My Random Ramblings

Color Studio Professional Pure Matt Lipstick in "Dreamer" ( Review and Swatch )

2018-01-05T19:24:00.000+05:00

Salam and Happy new year !

Last month I stopped by the Color Studio display at the mall and had a look at their lipsticks.After swatching a bunch I ended up buying this coral coloured one .

I haven't used very many products from this brand .During my college days I was in LOVE with their nail polishes . Borderline obsessed :D . Earlier this year I purchased their Kohl Addict Kajal in the shade Black and I was very impressed with the overall quality.

The shade of this lipstick is “Dreamer” . The formula is very light , feels like I don't have anything on my lips . The finish is fully matte on the lips . Looking closely at it I noticed it does have a very light sparkle to it but once applied on the lips it comes off as matte . Wear time is fairly decent . Lasts 3-4 hours . It has very sweet, vanilla-ey scent . Reminds me of a coral colored Sleek pout polish I had a few years back , the scent of it was very similar to it.Also doesn't really have any taste which is a plus for me.

Ingredients:
MICA, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, ALKYL BENZOATE, OCTYLDODECANOL, ISOCETYL STEARATE, TITANIUM OXIDE, SILICA, IRON OXIDE, VP/EICOSENE COPOLYMER, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ORYZANOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, ITRIC ACID

I find the packaging quite chic and very sturdy .Bought this lipstick for rs 750 .I think this product is affordable and performs decently and am definitely interested in trying it out more from this brand .

Till next time...

Innisfree Perfect UV Protection Cream SPF50+ PA++++ Review

2017-12-07T22:02:00.000+05:00

I've always been really bad at protecting my skin from the sun , infact for most of my life I never used any product for this purpose . Only a few years ago I incorporated sun block in my skincare routine and the first ever one I bought was from Neutrogena which I stuck by for quite sometime until very recently when I got into K beauty products and came across this one by Innisfree .

Details :

Contains Sunflower oil and Jeju green tea extract .
Water resistant.
For oily skin.
Contains 50 ml product.
SPF 50+ PA+++

The formula itself is a little thick so I really have to work it into my skin . After application , it still feels a tad bit greasy on the skin but once I let it settle it dries down amazingly and doesn't leave any shine or oily feeling . I've used this both in the blazing summer of Karachi and in Quetta during my recent visit where it was really really cold and had no problem . It has a very light herby scent .I use this right after my moisturizer all over my face and neck and because of the thick formula , I don't feel like re applying through out the day . This definitely is a product that I like and might even repurchase once I run out .Definitely not the most pocket friendly product but it will definitely last me a long time .

The only downside with this , as with any K beauty product is availability but other than that this product gets a thumbs up from me .

Till next time...

Hair Accessories

2017-09-28T20:29:00.001+05:00

Today's post is all about hair accessories and the different ones you can use to make a very basic , ordinary looking hairstyle look really glam .I'm some one that doesn't like using a lot of heat on my hair so most of the time I rely on my usual braids and buns when I have to go on an event . Hair accessories are a great way to amp up your hair style and that too for very cheap . In this post I'll be sharing all of my accessories and how I use them .

Decorative bobby pins and hair clips are amazing for making a basic style look elegant . I usually wear these with a loose bun . The leaf bobby pins are my most favorite ones that I got for super cheap from Ali express . Sometimes I'll use them to keep my bangs away from my face by either braiding or twisting them away .

These hair stick barrettes are awesome for half pony tails , I use mine on my hair buns too . Purchased both of these from Ali express.

Hair sticks have to be my most favorite hair accessories . These used to be really in fashion some time ago . Usually these come in wood or plastic and are really simple but the ones that I have contain rhinestones , hence can be worn on special occasions . These take a simple twisted bun to the next level .

These flower hair clips are the cutest . These can be worn with a half updo , twisted bun , braids etc . I usually make a side-braid and stick these in there .

And the last and most easiest hair accessory to wear are hair bands . They can make your every day braids and buns look amazing . They can be worn hair up or hair down .

And that concludes today's post . I hope that with this I gave you ladies some ideas on the different accessories you can use . Hope you guys enjoyed reading .
Till next time ...

Innisfree Green tea balancing cream - Review

2017-09-15T21:21:00.000+05:00

Recently I've switched to Korean skincare products and now almost all of the skincare products I use are from Korean brands . I've already reviewed a few on here but one such product I've really been enjoying using these days is the Innisfree Green tea balancing cream .

