Hi Guys,

A few weeks ago the lovely blogger Safiyah from SafiyahTasneem.com gave me an opportunity I couldn't miss out on! She asked if I would like to collaborate on a post and of course I said yes! So first things first, thank you to Safiyah for giving me the opportunity to do this post and sending me these goodies! If you haven't checked out her website be sure to head over and have a look. Her make-up looks are everything and as a fellow make-up artist she is very knowledgeable! You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @SafiyahTasneem. 

When I received this package I was so excited as I had seen this release all over social media and wanted it! For whatever reason I didn't end up purchasing it, probably because of finances. I'm an addict you know. A make-up addict that is and need to keep myself in check sometimes. Anyway, I was so over the moon I practically squealed. You get the gist.

I have been a fan of Kat Von D from her LA Ink days, but don't actually own anything from her make-up range, so couldn't wait to see if it was worth the hype! I own a few Too Faced liquid mattes, but have never used their eyeshadow, so was equally intrigued to try. 

Let's start with the palettes. The combined palette is based around the idea of love and how we are 'better together'. Each side of the heart is beautifully decorated, but in contrasting colours to make distinction between the two sides. They connect magnetically down the middle, thus making it easy to detach when travelling, for example. 

The stand out colour for me in the Kat Von D palette has to be 'Swoon' - it's so vibrant and not something you see everyday. All the eyeshadows in this side of the palette are very pigmented and quite creamy in texture which makes them super bendable. It surprised me that the eyeshadows in each palette were actually quite different in quality. I expected them to be the same, probably because it's one palette, but let me tell you, they were not!

The colours in the Too Faced palette are very pretty and my favourite is 'Heart of Gold', a beautiful green metallic gold. However I found the eyeshadows themselves slightly more powdery, with less colour pay off. I'm not sure if this is because it's a different brand and formula or if it's the colours that are harder to work with. Either way I was definitely more drawn to the consistency of the Kat Von D shadows.

The great thing about this set is that you get two fabulous palettes and some cult favourites thrown in for good measure. I'm talking about the The Too Faced 'Better than Sex' Mascara and the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner. I found the mascara to be good for lengthening, but not so much for volume, which is a shame, as I had heard such good things about it. I wanted it to lift my lashes more. One thing I did really like about it, was the weight of the tube, as it felt so comfortable to hold and the shape of the wand is curved to fit your lashes perfectly. 

What blew me away was the waterproof Tattoo Liner. The liner itself is actually a brush - fine hairs that have been tapered to a point, meaning you can get the finest or thickest of lines. It gives you so much control, I was even able to sign my name with it! 

I couldn't finish without trying a quick make-up look and I ended up mostly using the Kat Von D side. I applied 'Yours' over the lid with 'Darling' over the top of it, in the centre of the eyelid. On top of 'Darling', I added a bit of glitter for extra sparkle. On the lower lash line I used 'Swoon' and added a black kohl to the waterline. I then applied the Tattoo Liner over my lid and Too Faced 'Better than Sex' Mascara on the lashes. I would definitely recommend this palette and what's great is you can get it on sale from Debenhams right now for £46.50, which is pretty good going as the mascara and liner are £19 and £14 on their own!

I hope you like the look! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Amina xx

Hi guys,

Ok so I got a bit carried away with the title, but imagine singing along to the sound of music. This is another way of me telling you these are my February favourites. Or things I got given/purchased in February that make me happy!

First of all let me start with these Sebamed products. I was kindly sent these products and have previously used the Sebamed liquid face and body wash as a product to clean my make-up brushes (click here for post). However I have recently been using the products on myself rather than my brushes and have been pleasantly surprised. The Limited Edition Grapefruit Shower Gel is so refreshing and perfect for a morning shower. The soap is alkaline free and is perfectly suited to dry or sensitive skin as the ph is balanced to suit all skin types. It even suits my daughter's skin and she has eczema. The stand out product for me though has to be the Lip Defense balm because it is a dupe for the MAC Prep & Prime lip. I use this lip primer on all my clients and both products contain Vitamin E which I think is what makes it so luxurious. I will be swapping over to Sebamed from now on as it's a fraction of the price too!

Next up we have this amazing Mermaid Glow Highlighter from Lottie which was an absolute bargain at £5.99 from ASOS. Now I hate to do this to you, but I can no longer find it to buy anywhere! But I'm sure if you keep your eye out they will have them back in stock in no time. What they do have though is a fabulous rainbow eyeshadow palette which is definitely on my wish list! To be honest, I bought the highlighter purely for aesthetic reasons. I haven't even swatched it yet, it is just too beautiful to use. So I can't comment on its wearability yet, but watch this space!

