Review: Mikyajy Beauty Essentials Kit & Some More

The Beauty Essentials Kit by Mikyajy is the latest from the make-up brand and is ideal for girls who are always on the go. It has been devised for girls who don't want to go through a ton of make-up products but still want to achieve that polished look.

The kit consists of 5 Sabaya products that come in a magenta colored pouch but in reality, there are 7. How? Read on.

Starting off with one product that has dual features: the Sabaya Liquid Eyeliner & Volume Mascara. The eyeliner stays put for hours with absolutely no smudging.

The applicator brush is thin so it helps with that fine flick when it comes to the cat eye effect.

The Volume Mascara does its job well. One coat gives a natural look and the second, a dramatic effect. I even got a "Your eyelashes look huuuge" comment.

There is no fall-out from the mascara once it dries out which is a bonus. The mascara has a slightly creamy to dry formula.

When you do your eyes, you can't forget your eyebrows, can you? The Sabaya Eyebrow Styling Gel tool comes with a brush and gel to tame those unruly brows or that one strand that decides to be a rebel.

The Eyebrow Styling Gel is available in two colors: Brown and Black. I know a lot of people go crazy with eyebrow gel.

The best way to use this is to comb the eyebrows, apply one thin coat of gel and wait for it to dry. It's not necessary to apply 3 coats of gel unless you want stiff looking brows. They look ridiculous.

The other products in the kit include a clear lip gloss to moisturize the lips, a Line & Shadow Pencil that doubles up as an eye liner or eyebrow filler, a mirror and an atomizer. An atomizer is truly a handy tool. You can carry your favorite fragrance in it instead of carrying the full bottle.

And that wraps up the products in the Beauty Essentials Kit. I reckon it will be an ideal gift to teens who have jumped on the make-up bandwagon.

Make-up isn't quite complete without that spritz of your favorite fragrance, right? The Sabaya Sparkle is the latest addition to Mikyajy's line of fragrances. A combination of floral, fruity and musk makes this fragrance delightfully pleasant. This is your fragrance if you like jasmine, vanilla, wild berries, pear and musk.

The next product is something I disliked initially but on second try, it worked like a charm! The Sabaya Starlights is finely milled eyeshadow in a bottle. They create an incredible luminous finish and certain colors create a two-toned eyeshadow effect.

The texture of the eyeshadows is soft and blends easily. The product comes with an in-built applicator so you don't have to reach out for a brush. The colors shown below are 06, a light pink to gold eye shadow whereas 01 is pearl colored. I found that 01 works better as a brow bone highlighter.

The other color, 06 is pretty much a two toned effect eye-shadow. If you pat it on as opposed to dragging/brushing it all over the eyelid, it creates a pretty sunset pink to gold effect. 

If you aren't a fan of that, try applying an absolutely thin layer of the eye-shadow for a brilliant finish as shown below.

The eyeshadow stays on for hours without budging. The only issue I had with Starlights is that the wand picks up a lot of product, so prior to application you definitely need to tap off the excess.

Do you use any of these products? Have you tried a different color within the Starlights range? Let me know in the comments section below.

*The product(s) was sent by the brand/ its reps for a review. All reviews are based on my personal experience & outcome thereby presenting an honest opinion to the readers.

Competition: Max Factor x Gwyneth Paltrow Make-Up

Updated (Dec 22, 2013): The winners are:

Shazia Mushtaq
Noura Abdulla
Faith Rodriguez
Latifah Khalifah

You will soon receive a message on how to claim your prize. Thanks to everyone who participated!
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Do you have a favorite look from Max Factor's collaboration with Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow? If yes, then here's your chance to win goody bags to replicate your favorite look!

I've teamed up with Max Factor to give 4 of my readers, make-up products + a cosmetics pouch each signed by Gwyneth! The prizes correspond to the looks i.e. The Business Woman and The Writer.

