NOTD-Cupcake Topping Inspired Nails

My NOTD is inspired by cup cakes and the beautiful designs iced onto them. For the nails I have used 2 coats of 17 nail polish in 'Mint Choc Chip'. I've then take a tooth pick and carefully added on 'Parma Violet' for the dotted detail on the nails. I've topped this off with 1 coat of clear nail polish by Rimmel. OK so I still need practice with my application, but I reckon these nails look good enough to eat!

With flash

The Inspiration...

 Image Credit

Purchase both nail polishes from 17 available from Boots or online

Princess Rockz Collage Competition!

So here's another competition from Princess Rockz

The theme is Hijab & Princess Rockz.

What you need to do:

• Design a COLLAGE  that represents both hijab and Princess Rockz. You can use photos from the Facebook page to help with your collage. You can also share photos of you wearing one of Princess Rockz's hijabs/accessories, or simply a photo of you creating a hijab style from our Youtube Channel.

• Also leave a caption telling us what hijab means to you.

Here is an attempt by me lol. I'm sure yours will be much better!

 Rules:

• You must join our facebook page to enter

• If you are aged 16 or below please gain permission from your guardian before entering

• Only 1 entry per person

• Entries are accepted from all around the world

• There will be a total of 3 winners (2 with the most likes and 1 chosen by Princess Rockz)

•  Deadline is 15th November 2011

Once you have created the collage, post to our Facebook page.

2 winners will be those that have the most 'Likes' on their picture and the final winner will be chosen by PRINCESS ROCKZ

The winners will pick a hijab of their choice from the website. Good luck!

You can use Picknik to create a collage

Touch Screen Gloves!

Whilst shopping last week, I saw this in one of the shop windows-touch screen gloves! Although I've never heard of this before, I have often wished somebody would invent gloves that allowed me to type on my HTC, without feeling the cold on my fingers.

I'm not quite sure how they work, but to me they look like normal (unattractive) gloves. I'm not sure of the cost in this particular shop, but you can purchase online for around £8 plus.

Although its a fairly needed invention, what with all the touch screen technology, I don't think I'll be purchasing a pair yet, although I wouldn't mind receiving as a gift ;-)

What do you think, will you be running out to buy a pair?

Review: Garnier Intensive 7 Days Ultra-Softening Lotion (Nourishing Shea Butter)

This lotion is intended for skin with lack of moisture and is designed to nourish dry-extra dry skin. The natural shea butter and L-Bifidus prevent moisture loss from the skins surface. The results are intended to soften rough skin and stay hydrated for 48 hours. After 7 days of use there should be a dramatic difference in the skins quality.

The body lotion doesn't feel greasy at all, but provides the right amount of hydration. It is quickly absorbed into the skin without much rubbing.

The smell is divine and heavily perfumed! It smells like an expensive body cream, which I love! If you prefer your body cream to be odourless, then this is definitely not one for you.

I purchased a bottle for my sister as she has VERY skin, especially on her hands. With regular use she has noticed a considerable difference and will continue to use during the Winter.

Conclusion

I quite like this body lotion for the fact that it is nourishing with parfum and comes in a 250ml bottle, so should last for around 2 months if used every day for your body. They also have an Aloe Vera lotion for normal skin. Although I won't quite be giving up on my body butters, for a cheap buy this cream is worth the price.

I purchased from Boots with their 3 for 2 offer. Bought alone it is £2.99.

How To: Determine Your Skin Type

A simple way of determining your skin type is to try the tissue test.

You will need to start with a clean face (makeup removed, face cleansed). After cleansing wait for approx 30 minutes and then cover your face with a layer of tissue paper. Press gently over your face and leave for a minute. Once your remove the tissue you should be able to see one of the following:

Dry Skin: Should have no oily traces

Normal Skin: Faint traces of oil on most of the tissue

Oily Skin: There will be oily traces over majority of the tissue

Combination Skin: There will be oily patches in the T-Zone (nose,around your mouth, forehead and sides of nose)

Of course results may differ throughout the year, as skin changes due to weather and hormonal changes. However, this simple test should allow you to identify your skin type and seek products which will work for you.

Haul: Lush & Boots & a Quid Cardigan!!!

