SALE Madness At ZARA & My Haul

ZARA Store, Select City Walk Mall, New Delhi, 6th July '12, 17:30 PM (Friday):

The world went silent, except for my own heartbeat. I'd been waiting for this for weeks. Nervousness, fear, annoyance, confusion, and excitement, consumed me all at once as soon as I entered the store & I saw piles of tops on the tables, and some littered on the floor along with a few hangers. It was a battlefield of fabrics & sale-crazed women. Mr.CZ spoke of the long queue at the cash counter, and I pretended not to hear. I walked quicker to my favorite section- TRF, like I always do. It was a little calmer, but nonetheless messy. 

A while later, it was time to go to the main section. As I was confused where to go first (Tops? Coats? What's that mint-colored thing on that rack?), a girl in a black coat said something to me. I couldn't hear her at first (it looks like a dress....skirt?)

"You're Cynthia.", I think that's what she said.

"Yes?", I said, wondering if I went to college with her.

"I read your blog", she explained.

"Oh, hi.....!", I smiled for the first time since I entered the store. We chatted for less than a minute (Hello, Jasinder! :))

Then I was lost in the frenzy again. I was bumped into uncountable times, and I was chanting 'Excuse Me' almost every time I turned. I imagined holding a gun up and yelling "Get out! All of you! Get out!" 

Below are pic of only the TRF section. The main  section is 10 times busier.

Is This Sephora Delhi?

So I saw this at Select City Walk today, and Sephora immediately jumped to my mind. There was news that they're opening in Delhi this year. I reached home and googled 'Sephora models' then 'Sephora makeup models', but I couldn't find that model in the pic.

It's right next to the MAC store.

Does anybody know? Yes, please help me find out if that's a Sephora model..... hehe....

"Country's Most Awaited Store Coming Soon!"

Arghhhh.....

I gots to know! 

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Hair Makeover At Lakmé Salon ~ Hair Serenity Treatment

This couldn't have come at a better time. My hair was back to it's natural self, and was becoming very frizzy! I was thinking about going for rebonding again, but then something new & natural came along ~ Hair Serenity Service by Lakmé Salon. I was super excited to try it out, because it doesn't have harmful ingredients & chemicals.

Lakmé Salon's Hair Serenity is a hair relaxing treatment without Formaldehyde. It makes hair look smooth & blow-dried, but not poker straight. You might want to read about here

Is it for you? Let me take you through it all, and you can decide for yourself:

STEP 1: Washing. Just shampoo & conditioner.

STEP 2: Blow dry hair till it's only 70% dry.

STEP 3:  Cysteine Complex Curl Softening Cream was applied only on the hair lengths avoiding the roots. This is the main product.

Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick Passionate ~ LOVE!

I couldn't wait to show Colorbar Crème Touch Lipstick in Passionate! I just couldn't wait!

I'm going gaga over it! 

• It's such a unique coral-pink, which looks almost neon.

• The finish is very similar to that of IN2IT Moisture Release Lipsticks, some of my favorite lippies. Between sheer & creamy, and very moisturizing.

• It makes my lips feel softer afterwards, and it reduces my lip lines (refer to lip photos below). 

• It is scented & smell like the Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipsticks. Not my favorite scent, but bearable.

• When it starts to wear off, it looks like a balmy tint.

• It has Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and SPF 15.

• The reflective silver & light purple  packaging is young & cute. The cap top (right?) can be used as a mirror.

*Please note that it looks pinker off camera. Bright neon-ish colors always confuse my camera.

Hair Serenity Service at Lakmé Salon (Hair Relaxing Without Formaldehyde)

Tired of your frizzy, tangled hair? Leave the old behind and say Hello to the new Hair Serenity Service at Lakmé Salon. It gives you gorgeously smooth, manageable and party ready hair completely naturally without using formaldehyde.

