[Sponsored Review] Mary Kay Foundation Primer Sunscreen SPF 15

I received full sized Mary Kay Foundation Primer Sunscreen SPF 15 for review.
I have been using this product for few weeks now and did find it worth writing about.

Product Description
This is a light-weight gel primer with UVA/UVB protection creating a perfect canvas for flawless foundation application. It makes the skin look smoother and also extend the wear of makeup. The primer is oil-free, comedogenic (won't clog pores) and is fragrance free.

Good For
All skin types and also sensitive skin.

My Impression about the Product
Texture & Fragrance
The product is fragrance free and has a gel like texture.
It spreads easily and is absorbed well, leaving the skin with a very slight powdery feel. It looks like nothing is applied on the skin.

How I Use the Product
After cleansing, toning and moisturizing, I apply a 10 cent coin amount on my face and blend it well with fingers, before applying make up.

The Effect
The skin becomes really soft and smooth and the makeup also stays on for longer. What I like is the non-sticky, powder like feel that you get on application. Being lightweight, it really seems to be a great product for before-makeup application.

The Verdict
After a long search, I could find a face primer that is so light and absorbs well. Definitely this is gonna be one of my must-haves. This is an all in one product, which acts as Moisturizer, sun protect and primer. 

Will I buy it again?
Definitely and also recommend it specially if you tend to have oily skin after applying make-up

Retail Price
S$40

Where can you buy it?
From Independent Mary Kay Consultant or if you don't have one, send me a mail at nsur20@gmail.com and I'll recommend one for you.

Do go for this primer if you really want something light weight and easy to absorb to put under your makeup, this is the product to go for.

What do you feel about Mary Kay Foundation Primer?  Have you used it? Please share your views 

Till then keep reading and discovering!

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Disclosure
I received full sized sample of Mary Kay Foundation Primer for review.
I was not paid to write the review only was given the product. The views and opinion are my own and not given under any influence.

[Review] Fragrance- Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia eau fraiche

Another perfume sample I found, this time in Vanity Trove (read here to know more about Vanity Trove), is an EDT Acqua di Gioia by Giorgio Armani.

Image Source: www.vanitytrove.com

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia eau fraiche was launched in early 2013 and is said to be a lighter and fresher version of Acqua di Gioia perfume from 2010. The fragrance is inspired by nature- gentle breeze, delicate water and soft green leaves. The fragrance has dominant aquatic notes and subtle floral ones. The bottle design is unique, sophisticated yet feminine.

My Take on Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia
The fragrance is different from the usual floral soapy scents. As you spray the fragrance opens with citrus notes specially lemon and orange and going on to mild floral notes dominated by Jasmine. Since the floral scents are not very strong and are also neutralised by tea and ylang-ylang, I am loving the fragrance in its middle notes as well. The base notes start with an immensely sweet smell ending in musky notes. The only part I dislike is the sweet smell, which lingers on for a while but thankfully not so long. Being an EDT, it did not last really long but for around 4-5 hours, which I'll consider to be average. So, this is a fragrance that is Citrusy, not too floral, sweet and musky. I would have loved to buy it if it was a bit more long lasting, may be I should try out the EDP version and see if I like the fragrance.

Retail Price- 50ml for S$83.50 and 100ml for 109.50.
Available at  http://sg.strawberrynet.com 

Have you tried Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia eau fraiche?  How do you like it? Or if you have not tried it yet, would you like to try? What makes you want to try it? Do leave a comment and share your views and experience with us.

Till then keep reading 

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If you would like to receive your Personalised Vanity Trove, go for a Vanity Trove subscription at Vanity Trove for just S$25 a month. You may also like register with Vanity Trove, fill your beauty profile, and interact with others and see what they love and are using. The platform is like a facebook for beauty. You may also like to follow me Neha Suradkar on Vanity Trove to know my beauty likes and dislikes and more product reviews.