Details :

This cream comes in a light green plastic jar .
It contains 50 ml of product .
The packaging is pretty sturdy .
For normal to combination skin .
Free from Parabens.

The first thing I noticed about this cream is the scent . It is really light and pleasant . Noticeable but not over powering . The cream itself is pretty thick in consistency but light at the same time . Once applied it absorbs into the skin and leaves it feeling hydrated and soft .

I use this cream everyday , day and night and sometimes even three times a day . It doesn't leave my skin oily at all . I've combination skin so certain parts of my face can feel a little dry but this one gives a good amount of moisture leaving my skin looking fresh and healthy throughout the day .

Having used this , I can honestly say I've found my go to moisturizer for the winters . It has lasted me a lot longer and has made its way into my list of skincare products that I swear by .

As you can see in the picture above , I've used it so much I don't have much product left in the jar . I will be definitely be repurchasing this pretty soon.

So far , the only con I feel is the availability , since Korean skincare products aren't available in the market but you can purchase them online .

Till next time...

Rimmel London Kate Sculpting & Highlighting Kit - 003 Golden Bronze (Review & Swatches)

2017-09-14T23:07:00.000+05:00

This kit comes with a highlighter , contour and blush and the shade that I got it in is "003 Golden Bronze" . The packaging is nice and sturdy and very travel friendly . I like the over-all look of the product with the shape and the gold label but it also can get finger prints on it and look a little messy. It's pretty compact and the fact that it is an all-in-one highlight , contour and blush kit was what compelled me to give it a try .

Now for the product itself . First we have the highlight which I found to be really nice and natural . Perfect for everyday . Nothing blinding . I like wearing it on my cupid's bow and inner corners of the eyes . It's nothing dramatic and since its not too pigmented , I feel there is no chance of going over board with the highlight .

Next is the contour that is more of a chocolaty brown and is a little more pigmented . I suggest you keep a light hand while applying this but even if it does come off too dark the good thing is that it is blend-able , so a little bit of blending will take away the harshness . One thing I've noticed is that the contour is not a 100% matte , I do notice a tiny bit of shimmer in it .

The blush in this kit is a little peachy with some gold in it . I feel the blush doesn't have as much pigment . It is build-able just like the highlight but I would have liked it a lot better if it was fully matte .

My overall thoughts are that this product is pretty decent since it is not expensive . The size makes it easy to travel around with . Great for natural , everyday makeup . Build-able and blend-able. It's not the best but it is worth a try .

Till next time ...

Innisfree Eco Fruit Tint - Review and swatches

2017-08-19T23:41:00.000+05:00

So I've been meaning to try some lip tints for the longest time because of all the buzz around them . Recently I got these 2 Innisfree lip tints to use in the shades Cherry and Orange .
The way I use them is I either use the applicator to apply all over the lips and let it set , if I want super pigmented results OR I will use the applicator to dab a little bit on the lips and spread it out with my finger tips if I want it to look really natural . I don't do the gradient thing that people do with these lip balms because it just doesn't look good on me .

The wear time with these 2 lip tints is I wanna say 3-4 hrs max , after that you'll definitely have to re-apply.And once you apply , it dries completely matte and doesn't budge at all so you have to be careful when putting this one .

The one thing I notice about this product immediately after opening it is the fake fruity smell but the smell goes away after application . It doesn't bother me though , cant expect lip tints to smell like fresh cherrys or oranges

Also noticed that after letting it set, it kind of dries out the lips. To avoid that I just apply a light layer of lip balm over it . I'll reapply the lip balm each time it wears off otherwise the dry lips make me uncomfortable .

To remove this , I use my micellar water and it comes off easily . This is a product that is so good for an everyday natural look especially in Karachi heat . I' recommend these for anyone who isn't a fan of wearing lipsticks on a daily basis .

Till next time ..

Korean Skin Care Haul !

2017-01-20T22:08:00.000+05:00

Salam everyone ,
How are you all ? . The weather here in Karachi has been amazing . It rained like crazy and now it's so cold it is practically impossible to go on without wearing proper coats and sweaters and honestly I am enjoying the cold so much :D . Finally Karachi has its winters back !

