Launch | Fijian Water Lotus Flower by The Body Shop

Hi lovelies..

A mermaid was spotted in Islamabad!!

Yep! On 2 October 2014 hundreds of people witnessed as it happened. Alright, relax people. It was actually an Islamabad based model - Sabeen Khan dressed in a perfectly stitched costume, sitting in a Victorian style bathing tub at the media PR launch of The Body Shop located at Centaurus Mall Islamabad.

The Body Shop recently launched Fijian Water Lotus, the latest fragrance in their bestselling Scents of The World Collection. Fijian Water Lotus Collection is an escape to the island paradise of Fiji. When these breathtakingly beautiful water lotus were discovered, these were carefully handpicked to create this delicate and unique scent. Enriched with water lotus notes and fragipani accords for a breeze of fragrance straight from the Pacific, Fijian Water Lotus is the perfect summer collection which is light and fresh.

The launch was attended by prominent socialites of Islamabad as well as renowned artists making it a mega event. Creativity was stunning, the entire store had a Fijian Island theme. With sea colored carpet, sea shells all across the store, lotus flowers midst blue chiffon curtains, blue and aqua colored lights, customized furniture and the atmosphere filled with refreshing and calming Fijian Water Lotus fragrance all around - the ambiance took your senses to white sandy beaches and blue sea of Fiji. Highlight of the event was a beautiful mermaid in the middle of the store laying in a Victorian tub, splashing this new fragrance and creating that hint of magic. Who could have sported a fragrance filled with essence of the ocean than a mermaid herself! The launch was loved by all who attended the mini-Fijian atmosphere created inside the store. The guests not only loved the theme but also sea food and coconut water. The event was successfully organized by Constantine PR, Islamabad's Premiere PR Agency.

The Values of The Body Shop have always been the heart of their business hence in continuation to this tradition "The Body Shop Acknowledgment Program" has also been initiated which aims to acknowledge the extraordinary men and women of Pakistan and their efforts which add to the values of this community. Muniba Mazari was the first female to get acknowledged via this program. At this launch event she was presented with gift hampers. Furthermore, The Body Shop Pakistan also plans to launch "Dinner With A Star Program" to spice things up! This will give their customers a chance to have dinner with their favorite celebrities so stay tuned!

Eid is around the corner and trust me you would absolutely love the range Fijian Water Lotus Flower Collection has to offer as it is perfect for day time. The range is pretty expansive with a perfume oil, a fragrance mist, an eau de toilette, a shower gel, a body butter and a body lotion. Layer on different products starting with a refreshing bath to build the fragrance. Pick up a ETD or mist for yourself and take along a beautiful gift pack for friends and family.

Available online at £ 16.00  for 50ml

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Wild Rose Hand Cream SPF 15 | The Body Shop

Hi Lovelies,

Okay this is another pick of mine from The Body Shop since my hands have started looking like a dry fall leaf these days due to the changing weather. As fall/winters approach my hands start appearing drier than my face. Therefore I am always looking for good hand creams and hand butters. I picked The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream SPF 15 this time (though it is meant for mature skin) because.. well.. I had used the Almond Hand and Nail Cream and the Wild Rose Nourishing Hand Butter (the best!) in the past. Both of them did wonders for my hands keeping them soft and pampered. All these hand creams come in a unique similar looking metallic tubes however the formula of each is very different from one another.

The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream SPF 15 seemed like a good pick as I need a lot of TLC for my hands. This is a light and non greasy formula. Now I do not have a problem with a hand cream being non-greasy rather the contrary. But I believe I did not quite understand the term light here while I was purchasing it. The formula contains Community Fair Trade Peru Nut Oil, Soya Oil from Brazil and Shea Butter from Ghana. When you apply it to your hands the texture is light with a beautiful lingering pleasant rose fragrance. This is a big plus point for me - lightweight formula with a beautiful scent.  I reapply every time I wash my hands and keep it on my office desk all the time!However, I do admit that comparatively I found Wild Rose Nourishing Hand Butter working better on my hands than this one. Maybe due to the fact that I need just a bit more moisture for my hands than this. Nonetheless, a very good product.

