ASOS Review & Haul

So I shopped from asos.com for the first time this month. I didn't want to buy anything expensive since it was my first time, so I decided to buy tights- inexpensive, but much-needed for this winter. They are so cute & in tip-top condition, and I can't wait to wear them!

• ASOS Heart Suspender Sheer Tights, 8 GBP (Rs.650) ~ These are so hot! I have a thing for garters, so I couldn't be happier when these came into fashion. They're Free Size- a tad loose around my feet/toes, but fit perfectly on the rest of my legs.

• Gipsy Mock Ribbed Over The Knee Tights, 6 GBP (Rs.487) but they're now 8 GBP ~ These are more conservative than the heart suspender ones up there....or not, it depends on how you wear them really. But I love the ribbed fabric, it clings better than the heart suspender tights & it's warmer too.

Artistic Eye Makeup Contest Entry 1 ~ The Future Will Be Mine

"The Future Will be Mine"

Contestant: Megha Mittra

PRODUCTS USED:
FACE:
1. MUFE HD foundation
2. MUFE HD powder

EYES:
1.MAC prep+prime eye
2.Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel eyeliner
3. Bourjois Intense Extrait eyeshadow in shade 10
4. Inglot AMC eyeshadow shade 23
5. The Body Shop Duo Shadow in Eucalyptus Grey

BRUSHES:
1. MAC 219
2. Sigma Small Angle-E65
3. Virgo Eye Shadow

*Thanks for your entry Megha...Good Luck! :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Artistic Eye Makeup Contest Update ~ Photo Example

I have received a few entries for the Artistic Eye Makeup Contest and I had to ask all of them to make some changes to their photos. I'm getting almost-full-face & also full face & body, one didn't even name her look or provide the required links. Now I could be less uptight about it but it wouldn't be fair to the other contestants who stick to the rules.

So I thought it'd be better if I showed you an example (which I should have done in the first place, sorry about that):

You can go smaller (like if you only want to show one eye OR don't want to show your forehead/ears) but no bigger than this (no bottom half of your nose, no apples of your cheeks & no lips). I won't have time to reply to emails, so please make sure you get the size right in order for your entry to be accepted. 

Also, please don't forget to:

• Name your look
• Provide a link to your blog post OR Facebook wall- where you linked your photo to Indian Vanity Case Facebook Page
• Write down the products you used for your look.

I have also updated the contest post here

Good Luck once again. People are waiting for your looks, so do start sending them in! The sooner, the better ;)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Colorbar I-Glide Eye Pencils Review & Swatches

"Defines like a pencil and glides like liquid eyeliner, the I-Glide Eye Pencil, with its smooth formulation, gives your eyes rich colour in a single stroke and blends in easily after application. Lasts longer than 8 hours; does not feather or bleed." ~ Colorbar.

They do live up to those claims. They are some of the best eye pencils available here. You must own at least one two. They are soft & smooth but dry to a smudge-proof & long-wear finish.  I'm so glad that they have launched more shades....but I want more! 

Packaging: I love how the tails match the pencils (like matching underwear) + they have their very own matching outer boxes too.

There are 3 newly launched shades here- Amethyst Spark, Glowing Sapphire & Flirty Turq.

• Prunella:  A pearly plum shade. It may look almost brownish on your lash line. 

• Amethyst Spark: Purple with purply-pink shimmer. It is SO PRETTY! The color is very Katy Perry. 

• Glowing Sapphire: Sapphire blue with blue shimmer. It is very similar to MAC Petrol Blue Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner 

• Flirty Turq: Deepened turquoise with turquoise pearl. If you want to add a bit of zing to neutral eyes, just wear this on your lower lash line. 

• Blackout: Matte Black. Must-have.

• Cocobar: Cocoa brown. My everyday brown eye liner. Look at how short it is now :)

• Jaded: Jade green with pearl. This shade flatters most eye colors.

