REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask!

I first heard of the REN Glycolactic R-R-Mask from Jessicabeautican on youtube. She mentioned it in one of her hauls and said that Millie Makintosh (from Made in Chelsea) uses this. Now if you're not into that show and don't know who she is, then that's fine, all you need to know is that she has absolutely amazing skin. I mean, wow, if I had skin like that I would be a very happy bunny!

Product:

REN is a brand that I'm very interested in, I love their ethos and their skin friendly ingredients. This products contains ingredients like; papaya, cranberry, black currant, the list goes on (click *here* to see the list of ingredients). The product is suppose to combat congestion, remove dead skin cells, make the skin look brighter and reduce fine lines.

The smell is an orange scent which I'm not too fond of, but I can live with it for the results that it seems to be giving me.

Use:

You apply a reasonable pumps worth and smear over the face (I may start using a makeup brush) and leave it on for 10 minutes. You're given a little muslin cloth that you use to remove it when the 10 minutes are up and then rinse your face.

Results:

I used it when I got back, to be honest I didn't see or feel any instant result. Needless to say I was slightly disappointed, but obviously it was never going to work with one use, so I have been applying it, as regularly as I remember, for the past 2 months. I have to say it has made my skin better, my blemishes have slowly been reduced and my pores seem smaller than ever before. That's a massive thumbs up from me. My skin feels slightly tighter when I have removed this so I do moisturise or put serum on my face afterward.

I can't really comment on whether it reduces fine lines on my face, but it has made my face look healthier (or at least contributed).

Price:

On to what some people might consider important part. I wanted to get it when it was 20% off on ASOS back in November, but they had instantly run out of this product. Luckily on my trip to America I went into Duty Free where to my surprise that had it! I got it for £25 rather than the £30 original price (for 50ml).

I'm trying to get better at taking care of my skin with regular intervals of masks, exfoliating, creams, serums and drinking plenty of water. I still have 'off' days where I don't like my skin but doing all this DOES makes for a better base for when applying makeup.

♥ RP ♥

Given Gems!

From the pictures I suppose you know what this post is going to be about. It's just a little post displaying the fantastic talent of my friend (and fellow blogger), Ling, has got.

I didn't even know she was this talented and I've known her for 5 years! She is a very creative person in general with a brilliant sense of style and unique eye for detail. She first told me about her passion back last year, around July time. She eagerly told me that she was going to make me a bracelet. I didn't know what to say, not only was this kind gesture unnecessary but ultimately lovely. She gave the first bracelet (above) with matching earrings! Does her talent not cease?

I was in awe. Then she made a few of my other friends some bracelet too; for no particular reason, just because she has a huge heart!

She then made me another bracelet (below), this time she had changed some of her materials and created an innovative pattern with the way she made these gems. The colours she has used to make my particular bracelets shows how well she knows me =)

I'm hoping that I can somehow repay her, I have no idea how though. Hopefully she will turn this little hobby into something that she can share with the rest of us. I would more than happily pay for one of these pieces.

I just wanted to tell you about this incredible talent and show my support for her to, sooner rather than later, start selling them. I know she won't anytime soon as she is studying for her ACCA's but hopefully she can find time. =D

THANKS LING!

♥ RP ♥

Baby Brother Love!

So this post is going to be dedicated to my brother. It's his Birthday today and I just had the urge to write this post. I know he won't appreciate it but I thought I would appreciate him. I don't know where I'm really going to go with this post, so be prepared it's going to be a rambley one.

His name is Vishal and he is my younger brother by 15 months.

I suppose I will start off with when we were little; I used to take care of him, not outrightly, I mean that was my mums job, but I was protective over him, although there is only 15 months between us I feel as though he is much more younger than me. We used to play games all the time, I treasure those moments. I used to stick up for him in school, not that he needed anyone sticking up for him because he didn't really get picked on as such, but if someone did and it was in front of me or he told me about it, lets just say that person should have been scared. lol.

On regular occasions, we would take so long eating our dinner, because I would be sitting there talking to him and making him laugh. I used to say that he was the only one that used to laugh at my jokes, they weren't even funny, we were like 8-9 years old.

He was a naughty bugger as well, he used to through his chapatis behind the fridge because he didn't want them, my dad had a lovely mouldy surprise waiting for him when he cleaned behind the fridge, lovely. He tried blaming me but that wasn't going to work! The cheek!

Don't get me wrong, we used to fight a lot, he even stabbed me with a pen, it was a minor scratch but I still have the scar on my arm. I used to (still do) feel so guilty when I upset him, so I used to run away and scream 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry' before he hit me, that's when he picked up the pen and saw red. I forgave him though, obviously.

