Skin Care and Makeup Haul - Naheed Supermarket

Hello lovely readers! Hope you are starting to enjoy the start of winter in Karachi. In this post I'm going to share what I bought in preparation for the winter season from Naheed Supermarket at Bahadurabad. This haul has two types of products; the makeup products and skin care/ hair care products. First, I will talk about the makeup part of the haul.

Makeup haul - Naheed Supermarket.

So this makeup haul has only two types of products, lipsticks and cleansing wipes:

1. Garnier Micellar Extra-Gentle Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes for Rs. 349)

I told you in this post that Naheed had started selling Garnier Micellar water and Garnier Micellar Extra-Gentle Cleansing Wipes. I picked up the micellar water wipes shortly after my last post and I've been using them almost daily since then. The problem with the Micellar water is that it stings my eyes while I'm trying to remove my waterproof eyeliner and any other eye makeup I may be wearing. But the Garnier Micellar wipes are perfect for removing my eye makeup and do not sting my eyes at all. They work pretty well on the rest of the face also. I also use them to remove my liquid lipsticks at the end of the day. I've gone through several packs of the micellar wipes in the last few months and I plan on continuing to use these gentle makeup removing wipes for a while now.

2. Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color  

I recently tried two Maybelline Color Sensational lip colors and I have been loving wearing them. The cream lipsticks are also very hydrating for my lips so I decided to buy some more shades for the winter. Here are the four shades of the Color Sensational lip colors that I bought along with the price I paid for each:

• 245 Magic Mauve (Rs. 1099)
• 315 High Plum (Rs. 1099)
• 470 Red Revolution (Rs. 1000)
• 180 Crazy Pink (Rs. 1099)  

I have swatched the four shades below and I plan on doing a detailed review post about Maybelline lipsticks with lip swatches very soon.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color swatches (with flash): 245 Magic Mauve, 315 High Plum, 470 Red Revolution and 180 Crazy Pink (from top to bottom). 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color swatches (with no flash): 245 Magic Mauve, 315 High Plum, 470 Red Revolution and 180 Crazy Pink (from top to bottom). 

The next part of my haul shows the skin care and hair products I picked up for the coming winter. Here's what I bought:

Skin care/ hair care haul - Naheed Supermarket.

3. Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow Lotion (Rs. 315 for 400 ml)

The first thing I bought was the Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow Lotion. This is my favorite moisturizer for the past few years and the reason for this haul as I had run out. I use this moisturizer daily on my face before I do any makeup, even during summers. In winters, I keep a smaller bottle in my purse and in my desk drawer at office for use as a hand cream. As the website claims, it is indeed fast-absorbing and does not make my skin look oily. Plus I love the slight cocoa scent that lingers for a few seconds after application.

Now the problem with this product is that Unilever has a big international footprint and there are so many different versions of this moisturizer available in the market. It is even manufactured here in Pakistan. But the version that I like best is manufactured in South Africa and I hope it continues to be available here locally for a long time.

4. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal Shampoo (Rs. 500 for 400 ml)

The L'Oréal Paris Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal Shampoo is something that I just saw on the shelves and wanted to try it. The shampoo is being marketed for dull and fine to normal hair. I have fine hair that is looking quite dull recently so the product seems to be perfect for me. I'll post a review once I try it.

5. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Fibrology Air Shampoo (Rs. 500 for 400 ml) 

The L'Oréal Paris Elvive Fibrology Air Shampoo was another on-the-whim pick of mine. The shampoo meant to give lifted, thicker look to fine hair. I'm looking for a shampoo that gives some volume to my fine hair, so again this shampoo seems the solution. I'll let you know how I like it once I use it a  couple of times.

6. St. Ives Mineral Therapy Body Lotion (Rs. 495 for 621 ml)

I'm a huge fan of St. Ives shower gels and I believe I have the entire product range in my bathroom. I use the exfoliating ones during the summer and the triple butter ones during winters. This autumn I have been using the Mineral Therapy bath wash almost daily. So I also wanted to try the St. Ives Mineral Therapy Body Lotion. I'll post a review on the lotion when I try it, but right now I'm worried about the fate of Mineral Therapy body wash. It does not exist on either the US or UK website so it seems that St. Ives have discontinued it. Maybe I should stock up on a couple of bottles while it is still being sold in Pakistan.   

