Summer Essentials in the Desert

The scorching heat is here and unfortunately it comes along with the uber-frequent sandstorm in Riyadh. Hello weather? We're a lil fed-up of dusting twice or thrice a day here. Can we move on now please?

So how are you all doing my lovelies? Summer used to be my favorite season, that was when I had access to the gorgeous blue beaches, lots of super fun activities and yummy food back in my country. Then it all changed when I moved here in Riyadh...Well, it's really not that bad actually...if you love the 40+°C temperature during the day and the lack of beaches(or proper waterparks), or the fact that the only enjoyable time to spend the day (and night:D) here is to go to the mall (bet my hubby wouldn't agree though hahaha). Parks do get crowded at times and it's a little boring to go to the same old places over and over again, especially if you have to resort to nagging your husband to take you here and there just because women are not allowed to drive (and in my case, because I'm too paranoid to travel by taxi hahaha).

Ok enough of my whining and let's go back to the topic. Here are my  summer essentials to "glamorously" survive summer in the desert.

Make-up

1) MAC Moisture Tint
Wearing foundation can be a bit too much in sweltering temperatures. Our skin tend to sweat more, oil can easily clog the pores and on top of that, wearing foundation on a very warm day can really make you feel uncomfortable. A good alternative to achieve that flawless looking skin minus the heaviness of foundation is to opt for tinted moisturisers. These are "hybrid" products that are designed to keep the skin hydrated with lots of goody stuff while giving ample amount of coverage for that natural, healthy glow for summer.

2) MAC Blot Powder
This a brilliant product for touchups. It absorbs oil without leaving any gunky residue on the skin. It also sets foundation/tinted moisturiser very nicely.

3) Dior Shimmer Powder
Summer is all about having a healthy, sunkissed glow to the skin and this powder does just that! It is a beautiful peachy-coral highlighter that is very finely-milled. It delivers just the right amount of shimmer to the skin. It will make you look like a total beach goddess:)

4) MAC Brow Pencil
It gives me natural-looking arches in a jiffy. You don't need to have a very steady hand in order to draw those gorgeous brows. Just follow the shape of your brow, apply the pencil in a soft feathery-stroke where the hair is sparse and you're good to go.

5) Carmex lip balm
Finally found it at last in Tamimi Supermarket:) This lip balm takes care of all the dryness and flakiness in no time.

6) Revlon Just Bitten
My newest favourite lip product. You can read my review here.

7) Mascara

Accessories

8) Sunglasses
This is a definite must-have anytime, anywhere whenever you go out under the sun. Sunglasses are more than just a fashion accessory, they protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them from harmful UV rays to prevent premature aging aka wrinkles and pigmentation.

9) Cotton scarf
Cotton scarves/stoles/bandanas, however you call them are a great way to cover your head and hair without making you feel like you are having a sauna bath. Cotton is a good fabric choice because it is lightweight and absorbs perspiration in no time. It also comes in so many beautiful colours and prints that can totally make your outfit stand out.

10) chunky earrings and leather
It's really not a good idea to wear plenty of jewelries in summer because accessories especially metals touching the skin can cause irritation and discomfort when mixed with sweat. A pair of chunky earrings though are just perfect enough to make your look a lot more interesting. Leather accessories like armbands or  bracelets are also a good choice because they don't stick on the skin.

11) Comfy footwear
Shoes, sandals, flip flops and wedges which allow air to circulate are your feet's bestfriend on a hot day especially when you're running an errand. Reserve those precious heels for a night-out or for a special occasion and your sneakers when working out.

12) Lightweight and colourful tote/satchel
And of course, my must-have list won't be complete without a bag:)). A tote that is big enough to carry your essentials and doesn't give your arm a workout (who needs the extra sweat anyway when you're not in the gym?) is the best companion. A satchel on the other hand is great if you only need to carry a couple of items like a phone and your wallet.

Others
13) lots and lots of facial wipes/wet wipes
14) hand cream
15) hair serum
16) sunblock
17) perfume

And that's it! I hope you all  have a fun and wonderful summer:) Enjoy! See ya<3

Purple Glam Eye Make-up Tutorial

How are you all doing my lovelies? I have prepared another tutorial for you, it is a party wear eye make-up which is flattering on most skintones and eye colour. If you want to learn how to do it, please continue reading.

Things I used:

UDPP
Urban Decay Fishnet e/s
Urban Decay Ransom e/s
MAC Wild Wisteria e/s
MAC Graphic garden e/s
MAC Vanilla pigment
L'oreal Carbon Black Intense Liner
UD 24/7 Glide on Pencil in zero
Diorshow Mascara

Steps:
1. Apply UDPP on the entire lid and on the lower lid

 2. Using a bullet brush, apply a black/deep grey eyeshadow (MAC graphic garden) on the outer V of the eye.

3. Use a fluffier brush to blend out the colour but keep it within the crease area.

 4. Apply a purplish pink eyeshadow (UD fishnet) all over the lid.

5. Apply a frosty purple e/s (MAC wisteria) on the inner lid.

6. Apply the same frosty purple on the inner lower lash line.

7. Using a smaller brush, apply the black/grey e/s on the outer lower lash line.

8. Apply a frost shade (MAC Vanilla Pigment) on the inner corner.

9. Use a deep purple e/s (UD Ransom) on the crease and blend.

10. Apply a frost shade (MAC Vanilla pigment) on the brow bone.

 11. Line your upper lashes and lower lash line then apply mascara.

Hope you liked it! See ya<3

How to lose 10 pounds in 10 minutes(or less)!

