Wednesday 24 May 2017

My current skincare 2017

Hello
The holy month of Ramadan is almost here and I am so excited 😃. Even though it has been over a month since i got measles my skin has not come back to its normal pattern. So my there has been some major changes skincare routine to deal with the dry flaky skin.

Before I share the products with you guys here is a request. If you haven't got measles as of yet please get vaccinated because trust me adult measles are more severe than childhood measles. The disease is very exhausting and takes a very long time to recover. The sign and symptoms are severe and more pronounced. And the measles scar take a long time to disappear so just save your self from all the trouble and get vaccinated. As vaccination gives life long protection
Ok back to the original post. I will start of with cleanser first. My skin is normally oily. So I use cleanser which reduce oil production and combat acne but as my skin is now very dry I have switched to a hydrating cleanser by nature republic. Now this is basically a cleanser to remove makeup but honestly jt was not doing a good job at removing makeup so now I use this as a face wash. This aloe cleanser leaves the skin soft and moisturized.


Moving on to makeup removers i like to switch between bioderma sensibio H2O micellar water and the Garnier micellar water. Both are gentle on the skin and remove makeup without much effort.
To achieve smooth, flake free skin I use a very mild and gentle green tea scrub by ST.Ives. This is has such fine round granules which are non abrasive and very gentle on the skin. Plus the exfoliate the skin quite thoroughly.
For moisturizer I like to use oriflame tea tree moisturizer during day time and at night I use some thing more hydrating so stelatopia cream by mustella is my choice. Both moisturize the skin well without leaving an oily film.




Even though my skin is dry I like to wear a mud mask once every week, currently i am using the one by freemans ( oatmeal and avocado version)
 
I like to spritz my face with rose water during the day. This makes my face look dewy and fresh.
Lastly I am enjoying the scent of Maybelline baby lips lip balm in berry crush. This unfortunately doesn't leave a tint on the lips but does keeps my lips soft and smooth
That's all for my current routine. Would you recommend any skincare product I should try out?
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Thursday 18 May 2017

BioDerma SensioBio H2O Micellar water for sensitive skin review



I am a hygiene freak you can confirm this by asking my classmates . So when it comes to cleaning whether its a surface or my face I like to be very thorough. For reference
I wear makeup 6 days a week for about 6hrs/day . Special occasions (party/events are exception)


 micellar water has been around for a fairly long time and the Bioderma Micellar water is the pioneer of all micellar waters(they came up with the whole concept) micellar water actually contains minute micelles of oil which when combined with water removes stubborn makeup


As you can see the packaging is quite simple. It a transparent plastic bottle which has a pink very secure cap. This micellar water comes in 100ml travel friendly bottle one medium bottle of 250ml and a big bottle of 400ml
Product is inside is clear and transparent just like water upon shaking some bubbles a re formed. This is scent free which makes it ideal for sensitive skin

Bioderma claims that this has the ph exactly same as that of our skin which is 5.5 (acidic). Which means that it does not disturbs the normal flora of the skin nor does it makes the skin overly dry or oily. It also retains the moisture of the skin and is very gently

My thought: I soak a round cotton makeup remover pad with the water micellar water and which the gentlest pressure remove makeup from my eyes and face. What I have noticed is that it easily removes makeup without much effort or tugging. Moreover I don't have to go over the same spot on my face several times. I easily breaks down foundation, mascara,eyeliner and matte lipstick. Though micellar water does not requires one to rinse water after use I do so just to be extra extra thorough


Ever since I have started using this I have noticed that I have less open comedones . Moreover my pimples have reduced considerable. Also my eyelashes look healthy and full ( no tugging means less eyelash fall)
This micellar water is really very gentle on the skin and my oily skin is behave a lot better with this makeup cleanser

Even though the price tag is a bit steep I am going to continue purchasing bioderma micellar water until I find some thing which works better or similar to this micellar water(I highly doubt that )
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Thursday 11 May 2017

Beauty Friends II essence mask sheet pack Royal Jelly

Hello
I am back with  a sheet mask review . I was sent this mask in exchange for an honest review so after using this mask here is what I think of it.


