This blog is going to cover reviews of various products from makeup & beauty range and also keep updating you of the latest fashion styles & trends making sure you stay a beautiful person inside & out :)
This is a PR friendly blog.If you are a company and would like to me to review any product for you please email me at - lilbitssofeverything@gmail.com
My aunt got diagnosed with Breast Cancer just 5 days back. What a time to discover one has breast cancer right? We are still kind of shaken with the news and hoping and praying she recovers from this illness as soon as possible. Also, one of my teachers suffered from breast cancer and she did survive; which definitely lifts up my hopes. (See Here )
As you can figure out this cause is much personal to me in regards to my close ones. But even as a woman, I feel very much responsible to make people aware of what they can do & how they can help their community battle against this together.
A local floral company called ‘Worood’ has launched an inspiring campaign to show their dedication to this cause & try to help raise breast cancer awareness. All you have to do is just like their facebook page, and enter your very own personalized message of hope, support & admiration to patients of cancer.
For every like you make, Worood will be sending a pink rose to these cancer patients. You will also be sent a picture of the rose sent on your behalf. Imagine the smile on their face when they receive a rose by complete stranger with a message full of hope & support. It's definitely worth that precious smile! Let us all be proactive and like the page to raise awareness on a disease that kills most women in the world!
This is a much pending haul! I actually purchased these Essence products a while ago when I saw them in Avenue. But nowdays, there are Essence stands in Carrefour too. Essence Cosmetics is a German made brand that sells make up at VERY cheap prices and the quality is pretty good for the price. I would say it’s like our very own version of wet n wild! You won’t believe what my total bill came for the following 8 products: AED 118!!! That’s roughly just AED 15 per product. Ain’t that awesome?
The main highlight of my haul is the metallic liquid eyeliners. I had been searching for affordable ones in good colors for long and my search ended here. I swatched all of them in the store and decided instantly to get them all. I got in dark brown, purple, pink, sea green and silver glitter one. I will do a detailed review with swatches soon.
Next, I purchased a white eyeliner. I swatched the Rimmel and Prestige one in the store too. But honestly, I found them to be more or less of the same quality so I picked up this at a cheaper price.
Then, my eyes fell on the Essence Return to Paradise Oil Blotting Sheets. A must have if you live in a humid place like me!
And I gave the final touches to my haul by adding a French manicure & pedicure pen in a light pink color. It was available in white too. I have seen some great Essence nail paints in many nail polish blogs. So, I thought of grabbing this pen thinking it would be of good quality. But, I was soooo wrong! I haven’t used this product at all because I never got the chance too. Guess what I see just a few days back after opening the cap of the pen?
I am not sure if you can make out but the nib or point of the pen actually went inside!! It broke or became loose and just fell inside. So now there is no way I can use this on my nails because even if I push the nib out it falls back inside due to some internal breakage. TOTAL FAIL!!
I had been looking for a really good exfoliator for myself. My face tends to dull way to quickly and much too often. My mom had been bugging me for ages to get something awesome and finally she got body shop’s Vitamin E cream exfoliator which I told her to return asap since none of the Vitamin E line of products have worked for me and honestly it wasn’t even apt for the reason I wanted. So well, in the end I was stuck with changing the scrub and got myself Vitamin C microdermabrasion. And oh my my, the instant difference I noticed made this every penny worth paying for!
Since the exfoliating granules are ‘micro’ as goes by the name, I find the process of exfoliating my face takes longer than usual as it would have with other exfoliators. I haven’t had a professional microdermabrasion treatment, so I can’t really compare with the results. But I am pretty satisfied with what this product does to my skin. I like its creamy texture with the tiny yet dense granules which do their best job. This version of the product was reformulated with 10 times more content of Camu Camu which is why this product works!
Likes
Instant product to lift up and give that radiant glow to my exceedingly dull face.
The tiny sand-like granules helps in evening skin tone leaving the skin with a super smooth texture.
Stimulates new skin cells renewal.
Great alternative to those expensive microdermabrasion treatments which not everyone can afford.
Shea butter is incorporated as one of the main ingredients which thankfully leaves the skin moisturized.
