Best Cotton Pads For Skin

I found (or more like my hubby found) these German-made Pads+Microfaser, and I'm having so much fun using them. I love things that are different and have a unique quality, and these cotton pads are that!

Textured on one side. So cute! 

The other side is normal and linty, so I'd rather use it for nail polish remover (maybe)

The Fantasy Collection By Gauri & Nainika At LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK 2011

THE FANTASY COLLECTION BY GAURI AND NAINIKA PRESENTED BY LAKMÉ AT THE GRAND FINALE OF THE LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK SUMMER/RESORT 2011 SEASON 

WAS A SENSATIONAL END TO THE EVENT 

March 15, 2011, Mumbai: It was the most eagerly awaited event which ended the vibrant and busy Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2011 season. The Grand Finale show featuring designers Gauri and Nainika renowned for their stunning creations was presented by Lakmé at a starry elegant extravagant evening.

The Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel was turned into a veritable Fantasyland as it came alive with butterflies and birds cutouts suspended from the ceiling. The backdrop of trees and snaking vines around the arched entry of the ramp along with the throbbing strobe lights set the scene for the fantastic show.

To the strains of the ABBA classic “I have a Dream”, Amrit Maghera descended from the ceiling reclining on a sliver of a new moon to open the opulent fashion presentation.

Gauri and Nainika the designing duo known for their glamorous Red Carpet collections dazzled the audience with 31 creations inspired by the colour cosmetic line Fantasy by Lakmé.

With stunning eye-catching creations and selection of elegant fabrics, colours, construction and silhouettes, the creative pair showed a breathtaking line of gorgeous evening wear with form fitting bodices that reflected the many moods of a woman. Unbelievable metres of diaphanous tulle, silk and French lace moulded with horse hair and can-can gave the outfits a surreal look. 

Pomegranate Antioxidant Essence By Pure Beauty

This is something I have been using since last September, and I thought it's about time I tell you how much I love it (and most pomegranate skincare products, in general.)

Pomegranates are natural antioxidants. If you don't like to drink green tea, like me (yuck!), it's nice to have an alternative. Pomegranate seed oil has amazing anti-aging properties, and is known as an 'elixir of youth'.

What this Essence promises ~ Formulated with a natural herbal complex made from mulberry root, rice, green tea and pomegranate oil extracts, it allows every skin cell to experience the renewing power of nature, stimulates skin restoration and cell turnover effects. Day after day, it detoxifies and prevents signs of aging, so your skin radiates youthful vitality.

What is Essence? Basically, a serum. Asians prefer to call Serums - Essence.

Usage ~ Massage onto entire face and neck after cleansing. Use day & night.

The Glamorous Jewels Of The Sea By Satya Paul At LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK

SATYA PAUL PRESENTED THE GLAMOROUS JEWELS OF THE SEA COLLECTION FOR SUMMER/RESORT 2011 AT LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK

March 15, 2011, Mumbai: When the Satya Paul label appears on the ramp the look is truly feminine, glamorous and exciting. “The Jewels of the Sea” collection presented by Satya Paul for Summer/Resort 2011 at Lakmé Fashion Week was an ethnic and western offering comprising saris, lehengas and serene western creations.

Using the inspirations of the theme cleverly, Satya Paul had a mix of Lurex and glitter net for its sheer quality and had prints and embellishments to create the elements of the sea.

Bourjois Liner Feutre Review

Bourjois Liner Feutre in 11 Noir  is a black felt tip liquid eyeliner

I won't drag this review. Either I like it or I don't, right? 

Yes, I do like it. It is like a sketch pen. I can draw anything on my face with it. It is not waterproof, but it doesn't wash off completely when splashed with water. It starts to bleed only when rubbed. 

Long lasting like it claims? Yes, it stayed on the whole day & night (when I went to bed with it once  >.<)

My Frilly Pink Blush Basket

This is how I store most of my blushes & some bronzers. I bought this basket many years ago from Bangkok, together with a matching jewelry box. I love the quilted and frilly pink cotton fabric with white flowers. It is not stuck on the basket and can be taken out to wash. I don't remember how much I bought it for exactly, but I'm sure it didn't cost more than Rs.500.

I don't throw away the outer boxes of the blushes, coz then it's easier for me to find what I want when I can see the names on the top of the boxes.

You can make something like this for yourself if you want. Let me know if you want the pattern details.

It was made by a company called Nantita. I googled it and found their website! How cool! Click HERE to go to it.

P.S: I'm having trouble posting today. Blogger is telling me I ran out of photo storage space (?). Any advice?

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

New Whitening Skincare Products

I was at the supermarket yesterday, and I picked up some whitening products to repair my winter skin. My  dark spots multiply in the winters, coz I don't sweat. I can also see some of the dreadful melasma forming a map-like shape under the surface on my forehead and sides of my cheeks. Eeks!
So, I have to fight back, and this is my army :):

• Fair & Lovely Forever Glow For Ageless Fair Skin (Rs.59)~ I haven't seen this before, so it must be new. I bought the smallest one to try out. It has Vita-AHA Complex to darkness, patchiness & darkening. Claims to accelerate cell energy & slow down melanin production.

