Revlon Lash Potion Mascara Review

I was just watching a random haul video when i saw this tube of mascara in the youtuber's hand. The thin little tube looks so beautiful and magical that i don't think i paid attention to the rest of the video until she came to the tube of mascara and said which one it was and in my head I was jumping with excitement and shouting " Im going to get that mascara!!! Now Now Now!!" . So tis excitement lasted for a bit until i realized that it wasn't released or sold in India :( ….However, i was determined to find it and so i did and here's a review for you guys.

" Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious. The formula with strengthening proteins, amino acids and essential vitamins revitalizes lashes. The Illusionist Wand drenches lashes for dramatic volume and combs through lashes for clump-free length."

I got the mascara in 001 blackest black noir intense. Magic and enchantment seems to be a theme with this mascara. I seriously could not stop staring at the tube since the time I have bought it. I still look at it at least once everyday and it just makes me feel like a kid that believes in magic and fairytales. 

Color : It truly is the "blackest" black i have seen so far! Sometimes there are some mascaras like an old Loreal one i had that looked grayish despite the label saying that its black. This one isn't one of those.

Now i haven't noticed any "revitalized" lashes since i started using it but it does work pretty well in other aspects. it instantly makes your lashes look fuller and longer but without them looking weird and pokey. I usually find that mascaras with a silicon brush (you know the one that feels all rubbery and like plastic? ) cause the lashes to clump together. Fortunately this Illusionist Wand that Lash potion claims to have isn't like those rubbery wands. It separates while adding volume.

                                                               Without any mascara

                                                        With Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

Packaging: The packaging is so adorable that i didn't even care whether the formulation was good or not. It's shiny and colorful unlike any other mascara I've ever seen before.

Overall Rating : 4/5 for the performance but 5/5 for the beautiful packaging!

The Candles Wishlist

"Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years that you have lived. " - Helen Keller. 

I'm usually not the kind of person that lives by any particular quote or feels instantly inspired by one. However, when I read this quote I couldn't help but think about how much sense it made. So here's another post of the Wishlist series and this one may just help you along on your journey through smells and fragrances.

1. Capri Blue Candle-In-A-Jar in Volcano: tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, and limes, redolent with lightly exotic mountain greens. Fresh and citrusy! Now that's a candle out of my dreams.

2. Jo Malone Grapefruit Candle : Instantly awakening the senses, Grapefruit is a lively, uplifting citrus with a spicy heart. Grapefruit and tangerine are combined with vetiver and rosemary to create this outspoken citrus scent. The Grapefruit Home Candle infuses any room with evocative scent and lasts for hours. An everyday luxury, it brings warmth to any environment. Candle burn time is 45 hours. Jo Malone is so well known for fragrances that I didn't think twice before adding this to the Wishlist.

3. Nest Moroccan Amber candle :Moroccan amber, sweet patchouli, heliotrope and bergamot are accented with a hint of eucalyptus. It's not just a good scent but it also looks pretty and adds a touch of elegance to your interior. 

4. Bath & Body Works candle in Leaves : Celebrate the brilliant colors of autumn with this rich blend of golden nectar, red apple and spiced berries. I don't think any other Bath & Body Works candle can even compare to this one! I first heard of it from the videos by Missglamorazzi (Ingrid) and I know I always love everything she recommends in her videos.

5. Jo Malone Orange Blossom Candle : Are there days when you just want to feel like a princess? Days when you wish your life was a fairy tale like Kate Middleton's ? Jo Malone's Orange Blossom candle was one of the candles used to perfume Westminster Abbey for Kate Middleton's royal wedding! This is one candle I can't wait to smell! 

6. Carrière Frères Industrie Candles : I don't know where I can find these but if you know, tell me in the comments below.Carrière Frères Industrie candles are known for their clean burn, which allows their huge range of botanical scents to shine through. Since I do prefer floral scents to their warmer counterparts, Carrière Frères Industrie candles sound wonderful!

7. DL & Co Candles : now these aren't the kind that have caused a buzz around the blogosphere or Youtuberland because they are pretty difficult to find. In fact I've never really seen them apart from the pictures! But they're so elegantly packed that one might not even care about how they smell. The candles are poured into a glass bowl and then packaged in a linen-covered box topped with an elegant ribbon bow. I really want to smell their best selling scent called Angels Trumpet which apparently combines the scent of tuberose and mushrooms! Sounds weird right? But it's so unique that you can't not be curious 

8. Voluspa Japonica Candle from Anthropology : at $18 it's not very expensive and definitely cheaper than most of the candles on this list but the reviews of these candles are all excellent! I couldn't find any bad reviews at all! Can you believe that? It's a small tin but has a surprisingly long burn time of about 80 hours. 

