Hijab Obsessions-Kaftan/Abaya Review

Today I will be reviewing a  a Simplicity Kaftan abaya sent to me by Hijab Obsessions. This is the first abaya that I have in my collection at the moment so I was very excited to try.  I was kindly sent one in a striking electric blue. It is plain so can be worn like so or dressed up with accessories.

On first impressions I was wondering if they had sent me the wrong size as it was HUGE! However once worn with a belt it was perfect! I was sent a size 52 which I believe was based on my height (I am 5ft2 inches). Other sizes available are 54, 56, 58 and 60.

Without belt                  worn with belt

Ignore the colour of the kaftan on the left, it was taken in the dark. The true colour is on the right and is stunning!

The kaftan is made from jersey material but isn't tight at all. The sleeves are batwing style and flattering without looking large. An added feature is strings inside, which allow you to tie and adjust to your size.

I have dressed mine up with a black belt from Primark; wedges from Forever 21 and a cobra hijab from Princess Rockz

With the heels and belt the kaftan is just about the right length. If you're petite like me it won't be possible to wear flats with this length kaftan.

As the colour is so striking I would probably save this for an evening event and choose their black kaftan to wear during the day.

Conclusion

I like that the kaftan is plain which gives you the freedom to dress up however you like. It can be worn for a majority of functions and and give you a different look each time.

You can purchase from Hijab Obsessions for £42.99. Check out their website for more photos :)

What do you think of the kaftan? Do you have something similar in your wardrobe?

Aquaini-Modest Swimsuit for Muslim Women

I've been looking for modest swimwear for a long time now, but could never find one that ticks all the boxes. (Most I have seen come with leggings and a short top) So when I came across this I was eager to try! I was given the blue suit in a size small to review.

So let me tell you a little about the company behind this design. Aquaini are a UK based company that specialise in modest swimsuits which provide full coverage, ideal for Muslim women. Their website lists the benefits as:

- Protects you from harmful UV rays
- No hassle of applying sun cream
- Waterproof hood
- Helps keep hair healthy
- Keeps your modesty intact while in water
- Made from water-protected polyester

Close up of the design

It is made from a mixture of nylon and spandex with the lining made from 100% polyester. The swimsuit has full sleeves with a hood attached. I am a UK size 8-10 and find it to be an excellent fit. It isn't clingy but also does not fit like a sack. The top comes to just above my knee (I'm 5ft 2). The trousers are also full length and can be attached to the top to prevent it from riding up while swimming. This I believe is one of the key features of the product design. Once in the water I found it to be comfortable and easy to swim around in. Another benefit is that it's easy to remove as the material is stretchy.

As the hood is attached it is great to wear without a hijab as it covers your head as well as the neck. If you prefer you can also wear with a hijab on top.

The swimsuit is of course ideal for all women- Muslims and non-Muslims, who wish to participate in water based activities whilst dressing modestly.

They are available in different colours for £40. You can find Aquaini on their facebook page or by visiting their website.

Please leave a comment down below and let me know your thoughts :)

Kitsch + Co Jewellery Review

Today I will be reviewing jewellery that was sent to me by Kitsch and Co which is an online jewellery company.

Front and back of the card :)

Packaging the jewellery came in

I was sent three rings and a collar necklace to review. I'm a huge fan of quirky rings and the doughnut is definitely my favourite. It's small and can be adjusted at the back. Moustaches accessories are a huge hit at the moment so this ring is bang on trend! I would probably wear the 2 finger ring for an evening out, but it can also be worn casually during the day.

The length of the necklace can be adjusted and would be great if worn with a turtle neck and a side draped hijab style, to show off the necklace. Dress down during the day with a pair of jeans or for the evening with a maxi dress.

You can find Kitsch and Co on Facebook or on Twitter

What do you think of Kitsch jewellery, are you a fan?

The Body Shop Oil-Free Balancing Foundation

This was a total impulse buy. Waiting at the airport in duty free I decided to pass time and test out the oil free foundation from The Body Shop. I have been on the look out for a decent foundation that provides coverage and is ideal for my combination skin. Swatching this on my face in store I was kinda surprised that it covered well; so on a whim I decided to purchase this (shade 04) along with the blending sponge.

