Subha Aluth Avuruddak Wewa!

Hope all of you are enjoying the New Year festivities. I hope you're eating all the kevili you can muster. I myself am loving the mun kevum. This year I might actually attempt to make milk toffee to bring to the office folks on Thursday. So do keep your fingers crossed for me.

Sweet treats aside, I wanted to come back with a new post because it's been a while since I last wrote a piece for the blog. Besides, this review has been lying in my drafts folder for a while now. So let's get to it.



Last year, I was generously gifted the Body Yogurt collection by The Body Shop. As you know, their body butters, specifically their coconut body butter is among my favourite moisturisers. In fact, I got it for my dad but ended up keeping it because I absolutely loved the tropical smell, and the velvety feel of it. With the body butters, the process of moisturising looked like this: I would get home from work, have a shower, and douse myself in the body butter, and by morning I would have properly moisturised skin. It stays that way for the entire day until I repeat the cycle.
This was working for me just fine, until things got super busy and I was tackling multiple things at once. Gotta keep up with those multiple strokes "/" next to our names, right? I would get home from work, and do some more work, take a shower, and get back to reading and creative plans afterwards. I honestly fumbled through my skin care routine, and managed to experience firsthand what the absence of proper skin care would do.



This is precisely why you need it in your life. It is the perfect formula for those of us, who are constantly on the go!

I guess I pretty much summed up my thoughts on these, but there's more details below for those of you who are interested in knowing more about these.

Amount of Product: 200ml (6.98Oz)

Price: Rs. 2,600

Claims:

NEW lightweight, fast-absorbing gel-cream formula
100% vegan
48hr moisture

Stats listed on the website:
87% agree the formula absorbs instantly*
86% like that the formula works on damp skin*
3 in 4 agree they can put their jeans on straight after application*
95% agree skin feels moisturized*
81% agree skin appears radiant*

*User trial on 104 women & men.


How to Use:

Massage into skin whenever you need a hit of hydration. You can even apply it straight onto damp skin after showering.

Packaging:

The product comes packaged in a pot with a screw open lid. The lid bears the respective flavour and the pot bears the name of the brand and product, along with directions for application and ingredients on a sticker. Overall, the packaging is not just utilitarian, but also aesthetically pleasing especially laid out on the top of the dresser.






The banana one is a special edition, so the lid on the pot is a little different and has a lot of very yellow, illustrations of bananas on a pink backdrop with lettering suggesting to 'go bananas'.

Results:



Let's talk about how fresh the scent of each of these body yogurts are. As soon as I open each pot I'm greeted with a pleasant, and dare I say accurate scent (talking about the banana body yogurt here). It lingers on the skin for a while too. The almond has a beautiful, subtle scent that I am all about. While I'm usually not one for fruity scents I really liked the balance of the strawberry one. It wasn't nose tingling sharp (#Winning). The British rose smells fresh and not like one of those powdery rose-scents. The same goes for the Moringa one which is mellow but distinct. You already know how I feel about the banana scent; I suppose that requires an "acquired taste".

Hope you've all been well. As you probably saw from my Instagram stories, I was very generously gifted a skin-care Hamper from The Body Shop which included some products from their Vitamin E range, as well as the Tea Tree range. As you already know my love for their tea tree products go as far back as 2016, as evidenced by this post: The Blemish Battling duo: Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution and 3-in-1 Wash Scrub and Mask. Since then I've tried out the tea tree oil itself, which maybe tiny but is really effective in drying out nasty spots, and also the mattifying toner which pretty much completes a thorough cleansing ritual. 

Naturally, I end up sharing my enthusiasm about this range with everyone I meet (sorry not sorry). So earlier this year my cousin sister ended up buying this facial wash and needless to say she was very happy with the purchase. Since I had already had their Vitamin E cleanser, I didn't think it was necessary to get a face wash as well. 

Can I just say how glad I am that I got this facial wash, because I absolutely love this! You can read the review to find out exactly why.

Amount of Product: 250ml (8.4Oz)

Price: Rs. 2,200

Claims:

Our Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash, infused with Community Trade Tea Tree Oil, cleanses blemished skin. A refreshing lather removes impurities and excess oil, leaving skin feeling purified. Use daily for less shiny, mattified, visibly clearer results.

