Remove henna sooner

Now what most people actually want to know is how to darken a henna stain but sometimes it actually helps to know how to get rid of the henna stain. I had my henna party one week before my wedding day so I was in desperate need to get rid of the first application in time to have it re applied for the big day. The obvious way was ofcourse soaking my hand in water - which I did for couple of hours I tried to scrub with liquid and it slightly lightened it but didnt help as much as I had hoped.
I had a manicure done and as I was getting rid of the nail varnish I realised the henna stain had lightened by 3-4 shades and was left with a faint mark. I couldnt fully get rid of it to be honest but fast forward a year a friend of mine told me a method which would have been simpler! I have yet to try it so I will come back to update this post but contact lens solution swiped with cotton ball 2-3 times should do the trick.

After having a search on the internet (which I wish I had checked sooner :[ ) heres some other methods I found :

Make a paste of baking soda powder mixed with lemon. Apply on your hands to remove the Mehndi colour. However, this paste can make your hands dry and rough. Take some chlorine in a small bowl and add some hot water to it. Dip your hands in this solution for 2 to 3 minutes. You will witness some irritation and itchiness but it will vanish soon and will help fade the mehendi as well. 

Toothpaste can also be a great help in removing tattoo. Apply toothpaste on the areas from where you wish to remove the mehendi and when it dries, rub your hands to remove the colour. 

Sweat  also aids in removing these stubborn stains. So start exercising, especially aerobic exercise which will cause perspiration and will fade henna stains. Activities that result heavy sweating will aid in the removal of dead skin which will eventually remove the tattoo stains. So you can even opt for other activities like jogging, for example or other sport activities.

Finally if you have sensitive skin olive oil will help fade the mark off your skin.

Since I havent tried all these methods myself I suggest trying a small patch if you do decide to test it yourself. All skin types are different so what may work for me may not work for others and vice versa please feel free to suggest your own methods if you have a different suggestion other than stated above xx

Ramadan 2016

Ramadan mubarak guys 

I'm going to try and keep this post very short as the next part basically speaks for itself.

"Assalamu alaikum
My name is Aamilah and I am nearly 2 years old. I would like to raise lots and lots of money to provide Iftar to our needy Palestininan brothers and sisters in the last ten days of Ramadan Insha Allah. I will be travelling to Jerusalem later this Ramadan with my mummy and daddy where we will be handing out Iftar with our own hands during the odd nights, Insha Allah.
Some of the money we hope to raise will also go towards a new madrasah which is located near masjid Al Aqsa. And I can assure you that 100% of  your donations will be spent on those causes and nothing else, Insha Allah.
We are taking Zakah and Sadaqah. Please remember to mention Zakah when donating online, this will ensure your Zakah is spent correctly. If you would like to pay by cash or bank transfer, please get in touch with my daddy and if you are a lady, please get in touch with my mummy.
Please please! donate lots and lots of money and help me raise as much as possible so our Ummah in Palestine can do Iftar like we are.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AamilahY

May Allah bless you all :))
"He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward."
(Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh)
"The best charity is that given in Ramadan."
(Sunan at-Tirmidhee)"

This is from someone I know personally and a very dear friend of mine infact. The best part (for me) is 100% of your donations will reach the Palestinians in sha allaah and with it beng the month of ramadan your rewards will be far greater. So please donate generously

2016 summer colour trends

Its been a while now since red and navy have taken over in Bengali weddings to the point where if you go to green street every bridal shop knows to keep samples with those colours available.. frankly I've never been a fan so its quite the relief when I say theres some new colours in trend!!
I hadnt actually noticed until I was planning a project in lilac and had it pointed out to me that lilac hasnt been in fashion for years yet ironicly enough all of a sudden my instagram explore page was just jammed with different tones of lilacs.













But anyway I noticed a few other pastel colours no need to mention blue I think we all know what an impact Frozen has had these past couple of years!
I decided to check the indian colour trend for this summer (I dont usually do that! I know its apalling my old fashion teachers would be turning their heads if they knew gasp emoticon ) but in my defence the Bengali community is a bit behind they tend to follow fashion as it trickles down and not at the first glance!