7. St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Wash (Rs. 325 for 400 ml)

The St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Wash is a repurchase for the winter season. I love using the hydrating triple butter body wash range (the other two are Coconut and Orchid Body Wash and Vanilla Body Wash) during winters. St. Ives seem to have removed the words "Triple butter" from the new packaging but I hope it still performs the same. I hardly required any moisturizing after I took a shower with any of the three triple butter body washes last winter.

Is there anything else that I should be buying for the winter? Let me know in the comments below!

J. | Junaid Jamshed Summer Clearance Sale Haul (October 2016)

Hello ladies! I hope all of you have shopped to your heart's content at the end of summer sales in Pakistan this October. My favorite end of season sale is definitely the one held by J. or Junaid Jamshed. The main reason I love these sales is because I can pick up some stitched dresses at quite reasonable prices. J. enjoys much popularity among housewifes but it's pret line is equally popular among the working women. 

J. | Junaid Jamshed Summer Clearance sale 2016.

The annual Summer Clearance sale at J. | Junaid Jamshed was held from 14th October to 30th October 2016. This time I picked up four stitched dresses, one trouser and one perfume from the Junaid Jamshed sale. So I'm posting the pictures of the dresses I bought from J. below. 

J. | Junaid Jamshed Summer Clearance sale 2016 - the haul.

J. | Junaid Jamshed Summer Clearance sale 2016 - the haul.

Dress # 1: Tribal Weave

I didn't buy a lot of clothes from Junaid Jamshed this year, nor have I followed the collections so closely. So I didn't really know which collection this blue dress is from. The tag is labeled Volume 4, Iss Eid Har Rang Apna, so I guess this is from the latest Eid collection of 2016. Tribal Weave was available at 25% off. I don't think I have many bright blue dresses in my wardrobe at the moment, so I picked this one up. The material is also not the thin summer lawn, so I guess it will work well in the cooler evenings of autumn in Karachi. Original price for the 3-piece stitched lawn suit is Rs. 6585, I got it for Rs. 4939 only. All the sizes of this dress are still in stock at the website (linked above) if you are interested.

J. Tribal Weave - stitched 3 piece lawn. 

Here's the description from the website:

Fabric Type: Lawn

Collection Type: Jacquard

Category: Ladies 3pc

Wear Type: Casual

Neckline: Band Collar Neckline with Slit 

Shirt Front details: Straight Embroidered Shirt 

Shirt Back Details: Printed Back 

Sleeves: Three Quarter Sleeves with Lace & Inside Slit 

Dress # 2: Geomatric Motif 

The second dress I picked up is a deep green dress with black embroidery at the front called Geomatric Motif. Again, I do not have a similar green color dress in my wardrobe; so I decided to mix things up a bit by picking this up. The suit comes with a chiffon dupatta, so for me this is a semi-formal kind of dress which I can wear at office meetings and also for evening birthday parties. Original price for the 3-piece stitched cotton suit is Rs. 4585, I got it for Rs. 3439 only after a 25% discount. All the sizes of this dress are still in stock at the website (linked above) if you are interested.

J. Geomatric Motif - 3 piece stitched cotton.

Here is the description from the website:

Fabric type: 100% PIMA Cotton

Product Description: Band collar embroidered neckline with slit & buttons, straight shirt, three quarter sleeves.

Dress # 3: Indi Boti

The next dress I got was from the Eid-ul-Fitr collection of 2016 and was also at 25%. Indi Boti seems to be out of stock now as I cannot find it on Junaid Jamshed's website. I really liked the dhani green color of this dress and decided that I need this colourful dress in my wardrobe. The actual price of this dress was Rs. 3585 and it was available for Rs. 2689 at the sale.  

J. Indi Boti - 3 piece stitched lawn.

Dress # 4: Glore

My fourth dress was also from the latest Volume 4, Eid Collection 2016. Glore is a brown-red dress with a fully embroidered front and a very pretty chiffon dupatta. This was the prettiest dress from this haul and I can't wait to wear it. If you want to check it out, all sizes are still in stock at the website. The actual price of this dress was Rs. 6385 and it was available for Rs. 4789 after 25% discount.

