| Mecca Maxima Haul - Hourglass, Urban Decay, Stila, etc |

Mecca Maxima launched their holiday collection and I ran in the next day to pick up some beauties that I deemed essential to my life (I have a poor sense of judgment sometimes...)  

I strolled in the shop one fine day, completely oblivious of the damage that would incur to my bank account.

Last year, Hourglass came out with their Ambient Lighting Blush Palette but I never got my hands on it. There were moments of regret throughout the year, since the blushes are super luminous and soft - they would have been beautiful for my wedding. So, having remorse over my loss, I decided to pick up with whatever Hourglass came out with this year for the holiday season - and I am so glad I did. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette (AUD $117) is a very limited edition collection that consist's of three Ambient Lighting Powder's - Dim Light, Diffused Light, and an exclusive Iridescent Light, two of the Ambient Lighting Blushes - Luminous Flash and Mood Exposure, and the Ambient Lighting Bronzer - Luminous Bronze Light. So basically if you ever get stranded on a island - you're good to go #priorities. The palette looks and feels like $100 bucks (maybe because it is?...). It's rose gold and has a very generous mirror. The products themselves are small in size - think of an Australian 50 cent coin- and there has been many criticisms regarding the size. Some are saying that there should be more product as the price is so hefty but some people (like me) think that the size if actually quite reasonable. The reason I say this is because it's kind of a tester - you get six beautiful shades to try out and then when you fall absolutely in love - you can confidently invest the dollars to get a full size product you know you won't regret. And then again, it is a holiday palette so I wouldn't be expecting anything else as this is a great, convenient gift. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (AUD $ 33) is hands down my holy grail mascara! I cannot fathom how amazing this mascara is and I don't mind paying the big bucks because this is worth every cent. If you like a dry formula, and big lashes this mascara is up your alleyway. Application and amazing, the brush is super soft and your lashes dry in seconds. What more could you ask for? 

(If you don't want to buy a full size - Mecca is doing a mini deluxe size for the holiday season and it's half the price! You're welcome) 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer (AUD $42) was something I threw in my basket unknowing of it's power. Wow. This concealer is super blendable and the color selection is worth a standing ovation. The price however deserves a Simon Cowell disapproving shake of the head - $44 for a concealer is outrageous. I would recommend this if you a) have terrible eye bags that need 911 attention or b) you're treating yourself to something nice. 

A nice "dupe" would be Inglot's Under Eye Concealer which was what I used before buying this and I loved it. The only thing that I didn't like was the tube but Urban Decay's packaging is #onpoint

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner (AUD $29) is a product that I could have gone without. I know the hype behind this but I wasn't impressed...maybe it's because I still love my Inglot liquid eyeliner? But this product isn't anything magical that needs to be bought ASAP. Save yourself from the drama. 

Mecca Cosmetica Sun Kissed (AUD $25) is a another limited edition that is by Mecca itself. It has two travel size products - Save The Face SPF 30 and Lip de-Luscious SPF 25. Both products are a handy size to throw into your bag or to simply try out. I adore them both very much! The moisturiser can also be used as a primer and the consistency of it reminds me of the Hourglass Veil Primer which I love but always forget to use. And the lip balm is a "dupe" for the By Terry Baume de Rose SPF 15 which costs triple the price. 

I highly recommend this as a "end of the week - I survived" gift for yourself #treatyourself

You've reached the end of my very long receipt which I have hidden in my draw away from anyone's eyes! 

What have you bought recently? 

Daily bag / travel essentials

University life begins in a couple of weeks and am feel like an excited five year old child! I'm actually quite pumped for lectures and assessments (which may last like, five minutes). 

At this moment, I have zero uni advice but I do have a few pieces of advice for your bag and travel (from uni to home!)

My university bag/travel essentials kind of also double for my daily essentials! 

1.  my planner - I don't plan a lot, mainly because I don't have much to plan but I feel more like "I'm super organised and awesome" because I have a planner in my bag.

The planner itself is from Typo but I collaged it, as you do. 

2. headphone - headphones are a must, especially if you use public transport. A lot of travelling is involved on a daily basis & I tend to get lethargic after a while, so my keeping my headphones on, I feel a bit more comfortable and it makes the journey go faster. 

3. pencil case - I adore fun, colourful pens and I always keep them on hand for random ideas or doodles. 

