Best Red Lipsticks

Spring may not be a season we experience in Mumbai, however, spring cleaning is one ritual most of us perform year round. That time of the year where you decide to clean out everything with great gusto and energy.

I had my session of spring cleaning a few weeks ago. Amidst all the cleaning I discovered some lost treasure and, finally, decided to let go of things I have been hoarding for years.

I have always been a lipstick junkie and strongly believe one can not have enough lipsticks. But the sheer number of lipsticks I was holding on to, some over fives year old, was baffling. After sorting things out, I finally cut down my lipstick collection to half its size.

In the process of sorting my lipsticks out, I picked out my favourite ones- colour wise- and decided to put together a list of my favourite lipstick shades.

For my first list I decided to go with my most favourite shade: Red. A compilation of my best red lipsticks.
Some of the lipsticks mentioned here are pure reds, others belong to the red family and/or have a red undertone.
I know a lot of people who shy away from wearing red lipstick because they are not sure if it will suit their complexion. Trust me, red lipsticks suit all skin tone. You just need to pick a shade that complements your skin tone. 

I have consciously made and effort to feature red lipstick shades that suit Indian skin tones. So there is something for everyone. 

A warm red with coral undertones, Starlet Red adds an instant colour pop to your look. Styled in a crayon packaging, the lipstick is well pigmented and gives good coverage. It has a lovely matte finish and can easily last up to five hours without any touch up.

Due to the lipstick's strong matte formula it can dry out your lips. To avoid that, apply a lip balm before applying the lipstick and you don’t have to worry about your lips drying up.

Sadly, my lipstick broke while applying it. You need to be careful not to put too much pressure while applying the lipstick. Other than that, Starlet Red is a great shade and will suit most Indian skin tones.

Price: Rs 650

A vivid red with bright orange undertones, Pure Fire is an ideal colour for the summer season. The lipstick is well pigmented and has a smooth velvety texture making it easy to apply. It has a lovely matte finish and stays put for over four hours.

Price: Rs 995

A lush maroon tinted gloss with fine bronze glitter that is more deep than bright. This shade is ideal for those who are not comfortable wearing bright colours. A sultry shade of deep red gloss, MAC Courting Chic is perfect for those who want to play it safe with red.

Price: Rs 2,000

A perfect pink red shade, it instantly brightens your face. Pure Vermeil is one of those shades that look good anytime of the day. Like all the Pure Reds, Pure Vermeil is well pigmented, has a creamy texture and easy to apply.

Price: Rs. 995

Ruby Woo needs no introduction. Any red lipstick lover has used it at some point of time in her life. A well pigmented, classic blue-based red shade, Ruby Woo offers great coverage. However, as gorgeous as the shade is, its biggest draw back is, its matte formula dries out the lips. Ideally, always apply a lip primer or lip balm before applying Ruby Woo. 
This is one shade of red that looks good on all skin tones.

Price: Rs. 2,250

Lip lacquer are a category in themselves. They are not lipstick nor lip gloss, they are more like liquid lipstick.
Strawberry Topaz is a deep coral red with fine milled glitter and has rich finish. Well pigmented with a thick texture, Revlon Ultra HD Lip Lacquer can easily stay up to 4-5 hours. Since it is opaque, it can be worn without any base even on pigmented lips.

Price: Rs. 850

Pure Garnet is deep berry shade with plum undertones and a hint of burgundy. A maroon red, Pure Garnet is ideal for those who like to wear a subtle shade of red. Pure Garnet is well pigmented, offers full coverage and looks best on people with mind-tone complexions.

Price: Rs. 995

A bright, warm red, with coral undertones. It has a semi-glossy finish and can look more orange than red on application. It is soft and creamy and lasts a good five hours.

Price: Rs. 699

A heartfelt thank you to the team of My Glamm and for doing my hair and makeup. Thank you to Pallavi for all her support and a big thank you to the makeup maverick, Bijon, for doing my makeup and for all his inputs, wisdom and help. It was great fun working with the team of My Glamm.

