Hi there, my darlings! It should come as no surprise to my long-time readers that I absolutely love discovering, supporting and sharing smaller, newer brands. As a blogger who got her start in the indie world, I have a profound respect for small business owners. Time and time again, over the years, I've found that the quality of products created by smaller brands are often at par with, if not better than some of the larger brands you see on the market. Why? Because these people are incredibly passionate about their product and put their heart and soul into their brand. And it shows! Today, I'd like to share one such brand that I've recently had the opportunity to try out--Pencil Me In Cosmetics and their dramatic eyeliner set!


A little about the brand:

Linda Eisner is the founder of Pencil Me In Cosmetics. Linda has over 35 years’ experience designing, developing & creating cosmetics to meet the specifications and requirements of her private label customers. She has secured her place as an industry expert, not only in cosmetic pencils but also in how to private label manufacture cosmetics. In November of 2007, Linda decided to create, Pencil Me In. She wanted to develop a simple eyeliner pencil formula in a variety of great colors. She wanted a pencil that would apply smoothly, last all day and not cost a fortune. Linda wanted her pencils to have the perfect consistency, payoff, and long lasting wear-ability and contain non-irritating ingredients. Linda was able to meet her goals when she created Pencil Me In.




Curious about the pencils themselves? Here's a quick snapshot:

These eyeliner pencils offer a silky smooth long lasting non-irritating formula available in 30 fun colors. Each pencil has its’ own built-in sharpener in the cap. Pencil Me In does not contain potentially harmful petroleum, paraben or gluten. The pencils are individually shrink wrapped to be hygienic, eco-friendly & tamper proof. The colors we chose are not the ordinary eyeliner shades currently in the marketplace. The shades range from vivid purple to frosted shades of blue and green to metallic bronze to subtle glitter. There are sensational choices for people of all races, genders and skin tones. The pencils are highly concentrated with pigment so pressing hard and repeating the line is not necessary.



Let me begin by saying that I generally much prefer retractable eyeliners. I mean, who wants to go through the trouble of sharpening a pencil every time you use it! Add the possibility of splinters or unevenly sharpened edges and I tend to steer clear.

That being said, I really do like these pencils. I found them to be really soft and smooth, a departure from what I expect from eyeliner pencils. They glide on very easily and are incredibly pigmented, so you don't have to bother with multiple strokes. Admittedly, the little sharpener on each cap is very handy because I, for one, can never find a sharpener to save my life! But, old habits die hard and I still prefer retractable liners, as beautiful as these are. So, while I will definitely use these, I would have been a total convert if they were retractable.




The swatches below show one clean, continuous stroke of each liner. I have to say, the colors are just gorgeous and infinitely wearable!


FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT: Amethyst, Lapis, Jet Sparks, Onyx, Silky Suede and Snow

So there you have it, my darlings! You can pick up your favorite shades for the price of $6.99 or grab the dramatic eyes set for $40. Available on their site HERE

You can find Pencil Me In Cosmetics through the social media outlets below :

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
Youtube



Do you prefer retractable or sharpened pencils for your eyeliner? What do you think of this set? Which of these colors do you like? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!









****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****


Hi there, my darlings! Let me just start off by saying that I'm unashamedly, admittedly, searingly jealous of all of my US readers right about now. Why? Because while you guys are enjoy the wonderful Spring weather in most parts of the country, it's BOILING over here! 100 degrees in the shade and it's not going to get any better any time soon! Blergh. But let me not get too carried away over here, I guess I'll just have to live vicariously through some of you! Speaking of Spring, does anything say Spring quite like beautiful florals? Be it a delicate, floral scent or rosy Spring shades, flowers and Spring are pretty much synonymous! That's why it seems like the perfect time to talk about Pixi Beauty's pretty Hello Rose! collection!


