The 'Scandalous' Red Musk Launch | The Body Shop

Hi Lovelies,

So in my last post I mentioned being invited to the launch of Red Musk, a spicy and sexy fragrance by The Body Shop created by pepper, cinnamon and tobacco - no flowers whatsoever!. What an evening! I was absolutely excited to be at the venue to see what was in store for everyone. The one of a kind scandalous themed fashion show brought together on the runway the promotion of one of the most classic fragrance ever by The Body Shop - the daring RED MUSK featuring the trendiest and influentially bold "Arora" by designer Roma Azmat. The launch definitely broke the conventional manner of launching fragrances and was one of it's kind in the city.

Photos above: The Body Shop Pakistan Facebook Page

Break the rules & play the game!

Loved by many, the scent Wood Musk by The Body Shop was discounted seventeen years back. The loyal customer waited eagerly rather pleaded The Body Shop to bring Musk back. The Body Shop re-launched Red Musk, the first man-made cruelty free musk. A distinctively different fragrance with spiced musk and hot notes of cinnamon and tobacco, Red Musk defies conventional fragrance - that's sexy! I'll be sharing a detailed review of the fragrance in my later post. Today I want to focus more on the launch event which was one of it's kind in Islamabad.

Can you handle scandal? 

The blazing lights, the ramp, screens and white lounge set the mood for the evening at the Aura Grande Marquee in Islamabad last Sunday. The evening was a blend a fashion ramp walk, singing and dance performances with the fragrance launch as the center of attraction. The daring, sensual and 'scandalous' range of clothing line by Arora blended with the sensual image of Red Musk so well! The clothing line was all western wear; ranging from casual wear to formal evening wear along with a Valentine Collection of mostly red sequined gowns. The showcased line amplified the attitude, the attitude being 'scandalous'! Arora unveiled impressively and skin was definitely 'in' for the evening, for now and forever. Serena Shirin Khan did a good job choreographing the ramp walk. Faiza's, one of the best names in makeup artists, ultra modern touch ups using The Body Shop enhanced the look of models in particular and the whole event in general. 

Photos: My IPhone6 / Top right: Aqib Mughal Photography

Let's talk about Saima Azhar - the show stopper and definitely a plus-size model. She had previously appeared on the launch of The Body Shop White Musk Smoky Rose as well. It took me a while, and a video made by myself in my IPhone at the event, to figure out that she was a plus size model (I don't mind though) since this was the first time I saw her walk down the ramp spraying Red Musk in a sensual manner. She appears twice during the show: first time wearing a red, sequined halter-neck dress and second time wearing a black sequined off shoulder evening gown. I admit I was pretty impressed with the way she carried herself on the ramp. Too bad that I was sitting at the side and could not see the whole act of her spraying the sensual Red Musk in a rather inviting manner. Nevertheless, she did exhibit a lot of confidence in her bold attire; her big, voluminous hair, sultry makeup and sky high heels synced well with the overall theme of the evening. Here's two of the many videos I made just to give you an idea about the evening. Sorry for the poor video quality, I used my phone.

The 'Scandalous' Red Musk Launch | The Body Shop from Pretty Gloss on Vimeo.

Each segment of the fashion show was divided between music and dance performances. Umair Jaswal, Pakistan's pioneer in Progressive Rock music performed his song Pal while Maria Fatima Unera Qureshi, Nescafe Basement promising talent performed her number as models marched through. Whereas, Veer Andrew dance troupe, a local and young dance group from Karachi performed absolutely impressively on famous numbers like "Get Low". Constantine PR managed to successfully pull off everything brilliantly, the work done was pure quality and every aspect of the event was well arranged.

Photos: The Body Shop Pakistan Facebook Page

The 'Scandalous' Red Musk Launch was the talk of the town and a huge success. People from all walks of life from socialites to celebrities to media to corporate slaves like myself attended the evening and stayed back till the end. Since I was invited as a beauty blogger to attend and cover the event, I received a lovely goodie bag from The Body Shop and Constantine PR at the end of the show which was a pleasant treat undoubtedly! I wait anxiously for another event from The Body Shop and Constantine PR.

Stay tuned for the complete review of the Red Musk fragrance coming up soon.