So does this article make you curious about any of the candles listed above? Or have you already used one of them? Tell me what you think in the comments below! 

T <3 

LOTD : Products from the Thai Haul.

To follow up after my last post, I thought I should do a look with as many of the products from the Thailand Haul as I can. This being my first ever LOTD I decided not to get very creative...don't worry I will get creative with my next LOTD post. This look is very basic and pretty fast and simple to recreate.

Face : I used my usual foundation since I hadn't bought any foundation fromThailand. A light touch of Hoola Bronzer by Benefit. Frankly Scarlet by MAC. A few drops of Highbeam by Benefit for a highlight on the cheekbones. Rimmel London's Stay Matte Powder in Mohair (I always use a powder that is a few shades darker than my skin tone in order to avoid a cakey effect) 

Lips : I used my Benetint lip and cheek stain to lightly stain the lips. The color can easily be built to create a deeper red hue. I have grown quite fond of this product and found it more efficient as a lip stain rather than a cheek stain.

Eyes : I used only one eyeshadow for this look since I had bought only one eyeshadow from Thailand but it still looked like a complete look due to the beautiful color. This is the little local brand eyeshadow pot. The eyeliner is my old and trusted Mac gel eyeliner with a wingtip. Since I was already planning on doing a detailed review of the Sweet Princess Limited Edition Mascara, I didn't use any mascara here in order to avoid repetition. 

Hope you like this look. You can recreate it using the same or similar products. If you do recreate it, let me know in the comments below and send me a picture on twitter using #thesecretlife_recreate . 

T <3 

Thailand Beauty Haul

One of my favorite kind of posts to read are hauls and one of my favorite shopping destinations is Thailand. So it seems appropriate that's very first haulpost is a haul from Thailand! This was my third visit to Thailand (what can I say...I just love everything about the place...the food, shopping, language). However, on my first 2 visits I was oblivious to the fact that Thailand is a beauty lover's shopping heaven. Since I was still exploring the Thai beauty and makeup world this haul is pretty small. What I was really excited about was that Benefit cosmetics were available in Thailand! They're not available in India and so when I saw all those products I've wanted to try for so long I was overjoyed! 

1. Feelin' Cheeky! Minis by Benefit : This is a trio of miniature sized bottles of Benefit's best selling tints - Benetint, Highbeam and Posietint. 2 lip and cheek tints with 1 highlighter - seems like a pretty good combination.

2. Hoola by Benefit : if you've read my Makeup Wishlist you would know that I've been on the lookout for a new bronzer so I thought I would give this highly-talked-about bronzer a whirl.

3. Coralista by Benefit : if you're a makeup artist, beauty blogger/vlogger, or just a makeup enthusiast you've definitely heard about this blush. Some say its even better than NARS Orgasm! 

4. Frankly Scarlet by MAC : it's a beautifully bright red color with pink tones. I first heard about this blush in Tanya Burr's videos and blog posts. It looks quite scary in the pan and scary as a swatch too because of its great pigmentation. However, once you blend it in, it looks fabulous! 

After the above purchases I was more curious to try out some Thai and Korean brand products so here's what I got.

5. A local brand Eyeshadow. The packaging is so cute and the color looked even better when swatched. I knew it would be a difficult shade to find in any of the usual brands so there wasn't much hesitation while getting this.

6. 12plus Love Cologne : i think it would be rather difficult to find a Thai product that does not come in a cute bottle. This little heart shaped bottle is the perfect size to carry around in your bag. The fragrance is quite nostalgic since it reminds me of another perfume (of the same brand) that I had bought on my first visit to Thailand and I used it all through my childhood! 

7. The tiny compressed face masks : I first came across these in a post on a beauty blog called Indian Vanity Case. They look like tiny coins that are supposed to be soaked in green tea, rose water, rosehip oil, or any other mixture that is good for the skin. When soaked in the liquid they bloom out to form a face mask that allows your skin to drink up the nourishment of the rosewater, tea or essential oil. If this description does nothing but confuse you, just let me know in the comments below if you would like to see a tutorial of it.

8. The Sweet Princess Limited Edition Mascara : I had heard a lot about Thai and Korean brand mascaras so I was eager to try one! I had intended to try the Fairy Drops mascara which I couldn't find anywhere (let me know what you think of it if you've used it) so I settled for this one. Gorgeous packaging + cute tiny tube + it had the magical words "limited edition" on it :p = irresistible! 

