Finally... after months of waiting (yep, I was waiting)... Forever21 has started shipping to India. The shipping is free for orders above Rs 2500. For orders less than that, shipping charges are Rs 300-500.

I ordered a dress 3 days back and received it today. How fast is that!!!

Haul from forever21.com

Very happy with this. Now, I don't need to buy from asos.com. Anyway, the customs charges are killing. And I don't need to travel to Delhi to shop from this store.

I just finished my Lakme Youth Infinity serum and went to Dabur New U looking for a new serum. The Lakme one did not benefit at all.

I have not tried many Olay products... just the under eye cream (did not do anything for me) and the day cream when it was newly launched. Hope this serum fares better. MRP Rs 749 for 50 ml.

And then I picked by the Neutrogena sunscreen which I apply while swimming and its about to run out. But then decided to try the L'Oreal one. MRP Rs 475 for 30 ml.

Hellos... am back after many, many days. Not because I had nothing to blog about... in fact, some of the empties have been lying around for months for their reviews. But before that, let me show you what I purchased today. Sephora has opened in Ambience Mall, Gurgaon... after months. I would wonder how much rent they were paying for a store which was not yet open. The 1st time I went to Sephora was because everyone was doing so... I did buy stuff but none of it was what I really wanted. These brands were on my wishlist:
- Make Up Forever
- Benefit
- NYX
- Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo

Unfortunately, they were all so over priced that I gave up. Instead I have discovered new brands.
This is what I bought:

- Body Wash from Sephora- coconut and blueberry. MRP Rs 400 each
- Kama herbal hair wash powder. MRP Rs 425
- Kama vanilla and oatmeal soap. MRP Rs 395
- Nail paint from the face shop. MRP Rs 100 (not kidding)
Got the samples of Kama hair intensive treatment free. It is basically an oil.

And bought hand sanitise from The Body Shop for Rs 350. I love their hand sanitisers... they last long and smell good. This is my second bottle.

Kama is a new brand in Sephora. I am glad because I wanted to try it out. 

I had the day off and KC didn't, so the entire day was mine to do anything at leisure. It has been 6 months in Gurgaon and I had not visited Sarojini Nagar... so thats where I went.
I reached around 11 am before it started getting crowded. Also, at this time shopkeepers are desperate for 'boni' or 1st sale of the day and bargaining is easier.

There is a stall which sells only tee shirts... they don't have too many colour options... mainly white and black but the quality is awesome. I went there specially to stock up on tees. It cost me 300 bucks each but the quality is as good as any mall brand... even better.

This is a crop top.

How cute are these prints... elephant and bicycle and the neon colours... for 200 bucks each. 

French connection tees for 200 bucks each... the vendor refused to bargain...

And my favourite... light jackets... can even be worn in summer... 200 bucks each.

A crochet jacket for 200 bucks. I don't own anything of crochet and so bought this... but it will be a little tricky to style this. It could end up looking tacky.

 Here are some tips on shopping at SR:

• Timing is very important. Markets like SR are generally very crowded. Avoid them on weekends as much as possible. If weekday shopping is not an option, go in the morning... around 11 or 12. 
• Carry a large bag... specially if you are travelling by metro. The small stalls only give white polythene which can tear easily. Or you can buy a big, ugly bag for less than 100 bucks. I would suggest carrying a bag. 
• SR does have parking but I think metro is extremely comfortable. It costs 20-30 bucks by auto from the station. Also, traffic to INA is killing. Last time it took us 2 hours by car. Metro is the best option
• SR is a confusing place... even marking landmarks don't help. The vendor for the French Connection tees refused to bargain and I went looking for an ATM. Guess what, I forgot the way... thought the vendor was at the end of the market and went round and round looking for it... it was actually in the centre and I crossed it 4 times. 
• Avoid footwear and purses. Even footwear bought from the shops have not lasted very long and I paid 700 bucks for a pair. Not all of them are bad... but I am not happy. The purses' quality also isn't good. My last purchase broke the 1st time I used it. Stick to clothes. 
• SR is basically a market with factory seconds or rejects. Most companies like Zara, H&M, Atmosphere, Mango etc manufacture in India. The rejects (mostly with minor defects) are sold off (illegally). They end up in SR. Check before you purchase. I have not come across major defects and the quality is pretty good. Minor issues can be resolved at the local tailor. Some of my purchases have been better than mall stuff. Even Zara and Mango sales have factory seconds... how is SR any worse?
• Size can be an issue. The first time I went to SR I bought shorts with size 32. On coming home I realized they are low waist and 34 would have been better. Thankfully, I lost inches and they fit very well now. But... always buy a size larger. You can get it altered easily. Don't believe the vendors... they are just trying to sell off their stuff and will not hesitate to tell you that it is the right size. Another thing vendors do is stretch the top or dress or pants (if they have elastic) and make you buy a smaller size. You don't want the elastic stretching itself and biting into your flesh. 
• Bargain... I am always a little shy initially. Always start at 50% of the price quoted by a vendor. Don't budge from your rate... the vendor will come around... 9 out of 10 times. Not kidding. I got everything at the rate I quoted
• In case a vendor does not come around, bargaining won't help. You cannot have an ego while shopping. I generally walk away and if he does not call me back I return after sometime to buy it at the vendor's price. 
• Carry enough cash. There are only 2 ATMs in SR and there is always a queue. I keep around 2k in my wallet 'coz I am generally tempted to use all the money. 
• Wash the clothes at home. They are generally hung outside and have mud and dirt on them
• SR generally has trends... most stalls will have a similar trend. They don't all have same clothes (like Lokhandwala in Mumbai). Example, last time it was pallazzo pants... they were everywhere. This time it was animal, funky prints. 

