The Google Checklist

 

I have been given the opportunity to review The Google Checklist (link to Amazon here). Personally I have come across it before however it didn’t quite appeal to me. The Marketing Edition 2016 has been published by an agency which offers web design in Nottingham (link to www.heartcms.com here).

The contents page is informative and breaks down the information contained within each of the eighteen chapters. Eighteen chapters seem a bit daunting, but the book all in all consists of only 185 pages.

From the introduction, I can see that the purpose of the book is to help businesses generate leads through maximising their website and online marketing.

I have included a snippet on the introduction page above and as you can see the introduction details the two main subject areas of the book.
Sometimes, technical skills hinder the prospect of businesses blossoming. Many entrepreneurs find that they have a limited budget for their business and can’t afford professional services to advertise their business or have limited IT skills. However, in The Google Checklist the technical aspects of marketing are written in a much simpler form. Making it easier for lay people to follow the advice and see the results, all within their limited budget.

Purchasing the book also comes with an incentive. Readers are offered a free diamond website and online marketing report with a 45 minute consultation, worth a staggering £399.

I do see that the introduction contains a disclaimer about the grammar and spelling in the book. Being an academic, the grammar and spelling is one of the first things which kind of put me off the book. I did judge a book by its cover. I found the cover wasn’t professional enough, nor was the quality of the book and I thought the language certainly wasn’t professional. However, I later discovered the content and the easy to follow advice and thought maybe the language is suitable for the target audience. The target audience obviously is small businesses and entrepreneurs, who don’t have much money to invest into their business.

Moving on, the ‘about me’ chapter contains information on one of the authors; Amen Sharma and HeartCMS. This chapter is heart warming and makes you really appreciate the effort put into the book as it builds a background of the author and her struggles.

Building a successful business in 2017, almost always starts with building a website. However, there are many technical aspects to consider when building a website. These technical points are those which the author has considered first. Therefore, showing the importance of technicality and building the foundations of advertising. The chapter then goes on to discuss how you can overcome the issues and gives some good advice in regards to plug-ins, hosting, security etc. The best forms of building a business are shared, thereby making the process much easier for new beginners. The book is aimed at new businesses and the information and advice is appropriate for such a target audience.

While carrying out legal research, I was taught the importance of keywords. Keywords are important in any aspect of researching, be it on legal jurisdictions or a simple Google search. The importance of the words you use cannot be stressed enough. Therefore, I found this to be an informative and important aspect of being recognised. A simple Google search brings you the results of your competitors too but you want to have the highest ranking and be easily locatable.

I cannot stress how useful the information contained within the book is. For each of the issues discussed, you are advised of the best solutions to your problems and directed towards the most informative tools.

SEO and PR. Both important aspects of marketing. Considering the fact that many people aren’t familiar with such terms, I found such terms were easily explained in a way which people can actually learn. The whole point of this book is learning and that is what it does; educate.

The book further divulges the secrets of using social media platforms. In 2017, social media is a great advertising platform but how do you get those followers? Personally, I’m currently opening a Business Consultancy and I am venturing out into setting up my own brand/s. What I need to do is attract the attention of my target audience, and I need all the advice possible. This book has provided me with a true insight into marketing and reflects on points which I may not have even considered. Reading this checklist has opened the doors to so many marketing points which could further my prospects. At first, this book didn’t necessarily attract my attention as I thought I wouldn’t have an interest in and it would be long winded. However, it has given me immense knowledge and increased the prospects of my brand/s to flourish.

Concluding, it has been an interesting read although not my usual genre. It did exceed my expectation; again I did judge a book by its cover! But, it’s been a good read and an opportunity which I will be grateful for. Not only has it educated me on marketing but also helped me in my current projects. If I was to go back in time and research marketing guidance, I would certainly read all the reviews possible before purchasing.

L’Oreal #clayyourway

THE L’Oreal Pure Clay mask, they look amazing, smell amazing and just are amazing! Have a read about my thoughts on the masks and how I apply them.

Each mask contains three pure clays and further ingredients which are relevant to the purpose of the mask. The first pure clay contained in the masks is Koalin. Koalin is natural clay which is known to absorb impurities and excess sebum. The second clay is Montmorillonite which is very rich in minerals. The clay helps to illuminate imperfections. The final clay is Ghassoul, another pure clay which is highly concentrated in minerals and renowned to help clarify complexion. Therefore, the ingredients of the mask are the most pure and therefore really effective.