I also bought the black makeup pouch in the first picture in a local market in Bangkok. Pretty posh isn't it? I think I'll do another post about a clothing and accessories haul...would you guys like one? 

T<3 

The Bath & Body Products Wishlist

Have you ever felt yourself walking involuntarily towards a The Body Shop, Loccitane or Crabtree and Evelyn store? Then, just by reading the fancy names of the flowers fruits and herbs that fragrance those luxurious moisturizers and hand creams your heart flutters? You try some of the body purees, body butters or body mists and instantly feel the urge...no....NEED to buy them all! Don't worry...if you have that experience, you're not alone. And this Body Products Wishlist is going to make you feel just like that. Let's get into it then

1. Nip + Fab's Pistachio Sundae body butter : pistachio flavors have suddenly started alluring me. Once I read about this body butter on Fleurdeforce I knew I need to get it. Unfortunately being in India just makes it harder to find unique products like this one.

2. Mor Lychee Flower Hand Cream : doesn't the packaging make you feel like Royalty? And the fact that I love lychees just makes this hand cream more desirable.

3. Avon Bubble Bath : it's a cute bottle and is available in lovely fruity scents. Bubbles just make you feel like a child again so how can you go wrong with a product that has bubbles?

4. Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Sun Defence for Face with SPF 50 : On my face sunscreens usually decide to change their purpose from sun Defence to causing pimples and irritated skin. But SPF is still pretty essential so I hope this Elizabeth Arden one can work some miracles for my skin

5.  The Caribbean Collection Coconut And Lime Body Lotion : I have the body mist and exfoliating shower gel from this collection and as soon as I started using them I regretted not buying the body lotion as well because now it just seems to be out of stock. It is an undeniably coconuty scent but the little zesty kick of lime makes it unique. Obsessed is the word.

6. The body shop's Chocomania Body Butter/Body Lotion : I HATE the cocoa butter Body Butter they have so I didn't expect much from the Chocomania Body Butter either. But then I tested it at the store and fell in love with it. So much so that I actually had a dream about it! I bought the Chocomania Lip Butter which smells as well as tastes divine! However, be warned that the Chocomania Deluxe Edition Body Butter is very different from the original one. I found the scent of the Deluxe Edition one too overwhelming so I don't recommend it. 

7. Elemis Spa @ Home Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow : This is the third product in my Wishlist that I have heard of from Fleurdeforce. I guess her writing style really inspires me and so do her beauty product picks. This is a pretty pricey, extravagant and indulgent product so I would think quite a few times before splurging on it if it weren't for the review Fleur did about it. 

8. Philosophy's Melon Daiquiri shampoo, bath and shower gel (for summer) / Philosophy's Ooey Gooey Cookie shampoo, bath and shower gel (for winter) : very specific isn't it? :p But if you're like me you would understand why I would need to be that specific. The kind of fragrances and products I like and use changes according to seasons. Melon Daiquiri sounds fresh and fruity like a summer product ought to be whereas Ooey Gooey Cookie sounds like a sweet and warm fragrance that would surround you like a fluffy blanket in the winter. Tempting. 

9. Lush Fresh Farmacy : Hello my friends with oily skin that is so prone to acne and spots because of all the oil! This bar of soap from lush claims to be our savior! Reviews say that Fresh Farmacy can banish acne and spots with just one wash. Sounds like magic....did Professor Snape pour in some magical potion into Fresh Farmacy? I guess I'll just have to use it to find out.

Well that's all for now. Lets see how many products I can tick off this list. If you've tried any of these products or if you have any recommendations for me, let me know in the comments below. 

T<3

The Skincare Wishlist

I'm really proud of myself for having stuck to my plans and being able to write the second post of this Wishlist series. The Makeup Wishlist was well-received and that makes me even happier and more excited to be continuing the series. Taking extra care of our skin is the price we pay for constantly trying new products. Here is a list of a few products that were created to repair, restore and even pamper our skin. 

1. Bioderma Micellar Solution : it may come as no surprise that this is the first product in my skincare Wishlist. This cleanser is said be a magic-makeup-removing-water. The science behind it is that the Micelles in this water cling on to the makeup particles and the makeup slides right off. It's the same concept as that of soap but in the form of this magical makeup removing potion that is great for the skin.

2.La-Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Solution : sounds similar to Bioderma doesn't it? That's what attracted me to this product. And also the fact that its by La-Roche Posay which is possibly my favorite skincare brand at the moment. La-Roche Posay products have a reputation of having perfect texture, formulation and basically of being lifechanging skincare products. 

