Indian Vanity Case

WANTED: Green Tea Skin Care Products

2012-05-29T17:14:00.000+05:30

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

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

Why Green Tea?

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

*Most importantly: It smells nice & refreshing!

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

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

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

Ginvera has introduced a Green Tea BB Cream along with an Green Tea Whitening Cream with Oil Control. OMG, me WANTS!

We were supposed to fly to Malaysia in June, but not anymore, coz our plans have changed for the year. But aargh.... I want to be in Malaysia, if only for a day, just to get all these Ginvera Green Tea goodies!

If you're intrigued , you can read about all the Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Series in their website here

Wanted:

Green Tea Face Wash
Green Tea Face Scrub
Green Tea Toner
Green Tea Whitening & Anti-ageing Serum
Green Tea Moisturizer
Green Tea Eye Cream
Green Tea Night Cream
Green Tea Sunblock
Green Tea BB Cream
Green Tea Face Mask
Green Tea Body Wash
Green Tea Body Lotion
Green Tea Hand Cream
Green Tea Body Oil
Green Tea Body Scrub
Green Tea Face Water (Face Spritz/Mist)- like Rose Water.
Green Tea Foundation Primer
Green Tea Vitamins (Pills)

Indian cosmetics companies, catch up, PLEASE! We have so much tea lying around- Assam....Darjeeling. Today, it's occupying my head so much that I might actually drink it (hey, maybe I'll start loving it!)....store some in the fridge to use as a toner....and maybe pour some in my bath water too. I WANT with a passion, people ;)

Do you know of any green tea beauty products available in India? Do tell!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

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

2012-05-28T15:57:00.000+05:30

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

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

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

Me: "Haan, dikhao!" (Yes, show me!)

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

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

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

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

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

Also available in Red & White, but I just bought these 3 colors: Nude, Aqua & Black. And no, I can't walk properly in them, coz they still slip out, but I don't care. I'll just have to practice walking in a different way, haha....!

Did you notice then Louboutin-ish red soles? :)

Brand ~ Stop! (From China, I assume)

Price ~ Rs.995 ($18.00) each. Not bad, right?

From ~ Stelatoes- Lajpat Nagar Market, New Delhi. Also in Sarojini Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Kamla Nagar.

Which color is your favorite?

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection For Summer 2012

2012-05-26T21:22:00.000+05:30

A place where alter egos are laid bare and naked flesh is a source of unashamed inspiration. In this delicate tipping point between intimacy and pleasurable detachment, we revel in the unknown; exploring the distance between pure Monogamous, gilded Faithful and uninhibited Swinger. Exposed nude tones, adorned with rich licks of gold, leave you gasping for more. Don’t restrain yourself. Unless, of course, you enjoy it.
“Naked Strangers captures inner glows and depths. The deeply and darkly alluring exists alongside ethereal shimmering brilliance. We are complex and multifaceted whilst also being naked to the world.” ~ Alex Box, Illamasqua Creative Director.
“Naked Strangers represents everything about borderlines...the human edge between romance and permissive intimacy...a step beyond control, a step past the edge and a collection of gilded moments upon the tip of sensation. Beautiful nudes with metallic edge set amongst eclectic textures.” ~ David Horne, Illamasqua Director of Product Development.

Products:
Nail Varnish (£13.50)
Dress up your nails and explore your fantasies with our award-winning Nail Varnishes. Are you Monogamous (creamy flesh pink, matt finish), Faithful (coppered metal) or Swinger (glistening platinum gold)? Apply a lustful layer then answer our question.
Lipglosses (£13.00)
Lick your lips then smooth on a rich layer of Intense Lipgloss in Stranger (platinum gold) for obscene levels of pigment. Alternatively, apply Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy (nude pink brown) on naked lips, to tease and tempt your lover. Or lovers…
Blushers (£16.50)
Stark naked might mean no clothes, but who said anything about no make-up? Create a provocative flush that lasts all night with Powder Blusher in Naked Rose (neutral beige brown) and Cream Blusher in Zygomatic (naked pink brown).

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

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Inglot 4 Eye Shadow Square Palette & Swatches

2012-05-26T17:07:00.000+05:30

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

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

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

Inglot 342 (Matte) ~ Brownish-taupe. Great color for the crease & contouring. I thought it's time I found an alternative to Urban Decay Naked & Buck form the Naked Palette, and this is kind of a hybrid of those. It's a must-have color in a neutral palette.

Inglot AMC Eye Shadow #72 ~ Plum with shimmer. This is a vampire-ish color. I wore it with MAC Rebel lipstick the other day, and I looked right out of True Blood....next to Eric, please ;)

Inglot #471 (Double Shimmer) ~ Muted Olive. LOVE it! Goes very well with my eye color. The green looks very subtle, so it still makes the eyes look neutral & earthy. If you get bored of brown, try this color.

Inglot #422 (Pearl) ~ Chocolate Brown with pearl. To tell you the truth, I picked another color in place of this but that wasn't available...then another color I picked was also not available....I got very tired & settled for this. Still a nice color, but it's quite similar to some browns in the palettes I have.

Inglot #342

Inglot #72

Inglot #471

Inglot #422

Packaging: Be careful with it. The magnets at the corners are pretty strong, and the cover snaps shut very quickly, so be careful not to get your fingers pinched in between.The top can be stuck under the palette when you're using it....very fancy.

