Borrowed laughter
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Little Annoyances, Big Impact: My Pet Peeves
Name your top three pet peeves.
We all have little things that can instantly bother us, things that might seem small but really affect how we feel around others. For me, it’s the everyday habits and gestures that reflect consideration, hygiene, and respect. From how someone treats a shared space to the way they carry themselves, these details matter more than most people realize.
1)People walking on carpets or rugs with outside shoes – It really bothers me when someone steps onto a carpet or rug with the same shoes they’ve worn all over the city. Shoes pick up dirt, germs, dust, and all kinds of things from sidewalks, streets, and public places. Bringing all of that into a home — especially onto a surface people sit on, walk barefoot on, or relax on — feels disrespectful and unhygienic. At home, you should have a separate pair of slippers or slides that are only meant for indoor use. They stay clean, protect the floors, and help keep the entire living space hygienic. It’s such a simple habit, but it makes a huge difference in maintaining a clean and comfortable home environment.
2)Arrogance and lack of basic empathy or manners – I can’t stand when someone carries themselves as if they’re above everyone else, acting like they’re more important or entitled. That kind of attitude completely ignores the fact that nobody is obligated to “prove” themselves or compete to be a somebody. What truly matters is empathy — treating people with basic respect and humanity. Simple gestures like holding the door for someone, helping a person pick up something they dropped, or actually listening without cutting them off mid-conversation say so much more about a person’s character. When someone lacks these small but meaningful courtesies and chooses arrogance instead, it’s really off-putting and makes interactions feel cold and dismissive.
3)Poorly trimmed or uneven nails – One of the first things I notice about a person is their hands, so when someone has uneven, jagged, or poorly trimmed nails, it immediately stands out to me. It’s not about perfection, but when nails look neglected or uneven, it genuinely makes me anxious. Hands are such a visible part of how we present ourselves, and keeping nails clean and neatly trimmed shows care, hygiene, and attention to detail. When someone doesn’t take a moment to maintain them, it’s hard for me to ignore.
In the end, it’s the small gestures—thoughtfulness, respect, and care—that make the biggest difference and leave a lasting impression.
The Bittersweet Chill of My Favorite Season
Autumn and winter have always been my favorite seasons. The soft sunlight, the early evenings, the cool breeze, and a warm cup in my hands slow the world down just enough for me to breathe. These months wrap around me with a calm nothing else gives.
But the calm has a shadow.
Every year, as the cold settles in, I feel the chill inside me rise. My dadi’s death anniversary on 12th November changed this season forever. And this year, the ache is deeper, because my beloved Aba is gone too. The season I love most now arrives with memories that cut sharper than the wind.
So I disappear. I live on coffee, isolation, and sleep—anything to blur the days. It’s not that I don’t care… I just don’t have the strength to pretend. Only a few close friends know what November does to me. They check in quietly. They understand. And I’m grateful.
But the world keeps moving, while I stay stuck in the same loop of days and dates.
Writing is the only thing that softens the weight. When my thoughts spill out, the grief loosens, even if only for a moment.
12th November 2018 & 23rd April 2025—two dates that split my life in half. My Aba was my dadi’s youngest and her most loved. Now they’re together in the forever realm, and I’m the one left with the ache. This pain is all I have of them, and letting it go would feel like losing them again.
The world moves on. I don’t.
Learning to Worry Less, Live More
Which topics would you like to be more informed about?
Some days, your mind feels like it’s running a marathon you never signed up for. Thoughts racing, jumping from one worry to the next, often landing on the worst possible “what if.” It’s exhausting—and if you’re living with it, you know that it can dim even the brightest days.
But here’s something to remember: you are not broken. A racing mind doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re human. Our brains are wired to prepare us for danger, but sometimes they overdo their job. They imagine storms even when the sky is clear.
So, how do we calm that storm? Sometimes, it helps to sit with the thought instead of fighting it. Ask yourself: Is this real, right now? Or is it a story my mind is telling me? Often, just that question can loosen the grip.
Philosophers—people like Marcus Aurelius or Seneca—faced the same problem centuries ago. Life was hard then too, and they reminded themselves: “I can’t control what happens, but I can control how I meet it.” That’s not cold logic—it’s a gentle reminder that we don’t have to let every thought carry us away.
And on darker days, it’s worth holding on to the small sparks. A walk outside, the sound of laughter, a favorite line in a book—tiny reminders that the world isn’t only harsh. Calling or catching up with someone close to you, just to feel their presence, can steady the heart more than you realize. Putting on your favorite music—songs that have carried you through before—can feel like light breaking through a heavy sky. Even playing with babies, with their giggles and wonder at the simplest things, can remind you that life is still soft, still tender. There’s brightness hidden in these ordinary moments, if we let ourselves notice.
