Retro OOTD

Something you don't know about me, my heart is old. I'm fascinated with 'Olden Times' & 'Vintage'. I like everything black & white, I listen to Madonna almost everyday - Holiday, Vogue, Like A Prayer, Get Together, Get Into The Groove, Papa Don't Preach. When I listen to these songs, I feel....Alive, simply put. I truly feel I will fit better in the 60's- wear long gloves to the airport, wear red lipstick everyday, bake pies, wait desperately for my soldier husband....and maybe be like one of the women in Mad Men. Oh, and I really really want one of those vintage tring-tring telephones, for some reason.

That's why this Retro OOTD was at the top of my to-do list. 

L'Oreal L'Or Electric Collection Photos & Swatches + GIVEAWAY (India Only)

I'm very excited to show you some products from the L'Oreal Paris L'Or Electric Collection for Cannes Film Festival 2012 , today. There are some very interesting products, and I'm already playing favorites. I will do a look with them sometime soon, hope you enjoy the photos & swatches for now....and if you're a reader living in India, do try your luck in the GIVEAWAY at the end! =)

The products came to me in this purple clutch =)

Look ~ REBEL

“Every woman is a rebel, and usually in wild revolt against herself.” ~ Oscar Wilde

FACE: 

• Lotus Herbals Muti-Function Sunblock SPF 70
• Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Airbrush Foundation
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer
• Benefit Matterial Girl Matte Finish Setting Powder

CHEEKS:

• The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder
• MAC Quite Cute Mineralize Blush Sakura

Easy Geometric/Half Moon Nails Tutorial

I know it's not exactly "half moon", coz I didn't have those rounded tapes. I'm no nail art expert, so I use the easiest methods to play with my nail polishes. This method is not the most original, as you may have seen it before, but I did it for the first time last night & decided to put up a tut. I could have used another better/cuter color combo but, I don't know, somehow I settled for these. 

What you will need:

• 2 shades of nail polish of your choice
• Sellotape
• Clear Top Coat 

Products I used:

• Inglot Nail Enamel #721- Matte pastel yellow
• Colorbar Apple Martini - Jade 
• Elle 18 Nail Pops #27- Clear (Brush too small, btw. No good.)
• Scotch Magic Tape - I cut it in half vertically.

What do you think? Have you tried this method before?

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Eyes Of the Day ~ Plum & Black Smokey

I realized I have not done any look since April! So today, I managed to do one...Yay! I melted in the heat a little while posing for my "photo shoot" in my balcony (where the good lighting is), but it was worth it. I wanted to talk about the eyes separately, so the other post won't get too long.

I used only 2 eyeshadows on the eyes: 

Lotus Herbals Multi-Function Sunblock SPF 70 ~ A Tinted Mosturizer? A BB Cream?

Looking for a sunblock? Especially if you're living in Delhi right now, you must be, or should. Sunblock is one product I find quite hard to buy. Most times, it's either too oily or too whitish or incompatible with my foundation. Enter Lotus Herbals Multi-Function Sunblock SPF 70. It is no ordinary sunblock! It is TINTED, PRESERVATIVE-FREE, OIL-FREE, made with CARROT & AVOCADO Extracts (I hear avocado does wonders for the skin)  & has SPF 70! 

Really, I had a hallelujah moment when I first used this. If you know my skin history, you'll understand why. It is a tinted non-sticky/non-sticky high SPF sunblock-cum-moisturizer. It is perfect for my oily/blemished/hyperpigmentation-prone skin.

Claims: 

A revolutionary, preservative - free, light weight formulation containing potent herbal extracts with 10 benefits:

• High UVA & UVB Protection
• Tan Prevention
• Prevention of brown spots & pigmentation
• Skin Lightening benefits
• Anti-wrinkle benefits
• Protection from freckles, sun spots & sun burn
• Anti-ageing properties
• Health prevention - helps prevent skin cancer
• Carrot & Avocado Extracts: healing properties that soften, smoothen and nourish skin
• Preservative free - Free from harmful preservatives like parabens, which may cause health problems like breast cancer.

