Fall Scent Additions - The Body Shop

 When the seasons change, I feel like the kinds of perfume and bodywash I use also tend to change along with it. I love my fruity florals, but in the fall I prefer something a little more fresh, spicy and light. If that makes any sense.

I feel like The Body Shop nails scents in some areas. They don't smell essence-y and are really natural and 'unedited'. There aren't impossible mixes like sweater-weather-marshmallow-pumkin-latte-cinnamon-dreams *cough-splutter-bathandbody*.

Here are some recent additions to my 'scent wardrobe' if you will.
Also, I just learned that L'oreal owns TBS and that's why they have French translations.

1. Body Shop Shower Gel in Smoky Poppy
    When this line came out, I was curious as to whether the scent would be manly, womanly or both. I'd definitely say both. It's got spicy undertones but a subtle sweetness that makes it just right. The gel is actually black which makes lil old me VERY happy. I live with guys so I will be sure to keep this in my room so that I don't wake it to it completely over one day.

2. Body Shop Shower Gel in Blueberry
    This is one of those 'good enough to eat' scents. Loads of brands do berry inspired scents (Bath and Body, Victoria's Secret) but they come off as synthetic to me. This literally smells like the fruit. You can even smell the tartness, you know? It's brilliant and definitely not an overpowering or clawing scent.

3. Fragrance mist in Fijian Water Lotus
    This rave could be long so grab yourself a cup of tea.
 Back when I was home, a couple of years ago, I bought (okay, my Mom bought) this perfume from them called Aqua Lily. It was one of the nicest, freshest scent's I'd ever had the pleasure of smelling so of course, I stole it.
It got discontinued so I decided to move on. And I thought I'd never find a scent like that again.
Until now.
I was at the store here in Manhattan and I showed the lady at the counter my empty perfume bottle and asked her if they had anything similar. She herded me towards the Body Mists and told me to check out the Fijian Water Lotus one. I didn't have high expectations but I thought I'd give it a shot. And oh my god. It is amazing. If you're into fresh, ocean-like, sweet but sharp scents, this is the one for you. The price point is insane for the amount of silage is has. It stays on ALL DAY. I've always thought The Body Shop fragrance mists are underrated as they fare just as well as an eau de parfum in terms of staying power. And they're also 1/4th the price. This is going to be my go-to scent this fall and winter till I can find afford to supplement it with another one.


What are your favorite scents from TBS?

   

Drugstore Haul & Review

The moment I got my acceptance letter this was my thought process:
1. I have brought honor to my family.
2. I can now shop at the drugstore.
3. I CAN NOW SHOP AT THE DRUGSTORE.
4. TGYUIOPIGFGYUIUYTRE5Y7DRUGSTORE

I have spent many a day envying the American beauty community who has access to a wider range of Maybelline/Revlon/Rimmel than I do in India and who have Elf/Wet n Wild/NYC at their disposal.

This is why I decided to move to New York for grad school.

(ONLY JOKING PARENTS)

This is a result of a month of small sneaky purchases and the combined cost of all that doesn't even cross $20.

1. Wet n Wild Megaplump Mascara
     This was probably the first thing that I bought from the drugstore. I was in desperate need of a mascara and my Million Lashes dried up on me. I did a big of in-store research and saw that this wand gives you a pretty similar effect. The formulation is a little too wet for me, but it's a great one for daytime.

2. Elf Volumizing Mascara
    Elf products are notorious for being either brilliant or completely awful. After the average performance of the Wet N Wild mascara, I took a gamble and bought this. I LOVE it. It goes on so easily and two coats gives me exactly what my Million Lashes used to. Stays on all day, as well. And I think the packaging is great too!

3. Wet n Wild Megalast nailpolish in Disturbia
    This is by far my favorite purple nailpolish. Ever. I've been on the hunt for a nice vampy dark purple without sparkles for years now. This has done it. The brush is also one of them fancy ergonomic ones that fit your nail perfectly. I think it works well for everything except my pinky cause it's tiny. I just end up using the brush on its side.

4. Wet n Wild Topcoat
     I picked this up along with the nailpolish cause well, dark colors chip and leave you looking like a preteen that bites your nails for fun. I wouldn't say I'm a fan because my nails gave me two days grace then started chipping. Why. Topcoat, you had one job...

5. Elf Flawless eye shadow palette in Tantalizing Taupe
    I'm all about the neutral palettes. I have a few of them now, and I think they're great for stashing in your purse. These four shades are nice, pigmented, buttery taupe shades. They're quite satiny (I expected them to be more matte) but I'm happy with them all the same. I love using the darkest shade in my crease - really adds depth and takes my usual gold day-eye to a night time vibe.

6. Burt's Bees Vanilla Lipbalm
    This stuff is an American cult favorite so when I saw it on a discount, I just grabbed it. I love it.