Speaking of cold weather , my skin has been not so good lately , dry and flaky. Therefore, both my sister and I got some skin care products to try out that we thought would work nicely during the winter season and especially in combating my problem of having dry skin .

Lately , we both have been enjoying using Innisfree products , especially their super volcanic pore clay mask which is a skincare essential for me . Hence , we decided to try out more .We got two items from this brand . One is the "Green Tea Fresh Essence " and the other is the "Green Tea balancing Cream".They also slipped in a sample of their "Jeju Volcanic Care 3- Step Kit " ( for the second time , we got this sample once before too ) which was pretty cool , another reason why I like this brand :D .And lastly , we got the " Moistfull Collagen Emulsion" from Etude House. The best part is that it was on buy one get one free , so we actually ended getting two of these .

That's all for today Comment and let us know if you've tried any of these products and how they've worked out for you . And to all our readers from Karachi , enjoy this cold weather while it lasts :D . Till next time...

What's in my school bag ?

2016-12-04T20:48:00.001+05:00

Salam everyone ,
Since the last few blog posts have been reviews , I thought I should switch it up a bit and do something different cuz reviews can get kind of boring . I have for the longest time , wanted to do a " what's in my bag ?" post but always put it off. But today I felt like doing it so let's start , shall we?

So , this is my bag that I take with me to university .Been using it for a while now .It's pretty spacious on the inside and it fits all my junk nicely :-p . I have a problem of over-filling my bag and this is the one that takes it and it's still going pretty strong.

And these are all of my essentials that I take with me to university . Other than these I take with me the usual (boring) things like my books , assignment files etc but I narrowed the list it down to a few essential items.

So the most important thing I always have at hand is a VERY thick notebook to jot down notes and just generally writing anything and drawing etc. I obviously have with me my wallet , sunglasses and my cell phone . Also I keep this really cute looking tin container with my girly products (you know what I am talking about ) in it .It's cute and keeps them out of sight :-p .

I'm not really big on wearing makeup to university . In fact, I only wear black eyeliner pencil on my water line and a little bit of mascara along with some tinted lip balm . I actually really like this one by Maybelline .It gives a nice red tint to my lips . Also sunblock and hand sanitizer are a MUST when going out anywhere for me so I keep those too .

Till next time .

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Toner

2016-11-18T21:05:00.003+05:00

I have always made it a point to include a toner in my skin care routine.But the results have been sort of borderline at best. All the toners that i have been able to try out have been from the western brands (with loads of alcohol) and there was a time i stopped using them completely , simply because they were drying my combination skin to an extent that it started to flake .Not a good look when you have to contend with acne as well.
I got a sample of this toner with my first innisfree purchase and decided to give it a try.

Ingredients:

Water, Alcohol, Propanediol, Volcanic Ash, Protease, Camellia Leaf Extract, Orchid Extract, Prickly Pear Extract, Tangerine Peel Extract, The green Tea Extract, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Triisostearate, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Calcium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance [Ingredients] WATER, ALCOHOL, PROPANEDIOL, VOLCANIC ASH, PROTEASE, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, SODIUM MAGNESIUM SILICATE, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, SODIUM LACTATE, LACTIC ACID, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SILICA, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, FRAGRANCE

What it doesn't have?

4-free system : Free of parabens, synthetic fragrance, colorants, mineral oil and imidazolidinyl urea

Now this is in no way totally alcohol free but it is way better than any other toner that i have tried.There is no spirit like cooling sensation on skin or any stinging for that matter .The bottle is plastic and pretty sturdy and spill proof .There is mineral powder at the bottom of the bottle so it has to be shaken well before use to get the maximum benefit from the product

What i have found after using this toner is that it has helped me a lot with my pores. i hardly have any break outs any more.It is also matifying. If i have to compare it to something i would say it is like putting water on your face , no stinging , no drying . the product simply absorbs in your face without leaving a trace.

The bottle contains 250ml of product. I have been using it for 2 months and as you can see from the pics i still have several months worth of product in there.

Innisfree jeju volcanic pore tonercosts 21$ on the innisfree website. I think the quality and quantity of product justifies the price. Unfortunately innisfree is not locally available in Pakistan but it can be ordered online from the innisfree website , Amazon or through Facebook.

till next time.......