May Favorites

Before we say goodbye to May, my favorite month, here are all the things I have been loving. Some everyday necessities, and some very random things:

WANTED: Green Tea Skin Care Products

I hate the taste of Green Tea, but I am obsessed with Green Tea Beauty Products! OBSESSED! Right now, I'm c-r-a-v-i-n-g Green Tea beauty products like a pregnant woman craves sour (or sweet) foods. Btw, did you know that when a pregnant woman doesn't get what she's craving, the baby will drool more? Yes, it's true. My pregnant relative didn't get the mutton she wanted to eat during pregnancy, and her baby was always unnaturally wet around the mouth area. Poor thing.

These days, I'm searching for Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea range, which I have used before, but I can't find them in my local supermarkets! I think I'm going a bit crazy....thinking 'Green Tea....Green Tea....'

Why Green Tea?

Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants & has anti-inflammatory properties which ward off wrinkles & acne. Studies show that it reduces sun damage & fights skin cancer. You can google for detailed explanations, but that's all I need to know.

*Most importantly: It smells nice & refreshing!

I know one brand - Ginvera, and it has a variety of Green Tea products. I saw them everyday at Watsons when I was in Kuala Lumpur last year. The brand is only available in Malaysia & some other Asian countries, I think. 

I have only used one products by the brand so far- Green Tea Intensive Whitening & Spot Corrector.....

I finished it. I remember it didn't visibly clear up any spots, but  it's a small tube. I'd buy it again.

Oh-My-Shoes! Nude, Aqua & Black Peep-Toe Pumps

I was at a shoe shop last week - after a long long time - and this is how it went (If my Hindi is bad, please excuse.) :

Me to Salesman: "Yeh sabse chhota size dikhao" (Show me the smallest size in this)

Salesman: "Madam, 34 sabse chhota hai" (Madam, 34 is smallest size)

Me: "Haan, dikhao!" (Yes, show me!) 

I try the 34 and it's still a little bit loose.

Me: "Bhaiya! Size 33 dikhao please", I made a pleading face...okay, desperate face. (Brother! (We call all salesmen 'brother' in India) show me size 33 please)

Salesman: "Madam, 33 nahin milta" (Madam, we don't keep size 33) 

Me: "Bhaiya, aagar 33 hain toh mein sab colors khareedoongi!"- with a dramatic hand gesture (Brother, if you have size 33, I will buy all the colors)

Salesman looked stunned for a 3 seconds, then he told me to sit down. He asked for some black spongy things from some boy, stuck them to the front & back of shoes (refer to pics), then told me to try them again. They fit! Opera 'aaahhh....' in my head.

Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection For Summer 2012

A place where alter egos are laid bare and naked flesh is a source of unashamed inspiration. In this delicate tipping point between intimacy and pleasurable detachment, we revel in the unknown; exploring the distance between pure Monogamous, gilded Faithful and uninhibited Swinger. Exposed nude tones, adorned with rich licks of gold, leave you gasping for more. Don’t restrain yourself. Unless, of course, you enjoy it. 

“Naked Strangers captures inner glows and depths. The deeply and darkly alluring exists alongside ethereal shimmering brilliance. We are complex and multifaceted whilst also being naked to the world.” ~ Alex Box, Illamasqua Creative Director.

“Naked Strangers represents everything about borderlines...the human edge between romance and permissive intimacy...a step beyond control, a step past the edge and a collection of gilded moments upon the tip of sensation. Beautiful nudes with metallic edge set amongst eclectic textures.” ~ David Horne, Illamasqua Director of Product Development.

Products:

Nail Varnish (£13.50)

Dress up your nails and explore your fantasies with our award-winning Nail Varnishes. Are you Monogamous (creamy flesh pink, matt finish), Faithful (coppered metal) or Swinger (glistening platinum gold)? Apply a lustful layer then answer our question. 

