Eid Makeup!!

Hi all

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend, and Eid Mubarak to all who celebrated.This Eid like every other Eid I went really simple with my outfit and just added a little extra to my makeup. I decided to do the old highlight and contour which I rarely ever do on myself, but as my outfit was simple I went with it.

To contour and highlight I used Aom cosmetics, I used the medium contour stick and highlight stick in light, I applied the dark stick on the sides of my nose, jawline and at the top of my forehead. I applied the light stick on to the bridge of my nose, under my eyes and in-between my eyebrows. Before I applied all of this I put on one pump of the Guerlain lingerie foundation. Then to blend everything I used the sigma flat top kabuki brush. Then I went on to the rest of my face, I went for a subtle brown Smokey eye, using a two faced palate that smells like chocolate (smells soo good), on my lips I used a few nyx  lip liners in colours similar to macs spice.

Contour and highlight

 

 

End result ( next time I wont add the filter ;) )

 

 

I also did my sisters makeup, it was identical to mine but minus the eye shadow.

 

 

A family selfie :)

 

 

 Me and my beautiful niece decided to go for a walk in the evening and she said she wanted to wear a hijab like me, my little twin :)

 

 

I hope you all had a blessed Eid and made some beautiful memories with family.

 

 

xx

Mid week Inspiration

Hi/Salaam

Its only Wednesday, and its one of those days, but I came across this amazing quote which really made me smile, I hope it makes you smile too :)

Sometimes the storm is helping us in ways we never thought possible, making us stronger and giving us a new perspective on life, so whatever storm your going through it wont last forever because after every storm comes a rainbow :)

I just love my effects lol have a great rest of the week, and keep a look out for my Eid post on the weekend.


                                                                   xxx

Hiiiii

I have never been so happy that the weekend is nearly here, I am in serious need of some pampering, a good mask, hair treatments and a good movie, that is my wild weekend, what are you guys up to?

 

Todays look:

 

Jacket: zara

Top: H&M

Hijab: Cherryblossomhijabs (my favourite)

Necklace: New look

 

xxx

Update!!!

Hi everyone

Its been awhile and I've seriously been neglecting my blog, my lovely laptop is being a pain and not working, so as soon as that's all fixed ill be back to posting regularly, I've got sooo much to blog about, reviews, makeup, fashion, skincare and much more, I cant wait :-).

See you soon

p.s follow me on istagram I update that regularly :) http://instagram.com/prettylittlethings1028

xxx

IMAT: The International Makeup-artist tradeshow 2014

Imats is the worlds biggest makeup event, Makeup artist who specialise in every type of makeup imaginable gather here to discuss, teach and of course buy makeup. This year was my first Imats, which took place in London. I was so excited and made a list of what to buy a few weeks in advance which I defiantly recommend, there are soo many different and amazing makeup brands available at Imats which normally can be difficult to get a hold of, so definitely make a list so when you go you know what your getting because its a really packed out event and its difficult to just browse around. I had my need to get list ready, which included, sigma, ben Nye, nyx, AOM cosmetics, makeup forever and mac, but as usual I ended buying more then I expected to (sorry bank account). Also ditch the heels, I thought I would look all glamorous but I ended up in flats all day, shopping is serious business, heels will just slow you down.

When you get there expect never ending queues, so be prompt with timing. Walking around you see models in really cool not your everyday type of makeup walking around, its like something out of a movie, and also expect to bump into some lovely youtubers, which I did (was seriously fan girling lol). I got to meet the lovely Look a million, Zukreat and the super cool owner and creator of Sugarpill cosmetics and they were super friendly and just as gorgeous in person.

Now lets get to business, the business of buying makeup, which I take very seriously (lol). I purchased everything on my list and more so I'm a very happy girl, I'm slowly working my way through what I got, and I cant wait to share the looks I come up with and reviewing a lot of the products so stay tuned :).

 

xx

Glitters Galore!!

