My In-Flight Travel Essentials

Hello, darlings!

Are you going on holiday?! You lucky thing! As much as I would like for you to enjoy yourselves, I want you to be fully equipped & comfortable on your travels.

I’ve asked some Belles’ what their travel handbag essentials are, we have come up with a simple list to include my own essentials.

Feel free to use this as a check-list or copy and paste to your phone’s ‘to-do list’

• Travel-sized Beauty – Travel toiletries are a must for my carry-on. For my husband, I purchased the Vintage & Co. Braids & Blooms In Flight Essentials as I found the contents really useful and cute! For myself, I have been using Molton Brown Women’s Mini Luxurious Bath & Body Travel Set. Mind you, I carry a medium sized shampoo/body washes in the main luggage; I keep this pack for the airport lounges/flight uses only, so it does last me quite a few holidays!

• Facial wipes: I always find myself carrying Nivea Face Wipes. It’s a small travel packet, light scent and fits snug inside your handbag without the bulk!

• Sheet Face mask: To help reset your face back to fresh, the AC seriously dries your skin out. I enjoy using Garnier Hydrating Face Sheet Mask – It’s less of a hassle and manageable than a liquid cleanser;

• Make-up: this part is up to you on how little or how much you glam. I prefer a fully moisturized/hydrated face with lipstick on, and that’s it. Remember to triple check  >100ml rule.

• Perfume – best to keep it light and refreshing such as Arabian Oud Unisex Hayati perfume. Both you and your partner can enjoy plus it’s exactly 100ml;

• Chapstick: I personally love Burts Bees as it contains SP15, perfect for a holiday;

• Hairbrush – Not only does it tame your hair, but it also acts as a scalp massage;

• Deodorant;

• Tissue pack – justttt because…

• Antibacterial handwipes/gel such as Superdrug Antibacterial handy wipes or Carex Hand Gel;

• Chewing Gum/Travel sweets

• Pain Killers

• Fluffy Fleece socks: if you need travel socks to aid swelling feet go for the medicated versions. I always carry fluffy fleece socks as the AC can get a bit too much & this just gives me that extra added in-flight comfort;

• A book or mag (If you run out/don’t watch movies in-flight) – a no-brainer, take whatever keeps you entertained!

• The local sim (if you have it) – a reminder of your favorite countries on repeat, which I’m sure you have a local sim laying around;

• International plug sockets/charger: this depends on your airline, ensure to do your homework with the compatibility of your phone charger as well as the socket for your destination. You want it in your handbag and ready to go!

• Sunglasses: I love carrying the light but fashionable sunglasses in my handbag, ready to wear when required.

• Reading specs: if contact lenses are not your thing. Also, if it’s a long-haul flight, highly recommend using specs to prevent eyes from drying!

• Headrest Cushion – Goes without saying!

The above is what I personally carry in a medium-sized cabin-worthy backpack. I know many of you guys carry more/less/nothing at all! I hope the above was helpful and a reminder on what to take on your travel carry-ons.

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Day Trip to Cambridge!

Hey Dolls! Hope everyone is well and safe during these unpredictable times!

Can I just say, I have weirdly enjoyed this lockdown experience…I’m sure I’m not the only one! I was really bummed when my holiday plans got cancelled this year but I told myself that I will still try to make sure I enjoy my summer one way or another – and that I did!

My pandemic summer has been filled with picnics, long walks, exploring hidden gems in London (say the Hampstead Pergola – Google it!) and countless day trips. I can definitely say I have grown a better appreciation for the many beautiful towns and cities we have in the UK and some are just a stones throw away from London. Cambridge was one of them!

I went to Cambridge for just the day as it was only an hour and a half drive away from where I live in London. I would highly recommend to try and spend a weekend break there if you get the chance!

Harley Teeth Whitening

In recent times, teeth whitening has taken a huge interest in the beauty world (after contouring), albeit being around since the ancient times. Ancient Romans particularly had an interest in teeth whitening (why doesn’t it surprise me?!) and would use urine and goat milk in an attempt to maintain white teeth – extreme levels or what!? Phewww, we don’t have to do that anymore!

During my travels to Bangladesh earlier this year (March 2016) I have noticed how highly commercialised and readily available beautifying ones teeth has become; available in big towns, larger districts and of course highly skilled dentists available in Dhaka.

In London, we have Groupon/Wowcher promotions with Teeth Whitening deals being drilled to our inboxes, which I know some of you have either tried or thinking about getting.

Mind you, I have tried a “Wowcher” deal on teeth whitening before and it was not the best service, especially if you are a first timer! What you pay for is what you get!

We all crave for a beautiful pearly smile, personally for me, my teeth are highly important and I do take good care of them – it crowns our smile 😀

If you’re a bride to be, hopefully this post will give you an insight of what you’re looking for!

