Beauty Queen on a Budget | Winter '15
When I published the very first edition of the BQOAB series last year, it brought to my attention the dedication that can go into something as simple as beauty routine. In my mind, it was as simple as showcasing the prettiest products for the season but in reality; it was about agreeable formulas for the skin and appropriate shades for the season all while fitting into a finite budget.
This time around, I've handpicked products which are my current winter favorites all while falling under the budget of Rs.200!
Maybelline Color Show Nail Varnish - Velvet Wine
Price: Approx Rs. 125
Availability: Easy - At all Maybelline kiosks, beauty and department stores
Maybelline has been one of my favorite beauty brands right from my college days since they keep their products affordable along with great quality while launching a variety of new ranges ever so often, which the Color Show nail varnish is part of.
The shade 'Velvet Wine' was discovered by me in the midst of a pedicure wherein I was so besotted by the shade with its deep pink hue and sparkles, that I had to make it mine!
Ikonic Gel Eyeliner Pencil - Violet Gem
Price: Approx Rs. 200
Availability Rare - At select Kryolan kiosks and stores
The perks of wandering aimlessly around beauty stores is chancing upon gems *pun intended* like this pencil eyeliner. At a great price, the gel eyeliner in pencil form is easy to use, extremely creamy and is a wonderful purple shade with flecks of purple shimmer. Although I've found its staying power on my waterline poor, I've found that lining my lid with the shade brings out the shade even better!
Marks & Spencer Hand & Nail Cream - Lavender
Price: Approx Rs.200
Availability: Rare - At Marks & Spencer beauty stores
A name associated mainly with high street clothing, one of Marks & Spencer's secrets are their beauty range, which I discovered at their launch which had an entire floor dedicated to beauty. With a lavender fragrance that could soothe a savage beast, this fairly thick cream does a fantastic job of moisturizing your hands!
Tresemme Hair Spa Rejuvenation Conditioner
Price: Approx Rs.85
Availability: Easy - At all chemists and department stores
Tresemme products always have a positive effect on my hair and so is the case with this conditioner. What came as a pleasant surprise is the application process which needs the creamy conditioner to be massaged into your roots and applied all the way to your ends, which I find is the defining feature that makes this product stand out. The floral fragrance was still present in my hair hours later while there there was a noticeable smoothness to my hair texture
Miss Claire Soft Matte Lip Cream - Shade 15
Price: Approx Rs. 130
Availability: Rare - At select beauty stores
The Soft Matte Lip Cream from Miss Claire is one of those rare products that ticks all boxes. Not only are they an exact dupe of the NYX lip creams in packaging but even after using both brands, they are as close to duplicates in terms of texture, colour payoff and fragrance as it comes. The shade 15 is similar to my lip tone and achieves an opaque payoff in just a swipe or two, while staying put on my lips for hours at a stretch.
Photography: Raynor Pereira / Style File
Hope you liked my BQOAB picks for the winter & I'd love to hear what you think of them!
xo
Dayle
