Circular Insanity | A Shopaholic's Guide to Shoes, Beauty,Books and Reviews | Beauty Blog

Dove Intense Repair Shampoo and Conditioner Review

2013-05-16T23:40:00.000+05:30

Let me begin by saying, I am not a fan of Dove, specially the shampoo. I remember using a friend's bottle of Dove shampoo in the hostel which resulted in hair-fall and a lot of it! This incident is old but it is still fresh in my memory which is why I stayed away from Dove shampoos for a very long time.

I don't remember how I ended up getting the bottle of Intense Repair but I was in for a surprise!

This shampoo turned out to be great. I had been experiencing hair-fall which reduced remarkably and except for the shampoo, I had not altered any other thing in my routine. I was so very happy with the results that I went around singing praises for it at my work-place. Btw, every one who tried is happy with it, including some of the guys with a long mane.Now, I am not saying that this shampoo will change your life but given the amount of money involved, I think it is worth trying.

The conditioner, although, is an average affair. There is nothing special about the conditioner so, if you have something that is already working for you, just try the shampoo.

Price: 123 INR for 200 ml shampoo
64 INR for 90ml Conditioner

Verdict: Try the shampoo! Conditioner? We have seen better.

Btw, I have been busy writing assignments,just in case you were wondering.

Experience : The Four Fountain Spa

2013-05-08T12:37:00.001+05:30

I got an opportunity to visit one of the Four Fountains Spa in Pune. I had heard a lot of good things about the one in our area from a friend who went their for a facial and her face was glowing (I am one of those who don't notice differences so, take my word for it).Anyway, when I finally went their in middle of a extremely hot Saturday afternoon.

I was not sure which treatment I would like to try so, I asked the staff for some suggestions. I ended up trying their new Summer Splash therapy which uses Swedish massage technique using Aloe-Vera gel with Lime and Mint extracts(smelled great, btw).

They also suggest therapies based on your lifestyle, aches(if any) and stress levels. While waiting for them to prepare for the therapy, I noticed the reception had small wooden beads to massage your back and even the door handles were made of wooden rollers meant for massaging your hands.

After the therapy, they served green tea. While leaving, I was given a coupon for a free head massage if I came on a certain date for a therapy as well as a diet plan based on my lifestyle and a small tub of de-stressing gel. I have kept all of it very safely, so safe in fact that I need to now look for it.

However, I would like to have creamier body wash option after the treatment, just saying! On a more serious note, the whole range of therapies, facials, wraps are actually affordable. You can definitely treat yourself every once in a while!

Why Do You Need to Pay Extra For COD Orders?

2013-04-30T17:31:00.002+05:30

I didn't want all my research to go waste, hence the post. I was a huge fan of shopping online and to a certain extent, I still am! It is just easier to order a certain shade of a nail polish online than to go looking for it from mall to mall. I found my bottle Revlon's 410 Slipper online and I have not found another store/outlet which has it in stock. Oh and I also got free shipping so, it was cheaper than going around looking for it and wasting fuel (which, btw is very expensive in Pune thanks to Octroi and what not taxes).

Coming back to the point, websites are charging extra for COD because
a) People tend to return the COD orders a lot more
b) Courier companies take their own sweet time in handing the money over to the website in question
c)Courier companies charge extra for COD orders.

The reasons mentioned above are the major reasons and a lot of e-comm websites are start-ups so, they have cash flow issues when the courier companies don't pass on the money right away.

Hence, they expect you to pay extra for COD orders. Now, not all of them charge it because they have found a way to work around it. For example, Flipkart has its own delivery in major cities. However, not every site can afford to employ a large work-force to make deliveries.

You do have the choice of paying before hand but there are people like my brother who think it is a needless chore to make a payment online. I think he will stop reading the day Flipkart stops COD. There is obviously the risk of a payment failing or the order not being fulfilled properly but you can always ask for a refund. It is a hassle but then you return/exchange things that you buy from stores too!

Another alternative would be to order the things that are available on huge discount or are really hard to find so, you can justify the whole deal.

