Shop This Post:

ASOSDESIGN double breasted mini skirt in blue stripe with buttons ($47.37)

ASOSDESIGN Palm Leaf Stud Earrings ($6.32)

BoohooRose Print Tie Waist Ruffle Dress ($25.27)

ASOSFAYLA Tie Leg Plaited Flat Sandals ($18.95)

Thank you for reading!
Much Love,

Disclaimer: I know that this post will seem like an ad for The Body Shop, but it really is not. So I will mention the products that I bought myself separately from the ones that were given to me at their launch events. This is in no way to brag, but to remain transparent in the eyes of all of you, my loyal readers.

 Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo by The Body Shop

I have been using this shampoo since the beginning of this year. I bought this personally after seeing a lot of bloggers raving about how great it is as an anti-dandruff shampoo. It has a strong and sharp ginger scent, which I like (especially since I can detect it when my brother steals it). In my mind, it intensifies the 'fresh out of the shower' feeling. In terms of its application, it doesn't lather up like a lot of other shampoos, which means it does't leave any excess residue. The formula has a kind of a clear gel consistency as opposed to a cream, and it is not too runny nor too thick. I have noticed that it is really mild on the scalp and hasn't caused an irritation throughout the period I've been using it. One con I'd like to point out, is that this does make my hair feel drier than other shampoos, so I always make sure I condition afterwards.

British Rose Shower Gel by The Body Shop 

This post might as well be called a youtube instagram-made-me-buy-it, because this too was personally purchased. I've been wanting to try something from the British Rose range because the scent is often raved about, and I could definitely see why. love the subtle rose scent which is refreshing but not too strong. This will be a great gift for someone who does not enjoy sharply scented products. Besides the Wild Argan Oil one, I think this is a steady favorite. It gently cleanses and keeps my skin soft.

Head to Toe Baby Wash by Baby Cheramy

I know what you're thinking, "Is she for real?". Yes, yes I am. I am well aware that it is for babies and that I'm not one...most of the time. However, I love this product for night time showers. Whenever I've had a long day and all I can think about is my bed and sleeping my worries away, this is my go-to product. I think it has to do with the lavender scent (a personal favourite). It really does calm me down and provides gentle cleansing as claimed.

Banana Truly Nourishing Conditioner by The Body Shop 

This product was given to me at the most recent launch of The Body Shop's cruelty free program in Sri Lanka. Personally, I do not enjoy the banana smell; yes, it really does smell like ripe bananas. This is ideal for anyone who enjoys natural products with tropical/ fruity scents. However I can look past the smell, which doesn't linger for too long, because this makes my hair so soft. Usually I look for conditioners that de-tangle my hair, and give it shine. This, in addition to these qualities also softens my hair. It's not too heavy and doesn't make my hair feel greasy-major plus! 

Strawberry Body Sorbet by The Body Shop 

This is another product that was given to me along with the conditioner on the day of the launch. Who doesn't love strawberries, right? This product has a mild strawberry scent that is not too intense. I love using this right after I pop out of the shower. Branding it as a sorbet is smart, because that's exactly what the texture of the product feels like. It is very lightweight and absorbs really fast which is great because my skin doesn't feel tacky after application. I usually opt for their body butters to keep my skin hydrated for extended periods of time, but I prefer to apply them overnight. Since this is fast absorbing, I can rely on this to keep my skin hydrated particularly on rushed mornings. 

Huile Prodigieuse Multi-purpose Dry Oil by NUXE

This. I can't even begin to explain. I did not know I needed a dry oil in my life before this. The quality is assured as the NUXE products are made in France. Starting with the scent which is mild, feels very summery, tropical with hints of vanilla and fresh florals. It smells somewhat like jasmine although I can't find it listed on the website. I wish the scent stayed for a lot longer and I wish the scent was bottled up and sold as a perfume. I use it on the inside of my wrists, collarbones and my hair, to add shine. Although it is listed as a multi purpose oil for body, hair and face, I personally don't see myself applying this on my face, just FYI. It really does lock in the moisture and make my skin look fresh and radiant. The brand also has eco-friendly jars and lists several commitments to the environment on their website. The highs end there unfortunately because I found out that while they do not test on animals, they sell their products in a country which has mandatory animal testing.

