Anjna Harish: Thoughts of a girl: Summer

Monday, 20 May 2019

Clarins x InTheFrow Collaboration

Today, I am writing to share a brilliant deal from the Clarins x InTheFrow collaboration. Clarins is a brand which seems to get it right - all their products are gentle, easy to use and encased in the perfect packaging. In this deal if you purchase one skincare item and any other product in their range in-stores you get a Summer Tote bag filled with three travel sized goodies which you can select yourself from a few choices. I'll show you what goodies I managed to grab and a quick first impression!

First of all, can we admire this Summer Tote bag? It's perfect! It has a cute pattern, rope handles and is the perfect size for taking the essentials to the beach.

The first product I was looking to buy was a new moisturiser, so I bought this My Clarins Re-Boost Refreshing Hydrating Cream (£22.00/50ml). I have never seen this range before, but from what I've heard it's more geared towards people under 30. Clarins has very helpfully divided their skincare based on the clients age, and so finding a moisturiser that will work for your current skin needs is really easy to find. This moisturiser is a cream-mousse formula which means it's super lightweight and sinks into the skin quickly. It feels really nice and cooling in the morning, part of me wants to stick it in the fridge so that experience is enhanced!The packaging looks light but it's actually quite weighty, so don't be fooled!

Funnily enough, my second choice of moisturiser would have been the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream (£37.00/50ml) and so I selected this as one of the free products. This is just a super hydrating moisturiser that would suit all skin types. The only reason I didn't go for it was the price tag, this seems like a product where I could happily apply a lot onto my face just due to the texture. I'm happy to test-drive this 30ml travel sized version to see if it is really worth the money!

Recently, I have been taking more of an interest in my bath and shower products because that time to unwind is really important and I want to make sure I use products that just enhance the DIY spa experience that I try to create for myself. I grabbed the Clarins Tonic Bath and Shower Concentrate (£20.00/200ml) in one of the free products (it's a 100ml version!) - it has a few essential oils which makes it a really luxurious product to use, the steam of the shower/bath mixed with this product just really helps you to inhale the scent and my muscles just relax instantly. I personally like to massage a bit of the product near my collarbone and temples as it enhances the smell and also the experience.

The last free product I chose is actually one that I have used in the past, and used to be one of Clarins best selling product which is the Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract (£21.00/125ml). This cleanser is what it says on the tin, super gentle and it has some exfoliating beads which isn't too abrasive on the skin. I find that this product doesn't irritate my skin and it leaves my skin feeling cleansed without feeling stripped. This travel sized version contains 50ml of product.

The second product I actually bought was this Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (£18.50/12ml). I remember when these came out a few years ago, it was one of the products that I always wanted but never seemed to be at the top of the list. I have the shade 06 Rosewood Shimmer, which is the perfect nude shade for my skin-tone. It's super moisturising on the lips, with a gloss like finish that compliments most make-up looks. I have a feeling I will be reaching for this a lot!

That's it in terms of my mini round up of this deal. I think it's still on for a few more days, so I would highly recommend checking it out because you do get a lot for your money. It's nice that they also give you a choice of products to choose from too!

I might do a full review of some of these products once I have tried it for a considerable amount of time! If you would like to read more posts then be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date!

My 3 go-to Summer Makeup essentials

Now that summer is in full swing, I've noticed that I reach for certain pieces of makeup that just encapsulate the summer vibe....

When I think of summer makeup, I think of a lighter more glowy base. The Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter (30ml/£30.00) is a product I use daily, I find that it just gives that 'lit from within' look, and even makes bare skin look at its optimum health. If you haven't tried it, I would really urge you to. I've written a full review here. The reason why it's in this little edit is because it adds the glow without overtly adding shimmer and shine to the cheeks - this is why it's an essential, it's something you can pop under makeup, over makeup, mix in with foundation, or with no makeup at all. I use the shade '5 Tan' this under my foundation, and just use a half pump of foundation, and just let this product do all the work. The result is basically a Victoria's Secret version of yourself - what's not to like? Scroll to the end to see swatches!

