Sometimes You Just Need to be Out of Your Comfort Zone

Sometimes You Just Need to be Out of Your Comfort Zone

For the first time in what feels like a really long time, I finally felt like doing something different with my makeup. This morning I had to drop by university for a bit even though I'm done exams as of yesterday.. woohoo!! I decided I'd try to sport red lips because I know if I can't be brave enough to wear red lipstick to school when hardly anyone's around (since it's the last day of exams), I won't be able to do it during the regular school year either!

While getting dressed, it crossed my mind a few times that I should probably just wipe it off since it's too bold for school, especially since I was there at 11am. Wrong time, wrong place? Whatevs, I still did it.

[Click images to enlarge]

I look like I hardly have an upper lip, but it's just the angle that the pictures were taken in.

It's 5pm & I still have it on even though I feel like taking off all this makeup because I'm so tired. So much stuff to do today, tomorrow, & on the weekend too when all I feel like doing is taking a long, Lush bath. No worries though, it's staying on for the rest of the day when I'm out!

To balance out the bold lip, I went with a neutral eye. I applied the highlight & lid colour first, but thought it looked too shimmery & light, so I sorta blended it with my finger & added the darker eyeshadow on the outer corner of the eye.

Don't mind the messy eyebrows, I'm trying to grow them so that the ends are thicker & since university has been so busy, I haven't been taking care of them. & then there's that long, annoying eyebrow hair that never stays in place!

Products Used:

Face

• Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse in Pure Beige: Medium 2
  
• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Honey: Medium 3-4
• Annabelle Mineral Powder Bronzer in Terra (you can hardly see it in the pictures because it was so bright in my washroom & the camera washed it out)
  

Eyes

• Prestige Eyeshadow in Angel (highlight & tearduct)
  
• NYX Single Eyeshadow in Cotton Candy (all over eyelid)
  
• MAC Eyeshadow in Saddle (outer corner)
  
• MAC Penultimtate Eyeliner in Rapidblack
• Almay Triple Effect One Coat Nourishing Mascara in Black
• Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara (lower lashes)
  

Lips

• Bath & Body Works' Rose Salve
  
• MAC Lip Pencil in Subculture (because it matches my lips almost perfectly)
• Revlon Matte Lipstick in Fabulous Fig

What will my next bold look be? A recreation of Rihanna's oh-so-popular bold pink lip & blue+black winged eyeliner look? Perhaps. You'll just have to wait & see! ;)

♥ Saimese

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Coastal Scents 88 palettes: *NEW - Metal Mania* or Warm?

Coastal Scents 88 palettes: *NEW - Metal Mania* or Warm?

A week ago I was browsing through Coastal Scents' website & saw a new finished palette: 88 Metal Mania. This palette reminded me of the 88 Warm Palette. Only difference is that I never thought much of the 88 Warm Palette from looking at pictures of the palette. I thought the 88 Warm Palette had way too many light colours & too many browns, which didn't interest me at all. It seemed like a boring palette to me, to be honest.

Image from Coastal Scents' website

Fast forward to a week ago. When I saw the 88 Metal Mania Palette, I fell in love.
It has the right amount of highlight, gold, brown, black, green, purple/plum, red, & orange shades. When I do a neutral eye, there's this plum-brown eyeshadow that I usually grab instead of just a brown eyeshadow.
The 88 Metal Mania Palette doesn't have colours that are too bright, so they're great for everyday wear. But if you want to use this palette for a night-out look, there are enough colours to experiment with to pull off a smokey eye or some other non-neutral look as well!
Now even though I still want the 88 Piece Makeup Palette, I have my eye on the Metal Mania Palette as well.

Note: I do not own the palettes but I've heard rave reviews about the 88 Piece Makeup Palette & the 88 Warm Palette, seen swatches, & viewed videos in which the eyeshadows from these palettes have been used.

From looking at the pictures, which 88 palette do you prefer: the new Metal Mania or Warm?

♥ Saimese

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Pisces Horoscope Inspired Make-Up

Pisces Horoscope Inspired Make-Up

I haven't played with make-up in a really long time & after my exam on Friday, that's exactly what I did to help me relax. I made my first video tutorial, which is also my first video contest entry for a contest on YouTube. The aim of the contest was to do a look inspired by your horoscope. Since I'm a Pisces (February 26th), here's the look that I came up with.

[Click images to enlarge]

I love contests because not only are the prizes a good reason to enter but they also give you a theme and allow you to get creative. I know a lot of beauty bloggers say they don't have any inspirations, which is why they haven't posted any looks in a while. Contests give me that inspiration.

Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here:
(You can watch it in HD too!)
Warning: I added a song to the video as well

I never realized how much work it is to post a step-by-step video tutorial. I have gained so much appreciation for YouTube users who do that. I guess it would be easier to do a live video tutorial but I'm not ready for that just yet.

