Current Wish List

Don't you always find yourself lusting over things and creating mental wish lists despite promising yourself that you're trying to save? Here, I have created a little (not so little price tag!) compilation of items that I have been absolutely lusting over, and somewhat drooling over online. 

Let's start with my personal favourite - the beautiful Gucci Dionysus bag (buy it here)
This bag has spiked in popularity recently, if you're a fashion addict you've definitely had a moment of desire for this bag! The Dionysus was introduced in the Fall/Winter 2015 collection and it has since blossomed in the fashion blogging world. Described as a 'structured top handle bag' this little beauty features a bold sliding silver chain and a centre buckle shaped as a tiger spur. For me, this metal design adds to its wearability! You can dress this item up or down and still look effortlessly chic.

Being a 'bootie' girl, I tend to wear ankle boots pretty much all year round! Seriously, you can find me in a little dress in the midst of London's Summer season, but I'd still pair my outfit with a pair of ankle boots and a fedora hat to add that little bit of edge. These Saint Laurent Babies 90 Suede Ankle Boots are gorgeous! They feature that gorgeous length that goes just above the ankles, which in my opinion, brings the illusion of extra length to your legs. (buy them here)


Now an exciting confession, I recently acquired my first pair Céline sunglasses (post pending) but as always this means that the flood gates of desire have opened and quite naturally, I want more. Oh a girl can dream! These Céline Audrey Sunglasses feature a beautiful grey toned tortoise shell which I think works quite nicely with the bold design - bringing it an element of softness once worn. (Buy them here)

I'm not really a watch kinda gal, in fact I can confirm that I have never really worn a watch more than a handful of times. I just feel my wrists are too small and anything looks too overpowering for arm candy. However, I have been recently lusting over rose gold, but also mesh metals! This Cluse watch might just be an exception! Gorgeous mesh watch from Cluse here 

I think it's fair to say I don't need any more lipsticks, especially no more nude coloured variations. However, I recently swatched a shade of Mac's Lipstensity colours and I loved the creamy texture. It definitely has more sheen to their normal range, however I would compare it to the 'Amplified' lipstick range - perhaps just slightly less opaque. Mac Liptensity here

What are you current want and needs?

Saina
xo

Byoo-tuh-fuhl: Currently on my face

Hello lovelies!

Today's post is a quick snippet into what my summertime beauty regimen has consisted of. As I'm sure my readers know by now, I tend to suffer with an extremely oily t-zone area on my face - and this is particularly annoying in the warmer months! I mean, there's gorgeous goddess does summertime glow then there's the non-practical greaseball. For all you combination-oily skin ladies, I know you understand the struggle of looking overly shiny! The key to getting a gorgeous, dewy glow? Keep the shine in check.

I've been wearing Chanel's Vita Lumiere Aqua on my skin, this skin base is great because it not only contains SPF 15 (one less stage in my beauty routine) but it's also a water based foundation, which believe-it-or-not is what oily skin is lacking! Dermatologists are always raving about dehydrated skin, and although consuming water is the best option for combating that, but by putting a water based product onto your skin, you can retain moisture beneath cells. A good mattifying powder is also crucial. So I've been reaching for Mac's Mineralize Skin Finish - a light dusting of this accross the forehead and nose does a great job. Remember: only powder the areas where you get particularly oily and this is usually the center of the face.

What about radiancy? Although dry skin gals tend to get away with highlighting better than those with oilier skin, strategic highlighting is still an option! I like to gently dab Mac's Lustre drops onto the high points of my face - the tops of my cheekbones, cupid’s bow and a tiny bit on the bridge of my nose. Remember: avoid areas that are overly textured such as skin blemishes or pimples, or have larger pores as highlighting only emphasizes this!

On my lips, I've been rocking the infamous Velvet Teddy pout. If there's one lipstick that made it big at the start of 2015 it was Mac's matte lip in Velvet Teddy - all thanks to someone's (overly) pouty pout, Kylie Jenner. Paired with Mac's 'Whirl' liner, this creates the illusion of plumper lips, and due to my medium-warm skintone this lipstick appears more as a taupy-nude on me.

What have been some of your summer time skin treats?

Saina
xo

It's In The Details

Today's post is a little snippet of what I've been reaching for a lot in the past couple of weeks - just a quick insight into my current loves.

Nars Sheer glow is the perfect day time foundation for me. I apply it with a beauty blending sponge (I love the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge), creating a thin layer for a natural day time coverage. You can also use a slightly heavier application, by layering the foundation for a more full coverage, yet natural, appearance. Although my skin tends to get slightly greasier on the t-zone area, I have had no issues with this product in terms of excessive oiliness - I tend to carry my Mac MSF with me everywhere anyway. For concealing any stubborn blemishes, I dab this Bare Mineral's 'bisque' concealer and it does a great job at covering scars!

Nars Laguna bronzer is a very natural 'glow' looking colour on my yellow tone skin, and although it doesn't add much in the bronzing department, it does a great job at creating a defined and *contoured* face. If you want a lot of warmth and depth of colour added to your complexion, and you have medium-yellow toned skin, I would suggest you give Nars Casino a go.

