Hey everyone! I'm back with a new series of product reviews for you. The 'Indian Pharmacy' series! Here I will be reviewing some excellent basic skincare products (cleansers, moisturizers and sunscreens) that are easily available at a pharmacy near you!

Without further ado, let me introduce you to Emolene. It claims to be a "Hydronourisher that restores natural moisture balance".  And let me tell you, it is AMAZING. Seriously.
Initially I was skeptical when I saw that it said that it was meant for dry skin types. I mean, I have combination skin that is prone to breakouts. But all my worries disappeared when I saw the texture of the moisturizer. Its so watery! Almost serum-like. My skin just drinks it up. Since the moisturizer spreads so easily and is so hydrating, a little goes a long way with this. It hasn't caused me any breakouts or allergies. Its fragrance free!
I now use Emolene as my daytime moisturizer, or as a lightweight primer under my makeup when I'm heading out at night. Either way, it works beautifully. It sinks right into my skin and leaves it smooth and plumped up, making it an excellent canvas for makeup application.
Rating: 4.5/5
Please try out this moisturizer! Highly recommended!

I'm back with another review! This time it is my favorite foundation, L'Oreal Paris Nude Liquid Powder Foundation. Yeah, I know, its quite a mouthful. It is also the EXACT dupe of the Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation. I can personally attest to this because I have had a chance to sample the Armani foundation.
The L'Oreal foundation is watery in consistency. I use the shade 320 Natural Beige in this foundation and it matches my skin perfectly! The foundation blends without any effort and forms a thin, powdery veil on the skin. It provides a light to slightly medium coverage. I would advise against applying this foundation with a heavy hand because it ends up looking cakey. This foundation has an SPF of 18. I would recommend this foundation to oily to normal skinned beauties. This foundation has a tendency to enhance the dry patches on the skin. Now, on to the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:
- Very natural finish, blends perfectly into the skin
- SPF 18
- The texture of this foundation is beautiful, very    easy to work with
- Feels very light on the skin
- Satin matte finish. Looks very natural (your skin but better).

Cons:
- I wish the foundation came in a plastic bottle, with a pump included. The glass bottle makes it difficult to travel with.
- This foundation provides very light coverage (not really a con). Using a concealer is a must. But if you're looking for a heavy coverage foundation, to cover up severe acne and discoloration, this is not the foundation for you.
- Wear time of this foundation can be improved.

All in all, I love this as an everyday foundation and I would definitely recommend it. It has really simplified my makeup routine!
Rating: 4/5

You know what's the worst part about putting makeup on? Its taking it off... At the end of a long party, when you're so exhausted that you can barely keep your eyes open, the last thing you want to do is to go through your skincare routine. But sleeping with a full face of makeup is the WORST thing you can do to your skin. Your foundation and powders clog your pores and the mascara flakes into your eyes. Result? Red, irritated eyes and a massive breakout.
Depending upon how tired I am, I alter my makeup removal routine.
If I am really tired, then I'll take two cotton pads soaked with Bioderma Sensibio and swipe the makeup off my skin. Bioderma is really gentle and effective when it comes to removing base makeup. Plus it does not leave an oily/slimy residue. It doesn't help much when it comes to removing waterproof mascara.
And that's where Neutrogena's Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover comes in. I saturate a cotton pad with this solution and place it over my closed eyes. A few seconds later, I remove the pads and my eyes are free of mascara and eyeliner! It is very gentle and does not sting the eyes at all!

When I am not on the verge of collapse, I remove my eye makeup with Neutrogena and then give my skin a deep cleanse with Ponds Cold Cream. Yep, I massage a dollop of this cream into my skin and then use a warm muslin cloth or a cotton pad soaked in warm water to remove it. It cleanses my skin like nothing else, leaving it balanced, fresh and moisturized. I rinse off any remaining cream with tepid water, followed by a few splashes of cold water. A spritz of Avene's Eau Thermale and I'm ready to hit the pillow!
What is your makeup removal method? Do you use a cleansing balm, oil, milk or micellar water? Or a combination of them all?

Hey everyone! I am finally back with a post about my skincare routine. Before I start talking about the products, let me tell you my skin story.

