Bridal Makeup Products On A Budget (Bridal Series 2011)

Welcome to the Bridal Series 2011! I will be doing a few posts on bridal makeup products and such....and there might be a surprise at the end of the series *wink* Now now don't get any ideas in your head, I don't even know what it is myself haha.

I told you my childhood friend got married, right? I had to buy some makeup products for her last month, but since she is not a makeup junkie, she wanted to keep it simple with just the bare necessities.

About The Bride & Wedding:

• Type ~ Christian wedding (means minimal/day makeup)
• Theme ~ Red & Gold
• Bride's Gown Color ~ Ivory

So, here are all the products I got for her:

Face:

• Primer ~ Inglot Under Makeup Base. Used as a foundation primer as well as eyeshadow primer.
• Foundation ~ Colorbar Triple Act Compact. This is a 3-in-1 product with a concealer, foundation & compact. It is awesome! Everyone liked it!
• Concealer ~ Colorbar Full Cover Concealer
• Powder ~  Maybelline Whitestay UV Compact in Natural for whole face Fawn for contouring. 

Did You Guess Right?

[Sorry for being late with this. Our Airtel modem just conked out today....for the 2nd time grr. Got a temporary connection for now.] 

Thanks to everyone who played the Guessing Game. I didn't think so many people would be enthu about it, that's what made it a lot more fun. It's now time for me to disclose how much I paid for my booties! Is yours the winning number? Wow it's like a lottery :) 

65 Guesses:

Majority ~ Rs.2000

Funniest ~ Under Rs.500 (Whaaat?! I wish!)

Wowza! ~ Rs.6000-8000, Rs.7000 (I wish! ;p)

*Right price ~ Rs.950 (about $19.00)

Nobody guessed that exactly, so I decided to go for the amount closest to 950- which is 990.

Smitha guessed Rs.990, so she wins this contest. CONGRATS! You have an entry to my next Giveaway. I can't help thinking, "Why? Why didn't she just guess 950 instead of 990???!!" coz I wanted someone to hit the bull's eye so badly! =D

By the way, I bought them from my hometown- Shillong. 

Original price - Rs.1200-1300

I bargained - Rs.500 (Rule when haggling: Always cut the price in half)

I gradually took it up to Rs.800, but SA stuck to Rs.990, but in the end agreed to 950.

I would have paid upto Rs.2500 for them but still, I like to win when bargaining. Don't we all? 

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Studded Suede Booties: Guess The Price!

Let's play a Guessing Game! I show you my new pair of nude suede booties with gold studs, and you guess how much I paid for them.

I bought them recently. I bargained, SA stuck to his price, I left store hoping he'll budge and call me to come back (an age old tactic), he DIDN'T (basta....!), I went back in a few minutes to take the shoes and pay his price.

Me: Khush? (Happy?)

SA:  Haan, bahut khush *grins* (Yes, very happy)

Oh he knew he had all the power and that I was gonna go back for them anyways. Actually, I knew it too haha! Damn these small feet!

If you guess right:

You will automatically be entered in my next GIVEAWAY (non-sponsored)

RESULTS on Monday.

For now, how much??? :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Physicians Formula Cashmere Wear Ultra-Smoothing Bronzer

I don't know whether it was the cashmere design or the tassel that called out my name. I hear a bell ringing every time I look at that tassel. Ting....ting....ting.... C'mon, tell me you're not imagining pulling it! And shh... listen.....

DESCRIPTION:

Ultra-luxurious powder with the classic look and feel of cashmere leaves skin feeling smooth, soft and nourished. Pearlescent bronze and gold are delicately woven together to deliver a rich, warm glow.

Skin radiates with a youthful bronze glow that lasts all day. Hypoallergenic. Fragrance free. Oil-free. Non-comedogenic. Dermatologist approved.