Price:

Eye Shadows- Rs.300 each

Palette- Rs.700

Total- Rs.1900 ($34.00)

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 5/5

Hope you're enjoying your Saturday, everyone. Me, tonsils are bothering me again. Yes yes, I said I'll get a Tonsilectomy long back, but then I read it makes the voice very funny & nasally afterwards. One said 'like a strangled cat' & she can't sing anymore. Not that I'm a singer, but still. I just have to avoid spicy & sour foods- which is very challenging for me! Mmm....lemons with black salt & red chilli powder....Give me!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

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

2012-05-25T19:10:00.000+05:30

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

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

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

L'Oreal showed us what Freida Pinto was wearing at Cannes. For more 'Get The Look' celebrity photos , you can go here

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Old Colorbar Blushes- Discontinued?

2012-05-25T17:09:00.000+05:30

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

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

Huh?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

365Gorgeous Online Beauty Store Review & Haul (Psst...Giveaway Alert)

2012-05-24T16:22:00.000+05:30

I got to experience another online beauty store called 365Gorgeous. 'Coz you gotta be gorgeous every single day of the year, yo!' It houses brands that aren't available in India like: Bobbi Brown, Essie, China Glaze, etc. Other popular brands include: Maybelline, L'Oreal, Colorbar, Lakmé, Revlon, Lotus Herbals, MAC, Lancome, and lots more.

The Good:

5% OFF on most products like Maybelline

Earn Points when you shop

Cash On Delivery

Free Shipping above Rs.250

Delivery within 2-5 days

Products were packed in a little white box & they were bubble-wrapped properly.

The Bad:

What really bothered me was, the different shades of a product weren't put together in one page. Like, each lipstick shade has it's own individual page, which is very frustrating. I like to see them all in one page- saves time that way, don't you think?

'View All' option is not there. You have to keep flipping pages. I'm a view all kind of person (read: impatient)

Many products I wanted were 'Out Of Stock'.

What I put in my cart:

Joy Pure Aloe Oil Control Face Wash, Rs.38.00
NYX Trio Eye Shadow in Pink Purple Prune, Rs.520.00
Maybelline Crayon Liner Pencil, Rs.118.75
Maybelline Hyper Curl Volum' Express Mascara Waterproof Black, Rs.166.25
Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Soft Plum, Rs.194.75 (One of my favorites & most-used blushes!)

The makeup products are for one of YOU! I wanted it to be sort of a "Make-up Starter Kit". I will be giving away these products soon!

365Gorgeous is one of the many online beauty stores in India you could check out when shopping online. Compare prices, and it could be the one with the best deals.

Disclosure: I was provided a coupon to shop from the website. All opinions are my own, as always.

Have you ever shopped from 365Gorgeous? What was your experience like?

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Lipstick That Didn't Exist FOUND!

2012-05-23T18:18:00.000+05:30

You remember I did a post on Lipsticks That Don't Exist? Just when I'd given up, I found something very very close to the plum one up there! Yippee! I didn't even remember the non-existent lippie when I got it, I only realized it until it was on my lips.

It is MAC Rebel. I always thought it's leans towards red when I saw swatches on other bloggers, but when I wore it, it's much more of a deep plum almost exactly like the one on the model. Thing is, it tends to look more red than it really is on camera, coz of the purple undertones.

It's described by MAC as a 'Midtonal Cream Plum' and has a Satin finish.

I will post swatches & a look soon to give you a better idea.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Colorbar Spearmint Eye Shadow + 3 More Shades

2012-05-23T16:11:00.000+05:30

I'm obsessed with the color Mint these days, so I thought I should own a good mint eye shadow too. I googled, but couldn't find anything I liked:

Too light.

Too chalky.

Uhm, that's too green/blue to be mint!

Then I saw Colorbar Spearmint, and fancied it enough to buy it. Of course, 300 rupees ($5.35) made it easy. It has a pearl finish, which is better for a pastel shade, coz matte pastels tend to look chalky.

"Use Before 06/12" Wth? I forgot to check the manufacturing date!

My only complaint is, the shadow pan gets stuck like that and it's very hard to pull it out

It is quite pigmented, blends smoothly, and no fall-out.

Dupe for: I compared, and it is a little similar to MAC Steamy.

Price ~ Rs.300

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4/5 (Packaging- 2/5)

I also got some more:

Spearmint, Flirt (This is almost similar to Colorbar I-Glide Pencil Flirty Turq), Star Violet, Heatwave

Will swatch the others too in sometime.

You liking any of these?

P.S. THANK YOU so much everyone for your wonderful birthday wishes! :)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

The Make-up & Shoe Addict's Birthday Cake

2012-05-22T11:10:00.000+05:30

I'm sowwie for disappearing for 4 days straight! I have no excuse, except maybe that I was feeling a bit uninspired, and on top of that, I was staying at my in-laws for 3 days- eating & gossiping, mostly. Now I'm on full blogging mode again....so much to say....to tell you...yes, I have some kinda big news too (for later)
Right now, it's all about the cake.We're talking GUCCI shoes & MAC make-up! Oh-my-bows! \(^.^)/ My sis-in-law (Mr.CZ's elder sister) made me this cake (She completed her baking classes & is making a lot of cakes for practice these days) It's one of the most thoughtful, sweetest, things anybody's ever done for me, I couldn't thank her enough! Though my birthday is today, I cut this cake on Saturday already.

