Showing posts with label Beauty Blogger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty Blogger. Show all posts
Dancebee Beauty | Skincare Talk - Mitchell USA (Review)
Winter is upon us, and those with normal to dry skin have already begun prepping up for the dry, harsh weather ahead. While the market is packed with an array of skincare products, it can be quite overwhelming to choose what suits our skin type and concern. However, we are fans of brands that focus on specific concerns and highlight them prominently. One such brand happens to be Mitchell USA, that was launched recently in India. With a strong focus on anti-ageing, pigmentation, discolouration among other concerns, some of the skin care products by Mitchell USA look quite promising, especially for the ongoing season.
Recently, the brand invited us to try some of their latest beauty products. Since I did not fit the requirement for these products, which mostly focus on anti-ageing (and I strongly believe it is important for me to present an honest opinion for you guys), I decided to invite a close friend for this experiential. Over a period of 7 days, she tried some of the products from the brand's ' Age-Less' range. Here's presenting an introduction to the brand, along with a 'tried and tested' honest review.
*Note: None of us at Team Dancebee are huge fans of any product that endorses fairness or skin brightening. For us, beauty comes from within and has nothing to do with colour, shape or size. It helps that our volunteer too was on the same page as us. So, although the range also highlights skin brightening, we will not be focusing on that aspect, because we don't endorse 'fairness' in anyway.
*Note: None of us at Team Dancebee are huge fans of any product that endorses fairness or skin brightening. For us, beauty comes from within and has nothing to do with colour, shape or size. It helps that our volunteer too was on the same page as us. So, although the range also highlights skin brightening, we will not be focusing on that aspect, because we don't endorse 'fairness' in anyway.
What? - Mitchell USA Age-Less range of products
Price: Rs 550 onwards
What do they promise? - Mitchell's age-less range is your non-invasive solution for tightening, lifting skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin tone.
Ingredients: The age-less product range contains Lotus BioRepair MT Complex, which combines extracts from Sacred Lotus Seed (which the brand claims is approximately 1288 years old), with peptides, antioxidants, amino acids, anti-inflammatory botanicals and algae extracts
Tested on: Female, 35-year-old (name with held on request)
Skin Type: Combination
Test period: 7 days (One week)
Product Trial & Review (as stated by our volunteer): Before starting off with this trial, I went through the product details of each item to understand the concern it targets. According to the brand, the range is curated and crafted specially for Indian skin type and tone. After understanding all the products, I created two regimes, one each for day and night.
Day Regime: I start off by using the Papaya Brightening Cleanser. It promises to refine pores and leave the skin feeling smooth. The texture is creamy, and naturally, it has a fruity fragrance. I like massaging this cleanser on my face for sometime, before rinsing it off. The product did not dry out my skin, which helps. The fragrance was a bit too fruity for me, but the cleanser did a decent job. This was followed by the Lift & Firm Tightening Serum. A little bit of this product goes a long way. Lastly, I used the Skin Energiser Peptide Cream. Although the texture was smooth and creamy, it absorbed very well. The fragrance is subtle, which I like. It hydrates pretty well and creates a good canvas for make up as well.
Night Regime: After removing my make up, I cleanse my face with the Papaya Brightening Cleanser. This is followed by the Lift & Firm serum. I used the Night Therapy Anti-Wrinkle cream, which has some good repair and nourishment properties, which works well on your skin overnight. I like to massage this product all over my face, leaving the eye & neck area. Then, I used the Lineless Eye complex, which is an excellent under eye serum and one of my favourite products from the range. It helps reduce puffiness and minimises fine lines. Finally, I massaged the neck area with Neck Therapy Refining Cream. Neck is usually the most neglected area, and it helps that they have a product dedicated to it, which helps in improving the skin texture and firmness. Twice a week, I used the Skin Polish Exfoliating Cream (I skip cleansing, as this one does a fine job anyway). It's a creamy, grainy exfoliator. The product is wonderful, as it helped remove all the excess dirt, sebum quite efficiently. All the creams, including the exfoliator, have a standard fragrance, which is subtle.
