TIA BHUVA saree silhouette

Hello, my lovelies!

Hope you are all doing fantastic. I want to start off by saying a massive Happy New Year to all my lovely followers. For me, personally 2018 was a rollercoaster of a year, with so many highs and lows, but I am so grateful for the opportunities and the growth that I have seen in myself.

I am so excited for 2019, and I want to create more and more content for you guys so please leave me any more idea suggestions down below and I would love to do them for you.

Anyway, rambling over, I received a lovely message a while back from a follower who wanted me to review the Tia Bhuva saree silhouette. I had posted a saree post alongside wearing the silhouette underneath on my Instagram, and I think you guys would be interested in knowing why there is so much hype around a saree skirt? I am going to try and answer all your questions.

First things first, you guys need to go to your saree closet and chuck out all those 50 shades of saree skirts in all the colours you own. I'm telling you because after you purchase this silhouette, it will change your saree game, I PROMISE!

So a little information on the product itself. The website sells 3 different types of lengths, one for the petite gals, normal length and my tall girls. Which means there is a length for everyone so no more trying to DIY your own saree skirts to make them shorter or adding extra fabric to make it longer. Your prayers have been answered. 

Next, once you have chosen the length type of the saree silhouette. you have the option of choosing which colour you desire. I personally went for the nude colour as it is a versatile colour and can be used under any colour saree. If you do want other colours, they also do black, red, blue, white and caramel which if you ask me are the necessities. 

You also have the option of choosing which size skirt you want, ranging between XS-XL, so again, a great range of sizes to cover all of us. it is a stretchy material, so if you are someone who is between sizes, maybe go for a size down as they can stretch. I am a UK size 10 and I bought the saree silhouette in size small.

Let's talk about price, the main concern for most people. Now, 1 saree silhouette retails at $68.00 Canadian dollars for any size or length, no matter which option you pick, everyone pays this price which I think is pretty fair. This is roughly £39.97 in pounds, which I know may seem a little pricey for a saree underskirt and that is understandable. Normally a cotton underskirt is no more than £15 or maybe even less if you got your bargains from Green street or your aunty bought some from India or Srilanka. When I did receive it, I immediately understood as to why this was the retail price. The quality of the skirt was outstanding, the material was so soft, thick enough and most importantly stretchy. It is so stretchy and comfy I almost think I'm wearing leggings or yoga pants under my saree to the point that I think I can do a roly-poly in it.

The skirt has an elasticated waist in which you just slip on and then two ties at the top just to tighten and secure. Very different from the traditional underskirts in which the strings get lost or are not too comfortable around the stomach. The elasticated waist makes all the difference, now I never feel like I'm suffocating when I'm eating too much at all the Asian events.

Shipping also cost me $18 Canadian dollars, which is around £10.58. Again, this was expected because items need to be shipped from Canada and had to be tracked and sent to the UK. Delivery charges do differ, depending on which country you are trying to ship to which is clearly stated on the website! It claims on the website that it normally takes up to 5- 7 business days, I got mine in around 5 days which is pretty quick.

When the item arrived. I also had to pay tax to get the item once it had been delivered (U.K.), so make sure to do your research before you order to see whether you will have to pay taxes depending on your location, it is not guaranteed if you will get charged or not. It is not included within the retail price, so please be aware of this.

Onto some comparison pics...

1. Saree using the Tia Bhuva Saree Silhouette - really hugs and accentuates your curves, all in the right places.

2. Saree with a normal cotton underskirt - off course the normal underskirts add no shape and falls straight down, this makes it look a lot frumpier and less curvaceous.

I don't need to say anything more, as you can see for yourself the massive difference between the two! I really can't ever go back to a plain cotton underskirt ever! The shape that the saree silhouette adds is EVERYTHING, it gives me so much more confidence and the saree just drapes and sits so well.

