Early Birthday Gifts & Haul...Woohoo!

Early Birthday Gift: My brother (elder/only) came to Delhi & stayed with us for a night. He thoughtfully/generously told me to buy something for my birthday (I lub him!). The only disturbing thing was, we went to the mall LATE- almost closing time! How am I supposed to do full justice to free money in 10-15 minutes?! Mr.CZ & bro went on to do their own things, and I was alone. Ok, no dilly-dally, I told myself. I went from one shop to another like a crazy person!

Debenhams- Nothing! 

Mark's & Spencer- Nothing! Well, actually, I adored some lingerie, but I would never buy those with my brother's money... haha!

Guess- I couldn't see the store. Later, I asked Mr.CZ if it's shut down or something, but he said he went there. It was there, yet I didn't see it! I plead temporary insanity. 

Accessorize- Jewelry needs time, which I didn't have *argh!*

This time, it's officially closing time. I saw a guard in one of the boring shops put the CLOSED thingy on the door. I panicked and ran.....and I landed in Mango. Long story short, I decided on a Polka Dot Dress (which is S, and I'm waiting for them to call & tell me XS is available, so I can go exchange) and white sunglasses - I thought 'Ooh....full-on retro look!' [Detailed pics of the dress here]

The following are what i hauled recently:

2 more bow sunglasses from Ebay. The ones below are the same as the pink ones I wore here

Lakmé Absolute Moon-Lit Highlighter Review, Swatches, LOTD

I'm not into highlighters. That's because my oily face is already a natural, self-made, highlighter. 

But Lakmé Absolute Moon-Lit Highlighter looked good enough to eat, I couldn't resist! Plus, I have a weakness for duos & powders with interesting designs on them. If I ever design one myself, it would have a high heel shoe with a bow embossed on it. I have an ugly sketch of it in Paint- which I don't really know how to use.

About:

Luxurious ultra pearlised Face Highlighter duo, with its micro-fine velvet pearls which melt into your skin for a naturally luminous glow.

• Enriched with Vitamin E
• Dermatologically tested

How/Where To Apply: You can use your finger to apply on top of your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, cupid's bow, and brow bone. It can also be applied on your clavicles & décolletage. If I'm using a brush, I use Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush 

New Launches ~ Pond's, Faces Canada, Fair & Lovely

Below are some of the new skin care products in the Indian market. They are all calling out to me, especially the ones at the very end.

Fair & Lovely Advanced Multi Vitamin Daily Fairness Expert- This premium variant addresses skin concerns such as marks,  sun tan, dullness, dark circles and skin darkening. It enhances fairness, protects from free radicals, nourishes and rejuvenates the skin.

Pond's New Age Miracle - The Pond’s Institute combined the power of up to 6 bio-actives to create the youth-enhancing miracle that is New Intelligent Pro Cell Complex™. The 6 bio-actives work in combination with each other and with the natural processes of your skin, to comprehensively ensure that age simply cannot catch up.

• CLA: Miraculous ingredient that stimulates skin cells, thus promoting faster cellular turnover. 
• Retinol: Best proven ingredient that works within skin, influencing and enhancing skin’s ability to produce collagen and repair itself.
• Two Retinol Boosters: Work with each other to boost the efficacy of Retinol, accelerating and enhancing skin’s ability to act younger, through epidermal rejuvenation.
• Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA): Gently exfoliates skin by accelerating removal of skin-dulling dead cells. Skin appears smoother and clears the way for renewed skin cells from within.
• Glycerine: Restores and enhances skin’s moisture level for softer, visibly plumper and younger looking skin.
• 12HSA: Works deep within skin to renew skin cells and adapt to the unique genetic framework of skin.

- Pond's Age Miracle Cell ReGEN™ Day Cream SPF 15 PA++ (50g at Rs.399/-, 35g at Rs.299 & 10g at Rs.99/-)

- Pond's Age Miracle Deep Action Night Cream (50g at Rs. 399/-)

Urban Decay NAKED 'Vs' NAKED 2

Woohoo! Let's throw some jello on them! In case you haven't gone through the Reviews & Swatches of the individual palettes yet, you can read them: Naked & Naked 2, before reading this post.

I'll make this quick!

Urban Decay Naked (Original)

Urban Decay Naked 2

A Vanity Case From Lakmé

It's black, it's leather (faux, I assume), it's bigger than a shoe box, it has a mirror, it's Lovely! It's a Lakmé Vanity Case/Jewelry box....and I needed it! When I first saw it, I squeeealed. Mr.CZ was like: "It's just a box. What can you keep in there, anyways?" Hmm, let's see....

*Claps 3 times*.... Khul Ja Sim Sim....

I keep my small earrings in the middle there- for easy access

You lift that top plate & under it is a big space. I keep my necklaces, mostly. It's quite random right now.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Review & Swatches

3 months later, we have a review & swatches! For those who don't know, this palette is a sequel of the iconic Urban Decay Naked Palette. Will it overshadow it's predecessor? Read on to find out.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette comes in a sturdy well-made tin box with a wide big mirror inside, and 12 eyeshadows are accompanied with a dual-ended Good Karma brush & a mini Lip Junkie Lipgloss.

Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush With A BOW ~ Product Of The Week

Oh-my-bow! It's like it flew right out of my imagination, albeit a little modified. Meet my new powder brush - Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush. It is super soft (cashmere soft) because it's made teddy bear hair [100% Cruelty-Free] I've washed it once already (before using it), and the bristles didn't shed or bleed.

