Dot The I's Valentine's Day Giveaway

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share details of Dot The I's Valentine's Day giveaway. They're giving away a different prize every day for ten days!

Unfortunately, this is only open to UAE residents. All you have to do is head down to their facebook page and follow the instructions. Good luck!! :)

Valentines Day Is A-comin'!

So, despite all of my threats and curses, Valentine's Day is apparently still happening this year. *awkward giggle*

The good thing about Valentine's Day is that even if you don't celebrate it, or have someone to celebrate with, you can still go out and TREAT YO' SELF!

Treat Yo Self - One of my favorite Parks And Recreation Scenes!

Whether you wanna treat yo self or some other selves, here is a list that might help :)

Swarovski
Swarovski has released an exclusive Valentine's Day 2012 collection. The collection includes watches, jewelry, crystal figurines and even wallets, wristlets and iphone cases.

 The First Kiss Kris Bears Figurine

Romantic Leather Iphone 4 Case

Bourjois

Bourjois has everything that you need to pretty yourself up for Valentine's day (or any other day, really!) Check out their Smoky Eye Trio in Rose Vintage. It has some gorgeous pinks to create a beautiful, candle-lit feminine look for the day. 

 Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio Rose Vintage

Benefit

If you're looking to really bring the hotness this Valentine's Day, try one of Benefit's tints or highlighters. I personally love Watt's Up, which looks gorgeous layered over some Benetint.

 Benefit's Benetint

FACES

And of course, what big day would be complete without fragrances? Check out the enormous collection at Faces, and have a look at their skin care and make up as well!

A selection of fragrances available at Faces

Whew! That's a lot of stuff! Will you be celebrating with a loved or treating yourself this Valentine's Day?

Taking A Short Break From All The Prettiness

Unfortunately, I 'm not going here... :(

Hey everyone! 

I'm gonna take a short break from blogging/social networking. I'll be back in about ten days and will be ready with some awesome posts :)

Take care!

Love, Aseya

Review: Rimmel Scandeleyes Mascara

 Scandaleyes Mascara by Rimmel. Available at all Rimmel outlets for 46 dirhams.

Scandaleyes is the latest mascara offering by Rimmel. According to Rimmel, this mascara has "3x the collagen for plump, sculpted lashes" and "3x the keratin for strong, healthy, gorgeous lashes". It also has a giant brush, that is 50% larger and denser than their previous mascara brushes.

The giant brush, up close

 

I really like the brush on this mascara. It's got actual bristles, which is a nice change from all of the rubber brushes that are around right now. The big brush means it's easier to coat all of your lashes in one go, but you have to be careful because you might get some mascara on your eyelids (just keep some qtips handy in case that happens :) )

So, what did I think of the mascara?

The actual formula didn't impress me very much. I loved that it has a glossy finish. It was nice to see pretty, shiny lashes. The mascara does live up to claims that it doesn't clump, but I just didn't get the volume that I was expecting.

  Kindly excuse the tired eyes! (I'm wearing several coats of Scandaleyes on the right)

 

Scandaleyes gave my lashes a nice, little curl and defined them, but that's about all. I think this would be a good bet if you're looking for a more natural look for work, rather than night-time drama. I think that the price is great if you are looking for a decent, every day mascara, but this probably won't be a game-changer.

Have any of you tried this mascara? Do you have any other Rimmel mascaras that you would recommend?


*This mascara is a PR sample

Minx Sealed With a Kiss Matte And Shimmer Lipstick

Minx Sealed With A Kiss SPF 20 Matte And Shimmer Lipsticks (there's a mouthful!)

 These lipsticks are part of the Minx line by Mikyajy, which is a makeup company based in the Arabian Gulf (a little like our version of Sephora, I guess!) Mikyajy has stores all over the gulf, in nearly every mall, and they are known for having super pigmented products in color imaginable.

 The lipsticks are double ended! Two lipsticks in one!

These lipsticks are double-ended, and each one contains a shimmery, lighter coverage one and a slightly darker, more matte one. Both have a SPF of 20, which is always a plus!

 Minx Sealed With A Kiss Glory of Love and Endless Summer

I was given two lipsticks to try out; Glory of Love, a bright pink, and Endless Summer, a pretty, light pink.

The lipsticks pop out of each end

The lipsticks are very moisturizing. They are slightly glossy, so you might have to reapply during the day, but the textures are easy to work with and you can literally just swipe it on without a mirror. The lipsticks are quite light as well, so you really don't feel like you're wearing lipstick, it's more of that "lipbalm feeling".

Swatches: Bottom two are Endless Summer and top two are Glory of Love

I think Glory of Love is my favorite out of the two. It's bright enough to provide a pop of color, but subtle enough to be worn during the day. Endless Summer is a very lighter color that didn't really suit my skin tone, but it would work really well on someone with a lighter skin tone than me. I think it would come off as more of a rosy, nude-pink.