Post Trial Experience: A week is not enough to understand the way a product works on your skin. It takes a good amount of time for them to work their magic. However, while sticking to our deadline, there are few things that I did notice. Firstly, the eye serum was fabulous! It helped reduce the puffiness to a good extent. Also, it hydrated the eye area really well. Secondly, I loved the neck therapy cream. It hydrates the neck area and works well to improve the skin texture. I am sure there will be a visible difference with continuous use. Definitely a favourite, and I will be re-purchasing it for sure. Lastly, Peptide hydration cream is a good addition to your daily regime for winter. It moisturises the skin really well and keeps it supple for a good number of hours. Another product that I wouldn't mind repurchasing. The cleanser was just like any other, and the fragrance kind of put me off. So, that's not on my favourites list. The night therapy cream was also pretty good.
Pros: Elegant, easy to carry packaging
Subtle fragrance (except the face wash)
Fine texture
Absorbs very well and leaves the skin feeling smooth
Does a fine job of living up to some of the promises
Hydrates and nourishes the skin very well
Cons: Promotes skin brightening
Not cruelty free (or at least, that's what we think)
Final Verdict: Overall, it was a decent experience. The range scores full marks in the hydration, packaging and quality space. Wish they go a little easy on skin brightening.
Big thank you to our volunteer for taking time out and testing these products for our readers!
Price: Rs 550 onwards
What do they promise? - Mitchell's age-less range is your non-invasive solution for tightening, lifting skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin tone.
Ingredients: The age-less product range contains Lotus BioRepair MT Complex, which combines extracts from Sacred Lotus Seed (which the brand claims is approximately 1288 years old), with peptides, antioxidants, amino acids, anti-inflammatory botanicals and algae extracts
Tested on: Female, 35-year-old (name with held on request)
Skin Type: Combination
Test period: 7 days (One week)
Product Trial & Review (as stated by our volunteer): Before starting off with this trial, I went through the product details of each item to understand the concern it targets. According to the brand, the range is curated and crafted specially for Indian skin type and tone. After understanding all the products, I created two regimes, one each for day and night.
Day Regime: I start off by using the Papaya Brightening Cleanser. It promises to refine pores and leave the skin feeling smooth. The texture is creamy, and naturally, it has a fruity fragrance. I like massaging this cleanser on my face for sometime, before rinsing it off. The product did not dry out my skin, which helps. The fragrance was a bit too fruity for me, but the cleanser did a decent job. This was followed by the Lift & Firm Tightening Serum. A little bit of this product goes a long way. Lastly, I used the Skin Energiser Peptide Cream. Although the texture was smooth and creamy, it absorbed very well. The fragrance is subtle, which I like. It hydrates pretty well and creates a good canvas for make up as well.
Night Regime: After removing my make up, I cleanse my face with the Papaya Brightening Cleanser. This is followed by the Lift & Firm serum. I used the Night Therapy Anti-Wrinkle cream, which has some good repair and nourishment properties, which works well on your skin overnight. I like to massage this product all over my face, leaving the eye & neck area. Then, I used the Lineless Eye complex, which is an excellent under eye serum and one of my favourite products from the range. It helps reduce puffiness and minimises fine lines. Finally, I massaged the neck area with Neck Therapy Refining Cream. Neck is usually the most neglected area, and it helps that they have a product dedicated to it, which helps in improving the skin texture and firmness. Twice a week, I used the Skin Polish Exfoliating Cream (I skip cleansing, as this one does a fine job anyway). It's a creamy, grainy exfoliator. The product is wonderful, as it helped remove all the excess dirt, sebum quite efficiently. All the creams, including the exfoliator, have a standard fragrance, which is subtle.
Pros: Elegant, easy to carry packaging
Subtle fragrance (except the face wash)
Fine texture
Absorbs very well and leaves the skin feeling smooth
Does a fine job of living up to some of the promises
Hydrates and nourishes the skin very well
Cons: Promotes skin brightening
Not cruelty free (or at least, that's what we think)
Final Verdict: Overall, it was a decent experience. The range scores full marks in the hydration, packaging and quality space. Wish they go a little easy on skin brightening.
Big thank you to our volunteer for taking time out and testing these products for our readers!
Beauty on a Budget | Top Pink Lipsticks under Rs 500
We all love getting a steal deal, especially on apparel and accessories. But, when the same applies to make up, the joy is doubled. Everybody loves a good eyeshadow or mascara, especially the ones that don't burn a hole in your pocket and at the same time, deliver as they promise. In our new beauty series, we aim to get you covered on the latest trends and best beauty buys, all under a budget. To kick off the series, we picked one of our favourite lipstick shade - Pink, and got a round up of the best lipsticks under 500 INR. These are tried, tested and approved by Team Dancebee. So, get ready to fill your shopping cart with these budget beauty top picks.