Bourjois Intense Eyeshadows 03, 10 Review, Swatches

About:

Made from 87% mineral pigments, precisely measured and selected, INTENSE is highly concentrated for 2 x more coverage than a classic eyeshadow in one single application. Hypoallergenic, paraben- and fragrance-free and suitable for contact lens wearers.

Available in a wide range of 10 exclusive shades and suitable for all occasions and styles:-

The essential shades, to illuminate and sculpt the eyes (01, 02, 03, 09, 10)

The dramatic shades to intensify the eyes (04, 05, 06, 07, 08)

Belts from Bangkok

I wanted to show you these belts my dear friend brought for me from Bangkok almost 2 months ago. She knows my taste so well ;)

First, let's talk about this leopard print belt with dangling lock & key. OMG when I first saw it, I almost screamed! Mainly because it matched a dress I'd just bought perfectly, but also because I was craving something leopard. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

Winged Eyeshadow EOTD

I am assuming you're bored of the boring over here. Did I just make a post on a Body Lotion? Truthfully, anything non-makeup/fashion related bore me to death. So if I'm bored, you're bored, right? ;)

I decided to post something spontaneous- this winged eyeshadow look I just love wearing these days. It will be my go-to look in the upcoming party season. The beauty of it is you can use any other color to wing apart from black, but I prefer only light nude/pastel/shimmery shades for the lids. It looks good even if you just tightline & don't line your upper lash line.

I'm using (testing) Bourjois Intense Eyeshadows in #03 (sand rose) & #10 (charcoal black). Sorry, I forgot to click a eyes-looking-straight photo! Like I said, spontaneous & unplanned ;)

Review & swatches of Bourjois Intense Eyeshadows coming soon. But I have posted pics HERE

Do lemme know if you want a proper tutorial on this look.

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Vaseline Cocoa Glow Body Lotion: Why I Love It

Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you like eclairs? Do you like vanilla mousse with cocoa sprinkles? Do you hate dry/rough skin?

If you're nodding, then you have to try Vaseline Cocoa Glow Lotion!  I am not much of a sweet tooth myself but I compensate for that in the beauty department.

Sweet lord, this body lotion! Wow. My elbows are loving it, my hands are loving it, my derrière is loving it (like a baby's, I tell you). My skin got really dry a week ago, it felt so rough like it's going to crack ("pleeease no stretch marks!"), then who came to the rescue? Eclair in a bottle. 

About:

New Vaseline Total Moisture with Stratys-3 technology infused with Cocoa Butter not only works from within to give you an inner glow but also nourishes every layer of your skin. It gives your skin the multilayer moisture therapy infusing moisture at the top, core and deep down layers of your skin leaving your skin feeling healthy and glowing. New Vaseline® Total Moisture™ is the only moisturizer in India which combines three powerful ingredients that infuse and suspend moisture throughout all its layers.

New! Sigma "The Cities" Brush Collection

What's your favorite city? London, Paris, Tokyo or New York? My dream destination is....Paris! I want to go there and get lost in the narrow streets (with no dog poo) and try to find my way while eating a pink-colored macaroon (and yes, I'll also be wearing a fuchsia cloche hat.] But in the case of these brush kits, my favorite is.....[to be continued]

Sigma's newest Limited Edition brush kits- The Cities - make me wish I had more money, so I can buy all the brush kits & also travel to all 3 of the cities. I think the concept is brilliant!

Here's a closer look at "The Cities" Brush Collections:

1. London ~ London's poise and elegance. The brushes come in an innovative and functional travel-size container that turns into two brush holders to keep you stylish and organized on the go. Price: $89

Bridal Nails With Rhinestones [Bridal Series]

This is one of the easiest DIY bridal nail arts. Quick to do and not at all OTT. I did them on my friend who got married, so I thought I'd put up the pics. 

Products used:

• Colorbar Nail Lacquer Ivory (shown here)
• Colorbar Nail Lacquer Clear Top Coat
• Nail Art Rhinestones I bought from Ebay a while back.

