5 The Body Shop Favorites

Many years ago, I used to play Scrabble online. Sometimes my opponents & I would end up chatting a bit while playing - Where are you from....What do you do.... general stuff. And one day when I was playing with a female opponent.....

Opponent: I work in Body Shop.

Me: Oh, I loooove Body Shop! =)

Opponent:  =)   

Me: "So what are your favorite Body Shop products?"

Opponent: I meant Auto Body Shop =D

Me: Oh! LOL! =D

Awkward! We stopped chatting all through the game. I don't remember who won that game, though. But let's all assume I did ;p =D

So that's a lil' Body Shop story, and now I'll tell you about the 5 The Body Shop products that I've been loving lately.....

NEW! The Body Shop Body Sorbets In India

YAY....They're here! I have been waiting for these ice cream- looking things to hit India!

The Body Shop keeps you cool from top to toe in the summer heat. NEW Body Sorbets deliver a frosty burst of moisture freshness to skin, keeping you hydrated without the sticky feeling.

Available in four fruity flavours – Strawberry, Mango, Peach and Satsuma and one floral fragrance - Moringa, the Body Sorbets offer the ultimate summer sensorial experience. (Don't know if Pink Grapefruit is launched in India, coz it's not listed here!)

Body Sorbets contain 100% organic Community Fair Trade Aloe Vera from Guatemala, to comfort, cool and soothe skin frazzled by the summer heat. Store in the fridge to get the ultimate refreshment for the face and body!

Products Of The Week: The Body Shop Strawberry Range

A couple weeks ago:

Me: "I want strawberries."

Family: "Oh, they're not in season right now. Why, you're craving them?"

Me: "Yes.", I lied.

I wasn't craving them, I wanted to click pictures of them along with these Strawberry goodies from The Body Shop. Yeah, I'd eat them afterwards - sprinkled with powdered sugar....mmm - but they'd have to pose for pictures first ;p

NEW! The Body Shop Blueberry Range

Made from cold-pressed blueberry seed oil, and Community Fair Trade Shea butter and cocoa butter from Ghana, the range is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids that nourish and hydrate your skin, while softening, protecting and smoothing it.

The fruity fragrance is the perfect icing on top that will leave your skin smelling like fresh blueberries!

 

Blueberry Body Butter, Price Rs.1195 : An intensive, creamy all-over body moisturizer with a fruity blueberry fragrance that absorbs easily into the skin, to condition, soften and help prevent dryness.

 Blueberry Body Lotion, Price Rs. 695 : A light lotion that leaves silky smooth.

Make Your Own Banana Powder

For months and months I've been trying to get a good deal on a Ben Nye Banana Powder, but it's always very expensive online - the shipping cost mostly. If you don't know what Banana Powder is, it's this very hyped yellow translucent powder made famous by Kim K. It seems to suit all skin tones & looks like a great highlighting powder. Lots of people are making money on Ebay by selling samples of it in little plastic pouches. I want the 1.5 oz bottle, but now I'm tired of looking! Only today I found the powder online for $15....I was excited....until I saw shipping was $19.99! Da fudge! Maybe I'll just wait for Ben Nye to come to India.

Ben Nye Banana Powder pic

Let me tell you what led me to do this DIY.....

Star's Yellow Matt Translucent Powder, Rs.225 ~ I saw this super inexpensive yellow powder on Jabong, and I thought "Ooh....maybe it's a Banana Powder DUPE!" I ordered (excitedly), and it arrived some days later. After testing it, I found it too yellow......

Whimsical Present For A Beauty Blogger/Addict

Pretty Real Flowers ~  They die. I sad.
Pretty Wrapping Paper ~ They tear. I sad.

Both sad situations. Both I try to avoid. Right now, I have a bunch of red roses (shown in my Maybelline Color Show post here) that have dried up, and this feeling I get because I have to throw them out is....is.... not nice. Give me fake flowers and gift bags/boxes (no tape, please.) any day. Speaking of gift bags and boxes, maybe we take our heads out of them, and plonk them into pretty whimsical carry cases.....

