The Uncensored Household
Brow verdict: YES
In a cruel twist of fate, the mono brow that used to spread across our teenage faces now wakes up every morning in patches.
Brows have been big news for a while now and most women our age have over plucked at some stage so here is our opinion on some fillers out there at the moment:
Will I look like Samantha in that scene in Sex And The City? That was my only question when asked by the fantastic and patient clinician at the Sk:n Clinic during my consultation. No!
I don’t know quite what started my obsession reading about skin peels but the more I read the more I was convinced I needed one.
We all have a tried and tested ‘face’ that we can slap on to trundle through a regular day. Of course ‘regular day’ is an elastic phrase if, like me, you’re of South Asian origin. Once upon a time my regular day face consisted of what most women would consider full bridal makeup. As I’ve gotten older my makeup has become significantly lighter and more sparing yet I still haven’t often been quite daring.
About a month went to the amaaaazing Guy Bourdin exhibition at Somerset House just before its final curtain call. The gift shop had an amazing Nars makeup range commissioned especially
The gowns were all pretty meh this year so I thought it might be more interesting to concentrate on the hair and make up. After all, how many of us will ever wear a couture gown but we can all afford even the most expensive lipsticks and contouring powders!
The cold undertones of the bubblegum pink lippie is such a beautiful contrast to the nude dress and really flatters JLo’s skin tone.
Thandie Newton and Kerry Washington both demonstrate a perfect classic smoky eyes and rose lips look.
Dear Chatterattis, it is time to embrace bronzer.
A lot of you will instantly say OompaLoompa and a lot of you (tut tut) will say why would I want to look darker??
Bronzer will not make you darker. If applied correctly it will not make you look like you’re wearing war paint either. Apply in a Number Three over your face, i.e. across your forehead, under your cheeks and finish across your jawline. Use the biggest brush you can get to avoid stripes and never ever use the wee brush that may come with the powder. You will still need your usual blusher on the apples of cheeks.
My skin colour is described fair for an Asian (not so fair that I look Italian, I am definitely brown) but my undertones are yellow and that is not a good look.
I have started to experiment with bronzer and I do not look darker, I look healthy. And, quite frankly, I will not be dictated to about what level of colour is deemed beautiful by a backward culture in South Asia when I live in London. Give me a break.
Loadsa Money!!
If money is not an issue you need Estee Lauder’s Aerin Pretty Bronze Illuminating Powder (about £35).
So subtle, this just kisses the edge of your face to make you glow. Level 2 for Asians skin and darker, Level 1 for white.
Hmm, can I try something a little cheaper?
Maybelline’s lovely lip balm, Baby Lips, has been released with a lip tint, in both subtle and neon colours. They are, simply, amazing and dirt cheap to boot. My favourite is Pink Punch which will suit all Asian skin colours, especially if you’re a bit darker.
If you’re very pale, I suggest this colour might look a little chavvy but if that’s your look, then go for it.
The 90s are still riding the trend wave and so now it is the turn of hair…the bob! Of course bob haircuts have regularly enjoyed a comeback as they are so cute but they are a hairstyle I fantasise about having but will never actually get as I am a chicken and love my long curly wurly princess hair.
Soooooooo……. here are my favourite bob haircuts to inspire you (including gorgeous Michelle Pfieffer’s Scarface bob above) if you are braver than me and can handle their high maintenance :
The case against brown lipstick: Exhibit 1 the ageing effect
I know the 90s are back and I’m a 90s kid but…yuck. Brown lips are gross and add 15 years to a face. I got my first Rimmel Heather Shimmer lippie free with more! magazine and dabbed it on whilst frowning over Position of the Fortnight.
Sometimes after a gorgeous indulgent shower I look into a steamy mirror looking for the blond beauty in the old Timotei ads and instead I see Smeagol from Lord of the Rings. Thin stringy hair sticks to my scalp and I shudder.
