Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue | The Body Shop

 "Soften & revive your rough tired feet with a skin smoothing moisturizer that also cools & deodorizes - a customer favorite since 1985!"

Now, all of you are aware of my obsession with The Body Shop! One product that I recently repurchased is Peppermint Cooling Foot Rescue Treatment. Such a treat for feet like mine - always on the go with a lot of exposure to dust.

Peppermint Cooling Foot Rescue Treatment comes in a 100ml jar. The texture is almost like body butter with a nice hint of pink. It smells like peppermint, is crispy & clean. The main ingredients are Glycerin which is an effective moisturizer & Menthol which stimulates blood circulation.

Why I got this Peppermint Cooling Foot Rescue Treatment in the first place? Well, I felt my feet were really dry, even in summers. Moreover, since I have naturally thin skin, sitting in one position would leave depression marks which have always made me a little uncomfortable.

How it works? After I shower, I massage this lotion into my feet & wear socks overnight. As soon as you apply it, your feet will instantly feel soft & moisturized. In the morning your feet are so well moisturized that you do not need to apply anything the whole day! Peppermint oil promotes a cooling sensation to leave feet feeling refreshed. Cocoa butter is a great moisturizer melting at body temperature. Sweet almond oil, with its rich fatty acids help restore skin’s moisture barrier. And grape extract is a fruit acid with gentle exfoliating properties.

What’s more! Check this out yourself.

A legend is born. “When the London Marathon started many of the runners complained about their sore feet. We discovered a very old remedy using oil pressed from peppermint leaves and another, which was an herbal infusion of the flowers of arnica, a mountain plant. We came up with a wonderful lotion made from peppermint and another ingredient s like cocoa butter and lanolin. It not only soothed tired feet and softened hard skin, it also helped inhibit foot odor – Founder Anita Roddick

One of the best purchases without doubt!

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"My Beloved is to Me a Cluster of Henna Blossoms"

Henna (or Mehndi) holds alot of significance in the eastern traditions may it be weddings, Eids or other festivals. Henna is an ornament for the soon-to-be brides & in fact a whole ceremony is dedicated to it known as Rasm-e-Henna or Mehndi Ki Raat. The significance of henna is perhaps attributed to the symbolic meaning of Mehndi - Fertility. 

For centuries, the art of body painting particularly hands & feet has been practiced in the east particularly India & the Middle East. Here, henna plant is believed to bring good fortune & love hence hold a very romantic association to it. The history of Henna goes back to 3400 BC in Egypt where mummified bodies with henna dyed hair & fingers are found. Even the mummy of Ramses II, among others appeared to have henna-ed fingertips & toes which was, interestingly, applied after his death.

In the Bible, Hebrew word kopher is used several times in Song of Solomon. In 1:14 it refers to henna as a plant & is symbolic of the perfume of henna flower.  

¹⁴ My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
   from the vineyards of En Gedi.

 This is corroborated by the mention of henna in 4:12-13 with other sweet smelling plants.

12 You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
   you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
   with choice fruits,
   with henna and nard,

14 nard and saffron,
   calamus and cinnamon,
   with every kind of incense tree,
   with myrrh and aloes
   and all the finest spices.

Henna is not mentioned in the Holy Quran but it is referred several times in the Hadith literature. Sunan of Abu Dawood Hadith 4154 narrates: 

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: A woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) closed his hand, saying: I do not know this is a man's or a woman's hand. She said: No, a woman. He said: If you were a woman, you would make a difference to your nails, meaning with henna.  

Henna plant is native to tropical & subtropical regions like South Asia, Africa & some parts of Asia. It is commercially cultivated in many countries like India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Egypt. Henna flower is delicate, petite & four petaled. Today, Henna is widely recognized as a wonderful way to dye skin & achieve different tattoo looks which last 1-2 weeks. 

Henna inherits soothing qualities & traditionally applied on the palms of hands as they contain numerous nerve endings. It is also used as a coagulant for open wounds & a poultice made with henna leaves soothes burns & certain types of eczema.  

I hope you enjoyed this informative post which was written in response to the magical festivities of Eid-ul-Fitr. Hope everyone is having a blessed Eid. 

Lots of luv..

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Magic Clay

Hi most beautifuls!

So you thought it would take me ages to try out the Oriflame Pure Nature Organic Burdock Extract Purifying Clay Mask I ordered last week? Wrong! :p To be honest I apparently tried it out in the evening the day I received it (yea, I was excited :$).

Why Burdock? Well I chose Burdock over Jasmine & White Tea because I LOVE clay masks though I could have also tried Jasmine peel-off which is formulated for normal to combination skin. In my teens, I used to make home made masks using fuller's earth & egg white. Fuller's earth is a natural skin toner & cleanser & also improves blood circulation. But the best thing about it is the soothing, cool effect it gave the skin. Since that time I've been fond of clay masks for their relaxing effect.