That's a shoe box & the white is supposed to be a silk mat- it's so cute that she made the fold

I'm guessing....Eyeshadow Palette, Blush, Lipstick, Nail Polish, Make-up Brush

Just a random pic Mr.CZ clicked

The cake inside was sooo...yummy! One of the best I've ever had. The brown is Nutella.

The shoe fits! I just couldn't squeeze my foot under the bow part :))

How I'm spending my birthday today? Hello, SHOPPING! Maybe dinner & 1 Tequila shot afterwards.....

What I'm wearing? Either the pink Mango dress or the polka dot Mango dress. I now have shoes for both of them. I was so inspired by my cake I went out to buy 3 pairs of shoes the next day! I was thinking 5-6 pairs, but you know the sad story. Will post pics.

How old/young am I now? I turned......[Guess!] ;)

She also made this cute tag with a heart ♥

Happy Week, Everyone!

*Last minute addition.....

Mr.CZ gifted me a wish last night ♥

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

What's On My Coffee Table?

2012-05-17T16:16:00.000+05:30

Coffee ~~addict~~ lover in the house! *Ting, ting, ting, clank, clank, clank.....* I mixed my coffee- hopefully into a cream-colored creamy frothy goodness. He hears it. The annoying sounds are too familiar.

Mr.CZ: "Are you making coffee again??!! I really don't think you should have it anymore...it's not good for your migraine." (Coffee usually gave me headaches.)

Me: "I read on the internet that coffee actually cures migraine!" (Hah!)

No, I wasn't lying, I read it here. I think one cup a day is fine. Now that I have a cup every evening (I call it best part of my day), I don't feel weird in my head, anymore.

Wooden square coasters (far left)
The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Africa Honey & Beeswax Hand & Foot Butter (One of my favorite TBS Product)
Mr.CZ ;p Really, he looks like him! It's a Fizzy Moon bear that came with a cup Mr.CZ gifted me one Christmas.
Goofy mug- It holds pencils, makeup brushes, eyeliner....random things.
Mini Zodiac Books ~ I just find little books very cute! Gemini & Virgo = Moi & Mr.CZ.
Nici Donkey Picture Clip ~ No pictures here, just some notes & reminders (....& greetings)
eos Lip balm in Sweet Mint ~ My current lip balm for this room.
Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy Ace ~ DON'T BUY IT! It keeps shutting down for no reason =[
Art d'inox tea/coffee set
And yeah, the very fake yellow flowers.

Books: My 'Princess' Diary (filled with nonsense), The Sense Of An Ending- Julian Barnes (Brilliant! Re-read material), The Magic-Rhonda Byrne (Yet to practice it everyday, but I will! I so believe in Magic!)

Btw, the table comes with the couch-cum-bed. I love it! If you don't want it out, simply push it back in & replace the cushion in front of it.

Question 1: Have you ever applied freshly mixed creamy coffee on your face? I'm so tempted! =D

Question 2: What's on your coffee table? Comment below or do a tag post- I tag all you bloggers!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Bourjois Bubble Chic Paris Collection

2012-05-16T19:45:00.000+05:30

Bourjois launched another cute nail polish collection called Bubble Chic Paris. All cute words ! Bubble. Chic. Paris. But I really like only 1 shade.

45 Rose Wonder

46 Apricot Hoodies

60 Fabulous Blue

61 Green Chlorophyll

62 Rose Imaginary

My Favorite- Rose Imaginary! WANT!

Which is yours?

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Adele Inspired EOTD

2012-05-15T17:43:00.000+05:30

"The scars of your love remind me of us... They keep me thinking that we almost had it all.......
.....You had my heart inside of your hand....But you played it to the beat."

How To:

After priming lids, apply a shimmery white or a beige shade close to your skin on your lids. I used Virgin from Urban Decay Naked Palette

Apply a light brown shadow on the crease using a pencil brush. Also apply some on your lower lash line. I used Buck & Naked from Urban Decay Naked Palette with Inglot 80 HP/S

Line your eyes with liquid or gel liner. Make it thick towards the outer corner. It's a thick version of the Cat Eyeliner. I used Maybelline Hyper Sharp Liner

Curl lashes & apply 3-4 coats of mascara on top & bottom lashes.

Optional: Apply a nude pencil on the waterline. I did it with MAC Chromagraphic Pencil & then used a Q-tip to done down the color.

Optional: Put on false lashes that are longer at the outer corners, like Adele's here. I was lazy ;p

*The liner dried up on me before I could retouch & darken the liner =\

Inspiration

Hope you like! :)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Early Birthday Gifts & Haul...Woohoo!

2012-05-14T18:09:00.001+05:30

Early Birthday Gift: My brother (elder/only) came to Delhi & stayed with us for a night. He thoughtfully/generously told me to buy something for my birthday (I lub him!). The only disturbing thing was, we went to the mall LATE- almost closing time! How am I supposed to do full justice to free money in 10-15 minutes?! Mr.CZ & bro went on to do their own things, and I was alone. Ok, no dilly-dally, I told myself. I went from one shop to another like a crazy person!