J. Glore - 3 piece stitched lawn with chiffon dupatta.

Here's the description from the website:

Fabric Type: Lawn

Collection Type: Pure Chiffon

Category: Ladies 3pc 

Wear Type: Casual

Neckline: Band Collar Neckline with Slit & Buttons

Shirt Front details: Straight Embroidered Shirt

Shirt Back Details: Printed Back 

Sleeves: Full Sleeves   

Blue Trouser

The trousers were at 15% at the sale. So I decided to pick up a matching trouser for a Khaadi kurti I picked up a few months ago. I couldn't find the trouser online, so I'll try to describe it as best as I can. It's a plain blue straight lawn trouser and with a grass/ flowers design printed with a slightly darker blue all round the lower legs. Regular price is Rs. 985 whereas I bought it for Rs. 837.

J. | Junaid Jamshed blue trouser.

Uroosa Eau de Parfum

The last thing I bought was a new fragrance from Junaid Jamshed. Uroosa is a fusion of floral and fruity notes. I'm really bad at describing perfume notes, so I'll be copying the official description from the website for your convenience. The perfume was manufactured in November 2015 and is set to expire after 6 years in November 2021. The 50 ml perfume bottle was available at 15% off for Rs. 1517. 

Description from the website:

Uroosa by J. is spectacular fusion of floral and fruity notes that very well define the choice of a modern day woman. Its theatrical performance starts off with featuring bergamot, tangerine, apple, black currant and nectarine. The stage is then taken over by magnolia, gardenia, lily-of-the-valley, freesia and jasmine. The final act of the recital is narrated by the gorgeous blend of amber, patchouli, vanilla, musk and sandalwood.

Category: Fresh Floral Fruity

Main Accord: Floral, Citrus, Fruity, Green, White floral, Fresh spicy

J. | Junaid Jamshed Uroosa Eau de Parfum.

Tell me in the comments below if you liked my haul. I would also love to read about what you generally buy

from the Junaid Jamshed sales.    

Disclaimer: I'm not much good at photographing clothes and I haven't worn any of my haul yet. So I have picked up some pictures directly from the Junaid Jamshed website. No copyright infringement is intended. 

The Body Shop Haul (Autumn Sale 2016)

Hello readers! As all makeup fans are aware The Body Shop Pakistan is having a 25% to 70% off sale at all it's outlets. In Karachi, this sale is currently going on at The Body Shop outlets in Dolmen Mall (Tariq Road), Dolmen Mall (Sea view), The Forum and Naheed Supermarket. These are the only four outlets I can remember right now, please comment if you know of any other TBS outlets in Karachi or other cities of Pakistan.

The five day sale sale will be on from 26th October to 30th October. If you have ever attended a TBS sale, you know that the place is very crowded during sales. In my opinion, the best time to visit the TBS outlets to avoid the rush during sales is either within two hours of the opening time or after 9 pm when most shoppers start to head home. This time I choose to visit the Dolmen Mall (Tariq Road) outlet for my haul. We entered the shop at around 2pm when there were already a few shoppers inside, but there was sufficient space to browse the aisles. However, people soon began to crowd up the place. When we left after almost half an hour, the place was almost full and about a dozen people were standing outside waiting for their companions who were shopping inside.

Moving on to the haul, I hardly bought any makeup this time from TBS. As you can see below, most of haul consists of skincare products. Before anyone says it, yes, I went a bit crazy for the Strawberry range this time, almost everything I bought is from the Strawberry range. I have linked each product to the closest match I can find on The Body Shop UK website. I did find a few differences, maybe because The Body Shop Pakistan is still selling some gifts leftover from last year's Christmas/ new year collection. I particularly noted this because the packaging for their Body Butters have changed a bit. There is now a black band on all stickers at the cap of all body butters. The full size body butters were available in the new packaging but the packaging on the gift sets was the old one.     

The Body Shop Pakistan Autumn 2016 haul.

Here's what I purchased:

• Strawberry Gift Bag
• Strawberry Body Mist
• Strawberry Shower Gel
• Strawberry Body Sorbet
• Satsuma Body Sorbet
• British Rose Eau de Toilette
• Moringa Hand Cream
• All-in-one Face base in shade 05
• Bath Lily Wild Argan

1. Strawberry Shower and Soften Set Gift Bag (Sale price = Rs. 1820)

The Strawberry Shower and Soften Set was a repurchase. I had originally purchased my first bag at the Christmas/ New year sale last year as a sampler to test some products of the strawberry line, The hand cream had been highly recommended by a friend and the body butter had many positive reviews online. The good thing about this bag is that it is perfect for travelling. I had a two day official trip to northern Sindh this month and I took this bag along. The body butter and hand cream were used up long before, so I used the extra space for adding my tooth brush, tooth paste and shampoo to the bag. The actual price of this bag is Rs. 2800 and after 35% discount I bought it for Rs. 1820 only. 

