Hi Guys,

I have noticed of late that facial oils and lip oils are starting to get quite popular. I already use a facial oil by Aldi, which you can read about in my Skincare post here. However, I was recently contacted by a brand called Queen of Oil who specialise in Argan Oil products - from lip balms to shampoos.

If you don't already know, Argan Oil, which originates from the Argan tree, is an organic substance which is high in Vitamin E and fatty acids. It can be used as a moisturiser, is said to have anti-ageing properties, can tone skin and can also reduce the appearance of stretch marks. If used on hair, it gives the hair moisture and shine and when massaged into the scalp is said to promote hair growth! People also use it on their lips, cuticles and chapped feet. Basically, it has so many uses and benefits, we should probably be bathing in it!

We've all heard of Moroccan Oil, right? Well, guess what? A lot of their products contain Argan Oil, as well as a few added extras. The great thing about pure Argan Oil is that it's 100% vegan and organic. Because of this it can also be added to other products like body butters. It may not be widely used by people, but that's largely due to its price - a 100ml bottle can cost upwards of £30. However I like the fact that Queen of Oil sell a 10ml bottle for £7, so you can use this as a tester before deciding if it's worth investing in.

I was sent a few of the 10ml bottles by Queen of Oil and decided to use the Argan Oil on my unruly, curly, frizz-prone hair a few times and the result left me with soft, hydrated hair, which makes a change to the usual straw-like mane I am left with. I have also been applying it to the stretch marks across my belly that I have been blessed with after having two kids, and it honestly leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. The only down side, I would say, is the smell. It can only be explained as a nutty, warm type of smell (if a smell can be warm), but isn't to my taste. Luckily Queen of Oil also sell fragranced Argan Oil in cherry, coconut, and citrus scents. Coconut was definitely my favourite! I am tempted to buy the coconut Argan Oil and think it makes a nice change to what is offered on the High Street.

Have you tried Argan oil before, or any other essential oil? What are your experiences of it? Leave your comments below!

Amina xx

Last week I attended an event at The Body Shop hosted by The Bloggers Parlour's very own Abbigayle Warner. It was a great evening full of cocktails (mocktails for me) and pampering. As always, it's really great to get out and about and meet fellow bloggers and vloggers to share our interest in beauty.

I have always shopped in The Body Shop, they are a high street brand that have managed to stand the test of time - possibly because of their quality, affordability and ethical grounding. Whatever the reason, they have been around since I can remember. I tend to purchase from the skincare and bath ranges and occasionally use their fragrances. The Japanese Cherry Blossom scent is delish - love it. However what stole the show for me on the night was the new Instaglow CC creams that are launching on the 20th May. We were lucky enough to be given an exclusive sneak peak of these (another benefit of attending these type of events) and that is what I am going to share with you.

Colour correcting is very much in fashion in the beauty industry at the moment. And what I found great about these was that they are so easy to use and give such a flawless finish. The creams have been separated into light skin, light to medium and dark skin. However there is nothing stopping you using the light one as a highlighter if you are medium to dark skinned.

After browsing the shelves I had a thorough look through the makeup on offer and was really impressed by the range of products. Naturally, I made a few purchases! As I mentioned, I tend to purchase from the skincare and bath ranges, so usually by-pass the makeup section, but won't be making that mistake again. I was also lucky enough to be given a goody bag full of beautifully scented products. The Strawberry Body Butter is already one of my fave products, so that was a bonus!

Hi everyone!

 I have been getting lovely comments about my skin recently and thought I would share my skincare secrets with you. First secret.... there is no secret! Haha. It's probably all that lovely vitamin D I got off holiday :oP. To be fair I am quite lucky, in that I have never really had problematic skin. I would class my skin as normal to dry, combination skin. So occasionally I can get a bit oily in my T- zone, but never too much.

Today's look is natural. Still working my tan from holiday! 😄😄 #bbloggers #bblogger #bbloggersuk #beauty #beautyblogger #makeupartistbirmingham #mua #muabirmingham #naturalmakeup #fresh #spring #springbeauty #highlight #highlightandcontour #contour #contouring #vibes #saturday #weekendvibes #weekend #birmingham #birminghamuk #nofilter

A photo posted by Amina Ali (@aminaali_mua) on Apr 16, 2016 at 4:42am PDT

My skincare routine starts with me washing my face in the morning with water. That's right, just WATER, nothing else! This might be a shock to some and quite normal to others, but I prefer to just cleanse my face with water every morning and exfoliate twice a week.