Aloe Vera gel in Pakistan

2016-10-20T19:08:00.001+05:00

Aloe vera gel is a staple of my skin care routine and that has been the case for a while now. I think everyone by now knows about the benefits of aloe for skin (face and body) .
Aloe gel comes from aloe vera plant, mostly used to soothe burns and sun damage and as an antiseptic for superficial wounds.

But it has a very beneficial effect on skin as well.It is relatively inexpensive but just as good as many really high end products used in skin care. Aloe vera gel can be used to

Treat sunburns
treats acne
Acts as a moisturizer
Minimizes appearance of large pores
Anti aging
Lightens stretch marks
Matifying when used as a base under makeup.

When i was looking to get my self an aloe gel for the first time , i took the most obvious route ... tried extracting it myself from my mom's aloe vera plant. Didn't turn out so well i am afraid as i totally sucked at it , not to mention the amount of time it took me to extract a little bit of it. Time for plan B , i thought. But i had no idea where to buy prepackaged aloe vera gel . I went to saeed ghani thinking they might have some but they didn't have pure aloe vera gel.It took me a long time to find one that was available in Pakistan . So here i am detailing where to find aloe vera gel in Pakistan and different brands that are available for the uninitiated who are interested in trying out this really great natural product.

Herbi 100% pure Aloe Vera Gel:

Made by Al Maqsood Herbal Products Karachi

Off white/Creamy in color

Not transparent

Cost is around 200-300 Rupees

Comes in a pump bottle.

Available at most local cosmetic shops.

Aloe vera gel listed as the ONLY ingredient.

Contains 100 ml of product.

* I have used it my self .No complaints or adverse reactions.

Fruit of Earth 100% Pure Aloe vera gel:

Made by Fruit of Earth Inc. USA.

Transparent.

Cost 400 Pkr (for 2 oz.) bottle

Comes in a squeeze bottle.

Gel like consistency.

I bought it at a local cosmetic shop though i have seen it at Naheed store a while back.

Ingredients in order of listing on the label ,Aloe vera gel,Tocopheryl Acetete,Carbomer,Tetrasodium EDTA,DMDM Hydantoin,Diazolidinyl Urea.

Contains 2 oz./56 g of product.

*Currently using it. Applies a bit smoother than the Herbi one .

*Image taken from Conatural website.

Conatural Organic Aloe vera gel:

Made by "Conatural Pakistan".

Website: http://www.conaturalintl.com/

I have not used it so not sure of color and consistency.

4.76 fl oz/158 g Squeeze tube

You can order it off their website.

They charge a flat rate of 200 Pkr as delivery for all orders

Cost 800Pkr.

Claims to be 100% organic and absolutely FREE from Parabens, Triclosans, Artificial Musks, Phthalates, SLS, PPD, Petroleum Jelly, and Silicones.

*Picture taken from google images.

Nature Republic Aloe Vera gel:

Made in Korea

Sold by "@ theskinmaskuerade" through their Facebook page in Pakistan.

Carries a rating of 4.3/5 on makeupalley.com

Transparent

Gel like consistency

Available in different concentrations.

Available in a tub.

300ml/10.56 fl oz.

Don't know the exact price but it is over 1000 Pkr ( if i am not mistaken) as it is imported from outside Pakistan.

They charge 220 Pkr for delivery to Karachi. (Again if i am not mistaken)

Hope this was of some help to those of you trying to find Aloe vera gel in Pakistan . ( I live in Karachi so all this info is particular for Karachi). If you know of any other brands of aloe vera gel available in Pakistan , feel free to share in the comments.

till next time ;-)

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask - Review

2016-06-16T00:15:00.000+05:00

This mask is one of those products that i have been coveting from afar for a very long time , with no way to get my hands on it ( as innisfree is not available in Pakistan).Well .... long story short , dad's trip to Malaysia provided me with the opportunity to get my hands on a few products from the brand , including this much anticipated clay mask.

Innisfree says:

---------------

3-in-1: Removes Sebum + Brightens Skin + Treats Blemishes! Soothing and Moisturizing

Great absorption of sebum thanks to Jeju volcanic clay!

Clean Jeju volcanic ingredients, made from hardened lava, deeply cleanse pores to purify your skin.

1. Amazing absorption of sebum and impurities

The fine, porous structure of Jeju volcanic clay strongly absorbs sebum inside pores.

Remove impurities and give your skin a clear and complete look.

