Nivea Men After Shave Balm -Review on use as primer

Hello my lovelies ! 
Yes , it has been a while but here I am back in action !! Ive vowed to keep my product reviews very short.. so ,theres no chit chat here, just straight off the bat ! Here we go !

What is this ?
-Technically , a men's after shave soothing balm to help ease their razor burns.

What is in / not in it ?
-Main ingredients-glycerin  and witch hazel.
-Main ingredient thats not there in any form - Alcohol
        (Glycerin is a humectant that holds moisture in like nobody's business 
         Witch hazel is the worlds safest toner ingredient, tightens all pores without over drying)

Why should women bother about this "men's" product  ?
-Because, this functions as the "WORLD's" most cost effective as well as functionally adept primer cum moisturiser. 

What do you get ?
-You pay about 18 Aed / 18 QR for 100 ml .which means this is going to last you a year or more of regular liberal use.

Who should try ? 
-ANYONE !
Dry skin -Jump the bandwagon right away !
Oily/combination - Jump jump , You are welcome too !

How can a single product cater to both oily and dry and all other fancy skin types at once?
-Because it neither has oil aggravating ingredients for oily skin or alcohol for dry skin . 

When and how can you use some of this goodness?
 -Dry skin - Directly after cleansing. Can skip toning as well as use of any primer if used before .
- Oily/combination - With or without a light moisturiser.


So , for any of those of you who either hasn't heard of a primer or has never tried one, I urge you . This product will not fail. Anything you apply over it - a bb cream , a cc cream , a foundation , compact powder- any damn thing..will go on smoother and will last much much longer ;come heat ,snow or tornado !

Ive tried this half on my face and other half almost all the high end primers I own-MAC, Benefit ,Make Up Forever etc . And I have no qualms in admitting that this performed as good or even better for 1/8th of the price of the others.

Sneaky caveat :- In the dire circumstance that this doesn't work for you , pack it up in a nice box , wrap a neat ribbon and gift it to your man ;)


Just in case you would want to google this as soon as you read , let me make your life easier- click here !

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Meg 21 skincare products - Detailed review and first impressions !

Hello lovelies

Since my Masters in Dermatology , I am constantly on the look out for revolutionary skin care products that are scientifically backed and result proven with randomized trials.
In one such research, I stumbled upon a brand called MEG 21.This brand focuses on using Supplamine as their key ingredient. Now brace yourself for some science here .

Supplamine is known to be the only agent that can block the formation of toxic sugars in the skin.This process of toxic sugar formation (aka glycation ) is directly responsible for skin issues like loss of elastin and formation of wrinkles.
I was generously sent a one-month supple of five of their revolutionary products for my review.

• MEG 21 Smooth radiance face treatment
• MEG 21 Smooth radiance advanced formula
• MEG 21 Antioxidant boost
• MEG 21 Bright and firm eye treatment
• MEG 21 Redness relief

MEG 21 Antioxidant boost :

I used it as soon as I cleansed my face , under the face treatment cream. As a serum , I felt it absorbed quite well into my skin and prepared it for what I would use after.

MEG 21 Smooth radiance face treatment:

It applies quite thick as it is targeted primarily for the dry skin population and I did feel quite a bit heavy as soon as applied. However , I noticed this absorbed quite well and did not leave me with a heavy face. I liked how the cream left my face feeling supple throughout the day .

MEG 21 Bright and firm eye treatment:
This was by far my most favourite of the three I tried . In a weeks time I felt my undereyes had de-puffed a significant bit and my emerging crow's feet had tightened up as well. I was not using any other eye treatment during this trail period so I know for sure the effect is from this alone.







After a three week trial period of these three products , I do feel my skin texture and quality has improved by a good margin. I would really look forward to purchasing the MEG 21 Anti oxidant boost and the Bright and firm eye treatment in full sizes. As of now , they are available for purchase thru LovelySkin.com and SkincareByAlana.com . 

Do scientifcally backed skincare products intrigue you ? Do you beleive it is high time we say goodbye to products loaded with industrial chemicals ?

Do leave a comment !
Much love ,
xoxo

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Do we have a dupe for the Smashbox photofinish primer ?

Hello lovelies !
Its been a while , but I'm back at what I love doing again !
The Smashbox photofinish primer has been my aide for about 3 years now . I got myself a sample size while I was in the UK and pretty regular use ( whenever I wore foundation that is ) and it has lasted me all this while . Id b referring to the Smashbox photofinish primer as SPP from here on . As you can see, Ive loved every bit of it. What I didn't like , however , was the exorbitant price.

The SPP retails at $36 (approx Aed 180 ) which is definitely a hefty price tag . I got myself the sample size for £12 three years ago and that is what has lasted me all this while. So , though there is value for money , it IS a big investment for most. So I have been on the lookout for something that performs just well but for way less. And I was lucky to lay my hands on this little beauty.

