Must have Winter Beauty Products

Stylemesisteradmin
October 22, 2018

 

Top Autumn/Winter Beauty products (that have been tried and tested by me)

Disclaimer: this article contains my own opinions and has not been sponsored by Superdrug or any other company mentioned.

The nights are getting milder, the evenings are drawing in and before we know it we will be singing Carols and waiting for the post Christmas sales. Yes it’s that time of the year again….Winter is coming (and no I’m not referring to Games of Thrones…but whilst we talk about it what will we all do when GoT ends?!).

I don’t go to Salons; I really don’t have the time for them. I’m a diehard DIY beauty treatment nut and during the colder months I need to boost my not-really-that-time-consuming-working-Mama-beauty-routine.

Here are my top rated budget friendly products available (easily!) on the British High Street (this blog was posted in Autumn 2018 so if you are accessing this in the archives these items may no longer be around).

1) Superdrug Vitamin E moisturiser
£2.99 for 50 ml.

I’m all for own brands. I love Superdrug. Loyalty points, bargains and you can their own brands are bloody awesome.
During the colder months my skin starts to look dull. This moisturiser has built in light reflecting pigments that give you literally a instant glow. I apply it on top of my usual moisturiser so only use a small amount to avoid overloading my face.

2) Superdrug Vitamin C Orange Peel Jam Mask
£4.99 for 50 ml

I discovered this earlier this year and have not looked back since. It smells so good. Sooooooo good it’s hard to not lick your own face if you love citrus.
It exfoliates and brightens the skin-both of which are truly welcomed in colder months. Simply apply to cleansed face, sit back and wash off. I noticed a huge difference after the first use.
A true unsung beauty hero.

3) Carmex Original Pot 2G
£2.69 for 2g (I picked up a tube for a quid from B&M)

A cult beauty product for years for the average Mama to the glamourous elite. The tingly feeling makes this product a best seller world wide. I use it daily however during the cooler months I get through more than usual.
The Carmex family has grown and I love the squeezy lip products (Oh my gosh have you tried the Mint one?!)
Tried chapped lip are not a good look on anyone ladies (and gents) and can be painful too so just keep your lips moisturised.

4) OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Penetrating Oil
£6.99 for 100 ml

I’m Asian. Hair oil is nothing new to us. The magical properties of Argan oil are nothing new for the Moroccans (or Arabs) too. However we’re behind the time times in the West.
This oil is awesome at anytime of the year but believe me your winter mop will thank you loads for using this. It’s blended to revive, smooth and restore luster to damaged, dry and course hair.
Considering how dry hair can get in heated environments this product is fricking awesome.
Apply a small amount to hair, towel dry and away you go. Don’t be put off the price; the bottle will taste you ages.

5) Superdrug Hand Rescue Balm
£1.49 for 75 ml

Exposed skin will get damaged quicker-it’s a fact of life. Going from warm heated homes to the brittle cold outside means your hands dry out quicker.
I don’t know about you but cracked chapped hands don’t sound appealing and will be awfully painful when you have to pick up 101 shopping bags.
Superdrug Hand Rescue Balm is a budget saviour. It’s none greasy and bloody works a treat. Great to use throughout the year but especially awesome in Winter.

And there you have it. My top buys that have been tried and tested.

What are your colder much essentials?

 

Day six of the Batwing Abaya Challenge

Stylemesisteradmin
October 21, 2018

Day six of challenge

Plans: Work

My outfit contained:
Batwing Abaya
Gold statement necklace
Red Hijab
Leopard print handbag
Red peep toe wedges
Black sunglasses

Working from home in the back garden in the glorious sunshine.

There’s some blessings I count twice; and the seasons is one of them.

Don’t forget to like and share the blog and leave any feedback below. Sharing is caring guys.

Day seven of the challenge is coming your way tomorrow.

 

Day five of the Batwing Abaya Challenge

Stylemesisteradmin
October 20, 2018

Day five of challenge

Plans: Meeting with Coaching client

My outfit contained:
Batwing Abaya
Leopard print Hijab
Leopard print handbag
Leopard print boots

A dressed up yet quite down to meet up with someone I Coach. I always dress to reflect me during these meetings. It’s important me. Add a biker jacket and you’ve got an evening look.

Don’t forget to like and share the blog and leave any feedback below. Sharing is caring guys.

Day six of the challenge is coming your way tomorrow.

Day four of the Batwing Abaya Challenge

Stylemesisteradmin
October 19, 2018

Day four of challenge

Plans: visiting family

We’re off to visit familia.

My outfit contained:
Batwing Abaya
Gold statement necklace
Leopard print Hijab
Leopard print handbag
Faux suede ankle boots
Black sunglasses

An easy to travel in outfit that was classy enough for a day at the family helm. I think I would switch it for flats next time.

