OPI Gwen Stefani Mini Rock Starlets

Saturday, December 13, 2014 Unknown 2 Comments

It's NO DOUBT how much Gwen has influenced me growing up. She was the epitome of cool-chic punker with class not to mention her solo work is amazing!! With the OPI collaboration I knew her collection would be filled with bold and bright shades just like her style. I'm so thrilled that they came out with a mini set to try out some of the shades. Her collection really reflects her style.

Gwen Stefani for OPI Mini Swatch

OPI joins celebrity partner Gwen Stefani in announcing seven new limited edition nail lacquers for 2014, featuring standout color in breakthrough finishes. Highlights from the collection include a bold red lacquer that pays homage to Gwens signature lipstick, a new semi-matte satin finish in shades of gold and black, and a mirrored chrome paired with a special base coat. Gwen Stefani by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPIs exclusive ProWide Brush for the ultimate in application.

The mini set is called Rock Starlet with are 4 mini polishes - "Hey Baby", "I Sing In Color", "Love.Angel.Music.Baby" and "4 In The Morning".

Hey Baby- Gwen Stefani for OPI Mini Swatch

Hey Baby

A stunning bright cream finish medium pink. It's not too bright or too deep, just a classic medium pink. I really loved the finish of this polish, it goes on super smooth.

I Sing In Color- Gwen Stefani for OPI Mini Swatch

I Sing In Color

I wasn't expecting a deep berry shade from Gwen since her style is more into bold reds. This is the only shade that was tricky to apply, it went on a bit sheer so it had to be layered a few times. With more coats it starts to look like a vampy burgundy.

Love.Angel.Music.Baby- Gwen Stefani for OPI Mini Swatch

Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

My favorite from the batch! It's the most unique shade of shimmery gold considering the finish is matte. It's an unconventional finish since shimmery polishes look better with a glossy finish. The shade is soft and applies beautifully with a single coat.

4 in the Morning- Gwen Stefani for OPI Mini Swatch

4 In The Morning

You can't have a Gwen collection without a dark shade. This one has a deepened charcoal hue, not a straight black. I love the matte finish on this, it's so classy and applies easily with 2 coats.

Have you checked out the Gwen Stefani Collab yet?

To purchase OPI in Pakistan visit their Facebook page for more information.

2 comments:

Face Product,

Stageline Professional Make Up Review

Saturday, October 11, 2014 Sidrah!!!! 6 Comments

Stageline Professional Cosmetics is a brand that popped out of nowhere for me. I hadn't really heard of the brand before and by the looks of it, they are a brand catering towards makeup artists and high definition makeup. Who doesn't love that? I wanted to give an overview about some of the products that the brand has to offer, they are currently available on Just4girls.pk as well as Daraz.pk and I've seen them in selected stores in Karachi.

Stageline Professional Make Up Review

STAGE LINE PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP is an extensive range of professional make-up with added skincare benefits. It is complemented by a range of professional skincare products - STAGE LINE PROFESSIONAL CARE - which offers high quality at a good price, and meets all of the needs of make-up professionals, beauticians and hairdressers, while also being very easy for end consumers to use.

STAGE LINE products (foundations, eye make-up, lip make-up, etc.) are made from micronised pigments and active ingredients that benefit the skin. They are mainly characterised by their long-lasting wear that can withstand even the most difficult conditions (heat, sweat, rubbing, etc.).

Stageline Paint Stick in OR Orange

Every professional brand comes out with a foundation stick, these offer more coverage compared to liquid and powder foundations. I wanted to try out the Orange shade since I never got around to trying the Kryolan Orange corrector for my undereyes. The Stageline Paint Stick in Orange is more a peachy tone shade instead of a true orange, which I prefer moreso since the true orange can be hard to blend with your foundation.
The texture is very creamy and easily blends into the skin, it has a medium but buildable coverage.

Stageline Paint Stick in OR Orange Swatch

It can crease under the eyes if you apply too much so you have to apply it sparingly using your index finger and only concentrate on the discolored area. It blends with other concealers easily to give that brighten under-eye appearance. It works really well to cancel any darkness on the undereye as well as any dark patches around the face.

Rating: 4/5

Price: Rs. 995

Stageline High Definition Cover Shade 02

The brand offers a wide range of foundations, the High definition Cover foundation is a cream to powder type formula. I wasn't expecting much from the foundation but the texture of this is so smooth and creamy. It blends into the skin so flawlessly and even covers up any unevenness on the skin because of the added silicone in the foundation.