The bag contains four items:

• Strawberry Shower Gel 60ml
• Strawberry Body Butter 50ml
• Strawberry Hand Cream 30ml
• Mini bath lily

The Body Shop Strawberry Shower and Soften Set.

The Strawberry Hand Cream was my favorite from this bag and one that I had finished up the fastest. It is the only full size item in this set. It was an indulgence that I had decided at that time was not worth re-purchasing. However, as the winter season is starting to creep in, my hands are starting to feel quite dry. My only reason for re-purchasing this bag was because the strawberry hand cream was not available separately.

The Strawberry Body Butter was my favorite leg moisturizer last winter. I finished the mini version during winter and had purchased a full size during the summer sale. However, I haven't used the full size tub much during the summer except for a couple of days when my legs were feeling quite dry. So I decided to put back the full size strawberry body butter (with new packaging) when I picked up this bag.

The Strawberry Shower Gel I must admit is not particularly exciting. However, it gives a quite refreshed feeling whenever I use it. I do not have a lot of other fruity shower gels so I decided to buy it. I have also bought a full size of this gel, so I will probably save this mini bottle for my vacation next month.   

The last item in the bag is a red colour mini bath lily. I have only used the mini bath lily while travelling as I use the normal size bath lily at home. The one for my last bag is still quite new so I might decide to give this one away. 

2. Strawberry Body Mist (Sale price = Rs. 1567.50)

As you may have guessed, I am a bit addicted right now to The Body Shop Strawberry range. I tried the Strawberry Body Mist in store and decided to buy it. I haven't tried any body mists from The Body Shop before so I have my fingers crossed about this purchase. The 100 ml (3.3 fl oz) bottle of Strawberry Body Mist originally retails for Rs. 2090 and had a 25% discount at the sale.

3. Strawberry Shower Gel (Sale price = Rs. 1185)

As I have already discussed above, the Strawberry Shower Gel is quite good. It leather up easily without requiring too much product and the subtle strawberry scent lingers for a while after the shower. The 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) bottle of Strawberry Shower Gel originally retails for Rs. 1580 and was on 25% discount at the sale.  

The Body Shop Stawberry Shower Gel and Strawberry Body Mist.

4. Strawberry Body Sorbet (Sale price = Rs. 597)

I have read mixed reviews about this product so I was a bit reluctant to buy it. However, as I loved the Strawberry Body Butter, I thought the Strawberry Body Sorbet would be perfect for light moisturization during summers. The 200 ml (6.75 fl oz) tube of Strawberry Body Sorbet originally retails for Rs. 1990 and was on available at a huge discount of  70%.  

5. Satsuma Body Sorbet (Sale price = Rs. 597)

As I haven't tried any body sorbets from The Body Shop yet, the huge discount on the Satsuma Body Sorbet was a major in my decision to buy it. Again, I'll be using the sorbet during summers next year. The 200 ml (6.75 fl oz) tube of Satsuma Body Sorbet originally retails for Rs. 1990 and was on available at a huge discount of  70%.   

The Body Shop Strawberry Body Sorbet and Satsuma Body Sorbet.

6. British Rose Eau de Toilette (Sale price = Rs. 2895)

I haven't tried any fragrances from The Body Shop before. I liked this scent from the British Rose range and decided to buy it. The transparent stopper on the bottle is also quite cute. The 100 ml (3.3 fl oz) bottle of British Rose Eau de Toilette originally retails for Rs. 3860 and was on 25% discount at the sale. 

The Body Shop British Rose Eau de Toilette.

7. Moringa Hand Cream (Sale price = Rs. 540)

I really feel like using hand creams this year and I know that I'm going to finish the Strawberry Hand Cream too soon, For this reason I decided to pick up the Moringa Hand Cream to last me through the winter season, The 30 ml (1 fl oz) tube of Morinaga Hand Cream originally retails for Rs. 720 and was on 25% discount at the sale. 

The Body Shop Moringa Hand Cream.

