Look Ideas For A 70's Retro New Year's Party (Requested)

This was requested by Rajni, who has to attend a year end 70's Retro themed party. I hope I'm not too late with this post! She said she "doesn't want to look like a clown" haha. I completely understand, coz I have never been to one of those parties, so I'm a little out of wits myself & quite nervous about this post. So, I'll try my best to simplify my recommendations. If I were going to a 70's party, I'd probably combine Bobby's (Dimple Kapadia) , Zeenat Aman, Nicole Richie & Mila Kunis (That 70's Show) in my look. In simple words, a mini dress or skirt with a floral top, knee length high heel boots or platform stilettos (most probably boots coz it's winter) and a head band.
For those not comfortable in short thingies and look like a whale in bell-bottom pants, pick wide leg pants instead. Wide leg pants and trousers are more flattering on most body shape.

I like this white shirt & wide leg jeans combo.

Cute Christmas Snowballs

I'm decorating my Christmas tree today, so I thought I'd show you these cute snowball-looking Christmas balls I got yesterday from Archies. There weren't too many nice (by that I mean tasteful) decorations in the Archies in Ambience Mall Gurgaon. They had a lot of those miniature pervy-looking Santas =D. Nah, I'm exaggerating (I think)

Wella Kolestint Hair Color Review & Swatch

Wella Kolestint is the new hair color in the Indian market. Launched by Dimple Kapadia & Jacqueline Fernandez, I found out.

I wanted to lighten my hair about 2 levels. There are 10 levels of hair color ~ 1 being black & 10 being lightest blonde. My first choice this time was Revlon Colorsilk Light Ash Brown (which I've used before), but it wasn't available at my supermarket, so I picked what I thought was the next best thing ~ Wella Kolestint Light Brown #6/0. 

I was excited to try something new for a change.

The Discreet French ~ Bourjois Rose Naturel French Manicure

First of all, me wants that cute little polka dotted Eiffel Tower she's holding! No stress ball for me, that will do =)

Now, about the Bourjois French Manicure in Rose Naturel. Why Rose Naturel? Because the liner is a subtle pink color, which looks discreet and neat (according to Bourjois)

French manicure in a box & in 3 simple steps:

1. French Rose liner on the tips
2. So Laque Rose lounge all over your nail
3. Finish with the Fixant Brillant top coat

What makes this manicure kit special is the brush........

The tapered brush is made for a perfect at-home French manicure. Very very easy to work with!

Here's how the Rose Naturel set looks (Please excuse the un-filed discolored nails)......

I did them in a hurry so they're not so neat, but you get the idea.

There are 2 types of Bourjois French Manicure kits. This is the other one......

With White French Liner

If you want a French-French 'glamorous & sophisticated according to Bourjois' manicure, go for the white. But if you want a subtler 'are those your natural nails?' French, then pick up the Rose one. 

Your nails will look French with either one of them.

Okay, now I'll stop with the 'French' 

Price ~ Rs.630

Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

ƸӜƷ Butterflies On My Nails ƸӜƷ

Don't we all love butterflies? They are so cute! Well, as long as you don't think about where they came from...ugh! *shivers*
But let's not think about that. They are cute and colorful and happy, that's that :)

Last week I just did a very simple nail art (to match my purple dress) using butterfly nail stickers that I got last year. Yes, I forgot I had them =D

Please excuse the discolored nails underneath. That's what happens when you don't bother with Base Coat!

DIY ~ Easy Dotted Nail Art Using Colorbar Nail Lacquers & A Toothpick

What you'll need:

1. Pink Nail polish ~ Colorbar Nail Lacquer #44
2. White nail polish ~ Colorbar Nail Lacquer #37
3. Colorbar Top Coat
4. A toothpick

Beauty Tips I Learnt a Long ~ Long Time Ago

Growing up in a small town in North-East India called 'Shillong', I used to love hearing stories that go way back. Like most people from my hometown, I believe in some 'Old People's Sayings' and 'Old Wives' Tales'

So, I just want to share some tit bits I learnt when I was a kid.