Debenhams- Nothing!

Mark's & Spencer- Nothing! Well, actually, I adored some lingerie, but I would never buy those with my brother's money... haha!

Guess- I couldn't see the store. Later, I asked Mr.CZ if it's shut down or something, but he said he went there. It was there, yet I didn't see it! I plead temporary insanity.

Accessorize- Jewelry needs time, which I didn't have *argh!*

This time, it's officially closing time. I saw a guard in one of the boring shops put the CLOSED thingy on the door. I panicked and ran.....and I landed in Mango. Long story short, I decided on a Polka Dot Dress (which is S, and I'm waiting for them to call & tell me XS is available, so I can go exchange) and white sunglasses - I thought 'Ooh....full-on retro look!' [Detailed pics of the dress here]

The following are what i hauled recently:

2 more bow sunglasses from Ebay. The ones below are the same as the pink ones I wore here

Too Faced Brow Envy Kit

MAC Angel Lipstick

I will swatch & review the make-up products shortly.

Have a great week, everyone! =)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Lakmé Absolute Moon-Lit Highlighter Review, Swatches, LOTD

2012-05-14T15:28:00.000+05:30

I'm not into highlighters. That's because my oily face is already a natural, self-made, highlighter.

But Lakmé Absolute Moon-Lit Highlighter looked good enough to eat, I couldn't resist! Plus, I have a weakness for duos & powders with interesting designs on them. If I ever design one myself, it would have a high heel shoe with a bow embossed on it. I have an ugly sketch of it in Paint- which I don't really know how to use.

About:

Luxurious ultra pearlised Face Highlighter duo, with its micro-fine velvet pearls which melt into your skin for a naturally luminous glow.

Enriched with Vitamin E

Dermatologically tested

How/Where To Apply: You can use your finger to apply on top of your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, cupid's bow, and brow bone. It can also be applied on your clavicles & décolletage. If I'm using a brush, I use Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush

Oh the subtle marketing tactic ;p Actually, use powder before using this highlighter, okay? :)

What's brilliant about this highlighter is, it is dual-colored & has a conventional vanilla highlighting powder + a bronze one. So, if the vanilla one looks too white, you can always take it down a few notches by mixing it with the bronze. The texture of the powder is smooth & silky, and both colors blend together easily. The wafer design, of, course, is the best thing about it.

The only problem: The shimmer has a way of travelling beyond where you want it to stay put- you can judge by the loose shimmer on the sides of the pan. It can be controlled by shaking off your brush & blowing your finger before applying.

I want to bite it!

Swatches: 1, 2, 1+2 (Without Flash)

Swatches: 1, 2, 1+2 (With Flash)

I used both shades on my cheeks & the vanilla on my tear duct areas. I didn't use it on the bridge of my nose coz it's already a very sharp nose :@ . If you have a flat nose, using a highlighter on the bridge will make it look more defined. [Photo taken on 11th April ]

This is a high-end-quality highlighter with a price tag that suits it. Forget MAC MSF, try this first!

If you have Lakmé Gold Dust Shimmer Bronzer, and you don't think you'll need the vanilla shade in this, then you can skip it, coz the bronze shade is quite similar to Gold Dust Bronzer.

Price ~ Rs.510 = $9.50

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.5/5

Are you into highlighters?

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

New Launches ~ Pond's, Faces Canada, Fair & Lovely

2012-05-11T16:04:00.000+05:30

Below are some of the new skin care products in the Indian market. They are all calling out to me, especially the ones at the very end.

Fair & Lovely Advanced Multi Vitamin Daily Fairness Expert- This premium variant addresses skin concerns such as marks, sun tan, dullness, dark circles and skin darkening. It enhances fairness, protects from free radicals, nourishes and rejuvenates the skin.

Pond's New Age Miracle - The Pond’s Institute combined the power of up to 6 bio-actives to create the youth-enhancing miracle that is New Intelligent Pro Cell Complex™. The 6 bio-actives work in combination with each other and with the natural processes of your skin, to comprehensively ensure that age simply cannot catch up.

CLA: Miraculous ingredient that stimulates skin cells, thus promoting faster cellular turnover.
Retinol: Best proven ingredient that works within skin, influencing and enhancing skin’s ability to produce collagen and repair itself.
Two Retinol Boosters: Work with each other to boost the efficacy of Retinol, accelerating and enhancing skin’s ability to act younger, through epidermal rejuvenation.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA): Gently exfoliates skin by accelerating removal of skin-dulling dead cells. Skin appears smoother and clears the way for renewed skin cells from within.
Glycerine: Restores and enhances skin’s moisture level for softer, visibly plumper and younger looking skin.
12HSA: Works deep within skin to renew skin cells and adapt to the unique genetic framework of skin.

