Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Standout and Shameless - Review, Swatches

Revlon launched these lip crayons in a matte finish last year internationally and I know that a lot of you are waiting for this product to hit Indian shores. Well, the wait might be over pretty soon coz a little birdie told me that we will be able to get our hands on them maybe in the next two or three months. Yay for that! While in Singapore earlier this year, I checked out all the ten shades and I can tell you that they are definitely worth waiting for. The colors are so pretty!. In Singapore, drugstore products cost a bomb specially the ones that are imported and I paid around a thousand each for these two products. Foolish? Yes considering that when they launch here, I'll probably be able to get two at the same price. But then, I really wanted to try them out and did not want to wait! I picked up the two colors that stood out for me. Standout, a bright red and Shameless, an eggplant purple.

The Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm comes in a chunky lip crayon form and the look is the same as the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain.  I like that these are twist up pencils so you don't have to bother with sharpening. What I don't like is the mint fragrance and the slight tingling/cooling sensation on application. Thankfully it goes away very soon.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Standout and Shameless

The crayons are very pigmented and creamy to apply. I would say that they have a semi-matte finish and give a slight sheen to the lips. I know Revlon named them as balms but don't really expect them to do the work of a lip balm. They go on extremely smooth but won't say that these are too hydrating. Mildly so but they don't dry out lips either. 

The two shades I bought are Standout, a gorgeous red that goes on so smooth. This color reminds me Revlon's Really Red lipstick from their matte range. If you love red, this is a color to have.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Standout

The other shade is Shameless, a very close dupe of MAC's Heroine lipstick. Its a dark eggplant purple with pink undertones and has excellent pigmentation. This one is the girl who loves bold, bright and offbeat colors. 

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Shameless

If you are a fan of matte/semi-matte lipsticks, these you will love. They are convenient to use, travel friendly and have excellent texture, pigmentation and wear time. I love!

Which color did you like?

Revlon Emerald/Empire PhotoReady Kajal - Review, Photos, Swatches

Revlon has been launching new products for us pretty frequently and one of them is the PhotoReady Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener. I'm a huge fan of colored eye pencils and anything new that comes out in the market in this category, 90% chance I'm gonna buy it. So here I am with my thoughts on the shade Emerald/Empire. All of you who read Temptalia probably saw that Christine rated this product D+. After reading her review, I was actually in two minds whether to buy or not. But then I swatched the kajal at the revlon counter and absolutely loved the dark rich emerald color. I was also on the lookout for a nude eye pencil and since I was getting both colors in one pencil, bought it. Do I agree with Christine's rating now that I've tried Emerald/Empire? Read on to find out. 

What is the Revlon PhotoReady Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener?

It is a dual-ended eyeliner with a bolder, deeper shade on one end for lining and defining, and a brightening shade on the opposite end to open up the eyes. Revlon says both shades can be applied to the inner rim of the eye, should last all-day long and have a creamy formula that glides on smoothly. 

About the shades Emerald & Empire

Emerald - Blue-tinted teal with a matte finish.

Empire - Nude/light beige with a matte finish.

Revlon Emerald/Empire PhotoReady Kajal Swatch

My thoughts on both:

Emerald - this is a gorgeous color that is dark, deep, rich and looks lovely. The pigmentation is great and there is super color payoff.  But I do find that it's slightly hard so does not really glide on too smoothly. I wear Emerald both on the lids as well as water line and there is no irritation. Christine's major issue with these shades is the staying power specially with Empire. I have no issues with Emerald's staying power though. On me, it lasts for nearly six hours without smudging and I love it. Helps that I don't have oily lids but I think this will last on everyone without any smudging or fading problem.

Empire - This is the problematic one. No complaints with the color as it looks wonderful on the water line. A nude color looks much better than white which can be too stark and this color is perfect. No complaints about the texture and pigmentation as well. Empire is creamier and does glide on smoothly. The only problem is that it has bad staying power, at least on me. When I apply, the color pay off is great but after 30 mins or so it fades away and I can hardly see anything on the eyes. And I don't have a slippery waterline! If only Revlon had cracked the staying power of this shade, the pencil would have been an absolute must have!.

