Hey everyone,

Recently Iconic London had a 20% sale on and I had got a little birthday money so I decided to purchase a few beauty items as I hadn't splurged on myself in a while.  Because of the sale, it meant I got the newly released Brow silk for £16 rather than the usual £20 so I was chuffed with my bargain. Surprisingly, I haven't actually bought any of Iconic's other products but have tried their Illuminating drops and really liked them. So it's not really a brand I was familiar with but the brow silk really appealed to me.

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 Everyone,

Recently I attended an event with Stila cosmetics for their Vivid & Vibrant collection and it really blew me away. I am such a fan of Stila as you may have seen from previous posts. There was something about this collection that really appealed to me. The collection is based around jewel tones and every is luxurious and opulent in both colour and texture. I absolutely love the liquid eyeshadows as they provide a quick and easy way to make a statement without the need to use a brush, but there are also beautiful eyeshadow duo's in this collection that give such a beautiful effect so there is something for everyone no matter what type of product you like. 

 I decided to create a day to night look for you using some of their fab products. The first is this really simple shimmery eye look. To be honest this can be worn both at night and in the day, the sparkle on it is like no other. All I simply did was use the Heaven's Dew All Over Shimmer* and applied to my lid with my finger. I then slightly blended it out to the brow bone and applied a black kohl liner and lashes. It is so simple and took me less than 10 minutes but such a pretty eye look. I then added some of the all over shimmer to my cheek bone for extra added effect. This could be paired with both a neutral or bold lip. What I love about the All Over Shimmer is that it is just that! You can apply this anywhere, arms, legs , collar bone, literally wherever you want. It gives the loveliest sparkle and the formula is beautiful.

To create a bit of drama and to take this from day to evening all I simply did was apply the Shimmer & Glow liquid Eyeshadow in Vivid Smoky Quartz* to the lid and underneath the lower lash line to frame the eye. I applied this on top of the Heaven's Dew All over Glimmer. I made sure not to go to high on the lid so the shimmer could still be seen around the brow bone. I then applied a slightly thicker liner to the lash line and did this all with the lashes still on! The darker colour makes it a little more dramatic and perfect for an evening look. I also love the fact I didn't need to use a single brush for any of the eye looks I created!

So this is how you can go from day to night with Stila, literally only using two of their products. However I also couldn't help myself and created a look that was a little bit more creative using the Vivid and Vibrant campaign images for inspiration. Her I simply used the Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows in Vivid Smoky Quartz and Vivid Sapphire* as graphic liners. This just shows how versatile they are as a product and I can't wait to add to my collection. I hope you like. Have you ever tried any of the Stila products before? What should I try next?

Amina xx

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.

Hey guys, 

This week, I thought I would bring you all an opportunity to test and give your own opinion on some of the newest beauty items around. I'm talking about the Boots Volunteer Panel. If you don't know, the Boots Volunteer Panel is perfect for those of you who want to have a go at testing beauty products, giving your honest opinions about them, while also getting to keep them too! 

Have you ever wanted to test skincare, cosmetics, and toiletries and actually give a valued opinion on these products? Do you want your opinion to count and change the way products are used or developed? Well that is exactly what the Boots Volunteer Panel needs. 

The Panel consists of Men and Women aged 18-80, it is a balanced panel of a wide range of members of the general public, who they hope will provide an unbiased opinion. This could be you. If successful, volunteers are either asked to test products at home, or at the Evaluation centre in Beeston, Nottingham. So if this is something you do want to take part in, please be aware of the fact that you may need to travel.

When testing the products at home, you are usually allowed to keep the product, and all that is required is you complete an online questionnaire as feedback. Depending on the length of the test, it could mean you test a product over a few months and respond to a number of questionnaires. It's really important that when testing the products you do not use them on anyone else and your feedback needs to be completely honest. It's important to note that you can withdraw at any time. If testing the products at the test centre, you are fully reimbursed in the form of a Boots gift card or by bank transfer if you prefer.

Boots are particularly looking for more Asian and Black skin types to take part, as their stock of products catering for these skin tones is ever growing. So, if you are 18 or over and of this colour skin type, you are needed, but please feel free to apply even if you are not.

I thought I would share this, as I get so many of you messaging me on social media asking about the products I use and get to test from various brands and I know some of you would like to try testing products for yourself, so I thought this would be a great opportunity and I am planning to apply myself! To apply click here.

