Books This Week 13

Continuing with the fluff trend this week too. Simply unable to read regular books. Let's begin

The Power of Style- Bobbie Thomas

Another style book. The cover was so similar to Gretta Monahan's book that I thought it was the same. She divides the book into 2 parts- 'Change Starts Within' & 'Bringing the Inside Out'. I like the fact that she concentrates more on the internal part- encouraging you to discover your worth. Only after we have worked on these issues we can move to the second part. She teaches about skin tone & the colour that best suits us, how clothes should fit & what is missing in our wardrobes. The last part is shopping for the new you. LOVE!

Style on a Shoestring- Andy Paige

Yeah I'm on a style & fashion reading spree. This has a lot of great tips like buying darker, jewel- toned coloured clothes instead of pastels to make your clothes look more expensive. Another tip I loved was getting your clothes altered to fit better. She also gives a calendar with when to shop for what clothes- sadly this is applicable to U.S. only. What slightly irked me was the overly chirpy tone with a lot of 'woohoo' thrown in. Overall a good read.

Beauty Confidential- Nadine Haobsh

The only reason I picked up this book was because of the author's back story which was almost movie-like. A young beauty editor has just landed her dream job but before she can join, she is outed as the anonymous author of a tell all beauty blog. Her job offer is obviously retracted but as her blog garners a lot of hits, it's resulted in this book. Fab story but fab book? Not so much. There is nothing new here. For a more riveting read head over to her blog "Jolie in NYC".

Any interesting reads off late?

My Very Own Box - All About Eyes

Hi all, time for another My Very Own Box with the theme All About Eyes. My mascara finally finished & I will be proudly adding it to my list of empties. In honour of my very first makeup empties, this month's box will contain only eye products

Lakme Eyeconic Curling Mascara

INR 350 for 9 ml

I've consistently been using Maybelline mascaras ever since I started using mascaras 10 years back. I thought I would change things a bit this time. Yet to try this

Patanjali Drishti Eye Drops

INR 25 for 15 ml

I  have heard great things about these drops. The key ingredients are onion juice, ginger juice & lemon juice & I'm obviously terrified about using this. Will update when I do use it.

Music Flower Gel Eyeliner

INR 300 for 2 Eyeliners (Price varies across different websites)

Had read great reviews about these on pretty much every shopping website & was tempted to buy. You get 2 pots of gel liner- one black & one brown as well as 2 brushes- one push liner brush & one regular eyeliner brush. The liner applies smoothly, is decently pigmented & stays put till you take it off. The black is not jet black- it veers more towards grey but the brown is absolutely gorgeous. Good buy.

That's all for this month. Cheers.

Books This Week 12

Hi all, been reading only fluff off late. Somehow am not able to read anything substantial- just not in the mood. These are the books I've read last week

Style & The Successful Girl- Gretta Monahan

I used to enjoy watching Gretta on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style & was thrilled to pick this up. She divides dressing styles into 4 categories- weekend,  girly, sophisticated & sexy & we are supposed to pick the one we most feel is "me". As far as such style books go, this is one of the better ones. Good stuff.

Everything Eyes- Bobbie Brown

Lots of eye makeup tips & tricks make up this book. There is nothing new though. Also there is a special section for eyeglasses & the makeup you can do to highlight them more. I think this has only been added to promote Boobie's own new line of eyeglasses. Blatantly self promotional. You can easily pass this book.

Secret Model Beauty- Lindsay Lockwood

Another ho hum book. It offers nothing new & there are so many spelling mistakes (makes me wonder if it was edited at all). Repeated usage of "your" for "you're" & "pours" for "pores" really kills it for me. Stay away. You have been warned.

I'm in a reading rut. Please suggest some great books. Cheers.

January Empties

Hi all, time for another empties post. After all these months of doing empties posts, I seem to have made a small dent in my skincare stash but sadly, my makeup isn't going anywhere. I've hit pan on my compact 2 months back but it refuses to die! Anyway, let's see what I managed to finish last month

Sunsilk Jasmine Black Shampoo Sachet

INR 1 for 5.5 ml

I used this while travelling & was scared that I would have 0 empties this month. So I carried it back with me. Yes, I'm officially insane. Love Sunsilk shampoos, especially yellow & black variants. Will continue to buy them forever-they agree with my hair.

KLF Cocosoft Handmade Coconut Soap

INR 45 for 75 gm

Another month, another handmade soap. Like this even though it smells nothing like coconut. The soap has a very rustic feel to it & I love it to bits. Definitely repurchasing.

Sure Women Anti- Perspirant Roll- on

INR 45 for 25 ml

Another favorite. I won't be buying for a while as I'm trying to finish a few perfumes this year.

Patanjali Crack Heal Cream

INR 60 for 50 gm

Good, non- sticky, intensive cream. The smell is its undoing though. Might buy again next winter.

2 Shampoos & 1 Body Wash from the hotel's stash- This stash is steadily getting smaller. I'll be happy if it's completely gone.