If your mind tells you every outcome will be the worst, pause and ask: But what if things turn out better than I expect? You don’t have to force optimism—you just have to give it a chance to speak.
You are learning, slowly, how to live with your thoughts instead of being ruled by them. And that’s something to be proud of. 🌱
Seneca (Stoic philosopher): “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”
Dyson Airwrap Review
You guys! I cannot tell you how much I’m obsessed with my New Dyson Airwrap. This was a long due treat to myself and the only thing I regret is that I couldn’t get my hands on this amazing device when it first came in. It was actually an advance/pre birthday gift(which practically I ordered myself). Well better late than never. If you’re new the airwrap comes in 2 barrel sizes, for short hair and for longer hair and I got the one for longer length hair. I got the grey color which has a gloss exterior and less prone to scratches. They had a violet color too with a free pouch and hair brushes but I didn’t go for it because it was more matte and more prone to scratches.
Pros;
Less time consuming:
My hair is long, colored and slightly difficult to manage. It used to take me atleast 2 hours to style my wet hair from scratch (blowdrying and then either curls or straightening them with a straightener). Whereas I am all done in 15-20 minutes with the Dyson Airwrap.
Far less damaging than (blowdrying, using a flat iron or curling rod):
Lets not forget the straightener and curling rods have metal on them and are used on super hot temperatures so a regular usage of that can easily damage and ultimately fry your hair. That’s where dyson airwrap comes in which automatically makes sure the heat doesn’t cross a certain temperature while styling your hair with only Air (no heated metal plates). There’s an automatic temperature control in it as well after every 40 seconds. The airwrap also has cool shot to lock in the curls.
Styling made easy:
My hair is thick hence styling them was literally a sport but Dyson has made it so much easy. The machine is super light to hold and style my hair with. Your arms won’t hurt once you’re done, unlike a regular blowdrying or older tools. As soon as you’re done you’ll feel like you stepped out of the salon not your room. All you need is damp/wet hair, a heat protectant (will be doing my next blog on that) and a good hairspray so your curls actually stay there for sometime.
Cons;
The only con for a Dyson Airwrap is the price. It’s gotten more expensive thanks to the inflation and currency devaluation in my country. But if you’re someone who can fix a dyson in their budget you should definitely get it for yourself.
https://www.dyson.ae/en-AE/products/hair-care/dyson-airwrap-hair-styler/overview
I got it from UAE considering it has the same voltage as Pakistan 230 volts. USA has a voltage of 120 so electronics from there are at a risk of getting spoilt if used in Pakistan. UAE, UK and EU are safer options for Pakistan.
P.s Dyson just launched their Airstrait device, and I’m definitely going to be investing on that too.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsotUdMNPi1/?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==
Cafes you need to visit in Lahore (Pakistan)
Rina’s kitchenette: https://instagram.com/rinas.pk?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
This is literally my go to place in this city. If there’s any plan or meet up this place just instantly comes to my mind. The Ambiance, Food Quality, Location (Defence and Gulberg) everything is good. Absolutely love their Anglio’Olio Pasta, Mozzarella sticks, Pepperoni Pizza (chicken), Chicken Sandwiches and Cafe Au’Lait. The thing I actually appreciate the most about this place is that they have maintained their quality ever since they have opened up. Also a little secret, they make seasonal fruit cakes (strawberry and mango) on orders and they are scrumptious. Their tea however is really pathetic so no point if ordering it. If you’re someone who likes separate tea then you might like it but if you’re someone like me, who loves *doodhpati chaaye* with elaichi, you will definitely not like it. So skip the tea and order a cup of coffee instead.
Eggspectation: https://instagram.com/eggspectationpk?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I just recently tried it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to go to a good place in Lahore. What I loved the most about their cafe was their Rosemary chicken panini grilled sandwich, Margherita Pizza and Cafe Latte. The best part is they serve breakfast all day, so you can easily and definitely plan on going there for brunch(anytime). Will definitely be trying more things off their menu. The outdoor seating is best for winters just make sure you are wearing a super warm coat and accessories to keep yourself warm.
Pink Pistachio: https://instagram.com/pistachio.pink?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
This is such a cute cafe. The seating is super limited but as soon as you step into the cafe it feels like a completely different dimension. I absolutely loved their Alfredo Pasta, Tarragon Chicken with mashed potatoes and Cafe Latte. I ordered a piece of their chocolate milk pastry too, but it was far too sweet for my taste. Anyhow this place is worth visiting if you’re in Lahore.