Stageline High Definition Cover Shade 02 Swatch

It is an oil based foundation with SPF 15,Vitamin E and barley extract. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin despite the ingredients. I really wish I picked out my perfect shade since shade 02 is a deep tan shade. The swatches and product photos can be a bit misleading online, so I recommend testing out foundations in store for Stageline.

I did wear this around the house just to see how much coverage I could achieve and this is by far the most high coverage foundation I've ever used. It covered up dark patches on my checks really well without adding additional layers of product. It doesn't look cakey on the skin, but more of a natural smooth appearance. This is one product I'll be repurchasing with my right shade.

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Rs. 1,595

Stageline Make-Up Fixer

Makeup setting sprays are a pretty new concept to me, I've never tried any out before so I wasn't sure what to expect as far as long-wearing makeup. The Stageline setting spray is said to finish and seal makeup for prolong hold. It comes in a spray bottle and mists very finely.

I use about 2-3 sprits after I've completed my makeup and it dries into the skin easily. It does take away any powder or cakey appearance that my heavier foundations can leave behind (I'm looking at you Revlon Colorstay). I did notice that my blush and bronzer didn't fade as it normally does after wearing it for 3+ hours. This definitely kept my powder cheek products in place.

Rating: 4/5

Price: Rs. 695

Stageline Velvet Blush Shade CC

Blushes are the perfect way to perk up any complexion. The Velvet blush in shade CC is a light matte peachy pink blush, it doesn't show up too well on my medium skin tone even after applying a few layers of product. It has a very stiff and dry texture so it's difficult to pick up on a powder brush, I even tried to scrap off the top layer but it didn't help to make the product workable.

This blush was such a letdown considering how pretty the color is, maybe for fairer complexions this will work better but with a high price point I was expecting this to be very pigmented on just one swipe.

Rating: 2/5

Price: Rs. 1,295

Stageline Silk Veil Pore Minimizer

If you're like me and have an oily t-zone, a primer is a must! I do have quite a bit of enlarged pores and a primer tends to fill them in to an extent. The Silk Veil is a silicone based primer so it helps to smooth out the skin before applying foundation. This does contain Hyaluronic acid which has been known to soften the skin and keep it hydrated.

For my t-zone, I only use the smallest amount just a half of a pea sized and I blend the remaining out onto the rest of my face. This really helps to apply foundation easily and smoothly, it doesn't completely mattify my t-zone but it does minimize any oil that comes throughout the day. After wearing this I don't need to touch up my makeup after about 4 hours. I have definitely noticed that my skin becomes less oily throughout the day. It doesn't fill in my pores 100% but it does minimize it a bit.

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Rs. 1,495

Have you tried out Stageline Makeup yet? If you want to find out more about the brand, you can follow Stageline on Facebook

6 comments:

Elemis,

[REVIEW] Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm

Saturday, September 20, 2014 Sidrah!!!! 3 Comments

I love using a hydrating moisturizer during the day but reading the words Pro-Radiance & Illuminating together kinda scared off my oily skin. But fear not! If you love the look of hydrated, dewy skin the Elemis Flash Balm is something to check out.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm Review

An exciting new generation “hybrid moisturiser” whose instant skin-flattering qualities are as compelling as its ability to hydrate the skin. Formulated with a powerful vitamin complex that helps protect against moisture loss, whilst exquisite purple orchid, noni and acai help defend against the early signs of skin aging.

Radiance Booster

89% felt the product helped skin look more radiant & luminous instantly
Moisturiser
85% agreed the product helped smooth the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
Primer
91% stated the product helped provide a more even & brighter skin tone

Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm benefits:

It won’t ball under your fingertips if you choose to apply foundation, unlike many optically improving products.
It won’t sparkle under the light. There are no conspicuous luminising particles in our balm.
It won’t leave the skin tacky, or overly dewy, which can be the tendency with products that deliver this kind of fresh, super-hydrated finish.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm Review

Let's Talk About it:

I've been using this every morning as a moisturizer, I just take a small sized amount and massage over my skin. I avoid using too much around my t-zone but it works really nicely to help hydrate my skin and it really helps to make the skin softer. The packaging is really perfect to dispense just the smallest amount out.

The scent however is kinda off, it has a strong fragrance but since I've been using such a small amount the scent doesn't linger. I'm guessing the Fruit and Flower oils in the ingredients is the reason why this has such a potent scent. The ingredient list is packed with Vitamin's ( B, C, E) that hydrates the skin and promote healthy skin. The texture is really lightweight and sinks into the skin pretty easily if you use a small amount. I've tried mixing it with my regular foundation and it gives a lovely healthy effect without looking overly greasy.