Let me know if you have tried any of these products or if you would like for me to try a new product, in a comment down below.

Shop This Post:

Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo by The Body Shop

British Rose Shower Gel by The Body Shop

Head to Toe Baby Wash by Baby Cheramy

Banana Truly Nourishing Conditioner by The Body Shop 

Strawberry Body Sorbet by The Body Shop 

Huile Prodigieuse Multi-purpose Dry Oil by NUXE

Thank you so much for taking time to read this post,

Much Love, 

If there's one thing I love more than food, it is definitely lipsticks. While I always find excuses to expand my lipstick collection, and try out newer brands and shades, there are also a couple of lipsticks that are go-to ones. When in doubt, I'd happily go for any of the following to complete my look. Some are new favourites, some are old. So here are the 5 lipsticks that I reach out to the most.

1995 by Gerard Cosmetics

I'm sure you've heard enough about me rambling on about how great this lipstick is but it really ticks all the boxes for me in terms of its colour, pigmentation, lasting power and the fact that it is MATTE! It's amazing how no matter which new buy I'm excited about, I still feel the same excitement about this lippie. Besides it is cruelty-free! 

You can read my full review here: http://mandy-s-heart.blogspot.com/2016/05/review-gerard-cosmetics-lipstick-in-1995.html

Kiss of Life by Rimmel London

This is one of the first lipsticks I yearned for having seen multiple bloggers wearing it. I remember this being on my to-buy list when I first got my credit-card. So, I guess you could say it has a kind of a sentimental value attached to it. I love the colour which is a true red-not too cool toned nor is it completely warm-toned. It's just right! I've always loved Rimmel as a brand, their products are of great quality for a lesser price tag. Unfortunately, I've recently learned that they do test on animals 'when required by law'. 

Review: http://mandy-s-heart.blogspot.com/2015/07/review-rimmel-kate-moss-matte-lipstick.html

Seductive Sienna by Revlon

While it is branded as a matte, I find that on the lips this lipstick leaves a slight sheen. Nevertheless, it has become a steady go-to whenever I feel like going for a deep berry-brown colour. It is very opaque and creamy that makes it so much easier to apply. Revlon products are easy to get hold of here in Sri Lanka, however it is another brand that tests on animals. 

Candid by Makeup Geek

Can you believe it is only recently that I got hold of Makeup Geek products although I've been blogging for nearly 3 years now? I've noticed that whenever I'm done with my day time makeup my hand immediately reaches out for this lipstick. That is how I know it is a favourite. It is a pink-nude lipstick on my lips, certainly more mauve than it appears on the cap (on the packaging). Also, MakeupGeek is cruelty-free! 

Love Bug by ColourPop

The list of my go-to lipsticks would not be complete without a deep and dark shade. So I've added Love Bug which is a colour that I take comfort in especially since the Autumnal months (not in SL, obviously) are drawing closer. I feel like I really become alive this time of year. Jokes aside, I really enjoy how pigmented and long lasting the ultra matte lips by ColourPop are. I'm 100% sure that this rich mahogany shade will be repurchased over and over again. How great is it that ColourPop is cruelty-free too?!

Read more here: http://mandy-s-heart.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-colourpop-ultra-matte-lip-in.html

Let me know what your go-to lipsticks are in a comment down below. Also, if you know of a dupe for Seductive Sienna by Revlon, please let me know in a comment down below, or by a quick tweet to @sakuniamanda

Shop This Post:

1995 by Gerard Cosmetics 

Kiss of Life by Rimmel London

Seductive Sienna by Revlon

Candid by Makeup Geek

Love Bug by ColourPop

Thank you so much for reading,

Much Love,

It's no secret now that a fair share of my earnings every month are spent on makeup products. My face transforms into the heart-eyed emoji whenever I see new makeup. Hours and hours of online research and reading blog reviews paired with giant mugs of tea results in online shopping bags being filled in a matter of seconds.  So with much difficulty in choosing the products, I've listed my top 10 beauty purchases of 2016.

