Tamanna Roashan Holiday 2014 Palette: First Impressions.

 

 

 

So you know how a new product comes into the market, there’s such a big hype over it, bloggers go crazy, You tubers have their reviews up in a flash, you see it everywhere  and you fear if you do not place an order soon it could sell out? Sound familiar? Particularly if it is anything to do with Anastasia Beverly then I guess this is to be expected.  Before you know it, the item is sitting in your cart and there’s that tiny voice in your head that asks you for the tenth time if you really need yet more eye shadows...well the fact is you can never have enough so I keep telling myself.

So, as you all may know, Anastasia is the QUEEN of eyebrows. Brow Wiz, Pomades, Tinted brow gels, girls want it all. Not to mention all the other wonderful products such as the extremely popular contour kit and concealers which sadly still remain on my wish list. If you are an avid beauty junkie then you will know that within a few months Anastasia and her daughter Norvina have collaborated with Amrezy, Maya Mia and most recently Tamanna Roashan in creating three different eyeshadow palettes that each represent them.

 Truth be told, I decided to give the Amrezy Palette a miss, as tempting as it was, it didn’t completely blow me away and I felt that I already had the majority of the colours in other brands. What I didn’t realise was just how quickly another collaboration would take place this time with Maya Mia. Again, the colours looked too similar to the Amrezy palette hence I decided to give it another miss.

 

It was when the Tamanna palette released I instantly knew there were no ifs or buts. Of course, as usual that tiny voice was there in my head, but it is clear that something about this palette really stood out. This is in fact her second collaboration with Anastasia Beverley Hills, (The first being the contour kit)

 

To begin, Tamanna Roashan is an International Beauty Educator and a Bridal and Celebrity makeup artist. She is better known as Dress Your Face and is HUGE on Instagram for her stunningly flawless makeup looks, contoured and sculpted faces, cut crease eyes and of course a glimpse into her personal life with her music director husband. Being half Indian half Middle Eastern herself she has launched this stunning Tamanna Roashan Holiday 2014 palette with a mixture of 4 mattes and six shimmers all in ten gorgeous shades. The packaging is so appealing, it has this distinct eastern/Asian influence that includes 5 ‘Get the look cards’ to create five different looks.

 

Blush, Venezia and China Rose swatched.

 

Shades include:(In no particular order) Sangria, Venezia, Custom, China Rose, Fresh, Chocolate, Bengal, Noir, Gilded and Blush.

 

 

 

First Impressions? I haven't had the palette long to give a thorough review but boy this did not disappoint. It is actually quite small and compact so it is perfect to keep in your kit or take when travelling. It comes with a decent double ended brush that is good enough to use, with the standard plastic type mirror. All the colours are extremely pigmented and buttery, are beautiful and blend well together. I just love how you can create such different versatile looks with just these ten colours. I haven’t actually been able to put this down since I got it and it is safe to say I am deeply in love with it. Needless to say, I am very glad I decided to purchase it.

This palette can be purchased from both Cult Beauty and Beauty Bay if you are in the UK; I actually purchased mine from the lovely people at Beauty Bay for a very affordable £23! Including free delivery! A bargain I clearly could not stay away from!

Well done to Tamanna Roashan on yet another great collaboration, something tells me this won’t be the last of it.

 

Love and Lipstick

xxx

REVIEW: Rapid Lash Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancing Serum

Sell me a product that claims to make lashes grow (Infact make anything grow!)  and I will not think twice about it. I am a sucker for lip plumper’s, eyebrow growth serum, eyelash enhancers and the list goes on. Fortunately, (without bragging) I have always had long lashes, and I am very lucky in the sense that any old mascara will do. I can also get by without wearing falsies.

I remember ever since I was 15 all those long years ago I would repeatedly rub Vaseline on them before bed in a bid to increase  their size overnight.  It is when some people ask whether I have false lashes on that I know the man above has definitely blessed me in the eyelash department.

Now of course, I am an avid YouTube watcher, blog reader and anything beauty related will always appeal to me so I came across the Rapid Lash Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancing Serum where I stumbled across several  posts and reviews on it. The reviews were nothing but glorious with some claiming ‘they would never be without it’. So I was in instantly drawn in, took the plunge and decided to try it out for myself.

Now this serum, which is readily available across high street stores and several sites online claims to ‘enhance the appearance of brows and lashes, moisturise them, improves the length, thickness and volume .and protects against breakage'. Sounds amazing right?

Directions? Well you simply apply it to a clean eyelid at the base of the upper lashes as if you were applying liquid eyeliner each night before bed for a period of four weeks and so I did just that from the day I received it. it definitely sounded simple enough.  I just love the no mess no hassle application when it comes to beauty and this certainly deserves 10/10 for that.