I definitely recommend trying this out if you're in the market for a luxury moisturizer. This really makes my skin feel softer although I haven't seen a huge jaw-dropping difference in the overall appearance of my skin.

Available at:
Amethyst Spa (Karachi)
Munaiza's Salon (Hyderabad)
Nirvana Salon (Islamabad).

3 comments:

Pond's,

Pond’s White Beauty –GenWhite Technology for #SpotlessRadiance!

Saturday, September 06, 2014 Sidrah!!!! 0 Comments

Pond's White Beauty Day Cream

We all deal with the occasional pigmentation and dark patches, I've noticed now with my age more than ever my skin has dark patches around my cheeks and after a breakout.

How Dark Spots Occur?
Dark spots are actually a result of pigmentation and inflammation which occurs due to your skin being exposed to harmful UV rays of the sun.
Spots on the surface are easier to remove, but some stubborn dark spots are rooted deep within the 3rd and deepest layer of the skin.
Therefore, to get rid of dark spots for long term, it is important to tackle them from the root within; otherwise, they keep coming back.

Pond’s has come up with a revolutionary formula called ‘GenWhite’. The New Pond’s White Beauty is made of the GenWhite formula which is professionally designed for deep absorption. It smoothly goes inside your skin, reaching the deepest layers and removing the dark spots from the root – giving you a radiant glow on the outside!

Pond’s White Beauty’s GenWhite formula contains 3 main ingredients:

1.      Fairness Actives, more simply known as Pro-Vitamins to lighten skin, reduce dark spots and improve skin texture
2.      Skin Benefit Actives to moisturize and soothe skin. They also prevent oxidization which causes wear and tear. This destruction and disintegration of the skin causes aging and more importantly, skin cells to die. The Allantoin in Pond’s White Beauty acts as an Anti-Oxidant and keeps repairing the skin.
3.      Also,Triple Sun-Screens to protect against harmful UV rays (UVA/UVB) of the sun.

The Pond's White Beauty Day Cream is definitely not new to my skin regimen. I've used Pond's Day Creams and Cold Creams for ages, it adds the perfect boost of hydration to the skin. So I tested out the Relaunched Pond's White Beauty Fairness Day Cream for a week duration just to see what noticeable effect can be expected.

7 Day Diary

Day 1: The first time I tested the product out on my skin, I noticed a new formula compared to the other fairness cream from Pond's. It applies completely matte on my skin and I was impressed at how quickly it absorbed into my skin.

Day 2: I started using this under my foundation, since it does an impeccable job of mattifying the skin, it helps to smooth out and keeps my oil under control really well. Not to mention the added sun screen is perfect for daily use.

Day 3: At this point I noticed how my skin stayed matte for a longer duration and my pores were not emphasized. At the end of the day my skin didn't look tired or even fatigued. I noticed a cleaner appearance to my complexion.

Day 4: I was keeping an eye out for some troubled spots on my skin, some pigmentation and acne scars. I've been getting use to the oil-free texture, no other cream can aid in the same effect for my t-zone. I didn't see a drastic change but a slight luminosity to my skintone.

Day 5: Still achieving the same result on my skin, no sign of acne breakouts.

Day 6: That slight bit of glow still carried out. No more dull complexion or oil around the skin during the day!

Day 7: Still pleased with how the cream wears on my skin, the smooth formula has helped brighten my complexion overall.

Pond's White Beauty Day Cream Review

Let's Talk About It:

With the 7 day trial, my overall experience was pleasant. I'm really pleased with how this works for my combination skin type and how it keeps my stubborn t-zone matte. And if you're wondering if this leaves a white cast on your skin, definitely not! It applies translucent and stays that way. This is the perfect addition to a summer skin care routine for me and my skin is quite happy. With prolonged use I'm sure the added fairness action will kick in, with continuous sun exposure having sun screen added keeps my product choices at a minimum.

Priced at 220rs, you can't beat the price. For those dealing with oily t-zones and sweat on a daily basis, I can see this aiding a lot during the summer months. You can visit Ponds on Facebook and Twitter for the latest in Spotless Radiance.

To promote the re-launch of the New Pond's White Beauty Cream, Pond's invited Beauty Bloggers to celebrate #SpotlessRadiance with a hint of pink.

Check out some pics!

0 comments:

Brushes,

[REVIEW] Real Techniques Brushes & Complexion Sponge

Friday, August 29, 2014 Sidrah!!!! 3 Comments

Can we say hiatus much? Its been months since I posted my last review since let's be real I got really lazy in keeping up taking product photos and writing reviews. Here I am now and I've kicked the lazy bug. So I finally got hopped onto the Real Techniques bandwagon and I got a few items that stood out the most for me, I'm the last person to check out products from the Samantha Chapman line.

