fragrance with the touch of pampering oil pearls leaves your skin feeling moisturized and well cared for along with a lingering feminine scent. 

Nivea   Power   Fruit   Relax contains   anti-oxidants with   blueberry extracts that   help   nourish   your skin. This shower gel has a pleasant fruity fragrance of the acai berry that helps soothe your senses. The   fine mixture   of   power   fruit   and   blueberry   gently   cleanses   your   skin feeling   pampered   and revived.
These new variants will definitely give the Indian consumer a choice to experience a spa like feeling in their own shower every day!!

Commenting on the launch,  Mr.Rakshit  Hargave,   Managing Director of NIVEA    India   said, “Shower gels   have been   a   growing   segment   for   NIVEA with   the   transparent   gel   based   packs   for women doing well especially in summers. In keeping with this trend, we have introduced two new transparent shower gels this summer for women. The Indian consumers have selective needs and are   always    on   the lookout    for more    options.   At NIVEA,     we   intend    to cater to these   wide requirements of consumers by providing the biggest range of moisturizing shower gels in India” 

These 2 NIVEA products are available at all major super markets and general stores and are priced at Rs. 175/-.

New Launch by Nivea and Contest Time! :)

****************************************************
How many of you avoid sunscreens due to the heavy feeling it leaves on skin or abhor the white cast it gives. I, for one is guilty of skipping sunscreen most of the times, as almost all the sunscreens I have tried till date feels heavy on my skin, making me feel uncomfortable and sweat profusely, leading to breakouts and what not!

But what about the big, bad Sun causing tan and spots on your skin ?

Seems like NIVEA has listened to our sunscreen woes and is coming up with the new NIVEA SUN Light Feeling Face Sun Fluid with SPF 30 (at Rs.349) & SPF 50 (at Rs.449) and PA++.


Innovative Light Fluid Formula for Face
  • Feels light on the skin  
  • Immediate Sun protection, do not need to wait for 20min  
  • Non- Sticky, Non-greasy  
  • Fast-Absorbing texture that doesn’t leave any residues 
  • Water resistant

Sounds promising right? Now here is some good news. One of the B.B.B readers can win a "Nivea Hamper" (details given below), getting sun protection not just for face but for body too. ;)



What you need to do:
1) Like my FB page.

2)Follow @pooja_g . And tweet " Win  #NIVEA gift hamper and say bye to your sunscreen woes. @pooja_g  http://beautybrainsbrawns.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-launch-by-nivea-and-contest-time.html "

3) Tell one summer skin care tip to keep suntan and spots at bay. The most interesting answer wins the hamper.

Comment below, with your FB profile name, Twitter name, Tweet URL and answer to the question.

Open to Indian residents. All the entries are mandatory. The contest is open till 30th 31st March. All the comments will be published on 31st evening. And the winner will be declared soon thereafter. Remember, the most interesting answer will take away the prize.  So get-set-go! :D


*The prize will be delivered by NIVEA PR team. The blog and blog-owner are not liable for delivery discrepancies.
 *Participants must be 18years age or must have parental consent. You need to provide your address in case you win.


******************CONTEST OVER ********************

TRESemmé Climate Control Conditioner Review


After the not-so-overwhelming results from the TRESemmé Climate Control Shampoo, I wasn't expecting much from the conditioner in this range. But I did try it for the sake of this review and here is what I think of it.


PRICE:  Rs. 128

QUANTITY: 225 ml

INGREDIENTS:


WHAT IT CLAIMS: Enriched with Climate Control Complex formula, this Climate Control Conditioner coats your hair with Proteins that help in fighting against humidity, wind, static and harmful UV Rays. This conditioner also smoothes the hair cuticles by deeply conditioning and moisturizing thus leaving them looking shinier and more vibrant. Suitable for all hair types, this TRESemme Climate Control Conditioner protects your hair from the harmful effects of bad weather. Now, you can style your look by trying different hairstyles without worrying about your hair getting damaged due to bad weather conditions.

MY EXPERIENCE: TRESemmé Climate Control Conditioner comes in a similar flip cap packaging as the shampoo, but in a white bottle. It has got a slight wheatgerm kind of smell which I am not really fond of. 2 - 3 pumps of the conditioner is adequate for my mid back-length hair. It applies easily and doesn't leave any slippery feeling while rinsing it off.


Coming to the results, it worked much better with shampoos other than the one from this range. It makes hair soft and smooth, without weighing it down. As for the frizz control, it does that too, to some extent. My only gripe is that, when I shampoo my hair the next day without using the conditioner, my hair looks more frizzy than it naturally is. Hmph! As for the quantity and the price, I believe its economical. To sum it up,

WHAT I LIKED:
  • Applies and rinses off easily without leaving any slippery/residual feeling. 
  • Makes hair soft and smoothes frizz to a great extent (when tried with other shampoos.)
  • Doesn't weigh down my hair.
  • Effective packaging.
  • Economical for the quantity and price. 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
  • I feel this range worsened my hair condition, esp. the shampoo.
  • Wish it had a better fragrance.