Enliven Coconut and Vanilla Shower Gel Review

2013-04-14T23:27:00.000+05:30

Browsing shopping portals is such an important part of my routine that I actually feel something is amiss when I don't browse.I bought Enliven Coconut and Vanilla shower gel because it was just for INR 60. This is the only product that I have used from Enliven.
[I have realised, moving has become a new hobby. I feel like moving to x,y or z before I have even settled in!Weird, huh?]

My Experience:
Well, the shower gel smells of coconut and even if there was any smell of vanilla, I couldn't make out! Considering the price, I think the shower gel fared well. It doesn't make the skin dry and lathers well too. The smell of coconut might not be liked by everyone but the bottle is a convenient size to carry while travelling.

Price: INR 60 for 100ml bottle

Pros:

Affordable
Flip top cap
Lathers well

Cons:

Not easily available
Contains SLS

My Verdict: Convenient size, packaging and price. You can definitely try it if you like coconut's fragrance.

Beige Ballet Flats

2013-03-26T01:42:00.000+05:30

When my shoes from Catwalk gave up on me a lil' too quickly (considering they were worth 1395 or 1495 INR), I went in search of cheap flats which I could wear to work. Yes, there are people who dress up very nicely for work but I feel no such thing, hence, the search.

Anyway, I bought the shoes pictured above for INR 300 from MG Road, Pune and another black variant for the same price. The black one lasted for some 2-3 months which is just right for the price. Whaddya think?

Also, I cannot seem to find my (relatively) new and fabulous camera from Sony and lost items drive me crazy. Please pray that I find it.

Google Reader Alternatives

2013-03-19T13:00:00.002+05:30

Those of you who just asked, "What's that?"; this post is not for you. Those of you who are already moaning the discontinuation of Google Reader, please find a list of services that you can switch too.

Here's a list of (free) services and sites that you can use instead of Google Reader and the most of them will offer you :

NetVibes- It even has a Google-like interface.

Feedly- Takes a bit of getting used to but it has mobile apps too!( Click here to learn more about migration from Google Reader)

Bloglovin'- They already have a tool in place to import the feeds from Google Reader (Click Here)

Oh! They also tell you the number of people who are following you.

You an also subscribe to the email updates but getting too many emails in a day is not exactly an ideal situation.

L'Oreal Paris Femina Women Awards 2013

2013-03-18T16:59:00.001+05:30

I have almost disappeared thanks to the various ruts I have got myself into. I don't really understand how people exist peacefully because I just move from one rut to another. Now, coming back to the topic!

The L’Oréal Paris-Femina Women Awards is all about felicitating women who have made a difference. Women who have stood up for a cause that’s closer to their hearts; whose efforts have brought smiles on faces of many, and who have helped others lead a better life. The list of nominees includes women who have excelled in their fields, stood by what they believed in and helped the society in general.
The aim of the L’Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards is to honour these women.

They have three categories in the L’Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards. They are as follows:
· Readers’ Choice
· Editor’s Choice
· Jury
Honouring women with extraordinary accomplishments, outstanding leadership qualities and exceptional commitment to their careers and communities; the L’Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards will have 17 categories including science, business and entrepreneurship, sports, art, education, television, and music, among others.
What’s special about this year’s awards?
This year L'Oréal Paris is going a step further and will not only felicitate these remarkable women but will also provide grants to the winners of four categories that will be voted for by the readers and fans of L'Oréal Paris and Femina.
There are four categories under Readers’ Choice awards. They are as follows:
a) Favourite Face of a Cause
b) Science and Innovation
c) Online Influencer
d) Social Impact

To vote for your favourite nominee under the Readers’ Category click here: http://bit.ly/VoteForReadersChoice

To know more about our nominees visit our application here: http://bit.ly/LOrealParisFeminaWomenAwards

Orly Cosmic FX - Space Cadet Swatches

2013-03-03T12:14:00.000+05:30

After admiring hundreds of pictures of Orly's Space Cadet, I really wanted one of my own but it was sold out everywhere!!! I made a friend of mine check a lot of stores for this one polish [surprisingly, she is still a friend, even after the ordeal.]. Anyway, I finally located one bottle online and here it is!