Overall, I must give this saree silhouette a 5/5. Yes, thank you Tia for creating this fantastic creation as I feel like you have made wearing sarees so seamless and stress-free. The quality is out of this world and website information (sizing and shipping) is very useful! The only improvements I would like to see is the colour variety, but again I am more than happy to use my nude silhouette for nearly every saree I own. For every saree obsessed girl out there, you need this girl...ASAP!

Top 5 Nude Lipsticks for Olive/Medium/Indian Skintones

 

Finding a good nude lipstick which doesn't make you look like you're ill (not a good look) is tricky when you have olive/medium/Indian skin tones but here are my top 5 lipsticks which I'm absolutely in love with! I've reviewed each one of these nude lipsticks and even though they all come under the same family, I love how each lipstick differs from one another. Although one of them is a liquid lipstick I feel like I can get away with calling it a nude lipstick with it's creamy formula and its velvety texture. All these lipsticks have been tested without a lip pencil so that you can see each lipstick's true form on the lips. I hope you get to try out these nude lipsticks and fall in love with them like I have! x

This soft matte lip cream by NYX is unbelievably moisturising and I know this is not technically a lipstick (shhh!) , as you can see, its soft velvety texture allows it to apply like a lipstick on the lips. In my opinion, I wouldn't class this as a liquid lipstick due to it not being so thin in consistency and not needing to be so precise in application. This colour is perfect for medium skin tones and retails for £5.50 which you can't go wrong with. The next time you pop into Boots- grab one of these and I promise you won't regret it! 

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipsticks in 630 Velvet Beige is a pink based nude and I think pink based nudes look great on medium skin tones. This colour can easily make medium skin tones look washed out, however this has the perfect amount of pink in a nude shade to still be able to pull off. At £6.99, this creamy lipstick is ideal for those who hate matte lipsticks.

There are so many nude lipsticks by MAC and honestly, when I walk into a MAC counter I find it daunting to choose a nude lipstick with so many various nude lipsticks to choose from so to make your life easier this taupe shade is amazing for olive/medium/Indian skin tones. There is also another MAC nude lipstick listed however they are both so different. This has a brown/reddish undertone to it which has become popular (the 90's lip trend is everywhere!) and those with a lighter skin tone can definitely pull this lipstick off. This is priced at £16.50 which I know is a lot of money for just a lipstick but it lasts all day even when eating and drinking and for that alone the price can be justified.

 

 This 90's inspired nude by Gerard Cosmetics is a matte lipstick. I love how even though its a matte, it applies so easily on the lips due to its creamy texture which makes it unique. It's priced at £11.00 online and I love the gold packaging which make it look like a high-end lipstick. I always rely on this neutral nude if I don't know what lipstick to go for and every time I wear it I fall in love with its formula!

 

Another lipstick by MAC but with an Amplified finish which means that it's not a matte finish so it leaves your lips hydrated and almost has a gloss finish to it. This nude lipstick has pink undertone to it and compliments medium skin tones so beautifully. If you normally stay away from matte lipsticks then you'll love this smooth creamy formula as well as keeping your lips moisturised. Again priced at £16.50 but its long-wearing formula and high pigment make it worth it to splurge on it.

*This post is NOT sponsored and all opinions are my own*

February Favourites

So I'm aware that I've skipped favourites for January (not a great start to 2017) but we are into March and here are some of my absolute favourites which I have been loving in February! Most of these are beauty favourites and I've also got a few non-beauty favourites which I've been enjoying last month!

1. EX1 Cosmetics Invisiwear Liquid in F400- I discovered this brand from a beauty youtuber and was excited that this line catered to those with olive/medium/Indian skin tones. The shade range is quite diverse and the colour was spot on for my skin tone. The coverage for this foundation is light to medium which is perfect for day wear and its lightweight consistency means it does not feel heavy on the skin. I use my Real Techniques beauty blender damp and I love how it blends so easily with my skin while still getting the coverage I need to cover imperfections. For £12.50 it's definitely worth it for the high-street price and I purchased mine from Topshop in Oxford Street. My skin looks healthy and lit from within (who doesn't want that?) after applying this and is perfect for the warmer weather as it is not cakey.

