It was not long ago that an invite popped into my inbox about the new releases from The Body Shop Sri Lanka. 'Skin Guardians have arrived in the city!', it read and I was so excited to join them for an exclusive preview of the products. So on a rainy morning on the 5th of November I headed on to their main store located in the Fairline Building.
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| Photo Credit: The Body Shop |
There was a clear theme of pink running throughout the store, from the guests dressed in pink to the pink daisies and lilies, right down to the pink cupcakes and macaroons. A white chair decorated with a pair of angel wings took center stage and all of us took turns sitting on it and getting photographed. I assure you we all felt an extra bit special that morning.
After a little bit of mingling and talking about each other's favorite The Body Shop products, we were briefed on their new release- Skin Defence Multi Protection Essence with SPF 50.
- It helps protect skin from UVA rays, including long UVA rays, which reach deep within the skin and accelerate the process of skin ageing.
- It also provides UVB protection: SPF 50 helps protect skin from UVB rays that trigger redness and damage the skin’s surface.
- As an anti-oxidant it helps protect skin from external aggressors such as environmental pollution that weakens the skin’s ability to remain healthy.
- Anti-dullness: With red algae extract and vitamin C to brighten skin for a more luminous complexion.
How to use:
Apply onto face and neck, and gently massage onto skin every morning after your daily moisturiser, before applying make-up. Avoiding the eye area, this product is best applied as part of your morning regime, or before exposure to UV.
I love the way they showcased the Vitamin E range. You already know how I feel about their Vitamin E sorbet. So to see the range of products they have produced without animal testing, and supporting community fair trade was awe-inspiring.
Apart from the new releases I also noted that they have brought down the darkening and whitening drops for foundation. Mental note to myself: Pick up the darkening drops to avoid going out with mismatched makeup (that is, face lighter than the rest of the body: Not Cute!).
I completely enjoyed this visit, not just the exclusive preview, but thanks to The Body Shop, I also met some other bloggers with whom my interactions were limited to social media. Thank you for bringing us together and also thank you for the gift. I will be posting my review of the Skin Defence Multi Protection Essence and Vitamin E moisture cream after testing them out thoroughly.
Til then here's a picture of the cupcakes that were offered to us. How glorious does that pink buttercream look?
For more Information, check out:
Shop This Post:
Have you checked out the new releases by The Body Shop yet? If so, let me know your thoughts and experience in a comment below.
Thank you for reading,
Much love,
I can't believe that we're well into November already. Time just flies. I will be 22 on November 29th and I'm more excited about being able to sing 22 by Taylor Swift and mean it. 'Happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time' seems like the perfect description of hitting this major milestone. Before I get carried away by my over-enthusiasm, I wanted to share with you some of my favorites from the month of October.
I certainly have gone way over budget with my purchases last October so obviously I have quite a number of favorite products. The first being the Blemish Battling Duo from the Tea Tree Range by The Body Shop. Surely my review speaks for itself. I have been using these two products for the past month and I absolutely love them. If you've got Oily/Combination skin and blemishes these two will work wonders for your skin.
I have also been loving the Pink Lotus Almond Intensive hand cream by Spa Ceylon. This has been a handbag staple for the past month and I love using this product at night. I received a free sample of their Ceylon Tea & Ylang hand cream with last month's Cosmopolitan magazine. I didn't enjoy the smell of that one, but it was so moisturizing so I decided to get the Pink Lotus one. It is described as "a natural soothing treatment enriched Lotus Honey to help soothe, calm & care for skin after harsh skin exposure." It is also Paraben and Paraffin Free, Vegan, and Not Tested On Animals.
One of my favorite ways to spend my Sundays for the past month has been lighting a candle and playing some classic rock music while reading. On a visit to the home ware department at Odel, which by the way has an incredible selection of items to Pinterest-ify your home, I picked up this Gardenia scented candle produced by Celestine Candle Company. By no means is this an Autumnal scent but it is so refreshingly beautiful.
I picked up the book The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant last September. It was an incredibly enriching experience reading this, since it is in an autobiographical format, with the protagonist recalling her life story for her grand daughter in the most honest and telling way. There is so much wisdom that's passed on, that I feel like this is a must read for any woman, or human, even.
My favorite beauty product has definitely been the nude lip liner by Lord & Berry. It was a travel liner that was a part of an offer from Cult Beauty. I definitely overuse my Blackcherry by Revlon especially during autumnal nights which is a dark berry-wine color. So to balance that, I love using a more wearable nude/ natural shade especially during day. This is the one that I have been going back to over and over during the past month.