- Pond's Age Miracle Cell ReGEN™ Day Cream SPF 15 PA++ (50g at Rs.399/-, 35g at Rs.299 & 10g at Rs.99/-)

- Pond's Age Miracle Deep Action Night Cream (50g at Rs. 399/-)

Pond's White Beauty Peel-Off Instant Brightening Mask - Transform your skin for that perfect glow with new Pond’s white beauty Peel-off mask which gives instant brightening. In just one application, its Vita-active boosters and unique peel-off action lifts away accumulated dark, dead cells and impurities and reveal your new fairer skin instantly. Price: Rs. 99 only! (50 gm tube)

FACES Canada All About Hands - Hand Lotion 300ml MRP 549 & 120ml MRP 299

FACES Canada All About Hands - Night Cream 120ml MRP 749

FACES Canada All About Hands - Hand Butter 180gm 549

FACES Canada All About Hands - Hand & Elbow Scrub 200ml MRP 549

FACES Canada All About Hands - Hand & Nail Milk Soak 240gm MRP 449 & 50gm 199

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Urban Decay NAKED 'Vs' NAKED 2

2012-05-11T00:42:00.000+05:30

Woohoo! Let's throw some jello on them! In case you haven't gone through the Reviews & Swatches of the individual palettes yet, you can read them: Naked & Naked 2, before reading this post.

I'll make this quick!

Urban Decay Naked (Original)

Urban Decay Naked 2

The next pic makes me angry, coz it's not clear enough, but I still put it up, so you get to see the eyeshadows side -by-side: Naked 2 (left), Naked (right)

I'll compare only the colors that look similar in the palettes, so that you (and I) don't get confused. Colors not compared are all different.

Naked Virgin (oops! ;p) Vs Naked 2 Bootycall - Virgin has a hint of pink, while Bootycall is more cream & almost looks like it has a hint of gold

Naked Sidecar Vs Naked 2 YDK - Both gorgeous, as you can see

Naked Smog Vs Naked 2 Snakebite - Snakebite is darker & has more brown in it, Smog is more golden

Naked Half Baked Vs Naked 2 Half Baked - Same same, but somehow the one in Naked feels smoother/silkier

Naked Hustle Vs Naked 2 Busted - Similar, but Busted is darker & more pigmented than Hustle, hence better quality too.

Naked Creep Vs Naked 2 Blackout - Creep is bluish black with shimmer, Blackout is matte blackest black.

Eyeshadows:

Naked: I absolutely can't live without Buck & Naked, and I adore Sidecar & Toasted
Naked 2: Though there are really nice colors in this palette, I really like only YDK. Of course, it's nice to have a matte black shadow like Blackout too, but I can easily do away with Creep from Naked.

♥ Winner: Naked.

Extras:

Naked: You get a Primer Potion (Eyeshadow Primer) & a Good Karma Brush.
Naked 2: You get a dual-sided Shadow/Crease Good Karma Brush & a Lip Junkie Lipgloss. I don;t like the lipgloss at all.

♥ Winner: A tie, I guess. I prefer the Primer Potion from Naked & the brush from Naked 2.

Packaging:

Naked: Classy-looking suede with gold foil letters, but it attracts lint! Oh, the lint! I remember seeing a lint roller at Forever 21 when i was at the cash counter, and was searching my head for a reason to buy it. Now I find it! And the gold writing is fading.
Naked 2: Tin packaging & bigger mirror inside, so it's easier to clean & would hardly ever look old, like Naked . But it's more bulky & heavier. Sometimes it's hard to make it sit on a table when it's opened without it tilting backwards.

♥ Winner: 50-50, I guess. It all comes down to personal preference here. Both come with pros & cons. I still prefer Naked, because it's lighter & easier to grip.

Price: Both cost $50.00

The ultimate test:

When I was packing for Mumbai, and had to pick only one eyeshadow palette to take with me. I picked Naked!

Finally......

Naked

Naked 2

The WINNER (for me) is ~ Naked (Original). I'm just sad about the packaging. But then, I have treated it recklessly (and always take it with me on vacays & weekends away from home), to be fair to it. I'm actually surprised it's not torn yet >.<

How about you? Can't decide which one to choose?

I'm pretty sure your heart already knows. Follow it! :)

Do you need Naked 2 if you already have Naked?

I'm a naturally curious person & collect things in twos, so I had to get Naked 2. Now I could sell it in a heartbeat (I maybe have to, for certain reasons). So, I'd say- No.

*BUT they are different palettes, even if not completely. They both have something to offer.

P.S. Have you voted on the 'Naked Palette' poll, yet? Please do! It's on the right below 'Product Of The Week' up there. Thanks! :)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

A Vanity Case From Lakmé

2012-05-10T15:22:00.000+05:30

It's black, it's leather (faux, I assume), it's bigger than a shoe box, it has a mirror, it's Lovely! It's a Lakmé Vanity Case/Jewelry box....and I needed it! When I first saw it, I squeeealed. Mr.CZ was like: "It's just a box. What can you keep in there, anyways?" Hmm, let's see....

*Claps 3 times*.... Khul Ja Sim Sim....

I keep my small earrings in the middle there- for easy access

You lift that top plate & under it is a big space. I keep my necklaces, mostly. It's quite random right now.

I hang some earrings like that

Doesn't it look so useful?! Oh no, Lakmé doesn't make vanity cases & jewelry boxes! This is what the Lakmé Perfect Radiance Capsules came in....

"Skin capsules with vanity on the side."

I don't know if the capsules are really sold with the vanity box, are they? If yes, then the stores would have no space for other things! =D I'm still testing the capsules right now, so will review them a bit later.