The Business Woman Look goody bag includes the Color Elixir Lipstick and the Masterpiece Max Mascara. The Writer Look goody bag includes the Color X-pert Eye Liner, Masterpiece Color Precision Eye Shadow, False Lash Effect Fusion mascara.

Winners will be chosen on random through an automated system.

Here's how to enter:

1) Like my Facebook page
2) Follow on Twitter here and here
3) Post your answer to this question in the comments section below: What is your favorite Max Factor x Gwyneth Paltrow look and why?
4) Mention your Facebook and Twitter name along with your comment/answer.

You must follow all the steps to be eligible to win. Prizes must be collected from Dubai.

Competition open to UAE residents only. Good luck!

Review: Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque

If you read my blog often, you'll realize I often talk about those pesky dry patches of skin that appear out of the blue on my face (and body at times). When that happens, I want to get hold of an exfoliator and scrub the heck out of those dry patches. These patches peek through make-up and nobody wants that!

At times, I apply a thin layer of honey and mashed banana on my face to get rid of the dryness. But when I'm too lazy to walk into the kitchen, I use Dermalogica's Skin Hydrating Masque.

Formulated to lock in moisture for hours, this hydrating face mask is not your ordinary mask. It continues working long after you have washed it off because of the selection of ingredients.

Apart from tomato seed and green algae, the mask contains Hyaluronic Acid which is responsible for keeping skin hydrated. This is a key ingredient and regularly used by a plethora of skincare brands especially when it comes to their anti-ageing range of products. Hyaluronic Acid helps keep skin smooth and defends against skin ageing factors.

The consistency of the mask is quite light (as opposed to the usual thicker consistency) and does not have any fragrance. I apply a thin layer and wait for about 5 minutes or so before washing it off. Before I apply the mask, I use a gentle exfoliator so that the mask penetrates the skin easily and the effects are of optimal nature.

The mask does what it claims- it keeps my skin hydrated (goodbye, dry patches) and softens it to some extent. It also imparts a subtle glow. Whilst I use this after exfoliating my face, you can skip this step. I've tried it once and achieved similar results.

The Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque is handy when your skin needs that instant moisture boost. And now that winter has officially arrived in the country (to play havoc on everyone's skin), this product will be your best friend.

Dermalogica is available at selected stores across the UAE.

*The product was sent by the brand/ its reps for a review. All reviews are based on my personal experience & outcome thereby presenting an honest opinion to the readers.

Collaboration: Max Factor x Gwyneth Paltrow

This is such an amazing collaboration in the cosmetics industry! Two of my favorites, make-up brand Max Factor and Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow have teamed up to create 7 glamorous looks.

Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow are my favorite Hollywood actresses and when I head about Max Factor's collaboration, I was excited to see how this would turn out. The 7 looks were brought to life by Max Factor's Global Creative Design Director, Pat McGrath and Max Factor's make-up artists including our very own Regional Creative Director Joelle Mardinian. The looks created are versatile in nature and hence, adaptable to every woman across the globe. Don't you just love that?

Here are two of the gorgeous looks. The first is entitled the 'Business Woman' look. It translates into a flawless complexion with perfect hair and a power pout.

The second is 'The Writer; Look. This is a minimalistic look that one can carry off everyday and still look sharp. Who said a glamorous look was all about heavy make-up?

I love the Business Woman look. That red pout and hair exudes confidence and a no-nonsense attitude. I would definitely rock the Writer look every now and then. I love how the eyes are natural but defined.

Interested in replicating either of the looks? Here's a how to.

What's your favorite look? Sound off in the comments section below.

Max Factor is available across stores in the UAE.

The Food Byte: Rice Creamery

If you, like me have a sweet tooth and aren't afraid to use it, then keep reading about a fab new desserts place I discovered.

I'm a huge fan of rice pudding Mhalabiya. Mum makes it on and off during Ramadan and after breaking my fast, I take a bowl of Mhalabiya and eat every single bit.On Eid, she creates a flavored version of the dessert- Chocolate Mhalabiya!