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing good...I know some of you are very excited and maybe many (or actually MOST) are skeptical about the title of this tutorial. Well, yes indeed, this tutorial will teach you how to lose 10 pounds BUT the result won't appear on the scale. Those pesky extra baggage will still be there, we will just hide them using make-up and the outcome will be visible on your face instantly:)

I thought this is the best time for me to do this tutorial since I badly need some toning up (at least on my face for now:D). I am 30lbs above my usual weight and all those extra calories are on my face for everyone to see hahaha...My face is a cross between a round and a rectangular shape that even a single pound of extra weight is immediately noticeable. This trick really helps me a lot and looks especially awesome in pictures. 

This make-up technique is called contouring and highlighting. It involves using a darker shade( matte usually) than your skintone to create an illusion of depth and a lighter shade to make a certain feature more prominent. By using a darker shade under the cheek bones, we create a shadow making the face look slimmer and gaunt (hmmmm, gaunt in a nice way:D). The lighter shade is applied just above the apple of the cheeks to create fullness, thus creating an appearance of "high" cheek bones. This lighter shade is also applied on top of the forehead, the bridge of the nose,and  the cupid's bow to highlight them while the darker shade is also applied on the hairline, the temple and under the jawbones to complete the contouring part. These optical illusions combined together will make the face appear slimmer. But be warned that you should use  a very light hand while doing it because you could literally end up looking like Frankentein's monster:))

If you want to learn more about contouring and highlighting, follow the steps below, but before that, here are the things that you will need:

1) a matte powder/cream or bronzer that is one or two shades darker than your skin tone (MUFE Contour Kit)

2) a highlighter (Dior Shimmer Powder)
3) any contour brush (you can choose from any of the brushes above)
4) any fluffy/powder brush for blending

Steps:
1) Apply the darker shade just below the cheekbones(always tap off the excess powder on the brush). If you have trouble locating this area, make a fishy face by sucking in your cheeks as much as you can, the hollowed part is where you should apply the powder. Make sure you start from the outer part of your face near the ears and pull the brush down towards the corner of the lips. Use your eyeball as a guide and stop where it is when you're looking straight at the mirror.

 2) Pick up more powder and apply it on your temple and hairline.

3) Apply it on your jawline too and under the chin.

4) Now wipe your brush and add the highlighter. Apply it on top of your cheeks until just below the outer corner of the eye. Apply it lightly on your forehead, on top of the nose and the cupid's bow if you want.

5. Apply your favourite blusher on the apple of your cheeks and make sure you blend the powders together lightly with a fluffy brush. I used MAC Dollymix Blusher.

And here's the final result:

                             Before                                    w/ contour & highlight

with contour, highlight and blush

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial:) If you have any question/suggestion, please drop me a line on the comment box below. See ya<3

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Review

I was perusing the aisles at the pharmacy a few days ago when this newest lip product by Revlon caught my attention. It looks like a crayon and it reminded me of Clinique's Chubby stick which I've been lemming to try for the longest time now. I swatched the samples they had and found this particular shade, Romantic, the most promising among the 6 or 7 available (they did not have all the 12 shades). So I took this baby home along with the other skincare staples and a stack of medicines:)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (mouthful eh?), as the name implies, is designed to moisturise and nourish the lips while giving it a long lasting flush of colour. I find that it keeps the lips softer and smoother just like any balm. The peppermint flavor infused in this product gives a very nice, cool and tingly effect after application but the sensation doesn't last very long. I find that it is more of a stain than a balm, because the colour lasts for a quite a while but the moisturising benefit fades after 2 or 3 hours.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic

Romantic is a sheer berry red shade. It looks like a strong red at first glance but it applies quite sheerly probably because this product has a gel-like texture. I had to swipe it three times on my lips to achieve this colour. But the good thing is, it didn't feel like I was putting on so much product even after layering it. It felt really nice and the colour lasted for at least 6-8 hours.

My verdict? Definitely a must-have for me! 