Discards of this month- targeting all old, gloopy nail polishes. Throwing away all of them either because they are separating or the shade has significantly changed.

Tips & Toes Tulip- Beautiful pale pink with lavender undertones

Tips & Toes Dandelion- Used to be a bright, lively coral. Somehow the colour has changed in the past few months

Streetwear Tangerine- Love this orange-red colour on my feet

Unbranded Pale blue colour - Really like this colour- it's a cross between blue & green

Unranded Lavender colour- Another nice spring colour.

My mascara is almost empty. I hope to add it to my empties list next month. That will be my first makeup empties. Fingers crossed. Have you ever finished any makeup product?

Books This Week 11

Hello people. So many books, so little time. Feeling like I'll never finish all the books I want to read. Let's look at what I read last week

And The Mountains Echoed- Khaled Hosseini

This guy weaves magic with his books. As always, this book follows his pet theme- innocent children living idyllic lives before war(personal/actual) changes everything. Loved reading it.

Makeup Makeovers Beauty Bible- Robert Jones

Extremely detaied. Great for anyone starting out in makeup. Plus there are truckloads of before and after pictures.

Freakin' Fabulous On A Budget- Clinton Kelly

Good advice on decor, food & dressing- all on a budget. Enjoyed reading it.

Read any good books lately?

My Very Own Box- Let's Go Nuts About Coconuts

Hi all, I just got back from a holiday to the beaches & found my city in deep freeze mode. I'm really craving the coconutty smell of my sunscreen. What better way than to make a box out of it. My theme for this month's box - Let's Go Nuts About Coconuts.

KLF Nirmal Virgin Coconut Oil

INR 320 for 500 ml

I've been using this on my hair & skin. It's light in texture & gets absorbed quickly. Also it doesn't have the tell tale smell of coconut oil. LOVE!

Nivea Creme Coconut Cream Shower

INR 165 for 250 ml

I bought this thinking it would be like the Palmolive Crushed Coconut one. It doesn't smell anything like that- just vaguely coconutty. Don't particularly love it but its good enough for winters.

Indulekha Coconut Milk Shampoo

INR 135 for 100 ml

Yet to try. Have heard good things about this shampoo

KLF Cocosoft Handmade Coconut Soap

INR 45 for 75 gm

I have a thing for handmade soaps & keep buying when I find them. Love these soaps but again they smell nothing like coconut. It's a great fragrance actually,  just not what I had in mind.

Patanjali Coconut Hair Wash

INR 95 for 150 ml

This one's a star. It resembles conditioner in both look & feel but produces a small amount of lather. I use this when i can't oil my hair. My itchy scalp is soothed, hair is smooth & I don't even have to follow up with conditioner. Fabulous find.

That's all for this month. Cheers

December Empties

Empties!  I'm so obsessed with them that I check my product excel sheet multiple times a week. Let's start with last month's empties

Vaadi Herbals Lavender Anti- aging Spa Facial Kit

INR 275 for 70 gm

Love the smell but it seems to do precious little for my skin. No repurchase.

Lux Scarlet Blossom Body Wash

INR 125 for 240 ml

OMG i'm in  love with the smell & it cleanses well without drying. Obviously buying again

Vaadi Herbals Blueberry Facial Bar

INR 34 for 25 gm

These facial bars are a total disappointment. Just trying to finish the ones I've bought

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula

INR 700 for 200 gm

Love! This one was a life saver this winter. Still trying to find something that lives up to this body butter.

Vaadi Herbals Anti aging Cream

INR 55 for 30 gm

Super heavy cream for my oily skin. It sits like a heavy blanket. I only managed to finish this by mixing equal quantity of aloe vera gel. No way in hell.

Nature's Essence Bridal Hand Cream

INR 175 for 100 gm

This was part of a Manicure/Pedicure kit. The hand cream is great especially for dry hands. I might buy again

2 Bath Foams

Lest we forget,  I'm still steadily chipping away at my considerable hotel stash. Managed to finish 2 Body Washes this time.

Now for the decluttering bit

Parachute After shower Non- sticky Hair Cream

INR 40 for 50 gm

I confess, I did love this when I first got it but now, the masculine scent is getting on my nerves. It is still a good product but no repurchase.

Eyetex Dazzler Eyeliner

INR 35 for 6.5 ml

Mastering liquid liner is not on the cards for me. Also I have unevenly hooded eyes- liquid liner only seems to highlight this even more. No more liquid liner.

Maybelline Cranberry Cocktail Lipgloss

INR 250 for 6.8 ml

I have been steadily moving away from glosses from sometime. I would rather wear a red lipstick as a stain & top with clear gloss.

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Papaya

INR 475 for 5.9 ml

Beautiful colour but simply does not translate onto my lips & I do hate the huge applicator.  Also smelling a bit off.

We're done for this month. Any new beauty resolutions?