But at this moment, I LOVE the Vanity Case - pun intended ;)

P.S. There's a poll below 'Product Of The Week' on the right up there. Please vote! I'm ordering one for the 'special' giveaway I mentioned. Thanks!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Disclosure: Product sent by brand for consideration. Enthusiasm expressed is totally my own, as always.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Review & Swatches

2012-05-09T16:11:00.000+05:30

3 months later, we have a review & swatches! For those who don't know, this palette is a sequel of the iconic Urban Decay Naked Palette. Will it overshadow it's predecessor? Read on to find out.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette comes in a sturdy well-made tin box with a wide big mirror inside, and 12 eyeshadows are accompanied with a dual-ended Good Karma brush & a mini Lip Junkie Lipgloss.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadows: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout.

Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper

Foxy ~ Cream Bisque. It's a matte cream (kulfi) color. It can be used as a base color. But I rarely use it.

Half Baked ~ Golden Bronze. It's what both Naked & Naked 2 have in common. My most used golden eyeshadow.

Bootycall ~ Peachy Vanilla. Great highlight color, and it's very smooth. You can even use it on your cheeks, nose, cupid's bow, and wherever needs to be highlighted.

Chopper ~ Copper with silver micro-glitter. Some fallout with this, but not major.

Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol

Tease ~ Creamy Pale Brown. Like Sidecar was what caught my fancy in the Naked palette, it was Tease that enticed me from Naked 2. Much to my disappointment, it is not the best quality. It is not pigmented, not smooth & silky, it's an inch away from being chalky. Very stubborn eyeshadow.

Snakebite ~ Dark Bronze. I hate the name so much...ugh! Ophidiophobia. Ugh....*shudders* But it's one of the stars in this palette- pigmented & wearable, and a nice substitute for gold

Suspect ~ Pale Golden Beige. This I like to apply on my inner tear duct areas. Wear it on top of Busted, and you'll get something similar to MAC Satin Taupe.

Pistol ~ Light greyish brown. This is a really nice, unique shade, that can give an interesting twist when mixed with any other color in the palette.

Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

Verve ~ Oyster. This is nice when worn alone, or layered on top of another color. When you wear it on top of disappointing Tease, you get a beautiful shimmery brownish taupe.

YDK ~ Cool bronze. This is gorgeous! One of my favorites from this palette. I team it with Busted most times.

Busted ~ Deep Brown. LOVE this shade! I used in a tutorial here

Blackout ~ Blackest black. It's one of the most pigmented black eyeshadows I have. I think this is what's missing in the Naked Palette. I used this in the Black Smokey Eyes Tutorial

EOTD: Wearing Chopper & Busted

Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush ~ I especially love the Crease brush (right), coz it's great for effortless blending shadow on the crease. The shadow brush (left) is too stiff for my liking, but it's not totally useless coz it can be used for lining too, since it has an almost paper thin tip.

Urban Decay Naked Lip Junkie Lipgloss ~ It has the cooing effects of peppermint, and does feel like it plumps up my lips a little. It's not sweet, but it does smell/taste like Polo Mints. Inoffensively sticky, actually, almost not sticky. Yet I don't fancy it, so it's probably the last time I'll wear it. I really think they should have put a Primer Potion instead.

The best things about this palette, for me:

Pencil box tin packaging. But it's heavy.
Blackout
Busted
Suspect
YDK
Bootycall
Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush
Price. I think it's really worth $50

What I don't like about it:

Tease
Naked Lipgloss.

Price ~ $50. I paid Rs.2719 + Shipping. Details on how I got it here

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 4/5

I guess you kind of know which I like better: Naked or Naked 2. But I'll still post a comparison post next =)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush With A BOW ~ Product Of The Week

2012-05-07T16:49:00.000+05:30

Oh-my-bow! It's like it flew right out of my imagination, albeit a little modified. Meet my new powder brush - Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush. It is super soft (cashmere soft) because it's made teddy bear hair [100% Cruelty-Free] I've washed it once already (before using it), and the bristles didn't shed or bleed.

J'adore!

The satin bow is perched on an elastic band which can be slipped off the handle

Price ~ $31.70 = Rs.1677.00

My Rating ~ ♥♥♥♥♥ 5/5

Available at Apothica. They ship internationally, but I got it shipped to Shop & Ship coz it's free shipping within the US & international shipping worked out cheaper comparatively. I have mentioned that in my review of the Too Faced 3 Piece Brush Set here

Are you bowed away by the cuteness? =)

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

WINNER Of Too Faced Smokey Eye Palette ....

2012-05-07T13:56:00.001+05:30

It's time to reveal whom the fabulous Too face Smokey Eye Palette belongs to. A total of 3322 entries (Love that number!), and random.org picked a winner....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Participant #1810

The LUCKY WINNER is Emerald Love.

Congratulations! =)

Please go to Contact & send me your mailing address. If I don't hear from you within the next 48 hrs, I will pick another winner.