Yup that's dried up foundation right there...

I used this during my holiday abroad and it worked well in the cold weather of Istanbul and the heat of Dubai (around 28 degree Celsius).

The trick is all in the application. For a flawless streak-free finish apply with a damp blending sponge. The disadvantage of this is that you waste some of the product through the sponge. The foundation dries very quickly so you have to work fast with it! Only pump a small amount onto your hand at a time to work with, otherwise it'll dry before you apply to your face. If your skin is dry or flaky the foundation will only highlight this so moisturise well before use!

It provides light-medium coverage and the finish is matte but still glowing. The biggest plus is I don't need to powder as much, which if you have a shiny t-zone like moi will understand! It hasn't broke me out yet which is a MAJOR plus for me *Yayyyyyy!!* Oh and it has SPF15-not bad :)

Overall I am happy with this foundation, and will continue to use. My search for the perfect (is there such a thing?) concealer is still continuing...

The foundation is currently on sale on the Body Shop website for £8! (RRP £13)

Please leave a comment and let me know what your favourite everyday foundation/concealer is :)

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Review: Bespoke Henna Canvas by Farrah

Hi guys hope you're all well :)

I was sent this amazing henna canvas by Farrah from Bespoke Henna for review and was sooo excited to receive!

Before my review let me give you the low down on Farrah. I met her last year at an Eid souk in London and was blown away by the beautiful designs she made onto canvases, candles and also vases! (You can read that blog post here) Her paintings are all made with 100% natural henna and filled with colourful acrylic paints. They are then sealed with non toxic and non flammable sealents to preserve.

The story behind the painting is just as beautiful as the canvas itself. Farrah was inspired by her travels to Istanbul and the Iznik art around the city in mosques and the bazaar. Iznik art is both a combination of ottoman as well as chinese art which gives it an unique and wonderful look.



I was excited to open the package especially as it came in pink paper (a plus already). The canvas itself was double wrapped in bubble wrap for security. Alhamdhuillah this kept the canvas intact without damage.

 

After removing the bubble wrap I was amazed by the colourful design! Mashallah it's so beautiful  and reminds me of my holidays to Turkey. This would make an ideal gift, especially as Eid is coming up in a few weeks time! 

That's a thumbs up from the husband!
 

You can find more designs on bespoke henna website or on their facebook page (links below)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bespokehenna
website: www.bespokehenna.com


*The canvas was sent to me for review purposes, but I give honest opinions on all reviews

Street Princess Handmade Jewellery

Today I'm going to be reviewing jewellery from Street Princess, which is a small business run by Naheeda. She hand makes jewellery and has a wide selection on her site. The jewellery is bespoke and I would say at the middle-top range in terms of pricing. I decided to purchase some bracelets and as a blogger I received 50% discount. I have been looking for something that I can wear everyday with my casual outfits.

It was a very difficult decision deciding what to choose- I obviously wanted EVERYTHING (shopaholic much?) but I bit the bullet and chose just two.

When I received the parcel it was in a bag with a damage form from Royal Mail. Unfortunately the package was open and one of the bracelets missing (me thinks the postman wanted a SP bracelet too :( ) I contacted Naheeda who was very understanding and sent me a replacement with another bracelet, which I thought was very sweet. She also sent a personalised message with my order :)

So I ordered the Zelda - Black/Nude  and Esmerelda - Black

Such cute packaging!

It's all in the detailing with the 'SP'

The Esmerelda is missing from my photos because someone decided to 'borrow' it before I had a chance to take a picture! But fear not here's a photo down below:

Image from Street Princess

I have tiny wrists so Naheeda made the bracelets to fit at no extra cost, which is great as bracelets without stretch usually don't fit me. The Zelda bracelet feels light even with the 'SP' detail, although I have to be careful not to get them into my food (I just twist this around the bracelet and its sorted!)

