Friday, June 02, 2017

Cruelty free Vegan shampoo | Organic Harvest Daily Shampoo Review and Ingredients Analysis

I purchased this with a curiosity. What surfactant must be used in the formulation? Will this be my Holy Grail Shampoo which is not tested on animals and does not contain animal derived ingredients?
Here is my in-depth analysis on the ingredients. I was excited when I bought this to add to my List of Cruelty free and vegan shampoos.

Organic Harvest claims to use organic and chemical free ingredients. The products made without Parabens, Artifical colourants and animal derived ingredients. The packaging is minimal, almost ordinary.

Cruelty free Vegan shampoo | Organic Harvest Daily Shampoo Review and Ingredient Analysis
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How I use Organic Harvest Daily Shampoo?

When I first opened the bottle, the liquid with its colour and fragrance reminded me of sugarcane juice. Every time I used it, I wanted to glug down a tall glass of sugarcane juice. The image of sugarcane juice would not leave me alone.
So the first thing I did was looked up the ingredients and researched on them.
I have wasted, a lot of it by using it in exceeding amount. For three weeks I could not decipher the amount that should be used, a lot of it was wasted and lost a lot of hair every time I shampooed. In the hope of that squeaky clean feeling!
But one fine day, I used just a pump and voila there was zero hair fall while shampooing. It is as mild as Baby shampoo. All you need is just one pump for normal-oily hair and two if you have oiled them. My essential oil hair rinses work well with the shampoo. I love the volume I achieve when I use this.
To put the whole review in one sentence, OH Daily Shampoo is the best vegan and cruelty free alternative to SLS based shampoos.
My mother who colours and touch ups her hair every 45 days and thinks that her colour lasts longer.
Mostly, her curly hair is more manageable and frizz free.
I miss the slip while massaging this onto my scalp. That is the only thing I dislike about this shampoo. And missing Ingredients list too!

Sls free sulphate sulphate free shampoo, chemical free shampoo


Organic Harvest Ingredients Analysis

When I could not get the sugarcane juice out of my head, I looked up at the key ingredients mentioned on the bottle. Certified Organic Decyl Glucoside, Glucoside was all I needed.
  •  Aqua
  • Decyl Glucoside is plant derived and biodegradable, derived from corn and cane sugar.
  • Sodium PCA is a humectant; Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (hydrating agent) additionally functions as skin replenishing agent.
And the key ingredients list comes to an end. Incomplete ingredients, I don't like them!
Organic Harvest does not forget to mention that the Shampoo is Paraben free, Phthalates free, Mineral Oil free, PABAfree, Petrolatum free, Paraffin-free and free of animal ingredients.
And not to forget not tested on animals, not even the raw materials used. The ingredients used in the formulation are USDA-certified organic ingredients as well as Eco-certified ingredients.

Best sls free shampoo for color treated hair


Efficacy

  • Chemical free shampoo? Sulfate free shampoo?
  • I love the body my fine hair has achieved. 
  • My scalp does not turn oily until 3rd or 4th day.
  • I can get away with diluting the shampoo for the mildest scalp cleansing.
  • I have used 450 ml in 7 months. I am left with few more washes.
  • If you dislike the fragrance, you can add essential oils to improve its efficacy.
I don't think I have any reason except the missing Ingredient list. My mother thinks this is the best sulfate free shampoo for colour treated hair. I think this is probably the best chemical free shampoo for thin and fine hair.

Price: 795 INR for 500ml

Organic Harvest is not tested on animals and does not contain animal derived ingredients. 


Friday, May 12, 2017

Colourpop Peachy Keen Super Shock Eyeshadow Quad Review, Swatches and Photos

Colourpop Peachy Keen Super Shock Eyeshadow Quad Review, Swatches and Photos

In my mind, I have glorified the gold. I want to stockpile all the gold eye shadows that I fancy at sight. The hues of gold, champagne, golden bronze, soft gold, dusty gold, golden beige...
And corals, as much as I love the combination I always end up pairing. Coral eye shadows are tricky and I am picky and certain.
Yes, I want the Too Faced Sweet Peach in spite of its mediocrity and the Too Faced fall collection 2017 Just Peachy tops my wishlist. Enough said.

Colourpop Peachy Keen Super Shock Eyeshadow Quad Review, Swatches and Photos


While browsing, I came across this Foursome super shock eye shadows and all I could do was daydream of the makeup looks I could create. Reality check, I wore these only twice this spring/summer: two different looks. I am planning to recreate both. Currently, Colourpop Cosmetics is offering free worldwide shipping.


