CLOTHES, MAKEUP & HOMEWARE HAUL

I have found myself indulging in shopping more than usual, which is totally not okay as the holidays are just around the corner and I need to be saving for presents. But in my defense you need to spoil yourself every now and again if you work hard to earn that money! I shared the items I have accumulated over the last little bit over on my youtube channel. So if you are interested in watching everything that I picked (perhaps even get some present ideas), then watch the video above!

What item was your favorite?

❤

ALL ABOUT COLOR CORRECTORS: CHEATSHEET

Do you often find yourself super confused about all this color correcting business. When I first started using makeup, I would be so confused as to why they had purple, orange and green "foundation" on the makeup shelves (never really cared to read the labelling). It was over the past couple of years that I started to understand the purpose of using a color corrector. I still sometimes tend to get a little confused with which color cancels out what on skin tone. After doing a fair bit of research, one simple thing you need to remember is that think of the color wheel; which I am sure all of you learned about at some point as a child.

In a nutshell, the colors across the wheel cancel each other out.

{image via theblondshell}

1. Green Concealers: If you redness on your skin, whether it be from cystic acne or just general redness around your skin, apply a green concealer on the areas affected and then apply your foundation on top for even skin tone.

2. Purple Concealer: If you have very yellow undertones in your skin, then apply purple concealer to make your skin appear more awake and lustrous prior to foundation application.

3. Yellow Concealer: This color tone is ideal for covering veins which tend to be blue/purple or to conceal any purple tones under the eyes. 

4. Orange Concealer: Orange tones are generally used by people with dark skin tone to cover any dark circles or skin discoloration.

5. Pink concealer: This is one of the most commonly used color correctors for under dark under eye circles; by applying orange tones prior to applying concealer, your eyes will instantly appear brighter and more awake. Especially great if you are going for a very highlighted look!

6. Neutral Concealer: The neutral/white concealers are perfect for when highlighting features on your face. Applying a little bit on your cheek bones prior to applying highlighter, or applying it on your brow bones can help to make the highlight appear more defined and prominent.

I hope you find this little guide helpful next time you are trying to choose a color corrector!

❤

FALL MAKEUP LOOK TUTORIAL

I always love fall for the reason that I can rock dark vampy lips to match the weather and atmosphere around this time of the year. I know a lot of girls feel a bit intimidated wearing a dark lip as it may be out of your comfort zone. I also used to feel that way, but pulling off dark lips is something that definitely grows on you, the more you wear it. Before you know it you'll be rocking all the dark colors without any hesitation!

I created this look with the main focus on the lips by keeping the eyes somewhat neutral. I went with brown/goldy tones from the Urban Decay Naked palette and paired it with the Pink Orchid Studio Lashes in Lolita that I got from the Pop-up sale (more about that here). Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the look and you can follow the step by step tutorial linked below!

Let me know if any of you try this look!

What is your favorite go-to makeup look for Fall?

❤

SKULLS, FRINGE AND AN OWL: FASHION POST

As the weather gets a bit chillier, I have been pulling out my favorite jumpers from my closet! This happens to be one of my favorite jumpers as it can be dressed up with jeans and heeled boots but also dressed down as I have done with this outfit. I recently picked up the fringed bag from H&M which adds a fun touch to any outfit! I got the boots from Forever21 a couple years ago. I particularly love these boots because the heel is wooden which is quite unusual for inexpensive shoes. Last but not least, my favorite Owl necklace EVER (I can't remember where I got it from.)

What is your go to comfortable outfit for fall?

❤

PINK ORCHID STUDIO POP UP SALE HAUL

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Pink Orchid Studio pop up sale. I have heard tons of great reviews for their products and I have been meaning to get my hands on some of the POS items.  I managed to pick up the gel liner in Moody Blue which is a deep navy blue liner with little bits of shimmer. I think it would make for a perfect base for a dramatic blue smokey eye! I also picked up the much talked about gel liner in Black Caviar. Both of these liners are smudge, sweat, tear (basically everything) proof. They retail for about $18 which is a steal of a deal for a great product. Since the liners are gel based, they glide on super easily and don't pull and tug on your delicate eye area, which is a complete plus!