Lipglosses (£13.00)

Lick your lips then smooth on a rich layer of Intense Lipgloss in Stranger (platinum gold) for obscene levels of pigment. Alternatively, apply Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy (nude pink brown) on naked lips, to tease and tempt your lover. Or lovers… 

Blushers (£16.50)

Stark naked might mean no clothes, but who said anything about no make-up? Create a provocative flush that lasts all night with Powder Blusher in Naked Rose (neutral beige brown) and Cream Blusher in Zygomatic (naked pink brown).

The Naked Strangers collection is available from Thursday 31st May 2012 globally.  Illamasqua ships internationally.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Inglot 4 Eye Shadow Square Palette & Swatches

How have I never laid eyes on the Inglot 4 Square Eye Shadow Palette before? It is so damn cute! I feel like I'm holding some kind of gadget, like, one of those hand-held Tetris games....or Blackberry?

And....Why the heck did I buy the 5 Round Palette when the Squares are bigger & priced the same??!!

Anyways, it's only Squares from now onwards. This is my favorite palette I made at Inglot, I think. Though the colors together don't make much sense, they are all amazing! But they do wear better over an eyeshadow primer.

L'Oreal L'Or Electric Collection For Cannes International Film Festival 2012

This year the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival is being held from 16th May to the 27th May 2012. 2012 is especially significant to us as L’Oreal Paris is celebrating a 15 year partnership with the Film Festival as its official Make Up artiste. For the last 15 years, many talented makeup artistes of the Brand have created glamorous looks for a wide range of celebrities that have walked the red carpet. 

To celebrate this year's Festival, which has been dubbed “Cannes electric”, L’Oréal Paris will electrify the event with its new "L'Or" range of makeup, entitled "L’Or Electric". This collection has been specially created for the Cannes Film Festival, and will enable L'Oréal Paris' make-up artists to create the most daring and glamorous looks on the Croisette. Eyes, lips and nails will be full of bold colour. Celebrities will sport the Glam Team's inspired creations on the red carpet throughout the 12 days of the Festival.

This collection, which is all set to electrify the red carpet, has been inspired by the extravagance of the 80s: post-modernism, neon, Studio.54, day-glo, new wave and the beginnings of electronic music. Three Indian faces- Freida Pinto, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam A Kapoor, will sport this electrifying look on the red carpet. 

Old Colorbar Blushes- Discontinued?

I was at the Colorbar store at Select City Walk the other day, and was shocked to see none of those Rs.250/375 blushes. You know, like: Peachy Rose, Just Earth, Cinnabar, etc. At first, I thought they just revamped the packaging, but then I saw the different shade names. I asked the SA, and she told me:

"We don't have those anymore.", she grinned, like it's good news she's telling me.

Huh?

Have they replaced them with those new Cheekillusion blushes with the new packaging which are priced at Rs.575? The shades are not even similar to the original ones. There's this one shade 'Coral Pink' which is NOT like Peachy Rose.

The old blushes are 'Out Of Stock' in the online stores I checked at. Even in the website, they are only selling 3 shades of the old blushes.

If they really are discontinued, I can imagine how many loyal customers they will lose. I, for one, was thinking about buying a few Peachy Rose blushes for a giveaway....and I ain't buying Cheekillusion.

I see what Colorbar is trying to be (read: copy)- INGLOT.

Colorbar Lip Pots = Inglot Lip Paints
Colorbar Take Me I Am Lip Pencils, Rs.699 = Inglot Lip Crayons, Rs.680 (Yeah, right)


Keep in mind INGLOT products are Paraben-free & Cruelty-free.

But whatever. Copy whoever. I just feel they shouldn't chuck something that made them 'popular' in the first place.


Can somebody confirm this? In case I'm wrong, you can go pull the SA's hair for wrong/disturbing information.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*