Colourpop Warm-toned neutral eyeshadow swatches

Colourpop Peachy Keen Foursome includes 4 warm-toned neutrals. Colour wise, they are well contrasted and undertone wise quite well coordinated. These colours are best suited for light to medium skin tones. Kennedy is quite a pastel on Olive/Tan skin tones, I am assuming it would be a bit more whitish on deeper skin tones.


Too Faced Sweet Peach and Just Peachy Affordable Dupes

Texture & Longevity


The tactile texture, to me, feels like moss. (Imagine the cleaner, greener, please.) If you've ever studied moss as a course or curiosity, you'll understand. How plush and cushiony it is to touch and at the same time not much, if you exert a little pressure to the touch, it'll lay bare its soothing dampness.

The staying power is unrealistic, stays on until I am ready to wash off my makeup- say 8-9 hours. That's how long I've let it stay on my lids, but you need a heavy duty oil balm or cleanser to take it off. The metallic and the ultra metallic shades crease on my eyelids. But if I am indoors and wearing Urban Decay original eyeshadow primer underneath, it doesn't budge at all, forget creasing. 9 of 10 times I skip primer since I am always short of time while doing the whole glam face.
Did I even mention NO FALLOUT?!


Budget Beauty Products in USA.Colourpop Cosmetics

Colours, Undertones and Blendability


Crimper: A soft warm gold with multi-dimensional reflect, a bit gritty due to the glitter in it. Metallic Love!

Crimper Soft warm gold budget eyeshadows

Colourpop Crimper supershock eyeshadow swatches review and closeup photo


Kennedy: A matte mid-tone Peach, slightly more cushiony and plush than the others.

Affordable Warm Peach Eyeshadow. Too faced eyeshadow dupe on budget

Colourpop Kennedy Supershock eyeshadow swatches, review photos


Cornelius: A matte soft brown leans caramel, mid-tone to be precise.

Cornelius supershock eyeshadow swatches review photos

Colourpop Cornelius. Best Transition eyeshadow. Affordable soft neutral brown eyeshadows


Bandit: A warm reddish brown with sparse soft flecks of pink, silver and violet.

Budget Beauty true reddish brown eyeshadow. Affordable brown eyeshadows online

Colourpop Bandit supershock eyeshadow review, photos, swatches

Cornelius works as a transition shade and blends effortlessly with any synthetic blending brush. But you would need to blend & build the depth of colour at once because once it sets it turns patchy upon layering. Crimper can be worn as a lid colour as well as a topper and works well both the ways.
Kennedy leans pastel on dark/olive/tan skin tones if worn with an eyeshadow primer performs much better. Bandit can be used to smoke out the edges and add more depth, the combination of Peach from Kennedy and the Reddish brown tint of Bandit creates quite a magical colour combination. All these colours are unique and co-ordinated at once, so many eye makeup looks can be created with just these foursomes.

With Kennedy being more plush and cushiony or mousse-like than the others; it gets difficult to either blend or layer the pigment. At once, Kennedy is both my favourite and least favourite.

Soft Peach and Peachy keen eyemakeup tutorial

Colourpop Peachy Keen Supershock eyeshadow swatches. Golds, Oranges/Corals, Neutrals


Too Faced Sweet Peach eyeshadow dupes. Too Faced Just Peachy eyeshadow dupes, Affordable eyeshadows

Final Thoughts


Anybody who'd like to add some warm-toned neutral shades from Colourpop to their collection, can go ahead and pick this right away. I like these colours, even if I fail to wear them all at once; I use Cornelius as my transition shade whenever I use all Colourpop for eyemakeup. I have to come up with using different ways to use them before they dry and die!


Price in US & India for Colourpop Peachy Keen: $18 and INR 1206

Availability: Colourpop Cosmetics Peachy Keen*

Is Colourpop Cruelty-free? Yes

Vegan? Yes

 * No affiliate link

Friday, May 05, 2017

Vegan and Cruelty-free Brushes | Free Colourpop Brushes with your order? Not as free as they seem


Colourpop Eyeshadow Brush, Colourpop Blending Brush. Vegan and Cruelty-free Brushes in India

This is not an outrage, I love the brand for being Vegan and Cruelty-free and for their steps towards animal welfare and to add their customer care has been a cordial experience so far.
This is an eye-opener post for all the makeup lovers who are planning to purchase from Colourpop Cosmetics and ship/import it in India.