I was given their newly released mink lashes in Princess and Lolita. The lashes retail for $25.95 and you can get 20-30 uses out of them. There's tons of different lashes to choose from on their website; ranging from more everyday wearable lashes to the more dramatic lashes which are especially great for indian makeup looks! So I will post a few makeup looks with the lashes and post a review on that in a couple of weeks. 

I think the next item on my list is their Morning After palette which has the perfect shades of browns, mauves and greys which is right up my alley!

{Makeout Bandit Eyeshadow Palette}

{Morning After Eyeshadow Palette}

{A range of Lip Glosses}

{POS Hair Extensions}

If you are interested in any of these products, they can be found on their website here!

Have you tried any of the items from the POS Cosmetics line?

❤

WHY YOU NEED TO INCORPORATE TURMERIC INTO YOUR DAILY DIET.

 If you are of South Asian origin, then turmeric is no news to you as it is used in most Indian culinary dishes. It wasn't until recent times, that the western world has been exposed to this powerful spice that is a staple ingredient in every Indian household.

Turmeric comes from a plant which is generally found in southwestern India and parts of south east Asia as it requires warmer temperatures to thrive. Turmeric has been used not only for cooking but also for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. It has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines due to its anti-inflammatory properties.  In a nutshell, the benefits of turmeric are endless.


Health benefits of Turmeric

• Powerful antioxidant- the antioxidant properties found in turmeric are known to fight cancer-causing free radicals in our body. Some studies have even shown that it helps to fight prostate, color and skin cancer.

• Helps with Digestion and Weight loss- perfect for after consuming a heavy, greasy meal as it stimulates the gall bladder into making more bile to breakdown the food more quickly. If you have digestive problems, this will be a holy grail ingredient in your kitchen!

• Reduces the risk of heart Disease- Turmeric is know to break down the buildup of "plaque" that results in clogged arteries.

• Fights colds and flu- Helps boost your immune system in fighting off bacterial and viral infections.

• Helps prevent Alzheimer's disease- One of the most common mental illnesses amongst south Asians can be warded off by incorporating turmeric into your diet. It is known to help break down particles that may clog blood vessels. As those blood vessels will receive more oxygen and remain active, it will reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease.

• Helps people with diabetes- Turmeric helps in maintaining a steady blood sugar level and reduces the "sugar highs" by leveling out the insulin/glucose activity in your body.

Uses for Turmeric

Eating
1) Add grated turmeric root or a pinch of turmeric powder into your smoothies
2) Add a small amount into quinoa, curries, soups or stirfrys
3) Make turmeric tea- you can find the recipe here
4) You can also take turmeric in the form of a pill if none of the methods above appeal to you

Here are some other ways to incorporate turmeric into your daily diet.

Beauty
1) You can add turmeric to any home made face mask. It helps to reduce acne, softens the lines and wrinkles amongst many other benefits. I will be doing another blog post on this topic in the near future, as this deserves its own post!

Where to purchase it

Most grocery stores carry turmeric powder generally in the ethnic foods aisle or the spice/seasoning aisle. Turmeric root may be a bit harder to find, so you will have search for it at indian/asian stores. I have not had a look at Whole Foods but I believe they might also carry it! If all fails then you can order both online.

Turmeric Root: http://www.amazon.com/Turmeric-Root-Whole-Organic-Grade/dp/B00FCJXSNK

Turmeric
Powder: http://www.amazon.ca/Jiva-Organics-Organic-Turmeric-Curcumin/dp/B00J5S4SEM

Do you currently have turmeric as a part of your healthy diet?