I saw this carry case in Woodland Adventure Carry Case at Paperchase (a fun stationery store in UK) many weeks ago, and instantly fell in love with it! But I was skeptical about buying it, because of travelling issues and all. A couple weeks later, I thought: Whatever, I must have it. I went there and saw it's not in the same place it was the last time. I looked and looked around the store, and I found it hiding at the back of one table. Only one of its kind (there were about 5 last time), and I didn't feel good about it. Don't we all like to pick the best piece and usually assume the last one is probably defective? I asked the store assistant if they had another one.

She: "You want to buy 2 of them?"

Me: "No. Actually, there's a scratch on this one. Look.", I pointed to an almost undetectable silver hairline scratch on the box. Yes, it was quite a moo point, and I would've bought it if I had no other choice.

She: "Okay, I'll go check in the back for you, but we may be out of them."

She came back in 5 mins with the only one left in stock. It was wrapped nicely in transparent plastic bag which was twisted into a ruffle at the end (like a sack) and tied with a golden plastic ribbon. Brand new, unopened, untouched. I had to stop myself from jumping and clapping, and delightfully squealing "Ooh, me likey!"

Life With & Without Face Powders ~ A Guide

How I Fell In Love With Powder:
I had this flatmate/friend in college. She had a dusky skin tone, and her skin was flawless! Smooth and spotless, albeit major dark circles around her eyes. She loved taking care of her skin. Even before brushing her teeth in the morning, she would make a paste of besan (gramflour) and grounded nuts to wash & exfoliate her face with. I'd never have the energy for such things that early. Her mom would send her these containers of powdered nuts mixed with other powdered stuff specially made for her skin. Read between the lines here. So this girl used to put on a Lakmé Compact Powder when she went out - the puraana (old) one that came in a green packaging - and her skin would look even more flawless! I could stare at her skin for hours. I was a simple eyeliner & lipstick gal then, and that's when I decided to try out powders.

And.... a perpetual habit was born.

I've never talked about powders before, so I thought I'd do it today. Below are some of the powders I have with me right now, and I'll just talk through them and let you know my favorite and the not-so-favorite kinds, for your reference:

Loose Powders:

• Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder ~ If you feel this powder, you'll fall in love instantly. It will haunt you, until you go back to the store to buy it. That's what happened to me in Kuala Lumpur. It makes skin feel like silk. It's white because it's meant to suit all skin tones. The reason why I don't use it much is because if you use too much, it'll definitely show patches of white, especially in photos. Let's not forget it's rumored to have caused a lot of makeup mishaps for many celebs

• NARS Loose Powder in Beach ~ It's a nice setting powder, but I wouldn't buy it again.

• The Body Shop Loose Face Powder in 01 ~ This is my 2nd container, so you can imagine how much I like it. I always seem to go back to it.

• I couldn't find my Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (pics here), which is a pretty good handbag compact

• Also, MAC Blot Powder (pics here), which I'd somewhat forgotten I have until now, this moment! =\

Compact Powders:

• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Sandstorm 004 ~ It's a nice inexpensive drugstore compact, but it's not as silky as I'd like it to be.

• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Medium ~ I like this one when I'm not wearing foundation, and I want a little bit of coverage.

• Lakmé Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Compact in Ivory Fair 01 ~ This is too yellow for my skin tone. It's also heavier than most of the compacts I've used. I was quite disappointed with it.

• Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Powder ~ This was from a Limited Edition collection. It's my current handbag compact powder. Just a translucent compact powder. More pics and swatch here

Compact 'Vs' Loose Powders ~ I personally prefer Loose Powders, because they feel lighter and look more natural over foundation. I only use compacts for touch-ups, when I'm out.

THE BEST Loose Powder I've Ever Used: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder. It costs around Rs.2600, and I get why it's won most beauty awards. It contains the finest French cashmere talc, hence very smooth and lightweight. A mini version came with the Undercover Pot that I have, and I've already used up the powder before the duo concealers. It's been on my wishlist for years.

Best Way To Apply Face Powders: I prefer using a fluffy powder brush when using both loose & compact powders, because I only want a thin veil to set my foundation. When I use a powder puff, I dust off excess with a brush- preferably a soft synthetic one, like the Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush.

