Tag: Review

Reviews: best makeup setting sprays you need to try now!

Flakiness, oily skin and unavoidable weather conditions are the arch nemesis of makeup longevity and if makeup meltdown is also ruining your jam then fret no more. Enter makeup setting sprays! Setting sprays are an essential part of your makeup routine, the right makeup setting spray can work wonders. Not only do they lock everything in place, they also offer a choice of matte or dewy complexion and even some SPF for those days in the sun.

Just like hair sprays, makeup setting sprays are designed to keep your makeup in place and prolong its hold. Here are three of the best makeup setting sprays available in the market that will make sure you’re makeup stays put.

1)    All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray by Urban Decay

Famous amongst all makeup maniacs, this weightless setting spray keeps your makeup in place for more than 16 hours. It lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep your foundation, concealer, blusher, eye shadow etc. in place even in hot, humid and moist climates. It prolongs the longevity of your makeup and adds polish to your skin making it look dewy at the same time leaving a matteeffect.

Available here at: ebay.in

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2)      Prep+Prime+ Fix+ by MAC

Commonly known as MAC’s fix plus, this mineral rich finishing mist freezes makeup for upto 12 hours and doubles up as a primer to help create an even surface for smooth makeup application. It is especially designed to take off the powdery and cakey edge from your makeup leaving your skin soft and fresh. Professional makeup artist’s favourite, this setting spray consists of many anti-oxidants such as chamomile, green tea and caffeine that revive your skin.

Available here at amazon.in

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3)       Fix Make-Up by Clarins:

First ever makeup setting spray in the world of beauty, Fix Make-Up by Clarins, has evolved its formula over the years making it one of the best makeup setting sprays available in the market. This setting spray magically increases your skin’s hydration and boostsradiance at the same time holding your makeup for much longer than usual. It consists of vitamin C extracts from grapefruit thatget absorbed into the skin and controls shine.

Available at all Clarins outlets.

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Make your own setting spray at home

You can even make your own makeup setting spray at home using these simple ingredients from your bathroom cabinet.

All you need is a small spray bottle (available at all drug stores or in your travel toiletries), rose water and glycerine. Just add 1 tablespoon of glycerine to half a cup of rose water and mix well. Pour it into the spray bottle and voila you have your very own setting spray.

December 9, 2015
Here’s why castor oil should be an important part of your daily routine!

If your mom ever gave you castor oil as a kid and you decided to never use it again in your life, you wasted some golden words of wisdom. We do understand that castor oil isn’t very pleasing for your sense of smell but did you know that it is high in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, proteins, and minerals? And not only is it good for your hair but also your skin, your stomach, feet and much more. Here are all the benefits of castor oil you need to know now and how to use it properly.

How to use castor oil?

Castor oil is very thick in consistency and hence is best when mixed with thinner oil such as jojoba oil or even baby oil if that makes you more comfortable.

Mixing it with a different oil doesn’t just make it smell better, it makes the oil very easy to apply. You may also mix both the castor oil and your preferred oil (like jojoba for me) in a container and keep the container immersed in warm water. The heat from the water makes the mixture more fluid and gives the best results.

Benefits of castor oil

1) Healthy skin

Castor oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which makes it very useful in fighting bacteria that cause acne and scarring. Not only does it dry out your acne, it also helps in healing discoloration. But but BUT, do not use castor oil straight as it is on your skin. Mix it with jojoba oil for best results on your skin.

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2) Hair growth

One of the most widely recognised benefits of castor oil is that it encourages hair growth. If hair breakage is your nightmare then just apply a little bit of castor oil to your scalp for about twenty to thirty minutes daily and see the results for yourself. Not just your scalp, you may use castor oil for thicker brows and lashes as well but make sure you don’t get any oil in your eyes.

Again, remember that it’s best used with another oil.

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3) Aids digestion

Castor oil is a natural laxative and aids digestion especially for people with constipation issues. Castor oil if taken orally (only as directed by your doctor) is broken down in the intestine which makes the intestines move and helps in easing constipation.