Amina xx

Hi Guys,

First of all Happy New Year! This is my first post of the year and I intended to take more of a break, however I was just so excited about this, that I only actually took one week off blogging in the end. But anyway, I am back and believe me you are not going to leave disappointed.

I was so lucky to get Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Masterclass (£130) from my sister for Christmas. If you follow me on Twitter you might have seen me repost my sister's photo teasing me. And I was beyond delighted when I opened it as I am a big fan of the Charlotte Tilbury range.

What is it? I hear you say. The Lip Masterclass is exclusive to Selfridges and is a collectionp products that have been expertly put together to create different coloured looks for all skin tones. In her own words, 'Three looks inspired by the magic of three cities.' New York, London and Shanghai.

The first lip look is The Perfect American Sweetheart Lip, it consists of K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in American Sweetheart, Lip Cheat (liner) in Pink Venus, Lip Lustre (gloss) in Portobello. The overall look of the lip when these three are applied together or even separately is a rosey blush pink finish. The lip lustre doesn't have that much pigment to it which makes me think it is for use on top of the lipstick however it can be worn on its own to create a subtle pink shine to the lip too. The formula of the lipstick feels very rich and creamy and is so nice to wear.

The next lip look is The Perfect English Beauty Lip, which consists of Matte Revolution lipstick in English Rose, Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk, Lip Lustre in Seduction. This set is more of a nude bundle and has a slight hint of brown in it. It is actually one of my favourite out of the three, maybe it's because I'm The Perfect English Beauty... or maybe (more realistically) it's just because I'm obsessed with nudes. However I would say I prefer the K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula compared to the Matte Revolution formula, as it's a little more comfortable to wear. But the shape of the Matte Revolution lipsticks make it just perfect to get into the corners of the lips, and to swatch of course! I was also so excited to see the Pillow Talk Lip Cheat as part of the trio as I had been wanting to try this colour for ages. I think I might have to buy the lipstick to go with!

The final lip look is a little bit more dramatic and more suited to evening wear, The Perfect Shanghai Nights Lip. It consists of, Matte Revolution Lipstick in Shanghai Nights, Lip Cheat in Savage Rose, and Lip Lustre in Red Vixen. Out of the three, the Shanghai Nights Lipstick stands out. Such a beautiful deep berry red. Perfect, especially for this time of year. I didn't particularly like the lip lustre, however can see myself wearing it as a gloss over another red lipstick. 

Overall I can't recommend this Lip collection enough. It might sound like a lot of money, however if you are a Charlotte Tilbury addict then you are actually saving a lot of money by purchasing together. If these were sold alone or even as three individual lip sets it would cost well over £150 so is well worth it. I think there is a good range of colours too. I would have loved to have seen more of a shocking pink colour added to the mix but you can't have it all. I feel like this is just the start of my collection. I'm already in love with her blushers and next up I'm definitely going to be trying Charlotte's skincare. Let me know if there is anything else I need to put on my list in the comments below!

Amina xx

Hi guys,

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas. This week I am bringing to you a make-up look for New Years Eve. This actually happens to be my christmas look as we never actually do anything for NYE, since having the kids. We are usually wrapped up warm in bed and get awoken at midnight by our neighbours' fireworks. At which point Aaron and I say happy new year to each other and fall straight back asleep. However if you do have something planned, then this make-up look will take you all through the evening into the early hours if needed. 

As I was rushed for time, I literally used three products after I had applied my base and brows. Firstly with the eyes. I used Luminous Bronze Light in my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette to create a bit of depth in the crease of my eye lid. I then applied the Stila Glitter & Glow in Smoky Storm half way over my lid. The sparkle was fantastic and gives the perfect amount of shine. This look is perfect for low lighting as whatever light their is just causes the glitter to sparkle even more. 

For the lips I decided to go with Creeper, a gorgeous matte red from my ColourPop Foxy collection. I can't emphasis enough how good the quality of these Ultra Matte Lips are. My lips lasted 8 hours without a top-up and all while eating non stop. I have always loved ColourPop but limit my purchases because of customs charges.  I don't always go for bold eyes and bold lips but with this look it just works.

I then used the Ambient Lighting palette all over my face! Diffused Light to set under my eyes, Hypnotic Strobe Light to highlight, Luminous Bronze Light again as a bronzer, and Surreal Halo as my blusher. This just tied the whole look together. I opted to go without lashes, but if you want a little added extra, then these Midnight Lashes from Lash Couture's Faux mink collection above would be perfect!