7. Wet n Wild lipsticks in Vamp it Up and Spotlight Red
    These lipsticks were impulse purchases. I was looking for some fall appropriate lipsticks and I picked these two up. I really Like Spotlight Red - it's a nice cool toned red. I'm still debating on whether to drop the $20 on Ruby Woo. But I think as this isn't AS nice, I may just have to. Vamp it up is a straight up purple. Not for the faint hearted. I love it stained out a bit (I am not brave enough to slap it on directly:P). The formulas of both these lipsticks are really good, I'd recommend buying them if you're looking for a quick budget matte lipstick.

On a side note, the atmosphere in the city here is brilliant. It's almost fall, it's Fashion Week and there's a nice drop in temperature. I am going to have the nicest, laziest Sunday tomorrow and probably have a wander around the city. Happy Fashion Week, guys!
    

Bag Lovin'

Long time no see! I am so sorry for the delay in posts - I've been getting into the whole 'back to school' rhythm. Classes at night are something extremely new for me, so I've been trying to find some sort of schedule that works (I haven't been successful so far). Sigh.

Anyway.

I've been thinking about buying a shopper/tote style bag for a while now. I wanted something that would hold my textbooks/notebooks/laptop and all the other fun stuff that comes with grad school and not look bulky or overloaded (my textbooks weigh about one ton each).

I was browsing the internet and looking at what people usually carry to school and the whole shopper-tote style seemed the most popular. I narrowed it down to two brands that I could 1. Afford and was still 2. Fashionable. Nine West and Kenneth Cole do a really god job of making designer bags that don't break the bank. I was going to buy the bag on Amazon but I feel like you can get a much better idea of the size when you're in the store, even if you can do the whole free returns thing. 

I bought this beauty at Strawberry which is a retail outlet in the city. They have a lot of amazing products (especially designer) at ridiculous prices. When I saw this, and the price, I bought it and ran out of the store. I kid you not.

This is the Kenneth Cole Reaction 'Foxy' Two-tone Shopper. I absolutely adore this bag. It fits everything that I need and still retains its shape. I went with the black because well, I have no imagination, and I thought the white striped detailing looked brilliant. They had this in a couple of other solid colors but this one really did it for me. I also love the chain detailing on the front.

Bag - Kenneth Cole - $39.99
High waist trousers - Mango
Tank top - H&M - $5.00

Look sharp, wear flats.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have moved to NYC. Anyone who lives in the city, or knows what it's like, knows that unless you're fancy enough to have a town car or your own car, the subway is the most economical and quick way to get around.

However, unless you're superbly lucky, chances are, the subway isn't going to spit you out right below your office building. So this means you've got walking to do.

I've been here a week and a half, and I can count the number of people I have seen wear heels on one hand. Everyone else just walks around in flats. The thing is, whether you're working or in school, you want to be able to tie your outfit together with nice shoes. Heels are the easiest way to look put together, but if you've got a long way to walk or simply do not get on with heels, I suggest looking for some nice flat options.

This is a little capsule shoe-drobe, if you will. The easiest way to look professional and wear flats is to gravitate to a ballerina style shoe. They're extremely easy to style, but I feel like you can get stuck in a rut by only buying them, even if they're in different colors. So here is what I like to wear to ensure my footsies are comfies.

I've been on the hunt for brown flats for almost two years now. I wanted something durable, but still chic. These fit the bill perfectly. They're also extremely versatile; I wear them with just about anything. I also love the metallic detailing between the joints.

These were an absolute bargain from Jabong. I wanted a pair of dressy work shoes that weren't ballet flats. Moccasins are a brilliant alternative. These are from Carlton London, which are a great brand for work shoes.



I am throwing in a pair of ballet flats, but these aren't your traditional ones. There's been this huge cat flats trend, and I found these in Westside. I THINK they're pigs, but I'm not entirely sure. They're probably the most comfortable pairs of shoes that I own.



And these are my babies. My blue suede brogues from Forever 21. I would definitely recommend buying a pair of casual brogues if you're on the fence with the sneaker trend, but still want something heavier than sandals. You can get them in a more neutral color if you're into that, but you'll find that they open up your wardrobe to a whole new dimension!

What kinds of shoes do you guys like to wear?

I moved!

I'm pretty sure most of you who read my blog know me in real life, so it will come as no surprise to you guys that I moved last week.
To NYC. For grad school.
It still hasn't hit me yet.

I just wanted to tell you guys that I will never ever stop blogging. And that if anything, I will only post more. I know a lot of people (including me) are always looking for information/survival tips on living and working in NYC. And in the course of the next year, I hope to be able to post a lot about it, maybe to help other people who want to move to the city for work, studying, or just because they want to.

I also now have access to Duane Reade, CVS, Ulta, Walgreens and Target. Which means I'm really going to be testing myself and my budget. Sigh.

Anyway, just a quick life update.
Here are some pictures that I've taken over the past few days. Also, please follow my Instagram @seriouslynoir for more pictures!