Thank you for participating & telling me your ideal eye shadow colors, everyone! I read, and had a mental image of, each & every one of them. If you didn't win this one, maybe you'll win my next "special" giveaway, which will be announced shortly. 3 PRIZES, 3 WINNERS! Half the prizes are already in my house. Stay tuned.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Reader In DISTRESS! Make-up & Skincare For Hyperpigmentation/Melasma

2012-05-05T17:48:00.000+05:30

Some days back, I got this email from a reader:

"CZ!!! i need your help please!!! Rote in to u soo many times but i just havent heard from you!!!! wats a gurl gotta do to get your attention huh????!!!! :P ;) Its summertime and that = lots of sweating and melted off makeup on the face!!! :@ I desperately need you to recommend a good waterproof long lasting liquid foundation for me!! Ive heard liquid foundations are good for heavy coverage ie cover pigmentation, melasma?? :S I suffer from pigmentation of the upperlip and i generally wear foundation on tat part and spread it out a bit to lighten the pigmentation but coz of the summers it melts all over!!! :\'( im desperately in need of help CZ & only U can help me!!! I dont trust salesladies at makeup counters to give a honest enough opinion!! I had written to you on your lakme mousse review page to but still no reply!!! Please please pleaseeee help!!!! Or ill stop recommending your name to my friends!!!! *muahahha* :P ;) ok maybe that was being a bit too dramatic but wats a gurl without some drama huh?? ;) PLEASE REPLY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!! :)
Hugs,
Ri!! :) "

Firstly, I'd like to say to all those whose distressful queries/comments I have not replied to, most times I simply forget! Sometimes I go back to an old blog post, see a comment I think I should have replied to but completely FORGOT, and I feel very bad. Very bad. Same with emails. So, my sincere aplologies if I missed replying to your queries. I advise you to resend sometimes so it pokes me "Reply....reply, woman!" Believe me, I forget to reply to emails from people who want to give me free stuff & money, too. This head, I tell you.

Secondly, hahaha....!!! I read this email one morning & it totally woke me up =D

Okay, below are my favorite products that help me conceal dark patches & blemishes:

Make-up:

Oil-free Foundation Primer: Primer is what will help your base stay on longer, especially in sweaty conditions. My favorite is Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Oil Free, and Too Faced Primed & Poreless is also not bad.
Medium-to-Heavy Coverage Creamy Foundation: I find that a creamy foundation works better on hyperpigmentation, just like a creamy concealer is better for under eye circles. Especially if you're going to use a creamy concealer afterwards, a creamy foundation would be more compatible with it. Right now, I like Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Airbrush Foundation because it's kind of creamy. Other Options are: Kryolan Supracolor, Colorbar Triple Act Compact (which is a foundation, concealer & compact in one), MAC Mineralize Foundation SPF 15. Of course, I still use Liquid Foundations too & I like- Revlon Colorstay for Oily/Combination Skin & Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, L'Oreal True Match Foundation.
Tattoo Concealer: After foundation, apply concealer on your dark patches. I prefer creamy ones here as well. My most used concealer is MAC Studio Finish Concealer.

*After applying concealer, pat everything with a damp makeup sponge. This helps the products adhere to your skin better. I used to do this when my dark patches were out in the open.

Loose Powder: Set everything with loose powder. Loose powder looks more natural than compact powders. I like- The Body Shop Loose Powder, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder. Of course, you can also use compact powders, but use a powder brush instead of the puff that comes with it, for a non-cakey finish.
Oil Blotting Sheets: You NEED these for all-day shine-free face, and they are great to use before retouching your powder during the day, because it's unhygienic to apply powder on a greasy face. Basically, they are thin oil-absorbing sheets, which you can use to pat off excess oil from your face. Sometimes, you wouldn't need powder after using them, coz they make the skin look matte already. I currently use Clean & Clear Oil Control Film (the blue thing up there) but they are not easily available in India. Other options are Inglot Oil Blotting Sheets & The Body Shop Tree Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissues.

Skincare:

Cleansing ~ Hyperpigmented skin falls under sensitive skin category, so avoid soap- especially if you are using a strong prescription cream. Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion is best. But when it's very hot & my skin gets really oily, I like to use a foaming face wash like Pond's Clear Pimples Facial Foam.
Serum ~ Serum is a concentrated formula which you can use to target specific skin concerns. If your problem is hyperpigmentation, you pick a whitening one. If your problem is wrinkles, you pick anti-ageing one. It could be a substitute for moisturizer. I have used a bunch of serums, but I haven't really found a miracle worker yet, so I'm not going to recommend any right now.
Moisturizing ~ Skin needs to be moisturized for smooth/even makeup application. I like Cetaphil Mosturizing Lotion, especially when I have pimples too. But you can use anything that suits you.
Sunblock ~ A MUST! Sun exposure will only increase the size of your dark patches and cause some more. Tried & liked ~ Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunblock, Lakme Cucumber & Lemongrass Whitening Sunblock

* Yes, you apply both moisturizer & sunblock before applying your make-up, unless your foundation or moisturizer have SPF.

Exfoliation ~ Use a face scrub 2-3 times a week to remove dead skin cells. I like to use a whitening one like Lotus WhiteGlow Oatmeal & Yogurt Skin Whitening Scrub
Microdermabrasion ~ This is a bit stronger than a basic face scrub. I've never gone for professional microdermabrasion services, and I've only done it at home with Pond's Age Miracle Resurfacing Microdermabrasion Kit
Night Treatment Cream ~ Of course, you need a special cream that will banish your dark patches (Forever, we hope!). Something with Hydroquinone is recommended. I have used some controversial creams, but I'm not going to go into that right now. I suggest you do your own research on Dear Google and find out what most people with this problem are using.

