Hey everyone,

I was recently sent the Pixi Retinol and Jasmine Collection* and thought I would share it with you as I know a lot of people may be interested, as Retinol is one of the many skin care products that has actually been proven to work on fine lines. Retinol is part of the Vitamin A family and it directly increases the production of collagen and cell turnover, hence giving you more youthful and even looking skin. If you are anywhere over the age of 25, it is definitely recommended as this is when the skin begins to mature. As I am currently breastfeeding, I am unable to use it in my routine and therefore unable to review it, so instead I thought I would give you a quick run down on what each product has to offer as this would be a great starting point if wanting to introduce retinol to your routine.

Hi Guys,

Gosh, it's been a minute, hasn't it. Things are getting so busy now baby is getting older, I literally don't get a second to myself. Long gone are the days of two hour naps where I could actually get stuff done! But I really have been looking back at the first three months of Lana's life and I thought I would write a blog post on what is the fourth trimester! The first three months of baby's life really  should be treated almost like another trimester. Let me explain.

Hey guys,

So by now you should know that I'm pregnant! I decided to document my first trimester in a diary format, so parts will be as I am experiencing it and there may also be comments from me reflecting on it later. Even though my blog started off as a motherhood and beauty blog, more recently I have focused a little more on the beauty side of things, but please expect to read more of my experience in pregnancy. The interesting thing is I started my blog nine months after the birth of my second child. So even though there are a lot of post-natal posts (click here) there are no pre-natal ones, so I am making sure I document how I feel every step of the way!

7 weeks

How can I feel so lifeless when I have never been more full of life? I'm pregnant, and the reality is I'm exhausted, not just from feeling tired but from feeling sick, from being constipated, from the smells that are the most overpowering they have ever been. This is my third pregnancy. so you might say you knew what you were getting yourself into. Yes I knew, but when reality hits, there's nothing quite like it. 

Hi guys,

One of my highest requested make-up looks is a glowy, natural, nude look. I recently did a poll on my instagram stories and this came up as favourite compared to other looks such as a smokey eye or bold lip. So I decided to create one using some fantastic products I received recently.

The first thing I will say is that when it comes to creating this type of look your skincare before the make-up application has to be on point. The skin needs to be really hydrated and prepped. So to start with I exfoliated using *Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, which exfoliates the skin and leaves you with a smooth surface. I then applied *Pixi Glow Tonic Toner and Glow Serum for that extra boost of Glycolic acid, which will reveal new skin cells. I finally applied my *Dermalogica Prisma Protect moisturiser with SPF 30.

Hey guys,

It has been absolutely ages since I last did a favourites post so I thought it was about time as I have been using a few new products recently. The products are a mixture of skincare and make-up and are all amazing so that's why they made the post. 

First up we have a few make-up products I picked up from Pat McGrath Labs when I was in London a few week ago. Selfridges London currently have a pop-up which I'm hoping will become permanent across Selfridges stores as the make-up is beautiful. I have been waiting quite a while since PML was released online in the UK as I wanted to go and swatch products in store. If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen my arm full of swatches and I spent a good hour in the store going through all the products and picking what I wanted carefully. 

I purchased the Fetish Eyes Mascara (£26), which is amazing and building length, volumizing and curling lashes. It literally does all three. You can also achieve different looks with it depending on how many coats you put on so I'm currently obsessed. I also purchased the Lust Gloss in Future Femme (£25) which is a lovely pink shade and highly moisturising. It has little flecks of glitter and I'm partial to a bit of glitter so it was definitely coming home with me. My favourite purchase has to be the Highlighter & Balm duo in Golden (£37). On one side you are given a transparent balm which is packed full of aloe, argan oil and hyaluronic acid. This gives such a natural healthy glow to the skin. I love wearing it on those no make-up days where I just want my skin to look extra dewy. The fact it has so much skincare packed in too make me love it even more. I apply to my lips and they are instantly hydrated. Similarly the gold side is also a balmy texture which makes it perfect for blending into the skin seamlessly. It literally melts into the skin to leave a glow from within. I am so happy with my purchases and love the branding on the packaging too. Pat has nailed it when it comes to her makeup collection.

