Melalaiya Rant | WOMEN ONLY BLOG

Hi lovelys! Ok so i recently just received a couple of comments from men commenting on this blog (AHH WHAT) So may i just make it clear to these men my blog is for women ONLY, and men do not need to be reading this blog as beauty secrets do not concern them!

Ideally this blog is for Muslim women helping them be beautiful for less, therefore any comments from men will be deleted!

Thank you very much for your co-operation!

Melaliya's do it yourself | DIY highlights

For years now i have been doing my own highlights, because i don't trust getting them done by anyone else apart from myself!! And alhamdulilah they turn out very professionally done...I recently highlighted my hair with a mix of ombre and i love it!!!

So this is my brief guide to doing it yourself!

Step one: Brush your hair until it is tangle free, next make sure your hair is moistursed before applying the bleach as this can cause the hair to break! Therefore i recommend applying Olive oil or Argan oil.

Step 2: Apply the streaking cap onto your head and use the streaking picker to pick up the hairs from your head.

Step 3: Once all the hairs are picked out apply Wella hair streaking bleach onto the hair, after doing this allow your hair to dry for 45mins to an hour. 

Step 4: Leave the cap on and wash your head, you don't want to take the cap of as this will cause breakage to the hair!

 Ok, so if you naturally have darker hair your hair will turn out orange with some hints of blonde at the roots! Don't panic! This is part of the process and your hair now needs and ASH or a COOL tone to take away the brassiness (Please allow at least 1 week or more for your scalp to calm down before using the dye)

......1-2 weeks later......

Next apply Clairol Perfect 10 ASH or COOL brown onto the hair an leave for 15mins, as soon as you see the brassiness has gone quickly wash your hair otherwise your highlights will be gone!

And there you have it salon professional highlights done at home for 80% less!! NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL A SAVING...So give it a go and let me know how you get on.....

My next blog post will be highlight after care so watch this space....

Shopping Haul | Nail attack!

So quick review I received my order from beautybay.com a couple of weeks ago, and i forgot to show you guys what bargain i found! (ooooh)

I love nail varnishes and i have a huge collection and during 'the holiday' i make use of them, so i found these really beautiful colours by Mavala they have such a wide range that i wanted all the colours they have!

I chose to by the Mavala Trio Box Pale which comes with 3 nail varnishes Rose dust, Velvet and Elle (£9.50) and also i brought Aqua marine (£3.50) they are all beautiful colours and look amazing, the photo does not do them any justice!!!!  

They are cheap but they only have 5ml so is that even cheap!!! (hmm) i will be comparing Mavala and BarryM next so watch this space girlys....!!

 

Problem solved | Bang and the smell is gone!

During the summer period our feet tend to sweat more and then we end up with smelly feet (ewwwww) Yeh nasty and not nice but we all suffer from it, some more than others!

Here are a few tricks to prevent your feet from giving a pong!

• Cut open two black tea bags and boil it in a pan for 15mins, pour into a bucket and leave to cool, then soak your feet for around 30 minutes.

OR

• Pour 4 table spoons of baking soda and 5 tablespoons of Ariel (laundry detergent) into a bucket, pour warm water and leave your feet to soak for 30 minutes.

• After doing one of the above, rub SOAP and GLORY's heel genius into your feet.

• Lastly spray deodorant onto your feet and leave them to breath

Hot tip: Pour baking soda and Ariel (laundry detergent) into all your shoes leave overnight and don't forget to tap the excess

Natural secret | Soft Silky Hands

Want to know a quick beauty tip to use after washing the dishes or doing any sort of household chores that involve bleach!

No need to rush to the shops as all these ingredients are most probably in your cupboard!

• So get 1 teaspoon of rosewater
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
•  1 teaspoon of almond oil

 Mix into a bowl and apply onto your hands an TADAAAA soft and silky hands!

 Using this every day at night after doing chores, nourishes the skin and heals cuts....AMAZINGG!

Beauty secrets | The Romany Gypsy way!

So i am addicted to the show 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' which started in the UK and now there is an American version of the show which is super duper addictive!


I was watching it yesterday and 14 year old Nookie was explaining how Romany Gypsy's stay slim... Their beauty secret is actually kind of worrying!!! So apparently they have malt vinegar and salt with anything.. 

In the show you can see Nookie pouring a cup of vinegar with sachets of salt (oooowe), Now i know that malt vinegar is actually a great ingredient to use if your after loosing a couple of pounds, but using tons of salt is surely a health concern (So please don't try this at home)..


