What Look Am I Rockin'?...Metallic Eyes

Last week, I was going through my make up stash and I really wanted to use something metallic. So I opted to use my Dose of Colours (DOC) Eyedeal Duo in Disco. I saw this indie brand on Youtube and Instagram a few months ago and was intrigued so I decided to purchase one ( this was a while back!). For those who don't know the DOC Eyedeal Duo is a 2 in 1 eyeshadow product. In the top is a cream eyeshadow base and at the bottom is a loose pigment/glitter. There are so many stunning shades and I own 3 (Disco, Envy and Maple). First you apply the cream and then pack on the glitter as needed with a cream shader brush, this allows the glitter to stick to the eyeshadow base. I used mine on the lower lash line and it applied really well and stayed on for the whole day. Thumbs up DOC!

I have listed most of the products I can remember using ( sorry I totally forgot to write them down as I was using them!)

Close up of my 'Metallic' look.

Face: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Sand, MAC Prep+Prime Illuminator in Peach Lustre, Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Medium for blemishes and Light for undereyes, RMCA No Color Powder, Prestige Eyebrow Pencil in Black-Brown, Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray

Eyes: MAC Paints in Bare Canvas, MUG Creme Brulee, Frappe and Cocoa Bear, IsaDora Liquid Liner in Black, Sephora Eyeliner in Black Lace ( matte), Benefit Rollerlash and UD Cannonball mascara and DOC Eyedeal Duo in Disco applied on my lower lash line.

Cheeks: Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow in 04 to contour and highlight, Laura Mercier Baked Bronzer in 03 and 04 to add warmth to the face, NARS Madly Blush, MAC Soft and Gentle as my highlight.

Lips: L'Action Lip Plumper, MAC Nice & Spicy Pro Longwear Lip Liner, DOC Liquid Lipstick in Bare With Me, DOC Lipgloss in Bellini ( love this combo!)

I hope you enjoyed reading about my look and keep track as I will be blogging about my travel make up soon!

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

All Loved Up: November Favourites

I can't believe it's already December! Where did November go?! This period in the school year is a busy one with reports, concerts and assessments taking place. So that is what I have been doing mainly these days. I can't wait to be on holidays in just under 2 weeks time!

So I thought, I would post a favourites blog post on beauty products I have been getting the most out of from the past 2 months. Some are oldies and a few a newbies!

L-R: Laura M Tinted Moisturiser, Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray, Milani Blush, Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer, L'Action Lip Plumper, Gerarc Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick.

#1 Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Sand: A few weeks ago, I dyed my hair a dark plum shade and found that this suited my skin better as it added more warmth than my beloved Garnier BB Cream. I forgot just how luminous, refining this moisturiser makes my skin look and I am in love again!

#2 Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray: So I got this as I wanted to see if the brand who makes the Urban Decay one is any better. The weather has actually got much cooler now but I still spritz this on to ensure my makeup remains intact throughout the working day. It feels refreshing and light and I am pleased to say I think it holds the makeup much longer than the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray!

#3 Milani Baked Blush in Rose D'oro: I added this to my cart whilst shopping for the new Milani Liquid Lipsticks. I had wanted to get a few darker lip shades for the Autumn/Winter and thought as I loved Luminoso so much why not try another baked blush. I researched the shades and narrowed it down to Rose D'oro which is so pretty.  I used as a blush topper and it works wonders to luminate my skin like Luminoso does so thumbs up!

#4 Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Medium: I bought this back in the summer as I heard a lot of hype about this concealer and now I understand why! It is lightweight but provides medium - full coverage and is just perfect. It is blendable and matches my skintone and I also own another shade for my under eyes. So this looks like my new 'go-to' concealer now.

#5 L'Action Lip Plumper: I mentioned this a few months ago as it was a random purchase from Carrefour. I have to say it is one of the top lip plumping products I have owned as it is moisturising, lightweight and it does not create any tingling sensation on lips when plumping. Just incase you are wondering my top three lip plumping products are: Buxom, Soap and Glory and then L'Action.

#6 Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Skinny Dip: GC have come out with a load of hydra mattes lately. I believe over 10 which has added to their collection which started off as only 6. They now have I think almost 30 shades?! Anyways, I saw this on beauty vlogger Camilla Coehlo and thought it looked pretty for an everyday natural mauve-pink/brown lip colour. It is moisturising and the colour payoff is beautiful. However I am wanting to compare it with the earlier lipsticks I own, as I feel the longevity is shorter, possibly with this new more watery formula. I will keep you posted!

That's a wrap, I have been using the above for at least a month now. I think I will do a post on my travel makeup next, as I will be going home for the holidays and I will be switching up a few products.

P.S. The background for the products here is actually one of my clutch bags which was a gift from Pakistan :P

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

The Review: THE 5TH: Tokyo Range : 'Aki'

Hey,

So the lovely guys at THE 5TH sent me a watch to review. They kindly allowed me to choose one from their newest range named 'Tokyo' and I fell in love with 'Aki' - a navy blue and rose gold watch.

If you haven't read my blog before, I stumbled across this brand on Instagram and decided to purchase a watch purely based on their minimalistic designs. I was never into watches but they have definitely converted me - so thanks! I have pretty much worn my Melborne one since I bought it last year and I always get comments on how nice it looks. I reviewed it as part of their Melborne Minimal Range ( Peach & Rose Gold) last year.