I certainly need to upgrade my eye makeup so if you have any recommendations, do let me know in a comment down below along with your October Favorites.
Shop This Post:
The Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution by The Body Shop
3 in 1 Wash Scrub and Mask by The Body Shop
Pink Lotus Almond Intensive Handcream by Spa Ceylon
Gardenia Scented Candle from Celestine Candle Company
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
Nude Lip Liner by Lord & Berry
Thank you for reading,
Much love
One of my favorite ways to spend my Sundays for the past month has been lighting a candle and playing some classic rock music while reading. On a visit to the home ware department at Odel, which by the way has an incredible selection of items to Pinterest-ify your home, I picked up this Gardenia scented candle produced by Celestine Candle Company. By no means is this an Autumnal scent but it is so refreshingly beautiful.
I picked up the book The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant last September. It was an incredibly enriching experience reading this, since it is in an autobiographical format, with the protagonist recalling her life story for her grand daughter in the most honest and telling way. There is so much wisdom that's passed on, that I feel like this is a must read for any woman, or human, even.
My favorite beauty product has definitely been the nude lip liner by Lord & Berry. It was a travel liner that was a part of an offer from Cult Beauty. I definitely overuse my Blackcherry by Revlon especially during autumnal nights which is a dark berry-wine color. So to balance that, I love using a more wearable nude/ natural shade especially during day. This is the one that I have been going back to over and over during the past month.
I certainly need to upgrade my eye makeup so if you have any recommendations, do let me know in a comment down below along with your October Favorites.
Shop This Post:
The Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution by The Body Shop
3 in 1 Wash Scrub and Mask by The Body Shop
Pink Lotus Almond Intensive Handcream by Spa Ceylon
Gardenia Scented Candle from Celestine Candle Company
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
Nude Lip Liner by Lord & Berry
Thank you for reading,
Much love
A year ago in October I happened to be at Odel and I saw the new The Body Shop outlet there. I couldn't help myself so I happened to pick up a shower gel, to test the waters. Having not tried anything by them I was both intrigued and curious to see what this brand had to offer to their Sri Lankan customers. Little did I know that this little product would ultimately create a deep craving for more of such quality skincare products by The Body Shop. Last month I was very kindly gifted their new additions to the Tea Tree Range. Needless to say I was glad to try these products out and review them for you.
I feel as though I need to put a disclaimer; while these products may have been offered to me, my review represents my experience with these products, the good and the bad, as it is.
The Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution
Priced at Rs. 4400
Claims:
A lightweight, pre-serum concentrate that combats blemishes and improves the overall condition of skin. After 4 weeks, skin looks and feels:
Purified
Clearer
Smoother
Healthier
Clarified
Mattified
Soothed, with reduced redness and imperfections
How to use:
After 2-3 drops onto fingertips and massage all over face. Apply morning and evening after cleansing and before your daily moisturiser.
Packaging:
The product is packaged in a deep green, modernized apothecary-esque glass bottle with a dropper to dispense the solution. On first glance it looks beautiful and luxurious. Since it is a glass bottle it isn't ideal for traveling.
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My experience:
The product itself is a clear liquid which is watery and very lightweight. I was almost too afraid to try it at first because I expected a thicker, more concentrated product. Instead I found this brilliant, non-greasy formula that is easy to distribute across the face and fast-absorbing. I used two-three drops and patted them on my blemishes and areas that had excess oil.
This product was so mild on my skin, I didn't experience any irritation or burning when I applied it on my face. What I noticed immediately was how it made my skin more mattified being true to its claims. Usually when skin care products bear the words 'mattified' I run in the opposite direction, because it means they strip off any moisture in the skin. However with this product I experienced my oily-combination skin becoming more mattified without completely drying up my face.
This product was so mild on my skin, I didn't experience any irritation or burning when I applied it on my face. What I noticed immediately was how it made my skin more mattified being true to its claims. Usually when skin care products bear the words 'mattified' I run in the opposite direction, because it means they strip off any moisture in the skin. However with this product I experienced my oily-combination skin becoming more mattified without completely drying up my face.