Photography by Suraj Warrier | Edit and Creatives by Digital Daku

Makeup, hair and location: My Glamm

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @fashionopolis.in

email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

Beauty Box | #ReadyFace With Clean & Clear Foaming Face Wash

There is a famous social experiment where people are asked, what advice would you give your younger self.  Things you wish you could tell your younger self if you had a chance to. 

There are so many things I would like to tell young Amena, teen Amena. Things I wish I could have done differently. Followed some advice instead of being a know-it-all. 

While I cannot turn back time, I can learn from the past and make the changes for a better future.

Part of growing up is, experiencing the growing pains. Especially, if you are a teen girl facing every teen’s worst nightmare- oily skin and pimples.

Teenage years were not my best years. Especially if you have spent a good part of your teen years finding solutions to control your face from secreting oil and stopping pesky pimples from showing up every few days. Over the years I have learnt to manage my skin better.

Unlike loads of other women, I was not fortunate enough to leave my oily skin behind in my teens. It followed me into my 20s. 

From mudpack, to fancy face scrubs to crazy diets, I tried it all. Some worked, others failed miserably. But none offered a long-term solution.

Living with oily skin my entire life, I finally found a way to manage it. Along with a healthy lifestyle, the key is to invest in a right face wash. In my case, oil-free is the way to go.

When Clean & Clear approached me to be a part of their #ReadyFace campaign I was more than happy to be on board. Not only is it associated with a product that is ideal for my kind of oily skin but it also encourages teen girls to have the confidence to look in the mirror and be happy with what they see.

The best part about Clean & Clear's Foaming Face Wash is, it’s oil-free. Not only does it help control pimples, oily shine and blackheads but it also reduces them by a large extent. Plus, unlike other oil-free face washes, this one does not dry the skin while removing oil and dust.

The most visible difference that I have found is, ever since I started using the foaming face wash I am able to use liquid base makeup. Before, the idea of that was dreadful. Due to oily skin no liquid base makeup would last on my face for beyond 2 hours. And if I had to step out into the sun, my makeup would literally melt away. 

That is not the case anymore.

Unlike my teen years, now I only get pimples during my periods. While I still get them, after using the foaming face wash the number is reduced to a large extent.

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make in my teens was, wash my face vigorously many times a day to help reduce the oiliness. That does more long-term damage than good. 
I use the foaming face wash twice or maximum three times a day without the need to constantly blot my face for oil residue. 

In an over sharing, selfie obsessed world a good product along with a great campaign is the need of the hour. I have always admired this quality of Clean & Clear. They don’t just create a good product, but they also create a healthy and positive ideology with it. 

The Ready Face campaign is just that. It encourages young women to be comfortable in their skin. Upon glancing in a mirror, they don’t need to be intimidated by their own reflection.The foaming face wash helps them achieve that and gives them the confidence to be who they are.

Unlike my teen years, now when I look in the mirror, it is no more to check for uninvited pimples or oily shine on my face. Neither is looking in the mirror a necessity or a cause for panic. In fact, I enjoy looking at myself in the mirror and my ready face gives me the confidence to face the world head on.

In today’s technology driven era, there are multiple beautification modes and filters to help you cover up your blemishes and make you look great in the virtual world. However, we live in the real world and for that we need the right product and attitude to put our ready face forward.

Photography by Suraj Warrier 

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @fashionopolis.in

email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

Beauty Box | Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash

I am not a morning person. I am just not! I have tried becoming one, but it has never really worked out.
I have always envied those people who are all bright and chirpy first thing in the morning.
To help me become a more morning loving person my friend introduced me to Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash.
Her logic, anything that can infuse me with a dose of energy in the morning, I should try it out and see!

Since I have tried out everything from herbal tea to meditation techniques, I decided to give the face wash try. Anything that will help me hate the mornings a little less.

