Drawing Mandalas .. Stepwise Guide to make a Mandala for Beginners !

Hello Everyone !  

Welcome back .. Hope you guys are doing well .. 

Now Today's blog is a little different from what I usually blog about ... 

I was suffering from some concentration issues lately.. was fickle minded and I felt the need to try some things to improve my concentration and focus levels in any task that I do .. 
So I figured out that drawing a Mandala is one of the techniques to help improve the concentration levels ..Well that's what youtube suggested :P ..and I was ready to try something new .. 

For those of you who are not aware of what a Mandala is .. here's a crash course .. 

A mandala (Sanskrit: मण्डल, lit, circle) is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe.In common use, "mandala" has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe.

The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a T.Mandalas often exhibit radial balance.

A mandala is usually about symmetry and making repetitive patterns that help to increase concentration .. atleast thats exactly what I did .. 

Mandala 

To learn how to draw a mandala .. keep on reading .. 

Things you would need :

1. Scrapbook paper. Click to BUY
2. Gel pens / CD marker pens / Ball pens / Pilot pens .. (Here I used White & Golden Gel pen) 
3. Protractor to divide circle into equal and symmetric areas.
4. Pencil 
5. Eraser
6. Scale
7. Compass , to make concentric circles.

Steps to make a Mandala..! 

1. Create a bigger circle using a Compass , make as big as you would want the mandala to be.
2. Divide the circle into equal half . Now there is a simple trick to this , First divide the circle into 4 parts , by drawing lines through the centre and making diameters (vertical and horizontal).This will divide the circle in 4 parts.
3. Now Note that the circle will have 4 quadrants which you can divide into smaller sections by measuring angles (90 , 45 , 22.5 and so on) , use protractor to divide each quadrant ( which is 90 degree) into 45 degree ..followed by dividing the 45 degree into half (22.5 degree).
4. Finally your circle should be divided into various smaller sections which will be helpful to make symmetrical patterns.
5. After the circle is divided .. start making repetitive patterns to complete the mandala as shown below:

Now it is all about where your mind takes you .. make random designs and see the end result.
Usually every time a mandala is made , the design tends to be unique . . so feel free to make as many mandalas as you want and help improving your concentration level.

What Did I like about drawing Mandala:

• Well , It's too early to say if it has significantly improved my concentration level overall. However It has improved my skills in drawing and art & it did improve my concentration level in shorter intervals.
• With regular mandala drawing I think it will help in long run to improve focus and concentration.
• Mandalas are such beautiful wall hanging pieces and can be used for low budget room decorations.
• They also make perfect gift for your friends and relatives , displays your creative side and act as customised gifts :) 
• All you need is basic stationery items and you are good to go to draw a mandala.
• If you do not have protractor or compass you can still go ahead with drawing a mandala , by roughly making it initially with simple sequence drawings.
• Also you could use multiple pens and colors to make any kind of mandala for fun.

And ... This is how your mandala should look like .. with different design/colors of course ! 

I made another mandala , and like I mentioned earlier the design comes out unique every time you make one , as you simply have to draw as and where your brain leads you .. 

Hope you guys enjoyed reading this article and would try to explore your creative side and help improve your concentration level in the process. !! 

Stalk me on :
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Business email: shriyasagdeo@gmail.com

LOVE U All LOADS .. !! 

Shriya Sagdeo

Forever 21 Makeup Sponge - First Impression and Review !

Hello Lovelies !  

Welcome back .. Hope you guys are doing well .. 

I think I found dupe for "The Beauty Blender "  .. 

I was waiting in the line at checkout aisle at Forever 21 near the accessories section , where suddenly I noticed these sitting there unnoticed and looking just like the beauty blender .. So I went ahead and checked if I could get my hands on them at a reasonable price , as buying the original beauty blender comes around 2500-3000 or so which is like literally burning a hole in my pocket as they tend to become a breeding ground for infections as they are to be used damped so spending so much was a bad idea .. So I bought this one instead.. 

There were various other pastel colors , shapes and options available in their store..some brush variations are present as well  .. I picked up a pastel blue one .. Makeup sponge is basically needed to blend the foundation / CC/BB creams /Concealer etc.

It is a dupe for the original beauty blender which is way more costlier , almost 3-4 times costlier .. so when I saw this one I thought to give it a try.. 

Product Details : !

Packaging:

• It comes in a shiny silver lock polythene case , not reusable though , with few details mentioned about the makeup sponge , very difficult to read those details as that silver packaging blinded me :P 
• The sponge is raindrop shaped , similar to the beauty blender.I got in pastel blue one  
• Very apt size to use and the smaller edge reached all places in my face so application is convenient.
• Blends the foundation / concealer well.
• Travel friendly.

My Take on this ..! 

My first impression when I saw this was that it was really dense and rubber-like ..I was not sure if it would give me that stamping effect and blend the products well .. it appeared more like a rubber stress relief ball to be blatantly honest .. :) .. Then I put this in a cup of water for a while and then squeezed all the extra water from this .I observed the size change .. it had grown bigger in size and seemed soft enough to be used . I took some foundation at the back of my fist and used the sponge , it absorbed so much product that I later felt that using foundation dots on my face and then using this sponge to blend was a better idea , this technique could help to save some product.