Little goes long way. Will last for atleast 8-9 months if used once every week.
I have seen people complaining about the packaging but I love it. Orange is amongst my fav colors. Just seeing the bright tube kind of cheers my mood. The tube is not too flimsy to break easily. I have travelled with this lovely and it’s survived without any leakage or breakage.
Personally, I like the smell. It has a zesty citrusy scent. Not too overpowering neither too trivial to get unnoticed.
See the tiny granules right there?
Dislikes
Price wise it’s a bit on the heavier side (atleast in Dubai!) I got it for around 70-80AED.
Not meant for overly sensitive skin.
I strongly recommend this product to everyone. Go ahead and purchase, you won’t be disappointed :)
Missing out the fun in London Fashion Week? Me, too!! But guess what?? Topshop in collaboration with Grazia ME gave us Middle East bloggers a chance to attend the London equivalent of the Topshop ‘Unique’ Fashion show on 20th September at the Topshop store in Dubai Mall to give us a quick glimpse of the latest items going to hit the store along with styling tips for this upcoming season.
As we entered, we were given this style card to be filled to enter a competition to win a new Topshop wardrobe to the value of Dhs.1000 which was won by Alanoud Badr from Fashion Gossip and Nadia Hassan from Fierce Diaries. Nadia’s number one fashion rule: The rule is…..There is NO RULE! Comfort is the key. I was really impressed by Alanoud’s answer; ‘Wear the dress, don’t let the dress wear you.’
Advice on this season’s most-wanted styles & looks by Elaine Greenshields, Editor in chief:
Rebellious dressing: Remember the teddy boys back in the 50’s? Expect the androgynous outifts inspired by aspects of the 1950s teddy boy era! The modern take of it, mostly monochrome, perfectly tailored, the definitive boy meets girl look with lots of brogues, unfitted blazers, shirts and bow ties is hot this season!
Polka Dots: Yes, they are back!! Again they should be little bit monochromic, should give a feminine feel in the way they are incorporated.
Naomi Chadderton (Jr.Fashion Editor), rocking the polka dots! She also got to style both the winners of the competition at the end.
Prim & Polished: Look forward to this trend consisting lady like demure of girly printed floral tops & tea dresses in the lovely autumnal colors.
A look which Charlotte was working (Head of PR & Marketing at Grazia) with a floral top.
Glam Rock: Don this rockstar look with appropriate leather textured pieces giving that edge to this look. Make the most of it! Play with feather, sequins and silk and transform to few celeb looks too! A shimmering smoky eye paired with skinny leather trousers and textured hair is ultimately rock.
Rachel Ingram pulling off this look with skinny leather trousers from Topshop and slightly slouchy oversized jumper.
Other tips & tricks for the season ahead:
Add the accessory: This can transform your look in an instant. Have a look at Elaine’s neckpiece which is a gorgeously pretties up her black slit dress.
Pencil Leather Skirts: They are very in this fall! They look less of the seductive librarian look and more of smart and classy.
Elaine Greenshields, Editor in chief, Grazia Middle East
The event was very well organized which was followed by a Q & A round from us bloggers. I was really impressed by how each Grazia staff rocked the most wanted looks of this season wearing Topshop pieces.
A 25% discount to the VIP invitees; too bad I was in a hurry to leave so couldn’t make use of it:( will have to make do with the 10% student discount only. A lovely goodie bag with these goodies! And Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode stuck in my head~
Thank you Topshop, Grazia, Elaine & Rachel for this lovely event!
I was lucky enough to bag myself an entry to the Dubai Fashion Week Cocktail Party; thanks to my fellow makeup and beauty blogger Zeeba!! I finally got to meet her after 6 months of planning :P
Anyhow, getting to the event this media launch was held at The Monarch Dubai on 14th September, 2011.Dubai Fashion Week is one of the most extravagant events of the region bringing together the major stakeholders of the fashion design industry.
The local castings for models were already held earlier and covered by Zeeba here.This was hardly a one hour event where initially food and drinks were served as goes by the name cocktail party ;)
Simone Heng (RJ of 104.4 Virgin Radio) with Simon Lock, CEO of The Lock Group, Australia/ Hongkong who is also the Creative Designer for DFW 2011.
