Monday, November 24, 2014

My Favourite Perfumes & Lipsticks (By Ramla Zareen)

My Favourite Perfumes & Lipsticks (March 2022)


Hello everyone,

Today I thought it might be fun to do a post where I list my current TOP FIVE PERFUMESnaming my most favourite perfume in each of my favourite fragrance category.

I'll also be listing my current favourite lipsticksnaming my most favourite lipstick in each of my favourite colour category.

It's gonna be tough to choose absolute favourites from all the perfumes and lipsticks I love. Let's see if I'm up to the challenge :-)

Starting with PERFUMES (in no particular order):

ROSE FLORAL

1) Bvlgari Rose Goldea EDP

I get mostly Rose and Peony.

WHITE FLORAL

2) Gucci Bloom EDP

The notes are Jasmine, Tuberose, and Rangoon creeper (aka Chinese honeysuckle).

FRUITY-FLORAL

3) Chanel Gabrielle Essence EDP

It has Citruses (thankfully not too much), Red Fruits, Tuberose, Jasmine, and several other notes.

FRUITY-FLORAL WITH VANILLA

4) Dior Miss Dior EDP (2021 Version)

I get mostly Peach, Rose, and Vanilla.

VANILLA-GOURMAND

5) Kayali Vanilla 28 EDP

It's basically Brown Sugar with Vanilla Orchid.

And now, the LIPSTICKS:

PINK-RED-ORANGE-BROWN

1) MAC Brick-O-La (Amplified)

PINK-MAUVE-BROWN

2) MAC Fast Play (Amplified)

Well, this is it for now. I hope you enjoyed going through my list. Please comment down below and let me know if you've tried any of these and what are your thoughts on them. Plus, share your favourites as well. I'd love to check them out.

Also, if you have a blog on perfumes, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle etc then please do leave a link. It would be a pleasure to visit them.

Thank you :-)

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My Favourite Perfumes & Lipsticks (January 2022)

Hello everyone,

First of all, for those who are wondering, the Douglas bag in the photo contained Miss Dior EDP (2021 Version)an awesome birthday gift from my awesome husband :-)


And now, jumping onto today's topicThe following are some of my favourite perfumes:

Mainly Floral

1) Bvlgari Rose Goldea EDP
2) Gucci Bloom EDP

Floral with Honey

3) Jimmy Choo Illicit EDP

Fruity-Floral

4) Chanel Gabrielle Essence EDP
5) Dior J'adore EDP

Fruity-Floral with Vanilla

6) Dior Miss Dior EDP (2021 version)
7) D&G The One EDP
8) Giorgio Armani Si EDP

Vanilla-Gourmand

9) Kayali Vanilla 28 EDP

Oriental

10) YSL Opium EDP & EDT


The following are some of my favourite lipsticks:

1) MAC Brick-O-La (Amplified)

2) MAC Fast Play (Amplified)

Thank you :-)

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My Favourite Perfumes & Lipsticks (December 2021)

Hello everyone,
The following are some of my favourite perfumes:

Mainly Floral

1) Bvlgari Rose Goldea EDP
2) Gucci Bloom EDP
3) Chloe EDP (2008 onwards version)

Floral with Honey

4) Jimmy Choo Illicit EDP
5) Prada La Femme EDP 

Fruity-Floral

6) Chanel Gabrielle Essence EDP
7) Dior J'adore EDP
8) Guerlain Insolence EDP

Fruity-Floral with Vanilla

9) Dior Miss Dior EDP (2021 version)*
10) D&G The One EDP
11) Giorgio Armani Si EDP

Vanilla-Gourmand 

12) Kayali Vanilla 28 EDP
13) Dior Poison Girl EDP

Oriental

14) YSL Opium EDP & EDT

*They removed the Patchouli and Citruses that were in the 2017 version and added some Vanilla. Also made some other changes.

The following are some of my favourite lipsticks:

1) MAC Brick-O-La (Amplified)

2) MAC Fast Play (Amplified)

Thank you :-)

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My Favourite Lipsticks (December 2016)


Sugar Pop #20, Cosmo, Brave, Fast Play, Twig, Brick-O-La, Retro

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE "PINKISH-BROWN" LIPSTICKS! ☺

Hi, this is Ramla Zareen, with a blogpost on my favourite "pinkish-brown" lipsticks and I would like to begin with a small confession. Just between you, me and anyone else who might be reading this blogpost, my loved ones often used to claim that make up is not at all among my areas of expertise, to which charge I always pleaded guilty and it was only about five months back, that I finally decided to stop completely depending upon the loving generosity of my makeup-gifting aunts and for the first time in my thirty-two years of life, stepped into a store to buy a lipstick for myself, lolz. ☺ 

Well ok, so maybe it wasn't exactly the first time that I bought a lipstick but it was definitely the first time that I actually ventured to put some thought into my purchase instead of randomly picking up the first lipstick that attracted my attention or blindly following the suggestion of the person with whom I happened to be shopping. 

