My latest makeup obsession are concealers because of their versatility. If I'm honest, I'll admit that they were always an obsession of mine. But the drugstore was not always supportive of this obsession. But recently that has changed. More and more concealers from pharmacy makeup brands have been flooding ghe South African market and I … Continue reading Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Full Coverage Concealer
Is it poetry? Is it prose? Is it self-help? Is it an autobiography? Mind Platter defies genre just like its author defies categories. Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-American author, speaker and educator according to the author biography. The first page establishes key elements and themes of the book. "If they don't appreciate your presence, they may … Continue reading {Book Review} Mind Platter by Najwa Zebian
Dupes are the Donald Trump of the make-up world... Or are they?
When the Swiitch Beauty Ultimatte Lip Palette came out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Just like other unrealised dreams of mine, neither did that purchase. So I bought the Catrice Creatice Creamy Matte Lip Palette 010 Back to The Nudes at Dis-chem instead. At R159.95 for 10 shades plus a mini … Continue reading CHEAP GIRLS’ ULTIMATTE PALETTE? Catrice Creatice Creamy Matte Lip Palette 010 Back to the Nudes Review
My six month blog hiatus (look at me addressing the elephant in the room) has thankfully not extended to being a make-up hiatus. I have been making a point of it to explore different make-up brands, both local and international. One of these is a Turkish brand called Flormar. I have visited the Flormar kiosk … Continue reading Flormar Silk Matte Liquid Lipstick in Misty Rosy Review
It's been a while, has it not? This was the rhetorical question which I posed to myself while searching for The Body Shop Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation. Talking to oneself may be the surest sign of sanity there is. I was searching in my chest of drawers and in my make-up bag. I rummaged … Continue reading The Body Shop Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation Review
Hi all! I'm a big Essence fan because of the affordable pricing from this drugstore brand. So when my friend gifted me this palette for my birthday, I was over the moon. Let's see if my reaction was justified... Essence says: "8 trendy, matching rose colours that can be combined in every way. The soft … Continue reading Essence All About Roses Eyeshadow Palette Review
It occurred to me - while writing this post - that I review a lot of beauty products from Yardley London. In fact, I'm working on a review of their loose powder as well. My life is a series of unfinished drafts... But dear readers, know that this post is not sponsored. In fact, none … Continue reading A Review of the Yardley London Stayfast Lipstick in ‘Red’
I blew a whole 200 MB of data surfing online beauty sites the other day... Just casually drooling over pretty palettes and the like. But what's new? If you think make-up is expensive, you should try buying data in South Africa. Fun fact: when compared to countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, Australia and … Continue reading Sassy Wishes: July Make-up Wishlist
Hello lovely readers! It's that time again...a new monthly make-up wishlist! Whoop whoop! The products of this month's Sassy Wishes is quite diverse and ranges from Catrice Cosmetics to Lush and Nyx. Without further ado, you may (weak puns on point) read this... 1. Catrice Cosmetics The Essential Nude Collection Eyeshadow Palette I’m quite new … Continue reading Sassy Wishes: May Make-up Wishlist
Today marks a month of my being on the social media that necessitates a certain kind of perfection: both filtered and flawless - Instagram.
I was a rookie in a place of veterans. The very first veteran I met was sitting next to me on the couch. She nudged me on the shoulder: “Don’t you have a samoosa?” she asked in Afrikaans. I was confused. I ate cheese sandwiches during the lunch break. I didn’t recall having brought a … Continue reading Food for Thought: Samoosas and Milk Tart
Hi! So I thought I'd experiment and write a slice of life piece from my experiences commuting in my city, Cape Town, South Africa.
When I walked into the room, several expectant faces sitting around a table stared back at me. So this what they meant by a ‘panel’ interview. “Well this is not intimidating at all," my 17 year old self blurted out. This was met by chuckles from those at the table and the level of ice … Continue reading The Sassy From Birth Guide to Interviews
Two weeks ago, my cousin suggested that I start a blog. That suggestion was met by numerous excuses by me, one of which was: “Who’s gonna read it? I don’t have 3000 plus followers like you.” She simply responded: “Do you think I started that way?” The internet and social media is saturated with writers, … Continue reading Two Weeks and Timeless Advice
My eyeshadow purchases – much like the relationship status of some - have been single. The glittery and shimmery palettes that I do have were received as gifts. While I like to ‘shine bright like a diamond’ as much as the next person, shimmery eyeshadow is not exactly subtle when you want it to be. Having … Continue reading My First Ever Eyeshadow Palette Purchase! The Beauty Treats 24 Matte Eyeshadow Palette Review
"You Joburgers are so fortunate," I told my local friend as we stood in the line at Starbucks. "How come?" she asked, perplexed. In her mind I could see her preparing a rebuttal about why my hometown was much better: the beaches, the greenery, the safety... "Because you have Starbucks!" My announcement coincided with us … Continue reading {City Diaries}: The Return of Pumpkin Spice Coincides with the Arrival of Ninni
Why should I pay so much for - what my mind ignorant of chemistry sees as - sparkly water? I can get the Twlight sparkle for much less. So I went off the birthplace of invention, innovation (and plagiarism): the internet!
There are things we have to whom no ownership can be attributed. Useful things. Valuable things. Things we can also keep with us. My polka dot vanity bag is one such thing. It was gifted to me either by an aunt or a cousin. It has two zip compartments and elastic strips inside that I … Continue reading The Sisterhood of the Travelling Vanity Bag
Goodbye third party sellers, goodbye shipping fees! Hello Makeup Revolution at local drugstore, Clicks! As of September 2018, Makeup Revolution - the iconic British brand - has officially launched in South Africa at Clicks stores. Makeup Revolution is likely to start a revolution in South Africa. Their prices are really affordable and may knock other … Continue reading Makeup Revolution Retro Luxe Matte Lipkit in ‘Noble’ Review
I have tried the several mascaras from Essence and posted the review on my blog here and in a haul post here. It recently ocurred to me that I was on my my forth tube of Essence I Heart Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara and had never posted a review of this oft-repurchased product. This post … Continue reading Battle of the Drugstore Mascara: Essence vs Maybelline
Assumptions are always bad. Is one such assumption was me assuming that I’d be able to use the Gosh Prime ‘n Set Banana Powder as a dupe for the higher end and highly inaccessible Laura Mercier and Ben Nyes of the world? Read the review to find out!
I rarely buy books. The laminated library card issued to me by the City of Cape Town became a passport of sorts: to travel to places on the page that I may never see or experience in real life.But recently, there has been a surge of a generation of writers: the so-called Instagram poets. Since … Continue reading {Book Review} Yesterday I Was the Moon by Noor Unnahar Siddiqui
Nyx has basically exploded across the local Make-up scene. Before Nyx used to occupy some space in Clicks stores - along with Essence, Yardley and other drugstore brands. Then Nyx got their own flagship stores in malls such as Canal Walk. Things haven't been the same since. While I admired Nyx from afar, I never … Continue reading My First Ever NYX Purchase! NYX Lip Lingerie in ‘After Hours’
