Hey everyone! Hope you've all been well. Today, I thought I will share with you my reflections and experiences from the month of April.

Avurudhu Celebrations

Kolam

 Vesak Celebrations

#Breathe
Reaching Goals

Thank you for reading!

Much love,

The L.A. Girl's HD Pro Concealer is one of those products that have received so much hype over social media. I've been wanting to pick this product up for the longest time, but always resisted because, a) I didn't know which shade to pick (since I have to purchase it online), and b) I didn't know whether it was actually worth the hype. I finally decided to cave in last year, and I purchased this alongside their BB Cream. More recently I've been an extra bit thankful for having this around, as it has helped me cover up some of the scars from having pox in February. While it obviously cannot conceal the texture/ the dents the scars have left, it has been really effective in concealing the blemishes left behind.

Price: $5 (around Rs. 780.00)

Price at BeautyBay (where I got mine from): $7.40 (around Rs. 1,154.00)

NET WT.: 0.25 Oz/ 8g

Shade Range:

Consists of 21 concealer shades

6 colour correctors

1 highlight shade

Claims:

L.A. Girl's HD Pro Concealer is crease-resistant with opaque coverage in a creamy, yet lightweight texture. 

The long-wearing formula camouflages darkness under the eyes, redness and skin imperfections. 

Provides complete, natural-looking coverage,evens skin tone, covers dark circles and minimizes fine lines around the eyes.

Packaging:

The product arrived in a transparent squeeze tube packaging with a black cap. The name of the product, brand and ingredients are listed on the product.

 It has a bristle-type end to disperse the product evenly on the skin.

Wear:

First things first, I had control over the amount of product dispensed which was good. The bristles on the end were helpful in dispersing the concealer evenly. This concealer is unscented. The shade Warm Honey was a good match for my skin tone.

Would I recommend it?

YES YES and YES! 

This is one product you need in your makeup bag. It's easy and convenient to use, great to travel with and provides the most natural looking coverage. All of this for $5; I mean what more could a girl ask for?

Shop This Post:

L.A. Girl  HD Pro Conceal

On BeautyBay

Do we even need a guide? As an introvert, one of my favourite things to do is staying at home. I am very much a home comforts person, and have stayed in without going out of my house for a week straight during university. Admittedly it could get boring (after the first five days), so you need to prepare beforehand. Here's a little guide for you to make the best out of your day or week at home.

Plan a Movie or TV Show Marathon

Plans didn't fall through? No worries. You can just hang out at home and plan a movie marathon. I personally love Harry Potter, and much to my parents' dismay I cannot stop after watching the first movie. So I tend to watch all eight of them over two days. Back when I was sick with the pox, I managed to watch all the seasons of Sex and the City. Who knew Carrie Bradshaw was so relatable (except for her love for going out)? Does that make me Aidan in bed with his KFC chicken bucket?

Enjoy Some TLC

Pampering yourself isn't selfish, it is a necessity! So light up some candles, and put on a face mask or two (because multi-masking is the new trend) and give yourself a mani-pedi. This will not only improve your appearance, but also will uplift your mood significantly. Well, it does that to me at least.

Drawing and Colouring

One of my drawings of George Harrison 😂

Did anyone else pick up adult colouring books at the Big Bad Wolf (BBW) Sale? It's such a beautiful process to colour in mandalas, and see it all come together as a composite image at the end. While it might seem like a childish activity (yes I've been told this multiple times) there's something so calming, and centering about engaging in art. Besides it's fun and creative, and certainly will appeal to the inner child in you.

Read


There's nothing more satisfying than curling up on the couch with a good book, and of course a cup of tea and cookies to accompany it. I'll admit there have been days when I've spent the entire day reading just because I am so invested in completing the entire book. I should perhaps add that my favourite genre being psychological thrillers might have something to do with this. Whichever book you choose, it's nice to be completely focused in on it.
 If you want to see some of my favourite books, I have already written a separate blog post on 5 books that shaped who I am.

Speaking of BBW, I hear it's coming up again in June so make sure you save up, just so you can set days aside to do nothing but read. Ah, bliss!


I hope you enjoyed reading this post. What are your favourite activities to engage in at home? Also if you have recipes for delicious baked goods, do let me know in a comment down below.

Thank you for reading!
Much Love,

You might have a friend or a family member experiencing anxiety, and often wondered what to say to them when they're experiencing heightened emotions, or panic attacks. Perhaps you might feel like you have said something wrong, and want to correct yourself for next time, but do not know how. Maybe it's to you that these things have been said. It's important to know that they are not coming from a bad place, but out of a misunderstanding about the nature of anxiety.

