Dealing with the Dry Skin Season with Himalaya Herbals Winter Care Range

You know what is the worst part about the winters? Apart from the terribly chilly winds, cold, hard floors, and the lack of sunshine, of course. It's how dry and flaky your skin becomes. I hate heavy creams and moisturisers because they always make me break out. I was in a fix trying to figure out which products to get. I needed something that wouldn't give me pimples, and would moisturise my skin properly at the same time. I got a bunch of products from the Himalaya Herbals winter care range, which are alcohol and paraben-free. I personally love the Strawberry Shine Lip Balm because it's tinted and has staying power; the light and non-greasy Nourishing Skin Cream because it gets absorbed very fast and is not sticky; and the Revitalizing Night Cream and Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion because of how good it smells.

Here are all the products:

All the lotions and creams are light and non-greasy.

Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion (specially formulated for dry skin)

Purpose: Replenishes the lost moisture in dry skin.

Price: Rs.140 for 200ml

Nourishing Body Lotion

Purpose: Restores body's water content.

Price: Rs.140 for 200ml

Soothing Body Lotion

Purpose: Prevents skin from cracking and provides hydration.

Price: Rs.140 for 200ml

Nourishing Skin Cream

Purpose: Protects skin from pollution and dry weather.

Price: Rs.125 for 100ml

Winter Defense Cream

Purpose: Protects skin from environmental damage, repairs and deeply nourishes dry skin.

Price: Rs.125 for 100ml

Revitalizing Night Cream

Purpose: Works overnight with the skin's natural renewal cycle.

Price: Rs.250 for 50g

Clear Complexion Day Cream

Purpose: Clears complexion and gives a radiant glow.

Price: Rs.250 for 50g

Rich Cocoa Butter Body Cream

Purpose: Heals and prevents the skin from drying and cracking, protects skin from pollution-related damage, and its antioxidant properties makes skin more youthful.

Price: Rs.270 for 200ml

The Strawberry and Vanilla Lip Balms are enriched with 100% natural color, Vitamin E, and antioxidants. The best part about these lip balms is that they are free from preservatives, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and silicone.

Price: Rs.125 for 4.5gm

All these products are available at retail outlets in your city as well as online.

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Review Time: Himalaya Herbals Tan Removal Orange Peel-Off Mask

It has been 8 months since my last blog post. It somehow doesn't seem that long. That's probably because, for me, time seems to run at its own pace. Sometimes days and weeks blur in my mind. Is it a coping mechanism? I don't know. All I know is that I hate feeling disoriented, but today I woke up at 6:14pm feeling hyper and disoriented; I thought I was back at home for some reason. (I was there for 8 days, till this Thursday.) Everything was dark, and I couldn't find my phone. It scared me, I felt like I will never be able to get back home again. But now, here I am, about to write a review for a tan removal peel-off mask. Not everything has changed. At least, peel-off masks are still fun!

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When the Himalaya Herbals team reached out to me some time in May to review their latest Tan Removal Orange Peel-Off Mask, I readily agreed because I like their range products in general. When they sent a surprise package late in September, I had almost forgotten about it. The package contained a sun hat, a colorful stole, a pair of Rayban wayfarers in addition to the mask. The whole thing set the mood for a beach holiday, which, sadly, I haven't taken in over a year and a half.

Here's a little info about Himalaya Herbals Tan Removal Orange Peel-Off Mask:

It is an effective blend of Orange Peel and Honey which helps reduce skin tan from the very first use. Orange Peel helps control melanin synthesis with the peeling action helping to remove tan. Honey soothes and moisturizes skin. 

Key Ingredients:

• Orange Peel effectively removes tan the skin tone and can be very beneficial as it eliminates excess facial oil without damaging the skin. The Vitamin C and antioxidants present in Orange Peel work collectively on providing even-textured skin while acting as natural cleansers.
• Honey contains superior antibacterial, probiotic, and healing properties and is extremely nourishing and hydrating.