In January 2017, in the hope greed of acquiring more and more Colourpop super shock eyeshadows, I placed an order for 12 super shock eyeshadows. Coincidentally, the brand was giving away free 'newly launched' eyeshadow brushes. Vegan and Cruelty-Free Brushes, and I refrained from restricting myself.

Vegan & Crueltyfre Brushes online India, Synthetic Brushes online India

So I placed an order and I could not wait for it to arrive. I was wondering looking at the brushes and the pricing, really really wondering if I made the right decision by greedily adding 12 eyeshadows for the brushes. It did almost after, 15-20 days(don't remember exactly) and also arrived a shocking fact: Import Customs Duty. INR 2778/ $40 for an order worth $53.
I checked again to see if it is 270 or 2778, to be really sure. My calculations were wrong!
And I sat down to really check if there was no error by calculating online. Here are few websites that let you calculate the import customs duty in India online and for free. Dutycalculator.com needs a subscription.

Colourpop Shipping International Vegan and Crueltyfree makeup not tested on animals

And when I checked the customs bill which was stuck on the outer package, I could see $21 for three brushes and the total was calculated as $79.03 (on the surface.) But if you really calculate everything: 6 brushes and $53 worth eyeshadows, exactly 50% customs duty was charged.
And even if you calculate the whole price including the free brushes, It turned around $95/6507 INR $53 eyeshadows + $42 free brushes, it does turn out less ie 1900 INR. So in fact, 50% is the new duty rate of the 'New' government.

Colourpop Import customs duty on orders to India, Buy colourpop online in India

So was it worth all the hassle? Not so much!
The brushes are custom made for the eyeshadows and work like a dream together. But I don't think they're worth the price tag!

I'd take that as a lesson and hence I decided to shop wisely (hopefully). Spending INR 8000 for an Indie brand, No thank you!

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Cruelty-free Skincare | The Body Shop Drops of Light Brightening Serum Review



How I discovered the magical results of this serum has a back-story. You can read at the beginning of this post here. I never was a fan of The Body Shop skincare; I tried the Vitamin E range and Aloevera Range and bought myself some breakouts. Until now...
The Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask is my H-o-l-y-g-r-a-i-l! You can read my brainwork here.

I never gave much thought to including serums into my daily skincare routine. I’m a minimalist and do away with a moisturizer, 9 of 10 times. Still, I am not a fan of layering skincare, anymore.  I do battle dry patches and dehydrated flaky skin occasionally and adding serum into my skincare routine before makeup has helped. Here is an in-depth experience of using DOL Pure Healthy Brightening serum with Clarifying Foam wash and Brightening Day cream.

What are Brightening Serums?

Brightening Serums usually focus on evening out the skintone as well as lightening hyperpigmentation. These are formulated with Light Reflectors which adds instant radiance on application. Kojic Acid, Vitamin C or Arbutin tops the ingredient lists which reduces spots and mildly exfoliates.

Texture and Efficacy

The Body Shop Drops of Light Brightening Serum is light and runny. It is almost a colourless fluid that absorbs within a few minutes on application. My skin was instantly transformed into soft velvety hydrated skin. The amount of serum you’d need is 2-3 drops, this serum has a tendency to go on sticky if used more than required. (I sense a high amount of glycerine?)

Cruelty-free Skincare | The Body Shop Drops of Light Brightening Serum Review


Drops of Light Serum with and without makeup

This serum gels well with Silicone based foundations as well as tinted moisturizers. But this serum (with primer on top) works best with powder foundations on my normal-combination skin. This or some ingredient in this does not let the mineral foundation cling to the dry patches or accentuate flakiness.

I tried mixing this serum with Chanel Vita Lumeire and it did not mix at all. I wanted to turn my foundation in serum foundation. Utter FAIL!
This serum works best upon layering rather than mixing. Is it just me? Or I thought I could create serum foundation on my own?

I use this serum exclusively during daytime and avoid using it in my evening/night time routine. It adds a subtle radiant glow to my face when used alone. And it is said already, I cannot afford to skip this under makeup.

Cruelty-free Skincare in India, Malaysia, UK, Phillipines, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia,MalaysiaThe Body Shop Drops of Light Brightening Serum Review

Products that complement DOL Pure Healthy Brightening Serum

I am starting to include all the products I use along with the Skincare products to lay down a brief idea of what goes well with the focused product.

