Oriflame Giordani Gold Lipstick in True Red (Review+LOTD)

Swatches from L To R: MAC Russian Red, MAC Brave Red, Oriflame Giordani Gold True Red.

Swatch: Oriflame Giordani Gold True Red (single swatch)

(Picture credits: Faryal Pechuho/ Curls & Cookies)

What does Oriflame say about this product?

Giordani Gold Iconic Lipstick SPF 15 Satin finish lipstick imbues lips in rich, creamy colour and lasting comfort. With restorative Argan Oil and SPF 15. 4 g.

ARGAN OIL
Indulgent extra virgin Argan Oil nourishes and rejuvenates lips, helping them stay supple and youthful-looking.

REVIEW: 

Oriflame Giordani Gold Lipstick comes in altogether 15 shades to choose from. I will be reviewing shade: "True Red".

This lipstick comes in a silver metallic case, with Giordani Gold logo printed on the top of the cover. The very first thing that caught my attention was the metallic casing of this product, which makes it stand out of the rest of the lipsticks in my makeup stash. 

True Red has more of a glossy finish rather than a satin finish in my opinion. As you can appreciate the single swatch of True Red in the picture above, this colour is not very opaque. It is more like a coloured gloss rather than a satin finish lipstick for me. Although, layering helps build the intensity of the colour and makes it somewhere close to a bright red lipstick. The texture of this lipstick is creamy because of which it keeps my lips hydrated and doesn't stick to dry lines on my lips, which is good. This actually saved me the trouble of hydrating or prepping my lips prior to the lipstick application. Also, something that caught my attention while reading the description was that, these lipsticks have Argon Oil to it which helps regenerate new cells on the lips making them look healthy and nourished.
I'm not happy with the staying power of this lipstick. Maximum it stayed on me as it is was, for around two and a half hours or so. But the moment I drink or eat it almost vanishes from my lips and I have to re-apply it.
One thing that I immediately noticed about this lipstick was it's very very strong fragrance. I don't really know how to describe it to you guys but it's kind of a very sweet fragrance and is very strong. At one point it becomes really bothersome, feels like I have perfumed lips or something.
I don't agree with the shade name much because the colour is not a True Red in real. It has slight pink undertones and is more like a pinkish red. I have swatch-ed it with MAC's Russian Red and Brave Red for a quick comparison of the colour.

Price & Availability: Worth PKR 1299. Can be bought online from Just4Girls.Pk or you can also buy these lipsticks and other Oriflame products via Oriflame representatives. Not available at local drug stores in Pakistan. 

Points in Favour:

1. Has a sun protection factor of 15. 
2. Wide range of shades to choose from.
3. Packaging is good & travel friendly
4. Keeps my lips moist & hydrated. Good for use in winters.
5. Contains Argon Oil, which helps nourishes the lips making them look healthy.

Points not in Favour:

1. Lipstick does not stay put for long on my lips. 
2. It's not transfer resistant. 
3. Has a very strong sweet fragrance to it which can be irritating.
4. The colour is not very opaque. More like a coloured lip gloss.
5. This red is not one of the best red lipsticks.Appears more of a pinkish red.

(Note: This is a PR product. Send to us for use & review. But this in no way will alter our opinion about it. We will put forward our 100% honest reviews for our readers.)

A Visit To The HubSalt.

Maryam, having a read during the Halo Therapy

Protective Footwear.

(Picture credits: Curls & Cookies)

Hub salt, as the name implies is the hub of salt therapy, also known as Halo Therapy. This is the first branch/outlet of HubSalt in Pakistan. 

We were invited to the HubSalt for a 45 minutes Salt Therapy Session. It is situated in a bungalow on main Shara-e-Faisal, Karachi. The place is one beautiful, calm & peaceful place to be at. We were welcomed by the lady in-charge there and were seated for approximately fifteen minutes before we were taken in for the therapy. 

Meanwhile waiting for the session, we were served with snacks and were made comfortable. The place around is very hygienic, has a lovely interior decor which caught our attention the most. 