Lilac isnt the only colour and its not liked by everyone but to be honest I think theres a shade for everyone you just have to be open to the idea its definately got a sence of elegance to it. Although its a bit like pearls you can either go very wrong or very right with it. All about how you choose to use it. So many elegant pastel shades in this summer, which one will you choose

Red Lipstick

Yes here it is the inevitable! Another blogger writing about red lipstick..
At one point or another every girl has thought about wearing red lipstick but I’m sure just like myself most of you would’ve gone through that awkward moment when you apply it and it just doesn’t look right.. Our celebs make it look s good and easy at that too! So where is it going wrong?
I have recently read so many posts as I did consider if it was worth going into a topic that’s been so commonly discussed, but I believe I can share a certain secret which most writers fail to mention..
Keep reading to find out what it is :P
But first here are the basics that you will need to know:

1. Finding the right shade:
With so many different shades to choose from it can get tricky figuring out which one is the right one. There’s dark, bright, pink undertone, orange undertone – of course some girls can pull off many different shades but there’s always a favourite isn’t there. Me – I like my “red carpet” type of colour and so far the one I absolutely love is “Stiletto Matte” by Sleek (personally I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t suit it) it’s such a beautiful intense colour, creamy feel with the right outlook.

For more in depth explanation you can check Makeup Files Blog:
But heres the specific section that explains it anyway:

"How to Find Your Skin Tone Temperature

1. Flip your arm over so you have a good view of the underside of the forearm. Make sure you’re in good lighting. Daylight is best.
2. Have a look at the color of your skin. If you see undertones of yellow or orange, you’re warm-toned. If you have undertones of pink or blue, you’re cool-toned. (This applies to women of all ethnicities.)
3. Still not sure? Look at the veins running along your arm. Warm-toned gals will have a slight green tint to their veins. Cool-toned gals will have very blue, almost purple, veins.

Now that you know whether you’re warm or cool, it’s pretty easy to find the right shade of red lipstick.
For Warm-Toned Skin
Look for lipsticks with orange, yellow or golden hues. These shades will look best with your skin.
For Cool-Toned Skin
Pick up lipsticks with a blue base. The cooler shade will accent the coolness in your skin."
- http://www.makeupfiles.com/2011/03/16/how-to-find-the-red-lipstick-shade-that-looks-best-on-you/

2. How to apply:
You will need the right tone of Red Lipstick
Lipcoat (can be bought from Superdrugs store)
Red Lipliner
Face Wipe
Tissue
The steps are quite easy to follow, you will need to first outline your lips with either a matching lip pencil or a darker one (depending on the look you are aiming for) then fill in your lips, pout and apply to the inner part, blot using a tissue if need be and wipe your teeth/face in case red lipstick spreaded on unwanted parts and then apply a layer of “Lipcoat” to keep the colour locked in.

Very vague I know guys but just to give you a brief idea as I’m sure the trouble isn’t how to apply but theres so many tutorials on youtube to demonstrate properly.

3. And finally the ingredient that makes it all work!
If you’ve done all of the above and still feel uncomfortable then you’ve sort of answered your own query without realising. The trick is to in fact BE comfortable; you need to carry it off with confidence, which is all very easily said so here’s the pointer which might help you to gain confidence. Crazy as it sounds, the first thing I realised was when wearing red sometimes it helps to actually wear something that compliments the lip colour. Now that can be red itself or the other option is to wear it with shades of greens and blues- lighter shades, as bright on bright isn’t a great combo for daytime wear. For me I love it with the nude shades and caramel.