3.Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion : the packaging is pretty cute. After trying Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion I've been on the lookout for another Cleansing Lotion that I can use for comparison. I guess everything in life is about comparisons and competitions and so I felt the weird need to compare Cetaphil to another cleansing lotion.

4. Rosehip oil : I am no stranger to the use of Tea Tree oil for clearing blemishes and just maintaining a glowing complexion. In fact, Tea Tree oil is my go-to product  for when my skin begins to act up. Therefore, I was fascinated when I heard of the benefits of Rosehip oil and I'm curious to know whether its better than my beloved Tea Tree oil. Also, Miranda Kerr recently credited Rosehip oil for her perfect skin.

5. Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel : I've read wonderful reviews of this peel and it sounds fruity. I'm eager to try this product and I will definitely post a review as soon as I try it out!

6.Frésh Black Tea Perfecting Mask : drinking Tea is probably the most refreshing moments of my day. I love tea and I also love to pamper my skin with a few masks. So if you tell me there's a product that combines these 2 things I'm going to be looking for it everywhere until I find it

7.Hydra Veil from Illamasqua's summer collection : it's been quite a long time since this product released but unfortunately Illamasqua isn't available in India and I had to satisfy myself with reading reviews of the Hydra Veil for the time being. The texture looks pretty unique and its supposed to be a quick fix for fussy skin.

8. Nivea's Express Hydration primer : this is a moisturizing primer and is available in 2 variations according to the type of skin. They do have a formulation for oily or combination skin which is great news since I often find common moisturizers a bit too heavy for my skin.

9.Urban Decay's De-slick makeup setting spray : this is the product my skin really really needs. I feel like makeup just slides off my skin within an hour or something. If you've got oily skin like me, I recommend that you try this out too.

10. Caudalie's 'Eau de Beaute' Beauty Elixir : I first heard of this "Beauty Elixir" from a video by Fleurdeforce. Unfortunately, it's not necessarily the easiest thing to find. 

So that's my list of the skincare products I wish I had. But don't feel too sorry for me because being the shopaholic that I am, I've already planned to get quite a few of them. Tell me what are the skincare products on your Wishlist and if you have tried any of the little miracle products listed above tell me what you thought of them. 

T<3 

The Makeup Wishlist

Shopaholic, makeup addict, beauty lover, fashionista....whatever we all may call ourselves, we all have a wish list. So I've decided to start a series of posts that include my various types of wish lists. Here's my first list of the makeup products I can't wait to get my hands on.

1. Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation : honestly, who hasn't heard about this product! I first heard of this foundation from the countless mentions it receives in the videos of Fleurdeforce and Tanya Burr. Rimmel has completely won me over from the very first product I tried.

2. Dior Amber Diamond Highlighter : it's sparkly...it's pretty...it's got that wonderful gradient of colors that you can swirl your brush in and mix and have fun with....it apparently suits every skin tone...basically, it's the perfect highlighter! 

3. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick : to be fair this product was released a long time ago but I still haven't tried it. I like it for all the same reasons that I like the Dior Amber Diamond Highlighter. There are so many different shades of this shimmer brick and I just wish I could have them all. 

4. Sleek Blush in Sweet Cheeks : this pallet is just so cute! The colors are beautiful and as always with sleek I guess the quality, pigmentation and texture is going to be amazing too! What makes this product hard to find is the fact that Sleek is sold only in UK.

5. Real Techniques Brushes : I cannot even count the number of times I've heard/read about these miraculous brushes. This is one wish list item that I am definitely going to get my hands on no matter what!

6. Bronzer : this is a different one. There's no particular bronzer that I have on my mind but I just neeeeeeeed a new one. I have been using my Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess bronzing powder and my Miners Bronzing Stick for a really long time now and I'm bored of them. Tell me which bronzer I should try next in the comments.

7.  Cle De Peau Concealer : I heard about this concealer from the videos of another makeup genius Elle Fowler (allthatglitters21). This is a pricey product and I have no idea where I can find it but I will look for it online and in stores.

8. Barry M Hi-Shine Gelly Nail Paint : they look like gel nail paint...they have a beautiful range of colors...and they have a wonderful shiny finish! 

9. Estée Lauder Gelee Blush in Tease : this blush has a unique texture and adds a beautiful glow to your complexion. The packaging is too beautiful to resist. 

These are all the things I can think of off the top of my head. I've wanted these products for so long and I hope I can find them all. Now that I have hopefully given you a few suggestions to add to your wish list along with a craving to go splurge on some make up, share this post so that we can spread our love for makeup and don't forget to comment because I would love to know what you think! 

T<3