Day five of the challenge is coming your way tomorrow.

Don’t forget to like and share the blog and leave any feedback below. Sharing is caring guys.

Breakfast from the freezer…Breakfast Burritos

Alliyah Dawud
October 19, 2018
Best Breakfast Ever.

Breakfast Burritos

Hands up if the morning rush has you feeling running around like you are running the country.
When you have lots of responsibilities towards family and loved ones you often neglect yourself. One of my own SELF LOVE things I do is have breakfast. Even if it’s a bowl of yogurt and a banana. But I do it. I also ensure my girls have a breakfast too. It’s the most important meal of the day.

What I like is a bit of variety. Let’s face it breakfast can get boring when it’s the same old cereal.

As we try to get the most out of our Saturdays I limit our Breakfast time to an hour. Its more than enough for us but also helps build our family tradition of having a leisurely breakfast together.

I’m aware of various fast food chains doing breakfasts which is awesome for those days when you need breakfast but may not have the time to cook them (we usually have a fast food breakfast when we visit our friends in Cambridge as it adds to the excitement on the weekend). So what’s the answer to me wanting a warm, instant breakfast that’s not too calorific in comparison to the fast food chains but doesn’t take years to prepare? Freezer Burritos!

Now before you scoff at the monitor/phone screen) here me out. Burritos are an awesome wrap that can be made the way you like them in bulk, frozen and then zapped in the microwave for less than 3 minutes and boom! Hot breakfast.

I love wraps. I also Mexican inspired food which is one of the reasons this is one of my favourite Breakfasts ever.

I churn out 24 breakfasts in 90 minutes which makes this a nice activity to do at the weekends. That’s approximately 4 minutes per breakfast. I think that’s awesome going really.

Slight caution: try not to overload your Burritos or else you won’t be able to roll them up.

So here’s my breakdown of what I put in my Burritos:

Scrambled eggs ( 2 eggs per Burrito)

Spinach (I wilt it down with lemon and a pinch of salt. I usually use frozen spinach and use one block per wrap)

Salsa (store bought. 1 tablespoon per Burrito)

Hash browns (I buy a bag of prepared hash browns for less than a pound in Aldi. I use one hash per wrap. I usually cut it in half. I cook the hash browns in the oven to save time)

Black (turtle) beans (a great way to add protein to the burritos. I use 1 tablespoon per Burrito.

Cheese-grated (I use mature cheddar as I get more flavour her gram. I use one tablespoon per Burrito. YOLO!).

Sausages ( I use lamb sausages and I grill or bake them at the same time as cooking my hash browns)

Sausage patties (If you are a vegetarian Quorn do awesome ones!)

Turkey bacon (as a non pork eater I use Turkey bacon. I also grill them with the sausages. Keep an eye on them and don’t over crisp them).

Crispy potatoes (for children you could even add waffles etc. Cook them in bulk in the oven and voila! Done!).

Sliced fried mushrooms (I fry a load off and use about two tablespoons per Burrito. If you want an extra flavour punch fry in garlic or chili oil)

Baked beans (minus the sauce so I drain them) I use 1 tablespoon per Burrito)

My favourite combinations:

The GREAT British combo: eggs, hash brown, sausage, bacon, beans, mushroom

Cheese, mushrooms, beans & bacon

Hash browns, bacon and cheese

Eggs, black beans, salsa & cheese

Mushroom, bacon, cheese

Beans, cheese & bacon

Just let your imagination run wild.

To make sure your Burritos keep their texture I drain off excess liquids (including fat off the sausages).

Okay what else will you need?

Large Torillas (doh!)
Greaseproof paper
Cling film
Ziploc bags
Marker pen to label your Burritos

And this is what I do:

I use large Tortillas

I create a conveyer belt and place all the cooked things in a line. Yes I do love a bit of organising that gets me going.

I then place the ingredients on the wrap and fold (click here to view an awesome video from…..on how to fold a Burrito!).

I then place the Burrito on greaseproof paper, label them, wrap them in cling film and place them in a ziploc bag.

Why have I not included amounts or recipes?
In all honesty I feel this is a DIY foodie hack you can play around with and personalise. I have included how much of each ingredient I put in my Burritos as an estimation guide for you guys.

To actually enjoy the Burritos. Take them out of the freezer. Remove the cling film and greaseproof paper and wrap in a damp kitchen towel. Blitz in the microwave on high for 3 minutes. Check the Burrito to see if it’s defrosted. If it’s still frozen ensure the kitchen towel is still damp and blitz for a further 2 minutes.

To eat: be careful to not burn yourself with the steam. Serve with a dollop of HP sauce or whichever sauce takes your fancy!

So guys what is your favourite combo? Comment below.

 

Love,

 

Alliyah