Now onto my all time loves; my lashes that I always find myself reaching for; my go to lash (you get the picture), Nouveau Lashes Glamour lashes in style 4. Now to be honest, these can be quite dramatic when you apply them, but what I love doing with these is customising them. They are so thick and luxurious I get my scissors out and cut away to make whatever eyelash I want. Call me a strip lash hairdresser if you will. I can't get enough.

Is any one else obsessed with face masks? Well I am. I can't seem to get enough of them these days. The ease of just throwing one on. But it doesn't stop at face masks. I got these feet masks, lip masks and under eye masks! Ok I need to stop, I know, but they all just leave my skin glowing and so soft. The lip and feet masks are by Starskin and are available from ASOS. The under eye masks are that little bit more special as they contain 24K gold. Yes, gold! They left my skin feeling super smoothe and promise to reduce dark circles with continued use. I was lucky enough to receive a five-pack and used three within one week! Addictive! You can purchase these direct from Jamelaskincare.co.uk

Hey Guys,

So as you can tell from the title, this post is a little bit different to what you are used to.  After posting my Valentine's look last week and with Valentine's itself edging nearer, I thought I would publish this post as a little alternative to what might be expected.

Diary: Home Bargains

Soap: English Soap Company.

For me, love comes in different forms. I have the loveliest, most kind, honourable, does-the-dishes, cooks and cleans, husband in the whole world and I am really appreciative of him. He deserves a medal. The love I have for him is something else. We met when we were 16, got married at 23 and had our first baby at 25. So cards and flowers etc. are a nice token but we save up and do a few special date nights a year and we are planning to go away, just the two of us, at some point as we haven't both left the girls before. Time alone is really rare, but precious.

Then there is love for your children which blows my mind and my heart all at the same time. I never knew it would be so powerful. It can be an ache sometimes. Loving something so much it actually hurts. I never understood that feeling until I had the babas. I don't know if it's the worry that hurts, but it's some powerful stuff.

My love for friends and family is special. The people you can rely on, the people you can go for ages without talking to, but are always there, you know, in your heart. They are in your thoughts somewhere along the way, even daily, but you might not speak to them every day. 

The last one can be difficult and it's loving yourself. It's such a tricky one isn't it? The self doubt within us can sometimes get the best of us. Like an internal voice constantly wondering and questioning. I remember this voice and constant worry of what others were thinking of me was quite prominent in my teenage years. Was I good enough? Now I've gotten a bit older I've learnt to love myself a little bit more. I've realised how important me time is and am very mindful when it comes to how I am feeling. Since having my kids I've learnt to not care about what others think largely due to the fact that I need to practise what I preach. I have learnt to show myself some love, be it a pamper day or a break with the girls. I think this is what everyone needs to do this Valentine's, regardless of whether they are in a relationship or not.

Hey Guys,

This week I have created a Valentine's make-up look for that special day. Whether you are all loved up or not, it's a fab make-up look that will suit anyone for any special occasion. I created it with a 'halo' effect because it is quite understated but makes an impact, which I think you want for a date. So let's get straight to it.

I started with my eyes as I was planning on using glitter so didn't want any fall out on my foundation! First I primed the eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion. Then using Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'Creamy Beige' I applied this over the lid and up to the brow bone. I have to say, I love the Colour Tattoo range and literally want it in every single colour. It provides such a good base for pigments and is very long lasting.







Now I had my base, using Anastasia Beverley Hills Modern Renaissance palette (yes, it's my favourite!) I applied the shades 'RealGar' mixed with 'Red Ocre' through the crease in a semi circular motion. I used a very fluffy brush to apply this as I wanted a soft blended out look on the crease. I also took this under the eye. Next, to create the Halo effect I used Kiko Cream Crush Eyeshadow in 'Pearly Apricot' and applied a semi circle kind of shape around the middle part of the lid. Make sure not to cover the whole lid as it will turn more into a 'cut crease' kind of look. I then applied Barry M Dazzle Dust in 'Athena' over the top. To the outer corner and inner corners I applied Lola Make-up by Perse eyeshadow in '032' which is a gorgeous, highly pigmented, dark purple. I used a tapered brush to apply this as I really wanted to focus in on the inner and outer corner to create the halo effect. I then used a 'Cyprus Umber' from ABH Modern Renaissance to add depth to the inner and outer corner. Finally, over the highlighted part on the tip of the eyelid, I patted on some pink glitter by Eye Kandy Cosmetics.

To complete the look, I added black eyeliner to the water line and liquid liner over the lid. However, instead of creating a flick, I instead stuck to the eye lid as I wanted to keep the circular shape of the halo. The lashes are Huda Beauty in 'Scarlett' and I have to say I am in love. Believe the hype guys. They are lovely and such good quality! I love the fluttery feel. I curled them before applying as the heaviness of them can drag them down slightly. I used my trusted Nouveau Lashes Ultra Bond glue and they did not move one bit.