Anyway, what was supposed to be a maximum of five hours of pleasurable task, spanned into an exhausting project of about five months and I realized just how difficult it could be to find a good lipstick, that is, a lipstick whose shade was appealing as well as appropriate, that was comfortable to wear as well as long lasting, that didn't contain bad odour and taste nor induce an allergic reaction, and that was readily available as well as within budget. 

Now, after spending the past few months researching, experimenting, thinking and dreaming lipsticks, it gives me much pleasure to be able to share the names of those lipsticks that satisfy most of my above-mentioned requirements, in the hope that some of you might find this information both interesting as well as useful. ☺

Before proceeding with the list of names, I would like to mention that one of the things that I have discovered regarding my preferences is that my favourite lipstick shade is "pinkish-brown" (followed by mid-tone "pinkish-reddish-berry" but that's for another day), mainly because it's a pretty and neutral colour, and seems to beautify the lips, brighten up the face and enhance the appearance, all, in a subtle and natural way. ☺

Unlike the more traditional nudes of beige and grey, which in my opinion, unless worn with a properly applied complementing face and eye make up, can make some women look like they are unhealthy, deprived or victims of harsh treatment, which can raise the attention of women's rights activists and can cause all kinds of complications in life, lolz. ☺ (No offence to those who like such shades, it's true that some women do manage to carry them off with aplomb but after much experimentation I had to conclude that they are just not for me).

Anyway, as you are all probably aware, there are actually two basic variations of the "pinkish-brown" lipstick shade. One is "pinkish-mauve-brown" and the other is "pinkish-orange-brown". 

Some of the beauty experts claim that the "pinkish-mauve-brown" is more suited for those with cool-to-neutral undertones and the "pinkish-orange-brown" is more appropriate for those with warm-to-neutral undertones. 

Well, I am no expert, but it's my humble opinion that this is not a hard and fast rule and it mainly depends on how the colours are combined together. While it's true that shades that contain too much "pink-mauve" and too less "brown" might not be very appropriate for those with warm undertones and shades that contain too much "orange-brown" and too less "pink" might not suit those with cool undertones, however, I honestly do believe that most of the "pinkish-brown" variations are universally flattering and suit women of both cool and warm undertones. ☺

Anyway, today not only am I going to list down the names of some of my favourite "pinkish-brown" lipsticks, but it's also my intention to provide my opinion, based on research, observation and experience, on which skin tones and undertones each lipstick is best suited for, again, in the hope that this information might be helpful to some of you. ☺

Guess I should also mention that though my complexion is not fair in the truest sense of the word but it won't be inaccurate to state that my skin tone is somewhat on the lighter side of the light-to-medium spectrum and also, from what I have been able to determine, my undertone is most probably warm-to-neutral ...and all of these four lipsticks seem to suit me quite well, yayyyy! ☺

Well, here's the list:

1) MAC Brave, a "pinkish-mauve-brown" lipstick. Most of the time, all the three colours remain equally balanced but in certain lights, the "pinkish-mauve" part can become quite diminished and in some other lights, the "brown" part takes a back seat. One thing that must be mentioned is that in certain lights, there also seems to be a bit of a "grey" present, which might clash with certain skin tones, and so it would always be better not to buy it before trying it out in different lights.

Best suited for light skin tones, though in some cases, it can work for those with medium skin tones as well. Appropriate for women of all undertones, from cool-to-neutral-to-warm. 

 2) NYX Matte Lipstick Tea Rose MLS11, also a "pinkish-mauve-brown" lipstick, but brighter and "pinker" than MAC Brave, and in certain lights, the "mauve" part can become very prominent, and so it would always be better for women with warm undertones not to buy it before trying it out in different lights.

Appropriate for those with light-to-medium skin tones. Best suited for cool-to-neutral undertones, though in some cases, it can work for women with warm undertones as well.


3) MAC Cosmo, a "pinkish-orange-brown" lipstick, though in certain lights, the "pink" part can almost completely disappear and the lipstick becomes more of an "orange-brown" shade, which in my opinion, means that it might not work for women with cool undertones. 

Best suited for light skin tones, though in some cases, it can work for women with medium skin tones as well. Appropriate for those with warm-to-neutral undertones.

 4) Bobbi Brown Lip Color Tulle #34, also a "pinkish-orange-brown", but brighter and "pinker" than MAC Cosmo, with just enough "orange-brown" to restrain it from being overwhelming. One thing that is a bit unusual is that in certain lights, there also seems to be a bit of a "mauve" mixed with the "pinkish-orange-brown", but in my opinion, this just goes on to make it a shade that can be equally flattering to women of both cool and warm undertones. 