Lakmè Enrich Crayon
Shade: Shocking pink
Price: Rs 185
What we love: Great quality and staying power at an affordable price. Plus, free sharpener too!
Elle 18 Color Pop Matte
Shade: Deep Pink
Price: Rs 100
What we love: Beautiful colour. Moisturising. Pocket sized beauty. All for 100 bucks!
Nykaa So Matte Lipstick
Shade: Frisky Fuschia 02 M
Price: Rs 399
What we love: A bright pop of creamy matte fuschia pink. Classy packaging.
Avon True Colour Perfectly Matte Lipstick
Shade: Electric Pink
Price: Rs 479
What we love: Good colour pay off. The perfect pop of pink to brighten up any day.
Lakme Enrich Matte Lipstick
Shade: PM 11
Price: Rs 295
What we love: Lovely bright pink with blue undertones. Glides on smoothly.
Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Gradation
Shade: Pink 2
Price: Rs 500
What we love: Super creamy texture. Great staying power. Decent matte finish.
Waiting to buy any of these? Would you like to add one of your favourites to the list?
Leave a comment below or join the conversation on
Love,
The Dancebee
MAC Vibe Tribe | Swatches, Review and Look
Okay! I confess. This post has been demanded by several readers and it was super delayed by some weeks. But, better late than never. MAC Cosmetics launched their exclusive Vibe Tribe range in around end of July / early August. Within a few days, most items were out of stock. I mean, just look at that packaging and colours. How can anyone resist? We were introduced to some products earlier last month. I must add that one of these products met with an unfortunate accident a day before this product shoot. A little kid made his way into my vanity area [when I was not around] and broke a few pieces of make up, including this Gleamtones Powder pan. Naturally, I was disappointed and very angry, but it didn't help as the damage was done. Fortunately, I had experienced the product well enough for this review. Now that I am done with the side story, here's what we think about the range.
What? - MAC Cosmetics Vibe Tribe range
Products: Gleamtones Powder, MAC Vibe Tribe lipstick
Price: $33 / Rs 2600 - MAC Gleamtones Powder
$18 - MAC Vibe Tribe Lipstick
Packaging: Gorgeous, to say the least! The entire range comes in an exclusive packaging, which has peach as it's base colour, with colourful aztec prints all over. A dash of blue here and a hint of coral there; the MAC vibe tribe range packaging is simply perfect. For most make up lovers, it was the packaging that scored a perfect 10, followed by other aspects of the product.
MAC Vibe Tribe Gleamtones Powder - Dunes at Dusk: A beautiful highlighter and bronzer, the MAC vibe tribe gleam tones powder comes with four blocks of shades - coral, tangerine, champagne and bronze, packed in an eye catching compact. Swirl the brush and blend those hues to get a nice sheen. Likewise, you can also use the shade / blend the shades that match your skin tone. Personally, I prefer blending the four shades together to achieve the perfect look. What I really like about this product is the fact that it serves as a highlighter palette, which helps especially when you've got an occasion where traveling is involved. Instead of carrying around multiple shades to get best results, the Gleamtones powder is all you need. For the price you pay, this is certainly a very good buy.
I have swatched three shades from the palette, which includes [L to R] champagne, peach / radiant coral and a cool fuchsia. Unfortunately, the bronze shade was completely damaged. Apologies for not being able to swatch it for you.
MAC Vibe Tribe Lipstick [Shade - Painted Sunset] - Most of you already know that I am a huge fan of bold lips. My vanity area is filled with a variety of bold hued lipsticks. I fell in love with this shade ever since it's launch and overtime, this has become one of my favourite lipsticks. The collection includes five shades, and this shade is one of them. Painted Sunset is a bright orange - red amplified lipstick, with a creamy finish that does not leave your lips feeling dry and glides on like a dream. Two swipes of this gorgeous colour and you are good to go for at least 4-5 hours. I swear by this shade on most gloomy days [it's been this way in Mumbai since sometime now]. Nothing like a gorgeous lipstick to uplift your mood and brighten up the day. Also, this is just the kind of a lipstick that you would wanna wear to Coachella. Hell Yeah!