About Orly Space Cadet:
The polish is supposed to have a very strong duo-chrome effect but it is on the sheer side so, I decided to layer it over a black creme. You can obviously build the layers but that's just wasting a perfectly gorgeous polish, in my opinion. You can afford the luxury of using Space cadet on its own only if you stay where it is easily available.

Layers of Polish Required:
On its own: 3 or 4 depending on the thickness of your layers.
Over a Black Creme: Just one!!

Note: You seriously need polishes like these in your life. I have spent a lot of time admiring how it looks under the lights in my office which also means, no work was done.

New Suede Boots

2013-02-24T22:25:00.000+05:30

I have been cutting down my shopping in general and shoe-shopping in particular. I have even started working on one shoe at a time so when I eventually have to move, I know which shoe I can leave behind but the decision is still tough. Anyway, I don't exactly remember when I bought these but they were on discount and I don't have any pair which is quite like these.

My Acne Story Part III - Making the Dermatologists Richer

2013-02-16T12:56:00.002+05:30

Once I realised that my acne is not going to go away by itself, I had to consult a dermatologist. Along the way, I have changed many doctors for one reason on another before I finally found a doctor who had a prescription which worked.

While I was spending my time trying different doctors and trying to see which one of them actually works, I couldn't stop going out or living in general. I have never allowed the way I look affect my opinion about myself (which has always been high, by the way!). I am not saying that acne didn't bother me but it is not a big enough issue to put your entire life on hold. People have come up to me with suggestions like, " Why don't you go to a doctor?" or "You should do something about this!". Well, I felt like screaming,"What else do you think I am doing?" [However, this was usually followed by few adjectives which are very guess-able.] You cannot get rid of such people so, the only choice is to ignore them.

Now, let us continue with the list of things that I have tried-

Acnoff Bar/Soap- This soap had tea tree oil in it and it did turn out to be very effective in controlling oil. I must have finished a lot of bars. I have tried other acne bars too but this one stood out. I even got compliments about how my face looked clear-er. This soap again made me obsessed about procuring tea tree oil in pre-e-commerce era.
(Composition-Allantoin B.P ,Vitamin E Acetate I.P, Titanium Dioxide I.P ,Tea Tree Oil B.P)
Adit Cream- This has been one of the most effective ointment that my dermatologist prescribed. He did tell me it would cause peeling [which would reduce the the resemblance of my skin to moon's surface]. I had to deal with a bunch of people who would tell me how my nose was peeling and how I should use a moisturiser [ few expletives later, they stopped]. I just had to apply the cream once before going to bed. However, my skin became extremely sensitive to sun light during my treatment and it still disliked sun very much.[I pretty much turn the shade of tomato if I am out in the sun for long i.e. more than 5 minutes].
(Composition- Tretinoin)
Benzoyl Peroxide- Have you seen those ads of Proactiv? I had seen those too but what caught my attention more was Benzoyl Peroxide. I started looking for some cream which would have Benzoyl Peroxide and Google only told me names of brands which were not available in India. I had pretty much given up when I came across Benzac AC. It comes in concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10. I started with 2.5 and more research led me to believe it is considered the safest bet as it is not too strong but still works on your acne. My skin became even more sensitive to sun when I was using Benzac AC and I just could not stand in sun without feeling that my face had been lit, almost. You need to follow this with moisturiser too otherwise skin becomes very dry. Benzoyl Peroxide definitely works.

I have spent a substantial amount of time visiting different dermatologists and you just have to keep on changing doctors until you find somebody who prescribes the medicines which work on you. Usually, it helps if you go to a doctor who is considered good by everyone.

Read Acne Story Part I, Acne Story Part II

* What worked for me might or might not work for you. There are some home-remedies that I have mentioned, please feel free to try those but as far as medicines and ointments are concerned (when they are not the Over the Counter kind), it is always better to consult a doctor.