The link is here: http://sariissupersweetblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-review-fifth-watch-in-peach-rose.html

So let's get on to the review! I will be reviewing THE 5TH Watches: Tokyo Range: Aki which will be available to purchase on www.the5th.co in 7 hours! ( Please note there will be a time difference depending on where you live)


The Brand: 

THE 5TH is an Australian based brand that I believe started off on Instagram and are pretty cool as they are pretty exclusive. On the 5th day at the 5th hour for 5 days they sell their exclusive range of products. This is great as you can guarantee they will have the stock and they ship out relatively quick too. I have to commend their shipping times on both occasions as I have received them in less than the allocated time frame. I should note they started off selling watches but they have now ventured into selling bags too which is great growth for the brand.

The Review:

From the package I received, THE 5TH seem to have updated their sleek packaging to a much more wider case. However it may be for the 'Tokyo' range so I am not sure, but still I like it as it still fulfils their minimalistic approach to design.

The Packaging

As you can see from below, it comes in sleeve and then once the box is opened you see their clear strapline 'Time is what we make it'. There is a small envelope with a information about the watch and its guarantee which is 24 months. The 'Aki' watch has a grained navy blue strap with rose gold casing around the watch dial. The watch face has white indents to show the hours with white hands but the ticking hand is black. It definitely defines 'Tokyo' to me. It comes with the strap detached so you have to put it together but it is so easy and simple to do so.  Just for your information it retails at 129 AUD/ 90 EUR/ 80 GBP. Personally, this is excellent value for a beautifully crafted and exclusive watch.

Opening the box :)

                                                                                    

THE 5TH 'Aki' Watch from their Tokyo Range

The Strap Detail

I LOVE it!


     

The strap is a good width and feels really strong and sturdy too. I like how comfortable it feels on my wrist and the detailing on the leather strap. It really is a different but fabulous addition to my watch collection. I now own 2 beautiful watches all thanks to THE 5TH! :)

The Rating:
I absolutely love this watch as navy blue goes with so many outfits and I can definitely say I am obsessed. It gets a 10/10 from me!I am all for simplicity when it comes to accessories and this has ticked the boxes for sure. So I've had this only a few days and have worn this SO many times. It is now my watch to wear for work whilst my Melborne Minimal watch is for the weekends.

THE 5TH have also given me a discount code which gives you 10% discount on anyone who reads this blog post whether you have been following me since the beginning or you are a newbie. Just enter 'SARA' at the checkout to obtain your discount!

Lastly, I would like to say 'Thanks' to THE 5TH for providing me with such an awesome watch to review!

Love & Blessings,

Sara :)

UPDATE: My Make Up Storage!

So I've done a few make up storage posts but a couple of months ago I really wanted to downsize and depot my collection. I had been researching the best options but didn't want to purchase anything too costly and also it would have to be something I could pack up too.

I ended up purchasing the large MUFE Magnetic Metal Palettes from Dubai on a quick visit and have been SO happy with how it has all turned out. I had lots of products in bulky packaging and whilst aesthetically they looked nice, it was time to depot and place in a palette for easy accessibility too. Most of my products depotted easily but I lost 3 Sleek blushes in the process and had to mend my ABH highlighter and MAC Give Me Sun with rubbing alcohol . I know sad times but they are still usable!

I have 3 palettes, eyeshadows, highlight/contour and blush. Even though I have used these palettes I do still have a number of products I was unable to depot and a few that were easier to keep in their packaging.

I've shown below how it has all worked out and I am pretty happy with the outcome. What do you guys think?

Highlight & Contour Palette
L-R Top: ABH Contour Kit, Kevin Aucoyn Cream Glow, Wet n Wild Precious Petals, Physicians Formula Waikiki Strip.
L - R Bottom: LM Baked Bronzer 03, LM Baked Bronzer 04, LM Baked Highlighter in 01, MAC Soft & Gentle.

Eyeshadow Palette
L-R 1st Row: Inglot Matte 369, Triple 104, Matte 307, UD Deluxe in Adore, Inglot Metallic 15, NARS Mekong, BB Sable.
2nd Row: UD Deluxe Palette (can't remember all the names!)
3rd Row: 1st 6 shades are from BN2B2BB (not available anymore), MUG Jester, MUG Typhoon, MUG Burlesque, MAC Star Violet.
4th Row: 1st 3 Barry M pressed pigments ( I did these myself), MAC (can't remember the name as unlabelled and bought from a collection), MAC Ricepaper, next 3 are also Barry M pressed pigments, MAC Sushi Flower.
5th Row: MUG Shimma Shimma, I'm Peachless, Mango Tango, Chikadee, Peach Smoothie, Creme Brulee, Frappe, Cocoa Bear, Corrupt!

Blush Palette
L - R 1st Row: NARS Torrid, NARS Madly, LM Illuminating Quad in Coral Red.
2nd Row: MAC Pink Swoon, CG Classic Pink, Sleek Suede (not convinced as this looks so different to my last one so may throw out soon!), MAC Margin, MAC Peaches.
3rd Row: Milani Bella Rose, MAC Mineralize in Petal Power, NYX in Plum Mauve, MAC Gingerly, Milani Luminoso!

So there you have it! It is so much easier to use and access more of my make up products now. I forgot to mention I also have a medium MUFE palette which I use whenever I am travelling :)

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

What Look Am I Rockin'?...Blue Sparkly Eyes

The other day I was really feelin' wearing blue (AGAIN!) on my eyes but wanted to use some eyeshadow and also make it more vibrant, like the main thing going on on my face.. LOL!

So I created this look and think it turned out pretty well!

I didn't include the face products in the photo but I will list everything I have used below. Enjoy reading :)

L-R: LM Gel Liner in Cobalt, L'Oreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara, Revlon Skinny Liner in Cobalt, Gerard Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Aphrodite, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Cairo, MAC Pro Longwear Lipliner in Nice 'n' Spicy, Topshop Glow Highlighter in Bronze, Colourpop Eyeshadows in I Heart This and Alchemy, MAC Paint in Bare Canvas, UD 24/7 Liner in Ultraviolet.