Enriched with Community Trade Tea Tree Oil from the foothills of Mount Kenya
Deeply cleanses blemished skin
Refreshing on skin
Suitable for blemished skin

Packaging:

The product comes in their classic dark green colour packaging they use for the tea tree range. The lid can be flipped open to squeeze some product on to the palm of your hand. Overall, it possesses a very sturdy packaging that will make sure it won't leak all over even if you travel with it. The ingredients are listed on a sticker on the bottle. It also carries a good amount of product, so you don't have to run to the store every two weeks to repurchase. 

Results:

What's immediately noticeable when opening the bottle is that fresh and sharp tea tree scent. In terms of the product itself, it carries a light green tinge and is of a moderate consistency- not too thick nor too runny. 

I used this product on the daily as recommended. First squeezing a small amount (size of a two rupee coin) on to my palm, I then diluted it with a little amount of water and applied on my face while gently massaging in circular motions. After rinsing with water, what I immediately noticed was how fresh my face felt. Perhaps it's that tea tree scent that elevates the whole experience. 

I have to admit I skipped on the toner on most days because in all honesty I didn't think I needed it as this product was very effective in removing all the dirt and impurities from my face. 

The best part is how well it took care of the oiliness on my face. Anyone with oily/ combination skin can attest to how annoying it is to come home at the end of the day, and touch the face only to realise how oily it has become. In my experience this product did a marvelous job in removing that excess oil without completely stripping off my skin. 100 points for this matter! 

You may be wondering why I am writing this review so soon in comparison to how long I've taken to write others. Well, the reason is that I noticed the difference in my skin when I didn't use this facial wash. I woke up with an extremely oily and *cover your eyes if needed* sticky face. So I have gotten into a habit of using this product as soon as I get home from work because I particularly liked having a clear face in the morning. 



All in all, I think the product 

met its claims of removing impurities and excess oil,  and leaving skin feeling purified. 

Hello everyone!

Hope you've all been well. I'm writing to you after the longest time. I'm slowly starting to come out from my self-imposed time-out. 

What better way to get back to writing and blogging than by reflecting on my 24 years of life. 

I will be 24 in another week. Can you believe it?

To commemorate the occasion (well before it happens), I thought I will share with all of you 24 things I've learned in my 24 years of life, in the form of a note to myself.

1. Mom and Dad are alarmingly right about many, many things. Always hear out their perspective on things.

2.  It's okay to stand up for yourself even if it is difficult at times because you're not used to doing it often.

3. Try your best to make at least one person smile through a kind gesture. 

4. Take time for yourself off social media. While SM is amazing, it can also cloud your judgment about your life because you're constantly drawing comparisons with others.

5. Speaking of...try not to compare your life with that of anyone else. Instead focus on what you do and what you want out of life.

6. You don't have to live your life according to anyone else, even if they have good intentions.

7. Do things at your own pace. Even if it means you're 'getting there' slower than the rest.

8. There will be days where you "just can't", but those days will pass. 

9. Accept your emotions.

 10. Anxiety is controllable.

11. Know when to push yourself out of your comfort zone, because the rewards are so worth it!

12. Always be open for new adventures.

13. Accept that you can't make time for everything and everyone. This doesn't mean you have to let go of people or opportunities, but rather it concerns with prioritising. 

14. Don't beat yourself up for saying 'no'. 

15. Learn how to manage your time, so you can make time for most if not everything and everyone. 

16. Recognise the people who are ready to support you and accept that support.

17. Surround yourself with people who are inspiring.

18. Know your worth and know the difference between what you do and don't deserve.

19. Be honest to yourself and know your limits. You don't have to pretend like you're not affected by what happens around you.

20. Forgive yourself for your mistakes, because you cannot be both perfect and human.

21. Re-evaluate how you talk to yourself. Remember how you learned this in psych class?

22. Self-care is a priority, don't let yourself forget that. So take time for yourself, bake, listen to your oldies records, colour in on that book you got from TBBW. Whatever it takes to make yourself content and at peace.

