The Dress That Came Back To Me..... [A Story Of Hope]

This is not just a shopping story. It's a story of hope.

Last December, on Boxing Day (26th Dec), I saw this Butterfly Skater High Low Dress in Jane Norman, adored it, but Size 6 wasn't available. I went home and checked online, but nada. I wrote about it here, and was quite upset about it.

Since there's no Jane Norman store her in Dundee, I've sort of stopped browsing their website regularly. On the 23rd, a few days ago, Jane Norman posted in Facebook about their new revamped website. I went, instantly clicked on the SALE tab as usual, browsed, and saw this dress, again! Size 6 was available! I couldn't believe it! I added to cart immediately along with another black lace dress that was also on sale. But I removed the lace dress, because it didn't beat my River Island Lace Dress. Umm...nope, no regrets.

As I waited for the butterfly dress to be delivered, I felt unsure, anxious and paranoid. Maybe it's a technical/website mistake...maybe it's not really a Size 6...maybe it's a defective piece...maybe they mail back and say it's out of stock and they'll refund my money... maybe I only dreamt about my purchase and it didn't really happen, let me go check my email again...maybe... aargh! Seriously, yesterday I actually had a headache and felt a little feverish, and I took a Crocin.

It reached me finally, and it's perfect! It's just a little immodestly low, but it can be taken in at the shoulders. Other than that, it fits perfectly, and the high-low ratio is also perfect for my petite frame. 

Look at the pink tissue paper with hearts! ♥

The gold belt has no holes, so it can be adjusted freely

Price ~ £12 + £3.99 (shipping) = £14.79 (they also gave some discount on the total) | Rs.1346. [Original price was £40 | Rs.3642.]

I LOVE JANE NORMAN! ♥

Oh! I also found a cropped denim jacket that I'd been longing for. In the movie Safe Haven, Cobie Smulders (Robin from HIMYM) wore this jacket.....

I love everything about it. You don't see quarter sleeves on cropped denim jackets very often. I saw it on Jane Norman that same day.....

.... and I would've pounced, but it was only available in a Size 18. Next day, I checked again (why am I like this??!!), and that was also gone! I am still kicking myself that I didn't see it sooner! Sigh, it would have looked fab over this dress too, no?

Maybe someday.....Okay, I won't jinx it. But ya, if you see a denim jacket egg-jackly like that anywhere, please holler at me! 

[Yes, the print & fabric is the same as that top I wore here.]

♥

Moral Of This Story: If you want it bad enough, it will come to you. Most times, when you least expect it.

If you need more proof, go read my story from 2010- 'The Zara Dress That Waited For Me' here.

So, what do YOU want very badly right now? =)

LOTD/OOTD: Coral, Coral, Coral....

It was only meant to be a post about a coral lipstick, then one thing led to another. Next thing I knew, I was clicking selfies all over the house. We'll blame the shoes, coz it was the very first time I wore them! =)

Face ~ MAC Prep+Prime Fine Filler, Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, Maybelline Drem Lumi Touch Concealer under eyes, The Body Shop Loose Powder & Honey Bronzing Powder.

Cheeks ~ Topshop Neon Rose Cream Blush. Swatched here.

Eyes ~ Maybelline Color Tattoo On And On Bronze, Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, , Lakmé Kohl Ultimate, Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara, False Lashes. 

Lips ~ Maybelline color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral #910. Pics here. These lippies are really vivid, I've swatched another shade Hot Plum here

 

(Please excuse the blurriness & powder bits on the mirror =) )

Those shoes at the back! Casual & most-worn ones stay in the hallway.

I asked in people to guess which color I'm wearing on IVC Facebook Page, and so many guessed Coral! Kudos =)

♥

I hope this post answers a recent, rather amusing, comment.....

Don't worry, even when prego, I will still do outfit posts, haha! =D (I will waddle in a sundress and a floppy sun hat, with a lollipop in my hand.)