Breakdown of products:

Base: Garnier BB Cream in Medium, MAC Prep+Prime Illuminator in Peach Lustre (dark circles) and Bright Forecast (highlight), Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Nude, ABH Contour Palette, MAC Give Me Sun and I baked with LM Secret Brightening Powder.

Cheeks: MAC Peaches, Milani Luminoso, MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle.

Eyes: Primed with MAC Paint in Bare Canvas, applied CP I Heart This and topped with Alchemy using my fingers, painted on LM liner on upper lash line, topped with Revlon Skinny Liner in Cobalt, lower lash lined with UD Ultraviolet and topped with Revlon Skinny Linter, finished with L'Oreal mascara!

Lips: MAC Lipliner in Nice'n' Spicy, Gerard Cosmetics Liquid Lip in Aphrodite, topped with NYX Lipcream in Cairo.

Until next time my lovelies :)

Love & Blessings,

Sara

                                   

All Loved Up: September Favourites

Hey,
I'm back after an extended break! I thought I would start off with my favourites feature as I haven't posted since June/July.

So, last month I had been wanting to use some alternative products from my makeup collection and have been hooked on these beauties!


                                     

L -R:

#1 L'oreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara: I decided to switch to this incase I use up my Benefit and UD mascara's (they aren't available over here!) and I really love it. The applicator is amazing and it really lengthens and volumizes my lashes.

#2 Revlon Skinny Eyeliner in Cobalt Blue: I've been wearing a lot of blue liner recently on my lower lash line and have found that painting this on top of my pencil liner makes it appear more vibrant and stays put for longer.

#3 IsaDora Liquid Eyeliner in Black: This is definitely my new favourite black liquid liner! I've blogged before about Collection's liner and whilst I still like it I found that it didn't stay so black throughout the day. I love this one especially because of the precise felt tip like applicator and how black it is.

#4 L'Action Lip Plumper: Another product I have blogged about before, this is such an underrated lip plumper. It is quite a glossy but lightweight, creamy formula that instantly creates fuller lips. You don't feel any tingling and it is well worth the money!

#5 Maybelline Lipstick in Peach Poppy: I love me some coral! I bought this last year when I was in the States but have really only used it in the last few months. It is SO buttery and creamy and moisturising. The colour payoff is so beautiful too. I love it!

#6NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel: I love using this alone and as a topper. But paired with Peach Poppy it is beautiful!

#7 MAC Blush in Pink Swoon: I have a love/hate relationship with this blush. I bought it a fair few months ago and swatched it before I bought and loved it. I am not sure if my pan was a little dried out but I have to swipe my blush brush on this a good number of times to pick up the colour. But once on I adore how subtle this pink is on me.

#8 MAC Blush in Peaches: I have been loving a pop of coral on my cheeks lately and love how subtle this looks.

#9 Milani Blush in Luminoso: I use this a blush topper for Peaches and it is so pretty.

#10 UD 24/7 Eyeliner in Ultraviolet: You can see just how much love this product has and I am so gutted I cannot repurchase as it is not available online. I actually received it as part of a gift from my mum. Love, love the vibrant bluey-purple shade. It really makes brown eyes POP!

So there you have it! I am also trying to switch up my lip products so I am using more in my collection.

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

Skincare Saviours!

Hello lovelies,

This morning I thought it would be a great post to blog about my current skincare saviours. I have included a mixture of face and body products that have been working for me within the last month or so. I have listed them in order from left to right. So let's get started!

1. Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Radiance in Rose Gold (travel size)

I first found out about this on Makeup By Shayla's Youtubr channel as she mentioned she adds this to her favorite body moisturiser Nivea Nourishing Body Lotion for that subtle but healthy glow. I had ordered a few things for My Mall Box so thought why not trial this out. It comes in I think 4 shades ranging from light gold to deep or bronze gold . I chose rose gold and have been using it with the Nivea body lotion too and I love the flow it gives to my skin. So thumbs up and great recommendation Shayla!

2. Nivea Nourishing Body Lotion (for dry to very dry skin)

Prior to moisturing my body with this I was using Garnier Hydrating Tonic Lotion (bright yellow bottle) which was great as it melted into my skin and left it super smooth. However it I found that it didn't moisturiser my skin as well as I wanted. I have dryness on my elbows and legs so I decided to try this out. It is of a thicker consistency but it moisturiser my skin so nicely with Nivea's subtle creamy scent. I think I will be repurchasing this for sure when I run out.

3. Nivea Indulgent Cleansing Milk

I mentioned a few months ago how I had become a Kiehl's convert and whilst I like some of their products, some didn't work out for me. The cleanser and toner from the Calendula collection actually broke me out after a lot of investigation! So I decided to switch my cleansing routine with something creamy as I can get dryness on my face at times.  I love how creamy this is and it cleanses my face like a dream. 

4. Bioderma Sebium H2O Micellar Solution

So I've tried Bioderma before but the red called bottle and liked it but didn't repurchase as I just thought it was okay. Then I received a sample of this one a month ago with My Mall Box order and thought I would give it a go. I love the clean, cucumber scent and it feels so refreshing on my skin. I have found that it has helped with clearing up my breakouts too.

5. Kiehl's Hydro Plumping Re-texturising Serum Concentrate

This is one of my favorite skincare products this year and also my favorite from Kiehl's. I think I've mentioned this before, I received this as a sample and then went to repurchase it earlier this year. I really feel as though it plumps my skin and has resulted in it becoming radiant too. I definitely notice a difference when I don't use it. It a serum that is designed to be used after toning your skin and before you apply your regular moisturiser. It can also been applied day and night too. I use this everyday before my moisturiser but sometimes in replace of my moisturiser too. I also apply this at night time. I feel that it holds my makeup well throughout the day too. This is another product I will be repurchasing once finished.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my skincare saviours! Tell me about yours :)

Love Sara xx

                             

My Marvellous Makeup Brushes!