These girls have amazing figures, so i shall now be making an effort to pour some malt vineger in my teas or salads! (Woo)

Melaliya's review | Organix coconut milk serum

My new love <3 .....So during my big shop at boots last month i came across this amazing product which contains egg whites, (Wooohooo) i use it to style my hair when i blow-dry it and it leaves it looking healthy and shiny!

As soon as i saw that it contained egg whites i had to purchase it, as i love to use egg whites in my home made products!.....I'm not really a fan of putting coconut in my hair as it tends to dry out my ends, but this has really changed my views!

Oragnix even have a range of products that contain Argain oil (Yeyyyy to the Berbers) which i am yet to try out, but so far i am so in love with this as it actually works and the smell is so yummm! :-)

Beauty must have | Yes to

Yipeee, so i received my products i brought from beautybay.com and i am so exciteddd to share this item with you guys!!!

Yes to carrots 

I wanted to try out some of the Yesto products as they contain natural fruit and vege ingredients (And there is a big hype on how great they are!)....I must say when i applied it my lips instantly felt softer and lush!!! 
Surprisingly it does not spell like carrots it actually smells like mint! (WOOO)
I am going to continue to use it as my main lip primer and will let you know how i get on....So far so good <3 <3 Oh and the lip butter is CHEAP and the same price as many other lip products from the highstreet!

Beauty must have | Egyptian Magic

Sorry guys kept away from blogging yesterday as i have been really busy, so do forgive me....

Ok so i have been wanting to show you guys a BIG beauty secret, this product is the Shiz-nizzle! This is used by such celebrities as Madonna, Karolina Kurkova, Eva Mendes, Kate Hudson, and many more, they all swear by it.....(WOW)

The person who created this needs to get a beauty award, now i am telling you if you do not have this in your life then bohooo!

EGYPTIAN MAGIC!

I was first introduced to this around 2 years ago, and i had been looking for something that was suitable for bad blemishes, uneven skin tone and minor acne... I used it every day before i went to bed and It worked wonders within a couple of days my face looked flawless and very radiant! 

Shiz-nizzle!!!

 I stopped using it 7 months after my tub finished as it was very expensive to keep buying, but with the fantastic results i now cut back on spending on other products to continuously purchase it, it cost £23.95 for a 120ml and well worth it!

Egyptian Magic contains 6 natural ingredients Olive oil, Beeswax, Honey, Bee pollen, Royal Jelly and Propolis extract.

The consistency is very similar to vaseline, so when applied onto the finger it melts and becomes oily...It is also a all purpose skin cream and can be used on your hair, face and body and i would really recommend it to everyone all skin types and defiantly to those of you who have acne!

TIP: Please beware of buying this item from ebay as their are many fakes! 

 

Natural secret | DIY Hair mask

Now during the weekend i like to relax and go natural with hair products... one of my favorite homemade masks is a secret i have been using for years.... 

So basically you mash all the below ingredients in a blender....then apply to the bottom of your hair and slowly work your way up....after cover you hair with cling film and leave for 45 mins....then wash your hair out with warm water (Make sure it is not that hot as you do not want to end up with scrambled egg in your hair!).......And wallaaaaaaaa frizz free, lush hair!

3 tsp of Yogurt

2 tsp of Mayonnaise

1 Avocado

1/2 a Banana 

3 tsp Natural Argan oil 

1 Egg

GlamPad | Highlighting and Contouring

I am such a big fan of contouring and a perfect example of beautifully done contouring, is Kanika Kapoor in her new video 'Jungi Ji' (How AMAZING does she look)

Contouring is an excellent way to define your features, and also makes your face look slimmer within minutes!!!

Contouring is very easy to learn and with the right tools any one can do it.. 

For everyday contouring the best compact kit that i have used so far, is from the brand Sleek, it has a dark compact colour and also a highlighter which is great for above the cheekbones and the price is great!...

 Tip: Everyone has different dimensions to their face and different features they would like to bring out, therefore don't go on youtube and follow the steps of a makeup guru, as what they are doing might not be suitable for the shape of your face.

Now the best photogenic way to get this look is by using creme foundation, the trick i use is used by many pros to give a glow to their clients....