I have been suffering from acne since I turned 14. It was so bad back then. Every inch of my face was covered with tiny, painful pimples. It was really tough for me because I was one of the two girls in my entire class batch who had acne. It really took a toll on my self esteem. It was my aunt who decided to help me out. She used to send me the Acne Free 3 Step kits from the USA every few months. The Acne Free system is very similar to Proactiv and used Benzoyl Peroxide as its active ingredient. I used Acne Free religiously and my acne reduced considerably. By the time I hit my late teens, I had weaned off the Acne Free system. I was on the lookout for a more easily available solution. My acne had settled down quite a bit by then. After countless trials and errors, I built my new skincare routine.
I keep adding new products now and then but the core products have remained the same. And this new routine has worked quite well for me so far *touch wood*
I only suffer from hormonal breakouts along my jawline and cheeks during "that time of the month." Otherwise, my skin is pretty calm. My skincare routine does not focus on acne treatment only. Moisture, hydration and sun protection are included too. Here it is:

Morning:
I cleanse with the Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion. A spritz of Avene Eau Thermale and moisturizing with Sebamed Clear Face Care Gel follow. After that, I apply some Lotus Herbals 3 in 1 Matte Sunblock (SPF 40)
A dusting of loose powder over it and I'm good to go!
Evening:
I remove my sunscreen and the day's grime and dust with Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion. I apply the lotion to my skin and massage it well before removing it all with a cotton pad. Then I rinse my face with lukewarm water and follow up with the Sebamed Clear Face Foaming Cleanser. I massage the foam into my skin and let it stay on for a few minutes before rinsing it off. After letting my skin dry (no towel), I spray Avene Eau Thermale onto my skin. After waiting for about 10 minutes, I apply a pea sized amount of Retin A onto my skin, concentrating on the areas where I tend to break out. Then I finish off with Cetaphil Daily Advanced Ultra Hydrating Lotion.

That's it! I use Retin A on alternate nights, but otherwise the routine is pretty much the same. These are my tried and tested products and I will stick to them. But there's always room for improvement, eh?
Do you think there are any products out there that I should try out? Do let me know!

Hey again, my lovelies!
Today, I'm going to talk to you about two of my favorite pressed powders : Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder and Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation.

Since I have oily skin, pressed powder is essential for me when it comes to setting my makeup. It keeps me from looking shiny. So without further ado let me tell you what I think about the two powders:

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder: It is a brilliant product that is quite inexpensive. I tend to buy backups of this powder since it gets sold out so quickly online! I use the shade Sandstorm. Its quite a sheer powder so it doesn't give much coverage. You can keep layering it and it won't look cakey at all. Blends flawlessly. Even makes my pores appear smaller! You may notice some shimmer particles when you look at the powder up close, but when applied to the skin, the shimmer is not at all noticeable. A total winner in my opinion! You must try this out.
Rating: 4.5/5

Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation: This is one of the very first Mac products I ever used! I had heard a lot about this one before. The powder is very finely milled and it gives quite a good coverage. But do not apply this with a heavy hand as it will end up looking cakey. Trust me, doesn't look pretty. I use the shade NC 40 and its an almost perfect match for my skin. I used the word "almost" because sometimes it tends to look darker on my skin. Maybe I'll have to try a lighter shade next time! The quantity of product that you get is excellent. This product will last you long time as a little goes a long way with this powder. I tried to apply the powder with the sponge that comes with the compact. Even though the sponge is of a very good quality, I tend to avoid using it because I end up applying too much. Instead, I use a big powder brush for buffing and blending the powder into my skin for a flawless finish. I keep this powder on hand for the days when I will need some extra coverage. All in all, I think it is a very good product, but I'm unsure if I'll be repurchasing it.
Rating: 4/5

Verdict: Even though I love MAC Studio Fix Powder, I think Rimmel Stay Matte Powder is "the one" for me!

Do let me know what you think about these powders!

Hello everyone!
Today I'm going to talk to you about one of my absolute favourite lip products, NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams! I went crazy reading reviews about them and looked high and low for them over the past few months!

I will be reviewing three shades today.
First up Antwerp. It is a beautiful coral pink colour! It instantly brightens up my skin. When I'm feeling down or my skin is looking dull and sallow, Antwerp instantly perks me up!

This is followed by Zurich which is a wonderful nude shade. It has just the right amount of nude and just the right amount of pink in it. A beautiful everyday shade. My only beef with it is that its application tends to be a bit patchy.

Next up is my most favourite shade from the range! *drumroll* Its San Paolo! It is such a beautiful deep pink colour! I am really enjoying wearing this colour. Just a swipe of liquid liner on the upper lash line, my cat eye glasses and San Paolo on the lips! That's my way to go!

What I really love about these lip creams is that they are some of the most comfortable mattes I've worn. They go on evenly (I've had some issues with Zurich), dry to a matte/semi matte finish and they just don't budge. They never dry out my lips and I don't even feel like I'm wearing them. I highly recommend this product. Do try it out!
Price: $ 5.99
            Rs 570
I just wish they were more easily available in India

One of my favourite online shopping websites these days has to be Propshop24. Its a wonderful place to shop for quirky, out of the box kind of gifts for your loved ones (and yourself)!