So, here's the look I created using these two products. This was clicked on the last day of Lakmè Fashion Week W/F 2016, held in Mumbai last month. Here's how I created this look:
On my face: MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC 40
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation [for setting]
Eyes: MAC Liquid Eyeliner in Boot Black
Brows: MAC Eyebrows in Stylised
Lips: MAC Vibe Tribe - Painted Sunset
Highlighter: MAC Vibe Tribe Gleam Tones Powder [blending four shades]
Verdict: Beautiful packaging, good mix of colourful blushes, eye pencils, VFM worthy highlighter palette, fun nail lacquers and super pigmented lipsticks; the MAC vibe tribe range is everything that we could ask for, and more. This one's the perfect collector's delight!
Have you tried any product from this range? Let us know your feedback on Twitter.
Love,
The Dancebee
The Body Shop Drops of Light Serum | Review
The market is filled with skin care products that promise skin brightening. While we prefer running away from any product that unnecessarily promotes 'fairness' and forces people to dream of changing their complexion overnight (can't we just be happy with what we've got?), we are fans of products that hydrate and nourish. Stuff that can take care of our skin from within, and prevent it from further damage. The Body Shop's latest offering - Drops of Light, is just that! We were recently introduced to the Pure and Healthy serum from this range. After trying out the product for a month, here's what we think about it!
What? - The Body Shop Drops of Light Serum
Quantity - 30ml
Price - 2450 INR
What does it promise? - A very lightweight serum that absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving it velvety soft and shine free. Clinically proven to reduce the number and intensity of dark spots.
How to use? - Apply 2 to 3 drops onto the face and neck and gently massage into skin every morning and evening before applying a cream
Main Ingredients - Brightening red algae extract and Vitamin C derivative
Packaging - The serum comes in a beautiful 30ml glass bottle, similar to their Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil. This too comes with a tightly fitted cap, that has a dropper to dispense the product. Only difference here is the colour. The Drops of Life serum is housed in an elegant all white bottle. It is easy to carry and does not spill. Since it is a glass bottle, you need to take good care while traveling.
Fragrance - Light and refreshing. The fragrance is not very strong, but is good enough to lift your spirits and keep you feeling fresh.
Texture: Extremely soft and smooth. The serum is not too thick or runny. It perfectly absorbs into your skin and feel super light weight. The moment you massage the serum on your face, you can feel the velvety soft texture of the product. Zero greasiness, so those with oily skin need not fret. The serum provides good hydration for people with dry skin. The soft texture does not irritate, and is good for those with sensitive skin.
Experience: The Body Shop Drops of Light is a great light-weight serum, that can be worn under a moisturiser as well as make up, without making you worry about any heavy residue. We tried using it every morning and night, after cleansing, and followed it up with a hydrating moisturiser. The weather hasn't been too kind, especially on our skin and hair. Thankfully, this serum did a good job of hydrating our facial skin well. Post application, it leaves the skin feeling velvety smooth. We also tried using it without a moisturiser and still, the results were great. For a shoot, the product was tried on before make up and it helped add a dewy glow, which looked lovely. Even otherwise, the product does do a good job at maintaining your natural complexion well and adds a subtle glow which looks great. While it also promises to reduce dark spots, we think we should give the product some more time to work its wonders in that department. Like we always believe, Rome wasn't built in a day. So, how can we force any product to deliver results (on damages done over time) in just a month? Overall, we are quite happy with our experience and the serum has definitely made its way into our list of favourite skin care products of 2016 (so far).
Pros:
Perfect texture
Pretty packaging
Affordable for the price, quantity, quality and shelf life
Does not irritate the skin
Great to wear under make up
Tight fitted cap with dropper, which is convenient and hygienic
Cons:
Glass bottle needs to be handled with care
Verdict: The Body Shop has certainly scored high with their latest offering. If you have been looking for a serum that is soft, light, absorbs well and does not burn a hole in your pocket, go buy the Drops of Light serum and you won't be disappointed.
Have you tried any product from the new Drops of Light range by The Body Shop? Let us know your thoughts by adding a comment or join the conversation on Twitter @priyaadivarekar
Love,
The Dancebee
The Fruit Crush | Lakmé Lip Love Review
Summer maybe over, but our affair with summery fresh products shall last a little longer. After introducing the first Lip Love range with six shades last year, Lakmé introduced three new fruity shades in May this year. The new Lakmé Lip Love range, with actress Shraddha Kapoor as the face of it's campaign, promises to give a fresh tint with long lasting nourishment and a fruity fragrance to go with it. We tested the new variants and here's what we think about it. Read on!
 |
| In the image: Lakmé Lip Love in Raspberry |
What? - Lakmé Lip Love
What does it promise? - Hydrate your lips with Lakme Lip Love’s fruity hues to make them beautifully tinted while protecting your lips from sun damage.