Real Techniques Brushes & Complexion Sponge

Blush Brush

Contour and define cheeks for flawlessly blended, high-definition results:

look pixel-perfect even in harsh light
ultra-plush, synthetic bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free
self-standing for easy storage
extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use

Expert Face Brush

Ultra firm and broad for application and blending of cream or liquid foundation:

look pixel-perfect even in harsh light
ultra-plush, synthetic bristles are hand-cut and
100% cruelty-free
self-standing for easy storage
extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use

Real Techniques Blush Brush Expert Face Brush Review

Real Techniques Blush Brush Expert Face Brush Review

Miracle Complexion Sponge

Optimize your beauty routine with this 3-in-1 multi-functional sponge.

Rounded sides blend large areas of the face with a repeated dabbing or “stippling” motion.
Precision tip covers blemishes and imperfections.
Flat edge for the contours around the eyes and nose.

Real Techniques Complexion Sponge Review

Real Techniques Complexion Sponge Size

Let's Talk About it:
When I was deciding on which products to buy, the Blush Brush was at the top of my list because of the unique egg shape and I have to say I'm not at all disappointed. This brush is perfect for those highly pigmented blushes, it has a way to sheer out color and apply it perfectly onto the cheeks. The bristles are sort of a duo-fibre type, it's dense at the base while it's spaced out at the tip. If you have trouble applying blush, this is perfect. I do think the shape is a little bit big so I tend to use just the tapered tip of the brush. This is also perfect for applying powder all over the face.

The Expert Face Brush is a dense and short bristles brush ideal for buffing foundation. It's quite small compared to the blush brush and I have to say this is my least used brush. Since the size is smaller it takes longer to apply foundation. It doesn't do a flawless job with foundation, it leaves streaks if you haven't taken the time to blend. I use this just for setting my under eye concealer and even applying a little bronzer on my cheeks since the shape is more flat and rounded.

Last but not least, my favorite of the bunch is the Miracle Complexion Sponge. I wanted to try out a foundation sponge and since the hyped up Beauty Blender is a bit pricey, I was hoping this would work just the same. I love this compared to any foundation brush but the trick is to dot your foundation on your face and then tap it out with the sponge. I find that dipping the sponge into the product absorbs it a lot and I end up using twice as much. Needless to say this blends foundation out beautifully..it melts foundation into your skin and leaves it looking flawless. I prefer using the flat side and since it's very soft and sized quite big after you soak it under water. This also works wonderful for cream blushes, it blends out really easily. Cleaning it is a breeze, I rub it against a soap bar and gently massage all of the foundation out. Since its soft it can break really easily so be gentle!

Overall its a hit or miss with Real Techniques but there are a few gems from the range!

You can find Real Technique brushes at Just4girls.pk.

3 comments:

Lips,

[SWATCH] Wet n Wild Megalast Lipsticks

Friday, May 09, 2014 Sidrah!!!! 13 Comments

I got into these Wet n' Wild Megalast lipsticks late last year and somehow I ended up collecting quite a few. I've reviewed the first one In the Flesh in detail, I wanted to show you some swatches of the rest I picked up for comparison.

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipsticks

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick Swatch

905D Smoking Hot Pink- Bright pink with a warm tone (very wearable)

906D Wine Room- Deep, rose-pink with a hint of mauve

908C Sugar Plum Fairy- Deep Berry tone pink

909D Cora-line- Warm coral with a hint of red

912C In the Flesh- rosy-nude, reviewed here

913C Sand Storm- Warm beige-brown

915B Spiked with Rum- Burgundy-brown

965 Cherry Picking- Bright pink that shows up with more red tones on the lips.

All of the shades have amazing pigmentation and are long-wearing. I love how every shade applies just the same with a smooth, matte finish. The swatches were done in just a single swipe. I purchased some from BeautyJoint and BeautyInABudget.

Which ones your favorite?!

13 comments:

Haul

Hauling Around! Sleek, Jordana, Rimmel, Revlon

Wednesday, May 07, 2014 Sidrah!!!! 11 Comments

I love a good haul! I made quite a few online orders via Facebook pages for my birthday which was at the end of March, but unfortunately my orders have been delayed and I have yet to receive them :(. I wanted to do a collective haul until I got the rest of my orders but I wanted to go ahead and share with you what I hauled so far from various places.