4. a mac lipstick - need I say more? I always keep a lipstick at hand and nowadays since I'm crazy in love with mac lipsticks, I always have one swimming in my bag. This one is 

"twig" = <3!

things not pictured:

5. snacks - this one is a legit need. I recommend to have savoury snacks rather than sweets because that just makes you feel even more like vomiting if you have long journeys. 

6. a book - even if you don't read on a daily basis, a book at hand makes the journey seem a bit more doable.  

What are your essentials?

Items pictured:
- Macbook Air
- Target Headphones $8
- Typo Pencil Case $14.99
- Typo Planner $19.99
- MAC Twig $36
- Betts Tao Shoes $59.99

 

The Black Box - MAC Matt Lipstick "Diva" | Review

Some wear "Velvet Teddy", however I am obsessed with "Diva". Obsessed. 

A true dark red that stains the lips and makes them look super vampy. I adore dark lips and this lipstick was worth the pennies. 

I think I am now in love with MAC lipsticks - everything from their packaging to the formula is perfection - I can see my collection growing.

The lipstick in question is a matt formula and goes on a bit patchy so you have to work on it to get it just right, it does stain the skin around your lips so be aware and keep some wipes handy.

The shade isn't berry nor is it brick red. It's a deep maroon with a brownish red undertone. 

It's love.

The lipstick lasts up to 3-4 hours without drinking or eating, but you'll have to do the random touch ups as it is a dark color and will flake off. I recommend to exfoliate the lips beforehand. 

Shaadi Bells ♥ The Wedding Day Eye Look

I went for a subtle, bronze-y gold eye look with winged liner and loads of mascara. It was quite easy and looks great on light brown eyes and looks even better when eyes are open...ha ha.

Products used:

- Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette 

- MUA Undressed Me Too Palette

- Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner in "Sable"

- Makeup Revolution Liquid Eyeliner

- Rimmel Wonder'Full Mascara

- Benefit They're Real Mascara

- Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Yogurt"

Shaadi Bells ♥ Updates of the Day till the Day!

Shaadi in Urdu and Hindi mean wedding and I found that seems to fit the title of this new series perfectly. Shaadi Bells - updates about the Big Day till the Big Day. There are only seventeen days left till I become someone's wife which is just as surreal as when the Eleventh Doctor regenerated. So here's the first "update" of what's going down. 

1. In Pakistan, there are two days to the wedding - the Baraat (which involves the bride to sign the wedding papers and leave her maiden home) and the Valima (a dinner hosted by the groom's side for the bride's family and his own) - which means I needed two glammed up dresses. Typically, the Baraat dress is red but as the unconventional person I am, I opted for a coral-gold pink dress with a long shirt and skirt with heavy gold embroidery. The Valima dress is a gorgeous creme coloured dress with handwoven flowers (pictures shall be up in the next blog post!) Both dresses were handmade.

2. I am doing my own skincare and makeup. I don't trust saloons for makeup at all. I am not one for the typical cakey makeup brides tend to choose (whatever floats you boat) because in the end it's just one day in your life and I am not clogging up my pores to look like an evil, cakey snow queen.

3. The wedding is on the 5th of January, 2015.

4. I am extremely nervous and have been having panic attacks daily.

So hopefully, the next couple of posts should entail makeup for the day, pictures of the dresses and stuff like that!

And also please follow me on Blog'lovin and Instagram, it makes me oh so happy!

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick & Too Faced Shadow Insurance | Haul

I need makeup. My excuse - I'm getting married. What's your's? I think Too Faced is leading up to be one of my favorite makeup brands - it's an affordable and adorable makeup brand that is available at Mecca Maxima in Australia and can be purchased through various Facebook shops in Pakistan. 

I have purchased the Boudoir Eyes Eyeshadow Palette  and I am in love! (Review shall be up as soon as I get up my lazy a**) So, my first time being so amazing *wink*, I decided to back for seconds and I ended up with two stunning products.

Too Faced La Creme Colour Drenched Lip Cream in "I Want Candy" was my pick. I recently went down to QVB in Sydney City #placeiwanttolive and I had swatched this lipstick at the glorious Myers and my lust for it has begun. I finally picked it up and it's a perfect redish pink with a brown undertone. It looks bright when swatched but on the lips it looks fresh and would be perfect with a smokey eye or just to add a pinch of colour. 