Quantity: 3.8gm
Price: Rs 200
Shades: Raspberry, Tangerine and Blackcurrent
Available at: All major e-commerce sites, Lakmé beauty advisory counters across India and Lakmé Pro Stylist Studios.
Packaging: Plastic twist up tube in colours that match the tint and flavour. The plastic cover of the tube is very delicate, and may break if you drop it anywhere. So, do handle it with care. The packaging is travel friendly.
Our experience: True to their promise, the Lakmé Lip Love range is indeed very creamy and nourishing. These tinted sticks are nothing like the others available in the market. Some of them tend to get sticky and dry up after a few hours, and are impossible due to use in a humid climate. But, the Lakmé Lip Love passed this test successfully, even when the temperature went up to 43 degrees during our trip. The texture is smooth and glides on easily. The tinted stick centre is rich and creamy, which leaves your lips feeling hydrated. The tints are subtle. Perfect for a day when all you need is a natural look with a slight tinge of colour on your lips. Our favourite has to be Raspberry, but even Black current is quite interesting, as it leaves a nice hue of purple. Tangerine is very summery, and has a refreshing fragrance as well. The price is similar to other competitors of the product available in the market, but what gives the Lakmé Lip Love an edge is the fact that it is a dual core lip balm. It focuses on both hydration as well as leaving a tint, and also comes with SPF 15. So, you don't have to buy a separate lip product for other concerns. This one does a good job of taking care of it all.
Pros: Provides hydration
Subtle tints
Glides on easily
Well priced
Easily available
Cons: Delicate plastic twist tube packaging
Verdict: Once again, Lakmé has impressed us with their lip care range. With the right amount of care and a nice tint, the Lakmé Lip Love gets a thumbs up from us. Ditch your super shiny, sticky and boring lip balms for this already!
Shot by: Team Dancebee
Look Created Using: 9 to 5 Weightless Mousse Foundation
Absolute Gloss Artist (Black)
Absolute Precision Eye Artist Liner (Blue Sapphire)
Lip Love in Raspberry -- All by Lakmé
Love,
The Dancebee
Pick of the Month | The Body Shop British Rose Review
Who doesn't love smelling like a bunch of fresh flowers and enjoying supple skin all day long? Well, we sure do and when the folks at The Body Shop introduced us to their new range - British Rose about a month back, we were both super happy and a little skeptical. Happy, because the packaging took our breath away, and skeptical because our past experiences with products that contain Rose as the main ingredient wasn't very memorable. Fortunately for us, the British Rose range was nothing like the stuff that made us cringe at the whiff of a strong rosy fragrance (remember, the kind of products that make you feel like you've bathed in rose attar). On the contrary, The Body Shop has got a luxurious and sinful collection in the form of British Rose, which is perfect to indulge in on a sultry afternoon. Read on to know more.
What? - The Body Shop British Rose Range
Products Reviewed: British Rose Body Scrub, British Rose Body Butter
Price: Rs 1295 and Rs 1095 respectively
Quantity: 250ml and 200ml respectively
What do they promise?: The British Rose range is a British interpretation of a timeless icon of femininity. Our organic roses are hand picked, air-dried and then infused. Giving us exceptional quality rose essence for our products, leaving you glowing.
The Body Shop British Rose Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub
What does it promise? - Exfoliating feels exquisite with this beautiful gel textured body scrub with real rose petals. Infused with the essence of roses from Britain, it effortlessly melts onto the skin and gently refines to reveal smoother, fresher skin.
Packaging: Housed in a chic black jar, which is sturdy and makes the product easy to use. We took it along on a trip and the product did not spill.
Our experience: Easily one of the best scrubs launched by The Body Shop in recent times, the British Rose Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub is gentle on the skin. True to its promise, the scrub leaves your skin feeling smooth and supple. The gel based texture of the scrub makes it perfect for even those with sensitive skin (and I am one of them). The rich fragrance of British Rose is soft and aromatic; enough to make your regular shower feel like a royal bath. The scrub does a great job of getting rid of dead skin cells and ensures that you leave the shower feeling clean and fresh. The fragrance lasts for a good 2-3 hours post shower.