Best suited for light skin tones, though in some cases, it can work for those with medium skin tones as well. Appropriate for women of all undertones, from cool-to-neutral-to-warm.

Here are the swatches:

(1) MAC Brave (2) NYX Matte Tea Rose (3) MAC Cosmo (4) BB Tulle #34

The following are the swatches of MAC Brave and NYX Matte Tea Rose.

(Both are variations of "pinkish-mauve-brown", with the later being comparatively brighter and pinker of the two.)

(1) MAC Brave (2) NYX Matte Tea Rose

The following are the swatches of MAC Cosmo and Bobbi Brown Tulle #34. 

(Both are variations of "pinkish-orange-brown", with the later being comparatively brighter and pinker of the two.) 

(1) MAC Cosmo (2) Bobbi Brown Tulle #34

Well, this is it for now. I hope you enjoyed the post. Please do share your favourite lipsticks as well, and if you have a blog on perfumes, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle etc then please do leave a link. I'll be happy to visit them.

Thank you ☺

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NOTE:

This post was also published on the following blog:


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My Favourite Perfumes (November 2014)

Hello everyone,
The following are some of my favourite perfumes:

Fruity-Floral

1) Dior J'adore EDP (1999)
2) Guerlain Insolence EDP (2008)

Fruity-Floral with Vanilla

3) D&G The One EDP (2006)
4) Giorgio Armani Si EDP (2013)

Oriental

5) YSL Opium EDP & EDT (2009)*
6) Dior Poison EDT (1985)

*It was originally launched in 1977, but YSL discontinued it and launched the reformulated version in 2009.

Thank you :-)

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CONCLUSION

Well, I hope you enjoyed checking out my favourite perfumes and lipsticks. Please share your favourites as well, and if you have a blog on perfumes, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle etc then please do leave a link. I'll be happy to visit them. ☺ 


Moreover, book lovers are most welcome to check out my website:


and join my Goodreads group:


and my Facebook group:


Thank you ☺

11 comments:

  1. Poison by Dior. Coco by Channel. My favourites. Does that make me old fashioned!?! These fragrances stay a long time on me. Living in a country where it's quite humid, long lasting fragrance is need of the day. My other favourites are Knowing by Estee Lauder & Obsession by cK. On my last visit to uk I bought Crystal Noir by Versace. I found that too was to my liking. Hoping some reviews in future will be done on these brands as well. Huma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Old-fashioned? Not at all. People of all age groups rave about Poison and Coco. With good reason. They're oldies but goodies. I doubt they will ever go out of fashion. I'm myself a big fan of these fragrances :-)

      I've tried Knowing and Obsession, but I don't clearly remember their scent. I'll try them again and will also check out Crystal Noir. Thanks for sharing your preferences :-)

      Have you tried YSL Opium? It's one of my favourite Orientals, and I think it would be right up your alley :-)

      I've noted your review requests. Will try to get on it as soon as I can.

      Thank you for visiting the blog and leaving a comment. Much appreciated :-)

      Delete
  2. You have added so many of my favorites, armani si, jadore , lady million, miss dior and la vie est belle, loved your post dear

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Maya, I'm glad you enjoyed the post and that we have similar taste in perfumes. Thank you for visiting the blog and for leaving a comment. Much appreciated :-)

      Delete
  3. Lovely detailed post. I also don't like beige and grey shades in nude Lipsticks. Such shades might look good for photo shoots under special lighting but for desi skin tones like us they can look horrible too. And Bobbi Brown Tulle #34 is a perfect daily wear shade. Love your choice.😃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Shumail, I'm glad you enjoyed the post and that we agree on beige and grey nude lipsticks. It's good to know you also like Bobbi Brown Tulle #34. Thank you for visiting the blog and for leaving a comment. Much appreciated :-)

      Delete
  4. Really nice picks.... I am more into matte lipsticks rather than glossy or shimmery. I love all of the pink shades but M.A.C. brave is my favorite. Pink is a color you can easily go with every outfit


    Glamorous without the Guilt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi,
      Thank you for visiting the blog and for sharing your preferences. I agree about pink, and I'm glad you like MAC Brave too. Thanks again for commenting. Much appreciated :-)

      Delete
  5. Gosh I'm so picky when it comes to perfumes but I like your picks! Also Mac Brave and BB Tulle are such gorgeous shades! I also love Daisy Pink from Luscious Cosmetics, these Pinkish-Brownish shades do compliment most of the skin tones.

    www.gulezehrasblog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi,
      I'm glad you liked my fragrance choices. You're right about the pinkish-brown shades complimenting most skin tones. It's good to know you like MAC Brave and BB Tulle too. I will check out Daisy Pink from Luscious Cosmetics. Thank you for visiting the blog and sharing your preferences. Much appreciated :-)

      Delete
  6. Awesome Detailed Blog
    Try Reaching Out To Us
    perfume for women

    ReplyDelete