PS. The packing is basically what I would be if I were a makeup product.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance "Original" is a beauty cult favorite. I received a generous sample of this from Mecca Maxima when I had gone before and I loved how it intensified the colour of eyeshadows and gives them more longevity.  

What have you guys hauled lately?

The Black Box - MAC Lustre Lipstick "Plumful" | review

I did it. I popped my MAC cherry with a lustre lipstick and boy am I excited! I honestly never thought that I'd purchase a MAC lipstick or any MAC product but this was a semi impulse buy and it's gotten me addicted. 

I swatched a bunch of lipsticks and there were only two that I really liked - "Speak Louder" and "Plumful" and I picked up the latter as the shade is much more wearable and a good pick for a first time MAC lipstick consumer. 

The packaging it au typical and quite iconic. It does resemble a tampon but I'm willing to look past that, ha ha. "Plumful" is one of the permanent lipsticks at MAC and is a lustre which means it's sheer but build-able and quite moisturising. Here in Australia, MAC is pretty hefty but it's reasonable  for a high-end makeup product. The lipstick cost $36 and can be found at Myers where there's a MAC counter.

 

"Plumful"is a wearable plum with pink undertones which allows the colour to mellow down on the lips but gives your lips a gorgeous berry look. The colour goes hand in hand with the formula as well. It's creamy and applies smoothly on the lips and because of it being so sheer, it's build-able which is perfect for such a shade. 

A good dupe for MAC'S "Plumful" is Rimmel London's "Vintage Pink", if you're not wanting to spend that $36 on a lipstick. 

"Plumful" is a perfect everyday lipstick and I adore it!

  

REVIEW | MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer

MAU Luxe Velvet Lacquer in "Funk"

In my last huge hual of make up I purchased a lot of items from the new MUA Luxe line, one of those things being the MUA Luxe Velvet Lacquer in "Funk". It's meant to be a clear dupe for the LimeCrime Velvetines. They have four colors in thier collection: a vampy red - "Reckless", a neon pink - "Criminal", an eggplant-ish purple - "Kooky", and a deeper, wearable pink - "Funk". 

I choose "Funk" because I don't own colour like it which it always such a great reason to buy something, innit? The product itself comes in a sleek clear glass tube, with a dope foot applicator which is joined by a black cap with gold writing - fancy stuff, eh? 

The colour itself is this beautiful pink, think "Barbie grew up and didn't choose Ken but went for a more mature man" kinda pink. 

DISCLAIMER: Make sure you prep your lips before using any type of matt products.

When your first apply it to your lips, the colour payoff is amazeballs. Make sure you apply it quickly and erase any mistakes asap, because after a couple of seconds, it won't budge. The longevity of the product depends on you too be honest. If you tend to snack a lot of eat your lip products (just me then?) than it will wear off. After a couple of hours, the product tends to flake off. 

TIP: After applying the product, open your mouth a bit and let it dry. The product dries evenly. 

Overall, I'm happy with the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer. It's easy to apply, goes matt, and comes off easily as well. 

If you get the chance, do try out these lippes, they're worth the money! 

MUA Haul = Lighter Wallet

Online shopping is a terrible, wonderful, horrible, whimsical adventure. Some days you find everything you could possibly want and other days it's like a barren waste land. I had a good day - a great day infact! The brush I've been lusting over was finally in stock and so were a couple of lipsticks. It was makeup galore but I ended up with a lighter wallet - before the month even begins! 

 

(fyi I don't watch Degrassi)

I went a little MUA cray cray but the prices and quality are damn good. Here's what I dropped into that tiny evil shopping cart:

1. MUA Stippling Brush (F2)

I cannot begin to express how many times I cheched for this damn brush to be "in stock" and finally, on that glorious, gloriousday IT WAS! I have yet to try it but it's soft (always a good sign) and personally I love the white bit. It's smaller than I expected but I am not one to complain.

2. MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer - Funk

Jessica-Anne  blogged about the Lime Crime Velvetine Lip Lacquers and I was lusting for one soon after. Lime Crime isn't avaliable where I live but when I found out the close dupes aka MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer was avaliable I reacted a wee bit like this:

(okay a lot like this)

I got the shade "Funk" a blue toned pink. The product is supposed to go on like gloss then set like matt and last forever...I was going to pick up another shade but decided to go with one, test it out, then purchase another.