So, imagine how delighted I was when I discovered Rice Creamery, a little gem tucked away at City Walk Mall, Jumeirah, Dubai.

The Organic Pharmacy Facial At Sisters Beauty Lounge

I first went to Sisters Beauty Lounge located in Dubai Mall about a year and half ago in tears. I was crying because I was at a salon in The Address Hotel, Dubai Mall where the ridiculous hairdresser cut my hair shorter than I asked him to. Never going to that (worst) salon again! When I realized what he did to my hair, I stormed out of the salon and went to the nearest one to get a blow dry (yes, I actually walked out with damp hair because I was fuming!). That salon happened to be Sisters Beauty Lounge. Before the blow dry, I opted for a hair conditioning treatment and cried some more thinking about the disastrous hair cut. Nonetheless, I got an amazing blow dry.

The second time I visited the salon was for a fringe cut and you know what? The hairdresser gave me the best fringe- it was exactly what I wanted. I was really impressed and every now and then, go to Sisters for my hair styling needs. If you are looking for a new hair style/cut, pay them a visit- I suggest you print out a few pics of hair styles you have in mind. I did just that for my fringe cut. 

So when Sisters invited me to try out their latest facial, I was more than happy to do so. The salon recently launched The Organic Pharmacy (TOP), a well known UK skin care brand. TOP products and facials are exclusively available at the Dubai Mall branch and all ingredients used in the products are organic in nature.

Out of the 4 signature facials available, I chose the Rose Crystal Lymphatic Facial. Doesn't it sound divine? This facial is developed specifically to re-energize the skin and leave it glowing. The therapist kick started the session with a few questions about my skin and then the facial began.

A luxurious cleanser known as the Carrot Butter Cleansing Balm was applied to take the day's grime off my face. Carrots are my favorite and while I was expecting the cleanser to smell a little bit like carrots, it didn't. It had a pleasant fragrance and the balm felt smooth on the skin.

Once my skin was clear of makeup, a soothing Flower Petal Deep Cleanser and Mask was applied. While the mask worked its magic, I was treated to an amazing shoulder, arm and foot massage. The therapist did a great job because I dozed off for a few minutes. That was embarrassing! 

Moving on...I was told that the Flower Petal mask deep cleanses the skin thoroughly and preps it such that the skin can soak in the goodness of the next treatment. Following that was a glorious Honey and Jasmine Mask. Containing evening primrose, shea butter and aloe among other skin benefiting ingredients, this served as a moisture laden face mask. The therapist initiated a head massage and I honestly can't remember what she told me because I dozed off again. Yes, embarrassing I know.

Post the mask, it was time for a few pumps of the Rose Facial Spritz Toner followed by a Rose Plus Brightening Complex serum that not only brightens the skin but also acts as a lifting and smoothing agent.

After the Lip and Eye Cream, the Rose Plus Face Cream was applied as the final step of the facial. When I got the chance to stand in front of the mirror, I immediately noticed my face was brighter. Soft skin? Check. Smooth skin? Check. Glowing skin? Check, check, check and check. 

I was quite happy with the results of the facial and loved the fact that all TOP products used were organic and free of the usual toxins. The therapist was wonderful as well and paid attention to everything I said about skin concerns and what I was expecting from the session. Did I achieve the results I was looking for from the facial? Totally. When I went home, my mum noticed the difference in my skin. It was dewy and glowing. I wish my skin was this way everyday! I am seriously considering purchasing the Carrot Butter Cleanser and the Rose Plus Face Cream.

Sisters Beauty Lounge in Dubai Mall offers TOP's 4 facials including the one I chose. Ask them which facial will suit your skin best and prepare yourself for an amazing experience. As the festive season approaches, I recommend the facial I tried as it suits all skin types. You can replicate the process at home as the products are available for purchase at the salon.

Thank you Sisters Beauty Lounge for pampering me! I will be booking myself and my cousin for another session pretty soon.