LAKME HAUL+REVIEWS

A big shoutout to my mom for getting these for me while overseas, as they aren't stocked in South Africa. 💚

LAKME PRODUCT HAUL

I'll be going through the products that I got as well as first thoughts. Please keep in mind that I will not be doing swatches as I haven't had time to use most of these beauties yet!

So, let's have a look!

First up, I have the Lakme 9to5 Crease-Less Matte Lipstick in Rosy Sunday

Lakmé 9to5 brings you a range of 15 high performance shades that sit on your lips all day long. Enriched with Vitamin E; the formula conditions your lips & softens them with wheat germ oil. 

I got this is the Rosy Sunday shade, a creamy medium/dark coral colour. It came beautifully packaged as well. I wore this today for the first time and it's the definition of long-wear matte! The colour stayed on my lips and because it's so creamy it didn't dry my lips out.

Lakme Absolute Illuminating Foundation

A liquid foundation specially created by the backstage experts at the Lakme Fashion Week to give you visibly brighter looking skin.  Visibly brighter looking skin. Silky dewy finish. Luminous skin with natural glow. Gives your skin an even coverage.

The foundation comes in quite a small bottle. I got it in Beige Glimmer, something suitable for my skin tone. It was hard to choose a shade because 1) I was shopping online, and 2) this range only has four shades. This is a medium flesh tone and contains a shimmer to it, so it can act as a highlighter for the cheek area.

Lakme 9to5 Weightless Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek Colour in Rose Touch

Say ‘No’ to touch ups with this perfect for office wear, Lakme 9 to 5 Weightless Mousse Matte Lip and Cheek Color. Lakme’s first lip and cheek color comes in a mousse texture that’s weightless, giving a powdery matte finish to lips and a soft blush to your cheeks. Lakme 9 to 5 Weightless Mousse Matte Lip and Cheer Color is ideal for daily office wear adding charm and lasting long. Its dual benefit makes it a high functional product for the busy and on the go working woman. It looks and feels weightless because of the lightweight formula. Since it’s a mousse texture, it absorbs well, giving an intense color that long-lasting. The applicator brush glides on seamlessly making it easy to apply and giving a smooth and even finish.

I got this in the shade Rose Touch, a mauve nude shade perfect for Indian/Taupe skintones. It has a super thick powdery texture. Although soft, it was quite dry onto my lips. This definitely does make ones lips look fuller. I enjoy this neutral shade.

Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio HD Matte Lipstick in Burgundy Affair

I feel like this lipstick is great for shaping with pure precision, but the colour is too weak and has to be applied in hard layers. The lightweight formula would be like wear and forget. These do not move from the lips and hence lip liner is totally optional. I love how smoothly it glides on the lips and gives a velvet matte finish to the lips. The particular shade is a gorgeous shade of red with brownish undertones.

Lakme Absolute Plump&Shine 3D Gloss in Beige Shine

Lakme Absolute Plump & Shine is a revolutionary 3D lip gloss with its long-lasting formula and high pigmentation properties.

This shiny gloss glitters when applied to the lips. It's super thick and sticky, making it able to last long hours. This is great to wear over any lipstick as it's quite transparent as well. I like the fact that this has absolutely no fragrance or taste at all. Also, I did not notice any plumping effect from this gloss. It’s just that as a gloss, on its own gives an illusion of fuller lips. I didn’t feel any tingling sensation too, which lip plumping products usually cause.

Lakme Perfect Radiance Skin Lightening Light Cream

This comes in a small tub which is easy to travel with. It has a light sweet fragrance to it.

On application it was a bit dry as I rubbed it into my face. It's more matte than creamy. It is definitely not meant for dry skinned beauties as it does not moisturize the skin at all. It does brighten the complexion but the effects are temporary. I recommend this to oily-skinned beauties who are simply looking for an instant bright matte finish. If you are looking for any more than that, then I suggest you invest in some good day cream.

Lakme 9to5 CC Cream in Bronze

This cream is available in two shades: Beige and Bronze. This shade, Bronze, looks pretty good on my medium skin tone after setting. Since this is a color transform cream, it looks like any fairness cream when I apply it on my face. Also, it has some microparticles that actually help change the color. I need to blend it perfectly on my face. Initially, this cream gives the effect of any normal cream but then it starts to look like a CC cream. So it actually changes color and gets nicely absorbed by my skin tone. It has a very creamy texture that glides so easily on the skin and provides a smooth dewy finish. The consistency is medium cream which makes it is so easy to blend. 