The treatment details:

• Clinic Name: Harley Teeth Whitening
• Name of Treatment: Pro-Advanced White (Recommended best option on most 1st treatments)
• Price – please enquire directly

Before your appointment:

I recommend brushing your teeth at least 40min/1hr before your appointment.

The Process:

Consultation: I had undergone a free Professional Consultation on my teeth. They assessed to find out habits (Smoker/Coffee drinker) and if I am suitable for the treatment. I enjoyed this part as you learnt a few facts about your teeth and service levels were great and very professional.

If you’re a first-timer, service and quality of care during treatment does matter a lot; Harley Dental clinic satisfied the excellent services.

During the assessment period, the dentist had a look at my teeth to find the current colour I was on via the Teeth Shade Sampler (below) then compared to the likely colour of teeth shade I will be on post treatment.

Purple: Rough current shade | Pink: New shade

Getting Ready: Relax yourself on the Dental Chair, UV red coloured goggle placed over your eyes to protect from rays of the laser. A teeth guard is placed in the mouth to keep mouth wide open (in a comfortable way) while the dentist uses a Dental Suction to take away the excess saliva.

A protecting gel is applied to the gums and petroleum jelly on the lips then teeth are coated with a “specially formed hydrogen peroxide solution” – this is the teeth cleaner.

Once the gum and teeth preparation have been complete, a high energy Blue Spectrum LED light is distributed to the teeth.

I’ve had three of the 20-30mins cycles, whereby each phase the dentist checks on progress, adjusts comforts or adds more whitening agent to the teeth.

In total, the treatment had lasted me 70mins, pain free (for me); however after effects may vary  person-to-person and will be discussed during initial consultation.

Completion stage: Goggles are off, the world looks brighter (after dimming your visibility for over an hour :p ). The dentist provides you with a solution and water to wash your mouth out with.

When the mirror is provided to look at your teeth, you are in awe to see your teeth up in whiteness levels, the result is instant!

The dentist shows you the Teeth Shade Sampler again to see what colour you originally were, what they predict you’d be on (based from the consultation) and what it actually turns out to be. So, the colour the dentist predicted I would be on was correct, their expert “predictions” are always correct due to experiences with working on different clients with different habits.

Aftercare:

Teeth Whitening clinics will advise you:

• Don’t Smoke;
• Drink less Coffee (preferably from a straw);
• Adjust Diet to include white foods i.e. pasta, rice, apples, cauliflower etc…
• Please use Normal Toothpaste (I know! Normal is fine, don’t bother with whitening toothpaste)!
• Harley Dental Clinic also provided an aftercare helpful guide;

Try avoiding coloured foods for 48hrs as the pores in the teeth are open, so why pay so much money and give in to coffee (I am guilty, I had to drink tea right away, but drank out of a straw!).

My feedback:

During consultation, when the dentist shows you the Teeth Shade Sampler and tells you what shade you are currently on – usually this is not 100% accurate (they tell you this themselves) only because everyone’s teeth shade varies across the spectrum; especially of your lifestyle.

 Verdict: It was a full smile treatment, which means that the laser treatment will try reaching as far back as well as front. I loved the high quality of service and care shown by the staff of Harley Dental Clinic; when something involves your health even cosmetically you always would want the best. The dentist ensured the treatment was followed with precise specialist process and ensured I loved the final results.

Was I satisfied with my treatment – Yes. I am always on social media, so when I run a cheesy smile, I know I have my pearly whites gleaming through the filters 😉 Not only photography which looked great (perfect for brides) but also in reality had many compliments. It has been a month since my treatment, I drink tea twice a day and the colour has not died down; which is excellent. But of course, if you want to maintain a white smile you also need to be somewhat watchful on your food intake.

Was it painful? The laser treatment itself is not painful (unless you have sensitive teeth, please consult with dental practise before undergoing any whitening treatments). After the treatment however, my teeth became a little sensitive and was throbbing throughout the night; it was not an unbearable pain, but you may suffer a little sensitivity. It will vary across different people!

Harley Teeth Whitening – The clinic was immaculately clean (as expected), classy decor (which I loved) with friendly and professional staff who were so welcoming and gentle. The staff did provide a personal tailored service with utmost care to ensure you were satisfied with your results. Conveniently, Harley Teeth Whitening have also followed up on an after care treatment at a reduced rate after 3months of treatment.

For any questions, I advise you directly contacting the clinic you’re planning on going, or enquire at my one: harleyteethwhitening.

With Love,

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Banarasi Babes ♥

Insta: @BelleAmour_mua

Happy New year to all my dolls! I hope you have started the New Year with a fresh mindset, clear motives and clean objectives ready to conquer whatever challenges that may come your way!

So excited to be writing this much awaited post, as after months and months of organising and planning a close family wedding, finding the ‘right thing to wear’ for oneself always feels exciting as well as daunting. Exciting because I can dictate what my sister can wear and without a choice she has to agree 😀 Daunting, because typically in an Asian wedding everyone is always looking glamorous and trying to find something ‘unique’ can be a huge challenge. I am also sure some of you can relate!

