Catrice 030 OMG I Want That! – Eye Shadow Palette Review & Swatches

Today I will be reviewing Catrice 030 OMG I Want That! eyeshadow palette which is one of the four kits available in the company’s Absolute Eye Colour Quattro range. Keep reading! 

Catrice Absolute Eye Colour Quattro - 030 OMG I Want That! 

Description

The new season is all about absolute color! Play with new combinations – but with the usual maximum color, durability and coverage! The Absolute Eye Colour Quattros are available in a total of four versions.

• Long lasting trend colors with maximum coverage
• Silky and smooth texture that is easy to apply
• For luminous highlights and expressive eyes
• Can be used in any combination 

030 OMG I Want That! Eye Shadow Palette

My Opinion

I am a big fan of smokey eye makeup because it hardly ever goes out of fashion and one can play with a variety of colors to achieve a unique look for any occasion and time of day. Which is why the Catrice eye shadow palette in 030 OMG I Want That! caught my eye.

Packaged in a sturdy acrylic case, the palette houses four eye shadow color choices which seem ideal for creating smokey eyes in brown and black. The colors are:

1. A shimmery bronze (1.5 g)
2. A black with multicolor shimmer (2.5 g)
3. An olive green shimmer (2.5 g)
4. A light cream shimmer (1.5 g)

030 OMG I Want That! - Four Eye Shades

Catrice OMG I Want That! Eye Shadow Palette - Swatches

Bronze Eye Shadow

The shimmery bronze eye shadow is the best in the palette as it is the most pigmented and gives good coverage after 2 to 4 applications. It blends well and has an above-average lasting power of about 3 to 4 hours. There is a good amount of product fall out though so do use a translucent powder under your eyes before you apply the eye shadow.

Black Eye Shadow

The black eye shadow which seems shimmery on first look has a surprisingly matte finish. Its pigmentation sadly leaves much to be desired because even after 2 to 3 applications, it looks more charcoal than black. If you are a fan of charcoal and avoid intense colors on the eye then you have nothing to worry about. But if you are one of those who prefer jet blacks, then simply use a damp eye shadow brush to apply the shadow. It really amps up the intensity of the black and makes the color pop!

A few words of caution though:

• Use only part of the eyeshadow such as a specific corner of the pan for wet application because using a damp brush on powder eye shadows sometimes cause them to slightly harden. This does not make the eye shadow unusable but may make it a little difficult to apply if you want to use a dry brush so keep the areas for wet and dry application separate.   

• Make sure your eye shadow brush is damp and not wet as this will make your eye shadow very runny. Blot your brush on a tissue paper before dipping it into the eye shadow.

• Blend the eye shadow with a dry brush.

Olive Green Eye Shadow

The olive green is a gorgeous color but applied dry has a pigmentation of next to nothing. Also it is very sheer, see-through and has a lot of product fall out. My advice would be to use this color with a wet brush which results in a nicely pigmented, metallic shiny gorgeous green finish.

     

Light Cream Eye Shadow

The light cream shimmer is the lightest of the four and is so sheer that it is almost invisible. It also has the most residue and minimum staying power. This case becomes even worse if you have dark toned eye lids because this eye color – applied dry – can only show on the fairest of people. I would again recommend that you use the wet brush technique to make this eye shadow work for you.

Go for it if you:

1. Are looking for budget friendly eye shadow palettes  
2. Usually apply your eyeshadow with a damp brush
3. Are into sheer and shimmery eye shadows
4. Like smokey eye makeup  

Don’t go for it if you:

1. Want richly pigmented eye shadow colors
2. Prefer applying eye shadow with a dry brush
3. Want a staying powder of more than 3 hours
4. Prefer minimum product fall out  

Hit or miss? A miss!

Priced at PKR 840 ($ 8.6), Catrice Absolute Eye Colour – 030 OMG I Want That! eye shadow palette is great when it comes to its packaging and price but disappoints when it comes to the quality of the eye shadows. The eye colors are mostly sheer, have poor pigmentation and fade quickly with a lasting power of an average three hours.

If you are interested in purchasing it, it’s available at Naheed Super Market and Agha’s in Karachi, Pakistan. For those of you living outside Pakistan, you can order it online from www.catrice.eu and ebay.  

My rating for Catrice Absolute Eye Colour Quattro 030 OMG I Want That! palette is 2.5/5.

Have you tried it yet?