2. Creates good conditions for skin and makeup

Our clay mask, containing volcanic scoria from Jeju, absorbs sebum and impurities to create clean skin. It delivers minerals deep inside your skin, brightens and clarifies your skin tone, and creates an ideal texture.

First off , I am totally in love with the packaging.Its very pretty to look at and quite sturdy.Not one of those flimsy glass containers that you are always afraid of shattering by mistake. It has a very thick paste like consistency and smells like .... clay (i think ;-))

When i say a little goes a long way, I am not joking.It is so thick that if you take only a quarter of a tea spoon and spread it with wet hands , it will cover the whole face with some product even left over.

It is a must for anyone with oily or oily combo skin. Draws out all the oil and impurities from the skin.I simply am extremely impressed by this product and how well it works.But a word of caution for the dry skin types (This may not be for you) . That is again of course just my opinion as I don't have dry skin.

The 100 ml jar costs around 14 dollars .One jar will probably last a person a whole year so the price is worth it.

I totally recommend this mask , particularly for the summers in Karachi .Better than any clay mask i have tried.

Till next time.....

Jewelery Haul

2016-06-03T20:39:00.000+05:00

Hello everyone ,
I just got done with my finals exams and now I'm back with another haul post (my favorite kind of post :D ). This time its going to be a jewelry haul . Earlier during this year my father went out of country and brought back me and my sisters a ton of stuff (girly stuff ya know ) .And it was obvious that I had to do a haul post . I had been putting it off for while but since I'm all free now so I decided to do it today . This post contains some cute Asian earrings that he got us from his trip.

I can't quote the price on any of these because like I said , my dad bought them , so I don't really know how much each of them cost .

The black flower ones with the rhinestone are my most favorite . I also recently wore the red cherry ones out and got a lot of compliments on them .

I hope you enjoyed reading this post . Comment and tell me what you think .

Till next time ....

Freeman Black sugar & Charcoal polishing Facial Mask

2016-05-01T22:33:00.000+05:00

Prior to buying this mask i read a lot of reviews online.And let me tell you , for all the people who loved this product , there were may be twice as many who had an endless list of complains.
So i wasn't really sure if i wanted to put something this harsh on my face .But seeing as i was already using lemon & sugar home made mask as a part of my skin care routine , i decided to give this a chance.:

Key Ingredients:
Activated Charcoal
Sugar
Coconut Extract

Ingredient List:
Sucrose, Propylene Glycol, Carbon*, Kaolin, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract , Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Aleurites Moluccana Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Carbomer, Fragrance (Parfum), Iron Oxides (CI 77491).
*Activated Charcoal

It is not a miracle product but if used with caution it could be a godsend in dry winter months when no amount of moisturizing is going to keep the dead flaky skin at bay.It says to apply it like a regular mask , leave for 5 minutes & than massage your face with it fir 2 minutes.Applying it on the skin feels like the skin is heating up (which is the activated charcoal starting to work , i guess).But after massaging and washing the mask off , the skin is left feeling smooth and refreshed.

The activated charcoal is very good at absorbing the sebum from skin and the sugar particles exfoliate and remove dead skin like a pro.But care should be take to massage the product on to the skin VERY VERY carefully & softly (i cant stress this enough) .If you are overzealous , you will probably end up causing more harm than good.

As you can see this tube is about to end so i am fond of this product. I find it to be a decent enough exfoliater , and it can be easily used twice or thrice a week.But as i said before , massage it very lightly over your skin , not for more than 2 minutes & keep wetting your hands while doing it.
I will definitely consider buying this product again.It is easily available in most beauty counters and quite affordable as well.So give it a try if you have dry, oily combo or oily skin.Do tell if it worked for you or not.
Till next time.......

Veet "Lotus milk & jasmine Fragrance" Hair Removal Cream

2016-05-01T20:01:00.004+05:00

Dealing with unwanted hair is the bane of my existence. To be very truthful its one of those things where less work and more reward should be the motto of every product ever advertised. In my opinion out of all the temporary methods of getting rid of body hair , i think waxing works the best but if you are in a bind or have time constraints or simply too lazy to bother than hair removal creams are the next best thing .Less traumatic than a razor and better for the skin too.