The Elf mineral infused face primer comes in a plastic bottle with a convenient pump that pumps put just the right amount for each use. It contains 14 ml of product and brace yourself .......retails at only $ 6 !! That's approx 20 Aed  ! For three times the product in a tube of SPP for one third of the cost , you really cannot go wrong here.

How did they look, feel and perform ?

The SPP looks milky white in the tube as well as when applied as a blob. The Elf primer pumped out a clear pearl sized amount. On blending, they blended just the same and gave a very smooth , silicone-y finish to the face. Foundations over both the primers performed exactly the same . Neither controls oil to a good extent and is not the primary function of these primers as well. What they do claim is
Smooth canvas for foundation or powder to go on 
Blurred pores and fine lines 
Increased longevity of whatever is applied on top.

And both of them , stay true to their claims exacly alike. So when you can get a product for way lesser than a higher end one that also performs just the same , I see no reasoning in spending your hard earned money over the SPP . If you are on a budget or just generally are on a lookout for an affordable primer,  look no further. This one here, performs.


I got the Elf primer from iherb.com for Aed 21 and the SPP is available at all Sephoras for approx Aed 160. 
If you are in the UK, you can purchase the ELF primer for £4.40 here! and if you are in India  can purchase it  here ! 

DO you use face primers? Have you tried either of these ? Once you do use a good primer , you will never look behind again ! DO comment on what your thoughts are !

Much love
xoxo

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Product Review -Herbal Essentials Nourishing cream *

Hello lovelies !
I was sent a generous full sized jar of the Herbal Essentials Nourishing cream for review. I had always passed my eyes through the shelves at Boots pharmacy and do remember always wanting to try something from this line as this claimed to be ayurvedic and ingredients sourced from the Himalayas. Now , something as enticing as that has to be impressive , right ?

I was not disappointed. The Herbal Essential Nourishing cream came in a neat glass jar , housing 50g of product. I loved the very feel of the jar , making it look very regal !
Ingredients:-
This dry-skin moisturising cream contains Himalayan spring water, Aloe vera gel ,Sunflower oil, Coco palm wax, Apricot oil,Almond oil, Phenoxyethanol as well as natural fragrance.

Target audience :-
This cream is particularly nourishing but not to the point of feeling like a grease ball . It applies heavy but is quick to be absorbed , leaving the skin with a cool sensation initially and a supple state of hydration for hours . As you can see from above, it blends to nothing almost instantly , despite the heavy feeling initially.
My recommendations:-
I would not recommend this to those with oily skin but normal and normal combination can definitely find refuge in this product. Kind of pricey at 140 Aed a jar , but any investment in good skincare is good investment !
Availability - Over 85 pharmacies across the Middle East including Boots and Binsina. Also available online here !

P.s All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you use a face cream diligently ? Which one is your holy grail ?

Until next time
Xoxo.

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Organic Princess Lipsticks - Review and swatches ! *

Hello lovelies !
Every mother of a growing little girl deals with the ordeals of having to say no when they ask for a little gloss on their tiny lips . Heartbreaking it is and if you have an inquisitive child, you are also subjected to the scary question of "But why are you wearing then !" And the temptation to dab a little , promising yourself this would be the last time , is quite a strong pull.

I was introduced to this new venture of a friend called "Organic Princess". This brand was born out of sheer curiosity to make lipsticks and tinted balms entirely organic with no traces of lead or any preservative whatsoever.

What are the ingredients that go in? 

Organic Coconut oil

Organic Shea butter

Organic Mango butter

Organic Jojoba oil

Organic Argan oil

Organic Almond oil

Organic Olive oil
Organic Vitamin E oil

Mica powder (for the colour and stain)

Bentonite clay (for the matte variants)

Colours , shades and textures ?

Each and every single lipstick is made to order and custom fit to preference. They are mixed and created upon request and have zero preservatives whatsoever. Shades are not limited and upon providing a sample colour, a dupe is attempted for the same . The same goes for texture- glossy, intense glossy , buttery or plain matte.

Shelf life and extend of wear ?

They stay on the lips for a good 3-4 hours and leave behind no stain as they fade. The oils in the lipsticks may tend to soften when exposed to extreme heat and humidity . However, popping them into the refrigerator for a couple of hours will get them back into shape .

Packaging and appearance?

The brand has quite a modest packaging for now. Nothing too fancy or high-end like. The lack of a shade name or label makes it quite a task to see which is what .

My thoughts and will I purchase ?

I love the idea of an entirely organic product for the lips that also caters to being colourful and a variety of textures to choose from. When my daughter pesters me next for a lip colour, I know now where I can look for a safe alternative. 

Prices and availability?