Picking Powder Shades: My skin has a golden undertone, so I like using powders with some yellow in them, and I avoid pinkish-looking ones. I usually go for 'Translucent' (transparent) or natural beige shades. If you have a neutral skin tone, pick beige shades. You could always mix 2 powders, if you can't find the right match. Kryolan makes a yellow loose powder that suits most skin tones, and can be mixed with beige & tan powders.

Life Without Powders: One weekend at the in-laws, I noticed that I didn't pack my The Body Shop Loose Powder + I'd also switched handbags and left my makeup pouch where my compact was at home. I felt a very withdrawal symptom kind of feeling. Clean & Clear Oil Blotting Sheets to the rescue, thankfully.

If you don't want to wear foundation, but want your skin to look radiant and fresh, try powders and see the difference!

Hope you found this post helpful. Would love to know which powders you love.

The Body Shop Haul ~ All Half Off!

Last week, I noticed that I had only one body moisturizer left on my nightstand- a tiny amount of Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Body Oil. I admit, it depressed me a little bit. I don't....I don't know how it came to that.

So, The Body Shop SALE couldn't have come at a better time. I ordered all these goodies online. All 50% off *insert opera music*

The Body Shop All-In-One BB Cream 01 Review [Edited]

Sorry for posting so late! It's almost quarter past 5 pm over here, and I was hesitating to post this. But.....

Since so many of you were waiting eagerly for this review, I put it it at the top of my to-do list. Also, I want you to read it asap, coz I guess most if you ladies must have just gotten your paychecks a few days back & all ready to pounce on all the new beauties on the block ;)

What it is: A white BB Cream that changes color once it touches your skin, and adapts to your skin tone. A little flag next to it in the stores read "No.1 Selling Product in Indonesia". They mean in The Body Shop store, I'm assuming. 

* BB stands for Blemish/Beauty Balm. Please read more about the purpose of BB Creams here

Shade: I am using 01. I picked 02 the first time, coz in my hurry to buy it I just saw 02 & 03, not knowing there's also a shade #01! I reached home, and googled. Found swatches, and saw 02 looked pinker than 01, so I decided to go exchange it while it's still sealed. Unfortunately, 01 wasn't in stock for weeks (even on the day I bought it), so I got my cash back & returned the BB Cream. Long story short: 01 was finally in stock and....and.... I got it for a little bit cheaper than the first time coz  of some discount. Woohoo! 

*All 3 shades are on the pinker side. No yellow undertones, which I prefer. 

The Body Shop Lily Cole Collection [Cruelty Free] Review, Swatches, Look

If you want pink & cute.... If you adore cutesy Korean/Etude House make-up products.... if you believe in Cruelty-Free make-up products.....take a look at The Body Shop Lily Cole Collection! All products are Limited Edition, so if you fancy anything, go get them before they are going.... gone!

Makeup Haul & New Products

I have not done a haul post in quite some time now, and I know many of you likes seeing ze hauls. So, I thought I'd give you a sneak peek of most of the brand new goodies in my vanity.

The Worst Beauty Products

Hope you're all doing well. Today, I'll be showing you some of The Worst Beauty Products I've ever used.

*Please note: I'd used these products for a considerable amount of time, and I did give them the benefit of the doubt before I made up my mind. Also, they might have not worked for me personally, but it's very possible that they're wonderful products for others. That's one of the reasons why most of the ones mentioned are still flying off the shelves.