Used Emerald on my upper lashline

Now coming to the rating. Will I give the same D+ as Christine of Temptalia? No, I won't because one of the shades has really worked for me. I love Emerald and would recommend this color to everyone who likes using colored liner. Emerald for me is an A+. On the other hand, Empire is rather disappointing. I had such high expectations from this nude pencil but the fading away bit is a major put off. Empire on it's own is a D. Also, the pencil needs to be sharpened which equals to product loss. Keeping all these in mind, I'll give the Revlon Emerald/Empire PhotoReady Kajal a C. 

Should you buy Emerald/Empire? Yes, if you like emerald/teal on your eyes and don't mind spending Rs 395 to get value out of only one shade mostly. No, if you think Rs 395 is too much for a pencil that is only worth one shade. 

Have you tried Emerald/Empire or any other shade of the new Revlon Emerald/Empire PhotoReady Kajal?

EOTD with Orange, Bronzy Plum and Emerald

Yesterday evening I was going through my eye shadow collection and came across the Maybelline color tattoo in Fierce and Tangy tucked away in the corner of my makeup box. It's been a really long time since I've used the color so thought of doing a look with that bright orange shade. I bought MAC's Sable eye shadow some days back and wanted to see if it would pair well with Fierce and Tangy (Yes, I love experimenting with different colors). Also used Revlon's latest Photoready Kajal in Emerald Empire, a gorgeous dark emerald green to give that pop of color along with lots of mascara. I used the Bourjois Maxi Frange Mascara in Prune Bien Coifee. I know all these colors together sound odd but the net result wasn't too bad. Makeup is all about experimenting right?

Here's what I did :

1. Used my fingers to apply Fierce and Tangy all over the lids and blended the edges with the Real Techniques duo-fiber eye brush. The brush pokes the eye and has uneven bristles but is excellent as a blending brush and to apply color along the crease. 

2. Used the same brush to apply Sable on the Crease and outer corners and blended them well. This is a gorgeous bronzy golden plum and it goes with everything. One of MAC's greatest hits and highly recommended!

3. Lined eyes with the Revlon kajal. The color is rich and very well pigmented but I did not like the texture . Way too hard and there was a bit of pulling and tugging involved.

4. Applied the Bourjois mascara. Bought it from strawberrynet so dunno if this one is available here. The color is pretty unique - a mix of plum and coffee and I like that it looks very natural. Only problem is that the mascara tends to clump if too many coats are applied. 

5, Lined lower lashline with the Maybelline kajal (that got smudged slightly)

And voila the eye makeup is done! Takes about 5 mins, super easy to do, not a ton of products required and looks quite nice. What do you think? Since I was playing with colors in the evening, had to take the pics in artificial light so sorry about that!

Revlon Professional announces the Launch “Rene Furterer” in India

Mumbai, July 12th: Adding and expanding its professional cosmetic Range, Modi Revlon is bringing in its premium range of professional products “Rene Furterer” in India.  The launch of Rene Furterer was organized in Mumbai at the Grand Hyatt with Mr. Umesh Modi, Chairman & CEO, Modi Group & Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan amongst faces from beauty fraternity.

  

Revlon Professional tied up with French company Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique and are all set to Launch Rene Furterer in India to market their premium scalp & hair treatment brand. International technical beauty adviser in Cosmetics, Diego Perez Marin also demonstrated Rene Furterer 100% Natural Product Range to the present esteemed audiences.  

Rene Furterer product range will include some of the finest hair care products introduced in India. The products include CARTHAME Dry scalp and hair, CURBICIA Oily scalp, KARITE Very dry scalp and hair, TRIPHASIC Hair loss, OKARA Colour and Highlights and COMPLEXE 5 Essential care amongst several others.

