HAUL: Mac, Body Shop, Maybelline, Bourjois

I realized that I haven't done a haul post in ages, I mean, since December. This is sort of a necessities  haul, and I'm very proud of myself for being able to resist buying so many things I don't really need. Accessorize, Marks & Spencer, and Guess tempted me more than MAC yesterday. I was not much of a jewelry person before, but now I'm even thinking about making my own jewelry =D.

Anyways, here's what I got:

• Maybelline Whitestay UV Comapct Powder SPF 18 in Light Ivory (Rs.150) ~ I've always wanted to buy this. It's so cheap it feels almost criminal not to buy it + I needed another handbag compact
• Mac Paintpot in Painterly (Rs.1100) ~  I really like my Coral Crepe Paintpot, so I decided to get a beige one that can be worn under any eyeshadow shade.
• Bourjois Liner Feutre in Noir (Rs.650) ~ This is a felt tip eyeliner. Really black and my kind of liquid liner. I will review it next week

Change Of a Lipstick : 2 Everyday Looks

These are my 2 favorite everyday looks. Same makeup in both, except for the lips. See how a lipstick can change your whole look!

In both looks: 

Face ~ Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse, Body Shop Loose Powder, Mac Chromagraphic Pencil to conceal blemishes, YSL Touche Eclat under my eyes, brow bone, Sides of the nose & chin

Cheeks ~  Mac Peaches Blush applied below the apples of the cheeks and blended up to the hairline

Eyes: UDPP to prime. I just used MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow all over my lids & lower lash line, then I applied a dark brown eyeshadow from the Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio Nude Ingenue on the outer corners of my lids and outer half of my lower lash line. Bourjois Smoky Eyes Pencil in Smoked Brown to line my upper lash line and then I used the brush to smudge it. I did the same on my lower lash line. To tightline upper lash line, I used IN2IT Gel Liner Pencil. Then I applied 3 coats of Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara on top & bottom lashes.

*(Click on links for swatches & reviews)

Note: The Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse 030 Light is a tad lighter than my skin tone, coz they were selling only two (TWO!) shades here, and the other one was too dark for me. So my point is, it's going to look a little whitish in flash photography (it was a gloomy day), especially since it has SPF.  

Look 1:

Classic & simple. Goes really well with a white coat. Here, I used MAC Patisserie Lipstick

Valentine's Day Look & Outfit

I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's day. I had fun, although the sudden change of weather here in Delhi spoiled my 'pink' plans a little bit. Anyways, on to my V-Day look....

Makeup:

Face- MUFE HD Foundation, Body Shop Loose Face Powder, YSL Touche Eclat

Cheeks- Inglot Cream Blush #84, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Rose to highlight cheekbones

Lips- MUFE Rouge Artist Intense #32

Eyes- UDPP, Nyx Jumbo Pencil Milk as base, Shimmery white eyeshadow all over lids & inner corners, Pink & Blue eyeshadows from LA Colors Circus palette , MAC Petrol Blue Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner, Revlon Beyond Natural Long Volumizing Eyelashes

Romantic Look Of The Day

I'm wearing this look today & think it looks 'romantic'. Though I'm feeling far from romantic hehe...

I'll do a breakdown of this look in case you're thinking about wearing a similar look...and hey, Valentine's Day is right around the corner! ♥

Face:

Mac Prep+Prime Line Filler as base

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Foundation

The Body Shop Loose Face Powder

Mac Cremeblend Blush in So Sweet, So Easy

LOTD With THE Eyeliner Of The Season + A Maid Complaint

Do you also think I look paler? The cold is sucking the color out of me. I should have applied a bit of bronzer there, but I guess I was jaded after slogging all day since my new (occasional) maid didn't show up... two days in a row! That too in her first week we hired her. She works so lazily! She yawns (without covering her mouth) and says "What time is it now?" everyday. That's Ayah lingo for "I want to go now & I don't want to wash the sponges" It's not like I sat idle like a Nazi princess while she worked. I did it along with her.

Yes, I do want to fire her come Monday morning, but I think I should let her complete one month. What do you think?

Anyways, enough about her =D.  THE eyeliner I'm talking about is Colorbar's I-Glide Pencil in Jaded. It's a glossy jade green shade that's perfect for Christmas, especially if you don't wear colorful eyeshadows but still want to add color to your eyes. It's affordable (Rs.325) & glides like a dream. 