1. Colorbar I-Define Pencil (Midnight Black) ~ Hard & dry. Would work better on paper, not eyes.
2. Inglot Gel Liner (Shade 75 Purple) - Not creamy enough, and dried up before the gel liners I bought way before it. I was gonna use it this one time, and found a purple rock!
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer ~ Caused big painful cystic pimples. It feels like a dream, but works like a nightmare.
4. Bourjois Elastic Mascara ~ No volume, lashes looked uneven in length & the formula burned my eyes. By far, the worst mascara I've ever used.  
5. Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush (Shade #6 Quickie) ~ Dried up before I'd even used it properly. I was shocked! Really not worth $26 (Rs.1400) You are better off mixing a powder blush with moisturizer.
6. The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion ~ Extremely drying & it neither prevented nor cured pimples. The only thing it cleared up was all the moisture from my skin. On nights when I used it, I was afraid I'd wake up in the morning and see my skin had cracked!
7. Revlon Colorsilk Luminista Hair Color (Medium Blonde 175) ~ Burned my scalp like a chilly paste during developing time. Had the color not turned out brassy, the unexpected sting would have been so worth it.
8.  L'Oreal Re-Nutrition Shampoo + Conditioner ~ Re-Name, Re-Grease, Re-Dull. 

I told you mine. Please tell me yours!  

♥ Cynthia Z *.* 

Most Used Beauty Products

Yesterday, I had an attack of short attention span (the infamous Gemini vice). I was going to blog about something.... then I decided on something else....then something else.... it was amazing how my mind went from China to Turkey in minutes. I wanted to pull my hair, coz I couldn't settle on a topic, yet I was editing photos & writing like a maniac. Then late at night, I ended up making this collage instead- far far away from China & Turkey.

These are some of my Most Used Products. I've repurchased some & I'm begging a few not to leave me!

Chocolate Beauty Treats ~ The Body Shop Chocomania

Though I don't go bananas over chocolates,  The Body Shop Chocomania range had me at hel....press release. I couldn't wait to sniff them all! When I finally did, the smell was nothing like I expected. Nothing like Dairy Milk or Ferrero Rocher le sigh.

But I still got 2 products to try out-  Body Scrub & Lip Butter.

• The Body Shop Chocomania Body Scrub, Rs.760.75 ~ This smells like brownies. It is a fine sugar scrub, and the exfoliating beads aren't big like the ones in TBS Cocoa Body Scrub, but they're still sufficient for a good exfoliating experience.  If you want to skip body lotion after a bath, this is perfect because the oils in it  (Brazil nut oil & Soya Oil) don't wash off completely & give the skin a nice glowy sheen. 

The Body Shop NUTRIGANICS DROPS OF YOUTH Product Photos & Prices

Science, nature and technology join forces in the latest skincare offering from The Body Shop, with the launch of Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth. Utilising the very latest in plant stem cell technology to help combat first signs of ageing,

Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth is our certified organic alternative to anti-ageing potions. Drop by drop, Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth enhances surface skin renewal, the skin’s natural process of replacing the uppermost dead cells with the new ones beneath. Day by day, Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth reveals smoother, fresher and healthier looking skin. Shed your old skin and step into a new, revitalized you.

Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth can be used in combination with serum, or added to a moisturiser day or night to give a surge of hydration and kick start the cell repair process. Simply massage two to three drops into skin and allow the concentrate to sink in for a few seconds before applying your usual moisturiser or serum.

NATURE’S POWER, HARNESSED

Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth harnesses the power of plant stem cells harvested from criste-marine (Crithmum maritimum), which grows on the rocky Britanny coastline. Able to survive in the most demanding conditions, criste-marine thrives in dry and inhospitable environments, Sustaining itself by absorbing nutrients from the very air around it. Fortifying Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth is extract of beech bud, with its rich concentration of minerals, trace elements, enzymes and vitamins.

Nourishing, enriching and stimulating, Nutriganics Drops of Youth is a botanical powerhouse. As part of the Nutriganics range, a minimum of 98% of Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth ingredients are derived from natural origins. Silicone and paraben free, Nutriganics contains 20% organic ingredients to deliver natural beauty, naturally.

The Body Shop Launches Chocomania ~ A Chocolate Range Fit For Valentine's Day!

With Valentine’s Day drawing nearer, thoughts of true romance are front of mind – and what better way to celebrate than with the food that has inspired countless love affairs throughout history? This February, The Body Shop is proud to launch Chocó mania, a lavish celebration of the timeless ingredient that continues to capture our hearts and our imaginations today.