I suppose the point of this post is to just tell you all how much I appreciate having such a lovely brother. All my friends have brothers and I think I'm the only one that complains about trivial things when it comes to moaning about their sibling. As we have grown up we've stopped fighting and screaming at each other, instead we gave each other space but still have long hearty conversations. If something is annoying me I am more than happy to moan to my brother, I suppose it's because he just sits there and listens lol.

I would do anything for my baby brother. He still hugs me (I know he is going to hate me for saying that), well I kind of force him to lol. He has grown up to be a man with good morals, a sensible head and strong mind.

We've been through a lot as a family and he could have ended up being a totally different person, but he has his head screwed on and is making his family proud. He still needs to grow up a bit but what 24 year old guy doesn't?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VISH! =)

♥ RP ♥

25 Random Facts about Me! (Part 2)

I don't cry, I get really emotion and shed tears when I'm watching TV but not in my real life. The only time that I MAY cry is during that special time of the month when mother nature calls.

I was obsessed (still am) with my eyebrows. My friend first tweezed my caterpillar brows when I was 13 to a super defined shape, I was so upset when I saw what she had done. It wasn't that it looked bad it was just a shock for me, but since then I am the only person that touches my brows.

My lovely glasses!

I used to wear glasses. I wore them from the age of 6 till 21 when I decided to get laser eye surgery done. I used to hate wearing them, especially when you're growing up. I'm so glad that I got laser eye surgery done though, don't look back one bit.

I don't like wearing all black clothing, the reason being I'm superstitious and I think it brings me bad luck, I know logically that believing that is stupid but I can't help it. Plus I love wearing colour. I'm not an all black clothing type of person.

I love flying/speed. The smile that I have on my face when I'm on a plane and we're about to take off is stupid. My friends think I'm mad! But I love when we're on the runway and the plane is building up speed! Such a thrill seeker. I'd love to sit in the cockpit with the pilots for a whole journey, that's a dream of mine.

I used to get really bad anxiety before the first day of school or if I had any type of appointment. I couldn't get to sleep, I would just be thinking about the next day and all the things that could possibly go wrong. My stomach used to do summersaults. Not a nice feeling when you're young. But in the past 6 years I've never really had that feeling for things like that anymore. I don't know exactly why it's stopped. Think it was my mind set, glad it has stopped though.

I drew this when I was 14 for Art, this still is my fav chocolate

I love drawing. It was my favourite pass time when I was younger. I always thought I would do something in art. As soon as I got a pencil in my hand I used to start drawing, I mean forget about papers, the walls were fine. Ohh the anger that I caused my parents. It's funny, even when I used to have paper in front of me I chose to draw on the walls instead.

I love documentaries; history ones, science ones, medical ones. I just love learning about things like that. I think I get it from my Dad, he loves those types of programmes too, he used to make us watch them when we were little to encourage to learn new things. It certainly stuck with me, explains why I know such useless trivia.

I want to own enough books to cover a wall full of shelves with them. That's been a dream of mine since…I don't know when. The idea is lovely, although I don't know about the practicality of it or if I'd even own a wall like that.

I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was 16, still have the designs that I did back them in a folder.

I used to look like my Mum when I was younger but now look more like my Dad. I think it's because I have a big head like him! lol!

Well, there you have it, 25 Random Facts about myself, hope you found that remotely interesting, link similar posts in the comments section. I love reading them.

♥ RP ♥

Chanel - Raffinement!

Need I say more from the title. Well, I suppose I do. I received a belated birthday present from my 3 besties whilst in Paris, I was so shocked to see the Chanel bag and obviously I turned into a 'what is it? what is it?' maniac. To my surprise they had gotten me an eye palette, which I mentioned in passing whilst perusing the Selfridges website, that I loved. I went into a fit of hysterics when I saw what it was, you can ask them, I was literally shaking because it was so unexpected (sad I know).

On to the palette itself; it's the LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow in 'Raffinement'. The colours that this palette has are so unusual, they're quite difficult to describe. The 'dark brown' has a hint of purple running through it. The champagne colour next to it has hints of pink. The taupey purple has hints of gold/silver flecks in it.

The best way I found to apply these shadows is to use a flat shadow brush and pack the colour onto the lid, then use a separate blending brush to smooth out the edges/harsh lines.

On the website it looks like it has more of a golden tone to the shadows than it does in real life, but I think that's because of the flash.

I really love it, I wore a 'look' using just these colours the other evening. I love wearing purpley pinks on my lids and this palette works so well. I don't know if I would necessarily say that you need to go and get it, but it was an absolutely amazing gift and I can't describe how ecstatic I am to have this in my makeup collection. My first ever Chanel makeup. I did need to use a base for the look, I used the Maybeline colour tattoo in 'pomegranate punk'. I tried without one and it didn't look like the payoff was working on my lids (but I always need a primer).