Carmex Strawberry, Cosmetic Warrior, Pop in the Bath Bubble Bar, Think Pink

Left-Right: Pop in the Bath Bubble Bar & Think Pink

So this isn't my usual huge haul- the Lush Balls were a gift from my friend and I can't wait to try them out! I purchased the Carmex Strawberry as my Cherry one has run out and I wanted to try a different flavour, however I'm not so keen on the smell and taste. I much prefer the cherry!

I was so desperate to have the Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask I walked for ages in the cold (yes Lush that's how dedicated I am!) I have had a few breakouts in the past few days and as my cousin has raved about the warrior, of course I had to try it. I slapped it onto my face as soon as I got home (on a cleansed face). I will leave my review of this mask for another post!

On another note H&M has a good sale, I was very tempted to buy a cardigan for £1, yes £1!!!! But I resisted the urge, as in all seriousness I only wanted it because of the price.

Have you tried any of the Lush balls, what do you think of them?

NOTD Barry M 303 Bright Purple

 Today's NOTD is another Barry M Nail Paint (Oh how I do love them!) This one is 303 Bright Purple.

The colour is truly luscious. I have a thing for purple/pink/red polishes and this is a favourite from my collection. I have applied 2 coats, but for a more subtle colour you can apply one.

The Nail Paints from Barry M are a bargain price of £2.99 each, which is why I have a huge stash of them!

How To: Repair Dried Out Nail Polish

I've had this Barry M Instant Nail Effects for a few months and I can't believe that its dried up! This has never happened to any other of my nail polishes, so I'm guessing its the formula found in these particular nail effect polishes.

To fix this I've added nail polish remover to the polish (yes really!) shake it for a good few minutes to loosen any dry bits around the bottle, and voila! You should be left with polish which is more of a liquid and easier to apply.

Hope this trick works for you :)

Liebster Blog Award!!

I have been awarded the Liebster Award by Muslimah in Reverie many thanks sis! :)

For those that don't know what this is, its bascially given to bloggers that have less than 200 followers.

The Rules

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog or sending them a tweet.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on blogsphere
5. And best of all – have fun and spread the karma.

So i nominate:

1) Vajiha from Muslimah In Reverie Amazing blog/great reviews and a lovely sister 

2) Latifah La'mees from A little unorthodos hijabi Love her blog posts!

3) Rakhshan from Rakhshan's Blog great product reviews

4) Ruqaiyah Khan from rK's Beauty & Fashion Blog  lovely beauty posts

5) Hunny from The Hijab Queen Love her fashion and random posts

NOTD: Barry M Raspberry 273

I have a HUGE stash of Barry M nail polishes as I love their colours and the wide selection available.

Todays NOTD is 273 in Raspberry. I've applied 2 coats of the nail polish to give it a deep colour. The colour is a lot more deeper and a true 'raspberry' than shown in the photo. I haven't applied a top coat so the photo illustrates the actual shine from the colour.

Applying was easy and the brush was just the right size for my nails. It dried fairly quickly and lasts for a few days without chipping.

What do you think of the colour?

Review: Botanics Intensive Moisture Mask for Dry, Tired Skin

 

Around this time of the year my skin is in major need of hydration, especially as it starts to get colder. My skin is generally combination, but the central heating and cold air can play havoc! To overcome this I up my skin care routine and use a body butter instead of a light body lotion. But what about hydration for your facial skin? Well fear not, I think I may have the answer...

Botanics are a company which specialise in "plant extracts at levels that really work, combined and formulated for unbeatable product performance. Naturally." So that's a little information of the company from the tube. Generally speaking I have used a few Botanics products over the years and have been pleased.

They have a wide selection of products for different skin types. I purchased this during a 3for2 with the Botanics Mens Clay Mask (Yes I use the mens clay mask...) and the Radiance Night Serum.

 

The main ingredients are honey and olive oil, which help to repair dry skin and soothe irritation. Of course if you are allergic to any of these ingredients don't use this product! The consistency is almost like a light skin lotion and doesn't feel heavy at all. The smell is divine, not too over powering, but quite soothing. (I'm guessing this is the 'botanics and plant extracts')

The directions as provided are: "Apply to cleansed skin with gentle circular massage, leave for 5-10 minutes. Remove with damp cotton wool. For skin in need of intense moisture, a thin layer of the mask can be applied and left overnight."