23. Know that it's the little things that count.

24. Believe in the power of a good cup of tea.

Let me know what you think, and if there are any lessons you've learnt from your life that you would like to share with me, please feel free to leave a comment down below.

Thank you so much for reading,

Much Love,

Hello everyone! 

How have you been?

I know it's been a while since I posted here on my blog. To be clear, I've missed two makeup reviews I planned on posting, apart from the usual lifestyle posts I do on week days. As I'm writing this there are 22 drafts sitting on my folder which I haven't touched, and photos on my SD card which remains unedited. 

I know what you're thinking.

 'Where in the world have you been?'

Well I've kind of been in hiding from the blogosphere. Allow me to explain.

The first and foremost reason why I haven't been active on my blog or social media would be because I am feeling uninspired, period. The beauty community has moved on to 'spilling of tea', and being 'shady' as opposed to sharing what each one of us are truly passionate about. Whether it be our favourite brand, the lipstick we wear all the time, or that one body wash we want everyone else to try out because it's just THAT good. Simply stated, I wanted to stay away from the drama, and distance myself from the community. At one point, I was contemplating turning my Instagram into a lifestyle/ mental health-only profile. I figured that then I would be a part of a community that serves to uplift people and make a positive impact. Anyway, I wanted to take a break, a) for a reality check, and b) to get inspired by daily life. Thanks to the degrees I've earned, the need to reflect and review is drilled into my brain.

The second reason is being overloaded with work. The past few days have encompassed early mornings and late nights (not partying, FYI). I am a meticulous list-maker, and organised person (when it comes to my agenda and not my room). So my immediate response to being overwhelmed and life not going according to plan is to run and hide. No, I do not know where I learned that from and yes, I know it sounds very dramatic. The past few weeks have brought on many changes. I will share these with you soon and hopefully you'll be able to understand (and empathise) better. 

So to answer the question, I've been holed up in my room, reading the books I bought from the big bad wolf sale, with a cup of tea. You know, just in my own bubble.

It's not going to be forever, but I'll be taking some time off until I am in a place when I can finally write to all of you with all my heart. I don't want to do anything in a mediocre and below-par manner. I hope you all are healthy and happy, and had a great past few weeks.

I'll write to you soon,

Much Love,

Not going to blabber too much pre-review this time, because this is a long one which took forever to upload. You already know that Kathleen Lights is one of my favourite YouTubers so the reasons for this purchase are quite clear. 

Price: $16.00 (approx. Rs. 2,544)

NET WT: 12 X 0.85 g (0.03 Oz)

Claims:

Super versatile warm toned nudes with rich pops of colour can take your look from heavenly to out of this world in only a few swipes. Mattes, metallics, satins - every shadow is buttery soft and so easy to blend.

Pressed Powder Shadow: Highly pigmented shadow that applies evenly and feels ultra-velvety and silky. This long wearing formula contains a unique combination of softer powders which adheres easily to the eyes, gives a soft focus effect, and blends smoothly and evenly.

Packaging: 

The back of the box contained the names of each of the shades, along with the bunny logo suggesting the product is cruelty-free (same as the other ColourPop products). 

The palette itself is also designed with the same rose-gold marble effect with stars and a single crescent moon design. The names of the shades are listed on the back. The palette does not have a mirror, and instead has the name and the collab written on the inside. I don't really mind that. It has a magnetic closure. 

There are twelve shades inside, all in pans the size of a five rupee coin. They are smaller than the individual pressed powder shadows by ColourPop. 

Overall I don't have anything negative to say about the packaging whatsoever. 

Wear:

*For the purpose of this review, I'll rate the shadows out of five so you'll know which ones are my personal favourites to use.

The first row contains four warm toned shades that are very wearable, and which I would definitely include in a palette if I were making one. 

