Street Style: Glasgow 30/11/12

Fur Jacket from We Love to Boogie Vintage Glasgow
www.welovetoboogievintage.com

November Ipsy Bag, Birchbox, & Beauty Army Box Full Review

Ipsy Bag (Formerly MyGlam)

When I think of November I think of the holiday season, and upcoming holiday parties, and apparently so does Ipsy because this months theme was Party Perfect and was full of a color scheme perfect for the colder months. Overall this month provided us with great products from wonderful brands, that nearly anyone would love to add to there makeup collection.

 

This months bag is basic, well made bag in the shade of chocolate brown.

My favorite product of this month is the Meet Matte Eyeshadow from The Balm in the shade of Matt Batali which is a shade of brown that has a slight hint of plum undertones. (This shade is the perfect color for a smokey eyed look.) This product was a sample shade from The Balm's Matte Eyeshadow Palette that includes nine wonderful matte eye shadows for $34.50.

When I think of lip gloss shades to rock this winter the bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lip gloss in the shade of Daredevil is one that is perfect. Daredevil is a sparkling blackberry shade that matches wonderfully with the fall/winter trends. Marvelous Moxie lip gloss has vivid color, it is long-lasting and it provides moisture to the lips. These glosses come in twelve different shades that I would love to own for $18 each.

One part of my face I never really focus on is my eyebrows, sure I tweeze and keep them well kept, but I rarely use makeup to emphasize them. One of the products I received this month was the Chella   Eyebrow Defining Gel which is a brand I have never heard of before this. Chella specializes in skin care products, and products for your eyes and brows. The defining gel helps tame the eyebrows, it keeps all hairs exactly where you want them and really finishes up any makeup look you would like to create.

In the past couple of months I have expanded my nail polish collection thanks to my monthly subscription services, some of the polishes have become my absolute favorites and others I just have added to my collection without knowing what I will end up doing with them. This month I received a polish from Tini Beauty's Nailtini Speakeasy Lacquer collection in the shade of millionaire. Millionaire is a shade of rose gold micro glitter, with teal and gold tinsel, that costs $13 a bottle.

I do not mind glitter in certain ways, but the look of the tinsel makes me think of Christmas trees and children, not of a mature woman's nails. Now, Tini Beauty does have some shades of polish I would love to add to my collection, but in my opinion $13 is too much for just one bottle.

In the past years I have never really been a fan of the shade of brown, but in the past couple months I have expanded my wardrobe to include an adorable chocolate brown sweater dress, and have been rocking a brown smokey eye at least once a week. So, when I received this espresso colored eyeliner from Starlet Cosmetics, I was actually excited because all of the rest of my eyeliners are in shades of black. This eyeliner has become key to create my brown smokey eye look that works perfectly for these colder months.

Birchbox

This month's Birchbox will be the last one I receive, since I have been a subscriber to Birchbox the packages I received have really been hit or miss. Most months include five or six samples, but rarely are they good quality, decent sized samples. Once again this month was a letdown, not as bad as the October Birchbox, but not good enough to keep me as a subscriber.

Out of this month's five samples my favorite product was the fragrance from

Jouer Cosmetics that was a blend of jasmine, gardenia, and honeysuckle with a roller ball applicator. I am not a fan of perfumes with a roller ball applicator, I would like for people around me to know that I smell good, not just myself. The scent itself of this perfume is a light feminine floral scent, that makes me think of early spring.

In the past couple month's mascara has been a go to product for my monthly subscription services, so when I seen that I received the Fibre LashXtend from ModelCo in this month's Birchbox my only thought was that it better measure up.... and it did not. The best thing about this mascara is that it was a full sized sample and included a mirror right on the packaging, but it doesn't seem to do much for my eyelashes and there is no way I would pay $24 for such a lousy mascara.

Since I have been a subscriber to Birchbox I have received two different products from Stila Cosmetics and I haven't been overly thrilled with either product. Now I have heard some amazing reviews of products from Stila, but I myself have never tried anything from them that would make me rave. This month's product was the All Over Shimmer Luminizer in the shade of bronze shimmer, which is too orangey for my pale skin tone so I can't give a very thorough review.  (I wish Birchbox would take subscribers skin colors into consideration.)

Like I have said in the past I always appreciate receiving hair products, but this month's hair product I tested three separate days and still didn't see it work. The product is called Curl Keeper from  Curly Hair Solutions and is suppose to provide a voluminous bounce to your curls without making it crunchy, and also keep your frizz in control. To use this product you apply it to your wet hair from root to tip, then let your hair air dry. I tested this three times because I thought maybe my hair was just being difficult on that certain day or something, but every time my curls were less defined than normal and flatter, but it did keep my hair frizz free.

Like all other months Birchbox included a "lifestyle extra", majority of the time this happens to be some sort of food sample, this month's was a small chocolate bar from Chuao Chocolatier. These chocolate bars mostly come in unusual flavors that would make most people second guess even tasting them. The flavor that was included in my Birchbox was the honeycomb flavored chocolate bar that consisted of honey caramelized into bits and cover in dark chocolate, and tasted amazing. Now the other flavors this company creates I am not so sure about, but definitely know that the honeycomb flavor makes me curious to try the others.