Personal Review: I applied the mask evenly after cleansing my face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes. It did smell a bit of chemicals at first, but thankfully it didn't stay for long. After about 15-20 minutes, when it dried off, I got to the fun part. I started removing the peel from the bottom of the face since pulling it down may harm the elasticity of your skin. I washed whatever was left behind with water. I did see a difference after the very first use. My face felt clearer, softer, and it felt cooler afterwards. I am not a fan of tanning (my first spa splurge was on a whole body anti-tanning treatment), and I am always looking for lazy ways to take care of it. I am glad Himalaya chose to come out with an anti-tan solution in the fun form of a peel-off mask, to be honest!

Tips: I have been using it once a week as that suits my skin better. I would suggest you do a patch test before using it on your face for the first time. While applying make the edges a bit thicker so that it's easier to peel off.

Himalaya Tan Removal Orange Peel-Off Mask is available in 50gm and 100gm is priced at Rs 70 and Rs. 130 respectively.  Available at retail outlets in your city and online.

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L'oreal Paris Skin Perfect Expert Skin Care Range Review

L'oreal Paris India, sent over their recently launched range of Skin Perfect Skin Care Range (20+, 30+, 40+) almost a month ago. But, as you guys know we were busy redoing the whole blog and every scheduled post got delayed. I just had to get the blog makeover out of my system first. Well good thing is that I got to use the product for almost a month before reviewing it for you. I have been using the 20+ cream and will be reviewing it in a subsequent post.

Essentially, each cream in this range is personalised to deal with the specific skin related issues we face at different decades of our lives. Each cream is equipped to give visible results within 4 weeks of use. The superior Vitamin 3x Technology used in this range will help fortify and replenish the vitality of your skin and give you healthy looking skin. Each product comes in 18gm tube form as well as 50gm cream tubs.

Age 20+ is a day cream which is accompanied with a cleansing foam. It has perlite which effects the complexion of the skin and makes it lighter, and salicylic acid that helps keep pimples and acne at bay. Priced at - INR99 for 18gm tube, INR325 for 50gm tub, INR105 for cleanser. 

Primary purpose - Anti-Imperfections+Whitening.

Age 30+ is a moisturising cream which is accompanied with a cleansing foam. It contains collagen to combat with fine lines that start appearing in your thirties. Priced at - INR149 for 18gm tube, INR425 for 50gm tub, INR135 for cleanser. 

Primary purpose - Anti-Fine Line+Whitening.

Age 40+ helps with the skin problems caused by ageing. It is packed with Pro-Retinol A which helps combat wrinkles and revitalises the skin. Priced at - INR595 for 50gm tub. 

Primary purpose - Anti-Ageing+Whitening.

My Thoughts

I am really bad at maintaining a skin care routine. I start enthusiastically, but then I stop after a few days. But, I like using creams that gives my skin a non-zombie appearance before leaving the house. So, BB creams and day cream types are right up my alley. My mother has gorgeous skin even post 50, with just minor fine lines here and there. And all the good features my parents have had me convinced when I was a kid, that I must have been adopted. Coming to the product at hand. These pots are simply designed. The tubs are made of glass with simple golden plastic lids. You can always use the tube versions first for trial purposes. I do find the fact that all of these creams are tagged "whitening" as potentially problematic. But, then again plenty of products in the Indian market are tagged the same to cater to the fair skin obsession of Indians. However, the Age 20+ cream has been a good enough day cream so far. It gives a light sheen to my face. And I quite like the slightly floral smell it has. More about that in a detailed review will be coming up shortly.

If you wish to contribute to the relief funds for the Nepal earthquake then please click *here*
 We are praying for those who lost their lives in today's tragedy.