Another great plus point is the inclusion of SPF 15. So next time you are out in the sun during those late autumn weekends you do not need to worry about your hands getting a sun damage. Not only does The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream SPF 15 provide the much needed moisture to your hands, it also helps reduce the appearance of brown spots. Since I do not have brown spots on my hands thankfully I do not need to worry about that but if you are someone who needs a solution to this issue try giving this daily hand cream a try.

Before // After

Now the only down side. This hand cream comes in a metallic tube which looks beautiful when you are buying it but in time it turns into a crushed and battered due to a lot of squeezing. I, however do not mind that too much. Just that the metallic tube goes crazy as you keep using it. You can tell from these photographs that I have already started using mine.

Which is you most favorite hand cream?
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Available online at £ 11.00 / £ 5.00 for 100ml/30ml

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Fairytale Photography | Margarita Kareva

Hi Lovelies,

I love photography and everything related to it. My passion towards photography reflects in my blog photographs where even though I use a small camera (Sony Cybershot Carl Zeiss Digital Camera) I try to be as creative as I can. Recently while browsing over the internet I came across a photographer who's work is utterly magnificent! It is so captivating that I had to share it with fellow bloggers. Margarita Kareva is a Russia based photographer who specializes in fantasy art photography. She took up photography only three years back but her portfolio is already full of vibrant, magical and creative images. I compiled a few of my favorite photographs from her portfolio and wanted to share with you - for inspiration.

What do you think?

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ARTDECO | Mineral Baked Eyeshadow in Bright Sand

Hi lovelies,

Artdeco has beautiful makeup! Whenever I come across their counter I can't stop trying out those gorgeous shades of lipsticks, eyeshadows, nail colors - what not. They have one of the best nail polishes shades in my opinion with a wide range of shades to choose from. Moreover they keep updating the shades frequently hence everytime I visit their counter I always find something new. Same goes for the lipsticks and eyeshadows. This time when I came across their counter I thought I would try a few of their eyeshadows. I was looking for a shade that I could apply everyday but also something that would look beautiful both during the day and at night. I was more inclined towards buying earthy tones this time for a change as I usually go for pale pinks and neutral shades.

 

 

My pick was Artdeco Mineral Baked Eyeshadow in 'Bright Sand'. It comes in a round plastic packaging with Artdeco logo printed on the transparent lid. Inside is one of the most gorgeous shades of brown I have ever purchased. This eyeshadow is exceptionally brilliant thanks to higher percentage of pearl pigments. I love the texture, it is smooth and amazingly soft which makes it so easy to apply. This makes every application even and beautiful. Though I have always been inclined towards eye shadows that are matte since I prefer a more natural look. I can't deny the fact that it is so hard for me to resist an eyeshadow that shimmers! Apart from having a beautiful pinkish tone to this brown 'Bright Sand' eyeshadow (perfect combination) I love how brilliant yet elegant the eyeshadow makes your eyes look because of the rich pigmentation.

I plan to use this shade for everyday makeup. I think it looks beautiful during day light. I do not like a lot of color on my eyelids during day time. I personally think it just looks unnatural especially if you have to work in a professional environment like I do. If I want to play with colors I would rather go for color eyeliners. To ensure eye makeup durability and brilliant color intensity Artdeco Eyeshadow Base is the perfect primer. So whenever I'm in the mood of some magical eye makeup I would love to apply 'Bright Sand' eyeshadow over the primer. However, I do not prefer a primer during the day or on casual outings. It just adds to the overall makeup time and I like to (have to!) get ready as fast as I can.

My final verdict is here. Artdeco Mineral Baked Eyeshadow in Bright Sand is a gorgeous shade. If you come across Artdeco counter do give it a try and let me know how did you find it. On my next visit to Artdeco makeup counters I will make sure I try out different shades not only from the Mineral Baked Eyeshadows but also from their different range of eyeshadows (the have plenty!). Moreover, I also plan to try out their fluid foundations and BB creams. If you follow my blog regularly you would know that I have been using L'Oreal True Match Foundation for sometime now. Though I am satisfied with this foundation I still would like to try and see how Artdeco's Foundation range works on my skin keeping in mind the fact that all the other products that I have purchased from this brand have been amazing.

Have you made any purchase from Artdeco?