Eye Am Falling in Love - Limited Edition Colossal Kajal From Maybelline New York

2013-02-13T12:12:00.001+05:30

Maybelline New York asked its fans to show their creativity. With over 150+ entries received, the Limited Edition Valentine’s Day Colossal Kajal is now all ready, and waiting to be bought by millions of girls in India!

It's Black. It's Bold. It's Smudge free and guess what? It's now available at select Maybelline New York counters!

This Valentine's Day, EYE AM falling in love! Get yours today!

Maybelline Colossal Kajal (Official Website)

Some Great Pictures - Because I'm Bored

2013-01-29T11:52:00.003+05:30

I cyber-roam from office when I am bored [as much as cyberoam lets me roam]. My new found pass-time is checking out the pictures people share on Facebook pages. Here are some pretty ones I found on road trips.
[Do feel free to sponsor a trip if you are feeling generous;-) ]

Japan's Kawachi Fuji Gardens

A 200 million-year old sandstone half-pipe deep in the southwest.

This looks pretty animated for a rock! [Get it? Get it?] [Ahem! Yes, I am that bored]

A lush tree tunnel in Rivne, Ukraine

Grand Prismatic Spring

*Don't own any of the images.

Darling Diva Polish in Unbridled Avarice

2013-01-17T12:12:00.000+05:30

People at my work place think I am some nail genius who comes with unique ideas all the time. In
reality, I have just been layering polishes and nothing else. Unbridled Avarice (Hence forth will
be called UA)is a multi-coloured-holographic-glitter but it is major-ly purple(My favourite shade!).

About the Polish & My Experience:
UA is another creation of Darling Diva Polish and I just wonder how she(the creator) comes up with
such mind-blowing combinations!!

I considered building up UA up on its own and 4 coats or so would have done that but it would mean
using up so much of the gorgeous polish at one go! Hence, I resorted to my miserly means and
painted just a coat of UA on top of Kleancolor 167 Metallic Purple and as you can see, they are a match made in heaven.

BTW, Unbridled Avarice means uncontrollable greed for wealth (which can then be used in polish-buying, I am just saying.).

The picture below is the only picture in daylight/natural light rest of the pictures have been taken in artificial light or with a flash..

Price: USD 8 for 15ml of purple-holo-ey goodness(You can buy it here)

I wanted to try wearing UA on other colours too, specially green but that's for another time.

My Acne Story Part II - Some More Hits and Misses

2013-01-16T18:29:00.002+05:30

I have this weird habit....when I am talking to people, at times, my mind is involved in a different conversation altogether. Hence, I come up with pieces of info and facts that very few or nobody cares about. Hmmm some waste of talent, I say! Anyway, in the previous post I mentioned some of the weird and not so weird suggestions I received from people. I have a history of doing research about everything....you know somebody who would Google 'Google'. I came across some more treatments and home remedies and I was game for anything so, I went on to try as many as I could.

Tea Tree Oil - This is the messiah of acne treatment. I first came across Tea Tree Oil in a magazine and it mentioned a certain tree grown in Australia and I thought,"Damn! Why don't we have anybody in Australia?". The magazine people were nice enough to mention a place in Delhi where you could buy it but I didn't bother to go around looking for it. After a few years, I tried using Tea Tree Oil from an Indian brand. The essential oil was effective in getting rid of a few zits but again, nothing permanent. I wanted the zits to go away and not come back, ever. Another worry was getting rid of the scars but I will get to that issue a little later.
So, in order to achieve a permanent answer to my acne problem, I did more Google-ing and I realized that people swear by Tea Tree Oil from Thursday Plantation. If you can find it, do try it.
In India, Aroma Magic, L'Occitane and Soulflower offer Tea Tree Oil. Please don't use any essential oil on your skin without diluting it with a carrier oil.You can also add a few drops in your cream or face pack.
Lavender Oil -My research about getting rid of acne scars or any scar in general led me to Lavender essential Oil. In fact, I wrote a detailed post on the various uses of Lavender oil which you can read HERE. (I wrote this post when I was pretty much the only one who read my blog :-P)
Wash Your Face A Lot - Didn't help, at all. You see, the oil glands produced more and more oil to compensate for the loss. However, you can splash water few times a day and not use any face wash or cleanser.
Clindamycin and Clindamycin A - My dermatologist gave me both of these. Before he prescribed these ointments, a girl had told me about Clindamycin but I would suggest not trying out such drugs and ointments on your own! In my case, Clindamycin didn't suit me at all and I started getting more red spots on face and they did go away when I stopped using Clindamycin. However, Clindamycin A was a totally different story as it did clear up my skin but there was minor peeling of skin(Doctor had warned me about that). So, even though I went around looking like somebody who had not seen moisturiser or cream in life...ever, the acne was clearing up.