Three or four days into it, I didn't experience a lot of clearing of my blemishes, so I was like 'meh'. I kept on using the product regardless because they did recommend using it continuously for 4 weeks to see the best results. The second week of using it is when I saw the most changes (which now that I read the box as I write this review is true to it's claims of improving appearance of skin after 7 days). I noticed that my blemishes were getting lighter especially the more prominent blemishes on my chin, which have annoyed me forever.
Having completed four weeks, I'm so so glad I kept on using the product because I LOVE the way my skin looks now. It cleared the darkened blemishes and my skin looks so much more brighter and healthier. I haven't used any other new product other than these two for the past four weeks, so there's nothing else to attribute the change to. I am a person who finds it so difficult to stick to a routine even when it comes to skin care, so using this religiously is proof enough to attest to how good this product is.
Having completed four weeks, I'm so so glad I kept on using the product because I LOVE the way my skin looks now. It cleared the darkened blemishes and my skin looks so much more brighter and healthier. I haven't used any other new product other than these two for the past four weeks, so there's nothing else to attribute the change to. I am a person who finds it so difficult to stick to a routine even when it comes to skin care, so using this religiously is proof enough to attest to how good this product is.
3 in 1 Wash Scrub and Mask
Priced at Rs. 3400
Claims:
A 3-in-1 product which can be used as a wash, a scrub or a mask to combat blemishes and excess oil.:
When used as a wash, the foaming clay removes impurities and excess oil
As a scrub, the exfoliants unclog pores, smooth skin’s surface and reduce the appearance of blackheads
When applied as a mask, the drying clay reduces blackheads and shine, deeply cleanses, mattifies and tightens pores
How to use:
1. As a wash: Wet face with lukewarm water. Apply to the face in circular motions until the mud foams. Then rinse off. Can be used daily.
2. As a scrub: Massage gently onto damp skin in circular motions. Focus on the T-zone. Add more water until the mud foams, then rinse off. Can be used 2-3 times per week.
3. As a mask: Apply thin layer to dry face, avoiding the eye area. Leave for 5-10 minutes. Then add water until the mud foams, and rinse off. Can be used 1-2 times per week.
Packaging:
The product is packaged in a sleek dark green matte tube with a black lid. I prefer this tube packaging over a pot because I find that masks that come in a pot often dry out quickly.
My experience:
Who doesn't love a good multi-tasker right? Products like these which can act as multi-taskers in a beauty regime, not only saves space on my vanity but also on my carry-on for traveling. This product has a strong scent but thankfully it doesn't linger for too long. The consistency of the product is thick and had granules for exfoliation.
Since everyone is getting into face masks, I tried this product as a mask first. I was worried about the Kaolin clay in this product as my skin didn't react so well, to the one of the Kaolin masks I had used before. I'm glad this product didn't cause any irritation or weird bumps on my face. In my experience, applying a thick layer results in the product not drying out the way a mask normally does, so a thin layer does the trick. The mask dries down within 3-4 minutes and I left it on for 10 minutes as recommended. On first try, I could definitely tell that my skin was instantly mattified, living up to its claims. I felt like my face was very clean after using it and that it certainly tightened my pores, which is an added advantage.
As a scrub I used it as recommended on my damp skin. As a general practice, I don't use a scrub more than once a week, but this was gentle enough to use it twice or thrice. Especially after a long day of traveling, I love using this product before bed time, so that it unclogs my pores and leaves my skin feeling smoother and purified. There was no greasy residue left on my face by the time I was done scrubbing. Overall I love this product as a scrub.
Since I had a lot of weddings to attend the past month, it meant that my face was going to be covered with heavy coverage foundation more often than not. I usually use face wipes to remove my makeup, which of course isn't ideal. Often enough heavy coverage foundation results in rapid breakouts on my face the day after application and I have to wait til my skin condition gets better to cake my face again. As an avid makeup fan this is the most annoying thing to happen. I have been using this product as a scrub and mask and for the longest time didn't have much use for it as a face wash, other than to use it on a daily basis. It was out of curiosity that I decided to try it to remove the excess makeup on my face. Of course I used facial wipes before hand to take off the majority of the makeup (I do NOT recommend using this product on the face directly as a makeup remover). I found that my breakouts had significantly decreased. This is not to say that I don't have breakouts anymore and my skin looks flawless. What I mean, is that I haven't seen results this great with any other face wash or cleanser I have used.
