From the other side of mirror: 2016

Saturday, 17 December 2016

Skin Care Routine -Winter Edition

I have been meaning to do a different kind of post that wasn't a review , event or anything fashion related . So, finally I have decided to do the much requested skin care routine , which by the way isn't according to the book or whatever ,its just something that works for me and I am putting it forward for you guys . To be really really honest with you guys , I am not much of a ritual person , I tend to take care ,yes but if you think that my skin is flawless or something like that , then NO! I have open pores , I have dry patches , I have pigmentation around my lips and yes I get pimples ,black heads and everything else too . The point I am trying to make here is that one should know their skin and embrace it with full heart and take care of it to reduce the problems. When you know your skin , you can better choose your makeup and that makes you look impeccable in the pictures and in real life too.

Okay so enough of the preaching , and lets get to what we gotta do . I have divided it into day time and night time routine and its really really simple and anyone who has a spare of 5 minutes for them self , can do it (and you owe yourself that time ,remember that!)

During summers, I have pretty much oily skin so the summer routine is mostly just splashing cold water and using mud masks. Since I get major issues in Winter, I would be focusing on that in this post . So, lets go ,get to know my skin type , my problems and what I do to handle my skin's tantrums :

My Skin Type & Issues :

I have an oily combination skin which gets dry patches in the winter (or even in summer ) when I use any daily face wash or soap . Moreover , My skin goes a bit over board when it comes to sensitivity issues so as soon as I put a moisturizer,there is a pimple there within a few hours , yes NO EXAGGERATION ! That's what makes the problem ,a real problem . I get dry patches but can't moisturize them with any moisturizer until I found some that have suited me so well that I cling for my life to them !

Skin Care Routine:

1. Morning :

My Mornings are technically not mornings ,more like afternoons . Well ,what time I wake up ,I would be calling it morning. Here is what I do :

Cleansing : Most of the time I just splash cold water over my face and neck and dab it dry with face towel . I recommend keeping a separate face towel for yourself and use it for this purpose solely. Just in case , I went a little overboard with my facial oil the previous night or I just feel my skin needs a breather , I use Du,vi Green tea Face Wash (Review HERE) . A little goes long way , I just lather it up a little with gentle circular motion and rinse off immediately . It does dry my skin a little , but since I would be moisturizing it afterwards , it doesn't bother me much
Scrub: Once or twice a week I exfoliate my skin .That is usually during the shower because I feel like skin is already damp and can be exfoliated easily without any extra effort . For this previously I was using St.Ives Apricot Scrub for Sensitive but now I have switched to The Body Shop Tea Tree Squeaky Clean Scrub and I am in love with it . I just smear it all over y face and let it sit for a while . It tingles and cools my skin and then I gently scrub off in circular motions. I will be reviewing it shortly, but till then I would definitely be recommending it to everyone with problematic skin as the tea tree ingredient soothes the skin and controls break outs.
Moisturizing : Currently I am using the 24 K Gold Serum by Spa In A Bottle . Recently I have talked about it on my Instagram and have been loving it so far. It hasn't broken me out (yet) and I have been on it for 3 weeks now. The other moisturizer which hasn't broken me out till date is Clean & Clear Essentials Moisturizer. I just keep on switching between the too and the results are good.

Sun Screen: This is an added step to the days when I am heading out during day and I know there is going to be a lot of sun exposure. For that I put on L'Oreal Sunscreen . It is none greasy , stays on put and gives a minimal white cast. Since I don't use it much often , for the occasional use it works decently for me

2. Night :

Cleansing : Night time cleansing is something I stress a lot on . Its something makes or breaks the skin . Trust me I have tried it . If you have makeup on ,its a must you properly take it off before you hit the bed. I use Garnier Cleansing Miceller Water (Review HERE). I just soak up a cotton pad and gently swipe my face and neck and it takes out all the dirt of the day from my face leaving it squeaky clean . Since its aqua based , you don't need to wash off your face after that . It takes off makeup easily as well. I tend to wipe with 2 different pads just to be sure all the dirt and impurities are out .
Face Mask : My night time regimen includes at least one face mask every night (at least I try to do it ). I alternate between Tony Moly Sheet Masks , The Body Shop Ethiopian Honey Deep Moisturizing Mask and my personal favorite Home made Oats and Honey Mask . Each mask is very different and gives nourishment to your skin, so the alternation of them keeps the supply of all sorts of nutrients intact