Hey hey,

Eid Mubarak to those who celebrate it 😊

As it's been Ramadan I haven't had time to blog but now that's it's over I will be uploading a few more beauty based posts. I hope you have all been well.

I was washing my makeup brushes today and thought why not blog about my favorite ones. Now I have a fair few brushes from a range of companies such as MAC, Zoeva, Morphe, Real Techniques and Barry M. I have narrowed my list down to 8 and included a mix of face and eye brushes.

I have detailed them from left to right so let's get started!

#1 Zoeva 315 Fine Liner Brush - This is a recent purchase and I have been opting for this brush anytime I wear gel liner and I love how you can change your position yet the angle of the brush is perfect to shape the kind of wing I am after.

#2 ABH No 12 Eyebrow Brush - I bought this when I was in the USA last year I think and I use this with the Dipbrow Pomade. I find it really defines your brows well as its not too stiff or too flimsy. 

#3 Zoeva 226 Smudger Brush - I love this brush for smoking out my liner on my lower lash line.

#4 Real Techniques Angled Shadow Brush- This is my go to brush for blending out my crease line and it is amazing and so easy to use. The bristles are a good density so blending is a dream.

#5 MAC 239 Eyeshadow Brush- This is great for packing on a particular colour as it creates an intense base. I also use this to apply my Inglot cream eye liner/shadow and it applies quite well.

#6 Mikyajy 110 Fan Brush - So I went on the hunt for a fan brush after watching a few YouTube videos focusing on highlighter application. I have been using this pretty much every since I bought it about 3 months ago. It applies highlighter lightly and evenly and you are able to build up the product as much as you want.

#7 Real Techniques Blush Brush- Okay so this is the brush with the silver handle. This is my most used brush for blush as I like how dense the bristles are as they pick up lots of products which means you don't have to keep applying more. I find that it applies the blush really well.

#8 Real Techniques Blush Brush - Now I this was a recent purchase too but I haven't been using it to apply blush as I find it way too big. So I use it to apply my bronzer and I LOVE how it applies onto my skin.

                                         

 So those were my most used brushes and I hope you enjoyed reading!

Love, Sara xx

All Loved Up: June Favourites

It's the month of June which means it's my birthday month!! It's 14 days until my birthday and even though it's Ramadan I am still excited! Haha!

Okay let's get right into my June Favourites! Have fun reading :)

#1 MAC Supreme Sheen Lipstick in Barely There: Okay so I recently went through my lipstick stash and I have a lot now and I figured I need to use some up. (I hopefully will do an updated makeup storage post too!) Anyways I dug it out and forgot how beautiful and natural looking it was, shade as the name suggests.  I have reverted to loving my signature glossy lip. This provides so much moisture and glossiness. It is a neutral brown with a slight pink undertone to it.I've been wearing it with every makeup look this month.

#2 The Body Shop Lip Liner in Pink Brown (discontinued): This is hands down my favourite lip liner and I'm so sad to learn that it has been discontinued. I don't understand why brands discontinue amazing shades/products. I've seen they've come up with a selection of new lip liners but the swatches don't come close to my fave. It is a pink brown which goes well with pinky brown and some nude lipsticks. I think this is also my last back up so I will have to find a new one.

#3 No 7 Lip Liner in Natural: I've been using this liner as well as it matches pretty much most of my nude, peachy and pink lipsticks. It's a neutral light brown with a slight peach undertone and this must be my 5th or 6th one. I'm not sure if they still do this as this is my last back up.

#4  Real Techniques Blush Brush: Now as the name says it is a blush brush but I find that it is way too big for applying it. It has a slightly tapered top and is packed with soft synthetic bristles. I tried it using blush but wasn't really feeling it so I switched and have been using it to apply my MAC MSF and it works SO well. It's hold just the right amount of products and distributes it evenly on my face.

#5 Wet n Wild Megaglo Highlighter in Precious Petals:  YES! I got my hands on the hyped up highlighter of summer time! This was part of my second USA Haul and initially I wasn't going to purchase it as A) I already have a few highlighters and B) it was sold out! So Wet n Wild released one of their best summer collections which included 2 highlighters, 3 highlighting sticks and some metallic lipsticks from what I saw online. To be honest I was like hmmm I think I have something similar. Anyways I happened to see it advertised on ebay for a little higher than the original selling price but it was still reasonable so I thought why not! It's a champagne gold colour and although I find the swatch to be just alright, once applied it looks beautiful. It's like a glow from within look :) it's subtle but you can build it up. I like how natural it looks when I don't want to look like a Christmas bauble :p

So there you have it my favourites. Hopefully will be blogging soon!

Love,
Sara xx

All Loved Up: May Favourites

Hello!

I can't believe it's June already! I was supposed to upload this blog last month but school has been quite busy so I couldn't!

I've got a June favorites ready too and I also want to blog about my second 'My Mall Box/USA/Birthday Treats Haul' as well this month.

But for now these are my top picks from May. I've narrowed it down to 5 as I found it more manageable and just quicker and easier to notice and read. Hope you enjoy!

So let's get started!

#1 Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Fleur Perfume: I was apprehensive about purchasing a scent from JC  as I thought they may be over powering but I LOVE this one. I picked it up way back in December from Duty Free at Heathrow and have been using it like anything for at least 2 months or so now. It is a light but fruit scent with a hint of floral notes too. It's perfect for daytime use.