Artistic Eye Makeup Contest: Win Too Faced Natural Eye Palette!

Hey Everyone,

Time for our first makeup contest ~ Indian Vanity Case Artistic Eye Makeup Contest. Create an original artistic eye look that would make my jaw drop, and maybe.....a little jealous ;)

THE PRIZE: 

The very gorgeous TOO FACED NATURAL EYE PALETTE, worth Rs.3000 = $61 (It costs a lot less than that but I ordered it online, so massive shipping charges) and it's brand new in box. Only ONE person will WIN it!

Here's a closer look at it:

Bourjois Fast & Perfect Mascara With Rotating Brush Review

I remember seeing a rotating hairbrush in one of those tv commercials (Telebrands?). It roll and rolls and makes hair look super sleek. I used to get so tempted to buy it before I got my hair permanently straightened. This mascara reminds me of that hairbrush, which I hear isn't great.

Getting back to topic, it's time to tell you what I think about Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Mascara with the much-talked-about rotating brush, which rotates 360° and claims to coat lashes from root to tip with no overloading & give false lash volume effect in 30 seconds.

See how the length of the wand handle is slightly longer than mascara tube? The packaging is quite solid (read: heavier than other mascaras)

ARE YOU READY?!!!

Details coming to you shortly! :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

New Eyeshadow Palettes, New Wishlist

All I want for Christmas are these eyeshadow palettes. But not the last one!

• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eye Enhancing Universal Looks Holiday 2011, $11: Oh-My-Gosh! Tell me you don't want that lacy Naked palette with the little bow. Tell me you don't want the Smoky palette with the bling. Tell me you don't want ALL OF THEM! 

Bourjois 10 Days Nail Enamel Review

Bourjois 10 Jours Days: Anti-Choc, No Chips for 10 days! Really?!!! Let's find out!

Claims:

BOURJOIS' FIRST NAIL ENAMEL THAT LASTS FOR UP TO 10 DAYS** WITH TOUCH UP'S THANKS TO ITS UNIQUE FORMULA AND BRUSH! Painting your nails is now hassle-free! The 10 DAYS nail enamel contains a chip resistant pro-silicium formula and a precise angled touch-up brush for a flawless chip-free manicure with a quick and easy application. The pro-silicium formula acts as a protective barrier to protect nails from chipping and makes them 2x as strong. The brush has been specially designed for a 2-way use. Wide and angled, it perfectly adapts to the nail shape, for an even application from the very first stroke. Its slanted tip allows you to touch up with ease leaving no marks or chips.

Available in 12 shades from natural tones to classical reds and fashion trendy bright colours!

I got shade #19, a fuchsia color with purple undertones. Purple is hard to capture on camera so in these pics it's almost non-existent. But it's there. 

Bridal Makeup Products On A Budget (Bridal Series 2011)

Welcome to the Bridal Series 2011! I will be doing a few posts on bridal makeup products and such....and there might be a surprise at the end of the series *wink* Now now don't get any ideas in your head, I don't even know what it is myself haha.

I told you my childhood friend got married, right? I had to buy some makeup products for her last month, but since she is not a makeup junkie, she wanted to keep it simple with just the bare necessities.

About The Bride & Wedding:

• Type ~ Christian wedding (means minimal/day makeup)
• Theme ~ Red & Gold
• Bride's Gown Color ~ Ivory

So, here are all the products I got for her:

Face:

• Primer ~ Inglot Under Makeup Base. Used as a foundation primer as well as eyeshadow primer.
• Foundation ~ Colorbar Triple Act Compact. This is a 3-in-1 product with a concealer, foundation & compact. It is awesome! Everyone liked it!
• Concealer ~ Colorbar Full Cover Concealer
• Powder ~  Maybelline Whitestay UV Compact in Natural for whole face Fawn for contouring. 

Did You Guess Right?

[Sorry for being late with this. Our Airtel modem just conked out today....for the 2nd time grr. Got a temporary connection for now.] 