Outside the Barclays Center. I adore how wide the roads are.

The Verrazano Bridge. This was such a nice walk.

Spot the famous building.

The best sorbet/ice cream combination ever in Chelsea Market

Of course I went to Times Square.

Talking Body (Shop)

To all of you who got the Tove Lo reference, thank you, you made my day. I feel current and up to date with music :P

It was that time of the year where I cashed in those reward points and hit the Body Shop sale. My mom and I both bought stuff, so I thought I'd share.

1. Camomile Eye and Lip Makeup Remover (Original Price 795 INR - Sale Price - 397.50 INR)
I went in wanting to try a make up remover or a cleanser and I managed to snag the last bottle of this beauty at 50% off. I need something to take off the black warpaint, and this does the job without making my eyes sting.

2. White Musk Smoky Rose Eau De Toilette (Original Price 1395 INR - Sale Price - 697.50 INR)
This is divine. A brilliant light musk, which is not overpowering in the least. Definitely an evening perfume.

3. Satsuma Body Polish (Bought at Original Price - 650 INR)
This one is completely my Mum's. I'm the Strawberry Body Polish Fangirl, through and through. This one is for all you people who like something a lot less fruity and a lot more citrusy and refreshing. It leaves your skin feeling blissfully smooth.

4.. Color Crush Eyeshadow in Moonlight Kiss (Original Price 695 INR - Sale Price - 347.5)
 I've been on the lookout for a matte black single eye shadow since god knows when. Yes, at some point I will order Make Up Geek's Corrupt, but I thought I'd give Moonlight Kiss a go. I use it to smoke out my eyes and bedroom them down (or up?) a little. The initial color goes on VERY strong, but it does tend to fade out pretty fast, I've noticed. Kind of a miss for me.

Happy Weekend!

Leaving on a Jetplane: Tips for the Long Haul

As I pack away my life into 23+23+23+10, the day approaches where I have to sit, with no transit time whatsoever, on a 17 hour non stop flight.
I find it hard to sit in one place for more than 20 minutes, so this should be interesting.
Thankfully, I travel well, so there's no fear of flying or air sickness I have to worry about. Just plain boredom.

But, out of all the flights I've ever taken, this is definitely going to be up there as the longest long haul flight. (so far)

So for all of you flying to wherever for your masters this month or the next, especially if you're travelling alone for the first time, here are some tips to survive the ride and have some nice pamper time while you're at it. Some of these tips maybe ridiculously obvious, but I thought I'd put them down anyway.

BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. Set your watch to your destination's local time. Forget about your home time. Sleep/eat/poop on the new time zone.

1. Pack a pair of leggings or even pjs to change into. There is nothing more uncomfortable than trying to get into a sleeping position pretzel in jeans.

2. Wear slip ons, not sports shoes. Not only will you avoid looking like the stereotypical 'tourist aunty/uncle' it's also so easy to take off, and isn't bulky. Carry a pair of fuzzy socks and wear them on the plane instead. Before you do this, put some Vaseline or heavy cream on your feet. When you take your socks off, your feet won't be shrivelly and dehydrated.

3. Carry a heavy face cream and a night serum if you're that keen. Wash your face at least twice. This will keep you clean and moisturized.

4. Chapstick is your best friend. Plane air does weird stuff to your lips, and it's natural to keep licking them to keep them moist. That is really bad for you, because the saliva is corrosive and will give you blisters. All this can be solved with chapstick.

5. Bring a toothbrush/paste. Most planes will provide you with a set anyway. No one wants dragon breath once you step off the plane. The people that are picking you up may leave you at the airport.

6. Layer your clothes. I'm flying from Chennai, so I'm pretty sure it'll be ten million degrees. Go to the airport in a tee, carry your hoodie/sweater. I will be wearing a sweater on the plane and maybe even a huge shawl over that cause I don't get along with plane temperature drops. It gets effing freezing sometimes.

7. KEEP. DRINKING. WATER. Your skin will hate you, otherwise.

8. Remember to get up and move around or you'll get pins and needles.

9. Carry some makeup in your carry on. Put it on before you land. You may feel like death, but at least you wont look it. Tinted moisturiser, concealer, lipstick on your lips and a bit on your cheeks for color. Mascara and liner for people like me who cannot step out without it. Put on some jewelry. I always put my glasses on so I can fool immigration into thinking I slept at all the right times and am totally ready for day 1 in their country.

10. Do a mental checklist of all the stuff you took with you on the flight. I really tend to spread my belongings around my seat and that pouch in front, so I do a thorough check a good 45 minutes before landing.

Also pro adult tip - Photocopy every single document you own and put a copy in EVERY suitcase. Also label your luggage. Because some carriers are irresponsible with luggage and deliver them late - British Airways, I'm looking at you.

I cannot guarantee that you will look like Kendall Jenner, but at least you won't look like the Cookie Monster.


Anyway, I hope you all have a great flight and good luck with your courses!