Do you own any Chanel makeup? What would you get from their range if you could?

♥ RP ♥

25 Random Facts about Me! (Part 1)

After seeing so many of these posts/videos around and being so entertained by them, I thought I would do a shorter version, because I couldn't think of 50 random (interesting) facts about myself. But my facts turned out a little long so I'm going to split this post into two because I don't think anyone will last till the end of the full post lol, so here we go:

I always sleep on my front. My friends think that it's so odd that I sleep on my front because I have rather large bosoms but I can't stand sleeping on my back, it's like my brain can't shut off when I sleep on my back and I have the best dreams when I sleep on my front! Maybe that's why I prefer it ;-)

As of this year I have started to fast on Monday's. It's a fast that I know quite a few Hindus do, it varies in the day's that people do it on, usually Mondays, or Thursdays. I can eat fruits, nuts and drink milk and water, so it's not like I'm starving myself and I have one main meal at the end of the day. I can't get up from the meal until I've finished otherwise it breaks the fast. I started fasting because I'm hoping it will help me 'spiritually'.

I'm a morning person, I'm up and perky just as soon as I have washed my face. My family kinda dislike my activeness at that time of the day, but I can't help it. At night I'm a lot more mellow, but when I'm in bed (like I said below) I KO!

The Dresses!

I hated wearing skirts! From about the age of 9 till I was about 21 I never wore a skirt or dresses (apart from school uniform, but when I was able to wear trousers, then I was wearing them!). I think I was partly traumatised by my mum dressing me up like a doll in cute dresses that put me off, although I appreciate it now. And when I was a teenager, it was more I didn't like my legs. I suppose it was partly due to me being a tom-boy as well. Alls changed now, I love wearing skirts now and love my legs.

Ok, this next one is going to sound so bad! But I always think I'm right. I generally speaking won't say something without believing I'm right. I'm not talking about people opinions, I'm very open with all that but I'm referring to specific topics and discussions. I suppose it's hard for me to describe, but if you know me then you will be mentally shouting at me about this point. It takes a lot for me to admit that I'm wrong, especially when the person makes a point of saying 'admit it! You're wrong'.

I didn't think that lipsticks suited me. Like at all! I preferred wearing nothing or a lip gloss, and even then the lip gloss would be clear. Even when I bought lipsticks I would wear them in front of the mirror, um and ah and then wipe it all off. I think it's safe to say that's not the case now.

I used to dislike the colour red when it came to my clothes. My mum was adamant that it suited me but I refused to believe such poppycock, I really didn't think it suited my skin tone, which is odd because Indians wear red for their weddings (I'm not going to lie this did slightly worry me about what I would wear) but obviously I love wearing red now and realise that I was thinking poppycock! lol!

Back to my sleeping habits, and some of you may hate me for this, but I am a super duper heavy sleeper. Like, an earthquake wouldn't wake me! I wish I was exaggerating, but when I'm out I'm out. My brother once forgot to take his keys with him on a night out, he rang me 63 times before I realised my phone was ringing. I think that says it all!

I love food and I love to cook. I find cooking a really easy way for me to zone out completely, I just put my headphones in and work away. And I love experimenting with food. I want to venture into sushi but I don't know if I'd get that quite right.

Contrary to the last fact, I am extremely fussy with fruit, I'll eat any vegetable or cuisine. But I am so particular about fruit, I don't know why my tastebuds just don't like certain flavours; like raspberry, watermelon or any melon for that matter, papaya, red apples, grapefruit, lychee..the list goes on! I think it would have been better for me to write the fruits that I actually like.

My Medals from the Dance Competition 

When I was in Primary school I loved dancing (still do, just not choreographed). Me and my friends took part in the competition which was in two parts; firstly in school and then with the rest of the schools in the borough. We were the first year 5 group to get through to the next stage and we then went on to get the Bronze after competing against the rest of the schools. The next year we done it again and we achieved the Silver. I think that was one of my proudest moments.

I love football, some of my female friends find it weird that I like football and know so much about it as I do. I wasn't really into it when I was younger, it's probably in the last 6-7 years I've really gotten into it. I'm not going to say I know every stat but I know enough!

I know how to knit. Only the most simple of techniques, I can't make any patterns but yh..there's that. My mum taught me because I wanted to make a scarf, which I still haven't finished (it's been years).

So that's it for now, I'll probably stick the next part up over the weekend. Hope you enjoyed the first half. Keep a look out for the second half, if you want! =D

♥ RP ♥

Paris Haul!