Moisturizing: Usually I leave my skin as it is after the washing off the face mask .But recently I have incorporated Youthful Glow Face Serum by Spa In A Bottle as a night time moisturizer and I am pretty much satisfied with the results. The Rosehip and Lemon oil in the serum have definitely made my skin look plump in the morning

Yes there is no use of toner or some fancy battery operated cleanser in my routine and I am really satisfied about it . It might not have the conventional steps and neither all those products , but this is what has worked for me and my skin type. All these products are currently in my use or have been used by me and have suited me well ,hence the recommendation.

If you have used any of the above products , do let me know how you find it . Also if you have any recommendation keeping in view my skin type , go ahead shoot it in the comments box below ,its more than welcomed !!

Wet n Wild Megaglo Highlighting Gold Bar - Worth the hype ?

I have been on a highlighter hoarding spree lately and when they come out as pretty as the one you are seeing above , I just cant help it . I have never been a person who gets high end stuff, seriously you will hardly find anything on the blog that is high end ,except for the perfumes or may be a lipstick or two ? I really believe in the power of drugstore makeup because its affordable and keeps us guilt free too ! Apart from ELF and few others , Wet n Wild has been my favorite brand for a very long time . Even though I don't have much of their products but whatever I have , I absolutely love it ! If you have missed , I recently reviewed their infamous Megaglo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals. Being absolutely in love with the aforesaid ,I had to get my hands on the Gold Bar , and here is all what I think about it.

My Experience:

The Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar comes in a rectangular flip open packaging with a clear plastic top . The packaging feels kind of flimsy and I don't think its a good idea traveling with it as it may break . The packaging also includes a slide open mirror which is a really good addition as one can do touch ups while being on the go .

I really like the single rose gold star at the upper end that just adds to the beauty of this highlighter ,even though picking up color from that patch is pretty hard it isn't as pigment as the whole highlighter . The highlighter itself is true to its name and is a beautiful Gold in real sense. I would relate it to Laura Geller's Gilded Gold and also MAC's Whisper of Guilt in undertones. The formula is soft and smooth ,but not as the Megaglo Highlitghting powder in Precious petals ,as the later is butter smooth and super pigmented. I use synthetic brushes to put on highlighters and this one translates beautifully on the skin. Since,its subtly pigmented , it is easier to build it up gradually to your heart's content .

For reference, I range between NC 20-25 and have warm undertones. Even though this might look a bit frightening in the pan and even on swatching it look too gold , but it looks just perfect on our desi skin tones.

Upon application , It doesn't appear frosty and gives an even glow. However , if you have large open pores , it would definitely be accentuating them,so for the girls with open pores ,it might not be a good option .

Swatch:

Thumbs Up For :

Affordable
Pure Gold Color
Mirror Included
Cruelty Free
Pigmented
Smooth Application
Can be built up

Thumbs Down For

Limited Edition
Not easily available
Ingredients have Carmine
Flimsy packaging

My Rating :

I really hope wet n wild people make it a regular product in their line and also improve the packaging too . Otherwise I am totally in love with the gold glow this one gives !

Price & Availability:

The Wet n Wild megaGLO Highlighting Gold Bar retails for $4.99 but currently is out of stock at the website . However, you may find it over Amazon if you are lucky . For people in Pakistan , It is currenlty available at MAKEUP4U & INDELATH facebook pages for about 1000-1500 PKR Depending upon the seller.

HAVE YOU USED WET N WILD HIGHLITHERS ? WHICH ONE HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOUTRITE TILL NOW ? DO YOU THINK THIS IS A POSSIBLE DUPE FOR ANY HIGHEND BRAND ? DO LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.x

Night of "FIRST OF ITS KIND"- The Body Shop 4.0 Pulse Store Opening & Elixirs Of Nature Launch

After some back to back publishing, I took a little break from writing and get my head into some reading because to be honest to much writing turns out to be pretty tiresome at times. More over, I got some books which I really actually wanted to read and stayed glued to them till I finished them.