Next up we have a make-up item I have been using regularly which is the Eye Majic Eyeshadow pads ** (£19.99). These are fantastic little sponge pads which have eyeshadow already applied. You simply apply directly to the lid and drag and the eyeshadow is then transferred to your eyes. Once applied I then run over with a eyeshadow blending blush just to soften some of the lines and it's as simple as that. It saves me so much time and the finished look is really effective. I have a whole tutorial over on my Instagram highlights so feel free to pop over and have a look! You get four different colours in a pack and there are 20 pairs so a great way to try a range of products.

With my skincare I have found my skin becoming more and more sensitive recently and I have even been breaking out in spots. Some are so painful I have never had spots like it before. Overall my skin has been lacking lustre and I tend to blame it on my hormones and they are a bit all over the place at the moment. Whenever my skin is feeling really bad I know I can rely on the Image Skincare Biomolecular Hydrating Recovery Mask ** (£41.95, 5 pack). This is the one sheet mask I know works and have mentioned it on the blog before. It contains volcanic water, red algae, amino acids and gives you brighter skin in one application. I was also recently sent the Image skincare Ormedic Balancing Gel Masque* (£28) which has been really helping with my sensitivity. I can see the redness in my spots calm down and it is very cooling on the skin so perfect for aggravated skin or even skin that may have been treated for example with laser or waxing. The combination of both of these products is great.

Now could I have a favourites post without including a Pixi product? the answer is no. One of my favourite skincare brands which your probably already know! I was so happy to recently find out the Glow range had been extended to include a cleanser, moisturising gel, and serum to name a few. I have spoken about the Glow Tonic many times on my blog and raved about how it is my favourite toner. So when I was sent the rest of the range I was ecstatic. I have been loving the Glow Tonic Serum* (£26) as it literally just continues to add that radiance and glow in a more potent formula. It is full of Glycolic acid which is the holy grail for exfoliating skin and regenerating new skin cells. It has particularly been good for my scarring that I have been getting from these dreadful hormonal spots.

Finally what I can't live without is my Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 Moisturiser* (£58, 50ml) I actually have been using this every day come rain or shine however especially now with summer coming up SPF is so important! The prism protect is perfect because it is mixed in with a moisturiser so need for separate products. And I don't know about you but I am struggling for shelf space in my beauty cabinet so that's a bonus right there. It leaves no sticky residue and absorbs straight into the skin. A great product.

So this completes my recent favourites. I hope you enjoy and please let me know some of your favourites in the comments below.

Amina xx

*PR Gift. Al opinions are my own.

** PR gift with affiliate link.

Hey everyone,

For the past few weeks I have been using the new Clinique Even Better Refresh Foundation* (£30). If you know me well, you will know by now that I don't really like thicker or full coverage foundations, mainly because of how they feel on my skin. This is a medium to high coverage foundation but the reason it appealed to me so much is because it boasts a whole host of skincare within it. 

Hi guys,

So it hasn't been long since I did a Pixi post however I did mention last time that I had never tried their make-up! So to my surprise I was actually sent a PR package from the lovely Pixi by Petra team, which included some of their new Eye Reflection Shadow Palettes* (£24) and a fantastic set of brushes*. I have been using them so much I decided to do a post on them. The palette contain a mix of metallic, shimmer, and matte shades so there is definitely something for everyone.

Hey everyone!