On lazier days, I ditch the winged liner and apply a swipe of this Sephora brown eyeliner closer to the lash line, just enough to add slight definition and then I coat the lashes with a mascara that separates the lashes whilst creating volume - this Mac Haute & Naughty mascara is great for that! I also put a stroke of this 'highlight' shadow by Mac, into the tear duct area to create the illusion of a wider and brighter eye. Finally, I've been finishing my minimal look with my one of my all time favourite Mac lipsticks, Yash.

As a self acclaimed lover of all things silver, I'm always reaching for a few silver bits of jewelery to complete my outfit. I've rediscovered this aztec inspired piece from Primark - the assortment of stone colours really stand out on an all black outfit, and this necklace just gives off a very vintage vibe. Love it.

Current Hair Styling Products

When it comes to my hair I don't tend to experiment a lot. In fact, I've pretty much been stuck in the same hair styling routine for the past couple of years. Although I haven't switched up my style, I've dabbled into a few new products and found myself a roundup of products.

1) Charles Worthington Texturising Spray: I was initially attracted to picking up this hair texturiser because of an extremely popular cult favourite, Oribe Dry Texturising Spray; unfortunately this product is also extremely expensive. As a general consensus on the blogosphere, the Charles Worthington spray is a cheaper alternative of the Oribe one. I haven't looked back since I first picked this cult favourite up last year! It's the perfect addition, basically like the missing link in my hair styling routine. If like me, you hate freshly washed 'fluffy' hair and prefer that second day hair look and feel, then this product is great for you. It gives your hair extra grit and achieves a backcombed, voluminous look on in one bottle.

2) JLife Heat Shield: If you know me, you know I very rarely put any heat on my hair - not only in fear of hair damage, but also out of sheer laziness! If I'm feeling extra adventurous I take to my hair diffuser for added volume. Obviously, that has a negative effect on the health of my hair so a heat protection product is needed. JLife is not a product I'm too familiar with, but having received a couple of their products in a London Fashion Week goodie bag, I've become a total covert to their brand. This leave in spray reduces potential heat damage whilst providing gentle conditioning. This is a no faff product and does exactly what it says on the tin (or bottle).

3) Aussie Miracle Styling Mousse: Hair mousse takes me back to my early teens, where I used to mousse an' scrunch my hair to the max! Mousse now has a completely different meaning in my hair styling routine. I run about a pump or two of this product through my hair - from the roots down, whilst it's wet, for added volume. My hair tends to fall straight naturally - I'm lucky one or two waves make an appearance but that's about it. This product just helps maintain some wave definition and shine without appearing 'crunchy'.

4) JLife Serum: I take about a pump or two into the palm of my hand and then run it through the mid-lengths and ends of lightly towel dried hair. This product can be used in both wet or dry hair for that added sheen and to help tame frizz. I've found it to work beautifully without weighing my hair down, or making it feel greasy, which some de-frizzers have done.

5) Stila Hair Refreshener: This product gives me life, literally. It's the best dry shampoo I've set my paws on, and it has so many extra uses than a simple freshening of greasy roots! I use this product for volume, grip, texture and it makes my hair not only look, but feel clean. I couldn't recommend this product enough for any of the above uses. If you have lifeless, straight hair that's prone to appearing greasy, give this Stila gem a go!

Let me know what some of your hair faves are.

Saina
xo

Vintage Shop Browsin' : OOTD

Those in fear of double denim look away! So today I made a trip to one of my favourite London locations in hopes of finding a few vintage gems at a flea market - Angel Islington. The weather was a bit of everything today - we had a few moments of sun yet the wind was in full force today, which made me question my fedora choice one too many times.
Leather jackets are my Spring time staple. They're the perfect addition to any outfit with the right amount of layering and warmth. In London we're at that stage where winter coats are too much though we can't skip jackets totally just yet. This outfit, apart from being an example of how double denim can work, is an example of layering.

The jeans I'm wearing here were bought from Topshop in the mid-season sale for...£5. They are two sizes up from what I usually wear but due to their 'Leigh' style the material is tight, so they don't appear too loose or gather at the legs. Although this exact pair are no longer available, here is a link to a similar pair that are still in stock on the Topshop website.
Yet another Zara basic tee - I'm a sucker for Zara's basics! These are the most flattering tshirts I've found to date, and I love everything from the deep V neck to the light airy material.  
This shirt is an example of how great some vintage finds are - I found this light denim, over sized piece was found in Rokit a few years ago. You can find similar shirts in almost every charity shop!

To accessories, I've kept things pretty basic - don't I always. Obviously, I opted for the Miss Selfridge fedora, again. I'm also wearing my small Michael Kors bag, it's the perfect size for just the necessities - there's nothing worse than rummaging through a flea market with the weight of a heavy bag weighing you down. Finally, on my feet I'm wearing my firkenstocks (fake Birkenstocks) which I bought from Primark last year.

Hope you've been enjoying your Bank Holiday weekend!

Saina
xo

Spring Splurge: Current Want & Needs

So here are a few items that have been sitting in my virtual shopping basket and I've seriously been lusting over, some of which I'm going to have to get my hands on before I miss the chance! 

