Accessorize BOW Necklace

Saturday, 9th June '12, 15:50 PM: 

That's when I laid eyes on it. A dull gold bow hung stiffly on a string of mini pearls. Oh-my-bows! I gasped. I reached out to feel the grosgrain texture & the pronounced curves on the metal. My fingers slid behind it & lifted it to feel it's weight. I was dispassionately relieved that it's only as heavy as a two-rupee coin. I stood there and stared at it, transfixed.

My mind did it's thing: 'It'll go with almost everything.... with that dress I just ordered from Ebay.... I need gold shoes with a bow..... Oooh, it'll work as a bracelet too.....  How should I photograph it?....  Oh, it looks like a bow tie. Who'd wear a gold bow tie?! Mmm.... Chuck Bass! And that colorful cricket man Sidhu!.... Which earrings should I pair with it?.... So pweety!.... Wha--? It's moving away from me.... WAIT!'

Reverie snapped! Mr.CZ was tugging on my arm to lead me out of the store, while telling me it's better to buy it in July, coz that's when the SALE starts- as informed by the salesman, who was by our side the whole time (like a predator)

Oh okay, I agreed. Makes perfect sense, I thought. Ya, I'll wait. Ooh, maybe half off!

As we drove out of the basement parking, it hit me hard. REGRET. I actually let go of something that doesn't come by easily! Forget July, it'll be gone this week, I just know it! What have I done?! My insides coiled into a knot that made way up to my throat. I couldn't breathe.

I made a pouty-mouth-furrowed-brows face, that can be very persuasive- sometimes. "We are not going back.", he said sternly, reading my mind face. I wanted to say- 'Maybe just stop the car NOW, I'll marathon to the store, and be back in 5. Less than 5! I'll take off my high heels & run barefoot!', but I swallowed the words along with the lump in my throat, and freakishly wondered if Accessorize does 'Home Delivery'.

Anguish clung to me & went home with us. "You know me better than that!", I half yelled at my 'shopping adviser', and dove head first on the couch.....*Melodrama*

I survived 3½ days & 4 nights without it. In all those days, I took a moment to stick my tongue out at myself in the mirror. YOU know YOURSELF better than that.

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick Review, Look & Dupe

Rumor has it that MAC Ruby Woo lipstick is:

• The perfect red lipstick for every skin tone 
• One of Gwen Stefani's & Dita Von Teese's favorite red lipsticks 

I've thought about getting it for years but either I forgot, or it was never in stock. This year alone, it wasn't available twice. Then during a lunch break on a very unpleasant day last month, I was at the mall and quickly dropped by the MAC store- I thought: If it's in stock, I'll buy it & if it's not, I'll walk out. But we already know it's not.

Bang! SA said it's in stock! Woo........!

It looks glossy only because it was very very hot (it sweat!), otherwise it's very matte-looking like below.... 

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!

Retro OOTD

Something you don't know about me, my heart is old. I'm fascinated with 'Olden Times' & 'Vintage'. I like everything black & white, I listen to Madonna almost everyday - Holiday, Vogue, Like A Prayer, Get Together, Get Into The Groove, Papa Don't Preach. When I listen to these songs, I feel....Alive, simply put. I truly feel I will fit better in the 60's- wear long gloves to the airport, wear red lipstick everyday, bake pies, wait desperately for my soldier husband....and maybe be like one of the women in Mad Men. Oh, and I really really want one of those vintage tring-tring telephones, for some reason.

That's why this Retro OOTD was at the top of my to-do list. 

L'Oreal L'Or Electric Collection Photos & Swatches + GIVEAWAY (India Only)

I'm very excited to show you some products from the L'Oreal Paris L'Or Electric Collection for Cannes Film Festival 2012 , today. There are some very interesting products, and I'm already playing favorites. I will do a look with them sometime soon, hope you enjoy the photos & swatches for now....and if you're a reader living in India, do try your luck in the GIVEAWAY at the end! =)

The products came to me in this purple clutch =)

Look ~ REBEL

“Every woman is a rebel, and usually in wild revolt against herself.” ~ Oscar Wilde

FACE: 

• Lotus Herbals Muti-Function Sunblock SPF 70
• Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Airbrush Foundation
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer
• Benefit Matterial Girl Matte Finish Setting Powder

CHEEKS:

• The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder
• MAC Quite Cute Mineralize Blush Sakura

Easy Geometric/Half Moon Nails Tutorial

I know it's not exactly "half moon", coz I didn't have those rounded tapes. I'm no nail art expert, so I use the easiest methods to play with my nail polishes. This method is not the most original, as you may have seen it before, but I did it for the first time last night & decided to put up a tut. I could have used another better/cuter color combo but, I don't know, somehow I settled for these. 

What you will need:

• 2 shades of nail polish of your choice
• Sellotape
• Clear Top Coat 

Products I used:

• Inglot Nail Enamel #721- Matte pastel yellow
• Colorbar Apple Martini - Jade 
• Elle 18 Nail Pops #27- Clear (Brush too small, btw. No good.)
• Scotch Magic Tape - I cut it in half vertically.

What do you think? Have you tried this method before?

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Eyes Of the Day ~ Plum & Black Smokey

I realized I have not done any look since April! So today, I managed to do one...Yay! I melted in the heat a little while posing for my "photo shoot" in my balcony (where the good lighting is), but it was worth it. I wanted to talk about the eyes separately, so the other post won't get too long.

I used only 2 eyeshadows on the eyes: 

Lotus Herbals Multi-Function Sunblock SPF 70 ~ A Tinted Mosturizer? A BB Cream?