I realized while taking photos that I bought quite a bit of lip products. I really wanted a few new lip balms and I love a good cooling mint balm. The Palmer's lip balm smells like mint chocolate chip ice cream while the EOS lip balm is more on the sweet candy mint scent.

If you haven't seen some of the new Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipsticks by Kate, you NEED to visit your local supermarket that carries them. There are a few stunning reds that I fell in love with and had to buy these since the formula is very long-wearing and moisturizing, this was before I bought a few Wet n' Wild lipsticks and Revlon chubby balms. I also bought the new Retro Glam Mascara that came in a low cost bundle offer with a pen liner and a kohl pencil that I ended up giving away to my liner-addict cousin...not a huge fan of them!

The Sleek blushes...I don't think I need to say anything but if you haven't purchased at least one Sleek blush, you need to! Amazingly pigmented, lasts all day through this unbearable heat and blends like a dream. The ELF Studio highlighter is another amazing product for the cheeks, it gives an intense in-your-face glow.

Jordana Matte Lipstick in Matte Mystery (450rs)
Wet n' Wild Lipstick in Coraline (500rs)
Wet n' Wild Lipstick in Spiked with Rum (500rs)
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate- Shade 30 (950rs)
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate- Shade 31 (950rs)
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain- Smitten (1,500rs)
Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm- Sultry (1,350rs)

EOS Lip Balm- Sweet Mint (695rs)
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Dark Chocolate and Peppermint (250rs)
ELF Studio Baked Highlighter- Moonlight Pearls (750rs)
Rimmel Scandeleyes Retro Glam Mascara (1,150rs)

Sleek Makeup Blush- Pomegranate (750rs)
Sleek Makeup Blush- Sunrise (750rs)

I hauled these items from Just4Girls.pk, Naheed Supermarket and BeautyInABudget4u on Facebook.

11 comments:

events,

Dove® Proves That Beauty Is A State Of Mind

Thursday, April 17, 2014 Sidrah!!!! 7 Comments

In this day in age, we can all get lost in hiding behind our true beauty. Some might not feel confident enough which is not to say that we rely on makeup and skincare to bring forth our true beauty.

The Inner-Beauty Social Experiment

In an effort to make women realize their true beauty, Dove conducted a social experiment led by psychologist Dr. Kearney-Cooke. The experiment was conducted as a placebo effect, leading one to believe that it's all in our mind.

The experiment utilized a “beauty patch” as a treatment devised to “enhance the way women perceive their own beauty.” The social experiment revealed that an alarming 80% of women feel hesitant to share the way they look. The study highlights how the right state of mind can unlock the powerful feeling of beauty that lives inside majority of women.

The beauty patch would essentially change their personal lives in ways that they had not imagined. The women participants wore the patch for two weeks and would record their daily lives.

The Beauty Patch

At the end of the experiment, it was revealed that the “beauty patch” contained nothing, no ingredient, no formula. The patch gave these women the power of believing in their own true beauty. It was remarkable how these women were affected by the patch, some would’ve purchased the patch in the long run.

"When a woman feels beautiful, she radiates happiness and confidence, which inspires her life in a significant way,” said Dr. Kearney-Cooke. “These women, like so many others, struggle to recognize their own beauty and it severely affects their daily lives. This first of its kind experiment designed to illustrate that beauty is a state of mind and that the power to feel beautiful comes from within.”

Dove: Patches, the Film launch in Pakistan

Throughout the Dove: Patches film, it becomes clear how low self-esteem affects many elements of the women’s lives. As the women become more confident about the way they look, feel personal relationships flourish and they develop a more optimistic outlook on their daily life.

Dove hopes that all of the women’s inspirational stories featured in the Dove: Patches film will serve as powerful examples and encourage all women to develop a stronger relationship with their own beauty.

The Dove Patches documentary was revealed in Pakistan at a launch held at Verde Bistro Cafe to showcase the Social Experiment. Fellow bloggers and socialites attended the event among successful women who encapsulate the terms ‘beauty’ and ‘strength’.

Dove at Verde Bistro Cafe

Dove invites all women to create a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. When women look and feel their best, they feel happier, and Dove believes it is important for women to see the beauty in themselves so that they can inspire the next generation. The brand has set a goal of reaching 15 million young lives with self-esteem programming by the end of 2015 and has reached over 12 million to date.

Dove at Verde Bistro Cafe

Maliha, Rabiyah and Marium at Verde Bistro Cafe

The Digital PR event was managed by Creative Chaos and the on ground activation by Bulls Eye 360.

Watch the Dove: Patches film at dove.pk/patches and join the conversation at #BeautyIs.

Dove: Patches from Dove Pakistan on Vimeo.