The concept of the glass pots is so neat and cute. I love pretty packaging and always feel that the prettier the packaging the more care has gone into the production of a product.

The size of each pot is 50ml and is more than enough for at least 10 applications if not more. Before buying them, I thought the size of the pot was much smaller. This was from my judgement of photos I had seen across the social media.

I’ve seen some people apply all three on their faces at once but in different areas. However, I like to apply them in a logical way, so I start with the Purity mask, then the Detox and finally the Glow mask.

Purity Mask

The Purity Mask claims to deeply purify and mattify, it can be used for any skin type and leaves your skin looking and feeling pure and matte-looking. The mask contains the three pure clays and Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus extracts are known for their purifying properties.

The texture of the mask is creamy and it is a very pale green colour. The best part about the mask is the fragrance, it is just so amazing. I really don’t know to describe the fragrances of the masks. They’re all unique and just as amazing as each other! After use, my skin feels so clean and fresh. Although I have to admit I haven’t been using the masks as regularly as I should have. The product claims to give you instant and lasting, visible results. I can attest that after the first use, you can see a real improvement in your skin.

The immediate results: Skin is fresh, clean and purified.

Use for one week: Skin looks mattified, cleaner and softer.

Use after use: Skin can breathe, is visibly transformed.

The above product claims are so true! I thought this might be anther overhyped product, but all the reviews were so accurate. I just can’t find any faults with the Purity mask.

Detox Mask

The Detox mask claims to detoxify and clarify, the creamy texture detoxifies the skins surface by cleansing deep into the pores leaving the skin looking clarified and beautified without drying it out. Again, the mask contains the three pure clays and the added ingredient is Charcoal. Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out the impurities. Along with the three pure clays, altogether the ingredients are immensely effective.

The mask is a thick creamy texture and is grey. It doesn’t look the best but is great for your skin. Due to the deep cleansing properties, the product reaches right into your pores. As the mask dries, you can visibly see the areas which are most affected by pores as the mask darkens around your pores. It feels amazing to see your pores come out and when you remove the mask you can clearly see the difference in the areas which were most affected by pores. Again, I haven’t used the mask as often as I probably should. But from first application, I can clearly see a difference. Your skin feels so much smoother and cleaner.

As per the product packaging, the results are immediate. Your skin feels so much cleaner, luminous and softer.

However, if you have really dry skin like me, remember to moisturise after. I feel the Detox mask is the harshest of the three. But, it smells the most amazing of the three!

Glow Mask

The Glow Mask brightens and exfoliates; it contains exfoliating properties as a result of which the texture isn’t smooth. Many South Asians suffer from skin discolouration; this particular mask helps even out the skin tone.

Again, this mask contains the three core pure clay ingredients. The additional ingredient is Red Algae extract which is known for its brightening properties. The texture of this mask is beady as it illuminates tone by exfoliating the skins surface without drying it out.

After regular use, your pores feel tighter and your skin is refined. From personal usage, I can see why most South Asian girls prefer the Glow Mask over the other two. The illuminating properties work wonders on evening out the skin tone and the darker areas become brighter over time. This is the mask which I have used more regularly because the brightening properties are just so perfect for my skin! So all you South Asian girls need to try this particular mask, you’ll love it!

The mask claims to visibly transform your skin and give you an even healthy glow. We all love that glowy skin and this product right here will help you achieve it – I’m starting to sound like a sales rep now!

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Each mask cost me £8 from Boots, but a few weeks back Superdrug were selling all 2 for £15. Maybe, I should have shopped around and saved myself enough money for a new lip colour! Anyway guys go get yours, you’ll love them.

I apply the mask using a brush and as per the instructions on the box, I apply a thin layer all over my face and leave it to dry for 5-10 minutes. I then remove it using a wet towel. You will most probably feel a tightening sensation as the mask dries, try to avoid your eyes and lips though.

Do let me know your views on the pure clay masks; I’d love to read your experiences, tips and tricks.