Here's a little about the collection in a nutshell:

Kit contains: 

  • Glow Booster in PinkPearl : This radiance enhancing lotion primes perfectly
  • Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold: Sheer mineral-infused powder tops off any look, turning dullness into lush radiance. Sheer pink sheen white gold highlight
  • LipLift Max in Sheer Rose: Our bestselling lip plumping gloss finishes off this glow-getting look!
  • Not tested on animals




Let's talk about the Glow Booster first, since that was what caught my eye right off the bat when I opened this kit. If I need to describe this shade in one word: GORGEOUS! It's pretty intense so a little would go a long way. Now, since this pale pinky shade is a tad bright on my complexion, I just mix a couple of drops with my favorite BB cream for a subtle but pretty glow. If you have fair skin, I think you can use a couple of dabs right out of the tube--it's quite blendable so you can use it as sparingly or as boldly as you please!

Coming to the gloss, I like it for the most part. It's ever-so-slightly tinted and has a wonderful, tingly, pepperminty taste which I found quite pleasing. Does it work to plump your lips? It certainly seemed to do the trick for me! My lips did look fuller with it on. The only drawback for me personally is that it's a bit sticky so I prefer to add just a thin layer it on some of my more drying matte formulas for that extra bit of oomph!




Last but definitely not the least, the Blush/Highlighter duo. The rosy blush and the pale rose gold highlighter seem like the perfect Spring combination. I love the texture and feel of both--so smooth, so easy to blend! Perfect for those delicate, pretty, glowy Spring looks!




So there you have it, my darlings! You can pick up the Hello Rose! kit on Pixi Beauty's site HERE for the price of $22.00-a total steal! Shipping within the US is free over $25!

Not in the US? Pixi Beauty ships globally through their UK site HERE. Free shipping over £35 is such great news!


Don't forget to follow Pixi Beauty through the social media outlets below for all the latest about their products:

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter
Youtube


What do you think of this kit? Which product catches your eye? Tell me in the comments section below!










****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****


Hi there, my darlings! So, as many of you among my readers in the Western World are enjoying a beautiful, if unseasonably warm Spring, some of us here in the Eastern World are all but melting. Let me just tell you, the heat is no joke...and it's only April! I can't even begin to imagine the torture that May and June will bring. *shudder* But if there is a saving grace to the summers anywhere in the world, at least for me, it's the license to go all out with bold colors. Maybe that's why India is known for all these rich, vibrant hues...? Anyways, summer is very much here in India and from the looks of it, just around the corner in the US. While I will still share Spring favorites throughout the month of April and into May, I can't help but share a new fave of mine which is pretty much perfect for the warmer months--Kiss New York Professional's Demeter palette!


A little bit about this palette and her sisters, if, like me, you're new to the brand:

A set of 12 universally favored eyeshadow colors delivered in a variety of textures
  • Transform your look from natural to glam
  • Versatile colors suited for every occasion
  • Soft, velvety and blend-able texture provides crease free wear
  • High performance brush included
  • Inspired by Korean beauty




I'll admit it right off the bat, the very first thing that attracted me to this palette were the shimmery shades. Now I love me some shimmer! Especially the gold and teal shades shown below!

But, let's be honest, shimmer can be a pain. You have to deal with fall-out and blending can often be a challenge. Well, you're in luck with this palette! I can honestly say that the shimmery shades didn't have anything but minimal fallout and blending was not that much of a challenge, given the fine, smooth texture of the shades.




If I have to mention a con, I would probably turn to the pigmentation of a few of the shades. Some of these shades are not very pigmented. The swatches below are several swipes of each and even then, you really can't even make out some of the shades (read: the peaches). If you really layer them on, I think these couple of shades would be more noticeable. It might just be my skin tone and undertones but I would just use these shades for more natural looks.

On the other hand, there's that gold and the teal. Both very pigmented and built up quite nicely. At the price point, there are enough shades that I really like and work for me that I found this palette a pretty good addition to my stash!