Coral Peplum Sequin Dress ~ Jane Norman. |  Sorbet Shoes: Primark. Shown here. | Bow Earrings ~ Forever 21. Shown here

P.S: I was gonna publish a video this week, but it's been delayed till next week!

J'Adore.... Oh, Lola! New Perfume & Parisian Cushion

Bonjour! J'Adore ze Oh,Lola! Oui, ze Marc Jacobs. Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir.

That's how I French it up when I'm alone. Oui! I look at myself in the mirror, and feel like a pro.

Anyways, 2 pretty things I'm j'adoring right now in one post..... 

Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! Sunsheer EDP(Limited Edition) ~ I went to check out Vera Wang Lovestruck, but ended up falling in love with this instead. The hard plastic deep berry flowers on Lovestruck put me off it. I don't know, they just looked tacky and un-Vera Wang-like. Oh,Lola! Sunsheer smells like raspberries, pears & vanilla- LOVE! Both bottle & scent are totally my type.  Price: £37.60 | Rs.3450 for 50ml from Escentual. 

Primark J'Adore Cushion ~  How pretty is this cushion?! I had to get it! Bed sheets & duvet covers are also available in that print, and I will go get them even though I have no idea how I'll pack them when I leave Scotland! But I must have them. Yes, mine!  Price: £4 | Rs.367. 

Have a good week! ♥

 

Haul: New Cleansing Oil, New Concealer, Etc.

Apologies for the after-midnight post to readers in India. I was cleaning the whole day today. Okay, mainly my makeup area and bathroom. It's special cleaning, because sometime next week somebody is coming to our apartment "For Inspection", so we want to make a good impression... hehe! 

I went to Superdrug to get only a replacement cleansing oil, but of course the inevitable happened.....

• L'Oreal Skin Perfection Cleansing Oil ~ My holygrail makeup remover, MAC Cleansing Cleanse Off Oil,  is finishing, so I decided I'd try this less expensive one. It has mineral oil, which MAC doesn't have, btw. Price: £5.32 | Rs.483 from Superdrug.[MAC Cleanse Off Oil Costs £19  | Rs.1724. Sigh]

• Bio Oil ~  I've been using my old one quite religiously, so only a few drops are. For those who have not heard of this famous oil, it's for stretch marks, scars, etc. Yes, it works! Price: £8.99  | Rs.815 for 60ml from Boots.

• Maybelline The Eraser Concealer in Nude ~ If you've been going through my wishlists, you'd know this used to be on one of them. It's an interesting concept with a spongy applicator tip that claims to erase dark circles & wrinkles. It's available in 2 shades- Light & Nude. Price: £7.99  | Rs.725 from Boots.

• Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner in Hollywood Red ~ Just a deep cool-toned red lip liner. Price: £3.99 | Rs.362 from Superdrug.

I will let you know how I find them in sometime. They will probably be mentioned in a monthly favorites posts. 

♥

Enjoy your weekend, all. It's so hot here in Scotland these days, it feels like Delhi's fall/spring season. Actually, it feels quite like Shillong (my hometown- Scotland Of The East)

Okay, now I'll go fry some mushrooms & eat lots. I know I've gained weight.... and.... AND....my shoes are fitting better! I guess I gotta eat my way to better shoes! =)

Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick Photos & Swatches ~ Rose xoxo, 123 Soliel, Famous Fuchsia

ULTRA SHINE, RADIANT COLOUR AND THE COMFORT OF A BALM.

A new generation formula that brings shine, colour and comfort to your lips.An ultra-shine result, thanks to a new  ¼ gloss extract for amazing shine-wrapped colour. The new sensuous formula gives ultimate comfort. Enriched with nourishing mango butter extracts, Shine Edition leaves lips moisturised for up to 10 hrs**.Its rich and melting formula provides cushion comfort and makes application addictive!And the icing on the cake…It’s shiny, coloured packaging makes Shine Edition lipstick a true fashion accessory!