3. MUA Luxe Precision Felt Eyeliner 

I've bought three eyeliners in the past two months and hated all of them. I bought the Maybelline MasterDrama eyeliner which I hated - sticks to your skin and the after one sharpen it broke! and an Essence Liquid eyeliner which was disappointing - it was light and streaked. Being in the market for a new eyeliner, I snatched this one up in the hopes of being redeemed from this eyeliner "drama".

4. MUA Matte Lipstick - Peachy Keen & Scarlet Siren

Intially I had placed an order for Wild Berry as well (seeing as though berry lips are my go-to lip most often) but didn't receive with my parcel... I was (still am) sorta bummed but I now own another red to add to my collection and a gorgeous peachy pink - a color which I don't own. I've read a couple of reviews and the only problem that seemed most common was that they wouldn't glide on and would dry the lips but that's anticipated from a matte lip product - so now I have to exfoliate and balm my lips up! 

Most probably after posting this I will die with the immense amount of guilt for spending money. 

To Be Or Not To Be? MUA'S PowerPout in "Crazy in Love" | Review

                   

                   

Never before have I experienced such an amazing lip product! It was instant love - from the packing, to the color, to the scent, all the way down to the price! I've been lusting over the Revlon Lip Balms for a while now but they are pretty hard to find where I live so when I found this amazeball dupe on just4girls  and had a major beauty fangirl moment. Little did I know that I would fall in love with this crayon. 

The MUA PowerPouts are quite comparable to Revlon's Kissable Lip Balms and this particular shade is the darkest, berriest shade much like "Crush" by Revlon. I haven't yet personally tried the Revlon's Lip Balms so I can't say much but the MUA PowerPout's blew me away. It's super pigmented, hydrating and smells minty but not overwhelmingly. The only flaw is that is melts away easily...

This crayon- like lip balm \ lipstick has been my go to lip product and quite possibly my statement lip color at work! I am so happy with MUA's PowerPout in "Crazy in Love"! 

If you live in Pakistan, you can purchase this here for just PKR 500!

What has been you favorite lip product lately? 

2014; Beauty Wishlist

2013 was more of a bust than a win, but I'm hoping for a better 2014 - in the shopping area of life- to be better now that I have a job. So here is my wishlist for 2014; beauty related. 

1. The Body Shop's Honeymania Eau de Toilette

                                               

I bought the Honeymania Body Butter a month back and am nearly out, but what can I do? The Body Butters are super moisturising and smell, like, heaven. Anyway, I loved the scent of the Honeymania Body Butter- it does not have a strong scent of honey at all, rather a floral scent with a slight honey undertone. This bottle of yellow yummy-ness is a must!

2. Milani Baked Blush - 03 Berry Amore

                                     

Unlike the US, Milani is expensive here. I've been wanting the perfect blush/bronzer duo for a while now and this baby seems like want I've been waiting for. It's has a soft shimmer to it along with light golden undertones. Yum. However, with such a hefty price tag, I have a feeling this may be on my wishlist for a while...

3. Lusciuos Ultimate Face Case 5PC Makeup Brush Set

                                   

Aside from the 80's sliver quilt pattern, this brush set is worth the price tag. My want for a stippling brush has taken it's toll and the fact that this set has other brushes along with it pretty good. Hopefully, I'll be getting my hands on this soon.

4. Revlon Nail Enamel in Minted, Gold Coin and Vixen

Say whaaaat?! Just a couple of Revlon nail polishes, right? No. Just like Milani, Revlon is damn expensive here as well. I've been eyeing these three shades for a while now. I mean, look at them! LOOK AT THEM!!!!!

5. OPI Out Ragerous Neon Mini Set

                                  

Who doesn't love neon nails? I've been wanting to try them out for a while and this amazing set not only give's you five neon polishes but a top coat for free!!! (Well, not free but you know what I mean...)

6. Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Thingys

                                 

*Siiiighhhhh* Me wants...but obviously can't get. However, to subdued my feels towards these lippy's, I've bought the MUA Power Pouts. Let's see if their good enough or I'll want the real deal in the end. 

In the words of a Veruca Salt

What's on your beauty wishlist? Have you bought anything up above? Do you like them?

Red lips are my kryptonite!

                                               

 Top: Color Studio Lipstick in "Eternal Love"; Middle: Catrice Ultimate Shine in "Pink Me Up!" Bottom: MUA Lipstick in "Shade 1"

Pink and nude lips were always my go to colors for lip glosses and lipsticks. But in the last couple of months dark, plumy, red lips are my kryptonite. I guess maybe because I've seen so many people wearing the darker shades that I jumped onto the bandwagon but boy! - do I love this bandwagon. 