Now, most of you will be disappointed that I didn't get a chance to get anything from any of the lovely French Pharmacies. We went into a couple but I decided not to purchase anything, hoping to go to City Pharma (recommended by Lisa Eldridge). We managed to go to City Pharma but it was Closed, it being a Sunday and all which I obviously didn't realise, sad times!

But, I did however manage to get a few goodies from L'Occitane. I found that the products were cheaper than British prices so obviously I was going to pick up a few things.

From left to right, this purchase was inevitable, I absolutely love the Dry Skin Hand Cream, it was one of my first ever posts here on this little blog. It's such a life saver for the winter months for me.

Next up is the Precious Eye Balm; not going to lie, this was a bit of an impulse purchase. I have a new obsession of finding the best eye cream for me. This says it combats a whole load of 'problems', so I'm looking forward to doing a proper review in a couple of months.

Last, but not least, is this little cult product, the Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil. I've seen this making its way around YouTube and wanted to give it a go. I've used it once so far and it looks promising.

So thats it, no Bioderma I'm afraid. But I have a sister-in-law who's French, so I can always get that when I run out when she goes and visits family.

♥ RP ♥

Happy One Year!

This is just a quick post to say a little HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little blog. I genuinely can't believe that it's been year since I started this blog. I have to admit there were points where I found it hard to keep up with posting regularly but I stopped putting pressure on myself and it's become a lot more enjoyable. It's been a huge learning curve for me in terms of my creative 'web' skills, but i've totally enjoyed learning all those little things. I never thought that I would have a blog and now I can't imagine not having it. It's changed so much in a year, hopefully for the best.

The main part of this post is to say a massive THANK YOU to the readers, whether they just pass through or you're a regular. All the comments really make my day like you wouldn't believe, I never can wait to get back to reply to them. Although this blog may not have a huge following the little following that it does have, I love. I've made some incredible beauty friends through this amazing blogging community.

So once again THANK YOU. Here's to many more years of blogging.

♥ RP ♥

Beauties in Paris!

Obvious from my last post, I went to Paris! It was a brilliant getaway, although when we got back we were all so very tired.

Let me start off by saying how absolutely freezing it was -2, I was freezing my little patooti off! But hay ho you carry on, don't you! As soon as we got there we dropped our bags the hotel and left to explore the city.

Although my friend and I knew a little french we were lucky to find that most people spoke english, but having gone there I really want to learn French properly again. Reading french is ok for me but learning to speak it would be amazing.

D1 Anyway…having not eaten anything the first thing we did as eat there was a lovely little restaurant by the hotel, the food was amazing! Well, I thought it was, I had a salmon bagel with chips, I mean it was so cute…queue picture…

...attractive I know ;-) We then set out to go to see Notre Dame. This cathedral is absolutely incredible. The architecture both inside and out is so beautiful. We then walked down some little streets and found some cute souvenir shops and desert places, so without question we got some desserts and since we all wanted to try some we got macaroons, they were indeed delicious.

Next we stopped off at the Lourve, that place is huge! We only visited two wings and got to see the Mona Lisa, which was the main site to see obviously. That took us into the evening so we went back to the hotel relaxed and went out to dinner at a cute Moroccan restaurant called 404. The atmosphere in that place was so chilled and romantic. Definitely a place to check out if you like good Moroccan food.

D2 We went to the Champs Elysees and checked out their store. Nothing different to London, other than their humongous Sephora and the fact they had car dealerships in the middle of this high street! That was weird. At the end of the Champs Elysees is the Arc de Triumph so we kinda killed two birds with one stone.

Next was the Eiffle Tower. We got tickets to go right to the top! I loved it! We picked the perfect time of day to go just when it was turning dark so we got to see the city in both light and twilight.

D3 We to Laduree to get macaroons to take home with us. The queue for that was ridiculous, we wanted to go to the musee d'orsay but we had to skip that part because we also wanted to go to Angelina (a tea room) for my friends birthday. The queue fro Angelina was just as long as Laduree but it was totally worth it.

We got back to London at 10pm and back home at 11pm. We got a lot done in three days and if you haven't gone to France or Paris I would highly recommend it. It's a very different lifestyle compared to England, with their cute little pharmacies, cafés and restaurants. They don't really have chain retailers which is nice. They take their food seriously which is always a plus, but if you're a vegetarian you will find it super hard to find good food. If you are vegetarian then stick with the Italian restaurants they have.

Sorry this post is going up late but as soon as we got back home I fell ill with Norovirus! Not fun! I feel for you if you have/had it.

Hope you all have had a good week/weekend!

♥ RP ♥