For over 3,000 years, chocolate - like gold - has had universal appeal. From kings and queens, to laborers and laymen, chocolate has inspired, tempted and tantalized. Once the culinary privilege of the wealthy and famous, chocolate has worked its way into our hearts and lives. And for the chocoholics amongst us, we’ve got some news to get your blood racing: our new Chocó mania bath & body range is here.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Chocó mania is a decadent, sensuous and indulgent range guaranteed to plunge you, your skin and your senses straight into chocolate heaven. Sin free, pleasure rich and oozing with luxurious texture and fragrance, Chocó mania is irresistible.

With its rich and sumptuous texture, Queen of the Chocó mania range is Chocó mania Body Butter. “Inside every pot is an exclusive formula of 12 Community Fair Trade Ingredients from around the world making this the most lavish Body Butter from The Body Shop to date. Smooth and seductive, Chocó mania Body Butter simply melts into the skin, combating dryness with 48 hours of intensive moisturisation and releasing a heavenly chocolate fragrance that will make you smell good enough to eat.

Can’t get enough? We understand. Thankfully, there’s a whole Chocó mania range to enjoy, so you can indulge in the delicious fragrance and sumptuous textures in as many ways as possible. Now, that’s pure luxury.

• Chocó mania Body Butter – Rs.895 (200ml.) , Rs.345 (50ml.)
• Chocó mania Body Lotion –  Rs.595
• Chocó mania Shower Cream Rs.395
• Chocó  mania Body Scrub  - Rs. 895
• Chocó mania Lip Butter – Rs. 295
• Chocó mania Heart shaped Soap – Rs. 245
• Chocó mania  Bag of Hearts – Rs.595 

LOTD With The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil & Bronzing Powder

Winter is here, but I still can't get enough of my bronzers. My skin instantly looks healthier after I brush some bronzing powder on my cheeks. In fact, I'll need them more now when it's cold and I'll get paler. I thought it's about time I wrote about The Body Shop Honey Bronze products I bought in October. In the photos, the products don't show much but they don't in real life either. Both the Bronzing Powder and Shimmering Dry Oil products are very subtle. The Bronzing Powder could easily be called a 'Bronzer Faker'

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Face: Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer, MUFE HD Foundation #120, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot under eyes, MAC Studio Finish Concealer to conceal blemishes.

Cheeks + Face ~ TBS Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder under cheekbones, temples, chin & Shimmering Dry Oil on the cheekbones. I also applied the oil on the bridge of my nose, over my brows and on the center of my chin.

Lips ~ Silkygirl Moisure Gloss Lip Gloss in Barely Nude.

*Earrings ~ Forever 21 (shown here)

The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder ~ Just Photos

The Body Shop Body Butter Duo ~ Sweet Pea & Macadamia

What is the one known trait of a Gemini? Being two-faced. If you have been reading my blog from the start, you'd have noticed a cycle- I have to have 2 or more of the same thing. Even with these duos, I had to get 2, see? I'm never satisfied with just one (I mean things, not people ;)). Can you imagine having 2 mothers or 2 husbands?! I'd go insane! =D

When I first laid eyes on The Body Shop Body Butter Duos, it was like a little bulb inside me lit up. Twin language? Hehe.

So, what's the deal with TBS Body Butter Duo? Basically, this twin pot contains two types of moisture: a light cream for where skin needs less hydration and a rich cream for drier areas like elbows and knees. In my case, feet too.

The Body Shop Cucumber Freshening Water Review

The Body Shop Cucumber Freshening Water is a toner made of:

• Community Trade Aloe Vera from Guatemala - is renowned for its incredible soothing and hydrating properties.
• Cucumber extract - is a gentle ingredient to help refresh the skin.
• Witch Hazel - helps to refresh the skin.

Ingredients: Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Rosa Centifolia Flower Water (Natural Additive), Polysorbate 20 (Emulsifier), Sodium PCA (Humectant), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Cucumis Sativus Juice (Natural Additive), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Parfum (Fragrance), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Glycerin (Humectant), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Hamamelis Virginiana Extract (Natural Additive), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Methylparaben (Preservative), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylparaben (Preservative), Ethylparaben (Preservative), Isobutylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative).

How to use: Apply to cotton pad and sweep over face after cleansing. If product gets in eyes, rinse with clean water.