This week I am brining you a review of the T.W.O.K London Flawless Filter Foundation*. This was not a brand I had heard of until recently but the more I read about it the more I like! T.W.O.K stands for The Woman of Kolor and their foundations are made with people of colour (POC) in mind. It's great to see because it can be really hard for POC to find foundations that suit their tone, so I love that these are specifically tailored to match a variety of skin tones. It's great that brands are taking this into consideration a lot more, With the likes of Huda Beauty and Fenty Beauty releasing 30 and 40 colours in their first foundation releases. But I also have to highlight MAC who have been keeping it real for years!

Hi Guys,

So I have just got back from a Hydrafacial* at the MediZen clinic in Sutton Coldfield. I left there feeling educated and enlightened about skincare as they were having an open day and demonstrating all the treatments they had to offer. I wanted to share a few of the specialist and innovative treatments they offer, as like me, you may not even be aware that some of these exist! 

I have had what I call a 'machine based facial' before, see my post here. The society we live in these days is very skin focussed and I for one have been drawn into so many skincare products recently without properly understanding the benefits of the ingredients. I usually go by trying the products and if it works or I see a change in my skin then I repurchase. However high street or even luxury skincare can only take you so far. And this is the biggest thing I have learnt today. High street products can only contain a certain percentage of Retinol for example. But when you go to a clinic for a facial, because the aestheticians are qualified they are able to prescribe more. 

When I book in for a facial, I no longer want a facial which essentially is products being massaged onto our faces and wiped off, which we could really do ourselves at home, I want something more. This is where the Hydra facial comes in. The HydraFacial gives immediate results and consists of six stages which detoxifies skin, removed dead skin cells, extracts debris and provides lasting hydration. All this is done using the Vortex Fusion Technology. Firstly there is a cleanse and peel where a new layer of skin is exposed. The next stage is to extract and hydrate, nutrients are delivered directly to the skin and penetrate the skin to a deeper level, while at the same time the Hydradermabraision wand vacuums away dead skin and black heads. Finally fuse and protect, where antioxidants and peptides are saturated into the skin.

 It is recommended to have this treatment monthly but what you can expect is immediate results. My skin looked plump and tight, pores appeared smaller, my skin also looks more even and is glowing. There was only a slight discomfort around the neck area and this comes from the micro dermabrasion tip, it literally felt like a scratching sensation, but felt more comfortable on the face. The great thing about this treatment is that it is suitable for all skin types and can be adjusted for different skin concerns. To be honest the area I most notice a difference in is my nose! It hasn't felt so clear and soft in years! The extraction really worked its magic.  At the end I was also shown what I can only call the 'muck' that had come out of my skin! I was shocked as I cleanse every day but it's normal I was told. I can't wait to see how long the results last. I will keep you posted.

MediZen is a clinic in Sutton Coldfield that provides a whole range of treatments, from injectables to Laser Hair Removal. Some of the other treatments that really intrigued me were the Mira Dry Sweat & Odour reduction treatment and the Cool Sculpting fat freezing treatment. With the Mira Dry heat is used to treat the sweat glands and it can leave you with a 80% reduction in sweat! This treatment isn't just for those people who suffer with heavy sweating but for anyone. People I spoke to who had the treatment done said they no longer needed to use deodorant and the treatment had also reduced their armpit hair. What a great side effect! The Mira Dry sounded amazing to me, especially as only one treatment is needed. Maybe it was also the fact that I had three layers on as it was a cold and windy day but then the heating was on full blast so I was definitely perspiring!

Cool Sculpting is a non invasive way of having up to a 25% reduction in fat in a particular area. The fat cells are basically frozen to the point where they die. Results are not instant and can be seen up to 3 months later. I think this is a really good solution for people like me who can't seem to shift those muffin tops and need a little help along the way.

So there we go. I hope you learnt something new, I definitely did. Let me know any skincare treatments you have had in the comments below!

Amina xx

*Complimentary treatment. All opinions are my own.

Hey Guys,

This week I am reviewing some recent additions to my make-up stash. That's not all, I have got something so exciting for all of you! It has been a while since I have done a giveaway and a lot of exciting things are coming up including my 30th birthday, so I thought what better way to celebrate then with a giveaway for all of you. So make sure you scroll all the way down to enter!