Conclusion

If you're looking for cheap bracelets for under £5 Street Princess is definitely not for you. However if you are looking for bespoke, handmade jewellery that has had love and dedication put into it then you will find it at SP. If you want to splash out a little (Majority of the bracelets are over £30) for yourself or a loved one then this would be ideal.

Also have a look at Naheeda's blog for outfits of the day inspiration. (She has such cute outfits, I want her wardrobe!!)

Website- www.streetprincess.co.uk
Blog- www.streetprincess.blogspot.co.uk

Foot Detox Patches-Do they really work??

So I've not been posting for a while, but it's because I've been on holiday in Egypt (I'll make a separate blog post on that!). Anyway on the aeroplane to Egypt I was reading the flight magazine to pass the time and discovered foot patches for detoxing. I've never heard of the patches before so of course in the name of beauty I decided to purchase them. They were £6 for one pair.

I can't remember the brand but it claimed to rid the body of toxins, make you feel more alive, help clear your skin, body pains, etc. It contained all natural ingredients, which help with drawing toxins from your body in a similar way to reflexology.

The diagram below lists the areas of your feet that are linked to your body. According to the area(s) you want to treat, you would stick the patches on these. It is recommended to keep on for at least 8 hours.

Image Credit

*Note do not use if pregnant or diabetic

So just before bed I stuck the patches to the soles of my feet, and let it work its magic whilst I slept. In the morning I removed the patches and look what i discovered....

Yep the patches turned black! Apparently this indicates the amount of toxins that was in my body. My feet did feel tender but I also felt a lot more awake and full of energy (coincidence, could it be because I had a good night sleep??)

On the packaging it recommends to use every night until the patches come out clear, and follow up a few times a year. It's very expensive to use every night but I've discovered the patches on Ebay for a decent price (search for 'foot detox patches') So I'm going to purchase these and see the results.

Conclusion

As I've only used the patches once I can not give a fair conclusion, but I would like to use a few more times and post an update.

Have you used the patches or even tried reflexology? If so please leave a comment and let me know, I would love to hear your views :o)

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.

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 ;-)

Holland & Barrett's Aloe Vera Gel Review

Holland & Barretts have an extensive range of aloe vera products- from detox juice to capsules and even toothpaste! Although I'm not so sure about the toothpaste, I might give it a try one day.

The gel, which was given to me by my sister, is certified as 99.9% aloe vera and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Aloe Vera is traditionally used to soothe irritated skin, and is especially good for treating sun burn.

Full Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice (organic aloe vera gel), acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, panthenol, disodium EDTA, sodium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol

It comes in a 100ml tube, which is quite generous as you only need a pea amount for the whole face. I tend to apply this gel after threading my upper lip as it can turn red and quite sore. It's also handy for treating pimples and marks. I would recommend applying a thin layer, as a thick layer can leave your skin feeling tight and dry. There is a slight smell to the product when first applied, but once rubbed in the smell disappears. The gel dries clear so you may apply moisturiser and makeup on top.

Conclusion

Overall this product is a staple must in any girls (or guys) skin care bag. It lasts a very long time, can be taken with you in your travel case or even slipped into your handbag.

You can purchase from any Holland and Barrett's store or online They have a special offer at the moment where it is priced at £1.99!

Makeup Alley for Beauty Product Reviews

MakeUpAlley is my all time favourite site for product reviews. Anytime I want to check up on a certain beauty product I check the site for reviews.

The site is easy to use and and you can find reviews for almost any product and pick according to skin tone, skin type, and even age- all which will help you to determine whether a beauty product is right for you.

So next time you are deciding between garnier face wash or clean and clear-have a look at the reviews on MakeUpAlley

Hope that helps :)

Hussana Halal Beauty products Review

I was given some beauty products by Hussana to sample and I have been testing these products for a few months, which is the perfect length of time to test out facial/body products.

Hussana is based in the UK and is a part of Dukkaan Ltd. The muslimsbabyshop.com (what a great  and cute idea!) and the nasheedshop.com are just two of the others sites which are a part of Dukkaan Ltd. Hussana's aim is to "Introduce a Halal alternative to the current high street products. Many of which contain alcohol and other Haram ingredients from different animal parts." So for the more concerned Muslim customer or those that want alcohol free beauty products, these products may be worth a try.

