LOTD ~ Big Hair With Babyliss Volume Waves Tong

Do you have a dream hairstyle? One that you have always imagined yourself with, but have never been able to achieve it? Sometimes you're sooo close to it, then *BAM!* the stupid hairstylist trimmed it too much or burned part of it during rebonding; OR you ruined it yourself by doing something equally stupid- like, streaking with Fem Bleach or spontaneously giving yourself a "razor cut" with some puraana blunt scissors and you ended up with high-low hair (one side shorter than the other). And then it's only just a dream, again.

My dream hairstyle is a longer (on the sides), pouffier (at the roots), shinier, evenly colored (dark roots make them look flatter) version of what I have here. Dreamy, romantic, cascading waves.....like cashmere between his fingertips.....yeah yeah.

But a dream hairstyle is like everything else in life. If you want it, you have to make an effort and get it yourself!

So.... I got myself a curling iron. I've always wanted one! I had a hard time trying to decide between Babyliss Volume Waves Tong & TRESemme Salon Professional Volume Curls Tong . In the end, I went with my gut. By that, I mean I went with the more established hair styling tools brand.

Barrel Size- 38mm (1 and 1/2 half inch)

Plates- Nano Titanium Ceramic 

Heat Settings- 155°, 170°,185°, 200° C.

 

This was just a trial, and my 1st time using it. I will come back let you know if it makes me happy, how to use it, products etc, another time. But first impression was quite good, considering I didn't really make an effort. The curls started to flatten at night, but the waves & volume were still there the next day.

CUTEST Hand Creams!

An Ebay seller I got the Etude House Princess Etoinette products from sent me a card of her online store, and first things I saw were these hand creams that are so.... oh my bows, I can't even..... dizziness by cuteness!

Etude House Missing U 'Bee Happy' Hand Creams ~ How painfully cute are these?!!! They come in 4 types:

• Pink - Queen Bee
• Yellow-  Honey Bee
• Green -  Baby Bee [that honey baby bottle is just too funny!]
• Red - Ladybug 

Maybelline Brown Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner ~ Revisited

Brown eyeliner is my go-to product on "no-makeup-look" days. Like, when I'm only staying home and I don't want to wear makeup but I want my lash-less eyes to pop. I just tightline and smudge a brown pencil (always Bourjois Effet Smoky Pencil in Smoked Brown) on my waterline. It makes me feel better about staying in mismatched pyjamas & not wanting to brush my hair.

This is a my 2nd pot. I bought my first brown Maybelline Gel Liner from Malaysia during the time when I'd just started blogging. It is still there in our home in India, and I think it hasn't dried up completely.

MeMeMe Blush Me Blushers ~ Rouge & Coral

I don't know what I was thinking when I bought these, coz the shades are so similar. I tried to return them the next day, but Superdrug doesn't take back makeup products (that's what the manager said). I should have mentioned that they're brand new & unused....sheesh! There's a pink shade that I would have liked, but it may have not been available that day....I don't know....it was my 1st time in Superdrug, so maybe I was a lil' crazy =D

MeMeMe blushers are compared to Benefit Boxed Powders, because the packaging is practically the same. They are really nice & pigmented blushers that blend smoothly & don't wear off easily.

The Things That Make Me Give In.....

Not meant to be taken seriously..... 

• Fade Out White Nourishing Night Cream ~ Because some things need to FADE OUT! But it stinks like socks! >.<
• Sleek Oh So Special Palette ~ Because it has a rose gold eyeshadow, and shade names like Bow & Ribbon.
• Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel ~ Because you can't always rely on powder.
• Carmex Cherry & Classic Lip Balms ~ Because they were all half off in Superdrug, not that I didn't need them.
• Olay Regenerist Cream Cleanser ~ Because we're not getting any younger. This makes skin feel as smooth as a baby's bottom.
• Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Brown ~ Because there's such a things as "brown beauty" too.
• Phil Smith Big It Up Volume Boosting Mousse ~ Because we're into volume these days. Bad news is, it only talks big. No wonder it was on sale.
• Archie Marries Veronica ~ Because I'm so excited MAC Archie's Girls Collection that I'm not going shopping anymore until it launches!
• Breaking The Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford ~ Because it was on sale... and because it has a bow on the cover. 

Etude House Princess Etoinette Collection Photos & Swatches

 Etude House Princess Etoinette Collection has got to be the best makeup collection that I've ever seen. Not only do the products scream luxury & vintage, they don't have repugnant price tags that deserve to be chewed by the sharks in Jaws. The creativity that went into the packaging & impeccable attention to detail make me feel intellectually inadequate, but they also made me realize how much beauty one's mind is capable of creating. Hats off to the brains behind it all- Sylvie de France (One of the 5 people I'd want to be for a day. Hello Whoever-Can-Make-It-Happen, please jot that down next to #4. Please hurry with #1. Thank You!) 

But one thing that I don't get: If the collection was inspired by Marie Antoinette, why "Etoinette"? Is that another Korean princess?

Tale Of The Fake Fur Coat & Owl Brooch

December, last year. That's when I first laid eyes on - and touched  caressed - it. The ivory fake fur coat at Primark. I didn't remember it had an owl brooch nestling on its fluffy collar. I wanted it, but I expected a price tag that's a lil' more impressive than £25 (Rs.2126), so I never purchased it. It wasn't on sale on Boxing Day either, but I remember looking at it longingly from an ascending escalator that day. Since then, I'd forgotten all about it.

