MISSY IN THE MIRROR

Something different.. empties by the week!

2017-03-10T17:53:00.001-06:00

I have been on a huge product declutter/use up journey for the past few months. I have given away any products that I have multiples of (yes, I am a hoarder) or products that were new and unused but I wasn't interested in using. However, the honest truth is, a lot of what I have, I love and lovingly bought with hard earned money so I want to get my money's worth out of and use it. I have been concentrating on deluxe sizes and half used products to get them done and out of my life and so we have a lot of empties occurring very frequently. I don't want to store these for a month in wait of my next empties post and also, I want to talk about them in a timely way so that my thoughts on them are clear and my experience is recent. That's why I am doing an empties post so quickly after the last one.

I have finished -

a. Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (15 ml) - This was drying!! It's so strange that a hydrating mask could dry my skin but it did. Might work for oily folks but not for me.

b. No. 7 Softening Foot Balm (75 ml - full size) - This smelt nice, had a nice texture but did nothing for my feet. Glad to be done with it though.

c. Miranda May lipstick sample from Charlotte Tilbury (one use) - I love her lipsticks but so so pricey. This colour is really bright orangey pink, not for me.

d. Nuxe Gentle Exfoliating Gel (75 ml - full size) - This is such a rave reviewed product but I hated it as the exfoliating particles are massive and really abrasive but also too far and few in between. I ended up using it as a body scrub and am done with it. If you are looking for a good face exfoliator, my favourite of all time is the Vasanti Scrub.. so good.

e. Sample perfumes (8 ml in total) - None of these wowed me. However, the most disappointing was the La Rose by Maison Kurkdjian Paris. I love their Aqua Universalis perfume but I suppose I am not into rose fragrance so I was never going to love the La Rose. It smells exactly like an english rose in the garden. It's a true rose scent. Not for me.

f. Basic Earth Botanicals revive Body wash (30 ml) - This was nice but too liquidy so I ended up wasting product every time.

g. 3 shampoo and conditioner samples (30 ml in total) - They were all fine. I have good hair, so usually am fine with any shampoo or conditioner.

h. Philosophy Hide No More serum (2 ml) - This was a pleasant serum. No scent and a lovely texture. The 2 ml lasted me through 5 uses.

i. Foxes and Friends Bliss Butter (60 ml) - Came in my last Prospurly box (will review the next one). This was nice but smelled overwhelmingly of Cocoa Butter. So not my favourite. It was really thick too, but did moisturise well.

j. Chanel Glossimer lipgloss in 104 (full size) - I had finished about 80% of this product when it went gloopy on me. A reminder that I really need to finish my lip products. However, once I am done with all my glosses, I might buy this again. It's a beautiful iridescent pink. This empty brings my lip empties total to 5 for this year so far. Yippee!

That's all I have for now, hopefully I can finish more stuff next week. See ya.

Products that I have hit pan on..

2017-03-07T18:28:00.001-06:00

Another post about products that are nearly empty. I am on a project pan / using up kick with my makeup. I have a shopping addiction and over the last 4 years I have purchased a lot of makeup and skincare. Skincare, I use and get through quickly but makeup tends to hang around a lot, especially since I tend to only use makeup on weekdays and go makeup free on weekends.

But I have found that when I concentrate my use on a small collection of products I can use them up eventually. If you like seeing products being used up then you will love this post. I have hit pan on several products that I am hoping to finish by summer this year. I love all of them (obviously) as I tend to declutter items that I cannot work with.

I recently hit pan on the Pixi Summertime Bronzer, this only comes with 3g of product and I got it in an Ipsy bag. So it was easier to hit pan on than some other bronzers which tend to come with a lot of product. It's still a feat for me as I am already tan and I only use this in the winter months. However, I plan on using this as my all over dusting of powder as I get darker. This is a cool toned bronzer which is light but fairly pigmented. It is also shimmery with tiny gold particles in it. I have been using it to contour for a very subtle contour and it works well on my NC42 skin tone. However, if you are darker than me, this wont show up on you at all. It can still be used as a darker version of Hourglass' Dim Light though as it looks beautiful gently dusted all over the skin for an instant glow. It's a nice product.

I have hit pan on a Clinique blush that came in a gift with purchase (GWP) palette. This is a very old GWP, but I believe they still sell these products separately. The blush is in the shade Sunset Glow and it's my favourite blush of all time. It's a very natural rusty mauve shade that is wearable but can be built up for an intense blush. It's a stunning colour and I will miss it when it's gone. The one I have is only 1.7g as it was part of the GWP. In the same palette I have also hit pan on the light cream shade in the eyeshadow duo - Butter Pecan. Clinique shadows have a terrible reputation and this duo is awful. However, I have used the cream shade to gently clean up around my eyebrows to make them look bolder and it works as there is almost no pigmentation at all. I have recently started using the brown shade in my brows and it works ok. I will declutter this palette when I have finished the blush.

The last powder product is the Matt and Radiant Pressed Powder from YSL in the shade 5. This shade is too dark for me, except when I am tanned so I can only use it in the Summer. It's a lovely powder that's almost creamy. It also has a lot of coverage. I will try and finish this in the Summer and declutter when I can't finish as this powder is over 5 years old! Yuck.

The two cream eye shadows that I have hit pan on are Maybelline's Pomegranate punk and Benefit's Busy signal. I love them both however, I am partial to the Benefit's formula which remains creamy for years. However, I plan on finishing both of these this year and I think I will be able to as I love them. I finished Maybelline's Bad to the Bronze last year and haven't replaced it.

Lastly, I have two Jouer products that I love and have been using regularly for over a year that I have major pan on. The first is their tint in Bare which is a lovely wearable everyday cream blush. You could wear this on your lips too, however, I like it better as a blush. I wear it everyday under my Clinique blush. The other product is a duo called Whisper and Feather, these are marketed as tint and highlighter duo. Jouer says that you can use the peachy shimmery shade as a cream blush and the champagne shimmery shade as a highlighter. I use both of these as highlighters, sometimes, I even mix them together. They give a lovely glow to the skin and last for about 4 hours on me, which is average for a cream product. I reckon both of these products will be done in a couple of months.

Hope you enjoyed reading about products that I have been using a lot lately. See you soon!

Empties Feb 2017

2017-03-02T18:09:00.000-06:00

I am back, I cannot promise that it will be a permanent return to the blogosphere but I am back for now :) It's hard being a mom, working full time and blogging. Right now, I should be folding clothes and washing dishes (our dishwasher is dead), but I'm here talking to you guys. I have been on a bit of a project pan/ use stuff up kick for the past 4 months. So I have a ton of empties. I have to be honest, there are a few items that I tossed thinking that I wasn't going to blog but I will mention them too in this quick empties post. If you are still subscribed and like reading my blog, please say hello as I have been away for so long, that I want to make sure it's worth blogging again.

These are raw pictures, taken on my iPhone so I do apologise as they are aesthetically disgusting. But they are empty products guys!

Let me list the empties below -

A trio of eye masks - liked these, wouldn't purchase.

Dr Dennis Gross original formula alpha beta peel (1 use) - burn't my face for about 2 mins which is a long time. Wouldn't purchase.

Basic Earth body lotion (30 ml) - loved this, wouldn't purchase as I have a trillion body lotions.

Korres greek yoghurt cleanser (150 ml) - liked this, wouldn't repurchase. This took me 2 years of daily use and the product says that it expires in 9 months after opening!!

2 of the Lancome hydrating toner (30 ml) - Liked, but no reason to purchase.