First up I have the Laura Geller Gelato Swirl Highlighter in 'Diamond Dust' (£21). I was lucky enough to win this as part of an Instagram giveaway giveaway recently hosted by Trishna from Tips Capsule. I knew I had to have this limited edition colour, which can only be explained as an iridescent pink. I had heard a lot about the baked formula of the gelato swirl and it lives up to the hype, it is so beautiful and applies like a dream. I love the consistency of the product as it is not too soft whereby too much product applies but just hard enough to be able to build the product to your desired amount. It blends effortlessly and now the only problem is I feel like I need all the other colours in the range. It definitely has a place on any make-up addict's or non addict's dresser.

Next up is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in Medium (£34). I have been using this for a fair few months now. The hype around this product unfortunately doesn't stand for me, however I will continue to use its I just can't waste £34 worth of product. I did enjoy using it at first, especially on my face, however I just find it creases too much on my under eye. It is fine for a couple of hours and does produce an airbrushed effect on the rest of the face, however by hour three it really starts to gather into the creases under my eye. I may need to try baking with a loose powder in order to avoid the creasing.  If you don't have wrinkly under eyes like me this could be a great option for you, however the bags are real in my case so I will keep hunting for another product.

A new brand I have finally tried is Gerard Cosmetics. This relatively small and unknown brand is so overlooked. I have heard the likes of Dress Your Face endorsing them for a while and always loved the look of their products, but because they weren't as accessible in the UK, I never tried them. However recently, I got my hands on them via Justmylook.com.  I hadn't actually heard of JustMyLook.com before they contacted me, which is pretty surprising as they are one of the fastest growing beauty websites in the UK and they stock products from so many amazing brands. So I jumped straight at the chance to try Gerard Cosmetics and I am so happy I did. I love the formula of their *Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick (£7.99). It is exactly as it's name suggests, hydrating but super matte. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen it lasted me 8 hours without reapplying or feeling yucky and this made me so happy! In the pics below I am wearing shade '1995' and is it me or does the name just sum the colour up perfectly?

Another brand I was lucky enough to try through JustMyLook.com is Coloured Raine. Another cult makeup brand whose swatches have been smothered across plenty a beauty blogger's youtube. But again quite obscure in the UK. The *Coloured Raine 'Cheers to the Beauty' Eyeshadow Palette (£45) palette just appealed to me because of the sheer amount of colour it contains! I had so much fun playing around with it and created two totally different make-up looks. The quality of eyeshadow is fantastic, the swatches in the pictures above are one swipe swatches. I found them lovely to apply and found using my finger to apply the metallic colours best for most impact. There was little to no fall out and they blended beautifully. With the range of metallics, bright colours and neutrals it is one of those palettes that is just so versatile and I can see myself using it a lot!




To create this look I applied Vintage Feels and Debonair from the Coloured Raine Palette to the crease and blended through. I then applied Black Butterfly across the Lid and with my finger applied opulence to the centre of the lid. From the same palette I used Luxurious Bling as my highlighter. I am wearing Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte liquid lipstick in 1995 on the lips.





To create this look I blended Raise a Glass, Vintage Feels and Debonair through the crease blending downwards. I then applied a cream eye based primer over the lid and using my finger applied Nightingale. In the waterline I applied Make Up For Ever Aqua XL eyeliner in 'M-92'. I am wearing Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte liquid lipstick in '1995' on the lips, Laura Geller Diamond Dust highlighter on my cheekbones and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder on my face.

Now for the Giveaway! JustMyLook.com are giving you the chance to win the Coloured Raine 'Cheers to the Beauty' Eyeshadow Palette. To enter please complete the rafflecopter widget below.  Make sure you are following both our accounts on Instagram, the rest of the options are optional and gain you extra entries! Good Luck! The giveaway ends 31st July 2018.