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4) Treats dandruff

If you have a dry and itchy scalp, just rub a little bit of castor oil to it and see the results. Not only do its anti-fungal properties help in fighting the dandruff, the oil also provides the much needed moisture to your scalp to keep further dandruff at bay.

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5) Relieves pain

Rubbing castor oil on to sore joints or achy muscles helps relieve pain. It’s best to mix castor oil with turmeric and apply on to the affected area to let the therapeutic properties do the magic.

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Like these benefits of castor oil? If you want us to write about any other products or remedies, do mention in the comments below and we’d be happy to try the product and give our reviews.

October 20, 2015
Product Review: Tame those unruly eyebrows with these eyebrow pencils

Eyebrows can make or break your entire look. They frame the face and can sometimes even alter how your face cut looks. Sadly, not everyone is blessed with Cara Delevingne’s bold brows. But that’s no reason to despair. The market is filled with different kinds of products that help you fill in your eyebrows with brow pencils being the most basic and easiest of tools. They come in various shades, from the darkest black to brown. They go on smoothly, making your brows look full and natural. Brow pencils are easy to carry and come with a built-in spoolie brush to help you tame those unruly brows. Take a look at the best brow pencils available in India.

1) Dior Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil

This ultra-fine retractable pencil and brush is simple to use and comes in one universal shade and works for any hair colour or skin tone. It can create both natural and dramatic look. It doesn’t require sharpening.

Available at all Dior stores.

2) Benefit Instant Brow Pencil

This tinted wax can transform sparse, unruly brows into perfectly natural and polished. It is soft and smooth, easy to sharpen and very pigmented. It has a natural powder- like finish. The spoolie brush is perfect to blend in the product defining the shape. It comes in 3 shades and is available at Sephora.

3) Maybelline Mastershape Brow pencil

This retractable wax crayon is smooth and highly pigmented. It has a water-proof and smear proof formula. It is available in four shades. Available on flipkart.

April 29, 2015
Hair styling staple: 3 hairsprays that can make summer easy on your tresses

With summers and the rainy season just around the corner, one has to be wary of the effects of heat and humidity on hair texture and styling. Hair spray is a styling staple that can save you a lot of hassle; it not only keeps your hair style in place but also protects your tresses from getting damaged from the heat. What you need to keep in mind while purchasing a hairspray is to go for one that holds your style in place without drying out your hair. Have a look at the three best hairsprays available in Indian market.

1) Toni&Guy Casual: Sea Salt Texturising Spray

Suitable for all hair types, this wonderful hair spray adds the apt amount of texture and volume to your hair without making it look fuzzy. Packed with the goodness of sea salts, this hairspray offers a medium hold and fortifies brittle strands with a shiny lustre. For extra hold and texture, spray it once on damp hair before styling and then on dry hair and re-style.

Buy here

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2) Enliven Pro-V Ultra Hold Hair Spray Hair Styler

Rich in ingredients like amino pro vitamin B5 and creatine, this product not only holds your style for hours but also nourishes it at cellular level. Suitable for all hair types, it doesn’t make your hair stiff like other hair sprays and has a pleasant fragrance. It is sulphate-free and is every runway stylists must have.

Buy here

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3) Bed Head Maxxed Out

This fast-drying spray adds massive volume and hold to your hair. It has a non-aerosol formula that shields your hair from moisture protecting your hair from the sun and keeps your style from budging for hours. It leaves dull and dry hair looking slick without weighing it down.

Buy here

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April 21, 2015
Hello Emoji’s! Feeling a bit worldly today?

Apple rolled out its third major update to iOS 8 recently and we…..kinda love it. Amongst various minor updates that improved performance & fixed bugs, this new installment of the operating system has started making headlines especially for the new Emoji keyboard.

The first of its kind keyboard that allows you to change skin tones of human emoji’s along with various family options (including gay couples with kids) is now available to all iPhone, iPad, iMac & iWatch users with the iOS 8.3!

What’s more, is the range of new emoticons that incorporates flags of different countries (including India) along with different symbols and expressions.

The download is fairly hassle-free depending on the user’s internet speed!