I will write about more things in my next post. After all, I have spent years with acne which means I have tried a lot of things and not a lot of things worked otherwise I wouldn't have to live with it for years.

Read Acne Story Part I, Acne Story Part III
* What worked for me might or might not work for you. There are some home-remedies that I have mentioned, please feel free to try those but as far as medicines and ointments are concerned (when they are not the Over the Counter kind), it is always better to consult a doctor.

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola - Review

2013-01-12T23:22:00.002+05:30

I am back to my old ways, which basically means movies over the weekend regardless of which movie is it!
There has not been any hyped release for past few weeks although, I was very surprised by Table No.21. The movie actually had a script and a good one at that! Table No. 21 is the only movie I have seen after reading reviews that didn't make me want to murder the review-er.

Coming back to Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, the movie is a rustic comedy but if you find it comic depends solely on 'what' you find funny.

The movie is about Matru(Imran Khan) who happens to be a JNU (ask any Delhi-wallah if you don't know what JNU is) graduate who works for Harry Mandola(Pankaj Kapur) and has grown up with his daughter Bijlee (Anushka Sharma). Bijlee will soon be getting married to Chaudhari Devi(Shabana Azmi)'s son mainly for the 'business opportunities' it will bring.

Pankaj Kapur as a guy who is nice when drunk and means all business when sober and Shabana Azmi with her political ambitions in the story over-shadowed everybody else. Other than that, I don't feel like making fun of anything today. No wait! I forgot mentioning the absolutely awesome work that pink buffalo did ;-)

Go watch it unless your kind of funny is Rowdy Rathore- funny. Although, it is nothing life-altering.

My Rating: 3.7/5

Kleancolors 167 Metallic Purple Swatch

2013-01-11T11:00:00.000+05:30

Last year, I had ordered a whole bunch of polishes and a friend of mine had brought them along while coming down to India. I actually asked her to not bring her any clothes if the space for polishes needs to be compromised upon as I could easily lend her clothes (Disregarding the height and the size difference but then again, I could have just taken her shopping).

Anyway, I have just used only few polishes from that stash. I have already reviewed Orly Gumdrop and I got 5-6 Kleancolor metallic polishes as they stamp nicely(or so I have heard).

Kleancolor Metallic Purple:
The polish has a really nice consistency. The second coat was not really required but I still applied it because it lasts longer.
The images you see are without any top coat and it still looks very metallic(for lack of a better word). The colour is darker and richer than it appears in pictures.

Daylight.

Price: USD 3.49 for 15ml but you can get them cheaper on-line.

Smell: Some people find the smell pungent but I'd say it smells like a polish, nothing more or maybe my nose is just blocked!

With flash.

Kiss Your Elbow Polish - Candyman

2013-01-05T11:30:00.000+05:30

I have a habit of obsessing about things and one of my most long lived obsession is polishes. I fell in love with Candyman the moment I saw it and you know, we never looked back! ;) You definitely have to admire the cute bow.

Candyman is a multi-coloured chunky glitter of various shapes and it will make every polish look interesting. You can definitely use the polish on its own but I prefer layering it over some colour which makes it pop.

I wore it over Viviana Snow White for Christmas and it looked very apt and I cannot begin to tell you how many compliments I received. (Noteworthy- Some were from guys.). This polish also makes it look like birthday...don't ask why.