This gorgeous knitted jumper is from H&M, picture it with tapered black trousers and a pair of white trainers - beaut. Sadly enough, they only have larger sizes left on the website that I don't think I could make work even with the 'over-sized' look, but I'm still trying my luck in stores!

I think every girl has a Balenciaga sitting in their virtual basket, and mine is this Arena Giant 12, Mini City in black. This bag is everything, it can be worn both dressed up or down and the gunmetal, silver hardware on it is absolutely gorgeous. Of course this item is one that will sit in my virtual shopping basket for a tad longer than all the rest (great example of me trying to make myself feel better). 

Birkenstocks were all the rage last summer, but something tells me the trend is here to stay for a while - if you're still in two minds about birks, this is your chance to grab yourself a pair and make the most use out of it. Although I have pair of Primark Birkenstock (I call them firkenstocks fake + birkenstock) lookalikes that I got last summer, I'm ready to invest in a more sturdier pair and these white ones have caught my eye. 

Now I'm not much of an eye shadow wearer but I've been eyeing this all matte shadow Basics palatte from Urban Decay - it seems to have wearable natural shades that are perfect for defining the eye. Find it here. 

I'm a self confessed Fedora addict so I'll probably always have one sitting on my wishlist, this one is from Penmayne London and retails for over £300, but you can find similar styles for much less in most high street stores. 

Now I should have probably mentioned this first as I want these the most and for some reason I still haven't picked a pair up since last year! These classic Ray Ban aviators feature mirrored green lenses with a soft brushed gold metal - absolutely gorgeous. I've tried these countless times and fall in love more and more each time. 

What are some of your Spring want and needs?

Saina 

xo

How to Perfect the Brow

This season has been all about brows - plucking till the arch gets right, filling in the tail to create a symmetrical frame for the face, and delving into the once unknown world of eyebrow threading.
As an Iranian, I was *blessed* (I use this term loosely) with naturally thick eyebrows and eyebrow hairs. Of course this came with its own downfalls - a ticket to the mimicking of my caterpillar eyebrows at the age of 11! For that reason, I started to tame my eyebrows at the end of junior school and I remember oh-so-well that moment my mother finally gave me the go ahead to get my eyebrows done for the start of secondary school - eek!

Eyebrow Threading:
That brings me to the treatment of my eyebrows - I have been threading them every two weeks professionally for a total of 11 years (wow, that's a lifetime of thread to face action). One thing that I'm eternally grateful for is that my mum kept all tweezers at home hidden well away from me. For that reason I never took it upon myself to pick a pair of tweezers - clearly I was alien to the satisfaction that comes with plucking stubborn hairs. My eyebrows are therefore well trained in growing out regularly and mostly all in one length i.e. no waiting around for smaller stubborn hairs to grow out in between threading treatments. Facial hair threading is an ancient method originating in Persia and Central Asia, though only recently has it gained popularity in the Western beauty world. Therefore, I have been exposed to threading at home since a young girl - it's a method that most Iranian women have mastered, though I haven't caught onto the skill of 'double and twist' just yet!

Here, the different face shapes show you what eyebrow style works best

Face Shape & Eyebrows: 
Eyebrows are the key components of framing your face, therefore there are a variety of shapes and styles that compliment different face shapes better. Once you have determined your face shape, you can then found out which eyebrow shape suits you the most. For instance, a long face (check above diagram for reference) could do with a flat eyebrow (check the space between the brown bone and brow tail - no real height in the arch or curve) to create the illusion of a shorter and more proportionate face. Alternatively, if you have a short face you can create the illusion of an elongated face by thinning your brows, but also creating a more arched shape will widen the space between the brow bone and the brow tail, which also widens the face. If you visit a beauty salon that offers threading treatments, which I highly reccommend you do, your beautician can help you determine the best brow shape for your face. In general, I only ask for a 'tidy' as naturally my brows tend to grow in a shapely and arched manner.

The Golden Ratio:
As a general rule of thumb, the 'Golden Ratio' (originally trademarked by world famous makeup artist, Anastasia Soare - founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills) represents balance and proportion in the face starting from the brows. The GR technique three precise points on the brow:
1) The imaginary line running through the middle of the nostril to the highest point of the eyebrow arch.
2) The line running from the tip of the nose to the iris of the eye.
3) The line that runs from the point of the corresponding nostril to the outer edge of the eyebrow tail. 
Use these three guidelines to determine the beginning of your brow, the highest point of your arch, and where the tail of your brow should end. Again, you can discuss these proportions with your beautician. Most salons have the 'HD' brow option, which offers shaping, and dying of the brows to create the illusion of fuller brows without makeup!

I brush through my brows using the brush (top), then stroke pomade into brows following natural hair direction using an angled brush (bottom)

Little Tips:
If you find that there are bald patches in your brows, dip a q-tip into some castor oil and gently pat it onto the area that has little-no hair growth. Castor oil has hair activating qualities and can be use to thicken and encourage hair growth!
I like to use Anastasia Beverly Hills, (available here) Brow Pomade in colour 'Chocolate' to further fill in and define the shape of my brows. By using a fine angled brush I pick up the pomade on either side of the brush and make gentle strokes within my brows following the natural hair direction.

Ladies, ditch the tweezers and opt for threading!