Thanks to everyone who played the Guessing Game. I didn't think so many people would be enthu about it, that's what made it a lot more fun. It's now time for me to disclose how much I paid for my booties! Is yours the winning number? Wow it's like a lottery :) 

65 Guesses:

Majority ~ Rs.2000

Funniest ~ Under Rs.500 (Whaaat?! I wish!)

Wowza! ~ Rs.6000-8000, Rs.7000 (I wish! ;p)

*Right price ~ Rs.950 (about $19.00)

Nobody guessed that exactly, so I decided to go for the amount closest to 950- which is 990.

Smitha guessed Rs.990, so she wins this contest. CONGRATS! You have an entry to my next Giveaway. I can't help thinking, "Why? Why didn't she just guess 950 instead of 990???!!" coz I wanted someone to hit the bull's eye so badly! =D

By the way, I bought them from my hometown- Shillong. 

Original price - Rs.1200-1300

I bargained - Rs.500 (Rule when haggling: Always cut the price in half)

I gradually took it up to Rs.800, but SA stuck to Rs.990, but in the end agreed to 950.

I would have paid upto Rs.2500 for them but still, I like to win when bargaining. Don't we all? 

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Studded Suede Booties: Guess The Price!

Let's play a Guessing Game! I show you my new pair of nude suede booties with gold studs, and you guess how much I paid for them.

I bought them recently. I bargained, SA stuck to his price, I left store hoping he'll budge and call me to come back (an age old tactic), he DIDN'T (basta....!), I went back in a few minutes to take the shoes and pay his price.

Me: Khush? (Happy?)

SA:  Haan, bahut khush *grins* (Yes, very happy)

Oh he knew he had all the power and that I was gonna go back for them anyways. Actually, I knew it too haha! Damn these small feet!

If you guess right:

You will automatically be entered in my next GIVEAWAY (non-sponsored)

RESULTS on Monday.

For now, how much??? :)

♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

Physicians Formula Cashmere Wear Ultra-Smoothing Bronzer

I don't know whether it was the cashmere design or the tassel that called out my name. I hear a bell ringing every time I look at that tassel. Ting....ting....ting.... C'mon, tell me you're not imagining pulling it! And shh... listen.....

DESCRIPTION:

Ultra-luxurious powder with the classic look and feel of cashmere leaves skin feeling smooth, soft and nourished. Pearlescent bronze and gold are delicately woven together to deliver a rich, warm glow.

Skin radiates with a youthful bronze glow that lasts all day. Hypoallergenic. Fragrance free. Oil-free. Non-comedogenic. Dermatologist approved.

Available in 2 shades: Light Bronzer & Bronzer (darker shade)

At Bourjois Event, New Launches & Haul

I told you about the Bourjois event the other day, and I did make it. It was a quick one, but I came home with new Bourjois products I have been wanting to try, so I was pretty psyched when I left.

I met Zahra, Bourjois' makeup artist, but the meeting lasted only for a few minutes because she wasn't feeling well and was jet-lagged. Hence, no photo of her.

Must-have Bourjois products according to her: Mascara, Eyeliners & Blush.

Enjoy the photos!

Outfit: Sorry, couldn't click properly. It was awkward with people staring and all. I just wore a casual black & off-white bandage dress and a black quarter-sleeve silk blazer. The blazer has a bow clasp there, but it keeps unclasping on its own. Must-fix-that. Black Vincci shoes, black little Accessorize bag.

Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Mascara

Lakme Nine To Five Kohl Ultimate Review

Q:  What is soft & very black like a kajal, but:

• is easier to use precisely,
• looks like eyeshadow when smudged,
• is waterproof,
• never gives raccoon eyes?

A:   "Lakme Kohl Ultimate", baby!

About Lakme Kohl Ultimate:

The Kohl Ultimate is a kohl, smudger and sharpener all in one stick. You can create the smoky look with ease by using the smudge tip to smudge the kohl line outwards!