Ole Henrickson eye peel (15 ml) - loved this, wouldn't repurchase as I already have a backup of this. Again this took me 1 year of daily use to use up!!

Dior Nude Air foundation in Nude Beige - LOVED this, but it's not cruelty free and also very expensive so wont be purchasing.

Boscia Tsubaki Cleansing Gel (50 ml) - Loved this, wont repurchase as I have other cleansers to use up.

Used a bunch of other samples but the only stand out item was the Cerave Moisturing Lotion with SPF 30 which is a drugstore product and is beautiful! I have other moisturisers to burn through but maybe in 2018 (yes I have THAT many backups) I will buy this.

I also finished a B&BW Cotton Linen candle which worked well and throw was decent, lasted me a month of burning every other day for 2 hours, so about 35 hours of burning. Would consider repurchasing but probably not for a few years as I have stockpiled candles, like a crazy person.

Also finished a Nuxe Reve De Miel moisturiser which is great and I will repurchase. I was using this as a night cream. I also finished 3 lip products! Yes 3! Finished a mini of Buxom lipstick in Get Ready, mini Buxom lipgloss in Dolly and a Maybelline Color Elixer in Blushing Petal. Liked all of them but I am on a no buy right now, so not buying anything new.

I hope you enjoyed this post, hope to be back soon.

Have a lovely day whatever you are doing!

The time I flew to India with a 10 month old.. it took us 30 hours to get to our destination!

2016-02-05T15:40:00.002-06:00

I live in the Pacific Northwest, getting anywhere from this remote part of the country often involves flying. But when I told my co-workers and friends that I was going to India (read 30 hours journey) with my 10 month old in November, I could see them thanking the stars that they were not going to be traveling with us.

Lets rewind to when I was not a mom, my heart would drop when I saw a parent with a baby heading towards my seat on a plane. I am sure I made that face - you know the one I mean and I am certain I even used to sigh out loud.

Fast forward to last November when me and my husband and my little baby were making our way to our seats on the first flights on a series of flights that would eventually get us to India. I was scowling and staring down every face that made me feel like I was being a bad human being for bringing my baby onto the flight. What was I meant to do?? Well if only they would get a move on inventing teleporting.

As I walked through the aisles, I was cringing on the inside at the person I used to be, and wishing I could go back and apologize to all those parents.

Thankfully, for us at least, this potential nightmare had a fabulous end. My daughter was so well behaved, she made less noise than many of the adults on the flight and many of the co-passengers came up to us and congratulated us on a successful mission. Houston we had done it!

I don't claim to have brought into this world an unusually quiet baby. Ila (my daughter) is as boisterous as you'd expect any baby to be. She is curious about the world around her and in November she was crawling so didn't appreciate being restricted for hours on end. Unfortunately for us, she was too big for the bassinets that they provide on these flights and let's be real, she was never going to sleep in those things with all the pilot announcements and the lights around us.

But we made it work with a bit of team work and being prepared for the worst :) I will be sharing my tips and tricks to surviving long flights with a baby in my next post. Don't forget to subscribe to my blog if you want to know more :)

The non-resolution resolution for 2016

2016-01-26T18:16:00.002-06:00

It's late in January, we are already almost one twelfth of the way into 2016. Everyone I know has new years resolutions, even the ones who claim not to have them, do. It's human nature to want to challenge yourself and then to fail.

I have had the same new years resolution since I was 10 and could spell the word weight. I wanted to lose weight. You would think that now that I am 33, I might have made a dent in that goal, but no, I am 20 pounds heavier than I was last year. In addition to my resolution some of the common ones are - eat more veggies, drink more water, walk / run 5 miles a day, the list is endless and boring.

I think what we all want to do is indulge in change that is both measurable (so we can check the box / pat our backs) but life long. This year I will be focusing on changing my mindset towards the way I use my time.

There is a famous story about daily management. "Rocks, Pebbles, Sand - The Important Things in Life" is a story that explains in plain words, that in order to be happy we need to pay attention to the important things in life first and then deal with the lesser stuff later. It is a story about recognizing what’s important and prioritizing. "Rocks, Pebbles, Sand - The Important Things in Life" assures us that we may have time to do everything that we want to do, only if we prioritize and manage our time wisely. That would lead to happiness indeed.

So the story goes, a professor showed an empty jar to his students and filled it with big rocks. He then asked his class, is the jar full? They replied - Yes. The professor said no, wrong answer. He then poured some gravel into the jar. He asked the students, is the jar full. They replied - Yes. He said no, that's wrong too. He then emptied a bag of sand into the jar. He then asked his students, is the jar full. Now, the students had wised up and they replied - No it's not. He agreed and proceeded to empty a pitcher of water into the jar. He said, NOW the jar is full.

The idea is that we fill our days with a lot of sand (small, inconsequential tasks which we think are quick wins) but in fact we should go after the big rocks first. The large measurable and impact-ful tasks that might take longer. I took another thing away from this story though, that it's important to identify small gaps (wasted time) in our day. If we can consolidate this time or even spend it knowingly and with a gain in mind, we will be a lot happier and more successful. 24 hours are quite enough if you are efficient.

So today, I am gathering up the sand and gravel in my day and writing this post. How will you spend the sand and gravel in your day? Let me know!!

The Review - Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes

2015-01-12T17:00:00.000-06:00

Marcelle is predominantly a Canadian brand. I found it on Birchbox.com and I really wanted to try one of their products. The Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes ($15 for 150 ml) is sold as Canada's #1 selling eye make-up remover so I figured it might be a good idea try.

I have included the shot above to give you an idea of the ingredients. It's a hypo-allergenic and perfume free product. It has been Opthamologist tested which definitely is something that I appreciate. It also get a BEST rating from Paula's Choice!! But for me, the product just doesn't work as well as some of my all time favorite dual phase eye-makeup removers (I love Lancome's BiFacil and Estee Lauder's versions).

I am currently not using waterproof mascara so I was expecting this eye-makeup remover to make short work of it, but I feel like I have to really work the product into my lashes, have to tug a little and rub a lot. I also find that if I get this into my eyes sometimes it stings. It's such a shame as I really was hoping to find myself a new holy grail eye-makeup remover. I am going to keep using this but I am going to use it as a last step in my cleansing routine as opposed to the first step.

Have you tried this product? What did you think of it? What is your holy grail eye-makeup remover?

Masks I am currently using

2015-01-09T17:24:00.000-06:00

With winter in mind, you'd think I have been using a couple of moisturising and hydrating masks but that's not the case. I have normal skin and even with the dry winter air, I am able to keep up with it's hydration needs. What I struggle with all year round is pore and the blackheads some of them harbour. I don't have large pores all over my face, but mostly concentrated around my nose which is a common occurrence for many women. Many of the clay masks on the market (you know the ones that leave you skin tight when they are dry) are aimed at acne prone skin. I don't have acne prone or oily skin so for me finding the right balance of pore cleaning but non-drying.

Currently I am trying out two masks. One of them I am really happy with and the other has been a bit of a disappointment.

The first one I have been using once a week is the Avon Clear Skin Pore Penetrating Black Mineral Mask. They are out of stock at the moment, but I think I paid $6 for this mask which is a huge bargain. The black color is not from charcoal though, I think it's an oxide dye and the ingredients list contains eucalyptus extract which can cause irritation. But despite all those issues, I love this mask. I have used this twice so far and even after the first use I saw an immediate reduction in the blackheads in my pores. There is no way to reduce the size of pores but you can shrink them slightly by making sure they are clear of any dirt or oil (these are what form blackheads).