Tale of 3-day Fashion Extravaganza called Hum Bridal Couture Week 2016

I have been trying to be regular in my posting and have been true to my vows for the a couple of weeks now but then i Haven't posted on the weekend and my instagram feed looks like a monotonous amalgam of ramp videos. Thanks to my utterly disappointing phone camera, they don't look good. The thing is, I have been busy in the ongoing Bridal Couture Week by Hum TV and man hats off to the people who got o fashion weeks regularly ! How do you guys keep up with all the craziness there ?? And those time delays ? Please don't ask how I was kicking myself for being an hour late and the show started 3 hours after the due time ? Nope not talking about it -__-

So while being there and witnessing everything , Here is my take on the three days . No this is not a regular HITS & MISSES post , Just random stuff that went on there , few of the pieces that actually caught my eye , with no picture of myself (Shame on me !) and just my ramblings as usual . So LETS GO !

RED CARPET :

Red Crapet is one place for which everyone dresses to impress . You can see some major style statements going on the red carpet at every event and some make you look at the mirror and kick your own but for being not that skinny (CONFESSION) . So while I was really really looking forward to some divas showing up those statement cuts and colors with those jewelry pieces that make you wanna throw your Shadi ka Zewar and buy them , I saw none :( I am serious , I don't know if I just missed it or people are now just fed up of dressing up for the Last Fashion week of the year (that makes it 6th in the year , yup we have six fashion weeks in Pakistan , will talk about it later )

So nothing major went on the red carpet to be honest so i'll pass it

DAY 1:

There were around 8 designers exhibiting on day 1 (or 7 ?) and to be honest there was hardly anything memorable about them . I liked a few individual pieces from a few collections as they were absolutely stunning and I am posting them below . Please note that these choices are personally ,wholly ,solely my own , I have nothing against anyone and of course you don't have to agree either . Just putting out a disclaimer before anyone takes my words to heart and start bombarding me with death threats :D

Zonia Anwar

These 2 particular pieces from Zonia Anwar's showcase caught my eye majorly because of the color combinations . I absolutely love the timeless combination of black and gold and with the incorporation of black velvet the feel was absolutely regal !

The Bottle Green velvet shawl in the second one has the most intricate and beautiful design and with the backdrop of a muted ivory it was a piece to remember . All the winter brides take notes ! Do add a velvet shawl with your bridal dress to just amp that OOMPH and make it look regal to the next level .

Iman Ali for Ivy Couture

Rest of the collections went a bit meeh for me BUT did you know Iman Ali walked for Ivy Couture ! The said designers know how to make a Debut for sure . Whatever and how ever the collection was , Iman Ali's presence worked like a charm.

Day 2:

Day 2 had some well known names int he line up and it gave us hope that the showcase is going to be much much better this time and yes it was !

Anees Malik

The Shawls incorporated by Anees Malik in his Bridal designs was remarkable . I fell in love with all those beautiful shawls and their hues that made them perfect to be worn with the bridal wear and even pairing them up with a monochrome dress would just make a statement . Definitely one of those pieces that you would want to have in your wardrobe to perk up those winter wedding without freezing to the core !

Chinyere

Chinyere gave us a diverse color palette ranging from some typical colors to some multi colored Mehndi appropriate attires. I am a sucker for those multicolored gold printed lehngas and found a perfect blue in the collection . Over all I was left quite impressed by the whole collection

Day 3 :

Day 3 had been the most happening one of all ranging from some amazing designs , major celebrity appearances ,long delays and yes some power packed performances , Oh and that Finale was AH-MA-ZING ! No literally ,I was absolutely in love with the whole concept and the bunch load of Showstoppers . Amir Adnan definitely knows how to make a Finale GRAND ! Since we are on it,Lets discuss the Finale first and then some of those pieces that I loved .

Amir Adnan

The Grand Finale started with some amazing waltz performance followed by celebrity couples showing some moves , among them were Mr & Mrs Moamar Rana , Redah Misbah & Shammal Qureshi , Mr & Mrs. Ahmed Ali Butt , Junaid Khan & Sara Mikaal , Mr & Mrs. Rehan Babar , Mehreen Raheel & Sarmad Sultan Khoosat , Tapu Javeri , Momal Sheikh & Agha Ali and many others . Loved watching them shaking some leg to those beats and giving those Finale feels . The instrumental of Wake Me Up - Avicii just just perfect to set the pace.