April 9, 2015
Zizo: The latest hotspot for a lip-smacking Lebanese experience

Here’s the hottest find in the city for authentic Lebanese cuisine. Visit Zizo in Connaught Place and explore the refined cuisine that is as intricate in its flavours as the inter-weaving of cultures that influences it. Meet Fouad Abdel Malak, the CEO of Zizo and find out what he thinks makes his restaurant stand out.

Fouad Abdel Malak: Basically I found out that there are no really good Lebanese restaurants in India and I thought how amazing would it be to bring something authentic from Lebanon to India.

Fouad Abdel Malak is the CEO of the authentic Lebanese restaurant Zizo, located in Connaught Place, New Delhi. He talks of his commitment to the myriad flavours of his homeland and the unique nuances of his eatery in the capital.

Fouad Abdel Malak: I come from a village it’s called Abadieh, it’s about 20 minutes from Beirut and it’s all green and there we eat great food everyday! It’s organic, its healthy, its nutritious and everything is picked from the garden so I thought how great it would be to offer the same thing to people in India. We’ve brought together like unique things like Mulberry juice which doesn’t exist here. Organic mulberry juice, we brought together Fatte which is a yoghurt with chick peas and a bed of crispy bread and we have some good grills and some very very traditional foods like Hummus but done the proper way!

The team at Zizo believes in establishing customer relationships which go beyond just a hospitable environment. It’s almost like they are brand ambassadors of a beautiful culture defined by its warmth, vibrancy and a certain indescribable elegance.

Fouad Abdel Malak: We are not trying just to make money, we want to make friends and that’s what is really important to Zizo. It’s about making friends and introducing people to the beautiful culture of Lebanese cuisine and beautiful habits of hospitality that we are famous for in Lebanon and the great healthy food we bring to India is something that I hope people will appreciate.

Carving the restaurant interior into four different sections, Fouad explains how the restaurant setup is a like a journey with different facets that cater to diverse customer preferences. The one theme that runs in common is a delectable Lebanese experience accentuated by a rich and varied burst of flavours.

Fouad Abdel Malak: I wanted this place to be like a journey. And every area to represent a different facet of that journey. When you come here, you feel like you’ve gone to Lebanon. We’ve got books; we have movie nights on Tuesdays where we bring down the screen. We have documentaries about Lebanon; we have pickles the way we make in Lebanon – the same way, the same taste. We have the same way of making traditional Pita bread which kind of inflates and it’s very very fresh.

And here’s a little insight on the specialties at the restaurant from the horse’s mouth.

Fouad Abdel Malak: I think we have the best hummus in India by far and it’s not an easy thing to make good hummus and I would like you to know that our hummus which chef Dany with Chef Maroun sells for 20 Euros in Monaco, and here it sells for around 250 rupees. So I think what we tried to do is we tried to get that top level food here. And something else which is very unique is the Man’oushe, it’s the Lebanese flat bread pizza, which has various toppings and is very typical of Lebanons street food. And the last thing I would like to talk about is the guest favoured – Falafel. We went to a crazy length to get the Falafel as good as the best places in Lebanon.

Amongst the specialties, Fouad believes that the ‘Lebanese leg of lamb’ truly stands apart and is a must-try at Zizo.

Fouad Abdel Malak: We have a Lebanese leg of lamb, we call it Oriental leg of lamb or the King’s feast. It’s a leg of lamb and .it’s cooked to perfection on a bed of rice with some Arabic nuts and a peppery Lebanese sauce which is very famous in Lebanon and it is a really unique dish.

Where: Connaught Place, K 18,22, Connaught Place, New Delhi & M 23, 1st Floor, Greater Kailash (GK) 1, New Delhi

Must Try: Lebanese leg of lamb, Man’oushe, Falafel and Traditional hummus with Tahini

Cost for two: Rs 1300 (Approx)

Opening hours: 11AM to 11PM

Outdoor Seating: No

Delivery: Yes

Serves Alcohol: In Greater Kailash – Yes

In Connaught Place – License Awaited

January 15, 2015
At Smokey’s, American BBQ meets smoke-infused sophistication

Since Smokey’s opened in Delhi’s GK-II area about a year ago, it has been as influential as every other iconic restaurant in the city. Not only is it famous for its smoke-infused food and cocktails, its flamboyant hospitality and vibrant ambience is what bringstrue connoisseurs back to this restaurant. Restaurateur and owner Shiv Karan Singh walked us through the journey of this now-beloved Delhi haunt. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Shiv Karan Singh: I feel today every place has to be for everybody, kind of a feel good factor. Smokey’s is more than a restaurant; it’s an activity space where people can engage and have a great time without pinching their pockets. Yes of course we want everybody to come but I want everybody to remember me for my food more than anything else to be honest.

