Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Oil Free Review

I've never been one to bother with foundation primers. I used to think of them as pointless extras and brands' clever ruse to get us to buy more products from them (rascals!)

But I figured I had to at least try one, since one out of three bloggers I know can't go a day without a foundation primer.

Then one day the virgin picked Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Oil Free to be her first. 

If you're living in a hot place, it only takes a day to find out if a primer is working out for you.

In my case, this one does.

The test:

I get very hyper when I'm getting ready and doing my makeup. One: 'coz I'm not very stable...mentally :P, and Two: My stuff is all over the place, which makes finding what I'm looking for almost impossible! So, my face starts to sweat in between and I usually have to re-apply powder about 2 times ~ before blush and sometimes in the elevator when I'm leaving the building.

With this primer on my face, I didn't sweat at all, even though I felt so hot! And I was ready with a puff in hand only to see in the mirror I didn't need any. It's like the primer was preventing my face from sweating. *Don't you bother her!*


It minimizes my pores to a certain extent, which is what I hoped a primer would do.

If silicone-based primers block your pores, then this would probably be better for you coz it is water-based and feels like a moisturizer. Sometimes, I skip my moisturizer if I'm gonna be using this.


There is a tiny BUT though. My face looked extremely greasy at the end of the day when I'm using this primer. It could be the primer wearing off after fighting my oilies all day, or that I didn't bother reapplying powder coz, you, know, it's the end of the day and I'll be washing my face soon anyways. Not an issue with me, but just thought I'd mention it.


Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4/5

Foundation does go on better and blends quicker with a primer. 

Like I think that once you start using eye creams, you'll never be able to live without one anymore, I feel the same about foundation primers. I'm hooked now. I bought 2 different ones recently. I might as well consider cutting up my credit cards now. No, 

I take that back!

Available at strawberrynet.com for Rs.1725

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^


Disclaimer~ The product in this post was provided to me by strawberrynet.com for review purposes, but I picked it out myself.

Lakmé Fashion Week Announces Dates for Summer/Resort 2011

It's time to select outfits if you plan on attending the LFW 2011, coz it will be held from March 11 – March 15, 2011 at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

Mumbai, October 2, 2010: After a successful LFW Winter/Festive 2010 which concluded on 21st September 2010, LFW has announced dates for its next season - LFW Summer/Resort 2011 to be held from March 11th to March 15th, 2011 at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. In par with other leading fashion weeks around the world, LFW announces dates well in advance for all stakeholders to plan their participation.

Summer/Resort 2011 is the second edition of LFW that includes and promotes the rapidly emerging concept of Resort wear globally and in India. The first season attracted outstanding talent of established and emerging designers who showcased their creativity and designs of Resort wear, a year round fashion concept.The coming season and years will see an increased exposure for Indian designers to buyers, media and the global fashion industry.
With every season, LFW witnesses an increase in designer applications and buyer registrations. LFW Winter/Festive 2010 marked an enormous increase of 66 percent in designer applications as compared to last season. The season also garnered, 210 international and domestic buyer company registrations, an increase of 36 percent.. This reinforces LFW’s belief in the strategic shift and the platforms understanding of the market and its business needs.
Anil Chopra, CEO, Lakmé Lever says, “Lakmé Fashion Week has always been the pioneer in innovations and is recognized as a platform in adopting strategic decisions to facilitate the business of fashion in India. The platform is growing from strength to strength with each season and we are encouraged by the positive response from the fashion fraternity. We continue with the same commitment and strategic shift that was initiated earlier this year and look forward to further enhancing our efforts with LFW Summer/Resort 2011.”

Sujal Shah, Vice President and Head of Fashion-IMG India adds, “LFW always experiments with unique and innovative ways to redefine the future of fashion and reach out to its stakeholders. This year saw many firsts, from the strategic shift to the collaboration with an E-Commerce portal to boost business opportunities for designers. We persist with the same vigor with the upcoming season Summer/ Resort 2011 and promise to offer sponsors, partners, designers, industry professionals, and all attendees a series of unique experiences, each designed to explore a particular element of fashion”.