Saina
xo

Ditch the Cartons: At Home Juice Detox

2015 has been the year of body cleansing in the form teatoxing and juicing. Social media has particularly seen an influx of the juicing trend, where celebrities and popular figures have endorsed brands that cater to natural weight loss and healthy juicing. At the start of 2015 I made it my personal resolution to jump onto the healthy bandwagon and take a further step into eating naturally. After a fair amount of research and a couple of failed push-starts, I came across a juice weight loss program - a brand that offered a 3 day detox program. I was attracted to this particular brand as it promised to clear your body from toxins and aid in healthy weight loss in a programmed time frame. As promised, when I placed my order I received the correct amount of juiced bottles, all numbered and stages for the correct 'meal' eating (or drinking) times. By the end of my detox I felt great, full of energy (yes you read that correctly) and I wanted to learn more. However, there was a downfall. The three days of a handful of bottled juice had cost me £115. After bickering with my mum about purchasing another set of juices, she suggested I made more for my money by purchasing my own top-quality juicer and fruit. That simple, I know.

Kale, spinach and green apple ready for a smoothie

After a trip to my local John Lewis, I left with a 'maximum juice, minimum fuss' Philips juicer that cost me no more than £70. I also picked up a Kenwood smoothie maker for £20. Since then, I have been enjoying mixing up my own fruit and veg ingredients to make juices and fruit smoothies for both detox purposes but also as a way of incorporating more healthy foods into my diet.

Left is the Phillips Juicer, right is the Kenwood Smoothie maker

The juicer I bought allows me to make 1.5l of pressed juice, which is perfect for bottling up and putting in the fridge - this is the food prepping that all trainers are raving about! Using this juicer, I've also found it easier to drink up some fruit & veg that I wouldn't normal eat i.e. ginger - the benefits of ginger are endless, though I don't like its raw taste. In juice it adds a delicious tang that I love!
Here's the Phillips juicer I bought and love.
Here's the Kenwood smoothie maker that makes delicious magic in seconds.

All blended and ready to be poured over ice, voila!

I hope this inspires you to ditch the cartons and create your own healthy goodness.

Saina
xo

Todays FOTD: Everyday Natural Makeup

Despite being a makeup junkie, there are few firm favourites that I use pretty much everyday and serve as holy grail items in my beauty stash. This post is a quick insight into some of the main treats my face is fed on a daily basis.

Base: Nars Sheer Glow in Santa Fe
I've been using this foundation for 4 years now and I still have no complaints. It's the perfect everyday foundation for normal-dry skin, due to its luminous finish I wouldn't recommend this foundation for oilier skin types as it may make your skin super greasy without constant powder touch-ups. Personally, I tend to get slightly *greasier* in my t-zone area, but I use Macs MSF after a few hours use and I'm good to go for the rest of the day. I wouldn't say this foundation radiates that 'glow from within' look, but rather has a beautiful satin finish that smoothes over any imperfections without drawing any attention to them. In terms of coverage, this foundation is sheer in texture, though buildable for soft coverage of imperfections.

Bronzer: Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel (Bronze Universal)
This cream-gel bronzer was all the rage a couple of years back, and most people seemed to have gave up on the application of this makeup newbie. Though once you've caught the hang of what works best with this product, it really works a treat in warming up your skins base. The trick, for me at least, is to use the product as I would foundation. I like to use this with my Real Techniques Expert Face brush, and gently pat in upward motions from the hollow of my cheekbones.

Contour: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola
Although I'm not a massive contouring freak, I like to use this product to create a slight illusion of a shadow for my cheekbones and down my nose. For olive skin tones, I find this works best as a contour shade rather than a bronzer as it has 'cool' undertones rather than a red base. It's also a matte product, which is perfect for defining the face.

Highlight: Mac Lustre Drops
With this product, a little goes a long way. I like to use a couple of drops of this over my cheekbones and down my nose to create a luminous and radiant base.

Lips: Mac Soar & Blankety
Soar is a mauve-pink liner that works perfectly to create the illusion of fuller lips. I fill around and in my lips with this shade and then tap Blankety ontop for a fuller, but also glossier pout.


Saina
xo

Turmeric Face Mask : DIY

As a lifelong sufferer of eczema, and hypersensitive skin, my face has been left with stubborn scars from rashes and irritations as a child, but also as a result of cystic acne in my first year of uni (let's call it a fusion of the 'student diet' and 'student anxiety').

I've tried many face oils, serums and moisturizers to keep breakouts at bay but to also reduce the appearance of scarring; though nothing seems to have done the trick! But then I finally gave into my mum's recommendations - "turmeric mask, turmeric mask, turmeric mask" (she said each and every time I made a trip back home on the weekend). In today's commercial beauty world, we are repeatedly exposed to face masks and peels of all sorts of clays, ingredients and chemicals but this all natural, easy to make remedy has been a part of Middle Eastern homes for centuries and works every time.

This homemade turmeric mask seems to have made a significant difference in revitalizing the appearance of my skin, and has in time reduced the discoloration of both eczema and acne scarring. My mum also swears by this mask for the softening of fine lines and wrinkles!