For the base I used MAC Pro Longwear foundation in NC35 and I applied this with my beauty blender. It just gives this flawless airbrushed finish that no other tool can give in my opinion. However, expect a thick layer of product when using this. It's not for the faint hearted. I contoured using the L.A. Girl Pro concealer in 'medium beige'. The amazing highlight I used is actually a Topshop one, which was the last one in the store and I can't seem to find again, but anything with a pinky undertone would be perfect.  For blush I used Makeup Geek in 'Valentine' (obvs!) and the lipstick was Kiko smart lipstick in '917'.

I hope you like the look and try it out! Have a fantastic Valentine's Day! What are your plans?

Amina xx

Hey guys,

If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (@aminaali_mua) you will know I'm subscribed to My Little Box (£14.95 per month). It's a fab subscription box with a Parisian theme. The products you get range from beauty to jewellery, and even sometimes clothing. Before I chose a subscription box I took my time picking the right one and what I like about this was the variety of products you get.  Brands like Kerastase, Laura Mercier and Too Faced are partnered with the box and I remember the first box I got included a By Terry liner worth £24 on its own!

The box this month had a 'Fresh Start' theme, being the first of the year and actually wasn't a box at all, but more of a bag with an inspiring paragraph on the front. I was really excited to see what was inside.

The first thing that caught my eye was the snood. I am obsessed with scarves and wear them all the time. I kind of feel naked without one and it's something that also keeps me warm in these cold months, so I was delighted to see it. The colour and pattern were really pretty.

Within the bag was also a sweet hand cream and a revitalising body cream both by My Little Beauty, which is My Little Box's own brand. These smell lovely and are a great little addition to my collection of creams. However these were probably the items I was least excited about in the bag, as I currently have about three hand creams and more than enough body lotions. Saying that, they are very moisturising. 

Usually within the box you get a little magazine that features and talks about all the products, however My Little Box left a note to say they would no longer be including this, but instead will have more products. So in place of it this month were a set of five note cards put together by psychologists. At first I was like huh? But once I read them they actually really inspired me. They include, Find Your Purpose, Create Your 2017 vision board, Time For A New Job? - Four ways to tell, Unleash Your Inner Genius and Train Yourself To be Happy. All with helpful tips on how to achieve these.

Hi Everyone!

So I'm writing this post all snuggled up in my blanket. Now we are smack bang in the middle of winter, I thought I would write a post with practical ways you can actually stay warm, as well as  keep your heart and mind warm as January blues are probably in full swing. So hopefully after reading this it will give you a bit of inspiration!

Cosy night gown or jumper

My husband bought me the cutest little Polar Bear night gown to wear from Debenhams (now only £15 in the sale), because I am always complaining how cold it is. It's so nice, thick and soft and keeps me so warm, I have actually stopped moaning. If you follow me on Snapchat (aminaali_mua) you probably see me wrapped up in it most the time. As soon as I get in from work I literally throw this on top of me straight away. It gives me a nice comforting feeling and it's something I literally cannot live without.

Snapchat selfie

Gown from Debenhams

Woolly hat

I have always been a woolly hat type of girl.  I remember a time at uni where I literally lived in the same hat for two years straight. No joke! Again, it was a comfort thing. It kept me warm but also hid my frizzy baby hairs! Picking one can be hard. I've got quite a big head and thick hair so don't like them too tight. I love this Jack Wills one my brother-in-law got me for Christmas though. It's cosy but cool at the same time.

Fluffy socks

Literally every year I get bought a pair of socks or leg warmers for Christmas! I'm not complaining though. I love wearing these and  they are a staple in my winter attire. I particularly love the ones that have little grippers on the bottom so they act as slippers too! 

Hot water bottle

Err hello! no winter would be complete without the trusted old hot water bottle. I've had mine for ages so it probably looks a bit worn but it is all about comfort. I love snuggling up on the sofa with one after a bath and just before bed. Sometimes on those really cold nights I take it to bed with me too!

Cooking

I love eating hearty food during the winter months. I tend to put on weight over winter, like a hibernating animal! I love eating soups and pies, and one of my favourites is a cottage pie! It's thick, stodgy and exactly what I need to keep me going.  

Moisturising

From moisturising my hands to moisturising my lips, if I am not well moisturised during the winter I am not a happy bunny. I love using L'Occitane Pivione Flora hand cream, it leaves my skin feeling smooth and smelling of roses!

Cuddles

Ok, I just had to include this. Getting warm hugs from a loved one is one of my favourite things and guys it's free! This can be done all year round obviously, but in winter it's got the added bonus of warmth! My husband probably wonders why he only gets hugs in the winter (ha ha!).




I hope this post has warmed you up and if not then why not try out some of my ideas and let me know if you have any tips for keeping warm over the winter months!

Amina xx