Nandos Nandos and More Nandos: https://instagram.com/nandospk?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Okay I so prefer either takeaway or home deliveries from Nando’s. Currently i’m in Love with their Quarter chicken in extra hot peri peri sauce and I order spicy rice, potato wedges and garlic bread on the sides. This is so fulfilling. How can I forget about their Peri Peri bites?!This is a quite famous chain so chances are you might have already tried it, but if you haven’t what are you waiting for?
Also a top secret, their classic chocolate cake is extremely yummy. If you want to eat that perfect textured and perfectly balanced bitter sweet chocolate cake do try it. It’s my top top favourite one in town.
Baked Lahore: https://instagram.com/baked_lahore?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
This is a place where all home based bakers and chefs send their stuff. I absolutely loved the Italian herbed and buttered chicken roast, the egg pudding and croissants sold here. Both butter and chocolate filled croissants had the perfect texture and taste(reminded me of the ones I had in Paris). These are high quality products. Everything is freshly home made. It’s niche. Unlike huge bakers making tons of things at one time and not maintaining the food quality.
Sweet Affairs and Cosa Nostra:
https://instagram.com/cosanostra_paolas?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= & https://instagram.com/sweet_affairs_official?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
If you love ice cream and particularly chocolate flavoured!! You need to try either of these places. Their Nutella ice cream is hands down the best ice cream i’ve had in Lahore or even Pakistan. It has chocolate chunks in it too (making it bitter sweet). Thank me later!🍫🍦
Hot Chocolate fans:
Wabi: https://instagram.com/wabiithefirst?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
House of twiinz: https://instagram.com/houseoftwiinz?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Cafe DeComo: https://instagram.com/cafedecomo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
For the time being these are restaurants or cafes I would go back to any day or just get food from there and have it at home. I am very picky when it comes to my food and I’m super cautious about cleanliness. I don’t like going to new places and rather stick to my classic favourites.
Stay tuned for more blogs!✨
The perfect scents/perfumes for winters
Hey gals! Okay so I am obsessed with perfumes have almost 3 dozens of different fragrances and I always get my stock when travelling. If you’re from Pakistan, I would never recommend you investing in perfumes out here, I highly doubt they’re selling first hand perfumes except a few selective shops. Highly selective. But it’s still risky investing in anything expensive here. Anyways the best place to get perfumes from is when you’re abroad and travelling.
Autumn has started and winters are right around the corner, I have a few particular scents I specifically use during fall. Most of these aren’t the sweet or fruity (fresh) perfumes you’d use in the summers (but there are a few exceptions). These are a bit woody, chocolatety, vanilla, warm florals and spicy scents and tiny bit sweet too. And honestly I don’t know about you but I don’t like fresh floral throughout the year or even a scent heavily smelling like roses, it’s a huge no. Ew. I rather go for jasmine than roses.
JO MALONE MYRRH & TONKA COLOGNE INTENSE
This is my Top Favourite perfumes for winters! I am literally obsessed with the scent and how amazing it makes you feel. This is definitely a compliment getter as well. Everyone asks me what i’m wearing when I have this perfume on. This is unisex so it can be used by men and women both. Perfect for the winters. It has warm almond and vanilla notes. It’s not sweet. It’s just intense and woody (a perfect balance). My number 1 favourite perfume. I got my first bottle of Jo Malone perfume from their shop near the Louvre in Paris’2019 (and I just checked it’s gotten permanently closed now; post Covid).
Chanel N5 EDP
This is powdery, Vanilla yet a tinge of spice in a bottle. This is a classic favourite and almost every girl/woman has this on her dresser. But for me in particular this perfume holds a very special place. My Late Beloved Grandmother gifted me this perfume a year before she left us, this scent just is very close to my heart. This perfume I can use summer and winters, or whenever I miss her I just wear it. It gives me a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre
Absolutely love this perfume since 2019. This is something you can use throughout the year summer, spring, autumn and winters. This is sweeter than all the other perfumes mentioned here. I don’t like the fragrance of rose and I was just reading about the notes this has and as surprising it can get, rose notes inside of it. But Thank God they aren’t obvious. It’s sort of fruity floral. If you like something with the perfect sweet balance definitely go for this.
Kayali DÈJÀ VU White Flower| 57
This again is a warm floral scent. It doesn’t blow on your face but it’s subtle yet very captivating. I had been wanting to get my hands on this amazing scent and I finally got it right before we flew out of LA these summers. I went rushing to the nearest Sephora(Pasadena) which was about 5 minute walk from my hotel and got it. This scent just grabs your attention. A must have if you’re someone who wants to invest in good perfumes.