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Chanel Coco Mademoiselle | The Most Romantic Fragrance for Valentines Day

Hi Lovelies,

Last night I was invited by The Body Shop to attend a beautiful evening of the launch of their new fragrance. The event was a night of celebrities and glamour - I was all set from the dress to the heels. When it came down to choosing which fragrance to wear I had no doubts whatsoever. Nothing can compare to the bold statement made by Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle which I had recently purchased. I wanted something vibrant and sensual yet sophisticated, something that would make me stand out of the crowd. And there was nothing more exciting than opening a fresh bottle of a timeless fragrance like Coco Mademoiselle.

Ever since I was old enough to know what a perfume was, I adored it. I have used many, many brands of perfume but one brand that truly defines luxury is Chanel. Chanel has this glamorous aura around it, not just the perfumes but the handbags, lipsticks, nail polishes, skincare, makeup.. what not. My very first Chanel fragrance was Allure Sensuelle, a floral oriental fragrance. Allure Sensuelle is the perfume I received  most compliments on. It was like almost everyone I met gave me compliments on this fragrance and asked which one is it. This truly inspired (motivated?) me to go for the fragrance again.

Coco Mademoiselle is inspired by the irresistible spirit of young Coco Chanel. It is daring and bold - yet it is sensual and elegant. Coco Mademoiselle is an oriental fragrance with an utterly feminine composition. I love how this fragrance expresses refined sensuality but at the same time feels so incredibly fresh! I wanted to purchase the limited edition Coco Mademoiselle which is the same fragrance but a slightly different cap featuring the identity of Chanel, the interlocked C's in black. Now since I could not find the limited edition anywhere at the time I was planning to purchase it, I settled for the regular 100ml Eau de Parfum.This packaging also has the interlocked C's, comparatively small and printed in gold in the front of the cap. You cant see it in my photos because, oh well, I forgot to fix the cap (Oops!). But since the photographs were beautiful I decided not to re-do the photoshoot.  And just like Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge who does not need to make a lot of effort to look flawless and classy, Coco Mademoiselle's packaging is simple yet elegant. It comes in a plain white box with the name written on the front in black and bold. Inside the bottle is plain, square-shaped and transparent, reflecting a beautiful pinkish-peach shade of the perfume. This classic bottle is a perfect luxury and a beautiful addition to my dressing table.

Launched in 2001, Coco Mademoiselle is a wonderful and most beautiful combination of notes. You will just fall in love with the base note like I have. Top notes are Orange, Bergamont and Grapefruit so pretty fruity yet not over powering. Middle notes are Lychee, Rose and Italian Jasmine which smells divine as the fragrance transforms into a fruity floral. This is such an amazing combination, so fresh and sensual. As the fragrance goes towards base notes Patchouli, Vetiver Vanilla and White Musk show up. I absolutely love Vanilla which adds sweetness to the fragrance making it so romantic yet flirty and blends in with perfect harmony with the overall fragrance. But let me clarify, it is not mature or powdery like Chanel # 5. Unlike Chanel # 5 which is a very retro fragrance, Coco Mademoiselle is young, fresh, bold and sexy! It oozes confidence and a sophisticated aura that every young, free spirited woman should have.

For me, this is a special fragrance (and very expensive too!) so I want to treat it in a special way. I would prefer to reserve it to special occasions only. Though, trust me I am tempted to wear it even at home. I just feel like spraying a bit on my pulse and sniff it all the time. I wish I could afford to buy it more frequently so that I could use it to my hearts content. Coco Mademoiselle is a modern scent with a touch of floral, it is perfection in a bottle and worth every penny. I would highly recommend this to all you ladies. It doesn't matter if you cannot afford it right now, whenever you can go for it at least once! You will not regret the purchase. And if you're lucky enough maybe you will receive one as a Valentine's gift. *xoxo*

Are you a fan of Coco Mademoiselle like myself? 

Leave your comments below.

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Wild Agran Oil Hand Cream | The Body Shop

Hi lovelies,

Today's review is about one of my favorite beauty items: hand cream. All too often our hands are neglected and in need of protection and hydration especially in the crisp winters season. I have terribly dry skin (other than my face which is, oh well, combination skin). Due to this I am constantly looking for specific hand care products because, if you have dry hands like mine you would know that normal moisturizing creams and lotions do not give you the best of moisture and nourishment as hand creams do. To be honest, to date if I have tried a hand cream from any beauty brand that has always been The Body Shop.