While the face wash has not made me a morning person, it has managed to energize my skin and retain the morning freshness throughout the day.
Trust me,like me, if you are someone who is doomed with oily skin, any product that can make your skin look fresh throughout the day is a boon. 

I have been using Clean & Clear Morning Energy face wash for over 10 days now. As the days progress, I have started seeing the results. While there has not been a drastic change the overall results have been positive.
After I started using the face wash my face looks less oily and shiny, which is a major blessing for someone with oily skin.

Here are my views about Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash.

Creatives by Digital Daku

Clean & Clear Morning Energy face wash works like a magician and brightens up the dullest skin. Thanks to the bursting beads, you can get a burst of morning energy at any time of the day.
The face wash is available in three fruity variants. Each one has a distinct, no-overpowering scent that lingers in a pleasant way.
The rich foam lathers well and thoroughly removes all excess oil and dirt. The special ingredients help prevent common skin irritation without drying your skin. 

The highlight of Clean & Clear Morning Energy face wash is the bursting beads- its trademark feature. These beads gently burst and exfoliate your skin and leave it looking fresh and glowing.

As much as I love the product, it is Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash’s #SeeTheRealMe campaign that has won me over.

Through the #seetherealme campaign, teenage girls are encouraged to show the world who they really are and not give too much attention to what people think about their looks or complexion, hair, clothes or shape.
With so much pressure on women, especially teenage girls, to look a particular way, this campaign comes as a breathe of fresh air. It emboldens teen girls to be proud of who they are and let the world #seetherealme!

Please Note: Before using/ buying any of these products please make sure they are right match and compatible with your skin type.

Till then, tra-la,

   Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe

Instagram: @fashionopolis.in
email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

Smooth Sailing With Gillette Venus

Sometime, second time's the charm. What may have not worked the first time round, could, very well, be the best thing that happened to you on the second go!

My shaving experience is one such ‘second time’s a charm’ story. 

I started my hair removal journey with shaving and then stopped it after having my head filled with shaving myths. Since then, I’ve switched to waxing.  

My entire outlook on shaving changed a little over a month ago. Along with finally getting all the age-old shaving myths busted, I also discovered correct shaving techniques and methods thanks to Dr. Rashmi Shetty and Namrata Soni.
After hearing all the benefits and pros of shaving at Gillettte Venus Smooth Sail event, I decided to give shaving another try. 

Happy to say, this was one of the best moves I’ve made. As a creature of comfort and habit I avoid change of any kind.

However, the #SubscribeToSmooth challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to adapt to this much needed and welcomed change.

Not only is shaving cost effective, less time consuming and self-reliant, it also does no damage your skin. Unlike waxing where I would sometimes get red blotches, no such thing has occurred post shaving. 

Since I re-discovered shaving, I have shaved 3 times and have not found any skin damage, irritation or discolouration. In fact, I found my ingrowth problem reduced.

One of the reasons why I am finding a huge difference in my pervious and recent shaving experience is, the change in my methods of shaving.

Previously, I used to only dry shave. That was a huge mistake. Now I make sure my skin is well lathered with a good quality shaving gel before shaving. 

To pull out the small hair, I used to stretch my skin a lot. Bad move. Instead of stretching the skin, the right way to do it is by stretching the arm and leg itself. This will give a smooth finish without damaging the skin in anyway.

Shaving disasters and the subsequent nicks and burns was one of the reasons why I decided to stop shaving completely. My biggest shaving mistake was applying too much pressure on the razor. The trick is to invest in a high quality and technologically enhanced female razor like Gillette Venus, which is designed to glide with minimum effort over the skin’s surface.

I was not very particular about moisturising post shaving before. Major mistake. It is extremely important to moisturise after shaving. Applying a good moisturise or even Lacto Calamine post shaving is vital and helps keep your skin smooth and healthy.