It's one green eyeliner which would look good on all skin tones, and if you have green eyes... OMG you are gonna have to wear one of those necklaces/bracelets (black tourmaline?) or a dot of kajal behind your earlobe to ward off evil/envy eyes.

Second Last Makeup Haul of 2010

Last month of the year, but not yet the last makeup haul. Thank goodness! This year has been a good year, shopping-wise. I managed to get most of the stuff in my wishlist, except the Urban Decay Naked palette...sheesh! Although I think I lost interest already. I'm a typical Gemini, you see. You play hard-to-get, you go-to-hell hehe...

• MAC Prep + Prime Line Filler (Rs.1050) ~ This is supposed to fill up/erase fine lines around your eyes, mouth, and in my case, on my forehead near my hairline. Yet to try it out on my face, but it worked pretty well on my hand. It's got great reviews so I have high hopes for it.
• Cremesheen Glass Loud & Lovely (Rs.1150) ~ Favorite MAC lip glass. Loving Partial to Pink to pieces, so a bright pink shade had to be my next choice.

3 The Body Shop Must-haves For Winter

Winter is here. I'm reminded of that more by my body than the decreasing temperature. My skin just can't get enough moisture these days. 3 types of lip balms & 2 types of moisturizers in my living room alone! So, I thought it was time to haul 3 of the Body Shop products I love to use in winters.

1. Spa Wisdom Africa Honey & Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter (Rs.995) ~ This is my all-time favorite TBS product. I had the first version of this, and I'm glad they didn't change the product much apart from the jar design. Quantity is still the same- 125 ml. I just adore the canister jar! Totally reusable. Afterwards, you can store your own homemade scrubs & bath salts, or transfer body lotion from those huge bottles when you travel.

How To Apply Lip Liner, Lipstick & Lipgloss ~ Tutorial

Here's a requested tutorial on how to apply lip products & get that perfect pout. 

I'll be using these products:

eos Honeysuckle Honeydew Lip balm, Bourjois Levres Contour Lip liner in #11 Enjoleuse, Bourjois Sweet Kiss Naturel Lipstick #06 Rose Tendre, The Body Shop Retractable lip brush, , Bourjois Effet 4D Gloss #64 Rose Metallise

Step 1:  Prep Lips

Prep your lips by applying your favorite lip balm for smooth application. If the lip balm is too glossy, pat excess with a tissue, to prepare your lips for lip liner.

July Favorites ~ Featuring Colorbar, MAC, NYX, Marc Jacobs, Body Shop etc

I am loving so many things right now. These are just a few of my favorite things. Must-have products and worth every penny!

Marc Jacobs Daisy (RM.213.00)

Marc Jacobs Daisy is THE perfume for the girly girl. I just couldn't leave it behind when I left Delhi. If you tend to get motion sickness while travelling and strong perfumes make you feel nauseous, this is the one for you coz the fragrance is so soft & subtle. Plus the bottle design is beyond cuteness, would you really care how it smells? ;)

Reader's Request ~ Skincare Kit For Oily/Combination & Acne Prone Skin

This was requested by a very sweet reader Priyanka J, who has Oily/Combination & Acne-prone skin.

I believe a skincare routine should be simple, when it comes to problem skin. If you have acne, it's better not to confuse your skin more by switching from product to product and "irritate" it
When I get a big pimple sometimes, I feel it has a mind of its own. Like it's saying to me "Don't you let those things gang bang me, or else....=[" =D


Here are the products I'd pick (and I do use most myself) for Oily/combination & Acne Prone skin.

~ Cleansers ~

First and foremost, you have to get a cleanser that is very well suited for your skin type. A childhood friend of mine have been suffering from acne for most of her life - face and body! And the last time I saw her, there wasn't a pimple on her face and she was glowing! So, I asked her what she used. She told me that she read in a magazine that "when you have acne, it's better to use a Foam Cleanser rather than a gel-based one" (hehe...I hope she read this =D)
She then started using Pond's Flawless White Facial Foam, and it made all the difference.
Other cleansers you can use......

Cetaphil when pimples are at their peak and hurt. You gotta have one with salicylic acid like Clean & Clear cleansers for acne.