In the past I have used many of their hand creams from various The Body Shop's ranges. The range is extensive from floral to fresh, nutty and woody. The ones I have tried and loved previously include Wild Rose and Almond. This time I picked Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream. What caught my attention instantly was the travel size tube (30ml) which is smaller than the other regular size hand creams in The Body Shop range. I had not used any product from this range hence was so eager to try it out. The packaging is great! Its a soft tube, unlike the metallic tube of Almond Hand & Nail Cream or Wild Rose Hand Cream and Wild Rose Nourishing Hand Butter which sometimes produce sharp edges. The soft tube makes it so convenient to squeeze the product which the fear of it getting de-shaped.

The fragrance is fresh and alive, almost lifts your mood. The texture of this hand cream is rich and  nourishing. It is enriched with Community Fair Trade Argan Oil from Morocco to help soften your hands and cuticles. Once you apply it on your hands, the experience takes you back to the traditional hammam body care ritual of 'golden radiance' in the comfort of your own home. I squeeze out a small amount onto my hands and massage gently until absorbed. My hands are left feeling soft and smooth without being greasy.

My verdict about The Body Shop's Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream: I would say it is not the most moisturize hand cream for me. If I have to pick the one which satisfied my dry hands it would be the Wild Rose Nourishing Hand Butter. Maybe the reason is that my hands need intensive moisture especially in this cold weather. Nevetheless, if you are someone with normal skin and in need of a basic hand cream, this is the one for you. It will not only keep your hand moisturized but also make it smell divine.

Have you tried anything from The Body Shop's Wild Argan Oil range? 

Share the link below, I would love to go through it. 

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Tin O 'Tint Lip Balms | Mango & Cherry

Hi lovelies,

I personally think in winters your skin needs so much extra beauty pampering as compared to summers. While I stock loads of body butters, body washes, hand & foot creams, exfoliating scrubs etc one thing I can never live without is - lip balm. Yes dears, I have so many of these 'in-stock' all the time. Open my closet, my handbag, my vanity drawers, my sister's makeup bag, bathroom shelves, I can even bet I'll find one in my shoe rack! One reason for having so many lip balms around is that I go so low on water consumption during winters that it leaves my lips dry. Another reason is that I always love finding new ones to try. These are economical beauty treats so I feel I can try as many as I can.

Recently I came across mouthwatering flavors of Miners Cosmetics Tin O 'Tint lip balms. These lip balms are specifically designed to tint and care for your lips. Tin O 'Tint is an award winning wide range of seven (Cherry, Watermelon, Vanilla, Grapefruit, Cocoa Bean, Mango, Strawberry) delicious shades. So there is definitely something for everyone. I love the reasonably sized, very cute, round tin containers with a cute illustration of the flavor. Inside is a good quantity of fruity lip balm (around 12g!). These lip balm are packed with added moisturizing formula to leave the lips feeling soft and smooth. What I love most about Tin O 'Tint lip balms is the hint of color in each flavor. That is a must for me, I love my lip balms slightly tinted with a beautiful fragrance. Fortunately, these have both. However, I think if these were slightly flavored it would have been perfect! Nevertheless, I love the formula, the hint of color and the fragrance in a cute tin!

Out of the seven available shades I picked two: Cherry and Mango. Cherry is a gorgeous shade that not only leave a deep berry tint on the lips but the signature cherry fragrance will leave your mouth watering. It is one of the darker shades from the range. Mango on the other hand is a lighter shade. With a rich and fruity fragrance, Mango completely encapsulates all things summer. Not only does it smell gorgeous it also gives your lips a sunny coral tint. Trust me it is so hard to choose which one is the best. I just keep apply both from time to time as I have either one of them in my handbag all the time.

All in all I personally think Tin O 'Tint lip balms are a great purchase and definitely worth trying. You could see from the photographs here that I just couldn't wait to try these out! Each one is worth £ 2.99.

Have you tried any of these flavors?

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