Top 10 Products of 2011: Forest Essentials Tejasvi Milk Facial Ubtan

Yes, I know I'm late getting the top 10 products up but right now, my goal is to have them by the end of this week. It's a more noble goal than having them up by the end of this year. I was unsuspectingly preparing for an interview when I got majorly sick and then my baby started teething. After having a breakdown as he's growing up way too fast, I had to put everything on the back burner as I went into the uncharted territory of discouraging biting while nursing. All in all, I feel like Xena, warrior blogger princess, who will finally get her tired butt to posting another product rave.

My aunt kept telling me about Forest Essentials and I kept doing the 'mmmhmmm' very politely. You know, where the other person thinks they've been heard but you know you're making the sound so you don't have to fully response. After all, how could a plebeian in terms of make-up possibly know of something that would make someone who's been there and tried it all interested. But it seems the universe conspired to teach me humility that fateful day last year (yes, 2011, which is where this post actually should be).


Forest Essentials' Tejasvi Milk Facial Ubtan comes in a big plastic jar, and the quantity that you get is very generous. However, I wish they had added a plastic stopper or something because when you open the jar, so much falls out if you're not careful. After the initial annoyance, the first thing I noticed was the smell. It is divine and reminded me of the face mask my grandmother would have made. To those who are sensitive to smells, be warned, it is strong and it lasts throughout the application.

The company website says the product contains "red sandalwood, wild turmeric, saffron and skin whitening herbs to make the skin tone several shades lighter naturally." I did voice my disdain to my aunt upon reading the "skin whitening" bit. She told me use it or loose it. So I used it. The company recommends making a paste by adding some milk to the powder, which is what I did. The powder is beautifully milled and becomes a thin, very easy to spread paste. The way the mask spreads feels much more luxurious than the other powdered masks you can get. I kept the mask on until it dried and was not prepared for the results.

I was blown away with the way my skin looked when I washed the mask off. It glowed. I stood there, in front of the mirror, still covered in baby food. But I glowed, despite the post partum hormones and lack of sleep. On top of that my skin was incredibly soft and didn't feel dry like it usually does after I try any herbal face masks. The glow and calm skin lasted a good day or two. It also did not make me break out at all. After multiples uses, I have decided to keep this as my go-to face mask.

All in all this face mask is excellent, pampered my skin, didn't break me out, balanced the moisture levels in my skin, and gave me one hell of a glow.  I now want to try out more things from this line.

On a side note, the Tejasvi Milk Facial Ubtan retails for INR 650 and you can buy it online as the company ships worldwide.

image source: forestessentialsindia.com

Top 10 Products of 2011: Lakme Nine to Five Forever Silk Eyeliner in... Well ALL of the Shades

I have a soft corner for Lakme. It does a desi girl's make-up loving soul good to see desi make-up brands. And even if I rant until I am foaming at the mouth because of their abysmal selection of foundation shades (the whole population of India seems to be categorized in all of four shades), I always check out their make-up when I'm in India. I had Lakme's  Nine to Five Forever Silk Eyeliner in Gypsy Green in my make-up travel tote and never looked at it until, well late in December last year. And it instantly made its way to my Top 10 Products posts.


Don't think less of me for typing this but "Oh My GAWD. LIKE, OHMIGOD!" This stuff blows Make-up Forever and Urban Decay out of the water, and Lakme is desi. The pencil eyeliner comes in one of those self-sharpening plastic pens, pretty standard. The application is so smooth, and buttery. After I put it on, I thought there was no way it would last, not with a formula this smooth and non-tugging. But then life is full of little surprises. Lakme's Forever Silk Eyeliner needs about 20-30 seconds to set, but once it does it stays on. Rubbing it repeatedly doesn't even make it budge. It literally comes off only when you take it off with make-up remover or face wash. It lasts really long on my waterline as well, much longer than Make-up Forever or Urban Decay. With the latter two, I find that their pencil eyeliners put up a valiant fight but do not come close in application, smoothness, and wear.

The colour I got, Gypsy Green, is a muted, very dark olive with slight gold  shimmer. It is very sophisticated and is in the same family as Clinique's Eqyptian creamshaper. I believe there are five or six shades available in this range (Lakme doesn't list the shades on their web site). I'm also not sure about pricing as I got this a while back (lakme doesn't also list it on their web site).

If you're like me and love to make pilgrimages to make-up counters in every country you set foot in, do check out Lakme's eyeliners. I'm actually going to get some more as they can't be beat.