I got measles a few weeks back and ever since that incident my skin has numerous scars, and is now dry, patchy and flaky. So to tame the dryness I often slather on a lot of moisturizer on my face to keep it hydrated and make my makeup look smooth and flawless
The chief ingredient of Beauty Friends II mask is royal jelly
Now Royal jelly has a  lot of medicinal and skin benefiting properties. It heals the skin, hydrates and moisturizes it. It even fights tumours. Cool right !!!
Quantity: 23 g of serum

This mask is packed in a very vibrant packing. It's travel friendly and secure to keep the mask safe. The instructions written at the back are unfortunately written in Korean but there is an illustrated tutorial/guide for directions.
Upon opening the mask I was greeted with mild sweet scent. Now I don't mind scented products as long as they don't smell if they don't have the weird metallic scent. So this smell very nice to me.  I pulled out the mask which thankfully had adequate serum but was not dripping. And unfolded it. Them I placed it on my clean, washed face( I cleansed my face before applying the sheet mask so that the serum of the mask absorbed better) unlike the Foodaholic 3D mask, this fit my face shape quite nicely. The material of the sheet mask was soft and non scratchy. I leaned back on the couch with the mask on and after 30 minutes I removed it. I patted my face amd neck with remaining serum.


Here is what I noticed my face looked plump. The scars looked less flaky. My skin felt hydrated and smooth. More importantly my makeup went on so easily on my face. I didn't had to spent extra time trying to blend the foundation and make it look even . The effect of the sheet mask lasted for one day only unfortunately because the next day my skin was back to it horrible self again. But I guess this has something to do with post measles skin. This mask is pretty good and is the price is very budget friendly. Skin18.com currently has this mask and a lot of other sheet masks on sale right now. So girls go and grab them before the stock runs out .
you can purchase this mask here

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Sunday 7 May 2017

The skin maskeurade exhibition


Hello




Its so hard to find original Korean/Japanese makeup and skin care in Pakistan. And even if you luckily do locate an online store the prices are exorbitant. Recently an online store called "The SkinMaskeurade" held an exhibition at Chaye Khana Islamabad to introduce the Korean and Japanese skincare to the masses.


When I arrived at Chaye Khana I was directed to a the exhibition room where I was greeted warmly by the organizers and the people working behind the online store. The place was decorated with a lots of flowers and fairy lights. All the skincare products where sorted out on the bases of skin types which made it super easy to locate the products. There weren't many makeup products to choose from but skincare section was well stocked. All the cult favourite and popular brands and products were there. The prices in my opinion were a bit high but then I think this can be justified if you add the custom duty, shipping cost and the profit.




  The owner Ms Faiza and her team were well prepared and had knowledge about all the products showcased at the exhibition. They guided everyone on choosing products. After looking around and taking a lot of pictures. I picked out an aloe cleanser by nature republic. Two free samples were added to my purchase
I had a lot of fun at the exhibition. Besides I got an idea about the products bottle size so that next time when I place an order I wont be disappointed.






I am so glad that Korean makeup and  skincare products have finally made it to the pakistani shores
Best of luck team "The SkinMaskeurade

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Tuesday 2 May 2017

Essence The False Lashes Mascara Dramatic volume unlimited


I have been longing to try the innisfree microcara mascara for a very long time  but its not easy to find original Korean makeup products in Pakistan so while I am still searching around for a suitable online store which ships Korean makeup and skincare products to Pakistan with a pocket friendly shipping I bought this essence mascara on a whim and luckily it has a very slim long brush



The mascara tube is very colorful and long and has a secure black cap. The mascara wand has a slim conical brush which is tapered at one end

The mascara has dry dry formula so it makes the lashes thick on one swipe. The tapered conical shape helps to reach the lashes on the inner corner of the eye with ease. Also the brush reduces smudging.


I also noticed how incredibly easy it was to apply mascara to my bottom lashes with this mascara. This mascara is not waterproof which is what I like because waterproof  formulas can be such a pain to remove.


 this  mascara flaked slightly after 3hrs but it was not so noticeable or messy. I didnt experience any lash hair fall or irritation after using this. The formula is very gentle on the eyes and removes easily with soap and water.
It held the curl on my eyelashes well. This mascara is definitely buildable . I applied 3-4 coats on my eyelashes and they didn't clump or look spidery at all.



You can easily  have the false lash effect with this mascara as it gives tons of volume and length to the eye lashes
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Wednesday 26 April 2017

Sweet touch England Matte Lipstick in shade 730


Sweet touch England is a local pakistani brand which has a lot of great makeup products in their arsenal. They are currently stocked up at makeup city and few other well known retailers across the country.


