It has been a long time since I visited any of the big shopping malls in Bahrain. And today I was reminded once again why I haven’t done so all this time. You see, I happen to travel a lot and get informed on the latest fashion, products and/or prices. I always look for the best quality and price and I value customer service relationships a great deal. I talk with shops’ representatives all around the world and I have gained their trust and respect as they have gained mine. Continue reading “Why I don’t shop in Bahrain anymore”
Xmas Gift List
Christmas is around the corner but there’s still time for last-minute shopping! Enjoy our gift list and get inspired..
From Top left to bottom right:
Nerf Gun, Crosley X UO Cruiser Briefcase Portable Vinyl Record Player, Bellroy Note Sleeve wallet, I love your Style book by Amanda Brooks, Gift Boutique – Heart Light Sign, Vince Coleton Suede over-the-knee boots, Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera, La Vie Boheme Yoga mat, Proenza Schouler PS1 bag, Magical Thinking Elephant Stamp Catch-All Dish, American Girl Doll Isabelle.
Still not sure what to get for your loved ones? Simply contact us and we will take care of it…
Taylor says: legs for days
This gal did it again. She made me fall in love with her new collection “Legs for days” and I ‘m going to get in trouble spending money on shoes I don’t actually need (Aren’t 79 pairs more than enough? Or should I round the number?)
If you are a shoe lover (or addict like me) and haven’t yet seen Taylor Reeve’s one of a kind collections, then you are missing a lot. Because the “crazy blondie from South California” is a genius who touches our soles (and souls) with her magic brush in order to create masterpieces on which we can step elegantly. Red signature soles are ok, but what’s even better is funky art on your soles that will buzz WOWs all around you! Convinced? Then you should definitely visit Taylor Says.
As for my favorite pair? KA BOOM!!! I’m sooooo buying them!
Ring Collection
Hello girlies,
I have bought few rings recently and thought of posting a picture, along with some of my old purchases.
I love big rings in all shapes, design & colour. And I wear a lot of rings day to day basis. Accessories instantly update and make my outfits more interesting.
Most of these rings are from, H&M, Penny’s, Mango, Topshop and few of them are from street markets of Ibiza.
I have a small collection of silver rings. Will post a picture for you later on.
Love,
Dona Lawlor
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Bio-Oil it away!!!!
As a result of having my 3 gorgeous babies, my tummy was left with some stretch marks, which I was very conscious of.
Though Bio-Oil has been in the market since 2002 and I had heard about it, I only bought it few years ago while I was on holiday in Dublin, during one of my many shopping trips to Pavilion Shopping Centre in Swords.
I tried it and it made my skin feel soft. I have been using it for few years now and my stretch marks have definitely started to look better.
Bio Oil is no ordinary oil, it has positioned itself well amongst body creams to be the best to reduce the appearance of all scars both old and new. It helps to maintain the elasticity of the skin while preventing stretch marks from developing when our body goes through changes like pregnancy, weight loss etc. Bio Oil also banish dryness, smoothes, firms and nourishes aging and wrinkled skin.
It’s worth investing your money on this one.
Love
Dona Lawlor
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So gorgeous…………….
Dreamcatcher
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
The Secret to Gorgeous Hands!!
Without a doubt the best hand cream I have used. I say this without any hesitation having tried many hand creams. As I have been using this product for over four years, I think I can speak honestly about it. I have occasionally wandered to other brands but I always seem to go back to this one.
A super-smoothing cream, contains 20% Shea Butter, honey and sweet almond extract, blended with jasmine and ylang-ylang essences. Smells divine and it glides on and absorbs to help heal and protect dry and dehydrated skin, and anti-oxidising vitamin E helps nourish.
I initially bought the small tube of this while transiting through Dubai Airport (they also do large tubes) so that I could try it. And I love it! The tube is just the right size to carry in my bag so that I can use it whenever I need to and you don’t need to use very much of it. L’occitane is a well known luxury brand and have a great reputation for their creams and moisturisers.
Anyone who suffers with dry hands should give this a try!
Luv
Dona Lawlor
Two of my favorite MAC primers
Primer is used to create a flawless/smooth base for your make up. It is used underneath foundation to hold your make-up last longer and they blot away any excess oil on the skin.
MAC PREP + PRIME Face Protect SPF 50
The reason I bought this product is, it has the highest SPF that I have found for the face on the market. And it also works as a good make-up base. This is my go to primer for the day and I have been using it every single day for over 2 years now. Few years ago, I had quite a few brown spots caused by the sun and infact I haven’t developed any since I started using this and my skin looks much clearer.