The theme that I planned for the wedding (uncles wedding): Jhodaa Akbar (movie) taking ideas of fashion from the 15^th century Indian Mughal Empire era. Psst! Watch the movie if you haven’t already 😉

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Right, theme chosen, now the clothes!

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After visiting the Pakistan Fashion show earlier this year, I came across Faika Collection during that time which showcased elegant regal looking attires which I always wanted to own, but didn’t have a reason to own. You know the whole issue with lack of wardrobe space; no upcoming events etc…Then, it all fell into place when a family wedding was happening and Faika was going to be a part of the celebration!

However, Faika Collection is based in Bradford, I am from London. To travel up North with extortionate rail fares wasn’t my cup of tea, but to my advantage when I checked their Instagram post (back in summer) I was lucky to find that they were doing a London pop-up exhibition at the Royal Garden Hotel. As ecstatic as you can imagine I was, grabbed my sister put the gas down and went to visit Faika Collection’s pop-up.

Here is what we chose:

Insta: @BelleAmour_mua

We picked 2 pieces of beautiful Jacquard Banarasi Lenghas: one in emerald green and gold jacquard style (which I wore) and sisters was black on gold jacquard style. The tops were plain black soft velvet with pearl buttons running down both sleeves. The Lenghas also came with chiffon duppattas. However on this photo, we have created and designed our own dupattas to go with our Mughal theme.

Insta: @BelleAmour_mua

Inspiration to drape the dupatta had also come from the Mughal era, where it is tucked at the waist and draped over the shoulders. If you have a theme for an event from a historic period, always do slight research to authenticate your entire look. It also gives you vision on the colours and style of accessories to choose from!

I ought to mention the type of shoes you must wear when wearing any type of Banarasi material – this is crucial! Due to the heavy brocade skirt, the silk weaving on the reverse side of the lengha pulls/tugs at the fancy diamante shoes; please ensure you wear plain/plain glam shoes without the crystals as you can ruin your skirt! Not pictured – I wore glittered heeled shoes.

Insta: @BelleAmour_mua

The Faika Collection Lenghas are elegant in style and a sleek ensemble. The best thing about the skirt is that it has pockets – yes! A very handy feature especially on Asian clothes which is quite different.

For the Asian women, Lengha co-ords is the smart ‘black-tie’ of outfits for every special occasion.

The eye catching Banarasi material was the perfect choice for this beautiful regal skirt as it was soft, very fine and absolutely comfortable. Due to its soft nature, the skirt was flowing beautifully as a lengha should, it was not stiff and the cut of the Lengha was much appreciated.

Insta: @BelleAmour_mua

However, my brother was not following the Moghal theme and opted for a contemporary dinner suit to staple a cold Autumn wedding.

Tip to trousers in Ted Baker and Shoes from ASOS.

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It is all in the details

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Looking for the perfect accessory to go with your outfit and theme can also be a huge challenge. From countless of searches in-store and online, we were on the verge of picking something very random. However luckily, I stumbled across Innaya Couture on Instagram and found a beautiful necklace.

From Innaya Couture, we have purchased their Mughal Kundan 7 tier necklace which complimented our Banarasi outfits.

Insta: @BelleAmour_mua

The “Ball and chain” weapon on my sisters wrist is actually a cute looking handbag :p This is from Southall – almost found in any accessories store.

The ladies at Faika Collection done a tremendous job in delivering what I wanted. Even though they were up north (Bradford) they ensured my requirements were met and truthfully, I was quite a troublesome customer – no joke! The only problem you will face if you order from any clothing stores which are far away is the fitting! Of course, if it is custom made the measurements can typically go wrong therefore Faika recommends to go in-store for fitting. So bear this in mind!

Do check out Faika Collection for their latest Istanbul Collection (very gorgeous…need another event to wear one of those!) and stay tuned for more!

With love,

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Ladies only Spa in London?!

The Beauty Lodge. Image taken from their website

Tucked away in the quiet neighbourhood of Glendale Avenue in North London is The Beauty Lodge. They call themselves a “hidden gem” of North London and I cannot agree more!

The Beauty Lodge is a ladies only luxury spa – “run for women by women”. As a Muslim woman, this was an icing on a cake WITH a cherry on top of course! I have always longed to go to a spa to wind down and “let myself go”, especially to get away from the hectic life of London. In a desperate attempt to find a suitable place I Googled “women’s only spa” and the Beauty Lodge was first on the list. Before anything else, I was ecstatic that this spa was located at a convenient location and more so dumbfounded that I have not discovered it earlier!

I decided to bring a friend along to the spa and enjoy the “spa party package” which includes one hour use of the spa along with a number of treatments from which you can choose from – we decided to go for the express facial. This totalled to £40 for both of us – not bad!