8. All-in-one face base in shade 05 (Sale price = Rs. 2392.50)

I have been using the All-in-One Face Base in the shade 04 for the past year. But the shade 04 becomes a bit light for me during the summers as I have discussed before, so I decided to buy the shade 05 for summer time. It blends easily and stays put for a long time. I believe that this base gives a white cast to the face during flash photography and hence not really suitable for night time. However, I'll have to test this theory a bit more before I come to any conclusion. The 9g compact comes with an application sponge that I use. The All-in-one face base originally retails for Rs. 3190 and was on 25% discount at the sale. 

9.  Wild Argan Bath Lily (Sale price = Rs. 360)

I regularly use The Body Shop bath lilies during my showers. The bath lilies are quite thick and lovely on the skin. So I also decided to stock up on The Body Shop bath lilies. This time I bought a deep blue bath lily. The Wild Argan Oil Bath Lily originally retails for Rs. 480 and was on 25% discount at the sale. 

This was everything that I bought for myself at the sale from The Body Shop. Today is the last day of sale, so you may want to visit your nearest outlet if you haven't already. If you do visit the sale, please leave a comment below listing your hauls. I'd love to read what everyone else bought from this sale. Good Bye!!     

Jewelry Haul no. 1 (2016)

Hello Ladies! My cousin's wedding is this December and I'm the maid of honour. So I'm gradually shopping for matching jewelry with all my outfits in her wedding. Today I'm going to share some pictures of the jewelry I bought recently. In case there is any confusion, this is all artificial jewelry!

The first picture shows two items; a golden bracelet and dual-finger rings with four connecting chains. The dual finger ring is supposed to be worn on the thumb and the little finger with the chains hanging freely under the knuckles. I'm planning to wear these two pieces with my green outfit for my cousin's mehndi ceremony. I bought both these pieces from Gulf shopping center.   

Golden bracelet and dual-finger rings.

The second picture shows two golden bangles with pink gems and one multi-color golden bracelet in a wavy pattern. The bangles I'm planning to wear with a pink and golden suit that I have ordered for one of the several functions of my cousin's wedding. These three pieces were bought from a lady in DHA who sells jewelry from her home. The lovely lady also gave us these colourful pouches to store our jewelry in.

Golden bangles and bracelet.

Jewelry pouches.

The last picture is not exactly a haul as it was a gift from my aunt who just came back from KSA. She got me a pair of long silver earrings with pink and purple stones; matching ring and a pair of golden bangles. The earrings and the ring are quite funky and I can't wait to wear them. The bangles unfortunately are too small for me and I will have to pass them along to my mother.

Earrings, ring and bangles.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my haul. Do let me know if you would like to read more such posts in the future!

Swatches: Kathleen Light X Colourpop Alyssa and November

Hello beauties! I hope you are all doing well. This is going to be a very short post today. I just wanted to show you guys two of my latest Colourpop acquisitions. In August, I went to this makeup exhibition called Enchanted held at the Tavern Grill. You can see my stash below:

Makeup haul from Enchanted (August 2016).

I know, I know, I'm  not addressing the elephant in the room (AKA the Jaclyn Hill's Champagne Pop Palette); but I'm planning a separate detailed review post on it.

This post is just to share my swatches of Colourpop's new shades of Ultra Satin liquid lipsticks. As most of you already know, these are 2 of the 3 shades created by the youtube makeup guru, Kathleen Lights, in collaboration with Colourpop. I bought Alyssa and November to try. I have swatched them below for my dear readers (with both flash and indoor light):

Top: Alyssa, Bottom: November (Natural light, indoors).

Top: Alyssa, Bottom: November (flash).

First shade is Alyssa, which is a "neutral dusty pink". It looks like a good nude for everyday and I'm excited to try it out.

The second shade, November, is a "mid-tone warm peachy pink" that looks like a more universal shade.

I'll post lip swatches and reviews for both when I have tried them out in this post. Meanwhile, post comments below if you have tried any of these new shades or want to try them out.

Also, for more information on these shades, watch Kathleen's video on scoop on whom she has named the shades after.

Shoe Haul - June 2016

Hello ladies! I hope all of you are doing fine and done with your eid shopping by now. Today I want to share my shoe haul with you, or should I say my high-heel haul with you! If you know me, you will know that I love to buy high heels. While I do not get a chance to wear them everyday, I still own a lot of different style and color high-heels for those special occasions.