#2 Mikaylij Fan Brush: I wanted to find a brush like this to apply my highlighter lightly and I really like it. This is an Arabia brand I believe that's in all the GCC countries. The bristles are synthetic and are literally the softest. It does an excellent job!

#3 MAC MSF in Give Me Sun: SO! After watching a few makeup tutorials on YouTube I was contemplating buying it. Now if you've read my previous posts I live by the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Bronzing Powder in 03. However now I've slightly tanned it doesn't do anything. I did purchase the shade 04 and mix them both and it provided me with a softer bronzed look. However I still wanted to look a little more bronzed. It was actually YouTube Holly Boon who sold it to me. Haha, so thanks hun! I went out and bought it and have been using it ever since. It's more of a peachy toned bronzer which suits my skin perfectly.

#4 Superdrug Vitamin E Facial Oil: I have blogged about this product lots of times before and I've recently been loving it again. I've had a bout of breakouts lately so I refrained from using it. But now my skin has cleared up, it's a little dry so I apply this at night to my face. I literally squeeze a few drops into the palm og my hand and pat on to my face and neck. By the morning my skin feels so smooth and soft. It's a winner for sure!

#5 Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray: Last but by no means least is this AMAZING setting spray. I had heard so many positive reviews about this spray so I thought why not try it out. The weather here in Oman is very hot but unbearably humid at the moment. Whilst I still wear make up I wanted to see if it would hold it up during the day. Now I'm it outside with the kids but inside with the AC can dry out your skin and may make it look patchy too. We'll this bad boy prevents all of that. It keeps my makeup looking fresh from when I've started at school, got home and eaten my lunch, gone to the gym and until I remove it after. I'm so impressed and have been using it so much, my first bottle is almost finished. Well done Urban Decay!

Well I hope you enjoyed reading about my May Favourites and will stick by to read my June Favourites from this month.

Love,
Sara xx

USA Haul!

Hey! First things first no I didn't jet to the States :( but I managed to order a few things via a mail service called My Mall Box. YouTube beauty blogger Shahleena has mentioned this company in a lot of her videos and I was tempted none the less to try it out.

I signed up to My Mall Box for free and they supplied me with an address based in the USA. All I had to do was order what I wanted from the various USA retailers, input my address and wait for it to be delivered there. Initially I ordered a few bits of makeup and then I also ordered some school supplies and some accessories. Once ordered and shipped My Mall Box update you when the have received your package. After you've got all of them you can either choose to send them individually or all together to where ever you are based. You have to pay a shipping charge of course and also customs too. Mine wasn't so bad!

So I received my first USA package last month and I was pretty impressed. They packaged it all well into one box and apart from a retractable eyeliner that could have been broken before it got to them everything else was great!

Lately I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on mastering eyeshadow looks as I do like to wear it especially when I'm not working as I have more time to spend on a look. There have been lots of new 'indie' companies about which specialise in one type of product or have a niche range too. A few of these are for example: Gerard Cosmetics, Colour Pop and Dose of Colours.

The hype at the moment has been liquid lipsticks and in particular matte ones. If I have to be honest I am definitely more of a gloss girl. But! I have been really into matte lipsticks since I bought Serenity and Valley Slipper from Gerard Cosmetics last summer in the UK via Beauty Bay. I love how effortless the application is and also how natural looking they look (obviously depending on the colour!)

I won't bore you with all the details but just a brief summary of what I bought. I'm still trying them out at the moment and I'd rather wait and test them before rating them completely.

My USA Haul:

Dose of Colours Bare with Me lipgloss and eyedeal duos
Koko Lashes
Lily Ghalichi Lashes
Gerard Cosmetics hydra matte liquid lipsticks, lipstick, lipgloss
Stila smudgeproof eyeliner in Turquoise
Korres eyeliner in Periwinkle 
Makeup Geek eyeliners and eyeshadows
Carli Bybel Palette
Colour Pop Eyeshadows
Go Noodle school resources
Quay Sunglasses

It's great that customers all over the world can use this system to pick up American brands, especially drugstore and these indie brands as there is so much more of a variety than the UK.

I would definitely use My Mall Box again maybe now as a birthday treat :p hehehe We'll see!

Hope you enjoyed reading :)

Sara xx

Ravin' up: Kiehls

Aah I had to rave up this brand as I'm a new convert and I am SO impressed. Last year 2 of my friends were telling me about Kiehls and whilst I was happy that the found a great brand I was pretty sure I would be sticking to my lovely Soap and Glory skincare products. So I did some research on eyecreams and whilst in the States last summer I picked up two eye products, Eye depuffer and Eye Alert which are aimed at men but women can use them too :p I was really happy after using them for a few months especially Eye Alert and the time came for me to repurchase once I was back home for Winter break as Kiehls is not available in Oman but only in the UAE. So the kind sales assistant popped in a few samples after I said I was interested in serums.

Fast forward and I tried out those sample which were the Hydro plumping serum and line reducing concentrate. My skin literally changed to being more radiant and flawless and smooth in the first week. So when I was in Dubai I decided to change up my skincare routine.

#1 Kiehls Hydro Plumping Retexturising Serum Concentrate
This is a lightweight, silky  smooth serum which you only need a pea sized amount of to moisturise into your face and neck. I apply this after I have washed my face and then I leave it for about 10 minutes before applying the next product. It instantly rejuvenates your skin and looks so radiant.

#2 Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream

This is thicker than the serum but still lightweight and I apply this after the serum as my main moisturiser. I tend to have some small dry patches either on my forehead or chin at times and this really targets these areas. I use this in the morning and evening.

#3 Kiehls  Line Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate

I actually used the Powerful Line Reducing Concentrate as a sample on my skin and under my eyes and loved it. But opted for the Eye version because I wanted to focus and look after my eye area. I do like it and it does make a difference but I think I will purchase the Line Reducing one too.