The second mask is one that I use twice a week as it's less harsh than the Avon one. It's called the Soap and Glory Fab Pore Facial Peel or as they have rebranded this the Soap and Glory Fab Pore 2-in-1 Purifying Mask and Peel (£10). Firstly, I don't think this mask is available in Sephora any more, maybe because they are re branding it and will bring it over to the States soon. It is however available in the UK. I have the mask in it's old packaging with the old name. The name is misleading, I bought it thinking it was a peel off mask, however it's not. It's consistency is that of a thick shaving cream! It has green beads in it that help exfoliate the skin while you apply the mask. The smell is that of toothpaste which might feel strange. I am not sure I have seen any changes in my skin even after using this mask 4 times in the last 2 weeks. It's not drying though which means that you can use it often without worrying about drying out your face. I will use it up but I am not going to repurchase. Have you tried this mask? What was your experience with it?

Project - USE IT UP #1

2015-01-06T17:03:00.002-06:00

It's the new year and as usually happens I have bought quite a few goodies during the holiday sales. Although stoked about my purchases, I am running out of room.

I never have issues finishing skincare, bodycare and haircare products but makeup products linger in my collection for years because I love trying new things and changing up my makeup routine. This time round though I want to choose products that are either soon going to dry out or expire (cream products) or products that are nearly done and just need to be used up. I will then try and use them up as part of my daily makeup, at the end of every month I will give you guys a low down on how I fared and if we do finish up something, I will replace it with another product.

Here are my picks -

a. Maybelline Color Tattoos ($6.99) in (Barely Branded, Bad to the Bronze, Pomegranate Punk) and also 2 other cream shadows, one is Calvin Klein eyeshadow in Cashmere Plum and Benefit's Busy Signal (discontinued). I love using cream shadows on their own for a quick and easy eye look but I think they also make great eye primers. I think I can use one of these up in the next 6 months.

Swatches from left to right - Barely Branded, Bad to the Bronze, CK cream eye shadow in Cashmere Plum, Pomegranate Punk and Benefit's Busy Signal

b. Stila Convertible Colors ($25) in Lillium and Gladiola - Again products that I have had for over a year and these creams are really good quality so I don't want them to go bad before I can use them up. I reckon I can finish both of these by the end of the year. I know technically these are 2 products but I am going to club them together.

c. Clinique Blush in Sunset Glow ($21) - Another gift with purchase and I was so pleasantly surprised that I love the blush color and the eyeshadows are nice too. I think I can finish this within 6 months.

d. Clinique Highlight in Pink Sugar (discontinued) - I think it's one of the gifts with purchase that I received when I bought a Clinique Lipstick 5 years ago!! It's still in good shape but I really need to finish this product off. It's one of my favorite cream highlighters and I am going to enjoy using this every day. I think I can finish this by the end of this year.

e. Benefit Dandelion Face Powder ($28) - I have owned this powder for 5 years and it's a great brightening powder. Even though powder products do not go bad for a long time, I hit pan on this last year and then forgot to use it up. So I reckon I can finish this product within 4 months.

f. Stila Countless Pigments in Finale (discontinued) - another blush, one that I have been wearing almost non-stop for the last 6 months. There are 3 distinct pigments that when you mix gives just the most gorgeous pink shade to the cheeks. There is about half the product left, I think I can finish this product by the end of the year.

Top to bottom - Stila Convertible Color in Lillum and Gladiola, Clinique Sunset Glow, Stila Countless Pigments in Finale and Benefit Dandelion

g. Clinique Different Lipstick in Spiced Apple ($16) - An old lipstick, think I stole this from my mom. I have used it quite a bit but still have a ton left. But the lipstick has started sweating a little which makes me nervous and I want to use this up in the next 6 months.

Clinique Different Lipstick in Spiced Apple

h. Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Pink Toffee ($16) - one of my favorite my lips but better lipsticks and I adore the formula too. Clinique really does some great lipsticks that are great value too. I have half a stick left in this bullet, I am going to use it up with the next few months I reckon.

Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Pink Toffee

i. Three lip glosses - Revlon Super Lustrous lip glosses in Firecracker (now discontinued) , Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Pink Orchid and Ginger Shimmer (both limited editions). I love all three of these glosses and I have used them a lot, only have a little bit in each of them so I reckon I can finish these this quarter.

Swatches left to right - Estee Lauder Lip Gloss in Ginger Shimmer and Pink Orchid, Revlon Super Lustrous gloss in Firecracker, Clinique Butter Shine lipstick in Pink Toffee and Clinique Different lipstick in Spiced Apple.

Those are my picks for Project - USE IT UP! Have you started your new year with a similar resolution? What were your product picks?

My latest go to makeup look

2015-01-03T13:26:00.004-06:00

I love simple makeup, nothing too time consuming for my every day look. This post is about a look I have been favoring recently. Let me know what you think of it.

The products that I use for this look are -

The Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint ($55 for 1 oz) in Nude. I was given quite a few foil samples of this foundation. When I saw the name, I thought it would be a light base with barely any coverage (think a BB cream if you will) but boy was I surprised. It's a gorgeous full coverage foundation which can be blended out if you need to. The color Nude is a tad light for me, so I applied the base using my fingers and then blended it out with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. It blended out so well, still giving me plenty of coverage but now playing nice with my actual skin color. The foil sample is 1 ml and I think I will get about 5 uses out of it!! You really need the tiniest amount. This might be similar to Kevyn Aucoin's Skin Sensual Enhancer, which is packed with pigment so you only need the smallest amount. Once I finish a few of my foundations (which might take a few months), I am DEFINITELY going to buy this product.

Stila Convertible Color in Lillium ($25 for 0.15 oz) is a blush I bought through Hautelook, it looked like a lovely mauve light pink shade on the screen but it doesn't show up really well on my NC42 skintone. I love the emolient consistency of it though. I use it on my cheeks as a cream blush using my fingers but I also use it under my eyes as a corrector! I know it sounds strange but this helps correct my dark circles which are abundant right now.

The Balm's Time Balm ($18 for 7.5 g) in shade Medium/Dark is another Hautelook purchase. This concealer is over a year old and I want to finish it. I have made a good dent in it but I need to keep going, so I am using it as my face and under eye concealer. I think these thicker concealers are perfect for blemishes or scars on the face but do crease something nasty under my eyes. However, when I use the Stila Convertible Color in Lillium under my eyes before applying this concealer, there is no creasing and the concealer stays put for 4-5 hours, which is average for me. Score!!

Benefit's Dandelion face powder ($28 for 0.25 oz) is a gorgeous pink blush if you have fair skin, however for my skin tone, it works as a beautiful brightening face powder. I use the ELF Kabuki brush ($6) to apply it all over my face.

I then go in with my Stila Pigment in Finale (discontinued), which has been my go to blush for months now and such a great find for $4 at a Nordstrom Rack! I use Real Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush from their Nic's Picks set ($29.99) and apply this over the top of my cream blush. The result is a blush color that stays put and lasts all day.

My favorite cream highlighter ever is a discontinued product from Clinique in Pink Sugar (discontinued). I think it is meant to be a blush but for me it works as a perfect soft pinky highlight. I use my fingers to dot this on top of my cheek bones, on my cupids bow and down the bridge of nose.

The Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder ($9.58 for 16.5 g) is a great color for me as a bronzer. I apply it lightly to the outside of my face and to hide my double chin.

Now for the eyes. This is really simple. I use the IT Cosmetics Universal Eyebrow Pencil to fill in my brows and then use the Anastasia Clear Brow Gel ($22) to seal them in place. I smudge two layers of the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze ($6.99) all over my eyelids. I use the Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder as my crease color and blend out the crease. I then use my Lancome Le Crayon Khol Smoky Eyeliner in Black Ebony ($26) to tightline and smudge a little as my eye liner and then I apply lashings of my Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara ($28).