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Bed Head TIGI India

As of 5th April, 2015, I have officially bid goodbye to good old fly songbird. That doesn't mean I have left behind my free flying days. A name change was needed. I have considered changing the name of the blog ever since it became a fashion and lifestyle blog as opposed to just being a personal blog where I wrote about everything that knocked at my brain. I have always maintained that a blog needs to stick to it's niche(it's very easy to say yes to brands who will pay you or give you lucrative freebies). Quality over quantity, people. And I have stuck to mine and an appropriate name was necessary. I have thought of names for years on and off. I have thought of buying a domain and redesigning the look of the blog on and off. But, always put it off for tomorrow. Always thinking I am still learning how to blog better and making mistakes here and there. This March my blogging journey completed a whole 5 years. And I put my foot down. I had to get my big ass moving and get all the changes done. The new look is simple and clean with a hint of colour and calligraphy, a good combo of everything I love in design, and life in general. Project Curve does not signify only the curves of a body, even though every curve and plane of a woman's body is celebrated here. This is a no body snark, only body love zone. And it will always remain so. But, this curve I speak of, signifies also the curve of life. The journey to anywhere is mired in following a lot bendy roads, there are seldom any straight lanes that take us to our destination. The curves make it fun. I have plans of launching a new segment soon. But, my "soons" are longer than your "soons".

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How many of you have used and love TIGI products? It is a hugely popular hair product range abroad. When I had just started discovering hair products that can do wonders to my otherwise straight hair, TIGI was one of the first brands I wanted to try. So, when it became available online a few years back (all heavens bless online shopping!) I was a very happy girl. But, I have even better news for all you city dwellers. TIGI will now be available in Calcutta, exclusively in select salons all over the city. Their Bead Head and S-factor ranges are coming to town. I was invited to the product launch event for a one-on-one styling session. I got into a tête–à–tête session with TIGI creative expert, Rohit Solanki as he styled my hair.

Q. What's the difference between the Bed Head and S-factor ranges?
Rohit ~ S-factor is more of a high end, luxury range. Whereas Bed Head is for the young at heart, the more spirited ones.

Q. Which city in India has the more experimental crowd in terms of hair styling?
Rohit ~ Bangalore for sure. It is not like the other cities. It is like a hub.

Q. How would you rate the Calcutta crowd?
Rohit ~ Most people in cities like Calcutta, Chennai and even Delhi love their lengths. They like a particular look. They are much more conservative.

Q. But, would you say the younger generation is moving away from conservative style choices now?
Rohit ~ Definitely. There has been a huge shift in the past few years, the young generation is definitely more aware of international trends. India and China especially are growing markets.

Q. Why are the TIGI products only available at salons?
Rohit ~ Well, the TIGI products are like medicine for your hair and the salon experts are like hair doctors. You should buy the products you need only after you know how to use them.

Q. Okay, I have always wanted to go really short with an asymmetric bob. How short should I go?
Rohit ~ The front layer should touch your shoulders and back should cover your neck. That would create the right frame for your face.
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Well that's it guys. Hope you got a little insight. Next time you ask your hair stylist to spare your hair length, know that you are just being a true desi. 
TIGI Products used on my hair - Hard Head hair spray for strong hold and a subtle shine. Manipulator gunk for texture. And Head Rush mist spray for a sheen. It smelled so exotic.
I loved the glamorous curls. It lasted for a whole day and some more. Almost made me want to go in for a boudoir shoot.

Project Curve

Mosaic Art by Vandeepp Kalra

A couple of posts ago I said I will feature a couple of female artists on this blog as March celebrated as Women's History Month. I am sure you loved learning about designer and entrepreneur Shivani Patel and I am happy to let you know her crowd-funding venture is going well. If you haven't contributed yet then go to my previous post *here* to read up about her eco-friendly range of fabulous designer bags.

