Makari Arrives

Hey Everyone,

I just received my box of goodies from Makari. Makari products seem to have taken the whole blogging world by storm. I have been reading wonderful reviews about Makari products, especially the Makari Clarifying Exfoliating Soap. I was so eager to try Makari products and my wish came true. 

Lets see the box

The samples came in square box filled with Styrofoam cubes

Samples contained in the cute golden pouch 

Samples

 The sample box sent to me contained these : 

• 2 Makari Whitening Exfoliating Soap of 30 grams/1.05 oz each (Yes, 2 soaps. I guess God was listening to my prayers :-P)
• 2 sachets of Makari Creme Clear - Acnyl Cream 

About Makari 

Makari (pronounced muh-ka-ree) is a premium skin whitening and clarifying brand that was primarily created to fulfil the needs of the coloured population in the US and Europe. The Makari range of products are high end and formulated to work on female as well as male skins. Our skin whitening & clarifying products have been tested by the University of Montpellier for safety and efficacy.

The Makari brand was created about a decade ago by New York based entrepreneur Jack Aini in partnership with a renowned Belgian chemist Maurice Bertrand. It is their partnership that has created Makari, the worlds largest range of skin care products specifically for Whitening and Clarifying. All our products are manufactured as per GMP guidelines (for the pharmaceutical industry) at our facility in Aigle in the Swiss canton of Vaud. Our products adhere to the strictest norms in quality applicable in Europe and the US, which makes us the preferred skin care whitening product in those 2 continents.

People with skin problems such as hyper-pigmentation, melasma, liver spots, age spots, stretch marks etc had to make do with products that either had a very high chemical content to make them effective (and also loaded with harmful side effects) or had formulations that were so mild that they rarely had any effect. Makari was created with a vision to formulate products that were natural, safe and affordable and at the same time very effective.

The main Whitening agent for Makari products is Vegeclarine. Vegeclarine is a 100% natural plant extract and is a very effective skin Whitening and Clarifying agent. Makari also has a range of skin care products that use Caviar Extracts in addition to Vegeclarine to combine the needs of consumers for Whitening and Ageing. Caviar has been proven to reduce the incidence of age and expression lines making the skin plumper, more supple and makes you look younger. Makari products are available at its stores in Paris, Brussels and New York. Our products are also available in over 50 countries worldwide. We hope that you have an enriching experience after using our products.

About the Makari samples I received 

Makari Clarifying Exfoliating Soap 

Thanks to its natural properties, this Triple action soap helps provide you with the complexion you aspire to. The soap offers an ideal treatment to prepare the skin for the enhanced effectiveness of the entire range of Makari de Suisse Skin Clarifying products.

Skin Type & Usage Instructions

Suitable for all skin types. Use daily in the bath or shower. For maximum effect of the soaps whitening properties please keep lather on for at least 5 minutes.

Active Ingredients

Mulberry (Morus Alba) Root Extract
Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Acid
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Extract

Makari De Suisse Creme Clear - Acnyl Cream 

Specially formulated to help diminish the appearance of pimples while clarifying the skin. Fights against the excess production of sebum. Acts as an antiseptic cream. Contains active soothing and clearing agents. Apply twice daily on the face or on any other affected by blemishes with a gentle massage.

Usage instructions

This product has been specially formulated for Acne prone and Oily Skin. While using this product, do not use any other products that are greasy or oily. When necessary, only use make up suited to your skin.Apply Twice daily on face or any other parts affected by pimples. Please Cleanse face thoroughly before using Anti-Acne Clarifying Cream.

Ingredients  

The list was too long so here's a snapshot of the ingredients 

I received the sample products today and can't wait to try them out. Will be doing a review after using them for about 10 days. 

Don't forget to enter my Sigma Giveaway. There's a Sigma E 25 Blending Brush up for grabs. Enter here.

Stay Beautiful till then !

Lakmé 9 to 5 Day Forever Silk Eyeliner and Kohl Ultimate

Lakmé 9 to 5 Day Forever Silk Eyeliner and Kohl Ultimate

June 2011: You can’t rely on the weather or the traffic, but what you can rely on is the eye make-up range from Lakmé nine to five which promises to keep you looking fresh through the day! Nine to Five adds to its range Forever Silk Eyeliner and Kohl Ultimate. The smudge-proof, water-resistant formula ensures a long-lasting finish.

Forever Silk Eyeliner comes in scintillating metallic shades and the soft formula glides on effortlessly. One neat stroke and you are set for the day!

The Kohl Ultimate is a kohl, smudger and sharpener all in one stick. You can create the smoky look with ease by using the smudge tip to smudge the kohl line outwards!