Moamar Rana with Wife - Amir Adnan

Ahmed Ali Butt & Fatima Khan - Amir Adnan

Mr & Mrs. Rehan Babar - Amir Adnan

Anoushay Asad & Saleem Sheikh - Amir Adnan

Mehreen Raheel & Sarmad Khoosat- Amir Adnan

Amir Adnan

Ziggi Menswear

Among the designers , Ziggi Menswear showcased an amazing collection in both Eastern and Western Formal wear for men . Though I had this feeling that the Sherwanis have somewhat similar look as HSY's ,but still the intricate work on them was beautiful . This particular Blue coat had my heart whole night and I loved how subtle gold looked on that navy blue giving those royal feels .

Among the Grand Couturiers, Elan stood out and showcased amazing designs both for men and women . However these particular designs carried by the duo Cybil Chaudry and Jahan e Khalid was beautiful . The impeccable work on Cybil's dress from the Palias Indocine collection has our heart ever since the showcase and I love how those peach and bottle green stands out on that steel grey

Grand Couturiers ft. Elan

The Dragon fly pattern on the Sherwani and matching draped shawl was a stunner . Though I normally despise the work on menswear but this one was something I would want on a man's dress if he wants it to be embellished. To be honest , I like the pattern too much that I might want it on my dress too ! I love dragon flies ^_^
The other pieces in Elan's collection were stunning as well , but the men's wear was beautiful in particular .

To be honest , there was a lot of repetition of patterns and colors . I was hoping to see some innovation but I guess when there are half a dozen of Fashion weeks happening in the same year and most of them showcasing bridal wear , its pretty hard for the designers to come up with something new . However , it was nice to see shalwars and ghararas make a come back this time and wearable cuts being used. Abandoning some weird cuts and using male models as a prop is a breath of fresh air and is much welcomed by everyone.

This was all about the Hum Bridal Couture Week 16 and my take on it . If you had been following , do let me know which designs you liked and which things just put you off .

*Picture Credits: HUM PR , Ebuzz Today Facebook Page, Fashion Gossip Facebook Page

Pucker up Matte with L.A Pro Matte Flat Pigment Gloss - Review

Its been a while that Matte liquid lipsticks have been trending and it seems to extend into 2017 too . Even though people have started to experiment with metallic lips , glitter lips and also glossy shades , but in the end of the day , Matte finish lipsticks are everyone's go to thing . I have given into this trend pretty late and have been hooked ever since. All of my lipsticks have been replace by Liquid lipstick tubes on the vanity and are used (and abused) regularly .
Since I always gravitate towards the drugstore items, I have had my eyes on L.A Girl Matte Flat Pigment Gloss for a long time but due to reasons unknown , I wasn't able to get them. So, finally when I got it , naturally it was a nude AGAIN. If you follow me regularly , you would always see me wearing a nude or a dull pink because choices and also I don't think I carry dark colors so well .So, I got this and here is my take on this :

L.A Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss:

Blurring the lines between lipstick and lip gloss, Matte Pigment Gloss has become a favorite of makeup artists, bloggers and fans. Available in 16 bold shades that provide rich and intense color in a flat finish for all day wear. The long wearing formula goes on as a highly pigmented liquid and dries to a flat matte finish, for a gorgeous velvety perfection that last and lasts.

How To Use
Apply a thin coat evenly on lips and let dry. Re-apply as desired. Formula is fast drying and long wearing. To remove lipgloss, use an oil based makeup remover.

My Experience :

L.A Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss- Fleur

The L.A Girl Matte Pigment Gloss comes in a screw tube that is smaller and stubbier than a regular gloss tube . I really like how its lid is all matte black and it has a printed tube with the color of the product showing through,it really makes its easy to spot it when you are in a hurry . The applicator is flat from both sides ,rather than the standard doe-foot applicator which makes it super easy to use as you just need one swipe from each side to cover your lips completely .The packaging is really sturdy and travel friendly ,so thumbs up for it !

L.A Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss- Fleur

Now coming to the actual product. The Matte flat pigment gloss has a unique mousse like texture that glides on super easily. Being super pigmented , it doesn't need layering up and applies evenly . It comes in 16 shades and the one that I have is named "FLEUR". The shade is a pretty Nude peach. Though people say the pigmentation varies from shade to shade , I have found this one to have an even and smooth application . once applied , it dries really quickly and gives a matte finish that doesn't look dry at all and neither does it feel dry on the lips .Since it has a mousse-y texture ,it does not accentuate fine lines or dry patches over the lips ,but still I would suggest you use lips scrub and moisturize them well before application for a better result.