And this is my haul from Forever21. 

- Red pants... really cool

- Satin tops in blue and sea green... yep, bought same style in different colours

- Round, neon earrings

- Necklaces... trying to sport the new trend of wearing necklace with everything. Still not confident enough to wear large pieces... so have bought smaller pieces. 

I hauled some stuff from the Body Shop website. All this was at 50% off. Guess what, it wasn't on discount on the website.

Ginger sparkle hand wash- Love the range of Ginger Sparkle. It should be part of the permanent collection. MRP Rs 695.

Peppermint foot soak- This is part of my weekly/fortnightly regime. I went to the store looking for this expecting it to be at 50% off. It wasn't. So glad I found it on the website. MRP Rs 950.

Passion Fruit Body butter- I hauled this for the balance winter. Smells amazing. MRP Rs 1095.

I ordered on Sunday and received it today. Fast delivery... just wish they didn't have delivery charges of Rs 200.

I hauled the new launches from L'Oreal and Maybelline recently.

 L'Oreal shine caresse lipstick and Maybelline lip polish gloss.

I bought the L'Oreal shine caresse listick in Juliette from nykaa.com. I love these lipstick/glosses. They need a little effort in the beginning but the texture is amazing.
This is a lip stain and not a lipstick/gloss. The colour depends on the colour of your lips... a lighter colour may not show up on pigmented lips. A darker colour may show up differently on different coloured lips.

Juliette is a red coloured stain. I need to apply 2-3 times for it to apply evenly. It stays on all day and looks glossy throughout. Unlike other stains it does not become matte... I really like that. It comes off a little on eating a heavy meal and needs to be re-touched.
Overall, I love the lip stains and have already purchased more shades. Priced at Rs 499 they are quite cheap (considering it is L'Oreal).

Another product I really love is Maybelline lip polish. This shade is glam 6 and priced at Rs Rs 450. It is a dark berry colour in the tube but comes on berry pink on the lips.

The gloss stays on for 4-5 hours... and leaves a pink stain. I love it. I am planning to purchase another 2-3 shades. 

I went to the mall after work to check out the sales. After a long time I bought something from Inglot. Their new launches are generally not too exciting. I wish they would follow MAC strategy and launch a new collection every month. That will keep things fresh.

Top row, Left to right- Mattifying loose powder, pastel nail paints
Bottom row, left to right- eyelash curler, gel top coat, nail whitener

The SA applied the mattifying powder on one half of my face. I left the mall, took the auto and reached home in 1-1.5 hours. The right side of the face (where powder was applied) was 80% less oiler than the left side of the face (which did not have any powder). I have very, very oily skin and am automatically attracted to anything which says "matte". I am going to hit pan on my L'Oreal true match compact.

I read on a blog the comparison between Colorbar and Inglot eyelash curler. Apparently, the latter is much, much better than the former. It curls the eyelashes better and holds the curl longer. I have the former and have now picked up the latter. I wear mascara everyday and a good eyelash curler is a must.

My nails have become yellow despite applying Sally Hansen nail whitener as base coat before every application of nail paint. I have decided to try the Inglot nail whitener. It already seems better than the Sally Hansen one.

The SA showed me the gel top coat. It seals the nail paint and prevents chipping giving it a gel effect. I liked what I saw when I tried it in the store. The only problem is that it is not quick drying. I will use it when I have ample time to spend on my nails (once a week). 

I was at My My store in A'bad yesterday and ended up buying some products (apart from Lingerie).

Left to Right:

• Victoria's Secret Coconut Passion body Lotion: MRP Rs 680 for 250 ml. It is pricey but I have used it earlier. It was part of my Vellvette box in Oct'12. Link here. I loved the body lotion then and decided to buy it.
• Victoria's Secret Coconut Passion body mist: What I liked about the lotion was that the fragrance lasted so long... that is what made me buy the body mist. Rs 620 for 250 ml.
• Olay Regenerist eye lifting serum: I have been on the lookout for a good eye care product. I hate the lines and darkness under my eyes. Hope this works. Rs 899
• TRESemme curl hydration shampoo: I have been looking for a shampoo for curly/permed hair. Kerastase is too expensive and I cannot afford to buy it since I prefer to wash my hair everyday. I picked up this product. MRP is Rs 1400 for 946 ml. This is not available in India. It is through the grey market. I wish I had picked up the conditioner too. 