❤

FALL CANDLE HAUL| BATH AND BODY WORKS

If there is one thing that I love about autumn/winter, it is the thought of sitting by the fireplace, sipping on some hot chocolate with the scent of warm, fall candles circulating through the house . Candles are such a staple item in my apartment. They just help to add a little bit of drama and cozyness to a otherwise bland space. When it comes to candles, I have become a bit of a hoarder for the past couple of years. I particularly love Bath and Body Works candles because they have so many different scents to choose from and they burn a lot longer than some of the other candles I have bought in the past. Bath and Body Works generally also has specials on their products, especially the three wick candles which work out to about $12.50 each which is a complete bargain if you ask me! 

Japanese Cherry Blossom

Sweater Weather

Beautiful Day

Autumn

Napa Valley Sunset

I also filmed a video on these candles where I go into details about the scents and talk about some current deals going on at Bath and Body Works.

What are some of your favorite scented candles? I think I could add a few more to the ever-growing candle collection I have going on!



❤

ON MY BUCKETLIST: CINQUE TERRE, ITALY

Since visiting Italy back in 2012, I have always wanted to go back. From the moment I got there, I instantly fell in love with the laid back culture, the people of italy and the beautiful architecture. Recently I have found myself doing more and more research on this beautiful part of Itlay. Nestled on the coastline of north western Italy, it is safe to say that Cinque Terre (pronounced Chink-weh-Ter-eh) is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Cinque Terre comprises of 5 small fishing villages which date back to the early medieval periods. Cinque Terre also became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. This little piece of heaven not only has pristine white beaches, but is also home to vineyards, citrus orchards and olive groves.

The 5 villages of Cinque Terre each offer a unique and varied experience:

Vernazza: is the one that offers the picturesque, quaint port with bright coloured huts as the backdrop. Spend a day just strolling through the streets of this village or just sun tan near the beach!

Manarola: lies on top of the cliff which serves as a perfect spot to watch the sunset or just admire the beauty of this breathtaking village.

Riomaggiore: is the most popular and closes village to La Spezia (the main town) amongst the five. Most common routes to take are Vila D'ell amor (Way of Love) which leads into the next village Manarola. Another popular route taken visitors thorough the National Park of Cinque Terre.

Cornigelia: In order to get to Cornigelia, visitors need to take 300 steps to the top of the promontory to reach the village. It is surrounded by vineyards and terraces. Cornigelia is also home to the famous nudist beach, Giavano which lies directly below the village.

Monterosso: is perfect for trying out local restaurants, visiting artisan shops, wine shops and is also home to many B&Bs and other hotels which offer accommodations for tourists.

One of the best ways to get to Cinque Terre is through Rome as major airlines flying into the Fiumicino or Ciampino. Spend a few days in Rome and catch a train with about 3-4 hour journey to Cinque Terre. More detailed information on how to get to the villages can be found here. You can't tell me I haven't just convinced you to add this to your list of places to visit!

What are some of the places on your bucketlist? I would love to know!

❤

images:google

BALMAIN X HM: WISHLIST

Who else is excited for this collaboration? I literally cannot wait for the Balmain for HM collection, which comes out November 5th. Majority of the pieces in the collection are under $150 which is a complete steal of a deal for a brand like Balmain. There are a few items that are over $500, which is still great considering a regular Balmain piece would cost you thousands!

Love this satin skirt! $99

How sexy is this edgy top! $129

This dress is so similar to Kim Kardashian's Bachelorette dress! A complete bargain for549

A perfect statement piece! This necklaces screams Balmain $99

I'm loving mustard colors pieces recently! This is a perfect shade $129

This dress is perfect for formal events! $149

*drool* $199

This belt is perfect for taking a dress from classy to edgy $59.99

Need these headphones in my life ASAP. $49.99

Which pieces are your favorite in the Balmain x HM collaboration?

❤

5 SPOOKY DRINK RECIPES FOR HALLOWEEN.

{Mr.Hyde Potion}

{Black Devil Martini}

{Black Magic Cocktail}

 {Chocolate Pumpkin Gingerbread Martini}

{Zombie Slime Shooters}



Which one is your favorite?

❤