I would like to introduce you to the work of mosaic artist Vandeepp Kalra. She delved into the world of mosaic art as a hobby which soon turned into an obsession and then into a full fledged career. Each piece is a beautiful work of art that you have to see with your own eyes. It takes hard work, immense patience and a great amount of passion to create the kind of work that she does. If you think it's too late to find your true calling in life then know that you are not the only one and it isn't too late to start. Vandeepp did her B.A. in Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, while her P.G. degree was in Business Administration. Her education has helped her in developing a sensibility of handling her business with grace and creativity. She is a self taught artist to top all of that.
She sources her materials from United Kingdom, Netherlands and Italy as well as India. Life inspires her mosaic artwork. The way she captures light and movement in her work is commendable. Each work takes one or two months to complete, the process is so labour intensive. She specialises in hand crafting mosaic portraits that flawlessly capture all kinds of silhouettes. Her studio offers product customisations to cater to client's specific needs.
Vandeepp Kalra is poised to shape a mosaic industry in India, which is still not fully exposed to the medium, through her innovative products and excellence in quality. As the only mosaic studio from India, it aims to educate and create awareness about mosaic as an art form and would like to be synonymous with similar artists that are present around the world.

And here is my favourite mosaic art from Vandeepp Kalra's exhibition that I personally got to gawk at the previous day. This Predator poster can become a collector's item for a movie buff.




image c/o Anupriya DG

You can drop in at her studio, located at Wood Street any time and bring home some of her finest pieces or order something one-of-a-kind that can be customised especially for you.

FlySongbird

Niine by Niine-Styled by Me

I featured Niine by Niine in my previous post(click to read) and here I am, back with a post where I have styled a few items from their fabulous collection. Go and read all about what the store offers for both men and women in my last post(link provided above).

I chose similar looking earrings in different colours because I loved how easily I could team them with a retro outfit as well as an Indo-Western fusion outfit. They were about INR550. I am not a big fan of bows but, I chose this dress because of the polka dots and the awesome layered bell sleeves. Have I mentioned ever that I am a huge fan of good bell sleeves? It's a love affair that started when I was a tiny tot. This sequin jacket is perfection. Agree? I just slipped into it and it fit perfectly. It is only INR2200 and you can have it custom made in your size if needed. I bought these round sunglasses the very day of the event from a street shop. These were technically gifted, not bought. I finally have a round pair with silver rims and faded pink glasses and I love them.

Earrings, Polka Dotted Dress, Sequinned Jacket - Niine by Niine

Teal Mary Jane Wedges - B.K. Market

Pink Round Teashades - Gifted

Blue Ethnic Printed Stole, Black Cardigan - my own

FlySongbird

Niine by Niine-Designer Wear For Every Body

Niine by Niine graciously invited us over to check out their latest offerings for the upcoming seasons at their store. It was a good opportunity for me to go back to the locality of my old school. It is just near where the famous Ekdalia Park Durga Puja takes place every year in autumn. So, all in all you can say this store is located right in the midst of a lot of nostalgia inducing landmarks for me. 

Sprawling over three stories Niine by Niine houses the best of both Western and Indian wear for men and women. The different labels you will find here are - in house designer Sonia Kripalani along with Seema Oberoi and Mini Singh from Delhi. The 1st floor is filled with traditional weaves like chanderi, chiffon, kalamkari, cotton jamewars, tussar and muslin. The 2nd floor is full of the prettiest gowns, bandage dresses, and a plethora of accessories discovered on travels across the world. On the 3rd floor you will find menswear for all occasions ranging from regal looking jackets, vests to bridal and other traditional garb. There is also a segment dedicated to shoes that range from the chunkiest of platforms to the most glittery heels. There are plenty of chic and trendy options here for everyone.

Things I loved about designer and proprietor Sonia Kripalani's work is the vibrant use of colour and prints. Even better is the fact that you will find something gorgeous for yourself no matter what your size is. The store is full of statement making pieces. If you love something and they don't have your size, fret not because they will customise it for you. It's not just the size that is customisable over here though. They can make something specially for you that fits your budget for your special day. We all know weddings can be darn expensive if you don't wish to compromise on your aesthetics. Niine by Niine is the store for you if you love bright, cheery colours and if you love trendy pieces that will make you stand out wherever you go. Constantly innovating and striving to provide the best of the best, Niine by Niine aims to grow by opening stores around the country & foray into standalone menswear boutiques.