GUCCI GUILTY POUR FEMME EDP
This has been my signature scent since 7-8 years now. I went for this new one this time (got it from LAX on my way back home)! I have used 2 bottles of their original gucci guilty and this was something I thought was a safe investment considering how much I really like this line of perfume from Gucci. Perfect for everyday! This again has a warm floral scent.
DIOR SAUVAGE Edp
Okay so this is a perfume for men but I use this in winters. This is woody with vanilla and bit of citrus. I just love this in winters specifically. It gives you that cozy and warm fuzzy feeling. Perfect for winters. Would recommend this to all the ladies if you like strong woody perfumes for winters.
MY BURBERRY BLACK EDP
This is yet another compliment getter. Yet again; I cannot explain it but this is a very strong, warm and spicy scent. That is what I exactly prefer for winters/autumn. This has floral notes but they aren’t as obvious as the original My Burberry this is a bit more intense. It’s not all girly girly type of perfume with sugary hints, it’s quite woody. I have 3 My Burberry perfumes; The Original, Blush and this black. Black is perfect for winters.
DIOR ADDICT EDT
This again is one of my my signature scents since I was 20. It has the perfect balance of sweet, citrus, fruity, woody, warm florals and vanilla. I would buy this over and over again. I know it’s an EDT but this stays on and has a very enchanting scent. I have no words for this scent except that it’s unique and beautiful.
I haven’t been regular at posting blogs! I’m coming up with new ideas and will definitely be working on them. Stay tuned for more!🤍
NYX cosmetics Favourite products!
Hey guys! I hope you’re all having an amazing day and getting on well with 2022. It’s September already, 4 months for this year to end. Anyways, today i’ll be sharing a few super cute and amazing products from NYX cosmetics. It’s basically an American company and owned by Loreal or in other words its a subsidiary of Loreal. Their products are sold in 70 countries via thousands of retailers.
I absolutely love some of their products and I think it’s not given the hype it deserves. The products arent too expensive and way too reasonable than what you would find at sephora. You can literally spend 100 dollars in NYX and get tons of products whereas you honestly can’t count the amount of money you spend on buying basic makeup products from Sephora. I absolutely love sephora. Have been to multiple Sephora stores (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Paris, Barcelona and Dubai) my favourite one has to be the one on Champs-Élysées (Paris). NYX is a quite decent brand too. I have a particular products which I absolutely love from them and you should definitely try these if you haven’t tried them as yet. Lets start with the list;
3 STEPS TO SCULPT FACE SCULPTING PALETTE: $13
I love face palettes. My most favourite face palette has to be the Huda Beauty 3D Highlighter Palette (pink sands and golden sands) and it retails for $45 whereas this super convenient palette retails for way less ($13). I don’t use the plain powder and I hardly use the highlighter and I rather use my Fenty or Huda Beauty highlighter. The contour/bronzer powder however is amazing, absolutely love it. This is super pigmented so you need keep a super light hand when applying it. Contouring and giving yourself a bronzed up look is quite in since a couple of years now. People usually skip blush and go for a more bronzed up look to define their facial features. I absolutely hate cream contour and I ended up buying The Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour palette used it once hated it and threw it away. It was a complete waste. And every single celebrity was crazy about this palette. Don’t ever believe these so called influencers on social media, all they do is speak falsely about companies which send them free products. I have 3 favourite contour powders first one is NARS laguna Bronzer (Retails for $38), Benefit Cosmetics Matte Hoola Bronzer Powder (retails for $32) and lastly this particular NYX bronzer in this $13 palette. NYX has the price edge here (obviously).
HONEY DEW ME UP PRIMER: $17
This is an amazing primer. Best for all sorts of skin and it gives you such a plumped up and dewy look. The Gold Flakes inside it are so cute and eye catching. I love everything about this product and it is one of my personal favourite primers. Doesn’t feel heavy when applied and makes my foundation get applied smoothly. This goes on well with every foundation. I would either use this or my mac strobe cream (pinklite). Mac is obviously more expensive than NYX, retailing at $36 where as Nyx Honey dew me up is for $17.
SUEDE MATTE LIPSTICK (In Rose a day & Free Spirit): $8
I absolutely love their Matte lipsticks. I’m more into subtle pinks or nudes and nothing too dramatic. My personal 2 favourite shades from this entire line is Rose A Day & Free Spirit (both of these shades are quite similar) while retailing at only $8. You go to sephora and you wont find anything at a full size for less than $25. My other favourite go to lipstick is Too Faced melted matte in the shade Sell out (Amazing shade and lasts super long) and it costs around $26. I don’t invest much on new lipsticks since I have a particular favourite shade from a particular brand and I don’t like going for something new. Would definitely recommend both these shades if you want something other than reds or bright colors.
