November Lust Haves

Curlformers – Get those dreamy curly locks naturally!

Curlformers are a hot pick for the season. They create soft and glossy waves without heat damage. Ideal for all types and lengths. Apply on damp hair, leave to dry naturally or use  soft dryer. These curlers give instant volume and perfect natural curls without damaging your hair with excessive heat. So order a kit today from http://www.curlformers.com

Clinique Chubby sticks

I love the texture and softness of these chubby lip pencils, plus they leave your lips hydrated. This is my top favourite this month and if you haven’t tried them yet then you are missing a lot. it’s available at all Paris Gallery and Debenhems stores in Jeddah.

 

  Linda Farrow iPhone cover

This iPhone accessory from Linda Farrow is so elegant that     it really makes your phone look so sophisticated and beware this cover sure makes all heads turn . The gold- tone iPhone 5 cover is trimmed with glossed- water snake and lined with silicone.

It is available at http://www.net-a-porter.com

                             

Sinfully Healthy – Right Eating Guide

Every girl’s fantasy would be to not gain weight even after living on cupcakes or chilli fries. Snap! Dream is over girls as in the real world this does not happen. Hey! but here is the catch you don’t have to kill your cravings but just choose smartly.And to guide through this, I am presenting my weekly “Sinfully Healthy” section in which  I will share some common dietary mistakes that we all do however,  if we choose smartly we can cut down on bad food and gradually embrace healthy lifestyle…so girls it’s all bout choosing wisely.

Dark Chocolate

Just because its dark  does not necessarily mean its healthy, choose that has maximum levels of cocoa and check out the nutrition label if it says “processed with alkali” that means you need to dump it back to the supermarket shelf. look for chocolate bars that have 70% minimum cocoa , the safest bet are Lindt 70%- 85% cocoa bars and Green and Black’s organic that have 70%- 80% cocoa. you can easily find them at Danube or Manuel. 

Take care and stay away from making wrong choices and while filling in the weekly groceries, just have a careful look at the nutrition label at the back of the chocolate bar if it is processed with Alkali then it is an absolute NO NO.

Reduced fat peanut butter

The biggest mistake we often commit is to pick up that jar of reduced peanut butter from the diet section shelf of Danube, isn’t it just so tempting. Alert! drop that since, the fat in peanut butter is good and when the fat level is reduced , sugar is added to bring back its lost flavor. Look for natural peanut butter that should just contain peanuts and salt. of course the best way is to make your own peanut butter at home , its easy peasy ( stay tuned, I will post the recipe soon) 

That’s all for now, until next week- stay healthy and choose wisely.

Weekend Beauty Treats & Picks

After a long and boring week comes along a much awaited weekend that we all ADORE and I love to splurge and pamper myself with some “feel good” elements and my favourite beauty products . So this weekend while, I was strolling at Stars Avenue mall  I ended up adding  some more handmade beauty goodness from my favourite store LUSH 

 The new arrivals at LUSH are these delicious bubble bath balls which are absolute must haves with different colours and fragrances plus a plenty of options to choose from. The reason I stopped by at Lush was to pick up my shampoo for dry hair but as you know a girl cannot just go to a beauty store like lush and pick what she has to and then head back without having a look at other products and filling in some random good stuff. 

I was introduced to Rehab shampoo that has some essential oils and olive oil to keep the scalp moisture intact.I gave it a try for the first time and it seems fine, though it did not leave my hair with softness as expected but neither was my hair extra dry after washing unlike before. While at lush, I also picked up some refreshing soaps, I fell in love with the natural texture and feel of the soaps. Doesn’t it feel so wow to use organic products. 

SnowGlobe has a refreshing fragrance and is prefect if you want to unwind 

SnowCake , has glitter in it, the fragrance is a bit meh for me but the results are amazing and which is why it is worth a try as it leaves skin soft and moisturised. 

The sea vegetable soap is my favourite, the fragrance makes it to the top list. 

Found a cute way to store these soaps …..

Do share your list of favourite LUSH products.

Until then xoxo….

http://www.randomerscloud.blogspot.com 

Sneak peek of my beauty bag essentials

While rummaging my everyday beauty bag , It suddenly struck me that we girls take our beauty bags for granted, imagine a day without your beauty essentials. So girls here are the essentials that complete my beauty bag, what are yours?

                         

The one thing I can never step out of the house without is my skin’s life line- Clinique moisturising gel for oily combination skin. I usually carry it in a small  box thats handy and easier to include in my beauty bag.

Blush

my blush is Clarins prodige  illuminating cheek colour , the most intimidating feature of this blush is that the palette has about 4 different shades following the same colour theme so if incase I need a shadow I use one of the lighter glittery shades as an eyeshadow  in emergency. 

Foundation 

Benefit hello flawless, this is a recent addition, so far it is fine .

Hand cream

L’occitane handcream with almond milk is my favourite, because of it’s convinient size and leaves my hands smooth without making them too oily or slippery. 