Required Ingredients:
2 teaspoons turmeric
2 teaspoons of raw, organic honey
1 teaspoon of milk or yoghurt (optional)
1 teaspoon of avocado (optional)

Preparation: 
I ensure my face is cleansed entirely with no traces of makeup or impurities left behind - as recommended a few posts back I love the Body Shop oil cleanser and use a soft bristled face brush to lightly exfoliate my skin.
Once your skin is clean and fresh, place a headband (honey in your hair is gross, trust me), apply the smooth paste on your face. Allow the mask to harden on your skin for arond 15-20 minutes and then you can rinse it off with warm water.

Tips:
Soak two cucumber slices in rose water, and place on your eyes - enjoy your zen moment!
Once mask has been rinsed off with warm water, give your face a splash of cold water and gently dry (avoid harshly rubbing towel all over face)

Saina
xo

Where have I been?

After graduating from university last year, I decided to make it my personal mission to travel to a few destinations as a pat-on-the-shoulder from me to me (for achieving a 'First' - eek!), but also as a way in which to enrich my experiences. A random burst of travels is nothing that I am a stranger to - after completing my A-levels in 2011, I conquered parts of the USA including 3 months in Los Angeles, and a further month driving from LA - San Diego - San Francisco - Las Vegas.

In true Sagitarian spirit, I thrive in adventures and travels. I get bored easily, and I'm always thinking about my next move in order to bring new and exciting challenges to my routine. My addiction? Very simple. The likes of holiday booking websites - now for most, this may sound like the usual sun, sand and sea obsession. For me? Not so much. The idea of sitting by a pool, or on a sunny beach brings me nothing but torment. I'd much rather hike my way through unknown mountains and peaks, or drive aimlessly to discover that one wrong turn that changes your life. Me and traveling are a story book love affair. Having conquered as much of the UK as I possibly could as a child, I've now taken it upon myself to explore further.

I am going to share with you parts of my travels as I know I love reading travel blogs, but also in hopes of giving you some recommendations and ideas - look out for my travel posts and let me know if you have any you want me to check out!

Saina
xo

Spring 2015 Wishlist

Here is a little snippet into my current wants and needs - Spring 2015 edition.

New Balances: 
Recently, I have delved into the fashion world of trainers. Have you had asked me about wearing trainers a few years ago, I would have given the idea a definite no-no. However, after my recent city trips around Europe, I had to face the aches and pains, blisters and cuts - heeled boots are a definite back-packing red flag. I therefore made it my mission to find a wearable pair of trainers and after a few weeks of hunting I came across the perfect pair for me - Nike Flex Runs in black (I'll make a note to show them in an upcoming outfit post). After buying those, I've grown obsessed with trainers, and have pretty much worn nothing but my Nikes. Now that I'm a trainer 'freak', I feel that I need a new pair in my one-pair collection and New Balances are on my radar (I need, need, need a pair!). This grey pair are beautiful and will pretty much match any outfit.

Topshop Washed Black Jamie Jeans:
I'm forever on the hunt for the perfect pair of jeans, and for that reason I have an ever growing collection. Naturally, I need this pair too! The ripped jeans trend is definitely here to stay, and Topshop's Jamie jeans have always been my favourite cut and material.

Fur Coat: 
For as long as I can remember, I've been wanting the 'perfect' faux fur coat. I have fur gilets and waistcoats but nothing I can actually call a 'coat'. During the Spring months, a fur coat is perfect when paired with a t-shirt as it keeps your relatively warms whilst making any simple outfit appear stylish and edgy.

Philip Lim Satchel:
Obviously I'm still wanting a Philip Lim satchel, and this one pairs perfectly with the grey trainers (duh)


Nars Velvet-matte Lip Pencil (Walkyrie):
I'm sure if I rummaged through my lipstick collection, I'd find at least 5 variations of this lip pencil shade. I'm a big fan of the Nars jumbo crayons, and this burnt coral red shade has recently caught my eye.

Nixon Watch: 
This rose gold and leather strap beauty speaks for itself. I only really have two watches (which I never wear) and both of which are silver metal. This watch features a wearable leather strap which I know I'd feel more inclined to wear as it would pair well with my various bracelets. The simple rose gold face is a subtle hint of hardware and stylish arm-candy.

What have you been eying and yearning this season?

Saina
xo

Autumn Sun OOTD

Hi lovelies, today's post is another ootd - these are some of my favourite types of blog reads, and I love doing them too. This outfit is an example of my usual monochrome casual getup, with an added splash of colour brought in from accessorizing. On more casual days, I tend to just throw my hair up into a messy ponytail, and opt for a nude lipstick - and today's look was an accurate depiction of that.

 

The sunglasses featured in this outfit, are my Classic Ray Ban aviators with a gold frame (I've practically worn these for 2 years straight). This faux leather jacket was purchased last year from H&M, similar ones can be found here. I've paired my Topshop white Joni jeans with a basic Zara tshirt - these tshirts are less 'slinky' than others that I have found on the high-street, and therefore do not look too much like pj's (am I the only one that feels like white tshirts look pyjama-y?)