I did not like using the Brightening Day cream from the same range with Face cleanser and Serum. The day cream with the serum is too heavy for my liking. So I either layered Clean and Clear oil balancing moisturizer or The Body Shop Vitamin C moisturizer, both of these moisturizers worked well.
Clean and Clear mattified my skin while Vitamin C added a million watts glow, good enough to go bare face.
The other products that complemented this serum are Bioderma Matte fluid and Nivea Aftershave both which I used as a primers.

Brightening Effects on Blemishes & Scars

When I bought this, all I was anticipating was-clear and even skin. And that is what it delivers. This does exfoliates, extremely mild because when I use this I feel less need to exfoliate.
Apart from adding a radiant subtle glow on application, evening out skin tone and complementing well with my base makeup, this additionally boosts the skin's hydration levels. Major love for that!
So did it work on my blemishes and scarring? No.
But on the brighter side, if wearing alone under moisturizer, the scars and blemishes do appear diffused, due to light reflectors maybe?



Crueltyfree Indian Beauty Blog, UK Crueltyfree blog


Is The Body Shop Cruelty-free? Yes

Is DOL Serum Vegan? Yes

Price In India and UK: INR 2,450 and £ 26.00

Will I repurchase? YES. Perhaps,my only restraint is Alcohol Denat, though it did initially broke me out. But I do see DOL with a potential to be my holygrail serum.



Sunday, April 30, 2017

Cruelty-free Skincare | The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Clarifying Foam Wash Review


The Body Shop Drops of Light Skincare Range Review, Price, Buy online and Details


A quick background on how I discovered  The Body Shop Brightening Serum and bought it, I picked up  The Body Shop British Rose Shower Gel - sometime in June-July and the SA slipped in a sample of this in the bag. I was testing the Kama Ayurveda Kumkumadi serum as night oil at the time. I tested this serum the next morning and my skin was instantly clarified and radiant. And I could not understand why. And I was taken by the hydration level of my skin and hence I decided to purchase the range. But I did not achieve the same clarified result with the full sized product. Fishy!
My skin at the time was not really in a preferred condition. Inflammatory acne due to the weather change and my rosacea had poked its head up and my skin was drier than usual. I have used the range for a few weeks- two to be precise and stopped using the Pure Healthy Brightening Day Cream due to acne breakouts. 

Texture & Efficacy

I find it unnecessary to spend on some clarifying cleanser that is nothing more than an ordinary foaming face wash. I had to put this range to test and hence I bought it without much thought. The clarifying Foam wash has a pearl sheen to it and foams more than an average cleanser. I find this works well with my Michael Todd Sonic Brush as well as working with hands; I tend to use a lot with the brush in compared to using it with my hands. It has extremely micro-particles, the kind you’ll only feel when you’re sensitive. I assume the creamy yet soft gritty texture is due to clay in it. I am sure the exfoliation is as micro as possible, great for sensitive skin.
Indeed clarified and non-drying results are achieved after rinsing off. At first, I disliked the overall working of the product including the texture and results. I am used to liking squeaky clean skin but I am noticing a radical change in my preference; Squeaky clean = Stripping of beneficial natural oils.
This does leave a slight veil of creaminess except for the areas around my mouth. I find it a balance of clay and creaminess that should work for both oily and dry skin.

Brightening Products The Body Shop

 

Clarifying Foam Wash with and without Drops of Light Serum and Brightening Day cream

The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Day Cream broke me out so it was wiser to eliminate it from my daily routine. I did continue using the Serum and Face wash together and my review is entirely based on this combination.
I did notice radiance after using the Foam Wash but that did not last any long. With the continued usage of the Foam Wash and serum daily, I did notice a difference in my skin tone alone. It did fail to work on my hyperpigmentation, texture and old scars. But I did skip exfoliation or restricted only once a week.

Skin Brghtening Products by The Body Shop

Conclusion

I find it unnecessary to use the Clarifying cleanser on its own. It does not strip natural oils from the skin and leaves a healthy satin veil of moisture on the skin. I am assuming that it boost the radiance when used with the products from the same range. At times, I did keep the lather on for few minutes to notice if it works on removing suntan, sadly it didn’t but instead left my sensitive skin feeling raw after rinsing. MicroExfoliation, as I noticed. To put down in one sentence, it is insignificant on its own, unless If you’re planning to include the DOL Range in your routine. On its own, it is just another cleanser. I’d rather invest in a cleanser that doubles as makeup remover and cleanser at once.