Love: The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom

Japanese Cherry Blossom has got to be my favorite TBS line. 

Body Butter

Best if you want to: Soften and condition your skin with an intense body moisturizer that lasts up to 24 hours and features a delicate floral scent.

Best for: normal skin

How it works:

• Japanese cherry blossom extract is traditionally renowned for its soothing properties.
• Community Trade organic soy oil is rich in essential fatty acids that repair skin’s natural barrier, restoring smoothness and suppleness.
• Community Trade organic olive oil effectively smoothes and softens skin.

March Favorites ~ Make-up, Perfume, Haircare, Skincare

♥ Make-up ♥

Koi Make-up Palette

I got this palette a while back but never really used it. I was too busy obsessing over my 120 palette. But recently I've been reaching for it most of the time because the eyeshadow colors are so bright and shimmery, so summer. The quality of the eyeshadows is pretty good too, considering it's an unknown Asian brand. This palette comes with blushers, a tiny mascara and lippies too, but I've never really used them.

Bourjois Hi-Tech Lip Tint in #83 Rose Virtuel

I just love the Bourjois Hi-tech Lip tints, especially the packaging. I had this in Rose Pixel too, but my friend liked it a lot and wanted it so I gave it to her. But Rose Virtuel was always my favorite of the two because it's more pink and a bit more subtle than Rose Pixel, which is more red.

♥ Perfume ♥

YSL Paris Premieres Roses

Since the teaser trailer of Sex and the City movie sequel came out, I've been feeling very impatient. This perfume reminds me of the last two episodes of the series which were shot in Paris. It smells very fruity-floral and girly. Very "Paris" =). I think I will be wearing it till the movie releases in May. Can't wait!

♥ Haircare ♥

Forest Essentials Virgin Coconut Oil

This is cold pressed, organic, nutrient rich and unrefined virgin coconut oil. I love to massage this on my hair before shampooing. My hair does feel softer. Sometimes use it on my body too, especially on my feet.

Price ~ Rs.325 for 200 ml.

♥ Skincare ♥

Body Shop Vitamin C Time release Capsules

As you can see there are only two left =). I love these. They make my skin feel so smooth and I really like the citrusy smell . I use one capsule right after cleansing before bedtime and use nothing else on top of it.

INATURE Herbals Sandal Face Pack

I found this mask in the supermarket. Never heard about this brand before, but I thought the ingredients sound nice. It contains Chandan (Indian Sandal) - Helps to remove dead cells, Kesar(Saffron)- Helps to enhance complexion, Turmeric -for blemish free fair skin. Daily use is recommended. What I don't like about it is that it stings my eyes while I apply it. Really really stings! Red eyes, tears rolling! So i'm not sure if I'll buy it again. But when I'd just started using this, one morning I saw that my skin looked like satin especially my forehead. That happened once! That's why I still like to use it hoping my skin will look like that again.

Price~ Rs.120 only.

Body Shop Pomegranate Body Polish

I like this so much better than the Strawberry Body Polish. I use this 2-3 times a week with the Body Shop Bath Gloves below....

Body Shop Bathing Gloves

I wonder why I have didn't buy these sooner. I think you have more control lathering and scrubbing with these and they could be a substitute for a weekly body scrub.

Rafael Salgado Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Would you look at how cute that bottle is! I love using this to massage my face and body. I've used it to remove my make-up too and it takes off everything, but I still have to wash it off with a cleanser, unlike a cleansing oil. I got this at the supermarket ~ Rs.250 for 250 ml.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser

First of all, I just love love love how this smells! And second, it does make my skin feel very clean and fresh. I've always wanted to try this but I had only seen it in the big bottle, so I always hesitated to get it. When i saw this smaller 50 ml bottle for Rs.80, I hesitated no more. 

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Your Hands Will Talk

Before you put your hands to your ears, please read on to find out what I mean.


We all look for the perfect anti-aging cream for our laugh lines and crow's feet, but we need to remind ourselves that we also need to treat our hands with just as much care as we do our faces. 