So that is the finished look. I hope you like it! I can't believe another year of blogging and life has gone by. It has been one which has had it's moments but I would be lying if I said I wasn't ready for  2018. Thanks to every one of you who read my blog, it means so much more than you know. I think however, after over 2 years of blogging, Ali & Her is more than ready for a small break. Fingers crossed for all of us that 2018 is one of the best yet. Looking forward to what's to come. Happy New Year! xx

Amina xx

Hey Guys,

Recently I received the most unexpected gift I think I have ever received. You may have seen how much I wanted this palette as I mentioned it in my Beauty Wishlist Post, and here I am, the owner of the beautiful Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit (£69).

Let me start from the beginning. My best friends and I had met up to have a browse at the new Fenty collection at Harvey Nicks and to grab some food at The Mailbox. While we were browsing, the Hourglass palette caught my attention and I started telling my friend how amazing it was and how I had wanted it since it launched. I explained how I might put this on my Christmas wish list. Then out of nowhere my friend said she was going to buy it for herself! She said that she trusted my opinion and that it looked really pretty. This didn't strike me as unusual as my friend loves make-up just as much as me, so I shrieked with excitement. To be honest, I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little bit envious of her, but I couldn't justify the £69 price tag, as I was waiting for my mortgage application to go through at the time!

Anyway, we headed off to dinner and then towards the end of our little date we decided to get it out and have a closer look. While we were staring at it with wonder, my friend said ' I bought it for you, you know '. I was so confused, I must have mumbled 'Huh?' or something like that, and then my friend repeated that she bought it for me, as a way to say thank you for all my help over the past few months with her new business she is launching. I was, and still am baffled. I couldn't accept and wouldn't accept until she was ready to leave it lying there at which point... I accepted. I think this is probably the nicest real surprise I have ever had, I was so shocked, I think I wanted to cry. I was confused at how generous and lovely she could be to me for doing something that any friend in my eyes would have done. So this is the story that goes with this review and makes this palette that little bit more special for me. Thank You Sonia.

Now for the review. This palette has lived up to all the expectations I had placed on it. I hadn't read any reviews, I knew from the first time I saw it, I wanted it and had placed expectations on it myself.  Firstly with the price, it might seem expensive, however it is quite good value considering purchasing a power individually costs £40. In the palette you get 6 for £69, even though they are slightly smaller, it is still very much worth it. 

What I love about this palette is that it has every powder you need to get a complete look on your face.nFrom top to bottom, left to right, you have Diffused Light, which is a finishing powder. I use this under my eyes and on the T-Zone section, the areas that need an extra bit of setting and highlight, but it can be used all over the face. Then we have the Hypnotic Strobe Light, which can be used as a highlighter. I use this on the cheekbones, brow bone, down my nose and on my cupid's bow. The last shade on the top row is Dim Light, again meant to be used as a finishing power, however because it is slightly darker I use it more in the contours of my face like the hollow of my cheek. 

On the bottom row we have Luminous Bronze Light, a stunning bronzer which I use around the top of and across my forehead, over my nose and around the jawline. It can be used as a blush too. The final two colours are the Surreal Halo and Pure Effect. Both are intended to use as blushers, Surreal Halo a deeper plum colour and Pure Effect being a pretty pink. I tend to use Surreal Halo on the outside of the cheek and then dab Pure effect right on the apple of my cheeks. What I am left with is a radiant skin, emanating vibrance. The effect is stunning.

I love how versatile the palette is, you can layer colours together or wear on their own and still notice a difference in your makeup and skin. The palette can be worn from day to night with more or less colours being used to suit the occasion. The powders are long lasting and compliment one another so well. Honestly, it is my FAVOURITE beauty product of 2017. Have you tried any Hourglass products? What do you recommend I try next?

Amina xx

Hey guys,

Do you remember 'So...?' fragrances? For some reason they totally appear in my memory from the 90's. I remember being a kid and my sisters buying the body sprays from the local pharmacy (drugstore). But I have a 10 year period of complete blank. I don't know why, because we were so obsessed with them. More recently I have seen them in stores again and on the blogosphere, so when they contacted me I couldn't wait to review their new range and see if they were still as good as they used to be.