Forever Silk Eye liner –

• Soft creamy texture
• Smudge-proof and water-resistant
• Ensures 8  hours of great looking eyes
•  Rich in Vitamin E
• Dermatologist approved
• Available in 7 shades
• Priced at Rs.395/-
• Available at all leading lifestyle stores

Kohl Ultimate –

• 3-in-1 smooth kohl stick with smudger and sharpener
• Moisturizing ceramides will smooth and soften the eye skin
• Smudge-proof and water-resistant
• Ensures 8 hours of great looking eyes
• Dermatologist approved
• Priced at Rs.650/-
• Available at all leading lifestyle stores

So, which one are you eyeing? :-)

Goodies Galore

Today was a big day in the history of Blush and the Blog.(Lol) I got not 1 but 2 packages of some awesome makeup and skincare stuff.

Just take a look. 

Chambor hamper with Femina

 Lets see what's inside

A lipstick, eye pencil and eyeshadow trio 

A closer look

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I had a real good day today. Stay tuned for the reviews.

Presenting Ms. Elizabeth Arden

Hey Ladies,

Hope you are doing great. I am not reviewing any product but will only put swatches of one of the best and most expensive (I think) brands of Lipstick which I own.The other day, I was talking to Anamika and told her that I have red lipstick from Elizabeth Arden. She wanted to see the swatches and I am eager to post..So, Anamika, this post is for you. 

So putting just a few pics and swatches.

Ms. Arden sits pretty and smiling on my humble laptop

Ms. Arden decides to smile and oblige us. :-P

One more smile. 

Left - Swatched once, Right - Swatched Twice.

Hope you girls enjoyed the pictures.

Dont forget to enter my Sigma Giveaway. There's a Sigma E 25 Blending Brush up for grabs. Enter here. 

Stay Beautiful till then !

LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% Review coming soon

Imagine having eyelashes so thick and long that you don't feel the need to apply mascara. Well, a few days back I received LATISSE (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%, an eyelash enchancement product. Latisse is produced by Allergan and is prescription medicine to treat hypotrichosis, a technical term for having too few eyelashes. The  product promises fuller, longer, thicker, and luscious lashes, due to presence of bimatoprost as an active ingredient in the product that is known to promote lash growth.

A few pictures of Before and After. 

Ingredients:

Active ingredient

Active ingredient in Latisse is bimatoprost, 0.3mg/mL, which is an FDA approved drug used to treat glaucoma and manage ocular pressure. Latisse is a is a synthetic prostaglandin analog. Its chemical name is (Z)-7-[(1R,2R,3R,5S)-3,5-Dihydroxy-2-[(1E,3S)-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl 1-pentenyl] cyclopentyl] -N-ethyl-5- heptenamide, and its molecular weight is 415.58. Its molecular formula is C25H37NO4. Bimatoprost is a powder, which is very soluble in ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol and slightly soluble in water. LATISSE® is a clear, isotonic, colorless, sterile ophthalmic solution with an osmolality of approximately 290 mOsmol/kg. One of the side effects of using this drug is hair growth, which is effectively used by Allergan in Latisse to promote eyelash growth. 

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients include benzalkonium chloride,0.05 mg/mL, sodium chloride, sodium phosphate, dibasic, citric acid and purified water. 

Application: 

Prolonged use of Benzalkonium chloride may cause allergic reactions in sensitive users. Latisse has to be applied once a day to the base of the upper eyelashes with a sterile, disposable applicator for a minimum of eight weeks before expecting to see any noticeable difference in the appearance of the eyelashes.

A few pictures for you: 

The Package

 

Contents of the Package 

Applicator Brushes

Before starting to use Latisse, I did a bit of research on the internet about its effects and side effects. The official website of Latisse provides extensive information on the product, its usage, and the probable side effects and how to treat them. The product priced at $120 which is quite expensive. 

The website also lists a few side effects of the product : 

• Redness of the eye, itching sensation at the application site, eye irritation, and dryness in the eyes
• Darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation) around application site.
• Falling out of lashes and discoloration of the eyes (iris)
• The product takes a long time to work, as long as 4 months, to see any noticeable results.
• Once use of product is discontinued, lashes immediately go back their original state.

The above side effects were reported in a very small percentage of users i.e. 4%. Well, honestly, the side effects scared me a bit and I have not been able to make up my mind whether to use Latisse or not. What do you say?

 

Product provided by Brand for consideration, but has not affected my opinion in any manner. I am still in a dilemma whether to use this or not. Have you tried Latisse ?