Finally, I use any of the NYX Butter Glosses, today I used Strawberry Parfait on my lips.

Voila, that's my entire face done. It might seem like a lot of steps but it takes me 15 mins from start to finish.

December Favorites

2015-01-01T22:01:00.005-06:00

The month of December has been a successful one in terms of beauty. I am not working so I have had time to experiment and try new products and rediscover some old gems in my collection.

Firstly this is the Hair and Body Oil from Landeva Organics ($25.99 for 125 ml). It contains Argan Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, castor seed oil, Vitamin E, lavender, fractionated coconut oil, safflower seed oil and is one of the most luxurious body products that I have ever come across. Pricey but completely worth it in my opinion if you can afford it. I use this oil every day to moisturize my dry winter skin. The 125 ml will only last me about 6 weeks as I use it liberally but if you use it sparingly it can last longer. This is my holy grail body oil, which I will definitely use next winter.

Second is the No.28 Primer Serum from Hourglass ($65 for 1 oz), is one of the pricier makeup products that I have tried. However, for my winter face this is more than a primer. It's a real serum. So for a product that does double duty, I think it might be worth the splurge. I have been using the 5 ml deluxe sample from Sephora every day for the past 2 weeks and I have maybe used 1 ml worth of product, it's a thick gel that you need very little of. So 1 oz (30 ml) will last for months!! Might be an idea to ask for a sample at Sephora the next time you are in there or wait for a good GWP (gift with purchase) or a sale to purchase this. Also, just as a note, I use this without using a moisturiser underneath as I find this gives me enough hydration on it's own.

After all these splurge worthy products, the next product is thankfully an affordable drugstore find. It's the Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Moisture Whip Leave-in Conditioner ($4.99 for 5 oz). I essentially use this after I wash my hair when my hair is damp. I use 2 pumps of this and distribute it throughout my hair. I find that it makes my hair soft and protects it from heat.

If you read my blog regularly, you may have noticed a post about my favorite lightweight base for the holidays. I use the Bourjois Bronzing Primer ($11.31 for 18 ml) first and then use the YSL Matte and Radiant Pressed Powder ($47 for 10 g) on top. You can read all about my experience with both these products in my blog post here.

And we are back to hair care, these last few months I have discovered dry shampoo and have tried a couple of different brands but the best so far has been Batiste ($7.99 for 200 ml). Currently I am using the cool & crisp fresh scent, but I also love the original version. The way I use dry shampoos is that I use them from the days when my hair is feeling greasy but when I still have a couple of days before I can wash it. I shake the can well and then spray into my roots and then using my fingers distribute the white residue all over my head so that it disappears. I then brush and style my hair and suddenly I have so much more volume and find that my hair looks a lot better than it did before.

Last Quarter Empties

2014-12-30T21:51:00.002-06:00

Since we moved to Portland in October, I started collecting empties again and have amassed quite a pile. I am very excited to share the empty products with you as finishing products helps me create room for new ones :)

This is going to be a long post so in lieu of long reviews I will give a good, average or bad rating and if you are interested in knowing more about any product in particular you can always leave me a comment and I will elaborate.

Firstly, I finished my huge 100 wipes pack of the Ole Henriksen Truth To Go wipes, which are usually really pricey but I found them on Lookfantastic.com for £25 which is roughly about $35 for 100 wipes which isn't bad. I believe the offer is still available. Rating - Good.

I also finished the following -
Sweet Clementine hand wash from Bath and Body works. Rating - Good.
Spa Wisdom Polynesia body wash from The Body Shop. Rating - Average.
Psssst Instant Dry Shampoo ($5.99 for 150 g). Rating - Average.
Caudalie Grape Water ($18 for 6.5 oz). Rating - Good.

A candle I finished is the Voluspa Bella Sucre ($18 for 12 oz) which is a coconut wax blend with a 100% cotton wick. It comes in a lovely tin that can be reused. Rating - Good.

I also finished -
Nuxe Reve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream ($20 for 75ml). This is my holy grail hand cream. Rating - Good.
Peter Roth Mega Rich Body Lotion ($12.50 for 8.5 oz). Rating - Bad.
Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation ($10.49 for 30 ml) in Warm Beige. Rating - Average.
Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara ($7.99) in Black Brown. Rating - Good.
Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Gloss in Nude Pearl. Rating - Good.
Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Twilight Nude ($16). Rating - Good.
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk ($4.49). Rating - Bad.

I also finished -
Urban Decay Lip Junkie gloss in Naked. Rating - Discontinued.
Philosophy Hope in a Stick Lip Balm. Rating - Average.
Caudalie Overnight Detox Oil ($52 for 1 oz). Rating - Average.
Benefit Lip Gloss in Kiss You and Friends in High Places. Rating - Discontinued.
Penhaligon's Lip Balm. Rating - Discontinued.
Ren Active Radiant Eye Gel ($30 for 0.5 oz). Rating - Bad.
Marc Jacobs Lash Lifter Mascara ($26). Rating - Bad.
Sara Happ The Lip Slip ($18 for 0.5 oz). Rating - Good.
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar. Rating - Good.
Mac Face and Body Foundation (27 for 50 ml) in C5. Rating - Good.

Lots of foil samples -

My favored lightweight base for the holiday - Bourjois Bronzing Primer & YSL Matt & Radiant Pressed Powder

2014-12-28T23:27:00.001-06:00

I love a good simple hydrating base for the holidays and anytime I am feeling stressed. It's a great way to give my skin some space and a little R&R. I have yet to find my perfect light weight base, but for now, I am really happy with this combo that I have come up with.

This is what I do, I open this lovely smelling tub of deliciously chocolatey goo. It's called the Bourjois Bronzing Primer, for my NC42 skintone, this bronzing primer is the perfect shade as an all over base. The longevity is wonderful, I don't feel like the base breaks down on my face for about 8 hours or so. The primer gives me a lovely soft finish with all the hydration that I need during the winter months. The primer is all matte, and can be blended out as much as you like, so if you are paler, just use less. I use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to do the job.

Another lovely selling feature is that it's very affordable at $11.31 for 18 ml on lifeandlooks.com

Once I have blended out the Bourjois Bronzing Primer I feel like I still need a little more coverage, a little more a barrier to make sure that the finish I want lasts. So to that end, I decided to whip out my trusty and luxurious YSL Matt & Radiant Pressed Powder which is an expensive foundation powder at $47 for 10 grams but I think it's truly worth it. It is made in France, talk about fancy. These come in 6 shades, although they are not all easy to find. I managed to get my hand on the shade 5 which is a tinge dark for me, but since you only need a small dusting, it works for me. The powder is so finely milled that if you run a finger over the surface, you will feel that you are touching silk. There is no noticeable shimmer to it, but amazingly it does light up my face when I dust it all over using a skunk brush or a light and fluffy powder brush. I have owned this powder for 3 years and have managed to hit pan big time.

This is look and finish that I end up with. It's a simple base, far from full coverage, but it makes my skin sing. What are your hydrating, skin nourishing bases?

Don't forget to enter my Kyoku for men skincare giveaway here. Only 6 days left!!

Kyoku for me Wind series Body Scrub and Body Wash and GIVEAWAY!

