Product Reviews – Palakpahwa

If I ask all you ladies about the three things you always carry in your purse, what are you going to say? I think I know that most of you will say lipstick. Yes, that’s definitely in the top three for me. No matter where I go, you’ll always find lipstick in my bag. I don’t like to haul around all my makeup in my bag but the only thing I probably need on most occasions for a touch up is lipstick. So, by now you’ve probably guessed how much I love them and with that comes the never ending urge to keep trying different brands and types. Discovering a new brand or trying an edgy new product always excites me.

Back in 2020, a New Zealand based cosmetics company called Mellow Cosmetics reached out to me on Instagram for a brand collaboration on their Mellow cosmetics lipsticks range. I hadn’t heard of this brand back then so it was a very new territory for me. But what I really loved about them instantly was that they made vegan, cruelty free and paraben free products. Also, their collection looked amazing. Not to mention, they also put a lot of effort into their edgy and stylish packaging.

I ordered three matte liquid lipsticks and I couldn’t be any happier with what I got. I still remember the day they came and how I just couldn’t wait to try them on.

You can shop them directly from their website and if you use the discount code – Mellow15, you’ll get 15% off your entire order. The good news is that they’re currently running a promotion on their Nude Lip Collection, which includes 6 of their bestselling liquid lip shades that you can get for $47, instead of paying $17 for each individual lipstick. That’s less than half the price so go grab one!

Here’s my experience with the three Mellow cosmetics lipsticks I tried – Sydney, Auckland and Florence.

Shade – Sydney

Of all the three, Sydney is my favorite because of the way it looks on me (see in the picture below). It’s a beautiful nude pink color and is just so perfect for everyday use. I am a sucker for nude colors and this one has, by far, been my favorite nude pink lip shade. I used to wear this shade pretty much everyday to my zoom meetings for work and I still do sometimes. And believe me, it looked so natural and appropriate for work calls.

Shade – Auckland

The shade Auckland is a deeper red color. It’s more like a wine color (see below) but again, has such an amazing and flawless finish. Will go perfectly with your date night outfit.

Shade – Florence

The shade Florence is a more coral shade and perfect for spring. It’s a light and vibrant shade but very wearable. I use this shade a little less than the other two and whenever I do use it, I generally mix it up with other colors.

What I love about these lipsticks is their creamy matte finish. They don’t feel dry and they have a mousse-like consistency.
They’re so buildable that many times I just use them as a base layer and then top it off with another color.
They have a great longevity. Even though they’re very light weight, once you put them on you won’t have to worry about touching up for at least 3-4 hours.
The application is so easy. I have had unpleasant experiences with some other liquid lipsticks where the lipstick is so thick that it just sits on your lips very clumsily and is hard to rub off. These lipsticks are so light that you can easily control how much you want to apply and not have to worry about them getting smudged in the process.
One tip before applying these – Use a soft and moisturizing lip balm for a base layer to get your lips hydrated and these lipsticks will build on it flawlessly. That’ll also leave you with a bit of a glossy finish if that’s what you want and will increase longevity.
They are only $17 so cheaper than most luxe brands. They’re available on their website and shipping doesn’t take too long. They’re also available on Amazon and Nordstrom but it’s cheaper to buy directly from the brand’s site.

I haven’t tried any other products from this brand yet but given the experience I’ve had so far, I am looking forward to trying a few more. Have you or will you try Mellow Cosmetics lipsticks? Let me know in the comments below!

I am going to be honest and tell you that my relationship with makeup isn’t too old. That’s partly because I got introduced to it a little later in life and partly because my focus has been more heavily towards skin care. I believe that a healthy looking skin doesn’t need too much makeup application and thats what I have been aiming for. Not to say that you need makeup to hide your skin flaws. That, absolutely, should not be the purpose of it. Makeup, in my opinion, is a very personal choice and a great reflection of your personality. It makes you look and feel confident.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve received a lot of good and bad feedback on my makeup. Some of it made sense but some didn’t because I don’t really think there’s a rule book to follow. Of course, there’s a set of steps and some important things to keep in mind. But, it should be a personal choice and should be open to experimentation. And experimentation is what I have been doing over the last couple of years. Not just with makeup products, but also with the different styles of makeup. And, I have realized that a no-makeup or soft glam look is what works best for me. Because, I really like to keep it pretty natural looking.