Not any more! Enter L’Oréal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo, Conditioner and Serum. Now, L’Oréal is a little iffy on science
Errr yeah, I am telling you to put bum cream on yo’ face. Do it!
This is no secret, women have been buying Waitrose’s Baby Bottom Butter and applying it on their face for a couple of years now (at night only). And, it only costs a mere £2.89, god, I’m good to you.
Don’t mess with my recommendations ya know, I usually only rub Creme de la Mer on my face so when I first heard about the fact that mumsnet were going crazy over this product, the snob in me thought “yah, that’s what having babies does to you, you can only afford to put cheap crap on your face”.
There is nothing you can do to dark circles under your eyes. Stop wasting money on products that pretend that you can erase them. Stop drinking water, it tastes rubbish. Dark circles are heredity (thanks mum, also thanks for the ghetto ass).
Enter Dr Perricone MD. Sound like some quack American doctor, right? Like the one off the Simpsons (hey, the 90s are in so we are allowed to reference the Simpson again). Well, anyway his No Concealer Concealer is awesome. It’s just under £40 so yah, a bit more pricey than your usual but if you are south Asian origin then you probably look like you need it.
If you don’t use face oil then please be under 30 and have oily skin.
I used to think face oils were as useful as snake oil. I am, however, now sold on this nighttime beauty product and wish wish wish someone had told me about it earlier. Pour or drop some on to your hands/fingertips (don’t be
Wow, what an amazing renovation to a crumbling old castle that was once home to no less than three queens!!
Astley Castle won this year’s most coveted award in architecture, the Stirling Prize. The castle in Warwickshire was renovated by Witherford Watson Mann architects at a cost of £2.5 million. The architects married amazing contemporary features with the original 800 year old stone work
Is this new lippie by Giorgio Armani to die for or what? Available exclusively at Selfridges it screams sex appeal. Scared of red?
Not just about makeup, British actor Thandie Newton and her friend Kay Montano, a makeup artist, have just launched a new website celebrating beauty in its diversity. ThandieKay covers makeup tutorials and interviews with amazingly talented women in the same friendly, chatty tone. Lilac eyes? Yes please!
It’s a timely launch of a beauty website that shows skin tones reflecting the diversity of society. Recently supermodels Naomi Campbell and Iman have been particularly vociferous in their objection to the increasing racism in the fashion industry. The racism isn’t aggressive or obvious
Bunty and I have covered the subject of skin lightening creams before (e.g. here: Nice Tan Lines). A new campaign has launched in India with the slogan Dark is Beautiful. Whilst we find this rather patronising, the aim of the campaign is to drum home the message that fair skin is not the only description of beauty and that people should be happy and proud of the colour that they are… in addition, possibly, to educate other Indians to reset their prejudices.
The skin lightening industry in India is worth over a staggering $400 million and the lightening products on offer range from face creams to a fanny wash. Fairness = beauty = success = happiness = a guaranteed place in heaven??
Yours, not Zadie Smith’s…. I’ve become mildly obsessed with teeth whitening these days. This is possibly due to it being Summer and my desire to wear the new peach and pink lippies and my belief that these shades look best paired with white teeth, however, I am generally obsessed with white teeth.
Americans are often appalled by British teeth and we Brits roll our eyes
Quintessential British heritage brand, Penhaligon’s, is launching a new Eau de Parfum on Monday called Vaara, inspired by the Royal House of Marwar-Jodphur in Rajasthan. The scent came about after His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh II desired a scent to commemorate the birth of his granddaughter, Vaara (as one does).
Created by Master Perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour
Beyonce began her world tour with a flurry of images being published of her stage costumes. Her press team have now declared a ban on media photography as they will be provided with official photography ensuring Beyonce looks her best. Apparently this is due to unflattering photos of her being published earlier in the year.
It does make me wonder where the power lies in a celebrity’s relationship with the media.
Heralded as one of the finest hotels in Asia, the Imperial Hotel is one of my favourite relaxing destinations in Delhi. It is the ultimate in refined and understated luxury.