Purchase online at Debenhams @ £ 14.50

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Clinique | Color Surge Eye Shadow Palette

Hi lovelies,

It has been a while I wanted to review Color Surge Eye Shadow Palette from Clinique I won on twitter. I have not tried an eye shadow palette from Clinique before which got me all excited. Even though I'm not into using eye shadows a lot and too frequently except for a clean, neutral shade (my favorite Continous Creme by Lancome Color Design Infinite) in routine days, I do love to play with colors when I feel the need. The Color Surge Eye Shadow Palette from Clinique - a limited edition, comes in a nice packaging of five well-coordinated eye shadows and a creamy, crayon-like eye pencil. The palette has a nice, wide mirror and is pretty light weight which makes it convenient to use on the go and carry around in your purse. It contains a combination of different eye shadows from single and duo Clinique palettes including:

♥ Daybreak

♥ Strike It Rich

♥ Dark Brown from Like Mink Duo

♥ Purple from Beach Plum Duo

♥ Lilac from Lilac Truffle Duo

These Clinique eye shadows have either a soft shimmer finish or super shimmer finish. The formula is silky and velvety with a nice texture. Pigmentation wise I would say these are not as pigmented as I thought these would be. It includes two small applicators with a smudging sponge side and a brush tip for multiple use. The lighter eye shadows Daybreak and Lilac  can be used as a base and all over the eyelids or even as a highlighter. The darker eye shadows work great for contouring and adding depth to the eyes. I love these eye shadows because they are crease and fade resistant therefore perfect for event like weddings and night events when you need your eye makeup to stay and look fresh for as long as possible. For a dramatic night time look, I would suggest using these eye shadows with a primer. You can try All About Shadow Primer for eyes from the same range which will definitely improve shadow application and will last longer.

The Color Surge Eye Shadow Palette from Clinique also includes a soft, almost crayon like eye pencil in the shade Chocolate Lustre. As the name suggests, it is a very nice chocolate brown shade which can be used during the day for everyday makeup. You can also create a beautiful smoky brown look with this eye pencil by blending it over your eyelids followed by a beautiful brown eye shadow of your choice. The creamy texture makes the eye pencil ideal to smooth over the entire lid followed by blending to soften the look. This can also be used as a base for the eye shadows. I am sure it would make the colors look stunning! This cream shaper has a smudge proof, water resistant formula which makes it incredibly long lasting.

Daybreak ♥ Strike It Rich ♥ Dark Brown (Like Mink Duo) ♥ Purple (Beach Plum Duo) ♥ Lilac (Lilac Truffle Duo)

I totally love Daybreak and Lilac (Lilac Truffle Duo) for the fact that they are so wearable during the day. But I also cannot deny the fact that all these eye shadows are beautiful. I am not too sure if this palette is available for sale at the moment but you can definitely purchase the single or duo eye shadows from Clinique. Let me know your thoughts about this palette.

What are your favorite products from Clinique?

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'Only Happy When It Rains' | Garbage

Happy rain..

Is it raining in your part of the world too?

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Coconut Cream Shower Cream | Nivea

Hi Lovelies,

Summers or winters, I love to pamper myself with shower creams that would leave my skin soft and fresh. I often mention on my blog about Nivea being one of my favorite brands when it comes to shower gels and creams. I have reviewed Harmony Time (my most favorite) and Double Effect in the past and both turned out to be amazingly refreshing.

This time I chose Nivea Coconut Cream Shower Cream. It comes in a convenient plastic packaging with a blue flip cap like other shower creams from this range. The consistency is medium to light and I suppose a little less creamy than the other two shower creams I had tried in the past from the same range. It smells nice, light coconut fragrance and not at all overpowering. The creamy formula contains Jojoba oil which ensures to leave your skin smooth and moisturised. In the shower it lathers so well just as expected! This rich lather combined with the light coconut fragrance and the tendency to wash off excessive oil and dirt makes this a very good shower cream. It does not leave my skin dry after the shower which is another plus point to it.

During summers I skip using body lotion after a shower and it a great help when my body wash/shower gel/shower cream does not leave my skin dry and patchy. Nevertheless, there are times when it is very hot and I skip the shower cream. Instead I deliberately use soap to get this dry feeling skin after the shower because heat, oil and sweat becomes so irritating and I just want to get rid of it asap!