Do I recommend the products?:
Initially I was prepared to recommend purchasing the anti-imperfection solution, because I for one, am obsessed with it. It has cleared my blemishes like no other product has and I hope they never ever discontinue this product. But after having tried out both products thoroughly, I have to recommend both because these are just #SquadGoals. These two products are for those of you who have Oily/ Combination skin. Especially for those of you who are prepared to bid farewell to blemishes. The Body Shop has samples of the wash.scrub.mask. if you want to test it before investing in it.
For more Info check out:
The Body Shop FaceBook Page
Shop This Post:
The Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution
3 in 1 Wash Scrub and Mask
Let me know what you think of these products if you've tried them in a comment down below.
Thank you for reading,
Much love
2. As a scrub: Massage gently onto damp skin in circular motions. Focus on the T-zone. Add more water until the mud foams, then rinse off. Can be used 2-3 times per week.
3. As a mask: Apply thin layer to dry face, avoiding the eye area. Leave for 5-10 minutes. Then add water until the mud foams, and rinse off. Can be used 1-2 times per week.
Packaging:
The product is packaged in a sleek dark green matte tube with a black lid. I prefer this tube packaging over a pot because I find that masks that come in a pot often dry out quickly.
My experience:
Who doesn't love a good multi-tasker right? Products like these which can act as multi-taskers in a beauty regime, not only saves space on my vanity but also on my carry-on for traveling. This product has a strong scent but thankfully it doesn't linger for too long. The consistency of the product is thick and had granules for exfoliation.
Since everyone is getting into face masks, I tried this product as a mask first. I was worried about the Kaolin clay in this product as my skin didn't react so well, to the one of the Kaolin masks I had used before. I'm glad this product didn't cause any irritation or weird bumps on my face. In my experience, applying a thick layer results in the product not drying out the way a mask normally does, so a thin layer does the trick. The mask dries down within 3-4 minutes and I left it on for 10 minutes as recommended. On first try, I could definitely tell that my skin was instantly mattified, living up to its claims. I felt like my face was very clean after using it and that it certainly tightened my pores, which is an added advantage.
As a scrub I used it as recommended on my damp skin. As a general practice, I don't use a scrub more than once a week, but this was gentle enough to use it twice or thrice. Especially after a long day of traveling, I love using this product before bed time, so that it unclogs my pores and leaves my skin feeling smoother and purified. There was no greasy residue left on my face by the time I was done scrubbing. Overall I love this product as a scrub.
Since I had a lot of weddings to attend the past month, it meant that my face was going to be covered with heavy coverage foundation more often than not. I usually use face wipes to remove my makeup, which of course isn't ideal. Often enough heavy coverage foundation results in rapid breakouts on my face the day after application and I have to wait til my skin condition gets better to cake my face again. As an avid makeup fan this is the most annoying thing to happen. I have been using this product as a scrub and mask and for the longest time didn't have much use for it as a face wash, other than to use it on a daily basis. It was out of curiosity that I decided to try it to remove the excess makeup on my face. Of course I used facial wipes before hand to take off the majority of the makeup (I do NOT recommend using this product on the face directly as a makeup remover). I found that my breakouts had significantly decreased. This is not to say that I don't have breakouts anymore and my skin looks flawless. What I mean, is that I haven't seen results this great with any other face wash or cleanser I have used.
Do I recommend the products?:
Initially I was prepared to recommend purchasing the anti-imperfection solution, because I for one, am obsessed with it. It has cleared my blemishes like no other product has and I hope they never ever discontinue this product. But after having tried out both products thoroughly, I have to recommend both because these are just #SquadGoals. These two products are for those of you who have Oily/ Combination skin. Especially for those of you who are prepared to bid farewell to blemishes. The Body Shop has samples of the wash.scrub.mask. if you want to test it before investing in it.
For more Info check out:
The Body Shop FaceBook Page
Shop This Post:
The Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution
3 in 1 Wash Scrub and Mask
Let me know what you think of these products if you've tried them in a comment down below.
Thank you for reading,
Much love
There's only six more weeks til Christmas, SIX, can you believe that? This is my favorite time of the year and you can be assured that I'll be rocking a red lip for a good portion of that time. Obviously red lips are not limited to the festive season. I mean you could wear it in your sleep if that's what your heart desires (I do feel sorry for your pillowcases, but do whatever makes you happy, right?). Red lips are the epitome of confidence, charisma, fearlessness, sophistication and grace. Even applying red lipstick would make you feel empowered. So I thought I will share with you three tips to rock a red lip this season.