 First start by drawing lines on the features that you wish to highlight using a creme foundation that is very light (i say 3 times lighter for your skin tone), then use a darker shade creme foundation around 3 times darker and draw lines on your Cheekbones, temples, forehead and jawline.

Next using a stipple brush and a sheer foundation that matches your skin tone, blend the lines into your skin (blend blend blend)... Lastly use a setting powder to set the foundation and Wallaaaaa !

If this sounds confusing... Don't worry i will be doing a makeup tutorial very soon!

Shopping haul | The Pop Look review

So summer time is here and I was after some maxi dresses and came across ThePopLook.com, the items on their website looked really beautiful and i was looking forward to purchasing from them.

Their based all the way in Malaysia so converting the money was fine thanks to xe.com (LOL) ...... So i chose 3 different style dresses that looked really nice and modest, all 3 dresses came up to RM 241 plus postage and packaging at RM 29 which is £50.96 ... I ordered on the 28th May 2012 and received it today 7th June 2012 so it came quit fast!!.

This is my receipt, to show you guys that i purchased this item with my own money and all reviews are my own opinion....

The packaging looked like this (OOOOHH exciting)

Ok so the first dress i ordered was a green shirt dress, it looked really lightweight, and something that i would wear to work.

It was meant to look like this....

But ermmmmm it looked like this....

 (Oh myyy) (Angry face) I am so disappointed because the whole dress was creased, it actually looks like it was probably washed and given to me! (harsh yeh i know) also i am 5ft4 and the dress does not even come up to my ankles :-( ...I am annoyed at the fact they will send this sort of quality out to their customers!!

Anyways moving on....

The next item i brought was this beautiful pinkish dress with a waterfall edge, it does look nice on but sadly it was also was creased and short (above my ankles)!

The last item is this black maxi......

Now i do not want this to be a really negative review... and i am going to give The Pop Look some credit for this beautiful dress, the cut out, the arms, and the way it falls is amazing..... and it looks like an Abaya!!!!! 

So Abaya loving sisters i would defiantly recommend to have this in your wardrobe!..... (WOHOOOO for the one item that was no creased)... 

Overall my experience from shopping at ThePopLook.com has been a below average (Neyyy)....  i don't think i can forgive them for the creased dresses, and i do hope they compensate me for the inconvenience or i will be one unhappy customer! But other than that i do love the black elegant dress so 4/10....

Products i love | Smells from the Arab world

During the summer the Khaleejis from the UAE and surrounding, come to London to escape the heat of their countries..... and their women shop to they drop, in stunning abayas, beautiful designer bags and the lavish smell of Oud!

I am such a big fan of Arabian scents!!! I know it may not be everyone's cup of tea, and sometimes may be a bit too much.... but hoohaaa i love it!

The smell of Oud and Bakhoor are divineeeee, and the real deal is hard to find in London unless you are willing to to go to Arabian Oud in Oxfordstreet and pay a price...So i did...

I was after the exact smell that these khaleejis wear, so the sales assistant showed me many but none of them had the scent i was after....But 20 sprays later.... 

I found 'Woody style' it is AMAZING!!!!!!! 

It was on sale at price of £35 for 100ml originally £70, now you can't go wrong! It has been over a year now since i purchased it and a little defiantly goes along way (i still have over half the bottle left)....

It includes Lotus flower, White musk, Amber, Cedar wood, and Malaysian oud....

I would defiantly recommend this scent to married sisters, it is a very strong romantic smell and best to be worn in closed doors e.g. weddings, parties etc...

Products i love | Do it yourself french manicure

So it's hard times and i guess getting a professional manicure done is not always on your mind ..but it is always nice to treat your nails during the 'Holiday' (you know what i mean)....

I remember as a little girl trying to do my own manis by getting cello-tape and white nail varnish (Epic fail).....

There are many do it yourself french manicure kits out in the high street but none are great quality...But...

Have you heard of Flormar??

I was first introduced to Flormar whilst on a holiday in Istanbul, my cousin mentioned that we must go searching for the product as it is such a hit in Turkey (Shout out to Nora and Fatz).

It is meant to strengthen your nails, whilst at the same time leave a lasting application.... 

it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and now one of my favorite nail varnish brands.... only wish i stocked up on more!

From left to right -310-012 -319...

Natural Secret | Quick detox

Got a wedding coming up? or a party? or you just need to loose a couple of pounds for the summer! 

This beauty here does the trick, i am a big fan of prunes and the benefits that come with it, it is a great colon cleanser, full of antioxidants and high in potassium which can lower your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and strokes.