Until next time x

Disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored, I have purchased all the products myself and this is my true honest review of them. My views are not influenced by anyone else or any external sources.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

Hey girlies,

I was intending to share some of my birthday buys with you all today; however I ended up writing a overly thorough and long winded review on just my foundation. Therefore, I’ll leave the rest of the products for another post.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation – £31

This foundation is the bomb! I was matched to Syracuse which is from the Medium/Dark range. At first I was on cloud nine to have finally got a foundation which suited me, as I have a very difficult skin tone to work with. Most foundations tend to be either too light on me, resulting in a grey-ish look or too dark for me which makes me look orange! Neither is a good look.  However my joy was short-lived, when I tried the foundation a few days later it was too dark for me. I don’t fancy walking around looking like an Oompa Loompa! So yeah, I’m not too pleased with the shade I was matched too.

Having tried various methods of application and trying the foundation with different products, I loved the coverage. The product claims to be weightless and buildable. This is definitely true! It doesn’t take much product to get full coverage and even then your face doesn’t look overly caked. There is nothing worse than a caked look.

I always opt for a dewy finish rather than matte, having researched the product I discovered that this product would give me the finish I desired. The product claims that Sheer glows silky fluid delivers immediate hydration, evens skin tone and leaves the skin brighter and more radiant. The product lives up to its claim and it does significantly brighten your complexion.

Having read my previous posts, many f you know I have dry skin. Many foundations tend to stick to dry skin and that is not a good look. Nars Sheer Glow foundation is recommended for normal to dry skin types. I moisturise and prime my face before applying the product with a damp beauty blender. The finish is exactly what I wished for. The product also claims to hydrate your skin and it does just that.

Aside from the shade, I have no complaints and would definitely recommend this product. It is the perfect product for my skin and suits my skin type too. At £31 for a 30ml bottle, it is really worth the price. I would recommend this foundation to anyone who is looking for a higher end foundation which is just perfect. I would buy the product again, but perhaps in a different shade.

When buying the foundation, I was advised to purchase a pump separately. The pump cost around £3 I think; I can’t remember the exact price. Therefore, bringing the price of each foundation to around £34. Then again, the pump only needs to be purchased the first time. The purpose of the foundation pump is to make dispensing the product less messy and for more efficient usage. The silky texture can make the product messy, so I would recommend you to buy the pump.

I would definitely recommend you all to try the foundation if you haven’t already!

If you use the foundation or have any tricks or tips to help the rest of us, be sure to comment and tell us about your experience with the product.

Until next time x

Disclaimer: In no way is this post sponsored, these views are just my own and are not influenced by anyone else or any external sources. I have purchased the product myself and this is my true honest review of them.

Of Child Abuse, Exploitation and Poverty

Everyone who knows me well enough, knows that I am not big on Pakistani/Indian dramas or series. I have never ever watched an episode in my whole 24 years on this planet. However, I was persuaded to watch one by my very close friend. And it was ace!

Udaari 

The story concentrated on a rural area of Pakistan and an Urban area of Pakistan. The rural area used for filming purposes was Kashmir and the urban area used was Lahore. The story began from the rural area and in the first scene we were shown how Meera (Urwa Hocane) and her family lived. The social and economic marginalisation of those living in the rural area was pretty obvious. Poverty strongly influenced their lives and led them to make decisions they would later regret. We are taken through a journey of child abuse, corrupt police involvement and negative political support. The drama highlights many taboo subjects which are common in Pakistan. Kashf foundation, a women’s right group, helped in the formation of the drama and practised its main principle of providing financial aid to women form low poverty families.

Meera (Urwa Hocane)

Meera lives in poverty with her parents, younger brother and maternal uncle. The family sung at weddings and events for a living. They are looked down upon by their neighbours because they’re of a lower caste than most, they are referred to as as the Doomani’s/Marasee’s.  Meera falls in love with a man from a higher class family; Ilyas. Ilyas’ mother constantly criticises his love interest because she is considered beneath Ilyas’ social class. This leads to Ilyas forbidding Meera from singing and performing at wedding or events. However, Meera’s family’s livelihood stems from the signing and dancing. Little does Meera know that her singing will lead her to fame and a very comfortable life for her and her family.