The cream never looks patchy or dry. It is actually a hydrating cream that makes skin soft. This is really a good for dry skin. Personally, I prefer a matte finish, so I don’t like the creamy finish of this product. Also, on my skin, it looks oily so I need to follow up with a compact powder. 

This cream provides a very sheer coverage that’s good enough for daily use. It cannot really hide any dark spots, pigmentation etc. Also, this cream cannot conceal uneven skin tone either. It only makes your skin brighter and hides just minute imperfections. As I don’t prefer high coverage every day, it looks good on me. But if you desire coverage or intend to hide imperfections, this is not the product for you. It is super blendable but layering makes it heavy and sticky.

Annnnnnd those are my products! I can't wait to use them and hopefully supply swatches soon!

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Stay tuned for more reviews!

Azelo Skincare Review

I recently got sent these Azelo products! I'm super excited to review them, finally. 

Okay, so the first thing I tried was the AZELO Exfoliating Face Scrub.

It has active ingredients such as Rosehip oil and Vitamin C. It's for combination skin.

Upon using this I found it to be light weight and pore-opening. It's not too harsh on the skin and has a pleasant, earthy smell to it. It did not dry out my skin afterwards.

The next thing that I used along with the scrub was the AZELO Pure Tissue Oil.

The oil was non greasy(thank God!) and was soaked up easily by my skin. I used it on my legs and the back of my knee where I have eczema. It soothed the area and acted as an immediate relief. I do wish that the oil effects would last longer, or would be more powerful for dryer skin types. Other than that, I think that is it a great multi-purpose oil.

Thanks for sending me these products, AZELO!

Follow Azelo on Twitter!

Review: Elixir Skincare

Today the courier came guess what it was?

Some samples from Elixir Skincare!

Let's have a look:

Elixir Balancing Toner

Product Description:

Use this gentle toner after cleansing to remove any residue, restore pH balance, stimulate circulation, reduce oiliness and refine open pores.

Spritz face until skin is damp then tissue off excess, or spray toner onto cotton pad and gently wipe facial area. For normal to combination skin.

Size:100ml/ 250ml

INGREDIENTS: Distilled water, rose oil concentrate, vitamin E acetate, Santalum album (sandalwood), Lavandula officinalis (lavender)

A mild, odourless toner that is not harsh on the skin and purifies.

Elixir Balancing Cleanser

Use this light, balancing milk-based cleanser morning and evening to remove pollutants and dirt.

Apply to skin and massage in with fingertips to cleanse. Rinse well with water or remove gently with damp cotton pad. For normal to combination skin.

INGREDIENTS: Vegetable-based carrier lotion and carrier cream, water gel, surfactant, Santalum album (sandalwood), Lavandula officinalis (lavender)

Just like the toner, except this a cleanser and milkier. Lavender scented and gentle, but left my skin a bit dry afterwards.

Elixir Derma Gel Treatment Cream

Soothe, hydrate and purify your skin with this activating and rejuvenating treatment.

Massage liberally onto cleansed and toned skin. To treat dry skin, leave on overnight. For an oily complexion, leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse off with warm water and damp cotton pad; follow with night moisturiser. Suitable for all skin types.

Size: 50ml/125ml

INGREDIENTS: Aloe ferox, vegetable-based carrier cream, water gel, vitamin E oil, Eriocephalus punctulatus (Cape chamomile), Lippia javanica (zinziba)

Moisturised my skin quite a bit, happpy with the quality. Great texture.

Balancing Night Moisturiser

Product Description:

This rich formulation firms and nourishes your complexion while you sleep.

Apply after cleansing and toning face and neck. Gently massage in with fingertips, using upward movements. For normal to thirsty skin.

Size: 50ml/125ml

INGREDIENTS: Vegetable-based carrier cream and thickened carrier cream, sweet almond oil, carrier milk, Aloe ferox, Santalum album (sandalwood), Lavandula officinalis (lavender)

Another lavender scented night cream, it left me feeling confident in nourished skin before bed!

Multi Active Enzyme Exfoliator

Product Description:

Repairs damaged skin, antibacterial. Feeds skin, gently exfoliates and refines pores for a smoother skin.

This exceptional skin treatment exfoliator offers a mild skin peel that gently exfoliates using the lightly stimulating action of bamboo granules, fruit acids and papaya enzymes.  Rich in antioxidants, it repairs stressed and damaged skin. Aloe ferox gel fees the freshly exfoliated skin, offering a smoother, brighter complexion. Perfectly suited to mature or delicate skins, and gentle enough for frequent use. Can be used on all skin types.

Very impressed by this product, it removed dead skin cells on my face, causing me to reappear with more radiant, brighter skin.