Recently my sister got me some pretty glitters, I'm not a huge fan of glitter on myself  but they do look amazing when applied right, I was really eager to try them out so my sister let me practice on her face, at first I wasn't sure what look I was going for but it ended up being a dramatic bronze Smokey eye paired with a bold lip, we went all out, why not?!! I ended up using the glitter called coffee a bronzy brown colour, before applying it on the lids i mixed it with an adhesive I purchased in Paris from Kiko, this made the glitter stick together and create a paste to prevent fall out, however this glitter I found did fall slightly but was easily fixed by using a makeup remover wipe. I hope you like the end result and if your interested on where my sister got the glitters, visit houseofsparklez on instagram, and be sure to follow me on instagram too :)

xx

How to: Contour

Hi everyone, sorry for the lack posts lately, its been a busy few months. I've been meaning to do a post on contouring for awhile, but I haven't felt confident enough in my contouring techniques, however everyone has their own way of contouring and it just takes a lot of practice and a lot of blending.

 The highlight and contoured look was made very popular by Kim Kardashian, love her or hate her, her makeup always looks flawless, she is always seen with a fully made up face which is always very highlighted under the eyes paired with defined cheekbones. Its all about the skin with this look, contouring and highlighting certain areas really creates an illusion and can be like non surgical plastic surgery, you can make your nose appear smaller, create higher cheekbones, shorten a larger forehead and create a more structured jaw. Its not something I would do every day because you do have to apply a lot of makeup, however for special occasions its definitely a must, and it also looks amazing in photographs when done correctly. Just be sure to blend and then blend some more ;)

 

 

These are the products I used:

 

 - Artist of makeup contour sticks in light and dark

 - Mac blotting powder in translucent

 -  Dior nude skin foundation

 - Mac Fix plus

 - Beauty blender



 

 

Where to apply highlighter:

 

I apply highlighter ( this is normally 2 shades lighter than your skin tone, you don't need to use the products I am using, you can also use a lighter foundation for this) to where I want the light to hit the face so this is the bridge of the nose, under eye area, the chin,the centre of the forehead and above the cupids bow.

 

Where to contour:

 

You apply the dark contour stick (can be a dark foundation/concealer) to areas which you want to  appear smaller or narrower, this is usually the sides of your nose, your temples, cheekbones and jaw line.

 

 

After I applied all my highlight and contour I used a damp beauty blender (I find this is the best way to blend heavier makeup) and blended everything together I used one pump of the Dior nude skin foundation to do this. You should spend most of your time blending as you don't want any harsh lines. Once everything is well blended I like to powder the highlighted areas with a translucent powder, and I go over the contour with a bronzer to set everything so it doesn't budge. Finally I like to spray some fix plus so the makeup looks flawless all day and stays on all day.

 

At this point I do the eyes, lips and cheeks and then im done.

 

I hope this helps and makes this type of makeup seem less daunting, this is especially for my friend lubna who requested I do a step by step on contouring :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing.....

I'm not the only one who has a slight obsession with makeup In my family, so does my older sister saima. I remember as a teenager I used to sneak up to her room and put on her makeup before I went to school (she was not impressed lol). As the years past and as YouTube and bloggers became more popular we both were pretty much engrossed in learning different ways in which to apply makeup so it was only natural that recently we both decided to pursue Makeup professionally.

We both enrolled in courses to help us on our way. My sister joined Zukreats Makeup academy which was a week long training process where she learnt the ins and outs of makeup application, she did an amazing job and Zukreat herself posted a picture of her work on her instagram (proud moment).

So be sure to expect some makeup/skincare related posts from my sister on here as she has lots of tips and techniques to share.

Here are some pictures of my sisters handy work, enjoy :)

 

xxx

The blushing Bride

Its been well overdue but here it is finally, My beautiful best friend on her wedding day. Thanks for trusting me to do your hair and makeup, I was pretty nervous as she was my first bride, but nerves quickly subsided and she looked absolutely stunning. I arrived in Paris with my cousin (thanks for being my assistant for the day :)) in the early hours of the morning and the lovely couple came to get us and gave us a little tour and after meeting all the family and of course doing a little shopping it was finally that time, Makeup time.

She wore a beautiful peach nude dress with delicate silver and gold embroidery it was very understated and elegant, she looked like a real life princess. I created a smokey eye with a light pink lip, her skin I kept looking flawless but natural, which I think looks amazing in real life and in photos and you still look like you but a more enhanced version.