The stunning Mughal inspired spa at the Imperial Hotel is called Sufi. Two weeks ago on International Women’s Day I was invited to the launch of the Imperial Hotel’s exclusive Sufi botanical and organic skin care range. Last year saw the launch of the divine Sufi eau de toilette and essential oils and now skincare…the brand is taking more and more space on my bathroom shelf!
I have been using three products from the new range (Daylight Moisturizer, Downpore Cleanser and Night Rose Moisturizer) for two weeks and highly recommend them.
23% of British women use dry shampoo to clean their hair. Come on ladies, some of us have very long hair and some of us have very long thick hair. It’s a nightmare to wash and dry and straighten before work.
Instead bish bash bosh, spray something on top and voila you have volume and dry roots!
I have a love-hate relationship with Kiehls, some of their products are so over-priced and mediocre, reference to all their lipbalms. However, Please may I recommend the Midnight Recovery Concentrate by Kiehls? It is awesome and a new must-have on my bathroom shelf.
If you’re freezing your socks off in Britain just now I’m going to apologise for this recommendation as you won’t need it for a while yet, however, I’m in Delhi and the sunshine is rocking!
This also means it’s time to get the SPF creams on but I only used to wear SPF 15 as I found anything heavier gave me breakouts and made my skin shiny and greasy – not a great look. ‘Dewey’ only looks great in magazines.
Christmas is a time for spiritual reflection and prayers for peace… Recall and cancel: Christmas means big business and high expectations to please and be pleased.
If you have run out of time or ideas, I’ve picked some designer Christmas crackers might be something to throw money at. Instead of a naff joke and a teeny deck of playing cards suitable only for the Sylvanian Family
A disturbing statistic was put out on the radio this morning that half a million British road accidents are caused by women putting on make-up whilst driving!!!!
A poll produced in 2009 by The Telegraph found that 27% of the women questioned applied their entire make-up whilst driving whereas a fifth touched it up.
So said fashion icon, Diana Vreeland and how right she was! Whilst there was plenty navy blue in the recent fashion weeks showcasing next season’s Spring/Summer collections we will soon see if there is just as much pink in India’s fashion presentation.
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 will take place in Delhi from 6 – 10 October 2012. The venue is
It’s often said that beauty begins from within and although there are plenty people that oppose this theory it is logical that we are what we eat. Here are some beauty power foods that will help you look your best:
Starting with a 2-in-1 beauty combo, avocado with cottage cheese. The avocado is packed with vitamin Niacin (B3) and other essential oils to help give you a glow.
Cottage cheese contains selenium, an essential mineral, that teams up with vitamin E
We have discussed skin bleaching before on this blog with Nice Tan Lines and White Faced Blunder By Body Shop but recently I read about a new product recently launched in India that astonished me no end.
“Clean and Dry Intimate Wash” promises to make the skin around the vagina brighter.
The product is on sale for Rs 90 (about £1) and can be bought online, where a blurb reads: “Life for women will now be fresher, cleaner and more importantly fairer and more intimate”.
Doom and gloom on the 24 hour news channels can only mean one thing: let’s go comfort shopping! Lipsticks are generally the preferred recession purchase for women, however, The Guardian have a wonderful article on hero products under £10 that is well worth a read and so I decided to tell you about some of my own faves…cheap smiles all round!
Being a geek pays: if you buy cheaper brands go for the ones that have rich parents
Rose water has been used in beauty treatments and food since ancient times. As a beauty product it is often forgotten as it reminds us of Grandma but rose water is a very gentle antiseptic and gentle toner, lightly moisturising sensitive skin.
This rose water by Boots is only £4.07 and the one below by Neal’s Yard is £15:
The Queen does not sweat – says her dress designer Stewart Parwin on the front pages of the Sunday Times. It was an odd place to discuss something as personal as her Majesty’s body odour, but the amusing article suggested this to be the reason why she avoids looking flustered or creased.
It must help as sweating whilst on a public parade could be really off putting for both you and your fans.
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