Post usage, wash your razor thoroughly and store in a dry place in an upright position. Also, once you notice the coloured strip of your Gillette Venus razor discoloured or the blade has gone dull make sure you change the cartridge to get the optimal shave from your razor.

Thanks to #SubscribeToSmooth challenge I have had an opportunity to rethink my hair removal choices. Along with being extremely convenient, less time consuming, cost effective and self-reliant, shaving also has no side effects and is totally painless. A complete win-win situation! 

After years of shying away from it, I have finally added shaving to my grooming routine and I would recommend you do the same. 

Photography by Suraj Warrier and Mubasshir Sayed 

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @fashionopolis.in
email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

Shaving Myths and Facts

They say old habits die hard. One such old habit is, blindly believing superstitions and old wives tales. The minute someone shares a new piece of information, we either totally reject it or completely believe it.
While I consider myself a practical rationalist and a freethinker, I too have been guilty of succumbing to myth believing in the past.

Among many things, I have been very skeptical about shaving for a long time. While I don’t remember any bad shaving experience, a friend filled my head with her bad shaving experience that had put me off shaving for a long time.

However, thanks to Gillette Venus’ Subscribe To Smooth challenge I have decided to give shaving another try. 

I learnt a whole lot about shaving and had all of my preconceived notions and myths debunked at the Smooth Sail event. 

Now that I have finally started shaving again, I can say with confidence that a whole lot of what is told/known about shaving is pure myth and hearsay.
Time to finally bust and demystify these age-old shaving myths!

These 5 classic myths along with a few more have kept women away from shaving. However, now with technologically advanced razors like Gillette Venus, the whole experience of shaving is not just time and cost effective, but also very convenient, self reliant and skin friendly.

I am finally free from all the preconceived negative notions about shaving. Now that I know the truth about shaving, I have made it an integral part of my grooming ritual.
After reading this post, I hope you do the same too.

Art work by Khalid Azeez

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @fashionopolis.in
email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

#SubscribeToSmooth With Gillette Venus

Fashion and grooming often go hand in hand. While we openly discuss all aspects of fashion, we are not so vocal about all our grooming rituals. 

In fact, this is one of the most important aspects of our grooming regime, and yet, we seldom talk about it openly. Time to put all qualms and inhibitions aside and freely discuss body hair.

As much as we wish and want, none of us are born hairless and we all have had our share of unwanted body hair issues. Without beating round the bush, lets get to the heart of the matter and discuss all things hair removal. 

As a teen, I started my hair removal journey with shaving until someone filled my head with multiple shaving myths. I then switched to waxing and since then I have been waxing. While I have occasionally opted for shaving, by and large I have stuck to waxing.

Recently, I was invited to a bloggers panel discussion with Gillette Venus brand ambassador Kriti Sanon, renowned dermatologist Dr. Rashmi Shetty and beauty expert Namrata Soni to discuss shaving and how it’s one of the most hassle free and painless methods of female hair removal. 

The panel discussion was the perfect opportunity for me to reacquaint myself with shaving and have all my shaving myths and doubts put to rest. 
From busting age-old shaving myths to sharing their personal shaving experience, the event was very insightful and informative. 

Here is what the three esteemed panelist had to say about shaving:

Speaking about Gillette Venus, Kriti Sanon said, “I have always followed a strict regime when it comes to taking care of my skin. Gillette Venus products have always been skin friendly owing to the unique design and distinctive features that perfectly suit a woman’s needs. The best part of shaving is that its hassle free and takes minimal time and enables one to be ready for any occasion at all times”.

Dr. Rashmi Shetty busted one of my personal shaving myths: “Majority of women have apprehensions with regards to shaving. Many of whom believe that shaving will make their skin become darker or that hair would grow faster and thicker which is why they refrain from it. However, in reality hair growth is determined by one’s genetic and hormonal makeup.”

 She hopes and aims to bust such age-old myths and impart knowledge about how shaving is one of the safest, most effective methods of hair removal.