So here are three things to never say to someone with anxiety. I've listed what you could do or say instead, so that you can help better. 

Disclaimer:

Albeit the topic being serious, I added a few funny images/ statements just to ensure a smile, especially if you're having a hard time reading posts that hits the heart like this one.

Just Chill

Believe me, we wish we could 'just chill'. To give you a picture, it's like saying 'just chill' to someone standing next to a venomous cobra waiting to attack. It's impossible to relax given something that is deeply terrifying to someone. Sometimes it could be a visible source of threat like a cobra, and at other times it could be something not so apparent, like a fear of having a panic attack. The source of fear in someone's mind could be based on a bad experience in the past, such as a dreadful flight. Once on the plane, they might find it difficult to stay calm, and merely telling them to 'chill' would not help.

Instead you can facilitate them to stay calm by breathing. Individuals experiencing anxiety will likely take short quick breaths which only fasten the heartbeat, and increase blood pressure. These signs mimic a heart attack, which makes them only feel worse. So taking deep breaths with them, and gently guiding them to stay grounded will help them so much more than telling them to 'chill'.

Don't Think About It

Try not to think about a giant purple dinosaur who sings and dances.

Go on...

 There's no way you could not.

 The same goes for the source of anxiety. Telling them to try not think about it, only makes them think about it more. For the person experiencing anxiety, the image of the source of anxiety would be vivid. It's like someone who fears blood and injections imagining an inexperienced nurse (or Mr. Bean dressed as a nurse) having to draw blood from them, inserting the syringe several times in a smelly hospital room. Sure, some of these fears or situations might seem like the most unrealistic of scenarios to you, but remember that you can't stop their thought process by saying 'don't think about it'. Managing thoughts is something they have to do themselves.

Instead you can help them by giving them a distraction. It doesn't work all the time, but sometimes it does help. A great way to distract someone, is to enable them to picture their happy and safe place or by helping them with guided imagery. This is a technique used by psychologists to couple breathing with imagining being on a calming beach, or a morning trail in the forest. You will be able to find several imagery exercises online to help you with this.

It's All in Your Head

There is a certain truth to it, as it is our thoughts and emotions that are exacerbating the anxiety. However you ought to know that the experience of anxiety is very real. Just like you can't calibrate the amount of pain experienced by someone else, there's no way to determine how real the feelings or source of anxiety is. So doing something you can easily do like use an escalator, could make someone else feel incredibly anxious. In which case you can't tell them that it's all in their head and to "just use the freaking escalator".

Image from Google

Instead of wording it as 'it's all in your head', gently let them know that they are in control, and they can manage their anxiety. You will be most helpful if you could gradually encourage them to go out of their comfort zone, and tackle their anxiety. 

In reference to the previous example, you could help by explaining to them how the escalator works, that is when to get on and when to get off. Then proceed to take them up and down the escalator a few times whilst holding their hand or making sure that they feel safe. Next, you can gently allow them to use the escalator by themselves whilst you watch. This process gently facilitates managing those fears and sources of anxiety. 

One ridikulus way I deal with certain sources of anxiety, (partly because I love Harry Potter) is by imagining being in the Boggarts class and shifting a visible source of anxiety into something funny, like a tarantula on roller-skates, or a disco cockroach. It reminds me that there is a certain truth in what Lupin said to a wise Harry, "... what you fear most of all is — fear".

Hope this post helps you help someone else. Or if it's you experiencing these emotions, I hope this post helped you let someone else know, how to help you when needed most.

Let me know what has helped you manage anxiety in a comment down below.

Thank you so much for reading,

Much Love,

Price: $4.00 (roughly around Rs. 626) 

NET WT.: 1.5g (0.053 Oz)

Claims:



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.
Cruelty-Free

Packaging:



This came in a white cardboard packet with silver stars embossed in it, and the name of the brand stated on it. The pan itself was packed in a transparent cover and it had the name of the shade and the net weight stated on a sticker in the bottom.

Wear:



The shade itself is a gunmetal colour; silver and purple shimmers against a dark grey base. It is highly pigmented. It is better applied with fingers or with a damp brush as with any metallic shade. On its own, it still stands out.



In terms of application, it goes on smooth and it is easy to blend. I have noticed that there is fallout with this shade. This means that you have to complete the eye makeup before applying foundation. Since my skin type is combination, I found that over time this does transfer on to my crease. This can easily be corrected with an oil-free primer. In terms of lasting prowess, it stayed put for around 7 hours on my lids without a primer.

Would I recommend it?:



I would absolutely recommend it. Hopefully they will bring it back because its such a great eyeshadow for a smoky eye look.

Shop This Post:
ColourPop Pressed Powder Eyeshadow

So you've had a bad day...

