Maxfactor Mastertouch Under Eye Concealer

I am lucky to not suffer from very bad eye bags/darkness, however I still look for an eye concealer which will help eliminate darkness for those sleepless nights.

I first came across this concealer in Beige 309 from Maxfactor last year and have been using ever since. So what do I think?

The pen style packaging (ermmm what do you call it?) makes it easy to apply. The texture is creamy and blends well into my skin. It does a great job at covering up blemishes and dark marks/pigmentation as well as lightly concealing under eye circles. If you suffer from very dark circles then this product will not fully cover, but it will help to brighten.

Swatched and blended

I've done a before and after below (sorry for the pic quality, it was taken with my iphone)

BEFORE                                                                                               AFTER

PROS

- Light-weight and does not drag on the skin
- Helps to brighten under eyes without any shine
- Creamy formula which doesn't crease or dry out
- Can be used under eyes and over blemishes

CONS

- Colour selection is limited-only 3 (Fair, Ivory, Beige)
- Expensive for a small amount of product

Conclusion

What I like about this concealer is that I suffer from dryness under my eyes and this does not highlight or crease on my fine lines (eek!). I recently tested out bobbi browns corrector and concealer which was thick and caused major creasing under my eyes! So for now I think I'll stick to this concealer!

If you have suggestions for other alternatives, please let me know in the comments section below :)

Boots often has 3 for 2 on Maxfactor makeup so it's worth stocking up!

Purchase from Superdrug or Boots for £7.99

Intensive Rescue Serum for Acne/Scars- Halal and Organic

When it comes to skincare I'm always on the look out for products that not only work, but are natural as possible. I have changed my routine a lot over the years due to the condition of the skin. Recently I have been keeping my everyday skincare routine to a bare minimum with a few key products, and I think this may now be an essential!

So let me give you a little background information on the company itself. H O stands for Halal and Organic. They offer skincare which is handmade and does not contain alcohol or animal ingredients.

I was kindly allowed to pick a product to review, so decided upon the Intensive Rescue Face Serum. This serum is suitable for acne-prone, combination and scarred skin.
 
The website Describes it as:

"This serum is perfect for improving and treating various skin related issues such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Sea Buckthorn has been customarily used for a wide range of skin ailments for its regenerative and healing actions within the skin. All the sustainably sourced organic ingredients used in this serum have been infused together for the sole purpose to give your skin a day off from all the stresses life can bring and zap those blemishes away."

It contains olive oil for its moisturising properties; sea buckthorn which helps to heal the skin and aloe vera to calm redness. The consistency is almost like liquid so spreads easily, and a little goes a long way. Because it comes in a jar container I don't want to contaminate the ingredients so I like to dip a cotton bud in and add to my face. Being a germaphobe this is probably the only negative I can think of.

I apply daily- once or twice a day under moisturiser. Sometimes I will use as a replacement to my night cream. I have found it to calm my skin, especially after a break out and it does help to reduce the size of the blemish. I have noticed that my acne marks have lightened but I have been using this in conjunction with rice flour, which helps a lot to lighten marks) What I like about this as opposed to the Holland and Barrets aloe and Tea tree formula is that it's moisturising and does not dry out my skin. The Holland and Barrets gel is very strong and stings my eyes every time I apply, and I don't even have overally sensitive eyes!

Conclusion

Overall I am very happy with the serum and would recommend to anyone that is looking for a quality serum which delivers.

If you have different skin type you can find a serum for you on their website.

Shop online at Halal and Organic or find them on Facebook

*This was sent to me to review, but I always provide my honest opinion

Get ready With Me: Makeup and Hijab

 Hey guys :)

This is my first 'Get Ready with Me' video I made for my YouTube channel.

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New Hijab Website-Princess Rockz is LIVE

So I have been neglecting this blog for what seems like an age! However there's a good reason for that...I've been busy with updating the new website and various other projects which I will talk about in my next post :) For now please take a look at the new site and let me know your thoughts xx

 Princess Rockz

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Hijab Obsessions-Kaftan/Abaya Review

Today I will be reviewing a  a Simplicity Kaftan abaya sent to me by Hijab Obsessions. This is the first abaya that I have in my collection at the moment so I was very excited to try.  I was kindly sent one in a striking electric blue. It is plain so can be worn like so or dressed up with accessories.