THAT’S THE POINT EYELINER: $11
Okay So I have been using NYX liners since 2019, I don’t usually use liners, only use it occasionally. If you’re someone who’s super bad at doing their own liner this marker is super easy. The marker is easier to hold and the liner dries out super quick too.
JUMBO EYE PENCIL: $5.50
My Go to look is definitely a white pencil in my waterline or smudged out black pencil in the outer ends of my eyes and mascara. It’s super quick and more convenient. I absolutely love this pencil and honestly there is no other alternative at such a good price. So if you’re someone who wants white in their waterline definitely get this. Overly dramatic eyes are way too old school these days, and people opt for a more natural/simple makeup than ending up looking like something they’re not.
CONTROL FREAK EYEBROW GEL: $7
I absolutely love Brow Mascaras/gels because they don’t give you that fake dramatic look and again they’re super quick and easy to use. That is it. This is perfectly fine for someone who doesn’t want to add more color to their brows (because this is transparent). If you’re someone who has thin brows and wants more life added to them then you should definitely not get this and rather go for something more pigmented!
At the end i’d like to say that it’s not always about the price tag, just because something is expensive it doesn’t make it good and just because something isn’t that expensive and reasonable it doesn’t make the product bad!
Stay tuned for more!🤍
Look around
If you have a warm bed to sleep in, a
family to look after you, if you have a place you can call home, healthy, food to eat,
clean and running water. You need
to Thank Allah. There are
thousands of people who are
without any of these blessings.
These are our people. They need us
now more than ever. Just help
whoever you can wherever you can.
People are already under stress
and there is a lot of suffering, lets
just make life liveable for them. We
have been blessed with a lot if we
help someone it won’t reduce our
blessings or wealth!! Lets make a
prayer for the people who have and
are still suffering due to these.
If you are still unaware of what’s happening in Pakistan go on twitter see the havoc these floods have caused! Millions of people have been affected. Their livelihoods taken away from them due to this natural disaster! At least a thousand are dead, as of now. This was just a post to tell each and everyone of you how blessed we all are to have made it out of this calamity and how much we are indebted to help the ones who have suffered the most! South Punjab, Balochistan, Kpk and Sindh (all four places have been severely hit).
People in the urban set up are so unaware about this current situation because the media was busy giving the spot light to politicians and their petty fights. But whoever reached out and showed concern regardless of what was being shown on TV, we’re/i’m really grateful.
Please remember Pakistan in your prayers! 🇵🇰
Hair Care 2022.
Hey guys! I hope you’re all having an amazing summer and I hope you’re all safe. Today i’ll tell you about some of my favourite hair care products. I have bleached strands since I had gotten a balayage done so it needs a lot of after care to make sure my hair doesn’t lose it’s moisture and shine.
Hair Oil;
Olive oil or Zonano’s Hair oil.
I oil my hair atleast twice a week. I cannot skip it at any cost. This is a old yet very effective method to make sure your hair stays healthy, thick and keeps growing. First I used to use olive oil, make sure you don’t get the salad dressing oil by mistake. Olive oil is rich in vitamins and the best part is that it does not stink. I cannot stand a bad odour so I never use any oil with a bad smell. Moving on, I recently discovered this home made oil company, Zonano’s. Let me tell you one thing, this oil changed my hair game. It defined my natural hair texture which are long waves. Everyone loves how naturally my hair dries and how defined my waves are naturally (after using this oil). You need to try Zonano’s if you live in Pakistan. They have an Instagram handle as well, they’re available at all leading retailers (Alfatah and Naheed). I just hope they don’t lose their quality after expanding so much. This is my absolute favourite hair oil. I’m in LA right now and i packed my Zonano’s hair oil in my travel set, just so i’m able to keep up with my hair care.
Shampoo;
Loreal Serie Expert Vitamino Color.
Since I told you guys earlier I have color treated hair, my shampoo focuses on color protection. Just so my color does not come off unnecessarily. It’s high maintenance to color your hair. I’m very basic when it comes to my shampoo. I can easily find this brand everywhere. Something less complicated.
Mask;
Loreal Serie Expert biotin mask &/or K18 leave in Conditioner:
I have 2 hair masks. I always use a hair mask after shampooing. One of the options is the wash off hair mask which is the Loreal Serie Expert one and it smells amazing and my hair feels so silky smooth while the K18 leave-on conditioner/mask one is something I recently started using since 2 weeks. I absolutely love these two products. These cannot be used at the same time. It’s either one of these.You are suppose to skip conditioner/mask step when you use your K18 leave in mask. K18 is only good if you have color treated hair which reverses hair damage caused by color or bleaching. So you definitely need to get this if you want silky smooth balayage/golden locks.