Price: USD 8.50 for a 15ml bottle. (You can buy it Here)

Below: 1 coat of Candyman over Viviana Snow White

Kiss Your Elbow Polishes are made by Cassidy who happens to be one very sweet lady. She has her own Etsy shop and all her polishes are obviously hand-made. All Kiss Your Elbow polishes are 3-Free. Check their Facebook page.

Below: Candyman over Maybelline Turquoise Lagoon

With Flash

What's with the name?
Well, it is a quote from Breakfast at Tiffany's as far as I know.

*Sent with love. You cannot deny the beauty though!

My Acne Story: Things I've Learnt Along The Way

2012-12-22T11:26:00.000+05:30

I don't remember 'when' acne started but I do remember how it just wouldn't go away. Initially, there just zits on my forehead then those just shifted to various locations on my face. It has been about a decade, I think and I have finally found something which works!

Since, this has been a very long journey, I will try to cover everything I remember but it is not going to be very organized.Also, I am no doctor but an engineer who liked biology and who has done extensive research on why her acne won't go away!

Some of the Suggestions I got : (Some were really stupid and to make the matters worse, I couldn't say it to their face.)

Try using Talcum/Prickly Heat Powders: This would have still made sense if they would have suggested using it on my back or neck; but no, they thought it would work on my face. If it just made sense to you, please don't do it to yourself. Apart from the fact that skin on your face is pretty sensitive, powder will only clog your pores and make you look ghost-white.
You should stop eating junk: For every person who eats junk and has bad/ acne-prone skin, I can show you 10 people who eat a lot more of junk and their skin is absolutely fine. I am not advocating unhealthy eating, I am just saying you cannot go around blaming the food for acne. I am a vegetarian who would rather eat spinach in salad than cooked and I still have been living with acne for a decade. In fact, I eat food outside a lot more than ever before but the acne has reduced. Eating healthy would definitely help your skin but if you think your acne is only related to your food habit, you are mistaken.
Your digestion is not good/proper: Once, I swallowed a lot of very hot tea and it scalded the insides of my mouth. I kept on insisting that it must have been the tea but I was told it has to be the digestion causing problem. Before this incident, I did feel maybe there is something wrong with the digestion but afterwards, I just couldn't get the faith back. Although, if you do have some problem related to the digestive system then do something about it but you're the best judge of that and not people around you. BTW, I do know a girl who has some problems, but the stomach troubles usually cause ulcers in her mouth than acne/pimple on her face.

Some Home Remedies:

Nutmeg: You just have to make a smooth paste of nutmeg and water and apply it on the affected areas. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and wash it off. This will improve your complexion and reduce pimples. So, did it work? Not for me but I have heard quite a few success stories so, if you are trying to avoid doctors;try this.
Baking Soda: Just mix a bit of baking soda with water and apply it on the zit, leave it overnight. Depending on the size of the pimple, this mixture will reduce the size or zap it altogether. Did it work? It did but this is not a permanent cure. This is something for people who get an occasional pimple/zit/boil.
Orange Peel: Grind dried orange peel and mix with water and a bit of lemon. Leave it until the paste is dry and wash it off with water. Did it work? This did improve the overall condition of my skin. I started getting lesser zits but it is a very slow process. Again, I know people who swear by this remedy.Lemon will make it sting a bit so, don't add too much of it, okay?

I have tried more home remedies, ointments and my various visits to different doctors has increased my knowledge of ointments/gels/creams. I will write about some of those in next instalment.

Read Read Acne Story Part II, Acne Story Part III

* What worked for me might work for you or might not. There are some home-remedies that I have mentioned, please feel free to try those but as far as medicines and ointments are concerned (when they are not the Over the Counter kind), it is always better to consult a doctor.

Darling Diva Polish - Electric Sex- Swatches

2012-12-18T11:30:00.000+05:30

Electric Sex from Darling Diva Polish is such a ...such a...such a gorgeous polish. I have been trying to click its picture for some good two hours and no picture does enough justice to it.