Amina xx

Hi Guys,

Recently I have been trying a few new bits of skincare and I thought it was about time to give my verdict on them. When it comes to skincare I have my usual set of products that I swear by, but I find my skin goes through strange patches of oiliness and breaks out, so occasionally I switch it up a little in order to see if the change will make a difference. Recently I saw a lot of hype around the Aldi products, including the Hot Cloth Cleanser and the Glycolic Pads. I usually use my Nip and Fab ones so wanted to see if these could work as a cheaper alternative. I also was kindly sent the Swiss Clinic 2mm Derma roller*. I had never used one before and was intrigued to see if this could add anything to my skin, especially regarding the pigmentation around my mouth.

Swiss Clinic offer a Skin Renewal Treatment for £89, whereby you are sent a derma roller, along with a rejuvenating serum complex. You use the roller all over the face on cleansed skin. I did this in the evening rather than the morning and spent about three minutes slowly rolling over all parts of the skin even down to the neck, but avoiding the eye area. The roller is covered in 540 silver plated micro-needles and I expected it to be a little painful, after all no pain, no gain, however I didn't find it painful in the slightest and would definitely opt for the 5mm roller next time. Once completed you then apply the  rejuvenating serum and any other skincare you wish to. The product is supposed to be absorbed up to 300% more due to the little channel the roller has created!

You do this for 5 days and then have 5 days of rest and continue until you get the desired effect. Swiss Clinic also offer a Cleaning Spray which I would say is a necessity as it ensure the needles are thoroughly clean before penetrating the skin. 

So here is my verdict, I have been using it for 5 weeks now and have completed four cycles of the 5 days on and 5 days off. I have seen a small improvement in scarring around my mouth area. I suffer from coldsores and have one particular scar from my teenage years that is still quite prevalent, I have seen a small improvement in its appearance. However the overall pigmentation around my mouth I feel still exists and I'm not sure I will ever be able to get rid of it. The use of the derma roller is also supposed to encourage the production of new skin cells, but in the first few weeks of using it I did find my skin breaking out quite a bit, I wasn't sure if this was due to the fact my skin was getting used to the product or the product itself. It has now calmed down, however I am still battling with spots around my mouth and forehead area, but this could be hormonal too.

I found the rejuvenating serum really refreshing after I have rolled as it is quite cool, although apart from this I am not sure what it has added to my skin regime. Overall I like the derma rolling process and will continue to do this, however I think I might stick to using my own skincare products with it. Only time will tell with the derma roller and I plan on continuing to use it, I feel as though it is one of those products which is a long term investment and you need to be in it for the long haul to achieve the desired result, as well as be willing to go through some ups and downs along the way. In the big scheme of things I haven't really used it for long enough to get the effects I want, so I will keep you posted with updates.

Part of my breakouts might have been due to the change in use of products. As I said earlier I purchased some skincare from Aldi. Firstly with the Hot Cloth Cleanser (£3.99), I have really enjoyed using this. I have a section on my Instagram highlights (click here) where you can watch my first impressions but overall I really think it works great as a cleanser. My skin feels clean and quite soft after using. Even though my skin hasn't been its best recently, I don't think it is due to the cleanser as it throughly cleanses my makeup and the skin feels pristine after. It contains eucalyptus oil which is the overwhelming smell that hits you straightaway, as well as cocoa butter and extracts of chamomile, all perfect for soothing and leaving your skin soft. So next time you are shopping, pick one up, I would definitely say it is worth a try.

One product I haven't been so impressed with is the Glycolic Daily Cleansing pads (£2.49), unfortunately I don't feel as though they are strong enough and blame my breakout on this. I feel like the fact that they don't state the percentage of glycolic acid is a tell tale sign. I don't get the same effect compared to the nip and fab or my pix glow tonic and maybe this is what my skin has been missing. Again the pads are convenient as they are ready to use, but without the right amount of acid they just aren't effective.