Zebo (Areesha Ahsan and Hina Altaf Khan)

Sajjo (Samiya Mumtaz)

Zebo live in poverty with her mother Sajjo, her father had died a few years before. Sajjo worked as a maid to ensure she could give Zebo the life the she deserved. When Sajjo was given a marriage proposal to a wealthy man, who was her deceased husbands former friend, after much hesitation she decides to go ahead with the marriage for the sake of Zebo. Unfortunately, Zebo’s step father takes advantage of her vulnerabily and starts abusing Zebo. 

When Sajjo finds out about the abuse, she confronts her husband. However, things take a drastic turn as he tries to impose his authority. Sajjo takes drastic measures and flees the village to seek the help of Meera and her family. When they get into contact with Kashf foundation, they are helped and give the financial aid they need. Sajjo then sets up her own business and lives a comfortable lifestyle with Zebo, until disaster strikes and the abuse Zebo endures takes a public platform.

I would recommend this drama as there are many lessons to be taken from it. The awareness of such taboo subjects is just fantastic. I hope the Pakistani media industry can continue to excel in their story lines and productions. The series is available on HUM TV’s YouTube channel. I’ll leave you all a link below. Well done Pakistan!

 

If you’ve watched Udaari, leave me a comment letting me know your thoughts on the series. If you haven’t watched it, go watch it. I promise you’ll enjoy each and every episode.

Until next time girls x

Lets Prep and Prime that face!

Hey guys

Welcome back to my blog. As previously promised I will be sharing my make up haul with you all, but before that I thought why not share how I prep and prime my skin.

As many of you may know I am more inclined to using drugstore skincare as opposed to high end. This is mainly because it is more affordable and there is a variety of drugstore products available which are of really good quality. Here is my 3 step routine and a review of the products I use.

1

So I have dry skin, in Autumn and Winter my skin can get extremely dry and flaky. Therefore, I cleanse my skin with the Nivea Facial Cleansing Wipes. They are 3 – in – 1 and usually come as 25 wipes in a packet or you can buy the 40 wipe packets which will obviously last longer. The wipes pictured are for Normal & Combination skin, silly old me picked up the wrong ones. I usually go for the gentle option which is more suited to my dry skin. Anyhow, I’ll buy them next time. Firstly, the wipes claim to cleanse thoroughly and remove waterproof make up. Secondly, these wipes are refreshing. Which they so are! Thirdly, they are extra mild. Therefore, they aren’t harsh on your skin. Having dry skin it can be really sensitive, as a result of which I opt for the sensitive option. Having used these on my face, I found that they cleansed my face but stung a little and gave my skin a tingling sensation. This is probably because; my skin is dry and sensitive. I’m sure they’ll be fine if you have normal or combination skin though. The wipes also contain Vitamin E, Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant. So, it oxidises your skin and gives you healthier skin. The wipes shouldn’t be your sole source of Vitamin E, but they sure do contribute to your use of Vitamin E.

Cleansing my face before applying makeup gives me a smoother coverage. The wipes help oxidise my dry skin, so that it looks healthier and my make up application is smoother. If I skip this step, I find that my foundation tends to linger on my dry patches and that is such an unattractive look!

These wipes typically cost around £3.15 for a 25 pack. The Nivea wipes range include Gentle wipes for dry skin, Fragrance free wipes and Deep Cleansing Exfoliating wipes.

2

To moisturise my face I use the Nivea body moisturiser which is Rich Nourishing. This product provides intensive moisturising care and claims to give you 24 hour noticeably smoother skin. Having tried and tested this product religiously over 24 hours, I have seen an incredible change in my skin. The dry patches have decreased and the flakiness has gone. But, you have to use it religiously! I slather it on before wearing any make up and if I’m having a makeup free day I try to wear it a few times a day and then before bed I make sure to really slather it on. The moisturiser is white in colour and the texture is quite runny. However, when you apply it is creamy and you have to actually rub it into your skin in order for your skin to soak it all in. It is a very rich formula and it also contains Almond oil. Before I started using this product I used to apply Bio Oil to my face before my makeup to achieve a dewy finish and to stop my make up from lingering onto my dry patches. However, since I have started using this product, I find because of the Almond oil I don’t have to use Bio Oil anymore. I can achieve a dewy finish with only the richness of this moisturiser. The product is recommended for dry to very dry skin; it leaves your skin feeling rich just as it claims to do.

