April Beauty Resolutions

Some people's resolution is to never let Yuvraj Singh bat in such an important match again.

Some people's resolution is to never vote for Congress again.

Mine is simply April Beauty Resolutions with an Apple on the side.  

#1 Apply Bio Oil everyday ~ To prevent stretch marks. The ultimate test begins now, since I'm in my 2nd trimester. I've started using it religiously for the last 2 weeks. I hate the smell of Palmer's Cocoa Butter, so I'll be sticking to Bio Oil.

#2  Apply a Face Mask at least once a week ~ My skin has been acting out a lot these days, because of the weather & water change. Not just my face, but my legs and arms too. Right now, I'm using Vichy Normaderm 3-in-1 Cleanser+Scrub+Mask, and I'm liking it a lot. Makes my face feel really clean, smooth & oil-free. But I'll soon stock up on natural/herbal masks, like Multani Mitti (fuller's earth), Sandalwood, etc.

#3 Use Hair Mask every time ~ When I don't use a hair mask, my hair feels drier, so I've decided to use one every time I wash it. I've been using TRESemmé Anti-Breakage Masque for months now, sometimes mixed with my conditioner to cut down shower time. It works well, makes my hair soft & sleek.

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!"

Come Window Shopping With Me.....

The other day, I visited the Boots here in Dundee for the first time. I was this close to buying several things, then I shocked myself- I returned them to their shelves. Sometimes I feel I deserve a medal every time I do that. Or....people standing outside the store applauding when I come out without a bag.

By "Window Shooping", I mean go to a store, browse, and not buy anything, okay? Not peek through a store window like some kind of stalker. I surreptitiously took pictures of some of the new products that interested me- surprisingly, mostly nail polishes this time....

Bourjois JE T'AIME Vintage Blush ~ These are 3 of their best-selling shades- Rose D'or 33, Cendre de Roses Brune 48 & Brun Cuivre 03. I was disappointed that they only put a sticker on top of their regular pots to make them look "vintage". I've reviewed Cendre de Roses Brune here. You can also see all the Bourjois blush shades here

*Bourjois is also launching Cream Blushes soon.

Bourjois So Laque Glossy Nail Enamel ~ I love these bright & pastel colors. I was tempted to get that taupe shade between the mint & blue. It's called Taupe Modele 05. Also, that pink shade...and yellow...and....

I Like Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara

Do you watch The Carrie Diaries? Well, little Carrie Bradshaw always has these nice long & separated mascara-ed top & bottom lashes. Whenever I wear Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara, I'm reminded of her lashes. Not that mine are as long as hers, but the definition & separation look almost the same. I think if she wore this mascara, they'd look as awesome as they do now.

I like this mascara a lot. It's gives volume & curl with minimal clumps (clumping depend on application & timing between coats). The curved brush seem to stretch my lashes making them appear longer, and it is easy to maneuver but make sure to wipe the tip if you don't want a black dot on your nose bridge when doing bottom lashes. It claims to be smudge-proof, and I have not experienced any smudging. Cleaning it with cleansing oil does take as long as a waterproof mascara. 

2 coats on top lashes, 1 coat on bottom lashes. Any clumpiness you see is only because I was impatient while applying  + my camera makes even the most invisible eyeshadow fallout look giant  =)

Most Used Beauty Products ~ January '13

I almost didn't publish this even after I've written everything. I don't know, I'm a very unstable person. I clicked this pic last week, and put my used products...then I realized I'd forgotten to put my shampoo & conditioner, a nail polish....a couple more things. Oh, well.

Anyways, these are my most-used products this month....

• L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil ~  I got sucked into buying this after I saw the ad on tv while watching HIMYM one night (watch it here). It was so enticing, I watched it with my mouth open, and couldn't stop thinking about it until I purchased it (...at the cheapest price, too.) TRUTH: After using it, I found out "Extraordinary" is stretching it a bit. It is  a flowery-smelling hair serum-cum-heat-protector, that has helped the tips of my hair look less brittle, but I don't find it detangling enough. I use it before washing my hair,  before & after blow-drying. I'd still use it, but I sure wouldn't buy it again.

• MUA Eyeshadow Primer ~ I know I have mentioned it before, but I just wanted to say it will never beat UD Primer Potion & TF Shadow Insurance. It's okay, it just creases after a while.

• Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream ~ Been wearing this almost everyday for over a month now. Not only for review purposes, but because I don't hate it. Review is coming shortly.

• Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Candy Apple ~ To be honest, I've been wearing this as a lip balm too just because it's always in the kitchen. Review & Swatches here

• Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara ~ LOVE this. It lengthens, it volumizes, it curls. It is definitely better than the False Lash Effect Mascara.

• Benefit Benetint Lip & Cheek Stain ~ Product Of The Week! Before, I used to wonder what the big deal is with this lip & cheek tint. Now I get it! It's a rose-tinted stain that makes me look blooming (you know, like youthful sweet 16 type...almost). It makes lips look really kissable. Really, I'd want to kiss my own lips hehe.  You know how some lip tints gather up unevenly where your lips meet? That never happens with Benetint. This is a generous sample size that I got free with Marie Claire mag, but I will definitely buy a full size when it's finished. 

• Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette ~ I've been using this palette almost everyday  this month. Probably the same neutral look as well. Review & Swatches here

• The Body Shop Lily Cole Compact Mirror ~ Because I don't have a big mirror for makeup application, I need one I can hold close to me when applying mascara. This is awesome because it's got a magnifying mirror on one side. Btw, The Body Shop UK is putting this & other good stuff on SALE, so do check it out. I've made good use of it myself. My haul here

♥

What are your most-used beauty products this month?

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

My Shopping List: Hello Kitty Makeup, Lashes, Caviar Nails, Etc

We won't call it the wishlist anymore, okay? We'll call it The Shopping List. You know the overwhelming feeling we feel when shopping? I figured if I note down exactly what I want, I will feel calmer when my brain is hit with temptations all at once.

So here the products I've been eyeing this week and I'm going out to get them today.

Hello Kitty Makeup at Superdrug! I couldn't stop thinking about them ever since I saw them on British Beauty Blog. Oh my bows. Nail polishes, lipsticks, etc. Look at ze lipstick....

Bourjois Faux & Fabulous False Lashes ~ Lady In Black!

New Products/Haul ~ Last Pics With My Beloved Stolen Camera

Hey Everyone,

Happy New Year! I'm back home & getting back to blogging. Hope you all are enjoying the first few days of 2012.

Before I left for my vacation, I clicked some pics of some new products I hauled in December with my Panasonic Lumix, which was stolen along with my handbag in Goa . It was an amazing camera & I loved it so much! I didn't care about the money and everything else in that bag, I just wanted the camera back. I can buy the exact same one but it won't be the same- like the 2nd Hugsy wasn't the same to Joey in Friends.Everybody kept saying "Forget it. It's gone, nothing you can do about it now." What they don't realize is, a little part of me died inside.

Take a look at the last photos I clicked with it.....

The Hottest Nail Colors & A Few Dupes in India

I am on a 'Dupes' hunting spree these days. So, when Instyle listed the 15 HOTTEST Nail Colors a few weeks ago, I took printouts of all the nail polishes and went looking for dupes, ignoring the puzzled stares of shopkeepers =D

I couldn't find dupes for all of them in one market though.

Nails inc ~ Eden Grove

Isn't that a cute bottle?! And such an unusual nail polish shade. No dupe found. Yet.

Deborah Lippmann ~ Between the Sheets

There is a similar shade in Chambor, in a teeny tiny bottle