Finding the spa would have been a bit difficult if I did not use my navigator (citymapper app is a lifesaver!). I have to admit, I was very confused when I entered Glendale Avenue as it was a residential area of houses. When I found the entrance to the spa, I was slightly worried thinking the spa was in someone’s house! However, little did I or my friend know of what was waiting for us behind the seemingly plain entrance of the Beauty Lodge.

As I opened the door, the first thing I heard was the gentle sound of running water. We followed the neatly laid red carpet in front of us which led to the source of the sound. Here, I discovered the cosy lodge-style seating area surrounding a cute pond which I felt so tempted to sit by and just fall asleep to the sound of the water!

As we checked in for our appointment we were greeted by the owner of the spa and the friendly staff who offered us refreshments. Upon entering the spa area, my friend and I were really impressed with what stood before us. In a beautifully decorated room, filled with exotic ornaments and candles was a hot tub, an infra-red sauna and two treatment couches where we would be getting our express facial. An hour in the hot tub flew by very quickly! Next time I will probably have to pay a bit extra for a two hour use! The facial afterwards was sooo relaxing and my skin felt rejuvenated!

The verdict: I will be definitely returning to the Beauty Lodge but this time with more friends as the hot tub can facilitate up to 8 people! It will be a fun place to unwind with your girlfriends as extra upgrades can get you and your friends to enjoy a chocolate fountain with fresh fruits or even an afternoon tea! The private setting of the spa area was indeed the main Brownie point for me as it made it that ‘extra’ bit comfortable. Not forgetting the friendly staff who always made sure to check up on us. So, would I recommend the Beauty Lodge? The answer is, yes!

With Love,

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Algenist Multi-Perfecting Moisturiser Review!

Here we have a premium gel moisturiser by Algenist – a skincare brand from San Francisco. We have been kindly sent Algenist products for review by Space NK, London. If you have big pores, oily/dull skin this could be the moisturiser you are looking for! Read more below…

Multi-Perfecting Pore Corrector

I would like to say that I ‘suffer’ from large pores on my nose, have an unbalanced skin texture (certain areas contain blemishes) as well as an oily T-Zone. Most of us ‘suffer’ from all types of conditions on our skin whereby looking for the right skincare could be a difficult task; it could be a waste of time, effort and investment!

For me, a good start to the day (everyday) is with a good moisturiser . I always take max 3mins to massage moisturiser in circular motions using my right hand with my index, middle and ring fingers. I take time with the moisturiser in the mornings whilst getting ready for work; the quick facial massage helps to relax my muscles and skin tissues before a start to a busy day. It is also one of my beauty secrets for a morning radiant look! 😀

What makes a good moisturiser is a product which does exactly what it says on the tin. I personally invest a lot of money on moisturisers as I do take them seriously; it is my morning skin breakfast! 😉

The moisturiser for review is the Algenist Multi-Perfecting Pore Corrector Gel Moisturiser. This moisturiser is for people with large pores, blemishes and combination skin type.

Algenist with Alguronic Acid 60ml for Pores, Evenness and Radiance

Upon feeding my skin with the goodness of the Algenist moisturiser, it adequately fed the right amount of ‘moisture’ to my skin without the ‘dry-like’ feeling that most oil-free moisturisers do. If your main skin concern is the production of sebum on the face, this lightweight gel formula will help regulate a balance on the skin as it contains salicylic acid which is good for acne/blemish sufferers.

The gel moisturiser is also refreshing in scent. It smells somewhat like seaweed and has a fresh botanical like smell.

If you are an OCD freak (like me) you may not be comfortable digging your fingers to get a lump of gel out the tub; I do not think I can share this product . Even if you were to get a spatula to scoop some product out, it made me ponder and question the active ingredients in this tub. Does the gel expire as soon as sunlight hits? Does the active ingredients stop working as soon as oxygen is present? Is the tub ‘good enough’ to hold the contents of the gel or is a pump better (to maintain hygiene AND perhaps maintain the ‘active ingredients’?)? Who thinks about a moisturiser so much (lol)?! (so you must be wondering) but due to the price of this product (£50 Space NK) you must be curious to see if it is worth your money! 😛

Then… ❗ it somehow made sense to why the tub was not fancy, but a matt grey film covering the glass thick container was to keep the sunlight out! Smart!

Retails for £50 and can be purchased from any Space NK stores from the UK or Algenist online.

Upon 3 months of use, here are my findings in a condensed bite sized summary:

• This gel moisturiser does not contain SPF (Sun Protection Factor). Therefore it is best to apply sun block to the face first then apply this moisturiser on top;
• If you plan to spend the entire day at home, I guess you can lay off the SPF and allow the ingredients to absorb into your skin; Enjoy!
• The cream unfortunately rolls when you over massage the face! I dislike creams which roll off, why o’ why! I recommend my beauty tribe to not use this cream the days you are wearing makeup/using it as a make-up base as over blending causes the gel to roll off;
• I find the cream at its best state when it is just the SPF and the moisturiser. The cream does not roll and does not look like dead skin cells (ewww);
• I have noticed the reduction on the size of pores on my nose and an even skin balance across my face!
• Provides adequate skin nourishment (especially if you have combination skin) whilst preventing production of excess oils.
• T-Zone area seems to be under control as face stays oil-free for longer!