Is The Body Shop Cruelty-free? Yes

Price In India and UK: INR 1,525 & £ 12.00

Will I repurchase? No

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Charlotte Tilbury Haul from Beautylish.com | Shipping and Import Customs Duties to India


I have been fancying Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks (esp Miranda Red Carpet Red) and when I decided to treat myself, lipstick was the last thing on my mind. But Deciem's The Ordinary was launched and I added the High-Spreadability Primer, Rosehip seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid and Moisturizer and when I checked out, all of them were sold out, in a matter of mere 4-5 minutes.
I want to try her Treat & Transform Magic Cream which I added to my cart but since it is heavy, the import duties for it (alone) turned out to be higher than I anticipated.
So I settled for base makeup instead. I am hankering towards Golden Goddess & Filmstar Bronze & Glow kit! In a few, I want all!


My Charlotte Tilbury Haul includes

Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish in 2 Medium
Charlotte Tilbury Cheek To Chic First Love
Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder in 7 Medium
Charlotte Tilbury The Retoucher in 3 Medium
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 7 Medium

Charlotte Tilbury Reviews India

Where to buy Charlotte Tilbury Makeup in India?



Even though, I decided to christen these on my birthday; I tested both the foundations few days before. I wanted to be sure of what finish I preferred with the makeup with my skin condition.
Boy! When I tested the shade of Magic foundation on my jawline and nose, I was doubtlessly under a spell. The shade blended in perfectly. I have had great first impressions of all these products so far.

So what I chose to wear on my Birthday? Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder! (without a doubt)
The shade matching is close enough but a bit too warm for my neutral tone which makes it a bit shadowy on my complexion. Shade 6 has pink undertone while Shade 5 would've been too light for me. But the Magic Foundation is my skin but better kind of shade match for me and I couldn't be more stoked!
I do not regret purchasing any of these but are these worth the price? which I will be decoding in individual reviews.


Beautylish.com haul and shiping to India

Beautylish.com now sells Charlotte Tilbury. Free worldwide shipping. Shipping to India

Shopping with Beautylish

I placed my order on 6th of April 2017 and I was notified that my order was shipped within 24 hours. And additionally, I received an email from FedEx about the tracking and documents for customs verification. The Service type used by Beautylish was  FedEx International Priority. And I received my package on 10th April, 2 days before the estimated date. I selected the gift wrap option with a written note. I am definitely impressed with the quick delivery. The customs duties were already included in the order. You can check the snapshot of my order below. I prefer paying import customs duties with the order than on arrival.
For such quick International delivery and prepaid custom duties, I am impressed and looking forward to placing more orders with them( motivates me enough!)

Charlotte Tilbury Beautylish Haul, Shipping to India. Custom Duties details
Click on the image for a larger view

Is Charlotte Tilbury Cruelty-free? YES! and many of her products are vegan as well.
You can check Charlotte Tilbury Base Makeup in action here.


Sunday, April 23, 2017

Birthday Acquisition, Makeup, and Face of the Day

I had to choose between diamonds and makeup.

I chose Makeup.

And for accomplishing 3 major goals in 2016 (one in 2017), after working hard for months and numerous sleepless nights (Thank you Redbull!) I decided to treat myself to some luxury makeup in spite of my project pan challenge. I seem to go on purchasing makeup and keep forgetting about it. I lack sincerity with project panning!


Here's the makeup flatlay

Soft Rose Gold Aesthetic and Makeup Tutorial

My theme for makeup as well as aesthetic was Rose gold. I paired a soft rose gold smokey with soft mauve lips. That lip colour was not on my mind, but I have been wearing Cannes lot, to skip it for once; I mixed Zurich and Marc Jacob's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I wore Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation and dusted the Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder over my T-zone lightly.
My base, illuminated and extremely light with bronzed glow, I did skip contouring today. And after taking pictures, I realized I need to fix my eyebrows, I fixed them, wiped off my lipstick and stepped out.

I have zillion Lace blouses, tops and tanks and every time I see lace, mesh or anything similar I have to purchase it (and regret later.) But this is something I had to include in my collection. I didn't have anything forest green!

Zara Embroidered Eyelash Lace Top

And here's my humble Face of the Day!

Soft Rose Gold Makeup for Indian skin

Closeup shot of my illuminated base makeup

Dewy Skin Soft Rose Gold Makeup Tutorial

 And here's the birthday acquisition (for succeeding goals and ignoring my skin all the while!)
My laugh lines are running deeper due to lack of skincare and I am determined to switch to a skincare routine preventing dry patches and developing lines/wrinkles. You can check my acquisition here

Beautylish Haul India, Charlotte Tilbury
From Me to Me :)
Brown paper packages tied up with strings. ;)