About Darling Diva Polish:
Darling Diva Polishes are creations of Carrie. She makes these gorgeous polishes which are actually affordable (If you know anything about the prices which go around for a bottle of polish in the polish circuit, you would know exactly what I am talking about the moment you check out her shop!) These polishes retail from her Etsy store. (Click HERE to check out Darling Diva Polish's store)

About Electric Sex:
Electric Sex is a black jelly which is full of gold and holographic hexagonal and bar glitter. Every time you move your hand, you see a different combination of holo-ey goodness. I have clicked pictures of Electric Sex over a black creme and on its own.

Application: The polish goes on to your nail very smoothly. It is so very full of glitter that you won't find yourself fishing for glitter!

Electric Sex - On its own- 3 coats- No top Coat

Number of coats required?
If you want to use the polish on its own, you will need 3 layers.
Over a another polish? You just need one coat of this holo-ey glitter-y goodness. [ I prefer using it over another polish because I believe in sustainable living, ya know? ;) ]

Price: USD 8 for 15ml

I had to make collage because there were so many images and I still feel none of these does enough justice to the polish.

Over black creme- Natural Light-No Flash- 1 coat of Electric Sex- Please ignore the dry cuticles?

On its own - With flash.

*Sample but my opinion is honest. I make it a point to test every product before writing a review.

Circular Insanity and Uniqso Christmas Giveaway!

2012-12-14T20:50:00.000+05:30

I recently reviewed peel-able water-based nail polish from AQmore and lot of people wanted me to take away my polishes. I feel this giveaway is a better idea! What's more? You get to decide the prize.

Uniqso is going to let the winner choose the prize. You can pick:

Circle Lenses and Eyelashes

A Nail Polish and A Top Coat

Giveaway Open Internationally and For Everyone!!

AQmore Peelable Water Based Nail Polish - Paris Review

2012-12-04T17:11:00.000+05:30

I have a habit of google-ing everything. One fine day, I read something about water based nail polishes and I have been looking for them ever since. I found a whole range of water based nail polishes from AQmore on Uniqso. They even have glitters!!!

About AQmore Nail Polishes:

AQmore water based nail polish uses the most natural ingredients, with water as the most primitive elements. It is made of 50% of the water, where it not only protects your nails, but also the environment. It is highly recommended for users who concern about their health. It contains no chemicals.

My Experience:
I was not exactly sure how the polish would turn out to be since it is water based but it was so very nice! It was smooth and turned opaque in just 2 coats. I did not feel that polish was any different from the usual kind but it didn't smell pungent. It did have a distinct smell which I could not quite place.

So, How Do You Take The Polish Off?
Since it is water based and peel-able, you just dip your nails in warm water and after soaking it for some time (say 20-30 minutes), you will be able to peel the polish.

Will it Come Off If I Take a Hot Bath?
No, unless you keep your nails immersed in hot water.

What If I Wash Dishes/Clothes?
If you use warm water, it will start peeling off but you can wear gloves. Cold water doesn't make a difference to the polish.

How Long Did it Last?
It didn't start chipping in a day or two, if that's what you're asking. It has a lasting power same as that of a normal polish.

Price?
$9.90 to 8ml

Any Negatives?
Limited choices available otherwise there is nothing that I feel is wrong with this product.

My Rating: 10/10

*Sample but my opinion is honest. I make it a point to test every product before writing a review.

Two to Tango Three to Jive and More at Hyatt Regency Pune

2012-12-02T12:00:00.000+05:30

I got an invitation to see the play, "Two to Tango Three to Jive" by Saurabh Shukla and considering how good an actor he is, I just had to go and see it. The play was about mid-life crisis of Parminder Singh Sethi who is unable to get quality time with his wife Pammi because of responsibilities and tries finding solace in the company of three ladies ( a client at his restaurant, a stranger whom he meets at the park and his wife's best friend). I personally liked the second half of the play better which had Parminder and his wife's best friend arguing over the life in general and their married lives ; it was wittier and stronger than the first. There was a skit before the play about keeping your mobile phone switched off and it was hilarious!

Now, Hyatt Regency had hosted the event in association with Standard Chartered and somebody from the

bank to introduce the Stan C. He said," Standard Chartered has been banking in India for past 150 years". Well....I didn't even know we had banking FOR past 150 years ( Saurabh Shukla later said the same thing).