I must admit that i am not new to using Veet hair removal creams .This one is one of the newer formulas that i have used recently.It works well .Just apply it ,wait the appropriate amount of time and you end up with clear skin for at least a week (depending upon your rate of hair growth of course).I have personally never faced any side effects from using veet and if i am not ready to put myself through the whole regimen of waxing , veet is my go to product.
The cons are of course , limited amount of hair free days.You can feel some growth by the end of the week.My biggest issue with hair removal creams has always been the smell.I don't like the chemical smell (it does't smell like jasmine to me) that one has to contend with after using this product.Even though newer formulas have sort of dampened the odor mostly but some still persists.
All in all i would say if you are a user of hair removal creams than veet has a very good formula and its very easy to use.Readily available anywhere in the market and very affordable :-)
Till next time.....

*Product sent for review.The opinions in this blog post are my honest review of the product.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask

2016-04-06T21:06:00.000+05:00

This is a product that gets a lot of hype.I have hardly ever heard anything too bad about it.So when i finally got my hands on it , i decided to really test it before forming an opinion.I have been using it weekly for over two months now and i think now i am ready to review it properly.

Okay so to begin with , this product is not available in Pakistan so don't go looking for it at your local cosmetic counters. People do sell it on Facebook but it will cost you slightly more than what it is actually priced at.But this tube has a lot of product in it and it will last for months.it weighs about 227 gm and has 8 oz of product.

As far as the ingredients go , i like what i see. It contains kaolin , bentonite among other things and with the Karachi summer looming on the horizon my skin will need all the oil absorbing ingredients it possibly can. The mask itself smells like spearmint gum (which is not astonishing as "spearmint" is one of the ingredients listed).

This is a very good mask for people with oily skin.It absorbs all the oil and leaves skin smooth and matte . That is the upside , the downside is that if your skin is not completely oily but oily combination than you will need a good moisturizer after and you will also have to use this sparingly (once or twice a week) . I should mention here that i used it predominantly during what we affectionately call the Karachi winter ;-) so my skin was on the dry side to begin with. How it will hold up in mid June or July has yet to be seen.
But it applies real easy (even though the consistency at first glance appears very thick).Very small amount of product will cover the whole face. No need to apply a very thick layer.

VERDICT: I like it.If used in conjunction with a good skin care routine this can be a life saver for oily skin.Will work for people with oily combination as well though using it sparingly is strongly advised. Not for people with dry skin. (In my opinion).
Buy it if you can get it and don't mind paying slightly more as compared to other clay masks available in the market. :-)

Bag Haul !

2016-03-10T21:36:00.000+05:00

Hey guys !
So here I am with another blog post after not posting for forever and a half . Uni does that to people ,
lol .Today I'm doing a huge bag haul because I've been doing a lot of bag shopping recently and I've purchased quite a few that I wanted to share with you guys .
So lets get into it .

I bought this one because I really needed a big , sturdy bag for my university and I thought this would be perfect . I've already used it for a few months now and its working pretty well for me . This bag can fit so much inside its not even funny . I carry so much with me to uni and it still has space in it :P.Bought it from Fitrite.

Cross body bags have always been my favorite type of bags . They're just so small and easy to carry.I cant remember where I got the first 2 but the third one the right I got from Mockingjay .

The brown one is by far my most used bag till now . I take it everywhere with me except for uni. The black leather bag pack was a gift .The black one surprisingly is very spacious on the inside .

So, what did you guys think ? Tell me in the comments which one you like ?

Till next time ...

EOS Lip Balm Review In "blueberry acai " and " summer fruit"

2015-11-12T20:03:00.000+05:00

Hello everyone ,
It's been a long long time since I last posted a review on the blog .Life's been a little hectic because of university and exams .But I am back now and today's post is going to be a review about 2 eos lip balms that I purchased sometime ago .

This isn't my first time trying out eos lipbalms , infact, I've already reviewed the baby pink (strawberry sorbet) one before .
The ones I tried out this time are "blueberry acai " and " summer fruit".

The blueberry acai one doesn't have a very strong scent and frankly I can't describe what it smells like either :D .But the " summer fruit" has a very strong scent .It smells very sweet and fruity (which I like). I always find myself reaching for the " summer fruit" one because of the scent and I even take it to university with me ( the round shape always catches people's attention :D ).They both come off completely clear. The good thing about these is that the packaging is very nice and sturdy and they are easy to travel with .They are a little pricey but they do last quite a long time.They are fairly descent lip balms , they keep the lips nice and soft and they last on the lips for at least an hour after application .
All in all , I can say that I will definitely buy more of these eos lip balms once I run out of these .
Till next time...