So today I'm going to show pictures of four heels that I bought this June. Now before you think that I went on a crazy shoe shopping spree one day, let me clarify that I did not buy all of them in one outing. All four are from different shops and I'll discuss where I bought each from below. So let me start by showing this photo of the four boxes stacked up against my dresser.

1.  Red pumps from Hush Puppies (Rs. 1995)

Starting from the top, first is my pair of red brushed-suede pumps from Hush Puppies. Now I have owned a lot of flat Hush Puppies, both laced and no lace styles, since I was a kid. Their comfortable suede loafers were all that I worn through my four years at the university. But I did not know that Hush Puppies did heels too. I was shopping at Ocean Mall with my two office colleagues and we decided to check out the sale on Hush Puppies. It was there that I found these red beauties on about 30%. Their actual price is Rs. 2895 and I have linked to the website above in case any of you want to check these out for yourself. I believe that the pumps were also available in blue color, but only red seems to be in stock now at the web store. The heels are 8 cm high.

2. Golden Open-toe Slingbacks from Regal (Rs. 1995)

Second heels I got this summer are a pair of golden open-toe slingbacks with a 7 cm high heel. My previous platform type golden stilettos are starting to show signs of wear and tear, so I hope this makes a good replacement for formal events. I got these from Regal Shoes in Dolmen Mall, Tariq Road. This is one of my favorite shops to buy high-heeled footwear at reasonable prices. Their footwear is usually quite comfortable and durable.

3. Maroon Wedges from EBH (Rs. 995)

Third one I bought this month are the maroon wedges from EBH. I picked up these at the last moment from the E-budget sale at EBH in Dolmen Mall, Tariq Road. I seem to remember that they were also available in a very pretty deep blue color also. The 8.5 cm high wedges seem comfortable enough, but I haven't worn them to a party yet so my judgement is reserved. I normally don't buy wedges or platform heels as I'm a bit turned-off with their bulky look. But these were available at such an economical price that I thought I should definitely try them out. The height of the heels is 8.5 cm. I tried finding them on the EBH store (linked above) but they seem to be out of stock now. 

 

4.  Black pumps from Hobo by Hub (Rs. 1795)

Last on my list are these pumps from Hobo that I bought last year from Dolmen City Mall, Clifton during the pre-eid sale. These 6 cm high black leather pumps are my go-to footwear when I don't have any matching shoes with my clothes. The heels are comfortable enough but I'm not too happy with the balance of these heels. It's true that stilettos heels are difficult to balance but I usually don't have any such issues with my other heels. I have a pair of open-toed stilettos from Crossroads which is even taller than 6 cm but has offers great balance while walking. 

This is all for today. Please comment and tell me if you like my shoe haul and if you would like me to do such posts in the future. Also, tell me if I have identified any of the heels wrongly. I would love to see pictures of your eid hauls too!

Mini makeup haul - Naheed Supermarket

Hello lovelies! So I went to Naheed Supermarket in Bahadurabad today and this is what I picked up:

 

My mini Naheed Suoermarket haul!

1-Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser (400 ml for Rs. 499/-)

I saw a brand new display of Garnier just as I got out of the lift on Naheed's first floor. The first thing that caught my eye were these bottles of Micellar water. I had been wanting to try Micellar water for removing makeup for a while now and had planned to order it from Amazon. It was listed for $7 on Amazon and would have cost me around Rs. 1200 total had I ordered it online. But at Naheed, I got the same 400 ml bottle for Rs. 499. It says that it was manufactured in Poland probably for Middle East as helpline numbers are given for KSA, Lebanon, etc. 

I did try the Micellar water with both cotton balls and cotton pads for removing my make-up. I was wearing some concealer, face powder, water-proof liquid eye-liner and a fuchsia lipstick. I think it worked well enough, removing all my make-up without requiring any vigorous rubbing of the face. I also felt a cooling effect on my skin while I was using it. However, I reserve my judgement until I try it with heavy eye and face makeup when I dress up for a party next.    

Also, there was a packet of Garnier Micellar Extra-Gentle Cleansing Wipes next to the bottle of Micellar water. Tell me in the comments below if you want me to review the makeup wipes next.
 