J'adore!

The satin bow is perched on an elastic band which can be slipped off the handle

WINNER Of Too Faced Smokey Eye Palette ....

It's time to reveal whom the fabulous Too face Smokey Eye Palette belongs to. A total of 3322 entries (Love that number!), and random.org picked a winner....

Reader In DISTRESS! Make-up & Skincare For Hyperpigmentation/Melasma

Some days back, I got this email from a reader:

"CZ!!! i need your help please!!! Rote in to u soo many times but i just havent heard from you!!!! wats a gurl gotta do to get your attention huh????!!!! :P ;) Its summertime and that = lots of sweating and melted off makeup on the face!!! :@ I desperately need you to recommend a good waterproof long lasting liquid foundation for me!! Ive heard liquid foundations are good for heavy coverage ie cover pigmentation, melasma?? :S I suffer from pigmentation of the upperlip and i generally wear foundation on tat part and spread it out a bit to lighten the pigmentation but coz of the summers it melts all over!!! :\'( im desperately in need of help CZ & only U can help me!!! I dont trust salesladies at makeup counters to give a honest enough opinion!! I had written to you on your lakme mousse review page to but still no reply!!! Please please pleaseeee help!!!! Or ill stop recommending your name to my friends!!!! *muahahha* :P ;) ok maybe that was being a bit too dramatic but wats a gurl without some drama huh?? ;) PLEASE REPLY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!! :)
Hugs,
Ri!! :) "

Firstly, I'd like to say to all those whose distressful queries/comments I have not replied to, most times I simply forget! Sometimes I go back to an old blog post, see a comment I think I should have replied to but completely FORGOT, and I feel very bad. Very bad. Same with emails. So, my sincere aplologies if I missed replying to your queries. I advise you to resend sometimes so it pokes me "Reply....reply, woman!" Believe me, I forget to reply to emails from people who want to give me free stuff & money, too. This head, I tell you. 

Secondly, hahaha....!!! I read this email one morning & it totally woke me up =D

1 Make-up Pictorial, Over 1 MILLION Pageviews!

Hey IVC Readers,

Happy Friday! Hope you're all doing well. Me, I've been feeling kind of low this week, until I spotted something that picked me right up again.

I noticed one of my tutorials/pictorials has over 1 MILLION Pageviews! I thought these things happened only in Youtube, not in blogging world, let alone blogging world all the way in New Delhi, India. 

I'm talking about the Easy Cat Eyeliner Tutorial I did last year:

Full post here

This tutorial has been lifted by many websites & shared in Facebook by people who pretend it's their work. So when you see it, please remember it's mine (mine!) =D. I have revamped it & watermarked it properly now.

Just look at that jump! I have never cared that much about traffic & pageviews. Honestly, I don't even know what "Demographics" really mean. Let's just say, a few PR companies who ask for details about my blog's traffic must think I'm an idiot.... and a few are still waiting for a reply. Numbers have never been my favorite topic. My math genius Mr.CZ got a little annoyed when I asked him "So, that's 1.94 Million, right?" [Yes, yes, now I know it's 1.09 million.]

I did this tutorial because I wanted to share something that might help some people, not because I expected 7 figure hits. But it did happen, and I can't help but feel proud & happy. That's why....

.... I have my pink bow shoes on & I'm off to buy myself a present ;)

Thank you all for stopping by always & enjoy your weekend!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Yummy Cream Blushes & Favorites

I'd like to dedicate this post to all the Cream Blush lovers & dry-skinned ladies who absolutely cannot wear powder blushers.

NYX Glow Rouge Cream Blush
MAC Blushcreme Ladyblush. Discontinued, now a Cremeblend Blush
NYX Golden Rouge Cream Blush
Inglot AMC Cream Blush 84
Illamasqua Androgen Cream Pigment
Bobbi Brown Cabo Coral Pot Rouge
Topshop Neon Rose
NYX Hot Pink Rouge Cream Blush
MAC Florida Cremeblend Blush

Black Smokey Eyes Tutorial

Here's the tutorial of the eye make-up I wore here & here. I'd just like to say, as always, it's very easy- easier than it looks.

Things you'll need:

• Matte Black Eyeshadow- I used Urban Decay Blackout from Naked 2 Palette, but you can also use Bourjois Intense Eyeshadow #10 
• Matte Light Brown Eyeshadow- I used Buck from Urban Decay Naked Palette
• Shimmery highlight eyeshadow- 
• Business Card - You'll know why =)
• Black Kohl - I used Lakme Kohl Ultimate
• Eyelash Curler- I used QVS Eyelash Curler
• Mascara- I used Bourjois Fast & Perfect
• Too Faced Lid/Smoker brushBrushes- Too Faced Lid/Smoker brush, Sigma E30 pencil Brush, Sigma E45 Blending Brush

Let's Drool!

They say write down the things you want to help you get them.

A recent article I read said Pinterest helps you .... shape your life?.... it's therapeutic?.....something like that, I don't remember exactly ;p For some reason, I can't bring myself to pin! Maybe it's just not for me.

I have a "Wishlist" folder & a "Inspiration" folder in my computer. They're as good as Pinterest .... I'd like to believe.

Here are 4 specific things I recently added to the Wishlist folder:

Forever New Travel Case, $99.99

Forever New Jewelry Organizer, no idea about price