VERDICT: The conditioner is definitely better than the shampoo from the Climate Control range. However, I am not totally swayed by it. Try it at your own discretion. Silly me still wants to try out the Smooth and Shine range from TRESemmé (as I have heard good things about this third range), even though the other two ranges weren't that impressive. What do you suggest? Should I try it?

RATINGS:  4.25 out of 5

PR Info: New Pond’s White Beauty™ Tan Removal Scrub

Everyday the bright hot sun, dirt and sweat play havoc with your skin. Sunscreen, umbrellas or caps are not enough to protect you from the sun. Tanning is the first sign of sun damage.  Can you escape this sun exposure? Not really. Not without letting go of all the important and fun things in your life.  Traveling to work or college, jogging, swimming, sun bathing to relax and de-stress, partying under incandescent lights, social networking on your laptop, photo shoots under halogen bulb - all these lead to tanned lusterless skin.
Pond’s comes to the rescue by bringing you a new revolutionary product that can reverse the effect of daily tanning: Pond’s White Beauty™ Tan Removal Scrub. Now reverse your daily tan and restore fairness! 


Pond’s White Beauty™ Tan Removal Scrub contains a powerful combination of TanSolve™ beads and 50% brightening cream that gently scrub away daily tan while making your skin fairer. Apart from gentle cleansing, these ingredients promote the natural process of cells being shed when they reach the skin surface. The result: bright, radiant and fresh skin.

Light, radiant and fresh skin is a function of two attributes: Gentle Cleansing and Scrub.
New Tan Removal scrub gently cleanses skin to remove excess oil and dead skin cells.  It also scrubs off the tanned top layer of dead skin cells, so that the skin’s natural fairness is revealed. New Pond’s White Beauty™ Tan Removal Scrub gives you a reason to love the sun and at the same time reverse tan and restore fairness.
 
The Formulation: 
The formulation contains TanSolve™ and 50% brightening cream. TanSolve™ beads are particles designed with varying size and shape to provide controlled breakdown, delivering scrub action. Tan removal scrub cleanses thoroughly and gently scrubs away the dead cells and daily tan restoring natural fairness. Hence, it effectively reverses tan and restores fairness. 

Pricing:  Pond’s White Beauty™ Tan Removal Scrub is now available in all leading stores across the country. Available in 50 gms for Rs. 85 and 100 gms for Rs. 150 

PR Info: LAKMÉ CLEAN-UP Nourishing Glow range

Lakmé, India’s iconic beauty brand is about to re-invent itself. Innovating continuously and adding new products to its repertoire across cosmetics, salon services and skin care, this summer Lakmé will be seen in a whole new avatar. Designed by experts, Lakmé Clean-Up Nourishing Glow range is the new easy-to-use professional clean-up range to give you salon-like glowing skin every day.
Your skin is exposed to dust, smoke and pollution daily, Sweat and dirt along with sebum and dead skin cells cause whiteheads, blackheads . These multiple attacks on your skin leaves it looking dry, dull and lifeless. 



A salon clean-up ensures bright, fresh and completely transformed looking skin by removing dirt, pollutants and impurities from the epidermis. Now with the help of the new Lakmé Clean-Up Nourishing Glow range you can get that salon-like ‘deep cleansing’ for soft and radiant skin. This simple regime helps you restore your skin’s glow and maintains its health.
Created by Lakmé, this easy to use professional clean-up range comes with three unique new formulations:  a face wash, a scrub and a mask. Enriched with strawberry extracts, the face wash cleanses all visible dirt, the scrub exfoliates dead cells and the mask nourishes the skin. Just like a salon clean-up!

Expert’s Speak  For a deep cleansing experience,  just a face wash is  not enough.  You need a complete three-step clean-up ritual to get soft and glowing skin” - Daniel Bauer, Lakmé Expert
 
Lakmé Nourishing Glow Ritual:
A Professional weekly regime for salon-like clean up

Step 1:  FACE WASH                            
Cleanse your face with Lakmé Clean-Up Nourishing Glow Face Wash.This facewash removes visible dirt, excess sebum and impurities preparing your skin for a deep cleansing experience.It contains strawberry, glycerine and microcrystalline wax beads.
• Squeeze a coin sized amount on your palms and lather up     with lukewarm water.
• Gently massage your wet face for 30-60 seconds
• Rinse with lukewarm water
• Use it at least twice a day for clean, soft and radiant skin