FlySongbird

Get Love Struck by Westside Wunderlove Lingerie Collection

Last week I went to check out the latest collections that Westside launched. In my previous *post* I talked about the plus-sized Sassy Soda collection.The other in-house brand they have come out with is the Wunderlove lingerie collection.  The price range is within INR899. There are basic as well as fancy options. The bras and briefs come in matching pairs, but the best thing is they can be bought separately. It is a good thing because women often wear different sizes of tops and bottoms. Also you can choose not to buy matching pairs if that isn't your style. The briefs come in 3 styles-high leg, bikini briefs, full briefs. You can get the regular cotton briefs in combo packets of 3 and 4. The sizes range from small to XL. The bras range from 32 to 38 in sizes and the highest cup size you will get is a D. They have padded, wired options as well as regular non-padded and non-wired ones. Everything comes in neutral shades as well as with prints like florals, polka dots, animal prints and some with lace detailing. There are pretty blues, bright pinks and monochrome colours available as of now. They also have camisoles in neutral colours from S to XL. I really wish there were more sizes in this range because lots of women have cup sizes higher than a D. Especially if they have a smaller underbust size compared to bust circumference it becomes difficult to get something that fits properly. (read about how to measure yourself properly before you go lingerie shopping *here*). However, what the Wunderlove collection may lack in sizes they make up for it in style.

FlySongbird

Stay Sassy with the Westside Sassy Soda Collection

My Durga Puja shopping is rarely complete without a customary visit to Westside. They always have something I like in a variety of sizes. I am very happy to tell you that Westside has launched the Sassy Soda collection on 29th August which caters to the style loving plussized girls. They called me over to check out the collection and I really liked the designs. It is a casual meets party wear kind of collection. They have printed pants with zippered details, jumpsuits with lace detailing, casual tees with velvet appliques, sheer blouses, tie-up tops, crochet shrugs, denim skirts and pretty dresses as well. I was told they will keep adding more things to the collection every week. I was really impressed that they have incorporated all the latest trends in this collection. The sizes range from a US 16 to 22! That's what makes it even better. Larger women often wear drab solid colours that give them no shape and make them look and (I presume) feel even worse. We all know the power of dressing nice no matter what our sizes are. It is not about dressing like you are ready to hit the party circuit. Even if you love wearing slogan T-shirts and jeans, it needs to fit you well otherwise you will feel like shit. Don't reach for sack like garments to hide your body. Sassy Soda is here to help you with that problem. They have shades from dreamy corals, reds to darker blues and blacks. It is an in-house brand and the prices are pretty reasonable. So, kudos to Westside and I wish this range keeps expanding. Check out some of the things I clicked when I visited the store.

FlySongbird

How To:Hair Chalking, 90s Inspired Grunge Green Hair

Our decade can easily be defined as the comeback era. We have taken everything good from the past style decades and put a modern twist on them. Grunge and Gothic subcultures have always attracted me because of their aesthetic appeal. My wardrobe predominantly consists of blacks and darker solids. As much as I love prints, it leaves me feeling slightly chaotic. So, I instinctively tend to reach out for solids. I have done a couple of posts previously about how to colour your hair unnatural shades. I have done a post about How To Do Pastel Hair (if you do not have chalk pastel) that discusses how to put the colour in your unbleached hair step by step. I did another one  How To: Lighten Dark Asian Hair Without Bleach where I described in detail how to lighten your dark hair before colouring in a gradual and safe way with the soap capping method.