Sharing his views on the launch of the Rene Furterer range in India, Mr. Umesh Modi, Chairman & CEO, Modi Group said “It gives us immense pleasure to announce the launch of Rene Furterer in India. At Revlon Professional, we have always strived to bring the best of the world to our customers and through our association with Pierre Fabre, we will offer exactly that to our customers”

“We believe that the philosophy of this prestigious French brand based on specific ritual including scalp massage and usage of natural essential oils products corresponds well to the need and tradition of Indian customers concerned by the beauty and health of their hair.” Added Mr. Pierre Behnam, Pierre Fabre Country Head in India

Revlon ColorBurst Lip gloss in Peony - Review, Swatch, FOTD

I had seen Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss Peony in a Lisa Eldridge video and the very next I ordered it online. First reason for ordering - it looked really pretty on the model on whom Lisa used this, second because it was recommended by Lisa, third, because not many products that she uses are readily available to us but this one I could easily get my hands on and the last reason , I did not have to spend my own money. I was given a voucher to shop from myntra from the lovely people over there and this was one of the products I got. To see what else I got, click here

I told you the reasons why I bought Peony and they all are pretty valid but I just missed out on thinking about one teeny tiny thing while ordering this. My skin tone and the model's skin tone in Lisa's video are poles apart! On her fair skin, the color was a beautiful peach with golden shimmer. On my NC 43-44 skin tone, on its own, it is just the shimmer :(.. Disappointed? Yes obviously! and that is why you should not blindly follow what famous makeup artists do in their videos. Always always keep in mind your skin tone while buying makeup. What works on one might not necessarily work on you.

I could have not written this review simply because the color does not work for me as much as I would have wanted it to. But I wrote it keeping in mind all you pretties who have lighter skin tones and for you Peony is a beautiful shade to be worn alone or layered on top of a lipstick! Like I said, its a peach with golden shimmer that does not feel gritty on the lips. I love Revlon's ColorBurst glosses and honestly think they are one of the best in the drugstore market now. These glosses look pretty, the sponge applicator applies the gloss effortlessly, they have a lovely texture, go on smooth and are non-sticky. On me, the color is absolutely sheer but on lighter skin tones, will work pretty ok. Don't expect a lot of pigmentation though. I've been layering the gloss on top of lipsticks and I get around 3-4 hrs of wear time. On its own, this will probably give you about 2 hrs.

Take a look at how the gloss looks on my NC 43-44 skin tone

Here's how it looks on my friend who is much lighter than I am 

If you have a light skin tone, Peony is a beautiful shade for you to be worn on its own or on top of lipsticks. Specially corals and pinks. Not that darker skin tones can't  wear this. Just pair it with a lipstick.

Have you tried Peony?

Revlon Nail Art Moon Candy Nail Enamel Eclipse - Review, Pics, Swatches

Ever since I came across Revlon's nail art range of polishes in international blogs, I've always wanted to lay my hands on these pretty pieces although I must admit that I've never been much into nail art. I love looking and appreciating what amazing things some of you come up with but there is just too much of effort involved in creating something intricate and me basically being a lazy person, I take the easy way out. The max I do is apply glitter on my nails and that is my version of nail art :)..

For people like me as well as serious lovers of nail art, Revlon's new launch will make us very happy. Priced at Rs 300 each, the new line of dual ended polishes comes in three variances - Neon, Moon Candy and Expressionist. Neon range has a white base coat and a bright top coat for a pop of shocking color, Expressionist range has a skinny brush to help draw masterpieces on your nails and Moon Candy has chunky foil flakes to give a 3D effect. I'm always drawn to anything that is shiny and glittery so picked up a Moon Candy in the shade Eclipse.  

Here's what I think about Eclipse:

1. The polish looks pretty cool. On one side, its a dark purple which is the base color and on the other side, a blue and purple flakie polish and the combination works really well. So for Rs 300, you are basically getting two polishes which is decent value for money. They are also great for travel since they do not take up too much space. 

2. The base coat which is the dark purple applies quite well. It goes opaque in about 2 coats and has a moderately glossy finish. Thankfully dries up pretty fast as well.

3. The other end of the tube has the chunky glittery foil flakes. Even though the bottle looks pink, on the nails it turned out to be more blue/purple. I first applied one coat and saw that hardly anything was transferred on to the nails so went in for a second coat.

4. The combination of the dark purple with the flakes is really eye catching and looks lovely. The flakes themselves are rather disappointing though. I love what they do but are too chunky and uneven which means that they do not fall flat on the nails. Some edges stick out so you will need to lightly press them back on. One tip while using any Moon Candy polish - dab to place the flakes rather than sweep them across the nails. That's my learning.