© Rabea J. and from-my-dressing-to-dining-table.blogspot.com, 2012. Unauthorized and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rabea J. and from-my-dressing-to-dining-table.blogspot.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

China Kitchen: A Unique Take on Chinese Cuisine

If I have to pick one reason why I would go to a restaurant again it would be because it was consumer centric. And that’s exactly why China Kitchen has moved to the top slot of my list of favorite Chinese restaurants in Karachi.

China Kitchen Entrance

Located in Clifton Block 4, China Kitchen offers a fine dining experience at reasonable prices. Upon entering its bright red doors, one doesn’t expect to see a deliciously warm and elegant patio complete with a small fountain, oriental statues and artfully scattered plants. The restaurant is divided on two floors with a seating capacity of around 60. We opted to dine on the ground floor since it was the non-smoking section and were quickly escorted to a corner table.

Decorated simply but stylishly, the interior oozes understated elegance with dim lights, soft music and Chinese paintings on the walls. It all combined to lend a very cozy and snug vibe to the place. The simple dark wood furniture also played its part well here because the table was spacious and the chairs were oh so divinely soft and cushy.

Out of the two soups on the menu, we ordered the Hot and Sour Soup (small) priced at Rs. 350 (exclusive of tax). We had doubts whether we would be able to order the soup in the first place given that the serving size in almost all Chinese restaurants is for four (04) people at least. But upon inquiring whether the serving size could be adjusted for two (02) people, the waiter readily agreed to accommodate our request which in my book deserves big brownie points!

Hot and Sour Soup

The Hot and Sour Soup served in a beautifully patterned blue bowl was nothing like I had ever eaten or seen. Unlike the typical bright red colored soup usually offered in local restaurants, China Kitchen’s Hot and Sour Soup was brownish red with a rich concoction of shredded chicken, black olives and mushroom, bean curd or tofu, carrots and bamboo shoots. It looked mighty interesting and tasted delightful. The only thing I would change would be the quantity of soya sauce which had been used a tad too much.    

  

For appetizers, we had the Crab Rangoon priced at Rs. 225 (exclusive of tax).  The dish was another winner and had a serving of five (05) deep fried wontons filled with cream cheese and crab served with homemade sweet chili sauce. The filling was very rich and the wontons were perfectly fried but it was the sauce which was the star of the show because it really made the flavors pop in your mouth!

Crab Rangoon

For the main course on the waiter’s recommendation, we ordered CK’s Special Chicken also called Sweet Chili Chicken (priced at Rs. 495) and egg fried rice (priced at Rs. 195). The CK Special Chicken had thickly sliced tender chicken strips which were wok-fried and richly coated in a tangy sauce of honey and tomato. The sauce was beautifully made with both the flavors gelling well together yet standing out on their own. The chicken was scrumptious, crunchy and on the spicier side with black pepper and soya sauce being the two dominating flavors. The brown-colored egg fried rice was fresh with crisp pieces of spring onion and egg. The helping of both the items was more than enough for two (02) people.   

China Kitchen Special Chicken and Egg Fried Rice

Since the drinks were not listed on the menu, we asked the waiter if there was a separate menu card for them. Apparently there was no menu card at all and upon hearing the list of the handful number of drinks from the waiter, we ordered two (02) Fresh Lime with 7 Up priced at Rs. 280 (exclusive of tax).

All in all, our total bill - which was almost unreadable with its tiny and light colored font - with GST came out to be approximately Rs. 1,800 which is quite reasonable given the quantity of food.  

Hit or miss? A definite hit!

China Kitchen is a great addition to the Karachi Chinese food scene with its exquisite dishes, authentic oriental flavors, cozy ambiance, fast service and attentive staff.  This is no surprise given that the owners are present during opening hours and are actively involved in the operations of the restaurant. So if I were to ask myself the all-important question: Will I go to China Kitchen again? Yes! Again and again!  

Go for it if you:

1. Are into authentic oriental cuisine
2. Want great Chinese food at good prices
3. Prefer an environment where you can talk
4. Prefer restaurants with valet parking

Don’t go for it if you:

1. Find the per head cost of Rs. 900 – Rs. 1,200 unreasonable  
2. Prefer Chinese restaurants that offer a wide variety of soups

Rating

• Service: 4/5
• Ambiance: 4/5
• Hot & Sour Soup: 3.5/5
• Crab Rangoon: 4.5/5
• CK Special Chicken & Egg Fried Rice: 4.5/5

My overall rating for China Kitchen Karachi is 4.5/5.

Have you been there yet?