Like I've said earlier, when I think of summer makeup, I think more about skin and a healthy tan. I'm already tan all year round, but what I have been reaching for is my NARS 'Liberté' blush (£24.00/4.8g). I love NARS blushes, they have the right about of pigment and blendability, which means you can see them on the skin but they don't look crazily out of place either. This shade in particular is that mix between orange and peach, and so really emphasise a tan, giving you that healthy vibe. I just think this shade is extremely flattering, and so even if you aren't as tan, maybe looking for a more peachy shade of blush would be equally as flattering, as it adds some colour and depth to the face without being a heavy or unnatural layer.

The amount of times I have probably said healthy is probably too much, so luckily my next item is an eyeliner, so the word healthy wouldn't really work in this context! I've been reaching for the Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner (£2.99/3.8g) to complete my look as it just finishes my summer makeup off. I feel like without this I look like I have just woken up, eyeliner just has the ability to define the eye in such a way that you can notice it without it overshadowing the entire look. I've just used this Collection one for the past week or so, but I quite like it, it's super black and the brush is easy to control too. I might do a more in-depth review of this product in a few weeks after it's had more of a road test! Another reason black liquid liner is a staple is because as it is a liquid, it doesn't tend to move around too much, and as it is black too it doesn't fade away as much as my brown pencil eyeliners and so it's become a summer necessity for me.

I've swatched the Flawless Filter on the right, the Collection Fast Stroke Liner in the middle and the NARS blush on the left. All the three products are pigmented and so are long lasting on the skin - perfect for summer!

These three types of items are just what I have been reaching for lately. I would love to know your go-to summer makeup essentials in the comments below. If you like my content please subscribe on Bloglovin to keep up to date with any new content!

3 Summer Skincare Finds

The Summer Sales have been in full swing, and I managed to pick up a few things which I have been testing out in this heat wave that England has been having. I got all of these items from House of Fraser, which is my go-to store for all my beauty needs.

The first thing I bought was The 'Buffet' Serum from The Ordinary (£12.70/30ml). I'm going to do a full review of this product - so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on it. In short, this serum is supposed to be an 'all-rounder' of all the peptides and nourishment your skin needs, as well as some extra benefits too. I have been using this religiously twice a day for the past month, and I've noticed a difference in my skin - it's way less congested meaning I get spots less often. It's been an actual miracle so stay tuned for the full review of this product! Overall, it's a massive hit with me, and I would fully recommend!

One of my favourite skincare brands for a long time has been Kiehl's, I use their Ultra Facial Moisturiser every morning and I used to use their Midnight recovery for years. I bought the Kiehl's Lip Balm (£10.00/15ml) in the Pear Scent. This lip balm is for anyone who likes a sheen on their lips - a bit like a thinner, less heavier Vaseline that is so nice to apply. It's also 15ml, and so it gives you more product than a standard lip balm, and I can already see that I have not made a dent in it. if you like a lip balm that is there, then this is the one for you. Also I love the durability of the product, you can chuck it in any bag without fear of it breaking or coming loose, as it has a screw cap lid. The scent itself is really nice, not overpowering but still present!

The last product I want to talk about is less skincare and more bodycare as it's a hand cream. I went to Elizabeth Arden for their Oxygen Blast Facial a few months ago, and really enjoyed the experience. Whilst they were prepping me, they sprayed some of the White Tea Fragrance on me, and I fell in love with the fragarence. It was one of those where you just inhale and just instantly relax. So when I spotted the Elizabeth Arden White Tea Hand Cream (£7.00/30ml), I just had to buy it. It's a super lux hand cream, and again has that ability to make me relax. I exclusively wear this at night, just to be more relaxed. If you haven't smelt this before, then make sure to have a sniff when you next go past an Elizabeth Arden counter. I'm thinking this might be my next fragrance that I purchase.