3. Dry time is a bit longer than usual because the flakie polish is thicker than the base coat. So be patient after you have applied this and keep it only to two coats. If you apply more, because of how thick it is, your nails will become a gooey mess!

4. I've been wearing it for about a day and a half now and still have not noticed any chipping. I'm assuming it will be more easier to remove than glitter polish.

Overall Thoughts:

I would have liked the flakie polish to have applied more evenly and sparkle more. The iridescent effect looks good but then 'Ye Dil Always Mange More' right? Despite these few shortcomings, I still think these polishes are worth trying and are decent value for money. There are plenty of shades to choose from so you will definitely find one that you really like. Here's a preview of what's on offer.

Which one do you want to try?

Revlon's New Kids on the Block and What to TOTALLY STAY AWAY FROM!!

Yesterday I turned a year older and celebrated my birthday with friends and family over lots of yummy food and desserts. I must have gained at least a couple of kilos yesterday as a result of all the hogging and no I'm not feeling guilty at all! :)..Along with the hogging, I also indulged in a little bit of shopping. Went with my mom to South City mall and was very happy to see the Rimmel and Sally Hansen counters all stocked up. I bought two lipsticks from Rimmel, one cream eyeshadow and a BB cream from Deborah Milano and a Colorburst Lip Butter and Baby Stick from Revlon's new The Pacific Coast collection.

Now anything new that comes out, I have this immense craving to own at least one piece of it. The Pacific Coast collection has four new shades of lip butters and three shades of Baby Stick, a multi purpose product that can be used both on the lips and cheeks. The stick is tiny but looks so cute that I had to have one. I went for the shade Sunset in the Baby Stick and Sorbet in the Lip Butter. Unfortunately, the Revlon counter did not have testers so I had to go with the color of the tubes. Sorbet is a very bright pink and Sunset, a flaming red/orange. Today morning I was trying out the colors and now I'm feeling like an utter idiot purchasing Sunset. I judged the book by its cover and now totally regretting spending Rs 500 on that stupid thing. 

Sunset has a flaming red/orange look but the thing just does not have any color! No idea if I got a faulty piece but WTH! Something that looks so bright has to have some color right? But no, this is as clear as it gets. Maybe a very very slight tinge on the lips but that's about it. Forget about using it on the cheeks, I'm not using this at all. The texture is also extremely waxy and feels very odd. A total NO from me and I would not recommend this product to anyone. 500 gone down the drain :((((((((...

Two swipes of Sunset on my lips. Where is the color!!!!!!!!!!

Sorbet is very nice though. I do love bright colors but sometimes its nice to go a bit sheer. This is a very bright fuchsia pink in the tube but on the lips, its more subtle. A shade that can be worn by everyone and looks very fresh, vibrant and perfect for summer. The price is Rs 600. Detailed review coming up.

There's also another new shade in the Lip Butter range that you can check out. Its called Wild Watermelon and its a pretty reddish orange. Do stay away from the Baby Sticks though!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous - Review, FOTD

Revlon has recently launched the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in stores and if you haven't got one yet, I'd  say you definitely should. I like these much better than the lip butters coz of these reasons - they are way more pigmented, the chubby crayon like packaging is super cute and travel friendly and it helps that it's a retractable stick so no issues with sharpening and the color lasts on the lips longer than the lip butters. I have two of these balm stains now, one, a bright fuchsia ,Lovesick which I reviewed here and I got another one last week that I'll talk about today. A bright coral orange called Rendezvous. 

Rendezvous is a lovely bright slightly sheer glossy coral orange stain. For those who are afraid of orange lipstick, try using this to get accustomed to the color. It looks very bright in the tube but on the lips, the orange is much more muted. You can always build up the color though based on your preference but since this is essentially a lip balm + stain, it will not be as bright as a lipstick.

Like I mentioned in my earlier review of Lovesick, the one thing that I dislike about the balm stains is the smell. There are so many pleasant fragrances. No idea why Revlon chose to go with a mint one. It smells of 'polo' and that is not something I like. In terms of moisturising the lips, it's definitely better than a lip stain as it does not make the lips dry but I would not call the balm stains super moisturising either. In this department  they are good but not super good! 