I am becoming a little obsessed with Lush despite the not so great shower smoothie last time. Actually, there are such few options in the market for body washes that Lush seems heaven sent.

I have been using a shower gel for more than 4 years now. Like everyone else in India, I used soap... then, I joined a travelling job and soaps became inconvenient. Carrying a wet soap and soap dish in a bag is torture. I have been hooked to body washes since. Also, they don't dry my skin unlike soaps.

Despite all this I decided to buy a soap from Lush. I bought the Lemon soap. MRP Rs 300 for 100 gm. The SA told me it will last for 20 baths. Lets see.



I also decided to try the solid shampoo. The last soap cum shampoo I used was Shikakai as a kid. Anyone remember it? Of course, Lush seanik solid shampoo is nowhere close to shikakai. I love the humorous writings on the pack. MRP Rs 620 for around 100 gm. The SA told me it will last for 80 washes which is more than 3 months for me. I use it on alternate days. If it lasts that long I wouldn't consider it expensive.



The soap is blue in color with some green.

These are my recent purchases:







Left to right: Body shop strawberry mist, Body shop strawberry body lotion, L'Oreal Color Riche nail paint, Maybelline color tattoo eye shadows





Body Shop Strawberry body mist 100 ml for Rs 645



Body Shop Strawberry Puree Body Lotion 250 ml for Rs 515





L'Oreal Color Riche nail paints 5 ml for Rs 225- Left to right- Midnight Mistress, Caron Noisette, Purple Disturbia, BBeige Countess





Maybelline color tattoo 4 gm for Rs 350- Top row left to right- Fierce and Tangy, Bad to the Bronze, Painted Purple

Bottom row left to right- Pomegranate Punk, Audacious Asphalt, Edgy Emerald

Hiya... I have been away and so no posts. My digital camera has conked off... beyond repair. One moment it was good and next moment gone. I will buy a new one this weekend. Currently, I am using my hubby's camcorder so please bear with me. The pics are a little hazy.

After work I was quite bored and decided to visit the SelectCity walk mall. Below is the Lush haul. I bought the Body Shop products few days back. 






Body Shop Peppermint Reviving Foot Soak: I have been using a shampoo as foot soak and decided to try this. There are not many options in the market for foot soak.







I have been looking for a good eye cream to prevent the puffiness, remove dark circles and fine lines. I picked this up from TBS.



















It is part of the Nutriganics collection







I actually went to Lush to buy the full jar of the shower jelly and came across this. Dreamwash Shower Smoothie. It has talc and makes the skin soft and smooth.













I like to experiment with masks and don't mind paying more for them. I picked up Cupcake which has a chocolate scent. It is for oily skin.

Hiya. I was in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj and as is my regular habit I strolled into MAC. I didn't expect to find or like anything there. I am familiar with their regular products and have loads of them. None of their recent new collections have excited me. Also, I had visited the Gurgaon store over the weekend and they had the same old stuff. I was surprised to see 3 new collections. I don't know the names or inspiration for the collection- not that it matters.

Collection 1: Mineral make up: a selection of mineral eye shadows and blushes. I am not into mineral make up, yet. I am yet to understand what the whole deal is.

Collection2: Coloured mascaras... drool. I have Max Factor's blue mascara but the colour does not show on my lashes. I wondered if MAC would be the same. There are mascaras in purple, burgundy, darker purple and black. I bought purple and I could see the colour in light. In low light, it will not be visible. MRP- Rs 1000. There are also 4 shades of pro longwear lipsticks, nail paints and a really cute blush with polka dots. I wanted to buy the blush but I don't apply so much blush to justify its purchase.

Collection 3: Lip and cheek stains. I liked this... there are 8 shades of stains. I bought "Keep it loose" which is very light and natural. I am not a fan of pink blushes. MRP- Rs 1300.

Then I went to Select Citywalk Mall. They have the entire collection while in Ambience some products are stocked out. As a habit, I strolled into Inglot and asked them about any new launches. Guess what, they also have new coloured mascaras- brown, bright blue, dark blue, purple and green. I bought dark blue 'coz I don't want 2 funky mascaras. One is enough. MRP- Rs 600. It cost me around 500 bucks after the 15% discount since I hold the Inglot member card. I wanted to kick myself for buying from MAC. As a general rule, I buy make up from Inglot and if I cannot find something there, I go to MAC. Inglot has similar or better products at lower prices.

My next stop was Lush. I have read soooo much about it and wanted to try out something... anything... but didn't want to pinch my wallet for it. I mean, 700 bucks for 100 gm of scrub or face wash? Really? Are they kidding me? I bought a shower jelly for 370 bucks (100 gm). I need a shower cream anyway.