The Body Shop British Rose Instant Body Glow Body Butter
What does it promise? - Indulge in dewy hydration with our first Body Butter with glow enhancing rose essence. Beautifully pearlescent, this velvety-soft moisturiser is light to the touch but rich on moisture. The product gives you an instant all-over healthy looking skin.
Packaging: This one is packed in the signature body butter jar by The Body Shop. Though, we like the rose pink hue, which makes the jar look very chic.
Our experience: Ah! The delightful aroma of hand-picked roses. Truly, The Body Shop has hit the bulls eye with this one. British Rose Instant Glow Body Butter is our favourite from the range. While we can't vouch for the 'glow' factor, it certainly does a great job of ensuring that your skin stays hydrated and soft for 6-7 hours. Plus, the fragrance is an added bonus, which is not too overpowering or subtle either. The soft, rosy aroma of the butter makes you feel fresh and delightful all day long. Keeping the humid weather of our city in mind, we were a bit nervous about applying a body butter on an afternoon that touched 36 degrees. However, despite being a body butter, the product is not too greasy or sticky. In fact, the silky butter glides on well and gets absorbed rather quickly. Perfect for dry and sensitive skin, especially those who are looking to pamper their skin and keep it well hydrated throughout the year. We loved it!
Pros
Delightful fragrance
The fragrance is not too overpowering
Elegant packaging
Rich and perfectly textured
Ensures soft and supple skin
Decent price points
Cons
The body butter has nothing to do with 'glow'
Verdict: This one is our 'Pick of the Month' for a reason. Our experience of using the products has been a pretty good one, especially the body butter. A shower with this scrub is equal to enjoying a luxurious bath with a tub full of water with rose petals. We highly recommend the British Rose range to those with normal to dry skin.
Have you tried this range? If yes, join the discussion on Twitter or leave your comments below to let us know your experience.
Love,
The Dancebee
Nivea Protect and Care Range | Review
We love the signature fragrance of Nivea creme. The delightful, distinctive fragrance of the rich and creamy product has been an important part of our lives since childhood. No winter was complete without lathering up on some of that creme. And it gave our face, elbows, feet some much needed pampering after a long day out. Fortunately for us, the brand recently launched an all new range with the fragrance of NIVEA Creme. It includes a deodorant and roll-on, packed in the signature blue colour that the brand is known for. Read on to know our take on this range.
What? - Nivea Protect & Care Range (Deodorant and Roll-on)
Price - Rs 199 (Deo) and Rs 185 (roll-on)
Quantity - 150ml (Deo) and 50ml (roll-on)
What they promise? - Nivea protect & care is the only deodorant / roll on with precious ingredients and fragrance of Nivea creme. It protects against body odour and cares for your delicate underarm skin. The product contains 0% alcohol and can be used directly after shaving.
Our experience - The new range by Nivea falls under the extra care product category, where gentle care of the underarm skin has been given prime importance. During the trial period, we used the deodorant and roll-on alternatively. While the signature Nivea fragrance lingers on for sometime and adds a sense of freshness, the products suffer a major setback in sweat resistance. When compared to their other deodorants / roll-ons like Fresh Natural, the protect & care range is not what you would want to pick on a hot afternoon, especially in Mumbai. But, it did leave the underarm skin feeling fresh and smooth, just like one would after applying the Nivea cream (minus the greasiness). The subtle Nivea creme fragrance stays on for a good 4-5 hours. In addition, we also like how it does not irritate the skin, especially after a waxing / shaving session. This is definitely the product's biggest pro! Packaging wise, it is similar to all the other deodorants and roll-ons by the brand (deodrant can and glass roll-on bottle respectively) and we love how their colour matches the big blue Nivea creme jar. The pricing is decent.
Final Verdict: The perfect pick for those with sensitive skin. Nivea's protect & care range is a must buy if you love the signature Nivea creme fragrance. Also, if you underarm skin needs some gentle care. A good buy for the upcoming Monsoons. But if sweat resistance is what you have been looking for, give it a skip and opt for the Fresh natural range.