This is by the far the most amazing moisturiser I have ever used to prep and prime my skin and is now my go to product. If you have dry skin like me, I’d recommend you to moisturise using this product in order to have add a dewy healthy glow to your face. This is the body lotion which I use to moisturise, it is a body moisturiser however I use it on my face as well. Although perhaps I should buy a day cream.

This moisturiser retails for £3.75 for a 250ml bottle, and £5.29 for a 400ml bottle.

3

The final step of my skin prep and prime is using this beauty. The Nivea Men Post Shaving Balm, in Sensitive. Although it is post shaving balm, I use this product to prime my face. I love the texture of it as its smooth, the fragrance is nice and the way it absorbs into your skin is just really good. It doesn’t linger on top of your skin like another layer and it gets rid of any remaining dryness which the cleansing or moisturising may have missed. After using this product as a primer, I feel that my skin always looks so much smoother and it looks much healthier.

After priming my face with this and then doing my makeup, my makeup gives me a much better coverage. It looks flawless and really enhances the shade of my foundation, therefore I sue less foundation when I have correctly prepped and primed my face. The smoother base provides a much smoother finish. Most importantly, I look healthy and have a dewy finish. I love a nice dewy finish as opposed to the matte look. The dewy look is much more natural and gives you a glow.

Again, I sue the sensitive option as my skin is dry and sensitive. However, you can also use this product if you have normal, oily or combination skin. The finish will probably still be the same. After having experimented with other primers, this is now my go to primer and I don’t think I will ever revert back to any high end primer.

It has many practicalities, with the main one being the price. High end primers tend to be more expensive. However, this is such a cheap and durable product. It retails for £5.35 for a 100ml bottle. It lasts me a few months, this obviously depends on how often you prep and prime your face and how often you apply makeup.

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This is the end of my skin prep and prime regime, it’s now time to apply that makeup! 

If you use any of the products I’ve mentioned, be sure to comment and tell us about your experience with the product/s.

Until next time x
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored, I have purchased all the products myself and this is my true honest review of them.

The prices I have used are based on the current prices as advertised online by Boots.

Designer Labels, Impracticality and Egos

We live in an era where we think everything we buy has to be designer, be it clothing, shoes or accessories. Even our technology has to be up to date, I mean we can’t have last year’s Iphone can we? Honestly, it is nice to have the latest everything and especially something with a nice label on it. However, we forget to look at the practicalities surrounding our nice new designer products.

The price is the first major factor…

Everything designer comes with a hefty price tag too, we pretty much pay to parade the designers name on our bodies. Don’t get me wrong, I too have designer shoes and bags etc but realistically, they are so not worth the price tag. There are teenagers and students out there who have their eyes on designer products. It’s completely fine to not wear designer products at your age. I got my first designer handbag at the age of 20, which too wasn’t a big designer, just a regular Ted Baker bag. Yes Ted Bakers a designer, but is nothing in comparison to a Chloe bag!

I then got my Valentinos as a graduation present in November 2015, at the jolly good age of 23. Heck, I didn’t get my first designer make up till my 24^th Birthday two weeks ago.

Realistically, I got all my designer bags, shoes and make up etc at an occasion. I cherish the products and don’t wear them as often as I probably should. I can’t afford to buy truck loads of designer products, just like many of you out there. However, social media often influences us all. Others flaunt their designer goods out there and we think we have to do the same. Many students and teenagers have little to no money to their name. Heck, I graduated in 2015 and I’m still unemployed! There’s plenty to buy out there, but little money to use.

When you buy something designer, you have to look after it like a baby. Every little scruff on my Valentinos makes my heart constrict. I can’t get my money’s worth out of them and they are a little impractical to walk in so often.

Anyway, so I didn’t mean to vent but I just want to get it out there before sharing my new makeup haul with y’all that I’m not swimming in designer products and that really, that is completely fine.

Sending much love your way, until next time xoxo

Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse comes in many shapes and forms. It affects both men and women. NO ONE deserves to be abused, whether it’s emotional, physical or sexual. 

What we can do as a society, is raise awareness and help others in the same situation overcome their troubles. 

Miss honey did exactly that. She has written out her darkest troubles with the intention of helping others. Let’s respect her courage and spread the word ❤️

I have contemplated whether or not to publish a blog post on this cut-throat issue for some time now. Each time I began typing, I deleted the chaos of emotion that lay before me on my laptop screen. Is it too personal? Is it too shameful? Is it too… humiliating?