[Review] Mary Kay Botanical Effects Mask

I attended a workshop by Mary Kay conducted by a friend of mine... where I was introduced to Mary Kay's range of skin care and make up products. Will talk about the workshop in detail in a later post but one product that really caught my fancy was a cleansing mask from the Botanical Effects Skin Care Range from Mary Kay.

Product Description
This is a clay-based mask for cleansing, which will absorb oil where needed and hydrate the dry areas, while cleansing pores and leaving the skin looking fresh and renewed. The products in this range also have anti-oxidants, which help in anti-ageing and keeps the skin healthy, making it firm and elastic at the same time.This can be used 2-3 times a week. There are different products for Dry, Normal and Oily skin.

My Experience
I used the one for Normal Skin. This clay based mask also has some exfoliating properties. The mask has a clayey texture and the amount shown in the pic below is good for half the face, since I tried it on half face first to see the effect.

The mask has to applied in thick layer on the face, leaving the eyes and the lips.

If you are wondering what's there on my lips? That is a lip mask, will talk about it some other time. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes and then spray some water and gently scrub it for 15-20 seconds and rinse with water or a wet facial cloth and tadaaa...

You can see the difference in both the sides. The right side of my face where I applied the mask is much more brighter and refreshed. Also, the best part was the change in the shape of face- getting a firmer and thinner look. This was the point when I was completely bowled over by this product and could not wait to talk about it.

Will I buy it again?
Yes, definitely

Retail Price
S$40 for 113g tube

Available at
Mary Kay Independent Distributors, if you feel like getting one, do mail me at nsur20@gmail.com and I can arrange it for you through my friend. 

I feel if you are looking for a product that will cleanse, exfoliate, firms and elasticise your skin, I think, this is a great product which will fit your requirements and budget.

Do leave a comment and share your views and experience...

Till then keep reading and discovering!

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[Love Yourself] Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eye Workshop

Last week, I signed up for Bobbi Brown's Sparkle Eye Workshop organised at Tangs, VivoCity. I wanted to attend the workshop basically to understand the range of products from Bobbi Brown. So, I went for this workshop with a registration fee of S$80, redeemable for products. There were two options to choose from- Korean Eye Makeup and Fresh Eye Makeup. I opted for the Fresh Eye Look as I felt that it would be more suitable considering my eyes and age and it was seconded by the Makeup Artist there.
So, after registration, I was introduced to my Trainer Make Up Artist Ariel, who I must say was quite good with her work.
Then, we started with the workshop- started with cleansing and this is how my bare eyes look-

After cleansing, I was asked to apply the Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream to moisturize the skin near eyes.
The dark circles were covered with Colour Corrector in Medium to Dark BISQUE and Bobbi Brown Concealer in Natural was used to even out the skin tone. Then we applied, Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Vanilla to the eye lids covering the area within the eye socket, followed by Sparkle Eye Shadow Ballet '3'. The crease was done with Cocoa Eyeshadow from the Rich Chocolate Eye Pallette. For shadow liner, we used Eye Shadow in Rich Chocolate followed by Long Wear Eye Liner in Black Ink to intensify the colour and the whole look was finished with Intensifying Long Wear Mascara in Black.

The Final look achieved was-

I like the look- not too heavy and great for everyday wear.
All the products used were

1. Rich Chocolate Eye Palette
2. Sparkle Eye Shadow Ballet '3'
3. Concealer- Natural
4. Colour Corrector- Medium to Dark BISQUE
5. Long Wear Gel Eyeliner Black Ink
6. Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick- Vanilla
7. Intensifying Long Wear Mascara- Black

When it came to buying products, I really wanted to buy the colour corrector but realized after a while that since it is cream based and I sweat, so it was getting into the fine lines near my eyes and creating white lines, so after this flash, I had to leave it and instead I went for the Cream Shadow Stick in Vanilla, which acts as a Primer as well. I also picked up an Eyeshadow in Black Chocolate (2G) to use as eye shadow and eye liner.