I had a great time in Paris full of a lot of laughs and ill treasure these memories forever, I wish Kamran and Lubna a lifetime of happiness and love, thanks for giving me an excuse to visit Paris ;)

Enjoy the pictures :)

 

 

 

xxx

April favourites

It feels like I haven't blogged for agesss, it is crazy where the time goes and its almost May, usually I stick to what I know and love but this month I have been adventurous and experimenting with new products I've had a few stand outs that I have really been loving, and will definitely be repurchasing and most of them are drugstore products so there reasonably priced.

 

 

 

 



1. Garnier Micellar cleansing water : I ran out of my beloved bioderma and I was in desperate need of a good gentle cleanser, my cousin recommended I try this as she knows how sensitive my skin can be, and at first I was hesitant but I have to say i love it, its a dupe for the bioderma cleansing water and less than half the price and its also a lot easier to get a hold of. Its so gentle and has a very light fragrance and removes every trace of makeup and grime from the day. Seriously go get some!!

2. Urban decay Naked 3: I have already raved about this eye shadow palette so versatile and pigmented and just plain amazing.( check out my previous post for more details :)

3. Maybelline brow drama: When im running out of time (which is most days) and have no time for brows but want them to look groomed I just apply a coat of this eyebrow gel/mascara and voila  they look presentable and stay in place all day.

4. YSL rouge volupte in number 3: I love this for everyday its a nudish colour with a slightly glossy finish and a watermelon fragrance which I love!!

5. Round bristled brush: I love this!!! I use it to blow dry my hair and it gives it a lot of volume which I need as my hair has a tendency to go flat. (lucky me!!)

 

xx

Favourite: Eyeshadows

Hi everyone I have really been loving using my urban decay naked 3 palette its my favourite one from all the Naked palettes, the colours are so versatile, there are a lot of pinky tones you can use to create a softer look but you can easily achieve a more dramatic look with these shadows. Ill be using this for up coming weddings/parties and ill be sure to upload some pictures so you can see how great this palette is. The shadows are very pigmented and they really do last all day, but I recommend using some sort of base before applying shadows (concealer is a good base if you don't have an eye shadow primer).

Here are a few pictures in which I've used eye shadows only from the naked 3 palette:

 

 

Hope everyone is having a lovely week so far :)

 

xx

The beautiful bride to be........

My best friend is getting married and for the first day of festivities she chose me to do her makeup and hair, she has beautiful features so making her up was pretty easy, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't nervous because I was, and i'm super happy she loved the end result :). I did her makeup for the her mendhi which is the first day of three days and its always really fun because there are dances and fun traditions that take place.

 

 

Here are a few pictures taken on an iphone:

 

 

 

 

Good luck to my beautiful bestie for her wedding day, I wish you both all the happiness in the world :)

 

xxx 

 

 

 



REVIEW: RapidLash

 I wasn't born with long curly lashes, my lashes are pretty straight so I have to curl them before I apply mascara and it really makes a huge difference, they just make your eyes pop so I always take a long time with mascara I like to apply lots and lots.

 Awhile ago I tried a lash enhancing/growing serum called Rapidlash which I purchased after reading a lot of reviews online, I saw many before and after pictures which made me want to get this more. Rapidlash is not an overnight miracle it takes time to work, for me I started to notice a difference around the 6 week mark, my lashes were looking noticeably darker and longer, and after I finished the whole tube my lashes had significantly grown. When I applied mascara they looked super long, I even got people asking whether I was wearing fake lashes (yay!!).

You need to apply this every night without missing days for you to really see a difference. Also after I finished my first tube my lashes stayed looking super long for over  6 months then I started to notice they weren't looking as long as they did so I repurchased. I definitely recommend this if you are patient and willing to wait because it really does make a difference. However if your hesitant to try it I recommend using olive oil on your lashes every night as this also helps lashes grow.

 

 

Here's where I got mine:

 

 

                         http://www.hqhair.com/rapidlash-eyelash-enhancing-serum/10644474.html

xx

How i keep my skin clear!!

I've always had very temperamental skin, it just reacts to pretty much everything so I have to be very weary of what I put on my skin and also what I eat. As a teenager I never had acne, I was pretty lucky, but around 23 my skin went bananas, and I tried and tested every product available to me. This was my biggest mistake because it just aggravated my skin more and caused more acne. In desperation I decided to push a side all these expensive  useless products and went back to basics. Keeping my skincare simple (its simple for me maybe not for everyone else lol) and cutting down my sugar intake really helped improve my skin and kept it looking clear. Here are some things I do to keep acne at bay:

1) You have probably heard this one a million times but it really works, I try to drink at least 6 glasses of water everyday!!