Hair Serum;
Loreal Kerastase Serum & Bumble and Bumble invisible oil.
I have been using Loreal kerastase products way before people knew about it in Pakistan. I absolutely love their hair serums and how amazing and heavenly they smell. So this is my all time favourite brand. Recently I went to Sephora, Glendale, and they recommended me to try this amazing product from Bumble and Bumble. It helps giving heat protection when styling your hair. I absolutely love styling my hair all the time, so this was a must have. It protects your hair from irons, curling rods, blowdries and even the harsh sunlight. It is a bit pricey but completely worth it. Both these products help in eliminating the frizz as well. Would definitely recommend them. Again I use these one at a time, they aren’t supposed to be used together.
The most important part is to invest on a good microfibre towel for your hair. It’s super soft and safer for your strands. I would never advice you to use the regular towel on your hair. You can get a good microfibre towel from anywhere, I got mine from Zonano’s.
Ps. This was not sponsored and whatever is written above, it all comes from my personal experience. Stay tuned for more❤️
Skin care 2022✨
You guys! I cannot put into words how much i’m in Love with, “The Glow Recipe” products. Their formulas are gentle yet effective. They’re AMAAA-ZING! I regret not knowing about this brand in the past. They literally have fruit extracts in their products and they’re clinically proven. I have no guilt of whatsoever on spending my pocket money on their products. IT LEFT MY SKIN PLUMPED UP AND GLOWY! And the glow was just so beautiful and came right from within.
Also i’ve said this earlier as well, Your makeup only looks good if your skin is good. My skin is sensitive to new products. And Glow recipe was the thing which went on so well for my skin. I would definitely recommend it to anyone with sensitive skin and someone who doesn’t mind going an extra mile for their skin care routine.
The first step is that I use a good cleanser ( I currently am using the one from neutrogena one)
This face wash does not over dry my face at all nor does it feel like my skin is getting stretched even though it contains Salicylic Acid. I got mine from a shop (Naheed) in Karachi, so if you live in Pakistan you can get it from there or Alfatah.
The second step is to apply/spray on a good toner or rose water. I don’t mind using local brands like Saeed Ghani & Marhaba rose water or you can use Thayers/Mario Badescu. Just a quick reminder you should store your rose water spray/bottle in the refrigerator to give a super cool feeling.
https://www.mariobadescu.com/product/facial-spray-with-aloe-herbs-and-rosewater
https://www.thayers.com/THY0003.html
https://conaturalintl.com/products/rose-water
https://saeedghani.pk/products/rose-water-spray
Next we move on to the serum step, when my face is half dry I just add a pump or a bit more of my favourite Glow recipe Niacinamide serum;
Words would not be enough to describe how much I love this serum and how amazing it feels on my skin. It has Watermelon extract, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid. This serum goes well with all skin types so this is pretty much a safe investment.
Moving on, I let this amazing serum to settle in and absorb completely on my skin and then I apply any of my two favourite Glow Recipe moisturiser;
The link to these amazing moisturisers;
https://www.glowrecipe.com/collections/watermelon/products/watermelon-glowhttps://www.glowrecipe.com/products/plum-plump-hyaluronic-cream
I use them on alternate times(depending on my mood) I’ll use one in the morning after a cleanser, toner and serum and before my sunblock. For my night time routine I just follow all the steps and just don’t put on a sunblock. These two are the safest moisturiser investments. They’re hydrating and give your skin a plumped up glow. And always remember to never ever neglect your neck area while taking care of your face.
The last step is sunblock (after my morning routine). I personally love Neutrogena Products because they’re easily accessible in my country. I am currently using this sunblock;
https://www.neutrogena.com/products/sun/clear-face-break-out-free-liquid-lotion-sunscreen-broad-spectrum-spf-50/6811282.html
I would never advice anyone to buy any high-end skin care products or makeup from local department stores in Pakistan (no matter how huge they may be).Temperature control is everything! You can invest on Neutrogena and Loreal since these are drug store products. At times certain products need to be kept in cool temperatures or else they will do more damage than good. Try ordering your products from trusted pages (there are many operating these days) instead. It’s safe to get locally manufactured products instead of that. I once ordered The Ordinary Hyaluronic Serum from a local shop (wont name it) but my skin started breaking out after using that product. I never had this issue in the past so it just got on my nerves, this explains my choice of my face cleanser/wash. I had previously used this serum bought from somewhere else and it went well on my skin; but this particular shop had no temperature control nothing! Glow recipe literally rescued my skin, THANK GOD.