Don't forget to follow us on Snapchat for live updates from exclusive events and meet ups! Account ID: priyaadivarekar
Love,
The Dancebee
The Body Shop Black Musk Fragrance Range | Review
We have all been fans of the white musk range by The Body Shop for a long time now, haven't we? And then, we saw the success of their 2015 launch - Red Musk, a spicy and strong fragrance. This year, The Body Shop is back with a new launch and it is none other than a new addition to the Musk fragrance range family - The Black Musk. The new launch includes an EDP (eau de parfum), EDT (eau de toilette) and one of our favourites - a perfume oil. We were introduced to the range a little before it was formally launched at stores and their official website, and after experiencing it for a fortnight, here's what we think of The Body Shop's Black Musk range.
I have always loved The Body Shop products for their 'cruelty free' promise. And the Musk range - be it white, red or the new black - has always lived up to it. The musk used in these fragrances are cruelty free. It contains Community Fair Trade organic alcohol crafted from sugar cane that is harvested by co-operatives in South America. So, it's all good for you and our adorable animal friends.
The Body Shop refers to their Black Musk range as one of their most darkest and sensual fragrances. Well, I do agree with them on the sensual part, but this is definitely not one of their darkest fragrances. The range - comprising of an EDP, EDT and Perfume Oil, come packaged in elegant black glass bottles with a hint of fuchsia pink. The fragrance is a blend of sweet and sensuous note, which stays true to their 'Nice and Naughty' campaign. Although it has a few sweet notes, the musky and sensual notes do their job well, ensuring that the fragrance does feel overpowering. The opening notes feel like a blend of bergamot, pear and pink pepper (and trust me, that's where your affair with the fragrance begins).
As we further continued to test the fragrance, the middle notes began their work. While we can still feel the aroma of pear, there are hints of heliotrope, marzipan, almond, ylang ylang that linger on. Not to forget, notes of liquorice as well, which are very peculiar. Finally, as the fragrance begins to settle well, some of favourites including black musk, black vanilla, earthy patchouli, vetiver and chocolate set the end notes perfectly. All these notes help the Black Musk range of fragrances get its sensuous and not too overwhelming aroma, which is fast becoming one of our favourites.
The Body Shop Black Musk Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Quantity: 50ml
Price: Rs 3295
Our experience: We love the beautiful melange of the sweet and sensuous notes. It is perfect for a special evening occasion and is perfect for the festive winter mood. Just spritz it a few times and you are ready to go. The tiny elegant bottle is perfect to carry, except for the fact that it is not very travel friendly (glass bottles have their disadvantages). This is one of those few perfumes that can actually make you feel special and that too, without burning a huge hole in your pocket. The fragrance is intense and lingers on strongly for a good number of hours (in our case, a good six - seven hours).
The Body Shop Black Musk Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Quantity: 60ml
Price: Rs 2195
Our experience: Well, the fragrance is same and so are our views on it. The aroma is a little less intense than the EDP and Perfume Oil. But, what really surprised was the fact that despite being an EDT, the lasting power of this product was actually very good. While most EDTs last anywhere around 2 hours, this one almost stayed on for 3 - 4 hours. I love wearing this EDT after a post-workout / run shower. It just makes me feel like I have walked out in a 'pure bliss' mode.
The Body Shop Black Musk Perfume Oil
Quantity: 20ml
Price: Rs 2095
Our experience: One of our personal favourites, the Black Musk Perfume Oil reminds us of the traditional 'Attar'. Even the glass bottle with a dropper reminds us of those tiny attar bottles that you would find at most vintage shops. The oil is non-greasy and lingers on for a good 4 hours. It's the tiniest bottle from this range and can easily slip into your bag, without adding any extra weight. Oh, and don't worry about any spills (unless you end up breaking the bottle, of course). The bottle is neatly packed and the cap is well fitted. Despite being an oil based fragrance, the aroma is intense.
Final Verdict: This warm, sensuous blend has become our favourite already. We would prefer using this range more during the fall - winter / festive season, thanks to its warm notes, especially liquorice. If you loved the strong and spicy notes of the Red Musk range, then you might be a bit disappointed with the more warm and sweet notes of this fragrance. But still, I would recommend that you visit the store and give a product from this range, especially the EDP or Perfume Oil, a shot. It's a sophisticated fragrance that is a perfect mix of sweet and sexy and will definitely not disappoint you. The delightful notes will ensure that you fall in love with this fragrance, slowly and steadily.
Have you tried the all new Black Musk range by The Body Shop? If yes, tell us about your experience on Twitter | Instagram or Facebook.
Love,
The Dancebee