All I did was use stamping effect to blend the product well , and it gave a very dewy finish. I am using Lakme foundation currently...and it was little difficult to work it with .. 

All in all it gave me expected results.Washing and Cleaning the makeup sponge was also ok.. 
How much does it Cost? !! :

It comes for Rs 269 /- ..Click to Buy here 

What Did I like about this product ?:

• Easy to use & does a decent job in blending products.
• Available in a variety of colors and shapes
• Affordable.
• Decent dupe for beauty blender.

What did I dislike about this product:

• Absorbs a lot of product if I use it by taking the product on the back of my fist.
• Non-reusable packaging makes it difficult to store the sponge.It would be good if we could get a small plastic container to keep it.

Final Take & Rating !! : 

Rating  : 3/5

If you want to avoid burning your wallet with the original beauty blender and you are ok to try a dupe then you can totally go for this one ! It does a decent job .. :) 

Hope you guys liked what you read ! 

Stalk me on :
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Business email: shriyasagdeo@gmail.com

LOVE U All LOADS .. !! 

Shriya Sagdeo

The Body Shop British Rose Eau De Toilette - Product Review

Hi Friends !!

Happy Valentine's Day !!  

As today is valentine's day .. and many of you must be wondering as to get a lovely present for your loved ones .. so I thought to give you guys an idea .. If you are one of those who feel that giving roses is cliche and you wanna go out of box and gift someone as close to original rose but with a simple thought that it would be more useful and long lasting for your girl ... The Body Shop British Rose Eau De Toilette is THE PERFECT gift for your girl ! ..and the mesmerizing fragrance will keep reminding her of you .. and the fragrance is to drool for .. 

Which Brand is it ?? : 

The Body Shop is an iconic British retail brand with an extensive and growing global presence.They make naturally inspired products dedicated to enriching people as well as the planet, working fairly with farmers and suppliers and helping communities thrive through its Community Trade program. The Body Shop has never tested any of its ingredients or products on animals and never will. Their product quality is world famous and very pure and organic.

The Product Overview: 

Britain’s favourite flower comes into full bloom for this charmingly light rose eau de toilette. Sure to become a favourite in your fragrance collection, this sparkling scent contains:
Fresh, dewy rose fragrance with the essence of hand-picked British roses.
Contains Community Trade organic alcohol.

How to use product:

Spritz onto neck and pulse points.

How does it Look and smell like ?:

Packaging : 

• Packaging is quite classy and cute at the same time ... The entire british rose range comes in a baby pink and black combination which gives it that edgy look.
• The EDT comes in a sturdy see through glass bottle with a sturdy acrylic cap that fits well .. 
• The EDT gets its pink color from the natural hand-picked british roses , the color does not transfer on clothes.
• It has a typical spray mechanism to dispense the edt.
• Overall classy packaging , very girly .. :) ..perfect for gifting :) 
• It's a glass bottle so not so travel friendly.

Fragrance :

• It is quite pleasant and mild , exactly of fresh roses..but on a milder side..
• the fragrance lingers for 4 hours and fades away gracefully.. so sensitive noses will love using this one.
• it has a very fresh feel to it and also helps to calm me down.

Key Ingredients :

key Ingredients listed below:

How much does it Cost? !! :

100ml comes for Rs 1295/- .. Click here to BUY.. 

My take on this  :
I had been using The Body Shop British Rose Shower Gel & I was so mesmerised by the fragrance that I felt I needed to layer this with the EDT so that the fragrance could last as long as possible.. It feels so fresh and it's a very romantic sort of a fragrance that I absolutely drool over.. I simply spray like 4-5 spritz on my pulse points and enjoy the fragrance to the fullest.The fragrance lingers for around 4 hours and fades away gracefully.. 

Also as it is Valentine's day .. I think this makes for the perfect gift for your girl ! 

What Did I like about this product ?:

• Packaging is cute , sturdy , girly. & a perfect valentine gift.
• Fragrance is mild ,pleasant and helps in relaxing.
• Ingredients are more natural and organic.
• 4-5 sprintz are more than enough to last 4-5 hours.I usually put on my pulse points.
• Several other variants are available almost for all skin types.

What did I dislike about this product:

• Little pricey .
• I so wished that this could be more long lasting.. 

Recommended to use ?? 

Yes.

I certainly recommend it to use , I am willing to try their other EDTs as well .. :) 

Final Take & Rating !! : 

Rating would be : 4/5 

If you have already used this product, then please share your experience in the comment section below.I would love to know your take on the product as well as the blog.!!

Hope you enjoyed reading this product review !!

Stalk me on :
Instagram handle .. beautyandthecode

FB page : BeautyAndTheCode FB Page !
Youtube Channel : beautyandthecode
Twitter : https://twitter.com/ShriyaSagdeo
Business email: shriyasagdeo@gmail.com

LOVE U All LOADS .. !! 

Shriya Sagdeo

Fabindia Vitamin E De Pigmentation Cream -Product Review

Hey Lovelies !  