In the end i’d like to tell you always apply sunblock with an SPF 50+ even if you don’t plan on going out it does wonders to your skin!
Have an Amazing day!✨❤️
Sun.Storm.Balanced.
My MAC Favourites
Hey gals and guys,
Today i’ll tell you about my personal favourite MAC products and what products I think are a hit or a miss (based on my personal experience)
*Basically i’m someone who hates it when their foundation is super white or fairer than their actual skin tone (I usually get scolded by one of friends because I end up spending a lot on tanner or something a shade/tone darker than my skin)*
So I invested on a few mac products early this year!
Hits;
MAC Studio Fix Fluid spf 15
So this foundation feels super light on your skin and this is the same exact shade as my skin tone, it might oxidise a bit but I rather have that look rather than a white pastry cake.No offence to anyone who likes their foundation lighter regardless of their skin tone.
I would use this when going out to meet friends or family gatherings. It can go on with a full coverage with the pro longwear concealer. So my shade in this foundation is NC25 but the concealer is lighter shade since it goes under your eyes to give a brighter effect.
The MAC studio fix foundation comes in a variety of shades for all the different kind of undertones. Finding the right shade might be a bit tricky if you haven’t used their foundation before. But their website has this camera thing which can help you find your right shade too, just make sure you have the right lighting when using that camera on their website. It gave me an accurate suggestion of the shade.
The plus point of this foundation is it has an spf too. Meaning somewhat protection from the harmful UV lights, which can cause skin damage or early ageing if not taken care of.
MAC Strobe cream
This is my greatest discovery of 2021! I don’t know why I hadn’t invested on this cream earlier *Better late than never*
This goes on perfectly well under my MAC Studio fix foundation and gives you that beautiful natural glow. Be it part of your daily makeup regime or some other gathering. It just makes your skin super glowy and soft.
My shade is Pinklite.
It has 5 shades in total:
- PinkLite
- Peachlite
- Redlite
- Silverlite
- Goldrite
Would definitely recommend this to someone who’s more into dewy or glowy looks.
MAC Pro Longwear waterproof eyebrow mascara
So this was my first ever brow mascara back in 2016 *Currently i’m using Benefits Cosmetics gimme brow mascara instead*
But this was my favourite for quite sometime. Since I don’t like dramatic brows, just something soft and subtle. I don’t need eyebrow filling, so this mascara was just perfect for some touchup. But if you’re someone who fills their brows this can somewhat do the job since it’s tinted and it will give you some coverage in those thinner brows.
I have always loved brow mascaras because they’re super convenient and takes a minute or max 2 minutes to apply.
MAC Pro Longwear concealer
The only reason I invested on this was because I wanted brighter undereyes!
**Warning**
Before you apply a brightening concealer under your eyes always remember to color correct or else your undereyes will give a grey look and it looks awful in pictures with flash. You’ll end up looking like casper/ghost.
I use this once I have color corrected and applied my foundation. So this concealer is extremely full coverage and extremely thick. I hardly apply 2-3 dots under each of my each and blend it out. And later put on my setting powder (currently using Fenty Beauty Setting Powder)
The shade I got in this concealer was lighter than my foundation. I went for NC20, just for that pop of brightness under the eyes!
Miss;
MAC Prep and Prime spray
This product has been nothing but a complete disappointment. It’s not a primer nor is it a proper setting spray! It was a complete waste of money. It won’t lock in your foundation. You can use it on your eyeshadow brush but nothing more.
I have invested in Urban Decay all nighter instead and let me tell you the foundation or your makeup doesn’t even budge under the mask *thanks to this virus* so I always use the UD all nighter instead of this spray. Unfortunately my MAC Spray is just collecting dust on my dresser.
*Remember* guys your makeup only looks great if you have an amazing skin! Or else it will just look really bad and might even cause further harm to your inflamed skin. I know this weird autumn weather doesnt go well for our skin but keep yourself hydrated and have a good skin care routine ❤️
Skin Care Routine – Part 2 (Featuring Kiehl’s Products)
Hey guys,
I hope you all are having an amazing day. So today’s blog will be about my new skin care routine. I am highly obsessed with some of the Kiehl’s products, and would definitely recommend it anyone with sensitive to dry skin. NOT ACNE PRONE SKIN.
I do this skin care routine twice max thrice a day. Once in the morning, other time when I want to wash off make up (mid day) and lastly before going to bed. I double cleanse my face, Tone it and apply a corrective or hydrating Serum and lastly put on a moisturizer.