I will be uploading pix soon waiting on my internet to arrive as I just moved in to a new house but let me know if any of you tried it and how it worked out :)

Henna patterns: Choosing the right artist

I remember a time when I used to think all henna was beautiful as long as the artist could pipe the design consistently and fill in the gaps I would be easily impressed. But then I tried to teach myself the skill by continously researching and looking at different styles, which is when I started to understand better which designs I truly like and which I dont. I no longer get easily fooled by the designs that have just been simply drawn. There needs to be a pattern, a flow, some sort of thought process and neatness. I realised I like neat patterns alot. I am forever screenshotting henna patterns as they do truly inspire me. So here's a list of henna artists I gathered whose work I regularly admire... And yes I provided a direct link to their instagram profiles (you know, because I'm great like that!)
1. ashkumar : https://www.instagram.com/ashkumar_beauty/
2. minal ashkumar : https://www.instagram.com/minal_ashkumar/
3. lali creations : https://www.instagram.com/lali_creations/
4.  shahdhillonshennadesigns : https://www.instagram.com/shahdhillonhennadesigns/
5. sheerin nahar : https://www.instagram.com/sheerinnahar_hennaartist/
6. zarahenna : https://www.instagram.com/zarahenna/
7. sharshenna : https://www.instagram.com/sharshenna/
8. elly khanam : https://www.instagram.com/elly_khanam/
9. rukhsar zaman : https://www.instagram.com/artliciousmehndi/
10. samira sobhan : https://www.instagram.com/samirasamira/
11. suhani mehndi : https://www.instagram.com/suhanimehndi/
12. amelia dregiewicz : https://www.instagram.com/amelia.dregiewicz/
13. art by alfina : https://www.instagram.com/artbyalfina/
14. shebiiQa’s mendi : https://www.instagram.com/shebiqas.mendi/
15. hennapixie : https://www.instagram.com/hennapixie/
16. sabinas mehndi : https://www.instagram.com/p/5-BLBCHCJ7/?tagged=sabinasmehndi

There is a variety of styles here, ofcourse everyone has their own taste, but after seeing so much of it I personally have come to appreciate the many many different techniques. Although its so hard to choose favourites I have to say Lali Creations never fails to impress. I love ALL of her work. Even though I mentioned I like neatness Shebiqa managed to be the exception to this rule, she has a rather charming aproach and her designs still flow ever so smoothly. But if you like the simple look no one does it better than Alfina, but saying that she has an amazing talent for developing something so simple to the most intricate work I've ever seen. So many beautiful designs, if you're a fan of henna then you'll be browsing for hours!

P.S. You may not want to start viewing during bed time...if you wan't to catch some sleep tonight that is!!

Hope you all had an amazing 2015

The Cute Closet

Although I would have liked to save this topic for another time- with proper research, now is probably the most fitting time, since I’m feeling all but passionate towards this subject. Rushed for time.. (you’ll understand why in a minute) I’ll have to keep it brief and to the point.
With all the planning and matching, adding a bit of cuteness might not take off the stress but it certainly does bring about early joys. Incase it isn’t already obvious I recently welcomed the beautiful blessing, which came in the form of my little girl, which admittedly got me all excited about the cute little frocks I could dress her up in!
A part of the fun about attending a wedding is usually being able to dress up but being able to find the right dress can be that much difficult.
So here’s a quick list I put together of places one might search in, for kids clothing.

Debenhams
Monsoon
BHS
Mothercare
Next
Asda (?)
Tesco’s (?)
Etsy

Instagram pages:
Notonthehighstreet
Atelierbysiennaray
joyfolie
kidzootd
Isabella_couture
Jadeelizabethcloset

dollcake.com
occasionwearforkids.com
rococlothing.co.uk

All may not be relevant but sometimes these places do deliver. Happy shopping

Get good skin: The do's and don'ts

I’m sure a lot of us are forever looking for a miracle product that will just help vanish the marks and bumps on our skin especially when that one day we’ve been dreaming of for years draws closer we want to look our best. And odds are in all this, nerves kick in and we start to try everything in one go.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have in rare moments tried to use too many products or even had constant switches hoping that something would help but that’s exactly what we shouldn’t be doing I recently read an article (sorry I forgot to save the source!) that explains in detail how some products should be used on its own and not combined with other chemicals as it can mix and end up giving you unwanted results. So basically, what we should do is find that one product we really like and stick to it. Personally, the two I really liked was the face wash by witch, which I used every morning and I really felt like it was clearing off all the excess dirt and the other was a face cream I bought from Elizabeth Arden it was a small bottle which I bought for £30 (unfortunately I forgot the name) but it was so beautiful on my skin leaving it feeling softer and clearer looking, the only product I have ever finished!

