Abayat

I was flicking through my SM photo file when I noticed that I have an awful lot of abaya photos that I've never used. I'm going to stick them into a single post because I'm too impatient to wait for a more appropriate time to use them.

  

 I'm getting some seriously mixed up messages with some of these styles...

 Fake blue fur sleeves eweweweewwwwww

 Love this next abaya ^-^ Shame about the foot..

 The next one just makes me LOL.. don't ask why..

Last is always the best :D

Blazer Styling

I went on a little shopping trip with my mum today and bought a nice black blazer from H&M. Blazers are super versatile and can be styled in lots of ways - I like to keep the dress underneath plain and shapeless as I think the blazer provides enough structure and style on it's own.

Unfortunately the Chanel bag in the outfit is wishful thinking :"(

Waterfall Blazer by stylishmuslimah

"The Haram Police"

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I have been putting off writing about this subject for some time now, however I feel like I really need to get this off my chest. These days, I feel like I just want to give up (on life) whenever I read a "haram" comment not only on this blog but on other people's blogs and YouTube videos. Don't get me wrong, I do not mind at all being given advice from time to time but I can't help but think that more often than not the people giving it are just a combination of bored and holier-than-thou. I may be wrong but I do not think that the majority of these "advisers" actually care about the people they are publicly humiliating advising.

If you are wondering what brought on this outburst, it was a YouTube comment that I read earlier today on a hijabi's video that was telling the girl that if she isn't going to cover her neck she might as well take her headscarf off altogether. WHAT. Who on earth does this person think they are? And that pathetic argument never fails to piss me off, not because I uncover my neck but because the argument itself is ridiculous. Let me explain..

Allah (SWT) has not stated the full reasoning behind everything that He (SWT) has commanded us to do. One of those things is hijab. Let us examine the reasons that Allah (SWT) has given in the Quran for wearing the hijab:

Bism'Allah Al Rahmaan Al Raheem

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be protect their private parts, and not to display of their zeenah except that which is apparent, and to draw their headcovers over their juyub, and not to reveal their zeenahnaught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed." [Al-Nur:31]

NOTE - A reason for covering has not been stated in this iya except the implication that following the commandments will result in success. 

Bism'Allah Al Rahmaan Al Raheem

"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments about themselves (when they go out). That is better so that they may be recognised and not harassed. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." [Al-Ahzaab:59]


NOTE - The reason given in Surat Al-Ahzaab is that the hijab should be worn so women will be recognised (as Muslims) and not harassed.

In conclusion, the reason given in the Quran for the commandment of hijab is for women to be recognised as Muslims. Therefore, telling a Muslim woman that if she shows some of her hair/neck/ears it is basically the same as if she is not wearing it at all and advising her to remove the scarf altogether is totally absurd because even if she does only loosely wear the scarf, most people on the street will still recognise her as a Muslim.

I am not saying that the hijab should not cover everything but the hands and face but I am saying that people should realise that adherence to hijab is not a black and white subject. Whether or not we like it, the definition of hijab is still widely disputed amongst Muslims and we are simply never going to all agree on one thing.

Bottom line is, please stop calling people out in public on the Internet. If you care so much about them (which I doubt, sorry) you would send them a private message or pray that Allah (SWT) guides both you and them. As a general Internet rule, if you wouldn't say it to their face, don't write it.

"Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guests generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet."

- Prophet Muhammed (S) -

How to speak - according to the Quran



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Following recent events in the country I have been feeling so very glad that Allah (SWT) made me a Muslim. Now I should show it by following these rules a little more stringently.

Monthly Subscription Services

Hello :)

In the past couple months I have been trying out a couple different monthly subscription services, I wanted to share my experiences, products and thoughts about the different companies I have tried so far and the ones I am interested in trying in the future. I have researched and watched YouTube videos on almost all the services and I will post some links to videos on each. The first four services I have tried myself and the rest I am interested in trying.

MyGlam

http://www.myglam.com/   $10 a month

I learned about MyGlam through Jessica Harlow off of YouTube, MyGlam is the very first monthly subscription I checked out, when I first wanted to sign up they were sold out of subscriptions, which so far has happened with most of the companies, they typically take your email and send you a message when you can subscribe. So far I have received one MyGlam Bag and I was pretty impressed. When you first start up on http://www.myglam.com/ they have you take a little quiz  that customizes a beauty profile for you, then every month you receive 4-5 beauty samples, some are full sized products others deluxe beauty samples. MyGlam also offers videos on how to use your products and looks you can achieve with your products, they have five stylists named Promise, Michelle, Andrea, Jessica and Bethany that lead you through this, below is links to each of there YouTube accounts. It is possible to find many unveiling of the monthly boxes on YouTube made by many different people if you are interested in seeing more opinions and what has come in past months.