2014-12-27T22:39:00.000-06:00

Kyoku for men is a skincare brand that has products that have been specifically designed for men and with a male skincare concerns in mind. They have a huge array of products, many targeting male acne, but they also do facial and body scrubs, body lotions and body washes. Their brand representative reached out to me and asked if my husband might be interested in trying a few of their products. I immediately said yes and within 2 days, their Elements (Wind) body wash and body scrub arrived at our door step. They have a range of these Elements products in Wind, Fire and Water varieties, which are just various scents as far as I can tell.

The Kyoku Wind body wash and body scrub (8.4 oz each) retail for $15.99 each on their Amazon site. Kyoku's wind body wash is a richly lathering body cleansing gel with a fresh green herbal scent. This deep cleansing and stimulating wash contains an antioxidant blend of cloud-berry and holy-herb to give a tingling sensation on the skin, while protecting and soothing. The Kyoku body scrub is engineered for men of all skin types, this wind body scrub by Kyoku for Men was specifically formulated with today's modern man in mind. Scientifically proven to upgrade your skin, each product has been rigorously tested and uses the best natural ingredients for men's skin and works to refresh and renew with a sense of purpose.

The two plastic bottles came nicely packaged, in an olive green color, with a top that allows the product to be poured without unscrewing it. The bottles also come with a pump, which was lovely as I prefer to use pumps rather than pour out too much product.

My husband has spent the last week using these products, body wash in the morning and the scrub during his evening shower (after the gym). He has really enjoyed the scent which is the same for both the products, it's a warm herbal scent that makes the bathroom smell like a spa for the entire day. He found that the scrub was quite scrubby, i.e. the gel was suspended with enough little beads to make it a good scrub. He has fairly normal skin, and did not find the products drying or irritating in any way.

Directions for the use of the Body Scrub

Directions for the use of the Body Wash

Kyoku has generously offered to host a giveaway for my readers which will run from today for a week and is only open to US residents. Here's the link to the giveaway, GOOD LUCK!

Drugstore Delights - NYX Butter Glosses

2014-12-26T21:00:00.004-06:00

If I had to choose one type of gloss to wear for the rest of my life, it'll be the NYX Butter Glosses. Believe the hype people, these are utterly delightful.

These glosses are so reasonably priced just $4.99 in the States. They are super easy to find, available in ULTA and quite a few drugstores. They come in 22 shades, from bright colors to nude shades. Most of them do not have any sparkle or shimmer included which makes them super easy to wear and universally appealing. The applicator is a doe-foot, which is my favorite. The packaging makes it simple to find the colors you are looking for with no effort. The wear time is decent, 2-3 hours on me without eating or drinking. The opacity (depending on the shade) is incredible. But the quality that makes me love them so much is the comfortable feeling on the lips, these are not sticky but have a plush feel to them. They are soft and soothing on the lips. You have to try these.

I have 6 shades and here are the swatches -

Top to Bottom - Raspberry Tart, Red Velvet, Sugar Cookie, Cupcake, Peach Cobbler and Strawberry Parfait

It helps that the shades are all named after deserts! But I do recommend that you try these glosses, if you can find NYX near you.

What are your favorite glosses?

Marc Jacobs' The Lolita Palette

2014-12-23T18:53:00.000-06:00

The month of November is awful for my wallet. I am totally broke now thanks to all the sales all over town and the fact that Sephora sent out their annual $20 gift cards to all VIB shoppers (i.e. people who have spent way too much money in their stores) and you have to spend it on orders over $50. So naturally I decided to buy something with the $20 off $50 card at Sephora that I had no intention of hauling. I had no hankering for this product at all and yet somehow there it sits in front of me.

I bought the Marc Jacobs Beauty Eye-Con 7 shadow eye palette in The Lolita ($59) and I am not sure I am happy about this purchase, to find out more read on.

Packaging - It's a beautiful looking palette, all sleek and black, it almost looks like a jewellery case. It should come with a decent brush since it's $59 if you get it without a coupon or anything, but instead it comes with a pitiful sponge tip applicator, I think even drugstore brands have stopped giving these out, what's up with this cheapass behaviour Marc Jacobs? Anyway, if you ignore the applicator, the rest of the packaging is nice, the mirror is nice and I do like the way the the shadows are housed in the 7 round pots.

Quantity - Each shadow is 1 gram, which is not a whole lot, I think they should have included more product. If you use this palette everyday then you will probably hit pan in a few months on at least one or more colors.

Quality - This is where things start to really unravel. The shadows are smooth and do get picked up easily by any of my eye brushes. In fact, I think they are too soft, so that there is fall out from all of them even if you are careful. The middle chunky glitter shade is ridiculous as it gets everywhere, I have tried using a brush, my finger, a sponge applicator, and nothing makes any difference. What's even worse is that this chunky glitter makes it's way to other shadows in this palette so that I have to constantly wipe off the inside of the palette, it's so messy every time I open it! The shimmers are nice, the mattes are not as opaque as I'd like but they do blend well. I do like the shades that he chose, but I wish there was more creative thought put into the shades so that we were offered neutrals but with a difference. The way the palette currently stands it's oh-so-predictable. One positive for me was the longetivity of the shadows, they last on me for >10 hours when I use a primer, which is outstanding.

I think this palette might be great if you love high end makeup and have cash burning a hole in your pocket. I was really underwhelmed by it. I think I will try and give it a couple more weeks and if I still don't like it, I might have to exchange it for something else. I heard that Temptalia loved the Starlet palette from Marc Jacobs, so maybe that one has the fantastic shades and the quality that I want, will be swatching it in store first though.

I have tried to create two distinct looks to give you an idea, they are very different, and I will list the shades I used from the palette.

Look 1 -

This was a look created in a rush (please excuse the mess that is my eyebrow!), and because of the expected fallout, I decided to apply concealer and foundation after the eye makeup, so I have no concealer and foundation applied here.

I used Maybelline's Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk as a base and applied the glitter bomb shade in the middle of the palette all over the lid. The base helped the glitter to adhere better and I used the Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner and Bobbi Brown's Smokey Eye mascara.

Look 2 -

I used 5 of the 7 shades for this look. I applied with the NYX Eyeshadow Base in Nude as a primer all over the lid, this shade is similar to Soft Ochre from MAC. I applied the lightest shade (1) from the palette all over the lid, all the way to the brow. Then I applied the taupe shade (2) as a transition color in the crease. Then I applied the bronzy shimmery shade (6) over the inner half of the lid and the slightly darker brown shimmery shade (7) in the outer half of the lid. I then deepened the crease/outer V with the dark brown shade (3). On my lower lash line, I smudged the transition shade (2) in the inner half and then blended the dark brown shade (3) on the outer half of the lower lash line. I wet my Bobbi Brown eyeliner brush and used the dark brown shade (3) to line the upper lash line and also to tightline. I then applied the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara.

Have you tried the Lolita or any of MJ's palettes? Any recommendations / comments on what your experience has been with his products? I am sad to write a so-so review :(

Review of Landeva Organics goodies

2014-12-22T10:22:00.000-06:00

This was the lovely package that arrived at my doorstep a couple of weeks ago. I have used all the products by now and think it's time for a review.

Landeva Organics is a luxurious skincare brand that only uses natural organic ingredients in their products. All their products are made in Canada and produced in small batches. Ever since I got pregnant and now with the baby coming soon, both my husband and I have switched to eating organic goods / produce and using more natural and organic skincare where possible. It's the attention to detail that is afforded by small niche brands like Landeva Organics that makes their products stand out as luxurious for me.