On first impressions I was wondering if they had sent me the wrong size as it was HUGE! However once worn with a belt it was perfect! I was sent a size 52 which I believe was based on my height (I am 5ft2 inches). Other sizes available are 54, 56, 58 and 60.

Without belt                  worn with belt

Ignore the colour of the kaftan on the left, it was taken in the dark. The true colour is on the right and is stunning!

The kaftan is made from jersey material but isn't tight at all. The sleeves are batwing style and flattering without looking large. An added feature is strings inside, which allow you to tie and adjust to your size.

I have dressed mine up with a black belt from Primark; wedges from Forever 21 and a cobra hijab from Princess Rockz

With the heels and belt the kaftan is just about the right length. If you're petite like me it won't be possible to wear flats with this length kaftan.

As the colour is so striking I would probably save this for an evening event and choose their black kaftan to wear during the day.

Conclusion

I like that the kaftan is plain which gives you the freedom to dress up however you like. It can be worn for a majority of functions and and give you a different look each time.

You can purchase from Hijab Obsessions for £42.99. Check out their website for more photos :)

What do you think of the kaftan? Do you have something similar in your wardrobe?

Aquaini-Modest Swimsuit for Muslim Women

I've been looking for modest swimwear for a long time now, but could never find one that ticks all the boxes. (Most I have seen come with leggings and a short top) So when I came across this I was eager to try! I was given the blue suit in a size small to review.

So let me tell you a little about the company behind this design. Aquaini are a UK based company that specialise in modest swimsuits which provide full coverage, ideal for Muslim women. Their website lists the benefits as:

- Protects you from harmful UV rays
- No hassle of applying sun cream
- Waterproof hood
- Helps keep hair healthy
- Keeps your modesty intact while in water
- Made from water-protected polyester

Close up of the design

It is made from a mixture of nylon and spandex with the lining made from 100% polyester. The swimsuit has full sleeves with a hood attached. I am a UK size 8-10 and find it to be an excellent fit. It isn't clingy but also does not fit like a sack. The top comes to just above my knee (I'm 5ft 2). The trousers are also full length and can be attached to the top to prevent it from riding up while swimming. This I believe is one of the key features of the product design. Once in the water I found it to be comfortable and easy to swim around in. Another benefit is that it's easy to remove as the material is stretchy.

As the hood is attached it is great to wear without a hijab as it covers your head as well as the neck. If you prefer you can also wear with a hijab on top.

The swimsuit is of course ideal for all women- Muslims and non-Muslims, who wish to participate in water based activities whilst dressing modestly.

They are available in different colours for £40. You can find Aquaini on their facebook page or by visiting their website.

Please leave a comment down below and let me know your thoughts :)

Kitsch + Co Jewellery Review

Today I will be reviewing jewellery that was sent to me by Kitsch and Co which is an online jewellery company.

Front and back of the card :)

Packaging the jewellery came in

I was sent three rings and a collar necklace to review. I'm a huge fan of quirky rings and the doughnut is definitely my favourite. It's small and can be adjusted at the back. Moustaches accessories are a huge hit at the moment so this ring is bang on trend! I would probably wear the 2 finger ring for an evening out, but it can also be worn casually during the day.

The length of the necklace can be adjusted and would be great if worn with a turtle neck and a side draped hijab style, to show off the necklace. Dress down during the day with a pair of jeans or for the evening with a maxi dress.

You can find Kitsch and Co on Facebook or on Twitter

What do you think of Kitsch jewellery, are you a fan?

How to style a maxi skirt (Casual Look) OOTD

Salaam my luvs! 

So today's outfit is another maxi skirt! (Don't you just heart them?!) They are so easy to style and give a modest look. Another fav of mine is slogan t-shirts and this one I bought a while back from TK Maxx. On top I'm wearing a denim wash jacket from Zara.

 

 

Skirt is from Ebay and hijab from Princess Rockz. 

Finally my studded shoes are from Primark!

For the hijab style watch the video below:

For the OOTD video watch below:

How do you style maxi skirts??

Side Twist Hijab Tutorial- SIMPLE STYLE!

This is the look which I have created in my latest hijab tutorial. It was a requested look from my followers on Instagram and facebook :) It is so simple to achieve but gives an added twist to the overall look.