Once I have done this I then apply my Lacura Renew, anti-wrinkle, daily face cream with Q10. Which is a whopping £3.49 from Aldi! Yes, you read right - Aldi! Lacura have award winning products and I can absolutely say I love this cream. It is just perfect for me, not too greasy and not too absorbent. It is just want I'm looking for. Plus the anti-wrinkle and SP15 are both a bonus. As I am getting older (27 now) I am buying more anti-wrinkle products. We age much quicker than we used to because of all the pollution in the air, so I advise you to start thinking about it much earlier. I have also recently purchased some anti-wrinkle products from Avon and once I have tested these out will be posting, so watch this space.


If I am going to be applying my everyday makeup, I then apply Olay anti-wrinkle firm and lift hydration primer (£9.99) I love this product because it has a 2-in-1 purpose. It hydrates your skin, as well as priming it ready for makeup, leaving your skin feeling soft. I then apply my makeup as usual.




Before I sleep I usually remove my makeup with a makeup cleanser and wash my face again. Once it is washed and dry, I then apply Lacura face treatment oil (£3.99) from Aldi. Now you might ask why do I need a facial oil if my skin is normal to dry. Well the fact is oily skin ages much slower than dry skin. Take my eldest sister, for example, she has oily skin and out of all four sisters she is always mistaken for being the youngest! So, any oil that nourishes the skin is good. I have also heard facial oils can be good for oily skin as the oil on top of oil can cause a counterbalance, but don't quote me on this. After using this product for two months I can definitely say I am hooked. I apply a few drops, warm it through my hands, and apply all over the face before I sleep. When I wake, my skin has absorbed the oil and my skin is left feeling youthful.



And that is it. Quite simple, but effective. Do you have any skincare secrets? Sharing is caring, as they say! I would love to hear any tips.

Amina xx

Last week I attended an event at Organique in Birmingham's North Western Arcade. As I walked through the Great Western and North Western Arcades I was reminded of some great independent shops that are hidden within it and made a promise to visit more often.

Organique was founded in Poland and this is the only store in the whole of the UK (lucky us). As I walked through the door I was greeted by fantastic smells and warm smiles. In the centre of the store was a table full of multicoloured bath salts and bath bombs enticing you in.

A few of the products really caught my eye, including the vast range of shea butter body balms. There is a variety of scents that smell good enough to eat! My personal favourites were Strawberry & Guava (£7.95) and Orange & Chilli (£7.95). As I tested out some of the products on my hand I was drawn to the 'Eternal Gold' range, mainly because it contains real gold and fine particles of glitter that left a beautiful shimmer on my skin. In particular, the Gold Corundum Peeling Cream (£18.50) that can be used as a facial scrub, left my hand sparkling. Yes it is pricey, but it does contains gold and is designed to be used as a real treat, rather than every day.

Another product that caught my attention and I actually purchased was the Aleppo Soap (£9.95), which contains laurel and olive oil. I was told that this was particularly good for dry skin which is prone to Eczema. I thought I would give it a go as my daughter suffers from Eczema and this may help her, so fingers crossed! Another interesting fact is that this soap is made in Syria and, due to the escalating conflict, production has stopped, so purchase it while you can.

Attending this event really educated me on organic products in general. Some of the items we buy off the high street can contain so many additional and unnecessary ingredients that can cause reactions to our skin. It has definitely made me think twice about what I apply to mine and my children's skin. If there are products out there that are 100% natural and affordable, then why not use these instead?

Justyna giving a demonstration. This lady knows her stuff!

Have you gone organic? Have you noticed the change in your skin? Do you have children with Eczema? I would love any tips! Leave a comment below!

Amina xx

This week I attended my first blogging event - the #bhmbloggermeet with L'Occitane! I have to firstly do a shout out and say thanks to Abbigayle and the L'Occitane team for hosting a fantastic event. I have loved L'Occitane since my husband first bought me the Pivoine Flora hand cream (£14, 75ml) a few years ago. The scent is of Peony and my hands were left feeling so soft, so I was thrilled when I found out the event was in association with the brand.

The event started out with introductions, and I was very excited to meet some fellow beauty bloggers! Throughout the event we took part in games, all of which were super fun and allowed us to explore the variety of products they provide. All in all, a fab event!