I’m afraid to admit that all of the above points prevented me from posting this in the past. However, I look around me and I realise that maybe my words need to be read. Maybe my voice needs to be heard. So here I am, mustering up all the courage I possibly can, in the hopes of helping other young girls who may be facing the same.

“YOU’RE AN ABSOLUTE JOKE.”

I could feel the familiarity of bitter paralyzation in my bones, rising to the surface of my skin.

“YOU’RE PATHETIC, LOOK AT YOU. I CAN’T DEAL WITH YOUR CRAP ANYMORE.”

His fists were beginning to hit the steering wheel now. Smashing against it in sheer anger at the sight of tears streaming down my face.

How dare I cry when it was all my fault?

I could hear my heart beating rapidly, echoing in my ears.

My stomach was spinning.

I wanted so much to close my eyes and pretend it wasn’t happening.

I couldn’t understand, why couldn’t I have just kept my mouth shut? Why did I have to start it again?

I was always causing problems you see. I was always too annoying. Always too much effort. Always too much of a problem. Always causing trouble and always deserving of his anger.

A slideshow of pictures flashed through my mind, of the beginning. Of the red roses. Of the proposal. Of the charm. Of the attentiveness. Of the chemistry. Of the immense joy I felt when we were first husband and wife.

“YOU’VE ALWAYS GOT TO EMBARRASS ME.”

I was jolted back to the present moment by the deafening sound of his shouting.

This wasn’t really happening yet again, surely?

We were the perfect couple on the outside. “Instagram goals”, I was told time and time again. My friends would fawn “you’re soooooooooo lucky”. Why did I not feel lucky then? When inside I was made to feel that I was not worthy to be the dirt on his shoes?

This is how it’s going to end, I thought. As he rammed the accelerator and cut a bend at a speed that made me scream. He always had to be in control, and he felt a sense of victory when I got scared.

This feeling was far too familiar to me now.

These moments were beginning to happen too often, I thought, as I felt bitter disappointment in myself.

What was wrong with me? Why did I always have to say the wrong thing? Why did I always have to do the wrong thing? Why was I so annoying? Why couldn’t I be more like he wanted me to be?

I thought back to the day of our ruksati. The day I heard my dad say to him “I’m giving you my heart, all I ask is that you take care of my heart.” I sobbed under the protection of my dupatta, hidden from everyones eyes, knowing myself fine well that it was never his intention to take care of my dads’ heart. He wanted to crush me until I became nothing. All of my family watched on as the car drove off and he attempted to put his arms around me, I froze. “I know that things have been… difficult, but I’m going to take care of you from now on, I promise you.” I opened my mouth to reply, to SCREAM, but nothing came out.

Difficult? Things have been difficult?

Did he not realise that I had lost a bigger part of myself each day?

Did he not realise that his constant criticism, control and emotional torture had left my self-esteem on the floor?

I thought now of my dad. My mum. My brother. All of my family. Who had no idea what was going on. I was terrified of telling anyone… because I was scared of how crazy I would sound.

Surely it was all in my head?

How could this lovely, charming, successful man possibly be a monster?

It must be me.

At least that is what he repeated to me on a regular basis.

It was always me.

I was the problem. I was the one with a temper. I was the one who caused arguments. I was the one who was violent.

It was all me.

Why did I feel so alone when I was surrounded by people?

Why did I feel that I wasn’t smart enough? pretty enough? GOOD ENOUGH?

Why couldn’t I be like the girls whom he compared me to?

So many things did not make sense, my mind was a constant state of chaos, unable to decipher what was going on and anxiously wondering whether today was going to be a good day or a bad day.

Wondering what I would do or say next to set him off…

“GET OUT THE CAR. NOW.”

 

2 years later…

I am only just beginning to realise that it was never me.

I was enough, and I am enough.

I refuse to blame myself any longer.

Girls who may be in the same situation, or know someone who is in a similar situation, please hear me when I tell you that you are enough.

You are strong. You are resilient. You are amazing. You are not deserving of his anger or his abuse.

There will come a day, when you will be ready to close that door, and watch a new one open. Don’t be hard on yourself for the learning process you undertake before that day, nor the mistakes you make in between – you are healing.