2) Drink green tea its full of antioxidants which are good for the skin.

3) Try to cut down sugar intake, and fizzy drinks there really not good for you.

4) This one I struggle with, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, I have tried the glowing green smoothie I see everyone drinking on instagram, and I did it for awhile and then got lazy, so I will be pulling out the kale and broccoli soon and will do my very best to make it a regular occurrence in my diet (wish me luck).

5) Try sticking to more natural products, I love Holland and barrets they always have great natural skincare products. The less ingredients the better.

If your going through some skin issues try these tips and they just might help clear your skin and make you feel so much more confident, trust me having bad skin does hit your confidence so don't despair stick to these tips and soon your skin will be clear and glowing :)

xx

Review: HEALGEL

A while ago I tried the very buzzed about Healgel. At the time my skin wasn't looking so great and I was willing to give anything a go. It was originally created for plastic surgery patients to help with bruising and scarring. and now is marketed as a multi purpose skincare product. It can be used for acne scarring, dry skin, anti ageing and eczema. When applied its very light and non greasy and it can also be used as a primer underneath makeup. It has a very light fragrance and can be used on the most sensitive of skins. It really helped heal and improve the texture and tone of my skin, I definitely recommend this for acne scarring, and it also contains a tiny amount of salicylic acid which is used in most acne fighting products.

I got mine here:


http://www.healgel.co.uk/

xx

Products i've loved this month!!

As were nearly approaching April I thought I would mention the products I've been loving this month. This month has flown by, I swear I say this every month but time does really fly. In march I finally purchased some Mac products I've been wanting for awhile, we all deserve a treat now and then:). I finally got my hands on the Mac mineralise skinfinish in soft and gentle, I've heard a lot of good things about this product and I have to say I completely agree, I use it on the tops of the cheekbones, inner corners of the eye and even as an all over eye shadow, it has  a beautiful pearl sheen to it and looks amazing when the light hits it, I use it with a fan brush and its super easy to apply.

I  have also been loving Macs lipstick  in Flat out fabulous, its a cool-toned, fuchsia with a flat, matte finish, I don't normally go for bright colours but I love this one, its become one of my favourites. Macs Brave has also become a favourite everyday lip colour for me, its a your lips but better type of colour a beautiful soft pink with a satin finish.

 

xx

French skincare!

I will be going to France soon and im so excited as my best friend will be getting married in Paris :). Im also super excited to explore some French pharmacies as they have the best skincare according to Makeup artist Lisa Eldridge. I have tried some French skincare brands before and I have loved them, so im definitely eager to try more. I have already made public my love for Bioderma, but I havent mentioned the amazing dry skin saviour I have loved since I first tried, which is the Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst-Quenching Serum, when my skin is feeling dry and dehydrated I use this morning and night and it makes my skin glow and feel rejuvenated without feeling greasy and heavy,I really recommend this for dry skin types, its a must have.

I visited Paris last year with my friends although it was a very short trip we all had a great time, and made some memories we will always remember :).

 

where to get the Caudalie serum:

http://uk.caudalie.com/products-best-sellers/best-sellers/s-o-s-thirst-quenching-serum.html

 

 

xx

A mendhi look

A mendhi is a pre wedding event, its usually the most fun, you get to do fun traditions that make no sense !! But its usually the least stressful event I would say. Traditionally on a mendhi the bride to be wears no makeup!! But nowadays this isn't the case, I have seen a lot of mendhi makeups that are quite full on, however I prefer abit of a softer look where you have makeup on but it doesn't look too dramatic.

My lovely sister volunteered to be my model, and I came up with this look, which I think would be great for a mendhi or even a party. I also did her hair in a fish plait and added some pearls and flowers. Here are some pictures I took of the final look;

I did some light contouring as she already has a slim face and doesn't need much :), hope you like the look.

Products used

 

Dior nude skin foundation, and a darker shade of this for the contour

Laura mercier concealer for under the eyes and highlight

Laura Mercier powder

Benefit Hoola bronzer

Lashes I ordered on eBay

Bh vosmetics eyeshadow palate

Urban decay Naked 3

Victoria secret Lip colour

Mac well dressed

Hd brows in foxy