The Revlon balm stains are supposed to be dupes of the Clinique Chubby Sticks. I haven't tried those so can't comment but the Revlon ones are much more affordable at Rs 600 and has some really pretty colors. If you like lip stains, you should definitely give these a try as they stain the lips really well with a glossy sheen. The glossy finish wears off after sometime but the stain lasts on the lips for nearly 5 hours on me which is pretty good. No issues with bleeding or feathering either. Plus the lip balm is a very welcome addition to the formula.

Here's what I look like wearing Rendezvous..

Have you tried any of the Kissable Balm Stains?

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick - Review & Swatches

Phew that's a long name for a product! It was lovingly sent to me by my sister-in-law from Singapore, along with a few other things which you saw here. After a lot of searching on the net for swatches, I finally settled on the color Lovesick, a bright and pretty fuchsia. I've been using the product quite regularly so here are my thoughts about it.




The Kissable Balm Stains are supposed to be dupes of Clinique's Chubby Sticks, which people have been raving about in 2012. I'm yet to try one of the Chubby Sticks, so can't really give you a comparison of both but whatever I've seen and used of Lovesick, sharing with you.

What is it?

A pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood. In the US, its priced at $8.

Packaging - The packaging is a cute pink plastic chubby twist up crayon. The tube is colored to match the shade of the crayon so it's very easy to figure out the shade. The silver part at the bottom twists the product up and down so thankfully, no need to search for a gigantic sharpener for these babies.

Fragrance - It smells of mint and I hate it! Revlon, couldn't you find any fragrance other than this plasticky minty scent! There's also a slight tingly sensation when applied on to the lips which goes away after a few seconds.

Color - I got the shade Lovesick, which is a bright fuchsia. Although, this is a balm stain, the pigmentation is surprisingly good. If you see the hand swatch, it looks sheer but on the lips, there is quite a bit of color, that is buildable. The color is bright but not the 'in your face' bright and there is also a slight sheen on the lips which looks really nice. This is a shade that will look good on every skin tone.

Texture - Slightly waxy but applies very smoothly on the lips. The soft rounded tip gives complete control for easy and precise application.

Moisturising - Even though this is supposed to be a Balm Stain, I do not find Lovesick to be super duper moisturising. It does not make my lips dry like lip stains do but I would also not replace my lip balm with this.

Staying Power - The balmy feeling disappears after 30 minutes of application but the stain remains for at least 1-2 hrs. This is not particularly long lasting and you do need to reapply frequently.

Overall Thoughts :

I would not say that the Balm Stain is a wonder product and a 'must have'. It's rather a 'nice to have' product. Don't expect them to be super moisturising and long lasting but if you like a lip color which is decently pigmented, gives a nice sheer finish and leaves a stain after fading, you will enjoy the Balm Stains. Don't know when these will be launched in India and unless they are priced ridiculously high, go ahead and try one.

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup - Review & Swatch

Last week when I saw the Revlon Colorstay whipped creme makeup in a store, I was so happy that I snagged one immediately. In fact I was the first one to do so after the launch in the store! Not that I need another foundation, but this one was just too hard to resist. At Rs 800, it seemed quite decently priced and I loved the luxurious look of it. Have been using it pretty regularly since last week so all set to share my thoughts on the product.

What is it?

This is the newest addition to Revlon's colorstay range and was launched in the US some months back. The mousse-like texture feels like silk on your skin. And, the time release formula balances skin for a flawless look. All day flexible wear without flaking, caking or feeling heavy. 

In the US, it is available in 16 shades. However, I saw about four in the store here. I was confused between Natural Tan and Warm Golden and after a lot of thought went in for the latter, a warm medium shade. It brightens up my complexion and I love that!