I personally like to apply the mask at night, once I have used a facial scrub, so the mask can be absorbed easily into my skin. I also leave on for longer than 10 minutes, around 20 minutes or so, depending on how dry and haggard my face is looking! I like to apply a generous amount and rub in lightly giving myself a mini massage, which is very relaxing. It is best to wash off the product with a damp cotton pad. Afterwards your face should be hydrated, plump and glowing! You shouldn't need to apply moisturiser afterwards, unless you like double moisturising ;)

Conclusion

Having purchased this product at the beginning of the year it has worked very well for me, even during Summer when the sun had dried out my skin; therefore it is ideal for all year round. During Summer you can apply for 5-10 minutes, for Winter leave for longer. It hasn't broke me out, but I have noticed it has helped to soothe a few dry, pimples I have had. For some reason I can't find this product on the Boots website, but I'm sure it's less than £7. For this price it is definitely worth purchasing and seeing for yourself how soft and smooth your face can be too :)

Do you have a beauty product you can recommend for dry skin? Comment below, I would love to hear from you :)

Outfit of the Day-A Simple Weekend

This is a really quick outfit of the day. I wasn't planning on taking photos of my outfit today so it's nothing special, but sometimes simple is the best way :) And yes I DO hate posing, but it had to be done lol.

Hijab- Princess Rockz

Bracelets- Queen of Gems (comes as part of a set)

Necklace- Queen of Gems

Dress- TK Maxx

Boots & belt- Primark

Hope you are all having a great weekend :)

A few MAC Lipsticks of mine

From left-right- Satin 'Myth', Amplified 'Brick-O-La', Frost 'Costa Chic', Lustre 'Milan Mode'

These are just a few MAC lipsticks I own that I need to swatch!

As you can see the Milan Mode has been worn a lot, as it is one of my fav lipsticks! It is a Lustre finish with a hint of shimmer.

Which MAC lipsticks do you own and what finish do you prefer?

My LUSH Stash

Just wanted to show you guys the LUSH products I have at the moment, although I have tried most of their soaps and a few moisturisers. Their facemasks are to die for, and there is one to suit every skin type/need.

 From left-right: Silky Underwear, Eau Roma Water, Love Lettuce, Angels on Bare Skin

I have done a review on the Eau Roma Water and hope to review the other products. Maybe a LUSH shopping trip is due??

What's your fav LUSH item?

Review: Collection 2000 Lasting Colour Lipstick in Bubblegum, with Swatches

Bright lips are a trend at the moment, something which I have always been unsure about. However, I have recently purchased a few bright lipsticks to see what all the fuss is about. The review today is of Collection 2000's Lasting Colour Lipstick in 6 Bubblegum

I have always admired Collection 2000 for their affordable makeup and great selection, and my sister constantly raves about their Lasting Perfection Concealer. Recently they have had a bit of a re-vamp and enlisted Diana Vickers as the face of their brand, which was a great move. 

I bought the lipstick from PyariBeauty who had a blog sale. She was also selling the Collection 2000 2 Pink Shock lipstick, but unfortunately it was already taken!

So onto the review...

The lipsticks contain spf15 which is always a plus as it will help to protect your lips from sun damage. The texture is soft and creamy with no shimmer. I have worn it for a few hours and it has amazing staying power without drying out my lips. The colour is fairly bright so I personally like to dab it on for a hint of colour, with no gloss applied as I prefer the matte look with this lipstick.

A tip for applying is to dab on with a lip brush and build up the layers. Also don't forget to gently massage your lips with lip balm to get rid of any loose skin, before applying this lipstick (very important!)

With flash

Without flash

         with a few coats of lipstick               one coat of lipstick  

 Conclusion

I'm not sure 2-3 coats of the lipstick suits me, I much prefer the softer look with 1 coat. However, I'm loving the texture and staying power of this lipstick and already have my eye on 'Birthday Suit' and 'Vintage Rose'.  

This lipstick is definitely worth purchasing, and at a RRP of £2.99 you can afford to bag a few ;-)

Forever 21: Mid-Shaft Suedette Boots Haul

This isn't a haul as such, but I wanted to show you these boots that I recently purchased from Forever 21

They are so comfortable and I love the animal print inside the boots! I'll be styling these with skinny jeans and a long dress or a black flowy dress for more of a grungy look. Of course I'll be topping it off with a hijab from Princess Rockz ;-)

How To: Make a Body Scrub for Glowy Skin

Today's post is a DIY body scrub. The scrub is made from ingredients found in your kitchen, and is quick and easy to make!