Also, did I mention that I received a door gift as well... A Bobbi Brown EXTRA Eye Repair Cream, 2.5ml and Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, 7ml.
All in all It was a great experience and let me introduce the trainer Make-up Artist- Ms. Ariel

Out of all the products, I feel the Cream Eye shadow Stick and eye shadows are quite good. You may like to try the concealers and colour corrector which are available in a tone matching your skin, if you don't have very oily or sweat prone skin!

Do leave a comment and let us know of any Bobbi Brown product that you have tried...

Till then keep reading and discovering!

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[Review] Human+Kind All-in-one Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream

I received this Human+Kind All-in-one Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream in the Vanity Trove (To know more about Vanity Trove, read the post here).
The first thing that I found interesting about the product is the brand name Human+Kind and the tagline skincare with a conscience. It is a brand that claims for products being simple, natural, dependable and multitasking... now who doesn't love multitasking products in this stressful life.

Product Description
Talking about the product, the packaging is also interesting with an all over floral pattern with a central medallion. Then comes the fact that this product is a multitasking product- All in One Hand+Elbow+Foot cream so there is no need for three or atleast two separate products.
This cream claims of No Chemicals, No Colourants, No Parabens, No Perfume, No Additives, No Animal Testing, Dermatologically Tested, Hypo Allergenic, Suitable for Sensitive Skin and presence of 8 active ingredients- Avocado Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Shea Butter, Centella, Rosehip Oil, Calendula, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera..

My Views of the Product
The cream has a light creamy texture and is instantly absorbed on application. It is non greasy as well... :) I was a bit sceptical about its effect on drier parts like elbows and feet but it instantly moisturized these drier parts as well.  It has herbal fragrance. Looks like a great product when you are travelling and don't want to carry a lot of luggage around. The 50ml tube will easily fit into your handbag.

Will I buy it again?

Yes.

Retail Price: S$ 15.00 for 50ml

Available At: http://www.whathewants.com.sg in Singapore

So, if you travel a lot and need to moisturise your hand and feet often, forget about carrying so many tubes of skin care products. This single product will be an answer to all your needs. 

Have you tried Human+Kind All-in-one Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream? Let us know how you feel about it by posting a comment!

Till then keep reading and discovering!

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[Review] Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cleansing Oil

So, I got a sample actually 3 sample sachets to try out this Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing/ Hydrating Cleansing Oil- Make up Remover from Hada Labo.

Image Source: http://www.hadalabo.com.sg

[Review] Vanity Trove- Delivering Beautiful Surprises

Hi Lovely People,
As promised in my post last week, bellabox- Beauty in a Box, here I come with another beauty sample box which is quite popular in Singapore- Vanity Trove. The concept is the same as that of other subscription beauty boxes. You subscribe for a monthly fee (SGD 25/ month and no credits, 75 for 3 months and 225 credits, 150 for 6 months with 1050 credits and 300 for a year with 4500 credits) and every month you get a box full of beautiful surprises delivered at your doorstep. Also every 100 credits give you SGD1.00, which when accumulated to SGD 25.00, can be redeemed for a complimentary Trove. It partners with some of the premium beauty brands to send the hand picked 'beautiful surprises' for you every month. Interesting!
So, those were the details!  I subscribed to Vanity Trove and received my first box on Thursday and since then I've been waiting to write about it.
Let me show you how it looks like

Vanity Trove June 2013

A peek into the contents of Vanity Trove June 2013

The theme was 'Summer Crush' and the box was packed with some interesting products. I will talk about the products in detail in my next post. In the meanwhile, I would like to share what was great and not so good about Vanity Trove...

What I loved about Vanity Trove

1. The packing of the Trove looks great and like all women, I love surprises more when they are presented well!
2. There is a Vanity book, which talks about the current theme, the products for the month and other beauty and fashion related stuff.
3. You get to try  new products before actually buying them and sitting at home.
4. You get vouchers for other services like spa, beauty treatments etc.
5. The excitement to open and see what surprises awaits you when you receive your box.