For some people, the heeled Chelsea boots may be an unnecessary addition for a casual day out, but over the passed year I have embraced a sleeker and more classy look by adding a slight heel to my casual style. Am I the only one that feels more feminine and slightly more mature by wearing a small heel during the day? These boots were bought two years ago from Topshop (anyone remember the Topshop Allegra craze?) but I'm sure you can find similar ones that are in stock at the moment.
My handbag is the Michael Kors Jetset Safiano in black, with gold hardware.
Finally, this Topshop scarf is my new favourite addition to my wardrobe, it's that gorgeous mustard-camel colour and instantly lifts a neutral outfit.

What are your wardrobe style essentials? Do you have any staple Autumn pieces?

Saina
xo

Best Bargain Polish Buys

Today's post is about my latest but favourite nail polish discovery - the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail paints. I think everyone has at point in their lives been a fan of the Barry M nail range, however in the past couple of years I found myself drifting away from their nail range until my recent purchases from this polish range. Barry M's latest range includes 32 colours, claiming to have a 'gel' effect on the nails whilst maintaining 'an extra glossy finish'.

Pros: 
Painting my nails is an important part of my beauty regiment, and I tend to paint my nails a total of 3 times a week. Over the years, I've also accumulated quite the boat load of nail polishes from varying brands, both high end and drug store. For that reason, I do not tend to repurchase a particular range if I feel it's not working for me i.e. in terms of chipping, losing shine, fading, problematic application etc. However, this range has absolutely surprised me, and may even be my favourite nail formula at the moment! Although, I'm a devoted user of the Seche Vite top coat, I prefer products that have a high shine formula already - I've never been a fan of matte nails, and I absolutely hate when some products tend to fade after a handwash (Mavala, I'm looking at you). This range does exactly what it says on the bottle, it maintains this gel like appareance and also prevents any chipping or fading! For me, this means I can have a decent manicure at home for as little as £4 - always a good thing. The application is also amazing, the colours are opaque enough for one coat (though, I prefer two) as they're a little thicker in consistency, perhaps due to the 'gelly' like quality. What surprised me the most, was how little time I required for the polish to dry - no more than 2-3 minutes is needed for this formula. Finally, the polish seems to be extremely chip resistant, even without a top coat, I could wear the same application for just over a week. Amazing!

Fantastic formula aside, Barry M has mastered it's colour pallatte for this range. Each and every colour is equally as beautiful, but more importantly - wearable! There are some beautiful neutrals from this range (lychee, almond and cocoa are amazing), which I've found drug store brands tend to fall behind on. There are also some classic but unique shades such as Paprika and Chilli - both a burnt orangey-red with brown undertones, these shades definitely make your nails seem like they've had a high quality pampering using the most luxurious and expensive manicures (Shhh, I wont tell if you wont).

Cons:
My only complaint of this product is the brush - I'm being picky I know. From my experience, a polish with a wider brush makes application such a dream. It not only makes it faster to apply your polish, but also ensures equal distribution of product across the whole nail.

I highly reccommend you give this range a try if you haven't done so already. I promise you will not be dissappointed - take that from a nail polish snob! Leave me any of your reccomendations, I would love to hear what you're all loving at the moment.

Saina
xo

The Battle of The Felt Liners

Everyone has that one makeup stage they prefer the most, and the one item they could not live without and mine would have to be.. eyeliner. Since the age of 14, I've been attempting to perfect that feline winged liner look and along this journey of uneven feline flicks, smudges and bad-liner days I have discovered what products work best for me. The eyeliner pens with the felt tips. What I've found is that felt liners help create the most defined and accurate feline flick, without much concentration and in little time. So today, I'm going to share with you my thoughts on 4 eyeliner that's I've been trying out recently.

1) L'oreal's Super Liner - This eyeliner is one of my all time favourite eyeliners. This product features a 0.4mm tip, which helps to create the perfect one stroke sweep across the eyelid. This is what I love about this product, you can create the main body and 'base' of your eyeliner look with one sweep. The pen also features a slight dented/curved section where the pen becomes slightly slimmer, allowing aided accuracy in application. Be warned, do not be fooled by the thin precise tip - you cannot use this to 'draw' on your flick as it does not hold enough product or sturdiness due to it's length.

2) Eyeko's Skinny Liner - Having always come across raves about this brand, I was extremely excited to try this liner. However, I was more than disappointed. This has to be one of the most dry liners I've tried, making it extremely difficult to even produce a line - let alone anything of precision! To make matters worse, the ink used in this product is of poor quality. It dispenses in an odd manner, which requires particular angles to produce any ink at all. But when you finally attempt to use the little ink the pen hold, it creates 'splodges' rather than anything smooth. Application aside, the liquid also dries in a peculiar way, creating spotty patches that almost 'crust' over when you try to go over them. Considering this is the most expensive (£12) eyeliner out of the bunch, it's definitely the worst (worst I've tried).

3) Collection's Extreme 24 Hour Liner - I will start by saying this is probably the best value for money. This eyeliner is £2.99, and considering the price, the product is not half bad at all! As the liner features a shorter, more rounded tip, it's more helpful for creating a thicker eyeliner look. You're definitely going to struggle if you're using this eyeliner for a thin and precise feline look. This product is far more useful for creating a thicker but well defined, bold flick. I also found that this product lasts forever (we're talking over 6 months here) - it seriously never seems to dry out! The ink dispenses perfectly, not requiring any fancy angles to get the ink out evenly. In terms of the longevity, I cannot say I've attempted keeping my eyeliner on for 24 hours, but I can confirm it lasts at least 12 hours, without any smudging or fading. Your eyeliner will remain just as black and pigmented all throughout the day!