Minx Sealed With A Kiss Lipsticks are available at all Mikyajy stores, for 69 Dirhams.

Have any of you tried these lipsticks, or any of the Minx/Mikyajy range?

*These lipsticks were provided by Mikyajy

My 2012 Resolutions

(slightly late but oh well!)

So here are my resolutions. I'm still working on most of them and I figured that writing them down would make them more "real" for me :)

1. Get Serious About Weight loss, health and fitness

Gotta do more yoga! 

I started working out last year, and while it didn't make a big difference to my weight or size, it made me feel amazing! I have PCOS and losing weight would greatly reduce my symptoms. However, the PCOS makes it incredibly difficult to lose weight (go figure). The only way (or most efficient way) for me to lose weight is to cut back on carbs, which is sooo hard for me!

So this year, I am actually going to stick to a low carb diet (South Beach) and keep up with the workouts. I don't just want to lose weight, I really want to become fit, strong and flexible. So along with cardio, I'm doing a lot of yoga and strength training.

2. Become an "Adult" and get my life together

How awesome is this office?

The past few years have kind of just melted away for me. Apart from blogging, I haven't really done much with my life since I stopped working. I have been working on getting a few projects going, but for one reason or another,  they didn't work out. This year I am going to focus on starting a career. I'm starting to panic a little as my thirties get closer, and I don't want to end up a 30 year old loser living off of her parents (as fun as that is! haha)

My main goals are to find something I like doing and start making money off of it. I also want to start saving so that I can eventually move into my own place. Another big thing for me is that I do want to raise a family. Who knows whether or not there will be a husband in that family, so I'd really like to prepare to start a family on my own and make sure that I can financially support us on my own.

3. Stop Hiding at Home So Much

New Years Eve at the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, 2009. I haven't been back since, but hopefully will make it back this year!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit of a hermit. I sometimes prefer to stay at home by myself and watch TV rather than go out and party/socialize. So this year, I am forcing myself to get out of my shell and go experience life! This also has to do with my 30s coming up. I wanna make sure I squeeze as much out of my 20s as I can, and I don't have much time left!


4. Start Being More Glamorous/ Dressing More Stylishly

I just love Nicole Richie's style. She has the best jewelry!

As I mentioned before, I haven't been able to lose as much weight as I'd like. And it has really affected the way I look at myself and the way I present myself. I rarely go shopping for new clothes because I'm "saving up for when I hit my target weight/size". So I mainly wear maxi dresses and things that I can hide under. Not anymore. I've decided to start dressing nicer and buying new clothes because the body I have right now deserves to look just as nice as the body I will eventually have. I'm taking inspiration from a bunch of fashion blogs and celebrity style blogs and trying to get myself to wear more makeup and even put on a pair of heels once in a while! :)


5. Let Loose and Just Have Fun

Ballooons!!

I'm a pretty serious person and I tend to worry about everything and everyone (guess that comes with being the oldest child AND grandchild!)
This year, I really wanna try to let loose and just enjooooy myself. I also want to try to do things that are (a little!) outside of my comfort zone and try to relax about everything. Yes, I think I can do that!


Well, those are my 2012 resolutions! What are yours?

My 2011 Faves - 3 (Miscellaneous)

This is the last part of my 2011 faves, and these are ones that don't really fit into the other categories :)

 

Elf Eyebrow Kit in Dark - This kit contains a dark wax to fill in your brows and a lighter powder to set them. I've always used a pencil to fill in my brows, but this has changed that forever! This kit fills in my brows, but keeps them looking totally natural.

Bourjois 10 Days No Chip Polish #15 - this gorgeous fuchsia is great for warm weather or for brightening up a cold day. I usually get about 5-7 days wear out of this, but my favorite thing about it is how glossy it is.

Essie Russian Roulette - a beautiful, almost jelly textured red polish. This one is my go-to when I'm not sure which color I want to wear, or I want to feel a little more "grown up"

Seche Vite - what can I say about this stuff? Dry nails in less than a minute? Yes please!! I really need to get my hands on another bottle....SOON.

UNE Fundraising Lip Balm - Hands down, the best lip balm I have ever used. The texture is creamy, not waxy, and it seems to just melt onto my lips. It immediately gets rid of chapped lips and any dryness. And it doesn't leave behind any white residue, and it is perfect as a base for lipstick.

Bath & Body Works Anti-bacterial Hand Gel in Sweet Pea - these hand gels are adorable! They smell amazing and they don't make my hands feel sticky after I use them.

My 2011 Faves - 2 (Face)

Benefit Watt's Up Soft Focus Highlighter - This is soft and super easy to apply and blend. It is a very subtle highlighter, so it's great for making you look more awake without being obvious. And it lasts through the heat and humidity!