2. Rimmel Sculpting Kit in Golden Bronze

3. Lord & Berry Magic Brow in Brunette

4. Maybelline Colossal Kajal

5. Rimmel Extra Super Lash mascara

6. Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal (Opal Glow on the Go Collection)

7. Stila Perfect Me Perfect Hue palette in Medium/ Tan

8. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Nillionaire 

9. ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip in LoveBug

10. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Lipstick in Ultimate Beige

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

It's that time of the year when you realize how quickly time passes you by. I can't believe September has come to an end and we've got only 2 more months 'til Christmas. I feel like a five year old counting days, but then again who can possibly not be excited by the thought of Christmas. This is my favorite time of the year. The weather is slightly more chilly, although this year the rain has been more of a drizzle, than a proper downpour. It's also that time for long hot baths, steaming mugs of coffee and good books to read while listening to some old vinyl. 

Speaking of long hot baths, I have been loving the Olive Cream Body scrub by The Body Shop. I've mentioned their Satsuma Body Polish in my mid-year favorites which is more of an everyday scrub. This however is a more heavy duty, deep cleansing one. I do not use this everyday (nor do I recommend for daily use) but twice or thrice per week, I love pampering myself with a generous dollop of this scrub. The smell is subtle and earthy, obviously it smells of olives which makes me feel like I'm in a yard of olive trees in Italy. The scrub is quite thick and creamy in comparison to the body polish and has granules of ground olives for exfoliation. It leaves my skin feeling extra clean and smooth. All I can say is that "Olive this scrub". If you didn't already know, I live for puns. This is priced at Rs. 3150.

Last month I posted my Cult Beauty Haul which included a couple of items from Lord & Berry and there are two products that I instantly knew I was going to love. The first is the Magic Brow which I got in the shade Brunette. My brows have finally received proper treatment and I feel like I can finally use the hashtag #BrowsonFleek thanks to this product. It makes use of three colors to create a perfect natural shade that compliments my natural hair color.



The brunette pencil has a combination of black, chocolate brown and dirty blonde. The pencil is more towards the creamy side which makes it very easy to use. It has a fairly good lasting power as well. On one end is the product and on the other there is a spoolie which makes it the perfect travel companion. I got this for the price of 8.33 GBP. 

I take my lipsticks very seriously, so it is quite a big deal for me to say that this lipstick is up there on the list of my favorites among the Gerard Cosmetics 1995 and Rimmel The Only One Lipstick in One-of-a-kind. It is the Vogue Lipstick in the shade Smarten Nude. It is a semi-matte lipstick which is comfortable albeit a little drying on the lips. I don't mind that personally because it wears well throughout the day. In terms of color, it is a terracotta/ nude-brown shade that is perfect for autumn and for my skin tone, it works all year round. I had to dig it up from my handbag because it's practically been living there for the past month. This was 10.83 GBP (discounted price). 

As most of you may know, I am currently writing fashion/ beauty articles for the YOUth magazine by Sunday Island. So needless to say one of my favorite ways to spend my leisure the past month, was writing those articles and exerting my best effort to create informative and enjoyable content. In my second article I wrote about the latest trend that has been sweeping up on social media-the off shoulder trend. I particularly have been loving this off shoulder top in light blue with white stripes that I purchased from Odel. The sleeves can be rolled up and buttoned which adds to the details on the top. I've love pairing this with high-waisted jeans and sandals for a casual and laid back look.