I came across this site through Instagram around 3-4 months ago and I've shopped with them quite a few times since then. Their site recently went through a change and I must say that I really like the new layout.

Propshop24 has so many different types of products that you'll be sure to find something for everyone! From bright and cheery notebooks to owl shaped emery boards and from quirky USB drives to colorful corkscrews and bottle openers, you'll find it all here!
They also have an extensive eyewear collection from ZeroUV. From cat eyes to clubmasters to the very on trend pentagonal sunglasses, they have it all!
One piece of advice regarding the sunglasses: If you spot something you like, BUY IT IMMEDIATELY! Chances are it will be out of stock very soon!

The process of placing an order itself is very simple. You can pay via credit/debit card. They even accept cash on delivery! And there's free shipping for orders over Rs.1000.
You will receive an order confirmation call from the customer care service. I must say that the customer care for Propshop24 is excellent. They're very prompt in replying to email queries and so very warm and polite over the phone.
They really make you feel at home!

You will receive an email notification when your order is dispatched. I usually receive my order at my doorstep within 2-3 days of placing and order!

I really love shopping at Propshop24 and will continue to do the same for a very very VERY long time!
So go on ahead and give them a try, I promise you, you won't be disappointed! They'll go out of their way to make you a #HappyPropper!

Love always
Freiha

Hello everyone!
Today I wanted to talk to you all about my travel bag essentials. These are the things that I carry with me when I'm traveling and they help me look my best on the go!

Sunblock/Sunscreen: This is an absolute must have in my bag. I am obsessed with protecting my skin from the sun. Not only because the sun's UV rays are responsible for premature skin aging, but also because I use Retin A to treat my acne and therefore my skin is photosensitive. That's why I carry not one, not two but THREE sunscreens with me!
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunscreens are amazing. They're creamy and absorb readily into the skin. No white cast. Only a smooth, silky, semi matte finish. Excellent for layering under makeup. Lotus Herbals 3 in 1 Matte Sunblock in SPF 40 is a cult product in the Indian market. Its water based, tinted and gives a nice matte finish whilst evening out the skin tone. A little powder on top and I'm good to go!

Tangle Teezer: This brush has been a lifesaver. Detangles my hair painlessly. I carry the Compact Styler version with me. I own the Original Tangle Teezer as well! But the compact version is a handbag essential because of its small size and the little cap that protects the bristles. Plus, the leopard print is so cute!

Powder: I love Rimmel's Stay Matte pressed powder. I apply it to my t-zone with my retractable powder brush from The Body Shop. The finely milled powder is cheap as chips, easy to blend and does not cake up on my skin. Helps in keeping my face shine free throughout the day! I use the shade Sandstorm.

Eyeliner: I carry two eyeliners with me. Both are from Maybelline. The first is their Hyper Sharp eyeliner which is perfect for cat eyes. The eyeliner gives clean and sharp lines and stays on all day. The second eyeliner is the Colossal Kajal. I use it for tightlining my eyes and for creating a smudgy kohl rimmed eye. Both eyeliners are excellent!

Mascara: I have been using the Maybelline Colossal Mascara for years. I prefer the waterproof version though. Using my eyelash curler from Colorbar, I curl my lashes and then follow up with two coats of the mascara. Perfectly defined and voluminous lashes within minutes!

Blush: Maybelline's Cheeky Glow blush is a brilliant product. This cream blush has a silky texture. One or two swipes across my cheekbones give me a healthy glow. Hasn't broken out my sensitive skin. But the wear time of the blush can be improved upon. I have the shade Peach Sweetie.

Lips: For the lips I gravitate toward Revlon products. Their lip butters and balm stains are brilliant. I carry with me the Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Honey Douce and Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie. Lovely pink shades!
As for lip balm, I always have a pot of Nivea Lip Butter with me. They work very well on my chapped lips. Keep my lips hydrated throughout the day! Plus they're non sticky and don't just sit on your lips like those waxy lip balm sticks. I use the Raspberry Rose version.

Sunglasses: Finally, to protect my eyes, I always have a pair of sunglasses on hand. These are the ASOS Flat Top Cat Eye sunglasses. My favourite!

Thanks for reading about my travel essentials. What your favorite travel products that you cannot live without? Do let me know in the comments section!

Love always,
Freiha

Thanks for stopping by!

Through this blog, I'm going to be talking about all the things that are close to my heart. I will write about beauty, fashion, books, makeup and some other things that are going on in my life!

So happy to have you on this journey with me!

Love always
Freiha