I never thought that dark shades of any type of lip  product would look good on my but I love the way the colors bring out my hair plus I don't mind the compliments I get! Darker shades look good on any skin tone but you have to make sure to play around with the different shades and tone down the lip color itself after applying by dabbing your lips on tissue. 

My go - to lipstick has to be the MUA Lipstick in Shade 1. It glides on and it's longevity is amazing. It looks brown in the packaging but is a deep wine red that gives the perfect vampy lip that I absolutely adore! Catrice's Ultimate Shine is a berry red that is perfect for the fall (but honestly I don't use lip colors per the season) and Color Studio's Eternal Love was my first red lippy, so considering that it was way too bright. A bright poppy orange red, I don't lean towards this color that much anymore, not only because of the vivid pop of color but because the lipstick itself is super drying.  

What are you're favorite lip color's at the moment? Do you like red lips?

Skincare Routine (as of right now)

 I love watching and reading the different types of skincare routine people have and I have to admit that I don’t exactly follow my routine religiously but I try my hardest. Personally, I don’t have oily skin or acne prone skin but I do have sensitive to normal skin so I tend to use products that are affiliated with dermatologists, just to be on the safe side – plus my Mum doesn’t agree with the “cocktail skincare products” concoction.

Top left corner – Neutrogena Deep Clean Makeup Remover; top right corner – Clearasil Daily Gel Wash; bottom left corner – Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Wash and Mask; bottom right corner – Essence My Skin Moisturizing Crème Gel.  

Step One : Take off all the makeup and face gunk. For me, this is the most annoying step. I hate the stinging eyes and the cotton buds which seem to pull apart when moist.

But however much you detest something, that pretty much means it’s good for you. Taking off you’re makeup is necessary and Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Makeup Remover does just that. It’s perfect for those days (or nights) when you don’t want to waste any more energy on removing makeup. Just pour this baby into a cotton ball or pad and wipe your face clean. This product can even take off waterproof eyeliner or mascara, but it stings a lot, so be sure that you don’t rub your eyes if it slips inside your eyeball, just wait it off.

Awesomesauce Tip (: Put the cotton ball or pad on your eye and keep it there for a couple of seconds then slide it off. It’ll take off all your makeup in a jiffy.

Step Two: Now you don’t have to use a face wash if you don’t want to but I like to use it just in case there’s something left. Face wash in whichever texture, be it gel or normal face wash, cleans out your pores and all the icky dirt that lands on our face throughout the day. If you live in a humid area or are prone to acne, face washes are a must!

     Clearasil Daily Clear’s Daily Gel Wash does just the job. Can I just say how amazing the bottle is? I love pumps just because they don’t create a mess and don’t waste the product.

Awesomesauce Tip (: When buying a face wash makes sure it’s pH balanced – that just means that there’s water added which is great for our skin.

Step Three: This is optional and should not be done daily. Face masks give your skin a little extra TLC, though they should not be applied daily because    your skin can break out.

     Clearasil Daily Clear’s Vitamins & Extracts Wash and Mask doesn’t just moisturize your skin but leaves it smelling like a fruity cocktail. Yum. It has avocado and pomegranate in it which obviously makes it smell so good but also has a hint of mint which you can feel when applied. Leave it on for 3 minutes then rinse it off for amazingly smooth skin.

Step Four: Moisturize. The importance of this step cannot be stressed enough. After cleaning your face you have to seal all of your skin’s goodness and moisturizing does that.

    Essence My Skin’s Moisturizing Crème Gel is super light and perfect for the heat. Greasy, oily looking skin is not attractive so again, if you live in a humid area opt for something lighter.

You’re skin needs a lot of TLC so test products before buying them. Use the back of your hand and wait a while. If your skin becomes red or feels itchy don’t buy that product. Fancy and pretty packaging may be eye candy but remember that not all products are for your skin so be cautious when buying and testing new products. Spending money on your skin is an investment in a way, so don’t worry if you’re spending a lot – your skin matters.

Getting that baby butt soft skin does take effort and time but it’s all worth it when you have skin that you’re confident in. If you have acne prone skin then keeping your face clean is necessary.  

So that's it. My skincare routine with a few tips and tricks. Hope you enjoyed reading this! 

Till next time,

Kulsoom x 

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