Welcome back .. Hope you guys are doing well .. !!

I will start off by giving some background about my skin type and what led me to write a blog for this particular product .Actually I don't know what took me so long to write this product review.. So .. I am someone with normal to oily skin , especially my T-Zone gets oily and rest of the skin seems normal.I obviously have a lot of breakouts and zits every now and then , also suffered a lot with acne issues , finally leaving my skin with permanent marks and wretched uneven patches.The sun showed no mercy and the end result was uneven skin tone with dark marks ,spots and uneven patches around cheeks , temples and forehead...It was quiet a phase which did lower my confidence to some extend as stepping outside started to seem challenging..

Then after a long struggle ..and getting the acne treatment..and post maintenance .. I finally got my acne treated but I was left with a bizarre skin state where concealers and foundation became my besties..as those layers helped me hide the hideous spots every now Until I finally decided to work and improve my skin rather than concealing it and got introduced to the FabIndia  Vitamin E De Pigmentation cream..

This was the first step towards improving my skin , I have been using this for about 6 months now as a Night cream and I am so proud to say that my skin is healthy , almost spot free has even skin tone and has remarkably proved to be a blessing for me at times I needed the most .. 

To know further about my blemished skin to blemish free skin transformation ..Please keep on reading .. !!

What Product claims : 

Uneven skin tone, dark spots and pigmentation are all causing your skin to lose its glow. Get back the sheen and radiance with Fab India Vitamin-E Depigmentation cream. A specially formulated skin lightening treatment it aims at providing you an even skin tone.

The buttery soft texture easily blends into your skin without feeling heavy. The no chemical formula is gentle on your skin and tough on the pigmentation and dark spots. It also moisturizes your skin leaving it soft and smooth.

Brand & Product Details : !

Fabindia is India's largest private platform for products that are made from traditional techniques, skills and hand-based processes.Fabindia's products are natural, craft based, contemporary, and affordable.They do not test their products on animals and are inclined towards natural and organic products.

Key Ingredients :

Purified water, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Veegum, Methyl Paraben, Octyl Methoxy Cinnamate, Emulsifying wax, Glyceryl Mono Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Kojic acid Dipalmitate, Gum Xanthan, Arbutin, Vitamin E Acetate, Benzophenone 3.

Packaging & Texture:

• It comes in a plastic jar/tumbler with a cover lid to prevent the product from spilling out.
• The cream is thick , white colored , doesn't leave any white cast on the skin.
• Texture is very smooth and glides on perfectly on the skin.
• It takes only a pea size amount for face and neck and lasts for almost 6 months.

My Take on this ..! 

Well this cream revolutionized the way my skin was and transformed it into something that I could not believe .I don't claim that this worked out fastest for me .. NO! .. I had to be very patient and I used it without daily on everyday basis as my night cream for almost 6 months to see the best results.

I have a fixed night skin routine of cleansing my face , followed by toner , followed by this cream.I need only a pea sized amount for my entire face and neck and I gently rub it in till it gets completely absorbed. It doesn't leave any white cast or oily layer..it's very comfortable to wear this cream and sleep overnight.I wake up in the morning with very soft and supple skin.I have used this cream after my acne was treated and my face was a cluster of dark spots and marks.I saw the difference in my skin within 2 weeks and I was very happy the way it worked.I never got any zits or breakouts while using this.So overall it just worked perfectly for me and even my friends could notice the change in my skin.

It has been more than 6 months now that I have been using this with remarkable results , in fact beyond expectation and I absolutely rave about this one.. 

How much does it Cost? !! :

100ml costs INR 390/- .. Buy Here !!

What Did I like about this product ?:

• Worked best on uneven skin tone , dark patches , dark spots.
• It doesn't have any harmful or harsh  ingredients.
• It doesn't have any bleaching agent , in case you are wondering how it treats dark spots so well.. this is bleach free.
• Smooth textured and sinks in the skin in no time.
• doesn't cast any white cast on the skin post application.
• Contains goodness of Vitamin E.
• No new breakout or zits after using this.
• You get a lot of product for the price you pay and it lasts for almost 6 months.
• Affordable.

What did I dislike about this product:

The only criticism for people who are too specific about the packaging could be that it comes in a tumbler which could be unhygienic.But if you are someone who does not get bothered with such nitty-gritty bits of packaging , just like me , then it's just fine..Cos for me the end result is what matters the most.

Recommended to use ?? 

Yes , if you are someone struggling with uneven skin tone and patches then please please please give yourself the goodness of what this has to offer and let it work on your skin.

Final Take & Rating !! : 

Rating would be : 5/5

If you have already used this product, then please share your experience in the comment section below.I would love to know your take on the product as well as the blog.!!

Hope you enjoyed reading this product review !!

Stalk me on :
Instagram handle .. beautyandthecode

FB page : BeautyAndTheCode FB Page !
Youtube Channel : beautyandthecode
Twitter : https://twitter.com/ShriyaSagdeo
Business email: shriyasagdeo@gmail.com

LOVE U All LOADS .. !! 

Shriya Sagdeo