Today I am reviewing a matte lipstick 💄 by them which has a slight pearl finish. I have been attracted to metallic lipsticks for a fairly long time but no sadly when ever i tried out a metallic lipstick on my  👄  it turned out quite horrible. See the lipstick settled into the fines lines and made my lips look like dried up prunes. Ewww not the look I have in mind. But this matte lipstick by sweet touch England made my dream come true.




This lipstick has a matte finish so its slightly drying on the lips but the formula does not drags on the lips , rather the bullet  glides with easy. The color is a beautiful slightly metallic pink/rosy shade. The color is opague so one swipe completely conceals  the original lip color. I am happy to tell you guys that this lipstick does not settle into the fine lines at all. This has a good lasting power. 6-7 hrs without eating or drinking.



This has a pink mauve-y cover with a silver twist up casing. The cap shuts firmly so no fear of lipstick all over in the purse .

In case of eating this leaves behind a stain.


I have a few shades on my wish list already so expect a big haul post when I visit makeup city.

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Tuesday 18 April 2017

kbeautilicious product review: IOPE, Banila co, Eunyul

II recently had an opportunity to try out a couple of products by kbeautilicious. So after a week of testing. I am going to review them

IOPE  Air Cushion RX


The first thing I tried out was the Iope air cushion rx in sample size. Now I have cushion foundations in my wish list for almost 1 year. Since this is a sample version there is no air puff applicator but rather the regular latex sponge  to apply foundation.


The foundation is in shade n 21 vanilla which matched my skin perfectly it has light to medium coverage and the formula is very hydrating on the skin. I also detected a slight scent was was pleasant and not bothersome. This foundation lasted for 5hrs on my face and began to rub off after that from certain spots on my face. I think this is best suited for dry skin and winter season when the skin tends to become dry and flaky



Will I purchase the full version? Definitely


Banila and co. Clean it zero


This is an extremely hyped up balm like oil cleanser which is made up of mineral oil. Now a little word of warning ⚠ here: Mineral oil is a comedogenic agent so if you have acne prone skin steer clear of this cleanser.  I scooped up a bit of product with my fingers and it began to melt instantly. I massaged this into my skin and washed it water and double cleansed  my face with a gel cleanser


this balm is an oil cleanser which loosen ups the makeup and tough oil proof formulas which Are hard to be easily washed off with a regular cleanser.  i just removed my face makeup with this and it worked pretty well. I did a little research and found out that this cleanser comes in a few other variants for sensitive , oily and acne prone skin.



Will I purchase the full size version? Hell yes why not?



Eunyul Natural Moisture Mask Pack in Collagen


Even though I am in my twenties I have tried out a lot of collagen masks already. Collagen is a good hydrating agent. It has skin forming and wrinkle reducing properties. Unlike the many sheet masks I have tried out before this mask by eunyul comes in a smaller packaging but contains equal amount of product in I.e 22ml


Reducing the plastic packaging dimensions is a very eco friendly decision I must say. This has a strong smell but it was not bad. I applied the mask on my face and waited for the serum to absorb into my skin for 40 mins. The serum made my skin itch slightly but it wasn't to uncomfortable. After removing the mask I pated my face and neck with the remaining serum. My skin felt instantly hydrated and a little plump.the effect remained for the whole day. To get full effect I think one has to use the mask consistently for quite some days.

thats all 
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Thursday 13 April 2017

Maybelline White Super Fresh in shade Natural


If my memory does not fails me I remember that the first post it posted on this blog was on a pressed powder by Maybelline. I was so excited to share my thoughts on a newly released powder back then. That's when I first plunged my feet into the world of cosmetics.



Funnily the post I am sharing today is on another Maybelline pressed powder in same packaging and price range, but with a different name. It is the Maybelline super white fresh powder. Why do most of Maybelline products have frightfully long names?


Price:550 pkr
Quantity: 9 gms

The powder is cased in the same sturdy rectangular slim compact with a small square sponge.the only change to the design I that the mirror in the compact I a lot bigger than the clear all in one powder.