Available in 25gm, 50gm and 100gm for Rs. 40, Rs. 80 and Rs 145 respectively



Step 2: SCRUB           
Scrub your face and neck with Lakmé Clean-Up Nourishing Glow Scrub. This scrub unclogs pores, removes blackheads and other deep seated impurities. Enriched with 100% natural exfoliants like walnut & apricot extracts and corn meal along with strawberry extracts, it sloughs off the dead cells to reveal fresh, radiant skin
  •     Squeeze out sufficient amount of to cover your face and neck
  •   Gently massage for 2-3 minutes in circular motion with fingertips, avoiding eye contour
  •   Concentrate around problem areas like nose, chin and forehead
  •   Rinse thoroughly and pat dry
  •   Use it once or twice a week, as required to get deeply clean and smooth skin 

 Available in 50gm and 100gm at Rs. 99 and Rs.199 respectively

 Step 3: MASK
Nourish your face with a generous amount of Lakmé Clean-Up Nourishing Glow Mask as it deposits nourishing nutrients. The absorbing power of clay, the strawberry extracts  and Vitamin B3 present in the mask helps reduce pore size, seal in the nourishment and lighten skin tone respectively.

• Apply the mask generously all over your face and neck in a thin film. Avoid the eye contour.
• Allow it to dry for 5 to 7 minutes. Dab it with water to soften it and gently rinse off
• Use it once a week, to get salon-like healthy glowing skin
· 
 Available in 50gm and 100gm at Rs. 99 and Rs.199 respectively

PR Info: NIVEA introduces New Lipcare variant - Soft Rose


They say “Rose” is a woman’s best friend. This summer, NIVEA, the World’s No. 1 Lipcare brand brings you NIVEA Soft Rose Lipcare in its Colors & Shine portfolio. NIVEA Soft Rose Lipcare is enriched with nourishing Shea Butter and long-lasting moisture that gives your lips a velvety soft feeling and makes them as smooth as rose petals. It also highlights the natural rosiness of your lips and provides a delicate scent of roses.



Also as your lips are the most delicate part of your skin they are also prone to sun damage.  NIVEA understands your skin, and therefore, NIVEA Soft Rose Lipcare carries Sun Protection Factor 10 (SPF 10), implying sun protection for upto 3 hours with every application. Now that’s true friendship!

NIVEA Soft Rose Lipcare is priced at Rs.129 inclusive of all taxes, and is available at a store near you.

Online Shopping at India Circus and My Experience


No I won't say I am back, coz I was never gone :P and I am not sure whether I am going to stay ;). Do I sound weird? :P

Ah...uhmm... okay, I better stop my rant here and let you know about a new online shopping destination India Circus where you can get quirky stuffs, from home decorating items to personal accessories, designed by Krsna Mehta, well known designer for brands like The Elephant Company, The Bombay Store, Good Earth, Zeba, Godrej and Metro.



ABOUT: India Circus Retail Pvt. Ltd. offers contemporary-chic, sophisticated, and affordable style for various areas of your life, from home decor to personal accessories. With an All-Indian palette, we draw our inspiration from both Mughal Royalty as well as road-side chai. We offer a diverse and distinct array of moods and tones, which we feel represents India.

India Circus seeks to curate the essence of life in India, and transcribe this loud and colorful experience into contemporary and sophisticated style. From luminescent lamps to totes a la mode, we have a lot to offer for various corners of your life!

The vibrancy of the colors combined with the nuanced heritage of the designs makes each piece created at India Circus exceptional. All of our creations offer sophistication with a dash of 'Indian-ness,' without draining your wallets.

MY EXPERIENCE: On my first visit to the site, I was quite overwhelmed with the vibrant colors and designs, and all that art, on regular items and accessories that we use everyday.


I liked this cute chirpy bird design, sipper bottle and placed my order for one. I placed my order on 12th March. Got a call next day from their CS team for confirmation of my order, and it got delivered on 18th March, i.e. within 6 days! :)


It came in a huge polythene pack. And the product was safely bubble-wrapped. 

Here are some pictures of what I got. 





They charge a shipping fee of Rs.59 on orders below Rs.599 and COD is free in India. And some more good news, they provide International shipping too. :D

So my international readers (as well as my Indian readers) if you want to add some Indian-ness to your home decor then do check out India Circus.

** PR provided discount credits, but it doesn't influence my honest opinion! Read my disclaimer.

A small makeup haul :)


Yay! Finally hauled for some makeup products (albeit only 4 products) after so many days :P! I did shop in between too, but it was again some skincare and hair care items, that I didn't bother to share. ;)

Got these stuff from MedplusBeauty. Sneak peek below,


What did I get?