Overall from the new skincare products I have been using I can honestly say that the Hot Cloth cleanser, as well as the derma roller are products I will continue to use, however when it comes to the glycolic pads I am going back to my nip and fab. I am also on the hunt for a new serum to use after derma rolling so would love any suggestions in the comments below.

Amina xx

*PR sample. All opinions are my own.

Hey Guys,

Last week I got invited to an event hosted by Umberto Giannini at the Botanist in Birmingham city centre. It was a great night celebrating curls and some of Umberto's fab curl products. I literally felt like I was in curl heaven as I was surrounded by beautiful curly haired ladies, had curly haired products at my finger tips and even had my hair done by Umberto Giannini's Artistic Director Anastasia. If you've read my blog before you will have read about my curly hair struggles and saviours in previous posts (click here) and the products I swear by.

Having such a fab time at the #umbertogiannini #curlsarein event! @umbertogiannini Just had my hair did by the Artistic Director @anastasiastylianou Can’t wait to try all the products out! Swipe left and Head to my stories for more! #curlyhair #curlyhairstyles #frizzfree #frizzfreecurls #frizzfreehair #curly #curlylife #curlygirls #curlyheads #beautyblog #birminghamuk #wocunite #curlyhairproblems #curlyhairproducts #naturalhair #hairstagram #balyage #balayageombre #curlwhip #curljelly #bbloggersuk #birminghammua #hairstagram #hairgoalsachieved #curlycoils #curlyhairdontcare #embracethecurls #discoverunder5k #brumbloggers

A post shared by Amina Ali Ulhaq (@aminaali_mua) on Jun 6, 2018 at 12:02pm PDT

A few weeks ago I was sent the HAX Cut Crease Kit (£20) which is available exclusively to ASOS. Cut crease eyeshadow has become one of those Instagram trends that I just love and is great for making a statement. It is not the easiest look to create, so when I heard about this kit I was intrigued as it claimed to have everything you need to get that perfect cut crease look, but I did have my reservations. Could it really help me to 'master the cut crease like a pro'? Read on to find out.

So in the kit you get an eyeshadow palette with three colours, light beige for the lid, dark brown to cut the crease and medium bronze to blend through the transition. You also get a double ended brush, liquid liner, stencil (to use as a guide for the cut crease and liner) and an instruction card to guide you.

The first thing that stood out to me was that there was no cream base to cut the crease with or prime the lids with. Usually in my experience this is necessary to get that really clean defined line. I was really determined to only use the products provided in the kit however, as it is marketed as a complete tool kit to get the cut crease look. See what I created below.

As you can see the look I created with the kit is no where near as defined as the cut crease on the box  however I still think it comes across quite nicely. It is definitely more of a subtle look and this is largely due to the fact that the eyeshadows were not as pigmented as I hoped they would be. Also as I said previously no cream base is included in the kit so it is really hard to create that clean definite line, however the stencil provided does help to create a somewhat defined crease. The stencil also works really well with the liquid liner to get the perfect flick. One of my favourite things in the kit has to be the liquid liner. It's consistency was perfect and the nib on the liner was the right size to create that defined look. 

Another pro is the double ended brush. One end is fluffy which helps with the blending and the other is very small and rigid in order to create the line for the crease. I can see myself adding this brush to the rest of my collection.

I think this kit would be perfect for a make-up novice who doesn't have their own collection of makeup at home to get this look, or for someone who maybe just starting their collection and practising their techniques, or even as a gift. I would love to see a cream base added and even false lashes as I added my own here (Kiss Lashes in 'Midnight') to complete the look. The stencil and liner in the kit is definitely a selling point for me, especially if you struggle with your liner as it saved me a lot of time.

What are your thoughts on the Cut Crease? Have you ever used a stencil to get a makeup look?

Amina xx


*PR sample. All opinions are my own.