When it comes to shower creams or fragrances I just stick to one and buy a new one only when I run out of these. I'm more experimental with shower creams than I am with fragrances. Off course if you end up with an amazing aroma during your shower there's nothing more relaxing than that after a tiring day's routine. Coming back to Nivea Coconut Cream, I personally think with the affordable price tag it comes with this is a very good shower cream to try. So do go for it if you come across it next time while looking for shower creams. Let me know how did you find it in the shower.

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The Body Shop Pakistan | Iftaar Donation Dinner

Hi Lovelies,

Holy month of Ramadan is a sacred time for Muslims across the world - it is a time for self-reflection and devotion through prayer and fasting. It is also a time for solidarity, helping each other especially the deprived, needy and lonely. A time when hearts broaden and sense of generosity revives.

In observance with the spirit of holy month of Ramadan The Body Shop Pakistan organized a successful Iftaar Dinner with the aim to reach out to IDPs of the recent military operation Zarb-e-Azab. The donation was made to AMAL Human Development Network Pakistan. Community Fair Trade being the vital core value was a motivation for The Body Shop Pakistan to not only included food items but also sewing machines to help the IDPs be self-sufficient during this difficult time. AMAL Foundation ensured the delivery of donations to IDP camps in Bannu.

The charity dinner took place at The Lime Tree - Kuch Khaas, Islamabad and was attended by some of the distinguished celebrities of Pakistan. It was a warm, healtfelt gesture on part of all the celebrities who took part in this generous cause. Invited as the chief guest, Shoaib Akhtar said:

"I would like to request all my fellow Pakistanis and fans worldwide to support the IDPs. Please remember when you are enjoying your life in the comfort of your homes, they are homeless. This is the time we should come together as a nation to support our own nation."

Biala Gilani, Training Manager - The Body Shop Pakistan further added:

"We believe in supporting the community and right now was the time our community needed help and that is why we have stepped forward. We shall continue this support to our community in the future as well. We from all our heart believe in JOY OF GIVING IN RAMADAN and celebrating Ramadan with the IDPs of Pakistan.  

Charity never fails. The Body Shop Pakistan in collaboration with AMAL Foundation and the guests made this evening extremely rewarding and powerful. Learn more about The Body Shop 'Core Values', campaigns and Community Fair Trade program which help save the planet's enviroment and empowers communities around the world.

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Chance Eau Tendre | Chanel

Hi Lovelies,

After trying Chance (the original) from Chanel sometime in the past few years my love for this old flame suddenly awakened. Being a Libra, I'm bound to collect pretty objects and admire (physical) beauty. And beauty is much more than mere makeup. So I took the opportunity (= chance!) to admire this fragrance once again. I ended up picking the newer version Chance Eau Tendre this time which took me a little by surprise. This fragrance is a modern, almost classy and summery version of Chanel.

Chance Eau Tendre is a romantic and newer version (along with Chance Eau Fraiche) of Chance the original fragrance by Chanel. It comes in a pretty pink packaging with a simple, sophisticated round bottle and a square cap. If you have been into Chanel perfumes you would definitely and at once notice the difference. While most Chanel fragrance are classy and different, one spray and you feel this one is a fruity-floral interpretation of the original Chance. Grapefruit is the key note here with a hint of Jasmine and white musk that lingers on.

But that's not all. Chance Eau Tendre smells younger and lively! Definitely for those 'young at heart' (ages is just a number remember). My personal preference when it comes to fragrances is warm-spicy-woody scents. Yet I do not prefer to wear warm fragrances all the time. I prefer something fresh, clean and floral during day time especially in summers. I think this will smell equally great in spring when colors start to show up everywhere. I think it slightly resembles Bright Crystal by Versace, yet it is not like Bright Crystal if you know what I mean. I also overheard someone saying it slightly resembles Daisy by Marc Jacobs (can anyone confirm?). Since I haven't tried that I can't really say but I believe all fruity florals fragrances have some or the other in common.

Even though the one fragrance I received most compliments on is also a Chanel - Allure Sensuelle, Chance Eau Tendre is definitely my favorite for this summers and I cannot recommend it enough.

Which is your current favorite summer fragrance?

Available ONLINE

Selfridges  ||  £79.00 (100ml) / £55.00 (50ml)
           Boots ||  £78.50 (100ml) or 7850 points / £54.50 (50ml) or 5450 points 

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