  • Lakme Absolute Bi Phased Makeup Remover
  • Maybelline Hyper Glossy Liquid Liner  
  • Lakme EyeConic Curling Mascara 
  • Faces Velvet Kohl Noir Intense  
  • Enliven Natural Fruit Extracts Raspberry & Redapple Shampoo (Free! Free! Free! :P)

On some other news, you must have heard that Urban Touch closed their shop (heard they merged with Fashion & You!). Since the competition is going down, MedplusBeauty became the big, bad daddy of online shopping, and have increased their minimum purchase amount to Rs.600 to avail free shipping and imposing a COD charge of Rs.50 on all orders. Boohoo! :(

Did you haul recently? What did you get?

Sunday Peek: Of Pretty Things


Oohhh Sunday is here! :D Just as you sip on your morning tea/coffee, take a peek on today's featured newbie blogger, JC (Jeevitha Cyril) author at Of Pretty Things. :)



Let's hear to JC and get to know more about her,

"
I am a Software Developer by day and a beauty blogger by night (and weekends).

I am from Bangalore and I write about things I love! I fell in love with makeup when I was a little girl and came to know that colors can be applied on faces. But I gathered up the metaphorical quill to blog about it all only a few months back. I love experimenting with products and ideas and love to share my experiences.


Come say 'Hi' to me on twitter or Facebook or mail me at me.ofprettythings@gmail.com. Oh yeah. I Instagram weird things. Do check that out too. ;)  "

I like the way you write JC, keep up the good work. And my dear readers, do visit Of Pretty Things for some great reads.

Do you want to get featured on B.B.B too? Then send me your entry. Click here for more details

PR Info: Women's Day Celebrations with Lotus Herbals


Tomorrow is International Women's Day. To celebrate womanhood, Lotus Herbals would be running exclusive Facebook offers for their fans where you will get exciting discounts on the entire Lotus Herbals Range. 



The offer would be available for Women’s Day only. All you need to do is to claim the Facebook offer, take the coupon code from your email, add items to the cart and enter the code just before making the purchase and enjoy the discount.


So what are you planning to get? ;)


Maybelline Super Stay 14 hour Lipstick - Shade Eternal Rose Review


A lipstick that stays on and on? No touch up for 14 hours? Isn't that what every makeup loving girl craves for? 

Maybelline Super Stay 14 hour lipstick promises to do so and much more. But does it deliver? Read on my review, in shade Eternal Rose, to know more.


PRICE:  Rs.525

QUANTITY: 3.3g

WHAT IT CLAIMS:

• 14 hour long lasting lipstick with an ultra-lightweight formula
• Stays fresh, light, and comfortable
• Super rich lip color that lasts for 14 hours
• Pigments are enveloped in a long wearing system
• 16 smudge free lipstick shades 


SWATCH:


Left: Hand swatch in daylight; Right: Top: Daylight; Bottom: Flash; with lipbalm beneath

MY EXPERIENCE: Maybelline Super Stay 14 hour Lipstick comes in a chubby little tube, which looks very teenager-ish. The bullet head is a bit slimmer than most lipsticks, which is a "pro" for me, as I have a really small pout. :P It has got a bubblegum smell, which doesn't persist after application. Now the most important part, you need to prep up your lips (scrub and/or moisturise) properly before applying the lipstick. Otherwise it feels very drying, doesn't apply smoothly and appears flaky on lips. So a lip balm beneath is a must, which also makes the color pop up beautifully. 



It feels a bit sticky on application (the reason for the long staying power ;) ), which subsides with time. The shade Eternal Rose is a pretty red based pink, the kind of shade that lights up your face. It gives full coverage in one swipe, and you can build up the color, and layering also extends the staying power. On an average it stays for 4 - 5 hours on my lips and survives through meals. Though it transfers on objects, it doesn't get rubbed off easily and requires a good cleanser to remove it. Did I miss any point?

WHAT I LIKED:
  • A true matte, long staying lipstick.
  • The shade Eternal Rose is a pretty red based pink shade.
  • Survives through meals, and easily stays for 4 - 5 hours with eating in between.
  • Bubblegum candy like smell, but it isn't OTT.
  • Gives full coverage in one swipe.
  • Available in 16 pretty shades. 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
  • Turn lips flaky and dry, if applied without a lip balm beneath.
  • Price is a bit high, considering its from a pocket friendly brand like Maybelline.
  • A little sticky initially, and takes some effort to get removed properly. 
  • The 14hr claim is a bit tall and unreal.  

VERDICT: This gives the perfect "rosy lips" when I apply a subtle layer on top of lip balm and it has become my everyday go to lipstick. A truely matte, long staying lipstick is here girls. Let me know if you have tried it. 


RATINGS:  4 out of 5

**Product sent by PR for consideration but it doesn't influence my honest opinion! Read my disclaimer.