Product Review - Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Matte - Starlet Red

   Audrey Hepburn said, "There is a shade of red for every woman", and in my opinion very rightly so. In my search for the same, I came across the Starlet Red shade of Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Matte lip tints which were first introduced in the market during the 2015 Winter - Fall edition of the Lakme Fashion Week. Do give the review below a read to know if it fits the bill of "My shade of red".

   Product Claims: It’s time for the backstage trend to take centre stage as Lakme introduces its very own playful take on lip tints.
   Say hello to Lakme Absolute Lip Pout - a chubby lip color crayon that gives you a luscious tint with a scintillating matte finish. Available in 6 classic matte colors, Lakme Absolute Lip Pouts is retractable by design (no need for a sharpener) and is your go-to lip tint for that effortlessly vibrant and playful look.

   Price: Rs. 650/-
   Volume: 3.5 g.
   Shelf Life: 30 months.
   Directions:
- Pull out the cap.
- Start applying from the centre of your upper lip.
- Work from the centre towards the outer edges of your lip, following the contours of your mouth.
- Glide across the entire bottom lip.
Ingredients: Not mentioned.

   The Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Matte comes packed in a black cardboard box printed on which are - The name of the brand, the product and the shade. Also mentioned are the manufacturing details, net weight, price and dates of manufacturing and expiry, a brief description of the lip tint and contact details for voicing of queries and feedback. The lip tint comes packaged like a cylindrical crayon. The body of the lip tint has a color similar to its shade and is provided with a silver colored cap. It has the name of the brand and the product mentioned on its side while the shade name, net weight and manufacturing and expiry dates are mentioned on its bottom. The bottom part of the bullet can be twisted to protract and retract the lip tint. Its simple packaging looks super cute, attractive and is very compact and travel friendly.
   Starlet Red is basically the color - Scarlet, a bright red shade having hint of orange hue in it.
   The lip tint formula has a mild scent to it which is pleasant to the olfactory receptors. Its packaging in form of a slender crayon like bullet container and uniform texture which glides over the lips, helps in easy application. It has a nice pigmentation, providing maximum color payoff with just two to three swipes, giving good coverage even to dark/unevenly pigmented lips. It provides the lips with a matte finish. The lip tint doesn't really smudge or bleed but isn't transfer proof. It stays on for more than 8 hours with light snacking, though doesn't survive a heavy meal. While it fades from the centre, the tint on the peripheral part stays put, requiring a touchup. On fading, the formula leaves a subtle pinkish tint on the lips, without settling into lines. Also, the formula is resistant to melting in hot weather conditions on storage and is available in six smashing shades containing two shades each of reds, oranges and pinks. Negative point about these is the fact that they dry out the lips a bit and also their ingredient list is not mentioned anywhere on the lip tint or on the Lakme website.
   Though the price of Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Matte may seem on a bit higher side, it is still pretty decent considering the amount of the lip tint provided in a single pack and is available quite easily across the nation via both online shopping portals as well as retail stores.

   Pros:
- Simple, attractive, compact and travel friendly packaging.
- Mildly scented with pleasant fragrance.
- Packaging and formulation of the lip tint makes for easy application.
- The formula glides over the lips.
- Two - three swipes gives good color payoff.
- Works well on pigmented lips.
- Provides a subtle matte finish.
- It doesn't smudge or bleed from the lips.
- The tint stays put easily for more than 8 hours.
- Doesn't require frequent touchups.
- Leaves a subtle tint on fading.
- Does not settle into lines.
- The formula does not melt in hot weather conditions.
- Available in six bright shades.
- Price is optimal considering the quantity provided.
- Easily available across the nation.

   Cons:
- It isn't transfer proof.
- A bit drying on lips.
- The list of ingredients isn't mentioned.

   Verdict: 4.5/5. Despite these lip tints not being transfer proof; the long staying power of the Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Matte, brilliant color payoff and their availability in variety of trendy shades, make them more than worth a try!

Product Review - Lakme CC Cream

   Reviewing the Lakme CC i.e Complexion Care Cream which has become an integral part of my beauty regimen without which I seldom step outside my house.
   A CC cream is the perfect combination of a daily skin cream with complexion corrector pigments which even out the skin tone. In addition to this, CC creams may or may not have properties of anti-aging, skin hydration or SPF protection.

   The Lakme CC Cream comes in 2 shades - The lighter Beige (for fair to wheatish complexion) and the darker Bronze (for dusky complexion) shade. The one which I use and am reviewing here is the Bronze shade.

    Product Claims:
    Skin care benefits:
     - Brightens
     - Moisturizes

     - Refreshes

     - UV Protection (SPF 20)

    Make-up benefits:

     - Evens Skin Tone

     - Conceals

   Price: Rs. 250/-
   Volume: 30 ml
   Shelf Life: 24 months from the date of manufacture.
   Usage: Dab over cleansed skin and blend in till absorbed for instant brightness and a perfect finish. Use every day.
   How to Use:

   I have been using the Lakme CC Cream since more than 6 months now, though not on a daily basis but only when I need to step out of my home or when I have to take pictures for reviewing products! Here, I must say that am thoroughly impressed by the way it makes my skin look and feel.
  
   Few points to stress upon for application of the CC Cream:
- One thing that many women forget is that the cream should be applied on the neck as well so that the skin tone of the face and neck match with each other. 
- I've noticed that I get better result when applying the product by the "dot" method or with the help of a makeup brush rather than by applying it through squeezing the cream in my palms and then applying it.
 - The cream does not need to be applied with any other moisturizer, although for people with excessively dry skin, it can be used after mixing it in a proportion of 1:1 with a moisturizer.

Lakme CC Cream Swatch

   Pros:
- Wonderful packaging with a cute outer pink box.
- The cream tube is handy and is easy to carry.
- Saves time as it combines the properties of a cream with a foundation/concealer.
- Blends with the skin to give a very natural look.
- Feels very light on skin.
- Stays on for long.
- Provides good coverage for acne, dark spots, uneven complexion.
- Easy to apply.
- Direction for usage are shown very nicely on a card inside the box.
- Provides protection from sun. (SPF 20)
- Cost effective considering it works as a foundation/concealer as well.

   Cons:
- Although the cream contains glycerin, which helps to keep the skin well moisturized, it causes drying of skin for me in winters.
- Wish it was available in more shades to suit women with darker skin tone.
- Won't hide extreme pigmentation, although it helps in lightening it.

My near perfect complexion all thanks to Lakme CC Cream

   Verdict: 4.5/5. Definitely going to repurchase as well as recommend it to others! 

   Works perfectly for me. The CC cream instantly evens out my complexion, hiding acne scars and gives my skin a clear, radiant and glowing look.