First up from the floral scents range we have the Fresh Floral Body Mist (£3.99). This is such a lovely fresh scent. It totally reminds me of fresh linen and that really clean kind of smell, which I love. It has a blend of peach blossom and peony flowers, which literally smell how they sound. I have found myself wearing this quite a lot. Also, because they are fragrance mists, I find myself reaching for them when I don't want too much of a dominant smell. It's a scent you can wear all year round and personally I think is suited to day wear.

The packaging on these is so eye catching, made from plastic, but look like glass. They look fab on my dresser all lined up. I was also sent the Sweet Pea Body Mist (£3.99). This has a very irresistible aura. It smells so sweet, and makes you smell almost good enough to eat! It is made up of white flower and sugary sweet pea. This is definitely more suited to an evening as it is so strong. Honestly, it is probably my least favourite out of the collection, as I'm not a fan of sweet scents, but even so, I have still worn it a few times and would class it as a nice scent.

Overall, for the price, I think these are all such good value for money. They last long but don't feel heavy on. I am so glad I was reintroduced to 'So...?'. I have a reignited love for the brand. These are definitely a product I will continue to use on myself and my daughters! Have you tried 'So...?' before? What fragrance should I try next?

Amina xx

*PR gift. All opinions are my own.

Hey Guys,

This week I am bringing to you Benefit's 'They're Real' Collection in collaboration with Debenham's Beauty. You all know how much I bang on about Benefit's eyebrow products. I use their 'Goof Proof' Brow pencil religiously and love their 'Ready, Set, Go' Clear Brow Gel to keep my brows in place all day. Just have a look back at any of my make-up look blog posts and you will see how I adore the brow pencil.

More recently, I have been using a few other products from their eye range. I am excited to share them with you, one, because they are great quality and long lasting but two, because they have been saving me a lot of time in the morning, which I am definitely in need of now I have the school run to add to my never ending list before work! 

First up we have an amazing set, The 'Big Lash Blow Out' (£20.50) which includes the famous 'They're Real!' Mascara as well as a handy travel size mini. I had heard so much about this mascara so couldn't wait to see if it lived up to the hype. And guess what... it did! The lift and curl it gave my lashes (see below) was exactly what my flat stubby lashes needed. And with two coats it's even better. I love the brush head on the mascara as it is not your typical brush. It is made from silicone bristles which vary in size. They also extend out from the tip of the brush so you can use it to get product on those hard to reach lashes.

I have been using the mascara together with the 'They're Real' Tinted Mascara Primer (£19.50) and it just gives your lashes the added drama they need. It is tinted a mink brown and adds a coating onto your eyelashes so the mascara applies smoothly. No one likes spider leg lashes! It can also be used on it's own to give your lashes a naturally more defined look.

Now for the time saver's that I mentioned earlier! Did you know Benefit do eyeshadows?! Not just any eyeshadow. This is an eyeshadow duo that requires no skill, technique, or blending. Yes please! It is literally effortless, while giving you a professional look. It's the 'They're Real' duo Eyeshadow Blender in 'Beyond Nude' (£19.50). This innovative compact comes with a sponge ball applicator which allows you to simply swish the ball back and forth in the product, and then repeat on your eye making sure the middle line is horizontal. I apply it so the darker shade applies in the crease and the lighter shade on the lid. The colours give a slight shimmer but nothing too dramatic and can literally save me five minutes of my morning routine.

This paired with the 'They're Real' Push-up Liner (£20) takes this look from day to evening. The push up liner, twists up, so no need for sharpening and is a gel-like formula which comes out of a silicone nib. The silicone nib is so soft that it can be pushed along the water line without it causing any irritation whatsoever (unlike normal wooden/plastic ones).  It can also be used above the lash line to create a feline flick. It's pigmented and pretty budge proof which is always a bonus!

The final product I am going to share with you is the 'They're Real' Lipstick and Liner in one (£16.50). And it is exactly that! No need for a separate liner, which usually takes me half an hour to find, before then searching for my lipstick! Benefit have combined the liner and lipstick into one to give you an all in one product that leaves you with luscious 'ombre effect' lips. The liner is slightly darker and lipstick lighter to give the illusion of fuller lips. The tear-drop shape of the lipstick gives    precise application of product.

Overall I have been thrilled with the products and can happily add them to my growing collection of Benefit Products. Have you tried Benefit before? What products do you swear by?

Amina xx

*PR gift. All opinions are my own.