Grunge styles are inherently gritty. It regales in imperfections, a slight messiness. The colour looks best when it's slightly faded. Opt for a piece-y/choppy shag haircut. Leave your long locks slightly wavy. Your hair should look like it's not been made up. Mr. Cobain and his hair was a huge inspiration in the Spring 2013 designer runways. Just look up Peter Som's Spring 2013 collection to get an idea. The hair was absolutely fantastic. P.S. - Green hair has shown up at the Indian Fashion Week 2014. Check out the Easton Pearson show *here*

Here are a few tips to get the perfect (imperfect?) 90s Grunge green hair with hair chalk pastel:

1. Shampoo your hair and use a light conditioner if at all. I would advice not to use conditioner. It prevents the colour from depositing it's pigments properly even if hair chalking doesn't lead to penetration of the colour into the hair.
2. Use the twisting method I wrote about in the 1st post (scroll up to see link to the relevant post). The friction leads to better colouring. Do it on wet hair. This time I used the blow drier to set the colour.
3. You do not need lightened hair. This green would have showed on unbleached hair as well, not as brightly perhaps but, still would have showed up.
4. But, having said that ^ I did like the effect better with my lightened hair. There was a three tone ombre effect which was everything 90s Grunge hair ideally is supposed to be. You do not need to damage your hair with bleach. You can use the soap capping method instead. Follow the detailed directions provided in my previous post (link provided above).
5. If you prefer a more pastel Grunge effect then you need lighter hair than mine. 

 I used soft hair chalk pastel from Born Pretty. Shade - Dark phtalo green 026. I also have their Magenta 022 (seen *here*). It was very easy to put them in my hair and the colour showed up pretty easily. Just wear regular plastic gloves that you you would wear to colour hair to avoid staining. The pastels did not break while applying and there is still a lot left. They are a steal at only $1.27 each.

images via google, pinterest, tumblr.

Sport it in an off duty ballerina bun hairstyle just like in the 3rd photo. It is the hottest hair trend of 2014, been spotted at Diane Von Furstenberg, Altuzarra to Marchesa. Well so are all kinds of fun braids. Why not try a braided bun like at the Dolce & Gabbana show?

FlySongbird

Avon Make-up Haul

I came back home yesterday to find this gorgeous goodie bag waiting for me on my bed. Avon has launched Ultra Color Matte Lipsticks, with the claim that the rich color you see on the lipstick is the same color you see on your lips. And these beautiful colors live up to that claim. The containers look clean and polished. They each contain 3.8mg sticks with SPF15. They give a velvety matte texture that is not drying on the lips.
Colors I got - Matte Garnet, Matte Lilly.
Price - Rs. 375. Currently there is a 25% discount, you get it for Rs.279 only.

I also got the new Avon Skin Goodness CC cream, which is a color corrector cream and instantly covers flaws, evens out the skin tone and moisturizes. It has anti-oxidants that fights dark spots and marks, licorice and vitamin C for controlling pigmentation, SPF 50+, PA+++, UA/UVB and provides 24 hours hydration and mattification. It also claims to control shine and is sweat proof. I haven't yet used any make-up product that can actually control my sweating, I sweat a lot. But, I am willing to give this a go and take it up on this claim.
Shade I got - Medium Wheat. (It only has one more shade which is Nude. They should launch more shades, especially for darker skin tones.)
Price - Rs. 399. Currently there is a 25% discount, you get it for Rs.299 only.

Why is CC cream better than BB cream, do you ask?
~ BB creams are all the rage now and I  use an Avon and a Garnier one myself. But, CC cream gives complete tonal correction, fights the dark spots and has a higher SPF protection than what a BB cream can offer. The coverage is beautiful, trust me. It provides light to medium coverage.

FlySongbird

Dress Lily Haul

I ordered this long cardigan from Dress Lily because it has a sheer panel in the back and I just loved it. I had a few dollars to spare and got a wide belt, I have wanted one forever and this beautiful rose gold ring. Already worn them all several times. Wait for an outfit post soon.

The products were as in the images and are of decent quality. And you can expect standard free shipping within 15-25 business days. I got it in that expected time.

Now I am sure you are wondering about the prices. They are super cheap!