Oh and did I mention the adorable, little hand-held mirror that was included with the palette? Because, come on! Every goddess needs a hand-held mirror, right?! ;)




So there you have it, my darlings! You can find the Demeter palette, along with two other Goddess palettes, on Kiss New York Professional's website HERE for the price of $16.


You can find Kiss New York Professional through the social media outlets below :

Facebook
Instagram
YouTube


What do you think of this palette? Do the colors appeal to you? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!









****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****



Hi there, my darlings! So, remember when I told you awhile back that my poor phone, that I pretty much used to take all my blog photos, just went and died on me? Yeah, that was no fun. As a blogger, it becomes a matter of instinct to take your photos as soon as you open a press package...and that's pretty much what I had done before my big move. And all those photos...poof! But, I like to think of myself as a silver-lining kinda girl, for the most part anyway. So, I had to re-take all my photos, yes. And my photos this time around may not be as pristine or untouched but the good news is that I tested these products for a good long while, in two very different climates. So, when I say I have found some new favorites, the proof is very much in the pictures! What am I talking about? The Zoya Perfect Lipsticks, that's what! That's right, Zoya is no longer only about fabulous nail polish--they have forayed into the world of color cosmetics and boy! They created some winners!


First, a little intro, in case you haven't seen these around yet:

ZOYA PERFECT LIPSTICK

Your favorite long-wearing nail polish brand, Zoya, now has a full line-up of gorgeous lipsticks.

Perfect Lipstick by Zoya provides the perfect balance of color selection, hydration and pigment density all in a long-wearing formula you will love!

  • CLASSIC CREAM FORMULA: keeps lips moist for hours without the mess.
  • UNFLAVORED
  • LASTS 4-6 HOURS: without drying or cracking.
  • VEGAN FRIENDLY
  • PERFECT BALANCE: between pigment & base creates a lightweight yet well pigmented formula.
  • PERFECT COLOR PALETTE: for any skintone.
AVAILABLE IN 12 PERFECT COLORS:

  • Belle (ZLS13): a hydrating mid-range pink with a gold shimmer frost finish.
  • Brooke (ZLS09): a dewy mauve cream with a pearl kissed finish.
  • Cameron (ZLS04): a hydrating nude neutral with a cream finish.
  • Candy (ZLS11): a cool-toned, bright pink hydrating cream with a medium coverage finish.
  • Frankie (ZLS07): a bright scarlet red in a hydrating, satin cream finish.
  • Georgia (ZLS06): a delicious berry red in a hydrating, satin cream finish.
  • Jasmine (ZLS14): a hydrating deep fuchsia plum with a cream finish.
  • MatteVelvet Red (ZLS01): a cool toned red with a velvety matte finish.
  • Maxwell (ZLS08): a deep plum with a subtle metallic fleck in a matte finish.
  • Mellie (ZLS12): a hydrating red-pink cream with a medium coverage finish.
  • Paisley (ZLS05): an easy to wear, blush-rose hydrating neutral cream.
  • Wren (ZLS10): a hydrating rosy nude with a cream finish.




    Now, the majority of these beauties are creams, which are pretty great for the colder seasons in the US. I personally loved Frankie and Georgia while I was in NYC. Several of the creams, like the two I mentioned as well as Candy and Mellie, are super pigmented so you still get the color pay-off while enjoying the hydrating effects of the cream formula.

    While in India, my go-tos have been Matte Velvet Red and Maxwell. I could seriously wax eloquent about both these shades! Perfect for my medium skin tone, both shades have that wow factor that one looks for in a berry shade. Plus they do NOT budge! Are they comfortable to wear, considering they're so long-lasting? Yes, they sure are! As a blogger, I test any product that comes my way at least once but rarely do they become a part of my makeup bag. Those who shades I mentioned are the exceptions!

    The lighter, nude shades I've passed along to a few paler-skinned friends who report that they love it! In fact, for one of those friends, it's one of the few lipsticks she now owns and loves!