About Lakmé Fashion Week:
Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) is jointly organised by Lakmé, the No.1 cosmetics and beauty services brand in India and IMG. LFW has been conceived and created with a vision to “Redefine the future of fashion and Integrate India into the global fashion world”. LFW is organized twice every year. LFW Summer / Resort 2011 will be held from March 11 to March 15, 2011 at Grand Hyatt Hotel, Mumbai. For further information log on to http://www.lakmefashionweek.co.in

About Lakmé:
The contemporary Indian Beauty expert in the beauty industry, Lakmé continuously innovates to offer a wide range of, high performance and exceptional quality color cosmetics, skincare products, and beauty salons. In addition to leveraging Unilever’s worldwide expertise, Lakmé also partners with the leading cosmetic house Milan-based Intercos Italia, Schwann Stabilo Germany and Paris-based Fiabila. Combining international cosmetic technology with an in-depth understanding of the Indian woman’s needs, Lakmé also offers its consumers a holistic ‘Beauty Sutra’ experience through its products and services at the Lakmé Salons. For further information log on to www.lakmeindia.com

About IMG Fashion:
IMG Fashion is dedicated to facilitating a gateway to the fashion world - from creation to consumer. We offer solutions that seamlessly connect and associate fashion’s key constituents and corporate brands using IMG’s global resources, influence and expertise. Within the fashion industry IMG represents the world’s top models, leading designers and the most influential photographers, art directors and stylists. The division produces the leading fashion events around the globe and represents many of the industry’s top organizations and federations as well as works with various local and national governments, creating regional and international fashion platforms. For more information on IMG and its business visit www.imgworld.com.


Hmm...what should I wear....?



♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Testing Testing Revlon Photoready Foundation

Heya, just a quick FOTD to show you how the Revlon PhotoReady Foundation looks with flash photography.

I got it in Medium Beige #006

It's a medium to heavy coverage foundation that I personally think most people would either like or hate, but not love.

Revlon Photoready Foundation Medium Beige

You can definitely see the shimmer there

As you can see, the shimmer is not too obvious on my face. But I should tell you that when I faced the sun directly, I looked like a disco ball, almost like how Edward Cullen looked when the sun hit him in Twilight =D. 

Well, oh-kay, I exaggerated a little bit, but almost sounds bad enough, doesn't it?

So, I wouldn't wear in the daytime. Anymore.

Other products used:

Benefit Matterial girl Setting Powder to set foundation

Smashbox O-Glow lightly on cheeks

Eyes ~ Random eyeshadows (I know I should stop with the randomness!), MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner in Petrol Blue, IN2IT Gel Liner Pencil in Very Black to tightline upper lashline (Review Here ), Kate Mascara base & Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara on Lashes

Lips~ Maybelline Watershine Pure Lipstick in P21

I can't say whether I like the Photoready or not at this time. Will let you after I've used it a few more times.

Have a nice weekend everybody! ;)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Star Product Of the Week ~ Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy

Juicy Couture brought 2 of my favorite things together in Viva La Juicy Perfume ~ A Bow & Hot Pink.

I smelled this perfume for the first time about a year ago and put the perfume smelling strip in my handbag. I wasn't very keen on buying it, coz at the time I was too smitten by Marc Jacobs' Daisy. The next day, I sniffed something real good  on the sofa. I searched and searched and in the end found the strip  in the back zipper compartment of my handbag. It was Viva La Juicy! But I still didn't want to buy it coz Vera Wang Flower Princess was next in my perfume wishlist :)

Then this year, I promised myself I would get it! How on earth did I not see the hot pink bow?! I asked myself incredulously.

Notes: Wild Berries, Mandarins, Honeysuckle, Gardenia, Jasmine, Amber, Caramel, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Praline
Style: Tantalizing, Teasing, Tempting

Honestly, it's not my favorite scent, but it's not bad either. It reminds me of Britney Spears' Fantasy, which I don't wear, but adore the bottle.

Viva La Juicy smells girly and kinda sweet, like a mixture of fruits and candies, but it's not the overwhelming kind of sweetness that makes you nauseous.  I find that this perfume smells better after 30 mins or so after spraying it on my skin, although I must add that the smell doesn't last very long, say about 5 hours, then the fragrance starts to fizzle out.

Bottomline: I love it! The fabulous  bottle makes up for everything I *might* not like. My collection would be incomplete without it.

*Hand on chin* I can look at it all day....and every night before going to bed ;)

Price ~ Rs.3500 approx for 50 ml

P.S: One fine day, I'll show you how much I love bows =)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Vintage Blush Anyone?