What you will need:

• Olive Oil/Virgin Olive Oil
• Brown sugar
• Half a lemon
• Bowl
• Tablespoon for mixing
• Air tight container

Brown sugar is great for the body and helps to get rid of dead skin cells. Olive oil is moisturising for the body and lemon contains Vitamin C, which will help to provide a glow to your skin. In my opinion this scrub is as good as those sold in the shops-your body will thank you for it!

 How to Make the Scrub

* Pour approx 8 table spoons of brown sugar into a bowl 

* Cut the lemon in half

 * Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon

* Add the olive oil so that it covers the mixture

Pour into an airtight container. I am using this gorgeous jar, which I like to take into the shower or use whilst soaking in the bath.

How to Use

When in the shower/bath gently massage all over your body in circular motions, paying particular attention to areas such as your knees and elbows. Rinse off with warm water and gently pat dry with a towel. You can apply the olive oil to damp skin at the end as a moisturiser.

The mixture should last for 1-2 weeks, but once used can easily be made again.

Hope you enjoy. Let me know if it works for you :)

Review: Lush Eau Roma Water Toner

I have been a fan of Lush products for a number of years now as I love their ethical values and the charity work that they do. They source their ingredients from companies that do not test on animals, and use little or no preservatives in their products. The attention paid into what goes in their beauty products is what makes Lush stand out from other companies.

I have tried various Lush goodies, including face masks, cleansers and body washes. Todays product I will be reviewing is the Eau Roma Water.

Info on the bottle "Tone your skin gently with rose and lavender water. Excellent on dry, older or sensitive skin. use on cotton wool to remove excess cleanser and to referesh the skin."

My skin goes through changes depending on the time and season, so this is great for calming my skin. In winter it helps to keep moisture locked in and also smells great! Compared to Lush Tea Tree Toner, this is much gentler and ideal for sensitive skin. The Tea Tree would suit more oily/spot- prone skin.

 Mini and big!

Lush do two bottle sizes- 100g priced at £3.75 and 250g priced at £7.00. This may seem expensive but when you look at the process to produce the rose water, it is well worth it.

Vegan friendly too!

What I like about Lush's rose water is that it also contains lavender water. This is an added 'super' ingredient, which acts as an antiseptic and calms skin. It also refreshes and tones the skin-great for someone like me who suffers from regular breakouts. I like to spray onto a cotton pad and wipe gently over my face after cleansing. It's also ideal for refreshing your skin during those long, hot Summer days.

I initially purchased the smaller bottle from their store, but found I ran out of it pretty quick. I then decided to buy the bigger bottle, which is much better! The 100g bottle is best used for travelling as it takes up less space in my beauty case, which means more room for Lush goodies!

 The small bottle fits well inside my mini travel bag!

I think the sell by date is around a year, but I could be wrong (the date is faded on the two bottles) However as I use twice a day, the 250g bottle lasts around 2 months. This is because I like to literally soak my cotton pad in the rose water and also spray onto my skin at the same time-yes I am greedy!

Conclusion

This is one product I can not live without, no other toner that I have used can compare. It's as natural as you can find and vegan. The smell is so soothing and calming, and really feels like it works without loading my skin with uneccesary parabens. The rose water does contains one paraben-methylparaben' but as Lush have stated they rarely use parabens unless necessary, and even then it is limited.

I have tried numerous Lush products, which I will also be reviewing, but this is by far the best.  
Well done Lush!

Review: Primark Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes with Tea Tree

Makeup wipes for me are a must have, not because I'm lazy and use them instead of a face wash, but because they work for me. I sometimes use them in place of cotton pads (add cleanser) which helps to remove my makeup. I'll also use wipes to remove eye makeup and lipstick.

So on to the review...

The makeup wipes were located in Primark near the till. They come in a twin pack, and as they were only a £1 I thought I would give it a shot!

They come in a twin pack, although the photo shows one pack

There are 25 wipes in each pack-so you receive 50 wipes for £1, not bad! As soon as you open the pack you can smell the tea tree, which may be overpowering for some, but for me its kind of soothing. What are the benefits of a tea tree makeup wipe I hear you asking?.... well tea tree contains anti-bacterial properties which help to repair skin, and is traditionally used in skin care for balancing out combination/oily skin.