The Body Shop Cucumber Freshening Water Review

The Body Shop Cucumber Freshening Water is a toner made of:

• Community Trade Aloe Vera from Guatemala - is renowned for its incredible soothing and hydrating properties.
• Cucumber extract - is a gentle ingredient to help refresh the skin.
• Witch Hazel - helps to refresh the skin.

Ingredients: Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Rosa Centifolia Flower Water (Natural Additive), Polysorbate 20 (Emulsifier), Sodium PCA (Humectant), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Cucumis Sativus Juice (Natural Additive), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Parfum (Fragrance), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Glycerin (Humectant), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Hamamelis Virginiana Extract (Natural Additive), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Methylparaben (Preservative), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylparaben (Preservative), Ethylparaben (Preservative), Isobutylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative).

How to use: Apply to cotton pad and sweep over face after cleansing. If product gets in eyes, rinse with clean water.

Anita Dongre's Timeless Collection At LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK

ANITA DONGRE’S TIMELESS COLLECTION DAZZLED ON THE RAMP FOR SUMMER/RESORT 2011 AT LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK

March 13, 2011, Mumbai: With summer and the rising temperature during sultry months, there is only one thing women long for – cool comfortable clothing. Anita Dongre Timeless presented by the designer was a perfect summer line titled “Love and Life” in just cool ecru with tiny discreet hints of rose pink, powder blue and pale yellow.

Mul, a versatile fabric and a favourite of Anita, was created especially from the Fair Trade yarn produced by farmers connected with the Shop for Change movement with which Anita is closely connected with.

Manish Malhotra Ended Day 2 At LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK

MANISH MALHOTRA ENDED DAY TWO AT LAKMÉ FASHION WEEK WITH HIS FABULOUS SUMMER/RESORT 2011 COLLECTION SHOWCASING TRADITIONAL INDIAN CRAFTS.

Manish Malhotra ensures that his collections are always a traditional blend of Indian crafts with contemporary touches. His sensational line ended day two at Lakmé Fashion Week for Summer/Resort 2011.

The 40 gorgeous evening wear creations for men and women were resplendent with the wonderful Chikankari work as well as Karshmiri embroidery especially created in Srinagar and Jammu which Manish is keen on reviving. Adding Rajasthani gotta borders to the swirling creations; Manish ensured his ensembles would be fit for a myriad occasions.

Using delicate summer shades of aqua, green, powder blue and ivory, Manish gave a striking look to women’s wear. Men’s wear created in beige, grey and navy had a choice of lush textures that ranged from tussore to brocade for the sharply tailored bundgala jackets teamed with either slim pants or Jodhpuri trousers.

The Best Of Beauty 2011

I just love Total Beauty Awards! Every year the website editors pick the best of make-up, skincare & haircare products, and the list of nominees, for me, makes a great shopping guide.

Some of the products I voted for (the ones I've used & have served me well enough):

Make-up:

• Best Blush ~  Mac Powder Blush
• Best concealer ~ YSL Touche Eclat
• Best Eyeliner ~ Urban Decay 24/7  Glide On Eye Pencil
• Best Eyeshadow ~ Revlon 12 hour eye shadow quad
• Best Foundation ~ MUFE HD Invisible Finish Floundation
• Best Highlighter ~ Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick
• Best lip balm ~ Burt's Bees Beeswax lip balm
• Best Lip Balm ~ Revlon Super Lustrous Lip gloss
• Best Lip Liner ~ Mac Lip Pencil
• Best Lipstick ~ Mac Lipstick
• Best nail polish ~ Essie
• Best powder ~ Mac MSF Natural
• Best Tool ~ Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Lip Ice Strawberry, Orange, Blueberry & Lemon + Sheer Color

What is Lip Ice?

Combination of Lanolin and Mineral Oil will moisturize lips to prevent drying and chapping. Has SPF 15 that will protect the lips against UV rays.

Directions: Apply evenly on lips everyday. Can be used as base for lipstick too.

Ingredients: Mineral oil, Ozokerite, Petrolatum, Octyl Mathoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Lanolin, Flavor, Dimethicone, Menthol, Camphor.

• Strawberry- You get a whiff strawberry in this, but without the sweetness that you get from other strawberry lip balms
• Orange- Smells like orange juice, obviously.
• Blueberry- It doesn't smell like blueberry muffins, but it does smell slightly sweet. I think this is the best one for men. Hey, if Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass, Gossip Girl) could publicly apply the egg-shaped eos lip balm with panache, this surely won't make you look less like a man.
• Lemon - Smells like lemon peel.

Illamasqua Toxic Nature Inspired Look

When I saw the promo pictures of the Illamasqua Toxic Nature Collection, I was blown away by the makeup on the models. Yes, the looks are over-the-top, but they are also some of the most artistic  ones I've seen so far. So, I couldn't help but try them on myself.

My look is a hybrid of these 2:

Only lips from 2nd pic