This was just a quick roundup of my recent finds that I have been regularly been using! I'm going to do a full review of the Buffet Serum, because I would like to go more in depth about my experience and the changes I have noticed! I would love to know if you have tried anything new? Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my newest content!

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30

Summer is coming in waves in the UK, and when we had our first bout of sunshine, I knew I needed to upgrade on my SPF and typically, my daily moisturiser was also on it's last legs. Luckily, I knew that Kiehl's had just released their new Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30 (£24.50/50ml), which I was instantly drawn to...

Kiehl's have always been a skincare brand that I have loved. Midnight Recovery Concentrate (£38.00/30ml) was one of my favourite skincare products of all time, and because my skin reacted so well to that, I knew that I could trust this brand to take care of my skin.

Just for reference, my skin is quite intolerant of certain skincare, it's on the oily side too, however I can get dry skin at times. So my skin is really combination, but more extreme on either side. I know, I totally lost the skincare lottery here.

The Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30 (£24.50/50ml), is an intensive facial cream, that really moisturises the surface of the skin. This is slightly on the heavy side, and a complete contrast to the Hydra Genius by L'Oreal, but this is what I needed for my skin. This is perfect for any skin type, because even if it's slightly more present on the skins surface it does sink in and provide that barrier between your skincare and makeup. Also you really don't need much of this, around a pea sized amount is perfect, as it blends far along the skin. Since using this my skin hasn't been dry at all, and it hasn't made my skin even more oily either, so I am super happy with this product.

A contrast of this product compared to the original Ultra Facial Cream, is that this contains peppermint oil, which is slightly cooling on the skin, and is perfect for those early mornings! The more obvious contrast is the added SPF 30. SPF is super important generally, and also if you suffer from hyper-pigmentation as sunlight can further darken the melanin in the skin, exacerbating these areas. Since this product is broad spectrum, this means you are protected from both UVA and UVB rays rather than just one. I have been using this moisturiser for over a month now and it has already helped to even out my skin tone, and has balanced my skin type out too.

All in all, this moisturiser is amazing, I just love how it's just all you need in a moisturiser. I love the packaging too, firstly it's filled to the brim and secondly there is a second lid to stop the product getting on the actual lid. It's great for travel and it looks like I've used nothing so it's well worth the money! I think this is a moisturiser that most people will get on with, and if you need a new moisturiser or SPF then Kiehl's would be my first stop!
Have you tried this product? Let me know down below and be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

Birchbox: June 2017

I was lucky to receive the June Birchbox as a late birthday present this month. I love the concept of this brand, delivering new and upcoming, or well loved beauty products to try and test. This months Birchbox came in a bag, which is perfect for days at the beach as the material of the bag is easy to clean and very durable.

The first thing that popped out of this bag was the Scrub Love Coconut Mango Body Scrub (£12.95/200g). This product is so ideal for summer, I feel like sometimes we worry about facial skincare rather than body care! Still I was prepared to dismiss this product, as who wants to spend a lot of money on a scrub that you wash away right? When I used this product, I was completely blown away, I used around a tablespoon of the scrub and that was enough to scrub my whole body. The scrub itself is mostly particles with no gel or liquid which makes the scrub really do its job properly. It does have oil in it, so it's not all just grit. The smell is incredible, it did not overtly smell of coconut nor mango, but just a nice tropical scent, enough to make you wish you were in a tropical paradise! The scrub was vigorous, but the coconut oil left behind just made me love this product even more, as my body was just ready for the day once I stepped out of the shower. For anyone who is looking for a real scrub, this is honestly the best product I have tried!

I was also so happy to receive the Cowshed Cowpat Moisturising Hand Cream (£8.00/50ml), just because I haven't tried anything from the brand before, and I've heard such good things about it. This hand cream is a good staple for any handbag, it absorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave any greasy residue. The scent is really different, this product strives to be unisex which I find refreshing! This product contains Grapefruit oil and Coriander oil to help circulation and also Shea and Cocoa butter to help to nourish dry skin. In terms of texture, this feels like a lotion, however has the power of a heavy duty cream! I actually stick this product on my feet too because it really is good at hydrating dry skin.

The amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (£20.00/232ml), is a product I didn't think I would get much use out of. However, a week after the box arrived, I slept in after my alarm went off, and only had less than half an hour to get ready and this product literally saved my hair. I don't really use dry shampoo as I was my hair every day. I know, it's so bad for my hair. But what I especially liked about this dry shampoo was that it didn't leave a build up of product in my hair, and it just added an extra few hours of wear back into my hair. This would be great for anyone who likes to use dry shampoo period, but also those who like to use it over a period of days, as this is such a light spray.

The last few bits that were in the Birchbox was an Eyebrow Pencil from Meech and Mia (£12.99/1g), I haven't heard of this brand before but I was sceptical of trying an eyebrow pencil as I hadn't tried one in a few years! Once I tried this one though, I was sold. It's lightly pigmented, and has a slightly waxy feel to it, and just looks natural on the brows. It's weird, it's like a new generation of eyebrow pencils, that accentuates brows rather than drawing them on! This pencil is designed for sparse brows, and so if you are like me, and are not naturally gifted with full brows this pencil could be a game changer for you!

Another interesting product was the Arrow Enhance Waterproof Eyeliner + Brightener (£12.00/0.8g), which is a light pink eyeliner, which is perfect masking tired, red eyes! So although I love the concept of this eyeliner, and the longevity is also brilliant, the product itself slightly balls up on my eyes, and leaves residue in my eyelashes, which isn't ideal. Also I probably should address that on my eyes, the colour is quite noticeable, just because of how tanned my skin is. I think on lighter skin this product might look more natural! What I have been doing with this product is using this on my waterline and then adding my eyeliner of choice over it, as it extenuates the colour of my eyeliner, as it's such a light colour. So if I am wearing brown or green eyeliner, priming my waterline with this eyeliner is perfect as the colour just looks more vibrant and the eyeliner actually has something to stick to too, and so doesn't disintegrate as easily!

I was super happy with this Birchbox, as I just think the selection was things I needed but just didn't buy for myself! I would love to know if you have tried Birchbox and your experiences of it! Also be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

L'Oreal Pure Clay Glow Scrub

I love skincare. When L'Oreal released their masks, it was a hit with the majority of the population! So I was excited when they released a scrub version, which could be used more on a daily basis.

The L'Oreal Pure Clay Glow Scrub (£5.99/150ml) is super lovely to use. I've had it for around a month now, and I still get excited to use this. Like I said earlier it's for daily use, and so it's not an abrasive scrub, and has a creamy formula that encases the manual exfoliation beads. I find that it invigorates my skin and does add a nice glow to my face.

However as much as I love to scrub my face everyday, I find that sometimes I need more of a harsh scrub to fully get rid of my dry skin every now and then. So my trick with this product is to use it as a mask on dry skin, and leave it on for a few minutes because once the creamy formula has dried down, you are left with more beads to give your skin a nice proper exfoliation. I love how I can use this however I want, I love the traditional mask but I prefer the versatility of this product too.

I actually also love the packaging, it's quite sleek, and I don't think it would be too much of a hassle to travel with because it's on the slim side. I think you also get a nice amount of product for your money. I think most people would love this product, as it's gentle and just a nice addition to my skincare without advertising a ton of benefits. My skin type is oily, which is sensitive and sometimes intolerant to certain products, so if my skin agrees with this, I'm sure most people will love this too!

Have you used this product? If so, let me know down below in the comments! I would also love to know what your favourite scrub is!
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Curently Testing

I've been on a bit of a make-up ban recently. In the last few months, I haven't bought much, just using everything in my collection, just to finally finish some products, so I can justify new purchases in the future. I had finally finished a few items so I treated myself to a couple of new products that I am now currently testing. So I'll give you my first impressions!

Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolour (£7.99/1.7g)

This product is a hybrid between a lip colour and a lip balm. Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, this product merges skincare and makeup, which I love. I find products like this so easy to use and need less maintenance throughout the day. You don't need to constantly reapply if you don't want to and just let it fade naturally, or you can reapply without needing a mirror. I just love how the ball is in your court, I think this is how make-up is supposed to be, you calling the shots rather than the product. Hopefully that made sense! I love the shade ranges of these, they were all quite wearable, but I love my nudes. This colour is a nude for me, but is probably a nice browney pink for anyone with lighter skin.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof (£7.99/9.5ml)

Lash Sensational is one of the most hyped mascaras of the past year and this is the first time I am trying it. I know! I'm the worst beauty blogger! But since my mascara ran out, the Lash Sensational was the next mascara on my radar. I have to get waterproof, since my lashes don't hold a curl without a waterproof formula. My thoughts: I think I need to wait for the formula to dry out a bit, since it's so wet at the moment, it's a super messy mascara to apply, and my lashes are quite thin, so my eyelids get the brunt of the product, which is not the look I was hoping to achieve! Apart from that, when I can concentrate most the product on my eyelashes, I do like this product - I think it lengthens and adds blackness and thickness to my lashes. I think it's super nice to layer this up too. It does hold my lashes up too, but I think that'll get even more better when the formula is more dry.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (£16.00/0.55ml)

I've heard amazing things about this liner, and it did not disappoint. I love how precise the nib is, like out of all the eyeliners I think I have ever tried, this is the most precise application I have ever gotten. Surprisingly, the nib is an actual brush, which I thought would make the eyeliner more messy and more prone to mistakes. However, this beats my Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner which had a felt tip applicator. I'm so quick at doing a winged liner look, which is a feat because I don't apply liquid liner on a daily basis, it's something I have fazes of, and currently this eyeliner is prolonging my liquid winged liner faze for now.
In terms of it's longevity, this liner has withheld the most brutal of English weather, which included a waterfall-like rain on one occasion, and my eyeliner was still exactly as it had been when it was first applied! I would recommend this to every liner lover out there!

NYX Profession Matte Makeup Blotting Sheets (£5.50/50 sheets)

My Sephora Blotting Sheets were life, and unfortunately they ran out so I wanted to try a blotting sheet for around the same price point and I knew NYX produced some. They have a selection of different types of blotting sheets, but I'm a believer in simplicity and there was just one job I wanted to be done properly, and that was to get rid of the oil and shine on my face. After using these from NYX I think I prefer the Sephora ones. These NYX ones feels like grease proof paper, which feels a bit cheap for me. it's not that thick either. I feel like I have to use two sheets for my whole face, whereas with the Sephora ones I found that I could use both sides, because the oil wouldn't really secrete through to the other side. I'm going to still use these NYX ones up, but I think I'm either going to have to head to a Sephora or find another brand which supplies them next time.

So that's the few beauty bits I've been testing for the past few weeks! Some products I have had longer than others, so that's why I can give more of a full review of it! I would love to know what products you guys are trying out!
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Thomas Sabo Glam & Soul Karma Arabesque Bico Watch

It was my birthday earlier this month, and I was very lucky to receive the watch that I wanted from my family. I love accessories since they have this ability to totally change up an outfit. I only own one other watch, so it was so lovely to now be able to have more variation in my wardrobe...

I received the Thomas Sabo Glam & Soul Karma Arabesque Bico Watch (£270). I spotted this online a month or two ago and I instantly fell in love. What singles this watch out is that it is dual toned, in regards to the metals used. I love that it has rose gold and silver in it. I own a Guess watch that is rose gold, and I wanted something different in terms of style and aesthetic. I love that now I have a watch that goes with the silver hardware on my bags and jewellery but still compliments my skin-tone.

Another reason this watch caught my attention was the bead fixture on the side, making this look more like jewellery rather than just a plain watch, I love how this looks with other bracelets, and adds to the other accessories I've worn rather than just being segregated from other things I wanted to wear.