 Decent size wipes, enough for the whole face

Other Key Ingredients Listed

* Aloe Vera- This is great for healing red, sore skin.
* Witch Hazel- An ingredient which helps the treatment of acne prone skin
* Glycerin- If you have dry skin, glycerin acts as humectant and helps to restore water levels in your skin. It may also help to heal wounds and prevent wrinkles.

I'm not sure if the wipes are supposed to remove eye makeup, but they do a great job for me. They do not sting around my eyes (just be careful not to get too close) and leave my face feeling clean and refreshed. They don't dry up inside the resealable packet-unlike other branded wipes, which is an added bonus! After cleansing my face (I use Johnson's cream cleanser with the wipes) my face feels soft. Removing makeup with the wipes alone, also does a great job-but I wouldn't recommend for heavy, party makeup. But having said that I don't know any makeup wipe that fully removes waterproof mascara, heavy foundation, eyeshadow, etc without the use of a cleanser.

Conclusion

I'm glad I took the plunge and purchased the wipes as they are an amazing buy for such a low price. These are my second favourite after the Bodycare Makeup Remover Wipes. The Bodycare wipes I use for my face and to remove eye makeup, whereas I will stick to using the Primark tea tree wipes for my face only. They are perfect for taking on holiday when you have mimumum luggage space, and for the gym.

I spotted some other beauty goodies in Primark so will be sure to purchase them pretty soon. Keep a look out for the Primark Cosmetic Pads review!

Let me know if you use wipes as part of your skin care routine and which is your favourite? <3

Akhawat Stunning Abayas-How to Wrap the Shayla

Princess Rockz in partnership with Akhawat

Akhawat have recently launched their website, and when I first had a look, I was very impressed. (first impressions count right?)

Here's some information about the company:

"Akhawat the first Abaya clothing company in the west to launch bespoke design and sizing for luxury abayas. We offer a myriad or choices when it comes to quality fabrics and designs. With an aray of different combinations, preferences, fittings, and sizes, the amount of freedom you have to express yourself is almost limitless."

Quite impressive right??

They have three collections in total, and each offer something different depending on the occassion:

BASICALLY BLACK

The Basically Black Collection offers abayas with a twist, much different to the standard black abayas I've seen. They are made from high quality material to make the abaya look, as well as feel comfortable.

I especially love this 'Sheer Silk' abaya with the pleated effect on the sleeves.

PURPLE LABEL

The Purple Label range manages to paint a vibrant picture without being too bold. The designs on the abayas are simple but still stand out, which is perfect for modern Muslimah's today as they allow you to express your individual style. You can wear for a special event or combine with your everyday clothes for a more casual look.

 

The Entwined Abaya is one of my favourites from the Purple Label as the detailing on the sleeves make a statement, without being extravagant. This abaya is a must for every Muslimahs wardrobe!

SIGNATURE COLLECTION

The abayas in this collection are ideal for that special event, say a wedding or evening do, and you want to impress. The abayas are hand embroidered with elegant embellishments delivered on sumptuous, soft fabrics.

The Serenity Abaya from the 'Signature Collection' is gorgeous and perfect to wear as a bridal or wedding abaya. Made from pure silk, it is lined with silk satin, so you don't have to worry about wearing a seperate slip underneath.

There is a pure chiffon slit at the hip with a flared train (can be made to order with a double slit if preferred) The abaya comes with a shayla which is heavily detailed with hand embroidery of crystal stones and pearls. I especially love the drape beading, almost like a necklace-very much my style!

If you like this abaya but want to make some changes to the design or colour, then Akhawat offer a full custom order service where they will consult with you closely, offering expert advice to create a design of your choice.

I receive a lot of requests on my youtube and facebook page from people wanting to know how to style a shayla. So when Akhawat kindly sent me a shayla for the Serenity Abaya, I thought I would make a video on my Youtube Channel to show everyone just how simple it is. I've taken inspiration from the photos on their website and have come up with a second style where the border is placed at the front, as opposed to the side.

For Style Number one I re-created this look:

And here's my outcome...

Comparison....

The second style I've created....

To see how I created the 2 styles watch the video below:

Btw the beautiful hijab I'm wearing at the beginning of the video is called 'Awash with Teal' and is from Princess Rockz

What do you think of my styling?

You can visit Akhawat on their website
Check out their blog