10 Best Products of 2011 Biotherm Biosource Foaming Invigorating Cleansing Water

After I had a baby, all days seemed to blur into one. However, I couldn't shake this gnawing feeling that something might be off. There might be something different in the next couple of days and then it hit me! It's almost New Year's. I have a bunch of postings I wanted to do and un update on the foreign service (yep, I know I said I would write one and I will, just after my interview is done and hopefully I can give a clearer picture on how I tackled it). So without further ado, here is the first stand-out product for 2011.

Biotherm Biosource Foaming Invigorating Cleansing Water

Having a baby changes a lot of things, not just in your life but physically too. For one, you'll have nights where the baby is finally asleep but you'll stay up, offering silent prayer in the hope that post-partum hair loss will NOT turn you bald. The other is that your skin will change like the wind and everything will make it break out. In fact it is so frustrating you'll want to tear your hair out. And then you'll cry realizing if you did, you actually will be bald.

Biotherm states that Biosource Foaming Invigorating Cleansing Water, is, well, a soap free, self-foaming cleanser with a lovely airy mousse quality. It is very gentle and doesn't leave any filmy residue behind. Since my skin is combination to insane (read oily and dry on different days), I found that this cleanser really balances my skin and beings it close to normal. The cleanser itself is marketed towards combination to normal , and I would have to agree. I don't think it would be very well suited for very oily skin types.

So how does the cleanser actually get rid off make-up? Pretty well. I can rely on it to remove most of my make-up except any stubborn mascara or eyeliner. Since I use a separate eye make-up remover anyway, I can skip this problem. The quantity is generous and one pump suffices to clean and remove make-up in one go. I'm not a huge fan of high-end cleansers, this particular one is worth it.

Edited to add, I got this cleanser at Sephora in Malaysia (KL). I can't seem to find it in the US website for Biotherm, however it is sold in many places in KL. I will update on whether it is only sold in Asia.

image source: www.yesstyle.com

Shade Spotter: Padma Lakshmi and Nars Kalahari (the Brown Girl's Must)

Padma Lakshmi isn't one to really go overboard or even dramatic on the make-up. Nars kalahari is a great duo that will help achieve her look.

On a personal note, I'm not even going to start by writing it's the only eyeshadow I'll ever need or want or have. We both know I'd be lying; there's no use in pretending. But Kalahari is the one duo from Nars that I find versatile and a great basic, flattering duo I think every brown girl would need in her arsenal.

image source: Topnews.in

Playing 'I Spy' with Priyanka Chopra's Make-up

I was browsing the net when I chanced to see this picture of Priyanka Chopra's make-up posted by her on her website. Of course, I had to blog about it. It looks like she uses YSL's Effet Faux Cils mascara, Bobbi Brown's stick foundation, and a MAC blush that looks an awful lot like Peachtwist. What color do you think the blush is?


image source: www.iampriyankachopra.com

Bronze Glowy Look Part 2

Hourglass Lash Lacquer, For the Latisse-less Amongst Us

First off, sorry for the late updates. I flew solo (say it again slowly, it gives me shivers just merely writing this) with baby halfway around the world. I thought I was she-woman. I even roared. I started updating my blog and making a few videos, ready to hit publish. And then baby started teething. I have two words: Holy Frijole. Interpret as you wish.



That aside, I used to love the effects of latisse. My whimpy lashes got a huge boost and I was sure I had a deer or two stalking me out of jealousy. And then I got pregnant and couldn't use it anymore. I still can't use it while nursing. My lashes were never the same. I thought I could sometimes see my deer-stalkers point and laugh "oh, how the mighty have fallen." Although my lashes have never been able to compare, Hourglass's Film Noir Lash Lacquer gives them an extra oomph and is very visible in photos.

I admit, the lacquer is a bit of a pain to apply, it comes with a brush applicator so you literally have to paint your lashes. The formula itself is fairly thick but viscous and while it doesn't sting and burn my eyes, I can't imagine people with sensitive eyes loving the feeling if it happens to fall in. The color is a beautiful glossy black and in one coat does thicken the lashes. You will also probably need to have a clean mascara wand or spoolie handy as the lash lacquer can make your lasts clump together as if they were having a reunion of sorts.

The reason I do love and recommend this product is that it really does give that extra oomph, especially in pictures, and opens up the eyes beautifully. Paired with a primer, I get beautifully think lashes. Much more than with mascara or primer alone. It can put your look from lovely lashes to a luscious looking fringe. An that to me, makes it worth it.

Agreed, I might be a bit too lazy to use it every day. But for those days where you do want a bit more drama, even with a volumizing mascara, this, especially when pared with a primer, really ups the drama.

image source: www.sephora.com

Inspiration for Video: The Ever Gorgeous Padma Lakshmi

I am stil editing my video on Padma's look but here is the inspiration pic. I wasn't able to find the exact pic I used for inspiration but it isn't too heartbreaking as it is very similar to this look just with more pigmented lips.