Drinking prune juice can also help in weight loss, as the fiber gives you a lasting feeling of fullness which will prevent you from over eating (Yep we all do it!).

TIP: Mix some prune juice with green tea for the added cleanse and beware DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE!!  

Melaliya's review | Moisturisers??

So for years i was using No7 Perfect and Protect intense day cream and still tend to, and yes it does really work wonders! (LOVE it)..... I remember one day coming back from a party and in a rush i wiped my face with a baby wipe, within a few seconds my whole face started to react and i felt my face burning!! (Ouch)

I was panicking and my mum quickly brought over the Protect & Perfect (Superwomen) which i massaged into my face, when i woke up the next day (as Moroccans say) it was like i was lying! My face Alhamdulilah had no marks or redness (Wow)....

Now this product i have raved to all my family about and so has my mum (excitement) but it is a really good moisturiser, sun protector and wrinkle fighter 'anti aging'.... Now at £23 it is not always something that you can afford especially during hard times...So.................

(Drum roll) ....

.... Ponds nourishing anti wrinkle cream with white tea extract at £4.99 (from boots)

I have been using this for around a month or so, and i have found it to be very moisturising, cooling and also a great primer for my makeup routine! I would not say it is better than the No7 Protect & Perfect, but very similar, does the same thing, has SPF15 and an added bonus of white tea extract which soothes those dark circles! 

For both products i would be more than happy to rate them a 10/10...... And remember ladies moisturising your face day and night is a must especially if you have dry or combination skin!

Melaliya's review | BB cream hype!

Now there is a big craze about BB creams which originated from Asia and now everyone in the UK wants one....

So following the trend I brought L'OREAL Nude Magique around a month or so ago, it comes in two shades light and medium (as i have an olive skin tone i chose light)..... the first thing that captured my attention was the little pigments that lightly exfoliate your skin once applied, which is really nice when you want a quick fix before going to work.

It is meant to mimic the texture & glow of perfect bare skin- I must admit it does leave a light glow to your skin .... but (now here comes the cons) i don't feel that it moisturises enough so if you have combination skin your left with a matt look, and also it leaves a very orangey tint which becomes clearer in daylight (Ahhhh)..... maybe it would look nicer if i had a tan. (hmmm roll eyes)..

I would rate this product a 5/10 and that's me being nice..... the only benefit from this product is the light glow and exfoliation but neyyyyy to the tint-  i would not be buying it again so girlys don't waste your money!




Before

After

Melaliya's brand | Brush Stimulator

So if you’re Moroccan then you literally where brought up with this brush, but i am amazed that it has so many benefits to it, for example it actually massages/stimulates the scalp (OH MY!).

I usually use this brush when i apply my special hot oil treatment, and it really helps spread the mixture all over and de-tangles quickly!

The holder fits in between your fingers so it makes it easier to brush, and the added pressure massages your hair at the same time so twice the benefit!! (Yeyyy).

I will soon be selling these beauties very soon so watch this space!!

~Melaliyas hot oil treatment~

So after years of testing.... i have come up with a special hot oil formula, which treats dry, damaged, unhealthy hair with instant results.... i have tried it on friends and received excellent feedback Alhamdulilah...

So if you live London and interested in a deep nourishing hot oil treatment, i can provide this service in the comfort of your own home at a special introductory offer of £30....

 Which includes the Melaliya hot oil treatment, a head massage to stimulate your roots, wash and blowdry. (This offer is for a limited time only) (Price does not include travel costs)

So treat your hair girly's!

Please message me on facebook if you would like more info.....

Melaliya's shoplock | Yummy Shower Gel

So i went into boots today for a quick shop to update my makeup collection, and i must say when i go into boots or even superdrug i spend hours and hours searching for the right product, and if i see a 3 for 2 or a sale i go crazy!!

So i bumped into this product a shower gel by The Little Bubble Co ...  and the only reason i actually brought this is because its smells divineee and reminds me of morocco as for some strange reason it brings back memories of the beach....  

It is 500ml and was on sale for £2 which is very reasonable for a shower/bath gel..and the packaging is sooo cute looks very chic!

So i am going to try it out and let you know how i get on.

I am not going to show everything i brought as i will be doing reviews very soon.....but when i went into H&M i picked up these beautiful pastel coloured hijabs...... really lovely for the summer and can be combined with a work outfit....