These lipsticks do live up to all most of those claims. The formula really is as comfortable as a lip balm. It's like a lip tint topped up with a moisturizing lip balm. The finish is quite similar to the Revlon Just Kissable Bitten Balm Stains  and are are almost fragrance-free. I mean, there is a very faint  fruity scent (I think), like the Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons.

• Rose xoxo 24 ~ This is a rose pink shade with silver shimmer

• 1,2,3 Soleil 20 ~ Coral. It's so gorgeous!

• Famous Fuchsia 22 ~ Fuchsia.

 How weird that I got shades 20, 22, 24? Really, I didn't realize and I wasn't thinking "Even Numbers" =) 

Swatches ~ 24 Rose xoxo, 20 1,2,3 Soleil, 22 Famous Fuchsia

Price ~ £7.99  |  Rs.724 (each). 3 for 2 offer at Boots, so I paid for only 2.

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 5/5

These lipsticks really have the whole package. LOVE! 

I really want a shade called 'Oh My Doll' in minty green packaging, but I haven't seen it anywhere here...maybe it's not available in the UK?

Do tell me which shade you like the most out of these 3. It's important! ;) 

Life With & Without Face Powders ~ A Guide

How I Fell In Love With Powder:
I had this flatmate/friend in college. She had a dusky skin tone, and her skin was flawless! Smooth and spotless, albeit major dark circles around her eyes. She loved taking care of her skin. Even before brushing her teeth in the morning, she would make a paste of besan (gramflour) and grounded nuts to wash & exfoliate her face with. I'd never have the energy for such things that early. Her mom would send her these containers of powdered nuts mixed with other powdered stuff specially made for her skin. Read between the lines here. So this girl used to put on a Lakmé Compact Powder when she went out - the puraana (old) one that came in a green packaging - and her skin would look even more flawless! I could stare at her skin for hours. I was a simple eyeliner & lipstick gal then, and that's when I decided to try out powders.

And.... a perpetual habit was born.

I've never talked about powders before, so I thought I'd do it today. Below are some of the powders I have with me right now, and I'll just talk through them and let you know my favorite and the not-so-favorite kinds, for your reference:

Loose Powders:

• Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder ~ If you feel this powder, you'll fall in love instantly. It will haunt you, until you go back to the store to buy it. That's what happened to me in Kuala Lumpur. It makes skin feel like silk. It's white because it's meant to suit all skin tones. The reason why I don't use it much is because if you use too much, it'll definitely show patches of white, especially in photos. Let's not forget it's rumored to have caused a lot of makeup mishaps for many celebs

• NARS Loose Powder in Beach ~ It's a nice setting powder, but I wouldn't buy it again.

• The Body Shop Loose Face Powder in 01 ~ This is my 2nd container, so you can imagine how much I like it. I always seem to go back to it.

• I couldn't find my Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (pics here), which is a pretty good handbag compact

• Also, MAC Blot Powder (pics here), which I'd somewhat forgotten I have until now, this moment! =\

Compact Powders:

• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Sandstorm 004 ~ It's a nice inexpensive drugstore compact, but it's not as silky as I'd like it to be.

• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Medium ~ I like this one when I'm not wearing foundation, and I want a little bit of coverage.

• Lakmé Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Compact in Ivory Fair 01 ~ This is too yellow for my skin tone. It's also heavier than most of the compacts I've used. I was quite disappointed with it.

• Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Powder ~ This was from a Limited Edition collection. It's my current handbag compact powder. Just a translucent compact powder. More pics and swatch here

Compact 'Vs' Loose Powders ~ I personally prefer Loose Powders, because they feel lighter and look more natural over foundation. I only use compacts for touch-ups, when I'm out.