Nyx soft matte lip cream ( Antwerp)

2015-02-01T20:20:00.000+05:00

Time for another lip product review.I have been meaning to get this color for the longest time as i totally fell in love with the swatches that i saw online.

So i couldnt help myself and included it in my Nyx haul a few months back .It is part of the Nyx soft matte lip cream line.The color is a very pretty pink and it is called "Antwerp"

Although it has the consistency of a gloss , the lip cream settles in to a matte finish.The wand is nice and application goes on smooth.No need for multiple coats as one coat is more than enough.Due to the matte finish it can be a bit drying after a while so keep a lip balm on hand.And it would be prudent to exfoliate lips prior to application.
As i mentioned above the color is what attracted me to buy this product in first place.It looked like a very unique shade of pink in online swatches but alas on asian lips i dont really find it that different.
Color pay off is really good.Staying power is adequate but keep the product on hand to refresh.All in all not a bad buy .

Till next time......

Lemon power

2014-12-28T18:50:00.003+05:00

Winter weather brings with it dry flaky skin and rough hands , feet.Even as a teenager i never had as much issue with skin care in summer as i had in winter.All of my skin care regimen suddenly stopped doing its job and i never knew how to handle this problem.Until i discovered the power of this natural jewel.

Lemons can be a great thing for all kinds of skin and what is perfect is that nothing is wasted.Every part is useable and works wonders.
1.As an exfoliant:

Just take a slice of lemon , dip it in ordinary sugar. And use it in circular motion over a wet face.It will remove all the dead skin cells and the lemon juice is great for any pigmentation or discoloration of skin.
You can do this as often as you like , depending of course on how well your skin tolerates it.
A few things to look out for .....
Don't use on areas with cuts or any other damage (because it will sting like a --------)
Don't do this just prior to going in the sun .
And be careful in exfoliating.. Soft , circular motions on a wet face (don't want to damage skin with the sugar crystals)

2.Lemon Water:

Water + Lemon juice
This concoction is the best way to cleanse your system during the day.It works as a great:

antioxidant
Good for digestion
Immunity booster
Mouth freshener
Teeth whitener
Lots of potassium
Anti inflammatory
stops cravings

Drink it as much as you want.Its one of my healthier habits.Although .... am i being disrespectful drinking it in my coca cola glass ... lolz ;-)

3: As a mask:

Peel the yellow part , leave to dry , grind in to a powder and you end up with a refreshing mask filled with all the antioxidants your skin needs.....
Use with ....
Milk
Honey
Ubtan
Rose water
Yogurt
Depending upon the weather and your skin types requirement.
You wont regret it.

A paste formed of baking soda and few drops of lemon juice is a very cheap but effective teeth whitener. This winter season be friends with the lemon :-)

2014-12-25T20:34:00.004+05:00

Its finally winter in Karachi.We've had the first rainfall of the season and the customary sweaters and shawls and khaddar collections are out in full bloom.So i decided it was time for a shoe haul.

Before i share with you detailed pics , i would like to wish all the people celebrating Christmas "Happy Holidays" and as you all know 25th December has a lot of significance for us Pakistanis , as it is the , day father of the nation "Quaid e azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah " was born. My deepest thanks to the Almighty for gracing us with such a great leader who made it so we could live as free people in our own country.
So lets begin :-)
Got three pairs of shoes and two pairs of sandals.Don't want to be wearing socks all the time ;-) All of these had different color choices available.I chose black because its a neutral tone and goes with pretty much everything.

Till next time.....

Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 instant Soothing serum

2014-11-17T22:54:00.000+05:00

When i tried the Olay total effects cream last year i got a sample size of this serum along with it.I tried it and was pretty impressed with the results.But for some reason i never got around to buying the full sized product till now.

This is supposed to be anti aging instant smoothing serum.I use it under my night cream / moisturizer.The plastic pump bottle contains 50 ml of product , which theoretically should last up to a month with daily use.

I am not a big fan of pump bottles , the mechanism usually is pretty finiky and you cant get at all the product in the end.As face products go , this is not in the "affordable for most " range.May cost any where from 1100-1200 Pkr depending upon where you are buying it from.