If you are/were planning to purchase this product, I hope this blog post has provided you with an insight as well as contributing thoughts for an informed decision!

With Love,

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Beauty favourites for April – Top Picks!

Find out what our top most favourite beauty products are {in no particular favourite order} for April and reasons why. . . ❓

1. The Body Shop Body Butter in Pink Grapefruit (£13) – The Body Butters are gorgeous in all flavours and are a tub full of goodness. I use this to keep moisturised in the autumn weather which makes my skin feel silky, smooth and very well moisturised. For my Muslim folks, after Wudu, this is a great product for dry skin – especially feet!

2. Topshop Highlighter in SunBeam (no longer available for purchase) ⭐ – This is the real bomb! This highlighter gives a subtle yet ‘showy’ glow on the cheekbones. This is our April favourite because this shade suits all skin-tones fair, medium to darker complexions. We have received many compliments on this highlighter as the cheeks look gorgeous once light reflects on the cheekbones. If you are a student, you can benefit from the 20% student discount available from TopShop!

3. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder shade Warm Beige (3.99) – during the winter months, this powder has proved successful in maintaining a light matte look for combination skin. I find that if you have pores on your nose (like me) you will have to go VERY light on the nose as the powder seems to gather around pores unfortunately. Whether you wear foundation /BB/CC or nada on your face, dust this on your T-zone lightly and you will be camera ready. 🙂

4. Zukreat Artist of Makeup (AOM) Extreme Art Liner Pen (£18) – I use this pen every single day since the purchase and launch of this exciting eyeliner nearly 2 years ago! This eyeliner provides precision and buildable coverage where needed; so you can go very simple or even intricate due to the shape of the nib. The nib is oil and water repellent and great on hygiene as it minimises cross contamination; therefore it is used on clients and myself and everybody is always satisfied with the results. 🙂

5. The Body Shop Bronze Shimmer Waves Brick (£16) – You may have seen my Instagram/Facebook posts ranting on about this bronzing shimmer brick – that’s because I absolutely love this thang! If you have medium/tanned skin-tone you will love this too. This is one of my makeup staples and works nicely as a duo contour and blush. I also use it as a veeerrry light highlight – the play is endless! They also range in other shades too but bronze is the one for meee! 

6. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Barcelona (£31) – Recent purchase and so far so good. Worn at many wedding events and other occasions and kept my face hydrated as well as dewy. I will not recommend this to dolls who have oily skin types, however if you have dry skin, this can work in your favour =^-^=. Spot the foundation on forehead, chin, and cheeks and buff in with your favourite brush or sponge; a little goes a long way!

7. L’Occitane En Provence Lip Balm (limited edition, not available for purchase) – This lip butter sinks and penetrates your lips with moisture and hydration – it really does! Before bed I would apply this on my lips and then by morning I have hydrated lipstick ready lips. The formula is very buttery therefore you only need a pea-sized amount to feel the moisture being locked in. In fact, this tube has lasted me over a year! I know Vaseline – Petroleum jelly is readily and conveniently available, but I find Vaseline lip balms tend to sit on the surface of your lips without any penetration or proper hydration. Although this version is no longer available, the standard lip balms by L’Occitane are still good enough!

8. Pure Virgin 100% Argon Oil – my favourite beauty purchase from Morocco last year. Soon as I landed on the grounds, I had to visit the factory to purchase. As we all know, natural oils all have their special properties and uses, one being Argon mainly for the treatment of good hair and skin. Use natural products where possible and ditch as many chemical/synthetic products where necessary. I spritz the Argon oil twice on the face and massage the skin until the oil is absorbed into the skin. A great opportunity and time to allow blood circulation AND face muscles also feel relaxed 🙄

9. Urban Decay Naked Flushed – Streak (£22.50) – Mario Dedivanovic (Kim Kardashian’s Makeup-Artist) actually used this product on Kim for her first wedding and that’s why I purchased. It is a soft and subtle bronzer, highlighter and peachy blush and has been very compact for my travels and short weekend breaks. It adds glow and subtle shimmer and I find it complementing with the Nars Sheer glow foundation. For medium to dark skin tones, this trilogy is buildable. As for Fair skin tones, one swipe is usually sufficient.

Those were our top picks for April! Hope you also had a mirroring favourite from our list here.

With Love,

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Kiss Cosmetics – Locked Lips; Exclusive!

Open up and read this blog post about our exclusive ‘never seen before’ review on lip products by a new British niche ‘lip focused colour cosmetics brand’ Kiss Cosmetics ❤

Kiss Cosmetics specialises in quality lip products focusing solely on lips for all skin-tones (finally a brand that cares!). They also cater for the “not so much” to “I’m very confident” dolls. Kiss Cosmetics have entered the market at the right time as lips have become a hot topic thanks to trend-setters like Kylie Jenner!