Play it sleek as Lakmé Salon delivers the latest innovation to get silky straight hair with the launch of their new Hair Serenity treatment. Introduced to India by Lakmé Salon, the Hair Serenity treatment is a natural solution to hair that is unruly, frizzy and hair that refuses to behave. Unlike Keratin, the Hair Serenity treatment at Lakmé Salon is formaldehyde free and a safer process for achieving naturally smoother and shinier hair. Step away from the harmful effects of Keratin treatments and indulge in the natural goodness of ingredients like the Cysteine Complex to get a glossy and healthy mane that will make heads turn. A pioneer in the beauty services industry in India, Lakmé Salon is a one stop shop for all the beauty needs of the contemporary Indian woman. 

The Hair Serenity treatment is a natural way to restore lost proteins and transform hair. Special ingredients used in the service like Cysteine, Dendrobium Orchid, Hydrolyzed wheat protein, Cocoa Seed Butter and Shea Butter help nourish the hair and give it a long lasting shine and smoothness.  

Lakmé Rose Kissed Lip Love Lipstick ~ Product Of The Week

LO......

......VE

LOVE 

Masked With Boys & Mini Haul

Hello, Hello! Sorries for slacking again. It's been a crazy week! I've just been busy with my life, which is probably going to CHANGE in the next 2 months. But I can't disclose anything right now.

I didn't want to disappear, so here are 2 pics of the day....

What's going on here? You'll know soon!

Haul: Palmolive Thermal Spa Skin renewal With Crushed Coconut (OMG, I love coconutty stuff!), Bourjois Effet Smokey Pencil Intense Black (It was always out of stock!), Bourjois Volume Glamour Max Definition Mascara, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick Totally Toffee, Colorbar Creme Touch Lipstick in Passionate (FAB shade!), Gold Bangles (Rs.70), Miss Jo Bow Hairband, Plain Black Hairband.

I gotta run again! Ciao!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Makeup For Passport Photo & Tips

I got a new Passport photo taken recently, and thought I'd show it to you all, although I might regret it =) Now I'm not claiming that I'm a 'pro' at good passport photos. I'll never be, and I've made peace with that. But I have learnt from past mistakes, and this time it turned out a lot better than all of my previous photos.

I look at an old Passport Photo and this is what I think:

• Hair too limp & flat (I went to the studio with just-washed-partly-wet hair), so face looks too big, nose & cheekbones too sharp.
• Expression looks too mean & nostrils flaring too much.
• Lips too glossy.
• Eyes too dark. You shouldn't have overdone the black kohl.
• Big silver hoop earrings? Really?!
• White shirt with white background? Sigh.
• You look too MADE-UP! It's a struggling studio that you'll find out had shut down in 2012, not a cocktail party!

Now let's talk about my new photo. First things first, the make-up! It's supposed to look subtle, and we tried our best.

Benefit Dandelion Wishes ~ FREE Gift From Sephora

The Urban Decay NAKED Palette for one of you lovely readers reached my home from Sephora & this came FREE with it! A mini Benefit Dandelion Powder (I have reviewed it here) & mini Dandelion Lip Gloss. So cute! Sephora offers other products too here. 

Benefit just launched lip glosses to match all their boxed powders. I'm not tempted to get any of them, coz I rarely use lip glosses, but when I get one cutie for free, wheeee.....!

Confessions Of A Beauty Blogger ~ #1 When We Feel Uninspired To Blog

Her fingers hover over the keyboard, a forlorn expression on her face. Substantial ideas seem to have evaded her. Either that, or she over-thinks more than she sleeps.

Something forms in her mind....but before she can grasp it, it disperses into a puff of nothingness. She utters a word that's thrown around like a vowel, it doesn't sound like a bad word anymore.

Frustrated, she decides to entertain you (hopefully) with the following randomness:

• The LOTD/OOTD she never posted. Minted.

• The Forever 21 Haul she never showed you. She'll just show you the earrings. (L-R): Filigree Teardrop Earrings- Rs.349, Mint Lace Earrings- Rs.199, Tiered Filigree Flower Earrings (made up name), Rs.249.

• She created an album in our Facebook Page called "Love Lipstick Like A love Song" - while listening to the song with the same title. What? She's not lovesick....just bizarre.