The staying power is really good stays on a good 6-7 hours on me without eating and drinking. It does't feel heavy on the lips at all and formula is really comfortable. Since its texture is airy and foamy sort , when you press the lips too hard, they will get that sticky feeling and it gets transferred in patches. Now ,I don't find it to be an issue as none of us would be smacking their lips that hard to experience this.

L.A Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss- Fleur

The product is little bit transferable ,and you might see it on the edge of your cup after a good steamy cup of coffee.

Its really easy to take off. I prefer using a wet wipe or my much trusted Garnier Miceller Water to take it off and it comes off without any tugging or rubbing

All in all , I am really enjoying the unique formula of this pigment gloss. It doesn't get bone dry and make your lips parched as a desert and stays on for a long time, which in my opinion is a win-win situation.

Swatch:

L.A Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss- Fleur

Thumbs Up For :

Affordable

Easily Available

16 gorgeous shades to choose from

Sturdy Packaging

Double sided flat applicator

Mousse texture

Pigmented

Applies Evenly

Doesn't accentuate lines and dry patches

Doesn't feel Dry or Heavy after application

Long Lasting

Comes off Easily

Thumbs Down For:

Darker colors might apply patchy

Sticky feeling upon smacking

Transferable

My Rating :

Personally,I absolutely love the formula and have no problem of retouches but if you are looking for a super long lasting dead matte formula ,this might not be your thing .

Price and Availability:

The LA Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss is available for 6$ at the L.A Girl WEBISTE . In Pakistan, you can easily get these pigment glosses from their facebook page of L.A Girl Cosmetics Pakistan for PKR 700/- each .

HAVE YOU TRIED THESE PIGMENT GLOSSES BY L.A GIRL COSMETICS YET ? HOW DO YOU FIND THE FORMULA? DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER MATTE FORMULAS THAT ARE SIMILAR? DO LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. x

Clean it all up with Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - Review

Lets juts admit , as much as we like putting on makeup , it kills us to take it off in the end ! I am such a lazy bum when it comes to skin care especially cleansing . Having the most crazy skin ,which throws a tantrum in the form of pimples whenever I put on some cream based anything . No seriously , have you ever had a pimple popping its head within like 30 minutes after you apply something new ? If you have you will know I am not exaggerating .
But as soon I realized the oblivion of approaching 30's ( which is a few years away) I knew I had to take care of my skin and move my lazy arse because ain't no one coming home to give me a spa treatment !while browsing around for cleansers , I stumbled upon this Garnier Miceller Cleansing Water which is hypo-allergenic water based cleanser and it has been quite a rage these days .Intrigued by the idea , I gave it a go and here is the verdict !

Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser

All-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser Removes makeup + cleanses + refreshes. No rinse, no harsh rubbing. For face, lips, eyes.

This all-in-1 cleanser is surprisingly powerful yet gentle to skin. It effectively removes makeup, cleanses skin and refreshes. A multi-purpose cleanser that contains Micellar technology. Like a magnet, micelles capture and lift away dirt, oil and makeup without harsh rubbing, leaving skin perfectly clean, hydrated and refreshed without over-drying.

Results:

Suprisingly Powerful yet Gentle to Skin with Micellar Technology. Like a magnet, micelles capture and lift away dirt, oil and makeup without harsh rubbing, leaving skin perfectly clean and refreshed without over-drying.

Micelle Technology Explained

THE SCIENCE BEHIND OUR ALL-IN-1 CLEANSER AND MAKEUP REMOVER

Discover the difference between traditional cleansers and Micellar Water.

Micellar Cleansing Water

Lifts Makeup Like a Magnet

Micellar Cleansing Water features micelle cleansing molecules that pull oil and dirt away from the face. Our all-in-1 cleanser gently takes all makeup off, no rinsing, no harsh rubbing.

How to Use:

TO REMOVE EYE MAKEUP:

Hold pad over closed eyes for a few seconds, then gently wipe without harsh rubbing.

TO CLEAN SKIN & REMOVE FACE MAKEUP:

Gently wipe all over until skin is completely clean from makeup and impurities. Use daily, AM/PM. No need to rinse.