Looking for a sunblock? Especially if you're living in Delhi right now, you must be, or should. Sunblock is one product I find quite hard to buy. Most times, it's either too oily or too whitish or incompatible with my foundation. Enter Lotus Herbals Multi-Function Sunblock SPF 70. It is no ordinary sunblock! It is TINTED, PRESERVATIVE-FREE, OIL-FREE, made with CARROT & AVOCADO Extracts (I hear avocado does wonders for the skin)  & has SPF 70! 

Really, I had a hallelujah moment when I first used this. If you know my skin history, you'll understand why. It is a tinted non-sticky/non-sticky high SPF sunblock-cum-moisturizer. It is perfect for my oily/blemished/hyperpigmentation-prone skin.

Claims: 

A revolutionary, preservative - free, light weight formulation containing potent herbal extracts with 10 benefits:

• High UVA & UVB Protection
• Tan Prevention
• Prevention of brown spots & pigmentation
• Skin Lightening benefits
• Anti-wrinkle benefits
• Protection from freckles, sun spots & sun burn
• Anti-ageing properties
• Health prevention - helps prevent skin cancer
• Carrot & Avocado Extracts: healing properties that soften, smoothen and nourish skin
• Preservative free - Free from harmful preservatives like parabens, which may cause health problems like breast cancer.

May Favorites

Before we say goodbye to May, my favorite month, here are all the things I have been loving. Some everyday necessities, and some very random things:

WANTED: Green Tea Skin Care Products

I hate the taste of Green Tea, but I am obsessed with Green Tea Beauty Products! OBSESSED! Right now, I'm c-r-a-v-i-n-g Green Tea beauty products like a pregnant woman craves sour (or sweet) foods. Btw, did you know that when a pregnant woman doesn't get what she's craving, the baby will drool more? Yes, it's true. My pregnant relative didn't get the mutton she wanted to eat during pregnancy, and her baby was always unnaturally wet around the mouth area. Poor thing.

These days, I'm searching for Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea range, which I have used before, but I can't find them in my local supermarkets! I think I'm going a bit crazy....thinking 'Green Tea....Green Tea....'

Why Green Tea?

Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants & has anti-inflammatory properties which ward off wrinkles & acne. Studies show that it reduces sun damage & fights skin cancer. You can google for detailed explanations, but that's all I need to know.

*Most importantly: It smells nice & refreshing!

I know one brand - Ginvera, and it has a variety of Green Tea products. I saw them everyday at Watsons when I was in Kuala Lumpur last year. The brand is only available in Malaysia & some other Asian countries, I think. 

I have only used one products by the brand so far- Green Tea Intensive Whitening & Spot Corrector.....

I finished it. I remember it didn't visibly clear up any spots, but  it's a small tube. I'd buy it again.

Oh-My-Shoes! Nude, Aqua & Black Peep-Toe Pumps

I was at a shoe shop last week - after a long long time - and this is how it went (If my Hindi is bad, please excuse.) :

Me to Salesman: "Yeh sabse chhota size dikhao" (Show me the smallest size in this)

Salesman: "Madam, 34 sabse chhota hai" (Madam, 34 is smallest size)

Me: "Haan, dikhao!" (Yes, show me!) 

I try the 34 and it's still a little bit loose.

Me: "Bhaiya! Size 33 dikhao please", I made a pleading face...okay, desperate face. (Brother! (We call all salesmen 'brother' in India) show me size 33 please)

Salesman: "Madam, 33 nahin milta" (Madam, we don't keep size 33) 

Me: "Bhaiya, aagar 33 hain toh mein sab colors khareedoongi!"- with a dramatic hand gesture (Brother, if you have size 33, I will buy all the colors)

Salesman looked stunned for a 3 seconds, then he told me to sit down. He asked for some black spongy things from some boy, stuck them to the front & back of shoes (refer to pics), then told me to try them again. They fit! Opera 'aaahhh....' in my head.

Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection For Summer 2012

A place where alter egos are laid bare and naked flesh is a source of unashamed inspiration. In this delicate tipping point between intimacy and pleasurable detachment, we revel in the unknown; exploring the distance between pure Monogamous, gilded Faithful and uninhibited Swinger. Exposed nude tones, adorned with rich licks of gold, leave you gasping for more. Don’t restrain yourself. Unless, of course, you enjoy it. 

“Naked Strangers captures inner glows and depths. The deeply and darkly alluring exists alongside ethereal shimmering brilliance. We are complex and multifaceted whilst also being naked to the world.” ~ Alex Box, Illamasqua Creative Director.

“Naked Strangers represents everything about borderlines...the human edge between romance and permissive intimacy...a step beyond control, a step past the edge and a collection of gilded moments upon the tip of sensation. Beautiful nudes with metallic edge set amongst eclectic textures.” ~ David Horne, Illamasqua Director of Product Development.

Products:

Nail Varnish (£13.50)

Dress up your nails and explore your fantasies with our award-winning Nail Varnishes. Are you Monogamous (creamy flesh pink, matt finish), Faithful (coppered metal) or Swinger (glistening platinum gold)? Apply a lustful layer then answer our question. 

Lipglosses (£13.00)

Lick your lips then smooth on a rich layer of Intense Lipgloss in Stranger (platinum gold) for obscene levels of pigment. Alternatively, apply Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy (nude pink brown) on naked lips, to tease and tempt your lover. Or lovers… 

Blushers (£16.50)

Stark naked might mean no clothes, but who said anything about no make-up? Create a provocative flush that lasts all night with Powder Blusher in Naked Rose (neutral beige brown) and Cream Blusher in Zygomatic (naked pink brown).

The Naked Strangers collection is available from Thursday 31st May 2012 globally.  Illamasqua ships internationally.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*