It's hard to see on the photo's but the face of this watch is slightly pearlescent, so in different light, this watch captures attention, and just makes the watch pretty without being too ostentatious. I love the simplicity of this watch, how it just gives the time without added features of date and other unnecessary details. This is also missing the second hand too, so it is really dialled back in terms of simplicity.

Another feature this watch has is the clasp at the back, it's a double clasp which is something I have never seen before, and although it takes an extra few seconds to put on, I find that it is very secure on my hand, and just leaves me with a feeling of security.

I took this watch with me to Budapest for a few days, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to test drive the watch. Firstly, I'm glad I didn't break the watch, which was the thing I was most scared of! I found that I don't have to be overly cautious of this watch, which is always good! I haven't scratched it, and it's still in pristine condition. I loved that this watch went with every outfit I wore whilst I was in Budapest.

I think you can tell how much I love this watch, this post is literally me just fawning over this watch. It's feminine, without being too girly, which is what I think the silver adds and it's practical but looks like jewellery. I can't see anyone not liking this watch.

I would love to know what you guys think, and also if you have any recommendations for me! Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

The highlighting bronzer you need this summer...

I have to admit I have been loving the whole highlighting trend that's been going on these past few years. I do think Instagram can go a bit overboard but in general I like the effect it gives. Trying to find a complimentary shade for tanned Indian skin has been a struggle - the famous Jaclyn Hill x BECCA Champagne Pop was still too 'white' for my skin-tone. Luckily for me, my birthday rolled around and my amazing psychology friends were kind enough to gift me the Diorskin Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder (£39.00/10g) in the shade Amber. I totally freaked out with excitement and here is why they hit the nail on the head by finding me my perfect match.

The Diorskin Nude Shimmer is a two in one product. You can swirl all of the sections together to get a healthy bronzed glow or just highlight with the 'Nude' letters. This means that you can choose the intensity that you like and build it up. Currently I like highlighting with just the letters with a thin fan brush just because I have been using it for special occasions! As you can see the 'Nude' letters also have two shades, one being a more white-gold shimmer and the other more of a peach-orange. The peach-orange shade suits me better, but I do like to mix both shades together as they both compliment warm under-toned skin! The reason I fawn so much over this product is because it's so versatile, you can choose what shades you want, how you want to apply it or just be lazy and just stick it all on without any consequences.

The effect is a subtle shimmer that highlights to brighten the skin and add a healthy glow, while helping to shape the face and add colour. If you love your daily shimmer, this would be a nice addition because it is very flattering and not as intense as traditional highlights. If you have large pores like me, then this product is also one that you will enjoy as my pores were not emphasised by this product, nor did this product clog them either. It also lasts nicely too and I didn't see my skin break up the product which is always a good thing! Being oily is a chore and so having products that work with the oil gets a big thumbs up from me!

The packaging is also something to fawn over. The compact came with a velvet pouch that I do store it in and also a small insanely soft kabuki brush so that you can really get all the different aspects of the product onto your face with one easy swipe. The packaging of the compact is so pretty too, it is a mirrored Cannage pattern that makes it easily identifiable as Dior's. It is extremely travel friendly as it has a magnetic lid so you are protected if you ever chuck this into a handbag and also a mirror for on-the-go touch ups.

I would recommend this product to everyone, whether the person is 12 to 80. I think the concept of this product was made to be complimentary to anyone who wears it no matter the season. I think my friends did a fantastic job finding me this because I will forever tie this product to my 21st birthday and receiving my first Dior product!

I would love to hear your thoughts on this, do you like subtle shimmer or that all out glow?

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My Trip to India 2015

My time in India was an experience, it was good but also had some not so pleasant aspects (mosquito's love me too much). Throughout the whole trip I was constantly carrying a camera so I could capture the life I lived whilst I was there and also the great sights I saw! My favourite part had to be going to Shimla, the sights there are absolutely amazing and I would love to go back to that region again!