Despite being nearly 22, I'll admit to loving young-adult novels, particularly those by John Green. Ever since I read The Fault in Our Stars I've been fanatically reading his books. Maybe it's because he grasps the complexities of young-adults so well or because he portrays the characters in the most unique, quirky and slightly eccentric ways that they no longer feel fictional. 

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” This quote by him perfectly sums up how I feel about his books. 


Will Grayson Will Grayson is one of my favorite books that I've read this month. At the heart of it, the book is about friendship. It's about recognizing and admitting the love that's reserved in friendships. It's time we all started appreciating our friends, the ones who stayed with us despite all the turbulence and ups and downs in life. 

That sums up my favorites for September. Let me know what your favorites are in a comment down below or tweet me  @sakuniamanda

Shop The Post:

Olive Cream Body scrub by The Body Shop 
Magic Brow by Lord & Berry

Hello everyone,

Hope you're all doing well. I have been spending the past couple of weeks reading for my exams and doing my research work. With all of that happening I feel like my little space here has been neglected. I've missed a lot of monthly favorites posts so I thought I'll write this one to sum it all up. So these are basically all of my favorites so far in this year.

My skin has a schedule of its own and goes from dry to oily and it is difficult to find that one product that I can reach out to at all times. So I can safely say that I've found that with this one here. Besides my skin feels smooth and hydrated for a lot longer than my regular moisturizers. These are priced at Rs. 3150 which is somewhat on the pricier side but I have to say it's so well worth it. If you do not like Moringa, you can check out some others including the Almond Body Butter and the Vitamin E Body Butter which piqued my interest as I was browsing through their website. 

Check out The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter here: 
http://www.thebodyshop.lk/products/home-bath--body-body-moisturisers/core---moringa/moringa-body-butter/pid-9860268.aspx

Another product by The Body Shop that I've been loving is the Satsuma body polish. I'm not someone who can manage with a scrub every single day but since this is very gentle, it is perfect for everyday use. The scent is very citrus-y which I did not like at first but really started to enjoy and I feel like this is a summer essential. I really love products with cooling properties for when the sun's out but this has been right next to a lime body wash and to be honest I've been reaching out for this a lot more than the lime one. It leaves my skin smooth and really soft and it has been the perfect accompaniment to my night showers. The price of this is Rs. 1900. 

Check out The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish here:
 http://www.thebodyshop.lk/products/home-body-care-bc---scrubs/core---satsuma/satsuma-body-polish/pid-10945458.aspx

As you know from my previous post, this is the product I've enjoyed most out of The Regimen Kit by Mario Badescu. I've been traveling more often than not for the past couple of months which means a lot more dirt and oils accumulating on the skin surface. Needless to say this is what brings out the nasty spots on the face. I've been using this as a cleanser every two days or so and it has left my skin clean and dry. As I mentioned on my post I really like how mild this is compared to some other cleansers available on the market which are too harsh to be used daily. On the days I feel worst about the condition of my skin, I make sure that I pair this with the Cucumber cleansing lotion which is a great toner as well.  The 8 oz bottle is $14.90 on BeautyBay.

Get the Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel here:
 http://www.beautybay.com/skincare/mariobadescu/enzymecleansinggel/
https://www.mariobadescu.com/enzyme-cleansing-gel

Moving on to makeup bits, I have two lip products which are my absolute favorites. I feel like I go through existential issues going through Beauty Bay and ASOS. As you may know already by my countless Instagram posts, I've been loving the Gerard Cosmetics lipstick in 1995. This lipstick is perfection in a tube. I mean from the packaging to the pigmentation, it is created in such a way that it would be an instant hit among many (and it is, judging from all the social media posts raving about it). This has become my 'Feel Good' lipstick. *SpongeBob voice* "I love it! I love it!"