Beauty Army

This month's Beauty Army selection was full of items I had never tried before, unlike last month, and I was very happy to see that everything was back to normal and that I had some good options to choose from.

My favorite product from this month's Beauty Army Box is Every Beauty Pedicure Pad . The pedicure pad is meant to remove dry skin without harming the skin, and it works wonderfully. The pad is great for elbows, knees and feet, and is gentle enough to use on dry skin, but also can be used when the skin is wet. When initially testing this product I just used it on my elbows really quick and could immediately feel the results.

One of my favorite products to always have with me is lip balm, I tend to have dry lips a lot and require a lip balm that not only protects my lips but moisturizes them. This month I chose the You Da Balm Coconut Lip Balm, which has the added bonus of being 100% natural. I regret choosing the coconut flavor because the scent and taste was definitely too strong for my liking, but I don't mind the balm itself. I do prefer a lip balm with some SPF protections, and this one lacks that, but I do like using this balm when I am wandering around the house. They offer this balm also in Grapefruit and Tea Tree.

Before this month I have been offered numerous times the chance to choose a mystery sample, which I have always rejected in the past, but when choosing my November samples I decided to take a chance and pick one. My mystery sample was from M.A.D Skincare and was meant to control oil production, calm irritation, and moisturize the skin. Like I always say, when samples are this small it can be difficult to tell if they truly work or not and I didn't notice any difference in my skin within the couple of times I could use it.

When I think of Fall and Winter I think of nature, natural items, and earth tones and that translates into my makeup artistry. In the colder months I tend to lean to more neutral colors and earth tones than I would in the warmer months. This month I received Whip Hand Cosmetics  Loose Pigment Eyeshadow in a shade called Locked & Loaded which is an iridescent brown shade that works great for smokey eyes. The pigment blends out wonderfully, but the container it comes in is difficult to work with, it comes in a tiny jar.

This 7 in 1 shampoo from Nelson J has the ability to replace your shampoo, conditioner, detangler, shine spray, smoothing serums, color protector, and pre-styling lotions. This is the first non-foaming shampoo that not only cleanses hair, but doesn't use harsh chemicals. I was very hesitant at first with this shampoo because I have never heard of it before this, but was surprised when my hair was shiny, soft and easier to comb after the shower. The scent itself of the shampoo is definitely something that takes a bit to get use to, they use a natural mint scent and well it's pretty strong the first time around, but well worth it.

Overall this month my subscriptions offered a lot of products I wouldn't typically buy and brands I would typically try. Like I said earlier in the post I will be discontinuing my subscription to Birchbox because they do not offer enough good sized decent quality products. I will continue my other subscriptions because I do absolutely love Beauty Army and Ipsy. So, stay tuned for the month of December, I am definitely curious myself to see what they come up with.



Fluffy fur

 

I am really liking the fur collar trend at the moment, but it is a bit difficult to pull it off with a headscarf. Or so I thought. Here are some pretty pictures that I wanted to share :)

 

 

I found these the other day and have none idea of their sources so if any of the photos belongs to you just let me know.

Just to get some things straight

In light of some recent comments made across this blog I want to set the record straight on a few things:

1. This blog is not intended to tell you how you should or should not wear your hijabs, or doing anything else for that matter. Quite frankly, I don't care if you choose to walk around in a headscarf and a mini skirt or a full-on tent.

2. I personally dislike the niqaab, I think it is unnecessary and purely cultural - I will always hold this opinion so please deal with it somewhere outside of the comments section.

3. I don't hate Jews or any single group of people. I do hate anyone that oppresses another human being, be they Jewish, Muslim or anything else.

4. If you feel that music, style, perfume, makeup, colour and/or non-abaya-wearing hijabis are haraam, don't tell me about it. I have better things to do than read and reply to your essay.

 

5. If you feel that my blog is haraam because I am encouraging people to "copy kafirs" and wear "haraam clothes", don't tell me about it. I have better things to do than read and reply to your essay. Like figure out which colour stilettos will best go with my jeggings that day.

May Allah (swt) grant the Palestinians patience and victory, returning their land and wiping their oppressors off the face of the planet. Ameen.

Source

 

Abaya review: My Batua

Today I am reviewing the Zubi Abaya from online store My Batua. It is a straight, crepe abaya with gathered top layer over shoulder and waist side and comes with a matching hand embodied brooch. The dress comes only in green and apart from the draping detail, it is completely plain - something that I favour in abaya designs. I got it in a size small and length 60".

(Sorry for the quality of the photos, it was an overcast day and I was using my iPhone.)

The material is thin and soft and drapes nicely. I would have liked to see slightly more fitted sleeves as it would have given it a more formal look but overall I was pleased with the cut.  

 The abaya is of a standard quality and the stitching is good although there were some ends where the threads needed to be cut to give a neater finish. It is currently on sale at $51.30, which I think is an okay price for this piece, especially if you are a regular abaya wearer and go to lots of events.

I think this abaya could easily be styled as a dress with the right belt and heels which is most likely how I would wear it.