Thereafter, we were told that the salt therapy room is ready and we can now go in. Since the salt therapy room is a clean, germ-free room, we were asked to take certain antiseptic measures like wearing of a proper protective foot wear and a cap to cover our heads. They also provide their customers with lockers to keep their belongings (bags, wallets etc) before going in to the salt therapy room. 

Salt therapy room is sort of a salt cave, where the walls of the room, ceiling & floor all were covered with Pink Himalayan Salt. The room was lit with dim orange lights. The Salt Room has an in-built generator which gives off salt into the air and the occupants of the room are suppose to sit back and relax and inhale that salt. This Halo therapy has several benefits; it helps with Skin & respiratory tract allergies, stress and boosts our immune system. This does not mean that one has to have a skin allergy or a respiratory tract infection to get this salt therapy. Everybody can get a salt therapy, it basically is for relaxing the human body. 

In a nutshell, we had a quality time at HubSalt. And we're extremely thankful to the management of HubSalt for having us over and giving us an opportunity to experience this wonderful Halo Therapy! 

For appointments & other queries/info, visit their Facebook page here: The Salt Secret. 

Elemis Launch at Amethyst by Roohi Salon.

                          

                                                           

   

                             

                               

Goody Bags for the bloggers.

Bloggers at the launch of Elemis.

Maryam Amin getting a consultation by Faryal at Amethsyt by Roohi.

                            

Snacks served at the launch event of Elemis.

(Picture Credits: Amethyst by Roohi)


There was an exclusive event for Elemis launch on 27th September 2014 at Amethyst by Roohi Salon and Maryam Amin from Curls N Cookies attended the launch.

About the brand:Elemis is the leading luxury British spa and skincare brand favoured by as many as 6.5 million spa-goers per year. The successful combination of natural active ingredients with cutting-edge technology has enabled Elemis to bring to market some of the most influential anti-ageing products and professional spa-therapies the beauty industry has ever seen.

It is basically a UK brand, that is recently introduced in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan being the 54th country it has launched in.

Their anti-aging facials include:

- Pro intense lift effect facial

- Visible Brilliance Facial

- Pro-collagen quartz lift facial

- Tri-enzyme Resurfacing Facial

ABOUT THE LAUNCH:

A few bloggers were invited from Karachi to be briefed about the products and to try and test them and get skin consultation.

When we arrived at the location, i.e at Amethyst By Roohi Salon, we were greeted and provided information about the brand and to clearly tell us what Elemis was all about as it was a pretty new thing for us in Karachi. A presentation was given in which we were briefed about their skin-care range and their facials were introduced.

In skin consultation we were asked a few questions by Faryal (at Amethyst by Roohi Salon), for example sleep pattern, smoking, allergies, any medications and depending on that we were recommended an Elemis facial out of the four.

I, having a sensitive and dry skin was recommended Visible Brilliance Facial, which according to her wasn't very harsh for skin, and will restore moisture and bring radiance to face. I will be going for facial soon after coming back from vacations and bringing tanned skin back from the sunny countries, then will update about my experience.

At the launch, after being briefed about the products of home skin-care range and spa therapies, and consultations, we were provided with goody bags including full sized Elemis skin-care products according to our skin, so we could have a better idea after using for ourselves.

In the end snacks were served to us and a discussion session took place, where we could clear our minds of any questions we had about the brand and products.

Also, we were told their Marine Cream is one of the best sellers, and they sell one every minute, which is a big claim. According to them it has marine extract of padina pavonica which transforms complexion in 2 weeks. We were given this Marine Cream in our bags to try and decide for ourselves.

They have also recently introduced a richer version of their Marine Cream for more hydration and moisture for even more dry and dehydrated skin, we were asked to try it out, and trust me it stands true to its words, even in the first application I could tell what an amazing cream it must be.

The reviews of my products will be up after I have used them for a good 2-3 weeks.

My Goody bag included:

1. Elemis cleansing balm 
2. Elemis pro-collagen marine cream
3. Elemis balancing lavender toner.

Goody bag containing full sized cleansing balm, marine cream, lavender toner

So far this brand looks promising, do visit the salon and get your consultation and facial to try it for yourself, or wait for my reviews. It's just been a few days using it and I have only good things to stay about the products. Book your facial and see for yourself!