Available in 2 shades: Light Bronzer & Bronzer (darker shade)

At Bourjois Event, New Launches & Haul

I told you about the Bourjois event the other day, and I did make it. It was a quick one, but I came home with new Bourjois products I have been wanting to try, so I was pretty psyched when I left.

I met Zahra, Bourjois' makeup artist, but the meeting lasted only for a few minutes because she wasn't feeling well and was jet-lagged. Hence, no photo of her.

Must-have Bourjois products according to her: Mascara, Eyeliners & Blush.

Enjoy the photos!

Outfit: Sorry, couldn't click properly. It was awkward with people staring and all. I just wore a casual black & off-white bandage dress and a black quarter-sleeve silk blazer. The blazer has a bow clasp there, but it keeps unclasping on its own. Must-fix-that. Black Vincci shoes, black little Accessorize bag.

Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Mascara

Lakme Nine To Five Kohl Ultimate Review

Q:  What is soft & very black like a kajal, but:

• is easier to use precisely,
• looks like eyeshadow when smudged,
• is waterproof,
• never gives raccoon eyes?

A:   "Lakme Kohl Ultimate", baby!

About Lakme Kohl Ultimate:

The Kohl Ultimate is a kohl, smudger and sharpener all in one stick. You can create the smoky look with ease by using the smudge tip to smudge the kohl line outwards!

Claims:

-  3-in-1 smooth kohl stick with smudger and sharpener

-  Moisturizing ceramides will smooth and soften the eye skin (Wth does that even mean? lol)

-  Smudge-proof and water-resistant

-  Ensures 8 hours of great looking eyes

-  Dermatologist approved

I heart Kohl Ultimate! It's does what it claims, I like the way it's packaged (very classy....and fun, like a toy), it is so soft & gentle on my eyes, it lasts all day- though you may need to reapply on the waterline.

Pro #1 ~ Somehow, when I wear this, my sensitive eyes, which are prone to redness, don't get red so easily. Maybe the Moisturising Ceramides prevent my eyes from drying.

Con #1 ~ The sharpener is quite tight and doesn't sharpen the pencil very neatly (refer to pic above), thought it didn't break the tip or anything like that.

About the smudge tip: It is a cool addition. It's made of rubber and has it's very own transparent cap. How it's shaped was well thought of, because I can hold it at any angle and it'll never feel uncomfortable or awkward while smudging.

Bourjois Event In Delhi & New Launches

Hey you Bourjois fans,

Zahra, Bourjois Intenational Makeup Artist, is coming next week to Noida on 8th Nov'11. She will be meeting people and will also be giving them tips & makeovers!

Bourjois has 2 new products that they would like to highlight with an in store launch with Zahra. The new Fast and Perfect Mascara (with a rotating brush) and the Intense Pot Eye Shadows.

Bourjois Fast and Perfect Mascara, Black ~ Innovative new mascara! The new auto rotating brush instantly and evenly wraps around each lash for a false lash volume effect in 30 seconds flat* The brush rotates 360° and coats lashes from root to tip with no overloading guaranteed.

Inglot Matte Lip Pencils/Crayons ~ LOVE!

We watched the thriller/horror movie "Choose" last night. Half-baked movie with a 'wth?' ending. But it got me thinking...

If, one day, a Powerful Force says to me, "Okay, here's the deal, Cynthia. You can either:

One: Get all the lipsticks in the world, but not Inglot Matte Lip Pencils- all your life.

Two: Get Inglot Matte Lip Pencils, but no other lipstick in the world- all your life.

Three: If you don't pick, no lipstick at all for you- ALL.YOUR. LIFE *evil grin*

Me : Wha...?

Powerful Force: You must CHOOSE. NOW! 5-4-3-2...."

Me : Two! I pick TWO! Why are you doing this to me?!!! You cruel....thing! =[ *imagines throwing a potato at its head*

Now can you imagine how much I love these Inglot Matte Lipstick Pencil/Crayons? ;D

Bourjois Flower Perfection Collection

Oh-my-gawd! Let me squeal for a minute here! 