Burdock, a prickly plant of Thistle family is native to the Eastern hemisphere. Its usually recognized by its lovely purple flowers. The root of Burdock has been used in traditional Chinese folk medicines & is found to be very useful in natural skin & hair care. It has astringent & antibacterial properties but is mostly used for its skin soothing benefits & treatment of acne. 

Love at first sight! The adorable pastel pink tube contains 50ml of this magic clay. It has a comparatively small opening for controlled usage. The clay mask is white in color with medium texture & is one of the sweetest smelling of all clay masks I've used to date, Period. It kind of reminded me of Yardley English Rose Talc Perfume the moment I opened it. Amazingly beautiful aroma! 

Easy to apply, this Pure Nature Organic Burdock Extract Purifying Clay Mask will give you a spa like experience as it relaxes your mind while gently pampering your skin giving it an instant boost & flowery glow! Highly recommended by me, add this to your weekend beauty regime as a must & don't forget to update me as well! <3 

À bientôt..!

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Rainforest Shine Shampoo | The Body Shop

Bonjour belles dames..!

It is such a good feeling when a friend suggests you to try something out & when you do that you cherish the moment you took their advice.

A good friend of mine (Kanwal Abad :) ) recently suggested trying out a shampoo that she purchased from The Body Shop. She found it after a painstaking search for a shampoo that could tame her natural ‘Shakira’ hair (as I call them :p), which suffered the usual damage after a hair straightening treatment. She just couldn’t stop praising it every time we met up. This made me a little curious since I had not tried a hair range from The Body Shop. Hence, on my next visit I picked up a shampoo from their range – Rainforest Hair Care.

The ‘Eco-Conscious Rainforest Hair Care’ is a new range of hair products by The Body Shop for normal, colored, dry, damaged & oily hair. I chose the Rainforest SHINE Shampoo because I wanted to restore the moisture of my hair & improve hair softness without weighing it down. 

The first time I tried it that evening; texture was not too thick, colorless & transparent with a nice natural, mild, fragrance – kind of ‘spicy’. The lather was just the right amount when you massage it on your scalp. As I rinsed I felt an instant softness in my hair. I did not use a conditioner to see how the shampoo works on its own. Once my hair started drying out naturally I couldn’t believe how soft, shiny & tangle free they felt without even using a brush!

The results are out! Super SOFT, brilliant SHINE & SMOOTH texture! 10/10!

But hey! If you thought this was the only reason for me to admire this amazing range, there’s more to add. The ‘Eco-Conscious Hair Care’ contains no silicones (product to make your hair feel silky), parabens or colorants (so that you could see the real color of the formula). It’s an effort to meet The Body Shop’s eco-conscious standards which are:

• to show respect to the aquatic environment (by carefully choosing non-toxic raw materials), 
• is biodegradable (a substance is biodegradable if more than 60% of it is broken down into simpler chemicals within 28 days by living organisms) & 
• the packaging uses recycled plastic (in order to use less virgin plastic).

Moreover, to celebrate the launch of this new Rainforest Hair Care range, The Body Shop also worked with the World Land Trust to secure an area of land in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest which will form part of a permanent nature reserve. The reserve will help protect thousands of trees threatened by deforestation & 450 wildlife species including the critically endangered wooly spider monkeys, of which there are only 1,300 left in the world.

Follow here to discover your regime & find out more on this range. 

Water is the HEART of our planet. Consider what you wash down the drain & help make a difference – The Body Shop

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GOLDEN GODDESS Shimmering Body Lotion by Baby Phat

Oh my goodness..!

That awesum moment when something reminds you of your mom. :)

Yes Darling Chéris, I recently had this amazing moment when a dear friend let me keep her (half used :p & did I ask for it too many times Tehmina? :$) body lotion & behold..!!

Baby Phat GOLDEN GODDESS Shimmering Body Lotion by Kimora Lee Simmons!

The first thing that absolutely caught my attention about this body lotion (or should I say body cream, texture wise?)  was the amazing fragrance it had. It instantly reminded me of Oil of Ulay which my mom used a lot when I was really young. Though both have really different smells; Oil of Ulay being really mild.

Baby Phat Golden Goddess is an enticing women's fragrance from Kimora Lee Simmons. First introduced in 2006, it features exotic notes of patchouli, night orchid, blue lilies, and even bubbling champagne and caramel. The fragrance is described as:

"The new sparkling, luxurious fragrance that captures the sensuality of a Goddess.."

This 'shimmering body lotion' comes with a gift set. I'm not too sure if it’s sold separately. Maybe one could find it on Ebay. The texture is pretty thick, creamy & super silky with the finest golden shimmer. The fragrance is mellow yet sexy! It definitely draws attention & makes you feel successful & important – the very apt for its name Golden Goddess.

Apply this 'magic potion' on your arms & a little around the neck to feel instantly luxurious & mesmerized.