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Thanks for allowing me to try out these tender products, Elixir Skincare!

For more info, be sure to check them out in the link below:

http://elixirskincare.com/

Review: SoyLites Ladybird Everyday Moisturising Body Balm

Included with the AMAZING candles the SoyLites team sent me (review here: http://kiarabramdaw.blogspot.co.za/2016/11/soylites-candles-review.html ), I also got sent a SoyLites Ladybird Body Balm!



Find out more about SoyLites here: https://www.soylites.co.za/

This line is inspired by my favourite insect, the ladybird!

Ingredients: 
Pure Soy Wax (vitamin E and lecithin), 
Shea Butter (Non-Certified Organic), 
Castor Oil
Avocado Oil
Virgin Olive Oil with Geranial
Citronella and Lemongrass Essential Oil. (Certified Organic )


This balm can be applied literally anywhere on your body and is infused with Rosehip and Shea Butter.

It has a leafy, nature-like smell. When I applied it to my skin, I found that it was not greasy at all! Although the smell does not agree with me, there is no doubt that I feel closer to to nature when I use it. I recommend this to anyone who is seeking to heal their skin in a natural, pain free way.

Thank you, SoyLites!

SoyLites Candles Review

Thank you to the SoyLites team for sending me these amazing goodies!

This is the review of the two different SoyLites candles that I received, but first;

About SoyLites Candles

* Crafted using 100% natural, premium raw ingredients 
* Completely free of chemicals, parabens and petroleum ingredients 
* Our craftsmanship ensures a longer, cleaner, soot-free burn 
* Doubles up as a moisturising body candle 
* Made with cosmetic-grade, non-GMO soybean oil 
* Many health benefits for skin when applied 
* Beautifully scented with aromatherapy oils 
* Vegan endorsed - no beeswax 
* Not tested on animals 







The first candle that I'll be speaking about is the SoyLites Votive candle in INDULGENCE WITH VANILLA, GRAPEFRUIT, GINGER. 



This is a luxurious blend of warm scents, but has a top-coat smell of fresh vanilla. This is a luxury massage candle. The amazing thing about these candles is that when burning, it forms a pool of smooth oil, not wax. This oil is beneficial because it's rich in Vitamin E and lecithin, so you can easily use this candle to the full extent by massaging the oil into problem areas of your body. Talk about multipurpose!

When lit this candle gives off an aromatic scent that makes me as if I'm in an Arabic spa! 
I have to praise this candle for it's amazing smell because none of the spas I've been to(and I've been to quite a few!) have ever smelled as good as my room did when I lit this candle.

The next candle is a bit on the lighter, brighter side; SoyLites Original Soy Candle in HARMONY WITH ROSE, GERANIUM, JASMINE 


 

My first impression was "OMG the packaging is so pretty!", so that was already enough to get me excited about the smell. The scent has a fresh, out-the-shower sweetness to it. It is very feminine. The aroma of this beauty filled my room before I lit it, making a strong statement that says 'Though I am soft, I am strong!'


If I had to chose a favourite?

My favourite out of the two would definitely be the Harmony. Besides the smell, the oil lubricated my skin and lasted longer than the Soy Massage Votive Candle.

Would I recommend? 

Yes I would recommend this product to everyone, especially to the beauty therapists! It's already my goal to go out and buy the rest of the range. I suggest that everyone get their hands on a SoyLites candle ASAP!

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A huge thank you to SoyLites

Find out more about them here:

https://www.soylites.co.za/

AFRIDERM Peeling Gel Review

I recently received this peeling gel from Afriderm.

Product Description:

This exfoliating Peeling Gel can be used daily by all shades of dark-pigmented skin to deeply cleanse and encourage the natural process of skin renewal. The Peeling Gel gently removes dry, dull and dead cells from the skins surface to encourage natural skin regeneration. Used regularly, it leaves skin clear, silky-soft, healthy and youthful looking. Made from a soothing complex of herbal oils and extracts.

Features :

1. Active face care especially formulated for dark-pigmented skin
2. Exfoliates: Deeply but gently removes dry and dull skin cells
3. Regenerates: Encourages the natural process of skin renewal
4. Moisturizes: Helps create silkier and softer skin
5. Soothes: Calms stressed skin and helps fight signs of aging
6. Protects: Guards against ashy-looking skin
7. Best of Natural Ingredients: Coenzyme 10, Aloe Vera, Chamomile & Ginkgo, Biloba Extracts plus Evening Primrose, Grape Seed and Borage Seed (Omega 3 & 6) Herbal Oils.