Eye pencil 

I use bobbi brown black long wear  eye pencil in smoke colour, it is just so soft and thats what I love about it. 

Lip colourMy most trusted day wear lip colour is cremsheen modesty A 90 from MAC, it does not have shine and stays on for at least 5 hours. At the moment I have Body shop get lippy lip balm.

Concealer

My concealer is Yves St. Lauren Touche Eclate , Your beauty bag cannot be complete without this, it is a “cult favourite”

Mascara

I use Yves St. Laurent Volume effect mascara, I am quite satisfied with it at the moment . I always bend my mascara brush to give a curling effect to my eye lashes while applying it. 

A Versache perfume roll on completes my beauty bag. 

Girlies, do share your beauty bag secrets , and do not forget to follow me http://www.randomerscloud.blogspot.com….xoxo

Unresolved Weighty Issues? Should I dial Cambridge Diet for emergency?

Cambridge Diet is the latest fad among Jeddah folks to shed off those heavy  kilos. People have been raving about Cambridge Diet Centre since its inception in Jeddah. Now the knock-out questions are  – Does it work? Will it help me lose weight quickly? Is it safe? 

I guess I can safely pass conclusions as I have tried-and-tested various diets and fads  all my life to achieve that dreamy figure and failingly continue to do till date.  I unashamedly admit that I had somberly given up that I could never be skinny like the poster girls. Honestly, this desire used to be my sole ambition and the one thing I wanted more than anything in my life. I have resorted to all means to fulfill this far and distant objective.

I want to share with you, from my various dieting failures that YOYO dieting is NOT a long-term solution and I will bet my cherished LV on it. Google a bit and it will throw up results where it’s ubiquitously yelled in all caps – ‘stop yoyo dieting and follow a healthy lifestyle!’. Sadly but truly – yet slowly and surely -this is the only healthy way to consistently maintain your weight and eat whatever you want albeit in smaller portions. I will do a separate detailed blog post on healthy lifestyle and vegan diet but for now let me share with you my experience with Cambridge diet.

I had to be in the best shape to fit in my favorite dress for my best friend’s wedding. I toyed with this diet because I had rigorously sweated out on Chalene Johnson’s ‘Beach Body Challenge’ for about 60 days and despair, not lost as many kilos as I had targeted when I set-off this hi-tempo programme. I was running against time and alas registered for another short term FAD diet – Cambridge diet plan.

Astonishingly, the diet does work, and is for real! I stuck to it for a good 10 days and lost about 3 KGS. However, the hurrah soon became a groan – as like all diets, this also came with its sinister side-effects. I felt so sick at many times, and my face had also turned pale like rotten aged-cheese.

The process may seem lengthy initially but trust me it’s worth it. These guys are professionals unlike the rip-offs you find in Jeddah.  On my first appointment, I was asked to see the nutritionist who analyzed my weight, height and eating habits, and based on that she designed a customized diet plan which consisted of three Cambridge diet sachets to be taken daily along with protein and dairy. My prescribed diet plan was as follows

   

        

      

Breakfast – Apple cinnamon porridge

 

  

Snack Skimmed yogurt or 1 cup skimmed milk

Lunch Grilled chicken breast or fish fillet with salad (no tomatoes, no dressing, no oil at all)

Evening snack – Shake

Oriental Chilli soup – the only soup from Cambridge diet that I liked

 The result- It works! I lost a considerable amount of weight , about 7 pounds in 10 days.the best part of the diet is that the results are visible quickly and  if you want to shed off few pounds real fast then Cambridge diet won’t disappoint you 

Best shakes- Chocolate mint and Butterscotch
Best Porriage- Apple and cinnamon
Best Soups – Oriental chilli soup
Best bars- Chocolate and peanut 

Anti – Cellulite Jeans – Is it a real deal?

Remember the anti- cellulite jeans that wrangler launched earlier this year, claiming to help reduce cellulite with their cellulite combating elements that the jeans was made up of. 

WRANGLER print Advertisement for “Denim Spa” jeans infused with retinol, algae extract and caffeine to help combat cellulite

Now we have another Brazilian designer – Alexandre Herchcovitch who developed jeans made of similar technologyWhile, Unveiling the anti-cellulite jeans at a fashion show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Herchcovitch said that the product is a result of five years of research and has proved it is effectiveness. But medical experts are still skeptical (obviously!). 

Models backstage before presenting creations from the Herchcovitch Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/11/10/5323083/brazil-designer-gives-world-anti.html#storylink=cpy

I for once, agree with medical experts as nothing can reduce the cellulite as it occurs when you have more fat on your body. So, we apply some simple logic here, and that is if you have less fat, the lesser cellulite and vice versa. 

At the same time I have never tried any of the cellulite creams or lotions but would love to give a shot at these jeans to see if Anti- Cellulite stuff really works or not. What about you guys?  