Even though it looks like a gel , it is more like a facial moisturizer in consistency.Gets adsorbed in the skin pretty quickly.One pump is enough for one time use.I have been using it for a short time so cant comment about its anti aging benefits but it does keep the skin hydrated particularly if you are using it at night . I use it under my usual moisturizer but i feel that the results were better when i was was using it with total effects moisturizer.This product is also good for the dry patches that my oily combination skin develops in winter.

This has a combo of silicone , vitamin E, glycerine etc as its ingredients , which will help the skin look hydrated and smooth in the long run.

Till next time......

Accessories Haul post

2014-10-12T21:18:00.000+05:00

So for the last few months we have amassed quite a collection of accessories that we haven't shared with you guys . This post is thus dedicated to all those purchases that didn't make it to a blog post because of our extreme laziness (there i accept it) ;-)

I have totally forgotten exactly what was bought from where and for how much so i apologize in advance for not including all the details.

All the jewellery was bought from multiple places.Some from Tariq road , a few pieces from Bahadurabad and Sunday Bazar DHA.

This polka dot clutch i fell instantly in LOVE with as soon as i saw it in the window of the shop.It is cute and has room for my cell phone (which is always a plus point when you want to put your android in your clutch)

Got this wallet because it has lots and lots of storage inside and it is very easy to carry and also it is exactly the right size . Not too small and not too big . If in a hurry just pick it up and go .No need to weigh youself down with a bag.

Till next time......

Eid ul Azha 2014

2014-10-09T23:00:00.000+05:00

A belated Eid Mubarak to all . This Eid post is slightly late but better late than never right? ;-) So Like always Allah blessed us with a very fun celebration this time around as well , and it became extra special because we welcomed our niece into the world as well & on chand raat no less ;-) The neighborhood kids had a blast parading their qurbanis from one end of the street to the other.For a while there the whole street looked like a makeshift zoo.

Eid ul Azha i always feel is more of a solemn celebration as compared to eid ul fitr because of the importance of sacrifice. But it has its moments certainly :-)

Hope you all had a wonderful time this Eid.Also we are on instagram now ( i know ....late as usual) so have a look and follow if you want ;-)
http://instagram.com/shahtajmaqsood
Till next time.........

Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan oil Leave in Treatment

2014-09-28T21:38:00.000+05:00

Quite a few ladies on Facebook are selling Avon products . So if you are in to the scene of buying beauty products from Facebook than the brand wont be a stranger to you.

I got this product mainly because i wanted to give something with Moroccan oil as an ingredient a try.

Let first talk about what i like about the product.It is not greasy.It is easy to use.I have used it on wet as well as dry hair with similar results. I have hair that is oily at the roots but dry at the end , with an admirable tendency to frizz.It keeps my hair tame and easier to handle. There is enough product to last and as one pump is enough for mid length hair , you are not going to run out of it any time soon.

As for the cons, it has a whole bunch of other ingredients apart from Moroccan oil. So not much different from several other similar products in the market.Not for hair growth or general health of your hair , more of an anti frizz treatment.Good for only two days after a wash.Makes hair greasy after that.
In my opinion if you are already using an anti frizz treatment that works for you than give this one a pass.For hair growth invest in a reliable hair oil instead.
Bought it online for 600-700 Pkr approx. Forgot the exact price.
Till next time......

A trip to the famous Sunday Bazar

2014-09-14T20:05:00.000+05:00

I have lived a good portion of my adult life in the beautiful city of Karachi.This city has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment.Parks , shopping malls , cinemas, restaurants , and of course the amazing coastline . But to me the most unique thing about Karachi are its eclectic weekend bazaars that sprout up around different parts of the city on Saturday and Sunday.The best known of these is the Sunday market in DHA.
It has everything that a person can desire , from the mundane (fruits , veggies , grocery items ) to the exotic (antiques , jewellery , electronics). Shoes , bags , scarves , clothes you name it .It is a bargain hunters paradise.The only thing i wouldn't advise buying is the makeup.Its all FAKE.If you are from Karachi and have never visited than you are missing a real treat and if you are a visitor , don't miss a trip here for anything

The place is a book lovers paradise.You can buy , exchange and even sell your reading material and that too at a fraction of the price.

As i said , makeup is one thing i wouldn't advise buying from here.See if you can spot the fake Mac, loreal and Maybelline products in the pile.

Till next time........