One look around the restaurant’s lofty wood and brick decor and you can guess the type of food they serve. From American style barbeque steaks to grills; this restaurant has something to satiate all kinds of palettes.

Shiv Karan Singh: I love all my food, my steaks, yes I love my steaks and I think what we offer is a very different palette of things whether it’s from the European to the little twist of the Indian taste. So I think we guys must be the one of the first ones to start with burger sliders and burger hot dogs, we do a lot of steaks, we do a lot of good fish; we have ‘red snapper’ we have ‘John Dory’, we have three or four different types of steaks which we offer which is quite known amongst the people out here.

The entrance of the restaurant is decked with a shot bar and the side wall is decked with coloured arty bottles. Smokey’s takes pride in the innovation they’ve introduced into the preparation of their cocktails.

Shiv Karan Singh: So we’ve used the smoke element with the liquor so we have a lot of smoke based cocktails out here. Whether you call it a smokey martini, a lock stock, old fashioned, all these are very new with lot of smoke with wood being used with a lot of things infusing together. My personal favourite cocktail here is the ‘smoking lock stock’ which is a vodka based cocktail thatI love, and then John does a ‘Johntini’ its a single malt cocktail which is one of my favourites out here.

Where: Plot 2, VIPPS Center, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash (GK) II, New Delhi

Must Try: Cocktails – ‘Lock, Stock & A Smokin’ Barrel’ and ‘Burn Bourbon Burn’

Food – ‘John Dory with Smoked Shimla Chili’ and ‘Slider Dogs’

Cost: Rs.2,000 for two (approx including alcohol), taxes and charges extra

Opening hours: 12 Noon to 1 AM (All days of the week)

Serves Alcohol: Yes

Outdoor Seating: No

Delivery: Yes

January 6, 2015
Meet, greet and have a drink at ‘The Chatter House’, New Delhi!

As the name suggests, ‘The Chatter House’ is a European-style gastro pub where everyone’s welcome to walk in and have a great time with friends over food and drinks. Here’s an insight on the diner by its Head Chef, Tara Chand Joshi. He tells us what makes ‘The Chatter House’ so special. Take a look.

Located at the Food Mall, Epicuria, Nehru Place in New Delhi, The Chatter House ignites the magic of an Old English Pub offering a variety of mouth-watering cuisine and cocktails.

The head chef Tara Chand Joshi, with International experience at multiple restaurants in the past explains the idea behind the pub and it’s specialties.

Tara Chand Joshi: The idea behind The Chatter House is community bonding. The ambience is such that you would instantly want to leave everything behind, soak in the relaxed retro vibe and simply have a great time. So while you enjoy the food here, you can bond over endless conversations, have a round of beer pong, play a game of darts, move over to the pool table or just enjoy the retro music.

The keyword behind our food menu is comfort. It’s a mix of European, Italian and of course Indian.The beverage menu on the other hand has a simple and fun thought – Booze for Big Kids. What you should try here are the wood fired pizzas and our signature molecular cocktail, ‘Golden Chatter’

The Chatter House menu indulges your guilty pleasures, light cravings and peckish moments besides dishing up hearty meals at very affordable prices.

Where: The Chatter House, Epicuria, Nehru Place

Must Try: Wood fired Pizza & Golden Chatter (Cocktail)

Cost for two: INR 1,200 plus taxes (without alcohol)

Opening hours: 11:30 am to 1:00 am

Outdoor Seating: Yes

Delivery: No

December 31, 2014
What good is a bar if it doesn’t make you monkey around?

Monkey Bar Delhi

India’s first ‘gastropub’ Monkey Bar has now opened its doors in Connaught Place, Delhi. Need reasons to drop in? We’ve got you plenty.