 

 

The product itself looks exactly like a liquid eyeliner tube which also resembles the brush for easy application. It is a 3ml ( 0.1 fl oz) that doesn’t have a nasty strong smell to it nor did it irritate or tingle fortunately.  It is paraben free and is safe to use on both brows and lashes including lower lashes . What’s more, it is fortified with vitamins and proteins and none of the nasty stuff which I suppose you’ve got to give it some credit for surely.

 Results?

Well, I used it religiously every night that I could remember  after removing my makeup for a period of three ish weeks, whilst it didn’t give me ultra glam super thick long lashes (that I was secretly hoping for) I did notice a big improvement in their overall condition, it was like they had a deep keratin treatment done, they were super soft and shiny and I was delighted to find that they no longer fell out when removing my eye makeup in particular mascara.

I purchased mine off Amazon UK as I found it was a lot cheaper on there compared to some sites and stores like Boots and larger Superdrug. With delivery included, I ended up paying around  £21 which is pretty reasonable I guess considering it is natural in the sense of no nasty ingredients, the quantity of the product and what it claims to achieve.

Would I repurchase? Probably not.  Yes it has made a noticeable difference to the overall condition of my lashes, but in terms of lengthening not so much. Maybe my expectations were not realistic enough, maybe I needed to use a second tube, but at £20 a pop it is a tad bit pricey for me I am afraid and for now, I am happy to just stick to good old Vaseline.

 

Have you tried the Rapid Lash Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancing Serum?

 Love and Lipstick xxx

 

The Mummy Tag

Hi Lovelies,

 

Hope you are all well.

 

I recently came across the 'Mummy Tag' and thought why not do one myself. Plus it gives you all a chance to be nosey and give you an insight in my life as a mummy to two little toddlers!

.

 

1. Are you a Stay at Home Mum, or a Working Mum?

 

I am currently a stay at home mum, I left work when my eldest was born three years ago and myself and my husband made the decision that it was best I stayed at home with them until they were full time at school.

 

2. Would you have it any other way?

 

Honestly speaking? no, I love my routine at home with the kids, I am with them all the time and I strongly believe this will have such a positive influence on them when they are older, Id like to think that they can say their mummy looked after them well rather than being in a nursery that cost the earth. That's not to say I do not miss my job, I miss it loads and wish I could work to help my husband out financially however as a parent, I guess there are certain sacrifices you need to make.

 

3. Do you co sleep?

 

When my eldest was teething, he slept best next to me in our bed so to this day, I still put him to bed like this and then move him to his bed. Both the kids still sleep in our rooms, ideally they would have their own rooms each (being a boy and a girl) howvever thanksfully we do not get much disruption at night so it is not an issue for us, plus I hate the idea of them being alone especially in the winter.

 

4. What is your one must-have item for your baby?

 

For both my kids it was definitely their baby swing, it was a god damn lifesaver! we used it a lot and replaced many batteries, but it meant I could get some housework done and they would nap well in the afternoon until they grew out of it.

 

5. How many kids do you plan on having?

 

Neither of my kids were planned so in that sense we feel very very blessed. having two 11 months apart is a big challenge yet so fulfilling at the same time. If its meant for me, truthfully speaking I would like just one more in the next year or so, no preference whether its a boy or girl.

 

 Date night? How many nights per month? 

 

Date night? What is that haha! The kids come with us everywhere we go even if it means slamming cutlery and pulling the tablecloth in a restaurant. We sneak in some quality time together when we go to London and see my parents and sisters, perhaps if my parents lived closer, we would love to have a date night once a month.

 

7. Your childs favourite show?

 

The kids love anything on cbeebies! try getting them to sit still and watch an entire episode though!

 

8. Name one thing you bought before you had your baby and never ended up using?

 

The Winnie the pooh cot mobile. I loved the idea of winding it up and the projector lights on the wall yet they both used to sleep as soon as their head hit their pillows so got zero use out of it.

 

 

9. Your child’s favourite food?

 

My kids have quite a few favourite foods but berries, cucumber and tomatoey pasta is definitely high on the list.

 

 

10. How many cars does your family have?

 

One as it is cheaper to run. I do wish we had two though, definitely would make life easier.

 

11. Weight gain before pregnancy, during and after and now?

 

Both time round I put on nearly 2.5/3 stones.!  Still have a stone more to lose to get back to my pre pregnancy weight.

 

12. Dream holiday with your kids?

 

Definitely Disneyland Florida. I went as a kid and loved it so much so I definitely want to take my two there. Id probably wait till they're a lot older though so they can understand it and enjoy it more.

 

13. Dream holiday without your kids?

 

Dream holiday kids free sounds bliss anywhere really.! A week in Maldives or Dubai or an all inclusive week holiday in Sharm, truthfully speaking, when it comes to it, I don't think I could ever leave them fir a whole week.