• Cleansing Perfection
• Facial-Intensive Care
• For Dark Pigmented Skin
• Gentle exfoliation to create smooth, clear, attractive skin tones & texture!

Cleanses and prevents the build-up of dead and dry cells on the skin’s surface.

Accelerates natural, fresh cell renewal and guards against dry “ashy-looking” skin appearance.

Contains natural herbal extracts and non-irritating moisture-enhancing ingredients.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile Flower), Extract, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf, Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi (Job's Tears), Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis (Borage), Seed Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid,, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose)Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil,Parfum (Fragance),Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis(Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Algae Extract, Polysorbate 20, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Limonene, Linalol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional. PARABEN FREE.

My POV

Other than the amazing, elegant look that product gives off, it has a gentle feel.

When I first applied it to my skin, I expected it to burn around my nose and cheek area, like other peels and masks have done in the past. I left it on for one minute as stated, and probably took another two minutes to admire the fresh smell it gave off. When I washed it off with warm water, it cleansed off easily and my skin didn't feel dry afterwords. It felt tight around the cheek area. When I woke up in the morning, my skin felt smoother than ever and also had a radiant look to it! I will definitely be be adding this peel to my weekly skin routine.

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A big thank you to the Afriderm team! 

Find out more about them here:

www.afriderm.co.za

Do Fairness Creams Work?

Some Facts About Fairness Creams

I know it’s easy for me to say that “don’t use fairness creams” considering the fact that I am fair for someone of Indian origin but let me tell you the truth behind fairness creams. Our skin color is determined by our race and genetic lineage which in turn decides the amount and structure of melanin (the pigment in the skin which is the reason for our color). According to most dermatologists, achieving fairness up to 20% is possible, but not more than that. The fairness creams block sun rays and prevent secretion of Melanin, which gives the dark colour to the skin. So in effect fairness cream reduce tan, prevent the skin from getting darker by preventing melanin secretion; but fairness creams cannot change a person’s natural skin color. Nothing can change that structure of melanin. It’s the same as if you have curly hair, you cannot use any product to naturally make it straight , you can comb it when its wet but the actual and natural structure of your hair will remain curly, you can even get it chemically treated but the new hair growth will always be curly. A fairness cream does the same , it removes your upper skin layer so that the skin below appears. Fairness creams can contain harmful bleaching agent such as hydroquinone, the percentage of which is between 3- 4%, but most of them do not mention the percentage of the chemicals on the packets which can cause skin allergy, cancer, kidney problem. Hydroquinone is a strong inhibitor of melanin production, meaning that it prevents skin from making the substance responsible for skin color. Hydroquinone does not bleach the skin but lightens it, and can only disrupt the synthesis and production of melanin hyperpigmentation. It has been banned in some countries (e.g. France) because of fears of a cancer risk.

I am not trying to turn you away from the fairness cream you have used for some years now but I just want you to question the products you use. You should think before you apply something on your face because it represents you. Anything that is used by you or comes in contact with you changes and formulates your personality. If you are applying a cream to your face because it boost your confidence it is okay but you should question if you are comfortable in your natural skin color. I am not against some person using anything on their face but the question is of “questioning” the product.

Some Myths About Fairness Creams

• Fairness creams can make you fair: All fairness cream or skin whitening creams are effective only if the pigment is in the epidermis. If the pigment is deeper, the product canot help or make changes. Thus, fairness cream can help remove a tan or discoloration due to some pigment in the top layer of the skin. It cannot make a dark person fair.
• Manufacturers list all their ingredients on the product label: This is not true. Manufacturers are not required by law to mention all the ingredients on the product label.
• Fair skin is better than dark skin: Medically, dark skin is believed to be less vulnerable to skin diseases than light skin. More melanin in dark skins provides protection from the sun and, in turn, disease. Light skin contains less melanin and thus less protection.
• Ayurvedic or herbal fairness creams have no chemicals: This is a myth. Only home remedies for fairness can be free of chemicals. All commercial products have chemical bases that give them the texture and consistency and preservatives that prevent them from going bad.
• Herbal ingredients have no side effects: A person can be allergic to plant based herbal ingredients also. It is advisable that they apply the cream to a small area on their hands before using them.

There are natural variants to make your skin ‘clear.’ I use lemon on my face; that is the only thing I have used for 2 years now to brighten my face. The lemon enhances your skins natural glow. Lemon will not erode the upper layer of the skin but it will lighten the imperfection in your complexion. I am not miss 'twilight vampire', but I like my complexion. Be proud of what you have, any color, any shape, any size… a person is beautiful either way :)

Why I Don't Use Pore Strips

I was a big fan of the “pore strips” from a lot of brands like Biore, Nivea, Tzone etc. Nivea has pore strips especially designed for the chin and forehead area too. At first, it seemed super exciting as to how this tiny strip would just remove all of my whiteheads and blackheads, but then my skin started to react awfully to these strips. After a long Google search and speaking with a few friends, who suffered the same reactions, I decided I need to inform you ladies about the same.