How would you like to have a blush that was made more than 130 years ago? A blush which made it's way from the theatres in Paris in the 1860s, to all across the world since then.... and to my dressing room in 2010. Now, that's half the charm of this blush - the history. Which is weird, coz I always fell asleep during all of my History classes in school. Sigh! If only Gandhi wore makeup... I could've scored higher than.....nah I'm not telling you! =D

In my post on the History & Shades of Bourjois Blushes, I mentioned the first blush that was given a name in 1879 and which still exists today ~ 'Rosette Brune', now called 'Cendre de Rose Brune'

Another Colorbar Hottie ~ Rasmopolitan

Rasmopolitan is another shade from Colorbar's Riot Nail Lacquer Collection (after Apple Martini) I've had to wait to get my hands on. But I had to wait longer for this. Over a month!

It is a neon-ish flamingo pink. Rasmopolitan is a fruity cocktail made of Raspberry & the traditional flavors of a Cosmopolitan (the cocktail, not the magazine. I know you know! ;p)

I fell in love with it at the Colorbar flagship store in Select City Walk, but they just had one bottle left and turned out it was a "defective" one according to the SA (something about the brush....I don't know.)
It goes without saying, I was pouting when I left the store. Why do these things always happen to me?!!

My local supermarket carries Colorbar cosmetics, so I was hopeful I'd find Cosmo....I mean, Rasmopolitan there. But nope, they didn't even have a clue-"Huh? Rasmaa-whatta?" 


Yup, it was playing hard to get, which made me want it even more!

Anyhoo, I'll skip the in-between and just conclude by telling you I got it yesterday-yay!
It's creamy & no-topcoat-needed glossy, and applies like a dream. Dries quickly too.


You'd think it's quite like the Maybelline Sexy & Nail Juice Hollywood Pink, but no, Colorbar Rasmopolitan is a totally different kind of  "sexy & Hollywood" 


It is the nail polish equivalent of a true hot pink lipstick. 


Price ~ Rs.150


♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Product Rave ~ Gel Liner in A Pencil by IN2IT

I love this so much! It makes my life so easy.

IN2IT Waterproof Gel Liner Pencil in Very Black is one of the best eye liners I've ever used. Gel liners are my favorite, but you know, sometimes it can get tiring and tricky to have to apply your gel liners with a brush. Especially when you're in a hurry and you can't find the liner brush you're looking for.

This gel liner in a pencil is my answer to that problem.

I thought it would break easily, but it doesn't! Impressed, impressed. It's waterproof & smudge-proof, so no "panda" eyes like it says in the box =)

It only costs about Rs.360, and it comes nicely packaged in pretty box along with a sharpener with removable cleaning stick on the back! How thoughtful.

What it says on the box:

• Dries in 60 seconds
• Ultra smooth formula
• Waterproof and super long wearing
• No bleeding, no running
• Easy to apply and remove

All true. 

It's available in Brown too, which I should have bought too but didn't. Silly me.

I really adore IN2IT cosmetics. They are such good quality and cutely packed, but very affordable. I think it's a German brand coz the products are made in Germany, and only available at Watson's, Parkson's, and maybe a few more department stores in Malaysia. Don't know if it's available in other Asian countries. Not in India right now, of that I'm sure :) :(

Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥  5/5

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

The Cute SMILE Cup That makes Me Happy ~ From Archies

This is totally unrelated to make-up. Hell, it's a CUP! But beauty? Yes. Coz it's so beautifully made, I had to share it with you girls & guys.

I bought it as a gift for "someone" (hi, honey!:) ) who doesn't like anything but video games, but I'll be using it coz someone doesn't drink a lot of tea/coffee hehe...."A gift for you, but it's actually for me" ;p

I present you the Smile ~ Happy Everyday Cup 

Isn't it a cutie?! ^.^

I bought it from Archies at Select City Walk, Delhi. 

It comes with a steel heart-shaped spoon and a wooden coaster.

The spoon stands coz of that little round magnetic thing right there

There's a message on the heart-shaped spoon too.....

"A Spoonful Of Devotion"

The Silly Smiley under the cup :P

Guess how much I bought it for. 

Rs.299. 2 frickin' 99! Can you believe it?!! I'd buy it if it were any price under a grand, seriously!

Do you also want a cup that makes you SMILE? ☺

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Win A free Consultation With Dermalogica India

Experience the Dermalogica India Online Speed Mapping, which is a quick face analysis technique to win a FREE consultation with Dermalogica India's skin health expert.

All you have to do is:

• Visit their website here and find out what your skin craves
• Then post your result in the Dermalogica India Facebook Fanpage

One winner will be chosen every week for a month.

Have fun Speed Mapping & Good Luck y'all!




♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Videos & Requested Posts Coming Up + Pic Of The Day

Just a quick post to let you know that I won't be slacking so much anymore. Vacation and what-nots are OVER! I'm back with a clear head and very determined...haha...true. That's what 2 weeks of dilly-dallying does to you. You think about what you could've done but didn't, and you can't wait to be back and do better.

I've had a lot of requests from readers, and I just want to let them know that I'm not ignoring or have forgotten about them. I was just busy with life & life (having 2 homes can get twisty sometimes)
These are some of the posts requested:

• Shopping tips
• Make-up essentials for Indian women
• Bridal makeup shopping
• What's in my bag?
• Tags ~ My shower (bathroom), makeup collection etc.
• Make-up tools & brushes

I've neglected my barely there YouTube channel enough I think =D. That's coz I wasn't ready, but now I'm ready. I hope ;). 

Videos I'm doing very soon (with voice-over. I bought a mic LOL!):

• Easy Everyday makeup
• How to's & stuff
• Bridal Makeup Tutorial coz the wedding season in India is not very far
• Katy Perry's California Girls Makeup & the whole shenanigan :). I ♥♥♥ the song & video, and they made me ♥ Katy Perry too!  (Very excited about this)
• Some celebrity inspired looks
• Some fun halloween makeup videos. Any specific looks you want me to do?
• A room peek?
• A very special "Indian-type" video I've wanted to do forever! ^.~ surprise surprise....

There! I told you all, so now I HAVE to do them. See how I tricked myself? I can't be lazy now, can I? Hehe....I'm hoping to do the funnest of the lot before the end of the year, so wish me luck!

If you have any other requests, do let me know by commenting below or dropping me an email. Requests help me blog better and give me a nudge, so don't hesitate. Reviews....looks (anything! You know I can be wild =D ) 

Floral satin skirt with elastic black waist band~ From a store in KL. Real cheap (about Rs.450 I think)

Lacy corset top with adjustable straps ~ Topshop (about Rs.2100)

Black stretchy tube top under ~ Same store as skirt (Cheap! But good quality ;) )

Black bow earrings (don't know if you can see) ~ Vincci

Watch ~ Fossil (OLD!)

Shoes (not in pic but would look nice on that side table =D) ~ black suede flat slippers =D

Thanks for visiting! :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

MUFE Rouge Artist Lipsticks Giveaway WINNERS!

First of all, thank you all for taking part in my Giveaway , following, spreading the word, tweeting & liking IVC's FB fanpage.

There were altogether 319 valid entries:

You can enlarge pics

Let's find out which 2 lucky ones are destined to win these lippies, shall we?
.
.
.
 ♪ ♫.............. Drumrolls............... ♪ ♫

Winner 1  : Dominique
Winner 2 : Get Gawjus


Congrats ladies! :)


Winner 1 can pick which pair she wants & the other pair will automatically go to Winner 2.

Winners please email me your mailing addresses here ~  indianvanitycase@gmail.com

To the rest, what can I say? =( It sucks for me too, believe me! Better luck next time, yeah?

Thanks again all! Hope to see you again in another Giveaway :)

Have a great week!


♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Fish Spa After Watching Piranha...Aaaahhhh!

Warning: This post is not for the faint-hearted. If you're afraid of many many many fishes, please stay away :)

Fishes nibbling at your legs sound cute in your head, but when a swarm of them come at you all at one time....OMG! I was scared sh*tless!

They were just waiting there! Waiting to relish you! 2 seconds after I dipped my feet the first time, I retracted so fast and it took me a while to get my feet back in there. I actually thought about leaving!

But I decided to face my fear....

Getting Intimate With Hello Kitty ;)

That title is just so right for this post. But of course, we can't help thinking about the innuendo attached to it. Eww! I'm straight straight and I don't really like cats. Not that I would...I mean....even if I was....wth am I trying to say? Eww! Haha....

I got this box of Hello Kitty Pantyliners  from Watson's on the last day in KL. It was the last box, so of course I thought the last one always belongs to me. I had to *had to* get it! I couldn't even fit it in our 2 luggages anymore, plus I didn't want the cute box to get squished. So had to carry it in a carry bag. Fortunately, they didn't tell us to take out the stuff during security check. Can you imagine if that happened?! =D

The box is just so so CUTE! I think I'll use it for storing some other stuff afterwards, like cotton balls or something :)

Man! That cat is really minting money, huh?

What's next? Hello Kitty Pregnancy Tests? Oh wait, I think they already made it if I'm not mistaken LOL.

I just found a website called Hello Kitty Hell. It's all about Hello Kitty stuff ....everything Hello Kitty! It's hilarious ;)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^