 

14. How has your life changed since your baby has been born?

 

The minute you becaome a parent, your life changes massively. You cannot be selfish and self centred as you have dependants, plus you learn to juggle, love and make sacrifices in life and naturally, your life changes for the better.

 

15. Finish the sentence: 'It makes my heart melt to see …

 

My two babies turning into loving, wonderful, smart human beings. When they reach out for a kiss and a cuddle too.

 

 

16. Where do you shop for your kids?

 

Many different places. Primark, H&M, Matalan and George.

 

 

17. Favourite makeup and skincare products?

 

Have far too many to list!

 

18. Huggies or Pampers?

 

Huggies all the way.

 

19. Have you always wanted kids?

 

Yes of course, I believe every girl deep down wants to have children some day. Ideally, I would have loved to have owned my own home and perhaps climb the career ladder first but I suppose you cannot get perfect timing in everything in life.

 

20. Best part about being a mum?

 

Seeing your kids mould into how/what you teach them and the unconditional love. Yes there are days where I simply want to rip out my hair, but they both always bring a smile to my face.

 

I now tag all your lovely yummy mummies out there. Be sure to leave your links below so I can check it out.

 

Bye for now, love and lipstick xxx

 

 

 

My Super Quick Guide to Cleaning Makeup Brushes.

It is true what  they say, you really do learn from your mistakes, who knew we could make them from simply cleaning our makeup brushes? I am sure we have all made a few in the past and ended up damaging one or two so I wanted to share my top five tips below on washing and caring for your brushes.







 1) Never soak/submerge a brush in water, it will cause water damage. The wooden handles expand when soaked and causes the plastic coating to peel as I experienced with my chubby shader brush from Crown Brushes.

 

 

 2) Only the brush head and the fibres should be cleaned, no need to soak the entire brush. Simply dip in your chosen cleanser, twirl around on the palm of your hands and wash off with lukewarm water allowing it to air dry naturally.

3) Always use specialist brush cleansers, I use the one from Crown which works wonders, MAC do one too as do some of the alternative higher end brands. Mild baby shampoo and olive oil work just as well.
 
4) It is best to use specialist brush cleaners or shampoos as regular shampoos and soaps often contain oils that can attack/dissolve the glue and cause the head to fall out.
 
5) Lastly, when drying them they should be left to dry on their sides or even better brush head downwards so water cannot track down towards the handle or under the ferrule of the brush handle internally. Also, brushes shouldn't be left to dry upright with the brush head at the top.
 
And there you have it girls, my super quick and easy cleaning and caring guide for your makeup brushes. Are there any tips you have? Be sure to share them in the comment section below!

Love and Lipstick

xxx  

Elemis Jasmine and Rose Milk Bath Review

Hello Lovelies,
 
Hope you are all doing well, I am just lurving this fab weather at the moment and since I have been so MIA lately, Id thought I'd crack on with this post whilst soaking up the sun!
 
Now, we are all busy people right and it is vital to take some time out now and then and relax, well let me tell you just how rubbish I am at relaxing. I find it terribly hard to switch off at times and well in a bid to help me keep calm, I have started to have set bath and pamper times in the evenings.
 
Recently, when I heard Elemis where launching a new Jasmine and Roth Milk Bath, I was super excited to give it a go and was very lucky to have received to a bottle of it in the post a few weeks back.
 
The first thing that grabbed my attention aside the cute little bottle it came in, was the fabulous scent. The formula consists of Turkish Rose and Egyptian Jasmine and is absolutely heavenly, it takes me right back to my Turkish holiday. Yes, you really do drift off to a far away place. Bliss!
 
You just simply pour threeish small capfuls under hot running water and instantly it lathers and softly foams in the bath not to mention filling the bathroom with the most divine scent. Instantly, it felt softening and nourishing to my skin and I absolutely loved the fact that the scent lingered on even when washing off a few times.

"Indulge in your nightly bath time routine with this NEW milk bath. Exquisite Jasmine and White Lotus Flower Milks soften and calm dry skin while nourishing Argan Oil and vitamin E improve moisture retention to leave skin feeling soft and smooth. Camellia Seed Oil, rich in essential fatty acids, shields and protects the skin from moisture loss"

I have got to love the Elemis SpaHome range, they do not disappoint, you really do have that the spa experience in the serenity of your own bathroom. What's more, I found that I needed minimal moisturising after my bath as opposed to using my usual bar of soap.  

Elemis Jasmine and Rose Milk Bath 400 ml was previously exclusive to QVC, but can now be purchased for £42 from Time to Spa and Look Fantastic. 

If you really love the luxurious pampered feeling of bath time, then this may be the product for you!