The development of the Kiss Cosmetics product has been influenced and shaped by one of many key stakeholders – Beauty Bloggers (bbloggers) and Make-up Artists alike. Kiss Cosmetics ensured to involve feedback where possible to bring the most realistic and best products into the market!

Just to add, for my brand conscious dolls, Kiss Cosmetics IS a local British Brand; therefore for those who are actively boycotting bigger beauty brands (*Estee Lauder group*) can find Kiss Cosmetics as a safer alternative. 😉

*We have been given Locked Lips to trial alongside the mini KISStick.*

Kiss Cosmetics Locked Lips RRP £3.50 @ 3.1ml/0.1fl.oz

Here is the Locked Lips. As the name states, it is a lip sealant to keep your lipstick woes at bay to ensure that lipsticks don’t cross the line and stay within your pout! So, when you’re drinking tea (like me)  or biting into a messy burger (like me again) you should be confident that your lip colour is ‘locked down’ and truly put.

The Locked Lips is due to launch online on 29th April, 2015.

Locked Lips comes in a glass container (3.1ml) with a nail polish brush attached for use. For those who love the smell of nail polish, you will enjoy this smell! For those who dislike strong scents, unfortunately this lip sealant is slightly strong in smell.

Here are the ingredients:

Ingrediants: Alcahol Denant, Aqua (Water), Acrylates/Ethylhexylacrylamide Copolymer, Flavour (Aroma),Benzyl Alcahol

You need to ensure your lips are fully hydrated and not dry/chapped or cracked as the lip seal contains preserving alcohols which naturally gives a burning sensation. Please ensure you hydrate your lips before use!

How I Used This Product – PLUS a mini lip tutorial =D

1. Once lips are hydrated (I use L’Occitane Lip Balm for hydration) I dust translucent powder on top of my lips to lock in moisture from the balm;
2. Use your favourite lip liner to line your lips. Here is one method to lining your lips:

Rimmel London: Tips and Tricks

3. Using Kiss Cosmetics KISStick in Frisky Fuchsia fill your lips;
4. Blot the KISStick on tissue paper then dab and fill the lips with Locked Lips and wait for 1 min;
5. THEN…as we say on Belle Amour > Pout. Wink… and Kiss! Voilla! You now have ‘woe free’ Locked Lips for 10 hours (trailed and tested), so be confident!

Personal Experience, Feedback and Tips:

We have used the Locked Lips for 3 consecutive days to bring you first-hand reliable feedback. Here are some main points we have experienced and found:

– Just like any other sealant, the Locked Lips is quite sticky when wet, so, if you close your lips early you may get slightly stuck. Do not close your mouth and allow 1 min to dry;

– Locked Lips gives a tingling sensation to the lips; for the dolls who love a plumpy pout, this can be in your aid!

– Once Locked Lips is applied, it provides an additional shiny glazed finish to the lips;

– After 4-5 hours, the thin film of Locked Lips looses its glazing shine and lipstick starts feeling matte yet slightly moisturised but not drying;

– Locked Lips showed no signs of cracking, peeling and does not leave a bitter taste on your lips;

• Make-Up Artist Tip: Increase the longevity of your client’s lipstick. Pour 2 drops of Locked Lips on a palette, use a synthetic lip brush and dab the product on your client’s lips 🙂

– Due to Denatured Alcohol being present in the ingredients, the nail polish brush stays hygienically clean as product build-up breaks down into smaller fragments. When using Locked Lips, it is apparent that the lipstick stain will transfer on the bristles; especially when you are switching between colours. Rest assured that interchanging lipsticks (when used in conjunction with Locked Lips) WILL NOT transfer onto your current colour.

For my busy dolls living a hectic life-style, topping your lips can be a pesky task. Sometimes I am booked with a day’s worth of meetings, therefore distancing myself from my desk vanity area. I have drank tea, ate foods to really give the Locked Lips a full-on trial.

Here is my tea cup, it has little harmless transfer:

Kiss Cosmetics KISSTICK:

Alongside the Locked Lips, a mini KISSTICK was kindly given in the shade Frisky Fuchsia. The KISStick has finally been launched yesterday (22^nd April) available in 10 shades and I was lucky to get my hands on one of these cruelty free lippys!

KSL05 – KISStick – Frisky Fuchsia Now Available for purchase online

As I have an olive skin tone, this beautiful raspberry mid-toned shade went well with my skin-tone. Frisky Fuchsia is a pigmented creamy lipstick. For those who dislike matte lipsticks, you will enjoy the moisturising formula as it glides effortlessly on the lips.