It may feel a bit greasy at first but I think it soon sinks in, and is definitely worth it. Only use a little bit at once as it does take a lot of rubbing on to the skin, as it comes out very white. Only downfall in my opinion is, it can be quite wasteful. The tube is very hard to squeeze and I’m sure there will be lots of product left inside the tube when I think it’s all gone.
MAC PREP + PRIME SKIN BASE VISAGE
It is very silky and feels light. I only use a tiny pea sized amount to cover my whole face. You cannot tell that the product is on your skin when it is rubbed in well. After doing so, I apply my foundation which goes on smoothly and appears extremely flawless. The primer has small light reflecting particles in it which makes your skin look very radiant and healthy.
So there you go girls, if you have used or currently using above primers or any other primers, leave us your comments.
Dona Lawlor
Red, Red Wine… Apivita will quench your skin’s thirst
Throughout my adult life, I have been spending a lot on face, eye and body creams from expensive brands, even if knowing that the miracle results that they’d promise wouldn’t be all that “miraculous”. Unfortunately there exists this perception that the higher you will be paying for a product and the nicer the packaging is, the more value you will be getting for your money. We all fall for it, and we all know that this is not necessarily true.
Sure, a lot of factors play out when we choose a brand or a product and alluring marketing has a lot to do with our choice. But I insist and always urge my friends and clients before they buy anything to first check the reviews online and try it on them before spending a little fortune on that latest buzz. High-end brands always offer samples which you can get from any beauty shop to have a first hand experience on their latest products. To ask for one before you buy the whole jar is common sense and wise spending. How many times did the $$$ beauty “serum” ended up collecting dust on the bathroom shelf simply because it’s just not what you wished for?
What would always puzzle me though, both in high-end and supermarket shelf brands, are all these ingredients written in fine lines, and my worry lies with the fact that even if I can (or better try to as they have these long names) read them, I don’t know what their effects are on my skin and overall health (if you want to know what chemicals your product contains visit http://www.cosmetic-ingredients.net/ who’s done an excellent database on many brands). Hazardous chemical substances have been traced in lipsticks and creams and chemicals found in cosmetics have been accused for various conditions.
Anyways, I have the tendency to a more holistic approach in life and same way I am checking every food item I intend to bring home and feed my children, I now choose cosmetics after I have done a little “homework” on their ingredients… Besides you might have heard of the saying “you should never put on your face what you wouldn’t put in your mouth”.
This is how I ended up trying APIVITA a Greek company since 1979 that produces natural and highly effective beauty products. I have been buying their kids’ line and am quite happy, so during my last visit in Greece I did my usual shopping raid at the pharmacy to be supplied with all the products I can’t find in Bahrain and bumped on to their latest face cream: Wine Elixir.
I was curious. I surely love a glass of red wine once in a while for its relaxing properties but put some on my face? That’s interesting. I was given some samples the same day of the SPF15 day cream and went straight home to try it. Very light in texture and smell, giving a cooling sensation on the face, it was absorbed in seconds. Upon application, my skin literally gulped the wine elixir and felt moisturized without being oily or even shiny.
Needless to say after 4-5 days the samples were running out so I went to the pharmacy and bought the night cream and eye and lips cream of the same line. The night cream although slightly thicker in texture than the day cream gives the same feeling of fresh and nourishment without being oily or heavy on the face. It also contains salicylic acid which does a gentle exfoliation and which we have seen in other high-end brands’ expensive serums. It is absorbed really quickly and you can immediately see the difference in the skin’s elasticity and tone. Skin feels totally moisturized and looks amazing. The claims of this product from the company’s website:
93% natural ingredients
- Rejuvenates the skin at night while reducing even the deepest wrinkles
- Red wine helps increase quality collagen and elastin to firm the skin
- Salicylic acid gently exfoliates the skin and leaves it with a natural glow
- Beeswax moisturizes and smoothes skin
- Neroli, patchouli, clary sage and geranium essential oils tone the skin and provide a sense of well-being
Exclusive innovation: APIVITA replaces water in the wine elixir range with a green tea infusion to enhance the antioxidant action of the products
Same with the eye and lips cream: it gives the same cooling sensation making any fatigue signs disappear from my eyes, any fine lines around them less visible, and my lips highly kissable!
I don’t have any serious deep lines to confirm their first claim, but surely my skin feels and looks perfect for the couple of weeks I have been using the cream and I got addicted to my night skin routine I once used to skip, because of them.
But most important: their products are Free of: Parabens, Silicone, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, Ethanolamine and Phthalates.
You may also check their online Beauty Advisor for a personal evaluation.
So, are you having a glass of APIVITA wine elixir with me? Maybe on my next visit I could bring you some! If interested, email me at idol@mail.com
Cheers !