Packaging - While I love the luxurious high-end Chanel-esque look of the foundation, I wish it wasn't this heavy! The tub is made of glass therefore its very bulky and not great for travelling at all. However, if you happen to have one of these in your bags, it can double up as a weapon as well! Aim this at anyone's face and sure shot, you will do some serious damage. The big tub is also extremely misleading! Inside, it houses only 0.8 oz of product which is quite less than the normal weight of foundations. I was actually very happy when I paid Rs 800 for this coz I thought wow so much product!! But when I took a closer look, it was only an illusion! Thankfully, you only need a little bit of this so one tub will last for quite a while. The tub looks great but if you are like me and like to use your fingers to apply foundation, this is not something you will like. I hate dipping my fingers inside tubs to apply makeup! Messy and so unhygienic!

Texture - Its not a cream foundation nor is it a mousse. The consistency is much thicker and dense but when applied on the face, you hardly feel as if there is anything on. The ingredient list mentions silicone as a major ingredient so its feels like a primer when applied but then settles down to a weightless finish. I have used this on my face with and without applying a moisturiser first and feel that it gives a much better finish when the face is well hydrated. Nothing heavy but it needs a bit of moisture to spread evenly. 

Application - I use my fingers to apply the foundation as I feel it spreads and blends much better with their help. Once I'm done with the blending, run a kabuki brush over it to ensure a smoother finish. 

Coverage - Medium to Heavy and it is buildable. Initially there can be a whitish cast on the face but once the foundation settles down, the appearance is flawless and natural.

Finish - Even though, this is said to give a matte finish, I find it more of a semi-matte on me. It does not dry out the skin and leaves it looking slightly dewy. I have not used a powder on top of this and don't find the need to as well. I also do not use this on top of a primer. The airbrushed look is achieved even without one.

Staying Power - The product claims to stay on for 24 hrs. Not that I'm ever gonna wear foundation for so long, but I can vouch for its claims. The product wears incredibly well and even after 12 hrs, I didn't see fading. I did not need to even touch up once during the 12 hrs. It stays put very well and there is no issue with transfer. Once its on the face, you need not worry about it at all. Despite being a long-staying foundation, it's easily removed with a makeup wipe. 

To sum up:

Pros:

1. Natural Finish

2. Lightweight

3. Provides medium to heavy coverage

4. Has SPF 20

5. Long Lasting

6. Controls oil production

7. No breakouts after application

Cons :

1. Bulky packaging, unhygienic and not suitable for travel at all. 

2. Less product as compared to regular foundations.

3. Can be slightly drying for those with very dry skin.

4. Because of SPF, leaves a whitish cast in photos that are taken at night

My hand does not really have so many spots..Its all due to less light!

See how well it blends and how flawless my hand looks now! Pic taken under natural light

I'm really pleased with this foundation and can definitely see myself repurchasing once this one runs out. Will highly recommend this!

Have you tried the Whipped Creme Makeup?

Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick Black Cherry - Review, Swatches

Smitten by Berenice Marlohe's makeup in Skyfall and want to get dark, vampy lips like her? Then do not miss out on getting Revlon's Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Black Cherry, a very deep reddish purple color.

I love the Super Lustrous range for their wide range of colors, intense pigmentation and creamy texture. The packaging is classic Revlon with a clear top so its easy to figure out the shade. Even though it looks almost like a black color in the tube, worry not, it lightens up quite a bit when applied on the lips. Because of the dark color and creamy texture, application of Black Cherry can be a bit tricky though and I would recommend using a lip brush to fill in the color. The lipstick glides on easily and leaves a reddish stain on the lips before fading. These lipsticks are not long lasting unfortunately and the max I can get out of Black Cherry is 2 hours. There is also a bit of issue with transfer and bleeding.

A lipstick that I can think of which looks almost identical to Black Cherry is MAC's Media. Black Cherry is glossier and maybe slightly more reddish than Media but both are absolutely gorgeous shades, perfect for winter. 

Personally, whenever I wear a dark lip color, I prefer going semi-matte because I think it looks more polished. I apply a couple of swipes of Black Cherry and then pat a tissue over it. If you like the glossier version, wear as it is. 

I'm loving this shade and its definitely one that I'm reaching out to a lot. It might not suit everyone's tastes but if you want to go super dark this season, then Black Cherry might be the color for you. I got it from medplusbeauty for Rs 400.