First of all, I'm sorry you did. 

Life can be a little rough sometimes, and this is to remind you that it's okay or it will be okay. 

Bad days are rather a common experience. We all have them at some point, and you yourself might have experienced a couple in your life, and have gotten back up. But do you ever reflect on how you bounced back into life, or even how long you took? Upon looking back I've found three things that have helped me bounce back to my sunny self after having a bad day. I thought I will share them with you hoping they'll help you out as well.

Surround Yourself with Loved Ones

There's nothing better than venting to your mom about the day you've had over a good cup of tea. When you've had bad days you'll find yourself to be more inclined to cast yourself aside, and stay alone. What you don't realise is that this makes you feel more alone in your struggles and make you feel unworthy. So make sure you surround yourself with family or friends who are great listeners, and who can help you process your emotions. It's cathartic to talk about your experiences, and realise that you're not alone. For one thing, having these deep conversations will strengthen the relationships that you have. For another, they will remind you that you are loved and worthy no matter what, which is something you need to hear after a bad day. 

Don't Put Yourself Down

I am aware that this is the hardest possible thing to do. It's so easy to mutter 'FML' or put yourself down for something you did or did not do. It's that much tougher to admit that you did everything you could do, and that you're good enough. In hindsight you might wonder why you ever took a certain decision, or said something wrong at the time. It's necessary to remind yourself that you did what you could do at the time with the resources that you had. So all the what if 's and should have, could have, would have 's are not helpful now. Take time to process the events of the day, and analyse what went wrong, and figure ways in which you would not repeat the same events that brought about negativity to your life. 

Repeat if you must that,
you are human and therefore fallible; because you're human, you are valued, you are good enough, and you matter!

Gratitude

Recently I have started a happiness jar. There's more to follow on this, but for the moment let's just say I am really enjoying going through my day and recounting the things that made me smile and feel happy within. In doing so, I've felt immense gratitude for what I have in life. I've noticed a shift in my perspective from what is lacking or absent to what is present or is abundant in life. This is exactly what I need after a bad day; something to remind me that life is still pretty darn good. Even if you don't commit to this activity itself, it will be helpful to journal or write down things and people you are grateful for. You will notice a change, I assure you!

Hope you enjoyed reading this post. If you've been having a bad day, I hope this post offered you a little clarity, or prompted you to pick up the phone and call your mom or dad, or a friend to heal your heart. 

Don't forget that you'll get through this. You always do!

Take Care and Much Love,

Sihina Lowak- Clarence Wijewardena

Slow Hands- Niall Horan

Gypsy- Fleetwood Mac

I Want It That Way- Backstreet Boys

Call Out My Name- The Weeknd

At Last- Etta James

Imagine- John Lennon

A Head Full of Dreams- Coldplay

Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles

Breathe- Pink Floyd

What's on your Playlist for April? Let me know in a comment down below.

Thank you for checking out my blog!

Much Love,

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had lots of kiribath, and kevili. I set a record yesterday after having eaten 4 pani wallalu, 2 kokis, 1 thala kerali, and kiribath of course. Anyway, about this review, you all know how much I love deep and dark lipsticks, so I don't even have to tell you why I bought this. 

This lipstick is limited edition, and when I wrote this review it was available, but sadly it is not anymore. I will link the lippie pencil, if any of you would like to try out the colour.

NET WT: 3.2g (0.11oz)

Claims:

Packaging:

The liquid lipstick comes in a box which bears the ColourPop logo and the name of the product, with the name of the shade on the side. The product is packed in a clear tube with a silver cap. The products created in collaboration with Karrueche have a copper band on top of the tube, and it bears the name of the brand in copper as opposed to their typical holographic silver print. The name of the shade is clearly stated on the bottom. The applicator is your average, easy-to-use, doe-foot applicator.

Wear:

Rooch is indeed a deepened wine shade, that compliments tan skin tones so well. The pigmentation is excellent; that one swipe pigmentation we all crave. However you might want to use a lip liner to be more precise around the edges cause it is a dark lip colour.

The formula is true to its claims of being thin and lightweight, hence it glides with ease. It is fairly transfer proof (unless in touch with water/ liquids). It was really comfortable to wear, and I did not find it to be too drying or flaky when set.

 It lasted around 7 hours in general on my lips. Applied in the morning, it powered through a breakfast of sandwiches. I only noticed signs of fading on the inner parts of my lips after a lunch of rice, pol sambol, and dried fish. Re-application is not an issue with this.

Would I recommend it?:

A thousand percent YES! I think they've nailed the formula with this one. Deep and dark shades, especially reds are so hard to get right, and this one is absolutely perfect! I really do hope they bring this back.