The first product that I tried was the Argan Oil and Frankincense Organic Serum ($23.56 for 50 ml). On Landeva's site, they describe this serum as - Treat your complexion to the benefits of two of the world's most precious natural extracts with Landeva Organics Argan Oil & Frankincense Serum. Fifty percent of the formula of this refreshing, nourishing serum comes from argan oil, an exotic natural oil gathered from trees of Morocco. A rich emollient, argan oil deeply hydrates the skin to leave it feeling softer and smoother. Pure frankincense is also included in the formula, providing anti-inflammatory benefits for the complexion. So precious that it was once reserved only for royalty, frankincense helps to balance the skin tissue to leave it perfectly conditioned.

Suitable for all skin types, Landeva Organics Argan Oil & Frankincense Serum is organic and 100 percent natural. The formula is enriched with camellia seed oil and vitamin E, which help to refresh and protect the skin tissue while improving radiance. Lavender oil completes the formula to offer calming benefits for the complexion. The lightweight serum becomes rapidly absorbed upon application, leaving behind no greasy residue that can clog the pores. A little goes a long way.

It comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a pump (hurray!), and smells incredible. The consistency is more like an oil so I have been using it as my everyday daytime moisturiser. I find that the hydration is enough for me and I don't have to actually use a moisturiser on top! I only need to use one pump for my entire face, so this generous sized bottle will last me forever.

The second product that I tried was the Activated Charcoal Detox Clay Mask ($17.69 for 100 g). Landeva Organics describes this product as - If your skin is plagued by signs of irritation, let the the Activated Charcoal Detox Clay Mask help to restore and revitalize it. When used weekly, this luxurious mask helps to keep the pores free of impurities while fighting microbes that give rise to acne and irritation. A blend of Activated Charcoal, Rhassoul, Willow Bark extract and honey work together to absorb oil, leaving the skin smooth and purified.

Activated Charcoal acts as a magnet to draw dirt out of pores, while willow bark helps provide relief from breakouts. Completely natural, the mask can be mixed with a variety of bases, including water, natural oils, honey or yogurt. Can be used as an overnight spot treatment.
I was beyond excited to try this mask. I suffer from large pores and the inevitable blackhead situation around my nose, both of these conditions are claimed to be addressed by this mask. I used it a couple of ways, I first tried it with lemon juice and little water and mixed it into a paste and that worked really well. The second time I used plain yoghurt and that worked OK, however I got the proportions a little wrong so I had too much yoghurt and it became a little runny and I managed to spill a few drops on my t-shirt and then quite a few more around my bathroom. The black mask is indeed very black, so if you are clumsy like me, I'd have a towel ready to mop up any spills etc. But I do love the idea of a mask that is dry and you can mix it with any medium of your choice and see what works for you. Also, this way the shelf life is much longer and since the size is a huge 100 grams, that's definitely a bonus.

I have a small spot that might be trying to emerge on the side of my nose and this mask definitely seemed to curb it's progress. Just a word of warning, this mask does dry and there is some tightness that will be experienced (not unlike the GlamGlow masks) so make sure your skin can make it through using a clay mask. Personally I love it!

The third product was a little tester of their Rose Nourishing Toner ($17.69 for 115 ml). Landeva Organics describes this as - For thousands of years, women have used the waters obtained from one of the world's most beautiful flowers to promote radiant, youthful complexions. Landeva Organics Rose Nourishing Toner is an all-natural formula that gently adjusts the pH levels of the skin to normalize oil production and leave the tissue perfectly hydrated and wonderfully soft. Not only is this toner a wonderful follow-up for your daily cleanser, but it can also be used to refresh and revive the complexion mid-day when feelings of tightness and dryness arise.

Landeva Organics Rose Nourishing Toner uses the best of what nature has to offer to nourish and moisturize your skin. Aloe vera is added to the formula to soothe irritation and treat the skin to an array of nutrients. Fruit and botanical extracts bring antioxidant protection to the skin, lessening the harmful effects of environmental free radicals that give rise to wrinkles and rob the complexion of radiance.

I am not a huge fan of using rose water on my face, I find it instantly drying and really not pleasant. So I did not like this product at all, but that's my personal opinion, I know lots of people love using rose water on their skin and if you are one of those people, you will love this product. I do love the way it smells, very herbal spa-like. I love that the full size comes in a glass bottle (fancy!) and comes with a great spray so no need for cotton pads.

The last product that Landeva sent me was their Nourishing Detox Facial Soap ($7.96). It's a large grey soap, very intimidating looking, but here's what Landeva Organics had to say about it - A gentle, yet effective Exfoliating bar made with the Moroccan clay, activated Charcoal, goat’s milk and exotic oils and butters to purify the skin leaving it clean and soft. The Nourishing Detox Facial Soap is slightly scented with pure essential oils, chosen for their therapeutic benefits.
- 100% Natural.
- Contains large amount of Ghassoul clay and Charcoal.
- Gentle skin cleanser for all skin types and especially beneficial for problem skin.
- Mild face cleanser enriched with goat's milk, olive oil, Cocoa butter, and organic Shea butter.

I never use soap on my face and rarely do I use it on my body because I find it to be drying and unfortunately this soap also dried out my face a little, not as bad as some others but still it's not for me. I prefer my exfoliators and cleansers to come in a gel/cream/balm form. Having said that, if you suffer from extremely oily skin, or if you like and enjoy using soaps and find them really handy, this is a great one to try. Lots of lovely ingredients and no nasties.

Thanks to the kind people at Landeva Organics for sending me all the lovely products to try. I always love trying new products and especially when they are natural and organic! If you want to try any of these or other products from Landeva, head to their Etsy site here and they currently have a 30% off code LANDEVA30 which will give you 30% off all of their items.

Kyoku for men Giveaway!

2014-12-21T20:25:00.001-06:00

Enter to win a lovely package from Kyoku for men. Open to US residents only. Winner will be chosen on the 4th of January and once contacted the winner will have 3 days to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two product Tuesday..

2014-12-16T19:43:00.000-06:00

I have decided to start a new series, I will write about 3 new products that I have tried that day. This series will obviously be fun for the blog and hopefully informative for you all, but also will make me work harder at shopping my stash and use products that I don't always use. I am hoping to write at least one of these posts a month.

My first product today is the Smokey Eye Mascara from Bobbi Brown ($28). Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has a 20% off promotion currently so if you like Bobbi's products, this might a good time to indulge. This mascara is a sample. I love Mascara samples as I feel they are a great way to try a new product and I feel much less guilty about tossing them at the 3 month mark. I have not read any reviews about this product so everything that I am writing is my own opinion. I was not sure what to expect. The word 'smokey' in the name was a slight concern as I thought it might be a mascara that smudges easily. However, my fears were in vain. I love the texture of the product, not wet but not terribly dry. It is definitely on the dryer side, which I like as that means less smudging to me but it still coats the lashes quickly. I was even brave enough to try it on my lower lashes which is something I never have the nerve to try with other mascaras as things get messy very quickly when I try.

The wand is lovely too. The shape is a very traditional conical shape with the tiny hairs that are soft and gentle on my lashes. I think they are made of fabric rather than tough unforgiving plastic.

Over all I love this mascara, it gives me volume as well as length. There is some clumping if you wait too long between coats but if you are quick that can easily be avoided. If I ever want to indulge, I will purchase a full sized version of this little beauty.

The next product is another sample I'm afraid but I have been using it all week last week and still have lots left. It's MAC's Studio Face and Body Foundation in C5 ($27 for 50 ml). I have heard so many bloggers rave about this lightweight foundation which can be used on the face as well any part of the body (arms and legs usually). I don't plan on using it on any other part of my body except my face though. MAC gave me a lovely large sample which I apply using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I love the resulting coverage. I usually favour foundations with light to medium coverage for everyday use and this foundation gives me exactly that. I prefer using my Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Medium to add coverage in areas where I need it rather than using a thick layer of foundation all over my face.