Frisky Fuchsia Swatches:

Without Flash (left)          |            With Flash (right)

Whip your lips to shape with Locked Lips and feel confident that it is cruelty free beauty. Work the pout and be wise with your money as you invest in a cost-effective yet a quality make-up brand; now that’s a compromise 😉

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With Love,

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Modest by Haute Arabia 2015

We have attended the most awaited event of this year – Haute Arabia Modest Fashion Awards 2015 held at The Shard; The Shangri-La hotel. This is their third year running of this event.

Belle Amour at The Shard

We were the Haute Arabia (HA) competition winners of 2015 and were very ecstatic to be a part of this year’s show.

Haute Arabia is an online fashion advertising consultancy, or an ‘incubator’ for established and new businesses. They ‘cherry pick’ products globally and across different brands to bring Arabian inspired fashion to their audiences. Do give their website a look as their merchandise ranges from home-wear, clothing to beauty.

My sister and I have been following Haute Arabia since their launch on Social Media. As we both adore Arabian modest fashion, HA host many inspirational modest fashion ideas for the wardrobe. We love the fact that HA brings the community of talented Artists/designers all onto one platform!

Each year, the designers come together to showcase their talents on the catwalk to fashion enthusiasts, prominent bloggers, fashion journalists, stylists and many more!

What I wore:

Choosing a dress for this years HA event was a challenge. However, with the help of bloggers and guests who have attended previous events was very helpful. I wanted an outfit which would compliment the theme of this event (Modesty & Modest Fashion) and secondly the location of course!

So, I present to you *drum rolls please* this custom-made dress I have designed 😀

Sir Nearly Headless Nick! XD

This was a very comfortable yet effortlessly chic dress which complimented the elegance of the event. Initially, I was having second thoughts as I felt I would be too over-dressed for the event and did not want to look like a fool *blushes*.

The weather that day was beautiful but temperatures started to drop later on in the evening. Luckily, my dress kept me warm as the material was thick!

I paired the dress with a medium sized off-cream clutch from Miss Selfridge and kept jewels to the bare minimum with a hand candy from Monsoon Accessorize.

I could have opted for a different colored Hijaab, however was running out of time and played it safe with my favourite black Hijaab from Qatar (gifted).

Beautiful jeweled hand candy ❤ By Monsoon Accessorize

Familiar Faces:

You may recognise Habiba Da Silva (Life Long Percussion) from Instagram and Youtube. It was lovely to meet you Habiba 🙂

lifelongpercussion AkA Habiba Da Silva

These two made the event a comfortable and an enjoyable experience. Sheuly (Editor, bottom left) from Your Personal Bridal Dreams (YPBD) online magazine and Rumena Make-up Artist of YPBD and Youtuber (bottom right), were also at the show. We enjoyed meeting you both and for the after-party too 😉

Far Left: Sheuly, ME, Far Right: Rumena

Bina from Aura Collections – it was lovely to meet you – finally! Bina has an online collection of beautiful kaftans; they are stunning! Do have a look! 🙂

Bina from Aura Collections

The two beautiful ladies from Rosasha (Creative Director, Right and Managing Director, Left).

The Rosasha Girls ❤

Rosasha retails Pashmina scarves from Turkey and of very fine quality too. Both ladies looking elegant in their scarves and were a pleasure to network with. Do check their Facebook and Instagram out!

In a deep conversation with the Rosasha girls as they show interest in my dress 😀

The Catwalk:

We attended the second catwalk show @ 4:30pm held in one of the boardrooms turned into a make-shift catwalk. The stage was set in front of the angled glass panes of The Shard, mirroring the clouds and beauty of London.

The designers who were showcasing at this time were:

• Aywa London by Waqaas – Winning designer (Competition sponsored by Monsoori)
• Monsoori Official – Official Sponsor of Haute Arabia Modest event
• Nisaa
• AlJawhra
• Aab Collection
• Duaa Boutique
• Noorsaab Accessories
• By Soufyan

Nisaa had an elegant catwalk of contemporary modest dresses for the modern Muslimah. If you look online here, you will notice that they are evening/semi-formal/party dresses. Brides will also look stunning in these outfit as shown below.

Clothing by: Nisaa

Clothing by: Nisaa

By Soufyan – Ahh yes! Loved the catwalk with his urban trendy jumpers and Tees which send out a loving political message for different causes like Gaza, Syria and Falestine! We LOVE Palestine – Viva la Palestina #PeaceOut

We LOVE the Tees and jumpers By Soufyan

Mizaan & Noor Saab – Just wow! Noor Saab being very formal (that is formal in a stylish way) chic and classy. Mizaan taking the catwalk with their pooffy dresses, glitz and glam for all occasions.

(Far right and left) Mizaan and (Middle) Noor Saab

Whilst sipping a glass of juice and enjoying lobster canapés with a forefront view of London, we were networking with like-minded people in the industry, who like us, were interested in creativity, modest fashion and enterprise.

It was interesting to learn about the perception of ‘modest’ fashion and designer’s interpretations of this through the clothing lines as show-cased on the catwalk.