I would also recommend to every day get into the routine habit of using Clinique 3 step skincare routine. I particularly like the clarifying lotion as I always feel like I’ve removed tonnes of dirt from my face, dirt that wasn’t even visibly to the naked eye! It does leave it feeling a little dry which is why the moisturiser is the perfect ending to this routine.
To be completely honest I’ve never been one to routinely follow a skincare regime, but like most I have tried my fair share of products. I’ve never quite managed to keep up with a product for more than a week so when I go back to the product...well, it’s definitely saying something!

There’s no overnight solution and sooner or later we’ll all come to the conclusion it’s better to take care of our nutritional diet and the most effective method is water! Drinking water continuously in large quantities will do wonders to yours skin, I’ve tried it many times. I’ll admit I get bored of it but each time I’ve gone through that phase I have certainly noticed a difference....

Just a few weeks ago I realised my skin has been a lot clearer and it’s been a while since I’ve seen any spots (not that I ever had too many before luckily) but even so when I used to get it Id feel like it draws extra attention to itself being the “stand alone” bump, but my skins been so clear it made me think about what the reason could be, which is when I realised its because I haven’t been wearing makeup!!
I used to wear it every day, couldn’t leave the house without eyeshadow, foundation, contour and well, basically the whole lot, but for about a year (or even more) now and I simply can’t be bothered. Even on my bothered days I just put on a bit of eyeliner and I’m ready to go unless it’s a special occasion (and believe me those have been rare!) then I make the effort... I really have been keeping my face cosmetics free!
I know you won’t want to stop using makeup and therefore I would suggest that as soon as you come home- cleanse your face or at least DON’T go to sleep wearing it. It’s something we all know but still end of the night we just don’t bother to take it off and it’s vital to change that habit!
Also many brides feel that cutting back on fatty food will help lose weight but I noticed when I cut back on fizzy drink then helped revitalise my skin to (just to give you an idea I went from about 2-3 glasses per day to about 2cms in a glass every day or two). The sugary stuff so all fizzy drinks and sweets/chocolates are what gets all the horrible spots to come out too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFANB85pze4&spfreload=10

When I was getting married I remember watching reviews on this one method that I found intriguing and having seen three different people rave about it, I just had to try it. About a few months before the big day suddenly the stress hit and I found myself with horrible bumps...painful too might I add, lucky for me my hijab did an excellent job of hiding it but that wasn’t going to cut it for the big day, which is when I decided to try out this miracle method.

To try yourself you will need:
Clean face towel
Olive oil
Bowl of boiling hot water (as hot as you can take it)
To get started you need to massage your face with the oil and dip your towel into the hot water and rinse the towel. Then just simply dab your face with the towel slowly making your way around the entire face. The steam will allow your pores to open and the olive oil will reach the surface sooner, allowing the dirt to clear off quicker. Leave your face as is and just wait for the oil to absorb into your skin.

When I did this I literally saw results in 2hours. As the oil was absorbing into my skin the bumps were fading away...yup it was as simple as that! I had to do it the second time for it to be completely gone but the difference I saw just after the first time was simply amazing.

One more thing which is a complete must, and I can’t believe some brides don’t do this! But book yourself in with a beauty therapist, your makeup artist will only be so qualified but her work will best shine through on skin already clear. I myself booked Julie Beauty Therapist from Signature beauty, Four sessions starting Three weeks before my wedding day and honestly it was the most relaxing time of the week, after all the running around and organising this was the one time I was able to just feel carefree.




These are all tried and tested methods all of which worked well for me, everyone’s different so what works for me may not work for you, but if you have any other recommendations feel free to drop a comment :)