The color match is wonderful too, MAC is known for a good selection of colors so most women should be able to find a match. The price is really great too, most foundations come in 30 ml bottles but this one is 50 ml for a really decent price. I am definitely going to buy this foundation once I finish a few others that I have lurking around.

My face with the MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation in C5.

The Review - Real Techniques Nic's Picks Brush set

2014-12-13T00:20:00.001-06:00

Real Techniques came out with a limited edition brush set for this holiday season called Nic's Picks set. It's a set containing 5 duo fiber synthetic brushes. 3 of the brushes are exclusive to this set. The set retails for $29.00 in the US and is available at Sephora, Ulta and various other retailers. I actually bought mine at Kohls for 20% off!

Firstly, we are all penny pinching during the holiday season, I feel like money is just draining away from my account. I am scared to check the balance lately, so if we can find a gift that's reasonably priced but still works wonders, well that's a Christmas miracle right? If you are looking for just such a gift or are new to makeup and/or looking to amass masses of brushes like me, then you really should consider this set.

Real Techniques are well known for quality brushes at a reasonable price point and this set is no different. The five brushes come in a cute case which makes for a great first impression. They all have a silver handle with a black rubberised grip at the end. Very classy, much better than the Real Techniques usual orange and pink colours. The packaging keeps the brushes really secure in transit and I am pretty sure it will be impossible to damage the brush heads if you are going to post your presents etc.

Real Technique describes the brushes thus -

duo-fiber face brush: for lightweight application + blending of face powder or pigments
cheek brush (set exclusive): evenly applies makeup across cheekbone for a more dramatic finish
angled shadow brush (set exclusive): perfectly cut for layering eye shadow in the crease
base shadow brush: applies a smooth, flawless foundation of color
eyeliner brush (set exclusive): firm, angled head for optimal control along lash line

Here are some close up shots of the various brush heads -

duo-fiber face brush

cheek brush

angled shadow brush

base shadow brush

eyeliner brush

The brushes are well made, the ferrel is tight and there were no fibers that were out of alignment on the set that I received. I used all of the brushes today to get this look.

Here are the products that I used on my face to get this everyday makeup look -
Foundation - YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation SPF 19 (Beige Dore 60)
Concealer - Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer (Medium)
Powder - Vincent Longo Perfect Canvas Loose Powder (Golden Oriental)
Blush - Stila Countless Color Pigment (Finale)
Lipstick - Clinique Color Surge Butter Shine Lipstick (Pink Toffee)
Eyeshadow - Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo (Pomegranate Punk), Champagne shade and dark purple from a Biba eyeshadow palette.
Brows - Matte black, can't remember the brand
Mascara - Covergirl Clump Crusher (Black Brown)

I tried to use these brushes, the only time I used a different brush was to apply concealer. I used the cheek brush which is the densest brush of the bunch to blend my foundation. It did a really good job. Didn't absorb too much product, reminded me of the Expert Face Brush that's so good at liquid foundation application. (I used the Elf Flawless Concealer Brush for concealer application). I used the Duo Fiber Face Brush to apply the powder as well as the blush. It did a good job, but I think it's a bit too fluffy and it takes several dips into a product get the job done. Great for people who are heavy handed though. I then used the eyeshadow brushes and both of them are excellent. The base shadow brush really holds on the product and deposits products precisely where I want it. A huge favorite. The angled brush is great for blending eyeshadow in the crease. I used the eyeliner brush to actually apply my eyebrow powder as I wasn't going to wear eyeliner today. It did a pretty good job but is a little to wide and not as skinny as I usually like. This is the only possible dud in this set.

Have you tried these brushes? Did you like them?

- Shruti xx

Pregnancy update

2014-11-26T22:02:00.000-06:00

This post is going to be a departure from my usual posts, I just wanted to give you all an update on how I have fared through my pregnancy. I am in week 32 right now, and I thought maybe if I wrote down my personal experiences it might help people if you are trying to get pregnant or are already newly pregnant.

Tips to deal with pregnancy rules and restrictions -

No caffeine allowed:

a. It's OK to have a little bit of caffeine but I personally found it easier to lay off tea and coffee completely. That way, I was miserable for a few weeks, but then things were good and dandy :)
b. Much more difficult to give up was chocolate, it has caffeine too! So make sure you consume in limited quantities.

Limit consumption of tuna and shellfish because these fish contain high levels of mercury:

a. Fish contains Omega 3 which is great for the brain development of the fetus, so cutting out fish all together might not be such a great idea. Here's a list of fish that are safe to eat during pregnancy - http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp

Exercise during pregnancy:

a. My tip is to walk and then walk some more. Don't over do it, as you get bigger it gets harder to move, but during the first two trimesters I tried to walk between 2 - 4 miles a day. Now I walk about a mile a day.

b. Ask you doctor about other exercises that you can help you deal with back pain etc. Especially important in the last trimester.

Acidity, Heart burn and Gastric reflex during pregnancy:

a. As the baby grows, it pushes all your other organs up and everything else gets squished. This leads to regular heart burn. There are a few things I have found that help me deal with heartburn - I avoid acidic foods after 7 pm, that includes carbonated drinks too. I try and have small meals all day instead of a few large ones.

b. If none of these tips work for you, don't suffer in silence, doctors can and do prescribe medicine that can help and is safe for the baby too.

Babies need calcium:

a. I hated drinking milk. HATED it. But now oddly I love it! I have a glass of cold 2% milk most evenings and it really helps settle my tummy too.

b. But if you really dislike milk, make sure you find a way to make it work for. Maybe try adding a tiny bit of sugar and some saffron to it, smells and tastes amazing. I also recommend eating your oats with a lot of milk, that way they flavor the milk and you can enjoy a delicious and nutritious breakfast!

c. If you really dislike milk and other dairy products or simply can't have dairy products, make sure you regularly take prenatal vitamins which include calcium.

Take care of your gums:

a. Pregnancy causes your gums to swell up and get tender. This can lead to bleeding while flossing. But don't let this deter you from following a thorough dental hygiene routine. If you are not thoroughly looking after your teeth and gums, the swollen gums can mean that food particles are caught more easily in the gaps between the gums and the teeth.

Maternity wear:

a. I never did find good quality and decent looking maternity outfits, so I decided to just buy bigger sizes in normal clothes and that worked out really well for me.

b. Breasts change shape and definitely get larger as the pregnancy progresses, so do make sure that you account for the changes when shopping for maternity and nursing bras.

Lifting heavy weights:

a. My doctor told me that it was fine to lift up to 25 pounds and to listen to my body and if it feels too heavy then it probably is.

Lastly it is most important to share the joys and pains of being pregnant with your other half, family and close friends. Sharing helps increase the joy and ease any anxiousness you might be feeling. It's a miracle that is occurring in your body, but for most of us, life goes on while you are pregnant and it can be overwhelming at times. Having a support system can do wonders for both the mother and the father. Remember that your other half is going through some emotional turmoil too, it's only natural and that you have to support each other.

Have a wonderful pregnancy ladies :) Feel free to ask me questions if you need any help at all.

- Shruti

Luxury beauty wishlist

2014-11-22T20:52:00.002-06:00

If I had all the money in the world to beauty products...these are the ones I'd choose this season. It's so much fun to fantasize is it not?

1. Tom Ford Lipstick in Black Dahlia ($50) - this is such a gorgeous color, I think it is quite unique. If I ever find the courage to spend $50 on a single lipstick, I reckon it will have to be something so unusual like Black Dahlia.