And my experimentation with makeup products has helped me find just the right kinds of products that help me achieve this natural looking or minimalistic look. Here’s 10 of my favorites that I’d like to share with you.

1. The FaceShop Pomegranate and Collagen Volume Lifting Cream || $33.25 on Amazon

I came across this cream on Instagram and it was recommended by one of the makeup influencers I follow. This cream has an amazing texture and it has such a dewy effect on the skin. It works great as a primer and two layers of this cream will not only give you a very glass looking finish but also bind your makeup so well that you can easily go without a touch up for straight 12 hours. Believe me, because I have done that!

2. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Primer || $36 on Sephora

I have been loving Fenty Beauty products ever since I’ve started using them. I have tried concealers, bronzers and primers by this brand and I just love all the products I have tried so far. Their Pro Filt’r hydrating primer is my recent favorite. Because I have an oily skin, I don’t like creams and primers with a very heavy texture. This primer has a very light creamy texture and as soon as you apply it, your skin will feel very hydrated. It also has a great soft glow that looks perfect under makeup. This primer also works well to keep the makeup in place. Its a great hydrating primer for oily skin in my opinion.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter || $49 on Ulta

This product is a bit on the expensive side but if you like an illuminating effect then this one is for you. I recently bought this in the mini size and have used it at least 3 times and I am just loving it. This product can be applied as a base before your foundation or over your foundation. I use it before my foundation and after my primer, only on the high points of my face. And once I top it off with foundation, I can really see a perfect glow on my cheekbones and nose. You don’t need a lot of it so a little goes a long way but if you’ve been wanting to get a glowy makeup look, you can give this product a try. I got this in the shade 3 Fair.

4. L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer || $5.49 on Ulta

This concealer has a great coverage and longevity. It feels very natural upon application and certainly gives a brightening effect. I don’t use any other concealer when I am using this product. My shade is Pure Beige.

5. Maybelline Fit Me Foundation | $6.94 on Amazon

Perhaps one of my best drugstore buys. I’ve always loved Maybelline as a brand so I wanted to give this foundation a try. I had been looking for a more soft coverage and light weight foundation that I could use every day. This one just fit the bill because its not only soft and light, it also gives such a natural yet flawless look. Whats even better is that it works perfectly on oily skin like mine! Below is what it looks like, after being mixed the Farsali serum. I use the shade Nude Beige.

6. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation | $49 on Sephora

If you’re looking for a more medium to full coverage, then Estée Lauder has one of the best foundations. It comes in a variety of shades and gives an amazing coverage in just one layer. I use this mostly when I am going out and need a perfect coverage. I use the shade 3W1 Tawny.

7. Huda Beauty Setting Powder | $38 on Sephora

I don’t always use a baking powder but if I am doing heavy makeup or applying multiple layers, I think its necessary to bake it well so that it stays in place. And for setting powder, the one brand I trust the most is Huda Beauty. Their baking powders are light weight and come with a cute little sponge to make the application easy. The powder holds the makeup perfectly for hours. I use it in the shade Banana Bread.

8. Huda Beauty Empowered Eye Shadow Palette | $69 on Sephora

I am a sucker for a good eye shadow palette. Eye shadows are always part of my look because no matter how natural looking makeup you do, a nice eye shadow will always accentuate your look without making it look too over the top. My constant favorite has been the Empowered Palette from Huda Beauty. What I like the most about this palette is that it has a variety of gorgeous colors, some of which are cream based so they blend and settle well on the lids. This is one of my favorite makeup products.

9. Fenty Beauty Bronzer | $35 on Sephora

I recently started using this one and I absolutely love this bronzer. I really like the texture and how well it settles on my skin. I use it in the shade Caramel Cutie.

10. Anastasia Glow Kit | $40 at Sephora

This highlighter kit is absolutely stunning. With four different shades, it can be also used as a bronzer with the dark shades. Can also be used as an eye shadow so its really a multipurpose palette. I have used the Moonstone shade in the below picture.

I can’t wait to share some of my favorite lipsticks as well with you all but that’s for another day. Leaving you with some pictures of my finished makeup look!

Don’t forget to check out my quick and easy makeup tutorial on Instagram. Feel free to comment below on what your favorite makeup products are.

Palak Pahwa

Mellow Cosmetics Lipsticks – My Honest Review