The cast and the prize distribution.

There was a buffet after the play but as always, I glide through main course in order to move on to desserts.
They had awesome Baklava and had it not been crowded, I would have considered complimenting the Chef about it! I wanted to include images of dessert but I have been told if I include anymore photographs of desserts, I will be blocked. So, this time, I took pictures of the cheese display. It was too very appealing to be ignored. However, if it makes you feel any better, I didn't taste any of it because I noticed it after I had stuffed myself of Baklavas.

There was a sponsored lucky draw as well and because I had noticed a Merc downstairs, I assumed they were giving away the car but the prize was chauffeur driven Merc for the weekend.(The chauffeur to ensure that the car comes back, you know ;) )

Salad never looked this nice!

Some Great Deals: Pizza Hut, US Pizza, Bags and More

2012-12-01T13:24:00.001+05:30

I was browsing some sites and I found some really good deals, I thought I might just share them with you!

ONLY Rs.69 for a 6” Pizza, Garlic Bread and a Pepsi at Pizza Hut! Valid at 7 Outlets across Pune!

25% off on all Clothing Brands (30th Nov to 2nd Dec)

Up to 60% off on Tommy Hilfiger Watches

Rs.49 to get a Flat 40% Discount on a Minimum Bill of Rs.500 at U.S. Pizza! Valid at 80 Outlets across India!

Rs.399 for a Handy and Unique Handbag Organizer

Rs.499 for a Laurels Original Veteran Corporate Collection Men's Watch available in 2 Designs!(2 days left)

Some Cyber Monday Sale Links

2012-11-26T01:28:00.002+05:30

Hello Everyone! I have been sort of busy looking for a place to live so I am just posting about the few Cyber Monday links that I found. The following links have a lot of deals listed ranging from HP to Laura Mercier to Levi's.

Cyber Monday (This one has different categories like electronics, beauty, books, etc)

Beauty Related (Avon, Laura Mercier, Clinique, Lancome, etc)

Fat Wallet (Levi's, Dell, Lenovo, TBS,HP,Kohl's, etc)

If you know any more deals, do write in the comments about it!

Allen Solly Winter Dress Fest and Some Suggestions!

2012-11-26T01:02:00.001+05:30

The Allen Solly Dress Fest is currently going on and I consider it my duty to visit the store and give you my (very precious) opinion! In order to win an opportunity to feature in Elle magazine, all you have to do is buy a dress from Allen Solly and get your picture clicked in the store. OH! and you do have to upload it on Facebook. (Read the FAQs).

Click on the images to view the larger version.

I went to the store and the first thing that caught my attention were the bags from their collection. They had a satchel in black which is kind of hidden behind the belts in the picture above. Very basic but you can club it with so many things!

This dress in lace was available in both white and black but I think it looks more delicate in white. You can wear this with a blazer and kitten heels if you want to make it look formal. I'd say black heels and blazer? What do you think?

In the two dresses pictured below, I liked the first one mainly because it had pockets and the stretchable waist. One downside? If you have a tiny waist(lucky you!), the waist won't cling to you like it should. The second dress, (also pictured above) is something I would definitely buy for the winter. It is warm (I don't exactly remember the material but it has some percentage of wool in it), with full-sleeves and it comes with a belt! The first thing that came to my mind was....it would look really nice with a belt and then I noticed, it did come with a matching belt. In case you are not to fond of tie-around belt, you can also pair it with a leather belt and boots!!

1.Black in satin/silk sort of material.

There are colourful stoles on display which are for 1299 each. I would really like to have the yellow, orange and lavender one and the navy blue clutch too and while you are at it, I would also like to have the blue and brown handbag, mainly because I don't have anything like it?

Allen Solly now also has shoes but the outlet at SGS mall, Pune had not received them, well, maybe next time.

There was also a pleated dark pink dress with a thin black belt but because of the lights in store, I couldn't capture its actual colour but if you plan to enter the contest, do take a look at that!

Allen Solly Winter Dress Fest- 17th November 2012 to 2nd December 2012