Monkey Bar gave the term ‘gastropub’ a unique makeover with an Indian twist. This fun and quirky New York-inspired bar promises much more than just food and drinks. Warm service, drinks served in jars and Moscow mules and a relaxed vibe is what you should expect. Nakul Chandra, Business Development Manager at Monkey Bar, told us about everything amazing at the bar, here are the excerpts from the interview.

Nakul Chandra: Gastropub is a very simple concept. I know the name sounds a little bit fancy but it’s not. It’s just a pub or a bar that usually you go to for drinks but we serve really good food and that’s where the gastro angle comes in. Our burgers are really famous and we put a lot of effort into them. And other than that our cocktails, so not just trade drinks and beer, we keep innovating and changing flavours that suit the Indian palette.

Already an established name in Banglaore and Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, Monkey Bar has now reached the heart of the city, Connaught Place. While this seems to be a part of the strategy to win over all the bar-lovers in the city, it’s actually their love for the heritage and the architecture that got them to CP.

Nakul Chandra: It is where people, anyone who comes to Delhi for the first time, if they want to come anywhere its India Gate or CP. So this has historical value, it’s a gorgeous place I mean if you look at CP, the architecture, the heritage everything is amazing. So we wanted to be a part of the revival of CP.

Innovation and creativity is exactly what you see when you enter Monkey Bar. Not only the decor but also the signature food and drinks are customized to the location of the bar.

Nakul Chandra: So drinks would be ‘Mangaa’ that is our main signature drink which is an ‘Aam Panna’ based cocktail which has been with us since the opening of the first monkey bar in Bangalore (patch). For Connaught place we have created a new signature called Cherry Pop “CP”, that’s a drink which is made with cherries as well as candy so it has got a very nice colour and it has got a very nice flavour to it. Copper Monkey is another one which is served in a copper mug, its take on a Moscow mule and that’s based with whiskey. Food-wise like I said burgers our are main signature we’ve got some Indian food which is also our take on regular classics like ‘Tikki of Joy’ which is a Calcutta inspired dish so that’s got fish in a Calcutta-style mustard sauce and we‘ve got ‘Berry Pulao’ which is a Parsi dish very traditional Chicken-Pulao made with Parsi berries so those are our signatures.

With a strict no reservations and no judgement policy, Monkey Bar is managed by a bunch of happy and welcoming people/staff who offer a bit more than a usual neighbourhood bar would.

Nakul Chandra: We have a pool table in all our bars across the countries and they are all free of charge. We do not charge for them, it’s a part and parcel of the experience at Monkey Bar. So we would like everyone to come and play and have a good time and enjoy themselves. We take great pride in foosball ourselves because we are always playing it so any guest who wants to challenge us is always welcome to.

Where: P 3/90, Connaught Circus, Connaught Place, New Delhi

Plot 11, Upper Ground Floor, LSC, Pocket C 6 & 7, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

Must Try: Signature Cocktails ‘Mangaa’, ‘Cherry Pop’ and ‘Copper Monkey’ , Mushroom Bruschetta, Mobar Buger and Berry Pulao

Cost: Rs.1,800 for two (including alcohol)

Opening hours: 12 PM to 12 AM (All days of the week)

Serves Alcohol

Outdoor Seating: No

Delivery: No

October 14, 2014
Chill over quirky cocktails and global cuisine at Camino in GK II

Camino is a new addition to the bustling M-Block Market in GK II. If live music, Peruvian food and some chilled cocktails are your idea of an evening well-spent, then Camino should be your new hangout destination. Located on the second floor, just next to Starbucks, Camino offers live music on Wednesdays and Fridays, an interesting array of signature cocktails and an amazing food selection from cuisines across the world.

Where: M-13, M-Block Market, Greater Kailash (GK) II, New Delhi

Must Try: Camino Signature Cocktails ‘Dee-gab-leo’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Mischief’

Cost: Rs.1,500 for two (approx including alcohol)

Opening hours: 11 AM to 1 AM (All days of the week)

Serves Alcohol

Outdoor Seating: Yes

Delivery: No

September 19, 2014