I read a blog entry of AngMoGirl's Blog (Hi Shilka! ^o^) about skincare and she mentioned that Madonna wears gloves because her arms and hands look older than her face and even top skincare professionals can do very little about it. It really cracked me up. The gloves, I mean. Although I read somewhere that it's just a rumor/lie. Hard to say what's true and what's not in Hollywood. Let's just think that it could very easily be true because she does wear gloves a lot! What this shows us is no matter how much money you have or have the best plastic surgeon on your speed dial, there are some things that can't be reversed. 
The bottomline is ~ Your hands will always give up your age.


I remember seeing a 'Hand Rejuvenation' scene on Nip/Tuck. Looked really painful and expensive. But hey, why think of that while we can take care of them NOW, right?!        

Think of your hands as fraternal twins - one is always better looking than the other The "other" being the hand you use more - right if you're right-handed and left if you're left handed. I'm right-handed so my left hand is better looking and more dainty whereas my right hand is a bit more butch with visible veins.

Here are some anti-aging tips for hands that you might like:

• Hand  Wash ~ Always use a good, non-drying hand wash. Every once in a while, I put a few drops of coconut or olive oil into my handwash. This prevents dryness and has anti-aging benefits too.

• Washing ~ Avoid using hand wash on the back middle part of your hand every time you wash your hands unless it is really necessary. Washing only the fingers and front is enough every time.

• Exfoliate ~ Using a scrub on your hands is as necessary as it is for your face. Use a body scrub 2-3 times a week. Don't forget to exfoliate around your finger nails.

• Hand cream/lotion ~ I always have hand cream or some type of lotion in a pump bottle beside the handwash in my bathrooms. That way I apply it right after washing to lock in the moisture. When asked about how she stays young, Sharon Stone said that she applies moisturizer in her bathroom right after her bath or shower before her skin dries completely. I always carry one in my handbag

• Housework ~ If you're like me and do your own dishes and laundry, then you need to take extra care. If you wear gloves then well and good. I myself don't. I just find them very uncomfortable. Most gloves are always too big for my hands anyways, so I look like I'm flapping more than working with them on. I just pile on the moisturizers, hand creams and nail creams afterwards.

• Sunscreen ~ Just like you slather on the sunscreen on your face, arms and legs before stepping out of your house, it is vital not to forget the back of your hands and fingers too. Knuckles and the areas near your nails can easily darken from the sun and you don't want wrinkly hands either.

• Idle time ~ Sometimes when I'm watching TV, I warm up some oil in a large bowl for about 10-20 seconds (varies) in the microwave, and soak my hands palms up. Massaging them throughout. This is good for both your hands and nails. You can do this for your feet too.

• Bedtime ~ Before going to bed I prefer to use an anti-aging cream on my hands. Right now I use Olay Total Effects (Normal) because it does nothing for my face and I don't want it to go to waste. Some people even wear moisturizing gloves to bed, like Will Truman of Will & Grace :) but I would find them uncomfortable in bed. I wouldn't mind using them during Idle time though.

My Handbag Hand Creams Of The Year:

Avon Wild Apple & Grape Hand and Body Lotion
This is great as a summer hand cream because it is not at all greasy and disappers into the skin in no time. It smells really good, like the name.

Body Shop Wild Cherry Body Butter

Lakme Strawberry Creme
For this winter, I picked Lakme Strawberry Creme. I have always liked this cream, especially the strawberry smell. It does not feel great on my face in summers when my skin gets very oily, but in dry winters it makes my skin feel really *great*! So soft. The jar is quite heavy to tote it around in my handbag, so I will transfer some into another light jar/container.

I think it is somewhat similar to Body Shop Body Butters, except it has a mousse-like lighter texture, while BS body butters have a heavier buttery texture (obviously) and heavier. But they feel almost the same on the skin.

Comparing Lakme Strawberry Creme with BS Body Butters ( I wish I still had the Strawberry one for proper comparison.)

I think Lakme should come up with a bigger version of this for body. A cheaper alternative to pricier BS BB. LoL! Me and my demands from Lakme, huh? :)

Sunscreens

Sunplay Sunscreen Lotions SPF 50+

These sunscreen lotions are milky and moisturizing, so apart from my face, I really like to use them on my  hands.

***So, look at your hands now, will there come a time when they'll wave at people and say "Hi, we're forty-mm...mm.... phoo....ouch...what the hell...have we become blind??"

♥ Cynthia Z ^_^

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