New! Bourjois Faux Cils False Lashes

Count on Bourjois to pleasantly surprise us every time. This time, it's launched its very first set of false eyelashes. We want more than one set (please), but we understand. Baby steps.

Bourjois Easy Faux Cils False Lashes comes with a mini glue & can be re-used up to 40 times.

Price ~ € 6.95 (Rs.494.00- let's hope no more than that!)

*Not launched in India yet. 

We are batting our pitiful lashes & waiting!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

What's IN?

A lot of things. Too many! But here, I'll list the 6 at the front of the queue in my Trend & Whims Book 2012:

1. Caviar Nail Art ~ I prefer one color to the multi-colored up there. Very easy to DIY, if you can get hold of teeny-tiny beads. Crackle nails are OUT for the moment- in my book.
2. Waxing ~  True story: I started to get my body & underarms waxed only in December last year & now I'm hooked. I just love how my skin feels after waxing & it even removed some of my Goa tan! Shaving is OUT-OUT-OUT! Period.
3. Ombre Hair ~ Darker at the roots & lighter at the ends, like a gradient. LOVE! I just colored my hair a very light brown during the weekend & I'm gonna find a stylist who can ombre the ends after a few weeks. Fingers crossed.
4. Toner ~  I did some thinking & experimenting, and concluded that if you want to prevent pimples, use a toner! Angry bacteria... alcohol in toner will prevent it from growing & forming a  pimple. I've been religiously toning my face after cleansing for over a month and..... those pimples I usually get a week before that time of the month are no longer cystic.  I loved The Body Shop Cucumber Water, and I'm now trying Nivea Sparkling Glow Toner. Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize- I get it now.
5. Rose Gold Watches ~  Michael Kors set the trend, and now they're seen everywhere! The rose gold watch of my dreams looks somewhat like the one right there- with some bling, basically. Whatever the price (under Rs.20,000), I will work hard (and err....save =\) & hopefully get it before December ;)
6. Hi-Low Dresses & Skirts ~  I was obsessed with Hi-Low/Asymmetrical dresses back in high school & college, and I had a few tailored. Now they ARE trending & I couldn't be happier! I recently ordered a skirt....waiting impatiently for it. If you only wear traditional Indian suits, you can make the kameez high lo & wear it with fitted churidar pants- fab! (Want!) 

Have a good week, everybody!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

WINNERS Of L'Oreal Paris Contest

Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who participated. I read each & every one of your answers, both here & IVC Facebook Page.last night, and appreciate ALL of them.

Before I reveal the winning answers, let's take a look at the percentage each of the fashionistas, Bollywood sweethearts, and L'Oreal Paris Ambassadors, scored:

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan- 51%
Sonam Kapoor- 24%
Freida Pinto- 23%

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan beat Sonam & Freida put together. WOW! New mommy has really earned a lot of admiration & respect. Well-deserved, I must say, especially with all the boo-hockey she has to put up with constantly. Yes, I would have picked her too =)

And now for the winning answers! The 1st Prize Winner was an easy choice for me, but picking the 2nd Prize Winner was TOUGH! 

Drum roll......

1st PRIZE goes too.....

" Simran:

'Ash' you like it...In this case it will be "'Ash', I like It!!!" ;)

Her style, which has more misses than it gets kisses, manage to hit the 'taal' even in plain old 'Jeans' and at times makes you think 'Kuch na kaho'

Her face, so doll-like and ethereal, come rain, hail, babies or the dreaded age of 40s, make her the 'Umrao Jaan' of India

Her figure, which can make 'dhoom' and others gloom, make her more real than anyother

Her elegance, grace and confidence, leaves 'Devdas(es)' across the 'World' saying 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'

Whether she is 'Jodha' or The 'Mistress of Spices',

The 'Bride' and bahu of the 'Sarkar' of all families of Bollywood Or at the receiving end of everyones 'Prejudice',

She inevitably leaves everyone with a "Guzaarish' for more.

Because she's worth it ;) "