Claims:

-  3-in-1 smooth kohl stick with smudger and sharpener

-  Moisturizing ceramides will smooth and soften the eye skin (Wth does that even mean? lol)

-  Smudge-proof and water-resistant

-  Ensures 8 hours of great looking eyes

-  Dermatologist approved

I heart Kohl Ultimate! It's does what it claims, I like the way it's packaged (very classy....and fun, like a toy), it is so soft & gentle on my eyes, it lasts all day- though you may need to reapply on the waterline.

Pro #1 ~ Somehow, when I wear this, my sensitive eyes, which are prone to redness, don't get red so easily. Maybe the Moisturising Ceramides prevent my eyes from drying.

Con #1 ~ The sharpener is quite tight and doesn't sharpen the pencil very neatly (refer to pic above), thought it didn't break the tip or anything like that.

About the smudge tip: It is a cool addition. It's made of rubber and has it's very own transparent cap. How it's shaped was well thought of, because I can hold it at any angle and it'll never feel uncomfortable or awkward while smudging.

Bourjois Event In Delhi & New Launches

Hey you Bourjois fans,

Zahra, Bourjois Intenational Makeup Artist, is coming next week to Noida on 8th Nov'11. She will be meeting people and will also be giving them tips & makeovers!

Bourjois has 2 new products that they would like to highlight with an in store launch with Zahra. The new Fast and Perfect Mascara (with a rotating brush) and the Intense Pot Eye Shadows.

Bourjois Fast and Perfect Mascara, Black ~ Innovative new mascara! The new auto rotating brush instantly and evenly wraps around each lash for a false lash volume effect in 30 seconds flat* The brush rotates 360° and coats lashes from root to tip with no overloading guaranteed.

Inglot Matte Lip Pencils/Crayons ~ LOVE!

We watched the thriller/horror movie "Choose" last night. Half-baked movie with a 'wth?' ending. But it got me thinking...

If, one day, a Powerful Force says to me, "Okay, here's the deal, Cynthia. You can either:

One: Get all the lipsticks in the world, but not Inglot Matte Lip Pencils- all your life.

Two: Get Inglot Matte Lip Pencils, but no other lipstick in the world- all your life.

Three: If you don't pick, no lipstick at all for you- ALL.YOUR. LIFE *evil grin*

Me : Wha...?

Powerful Force: You must CHOOSE. NOW! 5-4-3-2...."

Me : Two! I pick TWO! Why are you doing this to me?!!! You cruel....thing! =[ *imagines throwing a potato at its head*

Now can you imagine how much I love these Inglot Matte Lipstick Pencil/Crayons? ;D

Bourjois Flower Perfection Collection

Oh-my-gawd! Let me squeal for a minute here! 

Bourjois' newest collection- Flower Perfection - is the best thing I saw today. My jaw dropped on my keyboard. Will yours?

LOTD With The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil & Bronzing Powder

Winter is here, but I still can't get enough of my bronzers. My skin instantly looks healthier after I brush some bronzing powder on my cheeks. In fact, I'll need them more now when it's cold and I'll get paler. I thought it's about time I wrote about The Body Shop Honey Bronze products I bought in October. In the photos, the products don't show much but they don't in real life either. Both the Bronzing Powder and Shimmering Dry Oil products are very subtle. The Bronzing Powder could easily be called a 'Bronzer Faker'

Hope this animation works on your browser. If not, just click on it.

Face: Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer, MUFE HD Foundation #120, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot under eyes, MAC Studio Finish Concealer to conceal blemishes.

Cheeks + Face ~ TBS Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder under cheekbones, temples, chin & Shimmering Dry Oil on the cheekbones. I also applied the oil on the bridge of my nose, over my brows and on the center of my chin.

Lips ~ Silkygirl Moisure Gloss Lip Gloss in Barely Nude.

*Earrings ~ Forever 21 (shown here)