Sheer panelled long cardi - $14.84

Wide belt - $3.67

Rose gold ring - $1.17

FlySongbird

Vertebrae Ear Cuff

I have been lusting after this particular backbone/vertebrae shaped ear cuff for as long as I can remember. For whatever reason I could never buy them, they became out of stock just too fast. Then I saw them on Born Pretty e-store and immediately added it to the cart without any second thoughts. This was in January. I kept waiting for the parcel, with their new year celebrations and Spring festival I had thought it would be slightly delayed. But, when 2 months had gone by without any sign of it I gave up. I just thought this ear cuff was not meant to be. I was told to contact the local customs by them as they had shipped the products I ordered by January 3rd, but before I had the time to do so I got the parcel on May 17th. 

I really love it, and have constantly been wearing it out.

It is only $1.98 on Born Pretty. Get the same cuff from *here* if the shipping thing seems a bit dicey for you.

FlySongbird

Black Velvet - If You Please

There is something about velvet. The very texture reminds me of my 90s childhood. My mother got me a burgundy velvet dress that I still have, not that I can wear it any longer, but some things have memories sewn in their every thread. I remember digging out cardigans, jackets, ponchos and myriad other things from old cranky cupboards, things that belonged to my mother, her sisters and some belonged to my grandparents. I loved the vintage musty smell they had. Even though my things are nowhere near as beautiful as those, I would love it if future generations dig something out that belonged to me and have the same feeling I did. Clothes are not merely superficial things used for our vanity, to look good. They all have stories, the older they are the better it is.

I got this very 90s black velvet dress, and my very first corset(clap for me) from Sensation of Night. The parcel arrived this Friday, well within 30 days of placing the order. Sensation of Night is a professional online retailer offering over 10,000 styles of sexy lingerie, costumes, swimwear, dresses and corsets, of course. They have free shipping worldwide and provide a secure shopping experience. And they have some kind of exciting offer going on for the customers all the time.

Now about the products - the corset was easy enough to put on and I didn't suffocate. So, ye(!!) for that. And it is the right fit. The dress is a tight fit. I will not be very comfortable wearing it without sufficient layering (would a leather jacket look insane with this?). But, when I wore them together it gave me photoshop worthy curves. And this is almost too sexy for my style. I will need to tone it down a bit I guess. But, the quality of both products is pretty good. The corset took off 2 inches off my waist smoothly and no suffocation at all! I am amazed, and frankly amused that this is not the torture device I always imagined it would be.

Black Velvet Dress, Black Corset (both available right now at $17.99 each)- c/o Sensation of Night

Shoes - B.K. Market

FlySongbird

Red Hair - Matrix SoColor SoRed

My post on lightening dark Asian hair without bleach seems to be doing pretty good traffic-wise. So, I have decided to do another post on hair colour. I have been colouring my own hair since I was 19/20 and I have done my best friend's hair as well a couple of times. I don't think I have been to a salon in over a year, I snipped of my layers at home when I started lightening my hair to get rid of the thinning at the ends.

Anyway, this post is about red on virgin black hair. We used Matrix SoColor SoRed (the normal red shade they have) with the 30 volume Streax developer I have been using(read about it and what kind of developer to use in the above link). We got them from medplusbeauty, but the colour is out of stock it seems. It was very difficult to get a reasonably priced red from an Indian e-store, the L'Oreal Excellence HiColor Red HiLights every youtube vlogger raves about (for using on dark hair without bleach) costs somewhere north of INR1500($25), which is too much I think for some fun experimentation. This Matrix colour was INR290($4.75) and it worked pretty good. The hair that processed for about 2 hours was the brightest red. The ones at the top were kept for a little more than an hour and even though it wasn't as bright, it was pretty obviously red. According to this website, it deposits so much pigment that the first few shampoos there will be some excess dye bleeding out.

See the before and after results.

She only wanted strategically placed streaks which will show through her braids, she does mean braids, that girl does. See another photo of Rashmirekha with her red hair here.