Readers of my blog are probably familiar with two of my big loves – makeup and Agatha Christie books! So, when Nykaa kept sending me notifications and emails telling me to shop for my birthday month and avail special discounts and receive a birthday present (all Nykaa Prive members receive a birthday present if they shop in their birthday month), I simply couldn’t resist. On the very last day of the month (and the last day the deals ended!!) – August 31 – I decided to splurge on some fun makeup.
Here is my little birthday makeup haul. Some of these are repeat purchases (things I needed) and some I’ve bought for the first time (things I wanted), so I’ll also share mini reviews or first impressions of the products in question.
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership Mega Celestial Nirvana Palette
Celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath is so loved by her famous clients that she is called “The Mother”! And she happily plays on that name by naming her eyeshadow palettes the “Mothership” series. This brand is newly available in India and is exorbitantly priced, so I’ve never tried anything from it before. However, this particular palette was on discount and also part of an offer that included a Pat McGrath lip product on purchase of the palette. Its colours seemed wide ranging, and I liked that it was a mix of both mattes and shimmers as well as colourful shades and neutral shades. This makes it versatile enough to carry along with me when I travel.
I have worn it only a couple of times and haven’t yet tested out all the shades but the ones I have tried so far have been excellent. Their pigment payoff is amazing – it may even be too much if you prefer subtle looks. Plus, they have stayed put on my lids for over six hours (I’m yet to test them out for a longer period).
Pat McGrath Labs Liquilust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick – Flesh 3
As mentioned above, this was a free gift with the purchase of products from this brand that were above a certain amount. It’s a full-sized liquid lipstick, which I really appreciate. Though I have swatched it on the back of my hand, I haven’t yet worn it on my lips. I’ll report back on this one too.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream
This is a “Youtube-made-me-buy-it” purchase because I’ve seen countless beauty gurus go on and on about its wonderful tropical scent. I was excited to see it on the Nykaa website for the first time but decided to test it out with a small size before investing in the full-size product. Its texture is nice and it is very moisturising but I have some thoughts to share on its scent. It has a tropical cocoa butter smell, which is nice but not much different from Vaseline cocoa butter or any other product of that nature! Hence, I’m not sure it’s worth the price!
Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder in shade 15 Light
This is a repeat purchase because I really like this product and have finished a whole tub of it before. It’s a very finely milled loose powder that doesn’t leave any white-cast in photography with flash. It also sets the makeup well without looking cakey. It is affordable and offers a generous amount of product, so it’s a good bang for your buck.
Faces Canada Magneteyes Kajal in Intense Black
I’m a big fan of the Faces Canada Gel Intense Kajal but that is a pencil that needs frequent sharpening, which can be quite cumbersome and messy. So, I decided to try this twist-up kajal pencil from the same brand. I’ve only worn it once so far. Though it’s not as intense as the gel kajal, it is dark and beautiful nonetheless and has good staying power. It’s also definitely much more convenient to apply.
Pantene Advanced Hair Care Solution Lively Clean Shampoo
My husband and I both love this clarifying shampoo. It is the only one that thoroughly cleans our oily scalps! We are constantly stocking up on this shampoo, and I decided to add two more to my cart on this shopping expedition too to avail of the discount.
NEXT2SKIN Women’s Nylon Ankle Length Transparent Socks Skin (Pack of 4)
I needed a pair of sheer ankle length socks so while I was shopping, I decided to grab these too. I haven’t worn them yet but I’ll report back once I have.
Nykaa Wanderlust Himalayan Hemp Shower Gel
I’m always buying bath products because I love testing and trying new ones. I haven’t used this one yet but will share my thoughts soon.
Nykaa Matte To Last! Mini Liquid Lipstick in shade Mishti 10
This mini liquid lipstick was my birthday gift from Nykaa. It was clearly an old piece because it looked dried out from its appearance. When I swatched it on my hand, it was slightly dry but when applying it on the lips, it went on well without pulling or tugging. Once I’ve worn it for a longer period of time, I should have a better idea of its performance. However, I do wish they wouldn’t saddle us with old and almost expired products as birthday gifts!
If you would like to see my haul, here’s is the video of me unboxing it:
Which product seems most exciting to you? Have you tried any of these before? Let me know in the comments!
____________
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
____________
*This is not a sponsored post but it contains affiliate links. If you buy a product through my link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please support my blog by using my links to buy!
**Copyright in pictures and content belongs to nooranandchawla.com and cannot be republished or repurposed without express permission of the author. As I am a copyright lawyer by profession, infringement of any kind will invite strict legal action.
____________