Review of Dressing Table Salon/Spa

I recently went to Dressing Table Salon. Dressing Table Salon is a Karachi, Pakistan based salon. For further info, queries & appointments please visit their facebook page here.
The services I got from Dressing Table Salon included:
Facial
Pedicure
Spa Treatment
Body wax

REVIEW OF THE VITAMIN C GUINOT FACIAL:

I was told it was one of their best facials, with amazing results and guaranteed glow. The receptionist said they will give me a skin consultation then decide if it's fine for my skin as I have sensitive and dry skin. After the consultation, I was recommended Vitamin C Guinot Facial. 

The facial was really good, services, massage, black heads cleaning everything was really good. I was asked if I had itching, at every step. Loved everything there. But I specifically told her when she was scrubbing that do not scrub, as my skin can't take it and this will break me out. After which she assured me that she knew my problem spots over my face and she is not working over them. I kept insisting to not to scrub much as I felt it was abrasive on my skin. 

Later when I got home I got really small pimples and redness all over my face, on the sides of the chin even on my nose and cheeks where I never had them before. I thought they will get fine till the next morning and used my daily night cream as a moisturiser. 

The next morning, pimples were now medium sized from small, the ones we usually see when we get an allergy. And I am prone to allergies if a facial does not suit me. For the last 4-5months I have been getting Guinot facial from this other salon so I'm sure it was nothing to do with the Guinot products  because they do suit my skin. So I guess it was the technique that didn't suit me this time. 

Now 2 weeks later, my redness, allergy has subsided and pimples are gone. Thankfully I can look in the mirror again and love my skin. I was also given a complimentary hands, arms & feet massage. 

OTHER SERVICES:

Other services that I got done include: Pedicure, Spa treatments, waxing. And I rate all these 10/10.  They have relaxers for pedicures, which is a plus point, as usually the salons have normal chairs or sofas with tub/dip machines. The had a proper pedicure setup. I loved my pedicure there, perfect filing, nail shape and buffing and cleaning. 

Hair spa treatment was done using mythic oil products by Loreal, it included hair wash then serum application, next came masque application which was done thoroughly in all strands, I was given proper head and back massage during which i almost slept.

Then I was taken for waxing, their body wax is really good, with minimum pain. 

After it my hair were washed and I could feel the softness after mythic oil treatment. This treatment lasted me 5-6 washes, there was no frizz and I felt my hair being soft.

Overall, I will surely recommend Dressing Table salon. Unless you are going for facials and have sensitive skin.
Do try their spa treatment, loved every bit of it!

Review of Blue Dissidents.

(Picture credits: Faryal Pechuho/Curls & Cookies)

REVIEW:
This was my first ever shopping experience with daraz.pk & I must say I'm very happy about it. daraz.pk is a Pakistani online website where you can buy almost everything from clothes to shoes to accessories to makeup products etc just a click away!
I bought Blue Dissidents Dark Blue Women Slim Fit Denim Jeans. As you can see in the pictures above, these jeans fit me perfectly (thank god for that!). The material of the jeans is cotton and is soft & comfortable. These jeans are straight from knee down. I wouldn't really agree with the part where they say it's slim fit, since knee down they were loose on me. These pants are low waistline, which again I am not very impressed with. The quality of the fabric and cuts and stitching is worth praising. These jeans have stylish triangular cut back pockets.
You may wash them inside out, separately in cold water.
Over-all, I would totally recommend these to anyone who is looking for comfy, stylish yet affordable pair of jeans! 

Price & Availability: I bought these jeans from daraz.pk
These are worth 990Pkr.

My Verdict: I love how comfortable these jeans are. They look and feel great. You should get your hands on them if you're looking for pocket-friendly, comfy pair of jeans. 



(Note: This is a PR product. Send to us for use & review. But this in no way will alter our opinion about it. We will put forward our 100% honest reviews for our readers.)