Each lipstick made with love costs Aed 30 . You can place your orders thru their Facebook page here ! as well as send an email to organicprincess0@gmail.com 

Do you fancy yourself an organic lip product ? Are there any you may have tried ?

Until next time , 

xoxo

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How to NOT let sales agents convince you !!

Hello lovelies !
How art thee all ?? Ive been wanting to write this post from forever and now is today !! Today's post is neither a review nor my recommendations but some light on what I think is a gruesome yet nagging affair whilst shopping at any makeup counter.

A trip to the makeup section of a store can be very overwhelming especially when you have no real idea what you want. In most places other than the Middle east , you hardly get assistants to help you out . In the Middle east however, it is the stark opposite. The girls at these counters are trained to sell just about anything someone may not really want at all.You may walk in looking for a concealer and may walk out either with none or with some additional products you really did not need.
With google at our disposal , there is really nothing that is not available for our perusal. Since the makeup world really runs a lot on MAC's reference numbers, it always helps to figure out what's yours and keep it for yourself.One thing to keep in mind is that these people are NOT makeup artists so the information/ knowledge they have is very minimal .

1. Never walk in looking confused/ amused. A confused prey is where these sales agents pounce on.
2. If all you want to is to just take a look around ,take your own time and make some swatches.Keep warding them off all the time . Eventually they will leave you alone.
3. Always ask for a sample if its a foundation your looking at. The one most common reason these agents give in order to avoid giving samples is lack of containers. You can help that yourself ! Carry a few tiny containers that's so easily available and ask them to pour in a bit . They cannot deny now !
4. If you like something , click a pic of it ( No , you don't need to be embarrassed ) Remember, its your money you are parting with ! Come back home and google on it . Search something like .. xyz blush on Indian skin .....and you will be bombarded with images . See for someone your skin tone range and see how it looks on them . Don't open the package until you are sure ! You can always return it if unopened :)
5. It is mostly foundations / compacts that require assistance. Get them to apply a shade on one side, the next upper or lower shade on the other and walk out , heading to the sunlight. I know this is not always practical but it is honestly the best method to avoid buying shades you may look like a ghost in.
6. Be friendly and compliment them if you like something they may be wearing . Who doesn't like a few good words and you may actually be convincing them to give you a few samples !
7. Never swatch foundations on your wrist or even your cheek...you must draw a line with the foundation from your cheek all the way down to your neck to avoid looking as though you may have someone else's face on your body !

That's about it i guess....happy shopping ! Remember you and your phone camera are the best judges !

Until next time !
xoxo.

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Glysolid glycerin cream - Magic in a tub !

Hello lovelies
Todays quick review is on a miracle product my aunt , Latifah introduced me to months ago. If you have cracked dry heels you know its a pain in the-you-know-where. It stays for long once it comes and almost as soon as you stop treatment, its back right there, in your face.

So a treatment modality for cracked dry heels has to be

• cost effective (as this is not a one time affair)
• easily available
• convenient to apply
• less messy

Glysolid is all that and more. It comes in two formulations- a tub of concentrated solid glycerine and a lotion form. I would want to lay more emphasis on the tub .

"This looks just like petroleum jelly/ Vaseline ! "
You're right , they look similar but their properties end there. Petroleum jelly is primarily a water repelling moisturiser whereas glycerin is a water loving moisturiser.It is a humectant  and will absorb water from the air towards where it is applied as well.It does not seal the skin devoid of any contact with air and thats precisely why this functions better at sealing cracks.


How do I apply this !
Take a sparing amount of Glysolid and apply all over well washed and scrubbed feet with extra emphasis on the cracks. Wear a light cotton socks over and go to sleep ! Repeat this for upto 4 days and see the holy difference in how soft and supple your hardened skin has become !

Is it only useful for cracked heels ?
No, Glysolid can be used anywhere on the body with dry hardened skin but it is a tad bit sticky so it isnt the ideal cream moisturiser that you can just slather on . Look at it more like a treatment / medication. The lotion form , however is more useful as an all over anti-dryness remedy but I personally feel it performs just like any other body lotion for dry skin. It is the tub of solid glycerin that is packed with love from the heavens for those dry , cracking and hopelessly troublesome heels !

This is extremely child - friendly and can be used in all ages.
Keep a small tub with you in your office desk/ handbag/ car and each and everytime u feel those lips are drying or those hands, elbows and knees are as dry as a bone, pinch up a little product and apply and thank me later ! This is coming from someone who has tried all the world's crack relief creams and subjected myself to torturous scrubbing .

The best part ! -Glysolid is easily available in all hypermarkets across the Middle east for just Aed 9 :)

If you are in the Indian subcontinent , you can buy it here!

And here ! if you are in the Uk !

Until next time !
Xoxo

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