I bought these with 2 other products ( tumeric and cranberry masque and the micro dermabrasion exfoliator). The 3 products above are my holy grail skincare products I like to use on my skin and the serum even doubles up as a primer too as I've found my makeup lasts longer when applied.

Kiehls is a high quality skincare brand that I wish I'd known about sooner but nevertheless I know about them now and will continue to use them. I am eyeing up their toner as I absolutely loved the milkiness and freshness of their Ultra Facial Toner.  That means either another trip to Dubai or waiting until I return to the UK for the summer.

I hope this blog/review was useful to you.

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

What Look Am I Rockin'?...Peachy Perfect

Today was supposed to be a make up free day but I had the urge to try out a peach look with my new purchase from Inglot, pearl eyeshadow #15. I've explained below how I achieved this look.

First I hunted through my make up stash for a base colour and ended up using my Sleek Pan Tao blush which is a matte bright orange colour.

Then I primed my lids with NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk. After I used my RT base eyeshadow brush to apply a Pan Tao on my kids.  Next I took MAC Rice paper and applied it to my brow bone and inner corners to make them glow. I took Ingot #15 and applied it from the middle towards the end of my lash line and lid. I dampened my brush a little to intensify it. Lastly I used a Sleek coppery brown I believe from the Sunset palette in my outer V. I really liked the outcome.

To complete my eye makeup I add Morphe Lashes in #202 to give my eyes a bit of drama and applied a slick of Collection liquid eyeliner in black over the top.

On my face I used the Garner BB cream and to conceal MAC'S peach lustre highlighter, Giorgio Armani Master concealer in 2.5 and Garnier eye contour in light. I contoured with the ABH original palette and intensified this by using LM Matte Radiance Baked Bronzer in 03. Then I applied NARS Blush in Torrid to make my whole look 'pop'! For highlighting I used BECCA'S Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop. I LOVE Jacyln's creation it's just SO pretty!

To finish off I applied Gérard Cosmetics Serenity which I love! I'm actually feelin ' matte lipsticks a lot more these days I think because they have more staying power than my usual lippie and gloss.

You'll see I've included another photo whereby I took my lashes off as for some reason since I cooked my eyes have been crazily watering. Anyways I also changed my lippie and tried Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Beloved - such a summery shade!

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog.

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

Inglot Haul: Inglot Pearl Eyeshadow #15, Inglot Gel liner 94, Inglot Body Sparkles 64                 

Close up of eyeshadows

Complete Peachy Perfect Look with GC's Serenity Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick

Peachy Look with Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Beloved

Travel Diaries #6 Sri Lanka

Last week during my Spring break, I visited Sri Lanka. I booked with PL Tours and Travels for a 4 day, 3 night tour which included Pinnawala, Dambulla, Sirigya, Kandy (brief stopover), Ramboda, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Tissa, Hikkaduwa, Galle and Unawatuna.

It was a solo tour as I tend to travel by myself most of the time. As a female traveller in Sri Lanka I felt safe for most part of my trip apart from during Yala National Park when my safari guide was being way too friendly and weird! But on the whole I had a lovely experience.

My driver/guide was lovely as he was accommodation and friendly and was open about talking about Sri Lanka and it's history and how it has changed. The country is absolutely stunning. It's like a huge jungle but with a vast landscape too and the land is so richly fertile in gorgeous shades of green. Honestly I loved it.

I can't say which was my favourite as all the parts are so different but I did enjoy seeing Asian elephants and Turtle rescue centre, the tea plantations/factory, the waterfalls were amazing and Unawatuna beach was stunning! The people were so lovely too and we're always smiling.

I was so glad I visited as it was recommended by my friends in Kuwait who had been last year. It is definitely a country worth visiting for its beauty ♡

Moi at Sirgya Rock

Asian Elephants at Pinawalla Orphanage

Tea Pickers on a tea plantation

Ramboda Waterfalls

Lake Gregory, Nuwara Eliya

Ella Waterfalls

View from my hotel in Tissa

Peacock at Yala National Park

Fisherman on the Sri Lanka coast

Sea Turtle Farm, Hikaduwwa

Galle Fort

Overlooking the Indian Ocean at lunch, Unawatuna

The Review: Lilac Beauty Center, Al Khuwair

The background: I can't remember how I found this salon, it may have just been a Google search! It's actually in the same building as Majlis Al Henna but they occupy a larger space and there are 2 floors. I believe the first floor or ground floor is for makeup application and the lower/basement floor is for manicures, etc and massages.

The review: I really like this salon as it's very inviting and the layout is simple but quite chic and relaxing too. I went in for a regular manicure and pedicure and thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend this place to others. It's a reasonable price. I think I paid maybe between 12 - 15 OMR  for both services and the girls were so sweet. I felt like they were more thorough than in Tips and Toes. Their nail colour collection is all Alessandro International based but they do have a good and extensive shade range too and they offer shellac which is great.

The rating: Overall I have given them a 8.5/10 as they provided very good service. The receptionists were friendly and polite. They had a lot of availability and were acoomodating too. The services I had were of a very good to excellent standard and I felt so relaxed whilst sitting down. I have been about 2 - 3 times and will continue to visit too.

The photo below is actually from a visit when I had a ring finger shellac mani applied in navy blue and gold to match the henna I got at Majis Al Henna.

Travel Diaries #5 On Safari in Kenya

During my February break, I travelled to Kenya to go on a safari in the Maasai Mara and Lake Nakaru. Prior to my trip I had researched a lot of safaris, as I wanted something inclusive of accomodation and meals, with a feel of the culture there too not forgetting my budget too.