L-R: Shooting Star, Magical, Star Dust, Twinkle

The first is Shooting Star which is claimed to be a matte, soft golden brown. Personally I would describe this shade as a beige-brown. This matte shade works well as a base colour for the lids. If you have a comparatively fairer skin tone- similar to Kathleen's, I would imagine this will make a beautiful crease colour. It has good, buildable pigmentation, and is easy to blend. I did not experience any fallout with this shade. (5/5)

Next is Magical which is claimed to be a matte, yellow peach, which I agree with. This makes for a beautiful crease and transsition colour. This too has good pigmentation, and is easy to blend. There was no fallout with this shade. (5/5)

Top to Bottom: Shooting Star, Magical, Star Dust, Twinkle

Next in row is Star Dust which is claimed to be a metallic, true copper which is accurate. It has good pigmentation which can be elevated with a little spritz of either Fix Plus, or facial spray (which is what I do) for the perfect all-over lid colour. On first touch, it's a bit more dry in comparison to the other shadows but it blends with relative ease and there isn't noticeable fall out with the shade which is great as it is a metallic one. (4/5)

The final shadow in the first row is Twinkle which is claimed to be a metallic, true rose gold which is true. This shade is very similar to Weenie (Super Shock Shadow) which I recall to be among Kathleen's favourites. So I understand where she was coming from in creating this shade, which is a tiny bit lighter and has more champagne notes in colour in comparison to Weenie. The formula in this one is among one of the best in this palette. It is very buttery, has one swipe pigmentation. It blends easily and there isn't noticeable fall out with the shade. (5/5)

Top to Bottom: Shooting Star, Magical, Star Dust, Twinkle

On the second row, the shades are turning a lot more bold.

L-R: Sweet Dreams, Water Bearer, Potion, Spark

 The first is Sweet Dreams which is claimed to be a metallic soft champagne with a peachy pink flip which is exactly right. This shadow is dry and not packed well. It is messy to use, and there's a generous amount of fall out. To get the pigmentation I want, I usually pick up the product with my finger tips and dab on my skin (to get the flakes off and avoid lots of fall out) before applying on my lids. Sadly, it's just too much work for me so I haven't had much use for this shade. (1/5)

L-R: Kaleidoscope, Elfish, Moony, Mermaid Boy

 The first shade is Kaleidoscope which is claimed to be a metallic intense silvery nude.  I would say it is a silver with mint-blue undertones. This shadow is buttery as well, but there is a lot of fall out. It does have excellent pigmentation though, and is very blendable. I love this shadow mostly because it is unique and I haven't seen anything like it in any other palette (online or owned by me). (5/5)

The final shadow in the last row is Mermaid Boy which is claimed to be a metallic, deep teal which is accurate. It is the metallic version of Water Bearer. The colour brings back memories from my teens. I had asked my dad to buy me some makeup, and he bought me a glittery teal eyeliner which I wore everywhere. I don't know why he thought that was a good idea. Anyway, this shade too is buttery and has incredible pigmentation. It's so easy to pack this shade on to the lid. There is a little bit of fall-out which can be cleaned up without a hassle. (5/5)

Top to Bottom: Kaleidoscope, Elfish, Moony, Mermaid Boy

All shadows lasted for 6-7 hours on my eyes (no primer) with the exception of Moony which started fading by the 5-hour mark. 

Shooting Star and Magical as transition colours, Spark on the crease, and Elfish on the lid and a mix of both as under-eye liner, Moony on the inner corner and brow bone as highlight.

Shooting Star and Magical mixed as transition colours, Elfish as a crease colour, Water Bearer on the Lids, a mix of Water Bearer and Elfish on the under-eye liner, and Kaleidoscope as an inner corner highlight.

Shooting Star and Magical mixed as transition colours, Elfish as a crease colour, Water Bearer and Mermaid Boy on the Lids, a mix of Water Bearer and Elfish on the under-eye liner, and Kaleidoscope as an inner corner highlight.

Would I Recommend It:

This palette has both hits and misses. The matte shades Spark and Elfish, and the metallic shade Sweet Dreams were absolute misses. If you were drawn particularly to these shades, then I would recommend not purchasing the palette. While I have similar Super Shock or powder shadows by Colourpop, I reach out for this palette more often than the other products which says something. If you are looking for some good matte shades, and those eye-catching teal hues then this palette is worth buying especially considering that price point. 

Shop This Post:

ColourPop X KathleenLights Dream St Palette

What do you think about the ColourPop X KathleenLights Dream St Palette? Let me know how your experience with it was in a comment down below.

Thank you so much for taking time to read this!

Much Love,