4) Maybeline Master Precise Liner - This product is my favourite. It ticks every box for my eye defining needs. Let's start by saying that it's very pigmented, which I love!  One sweep across the eye is enough as it holds extremely opaque black ink. The felt tip is flexible, though very sturdy, allowing you to create thin or thick lines and flicks with extra precision. This product enables you to produce the perfect winged liner as it holds and distributes ink evenly - no fancy techniques required here. The tip of this liner is slightly thicker than the L'oreal eyeliner, which means you can use the tip to not only sweep across, but to also 'draw' on the eyelid. I also find that the product lasts all day without fading, and I've never had problems with it in terms of smudging etc.

For the sake of being a makeup hoarder, I'm always on the look out for different eyeliners, so I would love to know some of your favourites to try out!

Saina
xo

Camden Town OOTD

Here's a quick post of my outfit details from yesterday where I made a trip to Camden Town for lunch and little browse around the market. Yesterday's weather was much more Autumn-like, allowing me to wear only this long length cardigan over my tshirt without feeling cold. I've also been loving wearing my fedora hat recently - it's also a God send for those ever so frustrating bad hair days!

Outfit details:
Felt fedora hat - Miss Selfridge here
Long length knitted cardigan - Monki here
Cropped acid wash tshirt - Brandy Melville here
High waisted Joni jeans - Topshop here
Vagabond Dioon boots - Office here
Bag - Hermes Birkin

What are your Autumn wardrobe essentials? 

Saina

xo

My Top 5 Mac Lipsticks

Today I am going to share with you my top 5 Mac lipsticks, and these are the shades that I genuinely reach for the most (I promise). Firstly, I thought I should begin with a little disclaimer about my lipstick preferences in terms of formula, finish and shades. In terms of formula I prefer hydrating, creamy textures that don't dry out the lips as I have naturally dry lips that are prone to peeling (gross, I know). Here's where we are faced with a predicament, I prefer my lipsticks with a matte finish. This can be quite problematic as I need to ensure my lips are in good condition prior to lipstick application, otherwise I'm left with bitty lips with gathered dead skin around the edges (there's no graceful way of putting this description, trust me I tried.

However, after years of dabbling into different brands, both high street and high end, I've found that Mac's Matte lipsticks work well for me. This brings us to my preferred colour groups, which I must admit I'm a bit adventurous with lips as I always tend to keep my eyes quite minimal. Though I don't have a preferred colour range, I do tend to reach for neutral shades more on a daily basis. So here's my top 5 lipsticks from Mac:

 

1) Taupe (Matte) - Described by Mac as a "muted reddish taupe-brown"
This lipstick is one of my favourite lipsticks (Mac or not) and I've worn it to death. Mac's Taupe is a gorgeous red toned brown, a sort of brick colour that instantly lifts a very minimal earthy makeup look. On me (NC30 for reference) this lipstick is a definite brown, though if worn on a darker complexion it may appear as a soft brown-nude. This is a matte lipstick that applies extremely smoothly, and tends to dry from a creamy application to a wearable matte finish. I can wear Taupe for about 3-4 hours before having to reapply, as drinks can tend to make the lipstick seem a little patchy.

2) Mehr (Matte) - Described by Mac as a "dirty blue pink"
Mehr is my all time favourite lipstick, and I often find myself having to steer away from it as it makes me neglect the 50- odd other lipsticks I own! For someone that hates pink lipstick on herself, I absolutely adore this shade! On me this tends to mimic a more pinky nude, but if worn on lighter complexions the pink will definitely be further accentuated. This shade gives me the illusion of fuller lips, and once paired with the right lip liner it can transform a lip look quite drastically. This lipstick is also very creamy and non drying on the lips. However, unlike Taupe, this colour does not go patchy at all, and actually wears to a stain almost. This gives it a wearability of 5+ hours! I love this lipstick!

3) Honeylove (Matte) - Described by Mac as a "light beige toned with rose"
This is a recent purchase of mine, though I used to have an exact dupe of the shade from Wet & Wild (post upon request). This is a nude with a more brown undertone, that wears as a cool toned dark beige with a retro matte finish on my lips. From all the Mac matte's I own, this one is the most non-hydrating, and your lips definitely require some prep before application. Despite this, the lipstick has extra long staying power, and just as other nude lips, you can get away with a little bit of colour fading. 

4) Viva Glam III - Described by Mac as a "muted brownish plum"
Now when I first purchased this lipstick over a year ago, I somehow managed to convince myself that it was a limited edition shade. You can only imagine the excitement when I recently discovered this is a permanent shade from the Viva Glam rage. This shade is a gorgeous plum with brown undertones, which I like to wear both during the day for casual looks, and in the evening to dress up an outfit. This lipstick applies less creamy than most Mac mattes that I own, however it's lasts at least 5 hours before requiring re-application. I would recommend applying lip balm over the top every hour to avoid any skin gathering.