You can read my full review here: 
http://mandy-s-heart.blogspot.com/2016/05/review-gerard-cosmetics-lipstick-in-1995.html

Get the Gerard Cosmetics lipstick in 1995 here: 

http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/gerardcosmetics/lipstick/
https://www.gerardcosmetics.com/lipstick.html

As you know I love a red lip as much as the next girl. I also happen to adore Rimmel products as I've stated here on my blog. For one thing, their products are so affordable and so well-made. Their lipsticks are among my favorites so I had to include one from them I have been wearing to office recently. Since the Gerard cosmetics is my 'feel good' lippie I have to call this my 'feel fierce' lippie. It is called one-of-a-kind from their new The Only One lipstick collection. It has that fruity berry smell, which again is not for everyone but it satisfies my inner child.

It is a gloriously dark red/ burgundy shade. I'm on the fence about the packaging of this one but everything else about it I love. I'm usually a matte girl because of the lasting power but I was so surprised how well this stayed on despite being a satin finish lipstick. I find that the formulation is significantly better than the Rimmel Nudes by Kate Moss I have which also has a satin finish. It is comfortable on the lips and dries to a beautiful satin finish without leaving my lips feeling like a desert. These retail for GBP 6.99.

Check out the Rimmel London The Only One Lipstick in One of a Kind on the Rimmel website: 
https://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/lips/the-only-1

or on ASOS: 
http://www.asos.com/rimmel-london/rimmel-london-the-only-one-lipstick/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6097925&clr=Itsakeeper200&SearchQuery=rimmel+the+only+one&SearchRedirect=true

Another favorite has been my Rimmel sculpting palette. This palette comes with three shades, one to be used as a highlighter and one a a contour and another as a blush color. I particularly am obsessed with the blush color which is a beautiful coral shade with gold running through it. I love using these shades because to me it is both a blush and a highlighter in one. Translation: I am lazy and I like products which are multi purpose. I find that this shade is particularly beautiful on olive/ tan-skin tones, although in all honesty, there aren't any rules with makeup and any shade can be worn by anyone with confidence. This was $7.91.

Check out the Rimmel London Sculpting Palette on the Rimmel website: 
https://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/face/kate-sculpting-palette

or on ASOS: 

http://www.asos.com/rimmel-london/rimmel-kate-sculpting-palette/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6456360&clr=Two&SearchQuery=rimmel+sculpting+palette&SearchRedirect=true

I haven't been wearing a lot of eye makeup recently because my right eye has started tearing whenever I do. I am starting to think it is because of my eye lash curler which I've had for what seems like an eternity. Tip: Always throw away expired makeup and makeup applicators. So this is why I only have one eye product I've been using over the last couple of months. It is my Bourjois clubbing eyeliner which has great pigmentation and is so creamy and easy to apply. Since I haven't been wearing mascara, I've been trying smoky eye looks for which this is perfect since it blends very easily to create the gradation needed for the perfect smoky eye. I find that it smudges easy if worn on its own, so I always set it with some black eye shadow.  The pricing of this one was $5.65.

Check out the Bourjois Contour Clubbing waterproof eyeliner on ASOS: 
http://www.asos.com/bourjois/bourjois-contour-clubbing-waterproof-eyeliner/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2846074&clr=Taupethetop&SearchQuery=bourjois+eyeliner&pgesize=5&pge=0&totalstyles=5&gridsize=3&gridrow=1&gridcolumn=1

Also how exciting is it that Cosmo is now in Sri Lanka. I have never been someone to buy fashion magazines as they release. I have stacks of old and worn out magazines from the 90's which I use for inspiration after hunting them down in the old bookstores in Maradana. However I have been a big fan of the magazine since its launch and I find their beauty and career features to be so inspiring. I love the advice columns and seeing the latest trends on the bold and bright pages. I find that Cosmo has got everything covered in terms of fashion/ beauty/ life and it's for anyone and everyone. The pricing which is Rs. 200 is very reasonable as well.

The magazines are available at Sarasavi Bookshop, Kelly Felder and Keells stores and you can also check it out on their website: 
http://cosmomag.lk/

That's all my favorites for now!