What is Not-so-Great about Vanity Trove
1. The Trove is priced at S$25.00 a month, which is actually the highest price I've come across for such kind of service.
2. The credit conversion rate is 100 credits is S$1.00, seems quite low!
3. There is no online connected beauty store from where you can buy the products you try.

But inspite of all that receiving beauty surprises every month is a wonderful thing that can happen to a woman. So if you would like to subscribe for your own Trove, You may do so at Vanity Trove
Look out for the next post on Contents of Vanity Trove June 2013


Till then keep reading 

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bellabox- Beauty in a Box

Hey Mammas,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Let me tell you what I found last week, although many of you in Singapore and Australia may be aware of it but  for me it was something new and exciting. It is concept of sampling beauty products by receiving them every month at your door step packed in cute little box with a different theme every month. There are a few of these boxes moving around in Singapore, but let me tell you about bellabox (will talk about others later)!
bellabox comes up with 5 luxury,cult and new products in make up, skin care and everything to do with looking and feeling beautiful. These products are handpicked for you only if you complete your beauty profile at the time of sign up. The subscription is fairly priced at S$19.95/month with 19 reward points or at S$219.45 for 12 months, with 219 reward points and one month free. Reward points can be used to make purchase at bellabox shop and every 100 points is equivalent to S$10. Sounds interesting isn't it??

I signed up for bellabox and received my first box (May 2013) this weekend and let me tell you it looks great and it surely did meet my expectations. See how it looks like.

The bellabox May 2013

A peek into the contents of bellabox May 2013

Let me tell you what I think about the whole concept and the box...

I feel the concept is most suitable for those who love to try out new products and like to pamper themselves.
Pros-
1. You get to try luxe and new products before actually buying them.
2. The box priced at S$19.95 a month gives you a good value for the money by sending out few sample sized products and a few full sized.
3. You get vouchers for other services like spa, beauty treatments etc.
4. If you fill up your beauty profile, the samples can be customized as per your needs and requirements.
5. The reward points can be used to buy full sized products) (that you have already tried and tested, from their online shop.
6. The excitement to open and see what surprises awaits you when you receive your box.
7. The convenience of sitting at home and getting to try new stuff...!

Cons-
1. You are not sure of  what exactly you are getting in the box.
2. Can't think of any other, will let you know if it comes to my mind!!

The theme for May 2013 box was Ready for Cannes. It There were a lot of interesting products and I got  more products  for eyes. Will talk about the May Box and the samples in next post... Till then keep reading and if you would like to try out the bellabox, you can do it at bellabox.sg

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High 5- Great Apps for Toddlers (iPhone/ iPad)

I won't go into the debate of whether toddlers should be allowed to handle your smartphones or Tabs (I'll leave it for another post). But, if like me, you feel that there is no harm in giving your toddlers these "Smart toys" to play and learn, you may like to download these apps on your iPhone/ iPad to keep your toddler occupied. All these Apps have been personally experienced by me, Mr. Scientist and our Champ.

1. Sound Touch Lite (Free), Sound Touch (paid): Great for learning animal sounds, identifying animals, vehicles, household objects, musical instruments etc.

2. Kids Song collection (Free & Paid): Interactive Collection of Nursery Rhymes. Paid version has more.

3. Wheels on Bus: Popular Nursery rhyme "Wheels on the bus goes..." along with lot of interactive games suitable for Hand Eye co-ordination.

4. Baby Dress Up/ Puppy Dog Sitter: The toddler learns to dress up a baby/puppy and take care of it by feeding, bathing and putting her to bed/ plying with it.

5. Toddler Puzzle Shapes: Helps to identify shapes in a fun way!

Do you or your toddler have a favorite App? Do comment and share....

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Love Yourself- Special Skin Care Products (Anti-Ageing)

As we celebrate our Birthday each year, our body goes through the process of Ageing. The internal as well as external body parts go through this process. It seems to be more evident on our skin and hair.