5) Yash - Described by Mac as a "deep neautral"
As I wanted to keep this post as true to life as possible, I had to cheat and include yet another nude shade. Yash has to be the best fitting nude lipstick for my fair-medium olive skin complexion due to its peach neautral tones with slight hints of yellow. However, if worn on fairer complexions this colour will definitely create a deeper beige look, and may be deemed a little too heavy to be classed as a 'nude lip'. This lipstick paired with a dark smokey eye look creates the perfect balance without making my lips appear as if they have a white cast. Yash is definitely one of Mac's more hydrating matte lipsticks and applies very smoothly and evenly.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I would love to know what some of your favourite Mac shades are!

Saina
xo 

Olympia Beauty: NYX Cosmetics Haul

As promised, this post is about the little gems from NYX Cosmetics, which I managed to bag at the Olympia Beauty Show. Prior to this haul, I had dabbled into NYX products and there were two items that I had hopes of finding at the exhibition - the 'Xtreme Shine Lip Cream' lip glosses and their finely milled, pigmented blushers. Although the stand featured all their range, the stock seemed low at my time of visit and many colours had sold out. However, I did manage to snatch a few shades of both products and I have swatched all the items below. In addition to these items, I bought my first NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in ''Sugar Pie" which is a champagne based nude with slight shimmer running through it - I have heard quite a lot of about this lip gloss and it's non-stick formula, so I'm keen to layer it over nude lipsticks. Finally, I grabbed two Round lipsticks in the shades "Strawberry Milk" (pale pink) and "Circe" (peach toned true nude) - these lipsticks are super creamy and very pigmented (think Mac's Amplified lipsticks).

I checked and compared the prices online and found that the products were being sold at a slight discounted price at the show. All the products are quite cheap (£5 and under), being retailed at your typical 'high street' brand prices, but the products are definitely not of cheap quality as they have great colour pay off and long wearability. All these products are available on the NYX website, though I must admit, the online swatches are not really true to colour, making it extremely difficult to find the right shades.

Do you have any NYX favourites?

Saina
xo

OOTD: Monday Calls for Cocktails

For many of us Monday calls for a serious episode of post weekend blues as we dread making our way back to work/school. Despite my wardrobe choices being a part of the darkest colour palette possible, the weather in London today was absolutely beautiful. As a result myself and my friends decided to go for a few drinks in the evening whilst the sun was still making a definite appearance! As always my outfit was quite minimal, though I allowed the accessories do the talking - the strappy heels and my classic Chanel with gold hardware. I also put my hair in a sleek top knot *bad hair day alert* but I went for a bold berry lip colour to bring that edge to the overall look.
My outfit features a new firm favourite of mine and an absolute bargain-buy - the Primark strappy heels. These heels were bought in the sale (as if Primark needs a sale) for £8! I instantly fell in love with these beauties, and I just knew they had to be mine - you can only imagine my excitement when I found out they were almost half the price at the till (originally £14).

Lightweight Zara Knit Jumper - here
Topshop Blue Black Leigh Jeans - here
Heels: Primark

Bag: Chanel 2.55 Medium Classic flap Bag with gold hardware 

Lipstick: Mac's Viva Glam III - here

I hope you've made the most of the sun and your Monday hasn't been too awful!

Saina
xo

The Olympia Beauty Show

This weekend I was lucky enough to receive tickets to attend The Oympia Beauty Show, an exhibition including innovations and techniques for all beauty professionals to browse and purchase. Located in Kensignton Olympia's Great Hall, the show hosted over 550 brands from varying sectors of the beauty industry. In addition to big beauty reveals, there were competitions, international guest speakers, and live training sessions from a selection of experts. The stands included every aspect of the industry imaginable, from teeth whitening treatments to facial fuzz eliminators, or spray tanning sessions and eyebrow tinting to nail art training.

When I first entered the hall, the sight was rather overwhelming. Each and every corner was filled with stands surrounded by keen crowds and the thought of hurling my way through seemed impossible. So here's my tip of the day, look at the floor plan, mark which stands you want to see and immediately embark your journey towards finding them! Not only does this avoid you slowly dodging your way through stands you don't really care for, but also gives you a chance to pick up that last lipstick before it's out of stock.

Did that subtle hint give you an indication of what I was really there for? Makeup, of course. As soon as I discovered NYX Cosmetics had a stand featuring ALL their range, I was, shall we say, a tad too excited? I mage my way to the end of the hall where the stand was located, and knew it was a case of survival of the fittest, allowing no room for manners or orderly queues! Evidently, I was not the only one excited for NYX making an appearance, and I had to make a dive into the heaps of people to snatch whatever I could. I did manage to purchase a few things, and which I will feature those in a later haul post.

I spent the rest of my day wandering around live sessions including The Art of Makeup and The Art of Body Painting competitions, which included artists and body painters showcasing their phenomenal body art creations in hopes of being crowned Makeup Artist and Body Painter of 2014. It was a very educational and well-organised event, and I must admit I did pick up one or two tips along the way. My only complaint would be that there were not enough makeup offerings, especially when compared to the 100+ stands dedicated to nails. Though that's just down to personal preference!

Saina 
xo