Sharing her shaving experience, ace celebrity makeup maven, Namrata Soni, states, “From time to time, rumors and myths have been discussed around shaving. The basic essential to achieve a healthy skin is to use the right kind of products in the right manner. While hair removal is a key part of everybody’s beauty regime, we need to also ensure that we use the method that best suits our skin type. Personally, I believe that shaving is one of the safest and most convenient methods and is suitable for all types of skins”.

After having a one of on chat with the panelists and having all my queries and doubts put to rest, it is safe to say I am all set to #SubscribeToSmooth and give shaving another go with Gillette Venus.

I will be busting shaving myths and sharing my shaving experience over a series of upcoming post. Watch this space for more as I get ready to Smooth Sail with Gillette Venus.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @fashionopolis.in

email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

Summer Beauty & Grooming Essentials

Nothing says warm days are upon us quite like the arrival of March. Summer season in India is known for being excruciatingly hot, almost cruel at times. Honestly, besides ranting on social media there is very little one can do about the soaring temperatures.

With mercury on the rise, this seems like the perfect time to update your beauty, makeup and grooming stash with these new summer friendly essentials.

1. What is it: Lakmé Lip Love Lip Balm- Strawberry; INR 200/- 

Why do I love it: I am a sucker for lip balms and use it year round. As someone who is blessed with healthy, hydrated lips, this product was ideal for me. For starters, I loved the fruity fragrance and the delicate reddish-pink tint and shine. Containing SPF 15 makes it a major added bonus. The texture is smooth and creamy on application. After application, the lip balm feels light on the lips and does not have a sticky after effect or oily residue. Just like it is stated on the package, “luxurious creamy core that moisturizes your lips”, Lakmé Lip Love lip balm delivers on all these promises.

If you are looking for a tinted, fruity lip balm, Lakmé Lip Love is just the thing you need. 

Along with Strawberry, it is also available in Vanilla, Peach and Cherry.

2. What is it: LUX Magical Spell Body Wash- Black Orchids and Juniper Oil; INR 150/-

Why do I love it: The thing I loved most about Lux Magical Spell Body Wash is its fragrance. It has a very sensuous, exotic scent. Along with black orchids there is a hint of jasmine, wood and vanilla. On initial use one may find the scent a tab big strong, however, the fragrance is not at all overpowering and lingers for a few hours after use.

I am not very picky about body wash and love trying out new ones. As long as I like the fragrance, I am good with it. Since I don’t have very dry skin, Lux Magical Spell Body Wash suited my skin perfectly well.

3. What is it: Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi; INR 2,850/- and Foot and Nail Cream; INR 200/-

Why do I love it: For someone who prefers open-toe shoes and sandals to closed one, keeping my feet clean and smooth at all times in an overly polluted city can be quite a challenge. 

Lucky for me, I discovered Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi. It is an electronic foot file that effectively removes tough, dead skin and calluses by exfoliating the feet. What I really liked about it is, it does not have sharp blades, this makes it very safe to use. It also manages to remove all the dead skin and leaves the feet smooth.

The overall experience and result is excellent. To make sure your feet stay clean and dead skin free for long, moisturise it daily with the foot and nail cream.

Keep in mind, this is an express pedicure and one cannot expect the same results as traditional, salon pedicure. 

Whether or not you lead an hectic life, this is one grooming product every woman (and man) should invest in.

4. What is it: Livon Moroccan Silk Serum; INR 259/-

Why do I love it: Ever since I discovered the secret ingredient to healthy hair, I have become an avid user and believer of all things Moroccan Argan Oil. 

Since I have wavy hair that tends to get frizzy on hot, humid days, I am very picky about my hair serum. However, after my mom tried Livon Moroccan Silk Serum and swore by it, I decided to give it a try.

What I loved most about it is, after application it leaves your hair feeling weightless, free flowing and gives it a shine and healthy glow. Also, it does not make your hair feel weighed down or leave a sticky residue. To add to this, it has a lovely fragrance to it.