Here is a list of my GO TO PRODUCTS:
Cleansing Step 1
This is what I clean my face with before washing it off with a facial cleanser. Either the Micellar water with cotton pads or just these amazing wipes. I absolutely love these cleansing wipes, easily takes off the stubborn water proof mascara and the full coverage makeup. No matter how much I love make up i need it off my face ASAP! As soon as I get home the first thing I do is grab some wipes and follow the next steps.
Cleansing Step 2:
So this is my final cleansing part. I usually use the Mask of Magnaminty from Lush Cosmetics in the morning when waking up. I put it on for a good amount of time, 10-15 minutes. This gives my face a cooling sensation, thanks to all that mint. I use the Kiehl’s ultra facial cleanser other times throughout the day, like when I want to wash my face when coming back home or when I do my skincare routine before going to bed. This makes my skin feel AMAZING! This does not overly dry your skin and even good for people with acne prone skin, since it is super mild.
Tone Step 3:
I recently switched to these two amazing toners. I actually choose the one i want to use according to my mood, no time in particular. It has been almost close to a month since I have been using both it amazing products. The Kiehl’s Calendula actually works wonders for people with Acne or if they have an acne prone skin, but it works good for people with sensitive skin too since it’s alcohol free. Pixi Glow Tonic makes me feel great in general, I always put it on when i’m in a good mood and i want my skin to feel great too. Both these products are worth every dollar or rupee!
Step 4 Serum:
I have two serums and i’m absolutely in love with both of them. I use one in my morning skin care routine and the other one in my night skin care routine. I got both these products from Kiehl’s and it has been over 2 months since I’ve started using both of these amazing serums. I use the Daily Reviving Concentrate after my morning skin care routine and Midnight Recovery Concentrate after my night time skin care routine. Both of these oils leave my skin feel AMAZING! I won’t be recommending this to anyone having an acne prone skin, it works best for normal to dry skin.
Step 5 Treating Those Gorgeous Eyes:
I always wanted to invest in a good eye cream but was not really sure for which one to go for. Then I heard a lot of people reviewing and recommending Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I will definitely recommend this to anyone reading this if they to want to invest in a great eye cream, this isn’t fancy but it does an amazing JOB!
Step 6 Moisturize:
Follow this link to see my go to moisturizer : Final Step
I hope this helped you guys because it took me quite sometime to write it.
And as always stay tuned for more♥
Travel Diaries: San Francisco
Hey guys,
I hope you all are having an amazing day. Today’s blog will be about my trip to San Francisco. So i reached San Francisco on new years eve. The weather was really good, you could be fine with a denim jacket and a cashmere scarf. Well that worked for me. It was really windy, so girls your hairstyle is most likely to get ruined. I curled my hair and we ended up taking a cruise and guess what? My curls were completely gone ***😂😂***
My advice: Keep it simple.
So we stayed at Sheraton. They had all the supplies you needed, I forgot to pack my hair dryer and curling wand and they were kind enough to send them to my room charging just a few dollars per hour * don’t remember the exact amount* We were in San Francisco for about a week or ten days. My hotel was couple of minutes walk from Krispy Kreme and In n Out which made it deliciously convenient . And guys, if it’s your first trip to California, you have to try In n Out, they make the most amazing beef burgers.
We usually used to go out for late night strolls and ended up getting coffee and doughnuts. One of the best family vacations ever. Krispy Kreme had a live counter, you could see the entire process of how those yummy doughnuts were made.
Lastly, If you’re living in the Fisherman’s wharf area you’ll get your hands on some amazing seafood. The Codmothers Fish and Chips was no doubt the best though it wasn’t a fancy restaurant but the food was nothing like Alioto’s. The Codmothers Fish and chips reminded me of The Seafood Bar in Amsterdam.Both these places were at a walking distance from our hotel. Alioto’s had an amazing italian cuisine however. Loved their Pizza.
Stay tuned for more!❤️
LAURA MERCIER Translucent Loose Setting Powder Review
Hey Guys,
I hope you all are having an amazing day. So today I’ll be reviewing Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. It comes in 2 different shades one for Fair to tanned skin tones and the other for deep skin tones. This setting powder personally helps me to keep my makeup on for a long time, without giving a grey look. This does not give cakey look.
Translucent Powder locks makeup in for long-lasting wear without adding any weight or texture. This also helps in absorbing oil and gives a sheer coverage.This also helps in blurring out imperfections while making your look last longer. This product is used by all professionals in the makeup industry.
I would definitely recommend this product, whether you’re a makeup geek or someone new to makeup, this is one of the safest investment.
Stay tuned for more!♥