Hope that helps everyone suffering from Hyperpigmentation & Melasma. I realize this is a very complicated topic that could go on forever, so I will keep posting tips & let you know the products that work for me.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

1 Make-up Pictorial, Over 1 MILLION Pageviews!

2012-05-04T17:43:00.001+05:30

Hey IVC Readers,

Happy Friday! Hope you're all doing well. Me, I've been feeling kind of low this week, until I spotted something that picked me right up again.

I noticed one of my tutorials/pictorials has over 1 MILLION Pageviews! I thought these things happened only in Youtube, not in blogging world, let alone blogging world all the way in New Delhi, India.

I'm talking about the Easy Cat Eyeliner Tutorial I did last year:

Full post here

This tutorial has been lifted by many websites & shared in Facebook by people who pretend it's their work. So when you see it, please remember it's mine (mine!) =D. I have revamped it & watermarked it properly now.

Just look at that jump! I have never cared that much about traffic & pageviews. Honestly, I don't even know what "Demographics" really mean. Let's just say, a few PR companies who ask for details about my blog's traffic must think I'm an idiot.... and a few are still waiting for a reply. Numbers have never been my favorite topic. My math genius Mr.CZ got a little annoyed when I asked him "So, that's 1.94 Million, right?" [Yes, yes, now I know it's 1.09 million.]

I did this tutorial because I wanted to share something that might help some people, not because I expected 7 figure hits. But it did happen, and I can't help but feel proud & happy. That's why....

.... I have my pink bow shoes on & I'm off to buy myself a present ;)

Thank you all for stopping by always & enjoy your weekend!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Yummy Cream Blushes & Favorites

2012-05-02T18:15:00.000+05:30

I'd like to dedicate this post to all the Cream Blush lovers & dry-skinned ladies who absolutely cannot wear powder blushers.

NYX Glow Rouge Cream Blush
MAC Blushcreme Ladyblush. Discontinued, now a Cremeblend Blush
NYX Golden Rouge Cream Blush
Inglot AMC Cream Blush 84
Illamasqua Androgen Cream Pigment
Bobbi Brown Cabo Coral Pot Rouge
Topshop Neon Rose
NYX Hot Pink Rouge Cream Blush
MAC Florida Cremeblend Blush

Nyx Rouge Cream Blush: Glow, Hot Pink, Golden (has gold shimmer)

MAC Ladyblush 'Vs' NYX Glow

Topshop Neon Rose

To see swatches of the ones that aren't here, you can type the product in the search box on the right sidebar down there.

Want more? Visit the Blush Bar (which needs to be updated!)

I know you're feeling hungry now ;)

Mmm....I'm craving cheesecake!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Black Smokey Eyes Tutorial

2012-05-01T16:44:00.001+05:30

Here's the tutorial of the eye make-up I wore here & here. I'd just like to say, as always, it's very easy- easier than it looks.

Things you'll need:

Matte Black Eyeshadow- I used Urban Decay Blackout from Naked 2 Palette, but you can also use Bourjois Intense Eyeshadow #10
Matte Light Brown Eyeshadow- I used Buck from Urban Decay Naked Palette
Shimmery highlight eyeshadow-
Business Card - You'll know why =)
Black Kohl - I used Lakme Kohl Ultimate
Eyelash Curler- I used QVS Eyelash Curler
Mascara- I used Bourjois Fast & Perfect
Brushes- Too Faced Lid/Smoker brush, Sigma E30 pencil Brush, Sigma E45 Blending Brush

Let's get started:

After using eyeshadow primer, apply matte black eyeshadow all over your lid. Remember to tap off excess shadow from your brush to prevent fallout.

Using a thinner brush, apply the same eyeshadow on your lower lash line.

Using a business card, align it with the lower lash line eyeshadow & end of your eyebrow tail. You can also use sellotape (after getting off the extra stickiness on the back of your hand first), but a business card is better if you don't want to spoil your foundation. [If you don't want the edge, you can just make it rounded without the business card.]

Press the business card like you would a ruler & apply black eyeshadow on that area between the edge & black shadow. Decide on the shape you want- you can even apply it straight up for that winged look *It was difficult for me to hold camera, card & brush at once, so it's off there. But you get the idea.

Remove business card. You should see a crisp line.

Tightline your upper lash line with black kohl pencil.

Also line your lower lash line going all the way to the tear duct area.

Blending time: Using a light brown matte eyeshadow blend the black eyeshadow edges using window wiper & swirling motions. Blending Tutorial here

Also blend the black eyeshadow on lower lash line with the same brown eyeshadow.

Here, you just fill in any gaps with a liner brush or the same pencil brush.

This is optional. You can use a light shimmery shade to highlight your brow bone.

Curl lashes & apply black mascara on top & lower lashes. See how mascara opened up the eye? Mascara rocks!

DONE! =)

This is a basic smokey eye look. You can always use other colors instead of black. If I were using purple, I'd use a lighter purple or pink to blend.

Hope you'll give it a try & look smokin'!

♥ Cynthia Z *.*