2- Pigeon Cotton Balls (100 balls for Rs. 225/-)

Now I don't usually use cotton balls for skin care/ makeup removal. I usually keep a roll of cotton pads in my washroom cabinet for using cleanser or makeup remover on my face. But somehow I thought that cotton balls should be used with Micellar water and picked this up. Stupidly enough, when I got home I saw that the directions on Garnier's bottle recommended the Micellar water to be used with a cotton pad!  

As I google the name of this product, I find that this is a Singaporean brand that's also sold in India. The packet claims that it is extremely soft and gentle on skin. I used it today to try the Micellar water and the cottons balls were indeed quite soft and gentle on the skin. They were also quite absorbent, as further claimed on the packet.

All in all, I was happy with this purchase. If I don't use it for Micellar water, I can always use these with my nail polish remover.

3- Sweet Touch Twin Cake (15g/ 0.5 oz for Rs. 850/-)

The third product is a backup and one that I'm on the fence about since some time now. I vaguely remembered some beauty consultant recommending this face powder as one that works with both dry and wet application; hence the name Twin Cake. Some months ago, I asked the beauty assistant on Sweet Touch counter at Naheed to match me up to my shade. I found that FS-38 (if you are wondering why this shade seems familiar, this is the same numbering scheme that Kryolan uses) matched well with my skin tone. The assistant asked if I would prefer a shade lighter, but I insisted that I would take FS-38. 

I had been using The Body Shop's All-In-One Face Base shade no. 4 during the winter and absolutely loving it. But somehow I thought the shade was a bit too "white" for me as the days began to get hotter and sunnier. I found that the Sweet Touch pressed powder was a perfect match for my skin and much cheaper than The Body Shop. I use the powder everyday while getting ready for office and for quick touch-ups on my t-zone at lunch time. I have used up one compact completely and am currently halfway through my second. The matte-finish powder gives a smooth feel to my skin without requiring any primer. I have also used it to set my concealer, liquid foundation and BB cream; and it has worked admirably well for all products. 

Now the reason for my discomfort is there seems to be little information about the brand online; and many stories seem to contradict each other.  The packaging suggest that it is "Made in Italy" and the official website claims that it is based in UK. There was another blog that suggested that it is a German product that is being distributed in Pakistan by the name of Sweet Touch England. So unless my confusion clears up and when I find a better pressed powder for summers, I might stop using face products from this brand. Note that I have and still love the low-priced and huge color range of Sweet Touch nail polishes for years. It is just the products that I put on my face that I'm more cautious about. 

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Ipsy bag Review - August 2015

Hello friends! First of all, I know that it's way too late to review my August 2015 ipsy bag in May 2016. But this was the first beauty subscription that I ever ordered and in a way I'm in a better position to offer my opinion on each sample as I have used each over a period of time. Whereas if I were to do a review of my April 2016 ipsy bag, that would be more like a first impressions post. Do note that I ordered two more ipsy bags after this one and I do plan on posting a review on them next. Anyhow, so let's read this post before my next ipsy bag is here!

For the un-initiated, ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription service in USA. For $10, they send you a cute make-up full of at least 5 full size or deluxe size products. I think it's a great way to be introduced to new and some higher-end makeup products especially for a nerd like me who is just finding her way in the world of make-up. As ipsy doesn't deliver internationally to Pakistan, I got mine for about Rs. 1800 from a Karachi based Facebook page called Amor. 

My ipsy bag products - August 2016

As you can see above, I got 5 products in my ipsy bag:

1. Trust Fund Beauty Nail polish in Elegantly Wasted  (FULL size - 17 ml, Value $15)

This was the first time I heard of this brand and from what I read online at that time, this actually is a relatively newer brand. As you can see from the price, this is a really high-end nail polish. I don't believe in buying expensive nail polishes so I doubt that I'd have bought it on my own ever.

My first impression was that I don't wear such cool-toned colors and browsing their website, I thought that I'd have preferred to receive the shades called Insta-famous or Publicist on speed-dial. However, this shade looked great on me when I applied it. I did two coats and once it dried, it did not chip on me and lasted for at least a week. The shade has grown on me over time and I guess it is a very popular shade nowadays as I see almost every youtube beauty guru wearing a similar shade in their recent vidoes.