I used Tripadvisor and Safari Bookings and I eventually chose Terminal Tours who were based in Nairobi. The communication with them was great and they met my every need. I had to transfer 30 USD to them to secure my place on the safari which initially I was a bit weary of as I had read mixed reviews of the company.  But it all was fine.

I was met at the airport by Debbie who was lovely and we started chatting about so many things straight away! Then oh my goodness we sat in about 2 hours of traffic before we got to their office. Honestly I don't think the Middle East can beat African traffic as it's literally standstill! After I got to their office I paid them the outstanding money and then they gave me enough water for the 4 days and 3 nights. I was then taken by Nelson to the bus where I would start the 5 hour journey to the Maasai Mara. I met the driver/guide who was lovely. Along the way we picked up the rest of the people on the tour and as you do we all got chatting and it was cool because we got all just hit it off.

So just to let you know I was in the Maasai Mara for 2 and a half days and Lake Nakaru for 1 and a half days and it was enough time to be honest to see the animals.  We all stayed in tents woth a bathroom and shower which was actually fine and then in the morning and evening we would eat in the main tent.

I was literally amazed everytime we were out on safari as I love animals. I saw lionesses and their cubs, African elephants, warthogs, zebras, wildebeest, a leopard and a lion in a tree, lots of types of birds, African buffalo, jackal, black rhino, giraffes, gazelles, crocodiles, hippos and so much more! It was just WOW to see them in their natural habitats.

Our group was such a laugh as we had a great sense of humour. As we entered the park we were humming the tune of Jurassic Park lol! Then throughout the safari we must have made so many references and jokes about the Lion King haha!

Overall I had an amazing experience on safari and would so do it again perhaps in Tanzania next time though which is basically on the other side of the Maasai Mara. Or I could revisit to see the spectacular Wildebeest migration.

I would definitely recommend using Terminal Tours to go on safari!

Love & Blessings,
Sara xx

Cute Zebras

Black Rhino at Lake Nakuru

African Elephant

Lioness with her cubs!

Giraffe at Maasai Mara, early morning game drive

Sunset on the Maasai Mara

MAJOR DXB Beauty Haul!

Earlier this year I was in need of a short break from Oman so I decided to jet off to Dubai for the day. Yes for the day! I left in the morning and arrived in time to have breakfast at my favourite eatery 'Social House' at Dubai Mall. Then I spent a couple of hours restocking some of my beauty products before I returned home.

I have listed the products I purchased below and yes it's a lot because here in Oman they don't have many good quality beauty brands. I wish they would at least open a Sephora but anyways day trips to Dubai will have to do once in a while!

I've also noted in brackets any repurchases but this haul.is mainly full of new products as I've wanted to try them out or switch up in my beauty collection.

Beauty Products:
NARS Radiant Concealers in Custard & Ginger
BENEFIT Girl Meets Pearl Highlighter
KAT VON D Liquid Lipstick in Requiem
UD All Nighter Setting Spray
UD 24/7 Liner in Sabbath
NAILS INC Nail Polish in Regents St
ESSIE Nail Polish in Topless and Barefoot
MAC Lipstick in Sunny Seoul
MUFE Lipstick in N40
Too Faced Lipstick in Taffy
Vintage 'Natural' Eyelashes
Impress on Nails in French Manicure and Design
Boots Nail Glue
Clip on Sponge Roll for hair

Skincare Products:
Kiehls Ultra Moisturiser
Kiehls Hydro Plump Serum
Kiehls line Reducing Eye Brightener
Kiehls Tumeric Face Mask
Kiehls Micro Dermbrasion Exfoilator
Sephora Rose Mask
Sephora Honey Mask

Beauty tools:
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Sephora Powder Puffs
Laura Mercier Eyelash Curler (repurchase)

Hope you've enjoyed reading.

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

All Loved Up: Feb/March Favourites

Oh how I've missed doing this feature but it's cool how quickly I picked up all my loved up things from my dressing table :) I have included a photo of my most loved up beauties from February and March. I love how some are oldies and some new too. So let's get started! Oh and these are in no particular order :)

#1 Morphe Lashes in DW - these were actually an add on to my Beauty Bay order so could get free shipping (LOL) and I didn't think these would live up to their name but I ADORE them! They are super soft, super flexible but not too flexible if you know what I mean :p and the lash band is thin to almost invisible. I've worn these are few times and love how natural they look and how light they feel on my lashes. I can wear these the whole day without feeling they're weighing my eyelids down. So thumbs up!

#2 Huda Beauty Lashes in Giselle - these are my second pair of Giselle lashes. I love how these are natural/semi glam. The wispiness of these lashes is too die for. I just love them!

#3 NARS Blush in Madly - Ah I LOVE this beauty as it screams 'au naturale'. This is my second or third pan and it's so natural. It's a gorgeous pink brown toned blush with very subtle shimmer. I wore this throughout January and February and in March so that's a whole lotta love!

#3 MAC Blush in Peaches - LOVE this blush too as it gives me a 'pop' of colour and yet looks very natural too. I much prefer a natural/neutral make up and then glam it up using a splash of colour. But yes this blush is amazing and funnily enough I am still on my first one!

#4 MAC MSF in Soft & Gentle- I was very late to purchase this highlighter as I wasn't 100% sure it would work for me but it's A-MAZING! I've used it pretty much every day bought it. I still heart my all time Laura Mercier Highlight 01 though too so don't think I've chucked that to the side :p

#5 Laura Mercier Matte Baked Radiance Bronzer in 03 - if I'm looking for a very subtle contour or some extra warmth to my skin tone I apply this product. I like how natural looking it is and it really does make your skin radiant.