Usually, every brand recommends that we should use these strips once or twice every week. That being said, another research says we shouldn’t use these strips more than 3-4 times in a month. I followed all the instructions carefully and also took off the strip really carefully after it dried up. After a few months, I started noticing broken capillaries on the corners of my nose and on my chin. This is when I started searching online for remedies and causes. To my surprise, using pore strips can cause broken capillaries.

What are Capillaries?

These are the smallest blood vessels of our body that help in microcirculation of blood.  When these break, they appear as fine red threads of blood under the skin and are quiet visible. Broken capillaries occur when the capillary walls narrow  nd widen too quickly causing the muscles in the walls to tear. This in turn allows the blood to seep out resulting in broken capillaries.

How Can Pore Strips Cause Broken Capillaries?

The answer is simple. When you pull the pore strip off, no matter how slowly and carefully you’re doing it, you manage to damage the first layer of your skin. Your skin is pulled. The skin around your nose, cheekbones and chin is more sensitive than that of your forehead.

Broken Capillaries are permanent.  Luckily for me, there are just 2 tiny ones on my nose and 1 on my chin and aren’t very visible. I haven’t used pore strips ever since my horrible experience. I go for facials instead now; something that I got super broke or lazy to go for earlier.

Moreover, all this pulling and tugging of your skin by the pore strips tends to make your skin wrinkle faster according to a few studies. That’s not a surprise though since damaged skin ages faster than healthy skin.

Also, all those chemicals in the glue that help to get the blackheads out aren’t safe for your skin and I wouldn’t recommend using these strips religiously.

To conclude it all, pore strips definitely help to clear out your blackheads, but do they fight the main cause of the blackheads? No, they don’t. Blackheads usually appear in a few days to a week after using these strips leading you to getting hooked on to these strips and using them way too often. I would suggest sticking to regular facials which are safer for the skin and include proper exfoliation of the skin in your skin care regime.

Hope this review helps you ladies out and please don’t use those strips too often! Be nice to your skin.

Review: Nivea Facial Night Cream vs. Nivea Facial Day Cream

I recently received a box of wonderful Nivea products from Symbiotic Communications.

Now, Nivea has always been one of my most used and favourite products!

I'm going to be comparing two special creams that I found in the box; the Nivea Perfect&Radiant Facial Day Cream and the Nivea Perfect&Radiant Facial Night Cream.

Basically this is a breakdown of the two different creams and although they have total different time usage specifications, I'll be giving my thoughts on which one I find most efficient to my skin routine.

Lets start off with the Facial Day Cream:

NIVEA Perfect & Radiant Facial day cream SPF 15 with the innovative Eventone Pure Active works deep within the skin cells to visibly reduce dark marks and uneven skin tone. Daily sun protection (SPF15) protects the skin, preventing future skin darkening, while advanced mattifiers prevent oily shine.

The silky, smooth formula, enriched with Eventone Pure Active and Vitamin E, works to gradually enhance skin complexion while visibly reducing the appearance of dark marks.

Results on skin:

• Inner radiance is revealed.
• The appearance of dark marks and spots is reduced.
• Visibly more even and mattified skin.
• Skin tone is evened out, and complexion improved.
• Skin feels soft and smooth.

Although I see nothing different in this day cream compared to others, this day cream moistened my skin and provided me with an excellent base start to my makeup applications.

With that said, the results of the Facial Night Cream:

A silky-smooth nourishing formula, enriched with Eventone Pure Active and Pro Vitamin B5, increases cell renewal and regenerates the skin. Works during the night to gradually balance skin complexion and restore its natural even tone and radiance.

Results On Skin

• Works to increase cell renewal and regenerate the skin
• Skin tone is brighter and more radiant
• Dark marks are reduced
• Provides skin with lasting nourishment and moisture
• Skin feels soft and smooth

When I first apply this night cream(after washing my face, before bed) I always get a fresh smell that is never too over-powering. What's different about this compared to other night creams is that when I wake up, my face actually feels hydrated and soft, without the oiliness!

With that being said, it's clear that I favour the Nivea Facial Night Cream over the Day Cream because I can not only see the effects more but feel it too.

A big thank you to Symbiotic Communications

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More awesome reviews coming soon!