In 2004, Miss Sixty introduced a range of jeans, trousers and skirts – claimed could smooth away cellulite. However, medical experts dismissed the clothing line as a marketing ploy

Saturday Indulgence – DIY quick pedicure renewal

I love pedicure sessions,  I feel like a princess where my feet are being cleaned and massaged while I blissfully either enjoy my book or music. There is a BUT to this statement and the but is I hate to wait and feel as if time is slipping away , performing this feet pampering once a month is good and I wouldn’t be bothered for a couple of minutes waiting time .The real issue arises when I want to do this routine  more than once a month and the time at the salon makes my heart pinch and feel guilty thinking what all I could do instead of sitting here. So to beat that guilt I like to do my pedicure renewal at home, here is how it is done.

•     Put on some relaxing music and lite up aromatic candles 

            

Essentials for DIY pedicure renewal 

     

•     Soak your feet in hot water for 10- 15 mins ( I use my bath tub at times or the feet mas sager), 

•     Apply cuticle remover oil, I use body shop almond oil cuticle remover, just spread it on your toe nails and wait for about 5 mins.

                                                

Bodyshop almond cuticle oil- the best 

• I use body shop almond oil cuticle remover , just apply that on toe nails and wait for about 5 mins

• Sart pushing them back with a cuticle remover 

                    

• Scrub the hard dead skin with the help of a pumice stone
• usually if you are doing this routine as a renewal to your pedicure session, you are most likely not to have any dead skin at this time hence, and you can straight away go to the next step.

                               

      

                                     

                                   LUSH Volcano Foot Mask – it really lives up to it’s name 

                                    



                                         

Cover your feet with plastic 

• Wash your feet, pat dry and then wait for the best part apply the volcano foot mask from LUSH, all you need to do is apply a thick coat on all your feet and then wrap your feet in a plastic.

• Leave it on for 10 mins, rinse it off by rubbing it near the dead skin, this product is miraculous, you will feel your feet super good after washing it. 

• Follow by applying a good foot cream, I use Botanics from boots. 

                                              

                   

                                                                          Botanics mint foot cream by BOOTS

                          
                        

    

                                                     

                          Sleep with your socks and you will love your soft feet in the morning.

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Juice it up with Greens

I recently got obsessed with green smoothies, I was at first a bit skeptical about them as drinking something made up of veggies and fruits sounded a bit awful. But one fine day I was trying to get rid of my greens so thought of trying it and I instantly fell in love with the green juice. it is totally awesome.

here is my recipe, where I just threw in whatever greens and fruits were available

– 2 handful of spinach 

– a medium sized peach, cubed 

– teaspoon of honey

– 1 tablespoon yogurt

– some Jarjeer leaves (argula) 

– 1 cup cold water

Just blend all the above ingredients together in a blender, strain it if you  want a clear juice , top it with chia seeds and flax seeds (optional) and enjoy!! 

Keep calm and read on

A good book with chai latte or a seamless cup of coffee – isn’t it a perfect epilogue to even a bad day. I try to do this at least on Thursdays after work; this is what I call me time and it so happens that reading therapy makes me relax in the best possible way.

A GOOD book and coffee – Combo made in Heaven

My current reads

I love reading and I read all kids of books, heavy, thriller, bios to soft light reads. A huge fan of Sidney Sheldon , but recently I have found a new interest – Sophie Kinsella light chic reads, which is kind of weird since I never even read them when I was in school – found them a little too meh. But believe me these are great stress buster, seriously who wants add stress with the nail biting thrillers when you are on vacation or trying to de stress yourself. Home is the best place for me to read, however sometimes changing your comfort zone is necessary. my two favorite coffee places in Jeddah for reading  are

–          – Starbucks at Jarir, sary street

–           –  Mugg and beans , near stars Avenue

Today me and my husband stopped by at starbucks for some after work coffee and I spotted a new shortbread and brownie…the caramel shortbread was YUMM

Belgian Chocolate square and Chocolate Caramel Shortbread

My skin’s life line

The texture of my skin is oily, which normally requires a little extra care as oily skin can be super annoying at times when your face looks and feels all oily. Also greasy skin is prone to pimples that’s what people say and I have seen so far though I never experienced such a problem ever in my life. This could be partially because I drink LOADS of water seriously  and that is rule no 1 to keep your body hydrated, it truly reflects on your face.

                                         

Secondly, to research and look for the best suited products for your skin type. I  found my skin’s life line almost 4 years ago with clinique oily to oily combination skin face wash and moisturizer gel. It is just amazing, now I just need to exfoliate my face just once a week because every time I wash my face with it the oil just vanishes away without leaving it extremely dry and the gel keeps the face moisturized at exactly the right level. these two products are my best friends forever .

Face Wash – Clinique

 I have minor gripe here wish the sales people at Paris Gallery and Debenhems Jeddah were as excited as I am when i bought these products for the first time.