Jessica Harlow (one of my favorite youtubers) http://www.youtube.com/user/missjessicaharlow?feature=results_main

Promise Phan (amazing at makeup transformations) http://www.youtube.com/user/dope2111?feature=results_main

Michelle Phan http://www.youtube.com/user/michellephan?feature=results_main

Andrea http://www.youtube.com/user/andreaschoice?feature=results_main

Bethany http://www.youtube.com/user/macbarbie07?feature=results_main

The first bag I received was the May Glam Bag, each month your samples come in an adorable makeup bag, this month the bag was blue with pink lips on it.

Inside my bag was samples of:

Love Sweet Love Spray Fragrance by Philosophy

It was a small sample, but it has an amazing smell and this is surprisingly the first time I have tried a product from philosophy.

Lipstick from Studio Gear in the shade of Foxy Pink

The color itself isn't something I would typically pick, but I am excited to try a lipstick from a brand I have never tried before.

Three Brushes

I received two concealer brushes and a defining eyeliner brushes, and they are made by myglam themselves, so far I think they are good quality.

Miss Beauty Nail Bling

Silver nail stickers with pink hearts on them, they were very girly looking and I did try them but I was not too impressed. They were not easy to fit to your nails and when I did take them off they left my nails looking horrible.

Birchbox

$10 a month https://www.birchbox.com?raf=hhbph

I have been subscribed to Birchbox for two months now, so far I am still deciding which services I like the most. With Birchbox you receive the typical 4-5 samples, they come in a small cardboard box that is really nice to reuse for storage. Here is a link to Birchbox TV on YouTube, they have tutorials, sneak peeks, beauty tips and other interesting videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/birchboxtv?feature=results_main

My April Birchbox included samples of:

Kerastase Elixir Ultime

A nourishing oil for the hair that you use before blow drying to protect from heat damage, I love this, at first I was worried about it leaving my hair greasy but it leaves it soft and smelling good.

Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape in Nude

This sample came with two strips of tape and I tried it out and absolutely loved it, it doesn't hurt the skin or the clothing, and it stays firmly in place.

Juicy Couture- Viva La Juicy Perfume Sample

Absolutely in love with the smell of this fragrance, I will be purchasing this soon.

Color Club Neon Nail Polish in Totally Teal

I love the color and quality of the polish.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Night Cream

This protects your skin and moisturizes it well, I absolutely loved it.

My May Birchbox included samples of:

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

I definitely would never buy this, I thought it was a low quality liquid liner.

Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer

It is always nice to get samples of anti-aging moisturizers, even though I am young it is never to early to take good care of your skin, and these can be quite expensive to purchase.

Beauty Blender Cleanser

It is a gentle cleanser for makeup brushes, I have yet to try this.

Arquiste Flor Y Canto Perfume Sample

This fragrance has a very natural floral scent, but I don't often wear it, I tend to go with more fruity, flirty scents.

Julep Maven

$20 a month http://julep.com/?r=21058789

So far I have received the introductory box and the June Julep Maven Box. With Julep Maven they have you take a little quiz that helps them picks the colors of the products they send you, you can try different looks each month if you would like. They also offer the opportunity to skip months, because they do show you what will be in each box. Julep Maven is mainly nail polish samples, I do not personally think it is worth $20 a month. So far I have received four full sized polish samples from them I am in love with the colors but I mean you are basically paying $10 per nail polish.... The box comes with amazing packaging and my June box also came with a sample of Julep Daylight Defense Lip Balm SPF 15 and Julep Daylight Defense for Hands & Face SPF 30 3 oz sample, but I am pretty sure I will be canceling my subscription to this one.  

Beauty Army

$12 a month https://beautyarmy.com

When I learned about Beauty Army I was pretty excited, with beauty army you get to choose your own samples, they give nine samples to choose from based on a quiz they have you take, and you can choose up to six. As of right now my first package is in transit and I can not wait to receive it. I have watched many YouTube videos on this, and read reviews, and overall it seems this is the best monthly subscription service to go with. It comes in a sturdy box that would be great to reuse for storage. I will tell you the samples I chose for this month and when I do receive it I will update this and tell you more of what I think.

What I chose for month of June:

Control Corrective Redness Relief Serum Sample size .1 oz

It is a small sample but if it works I may purchase in the future, it is a botanical based serum that hydrates and provides relief to redness prone skin. My skin is very sensitive and dry and my cheeks tend to turn red because of this so I hope this works.

Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau De Toilette Natural Spray Sample Size .6 oz

A blend of raspberry, vanilla, caramel , fig leaf, licorice blossom, lily of the valley, Sicilian oranges, and red berry scents.

Update: I love this, it reminds me of roasted almonds from the fair.

Clickr Skin Care Acne Spot Serum Sample Size .11 oz

I do have a bit of acne and I am hoping this works for it, I have read reviews that say it is great when you feel a pimple coming on.

Update: I have been trying this, but I have not noticed any difference for me.

Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream Sample Size .25 oz

Another type of face moisturizer, with my dry skin this is always in need.

Update: I have been using this recently and it has made my problem areas much smoother and a little less red. :)

La Fresh Oil Free Face Cleanser Sample Size 1 wipe

This is suppose to cleanses and exfoliate while effectively removing makeup.

Update: I used this the very day I received my box and it easily removed my makeup, and made my skin feel fresh, now if I only had more.

NYX La Amoureux Mascara Full Sized Sample

24 hour, smudge free mascara

Update: Definitely was excited that this was a full size sample, I have been using it a lot lately.

Conscious Box

$12 a month + $7 Shipping http://consciousbox.com/

I have no tried this service I have just read reviews on it. With this service you receive 10-20 Eco friendly samples of products once a month. This service offers vegan beauty products, organic food samples, content on daily living tips, and products for the home. This is the only Eco friendly service that I have discovered and it seems quite interesting to me, I am not sure if I will be trying this one myself but I do have a couple friends I am recommending this one to.

GoGoGirlfriend

With this service I will not be providing links or the price because me writing about this is more of a warning then anything. I have read many reviews on this service and so far it sounds horrible. People say that billing wise they bill you as soon as you join then don't send your package for over a month, they change there prices and ways of doing things often, and when you do receive a package it is of either expired products or off brand bad quality products, so I recommend to please avoid this service.

Curlbox

$20 a month + shipping that varies http://curlbox.com/

This is a service for women with curly hair, they send you 6-8 products monthly. This service allows you to choose the products you receive monthly, but I can not find many reviews on this one.

Cravebox

$10 a month http://www.cravebox.com/

With this service you receive 4-5 products monthly but far the reviews are not the best they say that the products you receive are low quality and that there are many better services out there.

Smart Hijab Tip #2: Wedges

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My second smart hijab tip is about what has recently become my favourite type of shoe - the wedge. Wedges are great for both short and tall and I think that they instantly smarten and streamline any look.

As a general rule, I wouldn't wear open-toed or strappy wedges to work, it just doesn't look right. Also, make sure that the trousers almost (but don't quite) hit the ground.

Here's an outfit for some inspiration:

 

Wedges by stylishmuslimah

Just be careful when you walk though.. I was getting the tube the other week and do you know when you think that the last step is actually the floor and your ankle twists in? Yeh that happened to me with a pair of wedges on.. I couldn't walk for a week :(

Trends: three I like and three I just don't get

Contrary to what you might think, I generally do not follow trends. I'm not a particularly trendy person at all. Of course, if there is something trendy that I like I go right ahead and get it but I don't buy things just because everyone else has them. Though recently, certain recurring trends have caught my eye. Here are three I really like, and three I find utterly pointless:

Gold watches: I had been on the hunt for the perfect watch for probably about a year until I found this beauty. I am in love.

 

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 Who needs a man when you can just have a man-watch?

Crosses: Is it me or has everybody suddenly become enraptured by this religious symbol? I am not even a Christian and I get offended by how the cross has become a mere fashion item. It's everywhere, and half the time it's upside down, I mean WTH? I don't care if I'm taking this "too seriously", the reality is is that even of you're an atheist you can't deny that the cross used to be used to torture and kill people. How is that now a fashion statement?

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Evil eye jewelry: It may not actually have any protective powers but the eye certainly looks pretty good on jewelry.

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Creepers: I don't care how much of a hipster you are. You can instagram all the filtered, weird-angled pictures of them you want but just remember that no one, NO ONE can make those fugly things look good. Got to be the worst trend since jeggings.



I refuse to credit the source.



Loafers: Love them! Everyone should own a pair. Or two.



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The "What's in my bag?" tag: This isn't a fashion trend per se but it's certainly a YouTube trend that I find unbelievably pointless. Have I missed something here because I simply don't understand who would care what's in some random person's handbag? These videos can be longer than 20 minutes of someone just pulling crap out of their bag and then explaining everything in mind-numbing detail. Don't they feel a bit silly sat in front of a camera filming it, what if someone randomly walked into their room..? The whole thing would look ridiculous. I mean I've actually seen someone pull out a legit sanitary pad and then explain why she carries it. WOWOWWWOOW.