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Bisque - This corrector helps to cancel out darkness under the eyes. I wear it under concealer when I want to look really "refreshed" and sometimes on it's own if I'm just running errands. It's very creamy and I haven't noticed that it creases.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark - I hated this at first because my skin was already breaking out and this seemed to make it worse. But my skin has since settled down and I no longer break out from this. I quickly buff this on over sunscreen during the day and I am amazed at how such a tiny little bit of powder can really even out my skin!

Sleek Makeup Blush in Suede - A great all-round blush that can be worn with basically everything. It's a matte shade, but still manages to give me a "glow", which is always a plus!

MAC Select Cover Up NC42 - I only ever use a teeny tiny amount of this, so I've been using it for months now and there's barely a dent in it. I actually apply this with a flat foundation brush to really help blend and pat it in. It's really great at brightening up the under-eye area.

MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Sunbasque - This blush is great for giving a pretty, rosy glow. It's a sheertone so it's easy to build up and doesn't look obvious. I think this is one of my favorite blushes, and it works so well with bold red lips.

MAC Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation NC 42 - I don't wear a lot of foundation. I think I only own about three bottles. I love this one because it's got just enough coverage to even out my skin, but not so much that I feel like I'm wearing a mask. And I love the smell! (is that weird??)

My 2011 Faves - 1 (Eyes and Lips)

Sleek Makeup Oh So Special Palette - My go-to palette. This palette has everything you need to create looks from dark, smoldering smokey eyes to every day nude looks. It's perfect for traveling because it really saves space. Plus, you get the gorgeous textures and great pigmentation that most Sleek Makeup palettes are known for!

MAC TechniKohl Eye Liner in Graph Black - My favorite liner when it comes to smokey eyes and smudged looks. This one is suuuper dark and it lasts forever, even on my waterline.

Mikyaji Sabaya Liquid Liner - My absolute favorite liquid liner. The tip is just the perfect size for creating a winged look and again this one is very dark and lasts forever and ever (even through our crazy humidity) !

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eyeshadow Pencil in Rehab - It's part of Urban Decay's 24/7 collection, so you know it won't crease or smudge. It glides across skin is easy to blend (until it sets). Rehab is the perfect shimmery taupe for every day wear.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Only my favorite mascara EVER! This makes me look like I'm wearing fake lashes and even though it's not "waterproof" I haven't had any problems with it when I'm in the water. And it's the only mascara that I can put on immediately before I wear my glasses. All the other ones tend to smudge on my lenses.

Sleek Makeup Pout Paint in Pin Up - This pout paint is the perfect red. It's not too bright, or too dark. It's just a gorgeous, classic red that really does make me feel like a pin up girl! The lasting power in these is amazing. I don't need to touch it up at all, even if I'm eating and drinking all night!

Urban Decay Primer Potion - A non-brainer, really. As I tell everyone "if you put this on under your makeup, you can drink, dance, eat and pass out and when you wake up your eye makeup won't have budged at ALL". True story!

Garnier Light Eye-Brightening Roller - I've been having a problem with dark circles lately (mainly due to my crazy sleeping habits) and a couple of weeks with this usually does the trick. But what I really love using it for is reducing puffiness first thing in the morning. A couple swipes of this and you can almost not tell that I just woke up hehe

Illamasqua Lipstick in Atomic - Oh, how I love this. The color is a gorgeous bright fuschia with a little sheen to it. This one surprised me because by how well it lasts and it is not drying at all. It's definitely my go-to when I want bright lips. (ps I miss my red hair!:( )

WetnWild Coloricon Walking On Eggshells - This is the palette that I pull out the most for during the day. The crease color is just dark enough to give me depth without being obvious. And the shades are shimmery, but not crazy glittery so they are easy to blend and wear.

Well, there ya have it folks! This post makes me realize how I'm totally slacking on my reviews. Gotta work on that! hehe Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 in the next few days.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Love,
Aseya

Sephora Sale!

Just FYI :) Let me know if any of you head down and what you end up buying!

Rimmel Traffic Stopping Shadow Trio

Rimmel has just introduced their newest eyeshadow set, Traffic Stopping Shadow Trio.

Rimmel Traffic Stopping Shadow, shaped like traffic lights

Each palette contains three gorgeous color coordinated, baked shadows. Rimmel also promises up to ten hours of crease free wear.

A close-up of the shadows 

The shadows can be used wet or dry. I swatched them dry and they are a bit sheer, so they're great for day/work. They do build up really well, though, so you can use them if you just want a wash of color or a more intense look.

 U-turn (My personal favorite)

 Over the limit

Do Not Enter (The dark blue alone is worth the purchase!)

The collection consists of 6 different palettes and can be found at all Rimmel outlets, for 45 dirhams. The price and size of these makes them great for stocking up on and carrying in your purse or sticking in your work drawer.

Will you be trying any of these out?

*These products were sent to me by PR