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| L-R: L.A.Girl Matte Flat Pigment Gloss in Secret, Illamasqua Lip Lure in Vrtue, Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Kiss of Life, Rimmel The Only One Lipstick in One of a Kind and Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Standout Remarquable |
1. Choose the tone
The first tip is obviously the choice of red for your lipsticks. There are a substantial variety of shades of red, blue-reds, brick-reds, orange-reds, and each and every one varying in terms of their underlying tones, cool, neutral, warm, you get the idea. So make sure you pick something you like but also that which flatters the tone of your skin. I personally prefer darker and deeper shades of red with blue-purple undertones. Refer this chart by Illamsqua to pick your perfect red.2. Always use lip liner
With darker colors like reds and burgundies, you've always got to use a lip liner, even if you're an expert in applying your lipstick. Start with your cupid's bow and work your way out. Eventually I like to fill my lips with the liner to ensure that my lipstick lasts longer than usual. The best thing about owning a matching lip liner is that you can use that for touch-ups even after applying the lipstick. You can finally ditch the fear of losing your expensive lipstick, just like that!3. Pick the mattes
It's common knowledge by now that matte lipstick lasts the longest, so when choosing the finish of the lipstick, opting for a matte finish seems the smartest. While they may not be the most comfortable in terms of hydration or the lack thereof, they will last you throughout the entire day. Picked a satin finish? No worries, just dab some translucent powder on top and your lipstick is now instantly matte! |
| From Top to Bottom: Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Kiss of Life, Rimmel The Only One Lipstick in One of a Kind, Illamasqua Lip Lure in Virtue, L.A.Girl Matte Flat Pigment Gloss in Secret and Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Standout Remarquable |
Let me know in a comment down below.
Shop This Post
Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss - No. 111 Kiss of Life
Thank you so much for reading,
Much love,
I've been feeling quite spendthrift this year which stems from my urge to try out popular brands and products out of curiosity and to see whether they are worth the hefty price tags attached to them. A couple of months ago Beauty Bay had a sale which included some items from Illamasqua, a prominent brand in the cosmetics industry. So I bought the Illamasqua Lipstick in Shard (if you saw my Instagram story, you know what happened with that one) and their Lip Lure in the shade Virtue which I will review today. The original pricing of the Lip Lure is around $16 on
BeautyBay, whereas I got it on sale for $11.90. It is available in 10 different shades which includes a deep green and purple (perfect Halloween colors if you ask me).
Claims:
- Long lasting, color intense liquid lipstick with a beautiful, semi-gloss finish. Lip Lure in Virtue glides onto lips smoothly and provides comfortable, continuous wear.
- The slender shaped sponge applicator allows for precise application and its rich pigment provides ultimate color pay off.
Packaging:
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The lip lure is packaged in a sleek black tube bearing the logo of the brand (not visible at first glance) with the color indicated in the logo and at the bottom of the tube.
Instead of a traditional doe foot applicator this comes with a flat sponge applicator. The applicator is quite slender as claimed and helps apply the product with ease. While the color in the logo is a nice touch, to be frank I'm neither disappointed nor overwhelmed with this packaging.
Wear:
The product has a mixture of a floral-fruity scent which again is not for everyone, but I like it. The color Virtue is a bold strawberry red which has pink undertones. It has great pigmentation and one swipe is enough to cover the entire lips. The wand really helps in moving the product around with ease. While the formula is a lot thicker than the traditional gloss, it applies very smoothly, and is comfortable on the lips. It applies as a semi-gloss being true to its claims. It also isn't tacky unlike other glosses I've used in the past. It does not dry out my lips and remains as a stain on them even after most of the product is removed from the lips. On my lips it lasted about 5 to 6 hours and remained as a stain for another 2-3 hours.
What I didn't like about this product was the amount of transferring it did. Before I left the office I had a lot of cleaning up to do especially the glasses I sipped water out of. While the product may have transferred it took a while before the entire product disappeared from my lips, so I wouldn't complain too much. Also you would need to use a lip liner because the product can bleed outside the lines with time.
Would I recommend it?:
Despite the fact that it transferred, quite literally everywhere, it is an incredibly pigmented liquid lipstick in a gloss formula, which is rare to stumble upon. If you're up for the price tag, I would say go for it!
Let me know what you think of the Illamasqua Lip Lure in Virtue in a comment down below.
Shop this post:
Also available on BeautyBay
Thank you for reading,
Much love,