Good to know is that the nail polish is vegan (hence halal) and cruelty-free, which means it has not been tested on animals. Also, it's 5-free which means it does not contain toxins like toluene, formaldehyde, etc. Also, don't you love how innovatively they have named their shades? Browse through the whole shade list on their website if you want to amuse yourself :)

2. Starlooks PRO Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen (FULL size, Value $19)

This was the one item that I was most excited about. I tried it on while getting ready on the second day of Eid and my expectations were fulfilled beyond my imagination. It applies very easily and require only a single stroke to build a very black line. More importantly for me, it was the first time that I was able to apply a perfect winged eye-liner with its firm tip. I hadn't used a marker line like this before and I never drew wings on my eyes as I thought I didn't look good. But boy did this liner changed my life! The tip is quite firm and not thin and flexible like the stila stay-all day liquid liner pen, but it'll be really hard for me if you asked me to choose a favorite between the two.

You can see my eyes with a simple winged liner above, I created this look with a single stroke of the liner. Like most liquid liners, this too is longwear/ waterproof and dries quickly after application. I think I have applied it almost daily since then before going to work in the morning. If I don't wear a primer, the wings part extending beyond the eye do vanish by lunch time; but the rest of the liner stays even after I get back home after 6. It has lasted for almost six months and only started to dry-up now.

Friendly note to people who haven't used felt-tip marker type liners before, you are supposed to store them tip-side down. I learned this hard way when I opened this liner to apply for the third time and found it dry. At first I was angry that such an expensive product had lasted barely a week. But then I read online that liquid marker eyeliners should be stored tip-down and put this tip-down for the night. Sure enough when I opened it the next morning, it was as good as new.

3. Hikari Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Merlot (FULL size, Value $13)

There was a time when Loreal's Glam 6 Shine lip gloss was all that I ever used on my lips, I think that was in my teens. But I have grown out of lip glosses since then. I only use them to apply over my lipstick to give a glossy look to my lips. This gloss is quite pigmented as you can see in the swatches below. It applied evenly over my lips to give a nice color, but I absolutely hated its texture. It made my lips feel sticky and frankly, quite gross. This is one item from the bag that is still lying completely full on my dresser shelf, .  

4. LATHER ultra mild face wash (Sample size - 1 fl oz, Value $3.16; full size is 6 fl oz for $19)

I didn't use this product as I tend to be a bit allergic to aloe and this product lists aloe as one of its ingredients. I did try this out on my face for about 10 seconds and I was absolutely fine. I do agree with the "ultra mild" description of its name. It is a very dilute white liquid with no scent.

5. Briogeo BLOSSOM & BLOOM ginseng + biotin volumizing spray (Sample size - 1 fl oz, Value $3.53; full size was $18 for 5.1 fl oz, but listed for $20 on both Sephora and Briogeo websites!)

The blow dry spray is paraben and phthalate free. I used it on my damp roots before blow drying and I did feel that it gave more volume to my hair. The scent is a bit strong but pleasant enough and does not linger throughout the day. I don't blow dry much but I've still used up about half the bottle. I may buy the full size version once I run out for days that I want to blow dry my hair.

6. The August 2015 makeup bag

The makeup bag was very pretty and matched well with the month's theme, prep school. A pink cloth lining was sewed inside the bag for durability. I put this bag in my handbag and have been using it for the past year to take my lipstick shade of the day to the office for mid-day touch-ups. It easily fits my powder compact, a travel-size mirror, a lip liner, a lipstick and a mascara.

So the total value of the items, excluding the very good quality make-up bag, comes to be around $54 or say Rs. 5500. This bag included three full size products and two samples. As you can, while getting a $10 bag for $18 may seem expensive; I got items worth more than double the price I paid for it. So it was a win-win situation for me as I was introduced to some great products through ipsy.

P.S. Ignoring what I say in the first paragraph, this review is basically an extension of my review of the products that I wrote down in my diary in August 2015. What can I say? I'm full of contradictions!

Introduction Post

Before I write an actual makeup or beauty related post, I thought of posting the customary greetings post. 

To all those who are interested to know, I'm an engineer by profession who discovered the magic world of make-up only last year. Before 2015, my make-up staples only included lipstick/ lip-gloss and a black eye-liner, only if I was in the mood for it. However, in the past year, I have come a long long way. 

I'm still pretty novice at makeup, but I'll like to share my experience with you all. Now I have no immediate plans of posting beauty tutorials as I'm still learning a lot about makeup techniques. Mostly, I plan on posting hauls and product reviews to this page. As a teaser, here is a photograph of one of my recent hauls. To know what I got in my ipsy bag, continue to visit my blog.