THE BEST Loose Powder I've Ever Used: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder. It costs around Rs.2600, and I get why it's won most beauty awards. It contains the finest French cashmere talc, hence very smooth and lightweight. A mini version came with the Undercover Pot that I have, and I've already used up the powder before the duo concealers. It's been on my wishlist for years.

Best Way To Apply Face Powders: I prefer using a fluffy powder brush when using both loose & compact powders, because I only want a thin veil to set my foundation. When I use a powder puff, I dust off excess with a brush- preferably a soft synthetic one, like the Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush.

Picking Powder Shades: My skin has a golden undertone, so I like using powders with some yellow in them, and I avoid pinkish-looking ones. I usually go for 'Translucent' (transparent) or natural beige shades. If you have a neutral skin tone, pick beige shades. You could always mix 2 powders, if you can't find the right match. Kryolan makes a yellow loose powder that suits most skin tones, and can be mixed with beige & tan powders.

Life Without Powders: One weekend at the in-laws, I noticed that I didn't pack my The Body Shop Loose Powder + I'd also switched handbags and left my makeup pouch where my compact was at home. I felt a very withdrawal symptom kind of feeling. Clean & Clear Oil Blotting Sheets to the rescue, thankfully.

If you don't want to wear foundation, but want your skin to look radiant and fresh, try powders and see the difference!

Hope you found this post helpful. Would love to know which powders you love.

Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Lipstick Pink Wink ~ Lipstick In A Cat!

There are many superstitions surrounding black cats. The most common one I grew up with was: It's bad luck when a black cat crosses your path, so you have to spit 3 times before you keep walking, otherwise something bad will happen.

I know, very stupid. But when you're a kid, and you see grown-ups spit, you spit! (Remember Joey and that actor in that World War I movie in Friends?)

Nowadays, I do see black cats crossing my path quite often. Do I spit 3 times? Of course not! I stopped believing in superstitions that require me to do unladylike things like that in public, and potentially mess up the lipstick I'm wearing.

That's why I had no qualms about bringing a certain black cat onto my vanity......

Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Lipstick ~ There are about 7 shades available, and I picked 02 Pink Wink, a coral pink shade. It's all about the cat, so I won't pretend I got it for the quality of lipstick, but I have to say it's pretty good. The formula is lightweight, sheer, balmy/moisturizing & easily wearable. It has a faint floral scent that doesn't really transfer to the the lips.

Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Lipstick Pink Wink 02 Swatch

Price ~ $7.98  |  Rs.474. FREE shipping.

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4/5

From ~ Ebay, from Korean seller HERE  (Just info, I'm not affiliated with this seller.)

What do you think about the packaging?  

Happy Colorful Lipstick Haul ~ YSL, Bourjois, Revlon

I wanted to end this week with a happy colorful blog post! These are some lippies that I hauled today and one of them some other day. I went to the market with only the YSL lipstick in mind, but I saw the Bourjois Shine Edition Lipsticks, which I'd been after for quite some time. Look! The colorful packaging is so cute! I had to get one of each color, but I didn't see the green/mint one.

• YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Pink In Paris #13 ~ I didn't like the original Rouge Volupte Lipstick because they were too creamy for my taste, but I adore the packaging. That's why I was happy to see a new sheerer formula. Pink In Paris! ♥

• Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Juicy Papaya ~ One of the new shades introduced. Juicy Papaya is peachier than Tutti Frutti, which is more orange.

• Revlon Super Lustrous Pink In The Afternoon ~  It was on sale at Superdrug.

• Bourjois Shine Edition 22 Famous Fuchsia ~ Pastel yellow packaging! ♥

• Bourjois Shine Edition 20 1,2,3 Soleil ~ Quirky name, gonna google what it means! Un, Dos, Tres Soleil!

• Bourjois Shine Edition 24 Rose xoxo ~ Cute name! xoxo.

Will post swatches of everything in the coming week(s) 

Have a happy colorful weekend! =)

[Sorry, this haul made me so enthu.]