The super white fresh range comes in five shades and only two of them are available in pakistan. The sale girl accidentally gave me the 2nd shade I.e natural which I was afraid would be dark for my complexion but luckily when I applied it to my face. It matched my skin color quite well




This powder has spf 34+ which is good.and also one of reasons I believe it gives brightening effect to the skin. Its not chalky nor does it oxidize to an unhealthy orange color
It has smooth texture. The powder is finely milled and provides light to medium coverage(depends on how much you apply it to your face) . This can be worn on its own or dusted over a foundation for a matte finish

One of the best thing about this compact is that it comes with an option of refills. I spotted refills at Daraz for400 pkr


I decided to post a picture of all the three Maybelline powders I own.
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Tuesday 11 April 2017

Best Pakistani Classic Lawn Collection 2017

Its time to pack up all the winter apparels  and bring out the breezy lawn suits or in my case shop for more because summer is here  in full swing.( I bet most of you might be wearing some lighter fabrics it's just that the weather in abbottabad is still a little cooler).  Just like last year , the legacy of stellar designer lawn collections continues and this year the designs and prints are more creative and eclectic. Nothing can beat the heat than fresh fruit juice and lawn suits that pakistani summers bring in and of course air conditioner that's  if you have electricity . 😁


Though as much as I love to bundle up in thick woollen sweaters and just roam around the house in my comfy pajamas in winters I at times like to embrace pakistani culture, the true roots of my origin and  can there be a more better way than to dress up in shalwar kameez our national dress?? So thankyou summers for allowing me to dress up and look pretty in lawn suits.
Instead of starting this blog post with the over popular mainstream lawn designers I am today going to show you guys some other lawn designer collections which lean more towards to the classical side.


 Stride confidently with the Star Classic Lawn this year. The  lawn suits are unstitched and come with very beautiful borders and floral embroidery, collection is very bright hued and have a lot of design to choose from. What I liked about star classic lawn is that they have added variety to their designs by using a combination of plain and printed lawn fabric together in a single suit which creates dimension to the whole design and looks very pleasant to the eyes.


One of the renowned  brand in pakistani textile industry Rashid Classic Lawn showcases the experience and talent of the designers working behind this brand who put in their effort to bring out this lawn collection in year 2017.the suits are three piece and all color Contrasted well . Moreover there is a duppatta included with the suit which makes it so easy to carry and super convenient if you ask me. No need to have a chiffon Dupatta dyed to match your suit anymore. There is a lot of red , green and blue in the collection. The prints are not flashy they are appropriate for casual and formal events.


If the above mentioned lawn prints were a little to heavily embroidered for your taste here is VS Classic Lawn which have simple yet elegant lawn suits launched this year. Floral and intricate embroidery is placed strategically on the neck line and sleeves. The pieces look timeless and classic. Instead of going with bright colors . Vs classic lawn has more blush nudes and pastel color lawn prints in their collection. For all those of you ladies who like to dress up to more softer colors this would be the best choice.
I recommend heading over to pakstyle.pk to find Pakistani Lawn Suits online as they have a lot of brands in stock at discounted prices. There is no compromise on quality and they offer free delivery too on orders placed at their website.
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Wednesday 5 April 2017

Jordana Matte Lipstick in shade Natural


I am always on a hunt for a nude/neutral everyday mlbb lipstick. Even though i do have a holy grail shade in my collection by makeup revolution called treat i am a bit disappointed by its staying power so my current goal is to find a lip product which matches my lip color and stays for 8+ hours




Matte formula tend to stay on the lips more than satin/hydrating lipsticks that's why I purchase this lipstick by Jordana in the shade natural

Price 1.5$ (in Pakistan from 250-400 Pkr)

Packaging:

 This is the most disappointing part because the packaging is absolutely fragile and cheap( my 1£ makeup revolution lipsticks have way more sturdier packaging). The plastic casing looks like its going to break easily. moreover some part  of the lipstick remains out of the tube so one has to be extra careful not to smash or injure the bullet when taking off the transparent cap




About the lipstick:

Onto the best part. Though the Casing was a bummer the product inside is amazing. The lipsticks is nude brown with a. Slight Peach/orange tinge. The texture is smooth and semi matte. I glides on the lips easily without accentuating dry spots or lines. As its not completely matte the formula does not dry out the lips. Lasting power is 5 hrs without eating anything.




I am comparing this lipstick with my favourite nude lipstick by makeup revolution




Jordana is an American drugstore cosmetics brand which has been making very  good quality affordable makeup, it was officially launched in Pakistan two years ago but for some unknown reasons they are priced exorbitantly so my advice is to either order them from a Facebook page or buy them for beautyjoint directly I will be purchasing a couple nor lipsticks from the same brand soon
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