With love always, Miss Honey ♥ xx

misshoneybakes.com

Surprise Beauty Box

Hey there girlies,

If you guys have been following me on Instagram, you’ll have seen my latest blog related picture…

Many of you have probably been wondering what it is.

Recently I popped into my local Boots store and came upon stacks and stacks of the above gift boxes. I then learned that they were actually surprise beauty boxes. 

Basically, you bought a box and had no idea what kind of beauty products it will contain.

The purpose of these beauty boxes were to raise money for a local hospice. The hospice in question offers specialist palliative care for the terminally ill. So it was a good cause and I’m always up to be part of a good cause.

I had no idea what my box would contain, but I was so excited 🙈 it reminded me of the “surprise bags” I would buy from Claire’s as a child ❤️

Anyway, this is what my box contained…

I liked the variety of products and thought it was worth a lot more than the mere £2, which I paid for it.

So the products…

An Illicit Flower by Jimmy Choo sample. We all know how rich Jimmy Choo perfumes are and how  they are ‘oh so amazing’. This sample was just as adequate as previous Jimmy Choo perfumes. The sample size was 2ml, which is again adequate for the purpose of a sample. And the fragrance…is to die for. It’s very rich in quality and it is definitely a fragrance I would buy 😍 I believe it retails at around £36 for 40ml and £68 for 100ml, which is totally reasonable for a designer perfume.

Another sample, this time a smoothing and illuminating cream by Vichy Laboratoires. The cream is for normal to combination skin and is supposed to even skin texture and complexion and also smooth wrinkles. 

To be honest with you, I have never come across this brand nor this cream before. So a sample is exactly what I needed in order to be introduced to this product. The sample size is 3ml, which is again adequate for its purpose. There is no fragrance to the actual cream. The texture of the cream is basically really creamy and smooth. It smoothens out your skin and leaves it with a pretty glow. It isn’t heavy on the skin and nor is it oily, my skin felt really soft after using it. Definitely something I would consider buying in the future. Having researched the brand I have come across many products which I would consider purchasing. This particular product retails at £25 for 50ml, which is pretty reasonable. 

Two samples of Elizabeth Ardens “Superstart” skin renewal booster. The sample size was pretty small, 1ml, perhaps that’s why the box contained two samples of this product. We are all pretty aware that Elizabeth Arden products are really up there on the beauty product hierarchy. Elizabeth Arden never fails to please and always delivers high standard products. 

Sample size complains apart, the product is just perfect. I later learned a little of it goes a long way, which explains the sample size. The texture was pretty transparent and gooey at first, but once your skin has soaked it in it’s just perfect. It makes you look so much more alive and is really moisturising. It retails at £45 for 30ml and £60 for 50ml. Which is pretty pricey, however a little goes a long way and it actually does what it says. So yaaay to Elizabeth Arden, I always hedge my bets high on Elizabeth Arden products and I’m rarely disappointed. 

Now this was a full sized product, so 5ml, although I was disappointed with the colour. Maybelline Colour Elixir Lip Gloss 500 in Mandarine Rupture. The colours not a colour I would ever consider wearing, it’s just overly vibrant. The wand was bent when I opened the product, however I liked the velvety texture of the wand. 

The product however was disappointing. The texture was really sticky and glossy, it was expected because it’s lip gloss. But it was just overly sticky and didn’t absorb well into my lips and was more like a balm. The colour is really glittery and sparkly, which would have been nice in perhaps a pink or red shade. It retails for around £7.99, I would perhaps buy the product in an alternative shade. The quality of the product was okay-ish, I just found the damaged wand, sticky texture and colour really disappointing.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush, I am in love. This again was a full size product and the packaging is so simple and elegant. The lid is plastic, but the actual product is in a glass pot which is really sturdy and classy. It makes a nice change from the usual drugstore plastic pot blushers. 

The texture is so creamy and smooth which makes it really easy to apply and blend. The product is so pigmented, so a little goes a long way. It really lives upto it’s name and is a dream touch blush. It isn’t sticky but is creamy enough for easy application. I can’t seem to find it on the Boots website, but after googling it I’ve found it retails at around £6 which it is really worth. The product doesn’t say what shade it is and I’m not that familiar with Maybelline  products, to say that I can identify what shade it is. So if you guys can guess what shade it is , please do comment and let the rest of us know. 