Loads of luv & shimmer... <3

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"Living In The Now" CK in2u Her

Bonjour les belles dames! :)

We all luuuuuuuv gifts especially when they show up at the right time! Yes.. Another spring/summer perfume to my collection is CK in2u Her. Apparently, this was the first 'duo' launched by Calvin Klein instead of unisex fragrances. The trendy pair is intended specifically for young generation. 

CK in2u Her speaks to a new generation that is emboldened sexuality & is freed by technology to connect anywhere at any time, the “no commitment” generation. ( ahem! ) 

The bottle is graphic & urban. It’s a contrast between the milk-white glass & pale-gold transparent bottom. The fragrance is fresh & floral with a woody oriental base. 

I’ve been using it for a few weeks now. The overall feel is ‘young’, ‘modern’, ‘sexy’ & ‘spontaneous’. I personally feel its fresh enough for the warm summer days yet the warm combination of base notes are sparkling enough for a casual evening out. 

This is definitely one of my recommended summer fragrances!

Top Notes: Pink Grapefruit Fizz, Redcurrant Leaves & Sicilian Bergamot

Heart Notes: Burst of Sugar Orchid & White Cactus

Base Notes: Red Cedar, Neon Amber & Vanilla Souffle

Wishing you sweet smelling moments.. 

Hugs!

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White Beauty Pinkish White Glow Lightening Cream | Ponds

Bonjour!

Well, we've been talking about summers. Summer sun is beloved ( Okay, not in June :) ) because it provides you with opportunities to spend more time outdoors doing things you love. However, the sun comes with a price & its your 'skin' that pays that price! 

To beat the sun damage, my favorite daytime cream these days is Ponds White Beauty Pinkish White Glow Lightening Cream. 

It comes in a really cute small jar that is easy to carry around in your handbag. According to the product information, it deeply nourishes skin to a radiant pinkish-white glow & evens out skin as well. Its triple sunscreen will keep your skin safe from UV rays. Its potent anti-oxident Lycopene helps prevent darkening of skin. Moreover, the advanced skin lightening complex - Pro Vitamin B3 created by Ponds Institute is rich in nature's own Lycopene which helps dilute accumulated Melanin. 

Apart from using it as day time cream, I also use it as make-up base since it keeps my T-zone oil free for hours. Best part: its so affordable! :)

Try it out & see for yourself, secret behind a glowing pinkish white radiance! 

Lots of love.. 

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MIRACLE Summer by Lancôme

Close your eyes & think of summers.. Are you dreaming of a beach day? Fresh-cut flowers from your blooming garden? A calm, romantic night under the stars? Yeah.. :)

Out of so many delights that summer has to offer, what better way to freshen up than spraying a gorgeous, light summery fragrance – after a refreshing cold shower in the morning, before stepping out to hang around friends & that ‘special’ one in the evening. <3

One of my favorites has been the limited edition by Lancome - Lancome Miracle Summer. 

"Joyful. Empowering. Inspiring. MIRACLE is a sudden & marvelous revelation that life is extraordinary, that life is a miracle."

The bottle is elevated, matt-finish & the prettiest shade of pink. Its a sensual, spicy fragrance with hints of fruity notes that are subtle. Its absolutely long lasting & works great when you do not wish to attract attention but still want everyone guessing what you have on. I would recommend this for casual every day wear. 

Wishing you sweet summers.. Cheers!

Top Notes: Lychee Fruit & Freesia

Heart Notes: Magnolia, Ginger & Pepper

Base Notes: Amber, Jasmine & Musk 

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Nail Affair | The Body Shop Nail Buffer

Hey pretty ladies..!!

You know, a simple & inexpensive way to look suave – cute, shiny nails. J

I am so into buffing nails that sometimes I overdo it (not good). A buffer smoothes out the nail ridges, buffs & adds a natural, glossy shine. The most recent one that I purchased was The Body Shop Nail Buffer.

This particular one has two sides. It comes in a number of different printed patterns which look so pretty & unique (so I got one!) The rough side nicely smoothes away any ridges that your nail has & creates this powder around your nail. The smooth side polishes your nail & gives it that natural shine. Since this one is bigger than your regular buffer, it gives you better grip & more control on the amount of pressure you want to apply on your nail.

 

It very easy to use & is gentle on your nails. The only cons that I see is that it’s a little hard to angle plus the pattern on the rough side comes off after regular use. Overall it’s a good add to your beauty bags. If you have some extra cash I strongly recommend you pretty gulrs get it…!!

Hugs.. <3

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Maybelline Salon Expert Nail Color in 48

I have fallen in love with this amazingly gorgeous color!

This is Maybelline's Salon Expert Nail Color in 048. I never thought this color would come out so pretty on my nails. *big smile* The new rounded brush - 'curved brush precision' works smoothly with the nail bed for that really neat finish with that 'just done' shine. I applied two coats but you can get away with a single coat too. Tons of shades are available in this range. Let me know which one you got. :)

One thing with darker nail shades is that you need to be super careful while applying or you'll end up with a messy polish which is a total 'turn-off'! So sweethearts, only decide to put on a darker shade when you have plenty of time. :)

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