Until last week. 

M.A.C Marilyn Monroe Now In Stores! [India]

M∙A∙C Marilyn Monroe, a colour collection that channels the legend’s lustre and sex appeal in shades and formulas meticulously Marilyn.
Lipsticks in rapturous reds, gleaming Dazzleglass, a dramatic 35 Lash, False Lashes Extreme Black and Eye Shadows in shimmering metallic and diamond tones provide silver-screen allure. The finishing touch: Nail Lacquers destined to be a girl’s best friend and Beauty Powder to evoke that flawless Forever Marilyn.

LIPSTICK
Pure Zen  Frosted warm nude (Cremesheen)
Scarlet Ibis  Bright orange red (Matte)
Love Goddess  Mid-tone pink red (Satin)
Charmed I’m Sure  Dark true red (Matte)
Deeply Adored  Deep scarlet (Matte)

DAZZLEGLASS
Phiff!  Sheer yellow peach (Frost)
Little Rock  Soft sheer white with pearl (Frost)

LIP PENCIL
Beet  Vivid reddish-pink
Redd   Clearly red
Cherry  Vivid bright bluish-red

BEAUTY POWDER
Forever Marilyn  Sheer pale peach highlighter
LARGE EYE SHADOW
How to Marry  Soft white (Veluxe Pearl)
Preferred Blonde  Pale champagne beige (Veluxe Pearl)
Silver Screen  True silver (Veluxe Pearl)
Showgirl  Dark blue grey (Veluxe Pearl)

BROW FINISHER

MASCARA
False Lashes Extreme Black  Black

EYE KOHL
Fascinating  Intense matte white
Smolder  Intense black

PENULTIMATE EYE LINER
Rapidblack  True black

PENULTIMATE BROW MARKER

POWDER BLUSH
Legendary  Pale soft coral (Satin)
The Perfect Cheek  Neutral pink beige (Matte)

NAIL LACQUER
Vintage Vamp  Rich deep retro wine (Cream)
Stage Red   Dark berry red (Cream)
Flaming Rose  True Red (Cream)
Kid Orange  Coral (Cream)

LASH
35 Lash

Sleek Makeup Suede Blush Review & Swatches

I have decided that while I'm in the UK, I'll buy a lot of Sleek Makeup. I feel like I owe them. You know what I'm referring to, right? If you are a new reader, don't worry, you'll find out in a minute. (Oh, and HELLO! You found this vanity at the right time ;))

Moving on: I recently got the Oh So Special Palette. Are we even yet? 4 products so far.... nah, I have to buy some more.

Moving on some more: Sleek Makeup blush in Suede is my new-found love. It's special because I was smitten the minute I saw it and, unlike most of the products I buy, I had never really seen it  around on the internet and seen swatches and reviews. Maybe I saw, but I wasn't paying attention. So, it was like I discovered it. It is the perfect nude blush. Do you remember Colorbar Just Earth Blush? I'd say this is a peachier version of it.

Preview: Makeup Collection Fit For A Princess

Etude House Princess Etoinette Collection

♥

I couldn't resist putting up this little preview. I will have to photograph & swatch them another day when the weather isn't so gloomy & depressing.

For now, I'm just ecstatic that they all reached me safe & sound. All from Ebay. Will give you seller details and all in the other post. 

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

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 *.*

The Body Shop Haul ~ All Half Off!

Last week, I noticed that I had only one body moisturizer left on my nightstand- a tiny amount of Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Body Oil. I admit, it depressed me a little bit. I don't....I don't know how it came to that.

So, The Body Shop SALE couldn't have come at a better time. I ordered all these goodies online. All 50% off *insert opera music*

NEW! Sunsilk Straight-Lock Technology

- From Shower to Party Stopper –

A revolutionary technology which locks your tresses and keeps them aligned straight and sleek post hair wash!

Sunsilk unleashes the newest, innovative way of controlling the unwanted hair frizz, leaving your hair straight and slick after your hair wash. This new and advanced technology from the house of Sunsilk locks your hair into a desirable and glossy straight hair look soon after wash, as soon as your hair begins to dry. Sunsilk Perfect Straight is the creation of Sunsilk’s team of groundbreaking hair experts, partnered with insights and expertise of the Tokyo based, world renowned Yuko Yamashita. This new innovation works by controlling wet hair and making them settle into silky strands of lustrous straight hair as and when the hair begins to dry.

How does it work? 
The pioneering Straight-Lock Technology harnesses the power of amino silicone; an adhesive ingredient and mineral oils, locking in that magic moment for perfect shape. This unique technology in the product formula, concentrated in the Conditioner, affixes every strand, nourishing the hair’s fibres while also securing aligned and straight hair.

The Straight-Lock Technology aligns your hair to keep it straight, so you can literally wash and go for the days when you don’t want to miss out what life has to offer. The powerful Conditioner provides essential nourishment to hair, without leaving a residue. This means hair can stay manageable and shiny.

Price:

• 80ml shampoo: Rs 56.

• 180ml shampoo: Rs 110.

• 360ml shampoo: Rs 189.

• 90ml conditioner: Rs 56.

• 180ml conditioner: Rs 110.

♥

Are you as interested in this range as I am? 

♥ Cynthia Z *.*