I’ve come across a Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Blusher, so this product may be discontinued as there seems to be an improved addition to it. This version is still available on the likes of Ocado, EBay and Amazon. From where I’ve learnt that it came in the following shades; peach, mauve, pink and plum. I’m guessing mine might be Mauve or Pink. From the images available on Google, I have seen that the product should contain the shade, however mine doesn’t 🤔 so take a guess girls!

Oveall, I think I’ve got more than my money’s worth from this surprise beauty box and would buy some more if I was given a chance to. Better still, the proceeds of sale go towards a good cause.

Hope you enjoyed the reviews, until next time ❤️

#unfairandlovely

The people said “Oh Majnu, your Laila is so dark skinned?”

Majnu replied:

“Tuadhi akh na dekhan vaali,                      

Ved vi chitta te Quran vi chitta,

vich shahi rang di kaali,

jithe akh laggi othe ki gori te ki kaali?”

“You do not have eyes that see (true beauty), the pages of the Quran are white and upon them the writing black, where the eyes see beauty – black and white matter not.”

In Pakistan, or any South Asian country, true beauty is defined by the colour of your skin. Fair skin gora rang, is considered to be pretty where as tanned or normal Asian skin salera rang is looked down at. Therefore, tanned or normal Asian skinned people are perceived as not very good looking and are often victims to negative comments such as being called Kaali or Koji

It is sad to see that even in 2016, we haven’t grown out of such backward views. The colour of your skin does not define your beauty. Each and every person is beautiful in their own way and most importantly beauty come from within.

On social media I see more and more Pakistani girls embrace their tanned skin and the fairer girls are always so nice and welcoming. I just hope the older generation drop their stereotypical views on tanned skin. We as Pakistanis  have our very own Asian skin tone and it is completely normal. Some are born with fairer skin and others with darker, there is nothing wrong in that. Fairer skin does not make us superior, just like dark skin does not mean we’re subordinates.

Tanned skin is seen as such a big issue within us South Asians that it has also spread to our Punjabi music industry. Most of the songs are about how Gori, Chitti the girl in question is. Some take it a further mile, Katho Nindeya Salera Range Ve, Me Gori Hon De Tareeke Raha Labdi which basically translates to ‘Why did you ridicule my dark skin for, now I’m forever looking for ways to become fair.’

When I saw the Unfair and Lovely campaign circulating on social media, I just had to spread the word and be a part of it. I just want to point out that in no way am I saying fair skinned girls are not pretty, I know the most prettiest amongst them. Nor am I saying tanned girls are the prettiest. We are all pretty in our own ways, lets embrace our skin colours and our fellow Pakistanis skin colour.

#unfairandlovely

https://www.instagram.com/unfairandlovely/

 

 

 

Our Spiritual Journey #1

The purpose of our visit to Pakistan…

In September we go to a Urs which is an anniversary of a Sufi Saint’s death.

Sufi’s have Darbaars shrines, the anniversary celebrations are usually held at the Darbaar. The Sufi’s we go to are in Pakistan. Our grandfather happens to be buried in the grounds of the Darbaar, as he was a devoted believer, for such a reason he has been given such a beautiful place to rest. My grandfather isn’t the only reason we go there, before my grandfather passed away he went there every year.

Our Darbaar

During the Urs there are many Qawwali performers Qawwals who rock up of their own accord. The Qawwali is performed for many nights in a row running up to the Urs and after, nothing beats the feeling of live Qawwali. Thinking back I get shivers down my spine.

The Urs lasted 3 day. The night before the first official day, the women go to the Darbaar to light churaags tea-lights? and also to pray and read naats Islamic poems. Before we went to the darbaar, the men had given ghusl process of cleansing, to the darbaar. The men had left the Darbaar after the ghusl, the men and women don’t mix as the women of the family observe parda covering.We stayed at the Darbaar worshiping till after midnight. The night is mystified and surreal.

The chuaraags

Being guests of the Sufis, we are looked after like family. We stayed at the Darbaar house, in which only the Sufi’s family resides. After our visit to the Darbaar, which is literally the front garden of the house we stayed at (Sufi’s house), we went back inside and slept the night away. The excitement for the big first day was building up.

On Wednesday 24th September, it was the first official day of the Urs…check back for the second post in the series.

Little T & Big M

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