Here's another photo of the same style but with a headband added:

To try this look watch the video below:

Outfit of the Day + Mini Hijab Tutorial

 

Click on the video below to watch :)

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Hijab Head Candy-Evening or Bridal Look

Adorn your hijab with the stunning Head Candy from Princess Rockz. All you have to do is clip on and you're ready to go! If you're looking for bridal hijab ideas, why not style your bridal hijab with this intricate piece. You can view a bridal tutorial I have made on my YouTube channel to help you.

Of course you don't have to be a Hijabi to wear the Head Candy! It can also be worn in your hair,  which makes it the perfect accessory for any girl ;)

Get yours now from www.princessrockz.co.uk

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The Body Shop Oil-Free Balancing Foundation

This was a total impulse buy. Waiting at the airport in duty free I decided to pass time and test out the oil free foundation from The Body Shop. I have been on the look out for a decent foundation that provides coverage and is ideal for my combination skin. Swatching this on my face in store I was kinda surprised that it covered well; so on a whim I decided to purchase this (shade 04) along with the blending sponge.

Yup that's dried up foundation right there...

I used this during my holiday abroad and it worked well in the cold weather of Istanbul and the heat of Dubai (around 28 degree Celsius).

The trick is all in the application. For a flawless streak-free finish apply with a damp blending sponge. The disadvantage of this is that you waste some of the product through the sponge. The foundation dries very quickly so you have to work fast with it! Only pump a small amount onto your hand at a time to work with, otherwise it'll dry before you apply to your face. If your skin is dry or flaky the foundation will only highlight this so moisturise well before use!

It provides light-medium coverage and the finish is matte but still glowing. The biggest plus is I don't need to powder as much, which if you have a shiny t-zone like moi will understand! It hasn't broke me out yet which is a MAJOR plus for me *Yayyyyyy!!* Oh and it has SPF15-not bad :)

Overall I am happy with this foundation, and will continue to use. My search for the perfect (is there such a thing?) concealer is still continuing...

The foundation is currently on sale on the Body Shop website for £8! (RRP £13)

Please leave a comment and let me know what your favourite everyday foundation/concealer is :)

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Weekend Blogger Lunch

Over the weekend I attended a blogger lunch hosted by Muslimah Beauty and Zinah. The lunch was held in a resturant called Chillies in Whitleys shopping centre. In attendance were other bloggers including Ayaan from beauty Wednesday and Mango Whirl.

Photo by Mango Whirl

I wore an animal print dress from Spitalfields teamed with a black bolero and a black maxi skirt from H&M. The hijab is from Princess Rockz, shoes from Forever 21.

Mango Whirl, Me, Beauty Wednesday (Photo by Pyari Beauty)

The gang!

The goodie bag

We received a cute Zinah bag filled with beauty products. I think they read my mind as I've been meaning to buy some Pearl Drops! Not tried this particular one yet so looking forward to testing it out! I'm an avid tea addict (English and herbal teas please :) ) so no doubt it'll come in handy.  The lipstick and nail polish are more beauty products to add to my ever growing collection ;)

It was great to meet some new face and discover their blogs. Here are a few of the bloggers I met on the day.

Aaliyah from Pyari Beauty
Zinah- Zinahns
Mez- All Made Up
Atviyah- Hijablicious
Safiyah

Apologies if your name isn't listed here! Please leave a comment in the box below if I've forgotten you ;)

Update and Holiday OOTD #1

Hey guys!! Long time no see hey....I've been rubbish at blogging recently and my schedule has been bussyy but I'm going to let you know what I've been up to.

I was recently on holiday in Istanbul and Dubai, which was amazing and didn't want to come back :(

I'll be sharing some holiday snaps as well as outfit of the days in my blog posts-starting with this post :)

For my past post on 'A guide to Istanbul' click here

Topkapi Palace

This is an outfit I wore in Istanbul. The weather was similar to the UK-cold and woolly jumper season. I purchased the green jumper recently from HandM at half price for a bargain £7! The plain teal hijab is from Princess Rockz and is a maxi, which means it's extra wide for plenty of coverage at the front and back.

The uber cool necklace is from Camden Market. My favourite buy is the faux leather jacket from Oasis.I've been wearing this with practically all my outfits. Shoes are Forever 21 and maxi skirt from HandM.

 

The beautiful Bosporus! Photo taken from the Topkapi Palace

 

Keep a look out on the next OOTD post. If you're on Instagram follow me for daily OOTD and other shizz- aalia_princessrockz