Anyway let me get straight to the product review!!

Hussana Halal Beauty Products

At first glance the products look appealing and i love the simple logo. Also not forgetting the 'Beautifully Faithful' slogan which adds a nice touch. These products are designed for normal skin. Although I have combination skin they worked fairly well for me.

Breakdown of each product...

Face Scrub

Missing from the photo above is the face scrub. My mum has taken it upon herself to 'borrow' it from me and test it herself! She claims to LOVE the scrub and says it is soft and gentle for her sensitive skin. I have used it a number of times and also found it to be gentle on my skin, which can often go red whilst using face scrubs.

I think this has apricot in in so compared to the Ives Apricot Face Scrub the formula was less gritty and provided moisture to my skin. It contains aloe vera and vitamin c. Aloe vera has a calming effect on the skin and vitamin c is good for overall brightness of the skin.

Cleanser

I really liked the cleanser...at first....but after testing it for a few weeks-month my skin became itchy and sore, so unfortunately I had to stop using it. The first few weeks I felt like the cleanser was making my face clearer and brighter and in combination with the moisturiser they were a match made in heaven! Once I stopped using the moisturiser (more about that later) the dryness and itchiness appeared. For normal skins the cleanser would be fine but for my skin type-(combination/oily) and as I was testing them during the Winter month, the dryness became too much for me.

Needless to say you shouldn't use this cleanser if you have dry skin.

Packaging wise I would prefer the cleanser to come in a pump bottle. I found it to be quite runny so a lot of product came out at once and was wasted. On the plus side it is great for popping in your travel bag!

Moisturiser

The moisturiser contains shea butter and soothing aloe vera. It doesn't contain perfume so can be used by males and females. I really liked this cream as during Winter there was not a dry patch on my skin (that has NEVER happened to me in Winter!) But as the days have got warmer I have found myself switching to a lighter moisturiser (Olay or Nivea) as my skin turns to an oil slick during Summer :S For dry or mature skin I would definitely recommend this even during Summer.

The packaging is a dream as it is small enough to fit into my handbag, for quick and easy moisturising on the go!

Hand Cream



The cream has a discreet smell, not too overpowering. It is non-greasy or sticky and provided the right amount of moisture for my hands. For Winter I will need a thicker formula, but for Summer this is spot on.

Shampoo

I was pleasantly surprised by Hussana's shampoo. The smell is light and fresh and reminds me of my childhood. It made my hair silky and soft and lasts ages.

Conditioner

In combination with the shampoo, this conditioner is great for my hair. With softening olive oil and vitamin E, it does exactly what it says-conditions and provides tangle free hair. You only need to use a small amount, so the bottle will last you a good few months or longer.

Body Wash

The body wash (missing from the photo)contains chamomile extract and rich moisturizers to keep skin soft. I found it to be gentle on my skin but I still had to use a body cream after (as I do for any body wash/gels). Again the smell was not overpowering, but fresh.

Conclusion...

I've got to hand it to Hussana, they are catering to Muslims who would like alcohol/animal free beauty products.The packaging is bright, clean and fresh and also looks great in the bathroom.

Would I purchase their products?? Yes I would, but only a few-the face scrub (better make it one for myself and one for my mum ;) Also the moisturiser BUT only in Winter, as it is too thick for my skin type in the heat. I would also try the conditioner again and maybe even the handcream.

Their prices are affordable-from £2.99 for the face scrub to £4.99 for the moisturiser, so it just goes to show beauty doesn't have to come at a price :)

For a free sample visit Hussana's site by clicking here

If you would like me to review a product, please contact me at: cityhijabi@gmail.com



Product Review-Coming Soon!

I'm currently testing some beauty products that i've been given by Hussana Beauty- they include a face scrub, face cream and body shower products. I've been testing them for a few weeks now and will be doing a review on them soon, so keep a look out for that. In the mean time check out my Youtube channel for other product reviews, hijab tutorials and general videos :)