    The only one that was a bit of a surprise for me was Brooke. I honestly expected the shade to be much more pigmented just by the looks of it, whereas in reality it just gives the barest tint of color. If you prefer to layer your lipsticks or go au naturel, this one is definitely one to try!



    TOP ROW, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Belle, Brooke, Cameron, Candy, Frankie, Georgia
    BOTTOM ROW, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Jasmine, Matte Velvet Red, Maxwell, Mellie, Paisley, Wren

    So there you have it, my darlings! The Zoya Perfect Lipsticks can be found now on Zoya's website HERE for the price of $12--pick up your fave shades and see what I'm talking about!


    Don't forget to follow Zoya through the social media outlets below :

    Facebook
    Instagram
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    Youtube
    Blog


    Which of these gorgeous shades caught your eye? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!












    ****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****



    Hi there, my darlings! Um, so...I've been a bad, bad blogger. I've been off visiting my sister in Bombay (ok fine, Mumbai, as the locals call it now) for the past few weeks and somewhere along the way I lost my mojo. I mean, every night, I told myself, "Self, must write a post. Just one post. Baby steps. ANY post will do." And as my rebellious self is often wont to do, it paid absolutely no attention. So me, myself and I spent 5 whole weeks just lounging around in my nightie, binge watching Supernatural on Amazon Prime Video (which is AWE-zum, by the way) and spending time with the lil one whenever she wasn't working. Oh, and I cooked. SO. MUCH. FOOD.

    And so, while I was very diligently procrastinating, 5 weeks flew by and hardly a post went up. The shame, the horror. Now, I'm not going to begin this post by promising you the moon. Because, seriously, you, my beloved reader, probably don't want the moon. You just want a post or two! But I won't promise regular posting either because well, promises are meant to be broken. All I will say that lots and lots and LOTS of amazing products have made their way into my lightbox and my makeup stash so...there is hope.

    In the meantime, I'm easing myself back in. Literally. Because this post is all about Spa Week and a little twist. As many of you know, I'm no longer in NYC. About this, I have mixed feelings. There was much about NYC that had worn me down (read; the exhausting commutes, the frenetic pace, the astounding price of rent and/or a cup of coffee) but there is also much I miss desperately about the Big City. As a blogger, almost all the best brands were there, everyday one came across the launch of a new brand and most importantly, there was always something fun happening. Take Spa Week, for example. While Spa Week is a national phenomena, with spas offering discounted prices across the US, it was always a special time for me, at least. Why? Simply because I always got to take advantage of a fabulous massage or facial at an even more fabulous price!

    Needless to say then, when I was offered the opportunity to visit one of NYC's finest salons for a complimentary service in anticipation of Spa Week, I REALLY missed being in the city. But, I'm a glass half-full kinda girl and so I decided to see if I could arrange for a good friend to go in my stead. This way, I was able to gift her a lil treat and still be able to share the news, as well as her experience, with all of you. Win-win, if you ask me! Read on to learn all about my friend, Joanne's experience.


    WHERE: Bioxage Spa at Roosevelt Hotel

    Introducing the science to beauty and wonder, and the art to mind and body leisure; Bioxage Spa offers extraordinary design and comfort amidst the busy and hustling city of New York. Bioxage Spa provides wide selection of services from classic manicure and pedicure, advanced facial treatments to specialized massage therapies. The spa’s signature treatments include Gold Mud and Bioxage Facials, Discovery and Deep Tissue Massages and it’s very own Bioxage Plus Manicure and Pedicure. Bioxage Spa also offers a variety of waxing services, exclusive Dead Sea Skincare products and complimentary refreshments.

    You are invited to join us for an exceptional experience at Bioxage.








    WHAT: Oxygen Facial with LED Therapy

    This facial treatment stimulates blood circulation and increases the delivery of essential nutrients to the skin. This facial is designed to make the skin look brighter, more hydrated & more radiant than before. Moreover, this facial provides an instant glowing skin after the treatment.