It came with this beautiful brooch that can also be put into the hair:

The package arrived quickly and was well wrapped. Although I think it could do with modernising, the site itself has a good range of items, including men's clothing and this aweeeesome leather iPad case:

What a steal at $38, I might just have to bag this one!

Overall, I think that this is a nice abaya which would look even better styled as a dress. The quality is not bad for the price and the customer service is excellent. I have reviewed abayas in the past for My Batua and I have found that the fit runs true to size.

The site always has discounts going on so check them out here :)

11 things I really hate

Source

Have you ever had one of those days where everything annoys you? Yeh, I have that most of the time. OK, that's an exaggeration, but there are certain things that really make me cringe that other people may not bat an eyelid over. Since I have A LOT of uni work to be getting on with I thought I would use my time as productively as possible and write about some things that really hack me off..

1. When I know for a fact that I'm right but the person I'm talking to remains annoyingly unyielding in their own belief.

2. Asian guys that think they're Muslim 50 cents.

3. What's worse than catching someones eye more than once on public transport, when neither of you are anywhere near your stop? Nothing.

4. When people  don't stop talking just to avoid having to sit in silence. I get it can be awkward for some people but there should be natural breaks in a conversation, right?

5. People who smell.

6. The films 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow. Also, Babel because it was so twisted.

7. When men on public transport don't get up for the elderly, frail, pregnant etc. In fact I wish they still got up for women but that's never going to happen..

8. People with high expressed emotion. They tend to have short tempers and are very difficult to reason with. Unfortunately, there appears to be a higher prevalence of this among Arabs.

9. The sound of people eating bananas.

10. The concept of punishment of a human being with solitary confinement.

11. Backseat drivers.

 

Wow, I feel so much better now. Study, here I come! Actually maybe I'll eat first but THEN I'll definitely start..

Just Fab Review

 

Shoe and Accessory Heaven

 

 

A couple months ago I joined Just Fab on a whim, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had a coupon for my first order that would get me two pairs of shoes for the price of one and just could not pass that up considering I am a shoe lover. After creating a profile and learning a little about how Just Fab works I made my first order, and as of now I am very happy that I didn't pass up the chance. First off if after the end of this you are interested in Just Fab please use this link HERE to reach there website, not only does it direct you to the website, but for every person that uses this link when joining I receive credits, which I definitely would appreciate.

 

How Just Fab Works:

 

1. You take a short style quiz that helps the stylists get to know you better.

2. You receive a personalized boutique of handbags, jewelry and shoes every month.

3. Go Shopping! All of the styles are $39.95 and they offer free shipping and returns.

 

Just Fab is free to join and you have no obligation to purchase every month. The one catch is that if you do not want to purchase in the month you must skip it by the fifth or they will charge you and place a credit on your account which you can use for whatever item you would like. Another bonus that Just Fab offers is hassle free customer service, they are open 24/7 and you can either reach them on the phone, via email, or via live chat, and so far I have add very positive encounters with them.

 

One thing that I have noticed confuses some people is that even though a stylist does select some items they think you would like according to your style quiz, you have the freedom to roam the whole website and choose whatever styles you would like, not just what is in your boutique.

 

Now normally I have a huge difficulty purchasing shoes, and I NEVER have purchased shoes online before this because of the fact that I have larger calves and wide feet which makes it difficult to find a good comfortable fitting shoe. I have complete confidence in purchasing shoes from Just Fab, they carry sizes 5.5 to 11 on a regular basis and they offer simple and free returns/exchanges.

 

Now onto what I have added to my closet since I joined Just Fab, and I might just have to show you a couple items on my wish list to purchase sometime in the next couple months. If you have any questions about Just Fab feel free to comment and I will gladly answer anything for you.

 

 

Just Fab calls this adorable shoe Cher. Yes, they name there whole shoe collection with adorable names. I absolutely loved this shoe, but unfortunately I had to return it because it was too narrow for my wide feet. :(

This lovely boot is named Dharia. The heels are a little high compared to what I am use to, but surprisingly enough they are quite comfortable. These are a perfect addition to my fall collection.

 

This little gem is called Gemma. They offer these in this lovely shade of brown, or in black, before these I didn't own any brown boots so I had to add them to my fall collection. They are a wonderful fit and absolutely adorable. The shade of brown is slightly darker than what is pictured but I actually like them even more because of that.

 

This little doll is called Jillian, and it is part of Just Fab's holiday collection. They also offers these in a vibrant shade of blue and black. I would love to add these to my shoe collection in the near future.

 

 

Fashion Editorial: Get Your Coat...

Woolcoat by New Look, Faux Leather Jacket by Warehouse, Jeans by Topshop, Galactic Jumper by Asos, Chains by H&M  

Denim Jacket by Primark, Blue Floral Backless Dress by Topshop, Boots models own, Sliver Necklace by H&M, Ribbed tights by Calvin Klein 

Vintage Faux Fur Coat, Black top with Sliver Collar by H&M, Navy Jumper by Primark, Faux Leather Skirt by H&M, Clip on Earrings by H&M, Cat Eye Sunglasses by Asos

Styling, Photography and Make Up by Wendy Gilliland
Modelled by Lauren Taylor