But, What exactly is Ageing?
The hair starts thinning and greying (We'll come to hair in future posts...) and skin... where to start... shows so many signs of ageing. As you are growing up (but unlike our kids... literally speaking we stop growing up and rather start growing across... ), you may experience one or many of the signs mentioned in the list below. Let's take a look at what those are-

• Discoloration of Skin- The skin starts loosing its healthy pink colour and starts appearing pale and shallow mainly due to the slowing down of blood circulation. This is commonly observed in lighter skin tones than in darker ones. Exercising helps to increase blood circulation and can bring back the healthy glow whereas excessive smoking, alcohol consumption and sun exposure can lead to early loss of skin color.
• Wrinkles (Smile lines/ Crows feet etc. etc.) and Fine Lines- These are a result of lack of elasticity  and flexibility in skin fibers. Regular toning helps to retain elasticity for a longer time and may delay the appearance of wrinkles. Excess Smoking, alcohol consumption and exposure to sunlight let them make an early appearance.
• Skin Pigmentation- Dark colored spots (specially brown color  start appearing on skin due to accumulation of Melanocytes in certain areas. This is aggravated by over exposure to sun.
• Under Eye Dark Circles- Check the post on Dark Circles.
• Sagging Skin- Sagging is the result of loss of fat pad under the skin.
• Dry Skin- It is caused by loss of skin's ability to retain moisture for a longer period. One of the cause for this is the hormonal change that we go through. Daily routine of moisturizing atleast twice or as and when required will help as will drinking plenty of water.

What are Anti- Ageing Creams/ Lotions and How do they Help?

Anti- aging products are moisturizer based and help in reducing the Wrinkles, Discoloration, Sagginess and Dryness of the skin. These contain ingredients like Retinol, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Collagen boosting agents, Antioxidants, Sunscreen, Vitamin C and E etc. These all help in Cell Renewal, reduction in Wrinkles and fine Lines, Exfoliation of Dead cells, prevention of Damage caused by Free Radicals, Protection from Sun and basic healing of skin.
REMEMBER- All these products will only delay the appearance of signs of aging and not necessarily prevent it completely.

When to Start using Anti-Ageing Products
For most of us, the signs appear around 30. Late 20's or early 30's is a good time to start using anti-ageing products.

Recommended Products
Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum, Lancome Renergie Microlift R.A.R.E., VICHY Liftactive Retinol HA (Night Cream), SK II Facial lift Essence.

Get Product Samples

If you need to try a skin care product before buying, mail me at nsur20@gmail.com stating your skin type  and skin condition and specific brand (if any) that you would like to try.

I will provide you with the list of available samples based on your requirement with cost. You select the products, pay the amount and products will be sent to you with FREE SHIPPING (only in Singapore, Shipping Cost applicable for International Shipping).

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How are you combating the ageing? Leave a comment and let us know....
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Love Yourself- Special Range of Skin Care Products

Hi mamas,

Hope you are trying to follow a consistent skin care routine... and are happy with the results achieved. Keep it on till it becomes a part of your day.

That was all about the regular skin care routine... but sometimes (or rather most of the times), we are not blessed with a flawless skin and even if we are, as we grow old, our skin faces certain problems like wrinkles, dull complexion, loss of firmness etc.

Special Skin Care Products are available from all leading brands to counter these skin issues. All these products work differently for different people. 

The most common among the Special Skin Care Products are the Anti Ageing, the Skin Whitening/ Brightening Products and Sunscreens.

Using these products based on your needs and skin condition may help you to achieve a fine, flawless skin but you need to use them based on your skin type.

Sometimes you need to try various products before you find the best one for yourself. It is always advisable to try sample first.

Get Product Samples

If you need to try a skin care product before buying, mail me at nsur20@gmail.com stating your skin type  and skin condition and specific brand (if any) that you would like to try.

I will provide you with the list of available samples based on your requirement with cost. You select the products, pay the amount and products will be sent to you with FREE SHIPPING (only in Singapore, Shipping Cost applicable for International Shipping).

Connect on Facebook and Keep a look out for post on each of these Special range of Products, starting tomorrow...

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