    Joanne's Experience:

    At this point in my life I would call my skin very well behaved. In the winter I get dry flaky spots on my face and I tend to oiliness all year round but there aren't any big surprises. My regular routine includes cleanser, toner, and moisturizer with weekly exfoliation. The occasional facial treatment is just a little extra oomph to clear out any of that deep down dirt or get rid of all of the winter dullness and dryness. I was excited for Bioxage's Deep Cleansing Facial to wake my skin up after winter. Bioxage spa is located in a convenient spot in Midtown, tucked under the Roosevelt Hotel. It's on a quieter street which makes inside a calming environment. I was greeted and asked to fill out a questionnaire about my skin and regular routine which is a standard for all spas. Then I was taken into the treatment room where I removed all clothes above my waist and got under the sheet on the bed (it's always weird to get under covers with your pants on but also weird to take them off when not asked). The room was warm and the lights dimmed for ambience. There was no music coming in to the room itself but I could hear a little of the music from the reception area, light tinkly piano instrumentals. There was no noise from street traffic so it was a calm and relaxing environment. The esthetician came back in to the room and started by tucking my hair away from my forehead with a terry cloth headband and examining my face under a bright light (keep your eyes closed for this part!). Then she applied a lotion cleanser and a foaming cleanser which smelled like cherry and vanilla. It was a stronger scent than I was used to for face products but not unpleasant. Next came an exfoliating cleanser with a nice little face massage. After that the steam was turned on and she left the room. I was left to marinate with the steam directed at my face for about 10 minutes. It's sort of like being in a sauna and it's pretty relaxing. When she came back she gave me an arm massage which reminded me that sitting at a computer all day really messes up your muscles. Next came extractions. They're not the most pleasant of experiences - there is some pain - but I don't feel like a facial is really worth the money unless they happen. The bright light was turned back on and directed at my face. She started out with a very light hand on my forehead but then really went to work on my nose. I guess those pore strips don't do enough to clear out dirt and oil. She did a few more on my chin and jawline and then applied what I suspect was an LED wand to kill bacteria or reduce wrinkles (not that I have any! haha). That made occasional zapping feelings like static shock which were startling but not outright painful. Then there was another lotion type of cleanser which was left on my face while she gave me a shoulder and neck massage. After the cleanser was removed she applied lotion and massaged it into my face. The total time was exactly an hour, they've really got the timing down. I left feeling very relaxed and clean, if not a tad bit greasy from the massage oil. Now the challenge is to not touch my face and ruin her hard work! Bioxage has a full menu of facials and massage treatments, as well as manicures, pedicures and waxing. I would definitely return to Bioxage for another facial or perhaps a massage.




    She even took a selfie for us after her treatment! What a sport!




    So there you have it, my darlings! Want a spa session at a price you can't beat? Treat yourself or a loved one to a Spa Week gift card! Here's a little bit about them and the offer!

    About: In 2004, the Spa Week Event was launched in NYC with the goal to bring the spa & wellness experience to the masses by offering full service treatments, normally costing hundreds of dollars, for just $50 dollars each. It’s now a bi-annual event that takes place all over the US. We’ve expanded over the years with the launch of our Spa & Wellness Gift Cards which are accepted at over 9,000 spa & wellness locations across North America (including Yoga and Pilates studios). Besides being available online, you can purchase our gift cards in over 60,000 retail locations (including Target, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens and many more). A few of the popular locations that accept our cards include: Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Marriott and The Bar Method.

    Celebrating thirteen years of spreading a health and wellness message around the globe, Spa Week is Back for it's biannual Spring Spa Week Event. From April 17th-23rd, indulge in Spa Week’s $50 full service treatments. Book your appointment now.

    Just click on the image below to grab yours!


    Spa and Wellness Gift Card


    Are you looking forward to Spa Week? Tell me what service you're most looking forward to in the comments section below!






    ***Affiliate links present in this post.***
    Back to Top