There's nothing that's over the top about this look (besides the double-winged eyeliner, I guess) but it gave me a reason to play with different shimmery colours in the 120 palette that I hadn't touched yet because I prefer matte eyeshadows. I quite liked the shimmery ones that I used though. Also, this was a good practice run to get back in to make-up mode, especially since spring & summer translate to tons of events that you'll be dressing up for.

Being at university, I don't put that much effort in to applying make-up & get stuck in a routine because I'm usually at school most of the time anyway so I couldn't be bothered. The sad thing about that is when you don't apply make-up for a while, you start losing that skill & one day when you decide to play with your eyeshadows again, you realize you're just not that good at it anymore. With my best friends wedding fast approaching on July 3rd (eeeek, SO excited!!) & the celebrations starting in June, you know I can't have rustic make-up skills. That's why I need to practice, practice, & practice! This was a good way for me to get started once again.

Here are a few of the pictures that are included in the video:

Yes, I know.. I really need to start doing make-up in the day time & taking pictures then because my old camera + make-up pictures at night = bright make-up not showing up as bright in pictures. When will I ever learn? Sigh.

Anyway, since that was my first video tutorial, I'd really appreciate your feedback. What did you like or dislike? Any tips? Let me know.

♥ Piscean

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Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion: Giveaway Winner + Discount Code

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion: Giveaway Winner + Discount Code

The contest is closed. The entries are checked. & the winner is selected.

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Which one of these participants was selected?To help make the selection easier I chose Random.org

& the winner is...

#17: TKOmulatta!

Congrats babes! I will be contacting you shortly & you'll have till Monday to reply.
IF the winner does not contact me by Monday evening, I will be picking another winner.

If you didn't win but wanted to try out the lotion or any other product from the site, use the following 20% off discount code during checkout: SAIMESE
The code is valid for 30 days starting today, so hurry!

Also, thank you to all my old & new followers, subscribers, Facebook fans, & Twitter followers for reading my blog! I know I haven't been posting much & to be honest, I wont be for the next week because of school work & exams. I will be back soon though.

Till then, stay fabulous xx

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2 days left to enter the Skin MD Natural giveaway

2 days left to enter the Skin MD Natural giveaway

Exactly 48 hours left to enter the Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion giveaway.

The deadline for this giveaway is Friday, April 9th at 12:00 am! Since this giveaway is open worldwide & different timings tend to screw people over, I have added a time widget below. The contest will end as soon as it says Apr-9-2010 Fri 00:00:00 AM.


Click here to read the review on the lotion.

Click here to check out the contest details.

Thanks to all of those who have already entered. Looking forward to receiving more entries!

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Deepak Perwani S/S 2010 Collection: Spotlight on Handbags

Deepak Perwani S/S 2010 Collection: Spotlight on Handbags

[Click images to enlarge]

Have you ever been to a desi (South Asian) wedding? If so, the first time around you might have been taken aback by the colourful wedding . If not, I'll have you know that rainbows ain't got nothing on the exhilarating colours you'll find there.

I thought I'd be used to seeing a mix of bold yet beautiful colours all combined in one beautiful outfit, but when I saw Deepak Perwani's Spring/Summer 2010 Collection, even I was taken aback! Just look at the few items from his collection below.

Even though I love some of the items from his collection, what caught my eye were the handbags! Colourful, fun, creative, mirror work, culture, style, & lots more.. what's not to love?

How lovely are the handbags? Seriously, I can't take my eyes off!The models had the right kinda attitude for wearing the collection down the runway. They're totally killing it & looks like they're enjoying every moment of it.
So who is Deepak Perwani? In all honesty, if you asked me this question yesterday I wouldn't know. Today, while browsing around for desi outfits, I came across some Pakistani fashion designers & he's one of them. Deepak Perwani was one of the top 3 Pakistani designers who presented his Spring/Summer 2010 Collection during Milan Fashion Week in September 2009.
He has shown his collection internationally & I think it's great that Pakistani designers are finally taking that step forward. It will show Pakistan in a different light - the creativity & talent hidden within the borders will shine. Pakistan has a rich culture & the world will finally see more of it now.
Back to the handbags... "desi spunk" is right. I am in awe & would absolutely love to own one of these handbags!!
Some of the pictures in this post are from Milan Fashion Week while others are from Pakistan Fashion Week & others are from here & there.Once you've worn the handbag, you don't have to store it away. Use it as a wall decor ;)
In the preview of his collection, this is how he showed his handbags.. truly letting the colours & work do all the "talking" while they're placed on a white wall.Look at how beautiful the whole ensemble looks. You can wear it with a simple white blouse & shorts & the bag would rock your whole look!
However you wear it, one thing's for sure.. you'll feel like you're on top of the world! Indeed, all eyes will be on you.These handbags are one accessory that will boost your confidence & make you feel pretty.

All images were found via Google Images.

Hope you enjoyed looking at the collection (especially the gorgeous handbags) as much as I did.

♥ Saimese

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