© Rabea J. and from-my-dressing-to-dining-table.blogspot.com, 2012. Unauthorized and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rabea J. and from-my-dressing-to-dining-table.blogspot.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish - Review

Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish has been recently launched in the UK and has been on my wish list for a long time. I have been anxiously waiting for it to launch in Pakistan and finally it is here! Was it really worth the wait? Read more to find out!

Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish 100 ml

Description

A luxurious hand blended silky powder that glides over skin to whiten and brighten the complexion instantly.

Contains 100% natural combination of coconut milk powder, potato starch, milk, honey, rice and essential oils.

Coconut milk contains natural silicones to create a very superior skin moisturizer. Combined with potato starch, which is a substantial source of Vitamin C, this product provides an amazingly natural bleaching effect. Honey acts as a natural humectant, attracting moisture to leave skin smooth and glowing.

Use twice a day for optimum results. 

Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish

My Opinion

I have been using this whitening facial polish powder twice daily for the past one and a half month. The first thing that hits you when you open the plastic bottle is the sweet smell of coconut, milk and honey. The scent is quite strong and lingers on your skin after use so I would recommend that if you have to pick a time to use this product, stick to bedtime or when you are not planning to go out. This is not to say that the scent is unpleasant, rather that it can be a little strong and may overpower any perfume that you are wearing or be off-putting to people around you.

To use this powder, the directions at the back of the bottle instruct to:

“Pour some powder on wet hands, rub together and apply all over moistened face. Massage gently for 30 seconds and rinse off with cool water.”

Hello Glow Skin Whitening Plus Facial
Polish - Directions for Use

Though this mode of application works, I feel that a better approach is to pour some powder in the palm of your hand and use a small spray bottle to squirt just the right amount of water so as to convert the powder into a creamy texture. Then using your index finger spread the creamy mixture evenly all over your face and massage gently. There are several reasons why I am suggesting this method of application. Firstly, when we rub the powder on our wet palms, most of it sticks to the hand which leaves little to use on the face. Secondly, using a spray bottle ensures that the powder does not become too diluted for use.

Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish Powder

Let’s talk about functionality now. Does it really whiten and polish the skin? Well, yes and no. As a bleaching agent and fairness potion, this product fails to impress. My complexion is the same as it was two months ago and I have seen no visible changes in its color. When it comes to polishing the skin though, then yes this facial powder does work to an extent as my skin is clearer and smoother than before. This is probably due to the fact that when you massage this powder onto your skin, it has an immediate exfoliating effect. But a word of caution! Be very careful while massaging and use as gentle an approach as possible because even though the powder may seem and feel very fine, it can be quite rough and grainy once massaged.

After usage, my skin is smooth but red, blotchy and slightly burning. My skin (which is usually very oily) also feels tight and dry and I have to slather on moisturizer right away. Given this, I would strongly recommend those of you with very sensitive and acne prone skin to do a patch test BEFORE using this powder. This will help avoid any allergies or reactions because even though this is an all-natural product it can still be too abrasive for your skin.

Another downside of this product is its packaging which is rather plain and leaves much to be desired. The plastic bottle is also not very user friendly as one cannot control the amount of powder that comes out which usually results in product wastage. This is also due to the fact that the powder has a tendency to stick together and form aggregates (small balls). It would have been more convenient if the bottle’s mouth had been large enough to use a small spoon to scoop out the optimum amount of powder or better yet if the bottle had been designed with perforations.

If we talk about value for money, then I find this product to be too pricey for the quantity and results achieved. The bottle is quite small, approximately 4.5 inches in height and packaged with only 100 ml of powder. This means that if used twice daily (sparingly) you should expect one bottle to last you two months.

Go for it if you:

1. Are into all-natural and preservative free products
2. Want a powder exfoliator to smooth out your skin’s texture

Don’t go for it if you:

1. Are looking for a product to lighten your complexion
2. Have very dry, sensitive or acne prone skin
3. Find it too expensive

Hit or miss? A miss!

Priced at PKR 1,650 (PKR 1,500 retail price and PKR 150 delivery charges for Karachi), Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish is not the fairness wonder potion that it promises to be and is more of a natural scrub than a fairness solution.

If you are interested in ordering it, it can be ordered online from www.just4girls.pk. For those of you living in the USA, UK and Canada, you can order it online from http://www.roselinkuk.com for £ 9.99 with free UK delivery.

My rating for Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish is 2/5.

Have you tried it yet?

© Rabea J. and from-my-dressing-to-dining-table.blogspot.com, 2012. Unauthorized and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rabea J. and from-my-dressing-to-dining-table.blogspot.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.