These gorgeous treats were too cute to eat!

The verdict:

It was a pleasure to win (VIP) tickets to a prestigious event – Thank you Haute Arabia! Our VIP tickets also contained a gift bag perk which unfortunately was not received. A few other paying visitors were also at a similar position. However, Haute Arabia reacted to this situation very well and maintained professionalism. I personally love businesses who deal with issues small/big in a professional customer-centric way.

Could not stop staring at the view of London. Trying to see my Borough from up here XD

Nonetheless, it was a prime location which offsets the experience; that is the purpose of this event- elegance of modest fashion and great guest appearances.

Looking forward to (hopefully) attending the Modest Fashion Awards this year (In shaa Allah – if God wills).

With Love,

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Pakistan Fashion Week

(Far right) Bombay Stores (middle) Shariq Textiles (far left) Fatimah and Sam Dada PFW7

Pakistan Fashion Week (PFW) was an amazing high fashion catwalk event held at the prestigious Hotel Russell in London’s Holborn. Being at the forefront, myself and Rima captured a spectacular view of Pakistan’s great fashion designers. The ‘glitz and glam’, design and intricacy really caught our eyes as we were stunned by the art of fashion produced by the talented designers 🙂

Recently, I have become a sucker for Pakistani and Indian traditional fashion and have been hoarding all sorts of Salwaar Kamees from Birmingham to Southall! The PFW had exhibitions to include this season’s exclusive ‘fresh off-the-catwalk’ clothes from the designers we saw at the catwalk. If you are a bride-to-be attending these types of exhibitions will give you an insight of what this year’s bride is ‘expected’ to look like (that’s if you really care…), what the trends are to what makeup looks to opt for.

As we attended the last catwalk show, we missed the glitzy bridal-wear however, as pictured on this blog post, we were presented with semi formal party and occasional wear Salwaar Kamees, Lengha and trendy culottes outfits (as seen below).

Alizay Khan: PFW7

Just to clarify, a Salwaar Kamees is a two piece suit consisting of a dress like top paired with light loose trousers; the two together called a ‘Salwaar Kamees’. As fashion trends on, the Salwaar Kamees becomes a hybrid attire to suit all types of surroundings.

Momins by Wiq: PFW7

As the models walked down the catwalk, the focus was of course on the dress. Striking a pose, turning, hair waving, hands on the hips then sashaying down the runway. It all looked very GLAMOROUS (Fergie taught me how to spell: P) as you stare with a poker face admiring the outfits.

Fatimah and Sam Dada: PFW7

The models really gave these South Asian attires personality, it framed the look and also empowered the viewers (like me) with an insight of how you would look if you were to own a piece of haute couture – which obviously was/is the point to entice us: D

After the end of the show, viewers and visitors had the opportunity to grab a bargain at the fashion exhibition which included the clothes seen on the catwalk. Some Pakistani fashion designers flew in from Pakistan to showcase their exclusive pieces.

Shabbir Textiles: PFW7

It was an opportunity to bag one of the ‘latest in trend’ Salwaar Kamees for upcoming events and was a chance I did not want to miss! I did purchase a Naurang Lengha (not pictured) which I am truly in love with. I will post photos of myself in my gorgeous lengha very soon!

Many potential brides alongside their bridesmaids made a proactive approach in purchasing their bridal outfits from the show. The main reason for this is because it is cheaper than the (Asian) high-street (by almost a half), plus the exclusivity of these attires means no one else will have these except you!

Fatimah and Sam Dada: PFW7

The stalls showcased all their outfits as mentioned above from the catwalk and they were all at a very reasonable rate. On average (from asking around most stalls) you would find yourself spending £80 + on designer outfits (exhibition price only).

Bombay Stores: PFW7

Bombay Stores had a ‘wearable’ formal collection. This is practical for most dolls as we still want to look effortlessly glam whilst celebrating formal events; esp. for the mummies!

Bombay Stores: PFW7

I absolutely adored the catwalk with ALL of Bombay Stores outfits. These Nude Kurta tops stole the show with most guests as they scurried to the exhibition stall to purchase. As usual, (typically) my size ran out, but, I treated myself to a gorgeous purple stoned Multan Mala necklace and earring set (not pictured) which is only exclusive to exhibits by Bombay Stores (yes… I do feel special :P)!

Bombay Stores: PFW7

The Pakistan Fashion event was a great event as it educated many on style, looks, aesthetics and ideas to be creative. Countless of times, we know mainstream designers, but there are also emerging/new talented designers unheard of. Shows like this compliments the established and newcomers very well as you get to learn more about cultural fashion.

I recommend and encourage for all my bridal dolls to visit these bridal exhibitions; as mentioned previously, you will get a good deal off the rack if you find something you love. What more – it’s designer outfits for a very reasonable price, exclusive, just for you ❤

With Love,

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A special thanks to @AsianBridesBlog for the tickets!