Bourjois' newest collection- Flower Perfection - is the best thing I saw today. My jaw dropped on my keyboard. Will yours?

LOTD With The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil & Bronzing Powder

Winter is here, but I still can't get enough of my bronzers. My skin instantly looks healthier after I brush some bronzing powder on my cheeks. In fact, I'll need them more now when it's cold and I'll get paler. I thought it's about time I wrote about The Body Shop Honey Bronze products I bought in October. In the photos, the products don't show much but they don't in real life either. Both the Bronzing Powder and Shimmering Dry Oil products are very subtle. The Bronzing Powder could easily be called a 'Bronzer Faker'

Hope this animation works on your browser. If not, just click on it.

Face: Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer, MUFE HD Foundation #120, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot under eyes, MAC Studio Finish Concealer to conceal blemishes.

Cheeks + Face ~ TBS Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder under cheekbones, temples, chin & Shimmering Dry Oil on the cheekbones. I also applied the oil on the bridge of my nose, over my brows and on the center of my chin.

Lips ~ Silkygirl Moisure Gloss Lip Gloss in Barely Nude.

*Earrings ~ Forever 21 (shown here)

Makeup Is Art ~ The Best Makeup Book!

"Makeup is art. Every face is a blank canvas and every brush stroke creates something magical. Makeup enhances natural beauty but also builds confidence for everyday life. This book intends to inspire makeup artists, those wishing to enter this exciting career and those who want to experiment with, and develop, their makeup looks."

I have never read a makeup book like I would a novel. That was until I found 'Makeup is Art' By AOFM (Academy Of Freelance Makeup). I was blown away and fell in love with makeup all over again.

This is, by far, THE BEST makeup book I have ever bought. If you are a makeup artist or you are a fan of creative makeup, then this is THE book to buy. Everything you need to know about makeup is right here. It takes you through the A-Z of makeup- from Understanding Face Shapes to Makeup Textures to Natural Makeup to Editorial Makeup to Iconic Eras to Lighting to Body Art to Catwalk & Backstage to Tools & at the end, "How to get work in this competitive industry?"

I tried to find a flaw in this book, but I couldn't find any. The writers gave their 100% while creating it. The pictures are beyond awesome, the writing is to-the-point and very easy to imagine, and the tips & techniques shown could have only come from some of the most experienced & 'true' makeup artists. The one thing that makes this book different from other makeup books I have read is, it mentions & gives examples of the products used. They used high end/street brands (Chanel, MAC, Bobbi Brown) to drugstore brands (Maybelline, L'Oreal etc). It seems they love using Dermalogica for the skin.

Haul From VioletBag.com

When I came home, there were a lot of packages waiting for me (wheee....!!!) and this one from VioletBag.com was the BIGGEST box out of all, I couldn't wait to rip it open! VioletBag.com is an online store, based in India, which sells beauty & personal care products. 

About VioletBag.com:

• The website offers free shipping within India on all orders above Rs 250. All orders below the amount are charged shipping at a flat rate of Rs 50 per order.
• Delivers within 3-5 business days.
• Provides a tracking number.
• Payment options: 1). Credit Card – Visa, Mastercard, Diners Card. 2). Debit Card – All major debit cards. 3). Netbanking – Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, J & K Bank, Citibank, Federal Bank. 4). Cash Card – ITZ Cash. 5). Cash on Delivery (COD)
• Brands available ~ Pond's, Olay, Neutrogena, Nivea, Fabindia, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Lakme, and a lot of perfume brands. Complete list of brands HERE

Key + Crystal Pendant for $1.99 (Rs.98.00)

I've wanted a key pendant since forever, but I'm aiming for a Tiffany and nothing else. I was browsing Ebay and came across this cheap inexpensive little thing. $1.99 + Free Shipping sounds too good to be true, no? Of course we had to purchase it. Tiffany will come in good time (hint hint!)

It reached within 2-3 weeks. Can't complain about customer service here, considering shipping is free.