Simon Lock, creative designer has done top fashion shows, North America, Australia, London and other places around the world. He announced that there are going to be 16 international models joining this season fresh from New York.
Simon introduces Troy Daniel as the official technical director of DFW 2011. Troy has designed and directed the lighting for hundreds of live, large scale trade shows, product launches, award shows, corporate parties, rock concerts & press conferences.
We can trust Troy Daniel’s expertise of setting the media projection in such a way to bring alive the show. There are going to be 30 shows in a span of 5 days. Every show will have individual creativity.
Official Fashion Designers of DFW
This is an exciting opportunity for local designers to showcase their talent. Mr. Simon showed lots of encouragement towards our Emirati designers from UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, and Lebanon along with designers from India and Pakistan.
Dubai Fashion Week SS2012 runs from October 20-24 2011 at The Arena Dubai World Trade Centre. Support DFW!
Missed me much? Well, I have been really busy lately traveling the past few months with my family which is why I have been MIA. Anyway, I am back again in Dubai and before I start posting regular beauty posts,I think its high time I announce my winners right :P I have been getting lots of emails asking me that too. I sincerely apologize for the lack of posts in case any of you thought I am dead :P
But before announcing the winner, I would really like to thank each and every person who voted for me in all the different ways. THANK YOU MY LOVELY FOLLOWERS!! It really made a lot of difference even if I didn't win :) Also, I loved reading your beauty tips and suggestions. Of all the entries, 601 were valid entries. Using random.org, my first winner isss....
Shruti
and the 2nd winner is....
Sweetshenangians
Congrats Ladies!! I will be contacting you today. Please respond to me within the next 48 hours :)
I got this around 3 months back when I went for an interview. Well the interview went crap but atleast I got to venture into the lovely products by the brand ‘The Face Shop’. It’s a Korean brand of cosmetics. I first fell in love with Korean brands when my dad got me the ‘Sulwhasoo’ cream, balancing emulsion and toner set (review coming soon!!). While venturing I checked out Skin Food too, but I found it too expensive for a south asian brand. Anyhow, talking about The Face Shop, I think they are more famous for their BB creams (I still have no idea what they actually are so do enlighten me if you know).
I wanted a base for my makeup, so while checking out their outlet I saw this on the shelf and got intrigued instantly. Honestly, during the past 3 months of intense humidity and torture by the sun, my skin has survived only & only due to this lovely 30ml tube of color base sun cream! I love the concept of it being both a makeup base as well as a sunscreen so that I don’t need to lather two different products twice and make the texture of my skin look heavy.
Shade: Natural
Price: Dhs49 (around $13)
Why I absolutely love this product?
Extremely lightweight - Despite it working as both a sun cream and makeup base, it’s not at all thick or oily. So I assume it will work for oily skin too. I have a combination skin with oily T-zone & dry skin.
Long lasting sun protection - It has double protection mechanism, first by Reflecting and diffusing UV rays, then by Absorbing UV rays. Normally I do get quite tanned however this time I am not as much as I would have expected. So I guess that’s a good thing right?
Evens out and brightens skin tone without looking unnaturally white unlike other sunscreens which leave behind a whitecast which makes you look super ghostly!!
Worth the price & quantity. $13 for a 30ml product which can be used for 3 months is pretty reasonable.
The Face Shop (atleast in Dubai) has this awesome offer for life where if you buy products worth Dhs150 even if not at once but if you save your receipts and show them you have previously purchase products worth that much they give you a 10% discount on your next purchase and make you a member. Ain’t that great? Which is why I still have saved my receipt :D
Why you might not like this product?
Despite containing natural extracts of Pongamia, sunflower seeds and aloe, it contains parabens. Check out the picture of the entire ingredient list and do let me know if you think any other ingredient is harmful for skin too.
19 yr old desi surviving each day in the desert.Loving makeup, fashion, jewellery & every other girlish thing while doing her best in sharing the alluring beauty of whatever she discovers with the world ♥
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