Until next time, Love & Lipstick xxx



 

The Ethnicity TAG

Hello my lovelies,

I wish this darn weather would make up its mind, don't you? Anyway, I have been coming across many TAG type blog posts and Youtube videos so I decided to do the Ethnicity Tag! Its pretty short but I thought it would be interesting so here goes:

What is your ethnicity?

I am Indian. If I have got this correct, my parents were born in Kenya and grandparents were born in India.

When was the last time you visited your country?

It was back in 2010. (Yes I need a holiday!) It was my first time going with my husband to visit my in laws.

Name one ethnic food you enjoy the most?

I love all types of foods, I am not particularly fussy when it comes to food. If I had to narrow it down, then it would be bhel, dhokla, pau bhaji and good old kichri, kadhi, and spicy potatoes with a tomatoes and chilli chutney.

Name one household item that best represents your culture?

Erm, this was hard. I really cannot think of anything. Does our spice box with all the little pots of our Indian spices count? the pestle and mortar also springs to mind, its the best to make your chutney with!

What part of your country are you from?

India- Gadat, Gujrat

Kenya- Nairobi.

What song reminds you of your country?

Oh gosh, in terms of Indian, I really cannot pick one, there are far too many!

For Kenya, there's the 'Jambo, Jambo Bana' song which I know all the words to!

Can you speak the languages of your ethnicity?

Of course I can! How else do I speak to the grandmas and inlaws? hahatick




Love and Lipstick

xxx






 

My top 10 : How to be a Savvy Shopper.

 

It is no secret that we are still in recession and for the many of us, that means having to constantly watch the pennies and tighten our purse strings. Believe me when I say, I am far from a money saving expert, in fact quite the opposite. Over the years, I have constantly battled with the whole spend less/save more mantra. Hand me £3000 cash and I will spend it all in less than 30 minutes- guaranteed. It wasn't after leaving my job to raise my two children and be a SAHM that I understood the value of money better. Do you find yourself constantly looking at the gorgeous pair of shoes on ASOS and hesitate? Read on below for my tried and tested tips  on smarter shopping and you may just be able to throw in the shoes too!

 

1) I honestly cannot go past a Starbucks before stepping in having already decided what I want to drink. Register for the My Starbucks Rewards Card/App and use it to purchase your drink. As well as a free drink after 15 visits, make use of benefits such as free whipped cream, free extra shots and free select syrups. Why pay more when you can get it free.

 

 2) Even better, make your own tea/coffee in a small flask for when you're out and about. Chances are, you wont even be thinking about the Starbucks one.

 

3) Take your own carrier bags! Yep you've read that right and no no one will think you are an old skinflint. Most places like M&S and Superdrug charge atleast 5p a bag in a bid to save the environment. Now, do you really want to be paying an extra 5p for bags each time you shop? No, didn't think so.

 

4) A very useful tip I picked up from a friend of mine whilst we were at Uni was to withdraw £30 cash at the start of the week and if you're feeling really brave, leave all your cards at home. Keep a separate pouch for all the loose change you may accumulate, after all, pennies turn into pounds!

 

5) Really make good use of points on cards that allow you to accumulate points and use it as monetary value off your shopping. My personal favourites are the Superdrug Beauty Card, good old Boots card, Costa card and Debenhams Beauty Club Card. The more you collect, the more you get off! Coupons are another favourite of mine.

 

6) Browse around- which I think many of us do anyway. Can you get it cheaper elsewhere? Most miss a trick when it comes to fashion bargains, the internet will always have discounted beauty and fashion. Nobody wants to pay for something only to find it way cheaper elsewhere. Its a slap in the face.

 

7) "If in doubt, leave it out"- as the saying goes, have a real good think about what's in your basket before checking out, online or in the shops, ask yourself, do you really need another hand cream when you already have three at home? No one will judge you for putting things back. Do not be afraid to walk away and say 'I need a few minutes to think about this'

 

8) Make a shopping list of what you need to get and where from- you are more likely to stick to it and stay focused and be less distracted, always works for me!

 

9) Your mobile phone- Keep a close eye on the minutes/texts/data usage you have agreed on with your provider. Its so easy to get carried away talking to a loved ones and then get a hefty 'out of allowance' charge at the end of the month. Ouch!

 

10) And finally if you have the gift of the gab, do not be afraid to use it. You'd be surprised at the freebies that get thrown in sometimes, upgrade an air fare, at a restaurant, bring down your bill, car insurance, practically anywhere you like!. My mum certainly has it and her motto is 'Don't ask, don't get' Quite right there Mother!

 

So there you have it guys, my top ten tips on how to be a savvy shopper, as above, I am no money saving expert, just someone that likes to have my cake and eat it! haha!

 

Do you have any smart shopping tips? Do share them below! Until next time.

 

Love & Lipstick

 

xxx