My First International Giveaway - Sigma E 25 Travel Blending Brush - CLOSED

Hi Ladies,

I am really glad to announce my first giveaway sponsored by Sigma. The winner gets a Sigma E 25 Travel Blending Brush. Before any other details about the giveaway, lets take a look at this beauty.

Description on Sigma Website:

Oval-shaped brush with gently chiselled sides. Blends and softens the look of powder or cream shadows. Ideal to apply eye shadow primer, base eye shadow colors, and blend harsh lines. 

A few pictures of the E 25 Travel Blending Brush. 

Sigma E 25 Travel Blending Brush 

 A closer look: 

Closer view

 

Now coming back to the rules for the giveaway, you do not need to have a blog to enter, and you can participate using your Google Friend Connect. This giveaway is international and will end on 25th June 2011 at 12.00 midnight. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be selected. The prize which is a Sigma E 25 Blending Brush will be shipped to the winner by Sigma and not me.

Please read the Rules below carefully before participating.

To enter: 

Mandatory Entries:

1) Follow my blog through GFC. (5 points) You do not need to have a blog to enter, and you can participate using your Google Friend Connect.

2) Leave your email id so that I can contact you if you win.

Optional Entries:

2) Sign-up for Blush and the Blog’s e-mail updates (delivered via Feedburner). You have to verify and confirm the subscription in order to receive the extra entry. (5 points) Enter the email address you have used to subscribe to Blush and the Blog. Blogs created exclusively for purposes of such giveaways will be disqualified at my discretion.

3) Post about the giveaway on your Blog and/or Blog’s sidebar (5 points each) If you do both, you will get a total of 10 points.

4) Like my blog ‘Blush and the Blog’ on Facebook here. Enter your Facebook name. (5 points)

5) Follow my Blog on Networked Blogs here. Enter your Facebook name.(5 points)

How to enter:

Please provide your entry for the giveaway in the following manner only, so that it is easier for me to calculate all your entries. I point 

Name

GFC (5 points)

Email (To contact you, if you win)

Email  for Subscription to Blush and Blog (5 points)

Link to Blog Post about Giveaway (5 points)

Link Side bar post about Giveaway (5 points)

Facebook Name (Used for liking my Facebook page)

Facebook Name (Used for following my Blog on Networked Blogs)

Please do not post duplicate comments. If you have any difficulties,queries or feedback, feel free to contact me at blushandtheblog@hotmail.com

This Giveaway is sponsored by Sigma. Once, the winner is chose through random.org, I will contact the winner for postal details and then forward the postal address to Sigma for shipping the Sigma E 25 Blending Brush. 

When I reach 100 followers, I will be having another Sigma sponsored giveaway for the Sigma Flat Top Kabuki F80. So Ladies, stay tuned to this Blog. 

This Giveaway has been sponsored by Sigma. I  am not affiliated with Sigma neither have I been compensated in any manner by Sigma for holding this giveaway.

Sonam Kapoor at Cannes

Hey Lovelies,

With nothing much to do today, I decided to be a bit experimental and for the first time I am trying my hands on a small write up about the much hyped look of Sonam Kapoor at the Cannes. I hope you will like my non-expert comments. :-P

Here are some of the pictures which I have sourced from the internet. I absolutely loved her Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2009 gown, which had mesh overlay and black lines. The gown made the already stunning actress look like a dream. She adorned the gown with a pair of fancy Ferragamo shoes.

Sonam in the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2009 Couture gown and Ferragamo shoes

 

Well, the only thing I did not like about the gown was the thing running from her waist to her derriere, which I think gave a Victorian corset kind of look to the gown. A bit ruined the look of the beautiful gown for me. 

The Curly bouffant updo.

Coming to her makeup, the makeup, hair were perfect. The eyeshadow looked like it was applied in a haste and needed a more blending. The shade of gold used on her eyes looked a bit too much and a slightly soft and  muted shade would have done more justice to her eyes. A dark brown smokey eye makeup would have looked equally good with the gown. Her Hair looked very elegant and classy in curly bouffant updo.

Accessories:

A pair of Chopard stud earrings

statement Amrapali cocktail ring

Hope you liked reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

Its Raining Giveaways !!

Here are the few giveaways which I entered...Dont miss out..

1. Win a Jelly Pong Pong goody bag on Of Faces and Fingers Enter the Giveaway here. 

1.

2. Beauty Diaries Sigma E 25 Blending Brush International Giveaway. Enter here 

3. Jbreey baby's 450 followers Giveaway. You can enter the Giveaway here Check out the lovely stuff she has for the giveaway.

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4. Sonia is having a Makari Sample bag Giveaway. 5 Makari sample bags to be won. Enter here.