2. Marc Jacobs Bronzer Brush No. 12 ($78) - I am tired of watching other people exclaim over how soft and perfectly huge this brush is! In my fantasy, I get to buy it :)

3. Jo Malone Cologne Collection, 5 x 9 ml ($110) - I don't wear a lot of perfume so it's tough to get through large bottles, so 5 small bottles work well for me. Now this stuff is expensive, of course being luxury and what not, but I hear Jo Malone perfumes are to die for.

4. Sarah Chapman Skinesis Starter Kit ($62.89) - this set is actually great value. And I might invest in it, once I finish a couple of my creams that I have been using. Sarah Chapman is a lady who created an amazing line of skincare, which all the beauty bloggers especially the ones in UK have been raving about for about a year. Her stuff is quite elusive in the US, but feelunique.com has done it and made it accessible to everyone as they ship worldwide. The set comes with the

- Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial 5ml
- Sarah Chapman Skinesis Eye Recovery 5ml
- Sarah Chapman Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse 15ml
- Sarah Chapman Skinesis Dynamic Defence 15ml
- Sarah Chapman Skinesis 1 Cleansing Mitt
- Sarah Chapman Skinesis Skinesis Signature Pouch

5. Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush Set ($210) - Ah more makeup brushes, I knew I had to sneak these in somehow. MUFE released their Artisan brushes this year and they are exquisite. They have natural wooden handles and are handcrafted out of synthetic fibers that resemble natural hairs, so they can be used with powders as well as creams and liquids. This set comes with -
- 250 Eyeliner brush
- 216 Eye shadow smudging brush
- 226 Eye shadow shading brush
- 242 Eye shadow blending brush
- 274 Eyebrow brush
- 108 Foundation brush
- 158 Blush/Sculpting brush
- 128 Powder brush
- Professional brush pouch

So that would be my wishlist, what would you buy? Or have you bought any of these, what did you think of them? Next post is going to be a little bit of a departure from my usual beauty ramblings so look out for that.

- Shruti

After a break...

2014-11-21T21:09:00.001-06:00

I have been away from my blog for months, about 7 months actually! It's a long time, I know that if you were a regular reader you may have wondered when I was going to come back and why I had left my blog alone for so long.

I don't really have a good answer and maybe that's why it's taken me so long to write this post and write my come back. I went off in April on a long holiday and that was all the break that I was going to take from the blog, it can be exhausting to keep a blog going when you are working full time so I figured a break of a few weeks might do me some good, help me recharge.

But just before leaving on holiday, I found out that I was pregnant! We had only been trying for a couple of weeks, so it came as quite a shock (a pleasant surprise) and I felt like I needed more time to spend with the baby, just enjoying my last few months of not being a parent. I didn't feel like wearing makeup, or even thinking about beauty. Getting pregnant and expecting a baby puts life in perspective like nothing else, and I felt like there were more important things I wanted to focus on.

Then as if this wasn't enough change to be getting on with, my husband was offered a really good job offer but it meant that we would be moving away from Chicago to Portland, Oregon. It also meant that I would have to give up my job and we would be down to one salary for a while till I found something. I need a visa to work in the States and add my growing belly to the mix and I figured it would be a while before a job came along.

So I took a very extended hiatus from Twitter, Instagram and other blogs. I am sorry if I have missed some important events in your life in the past few months, I have been selfish but I hope you understand.

We have moved to Portland, been here for about a month and settling in OK. I was stressed about finding a good OB/GYN who would take me half way through my pregnancy but I have been blessed to find a good doctor and a good hospital. I have also been incredibly lucky to find a job before I moved here!! I actually interviewed when we came to Portland on our house hunting trip and they offered me the role the next day! With the visa process underway, I hope to be able to start soon. My new employers were lovely when it came to my pregnancy and have offered me 3 months unpaid leave so that I will have time with the baby.

Things are finally settled and my pregnancy has been a delight so far. I feel more like blogging now and maybe will have posts about baby gear and research that I have been doing for the last few months too.

This is getting to be a really long post, I just wanted to explain everything in detail as much as possible. I hope you are not mad at me leaving so abruptly and hopefully will follow my blog as you did before. Tell me about what's going on in your life and I hope we can chat soon.

- Shruti

Sugar Crush Body Scrub by Soap & Glory

2014-05-28T16:43:00.005-05:00

Been a while since I did a body scrub product review on my blog. I love body scrubs especially in the Summer as it helps with the exfoliation / shave prep. The one I am currently trying out is the Sugar Crush Body Scrub by Soap & Glory ($25 for 300 ml). It's available at Sephora and on Soap & Glory's website.

The ingredients list was an interesting read as I was surprised to read that Sea Salt was the second ingredient listed, even though it's called a Sugar Crush scrub!! This scrub has a thick but loose consistency. The crushed sugar + macadamia seeds make for a gritty texture that I like. But the most distinctive feature about this scrub that stood out for me, is the smell. I was surprised how citrus-y this smells. At the beginning I did not enjoy the smell at all, it reminded me of my toilet cleaner!! But either the smell has changed as I have gotten through the tub or my sense of smell has evolved, because I love the smell now!! It wakes me up in the mornings and gets me ready to take on the world.

Overall, I really like this scrub but I think there are better and cheaper ones out there. What do you guys think?

May 2014 - Birchbox unboxing

2014-05-21T20:05:00.000-05:00

This month's Birchbox is a huge improvement on the last month. There are some really fun products here.

Lets start with the most uninspiring of the lot. It's the Whish Shave Cream. That's all I have to say about that.

The second item is WAY more exciting! It's a cute little tube of the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint and they even got me a color that might work (I got sent deep bronzed). Let's just say I am dying to go away just so I can use this little cutie.

If you are a regular reader, then you know my obsession with body lotions and this one is going to be used up real quick. I go through body lotions like nobody's business so a new one to try is always welcome. Have you guys used this brand before - it's the Lifetherapy Chill Hydrating Body Lotion.

They also sent me a serum by Marcelle, which is a brand that I already love. I am so excited to try their 8 in 1 Power Serum. 7 ml is not a bad size either.

This month's lifestyle extra are chewable vitamin gummies!! Here's to a healthy body :)

April 2014 Empties

2014-05-20T20:31:00.001-05:00

We have a lot of empty products this time round and I am so delighted to announce that I have managed to finish some makeup products!! They take me the longest to finish up, so it's always exciting when I hit pan and then finish something completely.

As per recent tradition, I will only mention the products that have stood out as being extra awesome or really bad.

Herbal Essences Seductively Straight Intensive Mask / Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray / Korres Body Butter in Bergamot Pear / Bath & Body Works hand wash in Cinnamon Pumpkin & Sugar Lemon Fizz

Crest Be Dynamic Toothpaste in Spearmint / Glam Glow Supermud mask / 17 Fast Finish Nail Polish / Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Recovery cream / Ginvera Exfoliating Marvel Gel / Tarte Energy LipSurgence mini / Philosophy Take a Deep Breath moisturiser

Elf Cream Eyeliner / Too Faced Beauty Balm / Lancome Genifique / Ren Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel / Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

The sachets

The great stand out products -

Too Faced Beauty Balm
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Recovery cream
Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Moisturiser
Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray
Bath & Body Works Hand Wash in Cinnamon Pumpkin (I think this was limited edition)

The great fail products -

Elf Cream Eyeliner
17 Fast Finish Nail Polish
Ginvera Exfoliating Marvel Gel

So there you have it, trying to keep this post succint. Hope you enjoyed reading it, I certainly enjoyed recycling most of these and making room for more :)