***You'll need that pinch of salt before reading the rest.

For long... long... hair

How? Braid your hair before going to bed. Tie the end with a band and then a piece of ribbon on top. Make sure one end of the ribbon is a few inches longer than the end of your braided hair. Supposedly the hair will follow the ribbon! Maybe hair is just competitive and wants to win the race, I don't know.

Tip from ~ My childhood friend's old housekeeper, whose daughter had ~long~ hair past her waistline.

For Soft & Smooth Lips

What to do? Put a drop of mustard oil in your belly button before sleeping.

It WORKS! I think any oil works though, because every time I apply Bio Oil or BS Monoi Miracle Oil on my whole body (including belly button) , I don't reach for my lip balms every 10 minutes anymore.

For Shiny Nails

What You need? A brick!

How I know this ~ When I was a kid, I used to love playing with bricks that were lying around my house. I don't know how I thought of it, but I used to rub the powder from the broken ones on my nails using the sides of my palms (where the pinky is.) It made them very very shiny and smooth!!! I haven't done that again since then, but I'm telling you, even buffers have never made my nails so shiny like the brick powder.

**Rubbing too much could make your nails thinner though.

What they applied all over me when I was a baby

Mustard oil with sliced garlic fried till golden brown and crispy in it. Mustard oil is warming and garlic has anti-bacterial properties, so the combination prevents babies from catching colds and infections. Where I come from, most people use this on their babies after bathing them. In fact, some of them still do even today. Not so much a beauty tip, but I thought it's worth a mention :)

To Lighten, Clean and Exfoliate Skin

What you need : A Pumice Stone

I don't mean the textured ones you find in the market. I'm talking about the natural and smooth ones you find near the rivers and caves. Personally, I really do prefer using these, because the textured ones scrape and hurt my skin.

Years & years ago: My mom went to a well-known homeopathy doctor because of the melasma/hyperpigmentation that covered her face. He told her that the best way to remove it is to use a pumice stone once a week to exfoliate it. The doctor died one week later!!! :O

Mom took it to be a valuable advice since, you know, he died soon after. And yes, she still uses a pumice stone and her face has really really improved.

***A little superstition: Some say that most of these rivers are haunted, so when you take these stones home, a part of the place and all the 'eerie' things come along with the them *shudders*

So you need to drop a few coins/pennies in the river, as a way to give something in return. What? That's what they say!

That's all for now peeps.

Will post some more later.

♥ DBA ^_^

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DISPRIN (India's Aspirin) FACE MASK

For the last 5 days I've been getting these little zits which really annoyed me, so I decided to use a Disprin (Aspirin) face mask since everybody has been talking about how good it is for the skin. It's known to be really good for acne, reduces inflammation and redness. This is because it contains salicylic acid, also known as beta hydroxy acid. BHA is used in acne and anti-aging products. According to one research, regular intake of Aspirin reduces sun spots which are precursors to skin cancer. So maybe it can do the same from the outside too?

I used Disprin Soluble Analgesic (above) with aloe vera juice (Guardian)

Let me tell you, I was amazed by how much it reduced or more like "flattened" my zits and my face felt really smooth. Will definitely use it again.
It is best to use this mask in the evening or night time because it can sensitize the skin  making it more susceptible to sun damage unless you're staying in during the day. Always use sunscreen after you use this mask. While using this, it felt almost like when I was using the L'oreal microdermbrasion a while back.

How to:

• Put 3 Disprin tablets in a small bowl.
• Pour about a teaspoon of aloe vera juice on top of the tablets. You can also use honey, green tea or  just plain water.
• Wait for the tablets to soften. Fill this time by washing your face using your usual cleanser and dry your face.
• The tablets would have soften by this time. Press them with your fingers and mix well.
• Apply  using your fingers on whole face leaving eye area, the 2 corners on the sides of your nostrils (this is a sensitive area) and your mouth.
• After applying, leave for no more than 15 minute. 
• Wet your whole face with fingers to ease any tightness (be careful not to get it in your eyes.) Then massage very gently like you do when using a scrub but don't overdo it.    
• Rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat dry.
• Apply a moisturizer with SPF and use sunscreen in the days to come.

Personally, I would use this mask only occasionally. For those with acne no more than twice a week.

♥ DBA ^_^

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