2. L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Mono Eye shadow in Breaking Nude- This natural shade is an intense eye shadow which I have been using as an overall lid colour. The pigmentation is excellent with no fall out even if it contains pressed pigments. The texture is smooth and creamy when applied and does not crease when I apply it with a brush. My eyelids are naturally pigmented but this helps create a natural base colour for when I'm working with brighter colours and I want them to pop or even by itself. I love wearing this with some black mascara and I'm good to go! It's priced at £5.49 and its quality can be compared with higher end shadows so is a definite buy!

3. Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Fixing Spray- Whenever I need my makeup to last the whole night or day, this is my favourite for making sure my makeup is locked and won't budge. There's been days where I've forgotten to apply for a primer and I've had to solely rely on this product to make sure my makeup stays and it hasn't let me down. At £5.00 this is a beauty bargain and I also love using this to make my eye shadow more intense by spraying the brush with it. Before using it, it is important to shake the bottle and spray it all over your evenly (my favourite part after applying makeup).

4. Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara-  I'm a big fan of Maybelline mascaras and I knew that I wouldn't be let down and this one proved why I love their mascaras. Like the name states it definitely multiplies your lashes and even the small ones in the inner corner which I was super impressed with! The curved wand makes it easier to coat all the lashes as well as curling them without the need to use a lash curler. It coats your lashes evenly without looking clumpy and dries very quickly after applying it. It's priced at £7.99 which is cheaper than other high-street brands such as L'Oreal and Max Factor. If you're looking for a mascara that defines each lash and gives you an amazing curl, then this one will become your favourite!

5. Tanya Burr Individual Lashes- I've tried many lashes including the Ardell Demi Wispies and other brands but I find that individual lashes look more natural and aren't noticeable while still making you look like you have amazing set of lashes (who doesn't want that right?) Tanya Burr who is a beauty youtuber who I'm sure everyone knows released these individual lashes and I am obsessed! There are three different lengths of individual lashes means you can pick and choose and place them where you want. It also comes with a small tube of lash glue which is handy if you're going on holiday or even in your makeup bag.

6. BECCA X Jaclyn Hill Shimmer Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop- All hail to the queen of highlighter Jaclyn Hill! Seriously though, this highlighter is my favourite hands down. With its golden tones and golden shimmer this highlight has changed the game for me in the highlighting world and there has to be something better for me to replace this as my favourite. I bought this highlight from Sephora in New York and I swatched it as soon as I came back to my hotel and fell in love with it! I use a brush to apply this and you only need the tiniest amount and I mean TINY amount to get that glow from within look.  Now this highlighter is priced at £32.00 which is a high-end product but I guarantee, you will not be disappointed. There are no chunks of glitter in this and it has a creamy texture to it even though it's in a powder form. I love how she created a colour which works on a diverse range of skin tones and this POPS on my skin like the name says so.

7. Makeup Revolution Flat Contour Makeup Brush- This has made contouring so much easier for me with its precise dense brush which means I can apply contour in the hollows of my cheekbones easily. With its synthetic hairs means that you can gradually build your contour without it looking muddy. At £9.99 its a great dupe for the Nars Kabuki Ita Brush which is £43.00 which means you don't need to break the bank to get the perfect contour and still achieve the same look.


Non-Beauty Favourites

1. Canova Pure Soy Wax Candle in Oud and Saffron- This light scent is perfect for me as I'm not a fan of heavy scented candles. Inspired by the natural fragrances of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew this scent is relaxing and not over-powering. Made with 100% soy wax means that burning time is extended as well cleaner burning (made without crude oil)

2.The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (book) - This book was first published in 2011 and is a deep fantasy tale. It is a super interesting book that leaves you on the edge of your seat. Definitely worth a read.

3. Shape of you by Ed Sheeran  (song) - This song has been on repeat since the start of the month and I still can't get enough. It is an uplifting and cheerful song, definitely will get you dancing.