This product is for you if: 

1) you want just a tinge of colour on your lips that doesn't fade quickly

2) you love balms

3) you can't stand wearing lipstick

 You might not like it if:

1) you can't stand sheer lip product  

2) you need a very moisturising balm for very dry, chapped lips

I can't wait to try the other shades from this line:) And for only 62SR, it is a good bargain! Stay tuned for more reviews and tutorials....See ya<3

Red(dish) Lipstick Collection

Hello my lovelies! How are you all doing? While I was doing some changes in my blog, I noticed that many of you liked the tutorial about how to apply red lipstick (if you missed it, you can read it here). A pair of red lips is a timeless, classic accessory that can instantly give glow to the face. But some women are very terrified of the bold (aka bloody/vampiric) pout that they instantly shy away from wearing reds. There are so many hues of red that are very flattering without making you look like you just shared a meal with Count Dracula:))

Here are the red and red-based lipsticks in my collection so those who are looking for a gorgeous, not-so-in-your-face reds can have an idea of which one to choose.

R-L ( Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Candy Apple,  MAC Dubonnet, MAC Ruby Woo,
YSL Rouge Volupte no. 17, YSL Sheer Candy no.6, Chanel Rouge Allure Laque 79)

R-L ( Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Candy Apple,  MAC Dubonnet, MAC Ruby Woo,
YSL Rouge Volupte no. 17, YSL Sheer Candy no.6, Chanel Rouge Allure Laque 79)

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Candy Apple

It is a semi-sheer berry red with a tinge of pink that goes on smoothly.

MAC Dubonnet

Aside from its cumbersome pronunciation (it's supposed to be pronounced as doo-bow-nay:D), this beautiful, deep, warm berry red is one of the most popular shades from MAC. It applies opaque, smooth and is semi-matte. It is one of those shades that will truly make heads turn. I always get asked which lipstick am I wearing whenever I use this baby.

MAC Ruby Woo

Another best-seller from MAC, Ruby Woo is described as a retro red. It is a favourite item among make-up artists for pinup looks and old hollywood glamour pictorials. It is a brick red which goes super matte and opaque. It can be a bit difficult to work with because its formula is on the drier side. A gloss on top and of course, moisturising your lips before you apply it will take care of that problem though. 

YSL Rouge Volupte no.17

A gorgeous color with a superb formula. It is one of my most prized lipsticks. I am totally in love with it. It is a true red that applies buttery smooth and very opaque. This one makes me feel like a diva:)

YSL Sheer Candy in no.6

This berry red shade is more like a gloss than a true lipstick. It applies semi-sheer with lots of sheen. It is very moisturising.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque no.79

It is a gloss-type lipstick which goes on very opaque. It is a muted coral-red with a bit of shimmer.

So there you go, you don't have to use a blood-red lipstick if you are not comfortable with it. You can still look pretty in red using different shades and finishes. For starters, using berry reds that apply sheer is the best way to go. As for those who want to unleash the inner diva in them, go ahead and dress those pouts with a swipe of a true red shade:) Just remember to keep the rest of your face toned down whenever you use a bright red shade on your lips.

I hope you liked this post:) See ya<3

What's in my Bag

Hello everyone! Surprise, surprise:) I am back after a year-long hiatus, errrrrr more than a year actually. A lot of things happened and I got so busy that blogging took a backseat for a while. But now I am here and I will be posting regularly again just like old times. So as a comeback post, I would like to talk about the two things I am very crazy about: make-up and bag. Well, make-up, you know it already. It is what inspired me to create this blog. I love trying new products and of course, I love the way it can enhance the way I look. The second thing is bag. I am a self-confessed bag addict and I just go gaga whenever a bag topic is opened and my hubby gets scared hahaha. I don't own a fortune of bags but I'm totally obsessed with the small collection I have.

Ok, enough of the introduction. Yep, yep that was only an intro:)) The one bag that I carry almost everyday since I got it is my small Longchamp Le Pliage Tote in black. This is a very versatile bag and it may not look so glamorous, but it is a very practical companion. I initially thought of using it as a diaper bag, but the moment I unpacked it, I couldn't resist toting it around anymore. It is lightweight, very easy to maintain and can carry a whole lot of stuff so don't be fooled by its size. It is also very portable, it can be folded neatly so it is perfect for traveling.

What's Inside my Le Pliage Tote?

These are the things I carry inside this bag everyday.

Coach Wallet, a Carolina Herrera GWP bag that I use as an organiser, hand sanitizer, L'Occitane shea butter hand cream and foot cream, facial tissue, wet wipes, a pen, my phones,chewing gum, my sunnies, my son's sunnies and a La senza make-up bag...

Inside the La Senza makeup bag: MAC Studio Fix Powder, MAC 109 and 182 brushes, YSL mascara, MAC dainty blusher, YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick, MAC See Sheer lipstick, Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Candy Apple, L'Occitane lip balm, Clinique Air Brush concealer, Dior lip liner, MUFE Aqua Eyes Pencil in 23L

I do toss in a palette of eyeshadows and a perfume from time to time or whenever I get dolled up for an occasion. Oh, and I always keep a bar of chocolate or a pack of biscuits to counter sudden hunger attacks while on the go:)

I hope you enjoyed reading this post and if you have a blog, please do a What's in my Bag post too or mention them in the comments section. It is always fun to see what others are carrying in their bags hahaha:)) Have a nice day and stay tuned for more. See ya<3