#6 Chloe Love Story- my gorgeous mama bought this for me before I left for Oman again in the December holidays. It was part of a set with a body lotion too which is a standard moisturiser. The scent is something new for me as it is a little more intense than what I usually go for. It is floral but has depth to it and I believe the Neroli and Cedar notes create this but I have been wearing it lots in the past few weeks!

#7 Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream for Combination to Oily skin in Medium - I think I mentioned how I was on the look for a lighter tinted moisturiser as the weather is becoming humid and hot here in Oman now and my LM TM is too heavy to wear. I watched a whole load of YouTube videos and read some blogs before I decided to purchase this amazing gem. I bought this from Lulu's in Ghubra for 3 Rial. They only had light and medium which is bizarre as there are people who would not fit into these two shades. I was worried I wouldn't but it matches perfectly. I've worn this pretty much everyday since I bought it and I loved how it moisturises and leaves my skin feeling so smooth and flawless.

#8 L'action Lip Enhancer - this was an unplanned purchase and it turned out to be a good one. I bought this from Carrefour in Seeb and was a bit sceptical about how it would compare to Soap and Glory 's, Buxom's, Too Faced and Nyx's lip plumpers. This one is less sticky and more moisturising. The texture is the one I most like out of all of the above plumpers I have tried. Whilst the results aren't lasting (they're not meant to be as it's a temporary fix) I quite like it and am already almost down 1/2 a tube. Perhaps I should do a lip plumper review...?

#9 Barry M Lip Paint in 165 (peach) - this is an item I've dug out of my beauty stash and glad I did too. It's been my 'go to' lip product for the past few months. It's moisturising and you can build up the colour from a sheer peach to an almost opaque tone.

#10 NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel - I bought this last summer in the States. As you can tell I am drawn to anything peach, coral or pink/brown toned. This is great layered on similar colours or even worn alone too. The colour payoff is great.

#11 Real Techniques Contour Brush- I always reach for this brush to apply my contour and bronzer too. It's the perfect size and I can really blend it out so it looks natural and not too harsh!

So those are my loved up products for the past 2 months. I hope to do an April loved up post soon. Keep reading!

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

The Review: Tips and Toes Salon, MGM

The background: I am pretty sure that most women who live in the Middle East have ventured to a beauty salon whether it be for a manicure, makeup or a massage! The Middle East is full of them and Oman is no exception! As an newbie to Muscat, I was recommended this salon by a colleague who swore by their customer service and services on offer. Also as it's only a 5-10 minute drive from where I live and at that time I didn't know anywhere else I thought why not?! This review covers the 2-3 times I have visited.  From what I know they have salons in City Centre Seeb and also in Shatti Qurum.

The experience: They're great with fitting you in for an appointment as they have great availability and I've found them to be polite and friendly too. I've never really had to wait around which is also a plus. Usually when I go I opt for a regular manicure and pedicure which is great. I think the first time I went I got Essie gel nails which is basically like shellac and I was pleased. They are hot on their manicures but I wasn't as impressed with their pedicures.  Anyways, I find that the manicures are done well as they clean up the cuticles, shape your nails and moisturise them well too. But with the pedicures, I felt like my feet were soaked enough and that my skin was filed enough but it was okay.

The rating: So I have rated them a 7/10 as overall they are a good enough salon, customer service and the politefulness/friendliness of the staff is on point. They have a huge range of colours ranging from OPI, Essie, Deborah Lippman, Chanel. Basically from low end to high end nail polishes and there is definitely a colour to suit everyone! I just feel that their pedicures services could be a little more thorough. It's not to say I would not visit again as I would, its conveniently located and they always have times available too.

Unfortunately I can't seem to locate the photo's I took but I hope you found the post useful.

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

Travel Diaries #4 Exploring Qatar

Last year during November I visited Qatar. My aim whilst living in the Middle East is to visit as many countries as I can as they're in the vicinity and also its cheaper than from back home.

Qatar is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Oman which isn't a bad flight at all. I stayed for the weekend which is from Thursday evening until Saturday over here.

I researched about where I wanted to visit whilst I was there. If I'm being honest there isn't much to see in terms of being a tourist. I love to explore the culture and history of a country as you can learn so much!

My main aim was to visit the National Art Gallery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I saw a really interesting exhibition on Qatari women in art. Unfortunately I couldn't visit the shop as it had closed by the time I reached it downstairs.

During the evening I walked along the Corniche which was extremely busy and I saw 'The Pearl' which was cool. Then I headed towards the Souq. I enjoyed browsing around and there were lots of handicrafts, souvenirs and food to purchase. There were lots of different parts to the souk and I visited the main part, gold souk, animals souq. I wanted to visited the eagles/falcons but I got a bit lost! So I just went back to the main part. I forgot to mention I was lucky enough to view some traditional Qatari music and dance which was amazing!

The next day I went to check out Villaggio Mall as my friend recommended it to me. It's a well designed mall that is inspired by Venice in Italy as the name suggests. There is a man made river flowing through it and visitors can ride gondolas which is an interesting idea. I wasn't really inclined to take a ride but did have a look.

The mall can't compare to the likes of Dubai Mall or The Avenues in Kuwait as they're gigantic and include more of a variety of shops but you can purchase everything you need from here. I, as always ventured to Sephora and picked up a few bits and then headed back to my hotel to get ready for the airport.

Qatar actually reminded me a lot of Kuwait. It's quiet with the city and corniche and then lots of malls and restaurants. It's a shame that their culture is not exhibited more but I enjoyed what I saw too.

There is a lot of construction going on in Qatar with the new National Museum, apartments and stadiums too. It was a nice weekend visit but I don't think I would revisit again.

I've included some photos below and I just love Middle Eastern architecture. It's so simple yet elegant.