Enriched with Vitamin E and infused with UV filters, unlike most available variants of Moroccan Argan Oil that are on the expensive side, Livon Moroccan Silk Serum is very pocket friendly and ideal for most Indian hair type.

5. What is it: Za True White Two Way Foundation; INR 550/-

Why do I love it: If you spent half your life dealing with oily skin woes, foundation is one product that will be on top of your ‘to avoid’ list. For that matter, any cream base makeup product. 

It was nothing short of sheer joy, when I discovered Za’s two way foundation. The beauty of the product is, it can be used wet or dry depending on your requirement. Since it is powder based, it gives a smooth matte, even toned complexion without clogging the pores, making the foundation oily skin friendly.

The foundation is infused with SPF 20 PA++ that provides the skin with much needed UVF protection. Available in 4 shades to complement every Indian skin tone, this foundation offers the best of both-powder and liquid, making it suitable for all skin types.

Please Note: Before using/ buying any of these products please make sure they are right match and compatible with your your skin and hair type.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @a_fashionopolis

email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

#GoRouge With L'Oréal Paris Pure Reds

It is a truth universally acknowledged that red lipstick is the ultimate picker-upper.
When it comes to makeup, nothing beats the power of red lips. A rouge pout can elevate your outfit, up your glam quotient, and make a statement all in one swipe!

If there is something I love as much as Mindy Kaling, pop culture and chocolates, it is, red lipstick.
It was nothing short of euphoric joy when L'Oréal Paris launched the Color Riche Pure Reds Collection. The range includes 7 exquisite shades belonging to the red colour palette and represented by L’Oréal Paris ambassadors.

Along with true red, this curated collection includes orange and purple/berry (red based secondary colours) pink and fuchsia (tint of red) and brick and maroon (shades of red).
The Pure Reds collection has beautifully incorporated different tints, tones and shades of red. The vibrant red colour palette has been used in an interestingly innovative way to create 7 gorgeous colour variations to flatter every Indian skin tone.

Along with complementing all types of Indian skin tones, these shades are perfect for every social occasion and mood. 

A collection this beautiful requires something creatively different. Instead of doing the run-of-the-mill swatches and product review, I decided to create looks inspired by the shades of Pure Reds collection. 

[Information on the above pieces here] [Information on the above pieces here][Information on the above pieces here]

[Information on the above pieces here]

[Information on the above pieces here]

[Information on the above pieces here]

[Information on the above pieces here] 

I got to try out the entire Pure Reds collection at L'Oréal Paris Red Party. After first hand trying out these beautiful shades, I strongly recommend every lipstick lover and junkie to go and try them. You are bound to buy a few of them for sure. 

One of the reasons why I avoided swatches in this post is, since the shades tend to look different on different skin tones as well as the final look of the colour depends entirely on an individual’s natural lip colour, pigmentation and texture, swatches would not do justice to this vibrant collection.

Along with trying out the shades, I also got my make-up and hair styled by the phenomenally talented, Ms. Namrata Soni.
To complement my skin tone, Ms. Soni decided to use Pure Scarleto. I instantly fell in love with this shade and since then it has become my signature shade of the season. 

[Hair & Make-Up Expert: Namrata Soni Photographer: Rema Chaudhary]

Not only are the shades stunning, but the entire package is done in a very polished and sleek manner.
The lipsticks are smooth at application and have a rich creamy matte finish to it. From first had experience I can say, the lipstick easily lasts a good 6-8 hours without drying the lips. Nor does it require any touch ups; even after eating and drinking. The lipsticks have amazing hydration because of which it does not flake at all. The beauty of the entire collection is, there is a red there for every Indian skin tone, personality and age group. 

Ladies, you search for the perfect red lipstick ends here! Pure Reds range of lipsticks by L'Oréal Paris is a one-stop place to find the perfect shade of red.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @fashionopolis.in

email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com